Oathtaker

by Patricia Reding

  He jerked his head toward one of his men who then followed the unspoken order immediately. His leathers creaked, his boots clicked on the marble floor, as he exited.

  “The rest of you are to return your arms to their proper places and show your respect to the palace.”

  The men followed her orders without delay.

  “Oh yes, and you,” she said, catching the eye of one of the soldiers as she pointed at Yuri’s remains, “clean up this mess. It’s unsightly.” Then she returned to the young man she had admired earlier.

  His eyes met hers.

  “What is your name?”

  “Freeman.”

  Lilith laughed. She sounded like a schoolgirl giggling shyly, but then her words belied her true character. “Not anymore you’re not.”

  She turned away. “Follow me,” she instructed with a glance back at Hamm, then at the young soldier. She stopped to inform the captain of the palace guard to maintain control, then made her way down the hall to her office and followed the red rug to her desk.

  “Well then,” she said as she took her seat.

  The men looked around for chairs.

  “Oh, you’ll not be seated today. Today you’re here to take orders from me.” When Hamm opened his mouth to respond, she interrupted him. “I caution you against speaking.”

  He closed his mouth.

  “That’s better.” She made herself comfortable. “So Zarek couldn’t be bothered to attend to me.” She exhaled slowly. “I guess you’ll have to do then.”

  Hamm nodded.

  “Well, to business then.” She paused, her lips pursed. “It seems we have a problem with some people trying to impose an imposter on the first family and thereby on Oosa. Specifically, they have a child they claim is a seventh seventh.”

  The men said nothing.

  “Yes, well, I’m sure you can appreciate the difficulties this presents. So,” she smiled, pleased at how easily she’d silenced the warriors, “we must find the child.”

  The men stood motionless.

  “Would you like to know how we’re going to accomplish this?” She was enjoying this new position as the bearer of Daeva’s power. She could feel his presence with her, in her, even as it seemed to burn through her body and soul. “We need to get the people on our side—to get them to give the child up to us.”

  Hamm moved to speak, then apparently thinking better of it, closed his mouth.

  Lilith watched on. “You may speak.”

  “With all due respect, ma’am, how do you intend to do that?”

  She laughed. “Oh, I thought you’d never ask. It’s easy, really. We give them good reason to want to give the child to us.”

  “And that reason would be?”

  “We begin our mission immediately. We’ll ride into the towns and villages, the havens, farms and communities all across Oosa and . . . here’s the best part,” she said leaning forward, sneering, “we shall kill them all.”

  “Kill who all?”

  “Why, all the infant girls, of course!”

  The men exchanged a look.

  “It’s genius, don’t you think? When word gets out that we seek a certain child—one others would perpetrate upon us as a fraud—and that we’ll take the life of any in our search until she is delivered to me, the people will do anything to save their children.”

  “All the children?” Hamm asked.

  “Hmmmm,” Lilith pondered. “Well we know the child in question is a girl, only weeks old. So let’s simplify this. Since the men will be unable to tell an infant’s age, I’ll direct them to kill any girl not old enough to speak. Any child that is, except for the specific one I seek. That one they must bring to me—unharmed. She’ll be easy to identify by the sign of her birth, the sign of a seventh. If we move quickly and thoroughly through Oosa, we should resolve the problem in short order.”

  “Sign of her birth?” Hamm queried. “I thought you said the child was an imposter.”

  “Excuse me?” Her eyes glared.

  “Ahhhh,” he stammered.

  “It’s not yours to question. Just do as you’re told.”

  Hamm nodded. Whether the child was a fraud or not was irrelevant to him. “And if we miss the child in question?”

  “We won’t miss her. It’s like I said, the people will clamor to bring her to us when they learn the cost for failing to do so. We’ll go house-to-house if need be. I expect we’ll wrap this up in record time.”

  “And how will we know this child when we find her?”

  “Like I said, she bears the sign of her birth. I will give a great reward for her.” Lilith smiled. “I believe we’ll find her with a man named Dixon, the former Oathtaker to my now deceased sister, Rowena. I also have reason to believe that another—a woman, likely an Oathtaker, accompanies the child. But that’s all I know.”

  “Where will we begin?”

  Lilith stood, then approached the window behind her desk and looked out at the palace grounds. She hadn’t given much thought about where she’d begin her search. She knew only where it would end—with the death of Rowena’s child. Then it came to her.

  She turned back to the men. “We begin where she was last seen. We begin in Polesk.”

  Freeman shuffled.

  She watched him, her eyes narrowed. “I suppose you’re wondering what you’re doing here?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” the young soldier spoke for the first time.

  “You,” she said, with a sticky sweetness to her voice, “shall accompany me.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Hattie smiled as she reminisced about the sacrifices she’d made since first learning she was to bear her own child. How she’d longed for her little one. For two decades she saw to the needs of the women in her neighborhood, nursing their injuries, healing their children, providing them food when needed, and assisting with their daily needs. Her body showed signs of wear, and still the Good One had not blessed her with a child of her own.

  She clearly remembered the day she learned she was pregnant. It was a morning like any other, ushered in by the sounds and smells of the neighborhood. It was also the morning her dear Charles’s heart gave out. Hattie still thought of him constantly.

  Her back aching, she set out for home, her infant, Claire, in her arms. All day, her spirit had worried. She couldn’t pinpoint the reason, but something caused her anxiety. She concentrated on the things around her, so as to be responsive to anything Ehyeh might try to communicate through events, or through others’ words and actions, but as yet, she could make no sense of her feelings.

  She looked forward to a calm evening with Claire, if only she could shake this odd feeling. She looked up to find a young woman running toward her.

  “Hattie! Hattie, have you heard the news?”

  “Slow down, Dora.” The poor young woman worried Hattie as, inclined to act on impulse, she had two small children, no husband, and no prospects. Young men sought Dora out, but did not consider her seriously as a possible future bride. As such, she was constantly needy, and various social circles ostracized her. Hattie hoped her own influence might be helpful. She spoke wisdom and restraint into the young woman’s life whenever possible.

  Dora, carrying an infant in one arm, grasped Hattie’s hand.

  Upon noticing her bedraggled clothing, Hattie made a mental note to go through her own things to find something she might pass on to her. “What is it? And where is your other little one? Where’s Larry?”

  “Oh,” Dora said with a wag of her head, “I left him at home so I could meet you.”

  “It is unwise to leave your small child unattended.”

  “It’s only for a minute, Hattie. I can see our place from here.” She pointed toward home. “Really, relax.”

  “No, child. You don’t seem to understand how quickly things happen, but I do. One minute my Charles was alive and well. The next, his heart gave out and he left me for all time.”

  Dora pouted. “Don’t be ridiculous. Larry’s h
eart is not going to give out.”

  “Maybe not. But life is full of unforeseen dangers. Now, you run along and we’ll catch up later.”

  “But I have news!”

  “Very well then, child, but be quick about it. I’ll not be responsible for your leaving Larry unattended.”

  Dora sighed. “I thought you’d want to know was all.”

  It had been a long day. Hattie was not up to playing games. Dora could tell her the news or she could move along. “You thought I’d want to know what?”

  “Well,” the young woman said, pulling a paper from her pocket, “did you see the fliers today?”

  “No. Why? What’s happening?”

  “Oh, it’s all so exciting! There’s a small army making its way here. Imagine that. To Polesk! And they’re nearly here. See, it says so in this.” Dora waved a flier.

  The hair on Hattie’s arms rose. Was this what her spirit had been dreading all day? Was this the danger she’d been anticipating? “What army? What for?”

  Dora smiled, clearly satisfied that she finally had Hattie’s attention. “Lilith is with them. Or rather, they’re with Lilith.”

  “Lilith! Of the first family?”

  “The very one.”

  “Why are they coming here?”

  “She’s coming to bestow blessings on all of the infant girls.”

  Hattie’s heart beat wildly. Something was not right. She stopped in her tracks. “Why?”

  Dora laughed. “Oh, Hattie, I don’t know why. But just imagine, an army! And I saw them. Earlier, I went out to take a look. Ooooh, they looked good.” She closed her eyes and smiled.

  Hattie scowled. “Dora, you cannot go gallivanting about. You have two small children. You need to be responsible for their sake.”

  “Oh, blah, blah, blah.” The young woman didn’t hide the fact that she didn’t like Hattie scolding her. “I didn’t say I was going to do anything.”

  “Very well then.”

  “So, do you want to go with me when I bring Leena for her blessing?”

  “When?”

  “Midday tomorrow. Lilith is going to be in the town square. The flier says she’ll seek out any infants not brought to her. But I want to go. It’ll be so exciting, don’t you think? Will you go with me?”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “Good. I’ll come around for you tomorrow. We should leave early to get a place up close. Well, I’ve got to go now. I don’t want to leave Larry unattended any longer, you know.” She skipped away.

  “Wait!”

  Dora turned back.

  “Be careful.”

  The young woman shook her head. “See you tomorrow, worry wart.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  After the townsfolk discovered the army’s presence in the vicinity, various messengers carried news from Lilith back to Polesk, announcing when she would arrive on the morrow. Lilith expected record attendance. After all, it wasn’t every day a celebrity came to town.

  She briefed the men on what would transpire come morning and cautioned them to control their behavior. She wanted the people of Polesk calm and unsuspecting. Already curiosity had spurred some townsfolk to come out to the grounds. The soldiers, under Lilith’s threat, disregarded them. It was most difficult for them to ignore the women who lurked about, smiling coyly and gesturing suggestively of their availability. Still, if they engaged with them, Lilith would deliver swift and sure punishment.

  The slave women, hidden from view, were grateful to be left alone for the evening after having spent the last night in near continual demand. While they’d hoped Lilith’s presence might change their fate, they soon learned that she had no eye for them, no ear for them, no care for them. When they’d screamed out for help, she ignored their pleas. When that didn’t work to quiet them, Lilith visited the women. She warned them that if she heard anything further, she would sentence them to an immediate death. With that, and their knowledge of her plans for Polesk—plans they learned when she addressed the men—they were certain she was without conscience or mercy. Thus, their pleas ceased.

  The clear night sky displayed but a single sliver moon. The stars once again boasted of their heavenly splendor as the campfires burned out and the night grew old. Conversations lulled and eventually broke off altogether.

  When Erin felt certain the others slept, she retrieved her tool. She’d come very close the night before to breaking through her leather tethers. So close in fact, that she had to tie a bandana over her bindings to hide her efforts from the others.

  If she broke free tonight, she might make it to Polesk before Lilith and her army and find a safe place to hide. So, she set to work.

  Mere minutes later, the last strands of her bonds gave way. She was free. Astonished and delighted, she crawled to the back of the wagon.

  “Where are you going?” Genny asked. “You can’t leave.”

  Erin turned, her finger to her lips. She considered lying, but doubted the woman would believe her. “I don’t know, but please, don’t turn me in. I beg you.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I don’t know, but please, please don’t try to stop me. Come with me.”

  “Why would I want to do that?”

  “Genny, this place is no good. But you’re not tethered! All you have to do is walk away. So, let’s do it. Let’s just walk away.”

  The woman said nothing. She appeared to be contemplating her options.

  “Come with me,” Erin pressed.

  “I can’t.”

  “Of course you can. We’ll help each other. We can do it!”

  “No, I want to stay here with Hamm.”

  “Hamm!”

  “He’s going to take me away from all of this.”

  Erin’s mouth dropped open. “Genny, he lets his men use you, day after day. What makes you think he’ll—” She sighed. “He won’t, you know. If he cared for you, he’d take you away now.”

  “You don’t understand. He can’t do that now.”

  “He’s lying to you.” Erin’s words were blunt, but true.

  Genny’s gaze burned. Then as quickly as her anger arose, it seemed to fizzle out. She turned away. “Just go.”

  “Genny—”

  “I said, ‘go.’ Be careful. And take this,” she added as she threw a wool shawl Erin’s way.

  Erin pulled aside the tarp. The camp was quiet. Even through the darkness she saw sentries making their rounds. She wrapped the shawl over her shoulders and jumped down, then stood motionless for a moment.

  She sprinted to a large boulder, then looked about to find her next stopping point. In this way, from shrub to boulder, from boulder to shrub, she made her way to the outer circle of the camp. There, she hid in some brush.

  As she was about to stand and make a mad dash, a sentry came her way. She stopped, scarcely breathing.

  The man stood for several long minutes scanning the area. Finally, he moved on.

  Erin waited a bit longer, then ran from the camp as fast as her legs could carry her.

  Faint suggestions of light graced the sky to the east as Erin entered Polesk. She shuffled along in her exhaustion. Her shoeless feet bled. Her clothing was tattered from sparring with thorny bushes along her way. She was hungry, tired, and filthy.

  Thinking she heard footsteps from behind, she pulled into a nearby door frame. A minute later, she peeked out. Seeing nothing, she continued on.

  After wandering directionless for several minutes, she saw a woman step out of a house carrying what appeared to be an infant in her arms.

  Repeatedly, the woman’s eyes darted forward, then to the right, then to the left, then straight ahead. Occasionally, she stopped to look behind.

  She must have heard about Lilith’s plans, Erin reasoned. That would explain why she’s sneaking away with an infant.

  Erin followed, but stayed out of her line of vision. Finally, she came within yards of her.

  The woman turned on her heels. In one arm, s
he held an infant. In her free hand, she held a knife. It was as though she intended to portray life and death in the same instant.

  “What are you doing? Why are you following me?” she asked.

  “Please, oh please, don’t harm me.” Erin held her hands up, palms out. “I mean you no harm.”

  She brought her knife up, clearly intending to use it if need be.

  “I escaped from the army camped outside the city. I’m looking for a safe place. I thought, since you appear to be leaving the city, you might know somewhere to go.”

  “What were you doing with the army? Why is it coming here?”

  “I thought you knew since you’re leaving with your child.” Erin stepped forward.

  “Stop right there,” the woman ordered. Then she said, “Come,” as she motioned to an alley.

  “Please, don’t harm me.”

  “I’ll not harm you unless you give me reason to. Who are you? Why were you with the army?”

  “My name is Erin. I was a slave to Zarek’s men.”

  “Zarek!”

  “Yes.”

  “Of Chiran?”

  “Yes.”

  “What’s he doing in Oosa?”

  Erin took in a deep breath. “He’s not here, but some of his men are.”

  “What are they doing here?”

  “They’re with Lilith.”

  “Lilith. Of the first family?”

  “Yes!”

  The woman shook her head. “I don’t understand. What would she be doing with Zarek’s men?”

  “They’re on their way here—to Polesk. This is Polesk, isn’t it?”

  The woman nodded. “Why are they coming here?”

  Erin closed her eyes and shook her head. “It’s too terrible.”

  “What’s terrible?”

  “What Lilith is going to do!”

  “The fliers say she’s coming to bless the infants in the city.”

  “No, it’s a lie! She spoke to the men two nights ago—before they all left the palace. She told them she seeks a child someone is trying to pass off as a seventh seventh.”