Ashes And Spirit (Book 3) (21 page)

Marcaius spat a mouthful of blood, the result of the blow she’d given his face with her zahri, and nodded. “I’m fine.”

Kirynn wiped away the trickle of blood from her split lip and chuckled. “I’m fine. We’re both going to sport some great bruises, but neither of us is in danger of dying.”

“For a while, it looked like you two might stop using the flats of your blades and start drawing some serious blood,” Vaddoc said.

Marcaius laughed and clasped forearms briefly with Kirynn.

She smiled back. Though tired, her blood still pounded with the need to win and the rush of pleasure the activity had brought on. “We wouldn’t actually kill each other, though it was tempting a few times.”

Kirynn glanced at Tenyi. “And that is what a sparring match looks like between two Boromari masters.”

“Remind me not to ever challenge one of you to a real sparring match,” Tenyi said, staring at them wide-eyed.

Vaddoc nodded. “I had no idea the sparring in Boromar was so brutal and serious.”

“It isn’t until the final year when everyone is fighting for a place among the Boromari Defenders and a chance to grow out their hair for a braid,” Marcaius said.

“No wonder Kirynn wins every time we spar.” Vaddoc shook his head.

The villagers came forward, offering praise for the display they had just witnessed. Kirynn sighed and took the praise with grace, though she didn’t see a reason for it. Neither of them had won. What was there to praise? In battle, you either won or died. A draw was nothing more than a postponement.

Medar motioned toward the inn. “Come, I will serve you the mid-day meal.”

Vaddoc’s amber eyes took on a hard glint. “There are some things to discuss.”

“What things?” She eyed the Borderman.

“Kojen are raiding all the way to the river, and the patrols are always a step behind them.”

She had been right. Whoever had betrayed them to the Shadow Riders was indeed in a high-ranking position within Shadereen and knew every move Shadereen took to defend itself and its people. Only the king and the Council members had that kind of information. “Let’s have our mid-day meal and see if there is anything we can do to help.”

Whatever was decided, she would make sure it wasn’t reported back to the king and Council. She’d grown attached to the people of Welan. It wasn’t the best thing to do during wartime. Any attachments always came back to bite in the end. It was easier to shut off the empathy and emotion during battle if one didn’t know too much or care too much for those who were dying. Caring too much resulted in distractions and dangerous choices. Still, there didn’t seem to be too much help for it this time and Lenya’s bold, cute ways were the root of it.

Marcaius strolled beside her, his red braid hanging as long as hers. Kirynn chuckled when he spit another mouthful of blood on the ground. “Maybe I did best you a little.”

“Hardly.”

“I’m not the one still spitting blood.”

He smiled. “If I’m not down, you didn’t win. One of these days, though, I will best you.”

“Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better.”

He snorted and pulled her braid lightly.

“Do that again, and I will strangle you with your own braid,” Kirynn growled at him.

The cool interior of the inn felt good. Though the early winter day wasn’t overly warm, she had worked up a sweat sparring with Marcaius and it felt nice to be out of the sun. As Medar set bowls of stew on the table, Kirynn smiled. She may not have won the sparring match but there was more than one way to skin a Kojen. She would wait until Marcaius had finished most of the food before letting him know he was eating a giant spider.

M
aleena, don’t be silly.” Taela rolled her eyes and went back to snuggling Emmaleen. “It’s my place as much as yours to negotiate peace between nations, and given how I was raised, I will likely be better at it.” When it looked like her friend would argue, Taela continued, “Besides, Emmaleen is only two months old. She needs you with her still, and you can’t take her up into the cold air. It’s the dead of winter for Fate’s sake.”

Maleena sighed and dropped into a chair. “I suppose you are right. Still, it feels wrong to laze around Galdrilene while the rest of you are all over the place taking care of things.”

“Lazing around Galdrilene? Is that what you call overseeing the Dragon Hold, sitting in meetings with the city’s leaders, helping to teach the newly hatched, taking care of your daughter, mentally searching for Foundlings when eggs start to sing, and keeping track of everything that is going on in the rest of the world?” Taela laughed and shook her head. “Remind me never to ask you what I should do if I decide to lie around for a day. I think your style of lazy would leave me exhausted.”

“You know what I mean. I know I do plenty here. There is just so much that needs to be done elsewhere as well.”

“Someone has to take Emallya’s place in Galdrilene. I could do it, however, you have far more patience than I do. Not to mention you are the many times great-grandniece of Emallya, which makes you all the more acceptable to the people of Galdrilene. This is an area where you do a better job than I would. Just as I will be better at settling the war between Kanther and Boromar.” Taela looked down at the baby in her arms. “Isn’t that right, Emmaleen? You agree with Aunt Taela, don’t you?” The baby gazed back at her for a moment before yawning.

Taela smiled and turned her attention back to Maleena. “See? She agrees with me.”

“I’m not sure a yawn counts as agreement.”

“Give Emmaleen at least another month before you start dragging her all over the place.” She gave Maleena a stern look. “I know you’re going stir crazy, but your child needs to be a little older before she starts flying and Sliding with you and Nydara. And, it has only been two months. Don’t you think you should rest a little more?”

Maleena shook her head then crossed the room and took Emmaleen. “I had a baby, not an illness. I don’t need to convalesce; my body is already back to normal. Even Marda and Serena agree that keeping active helps. It’s the women who lie around in bed forever afterward that are in danger of complications.”

“Maybe so, but you’ve been plenty active since Emmaleen’s birth. I will negotiate the treaty between Kanther and Boromar, and you will continue your exhausting style of ‘relaxing’ for at least another month.”

“It doesn’t sound like I have much choice.” Maleena laid the baby in her little bed. “Will you at least consider taking Amariel with you? She has more years of experience than we do.”

Taela pulled the blanket up around Emmaleen’s shoulders to ward off any chill and smiled. “I’ve already spoken with her, and she’s agreed to come. I wish it were Emallya leading me in this for the first time.” Sometimes it still felt as if they were all floundering as they tried to take on the things Emallya and Bardeck had always handled.

Sadness flashed in Maleena’s eyes. “I do too. Amariel is the next best thing though.”

Taela nodded but remained silent. Yes, Amariel had been around for well over a hundred years and would be a great help. But it didn’t even come close to the six hundred years of knowledge and wisdom that Emallya had possessed.

“Why Kanther wants to butt heads with Boromar so soon after losing their last war makes no sense to me,” Taela said, changing the subject.

“They feel Boromar has overstepped their bounds by no longer killing magic users. They have no idea what has been going on and since neither Shadow Riders nor Guardians have been to Kanther yet, they don’t believe Boromar and think they are lying to gain more power.”

Taela shook her head. “Even so, they were soundly defeated a year ago, I doubt they have enough experienced warriors in their army now to make much headway no matter what they think or feel.”

Maleena gazed down at her daughter. “People often do foolish things for foolish reasons.”

“I suppose so.” Taela gave Maleena a quick hug. “I must go.” She left and headed toward her own lair. Paki already awaited her on the inner terrace, and it was time to get underway now that most of the current storm had passed. Kellinar and the Weather mages had warned of another storm moving in, and she wanted to get to Kanther’s capitol before it hit. Especially since the nearest Slide point was well north, and they would have to fly the rest of the way.

In her lair, she slipped out of her dress and shift, then pulled on a pair of silk pants, over which went fur-lined leather pants. Leather boots that nearly reached her knee and covered the lower legs of her pants were next. Then she slipped on a silk shirt that fell to mid-thigh and was cut up the middle to the waist, both front and back, to make movement and riding in a saddle easier. A padded shirt of the same design followed, and then finally a chainmail tunic, also cut up the front and back. A belt, with her slender, curved sword and throwing knives was next. Then she buckled the lacquered leather arm bracers around her forearms where the sleeves of the padded shirt and chainmail left them bare except for the silk sleeves of the undershirt. Finally, she slid the smaller knives into the hidden sheaths.

Already it was almost too warm in her chambers with all the layers on. Though heavy to wear, she’d become used to it over the past few months. None them flew anywhere without being prepared. Everything was too uncertain. Even in New Sharren she’d worn the chainmail in spite of the warmth that had lingered well into fall, as had the makeshift army that defended the newest nation.

She pulled the heavy, fur-lined overcloak off the bed and flung it around her shoulders before sliding her arms through the wide sleeves. After tying the cord securely, she grabbed her fur-lined hat and scarf, then left the room.

When she stepped onto the inner terrace, Amariel waited with the hood of her heavy cloak pulled up against the cold breeze. Thick clouds blotted out the sky, and in the murky darkness of fast falling night, little flakes of snow still fell.

Kellinar also waited though he would be Sliding to New Sharren rather than accompanying her. A worried frown made lines in his face. “Are you sure this is a good idea? Why not at least wait until morning?”

“No time like the present.”

“Maybe it would better if I put off returning to New Sharren.”

“There isn’t anything you can do where I’m going.” Taela gave him a quick hug then walked to Paki. She glanced at him as she fastened the catcher strap. “Kellinar, the New Sharrens still need your help, and honestly I think you would be more hindrance than a help to me.”

He crossed his arms. “How so?”

She laughed and pulled herself into the saddle. “
You
, trying to reason with nobles?”

“Point taken.” He dropped his hands and walked to Shryden. “At least promise to call for Shryden and me if you need anything.”

“Of course we will call for you if anything comes along that Paki and I can’t handle. Now quit worrying, you’re starting to annoy me.” She smiled to take the bite from her words. When he continued frowning, her expression changed to a glower. “Paki and I are perfectly capable of handling ourselves. Your confidence in us is appreciated.” Sarcasm filled her words, but she didn’t care.

Kellinar sighed. “It appears I’ve managed to rile your temper.” He fastened the catcher strap and leaped into the saddle in a fluid movement. When he had the safety straps secured across his thighs, he finally looked at her again. “I have complete confidence in you and Paki. After losing Anevay… I can’t help but worry.”