by Andrea Ring
“Do you intuitively know what your opponent’s next move will be?”
“He does,” Manoj says. “He says he’s learned to read their bodies. But I’ve spent as much time on the practice field as he has, and I don’t have that skill.”
“You are doing magic, Faaris,” I say, “and you don’t even realize it. Perhaps you are a mind reader.”
Faaris scoffs. “If that were the case, I would have a wife by now.”
We all laugh.
“Maybe you can see a bit of the future. Like two seconds ahead of time. I think Nilaruna is stirring.” All the men turn their heads in her direction. Without pausing, I change my hand into a claw and swipe at Faaris’s chest. He scrambles back at the last second and I miss.
Both Kai and Manoj draw their knives and round on me.
“Stay back!” Kai yells.
I chuckle. “I was just proving a point. Faaris wasn’t even looking at me, and yet he knew to react. That’s not skill. It’s magic.”
Faaris’s eyes grow round with awe. “What else can I do?”
I laugh. “I have no idea. But it would behoove you to figure it out. Someone has killed my last twenty-two Go-Betweens with magic. Our enemies know themselves far better than you know yourselves. You need to figure it out.”
Kai sheathes his knife and pours himself more wine. “If this is true…if it’s all true, the untouchables are the ones who suppressed the use of magic. How did they gain such power?”
“They have always had great power,” I say. “They are the largest caste in the kingdom. But those above them have always ignored them. They’ve been able to accomplish much behind your backs.”
“But how?” Manoj says. “No one listens to untouchables.”
We hear Nili wake and pad along the cave to my cushion. She settles herself in front of me and presses her back to my front. I kiss the top of her head.
“Imagine this,” she says. “You perform a bit of magic, say, you start a fire by pointing your finger at a log. An untouchable sees you and gives you a look of disgust. You don’t care, you’re not even supposed to look at untouchables, but you caught the meaning anyway. How dare an untouchable look at you like that! But it sticks with you. No one wants to do something that would disgust one of the disgusting.
“And then imagine you have untouchable servants. You don’t really interact with them, but they start to shun magic. They refuse to light a fire so easily. They start cooking rather than transforming food. Eventually, these are the ways things are done. You’ve never done these tasks yourself anyway. So the next generation doesn’t even remember they were once done with magic.”
“The untouchables wouldn’t do that,” Manoj says. “Magic is power. Why give up more power?”
“Who says they’ve given it up?” Nili asks. “It is a simple thing to shun magic in public and tend it in private.”
“Is that what your family did, Nili?” Kai asks.
She shakes her head. “My family is not of the untouchable caste,” she says. “I’ve only been an untouchable since I was scarred. My family very much believes that magic is evil.”
“The priests are the ones who are so adamant about that,” Faaris says. “Why would the priesthood align with the untouchables?”
I stroke Nili’s scarred cheek. “Because every single person, no matter their station, is one of the gods’ creatures,” I say.
Manoj snorts. “But the priests are not untouchables. In fact, they are above nobles. Why give up that power?”
“Can’t a person just want to do what’s right in the world?” Nili asks.
Manoj shakes his head. “You have taught me many things, Nilaruna, but politics is what I know. And men, no matter what their station, will kill for power.”
XXX. SAPHALA
I acted a mess, and this worked to my benefit.
When Haady’s rowing slowed, and I could tell his arms ached, I offered to take a turn.
“Why not?” he said. “This is your party, after all. Seems fitting you do some of the work.”
So he handed me the oars, and as soon as he began to doze, I hit him as hard as I could in the head and dumped him overboard. Goodbye, sweet Haady.
The moonlight is thin, but I know where I’m going. I’ve always had an excellent sense of direction. And I’ve studied maps of the area every night for weeks.
I row until I cannot possibly row anymore. I’m well within the area my father needs to reach. Now the idiot just has to find me.
I must prepare myself.
I think of the saddest thing that has ever happened to me. Haady’s news? No, I don’t believe him, and even so, it just makes me angry to think on it. Mother’s passing? I barely knew her. I was but a child.
There was a fire once. One of my closest friends nearly burned to death, and her brother died. That was sad. Nilaruna was actually quite nice to me. I was an untouchable, and her family was one of the most respected in the village, and still, she befriended me. I was not allowed to see her after the fire.
Yes, that was sad. I lost a friend.
I will the tears to come. I will them to turn into sobs.
If I were a typical girl, what would I be feeling in this moment? Terror, most likely. The sea can be dangerous. And it’s quite dark out. I would feel lost, scared, hungry, anxious…
I cry out. Sobs wrack my body.
Surely Father is close.
I wrap my arms around my middle and pray to be rescued.
XXXI. NILARUNA
Faaris cannot let the idea of his magic go. He insists that Maja take him outside so he can try to light things on fire.
Graciously, Maja goes with him. I think he just doesn’t want his mountain burned to the ground.
“Nili, can I ask you a question?” Kai says.
“Of course.”
“How were you burned?”
I shiver with the memory of it. “I was fourteen, and my brother had just turned sixteen. He loved a girl, and he asked for her hand, but she turned him down. I don’t know why, my brother was not that forthcoming with me, but it hurt his pride. He vowed to find a way to make her accept him.
“One day, I caught him practicing magic. Thought he could impress her with it, I suppose. He was staring at the fireplace and igniting the wood with his mind. I was captivated. I watched him for almost an hour, lighting the fire and putting it out again, until I made a sound and he turned. He…”
“Dear gods, Nili,” Kai says. “He didn’t.”
“He didn’t mean to,” I say quietly. “He was simply in the middle of starting the fire when he noticed me. He set my clothes aflame.
“He immediately panicked. While I hopped around like a lunatic, he set several other fires around our home. Rags burst into flame. Our woodpile began to smolder. And Peter, he finally got his wits about him and tackled me, rolling us on the ground to try to smother the fire. I swear, one fire was put out, and another started. He rolled us right into the woodpile, and the burning logs fell upon us. It was an entire wall of wood. We’d just stocked up for the winter.
“Neither of us could move. He was pinned on top of me. My exposed half burned right along with him.”
“Oh, Nili,” Kai says, grabbing my hand. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’m surprised you don’t see magic as evil, after that,” Manoj says.
I sigh. “I did. I think I really did. But Maja has explained it to me. Peter was merely untaught. We all have this power, and if only we’d learn to use it, such tragedies wouldn’t occur. How can I blame my brother for exercising his natural talents?”
“That’s…such a magnanimous view, I cannot believe it was spoken by a human being,” Manoj says.
“Peter died trying to save me,” I say. “I wouldn’t be human if I couldn’t be magnanimous about that.”
***
“Does everyone know how the fire started?” Kai asks.
I shake my head. “I’ve told no one but you. I did not wish to disparage my brother
’s memory.”
“I wonder about the girl,” Manoj says. “Did she regret your brother’s death?”
“I have no idea,” I say. “I never knew who she was. My brother only said that she was from a different caste. I assumed she was a noble or some such.”
“But he wouldn’t dare try to impress a noble with magic,” Manoj says. “He would have been burned at the stake for wizardry.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You think he was trying to impress an untouchable. That the untouchables of Dabani are tending their magic.”
Manoj nods. “That’s exactly what I’m thinking. But if your family is not of the untouchable caste, you would have had no interaction with them.”
“My family was different,” I say. “My father is the greatest healer in the village. He would heal anyone, no matter their station.”
“And you knew these people?” Manoj says. “Were you friends with any of them?”
“Several,” I say. “My friend Lalan, and dear Saphala…oh my heavens, Saphala! What time is it?” I jump to my feet.
“We cannot tell the time without looking at the moon,” Manoj says. “But Nili, I believe circumstances have changed. It would be unwise to risk ourselves to help your friend. We have greater duties.”
“But she’s my friend!” I plead. “I promised I would try to save her. If you won’t help, I don’t need you. I will get Maja.”
Maja, please come quickly. I need your help.
Kai rises to his feet. “Your friend is one of ours,” he says, glaring at Manoj. “We will help.”
Manoj sighs.
Maja and Faaris come running into the cave, swords drawn. “What is it?” Maja says.
I explain to him about Saphala, and he doesn’t hesitate. “It is nearing midnight. I will travel to the boat where Saphala is supposed to be, and I will assess the situation. If I think she can be exchanged safely, I will allow someone to go.”
I bite my lip. “What if it’s not safe? Will you be able to rescue her?”
“No,” he says. “I cannot. But anything in my power, I will do.”
Maja hugs me, and I kiss him softly. “Return safe.”
“Always.”
And Maja pops out.
XXXII. PRINCE KAI
I look away when Maja and Nili kiss.
It’s not that I want to be the one kissing her, I mean, not really, I barely know her, and she’s not, well…
It’s just a bit unsettling, is all. My future wife kissing another man. No man would suffer that gladly.
Because it has been decided. Nilaruna Nandal will be my wife. I am betrothed.
To a woman who loves another.
We’ve agreed to discuss the particulars later. But what do they matter? Either I remain celibate, or I make love to a woman who is dreaming of another man. Neither option is appealing.
I must not think of these things! My personal suffering means nothing. I must focus on raising the stature of our lowest caste while at the same time avoiding a backlash from the rest of my people.
Our time is short, and yet here I am, drinking wine with friends and trying to save the life of one untouchable.
Father always said my priorities were screwed up.
***
Maja comes back quickly.
“She is alone in a rowboat, about two leagues from the shores of Dabani,” he says. “Apparently, she somehow subdued her captor and pushed him overboard. She’s scared and desperate for her father.”
Nili takes his hand. “There is no danger, then?”
“None,” he says with a smile. “Any one of us could row out to get her.”
“I got this,” Faaris says, cracking his knuckles. “I can see in the dark like a bat. That’s probably magic, too.”
“Probably,” Maja says with a chuckle.
“Watch this, guys,” Faaris says, and he conjures a ball of fire in his hands. “Amazing, no?”
Manoj gasps. “You learned to do that just now?”
“Yep.” He extinguishes the fire and holds out his hands. There’s not a mark on them. “I guess I’ll go, then.”
“Maja,” I say, “will Faaris run into any problems on this journey? Can you see?”
Maja smiles. “All will be well. He is safe, Prince Kai.”
“All the same, I would feel better if Manoj went along. Two pairs of eyes are better than one.”
Manoj hangs his head. “I have no say in this, do I?”
“None,” I say.
I shake their hands. Nili hugs Faaris fiercely and wishes him godspeed. But Manoj, she bestows him with a kiss.
“Dear Manoj, you are a hero,” she says. “Hurry back to us.”
He blushes. “Indeed, we will.”
***
It is now just the three of us. We stand there awkwardly.
“I would suggest sleep, but I doubt any of us will be sleeping while the others are away,” Nili says.
“Nili, I need you to give us some time alone,” Maja says.
She looks like she wants to protest, but she bows her head. “As you wish. I will go for a walk.”
I sense they are communicating again, but there’s nothing to be done about it.
“Let us have a seat,” Maja says. “I think I’ve had enough wine. Would you like tea?”
I lower myself to a cushion and nod. A cup of steaming tea appears on the floor before me. “Thank you.”
Maja sips his tea and sighs. “I want to hate you,” he says. “It would make this so much easier.”
“And I, you,” I agree.
He shakes his head. “I found something disturbing earlier today. Did you know we have a small thunder of dragons in these mountains?”
I raise an eyebrow. “I didn’t know that.”
“They haven’t conceived in centuries, but this spring, two of the females gave birth. You can imagine how protective they’ve been of their young. And yet I found the nestlings alone today, abandoned. The rest of the thunder is gone.”
“What do you think happened?” I ask.
“I also found a spell laid on the mouth of the cave, a powerful spell to keep the nestlings safe within. It had the smell of the dragons, so I’m sure they laid it, but it was tainted.”
“Tainted how?”
“It felt coerced,” he says. “I do not believe the dragons laid it of their own free will. Someone has gotten to them.”
“With what purpose?” I ask. “Someone kidnapped the dragons?”
“I believe they are enthralled, so yes, kidnapped in a sense,” Maja says. “It occurred to me that anyone wanting to cross the Fangs needs do so either by boat, the long way, or through the pass, which I can detect and which would be painfully slow for many. It would be much faster—”
“To fly,” I say.
Maja nods.
“How many dragons are missing?” I ask.
“Twelve.”
“And how many men can they carry?”
“At least twenty each,” he says.
“Well, that’s not exactly an army,” I say.
“It would be if they were all magic users,” he says. Indeed. “I removed the nestlings from their home and placed them in another cave. No one will find them. But I will be keeping an eye on the air.”
“Can you not see the future?” I ask.
Maja shakes his head. “Only with people I’ve met, and even that’s not clear. Tomorrow I will start visiting the other provinces and trying to figure out where an attack might come from. I’m hoping my powers grow, but right now, my knowledge is limited.”
“Thank you,” I say, “for keeping the kingdom safe.”
“I do not do this for the kingdom,” he says. “My only mission in life is to keep Nilaruna safe. Do not thank me.”
“I will certainly thank you for that,” I say. “She’s remarkable.”
Maja fingers the rim of his teacup and sighs. “I hope you truly believe that, Kai. Because what I’m about to do…I’m counting on you believing that.
”
“I do.”
He wills his teacup away and stands, pacing before me. “I am going to break it off with Nili completely. I will have no further contact with her after this night. Except, I will be keeping watch.”
“You do not need to do that,” I say. “Nilaruna is sacrificing much for me, and whether I like it or not, you two deserve to be together. I can…I can deal with it.”
“But Nili cannot,” he says. He flops back down on his cushion. “I know her, every part of her. She loves me, yes, but to be married to another…she will want to love you. A wife should love her husband. I would be keeping her from her heart’s desire.”
My own heart speeds to hear this, but I temper it. “Her heart’s desire is you, Maja.”
“But she cannot have me. Not in the way she wants. I will not divide her loyalties. She deserves to have a real chance. Don’t you think?”
I don’t say anything.
“So my question to you is this: can you love her? Can you find it in you to see past her scars? Can you put her before all others and love her like…like…”
“Like you do?” I say.
A tear slips down Maja’s cheek. He nods.
“I can but try,” I say, my eyes on his.
He conjures a pillow and blanket and throws them at me.
“Then you can sleep outside. This is my last night with her. You will give me this one last night.”
I grip the bedding and stand. “As you will.”
XXXIII. MAJA
“Are you going to tell me of your conversation?” Nili asks.
“No.”
She frowns, and I smile. “No sadness. No pouting. Not tonight. I have you to myself.”
Nili puts her arms around my neck and purrs. “This is just the beginning. We have all the time in the world.”
I don’t reply.
I start by stripping the clothes from her body. Then I worship her, every part.
It’s a perfect memory.
“Maja,” she says, as we lie spent and damp in each other’s arms. “Can you do something for me?”
“Anything.”
“Make me the most beautiful woman in the world. I want my outside to match how I feel in this moment on the inside.”
