Jan allowed a slight smile. “That can be arranged.” She retreated behind her desk to retrieve a tightly wrapped parcel propped against the ancient wood. She untied the string, letting the cloth fall away to reveal the package’s contents. She was glad that she remembered to collect the Black Talon’s belongings from the Sonastra jail. The woman’s eyes sparkled as she recognized the two swords Jan held in her hands.
“I’ll return these to you, on one condition,” Jan said, placing the swords on her desk as she stepped forward. She met the Black Talon’s gaze again, and said, “You fight for the Arbiters.”
“So I am to serve as a sword of Lyth, then? As I said before, as long as I am allowed to put an end to the Coruscalli, I will be anything you want.”
Jan studied the Black Talon for a second more before taking hold of the restraints binding her hands together. “Don’t make me regret this,” she said, reaching into her pocket and producing a key.
“Have I disappointed you thus far?” The Black Talon watched Jan as she slid the key into the slot. Jan could feel those strange eyes upon her, the light emanating from within them burning into her mind.
As the key was turned the restraints opened and fell away. Jan took a step back, still refusing to meet the Black Talon’s gaze. It was unnerving to look into those eyes for too long. It felt to Jan that the Black Talon was searching for something, some weakness. She wasn’t about to let her insecurities surface so freely in front of this woman who might wish to exploit them.
Jan picked up the two swords and held them out to the Black Talon. “You’ve been a tremendous help so far,” she said. “I hope your behavior continues to be exemplary.”
The Black Talon took the swords, holding them almost reverently before returning them to the belt around her waist. “By returning my swords, you have done me a great service. I will do my best to repay your kindness.” Awkwardly, she clenched her right fist over her heart in the fashion of a Lythrillian salute.
Jan returned the gesture. There was sincerity in the Black Talon’s words. For whatever reason, she seemed determined to stop the Coruscalli. Jan hoped their allegiance against a common enemy would be enough for the Black Talon to stay true to her word.
Chapter Two
THE BLACK TALON knew she was playing a dangerous game with the Grand Arbiter. She knew far more of the Prophecy of Fire than she was letting on, and she suspected Grand Arbiter Sterling knew it. Just because the woman spared her life and even allowed her some freedoms did not mean the Black Talon was ready to place her complete trust in her. The Arbiters were Mainlanders. They would never understand the true threat the Coruscalli posed, but there was too much at risk for the Black Talon to be choosy about her allies. She wondered how long the alliance would last. Neither side understood the other’s motives and each doubtlessly had its own ambitions. There was little common ground for them, save for the fact that each had its reasons for hunting the Coruscalli, a goal that the Black Talon would go to any ends to obtain, even if it meant cooperating with Mainlanders.
January Sterling was a most curious woman, not at all what the Black Talon had expected. The way she led the Arbiters was
questionable, but her subordinates respected her, even though it was painfully obvious they were against the excursion to the Labyrinthine Archipelago. It was also evident to the Black Talon that her presence was unwanted on the voyage. Every pair of eyes was on her as they sailed the Harrowing Sea. Everyone was waiting for her to attempt something devious and conniving. The Black Talon would be pleased when her behavior disappointed each and every individual who held the belief that all Astraeyu Nouvins were as ruthless as the pirates of legend.
“It’s beautiful in its way, isn’t it?”
The voice next to the Black Talon startled her. She whirled around to see the Grand Arbiter standing beside her, gazing out at the seemingly infinite gray waters of the Harrowing Sea.
The Black Talon returned her attention to the horizon and gave a grunt of approval.
“You never mentioned a name,” Arbiter Sterling continued, clearly undaunted by the Black Talon’s lack of interest in conversation.
“An Astraeyu’s Talon has no name. We forsake name and family in order to devote our entire lives to serving Astraeyu’s Will. That I refer to myself as the Black Talon is rather audacious, but not entirely uncommon. Many Astraeyu’s Talons become known by such monikers, names meant to reflect their lives and service to Astraeyu. I was named for my black swords, blades forged of the volcanic metal found only in my homeland. And also, for this.” She indicated the black bandana tied around her head.
“Should I call you Talon, then?” Arbiter Sterling asked, taking the Black Talon by surprise.
“I have no name,” the Black Talon repeated firmly. “Furthermore, Talon isn’t a name. It’s a title.”
“It suits you.” Arbiter Sterling leaned against the side of the ship and regarded her thoughtfully. “Either Talon, or Bright Eyes.”
“Talon it is, then.” There was no sense in arguing with the woman. The Black Talon knew that giving up one’s name and family must be a difficult concept for a Mainlander to grasp. She decided it best to let Arbiter Sterling give her a name. It occurred to her that this was the first time in many years that anyone had a reason to address her. The Astraeyu’s Talons worked alone, and since their whole lives were dedicated to their work, there was little reason for them to socialize.
Jan smiled at her apparent victory. “Welcome aboard, Talon.
From now on, you may call me Jan. All my friends do.”
“Thank you, Jan.” Talon wouldn’t call Jan a friend, not in their current situation. She wondered what Jan was scheming by being so friendly. Maybe it’s not a scheme. Maybe Jan truly wants to be friends. As ridiculous as the thought was, Talon was open to believe anything regarding Jan Sterling. She was unlike anyone she met before.
There was silence for a moment. Then Talon asked, “What of you? You mentioned once that you were from the south.”
“Rider’s Vale.”
“So you are one of the fabled Horselords of the Plains?” Talon asked. Even as far north as Astraeyu Nouvi the horses of Rider’s Vale were legendary, as were the horsemanship skills of the people of the land.
Jan let out a sharp bark of laughter. “I’m not sure I would call myself a Horselord,” she said. “Most of the time it’s all I can do just to stay in the saddle.”
Talon cast a sidelong glance at Jan. True, she didn’t appear the most athletic and adventurous type. She seemed rather bookish. Hadn’t she told Talon that she served as an archivist until recently?
“We should reach the archipelago soon,” Talon announced, returning her attention to the cold, gray waters before them. “Rivers of lava from volcanic eruptions have flowed into the ocean, cooling and forming a barrier reef. Inform your helmsman to be wary of the shallow water between the islands. Many ships have met their end in these waters.”
After the words were past her lips, Talon realized it sounded like she was giving Jan orders. She held her breath and waited for her to respond.
The cheer faded from Jan’s eyes and she became serious. “Thank you. I’ll make sure the crew is prepared,” she said. Then, off she went, to pass on Talon’s warning about the treacherous waters.
Obviously Jan Sterling was a woman more accustomed to taking orders than giving them, Talon thought. She watched until Jan was out of sight and then withdrew into her thoughts once again.
Several dark shapes were just beginning to become visible on the horizon. The Labyrinthine Archipelago, named for the mazelike cluster of islands that comprised it, extended for hundreds of miles off the southern coast of Astraeyu Nouvi. The many islands were mostly uncharted, the only people having set foot on them being the pirates. And the Coruscalli, Talon reminded herself. In truth, she hoped she would find the leader of the cult on one of the islands in the archipelago. Sever the head of the serpent and the body would di
e. The Coruscalli had already caused too much grief for Astraeyu Nouvi. Now it had set its sights on the Four Kingdoms of Lythril, and, more specifically, the Arbiters.
It should have been rather obvious to Jan Sterling that the attack on the Summit of Four Winds was actually a strike against the Arbiters. Fifty-six of their senior officers were killed in the disaster. Talon overheard the Sonastra guard talking as she was being held in the prison.
Talon groaned inwardly at the memory. Never before had an Astraeyu’s Talon been subjected to such an indignity. An Astraeyu’s Talon did not get captured. That was just the way it was supposed to be, yet Talon allowed her injuries to slow her down. The offer to work with the Arbiters was little better. In spite of having her swords returned, Talon was little more than a glorified prisoner. If her superiors in Astraeyu’s Heart, the central commanding branch of Astraeyu’s Will, ever learned of her disgraceful actions, Talon could be banished from the order and forced to earn her living as a pirate or mercenary.
Perhaps Jan was more aware of the true nature of the attack than she was letting on. No one could be as naïve and innocent as she pretended to be. That she was all too eager to trust Talon was a cause for suspicion in itself. Jan witnessed for herself Talon’s abilities as a swordswoman, and yet she returned Talon’s twin blades to her. Talon doubted Jan had the confidence in herself or her Arbiters to be able to stop her if she truly wished to escape. Normally, the isolation of the Labyrinthine Archipelago would be enough to derail anyone’s escape plans, but Talon knew people. Even in this untamed part of the world, the Astraeyu’s Talons had contacts, undercover agents willing to assist the Will of Astraeyu.
Talon would give the Arbiters the slip, of course. Eventually. For now she was more concerned in locating the Coruscalli’s secret base and eliminating the threat at the source. If the Arbitrary Order of Lyth happened to be there when the final blow was made, it would only help to further Talon’s cause.
Lythril encompassed the entire world, including Astraeyu Nouvi. It was time everyone remembered that fact.
MOST OF THE Labryinthine Archipelago was made up of hundreds of small islands covered in frozen tundra, the jagged peaks of rocky mountains jutting toward the sky. Some of those mountains were active volcanoes. Even as Talon and the Arbiters watched, one such mountain was billowing great plumes of black smoke that blotted out the sun. Astraeyu Nouvi was known as the Land of Fire and Ice. The origin of this popular reference was obvious as the ship sailed around the island with the erupting volcano, giving a wide berth to the lava that flowed into the sea. Steam rose along the shoreline, greatly restricting visibility. As they passed the island, something white drifting on the air caught Talon’s attention.
“Snow?” Jan asked, watching as Talon caught one of the floating objects in her hand.
Talon examined the small object in her palm and shook her head. “Ash,” she replied, holding it so Jan could see. She wiped her hand on her trousers, and said, “Ash covers vast stretches of the land like snow in some regions of Astraeyu Nouvi.”
Apparently satisfied that sufficient distance was between the ship and the volcano, Jan withdrew into silence once again. Talon regarded her out of the corner of her eye. Jan Sterling was certainly more willing to trust Talon than Talon trusted her. At a mere suggestion that the Coruscalli was hidden away in the Labyrinthine Archipelago, Jan was ready to set sail for the north. Either she was very trusting or extremely determined.
Jan Sterling exuded an air of uncertainty. The more Talon was around her, the more aware of the sensation she became. The ability to sense deeply rooted emotions was one of the benefits of being touched by Astraeyu’s Fire, the phenomenon that marked Talon’s eyes with an inner flame. It was believed a blessing among Astraeyu Nouvins, a gift so rare that children marked by Astraeyu’s Fire were promised to the Talons at an early age. Talon was the youngest of five children, the last born. Her family’s legacy was already secured by her older brothers and sisters. It seemed to Talon that she was merely a burden to them all. When her eyes began to glow a fiery gold, her parents were all too thrilled to give their youngest daughter to Astraeyu’s Will. Talon, in turn, was delighted at renouncing her name and pledging her life to Astraeyu. At least in the Astraeyu’s Talons, her life held some value.
All that happened twenty years ago. Talon was but a child then. Rarely did she think on the days before she was given to the Astraeyu’s Talons. She wondered what would cause the memories to surface now. As she cast a glance toward Jan, she decided that the Mainlander woman was the cause of her nostalgia. It had been too many years since anyone last asked Talon of her name, so long, in fact, that she had come to think of herself simply as the Black Talon.
“How will we ever find the Coruscalli’s base amidst all these islands?”
The sound of Jan’s voice drew Talon out of her reverie.
“There is an island at the heart of the archipelago,” Talon replied. “The climate is somewhat milder than many of the islands, although it still remains mostly untamed and unexplored. A dormant volcano lies at its heart. The island has served as a hiding place for pirate treasure in the past, but it’s currently unoccupied.”
Jan nodded. “Sounds like a reasonable place to begin our search.”
The remainder of their journey was silent, almost eerily so. The only sounds to be heard were the lapping of the waves against the ship and the call of the sea birds flying overhead.
TRUE TO TALON’S word, there was an island with a dormant volcano at the center of the archipelago. Talon suspected that the Arbiters were beginning to grow suspicious of her claims until she pointed out the patch of land in the distance. She couldn’t begrudge them their wariness. They were a long way from the Mainland, and Astraeyu Nouvi wasn’t known for its friendliness to outsiders.
They made landfall and the rest of the journey was on foot. The volcano stood at the center of the island, its impressive height visible over the line of tall coniferous trees.
“There should be a path,” Talon said. “We will likely have to search for it. The Coruscalli wouldn’t want to leave a trail to their front door.”
After casting about for nearly an hour, one of the Arbiters spotted a trail through the woods. At a glance it appeared as no more than a path worn by the large, shaggy sheep, but upon closer inspection Talon found the imprint of a boot in the mud beneath the pine needles.
“Humans have passed through here,” Jan said. “And quite recently, judging from these tracks.” She glanced up from where she was kneeling next to the uncovered footprint. “The Coruscalli?”
“No one else would have any business on this island,” Talon answered.
The path led Talon and the Arbiters through the dense forest of conifers, along a rocky ridge overlooking a deep valley with a lake at its center, and eventually brought them to the base of the majestic mountain at the heart of the island. Ivy crawled up the black rock of the dormant volcano, the vines stirring in the slight breeze as though they were alive.
Talon wondered how the Coruscalli entered their secret lair. There was sure to be an opening at the top of the volcano, but she doubted it was the only way to gain entry. Up close, the mountain was even taller. It climbed ever higher into the sky, until it disappeared in the clouds.
The Arbiters were busy searching for more signs that the Coruscalli were there. As Talon pretended to search the rock for an entrance, she drifted farther and farther from Jan. It would be so easy to slip through her fingers. Numerous times Talon contemplated escaping while the Arbiters’ attentions were elsewhere, but each time a weight as firm and solid as an iron chain seemed to be holding her back. The Arbiters should be able to leave the island without her once their business was concluded. It would be tricky to navigate the swift, icy currents between islands, but Talon had shown them a safer route. They should be able to traverse the dangerous waters, provided they were not intercepted by pirates.
The Arbiters’ safety wasn’t as
much a concern to her as her own interests. The Coruscalli were devious. Talon once thought she could bring down the Coruscalli singlehandedly, but the truth was she doubted her abilities. An Astraeyu’s Talon should never have allowed herself to be captured in the first place, never mind letting a foreign authority place a short leash around her neck.
Since the Arbiters had made it this far, Talon thought to make use of them. Although an Astraeyu’s Talon usually preferred to work alone, having the Arbitrary Order of Lyth on her side could be an advantage. Such an alliance could even be beneficial to both their peoples. Astraeyu Nouvi was a land shrouded in mystery and mysticism, isolated from the rest of Lythril for centuries by its location and its mistrust of the foreigners that once exiled them from the Mainland. If the Arbiters could see that she, an Astraeyu’s Talon, was not a horrible assassin that employed powers of the arcane, perhaps it could be a first step in changing her people’s dark reputation among the southern nations.
“Arbiter Sterling,” Talon called, “I have a confession to make.”
Suspicion shone in her dark eyes as Jan joined her.
“We are not so different, you and I,” Talon continued once they were out of earshot of the other Arbiters.
“Yes, we both would like to see the Coruscalli fall,” Jan said, still eyeing Talon questioningly. “That’s why we’re here.”
“True, but that is not the similarity to which I am referring.” Talon faced Jan. “The Astraeyu’s Talons are not assassins. I believe I’ve told you this before. What we are is the sword of justice, an instrument to pass judgment according to Astraeyu’s decree.”
“Who do the Talons judge?”
“Any who oppose Astraeyu’s Will. It is our sworn duty to uphold the order and preserve the peace in Astraeyu Nouvi.”
“Like the Arbiters,” Jan finished for her. “I see now what you meant when you said we are alike. But why tell me this now?”
Tears of the Sun Page 5
