Shadows: Book One of the Eligia Shala (36 page)

She shook her head, trying to clear the fluffy feeling out of it.

“Nimh’a, you said there were men with Jai-Nimh. Did you recognize them? Could you tell where they were from?”

“Dai-Nimh will tell us,” she slipped out of the alcove again, padding along the floor to Dai-Nimh’s space. Forcing open his left hand, she held up a small item she found clasped tightly within it. Looking at it, she focused her eyes, suddenly snapping straight and springing across to better light by one of the windows to the side of the altar. “Bastard!” she cried, fury rising in her face.

“Nimh’a!” Ki-Nimh was shocked by the profanity.

Jenevra glared angrily at them all. Holding up the small item in her fingers she shouted, “This is what happens when you don’t deal with things as soon as you find out about them. I told Phillip he was trouble. And you knew it twenty years ago,” she pointed accusingly at Brogan. Throwing the item at them, she stalked out of the Temple.

Brogan picked it up; already sure he knew what it would be. In his hand lay a small brass button with the crest of the Count of Fetu-Vallis engraved upon it.

“Trouble?” Admiral Massili asked.

“Trouble,” Brogan confirmed grimly.

It was late evening by the time Kian and Jenevra had finished praying for the Order and leaving the Temple as they needed to, cleansing the altar of the blood. They were the last to return to the ship, solemn and exhausted. In a rare moment of thoughtfulness the Admiral had made his own cabin available for them to clean up in; his steward providing enough hot water for a decent bath each.

It was dark by the time Jenevra finally emerged on deck in clean clothes, damp hair braided simply down her back. Ignoring everyone else, she stood at the back of the ship, peering into the night as if she could still see the Island.

For the next day or so they headed west, aiming for the northern coast of Maressia Major, where they’d arranged to meet the rest of the Flight. Admiral Massili received orders before they left Lorthia to meet Commander Rabenaldt and the Border Patrol at that area, so it made sense to all aim for the same place.

Kian Menzetti stayed quietly on deck, mainly talking to Brogan, Richard and the Admiral. The few conversations he tried to have with Jenevra were short, each of them trying to deal with the grief they felt in their own way: both trying to keep the Order’s necessary sense of self-control intact. As Brogan had observed some time past, Jenevra’s way was simply to bottle it up; she spoke to no-one, ate almost nothing and, if she slept, no-one knew it. When Richard had tried to talk to her she had climbed back up to the high yardarm again and sat there alone. Baudoin and D’Agostino had both climbed up to her, but she simply ignored them.

It was with considerable relief that they saw land.

Bernardo, Laio and the Flight members who had ridden with them were waiting on the shore, having been watching for the ship for a day. They had horses enough for everyone, including the Admiral. “Commander Rabenaldt is camped just over the top of the cliffs,” Bernardo explained. “We explained that you were all with the Admiral and would be meeting us here. He has tents ready and, I believe, dinner is waiting too.”

Jenevra gave a quiet order for the Flight to mount up, and they all headed along the shore to the steep track leading up to the cliff top. The sight of the beach tugged at Jenevra’s memories of the day she and Misha had spent together at Mirizir, adding to the guilt she was feeling that they were not rushing to assure his safety.

Through Dai-Nimh’s eyes she had seen Jai-Nimh order the deaths of everyone on the Island, the old man last of all. She had heard him boast of a better Order, one that wouldn’t hide away with its strength and power, but would take its rightful place commanding the Empire. She had heard him tell Dai-Nimh of the contempt he felt for him, allowing the princess to join the Order; how, when he had Dai-Nimh’s and Misha’s talismans he would confront her; would break her with the knowledge that she was responsible for all of their deaths. Jai-Nimh’s animosity towards her personally had never made sense to her, but she felt a knowledge in Dai-Nimh’s mind, a knowledge of something about her that threatened them all, but she couldn’t reach it. Dai-Nimh had ordered the assembled men to remain at prayer for their attackers as Jai-Nimh’s men efficiently slaughtered them; she still didn’t understand why; it would have been easy for them to fight back. She knew Jai-Nimh would go for Misha’s talisman next. Then he would come looking for her—unless she found them first.

Something else had happened though, something that didn’t seem to have much relevance yet. In the only move any of the Order had made towards resistance, she had felt rather than seen Dai-Nimh’s serene face take on a smile unlike any Jenevra had ever seen from him; she almost wanted to say vengeful, but that didn’t seem like the gentle Master she had loved. Whipping his hands free, Dai-Nimh had grabbed hold of Jai-Nimh’s shaven head and pulled it close to his own face, forcing Jai-Nimh to look him directly in the eyes. A deep flash of fear had shot across Jai-Nimh’s face like summer lightning, before he had pushed the old man away. Slamming the unresisting Dai-Nimh to the ground, Jai-Nimh had personally taken the old man’s head; but Jenevra knew that the overwhelming feeling in Dai-Nimh at that time had been the deep elation of an undiscovered victory. Somehow, he had known what Ki-Nimh would need her to do; that she would connect with his mind in that way—almost as if he had meant for it to happen, so that he could pass the information to her in a way no-one would ever know. She knew there was more there he had to tell her, inside her now, that she would be able to find in time; it was just a question of meditation to unlock the secrets … whenever she could find the time, and the peace of mind, necessary.

 CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

Locked in isolated sorrow, Princess Jenevra followed Ki-Nimh, Richard and the Admiral to Raik’s command tent. Dismissing the Flight to dinner and rest, she wandered in behind the others; stopping in surprise at the sight of Mikyle Manvi. She simply hadn’t expected him to be there. Acknowledging Raik’s greeting with an absent nod, she dropped into a chair, accepting a large goblet of wine from Captain Manvi and draining it in one long draught. Missing Raik’s raised eyebrows, she accepted a second cup, not drinking this one down, but staring into it.

“Why don’t you show Captain Couressime to her tent?” he suggested to his steward. Watching Jenevra follow him impassively from the tent, Raik turned concerned eyes on the rest of them. “I had expected Tessier to have reached us by now. I sent him a message to meet us here for a conference. Still it doesn’t look like we can wait, so explain.”

Over dinner Ki-Nimh, Richard and Rafael told the two Imperial soldiers the story, as far as they knew it, from the first encounter with the talisman on the road to Mirizir to the slaughter of the Order on the Island.

“What’s Brogan’s take on this?” Raik asked them. “He’s been with her through all of it.” He called one of his Lieutenants to ask for the Flight’s Sergeant to join them. “Lord Menzetti,” He turned to Ki-Nimh. “You know Jenevra. How do we deal with this? I’ve certainly never seen her quite like this before.”

“Just Kian is fine, Commander,” he gave a brief smile. “I’m not too concerned about her. She can handle it; just give her time. Unfortunately, time is the issue for us as well, if the information she found on the Island is correct.”

“The information you say she got from a dead man’s head?” Mikyle Manvi queried with a note of revulsion.

“Yes,” Kian waved his hands vaguely, dismissing Manvi’s discomfort. “I know it sounds gruesome, but it was necessary … and I place absolute value on what she saw and heard. The point is that we believe Jai-Nimh is moving to take Mikhail Dhorani’s talisman. If he gets to Misha before we do—and in all honesty, I think that likely—then Misha’s death will really hit her hard, right at a time when Jai-Nimh will have control of two of the three talismans.”

“Yes, but what exactly does that mean?” Richard interrupted. “What will happen if this Jai person has two of them?”

“I don’t know, exactly.” Kian said quietly. “Dai-Nimh was the only one who knew. It’s entirely possible that Jai-Nimh could destroy them and that could potentially kill her too if the connection between all three talismans is still as strong as it should be.” He held up a hand as the others began to protest. “It’s an unknown factor that we have no control over, so I don’t see any point in worrying after it. I’m more concerned that the Nimha’s started thinking that she’s got to protect everyone again.” He paused briefly to nod at Brogan as he arrived. “She’s always felt as though she’s been held responsible for her parents’ deaths by her family. We spent a lot of time on the Island trying to get her over that sort of thinking, but after Albor and the Island she’s heading down that road again. She’s already shutting down from the Flight, from you Richard; you’ve seen that yourselves. She’s pushing everyone she cares about away; her theory being, if we’re not with her, we can’t get hurt. There’s a very good chance she’ll try to get to Misha, and to confront Jai-Nimh without any of us with her. She won’t accept putting anyone else at risk. If Misha dies, Tore knows what she’ll do. I think keeping Misha safe is a key issue right now.”

“I thought you said she’d sent some kind of warning to Dhorani?” Manvi asked.

“She did. At least we all heard her try to. We just don’t know if he got it,” Richard noted, deep concern showing in his face. “Look, maybe she just shouldn’t be doing any of this. Hasn’t that occurred to any of you? Can’t we just send her home?”

He flushed as five pairs of incredulous eyes stared at him.

“Your Highness,” Brogan began. “Have you met your sister? Send her home! We’d have to detail a Flight on her full-time just to make sure she stayed put. I believe Bernardo is currently arguing with her to get her to eat something; and, in case you’ve forgotten, this is the same young lady who wriggled through three thousand men, all of who were searching for her!”

“It’s not an issue,” Kian said decidedly. “As soon as we have a plan ready she’ll be there. And if we don’t have a plan pretty quickly, she’ll make one.”

Raik stood up. “So the question, gentlemen, seems to be how do we ensure Mikhail Dhorani’s safety?”

As they sat around the large wooden table, discussing options, they could hear some sounds of raised voices but not loud enough for them to distinguish the words. An increase in noise and movement outside had them edgy with anticipation, which was let down at the sight of a travel-stained Captain Tessier entering the tent, slapping dust off himself with well-worn leather gauntlets.

“Thank you all for that warm welcome,” Tessier bowed sardonically at the chorus of groans and exhaled breath that greeted him.

“We thought you were someone else,” Captain Manvi explained, shoving a full tankard at him in welcome. A sly twinkle appeared in his eyes. “Although you’re just the one we should send in ….”

Raik gave Manvi a long, hard look. “That’s all we need. And to think people accuse you of having no sense of humor!”

Mikyle Manvi smirked into his beer.

Tessier sat down at the table. “So what are we waiting for?”

“Him,” Brogan pointed at the tall figure of Bernardo standing at the tent’s entrance.

“I’ll be back.” Bernardo said loudly before turning and entering the Commander’s tent. He looked agitated and his hands were shaking slightly as he accepted a drink and a seat from Commander Rabenaldt. “That young lady … I swear … oh, sorry, Your Highness,” he noticed Richard there, and flushed.

“It’s quite all right, Bernardo,” Richard assured him. “You wouldn’t believe how many conversations we’ve had in our family that started with almost the exact same words!”

“What did you say to her?” Brogan was itching with curiosity. It wasn’t often he saw his old friend as agitated as this: he knew how much of a soft spot Bernardo had for the princess.

Bernardo hesitated. “Well, I wasn’t exactly tactful … or polite.”

“Those have never been good tactics to use with Jenevra,” Raik noted absently.

“I suppose the gist of it all was that I told her she needed to behave like a Flight Captain; to put the Flight first; eat something; get some real sleep and basically stop behaving like a spoiled little princess.” He paused again, looking rather ashamed of himself. “Or I’d put her across my knee and give her the spanking she deserved.”

There was a stunned silence. Then the tent erupted into laughter. Richard Couressime was wiping tears from his eyes; Rafael Massili was roaring as only he could, great booming laughs that filled the small space. Even Kian Menzetti was chuckling.

Raik, grinning broadly, topped up Bernardo’s beer and offered his hand to him. “Only you could get away with that and still live to talk about it, Bernardo. I may have to promote you!”

“I’m not sure I’ve got away with anything yet, Commander. Knowing the Captain she’s probably trying to sneak out of the back of her tent by now.”

Brogan raised his eyebrows. “You took care of that though?”

Bernardo nodded, a smile emerging. “Spider and D’Agostino are watching.”

“You’re very quiet, Tessier,” Mikyle Manvi said. “Not like you.”

“Sorry, what?” Tessier looked at Manvi, bemused, as if just noticing him. “Sorry, you lost me at the part about spanking the princess.” He beamed, dazedly.

“Tessier! That’s my sister you’re leering at!” Richard punched Tessier hard on the shoulder.

“I know. Bizarre isn’t it? But why’s everyone so concerned about her all of a sudden?”

As they began to tell the entire tale again, Bernardo and Richard left for Jenevra’s tent. “You’re the only one who can decently stay with her, if we have to leave anyone with her all night,” Bernardo explained to Richard. “She was muttering something about making her way to meet Prince Mikhail; and tracking down this Jai-Nimh fellow.”

Richard nodded. “That’s what Kian said.” He sighed. “What happened on that Island was horrific though. Even if she hadn’t spent all those years with all those people, I’m not surprised she can’t sleep.”

Jenevra was sitting by a rough table in a small, dimly lit tent; elbows on the table, she rested her face in her hands; a haunted look in her eyes. The plate of food lay on the table, to all appearances untouched. At Bernardo’s huffed breath, she looked up at him. “I ate some of the chicken. I did. Look there’s a bone there.”

“It’s not enough, Jenn.” Richard sat down opposite her.

“I can’t.” Her voice choked, but there was no sign of any tears.

“What about drinking something? Beer? Wine? Whatever it takes. Maybe you just need to get absolutely drunk?” Richard’s suggestions brought a slight smile to her face.

“Maybe milk?” She glanced up at Bernardo. “Without any additions,” she added pointedly. “So,” she turned to Richard as Bernardo left, muttering under his breath. “When do we leave?”

“Raik’s got scouts out. As soon as he gets word back we’ll go, and not before.”

“But we need to be moving now. It’ll be too late.”

“Jenn! If they weren’t so busy worrying about you, maybe they’d move faster for Dhorani.”

“Why’s anybody worried about me?” Jenevra’s head came up in genuine astonishment. “I’ll be fine. I’m just tired, and sad, and that’s not going to change any time soon.”

Bernardo came back in, slammed a mug down on the table, and stalked out again.

“Look, Jenn,” Richard ran his hands over his face, pushing his fingers up through his short fair hair until it stood on end. “Maybe if you just get back to annoying every one like normal, maybe that’ll convince them. But this whole silent, independent thing isn’t going to work. Why don’t you get some sleep? They’ll all relax a bit if they think you’ve at least slept. To be honest, so will I.”

Jenevra glared at her brother for a moment then moved to a shadowy corner of the tent where a small camp bed had been set up. Flopping down on it, she closed her eyes, crossed her legs at the ankles and folded her arms. “Fine, go tell them I’m asleep … and I expect to be leaving at first light.”

“Your Highness!” Brogan’s tone was slightly reproachful. “Surely you didn’t believe her?” He dived out of the command tent to check with his sentries, returning a few brief moments later. “Well, no-one’s seen her leave. I suppose that’s something.” He scratched at his beard. “Still, I should make sure the Flight is ready to move quickly.”

“I guess I’d better get back in and stay with her,” Richard grumbled. “I’ll take some of that with me though.” He picked up a full flagon of ale and disappeared back to Jenevra’s tent.

To all intent the princess did actually seem to be asleep, and Richard relaxed marginally as he sat at the table. “Come in,” he replied softly to a quiet call from outside the tent, and Blaise Tessier appeared, with Mikyle Manvi.

“Thought you might appreciate some company,” Tessier whispered. “You can’t stay awake all night on your own.” He waved another large flagon at the Prince. “We’ve plenty of company here!”

Richard gestured to the seats on the other side of the table. Winking at Manvi, he turned a sly look on Captain Tessier. “You look really tired, Tessier. Too many women?”

Tessier shook his head. “I wish,” he murmured. “No, I just haven’t been sleeping too well lately.” He turned a wry glance towards the sleeping princess. “I think it’s all her fault. I don’t seem to be able to get her out of my head.”