Second Guard (33 page)

Chey shrugged. “Loyalty is complicated, Tali. Which would you put first if forced to choose: your twin or your realm? Me or Zarif?”

Tali blew out her breath in irritation. “That’s not fair,” she said, annoyed as much by her own petulance as Chey’s questions.

“No, it isn’t,” Zarif agreed. “We can only hope that Telendor will not let his feelings blind his reason.”

The trio sank back into their own thoughts once more, until a sound from the outer passage made them sit up. A wonderful sound.

“Brin!” Tali called out through the bars. Brindl hurried down the tunnel alongside the jailer, who, judging by the words they exchanged, had once been a crusher from Zipa.

“I have little time,” Brindl said as she neared the cell.

“So you received our message. I was worried they might have punished you as well,” said Zarif, setting his book down and reaching a hand through the bars.

Brindl took his hand in hers. “I’m fine, but the realm is not. Listen quickly, for I’m wanted back in the kitchens. News has arrived that a Castillian army has amassed above
the Batenza Falls. Telendor has ordered the Second Guard to ride north, led by Jaden. Telendor himself rides for Fugaza to guard the Queen.”

“Has Castille declared war on us, then?” cried Tali.

“I don’t know,” Brindl replied, glancing at the nervous jailer. “I must go now, but I’ll try to return later with more news.” She slipped off into the
shadows, the jailer following behind her.

It was hours before Tali and her friends stopped talking, trying to understand what this news might mean for the realm, for their families, for them. Sleep, which had come with difficulty in the
damp cell, now became impossible. Tali kept glancing through the bars, waiting for either Brindl or the jailer to return with further news. Finally, the jailer arrived at dawn with their breakfast
bowls and, shortly afterward, two visitors.

“Ory!” Tali said, reaching through the bars to give the boy a hug as best she could. “Thank the Gods you’re safe!”

“Crunchnuts!” he said, his curious face peering through the iron bars. He looked around their dank cell and whistled. “This is no place for toppers.”

“Remember, Ory, you must speak quickly,” Brindl said, pointing her chin at the jailer, “lest we get our crusher friend in trouble.”

“Right, right, right,” Ory said, then began speaking so rapidly that Tali had to concentrate to keep up with him. It seemed he had successfully delivered Tali’s message to
Princess Xiomara. In turn, she had told him that bluejackets over the entire realm had died of a mysterious illness, just like Saavedra’s birds. As a result, communication had been slowed
tenfold within the mountainous realm. “And then she asked me to deliver this to you as quick-quick-quickly as I could,” continued Ory, handing a sealed letter to Tali.

Tali quickly broke the seal and read the words aloud: “‘Saavedra trusted you, and so shall I. His last message to me warned that the realm was in danger from enemies close at hand. I
believe he was murdered by one of Tequende’s own guards. Be safe, my friends, and proceed with caution until I am able to seek counsel from my most trusted adviser. May Elia guide you.
Xiomara.’”

“Her most trusted adviser?” Tali said, her voice shaking. “Please tell me she does not mean Jaden, does she?”

“Jaden!” Ory squeaked suddenly. “He is a bad topper, this Jaden?” The usually chipper boy now looked shaken, his pale skin drained of even a hint of color.

“What is it, Ory?” Brindl said, kneeling down in front of him and holding his shoulders. “You must tell us, whatever it is. What do you know of Jaden?”

“I helped him sneak into the palace. The princess asked me to!” he added when he saw the dismay on their faces. “He was camped nearby. I showed him the right tunnels to sneak
into one of the palace gardens. I thought…I thought the princess just wanted to kiss him! He would not hurt her, would he?” Ory’s face now crumpled and he blinked back tears.

“You did nothing wrong, Ory,” Tali said, reaching through the bars to tilt his worried face up. “Nothing.”

“But she is in danger, and you are locked up.” The boy wiped his sleeve across his face, then replaced the worry in his eyes with determination. “Salty salters always right our
wrongs, don’t we, Brin?”

“Yes, we do,” said Brindl, letting the boy pull her down the passageway.

“We’ll be back,” Ory called, then stopped to grin over his shoulder. “Don’t go anywhere!”

A
lthough it seemed like an entire season had come and gone since Brindl and Ory had last stood in front of Tali and her friends, it was only a
single pass of the sun. This time, the jailer jingled his keys nervously, peering around the shadows as if about to commit a crime himself.

Ory tugged on the jailer’s arm. “The Diosa has given them passage,” he said solemnly. “You must obey her, as she herself obeys Mother Earth.”

The jailer gulped and nodded, then placed a key into the lock. He swung open the door, then scurried back down the passage like a frightened mouse.

“But…how?” Tali asked, nearly choking on the gratitude she felt.

“An Earth Guilder’s first vow is to the Diosa, the human voice of Machué,” Brindl answered as Ory nodded vigorously, his blue eyes gleaming.

Zarif raised his eyebrows at Tali and smiled. “Another example of complicated loyalties, though this time it has worked in our favor.”

“Sometimes disobeying orders is the only way to follow them,” Tali murmured, repeating the Diosa’s words. “But the laws of Tequende?” she asked, still unnerved by
their sudden freedom.

“Do not apply,” Chey answered, and a smile spread across his face for the first time in days. “Though the Diosa would never ask a child of Earth to defy others unless it
mattered much.”

“As it does now,” Brindl said. “Do not worry, Tali. I spoke with one of your fellow pledges, an Earth Guilder named Rona. No one save the jailer knows you’re down here,
now that Telendor and all the guards have left.”

“So our commander left us to rot,” Tali said, shaking her head in disbelief, “while his son betrays the realm! We must get to Fugaza immediately to warn Xiomara that Jaden is
the very enemy Saavedra warned of—and that Telendor means to hide this treachery. She’ll listen to us, and hopefully the Queen will listen to her.”

“We thought you would say this!” Ory said, smiling. He grabbed Tali’s hand and began to pull her down the passage, as the Alcazar dinner bells tolled above them.
“It’s all been arranged.”

“The Diosa has granted you safe passage, should you so wish,” Brindl said. “Ory and the packhounds will have you in Fugaza by nightfall.”

“Brindly Brin already packed bags for you!” said Ory, clearly excited about this new adventure.

Brindl blushed. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said. “I thought you might want a change of clothes for the journey. Forgive me if I overstepped.”

Tali scratched at her collar. “Not a bit! The sooner I get out of these flea-ridden clothes, the better!”

“Thank you truly, Brindl,” Zarif said as they began climbing the stone steps out of the dungeon.

Just as the group reached the last set of stairs, the Alcazar bells tolled again. The group froze.

“Those are no dinner bells,” whispered Tali. “Have we been discovered?”

“That’s impossible,” said Zarif, “if no one here knew we were in the dungeons to begin with.”

“Wait here,” said Brindl. “I’ll find out what’s happening.”

Tali, Ory, Zarif, and Chey sat down on the cold stone steps as Brindl slipped off.

The bells continued to peal in a distinct pattern of three different notes.

“I’ve not heard those bells before,” murmured Zarif. “Something’s wrong.”

The group huddled together in the dark stairwell for what seemed like hours. Tali tried to find a comfortable position, but the stone steps pressed sharply into her legs and back.

Finally, Brindl reappeared, clearly shocked by what she had discovered. “A war fleet from Oest Andoria has been sighted on the south end of Lake Chibcha. Centurio Jessa believes it heads
for the Alcazar.”

“Oest Andoria? I thought we were being attacked by New Castille,” Tali said, trying to understand the news. “Have the two kingdoms allied themselves against us?”

“No,” Zarif said, shaking his head. “Those two kingdoms have been enemies for too long for them to become allies now. Something isn’t right.”

“How could Telendor let this happen?” Chey asked. “The entire Second Guard army is camped in the north while the Alcazar lies undefended.”

“It was a ruse!” Tali cried, her eyes wide as the realization hit her. “Jaden took the Second Guard north on false claims…”

“…leaving the door wide open for Oest Andoria to take the Alcazar,” finished Zarif, eyes ablaze.

“And take it they will,” Chey said. “There’s no one left here but pledges and servants.”

Brindl nodded. “And three centurios. Jessa, Saraky, and Abelino are meeting right now. No one is to leave the Alcazar without their permission.”

For a moment no one spoke, all lost in their own thoughts and visions of what might happen next. When the bells began to toll again, their pattern recognizable this time, Tali trembled under the
ominous weight of their message.

“A summons to the Great Hall,” Zarif said.

“But should we go?” Tali asked.

“We’ll have to risk it,” Chey said. “We must tell Jessa what we know.”

“Besides, she needs every warrior within these walls right now,” Zarif agreed. “I don’t believe she would forsake our help in this moment of need.”

“But surely Jessa will surrender,” Brindl said, her voice betraying her alarm. “She cannot hope to hold the Alcazar without the Guard here.”

Chey shrugged. “The only way to know what Jessa will do is to go to the Great Hall,” he said, getting to his feet. “I say we go.”

“Can I go, too? Please please please? I will blend in with the servant boys,” Ory said, bouncing on his toes in excitement, as if he were about to see a traveling acrobat show.

“Fine,” Brindl said, putting a firm hand on his head to calm him. “But keep quiet, and don’t stray far from my sight.”

As they neared the Great Hall, they joined the river of people streaming through the double doors like a solemn funeral procession. Nobody spoke except for a few whispered prayers being sent to
the Gods. “Guide us, Intiq, with your light,” Tali murmured, adding one of her own.

The three centurios stood together on the dais in front of the growing crowd. The pledges gathered in front of the stage, while the servants kept against the walls along the hall’s
perimeter. Little more than a thousand, Tali estimated, and less than half of us battle-trained.

Jessa stood with her arms across her chest, waiting for the last few stragglers to find a place among the crowd. When she finally stepped forward and spoke, her voice echoed across the hall with
authority and determination.

“I will not lie to you,” she said, looking out at the many faces before her. “Our situation is dire. A fast-moving Oest Andorian war fleet will be upon our shores by nightfall.
They will expect to see a flag of surrender fly from our towers. They will not find one.” Jessa paused, letting her words sink into the audience. Some dropped their heads in dismay, though
others stood taller, their heads raised high.

“Our immediate task is to defend the Alcazar,” Jessa continued. “Everyone here will be needed—
expected
—to rise to this challenge to the best of their
abilities. I call on you not just to defend the Alcazar, but Tequende itself, for the realm depends on us to hold our position for as long as possible.”

“Has the Second Guard been called back to help us? Why were we left undefended?” someone yelled from the crowd. Tali recognized the voice. Drayvon. Either the Sun Guilder was
incredibly bold or just plain stupid. Not many would dare question a centurio. Tali had to admit, though, she was just as eager as he was to hear the answers.