Yanin frowned. ‘As long as it’s just, you know...’
‘Obviously,’ Kerri said. ‘We’ll deal with that later, if we have to.’
‘You go first, Ravi,’ his sister said. ‘But sit the fuck down, I’m not taking the risk that you miss the pot and get the floor wet.’
‘Fine,’ he muttered. The two young women turned away, and Ravi headed to the chamber pot. He pulled down his clothes and sat, feeling the cold ceramic against his skin.
‘We should talk about something,’ he said. ‘Anything.’
‘Okay,’ Yanin said. ‘How about we think about how to get out of here. We’ve got one of the city’s best mages with us. There’s got to be something we can do.’
He smirked at her back. ‘Yeah, maybe if the boat was made of clay or coal, but ummm… it’s not, in case you hadn’t noticed.’
‘Yeah, alright, smartass,’ Yanin said, ‘but coal and clay are different things, right?’
‘Yeah, so?’
‘So how does it work? I mean, clay’s a kind of dirt, yeah?’
‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘I’m not a scientist. I just put my hands onto clay, and I can feel it, the structure of it, if you get what I mean. And then I can change it. It’s the same with coal.’
‘Where does coal come from?’ asked Kerri.
‘Holes in the fucking ground,’ Ravi said. ‘How should I know? They’re some sort of rock, I suppose.’
‘A rock that burns,’ said Yanin.
He shrugged, and pulled up his clothes. ‘All done.’
He sat down as Kerri got up. He was tempted to turn, to see if he could catch a glimpse of her naked, but thought it might look a bit weird, so kept his eyes to the wall.
‘Have you ever tried it on anything else?’ said Yanin.
‘Like what?’
‘I don’t know, metal?’
He put a finger against a large iron rivet, driven into the side of the hull.
‘Nope,’ he said. ‘Nothing.’
Yanin rubbed the side of her face. ‘What about wood? You can make charcoal from wood. Maybe they’re similar.’
Ravi shrugged, then placed his palm against a floorboard of the hull.
He froze.
‘Holy shit.’
‘What?’ cried Yanin. ‘Can you feel something?’
‘Yeah. I mean it’s weak, but I can feel it. Wood? Holy shit.’
‘Maybe,’ Yanin said, ‘you can only feel it because you’ve been practising so much.’
‘Yeah, maybe.’
His sister sat right next to him, and Kerri came over, pulling up her leggings.
‘What do you think you could do?’ his sister asked. ‘Could you break the floorboards, or something?’
He smiled. ‘Stupid question, Kerri,’ he said, ‘but can you swim?’
She frowned. ‘I’m Rakanese. Of course I can swim.’
‘Then get ready,’ he said, standing. He leaned against the wooden hull of the barge, trying to judge where the waterline was. The two women stood behind him, watching. He placed both palms flat against the boards and closed his eyes, reaching out with his powers, feeling where he could tear and rend the wood.
‘Prepare yourself, ladies,’ he said. ‘It’s about to get wet in here.’
He focussed his power, and surged it into the wooden beams.
As the sun set over the city the sky was transformed into a sea of pinks and reds; the roofs and towers reflecting the evening light, and casting long shadows over the streets and alleyways. Along one alleyway ran three figures. Yanin led the way, with Ravi and Kerri keeping up, or slowing them down, depending on your viewpoint.
‘Is it much further?’ Ravi gasped. ‘My legs are buckling.’
‘We’re nearly there,’ his sister said, not pausing to break her stride.
Ravi groaned, his wet clothes chafing in the most uncomfortable places. Next to him, Kerri ran silently, her eyes downcast. Yanin raised her arm as they approached a junction, and they slunk into the shadows of the alley.
‘Right,’ she said. ‘This is it. We’ve got to make a decision, now. We either go to the wardens, or we get the fuck out of the city.’
‘I don’t trust the wardens,’ said Kerri. ‘As far as we know, they’ve been bribed as well, and if they have – I can’t face going back there again.’
Yanin nodded. ‘What about you, Ravi?’
‘This is too much,’ he said. ‘I can’t handle this. I nearly drowned us all back at the canal. I had no idea the boat would go down so fast. We were lucky…’
She put a hand on his shoulder. ‘Listen, brother. We got out of Arakhanah, we can get out of Amatskouri. I’m not leaving you.’
‘Nor me,’ Kerri said.
‘Maybe you should go home, Kerri,’ he said. ‘They won’t go looking for you, surely?’
‘I’m staying with you,’ she said. ‘You’re an idiot half the time, but I’ve stuck with you this far. I love you, dammit.’
He smiled. ‘I love you too.’
Yanin turned away as they kissed.
‘So we run,’ she said.
‘But where?’ Ravi said.
‘Somewhere far away,’ she said. ‘Not Plateau City, that’s what they’ll expect.’ She pointed down one of the streets. ‘Down there’s where the trading caravans leave for the south. They travel past Anamindhari and Stretton Sands before reaching Rainsby. We change our names, and pay our keep for the journey, and most’ll be happy to let us tag along.’
Ravi raised an eyebrow at his sister. ‘You seem to know a lot about this.’
She shrugged. ‘After Arakhanah, I guess I’ve always wanted to know how to leave somewhere fast, if I had to.’
‘How much will it cost us?’ asked Kerri. ‘I have no money on me. Do you?’
‘I’ll pay for it,’ Yanin said. ‘I have a bit stashed away for emergencies.’
‘Where?’
‘Close by,’ Yanin said. ‘There’s a small merchant bank where the caravans gather. I can withdraw it from there.’
‘Thanks, sis,’ Ravi said. ‘You’ve really pulled through for me.’
Yanin shrugged. ‘You were the one who ripped a hole in the side of the barge and sunk it to the bottom of the canal.’ She reached out with her arms, and embraced the two of them. ‘We’re in this together,’ she said. ‘We watch each other’s backs and we trust no one else. Agreed?’
‘Agreed,’ said Ravi and Kerri.
‘Okay,’ Yanin said. She smiled. ‘Let’s go south.’
Chapter 8
The Oath
Plateau City, Imperial Plateau – 30th Day, First Third Spring 524
Nyane gazed around the small audience chamber and stifled a yawn. She was sitting at a long table, along with a few other selected advisors, part of the Empress’ personal council of experts and specialists, as they waited on her Imperial Majesty to arrive.
‘You look tired,’ said a Holdings vision mage to her left.
‘It was a long journey, Isobel,’ she said, ‘and I don’t sleep too well in a carriage.’
The Holdings woman frowned. ‘When did you arrive back in the city?’
‘An hour ago.’
‘And you came straight here?’ Isobel laughed. ‘Do you really think that buying bricks is so important that you had to rush to tell the Empress?’
‘It’s called doing your job,’ Nyane said, winking. ‘I understand that you may be unfamiliar with such a concept.’
The Holdings mage glared at her, while a few others round the table chuckled. A servant came over with a tray, and began serving drinks to the advisors. The morning sunlight was flooding in through a pair of tall bay windows behind the table, and Nyane gazed at the view of the imperial city.
‘How was Amatskouri?’ asked Olin, a Rakanese lawyer. ‘I haven’t been to visit in years. In fact, most of it was still a building site when I was there.’
‘It was wonderful,’ Nyane said. ‘The sunsets were gorgeous, and the architecture exquisi
te.’
‘I heard you were out drinking with the locals,’ said Isobel.
Nyane frowned.
Isobel shrugged. ‘I have regular vision-meetings with my colleague there. He happened to mention it.’
‘He was right,’ she said. ‘I spent the evening of election day in the company of a very highly ranked clay mage. We had a most interesting discussion.’
‘I suspected it might be something like that,’ smiled Olin. ‘I’m going to guess that you didn’t have a single day off while you were there.’
‘I can’t help it,’ she laughed. ‘I can’t seem to relax when I’m away on official business.’
‘I’m the same,’ said Cuthbert, an old Holdings war veteran. ‘Duty is duty.’
‘But you’ll be having a drink tonight?’ said Isobel.
‘What’s happening tonight, again?’ Nyane said. ‘My calendar’s all over the place.’
‘A party to celebrate the birthday of the Kellach ambassador.’
Nyane groaned. ‘I might pass. I’ve been travelling for days, and I’m not sure my constitution could take a Kellach Brigdomin party just yet.’
‘I’ve seen you at these parties.’ Isobel said. ‘I know you can hold your own with the serious drinkers. You’re always one of the last left standing at the end of the night. Are you sure it’s not because there’s something else you’d rather be doing?’
Nyane smiled.
Isobel laughed. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll cover for you.’
‘Thank you,’ said Nyane.
The mage’s expression turned more sombre. ‘Earlier, you said that you were out with a clay mage. Do you remember what rank they were?’
‘Fifth, I believe,’ Nyane said. ‘He’s the best mage in the city.’
‘His name wasn’t Ravi, by any chance, was it? It’s just that I received some news regarding a fifth-level mage called Ravi.’
‘Really? What?’
‘It was in the newspapers there a few days ago,’ Isobel said. ‘Apparently he was out drinking one evening and fell into a canal. They couldn’t find a body, but the city is assuming that he drowned.’
Nyane frowned. ‘Dammit.’
‘Sorry,’ said Isobel.
‘Thank you, but I didn’t really know him,’ Nyane said. ‘He seemed a nice enough young fellow, and was a fine clay mage. He gave me an idea about something that I intend to look into. What a shame. He stood up for me when some drunken idiots tried to cause trouble.’
‘Because you are Rahain?’ asked Olin.
‘Unfortunately, yes.’
‘I apologise for my people,’ he said.
‘Don’t be silly,’ she said. ‘It’s hardly your fault. Hopefully in time these prejudices will break down. Until then, my scaly lizard hide will just have to endure it.’
Isobel laughed.
A horn rang out and Lady Dyam, the Imperial Herald and Chief of Staff, entered the chamber.
‘Please be upstanding for her Imperial Majesty, Empress Bridget of Brig, Holder of the World.’
Nyane and the others got to their feet as guards snapped to attention and the small room fell into silence. Tall doors opened, and five young children hurtled through, running and shouting. In their wake strode the Empress, smiling as her offspring proceeded to bring chaos into the stateroom, their shrieks echoing up to the high ceiling. Nyane smiled, well-accustomed to seeing the Empress allowing her children to run riot.
‘Good morning all,’ the Empress called out above the noise. She walked past the meeting table to the bay windows and gazed out over her city. Nyane studied her. Despite maintaining an air of calm control, Nyane knew her well enough to detect a slight tension in her eyes. Her short brown hair bobbed over her shoulders, supporting a slender crown of rose-gold upon her brow, while her clothes were simple, but elegant. Her Majesty eschewed opulence, preferring to avoid overt displays of wealth and finery, yet still always managed to look regal. She turned and smiled.
‘Time for your lessons,’ she called out to her children. ‘Be good, and remember your mother loves you. Off you go.’
The children ran to her, crowding round her and hugging any bit of her they could get hold of. The two eldest were dark-haired twins, a girl and a boy aged eleven, while the younger three were triplets: a pair of identical blonde girls and a red-haired boy, aged six.
Go on,’ the Empress cried, while laughing at the same time. ‘I’ll see you all later.’
A couple of old tutors came over and ushered the children from the room as the Empress blew them kisses.
‘Cheeky wee monkeys,’ she muttered as the door closed. She turned to face her advisors.
They bowed.
The Empress took her place at the head of the table and sat, and the others followed her. She gazed at her informal council of advisors. To her right sat Dyam, the Imperial Herald, one of the Empress’ oldest friends and allies. Compared to her, Nyane was a recent arrival on the council.
‘Good morning to you all,’ the Empress said. ‘I’m due to be at a meeting with the Ministry of Finance in five minutes, so we’ll have to be quick today. Nyane, you go first. It’s good to see you, by the way. I hope you had a nice time in Amatskouri.’
‘I did, thank you, your Majesty,’ Nyane said. ‘As for business, a contract was signed for the materials required for the extension to the harbour walls. I negotiated a deal that came in under budget.’
‘Good job,’ the Empress said.
Dyam coughed gently.
‘Aye?’ the Empress said.
‘I know we’re short of time, your Majesty,’ said her herald, ‘but before we go, you should listen to the report from the Chief of Intelligence.’
The Empress turned to Isobel, who smiled.
‘I was in contact with the First Holder yesterday evening, your Majesty,’ Isobel said. ‘Her elder daughter and younger son are on their way from the Holdings to the imperial capital, accompanied by Lord Laodoc. The First Holder told me that they will be taking up residence in the old Holdfast townhouse near the university when they arrive. They will be bringing letters of introduction, and are hoping to be admitted into your imperial presence.’
The Empress smiled. ‘That’s good news,’ she said after a while. ‘I look forward to seeing them. Let me know when they arrive.’
‘I will, your Majesty.’
‘Thank you. Corthie must be twelve by now. I wonder if he’d like to play with the twins? It would be nice for them to have someone their own age around. And Karalyn… the last time I saw her was eight years ago, when she was ten. She and her father were on their way back from Kellach Brigdomin when they stopped by for a while. She was a lovely girl.’
The Empress paused for a moment, as if pondering something, and Dyam coughed again.
‘Right,’ the Empress said, standing. ‘Off to meet the Minister of Finance.’
The others rose to their feet.
‘I should have more time for you all tomorrow,’ she said. ‘I’m addressing the senate in the afternoon, but you can have me for the morning. Nyane, remember to bring the harbour plans, I want to go over them.’
‘Yes, your Majesty,’ Nyane said.
The Empress and her herald walked from the room, the doors opened for them by guards in steel armour. Her advisors glanced at each other for a moment then began to make their way out. Isobel fell in beside Nyane.
‘I’m glad you’re back,’ she said. ‘We need to talk.’
Nyane glanced at the Holdings mage. She liked Isobel, despite their disagreements. As the head of the network of imperial vision mages she held a position of great influence in the palace.
‘Are you free tomorrow?’
‘Yes,’ Isobel said, ‘but it can’t wait until then.’
‘This evening,’ Nyane said, ‘can you come round to my apartment on your way to the party at the Kellach embassy?’
‘Yes.’
Nyane nodded. ‘See you then.’
They walked out of the chamber doo
r. Guards flanked the palace corridors, and the advisors dispersed, some to their private offices, others like Nyane to the forecourt where their carriages awaited them.
‘The university, please,’ she said as she boarded her carriage. The door was closed and the carriage took off, skirting the marble fountain in the centre of the forecourt in front of the palace, before exiting via the main entrance gates. Nyane tried to relax as the carriage rolled through the streets of the New Town, through the governmental district towards the gates of the Old Town. The carriage turned right before it reached them, and went between stately rows of expensive townhouses, with trees lining the streets. Ahead, the tall spires of the university rose above the high rooftops, and her heart beat a little faster. She smiled.
The carriage went under an arched opening and emerged into a large courtyard, surrounded on all four sides by the tall buildings of the university. It was built in grey stone quarried from the nearby hills, and what could have been severe and foreboding had been transformed by the skill of the masons into an elegant, perfectly proportioned masterpiece of towers and spires. She sighed as she gazed at it from the window. The sight of it never failed to make her heart soar. The carriage came to a halt, and the door was opened.
‘Good morning, ma’am,’ the footman said, bowing as she stepped down to the ground. ‘It’s good to see you back. Do you wish your baggage to be taken up to your apartment?’
‘Yes, thank you.’
She glanced around, taking in the glistening fountain in the centre of the courtyard, and the bustling groups of students hurrying to their lessons, unable to keep the smile off her face. Home.
As an honorary master of the university, Nyane had a compact apartment on the upper levels of a slim tower. The Empress had offered her a larger house, but she preferred to stay where she was. The university felt like its own little world, and everything she needed was there.
She thought about Ravi as she showered and dressed. What a pity. But his idea? She intended to examine if it was possible. There was a clay mage who worked in the Rakanese quarter of the city by the river, who had taken imperial contracts before. She wondered if she would be willing to assist her. Nyane had full access to research rooms in the university, and was a member of the funding board, so money wouldn’t be a problem.
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