Honor's Price (28 page)

She started to excuse herself when the first wave of dizziness hit her. By the second wave, it felt as if the floor beneath her feet was rolling. She latched onto Markus's arm for support at the same time a small voice in her head screamed that this was his doing, that he'd drugged her.

“My lady, you don't appear to be well. Please allow me to escort you from the hall.”

She wanted to refuse, wanted to do anything but let Ifre's lackey lead her away from the relative safety of the crowded hall. Her feet wouldn't obey her, and her throat refused to give voice to her growing terror.

With her mind under the control of whatever drug Ifre had ordered Markus to give her, she couldn't trust anything she saw or heard. But as Markus unlocked the door that led to the labyrinth below, she could have sworn she heard him whisper, “I'm sorry.”

T
he wood smoke trickled up through the trees overhead. The women had yet to join them, so for the moment it was only the six warriors seated in a circle around the fire. Kane knew it wouldn't last, but he would enjoy the few minutes of peace with his friends. No one seemed moved to talk, but men were often quiet on the night before a battle. As he sipped his tea, Kane studied each of the men who had been his friends for more lifetimes than he could remember.

Of all of them, he hoped young Averel would be released from the Lady's service and allowed to live a long and full life. Despite everything that had happened to them in the service of the gods and even before, Averel had managed to hold on to his good nature. As if sensing Kane's scrutiny, he looked up from tending the fire and grinned.

Kane nodded in response before turning his attention in Duncan's direction. He was the second one who deserved far better out of life than he'd been given. With a mind like his, he should have been a renowned scholar, not sitting in the dirt honing a sword.

Murdoch and Sigil sat side by side, their odd friendship a surprise to them all. The big man's gaze was never far from Lady Alina, another odd pairing, but perhaps not. Murdoch rarely spoke of his youth, but it was obvious that it had been as brutal as Alina's marriage to her late husband. Clearly, the petite woman and the giant of a man had found solace in each other's arms.

Sigil was a puzzle. He seemed to possess a strong sense of honor, yet he'd served that bastard Duke Keirthan. Of course, so had Kane for a short time, so who was he to judge? The Lord and Lady had seen fit to accept the man into their service. That was good enough for Kane. He just hoped Sigil didn't come to regret his decision to become one of the Damned.

That left Gideon, the first friend Kane had ever made. Few had ever bothered to look past the mark on Kane's cheek and his dark looks to the man inside. Back in his youth, the world had been such a superstitious place. People assumed that because he'd been marked by dark magic on the outside that he carried its taint on his soul.

Gideon had dismissed the common belief and had given Kane a chance to prove himself. Through the captain, Kane had gained this circle of friends. Kane would die for Gideon and the others. Had, in fact, and wouldn't hesitate to do so again. A man could do no less for his brothers, a family born out of blood and pain and held together by loyalty and honor.

Gideon poked at the fire with a stick, sending up a shower of sparks. “We need to discuss plans.”

As he looked around the circle, everyone went from relaxed to alert. “We cannot hide an army for long, not even a small one such as ours. We have to be ready to fight by tomorrow morning.”

Frowning, he stared into the flames. “The scouts encountered at least two patrols of Keirthan's forces in the area. It's only a matter of time before they cross our trail.”

So far, nothing he said accounted for why Gideon was holding that stick in a white-knuckled grip. If Kane had to guess, the true source of his friend's tension could be laid at the feet of the three women headed their way. Kane sympathized, but it was too late to send them back to safety even if they were willing to go.

The men made room for them around the fire. Gideon waited until everyone was settled again before
continuing. “As much as I hate to divide our efforts, we will face Keirthan's forces on three fronts. He is a coward and will send his men to die upon our swords while he remains hidden behind the thick walls of his city.”

Kane spoke up. “And his weapon, if he has brought it back to full strength, can be fired without him ever leaving his underground chambers.”

“Which is why we need to attack from three directions.” Gideon used the stick to draw a rough diagram in the dust. “Murdoch and I will lead our forces on a direct assault, hoping to draw Keirthan's troops out of the city. Barring that, at least we will hold their attention. At first light, Murdoch will take half of the men and circle around to come in from the east. Once they are in position, the rest of our forces will attack the southern gate.”

He reached for a pair of rolled-up parchments that Merewen had brought out with her. “These are the maps that Kane and Averel have drawn for us of the surrounding area as well as of the city itself.”

He tossed one to Murdoch. “After we're done talking, commit that to memory.”

“This next one is for you, Duncan.”

The scholarly warrior unrolled it. His face paled when he realized what Kane had drawn out for him. “This is Keirthan's keep.”

It wasn't a question, but Kane answered anyway. “We'll be entering from outside of the city walls through a tunnel that leads straight to where Keirthan practices his dark arts.”

At first, Duncan looked confused. “But the goddess said I was to remain at Lavinia's side during the battle. I can't do that if I'm inside the city.”

The lady herself spoke up. “I will be going with you, Duncan. If I'm to counter Ifre's magic, I need to be close to its source. Otherwise, I'm striking out blind and could do more harm than good.”

Duncan, usually slow to anger, exploded. He tossed the parchment back at Gideon. “Keep this. I'm not
letting Lavinia anywhere near Keirthan. He's been hunting for her for months and knows full well she'll never join his effort. He's already tried to kill her three times. If Keirthan were to capture her, he'll fuel his magic with her blood. She stays here with Merewen and Alina.”

Lavinia restrained Duncan when he started to rise. “I'm sorry, Duncan, but this is my decision to make. You reminded me back at the abbey that it was my duty to protect our people, and that's what I'm going to do. And before you yell at the captain again, you should know that I volunteered to go. He argued long and hard against the idea.”

Kane looked up from honing his throwing knives. “The two of you won't be going alone, Duncan. Averel and I have been in Keirthan's chambers before, and we both know the city. Sigil will be coming along as well. Between the four of us, we will keep your lady safe.”

“You have no idea what you're asking of her, Kane.” Duncan turned his frustration in Kane's direction. “You can't promise that she'll be safe. By the gods, you almost died in those chambers yourself. I won't put her at such risk.”

“Do not presume to tell me what I understand, Duncan.” Kane jerked upright and stabbed his knife deep into the ground to resist throwing it at his friend.

From the way Lavinia was staring at him, he suspected his eyes were glinting red and his long canine teeth were on full display. “Lady Theda risked her own life to save mine even knowing Ifre Keirthan murdered her husband, his own brother. She lives every minute of every day in his presence with nothing but her wits to keep her safe.”

Breathing hard, he retrieved his knife and wiped the blade clean on his leathers. “If Lavinia cannot stop Keirthan, Duncan, no one will be safe. No one. And we, the Damned, are almost out of time. Caution is a luxury we can no longer afford.”

Duncan clearly wanted to argue more, but Gideon
stepped in. He held out the parchment again. “The decision has been made, Duncan. Murdoch and I will draw the duke's attention in our direction. Kane, Averel, and Sigil will accompany you and Lavinia to attack the duke directly. Right now, I'd suggest you learn everything you can from Kane and Averel about Keirthan's private lair.”

Lavinia took the parchment from Gideon and set it down beside her when Duncan made no move to take it. Kane knew his friend well enough to know that when the warrior calmed down he would memorize the drawing and then grill both Kane and Averel until he'd wrung them both dry. No detail would be too small or insignificant.

Merewen took over the discussion. “The scouts located a large clearing a short distance from the city. Lady Alina and I will move our wagon there in the morning and prepare to treat the wounded.”

Kane was impressed Gideon wasn't demanding that she and Alina move their wagon farther away from the anticipated battle. He'd probably already lost that argument, too. They all knew that a greater distance would cost lives that might have been saved if the wounded had reached Merewen sooner.

Gideon picked up the remaining parchment. “I think that's everything. After we eat, Murdoch and I will meet with our allies.”

There was nothing Kane could add to the conversation, and he needed some time alone. “I will return shortly. I want to check on the horses.”

He walked away before anyone questioned his excuse. As much as he cared about his friends, right now all he could think about was Theda. In their dream meeting, she'd been fine, but by her reckoning, Keirthan had barely had time to learn of Kane's escape. There was no telling what had happened to her since then. Worry had burrowed deep inside his heart, leaving him restless and wishing the battle was minutes, and not hours, away.

Rogue stopped grazing to watch Kane approach. At
the last second, he let the animal eat in peace; they would both need all their strength to face what was to come. Veering off his intended path, Kane headed toward the edge of the woods.

He stared up at the dark sky, a reminder that the hours were passing by all too quickly. Soon the gods would know if their warriors had succeeded in their calling.

Then the Damned would have little time left to set their affairs in order before making their way back up the mountain. When they climbed the path, they would set their avatars free to roam one last time before recalling them back to the shields. Then the five men, now six, would stand at the edge of the river.

While they waited for the Lord and Lady to appear, they would speak of things that men rarely felt comfortable discussing: loyalty, honor, and friendship. Soon the water would ripple and roil, signaling the presence of the gods, and the warriors would stand shoulder to shoulder as they waited to learn their fate.

Each time they hoped to move on to the afterlife and the promise of peace. Failing that, they prayed to once again be sent to sleep beneath the river, the bitter taste of disappointment their last memory before sleep overtook them. So far, they'd never once failed the gods. But if this continued, one day they would, and they'd all pay the price. Each of them would wander alone and soulless in the darkness of the netherworld. If that weren't horrific enough, the petitioner they'd sworn to serve would suffer the same fate. Lady Merewen's face filled his mind.

He prayed it wasn't this time, not when each of them had people they cared about. Even loved.

Sunrise was an eternity away. It was hard not to mount Rogue right that moment and ride hard for the secret entrance to Keirthan's chambers. He forced himself to stop and think, not just react. They had a plan, and he would follow it. For now he offered up a simple prayer to the gods who had guided his footsteps for so long.

“Please watch over Lady Theda until I can do so myself.”

Then he bowed and walked way. For tonight, he would sharpen his weapons and prepare for battle. He hoped Ifre Keirthan enjoyed his last few hours of life, because come tomorrow, anyone who stood between Kane and Lady Theda would die.

*   *   *

The pale light to the east hinted at dawn's arrival. The battle for Agathia would soon begin, but for now everything was quiet. Kane kept his mind occupied with small things. Before saddling Rogue, he'd given the horse a thorough brushing, finding solace in the rhythm of the strokes. He was checking the stallion's hooves when he sensed Sigil's approach. He set down Rogue's forefoot and moved on to the next while he waited for Sigil to state his business.

“Did you sleep at all?” As Sigil spoke, he adjusted the bridle on his mare.

Kane straightened up. “I didn't even try. Did you fare any better?”

Sigil shrugged and patted his horse's neck. “I'm always restless the night before a battle.”

Interesting. Kane walked around to Rogue's other side and lifted the horse's foot. “Something else you've remembered about your prior life?”

The warrior rolled his shoulders several times as if trying to shrug off some tightness. “No, just another fact I believe to be true without knowing the reason why.”

Sigil fell into silence as he checked his own weapons and then the cinch on his horse's saddle. Finally, he met Kane's gaze head-on. “Are you all right with me accompanying you, Kane? Especially not knowing what effect returning to the capital will have on my memory?”

A fair question, one Kane didn't answer immediately. Sigil deserved his honesty. After all the centuries of being one of five, how odd to now be one of six. In the end, the answer was easy. Sigil may not have been one of the
Damned for long, but that didn't mean he was any less deserving of Kane's trust and loyalty.

“You will not betray us, Sigil, with your memories or without. Now, mount up. I told Duncan we would scout ahead to make sure Lady Lavinia doesn't ride into a trap.”

Murdoch's forces were already on the march as Kane and his companion rode out. Gideon held out little hope that their presence would escape notice for long. He had scouts ranging back and forth in the area, watching for Agathian patrols and ready to sound the alarm.

Sigil kept glancing back toward the marching troops, his expression increasingly grim. “Too many good men will die today.”

Kane couldn't disagree. “That is the way of war, and I regret that your people fight on both sides today. Most of the guards I met in my brief service to Keirthan were good men and deserve better than to die defending a villain like him.”

He urged Rogue into a fast trot. The sooner they ensured the path ahead was safe, the sooner the battle to take down Keirthan could begin.

*   *   *

Theda was bone cold and scared beyond reason. Ifre had yet to visit her since he'd ordered Captain Markus to drag her down to his private chambers. She'd been too drugged to remember much of what happened between drinking the wine and waking up sprawled on the stone floor. With her hands and feet bound, it had taken her several attempts to sit upright, which had helped with the nausea left over from the drug.