A Future, Forged

by Aiki Flinthart

  Teya shoved up from the chair, rigid. ‘Yes! I failed, alright. I got scared. His shangwei was there with a gouri sword at my throat!’

  Dallan paused in his pacing. ‘What? Why? Did he suspect you?’

  She flushed pink and turned to the window. Outside, an early winter storm lowered dark clouds over the city. Lightning flickered and thunder growled in the distance, but Dallan suspected she saw none of it.

  ‘No,’ she murmured. ‘I…I think he’s suspicious of everyone. But I froze and missed my chance.’ She glared. ‘But you failed, too. You promised you’d get Perrin out.’

  He groaned. ‘I know. I’m…sorry. Gaisi!’ He scrubbed at his head. ‘Are you willing to try again?’

  ‘Enough, Dallan,’ Neri said, her voice hard. ‘I can’t support this anymore. I have a family and not enough power to stand against Han. We’ve run out of time. He and Jenna will be bound in the hunli ceremony tomorrow and there’s nothing you can do.’

  Dallan tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach. She was his staunchest ally. If she felt this way, then no other juns would support him, either.

  ‘Are you really prepared to let that…wisix hundan legalise slavery?’ He pointed in the Chinshi’s direction. ‘Gaisi, Neri. You haven’t seen what I have. You haven’t seen how the slavemasters in Chengdu treat people…like animals.’

  ‘No.’ Her gaze softened. ‘And I know you have a personal stake in this.’

  He stilled.

  She continued, ‘I had people check into your background a little deeper. I know what that Melcor raiding party did to your family four years ago.’ She glided into the room and touched Dallan’s arm.

  He barely resisted thrusting her away and held himself stiff beneath her touch. At the window, Teya turned, her eyes wide.

  ‘Yes,’ he replied evenly, suppressing a flare of old grief. ‘It’s true they took my daughter in a raid. I went after her…’ He ground his teeth. ‘I got her out but she died in my arms on the trip home. She was twelve.’

  Neri touched his cheek and this time he did jerk away with an oath.

  He strode to the cold fireplace and examined the small steel statue on the mantle. A model of the first ship full of colonists seeking freedom from oppression and war. He glared at Neri.

  ‘And if you think the same sort of thing won’t happen to you because your estate is a long way from the northern border with Melcor, then you’re deluding yourself.’ He jabbed a finger at her. ‘You really think you can introduce a slave-based economy to Mamlakah after five hundred years of freedom and have your people be unaffected? Untouched by the misery that comes with using other humans as forced labour? Not even a high-and-mighty funding-family jun can be that naïve and that entitled? Are you willing to throw away everything our ancestors came here for?’ He brandished the statue at her then set it down with a snap.

  Neri’s jaw muscles worked. ‘What I think, is that you’ve overstepped the line, Dallan. We are done.’ A rumble of thunder cracked close overhead and rain slashed at the window. ‘You may stay this night.’ She surveyed the luxurious room, stopping at the wide window. ‘But not here on the ground floor. Barrod will take you to the third floor guest room and keep watch at the door.’

  ‘But—’

  She cut off Dallan’s protest with a cold glare. ‘And you will go in the morning. I’ll be returning to my estates the day after Han and Jenna’s hunli ceremony celebrations. Assuming Han doesn’t kill me for helping you.’

  Ying whimpered.

  Neri looked down her nose. ‘Luckily, today I was able to buy something I know Han has always coveted: a mated pair of snow-serpents from Jadid.’ She gave a scornful grunt. ‘And I’ll be pleading my case after the consummation hour is done. When Han and Jenna hear cases in the great hall.’

  ‘Hedging your bets, were you?’ Dallan sneered.

  ‘Ying.’ She ignored him. ‘You’ll go to Madina the morning and you…’ she raked Teya with cool hauteur ‘…will go with her. Not that you deserve the privilege of such a position, but we can’t have an untrained xintou running about.’

  ‘I won’t,’ Teya spat.

  ‘Then you can return to the streets.’

  ‘Neri!’ Dallan had to speak out. ‘You can’t send her away. If Han legalises slavery the people in the Migongs will be the first ones—’

  ‘Silence!’ Neri swept to the door. ‘I will be in my chambers, packing. I don’t wish to see any of you before you leave in the morning. I’ll have your dinner sent to your new room. A servant will make a spare bed on the couch for you, Dallan, and Baddon will be stationed outside. Goodbye.’ She sent one last scathing glare over her shoulder. ‘Dallan, I’m disappointed in you. Just be glad I’m not handing you over to Han.’

  Dallan clenched his teeth, not trusting himself not to make things worse. The white rage in his soul burned too hot. He resisted the urge to throw the gouri colony-ship statue at her.

  ‘Shunu Neri?’ Ying ran to her Jun’s side. ‘Please don’t send me back to Madina?’ She tilted her head. ‘The hunli ceremony will be ever so grand and beautiful. I’ve always, always wanted to go to the Jun First’s hunli.’ She cradled Neri’s palm to her cheek, her lower lip sticking out. ‘Please take me with you? I promise to be quiet and good and do anything you say.’

  The hard angles of Neri’s jaw eased. ‘You are a good child, Ying. I’m sorry I dragged you into this. I do know it’s not your fault.’ She patted Ying’s cheek. ‘Very well. If you promise to be good, you can come. We leave for the opening ceremonies at dawn.’ She frowned. ‘Would you prefer to stay in this room for the night? I’m afraid Teya may not be a good influence on you.’

  Ying cast her eyes down. ‘Oh, no, shunu. I might be able to convince her to come to Xintou House, so I should stay with her.’

  With a nod, Neri left the room.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  TEYA

  Barrod and three weishi ushered them wordlessly to the third floor. Teya followed Dallan and Ying, her stomach roiling as she tried to work out what to do. There was no escape. She had no choice, now. Not if she wanted Perrin home alive. Dallan had let her down. She had let them both down.

  She choked on a groan, her chest tight.

  The weishi let them into a much smaller room that smelled faintly of mould. No pictures or decorations softened the straight edges. Covers were still draped over some chairs, dust hung in the air from where the rest had been hastily stripped off by Neri’s servants. The fireplace lay cold and unlit; the bed unmade, linens dumped on the faded grey quilt.

  One window overlooked the back courtyard. Teya yanked aside threadbare curtains and peered out. If her arm was uninjured, she could climb the rough sandstone blocks. But not in her current state. And what good would that do, anyway?

  She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. The door clicked shut behind Baddor and his heavy footsteps stopped outside. His shadow cast an ominous darkness across the gap beneath. Teya checked on Dallan to see how he was taking the Jun’s rejection.

  He sank into a chair, swearing. Dust puffed around him.

  Ying sat, staring at the door. ‘I…I can’t believe she did that. I don’t understand.’

  ‘I don’t understand why you begged her to let you go to the ceremony,’ Teya snarled. ‘Typical xintou. Just looking out for yourself.’ It shouldn’t hurt or surprise her, but it did.

  ‘That’s not fair.’ Ying glowered. ‘I did it so I can be there, tomorrow, for you. Otherwise she would have sent me away with the first caravan to Madina and I’d never know what happened to you. I couldn’t bear it.’

  Speechless, Teya gaped at the girl. She’d given up the chance to get to safety? Why?

  ‘What I don’t understand,’ Ying said to Dallan, ‘is why she gave up on you like that, shenshi?’

  Dallan’s smile turned weary. ‘Didn’t you hear her? She has family.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘My weishi said she received a message from the Chinshi while we were out.’

>   Teya stifled a groan, knowing what must come next.

  He nodded. ‘It’s no secret I’m staying here. I’m guessing Han threatened her children.’ His mouth twisted. ‘He would do the same to me if he could find my hunlinna and son. But I took them somewhere safe before I came.’ The weight of sorrow and regret dragged at his expression, adding years. ‘But I handled that badly by alienating Neri.’

  ‘I didn’t know about your daughter,’ Ying said, tears pooling on her lids. ‘I’m sorry.’

  Teya said nothing, a band tightening around her voice.

  Dallan waved Ying’s sympathy away. ‘What about you? I’m a first-family rebel with no support. You’re risking your whole future if you keep helping me.’

  ‘Keep helping?’ Teya said. ‘You’re not going to stop?’ Heat rushed to her cheeks. Why the diyu wouldn’t the man quit? If he left Asalam now then surely Han wouldn’t insist on his death? Then she could find her own way to get Perrin out, even if it took a little longer.

  Dallan’s expression darkened. ‘I lost one child to slavers. I don’t want anyone in Mamlakah to go through what I went through.’ He swore. ‘And, believe me, we don’t want Han Gray-Saud on the First’s throne. He is…broken.’

  ‘What does that mean?’ Ying asked.

  ‘He’s…he likes to have power over people,’ he said, bitterness roughening his words. ‘Enjoys making them do things they hate. Manipulating. Coercing. Bribing. Blackmailing. He likes playing with people’s heads. His father was the same.’

  Teya looked away.

  ‘But why does Mistress Shana let him do it?’ Ying wailed. ‘She’s Xintou. She’s supposed to make sure her Bonded Jun is good. And why would anyone do such awful things to other people? I can’t believe she knows about this.’

  ‘Because he’s out for himself,’ Dallan said. ‘All he’s ever cared about is his needs and his desires. He’s capable of recognising other people’s needs. He has to be in order to manipulate them so well. But his always come first in the long run.’

  ‘And Shana is the same,’ Teya said. ‘She…I heard her offer to break someone’s wards. Said they would do anything he liked when she was finished.’

  ‘Gouri,’ Dallan muttered.

  ‘We have to stop him. I’ll help,’ Ying said. ‘But I’m not sure what I can do, now. With Mistress Rua away and Jenna’s Xintou sick, there’s no-one to stop Shenshi Han and Mistress Shana, even if I sent a message to Xintou House in Madina and told the Mistresses what was happening. Besides, I’m only thirteen. They probably wouldn’t believe me, anyway.’

  Both of them turned to Teya and she shrank further into the corner. A knock on the door interrupted. Relief frissoned through her stomach. A servant entered bearing a tray holding three bowls of miso soup and a half-loaf of crusty dark bread. Another arrived carrying plates and more food.

  They hurried away and the lock clicked shut.

  Dallan gave a wry laugh. ‘At least she’s not starving us, even if we are prisoners for the night.’ He gestured. ‘Eat, you two. I’ll be back in a minute.’ He disappeared into the bathroom.

  Ying fussed over cutlery and place settings on the low table. Teya touched the phial in her pocket.

  It would be so easy.

  She quashed a flutter in her belly and sauntered over to the table. What choice did she have, now?

  ‘Let me help.’ She picked up a bowl of soup, passing one hand deftly over the top as she slid it into place before the chair Dallan had last occupied. Then she sat at the opposite end of the tiny table, her knees weak and heart racing.

  She patted the seat next to her. ‘Sit here, Ying. At least we’ll have one last evening together.’ Hopefully the words didn’t sound as stilted as they felt.

  A sunny smile lit Ying’s round face. ‘But you will come with me to Xintou House, won’t you? After the ceremony tomorrow? I’m sure we can work out some way to help Perrin. And you heard Shenshi Johnston. He won’t quit.’

  Teya uttered a non-committal grunt. She spooned a mouthful of the richly-flavoured, salty soup and swallowed though it tasted sourly of guilt and betrayal.

  Dallan returned, sat, and gathered his spoon.

  Teya watched him from beneath her lashes, no longer tasting the food even as it scalded her palate.

  He dipped the spoon twice and let the yellowish liquid dribble into the bowl. ‘I’m not particularly hungry.’

  Teya fought the urge to yell at him. Or to throw up. Her own hunger vanished and she stared blankly at the food. Perrin. This was the only way to save him. The thought of her cheeky, indomitable brother enslaved—used by Han—was enough. Had to be enough.

  ‘You should eat, shenshi,’ she said, sipping again at her broth. ‘Then we can plan what to do next to stop Han.’

  ‘You’ll still help? I know it’s a long shot, Tey.’ He smiled understandingly. ‘And I know you’re scared for Perrin. I’m afraid for him, too. And for my own son. And the children in the Migongs and other poor areas. They’re all at risk if Han succeeds in this. But with your gift and a little luck, I think we can do it.’

  He dipped his spoon and lifted it.

  ‘Don’t!’ Teya smacked the utensil from his hand and threw the bowl onto the floor. The delicate grey and white ceramic shattered into three pieces and sprayed hot soup and bits of tofu and vegetable across the timber. She stood over the table, shaking, snatching for air that seemed too thin.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  TEYA

  Dallan stared at Teya, his mouth still open. She waited for him to strike her, to yell, to call for Barrod.

  ‘What made you change your mind?’ he finally said, brushing soup off his skin.

  She collapsed onto her chair. ‘You knew?’

  ‘Suspected.’

  ‘I don’t understand!’ Ying complained.

  Teya produced the blue phial and set it on the table. It fell over and rolled toward the edge.

  Dallan snatched it and sniffed at the opening. ‘Gu-spider venom? Yes, poisoning is very much Han’s style.’

  Ying whimpered and shoved her soup away.

  He studied the broken bowl and the liquid spread across the floor. ‘He found out about Perrin and who you are, I assume?’ He placed the phial on the table.

  Teya nodded, unable to speak. What had she done? Had she just condemned her brother to a life of unspeakable torment?

  ‘Han offered to free Perrin if you killed me,’ Dallan said. ‘Tell me?’

  ‘I wasn’t ready,’ Teya whispered. ‘When I got to his room I panicked because his shangwei was there and I thought he must recognise me from last night. So I didn’t get an illusion ready fast enough. Then I lost the chance to break Han’s wards because I…couldn’t think straight.’ She shivered. ‘I don’t know what was wrong with me! Why couldn’t I do it?’

  ‘It’s ok,’ Dallan said. ‘It’s normal to be flustered and make mistakes under that sort of pressure. If we’d had time to practice…’ He waved that aside. ‘Nevermind. Keep going.’

  She steadied herself and repeated everything Han had said and done, including her mother’s appearance and the Xintou, Shana’s involvement.

  ‘He took your dagger. And now…’ she trailed off, indicating the broken bowl. ‘Now he’ll do horrible things to Perrin and it’s my fault!’ She held tears in by sheer force of will. She would not cry. Only children cried.

  Ying’s plump arms went around her. The girl buried her face in Teya’s neck and cried for her, warm tears sliding down Teya’s cold skin.

  Dallan shifted closer and stroked Teya’s hair. ‘Hey. It’s alright. I’m a zift for putting you in such a position in the first place.’ He smiled faintly. ‘But thank you for not killing me.’

  She chewed her lip, still uncertain she’d made the right choice. ‘But what do we do, now? If you’re not dead, how will I get Perrin? We have no-one to help and one day to stop Han.’

  He sat back. ‘Actually, you may have given me a good idea. Han did say he wanted to hear
the Messenger House runners cry my death over the city, right?’

  Teya groaned. ‘Please tell me you’re not going to pretend to be a dead body and somehow use that to get into the Chinshi. Because he’s not that stupid.’

  Laughing, Dallan shook his head. ‘There would be no reason for the body of a Johnston to be taken to the Chinshi. I’d be shipped to my estates and that’s no help. But let’s give him the satisfaction of hearing I’m dead.’

  ‘How will that help? You can’t go into hiding forever.’

  He scratched at the two-day growth on his jaw. ‘No. But once Han thinks I’m dead he may not be so cautious. We’ll find a way in. And Ying will already be inside, in Neri’s entourage.’

  ‘Don’t ask me to cast illusions,’ Teya said miserably. ‘I’d let you down again.’

  He patted her wrist and took his seat again. ‘You won’t.’

  ‘Can’t we…’ Ying rubbed at her cheeks and sniffed ‘…talk to the Law Mistresses? If we explain they’ll get Perrin out.’

  Dallan’s expression hardened. ‘Don’t be naïve, Ying. Shana is the head Law Mistress here in Asalam. The other three in Asalam defer to her rulings. I assume, since they haven’t reported her to Mistress Rua of Xintou House, either Han has something over them, or Shana does. Either way, they can’t be trusted.’

  Ying blanched. ‘But they’re xintou. How could so many of them betray everything the House stands for? It doesn’t make sense! I don’t believe it.’

  Frowning, Dallan ran his hand over his hair. ‘You could be right. I’ve never heard of so many xintou turning against their House at one time, in one city. What are Shana’s gifts, do you know?’

  Ying shook her head. ‘But only the strongest xintou are Bonded to juns. She’ll be telepathic. Probably have empathy and maybe the ability to broadcast her thoughts and feelings to many people at once—though that’s rarer. I don’t think she has foreseeing, or she would have seen Teya’s coming today before it happened.’