by Rin Chupeco
“Your Majesty.” Tears filled my eyes, my guilt bubbling within me. “I am so sorry.”
“I am not. The things that he said—they were unforgivable.” Kance’s voice grated, ax on whetstone. “I thought at first that his rantings were the result of his madness. Gibberish that had no foundation in truth. But as time went on, he spoke of deeds I knew to be authentic. About how he collaborated with Aenah and how he was willing to sacrifice Khalad for Aenah to gain her shadowglass. He would curse my brother often, refer to him as a sodomite, as not a man or child of his.
“And you. He would scream your name like it was a curse, day and night, more than he would scream Khalad’s. He’d scream about all the horrible things he’d planned to do to you, of the terrible things he still wanted to do. I realized then that he’d been insane long before you’d turned him mad. He’d learned to hide it behind hearty laughs and an occasional wave to the crowd.”
“I am sorry.”
“Lady Tea.” For the first time in so long, Kance took my hand in his, the gesture at once gentle and achingly familiar. “I killed my father because it was the right decision, not for you. I’m not sorry for killing him. I am only sorry that I had not done so earlier. The headaches plaguing me during the months that I cared for him disappeared the night I smothered him. I slept like a baby, undisturbed by nightmares. I no longer needed Althy’s herbs for sleep. My father was the tumor I needed to excise. And whenever I allow myself to feel shame for being a kinslayer, I only remember his horrid ravings, and it passes soon enough.”
He dropped my hand and added quietly, “But I do not trust the Dark, nor its powers that you wield. It is too much for any one person, and possessing that power can only end in tragedy. Odalia remains closed to you, Lady Tea—for the time being. I cannot risk my kingdom. My father did enough damage to last my lifetime. I will accept your help and your alliance for this war with Drycht, but only because I intend to see every Faceless wiped from these lands. If Druj resides within those mountains, then I will see him burn myself.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.” Kance is no longer a friend, I thought with a pang of sadness. But his lack of animosity was the best I could hope for. “Thank you for your clemency.”
“Make no mistake, Lady Tea. If the Dark should take control of you—though I pray to the gods every day that will not be so—then I will not hesitate.”
“Should the darkrot take me, Your Majesty, then I pray for the awareness and the acuity to lay my head on the block for your killing blow.”
Much to my surprise, his hand found mine again, gripping it tightly. “Do not jest,” Kance snapped. “Do you think I await that day? You were one of my trusted friends, Tea. You were the sister I never had. Do you think it doesn’t hurt me to be at odds with you? That it doesn’t scare me to imagine that the power you wield will wind up killing you? If there was a way to extract the Dark from you, I would do it in a heartbeat.”
“The Dark has always been a part of me, Your Majesty. And it came with benefits. It was drawing in the Dark that led me to your acquaintance. It was the Dark that enabled me to raise my brother from the dead. That I have lost both your trust does not make me bitter in the experience.”
Kance looked troubled. His heartsglass glowed pale red.
“And if it were not for the Dark, I would never have met Kalen, and that alone is enough to be thankful for, regardless of whatever else may happen. I am happy that you do not hold me in so poor a regard as you did in our last encounter, Your Majesty. I only hope to improve my standing with you in the coming months by proving there is more to me than the Dark you fear.”
“What makes you think I shall change my mind?”
“Because you told me about your father’s death. That you thought to place your trust in me despite all that has happened…I am glad. The fault has always been mine, Your Majesty, and I never once disagreed with your decision to exile me from Odalia. If anything, you were more merciful than I ever was. Should my time come, I hope to find that same mercy, undeserving as I am of it.”
“Tea,” Kance began, but fell silent when Kalen drew beside me.
“Kance,” Kalen greeted, his gaze sliding to me curiously.
“Lady Tea and I were catching up,” King Kance murmured. He offered me a bow. “Thank you for your time.”
“What was that all about?” Kalen asked, watching the King of Odalia leave.
“King Telemaine died,” I said, unsure if it was my place to tell anyone about Kance’s hand in his father’s passing, even if it was Kalen. He sensed my hesitation and didn’t press for further details. “He hasn’t forgiven me.”
“Not yet. It’s different when one’s own father dies, no matter what he’d done.”
I leaned closer toward him.
“Is that what’s troubling you?”
“No. I’m just glad he’s put aside his hostility toward me, if only for the moment. It’s more than I expected.”
“Having second thoughts?” Kalen teased. “Should I be jealous?”
I made a face at him. “You know I’m not. But our conversation’s left me wondering—if Odalia knows of Drychta here at Mithra’s Wall, then surely Kion must have had some news of it too. But there has been no word from them.”
Kalen frowned. “That’s true. Empress Alyx would not have allowed any interlopers here, especially if they’re Aadil’s men. General Lode has received word that the Yadoshans are coming to their aid and that they’re expected to arrive within the next day. But they have heard nothing from her.”
“I’m concerned.”
“Have you thought about contacting Fox?” Kalen was gentle; my brother was a painful issue, and he knew it. “We need to know what Kion plans to do, and we have no quicker means at our disposal.”
“I…” I didn’t know if I could bear feeling Fox’s anger and disgust again. “Can’t General Lode send another raven?”
“He’s sent four, but we can’t expect an answer for another few days at least.” Kalen kissed me. “If it makes you uncomfortable, then I won’t ask again. Perhaps a messenger on a fast horse is necessary, so we can at least guarantee a reply.”
I took a deep breath. “No. You’re right. The situation supersedes my personal problems. Kion will know we’re with the Odalians soon, so there’s no point in hiding from them. Give me a minute to pull myself together and I will reach out to him.”
It took me ten minutes to find the nerve to break down the door I had so meticulously built in my mind, separating my thoughts from Fox’s. I resisted the urge to weep as Fox’s mind flowed into mine, the familiarity of him bringing a fresh wave of tears.
Tea? I heard him ask in shock. He was, I saw, dining with Princess Inessa in her private chambers. He rose to his feet, eyes wide.
“Is that Tea?” Inessa sounded apprehensive, cautious, delighted. “Tea? Where are you? We were so worried—”
Drycht has an army at Mithra’s Wall, I said bluntly, keeping my own emotions at bay, ignoring the tears spilling down my cheeks. Oh, I missed Fox, but the anger, disgust, and fear swirling inside him when we last saw each other was still there, dimmed but pulled back to the forefront when I announced my presence.
The Calming runes that Kalen administered to me daily could do nothing against the torrent of emotions that reconnecting to Fox brought me. Once again, I was overcome with emotion that Daisy was dead and I responsible for it. That perhaps I did deserve to die before I wreaked havoc in other kingdoms. I was a plague that infected all I touched. I deserved no mercy, only justice. Had Kance thought to have me executed for my crimes against his father all those months ago, then Daisy would still be alive.
Tea? Fox sensed my maelstrom of emotions, and his concern grew, outpacing his previous anger. At the same time, I could feel Kalen slowly seeping into my mind as he held me, stroking my hair and murmuring soft, reassuring words. His warmth s
eeped into my core, and I found my self-control.
Did you know about Aadil’s army?
I—no. We received missives this morning about activity along Yadosha’s borders, but we’ve had no confirmation—
Consider this your confirmation. There is a Faceless within Aadil’s army, and they think the First Harvest is within Mithra’s Wall. Tell Empress Alyx to send a representative—perhaps asha you can spare from the hunt for me, as I am here with the Odalians, surrounding what’s left of the Drychta. The Yadoshans are coming, and Empress Alyx will be left out.
Althy’s already by Yadosha, scouting. We’ll relay word to her to ride to your location. Tea, I want to—
I was at my limit. The message relayed, I slammed the door between us, cutting off the rest of his words and frantically building until I could hear no more from him. No anger, no disappointment, no sorrow.
But the dam had broken, and I cried fresh grief at losing Daisy and at Fox’s distrust, twin swords through my heart. It took a minute for the Calming to take effect, and it washed over me in waves. My sobs stifled and quieted, growing softer after every sweep.
Kalen was himself shaken. “I didn’t realize—I didn’t understand why you were so reluctant, until I…”
“Y-you shouldn’t have been able to eavesdrop.” The bond I shared with Fox was unique as far as I knew. I looked down at Kalen’s heartsglass and then at mine. We beat in perfect synchronicity. I loved Fox, and I always would, but the years-long bond we shared paled in comparison to what Kalen and I shared. In that moment, I understood how completely he loved me. But as the minutes passed, the link ebbed, and Kalen’s presence slid away.
“Heartshare,” Kalen murmured. “It’s a permanent dependence, isn’t it? I am sorry, Tea. I won’t ask you to do that again.”
“No. I had to. There’s more at stake than me and my feelings. More at stake than us. I can live with Fox’s anger. As long as he’s safe and under the empress’s protection, then that is enough.”
“You have no reason to hide your hurt from me, Tea. I’ll be here for you. Always.”
He kissed me as he was wont to do, slow and lingering. I returned the favor as his arms slid around me. The heartshare’s effects had disappeared, but in that moment, it no longer mattered.
“They will control no daeva here.” Lord Knox sounded pleased and disappointed all at once. The Hollow Mountains loomed before us, thin, craggy peaks that decorated Odalia’s southern coastline like the lower jaws of some gargantuan sea monster. It was a natural barrier between the kingdom and Drycht, one that Odalian kings have long harnessed as a defensive position against invaders. I was not privy to the military roundtables that went on among the generals, but I could see Arhen-Koshon ships closing in on either side of the range. It was likely that they prevented Drychta ships from landing anywhere but along these mountain shores, which gave us the advantage of terrain.
The southern outpost had been constructed many years ago by the Odalian queen, Bregane, and it has since withstood the test of time, with fortifications added to and improved by her descendants. Though simple and utilitarian in appearance, the star-shaped bastion was heavily defended. Ditches and sharpened spikes surrounded the fort, making it impassable for most attacks.
There was no sign of the Dark asha or her azi. Lord Fox stared into the sky, searching every cloud for the telltale speck of black. I saw his mouth move and had no need to hear his whispered, Where are you, Tea? sent out into the air like an open secret.
“The Gorvekai tell us that this so-called First Harvest is not in the Hollow Mountains,” General Lode rumbled, “so what devilry do the Drychta intend to do here? Invade Odalia? They no longer have the element of surprise. Draw out the Dark asha and her daeva? Surely they could do so in other territories where they could maintain the advantage.”
“Reports tell me that these are Aadil’s most devoted soldiers,” King Kance observed. “All ten thousand members of the Golden Rod, his private army. Then another ten thousand men from his special forces, handpicked for their brutal efficiency. And there may be more.”
“That might pose more of a problem than General Lode thinks,” Lord Fox decided. “We expect them to leave the range and engage us in battle, but they show every indication of staying put. Our defenses amount to nothing if they do not come down the Hollows, milords.”
“We outnumber them five to one,” Lord Balfour pointed out.
“That makes no difference, Sir Balfour. We won’t be able to keep our formation if we go through those narrower paths, and the crevices ensure archers can pick us off before we reach the bulk of their army. If we go in, they’ll have the advantage.”
“So this is going to be a protracted siege?” Lord Aden groaned. “I hate sieges.”
“If you have any ideas for luring the Drychta out of the Hollows, Lord Aden, then I would be more than pleased to let you assume command.”
“What do you think, Althy?” Lord Fox asked.
“There are enough of us asha to try and shake the mountain asunder. But it would destroy the Hollows and cause quite a few problems—landslides, earthquakes, and the like. I would not want to make that attempt until we have exhausted all other options.”
King Kance turned to Lord Agnarr, who’d been silent throughout the deliberations. “You know more about Tea’s intentions than any of us. What has she told you?”
“The Faceless have allied themselves with the Drychta for generations, Your Majesty, but it is only recently that they have infiltrated the ranks of royalty with King Aadil.”
“We already knew that. But what is their purpose here? Where is Tea? Did she intend to attract the Drychta to these mountains long enough for us to arrive?” His eyes narrowed, studying the man like he’d never seen him before. “Or did her lures equally apply to us?”
“That is a possibility.”
He drew his sword at lightning speed, pointed it at the Gorvekai’s chest. “Why did Tea send you with us? Tell me.”
Lord Agnarr took no offense. His gaze was sympathetic. “Lady Tea sent me to ensure that you would come here, milord, and not into Drycht, as your empress wanted.”
From somewhere far off came a thin, toneless cry. It hung in the air, and my blood chilled at the sound. I had spent weeks listening to those howlings while the beasts frolicked along the Sea of Skulls, after their owner coaxed them one by one into semblances of life and bottled their essences into her soul.
From the rocky shores of the Hollows that spilled out into the Odalian Sea, misshapen forms rose from the foam. First came the nanghait, its faces emerging from beneath the roll of the tides, pulling itself through the rocks and silt. Then the taurvi and its crooning voice, and the zarich with its loping gait. One by one, the daeva washed ashore, skins and hides gleaming from the sea, and as one, they raised their heads and roared.
From above, the azi swooped down, tail whipping and talons sharp. Unlike its brothers, it made no sound. The azi had no need for those theatrics. Instead, it made straight for the Hollows, flames streaming from its three mouths.
And as our horrified eyes watched, the mountains caught fire.
20
We expected the Drychta army to attack well before dawn, so the generals spent the rest of the night planning defense strategies. Everyone was tense. General Lode predicted the army would attack the base camp in the hopes of putting King Kance in danger, and we were determined not to let that happen.
In the end, however, it was my azi that sounded the warning cry. I rose from bed but had no need to leave the camp. Ignoring the shouts of alarm as soldiers scrambled for armor and weapons, I entered its mind. A group of Drychta a mile away from the first of the fortified stakes had stumbled onto my pet in the darkness, and my azi let them know what it thought of their insolence. The middle head caught the first of the men, killing him quickly. The other two heads sent waves of fire into th
e others’ path. By the time the Odalians joined the fight, only scorched, burned remains were left.
“They’re far bigger than a scouting party,” General Lode grunted. “I say this was to test our defenses. Gods be good that your daeva was here to find them, Lady Tea. How they got this close is beyond me.”
“Compulsion,” I said grimly, while Khalad examined the dazed Odalian guards stationed along the outer camp. They’d been asleep on their feet, blank eyes staring out at the plains. Had my azi been slower, they would have been slain. I used my own Compulsion to goad them back into wakefulness but found lingering traces of the mind that had been at work—more powerful than Usij’s or Aenah’s. “Druj.”
One of the Deathseekers swore. “What good are our preparations if they can infiltrate our minds easier than they can tear down our walls?”
“The Yadoshans have arrived,” another Deathseeker affirmed. “A man named Knox wishes to speak with you, General.”
“My azi will keep watch,” I said, “but I fear there may be more ambushes.”
“We’ll have a talk with the Yadoshans, then attack at first light,” Kance decided, rising to his feet.
I startled. “Attack, Your Majesty?”
“My army outnumbers theirs. Add in the Yadoshans, and we can overwhelm them quickly. Lady Tea is right. They attacked our camp to test us, but also to delay us. If we wait for them to make the first move, it will only give them time to regroup. Fortunately, the bulk of their troops are at Mithra’s base. The paths leading up the range aren’t wide enough for any kind of fighting. Let us concentrate on their soldiers and have Lady Tea and Kalen focus on the Faceless there.”
General Lode nodded. “Lady Likh and Lord Khalad shall remain behind with you, Your Majesty.”
But Kance shook his head. “The camp will not be as well defended, and they may try again. I will stay close by you, General. My own Deathseekers will protect me, and we’ll be on hand to offer Lady Tea and Lord Kalen assistance. Both Lady Likh and Lord Khalad shall come with me. With the azi close by, the Drychta will not be as reckless.”
