Southern Fire ac-1

by Juliet E. McKenna

  'Why not?' Kheda was taken aback.

  'She gave the domain a son on the very night the rains broke.' Suis looked steadfastedly over Kheda's head. 'Apparently the child is too young to make the journey.'

  'Such concerns outweigh the possibility of attack from the south?' Kheda shook his head suspiciously. Inwardly, he exulted.

  A son for Sain and such a favourable omen, for the waters of birth to coincide with the rains.

  'Daish Sirket has also stayed at the dry-season residence,' volunteered Suis unexpectedly. 'In case any invasion should appear on the horizon and doubtless for other reasons, so the word runs along the shore.

  'To protect Sain Daish?' Kheda wondered.

  Or to keep an eye on Chazen Saril?

  'The word on the wind says Chazen Saril now neglects Itrac Chazen in Sain Daish's favour.' Suis let slip a speculative glance at Kheda. 'Though Itrac Chazen is not said to mind since she is much admired by Daish Sirket.

  Wagers are being made over Itrac Chazen quickening with Daish blood.'

  Not if Janne and Rekha have anything to say about it. But what can they say about it, if they're not there?

  It took considerable effort for Kheda not to say this out loud.

  'Is there any word at all of this visitor we're expecting?' he snapped abruptly.

  'Not as yet.' Suis looked properly at Kheda for the first time. 'It can't be much longer. May I return to my duties?'

  Would you stay, if I said you couldn't return to your deck? No, of course you wouldn't. I have no rank aboard this vessel, not even a name.

  'Naturally.' Kheda inclined his head stiffly.

  Suis left the tiny cabin without so much as a bow, leaving Kheda to the endless questions that had tormented him throughout this interminable voyage south.

  Just what did Shek Kul tell you, trusted shipmaster? Not that you'll tell me even if I ask. There are so many questions I can't ask.

  What is Sain thinking of naming her baby, our baby, my new son? Is she recovered from the delivery? Is the child healthy, unblemished? What omens were read at his birth? Did Sirket remember to do all that was needful?

  What is Sain thinking of, entertaining Chazen Saril? Is Hanyad warning him off with those dour looks and obstructive excuses he's so good at? What is Sirket thinking of, dallying with Itrac Chazen?

  What were Janne and Rekha thinking of, leaving Sain and Sirket alone in the dry-season residence with Chazen Saril's insinuating charms? I suppose they wanted to take the other children as far from danger as possible. They'll be well placed to flee to Ritsem waters, if the worst happens. Haven't they heard these rumours, if they're common currency along the shoreline? Why aren't they discouraging Sirket from this folly with Itrac? Perhaps they've tried. Is Sirket showing them who's warlord now, asserting his independence? Are they allowing him his pleasures, as respite from the demands upon htm?

  What is Chazen Saril thinking? If Sirket begets a child on Itrac, she's still married to Chazen. Her first child will be the new heir to the Chazen domain. Is this what Sanl wants? If he sires that child, there could well be whispers about a taint of magic clinging to him. Sirket is demonstrably untouched by any enchantment.

  Would Saril be thinking so far ahead? He's never shown that kind of prescience before. He's not even looking ahead to the dry season, to sailing south to reclaim his domain.

  Or is he thinking ahead? Is he thinking of something else entirely? Could he be looking to take over the southernmost Daish islands? Surely not. Sirket would fight him, with the backing of Redigal and Ritsem both.

  But what if Sirket died, at a wild man's hand or from some pestilence? What if Sain, in her grief, her new Daish son fatherless, turned to wed Chazen Sanl, whose remaining wife was also carrying a child of Daish blood? He would have a claim to rule, as defender of children of the last two warlords so tragically slam, in such ominous circumstances.

  Janne and Rekha would have something to say about that, and all their children with them. Though entire families can perish in the same calamity, a fire, sudden illness. Such catastrophe would raise suspicions within the private counsels of Ritsem and Redigal but who could gainsay Chazen if all the signs pointed to sorcerous malice encompassing such deaths? He need be nowhere near, cosily ensconced with Sain in the southern residence.

  What are you thinking of? You're weaving frustrated fantasies out of unfounded suspicion because you've been shut up in this cursed cabin ever since we reached Endit waters.

  You're imagining convoluted conspiracies because you've nothing better to do.

  'Then find something to do!' Daish Reik had never shown any patience with children complaining of boredom 'Think what may be asked of you later, tomorrow, the day after. Make ready, study, plan ahead while you have leisure, so you don't come running to me weeping because you've failed at something.'

  Kheda unbuckled the nondescript bag that Shek Kul's body slave had brought him before his departure. He fished out a small lacquered box holding reed paper, pens and an inkpot stuffed with tandra fluff to save spills. Pen hovering over the pristine paper as he wondered what to write, his eyes strayed to another small box that Shek Kul had given him, lid secured all around with wax and stamped with the warlord's personal seal on all four sides.

  You've some news for Janne but there's still this messenger Suis has been promising for the last two days. If the messenger can take you to this Dev character, you may well have far more to tell her. How soon can you meet her? This will have to go by whatever courier Suis can find for you. Best to send it to the thousand-oyster isle; that's closer than the rainy-season residence. Either Janne will be there herself or some trusted slave who can send her a messenger bird. Better allow the time for her to get the message and travel to meet you. In the meantime hopefully you'll have talked to this messenger. You can't afford to waste any more time. What can you write? Nothing that might be understood by unfriendly eyes but all Daish Kheda's ciphers died with him.

  Kheda drew a swift half circle and below it, larger, a full roundel.

  As long as Janne has the wit to read that for the Lesser Moon's half and the Greater's full, that gives her fifteen days. That can be a wager against the future, that I'll have something to tell her. Her journey will doubtless catch Chazen Saril's eye. Maybe he'll look away from Sain and Sirket for a while.

  Rolling the reed paper tight, he found a small stick of wax in the box of writing materials and held it in the flame of the candle lantern Suis had grudgingly granted him to light this confinement. He sealed the tiny roll of paper with a thick wax drop and opened the door to the trireme's oar deck.

  'Sail master Falce.' Kheda cleared his throat politely. 'Could you take this message to Shipmaster Suis, please. I need it taken to an outer reef known as the thousand-oyster isle. There's a tower of silence there.' He proffered the paper. 'There will be someone there to take it.'

  'Very well.' Falce hadn't quite perfected Suis's immobility of face. His thick brows rose before he accepted the sealed roll with a shrug declaring louder than any words this was none of his business and he intended keeping it that way.

  As the sail master took the ladder to the stern platform, Kheda found himself rebelling at the thought of going back into hiding. He took a deep breath of the fresher air and welcomed the light falling between the side decks to illuminate the gangway between the banks of oars, even if the sky overhead was the inevitable rainy-season grey.

  He approached a couple of the rowers who were methodically checking the thole pins and oar ports. 'Is there anything I can do to help?'

  One of the men looked at him, curious. 'Do you know how to check an oar lashing?'

  'I do.' Kheda slid into one of the bottom seats, where the lowest of the three ranks of rowers toiled. There was a powerful stench of sweat, legacy of the rowers' unquestioning obedience to Shek Kul's command for a fast passage south. Kheda found the rope holding the oar to the thole pin had indeed worked slack. He tightened it as Ialo had taught him, bending hopeful
ly to peer out through the oar port. The leather sleeve rigged against foul weather blocked his view.

  'You've done that before.' A rower on the topmost seat above surprised him. 'And got an oarsman's calluses,' the man added as Kheda looked up.

  'Tai!' Back on the gangway, Fake rebuked him with a sharp look. 'Less chat, more work.'

  Kheda bent to checking the next convoluted knot and the next, and then the one after that. Working in companionable silence, he and his new shipmates were well on their way through checking the topmost rank of oars when Suis appeared down the ladder from the stern platform and nodded with slow significance.

  'Yes?' Kheda moved out into the gangway as Suis came down the ladder.

  'Your message is sent.' The shipmaster stood to one side. 'And the message you've been expecting has arrived.'

  Kheda slowly rubbed leather oil from his hands as a slender girl descended from the stern platform. Undernourished, with stains of exhaustion beneath blue eyes that were almost as black as her hair, her much worn clothes were heavily travel-stained. She held up a tightly sealed packet of oiled paper, looking expectantly at Kheda.

  'In the cabin.' Kheda followed this unlikely courier through the door with a nod of thanks to Suis. He relit his candle lantern, shaking fingers fumbling with his spark maker, and shut the cabin door tight. There was no seal on the wax sticking the oiled paper together. Kheda cracked it open to find a few lines of nonsensical writing. He tugged the leather thong over his head. The girl sat on the floor, tousled head hanging wearily.

  'If you're the man I think you are, you'll find the cipher key in that.'

  Kheda twisted Shek Kul's heavy silver ring until he could see the inscription inside, a meaningless circle of letters and symbols, unless you had the wit to lay it on your hand with the talisman gem aligned with the north and then to start reading from the arc where the heavenly Emerald would be riding high come nightfall. Kheda looked at the first letter of the message and found the same symbol within the circle of the ring. It was the ninth from the arc of health and daily duty. Mentally running through the usual alphabet, Kheda identified the letter T. That was a promising beginning. He reached for his writing box before recalling Daish Reik's rebukes.

  'Why bother with a cipher if you're going to write the words out clearly for any spy, thief or nosy servant to happen across iff

  He worked his way through the message in the safety of his own head and looked at the girl. 'Who gave you this? Where can I meet him?'

  'No one gave it to me.' The girl looked up, her eyes bright and challenging. 'I wrote it myself. Read it back to me, to prove you're the man my master bids me help.'

  'It says, "I like duck stewed with water pepper and served with sailer dusted with tarit seed.'" Kheda leaned against the wooden wall. 'Water pepper grows wild just about everywhere here but what have you got to trade for a fat duck? And that's a dish that wants long, slow cooking. I don't think we've got time for that. I prefer my sailer plain or dressed with a little scalid oil.'

  'Can't abide the taste.' The girl grinned at him.

  Kheda stayed stony-faced. 'Where is he?'

  'Close enough.' The girl shrugged. 'Or if he's moved, he'll be easy enough to trace.'

  'Have you got a boat?' At her nod, Kheda caught up his belongings. 'Let's go.'

  'My master's message told me finding this man was life or death to you.' She rose but held the door shut. 'If you come with me now, there's no going back, you do understand?' Her low voice was peculiarly intense.

  Kheda leaned forward to stare into her vivid blue eyes. 'Not when I've come this far.'

  Motionless for a moment, the girl nodded abruptly. 'Come on then. We don't want to spend the rest of the rains chasing him.' She slid through the door, running lithely up the ladder to the open deck.

  Kheda followed more slowly. Suis was on the stern platform, looking all around, broad shoulders tense.

  'There's no one to see you, if you're quick.'

  'I imagine this is goodbye.' Kheda held out his hand. 'Thank you.'

  'I merely do as my master bids me.' All the same Suis smiled, if only for a moment. 'His word holds good, if you ever find yourself in the same anchorage as us, needing a passage.'

  'Come on!' The girl was already disappearing down a ladder slung over the trireme's stern.

  Kheda looked down to see her boat was a little skiff; single-masted, triangular-sailed, such as coastal fishers used. He looked uncertainly up at the clouds, darkening as the afternoon turned towards evening. Then he dropped his bag and bedroll down and slid down the rope ladder, smiling despite himself at the touch of fresh air after the stuffy lower deck of the trireme.

  'Give me those.' The girl thrust his belongings under the stern thwart where she sat. She checked the breeze, one hand on the tiller, the other on the rope that governed the sail. 'Give us a push off and then get the oars out.'

  'Yes, shipmaster,' Kheda said meekly.

  The girl grinned at him. 'You want passage in my boat, friend, you pay for it by making yourself useful.'

  Kheda dutifully pushed them away from the lofty side of the trireme and took the oars. A few hard pulls took them out of the big ship's shadow and the sail bellied in the wind. Shipping the oars, Kheda moved to the prow, away from the danger of the sail's boom. He allowed himself a look at the islet they were leaving. High seas lashed by the rainy season's vicious winds had strewn detritus along the white sand beach but the few houses among the palms looked in good repair, storm shutters mounted solid against the weather.

  These people are secure enough, as long as the invaders come no further north. Until these invaders come north. Unless a way can be found to stop them coming north.

  'Where do we find this Dev?'

  The girl kept her attention on the sail. 'What do you know of him?'

  Kheda curbed his impatience. 'I know that he's a barbarian, with some kind of ties to their wizards, some knowledge of their magics.'

  The girl's face remained impassive. 'That doesn't worry you?' She caught the breeze deftly and the skiff surged through the water.

  'It worries me,' said Kheda frankly. 'But foul enchantments devastating the Chazen domain worry me more. I want to know how to fight them. I've travelled up and down the Archipelago in search of any such lore. Your master told me Dev might know something I can use.' Their course was leading them south and east, he noted. 'Are you looking to pick up the current to take us out around the windward side of the domain?'

  'I'm surprised you know these waters well enough to tell.' The girl looked curiously at him. 'You're setting yourself against these wild magics? Who are you to be taking such a burden on yourself?'

  'That's not important.' Kheda smiled to take the sting out of his words. 'For the present.'

  The girl shrugged as far as was possible with both hands fully occupied 'Whoever you are, you're taking more on you than you can know, if I take you to Dev.' The warning in her voice was unmistakable.

  'The man's a vice peddler, Shek Kul told me that,' said Kheda slowly. 'As well as a dealer in information. Shek Kul believes he takes word of Aldabreshin affairs to some northern barbarian lord who supplies him with his liquors and dreamsmokes. It seems he has some dealings with barbarian wizards as well. '

  'Dev's a wizard himself, without a doubt.' A shudder ripped through the girl that set the sail sheet rattling and the little boat's course jerked abruptly. 'That's what I meant about no going back. I've been wholly caught up in one of his enchantments. Stay with me and you'll be touched with the same stain. I can still put you ashore and you can give up this foolish quest of yours.'

  'He's a wizard?' Kheda stared at her. 'What is he doing in these waters? Allying himself with these invaders?'

  'Spying on them for his own purposes.' The girl shivered again. 'He's fascinated by their magic'

  'He understands it?' asked Kheda.

  'Enough to save us both from being ripped to pieces by it with magic of his own.' The girl looked helplessly
at him. 'Do you believe someone caught up in magic innocent of intent can shed its taint?'

  Mouth open, Kheda found he was lost for words.

  'Do I put you ashore or not?' she snapped irritably. 'I don't want to lose him. I have to tell Shek Kul what he is and knowing where he sails is even more important than ever now.'

  'Take me to see him,' Kheda said slowly. 'I have spent too long searching for some understanding of these wild men and their magic to turn back now, even if it does mean dealing with a wizard. My intent is honourable; that should surely protect me from stain, and simply asking some questions shouldn't imperil me.'

  And you've already been caught up in the miasma of the savages' magic, in any case.

  'Who are you,' the girl wondered, baffled, 'to run such a risk?'

  'I'm Daish Kheda.' He looked round at the empty sea, not even a red-beaked seabird to hear such a dramatic declaration. 'Defending these waters, these people, it's the duty I was born to.'

  'Daish Kheda is dead.' The girl steered the skiff carefully away from a foam-crested reef. 'Daish Sirket was proclaimed warlord.'

  'We had no choice, if I was to search for such lore unhindered.' Kheda challenged her with a thrust of his jaw. 'I will not return to answer for the deception until I have some means of challenging these invaders' wizards to set against it. Betray me for who I am and I will denounce you as touched by magic'

  'Naturally,' the girl said without rancour. 'Much good it would do you. With everyone running scared of magic, you'd likely be stoned for your pains.'

  'True enough,' Kheda acknowledged with an unexpected lifting of his spirits. 'We're entangled in each other's secrets now, so can we trust each other?'

  'I think so.' She looked steadily at him as the little skiff rocked over rising seas now they were further from the shore. 'We most assuredly cannot trust Dev.'

  'How so?' Kheda asked. 'Apart from his being a wizard?'