by Peter Newman
The Sky-legs they walked on seemed to have a life of their own, like beasts straining at the leash, and the Deathless almost tottered in their efforts not to run Win down.
He didn’t recognize the man, but the woman he knew instantly.
The one with golden lips is here! He mouthed her name: Lady Pari Tanzanite. This was both exciting and worrying. She was yet another of Rochant’s enemies. But she had saved his life from the Red Brothers, and he had taken her safely out of the Wild. That made them nearly friends.
Why is it always so messy? Why can’t my friends be friends with each other too?
The two Deathless were met by a group of people in similar colours and he could see orders were being given.
Sa-at stepped out of his hiding place and was about to wander over when Win caught sight of him and hurried to intercept. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I was going to ask the people some questions but they didn’t look very happy and—’
‘Not now,’ Win hissed. ‘Just stay out of sight.’
‘What are you going to do?’
He staggered slightly as if struck by a strong breeze and stopped to lean against the wall. ‘I don’t know. This is too much for me. I never knew being a seneschal would be so difficult!’
Sa-at nodded. It’s hard for everyone here, he thought. Because of all the people. People make things hard. Lots of people make things really hard.
Win started to mutter under his breath. Sa-at found it hard to hear but he wasn’t sure Win was actually directing the words at him. ‘If I interfere with them, I’ll be drawn up before the High Lords, but if I don’t Lord Rochant will have me cast out! He says they aren’t to be trusted but how can that be? And how can I obey him when he has ordered he is not to be disturbed? It’s impossible! My task is impossible!’
Sa-at wondered if he were about to cry again. ‘Would you like a hug?’
‘A what? No! Just leave me alone. I need to think.’
Win pushed off from the wall and rushed, unsteady, into the castle. Sa-at wondered what to do. Win had told him to stay out of sight, but he hadn’t told him not to go near the lady with the golden lips.
So long as she doesn’t see me, I can go and see her.
He crept forward, using the crowd as cover, stalking them as he might a potential meal in the Wild. The Tanzanite staff were hurriedly preparing a carriage while the two Deathless spoke easily with one another. He couldn’t hear what they were saying but he caught the sound of their laughter.
There wasn’t much cover between him and them, but if he stayed where he was, he’d never know what they were laughing about or what their plans were. In that moment, Sa-at wanted to know very much. Moving around so he could approach from behind them, he edged forward.
As long as they don’t turn round, they won’t know I’m there.
‘You’re right,’ said the Deathless man. ‘It is like that time with the Hedgekin. Except that, as I recall, you got impatient and scared it away.’
‘That’s an interesting piece of fiction, my dear. If I remember rightly, what happened was …’ she leaned forward and lowered her voice.
The man chuckled. ‘Oh yes, I’d forgotten about that.’
Forgotten about what? Sa-at kept low and crept closer, using the two armoured figures to shield him from the view of their staff.
‘Yes,’ continued the lady with the golden lips. ‘I thought the Hedgekin was cute but I had no interest in hunting it. I was after something else entirely.’
‘What was it again?’
‘Oh Arkav, you really don’t remember? It was a crafty little thing but not especially bright. It actually thought it was hunting us that day.’
‘I remember now. It was quite small, wasn’t it?’
‘Yes. Small and rather out of its depth.’
‘What did we do with it in the end? Did we eat it?’
‘As I recall, we toyed with it a little first and then we caught it.’ They both turned and loomed over Sa-at. ‘Rather like this.’
There was a pause.
‘Hello,’ he said.
She frowned. ‘You seem familiar. Have we met before?’
‘Yes, you helped me once and I helped you. That makes us nearly friends.’
The two Deathless exchanged a look. ‘Does it now?’ asked the woman.
‘I hope so.’
She gave him a half smile. ‘What’s your name?’
‘Sa-at.’
‘Well, Sa-at. I am Lady Pari Tanzanite and this is my brother, Lord Arkav. We’d very much like to know why you were spying on us.’
‘I wanted to know why you were here.’
‘That’s public knowledge.’
‘Not to me.’
Pari looked at him more closely. ‘Yes, we have met before. But not here.’ Her eyes widened. ‘It was in the Wild.’
He nodded. ‘You fought the Red Brothers and saved me.’
‘And it was you that took me back to the Godroad afterwards.’
‘Yes!’ He grinned. ‘That was me.’
Arkav studied him for a long moment. There was an openness in his gaze coupled with an intensity that Sa-at found unnerving. It was like being stared at by Crowflies or Murderkind. ‘You’re a long way from the Wild, Sa-at.’
‘Brother dear, don’t you think he’s the exact replica of the body Lord Rochant has just been reborn into? They could be twins.’
‘No,’ replied Arkav. This close, Sa-at could see a dark line that marred the light of his chest plate. ‘They’re nothing alike.’
Sa-at wasn’t sure what to do. He was talking to Rochant’s enemies. That would make Rochant angry. Should he call Win? Or call the guards? It was so hard to know how best to help his friends. Was Pari really his friend or was she his enemy too?
‘Oh, come now,’ continued Pari, ‘don’t be stubborn. Cut his hair and dress him appropriately and they’d be identical. I feel like we’re missing something here and I know just who will have the answers.’ She cast her eyes over the tents and traders lining the courtyard. ‘Typical. He’s never around when you need him.’ She looked back to Sa-at. ‘I don’t suppose you’ve seen any large white five-legged Dogkin recently?’
He shook his head.
‘Arkav, you really don’t see the resemblance?’
‘No.’
Sa-at found himself agreeing, the image of the imposter, his body all strange and twisted, alive in his mind.
‘Well I do. It’s almost as if Chandni and Mohit had two children. Is Honoured Mother Chandni your mother?’
‘They say she is.’
‘Then you must be an Honoured Vessel.’
‘Yes! That’s what Lord Rochant called me.’
‘The man that looks like you called you that?’
‘No, not the demon, the real Lord Rochant.’
The two Deathless exchanged another look. Sa-at felt a strange sinking sensation in his stomach. Had he said something wrong?
‘We need to go,’ said Arkav.
‘I couldn’t agree more.’
They signalled to their servants and the carriage was suddenly moving. Arkav bounded past it towards the gates and demanded they be opened while Pari kept her attention on him.
‘It’s a shame that our conversation is being drawn to a close. I’d very much like to speak to you further.’
‘I’d like that too,’ he said, and then wondered if he was letting Rochant down.
‘Why don’t you come with us?’
‘Now?’
‘Why not? There’s space in our carriage. We could show you the lands of House Tanzanite.’
He saw Arkav forcing the gates open with superhuman strength. The guards were protesting but none dared stop him. As soon as the gap was wide enough, the carriage began to trundle through.
‘I can’t,’ he replied. ‘This is my home.’
‘I understand.’ She gave him the kind of smile that made his toes tingle and so it was something of a shock when she scooped
him up in one arm.
The next thing Sa-at knew, he was sailing through the air with Pari in great, gliding bounds. He was so surprised and so torn between the awe of travelling in this fashion and the anger at having been taken against his will, that he simply stared.
There were shouts and movement. People were protesting but they all flashed by in a blur. Three more bounds and he was by the gates. Another two and he was through them.
Arkav held up his hands when he saw them. ‘Suns, Pari! What are you thinking?’
‘I wasn’t really,’ she replied. ‘It was more of an impulse.’
‘We’re here to stop a war, not start one!’
‘Yes, but I have to see him with my own eyes and this will bring him out.’
‘Pari!’
Guards were tentatively pouring from the gate behind them. Sa-at wondered what was going to happen. Win came bustling out shortly afterward his eyes nearly popping from his skull as he saw them. ‘In Lord Rochant’s name, I demand to know what is happening!’
‘Please don’t fight,’ begged Sa-at.
‘Oh, there’s no need for all this fuss,’ Pari replied. ‘I’m just showing the Honoured Vessel how much fun Sky-legs can be.’
‘You’re not …’ Win paused and smoothed down his tunic self-consciously. ‘Taking him away?’
‘Of course not. What a foolish thing to say.’
Sa-at noticed the carriage was on the bridge now. Arkav still stood by their side. She’s just like Rochant. Saying one thing and meaning another. She’s tricked me and she’s tricked Win. But why?
‘My lord’s order was very clear. The gates were to stay closed. Why have you forced them open? Why have you taken the Honoured Vessel outside the castle?’ His voice cracked a little. ‘What is all this?’
Rochant appeared at the battlements. He no longer wore his armour but was wearing a long wrap of blue and gold spirals. ‘It’s all right, Win. I’ll take it from here.’
‘Lord Rochant,’ Pari smiled ‘I must say I did not expect to see you again so soon.’
‘Nor I you. It seems you can’t keep away.’
‘You know me,’ she replied, and Sa-at saw her glance down at him. ‘I can’t resist a good mystery.’
‘Then perhaps I should appeal to Lord Arkav instead. You have business with the High Lords. I will not interfere in that, so long as you return to me what is mine.’
The two Tanzanite Deathless exchanged a look.
‘Remember your place, Rochant,’ said Arkav. ‘You cannot interfere with the will of the High Lords. Our duty is to report to them what we have found.’ He gestured to Sa-at. ‘We believe the council will be most interested in what he has to say.’
‘Well,’ added Pari, ‘that was put a little more directly than I would have done, but yes, my brother has the right of it. We will take our leave now, and we will take Sa-at with us. When the High Lords are finished talking to him, he’ll be set free.’ She put a hand flat across her chest. ‘Believe me when I say that Sa-at has absolutely nothing to fear. Sa-at will be quite safe. Only those that have betrayed the sacred duties of our kind need worry.’
They’re talking about me. They’re going to take me away. But I don’t want to go away! I want to stay with my new friends.
‘Are you sure you want to pursue this approach?’ asked Rochant. His tone and manner were still calm but Sa-at saw there were many spears outside now, all poised and ready to throw on his command.
‘Come on, my dear,’ said Pari, holding out her hand to Sa-at. ‘It’s time for us to go.’
Sa-at took a step back. ‘But Rochant is my friend.’
Her voice became gentler. ‘Believe me when I tell you, he is not what he appears to be. You said we were nearly friends. Why don’t you give us the chance to become true friends?’
This made him falter. A part of him dearly wished to be Pari’s friend. Even when she was in her armour she didn’t seem scary like the other Deathless he’d seen.
‘I don’t think I can be your friend and Rochant’s friend at the same time.’
‘No, my dear, you have to choose.’
He looked back towards the battlements. Rochant still stood there, calm as ever, but Sa-at knew better. He won’t show his feelings while his enemies are here. I know he wants me to come home.
Pari was still holding out her hand as Arkav leaned in and said quietly. ‘The carriage is across.’
‘Last chance, Sa-at,’ said Pari.
‘I can’t!’ he blurted, and ran for the gates. Win stepped aside, the guards parted, and he dashed between them, not stopping until he was within the walls of the main keep.
Behind him, the gates shut with a resounding thud.
Safe, he thought. I am safe again.
CHAPTER EIGHT
They had walked for the rest of the day, following the pack as they padded through the trees. Chandni would have enjoyed the experience more if she wasn’t still feeling light-headed from blood loss. Still, Varg and Glider were with her, and Crowflies came and went, bringing her little gifts; a variety of nuts and berries.
The way seemed easy. No branches scratched at her; no roots snatched at her feet. She wouldn’t describe the forest as friendly but she wouldn’t say it was hostile either. It tolerated their presence.
A chill took the air as the suns began to set. Something told Chandni that they would not want to be wandering the Wild for much longer. ‘Excuse me,’ she said to the lead Dogkin. ‘How far is it?’
The old white muzzle swung back in her direction for a moment. She met the creature’s eyes but could read nothing of value in them. Then it turned away and carried on walking.
‘I don’t like this,’ said Varg.
‘Nor do I,’ she agreed. ‘We don’t know where we’re going. We don’t even know where we are.’
‘And it’s getting dark. Do you think we can trust it?’
‘I think they are bound by our agreement to serve me, but I’m worried they could twist it somehow.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m not sure.’ She tried to recall the exact words she’d used, but fatigue was making her mind foggy. They had agreed to serve her but her experience with staff was extensive, and she knew that a bad servant was worse than none at all. ‘What if they are obeying my order but in the worst possible way?’
‘Nah, I don’t get it. You saying they don’t have to obey you?’
‘No. I’m saying that while they are helping me find Prince Kennelgrove, they might be taking the longest route they can. Or they might be leading us through a dangerous part of the Wild so that something else can get us.’ She threw up her hands. ‘Or I could be completely wrong. I don’t really know what I’m doing, Varg. And I’m tired.’
He stopped and drew her close. She rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes. Just for a moment, she promised herself. When he spoke, she could feel the rumble of his speech against her ear.
‘Well, you could ask.’
‘Ask who? Crowflies isn’t here.’
‘That’s a good thing if you ask me. But I ain’t talking about Crowflies. I’m talking about the old Dogkin. It’s gotta do what you say, so ask it what it’s doing. I don’t think it can talk but it understands you well enough.’
‘Yes, but she could lie to me and not break our agreement.’
Varg frowned as he thought that over. ‘Shit.’
‘Quite.’
Glider barked and the other Dogkin stopped and waited for them, their eyes making pale glimmers in the fading light.
Just a moment more, she thought. Varg’s chest seemed to generate an impressive amount of heat. His arms were snug across her back. Just another … moment …
A wet nose on her cheek snapped her awake.
It was Glider.
‘Was that really necessary?’
Glider gave an earnest bark.
‘All right,’ she said, pushing Glider’s head out of the way.
They walked on still s
urrounded by trees. The colour had leeched from them now, telling her that the suns must have recently set.
She caught glimpses of a black shape flying from tree to tree. Crowflies. There was a conspiratorial nature to its movements. Each time it landed, it paused to whisper something that set the leaves quivering, like someone trying to suppress a chuckle. But as soon as she got closer to any given tree, it silenced the motion, like an actor snapping back into role. What is it up to?
They hadn’t gone far when the gaps between the trees narrowed, and the trees themselves started leaning towards one another, their branches intertwining like lover’s hands. Beneath the arch they made was a natural tunnel of wood and mud, sloping down. The Dogkin pack sat in a half circle around it.
Their leader looked at Chandni for a long moment, then padded inside.
Glider whined and sat down. When Varg took a step towards the tunnel, all the Dogkin growled at him.
‘I think I have to go in alone,’ said Chandni.
‘Well I fucking don’t!’
‘That’s sweet, Varg, and I truly would rather you be with me. But this is the Wild. There’s a way to do things and I feel that this is right.’
‘How long?’
Chandni frowned. She couldn’t make out his face any more and wasn’t quite sure what he meant. ‘How long until what?’
‘Until me and Glider come in there to get you.’
‘Oh. If things go badly you should probably leave, but—’ she added quickly ‘—as I know you won’t do that, take your lead from Glider. If she wants to go in, you come as fast as you can. You’ll be able to find me in there, won’t you?’
Glider barked affirmatively, though this was undermined by the whine that accompanied every glance towards the tunnel.
She gave Glider a hug and Varg a kiss. It was hard to pull away but she made herself do it.
I have never backed down simply because something is difficult. If the creature I seek is down there, then that is where I will go.
Chandni stood as tall as she could and walked towards the tree-tunnel entrance. The old Dogkin went in ahead of her and was swallowed almost instantly by the darkness.
A second later, it swallowed her just as swiftly.
Satyendra woke up slowly. It occurred to him that he wasn’t dead, which was a surprise, but one that was hard to take much pleasure in. Apart from the place where Rochant’s gauntlet had gripped him, most of the pain had gone. Five finger-sized sores still burned whenever he moved. His body felt wrung out and stiff. Exhaustion clung heavy to his bones.
