“In that case, look elsewhere,” Balear said. “I’m no Dragon Knight, not anymore.” He gestured at his missing arm. “I guess it’s karma. I always mocked Iren for being a Left. Now I’m one too.”
Rondel shrugged. “What’s so bad about being a Left?”
“You were born a Left. I can’t fight with just my left hand. Even if Ariok’s sword is weightless for me, I would be clumsy with it.”
“Amroth was the finest soldier in Lodia,” Rondel pointed out. “He got there having to use his right hand, his off hand.”
“Amroth was a Maantec. You’re faster and stronger than humans. It was easy for him.”
“Easy?” Rondel retorted. “You think it’s easy to learn to use your off hand? It doesn’t matter what race you are, Balear. It’s no simple task.”
“That’s my point! Besides, Amroth was a monster. Don’t you dare compare me to him!”
“As you wish,” Rondel said. She shook her head. “I don’t have time to argue with you. Minawë, let’s go.” She opened the door and let the Kodama exit first.
Rondel craned her neck to look back at Balear. “Amroth was a monster,” she said, “but he was also a master of war. He knew what it took to be a great soldier. Of all the members of the Castle Guard, he chose you to be his companion and later his general. What made you stand out to him? Think about it.” She shut the door and disappeared.
For hours afterward, Balear lay face-up on his bed. He stared at the ceiling with his hand tucked behind his head. Night fell, and the room darkened. Even then, he continued staring, and thinking.
CHAPTER TWENTY
The City of Maantecs
Hana Akiyama glanced with disgust at Iren Saitosan. He lay beside her feet, moaning. Hana sighed. At least he’d stopped puking.
She couldn’t blame him for his discomfort. She had created a void in the earth large enough for both of them to stand and that held enough air for two hours. The space moved as one, so those inside it could be in any posture. It was a fast and convenient way to travel without all the nonsense of dealing with the hideous terrain between Lodia and Shikari. All the same, it was disorienting for the uninitiated.
Hana didn’t care. She loved traveling this way. With the speed it gave her, she had delivered the Burning Ruby to Lord Melwar within two days of killing Rondel, and she’d had plenty of time to reach Lodia to intercept Iren.
She still couldn’t believe how easy it had been to murder that crone. Twenty-five years ago, Rondel’s power had awed her. Now that Hana had the Stone Dragon, though, no one could stop her.
Well, almost no one. But she was useful to Lord Melwar, and as long as that remained the case, he would keep her alive.
She had proven her capabilities to him too. Not only had she killed Rondel, someone even Lord Melwar had been unwilling to confront, but she had convinced Iren to trust her. He’d come with her by choice. With him in her possession, she and Lord Melwar finally had a chance at achieving their dream.
Iren forced himself into a sitting position. “How much farther?”
“Nearly there,” Hana said. She knew the seemingly blind route by heart. “If you need to pass the time, practice your Maantec. You’ll need it when we arrive.”
The young man frowned, but he recited the vocabulary drills Hana had set up for him. He still couldn’t read anything in the language, but he was doing better with spoken words. Every so often Hana would ask him a question in Maantec to see if he could answer her in kind. Most of the time he failed, but he managed one or two brief exchanges.
An hour past noon two days after leaving Veliaf, they surfaced in the broken land of Shikari. Hana shuddered as she took in the karst topography. Even though she’d spent years training here, she’d never gotten used to the place. Jagged white crags dotted the landscape, and most had entrances to at least one cave.
The ground was equally pockmarked. Now that she and Iren had returned to the surface, they had to watch every step to avoid the cracks. Most were just a tripping hazard, but some were wide enough that a person could fall through them.
Iren looked as stunned as Hana had been the first time she’d seen it. “Welcome to Shikari,” she told him, her breath visible despite the bright sun overhead.
“Isn’t it summer?” Iren asked. “Why is it so cold?”
“It’s summer in Lodia, but we’ve crossed to the southern end of the continent. The seasons are switched here. Shikari doesn’t get snow, but the rains this time of year are frigid and make travel by sea almost impossible.” She paused. “Actually, we have that weather to thank for this land’s safety. Armies can’t invade by sea, and the broken terrain makes the region a natural fortress. Shikari was the only Maantec territory that never saw fighting during the war a thousand years ago. Because of that, it’s become a haven for Maantecs. It’s our last stronghold on Raa.”
“If this is a Maantec stronghold, where are the Maantecs? How do they live? What do they eat in this wasteland?”
“There are patches suitable for farming vegetables, and there’s so much water that the region is great for rice. Other than that, fish makes up most of the diet. The ocean surrounds Shikari on three sides.”
That made Iren smile. “I love the ocean.”
Hana kept her expression composed, but inside she was laughing. The boy was so innocent. It made him fun to play with.
“You’ll love where we’re going, then,” she said. “Hiabi, the capital and only city in Shikari, sits at the southern tip of the continent. You can see the ocean in every direction but north.”
They walked most of the afternoon, taking in the austere landscape. Just before they came within sight of Hiabi, though, Hana halted them. “Now pay attention,” she said. “The Maantecs who live here aren’t like me, someone adjusted to living among humans. They follow the old traditions. Their etiquette is more rigid than these peaks. If you don’t conduct yourself with politeness, there’s no guarantee of your safety.”
Iren groaned, which made Hana scowl. “It’s no joke,” she said. “Maantecs value pride and respect. If you insult them, even in ignorance, tradition might call for them to defend their honor.”
“Grand.”
Hana smiled and touched him on the shoulder. “If it’s any consolation, all you have to do is mimic me. We’re both Dragon Knights, so we’re considered equals in Maantec culture.”
“Sounds good,” Iren said. He took a few steps, but then Hana grabbed him.
“One more thing,” she said, “let me do the talking. For now, you should speak as little as possible, and only when spoken to. That will reduce the chances of you insulting someone.”
Iren shrugged. “I’ll do my best.” He resumed walking, but Hana snagged him again.
“One more thing.”
“What is it?” he asked, rolling his eyes.
“Other than Lord Melwar, don’t let anyone know you can’t use magic. Act like the all-powerful Holy Dragon Knight. You can’t hide that katana from onlookers, and if word gets out about your affliction, you’ll have countless challengers seeking Divinion’s power.”
Iren’s hand leapt to the Muryozaki. He clutched it to his side. “I’ll never let anyone take him,” he declared.
He stepped forward, but before his foot even reached the ground, Hana had hold of him. “One more thing.”
Iren threw up his hands. “How many ‘one more things’ are there going to be?”
“Unless you want to start a fight, don’t touch that thing’s hilt like you did just now. Everyone who can see you will take it as a sign that you intend to draw it, or worse, to unleash Divinion’s magic.”
Iren smacked himself on the forehead. “I hope I made the right decision coming here.”
Hana crossed her arms. “Do you want to use magic again or not?”
“Of course I do!”
“Then come on. There’s no other way.”
With a long sigh, Iren took a step. This time, Hana let him go. They walked side by side unti
l they rounded a corner. When they did, Iren stopped in midstride, his jaw slack.
The reaction was justified. Standing before them was the largest city on Raa since the fall of Serona. Its stone outer wall stood twice as high as Haldessa’s, and its footprint was five times as large as that city’s had been before its fall.
The wall hid most of Hiabi, but the most important part was prominently visible: the central castle. Instead of turrets and towers like a human castle, the elegant fortress rose in sweeping levels with upturned roofs of black ceramic tiles.
Hana marveled at it. Human architecture could never match the splendor of what Maantecs could build. The castle carried the eye up with it, as though daring someone to gaze upon its heights.
It was magnificent, yet it was practical too. Invisible from this distance were the hundreds of arrow slits, openings for dropping rocks or burning pitch, and archers patrolling the wall.
“This is Hiabi,” Hana said, “home of Lord Melwar.”
They neared the outer wall’s gate, itself a massive stone structure. Two guards stood before it carrying wooden poles longer than the men were tall. The staves crossed in the center, and while the men might have looked imposing on their own, they were purely for the sake of tradition. If an enemy had the strength to breach the gate, these two men wouldn’t make a difference.
Hana strode up to them, head raised. When they recognized her, the men separated their staves and bowed low.
“My lady,” one of them said, his tone of utmost respect, “welcome back to Hiabi.”
“I’m in a hurry,” Hana said. She tossed back her hair with her hand. “Send a messenger to Lord Melwar that I’ve arrived with Iren Saitosan, the Holy Dragon Knight. Should Lord Melwar deign to grace us with his presence, I would be most appreciative.”
Iren looked at Hana like she’d sprouted a third arm. She ignored him. He’d have to figure out the details of Maantec hierarchies later.
The guard who had spoken before bowed again and said, “At once, my lady.” He banged three times on the gate. With a loud creaking, it split into two halves and opened outward.
The moment the gates widened enough for her to pass, Hana swept through them. She moved so quickly Iren had to jog to keep up.
Iren’s head swiveled as they walked. The inside of Hiabi was like a much larger version of Veliaf. The buildings stood a story taller than Veliaf’s, and the streets were narrow and twisting.
The confusing design was deliberate. If someone didn’t live here, they would become lost within seconds of entering. For a force invading the city, it would mean certain death as arrows rained from the buildings around them.
But Iren wasn’t looking at the buildings. He was looking at the people. Thousands of them walked the streets. It took him only a minute before his expression shifted from awe to shock. Hana knew what he’d just figured out. These weren’t humans. They were Maantecs.
“Hana—” Iren began, but she waved him off with her hand.
“I thought I told you silence,” she said.
Iren stopped in the road. “Hey, you said the Maantecs value respect and that I shouldn’t insult them. What about you?”
Hana whirled around and grabbed Iren by the shirt. His hand reached for the Muryozaki, but before he could touch it, she tugged on him and hauled him into an alley.
“The Maantecs do value pride,” she hissed, “and because of it, they have a rigid class system. The people here know I’m the Stone Dragon Knight, and Dragon Knights are among the highest classes. In Hiabi, only Lord Melwar outranks me. I’m expected to give orders, and so are you. Now listen. You’re strolling around the city gawking at everything and following me like a lost pet. That isn’t how a Dragon Knight acts. You need a commanding presence.”
“I’ve never commanded anyone in my life,” Iren said. “How am I supposed to act like something I’ve never done?”
“I don’t know, but figure it out. Otherwise, any number of the countless Maantecs out there will interpret your humility as weakness and attack you. Do you want that? No? Then portray invincibility. Hold your head up and don’t look at all surprised by the city, no matter how much it baffles you.”
They reentered the street. Hana kept one eye on Iren as they walked. The young man tried to mimic her confident posture. Hana could only hope the pitiful attempt would fool the low-class simpletons around them.
Fortunately the throng of people separated before them. Hana suspected it was more because of her reputation than Iren’s.
That said, the crowd’s size increased the farther they walked, and that was because of Iren. Rather, it was because of his sword. Every Maantec knew that gleaming white katana. More important, they knew who and what it represented, even if its owner didn’t.
The more people they passed, the more Iren’s posture deteriorated. Hana knew he must feel out of place. Back in Veliaf, Dirio had given Iren a new tunic to replace the one the Fubuki had damaged. No one in Lodia would have looked twice at him for wearing it, but here it marked him, and Hana too for that matter, as outsiders.
Hana wanted to pull Iren aside again, but the crowd was too thick now. The Maantecs pressed in, their kimonos flowing in the city’s cool ocean breezes. Hana couldn’t wait to change out of this stifling Lodian outfit and into something proper again. It had been too long.
They reached Hiabi’s castle keep without incident. Word of their arrival must have preceded them, because the guards admitted the pair at once.
“Take off your boots,” Hana ordered when the doors closed and shut out the commoners. “No one may wear shoes inside.”
Iren didn’t look happy about wandering around a strange castle with only linen stockings on his feet, but he complied. Hana removed her own footwear, and they stood in the entryway a moment before a man dressed in a black kimono came up to them.
The servant greeted them with a bow. “My lady,” he said, “we received your message from the gate. His lordship has set aside adjacent rooms in the south wing. I’ll show you to them.”
“Will Lord Melwar see us?” Hana asked.
The man sucked air through his teeth. “His lordship is very busy,” he said, “but he states that if you will consent to dine with him this evening, he will entertain you.”
Hana nodded curtly. “Take us to our rooms then. I want to look presentable.”
The servant bowed and gestured to his left. “This way.”
As they walked through Hiabi’s keep, Hana took a long breath. It was wonderful to return to civilization. She took in the trappings of a proper home with joy. Tapestries and paintings on silk lined both sides of the hall, most of them nature scenes. Several depicted birds so lifelike they looked like they might fly out of their portraits.
They climbed three sets of stairs before pausing at a sliding door. The servant bowed again, then opened it. “This will be the Lord Holy Dragon Knight’s room.”
Hana took a glance inside and said, “It will do. I assume mine is the one to the right?” She pointed, and the servant nodded. “Good. You may leave us.”
When they were alone in the hall, Hana told Iren, “I’ll get ready and then come help you. You shouldn’t meet Lord Melwar looking like a barbaric human. Don’t leave your room.”
Iren was so pale Hana wondered if the man would pass out. Without a word, he entered his chamber and shut the sliding door behind him.
As Hana walked to her own room, she couldn’t help but worry. All their plans, all their hopes, depended on Iren. Right now, though, he didn’t look like their savior. At the moment, he’d be lucky to survive.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Dinner Preparations
Iren surveyed his room and did his best to make sense of it. The place looked nothing like bedrooms in either Lodia or Ziorsecth. Straw mats covered most of the floor, and wooden planks made up the rest. There was no furniture. Several built-in closets and drawers lined the walls, but that was it. Iren wondered if he could even call the space a “bedroom,�
�� since there wasn’t a bed anywhere in it.
The room’s strangest features were the walls made of paper stretched over wood that crisscrossed the chamber. Like the sliding door, they attached to wooden tracks in both the ceiling and floor that allowed them to move.
Curious, Iren played with the walls. He discovered he could change the room’s configuration in an almost infinite number of ways, hiding or exposing certain sections at will.
Shifting the walls revealed features of the room that had been blocked from the entrance. In one corner, Iren found a cedar basin more than large enough to sit in. A pair of metal pipes protruded above it with their ends cut off. At first he thought it might be some kind of washtub, but if those pipes brought water, he could find no way to turn it on.
Iren waited alone in the room for what felt like hours. To keep busy, he opened the drawers and examined their contents. Most had clothing, but in one closet, he came across a thick mattress and set of blankets that he guessed were for sleeping. He grimaced. He hoped it wasn’t Maantec custom to sleep in a closet.
A knock at the door pulled him from his explorations. “Come in,” he said.
The sliding door opened, and Hana entered. Iren inhaled sharply at the sight of her. During their travels, she had worn modest clothes, but now she looked every inch the high noble her Dragon Knight status made her. She wore an ankle-length dress of pink silk adorned with white cherry blossoms. Her black hair hung freely down her back and framed her oval face. Iren blushed; he couldn’t keep from staring.
“If you’re done gawking at my kimono, can we work on you?” Hana asked. “We don’t have much time. Lord Melwar won’t take kindly to the way you look, or smell for that matter. We’d better start you with a bath.”
Iren craned his neck around. “So that is what that tub is for.”
Hana ignored him and walked to the cedar basin. She placed a hand on each of the two pipes, and water began flowing from them.
The Hearts of Dragons Page 12