The Caste Marked

by Mariah Esterly

  She would need a horse. Her eyes left her captors long enough to scan the clearing. The horses were at the far side, contentedly munching on grass and undergrowth.

  In their midst was Shadowdancer, the all black mare that the Grand Lord had bought last year. Serra’s brow wrinkled. What was Shadowdancer doing here? Surely, they hadn’t taken the horse as well, all the reports she’d heard had only been children, but perhaps the people had reported the disappearances had simply left out if other things were taken as well.

  Her gaze returned to the four people surrounding her.

  One of the men stepped forward, he had blond hair and kind soft features. “What are you doing here? Did something happen in Malvern’s Ward?”

  He was talking to her as if they’d met before, but they hadn’t. Or had they? Serra’s head hurt so much she couldn’t get it to focus. After a moment, she forced her tongue to move in her mouth, it felt heavy and dry as if wrapped in fabric.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Who are you? What do you want?”

  The blond man looked startled then turned helplessly to the Dryad who stepped forward. “That’s the confusion charm. I forgot that I put it in with the protections.” She approached Serra and knelt in front of her and murmured “Fosicunon duno” as she pressed a glowing fingertip to her forehead.

  As soon as the dryad touched her, the pain in Serra’s head ceased and all of the cotton that surrounded her brain dissolved, bringing everything that had happened in the last day rushing back. Serra leaned against the tree with her eyes closed, taking it all in, organizing her thoughts into a more linear version than the jumbled mass with which she had remembered.

  No one around her spoke. When she opened her eyes again, they were filled with anger. “Where is she?” Her voice shook. “Where is she?”

  “Where is who?” Rian asked, holding his hands in front of him.

  “Don’t tell me you don’t know.” Serra leapt to her feet and started walking along the border of the clearing. “Where’s Eva? You took her, I know it.”

  Vaughn was following her. She spun on him, her fists raised in warning. “Tell me where she is or I‘ll give you another bloody nose.”

  “We don’t have her. I’ve never even seen her.”

  “Like hell you haven’t!”

  “But she was taken?” Rian asked from the other side of the clearing. “Last night?”

  “Don’t pretend like you don’t already know. I’ll fight every one of you if I have to, but you will give Eva back to me!” She spun and continued to search the clearing, pausing to pat Shadowdancer before finishing. The four of them were now talking in quiet voices. Serra paid them little heed as she stepped into the trees and began walking a wide circle around the camp. A slight distortion of the trees told Serra where the protective spells had been placed and she was careful to avoid those, not wanting to be confused again.

  A stick snapped behind her and Serra spun yet again. Reks had followed her into the trees. “I’ll help you look for her,” he said wryly, holding his hands out in peace. “But you won’t find her here. The Creature took her.”

  Serra sagged, leaning against a tree and closed her eyes. She had watched them leave early that morning, had seen only four people on horses. She knew he was telling the truth, had known they were all telling the truth, she just didn’t want to believe it. She’d needed someone to blame. She needed that someone to be a real flesh and blood thing, rather than a shadow who could steal in and out of a full house unseen by anyone. Because if she couldn’t see it and fight it, it meant that she was never going to see her friend again.

  She heard Reks move closer, felt his arm brush hers as he leaned against the same tree. “Sylvan’s little sister was taken over a month ago from the Dryadian palace in Sidonia. She traveled to Carpius to beg the king for help, which he refused. Rian, Prince Doran, knew that not aiding her might result in a war between Iperia and the Sidonian Woods, so he went above his father, stole the information they needed and have been hunting the Creature ever since. I joined in about two weeks ago in Nemia.” Serra opened her eyes, turned her head to look at him. She found his silver gaze on her face. “We tracked him to Malvern’s Ward, but we didn’t think he’d take anyone. We thought he’d reached his quota for Lyre.”

  “His quota?”

  He nodded. “It seems that for the last three years he has visited each of the counties. One county per month. In each of the counties he takes only seven children. September is the month he visits Lyre.”

  Serra could feel the anger boiling up inside her. “You knew?” She practically shouted. “You knew and you didn’t warn me? You didn’t warn anyone? You couldn’t have said, ‘by the way the kidnapper that’s been stealing kids all over the country? He’s here in Malvern’s Ward, keep an eye out’?”

  Reks shrugged. “There is a very specific pattern to the way he does things. He never takes more than seven children from one county in a month. Your friend makes eight.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “I’ve read the accounts that Rian took from his father.”

  “The accounts of the people who chose to report the missing. What about the others? Couldn’t there be more? What about the children who live on the street with no one to look after them? Couldn’t they go missing and remain unreported to the Lords?”

  “They might remain unreported, but we know who they are. Many of them were from my own court. We’ve added them to the reported missing. We’ve done the research, Serra.”

  “What do you mean your own court?”

  He grinned. “I mean the Court of Thieves.”

  She shifted slightly so that she could look up at him without turning her head. “You’re a thief? Do the others know?”

  His lazy grin widened. “Yes, they know. They don’t approve of it, but they know.”

  A cracking of branches distracted them from their conversation. Moments later Vaughn appeared. “If you’re hungry, we’ve made some food. But we have to eat quickly and move on.”

  They nodded and followed him back to the camp. Sylvan passed around plates with sausage, fried potatoes and bread, though she didn’t have any sausage on her plate.

  Serra let them eat in silence for a moment, but eventually could not remain so. “Tell me again about the pattern.”

  It was Sylvan who answered. “For the last three years, the kidnapper has been visiting one county a month. In each county he takes seven children. No more, no less.”

  Serra stared down at her plate. “So, every September the kidnapper visits Lyre?”

  Rian nodded. “Yes, and next he’s going to move to Plysa.”

  “Do you have any idea where he takes them?” She took a bite of potato waiting for an answer.

  “We don’t. We caught up to him in Nemia, when we met Reks. He was there and then he just vanished right in front of us.”

  “But-” Serra’s voice caught in her throat. She cleared it and tried again. “But he does take them somewhere, right? I mean there haven’t been any bodies found.”

  Sylvan reached out and gripped her arm. “Yes, we believe he is taking them somewhere. We just can’t figure out where or how.”

  Serra let out a breath. So, Eva was alive, though she was probably scared. As long as there was hope, Serra would continue to search.

  She helped Rian clean the dishes and pack them away. She doused the fire while everyone else stowed the rest of their belongings and was the first one mounted. Vaughn looked up at her from where he was rolling up his bedroll on the ground and pointed. “If you go back that way, you should reach Malvern’s Ward by nightfall. Your horse should know the way if you just let her lead.”

  “I’m not going back.” Her voice brooked no argument. She would fight them if they tried to make her go back, or follow along behind them at a distance.

  She had nothing in Malvern’s Ward anymore. The only reason she hadn’t left years ago was because of Eva. Now, Eva was gone and Serra wa
s damn well going to bring her back, even if she had to travel to the ends of the world or into hell itself, she would not rest until she saw her friend again.

  Vaughn looked over his shoulder at the others who shrugged, as if to say, ‘if she wants to come, let her.’ Serra let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, and gave a brief thanks to the Gods that they had accepted her so willingly.

  They paused at the slightly distorted trees and waited while Sylvan called back the magic that she had left to protect them. After a minute or so they started forward again, Serra holding back Shadowdancer to allow the others to go ahead of her.

  She trailed behind, wanting distance to process everything that she had been told that morning. If it was true and the… what was it Reks had called it? The creature, that was it. If the creature only took a maximum of seven children from each county, then why had he taken Eva as well? What was it about her that made him break his pattern? It was true she was beautiful and good, but Serra was sure that the Creature had encountered other girls just as beautiful, just as good. Had he simply been drawn to Eva and had been unable to resist?

  After an hour of riding Serra was no closer to puzzling out why Eva had been taken then she had been when they started. They were still traveling through the forest, riding parallel to the road, but avoiding being seen by other travelers. They paused every once in a while, allowing Vaughn and Sylvan to discuss the trail that they seemed to be following.

  Serra saw no trail.

  They paused again mid-afternoon and dismounted, allowing the horses to crop the grass and underbrush, while they shared a meal of cheese and bread. Grey clouds rolled over the sky and as they mounted up again drops of rain filtered through the trees to drop onto the travelers.

  Serra, who only had the clothes she’d come in and no cloak, hunched her shoulders and tried to keep from being miserable. She had no wish to ask the others to stop, or to find a town where she might find some extra clothes and a cloak.

  But even as she had the thought, the truth of her situation hit her. She had nothing other than Shadowdancer and a saddle. No bedroll, no cloak, no food and no money to purchase any of the things she would need to survive a trip like this.

  They stopped again when the rain started coming down in earnest and took shelter beneath a tree large enough to cover all of them. Serra suspected it had more to do with her than with any of them. They all had thick, long coats, which the water simply rolled off. As they huddled against the tree, Serra looked down. Her clothes were soaked through, and sticking to her body in places.

  “Here, let me.” Sylvan said, moving closer. “Myrdraw.” She touched each of Serra’s items of clothing with a glowing finger and set them to steaming. Within minutes Serra was dry except for her hair, which she squeezed out and quickly re-braided.

  “You can use this,” Rian said, pushing a bundle of soft dark blue fabric into her hands. “I brought it just in case. It might be a bit big on you, but it should work until we can get you something else.”

  The fabric turned out to be a coat, reaching to just above her knees. It was too big, but anything was better than nothing. As soon as Serra slipped it over her shoulders she was enveloped in warmth.

  After a quick snack they continued on, this time traveling ever closer to the road. The rain let up and eventually ceased. By the time they broke through the trees as the sun was going down in a cloudless sky.

  A clearing had been made in the thick forest large enough for a small village. Buildings made of wood sat nestled together, smoke from wood fires billowed cheerily out of chimneys made of brick. In what looked like the center of town a tall thin building towered over the rest. At the top of this building was a large bell with a rope that hung to the ground.

  Serra knew this was in case of fire. In a village where the primary building material was wood, the inhabitants couldn’t be too careful.

  “I’ll go with Serra to get a few more supplies.” Reks said. “We’ll meet you a mile out of town,” He gestured with his chin to indicate the far side of the village. “In about an hour and a half.”

  The others nodded and melted back into the forest, while Serra and Reks started forward. “You’ve been quiet all day.”

  Serra shrugged. “It’s a lot to take in. Two days ago the only thing I could think about was getting Eva ready for her Maiden’s Day. I heard about what was going on in the country and I just couldn’t bring myself to care. It’s tragic, that’s what I would tell myself. It’s tragic, but what can I do? It won’t come here.” She sighed. “I guess I’m just trying to figure out why I’ve been so stupid.”

  Reks laughed a little. “You’re not stupid, Serra. You just never thought it would touch you. Most people think bad things will never happen to them and then they do. It’s the way of the world.”

  They made it to the shop just before it closed. After they dismounted, Reks routed around in his saddlebags and pulled out a leather sack large enough to fit in both his palms and a second pair of gloves. He threw the gloves to Serra and pocketed the bag.

  As they walked into the store Serra pulled the soft leather over the unmarked skin of her left hand then her right. “Try to act like a lady,” he murmured to her as they approached the counter. “And follow my lead.”

  The shopkeeper, a plump man with a shrewd face, eyed Serra’s trousers but smiled politely as they approached. “How may I help you, Sir, Madam?”

  When Reks spoke it was with a haughty authority that she‘d often heard Eva’s mother use. “Is there a Lord in this town?” Reks didn’t give him time to answer. “No, I don’t suppose there is.” He wrinkled his nose in distaste. “There is a Venir, correct?” Again, he didn’t give him time to answer. “Some highway bandit had the audacity to assault me and my wife. Me! Lord Arseno Valen, Grand Lord of Thorndike, and take all of our belongings. You can contact the Venir of this…” He sniffed. “Town.”

  The shopkeeper’s face blanched and his gaze went from Reks to Serra, who tried to look as if the story were true, and then back to Reks. “Yes, of course, immediately, sir, My Lord.” He began to hurry around the counter, but Reks held up a hand to stop him.

  The shopkeeper paused, his face immediately watchful.

  “We would like to purchase some necessary items before you do.”

  “Yes, of course, my lord, and how will you be paying for this?”

  “All of our gold was taken from us, along with all of our supplies.”

  “All my jewels as well,” Serra added, dabbing one gloved hand at her eye. “Such beautiful jewels.”

  Reks nodded and reached into his pocket to pull something out. “They took all of her jewels except these, which she saved only by hiding them in her mouth.” Serra watched as Reks handed over a pair of ruby earrings that Serra recognized all too well. They belonged to Lady Hadrienne. So, that is what Reks had been doing in the Great House during the party. Reconnaissance, indeed.

  Reks caught her look, and gave an almost imperceptible shrug.

  Serra turned her attention to the plump man. “They belonged to my mother. I couldn’t let the thieves have them.”

  The shopkeeper eagerly took the jewels and examined them in the light. The rubies glittered like blood. “We were hoping that we could use these as payment rather than gold.”

  The shopkeeper nodded, still entranced by the way that the light reflected off the stones. As he reached out to take the gems his expression became almost sneaky. “I suppose I could make an exception just this once.” He no doubt knew that the earrings were worth more than everything in his shop.

  Serra, who knew that no highborn woman would allow her mother’s rubies to be sold without a fight, pulled Reks away from the counter and said in a hushed voice that was meant to carry.

  “Must we sell them, Arseno? You know what they mean to me.”

  There was a glimmer of humor in Reks' eyes as he rested his hands on her shoulders in a consoling way and replied. “And you know I can well afford to b
uy them back after we have reached home, darling. I’ll pay double if I must, but we need the supplies now.”

  Serra nodded and looped her arm through his, allowing him to lead her back to the counter. Serra sobbed quietly, while Reks ordered the things that they would need, including a new bedroll, two changes of clothes and a warm coat for Serra. The shopkeeper hurried to gather everything as quickly as he could and packed them all in nice brown paper.

  Reks played the part of the nobleman perfectly and stated that the rubies were worth far more than the total cost of all their items and demanded that the shopkeeper give them the difference in coin. The shopkeeper agreed eagerly, no doubt keeping Reks' comment about paying double to get the earrings back in mind. As they left Reks told the shopkeeper that they would be spending the night at the inn, and that the Venir could meet them there to do the interview on the robbery.

  The shopkeeper smiled, nodded and bowed them out of his shop. Serra helped Reks tie the packages to their saddles, trying hard not to laugh. They rode quickly through the rest of the town, keeping to the side streets as they went. Serra wondered how long it would take for the Venir of this little village to realize that there hadn’t been any robbery.

  “You’re quite good at that.” Reks said in a quiet voice, as they reached the edge of the road. “Playing a lady. I’ve told you that once before, but this was different. I believed that those were your mother’s jewels.”

  Serra shrugged. “In a way, they were.” She cast a sidelong glance in his direction to see his reaction. “After all, they did belong to my guardian.”

  Reks did not seem to mind that she had found him out. “We need money for this expedition. No matter what Rian and Sylvan might think this is going to take a while and neither of them thought to bring money. Rian is used to walking into a store and having the merchants fall all over themselves to give him things, which is promptly charged to the castle account and Dryads don’t use money. They have it, they keep it, they just don’t use it.”