Son of Corse (The Raven Chronicles Book 2) (7 page)

Chapter Nine

T
hick black smoke winding towards the sky was the first indication something was wrong ahead.  Joss noticed Arwenna’s back tensing up.  This didn’t sit well with her, either.

              The trip had been hard on both of them.  Two nights ago, he’d held her as she silently cried herself to sleep over having to turn away from where she was certain Sera was being kept
. 
He’d comforted her the best he could, making sure she didn’t know he cried as well.  There was only one person besides Sera whose absence would hurt more.  And he wasn’t certain Arwenna wouldn’t try to trade herself to Bohrs to secure Sera’s release.

              Angrily, he pushed the thought from his head.  Joss would put a dozen arrows into Bohrs before he let that creature touch Arwenna again. 

              Arwenna glanced at him, concern in her beautiful eyes. He smiled, willing his worries to fade.  He wasn’t about to burden her further by letting her know his fears.  Maybe when all this was over, when they could laugh about it.  But not now.

              A smoldering keep lay in the bottom of a small valley. The blackened walls bore mute testament to how violent the attack was.  The wooden gate, nothing but splinters now, lay scattered about the outside of the keep.  Empty iron hinges hung dejectedly, melted by intense heat.  Joss frowned.  From what he could tell, the gate had been blown apart from the inside.

              Barek raised a hand, signaling them to stop and dismount.  Joss slid off before reaching up to help Arwenna.  He could feel Barek’s eyes on them and couldn’t resist placing a gentle kiss on her head as her feet hit the ground. 

              She smiled up at him, a tight smile that spoke volumes. One day, this little war between himself and Barek would be fought.
The skirmishes were starting to wear very thin on Arwenna, though.

              Adjusting his quiver slightly, Joss took a moment to nock an arrow. He caught sight of Mialee sneaking towards the back of the keep.  Barek and Y’Dürkie were approaching the entrance cautiously, weapons at the ready.  Glancing over his shoulder, he nodded at Hugh. The blacksmith wasn’t much of a fighter, but he’d make sure no one snuck up behind them.

              Joss picked up the sound of still crackling fires as he walked through what used to be the gate of the keep.  Small hot spots still burned, scorching what little grass and wood remained to feed off of. 

              The inner courtyard was a sickening mix of charred bodies and wood.  Whoever attacked the place hadn’t left anything untouched.  Arwenna knelt next to one of the bodies, the green of her magic reaching towards the corpse.  Joss didn’t say anything.  He knew she intended to talk with one of the dead in hopes of learning who or what did this. 

              A furtive movement of shadow against a wall caught Joss’ attention. Without a sound, he motioned towards Hugh. The man nodded in response, and the two began to circle towards opposite ends of a row of stone arches.

              Joss raised his bow, ready to shoot at a second’s notice.  The soot dusted walls added to the shadows, making it darker than it should’ve been.  Joss barely noticed the shadow as it darted through another archway.

              Moving quickly, he got to the archway before Hugh.  The shadowy figure passed through a patch of sunlight streaming through a broken wall.  Joss caught sight of the man’s face and let loose with his arrow. The arrow struck with force, piercing his shirt and pinning the man to a support beam.  Before the man could do much beside turn, Joss loosed another arrow, pinning the other arm.  Vaguely, he heard Hugh calling for help as he let fly a third arrow. That one landed just below Bohrs’ crotch. 
Damn
, he thought,
I missed
.

              “I’ll give you one chance to answer, cretin, before I put the next arrow in your throat.  Where’s my daughter?”  Joss growled with fury.  He raised his bow, the arrow ready to fly.

              “Joss!”  Arwenna’s voice echoed in his ears, but he refused to lower his bow.

              Bohrs just stared at him, fear in his face. 
Good
, Joss thought. 
About time he knew what it felt like
.  He pulled back on the bowstring.  “Answer me, damn you!” Joss demanded.

              Then, Arwenna was between him and Bohrs.  Her hand was on his arm, urging him to lower the bow.  “Joss – Caelon – it’s not who you think it is.” 

              He looked at her, the tension in his body slowly fading.  She wouldn’t have called him that with others around unless it was necessary.  That was her private name for him, as much as Shayn was his name for her.

              Joss felt Arwenna’s hand on his, compelling him to stand down.  He took time lowering his bow, not quite ready to release the fury that raged inside. The feel of Arwenna as she slid an arm around his waist calmed him. If anyone could be certain it wasn’t Bohrs, it was her.

              “It may not be Bohrs, Arwenna, but he damn well looks like him.”  Barek’s deep voice grumbled from behind Joss, reminding him of the huge man’s presence.

              Joss took a better look at the man he’d pinned to the wall.  He was barely twenty, far too young to be Bohrs.  Even so, the face, brown hair, and black eyes were identical.

              Y’Dürkie sidled past Joss and Arwenna, putting herself between the man and the rest of them.  “Vho are you?” Y’Dürkie asked quietly. 

              The captive swallowed hard, his eyes darting anxiously between Joss and Y’Dürkie.  “My name’s Anthones. My grandfather was Baron here.” 

              “Vho is your father, Anthones?”  Y’Dürkie’s hand flexed on the grip of her sword. 

              Joss knew the movement well.  Her relaxed posture was meant to calm the man in front of her, but she was ready to strike.

              “Mother never said. There were whispers among the servants, though.” He licked his lips nervously.  “It was said there was a noble here once, being trained by my grandfather. He wasn’t well liked.  He left his training early, and nine months later I was born.”

              Joss felt Arwenna tense up as the youth spoke. He tightened his arm, pulling her closer. 

              Barek cleared his throat.  “What happened here?” 

              Anthones shifted very slightly, the arrows still kept him pinned.  “I don’t know.  I’d gone to trade with some Wood Elves.” His face flushed.  “Not so much trade as try and convince one of the Elders of my worth.  There is a woman there, you see…” His voice trailed off.

              “We’ll get to her soon enough, if necessary.  Right now, we need to know about what happened here.” Arwenna’s voice vibrated through Joss’ chest as she spoke.

              Nodding, the youth spoke again.  “I saw the smoke as I came back today.  I hid, as I’d gone without my armor. An army was riding from the Keep
. 
The man leading it had my mother tied by a rope running alongside.”  A single tear rolled down his cheek. “When I find her, I’m going to kill whoever it was that treated her like that.”

              Hugh muttered, “Get in line.” 

              Joss dropped his face towards the top of Arwenna’s head to hide his grin.

              “How long ago was this, Anthones?  And which direction did they ride?”  Arwenna asked.

              “They went towards Serenity.  I doubt they wanted to be spotted on the road.  The dwarves have started patrolling the main routes in the dark.  There have been stories of attacks on caravans, but I’m not sure I believe them.”  He strained against one of the arrows.  “I’d guess this was a few hours ago.  I stayed hidden for a time, just in case.  I’d planned on scavenging what I could and then go back to the elves.”  He paused, “There were at least a hundred and fifty men in that army.  I’m going to need reinforcements to go after them.”

              Arwenna moved away from him, and he reluctantly released his grip on her.  He watched her move towards the man.

              “We’re trying to find my daughter, and we believe the man who took your mother has her.  As long as we don’t jeopardize Sera’s life in the process, we intend to kill him.”  She spoke evenly.  “Even if he’s your father.”

              Joss kept his eyes on Anthones, not quite ready to trust him.

              “If we release you, you will be given a choice.  Go your own way or come with us.  But, make no mistake, if you get between any of us and those we seek, we will not hesitate to kill you as well.” Arwenna would follow through with the promise she just made.  All of them would.

              Anthones swallowed hard
.
“I understand.  Do you mind letting me down so I can consider your terms?”

              Arwenna looked at Y’Dürkie, “Sister, if you would be so kind as to give Joss his arrows back?”  The gentle pull on his hand spoke volumes to Joss.  He followed her out into the courtyard.

              He waited until she stopped, then asked quietly, “Are you sure this is a good idea?  Having him come with us?”

              Arwenna sighed, “If anything, he’ll give us a bargaining chip. I doubt Bohrs even knows Anthones exists.” The realization of what she meant sank in. She put a slim finger against his lips, silencing his protest. “I know, Joss.  But we’re talking about Sera here. And there’s nothing I won’t do, no one I won’t sacrifice, to get her back with us.”

              “He’s going to argue with you.”

              “Barek?  Of course he will.  But you know who will win that argument.”  She smiled up at him.  He knew the look in her eyes all too well.

              Resigned, Joss sighed.  “Yes, I do.  Which is one reason I don’t argue with you much if I can help it.  There’s no point.”

              “Joss, here are your arrows.” Y’Dürkie interrupted them. Joss inspected the tips briefly.  They needed to be sharpened.

              “Arvenna, Mialee and I are goink to take Anthones and check out the keep.  See if there is anythink vorth salvagink, find a defendable place to make camp tonight.” Y’Dürkie knew what was coming, too, and wanted a reason not to be near the discussion.  His sister-in-law was smarter than most people gave her credit for.

              Arwenna opened her mouth, but Joss shook his head to stop her.  “I know, Arwenna.  I’ll find something to do and stay out of it.”  He kissed her before moving towards a small fire Hugh was building.

              A few charred but still solid pieces of wood lay about the area, so Joss took the time to move them around the fire. Even if Y’Dürkie found shelter for them, they’d most likely have a watch out here as well. 

              Settling down on one of the improvised benches, Joss carefully placed his bow within reach.  Unloading his quiver, he selected the arrows in need of repair.  The fletching was loose on some; others had tips in need of sharpening.  He pulled a small whetstone out from his belt pouch. Methodically, he began to sharpen the edge of one of the arrowheads.

              “You think Barek will ever learn not to argue with her?”  Hugh’s deep voice carried softly across the space between them.

              Joss glanced over his shoulder to where Arwenna and Barek stood.  He knew his wife’s stance well. Turning back, he chuckled. “Not likely.  Barek will argue, she’ll make some small concession to make him feel like she heard him.  And then still do what she’s already decided to do.”

              Hugh laughed, “That sounds like Arwenna.  Still, you’d think Barek would’ve learned after all this time.  You and I have known her for less time, and we know better.”

              “Truthfully, I think it’s a game they play.  Arwenna knows it, though I’m not certain Barek does.  He has to prove he can keep her safe, and she has to remind him she’s not that fragile.” Joss swore as he pricked his finger against the edge of the arrowhead.

              “And you’d rather he’d be reminded of other things?”  Hugh’s voice was almost a whisper.

              Joss stopped what he was doing, meeting Hugh’s gaze.  “I’m not worried she’ll leave me for him, Hugh. I never have been.  But I would like him to at least acknowledge we’re married.  The way he acts, I’m some little pet of hers that’ll she’ll tire of one day.”  Irritation lent an edge to his voice.

              “Give it time, Joss. Eventually he’ll come around.  Or he’ll be dead. Elves live longer than half orcs, so you’ve got time on your side.”  Hugh smiled.

              Y’Dürkie’s voice cut across the courtyard, drawing Joss’ attention. “Arvenna!  Ve have a problem I think.” 

              Y’Dürkie emerged through an arched doorway, Anthones and Mialee just steps behind them.  “This one” she jerked a thumb back towards Anthones, “says there vas a gem that sat in the back of his grandfather’s throne.  A huge black onyx.  It has been removed.  And this one,” she caressed the Gem of Tiren nested in the pommel of her sword, “made a noise vhen she saw it vas gone.  It vas not a nice sound, Arvenna.”

              “What do you know of the stone, Anthones?”  Arwenna demanded.

              “It was found in an abandoned mine not far from Serenity back before I was born.  They rarely come out of the earth ready to mount, let alone as big as this one was.”