Chapter 23

The next morning, Never found himself riding through the pleasant sun with Muka and Ayuni alone – their quiet friend was gone. There was no sign of the guard on the plains, nor their back trail and so unassuming had the fellow been since leaving the inn, that Never hadn’t even noticed his absence until mid-morning. “Let me ask,” he said as he started toward the front of the line.

Yet his horse had barely taken half a dozen steps before the rumble of hooves reached him, a sound that was growing rapidly. A crossroads waited ahead, and thundering down from the north, was a long line of mounted warriors. As they neared, Never marked a red strip across their tunics.

Muka and Ayuni joined him. “Say as little as possible if we’re questioned,” Muka said. “Those are the Isansho’s men from Mondami.”

“Pressed into service for the Temple, it seems,” Ayuni added.

Never reached up to pat the charm beneath his clothing. “Let’s see how lucky this fang is.” The line of warriors had already reached the head wagon and were waving for the monks to bring the train to a halt. “If they realise something is amiss, I’ll try to lead them away.”

“How?” Ayuni asked, concern in her voice.

He grinned, despite his own worry. “Let’s save the surprise.”

Now the warriors were heading down the line. They had a more unified look in hair, clothing and weapons, many with sisan’s and bows. Never frowned; wonderful, he might have to give them some target practice.

The soldiers were efficient in their search, swarming over the wagons and speaking a few words to each guard, each driver then moving on. Two men addressed Muka. “We are seeking two fugitives travelling with a young woman,” the first said.

“One of the men is a foreigner, from Marlosi,” the second added. His eyes were narrowed, as though he expected disobedience perhaps. “Have you seen anyone matching that description?”

“None. It’s been a dull trip so far,” Muka said easily.

He grunted. The first man didn’t seem to be paying attention to Muka anymore, he was focusing on Ayuni and Never. A slight frown marred his features and he rubbed at a thin beard. Whenever his eyes moved from Ayuni to Never, he blinked several times.

Never fought the rising tension within him, lifting a knee to lean against the wagon.

“Look inside and let’s go,” the second man said as he left.

“Right,” the first warrior replied, still sounding a little unsure. But he checked between the boxes beneath the covering then hurried after his superior without a backward glance, apparently having accepted that his doubts were unfounded.

Ayuni exhaled heavily. “I thought he was going to see through the charm.”

“Another trial passed,” Muka said, his faint smile a little wider this time.

“Onward, then,” Never said.

Once the wagons had started forward once more, mostly to the tune of Esiang’s grumbling about the delay from the driver’s seat, Never leant back in his saddle and closed his eyes a moment. Nothing like a narrow escape to test the nerves. He let his mount lead, reins held only loosely as the day wore on.

“Never?”

He opened his eyes. Had he dozed? By the changed light, it was already afternoon. Ayuni rode beside him. “Yes?”

“What did you mean by surprise back there? I don’t want you to do anything foolish for me.”

He smiled. “Sorry, that’s an older brother’s job.”

“I’m serious, Never.” She gave him a stern look. “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

A cry of alarm rang out from the van, cutting off his reply.

Men were leaping up from all around the line of wagons, covered in grass and brush. An arrow thudded into the side of the nearest wagon. Never swore, even as he wheeled his horse. If he’d been paying attention he might have noticed the ambush.

Muka obviously had, his sword was already drawn and he was charging to meet the four men who were attacking from the rear. Ayuni had pulled her mount closer to the wagon and was cupping her hands, a frown of determination on her face. Never kicked his horse forward, pulling two blades and throwing at one of the men trying to flank Muka.

The first dagger went wide by a narrow margin but the other grazed the man’s upper arm. The minor wound caused the fellow to pause, and then Never’s horse crashed into him with a whinny. Never fought for control, keeping his seat long enough to catch sight of Muka swinging his tyrant, slicing through limbs as he downed the remaining men.

A roar of flame followed.

Ayuni had raised her hand, flickering blue and green flame spearing across the road to engulf one of the attackers. At the next wagon, the other guards seemed to hold the upper hand with what appeared to be bandits, now that Never had a moment to truly see them. But further along, the lead wagon was under a more concentrated attack. Several guards were down with arrows and the two monks, Garugi and Fuda, were no-where to be seen.

“Muka?”

“On my way,” he said, and charged to the lead wagon.

Never moved to Ayuni, who was breathing hard. The whites of her eyes were showing too. “I saw his face right before...”

“It’s not easy, I know, but there will be time for that later,” he said, keeping an eye on the struggle.

“It was different the first time... I was just running. Lashing out at anything that came too near.”

He met her troubled gaze. “You did the right thing, Ayuni.”

She nodded.

Never checked on the bodies he and Muka had dealt with, none so much as twitched, then back to the fighting. Muka was already turning the tide, his movements precise and flowing – and he wasn’t even using his lunai, he was simply a masterful swordsman. A shorn limb spurted blood, another man collapsed over Muka’s sword, and a third met Muka’s blade with his own, only to be struck down.

And then naught but the rasp of heavy breathing from the survivors followed.

Ayuni was tying her reins to the wagon. “I can help the wounded.”

Never stepped before her. She had a kind heart but it could land her in trouble if she wasn’t careful. “Ayuni...”

“Not with my blood,” she said. “I’ve been taught a little herb-lore. Let’s see what they have.”

Together, they headed for the front, checking on the guards, most of who would need bandages at the least. One of the men who’d taken an arrow had already died, Ayuni’s expression tightened when she saw him. But one of the drivers carried a heavy steel box and within, bandages and herbs and vials. Not enough for everyone but something. Ayuni thanked him and started organising the contents.

“I’ll check on Muka,” he said.

Ayuni nodded without looking up from her work. Never moved a little way further, to the lead wagon, where he found Muka standing before the two monks. Fuda was trembling but Garugi wore a dark scowl.

“How could they have known?” the man was demanding to no-one in particular. He seemed upset, certainly, and with cause, but Never again had to wonder exactly what was being transported.

“Perhaps it was planned for any who might pass,” Muka suggested. He had sheathed his sword and seemed unharmed.

Garugi grunted. “It may be so.”

“If I could interrupt?” Never asked.

“Why? Has anything been taken?”

“No. But someone has disappeared.” Never described the sombre man. “He was working with us on the rear wagon and he’s simply gone.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know his name. He was gambling with Daisoa in the inn.”

Fuda shook his head. “I’m afraid I cannot place him.”

Garugi folded his arms. “Nor I. But it is convenient that so soon as he flees, we are attacked. Check the bodies, perhaps he is among them.”

Never nodded and Muka joined him, starting the unpleasant task. Yet of the thirteen men who had attacked – and died – none bore any resemblance to the missing guard. “He is more than he seems then,” Muka decided after they’d reported to Garugi and started back.

“But what was his purpose here?”

“If it was to set the ambush in motion then return to share in the spoils, he would have seen what happened and left by now. Or began putting something else in place.”

“For the cargo?” Never asked. “He did mention something about secrets.”

“It’s possible – the temple does transport valuables, silks, medicines and sometimes large quantities of gold or silver but I have to wonder if that is the case now.”

“And yet he seemed so disinterested in everything else. He barely spoke after that first day...” Never rubbed at his neck. “Bah. I feel like I’m close to realising something.”

“Well, we know we can probably blame him for having been caught up in this,” Muka said. “Or even thank him, if you think about it.”

“Thank him?”

“I imagine our brush with the Isansho’s forces earlier might not have gone so well had we not appeared to be a legitimate part of a Temple convoy.”

Never slapped his thigh. “That’s it! He did something to Daisoa, that’s why he was too sick.”

“Daisoa?”

“The man he was gambling with at the inn – and without who, we might not have been hired at all – you’re right.”

Muka nodded slowly. “If so, the stranger’s purpose has grown murkier still.”

“Could he be working for the Hammers?”

“I don’t think we can afford to rule it out.”

Never’s gaze turned to Ayuni, who was smiling at one of the men as she wrapped a bandage around his wrist. “If so, we have to assume they’ll soon know exactly where we are.”