by C. R. Daems
He froze with the blade at his throat.
"If I cut your throat, I'd bet no one would care or miss you. I know right now you're planning to get even because you embarrassed yourself. I get a hundred men like you each cycle. I'm still here. They aren't." I slid my hand out from under his, and he backed up.
"I'll get even, bitch."
"Better to think about waking up tomorrow. I'm in a good mood today. Never can tell about tomorrow."
When he left, Yoan pulled back the flap.
"Trouble?" he asked, looking at the knives in my hands.
"Probably. Right now he's forgotten I had a knife at his throat and is thinking how he's going to catch me alone."
"Be careful. Nobles are dangerous."
* * *
Niki, Morana's familiar, paced an area about a hundred paces from Tenus's compound. Judging from Anil's flight over and around his small castle, it looked to be a three-story building. The yard held a long, narrow barracks, stables, a workout area, and a small armory. A stone wall formed a battlement. Although the castle was small, it undoubtedly had a dungeon of sorts where Sister Morana was being held.
That evening, I went for my normal walk. When I had lost sight of the wagons and Anil and Kasi showed no one following, I changed into my blacks. When I reached Niki, she flinched away from me but didn't run. I hoped Morana could direct Niki to help. Although I could feel Niki's emotions as she could feel mine, it provided limited communication. I sat waiting for several hours until everyone should be asleep. Then I worked around to the back of the yard and waited until Kasi failed to detect activity. I took a running jump and caught the top of the wall with one hand. I struggled to grasp the top with the other hand but failed, sliding down the wall, scraping my hands and cheek. I stood there breathing hard and considered the wall. Suddenly, I felt pressure on my shoulder, and a moment later I saw Niki catch the top of the wall and pull herself up. She sat there with her arm hanging down toward me. I laughed. Niki would be a good familiar for a Spy. I moved back several steps and took another run at the wall. Again, I caught the top with one hand, but this time Niki caught my other hand and pulled it to the top. I dragged myself up and over onto the battlement.
Every hundred paces, stairs led to the ground, but I decided to jump down instead. I would be too visible on the battlement if someone were to walk by. When I looked up, Niki stood at the back wall of the castle. Narrow window ledges, corbels, irregular stones, and decorative features stuck out that would permit a climb to the roof, and that would be the safest way into the building. Niki started up when she saw me coming. I followed, keeping an eye on her for the best way up. As luck would have it, a guard wandered the roof. He wasn't particularly alert, but he could be a problem if I chose the wrong time to swing onto the roof. I hung there, my arms screaming with pain and my fingers cramping, while I waited for him to reach the other side. He strolled, looking out into the distance. Only my training saved me from falling. When he reached the other side, I slid over the wall and lay resting in the shadow created by a full moon low on the horizon.
I crept along. When I was in range, I used my longer blowtube to put a rockberry dart in his back. Why should he die for being a soldier and following orders? After kicking him in the head, I pressed against the wall, creeping down the stairs to a long hallway. It appeared to run along the side of the building. Another hallway ran perpendicular to it with several doors. The first room was a large study, the second empty. The third had two beds with small children soundly asleep. The fourth was another bedroom, three times as large as the last one. A man and woman lay there asleep. I pulled two sticks out, one rockberry and one rocktail. I tiptoed to the bed and dove between them. The woman got the rockberry. The man turned out to be Lord Tenus. He gave one last snort and was dead. Whether the woman was his wife or his mistress, she didn't deserve to die.
I retraced my steps back to the other hallway. The steps down to the next floor had two guards at the bottom. I darted each with rockberry. On this floor, there were ten or more doors, which probably belonged to minor nobles or high-ranking officers. I opened the first door and found one bed occupied by a man and woman. I darted both and dragged my two guards into the room. Someone wandering down the hallway would think the guards had roamed off. Out of curiosity, I walked over to the bed and found the noble who had been trouble earlier. I stabbed him with a rocktail stick and then broke his neck. The gypsies didn't need him causing trouble because of me. I didn't bother with the other doors and descended to the first floor. I could hear two guards talking from down the hallway. I couldn't ignore them, so I slipped down the hallway and peeked through the half-open doorway. It looked like a kitchen. I darted both then found a large pan and hit each several times in the head.
I had ten darts but needed to dip them again before I could reuse them. If that became necessary, I carried two containers with the poisons, but it would be time consuming. I could feel Niki's excitement as I neared the stairs leading down. I descended slowly, listening as I went. As I neared the bottom, Niki bared her fangs and extended her finger-length claws. Just then a man backed out from a narrow doorway.
"There, Shadow, now you know what a real man feels like."
Niki raced down the hallway and landed on his back. Blood sprayed across the walls as her claws ripped through his neck. As he collapsed, she shot through the open cell door. Morana lay on the floor, hands tied, her face bloody and her clothes torn into rags.
I knelt beside her, cut the ropes, and lifted her in my arms. She didn't cry out, but her arms tightened around me. She shuddered. After a moment, I leaned back and took out the extra blacks I had brought. She winced as I helped her strip out of the rags and dress. When finished, she eagerly grabbed the three throwing knives I handed her.
"We must hurry before it gets light. Think back to Ahasha and your training. We wouldn't want to embarrass Sisters Morag, Rong, or Hajna."
Morana smiled. "No, never."
She pulled herself up and staggered into the hallway. I couldn't support her and be ready to defend us at the same time. It was slow, but she made it up the stairs and to the front door by herself.
"Wait here until Niki lets you know it's safe to follow."
I used the shadows from the building and the wall to make my way unseen to the two guards at the gate. Although I needed to keep my identity, methods, and familiar a secret, I hated what I had to do, but… I knelt down and tied my belt around Niki's face. Surprisingly, she let me. Two darts and the guards were unconscious. I pulled out my darts and cleaned up before urging Niki to get Morana. Seconds later she came stumbling across the yard looking like a drunk. We slipped out the gate door and into the night.
It took an hour to work our way to within two hundred paces of the camp. I left her and ghosted to Marku's wagon. The dim light of dawn had just begun to show, and the camp was quiet.
"Stela, I need help."
"Are you hurt?"
"No, but I've a Shadow who is. I'll need bandages, needle and thread, and salve." I whispered. She didn't say anything. A few minutes later, she came out with a bundle and followed me into the woods. We couldn't hide Morana's identity because she had to be stripped to treat her injuries. An hour later, Stela had finished.
"That's all I can do, R… She will need rest."
"No. Sister, you must go west. Go now." I gave her my hand. I could feel the mark of a senior Spy. She smiled and rose.
"I acknowledge your right. May you walk in the shadow of our Sisters." She limped off with Niki.
"She can't go. She's not fit to travel. If she must, why not go south? There is nothing west…yes, I see. You're using logic against them, like when you told us to stay when we wanted to run. What did she mean, I acknowledge your right?" Stela looked in the direction Morana and Niki walked.
"Spies are higher than anyone else except a senior Assassin/Spy, which I am. In addition, I've Mistress's seal. My words are Mistress's words. No one outranks me." Yes, I speak for th
e senior Sister. I wonder if she would approve of my words now. Stela remained quiet as we returned to the wagons.
"I pity you, Ryana. No one as young as you should have that responsibility, but I think Mistress has chosen wisely."
* * *
The town swarmed with mercenaries and the late Tenus's soldiers, who were under the directions of one of his nephews, Lord Phellen.
"We demand to search the wagons," Phellen shouted. He looked ridiculous with his twenty soldiers facing Bolan's forty.
"These wagons are under the protection of First Lady wu'Lichak. Do you presume to have the authority to question her?" Bolan asked as he put his horse next to Phellen's.
"My uncle was killed. We'll search these wagons."
"I doubt all your soldiers are willing to question First Lady wu'Lichak's word. Those who do will die."
As he spoke, his men drew their swords. Phellen paled.
"Marku, let them search under the same conditions you imposed on the mercenaries." I leaned toward him so as not to be heard by the others.
"Lord Bolan, I'm willing to let them search, if they will limit their search party to two men accompanied by one of mine. The death of Lord Tenus is a terrible tragedy." Marku had ridden up to Phellen and Bolan. "We've nothing to hide."
"Under those conditions, you may search the wagons." Bolan waved to the captain, who pointed to his senior sergeant.
Phellen didn't like being refused. He obviously wanted to tear the gypsies' wagons apart, but he had no choice and waved to two of his soldiers.
The search took an hour. The sergeant had to caution the searchers several times not to damage anything. Phellen went away satisfied but annoyed.
"That was good of you, Marku," Bolan said after they had left.
"I appreciate your support. Without you, they would have torn the wagons apart. We owe First Lady wu'Lichak for her generous support."
The next day we left Udo.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Windon—Araby Province
As we rode out of town, Stela joined me on my wagon.
"You were right. The search never went west—that would have been illogical. We must remember the lessons you've taught us. We're getting closer to Tarion. Won't you be safe there?"
"My enemies haven't given up. By now, it has become personal. There are those in Tarion who want to supplant the king. It's the center of the plot. I've nowhere to go, so eventually they will find me; therefore, I intend to leave you in Tarion, if not before."
"Why do you say you've nowhere to go? You're a Shadow. You've a home in Ahasha."
"I've abused Mistress's authority. Even if I haven't, they won't want me back." I should have felt like my heart had been ripped from my chest, but I felt nothing. I had long ago reconciled myself to my fate. There was no sense pretending it could be otherwise.
"Then you can become a gypsy and stay with us. You'll heal in time." Stela put her arm around my shoulders. For a moment, I hoped it were true. My mere presence would endanger the clan, and I wouldn't do that. In a way, I wished Morag would send an Assassin to kill me. I smiled. I doubted she could succeed. I had become an instrument of death. Well, that was tomorrow and this was today. Stela said no more as she stepped off onto Marku's horse. The trip to Windon was a one-day hard ride, but Marku planned to stop early and make it a leisurely two-day trip.
We had no Intermediate or Shadow in Windon according to the information Morag had given me, which meant I had little to do. Marku planned only two performances in the small town.
The audience at the first performance stomped and clapped, and the profit from the games good. I had lots of business in the fortuneteller tent. They were mainly women. A few men came wanting answers to business questions. I had little experience with business matters except for the theory I received at Ahasha, but if I listened hard, I could figure out what they were looking to hear. Stretching the result further into the future and adding: "there are many futures, but this is the one I see most clearly" seemed to satisfy them. Ironically, I learned a lot about business from those men.
On the second night, my first customer was Lord Phellen. I wondered why some lords seemed to be so vicious when they had such privileged lives.
"You've a reputation for being able to see into the future and that you did a reading for wu'Lichak." He grinned or it might've been a sneer. "What did you tell her?"
"I think you should ask her, Lord Phellen."
"I can make you tell me, and that would be very unpleasant. It would be easier to tell me now."
"When First Lady wu'Lichak finds you tortured me to discover what I told her, that will be very unpleasant."
"Who do you think you're talking to, gypsy? I can have you flogged and no one can stop me," he shouted, his face twisted in hate and rage.
"That won't change what Lady wu'Lichak will do when she finds out, and word will get back to her one way or the other." He reached out and grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the tent. I let him.
"Sergeant, tie her to that wagon wheel. I'm going to teach these gypsies a lesson. Any commoner is better than them," he hollered loud enough for all the clan to hear. Yoan stepped out from behind the wagon. He had a knife in his hand and several in his belt. Lord Phellen didn't realize he stood seconds away from death, but if Yoan killed him, the soldiers would kill Yoan and probably destroy the wagons and most of the clan. If they did not, the mercenaries clustered behind the soldiers would. I shook my head.
The sergeant had just finished tying me to the wagon wheel when Lord Bolan appeared. The captain and his troop stood off to the side.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"She insulted me. I'm going to teach her how to talk to nobility."
"That is unforgivable. Ryana, what did you say?"
"I say she insulted me. Isn't that enough, Lord Bolan?" His face red and lips squeezed tight.
"It might be if you were in Udo. It might be if she weren't under the protection of Lady wu'Lichak. The first lady, who's your liege, in case you've forgotten. It might be if you weren't employing mercenaries. That's quite a few might bes. Of course, I would be willing to listen if you would like to clear them up." Bolan paused.
Meanwhile, the captain and his troops swung up onto their horses. Phellen stood silent, looking around for something.
"Ryana, what did you say to Lord Phellen?"
"I told him I wouldn't disclose the future that I told First Lady wu'Lichak."
"I would bet that would have been worth many toras."
"I'd rather be flogged." I wouldn't have wanted to be in Phellen's pretty leather boots at this minute.
"She's lying," Phellen shouted. His face had gone pale. He touched the hilt of his sword, and forty swords left their sheaths.
"Lord Phellen, I might've believed you if it hadn't been for all those other might bes. I'm sending you back to Scio to answer to your liege. Captain, form a detail to escort Lord Phellen back to Scio. I'll give you a letter to give to the first lady."
"You can't do that. You've no authority." He looked around. "Soldiers of Udo, attack."
A couple drew their sabers, but no one moved.
"Ordering an attack on a representative of your liege. I guess we've another might be, Lord Phellen. Captain, provide another detail to escort the Udo soldiers back to Udo. Any of them who would like to join the Araby army may accompany your escort back to Scio. I'll send a letter authorizing their enlistment. Captain, untie Ryana. She looks uncomfortable."
Bolan looked over to the mercenaries who had drawn their weapons, but none had moved.
"Mercenaries, you're not authorized to be in Araby and are unwanted. I would suggest you leave. If my men see you again, they have orders to kill you on sight."
The captain untied the ropes and I rubbed my wrists. Phellen hadn't intended to teach me a lesson. He had intended to whip me until I told him what he wanted to know or I died. I didn't care. I would rather have died than have the clan hurt on my account. Other
wise, I would have killed the fool.
Bolan interrupted my musing.
"You wouldn't have told him, would you?"
"It was none of his business."
"He would have killed you to find out what you knew," he said, more of a question than a statement. I shrugged. He nodded and walked away.
* * *
Later, as I walked toward the fire and the scent of the savory stew cooking there, Marku stopped me.
"I'm not going to let you work the fortuneteller tent anymore. You've a tendency to antagonize our marks. What got Phellen so mad at you?" He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"He wanted me to tell him Lady wu'Lichak's fortune."
"We were lucky Bolan's here. We would have tried to help, but in the end, he would have killed you—and us." He looked at the ground, shaking his head.
"I should leave before you or someone else does something stupid just like that. I don't want anyone in the clan hurt trying to defend me. Marku, I could've killed Phellen any time I wanted. I chose not to. You have to understand that if I choose not to defend myself, you must respect that decision. If not, I'll leave tonight." I stared at him, waiting for a response. My life had gotten far too complex. I could no longer decide whether staying with the clan helped or hurt them.
"You're right, of course. When trouble happens, we tend to react with our emotions. It's why you've been so successful. You use their emotions and logic against them." He took my hand in his. "You made a conscious decision to save the clan. I should have respected it. I would have gotten the clan and you killed. Stay. We will honor your decisions."
* * *
As I readied my wagon for the trip to Sandel, Bolan walked over to me.
"Good morning, Ryana."
"Good morning, Lord Bolan. I thank you for your help yesterday. Lord Phellen was in a very unpleasant mood," I said. "I'd appreciate it if you would thank the first lady for her protection."
"I'm curious. Did you submit because you saw the future or because you knew I would protect you?"
