by Ian Gregoire
Kayden’s heartbeat quickened.
As much as she wanted to believe Josario was bluffing, she knew it would be foolish to call his bluff. Erring on the side of caution, she decided to assume truthfulness on his part, and took his action as final confirmation that her Zarantar was no longer bound.
“Is this how you treat all your guests?” she asked. “It feels a lot like I’m still your prisoner. I thought you said you were going to release me.”
“I will, in due course,” said Josario. “Just be patient a little while longer, my pretty. You’ll be reunited with your master soon. We both shall.”
It was impossible to ignore the faraway look in Josario’s eyes. He appeared to be reminiscing. If Kayden didn’t know better she would have sworn she was looking at a proud father eagerly anticipating the homecoming of his favourite daughter. Though it was potentially cause for concern, she had no substantive reason to believe that a reunion between the Usurper King and the Rogue would be a happy occasion for Josario.
“What seems to be on your mind, my pretty?”
An involuntary smirk tugged one corner of Kayden’s mouth. “A person can change a great deal over the course of seven decades,” she said knowingly. “Don’t be upset if my master is more pleased to see me than she is to see you when she gets here. And don’t be surprised if she doesn’t take kindly to seeing a decapitation collar around my neck.”
“Oh, don’t worry. You’ll be out of those chains before she arrives. But first, I’m going to need something from you.”
Before Kayden could ask if that meant she’d be taken back to the commune today, a nonchalant wave of the hand from Josario caused the manacle around her right wrist to open, freeing her arm from the chain hanging from the low ceiling. She immediately flexed her fingers then clenched her fist, trying to improve the blood circulation in her numb limb.
“Karius, hold her arm for me,” said Josario, addressing the Sanatsai guard.
Without hesitation, Karius stepped forward and seized hold of her freed arm with strong hands, yanking her black sleeve up to the elbow.
“Hey! What are you doing?” blurted Kayden. She tried in vain to pull her arm free of the Sanatsai’s grasp.
Josario reached under his long shirt and slowly drew a sharp dagger from the sheath concealed beneath the garment. The sight of the blade caused Kayden’s eyes to widen. Heart racing, she wondered what had just changed to make Josario want to kill her now. Surely he had to know there would be serious repercussions when Fay arrived only to discover that her apprentice had been slain. If he thought he could get away with it, he was in for a rude awakening. But now that the writing was on the wall, Kayden realised she no longer had cause to refrain from using her Zarantar. If she was going to die anyway, it didn’t matter that the collar around her neck would blow her head off when she unleashed a lethal Zarantar strike—just as long as she took Josario with her.
“You needn’t panic, my pretty,” he said casually. “I’m just going to take a sample of your blood. The rest of it I’ll let you keep inside of you.”
Frowning, Kayden stared at the empty glass jar in Josario’s left hand. Was she really about to be the subject of a blood letting? Back on campus she’d been taught that the ritual took place after sunset, and the victims were typically drained of all their blood, allowing the Saharbashi to make as many blood amulets as possible. Looking at the empty glass jar, it was obvious it couldn’t contain all the blood coursing through her body, so Josario was almost certainly being truthful about only taking a sample. Nonetheless, Kayden wasn’t going to stand passively where she was while someone cut her arm open with a dagger.
“Wait!” she said. “Shouldn’t you be doing this at night? It’s still morning, isn’t it?”
“I don’t care for archaic rituals,” replied Josario. He held the jar under Kayden’s forcibly outstretched arm, and slowly drew the blade of his dagger across her forearm.
“Argh!”
Kayden bit back her yelp immediately. Grimacing, she clenched her jaw as the sharp blade cut into her flesh, opening up an incision for her blood to come forth. A steady trickle started almost at once, dripping into the awaiting jar. Dismayed at the sight of her lifeblood seeping away, the anger kindled within Kayden burned like a wild fire. She was livid that someone was taking something from her without permission, and she was powerless to do anything about it. There was no way she could allow such a violation to go unpunished.
“You son of a bitch,” she intoned, glowering at the cult leader. “I’m going to make you pay for that.”
“Do you want a punch in the mouth?” snapped Karius.
Turning her gaze to the Sanatsai underling, she replied, “Why, do you know someone who could give me one, you worthless lapdog?”
“There’s no need for unpleasantries,” Josario interjected, drawing Kayden’s attention back to him. The half-smile on his face, coupled with the look in his eyes, suggested he was pleased with Kayden’s reaction, which disturbed her. Clearly, he had some kind of machination brewing in his mind, and she couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking.
He averted his gaze, shifting his focus to the trickle of blood collecting in the glass jar. By the time it was three-quarters full, Kayden felt queasy. The anger within her dimmed to the simmering embers of a burnt-out fire. She observed, impassively, while Josario silently beckoned Zarina forward from the corner she was standing in. The Jaymidari turncoat duly walked into view to stand at his side. Without prompting, she took Kayden’s arm from Karius’ grasp and employed her Zarantar to heal the incision cut across Kayden’s forearm. The flow of blood slowed to a stop, allowing Josario to withdraw the jar from under the outstretched limb, leaving Karius to promptly shackle Kayden once more.
“Leave us and return to camp,” said Josario to his followers. “I will join you shortly. There are matters I wish to discuss with my guest alone.”
Everyone present accepted their dismissal without question or hesitation, except Zarina. As her five Jaymidari counterparts departed with Karius, she held her ground, staring up at her elderly leader. “Master Yosarian, is it wise to to stay down here alone with her?” she asked with concern in her voice. “What about your dream? It would be prudent to kill her and eliminate the risk she poses to your ambitions.”
“Dearest Zarina, your concern is misplaced,” said Josario. “Young Kayden is not the one you need fear. It is her master of whom you should be wary. She is a former associate of mine, and she is on her way as we speak. If my beloved were to arrive and find her apprentice dead… Things would not end well for the culprit. So, you need not worry about my dreams, Zarina. Keeping our guest alive to greet her master is how I will avert the outcome I have foreseen. Now, it’s time for you to return to camp.”
Zarina gave Kayden a lingering look as she walked past, out of view.
The dismissal and departure of all six of the Jaymidari quickly brought an end to whatever they’d been doing to block Kayden’s ability to sense Zarantar. As Zarina was leaving, Kayden felt the former Sister’s use of Zarantar. She deduced from the observation that entering and leaving the underground pit was only possible for wielders of Zarantar, so escape would remain beyond her while she had Josario’s decapitation collar around her neck.
“I thank you for this generous donation,” said Josario, holding up the jar of blood that was now enveloped by a small translucent bubble. He looked like a man who’d just unearthed a long-buried treasure. “Let me tell you a secret that very few of my kind are aware of,” he continued. “The blood of Sanatsai women produces blood amulets more potent than those created from the blood of any other people, be they men, children, or animals. If the donor is also an elite Sanatsai, the blood amulets produced from her lifeblood are even more potent still, and I’m sure I don’t need to tell you just how rare such women are.”
This was all new information to Kayden, she was fascinated by what she was hearing. It certainly helped to further explain why Josario d
idn’t want to kill her, aside from not wanting to incur Fay’s wrath.
“Did you know that, ordinarily, our blood amulets have a shelf-life of no more than six months if they are never used?” Josario continued. “But with heavy usage they can expire within two weeks. That’s why the more active Saharbashi have to engage in blood lettings much more frequently than is wise.”
No, thought Kayden. This was yet more knowledge concerning the ways of the Saharbashi that she hadn’t previously known. Holding her tongue, she offered no response, and allowed Josario to continue uninterrupted.
“Many years ago, your master gave me a blood amulet that she had created from her own blood. It was a gift for my birthday, and little did I suspect at the time that I would get a decade’s worth of use out of it. Regrettably, after I lost her, I never again encountered another elite Sanatsai… until now. It’s just a shame our paths couldn’t have crossed sooner.”
Kayden noticed the brief shift in Josario’s expression as he paused. She was looking at a man who harboured many regrets.
“No matter, my pretty. With your blood I can create a dozen or more blood amulets, to enhance my Zarantar beyond its current limits, and coupled with the imminent return of my beloved I can achieve a small measure of revenge while I am still breathing.”
Revenge? Was he actually talking about a second attempt at conquering the Nine Kingdoms? Kayden wondered. He had to be delusional. What he’d failed to achieve seven decades ago, when he didn’t have the Order to contend with, was now a pipe dream thanks to the establishment of Master Ari’s brainchild that guaranteed the safety and security of the Nine Kingdoms. Josario would need more than a handful of amulets and several hundred Zarantar-wielding Anzarmenians at his disposal. But what if his plan was to usurp the throne of Anzarmenia? That was possibly a feasible goal at least.
The speculation was academic, Kayden realised. The Order would be knocking down Josario’s door in a matter of days, and little did he suspect he’d be receiving no assistance from his ‘beloved’ Fay. His days were numbered.
“In that case, why don’t you show some gratitude and release me, like you promised?” she said. “And how about you take this damn collar off me, too?”
“I’m afraid you’re going to have to spend another night here while I make preparations to greet my beloved when she returns,” replied Josario. “After you broke the masking ward that was concealing your presence here, she now knows where you are, and it is my hope that this will hasten her arrival.”
Hearing that she would remain a prisoner for another day caused Kayden’s heart to sink. She was sick of the sight of the underground pit. “Could you at least get one of your mindless lackeys to give me something to eat and drink,” she said through gritted teeth. “I haven’t had so much as a drop of water, never mind a bite to eat, since I’ve been imprisoned down here.”
“A healthy, young thing like you can survive without food and water for a couple of weeks, so going without for one more night won’t kill you.” A subtle half-smile touched Josario’s lips. “Besides, the weaker you are, the safer you are to hold on to.”
Kayden pursed her lips, glowering.
“Cheer up, my pretty,” he said with no hint of condescension. “Tomorrow I will order your release so you can be cleaned up and made to look presentable in time for your master’s arrival.”
There was no riposte Kayden could offer that would likely make Josario change his mind. Reluctantly, she held her peace and watched him depart in triumph with a jarful of her blood. Alone once more, all she could do was survive until Fay came to rescue her. Her mission had ended in failure, but she would still have the last laugh. When the Order arrived, Josario’s stupid cult of brainless lapdogs would be history, and whatever plans he had concocted would never come to fruition.
Still heading south at a vigorous canter, Fay’s spirits had risen since she’d confirmed that Kayden was alive and well. Though Master Yosarian’s awareness of Kayden’s status was an added complication, at least it more or less guaranteed that he wouldn’t kill her, or allow anyone else to do so. Nevertheless, the discovery that former apprentice, Vartan Pazarian, had been recruited by the cult of Yosarian was cause for great concern. She had never considered the possibility that the numerous people who failed the ten-year apprenticeship to be inducted into the Order could become a pool of potential recruits for parties outside the Nine Kingdoms. How many others had likewise been recruited as Vartan had been? It would be simple enough to approach failed apprentices, offer them the chance to have their Zarantar unbound, and subsequently the opportunity to complete their training abroad.
Fay resolved to bring the matter to the attention of the Council at the earliest opportunity. Maybe it would be necessary in future to keep tabs on everyone who failed their apprenticeship. Even so, it was a problem for another day. First, there were pressing matters in southern Anzarmenia to be addressed.
Burgundy hair blowing freely in the breeze, Fay maintained her course, riding Shadow hard along the dirt road to Nagornorak. She was determined to reach the cult of Yosarian by nightfall tomorrow. The less time her apprentice remained in the clutches of her erstwhile mentor, the less time he’d have to affect his malign influence upon Kayden. If all went well—as Fay hoped that it would—she’d recover Kayden without having to resort to violent action. If, however, Josario resisted letting his captive go then many people would needlessly lose their lives.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The Life Or Death Choice
Kayden’s eyes slowly fluttered open, and just for a moment she wasn’t sure where she was. The fog of her confusion lifted as her eyes adjusted to the muted glow illuminating her underground prison. It remained a mystery as to how she was able to doze off while chained up in an upright position, with her arms elevated, but what wasn’t a mystery was why she had awoken. Her senses had detected the nearby use of Zarantar, now she heard footsteps approaching her from behind. A woman walked into view, passing on Kayden’s right-hand side, to stand in front of her.
Dressed in a dark blue dress that flowed down to the tops of her boots, and a similarly coloured hooded cloak, Zarina promptly pulled the hood of the cloak back to reveal herself. With a casual hand gesture, she employed her Zarantar to shatter the manacles around Kayden’s ankles and wrists. Unprepared for being suddenly released from her restraints, Kayden collapsed at Zarina’s feet.
“Hey!” she said to her Jaymidari counterpart. “You could have warned me.”
“Get up.”
The abrupt command, and the lack of apology irked Kayden. She rose unsteadily to her feet without complaint, shocked to realise that she must have fallen asleep for an entire day if it was now time for her to be released.
“So, he sent you to take me back to your main commune?” she said, trying to ignore the frenzied tingling in her arms and legs. The maddening sensation felt like thousands of ants crawling all over her limbs.
“I’m not releasing you,” replied Zarina. “You’re escaping.”
Kayden frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I have to protect Master Yosarian from himself. He’s making a mistake by keeping you here. If your master is the black-clad harbinger he has foreseen travelling south from the Kingdom of Mirtana, then it doesn’t matter that he has a history with her. She will still bring about his downfall. The only way to prevent her arrival is for you not to be here, so you have to flee… now.”
Flexing her tingling fingers, Kayden pondered whether an escape attempt was a wise course of action given that she was due to be released shortly. She quickly decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth. If she ended her ordeal immediately, she could, hopefully, prevent the reunion between Fay and Josario. For some reason, the more she thought about it, the prospect of the two of them coming together again increasingly seemed like a bad idea. But she was unable to convey that concern to her master because of the collar around her neck, which had already prevented her from replying to more
than one attempt by Fay to repeat their mind-to-mind contact.
“Fine,” said Kayden. “Get this damn collar off me then show me how to get out of here.”
“Do you take me for a fool?” said Zarina with disdain. “I’ve seen what you are capable of, so the collar stays on. Your master can remove it once you’ve found your way back to her.”
“How, exactly, are you going to explain my escape if I’m not able to use my Zarantar?
“That is not something you need worry about. But if necessary, I will suggest that whatever it is you did to break the binding of your Zarantar this morning, also compromised the integrity of your chains somehow, allowing you to pull them to pieces.”
Zarina took hold of Kayden by the arm, and forcibly turned her around. For only the second time, Kayden was able to see what was lurking behind her the whole time she was chained up. Before her was a door-shaped recess in the earthen wall of the underground cavity. As her would-be liberator pulled her towards it, Kayden was confused as to how the recess served as an exit from the pit. The dark, dead-end opening didn’t lead anywhere, though she could feel a light draught emanating from it, nor could she sense any Zarantar that might suggest a concealed entrance. Once Zarina brought her to a halt inside the door-shaped recess, it became apparent that the draught was coming from above, drawing Kayden’s eyes upward. There was a narrow shaft overhead, serving as the exit, and she saw a pale light at the end of it.
“Hold on to me,” Zarina demanded, pulling Kayden close and wrapping her arms around her waist.
Complying without resistance, Kayden grabbed hold of Zarina around the waist. She felt the imminent use of Zarantar just as she was lifted off her feet by her counterpart. Faster than Kayden anticipated, Zarina lifted them both out of the pit, and they emerged outdoors in a woodland area. It was nighttime, but with the aid of the dying embers of a campfire, Kayden could discern six tents arranged in a circle around the hole from which she’d just emerged. Glancing at each in turn, it was safe to assume that they were occupied, though she only saw evidence that one was in use. So Fay was right, Kayden realised. She really had been moved away from the commune after her failed attempt to kill Josario.
