15. For the People
Kel had taken down one of the poles which held up the canopy over her large bed and was going through the routine of pattern dances. She had been locked up for days now, the door opening only for the servant girl to bring food or clothing. When she had first woken from the blackout Maggur had influenced, all she could do was stare at the drapes and watching the pale light of day fad away before rolling over and falling back to sleep. Now even the pale light had been blocked out by a storm which screamed and groaned against the windows.
Swiping an arm across her face, Kel paused halfway through her "Over the Mountain" pattern. She had never attempted glaive practice in a dress before. Even in the Yamani islands, the women were allowed to wear flowing pants and a long, split over-tunic which gave them freedom of movement. However, a dress constantly twisted around ankles and caught the staff in the material. Still, she realized that it might be beneficial if she learned how to manage, for one never knew when it might save her life. Besides, it didn't look like there was much else to do in the meantime.
Silverwings had been using her time exercising her wings. Clearly the tears were still causing some problems when she flew, for she kept drifting to the side, her right wing being stronger than the left. Once she managed to fly through the open bathroom door and ended up in the bathtub where Kel had to rescue her.
During the last sweep of the pole, Kel stumbled again as the wood snagged her dress, flipping out of her grasp. Following the loud clatter was a shrill cry. Confused whether to dive for the pole or run to find Silverwings, Kel stepped on the rod and slipped solidly onto her backside. She glared up at the snake-bat who was triumphantly hovering over her.
"Well I'm glad you've achieved something."
An extra loud crash of thunder outside the window drowned out the first knock at the door. The second knock sent Silverwings to Kel's shoulder as she picked up the pole and stood on guard.
"Who is it?"
The cheerful face of Tavis popped into view.
"I see you've recovered."
She glared. "What of it?"
"Well, the Red can be quite violent when he's angry. I carried you back after your interrogation."
Kel decided not to say anything. Tavis glanced around the room, then noticed the pole in her hands.
"Um, you weren't planning on escaping with that were you?"
"Maybe."
His eyes darkened. "He would find you faster than you could say 'snake-bat'."
Kel blinked and lowered her makeshift weapon. "You know about Silver?"
"Oh, so you've named the creature? They don't have a record of being good pets. They eat meat, and nothing but meat - including some people."
She shrugged and gently coxed Silverwings from her shoulder. "I don't think she will try anything. I helped her. She's certainly nicer than a griffon."
Tavis absentmindedly tugged on his forelock. "Um, if you say so. But the reason I'm here is because the Red has instructed for you to be taken into the town. He wishes for you to see the culture of Scanra."
Kel sneered internally. He more likely wishes to show off his dictatorship over the people with his gods curst Blood Bonding. Outwardly she sighed.
"When do we go?"
"Two hours. The ice storm is breaking."
Whoever came up with the idea of women riding a horse sideways must have been descended from Chaos herself. Kel growled as she followed Tavis and four others from the stables at the foot of the mountain castle. Six more soldiers followed behind, each wearing stiff leather armor with the curved sword and a red scarf around their necks. Thankfully her hands had not been tied this time, however red bands of silk had been wrapped around each wrist - symbolic to her status of being chosen by Maggur. However, even if she thought she had the slightest chance os escaping, there could be no quick riding in a sidesaddle when she had been trained all her life to ride astride.
The road was icy slush. The horse she had been given picked its way daintily down the slope, apparently just as turned off by the gray world as Kel herself was. The houses were all dreary in appearance, the grass thatch matted down by ice sheets and dangled clear fangs almost to the ground. Not a single person could be seen behind shuttered windows and heavy wooden doors, but Kel could feel eyes following her.
Ahead, Tavis raised his hand to signal a halt. They were in what looked like a square of the town. Wheeling his horse, the sergeant pointed to a slightly larger building on the left.
"I'll be taking the Protector in there. Circle the house and wait our return."
A soldier protested. "But we are to guard her at all times."
Tavis raised an eyebrow. "So you will be. She will not leave my sight and she cannot leave the building. Follow your orders."
With a few frowns, the others obeyed. With a nod to Kel, Tavis dismounted and tied his mount to a convenient post. She followed his example and watched curiously as he proceeded to gently tap out a pattern on the door. A peephole slid open, looked at them both, then immediately waited. Minutes later the door was unlocked from the inside and creaked inward, releasing a small cloud of steam and smoke.
"Come in young ones. You are expected."
Inside was pitch black. Kel placed a hand on Tavis's back and whispered,
"Where are we?"
"The men outside think we're in a tavern. We are, in a sense, but I'm taking you to see someone."
From the darkness came a wheezing cackle. "In a sense, yes, but that depends on how you look at it."
A curtain drew back to reveal a glowing red fire burning directly on the dirt floor. They appeared to be underground, the earth walls hung with various dried plants, gourds, and miscellaneous articles. Movement from across the low flames drew attention to a small, hunched old woman dressed in ragged black robes. Mismatched blue and red eyes inspected Kel.
"Ah, so you're the young thing this war is about."
Unsure what to do, Kel simply bowed. The woman turned to Tavis.
"And the young Hawk has left the nest. You tread a dangerous path for one who will master the sky."
Tavis touched his hand to his chest, forehead, and lips in salute. "Old One, you know why I come."
She nodded slowly and stretched out boney fingers. "Come her, girl, I cannot see you well in my age."
Kel cast a glance at her companion before crossing the chamber and placing her hand in the woman's. With a tug stronger than Kel could credit her, the woman pulled her down on her knees. Cold thin fingers took hold of her chin as the strange eyes inspected her face.
"Ah, yes... yes, I see..."
She released her and turned to draw a container from within her sleeve. Opening it, a pinch of violet powder was tossed on the coals. It hissed and flared green.
"Put your hand in the flames, Protector."
When she hesitated the woman laughed.
"It is a spell. You will not be burned while the flames are the color of life. But it lasts but for a moment."
Gritting her teeth, Kel thrust her open hand into the dancing green flame.
Nothing.
Then a flash of hot pain.
Kel jerked back with a yelp and inspected the shiny red mark that crossed the center of her palm.
The woman laughed again. "You didn't listen to me. The fire will bite if not controlled." Her eyes narrowed. "I saw everything I needed to know."
The following silence was broken by Tavis.
"Is she the one?"
She waved him off. "Of course, but by now anyone with honor from another land could be chosen as the Key. I don't understand why the gods have let this mess continue for so long."
Kel had just about taken enough of being talked about and not addressed directly. Closing her burned hand carefully, she stood.
"Excuse me, but I still have no idea why I'm so important to King Maggur or even what the prophecy is about."
The old woman closed her eyes and began rocking to and fro.
"The gods of our lands have tired of the wars of man. They tire of the wars among themselves over their interference with man. They tire of competing with the other gods of other nations. Thus they came to the decision of letting man decide their own future. This is man's trial to see if we can survive without the gods." She shook her head. "It is foolish. Man cannot control his nature. We will destroy ourselves. So instead, we have been given a chance to prove ourselves to the other deities. There was promised that one human was the key to man's success. One who was selfless, full of love, pain, and understanding. That person would lead the way to Scanra's union to the lands of the South."
"So Maggur was right about one ruler over Tortall and Scanra?"
Blue and red eyes penetrated hazel, looking deep before she nodded.
"Then what is so important that he kidnapped me?"
There was a dry, humorless chuckle.
"Ah, our poor ruler, so smart, so ruthless, and yet so blind. He follows the prophecy. Yet he understands it not. A good man at heart once, but his passion has twisted him within." Her gaze turned dreamily to the fire. "There are many verses to the prophecy, two are all you need to hear." She recited,
"From an enemy comes salvation,
From the gods come unity.
The one who comes from Southern nation
Beneath the Red, victory to thee.
Fly on wings of white
Ye of victory
Bind the heart of man's delight
He unites, She the Key."
Kel stared at the dirt wall, trying to make sense of it all. She had thought that with the death of Blayce her task was complete. Perhaps the Chamber had an ulterior motive. Another dry laugh caught her attention.
"You begin to understand, Protector. You begin, but you have a long way to go yet. Now go with the fledgling. There are other things you need to see besides an old seer like Divina."
Wordlessly, she followed Tavis through the heavy curtain and back through the passageway.
Inside the actual tavern, they sat at a table and ordered a quick meal. Tavis carefully scanned the few others in the room before leaning over.
"Lady Protector, by now I hope you realize that though I am a Scanran, I am entirely at your service."
She blinked. "I am a prisoner attached to your ruler. Why would you offer your services to me?"
His eyes darkened to stone gray. "Because there are more things happening than you realize."
A small boy tottered up to Kel's knee with a finger in his mouth and his blue eyes wide. She smiled down at him and he carefully returned it before climbing up onto the bench beside her.
"Geo! Geo, you know not to bother customers."
Hair tumbling from a knot at the back of her neck, a young woman took the boy by the hand. Kel patted him on the head and looked up at her.
"He's not bothering anyone."
The mother's gaze fell on the red arm wraps. With a gasp she jerked the child off the bench and clutched him to her chest. Her eyes darted from Kel to Tavis in fear.
"Please... I'm so sorry. He was in the other room napping and slipped out from under his sister's watch. I promise it will never happen again."
Confused, Kel stood. "I said he wasn't bothering me. I like children."
The woman looked only a few years older than she was, and yet she continued staring as if she expected an execution, but then, perhaps that's what those under Maggur did. Kel opened her hands peacefully.
"I am not a soldier, I'm a knight sworn to protect the people."
Puzzlement entered the fear in the woman's face. "But you wear the colors of the Chosen."
Kel glared at the blood red cloth. "I do not wear it willingly."
To her great surprise, the woman bowed deeply. When she straightened, there were tears in her eyes. Letting the boy slide to the ground, she turned to Tavis.
"Black Hawk, I think I know now why there are soldiers surrounding my home. The time is coming."
Tavis simply nodded.
"The Protector of the Small has come to Eire. The prophecy is in motion." She bowed again. "My lady, please forgive me for I thought you to be under the spell of the Red."
Kel rubbed her arm where Maggur's needle had injected his potion. "Actually, I am still connected to him. He said something about a Blood Bond."
She clicked her tongue. "Ah yes, that is how he keeps track of all his men. All the soldiers cannot think for themselves. Yet he forgets those at home. We do not take part in the Blessing. We see what he is doing to us."
Kel turned from the woman to Tavis and the handful of others in the tavern. Now she understood. This was a resistance against Maggur. He had made one vital mistake of forgetting the common people in his own territory. An army is made up of men, but the men depend on others to provide supplies. He had taken for granted that if he controlled those with the strength, everyone else would follow without complaint. Kel knew very well the strengths of everyday people. Her own refugees in New Hope were a testament to that.
Tavis held up his hand to keep her from speaking.
"I see you have come to the realization that nothing here is what it seems. However, say nothing, that way if the Red questions you, your answers will be honest and he will not be able to seek us out. Much depends on you, Protector. Our seer, Divina, has told you as much."
Kel nodded and looked down at the boy who had again taken his seat on the bench and was reaching towards a chunk of break in the trencher. She handed it to him and returned her gaze to Tavis.
"I have one question. What do I do?"
He smiled. "You are the Key. Now we must find the lock."