Note: I don't own any characters from the Elenium/Tamuli, David and Leigh Eddings do.
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Chapter 2: The Deiran connection
An evening storm had quickly overtaken Cheadin; a small town located three leagues from the Pandion Chapter house. Talen leaned against a closed store front with his dark hooded cloak obscuring his face as he waited for Kyyis to finish stabling their horses. Kyyis was always careful with the mounts, and Talen was sure his brother would find a suitable place protected from the elements.
Talen was practically invisible to any who happened to be looking. Despite the fact that he was now a grown man, the sneaking skills from his childhood had not diminished. In addition to what he learned growing up as a thief on the streets of Cimmura, he utilized various Styric spells. Right now, he used a relatively simple spell to alter the light around him so that he blended in to the entrance of the closed store front.
Talen was one of the youngest Pandions to achieve Mastery of the secrets of Styricum. He had difficulty the first two years while he learned to read and write in Styric, but once he learned the language, Talen had an incredible knack for memorizing the spells and the accompanying gestures required. He had surpassed his tutor within four years of his novitiate. The Styric had shook his head and dubbed the young Pandion 'loved by the gods'. Talen smiled as he thought of the child goddess Aphrael. The remark may not have been to far off.
A movement to Talen's right brought his head up. Kyyis was making his way to the storefront, running to their pre-arranged meeting spot in order to get out of the rain. Despite running, Talen's brother was already soaked.
"Talen? Where are you?" he asked in a hoarse whisper.
"Right here," Talen said turning to him. "Why are you letting yourself get wet?" he asked puzzled.
"Why? Because it's raining if you haven't noticed!" Kyyis said, slightly out of breath. He looked Talen up and down and started grimacing.
"You couldn't just cast whatever spell you're using to keep me dry, could you?" Kyyis growled in an offended tone.
"I thought you knew that one," Talen said, grinning sardonically as he began incanting a spell that would quickly dry off his brother.
"Come on," Talen said taking off to the Boarshead tavern with Kyyis following. The two men moved furtively from one overhanging building to another.
Talen had been apprehensive about bringing his brother into the other side of his life, but Kyyis had proven more than capable of keeping up with him. For Talen it was nice to have someone he trusted watching his back. Talen no longer stole material goods, at least not regularly, but had found that information and secrets far more valuable and infinitely easier to carry. To that end, Talen had kept in regular touch with the thieves, whores, and pickpockets in Cheadin during the nights while he trained in the day. It left him frequently exhausted but the cost of a dual life was beginning to pay off.
The Boarshead came into view shortly, and like most taverns on the seedier side of town, the building was so dilapidated that it would probably topple over if a strong enough wind blew. A wooden sign with a faded rendition of a pig and a tankard of beer hung over the entrance with sounds of brawling and revelry spewing out like an overflowing outhouse.
"Boar's head…how incredibly original, I hope the owner didn't strain himself thinking up that one." Kyyis commented dryly.
"Fortunately for him originality isn't a necessary virtue for selling beer." Talen observed.
"What business do you have evaluating anyone's virtue?" Kyyis said, raising an eyebrow.
Talen smiled mischievously "I stick to my principles, it's everyone else's I take issue following."
Kyyis just shook his head. Sidestepping a couple of drunken patrons who were attempting to find their beds, the young men made their way into the dimly lit tavern. A large fire was going at one end with some type of unidentifiable meat roasting on a spit. The Boarshead was filled to overflowing with customers, this particular tavern did a very brisk business, which was one of the reasons it had been chosen for tonight's meeting. Spying that his usual back table had been taken, Talen walked over to the tavern's owner, Mahogan, a big, burly man with a large face and an even larger beard. His menacing scowl fell when he saw Talen and his mouth split in to a wide grin. Coming out from around the bar counter, he greeted the young man.
"Ho there boy, I haven't seen you in many moons!" he said, jovially giving Talen a friendly slap on the back which nearly doubled the young knight over. "I see you've got company" he said indicating Kyyis with a nod.
Talen straighten slowly, refusing to give the snickering Kyyis any more ammunition by rubbing his back.
"Aye, that's my brother Kyyis" Talen answered, wincing slightly.
"Nice to meet you! Any friends of Talen's are more than welcome at my establishment." Mahogan boomed treating Kyyis to the same back-splintering slap he gave Talen. It was his turn to laugh as Kyyis rubbed his shoulder, grimacing in pain.
"It seems like business is booming" Talen remarked.
"That it is boy," Mahogan said, looking around the tavern with pleased expression evident on his face. "That little rumor you dropped about my brew being better and cheaper than Luriche's has brought in all kinds of patronage. Soon I'll be looking to expand my establishment!"
"Aye, seems like you can definitely use it, this place is filled to the brim," Kyyis noted still rubbing his throbbing shoulder.
Mahogan clapped his hands together and grinned. "Why don't you boys go on upstairs? I got a room free, and I'll have one of my wenches send you up some tankards." Mahogan whistled shrilly and an attractive, dark-haired woman swished her way over to the young men.
"Walena take these boys upstairs," Mahogan instructed. "Get them whatever they want -- on the house."
The dark haired woman gave the young men a sensuous smile, and tipped her head toward the stairs. Talen elbowed his brother sharply in the ribs, startling Kyyis from his acute observation of Mahogan's wench.
"Don't get any ideas," Talen hissed. "We're here on business, not pleasure."
"I'm just looking Talen, there isn't any law against observing God's lovely creation right?" Kyyis whispered.
Talen rolled his eyes as they followed Walena upstairs.
"Right here young masters" she said opening the door to a small chamber set with a table and several plush chairs.
"Thank you little sister," said Talen. "Could you do me a favor?" he asked the dark haired woman. She nodded in acquiescence.
"I'm waiting on some friends to meet me here; they go by the names Peraul and Qyndal, one's really husky and the other one's as thin as a rail. Could you send them up when they come?" Talen asked handing the woman a copper coin. Walena agreed and left to get the men's drinks.
"Why did you call that wench little sister?" Kyyis asked as he sat down on one of the cushioned chairs and propped his leg against the edge of the table.
Talen shrugged. "It's an affection I picked up from Sparhawk."
Kyyis knit his eyebrows. "I find it hard to believe that a former preceptor would frequent this type of place."
"There's a lot of things you missed while you were on the farm." Talen teased, as he took a seat across from his brother.
"Sure, instead of learning how to do useful things, I could've been learning all the intricacies of begging, stealing, and running from the law." Kyyis responded coolly.
"Beats digging up rutabagas" Talen said under his breath. The glare Kyyis gave him, however, was a fair indication Talen's comment had been heard.
Before Kyyis could respond, Walena returned, drawing all his attention. Talen's men Peraul and Qyndal followed her in.
Talen waved his hand indicating for the men to sit. Walena set down several tankards and took her leave, discreetly closing the door behind her.
"Hullo Boss" Peraul greeted Talen in his deep toned voice. Peraul was a large, heavy set man with crisscrossing scars twisting up his arms. He was clean shaven but harbored a dark and somber expression. He took a seat in one of the remaining chairs, and his partner Qyndal took another vacated chair. Qyndal was lanky young man who had an open, honest face and friendly disposition. Qyndal grabbed the nearest tankard and began drowning it noisily. Smacking his lips when he was done, he earned reproachful glances from Kyyis and Peraul. Not in the least perturbed, Qyndal turned toward Talen.
"Ah, now that's the best way to slack your thirst! Right there, boss?" he said, grinning widely at Talen, who was not having an easy time repressing his laughter at the man's antics.
"If you say so Qyndal, but why don't you slack my thirst for knowledge? What did you found out about those Arjuni mercenaries?" Talen said pulling out a heavy purse.
Qyndal was suddenly all business as he eyed Talen's purse greedily. "Let's see some silver first, for all I know you could be carrying sand in there."
Talen picked up his purse and pulled out several silver pieces. Qyndal's eyes narrowed. "We agreed on twice that amount before, Talen."
"I know," Talen said, spread out the silver on the table in plain sight of Qyndal and Peraul. "Half is for now and you'll get the other half if the information is worth it."
"Fine." Qyndal said scooping up the silver. Talen leaned back as he listened to Qyndal's report.
"We found out the one of the mercenary's names; it's Lefiet."
"That's not an Arjuni name." Talen protested.
"No it's not, actually, this Lefiet is originally from Deira"
"Go on."
"Apparently he's connected with the Deiran royal family somehow; he was wearing the coat of arms and a signet ring on his person. The Arjuni mercenary business was a deception."
"That still doesn't tell me why he was in Cimmuria." Talen frowned turning over the new development.
"He was trying to contact someone. We found a note in his coat, I copied it." Qyndal said pulling out a piece of paper.
Talen nodded. "Any thing else?" he asked scanning the note. The lanky young man shook his head, and Talen poured the rest of the contents of his purse on the table. Qyndal took the rest of the money and nodded toward Peraul, who had been silent for most of the meeting. The two men exited leaving Talen to stew over the latest bit of information. He leaned back in his chair and produced his favorite gold coin out of thin air, spinning it idly around the finger as her read carefully through the transcribed note.
"What does it say?" Kyyis asked.
"It says: We must meet, in one fortnight, the usual place. Bring my cousin from Cimmuria, there has been a change of plan." Talen read. "It's signed Lefiet," he continued. "This Lefiet character is from Deira; who do we know from there?" Talen asked Kyyis.
"Well," Kyyis said, his brows furrowing, "Darrellion's still the preceptor of the Alcione Knights, and there's always sir Tynian…"
"Both of which rarely come to visit, except maybe to see Sparhawk and…"
Talen's fingers stopped, his gold coin mid-spin, as he was struck by a realization.
"Kyyis, Ehlana's half Deiran"
"Really? I didn't know that." Kyyis shrugged, taking a long draught of his tankard. What's the point?" he asked.
"Ehlana's mother was a Deiran princess," Talen said, slowly resuming the spinning of his gold coin as he drummed the fingers of his other hand on the table. "Lefiet is connected somehow to the Deiran royal family. Ehlana may know something about him or this so-called cousin."
"Let me guess. You want to go to Cimmuria to pick the Queen's mind?" Kyyis said resignedly.
"I think I may need to. It's been awhile since I've been to the capital, besides I need to catch up with Platime." Talen answered standing up and pulling his cloak around his shoulders.
"I'm sure going to Cimmuria has nothing whatsoever to do with a certain princess, right?" Kyyis said, his tone heavy with sarcasm.
"You don't have to come!" Talen said, his voice sounding defensive even to his own ears. "I'm sure Berit wouldn't mind coming, he and Olet love visiting with Ehlana and Sparhawk."
Kyyis rolled his eyes. "I definitely will sit this one out. No offense Talen, thieves and cutthroats I can handle, but I would kill myself if I came back to Demos looking like one of those idiotic courtiers Princess Danae is so fond of." He said glaring pointedly at Talen's hair.
Talen just nodded, lost in his thoughts. He needed to find some excuse to go to Cimmuria as soon as possible. He waited as Kyyis finished his tankard; as usual Talen had not touched his own. The two knights left the Boarshead, Mahogan too tied up with business to notice their departure. Outside, the rain had let up somewhat, leaving the streets damp and muddy as Talen quietly followed Kyyis back to where the horses were stabled.
Suddenly the hairs on the back of Talen's neck stood on end. He stopped to listen to the surroundings when he heard a muffled whistling.
"Down Kyyis!" he shouted as he threw himself to the ground. A moment later several cross bolts flew by, cutting the air with deadly precision where Talen had just been standing. Staying close to the ground Talen lifted himself up on elbows and knees and edged ahead to see if his brother was safe. Kyyis was also on the ground but he was breathing hard, and his left arm tucked close to his side.
"Are you hit? Talen whispered urgently when he caught up to him.
"The first bolt just grazed my arm," Kyyis wheezed, out of breath. Talen looked around for quick cover, they only had a few more seconds before the crossbow was reloaded.
"Can you get around toward that alley?" he asked tipping his head northwest to a nearby alley. Kyyis gave a non-committal grunt and began edging toward that direction. The moments were tense as they made their way to the alley, remaining as close to the ground as possible. The overhanging buildings and dark, overcast sky gave the two knights some concealment as they crawled toward the alley. Talen's breathing became ragged and his heart nearly jumped out of his chest as the next round of cross bolts flew overhead nearby. He doubled his efforts to get to safety.
After what seemed like an eternity, they reached the alley. With its narrow entrance, winding corridor, and the overhanging stories of the surrounding buildings, it was relatively safe from the crossbow's ranged projectiles. Talen helped Kyyis to his feet and inspected his brother. The cross bolt had grazed him along the bicep of his left arm cutting through his chain mail and leaving a nasty-looking gash that was bleeding profusely. Pulling out his dagger, Talen quickly cut through a length of his cloak and double-wrapped it around the bleeding arm. Kyyis' face was pale, but otherwise he seemed unharmed. After binding his brother's arm, Talen looked down the rest of the alley. Talen was familiar with it, along with most corners and hiding holes of Cheadin. This particular one hit a dead end but there was a cellar window further down that opened into the basement of a small bakery.
Deciding that was their best chance to dodge their persuers, Talen sheathed his dagger and pulled out a shorter, thicker one. Tipping his head forward to indicate to Kyyis the direction he was heading, Talen began transversing the narrow alley. Less then ten steps away, however, the Pandions met company. In the darkness Talen didn't realize they were walking into an ambush until he heard the telltale ring of a sword being unsheathed. Fortunately, the constricted corridor only allowed one man to engage forward. Talen didn't have enough room to parry the thrust of his ambusher, so he dove sideways and tumbled forward coming to his feet behind his attacker. Remaining in a crouch, he sliced through the tendon of the first attacker's knee. The next attacker was caught unaware and received a dagger wound in the belly as Talen rose from his crouch. The last attacker had more response time but the sight of his injured comrades and Talen coming at him with a bloodied dagger caused him to flee. Talen pursued him until a familiar moan made him stop dead. Climbing back over the two attackers in the alley Talen found Kyyis sagging against the alley wall, unconscious.