"I have found you. Nevin stepped out of the trees and sank to his haunches.
"Yes."
"What is troubling you?"
"Merissa. I am fond of her, Nevin, but I don't love her. I told her that when we were...."
Nevin nodded. Females are females, my brother. Another reason I am glad I prefer males in my bed."
"You cannot get a child on a male."
Nevin turned very serious. I have a child due in the spring."
Isranon looked incredulous. A child? You? But I thought your manhood would not rise for a female."
"It won't.... ordinarily. Do you know how a new battle-clan is made?"
"No."
"Tala herself, Master of Wolves, summons forth all the young males in an area, those who owe no one allegiance. One of them outruns and outfights the others to reach the god's side. He mates with her and she catches...."
Isranon's eyes had grown wide. You, Nevin?"
"Yes. It is a strange feeling when I consider it. She said she will bring the child to me to be reared."
"I wish I had Darmyk. At the very least I should be allowed to see him."
"You will be. Merissa loves you, even if you do not love her. She cannot complain about your other relationships. You are not married."
"Anksha is my wife. And I love her."
"Be careful. She is a lion on love's leash."
Isranon took his flute out and lifted it to his lips, then lowered it again. She is my lion, Nevin. Nothing will change that."
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CHAPTER TWELVE
TRIED AS AN ADULT
Two-thirds of the way to Ildyrsetts with the threat of snow hanging in the air, Haig had begun to notice how tired Nainee seemed of late. She was his finest and favorite nibari. One night as they had first begun a bit of sex play, Haiglike so many of his kindenjoyed combining sex with food, Nainee winced sharply as his finger brushed the edge of her labia. Suspicion flared in Haig. There were certain areas that vampires who tended to leave marks would bite into because the small wounds and scars were more easily hidden there. One of those was the thatch covering the loins or close to it.
"Be still, Nainee, I must look at something, Haig ordered her. Then he gently pressed the hair aside and found it. The bites were small, the size a child would make; five of them placed at the juncture of the inner thigh. His expression tightened.
"What is it?"
"One of the children is feeding on you. Did you know it?"
Nainee's voice trembled. No."
"He's smart this one, already knows where to hide his work. Haig had lost his erection by then, lost all interest in anything except learning which one had violated Nainee. He suspected it was that troublemaker, Stygean. Haig moved to her head, placed both his hands on the side of it, and reached inside her mind. He found a tear in her memories. He was old enough in his powers to spot it. The tear was slight; most might not have noticed it. The little asshole was going to be very good if Anksha allowed him to grow up.
* * * *
As a result of what happened to Nainee, they examined a large percentage of the nibari in the common herd and within several privately owned ones. What they found was evidence that over a dozen of them had been abused, although Nainee was the worst case, except for poor Nolly. None of the others could be pointed firmly at Stygean, but he was generally blamed. He would have eventually killed Nainee at the rate that he was draining her. Nainee was not only a very valuable piece of property, she was also generally loved. Anksha was ready to tear into Stygean and shove him into the ranks of her blood-slaves despite his youth, where he would have withered into death within weeks.
Isranon could barely control the rage simmering in the camp and knew he would have to punish Stygean severely to satisfy all concerned. He called a court to witness what he would do. Isranon looked deeply saddened when they brought Stygean before him. Anksha sat at his side, growling wordlessly. You have brought this on yourself, Stygean. By rights I should have you severed. Instead, I'm ordering you corded and flogged as if you were an adult."
Isranon gestured and Jun brought out a cat-o'-nine-tails, smacking it against his palm with an eager smile.
Stygean paled and then erupted into defiance. I don't care what you do to me! You hear me? I don't care! Stygean spit at Isranon. I need more blood than you're allowing me. Blood and lives. You're not letting me take lives."
Isranon looked shaken for an instant, and then recovered himself. You are old enough for the rites. Which means, you are mature enough for me to give you to Anksha as a blood-slave. Do you wish to become like your father?"
He glowered. I hate you."
"If a life is taken in the rites while you travel with us, then you become Anksha's meat. It does not matter to me that you are only thirteen. Isranon gestured at Haig. Take him out, see that he is corded with seals on them. Ten lashes. Five for damaging your property. Three as justice for Nainee. And two to make him remember it. Make certain that his father is there to watch."
Stygean was dragged out foaming at the mouth in rage. Anksha followed, sending a nibari for Liuthan so that he would be forced to watch this in case he was aiding or abetting his son's activities.
A few minutes later, Isranon went pale as Stygean's screams reached them. Nevin sat down next to him. You're seeing yourself in the boy, Isranon. That is not a good thing to do."
"When I was that age...."
"You were never like him."
"His mother is dead. His father is a blood-slave."
"You're still a blood-slave."
Isranon shook his head. Actually, I'm not. What Anksha and I have is something else. We're more strongly linked than when I was a mere blood-slave. The bond began to shift when my child first woke inside her. Neither of us likes to go for more than a few days without feeding on each other ... our blood mingling. The taste of her ... I've been forcing myself to go to the nibari and others for a drink each day. I used to go weeks without the cravings setting in. Now? I don't know."
"Talk to Amiri."
"I will."
* * * *
Stygean squirmed and struggled as they stripped and corded him. His body shrieked silently as the power was severed from him by the spellcords. Jun viciously tightened the cords until they cut into his thin wrists. A glow of satisfaction lit the vampire's face as he finished. Then Jun dragged Stygean into the center of camp where two poles had been raised and bound his wrists and ankles to them so that he was painfully stretched out. They were punishing him like an adult.
He looked up and saw his father. Liuthan was too weak to stand and two lycans supported him between them. Liuthan's gaze met Stygean's and he seemed sad. Shame flooded the boy. He had promised his father that he would not cause trouble, and he had broken his word. Father!"
Then the cat fell for the first time across Stygean's naked back. The boy stiffened and screamed, pulling at his bonds. The second fell across the first as Haig laid them on, giving him a count of several breaths before the next so that he did not know for certain when it would fall and the anticipation was terrible. By the fifth fall of the hardened leather strip he was screaming himself hoarse and writhing in anguish. Stygean tried to catch his father's eyes, but Liuthan refused to watch. He felt as if his father had turned away from him.
With the pain came a deep exhaustion of the body and spirit. Stygean fought to raise his head as Haig delivered the final blows. He sagged in his bonds and, at the periphery of his vision, he saw his father collapse to the ground. Then darkness came for Stygean and he knew nothing more.
* * * *
Stygean awoke to soft fingers spreading a cool cream over his torn back. He turned his head and saw Randilyn, who had comforted him so often. Randilyn?"
"Call me Randi, my friends do."
Stygean always found her voice sweet and easy on his ears. Feels good, Randi. Thank you."
She smiled at him in a gentle, maternal fashion. They told me that you were to be
left to suffer for a few days, but I could not bear it."
Stygean thought about that. It still surprised him that a nibari should care. My father?"
"Dawnreturning and Amiri reached him in time. He lives, although he's very weak. I don't know how much longer this can keep up."
Stygean felt sorry for the grief he had caused his father, but not for his defiance of Dawnreturning. I am sa'necari. I am sa'necari. They cannot make me what I am not. They cannot take that away from me .
When Randilyn finished with Stygean's back, she helped him reach his father's tent. Every movement set his back off, but he wanted desperately to see for himself that his father was all right. People watched their progress through the camp with hostile eyes. When the children he used to play ball with tried to approach him, their mothersor another nibariswept them up and walked away. Stygean felt very disheartened and his steps dragged more and more as he walked with Randilyn's hand around his shoulders.
"They have a right to feel that way, Randilyn said, watching his face. We don't know who abused the others, but having done it to Nainee, you'll always be the first one suspected."
"It isn't fair. I didn't do the others."
"Then who did? Do you know who killed Nolly? If you know, you should tell me."
Stygean shook his head and lied. I don't know."
"But you will come to me if you find out?"
Stygean shrugged. By then they had reached the tent and Randilyn held the flap open for him. Stygean staggered and nearly fell, but then she was there and supporting him again.
He knelt beside his father's cot and touched him lightly on the cheek. His father turned his head and opened his eyes. That was when Stygean saw the fresh marks on his neck and a cold rage started in his middle.
"I'll be just outside when you need me, Randilyn said, slipping out of the tent.
"She fed, Stygean hissed. You collapse and she feeds."
"Stygean, it was only a little. Just enough to reduce the Presence Pain that had contributed to my collapse. Dawnreturning says I would have died if she had not fed while they worked on me."
"I don't believe it. I hate them."
"I am too tired for this, Liuthan said simply.
Stygean quieted, hugging his father. I am sorry."
"I don't have much breath for this. I don't want to keep telling you things I've already told you. I thought they were going to kill you. When you sagged in your bonds, I thought they had."
"Father..."
Liuthan pressed his finger to Stygean's lips. No, listen. Don't wear me out before I can even speak."
"Yes, Father, Stygean said, struggling with his seething emotions.
"You broke your word to me. You promised you would obey their rules, that you would do what was necessary to stay alive."
Stygean's lips quivered and he brought his shoulders straight and his head up. I am not afraid to die, father. I am sa'necari."
"That is not the point. Liuthan clutched at his arms. I want you to live. I want you to grow old, find a woman to love, have children."
Stygean stiffened. I don't want to talk about this."
Liuthan dropped his hands and closed his eyes. Go away, Stygean. I don't have the strength to keep talking and you are breaking my heart."
"Father!"
"Go away."
Stygean left with his heart hurting as bad as his body . I'll kill at least one of them. I will. I will. Someone important. I am sa'necari.
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ONE MAN'S VICTORY
Stygean healed slowly as they rode north. His feeding on blood had been cut back severely with his secret exposed. His conversations with his father had become more and more awkward and uncomfortable. So he clove to Randilyn as his only friend, often helping her with the herbs and potions, patiently grinding and stirring. Disharyl worked with them also and he seemed to feel her eyes on his back at every moment like daggers. He remembered Liuthan's words about distrusting her.
Randilyn walked him to his tent each evening with Disharyl, whom she dropped off last. Jingen was always waiting for him. Stygean went in and immediately curled up with his pillow clutching it as tightly as a younger child might a beloved stuffed animal in a desperate moment. I hate them, Stygean moaned. I hate them."
"Will you stop saying that? Jingen grumbled, looking up from his book. If you're not going to do anything about it, why say it?"
Jingen put the book away and blew out the lamp. Then he stretched out.
Stygean slowly uncurled. I hate them. Their eyes follow me everywhere."
Jingen yawned, partly in sleep, but largely in boredom, with contempt dripping around the edges of it. So you keep saying."
"I'd like to kill them."
Jingen rolled again onto his elbow and faced Stygean. No, you wouldn't. You haven't the nerve. You're letting that Renunciate turn you into one of the cattle."
"No, I'm sa'necari."
"You wouldn't know it most times. That's what my mother says. He yawned widely. Furthermore, this mess is all your father's fault. Had he sent for his sa'necari all at once, we would have overpowered the furry little bitch. Instead, he sent for us all night long, a few at a time, until all of us were either dead or taken."
Stygean felt chilled. I didn't know."
"Well at this point he probably parrots out whatever words she puts there. She can do that, you know. So you shouldn't take anything your father says too seriously."
Stygean couldn't think. Father .... I want to kill them."
Jingen gave a soft laugh. First you'd have to have a blade. Preferably a hellblade of some kind. Talk to my mother if you're really not one of the cattle. She knows where they keep them. They watch her too closely for her to get to them."
Stygean nodded, his eyes troubled. I will."
* * * *
Randilyn and Disharyl arrived at Stygean's tent and headed for Amiri's wagons. Disharyl kept smiling at Stygean fondly and it made his skin crawl. She tousled his hair and wrapped her arm around his shoulders the same way she did Jingen. Stygean thought for a moment that he would be sick and cringed inside at the touch of her.
"Stygean is a good boy, Disharyl said. Just like my Jingen."
"Yes, Stygean is, Randilyn said.
When they reached the wagons, Amiri already had several things for the morning's work set out. Disharyl filled several kettles with water in which to boil the leaves of certain plants; the herbal infusions that resulted would be bottled.
Amiri left them after they had everything going to attend her morning meeting with Isranon and the other leaders. Randilyn trusted Stygean and took a moment to climb into the wagon for something that had been forgotten: neither sa'necari were going to escape from a camp this size.
"So, little sa'necari, Disharyl hissed in his ear as he bent over the fire near her. Do you really have the nerve to strike at them?"
Stygean tensed, wishing she would not get so close to him. Her breath on his ear made the hairs rise on his neck. Yes."
Disharyl ran her hand down his back. You are much like your father was ... before the Beast took him."
Stygean shivered, moved a step away from her and she moved with him. Thank you."
"You know where they keep the blades, don't you?"
Stygean's eyes widened and he focused on the boiling pot. No."
"In that black chest with the orange banding."
"In the wagon?"
Disharyl nodded. Wouldn't you love to punish them?"
Stygean ceased stirring and backed away from her. She caught his hand and pressed something into it.
"Is something wrong? Randilyn asked, noticing them as she emerged from the wagon.
"No, not at all, Stygean replied, shoving the small package into his pocket.
Stygean could not believe his ears. All of the hellblades had been placed in a chest in the third wagon, which carried various things belonging to Amiri. When Randilyn walked him back to his
tent, Stygean felt more hopeful of the plan. He lay down on his bedroll, staring at the canvas ceiling.
"Well, did you speak to my mother? Jingen asked, rolling onto his side to look at his tent mate.
"Yes."
"Well, out with it! What did she say?"
"That all the captured hellblades are kept in a certain trunk of Amiri's. Stygean pulled the package from his pocket and unwrapped a set of lockpicks.
Jingen's eyes brightened and he sat up. So who are you going to stick first?"
Stygean grew thoughtful. Anksha. That would free my father."
"Wrong move, Jingen said. Anksha's too tough. You'd end up a blood-slave in a trice. Dawnreturning. Without him, they would drive her out or turn on her. They're as afraid of her as everyone else."
Stygean's head sank. He thought of all the kindnesses that Dawnreturning had done for him, arranging for the visits to his father, the birthday party last summeras poor as it had beenhad still been a party and he was responsible for it, and training with Nevin. I don't know.... Maybe Nans."
"The yuwenghau? Don't be foolish. Kill the Renunciate, avenge your mother."
Stygean's breath began to heave, sucking in large gulps of air. I don't...."
"Are you sa'necari or are you cattle? Jingen demanded. Get me a blade and I'll do it."
Stygean's stomach began to churn and clench. No. No, I'll do it."
Jingen grinned. While you're stealing one blade, get me one too."
"I will. We're in this together, aren't we?"
"Of course we are. Jingen shifted on his bedroll and folded his arms behind his head. We definitely are."
* * * *
Isranon had lost track of many things, having to focus so heavily on simple survival over the past weeks. Sitting at the table in his tent, Isranon folded the letter closed that he had received that morning from Lord Evarde in Ildyrsetts by way of Windfolk couriers. The aging loremaster seemed to have as many ears as a spymaster. He had sent word that Isranon would be welcomed in Ildyrsetts, that he was re-opening an unused section of his manorhouse, and that he expected everyone to share their stories so that he could write them down.
Janrae Frank Dark - [Dark Brothers of the Light 08] - Blood Hope Page 14
