Drenai Saga 02 - The King Beyond the Gate (6 page)

And now the Dragon was destroyed, the land was in ruins, and terror stalked the Drenai.

Ananais had been right.

Renya watched silently until the sobbing ceased, then she stood and walked to the two men, pausing to add fuel to the dying fire. Ananais glanced up and saw her, then scrabbled for his mask.

She moved to his side, kneeling by him, then gently touched the hands that held the mask in place. Curling her fingers around his hands, she pulled the mask clear, her dark eyes fixed only to the giant’s own.

As the ruined face came into view, Ananais closed his eyes and bowed his head. Renya leaned forward and kissed his brow, then his scarred cheek. His eyes opened.

“Why?” he whispered.

“We all have scars,” she said. “Better by far for them to be worn on the outside.” She rose and returned to her bed.

“Who is she?” asked Ananais.

“She is hunted by Ceska,” Tenaka told him.

“Aren’t we all?” the giant commented, replacing his mask.

“Yes, but we will surprise him,” said Tenaka.

“That would be nice.”

“Trust me, my friend. I mean to bring him down.”

“Alone?”

Tenaka grinned. “Am I still alone?”

“No! Do you have a plan?”

“Not yet.”

“Good. I thought perhaps the two of us were going to surround Drenan!”

“It might come to that. How many of the Dragon still live?”

“Precious few. Most followed the call. I would have done so, too, had it reached me in time. Decado still lives.”

“That is good news,” said Tenaka.

“Not really. He has become a monk.”

“A
monk
? Decado? He lived to kill.”

“Not anymore. Are you thinking of gathering an army?”

“No, it would do no good against the Joinings. They are too strong, too fast—too everything.”

“They can be beaten,” said Ananais.

“Not by men.”

“I defeated one.”

“You?”

“Yes. After we disbanded, I tried farming. It didn’t work out. I had heavy debts, and Ceska had opened the arenas for combat games, so I became a gladiator. I thought I would have maybe three fights and earn enough to settle my debts. But I enjoyed the life, you know? I fought under another name, but Ceska found out who I was. At least, that’s what I assume. I was due to fight a man named Treus, but when the gates opened, there stood a Joining. Gods, he must have been eight feet tall.

“But I beat him. By all the demons in hell, I beat him!”

“How?”

“I had to let him come in close and think he had won. Then I gutted him with my knife.”

“That was an awful risk,” said Tenaka.

“Yes.”

“But you got away with it?”

“Not quite,” Ananais answered. “He tore off my face.”

“I really thought I could kill you, you know?” Ananais said as they sat together by the fire. “I really believed it. I hated you. The more I saw the nation suffer, the more you came into my mind. I felt cheated, as if all I had ever lived for had been ruined. And when the Joining … when I was injured … I lost my mind. My courage. Everything.”

Tenaka sat silently, his heart heavy. Ananais had been a vain man but gifted with humor that was always self-mocking; it took the edge from his vanity. And he had been handsome, adored by the ladies. Tenaka did not interrupt him. He had the feeling that a long, long time had passed since Ananais had sat in company. The words flowed like a torrent, but always the giant returned to his hatred of the Nadir prince.

“I knew it was irrational, but I couldn’t help it, and when I found the bodies at the barracks and knew it was you, I was blind with rage. Until I saw you sitting there. And then … then …”

“Then you thought to let me kill you,” Tenaka said softly.

“Yes. It seemed … fitting.”

“I am glad we found each other, my friend. I just wish some of the others were here.”

The morning was bright and fresh, and the warmth of the promise of spring kissed the forest, lightening the hearts of the travelers.

Renya watched Tenaka with new eyes, remembering not only the love and understanding he had shown to his scarred friend but the words he had said to her before the giant had arrived: “Believe in me.”

And Renya believed.

But more than this. Something in his words touched her heart, and the pain in her soul eased.

He knew.

And yet he cared. Renya did not know what love was, for in all her life only one man had ever cared for her, and that was Aulin, the ancient arcanist. Now there was another. He was not ancient.

Oh, no. Not ancient at all!

He would not leave her in Sousa. Or anywhere else. Where Tenaka Khan walked, there would be Renya. He was unaware of it now. But he would learn.

That afternoon Tenaka stalked a young deer, bringing it down with a dagger hurled twenty paces, and the companions ate well. They slept early, making up for the late night before, and the following morning sighted the spires of Sousa to the southeast.

“You’d best stay here,” Ananais advised. “I should imagine your description has been circulated throughout Drenai by now. Why ever did you write that damned letter? It’s not the sensible thing to let the victim know the assassin is on his way!”

“On the contrary, my friend. Paranoia will
eat
at him. It will keep him awake—on edge—he will not think clearly. And for every day that there is no news of me, his fears will grow. It will make him uncertain.”

“You think,” Ananais said. “Anyway, I will take Renya into the city.”

“Very well. I shall wait here.”

“And does Renya have nothing to say about this arrangement?” said the girl sweetly.

“I did not think it would displease you,” answered Tenaka, nonplussed.

“Well, it does!” she snapped. “You do not own me; I go where I will.” She sat down on a fallen tree and folded her arms, staring into the trees.

“I thought you wanted to go to Sousa,” said Tenaka.

“No. Aulin wanted me there.”

“Well, where do you want to go?”

“I am not sure yet. I will let you know.”

Tenaka shook his head and turned to the giant, spreading his hands.

Ananais shrugged. “Well, I will go in, anyway. We need some food—and a little information would not go amiss. I shall see what I can find out.”

“Stay out of trouble,” warned Tenaka.

“Don’t worry about me; I will blend in. I shall just find a large crowd of tall black-masked men and stick with them.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yes. Don’t worry! I will not risk fifty percent of our new army on one reconnaissance.”

Tenaka watched him walk away and returned to the girl, sweeping the snow from the trunk and sitting down beside her.

“Why did you not go with him?”

“Did you want me to?” she countered, turning to look into his violet eyes.

“Want you to? What do you mean?”

She leaned into him. He caught the musky perfume of her skin and noticed again the sleekness of her neck and the dark beauty of her eyes.

“I want to stay with you,” she whispered.

He closed his eyes, shutting out the magic of her beauty. But the perfume lingered.

“This is insane,” he said, pushing himself to his feet.

“Why?”

“Because I am not going to live very long. Don’t you understand? Killing Ceska is not a game. My chances of survival are one in a thousand.”

“It is a game,” she said. “A man’s game. You don’t need to kill Ceska. It is not for you to take on the burden of the Drenai.”

“I know that,” he said. “It is personal. But I will see it through, and so will Ananais.”

“And so will I. I have as much reason to hate Ceska as both you and your friend. He hounded Aulin to death.”

“But you are a woman,” he said desperately.

She laughed at him, a rich, pealing sound that was full of humor. “Oh, Tenaka, how I have longed for you to say something foolish. You are always so right. So clever. A woman, indeed! Yes, I
am
. And more than that. Had I wished, I could have slain those four soldiers myself. My strength is as great as yours, possibly greater, and I can move just as fast. You know what I am: a Joining! Aulin knew me in Drenan, where I was a cripple with a twisted back and a ruined leg. He took pity on me and brought me to Graven, where he used the machines as they were intended. He healed me by blending me with one of Ceska’s pets. You know what he used?”

“No,” whispered Tenaka.

In a blur of motion she sprang from the fallen trunk. His arms came up as she hit him, and he fell to the snow, air exploding from his lungs. Within seconds she had pinned him to the ground. He struggled but could not move. Holding his arms flat to the snow, she twisted her body until she was lying on top of him, her face inches from his own.

“He blended me with a panther,” she said.

“I would still have believed it if you had merely said it,” he told her. “The demonstration was unnecessary.”

“Not for me,” said Renya. “For now I have you at my mercy.”

He grinned … arched his back and twisted. With a scream of surprise Renya was hurled to the left. Tenaka swiveled and dived on her, pinning her arms beneath her.

“I am seldom at anyone’s mercy, young lady,” he said.

“Well?” she asked him, raising an eyebrow. “Now what will you do?”

His face reddened, and he did not answer. Nor did he move. He could feel the warmth of her body, smell the perfume of her skin.

“I love you,” she said. “Truly!”

“I have no time; I cannot. I have no future.”

“Neither do I. What is there for a Joining? Kiss me.”

“No.”

“Please?”

He did not answer. He could not. For their lips touched.

4

S
caler stood in
the crowd and watched the girl as they tied her to the stake. She did not struggle or cry out, and only contempt showed in her eyes. She was tall and fair-haired, not beautiful but striking. As the guards piled brushwood against her legs, they did not look at her, and Scaler sensed their shame.

It matched his own.

The officer climbed to the wooden platform beside the girl and surveyed the crowd. He felt their sullen anger wash over him and rejoiced in it. They were powerless.

Malif adjusted his crimson cloak and removed his helm, tucking it neatly into the crook of his arm. The sunshine felt good, and the day promised to be fine. Very fine.

He cleared his throat.

“This woman has been accused of sedition, witchcraft, dealing in poisons, and theft. On all counts she has been righteously condemned. But if there be any to speak for her, let them do so now!”

His eyes flickered to the left, where a movement began among the watchers. An old man was being restrained by a younger one. No sport there!

Malif swept his arms to the right, pointing at a Joining in the red and bronze livery of Silius the Magister.

“This servant of the law has been appointed to defend the decision of the court. If any should wish to champion the girl, Valtaya, let him first gaze upon his opponent.”

Scaler gripped Belder’s arm. “Don’t be a fool!” he hissed. “You will be killed; I will not allow it.”

“Better to die than see this,” said the old soldier. But he ceased to struggle and with a weary sigh turned away and pushed his way back through the crowd.

Scaler glanced up at the girl. Her gray eyes were looking into his, and she was smiling. There was no hint of mockery in the smile.

“I am sorry,” he mouthed, but she had looked away.

“May I speak?” she asked, her voice clear and strong.

Malif turned to her. “The law says that you may, but let there be nothing seditious in your words or I shall have you gagged.”

“My friends,” she began, “I am sorry to see you here today. Death means nothing, but the absence of joy is worse than death. Most of you I know. And I love you all. Please go from here and remember me as you knew me. Think of the laughter and put this evil moment from your minds.”

“No need for that, lady!” someone shouted. The crowd parted, and a tall man dressed in black moved to the open space before the pyre.

Valtaya looked down into the man’s bright blue eyes. His face was covered by a mask of shining black leather, and she wondered if a man with such beautiful eyes could possibly be the executioner.