Too Cold to Bleed Read online

  He turned and stormed off. Broden’s right. The city won’t let me go.

  “Kal, for Dajda’s sake.” Broden turned away, rubbing at the back of his neck in frustration before facing Kalfinar again. “Look, I get it. I really do. But you can’t just run off. You can’t leave everything at your arse.”

  Kalfinar stared hard at him for a moment and then looked back at the orders he was writing.

  “It’s exactly for Dajda’s sake that I must go.” That’s it, pretend like you give a wet shit for Dajda.

  “I know you want to find her. We all do. But look.” Broden pointed out the window of the chief marshal’s study and into the city of Carte. “We’re in pieces here, and we need to make some things right before we run off. Hells, Kal, for all we know it could be a fool’s errand.”

  “It’s not hopeless!” Kalfinar’s chair screamed against the wooden floor as he shot to his feet. His voice softened. “It’s not! I’m not without hope.”

  “Kal,” Broden said, “I’m not against you. You know that. But you’re chief marshal. And what’s more, until we can hold an election, you are also acting governor of Carte. The city is in ruins, the people hungry, grieving and afraid. We need to consolidate and stabilise.”

  “It all means nothing if Dajda is powerless. It will all cease to matter, and the people of Carte will suffer all the more. There is nothing more important right now than getting Evelyne back.” Kalfinar walked over to the window in what used to be his father’s study. He stared into the cold, grey morning. The city was half destroyed. Whole districts still smouldered from the fires. Blackened beams of savaged rooftops stabbed towards the steely clouds like decayed teeth from the shattered mouth of a great, dead beast. The pyres of the dead still smoked beyond the city walls. The pyres for the creatures risen unnaturally to torment the city also burned, but set apart.

  Broden stepped up beside him and let free a weary sigh. “I don’t know if we can win this.”

  “I don’t either. But I’m not sitting here, behind that desk, waiting for the end to come to us. I’m not hiding behind paper and issuing commands to others while she's out there. If there’s any chance I can get her back, and we can win this, then I’ll endure any pain to do it.”

  “You’ll be hanged if you abandon your post. It’s in our constitution. You know that.”

  Kalfinar grinned, but there was no humour on his face as he did so. “That order,” he nodded to the sheaf of paper on the desk, the ink still shining wet on it, “invokes the temporary appointment of an acting chief marshal in the event that the incumbent is somehow incapacitated. For example, overcome by a great illness.”

  “But you’re not sick!”

  Kalfinar put his hand to his mouth and coughed.

  Broden burst out laughing. “Who’ve you stitched up for chief marshal?”

  Kalfinar looked up at Broden. “Subath.”

  “He’s not going to like it.”

  A knock sounded at the door.

  “Come in,” Kalfinar commanded.

  “My lord.” The newly promoted lieutenant saluted far too crisply for Kalfinar’s liking. “Report from the gatehouse. There is a visitor to see you. Said to be an urgent matter of the Church. Says she’s from the Lihedan Isles. We checked her over. She’s not armed.”

  “And?” Broden gave the man a flat stare. “We’re at war, aren’t we?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Do we just let any old arsehole into the city in times of war? Do we, lad?”

  I speak for the Council. I am friend. A soft, accented voice sounded in Kalfinar’s head.

  “What the–” Kalfinar’s hand sought the amulet around his neck at the intrusion in his mind.

  “Kal?” Broden’s tone did not hide his concern. “You all right?”

  I can see her even now. The voice spoke again in Kalfinar’s mind. Be at ease, and let us speak.

  His racing heart slowed in the moment. “Let her in.”

  Kalfinar stood at the window and stared out at the greasy columns of smoke that rose from the city. They twisted their way to the low, ugly sky like corrupted staircases to the heavens. He played with the amulet about his neck, rubbing it between finger and thumb. The visitor’s intrusion into his mind troubled him, as did the ease with which his fear was appeased. The amulet was imbued with the power of Dajda and protected against ill intent. Sarbien had made as much clear to him.

  “What're you thinking?” Broden leaned back against the stonework beside the window and crossed his heavy arms.

  “The visitor.”

  “Aye, what about them?”

  “They spoke in my mind.”

  Broden turned his head to face him. “You know how that sounds, right? Voices in the head and all that.”

  “Know how it sounds.” Kalfinar turned from the window and looked at his cousin. “You’ve seen everything I’ve seen these last few weeks. You telling me you don’t believe someone is capable of throwing their voice across distance?”

  Broden puffed his cheeks and exhaled loudly, shaking his head. “Fucked if I know what I believe. You trusted it?”

  “I reckon so.” Kalfinar looked to the door. The sound of footsteps approaching could be heard on the other side. “Said it could see her.”

  “Evelyne?” Broden stepped away from the wall, his hand resting on the pommel of the sword slung by his side.

  “Aye.” Kalfinar positioned himself behind his desk as the knock sounded. “Figure we have to take any chance we get. Don’t you?”

  “Reckon so.”

  “Come in.”

  The newly fitted door swung open, scraping along the stone when it reached halfway.

  “Need to get that carpenter to plane that door down.” Subath’s grumble of a voice sounded as he entered the study, followed by Major Merkham. “Chief,” Subath greeted Kalfinar. “Broden.” The newly minted general winked at the big man.

  Merkham cleared his throat. “My lord, allow me to introduce Dedicant Valus.”

  A tall woman entered. Her face was partially hidden by a hood. She reached up and pulled it down, revealing short blond hair that fell across her blue eyes. She nodded in greeting to Kalfinar and the others.

  Greetings, Chief Marshal. The voice sounded in Kalfinar’s mind again.

  Merkham continued, “Dedicant Valus of the Lihedan Isles off Western Noehmia.”

  “You’re most welcome, Dedicant,” Kalfinar said. He held her gaze for a moment as a slight smile edged onto her lips.

  “I come to you because there is hope where you fear there is none. I speak for the Council. We can help Dajda.”

  Kalfinar concentrated, suddenly mindful that his thoughts could be picked apart by the woman of power before him. “Who are the Council?”

  “The Council are the silent voice of the people of this world.”

  Kalfinar eyed the woman for a moment. Her features betrayed not the slightest unease. This woman was perfectly comfortable and confident where she stood. “Such words could be taken as arrogance. Who are this Council to speak for the people of the world?”

  “The world has more layers than you imagine, Chief Marshal. You see a world of Dajda, of Canna, for whom the Cannan people are named. Your people have known of Bhalur, and in these recent days you have felt the force of the Usurper, Balzath. But the world is more than that. It is as full of faiths as the sea is of fish, and the sky is of birds. I am here to waken your senses to the greatest betrayal of all, and in wakening you to this great corruption, I will offer you Dajda in return.”

  “Lady,” Broden’s tone was hard, “steady with your words. You’re starting to sound a lot like a heretic.”

  Valus turned to him, her wide mouth flashing a sparkling smile. “How can I be a heretic when I am not of your faith? Your words show how your Dajda has masked you from the world. You see not the myriad of life, the pantheon of gods. You only see Dajda, and damn all else to the wastelands. That is why the council have sent me. To lift the veil, at long la
st.”

  Kalfinar held up his palms, suppressing the rising tension between Broden and Valus. “Speak plainly. We don’t have time for florid words.”

  Valus nodded. “We are here to offer you our strength in bringing Dajda back to her people.”

  Kalfinar’s heart was racing. He took a breath and tried to calm his voice. “How can you do that?”

  “As one, our faiths are not powerful. Your Dajda has seen to that. But together, we can create enough power to find her.”

  “Do you know where she is now?”

  “Of course,” Valus said, her voice calm, a serene smile etched on her face.

  Kalfinar’s mouth went dry and the blood rushed loud in his ears. “Where is she?”

  “She is east,” Valus replied.

  “The east is a big place,” Broden said. “Where in the east?”

  “That, I cannot explain to you. Not yet,” Valus replied.

  “Lady,” Subath leaned towards her, “I believe the chief marshal asked you to speak plain. Why don’t you stop tickling our balls and go straight for the cock, eh?”

  “Subath,” Kalfinar sighed and rubbed his dry, stinging eyes.

  “What?” the old warrior said. “I'm helping.”

  “You’re not,” Kalfinar grunted. He turned to Broden, whose laughter was not being well suppressed at all. “You are certainly not helping.” Kalfinar turned his attention back to Valus. “Dedicant, I would have guessed she was taken east. You said you could help. Why now do you dally?”

  Valus replied, “There has been a corruption in the past. Balance must be restored if Dajda is to be saved. There is a bargain to be made with the people of this world.”

  Kalfinar felt his throat tighten as fear and anger boiled within him. I must know where she is.

  The tall Lihedan woman looked at him, and smiled gently.

  I know you fear for her. The woman’s voice sounded in Kalfinar’s head. He felt his frown loosen as her words washed over him. You fear for her more than you fear for Dajda. The Council will help, but the balance must be restored.

  Valus continued to speak, this time aloud, and to the room. “The gods of this world once sat as one, a pantheon of elemental power. There was a true balance of light and dark. It was betrayed as two gods sought to hold dominion over all, and so began the War of the Gods. Dajda and Canna were those two gods.”

  “This is nonsense,” Merkham said, shaking his head in disbelief. “This woman is insane, Kalfinar.”

  I speak the truth. You know I do, for you feel it in your heart.

  “We need to hear her out,” Kalfinar said, cutting off the protest on the edge of Merkham’s tongue.

  “Dajda and Canna fought between themselves for unquestioned dominance. All that served to do was erode their strength upon each other. So they allied, and turned their wrath upon the rest of the gods. They sought to purge the world of any faith that stood against them. Those whose gods chose to kneel before them fell under their yoke. Dajda and Canna were cruel. Our faiths are small, our people scattered. You hear not of us, and you see nothing of our world. But we are amongst you, and yet we are invisible. Dajda and Canna have made it so that most do not know we even exist. In the Lihedan Isles, you think we worship Dajda, and many do, but our true god is named Gighra. In our tongue it means Mother of the Sea. Our devotions are harvested in part and are nothing but feed to Dajda and Canna, helping them grow in power. But no longer. A dark usurper has Dajda now within its talons. This places all but Canna in the way of great harm, for we have not the power alone to resist the Usurper.”

  “Then you must help us!” Kalfinar urged.

  “Yes, we must,” she said. Her voice was soft and quiet, but her look held a hungry intensity Kalfinar found unsettling. “We will aid you, on the condition that Dajda releases the yoke on our faiths, on our people. We must be free to worship, as we once were. We must be free to live as we once did, together in this world.”

  Subath heaved a great breath and shook his scarred head. “I don’t know,” he grumbled, all heads in the room turning towards him. “I mean, I’m willing to accept what I hear on the basis that, days ago, the city was flooded with the undead and massive fucking demons – oh, and a whole army just up and disappeared like a fart in the wind. But even accepting all that, how are we going to speak on behalf of a god, and it be an unbreakable word? I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me and my brain’s too pickled in wine, women, and warfare, but it all seems a bit mad.”

  “It is mad.” Dedicant Valus spoke again. “It has been madness for countless thousands of years. But the world has not always been so. There was balance where there is none now. There was ease, where now there is only disquiet. That which was broken can and must be rebuilt, for what has existed since it was broken is a corruption and is not the natural balance of things. You worship Dajda, the Cannan worship Canna. Together, they are strong. They take worship, and through your Tuannan, and the Cannan’s Proclaims, they keep us suppressed and in a state of weakness. We worship at effigies, through which our words are heard by your gods. But they are few, and limited, as was the design of Dajda and Canna, and so our faiths are weak. Yes, we exist, to maintain a mockery of the balance, but we barely exist. If we had our freedom, this world would be a better place. A world of progress and balance. The energy harvested from our devotion could power this world for good. Instead, it is drained of strength and is committed to the suppression of others. You must speak for Dajda. You must implore the Tuannan to commit to the undoing of the Corruption, and free the bonds upon this world.”

  “Many of those I have loved in this world were Tuannan,” Kalfinar said. “You’re telling me these people, these good, gentle people, were the servants of a corrupt god, and were complicit in this suppression?”

  Valus smiled at him. “Perhaps not knowingly. The Tuannan, like the Proclaims of Canna, have many paths. Some lead back to the ancient ways, to the Corruption. Those you love may be as ignorant of the truth as you were prior to my coming here. But there are others in the ranks of the Tuannan who know it all. Look to Brother Fransen. He knows of the Corruption.” Evelyne’s heart is pure, Kalfinar. There is no corruption within her, nor within Olmat. There is only good in them.

  “Even if this Brother Fransen confirms it, how do we know the Tuannan will even listen to us? How do we even know they’ll make the deal?” Broden asked. “You say there are many paths. How many lead to bloodshed? We could have a religious war.”

  “We already do,” Kalfinar said, looking at his cousin. “We have little choice. We either return Dajda with less dominance and beat back Balzath, or we wait for the inevitable. Grunnxe will come again, and so Balzath will come again.”

  Valus added, “Without Dajda’s strength, the Tuannan cannot stop us speaking to you and explaining the truth. You need our strength, Kalfinar, if you wish to find her. You must make the promise to us, and we can make right the balance, make right this world.”

  Heed us, Kalfinar. She can be brought home. The balance can be restored. Kalfinar looked up and held the bright blue eyes of Dedicant Valus, a subtle smile beneath her long, straight nose. Look. The voice disappeared and Kalfinar saw in his mind a vision.

  Evelyne sat slumped in a caged wagon, her wrists bound in dark metal cuffs, chained to the wooden floor of the wagon. She was filthy, and although she appeared to sleep, her body trembled.

  Wide-eyed, Kalfinar looked up at the tall woman before him. “Show me more!”

  “You must make the deal,” Valus said in a calm voice. She held his gaze.

  Make the deal, and I will show you more.

  “Show you more?” Broden asked, looking about the room in puzzlement. “Kal, what in the hells are you talking about?”

  “Evelyne.” Kalfinar breathed the name.

  .

  Four

  Council

  The Tuannan elder was red with fury. “You are beguiled by witches, Chief Marshal. What more can I say to convince you of the truth?”
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  Kalfinar shook his head and puffed out his cheeks as he sighed. He nodded to Broden and Subath, who stood from their chairs and walked to where the old man stood.

  “Wait,” the Tuannan said, raising his hands towards the two approaching warriors. “What are you doing?”

  “I asked you three times, and each time you have said the same thing to me,” Kalfinar said with exasperation. “I am trained to detect lies, but it doesn’t take an agent of the Free Provinces to determine you’re full of shit. Now, what will convince me of the truth is simply the truth. General Subath, Brother Fransen appears not to be listening to me. It appears as though he hasn’t the use of his ears. Could you relieve him of them?”

  Subath pulled free a dagger as Broden stepped behind Fransen and held his arms behind his back. “Be a fucking pleasure. Tired of all this talking anyhow.”

  “Buah,” Fransen blurted senselessly and looked panic-stricken towards Merkham.

  “Nothing I can do. You should’ve been more forthcoming, old boy,” Merkham said, sitting back in his chair and tutting at the Tuannan with a disapproving shake of his head.

  “The truth, Fransen,” Kalfinar said, getting up from his chair and striding towards the gaunt Tuannan. “You lied to me when you said you didn’t know of the Council, yet Dedicant Valus knew of you.” Kalfinar looked into Fransen’s black eyes, narrowed in fear. “You’ve known of the existence of such a Council, and yet you deny them. So what more is true? What of this Corruption the dedicant speaks of? Has Dajda bound the worship of others into her own and suppressed faiths of this world?”

  “These are the poisoned words of the damned. These are the lies of barbarians and heathen savages. There is no power in this world but the power of Dajda.”

  “Come now, Fransen.” Valus smiled. “You know that’s a lie.” She flicked her hand and the candle on Kalfinar’s desk burned with fury, melting its wax in a flood. “If Dajda sleeps, and can grant none, where then did my power come from?”