Radiance (Wraith Kings Book 1)(69)
When they retrieved him, not if. His matter of fact reply gave her hope despite its dire prediction regarding the mage. “Do you really think Brishen’s still alive?” She held on to hope that he was. Her husband was a formidable fighter, but who knew how many raiders they faced or the sorcery used against him and the other Kai by the mage.
Serovek held up one of the two arrowheads he’d extracted from Anhuset. Coated in dried blood, its dagger-like point bounced a stray beam of anemic sunlight off its tip. “These are marseret-tipped bodkins. If they wanted to kill Brishen—and you—right away, they would have used broadheads. The bodkins pierce armor and bring down horses, but a man shot with one can survive longer than if he were shot with a broadhead. Had it been the second, Anhuset would have bled out before she even fell from her horse.”
He tossed the arrowhead aside. “I have no doubt that Brishen is alive and a prisoner. Your escape put a knot in their plans. They were in a better position to force either the Kai or the Gauri to renegotiate or break their alliance in order to save you. They only have one of you now, but that’s enough to begin negotiations for his life with the Kai royal house of Khaskhem.”
Ildiko almost burst into tears at that. Her hand trembled as she reached for Serovek’s bottle of Peleta’s Tears. The drink set fire to her tongue and throat and sent the tears pouring down her cheeks. Serovek snatched the bottle out of her hand and hid it behind his back.
She wiped her streaming eyes and gave a bitter laugh. “Then he’s dead already. Neither of us is of any real worth to our families. The Kai throne is secured by Brishen’s older brother and more sons than you can count on one hand. Brishen is a spare without value. Secmis will turn her back on him, and her husband will follow her lead.”
Serovek looked beyond her into the ever-brightening tree line. “I’ve never met her and hope not to, but rumors abound. It’s hard to believe that the Shadow Queen of Haradis birthed such a man as Brishen Khaskhem.”
“It’s hard to believe anything with a soul came out of that womb.” In that moment Ildiko hated Secmis more than any person she’d ever known.
“Whoever in Belawat is paying these sell-swords doesn’t know there’s no love lost between them. So we have time. Not much. A few days only but enough to find their hiding place and rescue your husband.”
Ildiko twisted her tunic in her hands. “What can I do? Surely, there’s something I can do.” She hated the helplessness, the lack of martial skills. Common sense dictated that no one could have foreseen such circumstances for her, but the knowledge offered little comfort.
Serovek gained his feet and helped her rise as well. “There is, but I want Anhuset’s opinion first. The effects of the marseret should fade, and she’ll awaken soon.”
“What about her wounds?”
He had kind eyes. A soft brown the color of roasted chestnut with flecks of gold radiating from the edges of the pupils, they shimmered with a steady humor. He was a good man, a brave one, and his attraction to Anhuset was palpable. “You should know by now the toughness of a Kai. Those wounds won’t slow her down anymore than flea bites would.” He patted Ildiko on the arm. “I’ll bring you extra blankets. You can rest beside her.”
“I can’t sleep.” There was no possible way she could sleep, not with Brishen out there somewhere, a hostage of Beladine mercenaries.
“Try,” Serovek said. “I need you alert and sharp later.”
She did as he requested and rolled into the blankets he gave her. She was asleep as soon as her eyes closed. It seemed like only a handful of moments before the sound of voices arguing in bast-Kai awakened her. Ildiko rubbed her scratchy eyes and squinted at the couple glaring at each other not far from where she lay alone. Anhuset, wrapped in a blanket tied at her good shoulder, was awake and arguing fiercely with Serovek.
“It’s a sound idea,” he said and crossed his arms.
Anhuset mimicked his actions, her features drawn into a scowl. “Until someone skewers her or puts a bolt in her.”
“I saw her handle your horse. She’s an adept rider. She can do this. If you want this to work, she needs to do this.”
“Brishen sacrificed himself to save her. We risk making that sacrifice for naught.”
Serovek blew out a frustrated breath. “Stop being so eager to kill him off. He isn’t dead!” His body tensed as a furious Anhuset rounded on him, fangs bared.
Ildiko threw off her blankets and leapt to her feet. “Please,” she said. The two forgot their fight and turned to her. “I’ll do whatever you ask of me. Anything. I’m sorry I’m not a warrior. I wish I were.”
Serovek gazed at her with an implacable expression. “We don’t need another warrior, Highness. We need bait.”
*****
The sun had burned away the last of the lingering morning fog. Ildiko reclined against one of the temple walls and tried not to gnaw her fingernails down to the quick with worry. Instead, she worked to repair the laces on Anhuset’s gambeson and watched as the Kai woman paced back and forth with a hitched gait, her lips drawn back against her teeth as she glared at Serovek.
“This is taking too long,” she snapped.
Seated cross-legged near Ildiko, he didn’t bother to look up from his task of sharpening a knife on the whetting stone he held. “It’s taking as long as it needs to,” he said calmly. “You might as well sit down before you wear a path in the stones.”