Artesans of Albia

by Cas Peace

  Not today, though.

  She was too acutely aware that everything had changed. Their presence here—hers, Taran’s, Cal’s—had been dependent upon Sullyan. But Sullyan was gone, and while Rienne could imagine a scenario where the Manor might accept her as a permanent member of its ranks, she wasn’t so sure about Taran or Cal. So what would become of them? They would return to Hyecombe, she supposed, back to the life they had led before, and she would go with them. But would they be welcome? Could they ever rebuild their lives there? She didn’t think so. She didn’t even think she wanted to. Far too much had changed.

  She roused from this somber musing when Bull entered the small room. She saw the man accompanying Bull, and her heart lightened for the first time since yesterday’s shocking event.

  “Deshan!”

  She rose and stepped into his embrace. He held her for a while and then released her, holding her arms to look into her face. What he saw made him frown, but he spoke softly enough.

  “Did you not sleep last night, my dear?”

  She shook her head. “I slept well enough, but somehow I feel like I didn’t. I have a nagging headache that not even willow will ease.”

  Bull took his leave to check on Robin. Rienne sighed and turned back to Deshan.

  “I don’t suppose you have anything stronger than willow for a headache, do you? I had such odd dreams last night, and they don’t seem to want to let me go. They weren’t even dreams, really, just strange fragments and images. Some of them were quite frightening.”

  Deshan raised his head and captured her gaze. “What images? In what way were they frightening?”

  She struggled to explain what she had experienced while he watched her face with an expression she couldn’t interpret. “They were so unconnected, and quite intense. It was the intensity, I think, that bothered me so. I can’t clearly recall one single image now, but the sense of foreboding or danger they gave me won’t leave. It’s as if I’m being stalked by something, but each time I look over my shoulder, there’s nothing there. I wish it would stop. I’m exhausted enough as it is.”

  Taking a small pouch from his bag, Deshan stood and looked around. “Is there somewhere quieter than this, my dear? More private? I can give you something to soothe that headache, but you will need to lie down for a few minutes in order for it to take effect.”

  She rose wearily and led him to one of the smaller treatment rooms. He walked beside her with his hand in the small of her back, almost as if he was pushing her. She could swear she felt eagerness in the way he strode along, but when they reached the room and he prepared the herbs for her, his movements were as smooth and assured as ever. She accepted the tasteless potion and drank it in one swallow. All she wanted was to lose that headache.

  + + + + +

  Although the parade practice had kept Robin’s mind from sinking completely into the black mire of depression that threatened to engulf him, still he found time to fret about what the day had in store. The King’s inspection, the parade march, and the giving of battle honors were routine, and Robin was well aware that others besides him deserved recognition for what had occurred at Hyecombe. But how could they be so cruel as to put him through a test for Mastery at a time like this? How on earth could Blaine or the Hierarch expect him to concentrate? His whole reason for living had suddenly been taken from him, just when he thought he and Sullyan could finally have a future together.

  Fate was just too brutal, and he knew he couldn’t cope.

  After releasing his tired but much improved company with instructions to grab themselves a bite to eat before the afternoon’s events, Robin went back to his quarters. Closing the door firmly behind him, he collapsed into a chair. There was a half-full glass of Bull’s favorite liquor on the small table beside him and he scooped it up, nearly spilling some in his fatigue. He knocked the spirit back in one go, grimacing at the fiery burn. A sob threatened to escape the confines of his throat, but he forced it down. He had to hold himself together for his men.

  A knock came at his door and he groaned inwardly. Couldn’t they give him a moment’s peace? He stayed silent, hoping the visitor would go away. After another rap, which he also ignored, the door opened to reveal Bull’s anxious face. He stepped inside when he saw Robin, and closed the door behind him.

  “What is it, Bull? Can’t it wait? I just need a few moments to myself.”

  Bull crossed the room and sank into the chair opposite Robin. He had brought a plate of food, which he set on the table. He eyed the empty glass. “I saw you come in, and thought you might need something to eat. Pharikian and Deshan are here.”

  Bull waited, but Robin didn’t speak. He sighed. “I’ll go if you want. I just ….”

  Robin opened his mouth to tell Bull to go, but the big man’s woeful expression and sorrowful tone stopped him. Bull would be feeling Sullyan’s loss just as deeply, and Robin had no right to deny his friend some solace. Instead, he reached out and poured more liquor into the glass, shoving it across the table.

  Bull took it and mirrored Robin’s earlier actions, draining the glass in one gulp. Robin reached for the bottle again, but Bull shook his head.

  “I don’t think you ought to have any more, lad. It’s going to be a busy day.”

  The heavy blackness in Robin’s heart surged upward and he snapped, “Don’t tell me what to do! What are you, my mother? Leave me alone!”

  Bull looked taken aback, making Robin immediately ashamed of his outburst. “I’m sorry. I’m strung tighter than a crossbow at the moment and I can’t seem to help snapping. I wish today was over.”

  “Not much longer. There’s only the parade and promotions to get through.”

  Robin stared hard at him. “And one other thing!”

  Bull ducked his head. “Yes, well, even under these circumstances you ought to be proud of that. Not many people achieve Master level, and it’s something Sully worked hard on. Don’t throw all that effort away. Just think what she’d say if she knew you weren’t proud of yourself.”

  Robin sighed. “Wasn’t humility one of her watchwords? Dammit, Bull, I’d give anything to have her here yelling abuse at me for feeling like this. I’d suffer any amount of temper and foul language if only she was standing here in front of me. I just can’t believe she’s gone.”

  “I know what you mean.” The big man hung his head. “I remember how angry she was after your duel with Parren, and that vicious dressing-down she gave me when I disobeyed her orders not to follow her into Andaryon.”

  Robin nodded. Every man under her command loved Sullyan for her mercurial temper. It was the reverse side of her unique care for them, and weathering her storms of anger was one of the hazards even the lowest cadet learned to accept. They all knew her fury was as just as it was swift, and she never bore a grudge.

  Bull sighed. “We’ll just have to make the best of it, lad. There’s still some hope. No one’s given up yet. Let’s not hold the wake—”

  “—before the bloody funeral!”

  As he finished Bull’s favorite saying, a small but genuine smile touched Robin’s lips. He leaned over and clapped the big man gratefully on the shoulder. Bull nodded meaningfully at the untouched plate of food. Robin grimaced, but obeyed the unspoken order. Once he had eaten as much as his overwrought stomach could take, the two of them made their way out to the parade ground to prepare for the ceremonies to come.

  + + + + +

  Rienne lay on the bed in the small treatment room, waiting for Deshan’s potion to take effect. Her headache seemed to be getting worse rather than better, and she was beginning to fret. She couldn’t miss the afternoon’s ceremonies. She had to be there to support Robin, Taran, and Cal.

  Deshan had taken the chair to one side of the bed and Rienne tried to turn her head toward him. She was going to ask how long it would be before the herbs began to work, but her neck muscles wouldn’t obey her. Panic rose within her, but before it could take hold, a warm wash of contentment flooded over her
. Deshan’s comforting tones sounded somewhere inside her mind.

  Just relax, Rienne. You are quite safe. I want you to think about the dreams you had last night. Can you do that for me?

  As soon as the word “dreams” was mentioned, the images from her nightmares swam before her eyes. Like flickering flames, they danced for an instant on the edge of her perception then vanished. She couldn’t hold on to them long enough to make sense of them.

  Concentrate, my dear. There could be clues in these pictures. We just have to work them out.

  She felt no irritation at Deshan’s commanding tone, just a willingness to do as he said. The next time an image came into her mind she clamped hold of it, refused to let it drift by. It was a dark image, full of shadows which slowly sharpened to become a tangled glade of close-grown trees. What did it mean? It was nowhere she recognized and she felt no pull toward it.

  Let that one go, Rienne. Try the next.

  She released her hold and waited for another image to fill her mind. This one was easier to hold on to, or maybe she was getting the hang of it. She had never done anything like this before and knew, somewhere deep in her subconscious, that it wasn’t all her own doing. But that wasn’t important. The pictures were the important part, and it was vital that she examine each one. Concentrating harder than she had ever been able to do before, she gave herself over to the task.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  A succession of unfamiliar images scrolled past Rienne’s inner eye. There were faces—a youth with a terrified expression, two older men—and there were places. The tangled forest glade showed up frequently, but Rienne had no idea why. There were images of a raging fire accompanied by feelings of terror but also of glorious power. At first, Rienne thought the fire images might relate to Sullyan’s duel with Rykan, but then she realized her error. Sullyan had certainly felt the terror when Rykan defeated her and trapped her hand in the Firefield, but there had been no glorious use of metaforce.

  These images seemed to belong to someone else, someone she didn’t know. All the while Deshan sat beside her, his presence resting quietly within her mind, not interfering, only guiding. She felt no urgency, no sense of frustration, simply a willingness to continue this search through her dreams. The headache had cleared completely and she felt calm and in control. So calm that a tune was playing in her mind, keeping time with her heartbeat. She hadn’t noticed it before and couldn’t have said when it first started. She felt herself smile, although whether physically or inwardly she didn’t know. It was a lovely tune, a familiar tune, and she began to hum the melody.

  She sensed Deshan’s attention was focused fully upon the tune. This didn’t worry her, didn’t pull her away from the song. If anything, her immersion deepened until nothing existed but the song. It buoyed her soul and wrapped her heart, its words gradually becoming clearer.

  Earth speaks in tones of soil, wood, and stone

  Where had she heard those words before? She knew them intimately, yet couldn’t place their origins.

  An echo that runs through all that we are

  She felt herself carried along on the gentle rhythm, her heart still keeping time, and knew it would lead her somewhere safe, somewhere she wanted to go.

  Its presence and power sustain on their own

  Power was certainly sustaining Rienne. She felt like she could exist this way forever, never needing sleep, food, or drink. The only thing missing was—

  But your love gives life meaning, your heart is my home

  Ah, yes. Love.

  + + + + +

  The Manor’s parade ground was huge, a rectangular space of packed earth stamped flat by the passage of countless boots and hooves. There was a permanent pavilion at the end of the south side, and this had been decorated with the banners and colors of both visiting monarchs. They fluttered gently in the light breeze, picked out by the weak spring sunshine. As Reen stalked along next to Vassa, behind the General and the two monarchs, he breathed deeply, trying to purge the feeling of uncleanness the outlanders’ proximity gave him.

  The General showed Elias and the outlander king to their seats. Vassa moved to stand just behind the demon while Reen stayed as far away as possible, taking a stance to the left of Elias and Blaine. The banners and flags suggested a festive air, but Reen could swear there was a somber underlying note. His fanatical gaze strayed frequently to the Hierarch’s face, an unhealthy light glowing in his eyes as his holy mission burned in his heart.

  Tearing his gaze away, he gnawed on frustration. Surely there was someone here open to persuasion? Someone who could be bribed to pass him information? But they all seemed so loyal and so at ease with these blasphemous beings among them that he was beginning to think he wouldn’t be able to initiate his little scheme. He was still brooding on the problem when the parade fanfare blew.

  + + + + +

  Mounted on Torka, Robin led his men onto the parade ground behind Colonel Vassa’s formation. Despite his mood, he spared a thought for Taran and Cal, both highly nervous on their horses behind him. Cal still wore bandages on his mending arm. Thankfully, they kept their heads and remembered their drill, and everything went off smoothly.

  All the companies managed to end their sequences at the same time and in their correct places. The sound of their choreographed salute echoed across the parade ground. They stood stock still while King Elias acknowledged their homage and accepted their renewed Oaths of Allegiance. Even the horses behaved.

  Once they were stood at ease in their serried ranks, King Elias and General Blaine moved down to the platform jutting out into the parade ground. The trumpeters sounded the royal fanfare, triumphant notes rising high into the air. Sergeant-Major Harker, a strongly built man of medium height with a bullhorn voice, moved out from the ranks of Vassa’s troops and came to stand beside the platform. He began barking out names, and those summoned came forward to receive their battle honors for meritorious conduct during the repulsion of the demon invasion.

  The last two names were a surprise to everyone, not least to the men concerned. Taran and Cal were astounded to find themselves included in the ceremony, receiving their honorary ribbons from the King with pride and slightly embarrassed bemusement. The heartfelt cheers of Robin’s company rang in their ears as they returned to their mounts. Both were grinning inanely.

  The next name to be called was no surprise to Robin. Sergeant Dexter had proven himself more than deserving of promotion to Captain, and his youthful face was a picture of pride as he received his single thunderflash rank badge from the King’s own hands. The cheering that followed was not restricted to Robin’s command, as Dexter was a popular man.

  Then Sergeant-Major Harker called out three more names, and grooms ran forward to take the horses’ bridles. Robin realized that young Tad had somehow managed to wheedle a groom’s place, and the lad grinned widely as he took Torka’s reins from Robin. He, Baily, and Parren approached the royal presence. The King commended them for relieving the siege of Hyecombe and presented their battle honors. Parren shot Robin a venomous look, but Robin, in no mood for his spite, ignored the man.

  The King did not step back once the honor ribbons were bestowed, nor did he release the three men before him. Instead he turned around and accepted the rank badge General Blaine passed him. Then he stepped toward Captain Baily and, to the small man’s utter amazement, promoted him to Lieutenant-Major.

  Even then, the King was not done. Blaine handed him yet another rank badge, and this time he stepped toward Robin, regarding the wary confusion in the young man’s eyes with open amusement.

  “Captain Tamsen, by courtesy of his Majesty, the Hierarch of Andaryon, I have been fully informed of the part you played in protecting his throne from a challenge by the rebel lord, Rykan. A challenge which, had it succeeded, would have had far reaching ramifications for our own realm. For this service and for your loyalty to Major Sullyan, I hereby promote you to the rank of Major.”

  Robin was stunned. He had expected
to be rewarded—Blaine had told him as much—but not like this. The roar of approval greeting the King’s statement was deafening, but Robin couldn’t feel any pride. He was suddenly and overwhelmingly certain that his promotion and Dexter’s was due to one thing only: the vacancy left by Sullyan’s disappearance.

  The thought turned his heart to lead.

  Robin could barely move his arm to salute the King as Elias pinned the double-thunderflash rank insignia to his jacket. Dismissed, all three men walked back to their mounts, Robin hardly feeling the daring pat on the back he received from an adoring Tad. He barely noticed and certainly didn’t worry about the lethal look that Parren, passed over and furious, directed at him.

  + + + + +

  Baron Reen watched the parade with scant interest. Military men showing off their horsemanship and fighting skills didn’t stir his breast. The horns and drums that accompanied such displays hurt his ears. A man’s ability to march in step with another man wasn’t something Reen admired, so instead he let his eyes roam idly over the faces of the many men before him.

  Most of them were quite young, he realized. Most of the King’s Guard at Port Loxton were veterans, men of some years’ experience, but some of those here were scarcely old enough to be apprentices. Of course, he remembered, the Manor was a training ground for the King’s forces, and many of these were probably cadets. An agreeable age, he thought, his interest suddenly piqued. Maybe I should look a little closer ….

  + + + + +

  Rienne’s heartbeat was tied irrevocably to the gentle strains of the song playing through her soul. Deshan had stopped asking her to concentrate on the images and instead allowed her to float wherever the song would take her. It spoke to the elements of her being, calling on each in turn, confirming her existence within the Great Wheel of Life.