The Void of Muirwood (Covenant of Muirwood Book 3) (32 page)

Too weak to move or struggle, Maia drifted out of consciousness again and dreamed nothing at all.

She awoke facedown on a pallet.

Her eyes blinked open, her mind snared in a haze of fog. A scratchy wool blanket chafed her face. Stretching her limbs, she discovered she was not bound in ropes or chains. She pushed herself up and discovered the small rectangular pallet where she lay was inset on a series of bed beams and poles. Light streamed in from a tall, narrow window, the glass so thick and treated that it distorted the view outside.

Hearing a subtle cough, she turned her head and found
her
kishion sitting on a stool near the window, using gut thread to sew a knife wound on his upper arm. His shirt was stripped down past his waist, and his muscled back was riddled with scars. He jabbed a needle through his own skin without even a flinch and continued to work. A bluish paste was in a grist bowl next to him, and a pestle lay beside it on the windowsill.

Maia sat up, her heart shuddering as she tried to remember how she had gotten there. It was a small cell, sparsely furnished. There was a wooden bench with several trays containing vials and powders. An executioner’s axe hung on a peg on the wall near the only door.

When the kishion finished stitching the wound, he bit off the thread end with his teeth and then cleaned his hands on a rag. He turned and finally noticed her staring at him.

His cheekbone was puffy and bruised. His lip was split with an angry red slash, but the blood had already been mopped up. His nose was a little crooked, and one of his eyes was swollen.

Her heart reached out to him as she realized he had once again saved her life.

“Where is Corriveaux?” she asked, but it came out as a croak. She coughed and tried to swallow, earning a familiar mocking smile from her protector. He grabbed a leather flask from nearby and tossed it to her.

“Across the river by now,” the kishion said curtly. “I almost went after him and finished it, but I could not leave you there unprotected.” He quickly donned his shirt, stretching his wounded arm and wincing slightly.

Maia stared at him, her feelings conflicted. How many times had he saved her? She had tried to banish him, to rid him from her kingdom, but he was as elusive as smoke.

“Where . . . are we?” she asked, looking around the isolated chamber.

“A secret place.” He nodded to the door. “It is pretty thick. It would take a large axe to break that one down. I needed to bring you somewhere safe until you woke.” He gave her a pointed look. “Did you . . .
dream
?”

She knew what he was asking her. During their journeys together, she had become possessed by the Myriad Ones at nightfall and would often do or say things she could not remember in the morning.

Maia could almost smell the burning stones of the abbey. “Yes,” she answered guiltily. “I did.”

He shrugged his unconcern and then fetched a bloodied rag to dab his split bottom lip. “I killed the kishion who was trying to murder you. I did not have time to move his bulk, so he bloodied up the corridor. My apologies for the mess.”

“An apology is hardly necessary,” she said. “Are we still on the castle grounds?” she persisted, seeking an answer.

He nodded subtly. “But nowhere your people will look. Lady Maia, the spiders are crawling all across the webs, and you do not even see them. The kishion I killed for you? He murdered your spymaster on Flax Street. They sent three others to kill me, you know. I have dealt with the first, but there are two more. If you stay here, they will murder you. You have no idea what is truly happening.”

Maia suppressed another shudder as she stared into the eyes of her menacing companion. The look she saw there frightened her . . . yet she knew she somehow had power over this man. “Then tell me,” she offered, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Before I killed the first man who tried to murder me, I kept him alive and . . . gained some information from him. Corriveaux is intent on unleashing a Void on Comoros. You remember that little village in the mountains?”

“Argus,” she said, nodding curtly. Her heart panged her as she remembered the faithful boarhound from which the town had taken its name.

“He and the Victus plan on doing that and worse in Comoros. They wish to make it uninhabitable. Your people are going to die. All of them.”

Maia frowned, but she did not look away from him. “We will fight him.”

He snorted with laughter. “It would take the combined strength of all the kingdoms to prevent it. No one will leave their own land undefended to come help a pretty young lass new to her throne.” His voice was deadly earnest when he continued. “I will not allow them to destroy you.”

The look he gave her was suddenly . . . tortured. Clenching his jaw, he glanced away from her and hurled the rag onto the windowsill by the pestle. “You need to leave the city, Maia. The spiders are crawling everywhere now. They have been sneaking in for days.”

“Who?”

“The Dochte Mandar!” he said gruffly, giving her a scowl that softened quickly. “Hundreds. There are too many for you. They do not just wish to subvert you, Maia; they want you dead. They will kill you and lead the people to their slaughter.” He looked pained by what he said. She could see in his eyes he was utterly convinced of her danger.

She imagined her Privy Council was desperate to find her. By now, they must know about the attempted attack in the castle. “Will you let me go?”

He gave her another scowl and muttered something under his breath.

“You
must
let me go,” she pleaded.

“I will on one condition,” he said, folding his arms over his chest.

“What is that?” she asked.

“Call off your hounds. I am weary of being hunted. I know you ordered them to find me. Stop it. I am trying to help you. I am loyal to you, Maia. Only to you.”

Maia frowned at him. “You murdered my parents.”

He shrugged, looking unconcerned. Then his gaze sharpened. “Your father was going to murder you. I could not allow that. I
would not
allow that.”

“I will abandon the search for you,” she said. “I promise. Right now, it is more important to begin evacuating the city.”

“To where?” he grunted contemptuously. “Muirwood? That place is even more vulnerable than the palace. True, the swamp will slow Corriveaux’s army down, but the outcome is inevitable. They will bring enough drunk Naestors to do the job, my lady. They will not give you a
moment’s
reprieve. I have fought in a war band. That is how I got this,” he said, gesturing to his severed ear.

Maia did not want to confirm his hunch, but she sensed he already knew. “The abbey will defend us,” she said firmly.

He bit back a laugh. “As you say. Now for my second condition. You are not safe. Corriveaux is determined to butcher you. If you fall, so does the realm. Your guards could not protect you from me, let alone another kishion sent to murder you. I want Tayt by your side during the day. Do not
leave
his sight. I will guard you at night. We will take turns watching over you, as we used to do. No more hiding in Muirwood at night.” He leaned back against the wall by the window, folding his arms. “Those are my demands. I know you will keep your word if you promise me something.” His lip quivered with a suppressed smile.

Maia knew she did not have time to argue. Besides, what he said made sense. “You will go with us when we abandon the city?” she probed.

He nodded. “You do not always see me when I am near you, Maia.”

She felt a mix of dread and reassurance at the thought. He had been part of her life for a while now. They had shared many experiences. Despite her complete disapproval of his choices, she cared for him as a friend. Still, she was concerned about the look she saw in his eyes when he looked at her. She thought about Collier, so very far away, and wished again that she could see him.

“Very well,” she said, wondering if she would come to regret her decision.

Maia found the palace in an uproar. Every guardsman, servant, and guest was frantically searching the grounds for her. When she was discovered walking in from a remote part of the castle, there was a gush of relief. Suzenne, who had taken part in the search effort all night, burst into relieved tears upon seeing her. No one from Claredon had seen her enter the abbey the previous night, and concern for her had risen to a fever pitch when a man was found dead in the corridor connecting the palace with the abbey wall. Maia called an emergency meeting of the Privy Council and explained exactly what had happened and her new understanding with the kishion. She would not go back on her word.

The lord mayor was ordered to summon the city watch and begin a manhunt for Corriveaux. Searching both sides of the river—as well as every boat in the harbor—would be arduous, and Maia was far from certain Corriveaux was still in the city, but she did not want to make it easy for him to walk into her kingdom with impunity. After all, the Dochte Mandar had been expelled from the kingdom, which was one law of her father’s she did not plan to change. She warned Justin that Corriveaux had a habit of traveling with men who impersonated soldiers from whatever realm he was infiltrating, and requested that a watchword be created to help identify friend from foe. She also sent word to Muirwood to summon the Aldermaston’s steward to Comoros. The Privy Council would prepare to implement the evacuation plans immediately.

It was a long and difficult day, and Maia could not banish the kishion from her thoughts. She had summoned Jon Tayt after the council meeting to tell him what the kishion had demanded of her. Jon Tayt had frowned fiercely, and his anger toward the kishion had barely cooled by nightfall. He insisted on going everywhere with her, and she found his constant companionship a reminder of the voyage they had made together.

Later that day, as Maia ate in her private chambers, Suzenne arrived with Doctor Bend to report on the condition of the Prince of Hautland. The night before, Prince Oderick had come down with a mild fever. During the day, the fever had grown rapidly, and other symptoms had manifested themselves. He was isolated from all but his most loyal servants, who refused to leave his side but still pressed linen napkins to their mouths whenever they stood near him. The doctor’s report made Maia cringe, and she found she could not finish her meal. Jon Tayt happily devoured it.

As soon as the doctor had left, Suzenne came over to her and whispered in her ear.

“I know you are tired, Maia, but there is one person who came after nightfall for an audience with you. I tried to find out what she wants, but she says she will only tell you.” Suzenne pulled back and looked into Maia’s eyes. “It is Maeg Baynton. She claims it is important Cipher business.”

Maia looked at Suzenne in concern. She had not given much thought to her erstwhile enemy Maeg, who had tormented her while they were studying at Muirwood together. She was the daughter of the dead sheriff of Mendenhall. Maia had heard nothing about her since they had both left the abbey—she had been too consumed with the troubles of her kingdom to worry about a girl who could not stand her.

Maia felt an oncoming sigh. “She will not tell you?”

Suzenne shook her head. “Should I have her wait until tomorrow?”

“No,” Maia said, touching her friend’s arm. “Send her in.”

After Suzenne left, Maia shot a worried glance at Jon Tayt.

“I remember the lass,” he said candidly. “Pretty face. Mean as a cat whose tail was run over by a cart.”

Maia stifled a smile as the door to her private room opened and Suzenne ushered Maeg inside. She shut the door after the girl, leaving her alone with Maia and Jon Tayt.

The gown Maeg wore was instantly and painfully familiar. It marked her as one of the servants of Lady Shilton. Maia herself had eventually been given a gown after the same fashion. She had worn it on the
Blessing of Burntisland.
She had worn it while facing the lost abbey. She had worn it across Dahomey and into Mon. Seeing Maeg wear a similar gown made her draw up short.

“You serve Lady Shilton?” Maia asked in surprise.

“Yes,” Maeg said, fidgeting with her skirts. She looked uncomfortable . . . no, she looked terror-stricken. Her eyes were haunted.

“What is it?” Maia asked, rising to her feet and walking toward the other girl. “What has happened?”

“I tried to come earlier,” Maeg said, her voice low and soft. She glanced around the room surreptitiously. “We are truly alone except for the hunter?”

Maia felt a spasm of fear. “Yes. Suzenne said you wanted to tell me something. Why could you not share the truth with her?”

The suggestion made Maeg look even more miserable, if it were possible. “Because it concerns her as well, and she was my friend once . . . before she was yours.”

“Tell me,” Maia said softly, stroking the girl’s arm. “I am not your enemy, Maeg.”

Maeg tried to laugh but could not. She sighed, mastered her emotions with apparent difficulty, and continued. “I did find a position after Muirwood,” she said. Smoothing the skirts of her gown, she continued, “with Lady Shilton. Aldermaston Joanna . . . she encouraged it discreetly, believing it would help you to have a Cipher in that household.” She paused and stared down at the ground for a moment before speaking again. “My apparent dislike of you, Your Majesty, actually helped me earn the position.”