Outcast Chronicles - Sanctuary Part 2

The small boy balanced on his toes, holding onto her hands. Ronnyn remembered whispered conversations overheard in the cabin last night. People had been indignant; the wharf shouldn't have been attacked, not when they held Prince Cedon as a hostage and certainly not when All-mother Reoden had healed his club foot in return for safe pa.s.sage to the sea.

Ronnyn looked for Sorne, but couldn't spot him. There was a big T'En woman nearby, who wore the neck torc of a sisterhood voice-of-reason. The gift-warrior who'd brought Prince Cedon onto the deck stood beside her. Ronnyn crept closer until he could overhear what they were saying.

*...king was not behind the attack, Baron Eskarnor was.' The big T'En woman sounded grim. *Unfortunately, our people have become caught up in a struggle for the Chalcedonian throne.'

*I can run and jump, too,' Cedon announced and proved it by jumping so vigorously he almost toppled over.

Imoshen steadied him with a laugh. *Keep up your exercises, and every time you do them, think of us. You need to wear your boot to ensure your foot grows straight and strong. Wear it until you grow out of a"'

*Where's Ree-ma?' Cedon asked.

*All-mother Reoden is sleeping,' Imoshen said. *Remember how the bad man tried to swap the other little boy for you?'

Prince Cedon nodded and Ronnyn flinched. The *other little boy' was his brother Tamaron. Baron Eskarnor had used the attack on the wharf as a diversion, to slip aboard the flags.h.i.+p and take Ronnyn's little brother hostage. He'd tried to exchange Tamaron for the prince. When he realised the Wyrds weren't going to hand over the prince, he'd cut Tamaron's throat and leapt overboard.

And Ronnyn had been helpless to stop him. His hands closed in fists, making his crippled arm spasm in pain.

*The bad man hurt the other little boy,' Imoshen said. *Ree-ma had to drain her gift to save his life. She'll be all right, but she's worn out for now.'

Cedon's chin trembled. *Wants my Ree-ma.'

*I know, but' a" Imoshen took his hands in hers a" *your father loves you, Cedon. He needs you to grow up big and strong to become the next king a" King Cedon the Kind. Remember what we told you?'

He nodded. *The greater the king, the greater his service to his people.'

*Good boy. I hope one day you'll understand what it means. To lead is to serve.' She kissed his forehead. *Now, go back to your people.'

She helped him into the sling, which rose up and swung across to the deck of the lower vessel. Ronnyn went to the side to watch. The prince climbed out, then stood uncertainly. An elaborately-dressed elderly man inspected him, made him jump and walk, then hugged him with every sign of joy.

Ronnyn watched, thinking, so this is the king who broke the three hundred years' truce, captured the Celestial City and exiled us.

Not far from the king stood a white-haired man. When he turned around to look up, Ronnyn recognised Sorne. What was the half-blood doing down there? He should be sailing with the T'Enatuath.

At first, Ronnyn had been wary of Sorne, with his white hair and missing eye. But as soon as Sorne learnt their mother had just given birth and needed help, he had taken them to the T'En healer. When the wharf was attacked, he'd saved Ronnyn's brothers and sisters. And when Baron Eskarnor grabbed Ronnyn's little brother, Sorne had removed his sword belt and offered himself in Tamaron's place.

Since the fisher-folk kidnapped his family, Ronnyn had felt adrift, lost in a world that made no sense. In Sorne, he'd found someone he could trust.

Now Ronnyn watched Sorne nod to Causare Imoshen. She acknowledged him with a single nod. It was as if they sealed a pact, and Ronnyn realised Sorne might be a half-blood, but he was much more than he appeared. And he was not coming with them.

As the two vessels pulled apart, Ronnyn felt cast adrift. The T'Enatuath were his people, but he didn't know them. If his parents hadn't run away, he would never have known them, or his half-blood sisters. He would have been handed over to a T'En sisterhood, which would have reared him until he was seventeen.

Right now, he needed to make sure Tamaron was all right. He would be frightened without his family by his side. They were all he had ever known.

Last night, the causare had been kind to Ronnyn. Now he tried to approach her, but the big voice-of-reason stepped between them.

*Don't bother the causare. She's been up all night.'

*But I a"'

*But nothing. You're the son of runaway Malaunje. She's the leader of our people.' The woman frowned down at him. *Do you know which brotherhood or sisterhood your parents ran away from?'

He'd heard his mother mention Scholar Hueryx, but he didn't know which brotherhood the scholar belonged to. If the T'En women knew his family had served a brotherhood, they'd send his Malaunje sisters to serve them. *I don't a"'

*How old are you, boy?'

*Twelve, thirteen in the spring.' Back home, he'd done the work of a man. Here he felt like a lost child, and he hated it.

*Go back to your cabin, Ronnyn.'

But he didn't. Instead, he followed the newborn's cries down the pa.s.sage and peered into All-mother Reoden's cabin. He spotted baby Ashmyr being bathed and clucked over by several T'En women. There were half a dozen small T'En children, all dressed alike in breeches, vests and robes, and several Malaunje servants. He couldn't spot Tamaron, so he pushed the door open a little further.

Strong hands reached for him, dragged him in and threw him up against the wall. *What're you doing?'

A wave of female gift power swept over him. On instinct, he summoned his defences. The sisterhood's hand-of-force glared down at him from her one good eye, making him wonder why Healer Reoden hadn't saved her other eye.

*Ronnyn!' Four-year-old Tamaron tried to force himself in between them and shove the gift-warrior away.

*He's just a boy. Let him go, Cerafeoni.' One of the women came over. Ronnyn recognised the sisterhood's voice-of-reason, Nerazime. *He's Tamaron's older brother. They're the children of runaway free Malaunje and don't know any better.'

*Bring him to me,' Healer Reoden said. She was propped in the bunk under the windows, supported by pillows.

The one-eyed warrior seized Ronnyn's arm and escorted him across the chamber. She took such long strides he lost his blanket and by the time he stood before the all-mother he wore nothing but his loin cloth.

*Look at the state of him,' one of the old women whispered. *Filthy and bruised.'

*It's hardly his fault. They were taken from their home, locked in a cart and transported across Chalcedonia,' Healer Reoden said. *If anything, the fault is ours for not seeing to his needs.'

Meanwhile, Tamaron caught up with Ronnyn and wrapped his arms around him. Ronnyn hardly recognised his little brother. He'd been bathed and dressed in a miniature version of what the adults wore.

Someone pa.s.sed the crying newborn to the healer, who opened her bodice. Baby Ashmyr suckled, then cried when nothing was forthcoming.

*Nerazime,' Healer Reoden said.

Ronnyn expected her to fetch a wet-nurse, but the voice-of-reason came over to sit beside the healer.

*Surely it's too soon,' the voice-of-reason said. *You've barely recovered.'

All-mother Reoden took Nerazime's hand, closed her eyes and concentrated. Ronnyn sensed her gift stir. It made his hearing sharper, colours richer. *What a"'

*Silence,' the hand-of-force snapped. *Nerazime is sharing power with the healer.'

After a moment, baby Ashmyr stopped crying and started sucking in earnest.

*There...' The healer sighed with relief and kissed Nerazime's cheek. *Thank you.' Then Reoden lifted her gaze to Ronnyn. *So you came to check on your brothers?'

He almost asked her forgiveness for ever doubting her, but... *They are my responsibility.'

Nerazime muttered.

*Leave us,' the healer said.

When Nerazime joined the other women feeding the children, All-mother Reoden patted the bunk near her.

But Ronnyn shook his head. *I'm filthy.'

Tamaron climbed up next to the healer and wrapped his arms around her. This struck Ronnyn as disloyal to their mother, but Reoden had almost killed herself to save his brother's life.

*I'm sorry I could not save your mother,' Reoden said.

Tears stung his eyes.

*She was worn down with deprivation, then exhausted by the birth. She'd lost so much blood. And then...' The healer rubbed Tamaron's back. *When they call the all-council, I'll accept you and your brothers as my choice-sons. I'll accept your sisters into my sisterhood's Malaunje. There will be no stigma attached to your birth. It's not your fault that your parents ran away from us. Now, go ask Nerazime for clean clothes, then bring your other brother to me.'

And then they would be separated from Aravelle and Itania. But he wouldn't put up with it. He'd sneak away to see his sisters and he'd make sure his brothers didn't forget their Malaunje kin. He would never abandon them.

ARAVELLE'S HEART SANK when Ronnyn returned. He had been bathed, his hair washed and braided, and he was dressed in fine clothes. She couldn't meet his eyes. He didn't look like her brother any more; she'd lost him to the T'En.

*I saw Healer Reoden. Everything's going to be all right. She's going to take us all in.'

Aravelle looked down and broke the bread in her hands. *I saved you some.'

*You eat it. I ate with the T'En sisters.'

She forced herself to take a mouthful.

*Even though we're the children of runaway Malaunje, the healer said... Vella?' His forehead crinkled earnestly. *Why are you crying, Vella?'

*I'm not.' Angry with herself, she brushed the tears away. *Don't you see? If we become sisterhood Malaunje, once you turn seventeen, you'll join your brotherhood and I'll never see you again.'

Itania climbed into Aravelle's lap and tried to console her. Aravelle hugged the two-year-old and kissed her red-gold curls. They were both Malaunje; it hadn't mattered back home, but here...

*I don't understand.' Ronnyn frowned. *If we admit we came from a brotherhood, they'll send you two to the brotherhood right now and you won't see baby Ashmyr grow up. This is the best we can hope for.'

It was true. She summoned a smile. *At least we'll have this time together, and we'll be safe from the Mieren.'

*That's right.' Ronnyn rose and held out his hand to Vittor. *Come with me. You need to get dressed.'

*What about Vella and Tani?' the six-year-old asked. They'd never been separated.

Ronnyn looked to Aravelle to explain. She had to harden her heart and be strong. *Go with Ronnyn, Vittor. We'll be fine.'

He was a good boy and did what he was told.

This left her and Itania alone with the survivors of a sisterhood, but at least they were together. Aravelle hugged her little sister who played with their father's cane. He'd carved it after the sea-boar gored his leg, and it was the only thing they had from their previous life.

Soon the s.h.i.+p were beyond the headlands; the deck rose and fell as it ploughed through the waves. Soon there was moaning and then nearly everyone became seasick.

Except for Aravelle. She was used to their family's fis.h.i.+ng boat.

A Malaunje woman arrived with mint tea to help settle people's stomachs, and another came in looking for Aravelle.

They were led downstairs to the Malaunje deck, which was overcrowded and chaotic. There Aravelle was introduced to a hara.s.sed woman, who shoved a change of clothes in her hands and told her to bathe herself and her sister. Then she spent the next few days cleaning up vomit, until people become accustomed to the pitch and yaw of the deck.

To think she had secretly wished to return to the city so her life wouldn't be filled with drudgery.

Chapter Three.

AS HE RODE up from the docks towards the palace, Sorne made sure the people had a clear view of the young prince and future king. The boy didn't know it, but Sorne was his half-brother, the king's eldest, unwanted half-blood son.

*Where's Ma?' Cedon asked, as he rode in Sorne's arms. He'd overcome his lisp and his club foot had been healed by the Wyrds, but he had not forgotten his mother.

*Queen Jaraile wanted to be here, but the bad man took her,' Sorne said, wis.h.i.+ng he'd antic.i.p.ated Eskarnor. The southern baron had outwitted him and that stung. But he'd been focused on coordinating the Wyrd exile and finding his half-blood sister at the time. At least Valendia was safe with Graelen.

On Sorne's right rode King Charald, High King of the Secluded Sea. With one hand on the reins and the other on his sword hilt, you could not spot the trembling that had afflicted him this last year. It had been two days since the seizure that had given everyone such a fright.

As they made their way through the streets, the people cheered their king and prince.

Charald had come to the throne at fifteen, and he was now fifty-seven. In just over forty years he'd made Chalcedonia the most powerful kingdom of the Secluded Sea, and he'd banished the Wyrds. He was a legend in his own time.

He was also a bully, distrustful of everyone and only good for making war.

But King Charald the Great was failing.

When his p.i.s.s turned the colour of port-wine, he lost his hold on reality. That left Baron Nitzane, who rode on Sorne's left, to hold the kingdom for the young prince. Nitzane was the grandson of the man who'd helped Charald hold the throne at fifteen, and he was the wealthiest, most powerful baron in the kingdom. He was also in love with Queen Jaraile, but Charald did not need to fear him because he was a good man.

Unfortunately, a good man was not what the country needed right now. It needed a great leader, and they did not have one.

Which was why Baron Eskarnor had dared to make a play for the throne. First he had tried to kill the prince to trigger a war between the king and Nitzane, whose son was the next in line for the throne; when this failed, he'd s.n.a.t.c.hed the queen.

The people did not know that their queen had been abducted. They did not know that the kingdom was about to be split by civil war.

Even King Charald did not know. Sorne had advised Nitzane not to tell Charald until after they'd collected the prince, because he feared the king's rage would unhinge his mind.

*Why did the bad man take Ma?' Cedon asked.

To legitimise his claim on the throne, which means he intends to kill you and your father. *Because he wants to be king. Don't worry. I'll bring her back.' If it was humanly possible.

The little boy twisted to look up at him. *Why do you have only one eye?'

Hubris. I stole power to gain visions and the respect of True-men, but it made them fear me and they turned on me. *The Warrior G.o.d took my eye to prove I was his servant. He sent me to save your mother.'

The prince accepted this. King Charald believed the Warrior had returned Sorne to get rid of the Wyrds. But, knowing the way the king bent the facts to suit himself, he would probably accept that it was Sorne's task to recover the queen.