Feeling much better, she looked out on the streets through the cracks in the drapes.
“You look a lot better than you should.”
“A healing draught will do that for you.”
He frowned. “You used a healing draught? Were you that wounded, or is this that important?”
She smiled at him. Thank you for not jumping to a conclusion. You are a remarkable man. She shook her head. “No, I was given one by that baker. He wasn’t a baker. It was he who broke the axle on our cart, and I suspect he also made sure I fell in his direction. I don’t recall it all clearly, but I think I hit harder and faster than I should have. I didn’t have time to react.”
Nigan frowned deeper, his hand fingering his dagger’s hilt. “He broke our cart, wounded you, and then healed you. That is a bit much. Do you know why?”
“To prevent me from parading in front of my father and Warlord Maru-Ashua, thus exposing our Lord’s nature.”
Nigan leaned back, sighing. “Lords and Ladies, what are the chances that the warlord is here and has your own father with him? If they had seen you, there might have been a real scene.”
“Actually, the chances are pretty good. This is Magus Vestul’s home. Duke hasn’t made it a secret he is here. My father is a senior officer for the warlord. My guess is they are coming here to negotiate with Duke. Still, we must hide because there is a good chance we could expose too much.”
Nigan shook his head and said, “Illa, I’m sorry I didn’t move faster. I should have prevented your injury. I’ll be more prepared next time.”
She smiled and touched his knee. “Nigan, you are a great friend. I doubt anyone could have stopped this, as it was without warning and directed to a specific purpose. It was well done.”
Nigan still looked concerned as he fussed, saying, “Well, I swear that hole wasn’t there. But then it was, and we hit it. The cart was strong and shouldn’t have broken like that. Someone used a lot of magic without any telltale signs that I’m used to.” He looked up and then back at her, smiling. “I’m glad of that! Lebuin can’t blame me for hitting a hole that wasn’t there until we drove into it!”
Ellua and Bayion followed Dohma through the palace. It had been a dizzying week and Dohma was going to leave in the morning for Gracia to join the Assembly of the Covenant. He had been putting this meeting off as long as possible, but it needed to be addressed.
Orahda has faithfully continued to train the Daggers and guards for the last week. I have let myself be too distracted by Countess Electra. At the thought of her, his mind summoned her image, and he lingered on her face and recalled the floral perfume she favored, which reminded him of spring when all the lavender first bloomed. She is wonderful, and I enjoy talking with her. She has a great education and appreciation for history. Shaking his head, he refocused on the task at hand. Orahda had killed two Dagger commanders without any real provocation. Yes, they had turned out to be Nhia-Samri agents. Still, the regents needed an explanation.
Behind the regents were the ever-present Daggers and personal guards. The guards were rotated regularly from the city guard but the Daggers were constant. They had gravitated such that Ellua had Yuilla all the time, Bayion had become fast friends with Lomdri, and Cundia was always by Dohma’s side. The Daggers were experienced veterans, superior warriors, advisors, and friends. Bayion and Ellua had agreed when he had proposed that they make it a requirement for any regent to have a Dagger advisor and guard, from the Dagger elite, chosen by the Dolphin owner or Duke.
The sun had set as they entered the quiet weapons-training grounds. Crossing the open area, they came to the weapons master’s quarters. Dohma knocked and Orahda opened it before he could land a second knock. “My Lords and Lady Regents, please come in, I have been expecting you.”
Dohma motioned for the guards to wait outside and entered, followed by his brother, sister, and the three Daggers. The Daggers spread out, but stayed by the door.
Dohma looked around, never having been in Orahda’s private quarters. They were spacious, with a small kitchen and a table. Hot arit and some cookies were laid out on the table, and Orahda motioned for them to sit. Dohma moved over, but as he started to sit, he noticed that laying on the bed on the far side of the quarters, was a uniform identical to the one the Royal Daggers wore—the black-armored jerkin with the golden sigil of Aelargo superimposed on a single Dagger. Also, a full traveling pack was set on the floor in front of the bed.
Dohma sat and said, “Are you planning to go somewhere, Orahda?”
Orahda poured some arit for all four of them into cups, and then let them choose one. He took the last one and drank it down in one gulp. He then sat down in the remaining chair. He indicated with his chin, the items on the bed. “My Lord, I will accompany you tomorrow to Gracia disguised as one of your Dagger guards.”
Ellua looked at him. “You assume much, Weapons Master. How is it you can say this so easily, with so much assurance?”
Orahda looked at her without any hint of guile or timidity. Dohma suppressed a laugh at his sister’s obvious surprise that Orahda wasn’t intimidated by her. He is one of the few I know that can look my sister in the eye like that.
Orahda smiled. “Because we all know that I killed enemies of the state who were about to expose a state secret to the Nhia-Samri, which would be devastating to Aelargo.”
All three of the Daggers frowned, as did Ellua. Bayion leaned forward, grabbed a cookie, and plopped it into his mouth.
Why is Bayion not surprised by these strange statements?
Ellua recovered and looked at Dohma for support. Dohma shrugged and said, “Sorry, Ell, you jumped in and attacked. I know you just started taking weapons training, but you should know Orahda is a master at dealing with attacks.”
Ellua huffed and gave him the ‘fine, you deal with it’ look she had mastered over the years.
Dohma leaned back and sipped his arit. “Orahda, you insisted we see you here in your quarters. You insisted on taking care of the odassi blades yourself, and they have vanished. You have served here for longer than seems possible, yet look as young as I. I did check the records. You have been serving as weapons master for over thirty-eight years, and you practically seized the job after being here for only two years as a weapons training assistant. Before that, I can’t find a single record. Can we please put an end to all the mysteries?”
Orahda smiled. “Dohma, you are my best student. I am proud of you and I suspected who you were from the time I met you. It is true, I have served here for a long time. In fact, I have served the Kingdom of Aelargo for over forty years now.”
He paused to let that sink in, because neither Ellua or Bayion had known how long he had been weapons master there. Ellua’s eyes and her face were active as she took an inventory of the room. Bayion looked at Orahda, then nodded as if he understood something.
Orahda continued. “I asked we meet here because I have spent those forty years weaving protections into the walls of this area, and especially, these quarters. We are more secure here than almost any place else in the world. This room is as proof against magical scrying, or wards, or other mundane spying, as any Magus, Master Knife, or Master Spy can make it. I know, because I had help from the best, including a Magus unequaled in history at doing this. He tested these walls himself and was unable to penetrate them.”
Dohma looked around again, but the room was the same. He had only Orahda’s word for this. Still, he trusted his instincts and they were telling him Orahda was speaking the truth. Dohma said, “I believe we all understand. I believe you. Please continue.”
Orahda reached behind him and, from a secret panel, pulled out two odassi, which were far more ornate than the ones the two agents had. The Daggers all sucked in air and stood with their mouths open, staring at Orahda. Orahda laid the odassi carefully and respectfully on the table before him.
“My name is Amia-Dharo, and I swore to protect the Realms of the Covenant long ago, and again, before Duke and the r
ulers of the realms forty years ago. Magus Vestul witnessed my renouncement of the Nhia-Samri, my reaffirmation of my oath to the realms, and helped me share with Duke the reasons for my actions. I have and will faithfully serve the Realms of the Covenant for as long as I live. I came here at the request of a couple of those same rulers to determine why the regents here had chosen to start ignoring the Covenant. After finding corruption in the nobles here, I sought a way to restore Aelargo without resorting to war. I swore an additional personal oath to restore honor to Aelargo, and have worked for forty years to this end. Your ascension is a blessing of the Gods to me.”
Looking at each regent in turn, he bowed his head. Then he looked back at Dohma. “As to the two Nhia-Samri, they recognized me and were about to call out my name, alerting the Grand Warlord Shar-Lumen of my location. His reaction would have been swift and terrible for all.”
Dohma’s mind spun at the revelation. He couldn’t put Amia-Dharo into the role of his mentor, guide, and trusted friend, just a moment before, held by the mysterious Orahda, Weapons Master of Llino. Then he laughed as he remembered the weapons master’s records. “Orahda Ima. That was the name you gave to the captain of the guard forty years ago. You mean to say, spelling your name backwards has foiled Shar-Lumen and the massive Nhia-Samri hunt for you for forty years?”
Cundia laughed once and Dohma noticed his sister was staring at Orahda with her mouth open. Well, that is a rare event, when even Ell is dumbfounded. He noticed that Bayion was smiling and eating another cookie. “You aren’t surprised by this?”
Bayion shook his head. “I figured it out many years ago.”
Amia-Dharo looked at Bayion with surprise. Bayion smiled. “I was always interested in puzzles and cryptology. I even taught myself to read and write backwards. I especially enjoyed being able to read documents, no matter their angle. I saw your name and thought it was upside down, so I read it backwards. At first, I thought it was a coincidence. But then I started watching you. You always wore a high-collared shirt, hiding your neck, and your hair in some style that hid the left side of your head. Of course, watching you fight was also a good indicator. But my instinct was to trust you. So I got to know you and I liked you even more. I have kept your secret. I knew what you were doing was good for the kingdom, but I thought that was who you were. I did read everything I could about the war and knew you were a hero. Now, you say you have been doing this to help restore Aelargo, and I find you a greater hero than I dreamed.”
Amia-Dharo stood and bowed to Bayion. “You have honored me more today than you can know.” He straightened, picked up his odassi from the table, tucking them into his belt, and turned to Dohma.
Amia-Dharo, the second-greatest warrior in history, drew his odassi and knelt before Dohma, head down, arms straight out towards Dohma, with the blades crossed perfectly on the plane between Dohma and himself. “I swear my honor, life, and allegiance to the Kingdom of Aelargo through you, Lord Dohma, the true Chief Regent. Lord Dohma, I am yours and your progeny’s to command for all my days.”
CHAPTER 6
KNOW YOUR ENEMY
WARLORD MARU -ASHUA CONSIDERED HIS CHOICES as he walked the busy merchant streets of Algan. Far from the ocean, the air was drier with musty animal smells mixing with an assortment of foods arrayed in wooden vending carts. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he ducked under a canopy for some shade as he scanned the street for a safe place to leave his men. This is a fool’s errand. Duke will not relent, but he must be made aware of what I have been trying to hold in check.
The city street was bustling with the everyday needs of ordinary people. Warlord Maru-Ashua felt pity for the people he passed. I am not sure which is better—the lives we live now under the Gods or the vast-reaching empire we once were. The Gods do help and most live good lives, but not full lives. We no longer have the limitless potential every life once held. Looking at a group of urchins running down the road after a caravan of some sort, laughing, he allowed himself a moment of joy, but not the smile. He kept his face clear of emotions.
He still didn’t know how he should best approach Duke. He knew he couldn’t take the twenty warriors guarding him. Duke would see a Nhia-Samri unit as a viable threat and never speak with him. I have to leave most of these warriors at an inn and only take a few with me.
He spoke to his guard captain, “Assign four guards to accompany me to see Duke. The rest will wait in a tavern away from Vestul’s residence.”
Runa-Emry’s face hardened and he frowned. If he is ever to command many, he must learn to school his face better. He displays too much of his emotions. Runa-Emry nodded to Warlord Maru-Ashua. The sound of a crash echoed from down the street. Warlord Maru-Ashua glanced over to see that a loaded cart had broken an axle in a street hole. The cart had tipped away from him, but still, there were nearly a dozen men trying to stop more of the goods from spilling out. He noted that most of them were Daggers. They are buying up almost everything from this area in war preparations. At least, we are not at war yet. There is still a chance we can sway the Assembly to deny Duke his warrant.
He watched them for any hint that they recognized him or his men. However, the Daggers were too preoccupied with saving their supplies and fixing the cart. The few Daggers guarding only gave normal watchful glances at the passing people. Satisfied that he and his men were not recognized, he pointed at a tavern he knew. “The men will wait at the Wooden Saw Tavern.” He stepped off and led the way as his forward guards tried to stay ahead of him, without drawing attention.
The captain assigned the three best warriors and himself to escort his warlord. Maru-Ashua left the rest with enough money to enjoy a good meal and some well-deserved rest, after the hard ride to get there, before Duke found what he needed and left. Twelve Daggers stood guard at the gateway to Vestul’s residence, and six more materialized behind him from an alley, as they approached. He ignored the threat. A short, young female Dagger stood in front with an air of authority. He had no doubt she was the commander. Maru-Ashua stepped up to stand only a foot from the young Dagger.
Although he stood a good two hands taller than the girl, she had steel in her eyes, and her dagger was a magnificent bone-hilted knife with hunting hounds. Her curly dark brown hair fell to past her shoulders and was held in place with a clip. She was dressed simply as an officer, even though she looked as young as a new recruit. This must be Ticca. She is as young and inexperienced a Dagger as the reports suggested. She must have enormous natural talent and be a born leader. A shame, she will probably be dead if Duke has his way. He stood in front of her, evaluating her, as she did the same to him.
Neither of them spoke. The girl stood, looking Maru-Ashua and his men over. Maru-Ashua saw no reason to be rude, so he waited. Instead, he took advantage of the time to count the number of Daggers and survey what he could see of Magus Vestul’s property from the gate. A northern big-ring tent had been erected where he presumed the house used to be. The lower half of the far left side of the tent was wrapped around the Magus’s tower, making it look like a tent with a stone tower attached. Some of the other Daggers started looking nervous at the long silence.
Warlord Maru-Ashua looked back at the girl and raised an eyebrow, indicating it was on her to broach the greeting. She continued to look at him without fear. It had been a long time since anyone had dared to stare at him for so long that he began to feel uncomfortable. Damn, she is strong-willed! His mouth felt dry, and he licked his lips.
The girl smiled and said, “Warlord Maru-Ashua, you should have sent a note that you were coming. We are ill-prepared to greet such a distinguished guest.” Then she did a shallow waist bow to him, keeping her eyes on his the whole time.
How can she know who I am? Not even Duke knows who is in command here! He looked at her and saw that she was reading his every emotion. He steeled his face again. Damn it, I am not a raw recruit. I need to gain ground. He gave her an appropriate head bow for a senior officer. “Thank you, Ticca. However, I come to speak t
o Duke. I have only brought my senior officers.”
He watched her face and she didn’t react to his calling her Ticca, so he knew he had guessed correctly. Ticca nodded. “Yes, of course. Colonel Runa-Emry, Lieutenant Colonels Uiollo-Pushan, Brani-Lureum, and Yang-Kiann.” She looked at each officer as she named them and bowed her head, as he had to her, in recognition. His officers, although surprised, bowed their heads back to her.
Damn it, could she be older than she looks? Where did she get this kind of information? For that matter, why am I the one in the dark? For one of the few times in his life, he was stunned to silence. Even if they got every remnant of information from the Llino outpost, my officers’ descriptions and names could not be known. He recovered. “I see. It seems a note would have been redundant. May we be allowed to speak with Duke?”
Ticca looked at him with a soft smile, which he was sure worked well with younger men. I wonder if she even knows she does that. Ticca said, “Wills, please check with Field Marshal Duke’s secretary and ask if the Field Marshal has time to meet with Warlord Maru-Ashua.”
One of the Daggers snapped to attention and saluted. “Yes, sir, General,” and ran off towards the big-ring tent.
Warlord Maru-Ashua couldn’t help it. His eyes snapped back to Ticca when the other Dagger called her ‘general.’ She smiled wider at his surprise. He noted no deception in any of the other Daggers around her. She really is Duke’s general? Who is this woman?!
A richly dressed man came out of the big-ring tent with the Dagger named Wills and walked, without haste, back to the gate. He came up and stood, facing both Ticca and the warlord. “General, I am afraid the Field Marshal is busy at the moment. Might the warlord come back tomorrow at two?”
His pulse stepped up at the dual insults of not being addressed personally and at being asked to return. “Do not insult me further. I have to speak with Duke now.”
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