The Children of the White Lions: Volume 02 - Prophecy (90 page)

“Blast it.”

Larin padded softly across the rock floor, heading to a ledge where a black cube rested, alone from everything else. She lifted the box, turned, and held motionless, tilting her head side to side as if straining to hear the faintest of sounds.

“You are still here, are you not?” whispered the aicenai. “I can sense you.”

“I am,” muttered Tobias, standing from the floor. “Not that it matters.” He advanced on her, eyeing the box she held near her waist. As he neared, Larin opened the lid, swinging it back on a pair of hinges to reveal a gold-inlayed interior. An impossibly bright yellowish-white light flooded the cave, forcing Tobias to squint against its brilliance. An intense sizzling sound filled the cavern.

A moment later, a dazzling yellow stone rose from the box and hung in the air where it hissed and spit. Tiny arcs of lightning leapt from the stone’s surface, into the air, and back again, popping and cracking. Tobias tried to get a closer look at the stone, but could only glance at its brilliance for a second before needing to look away. It was as if he was trying to stare at the sun.

Tobias finally understood the reason for the burns along the back of Larin’s hands and wrists. When he had asked Larin about the scars, the aicenai had simply said that she was a careless cook.

Larin’s thin and airy voice managed to rise above the crackling. “Savor this moment.” The Suštinata fell back into the box and Larin snapped the lid shut with a crack, plunging the cave into darkness again. “As long as I live, you will never find me or the stone.”

Tobias stared up to Larin and realized that the cavern seemed much dimmer than before she had shown him the Suštinata. At first, he thought it was because the stone had temporarily blinded him, but then he realized he could see through the box and Larin both.

The vision was ending.

“Blast you, Nelnora.”

* * *

The scent of cloves, melted beeswax, and burning smoking-leaf filled his nose. He was still sitting in his chair, but was slumped over to his right with someone’s arm draped around his shoulders. Considering the seating arrangement at the duke’s table, Tobias guessed he had fallen into Kenders.

The young woman confirmed his suspicions, asking, “Perhaps we should lay him down somewhere?”

“That won’t be necessary,” muttered Tobias with a touch of embarrassment. “I’m back.”

Opening his eyes, he found everyone staring at him. Directly across from him, Broedi and Nikalys sat, peering over the candles’ flickering flames. Broedi held his long, white bone pipe in his hand, a wispy curl of smoke drifting from its bowl while Nikalys clasped a wine goblet. Both wore expressions of curious concern. A few paces behind them stood the kur-surus, Okollu. The Sudashian refused to sit at the table.

Turning to his to right, Tobias found Duchess Aleece watching him, an inquisitive glint in her eye. At the other end of the table to his left, Duke Rholeb was peering at him, a wary, almost suspicious expression upon his face.

Kenders said, “You sort of fell over into me a little while ago.”

“That happens sometimes. Thank you for not letting me fall.”

Sitting tall, Tobias stretched out a hand, grabbed his cup of sweet redbush tea, and took a long drink.

Broedi rumbled, “You were not gone very long.”

After taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Tobias placed the pottery cup back on the tabletop, looked through the numerous candles at Broedi, and said, “It was a short trip, wasn’t it?”

Duchess Aleece asked, “By chance, did you see the Sudashians?”

“Unfortunately, no.”

Duke Rholeb cursed quietly, “Blast it.” He reached up and ran his hand over his silver beard. Eyeing Tobias with caution, he asked, “And there is nothing you can do to…ah…control that…ability?” His unease talking about magic was clear.

Tobias stared at the longleg and, with years of exasperation twisting his voice, answered, “Trust me, my Lord, I’ve tried.”

Duke Rholeb held up a hand.

“I did not mean to offend.”

“And you did not,” said Tobias. “My frustration is my own. I’ve been trying to control it for centuries. Your question is entirely appropriate. This is all quite new to you.”

The Duke of the Marshlands glanced around the table at the assembled group, his eyes lingering on Okollu.

“Yes…yes, it is.”

Tobias was impressed by how well the duke had assimilated to the drastic changes in his reality. When they had arrived at his hall two days past after riding into the city under heavy cloak and Duchess Aleece gave a cursory explanation of things, the longleg had the keen foresight to recognize that she and the Shadow Manes were his one chance to protect his lands and people. On the spot, in the middle of the reception yard, Duke Rholeb suspended the decree outlawing magic and granted permission for the Manes to enter Demetus.

“So, Tobias,” rumbled Broedi. “What did you see, then? Anything relevant?”

Tobias cocked an eyebrow.

“You could say that.”

Turning in his seat, he peeked around his high-backed chair and looked at Khin. The aicenai stood before the middle of three tall, arched windows, staring at the city below. The last vestiges of daylight sparkled through panes of colored glass, casting green, blue, and red light on Khin and the room. The lower half of the window was propped open, allowing a nice breeze to drift through the hall.

“Khin? You might want to come over here for this.”

The aicenai turned and stared, his face as impassive as always.

“Why?”

“Because I saw Larin.”

Moving quickly for an aicenai, Khin strode toward the table, stopping to stand between Kenders and the duchess.

“And is she well?”

“It seemed so.” Facing the others at the table, he added, “She still has the Suštinata of Charge.”

His announcement prompted a number of soft, surprised gasps.

Broedi pulled his pipe from his lips and asked, “Is it too much to hope that you know where she is?”

“In the mountains.”

“Where?” asked Duchess Aleece. “Which range?”

Sighing, Tobias shrugged his shoulders.

“I have no idea. Nor does it matter.”

“How does knowing the location of another stone not matter?” asked Nikalys.

“Because in short order, it won’t be there any longer.”

Tobias went on to share the full details of his vision, stressing the fact that while Larin had unexpectedly sensed his presence, she had thought Tobias to be someone else. When finished, he turned to Khin.

“Did anything like that ever happen to you in all your years studying your Suštinata?”

“It is not ‘my Suštinata,’” replied Khin. Before Tobias could clarify, the aicenai held up a bony hand. “I understand your question and the answer is no, I never sensed another’s presence.” His gaze drifted to where Okollu stood beside a table with two small chests sitting atop of it. “Knowing that Larin does is curious.”

Tobias peered across the dining table to eye the wooden chests. Before leaving Storm Island, Duchess Aleece ordered the blacksmith and woodworker in Claw to collaborate and craft a second box made to the aicenai’s specifications. After some spirited debate, the stones were brought to Demetus in their respective chests. The eventual consensus was that the sweeter of two sour choices was to have them here rather than unguarded at the enclave.

With his gaze still locked on the chests, Tobias muttered, “In all the years I spent with her, not once did I see her study it.”

“You cannot touch Charge,” noted Broedi. “Just because you did not see her studying it does not mean she did not.”

“I suppose,” said Tobias. He tried to think if he had ever even seen the black box Larin held in his vision. “Well, her group also appears to have discovered the effect gold has on the Suštinata. The chest she held was lined with it, too.”

Mostly to herself, Kenders murmured, “I wonder if…”

Tobias glanced over and found the young woman staring blankly at a piece of untouched cheese on her wooden platter.

“You wonder what?”

Looking up, Kenders said, “The person—or thing—she’s protecting the stone from. Do you think it could be Nelnora?”

Khin said, “If she discovered the full nature of the stone, perhaps. Larin was wise.”

Shifting in his chair, Duke Rholeb said in a gruff voice, “Unless this ‘Larin’ walks through my gates with another one of those blasted stones, I don’t care where she is or what she knows.” Leaning forward, he placed his elbows on the table and folded his hands together. “All I care about now are the new reports of oligurt sightings. I’ve had a half dozen come in today alone. And two more of my scouts are missing!”

“I agree, my Lord,” rumbled Broedi. “Knowing Tandyr does not possess the Suštinata of Charge is sufficient for now.”

“Yet he has Soul,” warned Tobias, glancing at Okollu. “And he had Void. He might have more still.” Turning his gaze to Broedi, he added with purpose, “
Three
, perhaps?”

Frowning slightly, Broedi said, “And they could have only the one.”

“You are guessing that is the case,” muttered Nikalys.

“As much as you are guessing they have more,” noted Khin.

A quiet sigh of exasperation slipped from Tobias. This had been an ongoing debate between everyone since arriving in Demetus. Two very different opinions had evolved on the issue.

“You cannot deny the prophecy’s line,” said the duchess quietly. “The four will hold the names of three. There are four Gods of the Cabal working together, yes? And the stones hold their names?”

“I will not deny the line,” rumbled Broedi. “But be wary. Indrida’s words are
often
misinterpreted.” He paused, looked around the table, and added, “We know
nothing
for certain.”

Nikalys glanced over and said, “We could at least discuss plans on what to do if they have the others.”

As Tobias nodded his silent agreement, Broedi said, “Let us say we all agreed the Cabal hold three stones. What then? They have Soul, we have Stone and Void, and—thankfully—it would seem another of the Daputa Devet has Charge. That leaves five other Suštinata. Five. We could sit around for days, postulating what to do if they have Fire and Water. Or Will and Air. Or Life and Water. Or any of the possible combinations.”

“There are ten,” added Khin.

“Yes,” rumbled Broedi. “Ten. Ten ways to pair two Suštinata they
might
have with the one we know they have. Whatever that trio of stones is—assuming that is what Indrida’s words mean—there are countless Weaves that are possible. Shall we prepare for them all?”

A quiet, heavy silence filled the room. Tobias had to concede Broedi’s point. Good plans could suffer a bit of guessing while bad ones often involved too much.

Kenders let out a long, weary sigh. She sounded tired. Then again, they all were. Sleep was a luxury few had time for now.

A creak of hinges needing a few oil drops announced a new arrival to the gathering. The door at the far end of the dining room opened and in strode Jak, dressed in the new black and silver uniform every Shadow Mane soldier was wearing. Lady Vivienne had the uniforms distributed prior to leaving Storm Island.

As Jak approached the table, Tobias noticed baggy, dark circles under his eyes. Everyone here was tired, but Jak looked exhausted. Tobias wondered if the longleg had slept at all since arriving here.

Glancing between the nobles, Jak said, “My Lady, my Lord, I apologize for my tardiness. I was—”

Duchess Aleece interrupted him by lifting a hand and saying, “You were busy, Jak. No need to apologize.”

Upon reaching the table, Jak faced the noblewoman, and gave a quick yet respectful bow.

“Thank you, my Lady.”

Duchess Aleece smiled up at him, saying, “No bowing necessary. Not here.”

As Jak stood tall, his gaze darted to the table covered with what passed for tonight’s eveningmeal: two silver bowls of nuts—almonds in one, bitternuts in the other—a slab of pungent white cheese, and a bowl of red plums. The fare was light for a sovereign’s table, but if one considered the shortage of food in Demetus, this was a feast.

“May I have something to eat, my Lady?”

Duchess Aleece raised an eyebrow.

“This is not my table. It is Duke Rholeb who must give you leave to partake.”

Tobias smothered a slight grin, knowing that she was having a bit of fun with him.

Turning to face Duke Rholeb, Jak said, “Pardon me, my—”

In a booming voice, Duke Rholeb exclaimed, “Gods, son! Eat, already! You’re politer than a Borderlands’ baron at court!”

With a grateful nod, Jak leaned over to grab a handful of shelled almonds. Stepping back, he tossed few nuts into his mouth and began to chew. “Thank you, my Lord. I haven’t eaten since…” He trailed off and dipped his head to think. “…yesterday, perhaps?”

Nikalys peered up at his brother, a smile on his face.

“Having a difficult time remembering things, are you? My offer stands.”

Appearing somewhat irritated, Jak shook his head, “And it will continue to stand.”

Curious, Tobias asked, “What offer?”

With quick and quiet sigh of exasperation, Kenders said, “Nikalys has repeatedly offered to smack Jak in the head to see if he can get things working again.”

“Quite kind of him, isn’t it?” asked Jak. He reached up to touch his head where the bandage had been. With the help of Broedi’s Weave of Life the wound was mostly healed now. A large red welt was all that remained. “I nearly die, and my brother pokes fun.”

Nikalys’ grin widened.

“I’m only trying to help.”

Jak smiled at his brother and tossed a few more almonds in his mouth.

Leaning forward in her chair, Duchess Aleece looked up to Jak and asked, “Will the commander and Sergeant Trell be joining us?”

Jak shook his head, saying, “No, my Lady. Both are waist deep into planning with the officers. They send their regrets.”

“I understand,” replied the duchess, a tiny frown on her lips. “A shame, though.”

Over the past few days, Tobias had noticed the duchess tossing a few extra smiles in the former Great Lakes sergeant’s direction during strategy meetings. The soldier had been especially gracious to the noblewoman in return.