Ebudae (16 page)

“No,” Ebudae said. “I’m too tired to explain
anything. I’m going home.”

“We don’t
have
to explain ourselves.”
Pelya stood. Ebudae knew she was irritated. “You can cross your
arms all you like, but we don’t answer to you. I answer to my
father and Ebudae answers to her grandmother.”

Ebudae didn’t want to think about her
grandmother. “You rescued us and we thank you for that. But it’s
time for us to go home.”

Sir Imbra didn’t respond right away, but he
could see that they weren’t going to budge. “Very well. However, I
insist on personally escorting you. The streets are dangerous as
ever just before dawn and the two of you are exhausted.”

“Thank you, Sir Imbra,” Pelya said with a
bow. Ebudae curtsied, but only because it was required. She liked
the man well enough, she just wasn’t in the mood to be polite.

“Your emo bunny, Shade, is being cared for
by Priestess Omira, the animal healer, and you may collect her in a
few days,” Sir Imbra told Ebudae as they left the room, leaving
Appana and Gratham behind. “She said that the bunny is malnourished
and would not have survived a day longer if you hadn’t rescued
it.”

“Thank you,” Ebudae was grateful that they
were taking care of Shade, because she was probably going to sleep
for a few days to recover.

They followed him to a courtyard where an
enclosed carriage with a sun emblem on the door was hooked to two
sturdy horses. Lingering smog gave the predawn sky a brown tint.
The heat from the day before had never fully dissipated, making the
air muggy.

A footman dressed in the orange of the
temple opened it for them and Sir Imbra gestured for the ladies to
enter first. They held hands for moral support while the knight sat
across from them. Both he and Pelya unbuckled their swords and laid
them across their laps so they could sit comfortably.

“How did you find us down there?” Ebudae
asked as the carriage moved forward.

“Dralin is filled with evil people, but what
many do not realize is that greater evils reside below. It is my
job and the job of my companions to prevent that evil from becoming
too powerful.” Sir Imbra looked out the open window at the passing
buildings. “At times it seems like a futile task, but if our work
is not done, then evil may grow stronger to the point where it
might overcome good.”

“We’ve been in the ruins and it
does
seem like a futile task,” Pelya agreed.

“Yes,” the knight acknowledged. “It disturbs
me that the two of you have been there, but I also admire your
ability to survive, in addition to the nobility you showed in
rescuing those people.”

Pelya shrugged and looked out the window,
not willing to accept the compliment. “Daddy . . . My father says
that doing what’s right is not noble. It’s just right.” She looked
Sir Imbra in the eye. “Rescuing them was right. That’s all.”

The knight conceded the point without
agreeing. “My companions and I had heard of slaves being smuggled
in through the dark city. It happens more than I would care to
admit. We were searching the area for the secret storage areas and
roads that were being used. Thankfully you found them for us.” A
wry smile lit his lips. “A humbling experience to have such young,
if capable, women succeed where we had failed.”

“We’re glad to be of assistance,” Ebudae
replied with a wink.

A short laugh burst from the knight. “Aye,
you truly were. We came across your trail and followed it. When we
heard the slochunds’ sound and the wail of the borlfo, my
companions and I made haste.”

“Borlfo?” Pelya asked. “I’ve never heard of
it, though there’s a lot down there we haven’t heard of.”

“It is a terrible creature that the
slochunds feed in exchange for protection from greater dangers,”
the knight said casually as though he had faced a thousand. “The
borlfo weakens victims with its wails, it has poisonous needles on
its body and it has the strength of twenty warhorses.”

“Sounds pleasant,” Ebudae said
sarcastically.

“If your wish is to die painfully, it is
very pleasant,” Sir Imbra responded in amusement. “I am thankful
that we were there. Even though you seem like very rebellious young
women, you show great ability. I am honored to know you.”

“You say honor a lot,” Pelya said.

“Yes. It is important to me. It is very
important to true knights.”

“True knights?” Ebudae raised an eyebrow,
sensing a very important distinction in the phrase.

He waved a hand in the air as though
swatting away an irritating fly. “Not all knights hold honor dear
to their hearts. Many use their power for personal gain, lust and
greed. They are not true knights.” Sir Imbra stared out the window
again. “Honor is a personal thing and only the one holding it may
cast it aside.”

“Daddy . . .” Pelya caught herself again.
“My father says that honor is a plaything for the rich and most of
them wouldn’t know it if it rode around on their head shouting, ‘Ya
pony, ya!’. He says the poor can’t eat honor.”

Sir Imbra chuckled. “Your father is a wise
man. For the poor, the honorable thing is to find the next meal so
that they may survive another day. Everyone has honor. How they
choose to use it is up to them, as I say, it is a personal thing.”
He leaned forward and looked Pelya in the eye. “Your father is one
of the most honorable men I’ve ever met. He held you in his arms
the day you were born and proudly stated that he was going to raise
you.” The knight sat back. “Few men would claim such responsibility
and fewer still would ever do such a wonderful job as he has in
raising one of the finest young women I’ve ever met.”

Tears flowed down Pelya’s cheeks. “He hates
me because I killed my mother.”

“Wha . . .” The statement stunned Sir Imbra.
Ebudae hugged her friend. They were both tired and vulnerable and
just needed sleep.

“I know many things, child, and one thing I
know without doubt is that your father does not hate you.” Sir
Imbra spoke the words with the conviction of his faith. “He loves
you and cherishes you more than anything in the world. I have seen
through his eyes into his soul and know it to be fact.”

It was the last thing said on the ride. The
girls held each other while the knight stared out the window, lost
in thought. A short while later, the carriage pulled up in front of
Lady Pallon’s manor. Ebudae felt her heart sink into her stomach
and try to hide there as the footman opened the door.

Sir Imbra stepped out first as was
customary. A proper gentleman always let a lady into the safety of
a carriage first, and he exited the carriage before the lady in
order to ensure that the area was safe for them to exit. It wasn’t
like that in all lands, but that was how a true knight did it. He
and the footmen held out hands for the ladies to exit.

Ebudae walked up to the gate. The squirrel
caught one glance and opened the gate. Pelya linked arms with her
and the two walked as slowly as possible to the front door. Sir
Imbra walked behind. “Am I to surmise that you will be scolded for
your actions?”

Ebudae was using all her courage to keep
going forward and didn’t bother to answer. Pelya did instead. “We
were supposed to be back last night. We also used healing salve and
have to tell the truth about why, which means we have to tell about
everything. Lady Pallon hates Ebudae and will use this to tell her
how terrible a person she is and how it would be better if she just
died.”

“I find that hard to believe . . .” Sir
Imbra began as they reached the door and stared at it.

Pelya interrupted. “It doesn’t matter what
you believe. Ebudae’s grandmother hates her.” She opened the door
and the girls fearfully stepped through. The knight didn’t have a
further response as he followed them down the long hall and to the
side of the grand stairway. Ebudae entered the door leading to the
conservatory where Lady Pallon would likely be eating
breakfast.

Lady Pallon was sitting at her table with
two members of the guard, Commander Gilron Coodmur and Sergeant
Bava, close personal friends of Pelya and her father. Bava ran to
Pelya and wrapped her up in a hug when they entered. “Pelya! We’ve
been so worried.”

Pelya grunted from being squeezed. “I’m
fine. We’re safe.”

Bava released her from the hug and took her
by the arms. “Where is your father? He isn’t with you?”

“Nooooo . . .” Pelya said slowly, her eyes
widening in alarm. “What do you mean, ‘where is he’? He should be
at the barracks with his squad.”

“Bava, let the lass come here and we’ll find
out more.” Gilron was impatiently waiting.

Bava led Pelya by the hand, practically
yanking the young woman’s arm out. Ebudae followed along quietly,
worried about Frath and more worried about the way her grandmother
was glaring at her. It didn’t stop her from circling around behind
Commander Coodmur and taking the seat next to him. There was no way
she could continue to stand. Sir Imbra stopped a few feet away from
the table and listened to everything with arms clasped behind his
back.

The grizzled Gilron Coodmur was the
weaponmaster of the Dralin City Guard, responsible for all weapons
training. Pelya was one of the few people he personally trained and
he doted on her like a granddaughter. He had Pelya sit next to him
on a cushioned bench while Bava sat on one of the chairs.

“Pelya, your father had breakfast here three
mornings ago and left with the two of you. He was supposed to
report to duty the next day, but he hasn’t been seen since then.”
Gilron’s low, gravelly voice sounded like rocks being tumbled
through a river.

“We left him at the front gate!” Pelya said.
She wrung her hands in her lap and struggled to fight the tears
that were threatening to flow. “He said he had things to do. I know
he disappears sometimes, but he always comes back.”

He gave her a reassuring squeeze on the
shoulder. “I know. Bava and I came here to ask if you knew where he
might be, but when you weren’t here, it worried us.” Gilron
frowned. “Where exactly
were
you?”

“Yes, I’d like to know that as well . . .”
Lady Pallon’s voice dripped with derision. “I knew the two of you
would find trouble the first opportunity you could and judging by
the looks of you, I was right.”

Ebudae looked at her dress, which had grime
from the ruins and the battle against the slochunds. Pelya looked
even messier. Bava interrupted. “It doesn’t matter. We have to find
Frath. I just have a terrible feeling he’s not well.” She put a
hand on Pelya’s knee. “Do you have
any
idea where he
is?”

“I don’t know. He never tells me,” Pelya
said. The tears were beginning to make a serious break for
freedom.

“And you, Lady Pallon? You are his best
friend I believe.” Gilron turned to the elderly woman who was
staring daggers at her granddaughter.

“My friend is mysterious and he does not
speak of his secrets. I do not know where he goes.” She didn’t look
away from the target of her ire. Ebudae was staring at her hands,
but could feel the gaze boring through the top of her skull.

“So where do we look?” Bava asked.

“What does Uncle Gorman say?” Pelya asked,
referring to Frath’s closest friend, the man who had made it
possible for Frath to raise her in the barracks.

“He’s looking into it, but doesn’t have a
lot of time due to another case he’s working on.” Gilron said.

“He’ll know what to do. No one knows Daddy
better,” Pelya insisted.

“Alright. We’ll see what he’s found out.”
Gilron stood and nodded respectfully at Lady Pallon. “Thank you for
the breakfast, Lady Pallon.”

Bava stood with Pelya and curtsied. “Yes,
thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She dismissed them with a
wave, never taking her eyes off Ebudae.

Pelya came over and hugged Ebudae fiercely.
Ebudae returned it and held on for dear life. She was thankful that
no one interrupted. “I’ll come back as soon as I can,” Pelya
whispered in her ear.

As the three warriors turned to leave, Sir
Imbra said, “I would go with you if you would have me. Pelya’s
welfare is of importance to me as is that of her father.”

Gilron looked at Pelya who nodded. “Very
well then, Sir Imbra. Your reputation precedes you and it will be a
privilege to work by your side.”

“As does yours, Commander Coodmur.” Sir
Imbra turned to Lady Pallon. “It is good to see you again, My Lady.
I would have you know that Ebudae has acted with great courage and
honor this passing night and was involved in the rescue of
illegally detained captives at great risk to herself.” The words of
praise practically glowed with the sunshine of his goddess.

Malicious clouds blocked that bright praise
with words dripping of venom when Lady Pallon spoke. “How
wonderful. While most ladies her age are finalizing their marriages
and learning how to please their husbands, my granddaughter is
being courageous and putting her life in great risk.” Every
syllable was articulated while she held Ebudae’s eyes with her own.
She turned to the knight. “Are you aware that my granddaughter is
the last living member of the Pallon line? If she were to die, this
estate would be absorbed by the High Council and our family would
cease to exist.”

“I was not aware, My Lady,” Sir Imbra said
without expression. He bowed and turned on his heel to leave. The
others followed him, leaving Ebudae alone with her grandmother.
Ebudae thought, for a brief moment, that the knight flashed a look
of sympathy.

She went back to staring at her hands while
trying her best to ignore Lady Pallon’s gaze still boring into her
skull. Ebudae tried to think of something, anything to say, but
thoughts weren’t coherent at that moment.

Minutes went by and Ebudae began struggling
to stay awake. Finally, she lifted her head and met the hostile
eyes. “I used a vial of healing salve.”