Jinaari reached for his goblet, trying to pinpoint the reason behind his restlessness. It was random, without cause or reason. Yet it settled into his soul the moment he escorted Thia into the hall for dinner with his brothers.
Glancing to his left, he looked past the commander at Thia. She’d stopped eating; placing her silverware across the top of the plate. There was still food on it, but less than half what she’d been served. Good, he thought, she’s still eating.
The large wood doors at the end of the hall were pushed open violently, and Jinaari shifted his focus. A man strode in; one hand resting on the pommel of the sword at his waist. His brown hair was pulled back. The medallion he wore was the same as Jinaari’s. Leaning back, he watched the newcomer approach.
Paul cleared his throat, and the conversation within the room stopped. “You’re late, Vadim.”
The newcomer stopped in front of the table. “My apologies, Commander.” He turned to Jinaari. “You are welcome, brother.”
“Jinaari Althir is more than your brother, Vadim. He is the Shield, the Protector of Avoch.”
Vadim raised an eyebrow, “Is he? Truly, then,” he bowed at Jinaari, “are we blessed by more than Garret’s grace to have him visit us.”
“I appreciate the welcome, brother,” Jinaari said, inclining his head. “I didn’t come alone, though. Allow me to introduce you to the Daughter of Keroys, and wielder of the Scepter of Avoch.” Pushing his chair back, he began to rise.
Vadim looked around, shocked. “I see no one else of note, brother. Are you sure she’s here? If so, I would gladly make her acquaintance.”
Walking around the table, Jinaari stared at Vadim. “She sits to the left of your commander, brother,” he emphasized the last word. “Does your eyesight fail you in your youth?”
Turning, Vadim threw up his hands and spoke toward the assembled paladins. “I see only a Fallen witch. One who stole the scepter, slayed our kin, and has no honor.” He glared at Jinaari; his face twisted in hatred and contempt. “Or have you brought her to us to atone for her sins? A whore for us all to take generations of pain and loathing out on?”
A stunned silence descended on the room at his words. Paul pushed his chair back, placing his fists on the table in front of him, “Have you lost your mind?!” he roared. “No paladin of Garret would dare say such words about a guest!”
Holding up his hand, Jinaari kept his focus on the man in front of him. “I would rethink your words, friend,” he growled. “She is not who you think she is. Garret himself tasked me with her safety. Against any who would do her harm.”
Vadim stared back at him. “No brother of mine would associate with a Fallen witch. If you truly believe our God told you to protect this mongrel, then you’re a fool. Garret would never help a follower of Lolc Aon!” He swiveled, spitting in Thia’s direction.
Glancing up, Jinaari saw Caelynn urging Thia to get up and leave. Her face was a mask, but he could see the pain in her eyes. “You need to apologize.”
The other man stepped closer, his face within inches of Jinaari’s. “Make me.”
“I will. Tomorrow morning, in the arena.”
“Bring your whore,” Vadim growled. “It will do her good to watch me cut you.”
Jinaari stared at him, resisting the urge to start the fight immediately. Paul appeared between them, pushing them apart. “This is still Garret’s chapterhouse. Respect will be given!” He stared at Vadim.
“The challenge has been accepted,” Jinaari said, making sure his voice carried throughout the room. “I say, here and now, that this man is no brother paladin of mine. Tomorrow, I shall prove it when our blades meet in the arena. I invoke the law of hospitality. As long as my companions remain within this keep, they shall have peace. Regardless of the outcome in the morning.”
“Such is the law,” Paul said, his voice laden with the command as it rang through the hall. “If any here present,” he shot a look at Vadim, “think they are above the law, or can violate it, let him leave this keep now.”
Five men stood and walked single file toward the exit. The remaining stayed. Jinaari studied their faces. A few were curious, others cautious. The majority held a steadfast resolve. They would be safe within these walls, or his brothers would die while they escaped.
“Get out of here with your friends,” Paul said, jerking Jinaari’s thoughts back to Vadim. “You are not allowed through the gates again until tomorrow morning.”
Vadim sneered, “This is my home more than any whore’s refuge.”
“Get out,” the commander said from between clenched teeth. “Go find an inn or see if the Princess will let you warm her bed. Garret’s Law on this is clear. May the Gods help you tomorrow. You’re going to need it.”
Vadim stared at Jinaari, but he didn’t back down. Inside, he seethed but knew he couldn’t show it. “The only one who needs help is you, Althir. You’ve sold your sword to evil.” Turning, Vadim strode from the room.
“Go,” Paul said, his voice low, “your friends will need you. And you need to prepare for tomorrow. I’ll set extra guards on the hall you’re in. None will disturb your rest.”
“Thank you, Commander,” Jinaari said. Walking quickly, he headed up the stairs and toward their room. Behind him, he heard the steps of ten men. Glancing over his shoulder, he caught the gaze of the closest one.
“Vadim’s an ass,” the man said, “and I look forward to watching you teach him some lessons tomorrow. The Scepter is more than she appears, yes?”
“Much more,” Jinaari said over his shoulder.
“Then fear not for her safety, brother. None of us will allow so much as a flea to come near her.”
Nodding his thanks, he looked forward and focused on the door at the end. He’d given Caelynn the key earlier. They should be in the room with Gnat and Adam. Caelynn was staying there until they returned. She’d come into the hall about halfway through the meal. Garret, I hope Adam found something helpful.
Knocking on the door, he said, “It’s me.” It opened, and Adam stepped aside. As soon as he was through, the blonde man closed and locked it. “Find anything?”
“No,” Adam said. “I hear you’re fighting in the morning.”
“It’s necessary.”
“It’s stupid. That’s what it is,” Thia snapped at him.
Looking at her, he shook his head. “He insulted you, your position, and all you stand for, Thia. He needs to learn to think before he speaks.”
“How? By you breaking his legs? I’ve been insulted before, Jinaari. It’s going to happen again. We’re not going to change minds about me, the Thahion, by sheer brutality.” She sat cross-legged at the end of one of the beds. The gray dress had been replaced by the long, linen tunic she normally slept in.
“And I’ve told you,” he said, keeping his voice light, “that sometimes that’s what will need to happen.” Grabbing a chair, he dragged it across the floor and placed it near her. Sitting down, he stared at her. Anger and hurt danced in her lilac eyes. “This is what I do, Thia. I’m a fighter, and a man of honor. I cannot let the insult stand. If I do, it diminishes you and I both. It emboldens our enemies. I won’t kill him. But he will learn, painfully, that he needs to apologize.”
“I can do that myself. I don’t need you to do it for me.”
He sat back in the chair. “No. It has to be me. The Shield protects the Scepter, remember? You’ll be there, watching, but stay out of it.” He stared at her, his voice firm. “You don’t heal me. You don’t help me in any way. Or hinder him. If I thought it would help, I’d tell Gnat to sit in your lap.”
Shock and disbelief warred with each other on her face. “You honestly think I’ll sit there and watch this?” Her voice bordered on incredulousness.
“You have to, Thia. If you’re not there, it gives him the advantage. It would look like you don’t see me as your champion.”
She stood, staring at him. “Maybe I don’t,” she said before running toward the bath chamber, slamming the door behind her.
Jinaari started to stand up but sank back down as Caelynn held up a hand. “Don’t,” she told him. “She’s not going to hear you. Not right now. I’ll talk to her.” The pink-haired woman walked toward the door. Opening it quietly, she disappeared through it.
His chest felt tight. How could she not see him as her champion? Everything he’d ever done was meant to keep her safe, protect her. Was it not enough somehow? “Maybe you don’t trust me as much as I thought,” he whispered.
“Trust isn’t the problem,” Adam said.
Jinaari turned his head toward him. “What are you talking about?”
The blonde man sat on a bed. “I’m saying some things you already know. Thia’s stubborn, almost obstinate—.”
“I know that.”
“But so are you. You’re expecting her to know about how your Order views honor, all the intricacies of it. I’ve been your brother, fought at your side, for over a decade and even I don’t know it all. The only thing she knows is what you’ve told her, or she’s learned by watching you. There might be a few books she’s read, but I doubt it. Jinaari, she doesn’t know what all of this means. To you, to the other paladins, or to us. All she knows is that someone she cares about is planning on fighting someone who insulted her. Which, to her point, has happened numerous times and likely will again.” He paused. “Thia trusts you. You know this. What’s got her spooked is that she doesn’t understand why this is happening. You’ve told her to sit and watch you get hurt.” Jinaari drew in a breath, ready to protest, but Adam held up his hand. “I know. You’re the better swordsman, and this won’t be much of a fight. There’s always the chance he’ll get in a lucky shot. Alesso did, more than once. You’re not invincible, no matter how much you pretend you are.”
“I would’ve explained it, if she’d asked. Instead, she stormed off.”
“Let Caelynn do that. A lot of songs are based on exploits of your brothers. She understands better than most outside the Order and can explain it in a way that Thia will understand. You need to get your rest.”
Jinaari shook his head. “I can’t leave it like this, Adam. She said she didn’t see me as her champion. I need to know she’ll be there tomorrow. It’s going to undermine so much of what we discussed with Elizabeth if she’s not.”
Adam gave him a direct look. “She’ll be there. Talking to her now won’t work, though. She’s not going to hear you. I know her tells, almost as well as you do. She’s scared, possibly as terrified as she was when we were heading down to Lolc Aon. Pressing her to explain what she’s feeling before she’s ready isn’t going to work.”
“What’s she scared of? I’m not losing tomorrow.”
“She’s scared of the things she can’t control. Just like the rest of us. I know she said in the refuge that she’s cured. I’m not so sure. There was something else to how she reacted when they came back to the room.”
Concern rose in him. “What happened?”
Adam shrugged. “It’s hard to explain without seeming crazy. She stormed in, Caelynn following, and pulled her shift out of her pack while I was told what happened. I watched Thia’s face. I swear, at one point she smiled. It was when Caelynn told me the insult Vadim used. There was a second when I thought her eyes shifted color.”
“What?”
“It was probably a reflection of the fire, honestly. Her eyes are so pale to begin with. For a moment, though, they appeared red.”
“Shit,” he cursed. Adam gave him a questioning look, and he said, “In the dream she had when she ran, she said there was someone who looked exactly like her, except their eyes were red. It was the only person she said talked to her.”
“What’d they say?”
“That they were Herasta’s daughter, same as Thia. That it was time to join her real family, replace Lolc Aon.”
“I don’t like the sound of that, Jinaari.”
“Neither do I, but we can’t solve the problem overnight. I’m getting some sleep. Talk to Caelynn without Thia hearing you, set up a watch with her. I’ll take third.” Jinaari rose from the chair and moved to a cot. Sitting down, he began to pull off his boots.
“Are you worried about our safety? We’re in your chapterhouse,” Adam said.
“My concern isn’t for who’s out there,” he replied. “Rather, who might be in the room with us and we don’t know.” Pointing to the small table, he said, “Make sure whoever’s on watch has the key in their pocket. We don’t need Thia to go wandering.” Pulling the blankets over him, he turned to one side. Thia’s bed was within feet of his, still empty. Closing his eyes, he kept his ears open. I need to know she gets to bed, that’s all. Tomorrow, I teach Vadim a lesson. If I’m lucky, Jynth will attend. We can accept her fealty, get out of here before anyone else bothers us. That dream wasn’t normal. If someone’s trying to possess Thia, who? And why?
Light steps came closer. He heard someone get into the bed next to his; blankets shifting against each other as they settled in. Opening his eyes briefly, he caught sight of the back of Thia’s head. Closing them, he cleared his mind and fell asleep.
* * *
“Jinaari?”
His eyes flew open at the sound of Caelynn’s worried voice. “What?” he asked.
She glanced to his left. Following her gaze, he saw Thia sitting up; her feet flat on the floor. The Mark on her back glowed through the fabric, pulsing with each breath she took.
Pushing aside his blankets, he whispered, “When did this happen?”
“A minute or two ago. I tried to ask her what was wrong, but she won’t answer me.”
Jinaari kept his movements small. Walking around the end of the bed, he kept his gaze on Thia. Her eyes were closed; the muscles in her face twitched beneath the skin. Her lips moved slightly. Sitting across from her, he said, “Thia?” She didn’t show any reaction to indicate she’d heard him. Reaching out, he put one hand on hers. It was cold to the touch. “Thia?”
Her eyes flew open and a cold smile crossed her face. Jinaari drew back in shock; her pale lilac eyes were rimmed with red. “Is dochas aca mise,” she said, the words laden with spite and hatred. “Is dochas aca mise.” She kept repeating the phrase.
“Thia, listen to my voice. I know you’re in there. Find a way to fight back from whatever’s happening.” He grabbed her other hand, holding both tight. “I’m here. You can do this.” Without breaking eye contact, he said, “Caelynn, grab something and write down what she’s saying.”
“Got it,” the bard replied. He felt the mattress shift under her weight as she sat. “It’s Olc, isn’t it? Thia doesn’t speak the language.”
“I know,” he said. “Someone else is saying it.” He kept his voice even, “Thia, you know how to break out of this. I know you do. I believe in you, in your strength.”
A snarl came from her throat as the light from the Mark flared bright. The redness left her eyes as the muscles in her face softened and warmth returned to her hands. “Jinaari?” she asked, her voice drifting off as her eyelids drooped.
“How are things with you?”
Without answering him, she pulled her hands from his and laid back down, turning her back to him. The Mark no longer glowed.
He sat there, watching her breathing. Once he was certain she’d fallen back asleep, he gently placed the blanket across her body. “Get some sleep,” he said to Caelynn. “I’ll watch her for a while.”
She held out the paper to him. “Do you know what it says?”
“No,” he said, taking it from her, “but Thia will. I’ll ask her later.” After the duel, he thought.
“Okay,” Caelynn said as she crawled into the cot he’d used. “Don’t worry about the fight, Jinaari. I’ll make sure she’s there.”
He didn’t answer her. Instead, he watched Thia sleep. Garret, I hope this isn’t a sign that things got worse instead of better.