JOURNEY OF THE SACRED KING II

by JANRAE FRANK

  When reports from comrades in Shaurone came in about Birdie, Talons began to think she had in fact made a good choice taking Jysy and Arruth instead, for the thirteen year old was becoming a fine priest, watching over her burgeoning flock with the care and thoughtfulness of someone twice her years. When she heard about the planned move to Rowanhart, Talons sought and was granted a favor from her grandsire that two Guildsmyn be insinuated into the ranks of the settlers to watch over Birdie.

  "They're pretty good."

  Talons looked and saw Dynarien sitting next to her. "Yes, they are."

  "They still giving you fits?" He grinned.

  "No. I think having to act as my squires at our little party had a sobering effect."

  "I wonder why?" He asked with just a tad of feigned innocence. Dynarien could well imagine what that little episode could have led to.

  "Perhaps it was being expected to entertain the Badree Nym. Maybe it was seeing and interacting with strange creatures and beings. Or maybe just the strangeness of the entire thing."

  "There is that."

  "Hello, Talons," A young mon about Talon's age walked up, he moved with an easy, almost boneless grace like a cat. Darkly handsome with a small tuft of hair on his rugged, cleft chin, he regarded Dynarien, measuringly. Although the Guild recruited from all over the Merezian continent, Dynarien's almost translucently fair skin and red-blond hair stood out like the proverbial crimson fish. "Who's your friend?"

  Talons' eyes hooked the newcomer's with a quick, unspoken warning of 'don't mess with him.' "Bryndel, meet Dynarien."

  Bryndel gave her an almost imperceptible shrug as Dynarien stood and extended his hand. They shook.

  "You're not from around here." The statement had just a tiny challenge in it.

  Talons allowed herself a tiny smile. Bryndel Wrathscar was a bit of a kizmeigo, always trying to show that he was better than everyone else with an ego that was larger than his talents, although his talents were substantial. However, the Guild had chosen not to accept him into their ranks and he had been dropped from Guild classes, although he was still allowed to take non-Guild classes and still came to work out with the non-Guild students. Most kizmeigos were all talk and no talent. But if he were going to pull a kizmeigo with Dynarien, he was in over his head.

  "I'm not." Dynarien answered, his face guileless.

  "Then where?"

  "Bryndel..." Talons scowled. "You're out of line."

  "That's okay," Dynarien said. "I'm from Imralon."

  "Yeah, right," Bryndel sneered. "All kidding aside, where are you from?"

  Dynarien's mouth twisted with mischief. "Talons, I'll be back. We need to talk." He snapped his fingers and disappeared in a shower of rose petals.

  Bryndel yelped. "He's a mage?"

  "No. He's from Imralon. Think about it." Talons knelt and scooped up a handful of the lovely blue rose petals and walked off. She put the petals to her nose and inhaled their fragrance. If I could have a male I think it would be Dynarien. The thought of touching him send a tingle to her loins and a bittersweet longing to be with him. But they could never be more than friends. Never. She could never touch a male that way, not with her uncontrollable bi-kyndi. To touch him would be to kill him. She had never felt drawn to a male before. She had always been comfortable without one; her lovers had all been female. Edouina, her beloved Edouina Hornbow. They had been lovers since childhood; since that first, tentative, almost shy exploration of each other's bodies. Although she had had other lovers, she always came back to Edouina. For the last two years, they had settled down into exclusivity. They were thinking of handfasting. Yet Dynarien filled her with longing and need. Like the majority of Sharani, she was bi-sexual, she had to be, and it was in her genes. It took three parents to make a viable offspring. Two parent children were born neuters. But as an untrained adult bi-kyndi she would never be able to triad.

  * * * *

  Talons caught the scent of roses as soon as she entered her rooms and looked about for Dynarien. The antechamber contained a table and chairs in the middle, a desk along one wall, a small wood stove, and several cabinets. She stooped, glancing beneath the table and then the desk, when she noticed a small trail of rose petals leading into her bedroom.

  "Shit," she muttered, "you're playing games again." She walked into the bedroom and saw the lump under the blankets. She walked up and kicked it.

  "Ouch!" Two voices cried in unison. Jysy and Arruth boiled out from beneath the blankets.

  "Serves you right, get out of here. Aren't you supposed to be in class?"

  The two youths fled, laughing.

  The scent of roses was stronger. She started kicking cushions about. One of them exploded, filling the room with feathers, swirling around her like snow.

  "Hi!" A voice spoke behind her and she spun, claws out.

  There was no one there.

  "Come out!" she demanded.

  "No. Not unless you promise not to kick me."

  "Truce."

  Dynarien shimmered into view in front of her. "Hi," he said, settling among the cushions. "Sorry about the pillow. I'll replace it if you'd like."

  "You didn't rip the pillow, I did."

  He sighed, ducking his head. "You would not have ripped the pillow if I had not been playing games with you. Jysy and Arruth knew I was here."

  Talons stiffened. "You didn't touch either of them, did you?" she growled.

  "They're not exactly virgins..."

  "We're not talking about them! We're talking about you."

  "I did not touch them. I didn't even kiss them ... although they wanted to... They're children."

  "So is Birdie."

  "Birdie's different. It had to be Birdie," he said, desperately wanting her to understand and forgive him. "It had to be."

  "Why?" she demanded, mercilessly forcing him to talk.

  "Because ... because the soul she's bringing into rebirth. It's Eldarion Havenrain."

  "Holy sweet death and damnation," Talons muttered, dropping onto the cushions beside him, utterly confusticated. The mage-smith and founding sire of the Valdren race. Surely there could not be two of them. "You mean the Valdren?"

  "Yes," he said, unhappily. "I was not supposed to tell anyone. Just give her some hints and guidance. Birdie's mage-born on her sire's side, she's got Valdren blood four generations back on her 'lasah's side, and she's the first Sharani high priest of Dynanna. She also has a large enough street-wise clan and extended family to protect the child so the sa'necari can't get him before he has a chance to grow up and become a threat. We were going to give her two more souls... But I don't break my promises. We are going to do it right this time, not mess things up like we did with Josiah Abelard."

  Talons found her anger draining away. "Tell me about Josiah Abelard."

  Dynarien poured out the whole sordid story. He had not lain with Merann; instead he had given the soul gem to Tori Stormbird and instructed both of them in how to bring the soul into Merann's womb at conception. Then he and Dynanna got caught up in other things and forgot to check back. They thought the child would be safe in the Neridians, far from contact with most other landsfolk. By the time they went looking for him, they found Josh half-grown and already severely damaged. After that they quarreled so often over Josiah, that they finally quit talking about him. Dynarien had no idea how to fix things. He managed to find a bandage solution a few months ago when he discovered that Josiah Abelard had finally awakened completely in Josh's body, but only when he drank heavily. The last drop of Sapphire Elixir had merged their personalities, but much remained damaged.

  "Poor Josiah..." Talons said, looking thoughtful and considerably calmer. "Couldn't you let Lizard engender those souls? After all they're married now."

  Dynarien shook his head. "My blood and genes make the children harder to damage magically. They also heal faster from physical damage."

  Talons reflected for a moment. "That makes sense."

  Dynarien nodded and launched into Dr
ee's story, following it up with what Aejys was currently planning and then the condition of her household. By the time he ran out of things to tell her, he felt certain she was no longer angry and he brushed his fingers across hers. She did not pull back; her assassin's mask had fallen away completely, leaving just a tiny crack of sadness in the corners of her mouth.

  "There cannot ever, ever be anything between us, Dynarien." She stared down at his fingers still lightly touching hers.

  "Why? Because of Birdie?

  "That was part of it, but it isn't any longer. No."

  "Am I so offensive to you?"

  Talons ran her fingers lightly, longingly across his face. "Because I can't. I can't have a male in my life. Ever."

  "Are you geised?"

  "No."

  "Cursed? My grandfather could fix that."

  "Not exactly. If I could have a male in my life, I think it would be you. But I can't. We'll just be friends. Very, very good friends, but still just friends."

  "At least that's something."

  "Yes, it's something."

  * * * *

  Talons carried her plate to a long table in the far corner of the dining hall. She could have eaten with her grandsire and his court, but she preferred to take it with the students and masters. The atmosphere was more relaxed here and it gave her an opportunity to see her friends. Jysy and Arruth always joined her there.

  "Mind if I join you?" Bryndel set his tray down before waiting for her answer.

  "No." Talons watched him, closely. Bryndel rarely sought her out and he never did anything without a reason – often several of them.

  Bryndel started eating and eying her in an odd way. "So tell me about him."

  "Him?"

  "The mage, Dynarien. There's a rumor going around about you and him. He's been at five of the last practice sessions with you."

  "There's nothing going on. And he's not a mage."

  "Oh, come on, Talons. He Jumps. He's a mage."

  "He's not a mage. He's an enchantary."

  Bryndel shrugged. "Whatever. Look. We think you should stick to your own kind."

  "My. Own. Kind." Talons tensed. She did not like where this was going. It smelled of politics and manipulation, things she scrupulously avoided. She did not know how to play the game, because she had not wanted to play it and still did not.

  "Yes. Now that you're finally interested in males."

  "I'm not interested in males," Talons said flatly. From the corner of her eye she saw that Jysy and Arruth had arrived and were quietly listening.

  "Oh, come on! We've all seen how you look at each other. You're Sharani, for Havens' sake. You swing both ways."

  "Well, I don't." She caught a small glimpse of Jysy and Arruth finger-speaking under the edge of the table, but could not quite make out what they were saying.

  "You know how I've always felt about you," Bryndel leaned closer to her, almost whispering.

  Talons had known. He had never pushed it like this before, but neither had he made a secret of it. Talons had never encouraged him. She wondered what was going on to embolden him like this. Jealousy perhaps? Or was someone encouraging him? Someone who stood to gain from a match between them. Talons remembered suddenly, that with the recent deaths of her male cousins, she was the only heir left. She had never considered it. She did not want to be heir, so she had kept pushing it out of her mind.

  Jysy grinned at her sister. "If we do it we get in trouble," she signed.

  Arruth grinned back. "We do it!"

  Jysy went over the table and Arruth went under. Jysy grabbed Bryndel, planting wet, slobbery kisses on his mouth and face. Bryndel tried to pry her off him, then stiffened as a hand pulled the band of his pants open, shoving something very wet and stringy down the front. He erupted from his seat, throwing Jysy off, knocking the bench over as he seized Arruth by the collar and slammed her against the wall hard enough to stun her.

  "You little shits!" Bryndel snarled into Arruth's face, his mouth frothing with spit. "I'll beat the hell out of you!"

  Talons stepped in, broke his hold on Arruth, and spun him around. Bryndel found himself starring down the length of her claws. "Don't you ever touch them or threaten them again. They're children."

  "But ... but..."

  "No. Touch them again and I'll rip your throat out. Furthermore, what I do or don't do is none of your business. Dynarien is none of your business. Ask the Patriarch. Or better yet, the old lore books. Under Rose Warrior."

  Jysy and Arruth retreated to their side of the table, wide-eyed at the reaction they had gotten.

  "You are my business, Talons," Bryndel said as she sheathed her claws and released him. "My father is petitioning your grandsire on my behalf. I'm going to marry you."

  "It will never happen."

  * * * *

  That afternoon Talons was summoned to her grandsire's office in the west tower of the palace complex. His three lieutenants were with him: Mohanja Raam, the black-skinned giant from Jedrua; Hanadi Majios; and Gylorean Galee, the nordrei.

  "Just because no means to block the bi-kyndi has yet been found, does not mean that there is not one," Galee said thoughtfully. "I have made arrangements to travel to Ishla's Great Temple in Laurendar. I will consult with the priests and if luck is with me, the God herself."

  "Talons," her grandsire, Takhalme Gee said, "you are the last of our family. I must have great-grandchildren to hand this down to. Lord Wrathscar has made me a very good offer in allying our houses. In two days time I will publicly announce your betrothal."

  Talons felt stunned. "You promised me..."

  "That was when I still had six grandchildren. Now I have just you. I am too old to start another family. There will be no more assignments for you. You will remain in Creeya and allow Bryndel Wrathscar to pay you court. And I want your oath that you will do absolutely nothing to harm him while does so. Nothing. No matter how obnoxious he might seem at times. That's just the way young men are."

  Talons bowed her head. "Yes, grandsire. You have my word." She felt as if she had just been wrapped in unbreakable chains. She knew from his tone that he would brook no arguments or protests from her. She had not been given a choice and the state must be served: she understood that with her head, but not her heart.

  "Within six months I expect to hold the wedding. Lord Wrathscar and I have worked out nearly all of the details of dowry and inheritance."

  * * * *

  Talons did not return to her quarters to change for dinner, although she was expected to attend. The south wing was, to those who knew its real purpose, the Guild wing. Only one person who lived there was important enough to have lived on the west wing with the nobles: That was Hanadi Majios. Talons found Hanadi in her chambers with Brundarad.

  The great shadow hound beside her stood twelve hands at the shoulder, wiry steel dust coat, deep chested, raw-boned, built as much for speed as power. Two ivory horns curled tightly above its long, hanging ears. A long blunt muzzle extended from its squarish head. Two emerald eyes gleamed with intelligence.

  Hanadi's chambers were simple and unpretentious. Talons knew her to be a mon who placed more value on things of the spirit than of the flesh. Hanadi looked up when Talons entered. Her stern, conspicuously Euzadi features, creamy matte brown skin, long, straight and blade thin nose and her strong jaw were all assembled into an aristocratic package of proud mien. She faced the heir to the throne with her casual arrogance in place.

  "What is it you need, Talons?"

  "Hanadi, you have to help me."

  She shook her head and her auburn to the point of black hair cascaded around her face. "I cannot. My wanderyear begins this night."

  "Can't you put it off?"

  "No, child. It is impossible. The enchantments involved are complex."

  Hanadi had never spoken so frankly with her about it before. Talons had always assumed – as did everyone else – that the wanderyear, which came every seven years, was just an informal roaming about with Bru
ndarad. She never suspected that magic was involved. "I don't understand."

  Brundarad gave a small bark and then some strange noises that sounded like words.

  "We will show you. Long have we spoken of this and decided to trust you. Brundarad is impatient anyway." Hanadi removed her clothing a piece at a time, folding and putting them away. When she stood completely nude, she turned toward Talons. "If a shadow hound can help you, then send for us at the monastery of St. Tarmus. But as a mon, there is nothing I can do for you until next spring." Hanadi dropped to all fours. Her form shimmered and changed. Soon two shadow hounds stood before her. The bitch pressed her rough head against Talons and the assassin heard a voice in her mind.

 

  Brundarad's coarser mind-voice told her.

  "I promise. It is our secret."

  Then they bounded out the open window and disappeared into the bushes.

  * * * *

  Before Brendorn had come looking for her nearly a year ago, Aejys had never been one to brood, now it seemed pretty much all that she did. She had hoped that sharing it with Josiah would have helped, but it had not. She had decided one thing: she had to make some arrangements in case she failed, in case she could not stop Margren. Others would have to follow in her steps. Up until now every time she even began to get her feet beneath her, Margren or her allies knocked them out from under her again. At one time she and many others had considered her a master strategist, now she no longer thought of herself that way. She had been out-fought and out-maneuvered from the beginning. The only evidence of good judgment had been in her choice of allies and shield-friends who had managed to make up for her failures, but she feared that the time was coming when even they would not be able to help her. For the first time in her life she judged herself to be the weakest link in their armor. Furthermore, without Tagalong and Clemmerick, she wondered just what she could accomplish.