Circle of Reign (11 page)

“Why me?” Shane had asked. “I don’t understand.”

“Why?” Tyjil scoffed. “Why? Because no one knows you and no one would miss you. How many people are in your little fishing village here on the edge of nowhere? The nearest neighbor is hours away, even for your speed. Could you even call this plot of dirt a village? Do not interpret our choosing you as any sign of importance. It is your
lack
of importance that is attractive.”

“What you ask is impossible! It cannot be done!”

“Nonsense,” Tyjil responded dismissively, taking on a more placating tone. “As I alluded to earlier, you must become someone else. A hunter. One who waits patiently and can weave a snare in plain sight without being noticed. I happen to be an expert in such things. You are quite lucky to have me as your mentor, really. Yes?”

When Shane had not answered, Tyjil accepted this as consent to continue. “Very good! Let us begin, yes?”

“I don’t understand why you are doing this. What is it that Lord Therrium has that threatens you so?”

“Take heart that you are involved in a grand movement that will change the Realm forever and bring a new era of prosperity. That knowledge alone should make you—” Again the High Duke’s advisor stopped before completing his speech and appeared to be in a thoughtful mode. “What is the right word? Content? Honored? No, not quite. Let me see … ah, yes. Proud.”

Shane had felt nothing of the kind, but did not ask any further questions.

Now, four days since that encounter, slowly but deliberately, Shane made his way through Calyn toward Hold Therrium. He
disdained what he was compelled to take on, to attempt, but he had no alternative. Not if he valued his family. He did not know all the details of his mission, but he suspected what they might entail. Lord Banner Therrium was not the man Thannuel Kerr had been, but he was still lord of his people, of his homeland. Any action against him was treachery; any action he refused to take would cost him dearly, in ways he was not prepared to accept.

Before arriving at Hold Therrium, he would seek out Lady Kerr for a purpose he did not understand, but it was not his purpose to understand, just to obey. Others would follow his arrival, he had been told. He must prepare the way, open the doors. This first step in a broader scheme would not take long, he had been told, perhaps a cycle, only a few span. Tyjil had warned him not to arrive before the Fourth Rising Cycle of the Moons, the last cycle of the season. This time was needed for the other aspects of the plan to be put in place.

He tried to steel himself as he walked but could not tear his mind from the disbelief of his circumstances, how they had changed in the recent days. By compulsion, he left his small village without his family and was now on an errand that betrayed both his family and race in order to save those he loved. The irony was not lost on him. It was a task that only a wood-dweller could possibly hope to accomplish, though the thought of it made him physically ill many times as he traveled down what he was certain must be a one-way path.

But what had Tyjil said? So many things that he inwardly recoiled from, but there was one thing that had found a small home in him.

“Eventually you will become what you think,” he had taught. “Though repulsive to you now, force yourself to constantly think about
how
you will accomplish your mission, not what your mission comprises. You will find an embryonic excitement that will grow as you nourish it. You will begin to become what you must, and you will start to revel in your new self.”

The anxiety of his task was overwhelming until he realized it wasn’t actually anxiety he felt. It was as Tyjil had said, seeds of ironic eagerness. The feeling was still revolting to him but it had become addicting in some ways and he found himself reaching for it a little more often. Though he mostly fought it, tried to suffocate it, to expel it, the budding excitement was growing, thickening with every breath he took.

Shane was indeed becoming more than he once was.

NINE

General Roan

Day 7 of 3
^rd
Rising 407 A.U.

“WHY DID YOU ABANDON LADY KERR?
” General Roan asked, spite in his voice. “She took you in and you leave her now, boy? When her family needs you most?”

“I did no such thing!” Master Aiden snapped, coming to within an inch of Roan’s face. His shoulder length hair was bound behind his head save for a few disobedient strands that framed his angered face.

“You’re
here
, aren’t you?” Roan continued, not backing down. “At Hold Therrium? You’re not at her side! Danger could still be present for her. There could still be something at play, some conspiracy!”

Aiden sneered. “There’s a better chance of danger being present here, for Lord Therrium, if what you say is true! If Lord Kerr was a target then so might be Lord Therrium. Don’t tell me how to do my duty, Antious!”

“Where were you?” Roan screamed. “Where were you when he faced his foe! You were the master of the hold—”

“I was in the hold with Lady Kerr, as I was commanded to be! Where were you, General? He was your best friend and you were leagues away!”

“I was doing my duty!”

“As was I!”

The corridor of Hold Therrium they stood in echoed with their shouts. Torchlight flickered as a draft came through the hold from the northeast, teasing the drapes and banners that contained House Therrium’s ensign thereon.

“All right!” Aiden said. “It’s my fault! Is that what you want to hear? I should have disobeyed Lord Kerr’s orders! I should have known some beast was in the forest, waiting to take him and Reign from me! From us! Is that it? Is that what you came to hear? Are you satisfied now, bastard?”

General Roan punched Aiden in the abdomen, which was immediately followed by a headbutt to Roan’s face. Roan brought his hand to his lip and it came away bloody. He smiled.

“Is that all?” Roan asked. “You were a castaway when we found you on Captain Norvuld’s ship and seems you’re still trying to hide. No doubt that’s why you left Lady Kerr alone, castaway!”

Punches, kicks, and throws followed as the two wood-dwellers fought. Other hold guards surrounded them, being drawn by the commotion.

“Stay back,” Aiden commanded as he took his sword from his belt and handed it to one of them. Roan did the same. An uppercut found Aiden’s jaw, but it was only a glancing blow and he responded in kind, his knee finding Antious’ side. The general grunted and countered by accepting the momentum created from the blow and swept Aiden’s legs from under him. He fell upon the master of the hold guard, punching his face repeatedly. Aiden was not deterred long as he wrapped his legs around Antious’ hip, locking them, and thrusted the general forward, bringing him off balance. Antious was forced to reach out his arms to catch himself, but Aiden quickly grabbed one of his arms while simultaneously spinning his hips and bringing a leg up and over Antious’ head. He squeezed hard, cutting off Antious’ air supply while pulling on his arm. He could break it if he wanted to.

“Are you done?” Aiden called out. “You
are
done!”

In answer, General Roan stopped fighting the grasp Aiden had on his arm and reversed his grip, reinforcing Aiden’s grip on him. It was an odd move and the hold guard, obviously confused by the action, loosened his grip slightly, but enough. Antious rotated his hand free and grabbed Aiden’s tunic and the skin underneath, clamping down hard. With the last of his strength as he ran out of air, he picked Aiden up by his hold, a reverse arm curl, raising his whole body with one arm. Aiden grunted in pain and surprise as he was lifted off his back nearly half a foot and slammed down on the stone floor, then once again. Aiden loosed his leg clamp around Antious and both rolled away from each other.

Aiden held his head while Antious struggled for breath. And then, they both began to laugh. Lying on the ground, cradling wounds and coughing, they laughed. The hold guards around them looked uneasy.

“Off with ya,” Aiden said. “Back to your routes.”

The hold guards returned the belts and swords to Antious and Aiden. While the men departed, General Roan said, “You know, I’m told General Korin used that move on the Orsarian admiral when they fought on Main Island.”

“Kalisa’s father?” Aiden asked. “I never knew him.”

Roan nodded. “I’m glad it went better for me than for the Orsarian leader. Korin ended him with it.”

Eventually, the two crawled over and sat against a wall in the corridor, still aching and heavy with breath. Torchlight reflected in the few crimson drops on the stone floor.

“Do you always act this way toward people who saved your life?” Aiden asked.

“You didn’t save my life. Thannuel did.”

“That’s not the way he told it. I was there, remember?”

“We were all there,” Roan said. “The three of us.”

“And now, it’s just us.”

“I know it’s not your fault, Aiden. I just…can’t believe he’s gone. I don’t really blame you.”

Aiden was quiet for a moment. “I can’t be certain I’m not to blame. You’re right…I should have been there. To tell you the truth, I’m here with Lord Therrium to try and make amends. I almost hope something else happens again so that I can partially redeem myself…or give my life in penance.”

“You’re a moron, Aiden.”

“Aye, and you’re a bastard.”

“Did you know Lord Therrium used to be my history teacher?”

Aiden looked at Antious, still holding the back of his head. “You’re joking.”

“Nope,” Roan answered. “And he was extremely boring.”

More laughter came, Aiden’s rising above the general’s. “I’m trying to picture you sitting in class with the Lord of the Western Province as your instructor. I just can’t!”

“Of course you can’t! You never went to school, did you?”

Aiden shrugged. “That’s not to say I didn’t receive an education. Not having a mother and your father dying when you’re only twelve teaches a boy a thing or two.”

“You hit like a girl, by the way,” Antious said.

“My father always said the same thing. A ‘ninny bastard,’ he’d call me.”

They laughed again, softer this time. Antious did not wish to bring Aiden’s thoughts to his father.

“What did you mean, beast in the forest?” Roan asked when the moment had passed.

“I haven’t spoken of it. Antious, I’m not sure if my memories are accurate. They could be clouded by the surreality of that night. I’m not sure I trust them, not sure I can really tell you.”

“Try,” Roan said. There was a pleading just beneath the surface, a need to understand what happened. Aiden must have sensed it.

“It couldn’t have been human,” he began. “The way he moved, the storm in his footfall…his speed was greater than my own, even whilst carrying another person. I could not catch him.”

“You sound as if you revere this enigma.”

Aiden considered how to respond. “I suppose in a strange way you do revere what you fear.”

“Who was being carried?” Roan asked. “Could it have been Reign?”

Aiden shook his head. “If it had been, nothing would have stopped me from pursuing him.”

“Are you certain it wasn’t her? Truly certain?”

“Aye. The body was large, a man’s without doubt. And…” Aiden trailed off.

“Yes?” Antious urged.

“It was wrong. Broken and angled unnaturally, like a child’s rag doll.”

General Roan’s mind was taken back to when he had witnessed Thannuel fight the Thoulden-sha, the leader of the Marishee, on the third of the Runic Islands—sometimes called Pearl Island—while he was surrounded by Orsarian dark marauders on all sides, the same day Roan had died.

“He was going to tell me something,” Roan said.

“Who?”

“Thannuel. Lord Kerr. He had sent me word by wing to come to his hold with my family, but he was killed two days before the date.”

Aiden didn’t look intrigued. “Is that so odd?”

Antious felt his lip. The blood had crusted and dried. “The message, Aiden…it was cryptic. Ominous, almost. I’m telling you it wasn’t like him. He knew something, I can feel it.”

“What did he know?”

“Haven’t you been listening? He was killed before I was to meet with him. I was hoping you knew something.”

Aiden obviously didn’t by the look on his face. “He didn’t confide much in me, general. Have you spoken to Lady Kerr?”

Roan nodded. “Just after the funeral. She knew nothing. I practically begged her to come and live with Kalisa and I…but she will not leave Hold Kerr.”

“Do you think she’s still alive?” Aiden asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe.” Roan said, but his words were without hope. “You were close?”

“Aye, of course. I saw her everyday. Reign was so bright, so curious. Innocent.”

“They never found her body. Why aren’t you still looking for her?”

Aiden swallowed hard and looked away. “I do look for her, Antious. Almost everyday, for a few hours as my duties allow me.”

They sat in silence for a time.

“Lord Therrium has ordered the army to deploy back to our normal duty stations,” Roan said. “He doesn’t seem worried. I won’t likely see you again for some time.”

“Thank the Ancients.” The two men both smiled wryly.

“You did save my life,” Antious admitted. “Those many years ago. You brought the means, even if I still don’t understand it.”

“Lord Kerr always told me it had something to do with the Living Light, but never said much more.”

“There is no Living Light, Aiden.”

“Lord Kerr said you didn’t believe in the Ancients,” Aiden said. “But deep down I think he thought you did. Maybe.”

Antious was silent for a while. “Maybe.”

Antious lied to himself. There was something, he knew, but couldn’t make it fit into something he could readily understand or apply. Worse, he could tell Aiden saw the conflict within him.

“Are you saying you believe the Ancients will come back some day, as the Changrual say, and save us all from this dying world?” General Roan asked, incredulity on his face.

Aiden shrugged. “I don’t know, Antious. But, I for sure do not believe anything those worthless, dense, sackcloth-wearing ignoramuses have to say.”

“Bastards!”