To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2)(92)
He was humbled by the fact that Tejeshwar had seen fit to grant him her love, to give this precious, uninhibited angel to him as wife. Making love to Graciella had cleansed his soul of the guilt he’d carried these six years—he’d been healed by the joy it gave him to please her, to feel her, to become one with her. The delicateness of the priceless treasure that had been entrusted to his care almost terrified him. Brokenhearted at his leaving or not, there was no way she was going with him into this battle. She didn’t need to witness what was about to take place, for when Yavi got his hands on his father’s sword, he intended to slaughter the Vyrkune until their twice-dead corpses made a stinking, rotting heap at his feet.
§
Graciella ate dinner alone in her room without much appetite. She hoped the twins and their men would defeat the Vyrkune quickly and she’d soon have her husband back in her arms.
She stared at the bed, remembering his delicious lovemaking, his tanned, muscular body glowing in the firelight as he brought ecstasy to her with his lips, his hands, and his body time and again. Needing to distract herself, she stood to pace to the window overlooking the canyon, hugging her arms around herself and gazing out at the stars against the black-velvet sky.
“Lord Zehu,” she prayed under her breath. “Please protect Yavi. Bring him back to me safe. And also Yajna and my sister.”
There was a tap at her door.
When she opened it, Eliv bowed his head. “Empress Graciella, Master Volkan asks to see you. Urgently.”
Graciella followed him down the hallway, out of the guest quarters, and across the garden courtyard. She hurried up the stairs behind him, and at the top Eliv swung open the door of the sanctuary for her to enter.
Volkan rushed forward to grasp her hands. “My daughter. I have ill news.”
Her heart lurched into her throat. “What is it, father?”
“Your younger brother is missing. Along with a horse from the stables.”
§
Yavi and his brother rode hard until they reached Binnaj’s Assassin Army fortress at Anvitha, a half hour’s ride north of Darpan. Yavi was relieved to see Manck and Binnaj rushing to meet them in the courtyard as they rode through the gates. The two generals bowed as Yavi dismounted.
“Report.” Yavi handed Sikar’s reins to a stable boy.
“Darpan and the palace were evacuated last night, Sire,” Manck said. “The city’s inhabitants fled west to take refuge in the villages around Hajan.”
“And no sign of Vyrkune before you left?”
“None, Sire.”
Yajna glanced around the grounds. “Where is Captain Harshad?
“He insisted on staying at the palace.”
Yavi swore in Nandalan. “Surely he didn’t keep the entire palace guard there against our orders?”
“No, Sire.” Manck shook his head. “He stayed alone. The rest of the palace guard is here, with us.”
“At least we won’t have lost our entire guard patrol, then,” Yajna spoke up.
“Yes. But Harshad is a fool. I hate to lose a good man.” Yavi shook his head, resting his hands on his hips. “All right. Let’s convene in Binnaj’s quarters. The queen needs to rest.”
§
Graciella went with Volkan to search Rafe’s room for any clue as to where he’d gone. “Did he keep a journal, by chance?” she asked Volkan as he opened the chest at the foot of Rafe’s bed.
“Not that I am aware of.” He stepped aside to allow her to do the search.
Graciella rifled through Rafe’s clothing, finding an extra pair of slippers under his folded robes. She moved the slippers aside and saw a small piece of parchment with a single word written on it, scrawled in bold, angry letters.
UMAN.
§
Yavi stood at the map table with Yajna and laid out his strategy to the two generals and their seconds, Shardul and Terthan. He had been meditating on a plan during the ride south, when he could force his thoughts away from his new wife.
He placed a finger on the drawing of Darpan. “Yajna, the queen, and I will go to the palace tonight to retrieve my father’s sword from the emperor’s quarters. Volkan believes it was used successfully against Vyrkune by some Zulfikar warrior in ancient times, and we must have it before we go into battle.”
“Archan of the Zulfikars.” Binnaj nodded. “He wielded a black zirconium greatsword against the Vyrkune horde and defeated them.”
Yavi frowned. “Why does everyone know this legend except for Yajna and me?”
“I know not, Sire.” Binnaj shrugged. “My grandmother used to tell it to me when I was small.”
“I’ve never heard of Archan of the Zulfikars, either, Sire,” Manck supplied.
“Nor I,” Terthan said.
Yavi waved a hand impatiently. “Well, in any case, regular swords and arrows only immobilize them for a few moments. We learned that at the underground fortress.”
“Yes,” Yajna agreed. “We can only pray that Volkan is correct, and that our father’s sword in Yavi’s hands will prove effective at killing them permanently.”
Manck raised an eyebrow. “One man with one sword against an entire army of Vyrkune, Mahaj?”
Yavi folded his arms. “If this Archan did it, so can I.”
“Regular weapons immobilize them for how many minutes, Sire?” Binnaj asked.