by Anna Logan
Next thing she knew, she was waking up to sunlight coming in the window. Even brighter than the sunshine was Alili’s smile on the pillow next to her. Unable to keep from grinning back, Talea brushed her thumb along the girl’s cheek. “Today you get to meet my parents. The rest of your new family.”
The comfort of the bed made it hard to leave. The desire for what the day would hold made her do it anyway. Alili, on the other hand, was perfectly content to burrow deeper into the blankets and doze while Talea dressed and left the room. Even though it was late morning and for all she knew everyone else could be awake, she tiptoed down the hallway to one of the privies. She couldn’t help marveling at how the toilet flushed. Her gaze landed on the bathtub. With a decisive nod, she left the privy and went down the stairs, still walking quietly. A young woman dressed as a maid was crossing through the main room but stopped when she saw Talea. “Uh, hi. Sorry to bother you. I just was hoping maybe I could take a bath, so is there a well outside for water, or—”
The maid was staring at her as if she’d grown a third head. “I’ll fetch your water, Arji.” She said, sounding perplexed.
What is this “Arji” business? “Oh, but, you look busy. I can…” she bit her tongue, as the woman’s expression became even more astounded. “Right. Okay. Thank you.” Inwardly smacking herself, she spun and ran back up the stairs, into the safety of her bedroom. You are such an idiot. Great first impression, “Taleareinna, Eun”.
A knock at the door. She opened it, already smiling apologetically as she gnawed her lower lip. The maid didn’t look confused anymore, but instead smiled back politely. “I’ve drawn your bath, miss, if you’ll come with me.”
Talea followed her back down the hall to one of the privies. Inside, the bathtub was full of steaming water. Sweet Ema, goddess of mercy. The maid pointed to where there were clean towels, then to a dress hanging on the wall. A stainless, brand-new, perfectly sized dress in a gorgeous shade of blue. She’d never worn anything so nice. There was a fresh smock and undergarments, too.
She lingered in the bath as long as the heat did. It was unbelievably amazing, the warm, soothing water enveloping her skin. There was soap, too, that smelled good enough to eat. She scrubbed and scrubbed until she was sure every inch of skin and every strand of hair was clean. Only when the heat began dissipating did she step out, dry with one of the towels, and dress in the beautiful new gown. After brushing through her soggy hair she left the privy, asked the maid to prepare a fresh bath for Alili, then returned downstairs.
The main room was empty. But, one of the two open doorways on either side had to lead somewhere. Especially considering there were voices—multiple, rather obnoxious voices—coming from one. That was the one she explored. Sure enough, it opened into a dining room, with the Wardens, wards, and Naylen and Brenly within.
“There you are.” Yhkon smiled at her. “Much longer and I would have had to come and drag you out of that bed. Even Brenly got up before you did.”
Grinning sheepishly, she took the chair he pulled out for her, putting her between him and Kae.
“Where’s Alili?” he asked.
“Taking a bath.”
“Alright. Hungry?”
The delicious fragrances coming from the nearby kitchen made it impossible to be anything else. “Quite.”
Aggi appeared shortly, bearing trays with steaming plates that she distributed among the group. There were scrambled eggs, strips of fried meat and biscuits. Oh, happy day. She ate, and ate, and ate until she couldn’t eat anymore. By then, Alili had come down and been served as well.
With everyone finished and the dishes brought back to the kitchen—much to Aggi’s dismay at her honored customers doing such a task themselves—Yhkon said it was time to go see their families. Talea clutched Alili’s hand in hers as they left the inn as a group, following Yhkon through the town. Brenly and Naylen walked on her other side. She looked over her shoulder, catching Wylan’s eye. The three of them were going to see the family members they hadn’t seen in weeks or months. He was going to see the little sister he hadn’t seen in years, thinking she was dead.
They were approaching what appeared to be a diner, and she could tell by the way Yhkon walked directly toward it that it was their destination. It was a short, wide building with lots of windows and brightly painted walls. A girl was just about to enter the door. Without warning, the lead Warden stopped. “Nakelsie?”
The girl turned, at the same moment as Talea could practically feel Wylan tense up from four feet behind her.
“Yhkon,” she smiled, making her beautiful features even more so. She had the tan complexion of the Irlaish. Striking, light green eyes, not a common Irlaish feature. Dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. Standing no more than five feet, with a delicate frame, she couldn’t have been much older than fourteen. Those gorgeous eyes shifted, scanning the group. Hoping.
Wylan moved forward, making his way from the back to the front, until they stood face to face. Both Irlaish. Both with the dark brown hair. The intense, attractive features.
Nakelsie took a tentative step forward. “It really is you.”
He still hadn’t moved. “I thought you were dead.”
Her smile returned. “Sorry to disappoint.”
Wylan grinned back, just before she covered the rest of the distance and they embraced.
19
Tyrrany and Training
W ait…he just fell in?”
Tarol nodded solemnly. At the same time, Yhkon returned, and sat down with a furrowed brow when he saw their amused looks. “What ridiculous thing has he been saying about me this time?”
Talea laughed a little. “He was telling my parents about the time you, um, attacked him after you fell into that river.”
Yhkon’s forehead smoothed out of suspicion, into a glare. “He left out a few important details.”
“Did not!” Tarol exclaimed. “You fell in the water, you got out of the water, you attacked me, and pushed me in for no good reason. Downright vicious of you.”
“Yes, and by attack,” Nakelsie cocked her head, “do you mean he, say, tackled you? Because if he had legitimately attacked you…” she shrugged a little, “I don’t think you’d be here to tell us the story.”
Tarol gasped at the same time as Yhkon snickered. Before Tarol could say anything, he leaned back smugly. “Nakelsie is very much correct. Now the missing details of the story would be that Tarol pushed me into the river, and thus I returned the favor.”
Seles smiled with a shake of her head. “That sounds more like it.”
Also smiling, Loestin changed the subject to a more practical one than Tarol’s questionable stories. “What was the message, Yhkon? Not bad news, I hope.”
Everyone waited for the answer. They were all gathered in the diner, awaiting their supper, when a man had asked Yhkon to step out to receive a message from Calcaria.
He frowned, the amusement of before gone. “Not bad for any of you, anyway. The council would like me to fly down there as soon as possible for a meeting, while the rest of you stay here for the time being.”
Calam, Brenly’s uncle, spoke up. “I thought we were all headed to Calcaria anyway?”
“Theoretically, you still are,” he rolled one shoulder in a shrug. “But it’s more pleasant to have a substantial break between flights, and I suppose something might have come up that they want to discuss with me before bringing you all back.”
“Never know what they’re up to, darn council,” Tarol grunted.
Yhkon echoed his grunt. “As if you have to put up with them half as much as I do.”
Eyebrows raised, Talea sat back in her chair, arms crossed. “You know, you’ve never said anything that’s given me any inkling of desire to meet this council.”
Grrake rolled his eyes. “Yes, well, he likes to say only the worst about them, but the fact is they’re fine men.” He gave Yhkon’s arm a chastising nudge. “Bactah is on the council, or did you forget?”
“Who’s Bactah?” she asked. The name sounded familiar, perhaps Yhkon had mentioned him before.
The lead Warden didn’t relent any of his grouchy demeanor. “A friend of mine.”
She was tempted to say something like, “Wait, you mean you have friends?” If it had been just the two of them, or at least fewer people, perhaps she would have. “So there’s at least one member of this infamous council that you approve of,” was all she said.
“Ha.” Yhkon’s lip curled in a sour sort of smirk. “I never said I approved of him. A confounded rascal, that’s what he is.”
“When will you be leaving?” Wylan asked. He was seated by Nakelsie, across from Talea and her family, as well as Brenly and Calam.
“I’ll eat quickly and then go.”
Seles wrinkled her nose. “But it’s already dark. And the nights here are so cold.”
That was true enough. It was late summer, almost fall, in Zentyre. Here in Jalkiva, winter temperatures were on their way. According to Yhkon, it was actually mid-winter in Calcaria.
He shrugged. “They made it sound relatively urgent, and I might as well get it over with.”
Talea couldn’t help eyeing him as he spoke. He was different, now that her parents were around. Even when they’d been traveling, if ever there was a scout or Elikwai present, he was different then, too. More refined, perhaps. When it was just the Wardens and teenagers, he was a constant mystery of mood-swings—of sarcastic humor one moment, angry depression the next. He didn’t bother hiding it if he was irritated, nor did he refrain from his occasional swearing or hostile behavior. But he was also more…attentive. Invested.
All that was masked when in less exclusive company. He wasn’t exactly amiable or engaging, but he was polite, he played his part as an authority figure. Probably a good thing. She smiled at her parents, who were talking with Naylen, Brenly, and Calam. They’re probably going to trust him more this way. She’d wondered if her father was uncomfortable with the Wardens, perhaps particularly the young lead Warden. He didn’t show it if he was. Well, they did save him from enslavement and execution by the Kaydorians if they found out he was San Quawr.
Hearing Ki’s voice, Talea tuned back into the discussions around her, focusing on where the twins sat with Haeric and Tarol. Ki was busy laughing with them, but Kae was quiet, not participating. “Kae,” she said, just loud enough to get the girl’s attention. “You should come sit with us.”
Kae hesitated, glancing at Talea’s family. It wasn’t hard to guess that she was thinking she would be intruding.
Talea jerked her head in a beckoning gesture. “Oh, come on!”
With a smile, Kae moved her chair to the small bit of free space at their table. In order to fit all of them, they’d dragged a couple tables together, with the Anduls, Brenly, Calam, Wylan, and Nakelsie at one, the Wardens and twins at the other.
“Good to see them again?” Kae asked her softly, nodding toward Seles and Loestin.
“Yeah.” She frowned. “You must miss your family. I’m sorry. I feel kind of bad, that we’re all getting to see ours again, when you’re just farther away from home than ever.”
“Oh, it’s alright.” Kae traced her finger along a groove on the edge of the table. “I do miss them, of course. But I was ready for this. To leave, and all that. You didn’t really have a choice.”
Talea gave a light laugh. “True. Funny to think that Wylan and I left to escape the Wardens, now we’re sitting in a diner with them, on an Island of Mulor that almost no one knows exists.”
Though she laughed too, Kae’s gaze was concerned. “It was kind of messed up. With you guys thinking they were assassins and all. I’m sorry we lied to you about them, back then. I guess it worked out, but I feel bad.”
“It did work out.” She gave her a smile. A sincere one. “And you don’t have to apologize. Who knows if we would have trusted you if you had told us?” She ducked her head, and added rather awkwardly, “Besides. We’re friends now, and I’m glad for it.”
Kae smiled back. “Me too.”
Supper was a lively event. Since being reunited that morning, there had been plenty of stories and explanations and general conversation between family members. It continued, but now in a more jovial manner—Tarol and Ki made sure of that.
Having started, Talea couldn’t stop smiling. It hadn’t been quite what she’d expected, seeing her parents again. Somehow she’d expected to feel like she was home once she was with them. To feel like things were complete, like life was going back to normal. That was not the case. Still, she’d missed them. She’d missed her mother’s affection, her father’s steadiness. Perhaps best of all, they’d immediately taken to Alili. When they’d been told who she was, both Seles and Loestin had gotten down on eye-level with the girl and welcomed her into the family. Alili had been doing a lot of smiling ever since, too.
It gave her a feeling of contentment to see Wylan with Nakelsie, too. They had clearly been close as children and were quickly re-establishing the bond. Aside from that, Wylan looked happy. At least, a Wylan-version of happy. He didn’t seem so solitary and withdrawn.
Talea heard a creak to her right and looked over just in time to see Yhkon pushing his chair back and leaving the table, Grrake following. His plate was empty. Apparently he didn’t want to interrupt the jubilance and diversion of the group with farewells. She swallowed, waivered for just a moment before pushing her chair back to get up. Kae caught her hand. “Tell him goodbye from me,” she said.
After nodding, Talea jogged after the two Wardens, who had already vanished outside. She arrived in time to see Grrake put a hand on Yhkon’s shoulder, before backing up. They both looked up with surprise at her. She knocked her heels together and clasped her hands behind her back. “Well, it seemed a little rude to let you leave without saying a word. Kae said to tell you goodbye, too.”
Yhkon smiled at her. Not the courteous smile he gave to her parents, or to a scout, or to the other San Quawr they met. A real smile, which in his case, meant a meager one. “Thanks. I’ll be back in a few days. Grrake, meanwhile, will get you all started on some training.”
“Sounds fun.” She dragged the toe of her boot through the dirt. Oh, just do it. Taking a deep breath, she lunged forward, hugged him, and retreated back, all within three seconds.
He looked surprised. Not displeased. Another smile, less meager. Then he nodded to Grrake and was gone.
The two of them returned to the diner. Everyone had long since finished eating but made no move to leave. They chatted and visited late into the evening, before retiring to their separate rooms at the inn. Talea hugged each of her parents and Brenly goodnight. Seles kissed Alili’s head and brushed her hair back. Smiling, Talea took the girl by the hand, and they went to their room.
She awoke to someone banging on the door and yelling. “Rise and shine, kids! Up with you!”
Groggily, she sat up in bed. What… “Grrake? Is that you?”
“Yes, now come on! Get a move on.”
“A move on to where…” she fumbled her way out of bed and into a clean dress, before opening the door.
He stood in the hallway, feet spread, arms crossed, gaze intent. “Absolutely not.” He pinched her sleeve and gave it a tug. “Whoever told you a dress was permissible was grossly mistaken.”
She scrunched up her face at him. “Well what else do you want me to wear?”
“This.” A wad of clothing was thrust into her arms. “Get on, now. Be quick about it.”
Closing the door again, she unfolded the clothes. It was a pair of pants and a shirt, much smaller than anything she’d seen her brother or father wear, yet similarly designed. “I’m supposed to wear this? It’s—”
“What did I say about being quick?”
Confused but smiling, she pulled off her dress and smock and put on the shirt. It was a lot looser than a gown, but she guessed it was supposed to be. She wiggled her way into the trousers. Soul of a dead man. She took a few experimental
steps, then a little hop. This is so much better.
Alili was observing with skepticism and curiosity.
“A little strange, I know.” Talea grinned, raising her palms in admission. “But they’re way more comfortable. I could even…” she plopped onto the floor and sat cross-legged. Something she could never do in a dress, if anyone was around. Why on Kameon don’t we get to wear pants all the time?
At Grrake’s impatient, yet cheerful sounding call, she scrambled for the door and swung it open. “Why couldn’t you have given me these earlier? They’re so much more comfortable for movement.”
“Precisely.” He gave her outfit an approving nod. “You’ll be doing a lot of moving today, so that’s good. Now come on.”
“What about Alili?”
“I’ve already spoken to your parents, and they’re going to come get her in a few minutes.”
“While I do what, exactly?”
Grrake lifted an eyebrow. “Training, obviously.”
“Oh. Right. What sort of—”
“Enough questions.” He gave her a nudge in the direction of Kae’s door. “Give her these. I’m going to go wake up Wylan and Ki.” After depositing another set of small pants and a shirt in her arms, he walked away.
Well alright then. Grrake the trainer was an entirely different person, apparently.
Kae didn’t seem surprised by the clothing or the upcoming training or by Talea’s description of Grrake’s unusual demeanor. She just laughed as she got into the new garments. “The Wardens have given me and Ki some training over the years. You’re right, Grrake’s a lot sterner when he’s training. He’ll act all tough and mean, and he’ll be enjoying it all the while. Yhkon used to whine about him being tyrannical.”
“How would he be tyrannical to Yhkon?”
“Because Grrake actually trained him, when he was our age. He trained one of the other Wardens too, Ahjul.”
Talea handed Kae her boots. “Then why is Yhkon lead Warden, not Grrake?”
