The Eyes of a Doll (The World of Shijuren Book 2)

by Howell, Rob

  She shrugged.

  I lifted her chin and looked at her.

  “I’ll play with you when I can. And, if your parents allow it, I’ll take you on a ride with Deor soon.”

  Her eyes lit. “When when when?”

  “When I can.”

  “But I don’t know when that will be.”

  “Neither do I.”

  “That’s not fair.”

  “Ludmilja, look at me.”

  She did.

  “I won’t lie to you. I will take you for a ride, if your parents say yes, but it will have to wait until I can do so. I won’t tell you a specific time because that would be a lie. Understand?”

  She nodded.

  “And you trust me?”

  She smiled. “Oh, yes.”

  “Good.”

  “Now, how is Nadja? She hasn’t said anything yet.”

  Ludmilja, Nadja, and I chatted until Piri and Arkady’s squad, including Maja, arrived.

  I hugged Ludmilja. “I have to talk with Piri. It’s adult stuff.”

  “But…” Her face dropped.

  “But I’ll come play with you when I can.”

  “Promise?”

  “Yes, I promise.”

  I hugged her, and she ran back to Soraya, who had never moved, anxiously making sure that she could step in if Ludmilja offended me. I smiled at the pair broadly, making a mental note to talk to Zoe about easing Soraya’s worry.

  Piri’s face held a slight smile as she watched Ludmilja run away. Maja stood by her side, surprisingly wearing normal clothes, not Pathfinder armor. She also carried two large packs.

  “You’re quite the fearsome warrior,” commented the hecatontarch.

  “I am, aren’t I?”

  We laughed, and both Maja and Piri sat with me. Karah brought over two more mugs and another pitcher of lakewater.

  Piri drained some happily and smacked her lips. “I have had some ideas.”

  “Yes?”

  “I’ll get to them in a moment. Did you have a chance to rest?”

  “Yes. And a bath, and food, and hugs from Ludmilja.”

  “And a shave.”

  “Oh, yes, and a glorious shave.”

  Piri chuckled. “Good. Did those things give you any inspirations?”

  “Not really, only that I need to do something.”

  “Do something?”

  “I realize that’s vague. What I mean is that whoever is behind this has been making me dance to his or her tune. I need to step out of the dance and play my own game.”

  “You’re getting smarter, Sevener.”

  “Thank you. I wish I was smart enough to actually think of what my own game should be.”

  “I’ve had some thoughts along those lines.”

  “Yes?”

  “You don’t know enough.”

  “I seem to recall you saying that to me before over dinner once.”

  She laughed. “Yes. And I’m just as correct now as then.”

  “Are you going to explain how Achrida works to me again?”

  “No, but I am going to explain how an Achridan might work.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You don’t know enough.”

  “You already said that.”

  “Yes. How will you learn what you need to know?”

  “Talk to Gabrijela and Gibroz’s people.”

  Maja snorted and Piri chuckled, muttering to her, “He’s not stupid, just naïve.”

  “Yes, I’m naïve. Please explain exactly how I’m naïve right now.”

  Piri laughed louder. “You think so directly. You do not need to talk to people to learn things about them. In fact, many times that’s the worst thing to do.”

  “That makes sense.”

  “Of course it does,” she said smugly.

  “So how would an Achridan learn about people?”

  “You watch them, follow them, keep track of their comings and goings.”

  “Well, yes, that would make sense, but I would need to follow six people around. There’s no way I can do that.”

  “Actually, you need to keep track of at least eight, and possibly more.”

  “That’s even more impossible, if that were logically feasible.”

  “This is where you need to think like an Achridan. Or rather, you need to think like a lord, not a thegn.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You accept that you have to change your strategy, right?”

  “Yes, whether or not the attacks are actually aiming to kill me, I can’t continue to fight in them. I might not be lucky next time.”

  “Exactly, nor might those who are with you. Especially if you’re facing a large unknown organization or someone controlling Gibroz’s.”

  “Yes.”

  “Your king, what was his name?”

  “My king was Cynric. My lord was Penwulf, his son.”

  “Did Cynric do everything?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Did Cynric do everything in Middlemarch?”

  “I still don’t understand.”

  “Did Cynric farm?”

  “He knew how.”

  “But did he do the plowing and tilling?”

  “No. His farmers mostly did that, though we all pitched in at harvest times.”

  “Exactly, he asked others to do the work for him.”

  “Are you asking me to have others keep track of these, what, eight people?”

  “Yes.”

  “I can’t do that!”

  “Why not?”

  “Send others out where they might be attacked? Ridiculous!”

  “Did Cynric not do the same?”

  “No!”

  “Really? Think about it, Sevener.”

  I sat back. “Well, there were times that his thegns had to defend against a raid.”

  “And where was he?”

  “On the other side of Middlemarch.”

  “Exactly.”

  “But…”

  “But what?”

  “It’s not the same thing.”

  “It isn’t?”

  “I’m here in Achrida.”

  “But you can’t do what you need to do without help.”

  Piri let me chew on that.

  “I know I need help, but that doesn’t mean I’ll put others at risk unnecessarily.”

  “I’m not asking you to do that. I’m simply saying that it’s necessary.”

  “Is it?”

  “Yes. You have eight people at minimum to follow: Gibroz, Gabrijela, Andreyev, Markov, Gibroz’s other two henchmen, Andreas, and Pherenike.”

  I sat back.

  “You’re saying that I need to keep tabs on Andreas to find the link between him and Gibroz’s people?”

  “Yes.”

  After a moment, I nodded.

  “Andreas I can see, but why Pherenike?”

  “Who do you think does Andreas’s bidding? Well, either that or she is the leash the Emperor tied to Andreas. She’s probably both, actually, his servant and watchdog.”

  I sighed. “Yes, that makes sense. Fjolnir would probably suggest I watch all of the Imperial Guard in Achrida.”

  “That’s probably impractical, but you can watch Pherenike.”

  “I suppose, though I’m not sure when I’ll have the time.”

  “You don’t. That’s my point. You have to watch at least these people, and you cannot do it by yourself. You literally cannot.”

  I started to object, but then sighed. “You’re right. So what do I do?”

  “You do what a lord does. You get people to do what you cannot do because you only have two hands.”

  “I refuse to put people at risk.”

  “People are already at risk. You asked me to come here with a squad. I’m not likely to allow that to happen for long. Honker, Soraya, and Ludmilja are all staying here because we don’t think it’s safe for them to go home.”

  “And I’m worried enough about Radovan to h
ave sent Veselko and Sebastijan’s other two men back to watch over him and Jovanka,” I added with a sigh.

  “So how do you protect them?”

  “I figure out who is pitting Gibroz and Ylli against each other and I put an end to it.”

  “Exactly. And you don’t know enough to do that right now.”

  “So I need to gather information.”

  “And…”

  “And I simply can’t do it alone.” I got up and pounded my fist against the wall with a yell.

  Of course, that stopped all the conversation in the taproom. Melia glared at me from her nap in a midday sunbeam. I nodded apologies to Karah, those having lunch, and Zoe when she looked in. Melia simply turned around a few times and went back to sleep, chin resting on her paws.

  As the taproom settled back, my anger grew.

  “Fuck the black-and-white queen. She got Desimir and she’s reaching for Radovan, but I’m not going to let her own another soul,” I hissed.

  “You can’t make that promise.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you keep your word, and you simply cannot control everything.”

  She looked at me serenely. I started to curse her for a fool but stopped myself. Fortunately. Had she not but a few weeks past buried a dozen of her troops?

  “I’m not as strong as you.”

  “Mithra’s fire, it’s not strength, you fool.”

  “What is it, then?”

  “Tell me of the World Tree again.”

  “It has a branch for each of us. We shall live no longer than our allotted time, the branch is already grown. We can break the branch, though, and die too soon.”

  “Yes. But what can you control?”

  “I can live an honorable life. I can keep my word when I give it.”

  “And who have you sworn to?”

  “I have sworn to Honker to free him from this threat.”

  “Any others?”

  “I have sworn to get Radovan healed, if it can be done, and free him as well. I suppose I have sworn to fix the rift between Ylli and Gibroz.”

  “So that means—”

  “That means I have to do whatever I can honorably do to fulfill those promises.”

  “Yes.”

  She paused. “You’ll swear another oath, for you are a good man.”

  “Yes?”

  “You’ll swear that any who serve you shall receive whatever protection you can give them. You’ll not waste their lives, and you’ll not break their branch on the World Tree before their lives have been lived.”

  “I suppose I will.”

  “So, it’s not strength, it’s simply living your life as best you can.”

  I sighed and nodded.

  Maja laughed. “And you think I’m a stubborn fool.”

  I had forgotten about her. Now she continued, “We’ve spent all this time convincing you of what is plainly obvious.”

  “You’re probably right, Maja, but it’s not something I’m used to.” I looked back at Piri. “Alright, explain the particulars of your plan.”

  “We get a network of people watching those eight and reporting to you here.”

  “Wait, you mean I have to stay here while I’m asking everyone else to risk their lives!”

  “Yes.”

  “But…”

  “But you can’t be one of the people out there. You have to stay where the information can go. You’re the leader. You’re the one who has sworn to help Honker and the others. You have to do the job.”

  Maja laughed until Piri looked at her. “Hush, lass, he’s as worried about your life as any other.”

  “What does she have to do with all of this?”

  “I’ll explain in a moment.”

  “And where do I find the people to help? Are you suggesting I use all the Pathfinders?”

  “No, I’m not, but think about this city. What is the one thing you’ve learned about it?”

  “It’s crazier than the Trickster when he’s drunk.”

  Piri laughed. “Exactly. And how is it crazy?”

  “You’re all full of shifting alliances and competition.”

  “Yes, so you need to make an alliance with someone who is willing to help you and has the people you’ll need. Especially if you are facing a large organization.”

  “Which I probably am.”

  “Which you probably are.”

  “Well, that all makes sense, but I have no idea how to do that.”

  “You’ve already done it, lad,” said Piri with a laugh.

  “I have?”

  “Yes. I think Vukasin owes you a favor. Do you think Vukasin could find two score people with the skills you need that he trusts?”

  “Uh…, two score?”

  “If not more, but the question is still valid.”

  “I’m sure he could. There are so many people in Achrida, and he is a zupan.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Why does he owe me a favor, though?”

  “I’m not positive he does, though I know my uncle well enough to believe that he feels he does. You’ve lost nothing by asking him, and I think you’ll get the help you need. We’ll go over tomorrow and visit him.”

  “What’s in it for him?”

  “Besides repaying a favor to you? I think he has other favors that he feels the need to repay.”

  I suddenly understood. “He’s still mad at Andreas.”

  Piri nodded smugly. “Exactly.”

  “But how long will all this following around take?”

  “Weeks, surely. Probably months.”

  “How many will I let die during that time?”

  “We can’t know, but I’ll bet not as many as if you bullied around Achrida like you’re already doing.”

  I sat back. The idea repelled me, but…

  “Do you have a better idea?”

  “No, by the Allfather I do not!” I shook my head and sighed.

  I started to ask about Maja, but Ragnar came up with shopska salads and last night’s selsko meso served in small, hollowed-out loaves of bread.

  Maja could wait, and she did.

  Chapter 37

  Early Afternoon, 2 Simmermoanne, 1712 MG

  With the food Melia came making her rounds. Absently, I put down a strip of pork from the selsko meso. Piri and Maja did the same.

  As we finished, Zoe brought out a platter of tarts. “Soraya made these special for you,” she explained.

  We each took one, and Zoe carried the platter around to the rest of the guests. The tarts were delicious, and Honker received a shower of compliments for his wisdom in marrying Soraya. I felt no shame in licking off the last bits from my fingers.

  “Honker told me these were his lad’s favorite. I don’t blame him.”

  Piri and Maja nodded.

  “Now, tell me why Maja is here.”

  Piri smiled, and her smile broadened as Maja scowled and started cursing under her breath. “You see, Sevener, when you have a problem, you have a problem. When you have more than one problem, sometimes you have solutions.”

  “If she hasn’t improved in the last month, then I agree Maja is a problem. I don’t see how that matters to me right now, though.”

  Piri laughed as Maja started cursing more venomously under her breath. “It’s probably just as well that I can’t actually hear what she’s saying, Sevener. It’s not a smart idea to curse at one’s hecatontarch.”

  I chuckled. Piri raised an eyebrow at Maja, who grudgingly subsided. She then turned back to me. “Yes, Maja is a problem for me. We all know she’s talented, but…”

  “But if she were in the shieldwall next to me, I’d think about stabbing her before the battle so I had a chance to survive.”

  “Exactly. Her discipline has improved only a little since you played with her on the training field.”

  “I don’t know if I have time to beat her around the training field enough times to matter.” I saw the truth of Piri’s words written in Maja’s youthful
anger.

  Piri laughed, and Maja looked like she wanted to object.

  “You probably don’t,” admitted Piri. “However, this is why two problems sometimes solve each other. One of the things I thought about overnight is that you’ll need help collecting information.”

  “Isn’t that why we’re going to Vukasin’s today?”

  “Yes, but you’ll need different help. Help that Maja, may the gods favor her idiotic soul, can actually provide.”

  “Like what?”

  “You need a messenger you can trust. For all that I can’t trust her on the field now, I trust her for this.”

  I looked at Maja, who was trying to determine whether she should glower at the first part of Piri’s sentence or preen at the second. In the end, she settled for a sullen neutral glare.

  “If you say I can trust her, I can see how a messenger will be important.”

  “Also, Maja has lived in Achrida all her life. She can help you not think so straightforwardly.”

  I nodded.

  “I asked you, after you fought her, what you’d do with her if she were in the Seven Kingdoms. You said she’d get sent to a farm to work, and only receive weapons training after her work. That she would have to earn the right to return to the shieldwall.”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t have a farm to send her to. I have you, though. I expect you to work her until she falls over in exhaustion. Then, I expect that you will spend time each day training her skills in Ragnar’s stables.”

  “Will she do the work? Will she do whatever task is needed?”

  “Ask her.”

  I looked at Maja and took a deep breath. “Well?”

  She grudgingly nodded.

  “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

  “Yes, Sevener, I will do whatever task you need,” she spit out.

  “Even if you don’t understand why he’s telling you to do it?”

  She glanced at Piri, but nodded to me. “Yes.”

  “No matter the task, no matter how disgusting?”

  “Yes,” she sighed.

  “Good.” I nodded. “But I need to know one more thing. Why are you doing this?”

  Maja started to bristle as Piri laughed. “I told you he’d want to know. He doesn’t think like an Achridan, he thinks like a philosopher.”

  Maja sighed and answered with a shrug. “I want to be a Pathfinder, and Piri won’t let me until I do this.”

  “Why do you want to be a Pathfinder?”

  “Because…” She paused.