***
"This is Merley," said Reshiad, looking about him.
Walking beside him, Tektu nodded.
Too large to be a village, yet too small for a town, Merley consisted of houses, a couple of inns and a handful of shops crammed alongside the single road, with more houses erected in no particular order behind. A river flowed nearby and fields surrounded the buildings.
Neptarik had ranged ahead very early, returning with the welcome news that no soldiers rested in Merley. Then he vanished again, and Reshiad hadn't seen him since.
Familiar with Merley from visits, Reshiad had never traveled further from home. He glanced at the road leading further west.
"This way," said Tektu, turning between one of the inns and a smithy.
She led him to the stables at the back of the inn, where Neptarik, still painted, waited for them.
The male sylph grinned at Reshiad. "Welcome to the Willam's Leap," he said. "The beds are more or less comfortable, but the ale is a bit, well, off."
"Why did you bring me to the stable?" asked Reshiad. Several horses filled the stalls, and a hint of sinabra warned him that sylphs were about. They probably helped the stablers by polishing tack and mucking out.
Neptarik's smile remained in place, though his earpoints betrayed inner irritation by a violent twitch. "Discretion," he replied. "You never know who might be watching in the common room. Spies looking for boys a certain age, perhaps."
Tektu gestured with her head towards the upstairs windows. "Mya is with him?"
"Yes."
The infertile sniffed. "Then I will wait out here."
Neptarik's attention turned back to Reshiad. "Coming?" he asked.
The boy followed the sylph into the back of the inn and up a narrow servant stair, emerging beside a door that led to one of the back rooms. Neptarik opened the door and indicated Reshiad should lead the way inside. The sylph came in after him and closed the door quietly.
Reshiad's gaze flickered around the room. Despite being a back room, it must be one of the largest the inn offered, with doors leading off to the sleeping chambers. Two men sat on the far side of a polished dining table, and light from the window framed rather than obscured them.
Both looked like soldiers, one older than the other. The younger man had perhaps twenty years or so, with blue eyes and dark brown hair curling over his ears. The other boasted similar hair and eye color, but he was stockier, with lines showing around his nose and mouth.
A female sylph crossed the room to Neptarik. A quick touch of fingertips and foreheads, then the pair parted again. Reshiad realized these two were emotionally involved.
"Alovak please, Mya," said the older man. "For three."
"Se bata."
Reshiad relaxed. At last, a more normal human and sylph relationship.
The younger man leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. "I am Verdin Branad Vintner," he introduced himself, "and this is Balnus Kenta Pinton.
Reshiad smiled and nodded his head. "I am Reshiad Wajrun Helzar," he replied.
The smiles remained in place, but Reshiad sensed they were somewhat more forced.
"Not Awen Adelbard Haist?" Verdin's voice now held a definite edge.
Reshiad shook his head. "No."
Balnus turned his full attention onto Neptarik; the sylph's earpoints wilted and almost tucked away. Reshiad failed to hide his pleasure that something fazed the creature.
"The explanation why you have the wrong boy," began Balnus, "had better be outstanding."
***
Chapter 2
The Commander
Reshiad tried hard to hide his smile. He glanced across and stopped trying as he watched the sylph's mouth work silently. After the rough time this sylph had given him, Reshiad's pleasure at Neptarik's sudden discomfort bordered on the perverse. Not quite revenge though.
"We were too late," said the painted sylph, finally recovering his composure. "We reached the farm, but they had already taken the boy. We left the corpse buried where we found it; I have never seen a deader one."
Balnus's blue eyes hardened. "We can do without your facetiousness," he said. "Did you tell his adoptive family?"
Neptarik shook his head. "They probably know, or suspect," he replied.
Reshiad gave the sylph a sideways look. "That's pretty cold," he said.
"Perhaps." Balnus reached for his pipe and inspected the bowl. "But they would not like to hear the news from a sylph."
Verdin brought the talk back to the subject. "So why did you bring this boy?" The younger man gestured towards Reshiad.
Reshiad grimaced at Verdin's tone and almost spoke.
"He came to us," said Neptarik. "Soldiers went to his house, he ran away, but they chased him with dogs. We were on our way here to report about Awen, but had to rescue Reshiad from drowning in the river."
"Your sylph should not refer to me by name alone," spluttered Reshiad.
Neptarik ignored him and continued, glancing at Balnus. "His life belongs to you now."
Reshiad gave the sylph an angry stare. "Actually, no. I –"
"You can be quiet," said Verdin. "For now."
"He is the right age, eyes and hair are right..." Neptarik shrugged. "A replacement for Awen."
Verdin shook his head.
"They murdered his family, donenya," added Neptarik. "Just because he got away. Enya, give him a chance."
Balnus blinked and leaned forward. "What do you say, Reshiad?"
"If I can get back at the... at the vermin who ordered this, then I'm your man," replied Reshiad. "If that is what you plan to do."
The door opened quietly.
"Ah, alovak!" Verdin smiled.
"Thank you Mya," said Balnus. "You may stay and pour. Neptarik, disappear."
"Se bata." Neptarik inclined his head, brushed his fingertips across Mya's hand, and left the room.
"Take a seat, young man," invited Balnus. "And we'll tell you what we are about."
Reshiad sat, lifted the alovak and inhaled deeply before taking a sip. "Excellent," he murmured, giving Mya a quick smile and receiving a pleased twitch of earpoints in return. He looked at Balnus. "You're about deposing the Prefect," he said.
"Who himself usurped the position," said Verdin. "Dervra murdered Prefect Adelbard and his wife, and would have killed the children too, if not for the quick thinking of his sylphs."
"Why wait so long?" Reshiad took another sip of alovak. Quick-thinking sylphs had helped him escape too, and lost their lives doing so. He felt a brief stab of mental anguish. "Twelve years is a long time."
"Because before now we've been unable to do anything about it," replied Balnus. "Until the current Prefect decided to make himself unpopular by murdering boys of a certain age."
"Neptarik mentioned a second boy," said Reshiad.
"Also dead," said Verdin.
Reshiad glanced out of the window, but could only see rooftops. "Sounds like end of mission," he said. "Neither of you comes from Turivkan."
"From Marka," replied Verdin, a smile glinting in his blue eyes.
"You think I can do something about it?" Reshiad took yet another sip of alovak.
"Well, people here certainly need one of their own to lead any rebellion against Dervra," replied Balnus, fidgeting with his pipe again. "There are plenty of rumors about all the missing boys. Not many reappear."
"True rumors," murmured Verdin.
"More alovak?" Mya hovered.
Reshiad nodded and watched the sylph pour.
"You want me to become the next Prefect," he said, after another sniff at the dark liquid.
"As Awen," said Verdin.
Reshiad smiled. "If, and I mean if, I lead any rebellion, it will be as me," he said. "Not as a dead man."
Verdin pursed his lips. "Well, we can take you to the next town and introduce you to one of military leaders."
Balnus smiled. "A surprise for you, I can promise."
"Next town being...?"
"Shelcar," said Verdin.
"Two days away," said Reshiad.
Balnus changed the subject. "Have you got any living relatives?"
"Two sisters, both married. Obviously, I also have nephews and nieces. What have they got to do with anything?"
"Just a concern that if you use your own name, they might be threatened." Balnus flashed a quick smile, intentionally mirthless. "We are dealing with ruthless people here."
Reshiad's return look was level and serious. "I noticed," he replied. "But if I act, it is under my own name. Let them know who's coming."
Verdin and Balnus exchanged another look, while Mya refilled their alovak. Reshiad decided he did not like those looks, hinting at knowledge denied him.
"Too dangerous," said Verdin. "For the rest of your family."
"You don't know what these people are like," added Balnus. "They –"
Reshiad flung out an arm, pointing vaguely towards his old home. "My family is in cold earth out there," he snapped. "I buried them with my own hands, with your sylphs helping. I know what these people are like!"
Balnus smiled and leaned forward. "You use your own name," he said, quietly, "they will track down and eliminate the rest of your family, as if they were vermin. You really want that?"
Reshiad forced a smile. "We can hide what's left of my family." He sat back with his hands resting on the back of his head. "I suppose in exchange for helping me win this Prefecture, you want me to recognize Markan suzerainty?"
Balnus and Verdin exchanged a startled look, and Mya almost dropped the alovak can. She squeaked something about topping it up and all but fled from the room.
"Is that not why you are here?" Reshiad raised both eyebrows. "To extend Marka's reach and influence?"
"More to secure ourselves against future molestation from the man who rules Turivkan today," said Verdin.
"Whatever." Reshiad smiled. "You'd certainly have that guarantee."
"Very quickly given," murmured Balnus.
Reshiad nodded. "I read a book about history," he said. "A strong Marka meant happy people and peace throughout the lands. A weak Marka has always led to a darker world."
Yet another of those infuriating looks passed between the two men.
"A pity more of your compatriots didn't read that book," said Verdin, eventually. "The struggle to tempt the Prefectures back into the fold grows harder every day."
"So you agree I can use my own name?"
Balnus sniffed and looked away. Verdin shrugged. "So long as you realize any harm befalling your sisters and their families is on your head, not ours."
Reshiad smiled as Mya returned with fresh alovak. For the first time in days, he felt as though he had won one small battle. Even small victories counted.
***
Neptarik sat easily on his heels and watched two small infertiles cleaning tack. The smell of leather polish tickled his nostrils, but he resisted the urge to sneeze. Added to the other smells of straw, horse sweat and good old sinabra, a heady mix of odors filled the inn's stable.
The tack cleaners threw nervous glances his way now and then. Well, perhaps he did look a tiny bit threatening, covered in paint. Or maybe Tektu, crouched beside him and hugging her knees, caused their wariness.
She terrified all the stable sylphs, many of whom had taken to sleeping outside so they weren't under the same roof. Even horses became wild-eyed when they saw her. Tektu shrugged off the reactions and claimed few sylphs ever understood her anyway. If anything, the situation amused her.
Neptarik hoped that once they left, they would never return to Willam's Leap. Soldiers must pass through here and while sylphs usually displayed discretion, they tended to fully answer questions put forthrightly to them.
He stood out thanks to his paint, and Tektu because of her origins. And her attitude. Whenever she saw one of the inn sylphs looking, she stared them down.
"You will get into trouble with the innkeeper if you insist on frightening his inferts," Neptarik told her.
Tektu shrugged. "I am not doing anything to them," she protested. "Not teasing or threatening them."
"No," admitted Neptarik, "but you do glower a lot and show your teeth."
Tektu shrugged again. "We will move on soon. The boy will grasp the power on offer and come with us."
"He is the best replacement we found," said Neptarik. "They could not have done better."
"They were angry we failed to reach the real boy in time?"
"Frustrated I think." Neptarik smiled.
"Sooner he finds his mettle," continued Tektu, "the sooner he gets a following and the sooner we go home."
"Thought your home is wherever I am," remarked Neptarik.
Tektu's earpoints twitched. Neptarik had never really fully worked out their relationship. Most of the time she gave him level looks, as if between equals. Other times she looked at him almost with hatred and definitely disbelief.
But he had her obedience; nothing else mattered.
"It is so primitive out here," she complained. "I miss Marka. More sylphs to scare." She gave him a look that suggested embarrassment, but she did not fool Neptarik. Tektu had not changed one iota from when he had first met her in Castle Beren.
"Well, it is not up to me how long we spend out here," he said, after a few minutes watching the infertiles work on the tack. "If you are so bored, Marka is that way." He nodded vaguely eastwards.
"You cannot get rid of me that easily," protested Tektu. "You are not Mya."
"Then stay." Neptarik shrugged. "Just stop whining; you are getting as bad as that Reshiad."
Tektu's mouth clicked shut.
"Better." Neptarik hid a smile.
Tektu glared at the infertiles, who pretended to be very busy with the tack. Their wilted earpoints showed they knew why she stared at them.
"If it is any consolation, we will be moving on soon," said Neptarik. "We have stayed here long enough."
***
Neptarik's words proved prophetic; breakfast the next morning had barely settled before Verdin and Balnus began to chivvy the sylphs into movement. Dressed in traveling woolens, the humans rode quite ordinary-looking chestnut geldings with white noses and braided manes. Only a close inspection would show the animals looked to possess great stamina.
A white mare had been acquired for Reshiad and he rode a little behind the two men. Mya walked alongside Balnus and Tektu chose to walk beside Reshiad.
Neptarik was nowhere in sight.
"Where is he?" Reshiad wondered aloud. Tektu had so far proved resistant to conversation this morning, the first typical sylph behavior he had seen from her.
"Making sure the road ahead is safe for us," replied Tektu, finally breaking her silence.
Reshiad snorted. "He thinks he's a scout in a real army?"
Balnus looked over his shoulder. "He is a real scout in a real army," he said.
Tektu smiled at the boy's embarrassed silence, but said nothing.
Reshiad leaned forward and stroked the mare's long neck. "Did you ask what her name is?"
"Ercyan," replied Verdin.
Reshiad continued his petting, much to the mare's approval, who snorted softly and shook her head to a jangle of harness. Every now and then, Ercyan glimpsed Tektu and her reaction was very different.
"I know sylphs are frightened of horses, but I've never seen a horse frightened of a sylph before," laughed Reshiad.
"Only frightened of this sylph," growled Tektu, "which shows the horse has got more sense than the idiot riding her."
"You really do not like me." Reshiad scowled at the sylph, who looked anything but intimidated. "What are you?"
Tektu sniffed and lengthened her stride to catch up with Balnus. Moments later, Mya dropped back and now walked alongside Ercyan.
"Hope you're friendlier than Tektu," remarked Reshiad.
"Lots friendlier." Mya smiled up at him shyly. Of the three sylphs, Reshiad believed she was the most typical. He wondered whether he should ask about
the apparent bad blood between her and Tektu, but eventually decided against.
"You are Neptarik's wife," said Reshiad.
Mya's earpoints twitched in satisfaction and she nodded. Her silvery eyes shone as she looked up.
"How did he end up with Tektu?"
Mya sniffed and her earpoints wilted before recovering. "By an accident of fate," she said. "More her ending up with him."
Reshiad reached down and patted the sylph's shoulder. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to upset you."
Mya nodded and said no more. But she didn't move away again, preferring to stay well back. Reshiad watched and noted everything he saw, unsure whether or not he could trust these people.
Verdin dropped back next to speak with him, maneuvering his horse with his knees. He gestured around at the fields and copses with an arm. "I'm wondering how much you know about your Prefecture," he said.
Reshiad shrugged. "At first hand, not a lot. But I do read."
"You know how Dervra came to be Prefect?" pressed Verdin.
"Only from what you've told me," replied Reshiad. "Farmers here tend to concentrate on sheep, rather than politics."
"Certainly a safer choice of profession," admitted Verdin.
"Except when soldiers come." Reshiad blinked back tears and Mya gave him a compassionate glance.
"True." Verdin glanced away until certain the boy had recovered. "You have my sympathy."
"What would you know about it?" Reshiad wished the words back immediately. "Sorry, I should not have said that."
Verdin smiled. "My father was murdered two years ago," he said. "Purely for political reasons."
"Again, apologies for my hasty words."
"Accepted." Verdin smiled again. "So you understand that you truly have my sympathy, we share a common experience."
"What about the rest of your family?"
"Alive and well."
"It shames me that I live."
"It should shame the man who ordered their deaths." Verdin grimaced. "You can help hit back at that man."
Reshiad gave a bitter laugh. "How? I know nothing about military matters."
Verdin inclined his head. "Then I am at your service. Should you wish it, I will educate you."
As the two young men began to talk about armies and war machines, Mya kept an eye on Tektu and walked in silence.
***
"We'll stop here for our meal," announced Verdin, turning his horse off the road.