The Queen's Blade Prequel II - God Touched (22 page)

“
Why?”

He has
witnessed something terrible this night.

“
Terrible things are nothing to him, he –”

Hush.

Symbell
drifted down to land on Blade's chest, her sharp white claws
leaving spots of blood on his skin. Arching her neck, she looked
down at him, within him, Lilu realised. Symbell spread her wings
with a soft, fluting call. Lilu sensed the temperature in the room
drop as the radiant summoned the Cold Fire. Where it came from,
Lilu had no idea, nor had she ever seen Symbell use it before. It
spread from her in frigid, misty flames, licking over the
assassin's skin. She glowed with it, brighter than Lilu had ever
seen her.

The assassin's
tremors subsided, and the sweat that sheened him dried as Symbell
cooled him as only a radiant could, sending her chill deep within
him. Lilu sank down on the chair, stunned. Mere moments passed
before Symbell recalled the Cold Fire, which soaked back into her,
and her glowing skin dulled to its usual medley of hues. The
radiant sat on Blade's chest, looking a little smug.

He will
live.

“
Why did you save him? I thought –”

He has a
destiny to fulfil.

“
But radiants don't save people, not even their
friends.”

Symbell tilted her head.
No. We do
not. But he is God Touched. He must be saved. Without him, much
will not happen that must happen.

“
Would he have died?”

Perhaps. It
was not certain, but probable. His wish to leave was strong. You
might not have saved him.

“
What about his wound, can you heal it?”

Symbell trilled.
I am not a healer.
The cold is all I have to offer, on my own.

“
And if there were others?”

Together we
can do many things, but only Tinsharon can command us.

Lilu's brows
rose. “Did Tinsharon tell you to save him?

No. I knew
what must be done. You should tend his wound now, and I should
leave.

“
What did he see that was so awful?”

Symbell shook her head.
I know not. I
do not believe he knows either, but he will.
She glanced around.
He watches and
waits, but he has a long vigil ahead.

Lilu followed
Symbell's gaze, and, although nothing was visible in the gloomy
corner, she knew what the radiant was looking at. The cat. Rivan,
who waited and watched, but could not aid his friend any longer.
Had he hoped that Blade would die, so they would be reunited?
Probably, she thought sadly. Being parted from one's familiar was
the most excruciating sorrow, it was said, and she could well
believe it. That was one thing dragon kin did not have to worry
about, though.

The only way
the immortal beasts could die was to bond with a human in this, the
Age of Beasts, so they would follow their friend into the unknown.
The older ones did it, and Lilu suspected that Symbell was many
aeons old. That was why radiants would not save their friends; it
was the reason they bonded with them, and, while they mourned the
passing of their human companion with the most beautiful song they
ever sang, they rejoiced at their own demise. Symbell said the
death song was a mingling of sorrow and joy, which was why it was
so poignant. Apparently, radiants did save God Touched.

Lilu looked up
with a smile when Symbell rose into the air on blurred wings. The
radiant brightened, then vanished with a soft pop and a glimmer of
light. Lilu arranged Blade more comfortably, his skin still cool
from Symbell's fire, whose effects she suspected would linger for
time-glasses. As she pulled the sheet over him, the door banged
open and she whipped around to find Jezzel, the red-haired harlot
from down the corridor, framed in it. The whore swayed, her face
flushed and hair tangled, and eyed the man in Lilu's bed with a
malicious sneer.

“
So, 'e's bin pokin' ye again, 'as 'e? Yer two never seem to
get enough. No wonder yer raced outta the taproom like the 'ounds
of Damnation was after ye. Looks like yer rutted 'im 'alf to death,
an' all.” She cackled.

“
Get out,” Lilu snarled.

“
Nah, I wants a bit o' the action too, indeed I does. 'E must
'ave a bit o' spunk left in 'im.”

“
Don't you get enough from those louts in the
taproom?”

“
Aye, 'deed I do. But I wants 'im.” Jezzel stumbled into the
room, grabbing the chair. The stench of sour wine hung about her.
“Why should yer be the only one 'oo can say they was poked by the
Master o' the Dance, eh?”

“
I've never said that. You all just assume it, and you're
wrong. He would never lie with a two-copper whore.”

“
Lies! Why else would 'e spend so much time 'ere?”

“
It's his haunt, you stupid cow.”

“
Nah, nah, 'e spends too much time in yer room.”

Lilu grabbed
the woman when she lunged towards the bed, shoving her at the door.
Jezzel lurched back with a curse, her brow furrowing.

“
I could 'ave yer thrown out, ye know!” she shouted. “I'm worth
more'n yer! Rendal's always complainin' 'bout 'ow yer bother the
lads with yer ugly mug!”

Lilu glanced
at the comatose assassin, a suspicion forming in her mind. Rendal
was the brothel keeper, and she did not think he would tolerate her
if he did not have an excellent reason. She stepped towards the
drunken whore and pushed her against the wall.

“
He comes here because I help him, no other reason! He's
wounded right now, you want to see?”

Jezzel stared
at her, then nodded. “Aye, prove it if yer can.”

Lilu went to
the bed and dragged down the sheet, exposing the assassin's
blood-soaked shorts and the crimson-stained bed. Jezzel paled,
raised a hand to her mouth, and bolted out of the door to vomit in
the corridor. Lilu slammed the door behind her and bolted it.
Turning to face the bed, she pressed her back to the door, her eyes
stinging with unshed tears.

“
You did this, didn't you?” she murmured. “You made this
cesspit your haunt so Rendal would let me trade here.”

Lilu
approached the bed and sat beside him, stroking the damp tendrils
of hair from his brow. He looked gaunt and tired, his eyes
sunken.

“
God Touched,” she whispered, her heart aching. “What happened
to you tonight? Who hurt you? What did you see that made you want
to die?” She bent and kissed his forehead. “I love you so
much.”

With a sigh,
she fetched her needle and thread and stitched the wound in his
hip, washed off the blood and dressed it as best she could. By the
time she finished, the whorehouse was quiet and she was exhausted.
She lay down beside him, the bed wide enough to accommodate her as
well, and fell asleep nestled against him.

Chapter Twelve

Blade woke the
next day, fortunately after Lilu had risen. He was not well enough
to leave, and she persuaded him to stay until he was, which he
acquiesced to without enthusiasm, although she knew that he liked
to be taken care of. He liked complaining too, but she was used to
his sour mood when he was injured, and an occasional glare took the
edge off his temper, reminding him that he was the one who needed
her help. She did not mention her discovery of the reason for his
making the Black Swan his haunt, sensing that he would find it
annoying. It lifted her mood, however, and she hummed around the
room while she tended him, casting him happy smiles that made him
frown.

Three days
later, he returned to his rooms, and she missed him greatly. She
did not see him for almost a moon, and could not answer Rendal's
questions about his absence, except that he was injured and must be
recovering. This seemed to mollify the brothel keeper, and the
patrons kept coming since the taproom remained the Dance Master's
official haunt. The Watch commander visited several times to drain
a tankard of ale before leaving again, almost as if he, too,
awaited Blade's return.

Lilu's belly
swelled with the new child she carried, which she suspected was
Oxan's, the massive blacksmith who sometimes used her services when
he was exceedingly drunk. Oxan's wife had already borne him twelve
children, so there was no doubt about his virility. She hoped for a
girl this time. Oxan had sired nine girls on his wife, so her
chances were good. Endel was now old enough for the fishwife to
care for, although Lilu still fed him when she visited. He was not
even two years old.

The afternoon
that Lilu entered the taproom to find a familiar black-clad man
seated in the shadows, her heart skipped a beat and leapt,
hammering, into her mouth. She gulped and approached him, and he
raised icy grey eyes to meet hers. Lilu settled on the bench
opposite, drinking him in with her eyes.

“
How are you?”

He shrugged.
“Well enough.”

“
It's good to see you back. Where have you been?”

A faint smile
twitched his lips. “Resting.” His gazed dropped to her belly and
his smile faded. “I see you're expanding again.”

She clasped
her swollen midriff. “Unfortunately.”

“
You should find a new medicine woman. Clearly the one you use
isn't giving you the right herbs.”

“
There's only one kind of herb, and it doesn't always work. I'm
more fertile than most, I suppose.”

He gazed
across the room. “Indeed.”

“
I've told everyone who asked that it's not yours.”

“
Good. Who did you blame?”

“
I said I didn't know. I only have a suspicion, and if I'm
right, he won't want anything to do with it, or me, so I'll keep it
to myself.”

“
Good idea. Who do you suspect?”

His curiosity
surprised and pleased her. It seemed to indicate that he was
interested, which could only mean that he cared. Then again, he
might just be making small talk; he looked bored. “I think it's
Oxan's.”

Blade snorted
and smiled. “The blacksmith? That great dolt?”

“
He wouldn't have been my first choice either.” She
sighed.

“
Who would?”

Lilu glanced
at him, even more surprised. “I don't know. I don't really want
another fatherless child.” She hesitated. “But if I had to choose,
I'd want it to be yours.”

He chuckled,
shaking his head. “Thank the gods it's not. You'd only want me
because I have money, and I'm unwed. I'd make a good meal ticket,
huh?”

“
No. I think you'd be a wonderful father and sire beautiful
children.”

The assassin
glared across the room, clearly annoyed, and she wondered who else
he thought she would choose, and why it angered him so. Perhaps
because he knew it was impossible, and he did long for children. He
focussed on something behind her, his gaze becoming intent.

“
Go away.”

Lilu rose and
retreated to another table, where she sat and watched Blade talk to
the Watch commander, wondering what they discussed. The commander
dumped a heavy bag on the table, solving the mystery. Evidently
Blade had slain someone for the Watch, perhaps the man who had
injured him. It certainly looked like he was being well paid. When
the commander left, Blade settled into his dark corner, and Lilu
glanced around in the hope of finding work. She owed the fishwife a
tenday's pay, and had yet to earn it. Spotting Oxan, she schooled
her lips into a pouty smile and swayed over to him. He raked her
with a scowling glance, licking ale foam off his upper lip. Jezzel
had already staked her claim, and clung to his muscular arm, but
had not yet persuaded him to go to her room.

Lilu sat on
the bench beside him, tossed back her hair with a flick of her head
and turned to display the cleavage her low-cut gown exposed.

Oxan eyed her.
“Push off, Lilu. Yer fat as well as ugly, now.”

“
Some men like it,” she said, blinking.

“
Well I don't. 'Tis bad enough me wife's always a bloated pig,
when I come 'ere for a poke I don't want to ride another swollen
swine.”

The sour-faced
drover who sat opposite Oxan chimed in, “Aye, fat whores should be
banned from the taproom; they put us off the rest.”

Jezzel leant
across Oxan. “Away with ye, Lilu, yer angering the lads. Yer face
is enough to put 'em off, and now yer belly's makin' 'em shrivel up
too.”

Lilu scowled.
“I still have to make a living. My children have to eat. You
wouldn't know, since you don't have any, you dried up cow.”

“
Well they don't want yer, so go away,” Jezzel
snarled.

“
Aye,” Oxan agreed. “Go bother someone else.”

The blacksmith
shoved her off the bench, and she hit the floor hard, pain flashing
up her back. Shooting them a furious frown, she struggled to her
feet and leant on the table to thrust her face close to Oxan's,
forcing a smile.

“
I'll let you have it for a copper.”

“
I wouldn't want it fer free, yer ugly cow.”

Lilu's hand
cracked across his cheek, and he leapt up with a roar, overturned
the bench and sent Jezzel sprawling with a squeal. Lilu backed
away, glancing around for a weapon, and, not finding one, turned to
run. Oxan's callused hand grabbed her hair and yanked her around,
and she shrieked. The blacksmith was well known for his short
temper and violent nature, and perhaps slapping him had not been
such a good idea, she reflected. His fist cracked into her jaw,
sending her crashing into a table, which tilted, and she slid to
the floor. Her head rang and she tasted blood. A boot thudded into
her belly, making her close her eyes and curl up with a groan.