Steel and Sorrow (6 page)

“And the benefit for me?”

“Just as you said. You haven’t had the chance to speak freely with anyone for some time. That and my loyalty is what I offer.”

Nareash considered the proposition. He had expected Colan to beg for his life, but the way the shaman handled the situation impressed him. In fact, he had reminded Nareash of himself.

He removed his hands from his sleeves. Colan flinched, obviously expecting an attack. Nareash smiled and scratched at his cheek.

“Your education begins tomorrow.”

The young shaman bowed. “Thank you, Master.”

Chapter 3

Bazraki had been dead for months. Yet at times, Tobin still felt the weight of his father’s disapproving stare. He wondered what his father would say to the changes he had made to the Blue Island Clan.

No doubt he would criticize all of them. He was good at that, unless it meant evaluating his own actions. Otherwise, he would not have surrounded himself with so many incompetent people.

Tobin acknowledged each of his advisors entering the war room. Not one of the men had been part of his father’s inner circle. Some suggested that his cleansing of Bazraki’s advisors would result in them using their influence to cause discord among the populace to undermine Tobin’s authority. Only one man had tried to test the mettle of the new Blue Island Clan ruler.

No one dared since.

Tobin created his council to include people who truly made the city work. He replaced those out of touch with the actual running of Junaoq with representatives from the various guilds. Tobin intended to complete the vision his father began and knew he needed the right people in place to help him accomplish those goals.

Walor and Ufer, his commanders, also joined the meetings.

“Everyone is here, Warleader.”

Tobin nodded at Ufer. He would not stand for anyone referring to him by some ridiculous title like “El Olam” as his father had.

He gestured to the man on his far left, a blacksmith by trade. “Anun, you begin. But let’s keep the updates brief. We need not rehash the details again.”

Anun nodded and quickly gave Tobin a summary of his progress, noting any obstacles still to overcome. Each person after him did the same over the course of the next hour. Tobin listened intently until Odala slipped into the room and flashed a smile. He held back a grin as he watched her gracefully take a seat in the back of the room. Their relationship had blossomed, and the weight of being warleader became unnoticeable with her near him.

Ufer shook his head disapprovingly.

He glanced one last time at Odala before giving the person speaking his undivided attention.

The last of his advisors, a shipwright was speaking. “. . . we’ll be testing the last of the vessels this week. And not a moment too soon. The bay is beyond crowded and we’ve raised the ire of the fisherman.”

“We’ll be out of their way soon enough,” said Tobin. “Keep up the good work. That will be all.” He gestured toward the door.

Each advisor offered a quick bow and filed out.

Walor stepped away from the wall as the door shut. “What do you mean by being out of their way soon enough?”

Tobin quickly glanced toward Odala and then faced Walor. Nachun had asked Tobin to wait for him to return from his expedition to Quarnoq before proceeding with the year’s campaign. However, Tobin had reservations about waiting. Odala helped convince Tobin that starting without Nachun would not be a betrayal of their friendship since his focus would not be on the Red Mountain Clan. “We aren’t waiting for Nachun. The longer we wait, the more advantageous it is for the Green Forest Clan.”

Sorry, Nachun, but you told me to trust my instincts. If all goes well, you can return to my victory in time to exact your revenge on Charu.

“Good,” said Ufer.

Walor began cracking his knuckles. “I agree. Even if he finds Quarnoq and comes back with the weapons he believes are there, I’d rather not rely on him. To me, his trip is another example of him thinking of himself first.”

“The Yellow Clan all over again,” muttered Ufer.

Tobin understood. Many felt that Nachun had left the Blue Island Clan in a poor situation as they finished the campaign against the Yellow Plain Clan. The shaman had returned to Juanoq shortly after the first victory on the Yellow Plain in order to oversee research for his journey to Quarnoq. Few doubted that Nachun’s presence would have ended the conflict sooner.

“Nachun was not at fault. Blame my father for poor planning and not foreseeing the Yellow Clan’s tactics.” He paused. “Or blame me for not being more decisive. I had hoped to settle the matter in battle, but I underestimated the Yellow Clan’s strategy.”

After chasing the Yellow Clan’s surviving forces for months across the expansive plain without success, Tobin’s patience had reached its limit. He turned to Actur, their capital city. Mawkuk had captured the city earlier in the campaign so he faced no resistance upon entering. Tobin gathered up all the men, women, and children left in the city and separated them in three distinct groups. He sent word to the Yellow Plain Clan with his intentions unless he received their surrender. He would kill one man the first day, two the next, three the day after, and so on. Once the male population ended, he would move to the women and then the children. If the army attempted to retake the city, he’d kill everyone in one mass execution.

It took ten days and the deaths of fifty-five men before the army arrived. Tobin hated himself for killing innocents, but he rationalized that those fifty-five men had saved thousands from dying in battle.

“If Mawkuk would not have failed in his duties before the first battle, we would have beaten them more soundly and finished them sooner. It is his fault more than yours, Warleader,” said Ufer.

“Mawkuk will have his chance to contribute greatly in our campaign against the Green Forest Clan. I feel confident he’ll use the opportunity to redeem himself.”

Tobin met Odala’s eyes. She gave a slight nod. She worried about her father and he tried to do anything he could to ease her mind.

Ufer leaned forward and whispered. “I know you are fond of her, but I wish you would not allow her in our meetings.”

“We’ve discussed this before,” said Tobin in a low voice.

Ufer turned to Walor for support. “It isn’t anything personal,” said Walor. “We worry that she may say something in passing without realizing her error.”

Tobin shook his head. “Look at her.” Odala played with the hem of her dress. “Her motives for being here are to be near me. She knows that nothing leaves this room.” He cleared his throat, raising his voice. “That’s all for now.”

Tobin caught the surprised expressions on Walor and Ufer’s faces as he chose not to go over strategy. He had time for that later. After all, his men knew their responsibilities. They only needed the exact date of departure.

The door closed silently behind the Kifzo and Odala rose from her seat. She sauntered over to him and they met in the center of the room.

“I’m glad that’s over with,” she said in a voice that caused Tobin’s heart to race.

He pulled her close. “I thought you liked to watch me work.”

“I do. But I missed you.” She wrapped her arms around him. “And I’d much rather be doing other things than simply watching you work.”

Tobin gazed into her deep brown eyes. “Well, we’re alone now.”

The corners of her mouth turned up slightly. “I thought you had another meeting to go to before dinner.”

Tobin shrugged. “I’m Warleader. I can afford to be late.”

Her grin turned into a wicked smile.

* * *

Odala left the war room out of breath and weary. Yet, she wore a smile nonetheless. Since their relationship began, Tobin’s passion had become infectious and she missed him during the day when his duties kept them apart.

At first the horrors of Tobin’s past had frightened her, but she realized that he had little control over the things he had been forced to suffer through in his youth.

And despite those atrocities, he managed not to lose the good within him as other Kifzo had.

Even now when she thought about that night when Tobin had threatened her father in Cypronya, she understood it was a means to an end. Tobin may have threatened her father, but he did not kill him. And just like tonight when Ufer questioned her father’s actions, he not only defended the Gray Marsh Clan leader, but also found a way to improve his standing.

She bit her lower lip while thinking about the hungry look in Tobin’s eyes when they had made love.

Do I love him?

“There you are.”

Odala jumped. She whipped around and saw her brother walking toward her.

“You nearly scared me to death.”

“Perhaps if you were paying attention to where you were going, the sound of my voice wouldn’t have startled you.” Soyjid stopped a few feet from her and looked around the empty hallway. He lowered his voice. “We were supposed to meet half an hour ago.”

“Sorry. I was busy.”

Soyjid’s eyes wandered over her body. He reached out and straightened her dress. “Yes, it’s obvious what you were busy with.”

Odala blushed, suddenly self–conscious of his gaze.

“Remember, that while you’re enjoying yourself, I’m trying to look out for our clan. Or have you forgotten about Father?”

She scowled. “Of course not. In fact, Tobin said that Father would be given an important role in the upcoming campaign.”

“Good. And how did Walor and Ufer react?”

“They didn’t seem pleased. They still blame him for the problems in conquering the Yellow Plain Clan.”

Soyjid sighed. “They aren’t completely wrong. Father did make a mistake in his approach. However, Bazraki did little to help matters and Tobin should have ended things sooner.”

“What’s your point?”

“That the Kifzo will continue to blame someone other than Tobin for any failings. Bazraki is dead, so if anything goes wrong against the Green Forest Clan, I’m sure they will look Father’s way again.”

“Tobin will defend him,” said Odala.

“But for how long? Tobin must act in the best interests of the Blue Island Clan. Otherwise, one of his men may do to him what he did to Bazraki.”

Odala remained quiet. She hadn’t considered that possibility.

Tobin will find a way. He is too smart not to.

Soyjid changed the subject. “What else did you learn?”

“Nothing new. His council droned on about the same boring updates and Tobin pushed back his discussions on strategy with Walor and Ufer until tomorrow because he wanted to talk to me.”

Soyjid’s eyes narrowed. “I see.”

“Can I go now? I’d like to freshen up before dinner.”

“No doubt. I have one more thing for you to do. When you see Tobin again tonight, I need you to convince him to let me sit in on these council sessions.”

“What? Why?”

“Because your reports are growing more incomplete each day. I need more if I’m to continue helping our clan. Can you do it?"

“I don’t know,” she said, hesitant. “Tobin might—”

“So you would turn your back on your own family? I’m glad Father isn’t around to hear this,” Soyjid hissed.

“Don’t say that.”

“Why? It’s true. But don’t worry, I’ve kept a lot from him.” He gestured to her dress. “He doesn’t need to know everything, does he?”

The shift in Soyjid’s voice as he spoke the question caused Odala to tense. “I’ll talk to Tobin tonight.”

Soyjid grinned as they started walking. “Cheer up Sister, at least now you won’t have to attend the meetings.”

* * *

Odala’s head lay against Tobin bare chest. She watched his muscles rise and fall with each breath. Her finger drifted over to a scar near his stomach and she traced it to his hip.

He has every right to be an awful person, but he’s only treated me with kindness. Soyjid is wrong. Tobin will protect Father. If for no one else, than for me.

She sighed.

“What’s on your mind?”

She craned her head toward Tobin. His face wore a look of concern.

“I’m just thinking about Soyjid.”

“Is he well?”

She smiled. Tobin always seemed concerned over her brother’s health. “He’s fine. Remember, he’s just thin like our father.”

“Then what’s wrong? Is there something I can do?”

Odala tensed and after a moment made her decision.

“Actually, yes. He wants to sit in on your council meetings.”

Tobin sat up and Odala did the same. “Is he serious? You know I don’t just let anyone into those meetings.”

“You let me.”

“That’s different.”

She saw the stern look in Tobin’s face and knew she had to press. “I know. But, this would mean so much to him. He hopes that once you’ve united Hesh, he might be able to return to the Gray Marshes. He is in line to lead our clan when Father passes. He wants to be ready for that moment and wants to ensure that he won’t do anything to offend you.”

Tobin mulled over her words. “I’ll think about it.”

“Please do this, not only for him, but for me. He could become an assistant to you, not just sit in on your council. What better way to learn how to be a leader? Besides, you know he is wise beyond his years. He may surprise you.”

Tobin shook his head and smiled. “Again, I’ll think about it.” He pulled her close. “But not now. Let’s forget about everything else for awhile.”

They kissed and Odala knew immediately that Tobin had made his decision.

Chapter 4

Krytien leaned against the railing at the bow of the galley as it sliced through rolling waves. In the distance, gulls circled Estul Island, diving for their meals. Krytien found peace in the mundane nature of the scene, a break from the worries of the task ahead of him.

His gray robes flapped in the cool wind, and despite the warm sunlight, goose-bumps sprouted across his skin. If he had half a brain, he’d be below deck and out of the crew’s way, but his growing anticipation wouldn’t allow it.

The school of Cadonia’s mages held such a mythical place in Krytien’s mind that he doubted it could live up to his expectations.