Tempest

by Mercedes Lackey

  “Reconsider what?” Perran asked, his voice cold as a winter’s blast. “You’ve heard all the evidence against you. Witness after witness has spoken. You have no defense to offer. What should I reconsider?”

  “The restitution,” the man answered, his voice equally cold. “What you’re leveling against me and my family will come close to ruining us.”

  “You should have considered the outcome of your acts before you committed them,” Perran said. “If you’d had any consideration for your family, you wouldn’t have lied and, yes, stolen from your partner.”

  “I didn’t lie!” the man ground out. “Not one word of it!”

  Perran leaned forward, his arms crossed before him on the table he sat behind. “So you say. Your partner tells us otherwise. This was not one instance. You took a total of one hundred gold soleri over months from your partner. He gave you those soleri to purchase gems for the jewelry business the two of you owned. Those gems were to have been secured in your shop. Now, there are no gems and the soleri are nowhere to be found. Five witnesses have testified that you have spent a lot on yourself and your residence, sending some aid to your extended family in Rethwellan. And here we are. You have no answer as to what happened to the money, no answer as to where the gems are that you were sent to purchase.” Perran gestured to another well-dressed man who sat quietly in the front row of spectators. “Your partner has nothing to show for his trust in you.”

  “I told you repeatedly that I was robbed on the way. I have no idea where the gems are! None! How can I be held responsible for an attack by brigands?”

  Perran slapped one hand on the table. “This wasn’t the tale you told when questioned by your partner. You told him the gems were stolen from the room in the inn you stayed at on the way back here, not that you were set upon by highwaymen. Which is it? How many times is your story going to change?”

  Levron watched carefully as an expression of anger settled on the man’s face, hardened his eyes, and thinned his mouth. This fellow could be trouble. It was rare to see a judgment argued after Perran had given it. Representative of the judiciary of Karse, his word was taken to be final and binding.

  “My Lord,” the man said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “I ask again . . . please reconsider your judgment.”

  “Enough!” Perran rapped. “I’ll waste no more time with this. I am the voice of the Son of the Sun and Vkandis Sunlord. You have given false testimony, have lied before me as representative of the justice of Karse. This is not only earthly justice, but a mark against you when you eventually stand before Vkandis after your death. For your theft of one hundred gold soleri, Kanton, you will repay your partner the exact sum you took from him to purchase gems for your partnership. Hear me! My judgment is final!”

  A murmur ran through the crowd that had gathered for the trial. The defendant’s partner smiled a smile Levron took to be relief. The defendant drew himself up in a posture of outrage.

  “I have nothing to repay!” he said, his voice rising. “I don’t know where the gems are! I don’t know where the money is! I’ll have to sell a great deal of everything I have to amass that amount!”

  Perran stood, the gold collar of his office glittering in the sunlight that streamed through one of the windows in the large room. He gestured toward the defendant.

  “We’re done here,” he said, his voice again dripping in ice. “You may leave now and begin to figure out how you will repay Danti, your partner. That’s not Danti’s problem, nor is it mine. By the authority granted me by the Son of the Sun, whose rule emanates from Vkandis Sunlord, I have spoken.” He waved a hand toward the doorway at the rear of the room. “If you don’t leave, I’ll have you escorted out.”

  Levron sensed the two guards standing behind Perran take a step forward. He couldn’t remember the last time they had been called upon to bring order to a trial. A rare occurrence, indeed. Fully armed, their presence was usually enough to quell any disturbance that arose.

  Kanton, the disgraced jeweler, glared at Perran, then turned his apparent anger toward Danti. He spun on his heel and stalked toward the door, his exit eliciting another, but louder, murmur from the people in the room. Levron supposed the threat of Perran’s two guards had been enough to force Kanton to leave, though his departure reeked of defiance.

  • • •

  With the trial over, the late afternoon opened up as welcome free time. Perran and Levron had retreated to the rooms allotted them at the best inn in town. Levron could see that the entire trial had been a drain on Perran. So many lies, so many witnesses speaking against Kanton. How the disgraced jeweler thought he could win this case was beyond Levron. He had served Perran long enough to be able to read those who came to be judged, and there was something about Kanton that raised his suspicions as to the veracity of the jeweler’s story.

  “That was a hard trial,” Perran said, leaning back in his chair. “Sometimes they are. And this one was one of the worst.”

  “I could tell.” Levron paused, packing away Perran’s black robes and making certain the gold chain of office was secured in their baggage. They would be staying the night and then leaving for the next trial to be held several days’ ride away. In the meantime, there was little to do save rest for tomorrow’s journey. “Do you think Kanton will be able to repay Danti?”

  Perran snorted. “If what the witnesses swore to, he has spent a considerable amount on himself recently. I suppose he can sell a good deal of what he’s accumulated.”

  “He said it will probably ruin him, that he might have to sell his house.”

  “That’s what happens when you betray those who placed faith in you.” Perran took a sip of wine from the glass on the table beside his chair.

  Levron laughed. “If people were honest in dealing with each other, you’d have nothing to do.”

  “Oh, I’m sure the Son of the Sun would find something for me.”

  A furious knock came at the door to their room. Levron glanced at Perran and opened the door.

  “My Lord!” It was one of the Perran’s guards. “We have trouble!”

  Perran stood, his wine forgotten. “What has happened?”

  Timar, the senior guard, gestured behind. “Danti has been attacked. Struck down at the entrance to his shop.”

  Levron looked from the Perran to the guard. “By whom?”

  “The word’s out that Kanton was responsible.”

  “Damn!” Perran began to pace. “Have the authorities been notified?”

  “They’re trying to find Kanton now.” Timar squared his shoulders. “If I might suggest, Lord, please keep to your rooms. At this stage, I wouldn’t be surprised if Kanton tried to take out his anger on you.”

  “That’s insane!” Levron said. “No one attacks a judge! The judges are the voice of the Son of the Sun and Vkandis!”

  “I understand,” Timar replied. “But I would still feel better if you don’t take any chances until Kanton is found.”

  Perran rubbed the bridge of his nose. “So it can get worse. Now, if the witnesses are telling the truth, Kanton has gone from a thief to an attacker. Have you spoken to any of the authorities in town?”

  “I just came from there,” Timar said. “Fortunately, Danti wasn’t badly injured, but he knows who did this to him and he’s not surprised.”

  “It makes no sense. Why would Kanton do something so stupid?” Perran shook his head. “He’s well known here in town. Did he honestly think he could get away with it?”

  Levron looked back and forth between Perran and Timar. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Nothing, right now,” Perran said. “I’ll stay in our rooms at your suggestion, Timar. You and Farrid keep watch. Your room is next to ours.”

  Farrid, the second of Perran’s guards, hovered behind Timar and nodded. “We’ll be there. Call if you need us.”

  Levr
on shut the door and drew a deep breath. “If you’re not to leave our rooms, I’ll go see if we can have our meals sent up here instead of going to the common room below.”

  “Not a bad idea. You know,” Perran said, “if you see any of the authorities, you might mention that Kanton said he has family in Rethwellan. We’re close enough that if he’s running, he might try to cross the border, thinking he’s free of judgment from Karse.”

  “I’ll tell them. But I suppose they already know. From what we’ve found out, Kanton has lived here for a number of years. I would imagine he’s told people about his life and family.”

  “You’re probably right.” Perran sat down again and reached for his wineglass. “See what you can do about our meals. And, Levron, be careful. If Kanton has any idea of coming after me, he might go after you as well.”

  “Me? I’m no one important. I’m just your assistant.”

  “Yes, but you sat close enough to me at trial, and Kanton might recognize you.”

  “Truth. I’ll be wary.”

  • • •

  Levron left the common room after giving instructions for meals to be sent to Perran’s rooms and to the room given to the two guards. The afternoon was far advanced, the sun nearly touching the horizon. With nothing to do, Levron decided to take a short walk. Time spent seated at the trial had given him the need for exercise. He began wandering aimlessly, but had gone no more than several buildings away when he was approached by one of the town’s authorities.

  “You’re the judge’s assistant?”

  “I am.”

  “We’re advising everyone to be careful this evening. We still haven’t found Kanton, so we don’t want anyone to get caught up in an incident.”

  “Wise words,” Levron said. “I’ll be careful.”

  The man nodded and headed off, scanning his surroundings, looking for anything that could lead to Kanton’s capture.

  Though he had promised he would be careful, Kanton might, as Perran had observed, recognize him as the judge’s assistant. Levron shook his head and stopped in front of a business that was beginning to end the day’s commerce. It was of no great importance to continue his leisurely walk around town.

  While Perran was handsome to a fault, Levron had always been one to disappear in a crowd. Perhaps the judge was correct. Kanton might have noticed where Levron sat during the trial. This time, his forgettable face could be marked.

  So much for aimless wandering. With both Perran’s guards keeping close watch over the judge’s rooms, Levron decided he would stop by the inn’s stables to see that their horses were being well cared for and given extra mash and grain for tomorrow’s journey. All his duties to Perran completed, it gave him something to do before the evening meal.

  The doors to the stable were opened wide. The smell of hay and horses wafted toward him as Levron approached. A ginger cat jumped up on a mounting block by the stable entrance, stared at him for a moment, briefly washed its face with one paw, and then jumped down again.

  “Boy?” Levron called, looking around for the stable hand. He had no need to go into the structure if the lad was there. A simple request for additional feed for the horses Perran, the two guards, and he rode was hardly out of place. He rubbed the end of his nose and waited.

  “Boy?” he called again. No answer came from inside the stable. Frowning, Levron decided to check on the horses himself. The light was beginning to fade, and he didn’t want to blunder around in unfamiliar surroundings. Best get on with it.

  He stepped into the gloaming, remembering where their horses were stalled toward the back of the stable. Halfway there, he nearly tripped over something in his path. As his eyes adjusted to the lack of light, he froze, one foot lifted in front of the other.

  It was the stable hand. Levron had come close to walking onto the boy’s feet. For an instant, nothing made any sense. Why would the boy be stretched out in the stable?

  Levron swallowed heavily and glanced around. He saw nothing in the shadows; the horses seemed to be unperturbed. He drew a deep breath and knelt beside the stable hand. He could see just enough to tell the boy was breathing.

  And now was the time to leave. He had no idea what could have happened, but whatever had transpired, the authorities needed to be notified. Levron stood, turned toward the opened doors, and froze.

  The point of a knife rested against his neck, the cold steel no colder than the ice that stole through his veins.

  “Make one noise and you’re dead,” a voice whispered in his ear. “Now, slowly, turn away from me and make no sudden moves.”

  Levron complied, recognizing he stood on the edge of possible death. He closed his eyes and silently offered up a prayer to Vkandis for protection. Though he couldn’t see much in the growing darkness, after long hours at trial he could recognize who was speaking to him.

  It was Kanton’s hand that held the knife, Kanton, who was sought by the town’s authorities and who now held Levron captive.

  • • •

  Perran glanced out the window and frowned. Dusk was giving way to night, and Levron hadn’t returned yet. He opened the door and called out, alerting his guards.

  Timar answered at once, looking up and down the hallway, his hand close to his scabbarded sword.

  “Have you seen or heard from Levron?” Perran asked.

  “No, Lord. And we haven’t left our room. We’re waiting for our evening meal.”

  Perran nodded. “As am I. He should have returned by now. I don’t know where he could have gone.”

  Timar’s eyes narrowed. “Do you think—”

  “I don’t know what to think. Leave Ferrid here and see if anyone has seen him in the common room.”

  “At once, Lord.”

  Perran watched Timar head toward the stairs the lead down to the common room and frowned again. He and Levron had ridden together to trial after trial for years, and this was not normal behavior on his assistant’s part.

  • • •

  Levron held motionless, feeling the tip of the knife on his neck. He closed his eyes and thought, but there was nothing he could do at the moment. He had never been one to fight and had no particular skills in that area. He thought out every move he might make, but none of them brought him any closer to release.

  “Why are you doing this?” he asked, attempting to keep his voice level. “You’re in enough trouble as it is.”

  “Keep quiet! And don’t try anything. As you said, I’m in enough trouble. One slip of my knife won’t make much difference now.”

  “Don’t you understand? The whole town’s looking for you. Where do you think you can go without being seen?”

  “I don’t have to answer you. You’re part of the judgment that doomed me. Shut your mouth!”

  Levron shut his mouth. Kanton shifted the knife blade so it rose to below Levron’s ear. Any move he might make could result in most certain death.

  A slight rustle came from the direction of the stable hand. By now, he might be returning to consciousness. Kanton obviously heard the same thing.

  “Now I’m going to walk very slowly toward the doors,” Kanton said. “You’re going to walk in front of me. My knife will never leave your neck. As fast as you think you can run, I’ll be faster. Move!”

  “Where the hells do you think you’re going to go?”

  “Shut up!”

  Levron walked slowly toward where the boy lay, the knife never leaving his neck. What would Kanton do next? Surely, he wouldn’t compound his troubles by murder.

  They paused by the stable hand and then, with no warning, Kanton kicked the boy in the head, once again rendering him unconscious.

  The light had nearly fled from outside and the stable plunged into near darkness.

  “Someone is going to notice the doors are open,” Levron observed. “They’ll come looking.”
<
br />   “You think I haven’t thought of this?” Kanton grated.

  “I’m not sure what you thought. This isn’t the best place to be cornered.”

  “You’re a smart one, aren’t you? Got an answer for everything. Well, think on this!”

  Shock, pain, a blow to his head, and Levron fell toward the stable floor before he blacked out.

  • • •

  “Has anyone found Kanton yet?” Perran asked, stopping his pacing to face Timar.

  “No, Lord.”

  “Do they think he’s left town?”

  Timar shrugged. “They don’t think he had enough time. He attacked Danti in the late afternoon, and no one has seen him since. If he’s going to try for Rethwellan, it’s close, but not that close. He would need time to fashion an escape.”

  “Damn!” Perran walked to the window and looked out into the darkness. “And Levron? Has anyone seen him?”

  “Not since he went to the common room and instructed that our meals should be brought up here.”

  Perran looked up to the ceiling, at the shadows playing across it from the lit candles. “Something is terribly wrong here. I want you to work closely with the town’s authorities. I have the worst feeling that something has happened to Levron.”

  “And that Kanton might be responsible?”

  “You heard what he did to Danti. If he happened upon Levron, why would he avoid the chance to take revenge on someone he sees connected to me?”

  “I’ll make contact with the authorities again. Will you be safe with Ferrid here?”

  Perran smiled. “You two are the best I’ve ridden with for years. I’ll keep my door locked. On your way to speak with the authorities, find out everything you can as to what they’re doing.”

  “Aye, Lord. I’ll keep you informed.”

  • • •

  When Levron opened his eyes, he saw only darkness. His head throbbed with pain. The next thing that registered was a gag around his mouth. Now he couldn’t call for help if he’d wanted to. His arms were tied behind his back, and he was shoved up against one of the beams supporting the stable’s roof.