Sons of Destiny Prequel Series 003 - The Shifter

by Jean Johnson

  Seen from afar, the tea bowl Kenyen had chosen looked deceptively simple. It was a somewhat deep, green-and-blue bowl glazed in the popular crackled style, neither cheap nor overly expensive. That glaze could be applied to stoneware as well as porcelain, though the thin lip and light weight suggested it was porcelain. By the look of it, it wasn't a bad choice for a younger son of a farmer's holding.

  The first clue Solyn had that Kenyen—in his guise of her friend and betrothed, Traver—hadn't simply selected the first tea bowl that looked vaguely acceptable was in the way the elderly priest's brows rose sharply the moment he removed it from the folds of its carrying bag. The Honorable Hennen Vel Guan didn't say a word, though, just picked up the bottle of Sister's Tea she had prepared ages ago, and began his prayers for serenity, prosperity, and fertility as he carefully measured, poured, and whisked the brew on his portable altar table.

  She didn't see just how unusual it was, however, until after she had murmured her acceptance of the man at her side, drinking him symbolically into her life with the first sip. On the second sip, when the opaque green liquid in the cup had tipped far enough to reveal the bottom... her own brows rose sharply as well.

  Below the finger-width rim, glazed in deep blue, the interior revealed the radiant double-whorl petals of a tea blossom carved into the porcelain. In the very bottom of the cup, beneath the clear glaze revealing the purity of the white clay, the maker had embedded a crownai, the small but economically potent gold coin of the Aian continent.

  Placed at the heart of those petals, it represented the pistils and stamens of the flower. Symbolically, something like this was meant to represent the wealth of an eldest son being brought to a marriage—the wealth of a plantation holder's son, at that. Or, if not in land, then in some valued trade skill. Her own father had gifted her mother with one of these bowls, but then Ysander had already completed his journeying years as a young blacksmith before courting the young Reina. He had established his forge and had an income worthy of such a bowl.

  The value of the tea bowl, coin and artistry combined, represented at least half a year's wages for a mere farmer. More than that, for a farmer's fourthborn child. It was an extravagance which should have been beyond easy reach, yet this Kenyen of the Shifterai had managed to pay for it anyway. She didn't know how much he may have hesitated or flinched, but she was sure he was honorable enough to have bought it.

  Draining the last drop of the wedding maschen, she handed the tea bowl to the priest for the traditional reading. The Honorable Hennen had less magic than she did, but many more years of experience in tea readings. The fact that she saw the corner of his mouth quirk up slightly, as well as the eyebrow on that side of his weathered face, reassured her. Whatever he saw, it either pleased or amused him.

  Of course, he said nothing aloud, since Traver's family, hers, and many of the holders who could be spared from up and down the valley had gathered for this impromptu wedding. Instead, he gestured for the two of them to turn and face the gathered witnesses. Held on the trader's yard, several of those holdings had brought large tent awnings, setting them up to shelter the crowd against the misting rain that had followed in the storm's wake.

  "Unto Cora and the Corredai," the priest stated in a firm voice, "I present to you Traver and Solyn, bound as a new family in the bonds of holy marriage, and whose children shall be known as the Tra Sol. May the Goddess bless them and their progeny for many generations to come!"

  Most of the crowd applauded. A few more cheered, calling out blessings, and a few smirked. Notably Tunric, Tarquin, and Zellan, the three shifters Solyn knew about. Not that she could do anything about their smug looks. Behind her, the priest cleaned the tea bowl. In front of her, members of the Nespah Valley lined up to congratulate her and "Traver" on their marriage. She did her best to smile and murmur her thanks, though she flinched inside every time they said the wrong name.

  Eventually the congratulations faded, leaving people hungry for the food placed on tables under some of the awnings. It wasn't a particularly fancy feast, just whatever could be thrown together in a single morning. There was, however, plenty of it. Dumplings both fried and steamed, pasties filled with meat and cheese, grain porridge, fresh vegetables and fruits, a couple of fruit-filled pies, and even some fresh-caught mountain trout. Seated at one of the tables, her shapeshifted husband at her side—that was a thought that would require some getting used to—Solyn tried her best to enjoy the meal.

  The Honorable Hennen came over. With a nod and a smile, he set the marriage bowl on the table between them, with its plain, crackle-glazed outside and fancy, tea blossom and coin inside. It was a tradition to display the marriage tea bowl, so that everyone could see the appropriateness of the groom's choice.

  Hylin, Solyn's aunt, was the first to notice it. Eyes wide, she craned her neck for a better look and exclaimed, "Where in Cora's Peaks did you get that thing, boy?"

  "From the potters in Kallak," Kenyen replied calmly between bites of fish.

  "No, I mean, where did you get the money for this thing?" Hylin asked as others moved closer, drawn by their curiosity at her words. "That bowl is way beyond your means!"

  Kenyen, mindful of who he was supposed to be, confined his reply to a blithe shrug. "Actually, I've been saving money for a long time, now. A thronai here, a thronai there... even an occasional scepterai. All that copper and silver does eventually add up. I consider it proof that I'll always be careful to spend wisely and give my wife the best I can afford."

  "So I take it you'll be buying your own house soon, then?" The question came from Tunric, mine owner and face-stealer.

  Solyn saved Kenyen from answering. "Oh, we're not moving just yet! Traver knows I still have several more things to learn from Mother before I could be considered a Healer in my own right. He'll be moving in with me, for now."

  Covering her hand, Kenyen smiled and added, "It gives me more time to make sure I can afford the best home for my wife. In the meantime, I will respect and honor the generosity of her family in offering a place in their home to me."

  Tunric tightened his mouth for a moment, then leveled a pointed look at the newly wedded groom. "Make sure you do fulfill your obligations, regarding your wife and her family."

  "I consider it my highest priority," Kenyen countered calmly. "Thank you for your kind wishes for us in our marriage."

  Grunting, Tunric turned away without actually giving them any such wishes. Kenyen didn't expect anything else. From what he saw, the men of Mongrel didn't believe in the sanctity and happiness found in marriage, just in the using of women for their own selfish needs. Others moved forward to take his place, thankfully, and the impromptu feast continued.

  The only other sour note came from the red-eyed glares aimed at the couple by Killia Lis Pel. Kenyen could guess why, if she was the young woman the real Traver had been kissing. He gave her an awkward, apologetic smile, which only served to make her run off. I thought Traver said she was now twining with someone else... but it seems she still has feelings for him. Yet another thing I'll have to try to fix, when this is all over...

  Finally alone, with Traver's modest belongings moved into her bedchamber and their supper consumed, Solyn flopped onto her bed. Rubbing her hands over her face, she sighed. "What a fantastically awkward day... Not exactly the wedding day I'd pictured."

  "I'll make it up to you," Kenyen promised. "I'm not sure how, but I will."

  She wrinkled her nose. "I'm not sure how, either—if you keep your voice as quiet as possible, we do have enough privacy to speak freely," she added, giving him a wry smile. "Not that I think my parents or my sister are going to eavesdrop, but you never know."

  He knew what she really meant. Most of his attention was on hanging a toweling cloth over the small, shuttered window that peeked out from the eaves of her family home. There were six rooms upstairs, two bedrooms on either side of the house, a storage room at the front, and a refreshing room at the back. With the refreshing room between
Solyn's and her parents' chambers, and with her sister sleeping on the parental side of the hall, they were as private as they could possibly get. Except the house was a Corredai house, with the upper floor extending into the hillside on which it was built. That meant her bedroom window, while technically on an upper floor, was also technically at ground level.

  With it carefully draped on nails embedded around the frame, the cloth should block out anyone peeking in through the gaps in the shutters. As soon as he was sure they had privacy, Kenyen released the feel of Traver's face and frame. It felt good to be himself. The only thing he didn't change was the voice, lighter and younger-sounding. That was in case someone in Solyn's family came close enough to overhear, though the others had also retired for the night. Joining Solyn on the bed, he flopped onto his back as well.

  "I'm beginning to wonder if I should've chosen a different career," he muttered.

  "Oh?" Solyn asked, curious. "Which one?"

  He grunted. "Acting. I visited you-know-who last night, and his host believed me."

  "Everyone else has been believing you, more or less," she whispered, thinking about his performances as Traver, son of Ysal and Tenaria. That led her back to thoughts of her friend. "How is he doing?"

  Kenyen knew who she meant. "Thinner... paler... He needs to be freed. I don't think we can wait for the paper birds—we're in so deep now, it's going to be beyond awkward, untangling the aftermath."

  "Awkward, yes," Solyn murmured in agreement. She slipped her hand over his, clasping it. Relief trickled through her when he turned his fingers so they could twine with hers. "But we don't have to untangle some parts of it... if we don't want to."

  He could guess what she meant. Feeling the urge to do more than just smile in response, he started to roll toward her. Then stopped himself. Stop and think, Kenyen Sin Siin... Pleasure is brief, but trouble is lasting. You don't have your brother around to make long-term plans for you, so you had better make them... which means we have to do a few slightly more important things first.

  Squeezing her fingers, he sat up again, keeping his voice barely above a whisper. "We should make more birds, just in case the storm dampened the previous ones. And then you should tell me how this... this basket spell of yours will get him free. I think I can remember the shape of the key to his manacles, so I can unlock them, but without a storm to wash away scent..."

  Getting up as well, Solyn followed him to her desk. Her bedchamber wasn't large, and the wall over the writing table was covered in shelves scattered with books on magic. With Traver's things in trunks and baskets taking up half the floor space, she knew she'd need more shelves to store it all. Except it wouldn't be stored here for long. Looking at it, Solyn sighed unhappily.

  "What are we going to do about this?" she asked, gesturing at the baskets and chests.

  Kenyen followed her gaze. He'd already considered this part while packing up the tangible parts of Traver's life. "We'll come clean after they've been caught. Most of them. I'm afraid I don't know every face-stealer in these mountains, yet—what I should do is pick one of them and practice imitating his face, too, to maximize confusion and infiltration. And find out a way to get that girl, Killia, calmed down. And avoid being attacked by your father for all of this, and prove I'm still a worthy enough husband."

  "Where did you get the money for that tea bowl?" Solyn asked, at the mention of his worthiness. She glanced up at the shelf which held the glazed object, then looked at him.

  "I had it on me," he answered, shrugging. "It didn't even cost a tenth of the money I brought. I did buy it with my own face, though, not Traver's. That way I could safely ask questions about the meaning of the various designs, as a foreigner. I didn't know if anyone in that town already knew him. I just... I want him out, and safe. And all of this over and done with, though it's such a mess, with so many secrets..."

  Solyn cupped her hand on his shoulder. "We'll get him out. As for the basket trick, it's a clever levitation enchantment. You tug on the handle to lift or lower whatever the basket can carry. Originally, it was meant for just levitating normal contents, vegetables, flowers, clothing, and even rocks, but the variations in the spellbook I have includes uses for lifting a small human."

  That made him frown. "You have baskets strong enough to carry an adult? He is not a small man. I should know."

  She rolled her eyes. "I'll also apply a spell to reinforce the weavings. I've done it before. Trust me, I know they can carry me." Solyn grinned mischievously. "I tried it out myself a few years back. And for the record, he did, too, though he hadn't finished filling out with muscles at the time. It was one of those things where we, um," she confessed, chuckling quietly, "well, we almost got caught doing something we weren't supposed to."

  "Oh?" Kenyen asked, wondering what amused her so.

  "We were picking plums from the tops of someone's orchard trees."

  She was rather cute when she blushed like that, embarrassed by her confession but also not fully repentant about it. Leaning close, Kenyen kissed her forehead... and realized that, for the first time, he could kiss her without restraint. It took a great deal of willpower to turn away from her instead of take advantage of their new, perfectly legal relationship. Rumpling his hands through his hair, he impatiently pulled his locks out of their braid.

  "Right. Letters and spells. Work before play—what other spells do you have?" he asked her. "I've heard tales of mages putting people to sleep. Can you do that?"

  "Umm... one person per spell, not several all at once, but yes," Solyn told him. "The ones I know are all standard Healing spells. I'm so familiar with two of them, using them on Mother's patients, I even can cast them without needing the focal words. Sleeping spells are more like regular magic, so they're easier for me to create."

  "You may need to do that. I don't think they ever leave him completely alone. I visited in the daytime, and they had a shifter-dog sleeping over the trapdoor," Kenyen confessed.

  "How did you get past it?" she asked him. "Or him, whatever?"

  "By shifting into a snake. The holes I used were too tiny for an adult to stick their hand through, though," he added. "You wouldn't be able to get in or out the same way I did."

  "Oh." She pondered that for a moment, then shook her head, her braid sliding over her shoulders. "No, I have a few spells for shrinking things, animals, even people but... I'm not very good at inanimate objects, and that's all I've tried so far. I wouldn't want to try it on a living being. My previous results were... uneven."

  Her ring squeezed just as a door hinge squeaked in the hall. A moment later, a floorboard creaked. Solyn waited for the next board to make a noise, the one closer to the refreshing room door. Rolling her eyes, she flipped a hand at Kenyen, who caught on and shifted back into Traver-shape. That allowed her to reach for the lever and pull her door swiftly open. Luelyn blinked, mouth gaping visibly in the light from the lamp illuminating her older sister's room.

  "No eavesdropping," Solyn ordered her sibling. She pointed back at her sister's bedchamber.

  "I was just on my way to the refresher!" the young girl whined, pouting.

  Solyn obligingly pointed at that door instead, her stern expression brooking no argument. Heaving a sigh, Luelyn marched off to the correct door. She banged the door shut behind her. That caused another bedroom door to open moments later. Reina poked her head out, more of a silhouette from the lamp in the room beyond than an actual, visible figure. She withdrew and shut the door after a moment, not saying a word.

  Patiently, Solyn waited for her sister to finish; when Luelyn emerged, she found herself pointed across the hall, directed back to her own room. Only when the door had shut did Solyn retreat into her room once more. When she did, she found Kenyen arranging paper and ink on her desk, still looking like the wrong man.

  A quick check proved he had selected the right weight for folding from among the different sheets stacked on her shelves. "You remembered the kind of paper needed," she noted, smiling. "Not many
would know the difference."

  "You did point it out back in the cave," he reminded her. "I may not be a mage, but I am curious about magic."

  "Who do you want the first one to go to?" Solyn asked, pleased that he had taken an interest in her work.

  "Manolo. He's the one I know best, and I want to send at least three to him—make it four," Kenyen corrected. "I'll picture points along the road here as I'm writing the letter. Hopefully the birds will find him at one of those spots. Then one again to the princess leading our group, and one to the fellow who went to the Mespak region." Pausing in thought, he wrinkled his nose and added, "And one to my brother on the Plains. It's a long flight, but someone outside this kingdom should know, and he is both Lord of Family Tiger, and mated to the woman who warned us about Family Mongrel's existence."

  "You don't want to send word to your brother?" Solyn asked him, noticing the face he made.

  "No, I do," Kenyen corrected quickly. He stared at the paper on her desk, trying to put his feeling into words. "I just... He's always been better, smarter, stronger, faster. Now that I'm trying to do something important on my own feels, it feels like a failure."

  She touched his shoulder again, drawing his attention. "I don't see how writing to him is a failure. You're merely informing him of what's been happening all the way out here. We're the ones who can actually do something about this mess. We just need to figure out when and exactly how. We already have some ideas."

  "Yes, we do," he agreed, lifting his brows at the reminder.

  Moving back from the desk, he let her step up in his place and begin her preliminary enchantments. Then quickly moved to the stoneware jar on the shelf near the bed, where she had placed several slices of greenvein for his needs. Two sneezes escaped before he could swallow the first bite, but the itch in his nose did ease quickly.

  The notes to Manolo, Ashallan, and Narquen were variations on the previous one. The letter to his brother, which required tiny, careful writing on a much larger square of paper, listed in some detail what Kenyen had learned and experienced so far, and a list of his goals in resolving the whole Mongrel matter. Shifting the curtain aside, he unlatched the shutters for her as she made the last magic-infused mark on each of the birds. With a rustling sound, they flapped their paper wings and swooped through the opening, disappearing into the starry night.