To Darkness Fled (66 page)

"We do mind, actually," Khai said.

"A shame. For we shall have to kill you then." Sir Eagan's battle cry ripped through the quiet.

Steel clashed, feet scuffled over the moist dirt. Sir Eagan instantly drove Atul away from the entrance. Achan kept back, waiting for Shung to get Khai out of the way.

But why wait?

Achan charged and chopped Eagan's Elk at Khai's back. It grated against the chain he wore underneath his cape. Khai spun, swinging his gargantuan sword Achan's way. Achan ducked. The sword slashed into the canvas wall of the tent. Khai grunted and pulled it out, but Shung knocked him out with a crack to the back of his head.

Well done, Shung!
Achan sheathed his sword and ran inside. Incense filled his lungs. A brazier crackled in the center of the round room. A small form lay curled on a bed on the other side of the brazier. Achan raced to the bedside. It was indeed Sparrow. She was wearing a red and blue dress. The deep colors against her fair skin made her look like a goddess, though her face was swollen in two places: below her left eye and on the left side of her forehead.

He scooped her onto his lap and tucked her head under his chin, stroking her soft hair, inhaling her rosewater scent. She felt so small in his arms. Warm. That was good, right? Warm meant alive.

"Sparrow." He shook her gently. "Wake up." He heaved to his feet, holding her against his chest. Her long skirt draped over his left hand and down to his knees, the beads on the skirt rattling against his chain armor as he carried her to the door.

Shung stood in the doorway, holding the curtain open. Achan turned sideways to duck past, shielding Sparrow's head with his own. He paused outside to adjust his grip, and Sir Eagan's posture sent a shock of cold through him.

The man stood, crouched, sword ready, facing two men who were dismounting.

Esek Nathak and his Shield, Sir Kenton.

Esek cried out. "Atul! This is
not
finishing him!"

Sparrow moaned, shifted in his arms, opened her eyes.

Praise Arman! "Oh, Sparrow. I feared the worst. If anything had--"

She squirmed in his grip. "Achan, we must hurry. Put me down."

"It's too late to run, Sparrow." He set her on her feet, keeping one protective arm around her shoulders, holding her against his side. "Look."

Her face seemed to pale further in the surrounding torchlight. He took her hand and squeezed.

Dove is just beyond those tents.
Achan nodded toward the tents behind Esek and Sir Kenton.
Get to him and ride as fast as you can back to Mitspah.

She shook her head.
We go together, please.

If we all run, Esek gives chase. If it's just you...
He looked down on her face.
It's me he wants. Let me fight him, distract him while you get away.

I will not leave you.

Achan paused to knit this information together in his brain. She
did
care for him.

Sparrow. I have two Shields and Esek only has one. I will be safe. When the fighting starts, you run for Dove? Do you understand?

She nodded, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks.

"Here we are again, stray." Esek sighed. "This does grow old. I abhor all this traveling. Why won't you simply die?"

"Arman will not let me die." Achan took in his surroundings. Sir Eagan stood before Esek and Sir Kenton. Shung stood on Achan's left, Sparrow on his right, clutching his hand. Atul lay gasping by the tent opposite Esek's.

Achan scanned the area.
Were did Khai go? His sword is gone. I thought he was unconscious.

Shung did not see.

He ran off,
Sir Eagan said.
Must not have hit him hard enough, Shung.

Esek snorted. "Arman, indeed. Sir Kenton, finish the gnat. I am tired of his charmed existence."

Achan pushed Sparrow behind him and drew his sword.

But Sir Kenton hadn't moved. "I'll tire him for you, toy with him if you like, Your Majesty, but I won't kill him."

Esek's eyes widened. "Explain yourself, Sir Kenton."

"I'm your Shield, true, but I serve Lord Nathak. He's my master and he ordered me not to let this man be killed."

Esek's posture swelled. "Have you always informed Lord Nathak of my plans?"

Sir Kenton bowed his head. "I have."

"Of all the insolent--" Esek thrust an arm in Achan's direction. "He is the only one who stands in my way. If he is dead, the throne is mine!"

Sir Kenton shook his head. "Do you honestly think your father would have let him live without good reason?"

Esek narrowed his eyes. "Do not refer to
that man
as my father."

Go, Sparrow, while they argue. Now!

She released his hand, and he heard her soft footsteps retreat around the back of the tent.

Sir Eagan's order came next.
Shung, you take Esek, I'll take Kenton. Your Majesty, stay back.

Sir Eagan and Shung attacked. Achan stood, furious at being coddled yet again. Sparrow's raspy scream stifled his anger. Khai!

Achan ran around the tent, the way Sparrow had gone.

* * *

Of all the men to catch her! Khai?

His strong hand gripped Vrell's arm. A sharp point pricked the back of her neck. "Silence, my lady."

The clash of swords sounded from the other side of the pavilion. The men were fighting, but Vrell had failed to escape.

Khai's stale breath blew hot in her ear. "You and I will wait right here while the king kills your pathetic hero."

But Achan raced around the curve of the pavilion, sword in hand. He stopped a few paces away. "Let her go."

"Or perhaps
I
will kill your pathetic hero." Khai's knife punctured her skin. Vrell released a ragged breath at the prick of pain. "You must give up this charade, boy. The Council's word is law, unfair as it may be. Esek is king and you are not. If you want to see this girl live, give yourself up. That's all it will take."

Khai's grip slipped suddenly. Vrell ripped free.

Khai groaned to a yell. "No!" He stumbled and dropped his knife on the moist dirt, limbs shaking, face twisted in fury.

Vrell darted forward and snatched it up.

Run, Sparrow!
Achan's brow furrowed, eyes focused on Khai.

"You think you can control my mind?" Khai panted. "I may not have your strength there, but I have skills you do not." He reached out a hand, palm facing the dark sky. "
Rabab rebabah rabah yarad. Ruwach aphar mayim esh, machmad parar."

Green light sparked in Khai's palm. Realization dumfounded Vrell. Khai was a black knight. All the time, on the journey to Mahanaim. What Jax had called his witchcraft.

Achan's gaze was so intense he looked pained.
Go!

But she had tarried too long. Khai had
triplicated
himself. He and his apparitions drew their monstrously long swords. His apparitions advanced on Achan.

Vrell steeled herself, darted forward, and plunged the knife into the real Khai's back. She shrieked, horrified at what she had done.

The apparitions vanished.

Khai wheeled around and stabbed. His sword pierced her side. She felt it enter her flesh, gasped, but the pain didn't come until the Khai withdrew the weapon. Her knees buckled.

"No!" Achan rushed forward and arrived barely in time to catch her.

Khai fell to his knees, dropped his sword. Achan carried Vrell around the weasely man, past a long, dark tent. A cramp seized her side. She pressed her hand over it, holding her breath. Achan spoke, but she couldn't understand his muffled, slow voice. Her vision blurred, flashed, her senses reeled.

Arman, help me.

She smelled horses. Achan lifted her higher, pressing her against Dove's saddle. Her side screamed at her to fall, to rest, but she reached for the
saddlehorn
, amazed at the animal's girth.

Her cheek rubbed against the wooden saddle. She pulled. Her body rose like she weighed nothing. Achan hoisting her up, no doubt.

She wanted to speak, to beg him to ride with her, but her mind and mouth were not in harmony.

Dove tossed his head. Vrell dragged her right leg over so that she lay in the saddle, slumped against Dove's white mane. She hugged his neck and, without a word, he galloped away.

37

Good boy.
Certain the animal wouldn't stop until the Mitspah gate, Achan released Dove's mind then sent word to Sir Gavin that Sparrow was coming.

"After her!"

Sir Kenton mounted his black destrier and gave chase. More of Esek's men had arrived. Sir Eagan and Shung now battled four New Kingsguards.

Achan found the mind of Sir Kenton's horse and asked its help. The animal was more than happy to assist Achan, who promised to feed him all the oats he wanted if he would carry his rider the opposite way. Hopefully Achan would have the chance to make good on his promise.

"What is he doing?" Esek cried out. "She went the other way, you fool!"

Achan stepped toward Khai. He should perhaps bind him before helping Sir Eagan and Shung. But Khai lay on the ground, chest barely moving. He wouldn't be alive for long.

"Fine! I will go after her, then." Esek strode toward the horses. "I can see I have no one else who will serve me."

Achan cut off his path. "You will let her go."

Esek withdrew Owr. "Stray, we must work all this out. If you agree to simply die, all will be well."

"Arman has spoken. I cannot refuse him."

Esek snorted a laugh. "Arman, indeed. He is the reason I don't rule already. Lord Nathak fears his useless prophecies." Esek circled, Owr gleaming like a star in one hand.

Three of Esek's men approached, swords ready.

"No!" Esek said. "This time I will kill him and prove to you all he is not invincible."

Esek jabbed Owr forward. Achan barely jumped back in time to keep from being stabbed. Esek cleaved from high guard, inviting a horizontal parry from Achan's blade. Their swords clashed, jarring Achan's weary arms all the way to his teeth. Esek came on strong with a series of cuts: side guard, back guard, low guard. He'd been practicing since Achan fought him last. Achan could only parry... parry... parry.

"I have never seen proof that any god exists," Esek said, swinging for Achan's feet, "let alone one who protects strays."

Achan jumped back and yelled. He took a deep breath and swung his sword at Esek's neck.

Esek parried Achan's strike and thrust for Achan's heart.

Achan sidestepped, spun back and nicked Esek's shoulder.

Esek yelled and stumbled back, then swung for Achan's arm. Achan parried, but Esek dropped under Achan's parry and nicked Achan's side.

Achan winced and drew back to middle guard. Esek swung from side guard. Achan moved to parry, but Esek faked, pulled Owr back, and stabbed one armed, slipping his grip to reach farther.

Owr pierced Achan's left thigh. He roared and snapped his sword down from high guard over Esek's extended arm, wincing as his blade severed Esek's limb above the elbow.

Esek shrieked and stared at the bleeding stump.

Achan's trembling arm fell limp at his side. He dropped his sword, horrified. His leg throbbed, hot pain gripping every nerve. Esek collapsed in a heap or red wool. Fainted? Dead?

"No!" Chora rushed forward and removed his cape. He balled it up and held it to Esek's gushing stump.

Achan fell back onto his rear and clutched the underside of his thigh. Blood oozed from the dark center of the wound and stained his britches. Panting through his teeth, he reached up his chain shirt and tugged his rope belt free. He pulled it under his leg and tied it above his wound.