“Brak, has this got something to do with the power in the Citadel that Dranymire spoke of?”
Before he could answer, the wagon creaked to a stop behind them. Garet rode forward and frowned at Dace.
“I see your god is still with us. Are you two planning to sit here in the middle of the road blocking the way, or can we proceed? In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s going to rain soon. I’d like to reach Malacky before then.”
“These atheists really are an impatient lot, aren’t they?” Dacendaran remarked loftily. With that, he vanished, leaving Garet wide eyed.
R’shiel looked at Garet and wondered how the commandant would explain Dace’s sudden disappearance to himself, but after a moment’s stunned silence, he waved his men and the wagon forward as if absolutely nothing untoward had happened.
Part 3
THE POLITICS OF SEDUCTION
Chapter 36
Mikel was separated from the princess and placed in the custody of the Defenders’ Master of Horse, a small, slender man with dark hair and an affection for the creatures in his charge which bordered on obsession. Captain Hadly had endless patience with his horses and none at all for defiant Karien boys. When one of Lord Wolfblade’s Raiders delivered him into Hadly’s care, he had glanced at the note Tarja had hastily scribbled then looked disdainfully at Mikel.
“Captain Tenragan says you are to be placed in my care. He says that if you try to escape, or give me any bother at all, I am to inform him immediately. He also says to remind you about your brother. Do you know what he means?”
Mikel nodded sullenly. He had hoped Tarja might forget about Jaymes.
“Good, because I’ve no time to waste on infants. I’ve damned near two thousand horses here, boy, and now there’s the Fardohnyan mounts to take care of. Go find Sergeant Monthay. He’ll find something useful for you to do.”
With little choice in the matter, he did as he was told.
Besides being sick with worry over the princess, Mikel was desperate to discover his brother’s fate, but there seemed little chance here among the horses. The Hythrun mounts were corralled away from the Medalonian horses – something to do with the purity of the Hythrun breed that Mikel didn’t really understand – so there was no chance to question anyone about the Karien boy they held prisoner. Sergeant Monthay set him to distributing hay, an endless task with so vast a herd. He spent all day lugging haybales from the cart into the corrals, then running to catch up as Monthay moved the wagon on to the next enclosure. It was backbreaking work, but it kept him from thinking too much, and at night he collapsed into the bedroll Monthay had found for him in the tack tent, asleep almost before his head hit the saddle he used for a pillow.
On the fourth day of his captivity, the rain cleared and the weather grew even colder. The sharp smell of snow lingered on the wind and Hadly fretted at the lack of protection for his horses. He had commandeered a large force of workers from the followers’ camp and had them erecting canvas covered shelters in the corrals in anticipation of the coming inclement weather.
Mikel shivered as he went about his chores. Monthay was anxious to finish for the day and get back to the warmth of his tent. It was almost midday when they reached the corral where the workers were tying canvas over another sapling framework. The cold sun did nothing to warm the day. There was a small fire burning just outside the corral, and several women were doling out hot soup as the workers took a break from their labour. Monthay glanced at Mikel, ordered him to keep working, and went to join them.
He lugged another bale from the cart and dragged it along the ground toward the corral, cursing Medalonians in general, and Monthay in particular. He muttered a prayer to the Overlord, asking his god to strike down the men enjoying the hot soup with dysentery. It seemed only fitting.
“Xaphista’s far too busy to answer, you know.”
Mikel looked up and discovered a boy of about fifteen sitting on the top rail of the corral. He was dressed in an odd collection of clothes that looked like cast-offs from some bygone era. Mikel was not aware that he had spoken aloud.
“You should not speak the name of Xaphista. You’re an unbeliever.”
“Not at all! I know Xaphista personally! Can’t say that I speak to him much myself, mind you, but he does exist.”
Mikel straightened and stared at the youth, a little surprised to hear such an admission from an atheist. He supposed the boy was one of the workers erecting the shelters.
“What do you want?”
“Nothing.”
“Then leave me alone.” He grabbed the twine holding the bale together and grunted with the effort of dragging it over the rough ground towards the corral.
“What are you doing?”
“What does it
The fair-haired youth laughed. “That bale is near as big as you are!”
“Then why don’t you help me?”
“Ah, now that would mean work. I don’t do work.”
Mikel let go of the bale and glared at him. “What
“I’m a thief.”
The news did not surprise Mikel. The lad looked dishonest. “Thievery is a sin.”
“Don’t be absurd! Who told you that? Ah! Xaphista did, I suppose. Cheeky sod.”
“You shouldn’t blaspheme! That’s a sin too!”
“There is no such thing as sin... what’s your name?”
“Mikel.”
“Well, Mikel, let me put your mind at ease. There is no such thing as sin. A thief is not doing something wrong, he is honouring Dacendaran, the God of Thieves.”
“There is only one true god!” Mikel insisted.
The boy frowned and jumped off the rail. “You really believe that, don’t you? Are all Kariens like you?”
“Yes! Now go away and leave me alone!” Mikel made to reach for the bale, but the youth sat himself down on it and looked at him closely.
“Mikel, the only reason Xaphista invented the concept of sin was to stop his believers honouring the other gods.”
“There
“I can see I’m going to have to educate you, young man.” The youth sighed heavily, then suddenly brightened. “I know, I shall become your new best friend and lead you to the truth about the Primal gods!”
“I already know the truth. Xaphista is the Overlord.”
“Xaphista is a pompous old windbag, actually, and I shall delight in stealing you from him.”
“Come on, boy! We’ll still be here at midnight at this rate! Get a move on!”
Mikel started as Monthay yelled at him. He turned back to the boy sitting on the bale and was even more startled to discover he was gone.
“Don’t just stand there talking to yourself like a fool,” Monthay scolded as he drew near. “Go get some soup,
