The Way of the Blade (6 page)

“And as the term aberration suggests, we will not see another any time soon. Trust me. Wellspikers are not an issue. The real problem is the Scarites and what Harskill did.”

Hoping she didn’t sound too eager, Malja said, “Tell us about him.”

“Harskill? He came when I was a boy. He brought other magic with him, magic that he gave only to the Scarites. Then he disappeared. And it’s been war ever since.”

“Where are the Scarites? Do you know if he’s returned? Harskill, I mean.”

Javery escorted them back upstairs as he spoke. “The Scarites are on the other major island. Don’t you know the basic geography of the planet?”

“We told you we came from far away.”

Javery’s brow turned down. “There are three main islands. Ours is excellent for growing food and livestock. Scarite is a horrible place — I can never understand why they want to live there. And between the two lies Pali — a small, mountainous land. Empty of all life unless you believe in the Pali Witch.”

“What’s that?”

“A children’s story. Supposedly, long ago, an old woman went there and became a powerful witch. If you can reach her home at the top of highest mountain, she’ll grant you a wish. But if you fail, she’ll devour your soul. Anyway, once Harskill arrived, we had a real enemy to fear instead of a fantastical witch. The Scarites showed their true selves. They want the whole planet for themselves, now. So, we have a war.”

“I haven’t seen an army or a battle,” Malja said as they walked outside. “Have you already pushed them back onto their own land?”

“It’s not that sort of war. They can’t outright attack us because our towns are spread apart. They tried to get a foothold on Carsite, but then the other towns cut off the food supply. The only way they can truly take us over is to do so in one massive attack that secures them our land. So, they attempt to grow their own food and purchase the barest minimum they need from us, and then they conduct raids that we cannot prove they are directly behind. It’s been a political war more than anything, building pressure, and I’m afraid any day now, the whole thing will explode.”

“Without an army, you’ll be destroyed.”

“I’ve tried to get Father to back my plans for my Waypoint system. With it we could travel great distances in short time. Move fighters and weapons very fast.” He looked away. “But they won’t give me the full resources I need to make it happen. So, when the day comes that the Scarites make their assault, I’m afraid we’ve already lost. Most of us will be dead. Those that survive will be slave labor to keep the farms running. All because Harskill arrived.”

Malja placed her hand on his shoulder just as she had witnessed Canto do to Shual. “I’m sorry. You should never have had to suffer like this. That’s why we seek out Harskill. We’re trying to stop him from doing this kind of thing. We want to fix this for the future.”

Javery lifted his head as if he had received a present. “Then fight for us. The Scarites have Harskill’s magic, but if we had your blade, we would stand a chance.”

Malja stammered. “I can’t do that.”

“Of course you can. You’ve shown that you have no problems meddling in our lives. Harskill is one of you and he did it. These two had no trouble trying to steal our food. Why couldn’t you stand for us against these awful tyrants?”

Shaking her head, she said, “That battle is your own. Ours is much larger and more dangerous. But if we succeed, we will be helping you and many more lands like yours.”

“I see,” Javery said, his mouth a cold line. He snapped his fingers towards two ladies waiting patiently nearby. “This is Tonirry and Shuansia. They will take you to a place for rest. Tomorrow my sister will be married to Canto. Please, at the least, do us the honor of celebrating with us.”

“We’ll consider it,” Malja said.

Javery sighed and walked away.

Once they were shown to the guest quarters and left alone, Fawbry burst into Malja’s room and thrust his hands at her. “You couldn’t just lie? You couldn’t tell him something to placate him?”

“What would be the point?” Malja asked.

“Perhaps stalling for a little extra time before they try to execute us.”

Malja rolled her eyes. “These people are no physical threat to us. They can barely take care of themselves.”

“That’s an excellent point. They need help. And isn’t that the reason we left Corlin? Didn’t we set off to save all the other worlds out there from the crap that Harskill is creating? What’s the point if we’re going to ignore them when they ask for us?”

“The point,” she said, holding back the growl from her voice, “is exactly what I told Javery — if we want to save all the worlds, we need to stop Harskill from continuing to hurt them. That was the reason we left Corlin. To stop Harskill.”

Fawbry pulled at his hair and groaned in frustration. “I’d be better off leading griffles.”

“You didn’t do too well at that, if I recall.”

“At least, they made sense to me.” Fawbry yanked open the door. “I don’t care what you say, we’re going to that wedding.” He slammed the door shut. A moment later, Malja heard him bang open the door to the room he shared with Tommy.

Part of her considered Fawbry’s point. The problem rested in Tommy. Whether Javery knew it or not, Malja recognized the truth — those wellspikers had been attracted to the magic that radiated out of him. That’s why she couldn’t let them stay to help these people fight. Tommy needed to be protected. At least, Javery made it clear that these wellspikers were spread thin throughout the country. Hopefully, thin enough to not notice Tommy’s existence anymore. But the sooner they could move on, the happier she would feel.

In fact, the only reason she would agree to stay for the wedding was that they still had no idea where to go to find Harskill. Once they gleaned even the smallest clue, she would have Tommy open a portal, and they would never see the Carsites again.

Besides, what harm could there be in going to a wedding?

Chapter 6

Javery

You should have seen her.” Javery paced the worn wood in his room while Druzane, draped in a thin blue fabric with white trim, lay across his bed. “She moved like she knew every place to be before it happened. The boy, too. Wherever that wellspiker came down, the boy would escape. Before I could even understand what had happened, he had rushed off to a new spot.”

“I’m sure it was thrilling.” Druzane stretched her arms so that the moonlight caught the curve of her breast.

“And so effortless. I’ve never seen anybody fight like that.” He spun to face Druzane. “I think she might actually be an asset. I mean when I started this whole idea it had nothing to do with her. I just wanted to put Canto in a bad position, and I figured if I got this woman that the others think of as a god, well then, I’d be further along to getting Shual’s seat. But now —”

“Now, you need to come over here. Let me show you how a real woman can move.”

Javery stood motionless in the bedroom. The future unfolded in his mind. With Malja by his side, they could build a formidable army. She would lead them to victory over the Scarites, cutting them down as easily as she disposed of the wellspiker. Because the idea of using Malja came from him, the town — no, the entire country of Carsite would have no choice but to make him their ruler. Long before they completed the Waypoint system, he would be like a king. And when they did finish the Waypoint, it would usher in a peacetime prosperity never before seen amongst his people.

“What is going on in that brain of yours?” Druzane said, crawling to edge of the bed.

Javery noticed her for the first time. Her sultry beauty caused a pulse in him that he knew would be difficult to deny. But he had to show some restraint — at least until he had figured things out.

“I have a problem,” he said, speaking out loud to hear his own thoughts. “While Malja would be a fantastic weapon against the Scarites, she refuses to help us.”

“Then change her mind.”

“She doesn’t think like we do. Diplomacy, politics — they require that you understand your adversary. I don’t know what she values, what I can use to sway her.”

Sliding out of bed, Druzane allowed her robe to ride up her smooth legs. Javery’s eyes lingered on the lovely sight, his body hardening with thoughts he had to push away for a bit longer. She sauntered towards him, her shoulders rolling in a way that pulled his eyes from one luscious curve to another.

“Foolish boy,” she said. “A great man like you only succeeds with a great woman behind him.” With a simple motion, her robe dropped to the floor. She stepped behind him and pressed her naked body against him, kissing the back of his neck. Then she reached down, grabbed hold of him, and stroked him steady and sure.

“Oh. Please. I have to fix this first. Please, stop.”

She moved her hand faster. “Let me fix it all. I can get Malja on our side. Do you believe me?”

“Oh, yes. You can do so much.”

Druzane let go and walked around to face him. She lowered to her knees. “Think of how strong we could be together. You, a great mind. Me, a great woman. I’m exactly the kind of woman you need to become your fullest.” She licked him once.

“What will you do?” he asked though heavy breaths.

“You don’t have to worry about that. See, that’s how it would work. I get things done for you so that you can relax your mind from such worries and focus on the things you need to pay attention to.” She licked him again, and he moaned. “But,” she said, rising to look him in the eyes, “I cannot continue the way we’ve been going. If I do, then you won’t gain anything with me.”

Javery’s skin flushed with desire. “Don’t stop. You feel so good.”

“I may have taken too much blood from your brain. You’re not thinking anymore.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Marriage, of course. The only way I can be the woman behind you, the one helping you succeed is if I am your wife. Otherwise, I’ll be seen as a mere whore, your plaything, a worthless trinket to be discarded when convenient. Nobody will care what I say or do. They won’t accept me with seriousness. And without that, I cannot get Malja to work for you.”

“But as my wife, you can?”

“Oh yes. And much more.” She lowered again and took him in her mouth for several seconds.

When she stopped and gazed up at him, he nodded. “You are more than I deserve. I should have asked for your hand long ago.”

“Then we’ll announce our engagement tomorrow night at the wedding.”

Javery paused. “But that’s my sister’s wedding.”

“It’s also Canto’s big moment. Do you really want him to shine any brighter? I don’t want to be mean to your sister, but if you want to rule these people, they need to start thinking of you instead of Canto.” She licked him more. “Trust me. I’ll take care of everything. Remember, that’s what a great woman is for.”

Javery wanted to understand what she meant by all of this, but he wanted her mouth more. Soon, his mind fell into carnal bliss, and the idea of having this incredibly lustful woman in his bed every night flooded over him. If marriage meant Druzane’s help in and out of the bedroom, then he had to agree. She was a great woman, and he needed her to gain enough power to save his people.

Later in the evening, after Druzane had left, Javery set out for the guest house. Though Malja acted set against helping him, her two companions seemed more open. Before he reached the guest house, however, he came upon them both walking along the street.

“How are you two doing?” Javery offered a slight bow. “Do you need anything?”

Fawbry said, “One of the girls who helped us settle in mentioned a place where you all gathered for food and drink and such.”

Javery smiled. “Right this way.” As they walked, he pointed to three dark spots gliding across the sky. “You ever see talionogs before?”

Tommy shook his head.

“They’re big creatures. Amazing flying beasts you can actually ride. But they’re tough to tame, and they eat a lot. Not good for us farmers. Go back enough in our history, though, and we supposedly had armies of the creatures helping to defend us.”

Neither Fawbry or Tommy said anything. Javery let the silence hang, hoping to entice one of them into a conversation that he could lead to his point, but they simply nodded and walked on. He escorted them straight into the Brewhouse and right to a table. He ordered three mugs of distilled grain, and once served, he placed his hand over the frothing mug. They looked at him oddly. “A toast?”

“Sorry. We do it different where we’re from.” Fawbry and Tommy placed their hands over their mugs.

“To Malja and her men,” Javery said. “Saviors of our humble town.” He raised his hand in the air, the froth from the drink coating his hand. When Fawbry and Tommy mimicked him, Javery met their hands, causing the froth to splatter in the air. They all laughed and drank.

Javery watched them closely, waiting for some sign of how to proceed. Then he caught Fawbry’s wandering eye. “You like her?” he asked.

Fawbry spluttered his drink. “I-I’m sorry. I meant no offense.”

“Why should I be offended? Windelly is a beautiful woman. And she’s not married, too. I could introduce you, if you’d like.”