“Lebuin, how did you come to this belief?”
“I didn’t know this until I was almost killed, Ticca. I had a rather unusual experience in that I left my body and entered into the ethereal realm. There, I had unbelievable recall of every event in my life, going back to the beginning. I relived the forgotten incident, except that now I am older and could interpret what happened. I know that I likely killed a boy that looked like Magus Cune, and that Magus Cune had lifted his lifeless body, crying out for help, as I was spirited away by the other senior mages.”
“I’ve heard of near-death experiences, but can they be trusted?”
Lebuin laughed. “You have spent more time with Kliasa than I, Ticca. Kliasa is holding on between, and when I visited and was trained by her there, I learned that my first experience was true and could be believed.”
Runa-Illa let out a gasp. She stared at Lebuin and blurted out, “Kliasa? The Kliasa of legend? She still lives? How can this be? She was killed long ago by the orcs! It is her death’s blood revenge that drives Shar-Lumen, the Nhia-Samri’s Grand Warlord, even today.”
Lebuin looked at Illa with sadness. “Yes, Ticca and I were both trained by the Kliasa. She is dead, but her spirit lingers, waiting for her love. She has gained some powers which she has used to help us.”
Runa-Illa bowed her head. “Shar-Lumen does not know this. This is all so tragically romantic—in death, she awaits her love, and in life, her love seeks revenge for her death.”
Ticca’s thoughts spun around her own interactions with Kliasa’s spirit—all the lessons she had learned and all of Kliasa’s secrets.
Kliasa has spoken a little of this, and she has told me many times she is between. But she won’t go into details about it beyond vague references. I suppose, with a mage’s training of the mind, one could walk through memories pretty easily in that place.
Ticca thought out loud as the facts fell into a new pattern. “Cune was out to get you. You told us this before. Also, that he placed a bet with an unsavory sort that you would survive your experiences as a journeyman. This, of course, meant that he had really hired assassins through a middle man to get you.”
Lebuin nodded and Runa-Illa frowned.
This is new to her. This is going to be interesting for her, too, I guess. We are finally going to see this from the other side and she will, too.
Lebuin continued, “I had to leave on a quest and decided to hire a Dagger for protection when Ditani joined me. Ditani, as Magus Vestul’s longtime servant, was to help Vestul turn over something to Duke. But before that exchange, Magus Vestul was assassinated, and his pouch, boots, and other items were taken by the Knife.”
“Ditani, not being able to find Magus Vestul, came to the Guild for help, except everyone he knew he could trust was dead. Not knowing what else to do, he asked me for help.”
Lebuin turned to Ditani, who had been leaning against the cave wall, listening to everything. Looking at Ditani across the fire, Ticca was surprised to see his eyes caught the firelight like a nocturnal hunter, reflecting the light back. But when Ditani looked at Lebuin, his eyes were their normal golden brown.
Dang, his eyes are odd sometimes. I know you’re more than you pretend to be. Now, Lebuin’s eyes are doing that light-reflecting trick sometimes. Maybe it’s another sign of a Magus.
“Ditani, I meant to ask you, why did you decide to ask me for help? There were dozens of senior Magi around, and I had just become a Journeyman.”
Ditani looked surprised. “Milord, I told you when we first talked in your room. I didn’t know who to trust. The other Magi I knew had faith that you were going to be a great Magus someday. Finding all of the Magi I knew I could trust dead or missing was a shock. I could only turn to the head of the Guild, or perhaps to the one man all of them had said was trustworthy, which was you.”
Lebuin frowned. “Why not trust Councilor Nillo?”
Ditani shook his head. “I was reacting to what I found myself in. I cannot answer that clearly.”
That is a strange answer. She looked at Ditani hard and he knew it, because he shifted, as if uncomfortable at the inspection. He isn’t telling us something. I know it. But should I mention that now? Looking at Lebuin, she saw he had read her body language, and she knew he wanted her to drop it. We really have become a solid team in this short time, that’s for sure. Okay, if you want me to leave it alone for now, I will.
Lebuin acknowledged her thoughts with a twist of his head and went on.
“Things get interesting at this point. Because you,” nodding at Illa, “are going to be surprised by this next bit, and you two,” looking at Ditani and Ticca, “will be surprised by the knowledge I gained from Illa’s odassi.” Everyone was leaning in towards Lebuin.
Lebuin yawned, then grabbed some leftover meat from the meal and picked at it as he continued, trying to stay awake. “We already know that the Knife who killed Magus Vestul tried to capture Ticca. Ticca killed him, and thinking that it was impossible to get his things to anyone who deserved or could claim them, took the fine boots and pouch he had.”
Illa’s gaze snapped from Lebuin to Ticca. She didn’t blink as her brows creased.
That is news for you. Well, think about it. I killed a professional Knife who had killed a great Magus. That should make you worry about attacking me.
“Ticca, not knowing about Vestul, found that the boots and pouch suited her and wore them out on her day of relaxation in the market.”
Lebuin paused and pointed at Ticca. “And there is where the first assassination attempt happened. We thought that was against me. But really, what happened was I got in the way. I killed that assassin, but was nearly mortally wounded in the process.”
Ticca pushed back her hair so she could see Lebuin better. “Wait, you said you got in the way. Wasn’t that attack on you?”
Lebuin shook his head. “I wasn’t the target of that assassination attempt. In fact, you, Ticca, were the intended target.”
Wait, what? I was the target? She looked at Lebuin in disbelief. Lebuin was smiling that sideways smile he used when he had the better of her.
“Even more interesting is that when I was healed in the temple, those watchers were not looking for me. They were looking for you. The second assassin you killed in the small hospice wasn’t after me. He was after you, all along.”
Ditani leaned in. “You’re saying these attacks were really the Nhia-Samri continuing to try and get what Magus Vestul was bringing to Llino?”
Lebuin looked around at all of them. “Yes, the Nhia-Samri had orders to intercept Magus Vestul before he met with Duke and steal his pouch, which was guaranteed to have his secret research. They were to deliver the pouch unopened back to their Grand Warlord as soon as possible, and above all, to not engage Duke or Magus Vestul. Their presence in Llino was to remain a secret at all costs.”
Ticca’s mind rearranged all the events, before and after meeting Lebuin, in a new order. Facts that previously didn’t fit well fell into place. “So they were after me because I was wearing Magus Vestul’s pouch?”
“Exactly. And because of you, they were exposed to Duke. Ossa-Ulla was sure that Duke had destroyed their entire regiment stationed in Llino, as well as their outpost. Ossa-Ulla took it personally that you hired me to protect you, and that you pretended to be a new Dagger with only a trivial amount of experience to entrap him. He was also sure that I was some kind of Guild special operative, pretending to be a ninny, whom you hired cycles before Magus Vestul arrived to help protect him. Further, they think Magus Vestul is still alive and you were drawing them out by wearing his pouch.”
That is why he was so pissed off at me at the gate. He thought I had laid a trap for him and cornered him into exposing their operations.
“So you were never a target. But if all those people were out to kill me, where were the Knives that were supposed to be after you?”
Not waiting for an answer, Ticca’s mind quickly made another association. Oh, my Lord
, I am the one being hunted by the Nhia-Samri, not Lebuin. That is why he knew Runa-Illa wasn’t going to kill him.
Glaring at Lebuin, she felt her face burning. “Wait a minute!” Her heart rate picked up, and clenching her fists, she pointed at Lebuin. “You knew they were hunting me, and sent me out on a horse-gathering walk with a Nhia-Samri without a warning!” She was already on her feet, but she didn’t remember getting up. Her knives were in her hands.
Lebuin didn’t react, but Runa-Illa had grabbed her odassi, although she was still sitting and hadn’t drawn them yet. She looked concerned and uncertain about what to do.
Lebuin held up his hand. “Ticca, slow down. Take some breaths. Illa is mine, one hundred percent. I know I can trust her as much as I trust you or Ditani. Even if I sent her away, she would never betray me or curse me. I also know she is no threat to you. Please, I’m not done yet.”
She forced herself to relax. “You better have a damned good ending to this, or I am going to walk out of here and leave you, coin or not.” She put her knives back and sat down hard.
Lady, I thought I could trust him. That was a stupid thing for him to test on me.
Lebuin had the decency to look concerned, and he continued in a subdued tone. “Ticca, really, I know what I know, and I trust it as much as we all trust Kliasa. You can probably ask her tonight, if you want. Yes, the Nhia-Samri are after that pouch and the notes it contains, and are under orders to kill everyone involved with it. My involvement is because of where I chose to stand.”
Oh, my Lady! I know Kliasa hasn’t told him of her secret, so he cannot be using that phrase on me on purpose. A tear rolled down her cheek at the memory it brought back. ‘An entire race died because of where I chose to sit.’ He is here by chance or by an act of the Gods. In fact, I know the Gods are mixed up in this. We are meant to be here, now and together. Uncle, you always said being a Dagger was sometimes harder than anyone could imagine, and now I know you were not just talking about fighting. Something important is happening and we are here now. There is a right and a wrong here, and we must find the right.
Taking a firm grip on her emotions, Ticca softened her voice. “Sorry for yelling. You’re right. I trust you, and so that means I have to believe you are doing what you think is right for all of us. You say she isn’t a Nhia-Samri anymore.”
Runa-Illa had relaxed again. She was going to protect Lebuin from me. Damn, this might break out into a fight with Illa. But this has to get resolved now, instead of at a critical moment in the future.
Keeping an eye on Illa and her hands loose and ready near her weapons, Ticca plunged into the question that had to be asked. “Did you know she thinks you are her God?”
Runa-Illa ignored Ticca’s stance to look back to Lebuin with that puppy-dog look.
Lebuin sighed. “Yes. You think I broke the Nhia-Samri incantations and fooled her. I didn’t do anything but grab her odassi with the intent to use it against her. I can’t explain everything that happened. I learned a lot of Illa’s life and reports. I also felt Illa giving herself to me and begging me for forgiveness and acceptance. I felt Ossa-Ulla’s joy at discovering he never had a chance, and I understood what that meant. I saw his commander, General Eshra-Zunia, and the warlord she answered to, named Maru-Ashua. The warlord tried to locate us and discover what was happening. I destroyed the links. But something more happened. Once safe, I could see Illa’s soul with nothing held back. She offered herself freely and fully, and I knew this to be good and accepted it. As to the symbol change on the odassi, I have no explanation for that.”
“It is your symbol emblazed in your being, my Lord. In accepting me, your essence tied me to you, with or without the odassi. But you know their usefulness, and allowed them to serve you, too,” Runa-Illa said, surprising everyone.
Lebuin looked into Runa-Illa’s eyes and then nodded. “Yes, I felt that, too. But I don’t understand it. I am not a God.”
Runa-Illa shook her head and said, “Yes you are, my Lord.”
Ditani surprised everyone by saying, “She is right. You probably shouldn’t deny it any longer. It will eventually be discovered, but it shouldn’t be kept a secret from you anymore. For now, it shouldn’t be shared beyond us, however.”
They all stared at Ditani, and he sighed and looked at Lebuin. “Your mother was the daughter of Argos and Lothia. You were born because your mother invested all her vast power in conceiving you, nurturing you, and giving birth to you. Lebuin, you were a demi-god, conceived in love and raised with Argos and Lothia watching over you.”
Ditani took Illa’s hand. “In accepting Illa here, you have accidentally stepped over the line between demi-god and God. You have allowed channels to be created within your being which now draw energies from followers. Your powers can be immense, but you must be careful, because there are many issues with this path. Unfortunately, it is not something that can be reversed. The door is open, the channels have already filled, and you are what you are—a God.”
Ticca had had enough. “You have been acting a little off since the day I met you. This proves you are not what you pretend to be. Who are you really, Ditani? And don’t tell me you’re just some servant!”
“I am Lebuin’s uncle.”
Lebuin’s mouth dropped open, and Runa-Illa was also stunned.
Ticca, caught off-guard, blurted out, “Wait, if you’re Lebuin’s uncle, then you are the son of Argos. That makes you a God yourself!”
Ditani shook his head. “No, I am a strong mortal. I have no powers. In the vernacular of the temples, I am a hero. I do not have control of magic, nor could I become a God, even if I wished it.”
This explains everything! Ditani wasn’t a servant. He was a friend of Magus Vestul, probably trying to help with whatever is going on. He knew who Lebuin was, and was devoted to Lebuin because of the relationship. Ditani pulled Lebuin into this because he didn’t realize how dangerous this situation was going to be. He probably thought he was going to help out his nephew as he entered the world. Then things went out of control. Ossa-Ulla was right—he was fighting Gods and heroes.
Oh, my Lord, I am working for YOUR grandson! You better be watching!
As her thoughts raced, she couldn’t help feeling smug about the situation.
Uncle, you’ll definitely not believe this.
CHAPTER 2
SECRECY HAS ITS PRICE
Circling cautiously, Dohma kept his weight distributed 80/20. Cundia was at the edge of his peripheral vision. I can’t lose sight of Cundia. I have to be there to support her when she moves, he reminded himself. The moment came; Cundia feinted, and seizing the opportunity she provided him, he lunged in. Orahda barely moved, but it was enough to dodge his attack. A foot came from nowhere and slammed him so hard in the waist that he was spun and put off-balance.
Cundia tried to help him, but in attempting to give him cover, she exposed herself, and Orahda showed little mercy. He hit her so hard with his short sword that she yelped in pain and fell to the ground, cursing. Realizing he was in trouble and couldn’t help Cundia, he dove sideways to get out of the weapons master’s range. Orahda shuffle-stepped after him so rapidly, a dust cloud was formed. Realizing too late he had placed himself in an indefensible stance, he grimaced, knowing a painful reminder was coming. The weapons master touched his shoulder, and the force was like being hit by a wild horse cart. He landed, rolling in the dirt. Damn it, we got too eager. Patience, patience, patience—have to fight the adrenaline in a fight always!
Applause came from a few observers as a shadow blocked the sun from Dohma’s view. Wiping his eyes to clear them, he saw the smiling face of the weapons master standing over him with his hand out to help him up. “You’re dead, milord.” Looking over at Cundia, he added, “You, too. That was foolish, to try to cover for Dohma. At least, Dohma had the sense to try to get away.”
Cundia stood up, holding her side. She laughed, waving her hand at Orahda. “It is a professional hazard, trying to protect folks.” Pressi
ng her side, she winced. “I think you bruised a couple of ribs.”
“If I hadn’t turned my blade on the side, I would have cut through those ribs. You can dwell on that while you rest. I think you might even realize how you could have succeeded without exposing yourself so badly.”
She nodded. “Well, we normally don’t have to fight people half as fast as you, for one. But I’ll think about it, because I know you aren’t going to tell me until I, at least, make a real effort to figure it out for myself.”
Taking the offered help, he stood. Various muscles complained and a few joints in his left leg joined in the chorus as he put weight on them. I am going to be sore for a few days, unless I can find some time to get to the steam rooms. Rubbing a couple of sore spots, he looked at Cundia and indicated Orahda with his head. “Sometimes I think Orahda enjoys inflicting pain.”
“I have found it to be an inspirational teacher. At least, you are not letting yourself become pudgy.”
Dohma laughed and slapped the weapons master on the back. “If I did, you’d come down to the throne room and drag me up here for practice.”
Laughing together, the three of them cleaned their practice gear. Cundia and Dohma took off the light leather practice armor, handing it to one of the pages. Orahda still refused to use any armor. Dohma shook his head. “Exactly when will you decide to wear armor?”
Orahda was dressed in his typical brown semi-loose leather pants and sleeveless, leather fighting vest with a high, closed collar. His pitch-black hair was kept Karakian style, tightly braided with red and green beads tied to fall, half forward and half backward, over his left shoulder. Not for the first time, Dohma wondered how old Orahda really was. He has been teaching since I was a small boy. He took me in and mentored me to the captaincy of the guard. Yet, he never seems to age or tire. I have seen him fight all day without getting winded or even sweating more than a little. Orahda’s exposed arms had dozens of crisscrossed scars on the hairy, darkly-tanned skin which moved over bunching muscles. Even training experienced Daggers two, or even three, at a time, he still refused to wear any type of armor or helmet.
Thread Strands (Golden Threads Trilogy) Page 4