Journey of the Wanderer

by Shawna Thomas

  “Yes.”

  “Bredych himself or one of his lackeys?”

  “Edriel is key. It is the largest kingdom not only along the western coast, it is influential across the western plains kingdoms. Elsewhere maybe, but here, Bredych would want to assure he had complete control.”

  “Then that raises a serious problem. I know he can cross great distances using the power of Crioch but it would take tremendous energy.”

  “It would.” Arien nodded slowly.

  “To do that, he would need to use Crioch.”

  She saw the light dawn in Arien’s eyes.

  “Then why couldn’t we sense the stone along the winds of Teann?”

  * * *

  The walk back over the bridges to the palace was a blur. Ryliann vaguely recalled passing the guards, even exchanging a few pleasantries, but a storm raged in his head. What had he done? Cold reality numbed him further. He’d done what needed to be done. What was right. He told himself that over and over. The words marched through his head with each footstep. The Siobani were not enemies. An enemy does not come under a flag of peace with less than a dozen men. And a woman. He shook his head. The woman was unlike any he’d ever seen. That had to be why he couldn’t get her out of his mind. Other women were complimented or soothed by pleasantries, yet she’d bristled as though he’d insulted her. She dressed like a man, wore a sword like a man and it was clear the Siobani warriors respected her as an equal, but she was as feminine as any other female he’d had occasion to meet. He could still see her stormy gray eyes flashing with emotion. There seemed to be some kind of silent communication between her and the Siobani leader, Arien.

  Maybe that was why she’d seemed offended. Maybe Ilythra was the leader’s woman and he’d committed some kind of offense when he spoke to her. He was uncertain of Siobani customs. Arien hadn’t seemed the least offended though.

  He nodded to a guard and began the trek over the last bridge. He would have to face his father. Apprehension made his bones ache and turned his stomach. It was not a confrontation he was looking forward to. But it was unavoidable.

  He’d stopped telling himself that he just had to make his father see reason. It wasn’t going to happen. At least not with the counselor whispering in his ear. The thought of running his sword through Brishne shocked him. He’d fought and killed many men, but murder had never crossed his mind. He couldn’t deny that the kingdom would be better for it. His father would be better for it. His pace quickened. His father wouldn’t understand that either, but once Brishne no longer influenced the king, he would return to his senses.

  * * *

  Fury coursed through Bredych’s frame. The song of Ilydearta was retreating. What had happened? He left his rooms and stormed through the palace halls until he reached the king’s door. He took a deep breath but didn’t manage to stem the anger fueling his steps. With the utmost control, he opened the door instead of slamming it against the wall.

  The king looked up, slightly startled.

  “Forgive the interruption, Majesty, but did you send soldiers to apprehend the Siobani spies?”

  “Of course I did.”

  Bredych gritted his teeth together until his jaws ached. He let out a breath. “They are escaping.”

  “That is impossible.” The king’s eyes narrowed.

  “With all due respect, I beg to differ.” The thought of who might have orchestrated letting the Siobani slip through his hands, letting Ilythra slip through his hands, further fueled his anger. “You have been betrayed.” He needed to tread carefully here. The king truly loved his son. “Someone in your services warned them. They are even now fleeing across the bridges.”

  The king shot to his feet, his eyes glistening with anger. “Who would do such a thing?”

  “I do not know, but that person is not loyal to you, Majesty.”

  The king closed his eyes for a moment. His face drained of color. “Treason. Only the palace guard knew of the order to apprehend the Siobani. I will find the person responsible and have his head on the wall.”

  Not before I rip his heart out of his chest. “I fear you are right. Kindness and mercy would be a weakness in this situation.”

  * * *

  Ryliann walked through a side gate into the palace gardens. Birds scolded him from the treetops, and well-tended flowers and shrubs shone in the sun. He breathed in the floral scent of roses without the accustomed sense of home they usually brought.

  A commotion near the guardhouse caught his attention but he couldn’t see over the hedges to determine the exact nature of the noise. But he knew. They’d discovered the Siobani had escaped. It wouldn’t be too much longer that they’d realize how. He quickened his step. He wanted to explain things to his father before anyone else did.

  He rounded a corner and came up short when two palace guards appeared before him. One of them was without expression, and the other looked nervous. “Prince Ryliann.” He recognized the expressionless guard now. Tanner. He’d beaten him once in a tournament. Tanner stepped forward. “You are to come with us.”

  He turned to the other guard who would not meet his gaze. Ryliann struggled to place his name. Osfer. “And where will we be going?”

  “That is none—”

  “To the king,” Osfer interrupted. He blushed but then returned Tanner’s glare.

  Ryliann affixed a smile to his face. “Well, good. That happens to be where I’m going. Shall we?” He strode purposely by the guards and waited for them at the entry.

  The two guards exchanged some furious whispers and then Osfer went ahead into the palace. Tanner indicated Ryliann to follow, then the palace guard and took up the rear.

  Ryliann swallowed but it didn’t stop the acid from churning in his gut. They moved through the corridors and stopped in front of the audience chamber. Ryliann took a deep breath. That didn’t bode well.

  Osfer opened the door, and Ryliann stepped inside. The king sat on his throne with Brishne by his side.

  Dread pooled in Ryliann’s stomach. There was no softness in his father’s face.

  “Prince Ryliann,” Brishne spoke. “You have been accused of treason.”

  “Treason?” Ryliann asked. “What manner of treason?”

  The king leaned forward. “Do you deny that you aided in the escape of enemies of the kingdom.”

  “Yes. I do.”

  “More than one witness saw you leading the Siobani back across the river.” The king’s voice rose with each word.

  “That I do not deny. What I argue is that they were no enemies of our kingdom. They came under a flag of truce, seeking our hospitality. That is a sacred right.”

  “You have heard the way the Siobani repay hospitality. At the edge of a sword.”

  Ryliann turned to Brishne and widened his eyes. “You’re telling me that ten Siobani men and a human woman put our kingdom at risk? Or just that you were afraid of them?”

  Brishne’s dark eyes gleamed. “They were spies, dear prince. Spies sent to learn of any weakness we might possess.”

  “As it is legend—and legends seem to be coming true left and right—that the Siobani built this castle, do you really think it was necessary to send spies to determine weaknesses in our defenses?”

  Brishne took a step forward. “I would say they found what they were looking for. A prince who would put his own fanciful notions before the safety of the realm.”

  Something in the counselor’s gaze caught Ryliann’s attention. He was afraid. “I wonder why you’re so scared of them?”

  “I do not fear the Siobani.” Brishne’s nostrils flared.

  “Then it’s the woman you fear?”

  Hate flashed across Brishne’s features before he once again schooled them. “I fear what your actions have done. I fear that you have put this kingdom in da
nger. Your father in danger.”

  “Enough!” King Jaryn rose to his feet. “I have heard enough.” He turned to Ryliann. “It breaks my heart but you do not deny your part in the Siobani escape.” He cleared his throat. “Take him to the dungeons until a trial can be arranged.”

  * * *

  Ilythra opened her eyes and caught her breath. A fire crackled nearby but the press of cold, dark stone was almost overwhelming. Bredych.

  “Welcome.” His voice was as smooth and soothing as it always had been.

  “Do you think I can’t recognize a lie when I hear it?”

  Bredych laughed. “You do amuse me.” His voice took on the tone a mother would use with an irascible child.

  She blinked and focused on Bredych sitting in a chair near the fire. The Crist board was set on a table before her.

  “You do have a penchant for escaping traps. I’ll give you that. But you can’t win. Don’t you see?” He moved to sit across from her, his dark gaze mesmerizing.

  “How do you marshal so much power?” The words were out of her mouth before she could leash them.

  Bredych’s laugh rang through the cavern, echoing off cold rock, and returned to thunder in her mind. His eyes sparkled when he once again focused on her. “Oh, that’s not fair. Once my secrets could have been yours.” He looked thoughtful. “Perhaps even that one. But now?” He shook his head and rose to his feet again to pace near the fire. He stared into the fiery depth. When he turned, his expression was calculating. “Now we are enemies, are we not?”

  Ilythra nodded. Where was he going with this?

  He lifted one shoulder in a careless shrug. “Why would I tell you then? But because we are connected in more ways than you want to admit, I will say that the Siobani are not telling you all. Ewen has held a piece of the puzzle so integral that your entire understanding of the picture is faulty.”

  Ilythra opened her mouth and closed it.

  “Now go, child.” His smile was almost tender, save for the predatory gleam in his eyes. “You are weary. It is almost over.”

  She opened her eyes. Dark branches crisscrossed over her head, partially blocking the stars in the inky sky. Cold dread coursed through her mind. Bredych was lying. Ewen wouldn’t keep something from her, especially not about the stones. She was Gwagier gan char mehn, wearer of a stone of power.

  But too many things didn’t make sense. Bredych controlled too many things. He had too much power at his disposal. Once, she’d thought he was simply better schooled in the working of Teann, but Ewen had mentioned on more than one occasion she was as accomplished as any stone keeper. The niggling doubt that perhaps Bredych had wrapped his lie in a skin of truth wouldn’t leave her.

  * * *

  Ryliann came fully awake. A shuffled step sounded in the corridor outside his cell, followed by a thump and rattle. He rose to his feet and backed against the rough wall. A sliver of light detailed the straw on the cell floor as the door slowly opened.

  “Ryliann.”

  Vann. Relief and then alarm washed over Ryliann. “What are you doing here?”

  His friend’s silhouette blocked the light from the corridor. “Getting you the blazes out of here.”

  Ryliann shook his head. “Do you know what that means?”

  Vann sighed. “Listen. I’m not blind. I can see what is happening in our kingdom and across the northern plains. I don’t know much about the Siobani, but I do know you. You are incapable of treason.”

  “My father would disagree.”

  “No offense, Highness, but your father has been making some questionable decisions of late. Even the common people have noticed. Trying to arrest a peace envoy is only the last of them. Besides throwing his only son in prison, that is.”

  “Vann, I can’t—”

  “We are already knee deep in shit,” Vann interrupted. “The only thing to determine now is if our efforts were worth it. By my calculations, you have very little time to either let us both get caught down here—and I can maybe keep you company in the cell next to you—or we can join everyone else down at the rendezvous point.”

  “Everyone else?”

  Vann lost his jovial tone. “Ryliann, I heard talk of execution. We need to get out of here now.”

  Chapter Twelve

  A youth approached Ilythra and Arien as they dismounted in the courtyard below Siann. The boy, who appeared no older than ten or twelve, inclined his head. “Ewen would see you as soon as you are available.”

  Ilythra shared a glance with Arien. “That means now.”

  Arien handed his stallion’s reins over to the boy. “Where is he?”

  “In the council chambers.” The boy accepted Melior’s reins as well.

  “Is the council present too?” Ilythra brushed dust from her leggings.

  “Yes.” He bobbed his head.

  “Thank you. Take good care of those horses.”

  The boy smiled. “You know I will.”

  Ilythra waited until the child walked away. They’d sent a bird as soon as they’d reached the chasm. Arien and Ilythra had taken the horses across, while the rest of the party took the longer journey through the tunnels nearer Isolden. “Is this summons because of our news or has something else happened?”

  Arien shook his head. “There is only one way to find out.”

  He reached over and squeezed her hand. She smoothed a wayward strand of hair from his forehead then followed him into the keep.

  A heated conversation stalled when they walked into the council chamber. Ewen stood and gestured them closer. Ilythra gazed around the room. Almost the full council was gathered. She suddenly felt even more dusty and tired.

  Ewen poured them both a cup of icy water. The members of the council waited, some more patiently than others.

  “I assume you received the message?” Arien broke the silence.

  “Yes.” The creases around Ewen’s eyes had deepened. “Yours and others. Edriel is lost to us.”

  “More than lost. The king sent men after us.”

  “Did you fight?”

  Arien shook his head. “No, I thought alacrity was best. We lost them.”

  Ewen nodded. “That was wise.”

  “You said you had other news?” Ilythra asked.

  “Yes. I have kept in contact with a few families over the years. They have decreased in number but there are still enough that I can generally keep up on what is happening in the world of men.”

  “And?”

  “And all bloody chaos is what is happening,” Maccrea interrupted.

  Ilythra glanced at the elder Dawn Child. Maccrea’s dark eyes burned with strong emotion.

  “He’s right.” Ewen pointed at a large map spread over the table. “Besides the Creeian raids to the west and the Rugian raids in the east, the riders of the far south have massed at their northern borders. There have always been raids, but this is different. They are allowing men only two options. Join them or die. This doesn’t surprise us. Bredych has always had a presence in the far south.”

  “They worship him.” Maccrea rubbed his forehead and then reached for his own glass of water.

  Ewen’s expression was grim. “I had confirmation of the Creeian pirates not only raiding, but destroying all the wave rider villages. They are leaving no survivors and salting farm land.”

  “That does not sound like they hope to take the land. What good is salted soil?” Arien asked.

  “You’re right. They plan to render it desolate.” Ewen took a deep breath.

  Ilythra cleared her throat. “The prince told us Bredych commands the sea creatures.”

  “More to instill fear than dominance of the waters. He’s needed elsewhere,” Ewen said.

  She placed both hands on the cool wooden table. “I don�
��t understand. I realize I’ve not held Ilydearta long, but the power it would take to move from place to place, to command these creatures is staggering. Is he that strong?”

  Ewen looked at the council then fixed his gaze on Ilythra. He took a deep breath. “For you or me, it would be.” He took a deep breath. “Bredych uses the life force of the land to augment his strength.”

  She stared at Ewen. The words bounced against her brain until they slowly soaked in. “What? How?” The words were a whisper. “Why didn’t you tell me it was even possible?” Betrayal twisted her chest. “This is what he said you were hiding from me.”

  “Who told you?” Ewen asked.

  “Bredych.”

  “In Greton?” His forehead creased.

  She shook her head. All this time, and they hadn’t trusted her with vital information. “No. I’ve been dream casting. Trying to find where he’s hiding. Of course, now we know he’s not really hiding.”

  Ewen stiffened. “Dream casting. With no training?”

  Arien spoke. “I trained her.” Father and son exchanged a look.

  “Why haven’t you told me?” Ewen asked.

  “I could say the same.” Anger tinted her words.

  Ewen sighed. “Perhaps I should have. But my goal was to teach you how to use the stone. Why would I teach you how not to use it? It is this practice that twists Teann, which drains the life from the earth. The beginning death throes can be felt in Teann. This is the cause of the blight attacking men’s crops.”

  Tears blurred her eyes and her chest burned. “You thought I’d be tempted because I’m human.”

  Ewen took another deep breath. His green eyes softened. “That is not so. I am tempted. Don’t you think I know that all I have to do is join with you, call on the strength of the land, and together we could end Bredych?” He stretched out his hand and slowly made a fist. “It would so easily come to my command. More so than even Bredych because my heart beats with the land.” He shook his head. “But at what price? Anatar might not recover. He would fight back, and Anatar and all its people would be destroyed in the crossfire.”