by Jaye McKenna
“I am Soren. She will remember me. And if she values her life, she will keep her operatives out of this land.”
“Soren the Betrayer.” Bajhan’s lips twisted in an expression of disgust. “You think she cares what you have to say?”
“I know she does,” Soren said with an air of supreme confidence. He turned to Vadri. “Have him escorted down to Greenhill.”
Dani didn’t wait for permission; he hurried toward the overhang. He could hear Rio’s labored breathing before he saw him. Rio lay where Dani had left him, and didn’t wake when Dani shook him gently.
“Let me, Danakho,” Soren said, kneeling beside him.
Dani moved aside to give Soren room. “I thought you wanted him dead. But you told Bajhan he was under your protection. Did… did you mean that?”
“That will depend on him,” Soren said quietly. “If you are correct about his intentions, then he has nothing to fear from me. If he’s been playing you for a fool, he will die a traitor’s death. Now get out and let me work. This man is close to death.”
Chapter Twelve
Rio returned to the world of the living by slow degrees. The first thing that registered was the lack of pain. He ought to hurt, but he didn’t. Next, he realized he was lying in a comfortable bed, which was odd, because his last clear memory was of struggling up a steep mountain path with Dani half supporting him.
The last things to creep into his awareness were the warm hand squeezing his own, and the sense of something tugging at his ankle. Rio opened his eyes to dim lamplight, and Dani sitting in an armchair beside the bed, looking pale and exhausted.
Dani smiled and squeezed his hand. “How do you feel?”
“Better?” Rio stretched experimentally, expecting pain in his belly and his back. Nothing hurt, though the tugging on his ankle continued. He frowned and jerked his foot, only to discover it was restrained. “Dani, what—?”
“Soren healed you,” Dani said. “You nearly died.” The pressure on his hand increased, and Rio squeezed back.
“But why am I chained?”
“I’m sorry about that.” Dani stared down at the floor. “My cousin, Antarion — he’s the heir to the domain — and Soren, my uncle’s mythe-weaver, were out looking for us. Well, for me, anyway. Bajhan found you before I could bring them to you. Soren sensed Bajhan’s tattoo in the mythe, and he guessed you and Bajhan were both Khalshir. Bajhan confirmed it when they confronted him. I tried to explain you’d renounced the Guild, but… Soren’s had some experience with the Khalshir. What, exactly, he wouldn’t say, but I gather it wasn’t good. He says you can’t be trusted until you’re questioned.”
Rio’s gut clenched in dread. “What’s the point? If they already know I was Khalshir…”
“Soren can read mythe-shadows well enough to judge the truth of your words. Antarion wants him to question you before we leave here.”
“And where is here?”
“The Whitefell Inn. When you collapsed, I knew I had to get help. I came down here looking for the healer, and found Antarion was already here. Apparently, Pen was keeping my mother apprised of my situation. Once he told her I’d disappeared, she feared I might have run into trouble trying to cross the mountains, so she spoke to my uncle, and he sent out a search party. Soren was able to sense me in the mythe.”
Rio blinked, trying to process it all. “How long have we been here?”
“I left you the night before last. I reached the village the following morning, and by evening, we were back here with you. I’d taken anzaria and the stimulant, so I collapsed on the way down. Vadri had to carry me into the village. They put me to bed, and I slept all of last night and most of today.” He gave Rio a rueful smile. “I only woke up a few hours ago, but it’s nearly bedtime again.”
The door opened just as Dani finished speaking, and in walked two men. The first was tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair and eyes, and the other gave Rio the shivers. With the bone-white hair and violet eyes that marked only the most powerful mythe-weavers, he could be brother to the Guild Master.
“Good evening, Rio,” the dark-haired man said. “I am Antarion Altir, heir to the Domain of Altan, and this is Soren, my father’s chief mythe-weaver. I understand I have you to thank for escorting Danakho here safely.”
“Ai, m’lord,” Rio mumbled, not sure where to look. He sat up slowly, and Dani hastened to adjust the pillow at his back so he’d be comfortable.
“You were gravely injured,” Antarion continued, “and Soren here tells me if we’d taken much longer to reach you, you’d not have survived.”
Rio lifted his eyes to meet Soren’s. “Dani said you healed me. You have my gratitude.”
Soren inclined his head in acknowledgment, but his eyes were cold.
“I’ve told him Soren wants to question him,” Dani said.
“Tomorrow will be soon enough,” Antarion said. “The man has only just woken up. Give him a little time to collect his wits.”
“No, I think we should do it now.” Dani glanced at Rio. “It’s not fair to leave him chained to the bed wondering about his future. Neither of us will be able to rest properly if we’re uncertain about his fate.”
Antarion met Rio’s eyes and said, “I’m afraid I must apologize for my cousin. He’s been extremely worried about you. He’s been here at your side ever since he woke up.”
“Dani’s right, though,” Rio said, giving Dani a quick smile. “I’d rather get it out of the way than lie here wondering. Ask me your questions, my lord. I have nothing to hide.”
“Would you prefer it if Danakho were not present?”
“No, he can stay. I’ve nothing to hide from him.”
Antarion nodded and turned to the mythe-weaver. “Soren?”
“Whenever you’re ready, my lord.”
“Very well.” Antarion pulled up a chair and sat down. “You can begin by telling me about your association with Danakho.”
So Rio told his story, starting with botching the Akhat job and realizing he wasn’t cut out for the Guild, and ending with the last thing he could remember: staggering up the mountain trail, determined to deliver Dani to his family, even if it killed him.
Antarion didn’t interrupt, and Soren stood quietly nearby, eyes distant as he read the truth of Rio’s words in the mythe. Dani remained sitting at Rio’s side, still holding tightly to his hand.
When Rio finished, Antarion said quietly, “That is quite a tale. Tell me, what are your intentions toward my cousin now that you’ve seen him to safety?”
Rio turned to look at Dani, chest constricting painfully as he met his lover’s gentle golden-brown eyes. “I care deeply for him, m’lord. Deeply enough that given the choice, I would stay with him. But only if my presence won’t be a danger to him.”
“I see.” Antarion’s expression was grave. “And Soren, what have you learned?”
Soren turned wide, violet eyes upon the heir. “He speaks the truth, my lord.”
“Then we owe this man a debt of gratitude,” Antarion said.
“Does that mean he’s under your protection, too, Soren?” Dani asked.
“Ai, it most certainly does,” Soren said. “Rio is not the first Khalshir we have sheltered in Altan.”
“I’m not?” Rio frowned at the mythe-weaver. “But I thought… I mean, my Guild-brothers spoke in whispers about those who ventured here disappearing. Were they all renegades taken in by Altan?”
Soren shook his head. “No. There is only one other like you. The rest are dead.”
Rio stared down at the quilt covering him. “What of Bajhan?” he whispered. “If he followed me here…”
“Bajhan is on his way back to your Guild Master with a message from Soren,” Antarion said grimly. “He will not be coming back here, though he did give me a message for you. He said to tell you Iyana will be watching, and if you cross back into the Middle Kingdoms, your life is his.”
“And Soren told him in no uncertain terms that you and I are both u
nder his protection,” Dani said. “And that if your Guild Master sends anyone after us, he’ll deal with her.” He smiled and squeezed Rio’s hand. “We’ll be safe here, Rio. Both of us!”
“Ai, you will,” Antarion said with a nod. “I hope you will be accompanying us back to Tirion, Rio. My father will wish to thank you personally. You have done us a great service, escorting Danakho safely home.”
Rio stared up at him, the burden of responsibility finally lifting. Dani was safe, and so was he. It was far more than he’d dared hope he might achieve. “I’d be honored, my lord.”
“Very good.” Antarion got to his feet. “I’ll just send Vadri in to unlock those shackles, then. And I’ll have some dinner sent in for you both. You must be starving.”
Antarion took his leave, but Soren paused by the door. “Try to get at least some sleep tonight, Master Danakho. And report to me in the morning after breakfast. You have shielding patterns to learn before we approach the city.”
“I will, Soren,” Dani said, eyes sparkling. “But first, I have a renegade Khalshir to thank.” He leaned in and had just enough time to steal a single kiss before Vadri strode in with the keys to unlock Rio’s shackles.
* * *
Dani fed Rio with his own hands that evening, despite Rio’s protests that he was perfectly capable of feeding himself.
“Let me,” Dani said, after Rio’s third attempt to wrestle the spoon from him. “You’ve been taking care of me for so long, I’d like the chance to take care of you.”
“You took care of me in the pass,” Rio managed to say before Dani pushed another spoonful of rich chicken soup into his mouth.
“I was a miserable failure in the pass,” Dani corrected. “I couldn’t even light a fire to brew tea for you.”
“You went for help. If you hadn’t done that, we’d both be dead. Bajhan would have killed you, and I’d be on my way to Akhat to face the Guild Master.” A tremor went through him, and Dani set down the spoon and put a hand on his arm.
“We’re safe now,” Dani soothed. “Truly safe. As long as we stay on this side of the mountains, the Guild won’t touch us.”
Rio settled back and let Dani feed him a bit more of the soup before pushing the spoon away, dark eyes troubled. “Enough.”
Dani set the bowl and spoon on the tray Antarion had sent in. “Do you want some more bread? It’s still warm.”
“No.” Rio lifted a hand to push his dark, tangled hair back behind him. “What am I going to do in Tirion, Dani? What are you going to do?”
“I hadn’t really thought much beyond escaping Father,” Dani said with a frown. “Something to do with music, perhaps. And… and I’d like to keep learning Djhara, if… if you’re willing to keep teaching me. It’s a beautiful language, and even if we can’t travel farther than the Dragon’s Spine, I’d like to be able to speak it.”
“I’d be happy to continue teaching you, but… I’m not sure that’s going to be enough.”
“What, you can’t see yourself being a kept man?” Dani teased.
“No, I can’t.” Rio didn’t even crack a smile. “I can’t imagine just lounging about all day, but the kind of job I’m trained for doesn’t even exist here.”
“You might be surprised,” Dani said drily, thinking of Altan’s strained relations with the neighboring domain of Rhiva and the spies his uncle had spoken of planting in Rhiva’s court. He patted Rio’s arm before rising to pile the rest of the dishes back on the tray. “I’m sure Uncle Ty can find something for you to do. It’s not as if you’re unskilled. You’re amazing with a weapon, I’ve heard you speak at least three different languages, and you’re an excellent teacher. If you want to work, he’ll find something to suit you. Now, stop worrying about the future or you won’t be able to sleep. Soren says you’re still recovering, and you’ll feel much better after a night’s sleep. I’m just going to run this tray back to the kitchen.”
“Are you coming back?” Rio looked so hopeful, Dani had to smile.
“Would you like me to?”
Rio patted the empty spot beside him. “There’s plenty of room here. I’d like to wake up next to you in the morning.”
Dani bent to give him a kiss, and knew from the tenderness of that kiss and the exhaustion in Rio’s eyes that there would be no passion tonight, only sleep. Which was probably a good thing, considering the fatigue dragging at his own mind.
“I’d like to wake up next to you, too,” Dani said as he picked up the tray. “It’ll be nice to spend a night in your arms without worrying about who might discover us. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Dani left the tray with a serving girl he found in the common room, and was just turning back to join Rio when Antarion spotted him and called him over. The heir was sitting by the fireplace with Vadri and Soren, but as Dani approached, he rose and said, “Would you come to my room for a drink, Cousin?”
“Ai, but it’ll have to be quick. I told Rio I’d be back shortly.”
Antarion led the way to a room that was somewhat larger than Rio’s. Large enough to hold a rough-hewn table of oak and two worn armchairs by the fireplace. They settled themselves in the armchairs, and Antarion poured Dani a small glass of amber liquid from a decanter.
Antarion raised his glass in a toast. “To a brighter future, ai, Cousin?”
“Ai. A brighter future, indeed.” Dani raised his glass, then took a careful sip. The stuff burned going down, and Dani was glad he’d eaten a decent meal, or it would have gone straight to his head. “And to Haiden,” he added quietly, and sipped again.
Antarion’s expression grew sober. “And to Haiden.” After a few minutes of reflective silence, Antarion said, “That’s why I asked you to come. What with all the excitement, I’ve not had a chance to express my condolences, and I didn’t want to do it in front of everyone else. I’m so sorry, Dani.”
Dani swallowed down the lump in his throat. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I… I don’t know how much you will have heard about what was going on. Father’s business dealings and such.”
“Your mother had her suspicions,” Antarion said quietly. “She knew he’d dragged Haiden into the dark side of his business, and she feared what would happen when he tried to do the same to you.”
Dani’s heart constricted. He’d have to set the record straight, make sure Mother understood just how much Haiden had sacrificed to keep Dani safe. “Haiden wasn’t a willing accomplice. Father threatened me to keep him in line. And Haiden never told me.”
“Aunt Sileyna suspected as much, though she could never get Haiden to admit it.”
“She did?”
“She’s very perceptive, is your mother,” Antarion said. “And very determined. She’d been trying to get you and Haiden away from your father for years. My father was discussing it with King Gerant of Tallin, and they might have reached an agreement if Gerant hadn’t died. Once Nezaine took the throne, though…” Antarion trailed off, then met Dani’s eyes. “Is there anything I can do to ease your loss? Anything at all?”
Dani closed his eyes briefly. “No. There’s… there’s an empty place inside me, where he used to be. It… Rio says it’ll get better with time, but…” He trailed off, recalling that Antarion, too, knew what it was to lose a brother. Two of them, in fact, one to death and the other to exile.
As if reading his thoughts, Antarion said softly, “Rio is right. It’s been over twelve years now, and though I can smile now when I think of him, I still miss Kavarion. He was eight years older than I, and he always seemed so much larger than life. He was my hero. Still is.” He gave Dani a rueful smile. “I’d never dare say as much to my father, but I miss Iskyrion, too. I know Father blames him for Kavarion’s death, and I know what he did was wrong, but he was never anything but kind to me. He always had time for me when Father and Kavarion didn’t.”
“I remember,” Dani said, smiling through his tears. “Iskyrion always had a story or a song ready. Do you remember that wonderful ballad he wrote
about the knight who set out to slay a dragon and ended up falling in love with it instead?”
Antarion laughed. “I do, indeed. It went on and on, each verse more ridiculous than the last.”
Dani sang the first verse, and Antarion, the second, and over the course of a few more drinks, they finally reached the end of the ballad, both of them laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes.
“Gods, thank you for that, Tari,” Dani said, wiping his eyes. “I haven’t laughed like that in months.”
“Nor I,” Antarion said, grinning. He studied Dani’s face for a few moments, then said, “You look tired, Cousin. I shouldn’t keep you from your bed any longer. Or your man.”
“I suspect my man will be fast asleep by the time I get back to him,” Dani said.
“That’s probably not a bad thing, if you’re working with Soren in the morning. He’s quite demanding when he’s teaching.”
“I shan’t mind that at all if it means I’m to learn the patterns I need to venture into the city. The last few months have been a nightmare.”
Antarion patted his arm. “The nightmare is over, now, Dani, and we’ll be home in a few days.”
“Home.” Dani smiled as he got to his feet a little unsteadily. “That’s a lovely thought. Tirion always did feel far more like home than my father’s estate. Sleep well, Antarion.”
“And you, Cousin.”
Tired and woozy from the strong drink, Dani wobbled his way down the hall, finding his way back to Rio after only a brief moment of confusion. He eased open the door, and as he’d guessed, found Rio fast asleep. For a long while, Dani stood beside the bed gazing down at the man who had risked so much for him. Rio looked far less fierce in sleep than he did awake. The sight of him curled on his side with his cheek pillowed on one hand made Dani long for the strength to protect him, to keep him safe the way Rio had kept Dani safe.
“I love you, Rio,” he murmured, drink and fatigue working together to loosen his tongue.
Rio stirred and opened heavy, dark eyes, a small, sleepy smile playing about his lips. “I love you, too, Danakho Jherek. Now, come to bed. You promised you’d sleep beside me.”
