Color Mage (Book 1) (14 page)

“I am feeling better. I have reached a decision and that has cleared my mind. Chiss, after you have delivered that message, I want you to consider yourself free to do whatever you want. Go back to my estate if you wish, or to Sugetre. It is your choice. I release you from your oath.”

“And you, my lord?”

“I am taking unauthorized leave.”

“May I ask . . .?”  

“Where I am going?” Chiss nodded. “To Ha’las, Chiss, on that Leyish trader if they’ll take me. I think I’d like to find some things out for myself.”

He gave Miri a last pat on the nose and walked out of the stable. He would have to pack some things, and make sure he carried ample coin and convertibles for the Leyish, who certainly wouldn’t transport him out of charity.

He heard footsteps behind him. Chiss stopped him in his tracks by saying, “I would come with you, Lord Callo.”

“No. I can’t ask that of you.”

“You are not asking it. I am offering. I have been with you for near twenty years.”

“I know it. Don’t think I would dispense with your aid lightly. I know very little about Ha’las, but I do know it’s dangerous. I don’t know when I’ll return. Why would you want to join me?”

Chiss shrugged. “There is nothing else I want to do. I would be bored to death waiting for your return. In Sugetre my services would likely be commanded by the King.”

“And you would not like that.”

“I wouldn’t care for it, no,” Chiss said.

“So you want to come along and tend me in Ha’las.”

“I have enjoyed doing so the last twenty years.”

“Have you! I don’t remember you always thought it that enjoyable.” Callo paused. The thought of having Chiss along on this foray into a strange land was very reassuring. “I shouldn’t allow it.”

Chiss, knowing him well, said nothing. Callo looked at the narrow face and dark eyes, remembered Chiss’ quiet support during his troubled years as a child in the King’s palace. Chiss had taken it upon himself to search for a warrior-priest who would show the boy how to use the ancient forms to channel his inconvenient emotions that seemed to spark unrest around him. He smiled at Chiss.

“Thank you,” Callo said. “I hope you don’t regret it later.”

“Go then and write your message, my lord,” Chiss said. “I will pack our things.”

A candlemark later, message delivered, and belongings packed with Chiss’ usual efficiency, Callo and Chiss rode down the road to Two Merkhan. There were only two bags strapped onto the horses and an additional pack wrapped around Chiss’ shoulders, but Callo knew Chiss would have thought of everything. The Two Merkhan trade road split off from the caravan road and wound through mountainous terrain, looping to minimize the slope of the road. Miri, prancing in the cold air, pulled at the rein as if she wanted to run, but Callo held her in.

They passed two farm carts on the way into Two Merkhan. They carried burlap-covered loads, probably stored hay. A lone man on horseback rode in the opposite direction; apparently unarmed and dressed as an artisan, he nodded at them and went on. There was very little traffic; Callo found himself thinking back over the events of the last two sennights and of Arias’ increasing hostility. Every now and then a memory of his estate would intrude, or he would recall his steward (a man he had always considered a friend as well as an employee), or he would think of some friend in the capital like Lady Phoire. Twice, Chiss’ voice startled him out of deep thought and he had to ask the man to repeat his words. After that Chiss left him alone.

After a while, the sun sank behind the peaks and the road fell into a dank early dusk, then night lit by a full moon. They saw a cloaked figure walking on the side of the road. Callo recognized the moss-stained cloak and the spiky hair. He spurred Miri forward, ahead of the walker, and then turned back to face Healer Kirian.

“You!” he said. “What are you doing here?”

The healer looked up at him. Even in the monochromatic quality of the light from the full moon, it was apparent that her face was red from the cold. Her hands, holding her bag, were bare. It was easily a couple of hours from the village on foot. Suddenly the road looked very lonely indeed. He could not reconcile her presence here on this unwelcoming winter road, alone, with what he knew of her. There were enough inconsistencies in his life lately, he thought with a twist of annoyance; he needed no more.

“I am travelling to Two Merkhan, my lord.”

“By yourself? At night? With not even a donkey cart?”

“Donkeys are not numerous in SeagardVillage,” Kirian answered. “I will be fine, my lord. Please continue on. It is not much farther.”

“Was this a sudden decision?”

Kirian ignored his question, looking up at him with those soft brown eyes, now shadowed by a frown. “It is late, my lord, and I am tired. I would like to get in to Two Merkhan sometime before midnight. Must we hold this conversation now?”

“Chiss! Have you room on that nag of yours?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Take the Healer up, will you?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“I will take the extra pack, and her bag,” Callo said, reaching for the brown-wrapped bundle.

Kirian waved the manservant off. “Now this is ridiculous! I don’t want to ride in with you, Lord Callo.”

“Why not? Chiss said he would take you up. It is getting cold, in case you hadn’t noticed. And I couldn’t swear to there being no bandits on this road at night.”

Kirian’s shoulders slumped. She looked very cold indeed with only the thin cloak wrapped around her, especially now that the winter sun was gone. She said, “I will ride in with you. My thanks, Hon Chiss.”

“Just Chiss, Healer. I am a servant.” Callo dismounted and helped Kirian up, behind Chiss. Chiss handed Callo the bags and waited while Callo fastened the bags down behind his own saddle. The manservant found a blanket in their possessions, and gave it to Kirian to wrap around her shoulders before they continued on. Miri pulled at the bit, wanting a warm stable. Callo murmured, “Almost there, Miri, my good one.”

There was no conversation between Chiss and Kirian on the other horse. Callo felt his weariness slam down on him as if he had been hit with a board. There was no one else on the road, and he had just spotted the lights of Two Merkhan in the valley below them, when there was a muted rumble behind them. Callo stopped and turned, hand on the back of his saddle, listening; he could hear the jingle of a bit, the sound of someone calling.

“Off the road!” he ordered. He dismounted and led Miri off the road. There were big boulders clustered where they had tumbled at the foot of a steep slope, and a couple of stunted evergreens with roots winding between the rocks. The bright moon lit the area well enough for them to find concealment. It would have been easy for Miri to put a foot wrong in the jumble of rocks; he took care. “Shh, Miri, my girl,” he whispered, and the mare stood silent. Chiss led his horse in and pushed the stolid gelding near Miri. Callo thanked Jashan that the gelding was so calm in temperament. He saw Kirian climbing up the rocks, her feet slipping against the stone, and wondered what the Healer thought of all this. The thin evergreens provided very little cover, but he knew the emissaries from the Castle were riding to greet the Leyish dignitaries, and would not be looking for them.

The small, fur-cloaked group of riders carried Arias’ banner and two torches to light their way. Their horses wore gold at throat and chest, caparisoned to honor the Leyish dignitary. The group rode past. Not one of the riders even glanced to the side of the road. Callo watched them continue down the road, and then stopped as the sound of quick hoofbeats came from behind.

The fast rider caught up with the escort and pulled up his horse. He spoke to the men, speaking fast and gesturing. Callo could hear only a few words here and there, but the gist of the communication was enough to make him frown. After they rode on, he led Miri from their hiding place to the road, turned and frowned at the Healer.

“Hon Kirian, you owe me an explanation.”

The healer flushed. “Lord Callo, if an explanation is the price of this ride into Two Merkhan, I’ll leave you now. It is not your concern.”

“I defended you on the path this morning, and believed you when you said you knew nothing of the criminals. But here you are, alone and on your way out of the village, on the same road where they are being sought. You don’t appear to be on a feastday jaunt, Hon Kirian. I defended you to my bro—. I defended you, when he would say you could not be innocent.”

“My lord, the Healer was alone,” Chiss offered.

“Thank you,” Kirian said. “Do you see any fugitives with me, my lord?”

“Obviously not.” Callo controlled his temper with a quick flash on Jashan’s ritual. “Then what is going on, Hon Kirian? Why do you travel here at this hour, with no baggage?”

Chiss had led his gelding out of the rocks and back to the road. Now he nudged Kirian, directing her to re-mount. With a frustrated sigh, she let Chiss help her up, and then sat glaring at Callo like a queen would at a recalcitrant servant. Her spiky hair showed her ears, which were red from the cold.

“I cannot tell you,” she said.

Callo swore. Miri fidgeted under him. Chiss mounted behind Kirian. It seemed Chiss wanted to proceed as before into the port city, regardless of the argument between his lord and the Healer.

“I did not lie to you,” Kirian went on. “My lord, I told you I had not seen Inmay. That was true.”

Miri snorted irritably and tried to sidle out from under him. She wanted a warm stable and her feed, and here they were standing on a dark road at night arguing. Callo felt his stomach rumble.

“Perhaps you have seen him since,” Chiss said.

“I was blameless in this affair,” Kirian said. “But I was seen with Inmay in the village after you took Jiriman to the Castle. I gave them supplies and told them to leave. My mentor told me of Lord Alkiran’s wrath. She said my life was in danger and that I should leave.”

“Your life is in danger?” Callo repeated.

“I could not risk it. Ruthan was terrified that Lord Alkiran would punish me. She said my life was in danger.”

“From
Arias?
”

She lifted her chin defensively. “I see you don’t believe me. I do not know Lord Arias well. But perhaps he has changed since he was Collared.”

Callo reined Miri around and spurred her on. The other horse followed. His thoughts whirled. Yes, Arias had changed. But after the initial shock of his violent binding wore off, surely Arias would regain his old easy ways. Never, never would Arias take a life for no more serious a thing than what Kirian had done.

Then he swore to himself. He was not certain. No matter how he reasoned with himself, he did not truly know what the Collar had done to Arias. The
righ
were a self-protective group, jealous of their honors. He knew well what brutality those in power were capable of in pursuit of their own ends. King Martan Sharpeyes had given him numerous examples, and he knew the Collared Lords were notorious for their brutal punishments. In his experience, those who possessed power cared nothing for those who did not.

He slowed, and Chiss’ mare caught up to them. They were on the last slope. The lights of the first inn on the outskirts of the city shone at them. It looked welcoming, warm and loud.

“Hon Kirian, where are you going? Are you expected somewhere?”

“I will call on Hon Ruthan’s herb-seller. I’m sure he will let me stay with him for a while.”

Chiss made a skeptical sound in his throat.

“Where is this herb seller?”

Kirian sighed. “I am not sure, Lord Callo. I will stay at this inn, or another. It matters not. Leave me here, would you, and go on your way.”

He frowned. This inn looked welcome enough, for travelers on a cold night, but perhaps it was a little shabby. The sound of loud singing came from the common room. Four horses were tied outside as if their riders had stopped for a quick drink and a meal but would not be spending the night. He would not be at all surprised if there were willing women inside, catering to such travelers. He shivered as the wind picked up.

“Not here,” he objected.

Another sigh. “My lord, thank you for your concern, but please spare me your gallantry. I am very tired. I won’t be spending any time in the common room drinking, I promise you that.”

“Hang on another half a candlemark, Healer. I am not going to leave you here.”

“It’s not up to you, Lord Callo,” she snipped at him, but he saw her look again at the inn and then look down. She made no move to dismount.

“My lord,” Chiss said. His voice was dry with the cold. “If I may. Can we take our discussion inside, perhaps at the Maindeck, and warm up whilst we argue?”

He grinned. “Absolutely. Lead on, then.”

Chiss led them down Two Merkhan’s streets until they drew up at a big old inn near the port itself. The building was large and clearly catered to the upper classes; there were liveried slaves carrying bags, grooms ready to care for their horses, and a courteous steward who made no comment about the way they had arrived but conducted them to two small adjoining rooms with a central parlor as Callo requested. Then the steward ordered food and drink for them and left them alone. Callo lay down on the bed for a moment and dozed off; wakening to Chiss’ voice telling him that their refreshments had arrived.

He yawned. It seemed very late, although it was still a candlemark short of midnight. Perhaps the cold air and the long ride had done that to him. He found that Chiss had ordered hot water, so he washed his face and re-tied his hair, feeling better right away. The savory aroma wafting from the parlor drew him in, his stomach rumbling.

Kirian sat at the tiny table with a bowl of stew before her. She looked tired but somewhat refreshed. Chiss was eating, too, but when he saw Callo he rose as if to serve him. Callo waved him away.

“No, you eat,” he said. “Feeling better, Hon Kirian?”

She looked up at him unsmiling. “I must thank you for all this, Lord Callo.”

“You are welcome.” He spooned stew from a tureen into a bowl and pulled off a piece of bread. He sat and took a deep draft of the ale that Chiss had poured. “Ah,” he said, relaxing. “This is very good.” The bread, made with little red seeds in it, was warm and comforting. After chewing a piece, he took a generous spoonful of the thick stew. There was a brief silence as they all indulged in the excellent fare.