The Bastard’s Pearl

by Connie Bailey

  “And you came straight here?” Kashyan glanced at Kholya as he spoke.

  “I wasn’t followed, Bastard,” Yozif said. “The commander has already made sure of that.”

  “My brother is a prince of Savaan,” Kholya said. “If you address him as anything other, you’ll wish you were back in the Red Temple.”

  “Please accept my apology,” Yozif said to Kashyan. “Whenever I’ve heard talk of you, you were called by that name.”

  “An honest mistake,” Kashyan said softly. “But you and I will have words at some point for what you did to an innocent boy.”

  Yozif nodded as though he’d expected Kashyan’s speech. “I was very surprised when Chanesh mentioned him.” He nodded again, this time in Sheyn’s direction. “He was meant to be a gift from the king of Sumadin to Sumadin’s champion. However, when Chanesh described him, I had no doubt of who he was. There could not be two such in this world.”

  Sheyn returned Yozif’s stare like a bird watching a snake.

  “I felt Her Presence when I woke the seed of magic in you. I knew you were exceptional, and that’s when the last piece of my heart died. If She could let me raise the divine spark in you, and then allow you to be sold as a slave, my faith made no sense anymore. Why would She bestow Her greatest gifts on one who had never heard Her name?”

  “She can have them back if She likes,” Sheyn couldn’t resist saying.

  “I think you’ll be glad of them before the end,” Yozif said.

  Kashyan put a hand on the hilt of his sword. “Are you threatening Pearl?”

  “Not I. I appreciate him for the miracle that he is. It’s Chanesh who means him harm. If he had Pearl at his disposal, he believes he could summon Taankh himself. He plans to establish the God of Death’s dominion here in this realm. The High Priest lusts after your daaksi with a fire that could burn the world.” Yozif paused. “That is why I came here to warn you.”

  “Thank you, but we already knew that,” Kholya said.

  “Listen to me. Very soon, Chanesh will attack, and he’ll send every imp, goblin, and demon he can conjure at you.”

  “We’ve fought them before,” Kashyan replied. “They die like any other creature when you put steel to them.”

  Yozif smiled. “You’re a good match for Pearl.”

  Kholya cleared his throat. “If that’s all you have to say, priest, I have other matters to attend to.” He gestured to the door guards. “Take him back to his room. And make sure he doesn’t leave it until I give word.”

  “Please put me in your deepest dungeon,” Yozif said. “So there’s at least a possibility I’ll survive the night.”

  “If I were you, I’d be more worried about Kashyan than the demons,” Kholya said. He looked up when Sheyn touched his shoulder. “Yes?”

  “Lord Commander,” Sheyn said. “I’d like very much to ask this man some questions… in private.”

  “No,” Kashyan said before Kholya could speak.

  “I can’t grant that request just now,” Kholya told Sheyn. He signaled the guards to take Yozif away and then beckoned Kashyan closer. “I sent a bird to the high king at dawn,” he said. “I’ve requested his permission to go into Taar Muergan and wipe out the evil at its heart.”

  “Good,” Kashyan said, clasping Kholya’s forearm as he stood.

  Sheyn turned his gaze to the wall to avoid giving Kashyan a glance of pure venom. He was so angry his body felt like a clenched fist. He needed to talk to the priest. If there was any chance Yozif could reverse what he’d done, Sheyn had to know. It took all of his willpower to stand in silence as Kholya ended the meeting and his officers left the room.

  “Why?” Sheyn asked without turning around.

  “I can’t let you be alone with that scum,” Kashyan said. “Kholya agrees, don’t you, Kholya?”

  Kholya was conspicuously silent.

  Kashyan looked at his brother. “Tell him.”

  “You won’t like what I’m going to say.” Kholya stood up. “But this is how I see it.” He took his sword belt from the back of his chair and spoke as he buckled it on. “Pearl was never meant to be a daaksi. If there’s some way to return him to his former life, I think it would be the best thing for everyone.” He met Kashyan’s eyes. “The complaints about soldiers sneaking off to raid Muergathi and Sumadi camps are real.” Trusting that Kashyan got the message in his words, Kholya left to direct the installation of some new defense measures.

  “I’d like to go to my room now,” Sheyn said.

  “I’ll take you.”

  “I’d rather have a different escort. Can you call for Leksi?”

  Kashyan swallowed the rush of jealous words that rose in his throat. “No, I can’t.”

  “You mean you won’t.”

  “I said what I meant. Leksi is dead.”

  “What?”

  “He was missing from evening roll call. This morning, his horse returned. He was tied to the saddle. There were so many arrows in him you could see he’d been used for target practice. The monsters that captured him likely tied him to a tree and made wagers on how long they could keep him alive. On how many arrows they could put in him without killing him. On whether he’d scream or—”

  “No more!”

  “Why? Does it hurt?”

  Sheyn turned to face Kashyan. “Yes, it hurts. What do you think I am?”

  “A member of a particularly heartless breed.”

  “How can you say that after—?”

  “You’re different from any other daaksi I’ve known, but you’re still one of them. Though I ache for you and feel as though I’d die without you, I can’t trust you.”

  “Tell me what I’ve done to make you distrust me.”

  “You are what you are. Daaksim are deceitful by nature.”

  “You’re a fool.”

  “And you lure men to destruction.”

  “I didn’t tell Leksi to go raiding. If I had as much influence as you seem to think, I’d talk some soldier into giving me an escort to the border.”

  “Leksi told his friends he was going to get a Red Monk’s badge for you.”

  “That was a stupid thing to do, but I’m sorry he lost his life for it. He was kind to me.”

  “This can’t go on.”

  “Tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”

  “I need to talk to Kholya about this. Come with me.”

  “Are you really going to keep me at your side, day and night?”

  “Yes. Aside from personal reasons, I can’t let the Temple take you again. According to some, it would mean the end of the world.”

  “You believe what that madman said?” Sheyn asked as they walked down the hall.

  “He sounded as though he believed what he was saying.”

  “He’s probably a spy for the Temple.”

  “That’s why Kholya has him under guard,” Kashyan said as they walked into the courtyard.

  As they crossed the cobbled expanse, Kashyan and Sheyn were aware of the murmurs that sprang up around them like leaves in a whirlwind. Kashyan was on the verge of ordering everyone in the courtyard to mind his business, when Sheyn preempted him.

  “I’m stopping so you can get a good look,” Sheyn said in a carrying voice. “And while you look your fill at the foreigner, you can listen as well.”

  Kashyan looked around and saw more and more soldiers gathering to hear Sheyn’s words. He was glad to see most of his Black Hawk troop waiting for him by the gate.

  “I had sad news today,” Sheyn said. “A warrior who touched my life lost his last night. I can’t speak of his death, but I would ask you to show more care for your safety. Obey your officers’ commands, and don’t go raiding without orders. To hear of another death would break my heart, and I am weary of weeping.”

  Sheyn took Kashyan’s arm as they walked out of the gate. Kashyan’s troop fell in behind them as Sheyn’s audience watched in silence.

  “Well done,” Kashyan said softly. “I’ll wager the rai
ds stop after this.”

  “I hope so,” Sheyn said as they reached the meadow where the cavalry horses were kept. He glanced around and saw the soldiers set to guard the horses watching him. A short time ago, he would have considered their interest ill-bred, but now he knew how he appeared to them. No wonder they stared as though seeing a ghost. Meeting the eyes of the nearest man, he smiled.

  The soldier smiled back, and Kashyan turned to look at Sheyn. “What are you doing?”

  “Showing them I’m as human as they are.”

  “But you’re not.”

  “Why are you so contrary?”

  Kashyan laughed. “You’re asking me that question?” He took Karkaran’s reins from the man who held them. “Get on the horse.”

  “Why make him carry double? Is there a shortage of mounts?”

  “Always,” Kashyan said. “Don’t worry about Karkaran. He’s strong and we’re only going a short distance.”

  “It’s an undignified position for me and it makes me feel like a child.”

  “You’re behaving like a child right now. Lower your voice. Everyone can hear you.”

  “Surely not everyone.”

  “Could you once do as I ask without an argument?”

  “I’ve done everything you’ve asked that made sense to me.”

  “Then get on the horse so we can go talk to Kholya.”

  “If you want me on a horse—” Sheyn’s words ended in a yelp of outrage as Kashyan swept him up and set him on Karkaran’s back.

  Kashyan got into the saddle and took up the reins.

  “Your men look suitably impressed by your barbaric behavior,” Sheyn murmured.

  “Should we give them a show, then? You’re good at that.”

  “Why won’t you trust me? We could be a good team if you weren’t so stubborn.”

  “Me?” Kashyan laughed again, and the men of his troop smiled as they assembled. “You’re as stubborn as the most stubborn bull I’ve ever met.”

  “Don’t compare me to livestock,” Sheyn said as Kashyan gave a hand signal and the Black Hawks moved out.

  Kashyan led his troop down from the peak and through the line of defense closest to the castle. When they reached the tree line, they found Kholya supervising the setting of improvised catapults in a ring around the fortress. Teams of men and horses used rope to bend the tops of the limber evergreens to the ground. Slings full of rocks were attached to the treetops and fixed to the ground with stakes and ropes. Each would be manned by four warriors ready to cut the ropes at the first sign of a flying demon.

  “Kasha!” Kholya called out as Kashyan rode up.

  Kashyan and Sheyn dismounted, but the Black Hawks rode on to patrol the outer perimeter of sentries.

  “This will make the flying beasties take notice,” Kashyan said as he inspected one of the simple catapults.

  “You can’t really aim them,” Kholya said. “But we can turn the sky to stone.”

  “Why don’t you use black powder?” Sheyn asked.

  Kashyan and Kholya turned to look at him.

  “Black powder?” Sheyn repeated. “Surely you know what I’m talking about.”

  Kholya exchanged a glance with Kashyan.

  “Ask him,” Kashyan suggested.

  Kholya cleared his throat and addressed Sheyn. “What’s black powder?”

  Some of Sheyn’s scholarly demeanor returned when he answered. “It’s a mixture of three minerals that burn when you put fire to them. If the powder is contained in a tube, it explodes. It’s used as a weapon to hurl stones for great distances.”

  “That’s interesting,” Kholya said. “If we had such a weapon on the parapet—”

  “But we don’t have this black powder,” Kashyan said.

  “It’s not difficult to make. You could probably find the minerals near to hand. Are there caves close by?”

  “Are you suggesting we go mining?” Kashyan asked.

  “No, we’ll find what we need lying around. There’s plenty of daylight left.”

  “Are we doing this?” Kashyan asked his brother. “Are we taking military advice from a daaksi?”

  “According to legend—and Luks—giving military advice was one of the duties of the first daaksim.”

  “I can’t imagine what it was like back then.” Kashyan shook his head. “Gods walking the earth. Mountains being born. Daaksim warriors.”

  “I have all the excitement I need right here,” Kholya said. “Why did you seek me out?”

  Kashyan glanced at Sheyn. “I’d like to talk about the morale problem General Pashan brought up at the last officers’ meeting.”

  “If we must. Ride with me back to the cavalry encampment and we’ll talk on the way.”

  Kholya’s horse was brought, and he, Kashyan, and Sheyn mounted up. They took a route that led past several sentry posts, Kholya greeting each man as they rode past. In between, Kashyan and Kholya discussed the issue of Pearl’s popularity while Sheyn bit his tongue.

  “I know we have a problem,” Kholya said. “I’m just not sure what can be done about it.”

  “You can give orders forbidding the men to—”

  “Forbidding them to fall in love with your daaksi?”

  “That’s not what I was going to say.”

  “I know, but it’s the root of the problem.”

  The trail widened, and Kashyan rode up beside Kholya. “You can say it,” he said. “I should have more control over Pearl. That’s what you’re thinking.”

  “No, brother. That’s what you’re thinking.”

  “I don’t enjoy being spoken of as though I were a poorly trained pet,” Sheyn said.

  “Then stop acting like one,” Kholya said flatly as they reached the rise that overlooked the tree-bounded meadow where the cavalry was camped. Kholya drew rein and watched the troops moving to the staging area for the morrow’s march.

  “I don’t know what you expect from me,” Sheyn said. “I don’t belong here.”

  “But you are here,” Kholya said. “And you may never leave. How long are you going to pretend that you can stand apart?” He turned to look at Sheyn. “The things you do here have consequences. You won’t be walking away from them even if by some miracle you’re restored to your former life.”

  Several retorts sprang to Sheyn’s lips. He wanted to tell these people that they were not his equals and had no right to judge him. He wanted to remind them that he hadn’t chosen this fate; it had been forced on him. He wanted to scream that it wasn’t fair. In a burst of insight, it came to him that everyone must feel this way at some time in their lives.

  Kashyan felt the shiver that ran the length of Sheyn’s body. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Everything,” Sheyn answered. He took a deep breath. “But I can’t fix it all at once, so I’ll have to solve one problem at a time. It’ll take a good long while, but I don’t see another way.”

  Kashyan and Kholya exchanged another glance, communicating their bewilderment at Sheyn’s words. There were a few moments of silence, broken when Sheyn spoke again.

  “If you’re wise, Commander Kholya, you’ll do nothing about my popularity with your men. If you’re shrewd, you’ll encourage it and use it to your advantage.”

  “I’m listening,” Kholya said.

  “I’m sure your army is a very good one,” Sheyn said. “But an army that’s inspired is unbeatable. According to the philosophers, soldiers with a cause will fight to the last breath.”

  “I won’t encourage it,” Kholya said. “But neither will I forbid it. If it happens as you say, I won’t complain about it.” He smiled at Sheyn. “I thought myself a cynical man until I met you, Pearl.” He reached across and slapped Kashyan’s shoulder. “You have a rare armful there, brother. Now go and make me some of this black powder.”

  Kashyan nodded and turned his charger’s head toward the fortress.

  Chapter 18

  KASHYAN RODE Karkaran into the courtyard and dismounted. As a squire r
an to take the charger’s reins, Kashyan turned to Sheyn. “Return to your room and try not to cause any trouble while I’m gone.”

  “I’m going with you,” Sheyn said as he slid down from the saddle into Kashyan’s arms. “I’m the only one who knows what we’re looking for.”

  Kashyan squeezed his eyes shut for a second and then opened them again. “That’s true.” He looked around the square and spotted a Black Hawk. After giving the man orders, Kashyan took Sheyn to a storage chamber. A few minutes of searching through trunks yielded a thick wool tunic, leather leggings, and a pair of gloves for Sheyn. Once he’d changed clothes and found a pair of boots, they went back to the central bailey where a group of men was waiting. The soldiers listened with bemused smiles as the Bastard’s daaksi explained the mission.

  “Bat shit?” Kashyan said after the teams had dispersed to locate two of the ingredients on Sheyn’s list.

  “It’s called guano. Are you ready to go mining?”

  Kashyan called for his horse.

  “Surely you have one spare horse I can ride,” Sheyn said. “I really do feel ridiculous riding in front of you like a stolen bride.”

  “That’s too bad, because I enjoy having your backside pressed against my crotch. Now get on the horse.”

  “You’re really quite tiresome,” Sheyn said as he put a foot in the stirrup.

  Kashyan got on behind Sheyn and put an arm around his waist. “I like the way your hair smells.”

  “Don’t start being nice,” Sheyn said. “You’ll confuse me.”

  Kashyan laughed. He still believed this daaksi would eventually betray him and break his heart, but since he had no choice in the matter, he was going to enjoy as much of it as he could.

  They rode through ever-sparser trees until they reached the bare rock of the next peak in the chain. Kashyan and Sheyn got down and led the horse around the scattered boulders on the slopes of the shattered mountain.

  “This looks promising,” Sheyn said as they neared the truncated summit. “It’s just this sort of mountain where dragon tears are found.”