Markan Empire

by Nicholas A. Rose

  She lay quiet, but still feared to die. The hand released her and she drew in a shuddering breath.

  "What –"

  "Sunut."

  She obeyed and fell silent.

  "Tomorrow I release Belaika. Do you want freedom with him?"

  Eyes wide, Haema nodded and her earpoints twitched.

  "Visit him tomorrow, after the perimeter guards change. Wait until all others sleep. Take the guard alovak."

  "Alovak? In the night?"

  Her visitor sighed. "When the guard changes, they brew alovak. One takes some to the cage guard. You will offer to take it."

  "Why?"

  Her visitor ignored the question. "Put this in it."

  Haema took what felt like a leaf. "What is this?"

  "Just obey. Once free, you must do exactly as Belaika or myself say. Understand?"

  Haema nodded.

  "Bring warm clothes. Disobey, fall or fail and I will leave you."

  She nodded again.

  "I will be watching. Any betrayal..." The ghost's voice trailed off, a threat left unspoken.

  She reached up to clutch at the other sylph, but he stepped back.

  "Sleep; you will need your strength."

  Haema stared as the tent flap twitched again and her mysterious visitor left.

  She assumed he must be another scout, perhaps one commanded to set Belaika free. And he was... interesting. She twisted around and resecured the ties, to stop all the heat escaping. She lay awake for a short while, blinking in the darkness and, she admitted to herself, feeling excited. Nervous excited.

  She sincerely hoped Belaika was as interesting.

  She touched her lips and nose where the visitor's hand had held them shut. She remembered his strength and hoped no bruising showed tomorrow.

  Who was he?

  Her heart leapt again. If he knew that she wanted to leave, then Belaika had told him. A smile spread across her features and, for the first time since losing her owner, a glow of happiness warmed her.

  She got no more sleep that night.

  ***

  Haema was having one of those days. Not that anything went wrong, or at least no more than normal, but just a day when she knew a big change was coming. Something she wanted and dreaded at the same time. No matter what happened tonight, whether it went well or badly, her life would change forever.

  She feared Nicolfer would detect her mood. Forced to walk beside her, Haema knew she must be careful. She would have felt better these past months, much better, if Nicolfer told her what had happened to her owner, even if he still lived.

  She dared not ask.

  Sandev rode on the far side of Nicolfer while Haema walked. The sylph was not bothered by this privilege; she feared horses. If Sandev knew what the sylphs planned, she gave no sign.

  Then she recalled Sandev talking to herself the previous evening. Given her mysterious sylph visitor and the almost magickal way he moved, Haema now wondered. Had she really been talking to herself? A new suspicion dawned.

  Sandev did know. Perhaps she knew everything going on in the camp. And humans had the effrontery to claim sylphs never let on more than they must!

  She glanced over her shoulder. Though Nicolfer had insisted Mirrin change Belaika's guards, they still secured the sylph to Somersen's horse. The man's dark eyes regarded Haema expressionlessly. She did not know if the sergeant hated all sylphs, or just enemy sylphs.

  She could just see Belaika's feet and part of his body from here. He had clearly recovered from his bruised leg; at least he had no hint of a limp now.

  Haema touched her face, still feeling the stranger's hand over her nose and mouth. Some soreness, but a comment would have been passed by now if she had any visible bruising.

  "No whistling for some time," said Nicolfer. "Perhaps they have lost us."

  Haema looked up, but Nicolfer spoke to Sandev.

  "Perhaps," replied Sandev.

  Haema looked down again. She doubted if the sylph scouts had lost them. They realized the camp sylphs pointed them out and now whistled from further away. They had adapted. No matter how ragged and long-haired her mysterious visitor, he was definitely a sylph scout who had not lost contact.

  Mirrin's scouts had failed to discover the Markan army, which Haema felt was another testament to the sylph scouts, who must be guiding the Markans away from danger. But there were other small armies on the move. Detachments of the Eldovan army, coalescing as it marched east.

  Nicolfer especially seemed keen to make sure that all other armies were tracked. Haema was sure she had shared her worries with Mirrin – if the two were talking again – but she said nothing to anybody else.

  Haema hoped to be out of the way soon. The more this army grew, the harder it would be to escape.

  She glanced over her shoulder and smiled at Belaika, who had swung out of line. He gave her a reassuring wink and fell back into place behind the horse. Somersen looked over his shoulder.

  "Quit that," he growled.

  Haema did not hear Belaika's reply.

  "Keep station," continued Somersen. "Do that again and you'll have something to wriggle over."

  If Belaika was eager to obey, he gave no sign of it. Haema respected his courage, something these sylph scouts seemed to have to excess. Certainly far more than she had been raised to believe her race was capable of. Then again, she could read and write musical notation and she knew other sylphs who had the secret of trapping words on paper.

  Sylphs were not supposed to be able to learn those skills, either.

  A halt was finally called for a light meal and a welcome drink of water. For Haema, the day dragged. At least the sun had passed its meridian, but it still baked the ground. Which in turn burned the soles of her feet.

  Until recently, she had spent most of her life indoors, copying music. Her feet were unaccustomed to the outdoors, though they had toughened up during her time here. She noted enviously that no other camp sylph had this problem.

  She watched Belaika drink using both hands; he had little choice in that as his hands were still bound. Once he finished slaking his thirst, Somersen shuffled the sylph to one side. Haema turned away, in case someone detected any unspoken communication. Humans were often perceptive.

  "You look happy today." Nicolfer looked down from her horse.

  "It is a beautiful day. Not cold." Haema looked up and smiled. That seemed a good excuse for happiness. And every word true: she had never been a good liar. She wished for darkness; why must time drag today?

  ***

  The army halted an hour before nightfall.

  They made camp quickly and the cooks had the evening meal ready almost before soldiers finished erecting the last tent. Haema thought her heart might burst. Excitement fought terror for control and her food tasted dry in her mouth. She went over and over what she was supposed to do.

  Again, she felt for and found the leaf intended for the guard's alovak. A horrible thought struck her: did the strange sylph scout expect her to feed poison to the guard? She had no desire to kill anybody.

  But another sylph had handed the leaf to her, so it must be unlikely to kill. She hoped it only made the guard sleep and that he would not be too severely punished.

  Another thought. What about the key for the cage lock?

  The chain that kept the cage door shut had a sturdy lock, but she had no idea who held the key. She should have paid more attention whenever Belaika was locked up or released. She worried about that key and hoped the mysterious scout had paid more attention to goings-on in the camp than she had.

  She had little doubt that he had.

  She began to respect more and more what was expected from these sylph scouts. She retired to her small tent at the usual time.

  She lay awake on her blankets and dared not sleep or doze, just in case she missed the rescue and escape. The interesting scout said he would leave her behind and she believed him.

  Nicolfer had brought her here to decipher the scouts' whi
stles. Haema was certain that she had murdered her owner. Nicolfer had promised her she could rejoin her owner once the scouts' whistles were sorted.

  That meant Nicolfer must intend to kill her, too.

  Haema could not take the risk of being left behind, she did not want to die. She would travel to Marka and try to start a new life. Somehow.

  And if Belaika's wife – Eleka? – would accept her, then she might be his wife too. So many ifs.

  Vague, but it was a plan.

  That last blink had lasted several seconds. She must be careful! The interesting scout had come to rescue Belaika, not collect every sylph in need. Her earpoints wilted. It was chastening to realize how unimportant you were in others' grand schemes. Quite unfair.

  She would soon prove her worth, to Belaika if to nobody else. There would be something to show for her life, after all.

  ***

  "Alovak, donenya?"

  Jaegar looked up at Haema and blinked.

  "Thank you," he said, accepting the cup of steaming black liquid. "It is a cold night. Would never know it was late spring. You're up late. Or early."

  "Cannot sleep," she muttered, "so I offered to bring it."

  "Thank you anyway."

  Haema nodded, but she did not want to fall into conversation with him.

  "I suppose you want to chat with him?" Jaegar jerked his head towards Belaika as he cupped his hands around the hot drink. "Nicolfer said no more visitors. But you go ahead." He sipped at the liquid and moved away.

  Haema watched with concerned eyes and wondered how long before the leaf began to work.

  She looked around, but saw no sign of the mystery sylph. Belaika moved to the door of the cage and gripped the bars with his hands. She gestured helplessly at the lock and chain.

  Belaika grinned. "Not a worry."

  "Faugh!" The guard had reached the leaf. "What in Ranva's na –" There was a soft thud.

  Haema looked his way with concerned eyes. "Hope he is all right," she muttered.

  "Only sleeping."

  She almost squeaked at the new voice, only a paca away.

  "Velisar!" Belaika grinned.

  "Relax little sister," Velisar told Haema. "The guard is fine."

  The sylph scout turned his attention to the lock. Haema could not see exactly what happened, but moments later, Velisar unwrapped the chain from the door.

  "How did you do that?" she demanded.

  Velisar smiled and held a finger to his lips.

  Belaika swung the door open and stepped out. He stretched his arms and grinned at his freedom.

  "No questions!" warned Velisar.

  Haema closed her mouth.

  "We must pass the guards at the perimeter," continued Velisar. "Silence now."

  Haema was sandwiched between the scouts as they crept past the tents. Velisar motioned her to keep low. When she could see him at all, that was.

  He seemed able to move without being seen and Haema kept bumping into him. The mixed smell of earth, forest and sinabra rolled off him when she came close. To judge from his appearance and from what little Belaika had said about him, she guessed he was more than half-wild.

  She could not deny he was intriguing.

  Velisar stopped and Belaika dropped lower. He helped Haema press herself into the dirt and only her twitching earpoints poked up. A sentry passed, thankfully staring beyond the camp rather than into it. He moved almost as silently as the sylphs; little wonder she had not seen him.

  "Do not look up," whispered Belaika, his breath hot against her ear. That felt nice, too. "He might see your eyes."

  She remembered that sylph eyes glowed at night whenever there was plenty of light.

  "Sunut!" came from Velisar, again little more than a breath.

  With the sentry safely out of the way, Velisar wriggled across the short distance to the forest. Belaika helped Haema follow.

  "The sylph is gone!" boomed a voice from within the camp. "Jaegar is poisoned!"

  "Durcoc!" swore Velisar. "Up and run!"

  They ran. Belaika and Velisar took Haema by her arms and forced her into a run. Despite his threats to leave her behind, Velisar proved willing to help.

  The scouts were fit and very used to running. Despite his recent injury, Belaika kept up easily. Haema had grown used to walking, but she had never run far. Her work had always kept her indoors so, unsurprisingly, she tired first.

  Shouting from the camp faded now, but all three sylphs knew a hunt would be mustered.

  "Will they catch us?" asked Haema, gasping as she ran.

  "They have no dogs," replied Velisar, barely breathing heavily.

  "There are horses." Haema wished she could hold a conversation as easily as Velisar when running.

  "Sylphs outrun horses." Velisar gave Haema a neutral look.

  Haema threw Belaika a questioning look and he nodded confirmation.

  "You might," retorted Haema. "I cannot."

  "Just keep going," commanded Velisar.

  They ran for almost an hour – which felt like three to Haema – before Velisar allowed a quick rest.

  They drank from a merrily tumbling stream, but the experienced sylphs stopped Haema drinking too much.

  "You will be ill," warned Belaika. "We have more running to do yet."

  "Will they find us?" Haema worried what might happen if Nicolfer caught her.

  "Not without sylph scouts," replied Velisar. "No dogs and no Gifted."

  Belaika looked thoughtful. "Nicolfer might know a way. She is like the Gifted."

  Velisar gave the younger scout a warning look. "Do not worry. Dekran-ya's outer scout will not be much further."

  Belaika nodded.

  Haema stared as Velisar sent a pinging whistle into the darkness. Very faintly, a reply reached their ears.

  "Can only just hear that," muttered Haema.

  "That is Samel. He is some way away." Belaika sounded surprised. "Almost too far for Captain Dekran to maintain contact."

  "A good lad, but his training is incomplete." Velisar shook his head. "Certainly not ready to run with the army."

  Haema stared in amazement. "It is clever that you send whistles to each other that humans cannot hear," she told Belaika. "I am glad you never gave anything away to Nicolfer."

  "Sylph scouts were all Velisar's idea," said Belaika. "And the whistles."

  Velisar shushed Belaika with his hands and his earpoints wilted a little in embarrassment. "Not all my idea," he said, when Haema turned adoring eyes onto him. "Time to move." He caught Haema's expression. "Not far now," he promised.

  Velisar was true to his word. Before they had run much longer, he finally indicated a small hollow. Samel crouched there and stared as if he saw ghosts. Velisar overawed him and, for some reason, Belaika only a little less so.

  He deferred to Haema and politely offered her his blanket.

  Velisar smiled at Belaika. "Sleep and let Samel do his job. Dekran-ya can wait one more day for his happy reunion."

  Belaika nodded. He curled up on the ground and was aware of Haema curling up beside him for extra warmth. He took several deep breaths.

  Freedom had never felt so good.

  ***

  Chapter 16

  Trapped

  Dervra sipped his wine and listened to Kanad's report. Even for a local vintage the wine tasted excellent. His attention varied; some of what Kanad had to say sounded very interesting.

  Dervra suddenly paid full attention. "Sure it was a gwerin?" he asked.

  "Very." Kanad nodded. "Name of Samrita. Escorted by a large-ish armed group calling themselves Shadow Riders."

  Dervra almost spilled his wine. "What happened?"

  "They left in something of a hurry. I sent soldiers to ensure they left our lands."

  "When?" Dervra's voice was quiet.

  "Just over a week ago."

  "And Marlen? Where is he?"

  "Arranging unpleasant things for these riders."

  Dervra smiled. "Excellent. You
may go."

  Kanad bowed and left.

  Nicolfer stepped out from a side-chamber. She looked nothing like the image she liked to project. Not at all like an unwashed, offensive beggar, crippled by an old injury. That was all for show, to humiliate those who believed they were of a higher station.

  Not only could she walk, but true beauty shone through the hard planes of her face. That hardness had been carefully cultivated, not easily set aside now. Some found it attractive. Her clothes were carefully chosen to best set off her complexion and natural colors.

  "The same Samrita, do you think?" she asked.

  "Showing up with the Shadow Riders? Almost certainly." Dervra nodded. "Samrita was young enough then to still be alive now."

  "You should have killed all three when you had the chance. The throwbacks are dangerous." Nicolfer's face twisted, but she quickly recovered her composure. "Time to rectify the mistake you made then."

  "And I thought you liked sylphs."

  "They are not sylphs." Nicolfer's eyes hardened. "Just dangerous. They see too deeply and too clearly."

  Dervra shrugged. "They didn't see deeply or clearly enough when Marka collapsed."

  Nicolfer grimaced. "They warned Evlander something was going on. They knew. History says that Evlander sent them away, but I suspect they abandoned him."

  "They were sent. I was there."

  Nicolfer changed the subject. "If they're headed for Marka now, they will run into one or another of our armies."

  "They're traveling to Marka. If the men with Samrita are the Shadow Riders, or rather their descendants, then that's where they're going. They've finally crawled out of Kelthane. As for Samrita... well, news of an Emperor in Marka will draw gwerins like moths to flames."

  "We should warn our armies of their presence," said Nicolfer. "The Shadow Riders were always dangerous."

  "Indeed. Certainly advantageous for us if they never reach Marka." Dervra nodded. "I have tasks of state that must be settled. If you're returning to Mirrin, then warn him. After all, he's closer to the Riders than anyone else."

  Nicolfer scowled, although she nodded agreement. "If they are gone from here more than a week, then they are dangerously close to Mirrin. That is wise counsel."

  She stood, swept out of Dervra's hall to the side-chamber and, moments later, only a quick flash of light told Dervra she had left.

  Dervra sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers. Samrita and the Shadow Riders did not particularly bother him but if they reached Marka, the new Emperor would learn where he was based.

  He and Nicolfer had worked together a long time, yet they often had differences of opinion. Even once established, Nicolfer was always quick to abandon a base if she thought it compromised. He preferred to wait until his position was no longer tenable.