Steel and Sorrow (28 page)

“A private joke, Captain. How are the nobles behaving with Tobin gone?”

“As they should be. They do nothing but indulge their vices. They’ve learned to be content with Tobin’s leadership.”

“How do you know this to be so?”

“Because it’s my job to know,” said Teznak. “Just as it’s my job to question why you’ve called a council meeting without our ruler present, or why you’re sitting in his chair. You’re not our leader.” Like most members of the City Guard, the man had failed as a warrior for some reason or another, but that had not stopped him from holding onto his arrogance and sense of power.

Nareash chose not to answer the man immediately. Instead, he caught the man’s eyes and bore holes into him without blinking. He worked a silent spell, difficult to master, but quite effective in its purpose. It raised the man’s body temperature slowly until sweat beaded on his face. Nareash saw the man waver in his stance as the heat got the better of him. Teznak’s eyes rolled back in his head. “Catch him,” Nareash muttered before the man collapsed.

The blacksmith nearby caught him in his thick arms. Nareash rose slowly from his seat and walked over to the man. He carried a cup of water with him and gave it to the blacksmith who poured it into Teznak’s mouth. The captain of the guard opened his eyes and stared at Nareash.

“Never question me again, Captain.” He looked up to the council. “This meeting is over.” He left the war room. Halfway down the long hallway leading to the staircase, an eruption of whispers came from the room.

Nareash grinned. Colan waited for him by the staircase.

“Were you able to get our dinner plans ready?” asked the High Mage.

“Yes. We can go now.”

* * *

Nareash savored each bite of the buttery flavor of the fish and the flaky texture of the bread. He finished the plate and continued next with roasted pig. He rolled the meat around in his mouth gently before swallowing. He reached for his glass and brought it to his nose, inhaling the fruity scent before sipping the wine.

Nareash set the cup down. “The rigors of travel seem to dictate that one must eat the same bland and boring food day in and day out.” He lowered his head in a small bow. “My compliments, Lucia. This is the best meal I’ve had in months.”

“Thank you.” The simple reply had been the first thing she said since their greeting before the meal started.

The small gathering of Lucia, Jober, Colan, and himself had been eerily quiet. Nareash knew he made Jober and Lucia uncomfortable, but he didn’t care. After all, few people ever seemed truly comfortable around him. And more importantly, he could not be bothered with their comfort around such gorgeous food.

“What’s for dessert?” Nareash asked.

“Cinnamon and honey rolls. A servant should be bringing them shortly. I’ll see how much longer they’ll be.” Lucia rose.

“No. That’s alright. Take your seat. We’ll use the time to discuss some things.” He gestured to Colan and Jober. “Please give us some time alone.”

Jober eyed Nareash warily, but after a moment reluctantly agreed. Nareash smiled as they left and the door to the dining room closed.

“He’s quite the loyal attendant, isn’t he?”

Lucia grew defensive. “He’s not just a bodyguard. He’s a good friend and a good man.”

Nareash smiled, recalling the circumstances of that friendship. “Indeed.” He removed the napkin from his lap and placed it on the table. “But that’s not why I wanted to talk to you. I’ve been gone for months and was a bit surprised to learn Tobin left before I returned. Do you know why he changed strategy?”

Lucia blinked, then frowned. “I don’t know. Wouldn’t it help to ask his council? Surely they would be able to tell you.”

“No. Tobin wouldn’t have shared that information with them.”

“Then why would you think that I might know. He doesn’t share information with me either.”

Nareash shrugged. “I thought since you and Tobin are close he might have let something slip.”

Lucia scowled, but said nothing.

“I take it your relationship has changed.”

“It’s not important.”

“I’ll decide what’s important. Tell me.”

Lucia hesitated, then began. “He’s not the same person I once knew. He’s changed so much since Kaz disappeared and Bazraki died.”

For the better.

“But the biggest change has come since he and Odala began their . . . whatever they have.”

If I didn’t know the woman clung to the belief her husband was still alive, I’d believe her jealous.

“Are you saying that Odala can’t be trusted?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Lucia. You and I both know you aren’t stupid. You’ve known Tobin far longer than I have. If Tobin is in a compromising situation, I need to know. Regardless of what you think of me, I do have his best interests at heart.”

After a moment of contemplation, Lucia began explaining her misgivings about Odala. Most of her concerns came out of speculation or coincidences, and Nareash felt the entire dinner had been a waste of time. Then something caught his attention. “Wait. What was that about her brother?”

“Oh. Soyjid is just very strange and always hovering over Odala. At first, I thought they were close, but several servants told me that they bicker almost constantly. No one can really make out what is being said, but their behavior together seems so odd.”

“I’ll need the names of those servants.”

Lucia tensed. “Why do you need their names?”

“Don’t worry. It has nothing to do with you. I just want to make sure they’ve been asked the right questions.”

“There really isn’t much more to say except that shortly before Tobin left, he made Soyjid almost like an understudy and allowed him to sit in on all his meetings.”

Now that is interesting.

Following a knock at the door a servant with a tray of rolls poked her head in.

Nareash smiled. “Ah. Perfect timing. We were just finishing.” He looked at Lucia. “I hope you’ll still join me for dessert.”

“Actually, I’m not very hungry.”

“I understand. Thank you. You’ve been most helpful.” He took a small bite of roll. “Please tell Colan to come in and see me.”

As she strode across the room, Nareash looked up from his plate and watched the sway of her hips. He smiled to himself.

* * *

“Colan. Nachun wishes to see you,” Lucia called out from the hall.

The shaman turned at her voice.

Jober tightened his hands into fists as the shaman walked away. He slowly relaxed them as Lucia neared.

She gave him an inquisitive look. “Is everything alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“What were you talking about?”

He lied. “Nothing of importance.”

Colan had been questioning him about the night Kaz disappeared. Not because he didn’t believe the events. He just wanted to hear the story first hand from Jober. Jober had told the story many times and wanted to do nothing more than scream the truth so that he might relieve the burden from his heavy heart. But he couldn’t.

Nachun would kill my family without blinking in order to preserve Tobin’s position.

Jober redirected the discussion. “Are you alright? You look weak.”

Lucia grimaced. “I’m fine. I just loathe that man. He makes me so uncomfortable.” She shook her head. “I hate to think about what he is truly capable of.”

Jober felt the weight on his conscience again.

If you only knew.

* * *

Nareash rushed over to the stack of papers against the wall near the window and steadied them just before they tumbled to the floor.

“Be careful, you idiot!”

“I’m sorry, but we don’t have much room to move around,” said the shaman.

“You have more than enough.” He gestured to the open space in the center of the room. “Now be more careful and hurry up.”

The man lowered his head and slid over to the other two shamans adorned in blue robes working frantically with pieces of chalk on the floor. Nareash finished steadying the stack he held, then moved several other piles toward the back of his room.

A faint tapping came from the door. The shamans paused in their work until Nareash signed for them to continue.

“Yes?” Nareash asked.

“It’s Colan, Master.”

“Come in.”

His apprentice slipped inside and shut the door. He maneuvered around a pile of discarded books and stared curiously at the floor.

“Well?”

“I spoke with the last of the servants today. None can provide any helpful specifics.”

“Did you push?”

“Yes. I used the spell you taught me. They weren’t holding anything back.”

Nareash grunted in frustration. “Did you learn anything of importance?”

“Just that Lucia spoke the truth. Soyjid and Odala were often seen arguing and when they parted Odala usually seemed troubled. I can continue tomorrow though.”

Nareash waved him off. “No. We don’t have time. I’ll just have to deal with it later.”

Another knock sounded at the door, this time loud enough to shake the frame and make the three shamans on the floor jump.

“That must be Guwan,” Nareash said. “Enter.”

The Kifzo strode in, fully armored in blue and gray attire. He walked with a swagger and kicked aside the leg of a shaman that blocked his path.

“You look more relaxed.”

“I decided to take your advice,” said Guwan, scanning the space.

“Well, I hope you didn’t wear the women out too badly.”

“They were paid well,” said Guwan. “Didn’t you get my message about the army?”

“Yes. They’re struggling and that’s why we aren’t waiting any longer to do this. We should be back sometime tomorrow and then we can leave Juanoq the day after.”

“I don’t understand,” said Guwan. “Where are we going? We can’t travel far by land or boat in so short of time.”

“A city called Asantia. It resides in a country called Thurum on a continent to the north of Hesh. I’ll explain everything else once we get there.” He looked around at the shamans. “Are we ready?”

“Yes,” they answered in unison.

“And you remember my instructions?”

“Yes,” they answered again.

Nareash led Guwan and Colan into the circle. “Each of you, grasp one of my arms and do not let go until I tell you to.”

They did and Colan asked. “Master, about the shamans . . .”

“Don’t worry. While they worked, I created a binding spell which will keep them confined to this room in order to aid us in our return. If they try to leave before then, they’ll die.”

One of the shamans looked up wide-eyed. “But Nachun, what about our basic needs.”

“Food and water are on the other side of my bed. A chamber pot is in the corner. That should be more than enough for the next day.”

“What if you don’t make it back?” asked another, worried.

“Then the food and water won’t matter. Another spell ties each of you to one of our lives. If one of us dies, then so will one of you.” He grinned. “So I suggest, you focus quite intently on the task at hand.”

The shaman swallowed hard and went back to his work.

“I need complete silence. Do not interrupt me for anything.” Nareash closed his eyes and began the teleportation spell.

Chapter 20

Nareash had forgotten how much he hated to teleport until the dizziness overtook him after they reached their destination.

Teleportation posed many risks which is why even the High Mages of Cadonia rarely used it. One could potentially arrive in a life threatening situation. Also, the process took a great deal of power to perform properly, especially when trying to transfer more than one person or objects of substantial size. For that reason Nareash had employed the help of the shamans in Juanoq.

The sounds of Guwan and Colan emptying their stomachs to either side of Nareash announced the third reason why many hesitated to use the powerful mode of travel. Teleportation often left the traveler weakened and vulnerable for a time.

Such risks naturally increased when traveling great distances.

Nareash shook his arms free of the two men.

“What did you do to us?” asked Guwan.

Nareash walked over to a pile of tumbled stone and sat. “We teleported. Essentially, we traveled thousands of miles in a matter of seconds.”

“Amazing. But, is it always so . . . unsettling, Master?” Colan had taken a knee and his head hung low.

“The first time, yes. It never gets easy, though the sensation does become more bearable. Come and sit. We need to rest before moving on.”

Guwan and Colan managed to regain their composure and both took places next to Nareash.

“Master, are we in the right place?” Colan gazed out at the wreckage before them.

“We’re where we are supposed to be.” Nareash noted the piles of blackened rubble filling the streets and the crumbled remains of buildings in the Southern District. “I specifically chose this location since few residents live here any longer.”

“So, you’ve been here?” asked Guwan, confused.

“No.”

“Then how did you know?”

“I’ve studied Asantia’s history. It was once a great city under the ancient Quoron Empire. One of the few places that escaped damage from the great earthquake that struck Thurum some four hundred years ago.”

“Then what happened to this place?” asked Guwan.

“Over a decade ago, a famed mercenary outfit named the Hell Patrol made their way through this city while under attack from the province’s ruler. The battle was quite epic from what the stories say. Apparently, a mage in their company destroyed a third of the city while the Hell Patrol’s survivors made their escape.”

“A mage?” asked Colan.

“A shaman if you prefer.”

Colan looked out wide-eyed. “The power he must have been able to tap . . .”

Nareash laughed. “Don’t spend too much time thinking about it. Something else must have happened to cause all of this. No mage or shaman has called on such power before. If one had, I would know about it.”

“So, what happened to this mercenary group?” asked Guwan.

Nareash shrugged. “They took heavy losses, but were able to reform on a distant continent called Mytarcis. It’s a place constantly at war with armies and would-be leaders rising and falling like the sun and moon.” He paused. “You seem pretty accepting of all of this. You don’t question what I say?”