by Katy Winter
"Yes."
"You were lucky to be found in the mountains, Soji. Though it's spring, you may not have survived the cold."
"Jonqi?"
"Your daughter's well. Would you like to see her? You can do little for her because you're too weak, but the little one will be happy to see her mother." Soji nodded.
The healer went to the entrance and spoke briefly, before he turned back and went across to a table where Soji could see he made an infusion of some sort. She was distracted from idly watching him, by the entrance of a tall, raw-boned woman with long, white hair that cascaded from a knot on the crown of her head. She had soft gray eyes that thoughtfully scanned Soji when she knelt and handed the girl her child.
When it was clear that Soji had no strength to hold Jonqi, the woman placed the little girl on the covers beside her mother, so Soji could stroke the thickening mop of dusky curls. Jonqi smiled up at Soji, her dark eyes content and placid. The woman curled up on the ground and watched mother and child, then, when Soji glanced at her and smiled, Sagi smiled in return. No one spoke for some time.
"I'm Sagi," she said softly, after a while. "Asok called me when he realised you were so ill."
"The man by the fire?"
"The man by the fire," agreed Sagi.
"You cared for me," whispered Soji. "I wish to thank you."
"I did what I could until Setoni came," the older woman said calmly, her eyes going to the healer who came forward.
"Enough now, Sagi. Soji can see Jonqi again later. I wish her to rest."
Sagi lifted Jonqi into her arms and quietly left the obtusa as the healer knelt next to Soji and held out a cup.
"Drink this, child. You'll need to take medicine for some days. Then I want you to sleep."
"You have cared for me," whispered Soji, dutifully upending the cup and drinking. She paused with a grimace, but under the watchful clear eyes she obediently drained the cup and handed it back. "My people tried to destroy yours, so why are you saving me?"
"We heal, child, we don't destroy," came the quiet voice. "Lie back now and put your arms under the covers." Soji did so, blinking muzzily at the face above her. "Now, child, you'll sleep some more for me, won't you?"
"Yes," mumbled Soji sleepily.
"You'll dream more as you heal, child, but don't be afraid and let the visions come. They won't harm you either. Do your people know you're a seer, child?"
"No," came the faint murmur. "I told no one."
"Wise girl," said Setoni, his smile at the dozing figure a broad one. "You're an unusual child, Soji. Rest for me. Let sleep come." Soji's eyes closed. He left the obtusa.
He found Sagi waiting for him and greeted her with a tired yawn.
"You're tired, Setoni," she observed amused.
"Indeed," he sighed. "I didn't waste time reaching you and when your messenger met up with us half a day from here, we moved even faster."
"Such a way to treat a healer," teased Sagi, seeing the responsive twinkle in his eyes.
"Tell me, Sagi," he said more seriously. "Did that child see while you were with her?"
"Ah," said Sagi, with sudden comprehension. "I wondered if what she screamed in delirium was dreaming or sight. So she's a seer?"
"A very recent one. She doesn't understand at all. She tells me no one knew she had this gift. It's an oddity it should come out so many generations on, in one of the southern tribes and in a girl." Sagi looked blank and Setoni had to grin.
"What are you talking about?"
"Long ago, Sagi, seers like you were deeply revered. Then they were reviled and slaughtered." Setoni saw Sagi flinch. "Yes, Sagi, I know. Later, some southern folks decided those born with talent shouldn't be instantly executed, but treated with respect and learned from before it was too late."
"What happened?"
"It was too late. Fewer and fewer were born," murmured Setoni sadly. "In Churchik society, truth-seekers are well accepted, possibly even revered, and seers are tolerated because they're both rare and useful, but they've had few females with either talent. Some experience has brought Soji's talents sharply into focus."
"She's been badly hurt."
"Yes," agreed Setoni heavily. "She has. She's suffered too much for one so young."
"If you wish to accompany me, Setoni, we'll go to Asok and discuss what we've learned of her so far."
~~~
The three sat quietly, cross-legged in the steppe way, each on a woven mat. Setoni drank his wine reflectively, Asok sat quite still, his gray eyes unreadable, and Sagi watched each of them in turn. Asok was speaking.
"We sent out a patrol to the other side of the mountains, because as you know, Setoni, we were concerned about the urgency of Sagi's seeing. We could think of no other direction the child could come, nor did we know whether said child would be accompanied by the girl of Sagi's seeing, or whether it might be abandoned at the mountains. We had little to go on." Setoni nodded his understanding. "Our patrol found a Churchik boy, with the child, on the Kerulen-Nuur side of the mountains. The boy was alone and just starting up the trail, pursued by six Churchik warriors. It wasn't realised Soji was a girl. She was nearly left to the warriors until she said the child was hers. The patrol with Samplok recognised the description of the child, Setoni, and immediately took her, but it was only when Soji begged our people not to let the sorcerer at the Keep have the child, that Samplok began to have second thoughts about her. All this I've gleaned from a long discussion with Samplok."
"Thanks to the gods he did," murmured Setoni. Asok smiled at him.
"Soji said she'd be executed if taken and, I gather, threatened to cut her throat before the warriors could get to her." Setoni's lips tightened as he watched Asok drink. "From all accounts Soji killed a warrior in her escape. Both she and the child were taken to safety, though Soji wasn't, I'm sorry to say, treated with gentleness. She was tied and then left imprisoned in a cave for two days. The patrol worked on the one warrior they let live. The girl called him Them. He was remarkably difficult to adjust, I gather." Sagi had a grim smile on her lips, but Setoni winced. Asok ignored him. "When the warrior was, shall we say, malleable, the girl was brought out and they were questioned together to see if indeed Soji told the truth. Them was the head of an execution squad." Asok saw a deeper flinch from the healer and continued, his eyes narrowing. "I believe the girl was deeply shaken when the warrior said he'd have led the execution himself - the punishment, I'm told, for murdering a warrior, is very slow and savagely cruel." Sagi saw Setoni pale and thoughtfully refilled his cup. "The girl was being escorted to her uncle's, where she was to have her daughter removed. Jonqi was to be taken to the sorcerer at the Keep." There was a long silence while the three of them thought through the implications of this. When Asok resumed, Setoni cleared his throat. "Under duress, the warrior told Samplok the small child's father is the sorcerer's apprentice named Luton. We gather, from listening to Soji's delirium, that this youth's a slave sent south to mate. He chose Soji. We don't know why she was chosen, nor does she." Asok stopped and calmly sipped his wine. He nodded at Sagi.
"This apprentice, Setoni," she began very quietly, "has no emotions. No one from the Keep has. As you may suspect, all are mutes." Setoni nodded and swallowed hard. "Soji was kept with this youth until she conceived." Sagi saw horror in the healer's eyes. "The experience understandably harrowed her especially as she was only fifteen cycles, yet she bears the youth no ill-will. I sense she profoundly pities him. She was told the child would be taken to the Keep to Luton's master at the age of five seasons."
"No!" burst out Setoni. "How could anyone suggest such a thing?"
"A sorcerer who has the south in thrall could," said Asok coolly.
"We imagine the little girl would've been made a mute slave like her father and submissive to the will of the sorcerer," said Sagi. "What we don't know, is why all this was planned and executed."
"It's evil," muttered Setoni, unaware of Asok's curious glance.
"Soji wa
s taken back to Dahkilah where her father is overlord at Elibera. There she waited and planned. When he was called north to the warlord, Soji was sent southeast and that was when she planned what she was going to do. She did kill a warrior." Sagi spoke with a degree of satisfaction. "She seduced him, then cut his throat and escaped that night. Though," added Sagi pensively, "I suspect she'd no thought of where she was going, other than try to reach mountains she said she dreamed of for seasons. She also saw me."
There was a profound and contemplative silence. It was Setoni who broke it.
"The child's unlike the mother."
"Perhaps," said Sagi. "She's her father in colour of eyes and hair, I grant you that, but the shape of the eyes and the fairness of the skin are very much the mother. I see a strong resemblance to Soji."
"Who" asked Setoni musingly, "could possibly want such a young child?" Sagi and Asok both shrugged. Then Asok's eyes settled on the healer with interest. "And this sorcerer. I wonder."
"Not a sorcerer at all," suggested Asok, watching when the healer's head jerked up. "He's a mage of some power."
"So this is the southern mage I hear so much about," murmured Setoni, aware of discomfort and leaning back on his elbows. He was also aware of Asok's scrutiny, but carefully ignored it. "How long has he had this slave?" Sagi and Asok exchanged glances.
"From what I can gather, Luton was escorted by a haskar, called Kher, who handed the slave over to the sorcerer, three, maybe four, cycles ago." Sagi went quiet, looking over at Asok for confirmation.
"I guess that's so," he responded, in his quiet, deep voice.
"And he's mute?"
"Soji says so."
"And he's dark, like the child?"
"The description gives us a picture of a very tall young man, thin, with dark eyes and black curly hair."
"Interesting," commented Setoni ruminatively. "He sounds like an enslaved northman." Asok said nothing and Sagi watched the healer. "And the name's Luton?" Sagi nodded. "Yes, northern. That's not a southern name." Setoni went into a brown study, his eyes slowly closed. Sagi could tell he mulled over all he'd learned. He remained that way for some time, then his eyes opened.
"When exactly did the girl begin to see?"
"While she carried the child." Setoni sat and brooded over that as well. Asok moved slightly.
"What do we do with the girl?" he asked. "Could she endanger us? An angered mage is nothing to scoff at."
"No," agreed Setoni, rising stiffly. "Leave it with me, my friend." He waved his hands at Asok. "I must think on this before I answer you. She may have to be moved north."
"Will they welcome her as we do?" Sagi touched Asok's arm.
"We must try to do all we can for her," she said softly. "She deserves that." A smile lit Asok's stern gray eyes.
"You believe there's something about her, don't you?" Sagi gave a slight shiver.
"She has the sight as I do. She's as bound to us as we are to her, Asok. She must be protected and cherished. We must also care for the child. That's critical." Asok held the hand gripping his arm. The smile was still in his eyes, but his voice was serious.
"If that's how you read things, so be it." He rose gracefully and silently left the obtusa. Sagi stared at the reflective healer.
"What do you wish me to do, Setoni?"
"Care for the little one, Sagi, while I work to bring Soji back to health. If there's a move north, I'll accompany both the child and the mother."
"There's something about them, isn't there?"
"Oh yes," replied the healer absently.
~~~
Alone in his obtusa, Setoni closed his eyes briefly as he sent gently. He didn't have long to wait before he sensed the cold awareness of the Mishtok flood his consciousness.
"Reverence," he sent.
"Adept. Are you well?"
"Yes, thank you, Monseignore."
"Why have you called?"
"Cycles ago you asked me about a boy you knew travelled south in a slave caravan. We lost track of him for a while after he travelled with the warrior called Kher and then disappeared."
"That's so."
"Could you describe the boy again for me?"
"The boy was twelve cycles when he was taken from Ortok, a city-state of the Samar Confederation."
"He's a northern boy."
"Yes. The boy has the looks of his brothers, tall and slender of build, with dark hair and dark eyes."
"What's the boy's name again, Reverence?"
"If he's still alive, Adept, the child was named Luton though he answered to Lute."
"Was he mute?" There was a long silence before the voice came back into Setoni's mind.
"I believe he'd become so, yes. Why do you ask?"
"Because, Monseignore, we've found him again." There was another profound silence. The Mishtok's voice was pensive.
"Open to me, Adept." The joining was brief, but Setoni was aware of the acuteness of the mind in his and gave a faint sigh at its withdrawal. "How badly damaged is this youth?"
"From what I've gathered, Reverence, Luton has no memory other than to the day he was taken to the Keep and knows no emotions. I believe he suffers severe punishment if he fails his master."
"Has he any of his own being intact?"
"I can't say."
"No." The Mishtok's voice was contemplative. "Where is he now?"
"At the Keep."
"Keep me apprised of any move he may make, this apprentice."
"Yes, Reverence."
"I noted in our meld that you have grave suspicions about the southern mage, Setoni."
"Yes, Monseignore, that's true."
"You won't let those thoughts go beyond our discussion. You must say nothing of this."
"I wouldn't, Reverence. What do you wish me to do?"
"You say the girl's a seer. That's an oddity in itself."
"She's untrained, but the potential's there and her talent runs very deep. She sees Luton, often."
"Sagi must take the girl and begin her training. An untutored seer running amok is dangerous. She may tell us where the apprentice goes and how he fares."
"And the little one?"
"Ah!" The Mishtok seemed to have gone, but Setoni stayed still and waited. "She must go north to the Shadowlands." The Mishtok read Setoni's apprehension and the voice, usually so cold and remote, was unexpectedly mellow. "They always accept those who have part of them, as it seems she does. Get them moving, because the southern mage, my friend, won't be dilatory in his anger. Until later, Adept."
The Mishtok was gone. Setoni, usually so placid, was left staring at the ground, his mind not in its customary ordered state. He felt he had much to ponder.
~~~
It was later that evening, after he'd tended to Soji, that the healer stooped and stood just inside Asok's obtusa. Asok sat in his usual pose, his son Asokin opposite, a game board between them. Asok raised a hand in greeting while Asokin rose and immediately withdrew. Asok gestured to where the boy had sat.
"Your move," he said affably. Setoni sat and studied the board for a few minutes, then, with an imperceptible sigh he made a move, his hand hesitating over the piece. Asok shook his head at the move, then his cool gray eyes lifted to observe Setoni.
"What, healer, do we do with Soji?"
"Like Sagi, she's a seer. Could Sagi not care for and train her as the girl's strength returns? An untrained seer is a danger to herself and others. She can't be left to harm herself or us."
"Us?" queried Asok, his eyes never moving from the healer's face.
"I'll stay," responded Setoni.
"That doesn't surprise me, but I'd like to know why you do, healer."
"You may have need of me."
"And you don't answer me," replied Asok very gently.
"I can't fully answer you."
"Can't, my friend, or won't?"
"Asok, I'd never endanger you or yours, you must know that."
"I know that, Setoni, but there's much more to this
girl and child than first appears, isn't there?" Setoni gave a reluctant nod. "So, healer, what's your advice?"
"We move north to the Shadowlands." Asok and Setoni held each other's glances for a very long time.
"I see," said the steppeman, in his unruffled deep voice. Setoni was relieved when Asok turned his attention to the board. "When?"
"As soon as possible. Soji will be able to ride for short spells within ten days."
"As soon as that?" questioned Asok in an abstracted way. His voice was serious, the eyes that lifted to Setoni's intent and perceptive. "I'll order a general move upon your order, healer, a few travelling with us, but most of those here back in the cities."
"I don't wish you to make any move that would expose the steppes to attack," said Setoni, chewing on his lower lip. The gray eyes surveyed him with affectionate amusement.
"We'd never do that, now would we?" Setoni felt slightly foolish and even more so when Asok turned his attention to the board and moved his piece. "You see, we don't take chances," the quiet voice said, as Asok closed the board with a snap. "That wasn't a wise move, my friend, was it?" When Setoni looked up, he heard a deep chuckle.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Dramas settled amidst a cloud of dust that sprayed up when a dragon landed. He was on moorland that stretched out flat into the distance, though far away Dramas could see the faint outline of trees. They were too remote for the mage, who slowly and painfully clambered down the dragon's side and now stood, leaning on him for support, his breath curling in the cool air.
Dramas swivelled his head, his eyes meeting Bene's.
"Archmage, it's too far for you to travel."
"Nonsense," sent back Bene testily, heaving himself upright and transferring his weight so he managed to stand upright.
"Are you telling me," contradicted the dragon, half-jestingly, "you propose to walk, or more probably, hobble, that far?" Bene touched the dragon's head affectionately and when their eyes met, Dramas felt the power of his mage's love.
"You know, Dramas, I can't walk any distance any longer," he sent gently.
He raised his arms from his sides and his image instantly blurred. It formed into a magnificent white and blue swandrah that flew effortlessly up and above the huge dragon head, Dramas' whirling eyes watching the beautiful bird appreciatively. When the swandrah came close, Dramas saw plumage, always so pristine white, now had silver through the blue. Sadly, he knew his mage aged and at a suddenly accelerated pace. The swandrah settled a little clumsily on the ground in front of the dragon, its head cocked to one side.
