by Anna Kashina
“Draw your weapon!” Kyth demanded.
Mai ignored his words. He kept his arms relaxed at his sides as he danced between Kyth’s thrusts. Kyth called in more wind, increasing the speed.
He knew he probably couldn’t stand up to Mai for long in a weapon fight, but if Mai refused to defend himself, Kyth was bound to come through sooner or later, if he managed to maintain his concentration and his command of the wind. Yet, knowing Mai’s skill, he knew it was going to take a very long time.
He lowered his sword.
“You think I’m not good enough to fight you?”
Mai came to a standstill, surveying him.
“Actually, you’re not.”
“Have it your way.” Kyth raised his sword again. He hated to admit that, despite using his gift, he was already getting tired. This knowledge filled him with even more anger. Why did Mai have to be so damned perfect in every way?
“That’s not the only reason I won’t cross blades with you,” Mai said. “We have no quarrel.”
Kyth stared, once again lowering his blade.
“Are you out of your mind?”
“I don’t own her,” Mai said. “Neither do you. If I agreed to fight you over this, I would be admitting I had a right to her, wouldn’t I?”
Kyth narrowed his eyes. “True. You have no right to her.”
“And you think you do?”
Kyth lifted his sword again, pointing its tip at Mai’s throat.
Mai surveyed him calmly. This time he did not try to dodge the blade.
“If you strike me down, would that make you feel better?” he asked.
“Yes.” Kyth clenched his teeth and pressed the tip of his sword against Mai’s skin.
Mai held his gaze. “Go ahead, do it.”
Kyth’s hand wavered. He lowered his sword.
His heart raced. He hated Mai, but he just couldn’t do it. Not this way, when Mai was refusing even to lift a finger in his defense.
“You think you understand everyone, don’t you?” he said. “You think you can play with people the way you want.”
Mai raised his eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
Kyth’s lips trembled. “You made such a show of your sacrifice. You made everyone fuss over saving you. You lured her to follow you and then... then you seduced her so that you can be bloody sure she will help you fight. And now, she is heading into serious trouble because you just couldn’t keep your hands off her, could you?”
Mai’s gaze wavered. “If you convince her to stay behind, I’ll be in your debt forever. There’s nothing I want more than to see her walk away from this.”
Kyth paused to control the annoying twitch at the corner of his mouth.
“I’ve seen the way you treat women. You use them as your tools. And now, you found the ultimate tool and are doing everything you can to make sure she doesn’t leave your side.”
Mai didn’t respond, but a glint in his eyes suggested to Kyth that he was treading on dangerous ground. He didn’t give a damn.
“I know you think you have feelings for her. But if you truly cared, you would never have done this, not when you knew that being close to you can only draw her deeper into trouble.”
“I didn’t ask her to follow me,” Mai said quietly.
Kyth clenched his teeth. “If you hadn’t been so bloody comforting to her all the time, if you hadn’t made sure she felt so eternally grateful to you for saving her life, she may not have.”
Mai shifted from foot to foot. “Are you going to kill me or not?”
“You think something will stop me?” Kyth raised his sword, but a firm hand grasped his shoulder. He spun around and came face to face with Egey Bashi. Raishan stayed at his back, his narrow eyes darting around to take in the scene.
“Kyth,” the Keeper said. “Your Highness. Leave Aghat Mai alone. Killing him won’t make things better.”
“Actually,” Mai said, “it might. If I’m dead, Kara would have no reason to return to the Guild, would she?”
“If you’re dead,” the Keeper retorted, “she would be far less likely to handle whoever your Guildmaster decides to send after her. Come, Prince Kythar. We must prepare for the road.”
Kyth shrugged, throwing the Keeper’s hand off his shoulder. Then he turned and strode away. He saw Raishan fall into step in his wake, but he didn’t care.
After they were gone, Egey Bashi turned to Mai.
“That was foolish, Aghat,” he said. “I’ve always held you in the highest regard for your ability to think clearly. Of course, in this situation it may no longer be applicable.”
Mai’s eyes held a distant look as he watched Kyth’s retreating back.
“He is right, you know,” Mai said quietly. “I was the one who let things get so far out of hand. And now, as if the situation wasn’t bad enough, I’ve made it so much more difficult for everyone.”
The Keeper sighed. “Have you ever thought, Aghat Mai, that some things in life are simply outside your control?”
Mai did not respond. He stood so still that if it wasn’t for the breeze touching his hair he would have looked like a statue.
“I’ve watched you, for a while now,” Egey Bashi went on. “Ever since you learned to resist the Kaddim. I can personally vouch that you did everything humanly possible to hide your feelings. Some things just happen, that’s all.”
Mai shook his head. “I could have kept myself in line. I let my control slip, once. And now she is paying for it with her life.”
“Regardless of what happened between you two, she would have gone with you till the end, and you know it.”
Mai met his gaze. For the first time Egey Bashi saw the Diamond look vulnerable, a young man in his twenties with a burden on his shoulders far beyond what anyone should ever be asked to bear.
“How could I possibly know it?” Mai asked quietly.
“Because, like you, she puts her duty above all else. Do you think she could have stood by idly and let you get yourself killed, when she believes it is all her fault?”
“It’s not her fault.”
The Keeper shrugged. “You believe it’s yours, don’t you? Well, she blames herself, too. You two are more alike than you care to notice. The sooner you get this into your stubborn head, the better.”
Mai’s eyes lit up with amusement. “I don’t believe I remember ever being called stubborn, Magister.”
“I pride on being the first in many things, Aghat.”
“Perhaps you can help her see how futile it is for her to come with me to the Guild? I think both Kyth and I are far too close to get the message across without messing things up even more.”
Egey Bashi shook his head. “I tend to agree with Aghat Raishan on this. We don’t want to lose either you or Kara, and you definitely stand more chance when you are together.”
“Are you always so calculating, Magister?”
The Keeper frowned. “Isn’t everyone?”
“No.”
“Like you said, Aghat Mai, you are too close. I can only hope when the time comes you can still keep a cool head. And now, we must return to our group. We have things to discuss.”
12
THREATS
When Egey Bashi and Mai returned to the common room, things seemed as settled as they could be under the circumstances. Kyth sat at the table with a glassy look, staring unseeingly into space. Raishan and Alder held a quiet conversation, which seemed like a distraction more than an exchange of information. By the looks of it, it wasn’t quite working.
“Where’re the ladies?” Egey Bashi asked, settling into his chair.
“They went to take baths,” Alder said. “And Kara is still in the stable checking her gear. I think.” He glanced at Kyth.
Egey Bashi nodded. “Good, this gives us some time to discuss plans. Aghat Mai, can you tell us exactly what your current orders from the Guild are?”
Mai shrugged, settling into his seat with the grace and ease of a cat reclaiming its favorite spot
by the fireplace. Egey Bashi was glad to see the Diamond’s composure back, even though the prominent way he avoided looking at Kyth was still quite noticeable.
“It’s exactly as I said to the King, Magister. I’m being recalled.”
The Keeper shook his head. “I cannot believe, Aghat, that with everything that’s at stake you chose to return to your Guild and face certain death.”
“What makes you think I face certain death, Magister?”
“Don’t you?” The Keeper lifted his eyebrows.
Mai shook his head. “It’s not about me, Magister.”
The Keeper sighed. “It’s about your foolish sense of honor that is driving your actions now, when they really should be driven by your conscious mind.”
Mai leaned back into his seat.
“Do you know an old saying, Magister? ‘He who commands the Majat commands the empire’?”
“Yes.”
“If I’m not mistaken, your mission right now is to convince the Majat to protect the King against the Kaddim.”
“How do you know this, Aghat?”
Mai shrugged. “This is the only reason anyone ever sends embassies to the Majat Guild. Isn’t it? Besides, I spent enough time at King Evan’s side to be able to guess what he is most likely to do.”
This time he did glance at Kyth, but the Prince was looking away, too absorbed in his own emotions. Egey Bashi reminded himself to have a conversation with Kyth some time soon. If they hoped to win the war against the Kaddim, this rivalry couldn’t possibly continue.
“Your point, Aghat Mai?” he asked.
“Has it ever occurred to you, Magister, that the King is not the real target for the Kaddim?”
“What do you mean?” Egey Bashi felt genuinely puzzled. He had thought about it, as a matter of fact, but hearing it from Mai was disconcerting. Despite his youthful looks, this man seemed to be far more proficient in politics than Egey Bashi had ever given him credit for. He really should pay closer attention.
Mai leaned forward. “Think about it. All the threats, all the scheming, making sure that King Evan and everyone on his side feel as if they are out of time and must act immediately to save their kingdom.”
Egey Bashi nodded. “They do have to act, and you know it, Aghat.”
“Yes. And what is the first thing everyone does when faced with a superior force?”
“They hire the Majat to aid them.”
“Exactly. No one even fights wars anymore. In fact, the Majat are normally reluctant to pitch top warriors against each other, with very few exceptions. So, it all comes down to the timing and the amount of gold everyone is willing to put up front. But the result is still the same. The Majat, not the powers who hire them, are the real centerpiece of the action. Whoever can get there first and hire more Majat to their side wins by default, without any fight. Except that no one in this kingdom and the surrounding lands can afford to hire more than a few.”
“Isn’t that why your Guild prospers?”
“Normally, yes. But it also has a flip side. The Majat Guild is a wild card that can turn the tide of a war. So, if anyone wants, say, to defeat all kingdoms at once and ensure absolute victory, they would first have to get the Majat out of the way.”
“The Kaddim,” Egey Bashi said slowly.
Mai nodded. “Yes, the Kaddim. If they want to restore the Old Empire, they simply can’t afford to play hiring games. For centuries, the Majat has stood in the way of any attempt like that, simply by being there. We don’t take sides. As long as we are strong, we will always be a problem for the Kaddim.”
The Keeper leaned back in his chair. He had been thinking the same thing, but he still couldn’t believe that Mai had also thought it through, possibly in more detail.
“The Kaddim are using careful plotting to weaken the Majat Guild from the inside,” Mai went on. “And they are targeting the tip of our force. The Diamonds. First Kara, because she became immune to their powers. Now, me. In all likelihood the Kaddim, or their envoys, have been the ones to inform our Guildmaster of my disobedience. I want to make sure he is aware of that before he proceeds to carry out my punishment.”
“Do you think it will make a difference?”
“It should, if he is truly thinking of the good of our Guild, Magister. And if not… I must make everyone realize it, before it’s too late.”
“By getting yourself killed?”
“If that’s what it takes.”
Egey Bashi shook his head. “Aren’t you taking too much upon yourself, Aghat Mai?”
Mai held a pause. “The real outcome of the battle with the Kaddim will be decided at the Guild, Magister. Not in Tandar or in Aknabar. I can’t possibly allow the Majat Guild to fight this battle on the enemy’s terms. If they do, my life won’t be worth much anyway.”
Egey Bashi continued to look at him.
“Do you really think Aghat Oden Lan will listen to you?”
Mai shrugged. “Only one way to find out. I sent a raven ahead to explain the situation and tell him I must talk to him as soon as I arrive. It should get his attention, if he has not gone completely insane. At the very least, he’ll hear me out. And if, after that, he still wants to do all these things to me…”
“What things?”
Mai grinned. “In his letter, he elaborated on what he is planning once I arrive at the Guild.”
“And what is that, if I may ask?”
Mai’s grin widened. “It went on for quite a while, but it essentially came down to torturing me beyond recognition and hanging whatever was left of me from the tallest tower in the outer city to let me rot alive. He said he will leave me hanging there forever, as a reminder to anyone else who ever thinks of disobeying orders again.”
Egey Bashi frowned in disbelief. “And he thought you would follow such an invitation?”
“As the alternative, he promised to recall all available Diamonds from assignments and send them after me and Kara, with orders to bring us back and skin us alive in front of the entire Guild. It went on from there. He said he would do all this if I didn’t report to the Guild in three weeks. Which really doesn’t leave me much time to spare.”
Raishan’s wide eyes betrayed his shock. “He said such things in his letter?”
Mai nodded. “Yes, in quite colorful detail. He was clearly insane when he wrote it. To be honest, that prompted me to hurry more than I originally meant to. We cannot leave the Guild in the hands of a man in such a state of mind. I just hope his insanity was temporary.”
“He really cares about Kara,” Raishan said quietly.
Mai’s gaze wavered, and Egey Bashi saw a faint touch of color rise to his cheeks. He noticed Kyth’s intent look before the Prince glanced away. What a mess.
“You don’t really think that–” Raishan began, and stopped, as if struck by a sudden thought.
Mai met his eyes. “Yes, Aghat, I do. The person who orchestrated this present state of affairs knew about Master Oden Lan’s feelings for Kara. As well as too many other things about our Guild which should not be known to outsiders.”
Raishan frowned. “But who could it possibly be? It takes many years to gain this kind of trust.”
“Exactly. The Kaddim must have a man on the inside. Worse, this man was likely in place for as long as the Kaddim have been conceiving this plan, which could be more than a decade, for all we know.”
“Aren’t you giving them too much credit, Aghat Mai?” Egey Bashi said.
Mai glanced at him. “In our training we are taught not to underestimate our opponents, Magister. If you assume the worst, you are always prepared. Of course, I hope I’m wrong in this case. But I can’t possibly risk being right and not acting on it.”
At that moment, Kyth sharply lifted his head, looking at the door. Egey Bashi turned and saw Kara walking toward them. He noted how Mai kept still, not turning his head or otherwise acknowledging the disturbance.
Kara looked calm and composed, her clothes neat, her short hair resting
against her cheeks in a golden wave. If Egey Bashi didn’t know better he would have never guessed anything out of place was going on. She chose a seat between Alder and Raishan, briefly glancing at the three spiders on Alder’s shoulders. They were still, dozing after what Egey Bashi knew was quite a filling meal this morning at the campsite. He marveled at the way everyone in the group was able to put up with these frightening pets.
“What did I miss?” Kara asked.
Raishan shrugged. “Not much, Aghat. We were just discussing plans.”
“And?”
“We should press on to reach the Majat Guild as soon as we can. Prince Kythar has a negotiation to conduct.”
She nodded, her face reflecting the obvious thought that this explanation carried no information whatsoever.
“I’ve seen Ellah and Lady Celana on the way here,” she said. “I think they’re done with their baths. Should we get ready to move?”
The road was wide enough for three riders to ride side by side, but their group gradually separated into pairs. Kara rode at the back next to Magister Egey Bashi, behind Kyth and Alder. In the distance ahead she could see Mai and Raishan riding in the lead, with Ellah and Lady Celana in their wake. Kara was glad that with the position she chose in their formation she had very little possibility of seeing more than a glimpse of Mai. In addition, being at the rear allowed her to sort out her feelings without anyone watching her closely enough to guess what was going through her head. The only person she could possibly worry about was Magister Egey Bashi, who probably understood everything involved better than she did, and wasn’t known for prying. She was grateful for his silence, for the way he kept his eyes firmly ahead, without ever glancing her way.
She felt utterly confused. After letting her thoughts revolve again and again, she still wasn’t quite sure what drove her to forget herself so much with Mai. There was only one thing she clearly realized. While their lovemaking had been passionate, nothing had been said or done to suggest that their relationship was anything more than physical, a fighting incident that got out of hand and stretched a bit beyond the appropriate. She knew from her training that no matter what significance people tended to put on it, sex was no more than a form of exercise that could allow fighters to release some of their tension. Diamonds rarely needed it, but in the end it was all the same.
