The Shattered Land

CHAPTER 5

Pierce kept an arrow on the string as he followed Lakashtai down the hallway. He’d met this woman once before, but the circumstances had been unusual. The war had been a simpler time, when friends and enemies were clearly defined. Lakashtai-he didn’t know where she belonged.

They made their way down the stairs and into the common room in silence. Lei was nowhere to be seen, and Pierce concluded that she had returned to the cellar workshop. At the door, Lakashtai turned to look at him.

“Are you going to ask your question, or shall I go?” She wore her usual ghostly smile, eyes hidden in the shadows of the hood.

“What question would that be?”

“Why I’m here. Why I’d try to kill Daine or offer to help him. Why you should trust me.”

“Why ask, if I will not believe the answers?”

She laughed. “I see this city has already made its mark on you, Pierce. Very well, but whatever you choose to think about me-I believe that Daine needs you. I hope you will join us.”

“That is his choice.”

“No. You choose your own path, but I think you already know that, don’t you?”

Smiling, she opened the door and walked out into the street. Pierce watched her disappear into the crowd, then slowly released the bowstring and shut the door.

Daine was stuffing some clothing in a backpack when Pierce returned. “I will be traveling with you to Xen’drik, and I believe that you owe Lei an apology.”

“No, and not likely.”

“Why?”

Daine looked up from his work. A year ago, Pierce never would have questioned an order. He was warforged, and Daine was his commander; it was in his nature to obey the chain of command. There was no time for debate on the battlefield.

“Why do you not want our company?” Pierce said.

“I told Lei. This is going to be dangerous. I don’t have any choice here, but there’s no reason for you to take the chance.”

“When we had escaped the battle at Keldan Ridge, you led us back into Cyre. We could have started the journey toward Sharn immediately, but you chose to take us back through the mists. Why?”

“I thought there’d be survivors.”

“You placed our lives at risk then: why won’t you do it now?”

“Do you think I’m proud of that decision?” Daine slammed his hand down on the chain byrnie spread across the table. “I went looking for survivors, and what came of it? Another four people lost their lives, soldiers who went into that horror on my orders. I brought us to Sharn, and Jode … “He took a deep breath. “No one else is going to die for me.”

“So you intend to die instead?”

Daine turned back to the clothes. “I’m dying anyway. I doubt there’s anything that woman can do about it. At least you won’t have to watch.”

“Your chances of survival will be increased if I am by your side, and we will both be safer if Lei accompanies us. The last year alone has shown this to be true.”

“This isn’t a discussion. It’s an order.”

There it was again. Part of Pierce wanted to nod, to walk out of the room and leave Daine to his work. His commander had made a decision, but now … “No, it’s not.”

“What?” Daine looked up, exasperated.

“It is not an order, because I am not a soldier. I believe that I am a friend, and that makes us equals.”

“Pierce-”

“Am I mistaken? Are we your friends, or are we simple soldiers?”

Daine closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. “Pierce … of course you’re my friends. You’re the only friends I have left.”

“And if it were Lei? If Lei said that she planned to return to Cyre in the company of a dangerous stranger-you would let her leave us behind?”

“Lei never was a soldier. She’d need our help.”

A memory emerged-Lei fighting a minotaur with her bare hands, while Pierce and Daine stood and watched, but Pierce already knew what tactics were required to win this battle. “If she ordered you?”

“She can’t give me orders. She’s …”

“Your friend?”

Daine shook his head, striking the table again. “Flame, Pierce! Why can’t you just let this go?”

Pierce stepped forward and put his hand on Daine’s shoulder. Daine froze-Pierce had never made such a gesture before. Pierce looked down at him. “Because I will not let you go, any more than you would leave Lei. This is our choice-not yours. I will not stand by and watch you die.”

Moments passed, as Daine and Pierce stood in silence. Finally Daine nodded. “I guess I’d better go down and talk to Lei.”

“I will accompany you.”

“Oh, I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“I told you-I will not stand by and watch you die.”

Daine looked up at his friend, and a smile slowly spread across his face.