by Shannon Page
“I have been imprisoned, of course,” Sian added. “And Freda here was on her way to do some business on Three Cats when all the fighting there broke out. We’ve been afraid to approach anyone under such dangerous conditions, so we still aren’t sure what’s going on.”
“Godsdamned civil war!” Sian’s husband growled, just then coming in the door himself. “That’s what’s going on, wife. Our mad Factor took his cannons to the Census Taker’s Hall this morning, and now all the greater houses are at each other’s throats, if you’ve been too busy with your lovers to have heard. Your cousins have destroyed us all.”
Arian had both hands against her face without thinking, no longer even breathing for fear of bursting into tears. Oh Viktor. She had failed him. She had failed the entire country. She had already guessed, of course, deep down, as they had seen fire bloom on Three Cats too. But she had hoped … somehow … to be wrong. Unable to contain her grief, she started sobbing as Sian came swiftly to embrace her. Anyone might cry at such news, mightn’t they? Arian told herself as Sian’s arms encircled her. This was a tragedy for all of Alizar now. Not just hers and Viktor’s.
Arouf looked something like ashamed, at last, not that Arian much cared now.
“I’m so sorry,” said Maleen, coming to stand helplessly beside them. “What island are you from, Freda?”
Arian found herself unable to reply, unsure of what to say.
“Home,” Sian answered for her. “Freda’s family lives on Home.”
“Oh,” Maleen said quietly, looking back at Haron in clear distress.
Maleen’s expression told Arian that she was far from finished coping with bad news. But Sian’s strong embrace was greatly fortifying. Truly, the woman’s tenderness and compassion seemed almost as miraculous as her healing gift was. Arian felt her composure returning with surprising swiftness. The same inexplicable fearlessness she had discovered on that dreadful night of their initial capture seemed to reassert itself — almost physically — as it had also done after they’d emerged from the cisterns to find themselves so lost. She drew a deep, shuddering breath, then another, and pulled back from her cousin’s arms. “Have you … any news of Home?” she asked without looking at Maleen, or anybody else.
“Where on Home does your family live?” Haron asked.
Arian thought quickly. It mustn’t be anywhere too close to the Factorate. “Near the bridge to Apricot.”
“Well, they should be fine then,” Haron reassured her. “From what we’ve heard — out here at the edge of the world, of course — all the real fighting there has been in or near the Factorate.”
The new wave of panic this news brought her must have shown quite plainly, because Maleen asked, “Do you have friends near there?”
She shook her head. “Not really. I was … just wondering if there’s been any news about the Factor … or his family.” She glanced at Maleen, then at Sian, worried that she was being too transparent, but no one looked as if they found the question strange. Who might not be curious about Alizar’s rulers at such a time?
“Oh, there’s been all kinds of news on that front,” Haron sighed. “The Factor is holed up inside his house, fighting off the Census Taker’s forces. The Factor’s fled the country with a fleet of his family’s ships. The Factor’s been imprisoned in his own dungeons by the Census Taker. I’ve even heard people saying that the Factorate has fallen to some foreign invader, and that both the Census Taker and the Factor have been killed.” He shook his head. “Pick the answer you least want to hear, and someone will confirm it on the best authority.”
“Of course,” said Arian. “As might be expected.” There was one more question that she had to ask. “Any word at all about their son?”
“None that I’ve heard,” Haron sighed. “Or the Factora-Consort either. The boy’s been quite sick, of course. So maybe no one’s bothering with him right now. Alkattha’s consort …” He shrugged. “Her fate will be determined by his, I guess. So probably no one’s wasting time or effort on her either. I imagine both she and her son have been taken somewhere safe for now.”
“Well … That’s very reassuring.” Arian gave him a smile. “Thank you, Haron.” He was clearly a good man. An optimistic one. As Viktor had been once.
“If you’d like,” Maleen asked Arian, “I can show you to the bath out back?”
“Oh, thank you, dear,” said Sian. “That would be lovely. You have no idea.”
Maleen gave their disheveled conditions a pointed looking-over. “I have some idea, I think. I’ll find you both some new clothes too, while you’re bathing.”
“How generous of you,” said Arian. “Anything would be fine.”
Maleen smiled at her mother. “I’ll find something it’s okay to ruin this time.” Sian grinned back, ruefully. “Are you ready, Freda?”
“Yes, thank you.”
The family’s bath behind the house was walled for privacy, but roofless. Arian had never bathed beneath the open air before. It was a lovely feeling, staring up into the twilit sky. She wished they’d had such baths built at the Factorate House. An academic pipe dream now, of course. Only minutes after she had lowered herself into the lukewarm water, Maleen was back with a simple shift of auburn silk. Clean, unassuming clothing that would render her far less conspicuous than Freda’s prim attire had done — especially in its current state. She and Sian would both have sandals now, she realized.
It had been right to stop here. She saw that now. Still, she was anxious to be off again as soon as possible. She still had no idea what might be happening right now to her son or husband. Please let there be some way to find them, she begged silently, in case any of Alizar’s shy gods might still be listening. She thought Sian’s god might be. The woman was a literal godsend. That had become clearer with every passing hour. Please let her heal Konrad, even now, she added, lying back until just her face remained above the water, still trying to absorb all she had learned.
The Census Taker’s palace, burned … It seemed impossible to imagine. She wondered how enraged Escotte must be — and why Viktor had done such a thing. Perhaps when she had failed to reappear … But how could he have been sure that she was not still held within it? Her husband was impractical at times, and even paranoid, but he had never been so rash. Quite the opposite. He was timid to a fault, particularly these days. Had the apparent loss of her left him that badly carried off by anger? Or had Escotte realized that he was exposed somehow, after betraying them, and made some preemptive move on Viktor that had forced his hand? Whatever had occurred, the act had clearly not strengthened Viktor’s image in the popular mind. Our mad Factor … has destroyed us all … Was that what everybody thought now? That this had all been Viktor’s fault?
And what had come of poor Maronne? Please let her have escaped somehow, she thought, then shook her head. There would be no answers until they reached Home again, if then.
She sat up and scrubbed the worst dirt from her limbs, then filled her hands with the soft, scented soap and washed her hair. Some of the dark dye left it, staining the water. Arian hoped enough dye had remained to keep up her disguise. Well, if some of her pale hair leached through, perhaps people would just take it for gray.
After rinsing her hair, she reached over the copper basin’s side to open the little tap that drained it, admiring Haron’s work. She’d have hired him to make any number of things for her, if she were still Factora-Consort. She grimaced, hearing her own thought. “Don’t you give up yet either, Arian,” she murmured to herself, standing to use the towel Maleen had provided. She didn’t know how this would end yet, after all — or what had happened since those first rumors had been generated. “If your arms are tied,” she told herself, “that still leaves your feet.”
When she had donned Maleen’s pretty shift, a bit too tight for her, and a bit too short, but far better than what she had come in, she stepped into the plain but sturdy sandals Maleen had left as well, and went back into the house to tell Sian her turn had
come.
She found Sian sitting at a table spread with food, gorging herself in a state of indecent bliss. With a faint groan of desire, Arian sat down immediately to follow her example. Maleen and Haron sat across from them, watching in bemusement, and nibbling at the corners of their feast. Biri had been put to bed, it seemed, while Arouf stood off by himself, leaning against the wall and scowling at Sian’s back.
“Pino must not feed you very well,” Arouf muttered, half swallowing the remark.
Everyone seemed to freeze, then went back to eating as if he hadn’t spoken. Arian could make little sense of the oblique reference. Pino, she vaguely recalled, was one of two men Ennias had told her about. Sian’s imprisoned friends. She had forgotten all about them, and worried for them too now, hoping they weren’t still buried underneath the smoldering wreckage of the Census Hall. “The bath was lovely,” she said to Maleen. “And this dress is perfect. Thank you so much. I have no way to repay you now, but just as soon as —”
Maleen waved her words off like annoying insects. “It’s old, and of no use to me.” She smiled at her mother again. “This time. Thank you for accompanying my mother here. You owe us nothing.”
“You will stay with us tonight, of course,” Haron added. “Or longer if you need to, while some of this dust settles.”
“Oh!” said Arian. “Has Sian not told you? We must both be going. Very soon, in fact.”
“Both?” Maleen asked, giving her mother a startled look.
Sian looked just as startled, turning to Arian with panic in her eyes.
Oh no! thought Arian. They’d planned to tell Sian’s daughter that they were rushing back to Little Loom Eyot to deal with Arouf. But here he was now, so … She should have thought.
“Why must you leave, Mother?” Maleen asked.
“I … Freda is expected … elsewhere on Malençon.” She glanced at Arian, still clearly at a loss. “I promised I would accompany her. She’s done the same for me, after all.”
Genius, Arian thought, washed in relief. The woman is a genius on her feet.
“Oh, surely not,” Haron said to Arian. “It’s almost full dark out there now. That’s no time to be wandering — even with a friend — given everything that’s happening. You must stay here until morning, at least.”
“Thank you, but … You’ve been so much more than kind already. And my … friends must already be quite frantic, wondering where I am. I cannot just leave them that way all night.”
“Where on the island are they?” asked Maleen.
“Not far,” said Sian. “I, uh, was hoping you might lend us your boat, actually.” Haron and Maleen both looked startled. “Her friends are just across the bay,” Sian pressed on. “And … well, I thought sailing there would be much safer than walking. Just as you were saying, Haron.”
Maleen and Haron exchanged a look. Then Haron said, “Well, then I will sail you there.”
“Oh, no need!” said Arian. “I’m … quite an experienced sailor myself, actually. You’ve already gone to so much trouble. We can manage fine.”
“Can’t Captain Reikos take you there?” Arouf growled from his corner. “Or is he the one you’re really going to see, Sian?”
“Father!” Maleen snapped. “If I hear one more word of that nonsense — one — more — it will be you sailing home in the dark tonight. You hear me? We are all extremely tired of this.”
Sian stood up, stone-faced, and set down her napkin. “I am going to take my bath now. We can decide what makes most sense when I get back.” She gave Arian a look that clearly meant, I will decide how to handle this, and you will play along. Which was fine with Arian. Sian was clearly better at this sort of improvisation — lately, anyway.
With a final warning glare at her father, Maleen got up and left the room behind her mother, presumably to help her reset the bath. For a while afterwards, no one spoke, or looked at anybody else. Arian and Haron ate, while Arouf went out the front door, whether to cool off, or to sail home as Maleen had suggested, Arian couldn’t guess. What an unpleasant man. His mention of the other fellow they had left in Escotte’s dungeon left her worrying for them again, but equally puzzled. What did he have against these friends of Sian’s? And, what had she been doing with them when Ennias had captured her? It had not occurred to Arian to wonder before.
“Thank you for the lovely meal, Haron,” she said, wiping her mouth lightly and pushing back her chair. “I think I will go see if there is any help I can provide Maleen and Sian.” It had just occurred to her that she and Sian might have a minute to talk privately, if they could convince Maleen to come rejoin her husband.
Haron nodded as she stood. “You’re very welcome, Freda. I’m sorry about Maleen’s father. These times have been hard on everyone. I’m sure you understand.”
“Oh yes.” She offered him a reassuring smile. “Any marriage has its ups and downs. I’m sure you know that, just as I do, from experience.”
He smiled gratefully as she turned to go.
In the yard, Arian found Sian toweling off as Maleen stood by with her new dress.
“Your father has gone out to … cool himself, I assume,” Arian told Maleen. “I hope it wasn’t rude of me to leave your husband at the table all alone, but …”
“Why don’t you go to him, dear,” Sian told Maleen, rubbing the towel through her long hair. She reached out to take the dress from her daughter. “He might appreciate a private moment with you before your father comes back in.”
Maleen nodded and left them as Sian pulled on the dress.
“If necessary, Freda can go on alone tonight,” Arian said, as soon as she was gone. “There may be no point in dragging you into further danger anyway, until I’ve been to see what’s left to save.”
“And then what?” Sian asked. “You’ll come all the way back here for me? Don’t be ridiculous. Perhaps we should just tell them that —”
She fell silent as some new ruckus bloomed inside. They both looked toward the house as voices there grew louder. Men’s voices, not all of them familiar.
“Now what?” Sian said, stepping quickly into her new sandals and rushing toward the house.
Arian followed, wondering if Biri’s looters had arrived at last — and whether she and Sian would be more help or hindrance if they went inside now.
As they reached the door, Arian heard one of the unfamiliar voices speak Sian’s name. She looked at Sian in alarm, fearing something worse than looters now, only to find the other woman wide-eyed and open-mouthed in … not fear, exactly.
“No, no. Please. I am just a longtime friend of your mother’s,” said the unfamiliar voice, more loudly, “with some cause to be concerned for her.”
“Reikos!” Sian gasped, rushing inside.
Arian ran after her, relieved to think the man had escaped somehow, hoping this meant Maronne might have as well. But how had he known to find Sian here?
When they reached the front room, Sian rushed past Maleen and Haron and threw herself into the arms of a pale, compact, lightly bearded man covered in even more soot and grime than they had been that afternoon. Behind him stood a much younger man, watching their embrace with … very mixed emotions, it appeared. Arian glanced quickly at the others to find Haron looking troubled, Maleen gaping in confusion, and Arouf glaring almost happily at everyone around him.
“Have I not been telling you all afternoon, Maleen?” Arouf cried. “And now here’s your mother’s mob of lovers, come to save her from her cuckolded husband!”
What was going on here? Arian looked back at Sian and her friend. They weren’t kissing, exactly … But that was no sisterly embrace Sian was giving him. A second glance around told her that no one else seemed much fooled either. And that grimy boy behind the captain … She recognized the look in his eyes too, or she was not a woman.
Oh dear, Arian thought. Might Sian have been less than entirely forthcoming with her, about the full nature of Arouf’s complaint?
“Oh, Konstantin, thank
all the gods you’re safe!” Sian wept into his shoulder as they clung to one another. She leaned back to look into his pale eyes. “But how did you escape?”
“It is … a complicated story,” he said, looking askance at those around them.
“Mother, who is this man?” Maleen asked quietly.
Remembering suddenly where she was and who was watching, Sian jerked free of Reikos, and turned to face her daughter. “I’m so sorry. Where are my manners? Please allow me to introduce my friend and business associate, Captain Konstantin Reikos of Lost Port.” Only then did she truly register Pino’s presence behind Reikos. “And Pino!” she cried, going to hug him too. “Whom you all know, I think,” she added quickly. “Oh, dear Pino, I am just … so relieved to see you both alive!”
“Why shouldn’t Pino be alive?” asked Haron, looking at her strangely.
Oh dear, she thought. What a fool she was being suddenly.
“Why should he be allowed to live, you mean,” growled Arouf before Sian could think of what to say. “You wretched little scoundrel! I fed and housed you! I trusted you with my wife’s safety all these years! This foreign seaman, I might understand, but you! How could you betray my trust this way?”
As Pino backed away, round-eyed with fright, Sian whirled at Arouf in disbelief. “How dare you speak to him like that? If this is still about the night I was beaten, I believe I told you he was not —”
“This is about all your nights together!” Arouf bellowed. “Not just that one.”
“Father —” Maleen said uncertainly.
“No!” he snapped at her. “I’m tired of being scolded just for speaking the truth. Here’s the proof — before your eyes now. Don’t you Father me, girl.”
“What is wrong with you?” Sian gasped.
“Wrong with me?” Arouf glared at her. “Nothing’s wrong with me, Sian. I’m not the one who’s run off with some teenage boy!”
“Run off with … With Pino?” Sian wasn’t sure whether to laugh at him or scream. “That is what you think? You are truly mad!”