by Jasmine Walt
The figure followed Tan’s gaze down to his sword and pulled the hand away. Raising palms forward, he lowered the hood of his cloak, revealing wavy silver hair and bright eyes. “Just wandering the woods?”
Tan nodded, realizing he still wore his dirty breaches and shirt from his work in the stables. Had Amia seen him this way?
“What villages are near here?”
The question seemed odd. Most traveling through Galen knew it well enough. Near Nor was Velminth, a logging town. Beyond that lay the upper reaches of the Gholund Mountains, deep and twisty mountainous terrain few bothered to travel. The upper passes there would already be seeing the first snow. And beyond the mountains lay the edge of the kingdoms and the border with Incendin.
“Nor,” Tan answered. He positioned himself closer to the road. At least he could move quickly if needed.
The man frowned. “Nor? As in steel?”
He nodded. “Not many bother to work with steel anymore.” There’d been a time when the mines produced enough iron to practically supply the entirety of the kingdoms. That had been long before Tan was born. Now miners managed barely a trickle, though steel made in Nor still had value.
The man patted his sword quickly. “Still useful,” he said. He turned and looked around the woods. “Hunting?” He considered Tan for a moment before shaking off the question. “Not hunting. But not expecting me. Comfortable among the trees.” He spoke mostly to himself.
“The Aeta visited last night. I just watched them leave.”
The man looked up the road, ignoring Tan as he did. “The Aeta?” A curious look crossed his face. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
Tan frowned.
An uncomfortable moment passed before the man turned and smiled again. “I didn’t mean to come upon you like a wild elemental.”
He grinned as if seeing one of the elementals should make sense. From what his father used to say, that might have happened once, but the elementals were even rarer in Galen than shapers.
When Tan didn’t answer, he went on. “I’m looking for a woman from this area. A wind shaper of some strength. She’s gone by many names so I don’t really know what she’s called now.” He shrugged, as if names were unimportant.
Tan shook his head. “We have no shapers in Nor.” Lord Lind would panic if one ever did settle in the area. “We have few enough sensers here.” He said nothing about his ability. What Tan did really couldn’t be considered sensing, not to any real degree. His father had been a senser, but he used as much traditional tracking as he did sensing, combining them more than anything.
The man frowned. “None? There are shapers all along the border.”
“We’re not entirely on the border.”
The man turned and looked to the east, staring into the mountains toward Incendin. “We’re near the mountains. I presumed there would be shapers maintaining the barrier.” The stranger waited for Tan to say something more; when he didn’t, he looked down the slope of the mountain. “Can you lead me to Nor?”
Tan debated briefly. While he could follow the Aeta farther, he’d be doing so without a knife or a bow. Or even a skin of water. And the stranger could just as well follow the road into town. “You won’t find your shaper there. Not much other than a few old smiths and a cranky manor lord.” As soon as he said it, he wished he could take it back.
The man eyed him but thankfully didn’t comment.
They started off. Tan took him on a direct route, bypassing the road. “You said you are searching for a shaper?”
The man nodded.
“What’s she like?”
“Don’t really know anymore. She was lovely when I knew her, but fierce. She had this dark, flowing hair and olive skin…” He trailed off and shook his head. “But it was her laugh that truly made her beautiful.”
“You knew her well?”
The man simply shrugged. “Once.”
“She was a wind shaper?”
The stranger nodded. “One of the strongest I’ve met.”
“You’ve met a lot of shapers?” That meant he likely came from Ter or Vatten. Maybe even Ethea, but if he was from the capital, why had he traveled by himself?
“Many.”
“Where? Ethea?”
They climbed down a steep slope. The man followed him easily, moving with a limber grace that told Tan he wasn’t a stranger to woods like these.
“There. And other places,” he said.
Tan grabbed a thick sapling as he started down another slope. “Ever meet any warriors?” Cloud Warriors, the most prized shapers, could shape all of the elements. That was how the last Incendin war had been won.
The stranger laughed. “There aren’t any warriors. Haven’t been for nearly a decade.”
“Why?” Tan’s father used to tell of how he’d seen some of the great warriors when he’d trained in Ethea, back when they’d been called into battle to defend the kingdoms. Shapers so skilled they could practically walk across the sky, shaping themselves into the clouds.
“Few enough are born sensers. Fewer still can become shapers. Warriors have to master all the elements.”
They fell back into silence for long moments as they drifted toward the edge of the forest. Nor opened up in front of them, spreading far below. The stranger arched a brow at him. Tan shrugged and started down, sliding on his heels as he made his way down the steep embankment. Near the bottom of the hill, he waited. The stranger followed closely behind, not struggling as much as Tan would have expected.
“So how do you know so many shapers?”
The stranger shrugged. “Happens in my line of work.”
Tan laughed. “What line of work is that?”
The man laughed. “You don’t know?”
Tan shook his head.
“Thought you recognized the ring,” he said, pointing to the silver band on his first finger.
Now that he saw it, Tan still didn’t understand. He thought he’d seen it in one of his father’s books before, but couldn’t remember where. He shook his head.
The man grunted. “There was a time when a man recognized the mark of the Athan.”
Athan. That was a term he recognized. Direct servants of the king. They spoke with his word, his voice. Only five Athan served at a time. But why would King Althem send one to Galen?
8
Tainted Name
The Athan was quiet as Tan led him to the manor house. Tan didn’t bother interrupting, especially not now. He shot occasional glances down to the man’s ring, but didn’t dare let his eyes linger.
Once the man caught him looking and smiled. Tan turned away, a hot flush rising in his cheeks, and glanced at the cloudless sky. The sun pressed toward the tops of the trees, unseasonable heat coming with it. No wind whistled through town. Sweat slicked his arms and back.
Bread rising somewhere made Tan’s stomach rumble. He’d been gone most of the day again, though this time not tracking anything as dangerous as the hounds. But atop the scent of bread lingered a sharp stink of sweat. Amia probably had been happy to leave Nor.
Lins Alles emerged from the shadows near the manor house as they approached. His eyes were red and bloodshot and his hair disheveled. Probably just getting up now. He saw Tan and sneered before turning and staggering away, probably still drunk from the night before.
Tan sighed.
“Not a friend?” the man asked.
He shook his head. “Not a friend.” How far would Lins push him now? Tan couldn’t really fight back—not against Lins and certainly not when he was with his friends—but Lins wouldn’t let last night’s insult slide by without additional comment.
“Who is he?”
“Lins Alles.”
The stranger watched Tan as they walked the last few steps in silence before pausing at the doorway to the manor house. As Tan set his hand to the doorknob, the stranger laid his hand atop his. Tan stiffened, fearful of what the Athan might say. The voice of the king could punish him with only a word.
>
“You empower him when you fear him.”
Tan swallowed. He didn’t fear Lins—not yet—but eventually he would inherit the manor house. “It’s not empowerment.” Tan took his hand from the door. “It’s entitlement.”
The stranger tipped his head, frowning.
“Lins Alles, son of Lord Lind. Manor Lord of Nor.” Tan eyed the Athan, waiting for his response.
“I see.” The stranger’s frown deepened. “But that’s not all.”
Tan shook his head and laughed softly, glancing over to where Lins had disappeared. “Lins thought to impress an Aeta girl by insulting me last night.”
“Did it work?” The man’s tone indicated he knew it wouldn’t.
“She insulted him in kind. He didn’t care for it. I think he blames me.”
The stranger’s silver eyebrows raised and he chuckled. “That young man needs to learn a few lessons about impressing women. Particularly one of the Aeta.”
“Don’t we all,” Tan said.
The stranger’s laugh deepened and he clapped Tan on the shoulder.
Tan pushed open the door and led the man through the hall. From his frequent visits to see his mother, he knew the way toward Lord Lind’s office. At this time of day, he was likely there.
“I’m fortunate you know the house so well.”
“My mother works for Lord Lind. Came here after my father died. Called by the king to fight an Incendin insurgence to the south. He didn’t return.” Tan made a point of looking at the stranger.
“What was his name?”
Tan frowned. Why did this man care? “Grethan Minden.”
The stranger didn’t have the opportunity to question any further and Tan was more than relieved to let the topic drop. As they reached the door to Lord Lind’s room, he knocked firmly, uncertain if the lord would even be in his office at this time of day. Then he’d have to go to his mother to find him. He didn’t look forward to that.
“Enter.”
The door muffled the words. Tan swung it open to reveal Lord Lind’s office, intending to leave the Athan and depart; there was still the matter of the hounds and Cobin might take Heller and leave without him. When he turned to leave, the stranger placed a hand upon his back, pressing him forward.
“Introduce me,” he whispered.
Tan tried to turn but could not. “Lord Lind,” he said as he entered, nodding carefully. Tan had never presented himself to Lind without his mother present and he was uncertain how Lind would react. Lord Lind’s feelings for his mother might not extend to her son.
Lind looked up from his desk and stared at Tan for a long moment. Then he looked at the Athan, eyeing his odd clothing and the sword at his hip. “What is this?”
A nervous sweat beaded upon his back. “This is…” he trailed off, realizing he didn’t even know the man’s name.
“Roine,” the Athan whispered.
Tan licked suddenly dry lips. “Roine,” he continued. “He requested an audience with you.”
Lind sniffed, motioning toward the door. “I don’t have time for this, son.” He spoke with a stern sort of annoyance and waved him away.
The statement bothered Tan more than it should. “My lord—”
Lind shook him off. “If you think my relationship with your mother grants you privilege—”
Tan interrupted, feeling a surge of irritation mixed with anger. Relationship? Tan didn’t think they had more than a passable working rapport, but what if it was more than that? “Lord Lind. He comes from King Althem.”
Lind glared briefly at Tan before turning his attention to the stranger, seeming to consider his dress once more before dismissing him. “And you believed him? Any simpleton could claim the king sent him. You may go.” He turned back to look at his desk.
The stranger set a hand upon his shoulder, pressing him back. “Thank you,” he whispered. There was an unexpected mirth to his tone. Tan suspected the stranger had just learned all he needed to know about Lord Lind.
With a flourish, he pulled a rolled parchment from a hidden pocket, presenting it forward while leaning toward Lind. He cleared his throat to get Lind’s attention. A gold seal was obvious from where Tan stood and from Lind’s expression, he recognized it as well. But it was the ring his eyes lingered on the longest, the mark of the Athan. “I assure you I am sent by Althem,” he said. “He sends his greetings to his loyal manor lord and requests your assistance in this matter.”
Lind stood and took the parchment. Shaking his head as he unsealed it, he quickly read the words within before looking up and eyeing Roine strangely. Finally, he rolled the parchment back up and returned it to Roine. “I don’t have what you seek.”
Roine cocked his head and smiled, more teeth than not. “No, I did not think you would.”
Lind muttered something quietly under his breath.
“What was that, my lord?” Roine asked.
“I said I did not think our king has seen this part of Galen in years.”
Roine shrugged. “Perhaps not. I don’t often know the mind of Althem, but speak as his Voice. He has asked for your service and assistance as I travel through your land.”
Lind stared at Roine, his eyes darting again down to the ring before answering. “Of course I serve the king.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
Lind blinked. “You will not be impeded in your search.”
Roine frowned. “And that wasn’t the request.”
Lord Lind took a slight step back at the admonishment. “You will have what you need.” Lord Lind motioned toward Tan. “Take him to Ephra. She can help him with what he needs.”
It was a dismissal.
The Athan considered Lord Lind with a mixture of amusement and irritation, before following Tan away from the office. “That was unfortunate,” he said as they made their way down the hall.
Tan said nothing. It didn’t pay to get involved in the king’s business.
The Athan looked over at him and chuckled. “You don’t need to fear me. Though your Lord Lind should remember he serves at the king’s leisure.” As they neared his mother’s door, he turned to Tan. “Whom did he send me to? Who’s Ephra?”
Tan knocked and, hearing his mother’s voice inside, paused before entering. “My mother.”
The Athan chuckled again.
His mother sat behind her desk, her pen scratching quickly along a parchment, looking strangely like Lord Lind sitting at his desk. She looked up, glancing at Tan before looking back to her parchment. “A moment, Tan,” she started, then caught herself and looked up again, seeing the Athan as if for the first time. Her eyes skimmed over him, catching on his ring. She raised her brow ever so slightly, such that Tan was not sure he saw it. Had that been recognition in her eyes?
“What is it?” She set her pen down upon the desk and looked at Tan, ignoring the stranger.
“Mother.” Tan glanced at Roine. The Athan wore a blank look, completely unreadable. “This is Roine, Athan to the king.”
“Lord Lind should meet with the Athan, not I.”
“He did. He requested your help.”
His mother frowned. “You have already been to Lind,” she said softly, dropping the formality of the title. “How is it you present him, Tannen?” She looked past Tan and at the Athan as she spoke.
Tan decided to answer quickly. Anything he said now risked angering his mother more. “I met Roine in the forest.” She frowned deeply at him. “I finished my chores this morning and followed the Aeta as they left town. It was along the road to Velminth that I encountered Roine.”
“The Aeta have already left?”
It was not the question Tan expected. “Early this morning.”
“Toward Velminth?”
Tan nodded again.
“And you met Roine along the road?” She said his name with a strange inflection. The stranger smiled.
“My lady,” Roine said, bowing his head slightly. “You son was kind enough to lead me to Nor. I have
learned much from him.”
His mother sniffed and then lightly shook her head before finally laughing quietly. “I am sure you have, Roine.” She made a point of pushing his name with the odd inflection. She leaned forward. “What is it you need?”
Roine laughed and stepped inside the door. He tilted his head. “Ephra.” He said her name with the same odd inflection. “Your son has been most helpful. He even secured me an audience with the manor lord.”
“I think as Athan you would have no trouble on your own.”
Roine shrugged. “I didn’t refuse his assistance.”
She snorted. “And what assistance do you require?”
Tan was taken aback by their banter. Like his father, his mother had studied in Ethea. That’s where they’d met. She was a senser, though claimed to have lost much of her ability and never spoke of it. Neither of his parents ever really spoke of their time in the capital, other than to encourage him to go to the university.
Roine smiled at the question. “I came looking for a shaper, one of great power.”
His mother blinked and waited.
“But seeing the Aeta raised a new concern. So it seems I need help.”
“What kind of help?” his mother asked.
Roine pulled the rolled parchment he’d shown Lord Lind and set it on the desk. “I have searched for an item. I thought this shaper I knew could help.” He shrugged. “Perhaps not. But to find it, I need to get through the mountains quickly.”
His mother stared at Roine for a long moment, the silence between them growing slowly palpable. Finally, she took a deep breath. “Why?”
“I was sent by Althem.”
His mother shook her head. “Why?”
“My lady,” Roine began, more to silence her than anything else. His eyes darted briefly to Tan and his mother slowly nodded. Roine shrugged. “There is…an item…that must be found. Everything I can find tells me it will be within Galen.”
His mother unrolled the parchment and smoothed it out. She studied it and then flipped the page over, giving it more attention than Lord Lind had bothered. “This…”
