The Hungering Flame (7 page)

Marla blushed.

Max
made a little snorting noise, then cleared his throat.
“
Perhaps Garrett could lend a hand here,
”
he said,
“
I’m sure the prince can find some way to keep himself amused while we work. I’ve heard the local waterfowl make for a challenging hunt.
”

Prince Cabre’s face hardened.

“
Actually,
”
Garrett said,
“
he was hoping to talk to you.
”

“
Ahh,
”
Max
said, his hard gaze still on the prince,
“
and he lacks a court herald to make a proper introduction? We find little need for such formalities here.
”

“
Will you hear me out?
”
Cabre asked, his voice stiff.

“
Why not?
”
Max
said, raising his open palms,
“
The sooner I’ve heard you, the sooner I can get back to work.
”

Prince Cabre opened his mouth as though to speak.
Then
closed it again. He sighed, regaining his composure, and spoke.
“
I wish to propose an alliance between Astorra and Gloar.
”

Cenick’s eyes flashed with surprise, then turned to
Max
for his reaction.

Max
laughed.
“
An alliance?
”
he said,
“
I’m going to assume that your father knows nothing about this.
”

Cabre’s face flushed red.
“
My father is... proud,
”
Cabre said,
“
He would never...
could
never ask for help, but, if Gloar were to seek an alliance...
”

Max
shook his head.
“
I know firsthand your father’s answer to those who come to him for help. Stop wasting my time.
”

Cenick’s eyes tightened, but the tattooed necromancer pursed his lips and kept silent.

“
What if...
”
Garrett began to speak, but he was cut off by the arrival of a man he had never seen before, or, rather, a vampire he had never seen before.

“
Lady Veranu!
”
the newcomer shouted. The man shouldered his way between Garrett and the prince like a gray blur, dropping to one knee on the ground before Marla. He wore close-fitting garb of gray leather with a long, black scarf wrapped around his pale, lean face, leaving only his eyes, forehead, and long white mane of hair exposed.

“
Master Krauss!
”
Marla said,
“
I’m glad to see you again.
”
Garrett heard a little tremor of uncertainty in her voice.

“
Why are you here, m’lady?
”
Krauss demanded.

“
I... I was helping my friends to escape the twilight city,
”
she said. Her eyes went to Garrett.

Krauss turned and stood in one fluid motion. He reached up and yanked the scarf from his face, and Garrett staggered back at the sight of long white fangs and golden eyes full of rage.
“
You dare endanger her!
”

Garrett threw up his hands defensively, stumbling back another step, but suddenly Cenick stood between him and the vampire. Cenick’s hands were on the pommels of his knives, though the blades yet remained in their scabbards on his hips.

“
Krauss!
”
Cenick shouted,
“
Control yourself!
”

The elder vampire hissed, his jaws opened, unnaturally wide.

“
Krauss,
”
Max
said, his voice cool,
“
remember that you are among friends.
”

The vampire glared at
Max
.

“
This boy is one of us,
”
Max said,
“
and you will address any grievances you have with me.
”
His smile alone remained amiable.

Krauss flexed his jaw, and his lips closed around his long teeth. The vampire’s golden eyes fell upon Garrett once again, his scowl a silent warning. He turned again to Marla.
“
Have you been injured, my Lady?
”

Marla was standing now. The stone bowl, upturned, dribbled glowing green essence onto the ground at her feet.
“
I’m all right,
”
she said,
“
I’m sorry to have disobeyed, but I thought it best you receive the news of what is happening back in the city.
”

“
And what is happening there?
”
Krauss asked.

“
The sisterhood believe your army destroyed,
”
she said,
“
They have moved against the necromancers. They will send no more supplies or reinforcements
”

Krauss sighed, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“
That does not surprise me. I know you meant well, but you should not have come. If anything had happened to you...
”

“
I’m all right,
”
she said,
“
and we’re safe now.
”

“
No,
”
Krauss said,
“
we are not. A new legion has crossed the border, and they carry with them the banner of the Inquisition.
”

“
Whose sigil does it bear?
”
Max
demanded.

“
Twin hammers crossed over a flame,
”
Krauss said.

“
Prex!
”
Max
laughed,
“
The fates have delivered me Johann Prex!
”

Cenick led Garrett and Prince Cabre away, hustling them back toward the piles of equipment and supply crates.

“
Who is Johann Prex?
”
Garrett asked.

“
He was the inquisitor that oversaw the
cleansing
of Max’s homeland,
”
Cenick said,
“
Max won’t hear anything you say right now. His ears ring with the vengeful cries of his ancestors.
”

“
Surely,
”
Cabre said,
“
you must see that our only chance of defeating the Chadiri is to join forces?
”

Cenick grasped the prince by the shoulder and backed him against a stack of crates.
“
Max Zara hates your father almost as much as he hates the enemy,
”
Cenick said,
“
He will not listen, any more than your father would agree to joining forces with us.
”

Prince Cabre spat a curse.
“
I’ve lost good men, friends I’ve known since childhood... They died for me, for my one chance to bring our nations together! I will not dishonor them by giving up now!
”

Cenick released his grip on the boy’s shoulder and sighed.
“
I would that fate had made
you
the king of Astorra.
”

“
And I wish that you were the general of the Gloaran army,
”
Cabre said.

“
Isn’t there something we can do?
”
Garrett asked.

Cenick bowed his head and closed his eyes in thought. A moment later, he looked at Cabre again and then at Garrett.
“
I think I have an idea,
”
he said. He drew a heavy Neshite dagger from his belt, one marked with his name-rune. He handed it to the prince.

“
This is my bond,
”
Cenick said,
“
my word to you. I am an officer in the army of the dead. Nearly four hundred blades serve my call, and I challenge the King of Astorra to... to a friendly competition. The one who kills the most Chadiri by the solstice wins the honor of the hunt.
”

A smile spread slowly across Cabre’s face, and he nodded in assent.

“
I pledge your father a hundred eternal servants if he wins,
”
Cenick said.
“
and, if I win...
”
Cenick chuckled.
“
If I win, I’d like permission to commission a piece from Madame Olipres.
”

“
The seamstress?
”
Cabre asked.

“
She is the finest tailor in the world today,
”
Cenick said,
“
Only kings and nobles wear her cloth.
”

Cabre shrugged.
“
I’ll put it to my father,
”
he said,
“
I can’t promise he’ll listen, but thank you.
”

Cenick nodded. He looked at Garrett.
“
I think it would be best if you and Warren escorted the prince back to his homeland.
”

“
But I want to stay and help!
”
Garrett said,
“
I’m old enough now. I can fight too!
”

Cenick
put his hand on
Garrett
's shoulder
.
“
I know, Garrett,
”
he said,
“
I’m not sending you away. I’m sending you on a mission. I think the prince has a chance of convincing the Astorrans to join the battle with us. It is vital that he make it home. With Warren’s nose and your wits, you can get him there.
”

Garrett nodded, feeling a little ashamed.
“
Yeah,
”
he said.

“
Good,
”
Cenick said
. He faced the prince and offered his hand.
“
May we meet again on the field.
”

Cabre grasped his hand.
“
Until then,
”
he said.

****

“
I want you to take Ghausse and Hauskr with you,
”
Marla said. She knelt alongside Garrett in the tent, helping him to pack his supplies for the journey.

“
You could come with us, if you want,
”
Garrett said.

She looked at him, a tense smile on her lips. Then her eyes fell.
“
I can’t,
”
she said, folding a shirt
a bit too aggressively
.

Jitlowe had offered several of his spare shirts for Garrett’s kit. Garrett would have to roll up the sleeves to wear them, but at least they would not fall off his shoulders. Cenick, far too large of frame to loan the boy any clothing, had given him a watertight leather pouch containing stone, steel, and tender for starting fires. Garrett wore it inside his belt, next to his skin as the older necromancer had instructed.

“
I’m sorry if I got you in trouble,
”
Garrett said.

She smiled.
“
I went with you because I wanted to, Garrett,
”
she said,
“
and, anyway, now I get to ride a gaunt.
”

“
Really?
”
Garrett said. He disliked the very thought of the faceless, winged creatures that the vampires used as flying mounts, but Marla wanted more than anything to ride one.

“
Yes,
”
she said, her eyes sparkling,
“
Master Krauss wants me to learn, in case...
”

“
What?
”

“
Well, in case we have to leave in a hurry,
”
Marla said.