Читать книгу The Seekers: Soul Ties - Anton Anderson - Страница 14

The next morning Sabiri felt incredibly well-rested. For sure, the day was going to be awesome. The sun was lighting the room with its warm rays. Suddenly, she developed an immense urge to stretch her entire body. So, she did just that. Oh, what an ecstasy!

Yawning and stretching some more, Sabiri sat and looked around. Iskrila wasn’t here. Did she already go out? Or did she sleep at the smithy? Determined to bid her «good morning,» Sabiri quickly collected whatever food she had, shoveled it down her throat, then went to find Iskrila.

On her way, Sabiri wondered whether they also should make some bows for the healers. Just in case. Some should already have them, but the rest… Pretty much all children learn how to use them, but do they take care of their bows and skills? It would take some time to figure out, and even more time to refresh their skills.

A movement interrupted the strain of Sabiri’s thoughts. It was a lookout, running towards her. Sabiri couldn’t make out the face yet, but the way that igni was running…

«Morning, mistress,» the igni stopped in front of her, gasping for breath.

«Hi, Guon. What’s the hurry?»

«I was supposed to change a lookout on the pier, Berani, but she wasn’t there. And…» She paused to take a breath. «And there was some junk sitting on the spot where we stand guard. I thought she was just too lazy to get rid of it, so I moved it away. There was blood beneath it on the pier! That couldn’t’ve been a coincidence! I sent some fishers to search the waters near that area, and then I ran here.»

Sabiri was about to ask Guon to calm down, was about to go with her to the pier. Why did something need to happen so close to the attack? But then she saw another igni running her way. She was wearing civilian clothes – did something else happen? The igni was now close enough to see her face…

A sudden chill of dread swallowed Sabiri. No, that can’t be! The igni was crying something, but Sabiri couldn’t hear it over her deafening heartbeat. Those wide eyes and those tears!

«Tell me she’s just injured!» Sabiri yelled. «Tell me she’s alive!»

Bertie, one of Iskrila’s apprentices, stopped and nearly tripped over her own leg. Breathing heavily, she shut her eyes, then shook her head.

Sabiri watched Bertie’s head shaking, but there was no meaning registering in her brain. The sound of Guon’s hooves, pacing next to her. The wind, stroking her face. The feeling of complete exhaustion. She felt all of it, nothing resonated with her mind. Nothing but those words Haileen told her yesterday.

She didn’t remember how she got to the smithy. All the apprentices were already there. Forced outside by the soldiers and guards, they were whispering into each other’s ears. But when Sabiri looked at them, still not quite sure what was happening, all of them fell silent.

Haileen was already inside. Sabiri looked at her ever-calm face, expecting something, anything. And Haileen raised her hand, inviting her to hold it. Sabiri instinctively tried to do just that, but the way her arm moved, the way it felt was alien. Scared, Sabiri stopped herself.

«Show me, please,» someone else’s voice escaped from Sabiri’s mouth.

Haileen stepped back and indicated the stairs to the attic, where Iskrila’s office was. The trapdoor was open, the warm green light of burning bugs was spilling out. So, either Iskrila was so exhausted that she fell asleep in spite of the light. Or…

Sabiri stopped herself from such stupid speculation. She would see soon enough. But her brain had already woken up. The smithy looked the same, except for a pile of swords in the corner. No hoofprints, nothing turned upside down or scattered on the floor in a hurry.

«Did anyone touch something? Was the door locked?» Sabiri asked Haileen.

Haileen, of course, had already asked the workers. «It was unlocked, but I’m told it’s not unusual. They just started the hearth, didn’t touch anything else.»

Wishing that there was something, that there was a reason to stay where she was, Sabiri started climbing up the stairs. Her heart was racing faster and faster. High enough to see inside the room. One turn of the head, and she saw it.

Frozen on the steps, Sabiri stared at the body lying in a pool of blood. Her dear Iskrila was staring back at her through lifeless eyes. Unable, unwilling to move, Sabiri could only stare back, feeling all life quickly seeping out of her, feeling bitter tears in the corners of her eyes…

She didn’t know how much time had passed, but eventually Sabiri remembered where she was. And to her own terror, she recognized what she had to do. With a heavy sigh, Sabiri gathered all her strength and stepped into the room. She once again glanced at her dear Iskrila. Her head was resting against the table’s leg in a most unnatural position. Who did this to you? A bundle of red fabric was lying at her legs, just a tiny bit of white still remained. Why is your face so calm and peaceful? What are you trying to see in my eyes? What did you see? Who did you see?

Something, something felt bad. A physical discomfort of sorts. What….? With a hissing sound, Sabiri inhaled, realizing she was too tense to breathe.

Where the shelf above the table had been was now just empty nail holes and a smear of blood. All the contents of that shelf were now scattered across the table and floor. An almost empty bottle of ink had spat its contents all over. Pieces of wood, some glass, a quill, coins, writing charcoal, stacks of paper. Drops of blood seemed to be everywhere.

So, she’d been standing, otherwise that blood wouldn’t be on the wall. But why was the shelf broken? Sabiri came closer and saw a thin crack in the wall. Straight and clean, being right in the middle of the blood stain – it was definitely made by a weapon, probably a sword.

Sabiri collected all the will she had left and kneeled beside the body. What she had first thought was just blood happened to be an enormous wound. With shaking hands, Sabiri lifted the cold body, looked at its back. An exit wound, as she suspected. The weapon caused a long, thin wound. Sabiri’s fingers dug deeper into the mess of Iskrila’s clothes and flesh. The weapon managed to cleanly cut its way through the rib, right into the heart. Whoever did this managed to pin Iskrila to the wall. Only another igni or a saxum could be strong enough to do this.

But there was no amulet. Sabiri spread more half-dried blood over Iskrila’s clothes as she searched but found nothing. She stood up, unwilling to continue. But then immediately regretted the decision. It was not the place for her.

«Try to find the artifact, Haileen, please,» Sabiri said, lifting the body.

«I’ll help you down the stairs, then you can carry her yourself.»

Sabiri accepted the help. She hesitated a second, but then picked up the heavy mess of fabric and half-dried blood from the floor. Iskrila has been so delighted by this stupid bow-knot. She had no right to abandon it now.

The workers were probably staring at them, staring at Iskrila, were probably whispering something. When she got outside, the people had already gathered near the smithy. They were probably staring at them as well. Sabiri wasn’t sure. Making her way home, she hardly ever glanced at the road ahead. All that really mattered was the body in her arms. She used to carry her children to bed like that. Come to think of this, sometimes even Iskrila’s children. She loved visiting their home. They used to help Iskrila make something delicious, then they played, or read books. She loved the laughter, loved to be a part of her life. Now it felt like ages ago.

Home. They lived here together for years now. Sabiri laid the body on a guest bed that was almost always vacant. She tried to make it look natural, like Iskrila was sleeping, but it was all futile. She sat beside her, took her cold hand, and that was it. Looking in her empty dead eyes and holding her hand – there was no other thought on her mind.

«You can’t do it right now,» a familiar voice said after minutes of silence.

Haileen’s voice agreed. «We won’t decide what to do next without you.»

Sabiri felt completely empty and powerless. Even sitting on a soft bed seemed too much to bear. She wanted to lie down, close her eyes, and she didn’t care about waking up.

«Report?» Sabiri sighed heavily.

«No more deaths have been reported so far, except for that lookout Berani. They found her body in the water below the pier, already returned to her family. The gates are locked, the lookouts are stationed, the scouts are deployed, all the guards are instructed.

«The assassins left an arrow in Berani’s skull. The smiths have already examined it. Great craftsmanship, common type of wood and feathers, common shape of the tip, no crafter’s stamp – it’s impossible to tell who made it.»

Haileen was always giving reports like that. Never pausing, never searching for the right words, never misspeaking. And she’d been at the smithy first. She’d brought in soldiers, made sure the scene wasn’t disturbed, and all that without asking for any orders! Sabiri felt utterly unworthy of being called her boss.

Yet, she was Haileen’s boss. Star was standing right there, waiting for her to act. Sabiri couldn’t see anything on her face. What did she find in me? What does she expect from me right now?

«What does it mean?» Sabiri asked everyone. «Only the Drowners knew about the amulet. If they were specifically after it, then it makes sense. Or does it? Did Jaesa change her mind and regret parting with the artifact? But it was so dangerous! They could’ve been discovered, and then our retaliation would follow. Jaesa must’ve considered that!»

She knew nothing! So many possibilities, so little data! Why, why did it have to happen? Why her?! Why Iskrila?!!

«It would make sense if she wanted to cripple us while she had the chance,» Sabiri resumed. «But if this is the case – why just Iskrila? They should’ve tried to kill at least all the mistresses! Did they just get afraid and end their mission early?»

Sabiri looked at Haileen and Star, waiting for their thoughts, but there were none. At least Haileen looked preoccupied – Star was staring at something out the window. What was so important out there?!!

«What if it wasn’t Drowners?» Sabiri jumped to her feet and started walking in circles. «The assassins just grabbed the amulet because it radiated magic. But then why did they search the smithy? Did they just stumble upon it? Were they looking for some armor and weapons there? And how did we manage to miss them! Shit, Haileen, I had to listen to you yesterday!»

«There was nothing you could do,» Haileen said. «I was too late with this, there was no time.»

«Then at least think of something! Fuck!» Sabiri snapped. «Could it be Drowners? Who else could it be? Why just Iskrila? How did they learn about the amulet?»

Star’s calm voice called for reason. «Sadly, sometimes there’s just no way to know. There’s no evidence, we can’t just see into the past. Please, try to calm down.»

«How can I calm down?» Sabiri rushed to her, ready to use her fists. «Look at her!» She pointed at Iskrila’s body. «What are we supposed to do? What about the attack? How… how…» Sabiri groaned and stepped back.

She knew that she had to calm down. But how? A pulsing sensation at the back of her neck wasn’t going away; she ignored it. Star was right – there was no way to know. A deep breath. And another one. What were her options? Were there any options? Any but the obvious?

«Send a letter to our allies, Star,» Sabiri said. «If it wasn’t Drowners – fine, we’ll find out when we search their village. But if it was them – we could be in trouble. They could’ve seen something here. They could’ve gotten here precisely because they knew. Our allies could suffer the same fate. We shouldn’t give Drowners any more time to get ready for us. I say we march today. We’re almost ready anyway.»

Neither Haileen nor Star looked surprised to hear this. Yet Star did object. «Being almost ready means higher casualties.»

«Giving them time to entrench or to buy mercenaries also means the same thing,» Haileen agreed with Sabiri.

Star looked Sabiri in the eyes. «Are you sure this is the best way?»

«I’m sure I want to spend time with Iskrila. I’m sure I want to lie down and do nothing.»

A weak smile appeared on Star’s face. «You’ll get your opportunity soon enough, just after we win. I’ll send the word. Be ready.»