The Vastness

by Hausladen, Blake;

  36

  Emi

  Friends

  Knock.

  The sound was urgent.

  knock.

  I turned to find where the loom rapier had caught before the comb notched or the weft snagged. I struck my head on something instead, and my eyes came open. I could not sort out at all where I was.

  A silhouette stood at a doorway. “Are you okay?”

  I was lying on the floor of my room in the tower. The sound had been the girl’s knocking.

  “I told Evand to keep everyone out. Go away or you will burn.”

  “Why are you sleeping under a sedan?” she asked and stepped inside.

  I was about to yell at her to flee but her face was too familiar. She came into the light and I couldn’t believe my eyes.

  “Pia? Am I dreaming?”

  “How hard did you hit your head?”

  I crawled out from under the sedan, ran across, and almost collected her into a hug. “Pia, is it really you? How did you get here?”

  “A company of Hemari came looking for me this morning. Rode straight through the Warrens to find me and bring me here.”

  “Wait, what? It was Evand, wasn’t it?”

  “Yup. He and a strange man from Kuet are both outside.”

  “They sent you up here alone? You are in terrible danger, Pia.”

  “No, I’m not. You wouldn’t hurt me.”

  I started to tell her she was wrong, but her smile—all those bright teeth. She laughed, and before I could move away she stepped close and hugged me. My eyes closed as the warm of her touch lit my skin.

  “I’m so cold, Pia,” I said. “So cold.”

  “Shush. No tears now. Here, let’s sit down under a blanket and get you warm.”

  I saw the single gray thread that connected us as she led me to the sedan and worked to wrap us in a blanket.

  “You’re the only one left who does not hate me.”

  She thrust me away by the shoulders. “Is that what you think? No wonder you are so sad. Every single person in the Warrens is terribly worried about you. Every house and street post had a yellow ribbon tied to it. The entire city has come to a complete halt and is watching and listening, hoping for word that you are okay.”

  “Pia, I killed so many people, so many children. They turned to ash, they—”

  “Shh, Emi. People die. Tell me you killed them on purpose and then you have a reason to feel guilty if you can, but the way I heard it, everyone owes you endless apologies. What were they thinking, saddle you with so much responsibility? Let me ask you, would you let me steer a war galley around the curve of the river?”

  “No.”

  “No is right. Stupid, all of them. They are kind and they care, but they sure are stupid.”

  “Who is?”

  “Everyone, mostly. Adults.”

  “Should we go tell them we are okay?”

  “What? No. Make them wait. The Warrens exist because of you. Rahan took the city because of you, and they know it. How dare they lock you away in a tower and let it fall to you to save the city’s children. They are lucky I wasn’t here or they’d be wishing they were piles of ash.”

  I started to cry as she pulled me close. I tucked my head against her neck and clutched at her as though I were drowning.

  “So,” she said, “am I right, or am I right?”

  “Shh, this is nice. I’ve not touched another person in so long.”

  She held me and stroked my back. Her hair smelled of cherry and her dress was soft. My tears had wet her neck and shoulder, and I wiped them away. She held still for me while I touched her face, and when I was done, she leaned in close and kissed me.

  My soul bloomed as her soft lips met mine, and the cold that clung to me vanished in a swirl of happiness and joy. I pet her face and touched her lips. She wrapped me in her arms, and the thick threads of my soul reached out across the city once again.

  The soft note of cheering made it through the keep’s walls. Bessradi could feel my touch, and their voices rose.

  It was not the city that had changed, it was me. I had felt the touch of death and had cut myself off. My soul was stained, but it was whole.

  I started to come to my senses, and it was my turn to push her away and take hold of her by the shoulders. “What happened the day we parted? Why did you abandon me?”

  Her smile vanished, and she wrapped my hands in hers. “Oh, damn it, Emi. I fell asleep. We’d walked all the way through the Warrens. We’d made it to the plaza and we were safe. My father picked me up, and before I knew it, I was lying on a bed of straw next to a wagon full of white stones. No one could tell me what happened to you. I tried to be mad at my parents, but they were so wounded and weak. By the time I figured out what had become of you, I couldn’t get near you. I tried twice to approach you in the plaza, but the freemen kept everyone back. You made all of mother’s teeth grow back, by the way. You should have seen it, too. She was gingerly sipping a cup of broth when your magic washed over the Warrens. She spit out a handful of black teeth and smiled like she’d not done since I was little. She ate a whole shank of pork and slept for two days. She loves you more than she does me, I think. More than father for sure.”

  Tear sprang from my eyes and she brushed them from my cheeks. “What happens now? What do they want?”

  “Oh, they are done wanting. I am sure the list is very long, but Rahan is letting you go—has to, really, if he wants the Warrens to stay loyal. You can go wherever you like.”

  I had to think about this but had no clear notion. “What should I do?”

  She smiled and shifted around so we were sitting side by side under the blanket. “They wanted to keep you in this tower so you would be safe,” she said. “But that’s just stupid. Locking you away is what started this. My father has an idea. Evand won’t say it, but he agrees. Liv stared holes in Rahan when he objected. You should have seen her smolder—like her eyes were made of fire. So, of course he agreed, too.”

  “What idea? What do you mean?”

  “If you would like to, you could live with me, outside the city. Now that Rahan has control of the capital and the west branch of the river people are returning to those lands. The estate the church stole from my father is just a bit up the river. We’re headed there—got a ship ready and everything. Evand and his family could stay with us, too. He is waiting outside.”

  “What, now?”

  “Well, we could go later, but I figure once you heard it, you’d be rushing around to pack faster than I could—”

  “Shut up and help me,” I said as I stood to start packing. She clapped her hand and raced after me. I had no idea at all what I wanted to bring, but she’d worked off a list with Franni, judging by how she opened drawers and took things from them.

  “This is enough for now,” she said when we had a few small bag packed. “We can have all the rest of it brought later, if you wish. Franni was not sure if you would want any of it.”

  I wasn’t either, but as we started down, I began to miss all the things the Warrens had made for me.

  We got out into the light, and I came to a second halt. “I’m a mess.”

  “Hmm. Yes. Well, you can take a bath and have wet hair out in the cold, or we wrap you up on a coat until we get there. Yeah, that’s what I thought. Here, let’s find you a coat.”

  She led me by the hand to a cabinet I’d never opened. Inside were several coats, a collection of scarves, and twice as many hats. She picked a set of muslin-lined wool for me and a second for herself. The wool was undyed, but so soft and so very warm. I felt stupid for not having worn any of it those long days.

  And then I was outside, blinking at the brightness of the snow that covered the once green triangle of grass. Evand and Opan were there with a third well-dressed man I did not know, and out upon Talley Bridge a crowd began to cheer. But before the trio could say hello, the cheering spread across the river and the Warrens roared and cheered.

  “Your daughter i
s well?” I asked Evand over the noise.

  He was too nervous to speak but managed to nod. Opan bowed, and the stranger followed suit. “Emi, allow me to introduce King Harod Serm of Aderan.”

  They read my confused expression, and Harod said, “Everyone said I was insane to want to meet you. I’m headed west with Opan, so insisted I be given the chance. I was crippled before your magic healed me. Aderan had suffered many bad Arilas, including myself. We are all in your debt for the second chance at life you have given us. From all the people in Aderan, and from me, thank you, Emilia.”

  “Aren’t you the one that owned the prison that held Geart and Avinda?”

  Everyone backed away from Harod as though I meant to turn him to ash. He continued to smile. “That was before Rahan made a man of me. I cast the deciding vote that allowed him to take the throne. Avinda will not speak to me, but our Exaltier and I are very close.”

  “How can you be a king and have an Exaltier at the same time?”

  “I was told you would make an impression, but I’d not expected it to be because of your politics. You question is incisive. I and the ten Arilas of Barok’s confederation have declare ourselves independent kingdoms, but the agreements between Aderan and the Kaaryon go back hundreds of years, so when Rahan asked for my fealty I gave it at once. I am a king as well as a loyal subject of our Exaltier.”

  It explained the connection between the two men, but his story made its condition stick out. After all I’d heard, I would have expected the threads between them to be much brighter. Harod, for all his nice words was a liar.

  There were others at the bottom of the hill that were connected to Rahan in the same way, and I began to wonder if they were more of Rahan’s loyal kings when Pia started moving. My eyes fluttered open.

  She handed my bags to the men. “Shall we?”

  Harod allowed our conversation to end with a bow, and the trio led us down the deserted hill, making fresh tracks in the untouched snow.

  The suddenness of it all was wearing off. Questions rose. “I’ve been in the fortress by myself?”

  Evand nodded. “A few of the girls from Yellow Row have been bringing you food every day, but at night, everyone leaves—in case you have bad dreams.”

  “Did I hurt anyone?”

  He shook his head, and Pia said, “You’ve been solid up till now, Evand. Don’t start lying to her now.”

  He growled a bit but said, “A number of the freemen were badly burned one night. They had to jump in the river to escape. One pile of ash was found in one of the towers a few mornings ago, but we could not account for who it was. Avinda believe it was an unfortunate thief.”

  “Serves him right,” Pia said as we continued down.

  “What am I to do when we arrive?” I asked them.

  “What do you mean, Emi?” Evand asked. He was sweating despite the chill in the air.

  “It is okay, Evand,” Pia said, “She’s alright now. You’re safe.”

  They stopped on the stairs and turned to look at me. They didn’t believe her.

  “See, watch,” she said, took hold of me, and gave me a long kiss. It was warm and fantastic. I hugged her until she let go.

  “Ahh,” Opan managed to say. The men looked at each other and back up at us.

  “If there is nothing else, can we keep going?” she asked, and they managed to get their legs working. Evand had to bundle up to combat the chill.

  “So?” I asked them again. “What will I be doing?”

  “I don’t really know,” Evand said. “Anything you want, I suppose. Walk in the fresh air and the snow. Learn to read. With the city’s blessing you are free to take whatever time you need to be well.”

  Opan cleared his throat. “That is not what Emi means. She’s asking about Rahan’s bit.”

  “What do you mean?” Pia asked very sharply. “You told me he wanted nothing from her.”

  Evand said, “Rahan’s only wish is that Emi draw a map each day of the city and notes for him what has changed.”

  “I told you I didn’t want to count anymore,” I said.

  “I said the same to Rahan. He asks you give him until after the spring. Without your maps, he fears he will lose the war.”

  “All of this is really about getting me out of the city and back to work before I set everyone on fire.”

  “Everyone but me,” Pia said with a fantastic smile and took my hand. Her connection to Opan and Evand faded to nothing, but there was no other sign of her anger. “Come on, forget it.”

  I wanted to be mad, too, but could not manage it while my hand was in hers.

  They led us down to a small galley. A larger one waited nearly. Captain Benjam waited there between the two with twenty-eight Hemari. Not a single other person was in view. He was impatient and would not make eye contact. His connection to me was strong as ever, though, so I did not understand his behavior. Opan and Harod began to say farewells.

  “You’re going on a different ship?” I asked.

  Opan nodded and said, “Our destination is further west. I could accompany you as far as the river estate, if you would prefer.”

  “I would,” I replied.

  Benjam wanted to object but said, “You’ll come aboard as soon we arrive at the estate. We cannot be delayed.”

  I saw again the souls of the men aboard the second ship that were so well connected to Rahan, and searched both ships for the pennants that would say who was aboard. No provincial pennants flew above either, so I searched the connection of the men inside and sorted it out for myself. Most were strongly connected with people from either Heneur or Havish. The last man was harder to figure out—from Dahar, I decided from his lack of connection to any of the other provincial men around Rahan.

  Our Exaltier was moving his loyal kings and Arilas west in secret. It explained Benjam’s behavior. I said to him, “Do not let us delay you.”

  Before Benjam could start moving, Harod trotted along behind Opan without an invitation. Benjam did not have time to object and sent half his Hemari to guard Harod and Opan. The soldiers were very unhappy to be so close to me. The rest retreated with Benjam to his big galley.

  I didn’t see anyone aboard ours and had to blink my eyes to get a sense of it. The crew seemed small, only enough aboard to man half the oars. There were others aboard in a tight group, their threads all tied in a wild braid with mine and those who escorted me.

  At the top of the gangway, I got a look inside and found Natan and the rest of the crew sitting silently on the benches. Liv and Dame Franni emerged from below, and I could see several of the girls from Yellow Row peeking around them. Everyone was very quiet. Liv had hold of a small bundle.

  “Evand, your daughter is along? We can’t risk her so close to me,” I said, and my words hit him hard. “Oh. I am so sorry. I’ll keep control of myself, I promise.”

  Pia took my arm. “Maybe they should all go below while you and I find a spot at the front of the ship away from everyone for now? We can say farewell to the city.”

  Evand led the trio and their escorts below. The nervous crew, meanwhile, had not moved. To a man they were from Hemari from the Warren, and every one of them wore at least one yellow ribbon on their breast. Natan looked like he was growing a wing with nine of them sprouting from his breast. I cringed to see how much the darkness that painted his soul. There was not much left of it.

  “I am sorry for this,” I said to them.

  “We volunteered,” Natan said. “We will stay with you if you would be happy to have us.”

  “You might all burn to death.”

  “We all owe our lives to you. I wish to keep on living but can think of no better use for what is left of me than to see you protected. I do not fear your fire, my goddess.”

  “I’ll stay as far forward as I can. Just in case.”

  “As you will.”

  A drum thumped aboard Benjam’s ship and our oars started moving, too.

  The small space at the front of the ship wa
s windy and it multiplied the chill, despite the wonderful clothes. Pia began complaining about it almost at once, but I decided to stick it out as long as I could for little Aris’ sake.

  “Have you seen Rahan’s clock?” she asked after I stopped listening to her complain.

  I did not know what she was talking about and followed her finger to a tall tower that rose above the south side of Talley Bridge. “A clock?”

  “It tells time for the city. Inside is a great contraption of water casks and pulleys. You’ve heard the bells, I am sure. The water measure 24 pegs each day, and after every four, a bell rings once for each peg. It’s so much better than everyone trying to keep time with sand glasses that don’t agree. Most are convinced that it is your magic that turns the copper dial.”

  As we moved under the bridge, the bell rang twelve times.

  “Midday?” I asked as I recalled the occasions when I’d heard it.

  “On the button.”

  I kept my eyes open for a while after that and it almost hurt to try and recognize things. “It’s so different. Look.”

  Pia had been inspecting the underside of the bridge and made herself dizzy looking down too fast. When she steadied, I pointed at the men along the shore. “They are all wearing good clothes.”

  “And shoes. They like they’re their own bosses, too.”

  “Can’t be,” I said and with my eyes open I tried to figure how she knew this.

  She pointed, “Do any of them look like a row boss to you?”

  She was right and I shook my head.

  She added, “I thought things were only like that on our side of the Warrens.”

  “Your side?”

  “Yeah. Along White Road. All the easterners work there now, building great houses out of stone. Hold on, don’t close your eyes. That’s cheating. You’ll want to see them for yourself.”

  I was getting cold, but hung on and was glad that I did. The western third of the Warrens had been remade. The bunkhouses and ugly alleys had been replaced by ordered rows of stout white stone buildings and well-paved streets. Each structure was as large as Benjam’s great galley.