A Charm for Draius: A Novel of the Broken Kaskea (The Broken Kaskea Series Book 1) (32 page)

“Of course you will.” She couldn’t help the sarcasm, but she was grateful when Dahni finally left the room. She could look at Lornis and breathe without her heart racing.

He came to stand close beside her bed, looking like he’d never been near the brink of death. Just like the first time she’d met him, his City Guard uniform was immaculate.

“I’m glad you’re awake and well. I came to tell you that I’m transferring. The captain only meant for Investigation to be a temporary assignment for me.”

She nodded.

“I’ll be transferred to City Defense and working as liaison to the King’s Guard.” Lornis had found his place.

She had to say something. All those secrets were gnawing at her. “You’ll be working for Jan. There’s something you should know—”

“I know more than you think.” He cut her off, perhaps to save her from an embarrassing confession. He told her about the matriarch’s rulings, and how Jan was being punished for his criminal “connection.”

She took a few moments to absorb everything. Her contract with Jan was dissolved, not due to Jan’s behavior, but because she now wore the Kaskea? The situation was rather absurd. She sighed and wondered what marriages were like in other countries. Was life going to be easier or more complicated, now that she had more control?

One aspect of Lornis’s story mystified her. Why did the matriarchs punish Jan in front of Lornis? Perhaps they wanted to make the punishment more embarrassing, and to give Lornis leverage over Jan.

Unfortunately, Lornis still didn’t know what Jan was capable of doing. She caught his arm, and held on tightly. “There’s more.”

Lornis looked at her strangely and slowly sat down on the side of her bed.

Now everything poured out—once she started, the words came rushing out. All Jan’s manipulations that she’d discovered, but didn’t tell anyone, poured out now. What Jan had done to Kapeli, encouraging the man’s gambling. How she’d come across a letter Jan was writing to him, a letter of blatant extortion, a threat to expose the gambling and the debts. How Kapeli had committed suicide rather than shame his family—yet she had done nothing. Then there was the attack; she was sure Jan had asked Haversar to have his thugs kill Lornis. She even suspected Jan had provided Haversar with the powder weapons.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you any of this sooner.” When she finished, Lornis was silent. His long hair was unbraided and some of it fell on the bed, brushing her hand. She stared at the hair, rather than looking into his face. She’d probably just destroyed any future friendship, or more, with him.

“Thank you for telling me now, but it’s not my place to judge you. That’ll happen when you face your ancestors, hopefully after a long and honorable life. My thoughts are that you did the best you could, given the circumstances. You had to be loyal to the Serasa-Kolme. Jan was your husband and you loved him.” There was a slight rise of his voice at the end of the sentence that she had to answer.

“I
did
love him. No longer.” She still looked away from his face, not wanting to chance rejection. His hair was shiny and felt silky against her hand. She slowly wound her fingers into the strands.

“Jan loves his son, that much is obvious. I’ll be safe working for him. In a way, we’re bound together and we’ll never be rid of each other.” Lornis’s voice was wry as she felt him lean forward. She closed her eyes and felt his breath on her hair as he continued, “But he was a fool to push you away, while I can only dream of having someone as loyal and generous as you.”

His lips brushed her forehead as his words trailed away. She felt her heart thumping as his lips trailed down the left side of her face, touching her temple, her closed eyelid, her cheek, the corner of her mouth… Oh, it took so long before his warm lips touched hers and then they were kissing, her good hand buried in his hair. She wanted to devour him, taste all of him. His chest pressed down on hers and—

Jan is here to visit you.
Dahni’s cool words cut through their rough breaths, fragmented murmurs, and the warmth spreading through her body. She pushed Lornis away.

“Early warning,” she gasped.

He caught her hand and held it tight. “What?”

“Jan will be here soon. Tell me about the investigation. What happened to Taalo and the others?” Sounds drifted in through the window. There were crowds gathering in the street and faint music playing from far away, but getting stronger.

“We’ve gotten confessions that name Berin, of course, as the organizer and leader. Taalo and his apprentice killed Reggis, then the conspirators got rid of the apprentice because he was a liability. After that, Berin and Taalo get all the blame for killing the Sareenian, Vanhus, and Usko. They’re easy to blame, because one is dead and the other—” Here Lornis dropped the other boot. “Regrettably, Taalo is missing. He escaped, perhaps through the canal tunnel. It appears he was packed and ready to abandon his cohorts. What a disloyal wretch.”

A movement caught her eye. Jan was standing in the doorway, his gaze going from Lornis to Draius. How long had he been standing there? She hoped she didn’t look too flushed. Lornis still held her hand, but she didn’t pull it away. After all, her marriage contract to Jan had ended.

“What about everything stolen from the Royal Archives? The Kaskea shard and the—the lodestone?” She decided to ignore Jan, who silently leaned against the doorframe.

“We think Taalo still has one shard of the Kaskea. The Meran Sword of Starlight and tapestries have been found, and some proscribed documents remain missing—probably with Taalo. The good news is that the King has confirmation the lodestone was lost at sea.”

She wasn’t so sure, considering the shipwreck she’d seen from the Blindness. But there’d be time to talk to Perinon about that, as well as the Kaskea shards. And, knowing her cousin, he’d chase after that stolen shard—no matter where Taalo went. She felt about her neck, knowing what was there, knowing it would be there until the day she died. The shard of the Kaskea was now wrapped in silver wire and suspended from a heavy chain. It lay quiescent until she lifted and held it, when it flared with green light. She dropped it hastily.

“The King says it’ll take some practice on your part to control the Kaskea and its effects,” Lornis said. “And about Berin…”

She waited. Jan stayed where he was, looking bored.

“His pyre is scheduled for this evening, and the Meran-Viisi will officiate at the Tarmo-Nelja reliquary. After the interment of his ashes, they’ll close and seal the lineal reliquary.”

This was a surprising twist. As Starlight Wielder for the Meran-Viisi, King Perinon would light Berin’s pyre. More than Berin deserved, since he wanted to unmake the Phrenii and as a result, tear apart Perinon’s sanity. But, as the last Tarmo-Nelja, perhaps it wasn’t enough.

“The Tarmo-Nelja are no more,” she murmured.

“Yes, they are certainly ‘the Stars that have lost their followers.’ May I offer you my company this evening, for the pyre?” Lornis still held her hand.

She glanced at Jan, who raised his eyebrows and looked away. The silence grew uncomfortably. But if Lornis has the courage to ask her right in front of his future commander and her former husband, then she should have the courage to answer. “I’d be honored to go with you tonight.”

“Thank you.” Lornis squeezed her hand before letting go.

“I told Peri to watch the parade while I checked on you.” Jan looked awkward, perhaps for the first time since she’d known him. He pushed away from the doorframe. “I’ll go get him.”

There’s no love in his heart for me.
That didn’t sting any more. She finally noticed the sounds coming through the open window: the gathering crowds, the anticipation, singing, and merriment.

“A parade?” She glanced at Lornis.

He smiled, lighting up the room. “Oh yes, there’s a celebration. King Perinon has been contracted to Rauta-Nelja Cella, with the marriage scheduled in two years. As a magnanimous wedding boon, the King dropped charges against the pirate Rhobar—that fellow who’s so popular with the women. Then, in a similar gesture of goodwill, the King’s Council dropped taxes on Groygan goods.”

“Are you sure it’s only been an eight-day? The council never moves that quickly.”

“Remember, that portent from the Stars promised a significant decision. When the Groygans made a proposition to reduce their forces near the Saamarin, in exchange for us dropping taxes on Groygan goods, the council jumped at it. They want to be part of history as we move into true peace and prosperity.”

“True peace and prosperity,” she repeated in a whisper, thinking back on Dahni’s warnings of warfare and a changed world. She could almost believe that future had been thwarted and, if she closed her eyes and willed it, she might hold onto this daydream for a short while.

Peri is here,
Dahni’s quiet voice said in her head.

“Ma!” Peri ran across the room to climb onto her bed and throw his arms around her neck.

“Peri, be careful.” Jan stayed at the door.

“It’s okay,” she said. “I’m fine.”

She hugged Peri tightly to her side with her good arm, rubbing the top of his head with her cheek. The future could wait. She took a deep breath and immersed herself in the feel and smell of her son.

“Dahni says you’re better. Do you want to come home?” Peri’s voice was muffled as he pressed against her shoulder.

Home
. “Yes, I’d like that,” she said.

chapter Thirty-Five

First Millday, Erin Four, T.Y. 1471

I had a harrowing time, longer than an eight-day, hiding about the docks before I could find passage out of Betarr Serasa. Not only was the City Guard hanging about, I had to worry about every thief and beggar, even the supposedly blind ones, recognizing me. Never again will I underestimate Haversar, or the breadth and power of a city’s underworld.

Luckily, I’ve been taken under the wing of a Sareenian merchant who deals in hand-made trinkets and toys—I didn’t pay much attention to details, given the circumstances. He got me on a ship, disguised as his apprentice. He represents the Sareenian desert tribe we first approached, the ones who say they dabble in necromancy. They’re uneducated in the art but I can teach them.

Once I’ve paid back the merchant and saved enough for passage, I’ll be heading across the Angim to Groyga. There I’ll offer my services, either as apothecary or necromancer. Unlike my late employer, I have no qualms about serving Tyrra’s traditional enemy. I’ll find a benefactor with the resources to explore the southeastern shores of the Angim.

Based upon the position of the sun, the desert shoreline, and the barrier rocks that look like teeth, I’m sure I can find the
Danilo Ana
wreckage.

And with it, we’ll find the lodestone.

From the Author

Thank you! I hope you enjoyed
A Charm For Draius
and the world of the Broken Kaskea.

If you have a moment, please help others enjoy this book, too. Lend it or recommend it to friends, readers’ groups, and discussion boards.

The following novel in the Broken Kaskea series will be Souls for the Phrenii. Want to know when it will be released? Visit my web site at AncestralStars.com and
sign up for my release announcement email list
.

If you’re interested in military-flavored science fiction, please take a look at one of my other series, the Major Ariane Kedros Novels:

Peacekeeper
(Roc/NAL/Penguin, Overseas: Cajun Coyote Media)

Vigilante
(Roc/NAL/Penguin, Overseas: Cajun Coyote Media)

Pathfinder
(Roc/NAL/Penguin, Overseas: Cajun Coyote Media)

Mercenary
(Cajun Coyote Media, est. 2016)

You can find my eBooks on these venders (link initiates search):

Amazon

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About the Author

Laura E. Reeve began writing science fiction and fantasy in the fifth grade, leading to a lifelong obsession for building worlds. Along the way, she spent nine years as a US Air Force officer, holding operational command positions and having the opportunity to escort Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty inspectors. Her civilian jobs have ranged from Research Chemist to Software Development Lead. She currently lives in Monument, CO with her husband and a Shiba Inu who runs the household.

Visit her author web site at
AncestralStars.com
, or her F&SF image and stock web site at
ccm.AncestralStars.com
.