Trickster's Choice

by Tamora Pierce

  George sat and patted the bench seat next to him. “How?” he asked.

  Aly rubbed the back of her neck and sighed, then took a seat. “Oh, Da, there’s a god. We had a wager, see. I was to keep the Balitang children alive till the autumn equinox, and if I did, he’d send me home and talk to you about letting me work as a spy, or bodyguard, or something. It’s not equinox yet.”

  “A god laid you a wager?” Her father’s voice was dangerously smooth. “Which god would this be?”

  “Kyprioth,” Aly said. “He’s a local god—”

  “Kyprioth,” her father said with disgust. “I might have known. Show yourself, you miserable piece of Stormwing dung,” he said, his voice still quiet. “I know you’re listening. You’re vain as a cat when anyone speaks your name.”

  The main doors swung open. Kyprioth entered the room in a blaze of sunlight. Today he wore the guise he most favored, the leanly muscled, brown-skinned man with short salt-and-pepper hair and a close-clipped beard. He wore a cloth-of-gold wraparound jacket today and a sarong that looked as if it were woven copper. Jeweled rings gleamed on his fingers; jeweled bracelets shone on his wrists and ankles.

  “There you are, George,” Kyprioth said cheerily. “How are you, my good fellow? It’s been ages.”

  Aly’s father stood and crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes glittering dangerously. “You’ve been hiding Aly from her mother and our mage friends,” he accused.

  “Of course.” Kyprioth took a bench from the next table and dragged it over, unmindful of the screech of wood on the flagstone floor. Once he placed it opposite Aly’s bench, he reclined on it, propping his head on his hand. “I needed her. I couldn’t have you trying to rescue her all the time. Not, may I add, that she has ever needed rescue.”

  “You steal my daughter and then you hide her from me. Is this the way you reward my service?” demanded George. “Aly’s no pawn of yours, to be whisked in and out of your mad tricks.”

  Kyprioth eyed one of the gems on his rings, turning it this way and that in the sunlight. It was a clear stone, cut into multiple tiny flat surfaces that threw off light like miniature rainbows. “Such fatherly wrath. I would be terrified, except, well, I’m not.”

  “Let’s end this,” George said firmly. “When we declared our association done, you swore in blood that you owed me a debt, and I might call on that. Well, here it is. I want my daughter home. Pay up, Trickster.”

  Kyprioth gazed at Aly. “I don’t really see anything fatal coming in the time between now and the equinox, not when my cousin North Wind has decided to remind mortals of his power. We’re going to have an early winter—just as effective as fortress walls for keeping bad people away from the Balitangs. Aly, I absolve you of the remaining time on our wager. You have won. George, be a good boy and put her talents to use. If you don’t, I’m sure I can arrange something so that it will be necessary for you to make use of her. She can’t be a child any longer. She has moved among adults and changed the courses of their lives, you know.” Kyprioth sat up. “Well, if there’s nothing else . . . ?”

  From the moment he’d declared an end to their wager and Aly the winner, her brain had been in an uproar. She could go home. She could see her mother again, her adoptive family, Daine and Numair’s baby, her brothers, her grandparents. She could wear fashionable gowns and toy with young noblemen. If the war was near an end, there would be a fresh crop of romantic young knights and soldiers to cut a swathe through. The lure of home was like a mermaid’s song that pulled her irresistibly east. Nawat had said he would go with her when it came time for her to leave.

  But.

  Mequen had been kind to her, kinder than most masters were to slaves or even free servants. He’d died for the blood in his veins. The throne was held by a three-year-old and the most predatory, grasping pair of humans Aly had ever seen, while royal blood flowed in the veins of Mequen’s children, making them a threat to the regents.

  The raka. The fire in Ulasim’s eyes as he watched Sarai practice her combat dances. The silent rows of natives that had lined the way to Dimari just to see their promised queen. Lokeij, dead because he had defended his hope for the future. Junai, patient, silent, and deadly. Sarai and Dove themselves, with their passion, intelligence, and ideals, their love for the raka and their ties to the luarin.

  She had made a promise to herself on the night Mequen died.

  About to surprise herself and her father, Aly hesitated—and then she saw it. “You,” she said furiously to Kyprioth.

  He actually batted his eyes at her. “Yes, dear?”

  George rested a hand on Aly’s shoulder. “Lass, I don’t like the look on your face.”

  Aly still spoke to Kyprioth. “You knew this would happen, curse you. You wove me into your festering, pustulant great trick. You didn’t wager my summer. You bet that I wouldn’t want to leave.”

  “Well, I didn’t wager, actually,” the god said modestly. “I hoped, that was all, with all the hope in my withered god’s heart. You know, I do owe you a boon. I could repay it now, erase all memory of this place and these people and send you back to Tortall. No doubt your queen needs a lady-in-waiting who’s good with lock picks. Or her daughter, who’s now Empress of Carthak, might need you even more. Say the word, and I will let you go.”

  Aly scowled at him. “I’m going to make your life a misery,” she informed him.

  “I look forward to it,” said Kyprioth.

  George sighed. “I think it’s very good of me to wait whilst the two of you talk in a code I don’t know. I’ll say this—I’m starting to dislike what I hear.”

  “Return his boon,” Aly ordered the god. “You can’t cheat and make him use it when I won’t go along.”

  Kyprioth delivered himself of a broad, dramatic sigh. “Very well,” he said, and looked at George. “I still owe you a boon, since I can’t grant this one, not without her agreement.” He looked at Aly. “This summer was just a trial run, and an easy one at that. Things will be much more difficult from here on. There will be more to lose, and more elements to keep track of.”

  Aly shrugged. “In for a garnet, in for a ruby,” she said. “They’re both the same to me. And it’s not like I won’t have plenty of help.”

  George crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re staying? Why?”

  Aly stood and hugged him. “You’d do the same in my place. So would Mother,” she explained softly. “These are good people, Da. I want to keep them alive so Kyprioth can complete his great trick—putting a raka queen, not a luarin king, on the throne. You and Mother wanted me to do something with my life. Well, here it is. He—” She looked at Kyprioth. The god had vanished. I’ll deal with you later, she thought. She looked back into her father’s eyes and smiled slyly. “I’m sure Their Majesties will be interested in knowing that the raka plan to rise.”

  George raised his brows. “Will you spy for us here, then?” he asked drily. “Since seemingly I’ve no choice but to accommodate you.”

  Aly shook her head. “I can’t, Da. The Balitangs don’t know what my real family is, and I want to keep it that way. You’re a merchant to them, and Mother a Player who left us after bearing me.” In response to her father’s shocked look, Aly shrugged. “I wasn’t about to say she was dead, that’s all. For now, I remain in service to the Balitangs. They would never allow me to stay if they thought I worked for a rival kingdom. No, this will be for them, and the raka. For all those with luarin blood who might die if the revolt can’t be, um, guided into a shape that fits old blood and new.” She swallowed hard. “I think Mother will understand.”

  George Cooper sighed. “And so she and I get what we’d wished for, only to find we don’t care for the form it’s taken. We asked you to assume your place in the world, to live and work as a woman. You have done so, but it’s a bitter reward for us. Your mother will understand all too well. I should have known that no daughter of hers would choose the easy road.” He kissed the top of her head. “Anything for
a poor traveling man to eat, then?” he asked.

  Aly looked around to see if a servant was nearby, or if she’d have to go beg Chenaol for something. To her surprise, she saw that one of the double doors was open. Nawat stood there, an arrow shaft in one hand, watching her as she held another man.

  “Oh, my,” Aly said, releasing her father. “Um. Da, there’s someone you should meet. Nawat?” She beckoned to him.

  “Nawat?” George asked as the crow-man walked over to them.

  “Nawat Crow, Da. He’s a friend of mine.” When Nawat reached her, she rested a hand on his arm. “Nawat, this is my father.”

  George inspected the younger man from head to toe, then looked at his daughter. Without a word he cocked one eyebrow.

  She raised one of hers in reply.

  George remained for three days, charming the Balitangs and talking with his daughter on long walks. At last it came time for the merchant caravan to leave, before the first snows closed the road through the pass. George went with them, waving to his daughter until he could no longer see her. Aly watched him until, even with her Sight, she could no longer see him. When he was gone from view, she wiped her eyes on her sleeve and called herself various kinds of stupid for allowing herself to be drawn into revolution.

  A shadow passed over her. Instinctively she looked up. There, high overhead, a kudarung circled, riding the columns of hot air that rose from the rocky hills at the edge of the plateau. Alone it glided, chestnut wings cutting through the golden air of early fall.

  “It’s going to be an interesting spring,” she muttered.

  The air around her filled with Kyprioth’s rich, merry chuckle.

  GLOSSARY

  Ambririp: harbor on northern tip of Imahyn Island.

  Arak: distilled palm-sap liquor.

  Azure Sea: body of water between Imahyn, Jerykun, Ikang, and Lombyn islands, known for its calm, bright blue waters.

  Bay Cove: village one day’s sail southeast of Pirate’s Swoop.

  Bazhir: collective name for the nomadic tribes of Tortall’s Great Southern Desert.

  Black God, the: the hooded and robed god of death, recognized as such throughout the Eastern and Southern Lands.

  Carthak: slaveholding empire that includes all of the Southern Lands, ancient and powerful, a storehouse of learning, sophistication, and culture. Its university was at one time without rival for teaching.

  centaur: an immortal (cannot be killed by old age or disease), half horse, half human; attitudes to mortal humans vary.

  Conqueror’s Laws: laws enacted by the luarin conquerors of the Copper Isles, exacting heavy penalties (seizure of lands and monies, slavery for rebel families, executions of leaders of any rebellion, mass executions where a noble luarin is killed) paid by members of the subject raka people should any harm befall their luarin masters.

  Copper Isles: originally named the Kyprish Isles, once ruled by queens of the Haiming noble house, presently ruled by the Rittevon dynasty. The Isles form a slaveholding nation south and west of Tortall. The lowlands are hot, wet jungles; the highlands cold and rocky. Traditionally their ties are to Carthak rather than Tortall. Kyprish pirates often raid along the Tortallan coast. There is a strain of insanity in the Rittevon line. The Rittevons hold a grudge against Tortall (one of their princesses was killed there the day that Jonathan was crowned).

  Corus: capital city of Tortall, on the banks of the River Olorun. Corus is the home of the new royal university as well as the royal palace.

  Dawn Crow: male god of the crows.

  Dimari: eastern harbor town on the island of Lombyn.

  Divine Realms: home to the gods and to many immortals.

  Dominion Jewel: magical artifact presently held by the Tortallan kings, a round purple gem that draws those under its influence to form tighter national bonds and tighter connections between the wielder of the Jewel and the land that forms the nation under its influence.

  Eastern Lands: name used to refer to those lands north of the Inland Sea and east of the Emerald Ocean: Scanra, Tortall, Tyra, Tusaine, Galla, Maren, Sarain. Original home of the luarin nobility and kings of the Copper Isles.

  Ekallatum: one of the most ancient kingdoms in the history of the Southern Lands, now part of the Carthaki Empire.

  Emerald Ocean: body of water west of the Eastern and Southern Lands, containing the Yamani Islands and the Copper Isles, among others.

  Fief Tameran: neighboring fiefdom to Pirate’s Swoop.

  Frasrlund: Tortallan port city at the mouth of the Vassa, straddling the border with Scanra.

  Galla: country to the north and east of Tortall, famous for its mountains and forests, with an ancient royal line. Daine was born there.

  Gempang: island in the Copper Isles, on the opposite side of the Long Strait from Kypriang.

  Gift, the: human, academic magic, the use of which must be taught.

  Gigit: a copper coin, smallest coin of the Copper Isles.

  Grand Progress, the: a two-year circuit (457 H.E.–458 H.E.) of the realm of Tortall made by the monarchs King Jonathan and Queen Thayet, accompanied by their heir, Roald, and his betrothed, Princess Shinkokami, of the Yamani Islands. The Progress included tournaments; festivities; scholarly, medical, and legal research; aid for areas afflicted by nature or attack; meetings with immortal residents; and appraisal of worsening military relations with Scanra.

  Great Mother Goddess: chief goddess in the pantheon of the Eastern Lands, protector of women. Her symbol is the moon.

  griffin: a feathered immortal with a catlike body, wings, and a beak. Males grow to a height of six and a half to seven feet at the shoulder; females are slightly bigger. No one can tell lies in a griffin’s vicinity (a range of about a hundred feet). Their young have bright orange feathers to make them more visible. If adult griffin parents sense that a human has handled their infant griffin, they will try to kill that human.

  Gunapi the Sunrose: raka warrior goddess of volcanoes, war, and molten rock.

  healer: a health-care professional with varying degrees of education, magic, and skill.

  his realm’s spies: network of a kingdom’s agents, charged with gathering intelligence at home and abroad; spies in service to a particular country.

  hostler: one who cares for horses: their feed, medicine, grooming, cleanliness, saddling.

  Human Era (H.E.): the calendar in use in the Eastern and Southern Lands and in the Copper Isles is dated the Human Era to commemorate the years since the one in which the immortals were originally sealed into the Divine Realms, over four hundred and fifty years previous to the years covered by Protector of the Small.

  hurrok: immortal shaped like a horse with leathery bat wings, claws, and fangs.

  Ikang: island to the southwest of Lombyn (the northernmost island).

  Imahyn: island just northwest of the Long Strait and Gempang.

  Immortals War: short, vicious war fought in 452 H.E., named for the number of immortal creatures that fought, but also waged by Carthakis (rebels against the new emperor Kaddar), Copper Islanders, and Scanran raiders. These forces were defeated by the residents of the Eastern Lands, particularly Tortall, but recovery is slow.

  Inti: westernmost village on Tanair estates on the island of Lombyn. Inti is astride the road leading down to the west coast of Lombyn.

  Kellaura Pass: opening on the Dimari Road through the Turnshe Mountains on Lombyn, leads to Tanair and other estates.

  King’s Council: the monarch’s private council of advisors, made up of those people he trusts the most.

  King’s Own: cavalry/police group answering to the king, whose members serve as royal bodyguards and as protective troops throughout the realm. Their Knight Commander is Lord Sir Raoul of Goldenlake and Malorie’s Peak. The ranks are filled by younger sons of noble houses, Bazhir, and the sons of wealthy merchants. The Own is made of three companies of one hundred fighters each, in addition to the servingmen, who care for supplies and remounts. First Company, a show company, tra
ditionally provides palace bodyguards and security for the monarchs. Under Lord Raoul, Second and Third Company were added and dedicated to active service away from the palace, helping to guard the realm.

  kudarung: Kyprin (raka) term for winged horses.

  Kypriang: capital island of the Copper Isles, holding the capital, Rajmuat, and its harbor. Location of the Plain of Sorrows, site of the last great defeat of the raka by the luarin.

  Kyprioth: the Trickster, greatest of the trickster gods, former patron god of the Copper Isles, overthrown by his brother Mithros and his sister the Great Goddess, now relegated in the Isles to rulership over the seas that surround them. Cousin to the Carthaki goddess the Graveyard Hag.

  Lombyn: northernmost island of the Copper Isles, home to the Tanair estates of Lady Saraiyu and Lady Dove Balitang, the legacy of their mother Sarugani. The location of the Turnshe Mountains, Kellaura Pass, Dimari town and harbor, and the villages of Tanair, Inti, and Pohon.

  Long Strait: the narrow, tricky body of water between Kypriang and Gempang Islands.

  luarin: raka (native of the Copper Isles) term for the white-skinned invaders from the Eastern Lands, now used in the Isles to indicate anyone with white skin.

  mage: a wizard, male or female.

  Maren: large, powerful country east of Tusaine and Tyra; the grain basket of the Eastern Lands, with plenty of farms and trade.

  Mastiff: fort that serves Lord Wyldon as command post during events in Lady Knight.

  matcher: a slavebroker who deals in matching experienced slaves with owners who will pay top price for them; some owners insist that matchers only sell slaves to buyers who will treat them well. Many are also talent spotters, operating schools at which they groom slaves for particular tasks before they are sold at a higher rate than the slave would have gotten originally. Some matchers have magical Gifts that help them to spot talent, both magical and non-magical.

  Midwinter Festival: seven-day holiday centering around the longest night of the year and the sun’s rebirth afterward. It is the beginning of the new year. Gifts are exchanged and feasts held.