The Warrior Within (Devan Chronicles #3)

1 ~ Blademaster

Lord Keverin reached the Camorin border in a foul temper. Although a troop of brigands had intended it otherwise, his journey from the capital had been quick. The reason for his mood had nothing to do with brigands, nor yet the length of time taken to reach the border. No, what had him seething was the sight of nearly a thousand of his guardsmen sitting encamped on the Devan side of the border.

"Calm down. Listen to Brian's explanation first."

He frowned in irritation. Jihan was a good friend, and an honourable lord, but he didn't know how irritating it was to have someone half his age telling him what to do. He was calm; he was always calm! When hadn't he been calm? Brian should be on the trail, not loafing around on the border. He had better have a flaming good reason for his loafing, if he didn't... he just better had, that's all.

Keverin dismounted and made his way with Jihan toward the centre of attention. The men were listening to a pair of mages conferring with Brian. At their feet were two mirrors glowing with magical images. He couldn't see what the views were, but he would wager they showed Julia's location. In fact, he was wrong as he saw when he finally broke in among his men.

"The Lord—"

"Brian's a goner for sure—"

"He looks madder than a sorcerer with his beard on fire!"

Keverin tried to ignore his men's comments, but the last one had even him grinning. That would be something to see all right, something worth savouring. His temper cooled as if quenched in oil, and it was with a cool head that he questioned his captain.

"Report Brian," he ordered, and the men quieted down. Jihan was at his left elbow studying the images in the mirrors.

"My lord, we tracked The Lady toward Anselm, but were unable to close the distance more than half a day. With Lucius and Mathius scrying ahead, we discovered the Hasians had boarded ship—"

"One of my father's barges," Lord Adrik added.

Keverin didn't show his annoyance at the interruption. He nodded politely to Adrik and indicated to Brian he should continue.

"A barge then," Brian said annoyed at being corrected. "It was obvious we would lose ground, so I ordered my men to head straight north to cut them off here where the river crosses the border. I failed."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Brian," Lucius said. "Julia would understand."

Mathius lent his support. "That's right. Besides, she's safe enough for the moment. The clans won't hurt her."

"What's this?"

"I was just coming to that part, my lord," Brian said glaring at Mathius. "We had fallen more than two days behind when the barge was attacked during the night by clan warriors—"

"Not just warriors, my lord," Mathius said. "Shamen attacked in the night with magic. It was beautiful. The warriors swam to the boat and killed the sentries and the steersman without a sound. One moment everything was quiet, the next, a warrior was diving over the side with Julia over his shoulder! None could have done it better."

A rumble of agreement and admiration swept through the men. Julia was safe! It was wonderful news but he pushed aside his exultation to hear the rest.

"—burning," Brian was saying. "Every time the sorcerers put out the fires, the shamen threw fire and lit them again!" Chuckles swept through the crowd, but no one would be fooled into thinking they were amused. It was a positively evil sound; the Hasians deserved what they got and more. "The barge sank near the west bank. The last sorcerers were crushed."