Elsewhere

“High Tar Kostek,” Gwaynn answered softly, clearly confused by the man’s presence.

But Kostek shook his head. “Simply Tar Kostek,” he answered with another smile. “I have resigned my position…and now I am at your service.”

Cyndar’s heart jumped at the news. ‘I have waited too long. The Tars have arrived. I’ve failed.’

“As am I!” Tar Endid said shaking Gwaynn’s hand.

“And I,” Vio said almost shyly. “As I told you, I am no longer Deutzani.”

Gwaynn’s expression slowly changed from one of stunned disbelief to pure happiness. ‘Tars…two Tars and Vio…they would be indispensible in the coming conflict.’

“You are welcome…you are very welcome here in Massi,” he said grinning broadly as he moved over to hug Vio. When they pulled apart, Gwaynn was still smiling.

“I’d like you to meet someone,” he said to them all and turned around, relieved that for once, Samantha did not appear to be jealous of his obvious affection for another woman.

“This is Samantha Fultan,” he said looking down at her with such a soft, loving expression that she had a hard time pulling her eyes from his in order to properly greet their visitors. “She’s the mother of my child and soon to be my queen,” he added.

Samantha’s heart jumped and suddenly she knew; knew in her heart that he loved her and was devoted to her.

They all greeted her with enthusiasm and warmth, but Samantha was painfully aware that they were also blatantly ignoring her missing arm.

“And this is…” Gwaynn continued but when he turned around Cyndar Huntley was no longer in the tent. He wondered briefly at her absence and sincerely hoped it was not because of his declaration of devotion for Samantha, after all he’d made his feelings perfectly clear to his Captain. In this world, he could not be with her but then abruptly and unbidden, the vision of Cyndar naked flashed clearly in his mind. He blinked once trying to dispel the vision, finally it dissipated but it left behind a forbidden warmth he could not deny. He sighed softly.

“Rest,” he said and leaned over and kissed Samantha on the forehead. “I’ll return later and fill you in.”

When they stepped from the tent, Gwaynn received another shock, for there milling about the courtyard of the bailey were three additional Tars and a half dozen students, Tam and William from Mele quarter among them.

“Tarina Grace,” Gwaynn said smiling and moving forward to grasp the hand of the tall elderly woman. She smiled back and bowed slightly.

“It is good to see you doing so well,” the Tarina said. “We’ve come to aid you against the High King’s injustice.”

“I thank you. I thank you all,” Gwaynn said as Kostek introduce him to the other Tars. Tar Myson, Tar Halstad and Tarina re N’dori, who Gwaynn was surprised to find out was actually a Solitary.

“Nev has told me of your skill and wisdom,” the Solitary said quietly. “I was curious and wanted to experience you for myself,” she added in attempt to explain her presence.

Gwaynn studied her a moment, amused by her statement. She was tall, nearly eye level with Gwaynn. Her light brown hair was thick, and though it was tied back with a leather thong, a good deal of it had broken free and was blowing about in the late morning breeze. Apparently having a patch of wild hair on your head was a mandatory requirement to become a Solitary on Noble.

“Gwaynn,” Tam said and moved forward to give him a long hug. She was taller, and her dark hair was longer, but otherwise she looked just as she had the last time he’d seen her. William followed with a strong handshake and a pat on the shoulder. He looked much the same. Gwaynn was of the mind that he did not know any of the other students until Kostek introduced the Lady Bethany of Massi…Noble’s other student from his country. She was taller than he remembered, though far from tall, standing just over five feet. Her hair was long and dark, her cheeks were round and prominent and her eyes were wide brown pools. She was growing into a very lovely young woman.

“Majesty,” she said with a graceful bow.

“Gwaynn please,” he answered and reached out to guide her to her full height. He looked down at her with clear affection, though they’d met only briefly before. “Welcome home.”

“Thank you…Gwaynn,” she said and stepped back.

The other students, Saran and Jinja were both seven year male students from the Mneme quarter, and a small dark skinned girl named Indira from Aoede quarter. It was only later that Gwaynn learned she was the eldest student of the group…and aside from Vio, the most talented.

“What’s the situation?” Tar Kostek said after all the introductions were made. “I see the Temple Knights are preparing for battle,” he added glancing off the Scar and out across Manse to the plains below.

“Yes…” Gwaynn began but was interrupted as Emm rushed up to them, the expression on her face made it plain that she’d already heard the bad news. Gwaynn groaned, inwardly berating himself for not going to the girl first.

“Gwaynn where’s Krys?”

Gwaynn hesitated and Emm face went from panic to anguish in an instant. She cried out and staggered slightly, then she crumpled and would have fallen but Gwaynn moved forward, caught her and lifted her into his arms. He carried her easily, surprised by just how physically insubstantial she was. He held her close and whispered words that would not, could not help. But it mattered little, she was unconscious but even so her dark brows were furrowed in pain.

“Krys was killed this morning in the fighting on the Plateau,” Gwaynn explained. Vio gasped in disbelief and Tam actually cried out in shock, and Gwaynn saw his own sadness mirrored in the expressions of every Tar from Noble Island.

IX

‘She saw me! She knows or will remember soon enough’ Tarina Cyn de Baard thought as she hastily shoved her belongings into several bags. She had to leave…leave now before the girl placed her, and she eventually would, undoubtedly when her facial bandages finally came off. de Baard’s heart only began to slow when all her belongings were packed away and waiting on the bed.

‘I’ll have to be careful with the horse or it will cause suspicion.’ She moved to the door of her room and was almost off to garner a mount when she suddenly stopped, her hand resting lightly on the latch. She flopped down on the bed, trying to think, trying to be calm.

‘But she didn’t recognize me…and like a young fool you ran away…I should have stayed. But there were Tars…two Tars.’

de Baard, though she was confident of her skills, had no illusions about what would have happened to her if she went up against two Tars from Noble. She would die…and quickly, and that was not even taking Gwaynn into account. He was so skilled, so fast, so deadly, he had to be fighting on Tar level…if he was not, then the fate of Sinis was assured.

‘But she did not recognize me,’ de Baard reminded herself.

Her heartbeat slowed even more and she finally got control of her emotions. Even if the girl didn’t recognize her, the presence of Tars now hampered her plans all the more.

‘I could add the Noble girl to the list of those who will die,’ she considered with as smile, but it soon fell into a frown. The list of people she planned to kill but had not, was growing very long.

In the end, de Baard only had two real options; she could run, or she could kill Vio along with the bitch…and possibly Gwaynn. Of course if the opportunity presented itself she could just kill Gwaynn and his whore and then flee, but perhaps…yes perhaps poison should be brought to bear.

‘With poison I could kill them all…all the Tars and all the students.’

de Baard quickly sat up and considered the idea a moment longer and then she smiled her sweet, warm smile.

‘To kill Tars would go a long way with Sinis…I would be welcomed back and then I could deal with Nacht.’

de Baard stood and began to unpack once more. If she was to succeed she must be calm; she must not lose