by Dan Decker
Chapter 11
Soret shifted one of her hands from Jorad's waist and touched his face. He turned and gave her a tight smile, before turning his attention back to the horse. Typical! Whenever a woman tried to reach out to a troubled man, he pushed her away. Soret squirmed, trying to find a more comfortable position, but it was cramped with both of them on the horse. Unable to find anything more comfortable, she sighed and resigned herself to the discomfort. The sun wasn't making things any better and she wished that she'd thought to bring a hat. They were in front of the others as they made their way back to Neberan and it was taking a special effort on her part to avoid looking back at the men from Rarbon.
Soret was confused about the fight between Adar and the others. Adar wasn’t a trusting man and to enter into an agreement with men that had almost killed him—or rather tried to kill him—was unthinkable.
Her anger with Jorad had become sheer terror when she saw how recklessly he'd thrown himself into the fight. Jorad could have died and an argument had been the last thing they’d done together.
When she had the nerve to watch the fight, she’d been surprised to see Jorad alive. How could she have known that Jorad was actually skilled with his sword? Erro was lucky to be alive, several times over. She felt her face flush as she remembered thinking that Jorad should stand up for himself more often. She hadn’t realized that he’d been refraining to avoid taking advantage of the inexperience of Erro.
She had screamed when Jorad had gone to kill Tere and couldn’t begin to describe her relief when Adar had intervened. She was beginning to wonder if there was there something to Erro’s poster after all.
“Wait until I tell my parents that you are the next Ghar of Rarbon,” Soret said playfully, she felt Jorad’s arms tense. “They’ll forget all about Erro.”
“I wouldn't bet on it,” Jorad said. “Besides, it won't be as simple as it sounds.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have to pass a number of trials before I can become a Rahar. After that, I have still more testing before I can be made Ghar.”
“What will the tests be like?”
“It depends. The Rarbon Council decides all that. It's never the same thing. Many of my ancestors have died during the testing.”
“Oh.” Soret had never heard about that.
“My father passed all the tests and somebody killed my mother on the eve of what would have been Adar’s inauguration to keep him from ascending.”
Soret didn’t know how to respond. There was a lot more going on here then what was happening between them, but like fish swimming below the surface of a lake, she was able to catch only a few glimpses. She had always thought that there was more to Jorad than being a wanderer, but all this was unexpected. There were too many things to sort out. How did she feel about Jorad? Should she go with him to Rarbon? What about the Hunwei?
Soret had been convinced that Jorad was lying to her about the Hunwei, but now she wasn't so sure. Both Jorad and Adar were adamant about the Hunwei returning. Soret had been in the forest during the night and knew things would appear different from the day. Surely, the shadows Jorad had seen were something else.
Soret shivered despite the heat of the late evening sun. The stories that she’d heard about the Hunwei as a child had made it impossible to sleep until her father had explained that they were just stories. Without realizing what she was doing, Soret scooted closer to Jorad. That was even more uncomfortable and after a bit, she shifted back again.
Jorad was leaving today and Soret wouldn’t see him again if she didn’t go too, she was certain about that. Rarbon was more than a month’s journey away, possibly two. How long before a pretty Rarbonian girl would make Jorad forget all about her?
What would Soret do if she went? Join the Radim? Her pulse quickened at the thought. Jorad had said that it was true that the Radim accepted women and had whole armies comprised of them, but there weren’t any women with Tere.
Soret imagined strapping on a Radim sword, but it was a strange thought. Still that might be a better life than staying in Neberan and marrying a farmer, or even a wealthy merchant’s son like Erro. Nothing ever happened in Neberan. The exciting things always seemed to happen in a far off place. She wished that they would happen here sometimes too.
When rumors would come from places like Colonipo or Paroux, she dreamed of seeing the events firsthand. Paroux, now there was a city that she wanted to see! Paroux’s shining walls and towers that climbed to the clouds were supposed to be taller than Vigorock and far more beautiful. Jorad had mentioned that he’d lived there but hadn’t talked much about it. To him, it was just another place. Sometimes Jorad and Soret seemed as different as night and day. She remained lost in thought for the rest of the trip and was surprised when she looked up and saw that they were at the Gartel boarding house. After Jorad, Adar, Tere and the others had seen to the needs of the horses they headed in to the common room. Soret had offered to help Jorad with his horse but he'd refused.
The common room of the boarding house was largely empty, it still a little bit too early for dinner. Soret recognized Wes talking with one of the serving girls. She couldn't tell who it was because her back was turned. As always, Anny did a good job of keeping the boarding house clean, which was surprising given the type of clientele that usually frequented the Gartel establishment.
There were three strangers talking with Anny. The first, a pretty woman, turned when they entered. Soret pushed back several strands of her hair that had gone askew. The woman smiled, looking appreciatively at Jorad’s shoulders. Soret cringed and found herself baring her teeth at the stranger. She tried to change it to a smile of her own but wasn’t sure that she succeeded. It was rare that Neberan had visitors other than merchants. These three strangers, combined with Tere and his men from Rarbon, all at once? This was going to cause quite a stir.
The woman looked relieved to see Adar and started towards him but stopped when she saw Tere.
“Melyah take me!” Tere spoke first, addressing the woman. “Xarda, what are you doing here?”
“Uncle Tere,” Xarda said, “you know I like to travel!”
Tere didn’t reply as Soret looked between the two of them. They were related? Xarda was taller than Tere and while he was haggard, she was beautiful, despite her worn clothes and the sword strapped to her back.
Soret did a double take and couldn’t help but stare at the weapon, it was smaller than Tere’s, but it was a Radim sword. No doubt about it. It was true that the Radim allowed women to join their ranks. The other two strangers with Xarda approached. The first was a large man who stood a head taller than Jorad and Adar. He might even be bigger than Thon. The second was a younger scrawny guy. He was Jorad's age, maybe a little older.
“Xarda,” Adar said, “You’re as beautiful as your mother and Karn you’re just as big a man as you were a boy. Who’s the kid?”
“Leron,” said the scrawny guy. “To think I thought Xarda was crazy to drag us out here. It’s an honor to meet you.” Leron had recognized Adar without an introduction. How had he done that? Soret had overheard that Adar hadn’t been to Rarbon in over fifteen years. There was no way this kid was old enough to remember him.
“It seems that you have just as many supporters as you always did.” Tere gritted his teeth. “Never mind the fact that you’re wanted for murder. Do I need to remind you all that he was stripped of his title and there is a standing death order on his head? An order that any Radim is duty bound to fulfill?”
Xarda looked indignant and cut Leron off from making a response. “Come now uncle, I don’t care what happened with you two. You can’t really believe Adar murdered his own wife? Your mother never understood your anger and neither do I. You too were like brothers.”
Adar was accused of killing Jorad’s mother? His wife? That was something that Jorad hadn't mentioned. Tere’s hands balled into fists and Adar folded his arms. Soret had a feeling it wouldn’t take much to
break apart their pact.
“I was there,” Tere said. “I saw the bloody dagger and her blood on his hands. Nelion’s lover lay at her side, gasping in the throes of death. I’d kill him now if I didn’t need him.” Tere looked as if he wanted to spit but then noticed how clean the floor of the common room was so he swallowed instead.
“Even with two men you couldn’t kill Adar,” Jorad said, his voice was firm but he looked confused. Soret wondered if this was the first he’d heard that his mother had been found with another man.
“Nelion was faithful,” Adar said to Tere. His voice was calm and the tone was even, but there was fire in the words that even Soret was able to pick up on. “You never explained how you found me so fast.”
Soret felt Jorad stir and realized he was reaching for his sword so she stepped away as she tried to absorb everything. She noticed Leron staring at her. She grimaced when he flashed a toothy smile at her, never mind all the tension in the room. The others could have been talking about the weather for all the attention he was paying them. She’d have to keep an eye on that one.
“What are you accusing me of?” Tere took a step forward.
“Are you backing out of our agreement?” Adar almost looked hopeful.
The two men stood staring at each other until Tere lowered his hand. Soret hadn’t even noticed him reaching for his sword. Adar’s arms were still folded but he looked the more dangerous of the two by far.
“Our deal stands!” Tere said. “I don’t know why we bothered to find Jorad. The years I’ve wasted, only to learn Xarda knew where to find him all along!” Tere stormed out. His men followed him several moments later.
“Don’t worry about him,” Xarda said. “A lot of people never believed his story. Some even say that he was more likely to have killed Nelion than you.”
“You’re late,” Adar said. “I expected people more than two months ago.”
“So this is why we came to Neberan?” Jorad sputtered. The air in the common room seemed to get colder. Adar met Jorad’s glare as Xarda shifted uncomfortably.
“I made these plans years ago, before you even knew anything about your duty.”
“And why didn’t you tell me?”
“It hadn't come up yet.”
As the two men faced each other, Soret became afraid it might come to blows. She took Jorad’s hand and he looked startled, as if he’d forgotten she was there.
Karn, the big man, cleared his throat. “Uh, it’s my fault that we are late. While on the road, I heard a rumor that,” he paused to look around the room, “we had to investigate.”
“Give me a full report.” Adar motioned for Karn to follow him outside.
“This conversation isn’t over.” Jorad held Soret’s hand tight enough that it was beginning to hurt.
Adar pulled the door closed behind him without answering.
Xarda touched Jorad and Soret found herself bristling. Xarda was older than Jorad, but she was very pretty and men didn’t care about age. The golden brown hair and those wide eyes had no doubt attracted many men. “Jorad! You look like your father but I can see your mother in you as well.”
“You knew my mother?” Jorad muttered as he stared after Adar. Soret could feel his heartbeat racing through his hand. “Was she as infuriating as my father?”
“Hard to say,” Xarda said. “I only met her a couple times.”
“I barely remember her.”
“Well, the portraits still hang in the Council Chambers. Perhaps that will help.”
There were portraits of Jorad’s mother? That meant there were portraits of Adar as well. No wonder Adar didn’t need an introduction; his people would know him on sight. Soret had never known anybody wealthy enough to have a portrait done. Not even Erro’s parents had portraits. Soret couldn’t help but stare at Jorad as if she was seeing him for the first time.
Xarda turned to Soret. “Are you Jorad’s wife?”
Soret felt her cheeks blush and chanced a shy glance at Jorad but he was still staring at the door. He hadn't heard the question. “We’re not married! I’m too young for that.”
“Don’t mind her too much.” Leron flashed a mischievous grin at Soret. “She's nosier then ten women combined!” Leron laughed. “Marriage is all Xarda thinks about. I’m just here to keep Xarda and Karn from—ouch! As I was saying, I’m just here to keep Xarda from seducing Karn. Poor man wouldn’t know what hit him. Ha!” Leron move to avoid a punch from Xarda.
Soret couldn’t help but laugh; she cut it short when she realized that Jorad hadn’t joined her.
