Way Walkers: Tangled Paths (The Tazu Saga)

by Leigh, J.

  He could practically fly for how her words made him feel. “How about this? After the move, I’ll come get you, and we’ll take the train up to Fauve and see a few sights, far away from most who would know you. We could meet up with Ass’shiri for lunch, and you can finally meet Jephue and Hatori and listen firsthand to their squabbling. Jeph will be remodeling the new shop, so there’s bound to be plenty of it. Please?”

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she slipped onto his lap. “I suppose I could be persuaded…”

  Grinning, Jathen encircled her waist, drawing her closer. “You are far too easily manipulated. Hatori will eat you alive if you’re not careful.”

  “Only for you, my Tazu king. Your charm master holds no charm over me.”

  An hour later, he said his goodbyes and met Ass’shiri outside. A stab of guilt hit him, and he glanced awkwardly at his friend. “Ass’shiri, about Ishane…”

  “You do want to pursue her, don’t you?”

  Surprised, Jathen nodded. “Yeah, I do.”

  “I thought so, after that stuff with Hatori and Jephue. And your damn grin. Spirit help you, Jath, you don’t know what you might be getting into.” Ass’shiri stopped. The glow from the lamppost behind him made his body a rigid shadow in the night. “She’s a mei. Granted, if she does decide she’d rather be with you than work, or if you’re all right with what she does and want to let her keep working—Rhean keep your temper if you do—it’s still a rough road. If she stops being a mei, she’s got to retrain for another Path or become a wife. Last time I checked, foreign mei priestesses don’t make good wives for Tazu princes.”

  Jathen glared at his friend. “You’re assuming a lot.”

  “Only because I want to make certain you know. You fall for her, and ideally she falls for you, but where does it have the chance of going? Sometimes it makes sense to assess.” Ass’shiri swallowed hard. “Leaving the person you love because of forces beyond your control is something I have firsthand experience in, and it’s not a pleasant thing to carry around, despite my mostly chipper demeanor.”

  Taken aback, Jathen asked, “Do you think assessing it would have stopped you?”

  “No,” Ass’shiri admitted, the ghost of a laugh rumbling in his tone. “But it might have kept me from doing some of the stupider things I attempted in the name of love.” He shook his head, snickering. “Never climb to the top of the Clan embassy so you can spell out a love note in crossbow bolts on the side of the Municipal Citadel.”

  “You didn’t!”

  “No, a couple of tar’ka-besh tackled me before I even got off one shot.”

  Jathen grinned. “I’m surprised you weren’t imprisoned for something like that.”

  “Well, like I said, she had some pull. And I was very drunk.”

  “I promise I won’t do anything quite like that. And I promise I’ll keep my feelings, and Ishane, in perspective.” Neek’s prophecy flitted through his mind again, but he brushed it away. “It’s just… I don’t make connections with people very often. It’s rare for me to find someone I can talk to. I feel that way about her. At first, I just needed to see if it was only because she’s a mei, or if it’s because it’s her. Now, after watching Hatori and knowing what he’s gone through for someone he cares for, I can’t bring myself to completely walk away from Ishane. I need to see where it can go.”

  “Gah, you sound like me two years ago.” Ass’shiri sighed then put a hand on Jathen’s shoulder. “I hope to Beleskie yours turns out a bit better than mine did.”

  “Yours isn’t totally sealed yet,” Jathen reminded him. “Clan have lots of time, remember?”

  “Yeah. You’re right.” Ass’shiri smiled wryly. “You know… there’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while. And like you, the stuff with Hatori kind of made me realize I’d best be saying this to you.”

  “Ass, if you’re confessing your undying love…”

  Ass’shiri lightly punched him in the arm. “Don’t be a jackass! I might not want your body, but I am baring my soul here.” He sniffed then looked away. “To be honest, you’ve gone and become the best friend I’ve ever had, so much so that I almost think I had to have known you in another life.”

  Jathen was stunned and admitted, “Ass’shiri, you’re the only real friend I’ve ever had.”

  Ass’shiri smiled and clapped him on the back. “Then I want to ask you to do something.”

  “What?”

  “Become my brother.”

  “Huh?”

  “Oh hell, don’t the Tazu have a blood brothers equivalent?”

  Jathen shook his head. “No.”

  “Yeesh. It’s something Clan do. It started way back when there were a lot less of us, and the Born families needed to bring in new blood. Sometimes they’d adopt little human kids into Clan families, raise them, then marry them off for alliances. But with adults, they’d create a pact by exchanging blood. From then on, the new person was family, treated the same as if they were born into it.”

  “So you want to make a run at the Tazu throne, too?”

  “Jath!”

  “I’m just trying to get it straight.”

  “You’d be my brother, Jathen. Your fights would be my fights, your enemies my enemies. The ones you love will be the ones I protect, and I will always be there for you.”

  “And me for you.”

  Ass’shiri bobbed his head. “Exactly.”

  Jathen thought for a moment then asked the most relevant question. “How much blood are we talking?”

  “Jathen, I’m serious!”

  “So am I.” Jathen gave his friend a measuring look. “This sounds like a pretty significant thing, Ass. Are you sure?”

  “Are you?”

  Jathen didn’t even have to think it over. “Hell, I’m going to do all those things you listed whether we do some blood exchange or not. That’s why I asked how much; I don’t want to be a Changeling.”

  “Exchanging blood doesn’t make you a Changeling, nor does getting bit.” Ass’shiri laughed. “As to the amount of blood for this exchange—not much at all by our standards. We both cut our palms and hold them together for a moment.”

  “Ass’shiri Tan of the Tan’cha,” Jathen said in his most formal manner, bowing slightly, “I’d be honored.”

  “Oh, I might cry.”

  “Oh, now who’s being the ass, Ass?”

  “Sorry, it was just weird watching you go all ceremonial.”

  “Well, you’re the one who made it sound that way.” Jathen poked him in the ribs. “So when do we do this?”

  “Now’s fine.”

  “Now? In the middle of the night in the middle of the street?”

  Ass’shiri shrugged. “Why not?”

  “All right.” Jathen rolled up his sleeve.

  Ass’shiri took out his knife and flipped it open. The metal glinted orange in the lamppost’s light. “You first.”

  “Why me?”

  “Don’t be a baby. Mine’s going to heal fast, so we have to do yours first.”

  “Great.” Jathen extended his hand. He winced as Ass’shiri swiped the blade across his palm. “I’m going to be standing here bleeding while you’re all fixed and dandy.” He cupped his palm so the beading blood wouldn’t drip. “And no antiseptic, either. If Petalith saw this, she’d kill me. Well, first she’d rant about how my hand will get gangrene and fall off, then she’d kill me.”

  “If we do this right, the Clan blood will heal my hand and clot the wound in yours, plus kill any infections. That’s what makes it so symbolic. You literally get a bit of me in you.” Ass’shiri held the knife over his left hand. “Now, I’m going to cut my hand, then we need to put our hands together really quickly. The cuts need to line up before my wound closes, so it’s tricky.
”

  “Right. Anything else?”

  “Yeah, we hold it for a bit and swear to be brothers. Ready?”

  “Yes.”

  “Go!” Ass’shiri sliced his palm and clasped Jathen’s hand. Grinning, they both swore to be brothers.

  When Ass’shiri let go, Jathen stared at his palm. The blood was already clotting. “Wow, it worked.” He waggled his healing hand. “So is there anything else to this?”

  “Well, if it were done back home, there’d be fanfare and ceremony and all that rot.”

  “I knew there had to be more to it than that!”

  Ass’shiri rolled his eyes. “Anyway, there is one thing. My clan, the Tan’cha, is one of the ten largest in the Clan Lands. We aren’t one of the four greats, but we’re pretty important. My family, now your family, is one of the most influential within the Tan’cha. We’re direct cousins of the Tannesh, which is our First Family. Now, trust is an issue in the Clan Lands, so to ensure one is really a member, each family has a set of secret words. Only family know these words. If you are ever without me and need something from a member of the Tan’cha, tell them the corresponding word, and they are honor bound to at least listen.”

  “Not to trudge on age-old tradition, Ass’shiri, but can’t a really good telepathic Talent just steal the word out of my mind or something?”

  Ass’shiri shrugged, “It’s not a perfect system, but it works.”

  Jathen chuckled, bemused once more by Clan logic. “So what are the words?”

  “The word of the Tan’cha is shiryoku-ka, it means ‘night vision.’ Our Tan family’s word is kitekuto.” Ass’shiri grinned. “It means ‘architect.’”

  Jathen blinked. “Are you serious?”

  “Yup. I’ve been wanting to tell you that for a while, actually. Way back when, the Tans were builders for the Tannesh family. My great-great-grandfather designed buildings for the First Family.”

  Ass’shiri made him repeat the words again and again until he was certain Jathen memorized their correct pronunciations. “Good. Now you’re set as a proper blood brother to the Tan’cha.”

  “And you get to join the ranks of the bastard Monortith moots.” Jathen chuckled. “We are a clan of two now, but there are plenty of Tazu beatings to be had.”

  Ass’shiri cracked his knuckles. “We’ll see how well the mighty Tazu take to beating on this Clansman. If they can get that close… I can cripple with a single bolt if I get the right shot.”

  “Remind me to point out a certain Tazu named Skaniss when we get home. I have to say it’d be nice to see him get his comeuppance.”

  “It will be my pleasure, brother. My pleasure.”

  Chapter 33

  Ishane smiled slyly.

  Standing in the train station, Jathen found her nothing short of transformed. Clad in a ruffled white dress with subtle shades of cream, Ishane moved and walked with the same genteel grace as the ladies of rank in the Tazu court.

  “You are a vision, Ishane,” Jathen said. “If I were better at verse, I’d compose some great metaphor, but even if I hired poets, I don’t think they’d be able to do you justice, as they’d be left just as staggered as I.”

  Twirling her lace parasol, she batted her eyes at him. “If you compliment me one more time, Jathen Monortith, I believe I’ll have to return to Ca’june for fear of further embarrassment.” Her little round hat was topped with feathers the same pale blue as her hair.

  “And endure another two-hour ride locked in a cubby?” Jathen chuckled. “Besides, you can’t leave without walking the town and seeing everyone. And especially since I’ve not seen you in nearly two weeks.”

  “Ten days,” she corrected.

  “Everything seems longer when Hatori and Jephue are arguing over paint samples, and the electricity lines haven’t been run yet.” He took her arm. “Ass’shiri and I nearly came to blows over who was going to be stuck helping Jeph in the dark today. Luckily, I had you as an excuse to get out of there. So I think we will go the long way back.”

  “Trying to keep me all to yourself?”

  “Maybe.”

  They walked around the city for an hour, then detoured through the flower district. She educated him on some of the blooms: how peonies meant healing, stargazer lilies were for ambition, lilacs were for first love, and hyacinths meant sincerity. He bought a sprig of lilac and slipped it into her hair.

  She smirked, patting the flower. “I think you’re trying to impress me.”

  “Maybe.” He chuckled then offered his arm.

  Jathen turned in the direction of the new property. Lost in conversation, he ignored all the passersby and shops they passed.

  She glanced in one of the store windows and stopped in her tracks, eyes widening in wonder. “Jathen! You… your face.” She pointed at the glass.

  He turned to look. A row of antique mirrors stood in the window. Half a dozen pairs of Jathen and Ishane, all lavender scales and pink skin, stared back at him. But one errant mirror showed the same Ishane but a different Jathen—golden scaled and Drannic-like.

  “Oh, it must be a silver mirror.” Jathen was uncertain which was more intriguing: the reminder that his appearance changed in such mirrors or that Ishane saw him differently, given the strange perceptions of the Lu’shun. “My friend Hausmannith said he thought I might look like a Drannic. Is that what you see?”

  Ishane looked grave. “Legend says that Drannic are the only race a Lu’shun can see true.” She touched the window glass. “And the only ones who see us for what we are.”

  “And what is that?”

  “Now, now, sweet prince.” She smiled, gravity melted as quickly as it had come. “One must keep a certain amount of whimsical mystery in the world, don’t you think?”

  He shot her a wry grin, bemused by her sidestepping. Had just about anyone else responded like that, it would have vexed him. “Fine, don’t tell me the big Lu’shun secret.” He took her arm again, and they continued walking. “I don’t need to know. I just need you near.”

  “You are too sweet.”

  Jathen loved how when she tilted her head upward to look at him, her blue eyes caught the light and shimmered. Like how bits of ice must look on water. Or the flower leeches against the blue sky, coming for you. Jathen was uncertain from what part of his subconscious such a morbid thought had sprung. He brushed it off, content to let it return there.

  “Is the shop much further?” she asked.

  “Not by much. Half a block or so, I think.”

  “Well, walk slower then. I want to make this last.”

  He chuckled. “And what is so special about this moment that makes it worth extending?”

  “All moments are fleeting, Jathen. So any you can find that make you happy, hold onto them for as long as you can.”

  “True, but just because this moment will flit away, that doesn’t mean we can’t make more together, Ishane. We’re young with our whole lives ahead of us. There will be more. I guarantee it.” But he slowed a bit just the same.

  “Yes.” She gave him her sly smile. “We’re young. There will be more moments.”

  Soon, he stopped in front of Hatori’s new shop. Situated on a corner, the little place had a small storefront and a huge workshop in the back. Above were an additional two stories for living quarters.

  Jathen winked at her. “We’re here. I guess this particular moment is over.” He took her hand and led her inside.

  Jephue immediately greeted them and fawned over Ishane. Kissing her on both cheeks, he squeaked and led them past the dusty construction zone of the front landing. “Excuse the mess, please,” he said, offering her a seat on a sheet-covered ottoman. He pulled the kerchief off his head, and a tumble of black, silky tresses fell over his shoulders, looking regal despite his otherwise chalky appear
ance. “These projects always take far longer than anticipated.”

  “You shall find no judgment from me, sir. Jathen assures me it will be stunning when complete, and I know he has almost as fine an eye for interiors as you.”

  “Well, he’s correct, I do have great plans for it,” Jephue said. He waved a hand around, indicating the room. “This whole foyer is going to be redone, and I have drafted a whole new set of display cases for over here and…” He droned on, detailing his extensive intentions for the space.

  Ass’shiri came down the stairs behind them and stood beside Jathen. “Jeph seems to like her,” he whispered.

  “Yeah, well,” Jathen said as Ishane and Jephue chattered over a pile of tiles and fabric swatches. “I think he secretly always wanted a daughter.”

  “Ha! Can you imagine Hatori with a daughter?”

  “Yes, actually. Sitting in the workshop, interrogating potential suitors…” He did his best impression of Hatori’s intimidating voice: “Clan are old, and we know how to kill a man so that even if anyone might conceivably discover the body, it would be so degraded no one would ever be able to identify it, not even your own ghost.”

  Ass’shiri’s chuckling was interrupted by Jephue yelling into the workshop, “Things would go quicker if you would help me decide between the wallpaper and tile samples, Hatori.”

  “Pick whatever damn tiles you prefer. I don’t care so long as it’s not Mannachi rouge and yellow up there!”

  Ishane giggled.

  Jephue rolled his eyes and called, “Are you at least going to come out and greet our guest?”

  “When I am done and not a moment before! Unless you want to go another week relying on candles?”

  Jathen turned to Ishane. “If you’re all right out here with Jephue, I can head back and see if I can hurry Hatori up a little. That way you can say hello before we go to the Zirconia Building with Ass’shiri.”

  “Yeah, I need to clean up before we head out.” Ass’shiri punched Jathen’s arm. “Since I was stuck here painting.” He laughed and went back upstairs.