Keeper: First Ordinance, Book 2 (7 page)

Rath stood slowly—the mattress he'd been given was barely an
improvement over the stone floor beneath it; the straw bedding had flattened
long ago. It did nothing to help the joint disease he'd developed after sixty
years of life.

Lifting the parchment drawing before straightening with an
effort, Rath blinked at the strange image. "What is this?" he turned
to Tamblin. Yevil stood at Tamblin's shoulder, glaring.

"Glare all you want, it won't offer insight into what
this is," Rath handed the drawing to Tamblin through the bars and shook
his head. "I've never seen such. Is it a ship?"

"That's what the fishermen say who saw it," Tamblin
snorted.

"Where is it now?" Rath asked.

"We don't know. The sailors were too frightened and too
slow to chase it."

"Then you know more than I," Rath said. "Has it
attacked, or provoked attack?"

"We have no word of such," Tamblin replied. Yevil
shuffled angrily at Tamblin's side.

"It is an enemy, that is plain to see," Yevil's
words exploded in an angry growl.

"Are you taking these sailor's words for truth, then,
without seeing this for yourself? Were they drunk, perhaps?" Rath lifted
an eyebrow at Yevil. "Were they attacked? How do you know it is an enemy?"

"Why would they be here, then?" Yevil demanded.

Rath, even in the dim light of the dungeon, saw the spittle
fly from Yevil's mouth as he spoke.

"Just because your ships plan an invasion doesn't mean
that anyone else might possess such an insane notion," Rath observed.

"What other reason would there be?" Yevil hissed,
his voice harsh and accusing. "You and the filth you call your sister
planned this, somehow."

"We planned nothing," Rath snapped.

"No? What is this, then?" Yevil jerked a message
from an inner pocket of his jacket and tossed it through the bars.

Rath didn't need to pick it up—he knew what it was. Hirill had
been instrumental in this bit of treachery. The message he'd sent to the winged
guardians had never left Fyris. "I hope I live long enough to witness your
deaths," Rath hissed.

* * *

Lironis

Quin

Rodrik took his usual quarters in Amlis' suite. I think he
wanted me to stay with the Prince, too, but Justis insisted that I stay with
him—he'd been given a suite next to Amlis'. Ardis and Dena took a suite next to
Omina's, while Kaldill and Daragar had temporary rooms at the top of the
castle.

I resolved to visit them when I could—I'd never been to the
upper levels of the castle, after all; Tamblin kept them closed off to all.
Berel chose to stay with his guards on the flagship; Wolter and Deeds went with
the Queen to provide a guard for her.

Sophie and Yissy had also gone with the Queen; I had a feeling
that Sophie would find herself named as dressmaker to the Queen and
maid-in-waiting before two days had passed.

I had no idea who was running the kitchens now that Wolter had
taken another position, but food was provided according to a regular plan. A
delivery of food and supplies had already come from the Kondari ships—the castle
cooks had never seen packaged food before and had to be shown what to do with
it.

The Kondari language also escaped the kitchen staff;
therefore, three Kondari were dispatched with the supplies to assist in food
preparations. I doubted they'd ever seen such archaic methods of cooking, but
they mimed much to make themselves understood by the kitchen help.

I knew, too, that things were deteriorating in Vhrist, but
dithered over whom to approach first with the news. Rath was still alive but
that wouldn't be true for much longer. "The airchoppers are flying toward
Avii Castle, with Orik and three others aboard," Berel said after he
arrived and flopped onto a settee near the window.

I'd stared, unseeing, through a suite window while considering
the problems facing us. If Tamblin were a rational man, and were Yevil even
half as evil as he was, we could come together and discuss the greater problems
facing Siriaa.

As it was, neither of those things were true. While Rath might
be a womanizing noble at times, he still recognized the danger Fyris was in and
knew that sending an invading fleet toward an unknown country was more than
foolish.

"The Queen's brother is in a dungeon in Vhrist—on the
northern border of Fyris," I turned to Berel, then. "Yevil and the
King promised him thirty days while they awaited a response from Amlis. I fear
they may void their promise and execute him anyway."

"Does the Queen know?" Berel sat up straighter and
studied me with interest.

"No. Neither does Amlis or Rodrik. Rath is Rodrik's
father, and I worry that if I tell any of them, they'll race toward Vhrist,
only to get caught in Yevil's net."

"What's this?" Justis stalked in. He'd overheard
part of my conversation with Berel. Hoping he'd react in a rational manner, I
explained what I knew.

Chapter 4
 

Lironis

Quin

"Airchoppers will make too much noise," Berel
pointed out. "They'll know we're coming. My concern, of course, is that
innocents may die attacking Kondari troops, who have body armor and advanced
weapons. I want no deaths," he added.

"I want Yevil's death," Amlis hissed. Rodrik kept his
silence as he sat next to the Prince, but his face revealed a terrible anger.
As much as he and his father disagreed, he still loved him.

"Riding horseback will get us there far too late,"
Deeds offered. Amlis nodded his agreement.

"The waters surrounding Vhrist are very shallow,"
Daragar offered. "A ship cannot get close enough to facilitate an escape.
You'd be dependent upon the airchoppers again, and that, as young Berel has so
aptly pointed out, will result in unnecessary deaths."

"Fly in," Dena suggested. "We have six black-wing
guards, a Yellow Wing, a Green Wing, a Blue Wing and the White Wing. Surely we
can get in and out silently enough and carry away one man."

"Black Wings only," Justis began.

"You will waste time searching for the proper cell,"
I said. "I will go as a guide."

Kaldill and Daragar exchanged glances when I spoke, but
neither offered comment. "How long will it take to fly from here?"
Ardis asked.

"Less than two hours," Justis replied. I knew then
that he'd made this journey before.

Gurnil, who sat at the meeting table writing notes swiftly
across parchment, glanced up and nodded to Justis. "I will expect a report
upon your return, Commander," Gurnil said.

"You will have it," Justis agreed. "Come—Black
Wings and Quin with me. We leave at nightfall."

* * *

Vhrist

The drawings Tamblin held this time defied explanation. Along
with the drawings came descriptions of loud noises accompanying the
contraptions. Who knew what they could be, and this, so shortly after their
conversation with Rath in the dungeons?

"We will have the execution tomorrow," Tamblin
nodded to Yevil. "In public. Then we will send his head to Lironis—to my
wife. If she's there, as Rath claims, then it's only right that they should see
one another," Tamblin laughed.

"Tell the bitch to bow to you or she'll be next,"
Yevil's voice was sly.

"Sounds reasonable enough, only include Amlis in that
charge. Place extra guards around Rath's cage, too."

"I'll see it done, my King."

* * *

Lironis

Quin

"If you tire, let me know. I'll have Ardis carry you,"
Justis said. "Regardless, before we reach Vhrist, I'll have him carry you
anyway, to hide your white wings. Black is not easily seen, and we've drilled
for this many times. All we need is your locating skills."

"I know," I nodded. "I worry that he may be
moved, in case any of his men make a rescue attempt."

"They'd be better off fighting Tamblin's troops,"
Justis huffed.

"They're outnumbered, and the King's troops fear Yevil,"
I explained. "I fear that he may have more weapons like the one Amlis took
to Avii Castle. Sadly, the thing exploded when their ship was attacked by
Kondari airchoppers, which also caused the boat to explode. Beatris barely had
time to leap from the deck before it was incinerated."

"He had a weapon that exploded?"

"You should ask Amlis about it—he carried it away from
Vhrist," I shrugged. "I think it was the one used to kill Elabeth and
Camryn."

That admission stopped Justis cold. "What did it look
like?" His voice sounded deadly.

"Ask Amlis—he and Rodrik held it," I said.

"Come," he snapped. I followed him out of our suite.

* * *

"It looked something like this," Amlis hastily drew
a sketch with pen and ink upon a scrap of parchment.

"That cannot be. Nothing like that should be in Fyris,"
Justis breathed.

"It made a hole in Brin's chest," Rodrik indicated
the size of his fist. "Yevil killed him with the infernal device after
Brin stabbed Timblor."

"You know what it is," I gazed at Justis, who looked
grim.

"These are supposed to be hidden in Jurris' private
treasury," Justis claimed, studying the sketch again.

"What is it, then?" Amlis, asked.

"An ancient weapon," Justis muttered. "A
dangerous one. How did such as this come to Fyris?"

"I believe that may be determined by Yevil's parentage,"
I said. "I know Tamblin allows him sway in most things, and I wonder at
that. I also wonder what Yevil's back looks like when he removes his shirt."

"What are you saying?" Rodrik asked.

"I've never seen Yevil without a shirt," Amlis admitted.
"Even when sparring with swords."

"A half-blood?" Justis lifted an eyebrow.

"Perhaps. I feel too much of a connection between him and
another that I know of."

"We are in deep trouble," Gurnil sighed.

* * *

Kondar

"Dorthil, this is useless. We need collaboration, not
civil war," Edden said. He'd placed a vid-call to Dorthil, who was
currently a guest of Sector Two's President and his advisors. Edden didn't
point out that Sector Two was experiencing upheaval regarding heavy-handed
legislation churned out by the current President and his staff; that would
ensure Dorthil's continued fomentation of civil war.

"Fourth Sector is with us," Dorthil snapped. "You
merely wish to save your skin. I should have disposed of you when I had the
chance."

"You realize those words are treasonous?" Melis
Norwal's face appeared behind Edden's shoulder. "Sector Two has not yet
declared its secession from Kondar. From where do you expect to import grain?
Sector Two holds a shoreline and its chief exports are fish, shellfish and vid
components. Stop this foolishness now and help us find a cure for this poison.
Sector Two's fish are already contaminated with it."

"Your policies have angered the gods," Dorthil
thundered. "It will not take long before Sectors One and Three follow Two
and Four. They will rally to my call and that will leave you on the island that
is Sector Five."

"I spoke with both One and Three before calling you. They
advised me to mobilize troops to Sector Two and haul you into custody. Shall I
follow their advice?" Edden asked.

Dorthil cursed before offering a reply. "I will prevail.
I have a powerful ally," he stated.

"What powerful ally? The Yokaru think you're a joke."

"He calls himself a wizard," Dorthil hissed. "He
can kill you with a thought."

"What thought is that?" Melis asked calmly. "Who
is this man—this wizard?"

"His name is Marid, and he is from Yokaru. You should
fear that name." Dorthil terminated the communication.

* * *

"They have no wizards—and no Yokaru citizens have such a
name," Edden discussed an earlier conversation with the Yokarun Emperor
over dinner. "They have no dealings with Dorthil—there are no records of
his leaving and no records of anyone arriving here to visit him. I have no idea
if this is merely lies and posturing on Dorthil's part, or whether someone who
identified himself as Marid from Yokaru actually approached him."

"Few things are offered for free if this is true—I
imagine the wizard asked for something in return for what he purportedly gave
to Dorthil," Melis said. "I hesitate to place another communication,
but it may become necessary. Strange things are happening upon our planet as
you know—Berel says a very tall, blue man and another who claims to be a King
we do not recognize are there with him and Quin, although he cannot record
images of them, for some reason."

"More wizardry? I thought such only happened in children's
tales."

"Perhaps we have fallen into one of those tales,"
Melis shook his head in confusion. "I find no explanation for any of this."

"That means we're back to what Dorthil wanted from this
so-called wizard."

"We have spies in Sector Two—they are reporting the
current unrest among the people. Shall I ask that they get as close as possible
to Dorthil?"

"Close, but not too close—I want no deaths," Edden
sighed. "If he is visited again by this wizard, I wish to know it.
Immediately."

* * *

Le-Ath Veronis

"I have a message," Kooper arrived in Lissa's office
with very little notice.

"From?" Lissa, smoothing back strawberry-blonde
hair, studied Kooper Griff.

"Daragar. He says his nexus echo received a hit."

"On whom?"

"Marid's name was mentioned."

"Cripes," Lissa rubbed her forehead. "Who said
it?"

"Someone on Siriaa who recently attempted a coup against the
Kondari government. Seems he wanted the High President's position. He had
it—for a short time. He's been chased away for the moment, but it looks as if
he's plotting civil war from one of Kondar's Five Sectors."

"He wants a civil war while the planet is dying beneath
his feet? That's preposterous."