"What was the offer?" Ayna asked. Rhanu had not noticed her join them. She stood beside him, her expression as hard as the others. "What did they want from you?"
"Listen. Report. I thought it nothing, just the typical spying between Houses and factions. I was released from prison, given different jobs in one place after another. I was good at my work, because who pays attention to servants? They paid well for my services, and I thought my world was turning for the better."
Dradyn stared beyond them, haunted by his recollections. "Then things changed. I was introduced to new masters. They did…something to me. From that point on there was no need for them to contact me directly. Their voices were in my head, their eyes seeing through my own. Every time I thought I was free of them, they would return with some foul new task."
"What type of tasks?"
"Whatever they wanted. Information. Lodging. Disposal of bodies. I traveled from one end of the kingdom to the next, even walked the very halls of Aceldama, their stronghold. I tried to resist but was only stricken with unspeakable pain. They razed my mind with torment. I would lie bedridden bleeding from my nose and ears for days. Eventually, I learned. Whatever they had done, there was no fighting it. I am damned, this I know. Unable to break free, unable to even take my own life. You should end this. I deserve no less."
Rhanu looked at Theron, who shrugged. "He does have the right of it. Even if it be not his fault entirely, he is not to be trusted. Were it mighty Theron in his place; a clean death would be preferable to the shame of being a slave."
Rhanu's stomach twisted. He had only adjoined himself with the others, and already Marcellus was lost to them, Nyori captured, and Dradyn a traitor. It hardly seemed fair that the decision came to him, but the others looked on as if awaiting his judgment. Dradyn stared downward, unable to meet his eyes. Rhanu had liked Dradyn, found him to be a brave and reliable companion. That only proved he did not know Dradyn at all.
"If this must be done, let it be done," Ayna said. "But not here, in front of all. He has earned that much. Erect a tent for privacy."
"Aye," Theron said. "The men need not be disheartened by a public execution."
The makeshift tent was quickly assembled. Theron, Han, and Ayna stood as witnesses. Dradyn looked at peace as he awaited his fate. His shoulders were straight as though free of some crippling burden, his face composed. He removed a satchel that hung from his shoulder and handed it to Han.
"I had this made for Marcellus. For the victory. Please give it to him when you see him again."
Han nodded as he accepted it. Rhanu heard something metallic inside the thick leather as Han slung it over his shoulder. "I'm not sure if any of us will see Marcellus again, Dradyn. But if so, I'll give it to him."
Rhanu sighed. "Kneel, Dradyn. I am sorry to be the one to do this, but we cannot allow you to reveal our plans further. It is better for all of us to remove this curse from you."
Dradyn knelt and lowered his head forward to expose his muscular neck. "It is no more than I deserve. I accept your judgment."
Ayna stepped forward, lightly pushing down Rhanu's arm. "Hold, Rhanu."
"This man is dangerous, Ayna. You heard it from his own mouth."
"All men are dangerous." Ayna gazed into Dradyn's face. "You say you will accept your judgment? Then accept it. Let me free you of Alaric's hold, and you can serve us instead of him."
Rhanu shadowed Ayna as she moved closer. "Is this why you asked for a tent? You believe that you can somehow sever the hold on him?"
"Many among the soldiers are ignorant, believing in the foolishness of sorcery and witchcraft. What I do would only stir them into fear and superstition." She placed her fingers on Dradyn's temples. "Concentrate on release. Do not try to shut me out."
Theron stared in bewilderment. "What in Wortan's name are you doing, Shama? Is this to be an execution or a demonstration of seithr?"
Dradyn stared with the expression of a broken man. "What was done to me cannot be undone, Shama. My masters assured me of that."
Ayna stepped closer. "Alaric may know much about corruption, but the Sha are masters of healing. What was taken can be reclaimed. Open your mind and let me aid you, warrior."
Although nothing was physically visible, Rhanu's bond with Titien allowed him a limited understanding of what Ayna did. She performed a mind-delve, which took great focus of Mental prowess. The link was connected with the living energy called Eler, as was most of the Disciplines that some called the Crafts.
"The Co'nane are cunning." Ayna's voice was low as she concentrated. Her eyes were wide but glazed as her Inner Eye took precedence. "But they cannot hide the threads of the façade they created." Sweat beaded her brow. "They lay traps that the less wary would spring. But if I step carefully…"
For a few moments, nothing occurred. Theron grumbled under his breath, and even Han looked on questioningly. Rhanu held up his hand to silence them.
Dradyn's eyes bulged. He gasped as his entire body convulsed as though by a seizure. He would have fallen had not Han caught him.
"Shama, what…?"
Theron appeared somewhat unsettled when he stared at Ayna. "Stab my eye. Seithr, truly done. I did think that none knew the old magic any longer."
"Magic is a word." She too seemed drained, as Rhanu lent her an arm to lean on. Her smile was triumphant, however. "What I have done is a skill. Dradyn is freed of Alaric's hold completely now. He can give us the advantage if he agrees to come to Aceldama."
Theron and Han helped Dradyn steady himself. "We don't know that for sure, Shama Ayna," Han said. "We will need time to—"
"We have no time," Ayna said. "Our plan is doomed to failure if the gates of Aceldama are not breached. And they will not fall to any weapon the Reaver's army possesses. But here we have one who knows the secrets of the Forbidden City. You heard him say he has walked the halls of Aceldama. He will know what we do not. That is an edge that we did not have before. There is no other way."
Rhanu looked at Dradyn. "What say you, kemsa? Will you assist us?"
Dradyn seemed to have already strengthened; his face hardened in steely resolve. "You already know my answer. I will gladly strike back against those who tormented me. My life is yours to do with as you wish."
Before Rhanu could respond, wild howling erupted from around them as though an army of rabid wolves raided the camp. He whirled with his hand on his sword hilt. He heard shouts of alarm from the men nearby. When he dashed out of the tent to the front of the lines, he expected the worst.
He was very close to being right.
The inhuman howls came from a host of beings like none he had ever seen. They appeared to be men, but giants all, large enough to tower above even the Norlanders. At first glance, they appeared to be hulking, hairy beasts. Closer examination revealed that they only wore the pelts of animals — wolves, bears, and beasts Rhanu was unfamiliar with. The smell of animal hides and unwashed bodies wafted strongly.
Their skin was darkened by grime, their hair and beards matted and clumped. All were crisscrossed with scars, and many were even worse — missing an eye here, a few fingers there. They carried war hammers, battle-axes, broadswords, clubs, and maces. They banged their rusted and jagged weapons against iron bucklers while screaming and howling at the top of their lungs, exposing yellow and jagged broken teeth.