Rise and Fall (49 page)

“Then why do you come?” she asked, tilting her head.

That look. It is so much like Lucia.
Tobin shrugged in an attempt to appear indifferent, even though he felt the knot forming in his stomach. “You were there when my father charged me with your well being. And of your brother’s,” he said leaning forward to look into the doorway of the adjoining room. He did not see anything of importance from that angle. “Where is Soyjid?”

“Avoiding you,” she said bluntly. “He has much pride for his age. He may have accepted our current circumstances, but he does not like them.”

“And you have accepted them?”

“What other choice do I have? Would you send me home if I asked?”

“You know the answer to that.”

She shrugged. “So I have accepted it,” she said, turning her gaze back out the window.

Tobin frowned, unsure what else to say. “I will not disturb you any longer then.”

At least there are no mixed signals with her. She shows her displeasure openly.

He turned and left the room.

* * *

Odala flinched as the door slammed shut behind him. Tobin was obviously upset with her but she couldn’t understand why.
Why does he keep coming to see me? And what does he want? Is he looking for gratitude for saving me when one of his men tried to attack me?

He had saved her the first night of their captivity. But she had been too angry and scared to show him any gratefulness then. Even now, weeks later, her feelings toward Tobin hadn’t changed.

He acts like he is a good man, someone trustworthy. But I saw the malice in him when he threatened Father. I saw the rage in his face.
Her body shuddered as she recalled the look in his eyes that night. She hadn’t seen that look from him since, but it was one she would not forget.
The look of who he really is.

“He didn’t stay as long as last time,” came a voice from behind.

Odala spun round, startled. “I told you to quit sneaking up on me like that.”

Soyjid shrugged. “We have three rooms to share. It’s not like I can hide.”

“Then what were you doing when Tobin was here?”

“I was in the other room, listening. He was not here to see me, Sister.”

“What is that supposed to mean? Father’s little genius has all the answers again, doesn’t he?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. It means he isn’t interested in anything
I
can offer him.” He grinned. “I see you catch my meaning,” he added.

“No,” she gasped.

Soyjid laughed. “You really couldn’t tell? The way he looks at you? He cannot take his eyes off of you.”

Odala shook her head at the thought. “Everyone has looked at me differently since I’ve become a woman. He is just another man.”

“His look isn’t some whimsical lust. No. I think he has feelings for you.”

Now it was Odala’s turn to laugh. “That is ridiculous. You saw the way he threatened Father and how he struck fear into the man who attacked me. Someone like that does not love. He takes what he wants.”

“Then why hasn’t he taken you? He is Warleader. No one would know if he made you his. And none would care, either. There must be something else behind that look of desire in his eyes. Something more.”

Odala didn’t want to believe what her brother was telling her, yet the more she thought about it, the more things began to make sense.

Checking in at random hours of the day and night, trying to make conversation, never seeming to have a purpose for his visit.
It was so obvious, she couldn’t believe she never thought of it herself.

“What should I do?” she asked.

“Embrace it, Sister. Show him that you care for him.”

“How could you say something so cruel?” she hissed.

“You must use him to our advantage.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Act like you care. Get him to talk to you. Maybe in time you can influence his decisions and hurt him as retribution for hurting Father. I promise that night was only the beginning. They will continue to take from us. They will push us around until we are no better than any other clan they’ve conquered. Isn’t it proof enough that he already took away part of what was originally offered to us in the alliance.”

“It was only after Father insulted him,” she said

“It was a poor deal to begin with and Father knew it. They rule over all of Hesh and in return we get a bit of extra land and money. We would still be subservient to someone not of our own clan.”

“What makes you think Tobin would be so easily influenced?” asked Odala.

“People do stupid things when they are in love.”

Love.
The word in connection with that monster made her skin crawl and her stomach turn. “What do you know about love?”

“I know enough. I watch and I listen. You may have gotten mother’s looks but I inherited her mind. It’s a good thing too, because with Father getting older it will soon be my turn to lead our clan. That is, if we make it home alive….” His voice trailed off, but after a moment he continued. “I don’t know why the idea seems so repulsive to you. You’ve been manipulating suitors for over two years now.” His eyes narrowed. “And last I remembered, you enjoyed doing it.”

That was different. It was fun then to flirt and have people give me nice things. None of it was serious.
She’d even let them steal a kiss if she was attracted to them. “It was a game,” she said, sounding disheveled. “If I did this, I may have to do
things
with him,” she said.

“Perhaps, but not right away. That would be too suspicious.”

“But eventually…” she started.

“Eventually, you may come to find him tolerable. He certainly has the look of the men you used to gawk over with your friends. If you must, when the time comes imagine you are with one of them.”

“I don’t know how you can say such things. Father would never want me to do that,” she said.

“Father isn’t here. He never has to know. This can be kept between you and me. Besides, if you are to succeed, who knows what could happen. Perhaps our clan will be the one to conquer Hesh, and Father could become ruler. Wouldn’t you want to give that to him if you could?” he asked.

Odala hugged herself and closed her eyes trying to imagine herself with Tobin. But even if it was an act, she couldn’t bear the thought. “I can’t do it,” she whispered. “I just can’t.”

“You always were selfish,” he said in an icy tone. He turned and stalked back into his room.

* * *

Tobin saw his opening and moved in for the kill. But his opponent spun away from the attack. Walor feinted high and struck low. Tobin whipped his blade down and the dulled practice swords banged together. From the look on his opponent’s face, the noise came as a surprise. Having expected his strike to find its mark, the Kifzo took two quick steps back in retreat.

Tobin cut off his path each time Walor looked to gain better positioning. He sidestepped with balance and precision using an ankle that no longer held him back.

Walor’s uncertainty was evident and Tobin seized the opportunity by pressing his opponent with a flurry of moves, lashing out recklessly in wild swinging motions. He dodged or parried each of Tobin’s strokes while smiling the entire time.

His sword slid off as he shifted and turned his blade for a thrust to Tobin’s gut. Tobin recognized the feint and made no effort to counter the strike. Tobin turned his shoulder and slammed into the smaller man while sweeping his back leg. Walor fell. Tobin placed his blade against Walor’s cheek.

“You’re dead,” said Tobin between breaths.

“You set me up, didn’t you? The whole thing? Swinging your blade like some young fool eager to end a fight. I can’t believe I fell for that,” said Walor.

“And yet you did,” said Tobin with a grin.

“What is that? Four straight matches you’ve won?” asked Walor.

“Five,” answered Tobin. “Do you want to make it six?”

“No. I would however, like to get up,” said Walor, his eyes focused on the blade.

As he helped Walor to his feet, Tobin noticed the gesture warranted him a few looks from the Kifzo watching the match.

I help up my brethren. There is no reason why I have to keep you beaten down like my brother did. He and my father saw weakness in such a move. I only see respect.

Walor stood up, working his shoulder with a freehand.

“Do you need a healer?” asked Tobin.

Walor cast him a sidelong glance.

I shouldn’t have asked him that in front of the others.
“I didn’t mean…” said Tobin, starting to correct himself.

Walor held up a hand, cutting him off. “I’m fine, Warleader.” He rolled his shoulder again, changing direction until there was an audible crack. Walor let out a sigh of relief. “Better than ever.”

“Is that so?”

“Don’t get any ideas,” said Walor. “I think next time we spar, I’ll wait until after you’ve been worn down a little first.”

As they left the practice circle, Tobin whispered. “How do my skills rank in comparison to the rest of the Kifzo?”

Walor grunted. “Even with your injury, you were above average. Now, you’re becoming one of the most skilled with a sword.”

“But not the best?” asked Tobin. “Not as good as Kaz once was?”

The two walked in silence for a moment as the question hung out there unanswered. “No, not the best. Not yet anyway,” said Walor. He nodded over to a different practice circle at a man facing off against three opponents at the same time. “Some of our best, such as Guwan, spar with multiple Kifzo. Your brother went against three or four of our best men, sometimes more. I’m sorry Warleader, but Kaz was the best I’ve ever seen with a sword.”

Tobin shook his head. “Then I need to practice more.”

“Why? You may not be our best with a sword but no one can come close to your skill with a bow or a throwing ax. Your brother never could either. What does it matter if you are our best swordsmen?” asked Walor.

“You know why. They compare me to Kaz in everything I do. It matters little to them how well I can shoot a bow because I was that way before Father made me Warleader. Now, I need to be something more. Kaz set a precedent that a Warleader must lead his men into battle at the front of the lines. Therefore, I must be better at a sword than any man here, just as he once was. In fact, I need to be better than even he was. That is the only way I’ll get them to forget the man Kaz made me out to be.”

Walor nodded. “I see your point. But you need to make sure you aren’t showing any shortcomings in front of the others. I can help you with this if you would let me.”

Tobin turned to face the man. “Thank you. You have always been a good friend to me.”

Tobin saw the comment took Walor aback.
A Kifzo doesn’t show appreciation. A Kifzo doesn’t have friends. Both are signs of weakness.
He could hear his uncle’s words in his head from when he trained them as boys. From the silence, Tobin thought he had made a mistake.
He is not Nachun. I shouldn’t have said anything.

Walor nodded and even smiled. “You have no need to give thanks. I always knew you to be the better son. In time, others will see the same.”

Tobin nodded in appreciation. He wanted to tell Walor that those words meant more to him than he would ever know, but he dare not expose himself further. He took a gamble by opening up to the man just as Walor took one in responding so openly back to him.

Best to leave things as they are for now.

The two parted company. Nothing else needed to be said.

* * *

Once Tobin became Warleader, Bazraki no longer kept his plans hidden. Tobin attended the strategy meetings with his father and advisors. However, he was often relegated to the side and only on a rare occasion was he asked to provide his own input.

But at least I’m here. That’s far more than what I was ever allowed before. Besides, when the arguing is done and everyone is dismissed, Father gives me, not Kaz, his final decision. And I am allowed to distribute such knowledge amongst my warriors as I see fit.

However, there was a downside to the position that he hadn’t expected. Receiving Bazraki’s plans, unfiltered from Kaz, cast his father in a different light. The battle strategies were often riddled with holes and full of obvious weaknesses. They even contradicted some of the most basic principles of warfare Tobin’s uncle had taught him as a boy.

And maybe this is why Kaz never told anyone what Father’s entire orders were. He was probably changing the orders himself but Father was never near the action to know better. Before Uncle Cef’s death, he must have also covered for Father.

His suspicion regarding his father’s inadequate military strategy only grew with each meeting he attended. Even now, as talk focused on the conquest of the Yellow Plain, Bazraki crushed each well thought out concern that Nachun brought up.

And Father’s lackeys support him without question. They prematurely celebrate his victory over a clan nearly double our size as if the matter has been decided.
Watching the events unfold, he found himself appreciating Nachun’s tenacity even more in getting Bazraki to agree to his previous ideas.

At the meeting’s conclusion, the room emptied except for Nachun, Tobin, and Bazraki.

“Nachun, fill Tobin in with the news we received today.”

Tobin shook his head.
Father can’t even be troubled with giving the information himself.

“We’ve received reports that the Gray Marsh Clan has begun harassing the outer villages on the southern end of the Yellow Plain. So far, it appears that Mawkuk will uphold his part of the deal,” said Nachun.

Tobin nodded. “I had not doubted he would.”
I saw his fear.

“Yes, well he still has much left to prove before I share your confidence. I do not trust as easily as you,” said Bazraki.

Tobin did not miss the insult.

“I’m sending word to him about our plans to start the campaign. His orders are to continue his raids until instructed otherwise,” continued Bazraki.

“And also your strategy?” asked Tobin.