by B. T. Narro
“Hell yeah,” Michael said.
“I’ve seen what Lycast can do,” Hadley continued. “But most of your enemies haven’t. The enemies who’ve seen what you’re capable of have either been put behind bars or in the ground! I say, let the bastards come!”
There was a cheer all around.
“Let the bastards come!” Leon repeated. “Souriff, get your sister the hell out of there.”
Souriff was the only one who seemed displeased. She looked at Eslenda. “Are you coming with me, then?”
“I agree with the humans,” Eslenda said. “They have surprised me. They will surprise our enemies as well. It would not be right to throw away any lives for this endeavor. Get Failina to safety.”
Souriff scowled for just a brief moment before she took off out of the forest at blurring speed.
“What’s going on here?” asked Syrah, as she came through the trees with many of the Thieves’ Guild behind her. “We’ve been waiting at the battle site for ages. We’ve got prisoners, you know? There isn’t time to stand around doing whatever you’re doing.”
I thought Leon might scold her, but he wore a goofy grin instead. “You’re absolutely right. Are you ready to meet the king?”
“If he doesn’t mind some blood on my hands.”
“He won’t mind at all.”
“Damn you, Leon!” yelled a woman a bit far off. We all turned to see Jennava stomping toward us about thirty yards away. “I was waiting in the city for news of what happened, thinking all of you were dead, and what do I find but you standing here doing nothing!”
He put up his hands. “We just finished—”
“You could’ve had someone come to tell me! Do you know how worried I was? I thought all of you had been killed. Killed! I was certain I would find your bodies here. Do you know what that feels like?” I was surprised to see a tear roll down her cheek even though she had a face of rage. But then that rage broke into sadness. She wiped her eyes. “Damn you, Leon.”
“I’m terribly sorry, Jenna,” he said. “We just finished with Souriff, I swear. She just took off.”
“So everyone’s okay?” she said with a softer voice.
“We all are,” he said.
“Thank the gods.”
Leon groaned in disagreement. “I don’t feel like anyone should be thanking them much these days.”
“Does this mean we’re finally going back to the castle?” Michael asked.
“Shit yes,” Leon said. “We just have to fetch our horses and belongings from the city, then I never want to go back there. It will be up to Syrah to keep Koluk safe and support our cause.”
We all started back toward the city. I heard Jennava muttering softly to Leon, “The people are not going to be happy with the thieves in charge of safety and production for war. That’s on top of them having to pay the crisis tax when the collectors reach Koluk on their way back from the other towns. Syrah will have insurrections against her. We might be sent back after all.”
“Can’t you let me enjoy this moment? The sweet taste of victory is already fleeting without your sour mood.”
“Fine.” She paused. “Tell me about the battle.”
“Gladly.”
“Wait,” Jennava said as she stopped. “Why is Eden walking with us?”
We all stopped as well. Eden had a nervous expression.
“Look everyone,” she said. “I was still trying to figure out how to…um, address what I did. I’m…there isn’t even a word for what I’m feeling. Sorry isn’t enough. Regret doesn’t accurately describe it.” She paused as she took a shaky breath. “I think the best way to describe it is that I was disillusioned by Valinox. I met him long before I met any of you. He changed the way I saw the world and the way I saw Lycast. I already hated the rich and powerful. I had struggled all my life, poor, while they hardly had to lift a finger to have everything I could ever dream of. Valinox convinced me he was going to make a change to all this, and this change would be swift. He promised punishment to the greedy and riches to me and my family. I’m sure he gave the same speech to everyone who decided to help him, and I’m sure much of his promises are lies. I don’t mean to say this as an excuse. It’s just an explanation. I was wrong. I only wished I’d realized it sooner.”
She drew a stuttering breath, clearly nervous. Then, as she looked at Remi, her voice broke. “Remi, I’m so sorry.” Tears fell from Eden’s eyes. “I did everything out of fear. I’m a coward. A selfish fucking coward. I never wanted to hurt you. I thought I was responsible for your death for a long time, and it was during that time that I realized how much I hated myself. I knew I couldn’t go on killing others who were good. I had to make a change.”
Remi sniffled and wiped her eyes. She didn’t speak, though.
“I don’t want to be a coward any longer,” Eden continued as she cried. “I hate myself so fucking much. I’d rather die than live with this guilt. I did it. I stabbed one of my closest friends thinking she would die. I did it because I was afraid. And it’s not even the worst thing I’ve done because of fear. It was me who…who opened the portal to Fyrren. I didn’t say so earlier. I made it sound like Valinox opened it when I was talking to Souriff, but it was me. Valinox couldn’t open it, or maybe that’s just what he told me so he wouldn’t risk getting close to Gourfist. Either way, I did it.”
“You did?” Michael asked in disbelief.
“I did,” she confirmed. “Valinox left me near the portal with no means of getting back. I figured he would leave me to die if I disobeyed him, but I still could’ve done it. I could’ve disobeyed. I know everyone would’ve been better off if I had. I would be dead, and he would not have Nijja’s stone. Instead, I opened the portal, and it’s what awakened Gourfist.”
“That was you?” I remarked as anger got the better of me. “People died because of that.”
“Jon almost died because of that!” Kataleya added.
Eden wept openly. “I didn’t know that.” She tried to say something, but it was muffled by her heavy crying. She shook her head and tried to gather herself, but it didn’t seem to work. Eventually she forced out a few words. “I can’t. I have no excuse. If I’m to die…so be it.” I didn’t know if Eden could possibly cry any harder as she collapsed and sobbed.
“Now hold on,” Michael said as he put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m not the only one who saw you risk your life by trying to kill Valinox rather than obeying him like you have in the past. You could’ve killed Souriff, and we would’ve been in a mess of trouble. I’m sure he knows that, and he wants you dead more than he does any of us now. That makes you an ally. And we need allies, don’t we?” he asked the group.
I knew Michael was right, but I was too angry to let myself voice it. Eden was responsible for awakening Gourfist. Eden was responsible for Valinox possessing a stone that allowed him to maintain invisibility.
I took a few breaths. Valinox was more responsible for these acts than Eden was.
“Don’t we?” Michael asked again, a little less sure of himself.
Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who still seemed to be holding onto their anger, everyone refusing to agree.
But then Remi spoke. “We’ve all made mistakes. Most of us have even been disillusioned by someone we trusted who we shouldn’t have trusted. Aliana? Kataleya?”
Her two friends started to nod.
“I know Eden’s mistakes have caused us some major problems, but Eden’s going to be right here with us to fix those problems. Aren’t you?” Remi asked her.
Eden wiped her eyes and lifted her head. “There’s nothing I’d rather do.”
Remi addressed all of us again, “Taking away her life through execution or imprisonment doesn’t do any of us any good. I say, let her clean up this mess with us.”
Most people were nodding. I was one of them.
“Hell,” Remi said. “If I can forgive Eden, then the rest of you really have no excuse.”
“That’s true,” Michael
said.
“You forgive me, Remi?” Eden asked cautiously.
“I do.”
Eden wept again as she threw her arms around Remi. Remi squeezed her with her eyes shut, a tear escaping down her cheek.
“I think the king can be persuaded,” Leon said. “But Eden.”
“Yes?” she asked nervously as she pulled away from Remi.
“You’re going to fight hard for us. Jennava will show you how to train your dteria without letting it mess with your mind too much. Dealing with it is going to be harder than anything you’ve had to do so far, but I don’t want to hear any complaints. Think of it as your punishment.”
She nodded. “I will.”
“Leon,” Remi stated.
“What?”
“I want to clarify something.”
He actually looked a little worried. “And what is that?”
“You’re a terrible instructor. It’s true what I said earlier. I don’t want to listen to your instruction any longer.”
“Now wait a minute—”
“But you’re a hell of an officer on the battlefield,” she continued. “When it comes time to fight, I trust you with my life. I think the king should hear that. Both parts.”
He put his hand on the back of his neck. “I suppose that’s fair.” His voice rose. “Anyway, there’s not much I can do to instruct all of you anymore.”
“Is that a compliment?” Michael teased.
“It’s the closest thing you’re ever going to get from me, Michael. So you’d better appreciate it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
After we dealt with the corpses—Hadley creating many more essences of corrupted men—we spent most of the walk back listening to Eden. She told us about Fyrren, Nijja, and everything she had experienced there. We were looking for some way of disabling the stone Valinox carried with him that allowed him to remain invisible. Souriff had claimed that he could cloak not only himself but a sorcerer he carried. So what would stop him from carrying a nearly invisible archer into the courtyard of the castle, having the archer shoot one of us in the chest with an arrow, and then carrying the person away? We needed a means to protect ourselves.
I was a little surprised when Eslenda said she would be returning with us, but her reasoning made sense. With Souriff taking Failina to safety, Rohaer’s troops would no longer need to skulk through the forest to get to us. It wasn’t as imperative to watch it at all times. But more than that, it seemed that Eslenda just needed a rest. I’d never seen her this sluggish, shoulders slumped as she fell behind during our return to Koluk. Most of us looked at the recent battle like a victory. We held confidence we could stand against Rohaer. She probably didn’t share our enthusiasm.
We stopped for a short break in Koluk. We all needed food. Many of us required a bath and a change of clothing, and we had to gather our belongings. We also had to spread the word about what happened in the forest and inform the people that the Thieves’ Guild would now be responsible for stopping crime in the city. At least I thought we did. Jennava advised against it, however. She didn’t want to give the guilds of Koluk a chance to organize a rebellion while we took Syrah to the castle to meet the king. If he agreed to put her in charge, she would return to Koluk with Barrett, and the harbinger would swear-in Syrah’s thieves publicly. In front of Koluk’s citizens, the thieves would all sign a magical contract vowing to keep the city safe. Hopefully that would keep order.
I had to stop thinking about them as thieves. They would be constables soon. I reminded myself that most of the constables in the capital had been corrupt before Nykal had promoted Byron Lawson to head guard of the city. Now the capital was one of the safest places in Lycast. I had hope Koluk would follow in its footsteps. Much of that, however, depended on Syrah and her leadership skills. I still knew hardly anything about her, except that she had fought with us. I was glad I wasn’t the one who had to make the decision to trust her, because I still held some suspicions.
Leon paid the owner of Groovewater some coin for the damage we and Valinox had caused. It looked as if the owner had already forgiven us, however, because soon after he’d heard about our victory—the Thieves’ Guild fighting alongside us—he had a small feast prepared in our honor.
I didn’t know why, but the feast reminded me of Grufaeragar and the krepps. I wondered if I might see him and his kin again soon. Perhaps he had even visited the castle during the short time we had been here in Koluk. He could be there right now. I didn’t know the king’s plan, whether he wanted to use the krepps in this war, or he didn’t want to take the risk. They were powerful creatures but volatile, aggressive, and disorderly. Much of their obedience depended on how much they liked us and how much they hated Rohaer. I knew Grufaeragar sympathized with our cause, but I wasn’t sure about the other krepps.
It reminded me that there was much about the king’s plan I still didn’t know. I had little idea how many troops were in training. I wondered if many of these troops were loyal to the Yorns and the Chespars, who could be plotting to overthrow Nykal when this was over. What about the soldiers themselves? Could they be loyal to these noble families no matter if they went against the king’s orders? It didn’t seem likely, but perhaps that didn’t matter. Perhaps all that did was whether the commanders and officers of this army were ready to turn on Nykal.
The king was in no way perfect, but I would back him until the end because I trusted that he wanted what was best for not just his family but for the people of Lycast. He had thrust himself into the leadership role of a corrupted kingdom at war, and now had nothing but a broken bank and the backing of untrustworthy nobles. He’d made some mistakes, which worried me. I didn’t know how many more mistakes could be made if we were still going to win this, but there was no one better for the task. No one else would’ve entrusted eight young sorcerers with the defense of the capital and the elimination of corruption. Another man would’ve taxed the people heavily and poured all of their coin into building an army, but the people of Lycast had already been taxed heavily by the last king. Nykal knew that. He sought other methods to bring order to the capital first and then the surrounding cities and towns, and he had done a damn fine job of it with what little power he had.
The threat of Rohaer could almost be considered a blessing, I was realizing. Without it, the Yorns, the Chespars, and who knows how many other noble families would’ve taken a shot at the crown. At least now we were safe from rebellion because no one wanted to be king until the war was over. I wondered if this was how Nykal had come to lead the rebellion in the first place, because no one else wanted the job. I had always figured that he’d had the most amount of coin, the largest army, or the most support from the people, and that was the reason he was now a king. But perhaps it was something much simpler than that. Perhaps he had been the only noble brave enough to put a target on his head for the greater good.
The late king, Oquin Calloum, had needed to go at all costs. He was a spreader of dteria, a sycophant of Valinox. It was Leon who had killed Oquin Calloum after the king freed Leon and demanded he fight against the army closing in on the castle walls. This was more than a year ago, but less than two, which made me wonder something about Hadley.
I hadn’t seen her in a little while. The tavern had been busy, crowded. Many people had come in off the street to see what we were celebrating, some purchasing ale or a plate so they could celebrate with us. Michael was pleased to tell as many people as would listen about what had happened, but Charlie had even more enthusiasm. I was sure most of the people in Koluk would hear about the battle soon enough, but Hadley wasn’t part of the commotion. I found her coming back to the tavern with Remi at her side, a pouch in her hand.
The sight of her surprised me because Hadley looked very different than I had seen her before. Her hair was lush, clean and shining. There was more color and contrast to her face, bringing out the beauty of her delicate features and the sharpness of her dark eyes. It wasn’t that her clothing was parti
cularly extravagant or expensive, but it was far more revealing than I had seen her wear in the past. She had on a simple dress, a blue kirtle, with a laced bodice strapped across her chest that gave an unimpeded view of the top of her ample bosom.
I tried to keep my thoughts purely internal, but I must’ve made a face that revealed my attraction. Remi gave a laugh and told Hadley, “I think this proves your point.”
I didn’t know what point she was referring to, but Hadley gave a shy smile. “Are we leaving already?” she asked me.
“Not yet. Where did the two of you go?”
“I asked Remi to show me where I might be able to find some supplies for cursing. Many of them are the same that an enchanter might use, so I figured they would sell them here in Koluk.”
Remi looked as if she wasn’t paying attention, craning her neck to see over my shoulder into the tavern. We could still hear the sounds of celebration. Considering how much fun Remi had the last time we all celebrated, I figured she wanted to partake before it was over.
“Go ahead, Remi,” Hadley encouraged.
“All right. I’ll be inside,” Remi said with a grin back at Hadley as she walked past me.
“Did you tell Remi about your inability to curse Josef Webb?” I asked Hadley when it was just the two of us.
“I did.”
“What did she say?”
“She didn’t respond for a while. She seemed upset at first. I figured she was thinking of other ways to get back at the man who took advantage of her, or perhaps she might give me an earful. But eventually she looked up at me and said, ‘You owe me a gold coin or a curse.’ That was it. I told her I would pay back her gold coin and curse anyone for her at any point, so long as it was just.”
“I see.”
I was doing a marvelous job keeping my eyes up, away from her chest, but my expression must’ve belied my thoughts because she looked down at herself briefly, then back up at me.
