Usruldes, Ash Desert Plateau to the southern Blue Mountains, Harvest season, 9th rot., 1st to 2nd days
After less than half a bell, we took refuge in a wooded canyon on the edge of the arid plateau that starts southeast of the Blue Mountains and climbs as it goes west until the Range of Fire on the east side of Barren Bay. Impotuan flying cavalry sent three successive lines of soldiers scouting to the west of the destroyed city. They must have employed some powerful clairvoyants since I later learned that they skirmished with soldiers belonging to the forces of Lords Gunndit, Esso, and Black as they retreated to Foskos.
Our problem was the Queen. The Blessed Aylem had exhausted herself and couldn’t stay awake. She was incapable of maintaining the charm of circular light and it was beyond my ability to keep all five of us concealed while in flight.
To keep us hidden, we had to land and hide. I had no problems keeping the charm over all five of us when we were gathered as a compact stationary group. It was a tedious time since I insisted we stay silent. Some roc eagles have such good hearing that they can hear even soft conversations.
I managed to get the Queen dismounted and laid her down on a blanket to sleep. I used a desert spruce as a backrest for myself and held Emily in my lap. I could feel her restless and bored mind mentally fidgeting. Around midday, she must have found something to contemplate since her mental activity took off until she fell asleep halfway through the afternoon.
The Impotuans kept the surveillance of the area active even after the sun went down. With both women, the griffin and the eagle still asleep, I patiently waited for better conditions to fly home. I dozed a little on and off, but couldn’t permit myself to sleep deeply. I still needed to maintain a watch over the Great Ones under my care until Cadrees was rested enough to trade off with me.
Halfway between dusk and the first night bell, I felt my mother’s thoughts searching for me. I worried that the Impotuans might have a powerful mindcaster able to hear me if I answered. Instead, I used my paired crystal to link to the one that Imstay keeps around his neck when I’m on duty. No one can overhear the connection between the two halves of our crystal pair. Imstay made them years ago. He’s good at making all sorts of magic tools.
*Little brother?* he answered me.
*My mother was looking for me. Tell her we are fine. We’re hiding from Impotuan patrols while the Queen recovers after exhausting her magic.*
*I will fly to Aybhas and tell your mother myself. I’m sure my daughter is also worried.*
*Where are you?*
*Gunndit Garrison, conferring with the Lord Holders over the skirmishes they fought while retreating from Salicet.*
*Skirmishes? Did we take losses?*
*Several wounded, no fatalities thanks mostly to one Priestess Voice Kakoyva, who is an able windmage. Her eagle landed on a low ridge with injuries so she was on the ground defending him. This was out in the high desert south of the Blue Mountains. When most of the Impotuan pursuit of our forces was passing overhead, she cast the charm of Sassoo’s Euroo wind. The Impotuans who survived turned back to their own territory. I'm surprised they still have forces in the air.*
*I can feel at least five pairs in the air flying surveillance patterns above us. We’re not more than 20 wagon-days from Salicet. I expect a lot of flying mounts in and around the refugees for now so we’ll be moving with care once the Blessed Aylem recovers. I think they will pull back to the Ahkeseld and Stem Rivers tomorrow.*
I could feel Imstay’s concern for us through my paired crystal. I knew I couldn’t stop him from worrying, especially since the Queen was pregnant. Regardless, I knew I could keep the charm of circular light going for three days, even while I slept. We were safe in our little canyon thicket of desert cedars while we waited.
Around half-night, both Emily and Cadrees were awake. Emily was quiet but mentally restless. I cast deep sleep on her, thinking it a kindness to let Emily sleep rather than have her awake and bored. While she was capable of great patience, I also knew that it was a trial for her. An active creature like Emily had to work hard to stay still.
Cadrees kept watch from half-night until dawn when I woke back up. The Queen was still sleeping. I did not wake her. The number of flying mounts had dropped to two and they were flying wide patterns. I woke Asgotl and had him take over watching while Cadrees and I went back to sleep.
According to my portable sundial, it was around the third bell when the Queen finally woke up. I’m not too sure about the exact time since my sundial was a bit off. We were further south than the limit of the sundial’s north-to-south adjustment ring.
“How long did I sleep?” the Blessed Aylem’s voice woke me up. “Why are we still inside circular light?”
“Shhh!” Asgotl hissed.
I sat up, *Great One, there is still surveillance of this area from the air. Some cavalry eagles can hear voices on the ground from great distances so I imposed no speaking out loud. Mind speech only, please.*
*Sorry, I didn’t know.*
*Also, no long-distance mind casting in case someone might overhead the casting.*
*Usruldes, the number of mages with mind magic that good is so few that it should not be a problem.*
*Great One, I am alive today because I don’t make assumptions like that. Imstay King and I use paired crystals rather than mindcasting. I will not compromise on this until we are out of enemy territory. Now, are you rested enough to cast circular light?*
*Yes, Lord Usruldes.” I could tell she thought I was being too cautious from the exasperation coloring her mindcasting. *Shall we use landmarks again to travel?*
*Yes, and I have one already picked out. It’s the peak to the right of the saddle in the ridge across the valley to the west. See it? Before we leave, I need to drop the current charm so you can have a meal. We also need to load up our gear and baggage.*
*I can travel without needing to eat.*
*Great One, I insist that everyone under my command stay watered and fed while traveling. You are currently my responsibility to escort you home safely. I have chicken and cucumber sandwiches and cold sweet tea for you.*
*That’s a relief. I was afraid you had those horrible pemmican ration bars that the army uses.*
I was amused that she would happily eat a sandwich, but would skip eating if I had offered her army rations. After checking that none of the Impotuans patrolling were close enough to see us visually, I dropped my current charm. Emily looked so cute wrapped up in her cloak sleeping that I didn’t want to wake her.
*She looks so adorable and harmless when she’s sleeping,* the Queen had a whistful smile on her face. She got down on her knees and gently shook Emily. When Emily didn’t wake up, the Queen looked at me with a raised eyebrow, *deep sleep?*
*I thought it best. It would be a long boring wait for her otherwise.”
The Queen brought Emily out of deep sleep. She put her finger to her lips to signal to Emily that we were still maintaining silence. Emily nodded, looking resigned. I brought her a small travel flask of cold tea and an Emily-sized sandwich. She must have been hungry since she devoured her meal before I had a chance to even start mine.
Since we couldn’t see each other while we were flying, we picked a distant landmark and flew there separately. Once we both had landed, we picked another landmark. We traveled that way for around 100 wagon-days, which put us along the Ahkeseld River south of Eagle Territory in the eastern foothills of the Blue Mountains.
Being close to home with no Impotuans anywhere near us, we dropped our charms of circular light. We were immediately surrounded by four free eagles who one by one banked and descended in a clear invitation for us to follow them. I glanced at the Queen and Emily on Asgotl. The Queen gestured with her arms and shrugged, and then followed the eagles to land on a hill along the river.
Four free eagles out in the wilds along the Ahkeseld River made me nervous, but Aylem Nonkin didn't look worried at all. Emily looked curious. Right after Cadrees landed us next to Asgotl, the four eagles all bowed their heads.
"We greet you, Emily Prophet, Friend of Eagles," one eagle spoke with respect. "We heard that you and the Queen of Foskos had not yet returned from the cat god's act of wrath at Salicet. We would like to offer our escort across our mountains to save you time traveling to your home in Aybhas."
Emily looked surprised, “I thank you for your thoughtfulness. Lord Usruldes, you are our guard and escort. I will defer to your judgment.”
"One moment, Great One," I made a bowing obeisance from my seat on top of Cadrees. "Cadrees, friend, what is your opinion?"
"I would accept this offer, my bond," Cadrees turned his head so one eye looked at me. "We will save at least half a bell and there may still be some light by the time we land."
“Thank you, Cadrees," Emily smiled at him. "Good eagles, we will accept your offer and thank you. Before we start, might I know your names? Friends who travel together should not be strangers to one another.”
That surprised me, but maybe it shouldn't have. Emily had always shown empathy and an uncanny understanding of the flying mounts. She had always treated the ones she met like friends and equals.
I could tell the four eagles were pleased. Soon we were flying with Kish, Laskees, Laska, and Shatees through the high passes between the mountain valleys north of the Ahkeseld, passing high above the customs gate at Skags Mountain into the Truvos valley as the sun was going down. We landed in the twilight on what became a very cramped south balcony at the Healing Shrine.
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“Cadrees and Asgotl, can you two please take our guests over to the mounts’ residence to get them some dinner, and maybe a place to sleep for the night before they fly home?" I jumped down from Cadrees’ back. I knew both mounts were probably starving after not eating for two days.
I was surprised to see the four free eagles surrounding Asgotl, looking at the sleeping Emily seated in front of the Queen.
“Emily Friend is asleep?” one of the eagles asked in a soft voice, sounding puzzled.
“She usually falls asleep if we fly long distances,” Asgotl snortled with amusement.
“Wake up, Em,” the Queen tapped Emily on the head, “we’re home.”
“Huh,” Emily opened her eyes and then looked startled by being surrounded by eagles looking at her.
“Oh,” Emily regained her composure. She reached out and stroked the beak of the nearest eagle, “You’re Kish, right?”
“That’s right, Emily Friend,” the eagle sounded pleased.
“And you’re Laska,” she pointed at each of the eagles in turn, “and Shatees, and Laskees. Thank you for flying us home.”
“You are most welcome, Emily Friend,” Kish spoke and the four bowed their heads again.
The Queen dismounted. “How did you figure out all their names, Emily?” she asked. “I can never tell eagles apart. Most people can’t.”
“Their beaks,” Emily was incredulous. “Haven’t you noticed that no two eagle beaks are the same? I thought that was obvious to everybody.”
I had to shake my head since I had not noticed that trait before, though I was better at recognizing eagles than most.
“No, Emily, I didn’t know that,” the Queen had gone full regal in both expression and voice to hide her astonishment. “I will know what to look for in the future.”
The crowd on the balcony became noisy and confused after that since both my mother and the King came out to greet us. Emily introduced the eagles to my mother, and mother spoke with them briefly about meals and a place to sleep. Cadrees took them to the shrine’s mounts’ residence and the balcony became much less cramped.
Wolkayrs appeared with four kitchen staff in his wake with an empty kettle for water and four kettles filled with raw meat for the hungry griffon. The Queen filled the empty kettle with water while the Blessed Asgotl demonstrated that despite his protests, he really was a very messy eater. He was through the second kettle of meat before Emily could get his attention to tell him that she wanted to get down from the saddle.
I decided to vanish since I knew my mother was hosting five high priestesses at her dinner table along with the King, Queen, Princess Opo’aba, my daughter, my sister, the Revered Lyappis, Emily, and Twee. The table was full. I decided to retire to the safe house at the top of snob hill for the evening.
*Son?* My mother mindcasted me while I was in transit.
*Good evening, mother.*
*You’re not coming to dinner?*
*Your current dinner company is not one amenable for Usruldes the Wraith.*
*Then come as Irhessa.*
“Mother, I stink. I have three days of stubble to shave off and I need to change out of these filthy clothes.*
*Then wash up, shave and change and come when you're done. I'll save dinner for you. It's rack of mutton from mountain big horn sheep, with the mint jelly I know you like. I asked the kitchen for it since I thought you might be eating with us.*
I declare it to Gertzpul, who hears all oaths, that there is nothing more burdensome than a parent trying to please a child without asking first. Even now, twenty years since I left home, she’s still trying to feed me what she believes I’ll be pleased to eat.
I could feel the yearning behind her mindcasting. She was trying to find a common ground with me where we might once again be comfortable as mother and son. I stuffed my annoyance where it would not intrude and resigned myself to not ruining her hopes.
*I will be as fast as I can muster. Any chance of seeing my daughter?*
*Perhaps.*
What a joke! Perhaps? My mother was never good at dissemination and subterfuge. Fed was sure to be dining with us.
I had a chest of clean clothes in the basement of the safe house. The wraith women who lived there were not at all surprised to see me appear and run down the stairs. Someone had already heated the water above the newly-installed shower in the basement washing chamber. One of the gals brought a bowl of lather, a shaving brush, and a razor down and left them on the counter next to the wash basin which now had hot and cold running water.
If Emily had not been chosen by the gods as a revelator and prophet, she still would have gone down in history as a saint for her invention of the shower and the flushing necessary. How did I ever survive without them?
I was out the door in clothes appropriate of a royal courier on active duty, in thigh-high lined flying boots, a green elkskin overtunic, and the green felted-wool courier’s cape. My herald’s cap was in its pouch on my belt, next to the case where my fire opal plaque of office lived. Inside my courier’s bag, which was slung over my shoulder, was a sealed dispatch for Imstay King. The gals who lived at the safe house kept one prepared for me with the latest report on where the fish were biting on the river. It was my standard gag with the King for when I needed to appear with a dispatch in hand.
I used my failing reserves of magic to cast circular light and then flew to the forecourt in front of the main doors into the shrine. I was in luck that it was empty when I landed so I did not have to wait to become visible. I entered the business door to the left of the ceremonial doors and walked up to the greeting table, opening my flying cloak to reveal the courier’s cape with its gold-embroidered trim.
The young healer in charge of the healers-in-training working at the table stood and bowed, “The King is dining on the fourth floor in the south wing. The stair behind me will take you all the way up. The sentry at the atrium entrance to the south wing can show you the way to the King. Do you need help with your mount?”
“My eagle is already at the mounts’ residence. I know the way to the High Priestess’ dining room, where I am expected, but thank you anyway for the excellent greeting and directions.”
The healer knotted her brows, “Wait, you look familiar. I think I’ve seen you before. Have we met?”
“I’m not sure. I was the herald at the trainee induction ceremony last cold season, where my daughter became a trainee here. I’m...”
"Lord Irhessa, I beg your pardon. I should have recognized you," the healer looked embarrassed.
“Think nothing of it,” I smiled. “I was dressed up then for the occasion and now I’m in my everyday working rags with my hood up and my wool cap on, windblown and tired.”
“Oh wow,” a young trainee at the table with half-white hair piped up, “if you’re Lord Irhessa, then you’re Fed’s dad.”
“Yes,” I leaned over and winked at her as I pulled off my sheepskin riding mitts, “I am indeed the long-suffering and put-upon father of the dreadful child Fedso’as. Well, ladies, I believe my mother is keeping a plate warm for me upstairs so I will bid you farewell and go now in search of the King and my dinner." I bowed, slid past the greeting table, and ran up the stairs. Then I jogged down the north corridor and around the walkway of the atrium. I stopped in front of the uniformed wraith on sentry duty at the door into the south wing.
“I am Court Lord Irhessa haup Gunndit, here with dispatches for the King and to see my mother." I smiled innocently. My subordinate rewarded me by rolling his eyes.
“I believe they are expecting you, my lord,” the sentry bowed briefly and opened the door for me. I walked halfway down the corridor to the door directly into the dining room. I knocked. I heard a chair slide and steps. Then the door opened to reveal the King.
“Come in," he opened the door for me. "The dispatch?" I was already reaching into my shoulder bag for the sealed scroll as Imstay closed the door behind me.
I handed the dispatch to him. As he broke the seal and read the contents with a frowning visage, I got to my knees and made my obeisance to the three Great Ones, including my mother, the four other high priestesses, Lyappis, and my sister. Katsa was a revered adept of Landa as well as being Lord Gunndit. "May the blessings of the eleven gods be upon you all, Great, Holy, and Revered Ones."
“And also upon you, Lord Irhessa,” Emily’s soft soprano replied. “Please rise and join us. Your mother has kept your plate warm.”
“Alright, Fed,” I heard my mother say. I was barely on my feet when I was impacted by a flying hug from a growing thirteen-year-old, who I swear was even taller than the last time I had seen her, which was about five rotations ago. The top of her head was just below my chin.
“Hi, Daddy!” Fed beamed up at me, her arms wrapped around me.
I hugged her back, “hello there, little weed.”
“Dad," Fed intoned in that kid's whine that starts high, slopes down in pitch, and then slides back up to end on the same note it started with, "I'm not a weed." She stamped her foot. It was so adorable though I really wish she would grow out of that whine of hers.
“Could have fooled me, little weed who won't stop growing," I mussed up the top of her hair. I disengaged myself from my daughter, pulled down my hood, and took off my flying cap, "Mother, may I leave my things in your bedroom?"
“Of course," my mother nodded from her grand seat at the narrow end of her long oval table, framed by the two windows overlooking the east garden. She looked regal and dignified, like always, with her hair up in a pearled caul and dressed in an elegant gown of patterned gray and black shot through with gold thread.
Then I was startled by the sight of the Chem Twee standing on his tail in front of me, tilting his head at me in inquiry. He started speaking in the click-hiss language of the Chem, for which I was immediately thankful given what he had to say.
“Friend master-of-assassins,” he poked in the stomach with his hand to make sure I saw him, “I do not understand this new name. Why are you wearing a different name?”
I was so glad I had taken the trouble to learn the language of the Chem or this would have been a disaster with several people in the room ignorant of my identity as Usruldes. I realized with a twang of fear that Twee was a Chem shaman who identified people by their auras, not their looks. "Twee, I am only the spymaster when I am wearing my spy clothes. Many do not know I am the spymaster. They must not know because it would put my family in danger. Please, we can talk about this at length later, but for now, can you treat me like you have not met me before now?"
He blinked those big luminous eyes of his, which changed from yellow to yellow-green while he thought. “Yes, yes, I can do that, friend master-of-assassins.”
“Thank you, Twee.”
“I didn’t know you spoke the language of the Chem,” my sister Katsa had snuck up behind me and wrapped her arms around me from behind, leaning her chin on my shoulder.
“Yes, I do. I speak Chem, Tirmarran, and the trade language of the ocean traders.”
"But our friend Twee here spoke to you first," Katsa was puzzled, not knowing she may have just blown my cover.
If Twee and I had never met, then how would he have known I spoke his language? I kept my face impassive as I tried to think of a logical way to explain this. I hoped my panic hadn't leaked in this room full of some of the most powerful mages on Erdos. I usually didn't leak but I knew I was close to my limits.
“Ssssssthe courier isss a courier," Twee began to speak before the silence had a chance to become uncomfortable. "Ssssaw that he was a courier and asked if he spoke the water tongue because many Foskan couriersss do speak it. I hoped that he did sssince the wind tonguesss are tiring to ssspeak. It would be nice to ssspeak with ssssomeone who could ssspeak the water tongue. I have been far from home for ssso long.”
With that little speech, Twee made me his friend for life. What a fast thinker. No wonder Vassu had chosen him to become a revelator.
“The Chem need to inflate an air bladder to force air through a non-respiratory passage to speak voiced sounds," I explained to my sister. "It's a lot of work for them to speak our language. I know that Chem would much rather leave the air bladder deflated and use the way they normally speak."
“I did not know that,” Katsa leaned her head against mine. “That’s interesting. Where did you pick all this up, little brother?”
“Well, you know, it’s just what you have to learn if you want to work for the King,” I disentangled myself from my sister. “We can chat about it later. I want to get out of my flying gear and eat something.” I smiled at Twee, who was still standing in front of me, “I am called Irhessa, friend Twee. Your host, High Priestess Lisaykos is my mother and the Blessed Emily is a good friend of mine. I look forward to speaking with you some more.”
Twee bowed his head and put his hand over where his heart would be if he were human, “I am pleased to meet you, friend Irhessa. Any friend of my friend Emily is a friend of mine.”