Steel and Sorrow (45 page)

“Alright.” He paused, thinking of a good place to start. “I met Jonrell and Cassus when them two strolled into
The Orchid
on Slum Isle thinking . . .”

Chapter 31

Practically alone on deck, with little more than a sliver of a moon to keep him company, Tobin still felt self-conscious. He had rarely shown his face during the trip home, preferring to come out at night as the stars seemed to scrutinize him less than the unforgiving light of day. Other than a few updates from the captain or word sent from one of the many ships sailing in their wake, Tobin kept to himself. Even Nachun disturbed him little, except to ask an occasional question about the Kifzo’s strength. Tobin used the extra time alone to question his recent actions, trying to determine how he had become a shadow of his former self.

The more he reflected, the more he questioned his own sanity.

Nightmares had haunted Tobin’s mind for as long as he could remember. Acts of violence, malice, and horror had always crept into even his most pleasant of memories. He thought he knew all of those miseries—the viciousness of his father and brother, the ridicule from the other warriors, the atrocities he had unwillingly participated in under Kaz’s command, and now the ones he had added since becoming warleader.

But foreign images from his past had also begun to infiltrate his thoughts—images that confused and distorted some of his oldest memories.

The one time Tobin stood up to Kaz, his brother left him for dead after turning him into a cripple. But, new dreams from his childhood showed Tobin as the aggressor. At first Tobin thought his brain had begun to flip the roles of him and Kaz, but then he realized the images were different than those he had known before.

We were just boys then. Yet, I can hear Kaz’s cries for me to stop as I beat him. Who would have thought that was possible?

The new memories had one thing in common. Based on the ages of Tobin and Kaz, he knew they all preceded the death of his mother.

* * *

Tobin tried to continue his trend of introspection by ensuring they reached Juanoq’s bay in the middle of the night. He knew the thousands of warriors he brought back with him might be upset by not enjoying the city’s welcome after a successful victory, but Tobin’s guilt would not allow him to suffer through such an event.

After pulling into the bay, Tobin actively sought out Nachun. He found him busy with three shamans.

“. . . I don’t care what time it is. Make sure everything is ready by the time I get there.”

“Get where?” asked Tobin.

Nachun turned, and smiled. “My room. I have something that needs attending to tonight.” He gestured to the shamans. “They’re assisting me.” He dismissed the three men.

“Your plans will have to wait.” Tobin lowered his voice. “You’ll be assessing the damage Soyjid did to me tonight.”

Nachun shook his head, turned his back to Tobin and began walking. “That’s impossible. If I do that, I won’t have the energy afterward to take care of my own concerns.”

Tobin’s anger flared. He snatched Nachun by the arm and spun him around. “Then you’ll need to reschedule your concerns.”

Nachun looked down at his arm. Tobin let go after a moment. The shaman scanned the busy deck. “This isn’t the place to have this conversation.”

There is nothing to discuss, Tobin wanted to say, but Nachun had already moved away from him. He closed his hands into fists and followed.

When Tobin closed the door to Nachun’s cabin behind them, he finally blurted out. “There is nothing to discuss.”

Nachun chuckled. “What’s your sudden hurry? I had to talk you into returning home.”

“I feel worse. I’m having visions of things that I had no previous memory of. I’m struggling to understand them.”

“I’m sorry, but one night will not make a difference. We can handle this tomorrow evening after I’ve done what I set out to do.”

Tobin slammed his fist into the door behind him and splintered the wood. “No. That isn’t how it works. We will do this tonight. I’m Warleader and you’ll listen to me or—”

“Or what!” erupted Nachun. His body glowed and Tobin dropped to one knee, gasping for air. “What will you do to me,
friend?”
He spat the word. “What’s happened to you? Have you forgotten all that I’ve done for you?”

“Have you forgotten all I’ve done for
you
?” he grunted. “I don’t know what’s happened to me. That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” gasped Tobin. He took a deep breath as the air returned.

Nachun sighed heavily. “And we will figure it out. But first you need your rest. You can’t be worked up like this when I look into your mind. It will increase any risks associated with the spell.” He extended his hand and helped Tobin to his feet.

Tobin did feel tired. Then again, he had felt tired for so long, he wasn’t sure how it would feel to be rested. Plus, if he went to his room, the nightmares would find him. Still, he nodded. “Alright. Tomorrow.”

* * *

By the time Nareash reached the palace he had managed to forget most of his encounter with Tobin. The voyage home had done little to improve the demeanor of the man he had learned to call his friend. Nareash wondered if he would ever feel confident calling Tobin that in the future. He cast aside the last of his worries as he entered his secluded room. A spell like teleportation needed his complete focus.

Three shamans sat on the floor with their eyes closed. Fresh markings decorated the floor. “I assume everything is ready?”

“Yes, Nachun. We made the adjustments as you specified,” said one.

Nareash looked over their work. “You did well.”

They opened their eyes at that and bowed at the rare praise.

“Let’s begin.”

* * *

Nareash opened his eyes to the sound of a woman screaming. Despite his rolling stomach, he instinctively turned toward the piercing yell as a woman quickly dove under the bedcovers to hide her nakedness. The man under her fumbled by his bedside for a sword and climbed out of bed.

“Guards!” the man called out and took a step forward. “Who are you and how did you get in here?”

The man moved into the moonlight coming in from an open window and Nareash chuckled as everything made sense.

“You!” Hezen waved his sword. “What do you think you’re doing in my private bedchamber?”

Nareash bowed in a mocking manner. “I sincerely apologize. An honest mistake though one that could have turned out much worse. I tried to arrive in your courtyard, but it appears I miscalculated.” A small tightening of his gut reminded him how ugly things could have been.

Tobin distracted me more than I thought.

“Do you have any idea what time it is?” asked Hezen in frustration.

“Yes. It was the first chance I had to check on the progress here.” Nareash looked over Hezen’s shoulder to the woman who peeked over the covers pulled up to her neck. He smiled. “You have good taste.” He cleared his throat and gestured toward the man’s naked form. “Do you mind?”

“You’re in my bedroom uninvited. I’ll stay as I please.”

Nareash shrugged.

A loud knock sounded and a voice behind the door called out. “Emperor! Is everything all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine!”

“How do we know you aren’t being coerced?” the voice asked.

“I said I’m fine. Leave! And next time get here sooner. I’d be dead by now if I was in any real danger.” Hezen lowered his sword and rubbed his temple with his free hand.

Nareash bowed. “I’ll be on my way.”

Hezen looked up. “You barge in here, interrupt me, and then just leave? I thought you wanted to discuss your plans.”

“Well, as I said, my arrival here was a mistake. I need to speak with Guwan and Colan.”

“And what about me?”

“Is there something you need?”

“Is there something I need?” asked Hezen, raising his voice. “I’m the one communicating with the other territories!”

“Are you having trouble convincing them to join you?”

“No. Not once they learn what they can gain from the effort.”

“Then I have nothing to discuss with you that can’t wait until a more opportune time.” Nareash inclined his head toward the bed. He patted the man on his shoulder in a condescending manner as he brushed by him on his way toward the door. “Keep up the good work.”

“Wait, I . . .”

Nareash closed the door behind him and quickly walked down the hallway until reaching a set of stairs. He slipped by a couple of guardsmen on the lower level and rounded a corner. He wrapped his knuckles against a wood door. The sound carried throughout the corridor.

The door flung open and a half-dressed Kifzo stood with sword drawn.

Guwan’s eyes widened. “You’re late.”

Nareash shrugged. “Yes, well, new developments in Hesh delayed my return to Juanoq. And I’ve told you before I couldn’t teleport while on the water and moving.” He raised an eyebrow at the sword.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you at this time of night.”

“Obviously.” Nareash chuckled. “Would an attacker really announce themselves with a knock?”

Guwan lowered the sword and gestured for Nareash to come inside. “I wouldn’t put it past them. What’s going on in Hesh?”

“We can discuss that later. I take it you’ve had trouble?”

Guwan lit a small lamp, illuminating the simple room. A large, plush bed, more than twice as large as an average sized one, rested against a wall. Nareash smiled, knowing that out of everything the Kifzo could have, the only pleasure he allowed himself was a better place to rest.

“Not recently,” said Guwan. “Colan routed out three poisoners and killed two assassins. I took down four assassins myself. The last three we openly tortured for days where everyone could see. Since then, no one’s been bold enough to try again.”

“Good. Tell me how things are progressing with my army.”

“We’re at one hundred and twenty thousand strong. Hezen expects that number to double soon.”

“Marvelous. I don’t know if there has ever been a host that size in the history of the world.”

“I know I’ve never seen anything like it.” He paused. “I’ll admit controlling such a force has been . . . daunting.”

“Of course it has.”

“I need more time. There are a few bright spots here and there, tribes who are more skilled than others, but generally speaking, the men are undisciplined and their skill would pale in comparison with that of a ten-year-old Kifzo.”

“Of course they would. A Kifzo is better trained than any soldier I’ve ever come across. However, I’m not interested in a quarter million Kifzo. Training and maintaining such a force would take too long and cost too much. I need you to instill in them what you can, and learn what each group’s strengths and weaknesses are so we can deploy them properly when the time comes.”

Guwan nodded. “One thing is certain, even with our numbers, a siege will not be easy. I’ve studied the material you left behind about The High Pass. It’s brilliant in its ugliness. Three curtain walls with killing grounds separating each one. Towers staggered throughout and mountains on the sides so that flanking is next to impossible. And the sorcery used to build it protects it from other spells.”

“Yes. Now you know why I need a force so willing to throw themselves against the blasted thing. We’ll need to wear down the defenders.”

They spoke for another hour, going over strategy, concerns, and the happenings of Hesh before a yawn jarred Nareash. “It sounds as though you have everything under control. I’ll let you get back to sleep. I still need to speak with Colan before leaving.”

“So you’re not staying?”

“No. This is my last visit. The next time I come will be by ship.” He grinned. “And I won’t be alone.”

* * *

Nareash knocked softly on Colan’s door. He tried three more times, each attempt growing louder than the last, until a sleepy-eyed shaman stood before him. Colan quickly composed himself and managed an awkward bow.

“Please come in, Master.”

Nareash stepped inside. “I’m disappointed, Colan. Guwan was far more alert than you. After what he told me about the failed attempts on each of your lives I would have thought you’d be better prepared when answering your door.”

Colan’s eyes widened as if suddenly remembering something. “I have wards in place . . . .”

“Which I disabled easily.”

“No one here could have done the same, Master.”

“That’s no reason to grow overconfident.”

He lowered his gaze. “Yes, Master.”

“It seems that you and Guwan are getting along.”

Colan shrugged. “We have our differences, but we understand the common goal. Besides, he’s changed a lot since Quarnoq. He sees the bigger picture.”

“And have you?”

“I believe so. I’ve been working diligently on the spells you taught me. I try to push myself more each day.”

“Good. Show me.”

“Now?”

“Now.”

“What would you like to see?”

“Surprise me.”

The shaman stood, cleared his throat and Nareash watched the man center himself more easily than before. At first Nareash wondered if Colan had done anything at all, but then he felt a small bite on his arm and then another. The room began filling with mosquitoes. Nareash spoke a quick chant to repel the bothersome creatures from latching onto him.

Colan opened his eyes, smiled at his accomplishment and waited.

“You’ve improved. Control of a life form, especially a group of insects takes a great deal of concentration and focus. It isn’t as flashy as a ball of fire, but malaria will weaken an army more than a brush fire ever will.”

“Thank you, Master. Your praise is an honor.”

Nareash’s tone lowered. “I hope you haven’t instructed anyone else in these things.”

Colan quickly shook his head. “No, of course not. I’ve been working with their mages, according to your orders.”

“Good.”

* * *

The previous few months had been some of the happiest in Jober’s life. Juanoq’s army had been away fighting and the city practically ran itself. He hated to admit it but the changes Tobin had instituted to the city’s leadership were ingenious.