By the Sword (20 page)

Ittonifer glared at him.

“Since when do you think you can barge in here? Do you want to lose another body part?”

“M
y lord,
your
daughter
has run away!”

“You fool! She’s probably in the courtyard or in the library.”

“No, she isn’t. I found one of her handmaids, and she confirmed that Chrissa has run away for good. She left them a note saying she will not be coming back.”

“That stupid, stupid wench.”

Ittonifer shook his head. He should have made sure that the guard locked her door last night.

“I am going to go look for her,” said Naeshi.

“There isn’t the time,” said Ittonifer.

Why had he waited so long to marry off that headstrong female? No matter. There were more important things to focus on. She would come back eventually. She was just a spoiled little girl that wanted her own way.

No different than her mother was with those infuriatingly defiant eyes.

His empire was so close to covering the entire western continent. Everything would work out according to plan once Sanctus was out of the way. In the big picture, Chrissa did not matter. Not if she
so easily
turned her back on her father and country.

Naeshi stormed toward the door.

“Focus, Naeshi. My daughter is rebelling, but she’ll be back. She can’t survive out there alone.”

“We were going to be married today!” yelled Naeshi.

“You are my senior guard. I need you here. And I will demote you to lower than a basin cleaner if you address me in that way again. If she comes back, you have my consent to be married that same day.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Ittonifer couldn’t believe that he had promoted the fool back to senior guard. Yes, Naeshi had helped him obtain more wealth, and he was as strong as an ox, but the man’s steed had more brains than he did. One more
mistake
and he would be back to the infantry.

“Get out of here and make yourself useful,” said Ittonifer.

Naeshi left immediately.

Ittonifer was glad to be rid of the idiot. Maybe he would get himself killed in the battle.

Ittonifer returned to his bedchamber and walked out onto his balcony, taking in the fresh evening air. Scanning the distance, a flicker of light caught his attention. Several men on horseback were riding into the city. Jalarn had come home without the giants.

*****

General Edandir rode to the front of his army and raised his sword high. Every single knight and soldier stood at attention.

“Today we march to Malinor – not for revenge, but to end the devil’s hold on this continent. By God’s grace and power, we will conquer Ittonifer’s men, his mighty beasts, and the devil’s magic, which are nothing with God on our side. Alas, God is with every single one of you. You are not alone.”

The legions cheered and shouted.

Queen Roselyn stood on the balcony that was connected to the throne room. She was overlooking the procession of her country’s army with pride.

Edandir waved to her. She returned the gesture and gave him a confident smile. Gone was the fear that had shrouded her days ago. He smiled back at her. He had hoped to see her before they marched. It would be several days before he would be able talk to her again.

The general kicked his dragon steed’s sides and it spun around, lunging forward. He led Sanctus out of the city and into the wilderness. The rhythmic pounding of battle drums energized him. They had, at last, begun their three-day journey to Malinor.

*****

Pain shot through Talya’s temples as she awoke in a dark and very damp place. She winced as she opened her eyes. She was lying on something cold and hard.

I must have fallen off of my cot.

Her stomach churned from the nausea that engulfed her. She rolled onto her side and gagged. She moaned as she touched the great bump that was on the back of her head. When her eyes had finally adjusted, she remembered the giant lion and Jalarn’s last stare.

I’m in a prison! Jalarn’s men must have caught up to me.

It all really happened. She hadn’t awakened from a dream.

A door creaked open from down the hall. The rustling of keys pierced the stagnant air, and two pairs of footsteps approached her cell.

Her pulse quickened and she sat up. Were they coming to finish her off?

“Here she is, m’lord,” said a deep voice.

A guard with a horribly scarred face held his lantern toward Talya’s cell.

Jalarn stood close to the cell. With his mask off, he no longer seemed like a faceless monster.

He stared at Talya.

He is going to kill me.

“Leave us,” Jalarn said to the guard.

The man bowed, set the lantern on a nearby stool, and left.

“What happened to his face?” asked Talya.

“It doesn’t matter,” said Jalarn.

Jalarn stood rigidly outside of the barred door. His deep green eyes bore into hers. He had regained his usual composure, but Talya had seen him at his most vulnerable moment back in the forest. And he knew that.

Perhaps this was it then. He would drive his sword through her now.

At least I can die knowing that I did something right for once.

“Why did you spare me back in the forest?” asked Jalarn.

Wincing at her thundering head, Talya stood and walked closer to the barred door.

“God showed you to me in a vision. Twice. I didn’t know that it was you until I took off your mask.”

“What foolishness are you speaking of?”

“I had a real-life dream that showed me how you became a warrior for Malinor. I just couldn’t send you into a future of destruction after seeing what you went through as a boy.”

Jalarn took a step back, frowning.

“You wanted to spare my life because you felt sorry for me. Are you serious?”

“When I saw that you were the same boy that was ordered to fight to the death just to feed his ailing mother some bread, I couldn’t kill you.”

“How do you know these things?” he asked.

“It’s as I told you. God showed them to me.”

“You are sadly misled, m’lady.”

“My name is Talya. And I am not the one that is misled.”

“Talya,” he repeated. “Don’t you see? It was the prince. He was showing you things about me, knowing your apparent weakness for pathetic street urchins, so that you wouldn’t end all that he has planned for
me and this empire
. He wills that I live.”

Fury arose from Talya’s heart like she had never experienced. She took a step closer to him. They glared at one another through the metal bars.

“How dare you even suggest that the
devil
revealed those things to me? He is a liar and a thief who cares for nothing but himself. How can you forget that he abandoned you back in those woods? You would be dead right now if God had not shown me those visions.”

Jalarn threw his head back and laughed hollowly.

“Your God wants you to believe His lies. Talya, you have so much potential that the prince could use if you only allowed him. Don’t succumb to this simpleton nonsense that has robbed so many other people of their lives.”

“I can’t imagine the mighty Malinorians stooping so low as to accept a female knight in their ranks,” Talya shot back.

Jalarn crossed his arms.

“You’re the most worthy opponent that I have ever fought. Any Malinorian worth his spit would accept you as a commander. You would have power here. Ittonifer will be very pleased with your abilities. He would never treat you like your father has.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, I know everything. Everything about you, that is.”

“No, you don’t!”

Talya crossed her arms, cringing at the idea.

“You could lead with me in time. I will show you how to cast spells that you never would have dreamed existed. Spells that only the brave would attempt to try. Imagine… having magic at your fingertips. I owe you my life. This is the least that I can do.”

A wave of pride overcame Talya. She didn’t fight it. In her mind’s eye, she saw herself leading legions of knights, second only to Jalarn. She would be admired and respected for the rank that she had worked so hard for. Perhaps one day she would become a general, if she could outshine Ittonifer’s cocky nephew.

She smiled at the possibility.

Jalarn leaned closer.

“I think the real reason that you spared my life was so that you could gain access into my army and achieve a position that you could never get in Sanctus. I know all about your general from Cardamon suppressing your talent. Your father has been no different.”

Talya closed her eyes as
her mind was suddenly infiltrated by a familiar, soothing voice
.

“Y
ou’ve never been appreciated as you should be, Talya. I can make you more powerful than you could ever hope to dream. You will no longer be sorry that you weren’t born a male. Just follow me.”

Jalarn unlocked the door to her cell and opened it. His hand went to the other sheath at his left hip. It was her sword.

She gasped.

“This belongs to you.”

He gave it to her.

Feeling lightheaded, she took it with both hands.

“Will you join Malinor, then?” he asked.

Chapter Thirteen

Talya’s eyes locked with Jalarn’s. They were so close that his breath caressed her forehead. Power and respect were within her reach. As she grasped her sword with both hands, her desire to fight returned.

Talya blinked and she suddenly envisioned Jesus hanging on the cross. His eyes bore pleadingly into hers.

“
Don’t be deceived.”

Talya shuddered.

What am I doing?
I didn’t spare Jalarn’s life just to walk with him down the road to hell.

She took a step backward.

Jalarn’s thick voice brought her back to the moment.

“Talya, just say the word and I will give you everything that I have told you.”

“No!” she yelled.

Talya carelessly swung at him with her sword. She was so weak that she lost her balance and landed on her knees. She backed into a corner, extending her sword in front of her.

Jalarn stared at her, shaking his head.

He closed her prison door and bolted it shut.

“I see that I will have to do this the hard way.”

“Why don’t you just save yourself the trouble and kill me now? I am not turning my back on my God.”

“Fool!” he shouted. “You are weak and simple-minded just like the rest of them. It goes against all logic to serve a God that won’t even defend you – to stay loyal to a country that will never win.”

“He saved me and the others from that tornado spell
you
threw our way!” she shouted.

“Sanctus is not going to win this war.”

“Then we’ll be honored to die fighting for our God.”

Jalarn shook his head. He slammed his fist into the wall and then walked away, leaving Talya alone in the darkness once again.

*****

Ittonifer tapped his fingers on his desk. His anger grew
every time he thought about his nephew
. Jalarn should have reported back to him ages ago.

Ittonifer stood and went to his balcony, feeling restless. The boy needed to be reminded of what he had been given.

“My lord.”

Jalarn stood in the entranceway.

“Where have you been?” snarled Ittonifer.

“I’m sorry. I wanted to consult with Aterun first. I have been falling behind in magic.”

“You’re lying. I can tell.”

Ittonifer turned around and punched Jalarn in the stomach. Jalarn grunted, but returned to his upright, rigid position.

Ittonifer punched him again in the same place. This time, Jalarn bent over.

That’s better.

“Forgive me, Uncle.”

“You know that you must always come to me first when you return from a mission. Why did you avoid me?”

“I did not reach the giants in time.”

“That is obvious. Do you realize how important it was that we have them as part of our army?”

“Of course I do, but—”

“Shut up before I cut out your tongue. Edandir has them now. He is going to be gloating over that.”

“We are still going to win,” said Jalarn.

“That is not the point.”

Ittonifer kicked Jalarn in the midsection. Jalarn bent over, and then Ittonifer brought his elbow down between his shoulder blades.

His nephew stumbled to the floor.