by Joe Jackson
“Lord Allerius was killed, and a number of other hunters, some priests of the Order, and we’re still getting an accurate count of the number of citizens slain,” Corbanis said. “All told, the destruction was light, but that doesn’t make the deaths any less staggering.”
“You’re all staying at my place for the time being, until Kari can have the house rebuilt,” Eli added. “And before you ask, the answer is yes: you and Tarra are both welcome to stay as long as you like.”
“Thanks, Eli,” Erik said, shaking the half-corlyps’ hand, and Tarra followed suit. She was a little bemused by the half-corlyps’ shorter stature among his taller companions, but she said nothing. “What else did I miss?”
“Well, Kari killed several of Sekassus’ sons, including Prince Amnastru, she set Sorelizar into civil war, and apparently, she got King Emanitar to invade Sekassus’ realm as well,” Kris added. “She’s been a busy girl.”
“Apparently,” Erik said, shaking his head.
“Lady Vanador caused all that disruption in Sorelizar?” Tarra asked. “Ketava, she has all but declared war upon the Overking and his vassals!”
“You’re going to love her when you meet her,” Erik told the elestram woman.
“I only hope she feels the same.”
“I think you’ll be surprised,” Eli said. “Kari’s a pretty unique woman, that’s for sure.”
Corbanis grunted a laugh at that, and clapped his son on the shoulder again. He did finally shake Tarra’s hand, but he didn’t manage to say anything.
Kris smiled and turned to the werewolf. “Sharyn, you mind taking point? If the soldiers to the south of us make any sort of hostile move, drop back to us and get ready for battle.”
“Absolutely,” she said. She walked around behind Corbanis, who fanned his wings out, and the group laughed at her feigned modesty. Soon the black wolf padded out from behind the demonhunter, and she loped off to the south.
They followed in her wake, leaving some distance so they might have forewarning if things turned ugly. It was only when they got close that Kris thought to turn to Tarra and ask, “Are you proficient with the arcane? We might be able to lend you a blade if not.”
“My sister was the fighter,” the elestram woman said with a shake of the head. “I will be of little use to you in combat.”
Even Erik seemed surprised by that. “All right, then, you stay back and flee into Pataria if things go badly for us.”
She nodded her agreement and the group continued on. Sharyn was sitting in the middle of the road, staring at the soldiers with the long, dispassionate gaze of a patient wolf. They made no move to heckle her, but as the Silver Blades came into range, they clearly perked up a bit. Kris went to stand beside Sharyn and stroked her head. If she considered it undignified, she gave no indication, and she actually showed a toothy smile when he scratched behind her ears.
Liria stepped to the front when they all reached Sharyn. “If you’re considering treachery, you’d best think twice,” she called to them in infernal. “Not only are we on the Overking’s road, but we are headed to Anthraxis, and we are expected there. If we should not arrive, or if some of us arrive there with tales of harassment from King Garrivokt’s realm, it will be on your heads.”
They stiffened up at her words, but none of them made any move to assault the group. Kris gestured for everyone else to keep walking, and he stayed by Sharyn’s side, watching the enemy soldiers warily. It was possible they were just patrolling the border, but it seemed more likely they were looking for trouble. The thing that made no sense was that they had no way of knowing the Silver Blades would be coming by this way…
It dawned on Kris after a minute that they might be waiting to heckle one of the passing lesser kings. Garrivokt was a lesser-ranked king, but his father was the fourth most powerful king of Mehr’Durillia. Did Garrivokt routinely pester his fellow kings in the hopes they might attack him and give his father reason to crush them? The politics of the kings was complicated, and Kris didn’t know all the ins and outs. Now that he thought about it in those terms, though, it was obvious they weren’t waiting for the Silver Blades at all.
The benefit of Liria’s words was that now it would be the soldiers wondering what the Silver Blades were about. Would they assume the Silver Blades were some unusual vanguard for whatever kings lived farther north and northeast? Kris considered they may have just done a favor, however unintentional, for some of the other lesser kings.
The rest of the day passed quietly, no other suspicious or worrying activity or traffic turning up along the road. When they camped for the night, Kris could tell that Corbanis was a bit perturbed by Erik and Tarra sharing a blanket. They didn’t share anything beyond that in the company of others, though. Kris stayed up the night again along with Corbanis, and they watched over their companions. Over the long hours of the night, Kris saw a range of emotions and thoughts play out upon Corbanis’ face.
Kris could well understand Corbanis’ turbulent feelings: his son had become involved with someone they didn’t really know, and despite wanting to be open-minded, she was of a different species. It wasn’t as though Erik was just dating a different type of rir. Kris only cared insofar as Erik was happy, but he understood it would be a little different for Corbanis and Kyrie. They’d want grandchildren and a daughter-in-law they could relate to.
They’ll figure it out, he thought.
By the end of the night, with dawn only a short time off, Corbanis seemed more at peace with the scene before him. What made Kris smile was the thought that Sonja and Typhonix might be under additional pressure now…
They reached Anthraxis after a few more days, and strode through the gates into the city of black glass without being halted. The city was busy, the council session either already started or about to within the next day or so. They stuck together, favoring the Mortal Quarter side of the road, but then Kris stopped and everyone else turned to see what had caught his attention.
Walking in through the gate behind them was none other than Kari...
Chapter XVII – Convergence
“Erik!” Kari barked, dashing forward. She threw herself at him, and he wrapped her in his muscular embrace. “Thank the gods they found you in time!”
“It’s good to see you, too,” he returned as they split apart. “Actually, it was Tarra who set me free, and then I met the rest of our friends once we escaped to Ekkristis. Well, Sharyn helped with that. But there’s a lot to go over. Tarra–”
“Yes, there is a lot to go over, but most of it can wait until we’re safely home,” she said, interrupting him. “Kris, where’s everyone else?”
The Warlord hugged her. “Either safely home or on their way here, except for Serenjols, who should be meeting us here. What are you doing here?”
“Long story.”
“And how did you get here?”
“Also a long story.”
“And what’s that smell?”
“Long story?” Eli guessed.
Kari pointed at the half-corlyps but didn’t answer. “Look, all of it can wait. We’ve got a very limited time before absolute chaos is going to erupt here. Let’s go find Serenjols and the others, if they’re here, and then I have to see someone at the Overking’s palace before we leave.”
Corbanis’ brows went up. “I may be mistaken, but those look like–”
“Taesenus’ swords, yes,” Kari interrupted. “I’ve got his armor, too. I have so much to tell you all, but the longer we stand here, the more danger we’re going to be in. If Serenjols and the others are here waiting, they’ll be in the Mortal Quarter. Get moving.”
Her companions were all staring at her wide-eyed, but she scowled and pointed toward the Mortal Quarter, and the others started moving. Kari only stopped Kris and Liria, and she gestured toward the syrinthian. “What did you think?”
Kris laughed. “Long story.”
“Oh, you’re such a jackass,” Kari grunted, shoving his shoulder to little effect. S
he turned and hurried into the Mortal Quarter, and the others had to pick up their pace to catch up to her. She was vaguely aware that there was an elestram among their number now, but that she hadn’t entered the Mortal Quarter, prompting Erik to stay behind with her.
“Meet us at the palace in fifteen minutes,” Kari called over her shoulder.
“Kari, wait! There’s–”
“No time,” she finished under her breath as she continued on.
They didn’t have to search long to find Serenjols and Sonja. Both were at the inn called Hope’s End, and Jol ran to get his things together when the group arrived. While waiting for Jol to get ready, Kari approached the innkeepers.
“Has the council session begun yet?” she asked them.
“It begins this evening with the first dinner,” the hostess replied. “You have not missed any of the important discussions.”
“Perfect, thank you,” Kari said. She began pacing the floor while waiting, and Kris came over and put a hand to her shoulder.
“What’s the problem?” he asked. “Did something chase you back here to Anthraxis?”
“No, but we need to get home before the retaliation begins.”
“Retaliation? Kari…”
“I’ll explain when we get home, Kris. Right now, you just need to trust me.”
“All right.”
“You’re acting weird, though,” Eli put in. Kari didn’t respond.
“Is everyone else safely home?” Kris asked Sonja.
“Yes; it seemed the better option than crossing through Pataria again and forcing the rest of you to wait for us. Once it was obvious Agivak and Dauchin-Rache were filling up with the soldiers that had been sent after Erik, there was little point to starting trouble. I took the others home, including our vulkinastra guest.”
Kari perked up at that. “What?”
“We rescued a vulkinastra from Arku’s keep,” Kris said quietly. “We’ll go over that more when we get home. Best not to speak of it here.”
Kari blew out a sigh and waited for Serenjols to return to the common room. When he rejoined them, Kari gestured for everyone to follow her. They fell into step behind her without comment, and Kari led them to the front steps of the palace. Erik was there with the elestram woman, and there was a tearful reunion as Sonja rushed forward to hug Erik. Serenjols joined in, but they looked at Kari as she continued pacing.
Erik moved forward to stop Kari before she could walk up to the palace doors. “Kari, there’s something you need to know, now,” he insisted. “The third Tilcimer… it’s here, in Anthraxis. I saw it just before I was abducted.”
“Where is it?” Corbanis asked, glancing around the city warily.
“I’m not sure. I saw it, though, and when I started trying to follow it, that’s when I was ambushed and kidnapped.”
“Damnit, that’s going to complicate things going forward,” Kari spat. She turned to her sister-in-law. “I do find it weird that we’ve been here a few times before, though, and we’ve never seen or heard about it.”
“True. That it can live in the city at all given its destructive nature is definitely odd,” Sonja returned. “Perhaps we will find that it’s been… tamed, for lack of a better term.”
Kari nodded. “Tarra, is it?” she prompted, turning to the elestram woman, who bowed her head. “I didn’t mean to be rude; we’re just really pressed for time. Thank you so much for rescuing Erik. Are you… are you planning to go back home with us?”
“If I may, Lady Vanador, that was my hope.”
“Any complication to that?”
“None that I’m aware of,” Sonja answered. “Normally, the barriers would repel her, but I was able to take the other, so I think if she goes with me, she’ll be all right. Just tell me when you’re ready to go.”
“Follow me. There’s something you’ll all want to see first.”
They trailed Kari into the tower, even Tarra. The entry chamber wasn’t crowded. With the kings having a meal, the retainers and scribes didn’t have much work to do, so there was no reason for them to crowd around the railing overlooking the assembly room floor. There were a number of incubi around the chamber to direct visitors where to go, or to keep them from getting too raucous and disturbing the kings.
One such incubus approached Kari at the front of the group. “Where may I direct you?” he asked in infernal.
“Oh, no need. I know where I’m going already,” Kari said sweetly, flashing her best false smile. She then swept the incubus aside as quickly as the smile fell from her features. She hardly noticed Sonja shout her name as she strode directly to the railing…
…and vaulted over it.
There was a sensation of something attempting to stop her, but Kari passed through it without harm. Flatware, goblets, plates of food, and silverware all bounced in protest as Kari landed heavily on the end of the table. All sixteen of the kings stared at her in shock. How long had it been since Turik Jalar had done this very thing, what they called “Jalar’s Folly”? History was about to repeat itself, but Kari was determined to outdo her predecessor.
She stared down to the other end of the table, where a pair of golden eyes watched her with barely an attempt to mask their murderous intent. Kari started to walk toward him, but she took her time, savoring the looks of shock and anger splayed across the faces of all the other kings. Here at the far end of the table, she passed the wide-eyed Arlerase Chinchala, who was the spitting image of his father, Celigus; the snarling black harmauth Garrivokt Solimant; the stoic erestram Lestanaek the Blademaster; and the bewildered valiras Ouraggra Gelarri.
By far, the most humorous reaction she received was from Celigus, who buried his face in his palm in disbelief. How many times had he warned Kari about her actions, especially here on Mehr’Durillia? Had he ever dreamed he would see Kari in this position, repeating the tenacity and courage of Turik Jalar? This act was going to force him to change the way he dealt with his peers, but that was something Kari wanted anyway. His time of being a “neutral” party between the two worlds had to end eventually. Better it ended on Kari’s terms than on his own.
Xafastu Kenochian, who bore more than a passing resemblance to either the Overking or Koursturaux – or both – sat watching Kari with great interest. His gaze was curious to her; if she wasn’t mistaken, he didn’t view her as a threat, but neither did he see her as someone beneath his notice. She got the distinct impression he saw her as a potential tool. Was that a shadow of his father in him, perhaps? Kari met his yellow-eyed stare briefly, but he made no gestures to hold her attention, so she moved on.
Morduri and Emanitar regarded Kari from opposite sides of the table. The elestram king was certainly perturbed to an extent, showing a mixture of concern and amazement on those normally impassive features. Frankly, Kari was surprised that he was sitting with just one king between himself and Sekassus. It was a testament to the power of the Overking that his three vassals, embroiled in a violent war, could sit and at least pretend to be civil with each other for an entire week.
Emanitar had his hands steepled before him, and despite keeping up his impassive gaze, Kari could see pride in those eyes. She had forced his hand in Sorelizar, and now she was in the process of forcing everyone’s hands on a global scale. The kings of Mehr’Durillia were going to have to choose a course of action going forward, and the Overking was no exception. The set of the mallasti king’s shoulders and jaw told Kari that despite his reservations, he was looking forward to seeing just how much chaos would sprout from these seeds.
Kari passed between Augrus Tiveron and Sheila Darkstorm with hardly a glance. These two, in addition to being demon kings, were apparently deities on Ambergaust’s world, Koryon. Kari wasn’t sure what that meant; would they be more hesitant to assault her considering her relationships with Sakkrass and his siblings and allies? Strangely, the succubus-turned-deity had a broad smile on her face, showing off those fangs; whether it was because she was dreaming about drinking Kari’s blo
od or seeing the downfall of the Overking, the demonhunter wasn’t sure. The ashen-skinned Augrus, by contrast, watched Kari with the intensity of one who was about to strike.
The demonhunter paused as she reached the next pair of kings, and she turned to her left. “Why, Sekassus,” she purred. “How are the kids?”
Had there been any more venom in his stare, it would’ve burst forth from his eyeballs. “Gloat while you can, obstinate bitch. Your time is coming, if the Overking does not kill you here and now.”
“Yes, well, we’ll get to that shortly. I thought you might like to know that The Vandrasse killed Prince Massu. But I killed the others: Fessari, Amnastru, and whoever the whelp was that I put down in Saovonn. I made a promise after the first time we met: That I was going to kill one of your children for every person you hurt trying to capture me. And as far as I’m concerned, I’m still owed a good number of your dead sons.”
“Set foot in my realm again, and I will not bother requesting your capture. You will be killed on sight.”
“Only if they know who to look for, Sekassus,” Kari said. She spat on his dinner plate, and the demon king shot to his feet in the blink of an eye. Even with Kari standing on the dinner table, their eyes were nearly level. Still, she didn’t so much as flinch. “You want to end this here? Have at it, then.”
“Sit,” the Overking commanded, and despite the froth beginning to build up across the line of Sekassus’ mouth, the demon king did as he was ordered. “Enough dallying, Vanador. If you have something to say, come say it.”
“One moment, Your Majesty,” Kari said with a bow of her head that looked polite.
She turned to King Abaddon next, the bat-faced demon king slouched in his chair as though he was bored even by this extraordinary turn of events. “Bad news for you, you ugly bastard,” Kari told him, though her insult garnered no response. “You’re going to need a new champion. Taesenus is in no condition to do anything for anyone at the moment, and even if he heals up and comes calling, you’ll find that without his armor and weapons, he’s only half the man he was.”
