by Peter Newman
He swept over their heads to land with his back to them.
‘No,’ hissed Nidra. ‘No, no, no.’
Win’s head drooped in defeat, which confused Sa-at. He should be happy. Why isn’t he happy?
Rochant turned slowly, removing his helmet. He seemed as calm as ever. ‘Nidra Un-Sapphire, welcome to my castle. Of course, as an exile, you know the penalty for returning to our lands.’
Nidra’s eyes narrowed but she said nothing.
‘You can let her go,’ Rochant continued. ‘Give her a little space. She’s stronger than she looks.’
I knew it! thought Sa-at.
Win did as instructed and Nidra stood without support easily enough. Her eyes seemed to take everything in, including Sa-at. Something about that made him feel uncomfortable.
‘Now,’ said Rochant. ‘You and I are going to have a talk about the future. Somewhere more private than this. Are you going to accompany me with dignity?’
As he talked, Sa-at saw Nidra’s right hand inching towards the small of her back where the dagger was stowed.
‘You haven’t answered my question,’ prompted Rochant.
‘Answer one of mine and I will.’
‘And if I do, will you come with me? Calmly.’
‘Yes.’
‘Then ask.’
Her fingers worked deftly to pull aside the fabric, revealing a simple wooden hilt. Sa-at was sure that her dagger was powerful. Perhaps it was even strong enough to pierce Rochant’s armour.
‘How are you restored?’ she asked. ‘I thought your body would never recover.’
‘I thought the same. But then, like you, I’d only thought about what the poison could do to a person, not how it did it. Fortunately, others had devoted years to the question. I’ll tell you all about it, but not here.’
Sa-at leaned forward, as quiet as he’d ever been, and slipped the dagger from Nidra’s belt.
‘I have another proposition,’ said Nidra. ‘A trade.’
He smiled that odd smile of his. ‘That’s what I’ve always admired about you. You never give up. I’ll listen. But not here. Inside.’
‘Very well,’ she said, but as she stepped forward, she pivoted on the ball of her foot and sprang towards Sa-at, her hand reaching for the dagger that was no longer there. Surprise registered on her face as she closed with him.
Sa-at sprang back on instinct, and her fingers cut the air where his chin had been. But she was still coming, faster than his mind could process. As he tried to back away, he stumbled, ducking an attack that was actually a feint as she struck the dagger out of his hand.
It spun in the air between them, going up, slowing, then starting to fall.
He reached for it.
Nidra reached for it.
Rochant caught it before either of them. With his free hand he snatched Nidra by the neck, and she dangled from his grasp like a cub being held in the jaws of its mother.
‘Thank you, Win,’ said Rochant smoothly. ‘Thank you, Sa-at. That will be all. I will need some time alone with Nidra. We are not to be disturbed under any circumstances. I trust you can manage things for a few hours?’
‘Y-yes, my lord,’ said Win.
‘What should I do?’ asked Sa-at, but Rochant had already turned his back on them and leapt away. He repeated the question to Win but to his surprise the old seneschal didn’t reply. He just put his head in his hands and started to sob.
Chandni woke up. Her head was pillowed on Glider’s belly. A pack of Dogkin slept around them in curled mounds, like a circle of snowy hills. Crowflies was on a nearby branch staring at her with intensity, while Varg unwittingly did his best to match its stare with his own.
When her eyes met his, his beard curled around his mouth with delight. ‘You’re awake!’
She gave him a tired nod. ‘Yes, and hungry.’ As she spoke, Crowflies leapt from its branch and flapped off into the canopy.
‘We’ll have to go forage something,’ said Varg. ‘Be like the old days.’
‘Yes, it will.’ They shared a smile. ‘Have our new friends been any trouble?’
‘Nah, just sat there quiet as Mousekin. Went off to sleep not long after you did, and their ears are twitching now you’ve woken up. Reckon they’re waiting for you to tell them what to do.’ He scratched his chin. ‘Reckon we all are.’
Chandni made the conscious effort to raise her right arm. It had been numb for so long now that she often forgot it was there until it knocked into something. Her mind no longer mapped it as part of the space she filled and so it took constant effort to remember. And, in truth, it was not hard to recall the crunching sound the pack leader’s teeth had made as they had bitten down on her hand.
It was time to survey the damage. She brought her right hand up to eye level.
Suns! she thought, squeezing her eyes shut. She wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting to see but this was worse.
Be strong, Chandni. Be strong. You are a Sapphire.
Slowly, deliberately, she opened her eyes again, forcing herself to face the situation.
The thing on the end of her wrist no longer looked like her hand. Her third finger was a crumpled twig, her little finger unrecognizable. Much of the hand itself had been crushed and distorted by the Dogkin’s powerful jaws. Teethmarks ran roughly across her skin, leaving scabby tracks.
She forced herself to look, to take it in and accept this new reality. The one good thing was that the wounds were already closed and cleanly sealed. More of Crowflies’ work, I think. She made a mental note to thank the Birdkin when it returned. She was sure it would, if only to claim a reward for its assistance.
Her index finger and thumb still worked, as did her middle finger, though this was crooked now.
There is some functionality there. That’s something. A wave of tears threatened to break but she held them back. No, Chandni. You will not cry. Not here. The pack must see you as strong.
She lowered her hand and did her best to ignore the naked sadness on Varg’s face. ‘I’ll need to eat if I’m going to heal.’
‘Then we’d better start foraging.’ He got up and offered to help her stand. The assistance was unnecessary but she took it anyway, drawing comfort from Varg’s close proximity. Glider and the other Dogkin got up too and began to pad after them.
With gold and red light still finding its way through the trees, and a big pack of Dogkin at their side, it felt almost pleasant to wander the Wild. No animals dared cross their path, and for the moment, the dangers of the forest either slept or chose to keep their distance.
Varg leaned in close so he could speak quietly. ‘I gotta say, that was pretty clever how you tricked them Dogkin. How did you know that would work?’
‘I didn’t know, exactly. It just seemed logical given what I know about the Wild.’
‘You didn’t know? Fuck me! That was some gamble. But Chand …’ his eyes flicked down to her maimed fingers.
She touched his arm and squeezed it. ‘Given how much I stood to lose, my hand was a small price to pay.’
Tears glimmered in Varg’s eyes. ‘You could have lost everything.’
‘But I didn’t. There’s no use holding onto what could have been. There’s enough to worry about in the present.’
Varg stopped walking. ‘You’re just gonna pretend that this is normal?’
‘Of course not! We are far from normal here. That’s why I had to take decisive action. What else would you have me do?’
‘I dunno. It’s just that when we found you leaving the castle, you were ready to die. No, it was worse than that, you wanted to die. And me an’ Glider weren’t enough to keep you here. I begged you, Chand, and you didn’t care. And then you give everything to a demon prince like it’s nothing—’
‘How can you say that?’ interrupted Chandni, a sense of outrage building. ‘I made that sacrifice so that I could be with you. I thought that’s what you wanted.’
‘It is. But I’m not sure it’s what you want. Like, y
ou tried to kill yourself, then you gave your soul to a demon, and then you put your hand in a wild Dogkin’s mouth without even blinking. That’s fucking crazy!’ He searched her face as if looking for a sign. ‘You say you want to have a life with me, but I see you like this and I’m not so sure. Do you want a life with me, Chand? Do you even want to live?’
‘You know I do.’
‘Cos from where I’m standing it looks like you still want to die or punish yourself or some other Sapphire bullshit.’
‘No. I want to live and I want to protect those I love. I’ll do anything, sacrifice anything if I have to.’
‘I hear that. But maybe don’t sacrifice it all, eh? Leave something for us to love.’
She managed a nod and they carried on walking for a while, the air between them awkward. A part of her was angry for him saying such things when she was doing everything she could. Another part of her felt the sting of his words too keenly to dismiss them completely.
After a while, Varg broke the silence. ‘How come you only asked them Dogkin to serve you for a year and not, like, forever?’
‘Because I wanted them to agree. A year seemed significant as a price but not so large that they’d risk Murderkind’s wrath to oppose it.’ She thought back to the stories Fiya had told them. ‘And it felt right. I think that’s important here.’
‘Well, it seems to have worked so far, but I’m keeping Glider between me and the others just in case.’
They hadn’t gone far when Crowflies returned.
‘Cha-aan,’ it said, and then flew off again. ‘Cha-aan,’ it repeated.
‘I think it wants me to follow it.’
‘Mmm,’ Varg grumbled. ‘Don’t like that Birdkin.’
‘I have to follow. It might be a summons from Murderkind.’
‘I don’t like the sound of that either.’
Crowflies led them through the trees, and then landed at a seemingly random spot, checked about itself and then tapped the ground with its beak. ‘Cha-aan.’
She stopped and the Dogkin stopped behind her, sitting back on their haunches.
‘What is it?’
It tapped the ground again, impatient.
Chandni looked at the spot but there was nothing of interest there, just dirt. She couldn’t even see any Wormkin. ‘I don’t understand.’
Crowflies made a strange tutting sound in the back of its throat. It then hopped forward and prodded her foot with its beak before returning to its original position and tapping the ground again.
‘I see,’ she said, and stood there.
Crowflies looked at her, gave a satisfied nod and knocked three times on a nearby tree. It then looked up. Chandni did the same.
Long branches reached over her head and provided a modicum of shade. She saw pretty yellow-green leaves rustling as one of the branches shook. Then there was a soft pop and something was falling towards her. Her left hand came up on instinct and caught it.
In her hand was a plum, fat and round and purple. It took all her self control not to take a bite immediately. ‘Oh, thank you, Crowflies. This is very kind of you.’ She briefly rested her forehead against the bark of the tree. ‘And thank you. This looks delicious.’
‘It does,’ agreed Varg. ‘Hey, Birdkin. Can I have one as well?’
Crowflies cawed derisively, then shook its head.
‘Shit.’
‘Don’t worry, Varg. We can share.’ She tried the plum. It was sweet and ripe and the juices ran down her chin.
‘That looks good.’
‘Mmmm, oh it is. It’s wonderful!’ She took another bite.
‘Can I have some now?’
She finished what was in her mouth. ‘I just want a little more.’
‘Right.’
Three bites and over half the plum later, she handed it over. She’d meant to share it equally but it had been too good. So good in fact, that she felt no guilt at all, and when Varg gave her a reproachful look, she couldn’t help but laugh.
She realized that her hunger had gone completely and she felt alert. ‘Glider, I need to find Prince Kennelgrove. Do you know where it is?’
Glider looked at Fiya and started to bark enthusiastically. Slowly the pack leader rose from her haunches and padded over. There was a look of deep sadness in her eyes, but she took Chandni’s sleeve and gave it a gentle tug, then set off into the woods.
‘What do you think that’s about?’ asked Varg, who was busy sucking the last of the plum’s juices from the stone.
‘I think she can help us. Come on.’ And she took his hand, partly to lead him after the Dogkin, and partly because she wanted to.
Pari and Arkav made short work of the climb up the mountain but both came to a stop when they found the gates to Lord Rochant’s castle closed.
‘Well,’ said Pari. ‘This is unexpected.’
‘What now?’ asked Arkav.
‘We knock, of course. I can’t abide a closed door.’
They crossed the Bridge of Friends and Fools carefully, balancing the spring of their Sky-legs against the sudden swings in the wind. When they reached the other side, they both pounded on the wood with their gauntlets, naturally keeping time.
A guard’s head appeared on the top of the battlements. ‘Who goes there?’
‘Lady Pari and Lord Arkav of the Tanzanite Everlasting. We demand entrance.’ There was a brief pause and then she added, ‘I suggest you either open the gates or find someone who has the authority to open them before my brother opens them for you. I’m afraid he has no patience today.’
‘Really?’ sighed Arkav. ‘Why do I always have to pretend to be the angry one?’
‘Because you do it so well, my dear.’
He started to pace and rant. Words like ‘outrage’ and ‘consequences’ sailed up into the air. The guard’s head disappeared.
‘That seems to have done the trick. You can stop now. Honestly, it seems like you can’t cross a Sapphire threshold these days without some kind of nonsense.’
Arkav came to a stop beside her. ‘Between us, we could probably force the gate.’
‘What, and start the war we were sent here to prevent?’
‘I’m sure you could talk them down afterwards.’
‘I could, but why do I always have to be the one to—’ She stopped. ‘Ah, I see what you’re doing. Very funny. But just once I’d like to do this without making a mess.’
He chuckled. ‘I’m not sure I believe you.’
‘Let’s at least give them the chance to behave like a decent civilized house before we humiliate them.’
‘Very well.’
She looked back at the gate and then at her gauntleted hands. ‘Though it would be very satisfying to just break in …’
‘I don’t think we should.’
‘Then why, my sweet yet taxing brother, did you suggest it in the first place?’
He assumed an expression of innocence. ‘I was simply making an observation.’
Just as the temptation was getting too much to bear, the gates opened enough to admit an old man in a seneschal’s uniform. He looked up at them – mounted, in their armour – obviously afraid. ‘Lord Arkav, Lady Pari, welcome. I regret to—’
‘Oh dear,’ interrupted Pari. ‘What has happened to Honoured Mother Chandni? I was rather fond of her.’
The question banished whatever it was the man had been about to say. Despite the day having plenty of life left in it, the man already appeared exhausted. ‘She is quite well. She is just, ah, enjoying a rest after having … that is, after the rebirth of Lord Rochant.’
‘I see. Well, in that case …’ she paused, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.’
‘It’s Win, Lady Pari.’
‘Win? What, the little Win who used to chase that boy around the courtyard for kisses and had the most adorable crush on Lord Rochant’s cook?’
‘Well,’ he stammered, ‘it is an honour to be remembered, though I don’t recall having feelings for the cook.’
>
‘Yes, you do,’ said Arkav. ‘You still do.’
Win met his eyes and his face fell. ‘I apologize.’
‘Think nothing of it and open the gates for us,’ said Pari. ‘And instruct our staff to prepare the carriage for departure.’
‘I’m sorry but Lord Rochant has ordered the gates closed. None may enter or leave until he decrees otherwise.’
Pari gave him a patient smile, and Arkav chuckled.
‘Forgive me,’ said Win, ‘but my lord was most serious when he gave the edict.’
‘I’m sure he was. You Sapphire are the masters of being serious. However, we did not come here as visitors nor guests. We did not even come here as Tanzanite Deathless.’ She waited to see if he’d understood and let her smile fade when he didn’t. ‘My dear Win, we came here to represent the will of the council of High Lords. It is our duty to return to them with news of House Sapphire’s recent changes. What your lord desires or does not desire is irrelevant here. Now you have a simple choice to make. Either you order the gates open for us, or we will open them ourselves. Rest assured, whatever position you take will be noted and reported to the council when we see them.’
Win nodded rapidly. ‘Ah, yes. Well in that case,’ he turned and raised his voice to a hoarse shout. ‘Open the gates!’
She patted him on the shoulder. ‘Much better.’
With a lot on his mind and nothing immediate to do Sa-at had returned to the courtyard, keen to make new friends, but he found himself dawdling on the edge of the crowd. Now that they couldn’t see him, they didn’t seem as happy as before. He saw they had broken up into lots of smaller clumps. Many of the groups had their heads close together so they could talk without being overheard.
As Sa-at worried about what that meant he saw the gates swing open and Win hurrying inside. Following behind him were two more Deathless. Their armour was reminiscent of the Sapphire suits he’d seen recently but the shapes of the plates were curved, more rounded, though just as elaborate. These glowed with a soft blue-violet light of their own and were, to Sa-at’s mind, equally beautiful. One of them cast an imperfect aura, the light dimmer on his chest and right wing, which was broken.