“Peider and Jaiardun were not old enough to have trained you.”
“No,” said Connovan, “I was trained by strikers.”
“How did a couple of SenGoka become my masters?”
“Jaiardun, I believe, was from Jaharta. Peider was from Galathia. There was a third named Berringish, also from Jaharta. They arrived before the queen even knew she was pregnant. They said they had been sent by a Knight of Mikayal to train you.”
“Me, specifically, or the next Rez?”
“It had to be you,” said Connovan. He glanced at Tieran and grimaced. “There was a time when Bordran considered sending that one. He would have broken before touching a weapon.”
“Hey, now!” said Tieran. “I am not weak just because I am not a heartless killer.” He glanced at Rezkin. “Ah, neither are you, of course.”
Rezkin considered correcting him, but Tieran seemed happy in his belief. He turned to Connovan. “Why were they sent to train me?”
“I do not know. I am not sure they knew. They would have traveled for months to reach Ashai. The fact that the Sen knew of your existence before you were conceived was proof enough for Bordran. You know that the Goka are renowned warriors, nearly the equals of the Soka. He was not about to turn them away. Their assertion about the knight gave Bordran hope that Mikayal favored you. Who wouldn’t want a god on his side?
“Still, Bordran was not yet willing to give up on Caydean. He insisted that if they were to train you, at least one would stay behind to teach Caydean and Thresson. They did not care for the bargain; but, ultimately, they left Berringish to the task. He was furious all the years that I watched him. Eventually, he disappeared. I questioned Peider and Jaiardun, but they insisted he had only joined them after they had received the message from the knight, and they did not know what had happened to him. They were not the easiest men to question, though. They wielded great power, and men who do not fear death tend to fear little.”
Rezkin stared at the king’s assassin of legend. He said, “You still have not said why you came here.”
Connovan sighed. “Caydean sent me away several months ago. It was a pointless mission. I knew even then that he was getting me out of the way for something. I did not know he intended to move against you, though. He must have given the order before you completed your training. He had known about you for maybe a month before the attack. Technically, I was supposed to inform him of your existence upon Bordran’s death, but he never asked about the next Rez in training, so I neglected to mention it. When I was forced to tell, I may have informed him of your planned completion date and omitted the fact that you were years ahead of schedule and far beyond my own training. He sent me away shortly after learning of your existence.
Malcius said, “I still do not understand why you did nothing about Caydean. You said killing the mad king was your job.”
Connovan glanced at Lecillia. He said, “I could not move against Caydean for two reasons. One, I was not his Rez. In order for me to act, he would have to do something blatant, requiring immediate removal from the throne. It is the nature of my oath. Two, he had not done anything overtly damaging to the kingdom. While there were plenty of rumors that he had killed Bordran and is responsible for Thresson’s disappearance, I was not present for those events and have not found evidence to prove it.” He paused and looked at Rezkin. “I may have taken longer to return from my last mission than was strictly necessary. I believe he did kill Bordran, and I did not wish to serve him. By the time I returned, you had completed your training, and Caydean had already tried to have you killed. It was he, I am sure of it; but, again, I have no proof.”
“So he planned to kill me before starting his war, but he only sent you away. How did he intend to prevent you from dethroning him?”
“He found a loophole. You were supposed to be his Rez. By mage oath, he would not be able to kill you—except that you were not fully trained yet, so his oath recognized me as the Rez. That left him free to order your death. If you were dead, I would continue to be the Rez, and I would be oathbound to return to him once I completed my mission. He would be prepared for my arrival. Because of the kingdom’s code of honor, if I decide to dethrone Caydean, he has the right to defend himself. We are no longer protected from each other. I believe he thought he could defeat me. His plan was spoiled, though, when you finished your training early. As soon as you passed the final test, I was released from my oath until you sought me out. I did not return to Caydean, and he failed to kill you. I do not believe he knows that he failed.”
“How so?” Rezkin said.
“You killed everyone. No spy was left to report back to him.” Both of their gazes slid to Farson, who scowled in return. Connovan continued. “Caydean did not know where the fortress was located. The only people remaining who know are in this room. I doubt he will find it. The fortress is not so easy to find for those who do not know where to look.”
“It is enchanted?” Rezkin said.
Connovan shrugged. “It is unclear. As far as I know, no one has discovered any wards, but it is possible they were constructed by the more powerful mages of ancient times. The fortress is old.”
“So you returned from your journey and did not report to Caydean. What then?”
“After discovering what had happened at the fortress, I eventually went to check on Lecillia. He could not override Rule 1, of course, but Bordran’s standing orders with me were to always protect Lecillia and Thresson before any other duty. That was how I found out you had left the fortress. Marcum went to Lecillia because she was the only one who knew how to contact me. He rightfully feared that you were the next Rez, but Marcum knows only the stories that everyone else knows—that the Rez is the king’s assassin. He does not know the Rez’s true purpose or that you and I are members of the royal family.
“Wait,” said Frisha. “Uncle Marcum knew, not only that were you a sword bearer, but also that you were the Rez?” She swallowed, and her gaze became distant. “I need to apologize to him.”
Connovan looked at her with disinterest and then turned back to Rezkin. “I heard of Caydean’s attempt to have Marcum killed and then caught wind of a plan to move against the houses. I helped Marcum and Adelina escape and then spirited Lecillia away. I sent Marcum to the fortress, by the way. Your wards are allowing him and his loyal soldiers to pass. I have no idea how you are doing that.”
Rezkin scowled at the man. Even if he had the power to make wards, he certainly could not make something that extensive and complex, nor could he maintain it from so far.
Connovan said, “Since I am presently free of my oath, I was able to tell Lecillia about you. She wanted to find you, so here we are.” He narrowed his eyes at Farson and said, “We should kill that one. He is the only one to escape the fortress. It is possible he was a spy.”
Rezkin said, “I have considered that and am still debating his fate.”
“He is an unnecessary threat.”
Farson said to Connovan, “You are an unnecessary threat.”
Connovan nodded. “That is true.” He turned to Rezkin. “You should kill me as well.” Waving a hand around the room, he added, “I will kill all of them first, if you want. They know too much and should be eliminated.”
“That would be counterproductive,” said Rezkin. “They are the support force.”
“We will see how loyal they remain now that they know who you really are.”
Rezkin glanced at the frightened and disturbed faces of his friends. “They wish to go home. They know that I am their best chance of achieving that goal. Until their desires change, or they believe they have found another solution, they will remain loyal.”
Malcius leapt to his feet. “How can you say that? You know we are your friends, and we have all sworn fealty. Our loyalty should not so easily be dismissed.”