"The army has stopped," Aiten told Belaika, though he carefully avoided Ean's unfriendly stare.
"We know," replied Belaika.
"You must come into the camp," continued Aiten, taking some pleasure from the restriction. "So the owners can keep a close eye on you."
Belaika sniffed.
"Mirrin-ya wants to ensure you are supervised," said Aiten, with a smile.
The five Markan sylphs ignored Aiten, but slowly made their way into the camp, where bored Eldovan guards waved them through.
Ean muttered something to Aiten which sent him away, and the scouts joined their fellow Markans.
Ean crossed to his owner and Belaika watched as they sat apart from the others, heads together in conversation.
"You look concerned," said Tahena, moving silently to join the scout.
Belaika nodded. "I worry that Ean might ask for something he will regret later."
"Whatever is going on, it's between owner and owned," remarked Tahena.
Belaika pulled himself together. "Ean has listened to what the wild ones have said about freedom. Dangerous talk."
"The wild sylphs seem to do very well." Tahena smiled up at the sylph. She had forgotten about his height and this close the willowy scout stood a good head taller.
"They are confused though," replied Belaika. "Especially their infertiles."
Tahena pressed her lips together. "I sense change coming concerning you sylphs," she murmured, only half to the scout. "Much will change."
The scout shivered and his earpoints sagged.
Tahena changed the subject and gestured somewhere behind him. "What do you think of Eldova?"
Belaika blinked at the sudden change of subject and looked over his shoulder where Eldova's lights pierced the night air, muting the starlight. Light spilled from watchtowers and light crystals adorned the walls, set into lanterns with colored glass so they emitted blue, green, yellow and red light.
"I will tell you when we reach it," replied the scout. "All cities look pretty at night."
Tahena laughed and nodded her head. "You're worried."
"Yes." The sylph's admisson was frank enough.
"Me too, if that helps any."
Belaika grinned. "Perhaps we worry about different people, but the same thing."
"Kelanus might do something stupid when we get there," remarked Tahena. "I've no wish to see him dead."
"He seems to be very lucky, even for a human." Belaika carefully kept his voice neutral. "He will come through."
"Even he can only have so much luck," replied Tahena. "But Kelanus is not what worries you."
"No."
Again, Tahena found the scout's candor refreshing. "Why did you insist on coming here?"
Belaika paused. "I must find someone in the city," he replied. "When the chance comes, I will slip away once we enter Eldova."
"You're looking for closure, rather than a quest." Tahena smiled.
The scout nodded.
Tahena gripped his shoulder. "Kelanus seeks closure also. But he wants to win that closure through vengeance."
Belaika blinked. "For me, it is through love," he whispered. "Please do not tell the others."
"Of course not." Tahena patted the sylph's shoulder. "You can tell them yourself, when you've found what you seek."
The sylph smiled. "Thank you."
"We'll be there quite early tomorrow morning," continued Tahena. "Try and get as much sleep as you can."
"Se bata."
***
The next morning, Lowst ordered the Markan sylphs to stay with Kelanus and the other Markans, only sending out his own sylph scouts. General Mirrin and his men were separated from Lowst's. Tula – unwillingly on her part – stayed with Mirrin and gave Kelanus a wild-eyed look bordering on panic. Kelanus gave the sylph a reassuring smile.
"You'll be fine," he promised.
Eldova glistened pink in the early sunshine. The walls and towers, together with the upper storeys of any buildings higher than the walls, were limewashed, and would stand out white once the sun was properly up.
In the distance, the city gates swung open, allowing a steady stream of soldiers to leave, before the farmers and those going to market were allowed to enter.
Clearly, they would not enter Eldova unchallenged.
"What are they going to do to us?" whispered Samel. "Surely they do not intend killing us now."
"Be quiet," hissed Belaika. "They are not about to kill us."
Kelanus gave the scouts a compassionate look, his pale blue eyes twinkling. "You will all be fine," he promised. "Those men are going to escort us into the city." He sighed happily. "At last, we'll get into the city."
Belaika nodded, as eager to enter Eldova City as Kelanus, if for his own reasons. He hoped their captors had little interest in the sylphs, because he intended to slip away at the first opportunity. He firmed himself.
The soldiers from the city formed up on the paved road, and two riders came forward. Lowst and his yeoman went to meet them, and a pair of Eldovan sylph scouts stepped out from concealment.
Belaika sucked air in over his teeth and his earpoints gave a twitch. "I never saw those two leave the city," he remarked.
Ean shaded his eyes for a better look. "They might have been there all night," he said.
Lowst returned after a short time and reined in before the Markans. "You're all wanted in the city," he told them. "Including your sylphs."
Belaika looked at his companions. "We will be fine," he assured them. He glanced up at Kelanus on his horse. The man looked even more eager.
"Marshal Janost, General Mirrin; your presence is also required," continued Lowst. "Mirrin, you may go armed; Janost... Sorry, but the orders were clear. You must leave your weapons here." Lowst gave an apologetic half smile.
The two named Eldovans looked at each other and shrugged. Mirrin touched his swordhilt and then his dagger, secured to his left hip. Janost slipped off his belt and handed his sword to Lowst.
"Not you, Shashi." Lowst gave the infertile a compassionate look as he slipped Janost's sword under a saddlebag's strap. "You must stay here."
"No." Shashi turned to Mirrin. "Enya, please."
Belaika heard anguish in her voice and sympathized.
Mirrin leaned down and gripped his sylph's shoulder. "I'll be all right; they're letting me keep my weapons. You stay here. No Shashi, you will stay here. Sna alut batut."
The infertile stepped back, blinking back sudden tears and looking like she might sulk. She scowled at Lowst and twisted past his hand, so he could not pat her shoulder in comfort.
Men Belaika had not seen before escorted them across to the small army that had just left the city. They formed up around the small group and began to escort them into the city.
"Thought they said you were safe," Kelanus said to Mirrin.
Belaika listened to their conversation.
"I am." Mirrin grinned and touched his scabbard. He nodded towards the unarmed Janost. "I'd be more worried if I was him."
Janost looked over his shoulder and shrugged. His deep blue eyes showed no hint of concern. "Whatever happens, I'll be glad to have it over," he said. His attention switched to Kelanus. "We'll find out soon enough whether or not you've been lying."
"You will indeed," promised Kelanus and Belaika noticed that eager light in his eyes again. He fell silent as Tahena laid a hand on his arm.
Belaika walked with confidence, pleased that his sylph companions remained calm, though Samel had wilted earpoints and fear shone in his silver-gray eyes.
"They will not hurt us," Belaika promised him.
"How do you know?"
Belaika smiled. "Everything will be fine," he insisted.
"Sylphs keep silence!" One of the men barked the command.
The sylphs immediately fell silent and Belaika felt some pleasure that they were not referred to as prisoners.
The queue waiting to enter the city had gone by the time they reached the gates, whi
ch now glistened white. Belaika looked up as they passed through an outer and inner courtyard. Murder holes were everywhere, but he doubted if anybody manned them today. At least, he saw no movement there, though beyond was a little dark for even his eyes.
Then they passed into the city proper.
Belaika noticed that only the upper parts of tall buildings were limewashed, and that most others were built from red or yellow bricks. Sometimes both colors had been used, and some had been built from pale stone. Wooden structures were painted all colors and gave the street a chaotic look.
And the streets gave a loud hum. Every human city without exception bustled. Humans went about their chores efficiently, while sylphs darted in all directions, hurrying in their chores, or perhaps giving the impression of rush and industry. Many of those sylphs paused to stare at the scouts in their paint and somewhat unwashed appearance.
Beggars wrapped in rags cried for alms, their voices drowning in the noise of a city conducting its business. Belaika could not ignore that most beggars were sylphs. Like with so many other things, it seemed life dealt a crueler hand to his own race.
All the time, he looked for a chance to twist away.
"Are you taking us to the palace?" demanded Janost.
"You'll find out soon enough," promised one of the men.
Janost leaned closer to Kelanus. "They're taking us directly to the palace," he whispered, though Belaika overheard. "You'd better be right, or we're dead men."
Janost thought correctly. They were escorted to a large square, complete with two fountains, and what could only be the palace stood opposite. Armed men stood guard outside its gates, while pristine white stonework towered over them.
The escort and their prisoners came to a halt.
Belaika looked around quickly. Now or never. He gave Samel's arm a quick squeeze. "See you later," he whispered. "Do not follow me."
Belaika looked around again, ducked between two guards, dodged an outstretched hand and sprinted across the square.
"Stop!" boomed a voice.
"Don't shoot!" cautioned a second. "Not in the city!"
A guard must have nocked an arrow, and the running Belaika began to swerve from side to side, just in case. Once safely round the corner, he slowed his pace, staring back at a beggar who flinched her gaze away.
He had best be about his work, the reason he had come to Eldova. He crossed to the beggar.
"Have you heard of Jinsla Martan Renkra?" he asked.
The infertile stared at him unblinking. "No," she replied. "Have you got any food or money?"
***
"Stop!"
As the Sergeant's voice resounded, Kelanus looked over his shoulder and saw Belaika racing across the square. "Bloody stupid sylph," he muttered. "He's trying to get himself killed."
"Listen to who's talking," muttered Tahena.
Kelanus noticed admiration in his wife's eyes.
"He's seen his chance and gone," she continued.
A couple of archers nocked arrows and one even drew fletchings to his ear.
"Don't shoot!" commanded the officer with a plume in his helmet. "Not in the city!"
Belaika must have heard that, because he began to zigzag, and quickly disappeared from sight.
"Shall we chase him, Lieutenant?"
"Let him go. You, return to the gate and warn them to keep an eye open for a sylph wearing scouting paint. Tell them to prevent any lone sylph male from leaving the city, just in case he has some way of washing the paint off."
The soldier nodded, tapped clenched fist against his shoulder, and trotted away.
The Lieutenant turned to Kelanus. "What have you got planned with the sylph?" he demanded.
"Nothing," replied Kelanus, honestly. "The lad saw his opportunity and legged it. Not my fault if you people are careless with prisoners."
"We won't be so careless when we catch him," promised the officer, though he made no attempt to deny they were prisoners.
The palace gates opened and everybody was ushered into a cobbled courtyard. Grooms stepped forward, to take the horses, and more soldiers left a guardhouse as everybody dismounted.
They saluted Janost and Mirrin, or perhaps just Mirrin. The Lieutenant ignored Mirrin, but quickly checked the Markans and Janost.
"We're all unarmed," said Kelanus, peaceably.
Janost muttered something when his turn came to be searched.
"Just making sure," said the Lieutenant. He eyed the scouts and satisfied himself that they had nowhere to conceal weapons.
"You may continue as you are," the Lieutenant told Mirrin.
"One rule for some," sighed Kelanus.
"You're in the Royal Palace now," said the Lieutenant. "And you are no friends to Eldova."
Janost cleared his throat. "I serve Eldova," he snapped.
"Do you?" The Lieutenant's voice held an edge.
"Told you we couldn't trust 'em, Sir," growled Hanmer. "You mark my words, we'll be dead before sunset."
"Your sylphs may make themselves comfortable in the stable," continued the Lieutenant, who ignored Hanmer's cynicism.
Samel looked to Kelanus, who nodded.
Felis glanced at Ean. "If anything happens to them," he growled.
"Nothing is going to happen," promised the Lieutenant. "Not to them."
"Just try not to lose any more," said Kelanus. "Takes years to train them up."
Sensibly, the officer ignored the taunt.
At an inner doorway, a tall man awaited them. His black uniform went well with his dark skin and tightly curled head hair. Dark eyes regarded them calmly, expressionlessly, though he gave Mirrin a tight nod.
"I am Thur Ran Racken," he told the Markans, voice a low rumble. "His Majesty will see you all now."
"A man with a voice even deeper than yours," Tahena whispered to Kelanus. "Now what are you going to do?"
Kelanus shrugged.
They were led to a receiving room, a polished table between them and a small group beyond. Guards lined both walls, and closed in as the Markans approached the table. All hands rested on swordhilts, bar one.
General Mirrin, arms folded, stood to Kelanus's right.
Three women and a man sat on the far side of the table. None of the women had yet reached thirty, so far as Kelanus could tell, but they had no interest for him. They were pretty enough, but not the reason for him coming here. The man with them was a different matter.
Tall and broad shouldered, black hair curled over his ears in the manner familiar from other Vintners Kelanus had known. Gray-blue eyes regarded him with some amusement, before their attention flickered to the other prisoners.
"Marshal Janost, a unexpected surprise," said Hingast. "I had thought you might have been with the rest of the deserters, but it seems you have been poisoning more minds."
Janost glowered and refused to incline his head, but held his tongue. He glanced at Kelanus.
"And General Mirrin," continued Hingast. "One of Eldova's better Generals." Hingast stood and walked around the side of the table. He gestured towards Hanmer and Felis. "These two have no interest for me, return them to the stables."
Four soldiers moved to obey and escorted the yeoman and messenger from the receiving room. The guard had been weakened for as long as those men stayed out of the room.
Tahena leaned close to Kelanus. "That man is Gifted, or has sorcery," she whispered.
"Stand aside," Kelanus whispered back. "Give me room."
Tahena blinked and stepped further away.
"Three Markan soldiers and a southern woman." Hingast smiled at Kelanus. "A massive invasion of Eldova; we tremble in terror."
"Hello Ranallic," replied Kelanus, face expressionless. "It's been a while."
Hingast waved a dismissive hand. "Some returnees have been raving some rumor that I am not who I seem," he said. "I must assume that you are the originator of those rumors."
Kelanus's smile widened. "Difference is, I can prove them," he replied. In one fluid
movement, he reached across and snatched Mirrin's dagger from its scabbard. Without pausing, Kelanus turned and drove the dagger into Hingast's chest.
As those gray-blue eyes blinked and stared in disbelief, Kelanus pulled the dagger free and had time to plunge it into Hingast's chest again. A last blink, then the man who called himself Hingast sank to his knees and fell over backward, so his eyes stared sightlessly at the ceiling.
Perhaps a second, while everybody else was stunned to impotent silence.
Then, one of the Eldovan women screamed and guards leapt forward, kicking the back of Kelanus's knees, bringing him to the floor. Even as he dropped to his knees, Kelanus turned to Tahena.
"He hasn't changed back," he said, accusingly. "You said he would change back."
"You lied to us," said Janost.
One of the soldiers used a booted foot to push Kelanus forward, then looked to his commander. Thur Ran Racken gave Kelanus a single contemptuous look before he nodded to the soldier.
"Bring me his head," he ordered.
***
Chapter 31
Dead Girl Talks
"Don't pull, let me get the net around her."
Sallis stopped tugging on an arm and glanced at Giddens. "She looks very well preserved." The headscarf Basren had described was quite prominent.
"Cold fresh water does that," replied the linesman. "But I expected more bloating and the skin becomes more liable to... Ah, there we go, all done."
Giddens had succeeded to drape his net all around the body, and he now secured the free ends of the net inside the boat.
"You can help paddle," he told Sallis. "These boats become pigs to steer when towing anything with a bit of weight to it."
"Sure thing," replied Sallis, readying his paddle.
"When we get out," continued Giddens, "leave the body in the water as long as possible. Well preserved or not, they smell terrible once on dry land."
Expecting as much from what he had already seen, Sallis nodded. As always when he had been proved right, he felt a mix of emotions. Elation that they had found Kaira mixed with sadness and sympathy for those she had left behind. Despite the unpleasantness of the task that lay ahead, he hoped to find something more when they searched the body.
The line of light grew larger and brighter, then they abruptly passed from the underground river into sunshine. Both men shielded their eyes after spending so long in darkness. Sallis took a deep breath.
"We're out," he said.