Alliance Forged (32 page)

Except for the white bandage wrapped around his waist, the human leader was bare chested, and it made the bruising radiating from underneath it easy to see. The patch of skin above the top edge of the bandage was almost black. In close,
Na’Reish
fists could do a lot of damage. Had he not been wearing armor to absorb any impact during the battle, Varian suspected Kalan might have also sustained broken ribs. A shiver slithered down his back at how close they’d come to losing him.

“Against my advice, the
Chosen
has insisted on this Council meeting.” The stern expression on Candra’s face informed everyone gathered in the hospice that she had her Master Healer’s pouch well and truly strapped around her waist. “Keep it short.”

Her brown-eyed gaze strafed each Blade Council member and
him in clear warning that they heed her instruction before she settled herself on her seat next to Kalan’s bed.

She placed her hand on his arm. “I don’t care how strong you think you are,
Chosen
, if you tire I will call a halt to the proceedings.”

Her words were murmured, too low for any human to hear, but Varian caught them. With a wry twist on his lips, Kalan inclined his head in acknowledgment.

“
Chosen
, I’m sure we can postpone this meeting a few days.” The gray-haired woman sitting farthest away smoothed a hand over the folds of her dress. “At least until you’re on your feet.”

“This can’t wait, Councilor Shellana,” Kalan refuted. “Although I thank you for your concern.”

Varian scanned the group, curious as to why he and Commander Yevni, the senior Light Blade trainer, had been invited to attend. Sitting next to Kymora, the barrel-chested warrior was easily the biggest man in the room, his silver gray hair and sun-weathered face more suited to the training fields than the sterile healers’ hall.

Beneath the pervading odor of
Vaa’jahn
, Varian detected the aromatic scent of fresh-fallen rain. Even without the exchange of glances and inquisitive raised brows passing between them, it seemed the other Councilors were wondering the same thing.

“
Temple Elect
, would you mind opening this meeting with a prayer as well as a benediction for Second Barial?” Kalan asked. While the request had been made steadily enough, the tautness in his jaw betrayed his inner turmoil.

Varian grimaced, his gaze darting to Kymora in time to catch the flash of pain that crossed her face. There’d been no time to speak with her about Arek and what had happened during the patrol. Last night hadn’t been an appropriate time and then the request had come from Candra to visit the hospice.

Yevni reached out to place his large hand over hers where it lay on her lap. “
Temple Elect
, if you don’t mind, I’d like to do that.” The
warrior’s bass tone, usually full and loud from shouting orders on the training fields, was subdued. His pale blue eyes were bright with unshed tears. “I knew Arek since he was a babe and a youngster pestering me for his first sword. It’d be an honor if you’d let me lead the prayers.”

“Thank you, Yevni.” Kymora placed her other hand on his, her voice husky. “I think Arek would have liked that.”

The warrior glanced to Kalan and earned a nod of gratitude. The others bowed their heads. Varian dug his fingers into his thighs. As Yevni began speaking, familiar tendrils of guilt wrapped around him. He closed his eyes, not to pray, but to escape the memory of failing Arek the day of the battle. There was no escaping it though in the darkness.

“With leadership comes responsibility.”
Hesia’s soft voice whispered in his head.

His hand trembled as he fisted it. He’d accepted that burden long ago, but the pain of a bad decision or loss of a life never hurt any less. When so many relied on you, there was always that niggle of doubt he could have done something differently.

“Thank you, Yevni.” Kalan’s voice brought him back to the moment. He allowed several moments of respectful silence, time for anyone who needed it to compose themselves.

Kymora used the sleeve of her dress to wipe her eyes. Varian resisted the urge to cross the circle and gather her into his arms.

Had it been just Candra, Kalan, and Annika present, he might have considered comforting her, but with nine others watching, his solace would cause only speculation that could harm her reputation, and he refused to do that.

“With Arek gone, I need a new Second.” Kalan’s statement drew several murmurs and nods of agreement. Yevni’s presence now made sense. “Varian, will you accept the position?”

A frisson of shock ripped along Varian’s spine. He stiffened.

“What?” Rellyn Nyon, one of the retired Light Blades on the Council, stood up from his seat. “
Chosen
, surely Yevni’s the better choice.”

The beefy warrior threw back his head and laughed, his teeth showing white against his dark tan. The booming sound startled them all.

“Councilors, Kalan knows better than to offer me the rank of Second. My strength lies in training and strategy, not leadership.” The big man gestured across the circle. “Anyone with eyes knows Varian can fight and lead. Arek often spoke of his respect for him as a trainer.” He leaned forward on one knee. “The
Na’Chi
is the more experienced warrior for what Kalan needs right now, especially in the situation we face with the
Na’Reish
.”

Varian frowned as several gazes shifted to him. He straightened under their regard, but the man he focused on lay waiting on his bed for an answer. The
Chosen
couldn’t be serious in his offer, could he? And Yevni… Varian swallowed hard. After working with the instructor during training, he knew the warrior didn’t hand out praise very often, so his support shocked the breath right out of him.

“There is no one I trust more than Varian, Councilors.”

Varian froze with Kalan’s declaration. Questions and protests exploded from the Councilors. The human leader ignored them all, his gaze fixed on Varian. What was going on? The transition of living and training with the Light Blades was difficult enough, for both races. What was Kalan hoping to achieve by appointing him as his Second, someone who would outrank them all?

The man seated on the other side of Candra cleared his throat and scraped a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. “You’re wanting our warriors to take orders from a
Na’Chi
?”

Varian sucked in a sharp breath, but before he could respond, Yevni snorted.

“They already do, Orphesius.” His tone held heavy censure. “If
you’d come down to the training grounds this past week, you’d have seen Varian’s skill for yourself.”

“By overlooking them, you risk insulting every Light Blade warrior….” Outrage shook in Nyon’s voice.

“My choice isn’t intended as an insult, Councilor.” Kalan’s calm response settled the meeting. “Nor should Yevni’s recommendation be dismissed. He’s been the backbone of the Light Blade training program for nearly thirty years. And I’m surprised more of you can’t see why I’ve chosen Varian over any of the Light Blades.”

The silver-haired man seated next to Varian grunted. “You need someone you can depend upon.”

“What are you saying, Benth?” Nyon asked, the expression on his face incredulous. “There are any number of Light Blade warriors he could choose as Second. All reliable, all well skilled, with years of experience.”

“But he doesn’t know which ones support Davyn or the rebels.” With her mouth pressed flat, Candra waved a finger at all of the Councilors. “As unpalatable as that is, we must face that fact. Can you imagine the damage that could be done if Kalan appointed the wrong person?”

Councilor Elamm cleared her throat, her frown as deep as Nyon’s. “We’ve taken measures to ensure Davyn’s supporters think twice about—”

“The
Na’Chi
don’t want the alliance to fail; those among our own ranks do.” The Master Healer shook her head. “Internal strife will put everyone’s safety at risk. And as Varian and Annika have both pointed out in past meetings,
Na’Rei
Savyr will take advantage of that if he learns we’re divided.”

The human leader raised a hand. “Councilors, I informed you all as a matter of courtesy, not so you could debate my choice.” Kalan’s gaze returned to Varian. “Varian’s the only one with the right to dispute the appointment.”

Again all eyes focused on him. Varian shifted on his stool.

Jaw clenching, he suspected Kalan’s move to be deliberate. Why hadn’t the warrior asked him privately? He understood the logic of the arguments, yet not why he’d been chosen after the failure at Ostare. To decline the position now, in front of the Council, would weaken the human leader’s position, and as Candra pointed out, put everyone’s safety at risk.

Varian pushed back his anger at being manipulated. He met the
Chosen’s
gaze. One dark eyebrow lifted in silent challenge.

No, the warrior hadn’t manipulated him. That inferred some sort of deceitfulness. The only charge he could level at the human was that the man was determined to see their alliance succeed. The interests of both peoples drove him. Varian also couldn’t deny the fact that the
Na’Chi
needed this alliance as much as the humans.

Kalan Tayn was a formidable strategist.

“I’ll accept the position,
Chosen
.” Varian kept all conflicting emotions out of his voice.

Relief flickered across Kalan’s face. He blinked. The warrior hadn’t been as confident of receiving a positive answer as he’d portrayed?

“We’ll talk more later.” Satisfaction swirled in the emerald depths of Kalan’s gaze as he relaxed onto the pillows behind him. Candra leaned forward to check him. He gave her a reassuring smile. “For now, Yevni will continue to train the returning off-duty Light Blades. The potentials also need to learn the new patrol techniques. Varian, work with Yevni and decide which of the Light Blades you trained would make good instructors for this task. Once that’s done, Jole will brief you on all the patrols we have out at the moment, their locations, and what information they’ve sent back to us. They’re now yours to lead.”

“Perhaps if I come over to the
Na’Chi
apartments after the meeting, we could discuss our plans then?” Yevni asked. Varian nodded.
The warrior rubbed his hands together. “Good. This evening we can inform the Commanders together.”

“That’s all I wanted to discuss for now, Councilors.” Kalan’s announcement drew a firm nod from Candra.

“
Chosen
, please, there’s one other issue I believe needs to be addressed.” Jho Elamm rose from her stool. “I’ll try not to be long, Master Healer. My apologies,
Temple Elect
, but this concerns what we discussed the other day.” The slender woman inclined her head in Kymora’s direction. “I’m afraid there’s been… further developments….”

Kymora straightened in her seat, and while her expression didn’t change, Varian sensed her trepidation. What issue was the smaller woman referring to? And what had Kymora so worried?

“Three of your senior tutors have approached me,” Elamm continued. While her tone seemed appropriately apologetic, an overly sweet odor coming from her indicated otherwise. “And as the problem seems to have spilled into our Temple, I felt the Council should be made aware of the situation.”

“What matter are you referring to, Councilor?” Kalan asked.

“Councilor Elamm approached me earlier this week,
Chosen
.” Kymora’s voice remained calm and low. “She informed me that there’s some concern circulating within the community that I was neglecting my duties as
Temple Elect
.”

Candra snorted. “That’s absurd!”

“Nevertheless, their dissatisfaction is there, Candra, and it’s growing,” Elamm retorted. “Just yesterday I spoke to each of the Servants myself to ascertain their concerns.”

The woman paused, wetting her lips, her gaze sweeping the group, as if gauging everyone’s reactions. Several Councilors were shaking their heads, expressions somber.

The sickly sweet odor increased as Elamm took a breath. “All three are considering leaving the Temple.”

Kymora’s face lost color and her hands tightened in her lap. “Why haven’t they discussed this with me?”

“Perhaps their confidence in you has been shaken.”

The sickly sweet scent altered, took on a sour odor. Varian’s gaze narrowed. Even being unfamiliar with the protocols involved with the Temple, a rift like this within the order couldn’t be good. Especially not now.

“Councilor, the
Temple Elect
will need the names of these Servants. She can’t be expected to address their issues by going through a third party such as yourself.” Kalan raised his hand as Elamm made to speak. “You’ve brought the matter to the Council’s attention, now leave her to resolve it.”

Varian cocked his head, satisfied with how swiftly he’d cut the woman off. The politics within the group came as no surprise. He’d seen it at work the first time he’d sat in on a meeting. Only then, Davyn had driven the machinations that had corrupted the integrity of the Council.

Candra rose from her seat. “Kalan needs to rest now. Thank you all for coming.”

Elamm glared at the Master Healer. She looked once around the circle for support, but everyone else had risen from their seats and were taking their leave. The ex-province leader’s mouth turned downward, but she made no attempt to challenge Candra, a wise move considering the implacable expression on the Master Healer’s face. After bidding Kalan a stilted good-bye, Elamm left with one of the other Councilors.

Varian pushed to his feet to watch her leave. Both Kalan and Candra had circumvented her before she’d been able to gain an audience. She’d proven to be no friend of Kymora’s, but what had she thought to achieve by raising the issue in Council?

“Varian, perhaps we could begin our discussion….” Yevni’s request drew him from his thoughts. “Let’s detour via the kitchens
before we head to the apartments. I missed breakfast with the summons from Kalan, and I suspect we’ll still be making plans come the midday meal….”

After a glance toward Kymora and discovering her sitting on the edge of her brother’s bed, Varian accompanied the older warrior along the center walkway in the healers’ hall. Any speculation about Elamm’s motives would have to wait. There were more urgent issues to deal with.