Tears of the Sun

by Jennifer McCormack

  “Desperate times,” Jan said, forcing a smile. She suddenly felt very tired, even though she hadn’t taken part in the actual fighting. “When the lives of two of my most trusted Arbiters are in danger, I can’t afford to be picky about those I recruit for help. Besides, the Black Talon seems to know more about this cult than anyone.”

  “It would be unwise to leave her here in Sonastra,” Beatrix interjected. Her hood had fallen away during the battle, revealing the startling features of her face. Instead of hair, her head was covered in short, tawny fur marked with the darker rosettes of an exotic cat. Her nose and mouth formed the short, broad muzzle common among such felines. Many of the Sonastra guardsmen were sneaking curious glances at the cat woman, the product of forbidden magic gone awry.

  “With so many blaming her for their losses in Sonastra, the Outlander wouldn’t be safe in the city dungeon,” Beatrix continued. Speaking revealed the sharp teeth within her mouth, dangerously curved canines that gleamed in the torchlight. Jan had always thought it must be difficult to speak with such long teeth, but Beatrix’s speech was as graceful and refined as her manners.

  “She’s right,” Rhys agreed, although somewhat grudgingly. “I think we’re all aware what will happen if we leave the Outlander in the custody of the Sonastra guard. She’s a scapegoat, the only living suspect in the recent tragedy. Too many unfortunate ‘accidents’ befall scapegoats. If she knows of this cult, as she claims, she is too valuable to place in harm’s way.”

  “I’d already thought of that,” Jan said. “That’s why I decided she is coming with us.” Jan searched the nearby area for the guard captain, and beckoned to the nearest guardsman when she did not find him. “Where is your captain? I need to speak with him.”

  The young man fidgeted a moment before replying. “I regret to inform you that the guard captain was killed in the fighting, your worship.”

  Jan hesitated, unsure of how to respond. “I’m sorry for your losses,” she said once she regained her composure. “Who is the second in command?”

  “That would be Lieutenant Conrad,” the guardsman replied, glancing with uncertainty at some point beyond Jan.

  A stern, grizzled woman appeared to Jan’s right. “I’m Lieutenant Conrad,” she said, extending her hand in greeting.

  “Pleased to meet you, Lieutenant.” Jan clasped Conrad’s hand. The lady guardsman had quite the grip. Jan struggled not to cringe at the crushing grasp of the woman’s larger hand. Much to the young guardsman’s relief, Conrad motioned to him that she would take over. Jan was unaccustomed to causing people such unease. She had never considered herself an intimidating woman. She was of average height, slender build, with no remarkable features. All in all, Jan supposed she was rather plain. Adjusting to the role of Grand Arbiter was going to prove a challenge for her, especially since her first day in her new role was the first time so many people even noticed her, let alone deferred to her.

  Now that the niceties were exchanged, Jan got right to busi-

  ness. “About your prisoner,” she began.

  “The Outlander?” Conrad asked. She looked to where the Black Talon was standing with the two swords she’d taken from the corpses at her sides. “I assure you, your worship, I don’t know how she managed to get free of the chains, but I can promise that it won’t happen again.”

  “Actually, I set her free.” Jan’s statement succeeded in gaining Conrad’s attention. “After speaking to the Black Talon at length, I think it best if she was turned over to the custody of the Arbitrary Order of Lyth.”

  “You want to take the Outlander into custody?” The lieutenant seemed incredulous at the idea. For a brief instant Jan feared Conrad would refuse her request, that not even the weight of the position of Grand Arbiter would be enough to earn her cooperation. Conrad’s next words made Jan breathe a sigh of relief. “If the Arbiters think they can better deal with this conniving assassin, all the luck to them. She is yours, your worship. Do with her as you please.”

  “Thank you. You’ve been most helpful.” Jan saluted the lieutenant and then turned to where Rhys and Beatrix were standing with the Black Talon. Her ears picked out strange words, spoken softly, over the noise of the Sonastra guardsmen as they worked at removing the bodies littering the dungeon. It took her a moment to realize the mumbling originated from the Black Talon. “Ie na sasse ta. Ie na sasse ta.” The Black Talon kept repeating the phrase, almost like a mantra. As Jan approached, she noticed the blank expression on the Black Talon’s face, how her fiery eyes seemed to have lost much of their luster.

  “What is wrong with her?” Rhys asked, waving a hand in front of the Black Talon’s face. She didn’t react. Her eyes, now the color of dark honey, remained unfocused. “She’s done nothing but repeat those words since we got here.”

  “Ie na sasse ta” Jan repeated, digging through her memories of Astraeyu Nouvin language to find the meaning of the words. “I will not fall,” she said with a gasp. Jan moved closer, inspecting the Black Talon’s features more carefully.

  A purplish bruise was forming at her right temple, barely visible beneath the black bandana. Many little cuts and scratches crisscrossed her face, and Jan now noticed a scarlet stain on the left side of her cuirass that had nothing to do with the rising phoenix enameled upon it.

  “She’s out cold,” Jan announced to no one in particular. It was no use. Confirming the truth aloud did not make it any easier to believe. “She must have blacked out from the pain, or from the exhaustion of fighting so hard with so many injuries.”

  Beatrix was next to her. “I believe you’re right. Astounding! I’ve never heard of anyone losing consciousness while still on their feet. The woman must be remarkably strong willed.”

  The Black Talon continued to chant her bold determination under her breath, oblivious to the onlookers standing before her. Jan studied her face. Half closed now, the Black Talon’s eyes had grown dim. No longer did they glow in the near darkness of the dungeon.

  “Arrange to have her transported to Seawatch Tower,” Jan said. The Tiruvali Arbiter stronghold would have to do as their base of operations for now. Its location would keep them close to Sonastra should the Coruscalli launch another attack.

  “One more thing,” Jan added as Rhys and Beatrix attempted to lay the Black Talon on a stretcher. She grasped the two swords and showed no sign of letting them go as Rhys struggled to pry the blades from her grip. “I want her to be made as comfortable as possible during the carriage ride to Seawatch Tower. The Black Talon might be a prisoner and a suspect, but she likely saved all our lives. I won’t see her mistreated simply because she is an Outlander. We owe her that much.”

  Jan watched as Rhys and a Sonastra guardsman carried the Black Talon away, swords and all. She could still hear those haunting words. Ie na sasse ta. I will not fall.

  And you didn’t. Jan smiled at the Black Talon’s fierce determination. The smile faded when she thought of how the Outlander would react when she awoke and learned that she had been moved from one prison to another, this one filled with wardens far more intimidating than the Sonastra guard.

  Jan knew the Black Talon had the information the Arbiters sought, but based on what she had seen so far, it would take time and much effort to wear her down. It would be an arduous task, no doubt, but Jan thought she could eventually get the Black Talon to talk.

  SEAWATCH TOWER WAS the Arbitrary Order of Lyth’s stronghold in Tiruval. Located in an inlet along the rocky coastline, Seawatch Tower was only a short distance northwest of Sonastra. The lights from the port city were barely visible due to the towering walls of rock that formed the bay, effectively keeping it from view of travelers on the road. It was a secluded place. It felt to Jan like the keep was the only inhabited place in that lonely northern world, the last bastion of civilization hidden among the steep seaside cliffs.

  Jan was once again surprised by the overwhelming authority that came with the title of Grand Arbiter when the Tiruval
i Arbiters formed two lines on either side of the path leading into the keep, each with head bowed and right fist clenched over their hearts. Jan wanted to be away from so many spectators, so she strolled along the gathered Arbiters with as much dignity as she could muster, wishing only to be inside the keep where she might find some privacy.

  The quarters reserved for the Grand Arbiter were located on the top floor of the tallest tower. A long staircase curved around the turret, winding ever upward. Jan felt for sure the stairs would lead her into the very heavens, but they at last came to an end outside of a heavy oaken door. The rooms were spacious and well-furnished, designed to serve as both living quarters and personal office. Jan gave herself a brief tour of her new home away from home, taking the time to familiarize herself with her surroundings.

  The office was the first room she came to. Tall bookcases towered above her on all sides, each containing volumes on everything from the local flora and fauna to speculation on the Lost Era. At the center of the room was a large desk. Stacks of parchment awaited the occupant, along with a quill and inkpot. Jan didn’t look forward to penning her account of recent events and continued to the rooms beyond the office.

  A sitting room was adjacent to the office, with a huge fireplace and two overstuffed sofas arranged around a low table. The bedroom was just beyond the sitting room, by far the grandest of the rooms so far. The four-poster bed was the largest Jan had ever seen, surely larger than one person would need. What immediately caught Jan’s eye was the stained glass window set high in the wall over the balcony. It depicted Lyth, the Huntress Queen and Goddess to all Lythrillian people, standing on the edge of a rocky cliff. The Goddess’s gaze was focused on the fierce sea below, the sun peeking through the storm clouds above her head. It was the bay in which Seawatch Tower was built, Jan was sure of it.

  Jan went to the balcony overlooking the Harrowing Sea. From there, she could see for leagues to the north. The roiling water blended with the gray clouds on the horizon, giving the illusion that the sea met the sky. Jan shivered as she imagined that Lyth herself once stood roughly in the same place. It was a wonder to her, to stand where so many great people had before her, people whose actions had shaped the world. It also reawakened the many self-doubts she’d had since being promoted to Grand Arbiter. Having such power and authority was beyond her. Her choices could decide the fate of so many. Jan wasn’t sure if she would ever be ready to wear the mantle of Grand Arbiter. She certainly hadn’t prepared for it.

  A short two days ago she was merely a simple archivist, toiling away long hours in the libraries of the Arbitrary Order of Lyth. She was more accustomed to cataloging historical events and checking the records for facts pertaining to current matters than commanding the entirety of the Arbiters across Lythril. Jan’s strong point was never dealing with people. In truth, she preferred spending her days in the relative seclusion of the libraries. At least in the archives she’d never had to decide whether a person lived or died. Now, the life of at least one living being depended on her, and that was likely only the beginning. As Grand Arbiter, it was her duty to pass judgment on those who would oppose Lythril and place its citizens in peril. Thinking about what the future might hold made Jan tired. She went back to the bedroom and plopped face down on the giant bed.

  It had been a long day, but it wasn’t over yet. The matter of how to deal with the Black Talon still remained. Jan knew she could not rest long. She made herself get up off the bed and began the walk in the direction where the Black Talon was being held.

  Once the Black Talon’s injuries were treated, she was transferred to a locked tower to recover from her recent battles. Two Arbiters stood guard outside the door. A necessary precaution, but considering what Jan knew of the Black Talon so far, it was a gesture meant to offer some peace of mind to the Tiruvali more than an actual security measure.

  The Black Talon cut down at least ten cultists in what seemed no more than a blink of an eye. Surely she would have no difficulty in dispatching the two Arbiters assigned guard duty if she so desired. Escape from Seawatch Tower would prove more of a challenge. Situated on the high cliffs of the coast, there was only one road leading in and out of the keep and it was heavily guarded. The only other escape route would be to jump into the cold waters far below and chance surviving the fall. Jan didn’t think the Black Talon was so desperate as to risk being impaled on the sharp rocks jutting from the sea floor.

  Jan nodded to the two Arbiters, and said, “I’m here to see the prisoner.” She waited while one of the men unlocked the door. As he placed his palm on the outer circle of the intricate runes etched into the stone, a light moved from his hand to the pattern. The light raced around the circle first, before spreading to the triangle at the center. When all the runes glowed, Jan heard a faint click. The door was unlocked. The lock was an old design, left over from the time when Lyth’s people first came to Lythril. The other Arbiter kept watch should the prisoner try anything. Another instant and Jan was inside the room, the sound of the door being fastened at her back.

  As soon as Jan crossed the threshold her gaze settled on a figure slouching in the shadows in the far corner. The Black Talon leaned against the arm of a chair, her arms folded across her chest as she stared out a narrow window overlooking the Harrowing Sea. The only source of light in the room was a sliver of moonlight streaming in through the window.

  “Contemplating escape?” Jan asked, taking another step into the dark room.

  “And risk a swim in these shark-infested waters?” the Black Talon asked. Jan heard a low rumble that might have been a soft chuckle. “Even if I was up for such an adventure, braving the dive into the ocean isn’t worth the risk.”

  “It is a long way down.” Another step. Jan kept her eyes trained on the shadowy form of the Black Talon. Although her swords had at last been pried from her fingers, Jan felt certain that this woman could be just as lethal unarmed.

  “How are your injuries?” Jan asked. “I’ve been informed that you were practically dead on your feet after the battle in Sonastra’s jail. You took a lot of abuse, but you never fell.”

  At Jan’s statement the Black Talon shifted, turning her head so that the moonlight fell across her face in a band of silvery blue light. Her eyes twinkled like firelight as she held Jan’s gaze.

  “In light of recent events, I need to have a word with you about this cult, this Coruscalli, you called it,” Jan began, clearing her throat after the uneasy silence. She stepped awkwardly toward the center of the room, feeling her leg brush against a piece of furniture as she did so. “It’s rather dark in here. Do you mind if I light a candle?”

  “Do as you wish,” the Black Talon replied bitterly. “In spite of your pleasantries, I know I have no real say in the matter. I’m merely a prisoner here, after all.”

  Jan fumbled with the candle lantern until a spark ignited into flame. The room was suddenly bathed in a ring of warm light. Satisfied, and a little more confident now that she could see, Jan seated herself on a sofa.

  “Does this appear a prison cell to you?” she gestured to the fully furnished room.

  The Black Talon remained standing, her gaze still fixed on the small window.

  “I know this must be difficult for you,” Jan continued, “but if what you say is true, Lythril will be in danger as long as the Coruscalli is at large.”

  Again the Black Talon turned her head to regard Jan. Only her eyes were illuminated by the moonlight, the rest of her body was swathed in shadow that lingered beyond the glow of the candle. It was disconcerting, a pair of eyes too bright burning into Jan from the darkness.

  After a while, the Black Talon sighed in a defeated manner. “You are right. The Coruscalli is a threat to us all. I can’t let my pride stand in the way of doing what is right for the world of Lythril—the entire world, and not merely the Four Kingdoms.” The Black Talon left her position by the window and sauntered to the center of the room. When she stepped into the light, Jan
noticed for the first time that she no longer wore her black bandana. Her hair was cut short, and was black as a raven’s feathers, as was common among Astraeyu Nouvins.

  Jan shifted uncomfortably under the weight of the Black Talon’s gaze. She stopped at the chair across from Jan, but remained standing. Her olive skin seemed to glow in the firelight. “All of Lythril is in danger,” she continued. “Even Astraeyu Nouvi—perhaps especially Astraeyu Nouvi.” Jan sensed her hesitation. “There are powerful forces at work, powers left behind since the days of the Ancients. We mustn’t allow the Coruscalli to seize control of these powers.”

  Jan leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “The Ancients lived before even the time of the Lost Era. That was, what, maybe four or five thousand years ago? Nothing remains of the Ancients in the Four Kingdoms save for a few crumbling ruins. What could the Coruscalli possibly hope to gain by sifting through the rubble of a civilization long past?”

  “The Ancients hold many secrets, some of which are still buried within their ruined cities.” The Black Talon’s eyes glittered dangerously. “Who says the Ancients died out long ago? Is that a common belief among Mainlanders?”

  Jan tensed. She noticed that the Black Talon referred to the citizens of the Four Kingdoms as Mainlanders. It was a somewhat derogatory term, similar to using “Outlander” to refer to an Astraeyu Nouvin, or “Horselord” for a citizen of Rider’s Vale. She must have said something to offend the Black Talon, however unwilling it was.

  “Modern Astraeyu Nouvins claim to be descendants of the Ancients,” Jan said. The Black Talon’s expression lightened, but she remained wary of Jan’s words. “It is said that the Ancients came to Lythril eons ago, in a sky ship called the Ark. That was long before even Lyth herself discovered the world. Although the Ancients once had holdings all across Lythril, they first settled what would become Astraeyu Nouvi, and the northern island remained the seat of their power.” Jan paused to catch her breath before going on, and also to allow the Black Talon to make any corrections.