The Last Mayor's Son

by Leslie E Heath

  Faruz struggled to carry Aibek’s torso up the steep staircase while Dalan took his feet. He glanced up as they passed Ahren standing near the top of the stairs. What was she doing here? Instead of asking, he grunted and hoisted his unconscious friend onto a nearby bench. Alija had shown him how the seats could come off for easy repair. In this case, they removed it to use as a stretcher to carry Aibek home.

  I hope he’ll be all right, Faruz worried. He needs to heal fast so he can see how incredible the people here are.

  Valasa led the way back to his home, and a silent Ahren trailed behind. Bits of Valasa’s grumbling carried to Faruz as they walked.

  “We need to find a way to remove that catch,” Faruz heard him say, “It just isn’t safe to let those stairs fall like that. Someone could be seriously hurt.”

  If he hadn’t been so concerned about Aibek, Faruz probably would have laughed. As it was, he stifled a grin and hoisted the bench a little higher.

  ~*~

  “I can’t believe they’ve locked us in here,” Eddrick lamented again. “I even promised not to have any contact with the living, if they would only let me watch him come home.”

  “I know this is hard, but would you have done anything different if you had known what the punishment would be?” Kiri asked calmly, without looking up from the scarf she was knitting.

  “I would have suffered through much more to keep my son alive, and you know it.” He replied gruffly, as he came and flopped down onto the sofa next to her. “I don’t think anything could have made me sit back and watch him walk into an ambush. If we hadn’t intervened, he’d have come looking for the village after graduation. He was already making plans.” He wadded up the tangle of yarn she’d been working with and tossed it to her other side. “Tavan would have killed him on sight. We had to do something!”

  “Well, then stop your grumbling and serve your sentence. You just need to find something to occupy your mind. We’ve already made it a week,” Kiri reminded her husband. “Three more and we can see how he’s settled in. I hope he’s making friends with Valasa’s boy.”

  “How am I supposed to ‘occupy my mind’? I’m glad you have your knitting, but I make a mess when I try making things from yarn.” He moaned, jumped up, and paced the room again. “You know I can’t have a forge in here! It has to stay an exact replica of our rooms in Nivaka.” He shook his head in frustration.

  “There must be something you can do besides complaining. Don’t you have any more ideas to plan out? You’ve been planning the next step in Aibek’s life since the day he was born. Don’t tell me you’ve run out of inspiration now.”

  “I don’t complain! I’m just not a ‘sit and watch’ kind of person. I need to take charge. It’s what I’ve always done.” Eddrick pounded his fist into his palm to emphasize his words.

  “I know, I know.” She stood and crossed the room to join him by the window. “That’s one of the things that made you such an excellent mayor. We’ll think of something to keep you busy…”

  ~*~

  All through the night, Faruz stayed by Aibek’s side. Serik checked on them frequently and supplied broth for the patient and snacks for his dedicated friend. Faruz spent the time making sure the cloths on Aibek’s head were fresh and cool. He rinsed them frequently in the washbasin he’d dragged into the bedroom.

  In the early light of dawn, Aibek, at last, awakened. He suffered a stabbing headache but otherwise felt like himself. He asked for a bath first, hoping the heat would help soothe his aching back and head. Then he wanted to sit with his friends and learn what had happened yesterday. Most of his escapade in the forest was a bit of a blur.

  As they sat around the fireplace, drinking famanc and eating warm muffins, someone knocked softly on the door, and Valasa entered the room.

  “Ah, wonderful, you’re awake. How does your head feel?” His face showed his concern as he looked at the freshly cleaned wound on Aibek’s head. It was the first time Aibek had heard him speak softly.

  “It hurts a bit, but I’m sure I’ll be fine in no time.”

  “I’m so sorry about last night.” Valasa murmured. “I guess it’s a good thing shadow wood is so light. If it had been heavier, like oak or even pine, that would have been a very serious accident.”

  “What exactly did happen?” Aibek frowned, struggling to remember. “I know I was surrounded, and I couldn’t find the stairs. The next thing I knew, I was waking up here with a splitting headache.” Aibek gingerly probed the sore spot on the back of his head.

  Faruz explained the events of the evening, but Aibek didn’t understand how the stairs had fallen fast enough to knock him down. They had taken several minutes when he’d lowered them to explore the forest. He shook his head and asked a different question.

  “But who were those people, and why were they attacking me? I didn’t do anything to provoke them.” The confusion was making Aibek’s headache even worse.

  “We’ve been enemies with the elves and dwarves for hundreds of years,” Valasa said pressing his fingers near the wound on Aibek’s head. “They’re the reason Nivaka was built in the trees, rather than on the ground.”

  “Ouch!” Aibek exclaimed when the healer moved to press his sore ribs.

  Valasa moved his hands away from the sore spot. “Our ancestors signed a treaty several generations ago. It allows us to come and go as we please during daylight hours, but as soon as the sun sets, we’re trespassing if we’re on the ground.”

  The healer reached into his shirt for a vial of ointment, which he rubbed gently onto the bruises on Aibek’s torso as he spoke.

  “They most likely followed and watched you as long as you were on the ground, then attacked as soon as the sun set. That’s been their pattern for hundreds of years. We haven’t had a lot of trouble in the past several years, since we’ve all had to be in our homes so early, anyway. I’d nearly forgotten about that old animosity, but clearly, they have not.”

  He cocked his head to the side and stared out the window for a long moment, then continued with a shrug. “I’ve heard that their village, Kasanto, isn’t far from here, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it. They’re experts at camouflage.”

  Later that afternoon, Aibek sat by the empty fireplace. A soft knock sounded on the door. He waited to see if one of his friends would enter, but the door didn’t open. His head was still throbbing, so he moved slowly as he rose from the chair and went to see who was there. Before he could get to the door, he heard the knock a second time—just one soft tap on the outer door.

  “Hold on; I’m coming.” It was frustrating to have to move so slowly, but his head spun if he tried to walk any faster. He crossed the room at a snail’s pace, then finally made it to the door. He inhaled sharply and wobbled a bit on his feet at the shock of seeing Ahren standing there. He closed his eyes against the dizziness and considered closing the door and going back to his chair, but instead, he opened it farther and invited her into his sitting room. He left the door open to alleviate any concerns about propriety.

  She entered the room without a sound and walked to a chair, but stood beside it instead of sitting. She watched as he slowly crossed the room and lowered himself into his favorite seat, and still said nothing. When the awkward silence had stretched for several minutes, Aibek had to say something.

  “Is there something I can do for you?”

  “Umm… yes.” She paused and chewed on her lower lip. “I, um, wanted to say I’m sorry.” She dropped into the chair and brushed her hair back from her face before she continued. “I shouldn’t have been so awful to you, and I shouldn’t have said the things I did.”

  Aibek cocked his head, trying to figure out what had changed. “Did you mean them when you said them?”

  “Well… yes… but that doesn’t make it right.” She picked at the skin around her fingernails. “I should have given you a chance to explain your absence first.”

  “I think I understand.” Aibek’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. �
�You feel guilty because I got hurt. If I hadn’t left the village—hadn’t gotten hurt—would you be here now?”

  Some of the anger he had seen the day before flared again in her eyes. “I don’t know,” she snapped. “I just know that I feel awful about what happened.”

  He spoke calmly, though the ghost previous day’s hurt and anger stirred in his chest. “I don’t need your pity or your guilt. But if you truly want to talk about it, I’d be happy to put yesterday behind us.”

  “Look, I just wanted to apologize and make sure you were okay, and I have, and you are. That’s enough for me.” She stood and stormed out of his room, though she stopped to close the door gently after her.

  Aibek’s pulse pounded in his ears as he tried to decipher her last statement. He wasn’t sure what she’d said, but he understood she had no interest in smoothing things over. He sighed and decided to take a nap. His headache was getting worse as the day went on. He burrowed under the blankets, still fully dressed, and drifted off to a peaceful slumber.

  ~*~

  Ahren rushed down the hall away from Aibek’s room.

  How could I have thought that would be a good idea? Who can I talk to that’ll understand?

  All of her friends had bought Dalan’s story that Aibek and Faruz were the greatest thing that could have happened to the village.

  I know, I’ll go talk to Tamyr. She doesn’t think a city visitor should be the mayor, either. Maybe she’ll have some idea how to stop this craziness. Really, how dare he talk to me like that! Like I was some… some… child who didn’t understand how to make up for my mistakes! Really! Would it have killed him to accept my apology?

  She fumed all the way to the washhouse at the edge of town where Tamyr worked. It was a large, three-story building perpetually in need of a coat of paint. The slate gray finish was flaking in places and completely gone in others, revealing aging wood beneath. The windows were so dingy Ahren doubted anyone could see through them, but the peaked roof had been replaced the previous summer, so it still looked new. The dried sap gave it a deep red color similar to the other buildings in town.

  Ahren strode to the weathered front door and walked in without knocking. She passed through two large, open rooms where women stood folding piles of linen. She didn’t stop until she stepped into the cavernous space she recognized as the rinsing room. She could usually find her friend there. Half a dozen flushed faces looked up when the door opened. It was uncomfortably warm in the room, even with all the windows propped open. Every woman in the room wore faded gray breeches and matching short-sleeved shirts. Each one wore something to cover her front. Some of the younger women wore towels tied over their shirts, while the more experienced, higher-ranking women wore heavy aprons. Ahren felt out of place in her bright green dress. She turned to search the room for Tamyr, trying not to compare herself to these women. They performed a valuable service.

  An enormous tub filled with gray water filled the center of the room. The women stirred it constantly with long sticks. Ahren had been there once before, so she knew they were rinsing the soap out of the newly washed linens. The women all lived there, in the upstairs rooms and worked for the village elders who had homes on the Square. It was the women’s jobs to make sure each house on the Square had clean linens at least twice a week, though that had become much easier since they didn’t have to wash for Tavan’s battalion anymore.

  Ahren scanned the women and found the kindly face she was searching for.

  “Ahren! Is everything all right?” Tamyr stepped away from the basin and dried her hands on the towel tied around her waist.

  “Do you have time to talk?” Ahren asked.

  “Of course. I’m due for a break.”

  Ahren’s shoulders slumped a little in relief. She waited while her friend excused herself and followed Tamyr into the courtyard behind the wash house.

  “What’s happened?” Tamyr asked gently.

  A tear rolled down Ahren’s face and she swiped at it as she seated herself on one of the benches lining the courtyard. She hated that she cried when she was angry. She told Tamyr all that had happened the day before on the tour and that morning in Aibek’s sitting room. When she’d finished, she leaned back against the bench, her anger exhausted.

  Tamyr shook her head. “Why are you letting him get to you like this? You know we’re going to get rid of them.”

  Ahren sniffed. “I know. It’s just that my whole family thinks he’s so great. I wanted to see that he could be decent, I guess.” She leaned forward and stared over the rail at the moss-covered ground below. “So what do we do now?”

  Tamyr’s grinned. “I have a few ideas. Give me a little time to get them together.”

  9

  Messengers

  The week passed without incident while Aibek remained indoors to allow his injuries to heal. He spent hours every day staring out the window at the bustling village, yearning to get out and meet everyone. However, he rested without complaint—partly because too much movement made his head hurt, but mainly because he didn’t want to offend his hosts. They were solicitous and made sure he never needed anything for more than a moment. Even Ahren went out of her way to offer him anything she thought he might want at dinner. In fact, he was starting to feel a little suffocated. He didn’t need another blanket, or a glass of water, a cookie, or another sip of famanc. He wanted to be outside, to hear the birds in the trees and breathe the fresh scents of the forest.

  While he was recovering, several of the village leaders stopped by to introduce themselves and to inquire about his health. It was quickly apparent to Aibek that the people had dearly loved his parents, and the older villagers were eager to appoint him as a leader in their places. Their implicit trust flattered him, and he assured them he would do his best.

  He used some of his free time to consider Ahren’s accusations.

  Do others in the village feel the same way? He wondered. I’ll have to take things more slowly.

  He didn’t want to be seen as another appointed governor, taking control of a village he didn’t care about. **Honestly, I’m not sure I want to be the mayor at all; I’d be perfectly content just to help them form an army and teach them to fight.

  Finally, the morning came when he woke without the slightest trace of a headache.

  When Serik and Faruz came for their daily chat and famanc, he explained his plan to get outside and meet the people.

  “Finally!” Faruz shouted. “I’ve been dying to get back out there.”

  Serik nodded. “Just be sure you don’t overdo it.”

  Valasa and Ayja tried to convince Aibek to spend one more day resting, but he insisted on joining the day’s activities.

  Faruz had told him about his day fencing and practicing with his new friends, and Aibek could hardly wait to join their group today. He was dressed and ready long before his friends joined him for breakfast, and had his sword strapped on before the sun had risen. He couldn’t wait to get some exercise after so much time indoors.

  Aibek fidgeted as they approached the Pavilion. Anxious to be accepted, he tried to plan every word he would say. Once they arrived, he noticed that the locals pressed close together and maintained their distance. They murmured amongst themselves until Faruz stepped forward to make the introductions.

  “Everyone, this is Aibek.” He gestured behind him to his friend. “And this is Kai, Alija, and Wayra.” He pointed to each one in turn.

  All at once, the friends rushed forward to meet the newcomer for themselves.

  Aibek gave a short laugh and flashed a shy smile. “I’m so glad to meet you all.”

  Wayra frowned. “Well, why haven’t you come before now? We expected to meet you last week.”

  “You mean Dalan didn’t tell you?” Aibek laughed. “There was a bit of a… um… accident… the day after I arrived.”

  Alija cocked his head to the side and looked at the stranger with a confused expression. “No, no one said anything about an accident. What happen
ed?”

  “Well, you see…” Aibek began, then quickly relayed the tale of his wanderings on the ground, without mentioning his argument with Ahren. Faruz filled in the gaps, and before they’d finished, the whole group was laughing so hard they could barely breathe.

  “Wait, so you’re saying you ended up with a staircase falling on your head? That was the grand rescue? That’s hilarious!” Alija could barely speak for laughing. Once he had regained his composure, he clapped a hand on Aibek’s shoulder and welcomed him to Nivaka, then led him to the park where they liked to train.

  Aibek smiled and inhaled deeply as they walked to the park. The whole village smelled of an intoxicating blend of summer flowers, wood smoke, and spicy foods cooking. They spent the morning fencing and working on stances before they headed to the north end of the village for a picnic lunch with some of Valasa’s friends.

  When they arrived, the crowd startled Aibek. At least a hundred people had gathered in the small park and milled about in clusters and groups.

  Ayja greeted Aibek and Faruz with a wide smile. “I think our small picnic got a little out of hand. I hope you don’t mind. Everyone wants a chance to get to know you.”

  Faruz laughed and said, “That’s fine with me! I want to meet all of them, too.”

  Dalan led Aibek and Faruz through the park, introducing them to each person. The group of sparring partners stayed together through the luncheon. Several young ladies gathered to meet the man who would likely be the new mayor, and Aibek tried to be gracious and friendly despite the nervous knot in his stomach.

  While Aibek struggled to conceal his anxiety, Faruz basked in the attention. Before long, a group of giggling girls surrounded him. Faruz entertained them for a while with jokes and tall tales from his days at the academy. Eventually, he extricated himself and heaped another serving of fruit and pheasant on his plate. When he finished eating, he walked around the picnic area, smiling and laughing with a lovely dark-haired woman before returning to his friends and the dessert table.