The Shadow Throne (11 page)

T
arblade Bay was the well-disguised home of the Avenian pirates. It was easy enough to spot from the sea, though any unfortunate sailor who came close enough to discover it was sure to be captured and killed. By land, most travelers could move right past the camp and not realize it was there. I had been here just a couple of months ago, and even then had to concentrate to be sure we were in the right place.

Anyone who found it necessary to ride into the pirates’ camp would do so with their sword held out, blade down, to show the pirates he intended no harm. I certainly intended no harm, but I wasn’t holding my sword out either. I would ride in as their king.

The pirates on the edge of camp recognized me immediately and things quickly flew into action. I heard shouts for Erick to come forward, and people calling my name, though it wasn’t in the friendly way I would’ve preferred.

Erick had been the leader of the thieves and was the one who had brought me to the pirates. Eventually, I became the pirates’ king, but left Erick in charge of them here. It was very good news to see he was still their leader. Based upon the expressions staring up at me, I suspected the only reason I remained king of the pirates was that I hadn’t been here for them to challenge me to the death.

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Mott asked as we rode deeper into Tarblade.

“I’m sure I don’t,” I replied. “Keep your sword ready.”

My reception wasn’t any warmer once Erick emerged from his hut. He looked much as he did when I first saw him a few months ago, tall and lean with short, fading red hair, and penetrating blue eyes. Some things were new. He had a few recent cuts on his face, and a ragged scar replaced a line of the closely shaved beard along his jawline. He heaved a deep breath when he saw me, then muttered something to a couple of the pirates near him, who left in the direction of the kitchen.

“Who’s this?” Erick asked me, gesturing at Mott and Tobias. “We don’t like visitors at Tarblade. You know that.”

“They’re not visiting. These are my friends and will be welcomed as such.” I was well aware of the danger in my words. It wasn’t yet clear whether
I
would be welcomed here as a friend.

Mott and Erick acknowledged each other with curt nods. Tobias attempted it, but he was so nervous his spine had forgotten how to bend. I slid off my horse and said to Erick, “You look like you chose the wrong side in a fight.”

“You look worse.” Erick and I headed toward the kitchen as well, with Mott and Tobias leading our horses behind us. “Why are you here?”

“You must know why. Avenia has begun the war. I have the oaths of these pirates that if war came, they would fight for me. I’m here to call for the fulfillment of that promise.”

Erick stopped, his face twisted in doubt. “Do you think the pirates wanted to give you that oath?”

“Whatever their feelings, they did give it, and they will keep it.”

“It’s taken everything I have to remain as their leader. Jaron, I came to power after only days here, and only because you gave me this position. They might follow me, but they’ll cheer once someone finally takes my place. If they have such little respect for me, then you must know how they feel about you.”

Did he think I had deluded myself about that? I felt my temper warming. “If you knew everything Carthya might lose in this war — everything I’ve already lost — then you would understand how little I care about whether either of us has friends here. Gather the pirates, Erick. I will talk to them myself.”

“I’ll gather them. But tell your dark-skinned friend to keep his sword ready. He might need it.” Then Erick nodded at Tobias, who was fumbling with the grip on his weapon. “And tell that boy to lower his sword so he doesn’t hurt anyone with it. In the meantime, get yourselves something to eat. I’ve seen corpses that look healthier than you do.”

He gestured to a table nearby where Serena, a kitchen girl who had helped me in my lowest moment with the pirates before, was already setting down bowls of stew for us. She smiled warmly at me and invited me to sit.

I sat, eager for the food, with Tobias next by my side. Mott remained on his feet and only sat when I told him he looked like he wanted a fight. He poked at his stew a little, then saw I had finished mine in only a few bites and passed his bowl over to me. “For once don’t argue with me,” he said. “Just eat.”

I was too hungry to argue. And I was nearly finished with his stew when the pirates began arriving. Mott was on his feet first, but I wasn’t far behind. They gathered in a group slightly lower on the slope than where we stood. I recognized many of them. These were the men who had inflicted wounds upon me once they discovered my true identity. They had also cheered in favor of their former king, Devlin, when I fought him. Off to one side I saw the pirate who had kicked my broken leg while I was fighting Roden — the worst physical pain I had ever endured. I’d always remember him.

Erick joined me at my side and said to the gathered men, “Not all of you were here when King Jaron of Carthya came to the pirates. But you’ve heard the story, no doubt, and know of his strength, his courage —”

“What courage?” someone yelled from the crowd. “He passed himself off as a thief named Sage. We’d have killed him if he’d told us the truth.”

“What better reason to lie?” Erick responded. “Forget whatever you think about this boy, whatever feelings you have about how he became king here. Because whether you like it or not, Jaron is your king. And each of you took an oath that you would follow him. He’s come back now, and he needs our help. I ask you all to listen to him.” He turned to me and more quietly said, “If it turns ugly, I won’t be able to stop them.”

I nodded at him, and then stepped forward. “War has come to my country. I need your help.”

“You ask us to fight against our home country?” another man yelled.

His anger was pure hypocrisy. With equal intensity, I answered, “You steal from your fellow countrymen, terrify their families, and kill anyone who crosses you. Now you want to claim that you are loyal to Avenia? I know as well as you that Tarblade is your one and only home, not Avenia. You are pirates, and I am your king. If I say that you will fight for Carthya, then you will.”

“You don’t have to be the king.” The man who spoke was nearly as wide as he was tall, and appeared carved from solid stone. A matted black beard fell from his chin and every line of his face was creased in dirt. In my current state, he could crush me like a twig. Actually, even at my best, he could probably still do that.

Erick pressed between us. “You’ll have to go through me first.”

“And me,” Mott said, raising his sword. Tobias said nothing, but stood beside them with a hand on his sword.

I pushed past them all. “If you want to challenge me as king, then that’s your right. I will answer the challenge. But not yet. I have a duty to Carthya, and I must see this war through to the end.”

Grumbling could be heard throughout the crowd. I withdrew my sword and felt surprised by the weight of it. Perhaps over the last several days, I had become weaker than I’d realized. Still, I held it high and hoped my arms could keep it steady enough to persuade them that I could fight, if I had to.

“Do you forget who I am?” I asked. “What I did here in this very spot? I am not asking for your help. I’m not here to debate whether you should follow me. I came to give you my orders, calling on your sworn oaths to follow me. It’s the same oath I took to become a pirate, which means I am bound to answer when the pirates are in need. You will collect any men who are out to sea, and you will gather whatever supplies you need for travel. Erick will have my plans and I will see you on the battlefield.”

“We know what Carthya is up against,” a man in the far corner said. “It’s too dangerous.”

I smirked back at him. “If you wanted a safe life, you should’ve become a midwife, or maybe a tailor. Unless pricking your finger on a spindle also rattles your nerves. I cannot guarantee that everyone will survive. But for those who do, I promise you a battle worthy of a true pirate’s blade.”

Silence fell over the group. Gradually a few of them shifted on their feet, and quiet mumblings escaped in whispers and loud breaths. I decided to leave while we were ahead.

“Sleep well tonight. You’ll be traveling soon.” Then I strode away without looking back. I hoped I had said enough to persuade them. The longer they debated, the less inclined they’d be to do as I’d asked.

Erick walked with me long enough to hear the details of my plans for the pirates, but a loud argument was already erupting behind us. “We haven’t seen you in months, and now you come to ask them to die? It’s too much, Jaron.”

“I asked them to fight, with the hope that they’ll live to see victory declared. Nothing more.”

“I’ll do what I can, but you had better make your plans as if we’re not there.”

“I already have a plan, and it relies on them. Get the pirates there, Erick.” My smile turned somber again. “They must keep their promises.”

“Well, even if they don’t, I will keep mine.” Erick reached for my hand and added, “Whatever they choose, you will see me there as you asked.”

I shook his hand, and then turned to leave the camp, flanked by Mott and Tobias. Erick stayed behind to take part in the pirates’ rising argument. I couldn’t pick apart their words, but my orders were clearly not being received as well as I would’ve liked.

We found our horses and left Tarblade by the shortest route possible. Once it was safely behind us, Tobias said to me, “Please tell me we’re leaving Avenia now.”

“We are. We’re going to Falstan Lake, or what’s left of it.” I yawned and checked the darkening skies for some idea of the time. “We’ll have to find a place to sleep tonight. But we should be there sometime tomorrow.”

A beat passed, then Mott said, “Jaron, do you really think the pirates will come?”

“I don’t know,” I mumbled. “I really don’t know.”

T
he next morning, Mott and Tobias allowed me to sleep as long as I wanted, and when I finally awoke, I was surprised by how high the sun had risen.

“I suppose I’m still recovering,” I said as I broke into a long yawn. “I expected to be past all that by now.”

“After only two days?” Tobias arched an eyebrow. “Does it bother you much on those moments when you remember you’re only human?”

“Very much, actually.” I chuckled and looked over to Mott. “How much food does this inn have? I think we might wish to order it all.”

He dipped his head at my request, said he would ask for as much as they would give us, and then left.

An hour later, we were well stocked with good food, and on our way again. It would be some time before the wounds I had suffered in the Avenian camp were healed, and perhaps some would never heal, but life was returning to me, and I was eager to rejoin my armies.

After another half day’s ride, we crossed into Carthya. It was a tremendous relief to be on my own soil again, assuming Avenia hadn’t yet stolen it from me, of course. Once we were there, we took the opportunity to get some rest. Tobias and I left our horses in Mott’s care, then wandered up a hill to see if we could spot the bluff overlooking Falstan Lake. My eyes went first to the horizon in search of my camp, but we were still too far away.

However, Tobias’s mind seemed to be moving in a different direction. “Where do you suppose she is?” he asked.

“Amarinda could have made it back to Drylliad by now,” I said. “And if not, Harlowe will have sent out orders to search for her everywhere.”

“So will Vargan.” He shook his head, clearly angry with himself. “I promised to protect her, and I didn’t. If anything happens —”

“Trust her to protect herself. She is intelligent and resourceful, and stronger than she’s ever been given credit for.”

“I know all that!” Tobias nearly spat the words at me. “I know who she is, and probably better than you!”

I turned to him and might’ve been harsher if the worry wasn’t etched so deeply into the lines of his face. In a gentle tone, I only said, “We will find her, Tobias.”

We fell silent then, and my attention went down the hill to a trail that looked as if it had been worn by hundreds of footsteps. I doubted they were Carthyan — no commander of mine would’ve led our soldiers on a march this close to Avenia’s border. It was too risky.

But someone — likely soldiers of Avenia or Mendenwal — had recently come through here.

We ducked low, just in case they were near, and then watched and waited. Within a few minutes, Mott joined us and we debated whether to follow their trail or to proceed to Falstan in an entirely different direction.

“Wait a minute.” Tobias held up his hand to silence us. “Just wait. Do you hear that?”

If I listened carefully, then I did hear something. It sounded like a moan, rising up the hillside from somewhere near the trail below.

Tobias rose up tall, clearly with the intention of going down to investigate, but Mott pulled him back.

“He sounds injured,” Tobias hissed. “We have to help if he is.”

“He’s an enemy,” Mott said. “You’ll help him get well enough to return to the battlefield and kill more of our men.”

“But that man isn’t our enemy.” Tobias turned to me. “Isn’t that what you said before, that only their king is your enemy?”

I had said that. But had I truly meant it? It was certainly possible that the moaning was a trap to lure us in, which was the last thing I wanted to face. If we met on the battlefield, that man and I would have to engage in a fight where only one of us walked away. But if he was injured and helpless, off the field of war, did I then have an obligation to try to save his life?

Obligation or not, I couldn’t just leave him to die. During my time with the pirates, I had promised myself that I would not go down the dark paths they had followed. I would not become as they were.

So I nodded my permission at Tobias, then Mott and I pulled out our swords to accompany him down the hillside. This didn’t feel like a trick, but we had to be cautious nonetheless.

Tobias saw the man first, and to my surprise, he started laughing. We caught up to him and couldn’t help but join in. This man — this supposed enemy — wasn’t much older than I, and had all the ferocity of a frightened lamb. He had become caught in a hunter’s rope that had grabbed his leg and whisked him upside down and into the air. Everything that wasn’t attached to him had fallen out of his reach, including a poorly made sword that barely looked sharp enough to skewer a plum. He wore a livery similar to our own, and must have been upside down for so long that his face had now become as red as his hair. Truly, he was a ridiculous sight.

When he saw us coming, he hailed us as friends and said, “I beg you to help. Please, get me down.”

I walked around the area, beating at nearby bushes to be sure no one else was hiding there. He rotated his weight until he turned to Mott, the oldest of our group and the one he would naturally suspect was in charge.

“I’ve been here over a day, sir, and the pain is becoming intolerable. As a fellow Avenian, I beg you to help me.”

With my Avenian accent, I asked, “What is your name?”

“Mavis Tock. My father is a candlemaker, in the south.”

“Ah, then you must have learned your fighting skills from him. How did you get into this position? Are you being punished?”

“No.”

“Are you being hunted?” I squinted at him. “Or are you the bait?”

“We were marching but I was terribly thirsty. So when I heard a stream, I snuck away to get a drink. When I ran to catch up to the others, faster than I knew it, I became caught in this trap. By then, everyone was too far to hear me calling for help. I’m not even sure anyone knows I’m missing.”

Tobias removed his knife and went to cut him down, but I pressed him back with my hand. “Where was your group going?”

“North. Apparently, the armies of Gelyn were stopped at the border by a small group of Carthyans. I heard that Gelyn would’ve won, but Bymar arrived at the last moment and sealed Gelyn’s doom.”

So Bymar had come? That was excellent news on two fronts. It meant that Roden had achieved a victory at the border, and also that Fink had gotten through safely. But since Mavis still assumed we were from Avenia, I only shook my head and said, “Carthyans are horrid people, aren’t they? What right do they have to defend themselves in this war?”

Mavis nodded, then frowned as if confused. He finally gave up and simply asked, “I’m really hurting. Can you help me down?”

With my permission, Mott strode forward and used his sword to cut the rope on the boy’s leg. He tumbled to the ground, but we immediately noticed the blood around his ankle where the rope had sliced into his flesh.

Tobias darted toward him and began examining it. “How’d this happen?”

Mavis took a look at it and his eyes rolled in his head, forcing him to lie back again. “I tried for hours to wiggle my way free. It hurt, but I had no idea it was so bad.”

Tobias pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, one I recognized as belonging to Amarinda, and I wondered why he should have it. He ran toward the sound of water and reappeared moments later with it dripping wet. He wrung it out, then knelt before Mavis to wash his leg.

“We should go,” Mott whispered as he leaned over to me. “We’ve freed him, and there’s nothing more required of us.”

“What if your roles were reversed? Wouldn’t you hope for more from him?”

“Of course.” Frustrated, Mott kicked his boot against the ground. “It’s just that I don’t like the feeling of being on this trail, so exposed.”

I didn’t like it either, but Tobias looked up at me and shook his head. Now that he had washed the blood from Mavis’s ankle, it became apparent how bad the injury was. The rope had cut deeply into the flesh and probably would become incredibly painful once full feeling returned to his leg. Even now, Mavis was beginning to show signs of strain and held on to his thigh, as if that would help.

Tobias stood and then pulled me aside. “If we do nothing, it’ll become infected. He’ll lose the leg, and since he won’t be able to walk on it, he’ll possibly lose his life too.”

“There’s nothing we can do about that,” I said. “Cutting him down is one thing, but we’re not physicians. We have no provisions to help him.”

“I’ve been studying medicine.” Tobias smiled meekly, almost as if he was embarrassed to admit it. “I figured with you as our king, knowing how to heal injuries would be a good idea. Please, Jaron, let me help him.”

I nodded and Tobias immediately set to work, asking Mott to return to our horses for a clean rag and a waterskin. Turning to me, he described a plant with thick, pointed leaves that would need to be cut free and gathered. He said it had a gel inside that Mavis needed.

“Where do I find it?”

“Near water, and in full sun.”

I nodded at him and hurried toward the stream. After Mott and Tobias had kept such a careful watch over me these past few days, it was disconcerting to be alone and my senses were heightened. We were so close to Avenia. Surely others in his group would eventually notice Mavis’s absence and come back to look for him.

I scanned the ground, looking for any plant that fit Tobias’s description, and questioning my decision to spend so much precious time here. It was the right thing to do. I knew that, and yet Mott’s suggestion that I was strengthening an enemy also lingered in my mind. Mavis might not be any sort of warrior, but that didn’t mean he was incapable of doing us damage.

Finally, I had wandered far enough downstream that I saw Tobias’s plant. I pulled out my knife to collect some of the leaves, but from this angle, something caught my eye, a sparkle of ruby, cut in the shape of a diamond. That was odd.

When I turned to look at it, I immediately recognized the object the ruby was attached to. It was a shoe, but not just any ordinary shoe. With nothing better to do while riding in Tobias’s escape carriage so many days ago, I had stared at that same ruby for some time, and I knew it now. This shoe belonged to Amarinda. The princess had at some point been in this exact place.