Shadows of the Realm (The Circle of Talia) (33 page)

Realisation hit Pernus and he swore at himself for his own stupidity. He yelled at everyone behind him.
“I’m going to stop for a minute. Keep heading for the gates and I’ll catch up.”

Using his Captain
’s authoritative voice ensured he would not be questioned. He slowed his horse, letting the others carry on past him.  He rode to what looked like a tailor’s shop, ready-made items of clothing in the window. Telling his horse to stay there, he entered the shop. The man behind the counter was short, as were most Inkrans. His balding head reluctantly rose until their eyes met. There was a small amount of relief when the Inkran realised Pernus was not one of Suklar’s men.

“
I know you can’t understand me but I need some coats, four to be exact. I don’t have any money either, so I’m afraid I’m just going to have to take them. I’m terribly sorry to do this to you.” Pernus made his way over to the other side of the counter, looming over the terrified shopkeeper. The man made no move to stop him as he went to a back room and pilfered four thick winter coats. “Don’t suppose you’ve got any gloves. Oh well, never mind.” He politely thanked the man as he left.

Pernus couldn’t believe his luck when he realised the glove shop was only three doors down. The process was fairly similar to the last shop—no resistance. He appeared with eight sets of gloves. It was always good to have a spare set for when your other ones got too wet. He had to risk finding blankets as well. There was no point escaping this god-forsaken city if they were going to freeze to death on the first night. By the time Pernus found the blanket shop, his heart was pounding. His instincts told him he should have been riding hard for the city gates.

His relief was short-lived as he left the blanket shop, arms full. He was mounting his horse when a low, morose-sounding bell began to toll. Keepers rushed out of their shops, people out of their hovels. Everyone turned to face the castle. As one, they fell to their knees, bending at the waist to place heads and hands in the snow. Pernus wondered if this were some strange ritual executed on a regular basis, another way to punish the already downtrodden population. He rode toward the gates, slowed considerably whilst trying to hold onto his stash and avoiding prone worshippers. 

He could see the gates in the not-so-far distance. Nearing his objective, he saw his companions’ three horses stopped, waiting in the snow. Anger fuelled by frustration bubbled in his veins.
“Those bloody fools. I told them not to wait for me. They’re going to wish they were never born when I’m finished with them.”

On moving closer, he noticed only Fendill was seated atop his mount. By the time he reached them it was apparent Karin had joined the meditating Inkrans on the ground. Chisholm was crouched next to her, pleading with her to get up.

Pernus swung down from his horse, hands full. “Help me here Fendill.”

Fendill dismounted and took his share of the booty from his friend. Pernus gave Chisholm his and Karin
’s things.  “What’s up with her?”

“
The bell that tolled was for the king. He’s dead. She mourns with her people.”

“
Well she’ll have to finish later. Pick her up and put her in the saddle yourself if you have to.”

“
Yes sir.”

Chisholm put his coat and gloves on first, placing everything else on his saddle. He tried coaxing his friend one more time. She remained unresponsive. He apologized as he easily lifted her still body from the ground, but she fought him as he attempted to lift her onto her horse. Once she was in the saddle her brown eyes stared angrily at him, tears streaming down her face. The sorrow Chisholm saw there was unexpected. He could not understand how a person, so badly treated by their ruler, could be this upset when they died. He would have thought it would bring relief. He handed her the coat and gloves, ordering that she put them on. She obeyed, whilst her grief continued to wash down her brown skin.

Pernus and Fendill had remounted. “Keep an eye on her, Chisholm, make sure she’s okay. Suklar’s death, may he rest in peace, has bought us some time. Let’s not waste it.” He turned his horse, continuing toward the gate, that only a day before he and Fendill had considered insurmountable. Once out of the gates, the cobbled road turned to snow and dirt. He increased the pace as the feeling of being hunted overcame him. He prayed to the gods they would make it out alive. Edmund had to be warned. Life wouldn’t be worth living if Leon got his hands on Veresia.

***

Back at the castle, Leon luxuriated with his wife-to-be in a large tub of hot water. Long-dead rose petals floated on its surface, dried the summer before and saved for such an occasion. He closed his eyes and relived the moment his dagger had sunk between Suklar’s shoulder blades. There was some resistance; the feeling of the heart being ruptured had filtered through the handle so that Leon knew the moment the monarch was past the point of no return. He remembered looking at his beloved’s face. Her eyes were bright with rapture. She had seen the look of complete surprise her father had exhibited when he realised he had been stabbed. She had laughed at his comical expression, his mouth in a perfect ‘O’.

Leon had stood proud, drinking in her admiration. He could not hear the voice in her head cackling, adding to her joy. He did not realise she had just decided she would keep him alive, at least until the wedding. The voice had told her it should be so. Leon smeared Suklar
’s blood across his own forehead in an instant of pure animalism. He was caught in the moment, the warm, sticky liquid adding to his pleasure, and remnants of the blood now mixed with the water in which they bathed.

Life was good. It would soon get better. Leon recalled that Fendill and Pernus had not been there to witness his great deed. He would go to their room later and tell them what he had achieved. Then he would kill them. He would enjoy killing Pernus more than Fendill, of course. Tusklar interrupted his musing by demanding a cuddle, which led to a kiss, which led to a well-deserved passionate celebration.

The following morning, Leon confidently walked the hallways, two of Tusklar’s guards as protective escorts. There would still be those loyal to King Suklar skulking around until they were weeded out. There was no reason to take any chances. Leon reached his old rooms. How far he had come in just over a week—from foreign prince to heir of Inkra’s throne. He couldn’t help but grin. His escort opened the doors for their new leader. Prince Leon’s good mood did not last when it was clear the men weren’t there.

He turned to one of the black-clad men; they all looked the same to him.
“Find them. Now!” 

The man ran to do as he was ordered. Leon spoke to the other one.
“Find the guards who assisted them from the dining hall last night. Make it quick.”

It was a good thing Suklar had trained some of his men to speak Veresian or Leon would have had to do things himself. Apparently Tusklar had needed people to practice with. Those few people were now assigned to Leon.

King Edmund’s brother strode around the room in an agitated state until the guards returned. “So. Out with it. Where the hell are they.”

“
Gone. The guards who were with them were found dead last night.” Prince Leon understood only too well his harsh, clipped words.

“
Are you daring to tell me they have escaped? Are they still in the castle at least?” Leon’s face twisted in crazy disbelief. Everything was supposed to be as he wanted it. This hiccup shouldn’t have been possible. The gods were on his side. His side!

The guard reluctantly informed Leon of the other dead guards found along the route to the entry. Leon
’s red face was in danger of exploding. As he spoke, spittle flew from his lips, hitting the unfortunate guard in the face. “I want them found, even if you have to send the whole wretched army. They’ve obviously escaped into the city. Do not return until they are found. If any man sent out returns without their bodies, they will be executed. Do I make myself clear?” He was screaming at the last.

The guard was mortified, even Suklar had not been this twisted. He obeyed, quickly.
“I will gather my best men. We will return as soon as we find them.”

Without waiting for a dismissal, the guard bowed low and dragged his companion away to gather some men. Leon headed for Tusklar
’s rooms. He hadn’t felt this enraged for a long time. He needed to beat out his fury on someone: she would do nicely.

22

Bronwyn sat and glared at the large cat that shared her camp. It had been many days since she
’d been forced to part with her aunt and friend, and she still hadn’t forgiven the beast who had caused it to happen.

The cat returned Bronwyn’s a
ngry stare with a relaxed one.
You’ll have to forgive me some time, young cub. We won’t be able to bond with any ill feeling between us.

“
Why would I bond with you? You’re horrible and mean. You obviously have no concept of love, attachment, or affection. I’m not ready now, and I don’t know if I ever will be.” Her arms were folded protectively. She shifted around to turn her back on the beast.

The young realmist was loath to admit it, but the time she had spent with the super-sized panther had taught her many things. There were things about
Talian magic, the power generated from Talia itself instead of through the Second Realm, that she had never been shown. She wondered if any of the realmists were aware of the extent to which they could utilise the forces of nature without exposing themselves to the risks of the Second Realm. The panther was a creature of Drakon, the dragon god, so had information no mere mortal could have had.

Bronwyn didn
’t hear the stealthy animal as he approached her. She jumped in fright when he nudged her with his enormous, furry head.
I probably shouldn’t tell you this because you’ve been so rude, but your aunt is okay
. Bronwyn turned to face the panther.

“
What about my friend, Corrille?”

The screeching one? I
’m not sure. Her symbol has disappeared
. Bronwyn digested the implications for a moment. Her back tensed as she wondered if her friend was being shielded or dead.

There
’s no point worrying about it now. We’ll eventually find out one way or another what’s become of her.

“
Easy for you to say.” Bronwyn could feel the heat in her cheeks as she asked the next question. “Um, I’ve just realised I don’t know your name. Do you have a name?”

The giant cat
’s lips turned up at the corners in a feline grin.
Yes, I have a name; nice of you to enquire.

“
So, what is it?”

Sinjenasta. I
t roughly translates as Servant of The Dragon God
.

“
Were you with Drakon before?”

In a way. It
’s hard to explain. I was of this Realm, but not. I am of this Realm now and have lost a lot of the powers I once had. Drakon is sacrificing me to help you. I would have lived an eternal life, but for your plight
.

Bronwyn stared at the animal as the enormity of what Sinjenasta was being forced to do dawned on her.
“Did you have a choice?”

Do any of us?

Bronwyn shook her head. As she felt more comfortable with her role in saving Talia, she also felt an increased sense of responsibility. If she failed, there were many whose sacrifices would have been wasted. She looked the cat in his yellow-green eyes.

“
I’m sorry I’ve been so rude. Please forgive me. I could only see my pain. As usual I forgot about what everyone else was going through.” Sinjenasta rumbled out a low purr, which brought a smile to the young woman’s smooth-skinned face.

With a new attitude toward the Dragon God
’s panther, she understood what she had to do. “When do you want to bond?”

I thought you
’d never ask. Now that you’ve made your decision, we can go to Drakon’s sacred lake. It’s within the confines of Vellonia, Valley of the Dragons.

“
I know what Vellonia is.”

Just making sure.

“How far away are we?”

A couple of days. We would
’ve already been there by now, but I needed you to make the decision by yourself. You humans can be rather stubborn at times
. Bronwyn couldn’t help but look sheepish.

She made a move to pack.
Not so fast, cub. This is a safe place to spend the afternoon. We’ll travel at night because I don’t want to alert anyone to our whereabouts.  Tonight I’ll ask Drakon to shield you until we reach Vellonia, just in case one of your realmist friends is looking for you
.

“
Why?”

Because Drakon commands it. I don
’t want you trying to contact any of your friends either. We have to be invisible, to everyone
. The panther’s wet, black nose was shoved in Bronwyn’s face. She sneezed.