“Incredible,” Leaping Elk murmured. “Who were they investigating?”
“The Traitor would be my guess.” Slithering Snake shrugged.
“It wasn't a reconnaissance mission in disguise, was it?”
“I doubt it, Lord. You know the penalty, eh? Besides, we never allowed them inside the caves.”
“That was prudent.” Leaping Elk shook his head, amazed. “I'm glad you cooperated with them. That was the right thing to do. Oh, by the way, Lord Snake, I've invited Icy Wind to break the sleeping fast with us soon.”
“Eh? The old man who pummeled Lumbering Elephant? Has the Infinite addled your brains?”
Leaping Elk shrugged. “He promised to bathe.”
Slithering Snake snorted in disgust.
Across the cavern, near the rough-hewn opening that led up to Leaping Elk's personal abode, Fawning Elk looked over and saw him. Waving, she hurried toward them with a waddle, stopping briefly to look at the injured man. After her arrival the day before, Fawning Elk had abandoned the robes padded so thickly that her pregnancy was unobtrusive. Now, she proudly displayed her rotund abdomen with robes designed to emphasize her girth. Leaping Elk guessed she liked being pregnant.
“I hope he's all right,” she said, glancing back over her shoulder.
“The Lord Elk invited the skunk to breakfast three days from now,” Slithering Snake said.
“You have?” She looked from the large sectathon to her mate. “How gracious of you, Lord! Even after he pounded the Lord Elephant, eh? The bandits might not like that, but to the Infinite with 'em. Where have you been, by the way?”
Leaping Elk smiled. “Any more morning sickness, Lady Elk?”
“I haven't had a moment of morning sickness in four pregnancies! Men! I'd wager you were carousing the whole night. I hope she was pretty and didn't have the pox.”
The black bandit laughed with abandon, genuinely liking her.
From across the cavern echoed the high-pitched screams of two women. Fawning Elk glanced at the ceiling. “Excuse me, Lords.” Turning, she waddled across the cavern quickly.
Both men watched, puzzled. Usually, when woman fought woman, the men wagered on who'd win. None among them was so lacking in brains as to intervene.
Fawning Elk did, making more noise than both women combined. Being eight months pregnant encumbered her not one bit. She separated them, spoke to both, somehow got them to bow to each other, and then returned across the cavern to Leaping Elk's side.
“What did you say to them?”
“I told 'em if they didn't apologize to each other, they could feed themselves and sleep outside for a week.” Fawning Elk looked unperturbed.
Another of the band's women approached the trio near the cavern entrance, her face bruised. “May I, uh, speak with you a moment, Lady Elk?” she asked in a timid voice.
“What happened to your face, child? Did someone hit you?”
She nodded, shamefaced.
“Did you ask the person to hit you?” Fawning Elk asked.
She shook her head.
“Take me to him, and I'll insure it doesn't happen again, eh?” The two women walked off. Glancing over her shoulder at her mate, Fawning Elk scowled.
Leaping Elk reflected that under the matronage of Fawning Elk, his bandits might even become civilized human beings—if she didn't starve them first. He felt pleased she was here.
Chapter 11
Formerly the Northern Sorcerer, Lurking Hawk became the Eastern Sorcerer not long after Flying Arrow murdered all the Northerners. For fourteen years, Lurking Hawk was the seventh Emperor Arrow's closest advisor. Historians will always wonder how this long-term proximity affected Flying Arrow's ability to reason. Numerous historians have noted that the Traitor's cunning was at least equal to his talent.—The Seven Emperors Arrow, by Shivering Shaft.
* * *
His hand was hot—uncomfortably hot. On reflex, he tried to jerk it from the heat, but found he had too little strength.
“Please hold still, Lord Hawk,” said a soothing voice.
Lurking Hawk opened his eyes.
Looking at him was the Imperial Medacor, beyond him a young boy with blond hair and large hands.
He tried to sit up.
“Lie flat please, Lord. You're in no condition to go anywhere.” Soothing Spirit still held onto the hand.
The Wizard saw his hand then, and his jaw dropped from shock. All fingers except his thumb ended in amputated stubs. “What happened?” Lurking Hawk tried to say. Only a hoarse croak issued from his mouth. In panic he looked around. He was in the infirmary of Emparia Castle. What happened to me? he wondered.
“If you don't lay still, Lord, I'll have to restrain you.” Soothing Spirit's voice was gentle, his manner imperturbable.
Lurking Hawk told himself to relax. Wondering how he'd gotten here, he checked his shields before searching his memory. To his consternation he found his shields completely disabled.
“I want you to leave your shields down, Lord Hawk. The healing won't take as long if I have access to your body's own powers.”
Of course, he thought, willing himself to wait until he was alone.
“Now, Lord Hand, watch carefully,” Soothing Spirit said.
Again the harsh heat infused Lurking Hawk's dismembered fingers. Blood flow increased, mitochondria metabolized at an inordinate rate, and cell division accelerated. Fascinated, he watched the ends of his fingers change, mutate, grow. The heat excruciating, he finally cried out in pain.
“I'll resume in a few minutes, Lord Hawk. Did you see how I did that, Lord Hand? The growth is almost cancerous. Unlike a cancer, of course, the new cells are perfectly healthy. Do you want to try?”
“Don't you dare!” Lurking Hawk croaked.
Soothing Spirit looked at him. “He's the Medacor Apprentice, Lord Hawk. He won't hurt you.” The Imperial Medacor smiled to reassure him. “This may be the first day of his apprenticeship, but he already has years of experience.”
“I don't care! I don't want that runt of a medacor to treat me!”
“Well, Lord Hawk, if you insist. Lord Hand, would you inform the Lord Emperor that the Lord Hawk has regained consciousness?”
“Yes, Lord Medacor,” Healing Hand said, bowing properly. As if eager to be gone, he left swiftly, not acknowledging Lurking Hawk.
“Don't let that … that cretin near me!”
“All right, Lord Hawk, although I confess I don't understand. True, he hasn't refined his skills yet. In raw talent however, he's the best apprentice I've had in all my years as Imperial Medacor.” Soothing Spirit reached for the other hand.
There, Lurking Hawk saw similar disfiguring. “I don't care what his talents are! Keep him away from me!”
“Yes, Lord,” the Imperial Medacor said, looking unperturbed.
“Don't tell me you don't recognize him.”
“What are you talking about, Lord? Are you still delirious?”
“No, I'm not delirious, Infinite blast you! Can't you see? He's the son of Easing Comfort!”
“Lord Hawk, please keep your voice down, for Infinite's sake. Patients are in the other room, and I'd like you not to disturb them.” Soothing Spirit applied his talent to the other hand.
“Didn't you hear me?” Lurking Hawk asked. “Of all people, you should recognize him! You were there when Lofty Lion killed my father and his grandfather.”
“I was, Lord, yes, to my regret.” Soothing Spirit smiled. “I'd better keep him away from you, so you don't try to make him a talisman, eh?”
“Are you insinuating I'd do something illegal?”
“Of course not, Lord Hawk. I merely ventured a jest. My intent wasn't to offend, and if I did, I apologize.”
Lurking Hawk relaxed, regarding the Imperial Medacor suspiciously. “Hand, eh? I wonder how that traitor Easing Comfort managed to father him. I wonder what wench would whelp for him. Aren't you going to report this to the Lord Emperor, Lord Spirit?”
Radiating
serenity, Soothing Spirit smiled, as though indulging a child. “I wouldn't waste that talent. No, Lord Hawk, and besides, you've no proof. Your accusation is ludicrous. Your calling another a traitor isn't any different from the bludgeon calling the sword blunt, eh?”
Why is the Medacor's manner so uncharacteristic? Lurking Hawk wondered. Soothing Spirit rarely joked or made inane comparisons like the one about the blunt bludgeon. A medacor as talented as he ought to be able to repair injuries without causing further pain. “Ow! That hurts!”
“All right, I'll stop for now, Lord Hawk. You'll need a few minutes of treatment every day until those fingers grow back. Then we'll start on your toes.”
“Eh? I lost some toes, too? What happened, anyway?”
“Yesterday morning someone found you on the south bank of the River Placid, Lord Hawk. You really should be more careful of your choice of beds. You could have died in the snow, you know.”
“Don't belabor the obvious.” Lurking Hawk scowled. “I must have passed out or something.” He consulted his inner clock, and found it was now early morning. “Have I been unconscious a whole day?”
Soothing Spirit nodded, smiling benignly.
He seems pleased with himself! Lurking Hawk thought—why?
An authoritative voice from the main infirmary drew their attention. A moment later, Guarding Bear strode in. “Lord Medacor, Lord Hawk,” he said, bowing. “Infinite be with you both. Where's Healing Hand, Lord?”
“I sent him to tell the Lord Emperor that the Lord Hawk is conscious. If you'd care to wait, he'll return in a moment.”
“Thank you, Lord Spirit, I'll do that. How do you feel, Lord Hawk?”
Lurking Hawk spat on the floor. A man with spittle was a man without fear.
“It pleases me you're as vindictive as ever, Lord Hawk.” Guarding Bear smiled. “Your balls won't come out of the vise this time.”
“Eh? What are you blathering about, Usurper?”
Guarding Bear shrugged. “I'll wait out here, Lord Spirit.” He nodded to both men and retreated to the outer infirmary.
“What's this about?”
Soothing Spirit frowned. “It's not my place to tell you, Lord Hawk. If you're hungry, I'll send for a meal from the scullery. Anything you need, Lord Hawk, just ask, eh?”
“I need to know what's going on! Address me as Sorcerer, blast you!”
“You'll find out in the time of the Infinite, Lord Hawk.” Bowing, the Imperial Medacor left the room.
Fighting off his pain and torpor, Lurking Hawk stood unsteadily. Sparkle clouded the periphery of vision. He felt feeble. His bowels rolled as if doing cartwheels. Pushing to his feet from a knee, he wondered how he had fallen. He stepped unsteadily toward the doorway, glancing at the false panel leading to the secret passageways. The room was one of several reserved for nobility needing more than incidental medical care. Perhaps he nearly had frozen to death.
Lurking Hawk remembered leaving Lofty Lion on the road west of Burrow and traveling to the River Placid. Although he remembered levitating himself for the river crossing, the fording was murky, and he couldn't remember reaching the southern shore at all. That's where I must have passed out. I'm glad I didn't faint while crossing the river! he thought, shuddering and guessing he'd have drowned. First he'd battled the Wizard Spraying Egret, then he'd implanted Lofty Lion. The two exertions had almost sapped his reserves.
Reaching the door, the Wizard looked out into the corridor. Finding four guards there surprised him. He probed them, saw their electrical shielding and frowned.
They didn't appear very friendly. Each watched him like a hawk.
He laughed aloud at his own joke. They look at me as if I'm insane, he thought. Didn't I say that aloud? “Begone! You bother me!”
“Forgive me, Lord Hawk,” one said. “Our orders are explicit. Only the Lord Emperor himself can countermand them.”
“Eh, well, I'm glad he realizes my value, or he wouldn't have assigned so much protection.” Lurking Hawk felt honored.
The guards looked amongst themselves, smiling. One of them laughed aloud, then quickly put a hand over mouth.
“Infinite be with you, Lords, I must be going.” Lurking Hawk stepped over the threshold, into the dampered corridor.
Four swords instantly jumped from their sheaths.
The Wizard's eyes went wide.
“Forgive me, Lord Hawk,” the same guard said, “but I must ask you to go back into the room.”
“What's the meaning of this? I'm not a prisoner here! I demand—”
“Lord Hawk.”
The Wizard withered within at the sound of that voice.
The Emperor stood ten paces down the corridor.
Seeing Flying Arrow's expression, Lurking Hawk stumbled back into the room, sensing the collapse of his carefully constructed world. Dismissing the feeling as ludicrous, he thought, I'm as important to Flying Arrow as I've ever been! He found his way toward the bed, somehow.
Flying Arrow regarded him from the doorway. “Turn on the dampers and stay here,” he ordered, not taking his gaze off the Wizard. Stepping into the room, he closed the door.
The psychic-interference patterns wrapped Lurking Hawk's mind worse than any physical restraint might constrict his body. His entire soul rebelled at the psychic fetters.
Flying Arrow stayed at the door, his back to it. “I'm sorry, my friend. I couldn't do anything.”
The sincerity in the Emperor's voice puzzled Lurking Hawk. “Sorry about what, Lord?”
“The charges against you in Burrow. Everyone knew about them before I could quietly quash them. Everyone also knows about your meeting with that bandit.” Flying Arrow shrugged. “I'm sorry.”
“What bandit, Lord Emperor? I didn't meet with any bandit!”
“I certainly have proof enough that you did, Lord Hawk.”
“Produce it! You and I know I wouldn't have anything to do with bandits, Lord. Guarding Bear arranged this, didn't he? That Usurper, I could tell just by the way he walked in here—as if he owned the place. I tell you, he'll soon have the Imperial Sword if you're not careful. You're wise enough not to trust a word he says. He's probably plotting your death right now, Lord.”
Flying Arrow smiled, his sadness plain on his face. “Actually, Lord Hawk, he's preparing to lay siege to the Tiger Fortress, like a loyal citizen. He volunteered yesterday.”
“No! I don't believe it, Lord. You must have played the master manipulator to get him to do that. How wonderful. Surely he'll die in the siege, and you won't have to worry about him ever again, eh?”
Flying Arrow pulled a thick roll of parchment from his sleeve. “I have here the testaments of the Captain sectathon Probing Gaze, the Corporal Wizard Spying Eagle, the bandit sectathon Slithering Snake, and the bandit levithon Lumbering Elephant. Getting the statements of the latter two on parchment wasn't easy, but not impossible.” He threw it on the bed, staying carefully near the door. “There's your proof, Lord Hawk.”
Lurking Hawk jerked his feet away from the parchment, looking at it like a poisonous serpent. “How did you get the statements of bandits, Lord? Inducing them to cross the border must have been difficult, eh?” He wondered whether to make his escape through the secret passageway leading from this room. Furtively, he glanced toward the false panel. Then, though, I won't have avenged the massacre of my people, Lurking Hawk thought, needing to accomplish one more task.
“They didn't have to cross the border, Lord Hawk. We sent an unarmed delegation under the Inviolate Insignia. They were most cooperative in describing the man with whom we presume you met.”
Lurking Hawk looked puzzled. “Using the banner of the four Empires was certainly inventive. I met with no one, though, Lord, I swear on the Infinite, no one.” He felt pleased he modulated his voice so well, knowing the more vehement the protest, the less credible it was. “After that blasted Wizard Spraying Egret somehow managed to disable me—through no fault of mine, Lord—I turned around and came back.”
Before he could stop himself, Lurking Hawk glanced at his wrist. “The talisman's not mine, Lord!” he protested, knowing he'd already betrayed that it was. “Someone slipped it on my wrist while I was unconscious.”
Frowning, Flying Arrow sighed. “Well, Lord Hawk, now I really can't do anything. I must admit I had my doubts. Everyone's seen you wearing this bracelet. I suspected that the Lord Bear might have substituted this little toy for the bracelet that you usually wear. Now, I know he didn't. If it weren't yours, Lord Hawk, you couldn't have known it's a talisman.” Shrugging, the Emperor sighed again. “You've been of inestimable service in the past. I deeply regret that our association has to end. I'm sorry, Lord Hawk. I'm truly, deeply sorry.” Again, Flying Arrow sighed, frowned bitterly and opened the door.
Striding in, the four guards quickly shackled the Traitor to the bed.
The physical restraints in addition to the psychic restraints suddenly made the collapse of his world real to Lurking Hawk.
The Wizard put his face into disfigured hands and wept.
* * *
In the main infirmary, Guarding Bear waited beyond Flying Arrow's pair of personal guards, the blond-haired boy beside him.
The Emperor nodded to them both.
Guarding Bear sighed, relieved that Lurking Hawk had implicated himself. Now, nothing but the Infinite's intervention would save the Traitor. The executioner would sharpen his blade for the Northerner's neck.
“I thought he'd lead me to it,” Flying Arrow said, stepping into the infirmary, deep in reflection. “I really thought he would.”
Guarding Bear nodded. “I thought he would too, Lord Emperor. I'm sorry your plan didn't work. It was a good one. Perhaps you could bargain with him, spare his life if he divulges where the Heir Sword is.”
The Bandit (Fall of the Swords Book 2) Page 13
