Honor and Blood

by James Galloway

  He marveled a moment at how quickly he had picked up on this strange ability. Perhaps the goddess was tinkering again. He had only done it once, with Jenna. But he had been in the Heart before, and he knew about the stars, so it seemed only simple logic to conclude that using one's star to find the Sorcerer's location within the Weave was possible. Tarrin couldn't discern physical location, for the Weave didn't restrict itself to mortal reality. It transcended that, going into time as well as space, and to find Keritanima, he had to find her location within the Weave. The star was but a representation of her, but he could use the sense of it to find Kerri in the vast network of the Weave. Something like giving him her scent, and that would allow him to track her down.

  It didn't take long. He had the sense of her now, and he could feel her imprint in the Weave, since she was in direct contact with it. He felt her radiant presence from a distance, and he moved through strands until that sense of her was directly before him. This was the place. He wove together that projected image of himself, and then pressed his consciousness into it.

  He opened his spectral eyes to find himself standing in a luxuriously appointed cabin. The cabin was rocking slightly, and the bay windows at the rear of the cabin showed him a vast panorama of empty ocean. Keritanima was aboard her ship, travelling towards Suld. She was sitting in a lushly padded chair, staring at Tarrin in shock. As was Miranda, who was standing beside Keritanima, holding a bundle of yarn in her delicate hands.

  "Tarrin!" Keritanima squealed, jumping out of the chair.

  Before he could do anything, he raised his arms in defense against her. "Kerri, no!" he said immediately. "This is an Illusion!"

  It did no good. She bounded across the cabin and hurled herself at him, arms outspread--

  --then crashed unceremoniously to the carpeted deck, passing through his phantasmal body.

  Miranda started giggling behind her hand, then broke into outright laughter when Keritanima rolled over and looked up at Tarrin's rueful expression. He missed his sister, missed her desperately, but just seeing her like this was almost as good as being with her. He'd see her again for real, see her soon, but for now this was good enough. It didn't make him feel lonely, as he feared it might have, instead it reminded him of his beloved sisters in positive ways. His love for his sister bloomed from inside him, causing the Weave surrounding them to shimmer in an unusual fashion.

  "Tarrin, why didn't you warn me!" Keritanima complained, pulling herself to her feet. "And how are you doing this?" she asked curiously.

  "Don't try this, Kerri," he warned immediately. "It's something you can't do. Yet," he added. "I can't stay like this very long. It costs me a great deal, so let's cut through all the happy chatter and get to the point."

  "That's Tarrin, all right," Miranda laughed. "You look...taller. Much taller. Is that really you?"

  "It is," he grunted. "I'll explain what happened the next time we're together. For real," he added. "Kerri, do me a favor and Ward this place as tightly as you can. Make sure that a mouse can't even hear what I'm about to say."

  "Hold on," she said. She was still in contact with the Weave, so she started quickly. Tarrin could actually see the weaves take form, then solidify to create a Ward of impenetrable qualities, something that stopped sound, passage of living beings, even defeated magic. She layered it against the walls, floor, and ceiling of her cabin, and the speed and expertise which she demonstrated when weaving it showed him that she was very experienced in Wardcraft. It had probably been a very handy trick back at home, where everyone and his brother was a spy.

  "Very nice," he complimented.

  "I've had alot of practice," Keritanima smiled that toothy smile, sitting down again. "Now, what's so important that you'd start showing off new tricks that you know I'm going to try to learn?"

  Tarrin grimaced. He forgot about that. She would try to learn, no matter how many times he told her not to.

  "You've been keeping up with what's going on in the West?" he asked.

  "As far as Sulasia goes, yes," she replied. "I'm ferrying over ten thousand Vendari and a few divisions of regular troops. I'm also bringing over some cannon to help the Sulasians."

  "Then you're off to a good start," he grunted. "They're going to need more, sister. As many as you can get there, as quickly as you can." Tarrin then repeated what he learned from Jegojah.

  "How can you trust that old bonesack?" Keritanima challenged. "He may be lying."

  "He has no reason to lie, Kerri, and think about it. It explains quite a few things, and it makes sense. Has anything I said surprised you, outside of the end of it?"

  "Well, no," she admitted. "We knew that someone was stirring up trouble in Tykarthia, but we couldn't figure out why. And we knew old King Armond had been assassinated, but we could never find out who did it."

  "I'm glad you can admit that much," he said. "How cold has it been in the West?"

  "What kind of question is that?" Keritanima asked.

  "Armies can't move through snow," Miranda reminded her gently. "These attacking armies that are hidden in Daltochan and Draconia can't move until the snow in the mountains melts."

  "Precisely," Tarrin said with a nod to Miranda. "Jegojah said that it'd be about a month after the passes melt to where they're passable that the armies would reach Suld."

  "Miranda, get our map," Keritanima said. "Let's move to the table and take a look."

  "Let's move this along, Kerri," Tarrin warned. "I'm projecting myself over a few thousand leagues. You wouldn't believe how much it costs me."

  "Then I'll talk fast," she said with a smile. Miranda went to a satchel in the corner and pulled out a rolled parchment, and Tarrin moved his image to a small table near the bay windows in the back of the cabin. Keritanima and Miranda surrounded the table with him, and the mink Wikuni unrolled the map. It was a map of the northern kingdoms of the West; Sulasia, Tykarthia, Draconia, Daltochan, and Ungardt. Tarrin recognized many of the names on it, but some were unfamiliar to him, even in his home kingdom. "Alright, here's Suld," Keritanima said, pointing. "Now, there are only two ways to march from Daltochan and the Petal Lakes to Suld. One is from the east, from around Aldreth. The other is from the west, coming along the coast, hooking around the Skydancer Mountains."

  "Why don't they just use this pass here?" he asked, pointing to a strange pass marked on the map, with a little triangular symbol at the head of what looked to be a wide gorge. If he was reading the map correctly.

  "He'd lose half his army trying to use that pass," Keritanima told him. "It's very treacherous. Besides, even if they did, they'd still have to either move east or west, to avoid the Scar. And they'd be much better off doing that in friendly territory. Every step they take in hostile territory is a step laced with danger. You don't go wandering in circles on opposing ground. The locals have a bad habit of taking big chunks out of your army."

  "I forgot about that," Tarrin fretted. "So, which way do you think they'd go?"

  "West," she said, pointing. "This up here is all open land, after you get out of the Darkwood. If they come from the east, they'll have to traverse a great deal of forest terrain, and no army moves well through forest, no matter how good the roads are. Add the fact that every villager and farmer up that way has one of those nasty Sulasian longbows, and you'd understand why you wouldn't want to move an army through there."

  "I can see that," Tarrin said. "So, answer my question. How long?"

  "I can't really answer that, Tarrin, I'm not a soothsayer," she said. "We'll have to have Allia find out what the weather's like up there. Hmm."

  "What?"

  "Well, we know that the Dals have already invaded Sulasia from the east," she noted, looking at the map. "It looks like what they're doing is drawing all the defenders eastward, and then they'll move their main army in from the west. The Scar will keep the Sulasian army from scouting them out. Then they could detach a part of their army to come up from behind the Sulasians, and grind them to dogmeat between their
armies."

  Both Tarrin and Miranda were staring at her. "Well, that's how I'd do it," she said defensively.

  "It makes sense," Miranda said with a cheeky grin at Tarrin.

  "It does," Tarrin said. "Jegojah would probably agree with you. He should, after I show him this."

  "Really, Tarrin, how can you be so calm around that bonesack?" Keritanima demanded. "It's already tried to kill you three times."

  "Someday you'll understand," he told her. "I'm running out of time here, sister. Let's keep to the subject at hand."

  "Spoilsport," she grunted. "It all hinges on how much time we have," she reasoned. "If the passes melt early, then we have a problem. If they melt late, then we have more time to set up. Ugh," she grunted. "No suitable defensive positions anywhere. I hate to say it, but the only place to set up would be Suld itself. It's risky, but I don't see much help for it."

  "We thought the same thing, but we were looking at an invasion from the east, not the north," Tarrin explained. "Since there are already enemy armies moving in from the east."

  "What, the bonesack didn't think of them moving across Draconia and Tykarthia first?"

  "I think he thinks that they'll come the fastest way," he replied. "Since they already occupy some Sulasian territory, then it might be shorter."

  "Not really," she replied. "What they'd gain in distance, they'd lose in rough terrain. Plus they'd have to come through the Sulasian army, and that might slow them down more than they'd like. You can't hide an army like that for very long, and from the way you explained it, speed is critical for them."

  "He made it sound that way," Tarrin replied. "Oh, yes, how many ships do you have around Arak?"

  "Alot," she replied, "but they're all merchantmen. They're not military."

  "That's not an issue, sister. Shiika offered her Legions, if you'd come and pick them up."

  "You talked to the Demoness?" Keritanima gasped.

  Tarrin nodded. "I'm not going to turn my back on any help, Kerri. Shiika's Legions are well trained and strong. If we can get them here, they'll make a huge impact."

  Keritanima laughed ruefully. "I don't see much choice," she winked. "You'll just make me if I say no."

  "I'd rather not do that, sister."

  "I know," she smiled. "Sad that a Queen can't even be her own boss. Any other possible allies, while we're here?"

  "I'm going to try to convince some of the Aeradalla to help," he replied. "I happened to do their king a very large favor about a month ago, and I hope to collect. I'm not going to ask the Selani, because I doubt they'd help anyway, but I might see if I can convince some of Fae-da'Nar to help when I come through the Frontier. Even a single pack of Were-wolves can make a difference."

  "It could. Were-kin detest Goblinoids. For the chance to kill Goblinoids, you very well may get some volunteers."

  "Speaking of Were-wolves, that's a good place to start. You remember Haley, back in Dayisè?"

  "Of course I remember him," Keritanima replied, then her eyes widened. "He's a Were-wolf?" she asked in a gasp.

  "It's a secret, so don't pass it around," he warned. "See if you can get a messenger to him and ask him to arrange some kind of meeting with a Druid. Haley may be a good place to start. He can get the information to the Druids, who will tell everyone else. That way they'll already know what's going on when I get there."

  "You don't want me to try to recruit?"

  "You can try, but I don't know if you'll be successful," Tarrin shrugged.

  "Diplomacy may be a good place to start," Keritanima mused. "If we can get the Ungardt and the Tykarthians to stop fighting, it'll seriously mess up the enemy's plans."

  "My mother may be able to help there. She's the daughter of a very respected Ungardt Clan-Chief. I can get a message to her through Jenna. My mother can make my grandfather do just about anything. Even stop a war."

  "This is why I never want to cross your mother," Keritanima laughed. "So, we can hamstring them in the north, and maybe get enough Shacèans to stop fighting with each other and mass an army to reinforce the Sulasians trying to stop the Dals. Maybe even convince Arkis to send some of their troops."

  "How will you do that?"

  "I'm a Wikuni, brother dear," she grinned. "I'll negotiate. By the time I'm done, I'll own Emperor Barad's entire army." She looked at the map. "If we can get them there in time, anyway. I really need to know what the condition of those passes is. I can't make suitable plans unless I have some solid information to go on."

  He was starting to get very tired. He didn't have much time left. "I'm going to have to go in a minute," he said. "It sounds like you can handle things on this side. I'm not going to have enough left to contact Allia until I rest, but don't you dare go and blab all of this, sister. Talking through the amulets isn't secure, else I wouldn't be doing this now. Let me explain it to her when I can talk to her." He looked down, at the map. "We're not going to be able to work like this, so you need to get to Suld as quick as you can. I'll be stepping it up to get there as fast as I can, and Shiika and her generals should be arriving about the same time as me."

  "Alright. I'll send every ship available to Dala Yar Arak and pick up your pet Demoness' army," she said with a slight frown. "I'll also send for some reinforcements, but I can't take too many men from home."

  "Why not?"

  "Politics," she grimaced. "If I strip the army, the nobles may get bad ideas without someone there to keep them in line."

  "I thought you stepped on them."

  "Wikuni nobles unstep very easily, Tarrin," Miranda cut in. "They'll cooperate until they see an opening. Then they'll exploit it for everything it's worth."

  "Kill them," Tarrin said in an offhanded manner.

  "I can't do that!" Keritanima gasped.

  "It's easy. Send orders for your men to round up and kill all the nobles. Then they won't be in your way anymore."

  "That's barbaric!"

  "It's effective," he said bluntly.

  "It'll start a civil war!"

  "If there's nobody left to challenge you, who are you going to have left to fight you for your throne?"

  Keritanima stared at him, then exploded into laughter. "It sounds like an easy way out, but believe me, brother, it's not. Not that I didn't think of murdering the lot of them about twenty times a day for five months."

  "It's your kingdom," Tarrin shrugged. "I'm about to lose this image, so is there anything else you need to talk about? Just do it quickly."

  "It seems like an awful short time."

  "I've had a busy day," he said shortly. "If I were rested, I could have stayed here an hour."

  "Nothing pressing comes to mind, at least more pressing than anything else," she said. "When can you come back?"

  "After I rest."

  "Then we'll hammer out the details then. I'll think about this and propose a plan when you come back."

  "Alright. I'll tell Allia as soon as I regain some strength, and then I'll figure out some way for all three of us to talk at the same time. Privately." He fretted. "This would be easy if we were in the same place."

  "Reality is a pain sometimes, brother," she grinned. "That image of you is starting to get fuzzy, so I think that this is the end of our visit. I'll see you soon, Tarrin. Be well, keep your eyes on that bonesack, and--oh, yes. I love you very much."

  "I love you too, sister," Tarrin replied with a warm smile. "Keep her out of trouble, Miranda."

  "Always, Tarrin," Miranda said calmly, giving him a gentle smile. She still hadn't changed. Still quiet and inobtrusive, and watching absolutely everything that went on around her. Still one of his dearest friends.

  It was hard to go. After so long being separated from Keritanima, he didn't want to leave her, even this surreal image of her. She was his sister, and they should have been together. Months and months apart, and now he had to leave her once again. But now he knew that he could see her whenever he wanted, that she was only a moment away, and it made him feel much, much better. Wit
h Keritanima's help, he could find her whenever he wanted to see her.

  It didn't feel like a goodbye. It felt more like "until tomorrow."

  Tarrin regretfully withdrew from his image, and sent his consciousness flying back to his body back in the desert.

  He opened his eyes to a sight he'd never thought he'd see. Sarraya was sitting on Jegojah's shoulder, listening intently as he explained what was going on with their little sand map. "Sarraya!" Tarrin said in surprise. "When did you get here?"

  "A while ago," she replied as they both looked at him. "Jegojah here said you went off to talk to Kerri. What did she have to say?"

  The curtness of it took him off guard. "Well, she agrees with most of it," he replied uncertainly. "She thinks they'll attack from the north instead of the east, Jegojah. She thinks they'll move across Tykarthia then hook around the Skydancer mountains, then march down the coast."

  "Hmm," Jegojah sounded, looking down. "That path, it appealed to Jegojah at first, yes, but the Toothwood, it is in the way. Safer, it would be, to come down the mountain pass and march across Sulasia, yes."

  "Toothwood?" Sarraya asked.

  "A dark wood of danger in southern Tykarthia," he replied.

  "Jegojah, there are no forests in Tykarthia. They cut them all down to make ships."

  "Ah. Jegojah, his mind is a thousand years behind us, yes," the undead warrior said ruefully. "Jegojah, he needs a current map."

  "That's no problem," Sarraya said, gesturing. He felt her touch her Druidic magic, and a large vellum map simply appeared on the ground before them, a very large map depicting the entire West. "This is as current as yesterday afternoon," she chuckled.

  "I take it Jegojah explained things?" Tarrin asked.

  "He was filling in the details after a hasty summary," Sarraya replied. "At least that was after we tried to kill each other."