The City of Pillars (13 page)

Andrasta shook her head. Fikri had already made up his mind about her and Rondel. Nothing she’d say would change his opinion so she didn’t bother wasting her breath.

“We’ll stay until Rondel is safe to travel again.”

Fikri sighed. “Then that will have to be good enough. I’ll see if I can’t increase the pace of the work.” He stood. “Especially since Shadya is such a gifted healer. As quickly as Rondel is recovering, we may only have another day or two.” His voice brightened as he added. “I’m ashamed to say that I had to stop myself from staring when I caught a glimpse of her without her veil. I now see why Rondel was willing to risk his life for her. Quite the woman.”

“Something like that.”

“The man’s a fool if he doesn’t marry her,” he said, walking off.

She muttered under her breath. “No. He’d be a fool if he did.”

* * *

A cold draft on Rondel’s left side woke him with a start. He opened his eyes to blackness, panicked, then remembered the warded bandages over his eyes. He felt around for Shadya, not wanting to call her name and possibly wake someone else in the house. He found nothing but an empty depression. The fading heat on the cushions beside him brought sadness.

It might have been the first time in his entire life he had ever slept next to a woman without having sex with her. Despite his injuries, he couldn’t recall the last time he had slept so soundly.

Who would have thought?

Despite her saying the three words he had never uttered to anyone other than his mother, he still couldn’t believe that Shadya found anything appealing about him.

She called me her hero. She’s just caught up in some silly fairy tale. The kind I used to sing about. Only this one won’t end with a happily ever after. Give her a few days, maybe a week, and she’ll realize how ridiculous the idea of us together is.

Even still, Rondel couldn’t help but think about a future together with her. Selfishly, he hoped she never came to her senses.

A pain in his bladder jarred him.

“Shadya?” he whispered. No longer caring about waking someone else up, he needed a hand to direct him to the chamber pot.

No answer came.

“Shadya!” he said louder.

“She went outside to help Fikri’s wife with the morning meal,” said Andrasta from the direction of what Rondel assumed was the door.

He reddened slightly. “Can you give me a hand? I need to get to the chamber pot.”

Rondel heard no footsteps, but a moment later the woman’s hands were on his arms and shoulders, helping him out of bed. Rondel moved the sheets away, shivering in the cool morning air with only his underclothes on. He winced with each step, partly because of the stiffness in his limbs, and partly because of a full bladder.

“Here,” said Andrasta, taking his hand and using it to touch the wall. “Straight down,” she added.

“Thanks. Um, you mind if I have some privacy?” he asked, fumbling with his underclothes.

“I’m not looking.”

“Yeah but—”

“We’ve shared campsites and rooms for over a year now. And unintentional or not, we’ve both seen each other in less than flattering positions. So, just go. I’m not leaving you alone while you’re still so unsteady on your feet.”

Rondel started to open his mouth, but stopped and smiled instead at her act of kindness. Andrasta was right about what they had seen of each other and he did realize he was swaying. He began to relieve himself, hoping his aim wasn’t as bad as it sounded.

When finished, he stood taller. Andrasta helped him back to the bed. He sat rather than lay on the cushions.

“You look cold. Here,” she said.

Rondel felt his shirt jammed into his hands. “Thanks.” He put it on then used a blanket to wrap his shoulders. “So, we did it.”

“We did.”

“Pretty crazy, huh?”

“And stupid the way you jumped on that thing’s back.”

“I couldn’t think of anything else and it was going to kill you.”

“Still stupid.”

“Shadya said you carried me the entire way back here. Let’s call it even.”

She grunted.

“Shadya also said you wouldn’t let her heal you.”

“No.”

“Do you truly hate her that much?”

“I don’t trust her.”

“How can you say that when she’s helped us so much?”

“Something about her doesn’t feel right.”

“Like what.”

“There isn’t just one instance. None of it feels right. It never has.”

“I need something more than that. Give me an example.”

“Have you asked her yet what she was doing off on her own after we left Fikri’s shop?”

“No.”

“That should have been the first thought you had when you woke up. You just don’t seem yourself around her.”

He was surprised at the slight anger he felt at her accusation even though he too had similar thoughts before. “What do you mean?”

“You don’t think as clearly. You lose all sense of caution like when you wanted to just swim across the river after the djinn.”

Not thinking clearly. Not acting normal. I think that’s called being in love.

Rondel snorted, astonished at the ease in which he came to that conclusion. He let that sink in for a moment. “I think I have feelings for her. Serious feelings.”

“I know. I saw you two in bed together.”

“I didn’t realize that it would upset you.”

“I never said that. It’s your life.”

Rondel frowned, not sure what to make out of his partner’s behavior.

Is she jealous?

“Well, did you ask her why she went off behind those buildings when the djinn captured her?” he asked, hoping to turn the conversation in his favor.

“Yeah. Said she heard a child asking for help and when she got there the djinn grabbed her.”

“Sounds believable. She has a kind soul.

“I think it sounds like a lazy excuse personally.”

Rondel tried to change subjects “Shadya said I should be able to travel in the next few days. We can get back to tracking Hubul’s Host and retrieve the mask.”

“And when we’re done?”

“What do you mean?”

“After we have the mask, then what?”

“You know what. The Jewel of Bashan.”

“So you plan to just leave Shadya behind? That doesn’t sound like something someone with strong feelings would do.”

He pursed his lips. “I . . . I honestly didn’t give it much thought.”

“Like I said. That’s unlike you.”

“Maybe she can come with us.” He paused. “Can she?”

“Perhaps you should ask her what she wants to do first. I have a feeling that leaving Erba to steal a jewel is not one of her top priorities.” She paused. “And if she says no, then what will you do?”

Rondel opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. He hadn’t thought about that either.

Before anything intelligible came forth, Andrasta slid to the door, calling out over her shoulder as she left. “I’ll go see about the morning meal.”

CHAPTER 11

At Melek’s orders, Lieutenant Omar organized three groups of three men. Sorcerers selected by Khalil accompanied each group. Melek sent each team in different directions with a specific task. One group followed the woman and her two companions at a safe distance, observing without engaging. Another traveled to Zafar to learn all they could about the two foreigners. The last group left for the center of The Empty-Hand Desert. Their task was to look for increased activity among the supernatural creatures that inhabited the area.

The sorcerers communed with Khalil through divining.

The old man took a seat across from Melek after receiving the latest reports.

Seeing Khalil’s fatigue from the communication, Melek poured him a cup of water and passed a plate of olives.

“Thank you, Captain,” said Khalil, guzzling the water first, then popping an olive into his mouth.

“Tell me. Afeef’s squad first.”

Khalil cleared his throat. “The Empty-Hand Desert is as active as we would expect at this time. Afeef’s men have already encountered several anomalies.”

“Such as?”

“A small pack of ghuls.”

“A pack? Ghuls don’t travel in packs.”

“These did. They were weak. None like the one we sent to Zafar. Yet, they still seemed determined to keep Afeef’s men away from the desert’s center.”

“Is everyone all right?”

“A few cuts. Nothing serious. They killed all but one of the ghuls. The problem came when they ran into a djinn the next day.”

“Out in the open?”

“According to Afeef, it was obvious this one hadn’t fed in some time. It was also weak, and not very bright. He managed to trick the abomination into giving its name. But before that it burned Emin badly.”

Melek swore. “Anything else?”

“Not from Afeef.” Khalil spat out a pit and threw another olive in his mouth. “Bassam learned that the woman is calling herself Shadya. The two with her managed to capture a majun. The one that’s been terrorizing Hegra for centuries. The two people call themselves Rondel and Andrasta and they’re recuperating from their encounter. They had to save
her
from the majun.”

Melek blinked.
A majun?
“Wait. Start over. And tell me every detail.”

Melek listened quietly as Khalil went over the details from Hegra. His interest in the two foreigners only grew with Djonda’s report from Zafar.

Shadya was one thing. I knew roughly what to expect from her, but Rondel and Andrasta are something else entirely.

Djonda didn’t believe half of the things they pinned on the group after a museum break-in, but even the less outrageous stories spoke of great skill.

And then there’s this whisper of what they did in Iget.

Khalil sat patiently across from Melek. The man knew better than to interrupt Melek while he weighed new information.

“We can’t wait for them to come to us.”

The sorcerer raised an eyebrow. “So, you wish to attack?”

“Not with the entire host. I’m still concerned about the risks involved, especially if
she
is getting stronger.”

“She can’t be that strong if a djinn captured her.”

“Yes, that is strange. Regardless of what Bassam heard of the incident, I won’t take her lightly. We can’t lose the mask again.”

“What do you suggest?”

“Tell Omar to send four men to meet up with Bassam’s squad. Attack her and her companions as soon as the squad is able. I doubt she’s expecting us to do that. If anything she’s probably more concerned with why we aren’t moving toward the Empty-Hand Desert.”

“I’ll see to it right away.”

CHAPTER 12

Two days came and went. Andrasta trained and Rondel rested. She never had a chance to speak with him alone again. Shadya and Rondel had been inseparable.

She thought about broaching the subject of Rondel’s strange behavior in front of Shadya, damning the woman to her face. However, she could tell it would do no good. It would only widen the growing rift between her and Rondel that much faster. She resigned herself to the knowledge that the retrieval of the mask would likely be their last job together.

They’ll go off and live their miserable existence. She’ll probably have a dozen of his kids and get fat. Gods, I hope she gets fat. Then he’ll be sitting on his porch and regret ever marrying her. It would serve him right.

What do I care? I don’t need him to steal the Jewel of Bashan. I know where he hid all the information. And I can track the flute and kill Kamal and Wabu without him. One less person to worry about.

Master Enzi had been right. Friends make you weak and slow you down.

That’s what she told herself, but she still struggled to believe it.

Light laughter drifted on a rare breeze. The sound danced about like a butterfly catching an updraft of air. It was the third time she heard Shadya laughing from inside Fikri’s home as they said their farewells.

She threw supplies in the back of their wagon, trying to make as much noise as possible to drown the woman’s voice.

Athar growled in response, shuffling his hooves.

“Shut up, camel.” Andrasta gestured to three of the creatures off to the right that were owned by citizens of Hegra. “You can be replaced.”

Athar growled again, low and throaty.

Andrasta’s eyes narrowed at the ugly beast. Her hand slipped to the dagger at her thigh. She eased it away as Fikri approached.

“All set?” he asked.

“Yes.” She fiddled with their supplies.

The shopkeeper cleared his throat. “I’ve noticed you and your friend are not on the best of terms as of late. That’s not how one should start a journey. You should take a cue from Shadya and start the journey with laughter.”

Andrasta gave him an eye, but said nothing.

“I thought that might rub you the wrong way. At first I thought it was because you were jealous of Shadya. But I realized that wasn’t it. You don’t care for him like that.”

“Is there a point to this?” she asked.

“Yes. But first, a rider from Zafar came by yesterday. He asked if we knew of a pair of thieves that matched your description and your names.”

She had feared someone might find them. A quick scan of the area didn’t reveal anyone else from the village waiting in the shadows. “And?”

“I told them that no one matching that description had come through Hegra.”

“Why?”

“That should be obvious. You helped our town greatly. The rider said that a great reward has been placed on each of your heads, more so for the item you apparently stole. They sent quite a few people out into Erba after you. But it sounds like they’re getting desperate. It won’t be long before they give up the search, I think. In the meantime, stay out of sight.”

“Thank you.” She nodded to the house. “Did you tell Rondel?”

“I tried. He seemed distracted. That was my original point for why I brought up the tension between you two. I’ve only known you for a few days but he seems . . . different than when you first came into town.”

Glad I’m not the only one.
“What makes you say that?”

“It’s weird but—”

“All right. Let’s get moving,” said Rondel as he came outside followed closely by an unveiled Shadya.

“We were just finishing a conversation,” said Andrasta.

Rondel cocked his head. “Was it important?”

“Well—”

“The important stuff was already discussed. Andrasta can tell you about that on the road,” said Fikri, blinking rapidly. “The rest was just trivial.”

Andrasta turned to their host who stared at Shadya with a dumb grin. She acted embarrassed at having forgotten her cover and replaced it quickly.

“Are you all right?” Andrasta asked him.

Fikri ignored her, instead focusing on Shadya. “May I help the lady aboard?”

“I would be honored,” said Shadya with a giggle.

Andrasta shook her head in frustration and climbed in back. Her conversation with Fikri was obviously over.

* * *

The tip of a boot nudged Rondel awake. He opened his eyes to a graying sky and stretched.

Gods, it’s good to see the world again.

Even though it had only been a few days, fumbling around like a blind man had bothered him more than the healing of his burns.

Andrasta hovered. “Time to get up,” she said in a low voice.

He yawned and sat up. The small blanket he slept under fell away and the cool morning air sent a shiver through his body. He rolled to his feet and rubbed his arms while going off behind a boulder to relieve himself. They had found another of the desert’s small pools to stop for the night.

He returned to camp, shaking out his limbs, hoping to get his blood moving.

“Freezing at night. Blistering during the day. What a miserable place to live,” said Rondel, grabbing a skin of water and taking a drink.

“You haven’t seemed too upset about it until now,” Andrasta muttered.

Rondel raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that you’ve had a smile affixed to your face for days.”

Rondel whipped around to Shadya’s bedroll. “Where is Shadya?” He felt a bit of panic.

“She took the dumb camel for a walk.”

“Really? Why?”

“Gods if I know,” she snapped. “Let’s not talk about her.”

Rondel frowned.
What’s her problem?
“Yeah, sure,” he said, trying to keep the peace.

“Good. You’ve been resting for days. It’s been too long since we’ve sparred. You need to start working the kinks out so that you’re ready when we get to Hubul’s Host. We still have no idea what we’re facing and I’m worried.”

“Why didn’t you say something before?”

“I’m saying something now. Draw your sword.”

“We can talk—”

“I’m done talking,” she hissed and rushed forward.

Their weapons clashed. A jolt from the force of the blow raced through Rondel’s body. He was glad he had already relieved himself.

* * *

Days later at a small oasis surrounded by date palms and lilacs, Rondel collapsed beside the fire next to Shadya.

His chest heaved. His body ached all over. He didn’t think he had lost that much endurance or strength in the short time he had been unable to train. Yet, he felt almost as bad as he did when Andrasta first started showing him how to use a sword.

Never has she pushed me so hard.

Distant grunts sounded in the dark as Andrasta continued to drill without him. Intermittently, the
swish
of her sword cut through the air.

“Are you finally done?” asked Shadya.

“Yes,” said Rondel. His voice sounded muted and hollow. It would settle once his breathing returned to normal.

“I don’t know how you put up with her.”

Rondel tilted his head back. “What do you mean?”

She forced him to sit and began to rub on his shoulders and neck. “She’s so hard on you. Three days straight, morning and night for hours at a time and all the while she cuts you down with her words while beating on you with her sword. Why would you still want to partner with her?”

He winced as she worked a knot. “It’s . . . complicated.”

“No. It’s not. I understand that she saved your life and you two have an agreement. But it’s like she only keeps you around to beat up on you so she can feel better about herself.”

“That’s not true at all.”

“If you say so.”

He turned around slowly as her hands fell away. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“That’s not true.”

“It’s just . . . I wonder if you don’t have feelings for her.”

He put a sweaty arm around her. “Shadya, you know that’s not true. She’s a business partner.”
A friend.
“Nothing more. How could I have feelings for anyone else when I have you in my life?”

She smiled. “I guess I just needed to hear that. I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t, I promise.”

* * *

Andrasta lay awake, staring at a clear night sky littered with stars. A sliver of a moon hung to her right. She took a deep breath, letting her mind go blank. Her lids slowly closed and the twinkling lights above disappeared. Her muscles craved sleep and she felt her body sink into the ground as she relaxed. After four times of trying to go to sleep, it seemed she would finally succeed.

Her breathing slowed.

A small sigh cut through the night to her left. Roused awake by the innocent noise, her lips pressed tight together.

She swore silently.

I should wake them. If I can’t sleep, why should they?

She opened her eyes and sat up. Despite the desire to sleep, she just wasn’t ready. Every time she came close, a small noise from Rondel or Shadya would bring her back. She didn’t know why. They simply slept back-to-back, sighing or breathing with a peaceful contentment that made Andrasta cringe.

The noises were quieter than Rondel’s occasional snores, but it wasn’t the volume that kept her awake, it was the meaning behind them.

Even if I think it’s the dumbest thing Rondel can do, he’s genuinely happy. Why should I stand in his way?

She threw off her blanket and rose. Though she had trained earlier until she nearly puked, she thought a good round of stretching and limbering exercises would do her some good.

She spared one quick glance over her shoulder, watching Shadya drape an arm over Rondel’s side. Enough light shone for her to make out the slight smile that formed on his face.

Maybe its better we cut this off sooner than later.

She left camp and walked around the oasis, passing a couple of date palms that stood on the opposite side of the nearby pool of water. Small shrubs sat intermittently around the pool. The oasis itself rested inside a bowl between hills and was made from packed sand and dirt.

Andrasta scanned the hills, noting several descending trails. The depressions ranged in size and shape, all leading to the pool below. She followed a set of tracks down to where a mother fox and two cubs lapped at the water. Other animals had already come and gone while she had tried to sleep. More would come before the night ended.

Andrasta looked back at the hills, the limbering exercises long forgotten with the new found interest in studying the animal tracks. She spotted the ruts left by the wagon easily enough, the straight depression of wheels on either side of Athar’s prints.

At least once I’m gone I won’t have to worry about that blasted camel.

Andrasta tensed. Something had changed. The night had been quiet when she rose, but the stillness hadn’t been as pronounced as it suddenly felt. Her eyes flitted back to the watering hole. The foxes were no longer there. Moving her gaze up, the last of the cubs skittered quickly over the hill from which they came.

Her hand went to her sword. She lowered herself into a crouch and drew it clear.

The faintest of scuffles sounded behind her, the soft underside of a bare foot touching the ground. She fought her natural instincts to move.

Not yet.

A drop of sweat ran down the back of her neck. She adjusted her grip.

She dropped to her knee, spun and swept out her sword. A blade whistled over head where she once stood. Hers cut through leather and flesh, slowing as it continued into bone.

A shocked gasp sounded as the leg of her attacker fell away just above the knee. Off balance, the man fell. A shadow flickered off to her right. She rolled as a knife thudded into the ground behind her. Her blade came up to deflect another knife sailing in from her left. The clank of metal echoed loudly.

“Rondel! Up!” she yelled.

Two men emerged from the shadows, one from the left, another from the right. Like the first attacker, they were dressed in black. A crescent sliver sat on their upper arms. They each held drawn scimitars.

She glanced down at the first man who had attacked her. Unlike most who’d be grasping at their stump to stop the flow of spurting blood, the man actually tried to swing his blade at her again. Blood loss caught up with him. The scimitar fell from his hands and he went still.

A scream ripped the night.

“Your cry for help was useless,” said one of the men. “Others saw to your friend and the abomination you protect. They’re already dead.”

Her stomach dropped.
No. I just left them.

A shout of rage sounded. Swords clashed.

She grinned. “Not yet, they aren’t.”

The two men exchanged confused glances.

She drew her throwing dagger in one quick motion, flinging it at the man on her left. He deflected the throw while diving to the side. She charged, closing the distance faster than the man had anticipated. She slashed down. He parried and countered. The other joined the fight and momentum briefly swung their way.

They pressed and she found herself retreating. The stories Rondel and Shadya had told about the skill of Hubul’s Host seemed to be more accurate than she had thought. Rarely, had she seen such consistent skill.

She deflected a sweeping cut, swayed aside from another, then jumped back from a thrust to the torso.

She thought of Rondel.
And he’s supposed to face men like these alone, while also protecting Shadya?
Though she still heard a distant fight by their camp, she knew the two men had been right about her partner’s fate.
He’s as good as dead unless I make it there soon.

Andrasta blocked out thoughts of Rondel and narrowed her focus on the flashing silver blades. Her sword clanged against a scimitar from the man to her right. Rather than pull away, she stepped in, and slid her blade down the weapon’s length. As he tried to withdraw, she spun and shouldered into him. The other foe pulled his attack lest he strike his own companion.

Andrasta seized on the confusion, withdrawing her Relian dagger and switched fighting styles. She slashed wildly with her sword. The wide, chaotic strokes acted as the distraction she intended. When her closest opponent took a step back, she stepped in and flicked the dagger at his thigh, near the knee. The man didn’t collapse, but the slicing of muscle and tendon caused him to stumble. She kicked him in the ankle. He fell.