The Treason Blade (Battle for Alsaar Book 1) (12 page)

Ishar’s look
at the cup turned to concern. She glanced up. “Perhaps I should go ahead and
say goodnight?”

Traevyn
chuckled. He gave a low bow. “Goodnight, Ishar.” Traevyn stepped close, “We
will continue the discussion of your people at a later time.” He turned away
before she could comment about his words and made his way out of the fortress,
as noiselessly as he had entered.

*

Ishar felt
the cool morning breeze on her face as she stirred. The fire
lay
cold and dark, spent from the night before. She took a deep breath and looked
out of the open window at the gray morning. She sat up and stretched her arms.
A slight ripple of pain slid up her left arm, tight from the thread and the
wrapping. She gave it a cursory glance, threw the covers off her body, and slid
onto rumpled furs. Ishar felt refreshed. The paera drink had worked its magic.
She scrambled for fresh clothes and slid into the wool pants and repaired
undertunic, throwing the braided black leather overguard on top. The longer
shirt covered her bandaged arm. Hopefully, that would help keep it out of
everyone’s mind, Ishar thought, as she slid her sword belt over her head. Her
daggers were slid almost defiantly into their scabbards. Ishar slid the leather
thongs over them to keep them secure and laced her boots on her feet.

She decided
to forego the morning meal. Coming out onto the top step of the fortress, Ishar
moved quickly down and out through the inner gate. The sun was just above the
east wall of the holding. There was a small crowd gathered around a wagon and a
brown horse and she moved toward it. Eira was in the process of directing
several women with baskets even as she spoke quietly aside to Lysandr. Ishar
could see many of the Raanan warriors were either mounted or standing beside
their
animals,
save for Ber; he was surrounded by four
children of various ages. Jaya leaned in the back of the wagon setting what
looked like netting into the back. Seeing Eira was still deep in conversation
with Lysandr, Ishar made her way toward Traevyn. He watched the commotion with
a casual manner as he sat relaxed atop his gray. She moved to his horse’s side.

“Wondered
when you would be about,” he said. He stared straight ahead at the stir before
them. “I take it you found the paera, helpful?”

Ishar
narrowed her eyes. “Very. Though potent might be a more appropriate word. You
know, for the life of me I really cannot remember drinking the whole cup,” she
frowned, “but I must have.”

The corners
of Traevyn’s mouth twitched. “I will keep that in mind,” he turned towards her,
“if I ever need to lower your defenses.”

Ishar
scowled. “I believe I will withhold from further excesses.”

Traevyn snorted.
“One cup?”

Glyndwr rode his black mare up to her. “Good
morning, Ishar. I am glad to see you are feeling better.”

Ishar looked
up and smiled. “Good morning, Glyndwr. Yes, the arm is fine.” She flicked a
glance back at Traevyn, “I told Traevyn that yesterday,” She glanced back at
Glyndwr, “but he has proved willful in his disbelief.”

“Willful,”
Traevyn said with a groan, “Look who is talking.”

Glyndwr
smiled at his comment. Ishar looked around at the others. Gavin was standing on
the ground
beside
his black gelding talking to a
Britai woman with curly brown hair. He caught her by the shoulders, drew the
woman near and kissed her boldly. The woman appeared to be kissing him back
just as intently. Ishar raised an eyebrow and glanced back at Glyndwr. “One he
favors?”

Glyndwr
grinned, “One who favors him, more likely. I told you, our Gavin is not one to
give his heart very easily.”

“You mean he
is heartless more than likely,” Ishar muttered.

Traevyn
chuckled.

Glyndwr frowned, “You are unfair. Gavin has never
professed love to a woman to gain her attention. Can he help it if they are
drawn to him?”

Ishar
chuckled. “I cannot believe you just said that with a straight face.”

Glyndwr
laughed with her. “Does it break your heart to see the line to Gavin is so
long?” He leaned down and whispered into her ear, “I promise you, the line to
me is much shorter.” Glyndwr sent a slow wink in her direction as he rose back
up.

Ishar could
not help it. Her laughter pealed out. “I shall keep that in mind.” Glyndwr
smiled and moved his mount over to Davaris’ white gelding. Ishar turned back
toward the group before her in time to see Traevyn watching her with a frown.
She ignored him and instead focused on Ber. The big, burly man slowly rocked a
baby in his left arm while he kept his balance with a boy and girl who held on
to either leg. An older boy stood by Ber’s side. He had his right arm around
the boy’s shoulder and was bent as he spoke with his son. The boy laughed as
Ishar studied Ber. She had only begun to understand this stocky
broad-shouldered man who showed, quite evidently, that he cared for his family.

Traevyn was
silent beside her. His horse snorted and jangled the bridle he wore. Ishar took
a deep breath and looked up. “Where is everyone off to this morning?”

Traevyn stared down. His expression had become
unreadable since her exchange with Glyndwr. “The women are off to go net
fishing at the river.” He made a motion with his hands in the direction of the
river. “There is a fish called supai that all but spill over the river banks
this time of year with the spring rising of the water. It is a clean tasting
fish that is not bony. Hopefully the women will bring back many baskets.”

Ishar glanced
up, confused.
“But you?
You are riding out also?”

He nodded.
“There was report of a boat washed up on shore to the beach south of us. It may
be nothing, but we will check out the rumor. I would not put it past the Tourna
to send an advance scout into the area to check on our preparedness.”

She moved
closer and looked up as she braced her hand upon Traevyn’s leg. “Would there be
room for another rider?” Ishar asked.

Traevyn
paused before answering, “Not today, Ishar. The men are on edge because of the
report. We will have to ride hard and fast because Lysandr wants to check out
the watch towers and other preparations we are making on several beaches before
we return.” He hesitated. “I promise you, another time I will take you myself.”

Ishar fought
her rising annoyance but did not pursue the request, though she all but bit her
tongue in two trying. Irritated by his casual attitude, she finally asked,
“What will you do if the rumor turns out to be true?”

Traevyn
tilted his head in thought. “It’s too early for the Tourna to cross the waters,
though we expect them soon. But I dislike the thought of Tourna spies riding
our land. We must be wary of strangers,” he added.

“That may
make it difficult for the Haaldyn to work with the Lute and Britai if you
incite the people against trusting outsiders,” Ishar frowned.

“Then we are
lucky that the Haaldyn, with their fair skin and hair, are so different from the
Tourna with their dark looks,” Traevyn said. “The Britai and Lute know their
enemy.”

Ishar was
quiet for a moment before she replied, “I hope they do.”

Lysandr had
apparently finished the conversation with Eira. He stepped to one side and
mounted a black horse, shouted the command to move out and turned his horse
away from the group and toward the outside gate. Davaris followed him with a
somber air. Gavin gave his woman one more kiss and mounted, sharing a laugh
with Glyndwr. Ber rubbed his children on their heads and handed the baby to
Jaya, kissing her deeply as he did. Traevyn glanced down to where Ishar still
had her hand braced against his leg. “We will return soon.” His eyes flicked up
to hers. “Wish me well?” he asked.

Ishar drew
back a step. For some reason, the words disturbed her. “Be well,” she answered
simply.

Traevyn gave
a small nod and turned his gray away. He joined the rest of the men as they
made their way through the gate. Once outside, they broke into a steady canter
and headed south. Ishar listened until she heard the hooves of their horses
fade away. She walked to where Eira stood with Jaya and her children.

Both women
looked up. Eira smiled. “Good morning, Ishar. I am glad to see you are well.”

Jaya nodded politely in agreement.

Ishar nodded
her head toward the wagon. “Traevyn told me of your fishing outing. I was
hoping there is room for another hand.”

Eira frowned.
“Are you certain?”

Jaya
hesitated. “It is hard work.
And your arm?”

“My arm is
fine. It will not bother me with this work. Eira did an excellent job of
stitching the wound.” Ishar bit her lip, “However if you are afraid my presence
would disrupt your work—”

“No,” Jaya
interrupted. “Truly, I do not mind your presence. If the peace that Eira speaks
of occurs, I will be seeing many more of your people.” She smiled. “If they
fight as well as you, the sight of more Haaldyn among us will be a good one.”
She frowned. “My concern was for you. The work requires pulling in nets heavy
with fish. I do not want the stitches in your wound to tear.”

Eira nodded
in agreement.

Ishar smiled
easily. “I understand your concern, but I know what my body can handle. The
work will not harm the wound.”

Jaya
shrugged. “Then I have no disagreement with your presence. I can use the
company. I am driving the wagon that carries the baskets. The women in the
village have another wagon in which they will ride. You are more than welcome
to join me.”

“I would like
that,” Ishar said. “Do you mind if I tie Simi behind? She could use the minor
exercise and I might ride her back to work her more.”

“That is no
problem,” Jaya smiled, “She is a pretty mare, though small. However, Gavin
tells us she is very fast.”

“That she
is,” Ishar turned to Eira. “My leaving is acceptable?”

Eira nodded.
“Go. Have fun. It will be good for you to mingle with the others. Then they
will learn a Haaldyn woman is as the same as a Lute or Britai and it may ease
any fear that has arisen at your coming.”

A half hour later, Jaya and Ishar rode out of the
gate. Eira had stayed behind to see to the duties of the holding. Jaya’s eldest
boy, Tai, sat on the back of the wagon with his legs hung over the edge. Jaya
had left her other children with a friend at the stronghold. Tai, a boy of
seven, was old enough to help his mother reel in the heavy nets. They met the
women of the village in their wagon and moved toward the river. Ishar saw
several looks cast her direction. None appeared hostile, save for the woman, Isla,
who drove the village wagon. There was a hatred that startled Ishar and when
she had a chance, Ishar spoke of it to Jaya as they led the way toward the
river.

Jaya sighed.
“I am sorry. She has an anger that has not softened with time.”

Ishar frowned.
“I do not understand. What have I done to cause such offense?”

Jaya took a
deep breath. “It is not you personally. Isla was married once. She lived in a
village close to the mountains. There was a skirmish one day between the
Haaldyn and the Lute who eventually took over the village. After the conflict,
the body of her husband was discovered. It is not known by whose hand he died
but in Isla’s eyes there is only one suspect.”

“The
Haaldyn,” Ishar finished solemnly.

Jaya nodded.
“She has family in Wërn. After his death, she came here. But she has no love
for you or any Haaldyn.”

Ishar
grimaced. “Will she poison the women against me?”

Jaya
contemplated the view in front of her. “There is a possibility she will try.
She has no love of the Lute and Haaldyn peace and I know she is opposed to any
Haaldyn being this far south, but the women of the village are not without
their own thoughts and abilities to understand. Show them you are worthy of
their trust and they will give it.”

Ishar smiled.
“Do you still find me so dissimilar?”

Jaya clucked
to the mare to pick up speed. She studied Ishar. “I trust Eira in that she
trusts you. You remain different but I find your appearance less strange each
day. I still do not understand the ways of your people,” Jaya commented, “but I
am not averse to learning.” Then she added softly, “And what of us, do we
appear so outlandish?”

Ishar studied
the surroundings she had so quickly passed yesterday. There were mounds after
mounds of damp grassy green as far as the eye could see. The morning mist hung
low, clutching the ground. A hint of sun filtered through the haze. She glanced
aside at Jaya. “Like you, I am learning to appreciate more of what the
inhabitants of this island have to offer as individual groups and as one united
people.” Ishar rubbed her hands nervously down the sides of her pants as she
watched the path before them and listened to the creak of the turning wheels.
“I know it is important that we retain what makes us unique and different, but
I am in agreement with my father and Wyn: we must be willing to set aside those
differences in light of the war in which we are about to engage. There are
things about each other we may never completely understand.”

Jaya nodded
thoughtfully. “That I realize. The first time I saw a Lute, they shocked me
even though I had heard stories about them all my life. With their painted
skin, body tattoos, simple leather coverings and knowng their woman went to war
with their men, the sight of these fierce warriors was unnerving. When they
came upon us, we simply stood still and let them pass by, praying they would
leave us in peace. I am afraid I did not even attempt to understand them until
I met Eira, and by then she had pledged herself to Varyk and begun to adopt
certain Raanan traits such as her manner of dress, which mirrors ours. These
things made me feel more comfortable being around her. She has always been one
to make peace work.” Jaya laughed. “Though if a conflict arises, she will fight
very quickly as Lute. My Ber says he will fight side by side with her.” Jaya’s
smile deepened. “And my Ber is not one to give praise easily, especially to a
woman warrior. At his heart, he believes a woman should not be in battle.” She
shook her head. “No, when I first came to know the Lute, I just lived and was
glad they were not our enemies, though I am certain many of the Lute looked at
us with disdain for our lack of strength.”

Ishar
shrugged. “They have had their woodland from which they are able to strike
their enemies and create a defense for
themselves
whereas the Britai have had to suffer in the most exposed and vulnerable area
of Alsaar. You have had very few places to run and hide within, except for the
mountains which are not close, and no area from which to create a barricade
against the Tourna’s landings.”

“Talk of the
Tourna coming is enough to stir panic in my people,” Jaya stated softly. “We
are afraid, though we try to listen to Varyk when he tells us if we do not
fight, the Tourna will overrun us and take us away. For that reason we send our
men to him for training.” She wavered. “This concept of fighting is foreign to
our way of thinking.”

“Do you
remember the last time the Tourna came?” Ishar asked with caution. This was an
uncomfortable issue of discussion.

Jaya’s breath
caught. “Yes,” she said roughly, “I was fifteen. My parents sent me to the
mountains with my two younger sisters and other children months before the
Tourna came. They wanted to take no chances.” She sighed sadly. “When those of
us who escaped to the mountains heard the Tourna had gone, we waited another
month before we returned. I never found my parents. I do not know if they died
fighting or if the Tourna took them away as slaves.” Jaya was silent for a
moment. “A part of me would rather they died. If they were alive, it would mean
they were slaves and I cannot bear the thought of them lost to us and in a
foreign land.”

Ishar was
silent as the wagon trudged through the dark green waving grass. The sound of
the river came easily now. It could be heard just past the next rise. Jaya
shifted her weight and jiggled the reins of the brown mare before them. “What
of you, Ishar? Do you remember the last time of the Tourna?”

Ishar nodded
firmly. “I was thirteen, almost fourteen, and had just taken the tattoo claiming
warrior status.”

Jaya looked
surprised. “You were a soldier?”

“It is the
custom among my people,” Ishar answered in a relaxed manner. “At the time I was
not sent to this side of the mountains. The Tourna had landed a group of boats
along our coast. I was part of one of the warbands sent to defend our coastal
villages.” Ishar shuddered. “After we stopped their advance and killed many, we
sent the rest scurrying like rats back to their ships. I will never forget the
sight as we pushed them back to the ocean, of villages burned to the ground, of
bodies of men, women, and children scattered across on the region, left to lie
like refuse behind the advancing Tourna.” Ishar shuddered again.

Jaya stared
ahead. “What a horrible sight to see for a thirteen year old.”

“We were all
young then and scarred by the same vicious people,” Ishar said softly. “Now our
hope must be to not let it continue as a sight the children of this generation
need carry.”

Ishar enjoyed
a comfortable silence with Jaya. The Etu River came into view as they crossed
the last rise. Jaya made her way with the wagon down the hill and toward the
flowing water. The wagons were halted close to the edge and the women unloaded
the baskets and netting and quickly set to work spreading out the strong, thin
mesh. Ishar loosened Simi, who she knew would be fine grazing free,
then
made her way over to Jaya to help. The part of the
river they chose was farther down from where Ishar had crossed with Traevyn and
the others a day earlier. There were fewer rocks jutting out, only smooth bank
from which to fish and the water ran deeper. They set to work, keeping a
lookout for any debris that might tear the nets.

They were several hours into their work before Ishar
grabbed a breath of rest. It had not taken her long to appreciate the village
women’s resilience. They were hard-working, tough women who did their work with
intense focus, but their existence was a demanding one and it required this
single-mindedness to survive. Ishar walked back to the wagon and grabbed a
flask of the refreshing non-fermented paera Jaya had shown her earlier as they
rode. The sweet liquid eased her parched throat and momentarily sated her
growing hunger. She took the leather skin and nestled it under the seat before
turning around. There were several baskets full of the supai. The women were
taking turns drawing in the nets. Ishar looked downriver. Tai had helped her
and Jaya pull in the thin mesh. Now, like her, Tai rested. He was playing along
the water’s edge picking up small stones and throwing them into the melee that
was the center of the river.

Ishar flashed
him a look of concern and looked for his mother. Jaya stood directing the women
even during her rest. Ishar hesitated and then moved downriver close to where
Tai was playing. “Hello, Tai.”

He gave her a
slight crooked grin, “Hello.” Tai bent back over the edge and picked up a
stone. He held it up to the light and then threw it quickly out into the river.

She stopped a
few feet away. “Why not come away from the edge, to be safe. The water is very
high today.”

Tai frowned.
“I just want find a stone for my momma. She likes the stones I give her.” He
bent over and looked along the edge once more.

Ishar stood
still, undecided as to whether to force the boy or hope he would quickly find
his rock and come back with her.

Jaya made the
decision for her, her voice rising out from behind Ishar.
“Tai!
What do you think you are doing, child?”

Tai looked up
brightly. “Coming, Momma. I found it. Wait one second.” He bent back down over
the edge and leaned out over the water, reaching.

Jaya came up
beside Ishar.
“Tai.
Get away from the water and come
back with me this instance. I came for supai. I do not have time to be fishing
you out of this river today.”

It happened
so quickly. One moment Tai was before them. The next he was gone, as was a
notable chunk of the bank. The ground along the river was so saturated with the
high-flowing current that the bank had become unstable and therefore, movable.
For a second, Jaya stood immobile in shock. Ishar reacted, sharply calling for
Simi as she raced for the mare. Even as Jaya screamed out her son’s name, Ishar
mounted her mare and dug her heels into Simi’s side.

The mare’s
gallop quickly drew her even and then past Jaya. Ishar made her way along the
bank for a second but she swiftly moved away and cut across land. Ishar could
see where the land curved far ahead. She made her way to where the bend ended
and hoped it would give her the time she needed. Ishar pulled Simi up short and
grabbed a bundle of rope laced across the back of her rigging. She tied the end
to a loop on Simi’s saddle and quickly looped the other end around her middle.

“Hold,” she
ordered the mare,
who
stilled and went stiff at the
command.

Ishar knew she had one shot for this to work. Tai
rounded the end of the bend like a bobbing bundle of sticks.
His
arms flailing out of the water and into the air; reaching, grabbing for
anything solid.
Thankfully, he was still close to the inner edge of the
curve. Ishar judged the distance and her timing, then took a running leap out
into the river.

Water gushed over her head and she was shoved
downward. She came up sputtering and shaking from the sharp cold even as she
looked out over the white froth for Tai. The boy was near, the distance between
them closing rapidly. She doubted he was even aware help was nigh. Ishar kicked
with her feet and reached out her arms to catch Tai. He was close, nearly
within reach when Ishar felt herself yanked up short as the slack in the rope
disappeared. She watched helplessly as a pale, blue lipped Tai flowed by,
outside the reach of her arms.

Ishar reacted
quickly in desperation. Her hand shook from the cold as she reached for the
dæwen tucked in at her waist. Pain rippled from the wound on her forearm,
though the chill of the water diminished it to an icy ache. Ishar pulled the
blade free and slashed at the rope. In seconds Ishar was thrown rapidly
downriver by the stream of rushing water. She secured the small knife and,
instead of fighting the current, she swam with it and let it pull her swiftly
closer to Tai. Ishar could see the boy’s strength was fading with the frigid
cold and rugged strength of the river. His struggles grew weaker.
Hold on
, she thought as she closed the
distance.

After moments
that seemed to last a lifetime, Ishar managed to bring her arms around the boy.
Tai was coughing water and struggling for air. “It is okay, Tai,” Ishar
ordered. “Stop fighting. Relax and hold on to me. Focus on getting air,” she
yelled. The boy was tired, she could see it in his eyes, but Tai wrapped his
arms around her and hugged her body. “Good boy, Tai,” Ishar shouted
encouragingly. He did not comment, only closed his eyes in despair.

Then the
struggle truly began. Ishar labored to make it to the bank with the boy
hampering her efforts by his hanging weight. She fought the current and the
debris being pulled down river alongside them. At several points she was bumped
and knocked under raging water. She was now trying to swim counter to the
current. Ishar kept her arms wrapped tight around Tai and dragged them both
back to the surface, sputtering and coughing water. Tai went limp. She clutched
the boy with her injured and now half-numb arm and swam deeply in the water
with her other while kicking forward with both legs.