Basiyr: Chronicles of Nahtan: Book 6 (The Herridon Chronicles)

by Kramer, D. L.

  Calan nodded. "I need a healer," he said, taking his hand away so she could look at it.

  "Aye," Kenah nodded at him as she looked at it. "And more stitches than a house maid's apron." She pulled the satchel over her head and arm, then the small dagger from her boot. She cut the straps from the satchel, then turned toward the table. "Garren, I need ye're tunic," she told him.

  Garren paused, pulling his tunic over his head then tossing it to her. Kenah caught it, then turned back to Calan. She tore the tunic into several pieces, then folded them so they were thicker in the middle and placed them over the wound. Using the strap from her satchel, she tied it around Calan's waist, securing the tunic and holding a steady pressure on the wound. "That should hold ye until we get out of here," she said, standing up again.

  "Thank you," Calan nodded at her. "Help Miss Korrie, please." He leaned back in the chair, letting them search through the table for everything they could find that might be useful. Thorvald stirred, then after a minute struggled to open his eyes.

  "This is why there's no one here," Garren said after a minute, looking up from reading something.

  "Why?" Calan looked at him.

  "He doesn't have any armies left," Garren said. "According to this, he sent six thousand to Herridon, twenty four hundred to Olorun, three thousand to Valin, five hundred to the temple and has his last twenty five hundred here outside the city."

  "Six thousand to Herridon and three thousand to Valin?" Calan pulled himself up in the chair.

  Garren nodded at him and handed the parchment to Korrie to roll up with the others she was collecting.

  "We need to figure out how to get out of here," Calan said. "With him." He motioned to Thorvald.

  "You won't get out with me," Thorvald said.

  "Ye're not goin' to be conscious to stop us," Kenah promised him.

  "You're one of the Olorun whelps," Thorvald frowned at her, obviously just hearing her accent.

  "We'll get out," Korrie assured Thorvald as Kenah nodded at him. "Breaking in is the hard part, getting out is much, much easier." She picked up another map and rolled it up with the others in her hand.

  "Good," Calan leaned back in the chair again, his head pounding. "Korrie, you're in charge from here."

  Six - "A hunter"

  Nahtan stood by the stream while Renato drank. They'd stopped to water the horses and refill their water supplies and would be back on the road to Basiyr soon. Asher and Jedrik both assured him they were just over a day away, and the urgency he felt to get there was almost overwhelming.

  "There are more signs of a camp back there," Aralt said, coming over to him. "It looks like it had maybe a dozen people, possibly a few more."

  "I'll come look in a second," Nahtan told him. "Any signs if it was Thorvald?"

  Aralt shook his head. "Just tracks and areas where a half dozen or so tents were set up," he said. "They didn't leave anything behind that we could see."

  "As soon as the horses are watered and the barrels refilled, we'll be heading out again," Nahtan said. "Pass the word back."

  Aralt nodded and turned to go send the orders back through the army. When Renato finished, Nahtan led him away from the stream, his eyes moving over the ground as he walked. Several feet away, leading towards where Aralt had found signs of the camp, he spotted the first boot print.

  He recognized it immediately, and stopped, crouching down. It had been set in mud, then dried. The ground had obviously been wetter when it was made, but there was no mistaking the print.

  "Did you find something?" Brijade asked, coming over.

  "Rial was here," Nahtan said. He brushed aside some of the grass around the print, trying to look for any others. Not seeing any immediately, he stood up, his eyes completely focused on the ground now.

  "Are you sure it's him?"

  Nahtan nodded. "Soft soled boots, walking toe heel. He's the only person who walks that way except for some of the Mowik. They don't wear boots like his and it's highly doubtful any of them would be this far west and south." He let go of Renato's lead, touching his bond with the warhorse and ordering him back with the other horses. He didn't want him accidently stepping on any other tracks. Nahtan pointed out the boot print to Brijade as Renato snorted at him, then turned and trotted back where the rest of the army was still resting. "The impression is deeper in front, he puts his weight down there first."

  "Why am I not surprised you know how we all walk?" She wondered. They all knew he'd learned how to track from the trapper who'd bought him as a slave when he was a child, that he had a natural ability for it only made him an expert now. He'd told her a long time ago that nighttime was the only time he'd felt safe from the trapper, so he'd used the time to study the world around him. He'd learned to identify different sounds, tracks and other animals signs well before the trapper had died and he'd met Kile.

  "You put more weight on the outer edge of your foot," Nahtan told her, still watching the ground as he walked slowly. "And dig your toes in more when you run. Bear walks heel toe when he's angry, but otherwise keeps his weight pretty well balanced across the whole foot. Jerai wears heavy soled boots and walks heavier on the heel no matter what." He paused. "There was a dog with him--a big one." He paused again, crouching down, his fingers brushing a small shoe print. "Valry."

  "She was here?" Brijade asked.

  Nahtan didn't trust himself to answer for a moment. His hand trembled slightly as the burning in his chest built up, then slowly ebbed back. The outline of her small foot, preserved in the dried mud...she was so close. He looked ahead, searching for another track and finally spotting one.

  "Another one," he said, pointing it out to Brijade and standing up. A quick glance to the side saw another of Rial's, as well as more of the dog's. Then Valry's foot turned to the side, but she kept walking in the same direction, like she was looking back at someone. He paused, stepping back, looking over a wider area, looking for what she might have been turning back for. Rial's prints were beside her, so it wasn't him...

  Then he saw them, faint and light. Another pair of soft soled boots. The feet were smaller, narrower, feminine. The tread was barely visible, her other prints had obviously weathered away. She'd known enough to stay where the ground was dry and keep her boots dry as well. Whoever she was, she was skilled.

  "There's a woman with them," he said. "A hunter. Valry was looking back at her for some reason."

  "Was she after Valry?" Brijade asked.

  Nahtan shook his head. "No, Valry wasn't running and Rial didn't even turn towards her. Whoever she is, they trust her."

  "That's a good thing, isn't it?" Brijade said. "It gives Valry two people looking out for her until you can get there."

  Nahtan nodded slowly. He couldn't even begin to imagine how someone in Thorvald's camp could earn Rial's trust, though.

  "Let's get going," he said. "The sooner we catch up to Calan and the others, the sooner we can get Basiyr taken down and on the way to the temple."

  "We should be catching up to them anytime now," Brijade pointed out. "At least within the next day--unless they're trapped in the city."

  Nahtan nodded, leading her back toward the army. "I'm probably going to send you, Kiril, Mallin and Trey ahead," he said.

  "Mallin's been rather conspicuously absent," Brijade noted.

  "He's been keeping to himself," Nahtan agreed. "And I'd like to know why. Before, he'd never let a fight go by without doing what he could to try to negotiate surrenders or treaties with any church guards. I figure if he's going to change sides on us, he might think Kiril would be sympathetic and drop him some indication. Then if he does, you shouldn't have any problem removing him. Trey can back you up in case he runs." He wasn't about to take any chances with the former church guard betraying him or returning to aid his former brothers in arms.

  Nahtan stopped when he realized Brijade was no longer beside him. He turned to look at her where she had stopped several feet behind him and could see a firm resolution settle ov
er her.

  "No," she said, shaking her head. "I'm not murdering people for you, Nahtan. You have my sword, and I'll stand at your back in any fight and defend you to my dying breath, but I will not murder someone for you. If Mallin is going to betray us, then I'll arrest him and make sure he's locked up somewhere secure until we get back to Herridon, but I will not execute him without a trial or cause."

  Nahtan frowned at her refusal. She was one of the few he knew he could depend on now, and he hadn't expected her to defy him so steadfastly. He walked back to her, standing directly in front of her, not surprised when she didn't back down.

  "You're disobeying my orders?" he asked her.

  "Nahtan wouldn't give me those orders," she returned, meeting his gaze with no hesitation. "Because he knows better."

  "And betraying us isn't cause enough?" Nahtan demanded. He was caught off guard by her use of his name like that. He heard Yenene's voice back at Olorun Hold, telling him she was watching more of him die every day. He wondered if Brijade was seeing the same thing. The anger and burning in his chest had built into a dam burst of power that had finally broken through back at Olorun. But it had brought them victory, and saved lives on the battlefield.

  But also cost him Sewati at his side.

  He pushed that thought from his mind as quickly as it came. Brijade had chosen her oaths to him over leaving with Bear. He had no reason to doubt her loyalty. He realized it was Mo'ani's Way that brought her defiance now. She didn't understand the power inside him, or his determination to see Thorvald pay for taking Valry from him.

  She didn't understand what losing the only thing he had left of Rena had cost him.

  Brijade shook her head. "Not when you know he was never on your side to begin with," she reminded him. "He was always here to try to save the lives of any church guards who were just trying to survive. It's never been about ideology for him."

  Nahtan stared at her for a long moment. He caught a faint shift of her attention and realized someone had come up behind him.

  "I won't stand for him betraying me," Nahtan told her, his voice warning her she was dangerously close to crossing a line with him. "So you'd better hope he doesn't." He turned and walked away from her, seeing now it was Jedrik who had come up behind them.

  Jedrik watched Nahtan walk away, meeting the young king's eyes as he walked past.

  "Ye all right, Lass?" he asked Brijade when Nahtan was out of earshot.

  Brijade nodded at him. "I'm fine, he won't do anything to me," she told him. "He'll save it for one of the fights at night."

  Jedrik walked over to her. "I'm not so sure," he told her. "I've seen a lot o' men get their 'eads goin' the wrong way, and 'at one's definitely startin' to turn onto a path not many would dare walk."

  Brijade shrugged as they started walking back to camp. "You seem to have an uncanny knack for showing up whenever you think I might be in trouble," she noted.

  "I told ye," Jedrik said. "Ye earned my respect, and 'at's not an easy thing to do. I know ye can well take care of ye'reself, but ye got the babe to think about now, too." He nodded to where Nahtan stood by Asher and Lord Nivan. "And if 'at one thinks 'e's goin' to raise a sword to ye and risk hurtin' ye or ye're babe, 'e's goin' to 'ave to go through me to do it." Jedrik gave a firm nod of his head, and Brijade realized he was dead serious. Besides the fights at night, she'd seen what he could do on the battlefield, and despite his age, he was still a formidable opponent. She knew she'd approach any fight against him with caution.

  "You should come back to Takis with me when this is over," she told him. "I scare my Mo'ani apprentices easily enough, I'd love to see what they'd think of you."

  He waved a hand at her, dismissing her. "Ye get too cold up north," he told her. "All 'at damned snow makes for a miserable winter."

  "Takis does sit on the plains," she admitted. "So we do get hit pretty hard some years." She turned when she heard approaching horses and saw the forward patrol coming towards them, an unfamiliar rider with them. "Now who's that?" she wondered.

  Jedrik turned to look, watching the riders as they approached. When they drew closer, he shook his head.

  "Why are they bringin' a minstrel here?" he asked, pointing out the lute tied to the outside of the horse's one small pack.

  The patrol continued on until they reached Nahtan and Asher. It was obvious the newcomer immediately started a discussion with them.

  Brijade shrugged at Jedrik, as confused as he was. They continued walking back toward Nahtan, reaching them as the minstrel was dismounting from his horse, bowing deeply before Nahtan, then Asher.

  "Jedrik," Nahtan said when they reached the group. "This is Tabari, he says he has a message for you."

  Jedrik raised an eyebrow. "I don't know any Tabari," he said, looking at the minstrel.

  "But I've heard of you, good sir," Tabari told him, bowing with a flourish before Jedrik. He took Bear's message from his belt and handed it to him. "I happened upon a rather imposing Mowik in my travels. He learned I was heading this way and thought we might cross paths. He asked if I happened upon you, if I might deliver a message for him."

  Jedrik stared at him, then snatched the message from his hand, opening it. He caught the bead as it dropped, frowning at it in confusion. He only looked at the note for a second. "It's for ye, Lady o' Takis," he said. "Apparently Sewati wasn't sure this one would be able to get to ye, but figured I could." He handed her the parchment and bead.

  Tabari looked at Brijade. "And you are Lady Takis?" he asked, his eyes brightening. "I can see now why Sewati spoke so dearly of you. Few women could hold comparison to you, m'lady."

  "Ye talk too much," Jedrik said to Tabari.

  Brijade finished reading Bear's note, then folded the bead back inside the parchment and tucked it into her belt.

  "Thank you," she said to Tabari, then turned to Nahtan. "Are we getting back on the road?" she asked him.

  "What did he say?" Nahtan asked.

  "He wanted me to have one of his mother's beads," Brijade replied. "He thought it was important."

  Nahtan frowned at her. He knew she wasn't telling him everything. He turned to Tabari. "Where did you meet Sewati?"

  "A couple of days' ride north," he said. "His horse had thrown a shoe and he'd stopped to have it replaced in the village I was in. We had a chance to visit while he waited for the smith to work."

  Nahtan nodded, glancing at Brijade. She met his gaze easily, still not backing down from him. "I don't suppose he mentioned where he was heading?"

  "North, I believe, Good King," Tabari answered. "When I told him of the redcloak I'd seen heading south with all wind's haste shortly after the waves of blue cloaks heading north, he seemed most concerned. I provided him a map of an ancient tunnel that would speed his way."

  "Ye definitely talk too damned much," Jedrik snorted at Tabari. "I'm goin' to get my horse and get back on the road." He turned and stomped over to where his horse was tied with the others.

  "Good," Nahtan nodded. "Mo'ani can use him in Herridon." He turned to pull himself up onto Renato's back. "Let's get going," he ordered.

  "Would Your Majesty mind if I accompanied you?" Tabari asked. "Master Sewati told me you were heading for Basiyr, and such events make for excellent stories when the storyteller has opportunity to witness them firsthand."

  "Ye want to go watch?" Asher asked him as he settled on his horse's back.

  "I'm afraid while I'm able to defend myself, I'm not much of a swordsman, so I wouldn't do you much good in battle," Tabari said. "But I would be honored to record as witness to what goes on there, my Good Lord."

  Nahtan shrugged. "Just stay out of the way," he told him, spurring Renato forward and riding past him. He looked at Brijade as he rode past her. "Ride with me," he told her. He wanted to know what else was in the letter from Bear, and wasn't sure if she wasn't saying anything because of the other people around or because she was just being stubborn.

  Once they were a bit ahead, Lord Nivan glance
d back behind them.

  "Ye know how we told ye I can tell when someone's a chosen priest for a god?" he asked Nahtan.

  Nahtan nodded at him.

  "That man's marked," Neyl said. "Whatever he is, he's not just a minstrel, Ye're Majesty."

  "Zared?" Asher asked, his tone concerned.

  Neyl shook his head. "It's not Zared, but I don't know which of the others," he admitted.

  "Just what exactly do you see?" Nahtan asked him.

  "Just kind of a flash when I look at someone," Neyl said. "It's hard to describe, but I've seen it for as long as I can remember. When I look at Yenene, I see a flash of red in it, so I know she was chosen by Jensina. Sometimes I see a flash of yellow for Halona. A lot of the time, it's just a flash with no color. Zared's chosen always have somethin' dark around 'em, so his are easy to spot."

  "Do you see a lot of this?" Nahtan asked him. That was all he needed, was Jensina or Halona sending someone else to get in his way.

  "Just when there's a chosen priest," Neyl said. "Livin' so close to Basiyr, I saw a lot of Zared's when I was a lad."

  Nahtan sighed. He made an effort to control his breathing. The spot below his heart pulsed with each breath, and he could feel the Well's power coursing through him. Brijade's arrival at his side a couple of minutes later distracted him from it.

  "The note?" he asked her.

  She looked at him. "Was a personal note to me," she said. "Sewati is my lover, Nahtan," she reminded him. "And has been since our sixteenth summer. We're entitled to exchange private messages."

  "Except that wasn't one," he returned. "Or he wouldn't have sent it to Jedrik first. I've known Bear a lot longer than you have, and he wouldn't send private messages like that through someone else."

  Brijade sighed, muttering a curse, then turned to look at him. "Yes, it contains a message for you, too," she snapped at him. "But right now isn't the time to tell you. So quit asking, and I'll tell you later." She adjusted her cloak over her shoulders. "I'm riding up to patrol," she stated. She spurred her horse into a gallop and moved ahead of the column.