“No. Let’s see what they know.” Sir Caleb nodded once. “Tread carefully.”
Achan pictured Sparrow’s small, ever-blushing, round face and narrow, green eyes. Voices from that targeted location flooded his mind, and he cringed as his head filled with pressure.
You must be patient, Lord Nathak, Hadar said. The boy can do it. The old man stood over Sparrow, sunken eyes like stone caverns. He wanted Sparrow’s secret.
Achan frowned. What secret?
The boy is too slow, Hadar! Lord Nathak screamed, pushing the old man closer. Do it yourself.
I cannot, Hadar said. I’ve spent no time at all with the squire. Leave it to Vrell.
Vrell? Achan frowned. Oh, right. Vrell was Sparrow’s first name.
Lord Nathak pushed the old man away and seized Sparrow by the hair. Something sharp bit into the boy’s throat.
Coldness flashed over Achan. He clutched the stinging tickle at his neck but found no weapon. All he could feel were the prickles of his own need to shave. Sparrow? I feel pain at my throat. What are they doing to you?
Achan heard Sparrow speaking aloud to the men. He rambled, sobbing, hysterical. He’s in a dark room… Two men are with him… The one who attacked me is there. I cannot— Sparrow sobbed, then quietly, like a whisper, Achan, do you want to be found?
Achan glanced at his captors. No. I don’t think so.
I cannot see anything else, Sparrow said aloud to Lord Nathak.
Lord Nathak slapped Sparrow with the back of his hand then pressed the blade to the boy’s throat again. Find him! Your life depends on it.
No, Lord Nathak, Hadar said. You must let me do this.
Sparrow gasped and broke into a long sob. The boy’s pain and regret seeped into Achan, bringing tears to his own eyes. He could hear Sparrow’s feelings.
It is too difficult to keep up this charade, the boy thought. I cannot pretend any longer. I want to go home to be with—
Sparrow let out a high-pitched scream. Achan winced as an icy vise gripped his head. Only it was Sparrow’s head that was hurting. Sparrow’s ears that were tingling.
Sparrow?
Hello, young man, Hadar’s cold voice rang loud between Achan’s ears. Vrell is helping me to reach you. Aren’t you, Vrell?
Achan heard Sparrow whimper.
What have you done to him? Achan asked.
He’ll be fine. A little weak, perhaps, but he’ll recover. Lord Nathak cannot hear us, gifted one. So listen carefully. I have a proposition for you that does not involve him.
I’m not interested in your propositions.
Is not Vrell your friend?
Achan paused, thinking of how Sparrow had taken care of him, maybe saved his life. But the little snoop had read his letter. That’s debatable.
Sir Caleb prodded Achan’s shoulder. “What do you hear?”
Achan ignored him. He needed to know what Hadar wanted.
Your bloodvoice is very strong, Achan. I can mold you into a powerful man. Meet me at dawn tomorrow behind the tavern called Mig’s Pit.
Why should I?
I hold Vrell’s life in my hands.
There was a long silence and the pressure from the old man’s mind lessened its hold on Sparrow. Achan heard the old man speak aloud. I can see no more than Vrell, Lord Nathak. A dark bedchamber and two men. I don’t recognize either, and now the squire has—
Achan regretfully pulled back and closed his mind. Goosebumps broke out on his arms at the sudden warmth. Or was that the lack of coldness? The gods had truly forsaken him, if there were any gods. The moment he was free of one crazy, manipulative master, he was forced into the service of another.
He looked at Sir Caleb, who was staring intently at him. “What do you want? Do you want to teach me too?”
“Teach you what?”
“How to use my oh-so-powerful gift?”
“I don’t give a pig’s eye about your gift.” Sir Caleb got up and stoked the fire. “I just do as I’m told. What did you hear?”
But Achan wasn’t sure he trusted these men any more than Nathak or Hadar. His wrists chafed against the rope that bound him. He inched around until he was on his side and could see Sir Caleb. “What’s so great about bloodvoicing anyway?”
“Well, for me and Inko, bloodvoicing is one of the reasons for our recruitment and quick promotion in the Kingsguard. The ability makes us better soldiers.”
“You’re both Kingsguards?”
“Old Kingsguards, in case you were not noticing,” Inko said.
“At least I still have color in my hair,” Sir Caleb said.
Inko snorted. “Very little of it.”
Achan lifted his head. “You’re Old Kingsguards? Do you know Sir Gavin?”
Sir Caleb smirked. “Aye. The name sounds familiar.”
Achan’s head turned between the two knights, studying their expressions. “Well, why should Lord Nathak care so much about me?” Achan asked. “I’m nothing to anyone.”
Sir Caleb blinked his wide eyes. “The question itself should lead you to some conclusions.”
“It does not.”
A pounding rattled the door. Achan pushed himself into a sitting position, hoping this might be his chance to escape. Though how far he could get with his ankles bound, he didn’t know.
Inko’s eyes glazed slightly and he broke into a narrow smile. “What has been taking you so long?” He unlocked the door and pulled it open.
Sir Gavin bounded into the chamber.
Achan broke into the first true smile in days. His stomach filled with light, joyous air.
Sir Gavin was a mess. He looked like a hunchback with his red cape jutting out over a massive backpack. The cape was soiled with dirt and as wrinkled as his forehead. His beard braid frizzed out so much that Achan almost couldn’t see the braid.
“Did you come on foot?” Sir Caleb asked.
“The forest is vast, my friends. Still, I made a two-weeks’ journey from Tsaftown in five days. Was that not fast enough for you?” Sir Gavin looked to Achan and bared his wolfish teeth in a wide smile. “Hello, Achan.” Then he frowned at Inko and Caleb. “Was it necessary to bind him?”
“Yes.” Inko shut the door and settled back in his chair. “He is otherwise being a handful of ants.”
Sir Gavin dropped his pack and crossed to the bed.
“Careful,” Sir Caleb said. “He’s gifted strong. He comes into you with massive force.”
Sir Gavin smiled and winked his brown eye. “Aye, he does.” He sat on the bed and loosened the bonds on Achan’s wrists. “I’d expect nothing less from this one.”
“You sent them to free me?” Achan rubbed his wrist, then the other. “Why didn’t they just say they were with you?”
Sir Gavin shrugged and looked to Sir Caleb. “Why didn’t you just say so, Caleb?”
“I barely understand this mission, Gavin. You expect me to spill my guts to a stranger? I left the business of talking to you. He has been bloodvoicing with a boy in Lord Levy’s manor. Lord Nathak seeks him.” Sir Caleb sat on Achan’s other side and put his elbows on his knees. “Tell us, boy, what did you discover?”
Sir Gavin looked at Achan, his mustache curling up in another smile. “You’ve learned to bloodvoice?”
“Sort of. Sparrow taught me some.” Achan paused, feeling somewhat embarrassed. “He says I’m strong, and his master wants to take me as an apprentice.”