Inessa saw Fadrique right as he saw her. Her heart dropped as she distracted herself with giving her plate over to a servant. Martin stood among other family members, but after the week she had, she couldn’t run to him.
She walked outside, knowing Fadrique was following her. The second Inessa stepped onto the grass, she moved her shoe enough so that it was still on, but she could connect to the ground, forcing herself to find Adosina. She had seen her come out here before.
“Addy,” Inessa called out on every available tree line. “I am looking for you.”
The trees helped, searching out, finding her too far away. Inessa’s heart dropped as she felt a hand grab her elbow and spin her around.
“Addy, I need you right now. Please.” Inessa let the trees into her thoughts, letting the message pass to Adosina, let her feel the panic she felt.
“Fadrique, I demand you let me go,” she said, not looking at him so she wouldn’t have to see his slimy grin. She took off her slipper completely and forced all the power she could into the ground, letting Adosina feel exactly what it felt like to be cornered like this.
“Oh, come now, Inessa. That’s no way to talk to your future husband,” Fadrique said.
“It’s not going to happen,” she said, trying to struggle out of his grip, causing him to tighten it before, thankfully, letting go.
“Hello, High Elder Fadrique,” Adosina said, appearing by Inessa’s side. Fadrique frowned, staring at her as though trying to remember who she was. Adosina smiled brightly at him. “Adosina, daughter of Martin the Healer and Sara.”
“Ah,” Fadrique said. “The one who refuses to get married.”
Adosina laughed as she placed her hand on Inessa’s elbow and moving her much closer to her, patting her arm as she did. “Oh, no, the one who refuses to be tied to a loveless marriage.”
“Any marriage could work as long as both of you have a love of God,” Fadrique said.
“Wisdom indeed, sir. I shall hope you remember it at the next Day of Beseeching when you hear Elias’ love toward God despite his class.”
Fadrique grunted before moving away. Adosina turned Inessa around before moving in the opposite direction. Inessa didn’t dare breathe easily until they were well within the gardens.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
“I don’t think I’ve ever sensed such fear,” Adosina said quietly. “Are you alright?” Inessa nodded, keeping her eyes closed, trying not to cry. “Do you want to see your old concubine sisters?”
She shook her head. “I can’t. High Elder Fadrique’s concubines hate me for leaving. The other concubines don’t want anything to do with me because they don’t want to deal with him.”
“Why? What is wrong with Fadrique the Weather Controller?” Adosina asked.
She said nothing as she opened her eyes. She simply patted her hand, a girl who would receive such a shock if her titles were ever taken from her. “Simple concubine gossip. There is nothing more I can say.”
Adosina watched Inessa closely, the concern evident on her face. Adosina patted her hand right back. “You call for me whenever you need, understand?”
“I will. Thank you.”
***
Dinner with Martin and his family Sabbath evening was awkward. Indenuel hardly spoke, though it didn’t matter because it was chaos. Martin had pulled him aside afterwards and asked him to keep what Cristoval said between them, as they couldn’t prove what he said was true. Indenuel agreed, though admitted Tolomon already knew. Martin was fine with it. Almost relieved. He looked almost as shaken up about the prophecy as Indenuel did, and it seemed genuine that he would never kill him.
Indenuel threw himself into his training the next day as the servants packed the belongings he didn’t even realize were at Martin’s home and transferred them back to his own. He tried to forget everything that happened with Cristoval, and it was easier when he was getting beaten once again at the training circles.
He thought he was getting better. He always thought that, and then Captain Luiz would suggest combat style with the other recruits, and he got knocked out all three times within moments of them starting.
“But you didn’t use your corruption,” Captain Luiz said when they were back in his cabin. “That is what you improved on this time.”
Indenuel took the glass of wine offered him, drinking it slowly to ease the healing fatigue. “Yeah, yeah,” he mumbled. “Pretty sure they all remembered too, which is why I was defeated so quickly this time.”
“You are doing yourself a disservice. You are getting better,” Captain Luiz said, sitting down on his desk before leaning back in his chair. “We’ll keep going on the stances, and I’ll try to tell the men not to knock you out the first moment they can.”
Indenuel snorted. “Right. Teach them to stop practicing the thing that could save their lives.”
Captain Luiz smiled. “You’re talking to the man who was knocked out well over four dozen times by Tolomon a couple days ago. It hurts your pride, but you just keep learning.”
Indenuel nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.”
“Go home, get some rest, be prepared in two days to run it again,” Captain Luiz said.
Indenuel drained the rest of his wine before handing it back. He was fast in the bath house. He tried not to spend too much time by himself. Once he was dressed, he was again flanked by a half dozen soldiers. Tolomon wasn’t authorized to come back to the training grounds until the third day, since he needed more time to recover. The soldiers took him back home. His home. The one he may not know well but was happy to see when he walked inside.
“Good to have you back, sir,” Pablo said.
“Thank you.”
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“I have your letter for you here. Should we be expecting your guests tomorrow?” Pablo asked.
Indenuel’s heart pounded as he opened the letter and read through it quickly. “Yes.” He let himself smile. “They’ll be here tomorrow morning.”
“We shall make sure we have breakfast ready for them,” Pablo said.
“Well, I’m sure the normal amount you usually feed me will be quite enough,” Indenuel said.
“Alright, sir. We shall be ready for that. Also, you have a guest in your dining hall. Tolomon is keeping an eye on her while you were away,” Pablo said.
“A guest? For me?” Indenuel asked.
“The little Oraminian girl. Baleeah, I believe is her name?”
Indenuel felt a moment of panic. “Is she alright? Are her people alright?”
“I believe so, sir.”
Indenuel headed straight for the dining hall. He opened the door to see Tolomon standing, thankfully folding his arms instead of having his sword out. Indenuel walked in to see Baleeah sitting at the table. Indenuel bowed out of habit. “Baleeah? I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
She gave him a strange look. “I’d rather sit in this huge home rather than do my chores.”
Indenuel glanced again at Tolomon, saw his stiff posture.
“Do you want anything to eat? I could have the servants get some refreshments for you,” Indenuel said.
“No. I’m not allowed to take food from a Santollian,” Baleeah said as she hopped down from her chair.
“Why not?” Indenuel asked.
“Because someone might spit in it. Or worse.” Indenuel was again uncomfortable about the casual way she explained it. “You saved my grandami’s life when you didn’t need to. No one wants me to tell you, but I’m old enough to know about a life debt. I know you and your bodyguard were attacked by Kiam here in the city. And I definitely know soldiers are interrogating the adults, trying to find a lead.”
Indenuel waited, watching the little girl. “Do you have a lead for me?” Baleeah paused, then glanced at Tolomon with a hint of distrust. “You can trust him.”
“No, I don’t think I can,” Baleeah said plainly.
“He is my bodyguard and will do what I say.” Indenuel realized what he said, then turned to him. “Right? Will you keep it secret?”
“If you swear me to secrecy,” Tolomon said, his eyes still lingering on Baleeah. Indenuel didn’t know if it was mistrustful or him simply doing his duty.
“Is that satisfactory to you, Baleeah?” Indenuel asked.
She continued to look Tolomon over. “I guess. My grandami says Graduates are usually no better than misguided, abused dogs. Loyal to their masters to a fault, and far too willing to kill while their masters think so little of them.”
Tolomon’s lips pursed, but he said nothing. Indenuel cleared his throat. “Alright, what do you have to say?”
Baleeah paused, waited. “Are you going to swear him to secrecy?”
Indenuel raised an eyebrow, then glanced at Tolomon. “Right. Um. I swear you to secrecy.” He wiggled his fingers because he didn’t know what to do, but the moment he did it, it felt incredibly dehumanizing, especially after Baleeah’s comment. “I’m sorry, I don’t know how to swear you to secrecy.”
He wore a tight smile. “Should my lips betray the secret, may my title as Graduate be revoked and my life end.”
Both of Indenuel’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “That seems extreme.”
“See? Misguided dogs,” Baleeah said.
Tolomon’s gaze narrowed almost to a glare.
“Alright, Baleeah. Why don’t you just tell us what you came to say?” Indenuel asked.
She hesitated, once again giving Tolomon a distrustful look before she walked over toward Indenuel, motioning him down. He crouched down to her level, and she cupped her mouth with her hands and placed them over his ear. “His name is Darshin. We all think he has a tree route straight to the Kiam army, but we have no proof. He’s practically an outcast among us because he causes a ton of trouble for us here in the city for a lot of other reasons. He doesn’t follow the rules.”
“Is there a way you can get proof of his ties with Kiam?” Indenuel asked in a whisper, knowing Tolomon could probably hear anyway.
“I can try. But he’s not afraid to beat up anyone who gets too close to his secrets, even children,” Baleeah said, still whispering.
“It sounds like it would be best for all of us if his dealings were brought to light,” he said, continuing to whisper. “The Oraminians would be rid of him, and the Santollians would have the person that possibly led fifty Kiam soldiers into the city locked away.”
Baleeah motioned him in closer, her voice dropping even farther. “The Santollian soldiers have tried. But apparently, he feeds them information on Kiam, too, so they won’t do anything to him.”
Indenuel gave a tiny sigh, feeling the weight of how stupid the political aspects of war were. “But if he led fifty soldiers into the city-”
“There’s no proof,” Baleeah interrupted with a whisper. “And from what I hear, they won’t find any proof either. He gives both sides enough to stay out of trouble, even if neither side is willing to acknowledge it.”
“That’s incredibly dangerous,” Indenuel said.
“He’s paid well enough for what he gives. He’s been walking around with actual shoes on his feet lately,” Baleeah whispered. “Do you want me to try and-”
“No, no,” Indenuel whispered. “I can’t have you digging into something like this. It is far too dangerous for you.”
Baleeah nodded. “Alright.”
“Would you like me to tell the military about your suspicions?” Indenuel asked.
“Don’t give them my name,” Baleeah said. “And can you tell the military to stop beating up my people while they’re interrogating them?”
Indenuel furrowed his brows, then glanced at Tolomon. “Is the military allowed to do that?” he asked louder.
Tolomon gave no answer. Baleeah shrugged. “Whether they’re allowed to or not, it’s what they do. And don’t come to our camps anymore. Darshin is hanging about far more than usual, probably waiting to see if you’ll come back.”
Indenuel couldn’t help but feel sad at this. “But what if your camp needs more healing?”
“We will alert you if we need you, but Darshin is a snake, and we don’t want you dead,” Baleeah said.
Indenuel sighed before he straightened. “Thank you, Baleeah. Are you certain you wouldn’t like something to eat?”
Baleeah shook her head. “Grandami warned me she’d smell my breath when I came home and would beat me within an inch of my life if it smelled of food.”
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Good God, Baleeah. You come talking about the restrictive limits on Tolomon, and it seems like you’re on a tight leash yourself.”
Baleeah shrugged before she waved and headed out of the dining hall. Indenuel watched as she walked out the front door and left the house.
“Delightful child,” Tolomon mumbled. Baleeah’s figure retreated, skipping toward the gates. “Are you going to tell anyone about Darshin?”
“I figured you heard that,” Indenuel said.
Tolomon shrugged as he continued to watch Baleeah disappear around the gate. “Something tells me the military already knows about him.”
“Then why aren’t they doing anything?” Indenuel asked.
“It’s a tricky situation,” Tolomon said. “The man clearly gives enough information about Kiam for them to leave him alone.”
“But it seems like Darshin spills our secrets too,” Indenuel said.
“Check with Captain Luiz, since I can’t say anything,” Tolomon said.
“That does seem quite extreme. You could honestly die if you tell a secret?” Indenuel asked.
Tolomon shrugged. “Depends on which social class is asking me to keep the secret and what kind of protection they can give me to spill them.”
Indenuel frowned, studying Tolomon closely. “So… the secrets you’re clearly keeping about the High Elders?”
Tolomon’s face turned impossible to read. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Are you saying if I was in a position to grant you protection, you’d tell me about them?” Indenuel asked.
His face shifted, studying Indenuel closely. He opened his mouth to say something, but changed his mind, reverting his face to being unreadable. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Indenuel let out a tiny breath. “Tolomon, come on. This honestly scares me. What dirt do you have on the High Elders that you’re clearly not allowed to say?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m in the same social class as them. I can… I can do something,” Indenuel said.
Tolomon hesitated again. “Then figure out what that ‘something’ is you can do, and we can have a different talk.”
Indenuel studied him closely, feeling nervous. How could he know how to protect Tolomon if he didn’t know the secret he was hiding. The far too recent memory of Cristoval’s prophecy on top of realizing Tolomon knows something bad about the High Elders did not give him any comfort. It was only yesterday when he found out Martin might possibly kill him. Someone he struggled to mend his trust with.
He looked up at Tolomon who again stood still, waiting patiently for whatever Indenuel needed, and he thought maybe Baleeah was right. Maybe Graduates are simply dogs in the minds of the High Elders.
“I’ll go write that letter,” Indenuel mumbled, heading toward his study.