From Darkness Won Part 36

One of the men spoke. "State yer name and business."

"I'm Harnu Poe. We come seeking sanctuary from Darkness and to offer our service to the New Council."

"What do you know of the New Council?"

"Just that things are changing in Er'Rets. I aim to serve however I can."

"Who you got with you?"

"My wife and two servants."

"How do you plan to serve the New Council?"

"My man and I mean to fight. If you're in need of seamstresses, the women can sew."

"You'll need coin to rent a room. Ask the stablemaster about trading that wagon for a boat."

"I will. Thank you."

"Come on down and let us search yer wagon."

The four of them climbed out and watched the soldiers ransack their supplies. They made a mess, tossing everything about, but took nothing but a mouthful of dried fish.

Then they searched Harnu and Noam.

The man searching Harnu took his coin purse-which was really Averella's. "We'll be taking a fee for entry and an offering for Dathos. And you'll have to hand over that blade."

"I'll do no such thing," Harnu said, forbidding as ever. "If I'm to join the soldiers, I'll do best with my own blade."

The soldier glanced at his partner, who shrugged. "Let him keep it. It's in sad shape, if you ask me." He pocketed a few coins and tossed the coin purse back to Harnu.

The soldiers approached the women next. Averella clutched Gren's arm. "You will not touch us!"

The soldier laughed. "Oh, but we will, Madam. Plenty have tried to sneak trouble past our gate by hiding it on their women. Put your arms out, real nice like."

Averella shot a glance to Harnu, who shrugged. "We've nothing to hide. Search 'em if you must."

Typical male response. Harnu had acclimated to his role all too well. Averella closed her eyes as the guard ran his hands over her.

A tickle at her neck. "What have we here?"

She opened her eyes to see the guard pulling the gold chain that held the king's signet ring. Her heart fluttered. She grabbed the chain.

"None of that now," the guard said. "We can't allow you to wear such a trinket in times like these. It's not safe. Plus, such an offering would please Dathos."

Averella and the guard both held tight until the chain snapped. The guard pulled the chain through Averella's fist until he had it all. She gasped when the ring did not appear. She could feel it still nestled inside her makes.h.i.+ft corset.

The guard sneered and pocketed the chain. He didn't know there had been anything else attached! "Yer free to enter. Make any mischief and we'll feed you to the tanniyn."

As the guards raised the gate, Noam helped Averella and Gren into the wagon bed. Once everyone was seated, Noam steered the horses inside the stronghold.

"Sorry 'bout your necklace, my lady," Harnu said. "I didn't think we should pick a fight just then."

"You were wise, Master Poe, though it would not hurt you to be more protective of your wife." She reached into her neckline and pulled out the ring. "Fortunately I am not as shapely as Gren." Averella blushed, shocked at her words. Since when did she say such forward things?

Gren's lips parted. "Achan's ring? They almost took it?"

"Arman did not let them. Gren, do you have some twine that I might use to put it back around my neck?"

"Of course."

As Gren busied herself looking for twine, Averella took in their surroundings. The courtyard-which had been filled with merchants and animals the last time she was here-was deserted. The horses' hooves and wagon wheels clacked over the cobblestone. "It must be a late hour."

"Which way to the stables, my lady?" Noam asked.

"To the right of the fountain, past the temple."

The wagon turned sharply. Averella gripped the side and stared at the fountain. What once had been a beautiful cascade of water over the sculpture of the Mahanaim justice scales now oozed dark slime. She wrinkled her nose and turned toward the temple of Dathos.

The circular colonnade filled the northeastern corner of the courtyard. The black and white banners hung limp, moist from the stale air of Darkness.

Noam stopped the wagon at the stables. Harnu got down and quickly bartered a trade with the stablemaster.

"Any of them boats down there'll do." The stablemaster gestured toward narrow stone steps that led down to the ca.n.a.ls. "You want to put up your horses, it will cost you extra."

Noam unharnessed the horses, but Harnu said, "Leave 'em to me. You and the women carry the supplies to the boat. I'll meet you there." He and the stablemaster each led a horse inside the stables.

Noam stood staring after them.

Averella set her hand against his arm. "He is taking his role to heart, is he not, Master Fox? Come, I am sure all will be well. Can you carry the larger pack?"

The stairs leading down to the water were lit so poorly they could hardly see. They moved slowly down them until they reached a stone pier that stretched along a murky ca.n.a.l under the courtyard above. Dozens of small wooden boats were tethered along the pier. The occasional torch reflected off the dark water. On the end of the pier, to the far right of the stronghold, the ca.n.a.l turned and snaked between a city of buildings.

They loaded their gear into the nearest boat and stood beside it, waiting for Harnu to return.

"What about the horses?" Noam asked.

"They will be fine in the stables," Averella said. "We will do as the guards suggested: we will rent a room and plan what to do next." Her words were more confident than she felt. Arman, show us the way.

Gren paced along the waterfront. Noam stood at the foot of the stairs, staring up. Averella sat in the boat, rocking gently in the ca.n.a.l.

A man yelled in the distance. A burst of orange flame arched overhead and landed on the thatched roof of a three story high building. A woman screamed.

Another cl.u.s.ter of arrows, tips ablaze, pa.s.sed over the sentry wall and hissed as they sank into the ca.n.a.l. Armor jangled above as guards ran to duty. Voices split the silent night.

"From the east."

"It's the p.a.w.n King!"

"Guard your thoughts, for he can enter your mind faster than Darkness."

Averella smiled, amused at this embellishment of Achan's gifts. But her amus.e.m.e.nt changed her smile to a frown. For what did she truly know of Prince Gidon's gifts? And since when did she feel comfortable calling him Achan? It was as if her heart knew something her mind hadn't yet learned. Or remembered.

Another sprinkling of fiery arrows fell from the sky.

"He should be back by now!" Gren said.

Averella reached for Harnu's mind. Master Poe, are you well?

My lady! The stronghold's under attack. Soldiers have set up a siege engine in front of the stairs. I cannot reach you. I'll find you later.

Very well, Master Poe. Fare you well.

An arrow landed in the boat. Gren screamed. Noam clambered into the tiny craft and tossed his pack on the arrow, snuffing the flame.

"Into the boat." Averella stood to help Gren into the craft.

Gren looked over her shoulder at the staircase. "What about Harnu?"

"He is trapped at the moment, as will we be if we do not move now. Come, Master Poe will find us later."

Averella pulled Gren into the boat.

Noam helped her sit, then loosed the tether and pushed the boat away from the wall. He sat in the middle, facing the women, and started to row. "Where shall I take us?"

Averella took in their surroundings again. Now that they were on the water, something about this ca.n.a.l felt familiar. "Out into the city."

An explosion of rock cracked overhead. Averella hunched down moments before a ma.s.sive splash surged their boat forward. Pebbles and water rained over her head.

Noam rowed faster. The ca.n.a.l twisted and turned around buildings, some burning, some dark as if their residents were still asleep.

"My lady!" Noam said. "'Tis a fork. Which way?"

Averella studied the paths before them. "Left."

Noam paddled the boat down the left ca.n.a.l. Averella's heart thudded. Torchlight was scarce now. Darkness fell heavily upon them. She nudged Gren. "The lantern. Quickly."

Gren fiddled with the lantern. A rotting yellowstone building loomed ahead. The lantern burst aflame, spilling golden light over the boat.

"Straight ahead, Master Fox. Through that hole in the wall."

"My lady, are you certain?"

"Yes, though perhaps we should duck."

Averella tucked her head between her knees. Gren screamed. The temperature dropped suddenly and all was black but the light in their boat. Averella picked up the lantern and held it over her head. "Slow down, Master Fox. There will be some turns ahead. I just cannot remember... There!" Averella pointed to a narrow crack in another wall. "Through that opening."

Noam steered the craft through. The left side of the boat sc.r.a.ped against the stone wall.

Averella's skin crawled at the sound. She quickly scanned the walls. "Slightly right, through the gap that looks like the letter M."

Noam mumbled, "I don't know my letters, my lady."

"Never mind that." Averella set her hand on his shoulder and pointed. "It looks like the flapping wings of a bird."

"I see it." Noam rowed them through the opening.

"How do you know where we are going?" Gren asked.

"I have been here before. This path leads to the dungeons. There!" She pointed to a stony ledge that ran along a wall to their distant left. "Stop the boat there."

Noam obeyed. He found a peg to anchor the boat to, and the three of them got out. It was silent, as if all was well above the castle.

Averella took the lantern from Gren and made her way along the wall until her fingers found a gaping crack in the stone.

She slipped inside and followed a narrow tunnel. Rock and minerals drowned the bitter smell as they moved away from the water and up a jagged stairwell carved from rock.

An orange glow lit a narrow crack ahead. Averella set the lantern down. "We shall leave this for our return." She inched between two wall-sized rocks. Voices came to her mind. Flashes from a different time, spoken here, in this same cave.

"What did the letter say?" Achan asked.

"You never read it?" Averella's voice, raspy and strange in her memory.

"I meant to, but I didn't want Gidon to catch me."

"I cannot remember it word for word, but-"

"She can't spell."

"I noticed."

Achan sucked in a deep breath. "Tell me."

"Well, she said you were her true Kingsguard knight. She wanted you to run away from the prince. She wanted to marry you and not... Riga, was it? She loves you."

He blew out a sigh. "Figured it was something like that."

"Why did you throw it away?"

Achan's feet shuffled. "Because it didn't matter what she wrote. It changes nothing."

Averella's stomach tightened. "How can you say that? It must have broken her heart to write those words. You should have cherished it."

He scoffed. "So I can read it again and again, dragging myself through the memories? That would be torture. Sparrow, you should have been born a woman."

Averella bit her lip, then shoved Achan, figuring that was what a boy would do when called a woman. She chose her next words carefully. "What's wrong with remembering?"

"It hurts, that's what. And I want to forget. That's why I tossed it."