Reign of Madness (Revised Edition) (26 page)

Tam sighed heavily, “Fine, I see your point. But, Rezkin
told me plainly that the people’s guilt or innocence had no bearing on his
actions. He said he killed only because he was
ordered
to do so.”

Frisha shrugged and replied, “Is it the executioner’s job to
judge a man’s deeds? I think not. He merely carries out the sentence as ordered
by someone else.”

“Are you telling me that you could
marry
someone like
that? Someone who goes out and kills people because someone told him to?” Tam
asked with incredulity.

“My uncle is the General of the Army of Ashai, Tam. How many
people do you think he has killed because someone told him to? How many people
has he ordered someone else to kill? Tam, this is not an ideal world. Sometimes
people kill because they have to, and sometimes they have to kill because someone
of power orders it. It’s always your choice whether or not you carry out the
orders, but there may be consequences for refusing. Would you accept the
consequences of refusing to kill someone you
knew
was guilty of some
terrible offense?”

“What do you mean?” Tam asked.

“What if a man raped and murdered your mother? Would you
execute the man if the magistrate ordered it?” Frisha asked.

“Of course. I might even kill him without the magistrate’s
consent,” Tam remarked.

“And, what if it was not your mother he raped and killed.
What if it was the baker’s wife?” Frisha asked.

Tam shifted uncomfortably, “Well, I don’t know. I mean, he
should die, but I don’t know that
I
would be willing to do it.”

“But you agree that
someone
should,” Frisha replied.
“Do you not see?
Someone
has to step up and fight for the innocent
victims, for those who could not protect themselves.
Someone
has to
enact justice and prevent others from succumbing to the same fate. Does that
not sound like something the Rezkin you knew from yesterday, that man of such
conviction, would do?”

Tam hung his head in thought. Where before he had been so
certain, he was now questioning his own thoughts and words. He had a creeping
suspicion he had been wrong.

Frisha’s voice was soft and compassionate as she said, “I
think, Tam, that such a man should be respected and honored, maybe even receive
a commendation.”

“Oh, he has definitely received a commendation,” Tam
muttered.

“Has he?” Frisha asked with a bright smile. She was pleased
that Rezkin had been recognized for his efforts.

Tam nodded and whispered, “By King Bordran, himself.”

Frisha’s grin broadened and she said, “Then, I know I am
right. If King Bordran recognized the honor in Rezkin’s actions, then surely you
can as well.” Frisha’s brow furrowed in thought, and she remarked, “But, Rezkin
is so young, and King Bordran died years ago. How could he have already been of
service?”

Her friend shrugged. He could not say all that he knew for
risk of putting Frisha in danger. Tam did not doubt Rezkin’s warning of the
risk associated with knowing him. He said cryptically, “I think Rezkin is
something of a prodigy. He was already in service to the king for a while.”

“Well, he
must
be a prodigy to be a Dual-Blade Swordmaster
already,” she remarked. Her eyes saddened, and she looked at Tam seriously.
“You know you really hurt him, Tam. Did you tell him you wouldn’t be his
friend?”

Tam looked at his feet as he nodded, “That and more.”

“Oh, Tam,” she said with sympathy. “I know I’ve messed up a
few times, myself, but I’ve never seen him like he was today.”

“I know. I think it’s worse because he only shared his story
with me after I assured him of my friendship and loyalty. I was even a little
offended, at the time, when he sought my assurances,” Tam explained. He sighed
heavily and said, “He finally trusted me enough to let me in, and I failed
him.”

“You have to make it right, Tam,” Frisha ordered.

Tam nodded and said, “I know. I just don’t know how. I still
don’t feel completely comfortable with him. He scares me. But, I do understand
that what he did was probably necessary. I don’t know all of the details, so I
really can’t say. That’s the point, though, isn’t it? I am not the magistrate
or a lord or the king. It’s not my job to say whether it was necessary.” He
sighed and said, “I was really harsh.”

“What did he say?” Frisha asked.

Tam buried his head in his hands with his elbows resting on
his knees. “He said he would continue to consider me a friend and offer his
protection even if I decided otherwise.”

Frisha was angry that Tam had hurt Rezkin so badly, but she
also understood. She had made plenty of mistakes, herself. “It’s hard, isn’t
it? Living up to someone else’s expectations when the bar is set so high.”

“How is it that he is always right?” Tam asked irritably.

“I don’t think he’s always right,” Frisha remarked
thoughtfully. “I think he always treats us with respect and courtesy,
regardless of whether or not he agrees with us. He never lets his emotions
control him. I know that whenever I mess up, it’s usually when I’m upset.”

Tam nodded agreement and said, “I was really scared and
confused. I didn’t know how to react, so I pushed him away and spoke in anger.”

“I think he’ll forgive you if you speak to him,” Frisha stated.

“Probably,” Tam agreed, “but will he ever trust me again?”

“Don’t let it fester, Tam. Go and speak to him,” Frisha
replied.

“I will. I think he is sparring with Kai right now, though.
I’ll wait until they’re finished,” Tam answered.

Frisha released a humorless laugh and said, “I can’t believe
he’s training
again
. He was at it all day. How can a man endure such a
brutal regimen for so long?”

Tam grunted and remarked, “I’m not convinced he is fully
human. I completely understand, now, why my body does not look like his, nor
will it ever.”

Frisha flushed at the thought of Rezkin’s body. She had
spent quite a bit of time admiring it throughout the day while he practiced
half undressed. She would have felt more shame had it not been for the fact
that everyone else had done the same. Rezkin, for his part, did not even notice
the attention, for which Frisha was grateful, since Shiela and Reaylin made
absolutely no attempt to disguise their approval. Frisha nearly burst into
laughter at one point when the young men were discussing the fact that Rezkin
had taut, defined muscles in places where they had not known muscles existed.

Tam left Frisha’s quarters feeling both relieved and utterly
miserable. He had no idea how to make things right between him and the noble
warrior. Rezkin’s world was so much different from his own, and the man had
tried to draw him, a mere carpenter’s apprentice, into the excitement, thinking
to assist in fulfilling Tam’s dreams of adventure. Tam’s thanks had been sorely
lacking.

Just as Tam was about to ascend the steps leading to the
deck, he was suddenly assailed from the darkness and jerked into a room devoid
of light. His back slammed into the wall, and he struck his head hard enough to
see stars behind his eyes. Large muscular hands gripped his shoulders, and
strong fingers dug into his flesh.

“What are you up to, now, boy?” a deep voice grumbled.

“N-Nothing! What are you talking about?” Tam stuttered as he
struggled against the striker’s grip.

“I saw you just now coming out of Lady Frisha’s room. You
were in there alone for some time. Are you now trying to steal the king’s
woman?” Kai inquired as he tightened his punishing grip.

“No! Of course not! It’s not like that between Frisha and
me,” Tam argued.

“Maybe not, but I would put money down that you went in
there to convince her to forget him,” Kai asserted through gritted teeth.

Tam swallowed hard but could think of nothing to say. Kai
shoved him back again, and Tam stammered, “Okay, okay, I did…at first! But, it
didn’t work. In fact,
she
convinced
me
that I was wrong,
okay
?
I know I messed up. Rezkin didn’t deserve the things I said. I was just trying
to think of a way to make it up to him, but I don’t know what to do.”

“I know my liege considers you a friend, but I see little
value in
your
friendship at the moment,” Kai stated bitterly. “I doubt
he would reject you, but you will need to prove yourself worthy before
I
accept your change of heart. For all I know, you have suddenly seen the
advantages of staying in his good graces until you can stab him in the back.
Would you sell him to the highest bidder or do you wait for the opportunity to
betray him to your false king in hopes of obtaining some fanciful pittance?”

“I would never! Rezkin is my friend, but even of I hadn’t
changed my mind, I would never have betrayed him!” Tam argued.

“No? With all your vile accusations, I was certain you were
fitting him for a noose already,” Kai spat.

Tam squirmed beneath the striker’s painful grip. “I’m not
like that, okay? I’m just a simple carpenter’s apprentice. Can’t you understand
that? I was just overwhelmed!”

“Oh, I understand that you were weak, and weak men
eventually break. Men like you who would honor a monster like Caydean as king
and betray a friend who possesses conviction,” the striker replied.

“I would not!” Tam struggled to reply in what would have
been a shout except that Kai was pressing hard on his chest.

“What did you tell the girl?” Kai asked abruptly.

“N-Nothing important. I just said that he had executed
people on orders from someone else. That’s all, I swear!” Tam pleaded.

“And what was her response?” the striker asked.

“Sh-She said he should be honored and respected,” Tam
stammered.

The striker’s grip loosened slightly. The man’s voice
lowered threateningly as he said, “Listen and listen well, Blackwater. You will
choose right now. You do whatever you must to prove yourself or you walk away
clean and we never hear of you again. The only reason you even have the second
option is because my king gave his word, but he does not need to know
everything. If I get even an inkling that you intend to betray my liege, I will
rip your head from your body and feed you to whatever predator is at hand.”

“You think you know him so well, Striker, but you don’t know
him like I do,” the young man argued. “You’ve been here mere days. What makes
you think you’re worthy to make such threats and judgments?” Tam gritted out
through the pain.

“
I
am his loyal servant. I swore an oath of fealty to
Rezkin as my king, and I stand by my oath,” Kai replied.

“Did you not swear the same oath to King Caydean?” Tam
argued.

The striker paused, and when he spoke again, Tam could hear
the smile in his voice. “No, in fact, I did not. When I renewed my oath after
Caydean’s crowning, the oath was to
the King of Ashai
. Never did it
mention the king’s name. Therefore, since Rezkin has equal claim to the throne,
perhaps
more
, I retain my honor in accepting him as my king. Thank you
for pointing that out. But, let us get back to
you
. Make this right,
watch yourself, and be assured that I will be watching
you
.” The striker
shoved the young man back into the wall as he released his grip, and then
nothing but empty silence resided in the black space.

Kai left the boy shaking in the darkness and headed back up
to the quarterdeck. The striker had been heading over to his training session
with Rezkin when he spied the young man ducking into the cabin. Deciding to
confront him about the harsh words spoken after dinner, Kai followed the young
man. When he saw Tam settle himself to wait in the women’s quarters, the
striker became suspicious. He went about his business collecting fresh drinking
water for the practice session, and then followed the young woman back into the
cabin. Unfortunately, he could not make out what was said through the thick
door, but he made it a point to be ready when the young man left.

The striker did not like the fact that the boy was meeting
in secret with his king’s chosen bride. Truth be told, if he had to choose a
woman for his king, it would not be the commoner Rezkin had selected, but the
matter was not up to him. He could tell that the young man’s mind was set. The
political union was advantageous, though. If Rezkin had the General of the Army
on his side, a coup would be much more likely to succeed. Perhaps Kai could
arrange for the young woman to receive private lessons in etiquette and proper
decorum. She was attractive enough, but a queen simply did not wear a tunic and
pants, and her manner of speech was atrocious. Kai found it difficult to
believe the young woman was the daughter of a noblewoman from such a
distinguished House as the Jebais’.

When the striker finally made it to the quarterdeck, Rezkin
was just arriving. The man was carrying Captain Jimson’s sword, but he did not
remove his Sheyalins. The training session was brutal and unrelenting. The
striker was familiar with extreme training regimens, but he could not dismiss
the idea that Rezkin was attempting to inflict a harsh punishment. Only the
fact that others would not appreciate the noise and scuffle of boots and
clashing swords on the deck prevented the session from going long into the
night. After only two hours of intense sparring, Rezkin finally called a halt.
Darkness had descended on the ship over an hour past, and only a few lanterns were
lit for the sake of the crew and passing ships. The young warrior’s body was
tired from a long day of continuous exercise, but his mind was restless.

Rezkin turned to collect an empty bucket for wash water and
found Wesson watching from the darkness. The young warrior was surprised
because he had not detected the young man’s approach. He started to deride
himself when he began to pick up on the subtle hum of mage power.