Stony faces answered him.
His reason wasn’t thawing the group.
“If we kill the Guild and destabilize Madainn, the Inquisition will seize hold. They’ll manufacture their demons and if you thought getting your lands back from the gosselin was hard, you’d better learn the word impossible.”
“This is a bunch of shite,” muttered Kenna, stalking out.
“Hear me out,” he said to Isibeal, the only person present without arms folded across her chest. “I’ll get what I want from the Guild and hamstring them. Your forces move in once they’re destabilized. What you do with them afterward is your matter. But we leave no gap for the Inquisition to wedge in.”
Isibeal looked to Fara, who nodded. “It’s not what we wanted, but I see the wisdom in it. Do you know what’s needed to knock the guild down?”
“No idea. I’m just after some reagents.”
Fara looked surprised at this. “I’ve never known the gosselin to be arcane dealers. But they possess three soul stones and a spirit case; Beguiler stones. That’s the source of their century of unassailable power.”
Three magic stones and a box. Bannock experienced a sudden collision with Fate’s sense of humor. What was it Agetha had demanded?
“The case went missing about a month ago; that’s what’s caused their little tiff,” said Aegalund. “Except, only we know it’s the vessel. They’re all playing bluffs, each pretending he still has his part of the thing.”
“How is it you know what they’ve lost when they can’t guess?”
“The vessel was ours,” said Fara, clipped. “And the stones. We have ways of knowing what those idiots can’t figure out.”
“Their spat is just as dangerous as no leadership at all; the Inquisition can exploit this. And they will.” Bannock decided he’d worry about settling up with Agetha and the duwende after. A good blow to the Inquisition would benefit him in the long run. “I’ll get the stones. And I’ll get your foot in the door to retake Madainn.”
Fara nodded. “I’ll dispose of this,” she said, raking the Crusader sword into an ore cart. “Take care of the gosselin, and I’ll consider its being brought here a distant transgression.”
-Nineteen-
Kenna had her back to him when he emerged from the barrow. Sterling and silver clouds had gathered like an opposing army out over the shore and advanced on swells of cold wind. Kenna’s hood had blown back and her whipped in a furious white halo.
Bannock had the momentary thought that Kenna had brought on the storm. A silly, stupid thought. “As soon as Aegalund finds the boy we can be on our way.”
“Head back whenever you like. I’m not going.”
“I know you’re angry but –”
Kenna turned on him. “I am angry. I’m disgusted. Do you know what coursing is?”
“Sure. I used to –”
“It’s a sport the Guild used to play when Madainn was still a fat and happy place. But instead of hares they’d release a few starved and beaten duwende. Either the gosselin’s tamed wolves ate the dwarves or ran them off the cliff. But yes! Let’s negotiate with them. Let’s destabilize them!”
“I know you want them dead, but –”
“Every one of them!” Her words carried on the gale. She panted a moment and the flash in her eyes banked. “Every last one.”
“I know. And I know why. And you should know why I can’t.” Bannock raised the crimson silk sleeve tucked beneath his gauntlet. “When my Burdens reach the well of souls, Räsvelg –”
Kenna pushed his arm away. “I know what happens: You lose your soul! My question isn’t what happens, it’s why you took a job where you’d potentially have to slay more than one person when you can’t afford to kill any!” She stepped back. “Is that it? Is that why you pushed a political solution on Fara?”
“No! No.” Bannock exhaled, boiling off some of his frustration. He couldn’t explain it all, and he didn’t mean to. Not to anyone. “I have to make that ship.”
“Oh, the ship. Of course.”
“I had struggles before that witch tangled me up in yours.”
“I really thought… when you gave Isibeal the gold…” Kenna shook her head. “That was my fault. My fault, not yours.” She turned away again, shoulders set. “Go. Make your tide.”
He would. He’d trounce the Guild, get those damned stones, and make Hastings by week’s end. No fiendslayer, no squire, no anyone else.
Bannock turned to go and stopped. Something in his chest throbbed; it felt almost like guilt, but he knew better. Didn’t he? “Kenna–”
Lightning cracked along the shore. Its sudden ferocity turned him around.
“Kenna –”
“I have to go with you,” she said into the first stinging points of rain.
“No offense, but I don’t really like you, and the feeling seems intensely mutual.”
“It is, but I don’t have a choice…” She turned and held out her arm for him. The white linen of her sleeve was unmarred, but when she raised it, golden flesh beneath was burned with a series of three runes. A tendril of smoke wicked up from the one on her wrist.
Bannock stared at the markings, lost. “What the hell is that?”
Kenna snapped down her sleeve. “I don’t have a choice, and neither do you.”
AUTHOR NOTE
Thanks for Reading! Hope to see you for the next installment of Beguiler.
Steel Sirens II
Cocidius II
Half-Drowned & Hanged
Coming 2019
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