Free the Darkness (King's Dark Tidings Book 1) (61 page)

Tam knew that Rezkin was playing a role, although he still
did not understand
why
. The problem
was that Tam was unable to discern how much of what Rezkin said was simple
acting and how much was truth. Rezkin’s speech about commoners was both
complimentary and patronizing, and Tam did not know how to feel about it. On
the surface, Rezkin’s affable and joyous conduct seemed normal for a sociable
noble, but the excessive jubilance and decorum seemed almost neurotic for
Rezkin
.

The warrior was typically defined by a solid, stoic presence
that incited feelings of safety and stability. When Rezkin was around, Tam
always felt like everything was under control, even when they were in the midst
of chaos. The
Lord
Rezkin simply did
not fill him with the same sense of assurance, even though he knew it lay just
below the surface. Rezkin’s almost passionate behavior somehow disturbed him.

Reaylin was just as aloof as Tam. She seemed particularly
uncomfortable around the other women. Frisha had gained points with Reaylin
when she snubbed Shiela, but now Frisha was spending more time with the nobles,
as was Rezkin. Reaylin was astonished by Rezkin’s behavior. Never had she
imaged he was capable of pulling off such a flamboyant persona. It made her
wonder about Rezkin’s other capabilities and why he was such a skilled
fraudster. Just who was Rezkin
really
,
and could he be useful?

Reaylin still was not happy that Rezkin proposed to Frisha,
but she was encouraged by the fact that the deal had failed. She did feel bad
for him, but he was a strong man, and he would get over it. Frisha was too weak
for a man like Rezkin. Reaylin could tell that he was put off by women like
Shiela and thought that she, as a warrior, had a much better chance with such a
man. If only she could get him away from Frisha long enough for him to see
her
.

Rezkin disappeared for a while as he secretly scrambled
about the ship. He snuck about the captain’s quarters, since the captain was
busy on deck. He had already been there before, but he wanted to make sure
there was nothing new of which he should be aware. There was not, so he
continued with his search. He snuck into each of the guest’s rooms and rifled
through their trunks and then went through the mound of useless
necessities
in the cargo hold. Nothing
of immediate import stood out, but he did find a few tidbits that he would file
away for later use.

Two of the Jebai House Guards had gambling debts they were
to pay off by performing some unspecified service while in Skutton. The future
duke, Tieran, was to attend a clandestine meeting on behalf of his father with
a man whose name Rezkin did not recognize. Tieran’s manservant, Colton, had a
secret lover who Rezkin was nearly certain was a man. Shiela was not as
innocent as she would have her family believe. She had in her possession half a
dozen parting letters from potential suitors moaning about how much they would
miss her, and two actually pleaded for her to meet them for a private
rendezvous while at the tournament.

When Rezkin rejoined the nobles, everyone wanted to know
what he had been up to and how he managed to disappear for so long on a ship.
Rezkin laughed and said, “Ah, well, you see I do enjoy a good voyage as much as
the rest of you, but we did have to rise hours before dawn this morning.”
Frisha arched a brow. She knew full well that Rezkin always rose long before
dawn. The man was incessantly restless when he was not moving in some fashion.

Malcius snickered, “You snuck off to take a nap.”

Rezkin heaved an overly dramatic sigh and uttered, “You may
have seen the truth, and I concede – I feel no shame for my absence.”

Shiela, not deterred by Rezkin’s intentions toward Frisha,
said, “Oh, I wish you had said so earlier. I might have felt inclined to take a
nap as well.” She fluttered her lashes and eyed him suggestively.

Malcius scowled, “Shiela, know you no shame?”

Brandt chuckled, “Whatever vessel held
her
shame grew so full it shattered. She is no longer capable of
carrying any.”

“What would you know of shame, Brandt?” Shiela scoffed. “You
are a cad.”

“Better a cad than a…ow!” Brandt shouted as Malcius stomped
his foot under the table.

“Yes, well,” Rezkin cleared his throat, “it is probably best
I found myself in seclusion. Tam tells me I snore quite loudly.”

Malcius groaned, “And I am to bunk with you?”

Rezkin shrugged and grinned, “Every man must have at least
one fault, no?”

“If that is your only fault, then you are a better man than
the rest of us,” Malcius muttered.

“Speak for yourself,” said Brandt. “
I
am utter perfection,” he remarked facetiously as he ran a hand
through his long silky hair.

Palis punched Brandt in the arm and replied, “Yeah, perfect
for using as a practice dummy.”

Brandt sniffed and said, “You laugh now, but I am going to
beat you in the tournament.”

Palis barked a laugh and said, “You will be lucky to make it
into the same tier as me.”

“I placed high enough in the spring tournament,” Brandt defended.

“Only because most of us were stuck at the
field training
our uncle insisted upon,”
Palis remarked.

Rezkin arched a brow. “Field training?”

Brandt rolled his eyes and answered, “The general got it in
his head that we should all know how to survive in the wild ‘
just in case
.’
 
Luckily, I got to leave early to participate
in the tournament.”

Malcius added, “It was supposed to be survival training for
young lords, but try telling a bunch of nobles to leave their finery at home.
Everyone had massive tents and soft cots, wine and bread and cheese aplenty. It
was more like a three-week social gathering. Uncle Marcum was furious.”

“You were there with the rest of us,” Brandt chided.

Malcius shrugged, “I admit it. I like my fine things and
prefer to live in comfort. Besides, it was ridiculous. When would we ever need
such skills? It is not like we go wandering off into the wild. We live in the
city, and we travel by ship or in a caravan of coaches and guards with people
to see to our needs. I do not see why
I
need to know how to trap a rabbit or build a fire pit.”

Frisha, who had been very quiet up until now, straightened
and lifted her chin. “Rezkin can do all of those things. He is quite the
skilled woodsman.” Rezkin gave her a warning glance, but she ignored it and
continued. “When we traveled the river before, much like
now
,” she emphasized, “we encountered a problem with a massive gang
of bandits. We were forced to abandon the ship and travel by land for a week with
not much more than a single pack each. Rezkin and the soldiers hunted for food,
set up camps, and battled the bandits. Rezkin even treated the soldier’s wounds
afterward. What do you think
you
could do if the ship went down and you lost all of your finery?”

Mouths were agape all around and Frisha felt a small
satisfaction with the nobles’ loss of composure. Eyes darted back and forth
between Frisha and Rezkin. Rezkin cocked his head and studied Frisha curiously.
It was interesting that when she finally gathered enough courage to speak with
conviction, it was to do so in
his
favor.

Malcius recovered first and waved off Frisha’s claim, “Yes,
yes, but you had the soldiers with you to take care of things, and killing a
few bandits can hardly be considered a
battle
.”

Frisha scowled. “There were several
dozen
bandits and only six soldiers. Tam and I had no weapons
training at the time, and we were pretty much useless. Rezkin was magnificent,
though,” she said as she took a note from Shiela’s book and batted her lashes
at him. Frisha had not really seen much of the battle, actually. She was too
busy trying to keep the panic at bay, her eyes darting in every direction,
seemingly all at once. She had picked up bits and pieces of the discussions
between the soldiers and Jimson afterward, though. She knew Rezkin had been
quite impressive but did not know to what extent. “Besides,” she continued,
“that was only the
first
time we
battled with bandits.”

The others were a mixture of confused and impressed, but
Tieran was terrified. He had seen the look of death in Rezkin’s eyes when they
first met in Kaibain, and now he knew for certain that Rezkin was no stranger
to bloodshed.

Rezkin suddenly laughed boisterously and waved away the
serious mood, “You know I can never seem to sit still for long. I am always
picking up some new hobby. I suppose I have acquired an odd assortment of
skills here and there. Woodcraft can actually be quite intriguing and relaxing,
you know. The general may be on to something, if not for the reasons you think.
You can never understand the value of what you gain by depending only on
yourself unless you have tried it. Things are different when you do not have
servants looking after you. After you dispel such a weakness, I am telling you,
the confidence you gain is simply intoxicating.”

Malcius raised his brows, “You think having servants is a
weakness?”

“Not
having
them.
Needing
them,” Rezkin replied, holding
up a finger for emphasis. “For me, servants are a luxury – a right of
status, wealth and power, but they are not a
necessity
. I can survive without them, if necessary,” Rezkin stated
with smug pride.

“I guess I see your point,” Malcius replied. He rubbed the
back of his neck uncomfortably. “To tell the truth, I do not know what I would
do if I were put in such a position that I needed to fend for myself. I cannot
honestly say that I would survive,” he added with a bit of chagrin. Palis and
Tieran shifted uncomfortably, each knowing they would fail under the same
circumstances.

Shiela, however, had caught onto a different strand of
Frisha’s story. “So,
Cousin
, am I to
understand that you traveled for weeks alone with a host of
men
?” Her tone was light but filled with
accusation.

Frisha lifted her chin and replied, “That’s right. Tam was
my escort. He is like a brother to me, and he swore an Oath of Protection to my
father. Besides, Rezkin was providing his protection, as well.” She left out
the fact that she had only met Rezkin partway through the journey and had
really known nothing about him.

“Yes, well, Master Tamarin is
not
your brother. He is not related to you in any way, and the oath
of a commoner means nothing to me,” she replied with disdain.

“Then, I suppose I am fortunate that
your opinion
means nothing to
me
,”
Frisha replied acerbically. “Besides, would you question Rezkin’s honor, as
well?”

Shiela huffed, “Of course not, but it is obvious
you
have done something to catch his
attention. I cannot imagine any other reason he would want someone like
you
.”

Rezkin stood abruptly, the chair scraping across the floor.
He towered over Shiela with a disapproving gaze. It lacked violence but held
the scorn of a father scolding a child.

“Lady Shiela, I take offense to your accusations and slander
against
my
lady’s character. Lady
Frisha is and has always been a respectable woman, and she should be commended
for her bravery and dignity during such trying times. You have made a number of
unfounded assumptions. I also take offense in your comments against Master
Tamarin, who I have the honor of calling
friend
.
It matters not that
you
would
question his honor since, from what I have seen, you seem to have very little.
Unlike you, I actually know Master Tamarin, and
I
hold his oath in high regard. If you must belittle others to make
yourself feel better, then you should do silently, in your own mind, where only
you will suffer from your poison. You will certainly abstain from speaking such
vileness in my presence.”

Rezkin held out his hand and said, “Come, Frisha. Please
join me on deck for some fresh air.”

End
of Chapter One

Reign
of Madness (King’s Dark Tidings, Book Two)