The Gantean (Tales of Blood & Light Book 1) (18 page)

“If I bring him back, there must be no more of this nonsense, you understand? I’m keeping the boy in the brig, and you in here. You can have your son, but if you disobey any order, he goes.”

I nodded. At this point, I would have agreed to almost anything.

Allian turned to a drawer in the desk and handed me a clean swathe of linen. “Wrap this around your wounds. I’ll see if I can find you fresh clothing.”

Another sailor in Galatien livery came to the cabin carrying Tiriq, who squalled furiously until placed in my arms. I was too shaken to be anything but thankful that he had been returned to me.

T
he port city
of Hemicylix overflowed with squat warehouses and mud; travelers hurried to and fro, watching the ground to avoid the sinkholes and muck. Of all the cities I had yet seen on the Lethemian peninsula, this one was the least impressive. Everything was brown and dull and dirty, even the water in the port. Allian Kercheve kept us surrounded by his men as he herded us through the crowded, muddy streets. Miki was allowed to walk beside me, but he remained bound at the wrists and scowling. Other than the binds, he had not been treated roughly, though I worried he might rebel, to dire consequences, at any moment.

I carried Tiriq on my front in the battered net sack I had woven in Anastaia. Allian had procured a new dress for me, so once again I was clad in Lethemian clothes rather than the Gantean skins I had taken to wearing again on
Northern Wind
. My boy watched everything carefully, clinging to me with hands like little vises. His first moons had been so fraught with disaster; I worried all this change and distress might take a toll on him that I would not recognize until much later, particularly being separated from Tianiq. I planted a kiss on the soft wisps of his black hair. “We’ll find her soon,” I murmured. “Soon.”

We waited outside an official sort of building while Allian went in to make arrangements for our next leg of travel—this one overland. The six guards formed a protective circle around us. Allian had likely warned them that Miki would try to make an escape at any opportunity.

“Where are we going, do you know?” muttered Miki as we waited. I had not ever explained to him that Tiriq was the Lethemian prince’s son. I’d feared his Gantean judgments. I did not know what to say now.

“I expect to Galantia, the High City.”

Some of the guards surrounding us frowned at our conversation, and Miki slipped into Gantean so they would not understand. “I want to find the others.”

“So do I, but I don’t see any way to escape. We aren’t free to—”

“We’re as free as we make ourselves.” He stared at me with his fathomless black eyes.

I sighed. Merkuur and Atanurat would know how to help Miki with the mental consequences of having killed better than I could. It must weight on him, but he would never show it. We needed to find our people. But how?

“We’ll find the others,” I hedged, glancing nervously at the guards. “Somehow. If you have a chance, Miki, you must take it. Even without me.” I would have a hard time making any kind of escape with Tiriq.

Miki did not reply, and his expression remained inscrutable.

When Kercheve exited the building, I asked to speak with him. Our status had been unclear since he had captured or rescued us.

“Mr. Kercheve, Miki and I need to find the rest of my family. We were shipwrecked in that storm; there were others who made it away on escape boats. There is no reason for us to remain with you.” Weak words, despite my determination to be firm.

Kercheve only snorted. “Absolutely not. That boy killed a mage; he isn’t going anywhere, and my orders are to take you to the High City.”

The only comfort I could take, as Allian loaded Miki, Tiriq, and me into a carriage bound for Galantia, was that I might at last have the opportunity to retrieve my necklace and Nautien’s anbuaq. And that would be no small relief.

Kercheve let us open the shuttered windows on the carriage. Three men rode on horseback on my side of the carriage, while Kercheve rode behind. From the conversations of the men, I gathered that Anastaia had fallen to Xander Ricknagel, just as Merkuur had predicted it would. Apparently Galantia was well protected by a magical barrier cast by House Galatien’s mages, and the war had reached a plateau. One of the men mentioned that Jaasir Amar had recently pledged his support to the Galatiens, which they all seemed to hope would advance the Galatien cause.

Miki sat, silent and morose, throughout the long three days of the journey. Fury and dismay pulsed from him in waves. I did not press him to speak—Gantean to the core, Miki would not wish to share his miseries, but I imagined being tied and trapped reminded him all too much of his days as Alessio Rarmont’s slave.

Tiriq fussed and cried, yanking on my hair and seething. I accounted his behavior to missing Tianiq. Prior to the disaster, my children had slept every night of their lives entangled with each other, like puppies drawing warmth from each other. Their separation hurt me as much as my own from Tianiq.

Tiriq refused to rest. He insisted that I hold him, or nurse him, or speak to him. As soon as I put him down on the carriage seat at my side, he wailed and screamed. I kept him in my lap, hour after hour, soothing him in Gantean words, making up a nonsense story about a Shringar King and a Tuq bride who fell in love despite the Elder’s demand that they each marry another.

“Sayantaq lies,” Miki snapped when I finished. “What are you telling him that for? That story’s more Lethemian than Gantean.”

I fell silent and cradled Tiriq against my chest. My story had done its work. He finally slept.

“Why would I tell him a Gantean story?” I whispered. “They are all tragedies, and in the end, everyone always dies.” Better, I thought, to blend the two worlds for a boy born of both them. My Tiriq was a sensitive creature. The harsh life of Gante would not have suited him.

But Miki scowled and spoke a Gantean burial saying,
“Ta tu niruk ta Kina-Hinge. Nik nibi.”

All the dead feed the Hinge. Do not grieve them.

“
T
he situation
in Galantia is not ideal,” Allian announced, leaning through the carriage window. Our caravan had paused on the road not far from the High City’s southern gate. “Costas and his father had some kind of disagreement, and none of us Dragonnaires are especially welcome in the High City at the moment. Costas has gone to Entila to mobilize his forces there. Mydon and Jhalassa Galatien are both ill. My plan is to sneak you into Galantia and get you situated without anyone being the wiser. Mydon, particularly, must not learn you are there, you understand? If we do get caught, whatever you do, my lady, don’t tell anyone the boy is Costas’s son.”

“I—is this a wise idea?” I asked. “Going into Galantia. I heard that Mydon Galatien put a price on my head.”

Allian frowned. “The High City is well guarded against attack by an army or magic. In light of the war, it’s the best place for you in spite of Mydon. It’s where Costas wants you to be. You’ll just have to be careful and remain hidden where I put you.”

I did not like this turn of events. As the carriage rolled back into motion, bringing us closer to the gates, I felt rather like I had those first days in Queenstown after being taken by the raiders—lost to myself, too confused to act.

W
e
entered
Galantia through an underground passage, though this tunnel was better kept than the one I had used to flee the Brokering. It had a higher ceiling and a dry floor. Allian informed me that Costas’s Dragonnaires used the route for clandestine comings and goings, especially as Galantia braced for battle with House Ricknagel.

“Are you sure the High City is the best place for us?” We’d be beneath Mydon Galatien’s very nose in the capital.

“Costas ordered me to take you there if I found you.” Allian was losing his patience with my questions, and he also seemed unable to form a thought without direction from Costas.

I wasn’t ready to give up yet. Tiriq’s safety might depend on my resistance. “If Mydon Galatien still believes me involved in the Brokering attack—”

“King Mydon barely knows his own name,” Allian snapped. “He’s not going to find you. I’ll make sure of that.”

“What do you mean, he barely knows his own name?”

Allian paused in the tunnel and turned. “I told you, both King Mydon and his wife have been struck ill. Something to do with that old love enchantment, the one that they could not lift after their Brokering. Apparently the old magic is degrading. Mydon isn’t even rational.” Allian pulled on his eyebrows, looking harried. “It’s a fucking travesty that he’s sent Costas to Entila. Even in his prime Mydon never had a head for strategy. We need Costas here in Galantia, obviously.” Allian gave me a sheepish look. “You do know the marriage between Costas and Stesichore Ricknagel went badly? Lord Ricknagel accused Costas of her assassination; that’s what started the war.”

“Is it true?” I blurted.

“No! Gods no! She left Costas! She died
after
she left the High Court. She had already returned to her family manse at Lake Tashriga! Xander Ricknagel used her death—it could have been an illness, food poisoning, Amassis knows—as an excuse to launch attacks on Murana and Anastaia. He’s been plotting for years—the real conflict is about our foreign policy with the Vhimsantese. Rickangel has no proof of Costas’s involvement. None! How could you think Costas might do such a thing?” Allian looked truly aghast. He laid a hand on my arm. “Come, my lady, we must proceed quietly now. This tunnel will take us to the outlet behind the Dragonnaire garrison northeast of the Palace. From there we’ll head due east across the city. Costas has a townhouse near the Conservatoire, where he’s kept ... others he wished secret ... before.”

Miki followed, silent, with hands still bound. Allian had assigned two of his men to escort Miki and left the other four outside the city gates. The courtly dress and concealing veil—“to hide your face”—that Allian had given me to wear hampered any quick movements, and Tiriq in my arms hindered any hope of easy escape. The passageway’s magelight lanterns illuminated the path with a cool blue gleam.

At last Allian climbed a short ladder to a heavy hatch door and pushed it open.

“Name, rank, and business?” barked a guard through the aperture. One of Miki’s guards restrained me.

“Damn it,” hissed Allian. “It’s Allian Kercheve,” he called through the hatch. “Dragonnaire lieutenant.”

The sentry peered down through the hatch. “The Dragonnaires have no command here. You’ve been put on reserve duty, those of you who didn’t head north with the Prince.”

Allian blew a sharp exhalation through his nostrils. He crossed his arms in a menacing gesture as I shrank backwards into the guard. The sentry had not noticed us yet.

“You don’t really want to get into it with me,” Allian said lightly up through the hatch. “Do you even Draw the Forms, man?” He raked a critical gaze over the pudgy sentry. “You haven’t a chance.”

The sentry flushed. “Are you threatening me, Kercheve?”

“No. I’m challenging you. Come down here and face me.”

The sentry scrambled down the ladder, radiating anger. His eyes widened when he saw not only me with my babe in arms, but the other two guards and Miki lurking in the tunnel.

I reached a trembling hand to pull my veil lower. Cold sweat erupted over my flesh.

Allian moved like a flash of lightning, drawing his blades from his sleeves and dropping into a graceful crouch. Miki’s entire body tightened beside me, whether from anticipation and interest in the fight or for some other reason, I could not say.

The sentry reacted to Allian slowly, fumbling to bring out his single, heavier weapon from his scabbard.

Allian took two fast steps to the right, swiveled his hips while circling his blades, and snapped the handle of his left blade atop the sentry’s head.

The sentry fell to the ground like a rag doll.

Allian grinned, flipped his two blades in the air, and caught them again. With a flourish, he shoved the blades back up his sleeves and looked down at the fallen man. “Thirteenth Form,” he said to his men, rolling his eyes. “Textbook moves. Mydon’s men have no training.” Allian gestured up the ladder. “Hurry, let’s go.”

The hatch opened onto a small square protected on all four side by walls. A single door opened onto the street beyond. Allian paused at the door and checked the road.

“All clear,” he said, as though Miki, Tiriq, the guards, and I comprised a regiment.

He led us on a labyrinthine route that finally arrived at a sprawling townhouse with a blue tile roof that glowed in the late afternoon sun. Allian unlocked the front door and looked enquiringly over his shoulder. “Come inside,” he urged. “We’ve made it.”

His words must have signaled to his men that they could drop their wariness. As I stepped up the townhouse stairs, Tiriq woke and let out a fierce howl. Everyone startled and faced me.

Miki needed no further cue. Faster even than Allian, he twisted and darted back out the townhouse’s wrought iron gate. He must have unwound his bindings, because he pumped his arms as he ran, disappearing around the corner.

The two guards stood, caught flat-footed.

“What are you doing!” cried Allian. “Damnation, go and catch the urchin!”

The guards whirled out the gate in pursuit—too late. Tiriq fell quiet and sucked on his thumb.

“Aren’t you going to try, too?” Allian said sullenly, glowering as though I’d enabled Miki’s escape. He grabbed my shoulder and pushed me over the townhouse threshold.

“How far would I get with a baby in my arms?”

“Not far, so you may as well not try it.” Allian gestured at two black loveseats in the middle of the front room. “You’ll be comfortable here, but you cannot leave these quarters. I have no idea when Costas will be allowed to return. It’s not ideal, but truly, this must be the safest place for you.” His gaze wandered over Tiriq. “And the baby. You must realize that Costas only wants what’s best for you, my lady. All this resistance does not become you.”

I slumped into a seat and lifted Tiriq from his carrier. “You don’t understand,” I murmured. “I need to find my friends, the people I was sailing with, before the shipwreck—it’s vital that I find them.” I fell short of telling him about Tianiq. I didn’t trust Kercheve, and I didn’t necessarily want him knowing that Costas had another offspring somewhere out in the world. It was bad enough he knew about Tiriq.

Allian paced. “When Costas returns to Galantia we can sort out these other problems, but for now, you must remain here in secret.” His voice softened. “Your absence pained him. Greatly. And to think he didn’t even know he had a son!” He gave me a reproachful look.

Loud footfalls rushed the townhouse entrance. Allian’s two guards arrived, heaving. Without Miki.

“Where’s the boy?” Allian demanded.

The first guard shook his head. “He got away from us, Lieutenant. Crafty little mite. We lost him at the Conservatoire Square. Vanished like thin air, he did.”

“Hells of Amatos,” grumbled Allian. “Well, there’s little we can do about it, now. You two will remain here with Lady Leila. I’ll return with reinforcements shortly.”

T
he two guards
did not introduce themselves. I sat in the front room, while they stood at attention at the door. I nursed Tiriq and they averted their eyes as though I’d done something shameful.

“I could use something to eat and drink,” I announced, not sure how to go about feeding myself.

The guard who had explained what happened to Miki nodded to his companion in unspoken agreement. The second guard departed, I hoped to bring food.

I was given a tray with wine and a tin of crackers, the kind of food that might have been kept in a little used pantry. As I ate, I considered Miki’s escape. Would he seek Atanurat and the others straight away? How would he even begin to search for them? I trusted Atanurat, Pamiuq, and Merkuur to have enough boat skill to get Tianiq, Lymbok, and Amethyst to shore. My breaths shortened as I worried over their fate, but I tried to conceal my distress from the too-sharp eyes of the guards. I gulped the wine.
He’s got her
, I told myself for the thousandth time.
Atanurat’s got her. She’s safer than you and Tiriq, most likely.
Atanurat was enough of a Gantean man to keep her safe, and enough of a Lethemian one to care for her as if she were his blood-daughter. I had to keep this in mind, lest I begin to howl my frustration like a madwoman. I prayed that Miki would be safe and find them quickly.

Allian burst into the parlor like a bad breeze. “I brought you more clothing.” He carefully laid an armload of silk dresses over the back of a chair. “I think it only fair to let you know, I’ve stationed Dragonnaires all around this house. For your protection and your security.”

“I see.” I understood he was warning me not to attempt escape.

“It’s a shame your brother ran off,” Kercheve went on, standing at attention and clasping his hands behind his back. “I secured a writ from the Justice Council exonerating him from the murder of Oruscani. It was ruled self-defense. I had high hopes for the boy. I planned to get him in training. We start the boys who will be Dragonnaires young.”

“Does that mean he is not a fugitive to the law?” I hoped.

“Technically, yes. We won’t pursue him, but I hardly like his chances on the streets of the High City alone. It’s not an easy place to be without money or friends.” He smiled wryly. “I know. I was an orphan beggar here before I met Costas. He gets most of his Dragonnaires from the streets. Maybe we’ll recruit your brother yet. Now, Lady Leila, you must agree to do nothing rash while you’re here. Remain in the house until Costas arrives to take care of you, do you understand? The High City is protected, but if you were to flee and suffer capture by Ricknagel’s troops, I hate to think what bargaining power Costas’s son would give Lord Ricknagel.”

“Will Lord Ricknagel attack Galantia?” I worried.

Allian huffed in frustration. “Fortunately, Costas mobilized the Galatien mages—though his father didn’t want him to. They’ve put a magical barrier in place all around the High City—and that holds Ricknagel’s troops at bay. Ricknagel commands little magical power, so it’s unlikely he can bring down the barrier. Even so, Ricknagel’s army is amassed at the feet of the Savalia Mountains. If he did manage to get that barrier down, he’d sack Galantia in a heartbeat. Ricknagel’s all business—he wouldn’t hesitate.”

I blanched, worried more for Tiriq than myself. “But he has no mages?” My voice quavered.

“Officially, House Ricknagel can hold only three lien-bound mages at a time, and the Galatiens limit the type of mage offered to them.” He hesitated. “But ... I’ve heard rumors.”

“What rumors? Mr. Kercheve, if you think the High City is unsafe, you must let me and my son leave here!”

He appeared disgruntled. “It isn’t for me—or you—to decide, my lady. Costas will see to your care as soon as he returns from Entila. And please, call me Allian.”

“What rumors?” I demanded.

“We had astonishing reports from the naval battles in Murana and Anastaia. Reports of unsanctioned magic, of storms that smashed the Galatien fleets in harbor, fey storms that came unexpectedly and dissipated as soon as they achieved destruction. Like the one that shipwrecked you. No Lethemian battlemage has magic like that.”

I stared at Allian, completely dumbstruck for several long moments. “Storms?” I finally managed. I had lost my Tianiq in that storm—the Cedna’s storm. “The Cedna of Gante has such powers,” I blurted. “The Cedna of Gante can call a storm from the sea.”

“Gods in Amaranth! Really?” Allian resumed his pacing. “But why would a Gantean be allied with Xander Ricknagel?”

“Perhaps shared animosity for House Galatien unites them,” I mused aloud, though I couldn’t think of any reason the Cedna might have—beyond the general Gantean disdain for the ruling Lethemians—for particularly disliking House Galatien. Maybe that was enough.

Allian stared at me, shaking his head. “She’s powerful, this Cedna? Her magic?”

I almost laughed, except the situation was too dire for even wry humor. “Far more powerful than any of your mages.”

Allian winced. “Hells of Amatos. I need to find a mage and make an aether-sending to Costas. Immediately.” He bowed and departed, leaving me alone with my son, but surrounded by Dragonnaire guards.