The Eyes of a Doll (The World of Shijuren Book 2) (40 page)

I bared my teeth as I realized the ones in front of us were not expert cavalrymen, no matter their other fighting skills. I held us back from charging too impetuously, but as the distance closed I finally let Deor lead out in a canter that everyone else could manage.

Our horses were not fresh, but our pace meant they were not leaden with fatigue. Markov’s guards accelerated to meet our cantering charge, but their horses stumbled. One almost fell, pushing its rider’s sword and small shield out of position. I forgot about the rider as I saw Sebastijan take aim at him.

“Piri, take the one on the far left.” I felt more than saw her shift her focus. I pointed my aim between the two in the middle. With shield and sword ready, I muttered to Deor. “Now’s your time to shine, lad.”

He shook his head and let out a mighty neigh.

I led him to run right along the horse to our left. At the last moment, I leaned out to bash my shield into the horse’s muzzle. In its fatigued state it reared and stumbled, tossing the rider to the ground.

At the same time, I threw a cleaving shot at the one to my right. He managed to get his shield around to block the shot, but I was not disappointed. Blocking my shot would reduce the power on his return blow. I was right, though the combined momentum of our charges meant his blow still hammered me. Nevertheless, it bounced off of my scale armor and Deor kept me in the saddle as we went through their line.

I had created a hole for Gibroz and the others, so I spurred Deor onward. Piri, Maja, and Sebastijan could deal with the remaining riders. Ahead, the four guards in the wagon had jumped out and formed a line before us. Gibroz and his people slid off their horses well before the line, so they could marshal their own line.

Meanwhile, Markov ran up the hill on a path that Deor surely could not climb. I slid off Deor to follow, but realized suddenly that my armor had become extremely warm. I looked up to see Markov’s grandmother focusing intently on me, her face twisted into the Great Wolf’s snarl, holding more rage than I thought a person could.

Land magic
, I fairly shouted to myself, dropped Ragnar’s shield, and frantically undid the buckles to the let the armor drop.

As my armor clattered to the road, one of Markov’s men rushed me, but I picked up the shield and was somewhat in position when he reached me. I took advantage of his charge’s lack of control, and instead of swinging my sword awkwardly, I stepped into him with my shield as he passed, sending him into the hillside.

I had lost awareness of the battlefield, so I simply sprang ahead towards the trail Markov had climbed. The rush of a missed blow past my neck and a shouted curse rewarded my decision, and I simply kept going, charging up the hill’s path. 

Gasping, I reached the top. Markov stood there beside a bag of money and holding two shorter swords.

“There’s nowhere to go, Markov.”

“I know I’m a dead man, Sevener, but I’m glad you got here first. I should have killed you when we were kicking you on the street. I’m going to finish that now.”

He stepped forward quickly, feinting a jab with his right sword, prompting me to angle me shield to block that thrust away. He stepped in immediately with the sword in his left hand slashing at the gap that opened when my shield moved. I managed to slide my blade between us to block that slash.

From that point on I barely remember the fight. Markov used his two swords aggressively, throwing shot after shot at me. Somehow I managed to keep my shield and sword between his swords and my body, though it was not easy.

Fortunately, no one can keep up that kind of pace forever. In the midst of a flurry he hesitated, and I flipped my wrist for a quick slash along his left arm. The cut was not deep, but it forced him to drop the sword in that hand.

Markov’s reaction was to attack even more ferociously. He pounded at my shield again and again, and if he did not like to beat people with his fists, he showed no hesitation to beat people with his sword. Eventually, he managed to drive my shield down far enough to find an opening to stick his sword through my left shoulder.

I gasped in pain, dropping Ragnar’s shield, but his attack had left him open. Desperately, I thrust my sword through his chest, crunching through his ribs in my own rage and fear.

He stumbled back off of my blade. He glared, trying to curse me once more but all he could manage was to spit blood in my direction. He nearly teetered off of the cliff, but tripped forward to fall face down about two feet away.

My breath heaved as I collected myself. I kneeled and hacked off the remains of my left sleeve with my sword and used the cloth to clean my sword. I tried to sheathe it, but my hands were shaking too much so I placed it on the ground before me and took deep, shuddering breaths.

Gibroz, Andreyev, and Gabrijela arrived then. They moved to stand over Markov’s body by the cliffside.

“Piri’s down below just in case,” said Sebastijan, who had followed them up the hill with Maja. She started fussing at my shoulder wound.

Andreyev picked up the bag. “It’s fuckin’ gold, Gibroz. More than this fucker should have.” He kicked Markov.

Gibroz looked at the bag, looked at Markov, and then at me. “Get his shoes, Sevener.”

I stared at him, not comprehending his words immediately.

“Get his fuckin’ shoes!”

I rose painfully and went over to kneel at Markov’s feet. I took off the turnshoes that Markov had stolen from me about a month before. Then, Gibroz kicked Markov’s body off of the cliff into the pine trees along the mountainside.

He turned without a word and walked away. Andreyev followed—after punching my wounded shoulder and smirking at my gasp of pain.

Gabrijela paused for a moment.

“He’ll want to talk to you soon. Better you come to him than he has to hunt you down.”

I nodded.

“Tomorrow?”

She nodded and started to speak, but I cut her off.

“Tomorrow is fine for all of us to talk.”

She also reached out to my wounded shoulder, but she caressed it softly for but a brief moment and then followed Gibroz.

The last morning of Heamoanne was cloudy and rainy. Not cold, of course, not in this terribly hot place, but at least clouds defeated the sun’s legions. The clouds also suited my mood. I wore a madder-dyed tunic, my last surviving tunic from the Seven Kingdoms. It reminded me of my past, which made me think of my future.

I sighed and looked at the table. My sword and saex sat on it, alongside the blades of Piri, Sebastijan, and Maja. We had spent the morning cleaning them.

My body ached everywhere from the long ride the day before, but nobody laughed at me. We were all sore. Even Maja was quiet. My shoulder hurt, but Zoe’s salve had done its usual wonders, and Ragnar’s ale had helped too. We had all drained several mugs of it after a lunch of shopska salads and a light soup with chicken.

The taproom was mostly empty for the first time in months. Honker and his family had gratefully packed up and gone home that morning. I had promised Ludmilja that I would visit and that she and I would ride Deor soon.

Everyone carefully did not notice the tears in my eyes as Ludmilja walked away.

“So they’re safe?” asked Piri.

“Yes. Markov is the only one who had a reason to attack them. I guess he worried that they had seen him and the two Gimerrai at the picnic. Foolish, really, because we wouldn’t have found them if they hadn’t attacked him. The connection between the Gimerrai that Petros saw was the important thing.”

“And Markov was behind all of this?”

I did not answer.

“Sevener,” prodded Piri. “Markov was behind all of this?”

I smiled at Piri. “No, he wasn’t.”

“Who was?”

I shrugged but gave no other answer.

“You know but won’t tell us.”

I shrugged again. “We have to visit Gibroz’s.”

“We expected so,” said Sebastijan. “Fortunately, I bet they’re sorer from the ride than we are.”

“Andreyev may bet on horses, but he sure as Hades doesn’t ride them.” Maja laughed.

“Our pitcher’s empty anyway.” Piri chuckled. “Might as well give Ragnar time to brew some more.”

We laughed and started returning blades to their appropriate spots.

“We’ll be back in a while. We have to tell Gibroz to fuck off,” I shouted to Ragnar.

Zoe leaned out of the kitchen. “Edward!”

“Sorry, Zoe.” My grin abated not at her disapproving eyebrow.

“I’m not stitching you up again. Not today at least.”

I laughed and led the four of us out of the Faerie. The sun was now peeking through the clouds, which had started to flee. It would be bright and sunny by midafternoon.

This time the ravaged man at Gibroz’s merely nodded and led us upstairs. Gibroz and his people looked exhausted. Vladan was the only one who did not, and I bet Gibroz’s temper had made him keep quiet all morning.

“Well, here you fuckin’ are.”

“I need to thank Markov’s ghost for breaking in my shoes. They’re very comfortable. Which of the godlings in this damned city should I go to?” I leaned back and waved my foot at Gibroz.

“I don’t know as I’ve ever fuckin’ met anyone as fuckin’ crazy as you.”

“Maybe not. What idiot would get involved in this sort of thing in the first place?”

He grunted a laugh. “Now tell me what you fuckin’ couldn’t yesterday.”

“Markov has been skimming from your lake trade. He was hoping you’d blame Ylli, which you did. As your money guy, he could hide what he was doing, and carrying money would not be suspicious.”

“I fuckin’ knew all that. How the fuck did you fuckin’ find out?”

“He got stupid. He beat up Honker.”

“And made you a fuckin’ watchdog.”

I nodded. “Exactly, but he also used the same guys that he always used, and then left a witness who saw everything. Not only did he give me a way to identify the men I killed two days ago after leaving here, he did it in the way he always did things.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“He let them beat up Honker while he stood back and watched. He was really good with swords, but he did not like to beat up people.”

Gibroz leaned back in surprise. “You’re fuckin’ right, I never fuckin’ noticed that.” He looked back at me. “So you know it was him that beat up Big Nose.”

“Yes. And there’s another thing.”

“What?”

“His grandmother.”

“Wasn’t that a fuckin’ thing? I had no fuckin’ idea that she was a fuckin’ wizard. Gabrijela here earned a fuckin’ bonus for dealin’ with her, let me fuckin’ tell you.”

I smiled at Gabrijela, who shook her head ruefully.

“He’s not telling you everything, Gibroz.”

“No, I’m not. But I did tell you all you fucking need.”

Gibroz peered up at me. Time stretched as he debated what to do. “Get the fuck out of here, Sevener. I owe you a fuckin’ favor. That favor may just be not fuckin’ makin’ you tell me all you fuckin’ know.”

“You’d be bored as the Trickster if you knew all I know.”

“I’ve not fuckin’ idea what that fuckin’ means. Just fuckin’ go. I’m sure I’ll fuckin’ hear from you too fuckin’ soon.”

I laughed. “For me, too.” I looked at Gabrijela. “Dinner tonight? We’ll go to Milos’s Mare for a change. It looks to be a lovely evening.”

She smiled and blushed while Suzana, Andreyev, and Vladan hooted. Fortunately, she nodded.

We left Gibroz’s, stopping before the Square of Legends near Karlo’s stables.

“I think I’m going to go check on Radovan,” said Sebastijan.

“Come to the Faerie in the next couple of days for an accounting.”

He nodded and walked away.

“I’m going to take my leave, too.” Piri smiled. “You have a date to prepare for.”

I smiled sadly. “Yes, Piri, I do. I’ll be over to the barracks in a day or two to spar.”

“Make sure he does that, eh, niece?”

Maja nodded, and the two of us returned to the Faerie. My afternoon nap beckoned, and I knew I needed rest after the events of the last few days. Especially if I was going to spend the evening with Gabrijela.

The full moon etched its glory on the lake I stood at the foot of Samiel’s Keep, almost directly over the Frank Faerie. Stunning in its glory, it called to lovers everywhere. A small wind ruffled my hair. Gabrijela and I had climbed up here after our dinner.

Truly a night to remember. I turned to Gabrijela and took her in my arms.

She kissed me. After our kiss she leaned back with a slight puzzled look on her face. “You’re holding back.”

“Yes.”

We kissed again. I had never loved anyone like I loved Gabrijela.

“What’s wrong?”

“I love you, Gabrijela.”

She shyly looked down. “I love you too.”

“I don’t know how we can be together, though.”

“Why not?”

“One of us will be in Basilopolis, or wherever the Emperor assigns, and the other will be here. How can we live like that?”

“I think we can make things work.”

I shook my head.

She sighed. “When are you leaving?”

“I’m not. I’m going to stay at the Faerie.

“Then what is the problem? We’ll both be here.”

I sighed and crushed my soul. “Bedarth told me to look and look again. Every day, he asked me to question everything again. Sebastijan keeps teasing me about this being the Empire.”

“What does all that mean?”

“I thought to myself, if I was the Emperor and I wanted to push a rivalry between Gibroz and Ylli, I might send a person like Markov to create the friction.”

“You think the Emperor is the person behind Markov?” She started to kiss me, but I forestalled her.

“Yes, but in this Empire it seems like there’s always a deeper level.” I sighed. “In fact, there are several people who worked with Markov to help the Emperor. His grandmother, if she was his grandmother, was one. She and the other Gimerrai. They all came from the Great City. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”

“His grandmother?”

“How long have you worked with Markov and his grandmother? Did you invite them here to help control Gibroz? Did they invite you? There’s no way I’ll ever know, I suppose.”

“But I helped you kill them!”

“Yes, yes you did. You hoped that with them dead, your connection with the Emperor would be hidden. Markov would take all the blame. I’d accept his guilt for he was, indeed, working for the Emperor. Yet it was too easy. The truth hid the lie.”

Tears streamed down my face.

“He simply couldn’t have completely covered up the money trail without help. Ognyan’s system was too thorough. Ognyan could have done so, but only if he had help inside Gibroz’s organization to change the numbers. That could only be you.”

“What? What are you saying?”

“It could only be you. Gibroz used you to see when people were lying. Markov could not have continually passed the wrong amounts to Gibroz without you knowing. Then you verified Ognyan’s words when we talked at the Plucked Owl.”

“He’s adept at shielding.”

“Clearly, but he announced he was dropping that shielding. You said he had. Then you said he wasn’t lying. So, either he never lied, which really can’t be the case, or you were covering for him like you covered for Markov.”

“But—”

“And there’s one more thing,” I interrupted sadly. “Gibroz told me he specifically told you not to enchant me. You told me he specifically instructed you to try and control me with your magic.”

“He forgets things sometimes.”

“Not this. He was too proud about being right. You tried to wrap me around your finger with your magic. You had no need. I loved you anyway.”

“Dear, what are you saying?” She tried to back away, but I held her.

“You never really explained why you continued to work for Gibroz. The story of having to choose between Gibroz and Katarina when you first arrived made a lot of sense. I’d certainly choose Gibroz over her. But that was years ago. You’ve made your reputation. You could leave Gibroz at any time.”

She started using her magic to get away from me. I held her tight, hugging her with all my love. She tried to turn my love to submission, but I knew it was coming. In fact, my defenses against her magic felt stronger than I hoped.

“I don’t blame you for serving the Emperor. I too served a lord. But I can’t serve him, and I—” I choked.

She tried to twist my love to something, something, anything else. I loved her too much, and my defenses held again. My defenses were so strong on that night.

Suddenly she broke, and we held each other up.

We tried to say things, but our emotions—our honest, human emotions—were too powerful. Eventually we looked at each other.

“What now?”

“Now Sebastijan escorts you on the road to Basilopolis.”

“What? I mean? Why?”

“Tomorrow you’ll go to Gibroz and tell him that you just cannot stay after killing Markov’s grandmother. Or whatever other excuse you want to make. Just tell him that you have to go. Then Sebastijan and you will leave.”

“Why?”

“Because I love you.”

She stared at me. “Then why can’t I stay and be with you?”

“The Emperor and his agents beat an innocent man, threatened his wife and children, tried to kill me a half-dozen times or so, and tried to create a war between crime lords that would kill scores more than I ever have. Penwulf broke his oath to his father and led me into rebellion, yet I would kiss his hand, even knowing what to expect, long before swearing to the Emperor. I don’t know where I will go now, but I will never swear to serve him.”

“But that doesn’t mean I can’t stay.”

“Ylli and Gibroz would kill you if they knew what I knew. They wouldn’t hesitate. If you stay, they’ll find out, sooner or later. I can’t be your man, but I will not look at your bleeding corpse.”

She put her hand to my cheek and held it there. I covered it with my hand. I stared into the eyes that had once given me such hope. The lover’s moon illuminated our tears.

Some time later she left. I did not follow. I turned back to the lake. I could not watch her walk away. I waited for the other steps I knew would come.

“I can help you Sevener. I can remove that pain.”

“I know you can, Katarina, but it will be all I have to remember her with.”

“How did you know I was here?”

“I guessed you followed me whenever you could ever since Anastasius appeared to heal Radovan. Thank you for that, by the way. Then, when Gabrijela pressed me I could feel an echo. I could feel you reinforcing my defenses.” I turned to her. “Why did you follow me? And how?”

“Why? You should know the answer to that question.”

“I suppose I do.”

“As for how, I can sense great emotions from you anywhere in Achrida right now. I watched your pain grow all night. I just followed it here.”

“Can all erkurioi feel my emotions so easily?”

“No. I’ve just learned your emotions. Studied them, in fact. And then there was the Bardheküülle.”

“What do you mean?”

“I had to dig deep into all of us to protect us.”

“I’m not comfortable with that.”

“I know.” She giggled.

We paused, deep in our thoughts.

“I’m glad you gave up the Mavric iron. It would have ruined you.”

“I know that, too.”

We paused again, staring at each other.

“You should go back to the Faerie. I think Zoe has something waiting for you,” Katarina finally said.

“At this hour?”

“She needs no magic to sense your pain.”

I stared at the cruelest person I had ever met. The moonlight twisted in her evil face.

With a kindly smile she spoke softly. “You have a home now, Sevener. Go there. Your family awaits you.”