Usruldes, Kwabin, Harvest Season, 6th rot., 2nd day – East Coast time
Kwabin was a city in turmoil. My first flyover revealed two different groups of Mattamesscontan Legionnaires and City Guards fighting each other at the palace. I flew away before anyone decided to track me and switched to full wraith mode.
"Be careful down there," Cadress told me as I jumped off his back. He had perched on one of the palace spires where he could pick me up if I needed to depart in a hurry.
“I’m always careful,” I replied.
“Ha! I’ve heard that line before,” Cadrees chuckled. “Pick me up some fish while you’re out shopping.”
“Sure thing, feather brain,” I levitated to the now-empty forecourt of the provincial palace. Two Legionnaires stood duty at the open doors. The steps were sticky with blood, so I floated inside instead of walking. I did amuse myself with the thought of the guard gals watching bloody footprints walk past them. It would be fun to prank them, though not at the expense of revealing my intrusion.
I heard yelling from what looked like a reception hall at the end of the main corridor. I found my answers once I entered as a group of Legionnaires and court officials discussed their situation.
“No!” an older silverhair woman in a bloodied Legionnaire officer’s uniform and a marshal’s cape shouted. “Absolutely not, Captain. Yes, he is a danger. Yes, he just tried to usurp what remains of our government with the help of General Gowatonk and the disaffected High Priestess of Cragi. Yes, half the city guard is now under custody in our too-small city jail. No, I will not execute Infanta Moo'aganti, General Gowatonk, or Lady Goomigetcha. They can sleep away their imprisonment under a charm of eternal sleep until our Empress returns to us. I will not execute one of the last two living members of the imperial house without the approval of the rightful heir, and she’s not with us for the time being.”
“But, Ma’am, how can we go forward without the leadership of the imperial house?” a younger silverhair officer asked as a healer attended to seeping wounds on her hand and forearm.
“By following our Mistress’s instructions,” the Marshal snarled. “Her instructions were clear, Sakabean. We must carry out her plan to close the Cragi churches and open chapels to Vassu. We must negotiate a peaceful resolution with the Chem. We must stabilize the government here and in Shinakosettkut and begin the recovery of Toyatastagka. Last, we must start planning for our Mistress's return next year during the middle of Growing Season. It’s all in her instructions, which she conveyed both in person and in writing.”
"But no one's in charge," the Captain protested. "The insurrectionists control the west coast of the Gulf, and Toyatastagka is a ruin. The lower Mattaheehee Valley is a scene of anarchy, overrun with refugees forming bandit gangs."
“Sakabean,” the Marshal sighed, “our first task should be negotiating an agreement with the Chem. That will free up our remaining fleet, which we will then split. Half will stay here to keep a watch on those pirates over in Mattamukmuk. We will take half with us into the Gulf to restore order. Lady Nomogeekaw, would you please draft a forced conscription notice for all men and women who are twenty years old. Only one conscript per family, and we won't take any who are only children. The term is for one year. The new conscripts will be trained to keep public order in the province under the direction of experienced officers, who will be a mix of the city guard who stayed loyal and our officers from the Legions. Captain Kokohegan, please find some empty land we can use as training camps. Captain Waragankwonk, We need uniforms, weapons, bedding, and food for our recruits. You might not find enough Legionnaire brown cloth, so I will allow other shades of brown for now. Having enough people is more important than the proper color for their uniforms."
The Marshal stopped as a tall silverhair entered the room escorted by a soldier. She was dressed simply in a dark brown clergy robe with her hair done in four long braids.
“Ah, Lady Ishapur, thank you for joining us so quickly,” the harried-looking Marshal paused and smiled.
"Thank you for asking me," Lady Ishapur bowed in the Mattamesscontan fashion, with her left hand over her heart and her right hand cupped in front of her. "Your assistance saved many lives today."
This silverhair looked back up but then looked right at me. Her eyes narrowed, and I had just enough time to cast a barrier on myself and fly upward to avoid the charm of deep sleep she cast at me. I was shocked that she could sense me and even more shocked as her eyes followed me. I never anticipated that someone in Mattamesscontess would have the same talent as Fassex for finding me.
“Block the exits, Marshal," Lady Ishapur instructed. "I can't see the mage, but I can see the leakage from an aura. Someone can cast the lost charm of circular light." I dove for the door. It was blocked too quickly, and I collided with two Legionnaires. The three of us went down in a heap. I extricated myself, but not before the door was shut in my face. I immediately levitated myself toward the windows.
I didn’t make it in time. A barrier sprang up over the entire wall. This Ishapur was formidable.
I debated whether I should blast a hole in the wall so I could flee.
“Who are you,” Lady Ishapur demanded.
I readied my casting to breach both the barrier and the wall. “I am just an observer,” I replied.
“You speak like a foreigner,” Ishapur accused.
“I am not from Mattamesscontess,” I said. “I saw the fighting earlier and was curious as to the outcome. I decided not to show myself while I scouted the situation for the sake of my own safety. You are the third person I have met who can detect someone using the charm of circular light.”
“Show yourself,” the Marshal commanded.
I stayed next to the wall. I debated what to do, but Ishapur strode across the room and tried to grab me. She didn't anticipate that I would cast deep sleep on her. I caught her before she fell to the floor. I was amused by the gasps of the officers and officials as Ishapur vanished into my charm of circular light.
I placed Lady Ishapur on the floor at the base of the steps that hosted a throne. I lowered my hood and removed my head cloth and mask, stuffing them into my tunic. Then, I dropped my concealment.
“I have not harmed her,” I said. “I cast deep sleep on her. One of you may wake her if you like."
Two captains pulled out their swords and started for me. I cast the lost charm of mire on them. They were alarmed when they found their feet stuck to the floor.
"As I said, I am just an observer. I mean no one harm, but I will defend myself and my freedom of movement."
“Wake her,” the Marshal demanded.
I woke her and then stood back in case Ishapur attacked me immediately. She leapt up and glared at me.
“You cast sleep on me!” she accused.
"I confess, fair lady, that I did. I have no intent to harm anyone here. As I said, I am simply someone who decided to observe what looked like a dangerous situation before intruding upon it."
The Marshal studied me. Then she spoke, "So, my young intruder, you have spied on us without our leave. Who are you?"
“I am a royal courier of Foskos,” I bowed politely. “I came here from Mattamukmuk, now a vassal state of Foskos, having been conquered by Aylem Queen and the Prophet Emily. I am on a mission of observation for my King with a secondary task of aiding our allies from Sussbesschem in their quest to liberate their enslaved kin.
“The results of my observation here would have dictated my next move, which, given what I have heard here, would be to show up with my credentials and offer to help you negotiate with the Chem. I speak the water language fluently and am on good terms with the Chem forces and their leaders. I can also arrange for the Mattamukan Navy to stay put in its anchorage so you can take more of your fleet into the Gulf.”
“Forgive me my disbelief that spies can make such arrangements,” the Marshal said accusingly.
I reached inside my tunic and removed my fire opal plaque as a royal courier from its special pocket inside my wraith clothes. I walked over to the Marshal as her officers tensed, and some drew their swords. Kneeling, I offered it to her. "If you do not believe me, then believe this."
"I've heard about Foskan fire opal plaques," she took it and then tranced to inspect it. After a moment, her eyes opened, and she studied me on my knees. "That is impressive magic," she sighed. "The auras match and the message is clear. I will let you go, Lord Irhessa from Foskos, on one condition. Bring the Foskan governor of Mattamukmuk here to craft an agreement about the Mattamukan Navy, and then I will believe you."
“Wait,” I held up my hand and then tranced to mindcast the Revered Othnay. It only took a moment. “The Revered Othnay and two of her advisors will be here in a bell. Is that amenable, Ma’am?”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
"You have impressive mind magic to cast across the Strait," the Marshal said with a satisfying twinge of awe. "I have a report of an eagle hiding among the spires of the palace roof," the Marshal said, eyes closed to receive a mind casting. "Is that yours?"
“Yes, that is my ride,” I nodded. “He lost his concealment when I dropped my charm of circular light. I will call him down if you want him off the roof. Otherwise, he will wait there for me. Though, now that I have been discovered, I want to fetch my saddle bags to change into something more appropriate."
The Marshal laughed, “You mean you need to change into something that doesn’t look like a Foskan Wraith outfit?”
“Black works best with the charm of shadows, Ma’am,” I smiled in a friendly manner. “Real wraiths don’t show themselves. They would flee without dropping their concealment. As you just discovered, I am an amateur at covert work.”
“Good enough,” she conceded. “Call your eagle down and fetch your saddle bags. Your mount can visit the Legion camp for a rest, a rubdown, and a meal while we wait for the officials from Mattamukmuk.”
“I could leave and flee from here,” I pointed out.
“I don’t think you will, young man,” she smiled knowingly at me. “Besides, I still have your plaque,” she grinned.
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Emily, at sea, Harvest Season, 6th rot., 2nd day – East Coast time
“I’m sorry, Moo. With the cloud cover, the still isn’t making enough water for you,” I dragged a half bucket over to her. “I hope you’re not getting too thirsty.”
“You’ve been making water with that contraption for four days, but how does it work? How does pouring water into that tube turn it into fresh water?” Moo asked from where she was reclining next to the tiller. I had given her strict instructions to keep her butt planted on the deck. She had no sea legs and had fallen overboard seven times on our first two days at sea. Of course, Moo being Moo, she simply levitated herself out of the water, dried herself off, and reboarded the ketch. But it made me crazy watching her do so. Moo was not a good sailor.
I had permitted her to stand to rig a tackle on the rump of the mizzen mast so we could hoist a jury-rigged lugsail. I also let her get up carefully so she could do her business off the stern of the ketch. The one time she tried to do her business off the side, her weight sitting on the gunwales heeled the boat over in a most disturbing way. Maybe I was overreacting, but I think we might have gone over if not for the daggerboards. Moo was a little too big and much too clumsy for the shallow draft of the hull and the elevated weights of the mortar and cannon on the gun platform, which moved the center of balance up.
In hindsight, I realized I should have lowered the gundeck back when I was fine-tuning the design of the ketches. And I should have placed the two stills on every Chem ketch in different locations. If I had done that, maybe one of the stills would still be onboard. Instead, both stills were missing along with the rest of stores from the bow of the ship.
My jury-rigged still was the mortar tube placed inside the ketch’s cooking cauldron. Moo did the lifting for me. Then, I filled the tube two-thirds full of seawater and put two belaying pins on top to make space. On top of the belaying pins, I draped a piece of oilcloth so the edges of the fabric fell into the cauldron. As the sun warmed the mortar, the seawater evaporated, leaving the salt behind. The water condensed on the underside of the fabric and then fell into the cauldron, where I collected and transferred it to the canvas bucket. If I were alone in the boat, the volume of water produced would have been more than enough for me. The problem was Moo, who needed around ten times the water I needed. Having enough water for her was the most serious issue that faced us. With autumn upon us, the warm weather would also not last much longer and the still would stop working. The nights were already getting nippy. We needed to find land before it got cold out.
“I don’t remember seeing anything like that on my navy ships. Is that how ships make water?” Moo studied the still. “It doesn’t seem very efficient.”
“It’s not efficient, but we need water any way we can get it,” I explained. “Most seagoing vessels bring water in casks or firkins, or have stills to take the salt out of the water. All the stores and the two stills on this boat must have been lost before I woke up. I assume they went overboard in the big storm."
Then, I explained how distillation worked by evaporation and condensation. Moo was astounded when I explained how salt was dissolved in seawater and how a still removed it. That led to three days of basic chemistry lessons for the gal. But before we sank into our marathon teaching session, Moo ambushed me with magic.
“So, it’s the heat from the sun that makes the still work?” she asked. “I’m confused, Beloved. Why use your water maker when I can cast the water charm?”
“Moo, how many times do I need to tell you? The name is Emily."
Amused, she smiled. “Whatever you say, Beloved.”
I rolled my eyes, probably for the one-thousandth time that day. “So, what is a water charm?”
“It looks like this," she tranced, and then the bucket was full of water.
It was the same charm Lord Katsa haup Gunndit had used the night Asgotl returned from his search for Aylem. I felt really stupid just then while looking at the water Moo had conjured.
“Right, the water charm will indeed work,” I had to shake my head.
She smiled her confident, exuberant smile at me, "We should have no more water problems. I can just make water. Problem solved. That’s a great expression, Beloved,” Moo was amused. “You didn’t know that some mages can make water?”
“No,” I admitted, “I’ve seen the charm used before – just once – but I forgot it existed.” I shook my head at my own stupidity and sat back down, deflated.
“Come here, you,” Moo suddenly scooped me up in her tree-trunk arms.
“Moo, what are you doing? Put me down!”
“But, Beloved, you look like you needed a hug.” She wrapped me up and smushed me into her big boobs, “You look so cute when you get frustrated.”
“The name is Emily, and I am not cute, Moo'upegan,” I snapped, feeling embarrassed and a bit intimidated. “And I want down this instant! I can’t breathe.”
“Whatever you say, cuteness.”
Moo looked entirely too pleased with herself. Damnable overgrown Cosm mages.
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The Holy Senlyosart, Singing Shrine, Harvest Season, 6th rot., 2nd day – Foskos time
Two big silverhairs entered my bedroom wearing mantles of foskan royal blue with their hoods up.
“I didn’t expect both of you,” I looked up from my pile of work spread out around the blankets. Healer Twipdray permitted me to work from bed during my enforced day of resting my sore leg. “May the blessings of the eleven gods be upon you,” I bowed while sitting up.
“And also upon you, Holy One,” Aylem Queen replied, pulling off her mantle.
Imstay King dropped his hood and placed two chairs next to the bed. The royal couple sat.
“Where’s the boy?” Imstay asked, eschewing small talk.
“Taking tests,” I replied, putting a vellum slip into the document I was reading to mark my place. “I need to know where his schooling stands so I can arrange the right tutors. His math skills are atrocious, by the way, but Master Musician Uka says he plays the prell well enough to perform professionally. Given his musical ability, his bad math surprises me since the two usually go together.”
“You seem to assume the boy will stay here,” Imstay said so flatly it made my heart jump.
“I would like him to stay here, but that depends on the boy,” I said neutrally.
“Does it, now?” Imstay said.
"The new Singing Crystal sang for him, and he is as good as Opa at getting notes from the lithophone. Sassoo has his eye on this child. Who am I to argue with a god?" Chew on that, you pesky King, I thought. "I told him if he would swear to forego revenge for his family, I would protect him and not pry into his past. The first gives me assurance of his intentions, and the second gives him what he wants and needs – a refuge. He knows he can't fend for himself. He also knows he can't pass himself off as an ordinary person because it's so obvious he's a silverhair. But he must accept my first condition, which is why it depends on him.”
“He’s a danger,” Imstay said.
“I know, and right now is the most dangerous time while he decides what to do,” I replied. “This is why I requested wraith surveillance of him. If he turns on us, we need to stop him. If he does turn, you may have your way with him, Imstay King. I am not blind to the threat he poses. But for now, we should simply observe him if he agrees to my conditions."
“We could cast a compulsion on him,” Aylem Queen suggested.
“A compulsion would inform him that we’re on to him,” I pointed out. “It would undermine my efforts.”
“Why not bring it into the open?” the Queen asked. “It might be better than pretending we don’t know.”
“I would not advise that,” I replied. “I have two reasons. First, he knows what happens to failed heirs of great houses. He is desperately trying to stay alive. His only defense is hiding his identity. If we take that from him, we will lose our chance to save him.”
“Save him?” Imstay snapped.
“Yes, save him,” I snapped back. “He is eleven years old, Imstay King. He could have a long and productive life ahead of him, grateful that he escaped death at your hands. His potential is immense, given his bloodline. Now, my second reason should be obvious. If it gets out that the Impotu Heir is at the Singing Shrine, every malcontent and displaced Impotu noble will target him, which would make keeping him secure impossible. It would also tell his mother where he is, so we would need to keep a constant guard to prevent a kidnapping. He is much better off under an alias for now."
“You’re that sure your proposal will work?” Imstay asked, frowning.
“I’m not all sure,” I had to sigh, “but I did take the opportunity to walk through his mind. He’s still a child full of childish fears. His current self not danger to us, Imstay King.”
“Harmless children grow into dangerous adults,” he replied.
“That’s what his oath and the wraiths will prevent,” I argued. “Breaking an oath sworn on a consecrated Great Crystal is a death sentence. You know that, Imstay King.”
“But he hasn’t yet,” Aylem pointed out. “He’s wandering loose in your Shrine, free to run away again at any moment, Holy One. What if he runs before we can get a complete security detail on him?”
“I planted a charm of reunion on him,” I confessed. “I’m not too worried.”
“But you don’t have consent,” Aylem protested
“That’s correct.”
“But that’s illegal.”
“Yes,” I smiled, “but I'm sure his legal guardian, Lord Yuxviayeth, would not object if he knew about it."
“Yuxviayeth?” Imstay asked, confused.
“Sidros Arkalkin is the ward of Lord Yuxviayeth, who sent his new spit boy to the White Shrine to be tested for mage skills last rotation.”
“Snow Bear,” the King commanded.
“Here, Mighty One,” the big wraith appeared and knelt immediately.
“How long before you can form a full watch on the boy?”
“Immediately, if I can use women as well as men, Mighty One. We are short on male wraiths.”
“Security is more important than propriety in this case,” Imstay let loose a sigh. “Make it so.”
“You will, Mighty One.” Snow Bear vanished.
“We will wait and watch for now, Holy One,” the King decided. “I reserve the right to change my mind with no notice.”
“I can accept that, Imstay King,” I conceded, “for now.”