The Black God's War (48 page)

“I need two cloaks now.”
You look like you’re about my height. And you look like hers.
“All right, you two. Give them to me now.”

“Yes, Prince Rao,” they said together as they handed over their best protection from the rain.

A godlike gust of wind exploded against Rao’s ears and knocked him sideways. It nearly blew the sopping grey clothes from the soldiers’ hands.

As the blast settled down, Rao saluted the men. “Thank you. It’s very important that you do not go near the prison right now. Briraji has asked everyone to stay clear of it. Instead, return to your barracks and stay warm.”

The members of the crew saluted before running off again.

Rao returned to Lucia and handed her the smaller of the two cloaks. “Put that on and hide the sword in it.” Rao covered himself and the shield as best he could. “We’re going to that building there. It’s a much nicer prison than the one you were in.”

“Now you tell me.”

Amazing. The Rezzian almost has a sense of humor.

“My friend can help us remain hidden just as we were before. Then we can easily get out of the citadel.”

“This is the heavy man from the lake?”

“Yes.”

“The one who almost killed me?”

“You attacked us first. Remember the lightning that nearly burned the forest down.”

“Don’t talk about that night.”

You brought it up. “
Now I just have to figure out how to get to him.”

“Do you know what you’re doing?”

“I only know I’m improvising.”

Covered in grey from head to foot, Rao and Lucia entered the building from a side door just large enough for them to fit through. Rao shut the door and shivered as rain rolled off his limbs.

He knew the guards would be much more lax in this building. The structure was only used to detain Pawelon’s own soldiers for punishment. The locked door around the corner, at the end of the short hallway, would pose the first obstacle.

“Give me the sword,” he told her. “I might need it.”

“I have to trust you with the sword
and
shield?”

“We’ll trade,” Rao said with the hint of a smile.

They moved close together and opened their coats. She wore a ratty earthen robe beneath the heavy cloak; Rao tried not to notice her athletic figure. She passed him the sword; he gave her the shield.

“You’re my prisoner, all right?”

She grumbled, but followed him. They rounded the corner and walked down a few paces to a finely carved wooden door. Rao pulled Lucia’s hood down over her face before he knocked.

An old man with a trimmed grey beard opened a hole carved into the door for two-way communication. “What do you need?”

“I have a new prisoner.”

“Prince Rao, is that you?”

“Yes, my good man. I also have to see my partner, Aayu. My father ordered this soldier to be held with him.”

“Come in.” The old soldier removed the heavy length of wood barring the door. It fell with a loud knock against the floor.

“Do you want me to hold this man while you speak with Aayu?”

“No, thank you. We’ll go in together.”

“What offense has the new prisoner committed?”

“Just a little treason.”

“Oh.” The old man didn’t seem to know what to say. “Very well.”

“After you let us in, give us privacy. We’ll let ourselves out.”

“I can’t—certainly, Prince Rao.”

They advanced halfway down the hall, passing six other cells. The old guard searched inside a pocket at his hip. Metal clinked against metal before he produced a rustic key and opened the door.

“Thank you,” Rao said and took the key before the soldier could change his mind. “My good man, if you see anyone coming, please let me know right away. It’s possible I may be needed in the fighting.”

“Certainly.” The jailor nodded with uncertain eyes as he backed away.

Rao held his coat open while he entered the room, showing Aayu the Rezzian sword.

Aayu sat in a dark corner on a bench that looked too small for his frame. His mouth dropped as he stared. “Her shiny toy. Thank you, Rao, I didn’t expect such an expensive gift.”

Lucia entered the room, pulled back her hood, and removed the shield from her cloak. “Don’t lay a finger on these objects.”

Aayu jumped up and raised his hands in front of him as a reflexive defense.

“Everything is good. She and I are working together,” Rao said.

Aayu rotated his head to one side and then the other. “You’re wha-what?”

“We might not have much time. The storm outside is from the gods. It’s eventually going to break down our walls, perhaps within days. So she and I are going to go to her people first thing in the morning to negotiate a truce with an exchange of Lucia and Narayani.”

“Rao, I’m just going to say that I’m glad you’re holding the big sword right now.”

“I’ll take that back,” Lucia stepped forward and took the sword as she handed Rao the shield.

“I meant I’m really glad you’re holding the big shield, Rao.”

“I might actually need this one,” Rao said. “I haven’t healed as much as I’d like to.”

Lucia opened her coat and robe enough to show her heavily bandaged side. “I know the feeling. Though I have to admit, your healers have helped me.”

“Aayu, I need your help to conceal us. I haven’t been able to maintain your
sadhana
for very long. She and I need to remain hidden, but only throughout the night. Tomorrow, we need to be visible.”

“You want me to make the most valuable prisoner we have ever had, the royal daughter of Rezzia, invisible to all senses? Did I hear you?”

“Yes.”

“We could also hit her over the head with that shield and stuff her in a sack.”

Lucia interrupted. “Listen to your prince. We are going to speak to my brother and my father.”

Aayu threw up his hands and slapped his thighs. “Oh, well that sounds simple. Good plan.”

“If they want her back, they’ll talk to me,” Rao said.

“Then I suppose even if I did have a vote I would lose,” Aayu said.

“Please, bhai. I can’t explain everything that’s happened over the last few days. She and I have been speaking. Her brother never wanted the war. We completely misunderstood his intentions, as they did ours.”

“Are you kidding?” Aayu asked.

“No, and we don’t have time to talk this over right now.”

“Listen,” Aayu said. “If I do it, this was your
idea.”

“I accept that. We’re going to leave. They will probably be looking for us throughout the night. Our best chance is to go into the canyon and head east.”

“I’m more than ready to get out of this dungeon.”

“Bhai, I’m sorry. I need to ask you to stay in the citadel.”

Aayu looked like someone punched him in the stomach.

“Indrajit ordered me to be killed at the prison. Briraji delivered the orders. I need you to tell my father what happened, and then I need you to watch over him. I was attacked by some of our own soldiers when I freed her. They were going to blame my death on her.”

“What?” Aayu stared with his mouth open, blinking hard. “My uncle did that?”

“We convinced the men to let us go. They’re going to say that I broke her out, that I used my powers to restrain them and escape. It’s going to look bad for me. It’s going to look like I’ve sided with the enemy, that I let her go.”

Aayu sat on the bench again and leaned over, staring at the floor.

“It’s very important that my father understands the truth. If Indrajit wants me killed, my father might not be safe either. I can’t risk talking to him now. I need to get out of here with Lucia right away. So I need you to talk to him—”

“I’ll do it, and then I’ll meet up with you.”

“Bhai, I need you to stay with him. Guard his life. Use your
sadhana
if you have to conceal him. Please. He’ll understand once you explain everything. If you don’t do this, I’m afraid he’s going to be killed.”

“You want me to let you go off into the desert with Rezzia’s royal daughter, and you’re planning on talking to the king and Haizzem of Rezzia, while you’re weak like this? They will kill you.”

“I would say I’m offended,” Lucia said, “but I don’t know how they’ll react. This will be very dangerous for you, Rao.”

“I understand that. But, Aayu, I need you to watch over my father. Even if I fail, their armies could be inside our citadel soon. They would come looking for him. But Indrajit is already here, and we can’t trust him. Please protect my father.”

Aayu shook his head, looking to his right, and exhaled a defeated breath. He grabbed his nose, squeezed his eyes shut, and scrunched up his face. “How are you going to protect yourself from them? You know this is ridiculous.”

“I will protect him,” Lucia said. She walked toward Aayu and knelt two paces away from him. “I give you my solemn word, on the honor of our entire kingdom.”

Aayu raised his head and looked her over. “Curse the honor of your foul kingdom. It’s worth nothing to me.”

“I give you my solemn word. I will not allow any harm to come to your prince.”

Aayu sucked in his cheeks and looked skeptically at her.

“Bhai, we need to get out here before we’re found. Please do this for me. You and I came here to end this war. Let me try.”

“I’m all right with it, Rao, but you need me at your side.”

“I do. I won’t lie to you. But I trust her. I have talked to her every day. She wants peace, just as we do. She is powerful, too, Aayu. We have her sword and her shield. Her goddess’s powers are with us. And I can still use your
sadhana
for short periods of time. I’ve been feeling better every day. Tomorrow, I’ll be even stronger.”

“Rao …” Aayu dropped his head again.

Rao walked back across the room and cracked open the door. He looked down the hall. The old guard was seated, looking in his direction.

“Is everything all right, my Prince?”

“Perfect, actually. I’m nearly done in here.”

Rao closed the door again and walked over to Aayu. He sat next to him on the bench.

“I will owe you one.” Rao put his hand on Aayu’s shoulder. “I am going to get Narayani back.”

Aayu sat up and stared solemnly at Rao, remaining quiet for many breaths. “Promise me you will get her back and return here alive.”

Rao embraced his friend, feeling comforted by the warmth of Aayu’s thick frame. “Thank you, bhai. You are my true brother.”

Aayu pressed his lips shut and nodded many times.

“Thank you for helping us,” Lucia said.

Rao squeezed his heavy friend. “This is why we came here.”

“You’re right.” Aayu sounded like he was trying to convince himself. “Go do what you have to do.” He raised his voice as he said to Lucia, “And if anything happens to him, I will find you and kill you. I may not look like much, but I promise you I’ll do it.”

Rao pulled back and watched Lucia stare at Aayu. “She’s given her word. That’s enough for me. If not for me, she would’ve been killed. She knows I saved her life.”

“I do,” she said. “Now use your magic, Aayu.”

Aayu stood and took in a deep breath through his nose. “It’s not magic.” He closed his eyes and released the breath through his mouth. “Briraji won’t find you after I do this.”

Chapter 72: Faith

INDRAJIT SURVEYED THE EMPTY CELL where the royal daughter had been confined, grinding his teeth together. His vision darted around, unfocused from his rage.

The reckoning will come.

This was no time to think about cosmic forces. He took three steps back and drew the dagger from the inside of his left boot. He flung the weapon cleanly through the bars of the cell and heard the explosive thwack as it sunk into the light wood of the bed.

“Get it,” he ordered the closest soldier and headed for Strategos Duilio’s cell, hearing and feeling his own boots clomping against the stone floor. He took the dagger back and tucked it into his belt.

There will be consequences, my Prince.

The old Rezzian lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He pushed himself up to a seated position with a hint of a smile.

“My former adversary.” Indrajit stood in the center of the room with a perfect view of Duilio’s cell. “Your war’s conclusion is near.”

Duilio also spoke in Pawelon, “Who do you think is going to win?”

“You and I have been scheming against each other too long.
Your
war is about to end. I will remain.”

Duilio cocked his head to the side, staring and listening.

“Why are Rezzians so stubborn? You continue to charge into the teeth of our defenses, battle after battle, year after year. Explain this stupidity and pride to me.”