Despite Tae’s ability with languages, the island peoples’ had mystified him until he discovered the mental component. It was amazing Arturo had managed to pick up anything at all and probably had everything to do with his spending all of his time with a young child who was also still learning to speak.
Matrinka, Barrindar, Marisole, and Halika had seated themselves at the table. Barrindar and Marisole chatted mostly with one another, staring deeply into one another’s eyes and smiling too much. Tae made a silent note to bring the issue to Matrinka’s attention. He was more observant than most, but she could scarce afford for the royalty of Béarn to become suspicious of the unholy relationship between the siblings. Halika studied the figure beneath the shroud with fanatical interest, responding distractedly to her mother.
Finally, Darris and Griff swept in. The king’s black locks were a mass of tangled curls, and sweat trickled down his beefy face, yet he still managed a weary smile for Matrinka and his children. A head and a half shorter, Darris looked all business. He glanced from Tae and his mysterious companion, to the shrouded figure at the table, before settling his gaze on Matrinka. Only then, he finally showed a hint of contentment looking upon the woman he had loved for so many years.
From training, the prince and princesses rose at the sight of their father. Matrinka gestured for the men to sit, which they did, and the others followed suit without the formality of bows or curtsies. Aside from Mistri, who was hooded, and Darris and Subikahn, who were working, every person in the room was royalty.
Matrinka got right to the point. “I’m so sorry to pull you from negotiations, but this is extremely important.”
Griff nodded broadly. If Matrinka labeled a situation “extremely important,” he would not question it. She tipped her head toward Subikahn, who pulled the shroud from Arturo’s head. At the same time, Tae quietly revealed Mistri.
A moment of stunned silence followed, then Halika flung herself over the table at Arturo.
Startled, Arturo sprang to his feet, overturning his chair. Subikahn had his weapon out before the chair hit the floor with a clatter. Disregarding all danger, Halika wrapped her arms around as much of Arturo as she could. “I knew it! I knew it! I TOLD YOU!” His massive chest muffled her words. “You all said I was crazy, but I knew Arturo was still alive.”
Arturo struggled only a moment before returning the embrace. He lowered his head to her ear and whispered something Tae could not hear.
*That’s his littlest sister, right?*
*Right,* Tae sent back. He took Mistri’s hand, a gesture intended to keep her in place as much as comfort. With all attention on Arturo, no one even seemed to notice her.
Marisole looked at Matrinka. “Is it really... ?”
“Yes,” Matrinka said. “But he doesn’t remember. He washed up on the island of the enemy nearly dead and without his memory. A little girl found him, convinced them to heal him with magic, and kept him as a . . . for want of a better word . . . a pet.”
In response to Matrinka’s words, Arturo glanced around the room until his gaze fell on Mistri. His arms winched around Halika.
Griff rose. “Arturo. My son.” He asked the practical question no one else had. “Were there . . . any other survivors?”
Only one in the room could answer that question. Tae sent to Mistri, *He wants to know if any of the others on the ship with Bobbin were saved.*
Mistri shrugged her thick shoulders. *We found one other body. Alsona, we thought. Then, some . . . parts.*
Tae did not need the details. “There were no other survivors.”
Halika finally released Arturo, then whirled to confront her siblings. “You owe me about six hundred apologies. I was right about Arturo.”
Barrindar bowed deeply. “I humbly apologize and admit my error.”
“Not you, Barri.” Halika jabbed a finger toward Marisole. “Her! And Mama and Papa!”
“I’m sorry,” Marisole said, studying Arturo’s face. “It really is Arturo.” She could not help adding, “Isn’t it?”
“Of course it is.” Halika seized his hand. “Tell them, Arturo. Tell them, you’re Arturo.”
Tae found himself wincing. Since his kidnap, Arturo had barely spoken and, then, only in usaro.
“Darling,” Matrinka started but never finished.
Arturo spoke over her. “I am Arturo,” he said in rusty Common Trading. The words seemed to surprise even him. “I remember . . . my sisters. Marisole, Halika.” He placed a massive hand on her slender shoulder, engulfing it. “My brother, Barrindar.”
Tae’s heart pounded, and he watched the man’s every movement. Suspicious by nature, he needed to know for certain whether Arturo had actually regained some of his memory or was playing them, seeking an opening. Subikahn, too, remained crouched and ready, his sword in his hand.
Arturo seemed to take no notice of them. He did not even glance toward the Renshai. Instead, he studied Matrinka as if seeing her for the first time. “Mama.”
Tears dribbled from Matrinka’s eyes. “My baby boy.” She came around the table and caught Arturo into her arms.
It suddenly occurred to Tae he had not heard from Mistri at a time when he should have. Neither had Imorelda made any sarcastic comments, which suggested she still held the connection. Tae whirled to face Mistri. The young giantess, too, was crying. *What’s wrong?* he sent.
*Bobbin’s not my Bobbin anymore.* Mistri sobbed. *He’s never coming home, is he?*
Tae did not know how to answer. Given the fluency anari granted her, as well as her size, he sometimes forgot her tender age and what she might truly grasp of situations. *Bobbin has come home, Mistri. This is his home.*
*No,* she said petulantly, clutching her arms to her chest. *My Bobbin! Mine!*
Tae sighed. It was a long time since Subikahn was young; and, given his son’s proclivities, Tae doubted he would ever have grandchildren. *Mistri.* He allowed disapproval to flow through the contact. *You wouldn’t want Bobbin to keep you here against your wishes, would you? It’s not fair to take him away from his family.*
Mistri rubbed her eyes with her fists. *But he’s my Bobbin, my best friend. And he saved my life, too.*
Tae said the only thing he could. Any promises were not his to make. He had no idea when or if she would ever see her parents again. *All the more reason why you need to grant him his freedom.*
Mistri rubbed her eyes harder, gulped in a couple of breaths, and managed a brave nod.
Tae tried to listen to the ongoing conversation between the royals even as he handled the little girl’s heartbreak. He needed to know what information Arturo was giving them, could give them. When coupled with the knowledge Tae had gathered from Mistri, Captain, and the minimal spying he had managed, it might add up to something useful. Tidbits of fact could sway the tide of entire wars.
Tae gathered Mistri in his arms, though she was nearly as tall and heavy as him. He hoped nonverbal comforting would suffice, turning his mind and ears toward the other conversations. From what he could overhear, the reuniting had brought back a significant number of Arturo’s memories from his childhood, though they stopped abruptly at the moment he had boarded the Béarnian warship. He remembered nothing about the attack. His life had ended when he stepped onto the ship and began again when he awakened in Mistri’s doll crib.
When Arturo mentioned the little girl, all eyes finally went to the young giantess, wrapped in Tae’s embrace. He warned them away with a stiff headshake and a gesture from behind her back. Curious, hostile or welcoming, their attention would confuse, perhaps even frighten, her.
Darris asked the all-important question. “What do you want us to do, Your Majesty?”
The question encompassed everything from how many people should know about the situation to Mistri’s disposition.
Griff sighed, clearly considering his options. “We need to mak
e a pronouncement regarding Arturo’s return, but we shouldn’t turn it into a celebration. Family, staff, the populace needs and deserves to know, but Arturo must have time to recover the gaps in his memory at his own pace.” He addressed the young prince. “Does that work for you?”
Arturo nodded. He looked contemplative and confused. He would need to put both of his recent lives into context. No doubt, he would have behaved differently on Heimstadr had he known his identity, in ways that probably would have gotten him killed. His glance strayed back to Mistri, concern etched on his features, and Tae knew the prince’s commitment to the child would not waver no matter his thoughts and epiphanies. “What about Mistri? She must be terribly frightened.”
To Tae, Mistri seemed more curious than afraid. She appeared to take the situation in stride, and Tae gave grudging credit to her parents. Clearly, they had maintained a household that never drove Mistri to ponder the possibility of danger, at least not from other intelligent beings. He suspected she possessed the normal fear of darkness, falling, wild animals, and, of course, drowning; but a young child who had never witnessed or suffered violence could remain trusting and innocent for many years.
Tae stopped himself from laughing. He wondered how any race with such capacity for cruelty kept the brutality so well hidden from their offspring. Perhaps only the males engaged in such behavior or, maybe, Mistri’s parents shielded her specifically. For whatever reason, the indulgence of Mistri’s parents was probably the sole reason Arturo had survived his ordeal. Mistri loved him, so they allowed Arturo to live much as a continental parent might humor a child’s insistence on clinging to a runty pig or a songbird with a broken wing.
Mistri pulled free and retook her seat on the bench. She smiled at Arturo and gave him a shy little wave.
“Hello, Mistri,” Arturo said, using the island tongue. He strode to her, catching her into a wholehearted hug, and she melted into his arms. For several moments they clung, looking for all the world like father and overgrown daughter. There was evident love in their embrace, but Tae knew their relationship would have to change, their priorities would shuffle, and he hoped they would find a new and better way to relate to one another.
Griff took a step toward them, then stopped, perhaps afraid his presence might overwhelm Mistri. “Does she understand our language?”
“Not a word,” Tae assured him. “Speak freely. She’ll probably want to know what you’re saying, but I’ll only translate what you want her to hear.”
Arturo disengaged from Mistri gently to return to his mother and sisters. As Tae anticipated, Mistri contacted him again. *What’s happening now?*
*We’re still explaining the situation. Arturo’s father, the king, is trying to decide what to do next.*
*With me?* Mistri guessed.
*So far, just with Bobbin. He’s suddenly remembered a lot and has to get it all sorted out in his mind. His father wants to keep things quiet around him so he can . . . get better.*
Mistri squeezed her lower jaw between her hands. *Bobbin’s sick?*
*In a manner, yes.* Tae did not want to go into unnecessary detail. *He remembered lots of things today he had forgotten, but there are holes in his memory and he’s having trouble putting the two phases of his life together.*
Mistri looked stricken, so Tae attempted to reassure her, though he doubted the girl could truly grasp the enormity of the circumstances.
*His mother’s a healer, so she can help him. He just needs time with his family to think things through.*
Unaware of the conversation between man and girl, Griff announced, “The girl will stay here, at the castle, in the Blue Room.” He chose a bedroom dedicated to the children of visiting dignitaries.
Tae silenced Mistri with a gesture so he could focus on the king’s words. Though Imorelda had accustomed him to simultaneous conversations, he still preferred them one at a time.
“She’ll have a personal maid. Female, of course. And younger is better.”
Tae knew little girls tended to bond well with adolescent females, perhaps because they emulated them.
Tae explained, *He’s offering you a room in the castle and a maid servant.*
Mistri nodded, clearly unaware of the honor bestowed upon her.
King Griff stopped there and looked at Tae quizzically. After several moments of silence, the Easterner finally realized something was expected of him.
“I have nothing to add,” Tae assured the king.
Creases appeared at the corners of Griff’s eyes. “Don’t you want to translate for her?”
Tae smiled. “Done. We’re talking, just not out loud.”
“Ah,” Griff said, though his features suggested he did not fully understand. “Well, then, I’ll continue. I think it best we keep her close, in the castle and courtyard areas. Tae, I’m assuming you’ve already gotten as much information as you can from her.”
Tae’s grin broadened. “Naturally.”
“I have no right to ask you to stay; but, so far, you’re the only one who can communicate with her other than Arturo.” Griff’s gaze strayed to his long-lost son. Clearly, he worried about Arturo’s alliances as well as putting him to work before he was ready.
Griff needed to know, so Tae explained, “Arturo’s limited to nonverbal, nonmental communication and the vocabulary of a toddler, unfortunately.”
Mistri’s gaze flitted between Tae and Griff as they alternated speaking. *What’s he saying?*
Tae touched Mistri’s arm in a plea for more time. “I need to organize my armies, but I’ll donate as much time as I can spare.” He wrapped his fingers around Mistri’s broad arm. “Immersed in our language, she’ll probably learn quickly. Just be aware of that when you talk around her. She’s not a dog.”
Griff sifted out the most pertinent details. “You think the war is imminent.” It was not a question.
“I’m afraid so. They’re going to come for Mistri. Sooner than later and probably much more swiftly then they originally intended.”
“You’re sure?”
“As sure as anyone can be.” Knowing Matrinka had not had the opportunity to explain the situation to Griff, Tae did so in shortened form. “Their warships were stocked and ready, so any delay up to the point Mistri joined us was due to strategy and training. That may work to our advantage. Driven to war early by what they see as need, they may not have as well-prepared warriors or tactics as they would have given more time.” Tae realized that worked both ways, but defensive fighting did not rely as much on preparation.
Matrinka explained the part Tae had skipped. “We didn’t mean to capture Mistri. We had to grab Arturo because he didn’t recognize us, and she tried to defend him. It was either save her or let her drown.”
Tae forced himself not to consider the possibility he had made the wrong decision. If Mistri had died, it might have fueled anger; but the Kjempemagiska would not feel the pressing need to liberate her. Of course, as he had just stated, that might actually work to the continent’s advantage. Realizing he had left Mistri hanging, he addressed her, *We’re just discussing how you came to be with us. And how much time I can spare translating for you.*
Mistri hugged Tae’s arm with both of hers. *I need you.*
Tae could scarcely argue. *You’ll do fine with or without me, Mistri. I’ll give you as much time as I can, but I do have other responsibilities. Béarn’s royal family and their staff are good people, and Arturo loves you. No harm will come to you here.*
Tears welled in Mistri’s eyes. *I want to go home. I want to see Mummy and Poppy again.*
Tae did not bother to respond. They had already discussed the situation; and, while he had not gotten into the violent aspects of the relationship between the Kjempemagiska and the peoples of the continent, she knew enough to realize they could not safely sail her home. On his own, and in discussions with Subikahn and Matrinka, Tae h
ad given grave consideration to the issue. Children were not supposed to be casualties or pawns of war, and he had every intention of returning her to her parents. At the current time, he had no idea how, or even if, such a thing were possible.
Tae returned to the other conversation. “They may well have planned to attack from one or several different points of the continent this time, but following Mistri will force them to come here again. Not great news for Béarn but, at least, we have a familiar battlefield, set supply lines and many of the armies still have presences. We should be able to recall them fairly quickly.”
“Whittled down and battle-weary,” Griff pointed out.
Tae only nodded.
“You’re sure they’ll come for her?”
The mental conversations that had occurred while the giants chased Captain’s ship left Tae without any doubt. “The ones chasing us returned to their island, but only for reinforcements. They won’t arrive tomorrow, but they will be here probably not long after and in full force.”
Griff’s jaw clamped shut. Tae suspected he stopped himself from swearing. “How fast can you and Weile recall your troops?”
The Eastlands were the farthest territory from Béarn, but Tae had anticipated this attack and had instructed his generals appropriately. He latched onto a different part of the question, the one that actually surprised him. His father was supposed to be in Stalmize, the royal city, and he had relinquished any claim to his title or connection to the Eastern army. “Weile?” he pressed carefully.
Griff did not leave Tae in suspense. “He’s here in Béarn. Or, at least he was as of a week ago and a few weeks prior as well. He borrowed something from me, went off on some sort of mission, and returned with a representative of a group that calls themselves the Mages of Myrcidë. Chymmerlee is one of them.”
Subikahn appeared beside them as if summoned. “Was Saviar with them?”
Griff nodded, “As a matter of fact . . .” He broke into a smile. “He and Weile gave King Humfreet fits, and they brokered a deal between the Renshai and the Paradisians.”
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