The Lost Star's Sea

by C. Litka

  02

  We slept four times during our journey downstream before we reached the road. I'd have never recognized it as a road, until KaRaya pointed out the narrow, unnaturally straight gap in the trees, as it crossed the top of the ridge line and traced its course down to the valley floor. Even when we halted at the shallow ford where the road crossed the river, I'd have had a hard time identifying it as a road, were it not for the figure, a hundred yards distant, casually loping towards us. The road itself was simply a narrow clearing cut through the trees and brush, maybe four meters wide - just wide enough to accommodate wagons and riders two abreast. Other than that, it was just a grassy lane - its slightly shorter and more threadbare grass marked it from the surrounding non-road grass and wildflowers. In the light gravity, even wheeled wagons or mounted riders, not to mention loping foot travelers, did not wear ruts in the turf, at least in lightly traveled roads, which, I gathered this was.

  The figure loping towards us proved to be a young, rather short and broad chested broad-feathered fellow. He was dressed in loose, sky blue pants and shirt, under a dark blue jacket. He wore a yellow sash around his waist and the customary pouches on belts worn over his shoulder, with a large pack on his back. A low, wide brimmed hat of dark blue and a long wooden staff completed the picture.

  'A Laezan. An Outer Order one, from the color of his sash. This could be a very lucky break,' said KaRaya softly, casting me a quick grin.

  'How so? Other than telling us where we are and directing us to the nearest town, what else can he do? And what is a Laezan?'

  'Teachers of the Way. Laezans are welcomed everywhere. If we can contrive to travel with him, we'll likely be welcomed as well.'

  'Is being welcomed going to be a problem? I thought these islands were civilized.'

  She shrugged. 'We're on the margin of the Margin Marches. I've no personal experience in the Marches - I know them only from old stories, which often portray them as being only a step or two up from the shadow-landers, with strange laws and customs of their own. I'm not certain just how welcome strangers might be around here. Still, nothing to worry about - I'm sure we can handle it. Outlaws do it all the time. But in the company of a Laezan, our welcome would be certain. Follow my lead.'

  I would've asked more questions, but the Laezan was already carefully crossing the slow, shallow river by leaping from one flat rock to the next - the pedestrian crossing, apparently. In a moment, he landed on our side of the river and stood eagerly, almost expectantly, beaming at us.

  KaRaya cupped her hands before her chin and bowed, 'Greetings Teacher.'

  I imitated her.

  Letting his staff stand by itself beside him, he followed suit, greeting us as "sister and brother" as well, before grasping his staff again. 'I am LinPy.'

  'The Way has been generous in arranging this meeting, Teacher. My companion and friend is Captain Wilitang, and I, Captain KaRaya.'

  'What brings two captains to this lonely valley?' he asked.

  'Would you believe, Teacher, a boat,' laughed KaRaya. 'We're shipwrecked wide-sky sailors. We got lost in the clouds in a small boat and when we cleared the clouds we found that we were too close to this island to avoid falling. We crashed in the mountains and have been traveling for four rounds seeking civilization. This is the first road we've come upon, and happily, you are the first person we've met. May we beg your help? We do not know what island we've landed upon, much less the directions to a city where we might find our way back to a wide-sky port.'

  'You were so lost, that you don't know the skies you were sailing?' he asked with a smile, taking KaRaya's story as a joke.

  'It is a long story that I hope to share with you, if you would be so kind as to allow us to accompany you for a while. Suffice it to say that we sailed from the Outward Islands, having escaped Vantra savages in a small boat, and are now completely out of reckoning.'

  'Come now, the truth. If you are bandits, just say so. There is no need to lie about it,' he said, still with his beaming, smile. 'The Way can be found only in truth.'

  'Oh, no, Teacher. We are, indeed, merely shipwrecked sailors. We've no need to resort to banditry. We have coins and supplies,' exclaimed KaRaya with a wave of her hand to indicate our sled all but hidden in the tall grass alongside the road.

  Surprisingly his face fell, his smile faded.

  Seeing this, KaRaya hurried on. 'I am sorry, Teacher, that we are not bandits, yet. The truth is that we are neither hungry enough nor greedy enough to resort to banditry. Not yet, anyway. And certainly, we would never make such a demand on a Teacher of Laeza. We are not that foolish. We are very sorry and beg your forgiveness if we have disappointed you.'

  He sighed and then smiled sadly shaking his head. 'It is I who must beg your forgiveness. It is I who should be sorry. You see, I am young and still foolish. A Laezan who still dreams his boyhood dreams. When I saw you emerge from alongside the road I thought, "Bandits!" which, I'm afraid, gave me a jolt of joy. "Now," I thought, "With my martial arts skills" - in which I must sadly confess, I take far too much pride in - "I will defeat these bandits, and then take them on as servants to begin to lead them back to the sure path of the Way." All of which, comes straight from my boyhood dreams, daydreams that I should have put well behind me by now.'

  'Then, Teacher, we will not disappoint you!' exclaimed KaRaya drawing the cutlass she wore on her back. 'If you wish to lead us to the Way by skill of your arm, we shall gladly oblige. Draw your sword, Bandit Wilitang. We shall show this young Laezan the errors of his thinking. Leading us to the Way by his shaff, we'll see about that!'

  I stared at her. 'You're not serious, are you?'

  'Of course I am. I'm more than willing to oblige the worthy Laezan. Draw your cutlass Wilitang and let's play his bandits!'

  I shook my head. 'There are limits, KaRaya...' And taking two steps back, added, 'But far be it from me to spoil your fun. I shall let you show him the error of his ways. It's hardly fair, two against one. I shall pick up your pieces, when he's done with you.'

  'This is hardly necessary,' said LinPy, yet, with an eager grin that gave lie to what he said. 'But if you care to try, I promise I shall not strike you, I shall only defend myself.'

  'See, you needn't fear, Wilitang. Don't sulk and spoil this fortuitous encounter,' said KaRaya. 'We shall make the young Teacher happy and at the same time show him how valuable we are as an escort should we run into a real band of bandits.'

  Seeing the eagerness in the young adept's face, I relented, unable to break his heart. I drew my sword. 'If I kill him, it's on your karma, KaRaya.'

  She just smiled and sprang to attack.

  What followed was a pretty amazing demonstration of LinPy's skill with his iron-vine staff. I quickly gave up merely playacting swordplay. It was clear that he could handle the two of us with his iron-vine staff, so I tried to give him a workout, only to come within a centimeter of getting whacked with his shaft countless times, and only because he'd promised not to hit us. Neither KaRaya and I working together, came close to penetrating his defense. Out of breath, I pulled back and leaning on my sword, watched KaRaya make a few last tries before she too gave up, panting.

  LinPy was beaming, and if he was short of breath, he had a way of concealing it. As we stood leaning on our swords and trying to catch our breath, he stepped close to us and putting his arms around us said, 'Thank you, thank you both. You are far better than bandits. You are good with the sword, and, with practice, we will all get far better if you still care to travel with me. I would be delighted with your company.'

  'And we would be delighted with your company as well, would we not, Wilitang?'

  'Aye. The sense of safety alone will make it a pleasure to travel with this Laezan teacher,' I said between pants.

  'And not only can we spar with you each round, but we're far more interesting than hedgerow bandits. The stories my companion tells elevates lying to a whole new level. He will certainly stagger your imagination with his tall tales
. And trust me, we are every bit in need of being led back to the Way as any starving...' She stopped when she saw his eyes widened.

  I felt Hissi land on my back with a thump, and looking over my shoulder, greeted the Laezan with a low hiss.

  'Ah, yes. Allow me to introduce the third member of our gang, Hissi. She's young and sassy, and needs to be instructed in the Way as well,' said KaRaya with a smile.

  Hissi barked an indignant denial.

  'You do too,' I said, and turning to the young Teacher, added, 'She's spent her youth amongst a rather rough lot. Still, I'm sure there's some good in her that can be cultivated...' Which brought the expected angry, menacing hiss. It seems Simla dragons love to play-act from birth.

  'A dragon-talker!' exclaimed LinPy.

  'Hardly. I talk to her, but she just hisses, barks, and ignores me. Still, we understand each other, don't we, Hissi, my dear?'

  She barked and swung her tail up to brush it over my face.

  'The Teachers of Laeza, like LinPy, are known for their ability to communicate and transmit the wisdom of dragons,' said KaRaya.

  'Only the most accomplished sages,' said LinPy. 'I am many tens of thousands of rounds from that level.'

  'Trust me, it doesn't take that long to talk to Hissi. She is a very friendly, outgoing dragon. If you play your cards right...' Hissi gave a loud barking laugh... 'I'm sure you'll be talking to dragons within this round, not in tens of thousands.'

  'We are well met,' he exclaimed, and cupping his hands, he greeted, 'Sister Hissi.'

  She barked another careless laugh, which he accepted with a smile.

  'I am on my way to the Dondar March, which is still a round or two distant. Walk with me until then, at least. It is the nearest settlement, though still far from a city where you might reach Quandadar directly.'

  'Ah, so we've landed on Daeri, not too far out of reckoning after all,' said KaRaya, with a nod to me, and then back to the adept. 'We'd be honored to travel in your company. Truth be told, we were uncertain of our welcome, and would be grateful for your company. Shall we add your backpack to our sled? It'll hardly add to our burden, but will make your travels a little lighter.'

  LinPy, or rather "Py" as he insisted we call him, shed his backpack and iron vine shaft, but kept the sword which he also carried belted on his back. Not that he needed it with us, but I suppose he was just being cautious. I know I wouldn't have trusted the look of us, so I couldn't blame him. We set out with the long, leisurely loping strides, or soaring skips that low grav allowed, and talked as we went.

  'What is your business in Dondar, if I may ask?' said KaRaya. 'Teaching?'

  'I am the Magistrate,' he said, shyly. 'Believe it or not.'

  'And you're on your circuit?' asked KaRaya, impressed.

  He laughed. 'My first, and Dondar March will be my first court. I have, of course, spent three thousand rounds as Magistrate Din's pupil and lieutenant, but this will be my first circuit on my own.'

  'Circuit?' I asked.

  'Some of the Teachers of Laeza study the law, to serve as judges in the outlying areas of the Donta principalities, and indeed throughout the Saraime,' said KaRaya. 'Wilitang here, comes from islands more distant than legends - I will let him tell his own lies - so he is unfamiliar with our customs. I'm a simple wide-sky sailor who grew up in the Outward Islands and amongst sailors in various ports, and only know the margin lands from stories, so perhaps it would benefit both of us if you briefly explained your present mission.'

  He nodded. 'Let me clear my mind. I have lived this life for three thousand rounds, so I must concentrate to make it brief, or I shall go on until we reach Dondar.'