“Taelia told us about your memory loss. She is just as distressed. Worried about what happened to you. You really don’t remember her? She is your wife. I witnessed your joining on Roberion’s ship. Don’t you remember that?”
“I don’t, nor any of you.” Finn stared at Marianille. “I have lost my way. I have no choice but to stay the course.” He smiled, though it felt strained. “And hope some enemy I don’t know doesn’t decide to kill me for a reason I don’t remember.”
“I am watching your back, Captain.”
“For some reason, that is reassuring. You must watch the grand duke’s back as well; there is something not quite right though I haven’t discovered what yet, and he is exposed.”
“As the Captain commands.”
“When is the best time to speak to Scholar Taelia?”
“She enjoys the sun here in this garden at about two in the afternoon when others are waiting for an audience with the grand duke.”
“Advise her that I will join her tomorrow at two.”
“Yes, Captain,” Marianille said, turning to leave.
“Marianille, the scholar asked me if I had found Birlerion. Who is Birlerion?”
Marianille paused, a sad smile on her face. “Birlerion is my brother and your friend. He was taken by the Ascendants while protecting you at the Watch Towers. He’s been missing for almost half a year.”
Finn stared at her. “Birler?” he asked slowly, thinking about the terrible injuries the man was purported to have received and the systematic refusal to advance him.
Marianille stiffened. “Birler? Is he here?”
“Come with me.” Finn rose and led the way to the guard barracks.
Marianille gave a small shriek as she saw her brother and rushed into his arms whilst his companions hooted at them.
“Birlerion, where have you been?” She gasped as she saw his scarred face, and his deep blue eyes. “Birler,” she said, horrified, holding his face in her hands. “What did they do to you?”
Birler frowned at her. “Marian?” he asked, uncertainly.
“Yes, we’ve been so worried. We lost sight of you. What happened?”
Birler stared at her. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you in Vespers with Leyandrii. Did they reassign you?”
Marianille stepped back in shock as she realised Birler thought he was living in the past, that he had no idea he was a Sentinal. She stared at him and then at the Captain with a queer smile. “You know, it has some sense of symmetry. Niallerion would have it that you two are a balance, tightly aligned at all times, and I think he is right. You do seem to mirror each other.” Her eyes widened. “Just as you did with Guerlaire, is that your purpose, Birlerion? To always shield the Captain?”
Birler stiffened under her hand. “What did you call me?”
“That’s who you are; Sentinal Birlerion, my brother, the Captain’s right hand. Still performing your duty, even though you don’t know it,” she breathed as the pair stared at her in shock.
“Marguerite said to wait here for the Captain. She said he needed support. I’m waiting for Guerlaire.”
“Guerlaire isn’t here right now. You’re in Retarfu, Birlerion.”
“No, yes.” Birler looked confused. “Marguerite said to hold true, to stay. I have to survive to support the Captain.”
“Oh Birler, what have they done to you?” she whispered, watching him with concern.
“You are supporting me, Birler. I am your captain. Don’t worry, you are doing what you have been asked to do,” Finn said, trying to alleviate some of Birler’s confusion.
Marianille smiled and lightly tugged Birler’s beard. “I will say I prefer you without the beard; this makes you look a lot older.”
Birler blushed, and Marianille laughed even more. “Oh, Birler, I’ve missed you.” She hugged him again. Birler’s hug was more assured as he held her tight. She felt him shudder as his grip tightened. “Wait until I tell Tagerill; he will be so relieved.”
“Tage? Is he alright?”
“Of course he isn’t, you numbskull. He’s worried about you.”
“Ah, Marianille, I think Birler also has a few memory gaps, so you need to bear with us,” Finn said.
Marianille nodded. “You ought to keep apart when you are around the Ascendants. If you are together, they will recognise you both. They only know you, Captain. Birlerion is unrecognisable in this uniform and with his lovely blue eyes. I’d forgotten your eyes were such a deep blue. We need to keep him hidden for as long as possible.”
“You recognised him,” Finn said.
“He’s my brother,” Marianille said. “I’d know him anywhere, even with a beard and more scars.” She smoothed her fingers over his eye.
Birler leaned against her hand, soothed by her words. “Hidden from what?” he murmured.
Marianille looked at Finn. “Depends on what the Captain’s planning.”
Finn shrugged. “Protect the grand duke whilst we try to figure out what’s going on.”
Later that evening, Niallerion went in search of Birlerion. Birlerion! He was returned safe and well. Relief flowed through him, even though Birlerion’s presence was still muted in his senses. Marianille had explained that Birlerion no longer had silver eyes, but Niallerion didn’t believe it. He wanted to speak to his friend himself.
He found Birlerion on sentry duty in the main hall. Striding across the hall, he was relieved to see Birlerion’s face light up as he recognised Niallerion.
“Nialler, what are you doing here?”
“I am so glad to see you, Birlerion.”
“Why do people keep calling me that? My name is Birler.”
Niallerion embraced him, hugging Birlerion hard. He exhaled, glad he was real and not a figment of his imagination. “Because that is your name. You are a Sentinal like I am, and your name is Birlerion. Though I think the question is more what are you doing here? Dressed as an Elothian guard?”
Birler grimaced and glanced around the hall. “Keep your voice down. I’m in disguise. Waiting for Guerlaire.”
In disguise? It was certainly a good one. Niallerion wouldn’t have recognised him, if Marianille hadn’t warned him. Observing his friend, Niallerion gripped his shoulder and gave him a slight shake. His gut tightened at the ugly scar above his deep blue eyes.
“Guerlaire is not coming, Birlerion. He was lost with Leyandrii over three thousand years ago.”
Birler stiffened. “No, that’s not possible.”
Niallerion tightened his grip as Birlerion tried to pull away. “Look at my eyes, Birlerion. I have silver eyes. The mark of the Lady. I am a Sentinal as are you and Marianille. Jerrol is the new Lady’s Captain. You are guarding Jerrol.”
“Jerrol? I don’t know anyone called Jerrol. Captain Finn is my unit commander.”
“Finn is Jerrol. They are the same person. He has Guerlaire’s sword.”
“No, he doesn’t. I would recognise it, if he did.”
Niallerion unsheathed the sword he had brought with him and held it up so Birlerion could see it. “This is Jerrol’s sword.”
Eyes narrowing, Birler took the sword. A flash of blue sped down the blade and it visibly vibrated in his grip. “It recognises you,” Niallerion said, gently.
“Why do you have it if Finn is the Captain?”
Niallerion began explaining, summarising the last year of events as succinctly as he could. Birlerion shook his head in denial and Niallerion talked faster. “Tagerill is in Deepwater with Jennery. Jennery and Alyssa took guardianship of Deepwater. Alyssa’s brother Simeon is the Lord of Greens. Versillion is with him.”
“But what of my parents, Warren and Melis? And Penner? And … and Kaf’enir?”
“I’m so sorry, Birlerion. They lived three thousand years ago. We slept in our sentinal trees all that time, only to be woken in time of need. Leyandrii needs us now.”
“It can’t be,” Birler whispered, his eyes wide and dark in his pale face. He thrust the sword back at Niallerion as if
it burned him.
“I know it’s difficult to accept. A shock all at once.”
“If what you say is true, what happened to me? Why don’t I have silver eyes? Why don’t I remember any of this, yet I know you?”
“We don’t know. You were abducted by the Ascendants at the Watch Towers. You were protecting Jerrol when they overpowered you. You’ve been missing for nearly half a year. From the conversations I overheard, you were put to torture. They beat you repeatedly, trying to enspell you, until at some point you let go of Leyandrii.”
Birler stiffened. “Never. I would never betray her so.”
“Birlerion, it was not your fault. The Ascendants beat you near to death, by all accounts.” A door slammed deep in the palace and Niallerion inhaled as Birlerion flinched. His friend was unrecognisable, in appearance as well as behaviour. He reminded Niallerion of when he had first met him at the academy, raw and so full of potential.
“Marguerite said to wait for the Captain; to survive,” Birler whispered. “I-I thought Kaf’enir was silent because she was so far away.” He fell silent, his expression withdrawn.
“Don’t hide from me, Birlerion.” Niallerion hurried to drag Birlerion back to the conversation. He didn’t like the stark expression on his face. Losing Kaf’enir, that bond with his Darian, would be as painful as losing his parents. If Birlerion threw up his mental shields, Niallerion would not be able to get through to him. He suddenly realised how bad it must have been for the Ascendants to breach them and he swallowed. “Marguerite forgot to tell you which Captain you needed to wait for. Jerrol is the current Lady’s Captain. You must protect him from the Ascendants, Birlerion. They mustn’t capture him. They want him to shred the Veil.”
“What Veil?”
Niallerion dragged his hand through his hair. It was impossible to explain everything at once. “The Veil Leyandrii drew down to banish all magic and the Ascendants when she destroyed the Bloodstone.” Niallerion held up his hands. “And before you ask me what was the Bloodstone, I don’t know. Leyandrii did something right at the very end. You were in Vespers with her. We don’t know what you all did, but you destroyed the city, and Leyandrii and Guerlaire fell.”
“No.” Birlerion stepped back, his face grey. “They couldn’t have.”
Niallerion flapped his hands, trying to soothe and only making Birlerion retreat further.
Echoing footsteps interrupted them, and Niallerion cast a worried glance over his shoulder. “I have to go. I’ll explain more tomorrow. Birlerion, please. Try and remember. You must protect Jerrol, I mean Captain Finn, at all costs. If anything happens, bring him to me or Marianille. The Ascendants mustn’t get the Captain.”
As the footsteps grew closer Niallerion cursed and then darted down the corridor leaving a shaken Birlerion to step back into position. Pausing at the base of the back stairs, Niallerion leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. He wasn’t sure how much of his story, if any, Birlerion had believed.
He would have to try again tomorrow.
31
Grand Duke’s Chambers, Retarfu
Each morning at seven, Finn reported to the grand duke’s chambers. Randolf had taken to eating his breakfast as Finn updated him. “How long have you been here now, Finn?”
“Two weeks, sir.”
“Two weeks? It seems longer.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you any closer to solving Elothia’s problems?” he asked, a glint in his eye.
“I didn’t think you wanted to hear my thoughts on the subject, Your Grace,” Finn said politely.
“Did I give you short shift last time? My apologies, it all sounds so easy and yet when you try to execute it, it doesn’t work.”
“What did you want to achieve, sir?”
“Stop this nonsense with Vespiri. I can’t get the generals to listen to me. They started a second front on the borders with Stoneford, for no reason that I can see.”
“Was it as the behest of your advisors, sir? Are they directing your generals?”
The grand duke frowned at Finn. “You don’t like them, do you?”
“What hold do they have on you, Your Grace? There is no reason for you to give them such free rein,” Finn asked slowly.
“You overstep yourself, captain, though you surmise correctly. How to get a boot off your neck? That’s the question.”
“Let me help you, sir.”
“You can’t. That will be all,” Randolf said, throwing his napkin on the table.
“Yes, sir.” Finn left. He worked off his frustration on the training field before returning to change for his meeting with Scholar Taelia in the orange garden. Fortunately, for the last week he had been alternating the guards in the audience room, mostly because he didn’t want to be predictable. At least his absence shouldn’t be commented on, and it gave his men good experience to hear what their grand duke was being asked to solve. He wouldn’t be missed while he met with the scholar, and hopefully no one would see them.
He was early. Seated in the orange garden, he listened to the water, the music soft in his ears. He looked up as he felt her presence, standing as Taelia approached. Marianille and another tall silver-eyed guard paused at the end of the path, giving them some semblance of privacy. His heart eased at the sight of her, his soul mate. He frowned at the thought. How was that possible?
“Scholar Taelia,” he said.
“Jerrol.” She instinctively reached for him.
He hesitated before grasping her hands and settling her on the bench.
“I’m sorry,” she said, as her face dropped. She withdrew her hands. “I keep forgetting.”
“Don’t be,” he said. “I feel I know you, and yet I don’t.” He sighed. “I don’t know who I am. I’m not Jerrol. I’m Finn.”
“Finn was the name you used when you went into Terolia undercover; Fin’erol,” Taelia said. She gripped her hands together so tight, her knuckles gleamed white. “I do hope that you will find your way back to me. I know you will, eventually. I have to be patient.”
“Be patient,” repeated Finn. “I seem to have asked a lot of people to wait for me.”
“No doubt for a good reason,” Taelia said, straightening up. She took a deep breath. “We shouldn’t be seen together, so let’s keep this brief. First, I discovered that Torsion is an Ascendant called Tor’asion. He tried to hide it, but he betrayed your trust. It’s obvious now that we know. He was your friend, Jerrol, but no matter what, you can’t trust him; don’t believe anything he says. We believe he is enspelling the grand duke.
“Second, you asked me to look for something for you; something that would be hidden in the lower levels amongst the history left by the Lady. Well, I found something. It’s not typical of the Lady, but I found a Guardian of the Land.”
Finn raised his head, frowning. “The Land?”
“Yes, she is supposed to be here in Retarfu, helping the grand duke, but she is missing.”
“She?”
“Yes, a Guardian of the Land, a follower of the sister. She keeps the balance between the seasons.”
“Guin’yyfer,” Finn whispered.
“Guin’yyfer?”
“The grand duke was due to be joined, but the Lady Guin’yyfer disappeared, suddenly. No one seems to know what happened to her. What would you bet that the Ascendants took her? They are holding something over his head, but he won’t say what.”
Taelia stared at him, her mouth open. “He wouldn’t risk a guardian let alone his own heart. What a position to be in.”
“One that you seem to live every day. Taelia, I am so sorry I got you into this.”
“You never got me into this. I came because I had a job to do, just as you do.” She gently touched his face, her fingers smoothing over his lips and hesitantly stroking his unfamiliar beard. His face was very close to hers, and she inhaled deeply, as if drawing in the scent that was uniquely Jerrol. “I’ve missed you, my husband. Please come back soon.” Her voice wavered and then
she kissed him on the lips as if it was the most natural thing ever.
His arms closed around her, his heart heady with her scent and their kiss grew more urgent, and all of his memories sifted down into his head as if they had been waiting, poised, ready for the right button to be pressed.
Stabbing pain shot through his head and he released her, groaning as the knowledge hit him.
“Jerrol? What is it?” Taelia grabbed him as he slid to the ground. She followed him down onto her knees, his unexpected weight dragging her forward.
“Just got the records back,” he gasped, hugging his body as he tried to assimilate everything at once. He couldn’t focus; images flew through his mind at a horrendous rate, making him feel nauseous. His mouth watered and his head pounded. He moaned.
“Niallerion? Marianille? Help me!” Taelia called as she tried to hold him. He shuddered. The reaction so strong Taelia had difficulty holding him still, and then suddenly, he went limp in her arms, and Taelia’s heart lurched.
Stones skittered as the Sentinals rushed towards her. “What happened?” Marianille asked as she dropped to the gravel and reached for Jerrol’s wrist. Niallerion hovered over them.
“Is he alright? Tell me he is alright.” Taelia demanded. “He didn’t injure himself when he fell, did he? All his memories came back and he collapsed.”
“He’s unconscious but his pulse is strong, if a bit erratic. I can’t see that he hit his head,” Marianille said as she ran her hands over Jerrol.
“Let’s get him inside,” Niallerion said as he knelt beside them. “Away from prying eyes.” With a grunt, he lifted Jerrol and steadied himself.
Marianille and Taelia led the way, distracting anyone they met, so Niallerion could slip unnoticed back to Taelia’s rooms.
Jerrol regained consciousness and lay for a moment as he remembered collapsing in the orange garden. A thrill ran through him as he remembered who he was. The uncertainty that had dogged him for months, bled away. He was Jerrol Haven, the Lady’s Captain, Commander of the King’s Justice and the Oath Keeper. He stiffened as he remembered the Lady had asked him to forsake her and then had sent him on this mission. Left him to be beaten senseless and then dumped in the middle of Elothia. No, that couldn’t be right. She wouldn’t do that to him. Something must have gone awry. Something unforeseen.
Sentinals Justice: Book Three of the Sentinal Series Page 24
