The Priest

by Rowan McAllister

  Lyuc held Tas’s gaze as he spoke, as if waiting for Tas to challenge him on it, but Tas merely sighed and nodded. “I can’t take them back to Blagos Keep. I have been praying for guidance, but honestly, I don’t think the decision is mine to make anymore. Even if I ignored every shred of common decency inside of me and forced Singer to return, what good would it do? My brothers in the Thirty-Six would know the instant they came in contact with the stone that something was wrong, and if all the others react like yours did, I can’t even imagine the chaos that would cause. And that isn’t even counting what might happen to Girik’s village if the Brotherhood thought they were somehow involved.” Tas groaned and hung his head, and Girik didn’t fight his impulse to scoot closer this time and offer what little comfort he could.

  The others sat quietly across the fire from them, their faces masks of sympathy. Even Bryn’s habitual mocking sneer had fallen away when Girik risked a glance at her.

  After only a few seconds, Tas lifted his head again, his expression more determined. “When Singer spoke to me before, he said he needed to get back to the others. I’m pretty sure he didn’t mean the Thirty-Six. I think he meant the Anchor Stones themselves. He said he would never be freed to go to the Beyond if he wasn’t with the others.”

  “Did he say how?” Lyuc asked.

  “No, but I can ask.”

  Girik was so busy trying to keep up with what all of this meant that he jolted when Tas took his hand and squeezed. He turned questioning eyes to Tas, but Tas was still staring at the group on the other side of the fire.

  “As someone once told me,” Tas continued, still holding Girik’s hand, “when the implications, choices, and consequences are too overwhelming to understand, it’s best to concentrate on what we know and can control. Right now, it is a single stone and bearer that won’t be returning to the keep. Brother Saldus has been in the village this entire time. He should know they’ve done nothing wrong and they know nothing of what has happened here. The Brotherhood will want to avoid drawing attention to this entire embarrassing affair. I pray that is enough to keep Comun safe from reprisals. The only one beyond myself who might be in danger from them is Girik, and if he disappears with me, it will just be one more mystery they can’t solve.”

  Girik squeezed Tas’s hand back as his heart leapt in a combination of happiness that Tas was including him in his plans, sadness for who he was leaving behind, and fear of the unknown path ahead.

  “And what of the other stones, Brother? Will you leave them to their fate?” Lyuc asked, throwing a bucket of cold water over Girik’s excitement.

  Tas winced. “Don’t ask me to choose between them and my people. If all of the stones are awakened and taken back to the Rift, it will leave Rassa practically defenseless against our enemies and Spawn. The kingdom will be in chaos. Hundreds, if not thousands, could die. Raiders from the Southern Isles and Samebar test our borders regularly. Barbarian clans from the Great Barrier might grow bold enough again to come down from their mountains. All that is keeping Samebar’s wizards, barbarian shaman, and pirate tricksters at bay is fear of the Brotherhood’s magic, fear of the stones.”

  “Only because your Brotherhood has for centuries ruthlessly stamped out any magic-bearing bloodlines beyond what they could use,” Lyuc countered.

  Tas bristled for a moment before he sighed and shook his head. “I won’t argue with you on that. I have turned a blind eye for a very long time because I wanted to believe in what I did. It’s all come crashing down around me now, and perhaps deservedly so. I don’t know. But that doesn’t change the fact that innocents will suffer along with the guilty, and many more of the former than the latter.”

  “We could talk to the stones,” Yan suggested gently. “We could see what they had to say. Maybe they’d want to help.”

  “We could,” Tas said, “but every indication I’ve gotten from Singer is that he cares little for the fate of men.”

  “They cared enough to sacrifice themselves for all of you,” Lyuc shot back.

  “Except what I’ve heard of the forbidden stories says the Singers boarded ships and sailed off to the west, so maybe they sacrificed for their own people, not ours,” Tas replied.

  “The fact remains, none of us would be here if they hadn’t. We all owe them,” Lyuc insisted.

  Girik’s neck was beginning to hurt from twisting back and forth as the two men volleyed.

  “I have a duty to my people as well. I am sworn to aid and protect them,” Tas fired back. He sucked in a breath, most likely to say more, but Lyuc held up a hand.

  “Wait. Perhaps Yan is right. Perhaps we might reason with them. Your stone, Singer, says he must return to the Rift if he ever wants to be set free, but they won’t be set free until the Rift is closed and their job is done, I should think. There is time. Perhaps we could convince them to work with the Brotherhood, to make a sort of transition period. I don’t actually believe you need the stones. Magic users are magic users. Your gifts may lend themselves to working with the energy a specific way, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn another, particularly if the Brotherhood stops culling out those with talents beyond their narrow scope.”

  The blossom of hope in Girik’s chest withered when he saw Tas’s grimace.

  “I would like to believe they would be open to such a thing,” Tas said, “but recent experience makes me doubtful. Besides, the stones prove we have the blessing of the gods. Without them, the people may lose faith in us.”

  “That might not be such a bad thing.”

  “Lyuc,” Yan gently scolded.

  Lyuc sighed. “The Brotherhood may have no other choice. While I agree with you that leaving Rassa magically defenseless is neither fair nor just, I can’t simply allow the Brotherhood to continue on as they have indefinitely, if that means the Volosoi will suffer an eternity of servitude and never again join their kin… even if it’s only a small portion of them. I can’t do it. I’m sorry.”

  Lyuc stood up straight and tall. Something shifted in the air, and Girik thought he could almost feel the power radiating from the man. His eyes were the same blue, but if Girik stared at them long enough, he feared he might get dragged into their depths, into some otherworldly place he’d never come back from.

  Quickly averting his gaze, Girik tightened his grip on Tas’s hand.

  “I will give the Brotherhood time,” Lyuc proclaimed. “That is all I can promise. But now that I know the nature of the stones, I will not leave them enslaved. The Brotherhood will adapt or it will die. That is up to them.”

  While Girik still sat in awed silence, Tas gave his hand a small squeeze before climbing to his feet to face the wizard.

  “I understand,” Tas said. “Obviously, I can’t stop you from doing whatever you choose to, and I can’t force Singer to do anything he doesn’t want either. This leaves me at a bit of a loss as to what I can do and what my duty demands for me to do in light of that. I guess I’ll need some time to think on it, I—”

  The stones suddenly glowed brighter, and their song grew loud enough to cut Tas off midsentence. Frowning, Tas crossed the space between them and retrieved Singer.

  His face was white when he turned back to them.

  “My brothers are coming,” Tas whispered.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “WHAT?” GIRIK croaked.

  Tas turned to him as all his hopes dwindled into a hard lump of regret in his stomach. “You need to go, Girik. Now!” he cried. “At least two of the Thirty-Six are on their way here. Singer only just sensed them. They’re close and moving fast.”

  “I haven’t felt anything,” Bryn said, and for once the Spawn actually looked afraid.

  “You will,” Tas replied as he hurried over to Girik. “You need to go. They haven’t seen you yet. They can’t know anything.”

  “I thought you said they couldn’t be here by now,” Girik argued.

  “I didn’t think they could. I don’t know what’s going on, but they can’t find you
here. You have to go.”

  Girik got that same damned stubborn look he’d had in the woods when Tas had tried to reason with him before, and Tas wanted to shake him. “Please. Go before they see you. I’ll try to cut them off. They don’t need to know any of this has happened beyond the fact that I no longer have my sacred stone.” Tas turned to Lyuc. “Please. You said they’d have time.” He held out the stone, who was now clamoring angrily in his head. “Take him. Put both of them back in the box and go farther into the mountains. The others will still be able to sense Bryn, but you’ll be long gone before they’ve put a party together to search.”

  “And what of you?” Lyuc asked grimly as he accepted the stone.

  “I’ll stall them.”

  “No,” Girik cried, and Tas groaned.

  Would no one do as he asked, just this once?

  Quanna give me patience.

  “I don’t have time to argue with all of you. I need to keep them as far away as possible.”

  “I won’t let you face them alone,” Girik growled stubbornly.

  “So instead you’ll die for no reason?”

  “No one is going to die,” Lyuc said with a finality that turned Tas’s stomach. If the gods had intended to humble him by making him feel powerless at every turn, they were certainly doing a good job of it.

  “You said we’d have time,” Tas repeated a little more desperately.

  Instead of answering, Lyuc collected the other stone and placed both in the blackstone box.

  “Good,” Girik said, somewhat breathlessly. “The stones are in the box, so if Bryn flies off, we can all leave and they won’t be able to follow any of us. This is a good plan.”

  But Lyuc’s expression said that wasn’t what he had in mind.

  “I want to have a talk with your brothers,” Lyuc said, confirming Tas’s worst fears.

  “You said—”

  “I said I’d give Rassa time, and I intend to, but I want them to know that time is limited. I want them to take word back to Blagos Keep.”

  “You won’t harm them?” Tas asked in resignation.

  “Not unless I have to.”

  This was not the reply Tas had been hoping for, but it looked like that was the best he was going to get. He was tempted to argue a little more on principle alone, but without a word or gesture, Lyuc’s robes began to change from their multihued patchwork into a solid midnight blue wool, finer than any Rassan wool Tas had ever seen, effectively shutting him up.

  “I sense them now,” Bryn said before she transformed into a giant black stallion with glowing red eyes in the blink of an eye, and Tas sighed.

  He hunched his shoulders and turned back to Girik. Bayor practically vibrated beside his master, his hackles raised, and a lump formed in Tas’s throat as he tried to drink in every detail of the picture they made. “Will you please at least stay out of sight?”

  Seeming to take pity on him, Girik gave him a small smile and nodded. “Unless you need me,” Girik said, and Tas nodded in resignation.

  It gave Tas a small measure of satisfaction to see Lyuc having a similar conversation with Yan and having about the same amount of luck. Yan appeared to be as stubborn as Girik.

  “Out of sight, but not far,” Yan huffed at Lyuc in Gorazhani as he finished tying his leather bracers onto his wrists and then reached for his short sword. “And don’t you dare magic me in place like you did after we crossed the border.”

  “I promised I wouldn’t,” Lyuc responded petulantly in Gorazhani as well. “Now, go. Go keep Girik safe for our priest.”

  Yan’s frown softened as he chuckled. “Flattery will get you everywhere, as you well know.”

  Yan might be half Girik’s size, but it still gave Tas a measure of comfort to know he would have Girik’s back and that Lyuc was thinking of him. Hopefully, no matter what happened, Lyuc wouldn’t allow Girik to be harmed. After what he’d seen so far, Tas was fairly certain the wizard was a match for anything the brothers threw at him, but he wanted to keep the collateral damage to a minimum, if he could.

  Quanna, Moc, and Chytel, I know I have failed in my duty, but not in my heart. My heart and my body remain in service to my people. Guide me to make the right decisions for everything that I love.

  Hoofbeats in the distance announced the arrival of the party, and Tas swallowed against the storm of emotions raging inside him. He moved to Lyuc’s side as the wizard stepped forward to meet them. A quick glance over his shoulder showed Girik, Yan, and Bayor melting into the cover of pine boughs and thick oak trunks on the far side of the clearing. Then eight horses and riders burst from the trees in front of him, and he had no more time to worry about Girik.

  Four brothers in russet travel robes led the party. Tas recognized Brother Saldus first, and Brother Lijen behind him, but the two brothers leading the party soon captured his full attention, and his stomach twisted.

  “Greetings, Brother Sanerku and Brother Yeresun,” Tas called after the riders pulled their horses up short and attempted to settle them.

  “Two members of the Thirty-Six, as you predicted. You know them?” Lyuc murmured as he eyed the party calmly.

  “Not well,” Tas whispered back.

  Unfortunately what little he did know of them did not bode well for this conversation. There were a few like Tas in the Thirty-Six, who were known to be open to new ideas and to change, but Brothers Sanerku and Yeresun were not among them. They were rigid traditionalists.

  The brothers’ stones, Sanerku and Yeresun, glowed brightly against their chosens’ chests, and Tas cringed as he cast a quick glance at Bryn. They should have sent the Spawn away. Its presence would not start this conversation off on a good foot.

  The four riders who were not brothers milled nervously behind them. Tas recognized Thram the woodsman and three others from the Hunt. They looked frightened and tired, and guilt stabbed him.

  “Brother Tasnerek,” Brother Sanerku called, “step away from the Spawn and we will dispatch it.”

  Tas opened his mouth, unsure of exactly what he was going to say, but Lyuc beat him to it. “You will do no such thing. Brynthalon is under my protection. He will do you no harm as long as you do no harm to him. That goes for me as well.”

  “Brother Tasnerek, who is this man?” Brother Sanerku asked, ignoring Lyuc’s declaration.

  Licking his lips, Tas stepped forward a couple of paces, putting himself in front of Lyuc—more to protect the rest of the party from the wizard than the other way around.

  “Brothers, greetings.” Tas’s voice cracked a little, and he swallowed. “If you would but stand down and give me a moment, I will explain everything. You have my word these strangers mean you no harm.” I hope.

  Brother Saldus glared at him. “What is the meaning of this, Brother? That is Spawn. Our duty is clear. Why have you not attempted to dispatch it yourself… and where is Tasnerek?”

  Everyone’s eyes went to Tas’s chest where his somewhat rumpled and dirty robes hung empty.

  “That is a long story, and I will tell it. But please, come down from your horses and be at peace. I swear by all the gods, no one here means you any harm.”

  The brothers exchanged looks, but no one made a move to dismount, and the stones still glowed.

  “Maybe if Bryn left?” Tas murmured as he cast a pleading look to Lyuc.

  “The Spawn stays where we can see it,” Brother Yeresun shouted. He turned to Brother Sanerku and nodded.

  Tas had only a moment for his stomach to drop in realization before the brothers started the Hymn of Cleansing and Unmaking.

  “Please, stop!” Tas cried as Bryn let out a squeal and reared.

  Tas hurried forward, waving his hands, but skidded to a halt when he saw surprise and shock roll through the assembled party like a wave. Every man and woman in the group gaped, wide-eyed as their horses snorted and tossed their heads. Tas groaned and swung around, afraid of what he might see.

  A bubble of writhing light surrounded both Lyuc and Bryn. B
ryn seemed agitated but unharmed. Lyuc’s face was stony as power flared and crackled throughout the shield.

  From the moment Singer had revealed Lyuc’s identity, Tas had struggled to reconcile the god of legend with the man in front of him. He didn’t struggle anymore. Like Girik had told him, Lyuc hadn’t uttered a single word or sung a single note. There were no relics or charms in his hands or around his neck. Tas could feel the energy radiating off the man in waves, and Lyuc didn’t seem to be exerting himself in the slightest.

  The brothers’ song died behind Tas, and he cringed.

  “For the sake of your Brother Tasnerek and attempting to build some sort of understanding between us, I have held back. But I am not generally a patient man when it comes to stupidity,” Lyuc announced calmly. “I told you Brynthalon was under my protection. I will not allow you to harm him. I recommend that you take those words to heart and do not attempt such foolishness again.”

  “Who are you?” Brother Saldus cried.

  Tas could have sworn Lyuc winked at him, but maybe it was a trick of the swirling light from the shield. Tas blinked, and Lyuc was facing the others again.

  “Don’t you remember your stories, Brother? Is there not one in your texts that warns against accosting the simple traveler, lest he be more than he appears?”

  Bryn snorted, and Tas groaned. The bastard was enjoying himself. If Tas wasn’t afraid the man could turn him into a pile of ash on the spot, he would have cheerfully throttled Lyuc.

  “Brothers, please,” Tas called desperately over the muttering of the crowd and nervous whinnies of the horses. “Please, let us talk. Let me explain. The Spawn is obviously under this wizard’s control. It poses no immediate threat to us. The wizard has given me his word they mean us no harm and they fully intend to leave Rassa as soon as they are able. We’re obviously in uncharted territory here. Can we not take a moment to reflect and discuss before things go too far?”

  “Where is your stone, Brother Tasnerek?” Brother Yeresun shouted. “Why are you not joining us in our sacred duty? We cannot even sense your stone. Has this wizard done something to it? Has he done something to you?”