The Bone Mask Trilogy: (An Epic Fantasy Boxed Set), page 79
None spoke, as in the centre of the deck, one of the newcomers stood with hands spread. One hand turned in circles and another was open, fingers splayed. Before him, a blubbering sailor turned on his heel, completing pointless circles. He moved to the motion of the stranger.
The open hand appeared to be holding Kanis back, despite the distance between the two. Kanis’ face was flushed with fury, jaw clenched.
Flir finally recovered.
She hurled the chair leg at the man controlling the sailor. It flew across the deck and shattered the mask.
The sailor collapsed and lay gasping on the deck.
But the man in the mask crumbled to the ground and the row of blue-cloaked strangers roared with laughter. Hands caught her arms. She flung them off, shoving a giant aside. That stopped the laughter, and suddenly she was frozen in place.
One of the other Greatmasks had turned to her, a hand raised. Frozen, just like Kanis. She met his eyes and there was the old rage. She could have smiled, he hated being denied anything.
The mask lowered his hand and Flir felt pressure to kneel – only it came from inside. As if her very bones were being compelled to move. She fought, starting to sweat almost immediately, until she hit the deck with a crack.
The man she’d struck was climbing to his feet, splinters of bone on his clothing and a cut beneath his eye. Blood ran freely down his tan skin, and he strode toward her with a snarl. One of his companions stopped him. They exchanged heated words. Other Greatmasks turned to watch. The two shouted some more and then it was over.
Broken-mask backed away and the one who’d intervened turned to her.
Only darkness lay in his gaze.
Chapter 71
Sofia’s hand hovered over the mask on Father’s face. Again nothing had happened. All that was left was to –
A groan.
He was waking! Argeon glowed luminous as her father stirred. She took his hand and squeezed.
“Thank Ana,” Emilio said.
“Father, can you hear me?”
His head twitched. “Sofia?” His voice was rough from disuse but he returned pressure on her hand. She fell into his arms, sudden tears welcome. He was alive. Somehow, everything had gone right. An ache returned to her body. So swiftly it returned, the stiffness. Inside she groaned, but pulled back and replaced Osani. The pain vanished.
“Sofia, how did you...Osani? Emilio?”
“Yes, My Lord.” He was smiling.
Voices from the groves began to converge. Sofia stood and helped her father up. He was unsteady at first, but he kicked out his legs and rolled his shoulders. “We should talk later,” Sofia said. She hugged him again. “The Sap-Born aren’t going away.”
He scanned the trees, a hand on her head. “No. They aren’t. Let me deal with them. Then we can free Efran’s concubines and leave,” her father continued.
“Concubines?”
“Slaves truly.” He rubbed at his arms and legs, stretching with a frown. “Efran keeps Anaskari women in a village beyond the groves.”
The homes she and Emilio had seen. “To breed assassins?”
“Yes.” He trailed off as he turned in a slow circle. He’d obviously been tracking the voices but stopped when he noticed Catrin. “Such as her.” He stepped forward but did not reach out to the sap. “How did this happen?”
“I put her there,” Sofia said.
“We should hurry,” Emilio said, scrambling beneath the sap.
Her father held her gaze a moment longer, and there was pride and sorrow mixed in his eyes where they glittered behind Argeon, then bent to crawl through the opening after Emilio.
Sofia followed. She’d barely found her feet when a group of men ran up the row, weapons raised. Only two had veins that glowed. Her father stood before them and raised a hand. The men slowed. One dropped his weapon and shouted about “something holding his body.”
Danillo pushed his hand down and the Braonn stumbled, falling to their knees and cursing as they toppled. Several threw hands out to break their fall, then pushed back, as if trying to force heavy weights from their backs.
Only it was useless.
Her father kept his arm rigid and the men stayed in the dirt and sap. “They are trapped.”
“Is Argeon doing that?” Sofia asked.
“Yes.” He hesitated. “We don’t want them following. Sofia, promise me something.”
“Father?”
“Do not repeat this Compelling. Nor what I am about to do.”
“What do you mean? I don’t understand.”
He said nothing, only took a deep breath and brought his hands together in a sharp clap.
Sap-Born screamed over the sound of snapping bones.
The men continued to scream after her father dropped his arm and Sofia’s stomach churned. What had he done? Emilio’s own face was pale.
“Quickly.” Father led them down another row, moving swiftly as his awakening limbs would allow, if his half-stooped run was an indicator. But no doubt Argeon would be helping him.
Cool air stung her eyes – they must have been wide. “By the Gods, Father, what happened back there?”
“What was necessary. This way.” He turned down another row and soon enough, they were leaving the grove. She didn’t remember even half the turns. How had Argeon – Father – done such a horrible thing?
The tree line beyond the grove thinned around a winding trail.
Ahead, the thatched rooves of houses peeked through the leaves. Smudges hung in the air, the scent of wood smoke strong. The trail opened to a line of small houses – the ones she and Emilio had seen before. They’d been knocked together with rough joints and the wood was freshly cut, at least, until the end of the row, where several older houses stood, one with a stone base.
Braonn women and children stepped from the houses to watch them stride up the street. They wore thick robes but their expressions were flat and uncaring. Even the children’s curiosity was dulled. The sight of three Anaskari, two in Greatmasks, one carrying a bloodstained axe, ought to have provoked more fear.
A few people did return indoors at first sight, but most simply stared.
“This is where he holds them,” her father said when he paused at the door to the stone building. He gestured over his shoulder. “The rest are near slaves, best I can discern.”
“No-one is guarded?” Emilio asked.
“The guards may be searching for us, but then, many of the residents are drugged.” He pushed the door open. “As are the women in here.”
Within waited a single room, wide, with makeshift divisions; a couple of chairs and a blanket, a stack of crates, sometimes only a pile of clothing. The women and children, most little ones young enough to carry, were Anaskari. One of them was probably Catrin’s mother but Sofia couldn’t be sure. Many had bruised or dirty faces when they stood. A few lay sleeping and one woman turned her head at the new light, squinting with drowsing eyes.
Another woman, with dark hair tied into a tail, stood, arms folded. “Who are you?”
“Gather those who can walk. Help the others here to me,” her father commanded.
The woman glared. “Why?”
“Because we are taking you home.”
Sofia added her own voice. “Surely you can trust us?”
Her head turned but her eyes did not meet Sofia’s. She looked slightly off to the side. “How do I know that? I can hear your voices. You’re Anaskari at least, but that don’t mean nothing here.”
“I am Lord Danillo, Protector of Anaskar. I can help clear your minds of the drug, but only if you do as I say and prepare to leave. And quickly.” Argeon lent his voice power and the woman trembled, but started to move. “Go, help them,” he said. Emilio moved off to gather women and children, helping them stand or collect warm clothing.
Sofia stayed behind.
“Father, what happened to those men back in the Grove?”
“Sofia, there will be time to speak on this later.”
“Will there?” Still he brushed her off. Would it be the same when she asked her next question? “And what of Tantos, Father?”
He faced her. “Let us get these women to safety first.”
She shook her head. “Fine. I’ll help them.”
Once the prisoners were ready, many carrying no more than a blanket or a child, she followed Father as he led the women from the village and into the forest.
“Where are we headed?” she asked him.
“The eastern edge of the Bloodwood, where I hope to find a boat. It will be quicker than travelling the entire forest and less open to attack,” he said, though the few warriors they encountered as they travelled were driven away, either by his voice or the Compelling. But she still watched the forest. The Sap-Born could strike at any time.
Notch and Nia.
How could she forget?
Sofia held back, letting women stumble past, motioning to Emilio, who’d taken position of rear guard. “We have to find Notch and Nia.”
“Gods.” He turned back, then took a deep breath. “But these people need us. Maybe more.”
“They’re not in danger. Not with Father here to protect them.”
“And who will protect him?” He kept his voice gentle. “Notch and Nia can take care of each other. I do worry about them, but we have to trust them.”
“If you worry, then let’s leave now. Who knows what’s happened? It’s already been hours. The light is failing.”
He hesitated.
“You can help me.”
“Of course, My Lady. But the Lord Protector...surely he needs us yet? These prisoners are vulnerable. Even your father must sleep. What if he were to be attacked, alone, at night?”
Sofia cursed. He was right. “But we can’t just leave Notch.”
Emilio snapped his fingers. “Spirit-Walk. Perhaps they’re hiding somewhere close.”
“Good idea.” The notion quickened her pulse. Wearing Argeon again would feel...right. How strange that was now.
She turned but Emilio touched her arm. “My Lady?”
“Emilio?”
“They may not...” He could not meet her eyes at first. “I want to warn you. About Notch and Nia. They may not be well.” He drew in a breath. “Or alive.”
Sofia reached up to touch his cheek. How sweet he was. “I know, Captain. And thank you.”
She jogged along the line.
Time to wear Argeon once more. And time for Father to finally tell the truth.
She joined him as he led the women along the trail. Ahead, the glitter of water through the trees. The rushing of a river eased itself between the trunks.
“Father?”
“There will be a better time to discuss it, Petal.”
Sofia frowned, even as her heart warmed. She was hardly ‘Petal’ anymore and yet, how many times had she imagined him calling her so? Missed it when alone or when searching, imagining his hand on her shoulder, checking on her as she drifted off to sleep.
“You’re wrong, Father.”
Argeon stared down at her. “You have become like your mother.” His voice was fond.
No. It wasn’t the time for memories. “We have to talk. About everything, what happened to the Braonn, to Tantos and more – I need to find my friends, Notch and Nia. I need to use Argeon, Father. I can Spirit-Walk and find them. They’re in danger from Efran.”
He slowed but, “At the Aforna,” was all he said.
“Fine, at the river.” She replied, though he’d already turned back to the trail. Better than nothing, and yet, he remained guarded, even with her. It wasn’t right. Just how much had he hidden from her? Had Tantos lied? Did Father feel him in Argeon?
The green of the Bloodwood didn’t have any answers.
Sofia fell back to check on the blind woman, Alcina, who was being led by one of the younger of Efran’s prisoners.
“Are you well?” she asked.
“Well enough. It’s nice to feel the air on my face.” Alcina turned her head toward Sofia. “You are still tense. Because of your father. I hear it in your voice.”
“I am.”
“He’s afraid of disappointing you. I hear that in his voice.”
Sofia had no answer. Was that what he feared, truly?
Alcina seemed to accept her confusion, giving a small smile before walking on, as Sofia slowed further. She stepped off the trail a moment, letting the women pass. Their faces were weary but a light shone in their eyes, one that had been absent in their tiny village. Their hair was wild and faces smudged with grime, the hands reaching out to steady or hold little ones just as dirty. Efran had mistreated them beyond the dirt and bruises. How many of the children stumbling along the trail were his?
She shuddered.
Emilio touched her shoulder and she jumped.
“Sorry, My Lady. Did you speak with your father?”
“When we reach the river.”
“I will watch over the women then.”
She returned to the head of the group as they broke the tree line. The women and children spread upon the banks of Aforna River in a small clearing, the trees growing right up to the waterline, leaves arching over to brush the dark surface. White ripples crossed from bank to bank when the wind picked up.
“Rest a moment,” her father told the women. “We will find you food and –”
“We can help, you know,” one of the women said.
“Of course. Do not stray far. Emilio?”
Emilio joined a pair of women heading into the trees, meeting Sofia’s eyes a moment. She nodded and turned back to her father, but Alcina was already asking him a question.
“And just how are we going to escape?”
“By boat or raft,” he said. “I will find something suitable.”
“And how is that?” One of the other women said. “The Braonn could come at any moment and there’s no boats here.”
“Worry not. The Greatmask will aid me.”
The woman accepted his word and moved to the water to drink. Sofia’s own mouth was dry, but she stood before him and removed Osani.
“Face to Face, Father. And the truth.”
“It may not be safe for me to remove the Greatmask, but I will answer you.”
“Very well.” The old anger was building. Now that he was safe, now that he was speaking, she had to know who had lied. “Father, he’s dead.”
He knew who she meant. He took her hands. “I know, Petal.”
“No. I mean, truly dead. He died weeks ago, in the city.”
His grip slackened. “How?” was all he said.
She tossed his hands aside. “You knew he lived?”
A nod.
“How could you?”
The blind woman stormed forward. “If you are truly here to save us, then stop this.”
Her father turned away. “Of course. We are here to help. Tell the women to bring everything they find here. We will not be far.”
“I hope so.” Alcina left, again aided by another woman.
“Come then, Sofia.” He lifted Argeon from his face and motioned that she move away from the clearing. He stopped at a point where the women remained in sight. “What did he tell you?”
She folded her arms. “You first.”
“I had to protect you. My only daughter.”
“I don’t need protecting now.”
A deep sigh. “Your brother was blind, Sofia, before he left. He would no longer listen to reason. Could not see his duty. Gyana had fooled him mind and heart.”
“And so you had Derrani kill her, then hid him away as a tailor?”
He hesitated.
“Tantos told me everything, Father.”
“Everything as he saw it, no doubt. Petal, it is my duty to Protect the King, the people of Anaskar. As it will be yours. Even if that means hurting people I love.”
“And were you going to kill Tantos too, before he fled?”
He straightened. “Do not pass judgment when you do not understand.”
“You weren’t there when he died, mad from his obsession, cursing you as Argeon sucked the life from his body,” she cried.
Her father loomed over her. “He was still my son, Sofia.”
Some of the women paused their foraging to watch. She lowered her voice. “Then why didn’t you forgive him? Why did you drive him away?”
“Because I could no longer trust him.”
“And me?”
“No, never think that.” He reached out to take her shoulders. “Of course I trust you. You’re all I have left, Sofia.”
She caught his hands and used them for support, squeezing her eyes shut to fight off tears. “Then why did you lie?”
“I had to protect you from him, from what he was becoming.”
“You don’t have to do that anymore.”
“I will always protect you, you know that.”
“Then trust me to understand whatever you must do.”
“And would you have accepted what I did to protect my King from assassination, to protect my city from war? Driven your brother away? Made the difficult choices?”
Sofia wiped at her face. Had she not tried and failed to make a difficult choice with Catrin? Hopefully the little monster was still encased in amber. “I don’t know. You didn’t give me the chance.”
He held her close. “I’m sorry.”
“No more hiding things, Father. Not between us,” she said into his shoulder.
“Of course.”
Gods, she hoped he meant it.
***
A quiet fell over them as she stood in his arms. Finally, after so long searching. So long not knowing, so long squashing her fear down, never letting it take control. His familiar scent and the steady beat of his heart.
“Sofia.” He pulled back.
“Yes?”
“You asked about what happened with the men in the Grove? I grieve to say it is something you must know, if you are to wear a Greatmask.”
A chill from the echo of snapping bones. “What was it?”
“I Compelled them. Compelled their bones with Argeon.”
“You mean...”
“Yes. Compelling is the true power of the Greatmasks.” He shook his head. “How naïve I was, Sofia, to think I knew the Greatmasks well.”
_preview.jpg)
