A Bond of Three (27 page)

Feyar laughed and lifted himself from the bed. “A ride in the fresh morning air will clear your head. There will be much to do here in the next few days. Your parents arrive tomorrow, and your wedding robe needs a final fitting.” He dressed quickly, putting on the
cashor
.

Sorran sighed. “It was a pleasant dream.”

Feyar kissed him once more. “One that will wait until nightfall,” he said, his deep, rich voice sending shivers rippling through Sorran’s body. “Go ride Forena while you can,
terushan
.”

Sorran climbed out of the bed and wiped himself with a soft cloth. “Then I shall bathe when I return from my ride,” he announced. He grinned as he pulled on his robe and tied it. “I shall take the scent of our lovemaking with me.”

Feyar put his arms around Sorran and held him. “And tonight we shall mark you with it once more, that you may always know you are ours.”

“Yours,” Sorran echoed, smiling at him.

The thought warmed him.

“Y
OUR
BODYGUARD
is in a foul mood today,” Timur whispered as he adjusted Forena’s reins.

“What has he said?” Sorran kept his voice low.

Aroman strode across the stable courtyard toward them, scowling.

Timur shrugged and spoke under his breath. “He bade me leave as soon as I had finished preparing the horses. And he has just yelled at the guards who were on duty at the gate. I could not make out the words, but they have vanished.” He pulled a face. “I pity you having
him
as company for your ride, Your Highness.”

Sorran patted his arm. “I shall ignore him and concentrate on the beautiful scenery around me.”

Timur handed him the reins and bowed. “Ride well.” He stroked Forena’s thick mane. “I swear he loves you. He whinnied when he saw you coming across the courtyard.”

Sorran laughed and patted Forena’s neck. “He is a good horse.”

Timur made his way out of the stable as Aroman entered it, giving the warrior a curt nod and receiving a scowl in return.

Sorran sighed. He had never known Aroman to be in so foul a mood. “What ails you this morning, Aroman? It is such a beautiful day.”

He spoke the truth. The sky was a brilliant blue, not a cloud in sight, and the morning air was already warm as it wafted across the empty courtyard, carrying with it the scent of flowers from the enclosed garden. The thought made Sorran smile. He loved the tranquil garden, with its fountain and constant birdsong.

“Do you think of your prince, Sorran? Is that what makes you smile?”

Sorran gave a start, the words jolting him from his pleasant memories. He gasped when Aroman’s strong hand gripped his upper arm from behind.

“You reek of sex,” Aroman growled. “I hope it was a good fucking, because it was the last time he will be inside you.”

Before Sorran could utter a word, a bitter smell assailed his nostrils and a cloth covered his nose and mouth. He struggled to break free, but Aroman held him across his chest, his hand pressed firmly in place. The world began to twist and spin out of control. Sorran’s heart hammered, and his struggles grew weaker as his legs gave way beneath him.

Then he knew no more.

“W
HERE
CAN
he be?” Tanish wondered aloud for the tenth time. He shielded his eyes and gazed out over the city below. He turned to Timur, who stood a few feet away, his head bowed. “You are sure Prince Sorran was not alone? Aroman went with him?”

Timur bit his lip. “When last I saw His Highness, he was preparing to ride, and Aroman was there. I did not see them leave.”

Tanish could feel the anxiety rolling off Feyar as he stood on the balcony beside him, pulling the folds of his
cashor
tightly around him.

“Where were you when they left?” Tanish demanded.

Timur trembled. “Aroman told me to leave, Your Highness.”

“Timur has told you these things three times now.” Feyar spoke softly. “If he had aught else to tell you, he would have done so by now.”

Tanish sighed and gave Timur an apologetic glance. “Thank you, Timur. You may leave us.”

Timur bowed low and gave a nod toward Feyar before leaving the audience chamber.

Tanish scanned the streets below once more. “Where is he, my
corishan
? Where is our
terushan
?” His stomach churned. It had been five hours since he had seen Sorran. His initial annoyance that perhaps Sorran had gone out alone again had given way to a nagging fear that clawed at him with each passing hour. “What can have happened to them? Have they been taken?”

Feyar put his arms around Tanish and held him close. “I am afraid. Something is wrong.”

“You feel it too?”

Feyar nodded. “For the last few hours, before we realized he was missing.”

Tanish froze in his arms. “Yes. A sense that something was coming.” He broke free of Feyar’s embrace and seized his hands. “Close your eyes,
terushan
. Concentrate on Sorran.”

Feyar’s eyes grew large. “Yes. Use our bond.” He did as instructed.

Tanish closed his eyes and focused his thoughts on Sorran. He did not know what to expect as they stood there in silence, Feyar’s hands gripping his tightly.

The air around them grew electric, and the hairs on his arms stood on end. Suddenly all the breath left his body. An awareness of Sorran washed over him, as if he were in the same room. He heard Feyar gasp.

“He is alive. I feel him.”

Tanish’s heart soared as Feyar’s words confirmed what his senses told him. “I feel him too.” He focused more strongly. “He is afraid. I can smell the fear emanating from him.” He trembled.

Feyar released his hands and gripped his arms. Tanish opened his eyes. Feyar was staring at him, eyes shining, his face white. “Then use our bond to find him, my
corishan
. Take the royal guards and ride out. Let your senses guide you to him.” He swallowed. “Bring him back to us.”

Tanish nodded. There was a lump in his throat. “I promise, I shall search until I find him. I will bring our lover back to where he belongs.” He kissed Feyar on the lips, pouring his love into the embrace.

When he released him, Feyar nodded. “I shall not sleep until you return. Find him, Tanish. Find our love.”

Tanish fought hard to stifle a sob and rushed from the audience chamber. He called out to the guard on duty to send word to the royal guards to ready themselves. By the time he reached the stables, ten warriors had already assembled, and Timur was busy preparing the horses. A sense of urgency pervaded the area, and the faces of the soldiers were grim. Tanish knew the Terunans had taken Sorran to their hearts. Tanish had ridden and trained with these men and knew each of them by name.

Malin watched the commotion, his lined face pale. “I will have to inform His Majesty.”

Tanish fastened his sheathed sword around his hips. “I cannot stay here while Sorran is out there. I must ride with them, Malin.”

Malin nodded. “I understand. I will pray that you find him.”

Tanish leaped up onto Nerita’s broad back and took the reins. “Thank you,” he said gratefully. “Do your best to alleviate my father’s fears. He must not worry unduly, Malin.”

“I shall do my utmost, Your Highness, to keep him calm.”

Tanish nodded as he nudged Nerita into a trot. “Thank you, Malin.” He called out to the guards. “Is all in readiness?”

“It is, Tanish.” Hooves clattered against the cobbled courtyard.

Tanish took a deep breath. “Then we ride.” He glanced up to the balcony above where he knew Feyar kept vigil.

Time to find Sorran.

The gates opened and the troop rode out, Tanish at the head. He paused beyond the gate and held up his hand to halt the guards. A second or two later, he knew which direction to take, Sorran’s presence like a beacon in his mind. They rode through the winding streets, past the crowds of people. As they passed by, Tanish caught the whispers. News had gotten out.

They galloped through the city, out toward the east. One of the guards pulled up beside Tanish. “Should we not be heading toward Kandor in the west, Tanish? Surely that is where they have taken them.”

Tanish shook his head. “Trust me, Deron, Prince Sorran went in this direction.”

Deron regarded him for a moment and then nodded. “Then east it is.” He fell back to join the others.

Tanish focused on Sorran, allowing his senses to lead him. When they passed through the oldest part of the city, a figure in red caught Tanish’s eye. It was a young man wearing a
cashor
, waving at him wildly. Tanish pulled up Nerita in front of him. “What is wrong?” Behind him, the warriors came to a stop.

The young man bowed. “Your Highness, I am Erinor, and—”

“I remember you,” Tanish said quickly. “I saw you that day with Prince Sorran.”

“It is of Prince Sorran that I would speak now.”

Tanish’s heart pounded. “Tell me,” he said urgently.

Erinor swallowed. “Something has been troubling me all morning. I sense that the prince is in trouble, but I know not how I come by this knowledge. And then I saw—”

“What did you see?” Panic seized him, and he struggled to remain calm.

“That soldier who was with him the first time we met. I saw him pass by here on horseback. He was leading another horse, but there was no rider. Instead, there was a large bundle, something wrapped in furs, slung over the horse’s back.”

An icy hand insinuated itself around Tanish’s heart. “This bundle… could it have been the size of a man?”

Erinor grew pale. “By the heavens,” he whispered. “Yes, Your Highness.” He stared at Tanish in dismay. “Sorran is in danger.” It was not a question.

Tanish nodded. “This is my fear.” He kept his voice even, but inside he was in turmoil.
Aroman has taken Sorran.
For what purpose Tanish had no idea, but he could not rid himself of the icy fingers that skated down his spine. “Thank you, Erinor.”

The young
Seruan
bowed his head and then turned his face upward. “I pray you find him, Your Highness.”

Tanish gave him a brief nod and twisted in his seat to face the soldiers. “It seems Aroman has taken Prince Sorran. We seek a Vancoran warrior, not a Kandoran spy.”

He heard the rumblings among the guards. That did not sit well with them. “Which way, Tanish?”

Tanish closed his eyes and concentrated. There it was, that bright flame burning into his consciousness. “We ride east.” He gave Erinor a grateful glance and then seized Nerita’s reins.

The city gave way to rolling fields and hills, but Tanish saw none of the passing scenery. He drove Nerita onward, always holding in his mind the image of Sorran that morning in their bed, laughing and joking. The three of them, naked, making love long into the night. Sorran’s sweet face.

I will find you, my love.

They rode hard for hours before they were forced to stop to water and feed the horses. Every minute not spent on horseback seemed an eternity, yet Tanish’s awareness of Sorran grew stronger with each passing mile.

“Do you know where they are headed?” Deron asked, passing him a soft leather pouch full of water.

Tanish took a long drink before replying. “This way leads into the Narosan mountains. We must find them before they reach there, or we shall lose them.” He became still, focusing. “They are near.”

“How can you know this?”

Tanish placed his hand over his heart. “Because he is in here. I feel him.”

Deron’s eyes widened. “By the Maker,” he whispered. He stared at Tanish in silence for a moment and then straightened. “Then let us find your husband-to-be.” He turned to face the others. “We have rested enough. We ride on!”

Shouts and cries greeted his words as the warriors mounted their horses.

Tanish felt a wave of affection for his fellow riders as they struck out once more, galloping toward the east, to where Sorran was leading him.

We are coming,
terushan
.
Be strong. We are coming.

D
AYLIGHT
HAD
begun to fail when Tanish spied the firelight in the distance. He held up his hand to halt the warriors and signaled for silence. Deron drew up next to him, and Tanish pointed to the flickering light. Deron nodded and drew back to whisper to four of the others. They rode off, skirting the camp in a wide arc. Tanish continued ahead with the rest of the troop, traveling as quietly as they could across the stony ground.

As they drew nearer, Tanish could make out a tent, in front of which a figure sat by the fire. It was Aroman.

Tanish slipped down from Nerita and led her by the reins, sword in hand. He saw Aroman jerk his head up and reach for his sword that lay on the ground next to him. “Think again,” Tanish growled as Deron and the others emerged from the growing darkness beyond the encampment to stand behind Aroman.

Aroman paused, hand hovering over the sword, his gaze on the soldiers who drew closer, their expressions grave. His face fell.

“Where is he?” Tanish tightened his hand on his sword. “Tell me if you wish to live beyond this day.”

All the color drained from Aroman’s face. “I-in the tent.”

Tanish sagged with relief. He signaled to Deron. “Tie him up. I will question him when I have seen Prince Sorran.”

“May we not play with him a little before we bind him?” asked one of the warriors, fingering the edge of his sword. Tanish watched Aroman swallow hard. The soldiers laughed derisively.

“No harm is to come to him,” Tanish ordered. When Aroman flashed him a look of pure gratitude, Tanish gave him a grim smile. “Aroman is mine.”

Aroman became as white as the tent behind him.

Tanish ran to it and ripped open the flap that sealed its entrance. In the dim light, he could make out the inert figure lying on his side on a pile of pelts, ropes around his chest and ankles, hands tied behind his back. Tanish dropped to his knees beside Sorran and used his sword to cut him free of his bonds. Then he cradled Sorran in his arms. Sorran’s head rolled back against Tanish’s arm, his breathing labored.