The woman interrupted with a sharp hiss. "Listen."
The sound of bodies wading through the tunnel became audible. The group fell into fighting stances as the splashing drew nearer.
Marcellus heaved a relieved sigh when Nyori stepped into the chamber, illuminating it all the brighter from the glowing orb on her glimmering staff. Shiru was a step behind her. They both gazed at the scene in bewilderment. Nyori's eyes widened when she caught sight of Rhanu.
"Rhanu? What are you doing here?"
Marcellus stared. How can she be familiar with the Huntsman leader and his band?
"I should ask you the same," Rhanu said. "Last we saw, you were headed toward the Dragonspine."
"Much has changed."
Marcellus looked closely. She was right — much had changed, starting with her. She was not the same woman he rescued in the Dragonspine. She had grown into her station, more like the Sha that he had encountered in his travels: serene and mysterious.
Marcellus gazed up at the ceiling, where the upper floor lay. "What happened to Eretik?"
"Dead." Shiru pulled the mask from his face. Underneath he appeared older than Marcellus, yet hard and fit. He was entirely clean-shaven, including his head. "It was hard fought, but we barely managed to overcome him. He was quite strong." Shiru did not appear discomfited to be among a room full of dangerous strangers. He kept looking at Han as though he recognized him. Han kept his eyes anywhere else but on Shiru.
"It was mainly Shiru," Nyori said. "I know little of combat, I'm afraid." She looked at where Dradyn lay unconscious. "At least I can help here." She knelt beside him. The big man appeared unexpectedly vulnerable, broken as he was. Pity graced Nyori's face as she laid a hand on Dradyn's shoulder.
"Marcellus, I need you for this."
He dropped beside her. Shiru knelt on the other side. "I know a little of this, Shama. I will lend my strength as well."
All fell silent as the others gathered around. Nyori took Marcellus' hand. Shiru placed his hand over the one she had on Dradyn's arm.
"This will feel strange," Nyori said. "But don't pull away. I won't hurt you." She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. There was nothing that Marcellus could see, but he knew that she saw the world with a different Eye.
He gave a shuddering gasp as strength left his body. It was the sensation of being winded after a long run or a bout of training, except pulled from him in a single moment. He felt the borrowed energy flow out of him and into Dradyn.
Dradyn's wounds closed, sealing themselves until only dry blood remained to mark them. He groaned as his eyes opened. Nyori quickly removed her hand, breaking the cycle.
Marcellus breathed heavily, looking at Nyori in amazement. Her weary eyes were the only indicator of her effort. He figured that she had pulled from her strength as well, probably more than from him or Shiru.
"How do you feel, Dradyn?"
"Alive." He sat up, gazing at his newly healed body in wonderment.
The Huntsmen murmured among themselves. Marcellus doubted any of them had seen such a display before. But considering that they hunted akhkharu for a living, there was no telling what things they had seen.
Nyori placed her hand over her heart when she saw the slain Epanite. "Micholas…"
"He is gone, Shama," Han said. "There was nothing you could have done."
She gazed at the dead man sadly. "I still remember the song he sang that night."
"His songs will remain with us," Rhanu said. "As will he, so long as we remember them."
The distant thud of footsteps became faintly audible, as well as shouting voices.
"The Imperial Guard," Marcellus said. "There will be many of them, and they will find a way down here soon. I don't think any of us want to be here when they do."
The one-eyed woman whirled her sword as if in anticipation.
"You know we do not slay our own, Meshella." Rhanu ignored her glare as he turned to Marcellus. "Can you stall them?"
Marcellus shook his head. "It's very complicated." He pointed to the shackled corpse. "This man was the king of Leodia. There will be many questions involving his death. I doubt many will believe the answers."
Rhanu gave him a considering look, but just nodded. "Very well. We must leave now. Do you know a way out of here? Have you a place in mind?"
Marcellus suddenly felt exhausted. Part of it was what Nyori did healing Dradyn, but he knew the main reason. He unclasped his cloak and reverently covered Lucretius' grisly remains with it. Despite his weaknesses, the king had fought against the akhkharu's influence until the end. Marcellus could not fault him for that.
He laid his sword across Lucretius' knees and knelt in front of the still figure. "Farewell, my king. May Deis keep you in his memory until the final day."
Marcellus felt Nyori place a hand on his shoulder. He exhaled a shaky breath. With the deaths of the akhkharu, it was over. All the rage and sorrow that had hurtled him forward was expelled, the fires extinguished, leaving behind only an empty hollowness. There was only one place left for him to go.
Chapter 23: Nyori
The granite guardian loomed above Marcellus. Silhouetted against the setting sun, her spread wings engulfed him in their shadow. Heavy snow whipped against the statue's stony face without mercy.
He had come home to his family, compelled by the irrepressible urge to be with them again. Rhanu and Shiru had advised him to move on. The storm would slow down the Guard, but they would inevitably come to Royan to seek him out for questioning.
Let them come, he had replied. I am weary to the point of dying. I will not run.
He maintained a vigil at the grave site since he returned home. Despite the freezing winds and pounding snow, none could persuade him to come inside. Nyori watched from the window as Rhanu stopped to crouch beside him. Rhanu clutched a Mandru-woven fur cloak of wisent fur, yet still looked about to freeze. His dark face was grave, his eyes filled with empathy. He placed a hand on Marcellus' shoulder and spoke words that Nyori was sure were meant to be comforting.
Marcellus was silent as the statue that loomed above him. He did not appear to notice when Rhanu walked away. Darkness crept over the snow-covered lands. The dying light played tricks with the colors, casting the powdery drifts in eerily glowing shades of blue and white.
Rhanu stepped through the door and dusted snow from this heavy cloak. "He will not leave his family. I fear for his health if he tries to stay out there all night. It gets colder by the minute. I could barely stand it."
He entered into Great Room. The Huntsmen sat at the long table usually reserved for guests. A fire crackled in the large hearth. The men ate food from Marcellus' larders — roast hen, buttered bread, and steamed vegetables, along with mulled wine to warm their innards. Fregeror's voice boomed as he related a tale of some battle or another.
Nyori pulled her eyes from gazing out the window at Marcellus. "He will have to come in soon. Unless he means to die out there." She wondered if he did. He had not spoken the entire ride back to the manor, wrapped in his guilt and depression. Nyori found nothing to say that could stir him from his dark mood. He had already been outside longer than a normal man could bear, but he was no longer a normal man. Not since what she did to him in the wilderness. She sighed and glanced around the room.
Shiru had pulled Han aside, and the two spoke in low tones. They appeared to argue quietly, more of a polite debate than a burst of anger. Nyori supposed that meant that Shiru knew Han somehow. She did not know of their land or customs, but Han appeared to acknowledge Shiru as a superior while at the same time resisting his counsel. She shook her head. Whatever it was, it was none of her business. She had enough on her mind.