Daughter of the Wind

14. The Silent Order

Thirteenth of Harvest

As expected, Marshal Berias brought news of the pilgrim the next morning. To his surprise, he was left waiting in an audience chamber. The King's steward informed him that there would be another party at the briefing, and Berias spent the next few minutes in silent anger as he sat in a leather chair staring at a mural on the wall.

"Milady!"

Berias' head snapped up when he heard the steward's call. He leapt to his feet and stood to attention as the Prophetess stepped into the chamber, as always followed by her purple-clad entourage.

"Milady," Berias echoed, bowing low.

"I am told you have news," she said once he had straightened.

"I do, but I beg your leave to wait until we are before the King."

"As it should be," Siara agreed, and waved for the steward to open the doors. Berias followed the Prophetess and her group into the Throne Room, bowing as he stood next to Siara before the King.

"I came as fast as I could," Siara said, glancing at Berias. "The Marshal was quite cordial to await my arrival."

"Of course, Milady." Berias bowed his head slightly, hiding his anger at not being informed of her presence. What power play was the King attempting? Ever the marshal, Berias had no concept of the King's fear at the current events. Like many powerful men, Berias could lose sight of the big picture as he focused on criminal threats and conspiracies. So often his purpose was to interact with the greed of the common citizen. Sometimes he forgot that very real people had very real concerns.

"What is your news, Marshal?" Farhad asked. "This traveller of the Silent Order. What is his goal?"

"To begin with, 'he' is a woman. Her name is Belkai, no known family name," Berias announced. "And she heads for Narandir."

Farhad's blood seemed to turn to ice. First the Kingdom suffered assaults from that cursed Forest, and now a mysterious stranger spilt blood on a course for the same?

"What do you fear, my King?" Siara asked softly, understanding the look in his eye.

"The timing gives me concern," Farhad admitted. "The Silent Order crosses our border as the Aliri strike and as the Forest unleashes monsters upon the southern reaches." He looked back to the Marshal. "What is this Belkai's purpose?"

"My scout has yet to discover that," Berias confessed. "But his orders are to learn that by any means, as you have commanded."

The lie was accepted at face value, just as he had expected. Farhad was powerful, of that there was no doubt, but he lacked wisdom. Berias had no real way of getting a message to Davos without alerting the mage. He was relying on the scout to use his instincts and follow his training. That would have to be just as good as direct orders in this instance.

Farhad grunted, then turned to Siara. "Will she be headed for the Recluse?"

"Any other goal would be unlikely," she agreed. "It would be wise to remember that the Order seeks to aid those in need. They do not involve themselves in political processes or common warfare. Perhaps there are greater forces at work than we have understood."

"The Recluse sends his minions against us," Farhad said, his voice beginning to rise with anger. "Any who seek to aid him are enemies of Svaleta. They will be treated as such."

Siara glanced to Berias, who was working hard to hide his frustration. This was madness, she knew. They had no knowledge of this mage's plans or intentions. A destination was not a determination of guilt. Siara kept her face blank as Farhad paused for a moment, staring at the brick walls, before his face relaxed as he made his decision. "Have your scout continue with this traveller. If she takes him to the Recluse, his orders are to kill him – and Belkai, if she is lending him aid. I will have a military detachment follow them into the Forest. If your scout fails, they will carry out his task."