The Shadow Games: The Chronicles of Arianthem VI Read online

  “I am here to complete a contract.”

  “And who is your target?”

  Pernilla gazed down at the young woman. “You.”

  Aesa merely sighed. “And who sent you here to kill me? Who was your contract with?”

  “Your husband,” Pernilla said with the brutal honesty of her profession. “You have provided an heir. He loves another. You are to be gone.”

  Aesa again sighed. It seemed a fitting end, to fuck the vampyr her husband sent to slay her, on her deathbed.

  “And so now you will kill me.”

  “Well,” Pernilla said. “Yes and no. I have no choice but to fulfill that contract.”

  “So what is the ‘no’ part about it?” Aesa said sarcastically, the emerging brashness of this infant pleasing to Pernilla and solidifying her fate.

  “This,” she said, as she raked her nails over her breast just above the nipple. Blood began to flow downward, covering the red aureole with a deeper red.

  “And now, you’re going to drink.”

  Raine sat staring at the Empress for a very long time. Aesa herself seemed lost in the world of the tale she had recounted. She started, as if waking from a deep sleep.

  “I’m sorry,” she stammered, “that was probably unnecessarily graphic.”

  “No, no,” Raine said, clearing her throat, “it was, um, well-told.” She was thoughtful for a moment. “So Pernilla turned you to vampyrism to fulfill the contract.”

  “I am dead,” Aesa pointed out. “So that did, in truth, fulfill the contract.”

  “So what happened next? And how did you wind up in this tomb?”

  “I spent many years with Pernilla. It was exciting and exhilarating, and I experienced everything a pampered young girl could not. I did many things of which I am not proud. Pernilla was not kind to me, but that is not really what I wanted from her, and nor was she cruel. I would say that those years with her were the best of my life. Or death. It is all so confusing.”

  “So what happened?”

  Aesa sighed and her eyes darkened with sadness. “More and more I felt my will subsumed to Pernilla. She always had the ability to compel me, but it grew and grew. I realized how very powerful she was compared to the other vampyr, and I felt myself turning to a thrall.”

  Raine frowned. She did not know a great deal about vampyrism, but she was fairly certain it did not work that way.

  “But you took Pernilla’s blood. A thrall is one who survives the bite alone.”

  “I think Pernilla is different. As time went on, I could refuse her nothing. It amused her, she mocked me, told me that I would make an excellent thrall. I knew I could never be her equal, but I would not stay with her as a mindless slave.”

  Raine stroked her chin but said nothing.

  “And so I left. I planned everything so carefully, terrified that she would find out. I found a wizard, a very powerful one willing to provide the spell for the seal. I did not contact him directly, but through intermediaries.”

  “What was this wizard’s name?”

  “I don’t remember,” Aesa said, “it was so long ago. But I had information he wanted. The location of some deeds and titles on land that was in dispute, documentation that favored the Tavinter people.”

  “Isleif,” Raine said, breathing out the name.

  “Yes,” Aesa said, startled. “That was his name.”

  “Well,” Raine said under her breath, “no wonder no one could get past the seal.”

  They grew silent once more as Raine contemplated the situation. With evident reticence, Aesa broke that silence.

  “And so why are you here? Who sent you to break the seal?”

  Raine hesitated, but only briefly. The Empress had been completely honest with her, so she could do no less.

  “I was sent here by the second in command of the Shadow Guild, a woman by the name of Malron’a.”

  Aesa shook her head. “I have heard the name, but I do not know her. As close as I was to Pernilla, I knew very little about the inner workings of the Shadow Guild. I have never even met anyone else who knew her by name.”

  “I know her only by name. I have never met Pernilla.”

  “But why did Malron’a send you here?”

  “I’m not sure Malron’a knew what was in these catacombs. But she knew there was something here that Pernilla valued greatly, something that might get me close to her.”

  “And why do you need to get close to Pernilla?”

  “Because Malron’a wants me to kill her.”

  This silenced Aesa completely and it was appropriate to describe that silence as tomb-like.

  “So this is all about a power struggle in the Shadow Guild?” Aesa said at last.

  “Their part of it,” Raine said, “my part is the cancellation of a contract.”

  “What contract?” Aesa said. “The Shadow Guild never cancels a contract.”

  “The contract is to kill a head of state in Arianthem. And now that I think about it, from what you’ve said, it’s probably going to be your grandson.”

  “My grandson,” Aesa said, taken aback. She was not certain how she felt about that. “Is he, is he anything like me?”

  Raine knew exactly what she was asking. “I fear he takes much more after your husband’s side of the family.”

  “Then you should let him die,” Aesa said, and Raine understood more why the Empress of the House of Farlein had made such a perfect companion for the Head of the Shadow Guild.

  “That is not an unpopular opinion,” Raine said, “but unfortunately, I can’t let that happen. There is a great storm coming, an uprising of Hyr’rok’kin which the world has never seen, and it will require all the people to act as one. We’ve been forming alliances between the dwarves, the Alfar, the Ha’kan, the Tavinter, even the Empire. But the alliances are fragile and threatened by old hostilities and suspicions. An assassination would create chaos.”

  “Yes,” Aesa agreed. As pampered a life as she had led, she was an astute, albeit distant, observer of the political process. “So what are you going to do?”

  “It’s difficult to say. I had two options, one was to take Malron’a’s deal, use whatever was in this vault to get close to Pernilla, then kill her, and Malron’a, as first in the hierarchy, would rescind the contract. Or two, use whatever was in this vault to get close to Pernilla, then bargain with her directly for the cancellation of the contract in trade. But,” Raine said, eying the Empress, “as you are not some chest of gold or enchanted artifact, I cannot simply turn you over to Pernilla.”

  Aesa was greatly relieved. But she had already expected that this noble creature would do no such thing.

  “So you do all of this for the greater good?”

  “Something like that,” Raine mused. “And I could probably kill them both, but the contract would still be in effect.”

  Were any other creature to speak so blithely of killing two of the most deadly assassins in Arianthem, both of them powerful, ancient vampyr, Aesa would have laughed at the bravado. But this one had a way of speaking, a manner of carrying herself, a calm self-assurance that indicated that not only was such a thing possible, it was almost inevitable. And the blue and gold filigree interwoven beneath her skin, the markings that identified her as Scinterian, simply added to that impression.

  “So what will you do?”

  “Well, I could begin killing the Shadow Guild one-by-one, but that will take up far too much time. So I lean toward my final option. There is a contract on me. One that says I am to be taken alive if at all possible. It was my least favorite option, but it’s the only one I have left. I’m going to have to think this through, though. And in the meantime, I have to find some place safe to put you.”

  The Empress exited from the catacombs on Raine’s arm, blinking at the bright sunlight she had not seen in decad
es. Both Feyden and Lorifal were astonished at the change in her. The pale, wan creature they had stumbled across had disappeared and in her place was a striking young woman. Aesa shielded herself from the painful rays, and Feyden walked over and handed her his cloak. She pulled the hood over her head with gratitude, but not before Kylan got a good look at her. It was as the elf and dwarf said: the Empress had survived. Her eye also caught the red mark and bruise on Raine’s neck.

  “Oh, I’m telling on you.”

  “Oh please,” Raine said, “I can hide nothing from my love. Confessions will spill out of me the minute I see her. And I will have to tell her that my eyes turned violet upon first sight of you.”

  “I should like to be there for that conversation.”

  “Hmmph,” Raine said, then grew serious. “The vampyres are gone?”

  “They didn’t seem to care for my company,” Kylan said.

  Raine glanced over at the tree line, which looked distinctly different than when she had entered the catacombs. An entire row of the towering pines was gone, the earth was damp, and shards of ice still protruded from the ground despite the heat of the day.

  “I see you gave them a little encouragement.”

  “Your wolves have come and gone, and your hawk,” Kylan said, glancing to the sky, “circled for a while, then left. I believe whatever scouts the vampyr left behind have also retreated.”

  Raine grinned. Only another creature of flight would be so attuned to notice the enormous raptor that sometimes followed her.

  “You have made some interesting allies in your lifetime,” Kylan said.

  “The hawk is one of Freyja’s children,” Raine explained, “and I count Fenrir as a friend.”

  “Ah yes,” Kylan said thoughtfully, “and Fenrir’s sister is greatly interested in you as well.”

  “A not-so-friendly interest,” Raine said, her countenance darkening.

  Aesa was fascinated at the conversation, for the two women spoke of the gods with an informality that was remarkable. All people worshipped them, but few spoke as if they were on familiar terms with the deities or might see them on a stroll through the forest. It made her wonder all the more about her liberator, and about the astonishing woman in the blue scaled armor.

  “So what is your next move, Scinterian?” Kylan asked.

  Raine turned to Feyden and Lorifal. “We have to find someplace safe to put the Empress, and I cannot stay to guard her.”

  “I could take her to Alfheim,” Feyden offered, “but it is a long way to travel in the open.”

  Lorifal kicked the ground with his toe, shifted his weight from one foot to the other, then did so again.

  “What?” Raine asked.

  Lorifal appeared slightly embarrassed. “There’s gold in these hills.”

  “Oh,” Raine said, understanding the admission. “How much gold?”

  “A lot,” Lorifal said with emphasis.

  “Really? Even though we are miles from the border?”

  Lorifal nodded.

  “I don’t quite understand,” Feyden said, and Lorifal glanced with embarrassment to the Empress.

  “No time to get shy about things now,” Raine said.

  “There are dwarven tunnels not far from here,” Lorifal explained. “The Deep Miners have been excavating this area for years.”

  “You have tunneled into imperial lands?” Aesa asked.

  Lorifal kicked the ground again. “Yes. Although surface dwellers divide the land up into neat little parcels, the dwarves have always felt that everything below ground was theirs.”

  “That violates several treaties,” the Empress pointed out.

  “Yes,” Lorifal admitted, “Yes it does.”

  “But it is clever,” Aesa said thoughtfully.

  “And the Deep Miners are distrustful of all outsiders,” Raine mused, “more so than any other dwarves. And it’s not as if an outsider could just ‘blend in.’ I doubt there are any dwarves in the Shadow Guild.”

  “Nope,” Lorifal agreed, “not our style.”

  “Will they take the Empress in?”

  “I think so. I have several cousins that are Deep Miners, and that will be enough of an opening. And…”

  Lorifal trailed off, turning a sideways glance at Kylan.

  “Yes?” she said expectantly.

  “They have a cult built around beautiful female dragons. You should see some of the statues they have in the Dverger Collosseum, naked orgies of—“

  “Enough,” Raine said firmly.

  “That sounds like fun,” Kylan said.

  “So you will help my companions get to the tunnels?” Raine asked.

  “Of course,” the dragon said. “But what about you, little one? What will you do next?”

  Raine blushed at the endearment, but then sighed. “I have little choice but to return to Malron’a. Perhaps she will have another idea.”

  Chapter 21

  Fireside felt empty without the presence of her companions. There were several missives waiting for Raine on the front table. The Ha’kan had sent word that they had a promising lead and were heading to Kalfax, accompanied by Jorden and Syn. Idonea had sent separate word that she, too, was going to Kalfax, having felt a strong signal from Skye somewhere in the Deep Woods. There was nothing from Weynild, but that was not unexpected. Raine set the letters down, pleased that there was progress in finding Skye, but frustrated that she seemed to be making far less progress than her friends.

  And then, because the sun was going down and she was not at all tired, she headed for the castle.

  “You slip in and out of the imperial grounds as easily as I.”

  “I do have credentials provided by the Knight Commander,” Raine reminded her, “which makes getting in the front door a little easier.”

  “And yet somehow I feel you would get in as effortlessly without them.”

  Raine stood waiting as the vampyr came out of the shadows, the pale blue-green eyes assessing her at length. Her funereal splendor made Aesa’s story all the more vivid, and Raine could only imagine what Pernilla must look like.

  “You broke the seal,” Malron’a said with a trace of admiration. “I confess I did not think you would be successful.”

  “The vampyres you sent to follow me were not part of the deal.”

  “I did not send them,” Malron’a said, returning to the ever-tending of her plants. “I am sure Pernilla has had the catacombs guarded for years, as well as the entire town of Hrafn.”

  That was probably true, Raine thought. This was going to be a very slippery conversation and she was not certain she was the vampyr’s equal in such dangerous territory.

  “And did you find Pernilla’s prize?” Malron’a asked.

  “I did.”

  “Then I can arrange a meeting for you to deliver it.”

  “Well, other than the fact that I would be walking into a trap, there’s a problem.”

  One fine eyebrow raised in expectancy.

  “I cannot return this treasure to Pernilla.”

  The pale eyes assessed her at length. “You do not strike me as someone who becomes enamored with a bauble. What was in the tomb?”

  “You don’t know?”

  “No,” Malron’a said. “I only knew that it was something that Pernilla desired above all else. Something that would cause her to drop her guard and meet you face-to-face.”

  Raine’s frustration grew, for that was certainly true. “I don’t intend to keep the treasure. I’m just not certain what to do with it, or how to use it to my advantage.”

  As Raine spoke, she turned slightly away from the vampyr and something caught Malrona’s eye. In an instant, without appearing to move, she was at Raine’s side, brushing her shoulder length hair away from her neck.

  “And what is this?” she whisp
ered into Raine’s ear, pressing her back against the stone wall. Raine’s heart thudded in her chest, not because she was afraid but because so much was at stake. And also, Raine inwardly admitted, because the vampyr’s touch was arousing as she added one more thing to her list of confessions for Weynild.

  Malron’a caressed the bruise. “I know how strong you are,” she said in her silky voice, “to the point that no one could feed on you unless you let them. If you betray me, I will send every resource I have against everything that you love. You will survive, no doubt, but all that you hold dear will disappear in a maelstrom of blood.”

  “I’m not afraid of you,” Raine said, the blue and gold markings livid on her skin. “And I have enemies far worse than you.”

  Malron’a smiled. “Ah yes, I am a seer, remember? And I have seen your fate, your destiny. And it is far worse than anything I could plan for you.”

  “I will make my own destiny,” Raine said.

  Malron’a released her, suddenly weary of their conversation. “Then you will have to defy the gods themselves.”

  The vampyr’s anger dissipated into her usual detachment. “So I assume you have stored this treasure in a safe place?”

  “I have.”

  “And so what do you intend to do now?

  “I’m not sure,” Raine said. “I still have a contract on my head and could allow myself to be captured.”

  The vampyr’s anger returned. “Two things spring to mind,” Malron’a said. “First, Pernilla must know that you have her treasure and will change the rules of the game because you now have something she wants. And second, if I were the one to capture you, even if you gave yourself up, I would immediately incapacitate you. I would carry you into the bowels of the earth where your dragon lover could never find you. I would drain every drop of blood from your body to keep you in a weakened state, and I would rape you at least once a day so that I could see your pretty little eyes all of the time.”

  Raine just stared at her, silent in the face of that seething fury.

  “In other words,” Malron’a said, biting off the words, “I would prepare you for your future.”