Kingmaker

CHAPTER 36

  Butu sensed Jani, Lujo and Tirud returning shortly before the three ghosted into camp, their faces streaked with frustration and exhaustion. Jani slumped across from him without a smile, and Tirud retrieved a waterskin from his pack, which he tossed to her. Butu grasped Lujo’s hand in mute welcome. Despite the exhaustion in his face, Tirud paced.

  Butu broke the silence. “What happened? How many are at Urgaruna?”

  Lujo grunted, but Tirud nearly exploded.

  “That place is a fortress and will be impossible to get into.” He stopped and dropped onto the sand near Lujo. “I would rather cross the shanjin without a waterskin.”

  The outburst woke Blay, Phedam and Retus, who joined them.

  “Were you followed?” Blay asked tensely, sitting next to Jani. He relaxed after Tirud and Lujo shook their heads. “What did you see?”

  Tirud answered. “Akdren sordenu, at least four companies. One company of cavalry, I think. No fewer than three platoons scouting around the rock.” He poked at the sand next to the fire, making a map. Lujo took one look at it, and the image drew itself. Tirud snorted and continued. “There are two Nankek sordenu companies and no cavalry camped east of the rock.”

  The map grew as they spoke: the rock, in the center, and entrance on the north face; guarding the entrance and part of the north wall, the Akdren; controlling the east and rear, the Nankek; and Nukata and Zhekara cavalry, hovering on the west and north. The Kadrak themselves, a blob maybe a day west.

  “There will be blood when the Kadrak run into the Zhekara,” Tirud said, strangely mild, glancing at Jani.

  “Aesh requested Jusep send me to Mnemon as a potential bride,” she said. No one seemed surprised. “Aesh wanted assurance that Jusep and the Ahjea would support him as king, that if they found the sword first, they would give it to him. I was ... part of the bargain.” She turned her head.

  Blay tugged his goatee. “He’ll be furious Jusep didn’t deliver on his promise.”

  “Did they expect her at the exercises?” Phedam asked. “They couldn’t have known she’d been there.”

  “I don’t know,” Blay said, and Tirud snorted.

  No reason to believe him, Butu thought. Could be more orders. He said, “If the legends are true, and we got the sword to Jusep before the Kadrak got to him, they could come with everything in the country, and the Ahjea would still win. With Pisor’s power, the kluntra could bury all of Mnemon.”

  “If they’re not true,” Jani countered, “we need to get the sword back to Jasper before Aesh loses his patience.” Butu found the courage to look at her. “Jusep can explain that I gave up my birthright, and Aesh will have to forgive him, so long as we give him Pisor. If Pisor is just a symbol, he’ll need the support of the Ahjea to claim and hold the title of king.”

  “Well, no one’s made a king yet, right?” Retus said. “We’d know, right?”

  Tirud nodded. “The battle at the rock hasn’t started yet, but it will soon. The Akdren may not be able to get out if everyone sides against them.”

  “Maybe they don’t have a kingmaker,” Phedam said.

  Blay grunted. “Maybe their kluntra, Philquek, isn’t there yet.”

  “Maybe they haven’t found the sword,” Butu suggested.

  “We didn’t sneak inside to find out,” Lujo said. “It’s a fortress with one entrance and everyone’s watching it.”

  “For which we are grateful,” Blay said. “Or else you might not have gotten back.” He stood up, looking to his tent.

  “We have to leave tonight,” Butu said. “We have to get there before the Kadrak do.”

  Tirud gave him a strange look, and Phedam and Retus yawned.

  “It’s too late for that. Too many clans are involved now,” Blay said. “Our orders were to find out who has Pisor, and we’ve done that.”

  “We know who holds Urgaruna, not who has Pisor,” Butu pointed out.

  “You seem to have forgotten who gives the orders here, Butu.” Blay said tensely. “This is not your decision. Finish your watch. The rest of you, get some sleep.”

  “Blay’s right about one thing,” Tirud said quietly. “We have to sleep now.”

  Butu opened his mouth to argue, but Tirud settled a paralyzing gaze on him. Almost like magic, his mouth shut, and Retus and Phedam hauled Lujo to his feet as Blay disappeared into his tent. Jani warmed her hands in the fire, eyes downcast.

  She probably thinks Blay and I are still fighting because of Amber, he thought, glancing at the moons. How could she know that it’s because of Nolen? She doesn’t even know he’s dead yet. A hollow pit formed in his stomach as he thought of who might have to tell her.

  That left Tirud, staring at him questioningly.

  “Nolen’s dead.” He gave a terse explanation, gesturing to the pile of snakes by the well. He fought to keep tears from his voice, tried to stick to the death itself and not the arguments from it. Jani gasped but didn’t move. Tirud’s expression softened.

  “And Amber?”

  Butu wiped his face. “I let her go. She wasn’t a spy, and we were low on supplies. She promised she wouldn’t tell anyone, and I trusted her.”

  Tirud nodded. “Probably stupid, but since we’re not going back anyway, it doesn’t matter.”

  Butu frowned. “We should go.”

  “The corporal said we shouldn’t.” Tirud sounded too casual. “We have orders.”

  “Do you think it’s worth a war?”

  Tirud didn’t speak right away, and Butu wondered if Nolen’s death had shocked the red-skinned sordenu beyond the power to speak. But, at last, “It’s expected of us. What I think doesn’t enter into it.”

  “Treaty or king — what does it matter who rules? Why are we fighting over this?”

  “The third cycle is filled with questions, Butu. We’ve all asked ourselves questions like that. Be grateful these worries did not trouble your second cycle.”

  What would you know? Butu thought, but held the question. One did not ask a ku about his past. Kus abandoned their birth clans for a reason. But Tirud looked haunted, and words spilled from his lips, gaining strength as he went on.