Nidreyka changed the subject, “Milina, what can you tell us about these soldiers in the red uniforms.”
The look on the old woman’s face was most telling, “They’re a wicked bunch, I tell you. They’ve been moving into town in large numbers for the last few months. The constable fears, and there is talk on the street, that they may try to take over the town, as they have done in many of the surrounding villages. Fadlis and points south for many miles are under their rule and some have said that their influence is growing toward the southwest. Stories I have heard of their brutality and vicious nature, along with the rapid growth of their ranks, are most disturbing. I understand that they are under the control of the Scecians.”
Kidreyli said, “Yes, a man known as Satreka.”
“I’ve heard his name used.”
“He is incarnate evil,” Kaitra stated, “and I am going to have the pleasure of killing him.”
“I applaud your boldness, but killing him would likely have little effect,” Milina conjectured. “If he were to die, another of his clan would move up and take his place. They have grown so large and have become entrenched so deeply in the surrounding area, it would take some kind of cataclysmic event to drive them from here.”
Kidreyli asked, “Have you heard of him taking a Valtyr prisoner?”
“You know, I did overhear something like that a couple of weeks ago, but I didn’t really get the whole story.”
“All we have seen indicates that it might be true and that he may be trying to breed a Vydarrun,” Nidreyka explained.
“I didn’t think that was possible,” Milina was surprised. “Who knows about this?”
Kidreyli said, “We believe that those of us in this room and the people of Alondra are the only ones outside of the Scecian command who are aware of what’s going on. We must stop him from achieving success.”
“I should say. The less said about this problem, the better, I think. May good fortune be with all of you.”
Nidreyka said, “We need a place to rest tonight.”
Milina was obviously concerned, “My dear, I would suggest that you leave town and stay deep in the forest. I could probably find a place for you, but your Katrion are very hard to hide. The Scecians have eyes everywhere. I’m afraid to say that this town is not safe for Valtyr anymore.”
Nidreyka looked at Kidreyli, “We should go now.”
She nodded her agreement.
Milina offered as she stood up, “Let me get you food and drink to take with you.”
“That would be most appreciated,” Kaitra said as they stood and left the room.
Nidreyka looked at her lover and said out loud, “Kay, take a look out the front and see if we’ve attracted any attention.”
“I’ll look in the back,” Kaitra offered as she walked away.
Kidreyli touched Nidreyka’s arm, motioned with her head back toward the anteroom and said quietly, “I need to speak with you.”
They stepped back into the small room. Kidreyli closed the door securely and said, “We have a very big problem, and I need you to take action straight away to keep it from getting worse.”
“What is it?”
“The Scecian sorcerers…they’re connected to Kaitra’s mind. They undoubtedly have discovered our defensive tactics….”
Nidreyka cut her off, “…and now they know how to defeat them.” Her fury rose up as she continued, “Daku trinaa, Kidreyli. I told you this would happen. You have put our very existence in jeopardy.” She backed up, looked away from her and hit the outside wall with the flat of her hand in frustration.
“Please, listen to me,” Kidreyli begged.
Nidreyka turned back to her with tears streaking both cheeks, her hand on the hilt of her sword, “I should have followed through with my charge and killed you and Kaitra straight away.”
Kidreyli was running short on time, “I beg you to listen. It is not as bad as it appears.”
“And just how is that possible,” Nidreyka sarcastically demanded.
“The memories I have are over a year old. Since we modify our deployments regularly, what they are learning from her is obsolete.”
Nidreyka was not impressed, “You know that is a weak argument.”
“Kaitra is destined to destroy the sorcerers and the threat they pose. She and I will eliminate them. I need you to return to Tyrkamani and make certain the Valtyr do not rotate into a deployment of which I had knowledge.”
“And what if you fail?” Nidreyka suggested.
“We will not fail,” she replied determinedly.
Nidreyka looked into her eyes, searching for something—she wasn’t sure what. After a brief moment of silence, she nodded her acceptance of her friend’s proposal.
Kidreyli wrapped her arms around her firmly and said, “Thank you.”
Nidreyka held on to her with all her strength and said softly, “I love you so much.”
“I love you,” Kidreyli responded.
As they backed out of the hug, Kidreyli smiled at her and wiped away her tears.
Nidreyka asked, “So, how do we part company without Kaitra suspecting something?”
“Once we get out of town, I’m sure the two of us can find something to argue about.”
Nidreyka laughed quietly.
Kidreyli started toward the door when her friend touched her arm.
She said in a serious tone, “Once we are done today, know that if you see my face again, it will be because I have been sent to kill you.”
Kidreyli stood silent, letting that fact settle in. She put her hand over Nidreyka’s heart and nodded to her, signaling her understanding.
They left the room and walked toward the bar just as Milina came over with a cloth satchel of bread and cheese and a waterproof pouch full of ale.
“Here, take this and be safe.”
“Thank you,” Nidreyka said, giving her a hug.
“Yes, thank you,” Kidreyli reiterated.
Dikaylia was standing alongside Kaitra. She said, “The front looks clear, but we have a problem.”
“What is it?” Kidreyli asked.
The sorceress explained, “There are two of Satreka’s soldiers standing by the Katrion. I couldn’t see any others.”
Nidreyka handed the food and drink to Dikaylia and commanded, “Stay with Kaitra. Kidreyli and I will deal with this.”
The two Valtyr emerged with purpose from the tavern and walked toward their Katrion.
One of the soldiers saw them coming and backed away a few steps, mostly out of fear. He said, “We were just looking over your horses. They are very beautiful.”
“Yes, they are,” Nidreyka said with her left hand resting on the hilt of her sword, “and they don’t belong to you.”
The other soldier stepped into the conversation, “They resemble the horses owned by some Valtyr who killed several of our clansmen in Klinar a few days ago. Do you know anything about that?”
“No,” Kidreyli’s answer was abrupt.
“Really?” the first soldier sarcastically asked.
Nidreyka said, “We will be leaving now.”
The other soldier unsheathed his sword, “I think not.”
Kaitra had pushed open the back door and was peering out. She saw two soldiers stand up on the roof of the next building and point their crossbows at the Kidreyli and Nidreyka. She formed a bright blue energy ball in her right hand and pushed it toward them. It quickly floated up in front of them, and as their focus steadied on her creation, she closed her eyes and imaged its explosion in her mind. The energy ball did just as she wished, exploding in a bright white light that forced the soldiers backward, both of them falling to the ground and landing on their backsides. One was unconscious immediately, while the other tried to raise himself up, but he collapsed into the dirt, unconscious. They certainly did not fall far enough for it to be fatal.
Kidreyli and Nidreyka wasted no time and sliced open the young soldiers who had confronted them with quick sweeping motions
of their swords.
Nidreyka called out to the others, “Let’s get out of here now!”
While the others quickly mounted, Kidreyli ran over and grabbed Milina by the shoulders, “You need to get out of this town.”
“I think you’re right. Let me get one thing,” she said as she turned and went back into the tavern with a sense of urgency.
“Hurry,” Kidreyli encouraged, and then she ran over to Tyral and leapt on. She rode up next to the back door and waited just a moment for Milina, who came out carrying a small leather satchel.
Kidreyli reached down to help, “Hold on tight.”
Milina held on for all she was worth as the warrior pulled the smallish woman up over Tyral’s bum, where she landed gently behind the Valtyr. She wrapped an arm around Kidreyli’s waist, and with the other, pointed toward a small alleyway and said, “Go that way.”
Kidreyli led the others along out-of-the-way paths and streets until they emerged just a few minutes later at the edge of the town. They pointed their Katrion a bit north of the mid-afternoon sun and traveled as fast as they could toward the land of the Valtyr.
hey made good time crossing the Hills of Tyrshatru just west of Triami and were now about five miles inside the Valtyr influence. As they reached the top of a heavily-treed ridge, Nidreyka slowed her horse to a stop and announced so they could all hear, “I think we should stay here tonight.”
Kaitra dismounted, stroked Sestru’s nose and rubbed her ears. She said, “How are you doing, my friend. We’ve been very hard on you, haven’t we?”
“How is she?” Kidreyli asked.
“I think she’s all right. We have certainly asked a lot from her over the last couple of days.”
“And how are you faring?”
“I’ll be all right.”
“Let me look,” Kidreyli came over and pulled up her shirt.
“You can stop mothering me now,” Kaitra was terse.
“Right,” Kidreyli said, giving her a big hug. She whispered in her ear, “That was close.”
“This is going to be much harder than I ever thought it would. I never imagined that Satreka’s forces would be so formidable,” Kaitra said.
Nidreyka finished taking a drink of water and asked sarcastically, “So you two still think we should take them on by ourselves?”
“All those who have advised us believe it is the best way,” Kidreyli replied.
“It looks like a one-way path,” Nidreyka posed. “We may be able to deal with the child, but I don’t see how we extricate ourselves safely. I have no fear of death, mind you, but I’m not ready to die just yet. After seeing some of what we are up against, I think we need to reassess this situation.”
Kidreyli looked at her and said forcefully, “There’s nothing to reassess. We must confront this situation directly. We just need to devise a plan that succeeds at our primary goal and gets us out alive.”
“Don’t you see how outnumbered we are? Their forces are overwhelming. And in addition, having to get in and out of a castle…?”
Kidreyli was obviously frustrated. “What do you want me to say, Nidreyka? This is what the fates have laid out for us. We can either take on the task at hand or walk away. I don’t intend to walk away.”
Nidreyka put her hands on the side of her head. “Aaaah! You drive me crazy, my sister. That is not what I said at all. I just think we need to explore other options, like getting more help.”
Kidreyli shook her head and said as she turned away, “If you don’t have the stomach for this, then take your lover and go. Kaitra and I will manage.”
Kaitra was surprised by her comment and said, “That was uncalled for.”
“So now you’re calling me a coward, are you?” Nidreyka said as she drew her sword. “Why don’t we test that theory?”
Kidreyli drew her sword, turned to face her and said sardonically, “Gladly, my friend.”
Their swords came together with bright, stinging rings, each alternately blocking an effort of the other. They paused momentarily, Kidreyli motioning with her hand urging her opponent on.
“What are we doing?” the sorceress asked in a fearful frenzy.
Dikaylia echoed Kaitra’s sentiments, “Please, both of you, don’t do this.”
The two Valtyr started their next run when Milina stepped in between them, “Hold! Both of you! I don’t know what events in your past are causing this, but it will stop now. The two of you are acting like children. This is a serious situation and we need clear, adult reasoning to have even the remotest chance of success.”
Nidreyka paused for a moment and then lowered her sword.
Kidreyli laughed sarcastically, “Why is it that we Valtyr always bow to the demands of the great and powerful Clannya? Even out here in the middle of nowhere, they treat us like their pets. Tell me, really, what does that say about the so-called mighty Valtyr race?”
Nidreyka shook her head in disgust and sheathed her sword, “There she goes again on that ridiculous poisonous rant of hers. Milina, we are going to Tyrkamani, and you can come with us if you choose. Kay, we’re leaving.”
Milina was quick to the answer, “I think it best if I go with you.” She picked up her bag, and Dikaylia helped her up on her Katrion.
Kaitra looked up at Dikaylia, who touched her face next to her eyes with her first two fingers, then touched the point of her ear and her forehead in the same fashion and smiled at her, sending the message that what she had seen and heard would remain protected within her.
Kaitra smiled back and mouthed quietly, “Thank you.”
Dikaylia’s Katrion turned and quickly disappeared into the forest.
Nidreyka jumped up on her Katrion and said, “Kaitra, it was an honor to meet you. I hope we see each other again under better circumstances. Good fortune to you.”
She let her Katrion take a few steps, then stopped and called back, “In deference to your mother, I will tell Talenyan that you will meet her at Lynbuañan in four days time.” She waited a moment for a response, but none came, as Kidreyli was looking away tending to something on her saddle. She turned and urged her Katrion onward, and a minute later they were gone, deep into the forest.
Kaitra was absolutely stunned. Everything had happened so quickly, and she was having difficulty wrapping her mind around the events that had just transpired. She stood in the shadows of the late afternoon sunlight with the wind pushing her hair and the leaves in the trees to the east. The birds were loudly making their final rounds of the day. She looked over at Kidreyli, who was still fiddling with a strap on her saddle.
The sorceress aimed her thoughts at Tyral, “What just happened, my friend?”
“Too many people,” was the response.
“What do you mean?”
“Kidreyli is at her best when she is on her own…with you. I had sensed that she was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with Nidreyka and Dikaylia being part of the plan to deal with Satreka. And on top of that, Milina was added to the mix. I think things finally boiled up to the rather unpleasant display you just witnessed.”
“But they could have helped us greatly in our efforts,” the sorceress noted.
“Probably, but Nidreyka does have a rather domineering personality, just like Kidreyli. It was inevitable that those two would bump up against each other. Your lover was feeling that Nidreyka was trying to dominate the decision-making process. I sensed that she was afraid that her counterpart’s actions would differ from whatever plan they had laid, which would create confusion and possibly endanger any success.”
Kaitra walked over, took Kidreyli’s face in her hands and gave her a rather passionate kiss. She stroked her hair back, “You are something to behold, my love.” As she walked away, she said, “I’ll get some firewood.” She patted Tyral on the bum as she passed, acknowledging the insight provided by her.
Kidreyli directed her thoughts toward Tyral, “I did it this time, didn’t I?”
“I believe you have successfully severed yo
ur connection with Nidreyka,” was the response.
“I felt she was trying to influence us toward the wrong path.”
“I understand.”
Kidreyli was looking for a bit of support, “What do you think?”
“Honestly, I think her presence might have been helpful, but you must do what is comfortable for you. Your feelings about her could be right. She is as stubborn and obstinate as someone else I know.”
Kidreyli laughed under her breath. “We really are too much alike, I fear.”
Kaitra returned with an armful of dried wood and placed it in a pile. “It feels like it’s going to be a cold night.”
“The wind is a sign of change coming,” Kidreyli stated.
The sorceress passed her hand over the wood, setting it alight. She looked over at her lover and said, “So it would seem that we’re on our own again.”
“Yes, we are.”
Kaitra sat near the fire. Kidreyli brought over food and drink and sat next to her, taking her hand. They sat silently for a while, Kidreyli staring off into the distance at nothing specific. She noticed through the trees the Moon of Talera rising in a deep purple eastern sky, as the sun was headed for its rendezvous with the underworld in the west.
Kaitra asked, “What’s next for us?”
“We are off to Lynbuañan tomorrow. We can take our time and stay on the Dhoyan side of the river once we get there. We should wait a few days to see if my mother comes. If she does not, then we should travel on to Caerlyk.”
Kaitra nodded her understanding. The leaves in the breeze dominated the air once again.
After several silent moments, Kidreyli spoke up, “I am sorry about that display earlier.”
“You need not apologize.”
“I do. It was out of character for me to jump headlong into such a fracas. It just felt like it was something I had to do.”
Kaitra laughed, “And you did it so well.”
Kidreyli smiled.
Kaitra got on her knees behind her lover and rubbed her shoulders and neck. She said, “I hope your mother is able to come. I have a great desire to meet her.”
“That feels wonderful,” she said as she moved her head around helping direct the massage. “Talenyan is a very determined individual. If she wants to see me, she will find a way to get there.”
Into the Fray: Volume 1 of The Sorcerers of Jhanvia Series Page 24