Lord of the White Hell book Two

Chapter Seventeen

"Not this afternoon, you haven't," Javier whispered into Kiram's ear. "And it seems a pity since it's all I've been thinking of."

Kiram laughed and then drew Javier into the shadows of the alley. In the alcove of a back doorway, he opened the front of Javier's trousers and Javier slipped his hand past the loose waist of Kiram's pants. They stroked and thrust into each other's hands with rushed, furtive need. Javier pulled him close to kiss his mouth as Kiram brought him to climax. There was nothing beautiful in their surroundings and yet the moment felt precious to Kiram. Later in the evening when he was alone he would press his hands to his lips and remember the heat and taste of Javier's body.

Eventually opportunities for even these clandestine afternoon excursions grew scarce, as Nestor, Elezar and Riossa began accompanying Javier on his regular visits to the Haldiim district. Kiram always volunteered to escort them through the Haldiim district while Javier supposedly consulted with his father over the design of the water clock; in reality Javier simply looked in on Kiram's father and then sprinted across the district to Rafie and Alizadeh's house. While Javier fought to wield the raw power of the white hell, Kiram entertained and distracted the Grunitos as best he could.

Nestor was usually satisfied with a tour of some scenic area where he could sketch and sample authentic Haldiim food. But Elezar bored easily and often wondered aloud about Javier's prolonged absences. Archery and wrestling at the gymnasium occupied him for a time.

Riossa on the other hand grew daily more enthralled with the freedoms that the Haldiim district afforded her. There were entire bookshops and teahouses as well as trade offices that she could enter freely while the men were not allowed inside-not even a Cadeleonian lord of Javier's stature.

Once she and Dauhd went shopping together in a women-only bookshop and the two of them returned looking smug and worldly. When Nestor asked what Riossa had seen, she simply shrugged. After Nestor pleaded, she relented and showed him her sketches of elegant Haldiim women playing cards and reading in brightly tiled interiors. Other drawings depicted ornate water pipes and stacks of foreign coins. Nestor delighted in the revelations and encouraged Riossa to explore more.

Kiram smiled at them. Despite being a Cadeleonian, Nestor was one of the most openminded people he'd ever known and in his company, Riossa seemed to blossom into an adventuress. He wondered how many other Cadeleonians might be as liberal as Nestor. Elezar certainly didn't seem concerned when Riossa disappeared with Dauhd for hours on end. But then Elezar rarely concerned himself with the whereabouts of women. Kiram only wished that Elezar could be so easygoing about Javier's absences.

More than once Kiram had caught Elezar frowning at him as if he had Javier secreted away in his pocket. At such times Kiram generally suggested that they attend the foot races at the Civic Gymnasium, and the prospects of exertion and gambling seemed to distract Elezar for the remainder of the afternoon.

Kiram tried not to think too closely on how keenly he missed Javier himself.

This week he'd only managed to steal a fleeting touch of Javier's hand during a torrential downpour when the two of them pressed close together within the crowd of men and women sheltering from the rain beneath a bakery's eaves. He'd met Javier's gaze and neither of them looked away. A woman whom Kiram remembered as one of Siamak's friends watched the two of them and, noticing her raised brows, Kiram released Javier's fingers and bowed his head.

The last thing he wanted was word to get back to his home. His mother would be angry-or more likely furious-when she learned that Kiram had no intention of marrying Hashiem Kir- Naham. Already he'd annoyed her by claiming to be too tired to attend a dinner with Hashiem. He supposed he should have gone but he didn't have it in him to look Hashiem in the face and pretend that he intended to live with the man.

And he'd been genuinely tired. For weeks now he'd woken early to help his father with the water clock. Then he'd spent his afternoons at the Civic Gymnasium where he practiced archery and honed the skills he'd learned at the Sagrada Academy. Or he'd explored the markets, playhouses, bookshops and public halls of the Haldiim district, searching out anything to distract and entertain the Grunitos. By dusk most evenings, his voice grew hoarse and his feet ached. He often staggered home exhausted.

Still, he slept poorly. Some nights he dreamed terrible things: Scholar Blasio's most recent letter informing him that Scholar Donamillo's condition had worsened had provided grist for several nightmares. But on other evenings, longing haunted him. It was one thing to endure loneliness while believing Javier was far from him in Rauma, but to have Javier near-so close that he could smell his sweat and feel the heat as their shoulders jostled-and to have to restrain himself day after day was maddening.

To console himself, he tried to remember that he needed to master such self-control. Soon both he and Javier could be living in Cadeleonian court and there discretion would be the greatest necessity.

Nothing drove that thought home so strongly as the sight that greeted Kiram early the next morning as he awaited Javier and the Grunitos at Mother Kir-Mahoud's stables.

A towering Cadeleonian priest mounted on a black stallion waited there as well. Kiram stood very still and tried not to meet the gaunt man's cool gaze.

Then to Kiram's horror, just as the Grunito party arrived and had dismounted, the priest reined his steed forward to block Javier's path.

"It has been ten days since you've visited chapel, Javier," he stated.

"Always good to know I'm missed," Javier replied.

Riossa led her horse towards Kiram. In a hushed whisper, she informed him that the priest was Timoteo, the eldest of the Grunito brothers. Timoteo stood nearly as tall as Elezar but looked far leaner. Violet and black robes lent his pale features a sickly pallor. The deep hollows of his eyes and his gaunt cheeks made Kiram think of a corpse more than a living man.

"You have most certainly been missed," Timoteo informed Javier sourly. "The father confessor in particular has noted your long absence with concern."

"I had no idea he was so attached to me, but now that you mention it, he did seem to particularly relish my tales of debauchery and sin." Javier gave Timoteo a smile that verged on lewd and then went on in a light tone. "Sadly, overseeing the design of this water clock has left me precious little free time to accumulate my normal tally of wanton whoring and dueling."

Javier's fingers slid over his sword hilt in an almost obscene manner. "Do assure my dear father confessor that I will return to whisper more of my dirty adventures in his ear just as soon as I have any."

Kiram strode forward before the conversation could turn truly ugly. Javier's hand was already on his sword, even if only playfully so.

"Speaking of the water clock." Kiram placed himself between Timoteo's horse and Javier. "My father has more questions concerning the pipes."

"Does he?" Javier asked and Kiram could see the amusement in his eyes.

"He needs an answer as soon as possible."

"Certainly. I'll go directly," Javier said.

"What?" Elezar objected from across the stable. "You're leaving already? We all just arrived!" Elezar started for Javier but Timoteo's mount blocked him.

"Timoteo," Elezar growled. "Move your damn horse! This isn't a race track, so either dismount or go home."

"I need a word with Javier." Timoteo's tone was indignant.

"You've had your word," Elezar snapped. "Now ride back to your mistress and let the rest of us alone."

"That woman is not-" Timoteo began.

"You're not fooling anyone." Elezar waved aside whatever excuse Timoteo wanted to make. "And I don't give a shit either way. Your lack of piety is your own damn concern. Just leave Javier alone. He knows his prayers better than you do and we all know it."

Nestor snickered at that and Riossa and her maid pretended to be occupied with their gloves. Flushing, Timoteo turned his mount aside and rode back the way he'd come.

"Well spoken," Kiram told Elezar once Timoteo was out of sight.

"Tim can't help being a jackass sometimes." Elezar shrugged. "He means well, but the royal bishop isn't making it easy for him or any priest to be friendly with Javier right now."

"What do you mean?" Kiram felt a sudden dread at the mention of the royal bishop. He remembered the blue jays he'd seen the week before and the feeling of the shadow curse at his back.

"It's nothing," Javier said firmly and he gave Elezar a hard look.

"It's not nothing. It's serious," Elezar replied, then looked to Kiram. "The year before you came to the academy Javier killed Lord Quemanor's firstborn son in a duel."

"Nestor told me."

"Did he tell you that since then Lord Quemanor has been out to destroy Javier?"

"He didn't need to. I met Lord Quemanor once," Kiram said.

"Well, now the man is blaming Javier for Fedeles' condition, claiming Javier possessed him. Quemanor's even petitioned the royal bishop to have Javier imprisoned and exorcised."

"Exorcised?" Kiram felt the blood draining from his face.

Javier said, "It's an empty threat. Quemanor doesn't have any proof and the royal bishop wouldn't dare move against me without a shred of evidence."

"Not yet, maybe." Elezar scowled at one of the stable hands and then turned his gaze back to Kiram. "I don't mean any offense to you or your family, Kiram, but all this time in the Haldiim district isn't doing his reputation any good."

"You've said more than enough, Elezar," Javier growled. "None of this is Kiram's doing or his concern."

Elezar looked like he might argue but closed his mouth as Riossa approached.

"Why are you three looking so dour?" Riossa inquired. Her maid eyed the three of them suspiciously. Nestor followed Riossa, looking both protective and proud.

"Nothing worth lingering on." Javier gave Riossa one of his handsome, ingenuous smiles. "Certainly not when I have the construction of a water clock to oversee. I expect it will keep me late. When should I see the rest of you back at the Grunito house?"

"Not until evening. Kiram has promised to show us the Haldiim goat market. They hold races every Mediday," Riossa replied.

"That sounds quite entertaining, so long as you don't let Elezar lose too many bets." Javier bowed slightly to Riossa. "Doubtless you will have a lot to tell me about at dinner this evening."

Javier slipped away to train while Kiram occupied Elezar, Nestor and Riossa with the amusements of the goat cart races. Teams of goats whipped around the muddy track surrounding the open market while crowds cheered and wagers raged. Regardless of language barriers Elezar dove into the betting, placing money on teams for reasons that eluded Kiram but proved oddly accurate. Nestor and Riossa tended to cheer for the scrawny, weird goats that rarely won.

Between races they all drank spiced tea and ate candied fish. Nestor and Riossa sketched their surroundings and encouraged Riossa's maid to try Haldiim dishes, though she didn't seem to care for many. Elezar walked through the crowd at Kiram's side. He looked as if he had something on his mind but in typical Cadeleonian style remained silent.

"Is there something bothering you?" Kiram asked at last.

Elezar stole a quick glance to where Nestor and Riossa stood with Riossa's maid at a tanner's stall. They seemed deeply occupied with the kidskin vellum on display.

"Javier's up to something here in the Haldiim district," Elezar whispered. "He's doing something and it's changed him."

"Changed how?" Kiram asked.

"You should tell me. You're the one who brought him here, who keeps inviting him back," Elezar replied. His gaze was intent. "What's he been doing in the Haldiim district this past month? He's not just talking about some water clock, I know that. He comes back haggard with strange burns all over his body."

Kiram wondered how exactly Elezar had spied Javier's burns, but he didn't ask and Elezar went on quickly. "He's been avoiding chapel for weeks and the last three days I think he slept outside in an old oak tree. It's insane."

"He slept in a tree?" That was something from an archaic holy text, wasn't it? Javier really was embracing Alizadeh's Bahiim teachings.

"Yes, up in a tree." Elezar lowered his voice. "And it's not just that, when he's up in the branches I swear.." Elezar suddenly clenched his mouth closed.

"What?" Kiram demanded.

"You really don't know anything about this?" Elezar's expression was disbelieving.

"I've spent nearly every day with you and Nestor, not Javier. How could I know what he's been doing?"

Elezar sighed heavily and then nodded.

"He flickers." Elezar looked uncomfortable even saying the words.

"Flickers?" Kiram asked. "You mean-"

"It's the white hell. He sits up there in the oak with sparks lighting up and dying all around him. It's not just one little flash. It's like a cloud of fireflies-like he's pulling stars down from the sky." Elezar scowled as two women passed close by them, then went on. "Late last night he lit up the entire tree. The branches and leaves blazed white all around him and he looked like.like something from another world. Javier has always liked to show off with sparks and tricks but that wasn't showing off. That was something powerful and unholy."

Kiram remembered the image he'd seen in Calixto's diary of a luminous, tangling tree and Alizadeh talking about igniting the White Tree.

"Unholy"' Kiram repeated. To any Haldiim luminous branches reaching from the earth to the heavens would be just the opposite. But knowing that wouldn't be any consolation to Elezar. "No wonder Timoteo wants him to attend chapel."

Elezar nodded.

Kiram asked, "Do you think Javier is in real danger from the royal bishop?"

"The way things are right now, he might be," Elezar said. "Something's gotten up Lord Quemanor's ass and stirred him enough to think that he has the evidence to have Javier arrested. I don't think Quemanor is bluffing either."

"And if he convinces the royal bishop to move against Javier, what will happen?" Kiram asked.

"We'll give him one hell of a fight." Elezar's hand dropped reflexively to his sword hilt. "Atreau and Morisio are both here for the wedding and they've sworn to stand with him."

Kiram frowned at the thought of a small group of schoolboys holding out against the royal bishop's personal army. They'd be slaughtered.

"What about you?" Elezar asked. "Will you stand with him or run if trouble comes?"

"I'll fight for Javier, no matter what," Kiram said, though the prospect frightened him. The royal bishop was a prince and his men certainly wouldn't abide by the neat rules of a tournament.

Suddenly the scent of hay and goats, the sound of the surrounding crowd, and even the warmth of the noonday sun seemed distant and dull. The cold pain of his final duel in the autumn tournament rolled over him. His forearm ached as if the stitches had once again split apart. How much worse would it be to die in battle?

They needed to find a way out of this that didn't include battle. But why would the royal bishop want to arrest Javier at all when he wielded the shadow curse?

"Has Javier mentioned that Fedeles may be back with us again?" Elezar absently watched Nestor chatting with a Civic Guard.

"Back with us?" Kiram asked but something in Elezar's expression gave him his own answer. "You mean he's better?"

"Maybe fully recovered. If it's true, it would be good. Not that he was ever much of a fighter. But still, if he were here and well again it would mean the world to Javier." Elezar's expression softened for just a moment. Then he pulled himself back. "Morisio swears he saw him in Zancoda, walking with a magistrate and speaking very rationally."

"That's wonderful!" Kiram felt almost giddy with joy. Scholar Donamillo must have broken the curse despite his illness. Kiram had left his engine in working order with the scholar and he wondered if it had made the difference.

But even as Kiram spoke a dark thought came to him. If Scholar Donamillo had driven the shadow curse from Fedeles, then the royal bishop would have to alter his tactics against Javier. A cold dread gripped Kiram.

"If the royal bishop did decide to arrest Javier, how do you think he'd go about it?" Kiram's throat felt dry and his words came out too quiet.

"I don't know." Elezar frowned and for a moment Kiram thought he looked as desolate as Kiram felt at the prospect. But then some Cadeleonian reflex surged and Elezar gave a brutish smile. "He'll want to seize Javier while he's away from Rauma and his own men. If he's going to do it he'll have to move soon, before Prince Sevanyo can get word."

"Soon, and most likely here or at the academy?" Kiram asked.

Elezar nodded. "Even so, Javier has the white hell. The royal bishop knows that and I'd bet my left ball that scares the shit out of him."

Only Javier didn't really have the white hell now. From what Javier had told him, his control over it was touch and go.

"The bishop will need to find a way to restrain Javier," Elezar went on.

"He'll want Javier to go to confession." Kiram suddenly realized. "Once Javier has been given muerate poison he'll be vulnerable."

Elezar's face actually paled. "That would be exactly when he'd want to move."

"Then I suppose it's good that Javier's been avoiding chapel," Kiram commented.

"God, yes," Elezar murmured. "It makes sense now."

"What makes sense?" Nestor asked.

Both Kiram and Elezar spun around. Nestor smiled at them benignly. He carried a thick roll of supple vellum sheets over his left arm. Riossa gripped his right arm with a shy pleased expression while her maid trailed behind them, occupied with a sweet roll.

Elezar scowled at his younger brother but Kiram took heart in Nestor's friendly ease. Talking with Elezar he'd felt like any moment they might both die, but just looking at Nestor Kiram felt the warmth and cheer of their surroundings return. He reminded himself that what he and Elezar had been discussing were only rumors and suppositions. Certainly, if anything were truly wrong, Javier would be the first to know and be the one to tell Kiram.

He noticed that new teams of goats waited on the muddy track and that bets were again being taken.

"I was explaining to Elezar that the red goats were originally bred for their meat, not their milk, so they tend to be bigger and make better racers," Kiram supplied.

"Oh, but the little white ones are very quick and their carts are smaller," Riossa commented. "So if the race is only half the track they get to the finish before the red fellows can work up any speed."

"That's true." Kiram smiled, realizing that Riossa had actually been paying much closer attention to the races than he had.

"I'd place my bets with your future sister-in-law," Kiram told Elezar. Elezar nodded absently, but Riossa gave Kiram a genuine, thankful smile.

Dauhd and Majdi found them a few hours later, just as a team of red goats with black lacquered horns pulled their young driver past the finishing posts and a wild cheer went up through the crowd. Elezar collected his winnings, while Riossa, Nestor and even Riossa's shy maid continued to shout encouragements for a team of spotted goats whose cart driver appeared to be a blind woman. Kiram cheered along with his friends when the goats took third.

"I daresay that sometimes a valiant loss is more inspiring that a certain win," Riossa commented.

"Well, certainly. You remember Kiram and me at the autumn tournament," Nestor replied and Riossa nodded.

"That was more like a certain loss," Elezar remarked.

"It wasn't!" Nestor frowned at his brother. "Not Kiram. He fought like a."

"Yes?" Elezar prompted.

"Like a stoat!" Riossa supplied and Kiram laughed out loud.

"They're fierce creatures when they're cornered. Fierce and brave," Riossa protested.

"You're quite the stoat yourself, Riossa," Elezar told her and then he patted her lightly on the head.

Riossa grinned as if Elezar couldn't have paid her a higher compliment and knowing Elezar, Kiram thought that perhaps he couldn't have. Kiram enjoyed listening to them all chat and tease each other. He basked in the mood of gentle happiness that Nestor and Riossa effortlessly created. Even Elezar seemed to have given in to their warmth. Certainly his teasing smiles were a far cry from the autumn afternoon when he'd snarled Riossa's name and told Nestor that the girl had duped him. Now it felt as if they were all a family, even himself and Dauhd and Majdi.

That sense of comfort lingered and might have stayed with Kiram even after the Grunitos had departed, if only he hadn't noticed the column of bright blue jays flying overhead. These were not just the few birds he'd noted a week ago. Dozens and dozens of birds filled the sky, circling the dark treetops of the Circle of Red Oaks.

They most certainly belonged to the man on the hill.

A terrible dread crept over Kiram as he wondered why they had come and what else followed in their wake.

"Mum is expecting you to attend Mother Kir-Naham's dinner tonight." Dauhd's words hardly penetrated Kiram's anxious thoughts, seeming almost meaningless. He knew it couldn't be a coincidence that those shrieking spies had arrived just when the royal bishop was planning to arrest Javier, but what could be done about it?

"Kiram, did you hear me?" Dauhd demanded.

"What? Yes," Kiram replied. "Yes, I heard you." alking to the stables with the Grunitos and his own siblings, iapter Seventeenx

Both Dauhd and Majdi studied him with unconvinced expressions. Kiram felt suddenly tired of pretending that dinners with Hashiem's mother-or Hashiem himself-mattered.

"She'll be expecting you by the sixth bell," Dauhd went on.

Kiram just rolled his eyes. "Does anyone honestly think, that I'm going to settle down with-"

"Don't you dare!" Dauhd cut him off, holding both of her hands up as if to cover Kiram's mouth. "Don'tyou dare tell Majdi or me what you're planning to do! I refuse to be blamed for failing to stop you."

Kiram just stared at his sister and Majdi burst into convulsive laughter.

"Well spoken," Majdi told Dauhd when he at last recovered his decorum. Then he turned his attention to Kiram. "It really would be best if you didn't make either of us a knowing accomplice to this affair of yours, Kiram."

"But you do know."

"No. We suspect," Dauhd stated firmly. "And I don't think I'm willing to go even that far. Not when I need Mum to approve of Chebli. She's not going to do that if she thinks I helped you to-do whatever it is that I have no suspicion that you're getting up to! Understood?"

"Yes." Kiram sighed heavily, then looked back to the sky where the jays seemed to spread like storm clouds. "I need to go speak to Uncle Rafie."

"Good choice," Majdi told him.

Dauhd frowned at him, and for the first time Kiram could clearly see one of their mother's expressions on her face; it was as much concern as consternation. "You take care, Kiram."

"I'm only visiting Uncle Rafie, not storming the Cadeleonian church." Kiram offered her a game smile. "I'll see you this evening for dinner with Mother Kir-Naham."

He turned and ran to Rafie's house, almost colliding with his uncle as he came bounding up to the front door.

"Kiram! I was just going out to find you." Rafie's grim expression brightened a little but he still studied the sky with agitation. "Alizadeh needs you."

"Those jays-" Kiram began to ask but Rafie cut him off.

"We'll talk about it inside. Come in. Quickly now." Rafie hurried Kiram into the house and out to the garden.

Javier and Alizadeh both knelt beside a twisted pine. Their eyes were closed.

"Kiram is here," Javier said, though he didn't look up.

Alizadeh glanced to the door and smiled at Kiram.

"You're right. He is." Alizadeh cocked his head slightly. "You certainly found him quickly enough, Rafie."

"He found us," Rafie replied.

"I came because I saw a huge flock of jays."

"Yes, their numbers have been growing over the last week and now I think there may be enough for them to attempt to take the Circle of Red Oaks." Alizadeh rose slowly from his crouch beside the tree. Javier remained where he was, eyes closed, one hand curled around a root of the old pine. "It seems that the shadow curse is moving, trying to reach into Anacleto."

"Can you stop it?" Kiram asked. He glanced again to Javier, finding it odd that he remained so still and quiet at a time like this. Javier drew in a deep slow breath but said nothing.

"If the White Tree were ignited then no curse could settle upon the city, much less the mere shadow of one." Alizadeh waved his hand as if batting aside a fly.

"But it isn't ignited." A clammy sweat began to rise as Kiram tried not to remember that rushing shadow hunting him through the woods and cutting into his body. He focused on Alizadeh's calm expression, his easy stance.

"No, the White Tree is not yet ignited but neither has the shadow curse settled. The force behind it feels stronger but not so powerful that it can take the city without placing wards first. That's why he's sent those jays. If they can beat their way through the Bahiim wards and settle in the Circle of Red Oaks, then the shadow curse will infiltrate our places of power. The man controlling the shadow curse will own the circle and the White Tree. Whoever he is, he knows the old Bahiim ways well." Alizadeh scowled. "If we hope to stop him then the White Tree must be ignited tonight."

"Is Javier ready for that?" Kiram asked.

"No, but when has that ever stopped me?" Javier gave Kiram a brief smile. Kiram thought he looked tired already.

"And, that's why we need you, Kiram," Rafie said.

"If you come with us to the Circle of Red. Oaks tonight you can serve as Javier's anchor. You'll keep him from being lost in the shajdi."

Kiram had no idea what that even meant, much less what it would require. He opened his mouth to ask but Alizadeh cut him off.

"Rafie and I will take the spring pool. We should be able to feed the wards there long enough to distract most attention from the two of you."

"Other Bahiim may be there as well." Rafie's tone didn't tell Kiram if that was good or bad. "Not even the most lazy of them can ignore what's happening right now."

"Willing to put money on that?" Alizadeh asked.

"Not much," Rafie conceded and then he returned his attention to Kiram. "Once the White Tree is ignited you'll need to get Javier and yourself away from the Circle of Red Oaks as quickly and discreetly as possible."

Alizadeh swung up his traveling satchel and nodded.

"These aren't the circumstances under which Javier should be introduced to the other Bahiim. Not only will the circle be in an uproar because of the shadow curse but many of them will be furious after the White Tree is ignited. The last thing we want is for one of them to lash out against him."

"Or to expose him to his fellow Cadeleonians," Rafie put in.

"But how will I anchor Javier?" Kiram finally managed to get a word in. "And how will I know when the White Tree is ignited? I don't even know what the White Tree looks like."

"I know what it is and where," Javier said. He rose to his feet, keeping one hand still in contact with the twisted old pine tree.

"The moment it's ignited you, and everyone within a few miles, will know." A knowing smile spread across Alizadeh's lips. "As for anchoring Javier, you only need to hold his bare hand in your own and stand with him."

"That's all?" It sounded far too simple for Kiram to believe.

Alizadeh gave a short laugh. "You were hoping for more?"

"No, no. It just sounds like something anyone-"

Javier reached out and caught Kiram's hand. His grip felt like hot iron.

He said, "We'll be in the midst of the white hell. It won't be easy for either of us."

"But at least you've been there before," Alizadeh said. "Now go. You don't have much time."