The Eyes of a Doll (The World of Shijuren Book 2) (39 page)

No one will ever know if my plan would have worked, because Markov anticipated it, or something like it. I awoke before the sun’s rise to Sebastijan pounding on my door.

“Get up, Sevener!”

“Wha... what?”

“I swear, you’re the laziest boss I’ve ever had! If you don’t open this door I will fuck the sun out of your sky!”

I stumbled over and opened the door.

“Get your stuff on. Even the armor. We’re going for a ride.”

“What? Where?”

“Markov and his grandmother headed south about an hour ago. I’ve got Eirik saddling horses.”

“What?” I shook my head to clear it. “Get Maja, I’ll get ready.”

“Do that, they’re already miles away from here.”

I felt better than anyone with a freshly stabbed kidney should, but that did not mean I was moving as fast and as smoothly as normal. It took me three tries to properly buckle my sword belt. Finally, I was ready. The scale armor chafed my side and felt heavier than normal.

In the stables, Maja and Eirik were fussing over Deor and the other horses. Zoe and Karah were passing out hunks of meat and bread. Zoe made sure I ate two pieces of goat while everything was prepared.

Ragnar arrived as preparations concluded bearing a flat item covered in a light cloth. “Yer still not to be havin’ that one a’yers fixed but this might be bein’ useful. And many’s the stories this will be bein’ able to tell you if yer but bein’ a mite more smart and all, still, it’s to be bein’ somethin’...”

“Hush, dear, just give it to him,” growled Zoe.

“Yes, my light.”

When he handed it to me I realized instantly it was a shield, round with a center boss. I removed the cloth, revealing blue and yellow quarters painted in the northern style. I slid my hand into the boss, finding it heavier and a tad larger than I liked. Still, it was the style I was used to and it moved right.

“Zoe’s to be remindin’ me I’m to be havin’ it back in one a’the rooms and I’m not be usin’ it much and she’s not to be lettin’ you go without a full set of tools, you know how she’s to be bein’, all insistent-like, and I’m to be thinkin’ I’m not to be arguin’ with her when she’s to be bein’ in her mood as she is right now.”

With a smack on Ragnar’s shoulder, Zoe turned to me. “Finish this, but be careful. I’ve spent too much time stitching you to have you die now.”

“Yes, Zoe, anything you say.”

She patted me on the cheek, and I suddenly felt much better.

“Sevener, we’re ready!” yelled Sebastijan.

They were already mounted. I got on Deor, and we exited the Faerie into the pre-dawn darkness.

I drew up next to Sebastijan and demanded, “So explain what’s going on.”

“We’re fortunate we’ve been watching Markov all night, every night. Tonight, the watchers could see hints of candlelight behind their shutters, something that has never happened before, so they summoned me around midnight. I didn’t do anything until I knew what was going on, but then they left, oh, probably two hours ago now. I knew you wanted to confront Markov, so I roused you as quickly as possible.”

“They were on foot when they left?”

“Yes, though who knows if that was true by the time they left the city.”

“They went south?”

Sebastijan nodded.

“Hmmm.”

“What?”

“Nothing important for now, but we have to get Gibroz.”

“Gibroz?”

“Yes, none of this matters unless we can get Gibroz and Gabrijela when we catch up to Markov.”

Sebastijan shook his head. “You’re not boring.”

The empty streets in the middle of the night were eerie, especially in the Square of Legends, but our trip to Gibroz’s den was quick. Even at this hour people were gambling, so the door was unlocked. The ravaged man took a minute to greet me, presumably because traffic was slow enough he could lay down in a back room.

“Sevener,” he rasped at me. “Why are you here at this hour?”

“I need Gibroz to take a trip with me.”

He laughed, a harsh, almost choking laugh, and shook his head. “He is not one who enjoys getting awakened by the likes of you. I don’t like swimming that much.”

“He’ll send you for a swim if he doesn’t come along. He’ll want to bring others, especially Gabrijela.”

His shredded skin twisted in a visage of amazement. “You’re seriously saying that Gibroz needs to come with you.”

“Yes. Mounted if at all possible.”

“Why would he want to listen to you, Sevener?” asked a strong feminine voice.

I turned to see Suzana standing at the door, idly playing with one of her knives. “Well, because we’re going after someone who’s been double-crossing him for as long as he’s worked for him.”

Suzana raised her eyebrows at that. “And who might that fool be?”

“Markov. He and his grandmother fled about two hours ago.”

“Fled.” She laughed mockingly. “Why would he do that?”

“Because I know he’s been fuckin’ with Gibroz and I can prove it.”

She lightly tapped the blade on a fingernail for a long moment. “Well, if you’re right, I’m going to enjoy playing with Markov, and if you’re wrong I’m going to enjoy playing with you.” She turned to the ravaged man. “Get Gibroz, Andreyev, and Gabrijela. I’ll get horses.”

“Thank you.”

She smirked and left.

The ravaged man shrugged and shambled up the stairs. I went outside to wait next to Deor and the others.

It probably did not take days for Gibroz and his people to get prepared. It probably only took half an hour. Yet it seemed like centuries as we waited to start the chase. Suzana rode up, uncomfortably leading three other horses. Soon after that, Gibroz, Andreyev, and Gabrijela exited the den.

Gibroz looked up at me. “You know you’re fuckin’ dead if you’re wrong.”

“I’m not wrong. But they have a two- to three-hour head start, so let’s get riding. I’ll explain more on the way.”

It was clear Gibroz and his people did not ride often or well. I led us out into a walking trot.

“Why the fuck are we going so damned slow? I want to get this fuckin’ over with. Someone’s goin’ to fuckin’ die, and I’m not waitin’ any fuckin’ longer than I have to.”

“Feel free to gallop ahead, if you’re feeling stupid. We’ll pass you and your lame horse soon enough.” I laughed at the look on his face. “Horses can ride for hours at this pace. We’ll be resting every hour, too. If we can catch them, it will be at this speed.”

“And how the fuck do you know where we’re fuckin’ goin’?”

“I’ve been watching Markov for months. I never liked him.”

“You that mad about the fuckin’ shoes?” Gibroz laughed.

“I never even got to wear them.”

Gibroz laughed and laughed.

A pleasant surprise awaited us at the South Gate. Piri waited, standing next to a horse.

“A wagon with an older woman and four or five men passed here about two hours ago. They weren’t going slow, so we’re going to need to hustle, but that will make it harder for them to slip off the road to avoid us.”

“Four or five men?”

“Yes. Markov has guards.”

“Wonderful. And why are you here?”

“Sebastijan sent word to me Markov was fleeing.”

Sebastijan nodded. “I’d have told you, but just waking you was trouble enough.”

I shrugged and rode Deor through the gate. The other seven followed. Piri stayed at the back to help Gibroz and his people. Sebastijan rode ahead of us, scouting as he had done on the trip to the Bardheküülle. Maja rode at my side.

I spent most of the ride trying to avoid bouncing too much. My wound was healed, but my mind did not completely accept that fact, and my body still ached. Their choice to take a wagon made the chase much easier, as it is hard to hide a wagon on the side of the road, though a horse-drawn wagon could travel faster than a person on foot.

Zoe had packed food in our bags, something I did not notice. Piri had also packed food and water in her efficient way, so we were not famished when we spotted their wagon cresting a hill near midday. They had been joined by four riders.

“Piri, get up here,” I shouted behind me. “Maja, go forward and tell Sebastijan to wait for us.”

After a few minutes Piri and I cantered up to Maja and Sebastijan, who matched speeds.

“This might turn into a cavalry battle.”

Piri sighed. “Yes.”

“Do any of you have any cavalry experience? Gibroz and his people won’t help, at least until the knifework.” In truth, they were lagging behind, exhausted. None of us rode such distances frequently, but it must have been years since they had. Gabrijela looked especially haggard, and I wondered if she could use her magic.

Piri and Sebastijan nodded, though Sebastijan did not look pleased at the prospect.

“Maja?”

She shook her head. “I just rode all the time as a kid.”

“Not the same thing at all.”

“Do you, Sevener?” she asked.

“Yes, years in the Periaslavlan steppes.” I shook my head in thought. “Right now, let’s use Gibroz and his people as a distraction. If it’s us four against their four, I think they might have the advantage. Let’s hope they’re not actual cavalrymen or we’re in trouble. However, if they’re aiming at Gibroz and his people, then maybe we’ll get some openings.”

“What are you thinking,” asked Piri?

“We put Gibroz and his people in the middle while you and I lead with Maja and Sebastijan on the flanks. We make it look like we’re just trying to get them close to the wagon.”

“Think they can do that? It’ll mean they’ll have to ride harder than they have.”

“I don’t know, but I do know I’d rather risk them and give us an advantage than not.”

Sebastijan chuckled. “You
are
learning.”

I glared at him.

“Let’s get Gibroz,” said Piri before I could snap back.

We slowed to allow them to catch up.

“Markov’s up ahead with help. Something like eight men, including four on horseback.”

He grunted his acknowledgement, too tired to tell me to fuck off.

“We’re going to let you deal with Markov’s people. Piri, Sebastijan, Maja, and I will deal with the horsemen. For this to work though, we need you to ride at our heels so we can punch you through. Then all you have to do is catch up to the wagon.”

He peered toward the wagon and its escorts ahead of him and he nodded.

“So we’ll keep riding to catch up to them and when we’re close, we’ll strike.”

He grunted again. Sebastijan rode up to assume the lead again. Piri and Maja rode up slightly ahead.

I dropped back to ride next to Gabrijela. “How are you?”

“I hurt, dear. You sure know how to wake a girl in the most romantic ways.”

I smiled. “I’ll try for flowers next time.”

She grinned tightly at me.

“Can you use your magic, or are you too tired? When you all get past the screen, Gibroz is going to need your skills, I bet.”

“I can do my job.”

“Good. I’ll count on that.”

She smiled and returned her concentration on riding.

I cantered back up to Piri and Maja.

“Maja, I want you to take the rear.” She started to protest but I cut her off. “I need you there because I can rely on you, not because I can’t.”

“What?”

“I need someone to make sure Gibroz and them push when I need them to push. Are you as good fighting on horseback as either Piri or Sebastijan?”

“Uh...”

“Be quiet, niece, it’s no shame that you’re not,” snapped Piri.

Maja sighed.

“Right,” I said. “I have to pick one of you three, and it’s going to be the one least able to win the fight at the front. That’s you. Now get back there and be ready. You’ll get your chance to fight, I’ve no doubt.”

She shrugged and allowed the criminals to pass her.

Up ahead, I realized that Markov had seen us and accelerated out of sight.

“Good,” I said to Piri, resisting the urge to push us faster than our trot. “Our horses will have something left when we get close, and his won’t.”

She nodded. “He’s not a cavalryman, that’s for sure.”

I laughed. “Good for us. Won’t help his guards, either.”

She chuckled, and we turned our attention to the grim patience of the chase. We focused on making sure we did not lose them or run into an ambush. Twice Sebastijan lifted an arm and we slowed to a walk, much to the relief of riders and horses, but he soon waved us onward.

In about ten minutes we regained sight of Markov. In about twenty, they rode merely a field or so ahead of us. As we curved between two large hills, we were close enough to see one of the wagon horses die beneath Markov’s whip. His riders wheeled around as the wagon stopped. Sebastijan reined in so we could gather together, I yelled at Maja, and we got ready to charge.