The Strength to Serve (Echoes of Imara Book 3)

by Claire Frank

  “Maybe they aren’t related. Why would someone be killing random targets?”

  Callum wagged a finger in the air. “A very good question. Only, they aren’t random. The generals and captains are obvious, but what about the blacksmith who happens to be in charge of repairs to the chains that hoist the city gates? He’s dead. Then there’s the Stone Shaper who heads the team doing maintenance on the main wall. She’s dead too. The engineer working on siege engines for the King’s army? Dead. One of the lead trainers for the City Watch? Him, too.”

  Alastair’s mouth hung open. “How many?”

  “At least twenty, probably more,” Callum said.

  Alastair leaned back and rubbed his neck. “Are you certain this is all the same killer?”

  “I doubt it’s one killer, but it’s possible. More than likely, it’s two or three doing the jobs. But someone is behind them all.”

  “This is worse than I thought,” Alastair said.

  “It usually is,” Callum said. “Some of this could be coincidence. It isn’t as if they all have a symbol carved on their chest to let us know they were killed by the same people. That’s why this is so brilliant. There’s nothing left behind. We don’t even know how they died.”

  “Some sort of poison?”

  “That’s my guess, although it isn’t something I’m familiar with. I saw the Fire Watch captain. He looked dead, but there was no sign of distress. Whatever it is, it does its job without much show. No bulging veins or foaming at the mouth,” Callum said.

  “What do you suggest we do?” Alastair asked.

  “I have an idea, but I need your help,” Callum said.

  Alastair let out a heavy sigh. Callum could feel the strain he was under, the depth of his stress. “I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t even gone to the king with any of this yet. We have sightings of Attalonians in the countryside, nothing but thin assurances from the Thayans that our northern border won’t be breached, unrest in the Sahaaran Quarter, and what very well may be a full-fledged Attalonian army marching from the south toward our garrison at the Sahaaran Chasm.”

  “Well, now you have people dropping dead all over your city,” Callum said. “All people who are involved with the defense of Halthas, in case that part isn’t clear to you.”

  “It’s clear enough,” Alastair said, shaking his head.

  “Whoever is behind this has enough money to pay off the City Watch in southern Halthas and coordinate the deaths of key people in charge of defending the city,” Callum said. “They’re taking us apart from within. By the time their army gets here, we’ll have crumbled.”

  “How are they managing all this?”

  “They’ve been paying the City Watch to alter their patrols. It’s quite simple, they just have the Watch miss a street or two, turn left instead of right, that sort of thing. The rest of the Watch has no idea, and the men being paid don’t know why they’re doing it.”

  Alastair raised his eyebrows.

  “Don’t look at me like that,” Callum said. “It happens all the time. Not that I would ever be involved in something like this, of course.”

  “Of course not,” Alastair said.

  “In any case,” Callum said, “I know which districts the Watch is being paid to ignore, and I know when. Unfortunately, our killers are smart and they gave the Watch three districts. So I don’t know which one it is, but I’m fairly certain the next murder will take place in one of them.”

  “How do you know that?” Alastair asked.

  “Oh, I have my ways,” Callum said. Alastair raised his eyebrows again and opened his mouth to speak, but Callum held up a hand. “Come now, you don’t think I’d put the squeeze on someone, do you? No, the man who schedules the guard duty for the City Watch was kind enough to tell me everything I needed to know. By the way, there’s a certain Captain Gerald whose family is being threatened. I’m sure you can ensure their safety until this all blows over.”

  “I… what?” Alastair said, fumbling for words. “Captain Gerald of the Watch, fine, I’ll look into it. But what exactly is it that you want to do?”

  Callum’s lip turned up in a smile. “Set a little trap.”

  “You mean to tell me you want the killer to try to assassinate someone else, so we can catch them in the act?”

  “Exactly,” Callum said, ignoring Alastair’s bulging eyes. “It’s simple. I’ve already made a list of the possible targets in each district. Once I realized who they were going after, and where, it wasn’t hard to determine who might be next. The City Watch districts aren’t very large; it took me a few days, but I’ve narrowed it down to six possible victims.”

  “What if you’re wrong?”

  “Then someone dies who would have died anyway,” Callum said with a shrug. “They’ll go after their victim; they’ve already paid off the Watch. But if I’m right, we have a chance at catching one of the killers. Then he can tell us everything we need to know.”

  “Fine, assume you’re right, and it is one of the six victims you predict. Then what?”

  “This is where I need your help,” Callum said. “I want to set a bit of a surprise at each house.”

  Alastair raised his eyebrows.

  “Stay with me,” Callum said, holding up a hand. “We rig all the entrances in each house with flare dust. When the assassin tries to get in, it will flash. Not only will this give us a signal that the trap has been sprung, the sparks will burn their clothes, marking them.”

  “Flare dust? Isn’t that what street-performers use for light shows during the winter solstice festival?”

  “The very same,” Callum said.

  “I’m not following,” Alastair said. “How do you make flare dust ignite if it’s on the windows and doors? Besides, all it does is light up.”

  As he pulled a bundle from his pocket, Callum shook his head. The man really had no imagination. “Flare dust is funny stuff. It usually takes a Fire Wielder who knows how to use it to make it do anything interesting.” Pulling open the drawstring on a small pouch, he poured a tiny pile of fine green powder onto the surface of Alastair’s desk. “And you’re right, other than make a little noise, it doesn’t do much more than light up. Pretty sparks, though.” From another pocket, he pulled out two chips of smooth, pale stone. “I, as you know, am not a Fire Wielder. But a couple chips of sunstone, and—”

  Callum balanced the two chips of sunstone between his finger and thumb and drew them together, pressing the flare dust in between. With a crackle and pop, the flare dust ignited as he jerked his hand away, sending a shower of green sparks into the air. Alastair startled, and quickly brushed the sparks off the papers on his desk.

  “Was that really necessary?” Alastair asked.

  “You wanted to know how it worked,” Callum said. “Easier to show you. In any case, we coat the windows and doors, attach chips of sunstone to the frames, and as soon as someone tries to open any of the entrances, bang! We have men watching each house, they see the flashy lights, the would-be assassin gets a little singed, and we have a killer to question.”

  “What if the killer gets away? Whoever this killer is, they managed to keep us from even realizing people were being murdered for a long time. I don’t think they’ll be so easy to catch.”

  “That’s what the dogs are for,” Callum said with a shrug.

  “Dogs?”

  “Naturally, we’ll need dogs. Hunting hounds. And good handlers who can keep them quiet while we wait.”

  Alastair opened his mouth and a few noises came out, but he seemed to be at a loss for words.

  Callum sighed. Did he have to explain everything? “The dogs can get the killer’s scent from the scene where the flare dust ignites. If he gets away, we set the dogs loose, and they track him down. I’d use Merrick, but there’s only one of him, and six houses to watch. Besides, I don’t think he likes me much. So yes, dogs.”

  “This is probably the most ridiculous plan I’ve ever heard,” Alastair said.

 
A wide smile broke out across Callum’s face. “Good. That means it will probably work.” He stood and tossed a folded piece of paper onto the desk. “The potential victims. I need access to their houses on the big day, and a few more men to help set the traps. Don’t tell them anything, though. We don’t need word of this leaking out beforehand.”

  Alastair pressed his hands to his eyes. “You’re going to need a lot of luck to make this happen.”

  Callum turned and adjusted his coat collar. “I don’t believe in luck. I believe in good planning.” He pulled the door open and looked back over his shoulder. “And don’t forget the dogs.”

  34. ALWAYS A NEED

  Cecily glanced up from her seat in the king’s study as Daro paced behind her. He had only been back in Halthas for two days, but was pushing for them to leave the city and return home. Although she understood his desire to go, she’d been surprised by his reaction to their summons to the palace. She’d had to do a fair amount of coaxing to convince him to come.

  What little he had told her about his trip to Thaya had sounded promising, but it was obvious there was something he wasn’t sharing. She had felt intense bursts of power through their bond that had left her shaky and anxious, but the feeling had passed and her sense of Daro had returned to normal. Since he’d come back to Halthas, he had been quieter than usual, and now she watched him wander around the room looking agitated and distracted.

  “I’m sure we won’t have to wait much longer,” she said.

  Daro kept walking, turned when he got to the end of the room, and moved back across the floor. “I’m not worried about the wait.”

  “What, then?” she asked. “You’ve been acting like a caged animal ever since we got Rogan’s message.”

  “I just want to go home.”

  “As do I,” she said. He gave her a sidelong glance as if he could tell she wasn’t being honest. She wasn’t ready to leave, not until she found a way to track down the Arcstone. Knowing it had likely already made its way to the stronghold at the Sahaaran Chasm was no comfort. Whoever was orchestrating its exit from Halthas had managed to slip it into the army’s supplies and would certainly have a plan for its retrieval. She still hadn’t told Daro what it was the Paragon had asked her to find, and she’d glossed over the fact that she’d been chased through the Sahaaran Quarter. Daro had enough on his mind without adding worry over the Arcstone, and she’d handled her attackers at Velin’s manor.

  “Just watch,” Daro said as he paced. “Rogan will come in and tell us how much he appreciates our friendship and loyalty. Then he’ll tell us why he needs us to stay in Halthas, and you’ll agree. He may as well set us up with a suite down the hall so he can have us at his disposal.”

  She shifted in her chair to face him, her mouth open. “Honestly, Daro, he’s our king and it isn’t as if there isn’t a need.”

  “There is always a need, don’t you see that? We could disappear into the Deep Forest and he’d still find a way to send a messenger. One day some bastard would find us with a letter telling us of the dire need of our kingdom, and it isn’t as if you’d ever say no.”

  Cecily stood. “What are you blaming me for, exactly? As far as I’m aware, it isn’t advisable to ignore a summons from His Majesty.”

  Daro stopped and crossed his arms. “Now Rogan is ‘His Majesty’? That’s part of the problem. He’s either your friend, or he’s your king. He can’t be both.”

  “Honestly, I have no idea what you’re going on about right now.”

  “I have done everything he’s ever asked of me,” Daro said, his voice suddenly quiet. “After we pulled those people out of the burning Keep at Madrona all those years ago, he said he needed my help. I didn’t want to be involved. I know, we told ourselves it was the right thing to do, but it was treason, Cecily.”

  Cecily’s back stiffened and she took a step away. “Don’t lecture me about treason. I’m well aware of what we did, and why.”

  “Do you know what I had to do in Thaya?” Daro said. “They made me fight six Heoru in an arena. I killed four of them in front of a crowd of screaming people, all so the Thayans would agree not to let an army through their land and across our northern border.” He turned away and resumed his pacing. “There was no reason those men had to die; I did it for someone’s entertainment.”

  “Daro, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

  He sighed and shook his head. “I know. It’s over. I don’t really want to talk about it.”

  As she started to reply, the door opened and Alastair and Rogan walked in. Alastair gave Daro a rather solemn nod before greeting Cecily. Rogan invited them to sit, and Cecily settled back into her chair, but Daro remained standing. At least he’d stopped pacing. Alastair took a chair on the other side of Cecily. He looked surprisingly haggard.

  Rogan sat on the other side of the large wooden desk. “Let me first say how much I appreciate what you did in Thaya, Daro. I know dealing with the Thayans can be less than pleasant, but what you did there was vital.”

  “He performed admirably,” Alastair said. Cecily noticed he kept his eyes forward, rather than looking at Daro when he spoke.

  “It appears we are fortunate he made it back alive,” Cecily said, careful to keep her voice even. It angered her that Daro had been forced to fight in an arena. He could have been killed.

  “We are fortunate. You are both good and loyal friends to the crown.” Rogan paused and Daro glanced at Cecily with one eyebrow raised. “I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for Halthas, and for me, personally.”

  Daro didn’t respond, but stood still with his arms crossed, his eyes locked on Rogan. Cecily shifted in her seat.

  “Obviously I didn’t ask you here to exchange pleasantries,” Rogan said with a glance at Daro. “Alastair and I agreed it would be best to fill you in on the situation at hand.”

  “You already know there are Attalonians in Halthas,” Alastair said. “What you don’t know is that they are harrying the countryside. Our reports indicate there must be a number of small forces. There have been attacks in various places, too many for one group to account for. Based on what our sources tell us, and what you, yourself experienced, we believe they are capturing Wielders, especially ones of strength.”

  “They are staging random attacks, burning storehouses and causing pandemonium in the duchies,” Rogan said. “The dukes are in an uproar, demanding I send reinforcements from my army. But I can’t spare the men. I need my force here, to protect the city if it comes to that. All the man I can spare have already been sent south.”

  Cecily sat forward in her chair. “Why?”

  Rogan’s eyes flicked from Daro to Alastair. “The Attalonian army is encamped on the south side of the Sahaaran Chasm. We have a stronghold there, guarding the bridge that leads across. It’s an old structure; it predates the founding of Halthas, but it’s sound. I’ve had Shapers working to shore it up for months, and I’ve been gradually increasing the size of the force there. Recently the Attalonians launched a covert attack under cover of darkness, attempting to take control of the gates. Fortunately, someone was able to sound the alarm. We are at war.”

  The word hung heavy in the air and a burning sense of dread wound its way through Cecily’s gut. She’d known this was happening, but she still hadn’t been prepared to hear it. She glanced at Daro and saw him close his eyes and shake his head.

  “We also have another problem, and it is vital that this does not leave this room,” Alastair said, and Cecily turned to look at him. He had dark circles beneath his eyes, and he licked his lips before continuing. “We have assassins on the loose in the city. Over the last several months, we’ve lost a number of key military leaders, and it appears the assassins are targeting other people involved in the defense of the city. Callum thinks they must be poisoning them somehow, but whatever substance they are using, it doesn’t leave a trace. The victims all just die in their sleep.”

  Cecily’s mouth hung open and sh
e stared, wide-eyed, at Alastair. She flicked her eyes over to Daro as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “This means I’m running out of people I can trust,” Rogan said. “Our few generals who had any real field experience are all dead. One died in a hunting accident over a year ago, but the rest all turned up dead in their homes, one after another, victims of this assassin. I sent the army south under the command of General Coryn Sage. She’s a competent leader but, I have to be honest, she lacks experience.”

  “There’s a reason you’re telling us all of this,” Daro said. “And it obviously isn’t so you can bid us a friendly farewell.”

  Rogan blew out a breath. “No. I need you to go to the Sahaaran Chasm. It’s our best chance to hold off Attalon and keep them from marching on the city itself. They’ll have long supply lines and the terrain is in our favor there. We control the bridge, and the stronghold. If we can stop them there, we can mitigate the impact on the rest of the kingdom.”

  “Why us?” Daro said.

  “Because I need someone I can count on,” Rogan said. His shoulders slumped as he leaned back in his chair. “I can’t leave for the Chasm until I’ve gotten the duchies under control. I need the men my dukes can muster, but they won’t send them until they’re certain these bands of Attalonians are dealt with. I need you to help hold them off until I can get there.”

  They sat in silence for a long moment. The lines of Daro’s jaw stood out and he stared at the wall behind Rogan.

  “This is Attalon,” Rogan said. “They are a machine made not just for war, but conquest, and the price of losing isn’t simply bowing to a new ruler. Those who survive will be in chains. Wielders are enslaved or killed in Attalon. I don’t expect they will treat the subjects of their conquest with any more mercy than they do their own people.”

  Daro’s eyes never left the wall. “Very well.”