Hidden Warrior (56 page)

“Whose, then? Why did she treat me like that, just because he was stillborn?”

Arkoniel started to speak, then turned away. Tobin caught him by the sleeve. “What is it?”

“Nothing. It’s all in the past. Right now you must get to Atyion. It would be safest to reveal yourself there.”

“But how? Lhel’s not here to undo the binding.”

“She taught me. It’s actually quite simple. Cut the cord she made of your hair that’s around the doll’s neck, take Brother’s bones out of it, then cut out the piece of bone she sewed into your skin.”

“That’s all?” Tobin exclaimed softly. “But I could have done that anytime!”

“Yes, and if you’d known, you might have too soon and brought us all to ruin.”

“I wouldn’t have! I never wanted to. I don’t want to now.” Tobin hugged himself unhappily. “I’m scared, Arkoniel. What if—” He looked back at Ki and the others. “What will they do?”

“We should be moving on,” Tharin called.

“A moment, please,” Arkoniel told him. “It’s time you told Ki. It’s only fair, and you need him steady at your side.”

“Now?”

“I’ll do it, if you like.”

“No, he should hear it from me. And Lynx?”

“Yes, tell them both.”

Tobin started slowly back to Ki. He’d been tempted a hundred times over to just blurt it all out, but now fear choked him.

What if Ki hated him? And what about Korin and the other Companions? What if the people of Atyion refused to believe, refused to follow him?

“Courage, Tobin,” Arkoniel whispered. “Trust Illior’s will. For Skala!”

“For Skala,” Tobin mumbled.

“What’s wrong?” Ki asked before Tobin had said a word. “Is there bad news?”

“There’s something I have to say, and I don’t know how, except to just say it.”

Tobin took a deep breath, feeling like he was on that cliff in his dreams, about to fall. “I’m not what you think. When you look at me, it’s not me you’re seeing. It’s Brother.”

“Who?” asked Lynx, looking at Tobin as if he’d lost his mind. “Tobin, you don’t have a brother.”

“Yes, I do. Or I did. He’s the demon you’ve heard about, only he’s really just a ghost. It wasn’t a girl child who died; it was him. I was the girl, and a witch changed me to look like him right after I was born.”

“Lhel?” Ki’s voice was barely a whisper.

Tobin nodded, trying to read his friend’s expression in the starlight. He couldn’t and that scared him even more.

“You all know the rumors about the king,” said Arkoniel. “That he kills all female heirs to protect his own claim and line. They’re not just rumors. It’s the truth. The Oracle at Afra warned my mistress, and told her that we
must protect Tobin until she’s old enough to rule. This is how we did it.”

“No!” Ki gasped. He backed away. “No, I don’t believe it. I know you! I’ve seen you! You’re no more a girl than I am!”

I didn’t know either, not at first!
Tobin wanted to tell him, but his mouth wouldn’t form the words because Ki was still moving away from him.

“I was there that night, Ki,” Arkoniel told him. “I’ve devoted my whole life to keeping the secret until now. None of us had any choice, especially not Tobin. But now it’s time for her true form to be revealed. Skala must have a queen, one of the true line.”

“Queen?” Ki turned and ran for the barn.

“I’ll speak with him,” said Tharin. “Please, Tobin, let me do this. For both your sakes.”

Tobin nodded, miserable, and Tharin strode away after Ki.

Lynx came closer, looking into Tobin’s face. “This is really true? I mean—I’ve seen you, too, in the baths and swimming.”

Tobin shrugged.

“Tobin didn’t know about any of this either, until a few years ago,” Arkoniel explained. “It won’t be easy, what’s to come. It means going against Erius and Korin, too. Tobin will need true friends.”

“You’ll be queen?” Lynx said, as if he hadn’t heard.

“Somehow. But Lynx, you’re a Companion. You’ve known Korin longer than I have.” The words felt like sand in Tobin’s mouth. “If you can’t do this—I’ll understand.”

“You’re free to go back to Ero now, if you wish,” said Arkoniel.

“Go back? I never meant to go back. Tharin was right about me before, Tobin, so I might as well stay.” He let out a mirthless little laugh and held out his hand. “That’s not much of an oath, is it?”

Tobin clasped hands with him. “It’s enough for me.”

*     *     *

T
harin found Ki standing just inside the barn door, arms limp at his sides. “Why didn’t he tell me?” he asked, voice leaden with grief.

Tharin fought hard to rein in his anger. He’d expected better of Ki than this. “He had no idea when you first met him.”

“When, then?”

“That time he ran away to the keep. Iya and that witch woman made him swear not to tell. It’s a heavy burden he’s had to bear, Ki; one you and I can’t even imagine.”

“You knew!”

“Not until a few weeks ago. Rhius didn’t tell me, either, but it wasn’t because he didn’t trust me. It was for Tobin’s sake, and safety. It has nothing to do with us.”

“What happens to me now?”

“What do you mean? Are you telling me you’ll serve a prince but not a queen?”

“Serve?” Ki whirled around to face him. “Tharin, he’s my best friend. He—he’s everything to me! We’ve grown up together, trained and fought together.
Together!
But queens don’t have squires, do they? They have ministers, generals, consorts. I’m none of that.” He threw up his hands. “I’m nothing! Just the grass knight son of a horse thief—”

Tharin backhanded him so hard Ki staggered. “Is that all you’ve learned, after all these years?” he growled, standing over the cowering boy. “Do you think a wizard like Iya would choose you for no reason? Would Rhius bind you to his son if you were no more than that? Would
I
trust you with that child’s life? A man can’t choose his father, Ki, but he chooses his path. I thought you’d let go of all that foolishness.” It was an effort to not slap him again. “Is this what I taught you? To run off sniveling in the dark?”

“No.” Ki’s voice quavered but he straightened to attention. Blood ran down from his nose and caught in the sparse hair on his lip. “I’m sorry, Tharin.”

“Listen to me, Ki. Tobin doesn’t have the first notion of
what’s ahead of him. All he can think of is that his friends will turn away from him. That
you’ll
turn away. He fears that more than anything else. And that’s precisely what you did just now, isn’t it?”

Ki groaned aloud. “Bilairy’s balls! He thinks—? Oh, hell, Tharin, that’s not why I ran!”

“Then I guess you’d better get back there and tell him that.” Tharin stepped aside and Ki bolted out, back to Tobin. Tharin stayed where he was, waiting for a sudden fit of trembling to pass. His hand stung where he’d hit Ki; he could feel the boy’s blood on his fingers. He stifled an anguished curse as he wiped his hand on his coat. Divine will or not, it was a hard road that had been set for all of them, all those years ago.

K
i couldn’t have been gone for more than a few minutes, but it seemed like forever to Tobin before he came striding back from the barn alone. Walking straight up to Tobin, Ki hugged him hard, then knelt and offered his sword.

“What are you doing, Ki? Get up! You’re bleeding—”

Ki rose and grasped him by the shoulders. “I’m sorry for running off. You just took me by surprise, that’s all. Nothing’s changed between us.” He hesitated, chin trembling now as he searched Tobin’s face. “It hasn’t, has it?”

Tobin’s voice was none too steady as he hugged Ki again. “You’re my best friend. Nothing can change that.”

“That’s all right, then!” Ki let out a shaky laugh as he stepped back and clasped hands with him.

Tobin caught the gleam of unshed tears in his eyes. “You won’t leave me, will you, Ki?”

Ki tightened his grip and gave him a fierce smile. “Not while I’ve got breath in me!”

Tobin believed him, and was so relieved he hardly knew what to say. “All right then,” he managed at last. “I guess we better move on.”

A
s they rode on Tobin tried not to think about what lay ahead. Ki’s first reaction had scared him more than any battle could. He believed his friend’s staunch pledge, but more than once during that long ride he caught Ki stealing puzzled looks at him, as if he was trying to see the stranger under Tobin’s borrowed skin.

I don’t want to change! he
thought miserably. Looking off to the distant mountains looming black against the stars, he wondered what it would be like to just ride away from everything—from the battle, the city, his friends, his fate.

But it was only a fleeting thought. He was a Skalan warrior and a prince of the blood. Scared as he was, he would never shame himself, or betray those he loved.

His name and signet got them fresh horses along the road, and they spread word of the invasion at every stop. By dawn they were in sight of the sea again, and reached Atyion an hour past noon.

Reining in at the town gate, Tharin called up to the guards on the wall, “Open in the name of Prince Tobin, lord of Atyion. The prince has returned!”

“Ero is under siege by Plenimar,” Tobin told the startled sentries as soon as they were inside. “Spread the word. Every warrior must prepare to march back with me. No, wait!” he called as the man was about to run off. “The women, too; any who wish to fight for Skala are welcome under the banner of Atyion. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my prince!”

“Tell everyone to assemble in the castle yard.”

“Well done, Tobin!” Arkoniel murmured.

They raced on through the town, only to find the drawbridge still raised beyond the castle moat. Tharin cupped his hands around his mouth and hailed the guard, but there was no answer.

Ki shaded his eyes and squinted up at the men on the wall. “Those are Solari’s men.”

“Open in the name of the prince!” Tharin shouted again.

Presently a man leaned over the battlement by the gate head. “I have Duke Solari’s orders not to admit anyone from Ero, on account of the pox.”

“Son of a whore!” Ki gasped.

“Open at once for the prince or be hanged for a traitor!” Tharin bellowed back in a voice Tobin had never heard him use before.

Arkoniel was calmer. “These are serious matters, fellow. Fetch your master to the walls at once.”

“Solari can’t do this!” Ki exclaimed hotly as they sat waiting. “This is Tobin’s land, whether he’s of age or not.”

“The man who commands the castle commands Atyion,” Tharin muttered, glaring across the moat.

“Brother was right,” Tobin told Arkoniel. “He told me a long time ago that Solari wanted Atyion for himself.”

The sun sank another hour in its course as they fretted outside the gates. A crowd of armed townspeople gathered at their backs while they waited. Word of the situation had spread. Tharin found several sergeants among them and ordered runners sent to the outlying steadings to raise the knights. Arkoniel sent others for the town priests.

Two women emerged from the crowd and bowed deeply to Tobin. One was clad in old-fashioned armor. The other wore the white robes and silver mask of the Illioran temple.

Even with the mask, Tobin recognized her and bowed. “Honored One, Lady Kaliya.”

The priestess bowed, and displayed the many-colored
dragons on her palms. “I’ve long dreamed of your coming, though I did not expect you so soon. Atyion will not forsake the rightful heir.”

Tobin dismounted and kissed her hand. “I won’t forsake Atyion. Did you know?”

“That it would be you? No, Highness, but I am most pleased.” She bent her head close to his, and whispered, “Daughter of Thelátimos, welcome.”

More priests arrived. Arkoniel and Kaliya took them aside, speaking quietly. Tobin shivered as he watched them. One by one, they all turned and silently saluted him, hands to their hearts.

Presently Solari appeared on the parapet, and called down, “Greetings, Prince Tobin. I regret the poor welcome you received.”

“Don’t you know what’s happening in Ero?” Tobin shouted back. “They sent messenger birds yesterday. The city is under attack!”

Astonishment rippled through the crowd.

“Yes, I know,” Solari shouted. “But Atyion must be protected from plague at all costs.”

“That ain’t right!” someone in the crowd yelled.

“Even at the cost of her rightful lord’s life?” Tharin shouted back. “Solari, this is Rhius’ son, and he’s here by the king’s order! Your own son is there in Ero with him.”

“Other pigeons have outdistanced you, Tharin, and my news is fresher. Lower Ero is lost and the king is trapped on the Palatine. They’ll all be dead before you can get back.”

“Traitor!” Ki screamed, brandishing his sword.

Solari ignored him. “Skala must be defended and Atyion is the greatest stronghold left. She must be led by a seasoned general. Give over your claim, Prince Tobin, and I will adopt you as my heir. Let the priests witness my pledge.”

“I will not!” the Illioran priestess cried, and was echoed by the others. “I send the traitor’s curse upon you!”

“You have other sons, Solari,” Arkoniel replied. “Even if we believed you, how long would Tobin survive among them with all this to gain?”

“Not a fortnight!” a woman cried out in the crowd behind them.

“Someone shoot that traitor!” someone else called out.

“Storm the walls!”

“Hang the bastards! We’ll never bend knee to ’em!”

Ki dismounted and went to Tobin. “Could you send Brother after him, Tob?” he whispered.

Somehow, Arkoniel heard and hissed, “Never ask that again, Ki. You don’t know what you’re saying.”

He rode to the edge of the moat and raised his right fist in the air, clutching his crystal wand. The failing daylight struck fire through it. “Hear me, all you in the castle, and you here behind us.” His voice carried like a battle cry. “I am the wizard Arkoniel, once the pupil of Mistress Iya. You knew us as the hearth friends of Duke Rhius. By his own hand, we have also been the protectors of his only child and heir, who stands here like a beggar at his own gate!

“Solari claims he’s shutting out the plague. Has he ever done such a thing before? No, only now that he believes Ero lost. Know this, people of Atyion. These years of plague and death are the curse of Illior that King Erius brought down on the land. With the complicity of the people, he usurped the throne from Skala’s rightful heir. Princess Ariani, daughter of Agnalain, mother of Tobin—she should have been queen!”