Legends of Ahn (King's Dark Tidings Book 3)

by Kel Kade

  Shiela rolled her eyes and looked at Frisha disdainfully. “Of course she speaks Ashaiian, Frisha. Everybody with a decent education speaks Ashaiian. I apologize for my cousin. She was raised by commoners.”

  “Thank you, Lady Shiela. This is no concern,” Ilanet said. “Do you speak Channerían?”

  Shiela tittered. “Of course not. Why would I?”

  Ilanet forced herself to maintain a courteous smile, but Frisha was not so obliging.

  “Shiela, you should apologize for the offense you just threw at our new friend.”

  “What are you talking about, Frisha?” Shiela appeared genuinely oblivious. “Everyone knows that Ashaiian is the common trade tongue. Those doing business outside of their respective kingdoms must speak Ashaiian. It is only proper for a noble-born lady to learn. Nobody needs to know Channerían except the Channeríans,” she said with a wave toward Ilanet. She then turned to Ilanet and said, “I apologize, again, for Frisha’s discourtesy. She has no understanding of the workings of high society.”

  Ilanet glance between the two uneasily and then looked back to the tall warrior woman. “You are a member of the king’s royal guard?”

  Yserria smiled broadly and said, “Yes, our king does not discriminate. He values my skill with the blade.” She nodded toward Striker Shezar and said, “The strikers are training me in their ways. I believe I am the first woman to hold the honor.”

  Shezar nodded, but his response was swallowed by squeals and shouts that accompanied the sudden rocking of the ship. Ilanet stumbled, but Xa steadied her before she became entangled in the piles of packs, trunks, and bedding. The armor-clad blonde, whom Frisha had identified as Reaylin, groaned and rolled over, burying her head in her blankets. The striker turned to Ilanet and said, “Lady Netty, I am to escort you and your guard to the king’s quarters for a proper introduction. You may leave your belongings here.”

  “Striker Shezar, are we still to remain here? Can we not go above for some fresh air?” Shiela asked with a flutter of her lashes.

  “The order to remain in your quarters stands. As you were informed, we have taken on additional passengers, and we must see to your security. The newcomers must be questioned and briefed on protocols. You will be informed as soon as Lord Rezkin lifts the order.”

  Shiela huffed again and began fanning herself. “This room is too hot, and that tree is blocking the window. Why is it in our room anyway?”

  Ilanet eyed the little tree suspiciously. It appeared to be an average sapling of the kind she had seen in many of the gardens in Serret, but she was sure she had seen this particular tree before. She shivered. Was the creature following her? Had the Raven sent it to spy on her? To spy on the king?

  “Is he well?”

  Ilanet’s attention returned to the conversation, and she realized Frisha was speaking to the striker.

  “Is Rezkin well?” Frisha clarified. “I haven’t seen him.”

  Striker Shezar said, “He did not inform me otherwise, Lady Frisha. Would you like me to deliver your regards?”

  “No, that’s okay. There’s no need to bother him at such a busy time. I’m sure I’ll see him soon enough.”

  “Who is Lord Rezkin?” Ilanet asked.

  Shezar turned to her and said, “He is the King’s Voice when Dark Tidings is unavailable. Please follow me now. We have delayed long enough.”

  The striker led Ilanet and Xa down a short passage to a berth that looked to be an office more than a bedroom. A small bunk sat in one corner, and the walls were lined with cabinets and drawers that were all latched shut. A large desk occupied the center, upon which rested a stack of maps, neatly bundled scrolls, and tools she could not begin to name. Ilanet jumped when she noticed the pair of reflective yellow eyes peering up at her from beneath the desk. A cat was curled around itself and appeared terrified. Like the tree, the cat looked familiar, but it was dark beneath the desk, and she could not be certain.

  “Lady Netty, is it?”

  The deep, unnatural voice caused her to startle once again, and she realized the masked king was seated behind the desk watching her. She knew he had not been there a moment ago. She was nearly certain of it. Surely she would have noticed.

  “And Lus?” he said.

  She stepped back. Behind her, Xa said nothing. Dark Tidings had spoken several times now, yet in each instance, it was as though she was hearing his eerie voice anew. Dark Tidings flicked a hand, and Ilanet turned to see the striker shutting the door as he exited. She was left alone in the small room facing the infamous rebel king with an assassin at her back. Belatedly, she remembered her manners and curtsied as elegantly as she could in her baggy trousers.

  “Your Majesty, thank you for receiving me. I apologize for my present state of dress. I assure you that I am capable of looking the part of a lady.”

  The thought had occurred to her that, if this king found her lacking, he might throw her off the ship. Then where would she be? The Raven was gone, and she had nowhere to run. Worse, her father might find her and finish what he had started the night of the ball.

  “I do not doubt that, Princess Ilanet,” he said.

  The Raven had told her that Dark Tidings would know who she was, but it was still unnerving to hear it confirmed. He stood and rounded the desk.

  “You have no need of the weapon in here, Lus,” Dark Tidings said. “Unless you intend to take her hostage or kill me.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Ilanet saw the flash of steel.

  “I am to protect the princess,” Xa said.

  “Yes, but not from me.” As he reached up to remove the mask, he said, “I did warn you what will happen if you attack me again.”

  “You!” Ilanet exclaimed upon seeing the brilliant blue of the Raven’s eyes. Incensed, she tromped forward and stuck a finger in his face. “Why did you keep this from me? You are Dark Tidings!”

  The Raven nodded and said, “Yes, and I am the Raven—a fact that is known only to the two of you.”

  “The strikers?” Xa asked.

  Ilanet noticed that the assassin had moved to stand in the corner. His expression was inscrutable, but his stance was tense, and still he bore the knife.

  The Raven shrugged and said, “If they suspect, they have not yet broached the subject with me. They have had much to contend with, and the activities of the Raven are the least of their worries.”

  “Why have you revealed this to us?” Xa asked.

  He was far from the self-assured assassin he had been earlier, even in the Raven’s presence, and Ilanet wondered why he seemed so disturbed by the revelation.

  The Raven frowned and said, “Because I am also Rezkin, whom you will be seeing about the ship. A few aboard know that Rezkin is Dark Tidings, a fact that will be revealed to the others in time; but none, besides the two of you, know that Rezkin or Dark Tidings are the Raven. I wish it to stay that way.”

  Rezkin watched the princess carefully. Her posture was hostile, and a streak of fear showed in her eyes, but she accused him with courage—or maybe she was too inexperienced to recognize the danger. He was more concerned that she had realized he posed her little threat. He had no desire to harm the princess. In fact, he felt the need to extend his protection to her as he had with his friends. Perhaps he would make her one of them, but for now, he needed to make sure she understood the severity of the situation.

  “Consider this. Right now, only two people stand between the notorious killer known as the Raven and complete anonymity.”

  Ilanet stepped back—and then stepped back again. She wrapped her arms around herself and said, “I understand.”

  Rezkin turned his attention the Jeng’ri, who looked like a wild animal caught in a trap.

  “My people have seen you here on the ship when I know you to have been elsewhere,” Xa said.

  Rezkin turned Dark Tiding’s visage over in his hands and held it up for the assassin to see. “Anyone can wear a mask. The strikers don the guise in my absence.”

&nb
sp; “Even so, you seem to be everywhere at once and you bear so many personas of great importance—the unscathed tournament champion, the leader of the Ashaiian underworld, the Riel’gesh, the True King of Ashai, the new King of Cael, this Lord Rezkin. Yet you are also no one. The Order does not know who you are, nor the Black Hall and the Adana’Ro. Ionius and Caydean would pay dearly for such information, and so would all the other leaders by now. You are bold yet hidden. It is impossible.”

  “Not so impossible when I am the only one keeping the secret,” Rezkin mused. “The two of you are an unnecessary risk.”

  “Why are you doing this?” Ilanet asked. “Why did you take me away from the castle and arrange for me to come here—with you?”

  Rezkin returned his gaze to the frightened small-woman and said, “Because you asked me to.”

  Rezkin believed Ilanet would do her best to keep his secret, but he wondered at her ability to succeed. While Xa was physically the greater threat, he was more likely to keep Rezkin’s secrets, so long as he wanted to. Rezkin needed formidable resources, though, and he could not afford to reject them merely because of the potential for them to turn foul.

  After sending Ilanet and Xa to their quarters, Rezkin changed into his doublet and breeches, plaited his hair, and affixed his swords to his belt. Part of him wanted to simply return to Ashai, kill Caydean, and be done with this mess. At this point, though, killing Caydean would solve only the most obvious problem. The mad king had already caused too much turmoil. While he was destroying his own kingdom from within, he was equally abolishing long-held friendships with Ashai’s neighbors and inciting the wrath of every nation’s leader. By the time he was through with Caydean, Ashai would be swamped in foreign armies. Rezkin’s refugees needed immediate help, as did all the Ashaiians in foreign kingdoms who were no doubt becoming the targets of hatred and vengeance.

  While many of the foreigners in his company chose to disembark in Serret, almost everyone had left their belongings behind in Skutton during their flight. Many did not have the funds to travel home. While he had been generous in providing for those who chose to leave, others preferred to stay and earn their passage. Foreign nobles and diplomats saw it as their opportunity to gather information or possibly ingratiate themselves to the True King of Ashai. Of the suffering slaves, few were well enough to identify themselves, and most who could claimed to no longer have families to which they could return. As for the Ashaiians, they were all considered traitors. By now, most of their families would have been gathered and killed or sold into slavery. Some of the more ambitious refugees thought to go straight to the slave markets to seek their loved ones.

  Rezkin promised to do all in his power to help the refugees, but he reminded them that it would take much time and effort. Although he was not able to save those that had been killed and could not ensure rescue for the others, he did promise justice, which many interpreted to mean vengeance. The passengers were filled with fear and loss, but for many, these feelings were overshadowed by anger and betrayal. The refugees’ rage and resentment was only balanced by their intense devotion to their new liege. All aboard knew the warrior Dark Tidings had saved them and that he was the most wanted enemy of the Crown of Ashai. The strikers and many of the nobles already recognized him as the True King. Thus, the people had faith that the one man who spoke openly and adamantly against the usurper Caydean could bring them the satisfaction and justice they demanded.

  After concluding his urgent matters, Rezkin’s first order of business was to check on Pride. The battle charger was in good health, and the strikers and life mages had managed keep him as content as a horse could be on a ship. Upon seeing him, Pride stomped his hooves, tossed his mane, and released a whine that was not difficult to interpret. Rezkin took a few moments to brush the stallion’s coat even though it did not appear to need it. All the while, Pride watched him with a suspicious gaze. Rezkin did not know if a horse could pout, but Pride seemed to be mimicking the behavior to perfection. He stepped around the horse, and his attention was captured by a small brown mouse slipping beneath the hay. He eyed the spot for a moment and then decided that the creature was indeed just a mouse. The thought occurred to him that he would need to have a talk with Bilior about not eating his horse.

  Rezkin then met with Kai who confirmed that the newest passengers had been vetted and assigned stations, so he rescinded the order for the others to remain in their berths. There was little room to move about the ship without interfering with the duties of the crew, so although they were free to roam the decks, people were asked to remain at their stations as much as possible. Most chose to do so anyway for fear that their few belongings would be claimed by desperate neighbors. Tam was assigned to the distribution of blankets, clothing, and soap that they had acquired in Serret. Rezkin felt it was good for his friend to learn the complexities of equipping large groups and the difficulties that arose with unexpected events—like the unplanned arrival of more than two dozen additional bodies. To his advantage, most of the passengers seemed comfortable with Tam. The commoners knew he was one of them, and the nobles recognized him as the apprentice to the King’s Voice.

  With the updates passed and the passengers settled, Rezkin was finally able to take a breath of fresh sea air. The respite did not last long as he was descended upon from both sides.

  “So, are you going to tell us what you were up to?” Malcius asked as his group came to a halt. Tieran, Brandt, Tam, and, oddly, Xa were gathered around him.

  “When?” Rezkin asked as he leaned back against the deck railing.

  “When, he asks! Since you left the ship, of course! The rest of us have been stuck here bored out of our minds while you go gallivanting through western Channería.”

  Rezkin’s gaze swept across the others, paused on Xa, and then landed on the women. Frisha and Shiela stood at the fore with Reaylin and Ilanet in the rear. She tried to hide behind the others, but Ilanet’s wide eyes and rapt attention exposed her interest.

  He smiled broadly and bowed. “Ladies, it is a pleasure to see you all again. Shiela, I trust you are as comfortable as possible.”

  Shiela harrumphed and fanned herself as she said, “I know you think me selfish, but I am not inconsiderate of our present conditions. You have provided me with the best that can be had, and for that I am appreciative.”

  Rezkin was surprised by the woman’s turnabout, but he acknowledged her effort. He glanced to Malcius expecting him to be pleased, but his friend’s expression was one of sad acceptance. Resolving to question Malcius later, he turned to Reaylin and said, “How go your studies with Healer Jespia?”

  Reaylin balled her fists. “I hate that woman. She thinks she knows everything, and she won’t let me carry my weapons during lessons. She can’t accept that I’m to be a healer and a warrior.”

  “Can you?” Rezkin asked.

  Reaylin lifted her chin and said, “If you can do it, then I can. Besides, I’ll not give her the satisfaction of seeing me fail.”

  “I do not think Healer Jespia wishes you to fail,” he replied.

  “Who knows what she wants—besides to hear herself speak,” Reaylin muttered.

  Rezkin shook his head and turned to Frisha. He took her hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles. “Frisha, you are well?”

  She pulled her hand back and frowned at him. “Stop that. You left us alone on the ship.”

  “You were hardly alone,” he said. “More than a hundred people are on this ship, many of them talented fighters and mages, in addition to three strikers. Besides, it was only for a few days, Frisha. It was not to be forever.”

  Frisha huffed. “You know what I mean. You went off on your own while we were stuck here wondering what might have happened to you.”

  Rezkin smiled. “You were worried about me.”

  “Of course,” she said lightly, and with a shrug added, “but only because you didn’t tell us the rest of the plan. We wouldn’t know where to go if you didn’t come back.”
<
br />   “Frisha, you wound me,” he said, testing a teasing tone he had picked up from Brandt.

  Frisha rolled her eyes and muttered, “As if you could be wounded.”

  “Yeah, not likely, Rez,” Tam said with a grin. “You look well enough.”

  Tieran said, “Yes, did you enjoy your vacation?”

  “I think you and I have different definitions of a vacation,” Rezkin said.

  “Yes, mine is laying back relaxing with plenty of food and drink. You were probably off taking on armies, battling magical creatures, and rescuing fair maidens.”

  Behind Tieran, Xa grinned. Rezkin hummed under his breath and said, “Well, Tieran, I did have a long run to Serret and then tasks to perform. I am pleased to see that you were able to keep things in order here—between your periods of relaxation, that is.”

  Tieran scowled. “Thank you for that, by the way. I divest myself of the responsibility only to be saddled with it at inopportune times.”

  “For you, every time is inopportune,” Kai remarked as he strode up behind the group. The striker nodded meaningfully, and Rezkin knew that it would soon be time for another meeting.

  Rezkin turned to Frisha with a smile. “At least you are speaking to me again.”

  Frisha crossed her arms and pursed her lips. “I haven’t decided about that yet, but it would have been rude not to greet you.”

  Tam leaned over and said in a stage whisper, “Don’t ruin her good mood. Your girlfriend has been a bear since you left.”

  Rezkin raised a brow and said, “Only since then?”

  “You two!” Frisha huffed. She spun to storm away and ran into Ilanet. “Oh! I’m so sorry. Right, um …”—she turned back to Rezkin—“We forgot to introduce Lady Netty. Have you met?”

  Rezkin knew that Frisha was aware of Ilanet’s meeting with Dark Tidings, but she was not practiced at deception, and her uncertainty was obvious. In fact, all his friends appeared to be waiting for some indication that the young lady knew he was Dark Tidings. Keeping this kind of secret was difficult for them, which was one of the reasons he knew he would have to reveal the truth to the rest of the passengers before long.