Lines of Fire (The Guild House - Defenders Hall) (24 page)

The women followed the men inside. “Alric and Kalia reporting. Our assignment was to discover the location of the outlaws plaguing the eastern sector.”

The Swordmaster glared. “Who ordered this assignment?”

Sando stepped forward. “Since you were concerned with your missing daughter, when complaints reached the Justicars and my patrol wasn’t sent on the search, I ordered Alric and Kalia to investigate.”

Alric stepped to the desk. “This is the report of our trip.”

The Swordmaster opened the book and glanced at the pages. He returned the journal to Alric. “We’ll discuss this matter another time. Kalia, the time has come for you to keep your promise.”

“I see,” she said. “Remind me of what I said and of my free will in speaking, not the control you influenced on my words.”

He stalked from behind the desk and clasped her hand. “Speak the words you must say.”

She shook her head. “Those words weren’t mine and you have no power to force them. Lasara is gone. Robec is hiding.”

“But your mother?”

Alric laughed. “Are you planning to put her aside? She is heart bound to you. Don’t you know of the penalties for breaking one? Unlike the woman you tried to force to break her bond by banishing her mate and stealing her children, your bondmate will live. You may not.”

“Your father was warned not to speak of that.”

“And he didn’t. He died keeping your secret. Other people weren’t warned.” Alric thought he saw a hint of remorse in the other man’s eyes. “The man you selected as your son’s Right Hand has gone rogue. Valdon and Ilna are dead. Beware Petan. He wants to take your place.”

“And you don’t?”

Alric shrugged. “Believe what you will. I have no desire to lead. But for the promise I made to my father before he died, I wouldn’t be here.”

* * *

Kalia squeezed Alric’s hand. They had done their best to sway the Swordmaster from his stubborn adherence to his plan for Alric. Her bondmate’s lines of fire settled into a smooth pattern of movement. Relief caused her to feel faint. She leaned against Alric. Swooning would bring an accusation from the leader of the Defenders. Would he challenge Alric outside the salle? The possibility chilled her.

She stared at the turgid lines on the leader’s skin. “Are you finished with me?” she asked. “You’ve seen our report. The assignment discovered a possible location of the outlaws.”

The Swordmaster returned to the chair behind the desk. “I’ve more important matters facing me. When the gong calls you to the salle, don’t consider fleeing. The gate guards have their orders. Anyone can enter but none can leave.”

Kalia lowered her gaze. Anyone can enter. His knowing smirk convinced her he wanted the man he considered his ally to be present.

“Dismissed.”

His barked order diverted her thoughts. She backed to the door. The others joined her in the hall. Kalia slumped against the wall.

Sando paused. “After you visit your mother, come to my suite. We have plans to make.” He took his bondmate’s hand. “We’ll wait and discuss what we know and what we’ve learned.”

Alric nodded. “Send men to check the secret entrances and the ways Kalia marked.”

“Will do.”

Rila walked beside Kalia. Ganor and Alric followed. At the door of the Women’s Quarters Kalia turned. “Just Rila.” She knew her mother would never confide her pain if the men were there.

“We’ll wait here,” Alric said.

Rila and Kalia entered the lounge and hurried down the hall leading to the sleeping chambers. Sounds of sobbing filtered from her mother’s room. Kalia burst inside. “Mother, what did he do?”

“He.  He will break our bond. Does he realize what will happen when he claims another mate? He will be banished. I’m his third.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. He believes his position as Swordmaster will allow him to do as he wants.”

“You must keep him from making the declaration.” Kalia grasped her mother’s hand. “How can he believe he will succeed?”

“I don’t think he cares. He’s driven by those tainted lines. So is your brother but Robec fights against their control.”

Rila knelt beside the chair. “There’s something other than banishment to fear. I am heart bound to Ganor. Before he declared for me he had an interest in another young woman who liked to flirt and had a train of men. Ganor wanted to break our bond and claim her but illness struck him. The Healers found no cure. Only through my touch did he recover. He bound his heart to me. When the bell chimes you must be in the salle lest he becomes sick and dies.”

“He forbade my presence.”

“A heart bound woman dare not stay away.”

“Mother, listen to her.” Kalia kissed her mother’s cheek.

The older woman covered her face with her hands. “So if I don’t go he might die?”

“Yes,” Rila said.

Kalia’s shoulder muscles tightened. Could her mother buck years of obedience to the Swordmaster’s demands? “Say you will be there.”

“I will creep into the hall.” Kalia’s mother wiped her eyes. “When he demanded the bracelet I couldn’t remove it. He tried but the clasp seemed fused. He intends to send for someone from the Artisans to cut the clasp.” She rose. “I must hide.”

Kalia embraced her mother. “A question. How long has the Swordmaster been so angry and cruel?”

“Began when Alron returned from an assignment where he found the bracelets of many metals. Your father wanted them but his friend refused. Instead Alron used them to bond with his chosen and they made their bond a forever one.”

“Were the Swordmaster’s lines smudged then?”

Her mother frowned. “That happened after our children were born. That boy came. Alron wanted Petan to be fostered. Your father disagreed. There was a duel over that and because your father wanted Alron’s bondmate. Your grandfather was angry when Robar lost. He found a way to banish Alron.”

Questions needing answers flowed through Kalia’s thoughts. What did the bracelets signify? Was there time to search the Archives before the meeting?

She rose and embraced her mother. “I’ll see you in the salle.”

“Will you find Lasara and care for Robec? He sickens like your father.”

“I know. There is a cure. I was tainted but the double heart bond with Alric was the answer.”

Her mother gasped. “So simple yet so hard.”

“I know.” Kalia walked to the door.

Rila followed her. When they reached the hall, Alric and Ganor leaned against the wall. Kalia told them what her mother had said. “We need to know more about those bracelets, the bonds and the Defenders.”

Alric nodded. “There’s time to discover a bit before the nooning.” He motioned to Ganor. “Tell Sando we’ll see him in the refectory. There are things we must research in the Archives.”

“Take care.”

Once they reached the room where the records were kept, Kalia lit several lamps and carried them to the rear of the room. There, she slid aside a tapestry to reveal another room with books and scrolls. She set the lanterns on a small table and pulled aside another tapestry to reveal a window. Sunlight brightened the room.

“I never knew this was here,” Alric said.

“Few people do. These are the oldest records. I haven’t touched the scrolls but the books might tell us some of the things we need to know.” She selected several leather bound volumes. “The pages are fragile and the words faded.”

“We need to know so many things,” Alric said. “Where should we begin?”

“The special bracelet, I think. If we can learn what they mean we’ll know what we should do next. If there’s time we can read about the lines.” Kalia passed one of the books to him.

Alric set the chairs so the lanterns and sunlight could aid their reading. For a time, he carefully turned pages and peered at the fading lines.

He straightened. “Not about the bracelets but this is of interest. Three men have been infected by the sorcerers. They crossed the mists with us. They have been … the following words are too faded to read.” He glanced at Kalia. “The cure was found yet one died. The other two have recovered. Thus we suggest … Again the words can’t be read. Maybe with more light we could.”

Kalia frowned. “Anything more?”

“Half of the page is faded other than for a word or two that make no sense.”

“We may never know. Why weren’t copies of these books and records made?” Her sigh showed her exasperation. She opened another book. “This is the one where I read about the strange bracelets.” Slowly she turned the page. “Here.”

“You read and I’ll write.” He dipped a quill into the inkpot.

“Four Guilds. Four metals. Gold for the Healers. Silver for the Justicars. Electrum for the Artisans. Copper for the Defenders. Wearing bonding bracelets of their metal will enhance their talents. One pair of bracelets with all the metals has been made and will appear when a Guild needs to be reminded of the days of terror beyond the mists.

Bracelets of brass for those who choose no Guild. If any among the commoners show a desire for a particular metal he or she should be trained.

The bracelets of remembrance will appear when there is a need and will guide a particular guild for a time.

Alric put the quill back in the pot. “I wonder where my father found them. Did they guide his desire to see the Defenders return to the ways of the past?”

“We may never know.” She closed the book. “When this is done we must return and read all these books.”

“Will take more than two of us.” Alric returned the volumes to the shelves. He reached for her hand. “Time for the nooning.”

Alric held her hand as they walked to the refectory. His presence kept her fears at bay. He chose his usual light meal. Ganor and Sando did the same. So did she. Though she wouldn’t be called on to duel, her stomach knotted because of the decision she’d made. Alric wouldn’t enter the duel without knowing she was his forever. She sipped kafa and listened to the three men discuss different strategies.

Once all had eaten, the patrols walked to the forecourt. Until the gong sounded they performed exercises to loosen their muscles. The activity kept Kalia from thinking of the duel.

The deep and sonorous note drew them into a double line for the walk to the salle. As Kalia entered the large arena she saw the observers from the other Guilds were seated already. Students, unassigned Defenders, unbonded men and women walked behind the four patrols. She looked for her mother but failed to see her. Would she arrive?

The four patrols stood on the sand facing the raised platform. The Swordmaster strutted into the salle accompanied by his Seconds. He strode to the raised platform and raised his hands. “I have made an important decision. There are some among us who act against the Defenders by giving assignments where none are needed. Once I perform a long needed act, a purging will begin.”

Kalia clasped Alric’s hand and sought comfort from his touch. What plans did the accursed leader have?

The Swordmaster leaned forward. “I hereby declare my bond to Saris is broken.” He tossed a bracelet on the sand.

Kalia’s mother rose from a place before the seats of the leaders of the other Guilds. “If you break this bond you will be banished. I am your third mate. Have the long years since we exchanged bracelets made you forget?”

“Truth,” the Justicar said.

“I am heart bonded to you. I will not be cast aside.”

“Truth.”

The Swordmaster’s face turned as dark as his lines. “Then I issue a challenge to any man willing to face me in a duel. Who will stand against me? Where is my heir?”

Chapter
17

Silence followed the Swordmaster’s declaration and challenge. No murmurs rose from those gathered in the salle. Alric’s grip on Kalia’s hand tightened. Would Robec appear? If he accepted the challenge from his father, would the Swordmaster let him live? The silence dragged on. Tension gathered. Alric steeled himself to wait for events to unfold like the dew kissed flowers of the morning star.

Laughter burst from the Swordmaster. Not the merry laughter of a child but a chilling sardonic sound. “Is there no one willing to duel with me? If not, my will prevails.” He snapped his fingers and pointed to the Left Hand. “Bring my former bondmate here.” He drew his knife. “I will cut the bracelet from her arm.”

Kalia’s body shook. She gazed into Alric’s eyes. “Stop him.”

He brought her fingers to his lips before releasing her hand. “If no one else accepts your challenge, I will. Before we enter the circle to duel, I call for Robec to join me. I will not take his place unless he fails to respond.”

From the ranks of the patrols, Robec’s name rang out. Once again, the call went unanswered.

“Then the fight is mine,” Alric said. “I made a promise to my dying father to see the Defenders return to the ways of the past. For too many generations the power has collected in one line. To break the change I accept the challenge.”