“How?”
Lanokas leaned in. “Go spy on his meeting with Laskenay.”
Kora’s eyes opened wide. “That’s tempting. Really tempting. Can you imagine the look on his face if I spit his own words back at him tomorrow?”
“So go.”
“I respect Laskenay too much. So do you. I’d be invading her privacy as much as his.”
“This isn’t about Laskenay. My brother left me in charge, didn’t he? I order you to go to that apartment.”
Kora nodded. The two shared a conspiratorial grin. “I did take an oath to obey my superiors.”
445
CHAPTER SEVEN
Of the Future
Laskenay knelt on the floor. She thumbed through a pile of papers while Menikas organized a small stack on the table.
“Worthless,” she said. “All worthless. Two months of planning.”
The prince looked down at her. “Your distribution scheme?”
“Galisan had just found a washwoman to be our front. Fold the candles in people’s laundry.”
“You could try Podrar. God knows there’s a black market there.”
“The candles are gone, they were in the warehouse, along with all that grain. Even if I had them, who in Podrar could front this? Who isn’t wanted and has the wit? Menikas, we need funds.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
Laskenay, without getting up, threw her papers in the hearth and lit them with a spell. Menikas folded a sheaf of parchment and tucked it in his tunic. He said, “You do realize I’m not leaving Yangerton until Rone’s dead?”
“The Giver have mercy,” said Laskenay. She turned to a second pile. “You might warn Galisan’s men first of the infiltration, that’s more pressing. Leave Rone to Ranler.”
“He lost Kansten. And his apprentice. Yes, it might bring him some closure.”
“He’s not the only one who’ll need closure, Menikas. I’m worried about Kora. Watching everything that happened, it’s unsettled her.”
“It would unsettle anyone, and she’s not the strongest person.”
“She’s stronger than you think! Her magic, her fortitude….”
“You think far too highly of the girl.”
“She’s proven herself,” said Laskenay. Menikas scoffed, and the sorceress hardened her voice. “Don’t forget her brother was in that apartment.”
“She’s spoken with Zalski. She knew he wouldn’t harm a child.”
Laskenay rose from her knees. “You’re right. You’re right, what am I saying? I can’t imagine why she was distraught. A wad of fabric stuffed down my windpipe always served to calm me.”
Menikas let out a tired sigh. “Not you too.”
“I defended you as best I could before the others. Gagging her? A gag, Hune? What in God’s name were you thinking?”
“That if I didn’t stop her, she would make herself another casualty.”
“When have you seen her magic? What do you know of it? Tell me, how large is her repertoire? What spells can she cast? I think she’s a better judge than you of her own abilities.”
“You weren’t there. She would have careened into battle with no forethought whatsoever.”
“There was a chance she could have saved at least one person. And she knew what she risked—as you say, she’s made Zalski’s acquaintance. You overstepped your grounds. You did, and she’ll hate you for it. We have a schism on our hands.”
“A schism? That’s a bit of an exaggeration.”
“I’m not so sure. Kora won’t forget this, not the gag in her mouth, not Zalski ushering Zacry away or Malzin taunting Kansten. And your brother’s been protective of her. You saw his reaction. This doesn’t sit well with him. Truth be told, it doesn’t sit well with me, but I don’t plan to call you out in front of the League, to consider what happened a personal affront. Rexson has, and does. And people will take sides.”
“You’ve clearly chosen yours.”
“Don’t be obnoxious. I don’t doubt you meant well, and that’s sincere. But you have to placate her.”
“I will. I will, but I still hold she’s growing rash.”
Laskenay’s spine stiffened. “You judge too harshly, Hune. You expect too much, and it honestly has nothing to do with her, not a blasted thing. You resent that Rexson confides in her instead of you. It’s never you.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“We both know why they take watch together. They wish to speak. If you were more approachable, if you ever spoke to your brother about something other than the League, maybe he would take you in his confidence.”
“This isn’t about Rexson. It’s about your ridiculous empathy. Kora happens to be a sorceress, as are you. The girl is your protégée, fine. That shouldn’t blind you to her flaws. The fact is, she acts too rashly and she’s only getting worse. She’s angry with me, I understand that, but she should have consulted you before throwing that chain back over her neck. Before long she’ll be as reckless as Kansten.”
“Do not speak ill of that woman! Not today. Not after what Malzin…. You had your difficulties with Kansten, as did I, but her intentions were irreproachable. She was utterly devoted to our cause. If you think Kora shares her rebellious streak, you’re mistaken.”
“You don’t agree Kora should have spoken with you before forging another connection?”
“I wish she would have. I would have counseled her to wait. After all she’d seen already, to see Bendelof blinded…. But truly, she had no obligation to ask my opinion. I imagine she was desperate to know how Zacry’s fared. How is that wrong?”
Menikas threw more papers in the fireplace. The others had burned completely, so Laskenay lit the new batch with an incantation, while the prince returned to his seat and accused, “You’re always defending her. You always have an excuse. I’m telling you, she can’t separate herself from her emotions. It’s a liability for all of us, and it’s going to get her killed.”
“Even if that’s true, at this point, does it matter? What does it matter, Hune? We’re on our last leg. We were on our last leg before Rone betrayed headquarters and cost us three, three irreplaceable agents. We’ve discussed this before. I think it’s time.”
“Time for a stand?”
“To go after Zalski with all we have. We can plan it for that Tricentennial. We’ll have time enough, and as great a chance of success as we could hope for. Zalski’s no idea we know he intends Peare’s death—yes, I trust Bendelof. I trust her to hold her tongue, and through Kora we won’t lack information.”
“Should she discover his plan in detail, every detail, even then the place will be swarming with soldiers. It would take….”
“A miracle. More than a miracle, and the Giver doesn’t often…. What else do you propose, to carry on in Podrar? The net’s tighter there than ever. We wouldn’t last two weeks. If we go on the offensive, we just may have a chance. If we fail, at least we won’t leave people in doubt of our courage, or our loyalties. They’re beginning to be questioned.”
“I’m still not fond of the idea.”
“We’re as desperate as we can be while still having some resources. If we don’t dedicate ourselves to this now, in three months, four, who knows? We attempt to seize power or we let Zalski exterminate us, like rats. Vermin. Those are our options.”
“It hasn’t come to that.”
“I wish it hadn’t, Hune.”
“We could….”
“We’ve killed Alten. Alten Grombach. Do you think Zalski will ignore a dead general?”
“Fine. Fine, you’re right.”
“I’m not illusioned about how this will end.”
“I said you were right. Where do you propose we plan this?”
“Kora once mentioned her mother’s estate in Fontferry.”
Menikas nodded. “It makes sense to grow familiar with the town. How big is this house? How secure?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea, but we’ll make do. It should be safe
enough. Zalski’s never known us to go north of Podrar, not in three years.”
Menikas shut his eyes, rubbing his forehead as though it ached. “My God, has it only been three years? It can’t have been less than a decade.”
Laskenay walked over and pulled out the chair beside him. “It seems a matter of months to me, I suppose because that’s what I expected we’d survive: two or three months, six if we were lucky…. Is that the map? We should burn it.”
“Not yet,” said Menikas, unrolling the marked and marred plan of the city Kora had once seen across the street. “I’ll need it to find Galisan’s men.”
Laskenay patted his shoulder. “You finish up here. I’ll give Neslan a hand if he needs it.”
* * *
Kora forced herself to pretend she knew nothing of what the League’s two heads had discussed. The act proved fairly simple; Laskenay’s third-party view, her defense of Kora while acknowledging the girl had acted in haste, served to mollify Kora’s anger, to a point. Only to a point. Still, she felt a surge of affection for the elder sorceress, and for Laskenay’s sake, she decided not to dwell too much on how Menikas had wronged her.
Before nightfall, the whole group except Ranler and Menikas himself had taken shelter at Wheatfield’s barn. They cooked Hayden’s potatoes outdoors, with the aid of a cloaking spell on the flames and smoke. Then Laskenay asked for volunteers for the first watch. It was only nine o’clock.
“I’ll do it,” Kora said.
“You look more exhausted than anyone else.”
“That doesn’t mean I could sleep.”
“I’ll join you,” offered Lanokas.
Laskenay nodded, looking relieved. “Everyone else, let’s go in. I know it’s early, but try to rest. We’re all taking watch, and we’re rising with the sun. We’re on daylight schedule now. I might have adapted an old spell to conceal that fire, smoke and all, but I won’t risk as much as a candle after dark.”
Neslan and the teenagers followed her to the barn. Kora started her first round of the building, and Lanokas sprinted to catch up with her. “Well?” he said.
“Laskenay thinks your brother’s bitter.”
“Well, that’s news. Zalski’s a sorcerer. Menikas has a chip on his shoulder.”
“She said it’s because you confide in me, me and Neslan and not him. He resents it.”
“I couldn’t care less what he resents.”
“Forget I mentioned it.” They turned the corner and walked along the side of the barn. “Did you get to talk to Laskenay? About her husband?”
“Returning to Alten’s corpse somewhat spoiled the opportunity.”
“You should tell her tomorrow, Lanokas. She’ll need closure. She’ll need it before heading up our next mission.”
Lanokas stopped her before they turned to the barn’s back wall. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s that…. Well, it…. Can’t you guess? The League’s entire structure, all our dealings, they disintegrated today. Everything’s gone. Things are bad, they’re…. They’re talking about a final stand, your bro—”
“I know who they is.” Lanokas looked up at the half-moon. “At this point, a stand might be our only choice.”
Kora shivered at his response. “Bennie once said she expected we’d all be killed. She was so calm about it. She’d accepted that fate, that’s what it was. She’d accepted it somehow. I don’t know that I have.”
“So you’re frightened.”
“Out of my skull. Aren’t you?”
“I’ve had more time to come to terms with the thought of a violent death. I wouldn’t say I’m comfortable with the idea, but death itself isn’t what matters. It’s the moment just before, when they say your life flashes before your eyes. If I feel anything other than shame then, well, I’m hoping it puts the years I’ll lose in perspective.”
“I thought I would die this morning,” Kora said. She raised a hand to her throat. “I almost wish I had, that I was done with it.”
“You do realize that without you, a stand would be impossible? That with you here, I—all of us—will muster courage? You are the Marked One. That’s proven. I haven’t a clue what it means, but Petroc proved it. It could be that your death, with the rest of ours, inspires an uprising. It could be that somehow we overcome this fallback. But more than that, you put others before yourself, consistently. You don’t shrink from a daunting task. You earned Kansten’s respect, and that’s saying something.”
“It says nothing,” said Kora. “I might as well have blinded Bennie myself. Zalski got that spell from me, Lanokas. I swore I wouldn’t use it, because he could steal any incantation he heard me cast. I didn’t care about that for long, not after he killed Sedder. I wanted to hurt him. I wanted to make him pay. He blocked the spell, but he must have remembered it, because he used it. He used it on Bennie.”
“That isn’t your fault.”
“Like hell it isn’t! I just listened to Menikas rant about how I make rash decisions, how it’s going to hurt someone one of these days. Laskenay defended me, she always does, but he was right. I’ve already hurt Bendelof. Of all people, Bennie!”
“If you hadn’t exposed Zalski to that spell, he’d have harmed her some other way, possibly to a greater degree. For God’s sake, you’d just seen him drown a man you grew up with! Don’t give Menikas credence. He has no idea what you’ve been through.”
“What we’ve been through,” she qualified. “You were at my side through most of it.”
“That wasn’t intentional. Things unfolded that way, on their own, but if this is where you have to be…. It’s selfish of me, but I’m glad we found you. It feels like you’re the one good thing to come along these past three years, vacation that they’ve been.”
Kora bit her lip. “That’s kind to say. It really is.”
“Since you’re determined not to be rash anymore, I’ll front the blame for this.”
Before his words could settle in her consciousness, he kissed her. She kissed him back. Her brain, which had seemed to shut down, started working again at his touch with a painful spark, a pain she ignored for maybe five seconds. He put a hand on the back of her head, and she placed hers on his chest, pushing him away.
“I can’t. I’m sorry, I just can’t. This isn’t a good idea. In fact, it’s a horrible idea, because I…. Lanokas, I think I could really fall for you.”
Lanokas crossed his arms. “You’ll have to explain how that’s a problem.”
“Let’s gloss over the fact that Brianna got married this week. That I’m fresh off a near-death experience and feel more vulnerable than I’ve possibly ever felt in my life. You’re royal. In line for the throne.”
“I used to be, yes.”
“Suppose that by various acts of the Giver, our stand holds true. We make it out alive. Menikas assumes the throne with you behind him. You and I are in the middle of a whirlwind romance. Where am I?”
“Next to me.”
“No.” Kora’s voice shook. “No, I’ve changed my name and moved to some, some little town in the middle of nowhere where no one knows me, because I’ve been exposed as a sorceress.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m being realistic. What is Zalski? What has he done to this kingdom? After all of that, do you think it’s a good idea for you to be involved with someone like me?”
“I would abdicate.”
“You say that now. And I believe you mean it, I do, but I couldn’t let you do that. Listen, transitioning power from Zalski won’t be simple. People will be scared. Someone might even try another coup. Herezoth needs stability, more than anything else. Stability. That means a clear line of succession, a legitimate, incontestable line. That means you, like I said, at your brother’s side.
“Lanokas, I was in love with Sedder, that’s no secret. He was my source of calm. Losing him, it nearly destroyed me. You were there for the worst, so I know you realize that. Everyone here has supported me, and that’s wh
at’s pulling me through. It’s the only thing pulling me through. Well, I realized months ago I would have to disappear if the League reinstated the royal family. It struck me after that public spat with Zalski, when those people ran terrified at the sight of me. Going away’s just completing the oath I took. There’s nothing else I can do, not that I can fathom, and I’ve accepted what has to be, or I’m beginning to. The problem is, I think I could truly fall for you. I know I could. I know what it was like to have Sedder torn away from me, and I couldn’t stand losing you like that. Not to Zalski. Not to the throne.”
“That’s a real shame, Kora. A crying shame. Truth be told, I could fall for you as well.”
“Don’t say that.” Kora wrung her hands. “Please don’t say that. There is no way this relationship could end well. Tell me you understand….”
“Perhaps you’re right. Perhaps we’ve both lost too much already. If that’s the way you feel, it’s understandable. Frustrating as hell, but understandable. Are you saying you want to split up for the watch?”
“We shouldn’t. We’ve overpowered too many sentry units spread thin like that. We’re only two as it is.”
“You have a point.” Lanokas sighed. “All right. Let’s move on.” They rounded the corner and continued to the back of the barn. They circled the building twice in silence before Kora found the gumption to speak again.
“How can so much have gone to hell in twenty-four hours? Less than that? We spent years building operations in Yangerton, and everything’s gone now. Gone. In one day.”
“That’s the story of our lives.”
“One day! Galisan, Kansten, Bennie, Zacry…. Zac, Lanokas. I’m so scared for him. I don’t know which is worse, to think he might rebel and anger Zalski or, or end up being brainwashed.”
“Do you honestly think Zacry would turn his back on what you’re fighting for? On you? On what Sedder died for?” He paused. “I’m assuming he asked you about Sedder.”
“I told him the truth. That it was Zalski. I didn’t say how it happened.”
“And you think Zacry will just push that aside?”
“Zalski will lead him to, step by step. If you don’t think that man can manipulate people….”
The Crimson League (The Herezoth Trilogy) Page 39
