Broken World Book Three - A Land Without Law

by Southwell, T C

  Talsy eyed the vial. "Does it only work on Truemen?"

  The crone's face fell. "Don't tell me you're one of those women who want to lie with animals, girl? They don't need any potions."

  "No!" Talsy shuddered.

  "Well good," the woman muttered. "Can't say I approve of it, you know. Men can screw whatever they wish and no harm comes of it. But a woman, that's different." She leant forward, giving Talsy the benefit of her fetid breath. "We've got to be careful what we let take root in our wombs, missy. Never can tell what it'll turn out to be, or even if we can birth it, you see?"

  Talsy nodded, swallowing the bile that had crept into her throat.

  The crone stared at her with faded green eyes. "Well, if it's not a man or an animal, what can it be? A woman? I have a potion for that too."

  "No, not a woman." Talsy raised a hand to her mouth, sure that she was about to vomit. She longed to escape the dark horrible house, but the crone's intent gaze held her like a snake holds a rabbit.

  The crone's eyes lighted with dawning comprehension. "Not a man, nor woman nor animal. That only leaves one thing, girl. You know, no one's thought of that. What a grand idea!"

  She looked excited. "You can get your hands on one? You know, I bet there are plenty of women who'd pay excellent money for a chance to bear that child if it's possible. But if sheep can breed with pigs and cats with dogs, which never could before, then why not?" She gripped Talsy's wrist, pushing her face close to the girl's. Talsy gagged at the stench. "If you know where to get one, I could make you rich, missy!"

  "No, I never said..." Talsy tried to break free of the witch's hold, but the woman's hand was like a vice.

  "We thought that they were all in the Pits." The crone ignored her struggles. "You do know where there's one, don't you? If you do, I have something that will help you, lass. Yes, it might work."

  Talsy forced her stomach to stop churning. "You do?"

  The hag nodded. "Mighty expensive though, brought from far to the north by a tradesman. Makes Truemen crazy with lust, but it would probably work on one of them, too. Never been able to try it, mind, there's none of them about."

  Talsy's curiosity got the better of her revulsion. "Where does it come from?"

  "Well now, I was told it comes from a huge plant they found far out in the wilderness. The men had to burn it, because the thing was deadly. But when they reached the flower, they went berserk, started... never mind that. They cut some pieces of it and brought it back. It's not a potion or nothing, it's a scent. They kept it in a bottle, and I bought a bit, just a little to try. No effect on women mind, but the men!" She gave a low cackle.

  Talsy stopped listening to the old crone's prattle, her mind flying back to the vast golden plain she had crossed with Chanter and the huge, strange flower they had encountered there. The way he had gone to the flower, as if drawn by a siren's call and returned exhausted and silent. She interrupted the hag's story.

  "How much?"

  "Well, now, I doubt you could afford it, lass, but I tell you what..."

  "How much?"

  The crone looked miffed and named an exorbitant sum that Talsy could not afford. The silver she carried was worth a great deal, but the woman's price far exceeded that.

  She shook her head. "Too much."

  "I thought so." The witch nodded. "Listen to me, girl. I'm prepared to let you have it on loan, see? When the deed's done, you bring it back, right? In return I get a share in the child, if it works."

  Talsy recoiled at the idea. "A share in a child? Why would you want that?"

  "Hell, the same reason you want the babe, girl! If he has his sire's powers, he can do anything, and that's worth a lot of money. Just think how much we could hire him out for! We'll be rich beyond our wildest dreams!"

  Talsy's stomach churned again, but she swallowed the harsh words that leapt onto her tongue. No wonder these people had been condemned, the depths of their depravity sickened and horrified her. A flicker of doubt made her pause. Perhaps she should not defy Chanter and trick him if he refused her Wish. Her reasons for wanting his child were far different from the old hag's, borne of a longing to bear the perfect, beautiful child of the man she loved. She did not care if Chanter's child had no powers, in fact, it would be better if he did not. The hag watched her eagerly, and Talsy found herself nodding.

  The witch's face lighted, and she scuttled into the darkness at the back of the hut, to emerge moments later clutching a clear glass bottle. The candlelight fell on a ragged piece of something that glowed with the deep colour of Chanter's eyes. Mujar blue. The moment she saw it, Talsy knew that it would work, and the answer to the mystery of Mujar procreation hit her like a bucket of cold water. Stunned by it, she answered the hag's questions in a daze, gave a false name and address and signed the tattered piece of paper that was the foul agreement.

  Slipping the bottle into her bodice, she fled the fetid house and its foul proprietor before she lost her courage and flung the little bottle in the old woman's face. Somehow, her dream of having a Mujar child had been tarnished by the crone's hideous ideas and vile insinuations as to the use such a child could be put, as far removed from Talsy's wishes as ice was from fire. She had no remorse about deceiving the loathsome woman, and at least the piece of flower could not be put to that low purpose now.

  Schooling her features, she pushed through the door and almost bumped into Kieran, who stood on the doorstep, his hand raised to open it. Brushing past him, she hurried up the street, leaving him to grab the bags and follow. He caught up and fell into step beside her, studying her profile.

  "I was beginning to think you'd been abducted in there. What took you so long?"

  "None of your business."

  Kieran's brows rose. "Don't tell me, you bought a fertility token, didn't you? One of those silly dolls stuffed with rice and pigeon's blood. How can you believe in that claptrap? And Chanter's never going to allow it, you know -"

  "Shut up!"

  "What?" he mocked, "Am I too close to the mark? A love potion, perhaps? It'll never work on a Mujar. No drug works on them. You wasted your money, or should I say, our money -"

  "Kieran." She stopped and swung to face him. "You're wrong, but it's none of your business, like I said, so quit making stupid guesses."

  He stared at her as she strode away, swearing softly. "You really did get something like that, didn't you? How stupid are you, exactly? Chanter's going to be very disappointed in you. Next you'll be asking him to marry you."

  "I already did."

  He trotted after her, grabbed her arm and swung her to face him. "What did he say?"

  She jerked free. "He said no! Are you happy now?"

  "Yes, actually I am. What do you think you are? You're a Trueman, and he's Mujar! Damn it, he doesn't even find you attractive!"

  Talsy slapped him with all her strength, jerking his head to the side and bringing a drop of blood to the corner of his mouth. "Don't say that! He loves me as I love him, and nothing will ever come between us!"

  "Except your stupidity!" he called after her as she marched away. "It won't work, whatever it is. It had better not!"

  Talsy almost ran through the city gates, her fleeing form followed by the curious stares of the bored guards who watched Kieran storm after her with mild interest. She navigated the tar web, heading for the forest. Somehow, Kieran's remarks had wiped away the horror the avaricious old woman had instilled in her and replaced it with a firmer resolve. She composed her expression before she reached the waiting Mujar and the Aggapae, but Kieran's angry visage, with its red mark on one cheek, told the whole story.

  Chanter studied them with a slight frown. "You two been fighting again?"

  "She went to -" Kieran started to explain, and Talsy flew at him, pushing him backwards into a bush.

  "One word out of you," she said, "and I'll make your life a living hell!"

  "Fine!" he growled. "But it won't work, mark my words."

  "What won't work?" Chanter e
nquired.

  "Ask her." Kieran hauled himself out of the bush, brushing twigs and leaves from his clothing.

  Chanter gazed at Talsy as she scrambled onto her horse, but when she remained tight-lipped he shrugged and led the party into the forest. Mujar were never ones for prying, especially into Trueman business.

  Talsy pondered the revelation of Mujar procreation in all its amazing complexity, longing to bombard Chanter with questions. The ramifications of Chanter's origins were not lost on her. The sheer strangeness of his birth sent shivers through her. What manner of being was a flesh and blood creature born of a plant? How was it possible? If only she knew more about it. The only person who could answer her questions was Chanter, but how could she ask him without revealing what she had done?

  Kieran fumed at Talsy's foolishness, torn by jealousy and pity for the love struck girl. As Sheera had pointed out, there was little that was sadder than a doomed love, and a love between two unrelated races was doomed for sure. Kieran could not hate the Mujar, for he was not to blame, but resolved to warn Chanter at the first opportunity.

  Chanter dismissed the spat between Talsy and Kieran as unimportant. He listened to the wind, sifting through its many messages for any that might warn of trouble ahead, and tried to sense the Dargon in the earth below. Since leaving the valley, he had not come across a single earth spirit or forest Kuran. Their absence meant that the sickness in the land was already great enough to drive the spirits deep into the earth for protection. The Kuran had retreated far into the wildest parts of their forests, even abandoning their war with Truemen in their fear of the coming chaos.

  Two days passed before Kieran had a chance to speak to the Mujar in private. As usual, when the journey ended in the afternoon the three Aggapae warriors went hunting, and Shan disappeared in search of firewood. Now Talsy had gone down to the river to bathe, partly due to Kieran's comments about her smell. In truth she had little, but he wished to be alone with Chanter, and he knew that his barbed remarks would hit home with a sensitive Trueman girl in love with a Mujar.

  Chanter was perched on a fallen tree, rubbing his stump, when Kieran approached and sat close by.

  "I think you should know that Talsy purchased some sort of love charm or potion in that city."

  The Mujar glanced at him and smiled. "You fear for me?"

  "No. I just thought you should be warned. I don't know what it is, but she seems to think it will work." He fiddled with a twig in embarrassment. "Is there anything that would?"

  "No." Chanter looked down and frowned. "Well, there is, but no Lowman could possibly have it."

  "She knows potions and poisons won't work on Mujar. Does she know what would?"

  "No."

  "Would you like me to... take it from her?"

  Chanter chuckled. "No, leave her be. You'll only make her angry, and next time perhaps she'll give you a black eye instead of a thick lip. Whatever it is, it won't work."

  "You said there's something that would work, what's that?"

  "That's forbidden knowledge." The Mujar sighed. "Talsy is a most determined girl, and she only wants what every Lowman girl wants from the man she loves. Her crazy ideas are born out of love for me, this strange love you people have for your opposite sex, which Mujar will never understand."

  "Or feel."

  "No," Chanter agreed.

  "You'll hurt her."

  "Unfortunately, I probably will, but there's nothing anyone can do about that."

  Kieran stood up, brushing the seat of his pants. "I just thought you ought to know."

  "Yes." Chanter's eyes flicked past Kieran, who turned as Talsy emerged from the trees. Her skin glowed and her wet hair shone in the setting sun's soft light. She shot him a suspicious glance, and he excused himself to take his turn in the river.

  After Kieran left, Talsy sat beside Chanter and combed her hair so it would dry in the fading warmth of the sun's rays.

  "What did Kieran want?"

  "Nothing."

  "What were you talking about?"

  "Things of no importance."

  She sighed in frustration. Chanter stared into space, turning his head every so often, as if harkening to distant music that only he could hear.

  She put down her comb, curious. "What are you doing?"

  "Listening to the wind."

  She frowned. "I can't hear anything."

  "The voices of the spirits are silent when they're not near. Only Mujar can hear them."

  "What do they say?"

  "Many things. They count the waves that come to shore from the Whispering Sea and tell the deeds of Lowmen far away. They speak of storms gathering in the mountains, rain falling on the forests and the changing of the world."

  Talsy resumed her combing. "How far is it to the Whispering Sea?"

  "Another week's journey." Chanter rose and stretched, yawning, then headed towards the river.

  "Where are you going?" Talsy called.

  "To wash."

  "You don't need to."

  He turned and smiled, shrugging. "Everybody else is."

  The vast expanse of glittering blue ocean stretched away to meet the sky. Gulls mewed and dived into rushing waves frosted with pale plumes of spume. Breakers crashed and hissed on the beach, grinding stones to sand with their endless motion, like a washer woman scrubbing her linen on river stones. The sea's army of waves marched to shore in infinite ragged lines, great swells born in the ocean's depths that fell exhausted upon the beach, their power spent in travelling the sea's vastness to reach it. As each failed wave drew back into the ocean, it sucked the sand with it in a soft whispering that the crashing of the next wave drowned out.

  Sliding off her horse, Talsy stood in the soft sand that bordered the Whispering Sea. The wind lifted her hair off her neck, pushed and tugged at her with cool, playful fingers. To her right, the mighty river they had followed met the ocean in a roiling tumult of warring water, pushing back the waves in foaming defeat. Beyond it, a great city hid behind the haze of spray, too distant to make out any more than its shape and size. Tiny ships plied the waves before it, sails pale in the sun. Behind her, the rolling grassy dunes stretched back to the distant forests they had left behind two days ago. The river had brought verdure with it in the form of a tangled jungle of strange trees that grew on tall roots, festooned with vines. They thrived in the marshy silt laid down over the centuries.

  The horses, relieved of their burdens, galloped back into the dunes to graze on the hardy grass, and their riders set up camp on the jungle's border. Already the Aggapae pitched tents to create a tiny village where they would live while Chanter was away. Talsy dreaded his leaving and the loneliness she would suffer in his absence. She had brought him on this quest, however, and only he could search the sea for the fragment of the Staff of Law. She wondered again why coming here had been his first choice. Picking up her bags, she trudged through the sand to join the work, helping where she could.

  By the time the camp was finished, sand clung to her sweaty skin and she longed to bathe. Chanter, who had paced the beach since their arrival, returned to inspect the camp and nod his approval before turning to her. "I must go."

  A huge lump blocked her throat, but she nodded.

  He glanced at Kieran and the Aggapae. "Guard the First Chosen well."

  The Aggapae bowed, and Kieran inclined his head, smiling.

  Chanter walked down the beach, and she clung to his arm until he reached the water, where he stopped and pried her hand free.

  "You can't come with me, my little clan."

  "How long will you be gone?" she asked, desperate for some limit to her loss and suffering.

  "I don't know."

  "Don't stay away too long, please."

  He cupped her cheek with his left hand. "When I was cast into the sea bound in gold, you lost hope because you thought I would not return. But this time I'm coming back. With or without the stone, I'll return to you. Remember that, every day. Nothing on this world can stop
me, and nothing out there will harm me."

  She gazed into his eyes, knowing that he would, yet still torn by his leaving. "Two moons. Come back after two moons, whether you find it or not."

  "All right, I will."

  She flung her arms around his neck. "Find it as quickly as you can."

  "I promise."

  "Don't turn into a turtle and spend all day floating in the sun."

  He chuckled. "I won't."

  Mustering her resolve, she released him and stepped back. The wind whipped her hair into her eyes, and she brushed it away. He smiled at her, then turned to stare out to sea, his nostrils flaring with the wild yearning that lived in every Mujar's heart. Even before he walked away, she lost his wild heart to the untamed world of sea, sky and wind. She thought he would leave without so much as a backward glance, so strongly did the wild call, but then he turned and raised an arm. Her heart sang with joy at this simple gesture, a sign that he could turn from the wild even when it beckoned so powerfully.

  Chanter dived into the sea, and a sleek grey shape clove the waves, the tip of one fin missing. The dolphin powered away with swift strokes of its flukes, surfacing to puff spray before diving under the wild blue water. Talsy sank to her knees, and the sea lapped at her, calling her into its cold embrace. It dared her to follow him into his world, where she could not survive. Alone on the windy shore, she cursed the world that took him from her. Chill crept into her bones, and the ocean's vastness mocked her. It dwarfed her with its majesty and beauty, the power and freedom she could never hope to taste in the way a Mujar could. What hope had a Lowman girl to win the heart of a Mujar from the elements that were his home?

  Warm hands on her shoulders made her jump, and she turned. Kieran tried to put a blanket around her. "Come away now or you'll freeze, silly girl." He urged her to her feet.

  Talsy tried to shrug him off, but he persisted until he succeeded in getting the blanket around her. She glared at him, and he grinned, kneeling beside her to hold the blanket against the wind's tugging.