TheRedKing (33 page)

“Clearly you want to kill me no matter what. I saved your
ungrateful life and you pulled a dagger on me.”

“We’re enemies in case you’ve forgotten already.”

“And why is that? Because your pig father uses you to
conquer and kill like a mad dog.”

Hypatios’s eyes blazed. “I’m not mad.” Glancing past Areus,
he lifted his bound hands to point at someone only he could see. “And you go
back to the netherworld. You too. I will not be influenced by either of you.”

Areus turned, but saw no one. He raised an eyebrow at Hypatios.
“If you’re not mad, then you do a fine impression of it.”

“I’m not mad. You’re deficient, like most people who either
can’t or won’t see the spirits around us.”

“Oh yes. I’ve heard that as well. You speak to the beasts
and the dead. Who’s behind me? Speaking of fables, this should be good.”

Hypatios leaned his head against the tree trunk and closed
his eyes. “I’m disinclined to satisfy your curiosity.”

“Just like you’re disinclined to believe Cosma is your
mother.”

“My mother died on the night I was born, just as your mother
died in a fire. She was a madwoman, wasn’t she? Your mother.”

“You truly believe that, don’t you? That the poor girl your
father forced into marriage then murdered to cover the truth of your birth was
actually your mother.”

Hypatios’s expression didn’t change, nor did he open his
eyes to look at Areus.

“Our mother wasn’t a madwoman,” Areus went on. “She was
guilt-ridden over leaving one of her infant sons in the hands of a monster.
You’ve seen her scars. She got them in a fire she started, one that she somehow
survived. Afterward she allowed us to think she was dead so that she could go
to Zaltana to care for you.”

Hypatios’s eyes flew open and he glared at Areus. “That’s a lie.”

“Why was she so bent on being in your life? You think she
appeared out of nowhere to play nanny to the insane Prince of Zaltana? You were
in a barred room when she arrived, weren’t you? She saved you, didn’t she? Now you
say it’s a lie.”

“Whatever you’re trying to do, it won’t work.”

“So you say, but you know I’m telling the truth, don’t you?”

“If the former Queen of Lortia is my mother, then who’s my father?
Or did Mar Maska plant his seed from the netherworld?” Hypatios’s voice dripped
sarcasm.

“Not exactly, but as you’ve always believed, you’re from Mar
Maska’s line. Hippolytos is most likely your father.”

“Most likely?”

“After he abducted her, he raped her. We were born on the
same night. I resemble King Damon too closely for it to be coincidence and from
what I hear you look like Hippolytos.”

Hypatios laughed, a rasping, humorless sound. “This story of
yours gets wilder by the minute. Bard. Warrior. What other talents do you
have?”

“I wanted to believe it was a lie when I heard it as well.
Cosma convinced me.”

Before they could continue their conversation, two warriors
approached and prodded them with spears. They rose and continued their journey.

Areus noted that Hypatios appeared deep in thought, his eyes
downcast and his expression grim. If they hadn’t hated each other so much, he might
have felt compassion for him. Areus remembered how he had felt when he’d
learned that he might be the product of a brutal rape, that the offense had
been suffered by his mother, whom he had loved deeply as a child.

Hypatios had known Cosma for most of his life. According to
her, they shared a close relationship. Unless he was truly a monster, he must
be disturbed by what he’d just learned. Cosma was certain he wasn’t a monster,
but Areus couldn’t be sure.

By nightfall, they reached the Reed People’s village. A
small cascade emptied into a stream that ran through a clearing. Several huts
were built in the trees with rope ladders leading up. Women and children
gathered firewood, fished and swam in the river. Like the men, they were
half-naked, wearing only loincloths.

They stared at Hypatios and Areus in surprise and fear. A
few of the women picked up their babies and quickly climbed to their huts.

“We’re unarmed and bound and they’re still afraid of us,” Areus
said. “What does that say about Zaltana?”

Hypatios didn’t reply. Areus wasn’t even sure he’d heard his
comment, as he still appeared lost in thought.

Four warriors pushed the prisoners forward. They waded into
the waist-deep water and stepped through the cascade to the small cave behind
the waterfall. While three of the warriors stood, their weapons fixed on their
captives, the fourth motioned for Areus and Hypatios to sit, back to back. He
then tied their bound hands together.

Areus’s stomach clenched. The last thing he wanted was to be
tied to Hypatios. By the way Hypatios tensed, he felt the same way.

The Reed People exchanged a few words, then left the men
alone in the cave.

“Oh please, don’t tell me you’re going to haunt me all night,”
Hypatios said angrily.

“It’s not like I have a choice,” Areus replied.

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

“This is just marvelous. If you’re going to speak to ghosts all
night, at least keep it to a whisper so I can get some rest.”

“This one is here for you. The white warrior has actually
abandoned me only to be replaced by the former King of Lortia, so thanks for
that.”

“If you think I’m going to believe you’re talking to my
father’s ghost right now, you truly are insane.”

“Why is it any crazier than you expecting me to believe you
and I share the same mother?” Hypatios dug his feet into the ground and kicked
backward. If Areus hadn’t braced his own feet against the cave, he’d have
smashed into the rocky wall.

“Truly, Hypatios? You want us to try to kill each other
while tied back to back?”

“I want this all to be over!”

“All of what? The war? You’re the only one who can end
that.”

“I told you I’m not the king. It’s up to my father.”

“You could convince him.”

Hypatios snorted. “Convince
my
father? Clearly you know
nothing about him. I would have thought a man with your supposed tactical skill
would have studied his enemy better.”

“Yes. I believe you when you say he can’t be convinced. He’s
a disgusting, raping tyrant. There’s only one way to handle the likes of him.”

Hypatios didn’t respond for a long moment. His silence and
stillness more than anything convinced Areus that he was finally starting to
accept the truth about Cosma.

Areus wasn’t sure how much time passed before Hypatios
whispered, “I believe you.”

“Pardon?”

“I said I believe you. Your father. The seer. They say it’s
true. The white warrior is furious.” Hypatios laughed tremulously. “You think
that’s an insult, Mar Maska? To say that I’m nothing like you? We’ll have
eternity to settle it. Haunt me all you like. I’m no longer your puppet. Or
Hippolytos’s.”

Areus felt more than a bit uncomfortable. Was Hypatios mad
or was he actually speaking to the dead? Why not? Areus knew for certain that
he spoke to beasts.

“Are you ready to get out of here?” Hypatios asked.

Areus remained silent.

Nudging Areus with his fingertips, he said, “Well, are you?”

“Sorry. I didn’t know if you were talking to me or them. I’m
more than ready, but don’t we lack a plan?”

Hypatios whispered again and moments later Areus heard soft
squealing. Several water rats scurried toward them. Instinctively, Areus
jerked.

“Sit still,” Hypatios told him.

The rats gnawed on the brothers’ bonds and a short time later,
their hands were free. They quickly untied their ankles.

Areus walked toward the cascade and glanced through, seeing
the shapes of two guards armed with spears.

“Just two. We can try to sneak up on them and snap their
necks, but if anyone hears us, the rest will be after us and they know this
forest better than we do. Not to mention I prefer not to kill them. They’ve
been terrorized enough by—”

“Zaltanians. I know.” Hypatios curled his lip and shook his
head. “Do you think you can save the self-righteousness until we escape?”

“Any suggestions about how we do that?”

“I got us out of the bonds. Do I have to think of
everything?”

“Their backs are to us. We could slip underwater and hope
they don’t see us.”

“I don’t think we have much choice. I agree that trying to
kill them is too risky.”

“Let’s get this mail off first.”

They helped each other remove their armor, trying to make as
little noise as possible. Areus noted that Hypatios still favored his left arm
a bit.

“How bad is your injury?” Areus asked.

“It’s just bruised.”

Once their mail was off, Hypatios rolled his shoulders and
said, “That feels better.”

Areus tugged Delia’s pouch out of his shirt and opened it.
If he and Hypatios didn’t succeed in escaping, he at least wanted to touch her
hair one last time. Of course he longed for the day when he’d hold and kiss her
again, if she allowed it. He swore that if he survived, he would forget his
pride, ride to the convent and tell her how much he wanted—no how much he
needed
her in his life.

He tugged her hair just partway out and stroked the silky
strands with his fingertip.

Hypatios glanced at him. “Is that from a lover or your
queen?”

Areus didn’t reply, but tucked Delia’s gift into his waist
pouch and said, “Let’s go.”

Moving slowly and quietly, they stepped into the cascade and
sank under. Beneath the dark water, Areus couldn’t see. Strangely, Hypatios
seemed confident and took the lead, swimming close enough for Areus to touch
him.

When he was nearly out of air, they surfaced. Areus tried
not to gasp too loudly in case the Reed People were still in hearing distance.

Moonlight shone through the trees, offering at least some
light.

“Do you see anyone?” Hypatios whispered.

“No. You?”

“I think we’re all clear, as long as they don’t realize
we’re missing until daybreak.”

“We can’t be far from the battlefield, as long as we’re
heading in the right direction.”

The men left the water. Leaves rustled and Hypatios smiled,
his teeth glinting in the darkness. He reached down and picked up his snake.
She curled around his neck.

“We’re clear,” Hypatios said to Areus. “Beauty assures me
we’re the only humans in the area.”

Areus stared warily at the snake. “She’d better not try to
kiss and hug me again.”

A slight smile tugged at Hypatios’s mouth. “You’re safe, as
long as you don’t attack me.”

“You’re the one who pulled a dagger after I stopped you from
falling to your death.” Areus glanced around. “We’d better move out.”

After getting their bearings, they headed north and pressed
on for several hours before reaching the edge of the forest.

Once in the open field, Hypatios said, “We should be safe.
From the little I know about Reed People, they never venture out of the forest.”

“When you’re king, maybe you can learn more about them.”

“When I’m king.”

“Cosma said Hippolytos marked you as his successor on the
day of your birth. That mark overrules everything, even blood. When he dies,
you will be king.”

“When he dies.” Hypatios sneered. “Which will be far sooner
than he expects.”

Areus raised an eyebrow.

“He deserves to die for what he did to her,” Hypatios said,
his voice an angry rasp.

“Well, there’s at least one thing we agree on.”

They walked for several more hours, speaking little, each
lost in his own thoughts.

Finally they stopped to rest, exhausted after having fought
a battle the previous morning, then trekking throughout the day and most of the
night.

They gathered sticks and built a small fire. Stretching out on
the ground, they stared warily at each other. Beauty curled up on the ground
close to Hypatios. Areus still didn’t trust her, nor did he entirely trust Hypatios.

Areus let his thoughts drift to Delia. What was she doing
right now? Was she thinking of him as well, or was she truly happy to be gone
from Lortia?

“I doubt she’s merely a lover,” Hypatios said.

“What?”

“The lock of hair. If it was purely carnal between you and
her, you wouldn’t bother keeping it.”

“I didn’t know you were an expert on women.”

“Far from it, but I’ve spent my life studying men like you.
It’s the only way to defeat an enemy. To know him. A man like you wouldn’t
waste his time keeping a gift from a woman he doesn’t care for, perhaps even
love.”

“And a man like you wouldn’t waste his time loving anyone. I
study my enemies too, Hypatios.”

“Then why did you bother telling me about Cassandra?”

“Cosma. And yes, I think you have feelings for her, but
that’s different. She’s your mother. I doubt you’ve ever had a lover.”

“I’ve had more than my fair share of women.”

“Having your cock sucked by a stranger doesn’t qualify as
having a lover.”

Hypatios smirked. “I’ve heard about you as well, Areus.
You’re not exactly celibate, at least according to rumor.”

“I’m married now.”

“Ah. So it belongs to your queen. Interesting.”

“I can still kill you.”

“You can try. Then you can attempt to conquer Zaltana, but
you’ll fail, Areus.”

“Don’t be so sure.”

“I respect you as an adversary. You’ve held us off longer
than anyone, but with or without me, my father will eventually defeat you. He
has more men preparing to march from the south. By sheer number he will
overpower you, even if you are backed by Knights of the Ruby Order. No. The
only way to defeat Hippolytos is from within.”

“You have a plan?”

“I do. But first I want to see Cassandra.”

“If my bearings are right, we’re now on Lortian land, just a
mile or so from the village of Brownsfield. We can borrow horses there and ride
to the border where I will let my army know I’m alive. From there you and I
will ride to my castle and you may see Cosma for yourself. Agreed?”