Steel And Sorrow (Book 2)

by Joshua P. Simon

  “And he is also a citizen of Cadonia,” Kaz replied. “And therefore, will talk about his ruler with the respect she deserves. Crusher, get him back to the prison tent.”

  The Ghal nodded. “You want me to get Wiqua to look at him first?”

  “No,” said Kaz. “We’re not wasting any sorcery on him.”

  “But Commander, his jaw may not heal right. It’s pretty crooked,” said Grayer, making a face as he stared at Bronn.

  “Good. Let his face more closely reflect his personality. Everyone is dismissed.”

  * * *

  After looking in on the other mages, Krytien headed toward his tent. The brats he picked up months back on Estul Island had come a long way, especially when working as a group.

  All except Lufflin. I hate to just give up on him, but it may be time to cut our losses.

  Lufflin still had an influence over Nora and he tended to spend a great deal of time with her. To a lesser degree many of the younger, yellow-robed mages who hadn’t yet opened their eyes to Lufflin’s bluster also looked up to him.

  That’s the downside of cutting Lufflin now. Nora is beginning to finally trust me, but the ties aren’t strong enough yet. If I get rid of Lufflin, chances are I lose her and perhaps one or two of the yellows as well. We can’t afford that.

  He would hold off longer and hope that Kaz could convince Bronn to hand over his army and maybe gain a few replacement mages in the process.

  Although after tonight, that may take longer than Kaz had hoped.

  Krytien pushed aside the flap to his tent and lit a small lamp. A stack of books sat on the table. He sighed and read the names of each one.

  Who am I to read something by a High Mage when I’ve had no formal training?

  He pulled from under his robes an apple he had snatched from the supplies and crunched into it while staring at the book on top. He finished the apple, threw the core in a corner, and plopped in his chair. He took a deep breath, flipped open the cover, and began reading.

  “Before learning how to draw out more of the infinite amounts of power a mage has access to, one must learn to better control that which he already knows. This means that one must use the power he has in ways he is unaccustomed to. Only by practicing that which is known can one become more familiar with that which is unknown. For instance . . .”

  * * *

  “So, are you gonna say something and contribute to this conversation or what?” asked Hag before she went into a short coughing fit.

  Kaz blinked and looked at the old woman. “What are we talking about?”

  “We ain’t talking about nothing. That’s my point. You sat on that log twenty minutes ago and haven’t said a word since. Heck, you haven’t even touched your food yet.”

  Kaz looked at the cold food in his hand. “Has it really been twenty minutes?”

  “Close enough. I would have said something sooner, but Wiqua told me to give you time to process things and you’d start talking when you were ready.” Hag jabbed Wiqua with her elbow. “If I’d listened to you, we’d still be waiting til the rooster crows.”

  Wiqua shrugged. “I’ve never been one to pry.”

  “At least not in front of others,” said Hag with a wicked grin. She started coughing again.

  Kaz shook his head. “Are you all right?”

  Hag waved a hand. “I’m fine. I’m just old. Now, tell me what’s on your mind. I’m assuming it has to do with you ruining that duke’s face.”

  “Something like that.” He finally took a bite

  “I hear he insulted your woman and you lost it on him.”

  Kaz started choking. “What? Who told you that? Elyse isn’t my woman. She’s the queen and should be treated as such.”

  “Crusher said you punched Bronn after he insulted Elyse. That’s all I need to hear to know the truth. I know about these things.”

  Kaz took a sarcastic tone. “I’m not surprised since you seem to be an expert on everything else.”

  Hag gave Kaz a look and elbowed Wiqua. “Since he’s going to be so thick, you tell him then. He listens to you more anyway.”

  Kaz rolled his eyes.

  “She’s right,” said Wiqua. “Hag and I have talked in private about the bond you and the queen share.” He paused and tilted his head, looking Kaz in the eye. “You really have no clue, do you?”

  “What kind of question is that? Of course he doesn’t,” said Hag. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t have to tell him.”

  “Tell me what?” asked Kaz.

  “That the queen shares the same feelings about you as you do for her.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” said Kaz, putting his food down. “I’m nothing like the people here. Outside this army, people are frightened by me and think I’m some demon conjured by their crazy religion. Why would she be interested in me?”

  Wiqua shrugged. “Hag and I come from different backgrounds.”

  Hag winked. “If anything, that helps spice a relationship up.”

  Kaz eyed the woman. “That argument doesn’t work. You aren’t the queen of Cadonia and you,” he said, turning to Wiqua, “remember your past. The few things I do recall I wouldn’t want to share with anyone here, let alone Elyse.”

  “We all make mistakes,” said Wiqua. “Relationships work because one person sees who the other really is, despite their shortcomings. Elyse sees who you really are.”

  An image flashed before his mind. A senseless slaughter in a desert village. He shook his head.

  “If she knows who I really am, then I’m positive she doesn’t care for me as you say she does.”

  Chapter 25

  After weeks of travel, Nareash had the captain drop anchor at the mouth of a small inlet. Longboats lowered. Despite the bright sun overhead, a breeze over the bay gave Nareash a chill as it whipped through his robes.

  They reached land quickly.

  Guwan stared over the rocky shore and into the woods. “We should cover a lot of ground today.”

  “We’ll go no further than the shore today. And we need to set up my tent as soon as possible,” said Nareash.

  Guwan turned. He wore a knowing look of dread. “It hasn’t been a month.”

  Nareash lowered his voice. “Close enough.” He switched to the common tongue of Thurum to hide their conversation from the others in the longboat. “I’d rather not perform a teleportation spell once we reach the main army. And you have a strong enough grasp of the language now to move to the next phase. You remember all the details we’ve discussed?”

  Guwan nodded and spoke in Thurum’s language with a thick accent. “Yes. But what’s to stop Hezen from killing me once you’re away.”

  “Colan will be staying with you. He’s done well learning the art and is more than capable to watch your back.”

  Guwan glared at Colan. “He better be.”

  * * *

  The world came into focus and Nareash immediately dropped to the floor of his tent. He had teleported too soon after the previous time and nausea seized him. He crawled over to a skin of water. Leaning on a stool, he took a small sip and swished the water in his mouth before swallowing. After a few deep breaths, the sweating stopped and the inside of the tent ceased its spinning. He finally acknowledged the three shamans warily standing over him. He struggled to his feet.

  I have to be me more careful. I can’t show myself to be so vulnerable again.

  “Nachun, are you alright?” asked one of the shamans in a whisper.

  “Yes.”

  “Where’s Guwan and Colan?”

  “They stayed behind.”

  “How does that affect us?” asked another.

  “You mean will you still die if something happens to them?”

  The shaman nodded.

  “Of course.”

  “But, we can’t control what happens . . . .”

  Nareash shrugged. “Then you should continue to hope for their success. Now leave me.”

  The shamans shuffled out of the tent, each wea
ring a look of their displeasure with the High Mage.

  Nareash grinned. No amount of sorcery could tie one person’s life to another so the shamans had nothing to fear. Yet, they respected his power too much to disbelieve him. He chuckled and plopped onto his bedroll. He needed to rest desperately.

  “Nachun?”

  “I said . . .” He stopped short when Walor entered his tent. A guard followed and started to apologize. Nareash stood and waved a hand. “Go.”

  Walor cracked his neck and watched the guard leave. They eyed each other. Nareash held out the skin of water. Walor refused.

  “How did you find us?”

  “I had some scouts ranging farther than usual. They reported seeing a small party dressed in our colors. Then one mentioned you.”

  “Tobin knows?”

  “Not yet. I wanted to talk to you alone.”

  Nareash raised an eyebrow. “About my trip?” He knew Walor had not agreed with his decision to leave Juanoq.

  Walor shrugged. “Later perhaps. I’m more interested in discussing how your trip has affected Tobin.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He’s changed. Charu’s been difficult to deal with.”

  “I read the reports in Juanoq. I hurried here to ensure he wouldn’t make any other poor decisions.”

  “His plans were sound and inventive. They should have worked. Something else is going on.”

  “Sabotage?”

  “I think it’s Soyjid. Tobin made him leader of the Gray Marsh Clan and the boy is having more success than he should be able to accomplish.”

  Nareash grunted. “Before I left Juanoq, Lucia told me she thought Odala was the greater threat.”

  “I wouldn’t doubt that she’s had a hand in it. I never trusted either of them.”

  “Have you talked to Tobin about Soyjid?”

  “Tobin’s not himself. He won’t listen to me. He just slaughtered an entire village in cold blood. He left only the children alive to carry the message back to Charu. That’s something Kaz would have done. Not Tobin.”

  “And you think he’ll listen to me?”

  “Yes.”

  * * *

  Nareash slept hard and woke late the next morning. After a big meal, the party began their trek through the path Walor showed them the day before. Birds chirped in their nests while squirrels and other small critters scampered among the canopy’s limbs or across the dirt path. Other than a few difficult climbs through particularly rocky patches, Nareash found the walk peaceful, even relaxing.

  In the early evening, the trees thinned and a small, but fast moving stream came into view. On the other side of the stream, just past another line of trees, smoke from cook fires rose into the air. Nareash’s stomach growled at the smell of dripping fat.

  Blue Island Clan scouts materialized from the brush near the path and folded themselves into the group. Conversations broke out among the scouts and the warriors in Nareash’s party of some three dozen men. The High Mage remained quiet as he separated himself from the group, allowing a scout to lead him to Tobin’s command tent.

  He walked through the camp, aware of the hateful and curious stares cast his way.

  Ah, as warm a welcome as I expected.

  Nareash felt a difference in the mood in the camp since last time he was among them. The level of malice and intensity that Tobin had dampened since becoming warleader had almost returned to levels from Kaz’s command.

  The High Mage strode through the opening of the command tent. Heads turned his way. Nareash noticed that all but Walor and Tobin looked surprised.

  Good. He convinced Tobin to keep the information quiet.

  A scowl formed on Ufer’s lips, but Nareash paid it little mind as his attention drifted to the thin boy who looked grossly out of place among the powerful warriors. Soyjid’s eyes widened only slightly, but enough to betray that Nareash’s presence had rattled the boy.

  “Everyone out. I want to speak with Nachun in private,” said Tobin.

  Soyjid cleared his throat. “But Warleader. We haven’t finalized our strategy. I’m sure Nachun wouldn’t mind waiting a bit longer while we finish.”

  Tobin’s hand rubbed at his temple. “Well . . .”

  Nareash spoke in a hard tone. “Actually, I do mind.” He looked to Walor. “Perhaps, you and Ufer can work with Soyjid while I speak with Tobin.”

  Walor nodded and rolled the map up quickly. “Let’s go.”

  The others filed out of the tent and Tobin blinked his eyes while massaging the bridge of his nose. Nareash poured a cup of water and sprinkled a mixture he pulled from a pouch in his robes before handing it to Tobin. “Drink.”

  “What is it?”

  “Something for your headache.”

  “How did you know?” Tobin downed the contents. After a moment, he relaxed. “Thank you. I feel better already.”

  “How long have the headaches been plaguing you?”

  “Hmm?”

  “How long, Tobin?”

  “They started a couple weeks after you left Juanoq. Speaking of, was the trip successful?”

  “There are more pressing matters than my trip. When do the headaches generally start and how long do they last?”

  Tobin laughed. “It depends, but usually during strategy sessions. Sometimes it’s only for a few seconds, other times it can last up to an hour.”

  “Have they been getting more painful?”

  “Yes. Why?”

  Nareash walked over and grabbed his head. He pulled back Tobin’s eyelids.

  Tobin shrugged him away. “What’s the matter with you?” he hissed. “I’m fine. I’m sure it’s just stress.”

  “You’re not fine. You’ve had stress your entire life. More than most. When has it ever caused headaches?”

  “I’ve never had this kind of stress before.”

  “So? You’re a more than capable leader. I’ve proven it to you and you’ve proven it to yourself and your men. Walor came to me with his concerns. He suspected something was wrong and I think he’s right.”

  “What does he suspect?” said Tobin through clenched teeth.

  “That Soyjid’s been manipulating you.”

  Tobin laughed. “Come on.”

  “With sorcery. That’s what the headaches are. He’s been pushing on your mind. Poorly, I might add.”

  “What?”

  “I’m serious. Think about it. If he had the means, why wouldn’t he? Before I left, you never would have placed so much weight on the words of a boy. Especially over Walor and Ufer.”

  Tobin stared at the floor. The High Mage knew his friend needed to work things out for himself. Nareash remained quiet, pacing the room and examining other maps where plans had changed several times over. He saw Soyjid’s influence as Tobin had always been quick and decisive with his military decisions.

  “All this time, my strategy wasn’t wrong, was it?” asked Tobin.

  Nareash flipped over a map. “Probably not.”

  Tobin drew his sword and marched toward the tent flap.

  “Stop!”

  “Stop? I can’t let him continue this.”

  “Kill him now and we won’t have the full story. We need to know whether anyone else is involved.”

  Tobin sheathed his weapon. “What do you suggest?”

  “Call everyone back in. Go with his plans and end the meeting quickly. I’ll handle the rest.”

  * * *

  Soyjid wheeled around quickly. He concealed most of his surprise, but not his discomfort. “Nachun. I didn’t hear my guards announce you.”

  Nareash secured the tent flap and smiled. “I asked them not to. I hope I’m not intruding on anything of importance?”

  Soyjid casually moved a book over a piece of paper and left the small table it rested on. “No. Just preparing for our next battle. We’re lucky you could rejoin us for it.”

  “Lucky indeed.” Nareash gestured to a chair. “May I?”

  Soyjid nodded and joined him.
“What brings you here?”

  “I wanted to congratulate you. Prisoner, then assistant to Tobin, and now ruler of your clan. Your father must be proud.”

  “You’d have to ask him. Is there something specific I can do for you?”

  Nareash heard the frustration in Soyjid’s tone. “I hoped you could tell me how you did it? How did you turn things around for yourself?”

  Soyjid shrugged. “I worked hard. It was no different than how you achieved your own accomplishments.”

  “Odd that you would make such a comparison. I didn’t realize you had become adept with sorcery.”

  Soyjid blinked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Sure you do.”

  “No, I do not.” Soyjid said each word deliberately and Nareash felt the slightest of pushes against his mind. Soyjid recoiled hastily and tried to hide his intentions.

  Nareash laughed. “Really? You thought to control me? You don’t even realize how insignificant you are to me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m impressed you hid yourself for so long and even at the most basic levels, mind control is no easy thing. Perhaps after some training you could have been something more. I’m curious, how did you learn how to do it?”

  Soyjid shook his head in defeat. “I knew the basics of sorcery from overhearing the shamans of our clan discuss it. My mother hated the arts so I could never study sorcery openly. I practiced on my own and through a lot of trial and error did my best in piecing things together.”

  “Interesting.”

  Soyjid narrowed his eyes. “How did you find out?”

  “One, you tried to push Tobin too quickly. Those around him grew suspicious.”

  “Walor?”

  “Two, the headaches. Mind control is something that requires a great deal of finesse and if it isn’t done subtlety enough, it can cause irreversible damage to the person who you’re using it on. Trust me, I know.”

  “And now you’re going to kill me?”

  “After I get some answers. If you’re not cooperative, I promise the process will be far more unpleasant than a mere headache.”

  Soyjid worked his tongue around his mouth and let out a heavy sigh as his body relaxed. “Sure, why not? What do I care? I obviously can’t stop you.”