Therth shrugged. “Wol'van mentioned that a girl named Fawn acted solo most of the time, but she always had this commanding presence. In one meeting of the thieves, Wol'van watched her walk in, and one of the assassins tried to jump her, but she disarmed him easily and stopped just short of killing him. Then she stood up, sheathed her weapons, then asked if there were any more questions. Wol'van said she reminded him of you, but he never got close enough to talk to her—preferred to stay out of sight because he didn't trust her.”
“Too bad my old master wouldn't trust me if he saw me again.” Vixen smiled but then thought upon what Therth had said. This was an interesting turn of events. “I'm going to have to inform Honroth of this, but he is handling the threat of Jechorm right now.”
“And he seriously expects me to help?” Therth asked as Vixen rose to her feet.
She took the bowl from him and shrugged as she headed back to the tray. “Princess Mordora is here, and she wants him to focus on helping her reclaim Nirrorm as her own. You tell me—would you rather face Verddra so soon, or would you rather face the Jechorian pretending to be Theran just to tell them you're terribly sorry for attacking them and stealing Theran's handblade from them?”
With a long sigh, Therth decided that he had sat still long enough. He needed to move, so he stood and went to the balcony to stare over the city. After a moment, he turned back to Vixen before she had a chance to leave. “Why do they want the handblade?”
Vixen looked around the room, as if seeking answers from the walls before finally locking eyes with Therth, and she shook her head. “We don't know. Theran only agreed to the trade because he meant to trick them and take it back for himself, but now he's in Nirrorm doubling as you, so we have no idea what his plan was. Plus, I have his handblade.” She lifted her arm and looked annoyed but then shook her head. Leaving the tray on the table, she moved for the door. Pulling it open, she paused then looked over her shoulder at Therth, who had turned his gaze back upon the city spread out before him. “We could use your help, Therth, and together we'll find answers.”
With that, she left him alone with his thoughts.
In the room, Therth stared over the quiet night of the capital of Cuskelom. For the first time in years, he had the undeniable knowledge that all his searching for his brother had been in vain and that Loroth was indeed dead. He hadn't grieved him—hadn't mourned for him, and it hurt.
Outside the chambers, Vixen shut the door quietly behind herself then bowed her head. Mention of her old weapons master, Wol'van, brought back many memories of her life before meeting Loroth—her life as a ruthless killer. The thoughts of all the thieves and assassins banding together unnerved her. She needed to tell Honroth as soon as possible, so she set a brisk pace through the palace to find him.
19
Inecha was the first to notice Vixen's presence when the former assassin slipped into the mead hall where Honroth met with Mordora and Jadkon to discuss the situation in Nirrorm. Honroth sat at the head of the table with Inecha sitting on his right, but his attention was focused on Mordora and Jadkon on his left. Vixen slowed and silenced her steps, so she could overhear the conversation.
“My men have gathered the bodies of those slain in the ambush, including the body of your father, and each of them have been properly laid to rest.” Honroth was speaking. “And now we turn our attention to the threat Jechorm presents to us.”
“You mean to say that you won't go to free Nirrorm from Countess Verddra?” Mordora stared at Honroth with disbelief. “What of Heldon? Are you simply going to allow him to rot in the dungeons? You don't possibly think Verddra will release him of her own free will, do you?”
Honroth shook his head. “Princess Mordora, I trust Theran and Erita to free Heldon. They are there already, and I cannot afford to spread my army thin on an expedition that might fail.”
“So you will simply turn your back on your allies now?” Mordora straightened in her chair as she glowered at the king.
“No.” Honroth met her gaze. “I will address the threat closest to me, and that is Jechorm. Once that situation has been handled, I will turn my attention back to Nirrorm and demand Countess Verddra give an account of her actions and motives. In the meanwhile, you may stay here.” He set his eyes on the silent guardian beside the princess. “Guardian Jadkon, you hail from the kingdom of Aquila beyond the North Sea, do you not? Your accent sounds Aquilian.”
Jadkon frowned when he heard this because he never spoke of his homeland and preferred not to get involved in politics. Nevertheless, King Honroth had guessed correctly, so he nodded. “Aye, Sir. That is my home.”
“Were you ever guardian of Prince Nathon?” Honroth’s question drew confused looks from both Jadkon and Mordora, so he explained, “I recall seeing a man who looked like you who was the guardian of the prince when I visited a while back, but he looked a little younger than you...”
Realizing of whom he spoke, Jadkon bowed his head as he sighed. “That would be my younger brother, Conrad.”
“Do you know how he fares?”
Jadkon lifted his gaze to look at Honroth with furrowed brows. “Sire?”
Mordora grew tired of this diversion in the conversation. “Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this? Why worry about a man in a land across the sea when we should be focusing on the threat in Nirrorm?”
“Because, Princess...” Honroth shot her a look that silenced her, and then he looked back at Jadkon. “I am not sure if you are aware, Guardian Jadkon, but for the last several months Aquila has been involved in a war. My resources informed me that a man close to the prince was severely wounded. I assumed that was the guardian I had seen before, and I thought that guardian was you. However, seeing you here before me, I assume it must have been your brother. Have you heard from him recently?”
“What is the point of all this?” Mordora demanded again.
“Princess.” Honroth set his patient gaze upon her. “Family is important to some people, and Jadkon has the right to know if his brother is dead or near to death. Therefore, I sought to inform him of this once I suspected he was from Aquila.”
Jadkon stilled when he heard this urgent message but fought down the rising anxiety within him at what might have happened to his brother in his absence. “My brother...is he well?”
Honroth sighed. “It takes a while for word to travel across the sea as my sources do not have access to the Orbs, but I believe you should return home.” The king of Cuskelom set his gaze upon the princess of Nirrorm, and he reassured the guardian. “Princess Mordora is safe with us.”
The guardian hesitated because he knew his duty, but Cuskelom was a safe place, and his brother needed him. “I shall prepare to leave at once.” He rose to his feet.
“Meet me outside the council hall, and I shall grant you access to travel through the Orb of Aquila. It is much faster travel. Go—gather your things.” Honroth dismissed him then finally noticed Vixen at the opposite end of the table. Jadkon passed her as he left, and Honroth sat back in his chair with a long sigh. “How was your talk with my cousin?”
“Informative.” When Vixen said this, Honroth lifted his brows. He hadn't expected Therth to talk because he knew how stubborn the man could be. However, Vixen came around the table and slid into the seat beside Inecha. “Among other things, he told me there is unusual activity among the thieves of the kingdoms. They're banding together.”
“That's unusual?” Mordora furrowed her brows.
Vixen nodded then smiled as she thought upon all the conflicts the different bands of thieves had with each other—not to mention the run-ins with nobility. “They would much sooner kill each other than work with one another because each one wants the other's territory.”
“Any reason why they might be setting aside their differences now to work together?” Honroth leaned forward, folding his hands on the table.
She shook her head. “The only thing I can imagine is that it is a survival tactic.”
“Sur
vival tactic against what?” Inecha looked at her with creased brows, but Vixen shrugged.
“I don't know.” She fixed her eyes on Honroth. “But with your permission, Sire, I would like to go into the woods and reconnect with some old friends. Perhaps I'll learn a thing or two.”
Honroth was shaking his head before she finished her request. “No. I need you to accompany Therth and me to Jechorm. I am not sure if I can trust Therth or if he has changed, but I know he holds you in high regard because you are—were—his sister-in-law.”
Vixen realized what he was saying and narrowed her eyes. “You think I can keep him on a leash.”
Honroth winced at her choice of words but relented with a reluctant nod. “Not exactly, but somewhat—yes.” He gave her an apologetic look. “He respects you and has a healthy fear of you—”
“Only because he knows I will beat him up.”
“Exactly.”
Vixen frowned. She wanted to go into the woods and find Wol'van in order to discover for herself what was happening, yet Honroth needed her help. She didn't want to go back to Jechorm after everything that had happened there. However, if she located Asalda or Pelham, she had several questions for them, and that would be her main reason for going. She gave Honroth a firm nod. “Very well. What's the plan?”
Pleased to have one part of his plan fall into place, Honroth rose to his feet to discuss further details. “First, Therth will double for Theran, and you, he, and I shall go to Jechorm to discuss terms of peace. We shall have a small troop accompany us just out of sight in case negotiations fail.”
“But what of me?” Mordora shot the king a look. “I wish to help as well.”
Honroth braced his fingers on the table and shook his head. “You need to stay here—in case Verddra sends word to us. It is not a secret that you are here under our protection. It may be she will want to negotiate with you.”
“Negotiation is not an option for us. She wrongfully took Nirrorm, and I will not stand for that injustice.”
He stared at her, observing the way she crossed her arms and scowled. She reminded him of Heldon when he was younger and had been envious when Honroth and Theran were allowed to go on outings without him; however, this was more complicated because Mordora was heir to her own kingdom and not under Honroth's command.
He nodded, acknowledging her claims. “Princess Mordora, I understand it is difficult for you to stand by and watch such a wrong remain unavenged, but I swear to you once this issue with Jechorm has been resolved, I will turn my attention to Nirrorm. Nevertheless, if—while I am gone—you see the need to overstep the boundaries set in place for your protection, and if you seek to return to Nirrorm on your own, I will not stop you. However...” He placed a hand on the table and leaned down to her. His eyes firmly locked with hers. “Do not take any of the men from my army. I need my full strength to face the technology of Jechorm. Do you understand?” When she gave him the slightest nod, Honroth smiled a tight smile as he pulled back. “Good.” Then he turned to the others at the table. “Vixen.” He nodded to the door then made his way toward it while Vixen rose to her feet and followed.
Inecha watched Mordora's eyes follow them out of the room until only the two of them remained, and Mordora dragged her gaze back to the table and exhaled an angry sigh. Inecha set her elbow on the table then planted her chin in her palm and waited.
“I cannot believe them.” Mordora gestured toward the door in disgust. “Don't they realize the longer we wait to confront Verddra, the stronger she becomes?” She looked at Inecha for understanding, and Inecha gathered a sigh.
“Mordora, do you know why I am here?” When Mordora shook her head, Inecha sat back in her chair, hands folded on her lap—ever the posture of a princess. “I am a princess in my own right—Princess of Talhon—”
“Talhon...” Mordora frowned as she finally took in the fact that Inecha was her equal rather than a mere advisor for the king. “The small kingdom south of Jechorm? Your kingdom has little dealings with the other kingdoms. I am surprised that Jechorm or Serhon haven’t conquered you yet.”
Inecha’s eyes flared with fire at Mordora’s words, but she willed herself to take a deep breath and offer her fellow princess a tight smile. “Talhon’s strength is in its neutrality...or at least, so I’ve heard. However, as I was saying, I am Princess Inecha of Talhon, or would have been, had my father’s council not rejected me prior to his ascension to the throne. I had little hope, little direction in life once I was removed from the royal court, but Countess Verddra offered me hope—the chance to find my place in this world, but she almost killed me in the process. Erita and Vixen brought me here for me to heal, and I have been here ever since—slowly replenishing my reserve of magic, but it is a tedious process.” She reached across the table to grasp Mordora's hand and give her a reassuring squeeze. “You must be patient, Princess Mordora. You are right. This is a terrible wrong that the countess has done to your family, but you must wait. The time is not yet.”
“When will it ever be time?”
Inecha withdrew her hand and smiled. “It will be—soon. Just wait.”
Mordora stared at the sorceress across the table. She sensed Inecha knew much more than she revealed. Somewhere the wheels were turning slowly, lining events into perfect alignment for something to happen; she wasn't sure what it was, but it was big, and now she was given the chance to stand beside Inecha and watch the events unfold.
Mordora only hoped it would unfold in her favor—and soon.
20
Heldon still didn't understand—despite the fact that this was the fifth time Erita had explained things to him. He shook his head and looked over to her cell in the dungeon across the way. His hands were still bound in chains up above his shoulders. “So when you went to investigate like Verddra asked you to, and Therth went with you, you just happened to run into Vixen and Theran, then Vixen knocked out Therth—”
“No, I knocked him out,” Erita corrected. “She just beat him up.”
Irritated with the interruption and still trying to grasp everything, Heldon glared at her, but then he went on. “So Theran switched places with Therth and sent Vixen back to Cuskelom with Therth, and then you came back here with Theran, who was pretending to be Therth—only Verddra suspected the switch, called him out on it, blew his cover, and then sent you back down here?”
“Right.”
“And you have no idea what happened to my brother?”
“Exactly.” Erita shook her head.
Heldon tugged at his restraints again with a growl.
“You might want to be careful. You could hurt yourself.”
“Don't tell me what to do!” Heldon snapped a glare at her.
She flinched at his harsh tone then lowered her gaze to look at her hands. She knew she shouldn't be surprised. Heldon was worried for his brother. It was one thing for Verddra to capture Theran, but if that was all she intended to do with him, she would have cast him into a cell in the dungeon as well. Because they had yet to see Theran, Erita feared the worst and could only imagine how Heldon felt, but she had to remain calm and keep a clear head if she wanted to use her magic the first chance she got. “Heldon, I know you are upset with me, but trust me when I say there was nothing I could have done.”
“You could have disagreed with Theran's suggestion to take Therth's place.” Heldon sounded defeated now, and when she looked over to him, she saw how he bowed his head between his shoulders. No doubt his arms ached from the constant drawn up position they were in, but Heldon didn't complain about the pain. His only concern was for his misguided older brother.
Erita tried to imagine being in Heldon's place, but it was hard. “Do you know how I came to Cuskelom?”
“You magicked Vixen and Inecha in from Jechorm.” He didn't sound interested in this line of conversation, but Erita ignored that and pressed on.
“Yes, but you do you know what I was doing in Jechorm in the first place?” When he finally lifted his head an
d locked eyes with her, she saw the frustration in his soul at his situation but also the curiosity to hear her story. “I was born to two magic users. From a young age, they taught me how to use magic. They even had Verddra train me a little. They were pleased with my daily progress. I could do no wrong.” She smiled wistfully, recalling those early days of her life. “But the bliss didn't last forever. Although both of my parents are powerful users themselves and encouraged me in the art of magic, they had alternative motives for wanting me to learn—motives that were completely opposite of each other. As it was, they were agents from rival Houses—Ackden and Perik—”
“Wait, your parents were agents from different Assassin Houses? I thought only assassins like Vixen came from the Houses.”
Erita shrugged. “Magic users make for useful assassins too.”
Heldon bowed his head then cracked his neck to relieve some tension. He didn't understand why Erita was telling him all this now, but he appreciated the distraction from his chains. “So how did two agents from rival Houses end up married?”
“It was a compromise. Matters between the two Houses had become so violent that something had to be done to create a truce—just for a time. My parents had two sons before I came along, but I was the only magic user. After my magic manifested itself, both my brothers were sent to separate Houses while I was raised alone to be trained in the art of magic. The plan was for a new House to start with me.”
“But nothing went as planned?” Heldon lifted his brows then leaned his head back against the wall.
Erita nodded and rose to her feet to pace in her small cell. She wrung her hands as she tried to determine what to say next, and how much to tell him. She never told anyone about her upbringing because she wasn't proud of it. The only thing she was proud of was how she had gotten herself out of the situation. “As I said, my parents are from separate Houses. That's never a good combination—”
The Chronicles of Lorrek Box Set Page 18
