Reign of Madness (Revised Edition) (50 page)

Rezkin quickly handed the rapier to Tieran, who was
obviously confused, and then silently hurried after the man. The warrior
followed the mole down a few corridors until the man disappeared behind a door
to one of the inner offices. Uncomfortable with leaving Tieran alone, Rezkin
decided to return later to gather more information.

The warrior and nobleman practiced for a little over an hour
before finally calling a halt. Rezkin spoke loudly as he said, “I was hoping
you might stay in town tonight. The competitors were all planning to get
together to discuss opponents and strategies over ale before playing a game or
two to relax. The tournament grounds are much closer to the inn than this
estate, and you have to be there quite early.”

“That is an excellent idea,” Tieran replied. “I am just
getting myself wound up sitting around up here on the hill.”

“I will help you gather your things, and we can meet with
the others before dinner,” Rezkin announced.

As soon as the two entered Tieran’s room, Rezkin grabbed the
young man by the shoulders, maneuvered him into a corner and silently motioned
for him to be quiet and stay put. Tieran nodded curiously at Rezkin’s odd
behavior and then watched as the man moved about the room running his eyes and
gentle fingers over everything. Rezkin checked the rugs, the washbasin, the
linens and even Tieran’s extra boots. He grabbed a sack and started shoving
items into it after they had been checked thoroughly. Finally, he came to the
clothes Tieran had set aside to be worn for the tournament. Rezkin sniffed and
noted the fine sheen of slightly purple powder around the collar of the
embellished tunic.

“Tieran, really? You intend to wear
this
for the
tournament? Surely not,” Rezkin remarked loudly with haughty enthusiasm.

Tieran frowned but went along with it. “What is wrong with
it? It is in the latest fashion from Durabang.”

“Sure, if you want to look Sandean! You are representing
Ashai, Tieran. You
must
wear something more appropriate,” Rezkin
remarked.

“Yes, you are right, of course. I had not thought of that,”
the nobleman returned.

“Here, wear this. It is much more acceptable,” Rezkin stated
as he stuffed a tunic into the bag. The ivory tunic was just as decorative with
its gold and silver embroidery, but it was of an Ashaiian cut. Rezkin thrust
the bag into Tieran’s hands and said, “Let us be off. There is a festival
today, you know.”

“But, I need to get my sword maintenance supplies…” Tieran
started.

“My things are better,” Rezkin said shortly as he turned his
friend and shooed him through the door.

As the two were making their way down the corridor to the
front entrance, the duke’s steward caught up with them.

“Lord Nirius, is something amiss? Are you going somewhere?”
the steward asked furtively.

“Of course not…” Tieran started.

“Tieran has decided to stay a few days in town with his
friends. You know how young wolves like to run in packs and all. He is missing
out on so much of the tournament excitement being way up here on the hill,”
Rezkin replied as they continued walking.

“Ah, yes, my lord, I understand. But, your guards, Lord
Tieran,” the steward said.

“Yes, yes, the guards. You should send them along. They know
where to go. They have been there before,” Rezkin replied without concern.

“But…do you not need an escort
now
, Lord Tieran?” the
steward pressed.

“
I
am escort enough,” Rezkin snapped. He stopped and
turned abruptly, causing the steward to nearly collide with him. “Surely you
have heard of my
Skills
?” he inquired with a heated glare.

The steward’s chin wagged up and down as he straightened.
“Ah, yes, my lord. I may have heard a bit of something…”

Rezkin nodded once and then continued moving again. “He is a
young man…at the King’s Tournament! He should be out enjoying himself, do you
not agree?”

“W-well, yes,” the steward stuttered.

“Good. Please inform the duke that Tieran thanks him for his
hospitality, and he will return in a few days,” Rezkin ordered as he strutted
through the door after Tieran.

“Y-yes, my lord,” the steward said to their retreating backs
as he stood at the threshold.

Rezkin led Tieran to the stables where he went about
saddling Pride while Tieran secured a loaner. Master Grey protested Rezkin
tending to his own horse, but relented when Rezkin assured the man he preferred
it so. Before allowing Tieran to mount the chocolate brown mare, he checked the
beast and tack thoroughly. Satisfied that there were no more traps or poisons,
Rezkin indicated that they were ready to leave.

After they had been riding for about twenty minutes and were
in an open expanse where anyone within hearing distance could have been easily
seen, Tieran turned to Rezkin with exasperation. “By the Maker, Rezkin, what
was
that
? We spirited out of there so quickly it is bound to raise
suspicion. What is going on?”

“Suspicion, perhaps, but Ytrevius’s daughters will no doubt
report Hespion’s attempt to use his mage power on me. The duke will likely
believe that I was offended and preferred to spend time away from the manor
with my
childhood friend
,” he finished with a raised brow.

Tieran appeared embarrassed as he said, “Yes, well, I may
have stretched the truth as to the nature of our relationship a bit. My father
accepted the duke’s offer of hospitality because it would have been offensive
if he had not, but there had been no mention of Hespion’s presence. I did not
know what to do. I-…I overheard something that set my nerves on edge. In truth,
I was scared, Rez. I guess I wanted them to believe I had someone on my side
with whom they would not wish to contend.”

“Your father is a
duke
, Tieran. You have many
powerful people on your side,” Rezkin remarked.

“Yes, but they are not
here
!” Tieran hissed. “I am
telling you, Rez, they were talking about killing someone!”

Rezkin’s face darkened. “Who is ‘
they
’, and who is ‘
someone
’?”

“Ytrevius and Hespion,” Tieran said, quieter than necessary.
“I was going to Ytrevius’s office to discuss some business on behalf of my
father when I heard the two of them talking about getting rid of someone. They
were discussing the amount of trouble it would cause when the person was dead
and whether or not they had accounted for all of the ‘
loose ends
’. I do
not know who the ‘
someone
’ is, but it was definitely a male, and it is
someone important. I was worried that it might be
me
. But, you did not
know all of this. Why were you in such a hurry to leave?”

“You may have had good reason for concern. I found two
separate attempts to poison you in the short time I was there. Quite frankly, I
am surprised you lasted this long. They must have just decided to implement the
plan,” Rezkin replied.

Tieran’s face went pale as he looked at Rezkin with
disbelief. “
Poison
! They tried to
poison
me? Why? How? How did
you know?”

“A small needle, no doubt laced with some type of poison,
was on the grip of your intended practice sword. That mole of a man attempted
to stop me when he realized the poison would go to someone other than his
intended target,” Rezkin replied.

“That was why you followed him,” Tieran said as the
realization dawned.

“Yes, and I followed until he entered an interior office. I
did not want to leave you alone too long in case there was another attempt. It
was a good thing I did not, since there
was
a second attempt,” the
warrior explained. “The tunic you intended to wear to the tournament was laced
with a poison powder.”

The young nobleman’s mouth hung open incredulously until he
spouted, “You mean I could have
died
today had I not called for you?”

Rezkin shrugged. “Perhaps. I do not know what kind of poison
was used as of yet. I did collect samples, though, so I can make the
determination when we reach the inn.”

Tieran glanced back in the direction they had come and said,
“How do I know you are telling the truth? I did not see any of these poisons.”

Rezkin frowned and looked at the man riding beside him. “You
think I am lying?”

“I did not say that. Would you believe me if I simply told
you the same?” Tieran asked.

Rezkin shook his head and said, “
You
called upon
me
,
Tieran, because you heard them talking about killing someone. I simply showed
up when you called. Besides, what reason could I have for lying about this?”

“I do not know. Perhaps to gain support for your
True
King
,” Tieran argued.

“Tieran, you had all but given him your support already.
What would be the point? If you believe I am lying, then simply go back to the
duke’s mansion and wait it out there,” Rezkin snapped.

Tieran sighed heavily and said, “No, I apologize, Rez. I do
not believe that you would lie to me. It is just that, no one has ever tried to
kill
me before – at least, not that I know of – and it is
terrifying. I suppose I would rather believe you are lying than accept it as
truth. I
do
believe you, though. If they came at me with a sword, I
would at least have a chance to defend myself, but
poison
! I would never
have seen it coming. How did you know?”

“I have trained to identify such things,” Rezkin replied.

“Yes, Malcius said that you had some odd habits,
particularly at bedtime,” Tieran observed.

“Suffice it to say, people
have
attempted to poison me
numerous times and have occasionally succeeded. One needs little more
encouragement to stay vigilant,” Rezkin stated.

“If they succeeded, then how are you still alive?” Tieran
asked with horror.

“Not all poisons are intended to kill, and most of the fatal
ones have antidotes. If you can get the correct antidote in time, you may have
a chance to live,” the warrior supplied.

“And, you-…you have these antidotes?” Tieran asked
hopefully.

Rezkin nodded and said, “Some. What I do not have, I can
make, if I have the correct ingredients. This is a major international trading
port, though, and many foreigners are in the city for the tournament. I suppose
some rather unusual poisons could be available here – perhaps even
something I have not seen before; but it is unlikely anyone would think to use
something so exotic if they did not think their foe able to contend with the
more common elements.”

Tieran shivered and looked at the ground thoughtfully as the
horse plodded along. “Thank you,” he said after a time.

“For what?” Rezkin inquired.

“For coming when I asked…for being there…for finding the
poisons…and for getting me out of there,” the young man said the last on a
choked breath.

“I will do what I can to protect you, Tieran. It was a
responsibility I accepted when I assigned you to that ship,” Rezkin replied.

Tieran looked up abruptly with watery eyes. “When
you
assigned me?”

Rezkin grinned mischievously and said, “Did you think it was
coincidence?”

“B-but
how
? And
why
?” the young man inquired,
suddenly nervous.

“I assure you that my intentions at the time were not so
nefarious. They had little to do with politics and everything to do with
Frisha,” Rezkin replied.

Tieran frowned. “What does Frisha have to do with this?”

Rezkin sighed. “Frisha, as you know, is only now entering
the peerage as Marcum’s heir. No one will respect her. I had hoped that if you
and the Jebais learned to accept her, especially
you
, having the kind of
influence that you do, then others in high society might be inclined to do so
as well.”

The young nobleman shook his head. “But, she has
you
.”

Frowning, Rezkin replied, “Marcum rejected me, Tieran. If he
does not change his mind, she may be relegated to marrying someone else. I would
prefer the man she marries to actually care for her and demand respect on her
behalf. I do not wish for her to be used for the general’s wealth and then cast
aside. Without the support of people of influence, people like you, she will be
treated as less than garbage for being a commoner who deigns to believe she is
worthy of the company of nobles.”

Tieran stared at the strange man beside him in silence.
Finally, he said, “You would manipulate my travel arrangements and accept the
responsibility of my protection just so that I will put in a good word for
Frisha in case she marries someone
else
?”

Rezkin spied the man out of the corner of his eye and then
lifted a shoulder in a half shrug.

“It is not just that, is it? You manipulated the whole trip!
That is why Captain Jimson said you were in charge.
You
arranged for the
Jebais and Brandt…and what of Baron Fendendril? Did you arrange
his
travel as well?” Tieran asked in amazement.

The warrior continued scanning their surroundings but
silently nodded once.

“And, you did not even intend to compete in the tournament,
did you? This entire trip was all about
Frisha
?” Tieran scoffed.

Rezkin winced at the man’s tone. “Well, not completely. I
do
have other business here, but I could have more easily come alone. I admit that
I gathered Frisha and the rest of you for that purpose.”

The duke’s son simply stared. And, then he started to laugh.
He laughed so hard he had tears coming from his eyes. “By the Maker, Rezkin, I
have never heard of anything so absurdly romantic. You commandeered military
personnel, a ship, and crew, and manipulated the lives of a baron and the heirs
of
four
high noble houses for
months
during the King’s Tournament
just to ensure the happiness of a woman in the event you do
not
get to
marry her.”