by K S Nikakis
‘Did he say anything then?’
‘He exchanged words with Ataghan en-Scinta-ril which I arrived too late to hear.’ There was a long pause. ‘Thrisdane knew you were in need. Is there some sort of link between you?’
‘Not anymore,’ murmured Viv. ‘Ash would have sent him but he shouldn’t have. It’s too dangerous for him here.’
‘As it is for you, when you’re on your own, or at Ataghan en-Scinta-ril’s compound.’
Viv shrugged. ‘The Syld’s never liked me.’
‘Dislike is one thing, Violet Iris Vacia, violence is another. The traders’ didn’t inflict the bruises on your face at Stelin Ridge, did they?’
Viv traced the table-top with her fingers. ‘Why’s he like that, Baraghan? You’ve known him a long time, haven’t you?’
‘I’ve known of him for ten zadicans, since he first competed in the tournaments. He’s always been violent; it’s why he wins. He won this Fire Zadic too, in case you’re wondering, but he didn’t waste time celebrating. Word has it he took men sunwise and breached the crests into Waradi Vale. Apparently bands of Genessi breached the crests too. What they did there is unknown, except it’s said the rill in Penrin val ran red for days. He’s been at the Scinta-ril for the last couple of zadics, rebuilding his sett, but he’s back now.’
‘I know. I went to his compound.’
Baraghan’s eyebrows rose. ‘And decided against enjoying his hospitality again?’
‘He wasn’t home and his guard wouldn’t let me in. I want to see my lein, Baraghan. I have a right to see her! And I only have the clothes I’m wearing. Everything else I own is there.’
‘Including your amè,’ said Baraghan, his gaze on her neck.
‘Yes,’ said Viv, and instinctively covered her bare skin with her hand.
‘Well, at least I can amend your lack of clothing,’ said Baraghan. ‘The compound has a store of clothes, including some I hope you’ll find suitable. Derisi will bring them to your room for your selection. You’ll need warmer things than those you’re wearing and ones that better show your beauty.
‘Cadestone’s festivities celebrate the gifting of children and of lein-trysts, and there’s music and dancing. It’s a happy time and I hope you’ll grant me the opportunity to show you that Esh-accom offers more enjoyable things than those you’ve experienced.’
‘Yes, thank you,’ said Viv, not sure what she’d agreed to.
Baraghan leaned back in his chair like the cat that’s got the cream, thought Viv uneasily. Judging by the compound, his healing skills were lucrative, unless he made his money other ways, and women found him attractive, given Caibel, and his young servants’ lingering glances. But what she really wanted to know was how he’d managed to return from Ezam.
‘Thris told me I couldn’t go back to my home fold, because I was still there in that time, and returning would destroy me,’ said Viv.
‘The Host told me the same thing, but I didn’t take their word for it.’
‘Maybe you were just lucky,’ said Viv, irritated by his smugness.
‘Lucky?’
‘Fortunate.’
Baraghan smiled again, showing his teeth this time. ‘I am indeed fortunate, Violet Iris Vacia. However, I’m inclined to believe that good fortune follows good planning.’
Viv resumed her fascination with the table-top to hide what she was sure was a sour expression. As she’d never had any luck, she was obviously a crap planner!
Men loitered in the doorway and Baraghan rose. ‘Kindly excuse me, Violet Iris Vacia. There are matters I must attend to. I’m reliably informed the wind will swing cloudwise this afternoon and chill. It might even bring rain, so it would be wise to stay inside until you’ve warmer clothes. I look forward to joining you again for the evening meal.’
He bowed and his steps echoed back down the passageway. Baraghan was used to getting what he wanted, including more than his fair share of luck, but what did he want with her? Viv still sensed it concerned the Syld but she was in no position to walk away, unless she wanted to sleep on the streets again, and she still needed to see Poss.
She went to her room and was watching the birds play in the fountain, when Derisi appeared with an armful of clothes. She even had a pair of beautifully stitched ankle boots. Not even the soles were scuffed and the clothes looked new too.
‘Who owned these?’ asked Viv, holding up an embroidered jacket with silver buttons.
‘I don’t know, Violetirisvacia. I’ve been in Baraghan’s service only a short time.’
‘Their previous owner appears to have been the same size as me,’ said Viv. ‘How fortunate,’ she added sarcastically.
‘Is there anything else you require, Violetirisvacia?’ asked Derisi, hovering in the doorway. Like the other young servers, she had reddish brown hair and blue eyes.
‘Are you elddra?’ asked Viv.
‘Oh no, Violetirisvacia! ‘I’m the daughter of Daril en-Mena-ril.’
The girl’s horror was plain. ‘I don’t need anything else, thank you, Derisi.’
The door clicked shut but Viv stayed where she was. It never got easier being part of a despised group, although it didn’t seem to worry Baraghan. Perhaps he’d planned a fortunate life for himself in Esh-accom, and for other things. According to Caibel, Baraghan had transformed his compound after Fire Zadic, brought Caibel to live with him, and employed Derisi and the other servants, probably including the men he met with now. He’d made the compound into a home—for her? She shrugged.
Cadestone marked the last chance for men to secure children, and Baraghan would have enjoyed many lovers. Perhaps he expected a child or two of his own, and a si-tryst, or even a lein-tryst, and had prepared his compound accordingly.
Yeah, right Vivi. That’s why he’s spent a fortune on a bed cover only you and he would understand. And on the clothes of course, which were obviously new, and probably on the room’s furniture, and on the silver vases, and on their beautifully wrought silver leaves …
Bloody hell! They were glis! Baraghan had transited from Ezam with pockets full of glis leaves! She just hoped he hadn’t topped up his flask with ambrosia as well, or imported a pretty amethyst scarab or two. And what does all this tell ya, Vivi? It bloody well tells me that Baraghan has a fondness for all things Angellus, that might well include her.
Chapter 14
Baraghan’s storm clouds rolled in as Viv hurried across Axian, head down and collar high, but she needn’t have worried about being seen. Those who’d enjoyed the music and stalls sought shelter, while the stall-holders secured their awnings. Viv’s jacket was more decorative than weather-proof, and she broke into a jog as asht-voices filled the air. The wailing unsettled her, even if it were only wind.
She hoped the worsening weather meant the Syld was snug in his compound and his horse was in the stable, but she got no closer to the building than earlier that day.
‘Your business?’ demanded the guard.
‘The same as this morning. Can you tell the Syld I’m here?’
‘Wait,’ the guard ordered, and strode off, but any thoughts of following him were squashed by a second guard near the door.
Viv jigged from foot to foot while she waited. The majellus creaked in the wind and blossoms tumbled to the cobbles, then the guard reappeared carrying her pack and a leather purse.
‘The Syld returns your possessions asks me to tell you his daughter is happy and settled, and that if you love her, you’ll allow her to stay that way,’ he said, handing her the pack. ‘The Syld gifts you coin to secure suitable accommodation during your stay in Esh-accom.’
The size of the purse told Viv it held more money than she’d need for a whole suite of rooms, and anger boiled. ‘Tell the Syld to keep his bribe, and that, unlike him, I’m not motivated by coin. And tell him that I always fulfil my pledges, no matter how long it takes!’
Viv was still infuriated when she reached the Anaten Quarter. She’d pledged Syatha to turn aside from hate but i
t was bloody near impossible with people like the Syld. The wind grew shriller and she didn’t hear the footsteps behind her until she was overtaken, and a man blocked her path. At least he wasn’t some random attacker, she concluded, recognising one of Anfarena’s men.
‘What do you want?’ she demanded, in no mood for bullying.
‘Anfarena requests a meetin’ at her compound.’
The street was empty of help and the weather meant it’d stay that way, but Viv stood her ground. ‘It’s not convenient.’
‘My orders are to be takin’ you there.’
‘I don’t give a shit what your orders are. Anfarena can talk to me tomorrow. I’m going back to my compound.’
The man’s hand fastened on her arm. ‘You’ll be comin’ now, elddra.’
‘The elddra wishes to return to her compound,’ a voice grated behind her. ‘You’ll let her pass.’
The first man drew his knife, and Viv swiveled. The second man was armed too and already crouched. ‘It doesn’t matter…’ she began quickly, dreading a fight, but was knocked aside as the first man sprang.
Flesh thudded into flesh as the men struggled on the ground. ‘Stop!’ she begged, as their knives flashed, but it was a strangled cry that ended the fight. The second man rose panting, and wiped the blood from his knife on the prone man’s jacket.
‘I’m Ershen en-Esh-accom,’ he said, with a bow. ‘Baraghan en-Esh-accom charged me with your care. I’ll escort you back to his compound.’
‘You … you can’t just leave him there,’ said Viv, clutching her stomach as nausea surged. ‘The wound’s small. He’ll make it to his compound. Come, rain is close. Baraghan
Esh-accom won’t want you getting wet.’
Viv trudged along beside her rescuer, grimly contemplating Anfarena’s willingness to use force. Her best bet would be to take herself off to Tahsin’s sett, except she wanted to see Poss and, she conceded, spite the Syld.
Her experiences in the erathi were fading but not their truths. She’d gotten into a car full of druggies because of hatred, and a child had died. It made no difference the hatred had been turned against herself. Hatred fed the rats of memory too, robbing her of any chance of happiness. Hatred for Jimmy Wright; for the men who’d abused her; for the systems that had failed to protect her. Since then, her only moments of happiness had been in The Wheel: joining with Thris; finding Poss; living in Tahsin’s sett, and even if Thris and Poss were ultimately lost to her, Tahsin’s welcome gave her the hope of happiness—if she turned from hatred.
Viv was hungry when she reached Baraghan’s compound and had to use the latrines, something she hadn’t done since her first days in Ezam. Despite Erath being an angel fold, she’d returned more human than when she’d left. The compound was quiet, which suited her, and she went to her room and pulled a chair to the window to watch the rain pound the courtyard. The shrubs bent under its onslaught, and the fountain’s water slopped from its basin, but the courtyard shone, waking an intense longing, for what, she didn’t know.
She picked up her pack and upended it on the bed. The Syld had tossed her jewellery in and she lay it to one side and sorted the clothes. Ithreya’s cast offs showed signs of wear but they came with no strings attached, and Viv preferred them to Baraghan’s.
She folded the clothes neatly back into her pack and slipped the chain and owl tribute-charm over her head, holding the cool metal against her skin until it warmed. Sehereden had promised her a lein-tryst but she’d always known the Syld made that impossible. The zadics in Erath Fold had changed her, and if Sehereden had spent them with Ithreya, they’d have changed him too.
She slipped the amè casque on next. She didn’t believe amès protected anyone in death but the locks of hair gave her parts of Sehereden and Poss, that she’d keep close to her heart, no matter what happened. That left the Waradi tryst-bracelet. She turned it over in her hands. It was beautiful but had cost her dearly, including a slash to the arm when she’d retrieved it to free the Lefer; the breaking of Poss’s tenuous trust early in their time together; and the target the Syld needed for his hatred of all things Angellus.
And yet, she refused to relinquish it. The Waradi rapist had used it to claim her and the Syld to reject her but she’d survived both and the bracelet reminded her of the fact. It was also good to flash it occasionally under the Syld’s nose.
There was a knock but before she could move, Baraghan strode in. It was lucky she wasn’t dressing, concluded Viv acidly, and resolved to wedge the door with a chair in future. His eyes narrowed as he took in the bracelet but his anger was for the elddra.
‘Ershen reports the man was willing to use force on you,’ he said, prowling round the room.
‘Did you order Ershen to guard me?’
‘My men ensure those of my compound are safe.’
‘I’m not of your compound.’
Baraghan’s smile snapped back into place. ‘Forgive my turn of phrase, Violet Iris Vacia. I meant guests of my compound.’
‘I don’t want your men to follow me around,’ said Viv, taken aback by how quickly he could turn on the charm.
‘If you’re asking me to abandon you to those who would harm you, I must beg your pardon in advance, for failing to do so, Violet Iris Vacia.’
‘The elddra don’t intend to harm me,’ said Viv, but she sounded unconvincing, even to her own ears.
‘Yet.’ Baraghan settled on the bed beside her. ‘The elddra have shown only the more pleasing parts of their natures, so far, but make no mistake, Violet Iris Vacia, they’ll do whatever’s necessary to achieve their masters’ goals.’ Baraghan smiled again. ‘Of course, you could show them a rift and rid The Wheel of them forever. It would solve a lot of problems, Violet Iris Vacia.’
‘Only here. I don’t have the right to inflict them on another fold. It would be a massive act of transference, apart from anything else.’
‘Transference?’
Viv went to the mantle, glad of the excuse to put some distance between them, and brandished the vase of glis. ‘This shouldn’t be here, Baraghan. Didn’t the Host warn you against taking things from one fold to another?’
‘They might have mentioned it,’ he said, with a shrug, ‘but I’ve always been attracted to beauty,’ he added softly. Viv said nothing and he picked up the bracelet. ‘As you are, unless there’s another reason you have a Waradi tryst-bracelet.’
‘According to Ataghan en-Scinta-ril, it’s a gift from my Waradi lover in payment for my spying services here.’
‘Is that what his lein believes too?’
‘I no longer know what Sehereden believes. I haven’t seen him since Fire Zadic.’
‘You visited Ataghan en-Scinta-ril’s compound again this afternoon?’
‘Yes, for all the good it did me. At least he returned my belongings. The only way I’m going to see my lein is to hang around Axian.’
‘You won’t see her that way,’ said Baraghan brusquely. ‘She’ll be kept inside until you’re gone or Ataghan en-Scinta-ril takes her back to his sett. If you want to see your lein, Violet Iris Vacia, you’re going to have to leave.’
‘I don’t see how …’
Baraghan raised his hand. ‘What I should have said is, you’re going to have to pretend to leave.’
Viv strode through Esh-accom’s gates the next day at noon, and was still in view of the walls when she struck sunwise towards the forests. But she didn’t enter them. She needed to remain visible to the men Anfarena would send after her, and to the men Baraghan had put in place last night to intercept them. At least the elddra’s pursuit would reinforce the impression she’d gone to other watchers.
Baraghan’s compound believed she headed to the Kama-ril, as did the men assigned to prevent the elddra troubling her. Only Caibel and Ershen knew the truth. They’d ride out later that day, Caibel on the back of Ershen’s horse, with his hood drawn close. The boy was similar to her in size, to the casual observer, or to others who had no reason to stare. And
at dusk, Viv would ride back in, clad in Caibel’s cloak, and take up residence in the compound of Caibel’s mother.
Caibel would camp at Stelin Ridge. It was the last place Viv wanted to spend the night, but he’d seemed untroubled by sleeping amongst bones, his face aglow at sharing information denied to nearly everyone else.
Viv wondered what his choose-father thought about Caibel shifting to his mentor’s compound, and whether he knew he wasn’t Caibel’s seed-father. Jimmy Wright would have murdered Lettie and her, if he’d known he’d raised Kald’s child, not that raised described the chaos she’d survived.
She wouldn’t be at the other compound long anyway. Once she’d assured herself Poss was well, she’d leave, taking to the air as soon as she reached the forests. The elddra and the Syld would soon discover her presence anyway, and she had no intention of confronting either. Baraghan had assured her she’d blend in when he’d presented her with the heavily embroidered scarf, called an Enda’s Emblem, that women wore over their hair during Cadestone, regardless of whether they carried, in honour of Enda.
One way or other, Baraghan had gone to a lot of trouble on her behalf, and she wondered when he’d call in the debt. Getting one up on the Syld probably wasn’t enough compensation, but he was to be disappointed if he expected her to jump into bed with him. There’d been times when she had traded herself for safety or food, but those days were gone. She had a place with Tahsin now, paid for by working in the retsen stands. She looked forward to seeing his grizzled mop of hair again, and to Doran’s simple smile. She even missed Enesha’s scowl.
The trees echoed with strange birdsong, and green-breasted birds searched for unnamed insects in the bark. She’d learn all their names, and the names of the trees, and the names of The Wheel’s animals. She was going to make her home here. The idea was unfamiliar, and scary, but she smiled.