“Claw!” Nyset hissed through suppressed laughter.
Elden’s beady eyes narrowed at Claw. He shifted his gaze to Nyset. She felt her palms tingle open with sweat. “Enjoy your stay in Helm’s Reach,” Elden said without the slightest hint that he wanted them to enjoy themselves.
She started for the opened door. The Earl’s room had a pair of towering bookshelves that stretched up to the high ceilings. The ceilings were trimmed with intricately carved moldings, all straight lines and sharp angles. Nyset was stricken with envy at the vast quantity of books. She inhaled sharply, sucking in the sharp aroma of all that paper. There was a marbled hearth crackling with a low fire. Above it was a mounted trophy fish the length of her body, its bright blue eye as wide as her thumb. A series of ancient looking swords were hung down one section of wall, dully reflecting the firelight. The day was still high, but the room would have been dark without the fire. The few windows let in just enough light to put the rest of the room in grim shadows.
The Earl rose from behind a broad mahogany desk and waved for them to enter. Upon his desk was a small glass statue in the likeness of the Dragon. Its claws were black as obsidian and the flames emerging from its mouth a beautiful mix of reds and oranges. “Come in, come in, sit,” he gestured towards a pair of dark wooden chairs near a round table. He had a black square cut beard, hair trimmed short around his head, and well-muscled body. This was no old and feeble man like King Ezra. Nyset guessed he was about fifty years passed and knew how to work a sword. There was a scar across his forehead running in a diagonal, the bone behind it dented and forming a furrow.
When she received the writ for the land he’d granted her, she hadn’t actually met him, but only his messenger. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Nyset Camfield.” She offered her hand and he took it with a proper shake. Nyset was glad to see he wasn’t trying to get her to kiss his hand.
“Please to meet you, Baraz Smith, Earl of Helm’s Reach, but you already knew that,” he laughed. “Call me Baraz.”
“Nyset,” she responded in kind. This was going much better than she thought it would. Some of her nervy tension slipped from her muscles.
The Earl sat between them at the opposite side of the table. “Would you like something to drink? Eat? I have the best chef in the city.” He spread his sleeveless arms.
“No, thank you. I know you’re a busy man and wouldn’t want to take too much of your time.”
Claw shifted in his seat and adjusted the sword on his hip. He cracked his hairy knuckles.
“How about some wine? My vintner just procured an excellent pear wine from the far south. Just came off the boat today, in fact.”
Nyset restrained her fingers from reaching for her lips and pressed them into the chair. “That would be lovely, thank you.”
The Earl whistled and a young woman slinked through the door into the chamber. Where had she come from? She must have been close by all this time to have heard that. “Yes, sir?”
“Bring the pear wine, Ena. Ask Durwood for it.”
“Right away sir,” Ena nodded and slipped through the door, gently closing it.
The Earl turned his attention back to her, studying her with appraising eyes. She met his dark eyes, flickering with firelight like smith’s furnaces and waited for him to say something. He leaned back in his chair and peered down at her over his nose. He steepled his fingers, gazed at Claw, then back to her. “Where do we begin?”
“The Death Spawn will strike again,” she said. “The walls have been fortified, though there’s still considerable work to be done. We might be able to withstand another attack, but more men would surely help. There didn’t seem to be any shortage of guards on our way here. If some of them could be sent to the front…” she wrung her hands.
“Cutting right to the heart of it, I see. I like that. I appreciate you organizing the fixing of the wall and all, but I would have liked to have been included in the discussion before you took such brazen action… in my city.” He jabbed his chest with a pointed finger.
“S-sorry,” she stammered. Why hadn’t she gone to him earlier? “The reality is, it had to be done as soon as it was possible. There truly wasn’t time for meetings and discussions. They might have attacked at any moment.” The words felt like they were tumbling from her lips.
“Right, your actions were true, so I let them pass unobstructed.” The Earl inhaled through his nose. “But all was almost lost, wasn’t it? You fell into their rudimentary trap. Even a dimwitted soldier would have seen through that ruse.”
Nyset nodded. “I concede that war tactics are not something I have been formerly trained in. It would perhaps be helpful to have a tactician. Is there someone you can direct me to?”
“How many were killed by your blunder?” The Earl leaned forward, his back rigid.
“Too many,” Nyset answered, anger filling her guts with fire. She thought of Clara, the apprentice who died in her arms.
“That’s not a number. How many?” He sneered.
“Fifty-seven. Twenty-two apprentices, thirty-five from the Falcon,” she hissed. “Dug a lot of the holes myself, if you must know. I don’t recall seeing your face there.” Her breathing became shallow.
“Had you failed on the battlefield, we would’ve lost the entire city!” His fist hammered on the table, sending a figurine of a dog thumping onto the plush carpets. “You always, always, defend from a wall, from the safety of a structure, damn it!”
Claw sprung to his feet, his savage teeth bared.
Nyset put a hand on his arm and gave it a tug, but he remained standing. She hung her head and stared at her hands, then peeking up through her lashes. “You’re right. It was a mistake, one where the costs might have been catastrophic. Not to say the deaths of the brave were not. We did the best—”
“A Big. Fucking. Mistake!” He gripped the round edges of the table with veined hands, eyes protruding from his wide sockets. He pushed himself back from the table with a great sigh. “That is a mistake that you cannot make,” he shook his head.
“Apologize,” Claw growled, one hand gripping Ghostwalker’s hilt.
“For what, dog?” The Earl turned his fury on Claw. “For your highness almost getting all of us slaughtered?”
“Without her, you and yours would be in some demon’s pot. Your men were a disgraceful set of shit filled cretins, good for nothing but blocking the arrows for the real fighters. The ones she’s recruited from your precious city.” Claw scoffed. “You’ve let the Falcon become disgraced with their lack of discipline and endless sloth. Every night the taverns and whorehouses teem with your men. They have no honor. If only Grimbald could see ‘em now.” Claw folded his arms.
It was the Earl’s turn to sag with shame. “Grimbald? Who’s that? You’ve got a point there. So they were neglected, but we haven’t known war in ages! Was no need. Can you blame me, any of us?”
The tinkling of glasses came from behind. Nyset turned to see Ena coming through with a silver platter containing an opened wine bottle and three fluted glasses. Nyset met Claw’s eyes and he sat with obvious reluctance.
“There are other matters we need to discuss…” The Earl stood, pressing a palm to his forehead.
Ena politely smiled as she placed glasses before the three of them. She poured the golden wine into each of the glasses, shimmering and filling the air with its sweetness. Nyset watched a few effervescent bubbles escape from the top of her glass. She pushed a strand of whitish-yellow hair back where it belonged behind her ear.
“Go on.” The Earl gestured to the two of them. At least he could be a reasonable man, Nyset thought with a bit of consolation. He was perhaps a bit prone to anger, but who wasn’t in these times? She reached for her glass and Claw eyed her wearily. She sniffed it, noting the light floral notes opening into a honey and earthy aroma. Nyset took a sip and swished it in her mouth. The flavor was rich with notes of plum, oak, and a pleasant touch of acidity.
“And?” The Earl sipped his
, moaned and closed his eyes.
Claw eyed his glass on the table as if it were a viper coiled to strike.
“It’s wonderful, thank you,” Nyset said, licking her lips at the clean finish. “We didn’t have a lot of wine growing up, but when we had it, my parents taught us to appreciate it.”
“Sounds like you had a nice upbringing. Breden, was it?” He twirled the scintillating wine in his glass, plunged his nose into it and deeply inhaled.
“Yes, Breden. That was my home once.” She set her glass down.
“Sorry for your loss. Monstrous bastards from the asshole of the world. Still can’t believe those things are real. Was your family still there?”
“I-I haven’t heard from them in a long time. I don’t know.” It felt like claws were raking across her insides. She should have heard from Walter by now.
“We’re all going to feed the gardens eventually, right?” The Earl laughed and held his glass up to the firelight, inspecting the wine’s golden hues.
“Mhm,” Claw intoned. “Shadow Realm for us all.”
The Earl sipped his wine, glanced at Claw then back at Nyset. “I’m glad you came, saved me from having to send for you,” his tone grew dark. “I don’t like the Sisterhood. I don’t like that you’ve let them join the Silver Tower.”
How had he known? She felt like this was the true reason he wanted to speak with her. “It’s already done. My word is my honor. Besides, it’s not the entire Sisterhood, just one of my friends, one of their leaders.”
“Lena,” the Earl nodded. “She’s a bottom feeder, preys on the sufferings of the people. Worse than swine. There’s a reason why the Tower denied them for so many years.”
“Things change.” She licked her lips. “And you don’t benefit from your people’s suffering? Please tell me with sincerity that you don’t benefit from the weight placed upon those in Dirt Ring?” Nyset’s fingers were pinching the stem of her glass almost hard enough to crush it.
“Did you know that Lena’s been stirring dissent among the people just so they can kill each other, then sell them her healing? The Dragon worshipers can’t heal themselves, damn it, and she charges them exorbitant sums for healing herbs. Did you know that?”
“Lena stays with the Silver Tower. There will be no further discussion regarding this matter.” Nyset’s voice was ice.
The Earl flinched as if struck. “I gave you that land. Without my generosity, you would have nothing. You’d be living with the deadened eyes of those in Dirt Ring. You owe me, you unappreciative shit!” He thumped his fist on the table.
Despise what is given for free, for nothing is freely given. Always pay the fair price. The words of Nyset’s father echoed in her head. “Was there something else you wanted to discuss?” Nyset folded her arms, her heart feeling like it was being squeezed by a slowly turning vice.
“I’ve let you run your little show down there for long enough,” The fire glowing in the Earl’s eyes gave him a sinister look now. “I’ve ignored you, let you re-build the Tower, poaching our children from our homes. But it must stop. Don’t like the influence you’re having on the common folk, giving them false hope in a world where only misery awaits.” The Earl had a far off look and stared into his glass.
Nyset shot up to her feet. “Are you insane? Without me, this city would be in ashes. Everyone who’s joined the Tower’s ranks from Helm’s Reach has come voluntarily. I’ve not forced my hand upon anyone; they’ve all joined quite willingly. Ask anyone who’s seen the lines stretching through the market at my recruiting tables.” She pointed towards the Middle.
“More Tower lies,” Baraz snapped. “The Silver Tower is the tower of lies, so my old Pa used to say. Seems he was right.”
This wasn’t about the Sisterhood, she realized. He didn’t have a care in the world for the people. If he had, he wouldn’t be living in such opulence. He felt threatened by her rise to power in the city. He was trying to get her to oust Lena to reclaim some sense of control over her. “Fine.” She feigned defeat and slouched into her chair, doing her best to look resigned. It was time to test the idea.
“Fine what?” the Earl growled. He leaned over the table with both hands splayed, shoulders heaving.
Nyset looked up at him, lips pressed into a line. “I’ll get rid of Lena if you get me the men we need to make a proper defense against the city.”
“I knew you could be agreeable, Arch Wizard. You’ll get your reinforcements by tomorrow morning. I will personally bring them to you, under a condition, of course. How does that sound?”
“And the condition is?” Nyset tilted her head. “You think I’d agree without hearing it?” She narrowed her eyes.
“A simple one, Nyset. You’ll include me in future decisions. We work together to fight against the Death Spawn. The people seem to like you. I see the change in their faces, the dim light of hope in their eyes. I don’t want to quarrel with you, but you don’t own this city. Do you understand?”
“I understand. That’s fair, thank you. I don’t want to quarrel with you either. The only ones we should be quarreling with are living in my Tower. Help me get it back.” She could hide Lena’s involvement in the Tower easily enough, couldn’t she? “You don’t have to worry about Lena stirring the seeds of dissent in the city anymore. I’ve taken care of that also.” She grinned.
“Oh? And how did you manage that?” The Earl started to slowly pace.
“Quite easily, actually. I told Lena if she didn’t stop, I’d burn her and everyone in her Sisterhood into ashes.” It was partly true. The main reason being that she and Lena had agreed she would work for the Tower and in exchange cease spreading propaganda.
The Earl paused, looking into the hearth and slowly nodded. “I can spare about two-hundred men, no more I’m afraid. They are not to march on the Silver Tower. They will serve only to defend the city against attacks, are we clear on that?”
“Perfectly. We can worry about reclaiming the Tower later when we have more defenders. They will do nicely. I’ll introduce them to the other generals.” Nyset stood to leave. “Thank you for having us, but I must get back to the Tower to teach class now.”
“Very well. I’m glad we could come to an agreement, Arch Wizard. See you on the morrow.”
Nyset started for the door and Claw followed.
“Just one more thing, Nyset.” The Earl stroked his beard.
There was always ‘just’ one more thing with this type of man, she thought. “Yes?”
“Do not try to play games with me. If you do, mark my words, you will come to regret it,” Baraz said gruffly.
There was something about his threat that sent the words lashing out. “When I play games, I do not lose.” With that, she pushed through the door, chest thundering like a storm cloud. She wondered if this was how Lena felt after leaving her office yesterday.
Chapter 11
Standoff
“When you try to fight fair, you lose.” -The Diaries of Nyset Camfield
Senka stabbed down at Isa, teeth bared and grit on her cheek. Isa’s arm came up sharp, his elbow held at a ninety-degree angle, blocking her wrist while ramming a punch into her ribs. Senka grunted, raked his face with her other hand, fingers held like claws and tearing red streaks down his jaw. Isa groaned, fell into a back roll and sprang up, creating a few paces between them. His white fingers traced the scarlet on his jaw and he stuck them in his mouth. “Nicely done.” He grinned at her, his tongue working in his mouth.
Senka smiled back at him and twirled the dulled sparring dagger in her hand. She beckoned for him to come again, her eyes wide with concentration.
Isa took a lunging step and leaped through the air, knees at his chest, then one leg extending with a vicious twist of his hips. His leg was like a spear directed at Senka’s chest. Senka’s torso swayed in a wide arc to duck, Isa’s leg passing harmlessly over her back. Before he landed, she stabbed up, her broad-tipped dagger hammering into his back near his kidneys.
Isa
stumbled on what looked to be weakened legs and held his palm to his back. “Likely a fatal blow,” he said through a tightened jaw, then nodded at her.
“This cannot be your full capacity. Are you merely playing with me, Isa?” Senka put her fists on her hips.
Sitting on the Tower’s porch, Nyset watched the pair. She sat at a square table with Claw, Lena, the figurehead of the Sisterhood of the Herbalists, and Grozul, former Master of the House of the Phoenix. She inhaled the bitter aroma of her morning elixir, the steam soothing and mild scent of chocolate reminding her of Breden. She eyed the small blobs of the bean’s oil glimmering at the top of her mug. It might have been made with Breden beans given the taste, but she was no elixir connoisseur.
Wind lashed the earth, drawing up great spikes of dirt and sand into the air and hurling it over Senka and Isa. A dead shrub tumbled by, crunching and bouncing on the hard-packed earth. Nyset closed one eye, the other watching them spar, and covered her mug with her hand. She felt invisible granules of sand ricochet from her knuckles, caressing her cheeks.
“A most distasteful form of combat,” Grozul muttered.
“You think there’s no need for it?” Nyset scoffed. “Have you forgotten what’s happened to your former home already?”
Grozul paled behind his immense beard. “No. I just wish there was a better way. I suppose the basic tenants of man will never change.”
“And we’ll always be stuck with cleaning up their messes.” Lena twirled a beaded dreadlock between her fingers. In her other hand was a round sweetbread, half of it eaten, its innards swirling with cinnamon. One of her ears was pierced in at least six places by a fine wire that continuously ran through it. Why anyone would do that was a wonder to Nyset.
Had she been a fool to welcome Lena? The woman had tried to extort her way into the Tower, after all. Everyone deserved second chances, and there was something about the woman she liked, despite her questionable business practices. Everyone had a time in their lives where they might not be able to take the high ground to survive. Sometimes ethics had to be thrown by the wayside for food and water. Nyset knew hunger, though the times were brief. She would not forget the feeling of going almost a week without food after the livestock had dropped dead overnight from an unknown disease.
A New Light (The Age of Dawn Book 5) Page 22
