Silk and Earth Read online

  Knave pulled out a cloth-wrapped item from his backpack and unfolded it on the grass, revealing a flat loaf of bread. “It’s not like we have a library at our fingertips,” he continued, “but you know what? We do. Those travelling with us could have more knowledge of the Nemorans than we do.”

  Cassia nodded, “And with the communication spell, we might be able to find out details from the library if we need to through Magister Kelcedone. Can I help myself?” she asked of the bread.

  “Oh sure,” he said.

  “We know that the Nemorans had some of their people infiltrate our order,” Alexa confirmed. “It would be wise to do the same with theirs. We don’t know all that much about them from what I’ve seen. We know they’re formidable, well-trained fighters, they’re armed and they’re not afraid to kill. Their actions have shown that.”

  “How do we know that some of our people haven’t infiltrated them already? It would be logical,” Cassia asked, as she helped herself to the bread.

  Alexa shook her head in disagreement. “I really don’t think so, Cassia. We’re not spies and how would we have known to infiltrate them, unless we knew they were a threat? We know now, but they’re on the offensive.”

  She noted the sun’s position in the sky. It was mid-afternoon now, and it was unlikely they would make it to Mount Bridha before sundown.

  “I guess it would be up to the higher-ranking members of the order to do what they believe to be right,” Cassia exclaimed.

  So much had happened in a short time. It hadn’t been long ago that Cassia was considering leaving the order. Josef was back in Kalle, waiting for her, she hoped. Perhaps he believed she was dead, but she thought they’d got through to him with the communication spell.

  When they’d first left the city, the thought of being so far away from Josef was a huge burden on her heart. It ached, and she was terrified of being separated from him when the Nemorans were a threat and she wanted to turn to him more than ever. In some ways, he had been her rock… or at least, she’d wanted him to be. Now, she found her mind turning back to the path ahead of her, Alexa, Knave and her Sisters. It wasn’t that she didn’t care because she did, but she knew she had matters to take care of first, and Josef would need to look after himself for now. She just hoped he’d be alright. She was doing this for him, as much as for herself.

  Alexa considered the Sisters’ options as she cut a piece of bread using Cassia’s knife. “I think the best thing we can do is make contact with someone on the inside or take them prisoner. I know it isn’t our way, but it would be helpful to know what they know. Scrying is another possibility – perhaps we could see what they’re planning. I think Magister Kelcedone would be looking into those options already.”

  Cassia nodded, “Almost certainly. It might not be possible because the Nemorans are sorcerers in their own right, but perhaps they have men or agents outside of… whatever protected space they use, and our people might be able to overhear details.”

  “This isn’t something we could do from here though, on the road?” Knave asked.

  Cassia shook her head. “Most of those options? Probably not, no. It’s possible others might be able to, but I’m not really sure what they can do. They don’t tell us everything that the senior priestesses know.”

  “So that just about leaves following orders for now and talking to the others to find out what we can?” Knave asked.

  “That sounds about right,” Alexa admitted. “I’m hesitant to push it too much in case they doubt us. We survived what happened in Kalle and they don’t know us well. If I try and elbow my way into the conversation, which I was considering, it might have the opposite effect to what we want.”

  Knave released a breath, his frustration showing through. “What would you suggest then?”

  “Just approach things casually, I suppose?” Alexa recommended. “We know that we’ll be splitting up into smaller groups when we reach Mount Bridha. If we’re going to learn what we can from others around us, it will need to be before we get there – so tonight or tomorrow.”

  He seemed to accept that as a wise course of action. “I’m not sure splitting up is the best idea, but your Sisters have a better chance of making it through if you’re not all in the same place. Errgh, sorry.” He could tell that came off as insensitive, but he didn’t mean it that way. “What if we don’t get all the manses?”

  Cassia shushed him, her glance suggesting he shouldn’t speak too loudly. Some of the sisters might disapprove of him knowing too much. It didn’t stop her explaining, though.

  “We need to reclaim or destroy all of the manses if we’re to defeat them and fully disempower them. The Nemorans can still cause widespread destruction with one or two, and the manses increase their strength, but the potential level of destruction would be far greater with all five. For every manse we reclaim, we’re weakening them and strengthening ourselves. With the level of power and destruction we believe they’re aiming for, it would take far longer for them to achieve that with one or two manses than more. It means that in retrieving the manses, we could be buying ourselves more time.”

  “I see,” Knave stated gravely. “We’ll do what we can. It’s all we can really do.”

  He turned his thoughts back to Alexa’s earlier mention of splitting up.

  “Do we know yet if we’re going to be able to stick together after we reach Mount Bridha?”

  “We can,” Cassia answered with a smile. “The Magister has already promised us that we could stick together. We’ve been assigned the manse in the desert.”

  “Of course we have,” Knave groaned. “I suppose it’s not a bad thing that I’ve always liked the heat.”

  Cassia nodded. “Same,” she said, grinning. “I’d better talk with some of the other Sisters.”

  As she climbed to her feet, she spotted a young priestess with curly hair walking down the hillside not far away.

  “Hey, Sister Annie isn’t it?” she asked, as she hurried to catch up.

  “Close. Melanie,” she answered, looking as exhausted as Cassia felt.

  “I have a few questions and I’m not sure who to ask.”

  Chapter 2

  Cerus Arani strode confidently through the palace of King Merrion, accompanied by a steward named Lorest Kilbourne. He’d been granted an audience with the King after many hours of waiting and his patience had long ago expired. He didn’t particularly like the King – he thought the man was foolish and a weak leader.

  The desert had a way of sorting out the weak from the strong, but it wasn’t always so among decadent people. The court was about power – those who had it and those who didn’t: the latter of whom usually walked on a knife’s edge. It might not have seemed that way to most people, but Cerus understood the risks lurking behind smiling faces and friendly gestures. He also considered himself more adept than most at seeing through such facades.

  That may have meant that Cerus was unnecessarily wary of people at times, but he’d lived this long. He’d fought many a battle and dealt with the Nemorans more often than he’d have liked, but he’d lived to tell the tale, and in some cases they had not. That was his definition of success and capability in what seemed to him a world bereft of meaning.

  The steward led him into a small room that was simple in its decorations, with two large Cherrywood doors in the wall to their left.

  “I’ll leave you here. The King and his advisors are inside, and you’ll be summoned when they’re ready.”

  The doors opened moments later and Lorest bowed, before backing away, leaving Cerus to meet with the King as he had requested.

  It had stood out to him that there were no guards in the room where he waited, but there were within the doors of the King’s chamber. As he entered the chamber, he saw King Merrion ahead of him on his throne. He certainly cut a striking figure, where he sat at the far end of the room with two other men – one on either side of him. The throne was on a raised platform several inches off the floor, and was fashioned
of gold.

  King Merrion seemed older now: his dark hair was greying, even though he was only in his late thirties.

  Cerus also recognised the other men: one was Sean Craedon – a genuinely likeable man he’d shared drinks with a time or two, and Jason Veryon, who he believed had no place in the palace at all. He had little to offer beyond his family’s wealth, as far as Cerus was concerned. Whereas Sean was an older man, Jason was younger than the King himself.

  Cerus sighed inwardly as he bowed to his King and waited for permission to speak.

  “Governor Arani. This is an unexpected pleasure. It’s been many years since I last saw you here at my palace. What’s kept you away?”

  The Governor blinked and considered his reply. “Thank you, Your Majesty. The requirements of my position are many and I haven’t had the opportunity to travel until recently. There are frequent wars and skirmishes among the tribes, and maintaining peace between them is almost a full-time job.”

  The King’s eyebrows rose and he looked to be mulling over Cerus’s words. Cerus didn’t try to guess what the Monarch was thinking – he felt there was little point.

  “I believe that isn’t why you’ve come to meet with me here today. I hear you have information on the tragic attack against the Sisters of Destiny and believe you know who might have been responsible?”

  The fact that the King knew this made Cerus wonder all the more why he’d taken so long to meet with him. Surely in such a situation, time should be of the essence? Unless he knew something or merely didn’t care.

  Cerus had never seen him as bloodthirsty, but uncaring – that he could believe.

  “That’s correct, Sire. It was the Warriors of the Dusk, otherwise known as the Nemorans, who were responsible for the attack. I learned of the attack in advance and sent a messenger to the temple, but he was killed there.”

  The King’s brows furrowed and he turned to Jason, who merely shrugged.

  “You’re sure of this?” the King asked, “because I have it on good authority that this was a matter of internal politics among the faith.”

  “I… uh… received different information, Sire.” Cerus was taken aback in surprise at the King’s response. “The Nemorans were responsible. They sent assassins to murder the priestesses and I believe their purpose may have been to work against you.”

  The King scoffed, but his expression also held a note of concern. It seemed he genuinely hadn’t believed this was the case before.

  “What do you mean?” he asked Cerus. “Do you believe they intend to target me?”

  Cerus sensed he should be careful here in explaining himself, lest he end up in a cell. “I’ve given this some thought Sire, and it has occurred to me that the Sisters of Destiny were the strongest protective force of mages in the vicinity of Kalle and Kalle Demorre Island. In a time of war or conflict, they would be a primary line of defence, and now they’re gone. I believe they may have been murdered in order to remove a very real barrier should the Nemorans have political motivations.”

  The King sat silent as he digested the Haledoran Governor’s words. “So you think the Nemorans seek the crown or to destroy the monarchy?”

  Cerus nodded at that. “I believe it’s a distinct possibility.”

  He was tempted to suggest the King keep his army near should they be needed, but to do so would cross the line of what was appropriate. He just hoped the King cared more for his self-preservation than he did the priestesses of that temple, or his advisors could help drive some sense into him.

  King Merrion turned to Sean Craedon questioningly. “What do you think of this? Do you believe this matter extends beyond the Sisters of Destiny and could affect us here?”

  Just as Cerus expected, he nodded.

  “Kalle is not far away, Your Majesty. We know the enemy lacks ships of their own, but they don’t need them. They could be waiting out of sight or in plain sight. So many people pass through the city that strangers are common, as is transport to the island. I think it’s possible and it would be wise to take precautions.” He glanced at Cerus. “I also wonder how Governor Arani came by this information about the Warriors of the Dusk, so as to learn of their plans to attack the temple.”

  Cerus had hoped that wouldn’t be brought up. “The Warriors of the Dusk have a strong presence in the kingdom around the town of Feidhlim. While quite a distance from Haledor, we’ve encountered their men in the city before, and they’ve usually brought trouble with them. I knew an information trader, who I believe also had dealings with the Nemorans. This turned out to be true when I had the man followed. He was feeding information to them, until he was dealt with.”

  “Dealt with?” Jason Veryon asked curiously.

  “That’s right,” Cerus answered. “He was tried, found guilty and hanged.”

  The advisor looked surprised. “I see.”

  Cerus knew that wasn’t the whole story, but it wasn’t an outright lie either. There was such a thing as telling a King too much or far more than he needed to know, so Cerus left it there.

  “We have little tolerance for Nemoran agents,” he explained. “They’re a very real danger, and I’ve seen good men slain by them before. I believe it’s possible that you’re a target of these men, Sire. I would have to wonder if some might have attempted to infiltrate the court.”

  Jason exchanged a cautious glance with the King, while Sean seemed to study Cerus more, deep in thought.

  Cerus found it interesting, and at times quite revealing, how different people responded to information such as this. These were people who had greater power than he did, so he used caution in how he spoke and what he said. Cerus only hoped it would be enough. King Merrion might have been a fool, but he was benevolent compared to Jarlath and his cult.

  “We will need time to discuss these matters privately, Governor Arani. Thank you for bringing this to our attention,” the King exclaimed. “We will see to it that accommodation is arranged for you at the palace. I believe I may need to consult you further regarding what we’ve discussed.”

  Cerus nodded and bowed. “Of course, Sire.”

  “There’s no further information you wish to add at this time?” the King asked.

  “Not at the moment, Sire, but I will also think on what I’ve heard.”

  Cerus left the room and found the steward, Lorest, waiting.

  “If you will please wait here, I will see if His Majesty has further instructions.”

  Lorest entered the throne room, closing the doors behind him, while Cerus took a step closer to listen in. Unfortunately the sound didn’t carry through the doors, which had likely been intentional. He stepped back to where he had been in time for Lorest’s return.

  “King Merrion offers you the hospitality of his palace. If you would come with me, I will show you to your accommodations.”

  There was little Cerus could do but follow.

  Chapter 3

  The trek to Mount Bridha was a long one, but the journey felt easier and less stressful to Cassia and Alexa than the one that brought them to Kelbani. The night before has passed quietly, while they, Ariane and Knave gathered what information they could on their enemy. The Sisters of Destiny in command had met privately in a tent set up for that purpose, but there were no opportunities to eavesdrop, as the Sisters had gone out of their way to ensure it didn’t happen, including casting protective wards.

  “So we don’t know a whole lot more than when we started,” Cassia admitted, “except that the cult leader’s name is Jarlath and few have ever seen him. They say he’s young and handsome, but utterly sadistic. He’s believed to have hundreds of men and women at his command, with most of them scattered around the kingdom. If we had to face hundreds in battle, we’d have little hope, but perhaps we won’t have to.”

  “Let’s hope not,” Alexa answered. “We couldn’t hope to take on that number, but if we or our fellow Sisters can free the priestesses they kidnapped, we may increase our numbers that way. When we’re closer to our obj
ective, we would be best using stealth and the element of surprise. That’s if the task falls to us. I’m not certain yet if it will.”

  Knave nodded. “We have to make the most of any weaknesses we can pinpoint, because if there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that the Nemorans will. If we’re not cheating, we’re not trying hard enough. Losers fight fair.”

  “I always knew I liked you for some reason,” Cassia confessed with a grin.

  The journey passed quickly, but the high altitude and the necessity of walking narrow paths lessened their urge to speak. There was a building set into the rock face of the mountain, which none of them had seen before. It wouldn’t have been visible from the valley far below, which no doubt helped protect the secret of its existence.

  Knave didn’t understand why it had been built out here, when their temple was in the city of Kelbani and wouldn’t involve the long journey. Perhaps the building held some unique environmental feature, but it was hard to say without seeing inside. The thought occupied his mind, as Knave took the path up the mountainside and finally reached one of the most beautifully-carved, impressive buildings he had ever seen.

  It appeared ancient like an old ruin, but it was much more intact. The entrance was accentuated by a pillar on either side; they were hewn from the stone, so they only showed a likeness of providing support to the building. The entrance was dark and there was no door, but a distant play of light on the wall suggested that there must be an opening in the ceiling, which was the mountaintop, in order for the light to shine in.

  Alexa was gasping by the time she reached the top of the path, but she smiled that the trek was finally over. They were so much closer to helping the kidnapped priestesses and finding the manses. Alexa prayed the women were unharmed and could be brought back safe and sound.

  A number of priestesses entered the building ahead of them, so despite the urge to rest… and in Knave’s case, collapse, they followed the women inside. It didn’t appear to be a temple in the conventional sense, but something else: a remnant of an age long-past.