The Nightblade Epic Volume Two: A Book of Underrealm, page 65
“No thanks to me,” said Keridwen. “It was Jo—the king’s right-hand man, and the one who came here with Senlin and me—who rescued all of us. I only followed along, protected by others but protecting no one.”
Loren gave Annis a pointed look. Annis had often spoken similar words—bemoaning her own role by Loren’s side and her uselessness in a fight. Annis’ mouth twisted, and she shook her head. Loren smiled and went to sit in the armchair beside Keridwen.
“And who are you, exactly?” said Loren. “Are you some kin of the royal family?”
Keridwen shook her head and held up her arms. “In these clothes?”
“I have often worn disguises when I did not wish to be recognized, and you have been walking the city’s streets.”
“That is true enough,” said Keridwen. “But no. I am only an apothecary, and from my parents I have learned some skill in healing.”
“But there you have it,” said Loren. “You have no reason for shame. If you have been practicing for any time at all, you have probably rescued more people than I have. I can only save lives by fighting. The world would be a worse place if everyone were like me, but a better one if all were like you.”
Keridwen laughed. “I agree with you there. Yet still I wish I could do more—or that I could have done more than I did.” She paused for a moment, fixing Loren with an appraising look. Loren met her gaze, feeling a twisting in her stomach. “I agree with you, you know. I know that His Grace’s actions are wrong.”
Loren frowned. “So does Prince Senlin. Yet that does nothing to stop King Jun.”
“I do not agree with His Excellency either,” said Keridwen, shaking her head. “War has never come to Danfon in my lifetime, yet we feel its effects even this far north. Often our warriors return from battle gravely wounded or even without limbs. Sometimes they have a sickness of the mind instead, a memory of death and pain that they can never banish. Dorseans honor our soldiers above all others. They risk their lives for the good of the kingdom—or at least that is how they see it, no matter how misguided our wars. Yet those wars often leave them a wreck, in mind as well as in body. I am put face to face with such maladies. The prince is not. I think it makes him more complacent than he might be. He contents himself with his principles, though they accomplish no tangible change.”
“And what do you do?” said Annis quietly. “When you see these soldiers, I mean. What is your answer to King Jun’s wars?”
“In one respect, Prince Senlin is right,” said Keridwen. “I can do nothing to stop His Grace from waging battle. And I know he faces pressure from the senate. Yet neither am I content to wait, as His Excellency is. Instead I tell myself that I will grow. I will learn more, I will gain more influence. And I will do better next time. I hope that one day it comes true, if we survive all of this.”
Loren nodded slowly. “I think I prefer your way of thinking to the prince’s.”
Keridwen smiled and cast her eyes down. Then she stood abruptly from the chair. “I had better leave and let you get your rest. But I thank you for the opportunity to speak.”
“Of course,” said Loren, rising to see her out. “I am glad you found us, Keridwen. And I hope you will come speak with us again, any time you wish.”
“I would enjoy that. Only please, you must call me Kerri. Only His Grace and His Excellency call me Keridwen, and as a consequence it seems frightfully formal.”
Loren smiled. “Very well, Kerri.”
She held the door as Kerri left and then closed it softly. Turning to Annis and Gem, she raised her brows.
“Today has been a day,” she said.
“It has been that,” said Annis. “These people are somewhat strange to me. Yet I think I like Keridwen—Kerri, I suppose—the best.”
“And I,” said Loren. Then she noticed that Gem wore a grin that split his face from ear to ear. “What are you giggling about?”
“She had heard of you,” said Gem triumphantly. “She had heard tales of the Nightblade.”
Loren shook her head, trying to ignore the flush that crept up her neck. “Be silent, Gem.”
IN THE COMMON ROOM, THEY ate a small meal before retiring to their beds. Loren had put Chet and Gem in one room, with Annis and herself in another. Almost at once, Annis went to bed and fell asleep. Loren soon joined her.
They rose before dawn—all but Gem—and broke their fast on eggs and rice. Soon a messenger arrived, requesting their presence in the king’s chambers.
Loren turned to the party. “It is cramped down below. I will take Annis, Wyle, and Chet with me, but the rest of you should remain here.”
Wyle pulled at his collar. “Must I come?” he said. “The king has never seen my face, and I see little benefit in changing that now.”
“You are here to help secure his rescue,” said Loren. “If he never meets you, how will he know who to pardon when this is all over?”
Wyle held up a finger. “You promised me a pardon from the High King, not Jun. I will not forget it. And besides, I expect an open pardon—one that absolves the crimes of anyone who holds it.” Wyle paused and pulled at his thin beard. “Sky above. I wonder what such a document would be worth to the right buyer.”
Annis rolled her eyes.
“But you must bring me as well!” said Gem. “There is no more cunning mind in our little party.”
Before Loren could argue, Chet smiled and shook his head. “Take him,” he said. “I will remain behind. It is as it was in Bertram—I shall prove no more useful than a third shoe.”
“The same might be said for Gem,” said Loren, scowling at the boy with mock severity. But he only grinned as he accompanied her to the manor’s basement.
Jun sat in the same place he had yesterday; it seemed he had adopted the chair as his temporary throne. A guard stood to either side, and the larger bodyguard, Jo, sat just in front and to the side of his king. Prince Senlin was there as well, partially hidden behind one of the bodyguards.
“A good morn, Nightblade,” said Jun. “Let us now take counsel and determine our best course of action.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” said Loren. “I have brought Annis with me. She has a brilliant mind for strategy and politics both. I think you will find her advice far more useful than mine.”
“Then I welcome her,” said Jun. He gave Annis a grave nod, which she returned.
Loren motioned for Wyle to step forwards, and he hesitated only a moment before complying. “This man is called Wyle. He is a business associate, hailing from Bertram. It was he who helped us enter the city without being seen. He knows many secret ways and has friends in the capital.”
From the way Jun looked at Wyle, Loren thought he must know exactly what sort of “associate” the smuggler was. But he said only, “Welcome. If you can indeed be of help, you will have my gratitude.”
“I am counting on it,” said Wyle, giving the king an easy grin.
A table had been put before Jun’s chair, and a map was laid upon it. Chairs were brought for Loren and Annis, and they sat opposite the king. The map depicted the city—not all of its streets and alleys, of course, but its layout around the river, as well as the locations of some important buildings. Wyle bent over the map, his hands folded before his chin. But it was Annis who spoke first.
“As has been mentioned, Wyle escorted us into the city on a route that few know about. He should be able to lead us out the same way.”
“Yes, of course,” said Wyle. “We will be a larger party now, but we can still avoid detection if we dress you up as beggars.”
Jun tilted his head. “Lead us out? Why would I leave the city?”
The room went still. Loren and Annis looked at each other. Wyle studied King Jun for a moment, and then he sighed quietly.
Annis cleared her throat. “Your Grace, you are in grave danger while you remain here.”
“That will not change if I depart—not unless I leave my kingdom entirely. Wojin will not stop hunting me just because I pass beyond Danfon’s walls.”
“But he will have a harder time of it,” said Loren. “I said I would help you take back your throne, but I cannot also keep you safe if you remain here.”
“Nor would I ask you to,” said Jun. “I have my guards. But I mean to take back my throne, not merely survive. If I leave, I will look far too weak in the eyes of the senate.”
Loren looked to Jo. The large bodyguard’s face had darkened, making the white of his long scar stand out in stark relief. “If it is not too presumptuous, I would ask Jo’s opinion on this matter. Your safety is his responsibility, after all.”
“I serve at the pleasure of His Grace,” said Jo.
But King Jun shook his head. “Jo does not wish to gainsay me in front of others. But I will tell you what he has said in our private meetings: he agrees with you. He wants to get me out of the city, where he believes he will be able to protect me more easily. But I have told him what I tell you now. I will not leave Danfon while I still have claim to its throne. On this matter, my mind is resolved.”
Loren looked to Annis. The girl shrugged.
“Very well, Your Grace,” said Loren. “If that is the case, tell us where you would like us to begin.”
“We must unite the people behind me,” said Jun. “Wojin is not well loved, neither by my citizens nor by most of the senators—only a few of them were in his pocket before the revolt. If we can inspire a popular uprising, the senators will rally behind us, and Dorsea itself can overthrow the usurper.”
Loren had to fight hard to keep from rolling her eyes. But to her surprise, she saw Annis and Jo both nodding at the king’s words. “Do you think such a plan is wise?” Loren asked Annis. “We speak of ordinary citizens, not trained soldiers. Would they risk their own lives in a battle?”
“I think they might,” said Annis. “Even as far away as the High King’s Seat, I heard how His Grace is beloved by the Dorseans. Nowhere is that more true than here in the capital. Yet Loren strikes upon a truth—by and large, the citizens of Danfon are not trained soldiers. If you reveal yourself, there is a strong possibility that Wojin will manage to kill you before you can rally enough support. A determined force of soldiers could cut their way through even a great mass of loyal citizens in short order.”
“Yet the states have their own standing armies, and the senators can control them,” said Jo. “And while senators can be conniving, they generally bow to the will of their people. Several senators are in the capital now, as it happens. If we can gain their support, we will have more than enough trained soldiers to resist Wojin.”
“That could work,” said Annis, tapping her teeth. “But still, at least for now, His Grace must not reveal himself. It would be far too dangerous.”
“Then we must fight from the shadows,” said Jo. He lifted a hand to scratch at his scar where it met his temple. “The people must know their true king is alive, but his location can never be known.”
“That seems a tall order,” said Loren. “If they cannot see you, how can you unite them?”
“We will have to proceed slowly,” said Annis. “Plant the seeds of rebellion one at a time, the way a farmer turns crops—first doubt, then distrust, and finally anger. When the whole city has come to believe in Wojin’s treachery, then His Grace may reveal himself. You will have a popular revolt already in progress, and a trained army awaiting your orders.”
Prince Senlin leaned forwards suddenly. “Yet even that plan requires some level of exposure,” he said. “People spread rumors all the time. But no one places much faith in such rumors unless they come from a strong source.”
“You could reveal yourself,” said Loren, pointing at Senlin. “If the people saw you, even briefly, that rumor would fly far and fast.”
“No,” said Jun, Annis, and Jo all at once. Jun shook his head furiously and went on. “No. I will not risk my son.”
“If anything were to go wrong, it would be disastrous,” said Annis. “This is not yet a battle of swords, but one of hearts and minds. If Prince Senlin revealed himself, that might stoke the flames of hope in some citizens. But if Wojin managed to capture or kill Senlin, that would quench such hope beyond chance of rekindling.”
Gem smiled. “It should be the Nightblade.”
They all paused. Loren turned to him with a frown. “Gem, still your tongue if you have nothing useful to say.”
“But that is useful,” he insisted. “Loren, it should be you. The people will have heard tales of you. It was not only His Grace who knew of your exploits. Keridwen knew of you, and I am sure many others in the city do as well. You can be the one they rally behind. And if Wojin should try to track you down, he will have a hard time of it. There is no one better than you at escaping danger—except for me, of course.”
Loren opened her mouth to argue again, but Annis spoke first. “I think he may be right,” she said. “If the Nightblade tells them that King Jun is still alive, that would be worth more than whispers from a gossiping neighbor. You could tell them Wojin is an impostor and a liar. You would be a messenger of the king himself.”
“I like it,” said Wyle. Loren shot him a dirty look, but he only beamed back at her. “I myself would never do something so ostentatious, but I appreciate that it has a certain … grandiose style. What did I tell you, Nightblade? I place a high value on courage.”
Jun nodded and held up a hand. On it was a ring in the shape of a dragon, twisted around a great ruby. “I will give you this. It is one of the emblems of my office. I would wager the fact that Wojin does not have it rankles him. It will lend credence to your words.”
But Loren shook her head. “You cannot be serious. I am a spy, not a general.”
“You are more than a spy,” said Gem. “You are a legend.”
Annis silenced him with a sharp look and put her hand over Loren’s. “Gem speaks with words that are more flowery than useful, but he is not wrong. He is too eager to overestimate your worth, but you are too eager to dismiss it. Let my voice be the middle ground—you cannot singlehandedly save the nine kingdoms, but you can do this.”
Loren frowned. “I do not share your confidence.”
Annis’ eyes sharpened. “Sky above, Loren. You claim to keep me by your side because you value my advice. I am giving it now. Will you not heed it?”
Loren sighed and looked towards the ceiling. “Very well.”
“Very good,” said Jun. “And I believe I know what your first task must be. Wojin means to address the public tomorrow. It shall be a large event, carried out in a great square. We can expect many hundreds of people to gather. No doubt he means to lament my untimely death and decry the High King. He has not properly done so since he took my throne. We could hardly design a better place for you to reveal yourself.”
“That should work well,” said Annis. “If you interrupt his address, you should have just enough time to tell the people that Jun is alive and Wojin is a traitor.”
Loren’s throat had gone dry. “And then? I will be a poor figurehead if soldiers fill me with arrows.”
“You shall have to be fast, and you shall have to escape quickly,” said Wyle. “I can help you with that. My knowledge of secrets is not limited to ways in and out of this city. I know its streets as well.”
“We should go there today,” said Annis. “Scouting the place first will give us a greater chance of success—as well as a greater chance of getting out alive.”
Jun turned to the back of the room and beckoned to Kerri, who came forth at once. “Take Keridwen with you,” he said. “I do not doubt the craftiness of this man Wyle, but if I understand right, he has not been in the capital for some time. Keridwen lives here, and will no doubt have useful insight.”
Kerri inclined her head towards him. “It will be my pleasure, Your Grace.”
Loren nodded and stood. “If we mean to do this, we should not delay. I shall return before nightfall, Your Grace.”
Jun nodded and stood. The others were quick to follow, and Loren led them from the room.
“This is glorious,” said Gem. “I knew that tales of you would one day turn to legend, but this is something beyond what I had hoped.”
“Stop treating this like a lark,” said Loren. “It seems to me that your whispered rumors have only led me—and all of us—into greater danger. Some bodyguard you are.”
Gem ducked his head, but Annis smiled at him. “That may be true—but only because his tales have added to your power. You wish to do great things in Underrealm, Loren. But great actions always carry at least some danger. You cannot have the one without the other. We all play by the same rules in the end.”
Loren’s scowl deepened, and she waved her hand sharply. “Let us get on with this, then.”
LOREN SENT GEM TO FETCH Chet and the Mystics before they left. Once the party reached the streets, Kerri took them southeast on a path that briefly drew near the palace. Loren eyed the place with distrust. It was familiar from her dream, and this close the resemblance was even more clear. The mountains loomed above, just as she had seen them in slumber. She thought she could even see the street down which the faceless, masked army had marched, flowing into the front courtyard and breaking around Damaris and Gregor.
They passed the palace, and soon Kerri led them to a town square. In the center was a statue of a man Loren did not recognize, a man with a full beard and long, flowing robes. He had one hand raised to the sky. But before Loren could ask about him, Kerri pointed. A large manor dominated one entire side of the square, far more impressive than Yushan’s home where they had spent the night. The manor looked to be of the same sort of construction as the palace itself. Two of the square’s other sides were composed of shops, while directly across the way were four more manors, though they were far smaller and less impressive than the first.
“Wojin will speak from there,” said Kerri, still pointing at the largest manor. Set in its side was a wide marble balcony that stretched a few paces out into the air, overhanging the cobblestones below.
