Mist Rising by Eve Langlais
Chapter Sixteen
An acolyte namedJoika alerted them to the soldiers’ arrival. Her sharp cry of, “King’s men!” halted everyone in their tracks. The rush was on as some of the Soraers ran to change into clean robes. Others tidied the courtyard. The cooks were told to add more food. Agathe strapped on some weapons and made sure their purple-eyed acolytes, especially Belle, were hidden.
As Maeder of the Seventh Shield, Hiix was the one to greet the soldiers. The leader was tall and impressively wide, bringing with him not the usual three-soldier complement but seven heavily armored men. Only the leader removed his helmet as Hiix greeted him.
“May the suns’ rising clear the mist. Welcome. How might I provide aid to our sovereign’s fine soldiers?” Hiix declared.
“I am the King’s right hand, General Knight Maric.” A gruff introduction by the big, burly man.
The name aroused a rustle and whispers in the watching Soraers and acolytes. With good reason.
It was Venna, flanking Hiix, who exclaimed, “You’re the leader of the famed Ghost Brigade.”
He inclined his head. “Guilty as charged.”
The Ghost Brigade was known for its daring deeds, repelling monster attacks with little damage or casualty and even rappelling down into the mist, seeking out the caves and crevices that hid nests too close to homes. Sometimes, they even rescued alive those who had been taken.
The trophies they brought back, and their many victories, had impressed the people living in King’s Valley—who in this new age of uncertainty sought out heroes and worshiped them unquestioningly. However, Agathe wondered how the Ghost Brigade always seemed to know when and where their services would be needed. And what did it mean that they’d appeared here now?
More than one impressionable acolyte with cocked hips and fluttering eyelashes eyed the man, old enough to be their father. If he stayed the night, Agathe imagined more than one would grace his pallet, and some might bear the fruits of that bedding.
Agathe wouldn’t be one of them. She knew better than to trust a King’s soldier.
She stood off to the side, eyeing the big knight and his men. She also kept watch on the open door at their back. It had been a while since daytime guaranteed safety.
To their credit, the Ghost Brigade paid attention to the fact that the Abyss loomed not far away. Two of the general’s men faced it, armed and ready; the others watched the other directions, wary, watchful.
They’d be hard to fool.
Hiix kept her hands folded inside her sleeves. “Have you brought us important news, General Knight?”
“Of a sort. I am actually here to retrieve something.”
“Oh?” Hiix didn’t say anything more.
It forced him to speak again. “We are seeking those with the purple eyes.”
“The festival isn’t for months yet,” Hiix replied, feigning calm. Only the fact that Agathe had known her for so long betrayed her.
“The King cannot wait that long.”
That arched Agathe’s brow, and she couldn’t help a sarcastic retort. “Did he already run through this year’s batch?” Okay, that might have been a tad more acerbic than necessary.
The general smiled at her, a cold thing that didn’t make it to his eyes. “You speak of things you do not understand.”
“Then why not educate me?” She paused before adding, “Or is that information above your pay grade?”
The last brought an “Ooh” that wasn’t exclusive to those watching. Even his men took note. Now, he’d have no choice but to act or appear weak in front of everyone.
“Have we met?” he asked.
She stared at him, and for a moment, she wondered if they had met before. Then, she firmly said, “No.”
“Are you sure? Because you seem to think you can speak to me rather familiarly. Or you’ve forgotten that the King’s soldiers should be addressed by rank or as ‘sir.’”
Agathe clenched her fists. She should have let Hiix handle this alone. Causing trouble wouldn’t help the situation. And yet, she couldn’t help herself. She refused to accept the status quo. Not when it caused harm. “Sorry, sir.” Spoken through gritted teeth.
“I’m still waiting for your name.”
“That’s Soraer Agathe,” Hiix interjected. “And she means no harm.”
“I’ll be the judge of that. Let us adjourn to discuss things somewhere more private. The Maeder’s office will do.” He didn’t wait for permission but strode away.
The arrogance stunned, and yet it was Agathe’s own fault. She’d pushed him into acting. Now, he had no choice but to regain face.
As they followed the general knight, who oddly enough didn’t bring his entourage, Hiix sidled close to hiss, “Stupid.”
“I know,” Agathe muttered.
“So very, very stupid,” added Venna on her other side. “Which is why I’m going to wrangle the acolytes and Soraers before the rumors get out of hand.”
“I’d worry more about Belle,” Agathe murmured as the general went into the Maeder’s office, no hesitation, as if he had every right. His pompous ass was seated in Hiix’s chair when they entered.
Agathe opened her mouth to lambaste him, but Hiix put a hand on her arm and squeezed it.
“General Knight Maric, so glad you’ve made yourself comfortable. There is a bottle of something that warms the belly in the bottom drawer of the desk if you’re interested,” Hiix offered.
He arched a single dark brow. “I thought the Shield Soraers didn’t drink.”
“There is much people don’t know about us,” Hiix replied, seating herself on the hardback chair in front of the desk.
Agathe chose to lean in a corner, pretending casualness, looking benign even as she was anything but. Her loose robe hid the fact that she wore leathers and weapons that remained sheathed. Her tongue was the only razor-sharp thing she needed at the moment.
The knight eyed them and said nothing. Playing a game to see who would talk first.
Hiix broke. “Can I offer you anything?”
“I’ve already stated I’m here for the purple-eyed.”
“Since when are they collected? The law says only that they must be presented at the festival each year.” Agathe couldn’t help herself. “It’s almost a year before the next one.”
“The light showing at the last festival resulted in a decision to collect them early,” the general stated.
Agathe took note of his appearance. Shaggy dark hair, bright, almost-clear blue eyes, a square jaw. Familiar, and yet she knew they’d never met. “Isn’t that breaking with tradition?”
“It’s happened before.”
“I don’t recall ever hearing about it,” Agathe pointed out, taking note of his battered armor. She already knew his reputation pegged him as a fighter. Seeing the dents, though, indicated that those rumors might be true.
“You’ve probably never heard of it because it’s not something that happens often.”
The flat way he spoke angered. “It shouldn’t happen at all,” Agathe spat. “It’s barbaric, taking children from their families. And for what? Because their eyes happen to be a certain color?” She deliberately ignored the fact that the purple iris tended to indicate an affinity for magic. That wasn’t common knowledge.
“The people offering their children aren’t complaining.”
“I am,” Agathe pointed out.
“I don’t see why. It’s not as if you need to worry.”
Her lips thinned. “I speak for those who are too afraid to speak for themselves.”
“And do they want you interfering?”
“They don’t know what they’re agreeing to.”
“Neither do you.” He waved a hand encased in a heavy gauntlet.
“At any rate, you’re wasting your time.” Agathe would never sacrifice anyone. The King had proven himself to be unworthy; she had only to remember all the blood and pain he’d caused trying to get another purple-eyed as a reminder.
“Are you refusing to comply with the King’s orders?”
“Not my King.” She lifted her chin.
Hiix jumped in to add, “We serve the Goddess, making us apart from many of your laws.”
“You are citizens of King’s Valley. Count yourself lucky that the King has, thus far, made concessions.”
“Like what?” Agathe blurted out.
“He lets you keep the Abbaes for one.”
The arrogance of the statement had both of the women gaping before Agathe exclaimed, “He lets us do nothing. We serve the Goddess.”
“Serve her all you like, so long as you obey.”
The pompousness had Agathe seeing red, but she managed to dig her nails into her palms to blurt out her next statement. “He can order all he wants. Doesn’t mean we’ll obey.”
“On this, you will. Hand over the purple-eyed or else.”
“Or else what?”
The general’s expression appeared bored as he said, “I’ll kill everyone who stands in my way.”
