The Destroyer Goddess (80 page)

"I suppose I have lived
only
to do this," he assured her weakly. "Stop fussing, Velikar."

"Drink this," the Sister growled at him as he sat back, breathing hard. She handed him a waterskin filled with one of her tisanes.

Right after dusk, Tansen's advance scouts had invaded the territory from all directions and started killing Kiloran's sentries. Now the Guardians were waiting for him to order them to commence the next part of the plan.

"Baran," Mirabar said, feeling her eyes mist as she tried to say goodbye to him. "If you and I don't meet again—"

"Oh, don't get sentimental now," he grumbled. "I was just starting to get used to you disapproving of everything I say and do."

"You
enjoy
my disapproval," she said as a tear rolled down her cheek. 

He changed the subject. "You will stay back here, surrounded by your friends?"

"She will," Najdan said from his lookout position nearby. 

"Mirabar?" Baran prodded.

"Yes," she promised.

"You have a child to think about." Baran was thin-voiced and breathless. "Remember that she takes whatever risks
you
take... and she's taken enough of them lately. A father mustn't be too lenient about that kind of thing."

"I..." She reached out, took his hand, and placed it on her swelling belly. "What do you want me to tell her?"

"The truth," he said. "All of it." Baran shrugged. "She'd find out anyhow, I imagine." After a pause, he added, "Tell her I only regret the things which weren't my choice—and that includes never meeting her." When he heard Mirabar sniffle, he pulled his hand away and wondered irritably, "Where in the Fires is Tansen? I'd have stayed home in bed if I knew he was going to wait until this illness kills me before starting the attack."

Tansen said from somewhere in the dark, "Keep your voice down. People in
Cavasar
probably heard that."

"Finally," Baran murmured. "We were afraid you'd changed your mind and joined the enemy."

Mirabar heard Tansen's stealthy footsteps before she saw him, and she could only recognize him once he was very close. They wouldn't normally launch a surprise attack on a twin-moon night, but the lingering smoke and ash in the sky ensured that the light from the moons was dim. Now, even as she greeted Tansen, one of the moons disappeared behind another rain cloud. 

Tansen squatted down beside them. "I don't think Kiloran knows anything's amiss yet, but we need to move right away. He has a relay system set up for regular reports from his sentries, and he'll be suspicious the moment the pattern is disrupted." 

"Everyone's in position, then?" Najdan asked.

"Yes," Tansen replied. "Lann sent a runner asking how soon his men can start killing assassins. Pyron sent a runner complaining that his men have got the worst terrain and greatest number of obstacles. Vinn sent a runner saying he's getting bored."

Najdan replied dryly, "They sound ready."

"They are." Tansen asked Baran, "Are you?"

"I'm aflutter with girlish excitement," Baran assured him. "Velikar?"

As the Sister helped Baran to his feet, Tansen helped Mirabar to hers and said, "Use your judgment. When you think we're about halfway to the lake, start the attack. The men will go into action when they see your signal."

"Please come back." Her voice broke as she clung to his hands. 

"If we don't succeed," he said, returning her grip, "go straight back to Belitar. Immediately."

"Tansen, don't say—"

"You understand how important it is that you live," he persisted, freeing one hand to touch her stomach gently. "Not just to me,
kadriah
, but to her. To Gaborian. To the future."

"I do wish," Baran said, "you'd remember that's my wife you're handling so casually."

Tansen froze for a moment. Then, very deliberately, he leaned forward and kissed Mirabar on the mouth. 

Rather predictably, Baran laughed. 

"Let's go," Tansen ordered Baran.

"I do feel," the waterlord said, "that we've grown closer through these hardships, don't you?"

"And try not to talk," Tansen added. "I'm feeling irritable."

"Before we part," Baran said to Mirabar, "I would like to ask one burning question. What in the world do you see in him?"

She touched Baran's cheek. "I suspect you'll survive this and live long enough to torment me while I'm in labor."

He grinned and, to her surprise, kissed her hand before turning to go. A moment later, he disappeared into the dark with Tansen.

"One really cannot blame Kiloran," said Najdan, "for having spent the past fifteen years trying to kill him."

The first sentry report of the night had failed to arrive. 

"You seem worried," his son said.

Kiloran replied, "A waterlord can never afford to be lazy, complacent, or careless. Especially not in times like these." He looked at Zarien. "Rather than send men in search of my missing sentries, to suffer an ambush in their turn, we will prepare for attack."

Zarien's eyes widened. "You really think we're about to be attacked.
Here?
This place seems as if no one could—"

"They can't, but I will be surprised if they're not about to try." He placed a hand on Zarien's shoulder, sensing the boy stiffen slightly as he did so. "You're frightened."

"Yes," Zarien said, nodding slowly. "I am."

 Kiloran sighed. "I had hoped that some lingering sentiment for you, some remnant of fatherly feeling, might have prevented Tansen from doing this." 

"He doesn't know I'm here," Zarien protested.

"Oh, I imagine he does." He shook his head. "I had also hoped that even if proper feeling didn't prevent him from attacking, then Baran would stop him. But Baran is weakening rapidly. He may be too feeble even to interfere with Tansen now. That power which I told you is cooperating with Baran to fight me for the Idalar River and the mines of Alizar... It's ascendant now. There's been a shift in the past few days. I can feel it. It's as if Baran can no longer hold on."

"Baran? But..." Zarien looked puzzled for a moment, then he drew in a sharp breath. "You
told
him I'm here."

"Yes, in a letter," Kiloran replied. "And unlike Tansen, Baran is sentimental."

"You thought Baran would interfere with any plans to attack Kandahar—"

"Plans which Tansen was bound to make very soon."

"—because I'm Alcinar's son."

"It seemed a wise precaution. Unfortunately, it appears to have been a wasted effort."

"And since Tansen expected to find me at Belitar—"

"He'll know by now that you're here." Kiloran paused to make his next point crystal clear. "And Tansen is probably attacking us tonight."

Zarien looked horrified and turned away. Kiloran watched sympathetically. Betrayal was indeed a terrible wound, and Tansen had the habit of inflicting it on those who'd loved him.

Baran's insides churned like liquid fire. His legs trembled with weakness. His vision blurred. He felt Tansen's hand on his arm, partially supporting him, partially dragging him. He wanted to say caustic things, but he didn't have the strength.

Then he felt a sudden explosion of power all around him and drew in sharp breath of revolted surprise.

Tansen whispered, "What's wrong?"

He didn't need to answer. Tansen saw, as he did, pillars of fire start shooting up from a dozen different places in the dark. Then more. Then still more. The Guardians had commenced the attack and would now try to overrun Kandahar with their power. The flames shot so high up that loyalists positioned all around Kiloran's vast territory would see it, even if they were a day's journey away, and begin their attacks, too. Now Baran perceived more sky-reaching fire in the distance, as other hidden groups of Guardians saw the initial signal, passed it on, and commenced their own skirmishes.

"I hope," Baran said weakly, "that Kiloran finds this much fire magic as nauseating as I do."

"We've got to keep going," Tansen said, pulling Baran's arm over his shoulder. "You've got to approach the lake while he's distracted, before he realizes you're here."

Baran staggered along at the
shatai
's punishing pace, letting Tansen carry half his weight, concentrating hard on moving his feet in some semblance of walking.

He felt the power emanating from Kandahar already, and it got stronger as he approached it. It couldn't obliterate the appalling feel of fire magic closing in from every direction—honestly, he'd vomit again if this kept up—but it was nonetheless monumental, extraordinary, and wonderfully cold. It invigorated him, even cleared his head. 

This icy, pure power which he and Kiloran commanded began seducing him all over again as he approached the place where he had first learned to master it. And the thought of finally confronting that vicious old reptile in all-out, unrestrained, mortal combat... Yes, it almost made him feel renewed.

I should have done this years ago
, he realized.

"I feel him," Baran murmured to Tansen. "Oh, I feel the old man now. All of his strength. Right here."

Tansen released him, and Baran sank to his knees, smelling the scent of the water. Feeling it warn him away, so well protected by its master. Hearing it lapping at the shore.

Lake Kandahar, where Alcinar had been held prisoner. 

"I couldn't do it then," he said grimly, "but I can do it now. I have learned so much since then."

"I hope you're right," Tansen said. "Zarien's life depends on it."

"Yours, too," Baran said with a nasty smile. "Now aren't you sorry you tried to seduce my wife right in front of me?"

"I've already seduced your wife," Tansen replied. "Now wouldn't you like me to survive long enough for you to punish me as I deserve?"

"
Mirabar
was unfaithful?" Baran shook his head. "No one has any standards anymore."

"What do we do?" Tansen prodded impatiently.

Baran rose slowly to his feet, then moved toward the water. He felt the deadly chill and said, "Don't touch it. Not yet."

"Baran, wait, what are you—"

Baran ignored him, wading into the dark lake which Kiloran had ruled, unchallenged, for so many years. 

"He knows you're attacking," Baran said over his shoulder to Tansen. "He knows you're here."

"How do you know?"

"Remember the mines of Alizar? He's doing the same thing here."

"Making the water so cold it'll kill anyone who touches it?"

"He's protecting his home from the attack. Protecting Zarien. But if I can reverse what he's done..." He smiled sweetly at the
shatai
. "I hope you can swim?"

"
Guardians
."

"Where?" Zarien asked, his heart pounding.

Kiloran looked even paler than usual. "Everywhere. All around us. Pushing into my territory. A huge number of them."

"
Siran
," one of the assassins said, "I want to join the battle!"

"Yes, take everyone with you except those four." Kiloran gestured to the men he meant. "They will stay here to guard my son."

"Surely no one can get inside the palace?" Zarien asked.