Sword and soul, p.25
Sword and Soul, page 25
“I’m warm enough.”
“Her fever’s back,” Jinaari added.
Thia watched concern flood their faces. “I’m fine. Right now, I’m in control. It’s like the other one is sleeping or something. If Jinaari or either of you feel safer with me being blindfolded and tied to my saddle, I won’t fight against it. The last thing I want is to hurt any of you.” She glanced around. “Where’s Gnat?”
“Ashynn collected him earlier. He said there was something he had to do before the tribe arrived. I didn’t ask what. He seemed excitable this morning,” Adam said.
“When is he not?” Thia asked.
“If he’s downstairs already,” Jinaari said, “then let’s go. We’re on a tight schedule as it is.”
Thia glanced at his back as he headed for the door. He didn’t say anything about a schedule. Is that what he’ll tell me later?
She walked through the door. “We’re on a schedule?” she asked, her voice low, as she stood next to him.
“Yes. I’ll explain tonight. Trust me.”
“Always.” Following Adam, she headed down the stairs. They ended in a small foyer; the door was open. As they walked outside, she blinked against the bright sunlight.
Their horses were saddled and waiting for them off to one side. Gnat stood in the center of the courtyard, watching the road they’d come down the night before. “Give me your pack,” Caelynn whispered in her ear. “Adam and I said our goodbyes earlier. We’ll be at the horses when you’re done.”
Thia shrugged the bag off her shoulder, handing it to the bard. At the end of the road, a small procession marched toward them. The steady beat of the drummer set the pace. Colorful banners fluttered in the light breeze as Gnat’s tribe approached.
She stood next to Jinaari, behind Gnat. “Any idea what’s about to happen?” she whispered.
“No, and that bothers me.”
“Friend Thia and Friend Jinaari are safe. Tribe will not hurt Gnat’s friends,” Gnat said in a quiet voice. “Gnat is the one who left. Gnat is the one who will be in trouble.”
“That’s why we’re here, Gnat. To help them understand,” Jinaari’s voice was firm, “that you did what was necessary.”
The procession came closer. Behind the drummer, a cobalus with a red coat and staff stared at the three of them. He was followed by the rest. In the center of the formation was a female cobalus carrying something in her arms. Sano?
The drummer stopped and stepped aside. “Gnat came to Furry Man and not home. Why?” The leader demanded. “Gnat knows laws. Gnat left Sano alone. This was not good of Gnat.”
“Gnat is sorry,” he replied. “Gnat had to do something to help Pretty Lady. Special Man said Furry Man wouldn’t give Nyfe back unless Gnat did it. Gnat not want to leave Mate Sano, but Gnat not have choice. Gnat can’t protect Mate Sano and Baby Gnat without Nyfe.”
“Gnat still protect Pretty Lady?”
“No, Pretty Lady is safe now. Then Gnat met Nice Brother who is now Friend Jinaari,” he pointed to Jinaari, “and other Pretty Lady who is now Friend Thia. They brought Gnat home.”
“Let Sano through!” a female voice, full of command, shouted.
Thia looked to the group in front of her. Several of them moved aside, letting her pass. A small arm stretched out from the bundle she carried.
“Mate Gnat has finished the quest?” Sano asked as she stopped in front of him.
“Gnat has, mostly. Is Mate Sano okay? Gnat is sorry he was not here for Mate Sano when Baby Gnat tasted life.”
Sano held out the baby. “Sano hopes Mate Gnat will name Baby Gnat before Mate Gnat leaves to finish the quest.”
Thia watched Gnat take the infant and push back the hood. The small cobalus looked at him with wide, green eyes. He belched, closed them again, and went to sleep with a sigh. “Gnat thinks baby look like Mate Sano. Very pretty. Gnat would like to call him Riku, if Mate Sano likes it.”
“Sano likes the name.”
Gnat handed the baby back to her, saying, “Gnat wants to stay with Mate Sano and Son Riku, but Friend Thia is sick. Gnat promised Friend Jinaari to keep Friend Thia safe.”
Thia’s heart broke at the tears in Gnat’s voice. She glanced at Jinaari. “He should stay with them,” she whispered.
Jinaari nodded, then stepped forward. “Gnat, I need to talk to you.”
He turned around, standing next to Sano. “Has Gnat done something wrong?”
“No, you haven’t,” he said as he knelt. “You’ve shown me who you are, Gnat. You are honorable, brave, and loyal. I never worry about Thia when you’re on watch. But Sano and Riku need you more than she does now. You should stay with them.”
Gnat’s head swiveled to look up at her, then back at Jinaari. “But Gnat made promise to Friend Jinaari and Friend Thia.”
“I know you did. You’ve kept your promise. I’ll keep Thia safe now. As safe as you kept me when the giant spider tried to eat me.” He reached into his tunic and pulled off his paladin’s medallion. “Do you know what this is?”
“That’s the medal that says Friend Jinaari has lots of brothers. That Friend Jinaari is a warrior and can be trusted.”
“Good. Because you are a warrior as well, Gnat. You can be trusted. And,” he placed it over Gnat’s head, “you’re my brother as much as Adam or any other paladin.”
Tears streamed down Gnat’s face, and Thia realized she was crying, too. “Gnat now has Brother?”
Jinaari smiled. “Yes, Gnat. As your brother, you know I’ll keep Thia safe, right? Because your job is to keep Sano safe, raise Riku to be an honorable warrior like you are. If you ever need me, take your family and the medallion into Tavisholm. Show it to the paladins there. They’ll keep you safe and get word to us. We’ll come as soon as we can.” He rose and stepped back.
“We all will, Gnat,” Thia promised him.
“Gnat ask favor of Friend Thia?”
“Of course. What can I do for you?”
Gnat pointed to Riku. “Friend Thia is special. Keroys said so. Would Friend Thia bless Son Riku? So that Mate Sano and Gnat know Friend Thia will take care of Son Riku if anything happens to Mate Sano and Gnat?”
“I would be honored, Gnat.” Thia knelt in front of Sano. Reaching out, she touched the sleeping baby’s forehead. “May your life know peace, your heart love, and your ears laughter, little Riku. May you never know hunger, hatred, or fear. Within the love of family may you grow into the best you can be.”
“We need to go,” Jinaari whispered.
Thia looked at Gnat. “I’ll miss you, Gnat. Same as I miss Pan. But you both have a place in my heart. I know you’ll take care of Sano and Riku like you did me.”
Gnat reached out and hugged her. “Gnat promises Friend Thia Gnat will remember!”
Standing up, she stepped back. Gnat wiped away the tears with the back of his hand, then put an arm around Sano. Together, they walked toward the tribe. The drummer began to beat again, leading them away.
Wiping away her tears, Thia took a deep breath. Gnat and Sano turned around once, waving at her. She waved back. Once they hit the trees, she turned and headed toward her horse.
“Daughter?” Ashynn said as she came alongside her.
“Yes?”
“Would you please give this to my mother when you see her?” She held out a sealed letter. “Helix promised he’d send it, but I would like it to come from you. I don’t expect her to forgive me, but I wanted her to know I am sorry.”
“Of course,” Thia replied, taking the parchment. Tucking it into one of her saddle bags, she mounted her horse. Caelynn and Adam were ready, but Jinaari stood near Helix. The mage handed him a bag. Turning around, he slung it over his head and walked their way.
“Adam, you lead. You know where we’re going,” he said as he got settled into his saddle. “Caelynn, you’ve got the rear. I’ll make sure Thia stays safe.”
The warlock urged his horse forward, and she followed. They rode around the back side of the compound. The forest ahead was thick with trees. Adam led them toward a barely discernable path. “How are things with you?” she asked Jinaari.
“They’re as good as they can be for now,” he said.
“That’s not much of an answer. Is something wrong?”
“Why are you asking?”
She looked at him. “I don’t know much about your Order, Jinaari. But I know you wouldn’t give up your medallion without reason.”
“He earned it. He’s as much family now as Pan is. But I knew he wouldn’t accept that from me unless I gave him something to prove it.” He paused. “Most paladins are only given one. The ceremony’s done without spectators; only brothers and the commander are allowed to attend. On rare occasions, Garret himself shows up. Mother couldn’t stand not being there, even tried to force her way in. Drakkus denied her entry into the chapterhouse. So, she had a second medallion created for me, and made a show of giving it to me at court. The one I gave him is that one. It has my name on it. No paladin will deny them care if he shows it to them.” Reaching into a small pouch that hung from his saddle horn, he pulled out another one and put it on. “This one is the one Garret presented me with.”
“He was there, when you took your vows?”
Jinaari looked at her, smiling. “Much like Keroys was there to accept yours. Our Gods saw something in us long before we saw it ourselves.”
“What’s in the bag?”
Jinaari’s face darkened, and she saw the muscles in his jaw move. “I’ll explain tonight, when we stop.”
She ducked, avoiding a low hanging branch. “Why not now? It’s not like we’re being chased.”
“I have my reasons,” he replied. “I’m not trying to put you off. I will tell you. But I don’t want to repeat myself. I’d rather make sure we’re all settled, and I have everyone’s attention.”
She laughed nervously. “You make it sound like it’s a matter of life or death.”
“It is.”
Her head snapped toward him. “What? Whose?”
His dark eyes held hers. “Yours.”
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Jinaari kept his eyes open, scanning the forest around them. At the same time, he analyzed Thia’s every word, each shift in her posture as they rode. Helix said it’d worked. She told me she felt like part of her was numb, and it was keeping her guest at bay. That doesn’t mean it won’t change before we stop. Before I give her the choice.
Adam’s hand went up, and he pulled his horse to a stop. “It’s getting dark,” the warlock said. “Should we make camp or do you want me to make some light?”
Glancing at Thia, he saw her rub her hand against her arm. She’s getting cool, even with the fever. “Find a good place. A traveling light is going to draw more attention than a fire will.”
“There’s a clearing up ahead. It should work.” Adam urged his horse forward.
“Come on,” he said to Thia. “Let’s get the tents up, eat.”
“Then I get to learn your secrets?”
He heard the irritation in her voice. “Yes. I have my reasons. You know that.”
She sighed. “I do. It’s just . . .” her voice trailed off.
“Just what?”
“I’m tired, that’s all.”
“Tired of what?”
“If I told you I was tired of chasing hope, would it make sense?”
Jinaari nodded. “It does. Don’t give up, Thia. This is going to work. I know it will.” It has to!
“It’s hard to have hope when I don’t know the whole story, Jinaari.”
“You trust me, right?”
“You know I do,” she said with a sigh. “It’s just . . . I thought we all agreed to no more secrets? Yet here we are. You have one. Adam has one. And I’m following blindly, unsure of anything besides you being convinced my life’s in danger. From what? My guest? There’s no way to know if we’ll find the grotto, or even that the Gods will help.”
Reaching out, he put a hand on her arm. “I know it seems like we’re keeping secrets, but we also told you when we’d tell you. Adam’s waiting until we’re back in Almair. It’s possible that Helix put a geas on him. He may face a higher price than he already paid if he tells you earlier. As soon as the tents are up and a fire’s going, I’ll tell all of you mine. The others don’t know this, not completely. I know you’re frustrated, Thia. I’ve never risked your life needlessly. I’m not going to start now.”
“Setting me up to release Corse wasn’t risking my life needlessly?” Her tone was sharp, but not without reason.
“I can’t defy Garret any more than you can Keroys.”
She slumped in her saddle. “I know,” she said. “And I wouldn’t expect you to. Like I said, I’m tired.” Her focus shifted and he saw her look ahead of them. “Let’s get those tents set up. I’ll grab my coat, warm up around the fire. That should help.”
“You should eat something, too.” Jinaari urged his horse forward, staying alongside Thia.
“I’m not hungry.” The words barely reached his ears. “She’s still sleeping, but I can tell she’s trying to fight back. You’ll probably need to restrain me somehow while I sleep.” She spurred her horse to a trot, moving far enough ahead of him that he wouldn’t be able to talk to her.
Watching her back as they headed toward the clearing, his heart sank. The choice is still hers. It has to be. This is different than the cage. I wasn’t forbidden from telling her, giving her the choice. But which one will you choose, Thia? Gods, I hope it’s not the wrong one.
Riding out of the trees, he could see Adam at work on one of the tents. His blonde head looked up as Thia rode closer. Taking her reins, he held the horse as she dismounted. “I’ve almost got one tent up,” the warlock said as Jinaari got closer.
“Thia, find your coat before you give him a hand. Caelynn’s got the other one on her horse. I’ll get the fire going, make sure we’re not sitting on the ground.”
“We know the drill, Jinaari,” Caelynn said from behind him as he dismounted. “After all these years, you still forget we know what we’re doing.”
“Because he’s an arrogant prick,” Thia said as she threaded her arms through her coat. The sparks danced at the edges of her fingers; small dots of light in the encroaching night. “He needs to remind us he’s in charge.”
Jinaari bit back his response. She’s not herself. Arguing with her won’t matter. Without breaking stride, he walked over to a small circle in the grass. “Looks like someone’s camped here before,” he said as he began to clear away the stone circle. “I’ll have a fire going soon.”
The others got to work, and he did the same. Once the fire was going, he hung an iron pot from a tripod. There was enough dried beef and vegetables in his pack to make a warm dinner for all of them. If he’d learned anything over the years, it was not to overcook.
“Get your bedroll set up,” Adam said as he came up behind him. “I’ll finish this up.”
“Thanks,” Jinaari muttered. Straightening up, he watched Thia come out of one. He walked over to his horse and began to untie his pack and bedroll. Without hesitation, he took it into the one she’d exited.
Removing the bag Helix had given him, he tossed it on her bed before setting up his own. Once he was done, he grabbed it by the strap. Opening the flap, he saw the vials nestled in protective pockets. Eight doses of the poison that would keep Valtikka at bay while slowly killing Thia.
“There’s not enough in here, Helix. You said it could take up to ten days to get to the grotto.”
The mage nodded, “This is all I had time to create. You’ll have to move fast, push her harder than you ever have. You know what’s at stake, Shield. Will you honestly risk every person in Avoch for her? Would she even want you to?”
“Food’s ready,” Adam’s voice pierced through the memory.
“I’m coming,” Jinaari replied. He closed the bag and ducked out of the tent.
The rest were huddled around the fire. Above them, the cloudless sky had darkened enough to allow thousands of stars to shine. The moon, full and bright, was half hidden by Mathaireil. The mountain dominated the landscape. Maybe they were closer than he thought.
“It’s impressive,” Caelynn said. Her voice jerking him back to the fire. As he settled on an old log they’d found, she continued. “This is holy ground, you know. All the old stories and songs say so. We can hunt for food, but that’s it. Nothing here should come for us, either. You probably won’t need your armor.”
“You should wear it anyway,” Thia said as she pushed a spoon around in the bowl she held. “Just in case the other one gets violent. I don’t want to hurt any of you.”
“You asked me earlier what was in this bag,” Jinaari said, as he set it down on the ground between them. Caelynn handed him a bowl, and he waved it off. “Later. Right now, Thia needs to make a choice.”
“Let’s take a walk, Caelynn,” Adam said as he started to rise.
“Stay,” Jinaari said. “You two should hear this, too.” He waited until they were settled again. “Thia’s right about something. I’ve often told her to trust me but kept parts of the puzzle from her at the same time. When I was Samil’s prisoner, I realized it was wrong. Thia,” he turned toward her, “you’ve spent your life letting other people tell you what should happen. Allowing them to make decisions for you instead of raising your voice, making your own choices. I’m not talking only while you were in the cloister, either. Up until I was captured, until you were forced to take the lead, you’ve let us do the thinking. Yet you’ve proven to me, multiple times, that you have not only the intelligence but the right to make decisions about what you really want.”
“You’re better at tactics than I am,” she began to say.
He held up one hand, silencing her. “You’re right. I am. That doesn’t mean you have no say in anything.” He paused. “I can’t make this decision for you. Not this time. I’m having trouble reconciling how much of what I saw, who I talked to, was real during my captivity. I’ve sworn oaths, more than one, to keep you safe. For me, that always meant alive.” Pointing to the bag, he continued, “Helix gave you something last night. I don’t know when or how, but he did. It's why your guest has been sleeping. There’s eight vials of it in there. You’ll need to take it every night if you want to keep her from preventing us from getting to the grotto. And we’ll have to push hard. There’s a chance we’ll run out of the potion before we arrive if we don’t.”
