Zander cleared his throat, but Aiden ignored him.
“Once in a while, they would come into a camp where one of us was put on a block and bid on like we were livestock – a horse or cattle. And it was our fellow men who sold us, bought us, treated us like animals!”
Tovan lowered his eyes.
“So, after what I’ve been through, after what Naia and Le have survived, I’m not about to listen to some misplaced schooling on Nazarien culture. I don’t give a damn for your ways, and you know what, I’m not Nazarien, so I don’t have to follow them.”
“You came to us for help!” said Tovan loudly.
“And you’ll give it because you don’t have a choice! If Dorland falls, Tirsbor will be right behind it. I cannot stress enough that Stravad made up the bulk of the slaves, Tovan. Stravad, not Humans. If you ignore me and turn me away, it is your people who suffer, not mine!”
Tovan and Aiden glared at each other over the dormant fire pit. Beck shifted uncomfortably.
“Zander has made a pledge for Naia’s hand.”
“He told me.”
“I’ve granted him his request.”
“That’s a shame.”
“You try my patience, Aiden Cerik.”
“As you do mine.”
Beck held up a hand. “It is not so much for you to respect our ways as we respect yours.”
“Not where Naia’s concerned. That’s not open for discussion.”
Tovan reached into his tunic and pulled out a small, round tube. “Maybe this will change your mind.”
Aiden’s gaze tracked from the tube to Tovan’s face and back again. He recognized that tube.
“We had an avian messenger from Dorland. It came in just this morning.”
Aiden held out his hand. “Let me see it.”
Tovan pulled it back. “Remember, Aiden Cerik, that even after you’ve insulted our way of life, the Nazarien of Tirsbor have agreed to help you. I know what a strong Dorland means for my people. Be sure of that.” He placed the message in Aiden’s hand.
Aiden pulled off the top and shook the little roll of paper onto his palm, then he unrolled it. Four words. That’s all there was. Four words written in Alasdair’s hand, but Aiden felt the blood drain from his face, leaving him disoriented. Four words, that’s all it took. After weeks of being a slave, after enduring hardship and starvation, he was undone by four words.
He stared at them a long time, trying to make sense of what they said, but his mind couldn’t wrap itself around it.
Four words.
Aiden, Adison betrayed you.
* * *
Aiden lay on his back, staring up at the curved rock of his shelf, trying to process what he’d read. The script had been Alasdair’s. He would know his brother’s hand anywhere, but the words themselves…
Adison betrayed you.
He and Adison had never been close, had never shared the bond that he and Alasdair did, but still they were brothers. They’d been raised together, had endured their mother’s death, then their father’s. Adison had been there for every significant part of Aiden’s life – schooling, marriage, coronation. And yet he’d betrayed him. He’d sold him to slavers.
His own brother had plotted behind his back and paid to have him killed. How could he trust anyone after this? How could he ever believe that anyone was on his side?
Le appeared in his peripheral vision. “Aiden, why are you in bed?”
“Go away,” he told the boy.
“Naia’s looking for you. She’s worried.”
Aiden rolled his head on the pillow. “Go away, Le.”
“What happened?”
“It’s none of your business.”
Le flinched, hurt. He backed away from the shelf and left.
Aiden folded his hands on his stomach and closed his eyes. He might have slept for a while, but he awoke as other people entered the cave, talking excitedly in Nazarien. He recognized Zander’s voice and another’s. They moved about the cave, gathering clothing and other items, then they left again.
Aiden wasn’t sure how time passed after that. He slept for part of it, part of it he battled his thoughts. His stomach ached from hunger, but he ignored that. He got up to relieve himself once and heard commotion outside the cave. He thought about going to investigate, then decided he didn’t care, so he returned to the shelf and went back to his self-absorbed vigil.
With the dawn, he still hadn’t found a solution to his problem. If he returned to Dorland, Adison would oppose him and he had no one he could trust to back his claim to the throne. Alasdair had sent him warning, which must mean that he knew Aiden had survived the slavers, which must also mean that Adison knew. In fact, if Adison had gone so far to remove him from power, he’d likely send assassins to Tirsbor to eliminate him. What about Lyell Vito? Why had the message come from Alasdair and not Lyell? Was Lyell in on it?
This thought stung more than the others. If Lyell Vito had betrayed him, Eldon knew, there was no one he could trust. Lyell had been a father to him, had been his closest advisor, his greatest champion. If he couldn’t trust Lyell, he was all alone.
Sunlight poured into the cave, making Aiden squint. Le appeared at the side of the shelf once again and his young face held such anguish.
“They’re forcing her to marry him,” he said. “Aiden, they’re forcing her to marry the Nazarien right now.”
Aiden turned his head and stared at the boy, trying to process what he was saying. Forcing who to marry the Nazarien?
“She begged for you to intervene, but you won’t. Why? Why would you abandon her now?”
“Who, Le?”
“Naia. In a few minutes, tis certain she’ll belong to Zander.”
Aiden’s thoughts snapped into focus, then he was moving, sliding out from the shelf and going to the door. He threw the door flap back and stepped onto the walkway. He could see a gathering of Nazarien in the field before the river and standing in the middle of them, in a ceremonial gown of white was a slight figure he recognized.
Aiden went to the ladder and began descending. His legs felt weak and his head swam, but he ignored it, moving as fast as he could. Le followed him. As soon as he reached the ground, he ran toward the gathering, his heart hammering, his dizziness increasing. He came to a panting stop behind them.
Tovan stood under an arch covered with flowers. Before them stood Zander in a dress uniform and beside him was Naia, her beautiful face covered by a lace veil. Next to her was her mother.
Naia turned and looked at him, her blue eyes filled with anguish, but slowly she shook her head. It was too late. He’d wasted his opportunity to stop this, and suddenly he realized who he could trust, who would be there for him through every part of his life. He couldn’t allow this to continue.
“I challenge this man’s right to marry!” he shouted at Tovan.
Tovan gave him a bored look. “You are not part of our faith, Aiden Cerik, you can’t challenge anything.”
“This is a sham. She can’t marry him. She pledged herself to me.”
“By your own custom, King of Dorland, you are already married.”
Aiden shook his head, trying hard to catch his breath. “That marriage has been over for years. Naia and I have already pledged to one another.”
Naia made motions with her hands. Aiden looked to Le for translation.
“She says she opposes this marriage as well. She wants to petition the Nazar for help.”
Zander lifted his head. “I challenge Aiden Cerik for Naia’s hand.”
A murmur went through the crowd.
“I accept,” said Aiden without hesitation.
“No,” said Naia’s mother, Kaelene. “You don’t understand.”
“Silence, woman!” snapped Tovan.
Kaelene glared at Tovan, then stepped away from Naia and faced Aiden. “You’ll have to fight him,” she said. “You cannot win. Not against a trained warrior.”
Zander gave him a slow look of challenge.
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Aiden straightened. “It doesn’t matter. I have to challenge him. I’m not letting this happen.” He saw Le making motions with his hands. Naia’s eyes widened and she shook her head, responding to Le.
“She says she accepts the marriage to Zander. She doesn’t want you to challenge him.”
Aiden held out his arms, circling around toward Zander’s side. “It’s too late. I’ve already challenged him. He has to answer. He can’t ignore a challenge. Right, Zander?”
Zander shifted to follow him. Tension snaked across the field as the people fell back. Then without warning, Zander rushed him, taking him over onto his back. The air was knocked out of him and pain exploded in his head, but he had sense enough to block Zander’s first blow as he leveled it at Aiden’s face.
Grabbing the Nazarien’s wrist, Aiden twisted, throwing him off, then he scrambled into a crouch to face him. Zander sprang up and came at Aiden again, this time swinging under. The blow glanced off Aiden’s jaw, snapping his head back and he staggered away.
Zander aimed a kick at him, but Aiden deflected it, then he struck at Zander, tagging him in the temple. The Nazarien stumbled and Aiden kicked for his knee, but Zander moved at the last moment. They landed hard and Zander got in a few good body blows before Aiden threw him off. They scrabbled to their feet and faced each other, circling. Aiden could feel blood trickling from his nose and Zander had a cut on his cheekbone.
Zander came at him again and Aiden swung, but his blow glanced off the Nazarien’s jaw. Zander slammed into him, throwing him onto his back. Aiden’s vision went dark for a moment and pain ratcheted through his body. He writhed, trying to catch his breath, but the pain shut out all other thought.
He heard Le screaming at him, but he couldn’t respond. He felt like something had broken inside him, making it impossible to stand again. And Zander was approaching. He could see him circling, waiting for the right moment to pounce.
Suddenly Naia was between them, crouched in a fighting stance. That brought Zander up short and he gave her a puzzled look.
“Move!” he commanded.
She shook her head and refused to budge. Aiden knew he needed to get up. She wasn’t fighting his battles for him, but he couldn’t seem to make his legs respond.
A moment later, Le stepped up beside her, the two of them forming a wall to protect him.
“Arrest them both!” said Tovan.
Aiden rolled to his side and fought to get his legs under him.
“Arrest them!” shouted Tovan, but no one moved to obey.
Aiden got to his knees, but gaining his feet was going to require all of his will.
Zander’s gaze fixed on Naia, then slowly he straightened. “I won’t fight you,” he told her. “If this is what you want, I won’t stand in your way.”
Naia didn’t move.
“I will not be ignored!” shouted Tovan.
Suddenly horse hooves could be heard coming from the canyon entrance. Everyone turned to see the newcomers. Tovan stepped out from beneath the arch and faced the entrance as two Nazarien warriors led a small procession into the valley.
“Amaroq!” cried Kaelene and then she was running for the horses as they wheeled to a stop before them.
CHAPTER 24
Amaroq hauled back on the reins and brought his horse to a stop, then he vaulted out of the saddle and caught his mother as she threw her arms around his neck. His eyes went beyond her to the woman wearing a white formal gown, her features obscured by a veil.
Offering his mother a quick smile, he eased her away and took a step toward the woman in white. She was helping a painfully thin Human man to his feet. Amaroq guessed the man was Aiden Cerik, but a moment later, his attention focused on his sister. She reached up and wrenched the veil from her head, tossing it behind her, then she ran and launched herself at him.
He caught her, laughing and lifting her off her feet, swinging her around. He couldn’t believe he’d finally found her again. Setting her on her feet, he smiled at her, but he could feel her confused jumble of emotions.
‘What’s going on?’ he signed, glancing up as Tovan advanced on them, but before she could respond, Shandar was there, pulling her into his arms and kissing the top of her head.
“Eldon’s star, I’m so glad to see you,” he said into her hair.
She hugged him tight in return as Tovan stopped behind her.
“Amaroq, good to have you returned.” His attention shifted behind Amaroq to Kalas, who was just dropping out of the saddle. “Eladrasen.” Tovan placed his closed fist against his heart and bowed his head.
Kalas moved up beside Amaroq as the Human and a boy approached the group. “Commander,” said Kalas, offering his hand, then he held out his hand for the Human. “Aiden Cerik, glad I am to find you.”
The King of Dorland wiped a line of blood from beneath his nose, offering his clean hand. “And I you.”
“You’ve interrupted a very happy time for us, Your Majesty,” said Tovan, drawing his attention. “We were in the midst of a marriage ceremony.”
“Really?”
“Yes, one of our finest warriors, Zander, has agreed to pledge himself to Amaroq’s sister.”
“Tovan,” began Zander, but Tovan waved him off.
“That’s not happening!” snarled the King of Dorland.
Amaroq turned to his sister. So this was the reason for her confused feelings. Shandar had an arm draped around her and one draped about Kaelene, but his brow was furrowed in concern.
‘Is this true?’ signed Amaroq. ‘Are you pledging yourself to Zander?’
Naia shook her head. ‘Tovan’s forcing it. Aiden challenged him, but he’s too weak to win.’
“Aiden Cerik, may I present Amaroq Taheny to you,” said Kalas. “My brother.”
Aiden seemed to notice him for the first time and his gaze narrowed. Holding out his hand, he took Amaroq’s in a firm grip. “I remember your father well. He was a good man.”
Amaroq inclined his head, his focus shifting back to his sister. “Naia says you’re forcing this marriage, Tovan.”
Tovan opened his mouth to speak, but Kaelene tugged on his arm. “It’s a good match, Wolf.”
Amaroq ignored that. “Are you forcing her?”
Tovan exhaled wearily. “Zander has made a pledge and it will be honored.”
“Wait a moment,” said Kalas, holding up a hand.
“It will be honored?” said Amaroq in a level voice. “You’ll force her to wed?”
“The pledge has been accepted.”
“I don’t care. I care only for my sister’s wishes.”
Tovan’s gaze never wavered. “The decision isn’t yours to make. Nor is it hers.”
“How can it not be hers?” asked Kalas.
“Eladrasen, you must understand among the Nazarien…”
“This marriage isn’t happening!” said Amaroq, squaring up to him. He reached out and took Naia’s hand, pulling her behind him. “My sister is returned to us and you’re forcing her into a bond that she doesn’t want.”
“Zander has agreed to provide for her, protect her. You should be glad of it,” said Tovan with an edge of warning in his voice. “You are returned to us and I’m grateful for that, but you need to remember your place.”
Kalas held up a hand. “Hold on a moment, Tovan. You seem to have forgotten your place. What is the single purpose of the Nazarien?”
Tovan’s gaze snapped to him. A number of the council members shifted uncomfortably. Beck, Tovan’s second, moved up beside him.
“I know what it is, Tovan. Do you remember it?” said Kalas.
Tovan started to respond, then thought better of it.
Aiden Cerik stepped forward. “Naia and I have made our own pledge.”
That drew everyone’s attention.
Tovan held out a hand. “This is the madness we’ve been subjected to, Your Majesty.”
Amaroq turned to Naia. ‘Is this true? Have you pledged yourself to this Human?’
She gave Aiden a fond look and in that there was no confusion. ‘I love him, Wolf. He’s the one I choose.’
“Your Majesty,” said Kalas, “you have a wife.”
Aiden’s gaze shifted to Naia and stayed there. “Our marriage was arranged. Neither of us wanted it and after all these years, it’s become a chore.” His eyes moved back to Kalas. “Life is precious and short, and I don’t intend to spend the rest of it, hoping for things to change. I love Naia and we want to be together.”
“Speak reason, Eladrasen,” said Tovan to Kalas.
“There will be no pledge to Zander,” said Amaroq. “I won’t allow it.”
“That isn’t…” began Tovan.
Amaroq took a step closer to him. “I also know what the purpose of the Nazarien is, Tovan. It’s to protect the Eldralin line. In this, I will not be denied. You will call off this ceremony and leave my sister to me.”
Kalas stepped up behind him. “I think you’d do well to listen, Tovan. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to call on my birthright to back my brother.”
Tovan bowed his head, accepting defeat.
Kalas stepped forward and clasped Tovan’s shoulder, turning him toward the caves. “Come. I’ve a need to send a message to Adishian and Chernow. My wife will want word of my whereabouts and the Nazar will want to know Aiden Cerik has been found.” He motioned to the King of Dorland. “Your Majesty, will you attend us? We have much to discuss.”
“In a moment,” said Aiden. “I want a bath and food first, then I’ll find you in the council cavern.”
“Excellent. Now, Commander, let’s talk about what’s happened since last I was here,” said Kalas, directing the man toward the cliff’s face, Dolan falling into step behind him.
The rest of the Nazarien began departing.
Aiden held out his hand to Naia and she took it, letting him pull her close. Amaroq wasn’t sure what to make of this, but just knowing she was here, safe, was enough for him. “Your sister saved our lives,” said Aiden. He motioned the boy forward. “Amaroq Taheny, may I present to you Leland Hale Rand.”
The boy held out his hand. Amaroq accepted it.
“Without Le and Naia, I wouldn’t be here. They kept me going.”
The World of Samar Box Set 3 Page 127
