by Callie Kanno
Idris struggled to find the right words. “I…am not sure. Perhaps it was instinct…?”
Aherin sounded disappointed. “Oh.”
“I do not mean to sound cryptic,” Idris went on hurriedly. “I just do not know how else to explain it. I was only experimenting at first. Then I wondered if I could bring things back to the real world with me. It was like…waking from a dream…but bringing the dream with me.”
Aherin’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “I think I understand.”
“You do?” Idris asked, relieved.
“Enough to give it a try,” Aherin said, smiling grimly. “When we are not so exposed, that is.”
“It may not work the same for everyone,” Idris pointed out, thinking about how he had woven the stalks of grain together. “Did you see a tree in your vision?”
“Yes,” acknowledged Aherin. “My mother’s tree…”
Idris rubbed his hand across his forehead as he thought. “Maybe you could use the leaves.”
“The leaves?”
“The leaves of the tree in your vision,” Idris clarified. “I used stalks of grain to shape the shield. Maybe the leaves would serve the same purpose for you.”
Aherin grinned. “Seems logical. I look forward to trying it.”
“When will you try?”
Aherin shrugged carelessly. “Why not now? We have some time to rest. We might as well use it wisely.”
Idris couldn’t help but smile back. “Just make sure not to bring anything back with you.”
Aherin laughed softly. “Yes, I will avoid doing that.”
Chapter Twenty-Six: Crossing Over
The entire border between Roshum and Breen was protected by a range of mountains. There were two mountain passes used by travelers, both closely monitored by soldiers of both nations. Lenora had led the group to the eastern pass, almost directly north of Koyo. The pass was in a natural canyon, with steep walls of rock on either side.
Idris studied the jagged formations with no small amount of trepidation. He couldn’t help but wonder if there were Hunters nearby, planning an ambush of some sort. The canyon could easily be turned into a fatal trap. Idris knew he wasn’t the only one considering the possibility. The grim expressions of his fellow Royal Guards mirrored his own.
Lenora chatted lightly as they rode through the pass. Either she wasn’t aware of the anxiety of the group, or she chose to do what she could to alleviate it. “The capital city of Roshum is Bunarat, which is about eight days’ ride from the border. I have only visited there once before, when I was a child. The peace between Breen and Roshum has been rather strained ever since my grandfather sent his daughter to marry King Lukas. My father says that King Lot had wished to marry Roana himself, although there is no documentation of that.”
“Is that why Roshum fights with Calaris?” Idris asked.
To his surprise, Hildar was the one to answer his question. “No,” she shook her head. “The conflict between our nations has existed since the time of King Nikolas’s grandfather, although it was not until recent years that wars were fought.”
“King Nikolas is the first warrior king Calaris has seen in generations,” Aherin added.
“Yes, he is,” Lenora said, sounding distinctly unenthusiastic.
“Do you not approve?” challenged Hildar.
The princess chose her words carefully. “I think there is enough fighting without seeking it out.”
Hildar’s expression stiffened. “Are you calling King Nikolas a warmonger?”
Idris hurried to interrupt the brewing argument. “Why did Queen Roana choose King Lukas over King Lot?”
The two women turned their eyes on Idris. For a moment he wasn’t sure if they were going to redirect their anger at him. After several tense breaths, Lenora’s face softened noticeably. Hildar appeared to decide against upbraiding him at the same time, which caused him to sigh with relief.
“King Lot never made a formal request for her hand in marriage,” Lenora pointed out. “But I would think that the idea of being a king’s fourth wife is less appealing than being another king’s only wife.”
Idris’s eyes widened. “King Lot has three wives?”
“He has five wives now,” Lenora nodded, “but at the time he had three.”
Idris was speechless. Hildar laughed rather unkindly at the expression on his face. “It is a common practice in Roshum, Idris. But I suppose a farmer would not know such things.”
“Why would a man need more than one wife?” Idris sputtered.
“It is not just polygyny,” Lenora clarified. “Polyandry is commonly practiced as well.”
Idris experienced a flash of heat to his face. “I do not know what those words mean,” he muttered.
Hildar gave him a glance of disdain at his admission, but Lenora simply nodded in understanding. “Polygyny is having more than one wife. Polyandry is having more than one husband,” the princess explained.
“In simple, farmer’s terms,” Hildar said coldly, “men and women in Roshum may have as many spouses as they wish.”
“As long as they abide by the laws surrounding marriage,” added Lenora.
“What are those laws?” Aherin inquired with interest.
“Roshum has very strict and specific rules defining marriage,” Lenora gestured with her hand. “Any violation of those laws results in imprisonment and dissolution of the marriage. For example, all parties involved in the marriage must be adults.”
Idris frowned sharply. “Is that not common sense?”
“There was a time when powerful families in Roshum were marrying their young children together in order to form alliances. King Lot’s father put an end to that practice.” Lenora went on, “The marriage contract also specifically states which rights and properties will be shared between the two parties. So, Queen Tilna’s contract with her second husband states that he will have no right to the throne should she ever come to power. And the properties that Queen Tilna took to her second marriage cannot be touched by King Lot as her first husband. He could take something as king, of course, but he does not have natural right to the properties as her husband.”
Idris rubbed his forehead. “It sounds complicated.”
Lenora shrugged. “Not terribly. There are marriages of rights, which tend to be political in nature. There are marriages of properties, which has to do with combining wealth. And, of course, there are marriages that involve both aspects.”
“What about love?” Idris demanded. “Does that not matter in Roshum?”
Lenora smiled gently. “I am certain that many people in Roshum marry for love. Those marriages are protected by strict laws, too. Infidelity is punishable by death, as well as abuse of one’s spouse. The Roshumin take their marriage relationships very seriously. Any breach of the marriage contract automatically dissolves it, and the offending party is imprisoned.”
While Idris couldn’t fault the practice of protecting marriage, it all seemed so cold to him. Would it not be better if spouses acted out of love instead of fear of punishment? His own parents would never even consider infidelity, but not because they were afraid of being executed.
“We are approaching the border,” Captain Cowan announced.
Idris looked ahead, but he was uncertain what to expect. He had spent the majority of his life in the same farming community, so his experience with travel was limited. This journey was his first time leaving Calaris, and part of him expected to see some sort of wall at the border of Breen. Instead, there were two guard houses, one on either side of the border.
Each building was well-made, with strong wooden beams outlining the entire structures. The two guard houses were identical, save for one detail—one building flew the flag of Breen, the other flew the flag of Roshum.
Breenite soldiers watched their group approaching, waiting patiently in an orderly line. They saluted and bowed when they recognized Princess Lenora. “Your highness,” said the group leader, “it is an honor to have you here.”
“You received my message?” she questioned.
“Yes,” confirmed the group leader, “and we shared the message with our counterparts in Roshum.”
“Excellent,” Lenora said, satisfied. “I presume you send daily reports to your superiors.”
The soldier nodded. “Yes, your highness.”
“I would ask that you send a copy of today’s report to the palace in Trys,” Lenora went on. “My mother likes to receive progress reports when I am traveling.”
“Of course, your highness.”
“Thank you,” Lenora said with a small smile. “If there is nothing else you require, we will pass over to Roshum.”
“We only need the names of your companions, your highness,” the soldier replied, sounding apologetic.
Lenora waved a hand at Cowan, “My protector will see to that.”
Cowan nodded, dismounting his horse so he could speak to the soldier face-to-face. While he did so, the princess nudged her horse forward to lead the group across the border. The second guard house was perhaps a hundred feet from the Breenite one, with Roshumin soldiers waiting for them.
“Greetings, travelers,” said the group leader. “Welcome to Roshum, sovereign nation of King Lot. What brings you to our fair land?”
“I am Lenora, granddaughter of King Hernan of Breen. I travel to Bunarat to visit the court of King Lot as a friend of Roshum.” The words were spoken simply, but Lenora’s natural dignity made the statement seem regal.
“Welcome, Princess Lenora,” the soldier said with a courteous bow. “We were informed of your intentions to pass through. If you would please come with me, there are some formalities to observe.”
The members of the Royal Guard dismounted with the princess, but Lenora waved them off. “You may wait here,” she told them. “I will not be long.”
Lenora followed two of the Roshumin soldiers into the guard house, while Idris and the others watched her uneasily. Idris suddenly found himself thinking of all the dangers that could befall the princess without the others to protect her. The Hunters were still after them. What if they had an agent within the Roshumin guard?
“She will be fine,” Kurag assured him, smiling at the expression on Idris’s face. “She is probably answering questions for a report that can be sent on to the king.”
“Yes,” confirmed one of the Roshumin soldiers that had stayed behind, “that is what she will be doing.”
“Please forgive my companion,” Kurag said to the soldier. “This is his first assignment protecting the princess.”
The soldier nodded in understanding. “I thought he seemed rather young for his task.”
Idris wanted to argue, but he bit back his words. He gripped the shaft of his polearm, which was strapped to his back. The leather cover for the head of the partisan had never been recovered, so the glittering jewels and gold were in plain view. Idris would’ve thought that the possession of such a weapon would be proof enough of his capabilities, but the Roshumin soldier didn’t even glance at the partisan.
Why are you offended? Iona asked. You are young.
I may be young, Idris grumbled, but I am not incompetent.
That soldier said nothing about your abilities, Iona pointed out.
Idris was not pacified. How could his partisan possibly understand the sting that came from being so readily dismissed by a peer? Yes, Idris was young, but he had been training hard for almost a year. He had saved the lives of the members of the Calaris royal family more than once. He knew he still had a lot to learn, but that didn’t detract from how far he’d come.
“You one of those cliff jumpers from Tannin?”
The soldier’s unexpected question pulled Idris out of his reverie. He looked at Kurag, to whom the query had been directed.
“What makes you ask that?” the Forger said cautiously.
The soldier shrugged. “You just match the description that I have heard of those people. Does he not, Bram?” He nudged the soldier closest to him, who nodded in agreement.
Kurag’s brow drew downward. “You have heard of others who look like me?”
The soldier grunted an affirmative. “So tall that most men come only to their chest, strong bodies but gentle eyes. Yes, you fit their description, alright. They are said to live in the mountains and avoid contact with other people, so I guess you would not be one of them.”
Idris could see the tension building in Kurag’s body. The Forger’s fists were clenched tight at his side. In spite of the apparent strain he was under, Kurag’s voice remained calm. “I had not heard of such a community. Do you know where in Tannin?”
The soldier rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Not sure,” he murmured. “All they say is ‘the cliffs,’ which is not very helpful to a foreigner.”
“Thank you for the information,” Kurag said softly.
Idris found himself staring at the Forger in disbelief. Was that all he was going to say? How could he remain so unruffled at the news that there might be other Forgers living in the neighboring country?
“Kurag?” Idris began.
“I am fine, young one,” Kurag answered the implied question. “I am simply surprised that such rumors exist.”
“Surprised?” Idris repeated. “That is all? You are not happy?”
Kurag let his breath out slowly, closing his eyes. “If there were others like me, they would not survive long by letting their existence generally known. The Hunters would have tracked them down by now. It is likely that such a community once existed, but no more.”
“I am sure there are ways we could find out more information,” Idris encouraged him.
Kurag shook his head. “No, there are more important tasks before us at the moment.”
Idris’s eyebrows shot upward. “More important than finding your people?”
The Forger settled his steady gaze on Idris, speaking with quiet determination. “I have committed to purging Savion of his flaws. I have taken it upon myself to correct the mistake made by a Forger in the past. Such a duty is not taken lightly, and it cannot be turned aside because of my personal desires.”
Idris swallowed hard. He admired Kurag’s dedication, but the idea of the Forger passing up the chance to be reunited with his people made Idris’s chest feel unbearably tight. “Perhaps you can look for them after the dagger is reforged,” he suggested faintly.
Kurag smiled humorlessly. “If the Hunters have not heard of this community before now, they will when they follow us through this pass. There will be nothing I can do to stop the Hunters from sending others to pursue the rumor.”
Idris’s mouth worked soundlessly for a moment. The Forger placed a large hand on Idris’s shoulder. “I accepted long ago that there were no others like me. My fate was sealed when I was a child. Now, at least, I have been given the opportunity to use my skills for good. That is the best that a Forger can hope for in these times.”
Idris’s heart went out to the aged man. Kurag’s form suddenly seemed more stooped and frail than before. It was as if his sorrow drained his body of the vitality that came naturally to the Forger.
Idris placed his hand over that of Kurag’s. “Do not worry,” he said comfortingly. “You are not alone, even without others like yourself.”
Some of the light returned to Kurag’s eyes as he inclined his head to the young Royal Guard. “Yes, Idris.”
Even though Idris was glad to see Kurag’s response, his heart still ached for the loneliness that remained.
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Loss
In the mouth of the canyon on the Roshum side of the mountain pass, there sat a surprisingly large city. Idris had been under the impression that big cities were never built near borders, due to the difficulty in keeping them secure from enemy attacks. Apparently, the presence of the mountain range made this city an exception.
“The city is a large trade center,” Lenora explained as they drew near. “Not just between Roshum and Breen, but for Jish also.”
Hildar f
rowned unhappily. “Is there any way for us to go around it?”
“Why would you want to do that?” Aherin asked, his eyes bright with enthusiasm.
Hildar held up her jeweled dagger in a sharp motion. “We have more important things to do than shopping for trinkets.”
Cowan waved his hand at them in a calming motion. “We will not be stopping in the city, but we must pass through it. The city fills the entire exit from the mountain pass.”
Hildar fumed silently at the buildings ahead of them, as if they had purposefully conspired to block her from her task. Lenora traded a glance with Idris, hiding a smile behind her slender hand.
They passed through the gates of the city without being stopped. A few token guards stood on raised platforms, but they seemed to do nothing but observe the people below. There weren’t many people going through the gate, but the crowds swiftly grew as the travelers moved toward the city center.
Idris could see that the city had been built around commerce. The only residential buildings were along the outer sections, as if they had been added as an afterthought. The center of the city was made up of several large marketplaces, each with specific wares.
“This district is for various types of cloth,” Lenora pointed out. “That one over there is all woodwork.”
The atmosphere was exciting to Idris, completely unlike anything he had experienced before. The crowds were noisy, shouting over one another to attract custom or to haggle over the price of wares. Everywhere he looked there were people pushing past each other with little regard.
“Is it like this every day?” Idris asked Lenora.
The princess nodded. “It has been like this every time I have visited, anyway.”
The group of travelers were not the only ones on horseback, but most people preferred to walk. Idris quickly understood why that was. It was difficult to navigate a horse through the masses of people moving to walk around anything that might cause a delay. He couldn’t help but think in irritation that he would get out of their way faster if they would stop cutting him off from his desired path.