Shadow Prince, page 17
part #2 of Demon Hunter Series
"As you ridicule him, you ridicule me," said Osestra. "Stop attacking both of us."
"I didn't mean to hurt you, little sister."
"Of course you meant to hurt her.” Vual rested his hands on his chair’s back. "You're cruel."
"And you’re savage," said Tomas. "I may be a hunter, but I don't go around challenging everyone by carrying a damn sword all the time." Vual touched the side of his scabbard, then raised the sheathed weapon. He held it before him, the table between him and Osestra's oldest brother. "You know why I carry the sword, don’t you?"
The man scoffed. “You're a nervous man for a high noble. Everyone knows you fear lacking an answer to insults. According to Catricha Maltos, you use it as a replacement for your wits."
"Wit is worthless without anger."
"Without anger," said Osestra’s other brother. "Wit is free."
Vual lowered the sword. "We can resolve our differences without violence.”
"What do you fancy?" asked Tomas. "A challenge of some kind?"
"A challenge of wits," said Vual. "Have you ever heard or played any table games of strategy?"
"I have tested my skills on tables at times," said Tomas. "But I'm surely no match for someone of your training. You studied for the greatest battles. You’re to be a general if there is another war with the Kism. I’d merely be a ranger."
"If," said Vual. "There is no doubt about that war coming someday."
Tomas chuckled. “Table games are for children, regardless.”
"Is it fair?” Vual shook his head. "If we look for a fair struggle between the two of us, we’ll be searching until your death.”
The younger of the brothers laughed. "Is that a threat?"
"No," said Vual. "Merely a statement of your combined incompetence."
The younger brother rolled his eyes.
Tomas grunted. "Now who's throwing insults?”
Osestra pressed her hands together. "Both of you. Resolve this like gentlemen, please."
"Like gentlemen?" said Vual. "You know, I'm not expected back in the city until morning."
"What do you imply?" Tomas asked.
"You fancy yourself a hunter.” Vual’s lip curled. "Then, you won’t be averse to a night hunt?"
"A night hunt in these demon-haunted woods? You're insane."
"Insane?" said Vual. "You baited me to this. If it wasn't your intention to answer my challenge, perhaps your honor and wit should sit down in silence."
Tomas glared at Vual, teeth bared. "Fine. We’ll hunt on foot. Bow and arrow."
"As you wish," said Vual. "I won't use battle magic, for courtesy’s sake.”
"Whoever shall return with the greatest beast," said Tomas, "shall be the winner of this hunt."
"As you wish. You have named your own terms of defeat."
Osestra glanced at Vual. "Do you mean to go into the glades tonight?" she said. "Surely this can wait for another day?"
"No," said Tomas. "We'll take him tonight. I'll teach you through the hunt that you are not my better. I choose my younger brother as my partner."
"I choose your sister as mine," said Vual. "You country folk all know your way around arrows, after all."
"It shall be settled.” Tomas ground his teeth together. "Be careful in the dark, Lord Kuldettan."
HE AND OSESTRA MADE their way into the glades west of Fulster’s walls. They moved lightly, both of them trained in the dark. Still, he could see little without his sprites out. They focused on their feet to avoid snapping any twigs and making sound.
Osestra’s brothers must be nearby, but the forest was still quiet except for the song of the night birds, and the occasional buzz of insects. All was covered by the night.
The two of them crept silently through the forest, looking for prey. The deer Vual sensed could be heard only by their magic, but Vual heard their heart songs. Animal songs were not as balanced as those of humans, because Mother Mercy did not see to them at birth.
Where humans were ushered into the world by the grace of her divine majesty, the animals flourished or faded on their own. Only the beasts in the Imperial Gardens of the Chos Valley were known to demonstrate such blessings.
Osestra held a bow in one hand, and carried an extra quiver for Vual, making three quivers between them. He hoped they wouldn’t need so many arrows.
Vual watched quietly as moonlight played on the horns of a large buck in a clearing ahead.
The buck moved in a subtle bow, quieter than Vual expected of a deer of such size. He grazed in the center of the small clearing. Thickets surrounded the clearing, bending the path of other animals around them. The deer stood alone, graceful and powerful.
The prey here was different than west of the city. The woods were less full, and the trees sparser, and the animals less influenced by demonic forces.
He signaled to Osestra with one of his sprites. The essence returned to him in an instant, but made no sound or light after blinking once in front of her.
Vual’s signal was for her to stay where she stood. He nocked an arrow to his bow. The buck was just twenty spans away. They wouldn’t get much closer without startling the animal.
Shadows floated under the moon, birds on the wing. A larger shadow sliced through the night. The sound of banes played from above.
“Never mind.” Vual murmured.
He loosed an arrow at the buck. Tracking the heart song with his ears, Vual skewered the beast in a fatal spot. The mighty deer threw back his antlered head and then fell to the ground. The beast made no further sounds as life ebbed away.
A perfect shot.
Vual lowered the bow. He and Osestra crept toward the deer. On the other side of the clearing, came the sound of footsteps. Osestra's brothers entered the clearing, looking at the fallen buck with terrified eyes.
"What did you do?" asked Tomas. "Osestra, you should know better."
"What's wrong?" said Vual. "Your defeat is certain, but besides that, I see no reason for you to fear."
"No," said the brother. "That's not the point. Do you not hear it?"
Vual shrugged. "Hear what? You fools would fear your own shadows in this dark night."
"It's not our shadows.” Tomas’ teeth chattered. "The demons visit these woods."
“This deer could have been demon spawn?" said Vual. "I’ve not heard of one ranging so far south."
"We shouldn’t have angered a greater spawn. That buck is one of their children."
"That explains the size.” Vual grimaced at the fallen deer. “So this is a demon spawn?"
Osestra took a deep breath. "Brothers, get out of here. Go back to the the town."
“I’d agree if I thought my legs could get me there before the mother of that deer catches us."
“How dangerous can a demon spawn be?” said Vual. “I sense no threat nearby.”
"She's a doe, the scouts say," said the younger brother. "She lacks antlers but she has other ways of beguiling or destroying us."
"Beguiling?" Vual snorted. "I'd heard you people south of the city tend to view animals differently than we do."
"That's not funny," said Osestra. "Not now."
Tomas nodded. "We need to band together, Kuldettan. You win the challenge. I give up."
"Good. I accept your surrender," said Vual. "Now run along.”
“You're the one who brought us out here," said the younger brother. "You have to save us."
"I don't have to do anything, you insulting fool. I have no obligation to protect you, only myself and Osestra."
"Vual," said Osestra. "Please, help my brothers."
He closed his eyes for a second. "Very well.” He turned his back on the brothers. “Follow me and keep your eyes open. It’s a good mile back to the town. A shadow passed overhead earlier. Have you any idea what it was?”
"It could have been a demon spawn?" said Osestra.
"It sounded like a heart full of banes.” Vual nodded. "That means there could be more danger in this place than even a spawn. An actual demon may lurk here."
"An actual demon?" said the brother. "We'd be doomed."
"Not yet.” Vual hefted the heavy deer carcass onto his back and started to walk.
They followed the way Vual and Osestra had to the main road. When they arrived the road was lit by a halo of red-glowing sprites that burned, drawing all four of their eyes toward the great form that blocked the path home. She appeared as a deer, even larger than the buck on Vual’s back. He lowered the carcass to the dirt of the road.
The demon spawn’s face did not resemble a deer’s, but instead that of a woman with flowing black hair on either side that moved in the breeze.
“How dare you," said the beast in a sweet, dangerous voice. "How dare you take my children?"
"That thing is not right.” Vual shook with fear and fury.
"Thing?" Hissed the beast. "You would kill us like we are not intelligent, like we are not human."
"From your essence I’d bet you're not a demon." Vual clenched his teeth. “But you definitely aren't human."
"You dare—?"
The beast roared as she charged them, abandoning all vestiges of humanity. Her face contorted into a horrible glare. The demon deer raced toward the hunters.
Vual stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his relic sword, and his bow slung over his shoulder. Osestra glanced at him. He hoped she couldn’t see him shake in the dark. The beast before them, half-demon and half-deer, reared up, hooves in the air. Osestra's brothers cried in fear.
“Do you think that pathetic weapon will keep me from avenging my child's death?" hissed the beast.
“It’s possible,” said Vual.
The monstrous creature kicked the air, then dropped to all-fours and raced toward them. She barreled toward Vual, head forward and teeth gnashing. Those teeth glimmered with a metallic sheen. The fury of her charge gave her a back and forth motion. He swiped out with his blade. The sword sliced through the air over the deer's head, missing the mark.
The deer-beast’s fangs sank into his shoulder. With the human-like face close to his, he felt his skin break. Blood flowed hot from his wound.
Osestra yelled and knocked an arrow to shoot. Lashing hooves pounded the ground around them as Vual lost his footing, and the deer carried him forward with it. He shook himself and shuddered in the monster’s bloody jaws.
Vual brought his sword up and pierced the demon-deer. He slashed again but the monstrous demon-spawn didn’t react. The blade cut and cut but those teeth sank deeper and deeper into his shoulder. Vual’s sword-arm weakened as the muscle tore in places.
The deer hurled Vual to the ground, then turned her bloodied face toward Osestra and her brothers. The three of them had all fitted arrows, but none of them would have a chance to shoot before the creature closed with them. Vual lurched to his feet. As he staggered forward, a shadow descended from the trees above.
The robed form of Deckard Hadrian landed directly on the demon deer’s back. Bright sprite strings impaled the beast through each leg, pinning her to the forest floor.
Deckard Hadrian slammed the demon spawn to the ground. The monster lurched around to look at him, but in the next second, he had drawn a blade. His sword carved into the beast’s neck. The head flew free and the demon spawn’s struggles stilled.
Deckard stepped over the fallen monster. He glanced at Osestra and her brothers, then turned to Vual. “You looked as though you were having difficulty," he said. "It's a good thing I heard the screams."
Vual grimaced, pressing his hand to his wound to stop the blood flow. "I'm glad you made it, ancestor."
"So am I," said Deckard. "But I'm afraid this was a detour, I'll see you safely back to Fulster."
"Then what?" asked Vual.
"Then I'll take you back to Alliance," he said. "You have strayed far today, Vual."
"Did my mother put you up to this?" asked Vual through clenched teeth. "If so, I don't need the help."
"No," said Deckard. "I'm here on my own mission."
Vual gritted his teeth. "I'll be fine without your assistance."
Deckard Hadrian shook his head. "I have questions only you can answer.”
"I’ll answer them all," said Vual. “Right here."
"I won't force you to go back to the city tonight," said Deckard. "But you’re just a boy, so be more careful."
Tomas snickered. Deckard glared at him at the same time as Vual.
"All of you should heed my advice."
"Thank you," said Osestra. "Immortal."
"It's nothing. I'm glad I was able to protect you all."
"You saved us," said Osestra. "I won't forget that."
"See that you return safely to the village," said Deckard. "There are probably other demon spawn out in the woods tonight."
"Can you hear them?" asked Vual.
"Some. But I'm sure there are more." Deckard motioned the four young nobles back toward Fulster.
SHE WAITED A DAY WHILE Porfiria checked through the records of the party for other possible suspects. When the two of them met up again one question joined them. Which guard had directed Sariah to meet Adias?
We might be grasping at straws, Catricha thought, but at least we’re reaching for something.
The library on the north side of Alliance, east of the river, had fallen far from what it had once been. Stone walls remained overgrown with vines despite the gathering cold. Birds called to each other from their roosts in the abandoned belfry. The books inside, however, were better preserved than the building.
The path of the carriage took Porfiria and Catricha around the circle at the front of the library and to the smaller entrance at the back. Though the library here contained older books than those in the main branch, the indication over the doorway where they stopped the carriage told her of how much older.
The writing above the door was not imperial script, but in pre-imperial. The writing belonged to the ancient rulers of Tancuon. They had been conquered by Jadik and their empires lay fallen. Now, a thousand years or more later, the Empire of Jadiketz was scattered. Yet, Mother Mercy herself held sway over the land.
Catricha said a small blessing to mercy and then climbed from the carriage. Pre-imperial script was not only odd to look at, but tended toward the occult and strange in meaning. Catricha couldn’t make light of such things in writing or in front of a crowd. When the time came to test her belief in the world beyond humanity, she found herself more frightened than she preferred to admit.
The door creaked open as they approached. Porfiria nodded to the slender young librarian as he led them in. "Did you find the book?”
"Did you ever doubt me?" The young man produced a thick book with a worn black cover from one side of the short library desks by the door. "It's one of the oldest volumes in this entire place."
"What is it about?" asked Catricha.
"Lady Maltos," said the librarian. "This book details the shadow’s reign over the city."
"The shadow’s reign?" said Porfiria. "I thought that was just a subtitle."
"It is.” The young man grinned. "I like the subtitle better. The main title is of course, The Prince of Jasguara."
"Jasguara?" said Catricha. "That's what Alliance used to be called, right?"
"One of its names.” Porfiria nodded. "Before Jadik and Zidon arrived."
"Indeed. Before they toppled the former rulers of the land," said the librarian in a hushed voice. "But no one's come looking for that volume in some time.”
Catricha narrowed her eyes at the book. "I'm surprised. If anyone else knew what happened to the steward and the prince, I think more would have heir eyes on it."
"What do you mean?" said librarian.
"Never mind," said Porfiria. "Here's your payment.” She handed a pouch of silver coins to the librarian.
“Thank you, my lady.” He took the silver and handed Porfiria the book.
A DAY LATER, PORFIRIA sent a letter to Catricha at her parents’ house.
The letter read in the flowing script Porfiria used, a simple request, for Catricha to find Sion Arver and meet Porfiria by the tombs.
The way through the city was cold and damp with fresh rain as Catricha walked the path, dressed down from her elegant evening clothes to a pair of trousers and an unassuming white tunic. In daylight, there was no point in her attempting stealth in Alliance.
She was glad not to go anywhere near the Kuldettan-controlled portion of town. Vual could be there. And Ruar, almost as bad, because he refused to even write Catricha in response to her letters.
"I will solve that problem later." Catricha took a deep breath, and then knocked on the door of the small watch-house where Sion was staying. One of the watchmen who lived there let her in.
She made her way past the table of guards gambling for a few bronze coins and bits of produce. Up the stairs and to the right, she found Sion by the window. He was gazing out at the city streets.
The city itself looked bleak from this angle, given the weather. Gray clouds hung thick and low. The towers seem to spear the sky, piercing but not drawing the rain forth, though another torrent looked soon to come.
"I was wondering when I'd see you again, my lady.” Sion bowed his head. "After the party."
"Don't feel bad for what happened that night," said Catricha. "I don’t blame you."
"Do you blame Lady Paroth?" said Sion. "I heard she was the one who put you up to wearing that dress."
"I put on the dress of my own free will. I don't blame Nansoela for suggesting it."
"Lady Amburen wrote me.” Sion nodded. "She told me to wait here until you arrived."
"Here I am," said Catricha with a smile. "Do you want to stand here admiring this grim city for another few hours or do you want to go meet her?"
CATRICHA AND SION MET Porfiria at a small marketplace near her home. The three of them gathered under an awning where two shops met. The dark clouds gathered overhead, heavy with rain. Catricha glimpsed the first drops in the distance over the city where the sky opened. She frowned at a knot of shadows in the burgeoning sky.
"Why did you call us, Lady Amburen?" asked Sion.
