“You live in a decrepit shack by the river docks outside the city. It was your father's. Patched up and made of scrap, you repair it diligently after every storm, and it keeps you and yours warm enough. You made the local witch teach your oldest daughter how to read, for she alone you think has a chance at a better life. Your wife is a barmaid at a nameless hovel serving swill to numerous drunken sailors. You've never beaten her, for all that you're not certain whose babes you feed, for she holds you tight in her arms every night and whispers that she loves you, never denying you her warmth, no matter how worn she feels. And the coin. The coin you desperately need, for your reputation makes it so hard to find anything but the roughest work.”
The man cried out. “Saints above, forgive me my sins and deliver me onto Heaven, for I have seen Hell already this night!”
“Go home, Samuel, and forget this night. It is for Martha's sake alone that I let you live.”
“Yes, yes my lord, thank you!”
Without another word save desperate whimpers, the man lurched and ran for the northern gate, a mile distant but the road clear enough under the bright moon, a terrified Samuel holding his trousers and stumbling as fast as his feet could take him.
Morlekai flashed Malek a bleak smile. “Let us waste no more time. Recover Appolonia and explain to me the nature of our enemies.”
Malek grimaced, moving along the trail he had taken earlier that night.
"How? Bloody hells. You know what? I don't even want to know. Enough bloody secrets to do a king proud, with our crew. Hold on but a moment, I'll get Apple."
And within seconds Apple, shaking and pale, was sobbing in his arms, and for a brief moment he wondered if he was in love, before shaking the absurd thought away.
"Come on, Apple. Morlekai's here. Let's go someplace warm, and get some food inside you."
“Malek?” A soft whisper.
“They're dead, Apple. All save one whose soul Morlekai read like parchment. Don't ask me how. And don't ask him. Frankly, I don't want to know. And neither do you.”
Apple shuddered and nodded, and within moments they were before a grim-faced Morlekai once more.
Gold green eyes that set Apple to trembling, Malek instinctively holding her close, her arms snaking tentatively around him, leaning her head against his side, taking comfort in his presence.
Morlekai arched a single eyebrow. “Now is not the time, Malek, and Appolonia hardly an appropriate choice.”
“Who are you to talk?” Apple demanded. “Who are you to say a thing, Morlekai? Well do I remember a certain Delver doing all he could to seduce my sister, hardly more than a year ago! Then leaving us in that hut without a whisper or a note, daring to pass judgment on our friendship now?”
Morlekai turned his gaze to a suddenly trembling Apple. "Dark clouds are already flashing in the distance with the screams of fallen souls, Appolonia de Calenbry, and we now know all too well the nature of the serpents seeking the downfall of your clan. Our Hound has other causes that demand his absolute dedication, other than the cries of his heart. This is not a time for peace and building one's den. It is a time of war and darkest savagery, for fighting to stop the storm coming to our dying breaths, lest we'd have all we've ever known or loved wash into a sea of such sorrows your mind would shudder even to comprehend."
He turned to Malek, utterly disregarding the now trembling girl. “You have six writs, correct? And this Franken is controlling all the pawns on that board. I have no doubt that the jury selected to decide Jessica's fate is comprised solely of his chosen puppets, and as we both now know that the inquisitorial head is himself in league with these infernalists, approval of Franken's selections is but days away, if not sooner.”
Malek nodded, even as they made their way back to the safe house.
“Well, Hound? Do our enemies know our location?”
He gave an abrupt shake of his head. "No. Vilicent merely deduced an ideal ambush point. He knows that the Guild has numerous safe houses, but not precisely where. He assumed we'd leave by the gate we were reported to come out of, and laid an ambush at the lip of the wood here, for he thought it unlikely that we had any safe houses closer to the city." Malek shrugged. "He guessed right. Not that his insights did him any good, in the end."
Apple blinked. “How do you know that? Did he confess it to you?”
Malek stumbled and was still.
“Malek?”
Morlekai looked coldly at him. "There are consequences for all we do, Hound. You know the man, for you have consumed him. Utterly. And well served you would be if you reserved those powers only for the realms of darkest nightmare, the fever dreams we revel within. For the slightest possibility that you would consume a man not tainted by a demon's touch is too great and terrible a risk ever to take again, boy."
Apple trembled. “Malek?”
Malek shook his head. “As much as it sickens me, Apple, you know my darkest secret. You know what I did at that camp. What I am capable of. The monster I really am. And once more this evening the beast slipped free. Or at least its hunger did."
Her hand gently squeezed his own. “The man I love saved my life. I don't care how dark his soul is. To me? It shines like gold.”
Malek felt his cheeks grow hot.
Morlekai sighed and shook his head. "Come. The safe house is just ahead."
Within minutes they were in their snug little cabin once more, the area checked and secured, a suddenly shy seeming Apple curling up in the bed, refusing even to look at Malek.
He shook his head, utterly confused about her reaction to him.
Utterly confused about how he felt about her.
You promised.
He had.
Never to love a girl that way again. Not after what had happened the last time. A crime he would never forgive himself for.
Haunted gray eyes gazing beseechingly into his. Gentle features he ached to hold close even then, no matter the horrors that had been revealed to them both.
And then she sobbed, tore free of his desperate grip, and ran.
A timeless moment, her cry growing more shrill before utter silence filled the Sousel compound once more.
He would never hear her cry again.
“You could have told me! You goddamned bastard, you could have told me!”
His father gazing at Malek, speechless with hate, even as Malek roared, blade to his father's throat, ready to end it all.
Reveling in the thought of it. The dream of it.
Son and father, back to Hell where they belonged.
And somehow, he had ended up in Highrock, and had never spoken to his father again.
Highrock, where he had met Jess, her smile an angel's mercy of love and redemption as she would gaze into his eyes, redeeming his very soul. Before he had near sullied them both with his own foul hungers, and such horrific shame he felt for what he had almost done. Done. Many times. Being high on brandy didn't make it go away. And she fell in love with you too, you damned, drunken fool.
Jacob. Safe, sweet, gentle. A boy he could save. Jess? Fierce and beautiful. Sister of his heart, her tears turned to laughter soon enough, and conquests amongst her many female admirers were sweet triumphs they could celebrate as the best of friends.
Jacob. Who he had sworn to protect at all costs, comforting the beautiful young man as he sobbed himself to sleep in Malek's arms.
And when the vile Lord de Trepass mocked Malek even as he carted his terrified son from the sanctuary of Malek's quarters, back to the hideous nightmare Jacob's life had been before he had ever set foot in Highrock, Malek did nothing.
Even as Jacob's father did everything he could to drive his oldest son to suicide.
Then forcing him through the great stained glass windows of his lonely quarters when Jacob refused to do it himself.
Malek would never let himself love again.
Never.
And he had let himself kiss Apple. On the lips. She holding him close on their walk back to the safe h
ouse as Jess had done for sweet blissful weeks they had both agreed didn't count when they were drunk. Like he had held the first girl he had ever loved.
A love that should never, ever have happened.
And his father, whoremaster of the entire bloody compound, hadn't said a damned thing until it was too late. Far, far too late.
“Malek!” Intent eyes gazing into his own.
Malek grimaced and looked away, in no mood to risk Morlekai peering into his soul.
The man smirked. “Nothing I haven't seen before, Hound.”
“Don't do that.”
A cool nod. “Quit your woolgathering. No need for regrets. You live. Jessica lives. Appolonia lives. If you love them, save them. You can worry about your heart later, when our charges are living safe and free of the madness to come.”
“I can still hear you, you know,” Apple murmured.
“Pretend you can't. Malek, what else did Twilight say?”
Malek sighed. “Franken's excuse for a mock trial begins in days. I need to take these writs to her as soon as I damned well can. Show her everything is paid off in full. At least for these six fools. Who knows? Maybe she can convince Alben, the other inquisitor there, actually a direct agent for the king from what Twilight suggested, that Franken's dirty as hell, and should be booted from this asinine excuse for a trial, or just beheaded outright. If nothing else, if the six men cleared make up a majority or at least half the jury, there is at least a chance we can finish this all with grace."
“What happens if they find her guilty?” Apple whispered, gazing at Malek with wide, frightened eyes.
Malek's smile turned bleak and cold.
"I will cry havoc, and let slip the hound of war. I will kill them all, Apple. I will kill them all."
Apple swallowed, staring at Malek with a mixture of hope and horror both.
“Franken has at least thirty men at his command. Crossbowmen, Malek.”
Malek smirked. She hadn't said a word about ethics, when it came to saving her sister. Only about feasibility. “Twilight informs me that only the patrol on horse bothers carrying them. Most, as you know, merely carry their sabers.”
He gently stroked a trembling Apple's cheek. "It's important for you to understand, Apple, even if they all had double shot crossbows, I would still take them on. No matter the cost, I will be by Jessica's side before I let even one of those thrice damned diabolists lay a single finger upon her. And if it means war? So be it. I will take on all the king's men, if it comes to that, Apple. For death is a fear that had been burned out of me long, long ago."
"As long as you don't play the fool, Malek!" Morlekai snapped. "You are too valuable a piece to be wasted cheaply. We will assure Jessica's safety by any and all means. Now make me a list of our overextended pawns, and the barristers and lords who hold notes over their heads. Alacabar and Lucienda together should be able to whittle down the number of fools vulnerable to this man's machinations. But first we secure Appolonia, and her brother and father as well. So if our enemies force our hand, Jessica's clan, at least, will be safe from the storm to come.”
Apple gazed at them both, speechless.
“I don't have the words. Just, thank you.”
She stroked Malek's cheek.
He bit back bitter tears and forced a smile. “Bloody hells, Apple, let's all blow this corrupt court of cronies and fools. I don't know why I've even stuck around so long. We'll all go off for the heart of the continent, start lives fresh and new. I'll marry you, Morlekai will marry your sister, Lucienda and Alacabar will marry each other, and we'll start the biggest apple farm ever seen anywhere outside of Erovering.”
Morlekai laughed great guffaws, finding Malek's quip the funniest thing in the world. Apple just flushed beet red and looked away.
“Apple,” His hand gently touched her shoulder. She pulled away.
“Don't tease me, Malek. Please. I don't know if I can stand that, right now.”
Morlekai clapped him on the back. "Well said, Hound. Dreams dizzying and sweet, mad as they might be. But first, the storm to come. I will stay here, look after our apple blossom, and secure her family. Let your mutual friend know that I stand ready to smuggle the Calenbrys out of Erovering, if the game of castles and crowns is to begin in earnest."
Malek gazed, nonplussed. And it was Apple who instantly made the connection.
“You can speak to Twilight?”
Morlekai smiled and said nothing, gazing at them both with brilliant eyes that saw far more than most people would ever fathom, Malek was suddenly sure. The look Morlekai flashed him, however, he could read all too well.
"You leave at first light, Hound. Take the floor. I will stand watch. As much as I would like to think it was the route alone that our enemies used to set up their ambush, I'd be a fool not to consider this safe house compromised."
Malek nodded. “Wake me when you want me to take over.”
A cool smile. “No need, pup. You're the one who took down a Cursed and his four henchmen, and you're the one who is going to be running at a rouncey's pace for as long as it takes to get to Jess and deliver proof that six lords, at least, are no longer under our dear Captain Franken's thumb.”
Apple nodded solemnly, absently brushing back her rich auburn locks. "He's right, Malek. You have to show those documents to Jessica. Maybe that honest inquisitor will be forced to question how unfairly the deck is being stacked if there is evidence of Crown liens on each and every one of these writs of debt. Maybe if you tell him that the very head of his order is a diabolist, he will be forced to wonder just how corrupt this den of vipers truly is, or at least know to tread carefully himself."
Malek frowned. "The problem, Apple, is that my walking up to him sprouting accusations against the very head of his order is unlikely to be met with anything save skepticism, if not outright contempt. Worse, we risk alienating the one ally we have who holds any power with those men at all." Smiling, he gently stroked Apple's cheek. "Don't worry. I will do what I can, or at least counsel Jess to say what I cannot, if she feels it will do more good than harm." With those words, Malek removed the last of his armaments and lay upon his woolen sleeping rug. He had no problems sleeping fully geared, had done so many a time, but soft clothes and a softer blanket were infinitely preferable if the deadliest man he had ever met was guarding his back. Of course he did not expect to get a wink of sleep, roaring with the mad energies of the diabolist he had slain. Yet the moment he closed his eyes he could feel himself slipping into welcoming darkness, Apple's sweet chatter fading gently away.
6
It had been a sweet reunion with the sister of his heart, brief as it had been. The brilliance of her smile when she had first greeted him, the way Jessica could always soothe his tormented soul. The gentle walk to her rose maze for counsel and solemn oaths given, once Alben had claimed the writs Malek had gone to such trouble to secure. Jessica's tender smile when she bade Malek farewell once more, a pang of loss and longing, even as her love made him whole again.
"Thank you for your assistance this eve, my lord. Your horse and supplies await you just ahead."
Malek sighed as he caught the gaze of the royal armsman, Alben's man, gazing at him with the utmost professional courtesy, sword belt perfectly aligned, mail polished to a sheen, tabard spotless, half helm properly fitted. Every inch the soldier, and blessedly free of the vile taint that had so infected Franken's armsmen that had been gazing at him with such hate when he and Jess had made their way to her rose maze, stepping off in directions few could follow for their own private counsel. And if Ulric had actually heard Jessica's plea to come home, what Alben was so hoping for when he allowed them entrance into the heart of Jessica's garden, so much the better. Of course Alben had demanded the papers proving the lords in question blessedly free of debt, clemency Malek had paid for with his very last farthing. Malek could only hope that Alben would do the right thing, and inform those jurors that they were no longer under Franken's thumb. Whether Franken had
the power to actually dismiss the case when the very head of his order was in the pocket of their arch nemesis, Malek sadly doubted.
The well-supplied horse nickered softly. Malek smiled. "Fear not, girl. I won't ride you."
One of the two soldiers accompanying him raised a polite eyebrow. Malek shrugged. "For some reason, horses seem to fear me, after my favorite mount was lost in Shadow. But 'tis no matter, for I can outrun any horse these days, for all that it plays havoc with the soles of my boots.”
The guardsmen appeared faintly discomfited by Malek's attempt to put them at ease. "Of course, my lord. If you will be all right, we shall attend to the needs of our lieutenant once more." The guard speaking shivered and frowned. "It must be said that the winter wind bites truly harshly beyond the groves, and it is nightfall. If you have need, there is an inn up the road, though it is a fair distance. We can provide a guide, if you would like."
Malek smiled. “No worries. My gambeson keeps me warm enough under my armor, and cold does not bite me as harshly as it does most. In truth, I hardly feel it at all. I shall be fine. May you two also fare well in the days ahead.”
With a respectful nod, the pair of men returned to the brownstone gate they had just passed. Malek, reins in hand, began walking his horse at a very sedate pace indeed, his nerves tingling, feeling oddly ill at ease, knowing that his vigil had just begun.
Malek! Our mistress is under attack!
The cry tore through Malek's mind like cold ether winds shrieking between the stars.
And on some level, he had been expecting danger. Which was why he was not surprised at all to feel his legs already moving at a mad sprint for the brownstone walls, near seven paces high. He did not bother for the gate, or alerting the guards beyond.
With a single frenzied leap he was over, racing across the pitch dark grounds, brilliant stars and moon overtaken by the brooding clouds of a storm to come.
A storm unlike any other, Malek feared, even as he drew his blade, orbs of silver and blood emitting a high pitched whine as they whipped through the air about his head.
Gods of Shadow and Flame Page 6
