Lirran awoke the next morning to find Kaza had slithered over to the balcony with her wet blanket and was looking outside.
“I cannot get you to rest, Navigator, can I?” He got up and soon after having tried and failed numerous times to put his wrappings back on, a knock came on the door and Saraswati’s voice spoke.
“If you are up, respected guests, breakfast is prepared for you.” When Lirran opened the door, she snickered. Let me adjust your robes for you, and pay attention this time.”
Lirran focussed his entire mind on following her hands and fingers without feeling how they touched his skin and flattened every fold against his body. When all folds and knots sat properly, she looked into his eyes for just a fraction of a moment.
Drupada came by and made sure that Navigator Kaza would give her blessings to the endeavour of speaking to the spirits. She thought about it for a while and looked to Lirran, then she gave her approval. He then left to talk to the rest of the council.
Breakfast was much less opulent than the feast before and prepared on the table in the anteroom of the guest branch of the building. Mostly bean paste with eggs, tea and fruit preserves, but at least is was lots of that. Together with Agnijit, Lirran carried Kaza’s blanket to the table.
While the two enjoyed big portions, Saraswati began to talk to Lirran. “Since you said you were going to Barir, I thought it fitting to teach you the language they speak there, although Hatsui is common.”
Lirran realized just how much out of his depth he would be soon enough. “Thank you, Malati, I would love to. You speak quite a few languages, don’t you?”
“Well, this one is special, it is my father’s tongue, after all.”
Lirran looked at her. He could tell she had not shaved her head since yesterday and the first stubbles of hair were already sprouting again on her scalp. “Is that why you are different from the other treefolk?”
Saraswati drew her legs and arms close and averted her eyes from him. “Yes, i know, I look odd. My father is of Arunasi heritage. I think you would call them the shorefolk.”
“Oh no, no. I do not think you look odd....” He had to be honest. “At least not in any way other than any of the treefolk look odd to me. I already noticed the people in town stared at me, so we are all odd here, aren’t we?” Lirran looked to Kaza and Agnijit. Not a single person of the same heritage at a table. “I don’t think you are odd.”
Kaza spoke up in Hatsui, and although Lirran did not understand her yet when she was speaking so fast and melodically, he did get the gist that she have Saraswati a compliment which made her blush. When Saraswati answered in Htasui, Lirran realized that he had still some way to go with his skills in the language and that Kaza had been talking to him so far in a slow and clear manner as if with a child.
“I speak quite a few languages, yes. My mother and uncle are very conscious of my shared heritage and wish to marry me to an influential man among my father’s kin.”
Lirran knew of the marriage practices of the higher classes from his home in Ulsol. It seemed that whether the blood was blue or not, power flowed with it, it reminded him of his Navigator’s saying the day before. “I guess that’s not your wish?”
“To be cared for and close to the shore? Of course there are more enticing prospects, but it is far from the worst life I can imagine. I miss the shore. To the shorefolk, swimming is second nature and as much as I love climbing trees, the water does call me from time to time.” She seemed to drift into daydreaming at that remark, wriggling her toes as if they fascinated her. Then she turned to Agnijit.
“Why is it that a man of your age hasn’t married yet, Agnijit?”
“Oh... well...” He turned his head away. “My father forbids me from marrying or even courting before I rise from the rank of Zaktim. I have never been around so many Malatis for this long as here, to be honest.” He tried to put on a false grin.
“Well, I don’t think your father or my uncle would ever agree to a marriage between our houses, they’d kill each other during the wedding feast.”
Lirran had to remember Agnijit’s parentage. “I am sorry for you. Is your father not good to you? I never had a father to grow up with, I cannot imagine having a disapproving one.”
Agnijit sighed. “Oh well, I am not as good in most things as my siblings and nothing rests on me. I tried winning glory in combat, but even that only caused more grief to him.”
Lirran felt like putting a hand on the young man’s shoulder, but could not bring himself to such a personal gesture. “I am sure this too will pass. I have to admit that I am still seeking redemption myself.”
Agnijit shot a hopeful glance to Lirran. “Say, wise Novice, you fight like a swordsage, there must be something you can teach me.”
“I fight like a swordsage?”
“Yes. When we clashed, I could tell that you forsaw every single one of my movements. Has your Gurvi taught you in the way of flowing water? I am sure it is an art common among her people.”
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Lirran shook his head. “I was never trained in combat. I wasn’t even allowed to bear weapons as a peasant. It is just...” Lirran had to think of a way to tell Agnijit what he had seen. He looked to Kaza, who was equally stumped by the remarks. “...your fervour burned so brightly that it became apparent what movements you would take, but I could barely keep my balance against your strikes. Both my Navigator and I could sense the fierce intent emanating from you when we entered the forest.”
Agnijit let his shoulders sink in defeat.
“...but I am sure if you keep training, you will become better. Your comrades remained hidden to us until the very end, after all.”
Having failed at making anyone feel better, Lirran finished his breakfast and then got to renewing the water in Kaza’s barrel together with Agnijit. The barrel had a tap and would normally aid in its purpose to transport rainwater captured above the canopy to places where needed. When the barrel was half empty, they put it close to the balcony so Kaza could look outside. Then they filled it back up with fresh water from a tank the Hall of Phalapatrah had itself to fill from the canopy of the trees carrying it.
It was not long afterwards that Drupada returned. He smiled and chuckled when he opened his arms in joy. “My proposition was approved. You shall be permitted to stand before the heart of the old forest and be judged by the spirits. They shall be the ones to see into your heart. It will happen at sundown today.”
Lirran knew not how to react. A look to his Navigator told him that she was up to the task. “My Navigator will do her best.”
But Drupada chuckled. “Oh no, sorry, I misspoke. A waterkin cannot be allowed to stand before the spirits of this land, not after the transgressions of her kin against it during the war. You will have to go, Lirran, only a human may, even if you are Halkini.”
Lirran wanted to say something, but a quick sound and chastising look from Kaza, he knew he was to hold his peace. He nodded. “I understand, First Phalapatr Drupada. We will take the rest of the day to prepare.”
They returned to their room and sat on the balcony, observing the people going on with their lives on the walkways.
“I think I discovered a force underneath the forest, my Navigator.”
Kaza agreed. “The will of nature is strong. Without seer, it can return.”
“Istrue that the spirits seek to devour?”
“Yes. Spirits are imprints strong, printed over and over again, by many people, want to be printed again. Thoughts want to be thought, acts want to be acted.”
“And how do I deal with them?”
“Do not agree. If you agree, then you will be bound. They have no mind, only a void to be filled, like a footprint that gathers water.”
“I understand. I have little experience.”
“To them, thoughts are actions. Emotions are power. Do instead bundle your mind. Do gather your will.”
Navigator Kaza was silent for a while. They watched the guards patrol the walkway that encircled the Hall of the Phalapatrah. All they had was made of wood, but different kinds. The armour was made of splints of a dark and dull wood, tied together by leather cordage. Some kind of shirt underneath seemed to be woven of flat strips of brighter wood, like some baskets would. The weapons were of that almost black wood with red grain he had already seen, even the helmets seemed to be made of wood that was either bent over the head or grown that way, to make sure the grain would hold strongest against blows from any direction. All of this directed growth was in the end a taming of nature and subduing of its will. He began to understand why the spirits were important.
Finally, Navigator Kaza spoke up again. “I miss the waves. Water without salt feels wrong.”
“I have heard this: in the lakes of southern Insisa, some tzappatt live next to the giants.”
“It is possible to get used to it. But I am here just a while short.”
“I understand. I miss the waves also. Things made sense. Wind blows, the sail catches the wind. Here, people have plans, seek to ensnare me. I want to do lash out, fend them off, I need to suppress will.” Lirran sighed.
“Lirran, do not do not lash out. Instead, do extend a helping hand. But if they then seize your helping hand, do pry it open. They must regret. Your will must have like a taut skin: contained, but ready to burst if it is violated. Istrue you do understand?”
“I do understand, my Navigator.” He tried to contain his thoughts within, his frustration and loss of control over it. He sighed and got up from his seat to walk to the railing of the balcony. The people moving about distracted him from his troubles, these people living their lives, relying on the very life beneath their feet, the branches holding the boardwalks and the buildings, the animals in pens at the bottom, the fish in the freshwater reservoirs, the plants clinging to the trees and growing their beans, lentils, squash and melons. And now they also relied on him. This place was without guidance, they were living on the back of a living being without speaking its language, knowing its needs or even being able to respect its will.
He felt more than that will at that moment. He felt another one, pressing down on him, specifically. It was seeking to extract something from him. Then he saw one guard on the walkways below look roughly in his direction with interest and finally, Lirran heard a noise behind and above him. He knew enough and went back inside, opened the door to the guest room and called outside.
“Agnijit!”
It took a while for him to show up and he seemed out of breath. “Yes, what is it, wise Novice?”
“Why are you spying on me? Is it for your father?”
Agnijit retorted immediately “I am not spying on you for my father.”
Lirran did not say anything but deepened his gaze.
“I am sorry, I should not have tried that.”
LDirran ahd to sigh. He felt truly sorry for the man before him who acted more like a dependent little boy than Lirran himself. “Are you really this desperate for your father’s approval?”
“You do not understand our culture, as wise as you may be outside of it. We have to respect our parents to receive our place in society. Until my father respects me, I will only receive unrespectable places of no import. I tried asking you to teach me to fight, but you told me to mind my business.”
Lirran had to nod, he did tell him that. “You keep trying to receive from us what you cannot get. We are not enemies, so you cannot gain glory by slaying us, we are not warriors so you cannot learn to fight from us and we are not conspiring so you cannot uncover our conspiracy against your town. Just let us pass the tests that were laid upon us. You yourself wanted to wait with your apology until the council ahs decided our intentions.”
It was obvious that Agnijit wanted to retord, but he did not.
The moment was interrupted by Drupada approaching through the hallway.
"It is time to head for the old grove. Are you ready, wise Novice?”
Lirran look through the door to his Navigator and she just nodded.
“Yes. Let us go.”