The Crimson Vault (The Traveler's Gate Trilogy) (41 page)

When he had told Indirial that, the Overlord had simply clapped him on the back and told him, "Good luck." He sounded as if he really meant it, but his smile was sad.

Simon wasn't sure what to make of that.

After what seemed like an hour of marching through the camp, Simon and the other Valinhall Travelers reached a crimson tent made of enough fabric to cover every home in Myria. The Damascan flag flew from the tent's every peak, making the air above snap and rustle.

A word from Indirial put the guards at ease, so Simon and Denner were allowed inside. The guards made a point of staring Simon down, which he ignored.

Not long ago, that sort of posturing would have irritated Simon. Now it seemed petty.

Leah sat at a desk in the center of the tent, wearing an intricate dress of gold, black, and crimson. Officers, messengers, and Travelers swarmed around her in a cloud, presenting her with petitions and receiving orders either written or verbal. She spoke constantly, her blue eyes moving from one person to another as she addressed each problem in turn.

As Simon walked over, he saw Leah pull a crystal ball out of nowhere and gaze into it while light flickered in its depths. After a moment, she spoke, and several people went running.

Indirial finally reached Leah's side and bowed, as did Denner.

Awkwardly, Simon followed suit. He considered just standing there without moving—he had never been forced to bow to Leah before—but there were too many people around. It wouldn't be worth the fuss.

Leah inclined her head graciously and the other two straightened, so Simon mimicked them.

"Valinhall Travelers looking for assignment, Heiress," Indirial said.

"That's true for the other two, Overlord, but you're needed in command," Leah corrected him. Without taking her eyes from Indirial, she scratched a signature on a piece of paper and handed it out to the side. A servant snatched it away and hurried off, presumably to deliver it.

"Your pardon, Heiress, but I had thought—"

Leah sighed and rubbed her head. "Stop speaking that way, Indirial. You don't have to."

Indirial grinned. "Well, it's been too long since I've seen you all regal and commanding. I thought you might want the support."

"Not from you."

"All right, then. I think I would be more use on the front lines. My men know their business—there's nothing I could contribute in a command tent that I couldn't do on the front lines. Honestly, it would probably be good for morale to see me fighting for them."

"What if the Incarnation shows up?" Leah asked.

"So much the better," Indirial responded. "I'm ready for another shot at him."

No, he's not,
Otoku said.
Inside, he still looks like a waterskin full of sausage meat. It will take him weeks more before he’s healed, even with the pool.

Simon stepped forward. "He's not ready," Simon told Leah. "He's still injured from his last battle."

He didn't look at Indirial, but Leah did, raising an eyebrow.

"No one ever goes into battle without a few wounds, Leah," Indirial said reasonably.

"Don't patronize me," Leah said. "Assume command of your men. I need another Overlord behind me anyway."

Indirial shot Simon a frustrated look, but he bowed to Leah and marched away.

"That man is almost as old as my father," Leah said wearily, "but you'd never know it. Anyway, I have an assignment for you two."

She snapped her fingers off to the side and a boy in a messenger's uniform hurried up, bowing before her.

"Tell my brother I need to see him," Leah commanded, and the messenger ran off. She never so much as looked him in the eye.

Was this who she had always been? Simon had seen her give commands before, but she had never been so...dismissive.

Leah saw his look and gave him a casual grin that reminded him of the old Leah, back in the village. Not that she had grinned much then either, now that he thought about it.

"Does it surprise you, seeing me do my job?" Leah asked.

"You look like a completely different person," Simon said honestly. "It's still strange to me."

And he couldn't help but trust her less and less every second. What had he ever known about her, really?

Leah began to speak, but then she shook her head and looked at Simon as though re-thinking what she was about to say. "It's strange to me as well," she said at last, speaking as though she had difficulty getting the words out.

Simon wondered if he had just heard the truth from Leah for the first time in years.

A tent flap opened and Leah's brother strode in, his chiseled face and regal gold hair reminding Simon once again of Alin. He had a sword sheathed in intricate gold at his side.

"Talos," Leah said, when he finally reached her, "this is Simon, son of Kalman, and Denner Weeks. They are Travelers of Valinhall." Denner bowed as Leah named him, but Simon hadn't bowed during his name. He didn't know that he was supposed to. Besides, bowing to this guy would be too much like bowing to Alin.

Something about Simon drew Talos’ attention, and he smiled in Simon's direction. There was nothing kind in that smile.

"Simon,” the royal Heir said. “You're the apprentice Valinhall Traveler, aren't you?"

Simon made himself smile back. "Something like that," he said.

Talos laid a hand on his sword hilt. "We should have a friendly match sometime, Simon. I've always wanted to try a duel with a swordsman from Valinhall."

"I'm sorry, Your Highness," Simon replied. "When we fight in the House, our lives are always at risk. I'm not sure if I would be able to hold back. And I don't think Leah would like it if I killed her brother."

Simon had never considered himself particularly clever, but he was proud of that one.

Leah made a choking sound, as though she were trying to hold back laughter. But when he looked over, her face was completely impassive.

Talos, on the other hand, was visibly struggling with his steadily reddening face. "I could have you hauled away for this insult alone," he said.

"Try to hold off until after the battle, if you would," Leah said. "Enosh can field almost as many Travelers as we can, so we need every Valinhall Traveler we can get. And Simon? I wouldn't antagonize Heir Talos too much. You're about to fight under his command."

Leah handed her brother a signed sheet of paper, which he glanced at, then gave Simon a slow, cold smile.

"You're in reserve until we can figure out where we need you," Leah said, returning her eyes to the paperwork in front of her. "Thank you, Talos. I'll be in contact."

Talos frowned, obviously not pleased at being dismissed so abruptly, but he said nothing else before turning on his heel and walking out. Denner followed him.

Simon was about to walk after the other two before he felt a hand on his arm. He turned to find that he was looking straight into Leah's eyes.

"Watch out for my brother," Leah said quietly. "He shouldn't be able to try anything with a bunch of Valinhall Travelers watching him, but he has his own plans. I don't know what he's going to try, but I doubt we'll like it. He's been on edge ever since I was named Successor over him. No, even before that."

Simon blinked, wondering if his ears were playing tricks on him. “Did you say you’re the Successor?”

She looked up, surprise evident on her face. “Yes, my father announced it last week. Didn’t anyone tell you?”

“I..I don’t…no,” he said finally. “No, no one told me.” His head spun. Was he supposed to bow, or something? Well, he was probably supposed to bow even if she was ‘just’ an Heiress. But he had only barely managed to get used to the idea of Leah as
fourth
in line for the throne. Now she was going to be Queen!

Leah’s eyes sparkled as though she were about to start laughing. “Don’t worry. I won’t make you swear eternal loyalty to me until
after
I assume the throne.”

"That’s…good to hear,” Simon said at last. Should he have told a joke? He should probably have told a joke.

Still smiling, Leah released his arm. “Don’t forget,” she said. “Keep an eye on Talos. I’d be interested in hearing your impressions of him.”

Simon bowed a little, then turned and walked out of the tent. He supposed he should get used to bowing, now.

What do you think she meant by that?
Simon asked his doll, on his way out of the command tent.

I'm no spymaster, trained in the intricate art of code-breaking,
Otoku responded,
but I'd say that she doesn't trust Talos.

You picked up on that, did you?
Simon said dryly.

That's just my keen, finely honed instinct,
Otoku said.
I could be wrong. Maybe she wants you to watch out for him because she thinks you can learn so much from his fine example.

He really had missed Otoku. Angeline was great at her job, but she wasn’t nearly as much
fun.

Simon finally caught up to Talos and Denner, smiling as best as he could at the Damascan Heir.

Tell me,
he said silently,
how much trouble do you think I'm in?

If you die, try to fall next to one of the other Valinhall Travelers,
Otoku responded.
I don't want to have to spend the next hundred years on some old lady's shelf.

I'll do my best,
Simon promised. At least if he died, he wouldn’t have to hear Otoku shouting about it.

C
HAPTER
E
IGHTEEN
:

A D
UEL

When they reached Talos' unit, there was no sign of Kai.

Denner asked Talos what duties Valinhall Travelers were expected to perform, and the Heir ordered them to simply “make themselves useful.” The older Traveler had apparently taken that as permission to do whatever he wanted, because Denner had immediately sought out a nearby cot and thrown himself down. He was asleep in seconds.

Simon took it upon himself to wander around, looking for Kai.

When Simon finally found him, Kai was sitting on a log, a knife in one hand and a rough block of wood in the other. A pile of wood shavings cluttered the grass around his feet, and the block of wood was beginning to look disturbingly like a doll.

When he looked up and saw Simon, he tossed his knife down to one side and carefully placed the block of wood to the other. Simon couldn't see the man's eyes through the white mass of hair that hung down in his face, but Kai's smile was practically joyous.

He walked over to Simon with his arms spread wide, and Simon's first impression was that he was going to have to wrestle the man for some reason.

Then Kai swept Simon into a hug, and Simon froze out of sheer shock.

What is this?
Otoku demanded.
What is happening?

Simon wasn't sure he could give her an answer. This was so out of character for Kai that Simon almost wondered if this was the right person.

Then Simon felt Kai's hand pressing against his side, and Kai—too quickly for Simon to react—reached inside Simon's cloak and pulled Otoku from her pocket.

Ah,
Simon thought.
That makes more sense.

No! Wait! Let me go!
Otoku sent desperately.
Simon! Make him release me!

I think he would cut my hand off if I so much as tried,
Simon responded.

"Otoku," Kai said reverently. "My favorite. I think I have...yes, here it is." He rummaged around in his pocket for a moment and pulled out a tiny polished wooden comb, just the right size for a doll. He began to pull the comb carefully through Otoku's long, dark hair.

Demon!
Otoku sent.
Madman! Simon, help!

You'll be fine,
Simon responded, fighting back a laugh. This would be good for Otoku. Besides, he wasn’t sure if he could get the doll away from Kai even if he wanted to.

"Where have you been, sir?" Simon asked, turning his attention back to the older Traveler. "I haven't seen you in days."

Kai looked up briefly from Otoku's hair. "Hm? Oh, I had some business in Bel Calem. Without a Dragon's Fang, it's much harder for me to return to the House whenever I wish. It makes Traveling oh so awkward."

"I see, I see," Simon said. "So, uh...I've been training with Indirial."

"Have you indeed?" Kai said absently. "Well, you'll find no finer instructor."

Privately, Simon agreed. Indirial was twice the teacher Kai had ever been. He actually explained the things he was trying to teach
before
he expected Simon to learn them.

Still, Simon couldn't help but feel inexplicably guilty, as though he had insulted Kai in some way.

"He said something much the same about you," Simon said, which was almost true. Indirial had said that Kai was an unparalleled swordsman,
When he could get past his insanity and his rampant cowardice,
as the Overlord had put it.

Kai chuckled, still running his comb gently down the doll's hair. "I doubt he said anything of the kind," Kai responded. "We haven't ever quite seen eye to eye. When we were students, you know, he was the best. Everyone looked up to him."

"Did you?" Simon asked, sitting down on the log next to him. It was rare to catch Kai in a talkative mood; Simon had learned to seize these opportunities whenever he had the chance.

"Of course," Kai said. "He was one of the oldest, and I one of the youngest. He was like the perfect older brother. What I didn't learn from Valin, I learned from Indirial."

"What happened?" Simon asked.

Kai sighed. For a moment, he even paused in combing Otoku's hair. "The Wanderer lost control," he said.

Simon held his breath, afraid to make a sound.

"You have to understand," Kai said after a while, "Valin was raising the twelve of us to bring down Damasca. An army of dragons, he called us, to end the King's tyranny and burn Damasca to the ground."