Inevera did not preamble. You must take the Skull Throne as Andrah. You are the only one who can do it without inciting a war and hold it against my husbands return.
Ashan shook his head. You are mistaken if you think that, Damajah.
It was the SharDama Kas wish, Inevera reminded him. You swore an oath before him, and me.
Ashan shook his head. You are mistaken if you think that, Damajah.
It was the SharDama Kas wish, Inevera reminded him. You swore an oath before him, and me.
That was if he were to fall in battle at Waning, with all to see, Ashan said, not killed by a greenlander on some forgotten mountainside. The throne should go to Jayan or Asome.
He told you his sons were not ready for that burden, Inevera said. Do you think that has changed in the last fortnight? My sons are cunning, but they are not yet wise. The dice foretell they will tear Everams Bounty asunder vying for the throne, and should one climb to the top of the bloodied steps and sit, he will not rise on his fathers return.
If he returns, Ashan noted.
He will, Inevera said. Likely with all the Core behind him. When he does, he will need all the armies of Ala to answer his call, and have neither time nor desire to kill his son to regain control.
I dont like it, Ashan said. I have never coveted power.
It is inevera, she told him. Your likes are irrelevant, and your humility before Everam is why it must be you.
Be quick, Renna said, as Leesha led her aside. Wasted enough time already waitin on you lot. Arlens out there somewhere and I need to find him.
Demonshit, Leesha snapped. I dont know you that well, Renna Bales, but well enough to know you wouldnt have waited ten seconds on me if your husband was still unaccounted for. You and Arlen planned this. Where has he gone? Whats he done with Ahmann?
Callin me a liar? Renna growled. Her brows tightened, fingers curling into fists.
For some reason, the bluster only made Leesha all the more sure of her guess. She doubted the woman would really strike her, but she held a pinch of blinding powder and would use it if need be.
Please, she said, keeping her voice calm. If you know something, tell me. I swear to the Creator you can trust me.
Renna seemed to calm a bit at that, relaxing her hands, but she held them palms up. Search my pockets, youll find no answers.
Renna, Leesha struggled to maintain her composure, I know we had an ill start. Youve little reason to like me, but this isnt a game. Youre putting everyone at risk by keeping secrets.
Renna barked a laugh. If that ent the night callin it dark. She poked Leesha in the chest, hard enough to knock her back a step. Youre the one got the demon of the deserts baby in your belly. You think that ent puttin folk at risk?
Leesha felt her face go cold, but she bulled forward, lest her silence confirm the guess. She lowered her voice to a harsh whisper. Who told you that nonsense?
You did, Renna said. I can hear a butterfly flap its wings across a cornfield. Arlen, too. We both heard what you said to Jardir. Youre carrying his child, and setting the count up to take the blame.
It was true enough. A ridiculous plot of her mothers that Leesha had foolishly brought to fruition. It was doubtful the deception would last past the childs birth, but that was seven months to prepareor run and hidebefore the Krasians came for her child.
All the more reason I find out what happened to Ahmann, Leesha said, hating the pleading tone that had slipped into her voice.
Ent got a notion, Renna said. Wastin time should be spent lookin.
Leesha nodded, knowing when she was beaten. Please dont tell Thamos, she said. Ill tell him in time, honest word. But not now, with half the Krasian army just a few miles off.
Renna snorted. Ent stupid. Howd a Gatherer like you get pregnant, anyway? Even a dumb Tanner knows to pull out.
Leesha dropped her eyes, unable to keep contact with Rennas intense gaze. Asked myself that same question. She shrugged. Historys full of folk whose parents knew better.
Dint ask about history, Renna said. Asked why the smartest woman in the Hollows got wood for brains. No one ever tell you how babes are made?
Leesha bared her teeth at that. The woman had a point, but shed no right to judge. If you wont tell me your secrets, Ive no reason to trust you with mine. She swept a hand out at the valley. Go. Pretend to look for Arlen till were out of sight, then go and meet him. I wont stop you.
Renna smiled. As if you could. She blurred and was gone.
Why did I let her get to me? Leesha wondered, but her fingers slipped to her belly, and she knew full well.
Because she was right.
Leesha had been drunk on couzi the first time shed kissed Ahmann. She hadnt planned to stick him that first afternoon, but neither had she resisted when he moved to take her. Shed foolishly assumed he wouldnt spend in her before marriage, but Krasians considered it a sin for a man to waste his seed. Shed felt him increase his pace, beginning to grunt, and could have pulled away. But a part of her had wanted it, too. To feel a man pulse and jerk within her, and corespawn the risk. It was a thrill shed ridden to her own crescendo.
Shed meant to brew pomm tea that night, but instead found herself kidnapped by Ineveras Watchers, ending the night battling a mind demon by the Damajahs side. Leesha took a double dose the next day, and every time they had lain together since, but as her mentor Bruna said, Sometimes a strong child finds a way, no matter what you do.
Inevera eyed Thamos, the greenland princeling, as he stood before Ashan. He was a big man, tall and muscular but not without a share of grace. He moved like a warrior.
I expect youll want your men to search the valley, he said.
Ashan nodded. And you, yours.
Thamos gave a nod in return. A hundred men each?
Five hundred, Ashan said, with the truce of Domin Sharum upon them. Inevera saw the princelings jaw tighten. Five hundred men was nothing to the Krasians, the tiniest fraction of the Deliverers army. But it was more men than Thamos wished to spare.
Still, the princeling had little choice but to agree, and he gave his assent. How do I know your warriors will keep the peace? The last thing we need is for this valley to turn into a war zone.
My warriors will keep their veils up, even in the day, Ashan said. They would not dare disobey. Its your men I worry over. I would hate to see them hurt in a misunderstanding.
The princeling showed his teeth at that. I think thered be hurt enough to go around. How is hiding their faces supposed to guarantee peace? A man with his face hidden fears no reprisal.
Ashan shook his head. Its a wonder you savages have survived the night so long. Men remember the faces of those who have wronged them, and those enmities are hard to put aside. We wear veils in the night, so that all may fight as brothers, their blood feuds forgotten. If your men cover their faces, there will be no further blood spilled in this Everam-cursed valley.
Fine, the princeling said. Done. He gave a short, shallow bow, the barest respect to a man who was a dozen times his better, and turned, striding away. The other greenlanders followed.
The Northerners will pay for their disrespect, Jayan said.
Perhaps, Inevera said, but not today. We must return to Everams Bounty, and quickly.
CHAPTER 1
THE HUNT
333 AR AUTUMN
Jardir woke at sunset, his mind thick with fog. He was lying in a Northern bedone giant pillow instead of many. The bedcloth was rough, nothing like the silk to which he had become accustomed. The room was circular, with warded glass windows all around. A tower of some sort. Untamed land spread into the twilight, but he recognized none of it.
Where in Ala am I?
Pain lanced through him as he stirred, but pain was an old companion, embraced and forgotten. He pulled himself into a sitting position, rigid legs scraping against each other. He pulled the blanket aside. Plaster casts running thigh-to-foot. His toes, swollen in red, purple, and yellow, peeked from the far ends, close, yet utterly out of reach. He flexed them experimentally, ignoring the pain, and was satisfied with the slight twitch that rewarded him.
It harkened back to the broken arm hed suffered as a child, and the helplessness of his weeks of healing.
He reached immediately to the nightstand for the crown. Even in day, there was magic enough stored within to heal a few broken bones, especially ones already set.
His hands met empty air. Jardir turned and stared a long moment before the situation registered. It had been years since he had let himself be out of arms reach of his crown and spear, but both were missing.
Memories came back to him in a rush. The fight atop the mountain with the Parchin. How the son of Jeph had collapsed into smoke as Jardir struck, only to solidify an instant later, grabbing the spear shaft with inhuman strength and twisting it from his grasp.
And then the Parchin turned and threw it from the cliff as if it were nothing more than a gnawed melon rind.
Jardir licked cracked lips. His mouth was dry and his bladder full, but both needs had been provided for. The water at his bedside was sweet, and with some effort he managed use of the chamber pot his searching fingers found on the floor just underneath the bed.
His chest was bound tightly, ribs grinding as he shifted. Over the bandages he was clad in a thin robetan, he noted. The Parchins idea of a joke, perhaps.
There was no door, simply a stair leading up into the roomas good as prison bars in his current state. There were no other exits, nor did the steps continue on. He was at the top of the tower. The room was sparsely furnished. A small table by the bedside. A single chair.
There was a sound in the stairwell. Jardir froze, listening. He might be bereft of his crown and spear, but years of absorbing magic through them had remade his body as close to Everams image as a mortal form could be. He had the eyes of a hawk, the nose of a wolf, and the ears of a bat.
Sure you can handle him? the Parchins First Wife said. Thought he was going to kill you out on that cliff.
No worries, Ren, the Parchin said. He cant hurt me without the spear.