"I will," I said. Dena stood with me and we went to gather plates for Justis and the others.
"I wish they'd drill on my off-days, so I could watch," Dena said as we walked toward the kitchen to get plates.
"Ask Master Gurnil to change your days," I shrugged. "I don't think he'll mind."
"I'll ask to change one, then, Commander Justis always does drills with all the Black Wings midweek."
"Did you always work in the kitchens before?" I asked.
"Yes, and the younger ones were never allowed to choose off-days. They were always assigned."
"I don't see why Master Gurnil would object, then," I said. "As long as the work is done."
"If you hadn't come, I'd still be in the kitchens," Dena said. "I need five plates," she informed the yellow-winged server when we arrived at the counter. "Commander Justis wants extra meat and gravy—he has worked hard, today."
"We always accommodate Commander Justis," the Yellow Wing—a perky girl barely older than I, dimpled at Dena's request. "I see he's with Master Ordin and Master Gurnil. Do they need extra as well?"
"They didn't say," I said.
"So, one vegetable plate, three regular meals and one with extra meat and gravy," she said, beginning to dip food onto plates.
Dena and I each carried a tray to our table—she had three plates while I carried two. Once the meals were sorted out and the trays given to a yellow-winged boy to carry back to the kitchen, she and I sat to eat.
"Have you attempted to fly?" Master Cook Nina pulled up a chair to join us. Her question, oddly enough, was aimed at me.
"Not yet," I said.
"Nina?" Justis lifted an eyebrow at her.
"All right, my granddaughter has a cough," she sighed.
"And you want Quin and me to take a look?" It was Ordin's turn to lift an eyebrow.
"Yes, if you wouldn't mind."
"Do babies often get sick?" I asked. I hadn't heard that they did—not among the Avii, anyway. In Fyris, few lived, nowadays.
"Not often, but it happens at times," Ordin replied. "Nina, have you eaten?"
"Not yet; I had the day off, to help take care of the baby. I came to find you and Quin, because it seems to be getting worse."
"Eat, then, and we'll go as soon as we're finished," Ordin said.
"I'll get your plate, if you'll tell me what you want," I said.
"Just the usual," Nina sighed.
Just as Ordin said, the moment we finished eating and returned our plates to the kitchen, we followed Nina out of the dining hall.
"Quin, I'll carry you, as it's quicker to fly," Gurnil offered.
"I'll take her," Justis said. "Lead the way."
That was the first time I'd been carried by any Avii, and it was by Justis. Almost afraid to breathe as he lifted off a nearby common terrace and extended his wings with a mighty whoosh, I watched in fascination as his wings lifted and dipped, his primary feathers spread and communicating with the wind.
Gurnil, Ordin and Dena flew ahead of us, while we followed close behind. I was held tightly against Justis' chest, my wings pressed against him as he carried me. Closing my eyes for just a moment, I savored where I was and allowed the dream, slight as it was, to form before bringing myself back to reality.
* * *
"Master Ordin, the baby has the wasting disease in its lungs," I whispered after he and I examined the infant.
"That is what I thought as well," Ordin agreed softly, "although it would normally require Kondari technology to determine that for certain. I've never seen this," he added. "Can you heal it?"
"Yes," I nodded. "Are you going to tell Master Nina? It could cause a panic."
"I'll hold off for now," he said. "So she won't worry."
"The baby will be fine after I heal him," I shrugged. "No need to make things worse. At least not yet."
"I agree."
With that, Ordin and I returned to the crib where the baby slept, his breathing labored and punctuated with a frequent cough. Ordin lifted the child and placed him in my arms. "No need to worry," I crooned to him before the light enveloped me.
* * *
"If anything ever happens to me, get Quin," Justis said, accepting a glass of wine from Master Gurnil. He, Ordin and Gurnil were gathered in Gurnil's study after seeing Quin and Dena to their suites.
"I'd like two guards posted outside the Library, instead of one," Gurnil responded.
"I'll see to it," Justis said. "If babies are falling ill, here," his feathers rustled, "then the poison truly is seeping beyond Fyris."
"This is frightening, and I'd like to discuss it with the physicians of Kondar, but there's the First Ordinance to consider."
"Our hands are tied," Gurnil agreed. "No matter what. It makes me wonder if this was in the plan—for us to die if the one who could neutralize the poison every sixteen turns were killed."
"I think I'll call in our oldest, just to make sure they're not in jeopardy. That's who the poison will kill first—our most vulnerable. That means we have to be vigilant and check our youngest and oldest." Ordin shook his head. "I'd like to keep this from the other healers for now, so it'll involve Quin and me."
"I can do without a daily cleaning if that will make a difference in time," Justis offered.
"I'll remember that," Ordin said. "Gurnil, what does the message say?"
Gurnil lifted the envelope with a sigh. "We'll see if Quin is correct," he said and slipped a finger beneath the flap.
The DNA presented from both samples has revealed that the oldest sample is the parent, while the newer sample is the child, the pertinent paragraph revealed. Gurnil read it twice, at Justis' request.
* * *
That night, as I practiced flapping my wings while Dena watched, I lifted myself off the floor. I wept when my feet touched the flagstones again. I was going to fly. Soon.
* * *
"Berel?" Edden Charkisul acknowledged his son, who walked into his study while he worked late, studying proposed legislation.
"Father?" Berel said, "I have something to show you." Berel sounded unsure of himself, and Edden wondered if Berel worried whether he might be in trouble.
"What is that?" Edden set aside his own tab-vid and held out a hand to accept the one Berel extended.
"Research. I know I wasn't supposed to overhear what you and Commander Melis said, but I did. It sent me in this direction, and the tab-vid shows what I found."
"Bring a chair and sit with me," Edden said, tapping his son's tab-vid to enlarge the images. Berel reached for one of his father's guest chairs and pulled it toward the desk.
* * *
"Mother," Amlis embraced Omina. His father had wisely stayed away from the Queen, choosing to take quarters in a seldom-used wing of Vhrist's castle, in order to be closer to the troops.
"Where is Yevil?" Omina whispered softly in Amlis' ear.
"Never far from Father," Amlis whispered back. "I think he's frightened, Mother. Father, not Yevil." He pulled away and offered her a false smile.
"I hear the troops barely know how to hold a sword," Omina said, taking a seat waving for Amlis to do the same. "I thank you for your gift, too."
Amlis knew she meant Fen, and breathed a relieved sigh. He'd worried that Fen might be killed along the road. "Did it arrive in good condition?" he asked.
Omina snorted. "It looked as if it had been dropped in mud and briars," she replied. "It was sound enough, beneath all the dirt and scratches, however. I am sorry to hear about Chen."
"We are all sorry, Mother."
"When does your father plan to set sail?"
"He thinks a week of sailing with the troops will get them used to the sea, then he plans to leave Fyris for the barbarian shores."
"Will you and Rodrik travel with him?"
"That is his desire," Amlis said.
"My desire is otherwise."
"As is mine."
* * *
"I sent him to bed, after thanking him for bringing this to m
y attention," Edden set the tab-vid before Melis.
"What does it show?" Melis asked as Edden took a seat nearby. "Is the information time-stamped and protected?"
"All of it," Edden nodded. "He'd already done it, but I made copies, placed them in my personal archive under my code and then brought this straight to you. Nothing has been altered. I do suggest enlarging the images, however, so you can see that it's Quin, although she seems covered in filth. Make note of the sailing vessel as well. I haven't seen anything like that in my lifetime. It resembles those we made when we first began our sea explorations, centuries ago."
"Look at the sailor's garb," Melis breathed. He watched as four people slipped onto a small boat from the main vessel, which hadn't been visible on the water until it appeared suddenly on a clear, sunny afternoon.
Not far away, waves washed upon the thin, sandy strip surrounding the thick glass of Avii castle.
"You can barely make out Quin's hair color, she's so covered in filth, and do you see, there?" Edden pointed. "She's dressed, with no evidence of wings. They'd have been pushing against her blouse if she'd had much at the time."
"There's no question that's her," Melis said. "But who is that with her? Have their images been run through the recognizer?"
"Twice, with no results. No chip implants in any of them, or on the vessel, and every registered vessel has a location chip embedded somewhere, in case it gets lost or stolen."
"So they're leaving Quin at the castle, then," Melis said as he watched Quin and one of the unknown sailors disappear inside a narrow doorway.
"Looks that way. I want to question Gurnil about this, but worry it might be a mistake."
"As do I. See, the sailor is leaving, without Quin," Melis pointed out. "He's getting into the boat, and the other two are rowing him toward the ship."
"Keep watching. You'll see the point where the vessel disappears again, just as it appeared in the beginning."
"Might I suggest doing another search, Edden?"
"For what?"
"We have satellite images that go back decades. Shall we do a search for similar appearances and disappearances, all from the same coordinates?"
"How far back do you suggest we look?" Edden sounded interested.
"Let's do twenty turns first, and see what that yields," Melis said. "And go farther back than that, if we feel it's warranted. Now that we have coordinates and can program the comp on what to look for, it'll be easier—and faster."
"Do it," Edden said, rapping his knuckles on Melis' desk in a decisive gesture. "Bring the results to me as soon as you have them."
* * *
"Berel, we found a baby, sick with the wasting disease in its lungs," I said when he called. I was concerned that others among the Avii were already ill, or would become so quickly.
"Did you heal it?"
"Yes. She's fine, now," I said. "I'm worried about the others, now."
"Me, too. Father worries about the people here, and if the Avii fall ill, what will we do?"
"I don't know," I mumbled, shaking my head at Berel's image. "As far as I know, I'm the only one who can make someone well if your medicine and physicians can't."
"What about Princess Halthea?" Berel asked. "I worry that she'll sell your services to the highest bidders, so only the wealthy might survive the poison."
"That has been handled, up to a point," I said distractedly. How could I tell Berel that the Orb appeared to save me and make Halthea a Yellow Wing at the same time? Likely, none in Kondar knew of the Orb's existence, let alone that it held enough power to make changes such as it had.
"When did you begin healing?" Berel asked. My breath stopped.
"Nobody knew I could, for a long time. My first healings were done for animals," I replied truthfully.
"You can heal animals?"
"Yes. They like me," I said, rustling my feathers. "They are as deserving of a healing as anyone else."
"What if someone came to you that didn't deserve to be healed?"
"I don't heal anyone of their advanced age to keep them from death," I said. "That would be wrong. If I were asked to heal someone with evil intentions, I would do my best not to do so. They are undeserving."
"Can you tell—when they're evil?" he asked.
"I can, but I beg you to keep that secret," I said. "It could kill us both."
Chapter 16
"I feel guilty that we're tapping my son's tab-vid," Edden muttered, tossing the chip recording to Melis. "She gave him information in confidence, yet here we are, looking to exploit it. I wish we could come out and ask the girl who those sailors were and where they came from, but we can't. Not without alerting the Avii King and his Black-Winged brother."
"I'd like to present our findings to Firth—it may be that the unidentified DNA sample given to him by Gurnil is connected to those sailors."
"True, but there's still no race connection to Quin, so how might they have come upon her? This mystery deepens by the day," Edden rubbed his forehead. "Never mind that—give this information to Firth and see what he and his assistant can make of it. What have you found in your other research?"
"Three separate occurrences so far, when a seemingly ancient ship appears near the original coordinates, one or two are left at Avii castle and the ship sails away, disappearing as it always does, along the same general latitude."
"That doesn't deviate with the tides?" Edden asked.
"No. It is just as baffling to me as it is to you."
* * *
"Did you examine the sample?" Marid asked.
"I'm glad you placed a spell-shield around it. There's enough radioactivity from only a few of those organisms to make any mortal ill."
"Imagine what many of those can do—against your enemies," Marid smiled.
Marid's guest had arrived late at night, and Marid kept the lights low in the Belancour receiving area—to mask how things appeared worn and run-down. For years, few had sought out the Belancour clan, and seldom paid what Marid had once commanded for spellwork.
He cursed Grey House, blaming them for his troubles. This though, he nodded at the sphere, which his guest held carefully in both hands—this could garner enough to pay for anything he might want.
"I expect the organism will die easily enough, once I have what I want?" his guest asked.
"As easily as I can form a spell," Marid chuckled.
"Then I'll buy. When can you deliver?"
"Soon. Very soon," Marid said.
* * *
"I will not leave him behind to usurp my place," Tamblin thundered. Omina didn't cower—she'd learned long ago to never show weakness to her husband. Yes, she'd seen Tandelis and the Avii royals die in Tandelis' throne room, and that included two babes and all men-at-arms. She'd been unaware of the plot, so there'd been no time to warn them. She was surprised, actually, that Tamblin left her alive when others died about her. Now, Tamblin worried that his son might take his place.
Fool.
"Then what's to stop anyone else from doing the same?" she snapped at him. "You have few nobles scheduled to sail with you. Which of those left behind will take your throne and rally the people of Fyris behind them?"
Tamblin went pale at Omina's words. "I will not leave the boy behind," he growled. "Get yourself to Lironis to protect my place. If you think any of those weak, sniveling pretenders are strong enough to withstand me when I return, then you are a greater fool than I imagined."
"As you wish it." Omina snapped her skirts as she whirled and strode from Tamblin's makeshift study.
"Boy!" Tamblin shouted for a page, who came running.
"My King?" the boy bowed low after sliding to a stop on the flagstone floor.
"Find Master Yevil for me. Do it quickly."
"Yes, my King." The boy departed as quickly as he'd arrived.
* * *
Ordin and I checked an older man and his two wives—he'd asked all the healers whether they had any older ones sick for any reason. All of these we
re ill. The man had fading brown wings, while both his wives had yellow.
All were ill from the poison—they loved fish pulled from the waters north of Avii castle, and had sickened from the subsequent exposure. I offered Ordin a slight nod to let him know they suffered from poison sickness. He'd asked me to make them comfortable—nothing more. It was easy to comply with his request, as it coincided with my own decision. "If they want a quicker death," Ordin told me earlier, "the gate is always available."
I made them comfortable as requested, leaving them feeling better than they had in weeks. As Gurnil and I walked out of their quarters, I received the premonition. No, I didn't want to send mindspeech to the ones who could help, but there wasn't anything else I could do.
Amlis, I shouted mentally, stopping beside a glass wall and placing my hand upon it to hold myself upright. Rodrik! The Queen is in peril. Run.
* * *
Amlis barely noticed the wall being blown away as he leapt to protect his mother. Yevil held a strange object in his hand and barely missed killing Omina with it when Amlis rushed to her aid.
"Stand where you are," Yevil hissed when Rodrik raised his blade.
"Get away, you filth," Rath appeared in the doorway and shouted at Yevil. His blade, like his son's, was drawn and pointed at Yevil.
"Stand back, Father; he can kill you with that abomination," Rodrik snapped.
"Yes, I can, can't I?" Yevil laughed. "Back away. I have orders from the King."
"You are filth and an evil," Omina said, straightening her dress and staring Yevil down. "Whomever Tamblin asks you to kill, you take pleasure in toying with beforehand. Get it over with, then," she shouted. "I've hated you and that thing I married for a very long time."
"You think to take all of us down?" Omina's captain of the guard arrived with several guards at his back. He studied the room with a practiced eye before turning to Yevil. "Because as fast as you can move," he said, "I'll warrant there are those in this room who'll move faster."
Yevil lifted his hands in surrender. Rodrik jerked the weapon from him and stuffed it in the waistband of his trousers before nodding to the guards to tie Yevil's hands behind his back.
Finder: First Ordinance, Book One Page 22