“I could use some fine news. Say on.”
“He has not asked to marry me. You wouldn’t be asking to supersede him.”
Light like the edge of the sun and joy far greater struck Edmath. Slowly, his frown transformed into a smile. The shadows of the tree branches above only served to outline the noonday light. Chelka’s face told him she understood his changing expression. Her smile reflected his.
“My dear, I do think you just asked me to marry you.” Though Edmath grinned his stomach churned, though not with bile, but with butterflies.
Chelka stepped toward him, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Why not, Saale Donroi?”
“But which of us can afford to use only a secret name?”
When a couple married in Zel, tradition held that either the man or the woman hid his or her surname as a secret name beneath that of the spouse.
Edmath’s heart skipped a beat as she wrapped her other arm halfway around his neck. She shrugged her head while still holding onto him.
“Your father’s name has only gotten you into trouble, Ed.”
“That it has,” he whispered.
“Would you like to cast off that burden?”
He put his hands to her waist, feeling a tingle in his the cushioning around his bones, followed by a jolt of pain as he thoughtlessly made contact with his wounded hand. Wincing, Edmath stepped backward, forcing Chelka to release him from her arms.
“What is it?”
“My broken bones. The pain came back for a moment.”
“Oh. I hope that wasn’t any effect of mine.”
Laughter bubbled up from within Edmath. He shook his head, still overwhelmed with elation.
“Of course it wasn’t you. My hand is still tender, that is all, and while we are on the subject,” Edmath touched Chelka’s gray sleeve with his good hand. “I accept your proposal, as sudden as it is.”
“That’s what I love about you, Ed. You’re always eager to please.” Chelka stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the forehead. He pulled her closer with his good hand and grinned, laughing once again.
“And here I thought we wouldn’t be seeing much of each other this summer.”
Chelka laughed, and slipped away from him, face covered with sunlight.
Holding his new secret to his heart, Edmath returned to the space under the crystal dome, alongside the dignitaries of the empire.
Council continued with lesser bureaucrats and representatives arguing for their king, or queen, or region in smaller groups at first before reconvening to discuss the wishes of the people on broader terms with the whole assembly. The Magister of Tokalgo moderated the entire day. Edmath watched High Emperor Vosraan Loi intently but the old man never said another word. Occasionally he raised his hand in a vote or nodded his head at the other speakers to allow them to take the floor. Beyond that, he seemed completely detached from the world.
Unlike the Sphere of Fire, which was an untameable force that consumed the mind of someone whose augury grew careless, Zel’s Sphere of Humanity joined with a master, the High Emperor. Legend had it that it could be addressed from any distance by that master, and auguries were his life day and night.
All spheres were at least partially alive but only Protean Spheres came close to the Spheres of Humanity in their sapience. Edmath shuddered at the memory of the grotesque red and black thing fading into the distance over the sea as the levoth carried him away. He shook his head, trying to clear the image and saw Razili looking at him curiously.
“What’s the matter, Ed?”
“Nothing. Don’t worry.”
“I can see you are distracted, that’s all.”
“Thank you for the concern, but I’m fine.”
“I hope my brother did not ruin your mood. He talks too much.”
“Some would say the same of me.”
“Perhaps, but you weren’t the one boasting of the potential of a new weapon.”
“True.” Edmath nodded.
Razili gave him a small smile but then turned back to the speakers below them. Edmath refocused on High Emperor Loi, and once again wondered what his mother had talked about with the majestic old ruler when he and Zuria had left her with him the first day they arrived in Diar. Could Sampheli really be on such familiar terms with him when the High Emperor treated even these kings with little regard?
The rest of the session passed and Edmath’s question remained unanswered. As the afternoon drew on, the kings and queens and servants who had spent the previous day traveling began to tire noticeably, and even Zemoy Benisar and Haddishal Rumenha spoke shorter and less strongly. Just before the sunlight could sink away from the high windows, the Magister of Tokalgo raised his head up from the floor and shifted scales to form his human-like face.
“Darkness falls over us, good councilors. I move that we adjourn until our next session can be organized. Do any oppose?”
None did. The session had been long and everyone was eager to break for the day. Once again he found himself staring at the magister, marveling at the great serpent’s bizarre winged shape if only to distract from his giddiness over a certain event between sessions. The motion passed and little by little the councilors began to rise and leave with their entourages.
Edmath and Razili followed the Saale Emperor’s group out the doors, closely followed by the War Empress’ guards. The sky outside turned red and gold on the horizon and the world darkened.
They crossed the bridge and took a side path through the gardens to a pool of water not far from the Dome of Kings. Haddishal stopped there and turned to look back over the small crowd of Saales and other advisers behind him.
“You are dismissed for the day,” he said. “I will call on you as I need you for the next session of the council. Go and rest.”
One could learn a lot about plants from their disposition in darkness. Study provided Edmath with other things to think about than Chelka, Oresso, and the council of kings. He needed the time alone to recover from the excitement of the day.
That evening, Edmath followed the paths through the outer gardens for a while after light faded. His stride carried him around the palace almost full circle as the shadows of trees and bushes broadened all around him. Lights danced overhead from luminous moths mingling with the newly arrived eagles and swans of their respective delegations.
As Edmath straightened from inspecting a fern, the massive shape of a mirache rose over the High Castle of the War Empress. Its fox heads hissed and howled while it circled to climb over the walls and then flew toward the central palace. One of the Roshi had been summoned. Apparently, the High Emperor was more interested in them than the kings and queens of his own nation.
Following the creature toward the wall surrounding the inner gardens beyond which he could hear the Enchiel guardians hooting and shrieking in their mix of different animal and Zelian languages, Edmath watched the majestic monster begin its descent, tiny wings flapping inside massive ones. Little by little it sank out of sight, but not before Edmath spotted the rider on its back. Tamina Roshi, the red-haired woman who had retrieved him from the Fire Temple before the duel with Ursar Kiet. She did not look in his direction and disappeared from his view an instant later, but just seeing her was plenty to send Edmath’s thoughts into motion.
Tamina was not the ambassador, a bodyguard not a champion. What business could she have within the central palace where it appeared that no humans but the High Emperor and his strange young Saale regularly trod? Of course, there could always be some other reason. To his understanding, the Magister of Tokalgo stayed within the inner garden when he visited. Few other locations would suit him, and he had the status for it. Perhaps the magister had summoned the Dawkun and her creature? That still raised a question. Why?
Edmath turned to move towards the path where he’d been walking. Seeing Chelka approaching at a distance, he remembered her proposal and the way the light splashed her by the pool. He’d hardly expected the event, and now he was going to be marrie
d. Now he would have to tell Sampheli and Zuria. Even Brosk did not know yet.
His breath felt very loud coming out of his nostrils. A blessing he’d wanted for years drew nearer than ever. What did he care if the strange Roshi woman had been summoned to the inner palace?
Chelka raised a hand to greet him, eyes bright in the shadows that partially veiled her face.
“Ed, there you are. What have you been doing?”
“Walking, and inspecting plants. The gardens here are well-tended.”
“Is that all?” Chelka walked down the path to Edmath and put her thumb to her lip. “Were you tired of sitting all day?”
“You know me, Chelka. I sometimes become anxious and need to recover. The day has been pleasant, wonderful, even, but now the future looks unplanned for me, at least after what we discussed today takes place.”
“I understand. Have you told anyone about our plans yet?”
“Not yet, though I suppose I will have to tell someone soon.” Edmath paced across the path to the far side, where a row of bushes flowered in violet. “If anything I think the plan will make my mother happy, my sister too.”
Chelka smiled broadly, following Edmath to the edge of the path. Confidence, red and burning, flashed in her eyes. She must have known as well as Edmath that their relationship could only become simpler for him once they wed.
“I’m glad. Sometimes I think Zuria doesn’t like me.”
“It’s not that, of course. She simply wanted to protect me.” Edmath laughed as he turned to Chelka. “Protect me from you. I feel silly just saying it.”
Chelka’s smile turned mischievous.
“I can be dangerous, you know.”
“I know.” Edmath put his arm around her shoulders and the two of them started walking down the path together. The roar of the mirache from behind them made Chelka turn first, though Edmath wasn’t much slower. The creature shot upward, clearing the inner walls. Tamina Roshi clung tightly to its back, bent low, near where its necks reached its body, red hair streaming out behind her. Chelka and Edmath broke from each other and looked up at the Roshi.
Tamina cried out in the fox language.
“Down. We must land now.”
Glancing at Chelka, then at the creature, Edmath realized where the mirache would come down.
“Better get off the path,” he said, trying to gauge the enormous animal’s rapid descent.
“Indeed.” Chelka touched his arm.
The two of them raced off the path toward the inner walls. The mirache flew lower above them. A claw scraped a treetop as it fell slowly toward the ground. Tamina cursed in the fox language, something that translated embarrassingly in Edmath’s mind. He drew a striker from his pocket and spun with Chelka to watch the mirache come down.
The great creature landed gracefully on the path, folding its wings as it did. Tamina slid sideways out of her saddle, dark cloak streaming, and hit the grass with a crunch of plants giving way. Chelka glanced at the mirache.
“This is incredible. What is this creature?”
“A fox-tribe steed from the Nation of Roshi,” Edmath said. “Be careful and do not approach it. I will attempt to find out what we should do.”
“Can you talk to that thing?”
“Of course, but I am also worried it might be aggressive if we should try to approach.” Edmath turned toward Tamina’s mirache and spoke in the fox-tongue. “Friend?”
“Prey!” the mirache shrieked and brought up all but one of its six heads to stare at Edmath, yellow eyes wild, and tail thrashing. Its sixth head remained facing the spot Tamina had fallen.
“Not prey, good creature. I want to help your rider.”
She was a being in need, despite her nation. Edmath frowned. His monastic studies went deeper than he’d thought.
Edmath raised his arms and opened his hands. He slipped the striker over his thumb as he did. Its bone ridges barely gripped his skin, but Edmath couldn’t afford to make a move to steady it so close to the mirache.
“Prey wants to help us?” one head said.
“Prey should flee before we lose patience,” said another giant fox mouth.
“I will not flee. I don’t know what happened, but your rider appears injured. You would be wise to let at least one of us see to her.”
“Trickster.”
“Prey!”
“Enemy!”
Edmath took a step backward, letting his hands fall and pushing the striker up his thumb with a nudge from his fingers. He stared at the mirache and spoke to Chelka from the corner of his mouth.
“I’m going to try to get past them. Be ready to strike.”
“Don’t be too heroic, Ed.”
“I won’t get hurt, Chelka.” A twinge of pain ran through his broken hand.
He hadn’t asked for the Roshi to hound him and hadn’t done anything to deserve it, but perhaps if he did them a good turn they would forget about his father’s crimes. Moving slowly, he advanced on the mirache. One of its heads darted towards him but stopped just short, with teeth bared.
“No closer, prey.”
“Do you want your master to die?”
“Obviously not. He was protecting me.” Tamina stalked shakily out from behind the mirache’s wing, hand on the creature’s side and hair falling around her shoulders. She scowled at Edmath. “He knows not to let one of you approach, no matter what.”
Chelka grabbed Edmath’s arm and tugged him back from the mirache’s toothy face. He moved with her, seeing the striker appear in her hand before catching a glimpse of the hand with which Tamina had touched the mirache. It was stained red with drying blood. Chelka must have seen it too because when she spoke it was with disgust in her voice.
“What were you doing in the inner palace?”
“I am a guest here. Do not question me.”
“I am an Imperial Saale. You will answer.” Chelka released Edmath’s hand and took a subtle stance from the survival art, one foot forward, one arm extended to the side. “I do not mean to threaten you, but you must do as I say.”
“Do you think two little Saales can defeat my steed and me? No, this mirache and I will return to the High Castle now, and you will stand aside.”
Chelka’s dark brows came together, eyes narrowing. She relaxed her stance.
“Fly on, but do not go anywhere else tonight. I will inform her Excellency the War Empress of your actions if you do.” She fixed Tamina with her razor-sharp glare.
“What actions?” Tamina climbed onto one of the mirache’s head and let it lift her onto its back. She took her seat and drew her red cloak about herself. “You know nothing.”
Despite the pulse of fear he felt from being near the mirache, Edmath knew he needed to act as calmly as possible. He scratched his neck.
“Not quite, my good Roshi. After all, I saw you enter the inner gardens. Even if your master has cause to speak with his Grace there, you certainly do not.”
Tamina stopped with her mouth half-open before giving a sigh.
“You are right. I had a meeting at the inner palace. But you shall not speak of it with either of you.”
“What have you to threaten us with?” Edmath turned his back on the mirache and walked past Chelka. “If you fight here you will only add that to the crimes you might have already committed. Fly on, and know that this is not over.”
Tamina scowled a fierce expression that scarcely seemed less menacing on her pretty face.
“I suppose I will.” She leaned forward to speak to the mirache. “Fly, Hurol.”
The mirache growled a reply. “Yes, mistress.”
The beast took off. Wings fluttered in unison clusters as they headed toward the High Castle.
Chelka turned to Edmath as he watched the great creature fly away.
“That was Ursar Kiet’s second. She might be unpleasant enough as a Roshi, but I don’t think her manner tonight was entirely normal.”
“I doubt it as well.”
Edmath glanced in Chel
ka’s direction. Her look told him all he needed to know. She did not trust the Roshi. Of course, Edmath did not either. Trust, he thought, had very little to do with anything involving the Roshi Nation. They had already tried to kill him. Trusting them never came into it. Chelka wouldn’t forgive them easily. He put a hand on her shoulder.
“Chelka?”
“Yes, Ed, what is it?” Her quirked lips and the tensed nerves made her face taut in the white starlight that shown through the cloudless sky. Above them, the constellation Gorui gleamed an abstract worm’s shape.
That constellation marked the worm tribe, his father’s tribe. But not my tribe, he thought, my father was a royal and I am not. He shook his head.
“While I think we must be careful around the Roshi, let us focus not on them, but on the wedding.” He walked over to Chelka and glanced at the sky. The stars stretched out and gave silver light, along with the luminous moths gleamed in soft yellows within the garden.
“You’re right. I will tell my father tomorrow.”
“And I’ll tell my mother and Zuria as well. Then we should consult Brosk about what happened tonight. He could give us a better perspective. Everything shall be well.” I hope, he added mentally.
Chelka ran a hand up her rega and laid her head against Edmath’s shoulder. He touched her side and she let out a slow breath.
“You are right again,” she said.
“Of course, I wish I was as confident in myself as you are in me.”
“Don’t worry about them, Ed. Let us go back to your quarters.”
“My dear, I would like nothing better.”
The next morning Edmath woke up late, having slept heavily once Chelka departed the late night before. He went into the courtyard. He had only a few hours before Haddishal Rumenha would require his presence. Edmath paid one of the serpent royals outside the gate to send a message by snake to Sampheli Mierzon. In the note, he told her there was something of great importance he wanted to talk about.
It might be awkward explaining that he and Chelka had been together for so long, but now that they were to be married it was unavoidable. Finishing the note, he handed it to the serpent royal who attached it to a snake’s tail and ordered the small animal to deliver it in their shared language. Edmath thanked the royal, and then went back into the palace to prepare for the day’s court duty.
Spells of the Curtain Volume One Page 15
