As I stepped down the stairs, wide enough for even Tejón’s bulk to descend without trouble, I was surprised that the air coming up was warm, not the stone-chilled wind I’d expected. A delightful smell came with it.
Sure enough, as we wound down the stairs two times, the sound of popping and hissing meat came along with an orange glow.
A large chamber greeted us, something the size of a convenience store, with a large firepit in the center, and a long, uninterrupted stone bench ringing the room.
Hardel led us to a group of rangers who were standing near the fire. Liam, who had found us the other night and invited us here, was turning the crank of a large spit, an already-crispy deer hanging above the fire.
He smiled and shook our hands, then turned and introduced a woman to us. “And this is my sister, Lilian. Do you remember her, Alysand?”
“How could I forget? Though the little girl with a bow in her hands in the hills above Port Vaya was a lot shorter than you are now. Well met again, Lilian. You look as fierce as your mother and as lovely as your father.”
The woman beamed at him, no doubt remembering when she’d met Alysand long ago. Madi and I introduced ourselves, and I had to admit, Lilian was beautiful. She had creamy skin and raven-black hair. Her eyes glittered brightly in the firelight.
“Hail, gunsinger,” she said. “I’ve missed your stories. Perhaps we could have one tonight. We brought dinner, after all.” She gestured to the deer.
As Hardel walked over to Pachi and Tejón, he added, “Aye, and two for the powerful beasts that accompany us. My lord, you two are magnificent. A vardeen maiden and the son of a stone bear? Well met.” He bowed to each of the creatures.
Pachi bestowed her blessing on him by bowing back and pushing the top of her head against him, and Tejón simply sniffed him.
“Son of Marduk the Mighty,” Alysand added in a whisper.
A few of Hardel’s breaths caught. He looked at our party again, a veneer of pain and rage held back. “Why does he travel with you, then?”
Alysand made to speak, but I felt compelled. It was my sword that had ended her, after all. “We never would have wanted to slay her, let alone be foolish enough to try. But we found her in a cave above Benham, where she’d killed many sheep and threatened the town. When she fell, we found this woven into her pelt, powering a spell of binding.” I showed him the Ito braid from my sword.
He inspected it, then handed it back. “I see. And as to the general topic of our convocation, I might guess as to who was responsible for binding her.”
“Your suspicion is correct,” Alysand said. “The letters RK were carved in one of her bone plates, the monster too proud not to claim this witchcraft as his own.” He patted the tall man on the shoulder. “That is not the only ancient being we have slain of late. The second hurt me even more.”
Hardel’s expression was drawn as he spoke, “Perhaps we should wait, then, until the rest arrive. Only a handful of us will be present this evening.” We sat on the benches nearby and Liam cut away slices of the venison for us to eat.
I quickly ate my fill and was marveling at how efficiently the room had been warmed by a single fire when footsteps came from the stairs.
Selna came into view, her face more gaunt than the last time I’d seen her, but she was alive and healthy nonetheless.
I stood, my heart beating in my chest, as she grinned at me. “Hana! I am so happy to see you again. Sorry I couldn’t meet you at Judas’ hut. He is a pleasant enough fellow, though, am I right?” She hugged me tightly, and I marveled at how good it felt.
“He is, and he had much to say about you as well,” I said with a smirk on my face.
Selna laughed, a bright and mirthful thing, and shook her head. “Yes, I am sure he did. Now, tell me who your stalwart friend is.”
“My name is Madi. Nice to meet you. Hana says you’re a badass in a fight.” She spoke the latter phrase awkwardly.
“I’m not the best among us, but I am skilled enough,” Selna admitted.
“Ha!” Liam said, thumping Selna on the back. “Selna could spit a pack of wargs with a single arrow on a moonless night. Too damn modest.”
Another voice came from the stairwell, this one harsh and torn like a rockfall. “And don’t forget who taught her the bow and the sword. That would be a grave mistake indeed.”
An older man strode to the fire, his face all leather and burlap. He wore a scowl, and my stomach leapt when he turned on me. Then, thankfully, the edges of his mouth pulled into a half-smile.
Selna bowed, not deep and courtly, but with a simple yet dignified bow of the head. The other rangers did as well. Then she spoke. “Hana, Madi, this is the leader of the Sirrushi Doondane, Ashtel Vindari. And no, I would never forget who taught me my craft.” She had a twinkle in her eyes as she regarded the old man.
Ashtel looked around at everyone present and nodded. “Good, so it seems we are all here. Bastral met me outside and sent for those of us with fur or feather and stomach enough for venison.” He smiled at Pachi and Tejón. “Then one of you will need to tell me how a stone bear and one of the vardeen are among us.”
I am being summoned to dine? Pachi asked me.
Yes, apparently someone named Bastral wants to give you a deer to eat. Might want to hurry.
Pachi’s eyes were bright as she clacked her teeth and darted up the stairs, Tejón’s bulky form behind her.
“The mage Judas is
