by D. L. Kramer
A movement caught his eye and he realized Adie was circling through the shadows. So far, not even Mo'ani noticed she was missing from his side. Nahtan was certain Zared was so intent on not losing him again, he hadn't noticed her either.
"You can't destroy me," Nahtan said, his voice low and threatening. He pushed any thought of Adie from his mind, not wanting Zared to sense the danger he was in. He didn't know if Zared could read his thoughts, but didn't want to take the chance. "Because neither you nor Zakris created me. I was here long before you found this world, and my brothers and sisters and I will be here long after you've moved on."
"You have no brothers and sisters," Tziyad said, watching Nahtan's every move. Nahtan caught the slightest note of hesitation in his voice. Zared feared what he did not know or could not control, and Nahtan represented both.
"Don't I?" Nahtan took another step forward. "You're here in mortal form, just like I am. The Wardsman chose to spread his spirit over the woods, and Kutci to inhabit a cave far in the east. There are more of us; nearly a dozen more."
"Then go live with them," Tziyad yelled, motioning towards Nahtan like he had the Archbishop.
Nahtan's reflexes exploded. He ducked and rolled forward as Bear yelled a warning. The pew beside him exploded in a shower of sparks and splinters. At the same moment, Adie threw one of her daggers at Tziyad, hitting him in the side. Seizing the distraction, Nahtan came to his feet in front of Tziyad and swung his sword in a wide arc. The longsword easily closed the distance between them, leaving a deep gash across Tziyad's stomach. Nahtan twisted and swung a second time, this time cutting across his chest.
Tziyad stumbled backwards, his hands trying to keep his insides from pouring out over the floor. Blood gushed over his arms and the look of fear on his face was absolute as he realized he was dying. Behind him, Nahtan heard the faint notes of Bear's flute as he began to play. He closed his eyes when he recognized Jensina's lullaby. How his friend knew the melody, he didn't know, but the music calmed him and eased the thunderous pounding in his head.
After a moment, he heard Zared's mortal body fall to the floor. Nahtan dropped to his knees, his sword clattering beside him. A hand settled on his shoulder. He didn't have to look to know it was Brijade's--he could smell her scent as clearly as he could hear Bear's flute. Slowly, the pain inside him eased.
The door at the back of the central chamber opened and Nahtan heard boots walking between the pews. He opened his eyes, a feeling of dread settling over him as his sight cleared. Behind him, he heard Kiril's voice as he spoke with Mo'ani.
"Kile's been seriously wounded," Kiril said, regret in his voice. "He got caught by four of the Archbishop's honor guard."
"You bastard!" Adie's voice came from Nahtan's side. He reached out quickly and caught her before she could lunge for Kiril. Nahtan climbed to his feet and held her as she turned to bury her face in his chest. His eyes met Kiril's, warning him he was on dangerous ground. Kiril held one side of his stomach and his church cloak was missing. Nahtan realized anything that would identify him as a BishopLord was gone.
"What happened?" Mo'ani asked, hard eyes pinned on his former apprentice.
"I got away from 'im when 'e came after me," Kiril explained. "I wasn't there to fight with 'im. He tried findin' me and found the honor guard instead." His eyes shifted to Adie. "It took both of us, but 'e didn't lose the fight." He apparently knew of Kile's achievement and thought Adie would like to know he was still undefeated.
"Where is he?" Adie demanded, pulling away from Nahtan.
"I hid 'im in one of the bunks," Kiril answered her. "He asked me to come and get ye."
Mo'ani turned to Nahtan. "Are we finished here?" he asked.
Nahtan didn't have to look at the dais to know the answer. He nodded his head. Zared's mortal body was dead and Zakris would have the honor of confronting his brother for his actions. He didn't know who would get to judge the Archbishop's soul and didn't care. None of the three gods would be merciful.
"Let's go," Mo'ani said to Kiril.
Nahtan picked up his sword and sheathed it as they left the central chamber. He didn't know what would happen to Zared's soul, but he did know that he would no longer be able to corrupt Zakris' world as a mortal.
Kiril led them out one of the cathedral's side doors and over to the bunkhouse. A single torch was lit inside, casting long shadows through the room. Kile rested on a nearby bunk. His ruined armor, his cloak and his sword lay on the floor by the foot of the bed. The gash in his armor could only have been made by a heavy axe.
It was immediately apparent to each of them Kile wouldn't survive the night. Adie was the first to Kile's side and started checking his wounds when he took her hands and stopped her.
"It's not pretty," he said weakly.
"Neither are you," Adie responded, tears filling her eyes. She pulled her hands from his and pulled back Kile's tunic. A deep gash ran across his rib cage and down to his stomach. He had lost a lot of blood and was having a hard time staying conscious. His breaths came in labored wheezes. "Damn you," Adie muttered, laying the tunic back over the wound. "Don't you remember your promises to me?"
Kile managed to turn to face her. "Another lifetime," he whispered. "I'll marry ye in another lifetime."
Adie choked on a sob and turned away from him, stepping past the others to stand in a darkened corner. Mo'ani stood by Kile for a moment, then clasped his hand. No words were spoken, but Nahtan felt the silent goodbye pass between them. He continued to wait while Bear gave Kile a quiet "thank you", then stepped to the back. After losing Rena and Tyran, Nahtan was almost overwhelmed with Kile's imminent death. The pain inside him was almost unbearable as he stepped up beside the bunk. He clenched his fists, trying to stop his hands from trembling.
"Ye're a good lad," Kile said to him. "Ye'll be a good king."
"I can't be a very good king without a Captain of the Guard," Nahtan managed to keep his voice steady. He knelt beside the bunk, not sure if his legs would support him for much longer. The now-familiar heavy, sick feeling was settling into his stomach once again. He found himself loathing it.
"Ye've got one," Kile said, motioning to Bear standing behind him. "The retirin' captain has the right to name 'is successor."
Nahtan glanced at Bear. He knew Bear would be happy to know Kile thought so highly of him. Still, hearing Kile talk of dying brought a deep sorrow up in his throat. He swallowed, but it refused to move.
"Lad," Kile continued. "Would ye send a message to my cousin in Olorun?"
Nahtan nodded. The message would be delivered, even if he had to take it himself.
"Tell 'im Olorun's his," Kile finished, seeming to settle further into the bunk. He struggled to lift his hands again and Nahtan saw he wanted to remove his signet ring. He took the ring from Kile's finger for him, blinking back his tears. "He's 'er lord now." Kile closed his eyes and slipped into unconsciousness.
Everyone settled into the room to wait. Before an hour had passed, Nahtan made his way over to where Adie stood leaning against the wall.
"We should go get Evaine and the others," he told her gently. "They should be here."
Adie nodded her head and let Nahtan take her hand. Nahtan paused to tell Mo'ani where they were going, then led Adie from the bunk.
"Tell me this isn't real," Adie's voice was quiet beside him.
"I wish I could," Nahtan stopped to look at her. "Just like I keep thinking Rena can't be gone. I see her the way she looked when we left the stronghold that morning--and I can't help but wonder why I couldn't see how weak she was even then."
Adie's eyes filled with tears. "At least you have your daughter," she tried to smile, but turned her head away when she couldn't.
Nahtan squeezed her hand and started walking again. "I don't have the first idea how to be a parent," he confided. "It's going to hurt for a long time every time I look at Valry." When they reached the cathedral's doors, he pulled them open and led Adie inside.
They reached
the room where they had left Evaine, Jaron and Tosia in good time. There were Mo'ani patrols walking the halls, and Nahtan was certain they had cleared out any remaining church guards.
Before Adie started picking the lock, Nahtan knocked on the door. He didn't want Evaine shooting either of them when the door opened. When Evaine called his name, he assured her it was he and Adie. Adie's hands trembled and it took her several tries to unlock the door. When the lock finally released, Nahtan helped her to her feet as he opened the door.
"We were starting to wonder how things were going," Evaine said, walking over to them. She stopped before she reached them. "What's happened?" Nahtan could hear the dread in her voice.
"Kile--" Adie's voice broke and she turned away.
Nahtan pulled her closer to him as he met Evaine's gaze. "Kile's been wounded," he told her, looking over to Jaron and Tosia. "He probably won't live through the night."
Evaine took a deep breath, held it for a moment, then exhaled slowly. Behind her, Tosia told Jaron the news. Jaron pushed himself up, looking over to Nahtan.
"We need to go there," he said.
"That's why we came back here," Nahtan nodded. "I figured you'd want to be there before he died."
"Yes," Tosia nodded. "Is Lord Jerai all right?" She helped Jaron to his feet, pulling his arm over her shoulders to support his weight.
Nahtan nodded. "He's probably in better shape than the rest of us," he replied. When they had gathered their few things, he took Adie's hand again and led the way back outside.
"Where is he?" Evaine asked, shielding her eyes from the late afternoon sun.
"That bunk straight across," Nahtan pointed it out to her.
"I'll meet you there," Evaine slung her longbow over her head and arm. "I need to get Matthios. He'd never forgive us if we didn't bring him."
"Do you want me to go with?" Nahtan asked her.
Evaine shook her head. "Stay with Adie," she answered. "We'll be along soon."
Nahtan nodded his head and turned to walk back to the bunk. Back inside, both Jaron and Tosia took several moments to stand or kneel by Kile's side, each saying their own goodbyes.
Evaine and Matthios arrived just as Tosia was helping Jaron to another bunk to lie on. Matthios' face was set, but Nahtan could see the pain in his eyes. Evaine stayed back while he knelt by Kile, his voice too quiet for any to hear what he said.
"I was going to bring Yenene," Evaine said quietly to Nahtan. "But she had left to tend wounded and I didn't see her. I thought maybe as a healer--"
Nahtan nodded. He doubted that Yenene could do anything for Kile. For a brief moment, he thought of heading back to the central room in the cathedral to beg for Kile's life, but he knew in his heart it wouldn't do any good. This was what one of the gods wanted to happen, and no amount of pleading or bargaining on his part would change it.
When Matthios moved to Mo'ani's side, Evaine took her turn. She spent a long moment standing by Kile's still form, silent tears coursing down her cheeks.
Kiril left shortly after, returning a couple of hours later with Gharald and Janec. Both men spent a moment at Kile's side before joining the others.
Nahtan moved to stand beside Gharald and Mo'ani.
"How's the city looking?" he asked.
"We've broken through every major church guard line," Gharald answered. "But we hurt for it. I figure we lost two thirds of each of the armies."
"Even the Dwellers?" Jerai asked.
Gharald looked over at him. "I don't have any exact numbers, but it looks like you only lost about half your army. There are quite a few horses that turned wild when their riders were killed."
Jerai nodded his head and sighed.
"What about the Mowik?" Bear asked.
Gharald shrugged. "I don't know," he answered. "Your father led a group to the south, but we haven't heard from them yet. I haven't heard any reports of massive casualties there, so I'm assuming they're all right."
"I'm sure you would have heard if something went wrong," Bear said. Nahtan guessed he was saying it more to reassure himself than anyone else.
"There are still a few groups of resistance around the city," Gharald continued. "They should be gone or captured by nightfall, though."
"I'd prefer they not be killed if possible," Nahtan said. He looked to Mo'ani. "Lieutenant Mallin should be able to talk some sense into any prisoners."
"Just who is he?" Mo'ani asked.
Nahtan shrugged. I have no idea," he answered. "I think his goal is just to spare the lives that don't have to be involved in this."
"'Come, he shall,'" Bear quoted. "'To the gate of his enemy only to find an advisor within.'" He paused. "Or something like that." He looked at Mo'ani, his dark eyes gleaming. "You never told us you were the 'mason of his pedestal.'"
Mo'ani sighed. "What did you think building this army was?" he asked him. "Just because I chose not to use the soothsayer's exact words."
Bear leaned back against the wall.
The group stayed with Kile until his last breath early that evening. He never woke again, and his death was calm.
"We'll take him back to the stronghold," Mo'ani said, laying Kile's cloak over him. Nahtan nodded, holding Adie as she cried. He'd known she and Kile were close, but never heard either of them talk about marriage. His own eyes were wet and he made no effort to dry them.
"Let's go get Nicho," Nahtan told Adie quietly. She nodded, wiping at her eyes. He looked at Jerai and Bear. "We might need some help to calm him down."
Adie paused by Kile's side before they left, her hand touching his lightly. Closing her eyes, she turned away and took Nahtan's arm.
The four left the bunk, walking silently out to the front of the cathedral. Nahtan felt for Nicho's mind and called to him. Nicho had run, frantic at the loss of Kile from his mind. Nahtan assured him he would be taken to his master, and the warhorse eventually galloped towards them from a side street.
His eyes were wild as he skidded to a halt and eyed each of them warily. Jerai stepped forward, reaching out a hand to Nicho's nose while Bear began playing his flute. The white horse stepped back from Jerai, snorting and tossing his mane.
"Let me," Adie said after a moment. Bear quit playing as she stepped forward, pulling something from inside her sash. She held the piece of cloth up to Nicho. Nicho's nostrils flared as he stretched his nose toward Adie's hand, then he stepped forward and let her take his reins. "He needed Kile's scent," she said, rubbing his nose with one hand while she put the cloth away. "I'll stay here with him while you bring Kile out."
Nahtan nodded and looked at Bear. "Why don't we find a wagon," he suggested. "That would probably be easiest."
Bear nodded in agreement. "I'll go get Chase and bring one back here. You can go help with the Captain."
"All right." Nahtan paused before turning back to the cathedral's door. He heard the emotion in Bear's voice and knew his friend was volunteering so he could be alone for a few minutes. "Kile chose you to replace him as Captain of the Guard," Nahtan said quietly as Bear waited. "But I'll leave it up to you if you want it." As Bear nodded his head, Nahtan and Jerai turned and walked back around to the bunk.
They found a stretcher in the bunk's supply room and Nahtan and Jerai carried Kile out and around to the front. Brijade walked with Mo'ani, Evaine and Matthios, her face set. Nahtan knew she was burying any grief she felt. Though she and Kile hadn't known each other all that well, Nahtan knew Brijade held a great deal of respect for the captain. Tosia helped Jaron while Kiril walked to the rear, his head bowed.
Bear and Chase had brought a wagon onto the cathedral's grounds and Bear was busy hitching Nicho up to it. He had also retrieved everyone's horses and had them tied to the gate. Nahtan closed his eyes for a moment when it struck him Tyran wasn't there. Ayita wasn't either, but he didn't call to her, not wanting to take her away if the Dweller she came with needed her.
Nicho's eyes grew wild for a moment as Kile's body was lifted into the wagon. Bear motioned to
Nahtan as he walked over to Chase.
"Here," he said, offering him something. Nahtan took it, fingering the tied lock of flaxen mane. "I know you cut some from both the stallion and the mare," Bear explained. "I thought you might want the same from Tyran."
Nahtan nodded. "Thank you," he said. He was almost afraid to ask the question in his mind, but needed to know the answer. "How did he look?"
"Like one second he was alive and the next he wasn't," Bear told him. "Chase said he just collapsed."
Nahtan sighed, glad Tyran hadn't suffered. Bear pulled himself onto Chase's back then offered Nahtan his hand.
"I think I'll ride up in the wagon with Adie," Nahtan said. He fingered the lock of mane again, then put it into his pouch. His fingers brushed against a piece of parchment and he pulled out Rena's letter to him. He kept it in his hand as he climbed up onto the wagon seat. As the group began the slow procession back to the stronghold, he opened the letter.
My Dear Nahtan,
I knew when I became pregnant that bearing this
child was what I was sent to you for. I also know my
mortal death will follow her birth. I will name her
for your mortal mother, so you will always remember
the chance you were given to start new, with a new
people and in a new time.
I will not be gone from you forever. Our
daughter will remind you of me in my mortal body and
when you grow old and die, your spirit will be free to
come back to Jensina's house, where you will find me
waiting.
Please forgive me for not telling you what I
know, but if I did, you would stay here and
your destiny would grow away from you. I've
heard Halona's voice in my dreams. She assures
me you will be guided by both her and Jensina.
I know you will return victorious, but only to feel
defeat at losing me and with deep scars upon your
soul. Please look into our daughter's eyes. She is
