The Faerion (21 page)

Carle stood watching the faces watching his, waiting for Apal to speak. The minstrels held knives in their hands, sharpening them. It gave Carle chills to hear the scrape of the whetstones instead of music emanating from the troupe. He knew it to be a perfect image of Treteste's brief reign - singers to assassins- and he found it difficult to keep the swelling from his throat. Something had tilted the world and he found it a place he did not know. Silently he prayed.

"We are fortunate to find Brother Carle," said Apal. "He saw through the prince's disguise and followed his captors from the mill to the castle. The king does not know the prince is in his prison, and Carle knows the whereabouts of two other prisoners the king recently placed there. The queen is imprisoned now, as is Sir Kirkes for reasons we all know. The difficulty is the Wierland army is fighting our army even as we speak. If the rumors of Sir Galen are true then only Sir Kirkes can defeat him, but not from the dungeon."

"What about Melana?" asked Deenie.

"She is there," said Carle. "She told me to find you."

"Yes, she is there," said Apal. "Now we have four prisoners to break out instead of one. I don't know how to do four at once given our resources. We do not have an army, only a small band for stealth. If we rescue only one then security will be tightened and the other might not be freed. We cannot wait until the march of the Wierlandians causes enough havoc to allow us to move in plain view. That may be too late for us. Kirkes must join the battle, and Estes must be available for the throne. The queen is expendable."

"And Melana?" asked Reber.

Apal did not speak at once. He turned away and wiped his eyes. "If there is time."

"Apal," said Deenie. She grasped his wrist. "What are you saying?"

"We have a duty to Calendia that comes first. If Cothos gives me the strength, I will rescue her."

"We will be at your side," said Deenie. Her thoughts stayed to Estes, Rapert, as she knew him. He was on the verge of becoming himself, a real person unmarked by the sigma of a crown. He could become someone who could think for himself without advisors telling him how it would appear, keeping him on a leash. She thought she saw something inside him that needed to be set free.

"I will draw you a diagram. I cannot do more." Carle looked at the earnest faces before him. "I am known there now. It would be unusual for a Brother of the Rose to return to the dungeons so soon. As a rule we visit barely once a month."

"Surely they change the guard," said Deenie.

"The guard, yes, but there is the Captain, a large fellow named Dannen. Used to be quite a knight in his youth."

"I remember him," said Apal. "Fierce and strong. A bit uncouth to be a knight, this was his undoing. Also a spear in the kneecap ended his fighting days."

"He holds a tight grip on his domain. I know he marked me both coming and going. His mood is vile and he is cruel when crossed. He is the biggest threat to your rescue."

"Will you carry messages for me, if you won't join us?"

"I will."

"Good. Allow me time to write three messages and directions for their delivery. It will save us a great amount of time, and may forestall trouble of another nature later."

Deenie offered Carle some wine and he drank deeply. His pulse raced, unused to such endeavors. He risked his life in Apal's company. Daass or the king would see him dead if they knew of his involvement. He tried to trace his steps backward to find out how he managed to wedge himself so completely in Calendia's upheaval.

"Brother Carle?" Deenie was looking up to him.

"How may I help you?"

"Apal is trying to be brave but I think it will kill him to lose Melana. Is there some way we can save her? Some side entrance we can use while Apal is rescuing the others? I could save Melana without costing time needed for Kirkes and the prince."

Carle looked into those brown eyes, thinking of Sister Dellana. He could not deny her.

"I will help you, but do not tell Apal. He would forbid us."

"This I know. He will not hear it from me. Will he be able to see us during our attempt?"

"In one or two places. By then it would be too late. He couldn't take the risk to send us away. Time will be too precious. I cannot emphasize how dangerous this will be. We may well perish in the attempt."

"That chance is there every day we live." She patted his arm. "Why should it now guide our movement?"

"You shame me, Deenie. I thought I was a man of Cothos. Now I know I have no more wisdom than a minstrel."

"Is that bad?" asked Apal, joining them.

"I mean no offense. There is nothing that sets me apart. No reason for me to be a Brother."

"When you have the opportunity, take a good look inside yourself, Brother Carle. I think you will find quite a lot of gifts. Do not judge yourself too harshly. Only the Almighty has that right."

"Again, I prove unworthy."

"It is because you think you are unworthy that you will prove that you are not. A person who is content in all things is not alive. I think you will find yourself to be a good man, Brother Carle. Now, we must go to work."

They ran through the town as wraiths on the wind. The noise of battle sounded throughout Nantitet. The berserker had come.

Amidst the commotion they slipped into the dungeon-dodging people, working downward. Deenie felt the tug on her arm and followed Carle down another direction.

The corridors of rough stone dripped with moisture. Foul smells and whimpers of pain greeted Deenie. She grasped a loose portion of Carle's habit following blindly. She soon lost her sense of direction, knowing if it came to flight she would not be able to escape unaided.

Suddenly, they stopped.

"Deenie? Is that you?"

"Melana! Brother Carle led me here."

"Where is Apal?"

"There are others who also need his help," said Carle.

"He wanted us to help you," said Deenie.

"Deenie, Deenie. I know Apal. He is rescuing those more important to the kingdom. I know my place. He would rescue me if there were time. Thank you, Deenie and you Brother Carle."

"We haven't freed you yet." Carle used his dagger to pick the lock.

"Hurry. A guard comes by each quarter hour."

Carle jigged the knife, angling it until the clicks sounded. The noise seemed to fill the corridors. They remained still. Finally, Carle motioned for the women to follow him. He turned the corner running into a large shape.

"Well, Brother," said Dannen. "Where do you think you are heading? I recognize one of your lady friends as a prisoner. Now I know why you haunt these corridors. Tell me why you should keep your life?"

Dannen lunged forward, a long arm wrapping itself around Carle. The guard's strength crushed Carle and his joints ached. A long curled blade drew close to his neck. Dannen smiled at the woman; his face crooked from a terrible red scar from his right eye to the left side of his mouth.

Suddenly Apal raced to Carle's rescue. Dannen saw the movement, turning to meet Apal.

"Another one. What a party we'll have."

Apal stood his ground waiting for a huge shadow filling the corridor to catch up with him.

"You're free?" gasped Dannen.

"I am," said Kirkes. "I will engage you for my friends' freedom."

Dannen let go of Carle, crouching, tensing his muscles. Kirkes appeared unarmed. They circled until Kirkes stood between Dannen and the others. "Go!" Kirkes said quickly. "I know where to meet you."

Dannen roared hurling a dagger at the unprotected face of Kirkes. He blocked the throw with his forearm; a trickle of blood reddened his sleeve. Dannen dove into the big man, knocking Kirkes to the floor. Dannen was strong but Kirkes tossed him aside. Dannen rolled to his feet, drawing his sword. Kirkes held one in front of him. Dannen did not know where it came from. Kirkes' face showed no emotion. Dannen's eyes darted around checking for more weapons or shadows hiding people to aid Kirkes. The knight remained motionless, waiting for Dannen. The guard's mind formed doubts. Dannen knew the name of Sir Kirkes and his invincibility of course. However, he never gave them credence until now. He swung his sword; Kirkes blocked it. He tried again. Blocked. Blocked. Again and again Kirkes deflected his blows. Kirkes remained impassive. Dannen wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Don't you ever talk?" asked Dannen.

"Are those your final words in this life?" asked Kirkes. He still did not appear to tense for attack. The guard's jaw quivered, his teeth grinding.

Dannen screamed and rushed forward. Kirkes deflected his blade then sliced the body going past. Dannen slumped to the floor, his hands holding the gash in his ribs, the blood flowing through his fingers. Kirkes brought down his sword, ending the guard's life.

"Yes, I guess those were your last words."

He hurried to catch Apal.

Carle's shirt still clung to him after the trauma of the rescue. Glad he helped but more happy that he was through with it. Still, he felt a foreboding of trouble ahead. He glanced behind several times, trying to shake the feeling of being followed. He began a circular route, and then alternated streets, hoping to confuse any one tailing him. He reached Dellana's building and entered quickly.

"Hello, Carle. Enter quickly." Again she appeared freshly bathed and Carle stumbled over his words as he watched her walk in the damp tunic. "Were you followed?"

"I don't know. I might have been. Probably not connected with you."

"You don't know? Garlac is having us followed, as is Daass. Anyone else that I don't know about?"

"Perhaps the king."

"Please explain." Her voice was cold.

"I assisted in the escape of Kirkes and the queen from the dungeon. I may have been followed after that."

Dellana's mouth dropped open.

"What have you done?" she cried. Carle tried to cover her mouth but she pushed him away. "Lord Daass will kill us for that."

"Us? You weren't involved."

"In Daass' eyes we are involved in all things. It is not bad enough that Garlac watches us, but Treteste as well? We are not so important, Carle. Why do this to us? We shall be destroyed by the powers in the world, unable to resist. This is not the life I wanted."

"What did you want?"

Dellana sat silently, gathering her thoughts.

"I was to be married to the younger son of a noble. A house on a farm and hard work awaited us. We were so happy." She grew silent.

"What happened?"

"His family... You do not truly want to know."

"I do, I do."

"I can tell what you really want. I will not speak of it more. I thought the Brotherhood of the Rose would be a peaceful, contemplative place for me, but it has never been. I am planning on leaving the order." She did not look at him and did not see the joy on his face. He had recovered his composure by the time she did look at him.

"Where will you go?" asked Carle.

"I do not know yet. Wherever I go it must be where Garlac cannot find me."

"Garlac? What has he done to you?"

Dellana looked out the window. Her fingers traced the patterns in the curtains as her tears traced the lines in her face. Carle waited for her to speak again, knowing not to interrupt her reverie.

"What will you do?" asked Dellana.

"I don't know," said Carle. "I think the Brotherhood is no longer the place for me."

"What trade do you know?"

"None. Except teaching. I could teach children."

"But only nobility can afford to hire teachers. Could you work for them?"

"I do not know. Perhaps there is a small town somewhere that has a use for a man of my training. Perhaps they will clothe and feed and house me for my work. I can think of nothing that I deserve other than that."

"To listen to you speak is not uplifting. You have many good qualities. You will find a life that suits you, I know it." He reached for her but she turned away. "No. Not here. Not now."

"When?"

"I don't know. Someday soon. In our new lives perhaps."

"How will I find you?" asked Carle.

She wiped her eyes. "I will find you. Trust me."

Deenie closed the door after Apal and the queen entered. For the first time, Deenie saw Richela close up. The queen's pale face found the grace to smile at Deenie.

"You are all so kind."

Apal drew a cloak around her bedclothes.

"It was the least we could do," said Apal. "We thought you might like us to finish our performance. We were interrupted."

She laughed. It reminded Deenie of bells in the church where her parents once brought her. The sound stayed with her always. She decided she liked the queen.

"Your performance in the dungeon was good enough. Do you think Sir Kirkes will join us when he finishes with the guard?"

"It was his intention," said Apal.

"You sound as if you aren't worried about him," said Deenie. Apal smiled at her.

"Sir Kirkes will never be defeated in combat," said Richela. "Not even the berserker of Wierland can withstand him. But it does not mean I do not worry."

Apal sat in the corner next to Melana, rubbing her bruises. She smiled, kissing him.

"I would have come for you."

"I know. This worked out better. Do you know the Brother?"

"I know much about Brother Carle. I will try to help him escape from Daass' grip if I can. But it will have to wait until Treteste is dethroned."

"Apal," said the queen. "I heard rumor that Prince Estes lives. Is that true?"

"You tell her, Rapert."

"Yes, Lady Richela. I am alive." He stepped out of the shadows. Deenie moved to his side.

The queen nodded her head. "Good. Treteste must die. Are you ready to be king?"

"To answer honestly, no. I have seen much in these last days that convince me of that. But I am ready to help rid Calendia of your husband."

"Do not blame me for him. I am glad you answered honestly and know it. Treteste was not ready to rule. He is a beast."

Estes nodded. He wondered how he could help this woman, this wife of the traitor.

"If I am king, what do you want me to do with you?"