The Treason Blade (Battle for Alsaar Book 1) (20 page)

Fenric
mounted and stared down. There was a momentary flicker of sadness in his eyes.
But a moment later it was gone. “The day is late, Ishar. But do not worry, I
will ride swiftly. You shall see me soon,” he said tiredly, “Until then.” He
gave a short bow and turned his horse. With a swift jab the gelding spurted to
the north.

She watched
Fenric ride away with a frown. Doubts troubled her heart at his leaving. Why
had he left so soon? True, she could understand the relief her father would
feel to hear she was fine and the words sent to him were true, but still, to
leave so soon? Even though he had denied it, had someone said something to
Fenric or had he simply felt uncomfortable being around those he once would
have seen as enemies? From all appearances that was not the case. Ishar’s frown
deepened as she turned back to the holding. She jerked when she saw Traevyn
only a few feet away. He leaned against the outer wall, his thin blade slicing
shivers of fruit that he popped into his mouth. She eyed him warily.

Traevyn’s
gaze stayed focused on the fruit before him. “Your friend left so soon after
his arrival. Was it something we said?” His voice sounded detached.

Ishar felt a
flicker of irritation. “My father has been concerned for my welfare. Fenric
only wants to relieve that worry.”

“The word of
Varyk is not good enough?”

He meant the
letter. Ishar’s irritation grew. “Of course my father trusts Varyk. You forget
it was he who sent me on this journey to set these very things in motion.”

“Then your
father should have felt fine as soon as our message reached him, which begs
again for me to wonder why your friend chose to leave so soon.” Traevyn looked
up, his expression cool. “Are all the Haaldyn we will meet so restless to be
away from our presence?”

Ishar did not
know how to answer him. She felt perplexed herself by Fenric’s sudden leave
taking. He had appeared to fit in well with the others at Taryn. Traevyn
continued to watch her. Ishar sighed. “I do not know. I warned you it would
take time for some to feel comfortable with people they once considered
enemies. Your own people have proved this true. It will be the same with the
Britai and the Lute. The only thing to be done is to let time meld us as a
people.”

“You seek
time as an answer for everything,” he muttered. Traevyn slung the remnants of
the fruit away, turned, and walked back into the holding without another word
to her.

Ishar had no
answer so she ground her nails into her palm and watched him walk away. She
headed back to the horse shelter and Simi. Perhaps the morning ride would clear
her head.

*

Eira took her
time as she crossed the Etu River. She was dressed as a Lute for the hunt. The
skin leggings covered her with worn softness. Her hair hung long down her back,
pulled back at the nape with a leather thong to keep it clear for the pull of
the bow. She breathed in deep the cool of the midday sun. The clouds lay low on
the land. The mare’s legs sloshed out of the water and up the bank. The horse
snorted, not pleased at having to cross the high stream. Discovering firm
ground, the white mare shook to rid herself of excess water. With the reins in
her hands, Eira tugged her mare’s head toward the forest. She would easily make
the meeting with Ishar if she hurried. The hollow was a short ride within the
woods. Before her, the edge of the Daiwen loomed as a protective dark shadow.
She smiled and tilted her head, listening. The woods called to her as a mother
would to her children. There were but a few sparse trees and bushes that dotted
the rolling mound of green between her and the woodland and a hurried need
within her rose to be within the trees’ shelter.

Eira nudged
the mare forward with her knees. The mare gave another shake and snort before
proceeding slowly up the grassy slope. Eira pulled back on the reins when she
saw the mare prick her ears forward and blow out of her nostrils in a nervous
manner. She turned the mare to one side and looked ahead into the woods with a
speculative glance. Her eyes took in a dark shadow merged among the bushes
along the edge. She broke into a smile. “Ishar, I should have known you would
be late—”

Thwack! Eira
gripped the mare with her knees to keep from sliding over and looked down in
stunned surprise. An arrow had embedded itself into her side. The shock of pain
took her breath and made her slow. She grabbed at the reins and jerked back on
the mare’s head. Thwack! Another arrow hit her high in the shoulder almost
throwing her from the horse with its force. Only her grip on the reins kept her
in the saddle.

The white mare reared. As she came down, Eira
slammed both heels into the creature’s side and sawed at reins. The mare,
sensing the distress of her mistress, lunged forward and toward the river. Eira
let the mare’s neck catch her weight as she tried to breathe through the shock
and numbing pain. Grayness hovered around the edges but she fought through the
fog and focused to stay in the saddle. She could not fall in. Eira knew she
lacked the strength needed to pull her body out of the frothing torrent and
onto the opposite bank. Besides, she did not yet know if pursuers followed or
not. The only sound that came to her ears above the river’s noise was her own
heavy breath and rapid heart.

Eira never
slowed the horse’s pace. She prayed her mare was still strong and steady after
her run from the holding and her first pass through the rushing water. Eira
gave another kick to the white mare’s sides and the animal leaped deep into the
turbulent waters. They both sank, liquid rushing over their head for a moment
before the mare fought with strong legs to bring them up. Eira kept her legs up
and out of the striving legs of the animal churning below the water. It took
longer than before to cross the river’s torrent. Sides heaving, the mare
crawled up the other bank with jerky surges.
Once there, the
mare stood, too tired to even shake.
Eira herself was now winded. The
surge of energy that had so quickly flowed at the start of the attack quickly
drained from her.

She bent over
and clenched her teeth at the mounting pain, then glanced back behind with
desperation. No person followed. No sign of the identity of her attacker. Eira
looked forward with despair. Open land lay between her and the holding.
A great deal of open land.
Dizziness made the green before
her blur. She sighed and dropped her head against the mare’s mane. Eira
groaned. The gray fog in her mind grew. Her life would now depend upon her own
inner strength. No one would think to look for her until much later and by then
she would most likely be dead. Eira kept her body draped against the mare’s to
conserve her strength. She sluggishly nudged her mare. The animal moved forward
with a snort and blow of breath. The creature wanted a rest.
There will be no rest for either of us,
little one
, Eira thought tiredly. She tightened her heels more into the
creature’s side. The white mare broke into a canter. Eira held on to the mane
with her uninjured right hand and focused on staying mounted as she nudged her
horse toward the holding.

Ishar took her time crossing the river. The water
was at one of its peaks and unforgiving to carelessness. There was nearly no
bank to speak of in spots. Once over, Ishar set her mare at a steady pace. Simi
was loaded with a large buck tied across her hindquarters but she quickly
closed the distance toward the holding. Though she had waited for a time in the
hollow she had never seen Eira, but a buck had crossed her path soon after so
the wait had not been a lost. She thought of dropping the kill off at the
village but as she passed by it appeared all but deserted. Silence reigned
except for the noises of the chickens and pigs as they picked the ground. Ishar
frowned.
There must be something going on
within
, Ishar mused as she headed up the hill toward the holding. The quiet
hush that hugged the air raised the hair at the nape of her neck as she
neared,
the usual hustle and bustle of everyday gone. Ishar
nudged Simi through the outer gate. A soldier near the entrance stepped back as
she entered but gave no greeting. Though she thought his action odd, Ishar made
no comment. She prodded Simi farther within the outer courtyard as she looked
for an explanation for the unsettling calm. Britai soldiers stood scattered
about the holding, as did villagers. Many stared with dark expressions. Ishar
sense of unease grew. What was wrong? What had happened since she left earlier?

In her alarm
and concern for the people Ishar left her guard down. One moment she was on her
horse. The next, lying on the ground gasping for air, Kagon’s knee on her
chest, his knife pressed to her throat. Rayne stood close, an arrow notched and
aimed. Both of their mouths were drawn back in vicious snarls, their eyes mere
slits.

They have lost their minds
, Ishar
thought as she lay there without moving, not that she could have raised herself
without Kagon slicing her throat, so tight was the blade to her neck.

“Kagon,” Ber
roared far to her right, “Move aside.”

“Kagon.
Rayne.
Let her stand,”
Davaris stated calmly, also out of sight of her vision, “This is not our way.”

“You saw
Eira. She may not live the night,” Rayne stated angrily, his arrow not
wavering, nor his stance, “Why should I show mercy when she has not?”

Kagon’s
hate-filled face consumed most of her vision but Ishar was able to catch
Davaris coming to stand beside Rayne. She could not understand. What had
happened to Eira and why was it her fault? Her eyes rapidly searched the ground
near her for Traevyn’s presence.

“Kagon!”
It was Lysandr’s voice. “Let her up.
Now!”

Kagon eyes
narrowed even more but he rose, gripped her by the front of her overguard and
dragged her upright. He turned her around, dragged her close to his body and
kept the blade tucked tight against her throat. At least she was able to see
fully now, but her ability to breathe had not improved. Ishar judged the
environment around her and could find nothing in her favor. She was surrounded
by Britai soldiers and the Raanan warriors and Ishar had never felt such
pulsing anger pushing at her. A man had brought her horse around and Lysandr
stood on the other side of Simi studying something. Her eyes flicked back
toward Rayne and the arrow aimed at her chest.

“What is
going on?” she demanded.

“Shut up,”
Kagon roared. His grip on her throat tightened.

Ishar did not
let his words faze her. Her gaze flickered to Davaris. “Davaris, what has
happened?”

“As if you do
not know,” Rayne sneered. “We should never have trusted a Haaldyn within these
walls.” His eyes narrowed. “I should have killed you the first day I returned.
Then my lord’s lady would be unharmed.”

“What has
happened to Eira?” Ishar demanded. Her eyes pleaded with Gavin and Glyndwr who
warily approached. “Someone, tell me,” she demanded.

“Eira was
attacked while she was out riding,” Traevyn answered. His soft words carried
through the cluster of people. Ishar’s eyes found him as he walked out of the
crowd close to Davaris. “She was hit twice with arrows.
Once
in the side.
Another took her in the upper shoulder. She is being seen
to now. Varyk is with her,” Traevyn finished, his words cold.

Ishar tried
to make sense of the madness before her. Traevyn’s eyes were shuttered, his
voice dispassionate as he spoke. It seemed that Traevyn had chosen to conceal
his feelings from her. That concealment itself spoke volumes and wounded more.
Her lips tightened at his withdrawn expression, at the meaning behind it. “I
take it you think I did this?” Disbelief coated her words as she spoke. “How
could you, Traevyn? What have I done to make you think I would want to destroy
this peace? Have I not done everything to ensure that this peace would come?
Harming Eira would destroy that.”

Traevyn’s
look wavered. For the first time he appeared torn and indecisive. “Ishar—”

“Forget this.
I will not let her do more destruction with her words than her arrows have
already,” Rayne stated in a rage. His back hand tightened in readiness to
release the arrow.

Traevyn’s
sword slipped out with a whisper. He stated softly, “Rayne, put down the bow,”
as he stepped close to the younger warrior.

“See,” Kagon
roared with a yell, “Her words are already putting us at odds.” His eyes
narrowed. “Let us be done with this.”

“No,” Ber
answered firmly as he stepped before Ishar and Kagon.

Davaris moved
with Traevyn as they both stepped in front of Rayne. “Put down the bow,”
Davaris murmured. Traevyn shifted even closer.

Rayne’s gaze
locked in on Davaris and Traevyn in anger. “Move out of the way. This needs be
done. Let it be done.” He blinked in disbelief as he took in their aggressive
stances. “Are we now to seek each other’s blood because of this woman?”

“Rayne.
Let down the bow,” Traevyn stated.”

Lysandr made
his way around the mare and came forward. He put his hand on Rayne’s weapon.
“Lower.” Rayne glared but let the tension out of the bow and dropped the
arrow’s angle downward. Lysandr walked toward Ishar and Kagon. Ber moved to the
side. Lysandr held up an arrow. “This is one of two arrows pulled from Eira. It
is a Haaldyn arrow. We already knew that.” He held up another arrow. “This is
from your quiver.” Lysandr held up both arrows. “They match. The arrow taken
from Eira is not just a Haaldyn arrow. It is yours.” Lysandr ended the last
sentence in a near growl. “Explain, Ishar,” he spat angrily.

Ishar studied
the two arrows, her mouth open. No words would flow forth. How could they. The
explanation needed was unclear even to her. Ishar shook her head, confused. “I
do not know.” Her eyes pleaded with the men before her. “I only know I did not
harm Eira. I could not,” she ended falteringly.

Many of the
Raanan warriors were frowning. Rayne still looked with hatred marked upon his
face. The murmur that rippled through the crowd of villagers and the Britai
soldiers was closer to a growl of anger.

Lysandr’s words
matched their tone as he held up the arrows. “Not good enough. These are your
arrows. I want an answer. How did your arrows end up harming our lord’s lady?”

“I tell you,
I truly do not know.” Ishar glanced at the men surrounding her. All she saw was
doubt and uncertainty. Traevyn had lowered his sword and now stared at the
arrows in Lysandr’s hand with incomprehension and bewilderment written across
his face. It killed her, the doubt she saw beginning to uncurl upon his
expression. Ber stood as if uncertain what action to take. No Raanan warrior
could take their eyes from the bloody arrow in Lysandr’s hand. They looked
shaken and confused, all except Rayne, whose look had deepened to pure hatred.
Ishar was certain Kagon bore a similar look. The pressure on her throat was
growing with every moment.

Ishar looked
at Lysandr with bleak eyes. “All I have is my word, my honor, and the actions
of the time I have spent among you. During that time, how have I proved myself
untrue?”

Indecision
ruled their faces.

Rayne shoved
past Davaris. “See! She seeks to divide us.
Lysandr,
let Kagon kill her before she destroys us from within.” He glared at Traevyn.
“The silver lies of her work can already be seen. The seeds already bloom.”

Lysandr
stepped forward. For a moment Ishar
feared his next action. However, the Raanan only glared at Kagon with a
determined look. “Remove the knife.”

“You would
have her escape justice?” Kagon stated with a sneer. His grip tightened.

“I did not
say I would release her,” Lysandr stated with rising anger in his voice. “Varyk
is our lord. She will be held for his judgment and his alone. Retribution will
not be chosen by us.”

“Eira is our
lady,” Rayne said stiffly as he came to stand next to Lysandr. “Let vengeance
be ours.”

“Kagon, I
will not say it again,” Lysandr said softly.

Ishar felt
the knife remove itself from her throat. Rayne gave a grunt of displeasure,
shifted around Traevyn and Davaris and came forward. Ber stood his ground but
at the motion of Lysandr’s hand, moved aside and let the warrior past. Rayne’s
face was a mask of hate as he roughly ran his hands over Ishar’s clothing,
yanking with rage at her weapons. She endured the abuse in silence. Now was not
the time to show defiance. There were too many people here with vengeance on
their minds.

When Rayne
was done, he turned to Lysandr. “Where do you want her taken?”

Lysandr moved
between Rayne and Ishar. “I will take her,” he said roughly as he took her arm
and pulled her from Kagon’s grip. “She will be put in the fortress holding room
and shackled to prevent her escape. Varyk will decide her future after we see
whether Eira lives or not.” He turned and looked at the crowd, which had grown
more dissatisfied with every word. Shouts of anger arose from within the group.
For a second she feared the people would stop his actions. Lysandr said
nothing. He simply yanked Ishar forward and shoved his way through the crowd.

Ishar tried
to keep her balance as she stumbled through the group of soldiers. She felt
minor shoves and a kick that tripped her as she made her way with Lysandr. They
moved beyond the crowd and through the inner gate.

The Raanan
was silent until they neared the fortress. “I would advise you do nothing
stupid like running right now,” he muttered. “There are too many people who
want you to, too many who want you dead, and I am not certain I could stop them
if they tried.”

“I believe
the question is
,
would you want to?” She asked calmly,
even with a sinking feeling of dread.

Lysandr’s
abrupt halt yanked her to a stop. He turned a deadly glare her way. “Do not,”
he stated low and angrily. “I cannot think right now. All I can see is Eira,
bloody and unconscious, slumped across her saddle as her mare came through the
gate.”

Ishar closed
her eyes and shuddered at the image.

Lysandr
continued up the steps, dragging her through the main door. He ordered a light
as they entered and a servant appeared and followed with candle in hand. They
maneuvered through several hallways. As they came along beside the stairs Lysandr
continued on, pulling her farther down the hallway. He came to a door. Ishar
noticed a rung with a several keys hung from a hook beside it. Lysandr grabbed
the ring, pushed the door open and shoved Ishar through the entrance.

She whirled
and faced him.
“Lysandr.
Please. Let me speak to
Varyk.”

“Varyk stays
by Eira’s side,” Lysandr stated through gritted teeth. “I am not about to
disrupt his grief at her severe injury by telling him the possible assassin
wishes a moment of his time. I would not insult my lord in such a manner.”

Ishar stared
at him, her heart wounded by his words. “I tell you—”

Lysandr put
up his hand. “No. I will not hear your lies.” He grabbed her hand and lowered
it near a shackle whose chain extended to the wall.

She resisted him.
“Lysandr.
Please do not do this. I beg of you. Believe
me.”

He looked
down. “Do not fight me.” Lysandr glanced up. “I will call for help if necessary
and trust me when I say I am sure Kagon or Rayne would find no difficulty in
coming to restrain you.” He glanced up, his dark eyes searching hers. “I do not
know whose hand played what in this turn of events. All I see speaks to me of
your guilt.” Lysandr stepped closer. “But if you truly are innocent, then know
this: Varyk is a just man, not prone to rash decisions.”

Lysandr
shackled one wrist and locked it with a key. Although every fiber of her being
struggled against the action, Ishar did not resist. The shock of what was
happening had settled upon her. He stood up and stepped back. At least he had not
shackled both of her hands. Ishar cast Lysandr a bitter gaze. “What happens if
you cannot keep Kagon or Rayne in line?” Her eyes roamed the damp stone room.
“There is no recourse for me here except to be slaughtered like an animal if
they come for me.”

His eyes
narrowed. “I can keep my men in line,” Lysandr ground out savagely. “I would
think you have more with which to worry yourself.”