Lines of Fire (The Guild House - Defenders Hall) (10 page)

“Why was your father banished?” Kalia asked.

"I’m not sure but I think your grandfather wanted to keep him from challenging your father.” He tested the edge of his knife. “That was your grandfather’s last act as a Swordmaster. There is another matter for us to discuss.”

“What?”

“Why do you refuse to duel?”

She refilled her mug. “Do you mean why I refused to face Petan and you stood as my champion?”

He added wood to the fire. Sparks flew to rival the distant stars. “No one would expect you to fight him. I mean your refusal to duel. Is it because you’re a woman?”

“Women can become good duelers. Lasara, my younger sister has defeated most of the young men in her class. With a year of experience I’m sure she could defeat Petan.”

“So she’s good.”

“She uses the lines of fire the way you do. She enjoys facing challenges.” Kalia met his gaze. “I want to heal not kill. Defenders always take pride in the number of deaths they cause.”

Her belief in that statement rang true, but was so different from his experience. “I’ve never heard any member of Sando’s patrol brag about causing a death. They talk about the worthy opponents, the moves of the duel and how lives can be spared.”

Kalia unrolled her blanket. “My father fought and killed twenty men in duels and other men who were outlaws when on patrol. He used to demonstrate the kill strokes to show Robec and Petan what to do. I’ve heard the Swordmaster crow about his prowess.”

“And yet Robec has never been part of a patrol or engaged in a duel except the one with me. How will he be able to follow your father without experience?”

“He will have Petan to make the kills.”

“Petan has been banished.”

“For now.” She lay on her blanket.

Alric walked to her side of the fire. “Do you realize the men honored on Ingathering Day didn’t kill? The only reason I have a death on my record is because a defeated opponent tried to stab me in the back. My duels have always been without a death. Your ideas are wrong.”

She yawned. “Since you don’t understand why I refuse to duel, tell me why you do.”

“For justice. To settle disputes. To punish those who wrong others.”

“But the men you fight are farmers, shopkeepers or herders. They have no training with sword and knife. They can’t win.”

Alric laughed. “You have no idea of the reality of the duel. In every village classes are held in the use of weapons. I trained with the other youths and my father taught me. Some of my companions came from the nearby farms for training.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“The people who can’t settle their differences with the help of a Judge can name a member of the patrol to stand in their stead. No one without experience takes part in a duel.”

Firelight flickered over Kalia’s face. Alric clenched his hands. His attraction to her flooded his senses sending desire to tighten his groin. He couldn’t gather her into his arms and devour her with his mouth, caress her skin and plunge into her secret places. The bonding bracelet his father had given him burned against his chest. He couldn’t use that bracelet when they bonded. That would stoke her fears.

He needed to break the tension. “If you won’t duel, how will you use the lines of fire?”

She wrapped her arms around her bent knees. “There is so much more that those of us who can read the lines can do instead of fighting. You touched my cheek where my father hit me. No bruise formed. Somehow you drew blood away from the area. You stopped the blood spurting from Robec’s wound.”

“I did those things but not all who can see the lines can do the same. We can fight for justice and discover how to perform such acts. Though all Defenders have lines, not all can see them.”

“What do you mean?”

“Those who are heart bound can see their mate’s lines. They can see their children’s but not those of those who aren’t blood related.”

She curled on the blanket. “You’re saying what we can do is unusual.”

“And new. Better sleep now. We’ll need to travel fast for the next few days. I’ll keep watch.”

“Wake me if you tire.”

“Will do. When we reach the Defender’s Hall we’ll exchange bracelets and embark on our plan.”

Alric walked away from the fire. He checked the bihorns. He had a special bracelet but he wouldn’t give that one to Kalia until she declared the bonding permanent. He knew he had to move with caution because of the way their lines of fire moved when they touched.

Sleep crept over him. He rubbed his eyes and walked the perimeter of the camp. When he reached the road, the scent of smoke tickled his nose. The breeze blew toward him. He heard the snorting of a bihorn and crept down the road toward the sound. When he saw the embers of a fire he whistled a series of notes.

“Alric,” a deep voice whispered. His friend appeared from the shadows. “So we meet. Have you found her?”

“Wake Rila and follow me. Just came upon her this evening. There’s even some kafa brewed. I’ll need to add grain to the pot for morning. We’re camped in a glade around the bend.”

Ganor shook his mate’s shoulder. “Wake. We’ve been invited to join Alric and Kalia at their camp.”

Rila stretched and rose. She and Ganor packed their things and followed Alric.

“How is Robec?” Alric asked.

Ganor chuckled. “He’s smart. Rila and I watched the arrival of the Swordmaster’s men. Robec complained about his leg and demanded they return him to the Infirmary at once.”

* * *

Two days of travel from sunrise to sunset brought Kalia close to the Guild House and a meeting with her father. By the third afternoon she saw the walls of the Guild House in the distance. She braced herself to face her father’s wrath. She felt sure he would repeat his demands to bond with Alric and then break the bond. Though she had agreed to Alric’s plan, she wondered if she could keep from betraying them to her father.

After leading their bihorns to the stable and caring for them, Ganor and Rila escorted Alric and her to the Swordmaster’s office. Kalia entered first. Alric stood behind her. His close presence soothed her fears.

The Swordmaster rose. “I see you found my daughter. Kalia, go to the Women’s Quarters. When I want to speak to you I’ll send a messenger.” He walked toward her.

Though she wanted to remain she knew if he touched her she would obey. She feared she would expose the plans Alric had made. She backed to the door. The way her father’s lines pulsed told her he might explode. She left the office and started down the hall, running until she had to stop to catch a breath.

Whispering voices rose from one of the seldom used side passages and caused her to freeze. The voices neared and she ducked into the opposite side hall and prayed the couple wouldn’t see her.

What was Petan doing here? She stood in the shadows and peered into the corridor. He emerged and he wasn’t alone. Ilna clung to his arm.

“Quiet,” she whispered. “Someone might come along and see us. You shouldn’t be here.”

He pulled her into his arms. “Did you enjoy the meeting?”

“You know I did. Isn’t he masterful? The way he made me feel I can’t explain. When will I see him again?”

“When he needs you.”

Kalia frowned. Who were they talking about? As Petan pressed Ilna against the wall, Kalia’s eyes widened. His lines of fire glowed dark and illuminated his face. She noticed Ilna’s lines. The pale pink color was smudged with gray.

“Enough,” Petan said. “You know what he told you to do.”

“To pass what he gave me to others.”

“Wrong.”

Kalia heard a crack followed by a sob. Had Petan hit Ilna? “He told you names. Alric, Robec, Sando, Ganor. In that order but you only carry enough for two. Choose wisely.”

“As if any of them will allow me close enough to kiss them.” She laughed. “I will find two. What if I fail?”

“You won’t like what happens. Find a way. He doesn’t accept failures,” Petan said. “Go. When he wants you again, I’ll send a message.”

“When you leave for good will you take me with you?”

“My leaving here is not for you to question. Go, unless you want to be caught.”

Kalia pressed against the wall and breathed as slowly as she could. She listened until she was sure they were gone. What had just happened and who was this mysterious “he” Petan mentioned? Was Ilna off to find the men Petan had named as her targets? Should she warn them? She couldn’t return to her father’s office to speak to Alric and Ganor. To do so would mean facing her father’s fury over her disobedience.

When he sent for her, what could she do? He had his plans and he could make her obey. Not knowing what to do when she reached her chamber, she stilled her thoughts and walked.

When she reached the Women’s Quarters, she gathered clothes and walked to the small bathing room. She reveled in the heated water and the floral fragrance of the soap. There hadn’t been a chance to bathe during her time on the road other than quick sponge baths, mostly in cold water. Her skin wrinkled from staying in the pool for so long. She quickly rinsed, dried and dressed. The moment she returned to the main room, a messenger waved.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“The Swordmaster wants to see you immediately after the evening meal.”

Why not now, she wondered. At the door of the Women’s Quarter she paused with her hand on the knob. If she went to his office now how angry would her father be? She could let him think the trainee had garbled the message. Deciding not to wait she opened the door. She needed to learn if her father knew Petan had found a way to enter the Hall. She knew of at least one secret entrance that allowed a person from beyond the walls to sneak into the grounds.

Kalia scurried along the corridor. The door of her father’s office was ajar. Was he alone? She crept close enough to peer inside. Robec faced the desk.

“Fool.” The Swordmaster spat the word. “Why did you go with Alric? If you had remained here, when he returned with your sister I could have banished him for being alone with her.”

“His patrol leader knew he’d gone to search for her. Sando sent people to follow him.”

“That patrol leader couldn’t have protested if I’d forbidden Alric to leave the Hall. No one defies me and remains a Defender.”

“Alric saved my life.”

The Swordmaster sputtered. “He did not. The Healers did.”

Robec shook his head. “He stopped the bleeding.”

“So he would have you think.” The Swordmaster leaned across the desk and grasped Robec’s wrist. “Who saved you?”

In a hollow voice Robec responded. “The Healers.”

Kalia’s hand flew to her mouth. Alric was right. Her father had some way to control people. She turned to ease away from the door.

“Remember this,” the Swordmaster shouted. “Kalia will bond with Alric and break the bond on my demand. Just as his father was he will be banished. Petan will return and claim your sister. He will be your Right Hand.”

Kalia fled. She raced along the corridor. Alric had been right about her father. Was the control he asserted over Robec the same thing that happened when she and Alric touched? Would being intimate with him give him control over her lines of fire? Would his darken like those she saw on her father and Petan?

She dashed into the Women’s Quarters. Were her fears correct? Why had Petan sent Ilna after Alric and Robec? She was so scared she couldn’t cry.

“Kalia,” her mother called. “Come and have the evening meal with me.”

Kalia knew she couldn’t eat. Too many problems faced her. She entered the small dining room and selected a salad and a carafe of kafa. Her mother chose a table in a far corner of the room. Kalia filled her cup and sipped.

“So you will bond with Alric. He’s almost as good with sword and knife as his father.”

“You knew Alric’s father?”

Her mother sipped her beverage. “Alron was your father’s friend until that boy arrived. Alron wanted the child fostered but your father and grandfather insisted on keeping him here. Your father and Alron quarreled.”

“And he was banished for a quarrel.”

Her mother stared at her plate. “Robar decided he was heart bound to Alron’s mate. Your father wanted to put me aside and send you, Robec and Kalia to be fostered. That was why they dueled.”

“And father won.”

“The duel ended with their weapons destroyed, both men injured but neither would concede. Your grandfather banished Alron. His older son vanished at the same time. I thought they had joined the rebels.”

"When were Alric’s sibs sent away? Do you know where they went?” Kalia inhaled the fragrant aroma of the kafa.

The older woman shook her head. “Your father refused to say unless Jenla bonded with him. She refused, gave me the bracelet and died in the bathing pool. She said Alron would be her mate in death as well as life.”

“What did she tell the Swordmaster?” Kalia’s hands fisted.

“How can you destroy your friend? One day my children will return. My oldest son will take all you value and the rule of your family will end. When you fall into the abyss of death, your lines of fire will burst into flame and consume all you were.”