Quests Volume Two

by Barbara G. Tarn

  Keshav wanted to snap back with something witty, but nothing came to his mind. He clenched his teeth and looked away too. He didn't know how he felt. He really didn't like being touched. He had grown fond of the smart merchant, but that didn't mean he wanted to spend his life with her.

  She sighed and rose. "When do you plan on heading for Delen?" she asked wearily.

  "I don't know, I guess tomorrow morning," he grumbled, shooing her away.

  Her gown swished against his back, but he didn't turn. The bird-song and the gurgling water were the only sounds now.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Babita wasn't happy with herself. Talking to Keshav was sometimes frustrating. But she had liked kissing him. She knew he was very different from Advik and if he could accept someone in his life, he'd be a great husband.

  Babita had thought her heart dried out by her marriage, but after meeting the dreamy scholar, she had started caring again. Keshav didn't need looking after, only to be reminded about the world outside libraries and universities.

  She'd watched him interact with the Genn, his eyes gleaming whenever they explained something to him. She could see his admiration for the magical beings, but also that he was aware of being just Human, he couldn't stay in the hamlet forever.

  The Genn living in the forest were either hunters or jewelers. Babita admired the pendants and earrings in the hamlet's workshop, even more so after Keshav explained some of them to her.

  There was a gold necklace with five pendants carved into different gems that were a marvel of miniature work. She certainly couldn't afford it, but when Keshav explained the pendants, she wished she could.

  "See the five Immortals through their preferred race? Air is a diamond shaped like a winged being, a Sila with tight-fitting clothes. And Fire is a ruby carved as a dragon. Do you think Aagney and Kaara are actually dragons? And here you have Water, a sapphire shaped like the Waiora female I met in Konigtown. And the Genn is silver because Ether has no substance. Us Humans, we get an emerald to represent Earth... Isn't this miniature work amazing?"

  You are amazing. You just don't know it.

  She said nothing, and was quite surprised when Silverleaf, who had made the necklace, told her she could have it as a memory of her visit.

  "It's for a princess," she answered, embarrassed. "You should give it to Rohan for his mother or female relatives."

  Silverleaf smiled and shrugged, offering the necklace to the prince. Rohan's eyes widened in surprise.

  "I... let me see if I have enough money... do you take Gajendran coins?"

  "It's a gift, Rohan," Silverleaf replied. "I can make another in no time. Unless Keshav wants it for the Amrendran court?"

  "Yes, give it to the Amrendran court!" Rohan nodded repeatedly. "His cousin has married King Rahul!"

  Keshav rolled his eyes, but accepted the gift.

  "He's the one who appreciates it the most," Babita said, satisfied. "Thank you, Silverleaf. It's been enlightening meeting the Genn."

  "You're welcome." Silverleaf smiled. "Would you like me to guide you to the river that flows through Delen?"

  ***

  Going through the forest with a Genn guide was easier than following broken paths in a general direction. Silverleaf didn't need paths to know where he was going. And away from his parents, especially his grumpy mother, he was even more talkative than at the Genn village.

  "I don't know about the Genn who went south," he said one night as they camped in a clearing. "But I do know a couple of half-bloods went to Amrendra half a century ago. My half-sister Bellinda came to the village with a couple of friends, all half-blood, and the cousins Keneith and Raykim went south while she headed back for Havenstock. Have you heard of them, Keshav?"

  Keshav thought about it.

  "I think my parents and King Daruka Dahana met them," he said. "Did one of them have blue hair and bat-like wings?"

  "Yes!" Silverleaf grinned. "That would be Raykim, half-Sila and half-Fajrulo, so not Human at all! You didn't meet him?"

  "No, both were gone before I was born," Keshav answered. "Apparently one of them was quite well-versed in magic."

  "Yes, Keneith, half-Human and half-Fajrulo. I think they're still in the south now."

  "My cousin Prem visited all the southern courts before getting married," Rohan said, a little puzzled. "He never told me of a guy with blue hair and bat-like wings! The only person with blue hair that I've seen is Kaara in Moriana!"

  "Ah, yes, that would be Skywise... She mated with Runedemon, who is also Raykim's father."

  "You mean Aagney the Storyteller?" Keshav asked. "Or... how do they call him in the north... Aedwyr the Minstrel?"

  "That's him!" Silverleaf grinned. "But you'll never hear a Fajrulo boast of his offspring, half-blood or pure blood! Anyway, Raykim and Keneith could be anywhere now."

  "And you're sure they're not dead?" Keshav asked. "I mean, how old are they?"

  "Well, Keneith is about one hundred and ten, like me, and Raykim should be... seventy-five, so quite young for a Fajrulo cub. Except he's also Sila, of course, but still much more long-lived than any of us. So no, I don't think they're dead yet. They have a lot more years ahead of them, and I wouldn't be surprised if they withdrew from the company of Humans every now and then. Even Keneith, who is half-Human."

  Rohan and Luca looked impressed. Babita was thoughtful. Keshav wished he could have met at least the non-Human half-blood. Maybe he could ask his parents about him. Although probably his father was still a child in the Islands Empire when the half-bloods had walked into Delen. He'd have to ask the eldest members of the Amrendran court.

  Now he had a reason to go back home and continue his quest. And then maybe he could go looking for the half-bloods and study them for a while. But first he'd have to check in Delen. There must be at least a painting of the two wondrous beings somewhere.

  He hadn't been to the palace often, but now that he was supposed to introduce Prince Rohan, he had a fairly good excuse to do so – besides visiting his cousin, that is. Maybe she could tell him if there was such a memento somewhere, since there was nothing in the great hall or the ballroom, as far as he knew. But she lived in the palace now, so she knew every nook and cranny.

  "One might wonder why you went all around Varia looking for something when your hometown had been visited by even more wondrous beings," Babita said with a smile. "Now I'm curious to see a painting of the half-bloods. Do you think there's any in Delen?"

  "I'll have to ask my cousin Chitrangda," he replied. "She lives at the palace. I have only been to the public parts of the palace and never saw any trace of the visitors."

  "Raykim was still learning to deal with Humans," Silverleaf said. "He'd been quite lonely until he met his cousin and his friends. I'm sure the southern kingdoms gave him a warm welcome, or he'd have come back north."

  "A winged being and a real magic user," Rohan said, awed. "They might be considered gods! Not in Arquon, of course, but everywhere else... why not?"

  Silverleaf chuckled. "You Humans have strange ideas of divinity. But I won't try to change your minds, as long as you don't try to convert me to your religion."

  "Why would we do that?" Rohan wondered.

  "I don't know, but up north they tend to want you to follow their beliefs. And after the fall of the Moren Empire, smaller cults are coming forward and gods are changing names and it's a real mess sometimes to keep up with Human religions."

  "Maybe you should go south and explore our kingdoms," Keshav suggested. "Aren't there more Genn in the south?"

  "Yes, I could go to the city under Mount Flora and then go back through the underground cities of the Central Massif... I think I need a break from that wretched small village!"

  "Or your domineering mother?" Babita asked, amused.

  "Mostly that." Silverleaf winked with a smile. "My father is wonderful, but not very present until he had Humans to look after. We rekindled our relationship when he came back for good. I'm sure he'll be happ
y to hear of my travels."

  "Don't tell me... you're running away without telling your mother you're leaving," Keshav said.

  "Exactly!" Silverleaf chuckled. "You wouldn't believe how she still wants to dictate my life! I'm a hundred and ten! I told her I'd take you to the stone bridge and come back. My father knows I'm not coming back that soon, though."

  "Does she pressure you into getting married?" Rohan asked.

  "The Genn don't really have marriage. We can meet someone who becomes a mate for life. But this can't be programmed. Of course she grumbles that I should meet my animkunulo but she can't force me. I might actually meet him or her if I get away from that accursed place where I know everyone!"

  "So she should be happy you're gone."

  "She's never happy when I'm out of her sight." Silverleaf rolled his eyes. "She's afraid I might not go back."

  "We all think we'll never go back home," Keshav said wistfully.

  "Your journey might be almost over, but mine has just begun," Silverleaf replied. "And she's old, she might not be there whenever I go back anyway."

  Keshav noticed that Rohan and Luca were thoughtful. They were probably thinking about their own mothers and if they should go back eventually. Babita looked amused.

  "I'm glad the Genn are not as attached to their mothers as the male Humans are," she said.

  Rohan glared at her, but Keshav smiled.

  "Are you ever going home, Babita?"

  "Home is where the heart is," she replied, staring at him across the fire.

  Remembering her kiss, he looked away and cleared his throat.

  "I think it's time we get some sleep," he said. "Do you think we need to take turns?"

  "This stretch of the forest is safe," Silverleaf answered. "And I raised a magic shield around us anyway. Sleep well, my friends."

  Keshav lay down to sleep, amazed at how easy things could be with a real magic user on hand.

  ***

  The journey back to Delen was a breeze. Keshav suspected that Silverleaf used some magic to speed them along, but didn't dare ask questions. Still it took twenty days to reach the river and go down to the mouth with a raft, stopping on the river shore for the night.

  Three full months had gone by since he'd left Godwalkar and five years since he'd started his journey through the southern kingdoms. He hadn't expected to come back from the north, but now he was happy to see Delen again.

  The three-stories of gray stone decorated with vines of the royal palace were the first thing that came into view. The rectangular building had tall arched windows and stood on a hill from where one could see both the sea and the mountains from the top floor terrace. It towered over the noblemen's palaces and smaller houses of the city.

  Around it, the city sprawled along the coast and the river mouth, with stone bridges and wide paved streets. Like most southern cities, Delen didn't have walls. Most buildings were made with the local gray stone with sloping roofs for the snowy winters. Usually they were two-story tall and some had attics. The public baths and warehouses were flat wooden buildings in the proximity of waterways.

  The summer was almost over and soon the trees in the public gardens would start changing colors. Autumn in Delen was Keshav's favorite season. He was glad he'd come back just in time. And then winter would come, snow would fall... he had missed the snow in the southern kingdoms.

  Keshav and his traveling companions had left the raft further upriver and taken the main road to the city along with other peasants and merchants headed to town. It was market day and even if it wasn't like the Fall Fair, the city streets were busy and crowded.

  The salty air mixed with the scent of orange tea, copper and peppery mushrooms. The evergreen shrubs with dark green leaves that fenced the gardens had clusters of fragrant, pinky blooms and the honeysuckle climbing on the walls spread its scent through the streets. The city had good sanitation, unlike the northern towns, therefore unpleasant odors mostly ran in the underground sewers.

  Keshav led the others to his parents' house first. His family still lived in a corner of Lord Hitendra's palace, a turreted building on the side of the hill of the royal residence, with two inner courtyards and a private garden of many kinds of roses with no access from outside.

  But before meeting his noble uncle and asking him to take them to court, they'd better clean up from the voyage. It took some convincing with the butler, but eventually he let them go to his parents' apartment, promising to keep quiet with the master. Keshav climbed the grand staircase to the noble floor and went directly to the end of the corridor.

  Akira's slanted eyes brightened at the sight of him, but his father now had gray hair. It had been black when he'd left.

  "Keshav!" The man reached his shoulder, but gave him a bear hug. "We were wondering where you were! Your last letter said you were leaving Gajendra for unknown territory..."

  "Yes, I've come back through the northern lands." Keshav pulled away and introduced his traveling companions. "Now if we could refresh ourselves before meeting Uncle Hitendra and all the rest of the family... Prince Rohan wouldn't want to be seen like this at court either."

  "Of course, you can use the bath chamber!" Akira beamed. "Let me take the young lady to the ladies' room. Shalini! Keshav is back!"

  Keshav's mother rushed into the ante-chamber from an inner room and almost burst into tears as she hugged him. Her hair was still all black, but she had more wrinkles on her still beautiful face. His parents had both aged in five years. He hoped it wasn't because they were worried for him.

  He repeated to his mother his wish to refresh himself and pointed at Babita. Shalini brightened and took Babita's hand.

  "I will take care of your girlfriend, don't worry," she said.

  "She's not my girlfriend," he muttered, looking away and trying to ignore Babita's amused smile. "Let's go." He marched Rohan, Luca and Silverleaf to the bath chamber, ignoring the female giggles following him.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Clean and shaved, the four men met with Babita and Keshav's parents to go downstairs to the great hall for dinner. Rohan didn't have his princely clothes, but he had worn his southern garb and the few rings he had kept, along with a family medallion. Amrendran fashion was slightly different from the rest of the south because of the harsher climate, but Rohan's silk tunic and puffy pants didn't look bad next to the damasks and velvets of the court.

  Except he was cold in the big room, so Keshav made sure he had one of those long jackets with many buttons he could put on if the silk proved too light a covering. It wasn't easy to find one that fit Rohan's wide shoulders but Lord Hitendra had been a fine young man and one of his old jackets fit the prince just fine.

  Keshav and Rohan were the center of everybody's attention during dinner and most questions were directed at them. Lord Hitendra also asked Luca a few things, in broken Gallian, but by now the northern young man was fluent enough in the southern dialects that he understood and was able to answer on his own.

  Silverleaf was observed, but not bothered, and nobody dared ask him anything, since he stood out even more than the prince. His pointed ears, his long blond hair and androgynous features left everybody awed. Keshav's explanation of who he was seemed enough for now.

  "Rohit, Rahul and Chitrangda would love to meet you all," Lord Hitendra said at the end of the meal. "Make sure to come to the palace tomorrow morning. You will probably have to repeat all this for the twin kings, but I'm sure you won't mind too much."

  Rohan bowed his head and Keshav smiled.

  "We will be there for the morning hearing," he said. "Uncle, have you heard of half-bloods coming to the court half a century ago? Have you seen any portraits of them at the palace?"

  "Of course!" Shalini answered instead of her brother. "Our parents often told us of the foreigners who came from the north – the wizard and the winged youth!"

  "Ah, yes!" Lord Hitendra chuckled. "But they were gone when we were too young to remember them. Let me think... yes, I b
elieve there is a portrait of them at the palace, in the twin kings' wing."

  "Apparently King Manish Mahesh found them in the forest during a hunting expedition when they were still prince heirs," Shalini added. "King Daruka Dahana were six at the time. They stayed at the palace about twenty years and left when King Rohit Rahul were born."

  Rohan looked impressed, Silverleaf amused, Luca puzzled.

  "Am I understanding something wrong?" he asked Keshav. "Do kings here have two names and get referred to in the plural?"

  "No, Luca, Amrendra has twin kings," Keshav explained. "They are referred to as one king with a double name, but it's still two men. One is usually the executive king, the other is the shadow king. Currently, Rohit is the king, Rahul, my cousin's husband, is the shadow king. He's also the man Rohan wanted so badly to meet because he used to have a male lover."

  Rohan blushed and looked away.

  "He still has one," Lord Hitendra said, amused. "With the permission of both their wives... As long as they do their husbandly duty, the ladies don't care what they do in their free time. And both are very good husbands. And Chitrangda is pregnant, by the way."

  Rohan glanced at Keshav who smiled. He had told the prince so. Rohan pursed his lips and tried not to smile back. Luca looked worried now, but Rohan squeezed his hand under the table, calming him.

  "I'm glad to hear that Chitrangda is expecting," Keshav said. "Was King Rahul influenced somehow?"

  "I think so." Lord Hitendra grinned. "Arjun is a doting father and Rahul probably felt comfortable enough with Chitrangda after seven years that they thought it was time to really start a family..."

  "Good, good!"

  "And when will my son start his own?" Shalini asked with an impish smile.

  "Mother, don't pressure me. I'm only thirty, after all!"

  "Most of us were already married and with children at your age," she replied. "It's only King Rahul who is very late – and we all know why!"

  Keshav shrugged. He wasn't going to discuss marriage in front of everyone. "Most scholars never marry," he grumbled. "How can I keep studying and exploring if I have a family to look after?"