Kylon turned and jogged towards the opened doors. Seb shrugged and followed him, and Theodosia came after, holding her skirts.
“We have to attack the sanitarium now,” said Kylon to Basarab. The witchfinders and the mercenaries, sensing that the time of battle had come, got to their feet, adjusting sword belts and shields.
“Why?” said Basarab. “Lady Caina hasn’t returned.”
“She might not return if we don’t act at once,” said Kylon.
“Apparently Cazmar Vagastru has been hibernating beneath the Lord’s Castle for all these centuries,” said Theodosia. “Tonight, Libavya is going to cast a spell to raise him as a vyrkolak, and she intends to wrench the secret of becoming a vyrkolak from him.”
It was an accurate summary, Seb noted, one that neatly omitted any mention of the Ring of Rasarion Yagar.
“By the Divine,” said Basarab, running a thick hand over his bald head. “By the Divine. If she succeeds, she’ll try to take over the city. And if she fails…we’ll have an ancient vyrkolak lord loose in Vagraastrad. By the Divine, one of the Iron King’s own vassals! Cazmar Vagastru would make Gregor look like a tame puppy.”
“High Brother,” said Calugar. “We had better strike at once. This might upset the Voivode, but if Libavya has offended him, it doesn’t matter. Even if she is still in his good graces, it doesn’t matter. The risks are too great.”
“You’re right,” said Basarab. “We will move at once. Calugar! Teodor!” Teodor hurried to stand next to Calugar, his face tight with concern. Tonight, Seb knew, he would learn the fate of his daughter. “We move out at once. Make sure every man has a sunstone. No, two sunstones. If Lady Libavya succeeds in her wickedness, we might have to face one or more vyrkolaki, and a sunstone is the only thing that can neutralize their powers during the night. Move! Tonight we do the work of the Divine!”
The witchfinders and the mercenaries moved to obey with gratifying speed.
###
“Both of you stay here,” said Kylon to Theodosia and Sophia. “One way or another, you should be safe here until this is over.”
“I wish I could come with you to find Caina,” said Sophia.
“No, you don’t,” said Kylon.
“No,” said Sophia. “But I feel like I should.”
“We would just get in the way,” said Theodosia. “Someday, dear girl, I think you will have the kind of power to join a battle like this. But not yet.” She took a deep breath. “The gods go with you, Lord Kylon. And if you can…please, find Ilona. Both her and Caina have been very good friends to me.”
“If they’re still alive,” said Kylon, “I will bring both of them back.”
And if not…
Rage howled at the edge of his thoughts.
No, he couldn’t think like that. He would not give up hope.
But if they had hurt Caina…
Then Libavya Jordizi would only be the first of the Temnoti that Kylon would kill.
He nodded to Theodosia and Sophia and then hurried to join the others as Basarab led his men from the Temple.
###
Crailov walked between Kylon and Sebastian Scorneus, a faint smile on his face.
That had really gone rather well. Crailov didn’t want to fight Libavya himself, but he had recruited an array of powerful allies to aid him against her. Of course, if Kylon and Sebastian and Basarab and Teodor knew what Crailov had done and the true nature of the sword at his belt, they would turn on him an instant, but they didn’t know.
“Kill them all,” said the Sword of Rasarion Yagar into his thoughts. “Kill them all now. They think you are an ally. Draw my blade and slaughter them all. Let the killing begin now!”
As ever, Crailov ignored the Sword’s terrible advice.
Still, it wasn’t entirely wrong. There was going to be a lot of killing very soon.
And if Crailov managed the battle properly, he would walk away from the sanitarium with the Ring of Rasarion Yagar…and with Libavya Jordizi, Caina Kardamnos, and all her allies dead in the darkness below Vagraastrad.
Chapter 16: Ring of Iron
Caina considered her options as Lady Libavya stared at her.
None of them were good.
Could she attack Libavya? Caina might be able to reach her and cut her down before the noblewoman could react. Yet the Malvashar and the other two Temnoti priests were watching her, as were Libavya’s footmen, to say nothing of the reveniri. If she killed Libavya, the Temnoti would strike her dead. Caina’s valikarion abilities made her immune to mind-controlling sorcery, but they offered no protection from necromantic force. For that matter, she could not fight all six of those footmen and come out alive, especially not with the Temnoti watching. And while the reveniri might not be able to perceive Caina, she had no doubt that they could see Ilona and Svetlana just fine. Ilona did not have any weapons. Svetlana had drawn herself up, her face set with rage and terror, the glow of a psychokinetic spell around her fingers. Yet it wasn’t a powerful spell, and Caina didn’t think it would do more than injure one of the footmen.
If Caina fought, she was going to lose, and she would be killed with Ilona and Svetlana.
If they fell back to the prison corridor and the armory, they might have a better chance. The door would create a bottleneck, and Caina could destroy any number of reveniri with the valikon. Yet that would leave Libavya and the Temnoti free to work their spells, and the footmen would also attack.
But Caina needed to delay. If she stalled long enough, sooner or later Kylon would come for her. And her husband was too experienced a warrior to come alone. He would bring Seb and Basarab and Teodor and the motley little army that the High Brother had assembled, and Caina thought they might be the equal of the reveniri and the Temnoti and Libavya Jordizi.
Which meant that Caina needed to stall. Every moment she delayed was an extra moment Kylon had to find her.
“The Balarigar?” said Caina in response to Libavya’s statement. “There is no such woman. A legend of the peasants.”
Libavya’s red mouth spread into a smile. “The Balarigar, Caina Amalas Tarshahzon Kardamnos. We’ve heard rumors about you for years in the Temnoti. You cannot do the things you have done and expect to remain anonymous, can you? You saved the Emperor at New Kyre, destroyed the Slavers’ Brotherhood of Istarinmul, put a new Padishah upon the throne of Istarinmul, and slew the Lord Cassander Nilas.” She paused. “The provost Talmania was especially annoyed about that one. I understand that Cassander was one of her most useful lieutenants.”
“You cannot believe everything that you hear,” said Caina.
“Indeed not,” said Libavya, the ghostly green fire playing around her fingers. “The blond hair fooled me. With black hair, you would look just like Talmania. When you came to the sanitarium and the ball for that wretched bore Gregor, I just thought you a maid for that harlot of a singer. But then the Malvashar told me he had captured two intruders, and I remembered what the Syvashar had said…that the Balarigar had escaped from Sigilsoara. Talmania was in such a rage when she rode through Vagraastrad. Her little project with Sigilsoara had failed rather expensively. But then the Malvashar told me he had captured two women in the catacombs…and I knew who you were. A leap of intuition, you might say.”
“And what did your intuition tell you, my lady?” said Caina. It seemed that Libavya liked to talk. That was good. The longer she spoke, the better a chance Caina had of getting out of this alive with Ilona and Svetlana.
“Talmania summoned Sigilsoara to find the Ring since she already has the Amulet,” said Libavya. “But it went wrong, and she summoned you along with Sigilsoara. The Syvashar said that since you shared the blood of House Scorneus and that you were a valikarion, that was sufficient to draw you here when Talmania used her own blood to empower the summoning. You escaped from Sigilsoara with the Ring of Rasarion Yagar, and you have been making your way south ever since.” She gestured with her other hand. “Until, it seems, that fate has brought you into my gr
asp at last.”
Libavya Jordizi, Caina realized, was much smarter than she appeared. Her actions had been destructive and murderous, but they had always been focused on her own survival, her own strength. In a way, she reminded Caina of Kalgri the Red Huntress. Kalgri had been brutal and ruthless, but her actions had always been logical, focusing upon her twin goals of survival and feasting upon the pain of her victims.
It was not a flattering comparison.
“Fate?” said Caina. “You believe in fate?”
Libavya smiled. “If you are as intelligent as Talmania, under other circumstances I might enjoy a lengthy philosophical discussion.” She sighed. “Few of the nobles of Vagraastrad have an appreciation for such things. Even among the Temnoti. But we have more urgent matters to discuss. The Ring of Rasarion Yagar. You will give it to me.”
Caina smiled. “Are you so certain that I have it?”
“Entirely.” Libavya pointed at her, the green fire around her fingers brightening. “Let’s not insult each other’s intellects, shall we? I know you have the Ring. You’re going to give it to me.”
“Why do you want it?” said Caina. “The Ring is dangerous.”
“Incredibly dangerous,” said Libavya. “Nevertheless, you are going to give it to me, because it will be far more dangerous for you to keep it.”
“Why do you want it?” said Caina.
Libavya smiled. “My reasons are beyond your comprehension.”
Caina grinned back. “Let me guess. I saw the glass coffin in the crypt. That’s Cazmar Vagastru himself inside it, isn’t it? The Warmaiden killed him, but he’s been sleeping it off for the last few centuries. You want to raise him back to undeath so he’ll teach you how to become a vyrkolak. Then you’ll kill Gregor Vagastru and rule over Vagraastrad as a vyrkolak forever.”
Libavya’s smile faded. “Svetlana told you that.”
“She didn’t tell me anything, my lady,” lied Caina. “Not a word. She just wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.”
“Then how do you know all that?” said Libavya.
“Because I am a valikarion, an Arvaltyr,” said Caina. She forced herself to smile wider as she pointed the valikon at Libavya. “Do you think such a secret can be concealed from the Arvaltyri?”
“The prowess of the Arvaltyri,” said Libavya, “was overstated and distorted into legend.”
“Maybe,” said Caina. “Do you really want to find out?”
Libavya did not say anything, and the three Temnoti shared a look among each other, their arcane auras flickering. Caina wondered if the three priests could communicate without speech. The six footmen did not move, but she saw the uneasiness go over their faces. Libavya and her footmen and the Temnoti were not quite afraid of Caina, but they were…wary. She was a valikarion, and everyone in Ulkaar knew the tales of the ancient Arvaltyri of old. And the burning valikon in her hand might have been a trick…but then again, it might not be.
Of course, if they all came at her in a rush, she would kill one or two of them, but they would overwhelm her.
“I think you are bluffing,” said Libavya. “I think that you are an Arvaltyr, but you are still only one woman, and the exhausted sorceress and the harlot of a singer standing behind you will not provide much help.”
Caina gestured with the valikon. “Then come here and prove it.”
Libavya laughed. “No. Let’s be reasonable, shall we? Give me the Ring, now. I know you have it.”
“Or?” said Caina.
“Or I’ll have my footmen strip you naked and take the Ring,” said Libavya. “Maybe I’ll let them take turns with you in repayment for your temerity. Or maybe the frigid Balarigar would enjoy such an experience. Perhaps instead I’ll hand over Svetlana and your whorish friend to my footmen.” Svetlana bared her teeth in a snarl, and Ilona remained motionless. “My footmen have given good service, and that should be rewarded, no?”
“If you send your men to take the Ring,” said Caina, “some of them are going to die.”
“Yes,” said Libavya with an indifferent shrug, “but you will still be overwhelmed. And killing you now would be…wasteful, yes? I might have a use for the three of you later.
“As meals for Cazmar Vagastru when he wakes up?” said Caina.
Libavya shrugged again. “He’s been asleep for a very long time. He might be hungry.” Her eyes flashed in the gloom. “Or I might be, once I am transformed.”
“Assuming you transform,” said Caina. “Or that you don’t kill yourself in the process. Or do something worse.” An idea occurred to her, another way to delay. “Have you ever heard of the Elixir Rejuvenata of the Alchemists of Istarinmul?”
Libavya scoffed. “I have. A petty effort compared to the power of the vyrkolaki. The Elixir Rejuvenata will grant an Alchemist another few paltry decades of life. The vyrkolaki are eternal.”
“I knew an Alchemist once who tried to prepare Elixir Rejuvenata,” said Caina. “It went horribly wrong. Before I killed him, he looked like a thing stitched together out of corrupted flesh and random limbs. It was a horrible way to die, and he brought it on his own head. Maybe something worse will happen to you.” She looked at the Temnoti. “Maybe you’ll end up looking like the Malvashar and his friends here.”
The Malvashar’s misshapen expression changed, and it took Caina a moment to realize that he was smiling. “We have moved beyond petty vanity and the lusts of the flesh, Balarigar. The Final Night is coming, and the world shall belong to Temnuzash.”
“I’ve heard speeches like that before,” said Caina. “Quite a few of them, as it happens. Would you like to know how they ended? I think…”
“Enough stalling, Balarigar,” said Libavya. She beckoned, and her footmen stepped forward. “Hand over the Ring, or it will be taken from you.”
Caina could not draw this confrontation out any longer.
“As you wish, then,” said Caina. “A moment.”
She crouched, holding the valikon before her, the blade burning like a torch. The footmen hesitated, and Libavya’s eyes narrowed. Caina reached under her skirt, grasped the pouch against her leg, and yanked it free. She straightened up and held out the pouch in her left hand.
“Shall I bring it to you, Lady Libavya?” said Caina.
Libavya hesitated. “No. Throw it.”
That was sensible of her. Letting a woman with a valikon within arm’s length of her would have been unwise. Caina threw the pouch with an underhanded toss, and it landed a few feet from Libavya. One of the footmen started forward, but Libavya halted him with a sharp gesture.
To Caina’s valikarion senses, the pouch was beginning to glow with a harsh green radiance. The necromantic aura of the Ring had been suppressed while she carried it, but it was waking up now. Libavya took a quick step forward, scooped up the pouch, and straightened up.
She drew out the Ring of Rasarion Yagar and gazed at it. In the eerie green glow, the gray iron of the Ring had turned the color of clotted blood. The dragon-carved emerald in the iron band gave off a sullen light, and Caina saw the power stirring and twisting within the relic.
“Do you not see how dangerous that is?” said Caina.
“Malvashar,” said Libavya, gazing at the Ring. “Is this genuine? Is this truly the Ring of the Iron King?”
“It is, Lady Libavya,” said Malvashar. “But I urge caution. The Ring is a relic of great potency, and…”
Libavya put the Ring on the third finger of her left hand.
The Ring’s aura blazed, and it seemed to wrap around Libavya and sink into her like water into a dry sponge. She let out a long groan that might have been agony, or pleasure, or perhaps both, and closed her eyes. A shudder went through her body, her chest heaving with the rapid draw of her breath.
Then her eyes opened, and they shone with ghostly green fire.
“Lady Libavya?” said the Malvashar.
“So much power,” murmured Libavya. There was a faint buzz in her otherwise melodious voice, a metallic
rasp, likely a consequence of the Ring’s aura. Caina saw that aura wrapped around her, and it made her think of an octopus coiling its tentacles about its prey.
Or maybe a Temnoti priest wrapping his tentacles around a sacrificial victim.
“So much power,” said Libavya, drawing herself up. “I never dreamed…it is a well of arcane power, Malvashar. A font of necromancy. I thought the Ring simply gave the power to command the undead.” She let out a long, wild laugh. “Such power! What I will do with this…”
She took a step towards Caina, grinning, and Caina tightened her grip on the valikon.
“Be wary, my lady,” said the Malvashar. “No matter how powerful the Ring, the valikon of an Arvaltyr can still penetrate any ward.”
Libavya froze, a hint of chagrin going over her face. “Yes. Yes, you are right, high priest. Thank you for your counsel. I must remain cautious. The Iron King once wielded this power, and even he was overthrown.” Her glowing eyes turned back to Caina. “Surrender your valikon to me now.”
Caina smiled, released her grip on the weapon, and dismissed the sword. It vanished into glowing shards before it hit the floor. Libavya took a quick step back, her hand coming up.
“What did you do?” said Libavya.
“The valikon is bound to her, my lady,” said the Malvashar. “Of old, some of the strongest Arvaltyri displayed that ability. She cannot be disarmed. Were you to take the valikon from her, she would summon it back. I urge you to kill her immediately and without delay. If she is alive, she may interfere with your spells.”
“No,” said Libavya. “When Cazmar rises, he may require immediate sustenance. I would prefer not to feed my loyal footmen to him. Or you, for that matter.”
“Have no fear on that account, Lady Libavya,” said the Malvashar. Somehow the misshapen face looked smug. “The life force of the Temnoti priests has been altered, and a vyrkolak cannot feed upon us.”
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