Black Kath's Daughter

by Richard Parks

  Bone Tapper held his piece, but remained in such a cheerful mood that Marta wanted to choke him. After a few minutes Master Lokan had a servant bring up food, and more than Marta could have eaten all day. She didn't eat much at all; Marta wasn't as hungry as she'd thought she was. In fact, she was feeling a little sick.

  Damn you, Bone Tapper, but you're right—I did enjoy that. Marta decided she didn't want to think about that after all. Nor did she even want to see the room, or eat the food, and certainly not look at Master Lokan's terrified, smiling face if she could avoid it. "I'm going back to the castle," she announced after she'd rested for a while.

  "What for?"

  "For the archives, of course."

  "I must say I share King Alian's question. What do you want with that musty mess?"

  "How will I know that until I see what's there? Yet my mother saw some value in them and it would be foolish of me to overlook the possibility. Lythos is a small kingdom, I know, and books are expensive, so I doubt this will take long to sort through. I need to do this, Bone Tapper. The sooner I'm started the sooner we can go home."

  Bone Tapper didn't argue, clearly seeing there was no point. "Must I go?"

  "Must you ask?"

  Bone Tapper sighed and flapped up to perch on her shoulder. Marta went back downstairs and was a little relieved to see that the common room was mostly empty now, and those who were there studied their drinks very intently rather than look up and risk her gaze. Master Lokan smiled nervously from behind his counter.

  Marta nodded slightly in his direction. "I'll return this evening," she said, and that was all. Outside the sun was settling into mid afternoon. People came and went; Marta noticed a group of pilgrims on the north end of town moving slowly along the well beaten path leading up the Karsanmon Shrine.

  "I'll have to go too, I suppose, and pay my respects to the Priestess. Though I'd like to go when it's not so crowded," she said. "Do you know a time when that may be so?"

  Bone Tapper shrugged. "Your mother always managed, though how she did so is a mystery to me."

  "My mother did many things I don't have the knack for," Marta said. "Let's walk to the castle. It's a nice day and I don't feel like dealing with Yssara just now."

  Bone Tapper didn't say anything for awhile, just rode on her shoulder. Now and then Marta realized he was looking at her, though he never had much expression and she couldn't see what little he had now.

  Marta finally had enough. "If you want to ask me something I wish you'd get on with it."

  "You were angry with your mother. Are you still angry?"

  Marta took a slow breath, let it out. "I remember what I said. I was just angry at everything then. My mother is dead. Stop talking nonsense."

  "But the way you talk about her—"

  "Is to state the facts as I understand them, no more and no less. Don't go reading epics into a footnote."

  Bone Tapper just shrugged and didn't say anything until they'd reached the castle. Unfortunately, they had to deal with the Chamberlain again. Fortunately, he was, by his own admission, "a very busy man" and assigned a page to escort Marta to the archives. They were located in the northeast tower. The boy led Marta through the courtyard. She noticed several pells and a quintain set up for training men at arms, but all were unused; except for a few of the castle staff doing laundry near the well, the courtyard was deserted.

  "The kingdom seems a bit calm, of late," Marta said.

  The boy escorting her, who couldn't have been more than nine, started as if she'd poked him. "Huh? Oh, pardon me, Mistress. You mean the training grounds? His Majesty had them moved outside the castle walls, on account of the noise was disturbing his son..." He looked away then, and almost cringed, as if he were afraid that speaking to her was a striking offense.

  "It's all right...umm, what's your name?"

  "Maky," he said, looking pale.

  Marta smiled at him. "It's all right, Maky. I don't bite."

  "Don't believe her," Bone Tapper said. "She eats children for supper."

  From the look on his face, it was clear which of the two the page believed. Marta just sighed and let him lead her to a rather plain and unpretentious oaken door bound in iron. Marta thought it looked more like the entrance to a storeroom though, after thinking about it some more, realized that was more or less what it was.

  "Please, Mistress, Brother Akaen who normally keeps the library is ill today, so he will not be able to help you. The Chamberlain expects him to be available tomorrow," Maky said. His voice squeaked like a nervous mouse.

  Marta took pity on the boy. "I'm sure I can manage for now. You may go."

  To the boy's credit he didn't quite break into a full run, but he left very quickly just the same. Marta watched him go and then turned to glare at the raven inches from her face. "Bone Tapper, was that really necessary?"

  "No, but wasn't it fun?"

  Marta ignored that. She grabbed the handle to the doorway and yanked it open. "By the Powers..."

  The king's library, to say the very least, was far more than Marta had expected. The room was no mere partition of the ground level of the tower; it filled the entire floor. The walls were ringed with cubbyholes for parchment and shelves for books, or which there were far more than Marta had thought possible in one place. In the center of the room were books open on reading stands, and one long table with several volumes piled on top of it.

  "I may need the services of the king's clerk after all," Marta thought, her eyes open wide in amazement. "I didn't know there were this many books in the entire kingdom!"

  "And could not have cared less, I fancy. Why the sudden interest? You're the Witch of Lythos, not a sodding scholar."

  It was the second time Bone Tapper had asked the question and she still didn't have a good answer. Oh, her answer made sense enough; she had been surprised to discover how much information had been in her mother's account book, and again disappointed that there was so little. She found herself wanting more, with no idea of where to get it except, perhaps, that maybe it was indeed in a book.

  Laras would laugh at me now.

  "Maybe the Witch of Lythos would do well to be a scholar, too," Marta said. "It's not as if there is aught else to do for a bit. If you think I'm going on the road after Treedle until spring, think again."

  one Tapper hopped from her shoulder unto a book stand, glanced at the volume there, and shrugged. "All the same to me. He's your servant, not mine. Just don't blame me if he's halfway to Calyt by now."

  "He's not," Marta said.

  Now Bone Tapper looked at her again. "I thought you didn't know where he was."

  "I don't. That doesn't mean the bonds of the Debt are no longer in place. If they weren't I would know," she said, and she knew it was true. "I don't understand why I can't sense him, but he remains within my reach, and I will find him, make no mistake."

  Marta turned her attention back to stacks and stacks of books. Since books were expensive it stood to reason that a king might have more than the average scholar, but this was almost beyond Marta's comprehension.

  Did I say 'in the kingdom'? I didn't know there were this many books in the entire world!

  Marta sighed. For all that she apparently would inspire terror wherever she went, Marta knew that she was still a very provincial girl suddenly thrust onto a much larger stage. Sooner than planned, or expected, if indeed she had ever really expected it, or thought of the possibility at all.

  I thought you would always be there, Mother. I'm sorry, but you raised a fool.

  She looked at the volume that Bone Tapper had dismissed, and did likewise; it was a treatise on the armor used in the Lyrsan wars. She could imagine the knowledge being useful to someone, somewhere, but not to herself, not now. She looked at another one, a herbal, and it looked much more promising. She pulled it aside and kept looking. By the time she had pulled three books aside she had gone through all of the ones on the table, and Bone Tapper was asleep perched on a high shelf. She threw w
added piece of parchment at him to wake him up.

  "Hmmph?"

  "I want you to start on the western section of wall. Note any volumes of magic if you find any such, but I'm mostly looking for herbals and kingdom history right now."

  "If you want. I suppose I can see the use of herbals—many plants make excellent poisons—but why history?"

  "Because Arrow Path magicians have been around for a long time. I'd be surprised if their presence hadn't been noted more than once. I don't expect accuracy but there may be some accidental truths. Also anything of religion... Amaet or the Karsanmon Shrine, that sort of thing. That's more than enough for now."

  "More than enough, indeed," Bone Tapper agreed, grumbling, but he flew off to do as he was bid. Marta opened the first volume in her pile and started reading. It was difficult, at first. Many of the words were strange to her and she had to sound them out with their companion words around them to winkle out their meaning, and she didn't always succeed. It was like a mystery in a way, extracting the meaning from such scant clues. When Marta looked up again the shadows were long through the one window and Bone Tapper was asleep again. She started to scold him again but yawned instead.

  "Marta? Maky said you were here. I wanted to come sooner but I had duties. I'm glad you're still here."

  Marta looked up from the book. Feran stood in the open doorway, smiling tentatively.

  "Hello, Feran," she said. She really wanted to say "go away," and say it very loudly and clearly, but the words wouldn't come out.

  Feran glanced around the room. "I haven't been in here before. Very impressive. I trust you found what you're searching for?"

  "Not yet, but I'm managing well enough," she said. The silence after that stretched on for an awkward moment or two. You'll have to do it yourself, Feran. I'm not going to help you.

  "There was...well, a matter I need to discuss with you."

  "Yes, Feran," she said, and hoped it didn't sound like a question. It wasn't mean to be. She didn't want him to ask her anything, or for anything. Especially not that.

  Feran sighed. "I know I shouldn't—"

  "Then don't," Marta said suddenly.

  Feran hesitated then, but finally shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I have to."

  No, Feran. Please don't...

  "I need your help."

  Done. Said. Was that all it took? Couldn't she refuse, and send him away? No. She wanted to refuse, but she could not. It was like a geas laid on her. She was no different than that poor fool Lokan , or Bone Tapper, or anyone else caught in the web of the Debt. As Feran was about to be caught.

  "What is it you want of me?" she asked.

  "It's this."

  Feran held up a small orb of what looked like iron; it was dull black with just a hint of what could have been rust or something like it. It gleamed slightly in the poor light. Feran slowly walked inside the room to the table and handed the thing to Marta. Upon closer inspection it was obviously what it appeared to be—a ball of iron, just a little wider than the palm of her hand. Heavy, too, but to Marta's thinking perhaps not as heavy as it should have been.

  Hollow.

  The weight of it would have told her that, but she didn't need it. Marta knew it was hollow the moment she touched it. She tried to hand it back to Feran, but he wouldn't take it.

  "What do you want me to do?"

  "There's a trick to it, I've been told, but I can't open it. I want you to open it, Marta."

  Marta just looked at it for several long moments. After a while Feran spoke again.

  "I should explain—"

  "No need."

  Feran shook his head. "No, I want to tell you. I need you to understand. I don't do this lightly, I would never. I understand what it means."

  "Do you?" Marta asked softly.

  Feran nodded, his expression set and firm. "I do. Your confrontation with Master Lokan is all over the castle...probably all over Karsan too, since we don't always hear things first here behind our walls. I understand I'll be in your debt, and I don't know how heavily. It's also true that I have little in the way of gold. I will do service, whatever it takes."

  "Don't say that until you know the price, Feran."

  He shook his head. "I'll pay it. Whatever it is."

  "What if I made you into a dog?" Marta asked. "You say you heard what I almost did to Master Lokan. Do you think I wouldn't do as much or more to you?"

  Feran met her gaze. He barely blinked. "That will be up to you."

  "Yes. I suppose you're right." Marta just stared at the sphere. "I think I would like to know why, after all."

  "It's about Kerasa," he said. "The girl I want to marry."

  "Oh," Marta said.

  "That's why I have to do this, you see," Feran told her. "Her father is a proud man, and I have so little to offer. He knows I have his daughter's heart, but that's not enough. So he gave me this test. I don't know where he got the thing and I don't care. All I know is that he won't consent to the marriage unless I can tell him what is inside this ball. He gave me two weeks, which end tomorrow morning. I've tried everything I could think of..."

  "Did you try a blacksmith?" Bone Tapper asked, apparently awake and listening after all.

  Feran smiled. "Good Raven, Kerasa's father is not such a fool as that. I have to return the blasted thing to him intact."

  "Do you love her?" Marta asked.

  "Do I..?"

  Marta spoke the words again, slowly and carefully. "Love. Her. You said you want to marry Kerasa. I'm presuming her father is wealthy?"

  "By my standards, yes," Feran admitted. "But not so much that Kerasa's portion will be much more than the price of an ox, and for better or worse I'm no farmer. I want the lady for herself. Yes, Mistress Marta, I do love her."

  Mistress. They were not to be friends, but Marta already knew that, had known it since the day he'd escorted her into Karsan. Something about the Arrow Path and friendship didn't quite make a good weave together. So why was she even thinking about what she planned to do next?

  Conscience is an inconvenient thing along the Arrow Path, yet it persists.

  Black Kath's words came back to Marta with the force of a blow. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. "I'll name my price now."

  Feran nodded. "I'm ready."

  "For this service I request one from you. One you have already rendered."

  Feran frowned. "What service have I done you?"

  "You didn't realize it at the time, but you gave me a hint of where I might look for something I lost. It doesn't matter what, nor would I tell you if you asked. But it was of value to me, and for that I grant you this request."

  "Mistress—" Bone Tapper began, but Marta shushed him.

  "I have to concentrate for a moment."

  Marta touched the sphere, felt it this way and that. It didn't take long. For someone versed in the First Law, finding the hidden keys and yielding places of the iron orb was less than simple. In a few moments the thing unfolded like a flower.

  "A walnut, wrapped in cloth. A shell within a shell. I suppose the good father thought he was being profound." Marta put the orb back together and again it was a seamless mystery.

  Tears were forming in Feran's eyes. "Mistress....Marta, I don't know how to thank you."

  "One doesn't require thanks for a fair trade. Off with you and give your beloved Kerasa the good news."

  In a few moments Feran was out the door. Unlike Maky, he ran immediately and made no effort to hide his haste. Bone Tapper flew down from his perch.

  "Mistress, what did you just do?"

  Marta shrugged. "What I thought would be obvious to anyone paying attention: I granted his request. I could not refuse."

  "Perhaps, but anyone also paying attention would know that the bare hint he gave you was not even a fraction worth the price. You took his debt on yourself, didn't you?"

  Marta glared at him. "Oh, be sensible. Would I, the scourge of little children and innkeepers everywhere, do suc
h a foolish thing?"

  Bone Tapper just looked at her for a several long moments, and all he said was, "Mistress, if we stay here longer tonight we will need some candles."

  "I'm tired, Bone Tapper," Marta said, and she closed the book she had been reading when Feran appeared. "Let's return to the Apple Branch. Perhaps these books will make more sense tomorrow."

  "If anything makes any sense here I'll be surprised."

  Marta rather thought so too. So far she'd come for knowledge and mostly what she had found were possibilities and uncertainty. All except for one telling exception: Marta was quite sure that somewhere in the world or out of it, the Power called Amaet was laughing at her.

  At least Feran will be happy. Marta’s smile was grim. For what he just cost me, he sodding well better be.

  CHAPTER 10

  "As an Arrow Path Initiate your primary business is to seek the Seven Laws of Power. That is primarily to fulfill your obligations under the Debt, but also in part to prevent the Seven from seeking you."

  — Black Kath's Tally Book

  That night Marta dreamed of faces. Her mother’s. The King and Queen’s. Feran’s. They passed in front of her mind's eye like masks. A rather vaguely female mask for Kerasa, a mask with a frozen, infuriating smile. Their eyes and mouths were empty as they passed in front of the light, flashing bright for a moment as the light came through the empty places. Only the light behind them all remained constant. Marta looked at the light, and it had a familiar shape.

  Amaet.

  "Is this a dream?"

  The glow faded. Amaet stood, again looking not so much like a Power as a human girl. When she spoke, it was with a voice that Marta heard and understood with her ears and not just echoing inside her head as before. The power’s voice sounded just like a human girl’s.

  Amaet shrugged. "Yes and no."

  Marta put her hands on her hips. "That's no answer."

  "You don't really want an answer. You want a meaning, and meaning is an interpretation. Mine will not be the same as yours. Make your own when you can, but for now come with me." Amaet held out her hand.