by Megan Derr
"What makes you smile so, my lord?" Krista asked.
"Hmm? Oh, a letter from my lover. I enjoy hearing from him, even if it makes me miss home all the more."
"That's sweet," Wessel said before Krista could reply, for which Jader was grateful, as her reply would invariably be you are home. He tried to be understanding and patient, he did, and sympathize with her position—but it grew increasingly frustrating when she would not even attempt to do the same. "What is your lover's name?"
"Kamir Norring. He's the youngest son of a minor noble."
"What does Lord Kamir do?" Krista asked. "I heard mention of him from time to time, and have seen him in brief moments, but never could form a clear impression."
"Do?" Jader asked. "What does any noble do? He is the youngest son, so he is trained to someday marry and run a household or similar such. Currently he has been kind enough to serve as guardian of my estate."
Wessel beamed. "So you plan to marry the lad? Sounds a fine match. You'll have to pick out gifts aplenty, my lord. Absence does set the heart wandering, you know. It wouldn't do for your lover to feel compelled to look elsewhere. His family must be quite pleased to have made a match of such a fine figure as yourself."
Jader didn't bother to correct any of the misunderstandings, and he discreetly signaled for Seredia not to bother either. "Lord Kamir is the fine one." He smiled faintly. "I'm only an old soldier. So what is an appropriate gift, then, my lord and lady, for a lover far from sight?"
As hoped, that launched them into a discussion—more a debate—about what made the most appropriate romantic gifts. By the time they finally came to a halt, Jader's mood had vastly improved. They clambered out of the carriage and dismissed the carriage and horses. Two guards, in addition to Tsarana, and Jader's secretaries remained with them, and Jader had every faith the remaining guards would shadow from a distance.
Wessel took them first to a coffee house, expected and welcome. Snow was falling when they left, but slow and lazy and not likely to cause any further problems.
The next stop was a bookshop, where Jader left Seredia to select some books for Allen, while he borrowed Lady Krista to help him consult the shopkeeper on books Kamir's children might like, and Wessel did his own browsing.
Nearly two hours later they finally moved on, sending the packages off to the carriage by way of a clerk from the bookshop. Another hour passed in a toy shop, where he bought gifts for Sarrica's children, Lesto's children, Tara's unborn child, and Kamir's children. It was like being back on the Islands, with more kids underfoot than could be counted. Jader loved it.
Pushing away the homesickness, he sent the packages off with another clerk and followed his companions back to the street. "Anywhere else would you like to visit in particular, my lord?" Wessel asked.
"I would like to look at jewelry, though maybe we should have lunch first?" Jader replied with a smile.
"Jewelry, certainly, and lunch sounds a fine idea. I know just the place." Wessel led them down the street to the corner, then down a couple more to a small pub that smelled of roasting meat and hot, spiced wine.
Jader yawned as he sat down, not realizing until that moment just how much energy shopping had taken out of him. It had been a long time since he'd done more than summon a jeweler or tailor to his office. His mother wasn't wrong when she said he'd become a spoiled brat.
The food, when it arrived, smelled marvelous—surprisingly so. Jader took a bite of the fragrant stew in front of him and froze in surprise. "This is spicy."
Wessel laughed. "I thought you might approve. I only visited Harken once, with some old friends I went to school with overseas, but I remember that almost everything I ate was so spicy I had trouble finishing it the first two months I was there. It took me a long time to grow re-accustomed to food here by the time I left. I thought you would appreciate this place."
"I have missed food that has a little heat to it," Jader said. "Thank you." On either side of him, Seredia and Tsarana murmured their own thanks. Even Lady Krista seemed to enjoy it, enough so she ignored all their protests when the meal was finished and paid for it herself.
The light snow had ceased falling by the time they ventured out again, but the air had grown significantly colder. Wessel and Krista looked to the sky and shared a frown.
"Is something wrong?"
"It's hard to say," Krista replied. "The temperature has dropped significantly, which means we could get ice, but regardless of what may or may not fall, it could soon be too cold to even be outdoors. The weather is not usually this brutal so early in the season, but it has been known to happen. After we visit the jewelry shop, we should best be on our way, or there's a good chance we'll be stuck here in town until it warms up again."
Jader nodded, and Wessel led the way back along the streets until he stopped in front of a charming little shop with a dark green door, the name painted in brilliant scarlet.
Inside, the place smelled like fresh pine and a hint of cinnamon. A heavy, handsome man stood behind the counter, the boredom falling from his face as he took them in—and eyes popping wide as he noticed Tsarana and the other soldier. He spoke in rapid-fire Bentan, not that Jader would have understood him if he spoke slowly.
Lady Krista approached the counter and motioned to Jader, and they conversed for a moment before the man turned and sketched Jader a handsome bow. He spoke in Bentan, and Krista said, "He says it's an honor to make your acquaintance and would like to know what sort of jewelry you're seeking today."
"Earrings, at least twelve pairs. I've brought examples of what I'd like. I'd also like some hairpins, and I've brought examples of those as well, and finally I want to commission a couple of complete sets, one with strong blue elements, the other pink." Shera stepped forward and presented the small jewelry box he'd carried all day. Taking it, Jader set it on the counter, unlocked it, and turned it to present the contents to the jeweler.
The man's eyes widened, and he immediately started speaking again as he gingerly picked up the various pieces of jewelry inside: four sets of earrings, each very different, and two hairpins that were similar to what he'd like to have made for Kamir. The complete jewelry sets would be for Allen and Tara. For Lesto, he'd already arranged several barrels of Benta's finest beers, and for Sarrica several casks of ridiculously expensive Bentan brandy. The only other gift after the jewelry was a sword for his new deputy, but that would be taken care of another day.
After several minutes of back and forth, the jeweler pulled out a large sketchbook and rapidly started drawing, jotting numbers and other notes along one edge. Several minutes later, he turned the sketchbook around and the conversation resumed, Seredia stepping in to take over when translating got to be too much for Lady Krista.
Nearly two hours passed before Jader was satisfied with his commissions and handed over the down payment. "Thank you very much," he told the jeweler, who nodded and smiled happily as he went to put the money away.
Lady Krista chuckled as they stepped back outside. "I think you know more about Bentan jade than I do. I've never seen such intense debate over jewelry before."
"I don't think I've ever seen Master Spiro so happy," Wessel said. "He doesn't get to work with fellow enthusiasts very often."
Jader lifted one shoulder. "Bentan jade is hard to come by even in Harken. I could not call myself fond of jewelry without obtaining at least a couple of pieces. Thank you for indulging me, especially as it feels like it's gotten even colder and my delay may have cost us a chance to make it to your estate, Lady Krista."
"I think we'll just be able to make it. Come, the family carriage should be waiting for us where we left Lord Wessel's, and he can finally go home and enjoy a quiet house."
Wessel made dismissive noises as they walked. "You know I dislike empty houses, my lady. I admit this past week was a bit much, but I've enjoyed having everyone present and look forward to seeing you again."
Jader was content to let them talk, too busy trying to hide from the m
iserable wind they were walking against. It felt like knives and left his lungs burning and stinging. The very moment he got home, he was traveling all the way south and lying naked on the beach for a week straight, and he didn't particularly care if he came away from that journey as red as a cooked lobster.
When they reached the carriages, Jader turned to Wessel and bowed slightly. "Thank you for everything, my lord. You've been a marvelous host, and I hope we continue to be friends long after I return home."
"I have every faith," Wessel said. "Perhaps someday you can host me."
"I would be honored."
Jader startled briefly when Wessel hugged him, as that was not something he had seen Bentans really do, but returned it gladly.
Then he followed Lady Krista into the large, heavy Abernoth carriage. Several minutes later, everyone was settled in place and the carriage lumbered off. The rest of their belongings, and the soldiers they'd left behind, should already be well on their way to the Abernoth Estate, led by Lord Cherrell.
Weather permitting, they would reach it themselves a few hours after dark.
"Mother will be most excited to finally see you," Lady Krista said. "She's been extremely impatient these past few days. If the snow had not cleared last night, I do believe she would have shoveled it all herself to reach us and put the entire staff to work right alongside her."
Jader smiled faintly. "Well, I'm glad we have not forced Her Grace to such desperate straits."
Lady Krista's levity faded, a reprimanding look taking its place. "You need not be so formal with us. I'm your sister. She is your mother. I know you don't remember us, but we remember you."
Tamping down on his impatience, Jader replied, "Formal Harken has four words for sister, the same again for brother, and the same again for neutral and fluid, and still more words to clarify whether they are younger, older, of lesser or lower rank, and so forth. None of that includes whether they are blood-relation, half-blood relation, adopted, or step-relation. Those are just some of the reasons formal Harken is so difficult to learn. Parentage is even more complex, with mothers, fathers, dames, sires, and so forth. Old-fashioned Harken has even more words that we've since dropped, as it's now rightfully considered in poor taste to clarify what sort of genitals a person has unless they prefer those particular pronouns. The only place you see remnants of some of them is in certain formalities, such as titles: Duke, Duchess, Duchen, Duchell, for example, which are retained largely for legal matters. And we haven't even gotten into informal Harken."
"I don't understand your point," Krista said.
"My point is that, all told, there are hundreds of words and combinations in Harken to clarify how exactly someone is related to you, but even formal Harken has nothing on Islander, which has thirty-odd words just for mother, not including variants used by the different islands and communities, and nothing is considered crasser or ruder than using the wrong one. People can study Islander for years and still never master forms of address. It is something we take seriously with all relations and community members, but we take it most seriously in regards to our mothers. I respect all of you remember me, and I am trying hard to learn and follow Bentan customs as much as I can—but I will not call a woman mother or sister when they do not yet feel like such to me. It's too ingrained a custom for me to leave off simply at someone's command."
Krista bowed her head slightly. "Even though I invite you to call me sister?"
"All parties should be comfortable with a relationship before declaring the nature of the relationship," Jader said, turning to look out the window. "We have a saying on my island: the fool dives for a hundred pearls, the wise dives for one." At her puzzled look he said, "My island, Shahira, has a tradition of diving for pearls when we want to ask for a permanent relationship with someone. It's dangerous, for the pearls in question can only be found in deep, dark, cold waters. Just being able to swim that deep takes years of practice, and years more to be able to stay down there long enough to gather sufficient oysters in the hope one might contain the sought for pearl. Diving for them is not something done lightly."
"I see," Krista said. "I had not realized Islanders had such traditions."
Jader's mouth twisted. "Few do."
Krista said nothing, merely turned to do some staring out the window of her own, a pensive frown on her face.
"I am Harken-born and a silver tongue, and yet I suspect I don't know as much about the language as you," Lady Seredia said. "But I guess I never had to."
Jader nodded, and thankfully after that the conversation subsided. He pulled his cloak more firmly around him and closed his eyes, content to let his thoughts tumble and roll as they liked, though they had a distinct habit of turning to Kamir and stopping there.
Would Kamir like the hairpins Jader was having made? He'd initially been tempted to get Kamir the same full set he'd commissioned for Allen and Tara… but the image of Kamir with flowers in his hair would not leave him, so flowers it would be.
At some point he managed to drift off, though he had no idea how, given the success he had the last time he'd tried sleeping in a carriage.
He woke as it came to a stop, and the sound of several unfamiliar voices filled the air, echoing off stone. The carriage door pulled open, and a footman appeared to help Lady Krista and Lady Seredia out. Tsarana followed next, and finally Jader stepped out, pushing back the hood of his cloak to better examine their surroundings.
All around him came exclamations, cries, and words that were definitely swearing by their tone. He glanced at the seven servants gathered in a loose half circle around them, but quickly looked away again, discomfited by their staring.
Instead, he looked at the enormous manor in front of them. It was hard to tell the exact color in the dark, even with a full moon glowing overhead and reflecting off the endless piles of snow. But it seemed to be the same dark brown stone he saw almost everywhere else, with dark shutters, smoke coming from the various chimneys, and flickering lights at either side of the enormous doorway.
Lady Krista came up to stand next to him, her arm hooking loosely through his. "Shall we go inside?"
"I'm certainly not going to argue for staying out here in the cold," Jader said with a smile, and nodded at the still-gawking staff as they passed by them.
The house was thankfully significantly warmer than outside, if still a bit chilly. More servants stopped what they were doing to gawk, but Jader ignored them as he pulled off his cloak and removed his boots, grateful for the large, fur-lined house shoes that someone brought him. He felt a little silly walking around in such things, but they were warm, and that was all he really cared about.
Lady Krista was speaking in low tones to a woman who had the air of someone in charge. After a couple of minutes, she said, "Mother is still awake, though she says she understands if you prefer to wait until tomorrow to meet her."
Jader shook his head. "Even I can appreciate that she has waited long enough for a day she never thought would come."
"Thank you," Krista murmured, and once more taking his arm, she led him up a long, dark staircase and through dimly lit hallways to a large, ornately carved wooden door. She knocked, and a young woman answered the door. Her eyes widened, mouth dropping open as she stared at Jader. Krista cleared her throat, and the woman startled, finally pulled the door all the way open, and bowed low as they entered.
Two figures stood by a large bank of small-paned windows: Cherrell and an old woman, tall and imposing, not nearly as frail or feeble as Jader had been led to believe. She looked exactly like an older version of Krista.
Sobbing filled the air as Cherrell escorted the woman to him. Her hands covered her mouth as she reached up, stared up at him. Dropping them, she said something in Bentan, but before he could ask for a translation, she reached up and gently grasped the sides of his face, pulled him down so their foreheads pressed together. "Trevin…" More Bentan after that, but Jader caught enough words he knew to figure out he was being welcomed home. He
covered her hands with his own, and from there it wasn't hard to hug her properly and let her cry, let her garbled words wash over him.
"Mother says welcome home, you've been gone far too long, and she's so very sorry we did not look hard enough to find you."
"You did the best you could," Jader said. "You did more than most would. There was every reason in the world to believe your son was dead." He personally thought their son was dead, but this was not the time to say that.
Finally, the woman who had once been his mother drew back and said something else to him. Jader shook his head, and she looked ready to start crying again. Instead, she stepped away, set her shoulders, and said something to Krista.
Smiling faintly, Krista said, "She would like proper introductions." Stepping forward, Krista indicated Jader with her right hand. "Mother, I present to you Lord Jader Star, Marquis of Kyrmine and High Commander of the Harken Imperial Army." She motioned to her family with her left hand. "Lord Jader, I make you known to Lady Tialla, Duchess of Abernoth."
"It's an honor to meet you. I am deeply sorry I lost my memories of you. Mothers should always be remembered and honored." He started to say more, but a knock came at the door and servants came in with large trays of steaming bowls and plates.
Once the food was arranged, they faded off again, leaving Jader alone with his family to share an awkward meal that mostly left poor Krista so busy translating she was unable to eat. "Mother would like to know how you survived, if you recall."
"I'm afraid I don't," Jader replied. "I woke up on a beach, completely naked, with an aching head and a broken arm. I could not remember anything, save bits of the storm and a language the Islanders couldn't understand. By the end of that first year, I'd largely forgotten that, too, and after another year had passed, there was nothing at all left of whoever I had been. There were other bodies on the beach, but I was the only one still alive."
Tialla nodded, blinking back tears. She said something else, and Krista translated, "She says it is unfortunate nobody knew you were speaking Bentan."
