The Howling Delve - Jaleigh Johnson [7]
Bootfalls pounded from the direction of the main hall. Dhairr made an ugly sound in his throat. Kail turned, expecting another enemy, and saw Haig running out to them.
"Fathet!" Kail stayed the lord's arm as he swung his gaze and blade to the man. Recognition came slowly into Dhairr's eyes, and he lowered his weapon.
"Haig," he said hoarsely. "What happened?"
Kali spoke first. The words tumbled over each other to get out. "Isslun, Dencer…" he named them all, describing Aazen's wound and Haig's rescue.
Dhairr had both hands on Kail's shoulders, but he looked at Haig. "How many in total?"
"I can't be certain, my lord," Haig replied. "As it stands, I would trust none of your guard and appeal to the Esmeltaran militia for help."
Dhairr nodded, taking it all in. "Where is Kortrun?"
Boots scraped on stone, and all thtee of them looked up. Balram stood at the edge of the garden, near the stairs to Dhairr's office. He was watching them, a speculative look in his eyes as they fell on Haig.
"Captain," Dhairr said, relieved. "We were nearly overrun." He noticed the blood dripping from Balram's hand. "Are you all right?"
"I am," Balram said, walking slowly out to them. His sword trailed unsheathed at his side, its emerald winking in the sunlight. "Thank the gods you're both alive." The words held no inflection.
Haig's blade came up, but he stayed at Kail's side. He laid a hand on Kail's arm, as if he might draw him away from his father. "Your captain was one of those who betrayed you, Lord Morel," he said calmly. "Do not trust him."
Dhairr glanced sharply at Balram. "That can't be," he said. "Kortrun-"
"The accusation is fair," Balram replied, cutting him off and surprising a frown onto Dhairr's face. "But you should know its source before you judge." He raised his blade. Haig batted it aside with a clang that was loud in the stillness of the gatden. Balram merely smiled and pointed with the sword's tip at Haig's collar. A small silver pin glinted there, barely visible from the folds of cloth. Its crescent moon surrounded a harp and tiny stars. "A piece to rival even your finest work, my lord, if you'll forgive my saying so." His smile melted into a sneer. "We have a Harper in our midst." "Hatper?"
Dhairr started at the sound of his son's voice, as if he'd forgotten Kail was present. Kail stared at Haig, his hand outstretched to the man, too many questions pressing into his throat.
Balram continued, "There are traitors in your house, my friend,".he said to Dhairr. "This one, I warrant, is Alytia's wotk."
"Is this truth?" Dhairr asked. "Speak!" he shouted when Haig hesitated.
Haig met Kail's eyes briefly. "I was asked by the Harper Alytia Morel to see to her son's protection when she was forced to leave this house. I honored her request… and continued to do so after her death."
"No," Kali shook his head in denial even as the words sank into him like a cold kiss, through the heat, the buzzing of insects, and the tension of raised blades all around him. His chest seized up. His mothei… a Harper? Sent away? That was impossible. His mother died giving birth to him. His father told him the story long ago. Haig was confused, he was lying…
Beside him, Dhairr stood in a similar state of shock, but Haig's words did not have the same paralytic effect.
His gaze still on Kali, Haig never saw the attack coming.
Dhairr hit the Harper from the side, driving him to the ground. Haig's skull struck the fountain's edge, and Kali could see the whites of his eyes as he went limp. Dhaitr hauled him over and plunged him up to his neck in the fountain, jolting the man back to semi-consciousness.
"Not yet, not yet," Dhairi growled. The sudden outpouring of rage transformed him into a creature Kail did not recognize. Stunned, he fell back a pace.
"Before you die, you will tell me who hunts me!" Dhairr screamed. "Do you hear?" He shook the senseless Harper, plunging him