“What…what are you doing here?” She started to take in more of her surroundings, the dim tent interior, the cot she lay on. She was covered in layers of blankets and it was then she realized she was very naked beneath the covers, except for bandages on her knees and elbows. She blushed and it made her head pound all the more.
“We came to rescue Lady Estora,” Willis said. “We found you and Rider Spencer instead.”
“Immerez—” Karigan said.
“He is under restraint,” Willis replied. “He will be questioned.”
“Tombs! Grandmother wanted the tombs beneath the castle emptied.”
“Grandmother? We haven’t seen any grandmothers here,” Ty said. “And what would anyone want with all those corpses?”
“Not the corpses,” Karigan said. “Emptied of Weapons.”
Both men fell silent and gazed at one another.
“The tomb Weapons are guarding the king while the rest of us are here,” Willis said in a quiet voice. “The tombs are essentially empty of Weapons but for a minimum contingent.”
“Why would this Grandmother want such a thing?” Ty asked.
“She’s Second Empire,” Karigan replied.
Silence again.
“Karigan,” Willis said, “you will have to tell us everything you know, both about Lady Estora and what Second Empire is up to.”
“First,” Ty said, “let her have this. Sit up carefully, Karigan.”
The banging in her head intensified as she did so. When she was securely propped up, Ty passed her a warm mug of broth and a hunk of bread to dip in it. The broth was heartening, and she hadn’t realized how famished she was until it was all gone. Ty fetched her another mugful and more bread, and as she finished this serving, someone else entered the tent. He stepped right up to the side of her cot beside Willis. His jaw was covered with stubble and he wore a shabby cloak. A lock of black hair fell over one of his eyes and through it he stared hard at her.
“Who’s this?” Karigan asked Willis.
“Lord Amberhill,” he replied. “He was in Lady Estora’s party when it was attacked, and tracked her all this way. He’s the one who found you and Beryl.”
“Tripped over you,” the man said.
“Oh.” What else could Karigan say?
“How did you do it?” Lord Amberhill demanded, still gazing intensely at her. “How did you assume Lady Estora’s place? I followed her all the way to the crossroads, but then she became you.”
“Stand down, my lord,” Willis said. “Karigan was about to tell us everything, but she’s only just awakened.”
“Tea?” Ty asked her.
Karigan started to nod, but regretted it for the pain. “Yes, please,” she said.
Ty left and the tent remained in uneasy silence until he returned. While the tea cooled, Karigan recounted everything from her stop in Mirwellton to the point where Lord Amberhill tripped over her. She did not, in the presence of this unknown man, speak of her fading ability. She figured Ty and Willis guessed at her using it.
“You do not know where the lady is now?” Willis asked.
“No. All I know is that she and Fergal are heading east to Sacor City as secretly as possible. Lady Estora is riding under the name of Rider Esther.”
Willis placed his hand on her shoulder. “You are truly a sister-at-arms. You’ve done well.”
“Th–thank you,” Karigan said at the unexpected praise.
“I am now going to order half a dozen Weapons to search after them,” Willis said, and he left the tent.
“Beryl is anxious to question Immerez herself,” Ty said, “and once she finishes, Osric or I will ride east, as well, with the news.”
“Osric? How many of you are here?”
“Two Riders and a phalanx of Weapons. There wasn’t much of a battle,” Ty reflected. “Immerez’s men, those still alive, were quickly rounded up.”
Karigan could only imagine the scene of all those angry Weapons swarming the summit. It would have been terrifying.
“What is Second Empire?” Lord Amberhill asked.
“Descendants of Arcosians who came to this land with Mornhavon the Black,” Ty explained. “Through all these centuries, they have retained a secret society with the dream of eventually restoring the empire to power.”
“Madness,” Lord Amberhill said.
“That’s usually what it takes,” Ty replied.
Karigan sipped at her tea, her eyelids sagging, the weight of exhaustion settling back down upon her.
“I’m going to fetch some more linens to redress your head wound,” Ty said, “and a fresh poultice. I did a good job if I do say so myself, though, uh, I had to cut some of your hair. I’m afraid it will look odd for a while.”
Karigan was sure Ty’s stitching was very fine, and she was equally sure that beneath the bandage, her head looked terrible. It would be a while before she had any desire to look in a mirror.
Lord Amberhill cleared his throat and she jolted, spattering tea on her blankets. She’d forgotten he was there.
“There is more to your story,” he said. “I tripped over nothing.”
Karigan did not feel like speaking to this man. She was tired and did not possess the energy to fence around her special ability. “It was dark.”
“I know what I saw. Or didn’t see. I have excellent night vision.”