From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [59]
“I’ve never seen a Poroo, sir.”
“Well, they’re ugly to look at, but not the best warriors. Still, they struck me down.” Achan touched a white knot on his shoulder, one of the scars from the Poroo arrows. “I woke in the Mahanaim dungeons. Lord Nathak had accused me of trying to kill the prince, but of course I’d been protecting him. A week later, Sir Caleb broke me out of prison. He and Sir Gavin dressed me in a lot of finery, took me to Council, and revealed the truth.”
Matthias was mesmerized. “What truth, sir?”
“That I was the Prince Gidon. That when I was just a babe, Lord Nathak switched me and his son, Esek, branded me a stray, and gave me to his cook to raise.” Achan turned to show Matthias the mark of a stray, an “S” still branded onto the back of his shoulder. “So, though my real name is Gidon Hadar, I’ve always been known as Achan, and those closest to me call me such.”
Matthias’s lips turned into a grin. “Father says ‘achan’ when he’s angry.”
“Does he?” Achan meant “trouble” in the ancient language. It had humiliated him for years, but now he rather liked it. For Achan planned to cause trouble for any foe who stood in Arman’s way. “It’s never been the kindest of names, but it’s mine.” Achan’s stomach rumbled. “You hungry?”
Matthias nodded.
“Fetch us some breakfast, then. But first we must wake the doorstop. I’d have you pounce on him, but he’s a mean one in the mornings and might wring your neck.”
Matthais’s eyes went wide as he regarded the lump of furs on the pallet by the door.
Achan jumped up in a crouch on his bed and waved to Matthias. “Reach under his pillow and take his knife.”
Matthias hesitated, then padded to Shung’s pallet. Quiet as the mouse Shung had entitled him, he pilfered the knife and backed up against the wall, clutching the bone hilt to his chest with two hands, the shiny steel blade pointed down.
Achan winked at the boy and bellowed a war cry.
Shung sprang into a crouch on top of his straw mattress, arms tense and bulging, brown eyes wide and bleary. He wore black trousers and nothing else. Curly black hair covered his muscled chest.
Achan pounced from his bed to Shung’s. They slammed into the door, slid along the wall, and tumbled to the floor in a tangle of arms and legs. Achan pinned Shung for two seconds before the hairy man flipped him onto his back and pressed his forearm over his throat. “You think you can beat Shung, Little Cham? Where you hide my knife?”
Achan’s eyes rolled back to where Matthias stood.
Shung looked up and laughed. He pushed off Achan and sat with an arm propped over one knee. “Mouse is your new ally, Shung sees.”
Achan scowled. “The lad is hungry, Shung. How is he to eat with your bed in front of the door?”
Shung fumbled along the side of his pallet until he found his shirt. “You must wait for Shung.”
Winking again at Matthias, Achan said, “If I wait for you each morning, I’ll never eat breakfast again.”
“A warrior must sleep.” Shung tugged a white shirt over his head and laced it up. “Sleep renews strength.”
“Fine. But must you sleep in front of my door?”
“Shung swore to protect the little cham. Promised—”
The door opened against the pallet. “Your Highness? Are you well?” Sir Caleb’s voice.
Achan bloodvoiced his answer. I am fine, Sir Caleb. Matthias and I were only trying to wake Shung.
Shung stood, pulled on his black leather jerkin, and pushed his pallet away from the door.
The door swung in, and Sir Caleb stepped inside, followed by Sir Eagan, Sir Gavin, Inko, and Kurtz.
“What in flames is going on?” Sir Caleb asked. “We thought you were being attacked.”
“Not him.” Shung walked to Matthias and snatched his knife away. He pointed the blade from Matthias to Achan. “They attack Shung.” He tucked the blade into the sheath on his boot.
“The troops have arrived from Berland and Tsaftown,” Sir Caleb said. “Matthias, choose the prince’s best ensemble and see that he’s bathed