Blades of the Old Empire Read online

  After an eternity he emerged, weak and senseless, his entire being driven by the sole desire to hold her close, so close that he couldn’t tell the two of them apart anymore. He felt her body go tense in his arms as she made a move to draw away. He couldn’t let her go, but through their incredible closeness he sensed that she wanted him to stop. It was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do; to lower his arms and step away, weak and trembling, helpless as if he had just been reborn and didn’t know how to make his first steps into the world.

  “Kara,” he whispered.

  She drew away, shivering. “I shouldn’t have done it. Sorry.”

  He didn’t move, waiting for her to continue. He felt dizzy. It took all he had to be so close and not to touch her, to force his arms to stay lowered by his sides.

  “We can’t let this happen again, Kyth,” she said quietly.

  “Why?” He kept his voice to a whisper, so that she couldn’t hear the plea. The thought that one day they would part forever was unbearable. There had to be a way to make this work.

  “Like you, I’m not free to choose my fate,” she said quietly. “My life belongs to my Guild. Whatever our feelings for each other, I can never be more than a bodyguard to you.”

  In the darkness he couldn’t see her eyes, but he could sense the tension in the set of her neck, in her guarded voice that hid the emotions inside.

  “Isn’t there another way?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “We must let it go, however hard it is. I can’t be with you, Kyth. I may look like a normal girl to you, but I’m not. You can’t even begin to imagine how different I am.”

  He longed to hold her again, to comfort her. He could sense that behind her composure she was aching inside, just like he was. But he stood still. He didn’t want to cause her more pain.

  She faced him a moment longer, then set off into the dark.

  When they finally emerged from the shade of the trees with piles of dry wood in their hands, Kyth sensed something was wrong even before Kara froze in front of him, her still shape melting into the shadows. A moment later a long, thin lash whizzed through the air, aimed at her face. It looked like an unfolding whip, except that in the moonlight it gave off a faint metal gleam.

  Kara dropped the pile of wood, keeping one thick branch, which she put up in the way of the advancing menace. There was a crack and the stick broke in two, a clean cut that didn’t seem possible for a whip-like weapon.

  The lash came back, but this time she had her sword in hand. The blade met the whip with a screech. She flicked her wrist, sending her sword forward in a snake-like movement, answered by a thud and a curse. The whip came free. She caught it at the base and pulled it free of the sword.

  “A shektal,” she observed calmly. “Is there a reason for attacking me, Magister?”

  The bushes rustled and a cloaked shape emerged from behind the boulder.

  “Sorry, Aghat,” Magister Egey Bashi said. “I thought you were someone else.”

  “No problem.” Kara’s full lips twitched as she handed him back the weapon.

  Raishan and Alder rose out of the bushes on the other side and made their way toward them. Alder looked shaken. He held his axe, its crescent blade gleaming in the moonlight. A long oozing scratch crossed Raishan’s cheek.

  “What’s going on here?” Kara demanded.

  “What took you so long?” Raishan’s voice had a hidden edge.

  A snigger from the far end of the glade made them spin around. A hooded figure came into view.

  Nimos. Kyth’s skin crept.

  The flickers of the dying fire painted his black cloak with blood-red shades. His hood was pushed back, revealing the sharp, drawn features of the hollow face and the deep eye sockets that remained in shadow. Behind him, hooded figures emerged. Each had a weapon in hand, a spiked metal ball on a long chain.

  Kyth suppressed a gasp. Orbens! Just like the men who attacked us back at the castle.

  “An excellent question,” Nimos said, his voice echoing clearly in the night air. “Why should it take so long for two capable people to gather a simple bundle of firewood?” He stepped into the moonlit center of the glade. “A piece of advice, Aghat Raishan. Never send a boy and a girl together into a dark forest. They’d do more than just collect firewood.”

  Kara and Raishan closed around Kyth, swords in hand, watching Nimos cross the glade. He stopped in front of Kara, the lusty gleam in his eyes making Kyth’s guts wrench in revolt.

  “It brings joy to my heart, Aghat Kara,” Nimos said, “to finally see your weapon out in the open. You only bring it out to fight, don’t you? Are you going to fight me? It would be… oh, so sensual. It makes me excited just to think about it.”

  “What do you want?” Kyth demanded.

  Nimos’s lips stretched into a smile that didn’t touch the rest of his face.

  “All I want is to be your friend, Highness. We’re not that different, after all. There’s at least one passion we both share.” He glanced at Kara, licking his lips suggestively.

  “Get out of here!” Kyth could barely hold his anger.

  Nimos laughed. “You’d force me to go? Without even a proper goodbye?”

  “Unless you want to fight us,” Raishan said.

  Nimos turned and gave him an appraising glance. “Tempting, but regrettably I didn’t bring enough men to fight two Diamonds.”

  Raishan shrugged. “Tough luck.”

  “I was hoping, however,” Nimos went on, “that you and Aghat Kara might have reconsidered my offer.”

  “Sorry you had to go through all this trouble for nothing.”

  “Come now, Aghat Raishan, you’re a reasonable man. I’m offering you a fortune for this boy. Should I double it?”

  “Should I count to three?” Kara asked. “I don’t normally say this, but my sword hand is getting restless.”

  Nimos licked his lips again with slow deliberation. “Oh, you’re such a tease, naughty girl. I know that you have two swords. Hence, two sword hands. You wouldn’t be a Diamond if you couldn’t use both hands equally well, and ooh, the mere thought of it excites me. I love a woman with a grip. I can show you so many things you could do with your, as you call it, sword hands, rather than hold weapons. Something your boy here can’t possibly dream of. You have but to say the word.”

  “One.”

  “Oh, please, don’t change the subject. We were just getting started, weren’t we? By the way, you look so pretty when you’re angry!”

  “Two.”

  “You break my heart, beautiful Kara. But if this is your final word–” Nimos waved a hand, a gesture answered by a rustle from across the glade as his men retreated back into the shadows. With a last glance at Kara he darted toward the bushes. In moments, the glade stood empty, the sound of rapidly retreating footsteps disappearing into the distance.

  Kara stood still for a moment, then flicked her swords into the sheath at her back. “Let me take a look at your wound, Aghat,” she said to Raishan.

  The Diamond shook his head. “No need. It’s just a scratch.”

  “What happened?”

  He shrugged. “I’m not quite sure. It was as if I lost focus for a moment. I’ve never felt that way before.”

  “They used their power on him,” Egey Bashi said darkly. “It was short, and very deliberate. I had a feeling it was some kind of test.”

  Power. They wanted to know if other Diamond Majat besides Kara are immune to them. Kyth’s heart raced. He had no doubt now that Nimos and Kaddim Tolos were connected. Worse, they were after him. And it was clear now that no one except Kara could protect him.

  The fact that Nimos didn’t bother to hide his connection with Tolos – displaying orbens and openly wielding his power – was even more frightening. As if he was really sure he would succeed in whatever it was the Kaddim had planned. What do they want with me?

  “We should eat,” Kara said. “And get some sleep. Tomorrow’s a long day.”

  Raisha
n nodded. “We should keep watch,” he said. “I believe we may be in for a very eventful trip.”

  10

  CROSSING THE GORGE

  Ellah straightened in the saddle and looked around. For the past two hours the path had been climbing steadily upward, until it finally ascended above the line of bushes onto a plateau. After riding through the undergrowth, with low branches slapping across her face or holding on to her with sticky fingers, it was nice to feel the wind and enjoy the view that opened up around them. A wavy line of bushes to the left marked the path of a stream, carving its uneven way from the distant hills barely visible on the horizon, down to the Lakelands. On their right, the blue haze descended to the flatness that concealed the wide waters of Lake Illitand.

  The path was so narrow they had to ride in single file. In front of her was the tail end of Odara Sul’s sand-colored mare. Whenever she glanced behind, Ellah could see Lothar, a Ruby Majat, riding a chestnut gelding at a measured distance of exactly five strides. It was a comfortable arrangement that left her with very little to do except dodge the branches and enjoy the view.

  She realized the interruption when Odara Sul’s horse came to a stop, halting everyone in her wake. At first Ellah didn’t make much of it, using the extra time to stretch her back and take a full breath of air. Then she started to hear the sounds of argument carrying down the line of riders with the gusts of wind.

  “…find a way around,” Mother Keeper’s voice floated in.

  “…knew there was a bridge but didn’t know it was just a…” Evan’s voice replied.

  “…for the locals. They probably don’t want anyone else to…”

  Odara Sul rode off the path onto the grass and made her way to the head of the procession. Ellah followed, bypassing another Ruby, Brannon, to level up with Mother Keeper.

  The sight that opened up in front of her was so unexpected that she pulled on the reins too hard, causing the horse to toss its head and make an abrupt stop. The path ahead ended in an abyss. From where she was, Ellah could see steep cliffs cascading down the gorge to the stream, so far below that the sound of running water was no more than an echo on the rising wind.

  A narrow bridge made of two logs placed side by side and tied together with waxed coils of rope ran across the chasm. It was barely wide enough for one person to walk across. There was no rail on its side.

  Ellah froze. She had always been afraid of heights. Back in the Forestlands where she grew up with Kyth and Alder, she could never climb a tree, no matter how much fun other children made of her. Despite her longing to share their games, she had always stayed clear of the observation platform the brothers built up on the tall oak at the edge of their grove when they were twelve. She was even afraid to stand up on a stool at home to get the dishes from the top shelf. And now, staying on horseback within three lengths from the chasm, made her stomach turn.

  Everyone was dismounting and Ellah followed, anxious to feel the firm ground beneath her feet. She stood aside, listening to the conversation.

  “Isn’t there another way?” Mother Keeper insisted.

  King Evan shrugged. “Not that I know of. Finding a way around might take days. For all I know, our best chance would be to retrace our steps all the way to the main road.”

  There was a pause as everyone surveyed the scenery. It didn’t look any better now that Ellah’s pounding heart had slowed enough for her to be able to think straight. There was absolutely no way they could go forward from here. They would have to return to the main road and take their chances with the Holy Knights.

  It didn’t seem so bad a choice, considering.

  “The bridge looks sturdy enough,” Mai said. “I’m sure it can hold the horses, if we lead them across one by one.” He exchanged glances with the Rubies, each of them giving a barely perceptible nod.

  Ellah’s heart missed a beat. Was he out of his mind?

  “Horses?” Odara Sul exclaimed, echoing her thoughts. “You can’t possibly mean it, Aghat! Horses would never be able to walk on logs. You know how they tend to prance sideways? They’d step off to their deaths! And even if they don’t pull any of us down with them, how far do you think we can get in this wilderness without mounts?”

  Mai shrugged. “You should give horses more credit, my lady. They can walk in a straight line just like everyone else.”

  “But –”

  “Aghat Mai is very good with animals, my lady,” Lothar put in. “If he says it can be done–”

  “However good with animals he is, I don’t think –”

  A short glance from Mai made Odara stop.

  “I’ll lead my horse over first,” Mai said. “If you have any doubts after that, we can discuss it further.”

  Odara Sul didn’t seem convinced, but she had obviously run out of arguments. Mother Keeper came to her aid.

  “Horses are like people, Aghat,” she said. “They’re all different. Your horse may be able to do it, but if any of the others are not as well trained, or, by chance, are afraid of heights–”

  A smile glimmered in the corners of Mai’s mouth. “Leave this to me,” he said.

  “But–”

  “Aghat Mai never says things unless he means them,” another Ruby, Brannon, joined in. “You should trust him, my lady.”

  Ellah’s stomach knotted, her legs soft like rubber. She was afraid to even glance in the direction of the chasm, so wide, with just a thin streak of wood running across. She could vividly imagine horses stepping sideways in the middle of the crossing and sliding off to their deaths. What she could not imagine was herself, out on that bridge, with the emptiness all around her and nothing to hold on to.

  She clasped her arms across her stomach to prevent nausea from rising up to her throat. Luckily, no one was looking her way, busy with the preparation.

  The Majat took off their cloaks and wrapped them loosely over the horses’ heads, so that the animals were effectively blindfolded without suffering any discomfort. Mai, standing the closest to the chasm, gave his reins to Brannon and walked across the bridge and back again. Ellah could barely bring herself to look at him, a slim figure over the emptiness beneath, but Mai was walking as easily as if he was on flat ground. He stopped here and there, rocking the bridge with his feet to feel how sturdy it was. Apparently, the result satisfied him. He came back to the waiting group and took the reins. Then, he stepped onto the bridge, leading his horse.

  Everyone held their breaths. Ellah forgot her own fears, caught in the moment. Mai walked slowly this time, stepping sideways with one hand on the horse’s forehead and the other holding the reins with a very short leeway. His horse followed every one of his footsteps precisely, to place its hooves in rhythm with his feet onto the surface of the narrow bridge. Once, Mai stopped and brought his face very close to the horse, whispering in its ear and patting the side of its long neck. Then he continued, over the end of the bridge and onto the safety of the turf on the other side.

  “I’ll be damned,” Odara Sul whispered.

  Ellah was aware of the collective breath let out as the area on their side of the bridge resumed its activity. From the other side of the chasm, Mai gestured to Brannon and the Ruby Majat stepped onto the bridge, leading his horse. He walked even slower than Mai. Everyone watched as he made his way across, following the pattern established by his leader, with the reins very tight and one hand on the horse’s muzzle. Once his horse attempted to stop. Mai gave a short command from the other side. Brannon nodded and grasped the reins firmer, tugging on with a steady hand. The horse followed without further interruptions as Brannon led it off the bridge.

  The Ruby took the reins of both horses and led them out of the way. Mai walked back along the bridge.

  Two more horses crossed. Ellah stood as far away as she could without causing suspicion, watching the wind cascading along the valley blow the horses’ tails and the cloaks wrapped around their heads. Lothar, on the closer side of the chasm, was handing the horses to Mai, who led them over
one by one; calm and easy.

  The routine broke when Odara Sul’s sand-colored mare was led toward the bridge to be blindfolded. At the sight of the chasm, the horse reared, breaking free of its hold. Lothar tried to catch the reins and was knocked backwards as a hoof caught him on the shoulder. The horse bared its teeth and rolled its eyes in panic.

  Mai appeared as if out of nowhere, stepping up from the side to avoid the flailing hooves. He placed a hand on the mare’s back, catching the long end of the trailing reins, and held steady as the horse reared again, thrashing its head against the hold. When the horse came down, Mai used his free hand for support and swung into the saddle. The horse bucked, trying to throw him off, but he managed to hold on. It took no more than a few moments for him to calm the horse enough that it would obey the reins. He turned the panicked animal away from the bridge, directing it on to ride a few paces back along the path, down to a standstill. At his silent signal, Odara Sul handed him the cloak and he fastened it around the horse’s head, all the while keeping the animal away from seeing the chasm. Then he dismounted and took the reins.

  It was like magic. The horse followed him like a trusting child. It never wavered as it stepped onto the bridge and made it across, into the safety of Brannon’s receiving hands.

  Ellah let out a breath.

  “Damn it!” Odara Sul said. “He’s an animal whisperer!”

  Ellah didn’t know what she meant, but she didn’t try to find out. As her turn to cross the bridge neared, weakness spread over her body, rising in a nauseating fog that made everything around her seem unreal. She was vaguely aware of her own horse being taken away, of Odara Sul disappearing from her side, and of Mother Keeper beckoning her before making her own way across. And then she was alone, standing in front of the bridge with everyone else on the other side.

  She couldn’t do it.

  But there was no way she could show any of them that she was afraid.