Glancing at Pestifere who neared him, he pointed to the champion and said, “That one must lead a battalion.” Then turning to his secretary, he added, “Gonen, make note of his name. I’ll want to speak with him later.” Finally, looking back at his fighting forces, he commented, to no one in particular, “Men will follow one such as that.”
“Yes,” Pestifere agreed. Then, catching Zarek’s eye, his brow dropped. “We must speak.”
“Oh? What of?”
“I have a mission to see to.”
“Another? You’ve only just returned.”
The priest nodded. “It cannot be helped.”
“But I’ve need of you here.”
Pestifere wiped his brow. “I am of more use to our venture where I go.”
Sighing, the emperor nodded. “Very well. But before you leave, we’d best go over our plan of attack. Now that most of our scouts have returned, some of our forward teams could head out soon. Possibly as early as in a fortnight or so.”
“It may be beneficial to wait just yet—as I make further arrangements.” Pestifere paused, in thought. “We can discuss things further this evening so that I may be on my way tomorrow, at first light.”
He turned to go, but then stopped short and looked back. “Oh, you will be pleased to know that the underlords have provided the means for me to communicate with you while I am away.”
“And that is?”
“Just as Lilith did in the days of old, I will summon their presence through a looking glass. They will then relay to you, all of which I inform them.”
“Very well.”
“As I said, I will provide you further details this evening.” With that, amidst the sounds of clashing swords, of grumblings and cries of both pain and triumph from Zarek’s fighting forces-in-training, Pestifere headed off to prepare for his journey.
Chapter Thirteen
Mara convinced Dixon, Lucy, and the twins, to wait until evening to travel. Believing they’d be safer arriving somewhere in the dark, as the risk of someone seeing them appearing out of nowhere would be lower, she urged them to head straight for Ezra’s place, The Clandest Inn, where they intended to stay anyway. Besides, she reasoned with them, she wanted some time with the girls before they set off. After some discussion, they all agreed.
Unlike Mara, who could travel with both the twins at the same time, Dixon and Lucy each could take only one of them. Like Mara, they found their magic paths through swirls of color, with tints and hues, shades and tones, which eventually became, upon arrival, a solid scene before them.
Landing in the stables of the inn, hay and sawdust beneath their feet, the smell of horse in the air, the Oathtakers glanced at one another, both grinning broadly, clearly pleased with their traveling success.
Dixon approached the hostler on duty, the only person in sight. Fortunately, he was the same man he and Lucy had met weeks earlier when the two of them had delivered Liam and Rafal there to meet with Ezra before they set off for Chiran. Thus, he was spared the trouble of explaining how they had all appeared out of thin air.
“Destry, it’s good to see you again.” Dixon greeted the man with a handshake.
“Back so soon?”
“We’ve business to attend. Is Ezra in?”
Destry brushed hay from his clothing. Then he grabbed a pitchfork propped up against the wall. “He’s inside.”
After making their way across the frost-laden grounds to the front door of the inn, their breath billowing in the air, they stepped inside. There, a familiar scene met them. Barmaids rushed from table to table, slapping cold ales down before the patrons. Meanwhile, a fiddler played a lively tune, accenting the up-beat, inviting dancers to join in the fun.
As Dixon’s eyes scanned the premises, a barmaid approached his side. Plump, and boasting a generous bosom, her cheeks turned rosy when she smiled.
“Delighted to see you, Dixon!” she cried, poking his side.
He turned her way and smiled. “And you, Nancy.” He leaned back for a good look at her. “You know, time never seems to tell on you.”
“Ha! Well, Dixon, while I appreciate your flattery, the mirror tells me otherwise.” She grinned, her brow raised.
“No, I swear. It’s the truth.” Then, looking over the place again, he said, “Things are busy, I see.”
“Yes. As to the Clandest Inn, I would say that it is true that some things never change.” Then turning to Lucy and the twins, as though seeing them for the first time, her brow lowered. “Goodness Dixon,” she winked at him, “but I swear that every time I see you, you’re in the company of some new and beautiful women.”
Laughing, he introduced Lucy and the twins to her, just as Ezra and Celestine arrived on the scene.
After greeting Dixon, Ezra bowed toward Lucy. “If it isn’t Lucy Haven in the house! Welcome back.”
“Thank you.” Smiling, she glanced about. “I see that the hospitality business thrives.”
“Yes, as does the spy business, let’s not forget.” Then standing back, he turned toward the twins. “Gracious Good One!” he exclaimed. “I haven’t seen you two since you were just young teens. Do you remember? Mara and Dixon brought you here for the festival one year.”
“Yes,” Reigna said. “We have fond memories of The Clandest Inn.” She introduced herself, and then her sister.
“You look so much like your mother.” The innkeeper shook his head as though in disbelief.
“Don’t they though?” Dixon agreed.
“The spitting image.”
Dixon brushed his fingers through his hair. “I’d forgotten that you didn’t get to see them when we were all here in the city, after they journeyed into The Tearless. I’m sorry. We were just so busy preparing things before heading back to the compound. Then we packed our things up there and returned to the palace in Shimeron.”
“Yes, you mentioned you were headed to the palace when you delivered Liam and Rafal here. Did your journey there go well?”
“It did, thank you.”
Celestine stepped up to greet her cousin, Dixon, with a kiss to his cheek. Then she returned to her husband, Ezra’s, side.
“What brings you here?” the innkeeper asked Dixon. Then his brow dropped. “Wait a minute. Where’s Mara?” He glanced at the door, apparently anticipating that she might merely have lagged behind.
His voice kept low, Dixon explained how, in the interests of time, and in light of her illness, they’d left her at the palace.
“Oooh,” Ezra grimaced, then with gritted teeth, acted out a flinch.
“Yes,” Eden agreed, smiling, “she was none too pleased.”
“Well, let’s hope she’s well soon.”
The innkeeper turned and pointed toward a back hall. “I can set up your old and familiar quarters for you,” he told Dixon. “But first, I hope you all have time for a brew. Yes?”
Dixon looked at Lucy and then at the twins, his brow raised in question.
“Certainly,” Lucy said.
With Celestine’s arm linked through his, and the others following behind, Ezra wound his way through the crowd to a table at the back of the room. Once everyone was seated, he motioned for Nancy to bring drinks.
“So what brings you here?” he asked. He grinned at Dixon. “I’m reminded that wherever you go, trouble seems to follow.”
“Ha ha ha!” Dixon laughed. “Well, hopefully not this time.”
“When we were last in the city,” Reigna said, “we left Galen Dax and Aliza Kensey in charge of the Oathtakers that stayed here to train.”
“I’d heard that, yes,” Ezra said. “You made excellent choices with those two.”
“Agreed. In any case, we’ve come to see how they’re faring, and to bring them the latest news we’ve received from Liam and Rafal who are now in Chiran.”
“I’m happy to hear that they made their way there safely,” Ezra said.
Lucy leaned in. She explained that Liam and Rafal reported of Chiranian troops they had reaso
n to believe might enter Oosa before long, near Ethanward.
“Have you got anyone stationed in that general area?” she asked the innkeeper.
Grimacing, he shook his head. “Unfortunately, no longer.”
“Why is that?”
Nancy arrived with a tray laden with food and drink. After leaning it on the edge of the table, she deposited a sturdy earthenware mug before each of the innkeeper, Celestine, and their visitors. Then she filled the steins with cold ale.
“Here you go,” she said, as a rich malt scent filled the air, along with the spicy smell of hops. Next, she put before them all, a basket filled with slices of bread, a platter loaded with chunks of succulent hot, roasted pork, and a stack of plates, knives and forks.
“It’s quite chilly out, and I thought a snack here, might help to warm you up,” she added as, finally, she deposited a jar of a warm, spicy sauce in the center of the table.
“Yes, it seems winter is taking hold,” Ezra said. “Thank you, Nancy.”
Dixon inhaled deeply “It looks—and smells—great.”
“I’ll say!” Reigna exclaimed.
“Enjoy yourselves, now,” Nancy said before whisking off to attend to other guests.
“Where were we?” Lucy asked. “Oh, yes, Ezra, you were going to tell us why you haven’t any spies at the border near Ethanward.”
He leaned back, nonchalantly. “The criminal element has run rampant in those parts for some time now,” he said. “Quite a number of refugees have made their way into Oosa around that area. Many of the former locals moved on.”
“We saw some of that when we passed through there on our way to Shimeron,” Lucy said. She proceeded to explain how the girls’ oldest sister, Vida, with her Oathtaker, Clarimonde, traveled with them from there, to the palace.
Dixon picked up the stack of plates, kept one, and then passed the others to Reigna, who sat to his right. She took one, handed the remainder to Eden at her other side, and then reached for the platter of shredded roast pork that Dixon offered her.
“From time to time, over the years,” the innkeeper said, “Vida and Clarimonde provided my people with information. I’d begun to worry for their safety. So I’m glad to hear they’re at the palace now.”
“Yes,” Lucy agreed.
“I actually lost two men to traveling marauders in that area, not long ago.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yes, well, that’s when I discontinued sending any more of my people that way. It seems that when control broke down, thieves took over the roadways. Had you not been in such a large group when you traveled through, you’d likely have fallen victim yourselves. My people just stay away now.” The innkeeper scowled. “Unfortunately that means that we get little news from those parts.”
“We arranged for some of our troops to head that way,” Lucy said. Then she turned to the twins. “Let’s not forget to have Effie and Fleet send some flits to join Marshall’s camp there,” she said.
“Good thinking,” Reigna said. Then she glanced at the food. “Goodness, enough of business for now. Let’s eat!”
Chapter Fourteen
Reigna swung her sword with all her force. On contact, the reverberation of metal-on-metal shook her. It vibrated through her being. Jumping back, her arm dropped from the weight of her weapon. Her thoughts momentarily fuzzy, her eyes unfocused, she took in a deep breath and then pulled her blade up again. Growling, she charged back into the fray.
“Stop. Stop! Stoooop!”
The force behind her too great to halt abruptly, she leaned sideways, then fell over, landing on her shoulder. She rolled, still gripping the handle of her sword with both hands. Sawdust billowed, filling her mouth and nose, choking her.
“Are you all right?” Dax ran to her side.
Coughing, she got to her hands and knees. She glanced up, panting. She coughed again, then spit out a mouthful of dirt and wood chips.
“Yes, I’m fine. And—I think I understand now.” Her breath clouded up in the cold air.
“It’s like I was telling you,” he said, “you haven’t the advantage of weight on your side. You’ll need—”
“I know. I know.” She put her hand out to stop him. “I know. I need to dance my way through, not barge my way through.”
“Exactly. That’s why I wanted you to see what happens when you charge like that, wielding the weight of a real, and not a practice, sword.”
He reached for her hand. “Here,” he said, helping her to her feet. “You’re taller than the average woman, which is to your benefit in many ways, but you haven’t the bulk of the average man to go along with it. Your strength lies not in brute force, but in finesse. Remember, you are an artist,” he added, holding her gaze. “Use those skills you’ve been taught so well, and steer clear of allowing others to convince you to the contrary.”
She hung her head, her chest still heaving. “Yes, I see. I just get anxious, I guess.”
Lucy approached. She brushed sawdust and ice crystals off Reigna’s arms and back. “Have you had enough for the day yet?” she asked her. Then she turned to Dax. “It’s a good thing you stopped when you did. We can’t have her hurt.”
“I understand,” he said. “Now, if the two of you will excuse me?” He bobbed his head, then walked off.
“Just give me a minute, Lucy,” Reigna said, leaning over, her hands on her thighs, still gasping for air. “I’ll be fine. And Dax has been careful. He was showing me—” She stopped short, startled, when glancing Lucy’s way, she found her looking off into the distance with widened eyes and her mouth gaping open.
“What is it?” she asked her, standing up straight.
Lucy pressed her palm to her chest. “Ahhh . . . Oh . . . nothing.” She shook her head. “Nothing.”
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Do I?” She turned back. “Huh. Well, no matter.”
Reigna stole a glance in the direction in which Lucy had been looking. “Did you see something—or perhaps, someone?”
“Me?” Her eyes flickered out again for the briefest moment. “Oh, no. No, never mind.” She tucked her hair behind her ear in a sort of nervous gesture. “Now—”
“You’ll forgive me for saying, that you appear to be working to convince yourself as much as to convince me.”
After stealing another look away, Lucy commented, “Oh, it’s . . . nothing. Now, let’s get your sister and be on our way. Dixon is expecting us. Unfortunately, as I’m running late, I’ll have to reschedule a meeting with Salus—a healer and an old acquaintance of mine.”
They ambled across sanctuary’s training grounds, toward the archery fields. As they approached each lane, the archer there awaiting a turn, glanced their way and acknowledged them with a wave or a curt bow.
Finally spotting her twin at the far end, Reigna picked up her pace, motioning for Lucy to do the same.
When they arrived, they found a woman, one of the arms-trainers, at Eden’s side.
Eden stood, with the string of her bow pulled back and resting against the tip of her nose, and her hand anchored to the back of her jawbone. “Like this?” she asked.
“Yes, that’s right,” the woman said. “In truth, you have good form, but if you tweak the stance you’ve been using just a bit—just like you are right now—I think you’ll discover that you’re even better. So, go ahead now.”
Eden focused. She adjusted her aim and then loosed her arrow.
“Bullseye!” Reigna cried out seconds later.
Her twin turned to her, beaming. “Reigna, you’ve got to try this!” she exclaimed. “Fabiana is amazing. A few minor adjustments and she’s got me shooting like that!” She pointed at the target.
Smirking, Reigna held her hand up and out. “We’ve been over this, Eden. I’m no archer. I’ll leave that to you, while I spend my time improving on those things relating to where my talents lie.”
A man ran toward them. He stopped just feet away. “A report has co
me in from the border,” he said, “and Dax and Aliza asked me to find you.”
Eden handed her bow and quiver off to Fabiana, then grabbed Reigna’s arm. “Let’s go then,” she said, setting off, motioning for Lucy to follow.
Back when Ehyeh tested the twins, while they were lost in The Tearless, groups of Oathtakers traveled across Oosa, seeking to find all the remaining Oathtakers and Select in the realm that they could. Most of those they found agreed to meet in the City of Light, arriving there just days before the earthshaking that occurred when the twins found Ehyeh’s favor and therefore, came into their powers. Since then, the City of Light in general, and sanctuary in particular, overflowed with the newcomers, as most had chosen to stay on so that they could train in preparation of meeting the threat from Chiran.
Lucy and the twins, now arm-in-arm, rushed through the crowds, across the portion of the grounds the Oathtakers had traditionally used to train young men and women who sought to join their order.
The facilities sat to one side of the main sanctuary building. At its other side sat a library and research center where, in days past, students attended classes and studied, in hopes of earning their Oathtaker credentials. They, as well as their instructors, stayed in the nearby dormitory, along with the occasional traveling sanctuary guest. A few oldtimers who’d committed their lives to Ehyeh’s cause had also chosen to live on site. But now, the residence hall overflowed with all the recent newcomers.
When they reached the research center, Lucy came to a sudden halt. Surprised at her abruptness, the twins both stumbled.
Before fully falling, Eden regained her balance. She turned to Lucy, her brow furrowed. “What was that all about? I nearly tripped!”
Lucy stood stock still, gazing into the distance, her mouth opening and closing, but with no sound coming out.
Reigna grabbed her elbow and turned her around. “What is it?”
She dropped her head in her hands and shook it. “I’m sorry, girls. I’m just . . . distracted today, I guess.”
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