by J. A. Comley
Nimori smiled, not quite meeting her eyes, “If Karicha becomes my student, I imagine we will.”
“I agree,” Mukori cut in smoothly. “In fact, why don't you go and look for her and Lerimo now? See if he has managed to put her mind at ease? I will finish the tour.”
Nimori bobbed a quick bow, gave Valana a smile, and left towards the training rooms.
Valana turned to Mukori and was taken aback by the fierceness of the fire in his eyes. Nimori was right. He wanted her and nothing but her firm and total refusal would stop him.
“Shall I show you to your quarters?”
Valana looked away, plainly hearing the hidden question. “Did the meeting with Sajoor go well?”
Mukori's lips twitched, and he sighed, eyes boring into her. “If you tell me to go, I will. Your orders can come through Okano and you need never see me, except for important meetings.”
Valana met his eyes, hearing a faint undercurrent of sadness to his matter-of-fact words. He had spent his life alone, fighting for his cause.
“Does Zetira torture your prisoners?”
Valana felt her own surprise mirrored in his face. The question had burst from her, unbidden.
“She questions them.” He suddenly chuckled. “Mostly, her mere presence and reputation are enough to get even our most stalwart opposer to tell us everything they know.” He stepped in closer. “I do not like to frighten people, but I feel it is better than simply ordering Okano, or you, to kill them. Some must die, for the good of the many, but I try, always, to get them to cooperate so that they can be imprisoned until they can stand trial when all this is over. I only order deaths when someone is too dangerous to capture, or too far gone to be reasoned with.”
Valana nodded. She knew that the people who attacked her village and committed all that horror were probably not likely to surrender information. Thousands would die if nothing was done to stop people like that.
“Are the dungeons big enough to keep so many prisoners?”
“They are not kept here after they surrender their information. We transfer them elsewhere, depending on their crimes.”
Valana nodded, trying to ignore the electric charge building in the air between them.
“Shall I show you to your room?” Mukori repeated, watching for all the small changes of emotion in her eyes and face.
She felt her body and blood respond to the tone of his voice. Without waiting for more of an answer than the fire that had bloomed in her eyes, he spun on his heel and began leading the way to the dormitories.
Valana chuckled. He knew what he wanted. She liked that. She preferred this self-assurance over people who could not decide what they wanted. That way lead to frustration and broken hearts.
She followed him through the archway and into another corridor, laced with a tracery of glowing vines. It opened into a small oval with five more corridors leading off it.
Mukori glanced back at her and raised his hand to hers, high enough that their fingers touched, but not enough to grasp hers.
Another question. Her mind was free from any doubts about his character or goals. He was a good man. She moved her hand forwards, letting their fingers slide together. They both grasped each other at the same time. She let her eyes travel slowly over his body, tantalising hints of muscle just visible against his silk shirt. An impish grin lit up his face when her eyes met his, and he began pulling her forwards again.
Energy seemed to quiver around them as they took the middle corridor, a fire far too large for this small walkway.
The new corridor held a door on either side every twelve paces. Ahead, Valana saw a single door barring the end of the corridor. Twelve paces closer to them were two doors on either side. Mukori stopped in front of the one on the left.
“This will be your room,” he said, opening the door and letting go of her hand so that he could motion her forwards.
Valana crossed the threshold and had just begun to take in the room when she heard Mukori draw a deep breath. With her powers bound, she couldn't react fast enough as he grabbed her around the waist and swung her back towards the door. In moments, the door was shut, and she was pressed against it, Mukori an inch away, one hand still at her waist, the other deftly unfastening her weapons belt. She narrowed her eyes at him and tried to reverse their positions, trying to ignore the disconcerting feeling as she automatically reached for her powers and found nothing.
Mukori chuckled, easily keeping her pinned to the door, and let her belt drop to the floor with a thud.
Her first reaction was confusion. It had been many, many decades since she'd been Unbound. Being physically weaker was not something she was used to, yet here, Mukori's strength was far greater than hers. The next was annoyance as Mukori stripped her of her weapons and began reaching for the fastenings on her vest. She made a small noise. He met her eyes and stepped away in one fluid movement.
“I did not mean to frighten you.” He looked away, clearly trying to bring his body back under control. “I will leave if you want.”
Valana nearly laughed. It had been too easy.
Never take your eyes off your prey.
Mukori huffed out a small laugh as Valana used her superior training to reverse their earlier positions. She grinned triumphantly, pinning his hands above his head.
“Clever.”
She knew he could break her hold if he wanted to. Greater skill only outmatched greater strength if one were quick and decisive. She had no hope of holding him like this against his will.
She felt the heat between them rise higher as she slid her hands down from his wrists, trailing them along his arms and then stopping on his chest.
This is not a good idea, moaned the part of her concerned with the effect their relationship might have on the group.
Oh, shut up.
Valana felt his hands circle her waist and raised her eyes to his as he drew her closer. Their lips met, gentle at first, a curious exploration of something new. Then he swung her around again, pinned her hard between the door and the solid lines of his own body. She crushed her body still closer as their lips became more urgent. She pulled her head a little to the side and ran the tip of her tongue along his lip and smiled as a moan escaped him.
Three loud gongs rang out, their peals echoing along the metal walls of the Tree.
Valana jumped, and Mukori sighed, stepping back, and began taking deep, steadying breathes.
“Duty calls.”
Valana stepped up to him and ran her hand down the centre of his body, stopping her fingers just at the top of his trousers. “Pity, but I suppose if you must go...” She allowed a single finger to trail a little lower.
Mukori drew a sharp breath and crushed her to him again, pinning her wandering hands behind her back. The kiss was fierce, but brief. Keeping her hands pinned, he moved a little away.
“We must both go.” His voice sounded frayed, the fire flooding his body obliterating the usual calm tone. “That was the dinner gong. All meals are announced with three gongs.”
Loosing her hands, he straightened his clothes. She matched his rueful smile and did the same.
“As you say, Lord Mukori.”
His lips twitched in amusement even as he reigned in his body with a skill Valana had never seen and was struggling to match.
“Lord, is it?” His eyes sparkled with mischief. “Perhaps we can revisit that idea, later.”
Valana had to start slowing her own pulse all over again. Since her Unbinding, she had never been with anyone stronger than her. This was certainly going to be interesting.
He read the interest in her eyes and pulled the door open with a triumphant smile.
“Shall we go to dinner?”
Valana laughed. “A real meal of food that isn't cured, canned or dried? Sounds wonderful.”
She shut the door to her rooms, and they both froze as Okano stepped out of the door directly opposite.
He nodded politely. “Mukori, Valana.”
She no
dded back, wondering how Mukori managed to look so thoroughly unconcerned. Then she remembered that, like her, Okano's powers were cloaked by the Tree. He wouldn't have been able to hear anything. But he wasn't stupid, and he winked at her as Mukori began leading the way down the corridor. She shook her head in warning but held it high.
This new life had already presented her with more than she had thought possible as she had knelt in the ruins of her village. She had reconnected with an old friend, found a safe place for Karicha and Durio, and, perhaps, even found a lover whom she could help to restore balance to the worlds.
9
The Business of Peace
“But she is your blood-aunt!”
Valana's tone was coloured by irritation. Irritation at Mukori's attempts to change the subject then ignoring her stubborn refusal to let it drop all through supper, and now, his daring to slink into her room unannounced after disappearing for hours with Lerimo, wanting anything but conversation. She pulled herself further away as he froze. She was irritated by the longing in her body, begging her to drop it and give him what he wanted, what they both wanted.
That's exactly the problem, she told herself. Peace for Trianon has to come first, and if this is going to get in the way, then it can't happen at all.
Mukori ran a hand through his hair. “Okano really did tell you too much that wasn't his to share.”
Valana smothered her emotions. “Look, I just want to know why you won't even discuss it. I mean, she's the Voice of Peace. How can you two work apart when your goals are the same?”
“Our goals may be, but our methods are not.”
Valana felt doused in ice as he turned from her, heading for the door. “I wish I could just reveal all my secrets right here.” He looked back at her and gave her a sad smile. “But I also have a responsibility to hundreds of people. We have been betrayed before because love made us lose sight of why caution was necessary. So I will tell you things when I can, and I need you to trust me, completely, as to when that will be.”
“I have never been able to give unquestioning loyalty and obedience, Mukori.” She stepped up to him and took his hand. “I do trust you, but you don't seem to trust me. I am asking you a question, and you won't give me an answer, any answer.”
Mukori's hand tightened then fell limp. “My aunt hated my father. She hated his ideas and hated him for taking her sister away, for taking the Cyrali's lead Protector away. She hates me for following in his footsteps.”
Valana moved with him as he sat on the edge of the bed. “Is that why you won't work with her?”
Mukori gave her a lopsided smile. “You have that backwards. My father was executed by the Conclave. I would prefer not to go into the whys now, but he was accused and found guilty. It tore my mother apart, and she committed suicide shortly thereafter.”
Valana gave his hand a gentle squeeze, hearing the pain in his voice. “My aunt came to find me afterwards. She and I had a frank discussion about the future. When it became clear to her that I intended to take the path my father had begun, she swore she would stop me.”
Valana's eyebrows mashed together. “They both wanted peace,” he continued. “They just disagreed on how to achieve it. On what price was too high to pay. Or if a victorious end was worth everything needed to get there.”
“I have tried to reason with her only twice more since then. The last time, I am not sure I would have left with my life but for Lerimo.”
Valana's eyes widened. She had met Hapira once, a long time ago, at the last Games before the Breaking. She had seemed like a kind, if hard, Chief, with a desire to keep balance and friendship between the tribes.
Mukori leaned in and gave her a kiss on her cheek then sighed and stood, moving over to the desk and writing something on a piece of paper.
He made to leave, stopping to look back at her from the door. “I have been falling in love with you ever since I met you, Valana. I want you at my side, forever. I am not the sort of person who changes their mind or heart about things. Once I make a decision, it is irreversible.” He reached for the door handle. “I will not answer your question more fully than I have just done. If you want to, you are free to go and see Hapira, yourself. I have left you the last location I had for her. Then you can make up your own mind. I only ask that you be careful. I do not know how dangerous she may be to you, especially if your association with me is raised.”
Valana watched the door click shut behind him and sighed heavily. Why was she doing this? Hadn't she already decided that she trusted him?
“It’s because I don't like secrets,” she muttered to herself, and everything about Mukori seemed to hint at secrets.
She got up and pulled the piece of paper towards her, committing the Hipotarali address to heart. She got out of her sleeping clothes and back into her leathers, buckling on her weapons-belt as she headed for the door. She had been looking forward to a decent day’s sleep, after a little fun with Mukori, but those things would just have to wait.
She needed to meet Hapira. She needed to be sure that there was no way to join forces. And for the other, she needed to know that Mukori's efforts for peace would not be harmed if things went poorly between them.
***
Hipotarali was a place Valana preferred to avoid. Filled with grand houses radiating out from the Conclave's Palace before steadily contorting and mutating into smaller and smaller dwellings with fewer and fewer amenities.
Beggars were everywhere. Their emaciated bodies lined the edges of a small market square, where the few patrons let their eyes move right through them as if they were only ghosts.
She shook her head in disgust as she passed through the outer edges of town, taking care to avoid the patrols. She didn't want to risk her powers being Bound. Mukori had suggested his aunt had tried to kill him, that she might be dangerous. If true, Valana had no intention of being powerless.
She already thought she was being followed, having caught a tall, cloaked figure melting into the shadows behind her several times, but no matter how hard she strained her ears, she couldn't make out any life signs that would let her locate a stalker.
Still, it didn't matter. Her blood would protect her from all but the most powerful magic, and her other abilities would protect her from anyone else.
She let her thoughts turn back to what they had been chewing over as she'd raced through the Great Expanse.
Although she had asked many times since joining Mukori's group, his Eyes and Ears hadn't been able to ascertain why the Cyrali had never come to the Kazori lands as promised. She felt her fists begin to clench and quickly moved on. She had made a vow to set all those feelings aside. Vows on Blood Binder could not be broken unless you were willing to forfeit your life.
Hapira. If Hapira had still been Chief, they would never have broken their word. They would have come, bound by the laws of Strength and Honour as set up by Felantha.
She looked around from the deep shadows of her cowl and sighed. In the Tribal Lands, all were equal. No one had a bigger or better house, no one got more food, water, or other necessities.
Here, you were how much money you had. So the wealthy and the dishonourable prospered, while everyone else slowly starved to death. She sent a silent prayer to the winds that this reeking city hadn't changed Hapira.
She knocked on the door of the address Mukori had given her and waited. A small boy opened the door a crack and stared up at her in alarm. His foot began beating out a nervous rhythm on the rough stone floor.
Valana knew the effect her silver eyes had on most and tried to keep her features friendly and her voice soft. “Is the Voice of Peace home?”
Her blood sang a warning, and she was suddenly shoved through the door and deposited in a heap on the floor inside. She felt the spell holding her shift and break as her attacker failed to be able to hold the spell and fight the natural immunity of her blood. As soon as the spell lifted, she unsheathed her blades and pulled her hood off.
She kept her blad
es in a non-threatening pose, letting her senses range outwards. The little boy had gone. She could hear his rapid heartbeat from further in the house. Someone else was standing in a doorway to her left. She turned her body slightly, giving the dark, cloaked figure, whose staff was still held ready, a warning look.
“Have you come to kill me, Protector Valana?”
Valana turned fully and found Hapira watching her, and a man wearing the leathers of a warrior standing just behind her, his face hidden behind a full mask.
Valana sheathed her swords and straightened her stance, satisfied that there was no one else in the property. “No. Why would I want to kill you? Is that the reason for the rough welcome?”
Hapira looked her over then glanced behind her through the still-open door. “You are alone. I asked my couriers to come with you, if they found you.”
Hapira nodded to the Makhi and the door swung shut with a gentle tug of magic.
Valana's brows mashed down in confusion. “You sent messengers?”
“Yes,” Hapira sighed. “None have returned.”
Valana's mind jumped to the young man they had intercepted. The way he kept gawking at her. Had he been there to find her? Did Mukori know?
“Are they really gone?”
Valana cocked her head to the side. “Who? No one approached me with a message from you.”
Hapira weighed her for a moment and looked to her Makhi. The man gave her a light nod and Valana felt her blood tingle as he readied his magic.
“The Kazori,” Hapira said as Valana opened her mouth to caution against another unwarranted attack. Her powers were undiluted. She could feel the Makhi's magic, and she doubted that he would be powerful enough to hold her for more than a moment or two.
Valana felt her wounded heart constrict.
“The rumour travelling the city is that they are gone, all dead. All except their pure-blood Nightstalker.”
