“Excellent.” The High Priestess leaned forward. “You can obtain it, with some help.”
“Help?”
“Indeed. The Captain is much stronger than you. You’re not in a position to overcome him. Only Astrebril can supply the power you need.”
Habiloho felt her heartbeat accelerate. Astrebril? What does he have to do with this? She swallowed. “What do you mean?”
The High Priestess held her captive with an intense stare. “Princess Habiloho, I’m inviting you to join the Order of Astrebril—if you are proven worthy.”
The Order of Astrebril! Me? A sacred priestess?
“I . . . I don’t know,” Habiloho said. “I’ve never considered that before.”
The High Priestess laughed lightly and rocked back against her cushions. She poured some wine from a decanter and handed it to Habiloho. “Of course you haven’t. Let’s not rush things. I’m only asking you to consider it. We should test you first to see whether it’s the god’s will.”
“Test me?” Habiloho sipped the sweet wine. “How?”
“I have a job in mind for you. It would require you to go to the Pon-Revel tonight and speak to Captain Teofil. I can get you there ahead of him by ship. It would be the first step toward your revenge for his unbelievable cruelty to you today.”
The reminder of the day’s events made Habiloho’s anger flare up. She clenched her jaw and spat out a curse. “That traitor,” she muttered. “After all I gave to him—”
“Young princess, don’t let his callous rejection today defeat you. At their core, men are weak. They can have no power over you if you don’t let them. You must overcome your disappointment if you are to exact your revenge. Bide your time. Let your anger grow within your soul—let it fuel you. Tell me: do you want to hurt Teofil?”
Habiloho was taken aback. Though she had decided to take revenge on Teo, she hadn’t quite thought of it as hurting him. She stared out the window as she considered her reply.
“Do you?” The question was urgent.
When Habiloho looked up, the High Priestess had a gleam in her eye. Though her expression was warm and inviting, the princess knew the look of raw power when she saw it. It was all there. This woman had power—in abundance.
“I do,” Habiloho said firmly. “Tell me what you want from me.”
Teo and Ana left Entrelac and walked for two pleasant hours along the northern shore of the Tooner Sea while the stars came out one by one. They entered a remote area of the kingdom, uninhabited because the steep slopes made the land unsuitable for farming. The trees around them were very old. Nearby, the priests of Pon made large quantities of charcoal for sale to the people. In fact, this secret grove was sacred to the laughing, goat-horned god.
Soon the shouts of revelers came to Ana’s ears. Through the trees she could see the orange glow of a bonfire sending up sparks like tiny sacrifices to Pon. But when Ana stepped into the circle of firelight, any notion that this would be an elegant soirée in a sylvan locale fled from her mind. What met her eyes was a degenerate scene. Many of the drunken revelers were naked or nearly so. Some were deeply engaged in activities that belonged only to a private setting. Ana was repelled.
“Captain Teofil, this is a place of depravity.”
Teo glanced at her. “Nonsense! Come on, don’t be afraid. I didn’t bring you here for sensual purposes. Let’s get a cup and find a place to discuss the tales of old Chiveis.”
“No, Captain. I’m uncomfortable here. I don’t want to be in such a sinful place.”
Teo’s face took on a look of astonishment. “Sinful? Anastasia, I’m no sinner. I’m not the type of person to do anything wrong!”
“A man I know once said, ‘What type of person never does any wrong?’”
Teo sighed and shook his head. “What I meant by that was, we all make errors at times. But when it comes to sin—that concept is for the undisciplined masses! The term sin doesn’t apply to righteous people like us.”
“Evil loves the darkness, and it hides from the bright light. I sense such evil here.”
“Are you saying I’m a sinner? An unworthy evildoer?” Teo seemed pained at the thought.
“Captain Teofil, in my experience you’re a good man. But we’ve mistakenly come to an evil place. I want you to leave with me—now.”
“I’m telling you, there’s no evil here! Perhaps there are some who drink to excess or make love in the bushes. What harm is there in that? Can’t we have a relaxing evening of our own? I assure you, Anastasia, I bear you no ill intent. Come on, meet my friends!” Teo turned toward the shadowy orgy.
A single dancer had taken over the center of the clearing. It was Princess Habiloho, lit by the flickering firelight. Her supple body moved in the erotic way that transfixes the eyes of men. Ana waited for what seemed like an eternity for Teo to turn around again. Instead he kept staring at the voluptuous princess.
Angry, Ana retreated into the darkness, then paused to look back. Teo still had his back to her as he watched Habiloho dance. Ana fled down a nearby path.
For a long time, she followed the trail toward Toon, her emotions raw. Every so often a rustling in the brush startled her. Though Ana was used to being in the forest, she was not often out at night. Wolves roamed this part of the realm. She would have to be careful.
“Hail, lady!” Ana’s heart jumped to her throat, and she screamed in surprise.
“I mean you no harm!” A lantern was uncovered, and by its light Ana could see a monk of Astrebril atop a parked coach. “I was observing your party, and I saw you leave,” he said. “The great High Priestess of my order bade me to follow you and intercept you if possible. She still holds the hope you might change your mind about her generous gift.”
“No, sir. It’s not a gift I can accept.” Ana tried not to sound rude. No doubt the monk was only doing what he was told. But the High Priestess had an aura Ana wanted nothing to do with.
The old man descended from the coach and hobbled over with the aid of a cane. “If you won’t take my mistress’s tour, can I at least escort you to Toon? The deep woods of Chiveis aren’t safe by night.”
Ana thought it over. Clearly the old man posed no physical threat. Why not take him up on his offer? She wouldn’t be accepting the High Priestess’s actual gift, and it would be safer than continuing to walk alone. The hour was late, and Ana was tired. She nodded to the monk and climbed into the plush, well-appointed coach. The doors closed off the autumn chill, while a blanket and a charcoal foot warmer added to her comfort. Ana reached for the decanter of honeyed wine and poured some into a crystal cup, savoring its mellow flavor.
As the coach rocked along on its springs, Ana found herself toying with her flower garland, thinking about Captain Teofil. There’s so much nobility and strength in him, but so much foolishness and pride too! Images of Teo swirled in her mind—his heroic race today, his vigorous combat, his incredible archery. She pictured his face when he gave her the garland, when he asked her to be his escort tonight—and also when he argued with her at the revel. He was a man of great power, though with rough edges, and many contradictions. Nevertheless, one thing had become clear: she was drawn to him.
The warmth and the wine and the rocking motion of the coach began to make Ana drowsy. She settled into the cushions and closed her eyes. Just for a moment, she told herself. Her head nodded. And then, though she didn’t intend it, sleep took her.
Ana awoke with a jolt. Everything was absolutely still. The coach had stopped. The forest was hushed. Clouds covered the moon. Where was she? What’s going on? Her head ached.
“Driver?” No answer. The monk was gone, and so were the horses.
Ana’s heart began to race, for her instincts told her danger was at hand. She opened the coach door and peeked out. The night was quiet. Slowly she eased into the darkness.
A cruel hand grabbed Ana’s arm. She cried out, but the sound was muffled by the dirty sack thrown over her head.
CHAPTER
&
nbsp; 5
As a wilderness scout, Teo had trained himself to notice anything unusual, anything that didn’t fit the pattern. There was nothing unusual about Habiloho’s sensual firelight dance; she loved that kind of attention. But the figure lurking in the woods behind her, wearing the garb of the monks of Astrebril—that was not to be expected at the Pon-Revel.
For a long time, Teo stared at the spot where he had glimpsed the unknown man. Nothing moved. Evidently the visitor had left. It was probably of no consequence. Yet somehow it didn’t seem right.
He turned. “Anastasia, I just want to—” She was gone.
Teo glanced around but didn’t see her in the vicinity. He hoped she had overcome her misgivings about the party and had gone to obtain some wine. Wherever she was, she wouldn’t go far—not in these dangerous forests. In the meantime, he wanted to take a closer look for clues about the mysterious visitor.
Dodging an amorous couple rolling around on a bearskin, Teo stepped out of the bonfire’s circle of light into the dark forest. He stared into the shadows for a moment to let his eyes adjust, then began to scan the ground. With the firelight screened by the trees, finding tracks in the dirt was no easy task.
Teo was about to give up when he noticed a single footprint. Kneeling, he inspected it. The print was a sandal from a monk of Astrebril, like the ones Lewth had worn when Teo had visited him at the High Priestess’s temple. But this man’s foot was smaller, and a round dimple in the soil indicated he walked with the aid of a cane. Teo could discover nothing further, so he memorized the look of the footprint and resolved to watch for anything out of the ordinary.
He returned to the revel expecting to find Anastasia with a pair of wine cups, but she was still missing. Teo made his way to the casks of wine, nodding at friends and getting his back slapped more times than he cared to. Everyone wanted to congratulate him on his tournament victory, but he just wanted to smooth things over with the girl he’d invited to be his escort. When he finally reached the wine casks and serving tables, he didn’t find her there.
Surely she—
Of course not. She wouldn’t leave the party.
Or would she? Had she been that angry? Teo recalled the stern look on her face, the determination in her voice when she had said, “I want you to leave with me—now.” But it was inconceivable that a young girl would set out for home by herself. These woods were infested with wolves and who knew what else. Teo couldn’t imagine she would take such a risk. Yet the more he thought about it, the more he had to admit that this girl just might try it. “Anastasia, you’re not like anyone I’ve ever met,” he muttered in frustration.
Teo darted back and forth in the illuminated area of the revel, ignoring his well-wishers as he searched the crowd. With each passing moment, he grew more concerned. Even discovering Ana in the arms of some newfound beau would have come as a relief. Yet he couldn’t find her anywhere. Three times he circled the clearing, calling out her name. Still no answer. Finally he was forced to acknowledge she had left the scene. But which way had she gone? There were only two options.
One trail returned the way they had come, back to Entrelac. The other trail, continuing along the lakeshore to Toon, was much more tricky. It was a winding trail, easy to lose and rarely traveled. Teo had intended to take Ana that way after the revel was over, to the inn where Stratetix had reserved a room for his daughter. Would she have chosen that unknown trail in the middle of the night? Or would she have done the more sensible thing and returned the way she had come? Sensible? There’s nothing sensible about any of this!
Behind him a stick snapped. Teo turned around. A woman was approaching.
“Good evening, Captain.” Habiloho struggled to keep her tone civil, though in reality she wanted to strangle the man standing in front of her.
“Greetings, Habiloho.”
“What are you doing out here in the dark woods?” She sidled closer to Teo. “Maybe that’s to our advantage?”
Teo stepped back and erected an obvious barrier between them. “Enough with all that stuff, Habiloho. I’m sick of it.”
Sick of it? Did he just say “sick of it”? Habiloho ground her teeth and tensed every muscle in her body. For a moment she stood there, quivering with rage in the darkness. It was all she could do to force herself to relax and not tear Teo’s eyes out. She focused her mind on the High Priestess’s instructions: drive a wedge between the captain and his escort.
“Have it your way, Captain,” she said sweetly. “So what are you doing out here? Why don’t you come back to the fire? Maybe we could share a cup and some old stories.”
“I can’t. I’m looking for someone.”
Indeed. “Someone.” That low-class wench from Edgeton!
“Are you looking for Anastasia?” Habiloho’s eyes were wide. “She was a good choice today.” The princess felt all her muscles go tense again. Keep it together, she told herself. Just keep it together.
“Have you seen her?”
The urgent way Teo asked the question was infuriating.
“I’ve seen her. But what’s the big deal about her? I’m here with you right now.”
“The big deal is, we had an argument, and I need to find her.” Teo’s frustration was spilling out. “Tell me where you saw her last!”
With sudden clarity, the situation snapped into focus. Habiloho had seen Ana moving down the trail to Toon and assumed she was playing a typical woman’s game of cat-and-mouse. Offer a bit of temptation, then find a quiet place to be alone. Not at all! These two have had a little spat! Habiloho felt a rush of adrenaline as the pieces of the puzzle tumbled into place. This was going to be easy.
“Oh, Teofil, I’m so sorry to hear that! Now that you mention it, she did seem a little put out. But if you hurry, I’m sure you can catch her. She went that way.” Habiloho pointed over Teo’s shoulder. “Toward Entrelac. Keep going until you reach her. She has a good head start on you.”
Teo glanced down the trail, then looked back at the princess.
“Thanks, Habiloho.” He disappeared into the night.
Habiloho smiled to herself. The High Priestess was right. Men really are stupid if you know how to push them around.
The full moon cast a silver sheen on the trail into Entrelac. Wispy clouds shrouded its face, suggesting an overcast sky might be moving in. Teo ran by what little moonlight he had, not bothering to look for tracks in a gloom that wouldn’t have revealed them anyway. He hoped if he kept up his fast pace, he would reach Ana before she arrived at Entrelac.
By the time Teo reached the town, clouds covered the sky. No light gleamed off the ink-black Tooner Sea as he neared the night watchman’s guardhouse.
“Hail, guardsman!” Teo slowed to a walk, panting from his run.
“Show your hands and approach slowly!” The voice was the deep baritone of a large man.
“I’m Captain Teofil of the Fifth Regiment. I seek news of a night visitor.”
The watchman emerged from the guardhouse, his insignia identifying him as belonging to the Third Regiment. The lantern in his hand cast a flickering glow on his square jaw. “Aha! The great victor of the day! Well played, Captain—you made the Guard proud! As to your question, sir, no one has passed into town since I came on duty at dusk.”
“A woman? Have you seen a beautiful woman?”
The man chuckled. “Yeah, I’ve seen plenty of those in my day.”
Teo lunged at the man, grabbing his shirt in his fist and leaning into the face of the startled watchman. “You’d better listen to me, soldier! I’m in no mood for jokes! I want to know if a young woman in her early twenties, light-colored hair, has been seen anywhere around here tonight.”
The watchman immediately deferred to Teo’s rank. “N-no, sir! As I said, no one has come through since I went on duty.”
What the . . . ? Habiloho. That liar!
Teo released his hold on the watchman’s shirt. “Get me the best horse in your stable. I want saddlebags of gear and a sword.
Move!”
Teo hung his head and dozed in the saddle, fighting exhaustion. He had been following the remote track for several hours at a fast trot. The last time he had slept was before the tournament, and his body desperately needed rest. But he pressed on. He was even more desperate to find Anastasia.
When the horse stumbled on the dark trail, Teo awoke with a start. He reined in and dismounted. The autumn night made his breath fog. He sucked the cold air deep into his lungs to revive himself, then bent to inspect the trail. Lighting a Vulkain stick, he checked for the presence of coach tracks. The ruts were still there. Keep going. You have to find the coach. You have to find her!
A few hours earlier, with the aid of a lantern from his saddlebag, Teo had located Ana’s foot trail on the path toward Toon. He followed it to where she had been intercepted by the monk with the cane. Ana had accepted a ride aboard his carriage, though Teo couldn’t guess why. For a time, he nursed the hope that a kindly monk had simply given her a lift into town. But when the coach didn’t stop at Toon, Teo’s fears returned in full force.
The driver had followed an abandoned road that led behind the tilled fields along the Farm River. League after league the coach rolled on. It had even passed Edgeton without turning toward the sleeping riverside village. That was a very bad sign. Anastasia, where are you?
The predawn light had chased away some of the shadows when Teo spotted the lonely carriage ahead in the road. He kicked his horse into a gallop, drawing his sword from its sheath, but all was still and quiet. A stream crossed the road here, and the ground was moist. Teo pulled up short so he wouldn’t interfere with the tracks. Dismounting, he circled the coach as his trained eyes read the story in the soft earth.
The sandaled monk had unhitched the horses. Teo noticed he hadn’t used his cane to move around this time; evidently it was a ruse. The monk had departed down a side path, leading the two horses.
Later other men had arrived. The make of their boots was foreign. Outsiders! Perhaps six or seven of them. Teo felt sick at the thought.
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