7
Ishar opened her eyes, blinked, and looked around. The draping was still tight against the window. The only light came from several lit candles and a steady burning fire. Someone had been in her room, she realized, otherwise everything would have burned out by now. She could see a glimmer of daylight seeping through the edges of her window and wondered at the time as she stretched. It felt late.
She slid up and realized she was still naked under the covers. Frowning, Ishar glanced over to her undone bag. She sat up and looked, baffled at the floor. Her clothes were gone. Ishar blinked again. The sight remained the same. She looked about the room. Besides the covers on her bed, no other fabric remained. Even her burda had been removed. “Audris?” she murmured quietly to herself. Puzzled she leaned back. Maybe Audris had felt her clothes needed cleaning?
She was still pondering this turn of events when Audris pushed open her door a half hour later. The Lute woman carried a tray with a steaming bowl and cup set upon it. Audris walked to Ishar’s side and deposited the tray on the table placed next to the bed.
Ishar glanced at the waisu and what she assumed was the paera drink before looking up at Audris. “Audris, I seemed to have lost my clothes during the night.”
The Lute woman’s cheeks blossomed with a hint of pink. “Uh, my lady, I believe you will have to take that up with Lady Eira. It was by her orders that I took them.”
Ishar frowned. “Then by my orders, you can return them.”
“No, my lady,” Audris said softly. “Eira is the only one who could possibly,” she paused, “find your clothes.” She pulled a long white tunic shirt from under her arm. “She did suggest that you might find this more comfortable in case you had visitors.”
Ishar glanced at the shirt. Her frown deepened. “By chance, could you find Eira?” she asked tartly, “I suddenly find I have a deep desire to converse with her.” Still, Ishar took the shirt and slid it over her head, lacing up the front. It came down to her thighs. Eira, more than likely, assumed good manners would prohibit her from walking the holding with so little on her body. Ishar groaned.
Audris nodded with calm patience. “I will inform her of your request,” she said softly as she picked up the tray and set it before Ishar. “Please, eat the food before the waisu grows cold.”
Ishar stared at the food before her, suddenly hungry. A part of her childishly wanted to demand that Audris take back the food and make Eira come immediately. Unfortunately her stomach had other ideas. Having not eaten since early yesterday morning, it simply refused to resist the provision before it. Ishar picked up the spoon and served herself. She almost groaned aloud in the simple pleasure of the warm sweetness.
Audris nodded satisfactorily. “I will go and deliver your message to Eira.” The Lute woman turned and walked out of the room. As soon as Audris had departed, Ishar set about devouring the morning meal. When the last of the waisu was gone, she looked down into the empty bowl with gloom. Her stomach wanted more. She set the tray on the table beside her and looked around, suddenly bored. Ishar sighed and lay back in the bed.
It was an hour before the door opened again. Once again, it was not Eira but Jaya who stuck her head within and politely inquired, “Can I come in, Ishar? I do not want to bother you if you wish rest.”
She felt a smile break across her face. “No, I am fine. Please, come in,” she stated eagerly, “before I go mad with boredom. I welcome the company.”
Jaya came in and closed the door. “After what happened yesterday, I felt you would probably need the respite to recuperate. I would have been by earlier but I just found out this morning that you had awakened. I was glad to hear of it. I found little solace in sleep last night thinking my son may have caused your death.”
Ishar shook her head. “I feel fine. My body was just exhausted. I needed the sleep.” She paused and motioned toward a stool beside the bed. “I spoke with Varyk last night. He informed me Tai is on the path of recovery as well.”
Jaya nodded with a smile, “Yes, though his father had a stern talk to him about obeying his mother’s words when they are uttered and not when he feels like it.”
“He is a boy,” Ishar stated softly.
“A boy who will obey his mother next time, I promise,” Jaya said with a nod as she took the stool.
Ishar pointed toward the door. “Did you by chance notice any clothing lying about outside? I must inform you I am not in this bed of my own free will. Eira will not come and I am told only she would know where my clothing has been placed.” She said this last statement in a vent of annoyance.
Jaya blinked, then her face broke into a wide grin. “Oh, so Eira has hidden your clothes to keep you abed. How intriguing. I wonder if that would work on Ber.” She shook her head. “Probably not. He would just stroll out bare as the day he was born if he felt it necessary.” Ishar grimaced and Jaya laughed. “Sorry. That is not what you need this morning.” She sighed. “As to the clothes, Eira is my lord’s lady. I would feel under duress to go against her wishes.” She spoke this in misery.
Ishar smiled. “Do not worry of it. Eira will come, eventually. Then I will have my words with her. And if she does not? Well, let us just say that Ber would not be the only person who might act in a slightly indecent manner in such a case.” She pointed to the window. “Would you mind taking down the draping? The fire is all but dying, but it is still warm in here for me. Besides I would like more natural light let in the room.”
Jaya rose with hesitation, “But should you catch a chill?”
“I will not catch a chill,” Ishar assured her. “If Audris or Eira ask, simply inform them I told you I would get up and do it myself if you did not.”
With the draping down, morning light flooded into the room. Coolness filtered throughout while ridding any residual smokiness from the candles and fire from the room. Ishar took a deep breath. “Thank you, Jaya.”
“It is a beautiful morning,” Jaya agreed. “Spring is truly among us if this day is any forecast. What a day to awake and hear Varyk has returned to the holding. Many people in the surrounding villages will rejoice.”
“Is he such a strong influence?” Ishar questioned quietly.
Jaya nodded as she sat again. “We first heard of this great leader of mighty warriors when we learned they had taken to living among the Lute. We knew people who could reside among such a fearsome tribe such as the Lute were indeed a people to be reckoned with. Over time, we met these men and found them to be strong and honorable. I met my Ber. I judged him to be a good man and father to my children. Ber has not proved me wrong.” She shrugged. “They lived a year among the Lute, then relocated to the ruins of the holding. I came because I believed in their cause of rebuilding and pledged myself to Ber.”
“Their cause?” Ishar asked with a little hesitation.
“Varyk believed if we continued to live as if there was no tomorrow, then there would not be one. He believed in rebuilding the walls of this holding and so set about doing so. When people came, he helped rebuild the village. We have, over the past years, learned to become a people again. Not the scattered remnants of one.”
Ishar nodded. “And now my father wants to continue that cause, with Wyn and Varyk’s help. To unite this island as one and so repel the Tourna who would have us all as slaves and truly scattered from our homeland.”
Jaya nodded. “That is what I hear from the men when they speak freely with one another each night, but it is nothing new. We all know the Tourna are coming and we fear we will not be strong enough to withstand their powerful might.”
Ishar reached over and laid her hand over the other woman’s. “We must fight with all we have,” she said firmly. “Every time the Tourna come, they are stronger. It is time they realize they will face severe death and defeat if they come upon our lands.” Ishar nodded sadly. “It may mean the death of some of our people, but it is a battle worth fighting. It is like no other skirmish we have fought among ourselves. We dare not lose.”
“And to do that, we have no choice but to trust one another,” Jaya concluded softly. Ishar nodded in agreement. Jaya continued. “I understand this. I am sure Varyk will seek this alliance. And I will tell you now I am not unhappy with that decision. I have learned a Haaldyn is indeed a person of honor. My son’s life is proof of that.”
“Haaldyn,” Ishar added softly, “are like anyone else. There are many who are honorable and a few who are not. We are no different than the Britai or the Lute. There will always be people who are not pleased with this treaty if it comes about and will try to destroy any fragile pacts spoken between all of us as a united people.”
Jaya’s face was distressed. “It breaks my heart to see that happen. My Ber bears no love for the Haaldyn but he will honor his lord’s commands.” A slight smile reappeared. “I believe he will find you as honorable as I believe you to be in time, Lady Ishar.”
“If we are to be friends, it is Ishar only,” she answered back.
“Ishar it is then,” Jaya stated firmly. She rose. “I must be getting back. You are not the only one being kept abed today. Like you, Tai sees it as punishment.”
Ishar laughed. “Good. I am glad to know I am not alone in this defiance. Give Tai my regards, please. And come again, Jaya.”
Jaya reached over and placed her hand on Ishar’s. “I will return.”
“It is with hope I will be able to seek you out on my own before you come this way again, but a good day to you no matter what,” Ishar added, with a touch of rebelliousness.
Jaya smiled once more as she moved toward the door. “I will give your regards to Eira on the way out if I see her.”
Ishar was left alone for some time. Just when she had about decided to chance a walk through the halls somewhat indecently unclothed, the door opened. Again, it was not Eira. Traevyn walked into the room and stared at her perplexed.
“What did she manage to find to threaten you with,” he asked in confusion, “that I find you still in bed and unclothed? This is not like you.”
“Of course it is not like me,” Ishar shot up in anger. “She stole my clothes. I have nothing to wear around but this,” she stated, pulling dramatically at her tunic. “And I was just about to chance shocking some servant out in the halls to go in search of my clothes because Eira refuses to come see me,” Ishar said in a vent of pent up rage.
Traevyn paused and then smiled. His lips trembled as though he struggled not to make it turn into a full-blown laugh.
Ishar frowned. “It is not funny.”
“Of course not,” he said nonchalantly. “What will you do? Challenge Eira to combat? I would suggest you find your clothes first.”
“You could find them for me,” Ishar stated sweetly.
“Oh no,” Traevyn stated with a wry grin, “I have to live around Eira. She is the pledged of my lord. Her word is firm even though Varyk has returned. The only time I would ever consider disobeying would be if a command of Varyk’s countered hers, but even then I would do so with the slight foreboding of trouble in my future. Eira is not a person one should cross hastily.”
Ishar glowered. “If you came to cheer me you might as well leave. You have done nothing of the sort.” She looked with a frown at the dark fire.
“Someone is acting like a child,” Traevyn replied softly, “Eira only wishes to make certain you are well before you find some other way in which to injure yourself.”
“To injure myself,” Ishar said indignantly. “I did not do this on purpose.”
Traevyn shrugged. “You do seem to have the habit of finding trouble, though,” he said casually, “If incidents like this find you on the battlefield, it is a wonder you are still alive.”
Ishar seethed. “I am starting to think you learned nothing from our last match, Traevyn. When I am able to rise from this bed with a little dignity, I will make you eat those words,” she ground out.
He laughed. “It is good to see you so recovered. And to think when I glanced in here yesterday, you looked to be at death’s door.”
She was taken back. “You looked in on me yesterday?”
Traevyn nodded. “Yes. You were still unconscious and deathly pale. I am glad to see the fire has come back into your face,” he said with a straight face and a twinkle in his eyes.
“You are goading me,” Ishar stated in surprise. Her eyes narrowed. “That was not nice.”
“I just wanted a different picture from the one I had last night to sleep on,” Traevyn spoke softly. “I truly am glad to see you awake, if not up and about.”
The words warmed her heart. It bothered Ishar she might not have Traevyn’s high regard. She watched as he came close and sat on the stool recently occupied by Jaya. Ishar commented on that.
“I saw her leave the fortress earlier,” Traevyn said with a slow nod, “I wondered if she had been by to check on you.”
“She told me Tai will be fine.”
Traevyn chuckled. “If he escapes his father’s ire over the accident, I am sure he will be. However, I am certain Ber stressed the importance of following his mother’s commands inside and outside the holding.”
“A good instruction for any child.” Ishar smoothed the blankets before her. “And you are well?”
Traevyn ran his hands through his hair as he shook his head in agreement. “Our ride to the south proved uneventful, for which I am grateful, and the fortifications along the east beaches are proceeding well.” He slid forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “Varyk spoke to me last night. You’ll be glad to know he has given you free rein here at the holding. I came to let you know you need not seek me out to guide you,” he said with a smile.
His words should have pleased her. Instead they produced a sense of melancholy within her. “I,” her smile warbled slightly, “am glad to hear that, though your company has been valued during the past few days.” Ishar’s smile brightened. “I still intend to hold you to your promise of a ride to see the fortifications along the beach areas.”
“Consider the promise held,” Traevyn noted with a soft smile. “Though again, it would be more proper if you were able to locate your clothing.”
Ishar groaned. “Do not get me started on that—”
The door to her room opened. Eira looked inside, speaking, “Audris said you wanted to see—” She broke off. “Oh, I did not realize you had company. I will return later.” She turned to go.
“Wait,” Ishar ground out tightly, “Do not even think of leaving or so help me I will follow you in what little I have on, Eira.”
Eira paused and blinked.
Traevyn chuckled at both women’s expression. “I do believe she means it, Eira.”
Eira sighed and walked back inside. She made her way over and sat on the edge of the bed, her arms crossed. “I did what I did out of concern for you, Ishar. I had hoped with the light of day you might see it in such manner and not be so fierce with me.”
Ishar eyes narrowed. “Not be angry? You hide my clothes from me as if I am a child who needs tending.” She stated this fact with crossed arms and an irritated expression.
“And if I had not, what would you have done this morning when you awoke?” Eira asked skeptically.
Ishar was silent for a second. “I would have risen like I do each day. I felt recovered,” she added defensively.
Eira glanced dryly at Traevyn. “You see why I felt the need to conceal her garments. I knew exactly what she would attempt if her clothes were nearby this morning.” Eira tapped the side of her head. “She clearly lacks good guidance.”
Ishar fumed. “I know exactly the guidance needed for my body.”
Traevyn looked from one of them to the other, his glance cautious. “Perhaps I should leave you two to discuss this in private.” He added with the slightest hesitation.
“I do not think so,” Eira stated emphatically, rising from the bed.
“No,” Ishar added quickly. “You need to inform us of your opinion. It will settle this argument.”
Trae
vyn paused, looked at both of them and then chuckled. A smile lit his face as he held up his hands and backed away toward the door. “Ladies, there is not enough coin on this island for that answer. I am the only one who will have lost in the end.” He gave each of them an amused smile. “I will find out later how this dispute, shall we say, progressed.” Traevyn walked to the door. He glanced back and gave a polite nod of his head. “I wish both of you a good day.” He shook his head as he slipped out. The door shut with a decisive click.
Ishar and Eira turned toward one another and glared.
*
Later that afternoon Ishar emerged from the fortress. Eira had finally located her lost garments, with a garnered promise that Ishar would take it easy the rest of the day. It had not really been that difficult a promise to keep. Her muscles were still exhausted from the ordeal of the day before and her body bore signs of battering from the rocks in the river. Ishar focused on moving without a limp. She did so simply because she refused to acknowledge Eira might have been right. Although she had not risen from her bed until after lunch, Ishar already felt exhaustion clutch with bold hands at her clothing as she made her way down the long steps of the fortress.
The holding was full of activity. Varyk’s return had redoubled the efforts of the soldiers in their preparations. Ishar could hear the ring of steel as combatants fought with what sounded like swords in the outer area of the holding. Several men led horses from the horse shelter, heading out. She made her way through the inner gate. The soldiers who stood there acknowledged her with a quick nod of their heads. She greeted them and moved under the stone awning and toward the men’s barracks. Several groups were stationed around two combating men.
Lysandr was fighting a Raanan warrior Ishar had never seen. The stranger appeared rough in appearance and manner, with long ragged black hair and beard and wild, roaming black eyes. He was dressed in full armor akin to Lysandr’s with a coat of mail linked to his front and side plates to protect his chest, worn over a heavy padded leather top. He towered nearly a foot over Lysandr. His forearm guards were heavy leather reinforced with iron. Lysandr wore solid leather guards.
The Treason Blade (Battle for Alsaar Book 1) Page 13
