Rise of the Red Harbinger (53 page)

Desmond stood and gripped Baltaszar by the neck of his shirt. “We haven’t friggin even mentioned ya, ya spoiled little bitch! I haven’t seen my friend in a year! Neither of us’ve even thought about ya! Who the hell are ya ta come ta me like that?” Desmond lifted him and threw him toward the front door. Baltaszar hit a table and then crashed to the floor.

His back hurt in a few places, as well as his elbow, but the ale numbed most of the pain. He stood up and let the manifestation course through him. He flicked his wrists and two fireballs appeared, hovering just about his palms. Cyrus yelled from behind the counter, “Baltaszar, put those away! Put ‘em out right now!”

Baltaszar barely heard him, his focus solely on Desmond. He flung his fireballs at Desmond, but something was holding them back. Desmond smiled at him.
Bastard. He’s stopping them.
They stood like that for several moments. The fireballs shifted mere inches back and forth as Desmond returned Baltaszar’s cold stare. As Baltaszar pushed and pushed, the anger slowly dissipated.
Damn it. If I don’t extinguish them, I’ll burn down the whole bloody Elephant.
He let go of his manifestation and the fireballs blinked out. “I’m…sorry,” he said sheepishly. He put his hands on his hips and stared at the ground. Baltaszar truly felt badly at how reckless he’d acted. He walked to Desmond slowly and clapped his shoulder, “I’m sorry, man.” Desmond just stared at him. He turned to Cyrus, “You too, Cyrus. I’m sorry,” and walked upstairs without waiting for a response. He could feel the eyes of everyone in the room pressing into his back.

Baltaszar fell into his bed and stared at the ceiling for more than half an hour. He’d never let his anger influence him so severely, and he’d been angry plenty of times. I don’t even care if the rest of them are mad. I just hope Cyrus forgives me. Orijin, please let him forgive me. I’ve ruined any chance with Anahi, but please let Cyrus forgive me. Someone knocked at his door. “Go away!”

The door opened, despite Baltaszar’s command, and Anahi walked in, a nervous look on her face. She shut the door and laid next to Baltaszar on the bed. She stared up at the ceiling along with him. “Hey.” The sight of her brought the final touches of sobering up. “Still fergettin’ ta lock the door…”

Well she isn’t yelling. She doesn’t even look mad.
“You’re the last person I would have expected to come up here and not yell at me.”

“I think I deserve more credit than yer givin me.”

“I’m not complaining. It’s just, I figured that if you did speak to me again, you wouldn’t have nice things to say. I definitely would never have expected you to lay next to me and say ‘Hey’.” He smirked.

“I could be mad. I could very easily be mad. But I know where all that down there came from, an’ so I figure it’s better ta not focus on what ya probably already know ya did wrong.” She turned her head toward Baltaszar. “Ya did apologize. An’ we all saw ya realized yer mistake.”

“Cyrus?”

“Cyrus isn’t mad. He was more concerned about ya. Wanted ta make sure ya weren’t takin’ it out on yerself up here. Look, our conversation earlier. I coulda handled that better. I know. Ye’ve been busy at the House o’ Darian an’ I shoulda understood that ya wouldn’t have time ta talk ta her yet. I guess I just got excited when I saw ya here an’ got selfish. I care fer ya, Baltaszar. I’m still waitin’ fer when yer ready. As long as ya promise that I’m not wastin’ my time.”

“I’ll be completely honest with you.” He paused and looked at her. “I have feelings for both of you. It’s not that I want her over you, it’s just that I have a history with her and I need to know whether that is definitely over with. We were both emotional when she broke things off and I need to know that that’s how she really felt. I could easily just tell you that I’m done with her and that she doesn’t matter, but that wouldn’t be completely true. If I were to start something with you right now, I would still have Yasaman at the back of my mind, wondering about where we stand. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but that is how it is with me.”

“Yer right. That’s not what I want ta hear. How long do you expect me ta keep waiting? The past seven months have felt like forever. I can’t wait another seven.”

“How about a week? Help me sneak out of here tonight and I’ll go back to Haedon immediately.”

“Are ya mad? Don’t ya have a mission ta worry about?”

“The mission will still be there when I return. Trust me. I’ll take care of that once I’m done in Haedon.”

“Why not just tell yer friends what ya want ta do? Doesn’t seem like ya have ta sneak around.”

“If I get in trouble for this, I don’t want any of them to be associated. It wouldn’t be fair. And Marlowe, our Headmaster at the House, promised me a long time ago that he would allow me to go back home once I finished reading
The
Book of Orijin
. I finished it months ago and I’m still waiting. I need to go back there to tie up more than one loose end. There are at least two people that I need to talk to. Look, I can leave tonight and get there in two to three days. I can handle all of my responsibilities within a few hours, and then I’ll come right back. Five to six days at most. I promise.”

A tear flowed from her eye to the bed. Baltaszar wasn’t sure if it was genuine or because of the position of her head. “Fine, I can handle that. But if yer not back here within a week, I’m not gonna wait fer ya any longer. Not that the boys are linin’ up ta see me, but I’ll make it a point ta forget ya.”

“The boys are stupid to not be lining up. You saw how jealous I was down there. I don’t know how anyone else wouldn’t act that way.”

“Yeah, yeah. So when do ya want my help?”

“Why not right now? I don’t need much from you. I just need you to tell the others to leave me alone until the morning. That way I am long gone by the time they notice.”

“How will ya leave?”

Baltaszar nodded his head, “Window. The jump isn’t far. I’ll grab my horse and ride away.”

Anahi seemed reluctant. “When do ya want me ta go back downstairs?”

Baltaszar rose from the bed and pulled Anahi by the hand to do the same. He held her by the waist and once again looked intently at her as she put her arms on his shoulders. He wanted to kiss her. He’d wanted to since he returned to Vandenar, but he was nervous that she’d be mad. The hell with it. Baltaszar took that chance and kissed her deeply. Anahi immediately kissed back. They stood there for several moments before Baltaszar pulled away. “I know you were strict about us waiting to do that, but I think we both needed it.”

Anahi laughed. “For once, ya did somethin’ smart.”

He grinned toothily. “Now you can go back. I’ll pack up my things, wait a few minutes, and then I’ll leave.” She put her head against his shoulder. “And when I see you again, I’ll be all yours.” Baltaszar hugged her tightly and then kissed her hand as she walked away. She turned and smiled once she got to the door, then blew him a kiss before she walked away.

He shut the door and locked it, then gathered his things.
I guess I finally made a decision about Yas. Right? Does that mean that I’m finally over her now?
Baltaszar sighed.
What if the feelings return when I see her?
He mumbled to himself, “I suppose I’ll find out when I get there.”

Baltaszar looked out the window. No one. He climbed out and dropped to the ground below. The impact was a little harder than he expected, but he was sure the pain in his ankle would go away. His back still ached a bit from his fight with Desmond.
Stop being a pansy.
Baltaszar crept to his horse, untied it and mounted quickly, then rode away into the night as fast as he could. He had a more important mission to worry about than Marlowe’s.

Chapter 21

Rage

From
The Book of Orijin,
Verse Three Hundred Eighteen

We have nourished you with emotions so that you may live fruitful lives. Only by mastering your emotions will your lives find success.

Seven months before
Baltaszar would not have been able to make such a clandestine journey so easily. His second attempt to cross the river had been infinitely more successful, especially since he’d heated the water around him as he swam so that no poisonous snakes could bite him. All he had to do once across was to create a big enough fire to dry himself quickly, and it was as if he’d never stepped foot into the water. He’d traveled another two days since crossing and luckily the snow had only started a few hours ago. Baltaszar missed the wool cloak that he used to have, but at least Marlowe had provided him with a grey wool coat. No one at the House ever had to worry about clothes. Baltaszar always wondered where they came from, but always forgot to ask.

The edge of the Never lay a few minutes away, he could already see the clearing because of the fireball that floated in the air a few yards ahead of him, even in the steady snowfall. It had been what he’d practiced the most in his time at the House. He loved to flick his wrists and make fireballs appear. Most of the time, he would release them right away. The fireballs came in handy during his late night escapades with his friends
. I hope they forgive me for leaving them. I’ve already pissed them off once in a big way.

He stepped out of the forest and into the calmness of a sleeping Haedon. Baltaszar had worked the plan over in his mind repeatedly since he left Vandenar.
Speak to Oran Von. See what is left of home. Speak to Yasaman. Now I just have to go through with the plan. Especially the last part.

Baltaszar wanted most to see Yas again, yet it was the last thing he wanted. He needed answers from Von more than anything and he needed the element of surprise. Baltaszar released his manifestation and walked on in darkness. The midnight streets were just as familiar as they had been seven months ago, despite the accumulating snow. Oran Von lived on the northern end of the village, on the other side of Haedon Square. Baltaszar would avoid the Square at all costs. He’d been unsure of what emotions would arise if he went back there and he could not risk those emotions overwhelming his confidence
. Who knows when I’ll have another opportunity to do this?
He drove all thoughts of his father, for the time being, to the furthest reaches of his mind.

Despite the snow no lanterns were lit at this time of night. If the snow persisted so aggressively his footprints would be gone by the time his business in Haedon was finished.
Von. Home. Yas. Leave. And back to Anahi in plenty of time. It all sounds so easy. If I’m lucky, Bo will be hiding here, too. I can sneak him back with me and find a safe place for him. Maybe even in Vandenar.
Baltaszar chuckled at the thought of Bo’az eating an elephant steak.

He walked on through the calmness of the snowfall until the northern half of Haedon was in sight. He had seen Oran Von’s house a handful of times, on those few occasions when he’d joined his father on an errand.  He walked down the road leading to Von’s house. He wondered if Von’s guards would be outside at this time of night, and in this weather. After his father’s death, Baltaszar couldn’t imagine any other disturbances in Haedon that would cause a threat to Von.

“No guards,” he mumbled to himself. Baltaszar had never actually been inside the house. He chose the closest window. Though Von had once been a tall man, the windows were not unusually high. He pried a pane open as quietly as he could.
Good thing I had so much practice with Yas’ window!

Baltaszar hoisted himself up and scaled the window. He hit the floor with a loud squeak and slipped onto his back.
Bloody snow!

A deep voice boomed. “What! Who is there?” Its owner was unmistakable.

Baltaszar scrambled to get up. “Tell me this isn’t his bedroom,” he sighed. With a hushed voice, Baltaszar hurriedly pleaded, “Please don’t be afraid. It is Baltaszar Kontez. I mean you no harm. I only want to speak with you. I have questions about my father and I know you have answers.”

A heavy knock came at the door. Von answered in the dark, “I am fine! Just some unexpected company, but I am quite fine! Make a pot of tea for me, then bring it in when it is ready!” Von lit a lantern and Baltaszar could finally see. He hobbled over to a chair by the wall and invited Baltaszar to sit next to him. As old as Von was, he hadn’t really aged since Baltaszar had last seen him. “You look different,” Von said. “Filled out. Have you finally gone to the House of Darian?” He asked the question with a smile.

“Yes, sir.”

“And since you made it all the way there you obviously had at least one stop into the City of the Fallen. Oh Orijin, I hate that name. That would be the only reason for you to have questions. You have figured out who I am.”

“I have, Master Von. Or should I say, Vitticus Khou.”

Von smiled genuinely. “Ha, nobody has called me that in a long, long time. I’d almost forgotten that name, myself.”

“Why are you not afraid of me?” Baltaszar was almost offended that he had been able to sit down and talk with Von so easily.

“I stopped worrying about death the night your father died. The night I allowed him to die.”

“What’s that?” Baltaszar gulped. Von wasn’t supposed to be this open about things.

“I never wanted your father to die, dear boy. It was his idea. I only agreed to go along with it because I grew so exhausted arguing with him. Surely you remember me coming to your farm over the years? Before his confinement?” Baltaszar nodded. “He always asked for you and Bo’az to leave us because he knew I wanted to argue about telling you.”

“Telling me what?”

“The truth, boy! The truth! He lied to you about that black line! He knew what it was! He came to Haedon because of it! You had that line from the time you were a little boy, the same night your mother disappeared. It scared the shit out of him.”

Baltaszar’s focus did not waver as a hulking man came in with a teapot and two cups. He set them down on a table next to Von, filled both cups and handed one to each of them. “Look, Zin Marlowe told me as soon as I got to the House of Darian that my father was a liar. At least he sacrificed himself to save me. I love my father, more than anyone could ever know, but at the moment I have mixed feelings about how he handled my life. I know my mother was abducted. I know why he came here. What I don’t know is, why was it so important to hide me here? Why didn’t he go looking for my mother? Is there any chance that my mother is still alive? Marlowe teased me with information when I first met him and then barely spoke to me again.”

“Shortly after your mother vanished your father went to the Tower of the Blind. He hoped to find out if he would ever see your mother again. Hoped for clues on how to find her. He received a different prophecy and I doubt it had anything to do with your mother.”

“What was it?”

“I have no idea. He never shared it. But it scared him so much that he brought you and Bo’az here. I imagine he thought he could get the better of the prophecy by hiding you here for your whole life.”

“So why could you not go to the Tower and ask for the same prophecy?”

“That is not how it works. The Augurs will never share a prophecy that has to do with someone else. Prophecies are private. Sacred.”

“Fine. My mother, though. Is there any hope that she is alive?”

Von sighed. “I suppose I could not give you a definite answer. But realistically, I would say no, Baltaszar. She has been gone for almost your whole lifetime. If she was abducted, fourteen years is a long time to keep someone prisoner. I do not believe that Raya abandoned you, Bo’az, and Joakwin. Though I never actually met your mother, her family was well-known throughout Galicea and southern Mireya. They were upstanding people. Good character. Your mother and her brother, your uncle, were not known to be any different. In my opinion she was taken. I would imagine by an agent of Jahmash. It wasn’t King Edmund’s way to kidnap Descendants.”

“Why didn’t my father try to look for her? Or was he too afraid to do that, as well?” Baltaszar felt tense. For seventeen years his father had been the greatest man he knew. And it turned out that the man he knew was a lie.

“I can only imagine how you must feel about him, especially to find it all out from someone else. But hold your judgment for now. There was much good in Joakwin. Asarei searched for your mother because Joakwin refused to leave you and Bo’az for even a moment. For years Asarei searched Ashur and beyond. Not a soul had heard of or seen your mother. It was as if she had vanished from existence. Given her manifestation, she might have the ability to do just that. But even then, she would have returned to you at some point if she was alive.”

Her manifestation?
“What was it? Marlowe never got around to telling me.”

“It was something rather remarkable. She was able to travel to the Three Rings and back. I imagine that was why she was abducted. It is an attractive thing for a great many people to be able to interact with the dead.”

Baltaszar steeled himself for a moment. If he let himself go, the conversation would have made him more emotional than he wanted in front of Von. He changed the subject quickly. “Who is this ‘Asarei’ that you speak of? Marlowe mentioned him as well.”

Von nodded. “Asarei was a Maven at the House a long time ago, though he was not much older than your parents. He was one of very few Taurani to leave his people for the House. Once Edmund took the throne in Cerysia and deemed Descendants criminals, Marlowe decided that the House would abandon all violent acts. That meant that Descendants could no longer learn combat, nor could they use their manifestations to attack. I am sure you know those rules well. However, Asarei vehemently opposed this decision. Once it became clear that Marlowe would not change his mind, Asarei left. Many rumors circulated that he left to start his own version of the House of Darian.”

“We could use a man like that at the House. People are still upset about that rule. We do certain things in secret, though.”

“I do not blame you. I have my…connections…to the rest of Ashur. There is a growing fear that Jahmash’s return is not far off. You would do well to learn how to attack. Discreetly, of course.”

Baltaszar suddenly realized that they’d been talking for quite a while. He looked outside to see the sky was still black and dotted with white snowflakes. “I came here expecting more tension. I still have to decide how I feel about my father, but I don’t think that will be sorted out for some time. I was hoping to see my house again before I leave Haedon. Will I have trouble if I go there?”

“Ah. That clears up that argument.”

Baltaszar looked at him sideways. “What do you mean?”

“The night after your father died someone returned to your house. However, once the people of Haedon found out someone was in there, they stormed your farm and set everything on fire. In the darkness of the night nobody could be sure of whether it was you or Bo’az there. Now it is clear that it was Bo’az. However, he was with three men who took him into the forest. They killed and hurt many of our people who tried to follow. In fairness, our people were trying to do the same to them. From the descriptions I was given of these three strangers, I believe one of them was Rhadames Slade, an old friend of mine and your father’s.”

“I met him. The same night that my father died. He was the one who told me to go to the House of Darian.”

“If Slade is with Bo’az then he is safe. But as I said, there is nothing left where your house and farm once were. Having put on the charade of wanting to sentence your father, I could not refuse those who insisted on destroying and clearing the property. I apologize, lad.”

“I do not blame you. I just hoped to see it, for old time’s sake I guess. I should be going. I should be far from Haedon by the time the sun is up.”

“I wish only the best for you, Baltaszar. I hope you accomplish great things at the House. I would strongly suggest, if you have the time, go to the Tower and see if that prophecy had anything to do with you. It only makes sense that it was about you or Bo’az. At least find out. If I catch wind of anything pertaining to Bo’az, I will have my connections contact you at the House.” Baltaszar rose and shook Von’s hand heartily. He was about to climb the window when Von stopped him. “Dear boy, why not just go out through the door? It would prove much easier.” Baltaszar reddened and walked to the bedroom door.

“Thank you. This was more helpful than you know.”

***

Baltaszar had been surprised at how easy it had been to get in and speak to Von, as well as get the answers he’d wanted. He was almost disappointed that Von hadn’t argued or put up a fight. Darkness still prevailed, though Baltaszar speculated he had about two hours until dawn. Yasaman’s farm was within sight.
It’s been almost a year; she’ll be so happy to see me again. Right?

Baltaszar could see Yas’ home clearly enough to discern a flicker of light through one window. He lifted his knees high as he stepped through the snow to the house and peeked in a window. Yas’ house was only one level and he could see the door to her room. A portly woman exited Yas’ door and Baltaszar stifled a gasp.
That can’t be her. A new maid, maybe?
The woman walked toward the kitchen and Baltaszar turned to circle around to Yas’ own window. If he could avoid confrontation with Yas’ parents or anyone else, things would go smoothly. As he took a step, one of the floor boards of the porch groaned loudly, causing Baltaszar to freeze. Footsteps immediately bounded to the front door of the house as Baltaszar froze where he stood.