Lauds, Ninth Day Before Kalends of May

Bahim, Drum

When he awoke he was in Bahim. The carriage had stopped. The sun had not yet risen. Kate was nowhere to be seen.

Logan cautiously stepped out of the carriage, Sensing for any Bodies nearby. He Sensed the driver — he was fast asleep.

Here, said Kate, and Logan turned to see her lying on her back on top of the carriage.

What are you doing, said Logan.

“This is Karda territory,” said Kate. “I am keeping watch.”

Only now did Logan notice three bodies at the foot of the carriage. Their long hair and drab garments were unmistakably those of Karda.

“Why did we stop here,” said Logan. “Why not some place safer.”

“Kardas have good blades,” said Kate. “Good armour too, sometimes. Drina’s men would do well with them.”

“And just what is it that you are doing,” said Logan. “Fetching me for Drina. Collecting weapons for her men. I would not have taken you for one to occupy yourself with such chores for another. You are the daredevil child, but you are still of nobility.”

At this Kate was silent for a while, then said, “I am like you. I am sickened by them all.”

“I hear you are now conducting the Rituals,” said Logan. “I have always been sickened by Them, and not from seeing the child’s body devoured by the Mind of Heion, no. It was from looking up and seeing the smiling faces of the parents. As their child was writhing in agony before them, they were gathering wool about the wealth and leisure awaited them! A child was a small price to pay.”

“No,” said Kate flatly. “I quite like the Rituals. It is the only moment of excitement in the entire year. Those false jousts and courtly niceties are simply so tedious. I have not seen blood shed on those courtyards since you left.”

Seeing Kate’s smile glinting in the moonlight recalled within Logan’s mind a terrible memory from his childhood, when he found Kate, who herself was around six or seven years old, behind the lumber room drinking the blood of the pigeon. The pigeon was still alive and fluttering weakly in her hand.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

The Houses of Drum have treated me leniently,” continued Kate. “Yet Drina treats me all the more leniently. Also, I prefer rugged men over the flowery boys of the Houses.”

“Do the Houses know what you are doing,” said Logan.

“No,” said Kate.

“How can you be so sure.”

“Drina is not the only one who sent for you. So did Keys. And not about Cyrill. No, they are afraid that you will join Drina.”

“You are saying that you have hidden such treachery to Keys,” said Logan. “Did you face Keys. Did he look into your eyes.”

“I gave him nothing.”

“You cannot suggest —”

At this, the driver gave a grunt, and Logan realised that he had raised his voice.

More softly, he said, “you cannot suggest that you protected your Mind against Keys.”

“I think,” said Kate. “That Keys does not wish to Sense my Mind.”

Logan could not help but feel entirely convinced.

“Get rest,” said Logan. “I will keep watch.”

Kate smiled. “Make sure to clean the blades before you put them in the back. The Kardas have such terrible diseases.”

Logan did not respond as he watched Kate float lazily down into the carriage. There was rustling for a while, and then silence. Logan was left alone in the night. He thought again about the scene from his childhood, when he had found Kate drinking the blood of a pigeon. He had been too terrified to even scream. Kate had smiled and offered him some. At this point he had begun sobbing. “There, there,” Kate had said, approaching him. She had then ripped out some of the pigeons entrails and had stuffed it in Logan’s mouth. Logan, trembling in terror, had swallowed. Even to this day, Logan felt that a bitter taste remained in his mouth. And what horrified him more was the arousal that always followed the recollection of this event. He closed his eyes. He could Sense two Bodies approaching from the north, through the dandelion fields. They were approaching at a speed faster than that of a horse. Logan did not move, and pretended to be asleep. When they were almost upon him, at the edge of the road, they stopped for a moment. Logan could Sense them drawing their blades. Logan drew a deep breath in through his nose and out through his mouth. The two Bodies dashed forward and Logan drew his fauchard.

When Logan open his eyes once more, there were before him two dead Kardas.

Nones, Ninth Day Before Kalends of May

Eastpoint, Bahim, Drum

Hazel Drina was waiting for them when they arrived at the small town of Eastpoint. She was exactly as Logan remembered her, though perhaps a little more tanned and a little leaner. She had the same grizzled blond hair, the same auburn eyes, and the same wry smile. She was a small woman, much shorter than Kate at least, but she carried herself as if she was taller than all the men in her mercenary band. She was, like Logan and Kate, wearing a civilian rahl.

“Hello Logan,” she said.

This was why Logan was so wary of Hazel Drina. She had the charm of an older woman that Logan found worryingly irresistible. Logan also suspected that Hazel knew of this, which made him all the more flustered.

“Captain Drina,” said Logan. “I heard you wished to see me.”

Kate was hovering about a foot above Logan’s head. “Hullo Hazel,” she said.

“Hello Kate,” said Hazel. “How was the journey.”

“Excellent,” said Kate. “As you are well aware, Floyd here is the most excellent of conversationists.”

At this Hazel smiled. She was certainly a beautiful woman.

“Come,” said Hazel. “We have been waiting for you.”