by D. L. Kramer
Mo'ani nodded slowly. "All right," he agreed. "Let's get going then." Leading his horse, he led them all back into the busy marketplace.
As quickly as they could, they tried to maneuver through the crowds. Their pace was slow, however, and it was after dark when they reached the edge of the cathedral.
A crowd gathered around the outdoor altar, and something sour burned in iron barrels on either side. Blue cloaked Church Guards stood around the outer edge of the crowd, discouraging any from leaving. Mo'ani tried to move them through the crowd, and Paki realized Rena was almost desperate to get away from the cathedral. The crowd pressed against them, and they quickly found themselves trapped and only able to move a step or two at a time.
Something in Paki's head told him to get as far away from the services as he could, but he was forced to hold his ground, knowing there was nothing he could do. Bear's muttered curses told Paki he didn't want to be there either. Paki reached over to Rena and took her hand, squeezing her fingers lightly. He realized this would be hardest for her, if she truly was one of Jensina's servants.
Adjusting his stance slightly, he noted where the hilt of his longsword was strapped to Tyran's saddle. Tyran nudged Paki with his head, flaring his nostrils and shaking his mane in agitation as they continued trying to press their way through.
Once the actual service started, the guards seemed to stop noticing anyone trying to leave and every few minutes someone from the outer edge would slip away into the darkened street. A priest with a shaved head appeared in the cathedral's doorway and stepped forward. As the priest began chanting in a language Paki hadn't heard before, a hush fell over the crowd. Those nearest the altar seemed to sway in rhythm with the chant, while those in back appeared to strain to hear what was being said. Paki deliberately didn't listen, and he felt Rena's hand begin to tremble in his.
Mo'ani was making slow progress moving them through the crowd, and it seemed to be getting slower. He and Kile would clear a spot, and it would close immediately after them, forcing Paki and Bear to clear the same path again.
The priest continued to chant, and two more priests brought a small brown rabbit to the altar. Paki turned his head away, but still heard the screeching sound of the rabbit as it was killed.
He squeezed Rena's fingers, and caught her whispering something under her breath. Looking back at her, her eyes were closed tightly and she was letting him lead her and her horse. Her lips trembled as they mouthed words, and tears began to fall down her cheeks. Paki looked over at Bear, and Bear met his eyes. Paki recognized the same anger burning in Sewati's dark eyes as he was feeling in his own mind.
"Zakris save us all," said a merchant standing beside Paki, a sudden sick look coming over his face. The merchant turned away from the cathedral. Paki didn't have to look to see what sickened the man, but he made himself, hoping he could prove his fears wrong.
Standing beside the priest, wearing a solid blue dress, was a young girl, no more than fourteen or fifteen summers. Her eyes looked far away, and she didn't seem to know where she was. The priest stood beside her, chanting and unlacing the front of her dress to expose her chest. Paki turned away, not wanting to see what would come next.
"Don't look," he said to Bear. If his friend witnessed a human sacrifice, there was no telling what he'd do.
"I already saw her," Bear said, clenching his teeth.
Paki looked ahead of them and saw that Mo'ani was finally clearing the edge of the crowd. "We'll be through in a minute," Paki said to Bear and Rena. Kile and Nicho were clearing the crowd when silence fell around them. Paki wished he had a second set of hands to cover his ears with.
There was no sound from the girl, but Paki felt it the moment the priest's dagger pierced her heart. Pushing forward, he and Tyran cleared the crowd with Bear and Chase beside them. Paki pulled Rena through, her horse following.
"Let's get out of here, now," Mo'ani said, his voice steady, though Paki could see the anger in his eyes.
Mo'ani, Kile and Bear pulled themselves into their saddles. Paki turned to help Rena onto her horse, but immediately saw she would be unable to ride. She refused to let go of either Paki's hand or her horse's reins and was trembling so much, Paki was afraid she might collapse.
"Just a second," Paki called to Mo'ani.
While the rest anxiously waited, Paki told Tyran to stay still. Taking Rena's other hand, he tied her reins to his saddle then lifted her up to sit behind the saddle then pulled himself up in front of her. Rena wrapped her arms tightly around him, burying her face in his back as they set out at a fast trot.
The rest of Aarao was relatively empty since everyone was still at the cathedral. They made good time reaching the gate and passed through it without stopping.
It wasn't until they were once again on the road to Herridon that they slowed.
"How could they just sit there and watch that?" Bear asked, having a hard time controlling his anger.
"I don't know," Mo'ani answered, watching him closely. Mo'ani's eyes shifted to Paki. "Is Rena all right?"
Paki put one hand over Rena's clasped hands, but she refused to look up, pressing closer to him.
"I think so," he answered quietly, "But I'm not sure."
"Nahtan's going to have to fight more than the Archbishop and his priests," Bear continued. "That priest had the citizens under his control."
"I think it's what was burnin' in the iron," Kile suggested. "That's why no one back by us wanted to be there either."
"Then why were they?" Paki asked. He hoped Kile was right, and the Archbishop's control didn't extend to the people in the cities. "There weren't enough church guards there to force everyone to stay."
"If they didn't go to the services, they'd lose their homes and families," Mo'ani said. "It only takes one church guard to alert the Archbishop to a problem. The Archbishop has burned more than one city to let people know they'd disappointed him with their 'apostasy'." He paused for a second to look directly at Paki. "He hasn't always opened the gates beforehand, either."
"Bastard," Bear muttered, gripping his reins tighter.
"He'll answer for it soon enough," Paki assured his friend, meeting Mo'ani's gaze and nodding slightly. Even though part of him still doubted he was Nahtan, others seemed positive of it. The voice in his mind suggested they couldn't all be wrong, but Paki knew he needed some sort of confirmation. He just didn't know what.
They rode a couple of leagues further, lighting the road with lanterns tied to their horses, before stopping for the night. They made camp quite a distance from the road and kept their fire small. Rena still wouldn't speak, and refused anything to eat or drink. Paki stayed beside her, holding her close until she finally fell asleep against his shoulder. Bear was still too angry to rest, and he and Paki stayed awake talking with Kile and Mo'ani.
Nearly an hour passed when the jingling of an approaching horse alerted them. Kile stood, one hand on the hilt of his sword, while Bear cocked and loaded his crossbow. Paki gently laid Rena back against her bedroll, and waited until she quit stirring before standing beside Bear. His longsword was only a few feet from him, leaning against his saddle.
The jingling stopped a short distance away, and Paki could barely make out the shadow of a cloaked figure standing beside a horse.
"My sword's back at the garrison," Kiril's voice called to them. "I've just come to talk with ye."
"Set another foot near this camp, and the coyote's will be eatin' ye're horse," Kile returned, drawing his sword.
"Mo'ani?" Kiril called.
Mo'ani looked at Kile for a second, then at the shadow. "What do you want?" he called.
"I came to warn ye," Kiril said after a moment's pause.
"Let him come," Mo'ani said to Kile.
Kile reluctantly slid his sword back into the sheath as Kiril approached. He took in the camp with a warrior's experienced eye, noting where everyone stood and what weapons were available. There was no sign of a weapon anywhere on him, and Paki began looking f
or signs he had something hidden in his clothing. He wore no armor, and Paki's scrutiny was rewarded with a bulge in one sleeve of his tunic. He also noticed an edge of his blue cloak seemed to hang heavier than the other side.
"How did you know we were here?" Mo'ani asked Kiril.
Kiril looked at Mo'ani. "Kile's always liked the overland routes, I just 'ad to look for ye're fire. Besides, who else would burn my stables but not kill a single 'orse?" he asked. He turned to Kile. "I'm curious 'ow ye got 'em all to stampede out of there just before it went up in smoke."
Kile's expression didn't change and he shrugged. "Ye should 'ave stayed at the Stronghold," he said. "Then ye'd know."
"I wish I 'ad," Kiril said, then looked back at Mo'ani. "The Archbishop knows neither of ye are at the Stronghold," he said. "He's plannin' on tryin' to catch ye in Herridon on ye're way back."
"Why not just try to take the mountain?" Kile asked.
Kiril met his eyes. "Why?" he asked. "Mo'ani's cost 'im too many soldiers to try that right now."
"So he figures if he can catch me, then there won't be a problem with taking the mountain?" Mo'ani asked.
Kiril nodded his head. "He's got other things for 'is guards to be doin' right now than settlin' in for a long siege."
"Is that why there weren't many church guards in Aarao?" Mo'ani continued after thinking for a moment. "He's moving them somewhere."
"Aye," Kiril nodded, then paused. "I was hopin' ye'd go through Aarao," he said quietly. "And see how far the Archbishop's takin' it."
Mo'ani studied Kiril for a long moment. "You could come back to the Stronghold with us," he offered.
Kiril shook his head. "I don't agree with all ye're ideals anymore," he said.
"Then why are you helping us?" Paki asked. "You could have let us ride right into Herridon and get caught."
Kiril glanced over at Paki, and his eyes seemed to widen for just a moment.
"I came to warn Mo'ani," he answered. "I owed 'im that much."
"Ye know ye aren't happy servin' those bastards in Herridon," Kile said.
"I saved ye're life at ye're trial," Kiril replied. "Makin' us even. I owe Mo'ani the same thing, and I'm repayin' the debt." He paused for a moment. "Ye don't know me anymore, Kile," he shook his head. "I'm not happy with the same things ye are." Taking his horse's reins, he turned and walked from the camp, disappearing into the dark.
"I don't know what happened to him," Mo'ani shook his head as they turned back to the fire and sat down again.
A short time later, they decided on an order to stand watch, then turned to their bedrolls.
Long before they reached Herridon, they left the road to travel cross-country back to the Stronghold. Kile led them to a shallow part of the river where they could cross safely. When they safely passed Herridon, they turned to the southeast, heading toward the mountain range. Not knowing if the Archbishop's scouts were out looking for them, they kept cold camps each night and relied on the horses to warn them if they sensed any danger in the darkness. Rena still refused to speak, and only ate when Paki insisted. Not knowing what else to do for her, he let her be.
A few days later, the village came into view, and everything seemed to be all right. Wherever the Archbishop was sending his guards to, it wasn't here.
They reached the Stronghold early that afternoon, and were met on the path by Janec and Adie.
"We weren't expecting you to come cross-country," Adie said, leaning forward in her saddle. It was obvious they'd been sitting there for a while.
"We received a friendly warning that the Archbishop was hoping to catch us in Herridon," Mo'ani said. He turned to Janec. "Why would the Archbishop take the guards from Aarao?" he asked him.
"Rotating troops at the garrisons, perhaps," Janec answered after thinking for a moment. "If he was desperate for men for a siege on the western borders of the kingdom, he'd take them from Aarao. Other than that, I don't know."
"I doubt it's a siege," Mo'ani said. "Where would he move those guards to?"
"Probably the garrison northeast of Devayne Hold," Janec shrugged. "Why?"
"We got a visit from Kiril," Kile said. "He told us that's why there weren't many guards in Aarao."
"Kiril?" Adie asked, surprised.
"I always doubted Kiril was as firmly in the Archbishop's pocket as you thought he was," Janec commented.
"Oh?" Mo'ani asked.
"Just a look he'd get whenever word reached us of something the Mo'ani did," Janec explained. "Sort of an 'I could have been there' look. He hid it pretty well most of the time, but it was the same look my son got whenever he heard about the Mo'ani at Valin Hold."
"Nothing like personal experience," Adie smiled at him.
"Let's get back into the Stronghold," Mo'ani said. "There's plenty of time to talk about what's been happening." He nudged his horse into a walk and the others fell in step beside or behind him. Adie dropped back to ride between Paki and Bear.
"I have a surprise for you," Adie said to Paki.
"A surprise?" Paki asked slowly. He felt suddenly defensive, not sure if he wanted anymore surprises.
"You know that woman we found down in the village? The one who was the wife of the sympathizer?" Adie's eyes gleamed as she smiled.
"The one who came from Valin to warn about the siege there," Paki nodded. "She'd disappeared by the time we got back from Valin."
"Not exactly," Adie said. "She was afraid the Archbishop would find her, so she asked us to hide her. We sent her to Garyn Hold."
"Okay," Paki shrugged. "So?"
"Something you told me last winter made me start thinking, and she confirmed it."
"What?!" Bear asked from her other side. "You're dragging this out just like Mo'ani would!"
Adie chuckled. "Her name's Leisl," Adie said to Paki. "Sound familiar?"
Paki stared at Adie, the name bringing back a flood of memories. A black iron cooking pot hanging in a hearth, singing, lots of children running everywhere...an auction block and a young noble couple buying her to help care for their newborn son...
"She's my sister," he said quietly.
"She's at the Stronghold waiting for you," Adie nodded. "I went to Garyn Hold last this year, and when she was able to tell me about her younger brother, I brought her back here with me."
"How did she end up with the sympathizer then?" Bear asked, smiling.
"Apparently he was the brother of the man who bought her," Adie explained. "I guess the baby was killed in an accident when he was about three, so they were just going to send Leisl back to her village. He offered to marry her instead and she accepted."
Paki's mind was still whirling with long-forgotten memories when they rode through the Stronghold's gates. He looked around the yard, but didn't see her anywhere. While the stablehands waited, he dismounted, then helped Rena down from her horse. The memories wouldn't let him forget his concern for her. He turned to Adie.
"I need to take Rena up to the library," he said. "I'll find Leisl when I get down from there."
Adie nodded. "She was in the lower study when we came out to meet you," she said, handing her horse to the young boy waiting and following Mo'ani, Kile and Janec towards the keep.
"Good luck," Bear said to Paki, putting his pack over his shoulder and his crossbow under his other arm. He turned to the bunks and soon disappeared, Tiimu running between his boots.
Paki took Rena's hand and led her into the keep. She followed behind him, not resisting. At the top of the stairs, he pushed open one of the library's doors and led her inside. As usual, Meda sat behind the lectern, writing on a scroll.
"So eager to get back to your studies that you've come up here travelworn?" Meda asked, not looking up.
"No," Paki replied bluntly. "Rena needs help, and you're the only one who can help her besides Pater Isak."
Meda looked up sharply, dropping her quill when she saw Rena.
"What happened?" she demanded, coming out from behind the lectern. She motioned to one of
the benches and Paki led Rena over to it.
"We got caught in the crowd by the cathedral at Aarao," Paki said, sitting down and pulling Rena down beside him. When she sat, she turned and buried her face in his shoulder. "They sacrificed a girl a few years younger than us there."
Meda's eyes flashed and she met Paki's eyes.
"What do you know?" she asked, kneeling down in front of Rena, her concern obvious in both her expression and her tone.
Paki returned her gaze. "I know an awful lot of people think I'm Nahtan," he said. "And that you, Isak and Rena apparently once served Jensina in her house."
"We did," Meda confirmed, turning to Rena. Putting one hand on Rena's chin she tried to turn her face away from Paki's shoulder, but she resisted.
"Has she said anything?" Meda asked, stroking Rena's hair.
"No," Paki shook his head. "She was whispering and mouthing something the whole time we were trapped there, but that was the last time she spoke."
"Let's take her to the cathedral," Meda instructed, standing up.
Paki nodded and stood, pulling Rena to her feet. Once again, she followed him without resisting as he and Meda took her to the cathedral. Inside, they led her to the dais. Rena immediately collapsed to the floor in front of the three statues, tears coming to her eyes.
"I'll stay with her," Meda told Paki quietly. "Go get cleaned up and rest some, then you can take over."
Paki nodded slowly, leaning over to gently touch Rena's cheek. Meda sat on the floor beside her, pulling the sobbing young woman close to her. Paki left them, knowing Rena was in the best hands right now.
Outside, he suddenly remembered Adie's surprise for him. He was unsure how much time had passed since their arrival, but not seeing any sign of Bear, Kile or Adie, he guessed it hadn't been long. Going back into the keep, he made his way to the lower study, pausing outside the partially open door.
His sister was quite a bit older than him, though he wasn't sure just how old she was. His heart pounding, he knocked quietly on the door, almost hoping she was no longer there.
"Come in," a woman's voice called after a moment's hesitation.
