Vengeance Born (The Light Blade #1) (25 page)

Kalan’s hand came to rest in the middle of her back, his touch light but encouraging. “Just remember how I acted when I first met you, Annika.” His murmur carried no farther than their ears. “They’ve yet to understand the difference between a
Na’Chi
and the
Na’Reish
.”

“They know the
Lady
supports you.” Kymora’s soft but strong voice added her reassurance. “Have faith and all will be well.”

Annika slanted a sideways glance at the woman, still astounded by the revelation that the
Lady
had spoken to Kymora of her arrival. Kalan’s sister shared his height and coloring, although in a more slender, graceful form. With the same black hair and green eyes, only the length and her inability to see differed. Annika had quickly learned, however, that her lack of sight in no way debilitated her.

“These warriors respect my brother’s leadership skills.” Kymora turned her head in her direction, a smile hovering at the corners of her mouth. “Many of them are also his friends. In time, they’ll understand why he has included you among them.”

Swallowing hard, Annika squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, and tried to emulate Kymora’s air of confidence. The Handmaiden squeezed her elbow in silent encouragement.

Halfway across the floor, Annika’s pace slowed again. The warriors around them parted to clear a path and as they did so, all went down on one knee, their heads bowed. They remained so until Kalan acknowledged them.

“What’s going on?” she whispered, leaning closer to him.

Kalan was the only one in the room not dressed in armor or leather. Instead he wore a matching set of black breeches and a long, loose-sleeved shirt with a dark green over-tunic belted at the waist. The breeches were tucked into knee-length boots and he’d tied his hair back into a simple ponytail. He was also the only one without weapons of any sort on his belt or peeking from the top of his boots. That fact didn’t detract from his aura of strength or authority.

“Kalan?” she prompted.

The strangest look of discomfort flickered across his face, but before he could answer a familiar blond-haired warrior stepped forward to meet them.

“The Council awaits you in the Inner Chamber.” Arek was the only one in the vicinity who remained standing as he addressed Kalan. He lowered his voice. “Dayn and Jole are already in the Great Library searching our annals.”

Kalan nodded. “Keep me informed. If they find something, I want to know immediately.”

The warrior raised an eyebrow. “I have your permission to interrupt the meeting?”

“After your last performance in chambers, I have serious doubts about whether they’ll want to let you in again.” Kalan’s dry tone made both Kymora and Arek chuckle. Annika glanced among the trio, feeling like she’d walked in halfway through a conversation. “But for something as important as this, yes, you can interrupt.”

The Handmaiden must have sensed her confusion. “Arek managed to insult four of the five Councilors in a past meeting. He was asked to leave.”

The statement didn’t surprise Annika. He was a man of strong emotion and it was logical that they would influence his attitudes and opinions.

“They were tolerant enough of me when Kalan went missing.” The Second’s drawled reply made several of the warriors close by grin.

“I just bet they were,” Kalan muttered. Again, Annika felt like she was missing an important part of the conversation but this time no one provided an explanation. “Just don’t give the Councilors—especially your grandfather—any excuse to refuse your right to speak.”

“They’re like two peas in a pod, as stubborn as one another,” Kymora murmured. Arek’s head jerked in her direction. Annika wondered if she’d meant her words to be overheard. “He lives to frustrate Davyn.”

“Every chance I get,
Temple Elect
,” he drawled, a gleam in his eye.

“I’m surprised the Council hasn’t had you stripped of your title,
Second
.”

His lip curled. “They’re welcome to it if they want to take it. I won’t miss attending meetings or official functions in your brother’s stead.”

Kymora laughed lightly. “Ahh, but while your little performances have alleviated the boredom of endless discussions on policy and administration, I think he’d miss you by his side. You just need to learn a little tact. Model yourself after Benth. He manages to reprimand the others without insulting them.”

“You want me to use diplomacy? Pfft!” A grimace passed over his face. “I’ll leave that to you, Handmaiden. You manage that quite well.”

Their banter fascinated Annika. While there was an implied tension between the two of them, there was very little true animosity. Kalan seemed relaxed, quite tolerant of, and somewhat amused by their verbal sparring.

Her father wouldn’t have allowed such levity. Meetings among the
Na’Reish
consisted of him giving orders and everyone listening and obeying. Arguing with or contradicting him resulted in execution on the spot.

Kalan cleared his throat. “If you’re finished sniping at one another, we have several Councilors waiting for our arrival.”

Arek bowed, an impudent grin on his face. “Then by your leave, Commander, I’ll go help the others in the library. Enjoy your meeting.”

Kalan motioned them to continue. They entered a short corridor and left the crowd of warriors behind. They passed a small atrium filled with green plants and flowers. Annika glanced skyward, wondering at the source of light filling the small garden and discovered the entire roof was made of glass.

“Ahh, the sweet scent of Mothers’ Tears.” Kymora sighed. The strong odor of the delicate winter flower hung heavily in this part of the corridor.

Two young Light Blade warriors stood to either side of a set of double doors that looked like mini-replicas of Eastgate, the entrance they’d used into Sacred Lake. The
Lady
’s sun symbol had been carved in intricate detail into the wooden panels. Kalan drew them to a halt just before they reached them.

His sister tilted her head to one side. “Kalan?”

Annika glanced up at him as he took one of her hands in his. He wore the same troubled expression of a few minutes ago and his thumb rubbed over her knuckles repeatedly, as if searching for the right words to say.

When his eyes lifted to meet hers she saw doubt and worry shadowing his gaze. “Before we go in, and no matter what happens today remember that you’re not alone in this journey. I stand with you.” Fear flickered across his face, gone as swiftly as it had appeared. His hand tightened around hers. “I also ask for your understanding and forgiveness, Annika.”

His words made no sense. She glanced at Kymora but the Handmaiden seemed as confused by them as she was. With no further explanation, Kalan released her hand and nodded to the two warriors guarding the Council Chamber. The double doors opened inward and the guard on the right stepped inside.

“Honored Councilors!” the young woman called. Annika peered past her, curiosity and dread flooding her in equal amounts as she saw five older men and women, all dressed in finery similar to Kalan’s, sitting at a round table in the middle of the room. “May I present Kymora, the
Temple Elect
and Kalan, the
Lady
’s
Chosen
.”

Chapter 17

O
NE road in, one road out, and open ground between the foothills and the city. Varian stared at the makeshift map of Sacred Lake made of rocks and scratched markings inside the circle of his scouts. There was nothing drawn inside the circle that represented the city.

Barvi tapped his stick and marked the ground at several points on the edge of the circle. “There are watchtowers over the gates, and another in between each pair. Four humans man them and two patrol the battlement walkways.”

Lisella quietly handed the stocky, dark-haired scout a water flask. He nodded his thanks and drank deeply before splashing some on his face then gave it back.

“We couldn’t see anything beyond the walls.” Zaune shook his sweat-dampened braids out of his eyes. “They were just too high. Had we gone any closer we risked being seen by the watch in the towers.”

Both
Na’Chi
sounded as exhausted as they looked. Their faces were pale and drawn, the lines deeply etched around their mouths and eyes. The flecks in their eyes glowed red in the firelight, but neither deigned to show any discomfort.

They’d pushed themselves hard over two days to get what little information they could about Sacred Lake back to them. Varian made a note to send out one of the others to hunt for them. They needed to drink before morning if they wanted to avoid the symptoms of blood-fever.

“Following that Light Blade patrol was still a good idea, Varian,” Lisella said, softly, taking a seat beside him in the circle. “They led us straight to the city.”

Zaune snorted. “You should have heard the humans, Varian. By the time they reached the valley plateau our fleeing party of four had grown to a full
Na’Hord
.”

“How else are they going to explain they couldn’t capture one of us?” Barvi asked, a gleam in his eyes.

Varian joined in the laughter. Lisella hushed them, a tolerant smile on her face. “Keep the noise down. We’ve only just managed to get the last of the children to sleep.”

He glanced over his shoulder toward the blanket-wrapped bodies huddled in shallow caves they’d found less than a day ago. Other members of the group also slept although a few sat near the fire talking quietly amongst themselves.

Their camp overlooked the main roadway leading toward the city. There was enough shrubbery along the ridge and around the caves they’d found to obscure any activity from the casual observer and, if they were careful, it was the ideal spot to live while they decided what the next move would be.

“That Patrol is likely to cause us problems.” Zaune’s low-toned comment drew his attention back to the circle. “If they report the sighting of four
Na’Reish
soldiers the humans are going to respond by increasing their Patrols.”

“We’re going to have to lay in supplies in case we’re unable to forage if a Patrol comes too close.” Barvi’s statement drew a few comments.

“I think it’d be wise to instigate the old rules we had living near the fortress,” Lisella added, her gaze sweeping the circle. Several heads nodded.

“Lisella, can you organize the camp?” Varian knew she’d keep any naysayers too busy to worry about the danger in the coming days. As he gained her assent, he glanced to another of his scouts. “Jinnae, you’re in charge of setting the watch. If we’re discovered we need time to escape. I want an inner and outer perimeter established. Everyone from the age of twelve and up can share the responsibility. Set up snares and anything else you think would slow an intruder.”

A wicked smile curved the young
Na’Chi
’s mouth. “I can do that.” She shared a look with Lisella. “I’ll get Fannis and Rystin to help.”

The two mentioned were the most vocal about turning back.

“Varian, there’s something else you need to know.” Zaune shared a look with Barvi. The older scout nodded. “We noticed an increase in the amount of people and animals on the road as we returned. I managed to get close enough to one of the wagons camped on the side of the road last night. The humans were farmers who spoke of traveling to market within the city.”

“How does this information help?” someone asked.

“Perhaps we need to think about it overnight.” Varian saw others nod in agreement. “If there’s nothing more I suggest we all get some sleep. Good job, Barvi, Zaune.”

After arranging for the two scouts to be fed, the circle broke up. Varian remained where he was, watching his people disperse. It didn’t take long for silence to settle over the camp.

The map drew his attention again. The blank circle bothered him more than he’d let on. They might have found the way to the city but what use was that when they had no idea where Annika was within it? He ran a hand through his hair. They needed to know what lay inside the walls.

Varian slowly straightened. How many humans went to this market? The increased number on the road suggested more than a few. Depending on vigilance of the guards on the gates, a crowd of farmers, their carts, herds of animals, crates of supplies could provide a potential distraction and be a way in. A
Na’Chi
with a cloak and a prayer might just pass as human and get inside unnoticed. Blending in with the city would be as easy as hiding in a forest. The kernel of a plan brought a smile to his lips.

Now, all he had to figure out was how to find Annika.

THE Inner Chamber was brightly lit and a number of lanterns and candles were ensconced around the four walls. A large wooden table sat in the middle of the room, a few steps away from a fireplace. The chamber was windowless and the stark grey of the stone walls was broken up by a tall shelf of books and several large tapestries.

Any other time Annika would have been fascinated by the brightly colored, detailed weavings as they depicted activities from daily life—historic battles, Light Blades engaged in training, portraits of various humans—but she barely noticed them as she sat stiffly on the edge of her seat, clutching her pouch on her lap.