The Edict

by P. J. Keyworth

  “The elf is joining with her now. Both of them have such mad looks, brother.”

  “Indeed, brother, indeed.”

  Both mouths of the twin men jerked upwards in simultaneous grins. Zeb threw a chunk of bread at their heads, they ducked smoothly, allowing the food to sail past.

  “Zeb! You’re showing the prisoner bad manners.”

  Zeb frowned at the irony.

  “And don’t waste good food,” said Jaik, picking up the bread from the floor and dipping it in his own bowl of stew before tearing off part of it with his teeth.

  “So, why are you here, woman?” asked Jaik.

  “What’s your name?” his brother chirped up.

  “Who am I to answer, you, or him?” asked Kiara, her arms still folded in judgment across her chest.

  “Me,” said Jaik simply.

  “Him,” accepted his brother, still chewing.

  “I ran away,” said Kiara simply. She didn’t want to have to recount her story. All it did was remind her that she was sentenced to return home. That she had no hope.

  “And made friends with that Reluwyn criminal did you?”

  Kiara gave them a withering look.

  “Or not friends.” Jaik widened his eyes as if he’d stepped on something spikey.

  “That man is like all the rest of them. His mind only works in two ways, killing and…” Kiara didn’t finish. She couldn’t. Besides, the other thing the man had been suggesting to her had scared her. The way he had looked at her was intense and unyielding but the anger he had shown her before had still been there. She had no doubt that had she still been in the same cell with him, woman or not, he would have made her suffer for the ills against him.

  The twins had fallen silent for the first time, exchanging glances and looking slightly uncomfortable. Jaik tried to fill the silence.

  “He seems to have escaped from the palace y’know. Fidel’s going to interrogate him now to find out who he helped to escape with him, who could be important enough for Imperial Guards to be after them.”

  Zeb glanced across.

  “The palace? He can’t have, I encountered him in Grûl like I told you,” said Kiara, a frown appearing on her face. A matching frown appeared on Zeb’s but he said nothing.

  “Why’d you run? Edict of Maidens?” asked Jaik, lifting a large hand to tug at his hair meaningfully.

  Kiara flushed a little, her hands drawn unconsciously to her head. Her hair was touching her shoulders now, nowhere near as short as it had been yesterday, but still too short for a woman. Zeb possessed some kind of magic she was sure, but she had hardly had a moment to ask him about it. When she had checked her leg as he had bade her do on coming into the kitchen, she had unwrapped the bandage to find nothing there but a fine silver scar where the wound had been.

  “Leave her alone you rascals.” A woman came over to the table with another loaf of fresh bread. “I’m sorry for my brothers, I’m Ria.” She held out a flour-covered hand.

  Kiara, not having experienced such polite behaviour for days, took her hand with some hesitation.

  “Come away from them, you can sit with me.” Ria beckoned her to a second table, smaller than the long one at which they sat. Kiara moved her untouched food over to that surface and sat across from the brown-haired woman.

  “They mean no harm, they just like to tease. It’s always getting them into trouble around here.”

  As if in confirmation, a plate clattered against the wall. Kiara spun round to see an irritated Zeb glowering at the twins he had targeted.

  Turning back she stared ahead thinking on her future. She and Ria sitting in amicable silence for a time.

  “You should eat something,” said Ria finally, mopping up the last of her stew with a piece of bread.

  Kiara wished she could. Her stomach was churning, her heart unable to keep a steady rhythm. The thief’s words had shaken her, and the Commander’s words had determined her fate. She was to be sent back to face capture and possible execution. It would have been quicker to have been killed by the thief on the side of the road. He’d be happy. She wouldn’t have anything left to fear.

  All they needed was Kiara’s name to track down her relatives, but she had no intention of telling them. She’d be dumped in the woods without protection, and if they were swarming with as many soldiers as the twins had said she’d be caught in no time.

  Despite these thoughts, Kiara managed a few mouthfuls, if only to please Ria. The woman was nice, she chatted away merrily, not seeming to care if Kiara was listening or not. She laughed and joked, and when she smiled Kiara could see the resemblance she had to her brothers. They were all grown, their parents moved on to the next life, and they had been part of the Laowyn Resistance for several years. If Kiara were allowed to stay, she imagined her and Ria might be friends.

  Kiara pushed the plate away. Ria took it up to wash it, leaving Kiara alone for a moment, but that moment did not last long. The brothers came over to tease her more, until Zeb shooed them away.

  “Get back to the Commander, you have new orders to receive, don’t you?”

  “Such a sour one Zeb.” Kalev said in annoyance, obeying nonetheless. Jaik followed him closely behind.

  “There aren’t many women here for them to see, and those that are here have brought their families. A young single woman has them drooling.”

  Kiara reddened. “I’m dressed as a boy!”

  “Now your hair’s growing, you’re looking more feminine,” Zeb’s mouth softened.

  “Yes,” said Kiara and planted her hands on the table. “I wanted to talk to you about that…”

  “We haven’t time,” Zeb interrupted, “While we’re alone I have much to tell you.” He sat down beside her, his voice dropping to a whisper. “The Commander will not change her mind, despite my pleading on your behalf.”

  Kiara was a little surprised that Zeb had done so.

  “You said that returning would put your life in danger- perhaps even that of your family.” A shadow passed over Zeb’s face. “I will not let you do so.”

  Kiara’s heart was beating faster. Her blue eyes widened as she realised where the conversation was headed.

  “If I can get you a Resistance uniform, I may well be able to sneak you out the main entrance. Very few of the Laowyn Resistance have seen you, fewer with your long hair. I can say you’re a new arrival.”

  “Once we’re out, I’d have to leave you for a brief time. There are horses kept in caves near the entrance, and if I steal one you’ll have a chance of evading both our scouting parties and the Imperial Guards. It’s an almost impossible plan.”

  “Better almost impossible than certain death.”

  Zeb nodded grimly.

  “Why are you helping me though? Won’t you get into trouble with the Commander?”

  “Yes, but I’m not unused to being in trouble. Besides, if I can help I will.”

  Kiara felt the admission had layered meaning, but she had no time to think upon his words.

  “We must move. Ikara wishes to speak to you again soon, and Fidel is busy with the Reluwyn. This is the best time for escape.”

  Zeb laughed, as if they had just shared a joke. Kiara noted the action was unfamiliar to him.

  “Come, I will show you over our base,” he spoke loud enough for the kitchen workers to hear. Picking up his cudgel from a nearby surface, he guided her from the room.

  They walked down various corridors, Kiara deciding not to question the plan - no matter how curious she was. She had no idea where they were but guessed they were winding their way slowly upwards so as not to attract suspicion. Zeb talked loudly, pointing out various features of the base, such as how they extracted their water from an underground stream, where the families slept, how these earth-caves had been excavated since the Laowyn had been conquered.

  He drew her off into a smaller side room where uniforms were hung from wooden pegs. He left her for a few moments while she changed from her week-old clothes, thankful
for the feel of clean material against her skin. She hadn’t washed in days so despite the clean clothes the smell lingered.

  They moved on from there and soon the entrance opened out before them. The doorway to the outside was covered by hanging vines, allowing thin slithers of daylight in.

  “Your purpose?” queried the guard.

  “Scouting.”

  “Who’s this?”

  Zeb stuck to the plan. “A new arrival – she needs to gather herbs for the kitchen”

  The guard looked unconvinced for a moment, but a call from a man on duty distracted him and he waved Zeb and Kiara past without any more questioning.

  “Easier than I thought,” muttered Zeb.

  Whatever took the guard’s attention from them had worked a miracle and Zeb didn’t intend to challenge it. He drew Kiara off to a small clearing, a short way away from the entrance.

  Kiara breathed in the fresh air, looking about her at a forest bathed in afternoon sun. Beams draped themselves over the leaves and grasses, falling through the canopy above and hurting her eyes a little. There was a golden haze of light left in the air and insects navigated drowsily through it.

  Kiara looked left and then right. She couldn’t see or hear any movement.

  “Stay off the roads for now.” Zeb was dragging a pony towards her. “Imperial Guards are patrolling all the thoroughfares of the forest.” Zeb grasped her leg and hoisted her into the saddle. “Though I prefer your hair longer, you’d better cut it again when you get the chance. You look less and less like a boy.”

  Kiara nodded.

  “Use my dagger to do it when you pause for rest, but now you must ride hard.”

  “Thank you,” Kiara bent down and put a hand upon Zeb’s that was busily securing the packs and tying the dagger to her saddle. Her eyes looked into his. Something in his moved, the hardness of the mysterious elf dropped for a moment. “Thank you for this. I shall never forget it.” Zeb gazed at her for a moment and then turned back to securing the packs without answering.

  That was when Kiara saw something. A dark figure slipping between the trees.

  “Zeb…” She dropped a reign to point but her warning was too late. The Reluwyn leapt from his covering, tackling the elf, causing the pony to rear.

  Kiara leant forward, heart racing wildly, desperate to stay on. “Zeb!”

  The elf was quick and agile. He fought nastily, scratching and kicking the Reluwyn who was almost double his size. He tried to dart out of the Reluwyn’s grasp but the thief’s large hands closed in around him.

  “Run!” Zeb’s command was cut-off as a fist impacted his face. Blood flew from his nose, spattering his opponent, his eyes closing as he fell.

  When the thief turned upon her his eyes didn’t contain the anger she expected. They were gleaming in a way that frightened her, the pony skittered sideways, branches scratched at her face. She needed to run. She knew she must. But the sight of Zeb’s unconscious body stilled her. The Reluwyn was still crouched over him like a wildcat over a carcass.

  He rose then, his shoulders broad, his height challenging, his mouth set in a sneer. A smile licked up the sides of his lips. “You had the same idea – except my escape was impeded, not helped, by my captors. Tell me woman - do you still not wish to meet your Prince?”

  Kiara tried to still the pony who jumped and banged against shrubs and trunks. Even the animal could sense the menace of this man.

  “Leave him,” Kiara said, “Come and get me.” The challenge raised the temperature of her blood, anger for Zeb overcoming the fleeting fear she’d felt.

  She turned the pony quickly and began riding away. The hoof beats of her pony and the whipping of leaves was all that she heard. That was until she heard others, many others. When the trees thinned she saw Imperial Guards surrounding her. Then suddenly, one darted in front and she yanked her pony up, bring him to a sliding halt.

  Her life was forfeit.

  “Dismount.” One of the guards circled his horse to face her.

  She did as she was bade, grabbing the dagger secretly as she did so. Holding it hilt downwards, she hid the blade up the length of her arm. If they came to take her she’d kill them.

  “Drop the blade.”

  She recognised the voice in shock, turning to see the thief striding towards her, his breathing heavy from running.

  Her eyes switched between the troops and the lone Reluwyn.

  All of them suddenly bowed their heads. What was going on? Had everyone gone mad?

  “I said, drop the blade.”

  He was getting nearer. Too near. She didn’t understand what was happening but if he was in league with the troops then she’d kill him first. She didn’t think anymore, she just ran, flying into him, blade raised.

  He was ready for her. His hand came up, clamping hard and fast to her wrist. The other came about her waist wrenching her towards him.

  “I’ve never had a woman in the woods before.”

  Kiara’s heart was racing wildly. Her blood ran cold. The look in his eyes ensured her he wasn’t lying. She tried to move the arm that held the dagger. He twisted it painfully forcing her to drop the blade and causing a burning ache across her recently healed shoulder.

  “But, being as my troops are already upon us and there is no escape for either of us, I have another idea for you.” His top lip curled into a sneer.

  “Your troops?” Kiara’s voice sounded more faint-hearted than she could bear but she couldn’t help it. Nothing made sense.

  “Yes, mine, and now you’re my prisoner.”

  “Wh…what?” Damn it! Why couldn’t she pull herself together? Who was this man?

  The question must have been clear in her eyes for he answered it without her needing to ask.

  “I am Trevisian Alakvalto, Prince of the Empire of Emrilion, heir of King Emril.”

  Kiara’s mouth fell open in disbelief. It couldn’t be true. It couldn’t be. She didn’t want to wait and find out the truth. She twisted in his arms, writhing beneath his grip, desperate to get away from him.

  “Kill me! Oh, kill me now,” the prayer came out half-panted, half-whispered.

  “Don’t be so hasty.” With a suddenness that surprised her, the Prince flung her away from him. A command was issued by the Prince, lost on Kiara whose vision spun about the forest.

  Before she gained her balance, pain shot through her skull, she wavered, and then blackness descended, her body crumpling into the arms of a waiting soldier.

  Chapter 10

  Kiara woke in a daze. Her eyes fluttered open catching sight of silk hanging in thick swathes above her, floating listlessly in a slow breeze. She turned her head to see where it came from, the movement sending lancing pains through her skull, forcing her to shut her eyes against them. Lovely scents filled her nostrils. The smell of spices and incense, and then of hot chicken and herbs cooking somewhere near. She could feel the softness of the fabric on her skin and the warmth of a fur covering her.

  When she opened them again she saw the richly covered sheets on which she lay, and across from her an ornately carved cabinet and wash stand next to it. There was the hum of far-off voices.

  She raised a hand instinctively to her neck, but finding nothing there to comfort her her brow puckered. Where was her necklace? Where was she? Her mind traced strands of memory. She had been captured once, no, twice now. As she focused on the rich furnishings, she realised that she had never been in a room like this. Her eyes traced the pattern of a tiled mural on the opposite wall. A man and a woman were suspended in it. They were engaging in… Her body convulsed as she flew upright, her hands clutching at the covers as she scanned the room in a panic.

  She pushed her hair away from her face. Zeb. What had happened to Zeb? That’s when she caught sight of someone else. He was sat in the far corner of the room beside a large wooden door with decorative gold handles.

  His eyes were dark, almost black, watching her as a hawk would its prey. Her knuckles turned white as he
r fingers tightened around the fur covering.

  “I was worried my guard had hit you so hard you’d never wake up.” He didn’t look worried. “You’ve been asleep for two days, but as you are awake now, perhaps I should rescind my orders to have the guard beaten.” His fingers were drawn together at their tips, tapping together slowly. She didn’t doubt his cruelty.

  It was definitely the Reluwyn thief, but he looked different. His poor, dirty clothes were gone; he was arrayed in a black silk tunic, the collar and cuffs trimmed with gold. His black hair, which reached his shoulders, was washed and combed back from his face and his beard was trimmed back. He looked clean, in control, but that look of animal ferocity in his eyes was still there.

  “Who are you? Where am I?” Kiara pulled the covers back towards herself, covering the dirty clothes she still wore.

  “I told you who I am.” He raised a hand and gestured to her. “I have already seen it, remember?” That same dark smile.

  Kiara had been protesting his identity but his words made her break off. She looked about herself again. The furnishings, the Reluwyn décor, that mural.

  “What? Don’t you like Reluwyn art?” He had seen her recoil. “Too barbaric for your sensibilities?” he asked scornfully.

  Her eyes filled with fear. Did he know? Was that an allusion to Laowyn culture?

  “Murals of sexual pleasure lay throughout the harem. Get used to them - I intend for you to be here a long time.”

  He couldn’t know. Kiara looked down at the tattered shirt she still wore bound around herself. No one had seen her mark yet. “You can’t be him. You can’t be.”

  He rose, coming towards the bed. She shrank back instinctively, looking around for anything that could be used as a weapon.

  “Don’t you recognise the Prince you hate? You proclaim to know me so well. Why don’t you recognise this barbarian? Trust me, you shall see just how barbaric I can be in the coming days.” He wasn’t looking into her eyes. He was looking at her lips, his gaze rising and falling with their fullness.