Oathtaker

by Patricia Reding

  Dixon removed the eye patch he wore, then shook his friend’s hand and smiled weakly. “Just a precaution.”

  “You’re still concerned about being recognized?”

  “A lot of people in the city know me. If someone informed— Well, it would be difficult to have to explain things to the Council while Lilith remains out and about.”

  “You know I still don’t understand why Mara doesn’t just tell the Council about the girls—claim her rightful position.”

  “Well yes, it may seem odd that she keeps this to herself, but she feels very strongly that she shouldn’t expose the girls when she doesn’t know the Council members. And of course, to bring accusation against Lilith would require that she spend enormous time and attention to make her case. Meanwhile, who would protect the twins?”

  “So, where is she?”

  “She should be here any minute. We arrived together but made our way up here separately.”

  “And the girls?”

  “Mara considered bringing them along, but with the invasion of the crows, it seemed best not to take them out.”

  “I understand.” Edmond walked back to the window.

  “What’s this all about?”

  Edmond was in no hurry. He wanted the minutes to drag and to multiply. He took a deep breath. “We should wait until Mara arrives, so I can answer your questions and hers at the same time.”

  “Very well.”

  “Dixon, what do you make of the all the crows?”

  Dixon made his way to the window. He looked out just as a bird swooped down on a group of sanctuary guests trying to make their way to the main building. “I’ve no idea. It’s strange, don’t you think?”

  “Yes, it’s almost like an evil presence.” There was an odd quality to Edmond’s voice.

  “That’s a terrible thought.”

  “Yes, it is. You’re right.”

  A knock came at the door. Edmond went to it slowly, reminding himself that every minute counted. Lilith depended on him. He opened it. “Mara,” he said, “it’s good to see you.”

  Her eyes quickly darted around the room. When she saw Dixon, she visibly relaxed. “Thank you, Edmond, and you. I hope your trip went well.”

  “Yes, it did. Come in. Come in.”

  “Is everything all right?” she asked Dixon.

  “All is well. You? It took you a while to get here.”

  “Sorry. The hallways are filled with people escaping from the crows. But yes, all is well.” Then she became all business. “So, Edmond, what can you tell us?”

  He directed his guests to chairs. Though Dixon sat, Mara remained standing.

  “I was just asking Dixon about the crows. Have you ever seen anything like this?”

  “No. They’re very aggressive.”

  “Well, I’m glad you got here safely. Can I get you anything?”

  “No, thank you.”

  “If you don’t mind, I think I’ll order up some refreshments anyway.”

  “Fine with me, Edmond, but let’s try to wrap this up quickly. I really don’t like to be away from—well, you know.”

  He smiled. “Sure.” Taking his time, he picked up a tablet of forms left in the room for sanctuary guests to place orders from the kitchens. Slowly he filled one out, then sauntered to the door to place it on a corkboard on the wall just outside. When sanctuary staff came by, they would pick up the order and fill it in due course. He closed the door.

  Dixon tapped on his thigh as he often did when nervous.

  Mara paced.

  Edmond needed to keep them calm and occupied. “Are the girls well, Mara?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  “Well, have a seat,” he said, again motioning toward a chair.

  “What’s this all about, Edmond?” she asked as she sat down. “What have you learned about Lilith?”

  He turned once again toward the windows and watched below as a young woman, covered in a moss green cape, dashed toward the stables. A crow rushed toward her, then another, and then another. Her horse reared, nearly unseating her.

  He could just see inside the stables where she dismounted. Her movements seemed familiar. Who did she remind him of? Oh yes, Velia. He smiled. He needn’t worry about her. She barely breathed anymore. He’d tried to encourage Lilith to kill her outright, but the woman insisted Velia had to remain alive for a time. In the end, he’d watched Lilith lace the young Oathtaker’s bedtime tea with drugs enough to kill her . . . eventually.

  He turned back toward Mara and Dixon.

  Velia made her way to sanctuary as quickly as possible. When a crow rushed toward her, she pulled sideways. It missed her. Another rushed in. Again she turned away, just before it struck. For the third time, a crow attacked, but this time it aimed for Victory. The horse pulled sideways and reared, nearly unseating her. She held the reins tightly and tried to calm her mount just as another crow flew at her. With the stables just ahead, she leaned forward, urging Victory onward. Moments later, they dashed inside.

  She halted, then talked to the animal with quiet words, but due to her own frenzy, it remained skittish. When one of the attendants neared her, she requested his assistance.

  “I’ll be back shortly!” she called out.

  She ran for the main building, dodging crows along her way.

  Once inside, she looked around the crowded lobby. Where should she go now? Where were they supposed to meet? She wracked her memory for any clue as to where Lilith and Edmond might be, but she got nothing. They’d never said where they were going to meet.

  “Excuse me,” the Oathtaker said as she made her way through the crowd. “Excuse me. Excuse me.” Trying to be polite, trying not to offend those around her, she advanced.

  “May I help you, ma’am?”

  She surmised that the inquiry was directed her way. She turned to find an attendant. “I don’t know. I’m looking for someone.”

  “You appear to be in some hurry.”

  “Yes, I’m looking for . . .” She paused. Lilith hadn’t worn her signature red for weeks. Now Velia knew why. The woman wasn’t about to enter sanctuary without taking on some sort of disguise. So now no one would recognize her, and thus, no one could help Velia to find her. Her shoulders sagged. She didn’t know where to begin.

  “Ma’am?” the attendant interrupted her reverie.

  “Oh, sorry, I just . . .” She looked around the massive place yet again. The guests numbered in the hundreds. She felt completely overwhelmed. “I just don’t know where to begin.”

  He raised a brow. “Perhaps you might start in the inner sanctuary, the prayer room.”

  “Excuse me?”

  He smiled. “When all else would fail us, the Good One would not. Ehyeh, the Great Provider, will hear your prayer.”

  She was accustomed to solving problems on her own. Still, she had no idea where else to go, so she had nothing to lose in taking his advice. “Perhaps you’re right.”

  “Right this way,” he said.

  Velia followed him through the crowds and to the door of the inner sanctuary. She nodded her thanks, then entered.

  A few elderly people strolled about. She listened as they lifted their cries and prayers upward and then made her way to the front altar. When she arrived, she collapsed to her knees.

  “Dear Good One!” she cried, “Ehyeh, Great Provider, help me. Help me!” She leaned forward and put her hands on the floor, nearly prostrate.

  “Are you all right?”

  She pulled back up. She wanted to cry, but that would serve no purpose. She looked at the old woman who’d addressed her. “I’m . . . fine,” she said, her voice faltering.

  “You don’t look fine.”

  Velia looked away. “It’s just that someone is in great need of help—of warning. And I don’t know where to begin! I feel helpless.”

  “Who are you looking for?”

  The Oathtaker sighed. “No one can help. I’m afraid all is lost.”

  “Try me.” The wo
man reached a tired arthritic hand out to her.

  Velia sat back on her heels. “I’m trying to find two Oathtakers—to warn them.”

  “Do these Oathtakers have names?” Her gray eyes looked on, comfortingly.

  Velia smirked, then her expression fell. “Yes, they’ve got names. I was hoping to warn them . . . but I don’t know where they are.”

  “Maybe I can help.” Smiling, she patted Velia’s hand. “My name is Leala.”

  The Oathtaker surmised there was nothing the woman could do for her. She shook her head. “You wouldn’t happen to know anyone by the name of Mara? Or Dixon?” she asked, frowning.

  Leala’s smile fell.

  Velia jumped to her feet. “You do! You do know them. You do. I can see it. Help me, please. I have to warn them!”

  “Warn them?”

  “I know this sounds—preposterous—but they’re in grave danger, as are the girls!”

  Leala grabbed Velia’s arm and pulled her to the side. “What do you know of the girls?”

  “I know Lilith plans to harm them. Here. Today!”

  “Oh, dear Good One! Come. Come with me.”

  As they made their way to the back of the room, an old man approached them. He bowed low. His cloak fell forward, draping at his sides.

  “Get out of the way, Junior!” Leala cried.

  “What’s going on, Leala?”

  “We’ve got to warn them, Fidel!” She rushed toward the door, dragging Velia behind.

  Fidel caught up to them. “What’s going on?” he asked again as he grasped Leala’s wrist firmly. When she tried to pull away, he held on tighter.

  “Please, sir, we’ve got to warn them!” Velia pleaded.

  Fidel refused to release Leala. “What’s going on?”

  “Sir, we haven’t time! Dixon and Mara are in great danger. Lilith is here. She came here to harm them!”

  He looked closely at Velia. In that moment, he took her measure. “This way,” he said as he made his way swiftly through the crowd to a back staircase.

  Edmond needed to stall. Lilith required more time. “Did the two of you travel by magic?”

  “No,” said Dixon.

  “As you know, it would have been difficult to arrive that way without attracting unwanted attention,” Mara added, her voice clipped.

  “Yes, that’s right.” Edmond knew how uncomfortable she’d been when he discovered her power to travel. He’d counted on it. “And then of course, there are the crows, so the two of you came alone.”

  “Those birds are a nuisance. No, I take that back. They’re a danger.” Mara looked back at Dixon. “How’s your hand?”

  He waved it. “Fine.”

  “You were attacked?” Edmond asked.

  “It’s nothing.”

  “We could get someone to take a look.”

  “No, Edmond. My hand is fine.”

  “Well, what did you learn about Lilith?” Mara asked.

  “Not much, I’m sorry to say.” Edmond sat down.

  “So, you don’t know where she is now?”

  “No.”

  “We heard she’s been stationed in one place with her army for some time now,” Dixon said.

  “Is that right?”

  “Look, Edmond, I don’t mean to be rude, but—”

  “No, Mara, I quite understand. It’s just that . . .” He sat forward on his chair. “Well, this is it, Mara. I really think you should go to the Council and I’m hoping I can convince you to do that,” he said hurriedly. “We could make arrangements right now. Today. I could help to speak for you.”

  “No,” she said without hesitation.

  “Mara, you don’t know the Council, but I do. I’ve been an advisor to the Council for years. They’ll believe you.”

  “No, Edmond.” She stood. “So is that all we came for? You don’t have any more information for us?”

  “Hear me out.” He turned to Dixon. “Dixon, try to get her to listen, to see reason.”

  Dixon grinned and shook his head. “Look, this is Mara’s call. I’ve already told you her reasoning and I find no fault with it. If she says ‘no’ then—”

  “But, Dixon,” Edmond interrupted, “I have good reason to suggest this.” Lilith needed more time. He couldn’t let them leave yet. “Look, I think there are some who already suspect the truth, and if they just met Mara, that might be enough.” He turned back her way. “You could take your rightful place as the girls’ regent to lead the Council.”

  “No. I don’t care about leading the Council right now. I care about keeping the girls safe.”

  “What about you, Dixon? Don’t you care that the Council doubts your faithfulness, your innocence? Don’t you think she,” he said, motioning towards Mara, “owes you at least that much? At least the opportunity to clear your name?” He fought to keep his voice from becoming shrill or accusatory.

  Dixon leaned in. “You don’t seem to understand. I told you before. So long as I’ve got Mara’s back and she’s got mine, I don’t care what the Council thinks.”

  “But—”

  “If that’s all Edmond, we’re leaving.” Mara said. “Actually, I wish you hadn’t wasted our time.”

  “But, Mara—”

  “This is not up for discussion, Edmond. There will be no debate. I’ve made up my mind.” She turned toward the door, then flew back as it burst open before her. In stumbled Leala, Fidel, and a young woman. “What’s this?”

  The young woman’s eyes shot around the room before coming to rest on Edmond. “Where is she?”

  “Where is who?” Mara asked. “And who are you?” She looked at the oldtimers. “What’s the meaning of this Leala? Fidel?”

  “Hear her out,” Leala said, struggling to catch her breath.

  Mara turned to the young woman. “Who are you?”

  “Where is she, Edmond?” the woman asked again as she stepped closer to him.

  “Where is who? And . . . and . . . who are you?” he asked.

  “Where is Lilith?”

  Mara, still near the door, tried to close it just as a member of the sanctuary staff sought to enter. He carried a tray with a pot and cups. “Go away!” she shouted at him.

  “But—”

  “We don’t want it! Send it back!” She closed the door in his face, then turned back to the others. She glared at the young woman. “What is the meaning of this? Who are you? What do you want? And what’s this about Lilith?”

  She bowed. Her hair fell forward. She stood up and tucked it behind her ears. “You must be Mara.”

  Mara’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”

  “Listen to me. You’re in great danger.”

  “Who are you?” Mara cried, Dixon now at her side.

  “My name is Velia. I’ve been traveling with Lilith and Edmond.” Her eyes darted his way, then turned back. “I’ve come to warn you.”

  “What’s she talking about, Edmond?” Mara asked.

  His mouth dropped open, his eyes went wide. “I have absolutely no idea what she’s talking about. I’ve never seen this woman before.”

  “Liar!” Velia snapped at him. She looked back at Mara. “Edmond has been traveling with Lilith, making plans for your demise. She intends to harm the girls. She and Edmond arranged to meet you here today so that she could do just that.”

  Mara watched Velia closely. The woman seemed to be telling the truth. She looked back at Edmond.

  He stepped forward. “Listen, I don’t know her. I’ve no idea who she is or what she’s up to.”

  “What are you talking about? You mentioned ‘the girls,’ Velia. Who do you mean?” Dixon asked.

  “Rowena’s girls! The seventh seventh and ‘she who is but is not.’ Look Mara, Dixon, I know you don’t know me, but Lilith is here. She came to kill you. I’m an Oathtaker. I found out that she was lying about— She said someone was trying to pawn off an imposter child as a seventh seventh. But she lied. I know it! Please, you’ve got to believe me. Lilith is probably makin
g her way to this room even as we speak.”

  Mara looked at Edmond.

  “She’s lying,” he said. “I don’t know her, I tell you. I don’t know what she’s talking about. She’s probably trying to lay a trap of her own.”

  Velia stepped toward him. She hauled back and slapped him with all her might.

  His head snapped to the side. Slowly, he turned back, his lip curled in a sneer. “You’re a liar. If you’re an Oathtaker as you say, then prove it.”

  She reached back for her blade, then turned to Mara, her hand empty. “She took it. They took it! Lilith and Edmond stole my blade!”

  “It doesn’t make any sense, Mara,” Dixon said. “Edmond wouldn’t harm me.”

  “He would!” Velia cried. “He wants revenge!”

  “Revenge! Revenge for what? No,” Dixon said to Mara, “she must be a—an imposter. She hasn’t got a blade. What she says makes no sense. There’s no reason to believe any of it. Word must have gotten out somehow—about our being here, I mean.”

  Velia’s shoulders slumped. “How can I convince you? What can I say? They want to harm the girls. There’s no time to lose!”

  Mara eyes narrowed. “There is one way to know for sure,” she said.

  “What are you talking about?” Dixon asked.

  She held his gaze for a long moment before turning away. “Edmond,” she said, “this is really very simple. Just assure me that you wouldn’t harm the girls. Assure me that—”

  “What?” he interrupted. “Assure you of what? You want me to swear to you that I wouldn’t harm the girls? That I’d do whatever I could to protect them?” He scowled, then looked at Dixon accusatorially. “I can’t believe you’d even allow her to ask me this. I suppose you doubt me too.”

  “Just do as she says, Edmond. Just . . . do as she says.”

  “Well,” Edmond said, his voice dripping with anger, “since you seem to feel the need to hear me say it, in the face of this—this unfounded accusation, by someone who can’t even prove she is what she claims to be!” He shook his finger at Velia. “Mara, trust me. I don’t know what she’s talking about. I’ve had nothing to do with Lilith. Why,” he paused, “I swear I’d . . . I’d . . . I’d protect those girls with my very life!”