Artesans of Albia: 01 - King's Envoy (20 page)

Robin shook his head, bemused. “I still can’t believe it’s going to happen. Mind you, it’ll take me months to learn that snapping trick. I can see the mechanics of it but channeling the power won’t be easy.”

“You’ll get it,” said Bull and Robin shot him a smile.

They rested in the sun while Taran eagerly questioned Robin about the firefield. A movement across the arena caught their attention and a young cadet ran toward them. He stopped in front of Robin and saluted.

“Major Sullyan sent me to find you, sir,” he said. “She wants you in her office. All of you.”

Robin frowned at Bull, who shrugged. “Better go,” he said, waving at Taran. “Come on.”

They trooped out of the arena and headed back to the Major’s office. They heard murmuring voices inside and before Robin could knock, the door opened. General Blaine strode out.

Robin and Bull snapped a salute. The General returned their homage before continuing down the hallway, but he ignored Taran and his friends. As he entered the room behind Robin and Bull, Taran saw Sullyan poring over a stack of parchments. She glanced at him briefly before addressing Robin and Bull.

“General Blaine has received some disturbing reports, gentlemen. It seems a sizeable party of raiding Andaryans has crossed the Veils and is terrorizing the southern part of Loxton Province. Two towns have already been evacuated and three villages have been burned to the ground.”

Bull swore. Taran turned deathly pale.

“This is getting out of hand,” said Robin with a frown. “What on earth’s going on?”

“I intend to find that out, Captain. I want you to detail scouts to investigate.”

“Yes, Major. Dexter in command?”

“You agree he is ready?”

“He’s ready. He won’t let you down.”

She nodded. “Give him orders but allow him to select the rest of the men himself. Report to me later.”

She turned to Taran.

“Journeyman, I must ask you to forgive my lack of attention to the matter that brought you here, but as you can see, events have overtaken us. However, if you can spare us one more night, I should have time to speak with you this evening. Will that suit?”

“Of course, Major. We’d be glad to stay. Is it alright with Bull?”

The big man indicated his acceptance. Sullyan nodded to him and he ushered everyone out of the office. As he led the way back along the corridor, he gave Taran a pointed stare before turning to Robin.

“This situation with the raids sounds pretty serious.”

“It certainly sounds odd,” agreed the Captain. “Why would the Andaryans suddenly break a Pact they’ve held for more than twenty years? The scale of it just doesn’t make sense.”

“You know what demons are like,” said Bull. “Revenge is as good an excuse as any.”

Robin shook his head. “Surely this can’t just be over the theft of a weapon. There must be some other reason, something extra. Burning villages? Driving townspeople from their homes? That’s not just raiding, Bull, that’s war.”

Bull grunted and shot Taran another glance. The Journeyman went cold; he was sure he knew the reason for these terrible attacks but had kept quiet too long to simply blurt it out.

They were nearly at Bull’s rooms. Suddenly Taran realized that the man coming toward them was the sour young captain from the commons last night. He was flanked by the two men who’d been sitting with him.

Robin scowled. “Damn it, it’s Parren. Just what I don’t need.”

Taran saw the warning glance Bull threw Robin but the sour man was too close for any cautionary words.

Parren halted before them, pointedly eyeing Robin’s sweat-stained clothing. His own leathers were immaculate.

With a sneer, he said, “You look a little disheveled, Tamsen, if you don’t mind me saying.”

“I do mind, Parren. You’d look disheveled if you’d just gone three rounds with Major Sullyan. Not that you’d last that long.”

Parren’s flat eyes narrowed. “And how is the Queen of Darkness today, still suffering nobly? Surely a fine young man like you could think of a way to take her mind off it? No? Then perhaps I should give you a few tips. Or maybe they would be wasted. Word is, you’re just not up to it.”

His two companions sniggered.

Robin went white. Unobtrusively, Taran gestured for Rienne and Cal to step away.

“You keep your filthy comments to yourself,” the Captain snarled. “How dare you talk about the Major like that? You wouldn’t have the courage to say it to her face, you treacherous snake.”

“Calm down, Robin,” hissed Bull, but he was too late.

“Did you just call me a coward, Tamsen?” drawled Parren. “I’d say that was slandering an officer’s character. That’s a calling-out offense.”

“Come on, Parren, you’re going too far,” said Bull, moving between the furious Robin and the arrogantly smiling Parren. “You goaded him.”

“Keep out of this, old man,” spat one of Parren’s men. Taran noticed his corporal’s insignia. “You might get called out, too.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” snapped Bull. The threat in his eyes quelled the corporal but Parren wasn’t done.

“What’s the matter, Tamsen? Sending your lap dog to fight your battles for you? Not so cocky, are you, when you’ve no skirts to hide behind?”

Taran saw Parren’s other companion, a sergeant, make an obscene gesture, implying Robin’s lack of manhood. His mate sniggered again.

Two spots of color flamed dangerously in Robin’s cheeks. “I’m not afraid of you, Parren, I never have been. If you want to settle this, I’m perfectly willing.”

“Heard and witnessed,” said the corporal.

Bull groaned and shook his head. “Oh, you young idiot. You had to let him get to you, didn’t you? All that control gone to waste.”

“He’s had it coming, Bull, and I’ve had enough of his foul remarks.” Robin glared at Parren. “Name your time.”

The sallow man glanced out the window, a smirk on his lips.

“Two hours, Tamsen,” he drawled. “I’ll give you that much time to rest. Wouldn’t want to take unfair advantage after you’ve been, ah … sparring … with a woman.”

He sauntered off, his two men swaggering behind. The corporal turned and leered at Rienne while the sergeant made another obscene gesture. Its import was unmistakable and Rienne shuddered. Taran drew her away.

The silence was strained by the time they reached Robin’s rooms.

“I must freshen up before I give Dexter his orders,” he said. “Can’t go like this.” He cast a glance at Bull, who was glowering. “Well? Are you going to second me this afternoon or not?”

“Yes of course I am,” said Bull. “Someone has to sweep up the bits when you are done with them. Just make sure the Major doesn’t hear of this. She’d slice off your nuts and feed ’em to the rats if she knew.”

“If Parren doesn’t do it first,” said Robin. He disappeared into his room.

Bull led the way into his suite. Shutting the door firmly, he leaned against it and stared at Taran. The Journeyman thought he knew what was coming, and he was right.

“You know more than you’ve let on about why there are suddenly Andaryan raiders overrunning the southlands,” growled Bull. “Use the washroom, freshen up and change your clothes. Then I want some answers and I warn you, Journeyman, I’m in no mood for evasions. I’ve just seen enough of that to last me a lifetime. Now go wash and think very carefully before you come out.”

Dismissed like a naughty child, Taran did as he was told. He was perfectly ready to tell the whole story. The entire affair felt like it was quite out of hand and he needed to know that someone in authority—someone with the power to act—knew all the facts. He wasn’t going to enjoy the experience, though.

When he emerged wearing a clean shirt and breeches, he saw that Bull, Cal and Rienne were all seated around the fire. His two friends had closed expressions on their faces and Taran regretted leaving them alone with the implacable Bulldog.

The big man hooked a chair over with his foot and imperiously waved Taran into it.

“Sit,” he ordered, “and talk.”

Twenty minutes later, he was outraged.

“You killed him?” he roared, leaning forward. “You actually killed an Andaryan noble? Oh, you bloody fool, what on Earth did you do that for? Who was he? Tell me his name.”

Taran flushed. “I don’t know,” he said, “we weren’t introduced. It happened so fast. I was trapped into accepting the challenge, Bull. I had no intention of killing him or desire to, but he was obviously bent on destroying me and they weren’t going to honor the contract. What choice did I have?”

“What choice? What choice? You bloody idiot, if you’d followed the correct procedure, taken a second as witness, and put all the proper restraints on them, they had have had to honor the contract. You’re supposed to be a Journeyman, don’t you know anything?”

Suddenly overwhelmed by guilt, fear and embarrassment, Taran snapped. Years of struggling to teach himself, years of pain and frustration, failure and danger, boiled to the surface. He jumped to his feet, startling Bull, and his eyes blazed as power surged within him.

“It’s all very well for you sit in judgment,” he yelled, “you’ve had it easy. All this experience and guidance around you. All the support you could possibly want. You have no idea what it’s been like for me. No idea how hard I’ve had to struggle to gain the least bit of knowledge, squeezed by dint of my own sweat and hardship year after year. I should be Adept at least by now, if not Adept-elite, but what chance do I have? How can I possibly achieve my potential? How can I satisfy this thirst for knowledge and control?”

Fatigue washed over him and he sat heavily. With his arms resting on his knees, he hung his head.

“I know I’ve been foolish. I wish to heaven I could undo it. I’m sure it’s because of me that those poor people in the south have lost their homes and maybe their lives. But done is done and can’t be undone. I have to live with that.”

Hearing Bull shift, he raised his head. The big man was giving him an evaluating look.

“Yes,” he said, “we all will. Let’s just hope we can.”

He rose and crossed to the table, where the bottle of fiery liquor sat. He poured a shot into a glass and passed it to Taran.

“I’m sorry, Journeyman. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been so harsh with you. You’re right, it is easy to forget how fortunate we are and I sympathize with anyone who has talent but no way of refining it. If it’s any consolation, I can tell you that you’ve impressed the Major. Knowing her, she’ll be keen to see you advance.”