Lines of Fire (The Guild House - Defenders Hall) Read online

  Robec cleared his throat. “Successful trip?”

  “Five duels. No deaths. I’ve only one on my record.” He grinned. “There was a sixth duel but no Justicar was present. Was with a desert rider. He was good but not good enough.”

  “Should have killed the scum.” Petan clamped Robec’s arm. “Come on. We’re due at the Women’s Quarters. Kalia’s waiting.”

  “You’re right.” Robec’s voice sounded devoid of emotion. “She doesn’t like to wait for anyone.”

  Alric’s hands fisted. Who had given Petan permission to enter the area where many of the unbonded women and a few of the bonded ones had chambers? Robec’s mother and sisters stayed there. Petan had no female kin living in the Hall. Was this another exception to the rule?

  He hurried along the corridor to the south wing of the sprawling building. In his suite he opened windows to clear out the stale air. He set his pack on the bed and removed dirty clothes. He carried them to the baths and dumped them in the hampers. Some would be washed and mended. Others turned to rags. The soft buckskin trousers would be cleaned and brushed.

  He stripped and stepped into the hot pool. After a quick scrub of his body and his hair, he plunged into the warm rinsing pool. After drying and donning a change of clothes taken from the shelves, he combed and braided his hair, binding the ends with a strip of leather.

  Food next. He’d missed the nooning. His stomach growled. He headed to the refectory. Taking a wooden tray and mug he moved along the line selecting a hearty meal of sliced beef, tubers and fresh greens.

  At the end of the line he filled two mugs with citren and scanned the tables. No members of his patrol were to be seen. His gaze locked with one belonging to a young woman with touches of fire in her brown hair. Time fled. The degree of connection nearly caused him to drop the tray. She was perfect. Who was she? He had to learn her name.

  When she lowered her gaze he noticed her companions. Was she Robec’s sister or his chosen bondmate? If so, a problem existed. Another thought made him ill. Had she been chosen by the Swordmaster as Petan’s third mate?

  Alric clutched the tray. He refused to think she had any connection to Petan. The lines of fire on her skin showed the vivid scarlet of health and vitality. Alric walked to a small empty table. He had seen a woman he would gladly choose.

  * * *

  Kalia watched the stranger walk to an empty table. The few moments when their gazes had meshed filled her with a need she couldn’t express. Who was he? The lines of fire on his skin glowed. During the short time she’d felt a connection she wanted to explore, yet she was afraid. He was a Defender, a man who dueled with sword and knife. Just like her father. Did the stranger also revel in causing death? She couldn’t live with such a man. Was he the one chosen as her bondmate?

  Her hands tightened. Why would the Swordmaster not choose a man she could gladly accept? Though she had mastered the knife and sword skills, she had refused to join a patrol and be forced to duel.

  She wanted to explore the tricks she had discovered. Stopping a wound from bleeding, drawing blood away from or to an area of the body where it was needed and how once she had changed a clot to flowing blood, saving a man’s life. Her mother had warned her not to tell her father how she used the lines of fire. Only Lasara had known and had also succeeded in halting the flow of blood.

  “Dreaming of Ingathering Day?”

  With a start her head jerked up to meet Petan’s leering stare. His knowing smile raised an anger and fear she dare not express.

  “No.” She turned to her brother. “Walk me back to the Women’s Quarter.” Her tolerance for another moment in Petan’s company flew like birds migrating in the autumn.

  “I’ll do the honors,” Petan said.

  Kalia stared at Robec. The thought of being alone with Petan roiled her stomach. Would her brother agree?

  “Not today.” Robec rose. “Being alone with my sister would compromise her. I’ll see her back. Meet me in the salle. Must practice in case I’m challenged tomorrow.”

  The burly man ran a finger along Kalia’s arm. “Won’t be long before we’re together.”

  Her skin prickled. She stared at the lines of fire on her arm. They had faded just like her mothers appeared after a visit to the Swordmaster’s suite. Petan’s words chilled her. She watched him swagger away.

  Robec rose. “Why were you in a trance earlier?”

  “That man.” She pointed. “Who is he?”

  Robec grasped her arm. “He isn’t anyone you want to know.”

  “Why not?”

  “Our father dislikes him. Tried to get him banished on several occasions but couldn’t prove he’d done anything wrong.”

  “Why?”

  “Does the Swordmaster need a reason? I’m afraid it’s my fault. During our training days, he was the best with sword and knife. Father didn’t like me to be second so he set Petan and me against him.”

  Kalia whirled to face him. “Not fair. I don’t like Petan. There’s something wrong with his lines of fire.”

  Robec grasped her shoulders. “Those aren’t to be mentioned where someone might hear. Seeing other people’s lines is forbidden. Didn’t Mother warn you?”

  “She did but you and I both see them. Petan’s are almost black. I know he’s your friend, but open your eyes.”

  “Kalia, put your dislike aside.”

  “What do you know?” Her throat tightened and she could barely choke out the words.

  He stared at the ground. “Father has promised you to Petan as his third mate.”

  Her legs buckled. She pressed her hands against the table for support. “I’ll refuse.”

  “Can you? Father will force you. He has his plans for us. When I’m the next Swordmaster, Petan will be my Right Hand. Lasara’s bondmate will be my Left.”

  Kalia pushed away from the table. “And you’re happy with the plans?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  She rubbed her arms. “What you’ve been promised goes against tradition. I found some forgotten records from the early days. The best dueler among the Defenders is to be the next leader. Instead of a duel where Father allows you to win, you should have a real challenge. Petan should be banished. He’s already killed two bondmates.” Though angry her voice barely rose above a whisper.

  “You don’t know that’s what happened.”

  “And you don’t know if what he reported was true. There were no witnesses.”

  Kalia ran from the refectory and dashed down the hall. Robec’s friend was a leech just like Father. Petan had sucked vitality from her lines. He had done the same to the two women chosen as his mates. Though the first had died after falling into an icy stream and the other had been killed during a duel, Kalia knew he had been the killer. But there was no proof.

  “Kalia, wait.” Robec called.

  She continued her frantic race through the winding corridors of the central area of the Hall until the door of the Women’s Quarters appeared. She opened the heavy oak door leaving her brother behind. She wouldn’t listen to his attempt to make his friend’s case.

  She dashed across the large lounge and nearly collided with her mother. The older woman wore the clothes she donned when she went to meet her bondmate. Her lines of fire showed health and vitality but when she returned they would be drained.

  “Daughter, what’s wrong?”

  Kalia grasped her mother’s arm. “Don’t go. This time he might kill you.”

  “Roban called for me. My honor is to serve him. He seeks another son should Robec fail. What troubles you? Did you quarrel with your brother?”

  Kalia shook her head. “Father intends to bond me to Petan.”

  Her mother backed away. “He mentioned he had chosen a mate for you. He said the man would be a power among the Defenders. Why are you angry? Your brother trusts this young man.”

  “He shouldn’t.” Kalia grimaced. “I don’t like him.”

  “How can your father be wrong? He’s clever
at choosing those who are heart bound.”

  “This time he failed. Years ago Father ordered Robec to become Petan’s friend. That was before they entered training. Who is Petan? No one knows where he was born.”

  “Does that matter? He has shown skill with the sword and knife.”

  “Don’t you worry about me? Petan killed two bondmates.”

  “Rumors spread by men jealous of the favor this young man has found with your father.” She reached into her pocket. “Since you are to be bonded, this is for you.” She drew out a glittering bracelet.

  “Where did you get this? I’ve never seen another like it.”

  “My dearest friend passed it to me before she entered the abyss. Her bondmate was your father’s best friend. He fled to the rebels and broke their bond. Your father brought the news to her and offered comfort. She turned away and only spoke to her young children. They were sent to be fostered. There had been a third child who was stolen by his father.”

  Kalia felt the weight of the bracelet with its links of silver, gold, electrum and copper. She had read of bracelets of other metals in the ancient records but they had been just made from a single metal.

  “It’s beautiful.” She kissed her mother’s cheek and prayed the older woman wouldn’t be drained to death during her stay with the Swordmaster.

  She watched her mother walk to the door. Robec had remained outside. Kalia wondered why her mother stayed in these quarters. Many bonded woman whose mates didn’t go on patrol lived with their mates.

  A thought occurred. If her mother remained with the Swordmaster she would die. If I am bonded to Petan, so will I. She darted into her sleeping chamber and threw herself on the bed. What am I going to do?

  The special knock announced her younger sister. Lasara didn’t wait for an invitation. She crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. “Are you excited? In three days you will choose your first bondmate.”

  Kalia wiped her eyes on the blanket. “Excited, no. Scared, yes. I intend to refuse the man Father has chosen for me.”

  “Why?”

  Kalia sat up. “Would you bond with Petan?”

  Lasara’s eyes widened. “Ugh. Why does Father get to choose?”

  “Some plan of his to make sure Robec follows him.”

  “What will you do if he tries to force a duel?”

  “Saddle my bihorn and ride away.”

  Lasara’s shoulders slumped. “Won’t you be afraid? You’ve never been away from the Hall except during the training exercises.”

  “I will be frightened. Better scared than bonded to a man with tainted lines.”

  “Where will you go?”

  Since she had no real plans she shrugged. “Just away from here.”

  Lasara stayed for a bit longer. After she left Kalia found the pack she’d used just once when she trained. She’d refused to be part of a patrol and only bonded women were sent with their mates to tour the sectors. She sat on the bed and tried to plan an escape.

  Chapter 2

  On the second day of his stay in the Defenders Hall, Alric skipped breaking his fast to explore the Archives. He entered the shelf-lined room and lit several lanterns. After studying the labeled shelves, he pulled volumes for the years just before he left the Hall. He had been five so his sibs must have been younger. Each of the hand-written books began with a listing of the names of the members of the patrols, their bondmates and number of children. He couldn’t find his father’s name. Were the pages missing?

  He took later books and scanned the lists for the children sent to be fostered in villages or on farms. He groaned. The listings weren’t by name but by sex and no mention was made of their destination. Even if he had searched the day he’d arrived for training, he wouldn’t have learned anything.

  There had been no time for research in those hectic days. And since joining a patrol he’d been away from the Hall for most of the time. Other things had seemed more important than learning about his siblings. Each round of a sector lasted a year and a patrol moved from sector to sector until all four had been covered before returning to the Hall. During the year of residence in the Hall between patrol assignments, Sando had sent him on special missions. His patrol leader had known of the Swordmaster’s animosity.

  Alric slammed the last of his chosen volumes shut. He wanted answers. The connection he’d felt to Jens had been strong. Was the desert rider his brother? Jens had lived in the Hall until he turned three. There’d been a sister but Jens hadn’t remembered having one. Was the sister older or younger?

  Sadness filled his thoughts. Even after twelve years he missed his father. His memories of the tall man with the haunted green eyes filled his thoughts. He had no memories of anything before reaching the distant village.

  The lanterns flickered. He turned a few more pages and knew his search was futile. Children had been sent from the Hall but the lack of any real information stymied him. Did the Swordmaster know? Asking the older man was a dead-end. The leader of the Defenders would never tell.

  Alric closed the book. There were no answers here.

  One by one he returned the volumes to the shelves, making sure they were placed in the proper order. He selected several more from the years before he had turned five. He wanted to look at the records of his father’s service as a Defender. As he read the records he discovered his mother’s name. Jenla. Nothing else was noted, not even his birth. His father had been a remarkable dueler. Reading the words of accomplishments brought a warm feeling.

  Then he came upon a page covered with ink. Only a single name remained. Alron. Banished.

  His stomach growled. He rose and glanced outside. Midday. He returned the books to the shelves and blew out the lanterns. After leaving the Archive he strode to the refectory. He lifted a wooden tray and selected a variety of dishes.

  One of his patrol members waved. “Over here,” Ganor called.

  Alric carried the laden tray to the long table where his patrol sat.

  “When did you get in?” his patrol leader asked.

  “Last evening. Reported to the Swordmaster, bathed, ate and slept. Spent the morning in the Archives.”

  Sando leaned forward. “Kept expecting you to join us on the road.”

  Alric’s shoulders slumped. “Had to think.”

  “No shame the bonding didn’t take. She would never have been comfortable as a Defender.”

  Masine, Sando’s bondmate nodded. “Did she find what she wanted?”

  Alric grinned. “Her childhood friend waited for her.”

  The patrol leader’s wife clasped his hand. “Never understood why some girls are chosen for our ranks. Can tell during training they won’t fit.”

  Ganor clapped Alric’s back. ‘Choice is yours this time.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “What do you mean?” Sando asked. “Third choice belongs to the man or woman. The Swordmaster must allow you a year to find your mate and a year or more for the deciding on the length of the bond.”

  Alric finished a banta leg. “The Swordmaster has made a choice for me. I told him I would refuse. He said I couldn’t and mentioned some kind of unwritten exception.”

  Sando propped his elbows on the table. “There is no such rule. Refuse his choice. We’ll stand beside you. Our leader has made odd decisions lately. There’s been talk.” He shrugged. “We’ll discuss this at practice. Come to the salle with us.”

  “Good idea to practice,” Ganor said. “Sure to be at least one challenge tomorrow, especially when you’ve decided to refuse.”

  Alric nodded. He was sure to be one of the challenged. Who would fight the duel, the woman or a champion she chose? There were few members of the Defenders present in the Hall he couldn’t defeat.

  A stir at the door drew his attention. Robec entered. For once his shadow wasn’t at his side. A young woman ran after him. Unlike the garb usually worn by the women, she wore tight trousers and a vest without a shirt. Her voice rang over the normal buzz of the voices.


  “You tell your father I’m the one you choose as your mate or I’ll tell him what you’ve done.”

  “I’ve done nothing.” Robec shook off her hand. “You’re not for me. My father has selected the best dueler among the returning patrols as your bondmate.”

  “Aren’t you the best? Isn’t that what you always say? So does Petan. Are you liars?”

  “Who is she?” Alric asked.

  Sando leaned forward. “No one you want to know. Though her father is the Right Hand, she should have been fostered. She has been chosen twice and both have left the Defenders in disgrace.”

  Alric frowned. “Then the Swordmaster plans to name her as my chosen.” He studied her lines of fire and noted they were the palest he’d ever seen on anyone standing as a Defender.

  She reached for Robec again. Her hand rolled down his arm.

  He pulled away. “Do not touch me again or I’ll see you banished.”

  Her lines flared brighter. Had Robec’s faded when she touched him. But she had no darkness in her lines. This was another puzzle to solve.

  Alric finished his meal and went with the members of the patrol to the salle. After drawing stones they divided into two teams for a melee. With practice swords and knives the game began. The blunted blades had colored chalk on all points and along the edges to show where a wound occurred and the severity.

  He laughed and allowed his frustration over the futile search of the records and his annoyance with the Swordmaster’s attempt to control his bonding and guide his actions. The group melee ended when he took a fatal wound and delivered one to the patrol leader.

  Alric leaped to his feet and slapped Sando’s back. “Good fight.”

  “Agreed. I believe you’re ready to face any man who challenges you.” Sando grinned. “To the baths.”

  As Alric joined the men and women of the patrol walking from the salle, he noticed Robec and Petan had been among the spectators. Petan’s scowl contrasted with the admiration on Robec’s face.

  He turned to Ganor. “We were watched.”

  “Looks that way,” Alric’s friend said. “Maybe scouting the opposition. Neither belongs to a patrol.”