The Treason Blade (Battle for Alsaar Book 1) (16 page)

Eira’s smile
was soft. “No one would think, much less say, such of you. In the few days
since your arrival I have great regard for your strength and bravery. You would
not be thought less of,” she added gently, “if you desired a respite. I know
you have not fully rested from your experience.”

“I am fine,”
Ishar maintained.
“Truly.
I wish to dine with you and
Varyk.” She looked around. “He is late?”

Eira gave a
wave of her hand. “He is in council with his men. The meeting should be close
to ending and then he will join us.”

Ishar
scowled. “Why is it you are not in this council lending your words?”

Eira turned
and casually made her way toward the long table. She picked up a cup and drank
deeply. Placing it down gently, she glanced back up at Ishar, “Because it was
not necessary that I attend.” Eira said this softly as she watched with serious
eyes across the room.

Ishar had
chosen to stay by the fire. Her frown deepened. “You do not think your word is
important in deciding relevant events? These do not sound like the words of a
Lute.” She spoke her accusation quietly. “How do you know what words your lord
speaks in your absence?”

Eira took
another drink as she spoke. At Ishar’s words she choked on the liquid and
sputtered for a few seconds. “Varyk,” she stated after several coughs, “always
asks my opinion on matters with which he is about to approach the men.
Therefore he already knows my mind before he enters behind closed doors. When I
am able, I do attend such gatherings.” She frowned. “You should learn to trust
more easily, Ishar,” Eira said, “These are men with whom I would trust my life,
and have at times. I know and value their judgments.”

Ishar walked
toward the table, her heart now troubled. “Forgive me. The feeling rises within
me constantly that these Raanan warriors of Varyk are not so used to women
being amongst them, fighting beside them in battle. They appear to resist the
concept.”

“Resist the
concept,” Eira commented softly. A low chuckle rumbled from her throat. “Yes,
you could say that.” She sighed. “You must understand, in their culture, women
were not fighters in a specific sense. They defended their home and their
children if necessary, but did not go into combat.” Eira shook her head, “No,
this they did not do; so yes, to answer your question, to see women such as you
and I fight in hard conflict is difficult for them.”

Ishar ran her
fingers along the table top. “What happened to their home? I mentioned it to
Traevyn, Gavin, and Glyndwr, but none seemed eager to speak of the subject.”

Eira took
another long draught of drink. She sat and heaved a heavy breath. “It is not my
story to tell,” she said after a pause. “It must come from one of them. And I
would be wary of broaching the subject with them in public. Find a time apart
with one whom you have come to trust.
Perhaps, Traevyn?
Seek it only then. Otherwise, I fear it may always be a door closed to you.”
Eira smiled and poured another cup. She passed it to Ishar. “Please, sit. Varyk
will be here soon. He did not have much to discuss. One thing was about the
Hadwri, I believe.”

Ishar took
the cup, sipped, and frowned. “I have heard Davaris speak of this to Lysandr.
What is it, this Hadwri?”

“The Hadwri
is an earthen fortification left from earlier times. It was originally built
many Tourna landings ago but over the years has been slowly worn down by the
repeat incursions of the Raiders. The Britai have been leaderless and too
scattered to rebuild their defenses, so the Hadwri remained a ruined reminder
of the power of our enemy.” Eira tapped her finger against the wood as she
spoke. “I believe it is a worthy effort to rebuild this fortification. It will
speak boldly to our enemy of our readiness to fight, all the while being an
excellent first line of defense, along with the watchtowers being constructed
at various spots around the southern sections of the island.” She shrugged.
“Lysandr believes the Hadwri are insignificant in light of our other preparations.
It is one thing we happen to disagree upon. After tonight, it will be decided.
Varyk knows my view on this matter and will see that it is voiced in the
council. Matters in the holding have kept me away or I would have been within
the chamber with them.”

“Is that all
they will discuss?” Ishar asked.

Eira shook
her head. “No. I believe Varyk intends to bring up his plans to extend
greetings and an offer of a meeting with your father, Ryen, and my father, Wyn,
here at the holding.”

Ishar mulled
over the words. “Do you think the men will agree?”

Eira
shrugged. “We will find out soon enough. Varyk did not ask you to speak
because, being here these past days, you have already spoken what words were
necessary by your actions. You have expressed what a Haaldyn is by expressing
who you are to the people of this holding. No other words in a council
gathering would define you more.”

As Eira
finished speaking, there was a thud of doors. A moment later the Raanan
warriors, along with Jusa, walked into the hall. Ishar took note that all gave
quick bows in her and Eira’s direction before proceeding out of the main door
and down the fortress steps. They were quiet; their faces for the most part,
indecipherable. Varyk was the last to enter from the hallway. He wearily made
his way to their end of the table and sat. Audris and several servants appeared
and quickly set the table with food and fresh pitchers of paera, then retreated
as quietly as they had come. Eira stood and poured a drink for Varyk. When
Ishar would have reached for the pitcher, Eira shook her head slightly and
pushed another pitcher in Ishar’s direction with a smile. Ishar quickly
realized that Eira had poured Varyk the fermented paera. She gratefully poured
her own drink. The last thing she needed was the giddy drink to make her head
even heavier than it already felt with the exhaustion.

Varyk took a
long draw and set the cup down with a glance in Ishar’s direction. “I was glad
to see you up and about this afternoon.” He looked over at Eira. “I was afraid
my lady had somehow managed to trick you into staying in bed for extended
time.”

“As you can
see,” Ishar spoke with a smile, “your fears proved groundless, though your lady
is a wily adversary,” she added with a grin.

“I am glad to
have her by my side rather than across the way facing me,” Varyk smiled.

“The men will
not be joining us?” Ishar asked the question calmly as she piled meat, bread,
and a small reddish root that the cook served stewed onto her plate. It had a
soft, sweet taste.

Varyk shook
his head as he took the plate of meat Eira had passed him. “No. They are to
leave early in the morning for various duties. There is much work still to be
done before the Tourna come.”

They took a
moment to eat in silence. Ishar mulled his words and wondered at what they
might mean for her and the Haaldyn. She waited with patience for Varyk to
continue.

After several
minutes Varyk cleared his throat and looked straight at Ishar. “I have brought
up before the men my desire to have the Haaldyn as allies.” He turned and gazed
at toward Eira. “Eira and I had already discussed this necessity before you
arrived. It was one of the reasons I met with Wyn, to discuss such a treaty of
peace among our people.” Varyk took another deep drink. “He thinks highly of
your father, Ryen. Wyn gave me strong words of praise, that he is a man who can
be trusted. I take Wyn’s word like I would a brother’s.”

“How did the
men take your comments?” Eira broke in softly.

Varyk smiled
at Ishar. “She is also this impatient when facing an enemy. She does not wish
to wait for it to come. She must angle after it and ferret out what does not
come gently and quickly to her ears.”

“Such is the
way of many warriors,” Ishar answered, with laughing eyes and a small smile,
“This desire to face what must be faced.”

“Hmmm,” was
all that he mumbled.

Eira groaned.
“He is doing this to drive me mad.” She set down her knife and gazed plainly at
Varyk. “What did they say?”

Varyk
shrugged. “It was decided. The Hadwri will be rebuilt. We feel it is a necessary
defense in many ways. Additional buildings must be built adjoining the village
to prepare for larger groups of soldiers as more villages send men for training
in the coming months.” At Eira’s exasperated look, he continued, “And it was
also decided a rider will leave in the morning to bring word for Ryen of the
Haaldyn to come to a council meeting at this holding with Wyn and I in
attendance as soon as possible. Wyn will journey when word returns as to Ryen’s
mind.” Varyk’s frown was broken only by the twitch at the corners of his mouth.
“Does this please you, Eira?”

“You know it
does,” she said gently.

Varyk glanced
at Ishar with a raised brow.

Ishar nodded.
“It pleases me more that your men have agreed with you,” she added. “I know my
father will come. I will wish this rider a fair journey.”

“I would like
your mark on the letter I am sending,” Varyk said, “if you do not mind.”

Ishar shook
her head. “I understand. You do not want any naysayer to give my father doubt
on this trip into the southern part of the island. Do not worry, you will have
my name and in my own writing as soon as you produce the communication you will
send. I want no delay on my part. You have my word.”

“This is
good,” Varyk spoke with a quick nod. He rose. “I want the rider gone as soon as
possible. I will prepare the communication now.”

“But your
meal,” Eira stated in frustration, pointing to the food still spread out and on
his plate.

Varyk leaned
over and brushed a kiss across her lips. “I beg my lady’s indulgence. I believe
she understands the importance of this letter.” He looked over at Ishar. “I
will not be long.” Standing, he strode from the room.

Traevyn moved down the line of archers, pointing
out errors in position and judgment as he made corrections for improvement. All
showed some progress. A few had begun to demonstrate a sense of excellence for
the bow. He noted their names for additional practice. He glanced up and
considered the sun’s movement and as he did, caught a flutter of fabric and
mane and saw Ishar watching him from the back of Simi near the eastern wall of
the holding. She had returned from what was becoming a daily ride. For the past
week, ever since Varyk had given his blessing, Ishar had ventured off in a
different direction away from the fortress for her morning ride.
Confiding in Traevyn that she wanted to get a feel for the lay of
the land.
It was a good time to ride. Southern Alsaar was beautiful and
green and so full of the life spring seemed to bring forth. Now she calmly
watched him from beneath the shadow of a newly leaf-budded tree.

He found it
still disturbed him that there were times he could not sense her coming. She
had an ability to slip in close to him with such ease and
he
,
completely unaware. Traevyn frowned and looked back at the soldiers, then made
his way down the line making final comments as he excused them back to the
holding to report to Davaris. It was only as he sent the last man back that
Ishar moved from her position and nudged Simi in his direction. The sun made
her hair gleam and Traevyn looked down and sighed, then went to meet her.

Ishar smiled
as she reined back the mare. “Good morning, Traevyn. I trust you did not cut
the exercise short on my account. I thought I was early.”

“The men
progress well. A few show great promise, but they have had enough from me this
day. I have sent them on to Davaris’ tender mercy.”

“Then you are
free to ride?” she asked softly.

Traevyn liked
the sound of her asking. This soft gentleness in her voice he had heard of late
whenever she spoke to him. His duties and, and the Hadwri rebuilding project
Varyk had set into motion only a few days earlier, had found him hard pressed
to fulfill his promise to take Ishar to the watchtowers. Not that Ishar had
spent her time relaxed and unhurried. She had traded sword blows with Lysandr,
worked with fighting daggers with Glyndwr, and thrown axes with Gavin, all the
while setting time aside to speak to Varyk about their peoples’ future
together. She had even spent time with Ber, learning more about pwuta blades.
Traevyn wondered now, as he had many times of late, if she spoke so softly to
the other men. Ishar fought hard and gave little. He had even seen a little
admiration in Ber’s eyes after she had taken blow after blow and risen every
time with the same determination to succeed at learning to manage the difficult
movements needed to cut, slice and punch with the pwuta blades. Traevyn frowned
at his memories. There was a feeling of uncertainty as to whether he liked this
change in his fellow brothers. A reaction had begun to stir within him whenever
he was around the others and saw they now watched Ishar with steady
appreciation. That emotion was not one so easily recognized. He had rarely
found himself jealous of any of his fellow Raanan warriors. Now on numerous
occasions, Traevyn found himself looking for reasons to be close to her, to be
a barrier between her and the others. This reaction disturbed him as much as
the rising emotions that kept her on his mind.

At his
extended silence Ishar leaned her head sideways and watched him with the
slightest frown. “Is that a yes or no?”

Traevyn gave
a short nod. “I am free to ride as soon as I saddle my horse and prepare some
food for the outing.” His long legs strode quickly toward the holding with
purpose.

“You should go and saddle your horse,” Ishar said
simply, coming up to ride beside him. She kept Simi to a walk as she kept pace.
“I will see to the packing of a meal and meet you by the inner gate.”

He glanced at
her and gave the slightest nod.
“As you wish.”

They made
their way into the holding and parted ways. Traevyn quickly saddled his gray
gelding, Dahl, but by the time he came out, Ishar was already standing by the
inner gate talking to Glyndwr. He saw a leather carrier slung over one side at
the back of her saddle and several drink flasks were tied beside it. Traevyn
tried not to frown as Glyndwr laughed out loud at a comment and moved close
enough to place his hand on her shoulder. Traevyn fought the backlash of anger
which made him grit his teeth. He took deep breaths as he approached them.
“Ready?” He asked, brooding once more at his sudden flaring anger. Neither had
done wrong.

Ishar looked
up and grinned. “Yes.” She seemed to take no notice of his aloof tone.

“Ishar was
just telling me about the first time her father took her hunting—” Glyndwr took
in Traevyn’s grim look and his broad grin faltered ever so slightly. His hand
slipped from Ishar’s shoulder and he stepped back. “It is funny,” he stated in
a casual manner, “You should have her tell you about it some time.” Glyndwr’s
blue eyes narrowed.

Traevyn gave
an abrupt nod. “We should be going,” he said rapidly, “if we do not want to
arrive back in the dark.”

Ishar gave
him a surprised look at his gruffness but nodded goodbye to Glyndwr and moved
toward Simi.
Traevyn moved toward the gray to mount
but Glyndwr grabbed his shoulder. Traevyn glanced back in irritation.

“Ishar and I
are friends, Traevyn,” Glyndwr muttered low under his breath. “There is nothing
more.”

Traevyn jaw
was tight as he turned and looked ahead, past his friend. “And you tell me this
why?”

“So perhaps
the next time you see me so close to her, I will not see the look of murder in
your eyes that I just glimpsed as you walked toward us.” Glyndwr stepped close.
“I am not your enemy, brother.” His words were spoken low into Traevyn’s ear.
“And what is between you and Ishar is just that, between you and Ishar.”

Traevyn’s
gaze was fierce as he glared. “There is nothing between Ishar and me,” he spoke
roughly.

“Ah,” Glyndwr
spoke softly. His voice lightened as he stepped back with a raised brow. “So
that is the problem.”

Traevyn’s
eyes darkened and he all but growled, “There is no problem”

Glyndwr
backed again and held up his hands. “Of course not,” he said with a hint of
laughter in his eyes. “I stand corrected. Enjoy your ride, brother, and
consider trying something that is not normally within you.”

“Which is?”
Traevyn scowled.

Glyndwr
grinned.
“Conversation.”
The young warrior turned away
and walked through the inner gate, chuckling to himself as he went.

Traevyn
mounted, still scowling.

Ishar moved
Simi up beside him. “What did Glyndwr want?”

“A match with
me,” Traevyn said shortly. Ishar blinked. Traevyn waved his hand. He took a
deep breath. “Forgive me,” he said with a half smile. “Glyndwr was trying to be
humorous and I did not find it funny. Do not let me take it out on you.”

She smiled.
“Do not worry. I will not.” It was said with a laugh as she tightened her heels
to Simi’s side. The mare broke into a canter.

They made
their way out of the gate and headed east. It took a solid hour of steady
riding before they came to the banks overlooking the ocean. To the right was
positioned one of several watchtowers that dotted the coastline. They were now
manned day and night whether they were finished or not. Varyk had decided he
would take no chance of being surprised early by his enemy. Traevyn watched
Ishar’s eyes roam the beaches as she took in the soldiers on patrol beneath the
watchtower.

“I see what
you mean,” Ishar commented, “about constant vigilance. Are there always this
many on a watch?”

“This
watchtower is finished. We are working on the Hadwri so there are more men here
than would normally be present. A watchtower is usually manned by three men,
two of whom continually keeping watch. If anything is sighted, a man can ride
toward the holding in warning, but the fires may not be lit until one is
certain it is the Tourna who are about to land. Once one tower lights its fire,
the towers close by will see and light theirs. We intend to extend these
farther with Wyn and your father’s help. This will help create an advance
warning system for the whole island, but it is also why we must stress the
fires be lit only after, in certainty. We do not want to create a panic.”

Traevyn moved
his horse farther north along the beach. Within a few minutes, they came upon
the Hadwri.

Ishar looked
out over the water and the sloped depression of land that met it. “I can see
why the Hadwri was built here. This area seems somehow naturally designed for
the landing of a boat.”

“It is easy
to land many boats here without difficulty from the sea. That is why these
defensive earthen works were first created: to give the people in the interior
of the island a chance to make it to cover. Once the earthworks are rebuilt and
manned with proficient soldiers, especially archers with fire arrows, the
Tourna will pay a heavy price to gain this foothold they consider so easy a
taking.”

Ishar
appeared to consider his words. She frowned. “You sound quite fierce, Traevyn,
as if you are ready for battle with these people.” She looked over the busy men
before them and dismounted, then glanced back. “Why do you sound so ready to
fight? You have seen only one Tourna landing here on Alsaar, yet you fight so
fiercely for the independence of this island.” Ishar studied his expression. “I
hear true hate when you speak of them. I feel that way, yes, but I have heard
of the Tourna since nearly my first breath and prepared my entire life to deal
with them. Why do you carry this hate for them in your heart?”

Traevyn
frowned. “One landing was enough to see of their inherent destructive desire to
destroy. What else is there? Varyk chose to stay and so we prepare to fight
these invaders.”

Ishar frowned
and shook her head at his words. “No. There is more in your voice than the
readiness of a warrior to face an enemy. You truly hate these people.” She
scowled. “Why do you hide this truth from me?”

Traevyn was
silent. He swung down from Dahl and moved up to the bank that overlooked the
Hadwri. “It is the past. It is nothing that matters.”

Ishar moved
around her mare and touched his arm. “Everything matters. Our past affects how
we shape our future. If we cannot understand what brought us to the point on
which we now stand, how do we know in what direction to proceed?”

Traevyn drew
a ragged breath. He stared out over the water. The day was a fine one. The sun
had all but burned away the haze and a sliver of the mainland, Megara, could be
seen close to the horizon. Traevyn looked down and took another shaky breath.
He felt the soft touch of Ishar’s fingers run along the sleeve of his arm and
glanced up. Concern flickered in her eyes. It undid him and he spoke abruptly
in anger as he turned to stare back across the water toward Megara. “We have no
past, no present, and no future because of them,” he spat out. “They destroyed
us. They took everything we were as a people away.”

Ishar jerked
back at his vehement words. She looked out over the ocean.
“The
Tourna?”

He nodded
with a jerk of his head and spoke quickly, as if in a rush to say what he felt
he must. “We were once a people who inhabited an area to the east of the Tourna
lands. Our people were nomadic. We loved and raised horses and roamed our
native land for varying grazing areas with little trouble from enemies within
our borders. The men of our people were warriors, renowned for their
horsemanship skills in battle. Our women were beautiful creatures who gave us
strong children and were courageous enough to defend our homes and children
when we were not there to do so.”

Ishar’s grip
on his arm tightened and she stepped closer, her gaze now on him fully. Her
eyes were watchful. “What happened?”

Traevyn had
never spoken of this to any outsider, not many of the Raanans had. The words
were too painful. It was easier to live with the silence. Even now the words he
sought were being choked by the tightness in his throat.

Ishar took
another step. Her other hand slipped to his shoulder. “Traevyn?” she
asked,
concern in her tone.

The breath on
his cheek was warm. The tightness loosened and Traevyn managed to speak. His
voice sounded detached and resigned to what was coming even to his ears. “We
had friends known as the Osguaru to the south of us. Their leader sent word of
invaders along their southern border burning and pillaging villages. Since we
were allies, our warriors went to give them aid. I was among those that went.”

“And the Tourna?”

Traevyn’s
eyes flickered down to hers. “We faced minor skirmishes with them before this
time. Enough of a fight, we thought, to let them know we would be a difficult
people to overcome and not worth the price it would cost them. They had left us
in peace, or so we had come to believe.” He tasted the bitterness the memories
brought in the back of his mouth. “We were wrong.”

There was a
dawning look of horror upon Ishar’s face. “What happened?” she asked with the
slightest tremor.