The Restorer's Son, page 14
part #2 of The Sword of Lyric Series
Holy One, we rode to serve You.
Strong, You ride before us all.
Fix our gaze on Your great wisdom;
Fix our hearts on Your love’s call.
As the last chord resonated through the room, I looked up at the skylights so many stories overhead. I could no longer see the windows. A mist filled the space. Soft gasps sounded from others on the tower floor. Then all the faces turned upward in complete silence.
As if from a distance, Mark’s hand rested against my back. Some part of me noticed that the dais had stopped turning. Then everything melted away except the touch of the gentle mist lowering and brushing against my face. The spinning wheels of thoughts that I could never completely silence simply slowed to a quiet halt. Fear and anxiety dissolved in the face of a peace that was perfect, complete, telescoping to fill every cell in my body.
I don’t know how long we stood. Time had no meaning. We were touching eternity. Or more accurately, eternity was touching us—with a tender hand that hovered and then slowly withdrew. As the mist lifted, I fell to my knees. I vaguely heard the sounds of voices in prayer, more music, and then the shuffle of people leaving. When I was able to lift my head again, Mark, Lukyan, and I were alone in the tower.
The men helped me to my feet. While Mark and I were left shaken and dazed by our experience, Lukyan smiled as if he had just had a chat with a familiar friend. Mark hugged me and rested his forehead against mine. The three of us walked toward one of the arches.
“Could we . . .” Mark cleared his throat and tried again. “Could we escort you back to Braide Wood?” he asked Lukyan. “We want to talk with Tristan about something.”
Lukyan nodded, his smile fading. “I would appreciate the companionship. And Tristan could use your support. He’s worried about Kieran’s banishment.”
A wave of concern rolled past my thoughts, but it didn’t create the swell of anxiety I would have expected. I still felt the weight of a calming hand in my spirit that reminded me nothing was out of the control of the One.
“Can we head straight to the transport, or is there anyone you need to see before you leave?” Mark’s eyes darted from side to side as we stepped through the entry and out into the central square.
“We can leave now,” Lukyan said. Then he gasped. His body stiffened, and his face clenched in pain. He stumbled and fell forward. Mark and I grabbed him in time to lower him gently to the ground.
My ethereal sense of peace vanished in a microsecond. I screamed. The hilt of a silver dagger protruded from Lukyan’s back.
Chapter
15
Susan
“Susan, run!” Mark shouted over my screams. “Run to the Council tower. Hurry!”
I gaped at him. I couldn’t leave Lukyan.
“I’ll stay with him. Just run!” he cried again. I tried too make sense of Mark’s panic, but I was thinking in slow motion. What was happening?
Then arms yanked me away. Before I could summon a coherent command to my muscles to struggle, something slammed into me. I sprawled against the courtyard stones and looked for Mark. A blur of movement sorted into two shapes. A Council guard brandished a sword and drove back a hooded gray figure with a short curved blade in one hand.
“Look out!” I shouted. My warning came too late. With his free hand, the assassin produced his venblade and threw it with deadly accuracy into the guard’s chest. He stumbled forward a few paces then fell. I crawled toward him, desperate to help.
The masked figure stepped closer, and his eyes bored into me. I didn’t see hatred or rage. Just remorseless intent. Then he glanced around and pulled back. He ducked around a corner and disappeared.
I looked for Mark. By now we were surrounded by Lyric guardians, Council guards, and shouting voices. I stumbled to my feet and found my husband kneeling by Lukyan.
Mark had drawn his sword but didn’t appear to be injured. “Are you hurt?” His eyes searched me, love and fear commingled. When I shook my head, he turned his gaze to one of the Lyric guardians. “Get a healer. Now.” The young man nodded and ran.
I sank to my knees beside Lukyan. His eyes were open. The parchment skin of his cheek rested against the pavement. His breathing was labored, but he was alive. I rested a hand gently on his forehead and began to pray. When the healer arrived, she assessed the blade in his back.
“It’s high enough that it didn’t damage major organs, but I’m not sure yet if it pierced the lung.” She pulled out a device that looked similar to a light cube and held it near the blade, studying it with fierce intensity. She nodded and set it aside, then pressed a bundle of cloth against the entry site of the wound and slowly slid the dagger out. Lukyan moaned, and his eyes closed while the healer kept pressure on the injury. She wrapped a bandage into place and supervised moving Lukyan to a pallet so that two men could carry him to the nearby healer’s office. As people moved aside, the healer hurried over to the fallen Council guard. She hissed and drew her hand back.
“A venblade. There’s nothing I can do.” She glared at Mark as though it were his fault.
I shuddered. I had been stabbed with a venblade once. Creeping paralysis gradually pulled life from a body like the illumination being dimmed from a light wall. But I had been the Restorer then, and recovered. The Council guard hadn’t had that gift. What thoughts had chased through his mind as he felt his life shut down? Did he have time to regret giving his life to protect us?
Mark’s arm was around me in an instant, turning me toward him. “Will Lukyan be all right?” He spoke over my head.
The healer sighed. “We’ll need to watch his lungs and make sure the blade didn’t nick them. But I think he’ll survive.” She hurried away, soft-shod feet barely making a sound.
Mark tilted my chin up to meet his gaze. “We need to get to Braide Wood immediately. Lyric is too dangerous for you.”
I would have rather sat by Lukyan’s side or badgered Jorgen for more help in finding Jake or run back inside the worship tower and waited for mist to fall again. Incapable of making a decision in my shock, I let Mark lead me away, the faces and buildings a vague blur.
When some of the numbness lifted, I discovered we had walked straight to the transport station. Mark hadn’t even stopped at our rooms.
It made sense. What did we need? He had his sword. We’d find shelter and food in Braide Wood.
In a few minutes a transport slid into the station, and we boarded. I sank onto the molded plastic seat. Mark didn’t even frown when a Council guard joined us. It had been one of the bodyguards Cameron had forced on us that had saved our lives in the square.
“Thank you for your help,” I said quietly.
He gave me a stony glare and didn’t speak.
When the curved door slammed downward, I sank deeper into my seat beside Mark, my muscles unclenching. There were no gray-masked figures in the transport. For the moment we were safe.
We pulled out onto the road, and I stared out the window. Moss-covered hills and then deep forest all passed in one green haze.
To “not know” is then part of the gift you offer Him. Lukyan’s words from my last visit to this world whispered in my heart. It is where your obedience is tested.
Lord, I don’t understand. Why this? Why now? What is happening? I want to trust you. Help me trust you.
Voices murmured as Mark and the Council guard talked, but I didn’t pay attention. When the transport slowed, I looked up, startled to find that we were already at the Braide Wood station.
The three of us set a fast pace up the trail toward the village. The route was becoming familiar to me. The scent of pine and cinnamon infused strength back into my shaky limbs. I ignored the subtle ache in my chest and refused to acknowledge my shortness of breath.
As we reached the ridgeline that overlooked the village, I longed to dash headlong toward Tara’s home. We’d find the help we needed there.
“We should hike straight to the Lehkan Plateau. Tristan will probably be drilling troops this time of day.” Mark’s words startled me and pulled me from my trance.
“Good idea.” I stared at the sky. The deeper gray meant everyone would be finishing his or her work for the day. I could get lost staring at the flat emptiness of that sky.
“Are you still with me?” Mark’s eyes, full of grief and worry, searched mine.
I had to stop drifting into a daze. We weren’t out of danger yet; we still needed to find Jake. I blew my breath out. “Yes. I’m all right now. Let’s go.” My feet fell into the familiar path toward the place I had learned to ride and use a sword and lead troops into battle. It felt like a million years ago. It felt like yesterday.
My muscles strained as we clambered up a small hill that would give us a view of the whole plateau. I spotted Tristan immediately. His wavy hair flew behind him as his mount charged forward. He had a group of about a dozen guardians on lehkans in formation around him. Hooves thundered against the soft earth, and another group spurred on their own mounts into an answering charge.
Normally Tristan would be shouting commands, watching his men, critiquing the riding and sword work. But today he gave himself fully to the mock battle and rode hard, straight at one of the other guardians. Their swords rang as they clashed, and I shuddered at the power behind Tristan’s blows. He wouldn’t let up, and the other guardian’s sword flew through the air. Tristan advanced on him, even as the man’s lehkan backed away. For a moment I thought Tristan would run him through. Then he pulled up short and jerked his sword back. He shouted an order and the group dispersed, although the guardian who had been sparring with Tristan kept an uneasy eye on him as he rode toward the paddocks.
Tristan swung off his mount and handed the reins to a first-year who had been watching the training. The head guardian of Braide Wood trudged toward us, head down. Mark’s shouted greeting startled him. I expected his face to light with gladness, but when he drew close, his eyes drooped with weariness.
He clasped Mark’s arm. “Well met.” The heaviness didn’t leave him, but there was warmth is his voice. “We hoped you’d come for him.”
“Him? Jake?” I almost didn’t dare hope. “Is Jake here? Is he all right?”
“Yes. He’s with Tara.”
I grabbed Mark, relief making me dizzy. “We found him? We found him!”
“Kieran brought him.” Tristan turned toward me.
At first I didn’t catch the tone, but as I absorbed the way he said Kieran’s name, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. “Tristan, what’s been happening here?”
Mark glanced over at the Council guard who waited nearby. “Let’s discuss it later.”
We followed Tristan toward his home in silence.
Hurry! my feet demanded. The men’s rapid strides weren’t fast enough for me. I was finally going to see Jake and know that he was safe.
As we approached the house, I expected the door to fly open and Tara to run out and greet us.
And Jake. Please, Lord, where’s Jake?
No one greeted us, so Tristan pulled the door open and gestured us inside.
Before we could enter, Kendra ran lightly up the path toward us. “Susan! I’m so glad you came. We didn’t know if you could. Jake is a wonderful young man. You must be so proud.”
“You really saw him? I’ve been so worried.” I hugged her. “Where is he?”
“I think he went to Morsal Plains with Tara. He should be back anytime.”
Patience, Susan. A few more minutes. They’ve all seen him. He’s safe. “How is the work at the healers’ lodge going? And how are you feeling?”
“I’m feeling fine.” She giggled and hugged me again. “We’re going to have a baby.”
All the overwhelming experiences of the day fled, and I shrieked with pure joy. Kendra and I scampered into the house, our words overlapping in excitement.
After the men followed us inside, Kendra paused and looked at Tristan. She walked over to him and traced a finger over the scowl lines on his face. “What’s wrong?”
Tristan closed his eyes and pulled Kendra toward him as if he were afraid she’d vanish. Mark murmured something to the Council guard and left him outside on the porch. Then he pulled the door closed.
Tristan held Kendra’s shoulders and watched her face. “I got news this morning. Tag and Jameth are being tried by the Council tomorrow. It was Kieran’s fault.”
Her face went still. “What should we do?”
Before Tristan could say more, the door opened again, and Tara entered with a large basket over her arm, Dustin and Aubrey tugging her tunic.
“You’re back!” Aubrey squealed and ran toward me. Dustin shoved past her and barreled into me as well.
Tara beamed from the doorway but quickly felt the tension in the room. “Little ones, go wait for me in your room.”
The children hesitated.
“Go on.” I patted Dustin’s shoulder. “We’ll play later.”
He grinned and ran off with Aubrey in his wake.
“This is a welcome surprise.” Tara was already moving toward the kitchen. “Let me get some clavo started. Jake must have been thrilled to see you.”
She turned from the kitchen and saw us all frozen in silence. “Where is he?” she asked slowly.
“I thought he went to the fields with you today,” Tristan said.
Tara nodded. “This morning. We all came back for lunch. Jake stayed here to rest, and the little ones and I went out to gather herbs. He must have fallen asleep.”
Kendra moved first, running to the back rooms. My feet had suddenly grown roots into the wooden floor. My heart lurched, and the old pain pushed against my ribs.
When Kendra came back to the common room, her eyebrows were pulled together. She didn’t look at me. “He’s not here. Wait. Where’s his pack?” She and Tristan rustled around the common room, banging closet doors and pulling things from cubbies. I still couldn’t move. Taut despair pinned me to a rack, and each moment stretched me another inch.
“His pack is gone.” Tara sounded close to tears. “Would he have wandered off on his own? He said he’d stay here until I got back.”
I made my feet move and shuffled toward her. “It’s all right. He’s got to be all right,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around her.
“Shades of Shamgar,” Tristan cursed. “He wouldn’t have. I know he was ready to kill me, but he wouldn’t . . .”
“What?” Kendra said. “Tristan, what’s going on?”
Slowly, Tristan met her eyes, ignoring the rest of us. “After the messenger came from Lyric at midday, I went to the caves to talk to Kieran.” He glanced at Tara. “Jameth and Tag are being tried by the Council. Kieran didn’t bother to tell me he had stayed with them when the guardians were searching the city for him. He put them in danger.” Tara stiffened in my arms, and I rubbed a hand against her back.
Tristan turned back to Kendra, his eyes pleading with her. “I . . . I said some things.”
His wife took a slow, even breath. “Did you two fight?” She sounded like a mother long resigned to patching up skinned knees and refereeing squabbles.
“No.” Tristan’s jaw clenched. “I sent him away. I told him he was a danger to our clan and shouldn’t come back until he’s ready to take his place as the Restorer.” All color dissolved from Kendra’s face, and she took a step back. I expected her to rail at him, but she groped blindly for a chair and sank into it. “What does this have to do with Jake?” She looked up at Tristan as she said the words I’d been thinking.
“He’s the one who brought Jake here. What if Kieran came back here on his way out of town and made Jake go with him?”
“He wouldn’t have done that!” Tara interrupted.
“He might.” Mark’s voice was low. “For leverage. He might have thought he could use him somehow.”
“Maybe Jake saw him leaving and decided to follow him on his own,” Kendra said.
I looked around at the uncertain faces in the room, and the rack’s screw twisted one turn too far. “I don’t care why Jake is with Kieran,” I said to Tristan. “Just tell us. Where was Kieran heading?”
He stared at Kendra and didn’t answer.
“Tristan!” I shouted.
His eyes were heavy with guilt when he pulled them upward. “He was going to Hazor.”
Kendra whimpered and wrapped her arms around herself as if the temperature had just dropped.
I pulled away from Tara and sank into a chair by the table. I couldn’t cope anymore.
“Kendra, will you take care of Dustin and Aubrey tomorrow?” Tara’s voice floated far away. “I’ll need to go to Lyric at first light.” Tara turned back to supper preparations, but she spilled the clavo herbs as she tried to pour them into a bowl. “I want to be with the toddlers in case . . .”
I should go comfort her. Her daughter was in danger. But I couldn’t rise from my chair.
Jake. Where are you?
We had been so close to finding him. He had been here. He’d had breakfast at this table just hours ago.
“I’m sorry.” Tristan knelt in front of Kendra. “I never thought Kieran would do something like this.”
“He didn’t,” she snapped. “Maybe Jake went for a walk somewhere in the village.”
My eyes burned. The room blurred. Was there still hope that we’d find him before another night fell?
Her face twisted as she looked at her husband. “And how could you—” She bit her lip. “Just go look for him.”
Tristan clearly wanted to say more to her, but after another searching look at her face, he nodded and left. Tara was talking to herself in the kitchen. Mark shifted his weight and looked from Tara to me and then to Kendra. Tears were pooling in her eyes as well.
“I’ll go help Tristan.” Mark backed toward the door. There was something so sweet in his awkwardness that I gave him a brief smile, but as soon as he left, I lowered my head into my arms and let my tears fall.
