by B. T. Narro
“Where are your papers?” the commander asked her.
“They were stolen from me on my trip from Halin to Lectin.”
Halin is the city my father was actually born in, though Father’s false papers say he was born here in Jatn. Leo started to suspect something about this familiar woman.
“Then how did you come to be here?” the commander asked.
“I stopped in Jatn to replenish my supplies, but your army came soon after.”
“Is there anyone in the city who can identify you?”
She looked at Leo with her mouth scrunched.
“Without you giving them any clues,” the commander specified.
“I know who she is,” Leo said before he had gathered his thoughts. It was the only time he could’ve spoken, for if the woman said no, then Leo would have no chance of saving her.
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” the commander asked skeptically.
“Because I couldn’t remember how I knew her until now. She doesn’t look the same as when I last saw her.”
“It’s from all the time I’ve spent in this prison,” she told the commander with an edge to her voice.
The commander put up his hand. “Do not say one other word to each other until I allow it. Let’s make this official.” His doubtful eyes were on Leo, but Leo remembered what his brother had told him about lying. He made himself appear as confident as he could.
The commander looked at the guard. “Has this woman given her name while these children were here?”
“No.”
“Has she said anything about herself that might’ve allowed these children to guess who she was without knowing her?”
The guard’s eyes lifted to the ceiling. “She talked about the creature’s sickness, but that’s all.”
“Are you sure there was nothing else?”
The guard appeared nervous. “I can’t say for certain.”
“There was nothing else,” Andar added. “Don’t lie to him.”
The commander held up a finger close to Andar’s face. “Be silent as I do this.”
Andar stepped back and let his shoulders relax.
“She said nothing else,” the guard finally confirmed.
The commander returned his attention to Leo. “You will have one chance. You will not be able to come back later and provide a different answer. But before you answer, you should be aware that if you are lying to me, you will be punished. We do not tolerate lies here. Now are you sure you wish to provide a name for this woman?”
Leo thought for a moment, his gaze set on the older woman. She seemed to be the same age as his father, or perhaps a little younger. Her features were so familiar, but he couldn’t be confident he knew who she was just by her appearance. It was the information she’d provided about the summoned creatures that struck something within Leo, as well as her tale about coming from Halin—he was almost sure of himself now.
Before giving his answer, though, he wished to find out what his punishment would be if he was wrong. But he didn’t want that to scare him. If this woman was who he thought she was, then he didn’t just want to free her for her own sake. Her freedom would mean so much to Leo and Andar as well.
“I’m sure,” Leo said.
“Then tell me her name.”
“Miqu Yenu.” He spelled it letter by letter. “She came to the Bookbinding Guild to present a story to Gartel Lusitan. It’s a very well-written story, my personal favorite. I wouldn’t forget someone like her.”
By her beaming smile, Leo knew he had given the right answer even before the guard handed over a scroll with her name to the commander.
“Miqu is to be released,” the commander announced. He pointed at the guard. “I’m tasking you with correcting her prisoner profile. You are also to ensure that she will receive a new copy of her papers from the courthouse in Jatn.”
“Sir, I’m already tasked with guarding the cavern entrance during the day.”
“That is no longer your duty. Bring Miqu to the courthouse now, then make sure she’s offered entrance for today only to the bathhouse for our female soldiers. You will also purchase a meal for her from the tavern of her choosing.” The commander flicked a silver coin into the air. The guard caught it with a frown.
“Yes sir.” He motioned for Miqu to follow him. “Come on.”
Leo was about to run over to stop them, for he still needed to give Miqu his address, but he didn’t know how to bring it up.
“Just one moment,” Miqu told the guard, bowing her head in front of Leo. “Thank you for remembering. Might I have your address so I could come by with a gift at a later time?”
“Sure,” Leo said with relief.
“Thank you,” Miqu said after Leo was done. “One last thing,” she told the guard, then looked over at the commander with worry in her eyes. “I’m sorry to bring this up, sir, but I feel I must tell you that one of your men stole from me while I was being taken here. He took all the coin I had.”
The commander pressed his lips together tightly. “Did you get his name?”
“No. I wish there was something about him that stood out to help you find him, but there isn’t. He was probably my age or a little older. He had brown hair and a clean-shaven face. He wasn’t particularly tall or short. I’m not sure what else I can say.”
“I will look into this when I can,” the commander said without conviction. “I’m sorry and I’m embarrassed. It’s my task to command, but it is not up to me to recruit.”
“I understand.” She gave a little wave to Leo and the others, who waved back. Then she left with the guard.
The commander leaned down in front of Rygen. “You’re Rygen Nexi, right? You’re living with Leo and Andar for now?”
Her eyebrows lifted as if she was surprised he remembered her name. “Yes.”
“And you work at the Bookbinding Guild with Leo, correct?”
“Yes…sir,” she remembered to add.
“It’s not usually an easy task to bring a creature through a rift.”
Her cheeks went red as she looked down. “I know.”
“I’m glad you do. I would like to discuss this more with you when I have the time. Would that be all right?”
Leo was surprised when she glanced over at him. He didn’t know what she was silently asking, so he shrugged.
“What would you like to discuss?” she asked the commander.
He chuckled slightly. “Many things. I’ll send someone to the Bookbinding Guild to fetch you when I have time, all right, dear?”
She nodded without enthusiasm.
Gartel was going to be angry when they came back today after missing so much work, especially when Rygen told him she would be missing even more work later.
“And lastly, for you two,” the commander said. He didn’t lean down in front of Leo or Andar, though his eyes did appear friendly. “Andar, I assure you that I will figure out exactly why your rope broke and ensure that it does not happen again. Can I expect you to return to the Tisary tomorrow? You don’t have to today.”
It seemed too much to ask, but Andar surprised Leo with his answer. “Actually, I’d like to go back now. I want to make sure Rygen’s creature made it through the rift, and I’d like to take a look at the rope myself.”
“That’s fine.” He glanced down at Leo. “I would like to meet with you and your brother as well. When I have the time, I’ll collect him from the Tisary. We’ll both come for you at the Bookbinding Guild.”
“What for?” Andar asked. Then he added, “Sir?”
“To discuss what happened today,” the commander said. “I must be leaving. I interrupted a meeting that I must return to now.”
He exited quickly. That left Leo, Andar, and Rygen with the officer, who folded his arms and scowled at them until they walked out of the building.
Leo really had to get back to the Bookbinding Guild after he bathed. He wasn’t sure Gartel would understand his reason for leaving, and he couldn’t lose this j
ob. With his family having been banned from farm work, the Bookbinding Guild might be the only place he could make coin.
He hugged his brother, the dried mud on their shirts cracking and falling. “I’m glad you’re all right.”
“Thank you, Leo.”
“We’d better get back,” Leo told Rygen. “And I still have to bathe.”
“Wait.” Andar chuckled to himself as he brought them into a clearing in the street. He looked around, possibly for anyone listening. When he deemed it safe to speak, he asked with a wide smile, “You’re not going to say anything about our aunt?”
“Did you know it was her as well?” Leo wondered.
“No!” Andar laughed. “The whole time I was thinking you must’ve seen this woman in the Bookbinding Guild just like you said, but when you mentioned her name—skyfire and ash! I nearly yelled in shock. I saw what you must’ve seen then; her face seems familiar. I think it’s her eyes.”
Leo nodded. “I was going to make sure to tell her our address, but she acted first.”
Andar put his hand on Leo’s shoulder, squeezing and shaking Leo a little too hard for comfort. “That was incredible! You found our aunt, and in prison nonetheless!” He laughed for a moment. Leo didn’t understand the humor, but he chuckled with his brother.
Rygen didn’t laugh, however. “Do you think the commander will want us to join the army?”
A somber mood followed.
“I’m not sure,” Andar answered. “I think he knows what we can do, though. He might even know better than we do. It’s worth meeting with him.”
“But you two would never join, right?” Rygen asked.
“No,” Leo answered, but his brother seemed to be thinking about it.
“I wouldn’t say never,” Andar told them. “A lot can change in the next few months. It has already.”
Leo whispered, “They killed Rygen’s mother. They want to kill our father.”
“I’m not talking about joining them to help them.” Andar’s tone was as if Leo was a fool. “Only to help ourselves.”
“Help ourselves do what?” Rygen asked.
“Become what we have the potential to be. Don’t you see what today has taught us? You’re going to be a summoner, Rygen. Leo and I are going to be Ascendants. There’s no denying it now. I am going back to the Tisary; I do want to make sure your creature made it through. But I’m also going to practice now that I don’t have to dig anymore today.” He lowered his voice. “And I want to see the rope for myself. If someone’s trying to kill me, I want to know today.”
“You’re actually going to go back into that hole tomorrow?” Leo was in disbelief. “I wouldn’t ever if I had the choice.”
Andar looked down at the ground for a long while. “I know, but I don’t think I have a choice like you do.”
Leo stepped up to his brother. “We’ll figure something else out. Don’t go back down there.”
“Leo.” Andar took a sharp breath. “If it becomes dangerous again, I will stop. Until then, we need a place to live.”
“But—”
“I will be fine.”
Andar put on a smile that would’ve appeared genuine except that Leo could feel that his brother was terrified.
Andar’s smile began to look forced as he asked Rygen, “Did you come up with a name for your creature yet?”
“I was thinking Jin, like the strong creature from A Summoner’s Life, because he’s a lot stronger than he looks.”
“Really?” Leo asked. “He already looks strong to me.”
“How do you know he’s a he?” Andar wondered. “Can you tell because of your link to him?”
“No,” she looked down, clearly embarrassed. “I checked.”
They laughed, and Leo could feel that his brother’s fear was gone, at least for the moment.
CHAPTER TEN
It had been a long day, and Leo was glad to be heading home. When he’d returned to the Bookbinding Guild, Gartel was nowhere to be seen. He and Rygen had decided they wouldn’t say anything about leaving unless Gartel brought it up when they saw him tomorrow.
Many times Leo thought back to the moment when he’d held Rygen’s hand. He wanted to again, and even had the courage to do so, but he feared her reaction. If she didn’t want her hand held, their friendship might be ruined. Besides Andar, Rygen was Leo’s only friend. He couldn’t risk it until he was absolutely certain she felt the same.
He was surprised when Miqu Yenu was waiting outside his home. She smiled at seeing him and Rygen approach, kneeling down and opening her arms.
It was a little awkward to hug his aunt, but hopefully time would fix that.
“Thank you again,” she said.
“You could’ve waited inside.”
“I didn’t want to be rude.” She opened the door and gestured for Leo and Rygen to enter first. Andar was not yet home.
The three of them took seats around the only table in the house, which was a small one in the middle of their tiny kitchen. Leo and Rygen had brought home cheap ingredients for a stew in order to prepare their usual supper. They set them out on the table, but Miqu quickly gathered them up.
“Please allow me,” she said, and started preparing the meal.
There was a long silence as Leo and Rygen looked at each other, unsure what to do now.
“I know this might be strange,” Miqu said with a smile over her shoulder. “But it won’t be for long.”
She’d bathed and changed since they’d last seen her. She was thin and tall. The way her features came together brought comfort to Leo, not only because of her beauty, but because she reminded him of his father. It was her eyes. Although she looked young, there was wisdom in the sparkle of her gaze that made Leo feel that she knew what would be best for all of them.
“What should we call you?” Leo asked.
“I have thought much about that, but I still haven’t come to a decision.” She crouched at the table and folded her arms on top. She rested her head on top of her arms and made a silly expression of exaggerated pondering. “Hmm. Would you like to call me Miqu or perhaps Aunty? I would personally prefer my real name.” Then she whispered, “Yune Quim. Alas, it is a dangerous name to be spoken, as I’m sure your father has taught you.”
She suddenly smiled and rubbed Leo’s head, messing his hair up, though he didn’t mind. “You’re both so adorable. So your name is Rygen Nexi?”
“Yes. I can’t believe it was you who wrote Quim and Kin: Crowns and Betrayal. No, I can’t believe it was you who was in it! And then Leo knew it was you without ever meeting you! I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it!”
“Believe it,” Yune said with a wink. “Leo’s father must’ve described me well. Is that right, Leo? What did he say—what name should I use for him? I’m so excited to see my brother again!”
Leo still hadn’t answered her original question of what to call her, and now he had to think of how to tell her the terrible news.
“I’ve known him as Darren my whole life,” Leo said. “He kept everything about his family hidden from me and my brother until recently.”
She frowned. “He was always cautious about everything…except for love.” Her brow furrowed as her head tilted down. “What happened to your mother?”
Leo knew he shouldn’t delay the truth about his father, but he couldn’t think of how to tell his aunt yet. “My mother became sick here in Jatn. Father couldn’t pay for the medicine she needed, so she died.” And it changed him. Or so Leo had heard. He wasn’t old enough to know what his father was like before then.
“That must’ve broken his heart.” Yune said the words with great pain, even looked away and wiped a tear. It came as a surprise to see so much emotion. Was this woman really the sister of Leo’s father?
But then he remembered what she had written about herself in Quim and Kin: Crowns and Betrayal. Yune had focused her attention on the arts, painting and plays. And magic! Leo gasped as he recalled how much focus she’d put
into learning to become a mage, only to realize that she didn’t have it in her.
He gave her a moment to compose herself as she returned to preparing their supper. He was about to ask her to tell him everything she knew about Artistry, but it would be wrong to do so before Andar returned. And even more so before telling her about his father.
“Miqu,” Leo said, swallowing a lump. “Father isn’t coming home.”
She turned around slowly and asked in a whisper, “Was he killed?”
“No,” Leo said with some relief. “I don’t think so. But he’s with the rebels now—not by his choice. The leader of the rebels, Erisena, wanted him to join them. He was meeting with her to tell her that he wouldn’t join them, but that’s when the army arrived.”
“I see.” Miqu stared at the corner of the room for a while. “Your father was the best fighter I’ve ever seen. I’m sure you’re right that he is still alive. He probably even saved many of the rebels. He would never let anyone die if he could help it.”
“I know.”
She came over to Leo. “I’m sure he’ll come back when he can.”
“I know that, too,” Leo said with hope in his heart. “But he can’t get into the city. That’s why I think he’ll wait for us at the river outside Jatn to the east. It’s the only place outside the city that we’ve been to together. He helped me bring pelts there when I was in training to become a bookbinder. I think it’s where he’ll go again when he can.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s very wise of you to think. You really are your father’s son. Yes, that does sound like him.”
“I’ve wanted to sleep there each night, but—”
“No, no, no,” she interrupted. “You are far too young to worry about that.” She patted Leo’s shoulder. “Let me take care of finding your father. I will wait by the river every night that I can.”
“Are you sure?”
“Am I sure?” She laughed. “I’m the adult here, Leo. How old are you exactly?”
“Ten,” he said, a little embarrassed.
“You are special indeed, Leo, but you are still young. Yes, I’m completely and utterly sure that it will be me who finds your father.” She seemed to have a genuine smile. “Will you let yourself relax? It seems like that might be hard for you, but you are too young to worry so much.”
