[Shadowed Path 02] - Candle in the Storm (46 page)

“Curse the sneaky bastard,” said a soldier. “He’s using a dead man’s poisoned sword!”

“I warned of this,” said Captain Thak.

“Shut up!” said General Var. “Have the men re-form the flanks.” Then he muttered to Yim, “Don’t gloat, bitch. Remember my promise.”

The march resumed as soon as a soldier hid his two dead comrades’ poisoned swords. The sun scorched everyone until even the men dragged. Yim stumbled ever more frequently. One time, the helm fell from her head. No one replaced it when she recovered, much to her relief. As the soldiers advanced, the plain’s undulations became more pronounced. Low hills alternated with low valleys in monotonous repetition that wore Yim down even further.

Yim and her captors had just descended a hill and were heading to the next one when Honus appeared on its summit. The soldiers halted and gazed at him. Yim gazed at him also. The rage needled on his face no longer seemed a mask. Like the soldiers, there was trepidation in Yim’s eyes, but there was also love.

Honus walked down the hill with an easy stride. “Captain Thak,” he called out. “Finar wishes you to know that water skin you left him was empty. We talked a bit. I offered to return for him, but he declined. A good soldier to the end.” Honus shook his head mournfully. “He made two last requests. That I end it quick for him and that I return your gift.” Upon the word “gift,” Honus’s hand flashed with dazzling speed. Yim heard a wet-sounding thump, and the captain released her leash. He stood quivering for a moment before he fell in a twisting motion to lie faceup. A dagger’s hilt protruded from his mouth.

Then all the men, except the general, charged Honus. He met their assault with his own, one that seemed a fluid dance. The soldiers looked ponderous in comparison. They swung at empty air while Honus darted in and out, employing his blade with deadly precision. None of his motions appeared wasted, not even those that didn’t slay. Each stroke was followed by another in choreography that always climaxed with a killing thrust. Yim watched, having never seen Honus move
 so quickly or with such assurance. He was death personified, beautiful and appalling at once.

The four Guardsmen became three, then two, and then one. As Honus fought the remaining soldier, Yim felt a sharp and heavy blow to her kidney. General Var had stabbed her with all his might, and though the chain mail that Yim wore stopped the blade, it didn’t blunt the force of the blow. Yim crumpled to her knees, her eyes clinched tight from pain. Perhaps the general thought he had mortally wounded her or perhaps he was distracted, for she remained in that position for a long moment before he seized her hair. Yim felt a hand tug her tresses back and down so that her exposed neck arched upward. She opened her eyes and saw a dagger moving toward her throat.

Then the hand upon the dagger halted and the hilt slipped from its grasp. General Var’s head tumbled to the ground. A fountain of blood showered Yim as her hair was released. Then Honus knelt before her.

FORTY
-
SEVEN

YIM GAZED
at Honus through blood and tears. Never did he look so lovely or so terrible. She was stunned speechless. She didn’t know what to say, what to tell, or even what she thought. Her hands were tied, so she couldn’t embrace him. All she could do was weep.

Honus seemed equally confused, as if recovering from a spell. Rage briefly lingered in his face. Then it softened and his eyes became tender and sad. “Oh, Yim,” he said softly.

“What has happened to you?”

“I obeyed Karm’s will, and now I’m with child.”

Honus gazed down at her bulging belly, as if noticing it for the first time.

“Will you untie me?” asked Yim, feeling that Honus needed prompting.

Without a word, Honus removed Yim’s cloak, cut her bonds, and pulled the armored tunic from her. Yim remained kneeling, for the general’s blow still pained her terribly. Honus seemed astonished by her appearance.
 
He didn’t know 
, she thought.

Honus cut a bit of cloth from a soldier’s cloak, wetted it using a water skin, and knelt to wash General Var’s blood from Yim’s face. Then he kissed her with almost timid delicacy. “Nothing matters except you’re safe,” he whispered. “Throughout the cold moons of winter I dreamt of this moment.”

The touch of Honus’s lips evoked memories of joy, something that Yim had believed was gone forever. When he kissed her again, she responded passionately. Starved for his love, Yim communicated her hunger, and Honus’s kisses became less delicate and more fervent. They embraced as pent-up desire blossomed and overwhelmed them. For a while, their world consisted only of each other, and they were oblivious of the dead surrounding them.

It was Yim who broke off the embrace to rise unsteadily to her feet. “Let’s leave this place. I want to get far from the sight of slaughter.”

“Yes, Karmamatus.”

“Honus, please don’t call me that. It’s no longer fitting.”

“Why?”

“I’ll speak of it later. Right now, I just want to get away from here.”

“All right, Yim. I’ll get my horse. Do you think you can ride?”

“Cara taught me a little about it,” replied Yim, “but I’ll need help getting into the saddle.”

Honus walked off to get his horse. When he was out of view, Yim relieved herself in the tall grass and was startled to see blood in her urine. She decided not to mention it. Then she climbed over the low hill so that the corpses were no longer in view. There, she eagerly waited for Honus’s return. It had taken only a few kisses to convince her that she loved him as much as ever. She was certain that Honus felt the same way, although she bore another man’s child.
 
Of course, he doesn’t yet know who fathered it 
, Yim thought. She suspected even that would make no difference to him.

Yim craved a measure of peace, a time to be with her beloved after so much suffering and horror. “Is that too much to ask?” Yim said aloud. “Can’t I be happy for a little while?” Yim wavered over what to do, then surrendered to desire. She knew it wasn’t prudent or fair to Honus, but she couldn’t help herself. “Just one day,” she promised, all the while knowing that it would make doing what was necessary even harder.

When Honus returned with the horse, he had already adjusted the stirrups for Yim. He helped her climb into the saddle before taking water skins and provisions from his slain foes. After he placed those things in his saddlebags, he grasped the reins to lead the horse. “Aren’t you going to ride?” asked Yim.

“That saddle won’t fit three,” replied Honus, gazing at Yim’s rounded belly. “So, where shall we go?”

“Someplace peaceful. Someplace where we can be alone.”

“With Bahl’s men dead, half the reach would qualify. But I know of a river not too far from here. This time of year, it might even have some water in it.”

“Oh Karm bless you!” said Yim. “How I’d love a bath.”

Honus looked at her with a twinkle in his eye. “And I’d be honored to bathe you.”

Yim felt her face flush with excitement. “What’s your horse’s name?” she asked quickly.

“Vengeance.”

“What a horrid name.” Yim stroked the animal’s neck. “That’s not your real name, is it?”

The stallion neighed.

“He says it’s Neeg,” said Yim, wavering the vowel sound. “It’s the same as his sire’s.”

“His former owner neglected to tell me that,” said Honus. “Guardsmen are a closemouthed lot. But when did you learn to speak to animals?”

“I didn’t. I’ve only picked up a few words. But I spent the winter with a bear.”

Honus looked up and grinned. Then he saw that Yim was serious. “In its den?”

“Yes, hibernating. You see, I was faerie-kissed.”

“Like that girl and her mother?”

“Yes. I stuffed myself and snoozed till spring.” Yim gazed down at Honus’s gaunt face. “I think you had a less easy time.”

“After you deserted me …” Yim winced at his choice of words, and Honus apparently noticed, for he paused before continuing. “After you fulfilled Karm’s will, I met a man named Hendric.”

“So he made it safely to your camp?”

“Yes. He spoke of you. He said you were fleeing Bahl. He told me other things, too. That you…”

“Let’s not talk of that now,” Yim said quickly. “How did you survive the winter?”

“Lord Bahl was searching for you, so I made things difficult for him. His Guardsmen became my prey.” Honus’s voice hardened with the memory of it. “I lived off them and watched for signs of you. And now I’m here due to Karm’s grace. She sent me to you.”

“You mean you had a vision?”

“Yes, my second one involving you. Karm also sent me to the dark man’s castle, although you said I was only dreaming.”

“I had to keep my secrets then.”

“But now you don’t.”

Honus spoke those words more like a plea than a statement, and it tore at Yim’s heart. “I won’t keep secrets from you, Honus. I swear. But after what I’ve been through, all I want is to forget awhile. To be at peace and to be with you.” She reached down to stroke Honus’s cheek. “How I’ve longed to do that.”

Honus gazed up at her and smiled.

The river Honus spoke of was mostly a ribbon of wet sand, but he followed its bed until he found a stretch of water. It resembled a long, winding pool. By the time they reached it, a low sun painted the grass in greenish gold. Reflecting the rose and blue of the sky, the pool reminded Yim of Faerie and also of the morning when love was a revelation. After Honus set up a rudimentary camp, Yim shed her clothing and waded into the pool, hoping that her new body wouldn’t repulse Honus. She called to him. “You said you’d bathe me.” Honus’s smile showed Yim that she needn’t have worried. He quickly undressed and joined her.

Both custom and belief forbade full intimacy after a pregnancy showed, but caresses were permissible. Yim needed Honus to wash more than dirt away; she wanted to be cleansed of the repellent memories of Yaun’s and Bahl’s groping. She saw Honus’s concern when he first touched her skin and felt its chill. But then his hands began to work their magic. Strong, yet gentle, they spoke to her. They said, “I love you. I accept you. I grieve for your hurts. I want to give you joy.”

The water was warm in the pool. Yim and Honus lingered there until the sun slipped from the sky. When they left the water, they didn’t dress, but let the breeze take the wetness from their skin. By Karm’s grace or by some strength of hope and will, Yim’s mind was truly at peace. She didn’t dress, enjoying the way Honus looked at her body. She felt his eyes
 upon the fullness of her breasts and belly, and once again recalled the life within her wasn’t only Bahl’s child, but hers, too.

They ate, kissed, and caressed, then lay down flesh-to-flesh upon Honus’s cloak to sleep.

A chill woke Yim. She left Honus’s arms, rose, and pulled on her shift. Then she wandered off to relieve herself. Her urine appeared black in the dark. Yim hoped that Honus wouldn’t find its stain. He had been worried about the darkening bruise on her lower back. If he knew the full extent of her injury, it would make tomorrow all the harder. When Yim lay back on the cloak she shared with Honus, he put his arm around her and gently kissed her neck.

Although Yim had no cause to rise early, she did. Honus had grain and a pot, so she made porridge, enjoying the old routine from her former life. While they ate, she asked, “Honus, what lies to the north?”

“The Western Reach extends all the way to Lurwic, or what was once Lurwic.”

“Is all of it as desolate as here?”

“Only the southern portion is completely empty. There are villages and homesteads farther north, though Bahl has preyed on them.”

“And north of that?”

“The Empty Lands, though some dwell there.”

“And north of that?”

“The Grey Fens. A desolate place south of the Turgen River.”

“And north of that?”

“No one ventures beyond the Turgen. It’s too wide and swift. Why do you ask?”

“Because I must go there.”

Honus shrugged. “I took Theodus to places just as wild.”

“You won’t be taking me, Honus. I’m going alone.”

Honus stared at Yim, speechless.

“I said I’d keep no secrets from you, and I won’t. The child I bear is Lord Bahl’s. Karm chose me to mate with him.”

Honus’s face fell.

“Karm visited me on the night I left you, and told me I must go to Bahl. Everything that happened was directed toward that purpose.”

“Even our love?”

“Especially that.”

“Then I’m meant to be with you.”

“You don’t understand. You live because Lord Bahl lost his power. He lost it because it passed to his unborn son. I gave myself to him to save you.”

“I don’t care whose child you bear. If you can love it, so can I.”

“But Bahl was host to the Devourer. It was the source of his power. And now I’m host to it. I’m no longer holy, if I ever was. I’m befouled. You must flee me.”

“I can’t.”

“There are things more important than you or I, and this is one of them. You’ve faced Bahl’s army, but not Bahl himself. I have and know he’s far more than an evil man. The Devourer within him was poised to transform the world into a place of everlasting horror. It nearly succeeded. That evil has now passed to Bahl’s son, and the world’s only hope is to turn this child from his destiny. It’s a task that I must do alone.”