by Paul Heisel
“You wouldn’t make it.”
Feln looked at the green bushes.
“I didn’t mean to startle you, but if you’re going to wander around in the shadows, you had better be prepared for some of us having the skills to find you.”
“How did you find me?”
“It’s not really a matter of seeing, I had an inkling you were near. Plus, you made noise sliding down the wall. Now how you concealed yourself completely from me…”
“But you couldn’t see me, could you?”
“Not in the normal sense, no. I sensed you were close by.”
Feln stepped forward to the gardener. He pointed toward the manor. The structure was illuminated by flickering lights. No one could approach the manor without being seen by the guards. He guessed there may be a few questions from the guards because they hadn’t seen him depart the manor, but he was the Most Favored, he could do what he pleased without question. Besides, there wouldn’t be anyone brave enough to question his actions or anyone foolish enough to claim he had not seen the Most Favored walking out of the manor. As far as he was concerned, he was outside talking to the gardener about the grounds.
“Tea?” Feln asked.
“Tea?”
“Stronger drink then – ale, wine?”
“That sounds better.”
“I want more answers,” Feln said. “Though I’m not sure it is wise consulting with the gardener. I'm not sure you would put our family above those plants you love so much.”
Nar chuckled. “You are absolutely correct.”
They walked to the manor, announcing their presence to the guards stationed at the front. The guards, as Feln suspected, were not concerned they hadn’t seen Feln leave the manor, nor did they seem to care that the gardener was with him.
“I need a person I can trust. I need an advisor,” Feln said as they went indoors. “Advisors from Safun will take a month to get here. A month!”
“I’m not that person, that isn’t my role. But I’ll do what I can to help. You must trust me, though, and trust my judgment.”
“I’ll try.”
“It’s a start.”
Emato appeared from nowhere. The man looked disheveled and tired. He perked up when he saw one of his staff talking with Feln.
“Nar, what are you doing? There is no reason for you to bother the Most Favored at this time of night. Back to your quarters!”
Feln put his hand up to silence Emato. “No need to dismiss him. I have a few things to discuss with Nar.”
The sound Emato made was part grumble and part sigh. He crossed his arms. “What does the gardener have to discuss the Most Favored of Safun?”
Feln clasped his arm around Nar’s shoulder and shook him as if he were a long-lost friend. The man was solid muscle. Feln was sure Nar could yank a tree, roots and all, right out of the ground if he wanted.
“I’ve decided that if I’m going to stay here for a while, I want to make changes to the outside. Have wine and food brought to the study. Nar and I have much to go over. I saw flowers at the Emperor’s palace today that were astonishing.” Expecting a negative retort, Feln prepared to put Emato in his place. There was no negative reply, no sigh of disgust, nor any sign that Emato was disappointed. He smiled and bowed.
“It’s good to have a Most Favored in residence. This place needs life. They weren’t pink, were they?”
“No. Red.”
“Wonderful. I detest pink.”
“Indeed,” said Nar, eyebrows raised. “Red it shall be.”
#
For the next several days, Feln spent time learning more about the family and the politics of Pyndira. Nar coached Feln and taught him about the families and the provinces they ruled. It was a rich history filled with conflict, as he knew from his prior studies of Pyndira, and Feln was beginning to understand why his family was the enforcer. It wasn’t because they had special abilities or because they were righteous above all others, it was because thousands of years ago his predecessors volunteered to do the job. Nar also agreed that Feln needed to go to Safun, and once there, he would understand more of what the Xialao family was about. He could try to explain it, but nothing worked better than receiving it straight from the source. During their discussions, they began devising escape plans. Everything they thought of was fraught with problems though. There wasn’t a good way for them to get out of the estate without having to fight their way through the Emperor’s soldiers. After a few days, they decided a solution would present itself, and if did, they would have to act immediately on it. Perhaps there would be a big enough diversion to pull the soldiers away for a short time.
Finally, Nar spoke to Feln about his mother. She was a lively person with energy and a quick wit, though quick to anger at times. She had a great sense of justice and dispensed it in a brutal fashion. Nar knew that she often had the worst offenders executed as she didn't believe imprisonment was a deterrent to future terrible criminal acts. What he knew of her personal life was little - she was private and had no husband that they knew of, and many were surprised when her belly had swollen with child. She did explain to them that she was married in to a man in Malurrion, but that was all that she said. One day she disappeared and never came back.
#
Feln became restless and spent time training with the guards in the compound. They were smart warriors, defensive, cautious, and mindful of their duty to him. He thought if Safun’s warriors were like this, there was no reason for him to fear anything. They were excellent fighters, as good as any he had seen in the Accord of the Hand. The sweat poured down his face and Feln bowed to his sparring partner, Kibe. They were outside in a brick-paved area in front of the manor with the sun streaming through the fruit trees. Workers moved from here to there, planting new evergreen trees and short, stubby shrubs at Nar's direction. Nar never tired of working with the soil. Feln took comfort in his good luck, as Nar was a person he could count on, and they had become good friends.
“Why don't you spar with us?” Feln asked.
“There is no need for that,” Nar answered.
“One of the housemaids told me that she saw you practicing by yourself. Training with partners is a better way to hone your skills.”
“Some other time.”
“He's too old anyway,” said Kibe, who was lanky, quick, and sure of himself. “Old and slow.”
The workers sniggered. The group of guards laughed. Feln didn't laugh for Nar's benefit, he held his smile back as best he could. This was going to be good, as he would get to see Nar show his qualities.
Nar threw down his tools and unclipped his gardener's belt. He removed his wide brimmed straw hat and tossed it aside, then removed his shirt. His shoulders were broad and the tan lines were as distinct as the garish scars on his chest. There were more muscles on Nar than Feln thought possible. The gardener discarded his sandals, preferring bare feet apparently. Feln thought, Kibe was going to get his ass kicked.
At the weapon rack Nar grabbed three bokken, wooden practice swords that resembled katanas, and he threw one of them to Kibe. The guard caught the blade at the handle and twirled it expertly.
“Katana's aren't my expertise,” Kibe said, “but I can manage against an old man.”
Feln watched Nar with the two blades, wondering if he was going to use a bokken in both hands. That would be something to see. His hope turned to dread as Nar lobbed the sword toward him. He caught it, but didn't twirl it like Kibe had.
“Leave me out of this,” Feln said.
“Too late,” Nar said, and he was upon them.
The bokken came hammering down at Kibe, the guard had a fraction of a second to bring his blade to bear defensively. He moved back, retreating, trying to find a better angle, defending Nar's expert downward strokes. Feln moved in, figuring if Nar wanted to fight two opponents, then he would get two opponents. With rhythm and aggression, Feln attacked Nar's hip. The gardener's bokken flashed, somehow, blocked Feln's attack and in a blur, blocked Kibe'
s riposte. Feln circled toward a better position, intent on making Nar choose an opponent. Kibe understood what Feln was doing and circled the other direction. In mid stride, Nar feigned going after Feln, reversed direction and brought his blade down so hard that Feln was astonished the wood didn't shatter against Kibe's bokken. Though Kibe had blocked the attack, it was all he could do, and Nar's foot landed squarely on his chest and the blow sent him sprawling onto his backside.
Feln attacked, knowing if he didn't finish Nar now he wouldn't be able to best him in single combat. His blade came down and just before impact Nar rolled forward out of range. Feln's bokken struck the paved ground and reverberated in his hands. Kibe was getting up, and the rolling Nar whacked him good across the top of the head. Kibe yelped in pain and stayed down. Nar squared off against Feln, both attacking with strikes and cuts that would have been fatal with if not blocked. Again Nar hammered down, his strength increasing with each blow. Feln detected a pattern to the blows, anticipated, blocked, then he became the aggressor. There was a chance he could finish this and be the victor. Nar moved to the side elegantly, clattered Feln's blade away, then lunged. The blunt tip of the bokken hit flesh and bone, stinging Feln. A killing blow through his chest.
Kibe was rolling to his feet and grasping his aching head. Once he was up he bowed to Nar, and his mouth stayed shut. Feln turned and did the same, braving the pain in his ribs as he bowed.
“Old and slow,” Nar murmured. “Better that than young and stupid.”
A shrill cry echoed in the distance. The three of them drew their eyes up into the dreamy blue sky to find the source of the shriek. Winging from the direction of the palace at full speed was a dragon. It neared and blotted out the sun as it turned, the full breadth of its wings filling the air as it descended. The workers scattered for protection. Feln stood there, not sure what was happening as the red beast flew over the manor’s walls. Nar was next to him in an instant, his bokken held protectively. Astonishingly enough, it was Sli descending on the estate. The dragon came to a swift landing, his claws ripping through the grass and the new shrubs. Once balanced, he trotted forward and destroyed the landscaping with his sword-like claws. Rows of new red flowers were crushed and the new evergreens met a similar fate. “I have come to serve you once and only once,” Sli said, his voice harsh and tainted with anger.
“Do you expect me to believe you? This is probably another trick. Are you going to take me high into the sky and drop me from a thousand feet if I don’t agree to an alliance?”
“No tricks. The Warlord of Pyndira helped me and we reached several agreements. I’m still bound to the Emperor’s will and still serve the Emperor faithfully. The Warlord asked me to come here as soon as I was strong enough.” The dragon settled into a more comfortable position, destroying more of the grass and landscaping. Nar took the bokken and threw it in disgust.
“What is your bidding Most Favored?”
There was no question, and Feln knew where he had to go. “Take me to Safun.”
“We’ll take care of things here,” Nar said. “Send word when you arrive.”
Emato appeared from inside the manor rushing to Feln.
“Emato, I’m leaving for Safun,” Feln said. “I trust you can keep things well run around here until I return?” If I return, he thought.
“What do you want to take with you?”
“Everything I brought with me.” He looked at the dragon’s scaly neck and torso, and it looked as if Sli had been in a battle. The dragon had freshly healed wounds. “Can we find a saddle that will fit Sli?”
“I am not your horse!” the dragon boomed. He was in an awful mood. His shifting weight toppled a shrub. “I haven’t worn a saddle in twenty years! I'm not about to start now!”
“We’ll think of something,” said Nar. “Go, get ready for your journey. I don't think we have much time. Guards, make sure the front gate stays shut!”
The guards sprinted at Nar's command.
“Nar, I want you to come with me,” Feln said. “Two can ride Sli.”
The gardener shook his head and pulled Feln aside for a more private conversation. “I can’t, even if I wanted to.”
“You’ll need to explain this to me. If you don't, then you have no choice but to come with me.”
“My name is Narneth.”
It took a few seconds to register. He could hear Suun talking about her being the daughter of Narneth, a man slain in battle. Narneth. He had taken the name of Suun's father. “Your family thinks you are dead.”
“Exactly. I need to remain dead. I won’t explain everything until I must. If I go to Safun, there will be no hiding from Suun.”
“But you’re Suun’s father,” Feln said. “Don't you want to see your daughter? Wife?”
“I do, but I can't. You'll have to trust me.”
Feln figured he wasn't going to get anywhere with Nar. “I took your name. I apologize. It was the only Pyndiran name I knew.”
“I’m honored you have taken it. My daughter will be honored as well, if not amused by it.”
“Don’t you want to see her?” he asked again.
“More than anything. But I can’t. One day you’ll understand. I’m dead, I should be dead, I should remain dead for now.”
“One day you’ll have to see her, it’s inevitable.”
“I know. You may not understand until you've experienced what our family does. It has to be this way.”
“For now,” Feln added. “There is one thing I want you to do for me while I'm gone.”
“Of course,” Nar answered.
“Train with Kibe and the others. You definitely need it.”
With a shake of his head, Nar departed to find blankets and rope to make a suitable saddle.
The preparations took too long, Feln thought, but there were no signs of the Emperor’s soldiers trying to enter the compound. The gates were secure and his guards kept careful watch for any aggression. None came. He had the Dragonfly katana, food, water, and Nar had affixed several layers of horse blankets to Sli’s neck with stout rope to resemble a saddle. It would have to do for now. They bid him good luck and the collective members of the manor house bowed to the Most Favored as he walked to the dragon. Feln, still sticky and sweaty from training, mounted Sli and took to the skies.
Up they went, higher and higher. The wind pulled against Feln as they flew into the sky. Once clear of the structures, Sli banked and climbed even higher. The ride was more comfortable than before, no chaffing, so Feln settled in for the ride. He didn’t know how long it would take to get to Safun by dragon, but he was happy he was about to find out. Night encroached and they landed in a forest, Sli making so much noise that he was sure any curious creature had fled the area in fear. Feln was hungry, and Sli was the same. As before, Sli went to find food, but only after Feln had removed the horse blankets. Feln set up a camp using the supplies he had, making a shelter near oak trees, creating a bed with the horse blankets, and starting a fire. There were rice and fish cakes, ale to drink and apples for after dinner. After he was sated, he relaxed next to the large oak and waited for Sli to return. There were questions to ask. Later as the fire waned, Sli landed in the clearing and his mass shook the ground. Feln woke from a dozing slumber and sat up at the disturbance. The dragon glistened with water – he must have just come from a river – and settled down with his head next to the fire. He regarded Feln with his yellow eyes. Snorts from his nose fueled the small fire, turning the coals red hot.
“I have questions for you,” Feln said.
“I know you do. Before we speak, though, I have a message from the Warlord of Pyndira. I was to talk to you only when we were alone. The Warlord said that he accepts your personal offer of an alliance, a partnership of men and not of families. He said to tell you that his father won’t listen to him. Thus, he did what he thought was right and sent me to you. There will be punishment leveled at you or your family, both for fleeing and for your perceived part in Chang's murder.”
Leaning forward, Feln put another scrap of wood on the fire. He felt better that a person in this world, who wasn’t part of his family, could show trust. “Thank you Sli for carrying me.”
“It was a condition of my freedom to serve you once,” Sli spoke. “I’m still in the service of the Emperor, commanded by his belt, bound by this metal collar. Still his servant. But at least I will have joy.”
“Tell me what happened since we departed.”
Sli sat up and reached to the nearby trees with his massive claws, and he pushed on a thick tree until it snapped at the base and fell over with a crack. Sli pulled the tree closer to them, stripping off the branches with his razor claws. He propped his head and neck on the log, making himself more comfortable.
“We need to go back a bit further than a few days. The Emperor promised to let me visit my clan if I found you. This was years ago. I wanted time away from the Emperor service, briefly, so I could find a mate, so I can make dragonlings. I told you not so long ago that I’m the Father of the Rose Dragons. We are a strong clan, but I’m needed at home to sire more of our kind. Dragonlings aren’t an everyday occurrence. Time has passed, too much I fear. We shall see.”
“How do you serve the Emperor exactly? Do you fight for him? What?”
“All of the dragon clans serve the Emperor through the magic of his belt, and it has been that way for a long time. The belt commands us, but it doesn’t rule us. For millennia the dragons have served the Emperor in exchange for peace. Our clans and humans used to fight for land and resources. When this war was at its most bloody, a solution was suggested – the Emperor would guarantee peace if the clans gave one dragon, eight in total, to serve the Emperor. It took years of negotiating until an agreement was reached. Dragons were selected from the clans, others volunteered for this service. In those days, the dragons fought for the Emperor, but when dragons died and had to be replaced, additional rules were set forth to avoid the Emperor taking advantage. Now we primarily deliver messages or we bring Most Favoreds to the palace for important gatherings.”
