From Darkness Won Part 25

"Thank you, no. I've eaten already."

Three more soldiers bowed, which sent a ripple of movement through the crowd. Positive emotions swelled over the negative ones. Men hailed him, some cheered, and all seemed to stare. He should probably say something.

He swallowed and spoke as loudly as he could. "That you've all joined me on this journey honors me more than I can express. I pray each night would be spent like this, reveling in each other's good company. But at some point we will take up swords against this enemy that has controlled Er'Rets for far too long. When that day comes, may Arman shield each of you so that we may all join together in a victory celebration in Armonguard."

The men cheered. Achan tried to move in Toros's direction again, but soldiers closed in to greet him. Shung and Kurtz kept the men back to a certain degree. For the first time in his life, Achan understood why powerful men summoned people to come to them. They would never get anything done if they always went out in public like this.

Achan shook many hands, remembered no names, and wondered how many of these men would die before their objective was completed.

A man with the lute played a song called, "The p.a.w.n Our King," which told the tale of Achan growing up in Sitna under the thumb of Lord Nathak. That anyone had written a song about him seemed more unreal than his being prince.

Then Lady Gali stepped before him and curtsied awkwardly. The woman who held Shung's heart stood a few inches taller than Achan. Her features were sharp as if Sir Gavin had chiseled her out of wood. She wore a sleeveless tunic of short fur and black trousers. As always, bone bangles circled her bare arms and neck, which made her seem even taller somehow.

Achan bowed to her. "Lady Gali. You honor me with your presence and the pledge of your sword."

"And you honor all of Berland by knighting one of our own." Her dark gaze flicked to Shung, and she pushed one of her dark braids over her shoulder.

Achan held out his hand before them. "Would you join us? I'm sure Shung had left many details out as to how he helped me defeat the mighty cham."

So Achan boasted of Shung's prowess as he worked his way across the clearing. Shung seemed a bit embarra.s.sed at Achan's version of the event, but from the wide-eyed glances Lady Gali was sending Shung's way, the man would thank Achan later.

By the time Achan reached the wagon, Toros was on his feet. "How can I serve you this evening, Highness?"

"Are you busy?"

"Just visiting with old friends. This is Rosef. He and I fought together at the Battle of Gadow Wall."

Achan searched his memory. "I don't recall that battle."

"Happened over a decade before you were born, Highness," Toros said. "Another Zona Fight."

"A Zona Fight?"

"Zona was the woman King Justos took from Sar Orind during the Great War. The reason for the continued strife between Magos and Cherem. You should learn the history, as it will soon become a part of your daily life."

"I'm sure Sir Caleb would love to teach it to me."

"Well, the Battle of Gadow Wall started when one soldier bet another he could rekindle the war between Cherem and Magos. He started a rumor in Cherem. Claimed one of Zona's descendants was King Axel's mistress and that a child had been born. Cherem saw such a child as an heir to the throne and a chance to take control of Er'Rets."

"That's pretty bold, isn't it?" Achan asked. "To start a war based on rumor?"

"It was. Though several servants concurred that a babe had been in the palace."

"Bah," Kurtz said. "Could've been any servant's babe."

Achan doubted his father had taken any mistress, for Sir Gavin had spoken of how much his father had loved his mother. "Could it have been me?"

"No, Highness. This was the year 551."

According to Sir Caleb, Achan's true day of birth happened on spring second of the year 569. So this mythical child would have been eighteen years Achan's senior.

Toros continued. "Cherem attacked Gadowl Wall with plans to take Armonguard. But they never made it past the wall. King Axel could command an army better than anyone I've ever known. It was over in a few hours. Anyway, did you need my service, Highness?"

The question caught Achan off guard until he remembered that he had asked Toros if he were busy. "Yes, I had some questions. Might you be willing to come to my tent sometime to discuss them?"

"I shall come with you now."

"Thank you," Achan said.

It seemed to take hours to weave their way back through the men. Inside Achan's tent, he bid Toros sit across from him at the round table.

"What's on your mind, Highness?" Toros asked.

"The Veil."

Toros watched him closely. "What about it?"

"If Arman created everything, and everything He created is good, how is it that the Veil exists and that a person can get lost in it?"

"You imply that the Veil is not good."

"It doesn't seem to be."

"Why not?" His tone insinuated that Achan was wrong.

"I don't know. It's scary there. People die."

"It's scary in Er'Rets too. People die here." Toros grinned. "The Veil was not designed for man to roam. It is a road that takes a man to his eternal home."

"But it isn't a road at all. It's Er'Rets but not Er'Rets."

Toros raised an eyebrow. "You've entered the Veil?"

Achan nodded. "And I felt the pull-of Shamayim, I hope. Why would Arman allow someone to be lost before their time?"

"I do not believe He would."

"What do you mean?"

"Many have entered the Veil as a result of man's will. A bloodvoicer's force. But I don't believe Arman would accept them home if it was not His will at that time."

"So you think Arman wants those people to die?"

Toros chuckled. "I will not speak for Arman. But He is good. He is in control. And His plans are always best, even though it may not seem that way to you or me."

"If someone kills a man, you believe it's Arman's will?"

"Again, Your Highness, I'll not speak for Arman. But if Arman had purpose for the man to live, the man would live." Toros leaned forward, propping his elbows on the table. "Most people focus too much on things that are of no real concern. The real question is, do you trust Arman or not? If you trust Him, none of this matters."

"But my friend is lost in the Veil. I want to know-"

"Do you trust Arman, Highness?"

"Yes, but-"

"No buts. Either you trust Him or you don't."

Achan shifted on his chair. "Maybe I don't, then."

"I agree. You don't trust Him fully or you'd know you did. Arman wants your trust, Highness. When He asks something of you, He's seeking your heart. Your att.i.tude, your disposition, your fears, your strengths, your obedience, your allegiance. All of you. When you trust Arman with your life, you run the risk of exposing your real fears. You run the risk of Arman having total authority and say in your life. Most men don't like that. They like to be in control."

"What's so bad about being in control?"

"Nothing, if you want to make a mess of your life. You think you can run your life better without Arman?"

"I know I can't. But how can I learn to trust Him more?"

Toros smiled. "Learning is not the easiest way, Highness. It's easiest simply to do it, even when it's hard. Simply trust Him."

"How is doing easier than learning?"

"Have you heard the saying, 'Don't pray for patience or Arman will bestow trials so you may practice patience'? I believe the same is true of trust. Don't pray for trust if you're not ready to face the trials that'll force you to trust Him, to lean on Arman for strength. A life of continual trials isn't pleasant. But it's one way to learn to trust Arman."

Odd way of looking at it.

"Arman held nothing back from you when He gave you His Son. Hold nothing back from Him. Trust Him. His will is always perfect, Highness, even when it doesn't make sense."

When Achan lay in bed that night, he asked Shung to sit with his body so he could enter the Veil. He went back to the room where Sparrow lay and was surprised to find a n.o.blewoman asleep in a chair beside the bed.

Sparrow? Achan focused on Sparrow's face, wishing he could nudge her shoulder. You've closed your mind. Are you back in your body?

A long moment pa.s.sed with no answer. Achan could sense Sparrow's shields around her mind, but he had no way of breaking through without being able to locate them.

Sparrow, please. You have to lower your shields to talk to me. At least say something so I know you are well. I promise to leave you be after that, but I must know that you're not hurt.

At least she looked more comfortable now. Someone had repositioned her arms and combed back her hair. The n.o.blewoman, perhaps?

Achan sent a knock the formal way, in case Sparrow expected him to use his manners. Achan Cham.

Still no response. He hovered, calling to Sparrow on and off until he felt himself growing weak with fatigue. He returned to his body. He would do Sparrow no good if he were lost himself, and he did not want to discover what happened if a man fell asleep while his mind was in the Veil.

The next morning Achan woke to find Matthias watching him. The boy had put his bedroll on the floor beside Achan's bed. They had fallen into a morning ritual, and being on the road would apparently not deter Matthias from it. Each day Achan woke to find the boy waiting. Matthias chose one of Achan's scars, and Achan would tell the tale. Then they would wake Shung in the most amusing way possible.

Achan spotted Shung's bedroll across the linen drape of the door, but remembered Sparrow was lost in the Veil. "Not today, Matthias. I must search for Sparrow."

The boy's expression sagged.

And Achan could not bear to see Matthias frown. "All right. Quickly, though."

Matthias's dark eyes roamed Achan's chest, then flitted to his face. He pointed a black finger at Achan's cheek.

"Esek cut me." Achan turned his head to show Matthias the cut on his other cheek. "Both sides. With owr, my father's sword. But I have it back now. owr's blade will never harm me again. Now, run fetch us some breakfast and tell Cole I will not be riding again today."

Matthias had to step over Shung to leave the tent.

Some shield when a small boy could pa.s.s unharmed. "Shung, watch for me while I look for Sparrow?"

The man grunted and rolled over, pulling a hairy arm over his head.

Achan threw his pillow at the man. "Wake up, Shung! Sparrow is lost, and I need you!"

Shung opened his eyes and pushed up onto one elbow. "The little fox would not like your manners."

"We'll never know if we don't find her."

Shung sat up and yawned. "Aye, Shung is ready."

But when Achan appeared in the room in Sitna manor, Sparrow's body was gone.

Sparrow? Where are you? He reached out and found her shields stronger than ever. He tried to focus on them, to no avail. He floated out of the chamber in Sitna and back to the dungeons, checking each cell. Sparrow, please. I must know if you're safe. We're all very worried. You've been stormed. Please answer me.

No sign of Sparrow in the dungeons.

Achan pulled back from the Veil and sat up. Sir Caleb!

Sir Caleb burst through the drape on Achan's tent and stumbled over the edge of Shung's bedroll. "What? What's happened?"

"Sparrow's body is gone."

"Oh." Sir Caleb relaxed. "Can you sense her?"

"Aye, but her mind is still shielded, and she won't answer. I should have stayed in her room all night. Sir Eagan and I could have taken turns guarding her."

"Perhaps she came back into her body and escaped."

Achan contemplated this. "Then why won't she answer?

Could she still be angry enough to ignore my questioning her well-being?" Why wouldn't she believe him about the mistress thing? That it had only been a stray thought.

"Hard to guess what makes a woman angry. But they never forget the things you say."

Wonderful. "What about the things I think?"

Sir Caleb put his hands on his hips. "What do you mean? I thought she has not been answering. You've not been carrying on conversations with Vrell in your mind, have you? That would be most inappropriate now that you are betrothed to Lady Averella."

Achan gritted his teeth. "Sir Caleb, I am merely trying to help Sparrow back from the Veil. If her body is gone and she is not answering, how can I know for sure she is safe?"

"I know not. Sir Eagan would be of better a.s.sistance."