by Ian Gregoire
“You’re probably right,” he said with a frown. “I will do as you suggest.”
“Farewell, Baranzev Kazdaranian,” she said. “It is likely I won’t still be here when you get back; I have somewhere else I need to be, and my time is running short.”
Kazdaranian stared at her strangely. “Young lady,” he replied, “if I were thirty years younger, and still a bachelor, I would follow you to the ends of the world to win your favour. And if I were to earn it I would surely be the luckiest man alive.” He took hold of her right hand and planted a delicate kiss on the back of it. “Farewell, Kayden Jayta.” Releasing her hand, he turned on his heels and departed down the corridor, with Sartis at his side.
Unable to speak, Kayden felt her skin warming as she blushed in spite of herself. She was snapped out of her embarrassment when a hand grabbed her tightly by the upper arm, and pulled her sideways. “We need to talk!” It was Sister Zarina, speaking in a hushed tone, pulling her into an alcove. Something was obviously bothering the young Jaymidari; she did not look happy.
Scowling at the shorter woman, Kayden yanked her arm free of Zarina’s pincer-like grip as they halted in the alcove. “Is there a problem?” she snapped, not bothering to lower her voice.
“What were you thinking bringing Baldassian back alive?” said Zarina. “You should have killed him as soon as you discovered he was a Saharbashi.” She maintained a hushed tone as she chastised Kayden. This was a conversation she didn’t want anyone else in the corridor to be privy to.
“If I had killed the governor I wouldn’t have been able to prove Kazdaranian’s innocence.”
Kayden was irked by the look of disgust on the Jaymidari’s face. If she didn’t know better she might think saving the life and honour of an innocent man was a bad thing. Not to mention exposing the collusion of a foreign government in Baldassian’s scheme.
“Well now that you’ve proven Kazdaranian’s innocence,” continued Zarina, “why have you allowed Baldassian to be taken into custody as though he is an everyday, petty criminal?” She wagged a finger in the direction of the guarded room further down the corridor. “You should be in that room right now, gutting him.”
“Since when did you Sisters become so bloodthirsty?” said Kayden, narrowing her eyes at Zarina. The Sister wasn’t acting like any Jaymidari she had ever met before. That had been the case since she’d first arrived in the woodlands outside Sevdanor, seeking out the militia.
“You’re a Sanatsai,” Zarina retorted. “Whoever trained you must have taught you that all Saharbashi are to be killed wherever they are found.”
“Without his blood amulets, Baldassian is completely powerless, ergo there’s no need to kill him,” said Kayden, her voice laced with condescension. “I’m certainly not going to kill a defenceless man.” She tried to step away from the alcove, but Zarina grabbed her roughly by the arm, forcing her to stop.
“Don’t be naive,” hissed Zarina. “You know the rules: Baldassian must die, and you have to kill him. Make it look like a natural death if it makes you feel better.”
Jaw clenched, Kayden glowered at the other woman. In an instant, fear swept over Zarina’s face as though she’d just been reminded that she was in the presence of her worst nightmare. She relinquished her hold on Kayden’s arm and backed away.
“I was sent to investigate possible Saharbashi involvement in the rumours coming out of the province,” said Zarina in a gentle tone that betrayed her nervousness. “The Sisterhood is dedicated to the eradication of all Saharbashi. Coming from the Nine Kingdoms, you must be fully aware of that—especially as capital punishment for learning the ways of the Saharbashi is written into the law of the land.”
Scrutinising Zarina intently, Kayden wondered how the Sister knew she was from the Nine Kingdoms. She couldn’t recall telling her as much, yet this was the second time Zarina had said it. In fact, during the course of her journey through Anzarmenai she had gone out of her way to avoid letting anyone know where she was travelling from. Perhaps she had said or done something to give herself away?
“As I understand it,” said Kayden, adopting a measured tone, “Anzarmenia doesn’t prohibit the practice of Zarantar Najist, nor is it permitted to kill law-abiding Saharbashi. As for Governor Baldassian, he is guilty of high treason against the realm so he will face the death penalty when he stands trial. So barring an appeal for clemency, the Sisterhood will get its pound of flesh.” Kayden took a step away from her Jaymidari counterpart. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other people I need to speak with.”
Kayden left Zarina alone in the alcove as she departed swiftly down the corridor towards the lobby, en route to the exit. She needed to talk with the other Sisters about the administration of the town for the next couple of days, until the arrival of government forces from the neighbouring province. Several people had earlier expressed their opposition to allowing Kazdaranian, or anyone who had served under Governor Baldassian, to serve as provincial governor in a caretaker capacity while the province waited for royal authority to be restored. There had also been a small number of scuffles, both inside and outside the governor’s residence, between the local fighters and Kayden’s out of town militia, arguing over who should be in charge until then. Now that Baldassian was safely under guard, Kayden was ready to ask Sister Valeria to take on the role of caretaker governor. The neutrality of the Sisterhood would hopefully mean no one would feel slighted by the appointment. Kayden had already dismissed the idea of taking on the role herself; she wanted to resume her delayed mission within the hour.
She left the governor’s residence and came out into the courtyard, heading immediately towards the makeshift triage where the six Sisters from the Azderan seminary were treating the wounded. As she weaved through the throng of people loitering within the compound, she caught sight of Dashina’s matronly form, standing with her son Tasarik, and one of the abducted young women liberated earlier that morning. The trio looked overjoyed, and noting the strong resemblance between the three of them Kayden wondered if Dashina had been reunited with the daughter who’d been taken as tribute by Baldassian’s bandits. She would make a point of finding out for certain after she had taken care of appointing a caretaker governor.
Arriving at the triage, Kayden was greeted warmly by Sister Valeria as she discharged a patient. A quick glance at those being tended by the other Sisters, and the handful of people still waiting to be treated, revealed that nobody was seriously injured. It was an unwelcome reminder that several other people had been less fortunate.
“What’s the matter, Kayden?” Valeria inquired. “You suddenly look like a young girl whose cat has gone missing.”
“It just dawned on me that a lot of people have lost their lives today because of me,” she replied. “It’s possible that some of them died at my hand, I can’t say for certain, but I’m not sure how to feel about it.”
Valeria closed the gap between them, to reach out and stroke Kayden’s upper arm. “Loss of life is always regrettable,” she said. “But sometimes it is necessary for the greater good, as it was today. Take it as a good sign that the deaths have affected you. It’s only when the loss of life no longer affects you that you should be concerned. Ending a life should never be easy, or something you derive pleasure and satisfaction from.” Her mouth curled into a close-lipped smile. “If it makes it easier for you to live with, try to think about all the people you have helped today. You did a good thing, and should feel proud. Now, was there something you wanted to see me about?”
“Oh, yes,” she replied, remembering why she was there. “I plan to be on my way within the hour, but I can’t really leave until there is consensus on a caretaker governor who can oversee affairs here before the Royal Guard arrives to restore the queen’s authority. The dispute between the locals and those from out of town has the potential to escalate into serious violence, and I think the best way to nip that in the bud is for you to fill the position.”
“Me?” Valeria’s eyes w
idened in disbelief.
“It will only be for a couple of days. No one will be able to question your impartiality, and as a member of the Sisterhood you’ll have the respect of everyone.” Kayden gestured towards the governor’s residence. “If I can take you away from the triage for a little while, I’m going to convene a meeting in the reception hall in a few minutes, to get the relevant parties to agree to your appointment.”
Though she looked sceptical, Valeria agreed to the proposal. Kayden smiled as the Sister walked at her side towards the governor’s residence. She was one step closer to resuming her manhunt to capture Josario, the Usurper King.
In her bedchamber, Fay tossed the handheld mirror onto her four-poster bed. Having just utilised her mastery of Zarantar Jist, she had used the mirror to access the Sisterhood’s visual communication network and speak with Darrian Lanza back at Antaris campus. He would now be busy implementing the instructions she had given him. When she arrived at the Ladurona seminary she would find her trusty, grey mare, Shadow, waiting for her, carrying two saddlebags laden with everything she needed for several days travel—including her weapons and the change of clothing she asked for.
She vacated the bedchamber feeling less frustrated by the outcome of the vote in the Council’s chamber. There was still time for the worst-case scenario to be averted, so for now she wouldn’t waste energy on being mad at Ari. Standing in the open lounge area of her quarters, she glanced at the desk in her study area, deciding whether or not to write him a note. As she took a step towards the study, three knocks on the door halted her in her tracks. It seemed a handwritten message for Ari wouldn’t be necessary after all; Fay sensed his presence outside her quarters. With a sigh, she ambled through the lounge to answer the door.
“The Council session is over?” she asked as she held the door open.
“A short while ago,” replied Ari. “May I come in? I feel we need to clear the air.”
Fay stood to one side, allowing Ari to enter her quarters. “I’m not sure what you think we need to clear the air about,” she said, as Ari headed straight for the sitting area of the lounge. “If this is about the vote, I understand why you made the decision you did.” She closed the door and followed behind her guest.
“Do you?” Ari stood in front of his favoured armchair, waiting for permission to sit.
With a casual gesture of the arm, Fay signalled for him to take a seat. “You were worried about the perception of favouritism if you voted my way to resolve a split vote,” she said, sitting down opposite him. “That’s why you abstained.”
“Come on, old friend. That wasn’t even a consideration,” retorted Ari. “Benzino’s concerns were equally as valid as yours, perhaps more so. If the Council were to authorise search parties to locate Kayden there’s a very real possibility it could expose our presence in southern Anzarmenia. It’s vital that our people remain out of sight until the day of the mission; Josario cannot be allowed to complete his endgame, or escape us.”
“How in the world did Benzino Ardan end up being named as Rodri Lindo’s successor on the Council?” she huffed incredulously. “Mark my words, Ari, the Council has made a mistake. Benzino is too militant to sit among you as one of the thirteen.”
“As I recall, old friend, I approached you three months ago about unilaterally naming you as Rodri’s successor. None of my colleagues would have opposed the decision, and you would be one of the thirteen today.”
Recalling the conversation, Fay remembered why she had no other option than to decline the nomination. She still had a job to do at Antaris as the campus administrator, overseeing Kayden’s training. And though the role would be over by the end of the year, she still wouldn’t be free to accept a position on the Council once Kayden had completed her apprenticeship. Every new inductee into the ranks of the Order had to be mentored by an experienced Sanatsai for a year, and Fay knew that no one else was more qualified to mentor Kayden than she was.
“Alas, the opportunity came too soon,” she lamented. “Though had I known the Council would choose Benzino from among the other candidates, I may very well have reconsidered my decision.”
“Your concern is unwarranted, old friend,” said Ari. “Ben is just one voice among thirteen; his word doesn’t carry more weight than any other member of the Council. Rest assured, his more militant tendencies will be curtailed.”
“Ari, I fear you are overlooking what a forceful personality Benzino is. He is charismatic and speaks well; someone who is more than capable of winning people over to his position.” Fay’s brief pause coincided with the intense eye contact she shared with Ari. “Don’t be surprised if the institution you founded after the Great War starts adopting more extreme positions in the coming years.”
For a moment Ari was silent, seemingly digesting the warning.
“Fay, I don’t want to be side-tracked by a discussion about Benzino Ardan,” he said finally. “I came here to find out what you plan to do about Kayden.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve known you for seven decades, old friend,” Ari replied. “I know perfectly well that the moment you leave Temis Rulan you’ll be heading to Anzarmenia in pursuit of your apprentice. Just tell me what I can do to help.”
Fay frowned, confused. Barely a quarter-hour had passed since Ari had caused the vote in the Council’s chamber to go against her, now he wanted to help Kayden?
“I know what you’re thinking,” said Ari, intruding upon her thoughts. “But I share your concerns about the prospect of Josario acquiring a replacement for you.”
“Then why aren’t our people in Anzarmenia being ordered to find her? Why do you want to involve the Anzarmenian military, knowing full well they won’t be able to detain Kayden if she doesn’t wish to be detained?”
“My priority is ensuring that next week’s mission to eliminate Josario once and for all goes ahead without a hitch.” Ari was leaning forward in his chair now. His voice had taken on an insistent edge, letting it be known he wasn’t going to be dissuaded. “While Kayden’s intervention could complicate matters, the odds of her tracking down Josario before the execution of the mission are low. By tipping off the Anzarmenians that the fugitive they are seeking is somewhere in the south of the country, possibly travelling to Nagornorak, we can further slow down her progress.”
“And if the worst should happen?”
Ari let out a sigh. “If Kayden does encounter Josario, she will either succeed in her objective or she will fail. If she fails, she will either be killed or taken captive. In the event of her capture, Josario simply won’t have time to seduce Kayden into serving him, nor do I think she would betray her knowledge of the pending mission against him. But I’m hoping that whatever you have planned will make these possibilities moot. So, what is the plan?”
Confirming Ari’s supposition, Fay began to articulate her plan to Ari; there was little point denying it. She told him about the illicit call to Darrian, to arrange for transportation and supplies to be waiting for her at the Sisterhood seminary outside the town of Ladurona in the kingdom of Darmitana. From there she would travel by horseback across the border into Anzarmenia.
“Given the head start she has, I cannot realistically catch up with Kayden. The only way I could get ahead of her is to use the portal network, but in the current climate, arriving at one of the Sisterhood seminaries in southern Anzarmenia could raise suspicion about my presence, and possibly compromise the pending mission.”
“How exactly are you going to stop Kayden without intercepting her?” Ari interrupted. He looked and sounded confused.
“My primary objective is to make sure Yosarian doesn’t kill her immediately the moment she finds him,” replied Fay. “And the only way to do that is to make him doubt that she is the black-clad apparition from his dreams.”
As anticipated, Ari was nonplussed about her statement, which was clear when he cocked his head and raised his eyebrows.
“When I cross the border into Anzarmeni
a I will journey to Nerezan, where a black-clad figure will cause a big scene at the royal palace,” she continued in a decidedly suggestive way. “If things go to plan, word of this incident should reach Yosarian before Kayden does, and that should buy her some time if she is captured as it will be clear that she isn’t the person responsible for the disturbance in the capital. Yosarian will subsequently have less incentive to kill his captive, giving me more time to rescue Kayden.”
Scepticism was written all over Ari’s face; he wasn’t at all convinced by what he had heard. But Fay knew her great friend would do nothing to stand in her way. She rose to her feet. There was nothing more that needed to be said. It was time to commence her mission to Anzarmenia.
Ari stood up likewise. “I know I don’t need to tell you this, old friend,” he said, “but if anything should go wrong in Anzarmenia, and your affiliation with the Order is exposed, we will deny all knowledge of your presence in the realm and disavow your actions. I will also keep your unauthorised mission from the rest of the Council.”
“I understand.”
With no hard feelings, the pair spent a few moments saying their farewells then embraced each other before Ari departed Fay’s quarters. Left alone, Fay waited a few minutes then vacated her quarters, setting a course for the portal chamber beneath Kassani House. Her destination was Ladurona seminary in the Kingdom of Darmitana.
Kayden stood alone in the courtyard of the governor’s residence compound, taking in the sights around her and feeling good about herself. The meeting she had convened inside to appoint Sister Valeria as the caretaker provincial governor had gone more smoothly than anticipated. Everyone had agreed that an impartial voice from the Sisterhood was the ideal compromise until royal authority was restored in the coming days. On top of that, her initial disquiet about the lives lost while liberating Sevdanor was now eased by the happy faces of the people milling around the courtyard. Valeria was right. She had done something good, and she did feel a sense of pride about it. So what if she had sacrificed two days of her mission?
