Trinity Rising: Book Two of the Wild Hunt (Wild Hunt Trilogy 2) (61 page)

Just then Alderan groaned and Gair hurried to his side. ‘Easy there,’ he said. ‘You’re a bit battered.’

Bruised eyelids struggled to part. One blue iris was ringed with scarlet; the other eye was too swollen to open at all.

‘Gair?’ he managed.

‘I’m here. Can you tell me what happened?’

‘Somebody hit me. With a house, I think. Sweet saints,
ow
.’ Alderan reached up to touch his face, but Gair steered his hand away.

‘Better not. Your nose is broken. Maybe other bones, too.’

‘That explains why I can’t breathe.’ The old man’s square brown hand gripped Gair’s, some of his strength returning. ‘Help me up.’

Supporting his shoulders with one arm, Gair assisted him into a sitting position on the table. Gobbets of congealing blood dribbled from his nose, which he wiped away with the wet cloth.

Alderan’s one good eye focused on the two figures in desert robes. ‘And these two are?’

‘They brought you here. I’ve yet to establish who they are.’

The two exchanged a look. The woman had retrieved her dagger and was using it to trim her fingernails, seated cross-legged on the bench once more. Her companion concentrated on refastening his clothes.

‘Well, they didn’t gut me in the street, so I suppose that makes them friends of a sort.’ Alderan did not sound particularly trusting, which given the state of his face was hardly unexpected.

‘He claims to know N’ril,’ Gair said, nodding at the man, who bowed.

‘Your servant,
sayyar
.’

Holding one hand to his ribs, Alderan grunted. ‘We’ll see.’ He hawked and spat bloody phlegm into the fire, where it hissed. ‘Gair, fetch my scrip, will you? My head’s ringing. You two, make some damn tea before I get more cranky than I already am.’

With unexpected alacrity, they disappeared into the guest hall’s kitchen. Gair stayed at Alderan’s side.

‘It’ll be days before you can see properly,’ he said. ‘I can Heal you.’

‘The way you tried with Resa?’ Alderan shook his head. ‘Goddess, no. You need a lot more practice.’

‘I can do it!’

‘No, Gair. A couple of days’ rest and some flagwort ointment to bring down the swelling and I’ll be fine.’

‘Maybe. But the Superior wants us out of here tomorrow!’

A bloody blue eye fixed on him. ‘She knows we’re here?’

‘Sister Avis told her, I think.’

Alderan swore. The other two emerged from the kitchen with a fresh teapot and a tray of cups. As the tea brewed and was poured he skewered his two rescuers with a glare that was all the more intimidating for being delivered by just the one eye.

‘Some introductions are in order, don’t you think?’ he growled.

‘I regret we cannot give you our true names,’ the man said, hands spread apologetically. ‘We would rather not be linked to tonight’s events in any way, for our own safety, and for yours. But I spoke truly when I said I know N’ril, though he does not know me.’

‘Clear as mud,’ grunted Alderan. ‘So what should we call you?’

‘You may call me Canon and my sister Tierce.’

Gair gaped at their choices. ‘You’re joking.’

‘They seem appropriate ciphers, given our current location.’ Canon folded his arms, outwardly calm, but he radiated wariness like a cat curled up with its eyes half-open. His sister shot him a disgusted look, then went back to paring her nails.

‘You’re
jihadi
.’ Careful of his split lip, Alderan sipped his tea.

Canon raised his eyebrows. ‘What makes you say so?’

‘Ciphers? Secrecy? Credit me with a little intelligence, please.’ Making a face, the old man put down his cup. ‘Gah. Tastes like blood.’

‘I fear you are mistaken,
sayyar
,’ said Canon neutrally.

‘Really.’ Sarcasm dripped from the word.

‘I assure you—’

‘I went into the city today to visit a teahouse recommended to me. I ordered a pot of Isfahan Black, no honey, and asked my server if he knew what time the flower-market would open tomorrow as I wanted some orchids for my wife.’

Tierce’s hands stilled. Her grip on the knife altered a fraction, almost as if she was testing the weight, preparing to throw. Gair rested his hand on his sword hilt. That woman was altogether too fond of her knives.

But Canon merely shrugged. ‘I’m afraid your wife will be disappointed. Orchids are out of season now – you should try later in the year.’

‘That’s what the fellow told me,’ said Alderan. ‘So I asked directions to the jewellers’ quarter instead and he recommended a shop called the Jade Elephant, which he said was owned by a friend of his.’

‘I cannot say I know it.’ The Gimraeli’s expression was smooth, carefully bland, and Alderan showed his teeth.

‘I am surprised. It’s been a
jihadi
safe house since the desert wars, although I’d guess it’s rather less safe these days.’

Gair blinked, then mentally kicked himself. By now he ought to be accustomed to Alderan knowing far more than he let on. Nothing about him should be a surprise any more.

‘When I left the teahouse, the server should have run after me saying he’d miscalculated my change and palmed me a note with directions so I could meet my contact. Instead a couple of Cultist thugs ambushed me a few streets away. Your security’s been broken, Canon,’ Alderan said, and now his tone was serious. ‘The Dragon
jihad
has been compromised.’

For a full minute Canon said nothing, then the coiled tension drained out of him and he dropped onto the opposite bench.

‘We know.’ He pushed his
kaif
back off his head and rubbed his hands over his face, looking suddenly very tired – and very young. ‘Rather, I should say we had begun to suspect after what happened to Uril last year. We were on our way to the teahouse to investigate. By pure chance we cut along the alley behind the wine-merchant’s that those Cultists had chosen for their work and we found you.’

‘Then for that, I thank you.’ Alderan inclined his head.

‘Thank Tierce, it was her idea. Sometimes I think she likes skulking in alleys just for skulking’s sake.’

Tierce stuck out her tongue at her brother. She took off her
kaif
, too, and shook out a mass of black hair, spilling in waves around her shoulders. With a final flourish, the silvery blade flashing between her nimble fingers, she tucked her dagger back into its sheath in her sash. One of a pair, Gair noted, to his chagrin. She saw that he’d seen and smirked.

Trying not to show how much she discomfited him, he asked, ‘So what happens now? We have work of our own here, Alderan.’

The old man looked thoughtfully at Canon, who leaned his elbows on the table with his head between his hands. ‘I went looking for the
jihad
to find out how bad things had become here. That question appears to have answered itself, so perhaps we can help each other.’

‘We have no love for the Empire, old man.’ Tierce dropped her feet to the floor either side of her bench, ready to spring. ‘Nor any need for your help.’

‘We have a saying in the north,’ said Alderan. ‘When a nail needs driving, any hammer will do.’

‘We have plenty of hammers of our own,’ Tierce said and muttered something else in Gimraeli. She turned to Canon. ‘There are too many Cultists on the streets tonight. We should go.’

Her brother propped his chin on his palm. ‘Tell me how you knew the passwords.’

‘Tell me how you knew to bring Alderan here,’ Gair interjected, patience evaporating.

Canon held up a hand. ‘Please,
sayyar
. My question is of the greater import, I think. Lives may depend on it.’

Alderan dabbed a little more blood from his nose with the dishcloth. ‘I knew Uril. He told me what to ask at the teahouse, if ever I needed to find the
jihadi
.’

‘Then you also know Uril is dead?’

‘I know.’ The old man nodded. ‘N’ril told me.’

N’ril is involved with the
jihadi? Gair frowned. ‘I’m sorry, who’s Uril?’

It was Tierce who answered, and did so in a snarl. ‘You should know, Empire. You carry his sword.’

N’ril’s brother. Of course. The similarity of their names should have given him a clue.

In icy tones, Tierce added, ‘It would please me to learn how you came by it.’

‘I know N’ril. He suggested I carry this sword for the duration of my time here.’

Her lip curled. ‘Then be sure you do not dishonour it.’

‘Tierce,’ said Canon, with the tired patience of a parent having to repeat instructions to a wilful child, then continued his tale. ‘We have lost six cells since he was taken. Nineteen people, including Uril, butchered like animals.’

‘Less than animals,’ snarled Tierce. ‘At least animals have their throats slit before their bellies are opened.’ Hunger for vengeance glittered in her eyes, dark and hard.

‘Forgive me the question,’ Alderan said, ‘but is it possible that Uril betrayed you, under duress?’

Canon shook his head. ‘No. I am sure of it – I knew him well and he was one of the strongest of us. I must believe that we have another enemy, an enemy within, yes? A Cultist agent, or someone who values gold more highly than the trust we placed in them.’

‘Or was coerced,’ the old man suggested.

Canon tilted his head, conceding. ‘That is also possible.’

Beside him, Tierce glowered. ‘Traitors.’ She spat on the floor, earning a frown from her brother.

‘This is a house of the Goddess, Sister.’

‘Not my Goddess.’

‘Nevertheless.’ His tone sharpened. ‘Be respectful, or we are no better than those we are sworn to oppose.’

She tossed her head. ‘What do I care?’

‘Perhaps you should learn to,’ he snapped back. ‘When we were still children the Goddess’s soldiers gave their lives to save this city from the Cultists. You should honour that sacrifice!’

‘My enemy’s enemy is my friend?’ she sneered. ‘Those who bed down amongst dogs rise up with their fleas, Brother!’

In a whirl of black robes she was gone, slamming the door behind her.

Canon sighed and took a moment to compose himself.

‘Please, forgive my sister,’ he said. ‘Sometimes her grief speaks instead of herself. She saw Uril, after they were done with him. He . . . took a long time to die.’

‘They were close?’ Alderan asked gently, but Gair already knew the answer.

He stared into the fire, arms folded tightly across his chest, over the sudden sick hammering of his heart. He knew that grief. Knew its name, had felt its breath on him. Pain boiled in his veins as he saw her again, opened up like a fish, leaking her life away into a rain-puddled yard.
Aysha
.

The bench scraped across the floor as Canon stood up. ‘I think perhaps I should leave. It is not safe to linger outside after dark, even for us.’

Controlling himself with an effort, Gair faced him. ‘You never told us how you knew to bring Alderan here.’

‘We didn’t. Once we saw his face and knew he was not desert-born, there was nowhere else we could take him. The Empire quarter is under curfew and the gates are manned by city guards, not all of whom are . . . sympathetic. Even if they had granted us admission, we would have made ourselves targets. The sisters here are known for their charity.’ He bowed, formally, in the desert style. ‘May you find better fortune in the days to come.’

As he turned to go, the door to the guest hall flew open in his face to reveal Tierce, veiled again, her eyes alive with a dangerous light.

‘They’re coming,’ she said. ‘Cultists. Lots of them.’

37

WHAT’S RIGHT AND WHAT’S NECESSARY

A cold knot formed in Gair’s belly.

Goddess help him. He’d provoked the Cult by defending the nuns in the square; now they were coming in numbers to make the sisters pay.

‘Could they have followed you here?’ he asked Canon, to be sure.

The Gimraeli looked doubtful. ‘I do not think it likely. We saw no one after we left the alley.’

‘But that doesn’t mean no one saw you.’ Alderan pushed himself to his feet. ‘Gair, fetch my scrip.’

‘There’s no time!’ Gair snapped. If he’d brought the Cult down on the Sisters, it was up to him to see to their safety, and do it fast. Already he could hear a growing rumble from the street outside. ‘Canon, watch them.’ Refastening his
kaif
and veil, the desertman trotted for the door. ‘Tierce, did you bolt the street door after you?’

‘Do I look stupid to you?’

He bit back a sharp retort. ‘Then go and rouse the sisters, quickly. Tell them to take only what they can’t bear to leave behind.’

She curled her lip. ‘I will accompany my brother. Let their own soldiers defend them.’

Exasperated, he swore. ‘They don’t have any soldiers, Tierce! These are holy women, consecrated virgins. What do you imagine the Cultists will do to them if we don’t see them safely out of here?’

‘Then who slew four Cultists by the south gate this morning?
Holy women?
’ Tierce sneered. ‘Three Knights, I heard, disguised as carters.’

‘There was only one,’ said Alderan, neck craned awkwardly so he could use his good eye to peer through the narrow gap between the shutters. Orange light from torches in the street beyond the wall rendered his face a ghastly mask. ‘He’s an idiot who causes enough trouble for three.’