by Daniel Casey
“First we need that robe to give us his blessing.” Boggs muttered.
“The Patriarch, you mean.” Surr growled at Boggs, who just shrugged unthreatened.
“It’s not my faith but I know you lot won’t move without his word. So let’s get his word.” Matis smiled as Boggs spoke.
“See,” Matis came around the table with his hand out to Boggs, “here is a commander who knows how to cut to the quick. Perhaps I should put him in charge of your ponies and your grunts.” Matis glared at Surr and Vikram.
“The Grand General’s commands will be obeyed.” Vikram said flatly.
“Yes,” Matis came up close to him staring at his eye-to-eye, “they will.”
“Schism or not, if they close themselves off, we will be at a mortal disadvantage.” Bargeld tried to steer the conversation back to strategy.
Matis spun around, “Not if we make the first move.”
“We have no reason to strike at The Cathedral. And doing so would poison the countryside to us. The common folk would harangue us from all sides no matter where we went. We can’t assault the faith like this.” Surr spoke passionately but his vice wavered, it sounded like he was at the end of his tether.
“Buck up, Brance.” Matis replied in a calm, fraternal manner. “I know you can do this. Stand up for what’s right. Bring glory to our city, our nation.” Matis slapped Surr on the back. “We are going to make the Seven Spires the power in the world. It begins with bending The Cathedral to my will.”
“We’ve lost our proof though.” Bargeld said.
“Having or not having the alm doesn’t matter. We know what she is. The Bandrans have made it clear that the paladin in her company was a traitor. He’s either taken her hostage because he realized we’d find out about him. Or, she’s in league with him. Either way, we have the legal right according to the eparchian to bring justice to The Cathedral if the Patriarch will not.”
“A campaign through the city wouldn’t go quickly, it would take months. More than enough time for them to fortify. We can’t strike quick enough to do what you want.” Vikram sighed.
“What can we do, Vikram?” Matis bit back. “I’ll ask again, what would you have us do?”
“I would have us entreat the patriarch to grant us our sanction as we know we deserve.” Vikram spoke with an even tone. The last thing he wanted or needed was for Matis to fly into another rage. “We have leverage; we can threaten to reveal what we know. Faced with an army eager to strike out and information that could sour not just the clergy but also the laity against him, he will have to give in.”
Matis came back around to his seat. He held out his hands and gave a wide smile, “That is very sensible.” The rest of the advisors looked around anxiously. They were openly hesitant and confused.
“So you’re saying we should go…” Surr began.
“I am saying that we will bring our demands to the halls of The Cathedral. And if we are turned away, then I will raze the city. I will seat the eparchian, and he will make sure that the faith toe the line. You, Vikram, will go and ensure I get what I want.” Vikram again clenched his jaw and began to grind his teeth. “You will go and take that old man with you, Evness.” Matis sat and demanded wine from the cupbearer. “That sour faced crone will certainly show that we mean business.”
The four stood around the table in silence. “Well?” Matis yelled. “Go on, do as you’re told.”
They each bowed and left. Outside the pavilion, Bargeld shook his head vigorously and Boggs was laughing in a rather insane manner. Each went their own way. Surr stood next to Vikram and spoke quietly, “This is not going to end well. He’s driving this campaign into the ground.”
“Mind your words, Brance.” Vikram said sounding exhausted. “He was chosen by the Kyria; he is our leader.” Looking crestfallen, Surr nodded. “That is,” Vikram continued, “until we hear otherwise.”
He didn’t look to see Surr’s reaction but strode away from the pavilion to find Evness. He was going to get this task out of the way. The sooner the better. Vikram had gotten what he wanted, but the taste of it was sour.
Arderra
Another plate shattered against the rough stone of the boardinghouse wall. Porcelain shards rained down on heads of Jena and Jej’s. Jej looked up at Jena and smiled. Jena scowled.
“What the fuck are you grinning at?” The two here nestled behind the bar of the main tavern room. The Archway was closed so, fortunately, no one was seeing Moria’s assault on her chambermaid and guest.
“Tha was nine.”
“So?”
“She’d only got one more.”
“And then you have the gall to come back here!” Moria screamed and another plate hit the wall behind them. Jena caught a piece of porcelain on her cheek below her eye.
She winced and cursed, “Light be damned.” Jej reached out to wipe the small bead of blood away. Jena slapped her hand down. “Stop fucking thinking we’re friends!” She snapped.
Jena moved crouched along the back of the bar. She heard more crashing. Moria must have found cups to launch at them. “You keep going like this and you’ll be out of dishes right quick.”
“You fucking hope so, ya damn bitch.” Moria screamed.
“Stop egging her on.” Jej pleaded.
“Shut up.” Jena shot back.
There was a lull. Jena strained to hear what was going on and determined that Moria was looking for more ammunition. Now was the time to move. Jena stood up and looked out over the room. Moria was rummaging through a cabinet near the entrance. Jena decided to move. Leaping over the bar and bolting toward Moria, she was on her in no time.
Jej shot up from behind the bar like some prairie gopher, “Don’t hurt her.” She cried.
“Shaddup!” Moria screamed. She wasn’t as fast as Jena but she was enraged and not thinking of her well-being in the least. She scratched at Jena’s face and lunged at her with a cutlery knife. It was a crude attack, Jena grabbed Moria’s wrists spun her around holding her tightly.
“You need to calm down.”
“Shut up you fucking whore.” Moria spat.
“What’s wrong with you? Just settle.” Jena was astounded by how furious Moria was.
“You come in here and tell me my husband’s dead. That I don’t own my business. That my nephew, the closest thing I have to a son is off with some damn thief!” She tried to wrest free of Jena’s hold.
Jena called after Jej, “Get over here and help me.”
“I thought you didn’t want me as your friend.”
“Fuckssake, girl!” Jena barked. “If she gets free she’ll beat us both to a pulp.” Jej nodded. For a moment, she looked like a mouse caught in a corner. Then she finally came around the bar to where the other women were.
“What do you need…”
“Grab those cloths and tie them together.” Jej picked up some linen napkins from a nearby table and did so. She held them out to Jena, who yanked Moria’s arms back and threw her over a table. She took the napkins from Jej and hastily bound Moria’s hands. Jena kicked out a chair and forced Moria down into it.
“You need to calm the fuck down.” Jena demanded thrusting her finger in the other woman’s face. “Either calm down or I’ll put you down until Addison arrives.”
Moria glared at Jena, and then looked at Jej. “When she leaves, you might as well go with her. You’re done here.” Jej let out a slight whimper.
Jena shook her head speaking to Jej over her shoulder, “Don’t worry. You’re not going anywhere.”
“So now you’re telling me how to run my house?”
“I’m telling you to calm down. You’re not thinking clearly.”
“Don’t dare presume you know what I’m thinking. I built this place up. I fought off the sausage-fingered men with greed bubbling on their greasy lips. They coveted what was given to me, what I made from the scraps they threw down. You’re not the first to try to swoop in and take it from me.”
“Light be damned,” Jena was wi
de-eyed, “you really have no idea why I’m here.”
“You killed my husband. You killed my sister’s husband and my sister’s child.”
“I never said that, no one said that.”
“It was clear…”
“No, you weren’t listening. I didn’t do anything to anyone in your family. If anything, I gave Reg the last rites he deserved.”
Moria’s eyes narrowed. “Why should I believe you?”
“Why are you deciding to believe some speculative nonsense rather than what you’re being told?”
“Years to experience.”
“Addison is going to be here soon. He’s going to confirm everything. But I need you to do something for me. I need you to agree to something.”
“You can’t force me to do anything. You might be some hard ranger but my will is just as…”
“Stop yelling at me.” Jena was exhausted. There was a knock at the inn door.
“Tha’s him.” Jej looked panicked. “Wha should I...”
“Answer the damn door, girl.” Jej scurried to unlock the door and let in Addison. Jena watched her and shook her head muttering, “How does she not drive you mad?”
“She’s more resilient than she looks even for all her fluttering about.” Moria’s voice wasn’t tender but for the briefest moment, there was a hint of pride.
Jena looked at her out of the corner of her eye, “That almost sounded like a compliment.” She stood before Moria could say anything back, “Addison.”
The constable stepped into the Archway. He would have had to been blind not to see what a disaster the place had become and even then there was little doubt he wouldn’t have been able to sense the disquiet.
He raised an eyebrow as he looked Jej over and slowly took in the scene of Moria haphazardly bound to a chair. Cocking his head to one-side, he gave two long blinks and before rubbing his face in exasperation.
“By the Light, Jena, what have you gotten into now?”
“I told Moria what you were going to find out at Reg’s.”
“Well, that was stupid.”
“She didn’t take it well.” Jej said with earnest.
“Could you sweep up or something?” Jena snapped. Jej nodded and disappeared into the kitchen behind the bar. Addison came over to where Moria was bound. He lent down and untied her, then stood beside Jena facing Moria.
“What did she tell you?” He asked.
“Tanner’s dead. Reg’s dead. The cabin is razed. Thieves or something.” Moria stayed sitting rubbing her wrists and staring daggers at Jena.
“They weren’t thieves. But they had to have been bandits. What they thought they’d get from Reg’s place I don’t know. You said he had dropped Colm off with you to be looked after for a while.”
“Yes, wasn’t uncommon. The child needed proper care. His father was all bad habits.”
“Did he say where he was off to?”
“Sell some wool in Rautia, I think. That, and pawn off some veg on one of the pilgrim trails.”
Addison nodded, “And Tanner took Colm back up there not long after?”
“You know Tanner. He was useless here. Half my time was spent managing him. So the opportunity to get out of my hair he took.”
“Well, it looks like Reg came back to find these bandits already there.”
“How did you figure that?” Jena asked.
“He must have come up casually. The barn was undamaged; the only signs of struggle were next to the cabin.”
“I buried the bodies I found. They were unrecognizable except for Reg. He was a Novosar, so I placed him in a cairn.” Jena explained.
“But you dumped my husband in a shallow grave?”
“I didn’t know. I did what I could.”
“How do we know you didn’t kill them?”
Jena turned to Addison, “Did you find it?”
Addison nodded reaching two fingers into a small breast pocket, “Jena told me I’d find this in the grave she made for Reg.” He let a silver chain dangle from his hand. “You know what this is?”
Moria’s face softened but the anger under her skin didn’t disappear. She looked at the chain unblinking, “That’s my sister’s.”
“It’s an athingani binding chain.” Addison said matter-of-factly.
“Reg wasn’t athingani.” Moria said.
“So that means that Becka was.”
Jena watched Moria but she betrayed no emotion. “She was. I am.”
“There’s more to it.” Jena added. She slipped a hand into her tunic. “I found a vellum in the ruin of the cabin. Alongside the chain.”
“Reg’s place, this place. He owned them. He gave this place to me, let me run it and live off it.”
“I never knew your background.” Addison said.
“Of course you didn’t.” Moria let out a cruel laugh. “You all hate our kind. Becka and I, we could pass and we did for so long. Did well too. Then she married Reg. Then Tanner got me pregnant. Becka made Reg promise to take of me.” She looked at Addison. “Tanner was a waste. A pretty man who was pretty useless.”
“You know with Reg and Tanner dead, this place is the community’s now.” Addison said grimly.
Jena removed the old vellum, “That’s entirely true.” She handed it to him. Addison slowly unfolded it and read. Jena looked at Moria, “This is all Colm’s now. The boy isn’t dead. He’s safe with a friend of mine. A good man.”
“So you’re holding him ransom? Trying to blackmail me?” Fury again crept into Moria’s face. Jena held her hand out to stop her.
“No, not it the least. I would have told you, but you starting throwing shit at me before I could.” She turned to Addison. “Both property are his, the boy’s, and he’ll be back to claim them.”
“Soon?” Addison asked.
Jena shrugged, “I can’t say. I know he’ll be back. She,” Jena pointed at Moria, “is the best person to care for this place and the cab. She’ll keep it safe for the boy. And it’ll keep a roof over your head.”
“I’m a tenant now?”
“No, damn it, it’s yours. It’s been yours; it’s going to be yours. Keep the coin you earn and living your life. But do it knowing you’re doing it for your blood.”
Addison handed the vellum back to Jena. “That is binding but she can’t own this, even if I wanted her to. Legally. An athingani can’t hold property, land.”
“We’re the only ones who know. And she doesn’t, officially, Colm does. She’ll pay the alcavalas. All you need to do is keep her background to yourself and make sure she treats Colm fairly when he returns.” Jena held the vellum out to Moria, “Read it.”
Moria snatched it away and looked it over. Addison watched Moria but spoke to Jena, “So this is going to be that favor?”
Jena bit her lip and widened her eyes, “Yeah, it’s looking like it.”
“How do I know… No, listen.” Moria stuttered. She looked up at Addison. “You’d protect me? You’d let me keep on here?”
“This place would fall apart without you. You don’t have many friends in town but I always thought we were.” He flick his thumb toward Jena. “This one proved herself to me. I trust her. I’ll make sure you’re protected.”
“Is Colm safe?” Moria’s voice was a whisper.
“He’s with someone I would give my life for.”
“That’s not really the answer I’m looking for.” Moria snorted and handed the old vellum back to Jena. “You’re going to them. You’ll see Colm before I do.”
Jena nodded, “I’d like to think so.”
“You tell him, I was hard on him but I do love him. He’s going to have a home here whenever he decides to come back.”
“I’m sorry about everything.”
Moria waved her off. “You’re done here. I need you to leave.” Her voice wasn’t angry or cruel. It had a sort of bone weary quality.
Jena nodded, “I thought as much. I had the girl bring my things down.” She pocketed the old vellum and remo
ved the new that Garza had made. She set it on the table and spoke to Addison, “I had it renewed. You’ll find it word for word. I’ll give the original to the boy. He’ll present it when he returns.” She moved passed him toward the door.
“I’ll help ya.” He said following her.
Moria sat in silence. Sunlight poured through the window illuminating the shards of plate and mug that she had smashed. The overturned chairs cast long shadows and the strewn cutlery shimmered. Moria could hear Jej in the back fumbling. She smiled. The smiled grew and soon she was laughing. It was desperate sounding, almost maniacal. Jej came shuffling into the room and stood frozen, stunned by what she was hearing and seeing. Moria leaned on the table holding her head in her hand covering her eyes. Her other hand crept up and grabbed the new vellum. She balled it up in a fist, one that seemed never to want to release.
“A’right, madam?” Jej asked tentatively.
Still laughing, Moria waved her off. “Yes, Jej. Thank you.” She rubbed her eyes dry and gathered herself together. “Leave the broom dear, I’ll clean up out here. You go get started prepping for supper.”
“Madam?” Jej was confused.
“Go on, Jej.” She said. “And you can call me Moria from now on.”
“You know, since you’ve been here, things have gotten a bit out of hand.” Addison said leading Jena into his station.
Jena threw down her rucksack and pack almost immediately once she got inside. She walked over to chairs that surrounded a small black stove. Sitting she slouched forward holding her head in her hands. “Wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Things just kept escalating.” She sighed leaning back to stare at the ceiling. “Thank the Light, it’s done now.”
“Well, there’s probably just one more thing.” Addison nudged her rucksack to the side with his foot.
Jena turned looking at him expectant, “What’s that?”
“When I was up at Reg’s I found someone.” He took off his belt and scabbard setting them down on a table opposite where Jena sat. He crossed the room to a door where he lifted a key ring off the wall and began searching through the keys for the correct one to open it.