Sword of Jashan (Book 2) (35 page)

Callo laughed. “They do indeed expect too much. I cannot do it, Chiss.”

“And you failed on our last attempt,” Hira Noh said. “Three of my men died.”

“You did indeed break the Collar at Seagard, though,” Chiss said. He sat against the wall, out of the way of the nobility.

“I am an untrained mage, as Rhin has been wise enough to notice. Arias’ Collar required great strength to break, but no skill—it was brute force, that is all. The Collar is a convenient physical symbol for the intense binding it signifies. I could see it, touch it, and focus the energy upon it. I was in Ander’s room before, Chiss. There is nothing like that to focus on. What would I break?”

Oron raised his hand. “For those of you who may not know, the King binds all male
righ
who have the mage talent when their gift becomes manifest. It is a simple thing, a thread if you will, that keeps order. The binding joins a
righ
to the King, making sure he can raise no hand against his liege. It is not the same as the specialized, strong binding that is the Collar.”

“I see it doesn’t keep you from plotting against him,” Balan muttered.

“As yet there is no plot,” Oron said with a quelling frown. “We discuss how to free Lord Ander, and that is all.”

Rhin pointed at Callo. “How can
he
do what he has promised us, if he is bound? Answer that, color mage!”

“I was never bound,” Callo said. “There was no sign of mage talent in me until just last year, and as a bastard I was not in line for any lordship.”

Kirian said, “I wonder why the King didn’t bind you when he had you imprisoned.”

Oron smiled. “Lord Callo could not be bound. He was far too unstable. Only since he conquered the color mage talent at Deephold has he been a suitable candidate for the
righ
bond.”

“So the King has seized upon this bond, and draws Ander’s life force away through it?” Kirian asked. She heard her voice quiver. The thought of Ander, pale and still in that room, tended by people who cared nothing for him, distressed her.

“That is it. I never dreamed such a thing could be done.” Oron drew the mage cloak about him and stared at the others with eyes that suddenly seemed pale and old. “I have seen this bond a hundred times. I have done the magery to help the King place the bond. Never did I think it could be used for such evil.”

“It is beyond foolish to hope the Council would take our word about such a thing,” Balan said. “They were satisfied no one was trying to poison Lord Ander, and then they turned their faces away.”

“Grateful they did not have to take any action,” Hira Noh said.

Kirian stood up. “There is only one thing you can do, Callo.”

He nodded. “I must fulfill my oath. There is no other way.”

Hira Noh stood up too. “Hai!” she said. “About time. I am ready.”

“Wait!” Balan’s face was creased in a heavy frown. “Are you suggesting what I think you are?”

“How else can this be accomplished?” Callo asked. “I must confront the King again. If he refuses to release Ander—and I can tell you he will avow no knowledge of the boy’s illness—then there is only one solution to break this bond.”

“But to strike at the King!” Balan stepped back.

“I thought you understood what you did, by joining us here this night,” Callo said. To Kirian, his voice sounded very weary. “It is nothing less than treason we plot. If you cannot join us, I understand.”

“Well, I don’t,” Rhin said. He stood and waved at two of the rebels who stood across the courtyard. “We’ll just make sure ya cannot run off and betray us.” The two men began walking toward Balan.

“Enough!” Hira Noh stood. “Get back, you men! We will start no battles among ourselves. This is it, the chance we have been waiting for. We will not ruin it by petty squabbling.”

“You are not bound,” Oron growled at Balan. “You may act.”

“It is indeed the only way, Balan,” Callo added. “Otherwise, Lord Ander will die. If you are indeed a member of his House and have sworn him loyalty, there is no other course you may take.”

Balan sat down heavily in one of the wooden chairs. His shoulders slumped. “I cannot believe it has come to this—I must choose between my King and my lord.”

“Two things,” Hira Noh said. “They are of rather critical importance. First,” she pointed at Mage Oron. “How can he aid us? He is bound; he has never denied it. The man is not physically capable of striking a blow at the King. I am not even sure how he has done as much as he has. Perhaps the city guard waits outside, listening as we babble about our plans like children.”

“Leave that to me,” Oron said.

“I will not!” Hira stood. Her face was red. “I left to
him—
” she pointed at Callo—“how he would confront the King a sennight ago, and now I have lost three men and as far as I can tell the King is still quite alive.”

“I fight it with my mage talent,” Oron said. “I have placed hundreds of these bonds over the years. I know how they work. They are like thread, and they have—some leeway.”

Rhin snorted. “Leeway enough to allow you to cleave the King’s head from his stinkin’ shoulders?”

“I will not do that.” Oron did not smile. “I will not lie. It is hard for me to be here, even now. I struggle with the bond that wishes to cut off my air and smother me. But you may trust me, Hon Hira Noh. I may not slay the King, and I may not be of much more use to you in the plotting, but I will not betray you. If I feel I cannot help myself—then I will do what needs to be done.”

“Then you better come up with a better plan than you had last time,” Hira Noh said to Callo. “I will not lose my people just to have you fail again.”

“I will not fail,” Callo said. “I will do what is needed. Whatever it is.”

Kirian reached out and took his hand. She did not know what had happened on the attempt against the King in his tent. Callo had shared nothing of why he was defeated there, but she knew him well.

He looked down at her. His face was grim, his amber eyes almost brown as his mood darkened. “You must do it,” she said to him very softly.

“I know it,” he said.

There was a scrabble at the big wooden doors into the courtyard. Everyone froze as one of the sentries peered out. The sentry eased the big door open and gestured in Hira Noh’s direction. The man who came in stopped and stared, clearly not expecting such a crowd; then he said, “Chance’s gone if ya wanted it, Hira. The King’s already in, past the southern gate while all was dark, and is near the castle already.”

“Jashan’s teeth, I suppose this could not be easy,” Callo said. He looked frustrated. Kirian held his hand between her own. Callo’s hand was rough with sword work, but his grip was gentle. She listened to the planning going on all around her, and wondered if her lover would live through the next day.

It was very late when they retired to their various rooms. Kirian made sure Mot was comfortable; the girl was housed in the scullery, on a cot with a blanket next to the big clothes tub. The girl looked a little lonely, Kirian thought. She spent a few moments talking to her, and promised that after all this was done she would take her to visit her Mama in the city and see how she was doing.

Mot clutched the wool blanket around her and said, “I know I owes ya thanks, ya know, Healer.”

“What, for being carted all over Righar with a wanted color mage?
”
Kirian smiled.

“Well, there’s that. I ain’t used to bein’ chased, except by Harik and Niley. But ya said ya’d find me a place, when this is done. I sorta liked the kitchen garden, at th’ Castle. Ain’t nothin’ like that back home, except fer Lake Heart of course. Thought I might like to learn how to grow things.”

“Many houses hire a gardener or a housekeeper who can grow a good kitchen garden,” Kirian said. “And Healers need herbs as well—some we gather wild, but we cultivate as many as we can. We will try to find a place for you where you can learn.”

“Suppose I owe Chiss as well, for plantin’ me on the second cook,” Mot said. “Though I think he did it just so he could be rid o’ me.”

“He was in a hurry,” Kirian said. “I am glad it worked out.”

She squeezed the girl’s hand. Mot burrowed under her blanket, looking her age for a change. Kirian went out of the house and back up to the room above the armory, smiling.

Callo was burrowed under the covers as well, half-asleep. He stirred and mumbled something as she climbed into bed next to him. Kirian curled up behind him, her breast to his back, and felt the heat he generated fill up the space under the wool blanket.

“Love you.” His voice was rough with sleep.

“Be careful tomorrow,” she whispered. “Take care, my dearest.” She listened for a moment for some response, but Callo had fallen back asleep, and there was none.
 

Chapter Twenty

It was still dark when Kirian awakened. Muffled sounds in the courtyard below told her it was time. The other side of the bed was cold and empty. Callo’s sword was gone from its place beside the door. She pulled on her clothes, said a silent prayer to the Unknown God to protect them all, and grabbed her Healer’s bag as she walked out the door. She doubted she would be coming back here again.

The air was chilly and slightly damp. The moon stood above the roofs of the city. It was still night in fact, too early for the morning vendors and servants to be going about their business. The horses were quiet in the stable. Kirian shivered, partly from the chill and partly from nerves.

Hira Noh’s people moved about the courtyard, readying themselves for the day’s activities. A shielded lamp stood on the long table the servants had set up for them last night. There was a spread of cold meat and apples, but no sign of any servants or of Hon Sia.

“She is frightened now,” Hira Noh said when she saw Kirian looking around for the merchant’s wife. “She will not come out until we are gone. Don’t try to thank her. She regrets allowing us in here.”

“But she didn’t kick us out last night,” Kirian said. “That’s something.”

“She was afraid to do that too,” Hira Noh said. “She craves the company of people who are in the midst of things and loves to rebel against her husband. But things are serious now. She fears she has gone too far.”

Kirian took a piece of bread and some ham from the table. The ham was cold and salty on her tongue, and her stomach woke up, growling. She ate that and then put an apple in her bag to take with her.

Callo was talking to Chiss and Balan near the outer door. Callo was cloaked, the hood pulled up over his fair hair. As she watched, Callo reached out to grip Chiss’ hand, and Kirian realized she was seeing a farewell. A protest caught in her throat, but she suppressed it. She stayed where she was and watched as Callo joined Oron near the gate, and slipped out into the dark streets as soon as the sentry pulled the door open for them.

“You will see him later, if all goes well,” Hira Noh said. “That is, if you insist on joining us?”

“I won’t sit in a safe place and worry while he challenges the King,” Kirian said.

“He ordered Rhin to get you to safety in the Healer’s College.”

Kirian grinned. “As if he has the authority to tell me what to do.”

Hira laughed, low in the night. “They are all alike, these
righ
men. Ordering people around.”

“I am ready,” Kirian said. “Tell me exactly what to do, so I do not get in your way.”

“You heard the plan last night. They stand a much better chance of getting into the castle with just Oron and Callo, who can use magery to stifle suspicion. I think that is true, with the castle on guard. Though things have returned to normal this morning, and the castle sentries are back to their usual pattern, according to my people.”

“Then?”

“We approach the castle on foot, in parties of four or less, and we take up positions as near as we can safely get. If Callo succeeds, and makes it to the doors, we will aid him out of the castle gates and the city with force of arms. Kel and the others on the outside will join us as soon as they can get past the gates. That will give us nigh on fifty people altogether, enough to make a respectable showing against Martan’s guard.”

“We are all likely to lose our heads.” Balan joined them. He wore his chain mail, and for the first time Kirian realized he had stripped the raven badge from his shoulder.

Hira Noh grinned. There was a fierce look in her eyes Kirian had never before seen on a woman’s face, as if she craved the upcoming danger. “So we must enjoy it while we can, yes?”

“Jashan’s heart, I do not plan to enjoy it. But I will be at your side. Anything to save my lord Ander.”

A creaking sound came from the street outside. They all stopped and listened. Kirian realized she was holding her breath. The creaking continued, moving down the street.

“Just a sausage vendor, heading to market,” Balan said in a low voice. “We should move, Hon Hira Noh, or our plans will be ruined by daylight.”

“Now.” Hira Noh bared her teeth. “I am ready. Rhin, gather the rest, and let us change the world today!”

* * * * *

It was easy. Exultation gripped him as he and Oron slipped past the third guard station. Oron was doing something with the color magery, something that Callo knew he would never be skilled enough to do; it bent the light so they could not be seen. Callo could detect some of the effect as a distortion that spread his vision out before him like drops of oil in a puddle. The old man was growing tired from this constant use of a demanding aspect of his talent.

Footsteps echoed down the stone hall on the first floor. Callo and Oron stopped and withdrew into a parlor. The steps passed, probably an early-morning servant. It was growing light now, and there would be more people to avoid, but after the disturbance of the previous night it would be hours until the nobles stirred from their rooms.

“One more staircase,” Callo said.

“Go,” Oron said. “My strength is waning, and fighting this cursed bond—you must prepare yourself for the possibility I will soon be unable to help.”

“What you have done is beyond my expectations,” Callo said. “Get me to the room where she is being held, and then get yourself to a place of safety. You are Lord Mage—they will not dare touch you without the King’s express word.”