The Swithin Chronicles 3: The Comet Cometh

by Sharon Maria Bidwell

“All but the Kita and the woman.”

  “They’re safe?”

  Ryanac raised an eyebrow as if to say, You have to ask? “The woman is complacent enough and hidden. The Kita is in a secure place, bound and gagged. No one but a Swithin noble knows how to open hostage cuffs.”

  “I know, but Stargazer is a noble. So is Mairtin.”

  “That sounds like a contradiction even as you say it. You’re right, of course, but they don’t know he’s here.” His friend’s eyes narrowed. “We have Uly back, but nothing else has changed. You still cannot openly challenge your brother without proof. The Kita may give you that advantage.”

  “I intend to use him, but that is not why I wanted you to bring him to me.”

  “Why then? It would be safer to kill him.”

  “I know,” Markis said, “but he may yet prove useful. Besides, I made him a promise.” By the look on Ryanac’s face, he could tell that the man remembered which particular promise. The only thing he didn’t know was how he meant to keep it.

  “You’ve hardened.”

  Unfortunately, Ryanac didn’t mean sexually. “They took Uly from me. They nearly killed you. I have no mercy left.”

  One of those large hands touched his arm. “Don’t become your father.”

  “I won’t, but our enemies will learn there are consequences.”

  “You look more tired than you should. What have you been doing? I take it you intend to let me in on the plan?”

  Markis told him. Ryanac stared, his mouth agape. Under other circumstances, Markis might have chided him. As things stood, he understood Ryanac’s shock.

  “You cannot mean to do this.”

  “I can, and I will.” Markis sighed. “It’s been a long day.” Unfortunately, it looked as if it was going to be an even longer evening.

  * * * * *

  “I need to take Ryanac with me.”

  There was little difference in their height. Markis stood maybe half a head taller than Uly, yet always he dipped his head just a little bit to look at the younger man. Uly always tilted his head back. It brought their bodies into perfect alignment.

  “I’m afraid to let you both out of my sight,” Uly whispered.

  “No more than I you, but it is necessary. Meira is here, and Tressa and Antal will return to you shortly. Then you will all join me in the council chambers. There I want you simply to answer any questions put to you, truthfully.”

  Uly nodded, grabbing at Markis as he made to move away. “Be careful.”

  Running his fingertips down one side of Uly’s face, Markis told him, “Always.” Still Uly clung to him.

  “Whatever happens, don’t give him the book.” His grip tightened. “Not even for my life. Promise me.” They’d discussed the possible consequences should it fall into Mairtin’s hands.

  Markis swallowed. His heartbeat picked up. “Do you know what you’re asking?”

  “Yes. Now more than ever.”

  Uly’s nails were digging into his skin. Markis welcomed the small pain.

  “Believe me, I know now more than ever what one of us dying means. I know what it will do to you, but you’re a king. You have to do what’s right. If you don’t do what’s right, who will?” Those cool grey eyes beseeched. “We will always love each other. Nothing will change that. But we need to be able to look at each other. If your people suffer because of something you did or didn’t do, we would only see pain in each other’s eyes.”

  When did Uly get so wise? Markis needed to go. He gently pried Uly’s fingers loose. “I will not give him the book. That must not happen. But my people may yet suffer for it.”

  “Is it the right choice? The lesser evil?”

  “I believe so.”

  “Then that is good enough.” Those grey eyes flicked back and forth. “I trust you.”

  Markis was glad to hear it but just wished he could trust himself half so well.

  Chapter Twenty

  Finally! Uly stood up as he heard approaching voices. One of them was undoubtedly Tressa. Even so, Meira looked pointedly at him, and he moved quickly into the shadows. The door to the main area opened, and Tressa walked in. Both she and Antal looked pensive until Uly stepped out of concealment. Then their shoulders visibly relaxed.

  He and Tressa stared at each other. “It is almost time,” she told him. Although Markis had not divulged his entire plan, they had agreed on two things. Markis was going to confront his brother, although he had assured Uly he would not hand over the book. Then they were going to meet in the council chambers. Tressa had organised an unscheduled meeting. There, Markis was going to produce the Kita who had kidnapped Uly. Uly could identify him and the Kita could identify Mairtin, although Markis didn’t expect him to give in so easily. Stuck between two comets, one wrathful, one more powerful, Uly almost felt sorry for the Kita. Other aspects of the plan remained murky. They had to believe, had to have faith, in Markis. When it came to that, none of them even hesitated.

  Tressa turned her head slightly and inclined her head even less. The gesture was sedate and queenly. Meira returned the gesture, making Tressa raise an eyebrow. A smile teased her lips, and then Meira gave her a comical curtsy and backed off. “I will await your return,” she said. “One or more of you may have need of me.”

  “That is satisfactory,” Tressa replied, as though it was her decision. Uly frowned, sensing some strange kind of performance had just passed between them, almost as if they teased one another. Too tired to consider it now, Uly fell into step at her side, aware of Antal flanking him.

  “I hope it’s going well,” Uly murmured, trying to seek some semblance of peace. He was prepared, but even so, it amazed him he wasn’t visibly trembling right now. Meira’s potion was probably the only thing keeping him on his feet. Right now, Markis and Mairtin were talking somewhere in the palace, and no one knew what the outcome would be. Even with Antal at his side, Uly had never felt so exposed.

  When Harton appeared at the door leading into the suite, Uly was grateful for it. They still had unseen enemies. Men were loyal to Mairtin. Stargazer should be with the others called to council chambers, but they could not guarantee it, and they knew not how many men were in league with the old man. There were too many variables.

  Uly offered Harton a small smile in gratitude. He still hadn’t thanked him for the rescue. Harton returned the smile and reached out to clasp his hand. Uly took it, and as he did, Harton pulled him forward at the same time, lifting his leg so that he kneed Uly firmly in the stomach. Uly gasped in shock even as the blow stole his breath.

  * * * * *

  “We had an agreement.”

  “No. You dictated my options. I then went away to contemplate them and choose a path of my own.” Markis spoke calmly.

  “You have no choices. I’ve covered everything.”

  Markis shook his head. “The only hold you have on me is Uly.”

  “That and the threat of plunging our nation into war.”

  Again, Markis shook his head. “If it comes to that, so be it.” For the first time ever, he gave Mairtin a reason to blink. His brother gave a soft, incredulous laugh.

  “You wouldn’t do that.”

  “A wise man once taught me that he would rather fight hand to hand than see me suffer in misery.” It took all of Markis’s self-control not to look towards the area where Ryanac hid. He would have preferred it if they could have had Ryanac sneak up on Mairtin and have done with this, but the place Mairtin had agreed to meet to exchange the book didn’t allow for it. Besides, Markis wasn’t just out to thwart his brother’s plans and save Uly. He wanted to keep Ryanac safe as well. That meant he had to do most of this himself.

  “You selfish bastard.” Mairtin sounded somewhat shocked, somewhat delighted.

  “Maybe you’re right, and that does make me selfish, but what is the use of a nation who lives in fear of those who would terrorise us? An even wiser woman taught me that. She wants a king she can be proud of, and I plan to give it to her, to e
veryone.”

  “Who in the name of the comet are you talking about?”

  “He’s talking about my mother,” Ryanac said from the shadows. Markis experienced an almost childish pleasure in seeing Mairtin jump, although his brother quickly regained his equanimity. His smile this time seemed a little self-deprecating.

  “I underestimated you, and I seem to have asked the wrong questions.”

  Markis denied the frown that threatened to take over his expression. He had no idea what Mairtin meant by that comment, but the icy fingers of unease began to caress the back of his neck. “You no longer have a hold on me,” Markis said.

  “Uly’s life?” Mairtin made it a question.

  Markis shook his head.

  “Why? Because you think you rescued him?”

  Now those fingers stroked his spine. He wanted to tell Ryanac to go find Uly, but he couldn’t do that. Ryanac would not leave him, and Uly had Antal, although as Sonndre, the man was young. Harton was guarding the Kita. Perhaps he should have left Antal guarding the Kita and sent Harton to…

  The warning fingers stopped stroking. They gripped his spine, making him gasp in pain, and it was almost impossible to disguise the sudden terror that ensnared his heart. The expression on Mairtin’s face said his brother knew it, too.

  * * * * *

  Four men came in at Harton’s back. Even as Harton let Uly drop, he brought his sword around. Any other time, Antal might have had the advantage. Harton had expertise and size, but Antal possessed speed. Five against one outnumbered him, and in that, Antal lacked a few years yet. Tressa picked up her skirts and ran back, deeper into the royal suite. Uly couldn’t blame her, even though he resented it. The five men bore down on Antal while Uly struggled to regain his breath. He drew his sword even as he rose to his feet, but he held back. Any other day and he would not be as impaired as this, but he still needed rest. He would do Antal no good just yet. He might even get both of them killed. He needed to catch his breath.

  He managed to stand, and was about to move in to join the fight, when he saw Tressa coming back down the hallway. She didn’t run, just walked quickly, but the blade she carried was far too heavy. Still, she had no doubt been in a hurry and grabbed the nearest weapon. That wasn’t what made him hesitate, however, but the pure fury that blazed from her eyes. That and her hair flying out in her wake, her pale, slim legs naked, scissoring in a sharp movement. She had stripped off the dress and walked forward in her undergarments, arms and legs bare, small breasts quivering in the cloth shaped to cup them. Lace and muslin covered her most intimate parts, yet they also seemed to draw attention to them. The distraction was enough for Antal to slice one of their attackers open.

  Harton also saw her coming. He gave a quick nod, and all four survivors rushed in on Antal even as Uly cried out, “No!” The move was clearly premeditated. Antal could not avoid all four blows. Uly launched himself forward and deflected a killing strike. Tressa stabbed at another enough to make him turn aside, so Antal could dispatch another assailant. Alas, that still left three men alive. Harton lunged for Uly. Antal put himself between them, and Harton’s strike hit home. Uly’s wide-eyed gaze met that of his guard’s, perceiving a familiar look in those amber eyes, the same look that had been in them the day he’d taken the arrow strike meant for Uly. Antal expected the blow to take his life. Harton apparently had other ideas. The blade slapped into Antal’s head, and for a brief instant, Uly expected to see the head roll away. Only when Antal’s knees gave out and the young man folded up into a heap on the floor, did he realise that Harton had slapped him with the flat of the blade. The young guard was out cold, stunned, possibly dead, but just as probably alive.

  The two men turned on Tressa, and Harton turned to Uly. His gaze darting to Tressa, Uly saw her parry, moving closer to Antal as she did. She moved as she had said a small fighter did, in an arc, not a straight line. Uly wasn’t small, but Harton was indeed taller. Uly started to draw on all the advice he could remember. Antal had dropped his blade and, with a flick of her foot, Tressa sent it flying up into the air into her left hand. Apparently, she intended to fight with both. He wanted to help her, but he couldn’t. He saw blood fly from one of the men’s arms and sent a silent plea to the comet to keep her safe. She might be able to handle the other men, but Harton would beat her into the ground. He had to entice Harton away from her. Apparently, Harton happily obliged.

  “I’m not here to kill you. Not unless I have to.”

  “Like I’m going to believe what a man waving a sword has to say.” Uly backed away, angling his body to keep Harton in sight at all times. He didn’t care if it were true. Only three things came to mind. Harton was here to kill him, hurt him, or kidnap him. Kidnapping made no sense as Harton had helped to rescue him. Either he lied, or he awaited some signal, or he meant to hold Uly as a threat against Markis and he refused to be used like that again.

  “Come, la ruan, let’s dance,” Harton said.

  “Fuck you,” Uly replied, backing away as he did. The only other person to throw that insult his way had been Markis’s father when they first met. It meant “thief” and not in any nice way. He hadn’t accepted it from the man who was then the king, and he wouldn’t accept it from anyone now. Harton’s gaze flicked to the sword in his hand. The man’s grin looked a little insane, a little sickly. Uly pushed his thoughts and questions aside. He had no time for them right now. If he lost concentration, he would lose the fight.

  * * * * *

  “You’re out of options. Give me the book.”

  Markis crouched and set the book on the floor. He stood and put his foot on it.

  “Back away,” Mairtin said.

  “I will. In a moment.” He wanted to hurry this, but he couldn’t. If he did, Mairtin might react by using the comet. “I have something to say first.”

  Mairtin looked to the side as though considering it. “Very well,” he said, as though there were plenty of time.

  “You were right. I was wrong to take the book. The council was wise to keep it from too many, but they were just as wrong in trying to do good, and that’s the problem. As Shavar, that’s the problem we face. We have to weigh up what we want for ourselves against what we need to do for the greater good. No one man should have this book. No one man should have such power, but I can’t do anything about that. I know the power exists. It’s part of me. I can only use it wisely.”

  “I hope you’re going somewhere with this.” Mairtin managed to look bored.

  “I am. I can’t let you have the book.”

  “I’m not giving you a choice.”

  “You don’t have to give me anything. The choice is mine. You would use the book to rule in fear. You would be worse than our father ever was. He wanted to wipe out the Azulites for a personal vendetta. You would wipe them out just because you could. No man like you should rule as king. No man like you should have this book.”

  “I’ll kill Uly.” Mairtin managed to sound more amused than insistent as though he toyed with Markis.

  Markis nodded. “I gather you’ve already sent someone to try.”

  “Just a precaution. I can call him off.”

  “Then I have to trust that together, those I love can defeat him.” They had known this could happen. The trouble was, no one had suspected that man would be Harton. Uly was still alive. That was all the comet told him. Right now, even Ryanac didn’t know such a close friend had betrayed them. Markis didn’t have time to enlighten him and one of them worrying was enough.

  Mairtin took a step forward. “I’ll have the book and if not now, another day. You only stall.”

  Markis shook his head but stepped back. Mairtin moved in, bending just as Markis wanted him to, hands reaching out, fingers clawed to snag the book. Markis drew on the comet, focused his will, and sent it into the pages. The parchment caught, flames flickering. Mairtin cried out, and instead of drawing on the comet as he should have done to put out the flames, he tried once more to grab it. The flames s
parked higher, hotter, engulfing the book. Mairtin flinched back, holding his scorched fingers to his chest. He glared at Markis across the conflagration. “Are you mad? We’ve both lost out.”

  “I’ve lost nothing,” Markis said. “That’s the difference between you and me.” Mairtin jumped. He slapped a hand to his neck, his eyes going wide even as he did. He had just driven the dart Ryanac had shot deeper into his neck. Obviously realising what it was a moment too late, Mairtin stared at his brother with a stunned look on his face.

  “You can’t kill me,” Mairtin said, even as the dose Meira had put in the dart drove him to his knees.

  “I’m not trying to kill you. Just weaken you.” As Markis expected, Mairtin called upon the comet. Markis drew on it also, putting all he had into trying to shield Uly. He touched Uly’s mind, felt the calm exterior of someone in the midst of a fight where the fear and panic lay buried. Mairtin’s mind snaked in at the edges.

  “I told you I could kill him from a distance,” Mairtin hissed, throwing what sounded like all his disbelief over Markis’s actions into his voice.

  “I know,” Markis said. He had spent the available time poring through the pages until he had found the truth of his brother’s statement. He even knew how to do it himself, but had not the training. Markis had been right in guessing that Stargazer had taught his brother a few things from the book, and Mairtin had later confirmed it. Unwise as that was, Stargazer had not trusted Mairtin to possess the book. Not such a foolish old man, then. No doubt he had distrusted his usefulness in Mairtin’s eyes minus the book.

  “And you still…?” Mairtin’s shock gave Markis a precious second to strengthen the shield, but it was not enough. Markis was stronger, but Mairtin had used this abhorrent skill on many previous occasions. Markis didn’t intend to kill Mairtin, just disable him for now. The poison had to work before…

  Ryanac had taken a step forward, clearly hoping to hasten things. Mairtin’s gaze shifted, and Ryanac stopped still. If the big man wasn’t moving, it was because he couldn’t. Half glad that Mairtin seemed unable to do more than keep Ryanac at bay while trying to attack Uly, Markis set his mind to protecting his Samir, hoping that the strain of trying to do two things at once would mean Mairtin struggled to hurt either of the men he loved. Markis couldn’t even use Kilan to strengthen him. To do so might have done more harm than good when he didn’t know what he was facing. Besides, Kilan was off doing something else.