Shadow Lands (3 page)

C
ayan disembarked
with the rest of his men at the large harbor on the other side of the island. Here boats loitered, anchored in the large bay and bobbing in the swell of the tide. The docks were busy with traders and fisherman, loading or unloading cargo. One ship was allowing passengers to disembark; wide-eyed and smiling spectators, no doubt hoping to catch a glimpse of the Chosen.

Within the crowd were people that were, without a doubt, Shanti’s distant kin. Blond and light-haired people with pale skin and unusually light eyes, they moved through the crowd like silent predators, their bodies honed, swords slung at their sides, and eyes watchful. Their high cheekbones and slim noses meant many of these people could’ve been Shanti or Rohnan’s brother or sister. With many generations since their people’s split—not to mention the long journey east—the blood lines should’ve been diluted. Maybe they were and it was just that the blood of Shanti’s people continued to assert itself. Cayan didn’t know, but looks this similar could not be imagined.

“They watch the docks closely,” Sanders said as he moved closer to Cayan. The men gathered behind them on the gravel path just above the winding and floating landing places for boats and ships.

“With so many strangers, some of them out for personal gain, things can easily get out of hand,” Cayan said.

“SeaFarer didn’t say what’s got the Shadow people all riled up?” Sanders’ gaze darted all over, pausing on some longer than others.

“No. Something is wrong with the trials, and there have been more killings in the city and the Trespasser Village than normal. Other than that, he didn’t know much.”

“And this Inkna went into the trials?”

“Early yesterday, apparently.” Cayan stopped a few paces from the docks as a wide path led away from the harbor along a copse of trees. He gestured for Leilius to join them. When the youth, dressed in the plain gray he often used for sneaking around their city, was standing right beside him, Cayan said, “Now is the time. I don’t want you interfering with anything, I just want you wandering around the huts. Find out who is where, find out who seems dangerous, and notice if any of the Shadow people are around.”

Leilius frowned before nodding. “I won’t let you down, sir.”

Sanders snorted.

Cayan patted the youth’s shoulder. “Good. And stay safe.”

A tall woman with blonde-white hair passed them. Cayan felt a light presence touch his mind. Her face turned slowly. Shapely eyebrows sank minutely over her luminous green eyes. She passed without uttering a word, but a lingering question haunted her steps as her mind pulled away. She was one of many strongly
Gifted
minds in this area that Cayan had felt.

“They know my mental power level,” Cayan said softly as he started walking again. “I’m confusing them. I can feel it. I’m constantly getting light mental touches.”

“Why would that be confusing them?” Sanders wanted to know.

“I don’t know.”

“Where’s Burson?” Daniels asked from behind Cayan. His voice was tight with strain. Cayan’s oldest commander adapted quickly and efficiently, but they’d seen more than one Inkna on the docks, and heard about many others spread around both the city and huts. Based on the looks they were receiving, the Inkna knew who Cayan and his men were. Cayan’s men viewed the Inkna with just as much hostility. It was going to be an extremely tense few days while they waited for Shanti.

That familiar ache sounded through Cayan’s middle as he thought of leaving her. A strange ripping tore his insides. He couldn’t shake the feeling.

Making his way up the gradual incline to the large brick walls of the city, he said, “Burson is scouting out the area on his own.”

“We could use his input,” Daniels said.

“He doesn’t have any. Not since we left Shanti.” Cayan felt the mental touch again. A man stepped out through the trees ahead of them. He held a bow worn from use, with a sword strapped to his trim waist. A dagger adorned his other side. His light-brown gaze shocked into Cayan as the mental touch turned into a
poke.

This man was strong with power. A little over three-fourths that of his own, and sharp with it. Cayan could feel his menace, riding on the threat of violence. Those same attributes etched every movement of his body. He stood at ease, but perfectly balanced, as if expecting to pull his sword at any moment.

The small hairs on Cayan’s neck stood on end as Sanders stiffened beside him, but he ignored the mental contact. He didn’t know the protocol of this place and the last thing he wanted to do was incite a fight. Harder to ignore was the challenging stare. Cayan knew exactly what that was about, and he wasn’t in the habit of backing down.

“Bring Rohnan up,” Cayan barked, pulling his eyes away from the man. If he let his gaze linger any longer, he’d offer his own challenge.

Cayan glanced at Daniels. “Burson is having three different competing… choices, I suppose. He told me what he’s sure of, but something happened that pushed us into murky waters. He’s… afraid. He thinks being on this island is going to decide our fate, but there are so many paths, and so many outcomes… he can’t make enough sense out of them to help.”

“We were doing just fine without him,” Sanders huffed. “We’ll figure it out.”

“Yes, Captain,” came Rohnan’s quiet, sing-song voice, lilted with his foreign accent. Sorrow and trepidation still ruled his thoughts after leaving his sister, but his strength was coming back. He had a duty to perform, just like her, and pushed ahead with everything he had. Cayan admired him for it.

“Do I allow a mental touch from these people?” Cayan asked, seeing another light-haired man standing beside a large wooden gate that marked the entrance of the city. His hands hung loosely at his sides, but he stood ready for any problems. Cayan could feel it in his emotions and read it in his stance. He must’ve been a guard, though he dressed no differently from any of the other Shadow people.

Suspicious eyes scanned Cayan and his men as they passed. A large square opened up before them with a kind of stage at the rear, currently bare. Lining the square were stalls selling food or other items. A spicy smell wafted toward them, cut with an occasional whiff of horse manure. Many people loitered, some talking amongst themselves, some simply standing and looking around. A building rose up behind the structure, two stories, square, and fortress-like. A window overlooked the city’s entrance from the second story, showcasing the shadowy outline of a lone person standing within.

Answering Cayan with eyes darting, Rohnan said, “If it is an Inkna, attack immediately. Cripple, but do not kill.” Rohnan’s voice took on an edge. “The Inkna want kill us all. You, most of all.” He still had trouble with the subtleties of the language.

“Those Inkna tried to kill me once. Didn’t work out so well for them.” Sanders grimaced as he spotted one of them and stared him down.

“I figured,” Cayan said as they veered to the right, following SeaFarer’s directions.

Burson had told Cayan they should all stay in the city, saying that SeaFarer should arrange their accommodations. Surprising Cayan with his readiness to take on the extra duty, SeaFarer wasted no time, finding them a place to stay shortly after docking. He’d only needed to speak to the nearest Shadow person he saw. That was it.

Seafarer might not be friends with the people who ran this island, but he was trusted by them. That could only bode well for Cayan and his men, since the coarse sea captain seemed to be rooting for them and Shanti.

“And if the Shadow people make mental contact?” Cayan persisted.

“I not sure—so far you have surprised them with your
Gift,”
Rohnan answered, only occasionally looking at someone he passed.
“
With that well of power within you, more available to you now that you have accessed it twice, you seem to have more than a full dose of the
Gift.
At least, so history would have us believe.
I also surprise them, but more for my appearance.”

“You look like one of their siblings,” Xavier said from somewhere in their crowd.

“The question of distant kin is no longer an issue. If only it help.” Rohnan’s voice was dry and somewhat brittle.

“It might.” Sanders pointed at a square building with unfamiliar writing above the large door. “SeaFarer said the blue, brick house. Why someone would paint brick that God-awful blue, I don’t know.”

“Can you read the writing?” Rohnan asked as Cayan pushed through the door. Cayan didn’t hear a response until Rohnan said, “Now can you imagine why someone would paint one of fifteen of the visitor living quarters blue?”

“I see being an asshole runs in the family,” Sanders grumbled.

Cayan climbed the stairs and sought out the first blue circle above a brown, nondescript door, which SeaFarer said would be his quarters. He turned to the men gathered in the hall. “Sanders, break everyone off in pairs. Two people per room. I want an experienced man with a non-experienced one.”

“What about the girl, sir?” Sanders asked.

“Put her with Marc.”

“Why me?” Marc whined from way in the back.

“Because you won’t peek at her, you idiot,” Sanders said as he started walking down the corridor. “And if you do, she’ll beat you bloody.”

“Ruisa,” Cayan said as she passed. The young girl stopped in front of him and looked up. Unlike the boys her age, she showed no fear of his presence or his status. The girl was a tomcat, tough and unflinching. She had been an excellent choice, despite her lack of fighting experience.

“Yes, sir?”

“I want you and Marc to talk, not only about what you know, but what he knows. Every night I want you talking. If you run into anything that looks… dangerous, try to get a sample and analyze it. I want you both familiar with antidotes, and if we need it, I want your guidance with… attacks. In the day, you two are to separate in case there is a problem. If someone needs help, one of you will need to administer aid quickly, so I want one of you with each group at all times. Also, never—and I mean
never—
are you to be alone, do you hear me?”

Cayan’s power blasted into her as his gaze turned intense, demanding her attention. With wide eyes, and losing all the stubborn determination of youth, she nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“I will be telling Marc the same. You two will be sought and killed for the part you play. More importantly is that some people here are living without fear of the law. They’ll take what they want, when they want it. A pretty, young girl is something a great many men want. Maybe you can fend off one, but not a couple. Have someone with you at all times.”

Ruisa gulped. “Yes, sir.”

Cayan nodded. “Good. Now catch up with the others. And tell Marc what I said about talking. He is shy to a fault—he’ll need encouragement.”

Ruisa’s expression darkened.

Realizing how that had sounded, Cayan added, “Shanti used to kick him in the head to encourage him. If words don’t help, try that.”

A relieved smile graced Ruisa’s lips. “Yes, sir,” she said. She turned and ran down the hall to catch up with the others.

Cayan turned to his own room. He took out his sword before opening the door. He entered quickly and ducked to one side in case someone had made it here before him. No knives or arrows flew through the air and landed in the door behind him. That was a good sign.

Quietly, he shut the door and moved through the sparse space. The room was half the size of his bedroom back home, with a simple bed, simple wood chairs, rugs and paintings on the wall. Cayan checked under the bed before he rolled his eyes at his ridiculousness and filled the room with his
Gift.
There were no minds in there save his.

“I have one of the most powerful minds in the city, and I don’t think to use it to see if there’s an intruder in my room.” Cayan shook his head as he dropped to the wood chair. His voice sounded loud in the empty room.

He allowed himself one moment of rest before he started to think about their situation. With so many Inkna present, the island was festering with enemies. Never mind keeping people out of trouble—how was he going to keep them
alive?

L
eilius drifted
in between two huts and leisurely passed by a water spout where two men were leaning close together and chatting. Leilius adopted his unassuming walk toward the nearest tree, and then loitered behind the trunk, letting his body go still and his mind slow down. Almost immediately, he was rewarded with, “I heard a woman went into the trials today.”

The man was using the trader speech Sanders made sure that every army person and trader in their city knew. Leilius had hated learning it, thinking he’d never be asked to go on trading ventures, but now he was thankful and determined to ask Rohnan to teach him other languages. A big part of being a spy would be understanding people from different places—S’am would want him learning everything he could.

“So did I,” the other man said. A squeak sounded, the water spout being used. Water gushed into a bucket, masking the voices for a moment, but soon Leilius heard, “—eyed girl. Has to be. Who else has all that mind-power, eh?”