The Unwilling Accomplice (Book 5)

by Heidi Willard

  "What does everyone else still think of that?" he wondered.

  "Uncertain, but give them-" Something out of the side of her eye caught her attention and she glanced past Fred to see Captain Lee standing at the edge of the dancers. He held a glass of wine in his hand, and when they passed near he raised the glass to them. Pat's heart picked up the tempo and she lowered her voice. "There is something at work here that we may not like," she whispered to Fred.

  "What? What's wrong?" he asked her.

  "Ruth and I overheard Captain Lee speaking to Ransan. They were talking about a surprise-"

  "You fool!"

  The clear voice cut through the dancing and talking, and the music and laughter died as everyone's attention was on a small group of people. Ruth, Sins, Percy and Telana stood opposite a fuming Ransan, and between them on the floor was Sins' hat. Ransan gestured to the hat. Percy held Telana's tiara in his hands.

  "You dare insult me?" he growled, addressing Sins.

  "No," was Sins' answer.

  "Then why throw your hat at my head?" Ransan argued.

  "It was an accident," Percy argued. "I took Telana's tiara to tease her, and in her efforts to get it back I was careless and bumped into Sins. I had no idea his hat would spill onto you."

  "If your friend is so foolish as to wear a hat then he must know the custom that a dishonor such as this cannot be reconciled except through a duel," Ransan informed him.

  Percy stepped between Ransan and the group. "I am sure this agreement can be settled without violence," he insisted.

  King Theowin strode over to the adversaries with a grave face. The music in the background died. "I am sorry, but for us there is no greater insult and the only way to dispel the dishonor is to duel."

  Ransan straightened and looked every bit the picture of a ruffled bird. "I formally challenge you, human, to a Lapita Duel. I shall be kind and give you the choice of weapons. Rapier or saber?"

  "Neither. I will not duel you," Sins refused.

  "You have no choice!" Ransan insisted.

  "My new friend, I must insist that you humor our customs and accept his request," Theowin commanded Sins.

  Sins stiffened and his hand twitched, eager for this dagger to remedy the situation. The room was tense as everyone waited to hear what the dark man had to say. Ruth stepped forward and took one of his arms. He turned his head to the side and glanced at her pale face out of the corner of his eyes. She looked at him with her own pleading eyes, and his eyes narrowed. He looked back to Ransan. "Rapier," he replied.

  "With the weapon decided I will demand the time. It shall be at five in the evening just before sunset," Ransan announced to the whole room. Sins gave a nod and the room breathed a sigh of relief. Crisis was averted, but only for a time.

  CHAPTER 17

  The room clamored with talk of the duel challenge, but Theowin raised his arms and everyone quieted. "Let us brush aside the unpleasantness until the morrow and have our merriment tonight," he called to the crowd.

  The orchestra struck up the music and the crowds joined in the dance, but the words on their lips related to the forthcoming duel. Ransan smirked at Sins and bowed at him. "Until tomorrow," he chuckled, and turned and vanished into the crowd.

  The companions with Telana moved over to a corner close to the entrance to the room. Their faces were grim and Ruth clung onto Sins' arm as though he would be killed at any moment.

  "This is ridiculous," Pat growled. She turned to Ned. "Can nothing be done to enchant us from this mess?" she asked him.

  "There is no getting out of this through magic," Ned scolded her.

  "Then perhaps a quick escape as we did the last city?" Percy suggested.

  "I will not flee," Sins refused.

  Ruth pulled on his arm. "But you might be killed," she pointed out.

  Canto scoffed. "Not with these fools. We watched 'em earlier and Ah didn't see as much as a pinprick of blood on 'em."

  "But you don't understand," Telana spoke up, and everyone turned to her. "My cousin challenged you to a Lapita Duel. In such a duel the objective is to force the opponent to acquiesce through whatever means necessary, even if those means are stabbing them over their entire body. Though you fight with a rapier sharp points are affixed to the ends in order for a strike to cause bleeding," she explained.

  Percy's face fell. "Then we must rely on your cousin's lack of skill and supposed cowardice to ensure our friend's success," he commented.

  Telana shook her head. "Ransan is proficient in the rapier and when his honor is pricked he will stop at nothing to avenge himself," she told them.

  Ned pursed his lips and sighed. "Then it seems we must put our faith in Sins' experience as an assassin and hope Ransan's skills fail him."

  The mood among the companions was dark, and they soon left the merriment of the ball in groups of gloomy twos. Fred and Ned were a pair, and they first stopped at Fred's door. Fred placed his hand on the handle and noticed Ned stood close behind to follow him inside.

  "Do you really believe Martley will try to kidnap me again?" he wondered.

  "There is a great possibility, but I know you don't believe she is as great a threat to yourself as your friends believe," Ned commented.

  Fred shrugged. "She's not trying to steal my soul like Canavar," he pointed out.

  "No, but I would prefer you remain with us," Ned replied.

  "Can everyone say that?" Fred wondered.

  "Perhaps when they have had more than an afternoon to think it over, but I will settle your mind some by remaining in the hall rather than having an old man watch you by your bedside," Ned offered.

  "What about Martley?" Fred reminded him.

  "I will place a barrier around the room so none may enter," Ned told him.

  Fred turned away and sighed. "Thank you," he whispered.

  Ned raised an eyebrow. "For what?" he wondered.

  "For believing in me. The me that I am," Fred explained.

  Ned chuckled and patted Fred on the shoulder. "I will always believe in you. Never doubt that."

  "I won't. Goodnight," Fred replied.

  "Goodnight, Fred," Ned returned.

  Fred stepped into the room and heard the soft clack of a staff against the floor outside his bedroom. He glanced at the window and saw a barrier over the empty space, and he imagined it even existed inside the walls. Fred wandered over to the window and glanced out at the night. It was a bright, cloudless night. He heard the last of the guests leaving via the courtyard and the whisperings of the servants as they slipped inside.

  Fred winced and clutched at his head. A sudden headache erupted inside his temple. He turned away and stumbled toward the bed, but the room darkened as though a black cloth was slowly being pulled over his eyes. He tried to yell to Ned, but his voice wouldn't speak. Fred blinked, and the world was completely black. He stepped forward and waved his arms in front of himself, but they grabbed onto nothing. Fred reached for his staff, but it was gone.

  "Hello?" he called out, and his voice returned to him as an echo. "Hello?" There was nothing but the echo and the darkness.

  Fred stumbled forward into the dark abyss and his eyes caught on something. A small, barely perceptible light. It lay in front of him and flickered like a candle. He squinted and started for it. The light barely grew larger, and Fred broke into a run. As he ran he heard a voice.

  "Fred!" the voice yelled. "Fred!"

  Something shook him and the movement caused the darkness to crash around him like pieces of shattered glass. He snapped open his eyes and found himself staring into Ned's pale face. Ned held onto his shoulders in a tight, trembling grasp. Fred blinked and glanced around them. They stood at the end of the terraces of the elven city beside a double-door that sat inside the hill. Fluffy stood behind Ned and whimpered.

  "What happened? How'd I get here?" Fred wondered.

  "You don't recall using your staff to float from your room and ride Fluffy down here?" Ned asked him.

  Fred sho
ok his head. "No, nothing like that. I was in my room and I had this headache, and then all I could see was darkness." Ned's eyes widened, and he quickly moved behind Fred and marched them across the terrace away from the hill. "Ned, what happened? Why did I come here?" Fred asked his master.

  "What you experienced may have been a soul-control," Ned told him.

  "A soul-control?" Fred repeated.

  Ned nodded. "Yes. Because Canavar possesses a part of your soul he can evidently control your movements. I hoped he would be unable to do so through the barrier, but my assumption was incorrect," he mused.

  Fred stopped and wrenched himself from Ned's grasp. "Wait, so Canavar can tell me what to do and when?" he asked the old castor.

  "So it seems, but now that we know what he is capable of we will be on our guard for next time," Ned pointed out.

  "Next time? Isn't there a way to stop this now? Can't we break his control?" Fred questioned him.

  Ned closed his eyes and shook his head. "Not without retrieving the part of your soul which Canavar holds. No, we must be vigilant and watch for signs of his control over you. He may be able to control your bodily movements, but he does not know you. He cannot duplicate your speech nor your replies to questions. Indeed, you did not reply to any of my calls until I caught you back there and shook you."

  "What was I going to do there?" Fred wondered.

  "Only Canavar knows, and I hope we will not find out, but come. You will have one of your friends watching you at every hour of the day," Ned assured him as he gestured down the path toward the terrace stairs.

  Fluffy whimpered and sidled up to Fred to rub his head against the young man's side. Fred sighed and petted the beast's head. "I don't like this plan either, Fluffy," he replied.

  "I am afraid it is all we can do for now, but I will remain in your room and keep watch while you sleep," Ned explained.

  Fred paled and turned to Ned. "You mean he can take control of me even when I sleep?"

  "Most likely, but as I said he cannot mimic you, and so you will be safe," Ned replied.

  "But isn't there any way to break free of his control? I have most of my soul," Fred pointed out.

  Ned scrutinized his apprentice with a careful eye. "What did you see when he controlled you?"

  "Darkness, and a small light in the distance," Fred told him.

  "You can never reach the light, but you can use your castoring abilities to bring the light to you. You need only will it to yourself and it will come," Ned explained.

  "But my staff was gone," Fred pointed out.

  Ned smiled and tapped Fred's chest over his heart. "As I showed you in the forest before String, the abilities are in here. You need only focus your mind and it will come to you."

  Fred furrowed his brow and looked at Ned with a quizzical expression on his face. "How do you know so much about this?" he asked his master.

  "Personal research, but come now before our disappearance is noted," Ned insisted.

  They returned to the castle and snuck into Fred's room without being seen. Fred grudgingly slipped into his nightclothes and into bed, and Ned took the seat occupied earlier in the day by Ruth. "Could you move back?" Fred requested.

  "Certainly," Ned agreed, and scooted the chair back a half foot.

  "I meant near the wall," Fred rephrased.

  "Yes, I can, but I would rather remain here. The better to jump you should you try to escape again or should a large bird swoop into the room and try to fly off with you," Ned pointed out.

  "That's comforting," Fred grumbled as he burrowed himself into the pillows and sheets. There was quiet between them for a few minutes, and then Fred's voice broke the silence. "Ned?"

  "Yes, my boy?" Ned replied.

  "Do I. . .do I remind you of Cedric? Not just physically, but how I act?" Fred wondered.

  Ned chuckled. "Not at all. As I said before, Cedric was disciplined, unselfish, a natural with castoring-"

  "I get it, I get it. He was the perfect apprentice," Fred grumbled.

  Ned stroked his beard and smiled at Fred. "But there is one thing Cedric didn't have that you possess," he mused.

  Fred raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

  "He wasn't nearly as stubborn as you."

  "Is that meant to be a compliment?"

  "Cedric would on a great many occasions acquiesce to other's opinions merely to keep peace. You would rather die than let your morals be trampled," Ned mused.

  "I still don't see if that's a compliment," Fred countered.

  "Because it will help us against our fight with Canavar. Cedric fled his homeland rather than face his father and upset the whole kingdom into a battle for kingship. I don't believe you would have any qualms facing Canavar under such circumstances."

  "Then you see me as Canavar's son?" Fred wondered.

  Ned shook his head. "No. I admit at the first I hoped you were indeed Cedric brought back to life, but now I see you as Fred, my foolish and lovable apprentice."

  Fred snorted. "Thanks. I think."

  Ned smiled and bowed his head. "You are very welcome, now get some sleep."

  The next day came all too early for some of the group, and one of the earliest risers of the group was Canto. He peeked his head out of his room and saw the hallway was empty. The entire castle, hung over from the previous night's festivities, still slumbered. He slipped out of his room and stepped lightly over to Sins' quarters. He knocked softly on the door and waited. No reply, nor even footsteps.

  "Ya in there?" Canto whispered. Again silence. He tried the knob and found it unlocked, and peeked his head inside. The room was empty.

  Canto frowned, but was undeterred. He closed the door, stepped down the stairs and left the castle. The sun was young and weak as he made his way past the dew-covered grass and vines of the fair city. His path took him to the Dueling Grounds and the railing that overlooked the green. There he found a familiar dark figure standing at the railing looking down at the grounds. Canto joined Sins and followed his gaze. Beneath them was Ransan and two other elves. Ransan and one of his companions faced each other with rapiers in their hands, and the third elf stood between them.

  "Begin!" shouted the third elf.

  He hurriedly stepped back to avoid the clash of the rapiers as the combatants battled. Ransan's deft lunges and flicks of his wrist meant his opponent was disarmed in a few moments and Ransan pressed the end of his rapier against the other elf's throat. Ransan lowered his sword and stepped back.

  His opponent rubbed his throat where was visible a small prick of blood. "Very well done, my lord," he complimented.

  Ransan grinned and stepped back into the starting position. "Again," he commanded.

  They dueled and the outcome was the same. Canto glanced at his silent companion and noticed that Sins' eyes carefully watched Ransan's movements. "He'll be a tough one to beat. Perfect posture, good execution, and a knowledge with the sword Ah wouldn't have thought a scum like him had," he commented.

  "It will not be easy," Sins admitted.

  "Ya have much experience with the rapier?" Canto wondered.

  "No."

  Canto chuckled. "Then Ah might be able to give ya some lessons." Sins turned to him with surprise and doubt in his eyes. "Now don't go looking at me like that. Ah'm not getting soft on ya, but Ruth'd be mighty sad to see ya get yerself killed on account of yer hat falling off, and Ah don't like to see a woman cry."

  "How can you help me?" Sins asked him.

  "With a bit of advice because Ah don't think yer skill with daggers is going ta help ya much here, not with these long swords. With yer fight against the likes of this peacock ya got to parry like a dwarf and thrust like a man, if ya get my meaning" Canto advised with a wink. Sins raised an eyebrow, but nodded his head. "Good, because Ah don't think he'll be expecting something like that. Oh, and keep yer cloak on ya. That'll be an asset."

  "That may not be allowed," Sins pointed out.

  Canto chuckled. "Ah may not like reading books, but
Ah've been watching enough of these duels ta know the rules and asking around ta know what Ah'm saying, and Ah'm saying ya can keep yer cloak."

  Sins turned away from him and back to Ransan. "I will do as you advise," Sins replied.

  Canto grinned and patted Sins on the back. The assassin stiffened, but didn't glare at him. "Good. Now ya might have some chance against this peacock."

  CHAPTER 18

  While Sins and Canto watched their enemy and planned Sins' strategy their companions lay in bed resting before the late-afternoon duel. No servants stirred but for those who kept their liquor or entirely abstained from the previous night's festivities. The peace of the castle was soon disturbed by a loud knock on the gates. A servant stumbled from the side passage, paused to straighten their costume, and proceeded to the door. The elf opened the entrance and found a hooded man robed in white standing outside the castle.

  The man in white bowed his head. "I have come bearing a message for Edwin," he announced.

  The servant raised an eyebrow. "Is he expecting you?" the elf wondered.

  The robed man chuckled. "Perhaps, but may I see him? The message can only be delivered by myself," he insisted.

  "Please step inside and I will see if he is available, though I will have to inform the king first," the servant replied.

  "Very well," the robed man agreed. He stepped inside and pulled back his hood to reveal his shaved head and piercing dark eyes. They held the burning light of a man who knew what path he followed and would allow no one else to tell him otherwise.

  "What name shall I give to my king and Edwin Tisule?" the servant wondered.

  "Brother John Birch," the man told him.

  The servant bowed and climbed the stairs. Rather than traveling right to Ned's room, he took the left path and went to the rear of the castle to alert the king. The robed man's eyes drifted around the balcony and stopped on the doors on the right. He started when he noticed a figure that stood in the shadows watching him, but in a moment he collected himself and bowed his head to the shadow. "Good morning, Edwin," he called to the figure.