The war actually might end with Marteph dead, so long as his venerable priests didn’t assume control of the army, which was always a possibility.
After an hour of searching for Rao in Maywair, I couldn’t find him and began to worry. I started knocking on doors to ask if anyone had seen him. Apparently word of the terrislaks or my pyforial energy hadn’t yet reached Maywair, for no one seemed to comment on anything but the rain, usually adding a complaint about the king after finding out I was part of his army.
I figured none of them knew what it was like to live in the North long before Quince took the throne, when a complaint about the king meant your neck in a noose. Quince was a fair ruler. I held no ill will toward him for allowing the terrislaks to attack. It was an impossible decision, though I’m not sure how different I would’ve felt if the thousands living in these villages had been killed.
Another hour passed as I searched. I feared Crall had taken Rao. There was only one way to find out.
I arrived at the lord’s fence and was greeted by Payce.
“Have you found out if the terrislaks are coming?” he asked while leading me to Crall’s door.
“They came and they died.”
He studied my eyes as we walked. What was he looking for?
“I don’t understand the joke,” he finally said.
“It isn’t a joke. Two people died. Many houses were ruined. Crall’s other guard should return soon. I saw him arrive as it ended.”
“There mustn’t have been many of them.”
“Two hundred, I’d say.”
“Two hundred! There are less than two hundred bowmen in these parts. There couldn’t have been that many terrislaks.”
He wasn’t opening the door as he waited for me to respond. “I killed most by myself. The villagers killed the others. Can you let me in?”
Payce blinked at me for a while. Eventually he laughed and slapped my shoulder. “I’ve never met a liar as skilled as you.” He unlocked the door.
Lord Crall came to meet us in the entrance room, giving me only a moment to eye his gem-encrusted shield on display. The sight made me cringe.
“I was hoping I wouldn’t see you again,” he said.
“The terrislaks are dead,” I informed him. “Marteph’s army is going around your land on its way back to the South. It’s safe here for now, but I recommend speaking to your people about learning how to use weapons. This might not be the last battle that happens here.”
“You expect thanks for these ridiculous lies? Terrislaks,” he scoffed. “Unless this rain stops, we’re all dead anyway. So are you leaving now?”
“I’m looking for a boy, nine years old and wearing a frayed coat too large for him.”
Crall showed no hint of answering.
“A brown coat,” I added. “Like his hair.”
“Haven’t seen him.” Crall’s voice rose as he pretended to be calm.
“I’m not leaving until I find him.”
His animosity came back to his face. “How do you know him?”
“I met him near Lanhine a while back. I’m not going to let any harm come to him.”
“He’s not here,” Crall said snidely. “Go back to Quince and tell him to start the sacrifices before his whole kingdom starves.”
“Neeko!” It was Rao’s voice.
I was just about to run toward it when Crall pointed at me. “Don’t move.”
I could hear the sound of struggling from one of the rooms, Rao screaming, “Let go!”
“What are you doing with him?” I asked.
“Taking care of him until he’s an adult, you fool. He’s one of my children.”
“And what punishment do your children get for running?”
Crall pushed his lips together. “That’s none of your concern. Now I’m demanding you leave. By law, you have no right to be within my estate without my permission.”
“Let me speak with him first, then I’ll go.”
And I’ll take him with me
.
Rao’s voice stormed out louder, “Let go of me!” I heard furniture knocking around. He ran into the room, chased by two servants with scared looks on their faces.
“Sorry, sir,” one woman said as Rao dodged Crall’s reaching arms and ran behind me. “He broke free.”
“Where is Brijit!” Rao shouted at Crall. “Did you kill her?”
Crall looked like my father had when he was about to throw something. “If you don’t come here, your punishment is going to be much worse.”
“Answer his question,” I said.
“Brijit is fine.”
“Bring her here then, and I’ll leave after I see her.”
“You’ll leave now and stop making demands. Payce, bring Rao to me. If Neeko resists, kill him.”
Pace reluctantly drew his sword. “Let me have the boy,” he ordered me.
No doubt Crall would give Rao the punishment of his life, maybe even kill him.
“He’s coming with me,” I replied, “and we’re not leaving until we see that Brijit is safe.”
“Neeko, don’t make me do this,” Payce uttered.
I felt sorry for him but not sorry enough to change anything. I eased Rao toward the wall to give us space.
“Do what you have to do,” I said.
Payce walked toward me. I lifted my arms to ensure Crall would see I was responsible for the pyforial energy that wrapped around Payce’s throat. He dropped his sword and tried to grab it, his face panicked.
I became vaguely aware of Rao pulling on my belt. “Stop, he’s nice!”
I was too busy threatening Crall to respond. “This is what I’m going to do to you unless you get Brijit.” His face soon showed the fear I was looking for and I let go of Payce. The poor man collapsed to his knees as Crall turned and fled, tripping over a chair before making it out of the entrance room. I somehow doubted he would be coming back with Brijit.
I helped Payce up. “I’m sorry about that.”
He shook his head and forced out words, his face showing pain. “No, you did the right thing. I’m fine.”
“Where is Brijit?” I asked.
He glanced around, confirming Crall wouldn’t overhear. “In the basement.”
“Is she hurt?” Rao asked in fright.
“No, but she’s not being fed enough. I’ll take you to her.”
He led us through the same doorway where Crall had gone, moving quickly yet cautiously. A stairway brought us to a door with a feeding hole and he unlocked it in a hurry. He then took a lamp from the wall and carried it forward into the darkness.
“Brijit?” Payce called.
“I’m here,” a girl’s voice answered dutifully.
Light fell upon her in the corner of the room. She stood at the end of her straw bed, in the small space between it and the wall.
Brijit glanced at us like a pet that had been tricked one too many times to trust its master anymore. She seemed older than Rao, a whole head taller yet so thin she probably weighed less than he did.
“Who’s with you, Payce?” she questioned.
“It’s me, Rao.” He stepped forward. “I came back to take you out of here.”
“M’gods,” she whispered, then ran and threw her long arms around him. “It is you. Every night I dream about how I should’ve gone with you.”
“Now you can.”
Brijit showed Payce a confused look.
“He’s helping,” Rao said, then pointed at me next. “So is Neeko.”
“I’ll take you both to Antilith,” I said. “Payce, you should come with me back to Glaine. The king needs more good men. He’ll enlist you to use that sword to defend his kingdom, not some worthless lord.”
“Better than staying here only to be thrown out as soon as you leave, presumably with a bolt in my leg.”
“Let's hurry!” Rao called out in excitement. “Get your belongings, Brijit.”
She went to her wardrobe, the thing nearly empty, grabbed the cluster of threadbare fabric piled at the bottom, and stuffed it in a bag.
“Where is Lord Crall?” she asked.
“Somewhere in the mansion,” I answered.
“He said he’d kill Rao for leaving and he’d kill me if I tried.” Brijit’s shaky voice told me this was a fear that crossed her mind frequently.
“Neeko will make sure nothing happens to us,” Rao assured her.
We hurried up the stairs and back toward the entrance room. In the doorway stood Crall, a crossbow aimed at me.
“Try to move and I’ll shoot.”
“That could’ve been quite helpful against the terrislaks,” I mocked. “Maybe two of your people wouldn’t have died if you’d brought it to the fight.”
He ignored me. “Taking a lord’s child is punishable by death.”
Figuring he was the type of man to shoot after a statement like that, I didn’t wait another moment. I sent the pyforial energy I’d been gathering forward, giving no hint of my attack as the wall of clear energy rushed at him.
It first hit his crossbow—the bolt came loose, shooting up at the ceiling, then coming straight down as the py continued past the weapon. The energy crashed into Crall’s arms, then his chest, slamming the crossbow and his limbs against him as well as his back against the door. Bouncing off, he fell forward and the crossbow toppled toward me, ripping up his expensive rug before landing near my feet.
I took it and used it to shatter one of his glass cases against his wall, giving me access to his shield encrusted with sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and other gems I didn’t recognize. I pried out five of them with my dagger and pocketed them before Crall, groaning, came back to his feet. He looked around for another weapon.
The front door opening froze us all. The guard he’d sent to check on the terrislaks stepped inside and his eyes found Crall first.
“It was true,” he said. “There were hundreds of them, but they’re—” He stopped suddenly after glancing at us, specifically Rao.
“We’re leaving,” Payce said. “And you’re coming with us.”
Crall showed a moment of aggression as he moved toward the doorway, but he must’ve immediately realized that even if one armed man was on his side, this fight was still lost. Subdued, he moved aside before I threw him out of our way.
“I’ll have ten men ready to kill you the next time I see you,” he threatened. “You as well, Payce, and you too if you leave.” He pointed at his other guard.
Payce motioned for the man to come with us, but he shook his head, showing disappointment. Outside and back in the cold rain, Payce took a horse from Crall’s stables.
Soon the four of us were riding northeast, Rao sharing my saddle, Brijit sharing Payce’s.
“Thank you,” Rao told me.
I handed him the five gems I’d taken from Crall’s shield as well as the crossbow. “Sell these when you get to Antilith. That should ensure you and Brijit have enough food for a long while. See if you can’t find a place with a roof over your head as well. I’m sure you’ll have the money for it.”
He seemed too stunned to speak.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
I sent Payce into Antilith with the two children. He promised to ensure they’d get decent money for the crossbow and the gems, and he added that he’d see to them sleeping in a bed.
“I’ve got some friends in Antilith,” he told me. “All have families of their own unlike myself, but they might offer to take one of them, at least for a few nights. If not, there’s always an inn. They’ll have the coin for it.”
I trusted Payce, especially after both Rao and Brijit had shown their affection for him during the few days it took to get to Antilith.
I went through the forest instead of the city, unwilling to find out what kind of reputation I’d earned for myself the last time I was there. I figured I was taking unnecessary precautions, but I also had assumed the people of Antilith would understand my haste. I didn’t trust my judgment about them anymore.
Payce would ride to the castle the next day. Surely he’d be recruited. We’d lost five thousand troops. Greatly outnumbered, we needed everyone who was willing to fight.
More than just those willing,
I realized.
I rode into the castle with an unburdened heart, proud that I’d stopped the terrislaks. I hoped it was enough for the king. I’d disobeyed his order to return to the capital, meaning I’d broken my promise to Shara as well.
Both will understand
. I was still alive. If I’d fallen, their feelings about my decisions would be different.
I knocked on Shara’s door. There was no response, so I searched the castle.
As I walked the halls, I thought of my aunt. I hoped she had a burial. I would’ve liked to have gone.
It made me realize Shara was the only person I had left. Even if the war sent us down different paths, I’d do everything I could to reunite with her.
Shara must’ve worried about me when I didn’t return to the castle. She deserved to be the first one to know what happened and why it took me so long to return.
Unable to find her, I headed toward Mayla’s quarters. She or Laney should know of Shara’s whereabouts.
“Neeko.”
I turned around and Falister motioned for me to come toward him. “This way. The king needs to speak with you.”
He brought me into Quince’s chambers, where the king looked up from a map and scowled at me. “Thank you, Falister. Please close the door.”
The king’s squire did as instructed and put himself near the corner of the room, standing patiently. Quince shook his head at me as I approached, extending his palms in a way that made him appear both disappointed and incredulous.
“Are you just getting back now?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me what happened in the forest.”
I explained everything from start to finish including going south, meeting the insufferable Lord Crall, and fighting off the terrislaks. I left out Rao and Brijit, but I did mention Payce, figuring he would show up the next day for recruitment.
When I told the king of seeing Swenn, he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. When I told him of his men losing the battle on the hill, he looked forlorn as he replied that he already knew. Apparently Quince had scouts positioned throughout the North and some even in the South.
The king’s expression shifted many times throughout my tale, from annoyance, to anger, to surprise. But by the end, he had a countenance of reluctant acceptance that what I’d done was admirable, showing a wry smile as he shook his head.
“I hope you realize it was too late by the time I got your note,” he said. “I only received two of them, and none of the other scouts returned.”