by C. Litka
01
On reaching the Master's Tower, the guards took charge of DereKin. A subdued Py gave us a brief order to collect our gear. We'd be setting off for Cloud Home Community just as soon as we'd collected our gear and supplies for the three-round journey.
As it turned out, we left within the hour - aboard Brey's fan car, at his insistence, with Py in the front seat next to Weatin, since he, unlike KaRaya and I, had never flown a flier or sailed the sky-sea. KaRaya, Hissi and I sat in the back seat with the still bound DereKin, now silently contemplating his fate. It took four hours flying over the black-green and mauve treetops, and between the moss and lichen covered ridges of the mountain range to reach the long, narrow valley of Cloud Home, nestled in the folds of the mountains. The community itself clung to a rocky spire in the center of the valley carpeted with small farm fields. We had risen above the clouds by this time, so that the valley lay lushly green, fading to blue in the distance, under the twilight sky. We landed on the largest terrace of the community - creating quite a quiet stir. Py hurried off with his prisoner after a few quick words to us, saying that he'd see us as soon as he could, and then asked the gathered Laezans to look after us.
We were each shown to small cells with little more than a bed and a stand with a bowl, a mug, and pitcher of water. We were told that we would be called for the next meal. KaRaya drifted in as soon as our hosts had departed.
'Well here we are. So, what's next, brother?' asked KaRaya quietly, standing at the large window letting in the twilight.
'Well, I would imagine that after making our report, we'd backtrack to Cairn March to finish our circuit,' I replied, somewhat evasively. I knew the thrust of her question. I just didn't know my mind on the answer.
'And then? I believe we agreed to follow Py for one circuit. What do we do next? Stay on or move on?'
'What are you thinking, Raya? My thoughts, I'll admit, are rather confused.'
'You're the one on a quest. We've dallied in the marches for four hundred rounds now. How impatient are you to find your girl and dragon - or that boat of yours in the Outward Islands?'
'How impatient are you? The girl and the dragon are mine, of course, but my boat, and the coins it might bring are part of our partnership. How anxious are you to get back to the Outward Islands and find it?'
She shrugged. 'It's an island on the chart, not one in sight. Coins have a way of falling through my fingers.'
'So you're saying you're having second thoughts?'
'Oh, I'm still in on it. But I'm not sure we can get to the Outward Islands as things stand now.'
'A matter of coins?'
She shrugged. 'Tickets to Quandadar from Mountain Vale, the closest city with a link to Quandadar, plus lodging, meals and sundry expenses would likely consume one of our gold coins. After that it would depend on how long it took to find an island trader we could trust. That might take a hundred rounds - reliable Outward Island traders are fairly rare, and we'd be fools for settling for one we couldn't trust - since once we sail, anything could happen. Still, we could sign on some ships for a while to get to ports I know better than Quandadar, while earning coins until the right trader turned up. But I think that's up to you. It's your quest. I'm just along for the fun - and the chance of coins.'
'Are you restless for gambling, carousing and handsome men?'
She smiled. 'To be honest, no. I'm just too full of karma and the Way to miss gambling, carousing and handsome men?'
'Ha!'
'Besides, I've grown very fond of Py. And I like our job. I like the respect we're held in. And I find being a magistrate's lieutenant interesting work. So, I'm not opposed to another circuit. But I would not hold you back if you wish to be on your way.'
That was the answer I was afraid she'd give. I considered my reply, until she said. 'Still with us?'
I gave her a sidelong glance and said, 'I'd be willing to serve the Magistrate for another circuit. As you said, it is interesting berth. And, well, in some ways it is the life I'm suited for - restless in a way, moving from place to place. But settled as well - moving in a known and orderly manner. And I think we'd both feel bad abandoning Py after he's put so much effort into molding us into his lieutenants. We owe him at least another round, now that we know the job.'
'And your quest?'
I sighed. 'You're not the only one who is subject to romantic fits, Raya. I'm not saying Naylea isn't worth finding, nor that I've given up? It's just that I've a much clearer understanding of the task before me, and if I'm to be honest with you, a less clear of an idea of how to go about it. I'd foolishly believed that Hissi could, through some telepathic link to Siss, lead me to Naylea. If this was the case, if Hissi seemed to be on a mission to lead me somewhere, things would be different. But she seems as content with this life as we are. And the islands of the Principalities are too numerous to find a girl and a dragon, except by wild chance.'
'So you're giving up?'
'No... Not exactly. We do have one link - the Temtres and our gold-tokens. If I don't make any more foolish mistakes - like ending up in an Outward Island stew - I'll follow that link. But not too soon. I'm thinking that the longer Naylea lives this new life, the better our chances will be to put the past behind us. Several thousand rounds may not too long to forget an age-old blood feud.'
'Several thousand generations may still not be long enough for some, judging from what we've seen here?'
'Aye. There's that possibility. Still, my dear twin sister, if you're willing to serve young Py for another go about, I'm willing as well.'
'I think we owe him at least that much.'