by Dean Murray
As Va'del opened his mouth to apologize again, he had an idea. Fumbling at the cord around his neck, he pulled the pouch out from under his shirt and selected the larger of the stones by feel alone.
"I...I want you to have this. For your birthday. I'm sorry I didn't remember yesterday."
Jain took the glittering ruby from Va'del and seemed to stop breathing for a second. "No, I couldn't."
Va'del tried to close her hand around the stone. "It was Jasmin's. It's partially worked. It really belongs with someone who can turn it into what it was meant to be. You're the only one I would want to work on it."
Jain shook her head. "Va'del, she was your favorite. I know you loved all three of them, but I can tell that she was your favorite. I couldn't take that from you. Keep it and remember her. I know that you don't have anything to give me. I should have thought about the fact that you don't even get the small stipend that the candidates get."
Va'del tried to protest, but Jain deftly placed the stone back inside his pouch and tucked the warm leather inside his shirt. "It really just means a lot that you'd be willing to give it to me."
Va'del meant to protest, to insist that she take it, but then Jain's soft lips found his and he became unable to think about anything other than their warmth.
It was Jain who broke the kiss as suddenly as she'd initiated it. "I'd better go. I'll see you as soon as I can sneak away again."
The ball of light disappeared as Jain fled the cavern, and Va'del sat alone in the darkness for at least a cycle, trying to understand what had just happened and how Jain could go from being so angry with him to so happy in the space of a few cycles.
Chapter 17
On'li's headaches had become increasingly worse with each new set of bad news that had arrived at the Capital over the last several weeks. Mar'li had exercised her little talent in an effort to heal them away, but they were caused by nothing more sinister than worry, and consequently returned almost as fast as the younger woman finished healing them.
On'li walked past the privacy turn into their rooms and gingerly lowered herself into a chair. Mar'li saw her sister-wife rubbing her temples again and opened her mouth, probably to offer another healing, but On'li waved her quiet with a wry smile. "I'm fine. It hurts of course, but the cycle or two reprieve you could buy me just isn't worth the exhaustion it would cost you. It is only a matter of time until we either find the base these Powers-be-cursed bandits are operating from, or Ja'dir's people figure out who to apply pressure on down in the lowlands to ensure that they are called back and put on a leash. Or hanged. Lowlanders seem to favor hangings."
"I don't understand why we haven't been able to find them yet."
On'li's laugh was bitter, but she was long past trying to maintain any kind of pretense with her sister-wife. "You, me and the entire Council. We know these mountains better than anyone. Before this I would have said that there wasn't another group of people in the entire world who could even survive this high up for an extended period of time. These animals aren't just surviving, they are all but bringing our civilization to a grinding halt."
Mar'li's eyes got a little wide, and On'li mentally cursed herself for letting so much of her anger show. "I'm sorry, dear heart. It just seems like things can't get any worse and then they do. We lost three Guadel families, so we started sending them out two at a time to walk the circuits, only to see a food convoy with a Guadel family and no less than six guardsmen ambushed and killed."
Javin looked up from the corner where he was cleaning his weapons. "The defender can never be strong everywhere, not unless they have the attacker completely outclassed."
On'li nodded. "I tend to agree with you—we'd be better off worrying about increasing the number of people we have out hunting these guys instead of continuing to increase the size of our escorts. On the other hand, we can't really afford to lose very many more shipments of food or people will be starving. Only the very oldest settlements are completely self-sufficient. The rest of them wouldn't last more than a month if food shipments stop completely."
Mar'li looked so forlorn that Javin put away his weapons and went over and hugged her. "It's not all bad news."
On'li took the hint and switched gears to the few things that were moving along positively. "That is true, Va'del is currently the top student in half his classes, and in the top three or four in the rest. He's advancing at an incredible rate under Fi'lin's instruction, and in a year or so will be able to not only outfight all the current guardsmen, but half of the Guadel as well, at least when they're unaugmented."
Javin released Mar'li and walked across the thick, red rug to pour tea for both his wives. On'li accepted with a nod of thanks despite the fact that it was her second already for the day. At least Mar'li didn't try and protest that she doesn't deserve one as well. She works every bit as hard as anyone else in the Capital.
"The Guard is a positive spot as well. We've had more part-time guardsmen than expected volunteer to move to full-time. Of course, that places more pressure on the various tradesmen who are now losing apprentices or journeymen. The various guild masters are screaming, but it dramatically increases the number of people we can send out hunting in the short term, and does so much more quickly than training them up from scratch."
Mar'li nodded, smiling tentatively as she started to relax again. "What will you do with all those guardsmen once this is all over?"
Javin and On'li shrugged at the same time. "Nobody is quite sure yet. Some of them may decide that they want to go back to their trades, but there will no doubt be a group that doesn't. A few ideas are already under consideration, though. We could send them down a little ways to hunt. Snow leopard pelts are worth almost as much as gems, and any meat they brought up would also help ease the cost of their upkeep."
On'li stopped for another sip of tea and finally felt herself relaxing slightly. "Ja'dir seems to want to use the extra men as a kind of mercenary force for the lowlanders. He thinks we can help keep the brigands down there under control in return for some kind of consideration from the petty lords who claim to rule the area."
Mar'li tilted her head to the side for a moment. "Why is Ja'dir so interested in what happens in the lowlands?"
On'li shook her head, but it was Javin who answered.
"Power."
"Javin's right. He's a diplomat. The more dealings we have with them the more power and influence he has on the Council."
"Even though it violates centuries of isolationist tradition that has kept us safe from the wars and plagues down there?"
Javin nodded. "Even if it exposes us to all of that."
On'li didn't blame Mar'li for looking lost in the face of Ja'dir's ambition, but unlike her sister-wife, she didn't have the luxury of hoping that someone else could stop him. She reached out and pulled Mar'li into a hug.
"If we can just come up with a way to stop these bandits, it should go a long ways to nullifying his power base."
##
Jain shifted uneasily in her chair across from Guadel On'li. It wasn't unheard of for one of the Council to develop an interest in one of the Daughters as they neared the completion of their education, but it wasn't a common occurrence.
It is more likely that she called me here because I'm in trouble. I haven't done anything big enough to merit censure from the Council though. Even if they know that I've been sneaking out for months now it would be something that my instructors, or possibly the Mistress of the Daughters, would handle.
On'li finally finished conversing with the messenger who had been in the room since before Jain had arrived, and waved the man out. Before turning to Jain, the Guadel frowned in concentration for a second.
"There, now nobody can eavesdrop on us. No doubt you're wondering why I asked you to come by this afternoon."
Jain nodded cautiously. "I appreciated your invitation to dinner, but was surprised when you called for me again so soon."
On'li's smile was nearly as disarming as the few Jain
had seen Mar'li dispense the night of the dinner, and she found herself relaxing almost despite herself.
"You're not in trouble, if that's what you're worried about. You seem to be Va'del's best and only friend, and I was hoping you could give me an idea of how he is doing. I don't want you to feel like I'm trying to pressure you to reveal any confidences, but there is only a limited amount of inquiry that I can make to him or his instructors without being seen as taking too much of an interest in him."
"But Mistress, you and your family are practically his sponsors. Who would take offense at your taking an interest in him?"
On'li sighed. "It's that 'practically' that's the problem. The simple fact is Va'del isn't sponsored, and there are parts of the Council that don't ever want him to be sponsored. We've managed to get him into the classes that the candidates are taking, but if we proceed too quickly we risk reversing all of the progress we've made."
Jain knew she didn't understand enough politics to really comprehend everything On'li was telling her, but she trusted the older woman. It was all too easy to believe that there were people who didn't want Va'del to be a full candidate.
"It's so unfair. He fights better than any of the others his age and more than a few who are older. I think his studies are probably about the same-he probably thinks rings around the other boys, but he's too quiet to say the things that would prove he was ahead of them."
On'li nodded. "You're not far off there; luckily his instructors are largely sharp enough to realize that he's absorbing their material at an incredible rate. I've considered asking you to prod him towards being more assertive in his classes, but am not sure it's the right course. I think he's already made enemies of all the other boys who are going to hate him. Making them look stupid shouldn't make them like him any less, but I can't be sure. It's a tricky line we're trying to follow. Anything you can tell me could help prove he should be here."
Jain nodded and told On'li the kinds of general things she felt wouldn't be disclosing anything Va'del wanted kept secret. She kept things like just how close he'd come to killing himself, and the fact that they'd kissed, to herself. Even omitting those pieces, she managed to paint a fairly accurate picture that despite some tough times he was doing better than he had at any time since I'rone, Jasmin and Betreec had died.
On'li was obviously paying close attention to everything that Jain said, and nodded as the young lady finished. "So you would say that he is happy?"
Jain thought for a second. "I think that the fact that he doesn't know if he will ultimately be allowed to become a Guadel hangs over his head and makes him worry. He's still teased by certain of the candidates, and it would be nice if he had more friends than just me, but he likes what he is learning. That's probably as close as he'll be to truly happy until things are really sorted out."
On'li studied Jain for several heartbeats. "I'm working on the first, and Fi'lin seems to be making progress on the second, but there isn't a single thing I can do about the last item you mentioned."
The older woman seemed to think for several seconds. "Jain, are you really Va'del's friend?"
Jain felt herself blush from a combination of emotions that she couldn't even begin to sort out. "I think so. I try to be considerate of him like he is of me, and I enjoy the little time I get to spend with him. Has he told you that he doesn't feel like he can trust me?"
On'li waved the question away. "He's hardly in the habit of discussing much of anything with me, but I have no indication that he has any worries in that direction. No, it is more curiosity than anything. Va'del is a Stephens man through and through. Maybe a little more talkative than most, but still intensely shy, and not one who will ever make friends easily."
Jain nodded as On'li continued.
"Given all that, and the amount of grief you've likely taken from your peers, I'm curious why you've ended up his friend."
The question caught Jain completely by surprise, and she found herself amazed by how difficult it was to verbalize her reasons.
"I guess I'm not really sure. Not exactly."
On'li seemed content to wait while Jain worked everything out in her head. "I guess it's the fact that he's so considerate. No, that isn't quite it, there are plenty of boys that are considerate of me, but Va'del seems like he would be considerate of everyone. The other candidates are interested in me because I'm pretty, or because of the power I would represent as a wife, but not Va'del. I think he likes me for who I really am."
Jain felt hot tears form in her eyes and trickle down her cheeks. "If they all knew that I'm the weakest out of all the girls in training right now, a lot of them wouldn't even talk to me anymore. Va'del knows. It slipped out one day, but he doesn't care. He likes me anyway."
The politely distant Councilwoman from a few moments before had vanished, and On'li reached out and wrapped her arms around Jain as tenderly as her mother ever had before she'd been taken away to study.
"Oh, Jain. Boys being boys, I don't know that something you mentioned in passing necessarily stuck with him like you think it did, but I can tell you that from what I know of the boy, when he does understand what it means, it won't change how he feels about you. The Stephens men don't value someone for what they can do, but for who they are. It is just too bad that we can't get them to value themselves in the same manner."
Once Jain had control of herself again, the Guadel smiled at her. "Officially you're much too young to be developing strong feelings for someone, young lady. Unofficially I understand that when it happens it happens. Just go slowly. None of us know the future, but even if we're able to survive the current crisis there is no guarantee that you'll ever be able to be anything more than his friend."
Jain nodded and wiped away her tears. There isn't any guarantee, but I'm going to do everything I can to help make sure that we get the opportunity to at least find out.
##
Va'del gingerly shifted against the cool rock wall of the cave and wished he could dunk his whole body in the hot pool. He hadn't been so sore since before he'd started weapons training back in Bitter Rocks. He'd actually been excited when Fi'lin had mentioned wanting to move him up to a more advanced weapons class. I thought it meant I was getting good enough to handle myself against the older candidates. I think he just wanted to humble me.
The teenager had just reached up to finger Jasmin and Betreec's gemstones when Jain arrived. Va'del tried to get up to give her a hug, but the groan that escaped him as he tried to move brought her over to him before he made much progress.
"No, don't get up. Are you okay?"
"I think so, but I'm not looking forward to tomorrow. I'll hardly be able to move."
Even in the darkness, Va'del could tell Jain was smiling. He had no problem visualizing exactly the way her dark blue eyes would light up, but found himself wishing he could see it for himself anyway.
"What happened?" Suddenly the teasing was replaced with concern. "The candidates didn't do this to you, did they?"
"Yes, but not how you think. The teasing is gradually dying down as I'm steadily getting better than most of them with a sword. Nobody jumped me, Fi'lin just moved me up a level. I'm now facing people who are much better than I am and they wasted no time proving that fact by leaving me quite bruised."
"Somehow I doubt they're that much better than you. Fi'lin wouldn't have moved you up if you didn't at least have a chance, but it may take a while before you come out the better in the matches all the time like you did against the younger boys."
Va'del nodded, knowing that as close as they were sitting she'd feel the gesture despite not being able to see it. "You're probably right, as usual."
"Please, you're the one who is getting into the habit of always being right. You've taken the correct position on every single legal point we've argued about for the last two weeks."
"Well it only makes sense. I've had Guadel Ah'bi slipping me the answers for the last three weeks. She said something about wanting to humble her star law pu
pil."
Jain tensed up in indignation before she realized Va'del was joking. "You get me every time. I think it is because you tease so rarely."
"I can stop if you want."
"No, your teasing is fine. It never makes me feel bad. Not like most people."
The pair had actually managed to get ahead in their separate law classes, so they simply sat in silence for several minutes before Jain rested her head on Va'del's shoulder.
"Va'del, what's happening with the attacks on the People? Nobody will tell us girls anything, but everyone seems to be getting more and more worried. I overheard something earlier that made it sound like we might not survive."
"I probably don't know a whole lot more than you do. I think the advanced tactics class is being fed pretty much the whole story, but us beginners only get bits and pieces."
"Still, you have to be getting more than we are. All I hear are the little tidbits you boys drop to make yourselves seem important and knowledgeable."
Va'del laughed gently at the frustration in Jain's voice. "Kind of like the secrets you all keep about everything magical in an attempt to make yourselves seem mysterious and powerful?"
"Stop that, you know we don't have a choice. We get in all kinds of trouble if they find out we tell you anything about magic."
"I know. To answer your question, there is some kind of large group of bandits out there who keep attacking the Guadel walking the circuits."
"Like they did you and your sponsors?"
The pain was still very real, but the sharpness of the memories was starting to fade slightly, and Va'del found he could now mention it in passing without tears trying to take him over. Why does that make me feel so guilty?
"Y-yes, just like they did to us. I'm not positive that they are telling us now each time a Guadel family is killed, but we know that it has happened at least three times."
Jain clutched at Va'del's arm and buried her head further into his shoulder. "Why would they do this to us?"
"I'm not sure. Our instructors keep pointing out that we can't even survive without trading to the lowlanders for some of our food. The fact that the mountains are so inhospitable has always served to discourage any attackers. Why come and try and invade us for the jewels when they can always just wait for us to mine for them, and then trade at fairly favorable rates for something as simple as food?"
