Northern Storm ac-2

by Juliet E. McKenna

  This residence had never fallen to attack. That was your boast, Chazen Saril. Much good it did you. The wild men’s wizards reduced your mighty catapults to burned wood and melted metal. Redigal Coron’s warriors found the fortress empty, doors standing wide for anyone to walk through.

  Well, you abandoned your people, Saril. They were hardly going to make a stand and die for your sake. A steady stream of laden servants and slaves trudged through the black wooden gate set into a deep recess flanked by angular towers striped with arrow slits. Warriors patrolled the wall, swordsmen and archers, the sun bright on their mail and helmets as they kept watch not only north out to sea but also to east and west where the encroaching forest was kept ruthlessly in check with shears and scythes.

  A fortress to defy any assault, never mind it’s a rainy season residence and we all agree that no wise lord makes war when swords rust in their scabbards and armour rusts on a warrior’s back, when bows break in an archer’s hands, glue and sinew fatally dampened. We all agree, but the histories tell of warlords now and again who have defied such wisdom. Some lost but some won, so we build our towers and ramparts.

  What hindrance will they be to a dragon? Have we gained anything by this unseasonal move, trading the cooling breezes of the south to spend the worst of the dry season heat so hemmed in by trees and hills? Will we end up at each other’s throats as tempers fray when the temperature rises?

  The still air already hung around as hot and heavy as a smothering blanket. He looked about for water and was startled to find Dev at his elbow, proffering a silver cup with a slice of black fig floating in it. ‘You’re right, my lord,’ the barbarian commented, studiedly casual. We can keep a far better guard on the sea lanes from here, just in case any greedy eyes are turned to our pearl harvest.’

  Nice by, Dev, reminding all the listening ears that we’ve had good fortune to balance the unprecedented evil of the dragon’s arrival. But there’s nothing to be gained by running from an unpalatable truth.

  ‘And we can escape the beast in the forests and hills if it dares to come here,’ Kheda added. ‘If it comes before we have the trick of defeating it, my lord,’ Dev countered dutifully.

  Kheda looked up beyond the towers of the residence to the steep mountains running east to west and dividing this third largest of the domain’s islands. With the morning mist long since burned off by the fierce sun, the ragged uplands were a daunting prospect, sheer heights thrust through the trees shrouded by an all-concealing cloak of vines. Here and there pale rock clawed through to the open air, pitted and stained and sheltering hollows of black mystery. At the water’s edge, the high ground broke apart in two distinct ridges falling into sluggish seas sheltered from the southern winds by the bulk of the island. The residence was set in the fan of flat land between them, the beach defences running the full length of the shore between the shattered headlands. There were no paths, no tracks over the heights to give any aid to an enemy trying to attack from the landward side of the island.

  The warlord sniffed as the fickle breeze brought a faint reminder of the fetid, humid, swamp-choked islands spreading to the north and east.

  That must be where the people hereabouts fled from the wild men’s invasion. There must be provision for keeping a hidden boat somewhere, a fast galley for the warlord and his family.

  ‘The people of this island and the residence saved themselves and much of Chazen’s wealth from the trials of last year,’ he observed to Dev and for the benefit of the listening oarsmen. ‘Make sure you bring me the names of all those who deserve rewarding.’ Do you understand me? Firstly, let’s remind these people that they lived through such terrifying trials once. Secondly, let’s find out exactly how they did it, in case we need to flee a worse foe. ‘Indeed, my lord.’ Dev bowed smoothly. ‘Are you ready to go ashore?’

  Kheda nodded and they walked back towards the stern platform, past the heavy trireme’s warriors sitting cross-legged on the side decks. Kheda noted the resolution on their faces as they scoured imperfections from swords and daggers with oil and whetstone or buffed mail to brilliant silver with dampened cloths dipped in harsh sand. He beckoned to Shipmaster Mezai as they reached the helmsman, who was sitting with hands resting lightly on his twin steering oars.

  ‘As soon as you’re resupplied, patrol the waters hereabouts. Tell the local villages’ fishermen to keep a good watch on the lesser sea lanes as well, just in case someone thinks all our attention will be on the south and west and they can sneak through while our backs are turned.’

  ‘Yes, my lord.’ Mezai nodded, then hesitated. ‘And what—’

  Kheda snapped his fingers and Dev knelt to open a sturdy coffer waiting to go ashore along with the warlord’s physic chest. ‘The dragon’s shown no inclination to attack any sizeable vessels, but if it shows any undue interest in you, see if you can distract it with these.’ Dev handed Kheda a soft leather pouch, which he passed straight to Mezai. ‘The beast seems to crave gems. I doubt you’d get it to quench its own fires by diving for them, so have your best archers shoot them on to some shore, then make a run for it.’ Kheda shrugged. Not that I imagine it will show itself this far north. It still seems more interested in pursuing the last of the savages in the west.’

  ‘Evil bringing its own fate down on itself, my lord.’ Dev secured the jewel chest and stood up. ‘We’ll hope that holds true, my lord.’ Mezai sounded more hopeful than certain, though.

  ‘There’s no disgrace in running from a dragon.’ Dev grinned. Do you think there’s any ship in any domain that wouldn’t do the same?’

  Kheda gripped Mezai’s shoulder, looking him in the eye. ‘I’ll want you and your ship ready when the Green Turtle gets back. Then we’ll pursue the beast with whatever lore they might have in the north for driving such predators away.’

  ‘Can’t be that difficult, if barbarians can do it.’ Mezai made a valiant attempt at a joke but there was suspicion in his eyes as he glanced at Dev.

  ‘Let’s be thankful we had a barbarian to hand to remind us they’re plagued with dragons in the north, along with their wizards,’ said Kheda with casual indifference. ‘And since there are still barbarian kings and princes uneaten to trade with the northern Archipelago, they must have some means to stop the beasts laying waste to their lands.’

  ‘There haven’t been dragons around the Cape of Winds in three generations, my lord,’ Dev assured him obsequiously. Not since the last of them was hunted down and killed.’

  ‘And since barbarians can never resist bragging, doubtless there’ll be some record of such events in one or other of the domains that touch on the barbarian waters.’ Mezai looked around to make sure his crew weren’t forgetting that.

  ‘Indeed.’ Kheda paused, as if a thought had just occurred to him. ‘Of course, we’ll keep the beast’s lust for gems to ourselves. If it chases any other domain’s ships and they don’t know how to distract it, that will serve them right for encroaching on our waters, won’t it?’

  ‘Yes, my lord.’ There was some distaste in Mezai’s assent.

  Kheda took one last discreet look at the trireme’s crew as he turned to climb down the ladder to a waiting rowing boat. There were some unfriendly eyes following Dev as the supposed slave waited near the stern ladder.

  Are you all reassured by my apparent confidence or wondering if I am an utter fool to rely on a barbarian slave’s word? I certainly don’t know what we’ll do if the dragon turns up to prey on Chazen’s more densely populated islands. How many jewels does it take to buy a life from the beast? Will pandering to it just encourage it to stay where there are such easy pickings?

  ‘We’ll go to the courier-dove lofts as soon as we’re ashore,’ he said briefly to Dev as the barbarian climbed carefully into the boat. ‘I want to know exactly what’s happening in the west. There should be dispatches from the Mist Dove by now.’

  ‘Indeed, my lord.’ Dev waited as the jewel coffer and physic chest were lowered from the trireme and stowed them s
afely beneath the little boat’s stern thwart. Kheda shifted his feet and glanced at the two youths side by side on the central thwart.

  Are you reassured to see me in silks, apparently confident that I don t need armour here in the heart of my domain? Or have you heard that I lost my hauberk thanks to the dragon?

  Kheda carefully drew the fronts of his sleeveless mantle of midnight-blue gossamer across the knees of his emerald silk trousers. The overgarment was sewn with pale-green feathers around the shoulders and hem, matching the panels of embroidery on the front and back of his round-necked tunic, where azure roundels of feathers each framed a hawk’s head.

  I remember this mantle. So now I’ve taken Saril’s clothes as well as his domain, his residences and his remaining wife. And my erstwhile wife took his life. Are the people here going to look me in the eye or spit in it?

  ‘Let’s get your lord ashore,’ Dev said breezily to the rowers.

  The two youths shared a dubious glance before leaning into their oars, keeping their eyes on their own feet as they rowed.

  Kheda felt Dev stir beside him and saw the barbarian open his mouth, a glower cutting a deep line between his angular black brows. Kheda silenced him with an unceremonious elbow to the ribs. One of the rowers looked up only to drop his gaze immediately as he caught the warlord’s mildly questioning gaze.

  Noise all around pressed in on their tense silence.

  Crewmen from the great galleys shouted instructions to the islanders down in their little boats. Warning calls rang out as unwieldy loads were manhandled down the steep stairs fixed on either side of the massive ships’ sterns.

  Muffled hammering floated out of the oar ports as the ever-toiling carpenters laboured in the hidden holds.

  Above decks, rowers were making good wear and tear sustained by rowlocks and oar sleeves.

  There were small open galleys with just a single bank of oars and fishing skiffs everywhere. More had followed in their wake from every village the warlord’s fleet had passed on the voyage to Esabir.

  Are you hoping my presence will somehow protect you from the dragon? I’ll do all I can, but are there enough jewels in the domain to turn its attention from so much easy meat?

  ‘Looks like life got back to normal hereabouts pretty swiftly’ Dev was watching the local fishermen vying for space on the beach, eager to sell their loads of crab and lobster to Itrac’s household cooks. ‘This was one of the last islands taken by the savages,’ Kheda said neutrally. ‘And one of the first to be relieved by Redigal Coron’s ships.’

  ‘We’re not going to go hungry, are we?’ Dev watched flat-bottomed boats rowed by local women in gaily patterned gowns bringing baskets piled high with all manner of leafy greens or succulent roots brushed carefully free of soil. Other boats carried crates of ducks or village fowl blinking balefully at trussed braces of silver jungle birds, their heads hanging limply from deftly wrung necks. ‘Look, my lord,’ he said fervently. ‘Red meat.’ He pointed to the motionless dappled flank of a hill deer still tied to the pole some hunting party had used to carry it out of the forest.

  ‘It was an honour to serve you, my lord.’ As the rowing boat grounded on the steep beach, the two boys hastily drew their oars inboard and leapt out to drag the unwieldy vessel ashore as far as they could. ‘Thank you.’ Kheda walked carefully up the boat to climb over the prow. Dev.’

  Hearls turned on all sides, conversations fading away. Kheda nodded and smiled to islanders and residence servants who stopped in their tracks to bow low. He glanced back to see Dev loftily rewarding the two boys with a few tokens from the pearl harvest before recovering the warlord’s jewel and physic chests.

  ‘What now?’ Dev hurried to catch up, the twin coffers balanced on his muscular shoulders.

  ‘We accept our welcome with all the pleasure we can muster.’ Kheda continued smiling to all sides as they gathered an eager train of islanders and children wide-eyed with excitement. We want these people as pleased to see us as we are to see them.’

  These people who served Chazen Saril long and loyally, who haven’t seen me for more than a day at a time because

  / still feel such an interloper here. Am Ito try buying their loyalty with pearls just as I try to buy that dragon s forbearance with gems?

  They passed beneath the vicious maw of the sea gate where three separate portcullises hung ready to slice down through the arching vault pierced with holes promising a rain of death by spears, boiling water or worse for any enemy caught between them. The compound beyond the beach wall was thronged with activity as newly arrived servants and those who remained here year round scurried to make everything fit for the warlord and his lady. Bows were rapid, even perfunctory, and no one paused to trail after Kheda. Goats tethered here and there to keep the grass cropped short watched all the activity with slant-eyed indifference.

  ‘Is there a back way out of this rat trap?’ Dev glanced uneasily at the fortifications ahead and behind. ‘There must be. Chazen Saril may have sought peace but his forefathers didn’t overmuch.’ Kheda looked ahead to the residence. ‘That’s something you need to find out. And you had better make sure you know your way around by nightfall, for both our sakes. I won’t inspire much confidence if I get lost in my own residence.’

  ‘You’ve been here before, haven’t you?’ Dev objected.

  Not recently and never for very long,’ Kheda admitted ruefully. ‘And then I always had Telouet to show me where to go.’

  ‘Yes, he was everyone’s friend, was Telouet,’ said Dev, a trifle sourly. ‘Let’s hope they’re willing to let me in on their secrets.’

  ‘You’re my personal slave, whatever else you may be,’ Kheda said crisply. ‘Remind them of that, if need be, but keep yourself in check.’

  It’s bad enough that preparing the ground for Risak’s return with tales of banishing dragons from the wizard—

  plagued north has reminded everyone that you’re a barbarian in their midst. We cannot have anyone suspecting that you’re anything more.

  Are we far enough away from the fire mountains in the centre of Esabir, in case the dragon does appear and you lose control of your magic again? If it does, and you do, you’ll lose your head and hide for it, do you realise that?

  ‘Maybe I should grow a beard,’ Dev muttered. ‘Show them all I’m properly tamed.’

  ‘It’s probably better if they carry on thinking you’re zamorin,” Kheda said frankly.

  ‘You don’t think they’ll wonder why you trust your safety to some castrated lapdog?’ the barbarian said softly, mocking. ‘Maybe there’ll be a maidservant here who I can bed to put paid to that worry—with your permission, naturally, my lord. Saedrin knows, I wouldn’t mind easing the ache in my stones.’

  Not unless you can swear to me you don’t talk in your sleep,’ Kheda shot back as they strode across the greensward.

  ‘It’s all right for you; you can take that prize piece to bed any time you choose.’ Dev slid the chests he was carrying down to the ground with a sigh of relief and bowed low. Kheda ignored the barbarian’s insolence as Itrac emerged from the main gate of the residence. Servants scattered in all directions as she hurried towards them, something white clutched in one hand.

  ‘My lady.’ Kheda hurried to meet her, a chill running through him despite the heat of the day. ‘Is there some news from the west? From the Mist Dove?’

  ‘What? Oh, no.’ Itrac was dressed in all the elegance befitting a domain’s first wife. Her trousers of green silk were patterned with intricate flowers of blue and gold, a tunic of the same cloth fitted close to her body, emphasising her slenderness. The neckline plunged to her breastbone, cloth caught with golden clasps, emphasising the swell of her modest breasts. Strings of sapphires and emeralds swathed her elegant neck, her eyes vivid with sapphire and emerald cosmetics.

  The sun struck blue and green fire from her rings as she brushed at her intricately braided hair.

  For all her finery, she looks no more than a child, and a
child caught in some mischief not of her making. ‘What is it?’ Kheda held out his hands. ‘My beloved wife,’ he added for the benefit of slaves and servants frozen in their bustle on all sides.

  ‘I find an unlooked-for letter from Daish awaiting us.’ Itrac crushed the reed paper with an audible crackle. At her heels, Jevin was scowling openly.

  ‘Concerning our invitation?’ Kheda raised his voice a little. ‘That Rekha Daish join us at the Equinox, so she might take word of the auguries in this domain back to her lord, that he might compare them with the fortunes written in Daish skies?’

  ‘When I would have the household prepared to welcome her properly.’ Itrac’s hand trembled and Kheda saw a torrid confusion of emotion in her eyes. When I would have refreshed my memory as to Chazen’s various trading accounts with Daish. But it seems we are to expect their beloved lady tonight.’

  ‘Are we?’ Kheda managed to keep his tone light. ‘What an unexpected pleasure.’ He didn’t mind anyone hearing the cynicism in his voice.

  ‘More unexpected than you know, my lord.’ Emboldened by Kheda’s reaction, Itrac let slip a hint of irritation. ‘We are to entertain that domain’s first lady, Janne Daish, not Rekha. We had better make haste to make ready.’

  No, we’ll make ready as and when we see fit.’ Kheda resolutely avoided looking at the household servants and slaves as Itrac’s mouth opened with surprise. ‘Our household has worked hard with this unexpected move from the south. I’m not inclined to repay their efforts with yet more demands. He shrugged with unconcern. ‘If we’re not ready to receive Janne Daish when she arrives, she can stay aboard her galley. It’s her choice to arrive earlier than invited.’

  A deliberate choice, I’ve no doubt, to throw Itrac off balance, on to the back foot with mortified apologies for shortcomings in her hospitality.

  ‘You’re right, my husband.’ Itrac lifted her chin, face serene. ‘Our people serve us well and deserve our consideration. Chazen concerns outweigh those of Daish.’ Behind her, Jevin was now grinning widely.