Will Shetterly - Witch Blood (4 page)

3

NAIJI WAS CONTENT
to stand and admire her home. I said, “How do we reach the top? Scaling cliffs in the dark isn’t an art I know.”

“Like this.” She led me to the base of the bare rock face, then cupped her hands about her mouth and made a call like a mountain cat’s. “Step back.” She drew me beneath a slight overhang, and a thick braid of knotted hemp fell nearby. “Can you climb a rope?”

“I can climb any line.”

“Good.” Naiji went first, disappearing in the shadow of the cliff. I tucked the shaft of my axe into my belt, then followed her. My arms ached before I had climbed a third of the rope’s length, but there was no way to rest other than clinging to the rope, so I continued.

Naiji’s fox-fur boots were the first sight to greet my eyes as I clambered over the cliff’s edge. Next to them were two huge boots made of moosehide, large enough that someone might have decided to dress a statue, as is sometimes done in the temples of the island nations. Doubting this was the case, I felt very vulnerable as I looked up.

The man beside Naiji was immense, even for a Kond. His hair had been cut around his head so that in the night, he seemed to wear half of a coconut for a helmet. A tangled pale beard sprouted from his face like smoke. His clothes—baggy pants and a hooded jacket—appeared to have been sewn from old woolen blankets. A long straight sword at his hip would have been wielded with both hands by a normal warrior.

He moved his fist to indicate me and said in an oddly high-pitched voice, “Kill him, mistress?”

Naiji reached up to pat the giant’s shoulder. “No, Avarineo. He’s to be your friend.”

The man shook his head. “Friend? No, mistress. He smells of death.”

“That’s not his fault,” Naiji answered. “He was trapped in the woods by one of our defenders. You would have done the same, Avarineo.”

The giant stared, and I wished there was something behind me besides a long fall to the rocks. I knew I could never free my axe from my belt before he attacked, if he chose to. I doubted it would be much use, if I could.

“Which did he kill, mistress?”

Naiji glanced at me in warning, then said, “It wasn’t his fault, Avarineo. Truly.”

“Which?”

“Old Avo,” she answered sadly.

The giant’s fists bunched together like boulders, but Naiji interposed herself between us before he could act. “No! He didn’t know that you and Avo were spirit-brothers! Avo threatened him. I saw it!”

“You saw it, mistress?” The man’s voice carried his anguish. “You did not help?”

“I thought Avo could handle him. I was wrong. I’m sorry, Avarineo. Truly.”

The giant pointed at me and growled, “You will never be my friend. Never.”

“Yes, he will,” Naiji said. “He must be. We can’t afford to fight among ourselves. He’ll be your friend. Understand, Avarineo? He will be your friend.”

“He will never be my friend. I’ll kill him, mistress. He is bad. Very bad.“ Avarineo reached for my throat with a massive, gnarled hand.

“I didn’t know the bear was your brother,” I said, as calmly as I could. “He attacked me. I did not attack him.”

‘True?“ The giant paused a step from me with his fingers much too near my skin.

‘True!“ Naiji put both her hands against the giant’s beard. ”I saw.“

“I wish to be your friend,” I said.

“You’ll never be my friend,” Avarineo growled, but with less conviction. He let his arms drop to his sides. His stare continued as though he hoped his gaze would push me off the cliff.

Naiji suddenly embraced him. “Then pretend he’s your friend. For my sake.” Releasing him, she said, “Please, Avarineo?”

“For your sake,” he said. “But I only pretend.” He pointed again at me. “You are not really my friend, man.”

“His name is Rifkin.”

“Hah!” said Avarineo. “A stupid name.”

I said, “It was considered a good one in Istviar.”

“It may be a good name in some stupid land. Not here.”

“Maybe not,” I said. “But it’s mine.”

“You should change it,” said Avarineo. “To something less stupid.”

I nodded. “I’ll remember your advice.”

“Your name sounds like a fart,” said the giant.

“Avarineo!” Naiji said.

“Sorry, mistress.”

‘Truly?“

“Well...” He looked at the ground. “It’s not my fault his name sounds like a fart.”

“You’re trying to start a fight,” Naiji said.

Avarineo looked up and nodded. “Yes, mistress.”

“Don’t. Pretend Rifkin’s your friend. Remember that.”

“I will remember that.” He had bowed his head before Naiji, but he glanced down at me. “I will also remember Avo.”

“Fine,” Naiji said with considerable annoyance. “Remember Avo. But protect Rifkin. He’s bound to me.”

The giant’s jaw gaped.

“Close your mouth, old friend.”

“But, mistress...”

“Yes?”

“He killed Avo!”

“Yes. And fairly.”

“He is small. Very small.”

“He fights better than Avo did. Can you say the same?”

“He is funny-looking.”

“He’s darker than our folk. He was born that way.”

“His name sounds like a fart!”

She sighed. “I tire of this, Avarineo. Haul up the rope. We don’t need to be attacked while we argue.”

He stared blankly, then nodded. “Yes, mistress.” He bent, and his arms moved with the precision of clockwork as he pulled up the line we had climbed.

“I could build a machine to make that task easier,” I said. “A winch and a pulley...” I considered this for a second or two. “And perhaps rig it to a rope ladder, rather than a single strand...”

Naiji laughed. “You are full of surprises! Not a lawyer, but an engineer, eh?”

“I’ve learned a few tricks,” I said modestly.

“Obviously,” she answered, pleased. “But for that”—she jerked her chin to indicate the giant’s task—“we have Avarineo. It makes him feel useful.”

“And if you no longer had him?”

She hesitated, then said, “Then we’d chain two slaves here, and let them serve us.”

“I see.”

She glanced at me, so I could not pretend to mistake her warning. “You could be one of them.”

“No, thanks.”

“Done, mistress,” Avarineo announced.

“Good.”

“Kill him?” he said hopefully, jerking his thumb at me.

“No! And don’t ask again.”

Abashed, he said, “Yes, mistress.”

She looked at me. “Offer him your hand.”

I looked at Avarineo, who glowered with mixed suspicion and confusion. “What do you mean?”

“It’s a way of showing trust.”

“I’m not sure I have any to show.”

“I can’t be worrying that one of you will kill the other. Offer your hand, Rifkin.”

I flexed my fingers, since this might be my last chance to do so, and held out my left.

“The right,” said Naiji.

Reluctantly, I obeyed.

Avarineo stared at my hand, then grinned.

“Don’t hurt him,” Naiji ordered.

His grin disappeared. His voice was like that of a child who had been slapped. “No, mistress.” His great hand enclosed mine. I slid my palm up so that my thumb could press under his, if I had to. The giant was content to squeeze gently, and then he released me.

“We are friends?” I asked.

“We are not enemies,” he said.

“That pleases me.”

“It is odd not to be enemies with a man whose name sounds like a fart.”

“Avarineo!” Naiji said.

I only laughed, since his insult had no threat behind it.

“Come, Rifkin,” said Naiji. “My brother waits.”

The castle was even larger than it had seemed from below. I suspected that it might easily garrison five hundred soldiers, so long as supplies could be brought to them. I wondered again why anyone would think this valley so important. I had journeyed from a Kondish city that was too small to threaten anyone, where no one seemed to suspect that this fortress existed, and I was told that the city beyond the hills was no greater or any more ambitious.

We walked along a trail wide enough for two horses to pass. After a moment Naiji stopped and said, “Be careful of Avarineo. Though he’s simple, he has a long memory.”

“So do I. But I’ll try to make friends with him.”

“Good. Now, another matter.”

“Yes?”

“My brother will want to know your history.”

“And you don’t?”

“I know what’s important about you, Rifkin. You’re competent, and you’re true to your word.”

“I might leave this place while everyone sleeps.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“It wouldn’t be easy to escape our keep. Avarineo guards the cliff most nights, and someone always watches the supply road. Besides, I learned a little about your nature while healing you.”

I said, “I see.”

Something must have told her that I was not pleased. Naiji set her hand on my arm. “I only assured myself that you honor your vows.”

I shrugged as if it did not matter.

She released my arm. “So, what’ll you tell my brother?”

“I’ll admit that I’m an exiled prince who roams these lands in hopes of raising an army to free his native country. What else could I say?”

She glanced at me before she laughed. “Right.”

“You’re too perceptive, Lady. I’m actually a simple fellow who lived peaceably near his village until he learned of a great evil in the world and reluctantly set out to make everything right again.”

Naiji shook her head. “My brother has no sense of humor, Rifkin.”

“Then I shouldn’t tell him I’m a disguised magician who travels to escape his enemies?”

“You carry too much iron for him to ever believe that.”

“Oh. Will he accept that I’m a wandering mercenary who recently took the wrong side in a war, and therefore seeks a new master?”

“Perhaps. Though he may wonder how you came to play mercenary. You seem too intelligent and too well educated to be a common soldier.”

“Did I say I was a common soldier?” I scratched my forehead under my helmet. “My thoughts ramble.”

“No, Rifkin,” she said, speaking in a tone much like the one she employed with Avarineo. “You did not say you were a common soldier.”

“Good,” I answered. “I’ve been a captain of soldiers, among other things.”

Annoyed, she said, “You certainly aren’t free with tales of your past.”

“I’m not proud of my history,” I said truthfully. “But I swear on our bond that to the best of my knowledge, I’ve been nothing and am nothing that threatens anyone who lives in this castle.“

After a moment, she nodded. “That’s sufficient for me. It may satisfy my brother.”

“You speak of him as though he rules you.”

“He’s lord here. He’s older than I am.”

“Oh.”

“And I’m quite fond of him!” she snapped.

“Of course.”

“Are you trying to set me against him?”

“Why should I? I don’t even know him.”

“Perhaps I am too trusting,” she said, then raised one eyebrow. “Why did you choose to take this road in winter?”

“It’s spring,” I said.

“Only by the calendar. The locals know another spell of cold weather will follow soon. Why did you decide to cross these hills, by this route?”

I shrugged, a gesture that usually served me well. “To reach the far side?”

“That’s all?”

“It’s purpose enough for me,” I said.

“Have you ever heard of Duke Komaki?”

“No.”

“Did you know my family ruled these woods?”

“No.”

“Or even that witchfolk had a keep here?”

“No.”

“You asked no one about the route before you?”

“An innkeeper some two days back told me I’d find no one until I reached the other side of this valley.”

“He was either unusually ignorant or he thought to have fun with a foreigner.”

“Perhaps.”

“My brother may think you’re a spy.”

“Is this a game? Your brother may think I’m a prince of Undersea. And so long as he doesn’t close me in a well, he’s welcome to do so.”

She reached out to touch my lips with the ends of her fingers and said, “This is for your sake, Rifkin. If you wish to survive here, you’ll answer my brother to his satisfaction. If he’s not happy to have you as a soldier, he’ll find another use for you.”