“Be polite, laddy. Else you won’t be leaving here upright.”
The burly man touched the side of his nose and pointed at Juhrnus warningly, then put his meaty hand on Juhrnus’s back and shoved him inside.
Acrid smoke filled the room from the feeble fire in the hearth. It cast the only light in the room. Juhrnus rubbed his stinging eyes, scanning the gloom, holding his sword ready.
“What has it been? A few weeks? Seems like a year.”
He stiffened. The owner of the velvet voice emerged from a shadowed corner, the spindle legs of her chair scraping the floor. Her hair was the same, red and silky, her body still curvaceous and lush. But there was no longer anything soft or inviting about Karina. Her movements were abrupt and harsh, her mouth severe. Even her pale flesh seemed cold, like marble. She meant business, though what her business was, Juhrnus couldn’t begin to guess.
“What’s this about, Karina?” He slid back his hood and lifted his sword so that it rested ready against his shoulder.
“Right to the point. No pleasantries about how well I look or how much you’ve missed me. The
ahalad-kaaslane
in you, I expect. Good. I wanted to talk to him, not my frivolous lover, though I think he’s found himself greener pastures.”
“This must be important if you sent tilters to fetch me. You might have just sent a message.”
“Too risky, and you might have dawdled. I wanted to see you tonight.”
“Seems time is important to both of us. So what is it you want?”
“I sent for you because people are dying. If the plague doesn’t get them, then they’ll starve to death.”
“If you’re worried about that, then let me go.”
“Oh? Have you an answer to the city’s ills, then?” Juhrnus did not answer. She rolled her eyes derisively. “Such eloquence. Well, you may keep your secrets. I have a task for you.”
“A task?”
She lifted one elegant shoulder. “All right. A boon if you wish,
ahalad-kaaslane
. I have the means to provide some relief for those who are starving, if I can but get the supplies here. I need transport. But I will not allow the nobles to gobble it up before the people get their share, nor can I use my family’s resources. And I do not trust the
ahalad-kaaslane
. They have become ineffectual and stupid.”
“Yet you want my help.”
“You have never been stupid. Whether you can be of true service remains to be seen. But I know you, and I don’t have many choices.”
“Fair enough. Go on.” She had his interest. If nothing else, she offered the lure of giving practical aid to people.
“If you will recall, my father is a merchant. He captains his own fleet of four ships. He set out for Guelt in the late fall just before the winter storms hit. He has been there since. Spring’s delay has prevented his timely return, and is the reason for our meeting tonight.
“The blockade refused to allow him landfall in Kodu Riik. They want to see us starve, you see. This blockade is no mere precaution against the plague spreading. They also won’t let food in,” she said bitterly. “They fired on his ships. But my father has outsmarted his share of pirates and freebooters. They underestimated his speed and weaponry. Thus he made his escape, causing no little damage to the heavier naval vessels. He took refuge among the Piiton Islands. They could not follow them there.
“He then sent word. Out of luck, it was I and not my mother or uncle who was home to receive the message. My father has begun to organize a fleet whose charge will be to run the blockade, bringing food and supplies to Kodu Riik. Most are the same freebooters and pirates he’s skirmished with in his trade. He says there are a series of natural harbors and coves where he may safely anchor for a time, but our shores are watched meticulously. He can only drop the goods and dash away if he is to stay ahead of the patrols. So he wishes me to get these supplies safely into the hands of our people. Which means horses and wagons, men to drive them and men to guard them. I cannot do this without your help.”
Juhrnus nodded, mind clicking as he began to pace. “We’ll need a base of operations outside of Koduteel. Maybe more than one. Finding men will be easy enough; wagons and horses we can get outside the city. We’ll have to be careful not to make ourselves obvious, keep groups to a minimum. We’ll also need a way to distribute the goods in the Fringes and the city.”
“I’ll take care of that. This building is one of my father’s, and not the only one. My mother and uncle aren’t aware of them. I’ve already got people I trust. When can you get the rest done?”
“I’ll know better tomorrow.”
She stared at him, green eyes like gimlets. “Not a promising answer.”
“This is not something I can do alone.”
She was silent, chewing her lips. Finally she shook her head sharply. “No. No one but you. Too many people.”
“Alone I can do little.”
“Ineffectual after all,” she snapped accusingly.
“I can help, Karina. But I do not have the resources. Others do, and they will help if asked.”
“And you are sure you can trust them?”
“With my life. With Esper’s life.” He did not retreat from her glare.
Finally she nodded. “I hope you’re right, or we’ll all find ourselves in the Verit’s pleasure chambers.” She shuddered, and something cold slithered into Juhrnus’s stomach at the idea.
“How will I send word to you?”
“Come here. Someone will be waiting to meet you. Don’t wait too long. Time is short.”
“Shorter than you know. The Verit will be made Regent tomorrow.”
“By the Lady’s hand,” Karina said, turning pale. “Not so soon.”
“The
Arkeinik
met tonight. Their delegation to the Iisand was fruitless. He refused to respond. Not even the Lord Marshal could dissuade them.”
“We are out of time, then. He’ll lock up the city. There’s no hope for us.”
“Not yet. He’s Regent, but the Lord Marshal equals his power yet. He’s not without bite. But there’s no time to waste. I must go.”
Reisil’s expression darkened when Juhrnus delivered the news of the regency an hour later.
He was surprised and relieved by her cool response: “I’ll need to leave Koduteel. Before the ceremony, if possible. Any more word on the wizards?”
Juhrnus shook his head. “I can’t help thinking Sodur knows more than he’s saying. I came to ask if you knew where to find him.”
She nodded, lids hooding her eyes. The ivy along her cheek flared gold, and Juhrnus shifted his weight nervously. “I know where he is, and more important, where he will be. We’ll corner him at dawn on the way. Can you fetch Metyein? I think it’s time we saw the Iisand for ourselves.”
“I was on my way to Metyein anyway. I’ll bring him back.”
Reisil cocked her head at him. “Something I should know about?”
“Not yet. It might be nothing. I’ll let you know.”
Reisil considered him a moment and then nodded. “Good enough. Do you know when the ceremony will happen?”
“Late afternoon.”
“That’s when I’ll leave the city, then. It’ll be our best chance.”
Reisil smoothed her hands down over her thighs and gave Juhrnus a thin smile. “Wouldn’t it be nice if the sorcerers really meant to help us?”
“No chance of that. Kedisan-Mutira has been clear on that if little else.”
“Can they?”
“Does it matter? They aren’t going to.”
For the first time he noticed that Yohuac and his
ahalad-kaaslane
coal-drake were missing. It startled him. The two hadn’t left Reisil’s side for a moment since their arrival.
“I wanted a bath,” she said in answer to his query. Now Juhrnus noticed her hair was damp and hung loose down her back. She was dressed in soft trews and a thin lawn tunic that showed off her curves, and her feet were bare. Once the sight of her like this would have stirred him. But now he wanted only Kedisan-Mutira. She was like ice and silk where Reisil was more like a warm blanket. Juhrnus’s mouth curved. Not the greatest compliment. But much as he loved Reisil like a sister, he wanted to roast his soul in Kedisan-Mutira’s fires.
“I’d better pack my things,” she said.
Juhrnus took the hint and went to the door. “I’ll find Metyein. See you at dawn.”
When he opened the door, he found Yohuac leaning against the opposite wall. He wore a brooding expression, his bare arms crossed over his chest. He glowered at Juhrnus. The coal-drake was nowhere to be seen.
“Bright evening,” Juhrnus said. Yohuac looked past him to Reisil, hardly waiting for Juhrnus to pass by before thrusting himself inside.
Juhrnus grinned as the door shut with a thump. That was a hungry man. Juhrnus wished him luck. He was going to need it. As lovers for Reisil went, Juhrnus liked Yohuac better than he liked most. The man had a sharp sense of honor. He wasn’t quick to anger, but didn’t back down from confrontation, and he knew how to fight. He wasn’t going to let anyone hurt Reisil. Whether she would take to him or not, Juhrnus couldn’t guess. She was easy in Yohuac’s company, maybe more easy than suited the other man. Juhrnus saw nothing of the kind of nervous tension that coiled him in its fiery net whenever Kedisan-Mutira was in the room. He shrugged. Yohuac had an interesting road ahead.
Chapter 31
“
Y
ou are going somewhere?” “I thought Baku would have told you. The Verit will be made Regent tomorrow. It’s too dangerous to stay. It’s time to look for the wizards.”
“Baku is . . . hunting. His mind is elsewhere. You’re leaving Koduteel?”
Reisil sat down to oil her boots. “About time for it too. I’ll be glad to finally be
doing
something.”
“When will we leave?”
Reisil raised her head, lowering her boot to her lap. “We? I’m going alone.”
Yohuac’s face darkened, and his jaw tensed. “Do you forget the assassins? They cannot have given up. Only Baku’s careful watch has kept them at bay these last weeks. They will surely follow you. And you have already said the wizards will not welcome you. You cannot go alone. It is not safe.”
“I’ll have Saljane. She won’t let anyone sneak up on me. And I need Baku here. Without him I can’t know what’s happening. And Juhrnus and Metyein will need to know how things fare with me, whether I have any luck finding the wizards and convincing them to help me.”
Yohuac paced across the room, his back stiff, the muscles in his arms flexing. Reisil was reminded again of a hunting cat. There was a merciless strength inside him. He was a weapon primed to strike.
“I did not come here to serve you. I came so that you could help my people. I must stay with you. Baku can remain here.”
“He won’t without you. Saljane will see any assassins as well as you. I won’t walk into an ambush, and if I do, I’m not entirely helpless.” She lifted her hands, showing him the calluses and half-healed cuts on her hands from their practice sessions. “And if all else fails, I have my magic.” Her mouth twisted at that last. She’d tried many times to heal the plague victims these last weeks, with no more success than the first time. Killing still seemed to be her main skill.
“You are a rank beginner at swordplay, and you’ve no idea how to fight otherwise,” he growled back at her.
Reisil lifted one shoulder. “I’ll do what I have to. And I have to go alone.” What she didn’t say was that she didn’t want to endanger anyone else. Death was more than likely, and she didn’t want to be responsible for getting Yohuac killed. At least she might be able to learn something he could take back to his nahuallis if she didn’t survive.
She resumed oiling her boot, watching him from beneath her brow. He clenched his fists, then strode over to squat down before her. His eyes were black as ocean waters at night. He reached out as if to grab her shoulders, but he only touched his fingers to her cheeks and then let them fall back in his lap.
“I’m a warrior. I was born to defend my people, to keep them from harm. Please don’t ask me to watch you walk into danger alone and defenseless.”
Reisil swallowed hard. She hadn’t expected his plea, the gentleness of his touch. But she couldn’t give in to his charm or her body’s sudden flare of desire. She was
ahalad-kaaslane
. She had no time for a lover. And since Kaval and Kebonsat, she wasn’t sure she wanted another one.
“You can’t. Your people sent you to save them. Your nahuallis think I’m the key. What if I do learn something important? Anything I learn, Baku will know too. If I don’t make it back, then you’ll still have the means to help your people. You must stay.”
Yohuac’s lips pulled into a tight grimace, his eyes flashing. But he rose to his feet, stepping back and retreating to the door.
“I’ll return soon. Lock the door.” And then he was gone. Reisil did as he said. She hadn’t bothered to lock it since Baku had taken to guarding it.
By the time he returned, she had prepared her travel pack, oiled her gauntlet and boots and mended four pairs of socks. Last she’d dug the green cloak out of the trunk at the foot of her bed. She shook it out, making a face at the mildew growing in the creases. The soap and oil cleaned it good as new, and she hung it on a peg, ready for her departure. She no longer wanted the anonymity of the gray cloak. Not that it had worked. But she was tired of pretending to be something she wasn’t. Even if she didn’t know what she was. This journey would change that. She had to find out what she could or could not do, without relying on someone else’s help. And she wasn’t going to put anyone else at risk if she proved to be too flawed to do what was necessary.
Reisil unlocked the door, and Yohuac swept past her.
“Your world is cold and barren. There are no fires here. No passion. I cannot even speak to my gods.” He caught her by the arms. “As much as I wish to, I cannot refuse to obey you. I will stay here and await your return.” His face hardened, and his eyes narrowed to slits. “But if you find trouble, I will come after you. Nothing you can say will keep me here.”