They halted for the night at a waystation. A small waterfall trickled from the far side of the large chamber. After listening to its continual splash, Skye wasn’t certain whether the water fell into a pool or a stream. The woman led him to one side of the room where he lowered the cart so its two short legs touched the ground. He almost thanked the Goddess for the reprieve, catching himself before he could say the silent prayer. The Goddess would not help him, an outcast. He rubbed his ears; they ached from the wheels’ constant groans. He watched the white paka’s eyes canvass the room, ensuring its safety for their night’s rest.

Left to find his own way, Skye tried to decipher the layout of the cave by sound. Feeling like a bumbling fool, he gritted his teeth and rotated until he thought he faced the cart. Extending his arms before him, he felt his way to the back of the cart, where Eiren slept.

He listened with half an ear as Chion and Lara quietly argued the best location for setting up camp. It was the first time he heard the small woman speak since the short skirmish. Skye hadn’t broken the silence, using the time to process Eiren’s enigmatic words.

Throughout the day he had thought of home, recalling the pranks and companionship of his friends. He pondered his friends’ reaction to his exile from Pyran. They all grew up dreaming of warrior duty, believing they’d face battle as a unit, strong in their protection of each other.

He shook his hands to relieve the cramps worming their way through his palms. A full-fledged yawn seized his muscles, stretching and bowing his back, causing the joints to pop down his spine. Pulling the two-wheeled cart hadn’t been difficult, but the strain and the skirmish had taken its toll, making him weary.

Skye listened to Eiren’s soft breaths as she slept on in spite of the cart’s stationary position. His hand accidentally bumped her splinted leg, and she jerked awake, her eyes exuding the self-possessing calm she had wrapped around her as she healed.

Feeling an urge to rile her, Skye said with an uplifted eyebrow and a smirk, “No bawdy tune?”

Her eyes widened in both surprise and mirth. I believe you will not soon forget my minor indiscretion.

Her laughter was contagious, and he chuckled—his face relaxing for the first time since leaving the village.

“Minor. You will excuse me, but I am forced to disagree.”

Eiren’s golden eyes continued to smile, even when she requested his help to leave the cart. At his insistence, Eiren described the small cave in detail. Feeling more in control, Skye carried her to the others, bypassing the boulders and smaller rocks when instructed. A brief hiss escaped her when his leg made contact with her broken one as he set her down.

He sat down beside her, both brows drawn down in a grimace. Skye resented his helplessness, his blindness. Dependency on another’s eyes made him feel cumbersome and discomfited. Bending one leg flat on the ground and leaning his arm against the other, Skye listened to his companions’ movements. He heard Lara sit down with a long sigh of contentment. Skye didn’t hear Chion, but the paka’s eyes peeked through the dark directly across from where he sat.

Chion broke the quiet. My Lady, if you would break the rock lying next to you and drop it in the small hole I dug.

He heard her clothes rustle and then her groan of dismay. “I can’t believe I forgot to get something for our meal. Food is highly overrated at this point. I think I’ll just sit here and think of the milkshake I could be drinking.”

Although he didn’t hear anything, he got the distinct feeling Chion and the Abani conversed further through their bond. Lara let out an exasperated huff of air and stood up.

Milkshakes? His eyes met Eiren’s in shared confusion.

When she returned, a sharp crack filled the air, and then his face and hands were bathed in heat.

Seeing his frown, Eiren said, Yes, My Lord. The rocks the Abani broke are used to cook the humans’ food. Be careful with them. Though no fire is emitted, the rocks do become hot enough to burn skin.

He nodded his head. Still wondering at the woman’s word choice, he asked, What is a milkshake?

I have never heard this word. Perhaps it is a food found solely in Abanis.

Perhaps you are right. The woman often speaks words that hold no meaning to me. Along with the strangeness of her clothing, I believe I would like to visit this country.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Eiren eyes bob up and down. Her country is indeed fascinating if everyone is similar to this woman before us.

Hidden behind the refined tone, Skye knew Eiren also found the woman eccentric in her behavior and clothing. Except the small paka would never disgrace herself by saying so aloud. It wasn’t until he heard her repressed snort that Skye realized his last thought had transferred through their bond.

The other conversation halted at hearing the uncharacteristic sound from the paka. Skye distracted them. “How many more days’ travel do we have?” His voice carried in the large chamber, echoing off the vaulted walls.

In two days’ time, we will reach the Bithon crossing, Chion explained. We must first pass the small silult farms.

Eiren exclaimed, We will pass through the silult farms?

Knowing neither Chion nor the woman heard her, he asked with more reserve, “Silult farms?”

He glanced between the two sets of golden eyes, waiting for an answer. Chion chuckled upon hearing his question.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Slapping Chion’s side in retaliation, Lara demanded, “Don’t keep us in suspense. We want to know what a silult farm is.”

Very well. Silult farms raise ults. You remember the ult on the day we first met. I am sure the young warrior has seen depictions of the ults.

Skye missed Lara’s shiver of revulsion when she inserted her own description, her disgust clear. “Oh, ults… They’re freaky.”

He shook his head in irritation. How did this woman possess a vocabulary so far removed from his own? She never failed to use unfamiliar words and idioms. He made an effort to loosen his jaws and listen to Chion’s explanation.

The farmers raise ults for the purposes of collecting the silult spun by the creatures.

It sounded familiar, but he was certain he had never heard of silult. The woman was the first to speak, her curiosity obvious. “What is silult used for? Cloth or something else?”

Eiren muttered under her breath at the question, but he didn’t catch the words.

You guessed correctly, Chion answered. Silult, if collected and rolled properly, is greatly coveted for its durability and other properties. Silult is not found anywhere else in the world. It is a trading commodity that far exceeds other materials traded.

As curious as the woman, Skye asked, “Are there many silult farms in Kureto?”

I am unsure of the number; however, I have heard there is at least one silult farming community for every Kureto city.

Eiren corrected the paka. I have read there are at least two silult farming communities for every city. Some are larger than others. The one we will see tomorrow is the largest one in the entire kingdom.

He related the information to the others. Chion’s eyes lowered in a brief nod, graciously acceding to Eiren’s knowledge. The sounds of food bowls clanking together was background noise to Eiren’s confession.

I always hoped to visit a silult farm, Eiren whispered. When first spun from the ult, the threads are reported to shine a bright gold. The silult loses its vibrancy the longer it sits. I have read the silult takes three months before it can be spun into cloths and ropes. It must first fade while simultaneously hardening into a substance that allows handling. Silult clothing does not easily tear or stretch, making it a highly priced commodity by merchants.

Skye became aware of the Abani calling his name. He held out his hands to clasp onto the small dish given to him. Another dish was placed in front of Eiren, making it easier for her to eat. When Eiren told him what the ingredients were, he sniffed the bowl, wary of the new dish. He used his fingers to scoop up the pieces of meat and cubed vegetables.

While chewing his first mouthful, a childhood memory came to him, and his eyebrows lifted in surprise. That was why the word was familiar to him. Pyran had placed a ban on all clothing and materials consisting of silult. The prohibition had followed a lengthy proclamation from King Ragnar. The king and his close officials had proclaimed the cloths were made through the use of magic, thus any who sold or wore the material were arrested and sold into slavery. After several noble houses lost their holdings and social standing, every Pyranni burned any materials made from silult within the household. The proclamation had taken place before he was born.

When he was young, his mother often spoke fondly of the material, though she was careful to only speak of it to him or his father. She was right to fear the repercussions if any overheard her. As Skye grew older, his mother spoke of it less and less, until it was never mentioned again. Because of the edict, he’d never seen cloth made from silult.

Taking another bite, he heard the worry in Lara’s voice when she asked, “Will we have any trouble passing through the farms?”

Chion admitted, I did not think of that possibility. Chion was quiet, then offered an answer, his words drawn out. Because of the silult’s importance to our trade and economy, Malkese guardsmen will be present. The guards’ main purpose is to provide the continued safety of the farms. I believe if we do not present ourselves as a threat, they should not accost us on our journey through the farms.

Skeptical, Skye scoffed. “It is physically impossible to hide my Pyranni features. And you have no doubt the guardsmen will allow us to pass through the farms unquestioned?”

Eiren said, It is possible to pass you as a captive forced into slave labor.

At the word captive, he was wholeheartedly against the idea. Having gained his freedom mere days ago, Skye could not take the chance. He shook his head, leaning away from Eiren’s golden eyes.

Wait, My Lord. Please hear my idea before you discard it.

Knowing the other two were waiting for him to share, he stopped shaking his head, though his features were like granite.

Unfortunately, I am not yet well enough to walk. The cart will still be necessary tomorrow. This we know. You are already pulling me behind you. We will need to hide your weapons beneath me. I do not believe the guards will hold me aloft to check beneath me. In this, my injuries will be of use for once. The Abani can pass as herself. No one will disavow her if she speaks aloud. I believe with my assistance, Chion can weave a plausible story for my injuries and your presence.

He growled, “I do not like the idea of being without a weapon.” With Eiren’s guidance in the aftermath of the skirmish, Skye had filched two knives from the dead thieves, adding to his collection. One knife found a home in his belt opposite the sword sheath; the other was secured inside his left boot. He reached down and grazed his fingertips across the knife hilt in his boot, ensuring himself it was still there.

Chion interrupted, I believe, if I correctly decipher both of your expressions, Eiren has conceived a plan.

When Skye didn’t respond, Eiren pleaded with him. Please, My Lord, I fear for your safety otherwise. It is a ruse in name only. I would never accept your captivity again. You have shown your loyalty to me. Let me return the favor. In this manner, I know we will survive the journey to the other side of the farms.

He finally relented. Skye had to admit it was a sound plan—if nothing went wrong. He wasn’t confident the white paka would uphold his end of the ruse. The woman was another matter entirely. Even if she did say something, it was possible no one would understand her obscure manner of speaking.

He rubbed the palm of his left hand up and down his leg as he repeated Eiren’s idea.

It is possible, commented Chion.

Lara said to no one in particular, “Do you really think they won’t check the cart for weapons?”

Skye answered, the plan taking form in his mind, “The guards have no reason to believe otherwise. Pyranni warriors are taken captive after every battle.”

“Except Olun.” The woman was pert enough to correct him.

Chion chuckled again. I agree. I also believe they hold respect for Pakas. Eiren’s bandages and splint should dissuade any suspicious guard from searching the cart too thoroughly. The only question is whether they will be curious about My Lady.

The pakas looked in the woman’s direction. In his mind’s eye, he could see her squirming under their combined gazes.

Chion said slowly, I believe the ruse is contingent upon me speaking to anyone who approaches us. My Lady will continue to pass as an Abani. I hope to keep from having her speak at all. If necessary, I will lead Lara through any conversation.

Skye caught the slight blunder on Chion’s part. He didn’t blink or change expression, though his mind raced. Were they trying to pass the woman as an Abani? If she wasn’t an Abani, then where did she hail from? Disquiet passed from him to Eiren. Secrets were being kept.

He relinquished his cup to Lara, who vanished from his immediate hearing vicinity.

Seeing him scan the area, Eiren said, She is cleaning the dishes at the pool.

Before he could discuss with Eiren what he’d heard, the paka fell asleep again. Their discussion would have to wait another day. He moved down to lie on his side within touching distance of the small paka and his sword. He closed his useless eyes with a resigned sigh. Patience. He needed patience. Until then, he would stay vigilant.