Chapter 19

The week passed slow. On the third day soldiers brought rations to their home. Grain for bread, fruit and lentils, olive oil, there was even some salted fish. It was less than what they might have purchased for themselves but it was all there. Ilaria was pleased enough when it had arrived and had set about planning for their next meals. Father on the other hand had been quite distraught. Rain water would do well enough for most things but some thirst only wine could quench. It had been oddly comforting to see him so disappointed. If missing his daily bottle was of such concern then surely things could not be as dire as they seemed.

But Father was still hard at work. There was much to do in repairing the Low Ward. Thankfully the fires had missed the Stacks but the damage was still severe. He left every morning before sun up and returned home long after dark. Ilaria had taken to napping in the late afternoon so she could be awake to prepare dinner for him. It was important to her that they all eat together. It was the one time they had to share. According to Father’s commands Arios had spent the week indoors. There was not much to do at home and so he had begun following Ilaria’s schedule. He wished Darios would come. Father said he was well but too busy to train.

On the tenth day of the lockdown Father came home before sundown. Arios sat at the low table with him while Ilaria frantically set the seats.

“You should have told me when you left this morning that you would be back so early!” She sounded cross but her face shone with joy. She was too excited to see the look on Father’s face.

He sat, silent, starring disgustedly into his cup. It was wine mixed with water. About half and half. He had always said it was sin to dilute a good wine but here he was drinking it all the same. It must have been torturous.

Ilaria returned with the last of the plates and took the seat beside Father. It was only then that she saw his face.

“The soldiers did not come today. I thought they would but…perhaps tomorrow. There is still some salted fish” —she held the plate out to him— “I know it’s your favorite.”

Father’s face softened. “Thank you, child, there is plenty to share.” He smiled at her and began to divvy up the fish.

The smile was all his sister needed and she began to speak excitedly, “Have you ever eaten a Glintclaw, Father? I know it is not done usually, but with the food shortage and there being so many of them, I thought, why wouldn’t we eat them?”

Father nodded thoughtfully, “I have heard that in the north they do eat Glintclaw, they are known by another name up there. And they do eat them occasionally in the Stacks. I met a merchant once who said they taste quite different down here although he was sure they were the same creatures. Something about ocean waters…”

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“Then they are sea creatures?”

“So it would seem.” Father turned towards him, brow raised, “Though I have not seen them myself, that is what the merchant claimed.”

“Why are they here?” It was something that had bothered Arios of late.

“They say the source of the Kallidra is a great mountain by the sea. Mount Thalmyris. Perhaps the Glintclaw are from there and were washed down the river in a storm.”

“Why do they keep coming here?

“There must be something about Kenosia that reminds them of the ocean, of their former home.”

“But what?”

“Arios, I don’t know,” snapped Father. “I cannot explain everything to you!”

Arios fell silent. He could see the stress on his father’s face, knew he did not mean his words to sound so hard. But it hurt to hear it all the same.

“Arios…I am sorry. It has been… a trying day. Do not think ill of me” Father sat eyes pleading, nails dug into the flesh of his arms.

“Father I would never. We both” — Ilaria nodded vigorously — “see how hard you work, your dedication to Kenosia, to our family but you worry too much. It is like you said, all will be well. We still have much to be grateful for.” He gestured to the meal before them.

“Arios,” Father’s voice was quiet, somber, “All is not well. Though we are not wealthy and are no lords, we live the Middle Ward and I sit on the Council with the Steward of our city. We will not go without. For the people in the Low Ward things are much different. Many go hungry.”

Arios starred at his father in shock, “Father you said Lord Kalydor would not allow such measures.”

“And that is still his command but in practice it is much worse than I feared. The distribution is overseen by common soldiers. Soldiers who can easily be bought with enough coin. Coin that the citizens of the Low Ward do not have. The soldiers have many stops before they reach the city’s outskirts and by the time they arrive there, their carts are empty and their pockets full.”

“But surely Lord Kalydor—”

“Kalydor is just a man!” Father’s voice had risen to a shout, “He cannot be everywhere, he must put his faith in other men and these men are failing him. They are failing Kenosia!”

“Perhaps we could help?” interrupted Ilaria, “As you said, you are on the Council, if you sent Arios and me with the soldiers, they may be more inclined to follow their orders knowing we could report them directly to a Council Member.”

“Ilaria, neither you nor your brother are to set foot in the Low Ward!” Father never shouted when he was angry but his voice had reached a fevered pitch. “The riots there grow worse every day. Anyone even thought to be involved is taken in. They hung nineteen men today.” His voice died and his face fell into his hands, “Three of them were just boys, younger than you Ilaria, they are starving,” it was barely a whisper.

Ilaria threw herself at Father wrapping her arms around him as he sobbed.

“When Lord Pyragos awakens, he will set this right?” He had meant it to be comforting but it had sounded more like a question. Arios needed this reassurance.

“They have moved him somewhere. The healers assure us that he will wake but none have seen him for days. I fear he has died…”

That couldn’t be. He was going to wake. Any day now that’s what they said. Arios felt a sharp pain in his stomach. He jumped to his feet.

“Arios, are you well?”

“I just need some air,” he mumbled as he lurched out of the room.

All will be well. All will be well. The pain in his stomach was growing stronger. Arios felt it radiate from his belly out towards his entire being. He needed to rest. To lie down. He couldn’t think clearly in these conditions. Everything would make more sense in the morning. Perhaps Pyragos would be awake by then. For now, he needed to sleep.

Arios stumbled down the hall head spinning. He barely made it to his room; collapsing onto his bed. The last thing he thought of was the Glintclaw. Of a great ocean and a coming wave. He slipped into fitful dreams and knew no more.