The Treason Blade (Battle for Alsaar Book 1) (15 page)

“I saw her
leave the fortress earlier,” Traevyn said with a slow nod, “I wondered if she had
been by to check on you.”

“She told me
Tai will be fine.”

Traevyn
chuckled. “If he escapes his father’s ire over the accident, I am sure he will
be. However, I am certain Ber stressed the importance of following his mother’s
commands inside and outside the holding.”

“A good instruction for any child.”
Ishar smoothed the
blankets before her. “And you are well?”

Traevyn ran
his hands through his hair as he shook his head in agreement. “Our ride to the
south proved uneventful, for which I am grateful, and the fortifications along
the east beaches are proceeding well.” He slid forward and placed his elbows on
his knees. “Varyk spoke to me last night. You’ll be glad to know he has given
you free rein here at the holding. I came to let you know you need not seek me
out to guide you,” he said with a smile.

His words
should have pleased her. Instead they produced a sense of melancholy within
her. “I,” her smile warbled slightly, “am glad to hear that, though your
company has been valued during the past few days.” Ishar’s smile brightened. “I
still intend to hold you to your promise of a ride to see the fortifications
along the beach areas.”

“Consider the
promise held,” Traevyn noted with a soft smile. “Though again, it would be more
proper if you were able to locate your clothing.”

Ishar
groaned. “Do not get me started on that—”

The door to
her room opened. Eira looked inside, speaking, “Audris said you wanted to see—”
She broke off. “Oh, I did not realize you had company. I will return later.”
She turned to go.

“Wait,” Ishar
ground out tightly, “Do not even think of leaving or so help me I will follow
you in what little I have on, Eira.”

Eira paused
and blinked.

Traevyn chuckled at both women’s expression. “I do
believe she means it, Eira.”

Eira sighed
and walked back inside. She made her way over and sat on the edge of the bed,
her arms crossed. “I did what I did out of concern for you, Ishar. I had hoped
with the light of day you might see it in such manner and not be so fierce with
me.”

Ishar eyes
narrowed. “Not be angry? You hide my clothes from me as if I am a child who
needs tending.” She stated this fact with crossed arms and an irritated
expression.

“And if I had
not, what would you have done this morning when you awoke?” Eira asked
skeptically.

Ishar was
silent for a second. “I would have risen like I do each day. I felt recovered,”
she added defensively.

Eira glanced
dryly at Traevyn. “You see why I felt the need to conceal her garments. I knew
exactly what she would attempt if her clothes were nearby this morning.” Eira
tapped the side of her head. “She clearly lacks good guidance.”

Ishar fumed.
“I know exactly the guidance needed for my body.”

Traevyn
looked from one of them to the other, his glance cautious. “Perhaps I should
leave you two to discuss this in private.” He added with the slightest
hesitation.

“I do not
think so,” Eira stated emphatically, rising from the bed.

“No,” Ishar
added quickly. “You need to inform us of your opinion. It will settle this
argument.”

Traevyn
paused, looked at both of them and then chuckled. A smile lit his face as he
held up his hands and backed away toward the door. “Ladies, there is not enough
coin on this island for that answer. I am the only one who will have lost in
the end.” He gave each of them an amused smile. “I will find out later how this
dispute, shall we say, progressed.” Traevyn walked to the door. He glanced back
and gave a polite nod of his head. “I wish both of you a good day.” He shook
his head as he slipped out. The door shut with a decisive click.

Ishar and
Eira turned toward one another and glared.

*

Later that
afternoon Ishar emerged from the fortress. Eira had finally located her lost
garments, with a garnered promise that Ishar would take it easy the rest of the
day. It had not really been that difficult a promise to keep. Her muscles were
still exhausted from the ordeal of the day before and her body bore signs of
battering from the rocks in the river. Ishar focused on moving without a limp.
She did so simply because she refused to acknowledge Eira might have been
right. Although she had not risen from her bed until after lunch, Ishar already
felt exhaustion clutch with bold hands at her clothing as she made her way down
the long steps of the fortress.

The holding
was full of activity. Varyk’s return had redoubled the efforts of the soldiers
in their preparations. Ishar could hear the ring of steel as combatants fought
with what sounded like swords in the outer area of the holding. Several men led
horses from the horse shelter, heading out. She made her way through the inner
gate. The soldiers who stood there acknowledged her with a quick nod of their
heads. She greeted them and moved under the stone awning and toward the men’s
barracks. Several groups were stationed around two combating men.

Lysandr was
fighting a Raanan warrior Ishar had never seen. The stranger appeared rough in
appearance and manner, with long ragged black hair and beard and wild, roaming
black eyes. He was dressed in full armor akin to Lysandr’s with a coat of mail
linked to his front and side plates to protect his chest, worn over a heavy
padded leather top. He towered nearly a foot over Lysandr. His forearm guards
were heavy leather reinforced with iron. Lysandr wore solid leather guards.

The man
showed a wide grin as he lunged at Lysandr with a roar and a slashed down.
Lysandr brought his blade up to block the blow, then moved close and ripped the
cutting edge across to get inside his opponent’s defense. The other Raanan
laughed, blocked the blade and shoved with his considerable weight. The shove
threw Lysandr backwards. He gained his footing and frowned. The men continued
to feint and parry blows in fast swift motions, broken only by pauses taken to
assess one another as they circled and looked for opportunities to knock each
other off balance.

It appeared
by the crowd’s response that either man was a fair favorite to win the match.
Ishar watched with critical eye as she studied their movements. They were good.
No matter what move one man executed, the other managed to field the blow and
implement a response. By the sweat, evident as it ran down the sides of their
face, both men had been at this bout for quite some time.

Ishar felt
movement beside her and looked up. Davaris and Ber had come up next to her. Ber
had placed himself closest. Ishar was uncertain how to take the move since the
stocky warrior beside her seemed to now ignore her presence.

Davaris
glanced aside with a broad grin. “I see you must have won the argument.”

Ishar turned
her eyes upward. “Traevyn has a big mouth.”

This remark
brought a flicker of a smile across Ber’s face.

Davaris
chuckled. “It might have come up over lunch.” His eyes twinkled. “There were
wages placed. It is a good thing,” Davaris added.

She arched a brow.
“And how is that?”

“You have
become thought of as a competent, strong-willed warrior who knows her own mind
and that is something respected among our ranks.”

“Did I have a
chance against Eira?” Ishar said with a smile.

“I saw it as
an even match,” Davaris answered with a wry grin. “I figured either you would
both reach an agreement that was satisfactory to everyone or you would kill one
another before it was over.”

Ishar could
not help it, she laughed. “As you can see, we came to a satisfactory conclusion
without bloodshed.” Her eyes mused over the circling fighters. “Who do you
think will win?” she asked with a tilt of her head.

Davaris
shrugged. “Both are good warriors. Both have stamina. Many times it will come
down to a draw. Today may be such a day.”

Ishar pointed
toward the wild haired Raanan warrior. “Who is he?”

“That is
Kagon,” Ber stated with a firm nod, “who is going to win this match,” he roared
toward the sparring fighters. If Lysandr heard the remark, he ignored it. The
heavier Kagon kept Lysandr on his toes with constant heavy blows. Lysandr
countered with rapid, quick grappling blows to the back of his opponent’s knees
or protected throat in between sword thrusts. Kagon barely missed being brought
down. By now, both men breathed hard.

Ber chuckled.
“Neither of them is going to give,” he said with a laugh.

Davaris
frowned. “Would you?”

Ber shrugged.

In the end it
was Varyk who ended the bout. He moved through the crowd and brought his sword
up just as Lysandr and Kagon came together again. All three swords met with a
clash. Lysandr and Kagon backed up and watched their lord warily.

Varyk’s smile
was thin. “I cannot let two of my fine warriors kill themselves,” he remarked
dryly. His eyes narrowed. “I am glad to see everyone is in such fine form. It
will make this afternoon’s training exercises with swords run so ever smoothly.
Kagon, you can take a group, as can you, Lysandr since both of you appear to
have such energy.”

Neither man
argued. They gave short bows and nodded. Varyk walked off toward a group in the
process of being instructed with fighting daggers by Glyndwr and Gavin. Kagon
and Lysandr walked toward the men standing close to them and yelled out orders.
The surrounding soldiers merged into two groups.

Ishar watched
Varyk stride away. She turned to Davaris. “I see what you mean.
Neither appeared to have a desire to yield.”

Davaris
nodded. “We learn early from training to stand firm and not yield. When one
considers yielding, one considers defeat.”

“I see.”
Ishar smiled. She shook her head, “And Traevyn wondered how I had survived so
long. It would appear he follows the very same philosophy.” Ishar added gently,
“Though I understand all too well. I am afraid I show the same tendency in my
own actions.”

“I have seen,”
Davaris spoke up with an amused nod. He looked past her toward Varyk’s
retreating figure, his brow suddenly pinched. “Excuse me, Ishar. I have
need
to speak to Varyk before he is engaged elsewhere.” He
gave another nod and turned away.

Ishar was
about to make her way toward Gavin and Glyndwr when Ber cleared his throat. She
turned back in curiosity.

The stocky
solid man standing beside her was intent on Kagon and Lysandr’s movements as
they began to break the men from a large group into sets of sparring partners.
For the moment, Ber was silent. Ishar waited. Finally, Ber glanced over at her.
He watched her with steady dark eyes that pierced deep and saw much. He sighed.
“I wanted to…” Ber wet his lips. He looked down, his lips pressed tight for a
moment. Ber looked up. “I wanted to give thanks for my son’s life, which you
have given back to me.”

“It was—”

“Please,”
Ber’s tone was abrupt. He brought his fierce gaze up to meet hers. “You and I
can be honest to one another. We do not know much about each other and we do
not trust one another.” He paused. “This is hard for me. I am not used to
uttering such words to a stranger, so please, just listen.” Ber paused again.
“I owe you.” He held up his palm at her open mouth. “I will repay you this
debt. I always pay my debts.” That said, the burly warrior nodded abruptly and
walked off in the direction of the inner holding.

Ishar stared
after him. She closed her mouth. Ber had thanked her. Ishar was fairly certain
of that. No, she knew it to be true. It had been difficult for Ber but he meant
every spoken word. Jaya said her husband was an honorable man and Ber’s actions
had given her words truth. Perhaps it was a sign the icy wall the Raanan
warrior had drawn up against her had started to thaw. Ishar smiled and walked
toward the outer gate, seeking out Traevyn who she knew by now would be
instructing the soldiers on the hill outside the holding.

*

By evening
Ishar held her head steady only by focused concentration. Exhaustion plagued
her mind and body as she trudged into the main hall. There appeared to be
little in the way of attendance. Eira stood once more by one of the main fires
discussing details with Audris and Isla. Ishar made her way over and positioned
herself next to the bright burning flame of the blaze.

Eira broke
from the conversation and glanced up with a smile. “I am glad to see you will
join us this evening.”

Audris’ smile
was as polite as her mistress’. Isla glanced at Ishar with sullen face and
narrowed eyes but spoke nothing as she turned back to Eira with pressed lips.
The Lute woman motioned with her fingers and both women excused themselves with
short bows and made their way from the hall.

Eira turned
to face the fire, her hands held out for warmth as she, too, gazed within the
depths of the flickering flame. “You have the look of someone who might not
mind seeking a restful bed. If that is the case, I can relay your absence to
Varyk.”

Ishar shook
her head. “I have already missed one meal with your lord. I will not miss
another. Let it not be thought of a Haaldyn that we are lazy and feeble.”