Lintang and the Brightest Star

by Tamara Moss

  Lintang shuddered. Stuck alone, without ancestors, friends, loved ones – forever? What kind of fate was that?

  Bayani and Yamini looked as worried as she felt.

  ‘It won’t matter,’ she said, pushing her fear down. ‘Don’t you remember? There’s an unless.’ She set her jaw. ‘We’ll figure out what the second prophecy means. We’ll save the captain, no matter what it takes.’

  The ship travelled northwest, straight towards Kaneko Brown. Despite everyone’s fears, the voyage was smooth sailing, even without the lightning bird. It wasn’t a long journey. They had passed through the island chain on Lintang’s first trip aboard the Winda, but they hadn’t stopped, and Lintang had caught nothing but ribbons of land to the north and south.

  Lintang and Bayani celebrated their birthdays after Mratzi’s season began. Lintang was three days older than Bayani, so they had a joint party on a day in the middle. Pelita celebrated her birthday too, since she didn’t remember when her real birthday was. Dee cooked a scrumptious meal of deep water crabs, silvertail mousse, eel pie, buttered salmon and seafood pancakes. Quahah, Mei and Zazi entertained them with songs on their instruments. Then they played rouls until the dawn bell.

  Everything was almost as wonderful as Lintang’s last two trips, but not quite. She felt the absence of the lightning bird. Sometimes, when she sat in the upper basket with Pelita, she found herself watching the skies for a black dot in the blue. And if she wasn’t having nightmares about Captain Shafira fading away, she was dreaming of her mother’s last words.

  ‘Lintang, please! When?’

  Now Governor Jani had seen Lintang escape with Captain Shafira, Lintang would be a wanted criminal like the rest of the Winda’s crew. Her return home had been put on hold indefinitely. She had left Desa without realising she might not see it – or her family – ever again.

  When they had almost reached Kaneko Brown, Captain Shafira called for Lintang, Xiang, Mei and Kona to join her in the captain’s cabin. The room was the same as Lintang remembered, with its desk covered in papil and bottles of ink, jars filled with gems, the map spread across the wall and curtains draped around the bed. Outside the tall, paned window, the day was bright and cloudless. The sun shone on the gemstones, scattering coloured light around them.

  ‘We need to talk strategies,’ Captain Shafira said, closing the door behind her. ‘We don’t have much time left. The Zulttania has called for a summit with the governors in less than half a season’s time. She’s sent out people to gather leaders from other countries in the UR who aren’t happy with the Vierzans. They’ll be attending the summit too.’

  ‘She even sent my brother Chess to Caletrom to speak to the Tsar,’ Kona said. At Lintang’s blank expression, he added, ‘The ruler of the country. We’re hoping the Tsar will offer his army to help Allay.’

  ‘So … this is bigger than a few allies from Kaneko Brown, then,’ Lintang said.

  Xiang, Mei and Kona laughed, and even Captain Shafira smiled. ‘The Zulttania took your suggestion to talk to her enemies very seriously. Our job is only small in comparison to hers, but it’s important. The rebels in Kaneko Brown should be allowed to explain why they’re doing everything they can to get the Vierzans out of their country.’ She unrolled a map that was more detailed than any Lintang had seen before. The labels were done in both Vierz and characters from another language. It was of all seven hundred islands that made up Kaneko Brown. ‘Unfortunately, we wasted a lot of time trying to get you back, so we won’t have a chance to find every rebel ourselves.’

  ‘I’m sorry –’ Lintang started, but Captain Shafira spoke over her.

  ‘Don’t apologise. I said I wasn’t going to come here without you, and I meant it.’

  Mei pointed to a large island in the east, closest to where they were now. ‘The circus will be in Nuliata if they’re following their usual schedule, which is where the summit is due to take place.’

  Mei had lost her parents in the Kaneko Brown war and had joined a circus that was actually a secret group of Kanekonese people fighting back against the Vierzans. Lintang didn’t know much about circuses. Mei had tried to explain it to her once, but it sounded wild, like something out of a story. The leader of the circus had chosen Mei because she was small and nimble, and young enough to be overlooked by Vierzans – a perfect rebel.

  ‘They have the names and locations of the rest of the Scorpalla,’ Mei continued. ‘They’ll be able to send whisperers out with a message to meet us at the summit.’

  ‘Scorpalla?’ Lintang said.

  ‘The biggest rebel group in Kaneko Brown,’ Kona said. ‘In Kanekonese stories, the Goddess Mratzi was always accompanied by an animal called a scorpalla, sort of like a scorpion, but with three heads and two tails.’

  ‘Those in the circus will also be able to supply us with bahatsi powder, strategies and inside information,’ Captain Shafira said. ‘And they have spies helping them from the Vierzan side.’

  ‘Like Kona used to,’ Lintang said. She tapped the map of Nuliata thoughtfully. ‘So … what do the Scopalla actually do?’

  ‘Lots of things,’ Mei said. ‘We trade amulets and idols in secret, because remember, worship of the Three Gods is forbidden in Kaneko Brown.’

  ‘But why? Just because the Vierzans hate the Gods doesn’t mean they should force you to stop praying.’

  The Vierzans had first thought the Gods had sent mythies to wipe out humanity, and even though they knew the truth now – that mythies were just people with a second star of life – it only made them angrier that the Gods had allowed it to happen.

  ‘It’s terrible, yes,’ Mei said. ‘Many Kanekonese are worried the Gods won’t be happy without worship, which is why the Scorpalla risk punishment to keep trading amulets. We also free people who have been imprisoned for speaking out against the UR, just like Xiang and I freed the prisoners in your mines.’

  ‘The Vierzans weren’t as subtle with their takeover of Kaneko Brown as they’re being with the Twin Islands,’ Kona said. ‘Once they won the war, they made the Kanekonese give up not just their religion, but their culture, language – everything. Because they used force, the Kanekonese people having been rising up to fight back, violently.’

  Lintang traced her finger over the bigger islands of Kaneko Brown. ‘People are fighting in Desa too.’

  ‘Not as hard as they’re fighting in Kaneko Brown.’ Mei sounded sad. ‘My country is war-torn. The Kanekonese use bahatsi powder to blow up buildings; Vierzans retaliate by hanging suspects. Sometimes entire villages are wiped out. And in the bigger cities, there’s news of an explosion or a hanging every day.’

  ‘Is Nuliata one of those cities?’

  ‘It has been, in the past,’ Mei said. ‘But I haven’t been there for a long time. I haven’t stepped foot on Kaneko Brown land for five years.’

  ‘Well, prepare yourself,’ Captain Shafira said. ‘Because soon, you’re going home.’

  Nuliata was a coastal city, its waters lined with towering rocks as big as mountains. From afar, the rocks had looked like jagged teeth silhouetted in the sunset. The Winda arrived under the cover of twilight and they dropped anchor on the northern side of an isolated rock, hidden from view both from those on the island and those sailing through.

  ‘I’ve chosen my landing party,’ Captain Shafira announced as Zazi prepared a single rowboat. ‘I can’t go, because my face is well known in Kaneko Brown. And Kona can’t go, since that Wanted dispatch is worldwide.’

  Lintang allowed herself a shaky breath of relief. She’d been strung tight ever since they’d spotted land. At least Captain Shafira wouldn’t be going ashore yet.

  ‘Mei is our representative,’ the captain continued. ‘The Vierzans don’t know she’s travelling with me, and the circus people trust her. Mei, you’re to tell them of the Zulttania’s plan and make sure they send the message out to the rest of the Scorpalla.’

  ‘Yes, Captain,’ Mei said.

  ‘Yamini, as you’re part-V
ierzan, you’ll be Mei’s backup.’

  Yamini lifted her gaze to meet the captain’s. A mixture of amazement and joy crossed her face.

  ‘You can blend into the city crowds without anyone being suspicious,’ Captain Shafira explained. ‘Lintang, you’ll go too.’

  Yamini’s joyful expression twisted into a scowl.

  ‘Me?’ Lintang said.

  ‘I need you to make sure nothing goes wrong. You won’t be able to take weapons with you onto the shore, but you can be my ears and voice in Kaneko Brown.’

  Lintang beamed. Captain Shafira had named Lintang her ‘moral gorata’, meaning Lintang would always point her the right way, like a constellation guiding a ship. It seemed she was serious, if she was sending Lintang in her place.

  ‘How will she blend in?’ Yamini demanded.

  ‘Fetch the coat on my bed,’ Captain Shafira said.

  Yamini left, giving Lintang a suspicious glare, before returning with a beautiful hooded, fur-lined coat. It was as blue as the deepest ocean.

  ‘Looks a bit small for you there, Captain,’ squawked Farah-the-clam-shell.

  ‘It’s for Lintang.’

  Lintang’s mouth fell open. ‘For me?’

  Captain Shafira passed it over, and Lintang ran her fingers along the material. It was what she imagined it would be like to touch a cloud.

  ‘Keep the hood up to cover your face while you’re in public,’ Captain Shafira said.

  Lintang took off the coat she’d borrowed from Avalon and wrapped herself in her new one. It was perfect; not only soft, but incredibly warm.

  ‘Here.’ Avalon stepped forward. ‘These wooden things are called toggles. You can slip them into the loops on the opposite side, and you won’t have to worry about holding the coat closed all the time.’

  Lintang held out her arms to inspect her new appearance. ‘I love it. Thank you, Captain.’

  ‘You’re welcome. Zazi, the boat.’

  Zazi held the rowboat steady for them to hop into. Lintang hugged Bayani and Pelita, and then she, Yamini and Mei were lowered down and they set off into the briny-smelling darkness. Mei and Yamini rowed through the choppy water. Lintang caught bursts of light from Nuliata between the rocks, but it was only once they’d passed the barriers that she had a full view of the city’s magnificence.

  Buildings sprawled along the coastline, illuminated with the white glow of hundreds – thousands – of merry lights. Before, she had thought the sun was still shining beyond the horizon, but now she could see the line of brightness was from the city alone. Huge bridges made of moss-covered rock arched high over the buildings like earthen rainbows. The buildings themselves were tall and narrow, but also crooked, like a child had carelessly made towers out of mismatched stones. They looked impossible and wondrous.

  Odd streaks glimmered in the waves around the boat. When the light hit them, they shone different colours. ‘What’s that?’ Lintang said.

  ‘That would be the work of Vierzans,’ Mei said. ‘Don’t touch it – it can be poisonous. The factories up the coast make a lot of waste that seeps down here.’

  Lintang imagined Desa’s lagoon stained with the dangerous colourful streaks and shuddered. Elder Wulan had taught her about factories at school, and spoken of how wonderful it was that Vierzans could make lots of everything, so there was enough food and clothes and supplies for all citizens. She hadn’t mentioned what happened to the water.

  The night was clear and cold. Lintang hugged herself and watched her breath steam in the shine of the city. Her nose ran and her eyes watered.

  Mei and Yamini rowed the boat around many ships harboured behind the safety of the barrier rocks. The wooden Kanekonese vessels stood out against the steel of the UR navy. They were squat, long things in the shape of a large house, with a monster’s face at the front. All the monsters were different – some had horns, others had their mouths open to reveal serpentine fangs, others still had snouts with rings through their nostrils. The only thing that was the same were the stumps in the middle of each roof.

  ‘We used to have statues of Mratzi on all our ships,’ Mei said when Lintang asked about them. ‘We worship Mratzi over the other Gods.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because she’s the one to place our star in the sky after the harvest. We want her to hang us high with our ancestors, and treat us with care. But all ship statues had to be cut off once the Vierzans took over.’ Mei leaned forward and pointed somewhere in the centre of the coastline. ‘See that? The overgrown tree?’

  ‘I see it,’ Lintang said, breathing on her hands to return some feeling to her frosty fingers. It was so much more than an overgrown tree. It was taller than the buildings, bulbous at the bottom, with branches twisting out from all sides then capped like mushrooms. Thick ropes of ivy linked one branch to another. The top almost reached one of the earthen bridges. Yellow lanterns wrapped around the entire thing, so it shone like a star.

  ‘That’s the circus,’ Mei said.

  ‘The circus is a tree?’

  ‘Not really. It’s made from fabric designed to look like one. It can be deflated and packed up for travelling.’

  ‘But it seems so real!’

  Mei laughed. ‘That’s the point of a Kanekonese circus. To make impossible things seem real.’

  A bright spark shot up above the circus and exploded like a fiery flower over the branches. Then another one. And another. The fire flowers were blue and red and yellow and orange.

  ‘Skyfire,’ Mei said. ‘It’s a warning that the show’s about to start. I’m glad the circus still has the nerve to use it.’

  ‘Why?’ Lintang said.

  ‘Because,’ Mei said, ‘skyfire is how the war began.’

  DRAGONS AROUND THE WORLD

  Fyredragon

  The fyredragon (snapikilo) is a Kanekonese dragon that grows up to three measures in length. It has blue scales, with a crest of white feathers. There are four wings, two behind the shoulder blades and two at the hips, to keep its long body aloft. Its claws are made of moonstones. It glows under yellow light.

  In Kanekonese myths, fyredragons are often tamed and kept as companions on long journeys, sometimes ridden if they are friendly enough. They are found on mountaintops in the snow. The Kanekonese circus, Volant Reverie, uses fyredragons in their show.

  ‘Kaneko Brown and Vierz have never been on good terms – especially since the Vierzans started blaming the Gods for the mythie infestation. Which is why, when the Vierzans visited twenty-one years ago, they didn’t recognise skyfire as a celebration. They thought it was an attack.’

  ‘Wait, the Kanekonese weren’t attacking the Vierzans?’ Lintang said. ‘Elder Wulan told us the Kanekonese started the war.’

  Mei smiled sadly. ‘Of course she did. She’s Vierzan.’

  She and Yamini rowed between two larger docks to a small jetty where several other rowboats were already tied up. Lintang lifted her hood to hide her face.

  ‘The Vierzans retreated and returned with armies from all over the United Regions. We weren’t prepared. They took down the kingdom within a year, and overruled our country.’

  Yamini scoffed, dropping her oar to massage her palms. ‘Sounds like they were using the skyfire incident as an excuse to start a war and force Kaneko Brown to join the UR.’

  ‘We suspect so,’ Mei said. ‘But they claim it was a “cross-cultural miscommunication”, and are now using it as a reason to combine all cultures into one. That way there won’t be anymore miscommunications.’

  ‘That’s ridiculous,’ Lintang said as Mei tied their boat to the jetty.

  Mei climbed the wooden ladder and offered a hand to Yamini and Lintang. ‘Don’t say that to the Vierzans around here. They’ll lock you up.’

  The entrance to the circus was right on the fore-shore, so they didn’t have far to walk before they could go through the hollow that served as the front door. It was much warmer inside. All the bodies, plus the heat from the yellow lanterns, melted away th
e cold that had settled on Lintang’s exposed skin. Vigil watched from the sidelines, swords at their hips as they scanned the latest arrivals. They didn’t smile or make conversation like the vigil on Desa.

  ‘Odd,’ Mei murmured, scanning the crowd. ‘See how the Kanekonese are keeping to themselves? That’s not how I remember it. Wealthy Kanekonese would often mingle with Vierzans.’

  It didn’t look like that now. The Kanekonese seemed tense and strained.

  The Vierzans either didn’t notice or didn’t care. They bought all kinds of trinkets from stalls near the front – paintings and colourful clothing, crafted dolls and wooden games. Lintang reached for her necklace, hidden beneath her clothes. She imagined the things she could buy with her sunstone.

  ‘People are going in,’ Yamini said.

  Mei purchased their tickets with a gem the colour of the sunset. They each got a tag with a number on it. Some people followed a path straight ahead, but others were going up a wide set of stairs beneath the tall, arching ceiling.

  ‘We’re up there,’ Mei said, pointing to the staircase. ‘We’ve got seats near the top.’

  It was five flights before they reached their tier. Lintang’s legs ached after the climb, and Yamini was wheezing. Eire would’ve made good use of these stairs for her endurance training.

  They arrived on a balcony filled with tables overlooking a circular stage far below. All around were other balconies, on other tiers. It was like a chatty rainforest canopy, smelling of perfume and salt and sticky drinks. Rope stretched from one balcony to the next like strings of spider web.

  Lintang moved her chair right by the railing so she could see everything. They were one of the last groups to arrive. Everyone else was waiting. There was a sense of anticipation in the way they all leaned down to peer at the stage.

  Then, as one, the yellow lanterns dimmed. There were gasps from people who hadn’t expected it, and laughs from the ones who must’ve already seen the show.

  Mei flexed and curled her fingers. ‘It feels strange being back here.’