Prisoner 15 & 16
Feb. 15th, 2007 06:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrPart Two
Illussor
A man with a sword has a means to stay alive. A man with a named sword has a reason to stay alive.
~Krian saying
Chapter Fifteen
“Esta!” Trul was bellowing her name even as the door slammed open. “You must come!”
“What in the world…” Esta looked up with a frown. She’d worked hard to earn a small space of free time and had been quite happy to spend it reading. It figured a crisis would crop up.
Trul grabbed her hands and hauled her up. “It’s your brother.”
Esta was running almost before she had her slippers properly on her feet. She gathered her silk skirts high and barreled through the hallways, nearly falling down the grand staircase. Matthias caught her as she reached the grand hallway. “Essie.”
“Where is he?” Esta looked wildly around, then bolted from Matthias as four men entered the palace. She’d recognize him anywhere. “Iah!”
“Esta?” And the voice was his, and Esta wanted to cry.
But as she reached him, she stumbled to a halt. “Iah…what…” She stared in horror at her brother, as his appearance finally struck her. Several days growth on his face, hair a mess, and he smelled a fright. Clearly they’d been traveling hard; you could hardly tell the true color of his silver-white hair. But the bandages. On his eyes. Oh goddess. “What happened, Iah?”
An awkward silence fell. At last Iah spoke, voice faint with dread, misery. “They’re gone, Essie. I don’t…I can’t see anymore. Not ever.”
“Oh, Iah…” Esta threw herself into her brother’s arms and held on for dear life. “Are you okay otherwise?” she asked at last, wiping her eyes. Resuming her usual calm as much as she could.
“I’m fine, Essie.” Iah settled his hands on her shoulders awkwardly, then followed the line of her neck up to her cheek, touching it softly. “I missed you, little sister. Are you well?”
Esta threw her arms around his neck and hugged him again. “You’re alive, I’m fine.” She finally stepped aside so that everyone else could greet him, but did not let go of his left hand.
“Iah,” Matthias said. “It looks like you’ve got quite a story to tell. Don’t think this will get you out of taking your title back. Your sister has been absolutely intolerable as a Duchess. I demand you take it away from her.”
“Matti,” Iah said with a grin. “She’s glaring at you, isn’t she?”
“Isn’t she always?” Matthias stooped to embrace him briefly. “I’m glad you’re back, safe and…well, mostly sound. It could have been worse.”
“Where is Kalan?” Iah asked, gripping Matthias’s shoulder briefly in acknowledgement of his words.
“Here,” Kalan said, stepping forward. “I was terrified of the blue dress that came streaking down the stairs. Those dresses are dead frightening when they get going. Oh, she’s glaring at me now.”
Iah shook his head and held fast when Kalan gripped his arm in greeting. “Have you two done nothing but torment her while I’ve been gone?”
“Isn’t that what you asked us to do?” Kalan asked with wide-eyed innocence. “Oh! I shouldn’t have said that in front of her.” He danced away before she could hit him.
Esta still clung to her brother as he began to greet others, but allowed her own attention to wander toward the men who had walked in with him. They all were filthy, clearly exhausted. She caught the eye of the Housekeeper and gave her a slight nod. The woman vanished to start preparing rooms.
The first man, standing on her brother’s other side, was clearly Salharan. His eyes burned dark yellow and he watched the room like a wary cat. Dark gray hair, lithe but obviously strong. A strange contrast to his eyes. Like silver and gold. He wasn’t pretty, or even really handsome, but he caught the eye all the same. There was a melancholy air about him. She slid her eyes toward the next man.
He towered. Massive and dark, a wildness about him that wasn’t helped at all by the fur on his cloak. Wolf fur, she thought. His hair was silver at the temples, but otherwise he didn’t look all that old. Perhaps only a few years older than Matthias, who was thirty. He wore a sword, she realized a moment later, eyes going wide. A sword. It was huge. How did he wear it so lightly? There was a jewel in the top of it. A real jewel, as dark as blood. Pretty. Why was it on a sword? Why was there a Krian in the palace?
She set the question aside for later and looked toward the last man. Felt her heart speed up. He was…handsome, even when filthy. His eyes were bright yellow. Like the sun. Different from the other Salharan. Currently those yellow eyes were looking nervously around the grand hall, as though he were expecting some trap to spring. That wouldn’t do. Esta squeezed her brother’s hand and then let go. “Enough, Matthias. Can’t you see they’re exhausted? Let them all rest and tomorrow you can pester them with questions. Iah is home, that is all that matters for now. Give them a chance to recover; it’s amazing they made it through the snow.”
Matthias grinned. “Yes, Duchess. Your will is my command.”
Esta ignored him and clapped her hands briskly, dismissing everyone gathered and summoning servants to send scurrying off with orders. When the hall was empty, she turned to her brother. “Now, Iah. Who are your companions?”
Iah hesitated, lifting his hand. Esta watched as the gray-haired man took it, and realized he was letting Iah know where he was. She kept back a worried frown. Iah – blind! How was she supposed to manage that? She’d never…Esta stopped. Later. Now was not the time.
“This is Sol deVry, formerly of the Salharan Royal Army.”
Sol sketched a bow. His eyes wandered the room and alighted on Kalan, who looked back at him in question. “Spiegel, perhaps, might sound more familiar to you.”
Kalan broke into a grin. He surged forward to clasp Sol’s arm. “Are you really? It is a pleasure to finally meet you! I wondered which one of you was…”
Esta looked at them. Something else to investigate later. Iah continued the introductions. “The other Salharan is Beraht…” Esta watched the way Matthias and Kalan turned to look at Beraht. So that was his name. But it was a Krian name…strange. Something was going on that she did not understand.
She forced herself to remain silent. Tomorrow Kalan, Matthias and Iah were all going to feel her wrath for obviously being kept out of whatever was going on. Not now.
“And the last…” Iah hesitated a moment. “Dieter von Adolwulf, formerly—“
“The Wolf!” Matthias exclaimed. “Never say so!” He stared at Dieter as if he had not noticed him until then. “Are you really the Scarlet Wolf? Obviously you’re Krian. Why are you here?”
“Matthias!” Esta snapped, hands on her hips so their trembling would not show. The Wolf? That could be a problem. “Didn’t I say it could wait until tomorrow? It’s late. Or late enough for them, I’m sure. Get back to work, I’m sure you’ve been slouching off. That goes for you too, Kalan.”
They all jumped when Dieter laughed. He looked at Esta. “Are you a Duchess or a Queen?”
For a moment the group was quiet – and then every Illussor except Esta began to laugh.
“Dieter,” Iah said. “You’ve just made yourself one more enemy.”
“Then I guess the world is not so different here,” Dieter said.
Esta ignored him, and eyed Matthias and Kalan until they wisely shut up. She saw the Housekeeper appear in the doorway from the corner of her eye. Thank goodness. “Come along,” she said, polite but cool. “I will show you to your rooms. Baths have also been drawn for you.” She smiled at Beraht, then took her brother’s arm and began to walk.
Iah tripped as they hit the stairs. “Oh!” Esta bit her lip. “Iah—“
“It’s all right,” Iah said, but she could see he was humiliated. “It takes getting used to.”
“Duchess,” Sol stepped forward. “Allow me to help? I am used to assisting him.”
She blinked, the nodded slowly. Wow. Perhaps he did not look like much, but that voice was positively entrancing when he wanted it to be. She had not noticed before, when he spoke to Kalan. “Very well. I am sorry, Iah.”
“Don’t be. It’s all right, Essie.” She saw him visibly relax as Sol took his arm, and walked alongside them. Listening to what Sol said and watching what he did.
“Twelve stairs more, Iah.” Sol said quietly. “And I’m sure you must know the turns.”
“By sight,” Iah replied. “Better tell me.”
Esta gathered her skirts and increased her pace to lead the way, mind whirling. Iah blind…were they really gone? Couldn’t he be fixed? She chastised herself. There was nothing to be fixed.
But poor Iah…
“This way, gentleman,” She said briskly, knowing exactly which rooms would have been prepared. Her brother slept in the east wing, closer to where the soldiers trained. He had moved there after the fight with their father, not wanting to stay in the suite of rooms allotted to the Cehka family. Even if their father hadn’t been to the palace for more than a decade. She opened the first door, two away from Iah’s, and took a quick look around. Brown, maroon. Heavily masculine. “My Lord von Adolwulf,” she said with a half-bow. “If this room pleases?”
Dieter nodded. “Thank you.”
“Of course. Relax, rest. If you need anything at all, you’ve only to pull that cord and a servant will come immediately. Should there be a problem, have me summoned at once.” She pointed to a door. “That leads to the room next door, though of course it’s locked right now. It’s intended for those who arrive with families.” Turning, she led the rest of the group out and went to the next door.
The next room was predominantly blue, a variety of shades against dark wood. She beamed at Beraht, wishing suddenly she could get him to smile. He looked like a man who spent all his time frowning. “Is this all right?”
Beraht looked around the room. “Yes…thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Esta said with another smile. “If you need anything at all, just have me summoned. Food should be arriving shortly.” Beraht barely seemed to notice the words, though he nodded absently.
Esta murmured a good night and then led the way to her brother’s room. “Lord Sol, your room—“
“He’s staying with me, Essie.”
“What?” Esta blinked. Then the words registered. She took a second look at her brother and the man still holding his arm. Too much was going on in one small evening. He’d been lost. Found, but not whole. Now apparently he’d brought home a Salharan lover. “Very well. But I want the full story in the morning. You’ve no idea how badly I want to drag you to the library and pepper you with questions, Iah.”
“I can hear it in your voice, Essie.” Iah said with a laugh. “I promise tomorrow I will answer as many questions as I possibly can. Even the ones for which you can’t beat answers out of Matti and Kal, because even blind I can see you’re seething.”
Esta smiled and kissed his cheek. She nodded to Sol, giving him a more hesitant smile. This man hadn’t won her approval yet. But he did take care of Iah, that was obvious, so he had a chance. He seemed to sense this, and returned her gesture with the same. “Goodnight, Duchess. Thank you.”
“Goodnight.” She turned and strode down the hall, head aching with a million new thoughts and problems.
Iah sighed as the door closed behind them. “She’s upset.”
“I would imagine so,” Sol replied quietly. “Your sister looks as though she carries a lot on her shoulders.”
“She does,” Iah whispered. “And now I don’t know how much of it I can take back. It was never fair of me to put it all on her. But at least…well, if Beraht succeeds, the worst of her burdens will end.”
Sol’s arms came up around him, tugging him close. Iah clung to his tunic, comforted despite the fact that they both smelled wretched. Lips brushed his forehead, and he felt a small thrill. “Yes, but if she is going to be Queen – and even an idiot can see that is the Prince’s goal – then she will have many more. I do not think she will break. And did I not promise to help you?”
“Yes…” Iah said with a smile, and pulled away. It faded slightly as he recalled the help recently given. “Thank you, by the way, for helping at the stairs. It’s awful, thinking you know your home only to realize you don’t know it at all.”
Sol stroked his cheek. “You are quick to learn. By the end of the week, you will no longer need me.”
“That’s not true.” He pressed a quick kiss to Sol’s palm, then let it go. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a bath.”
“I certainly would not mind being clean again,” Sol said with a laugh, taking Iah’s hand. Iah let himself be led to what was clearly the fireplace and let Sol strip him, settle him into a large bathtub. He rested his head against the back of it, sighing in relief. The water smelled scented, something that smelled like the pine forests.
His room, on the other hand, smelled slightly stale. Iah sighed. Though he’d always returned every winter, it felt like he’d been gone a lifetime. In a way, he did not even feel like he was home. Esta had smelled like lavender…their mother’s perfume. Which meant she was upset. Otherwise she wore lilies, or rose when she was angry with Matthias. Of course she’d been upset; she’d probably thought him dead.
He heard Sol moving around the room, and smiled. Ever restless, Sol. He was in motion even when he held perfectly still. “There’s plenty of room for two,” he said. “If you want.” He tried not to let his uncertainty show. Beyond the night Burkhard had died, they’d not been together. The soft kiss from a moment ago was the first display Sol had made since they’d left. Which only made sense, of course.
Was he only clinging to Sol because he literally had nothing else? Iah frowned at the thought. No. Definitely not. He refused to think that. Surely Sol would have pointed such a thing out to him?
Then he heard clothes hit the floor, and felt as Sol climbed into the tub, feet toward Iah’s head.
Well, that wouldn’t do. Iah moved, shifted until he could rest his head against Sol’s shoulder, not caring one whit for the water that splashed onto the carpeted floor. He slid a hand across Sol’s chest, feeling a pang that he would never see the man who was now his lover. At least he had some idea, and that voice. Always that voice, which had first drawn him out of the worst of the dark.
Sometimes that day seemed far away. Other times it felt as though it had happened only days ago.
An arm came up, sliding up his wet skin, almost tickling.
“I wish I wasn’t so tired,’ Iah said. “Here we are finally alone and I’m too exhausted to take advantage of it.”
Sol’s chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I was beginning to think everything a figment of my imagination. I’m glad it was not.”
“Me too,” Iah said. He sat up slightly, hands sliding along the edge of the tub, searching for the small shelf that would hold soap, cloths for cleaning. “Let’s get rid of the smell of horse and go to bed. Maybe I can take advantage in the morning before Esta attacks us.” His hands knocked against what sounded like several glass bottles, and he heard the bar of soap drop into the tub.
Sol laughed and retrieved the soap, then proceeded to wash them both.
When they finally made it to bed, Iah thought it the softest, most splendid thing he’d ever felt. It smelled clean, nothing like horse or dust or cold ground. He heard Sol put out the lights and reached out as he climbed into bed, tugging him close. His fingers sought and found Sol’s face, enjoying the soft-rough feel of his skin, and then leaned in to kiss him.
It was as wonderful as it had been the first time, and Iah was glad, so very happy, that he’d risked it and taken that first step. Sol tasted warm, like the summer that filled his voice. He’d had a handful of lovers in his life, and a few adventures in town, but no one had ever felt quite like this. Iah hoped he wasn’t just clinging to the only person that seemed not to be bothered by his blindness.
Goddess he hoped.
Sol broke the kiss, then leaned back in for a second. But finally he pulled away, and Iah could almost feel the stubbornness in him. “Sleep,” he said.
Iah started to protest, suddenly wanting very much not to sleep – but the protest came out a yawn and with a brief laugh he conceded defeat. Settling into the blankets and against Sol, breathing in the sent of home and the man beside him, Iah allowed sleep to take him.
Esta glared at her brother, who had buried his face against Sol’s shoulder to muffle his laughter. It could be ignored – for the moment. She turned to address the other two men in the room. “So when were we going to tell me what was going on?” No one replied, which meant they at least knew they were in trouble.
Kalan dared to speak. “As soon as we were certain—“
“Certain?” Esta repeated. “So I’m not good enough to include while things are uncertain? Hmm…” She folded her arms across her chest and tapped her foot. “Too weak, am I?”
“Now they’re in trouble,” she heard Iah say.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t think I can’t see you over there, Iah. And just because you can’t see me doesn’t mean I’m not here to smack you.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Iah said quickly.
Esta wasn’t fooled by the contrite tone. “So what exactly is going on? Why am I housing two Salharans and a Krian?”
Matthias answered her. “The Salharans I can explain. Sol has been a spy for quite some time…Beraht…Essie, he’s our Breaker.”
Silence. Esta looked toward Beraht, who sat quietly in a green chair in the corner. Sunlight streamed into the breakfast room from a wide window. Beneath it was a table laden with food – but she wasn’t letting anyone eat until she was satisfied. Oh, no. Let them suffer. Beraht cleaned up was a fine sight. If she didn’t know any better, she would swear he looked almost Illussor. “Don’t play with me, Matthias. Especially about this. I’d feel it if he was the Breaker.”
“That’s the arcen,” Beraht said. His eyes were nearly as bright as the sunlight flooding the room. “Near as we can tell, it…blocks whatever it is you guys can sense. Wait until it’s flushed from my system in a few days.” He fell silent, and returned to gazing out the window.
Esta blinked furiously, fisting her hands tightly in her dress. She looked to Matthias. “Is he really then?”
“Yes, Essie.” Matthias smiled at her.
Crossing the room, Esta stooped and embraced Beraht, who froze. “I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you.”
“S-sure,” Beraht replied, still and tense in her arms. She stood and smoothed her skirts, catching Matthias’s frown in the corner of her eye. Didn’t like the hug, did he? Well, served him right for keeping secrets. She beamed at Beraht. “You’ve no idea how much it means to have you here. Will you really help us?”
Beraht shrugged. “Why not?”
Smiling at him again, knowing Matthias was seething, Esta whirled around and planted her hands on her hips. “So the other one is the spy?”
“Sol,” Iah corrected gently. “And he is the one who ensured the Breaker made it here. Without him, I would still be in a Salharan dungeon and Beraht would be dead.”
Esta nodded, then remembered her brother couldn’t see the gesture. “Yes, Iah. No insult was intended.” She shifted, folded her arms across her chest. “Just when were we going to tell me all this?”
“We were going to send you a note,” Kalan said. “From very far away.”
She glared at him until Kalan slunk down in his seat.
“So explain the Krian.”
“Dieter,” Iah said again.
Esta sighed. “Dieter, then. Why is he here? Is he really the Wolf? Why is he not here this morning?”
“Oh, he’s the Wolf all right,” Beraht said, glaring out the window. “I’m sure he’s just licking his wounds.”
Matthias snorted. “Perhaps unlike the rest of us he knew to avoid the bloodshed.”
“If you make one more comment,” Esta said with a patient smile. “Bloodshed will be the least of your concerns.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Back to the Krian.”
Sol laughed softly. “Beraht is the one responsible for Dieter’s presence here. It was…a fluke, I suppose. No doubt he wonders why he is not in chains.”
“Should be…” Esta only just heard Beraht’s muttering. “The man is a menace.”
“How so?” Esta asked sharply.
Sol frowned at Beraht. “You are out of line.”
“At least you don’t beat me for it.”
“Perhaps I should.”
Esta watched the exchange in silence, uncertain of the undercurrents she could feel running beneath it. “Is the Wolf going to be a problem?”
“No, he’s not.” Matthias spoke firmly. “Let me speak with him. Though I would appreciate any support you could lend me later, Esta. Perhaps you don’t think you’re in charge around here, but everyone else disagrees.”
“What are you scheming?”
“You’re going to yell at me either way, so I think I’ll just keep my silence.”
Esta looked at him. “Oh, really.”
“Yes, really. And there’s nothing you can do about it.” Matthias stood up, brushing out his dark green coat. “In fact, I think I’ll go make my first move now. Kalan can stand in for me, so far as punishment goes.” He crossed the room and took one of Esta’s hands. “And we would have told you, Esta. But it was hard enough for us – we didn’t want to get your hopes up too, if something went wrong.” He ducked his head and kissed her cheek, then fled the room.
Esta glared at his back, then turned back to face the rest of the room, daring them to speak. “I suppose you must be hungry,” she said ungraciously. “You may eat.”
“Thank you, Queen.” Kalan grinned. “I mean Duchess.”
“Except you.” Esta ignored his litany of protests as she helped herself, and then took the seat nearest Beraht’s, sharing the small table between them. “So were you in the Salharan army?”
“Yes.” Beraht glanced at her briefly, then went back to his food, sucking on a small piece of orange melon.
“What was your rank?”
“…Lieutenant,” Beraht replied after a moment. “I really don’t think you want to ask any more questions…Duchess.”
“Esta, please.” Esta nibbled for a moment on a bit of pastry smothered in honey and nuts. “I really am grateful you’re willing to help us…” She set the food aside. “I really never thought we’d find a Breaker…”
Beraht frowned. “Breaker, Breaker – what’s so rare. I seriously doubt my father was the first one to get a little too friendly with a foreign woman.”
“Probably not,” Kalan interrupted. “But you’re the first one we’ve located. And if you’re right about the arcen blocking your Illussor magic—“
“I don’t have Illussor magic,” Beraht interrupted. “You can bet if I did that bastard never would have gotten the better of me.”
Sol glared at him. “Watch your language.”
“No,” Beraht said resentfully.
Esta laughed. “Don’t fuss over me.”
“Yeah, she uses language worse than that all the time.”
“You are asking for it,” Esta said frostily. Kalan didn’t seem perturbed. She sniffed and went back to Beraht. “To whom were you referring?”
Beraht muttered something beneath his breath, then bit down on another slice of melon hard, as if he were pretending it was something else. “The bastard who named me.”
“Dieter,” Iah said. “His name is Dieter.”
“I’m Salharan,” Beraht replied scathingly. “I know what his name is.”
“Ah,” Esta said. Her mind tumbled over what she knew of Salharan custom, which was little. “Names are important, yes? And they change with marriage and all…How did you acquire a Krian name?”
Beraht choked on one of the honey-covered pastries. “It’s not important!” He looked almost desperate as he stared at her. “Please, it’s trivial. Let’s not ruin breakfast by discussing something so boring.”
Esta snapped her head around as she heard Iah snickering. “I will yank your hair out of your head if you do not begin to act your age. Or perhaps I’ll yank Sol’s hair out…”
“You’re feisty this morning,” Iah complained. “Did you get enough sleep?”
“Not as much as you’ll get, darling brother, if you do not be quiet.”
Iah muttered something under his breath, then wisely fell silent.
Esta nodded, frowned at Kalan for good measure, then went back to Beraht. “Would you like a tour after breakfast?” She asked, smiling as though she hadn’t just been threatening her brother bodily harm.
Beraht smiled back, slowly, hesitantly, but a smile all the same. “Sure, Duchess. Why not?”
“Marvelous.”
Chapter Sixteen
Matthias nodded and murmured to people as he walked, smiling at everyone who bowed or curtsied. But the motions were entirely automatic; even his feet moved by habit more than by thought. His attention was only for his destination, and how he would make his idea work.
Because now that he’d thought of it, he wasn’t sure what to do if it didn’t work.
The only wolves he’d ever seen were dead ones. The Wolf in his castle now was something else altogether. He’d only gotten a few glances last night, but that was all it took to see why so many people feared him. Even, it was said, his own soldiers.
Matthias caught a servant as she exited the Wolf’s room. “Is he there?”
“Yes, Highness.” The girl bobbed a hasty nod, eyes flitting back toward the door, back to the prince, then to the floor.
“Is all well?”
“Y-yes, Highness.” She did the eye thing again.
Matthias frowned. “Then what’s wrong?”
She looked up, and he realized it wasn’t fear as he’d thought – it was fear mixed with hate. “My father died fighting him, Highness…”
“Of course,” Matthias said. “If it troubles you, then have another girl tend him. I’ve given permission, if anyone challenges you.”
The girl bobbed her head and started to go, shoulders sagging with relief.
“But Beki—“ He caught her eyes as she turned back to him. “Remember that your father killed Krians just as he has Illussor.”
Beki nodded, but it was a stiff gesture and she neglected to curtsy as she fled.
Matthias sighed. At least she hadn’t tried anything foolish. He made a note to speak with Esta later on the matter – she always dealt with those sorts of things far better than he. He knocked on the door, then pushed it open.
At first it looked as though the room was empty – then he saw Dieter by the window, and wondered how he’d missed the man. Perhaps because he held so still. “Even at my craziest,” he said. “I never thought I would be welcoming the Wolf into my palace.”
Dieter turned away from the window, and regarded him in silence.
Matthias stared back. More than a few tales abounded about this man. A hulking brute with red eyes and an insatiable lust for blood. A terrifying monster who did not understand the concept of mercy. A hard, cold general who bore the mark of the Krian’s god of death, whose own men feared him.
Quite a bit different from a man who was simply large when compared to the Illussor tendency toward slenderness. His skin was weathered by a life spent outdoors, no doubt he was well-branded with marks of war. If Matthias ever felt suicidal he would call those pale, gray-green eyes pretty. Never had he been so painfully aware of his own pampered life in the palace – certainly it wasn’t easy to be the crown prince, but he bet it was nothing like what this man had lived through.
“I doubt you are half so confused as I,” Dieter said.
Matthias laughed. “Does that mean you will not elaborate on the reasons for your being here? Your companions seemed somewhat reticent.”
Dieter grinned, and Matthias could not help but think it wolfish. He was starting to sound like the soldiers. “That is because none of them really wanted me along – unexpected events forced our hands.”
“No one is going to tell me, are they?”
“It is a boring story, Highness. Did you come here for a purpose, or merely to gauge how much trouble I am going to be?”
“A purpose. Esta might think all I do is laze about the palace, but that’s only because I don’t raise a ruckus the way she does.” Matthias motioned him forward. “Having you here is already upsetting a great many people; I’m sure I don’t have to elaborate on why.”
Dieter shrugged. “What is your purpose?”
“Given all I’ve heard, I expected something a bit different than quiet compliance.”
“I’m a soldier,” Dieter replied, as if that explained everything.
Perhaps it did. “Come with me,” he said. “There are things I would like to show you, before I make my proposal.” He glanced at the sword hanging at Dieter’s hip. “You’re welcome to wear that, though I’d prefer you not draw it if you do not absolutely have to.”
Dieter’s face flickered with anger for a moment, then it was blank again. “I fight soldiers, not civilians.”
“Of course. I meant no offense.” Matthias said carefully. “I meant simply that seeing you is enough to terrify. Not that you would hurt anyone, though I hear plenty of stories about the rampaging beast you can be.”
There seemed to be no reply forthcoming.
Matthias sighed. Talking to Dieter was much like talking to his father – except his father was silent from listlessness. Dieter seemed more like bottled fury…a wolf in a cage. Matthias mentally rolled his eyes at himself. It really was all too easy to associate the man with the beast. “Come.” He led the way from the room, painfully aware of his inadequacies next to the man beside him.
He led the way through the castle, tempted briefly to use the quartz in his pocket to mask them – but Dieter proved far more useful at ensuring they were undisturbed. Matthias lost count after the tenth person to suddenly find a different hallway to be in.
It was almost funny. Well, people would have time to become accustomed. If Kria, for whatever reason, had been stupid enough to lose their Wolf he was not going to give them a chance to take him back.
Out the back door of the palace, through the garden and the hidden door at the end of it. No one was about, for which Matthias was grateful. Ordering people out of the garden was always awkward.
The stairs were as dark as ever, the smell of damp and mildew and smoke from the torches pungent. He led the way mostly from memory. After so many visits, he did not require light. The tunnel was still ominous, and if it bothered him he winced to think what it must do to Esta. He still wished he’d been able to take that duty from her – but Esta held it as dear as her mother and grandmother. It was their burden. He walked the length of the tunnel from memory; he had not used a torch to light the way since they’d taken his brother to his death.
Matthias sighed softly, limping alongside Dieter – embarrassed but grateful that he kept pace without comment. What he would give to have the Wolf’s strength…he shoved the dangerous thought aside. Dwelling on past mistakes did no good. Better to focus on the ones that could be fixed.
They had the Breaker, and now hopefully he could take care of the last remaining loose end of that problem.
“So what dirty secret is kept here?”
Matthias laughed ruefully. “However did you guess? And you’ll see in a bit – but I will tell you it is why we need your friend Beraht.”
“Beraht is no friend of mine,” Dieter said coldly.
“My apologies then,” Matthias said, and bit down on his curiosity. “Should I keep you two separated? I had not realized it was genuine antagonism.”
“If you want to keep the peace, sew his mouth shut.” Dieter’s voice was cool, but Matthias could hear an underlying…frustration beneath it.
They continued on in silence for several minutes. There was no indication as to when and where the tunnel ended – more than once he had nearly walked into the door, too absorbed in the rhythm of walking to realize that he should stop. By now, though, his feet knew when to halt. Matthias pulled his keys out and swung the door open.
He hated the room, not least of all because it was his little brother who occupied it. Dead but not; lost forever to anchoring and spreading the magic that was killing the people it had been intended to help.
Matthias reached out a hand to touch his brother, but stopped just short of doing so. It would achieve nothing. He let his hand drop, then spread his arms to indicate the room. “Welcome to the Crystal Chamber.”
“Breath of the Autumn Prince…” Dieter said. “What is this?”
“Do you know why our three countries fight over the Regenbogen?”
Dieter shrugged his immense shoulders, the jacket found and hastily fitted for him barely enduring the movement. “I fight to keep it in Kria’s possession. Salhara wants it for its arcen-rich fields. No one knows why Illussor wants it.”
“It belonged to Illussor once,” Matthias said. “Kria took it from us nearly a century ago – I could not tell you why, but I know from records that it used to belong to Illussor. Back when that was not our name…” He frowned, staring at a section of crystal on the far wall. If not for the corpse-like figure in the center, the crystal and strange light flooding the room might have been beautiful…as it was, it only gave him nightmares. “But these days, we fight mostly to keep the rest of you out of our country and to search for the Breaker – though few realize that, and those that do understand very little of what or why.”
He was surprised when Dieter nodded. “You do not intend to tell them why until after the deed is done.”
“Yes – mostly because of the council. They already dislike me; I do not need them undermining me further.”
“Why do they dislike you?” Dieter asked, folding his arms.
Matthias shrugged. “I am not my father and that makes them uncomfortable He grinned. “Not that it matters – they’ll be cleaned out soon enough. Not having magic will set them on their ears, and they’ll have no choice but to listen to me. Which brings us back around to my intended purpose for you.” He motioned to his brother. “When the Breaker shatters the spell in this room, my people will have no magic. At all. Even before the Crystal Chamber, we had some. Like Salhara, it is our way of life. Kria is different. Your country has always eschewed magic, for whatever reasons.”
The look Dieter gave him made Matthias feel like he was back in the nursery with a tutor whose patience had been sorely tried. “Magic is lazy and weak. It allows a man to rely on outside sources to do his work for him.”
“I see,’ Matthias said. “I disagree, but that is neither here nor there. What matters is that I’m about to strip my people of something they’ve always had.” He motioned to his leg. “I will be crippling them. Which means that should we become involved in yet more fighting – which I am hoping to avoid – my men will have no idea what to do.”
Comprehension flashed in Dieter’s eyes. “You are insane.”
“Royalty is often accused of being so – but I am egotistical enough to say that I do not think a sane man would rule a country.”
Dieter grunted. “Then you are stupid – if one serving girl does not bother to hide her hatred of me, I do not think setting me to train your soldiers is a very good idea. You are either indeed quite stupid or desperate.”
“Desperate, I assure you.” Matthias smiled, feeling tired. “I have been struggling over how to help my country relearn to live, and the lives of my soldiers and those living closest to the border have been high on my list of worries. I’m not stupid – people hate you. According to all my reports and every last far-fetched story heard from soldiers, you are all too good at what you do. The Scarlet Wolf. The Bloody Wolf. The Wolf of Kria. More often than not, you are simply the Wolf.” His smile turned suddenly into a grin. “Though I often hear far more colorful names for you as well. While I’m not looking forward to the headaches that are forthcoming for doing this, I would be even stupider to let a war no one understands keep me from gaining the General that has ever so neatly fallen right into my lap.”
Matthias paused, and stared at his brother. “I could go abroad for teachers; goddess only knows those coastal bastards know how to use a sword…” He looked back at Dieter, pale eyes intent. “But Kria has turned combat into an art. You are, by some strange chance, here when I most need one such as you. I assume your country no longer has need of you…or at least I doubt they still hold your loyalty…”
“No, they do not.” Dieter’s voice said he would not elaborate.
“Then whatever I can do to convince you to help me, I will do it. You’ve only to say.”
Gray-green eyes watched him, pale and muted in the strange light of the chamber. “What should a soldier think of a king so eager to hire an enemy? What should a king think of a man so willing to betray his own country?”
Matthias grinned. “I wouldn’t know – I’m neither a soldier nor a king. I’m a scheming prince who must do the best he can. Anyway, it’s obvious Iah trusts you. That’s enough for me. Though I do wish someone would tell me why you’re here…”
“I will help,” Dieter said. “At worst, I will simply be put to death again. But if you want my assistance, you must allow me to do things my way.”
Matthias looked at him, then at his sword, then back up. “I have no idea how to even hold that thing. Swords to me are an exotic weapon used by an enemy with a peculiar taste for blood.” He sighed. “I’m pretty sure you just told me I’ll be getting more headaches, but so be it.” His lips twitched. “I’ll use them to explain away my bouts of insanity.”
“If this stunt does not dethrone you for insanity, Highness, nothing will.”
“You may as well call me Matthias.”
Dieter looked at the man frozen in the center of the chamber. “So what is this?”
“He’s all that’s left of my younger brother. His name was – is – Benji. The royal line has always borne the burden of providing Keepers. The magic is strongest in us. Do you know anything about Illussor magic?”
“Only that it’s supremely annoying and cowardly.”
Matthias winced. “Our powers include manipulation, yes, but that’s not the primary focus of our powers. You will not see it here, as the palace renders most people incapable – ironic when the source of that magic lies here. Anyway…the power behind those abilities relies heavily on our minds. We are…linked, I suppose you could say. When it’s strong enough we can even read each other’s thoughts. That is how we muster the energy for a Scream – all the power goes to one person. Even before we became the Illussor that is how we functioned. It is through that ability that we were able to create all this…it is through the Keeper, Benji, that the power created in this chamber is sent to everyone else.”
He shifted his weight, both legs getting sore from the effort of standing so long. Unfortunately, there would be no chance to rest when he got back. Matthias stifled a sigh. “It was only meant to last a generation or so, and primarily just in soldiers. But it spread further and deeper than anyone meant or realized until too late. Nor can we simply stop it – we’ve grown used to it. To take it away would be like ripping off a limb.”
Dieter nodded. “What you have to do is break the limb, and let it heal itself.”
“Exactly.” Matthias paused, then smiled. “If this works out, you want to join the council? There should be a spot for Minister of War opening up in a few more years.”
“Politicians try my patience.”
Matthias nodded. “Shall we head back? And I’ll warn you now – don’t stand too close to Esta when I tell her what’s going on.”
Dieter nodded.
Everything was different. Slightly surreal. What did a man do when he found himself alive long after he was supposed to be dead? Dieter curled his fingers around the hilt of his sword, thumb stroking across the red jewel in the pommel.
Apparently he got himself hired to train lifelong enemies to fight properly.
He wondered how soon they would kill him, after he sent the first dozen or so to the healers. Dieter looked up from a snow-filled courtyard that was both familiar and different. Familiar because of the snow and cold, and the way a handful of people braved it simply to make their journey shorter – servants, most likely, who had no time to take the long way around the castle.
Across the unending snow beyond the castle, he knew, was Kria. Miles and days away. Where a Kaiser no doubt plotted all new ways to torture and kill him for the new set of humiliations. Let the bastard rot. Dieter was finished with him. He had, despite the sour taste the methods left in his mouth, had the last laugh.
But his men…less than a thousand Scarlet left now. He wondered if the Kaiser would simply disband them…or punish them in his stead. Dieter glowered at his reflection, then turned sharply away from the window. His hand still gripped his sword, and he forced himself to let go.
Why was he here?
Because of that damned idiot.
Dieter snarled and turned his thoughts elsewhere. How did one train men who did not even know how to hold a sword? Did they know anything about fighting normally?
Tits of the Winter Princess, they would not even know how to make such things. Dieter could feel his head begin to ache. Never again would he complain of recruits fresh from the farm and their mother’s milk. There were Krian boys on those farms now who knew more about swordsmanship than a full-grown Illussor.
The coliseum had been easier to deal with than this.
He turned back to the window, one thought after another hammering at his brain until he wanted to break something.
Preferably Beraht, but that would have to wait until the Breaker – Dieter snorted – did his job.
A knock at the door broke his musings. “Enter!”
Expecting another skittish, angry serving girl, Dieter was surprised to see Sol enter with a dinner tray.
“I snitched it from the kitchen – probably for the best, from all I heard down there.”
Dieter looked at him. “Can’t stop prowling, cat?”
“Cat?” Sol repeated. He started to laugh, but then sobered. “There was something I wanted to talk to you about. I wanted to do it much sooner, but it did not seem like a good idea to bring it up while we traveled. The going was rough without adding to the tension.”
“What?” Dieter said, sitting down but ignoring the food.
“Burkhard,” Sol said heavily, still standing. “After I spoke with you in the dungeon, I encountered him in the hallway. My eyes gave me away. We fought – Iah killed him. I wanted to say I’m sorry. I know he was something of a friend – at least he always thought highly of you.”
Dieter grunted. “He thought highly of what he thought I should be. He was a soldier, he fought, he died.” He looked Sol in the eyes. “He hated Salharans – it was they who ruined his hand. With magic. No doubt he was glad to die trying to kill one.” A shake of his head. “He would be less pleased to know he actually died when a blind Illussor stabbed him in the back.”
Sol nodded. “I am sorry all the same.”
“It comes with the territory, as they say.”
“Yet you hold Beraht in great resentment for following the dictates of his territory.”
Dieter’s eyes darkened. “There is no excuse for slinking around in the dark killing men while they sleep. It is the behavior of cowards. My men always fought fairly, if brutally. Anyone who did otherwise I dealt with. Do not try to defend him to me.”
“He saved your life.”
“I saved his first, and my one life does not forgive the hundred that died without being given a chance to defend themselves.”
Sol frowned. “Does it irk you more that your men are dead, or that he got the better of you?”
Dieter slammed a fist down on the table, rattling the food hard enough that the goblet of water on it spilled over. “Soldiers die. Men win. Others lose. I lost. But it wasn’t fairly. The winter halt had already been called. We were three days gone from the Regenbogen. My men died in their sleep believing they were safe. Do not justify his actions.”
“He has his reasons.” Sol held up his hands to ward off Dieter’s tirade. “I’m not defending him. Until recently I barely knew the man. I don’t really care if you get along or not. But you keep harping on fair, Scarlet Wolf. Your own country fears and hates you, and they do it without understanding. Do you think it’s fair then to turn around and hate Beraht without understanding?”
“Get out.”
Sol nodded and left.
Dieter glanced at his food, half of which had turned soggy from the overturned water. Muttering an oath, he stood and strode from the room.
People avoided him as he walked the halls. He wasn’t even going to begin noting how poorly defensible the whole place was. Taking the palace would be all too easy to do. Dieter memorized the layout as he went, frowning as he pondered where he would most likely find Beraht.
“General Dieter.”
Dieter eyed the man who had called his name. “You are the Duke.”
“Kalan, please. What brings you out of hiding?”
“I’m searching for Beraht.”
Kalan rolled his eyes. “Esta dragged him out to the gardens. She keeps it up, Matthias is going to start pitching fits.”
Dieter said nothing, merely nodded and continued on his way. The gardens he remembered.
Once there, locating Beraht was easy enough. He stalked toward them, waiting until Esta had finished speaking.
“What do you want?” Beraht asked.
“To speak with you,” Dieter said, biting back whatever else he wanted to say.
Esta smiled politely. “Then I guess I had better leave you men to talk.” She winked. “No fighting, all right?” Laughing at her own joke, she strolled from the garden, voice fading as she caught a passing servant in the hallway.
“What?” Beraht snapped. “Did you need someone to beat?”
Dieter tamped down on his ire. Would that he’d just killed the damn man when he had the chance. “Why did you kill my men?”
“You really are here to beat me up.”
“If I wanted to beat you, I would not have to ask asinine questions to find a reason.” Dieter glared, wishing he’d just stayed in his damn room.
“Why do you care?”
“Just answer the question.”
Beraht looked as though he wanted to do no such thing, but did anyway. “No choice. Men like me are good only for one thing – everyone else’s dirty work. If I hadn’t become a shadow killer, and later gone after your men that night, I’d be dead now.”
“So it’s all right to kill a hundred to spare one?”
“It wasn’t that simple!” Beraht snapped. “The Brotherhood is all I have – had. If I hadn’t done what they wanted, I would have died slowly, painfully, and Nameless.” His eyes were a hot, bright yellow. “I’m sure that means nothing to a Krian bastard, but I can assure you to die nameless is far worse than losing a damnable sword. It’s like never existing.” Beraht looked away. “They said if I killed a hundred Scarlet, they would let me live. If I killed a thousand, they would give me a name.”
Dieter looked at him in contempt. “Name yourself. I do not understand this obsession with names you people have.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to understand. Even if you’re universally hated, you have a name. Someone gave it to you. Thought you were important enough to identify. You have no idea what it’s like to spend your entire life as nothing.”
“Bah,” Dieter replied. “You know nothing. Take a name for yourself, if one is so important. All you do is make excuses for cowardice.”
“What would you know!” Beraht raged. “People hold you in awe as much as they fear you! You have power, you have a place, you have an identity!” His hands were clenched into fists, trembling in rage. “You come down here to ask me questions, only to turn around and mock me! I don’t want to be told I’m a coward by a man who decided the best way to deal with everything was to be hated. Isn’t that cowardice? You could have been anyone and anything, and you chose to let the world hate you. The easy way out.”
Dieter snapped, and wrapped his hand around Beraht’s throat. “Do not pretend to understand what drives me.”
Beraht lashed out, using his legs when Dieter pinned his arms to the stone wall as he slammed Beraht against it. “Then do not pretend to understand me. You chose to be a bastard, I chose to kill your men in their sleep. Live with it.”
He squeezed until Beraht began to find it hard to breathe, then threw him down. “I do not know why I bothered, as it seems I was right after all. Go back to your flirtations; I won’t trouble you again.”
“Bastard,” Beraht hissed. “You’re nothing but a stars cursed bastard.”
Dieter laughed coldly. “I am called that all the time – yet it is the one thing I am most definitely not. My father did not love my mother, but he did marry her.”
“I guess he wanted his precious little gift to the Kaiser to be perfect,” Beraht said.
Dieter stopped halfway across the garden, but then continued walking. He didn’t stop until he was back in his room, and spent the rest of the night staring at the snow beyond the window.
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Date: 2007-02-15 12:11 pm (UTC)Yay!
Date: 2007-02-15 01:33 pm (UTC)*________________________________*!!!
Date: 2007-02-15 02:50 pm (UTC)2) Sol and Iah. *_______* You're killing me here. They are just...gyah. I love the way that they dance around each other and want each other but aren't quite sure how the other feels. It's just so goooood. *____*
3) ;_; Poor Beraht. I love the way you wrote their argument. You can see it from both sides, and see that they both have their points, even though their points contradict each other.
4) I LOVE Matti's proposal to Dieter. XD Serves Kria right for throwing away their best general. Although, I don't think the Illussor are going to appreciate Dieter's skills and his methods of teaching until they're in the midst of battle themselves. XD
5) You seriously, seriously rock. *__________* I'm so happy it's Thursday! I've been looking forward to this all week and it so did not disappoint. *hearts*
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Date: 2007-02-15 03:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-15 05:25 pm (UTC)Let's see, what else... Yay, they made it to Illusor! Yay, Sol and Iah reaffirmed their relationship! Hm... Benji. I had hopes that maybe he would be alive after, but it is looking like not. I love the idea of Dieter training the troops... sounds like he has ideas for palace security as well. Either that or invading it... :D
Interesting that no one has asked what Beraht has to do, exactly to 'Break.' No one seems concerned that it is too much of a sacrifice, so I won't worry. Too much. Dying would royally screw up the romance angle. Or... possibly not. But it wouldn't be happily ever after and that's not your style. So... no worrying.
Can't wait 'til next week! ^_^
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Date: 2007-02-15 06:20 pm (UTC)I live for Prisoner updates and the cliffhangers kill me everytime...
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Date: 2007-02-15 07:23 pm (UTC)argumentdiscussion by giving Beraht a new set of bruises.no subject
Date: 2007-02-15 07:24 pm (UTC)Ieee! Canon! Kalan/Mattie forever!In other news, eventually I will get to the point where you unfortunately stopped, and then I will at last be able to finish this story. Ahh, it makes me happy.
Canon!threesome.no subject
Date: 2007-02-15 07:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-15 08:32 pm (UTC)It frustrates me that Deiter still doesn't get it about Beraht's name. I thought he would, at one point, when he was told it was like the equivalent of someone naming his sword for him or something... (Am I remembering that right?) but alas. Part of me secretly hopes that Deiter gets humbled soon.
I loved how even though Beraht tries to be all cool and confident, Esta can pick out right away that he is the one who will need the most nurturing. D'awww.
And I really adore Sol and Iah's relationship. It's like... a lazy summer day, slow and sweet and sliding. They aren't frantically groping for each other, but steadily in love. Like grownups! :O They're an interesting contrast to the violent, extreme Beraht/Deiter dynamic, too.
Next Thursday cannot come too soon! ^^
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Date: 2007-02-15 08:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-15 09:59 pm (UTC)But damn, this was excellent!
I'm so tense from reading this, teeth clenched, hands fisted...my heart has gone crazy. O.o
yea! it was that damn good and tense.
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Date: 2007-02-15 10:04 pm (UTC)So I read a few comments...a brief flash of Dieter/Mathias was born.
Let Esta have Beraht. =)~~~
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Date: 2007-02-15 11:08 pm (UTC)Beraht and Dieter worry me a little, though. Obviously I want them to end up together, because it would be fun, but I fear that their history of Dieter being physically aggressive damages the equality of any potential relationship, and unequal relationships bother me a tad. Ah well, I guess Beraht is pissy enough to hold his own.
In chapter 16, not too far down, you have a typo:
“Why do they dislike you?” Dieter asked, folding his arms.
Matthias shrugged. “I am not my father and that makes them uncomfortable He grinned.
You're missing a ."
Anyway. Lovely, delightful, can't wait for the next chapters - and, presumably, the breaking.
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Date: 2007-02-16 03:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-17 04:08 am (UTC)*_____________* That so needs to be written in an AU drabble. *dies*
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Date: 2007-02-17 04:51 am (UTC)Samanthat swore she'd coerce people to her side of seeing things and I see she was correct.
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Date: 2007-02-19 06:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-03 12:18 pm (UTC)