The Panids' Children_The Panids of Koa

by Lee M Eason

  “You will have had quite a journey. Please go through.” He spoke in Ildran motioning them towards a door that led to his living quarters, before rushing back to attend to another customer.

  “He’s not what I imagined,” Kara whispered as she looked round the room.

  “You were expecting someone in black with a mask, perhaps,” Mia Sara said curtly.

  “No,” Kara replied, rolling her eyes as she continued to inspect the room. “I did expect someone younger and well, less fussy.”

  “Then that makes him less conspicuous,” Mia Sara replied sitting calmly on a chair

  “Yes but does it make him any good at his job?”

  “That, we will have to see. Surely you aren’t suspicious of him already. I detect no attempt to deceive us.”

  “Relying on strangers makes me uncomfortable.”

  “Could you at least sit down and be uncomfortable, instead of pacing?”

  Kara sighed and not for the first time wished she had Gwen or Carrick with her instead of Spiky Anny. She purposefully remained standing in petty defiance of her travelling companion. The words to the song dancing through her head - Spiky Anny ignored her Granny and into the thorns she fell…

  The proprietor returned. “Terribly sorry about that,” he apologised in Koan, his Ildran accent completely gone. “I’ve closed the shop so we won’t be disturbed. My name is Grenor.” Both women nodded. “Can I offer you something to drink?” he asked pleasantly.

  “Shall we get to the matter at hand?” Mia Sara said. “What information do you have for us?”

  “Of course.” The little man sat down in a chair facing them both. When he spoke again his manner was more business-like. Though still fussy Kara thought. “Your man is being held in one of the larger private houses on the outskirts of the city, having been moved here some time ago from the capital. He is guarded but not heavily. It would appear he has served whatever purpose Segat and VaCalt had in mind for him, for the time being at least.”

  “VaCalt?” Mia Sara asked.

  “Yes she seems instrumental in Segat’s plans around this man. Her orders sent him here.”

  Mia Sara looked at Kara. Mention of the Adepts name added weight to the theory that the man held here was indeed Halleck. “VaCalt has systematically worked her way up through the hierarchy of her Order. She is a woman of ambition. Segat will have to watch his back. Is she here?”

  “No but it is through her efforts your man was tracked down and captured,” Grenor added.

  Kara was instantly relieved to hear VaCalt was not in the city. She had no wish to match skills against an UruIldran Talent of VaCalt’s standing. They were in enough danger as it was. “You said our man was not heavily guarded. Do you have any idea of numbers?”

  “I am told twenty.”

  “Not many,” Kara was puzzled. “I wonder why so few.”

  “Do you have a way for us to gain access to him?” Mia Sara asked.

  “Yes. We have a contact in the house and can get one of you on the staff. You should know that the house is owned by an Adept, from The Ildran Order, his name is Culsen.”

  Mia Sara and Kara exchanged glances again. “That’s not good,” Kara said flatly.

  “No,” Mia Sara mused. “What dealings have you had with the Ildran Order?” she asked Kara.

  “Not enough to be recognised. If that’s what you mean. I do know the name but we’ve never met. You?”

  “We may have met once. I assume Culsen is in residence?”

  Grenor nodded. “He is often here at this time of year but arrived much earlier than usual.”

  “He heads their Clave of Makers. I think,” Kara said after some thought.

  “Yes, that’s right,” Grenor confirmed. “And one of VaCalt’s favoured.

  “That is slightly better. As a maker he is less likely to be sensitive to your presence in the house. You will have to be very careful,” Mia Sara said, turning to look at Kara.

  “So you’ve made that decision then,” Kara said pointedly. Mia Sara returned her gaze. “When can you get me started there?” Kara asked slowly turning to face Grenor.

  The little man chewed on his bottom lip as he thought. “By the end of the week. They are always losing staff, so it should be fairly easy to replace one of them with your good self. We can probably have you assigned as a general serving maid. That should give you reasonable access to most of the residence. Do you have plans for his rescue? I have several suggestions that might help. We have watched it for several years now along with all of the other Adepts’ homes across the country,” Grenor offered.

  Kara and Mia Sara spent the rest of the week getting to know the city and the area surrounding the house. It was a typical Ildran building, built from red brick, large and inward facing onto open courtyards. The residence was surrounded by its own high walls and gardens, which made surveillance difficult. Access to the grounds was through a large guarded gate.

  They sat on a bench in the shade of a large red fern tree. Mia Sara had altered her appearance to avoid being recognised during a chance meeting with Culsen.

  “At least the house is close to the city walls,” Kara said blowing at a stray hair that hung over her eyes. “That could be useful if we need to get to cover quickly.”

  “I have thought about that and made some preparations. Once you have located Halleck and assessed the situa…”

  “You’ve made preparations?” Kara bristled sitting forward and turning to glare at Mia Sara. “We will make plans. There are two of us involved in this escapade.”

  “Don’t tell me you are still annoyed about being the maid.”

  “I have no problem with a little hard work, however I don’t like having decisions made for me by a…”

  “It was not a decision,” Mia Sara interrupted. “A decision implies a choice. If Culsen recognises me, we are lost. I would not be able to maintain my altered appearance over such a period of time…”

  “That isn’t th…” Kara began to object but Mia Sara kept on talking.

  “I am not as talented as you in that Clave and it is also clear that I am too old to pass for a house maid.”

  Mia Sara’s honesty completely disarmed Kara, who quickly shut her mouth. The Amarian continued to look straight ahead calmly assessing the building. Kara stared at her for a moment and then, as best as she could, in one slow but dignified movement turned to face the house and rested her back against the bench. “Apology accepted,” she said primly.

  At the end of that week Kara presented herself at the house for interview by the housekeeper, who was Grenor’s contact there. She was taken on with little fuss, as the house desperately needed staff and given quarters up in the attics along with the other female servants. One of the existing maids named Letta was charged with showing Kara her duties, the girl clearly wasn’t pleased about the extra responsibility.

  Kara quickly fell in with the staff, building a relationship with each over the course of her first week in-service. The closest she came to having any kind of contact with Culsen was early one morning as she was opening shutters and preparing rooms for the day. He breezed past, deep in discussion with a man in uniform. She made herself unobtrusive, as all staff were taught, so he paid no attention to her whatsoever - or so she thought.

  The first week passed quickly but despite working through most of the residence she found no sign of Halleck or even gained an idea of where exactly he was, until a member of the kitchen staff mentioned the closed off west wing. It was an impressive building of fountained courtyards, shady seating areas and rooms ingeniously cooled by water. The house had seen many owners and the use of rooms often changed depending on their needs or whims. Culsen had wanted no family and so the west wing had been closed off and fell into disrepair, only recently being opened to house one occupant and the small force that guarded him.

  “So how do you get to that bit of the house,” Kara asked as one of the kitchen staff washed and rinsed dishes.

  “O
h, you won’t ever get to go in there. You can only get to it through the master’s study. They keep that wing private and everyone is forbidden to go in his study. Only Letta’s allowed.” She stopped washing and leant closer to Kara, after glancing round. “We all think there’s someone hideously deformed living in there,” she confided with a knowing look.

  “What makes you think that?” Kara asked slightly bemused.

  “Because food goes in and empty dishes come out but you never see who eats it all. So it’s obvious,” she said straightening. “Whoever’s in there doesn’t want to be seen so they must be deformed, silly. What else could it be?” The girl stated this assumption with such conviction in her own logic Kara didn’t dare disagree. She merely nodded with what she hoped was a convincing expression of shock on her face. The girl was obviously pleased with this and nodded back in a ‘told you so’ fashion.

  At that point the cook entered the room and the girl hastily busied herself. Kara quickly left.

  “That’s right girl,” the cook said shaking a wooden spoon after her. “Get yourself gone and start earning some of the money you’re being paid. Don’t let me catch you skulking around here again.”

  Mia Sara spent her time learning different routes out of the city and finding places where they might scale the wall, should they need to make a physical escape. After much thought, she decided on two possible routes if her original plan failed. She sat in one of the city’s parks in a quiet area waiting to meet Kara for the first time since she had entered the house. Mia Sara had set off slightly early, as she wanted to spend a little time looking at the statues and works of art in the park in an attempt to take a break and ease the tension building in her. The location and Culsen’s presence concerned her.

  The park had been set out fifty years ago, its purpose to educate the city’s less privileged citizens. Each year an event was organised and the latest acquisitions unveiled. The collection had grown over the decades and Magor’s wealth meant that it was unrivalled. However, the collection had ceased its growth abruptly with Segat’s accession to the throne. Relieved the park was still here Mia Sara had sought out two works in particular. They hadn’t disappointed and now she sat trying to enjoy the peace. Allowing her thoughts to drift she realised, with a certain amount of surprise, that she had not missed Amar, its politics and the constant manoeuvring of the Clave Heads. She had simply been able to focus on the job and indeed that was a refreshing experience, despite Kara. In fact, the longer they were away the less appealing she found the thought of returning. Naicarn’s blistering attack, on the direction her Order was taking, still resonated in her and thinking of it recreated the sense of unease she’d felt then. She puzzled over these feelings a little longer until in time she spotted Kara coming along the path. The woman seemed tired but then changed her stance as she saw Mia Sara.

  “Have you missed me?” Kara asked as she approached and sat down. “Hmm, didn’t think so,” her glib question hadn’t been appreciated. She was too tired for an argument so quickly changed the subject. “I’ve always wanted to come here and see the collection. Did you know they have a Cothican Shrine here?”

  “I did, yes,” Mia Sara answered suspiciously, suspecting this was yet another of Kara’s attempt to mock her but as Kara described the shrine it was obvious this wasn’t the case.

  “I came early to see the Nebessan Talls,” Mia Sara offered, convinced Kara wouldn’t have a clue what she was talking about.

  “I was going to have a quick look for them but knew you would be ticked off if I was late.”

  Mia Sara sighed. “You don’t make it easy.”

  “What?” Kara asked not understanding.

  “To be pleasant.”

  “You aren’t exactly the easiest of people to be pleasant to. You’re so superior and judgemental,” Kara said wearily.

  “And you are tactless and changeable,” Mia Sara countered.

  The two sat looking in different directions. Kara not wanting to be the first to speak and wishing they could get the task over and return to Amar. The silence between them became awkward as each was forced to consider the truth of the other’s observation.

  “Oh for goodness sake, I’ll make an effort if you will,” Kara managed unable to bear the silence any longer.

  “Very well.” Mia Sara replied a little more subdued than normal and then after another pause. “Have you been able to locate Halleck?”

  “He’s in the west wing, which is sealed off and only accessible through Culsen’s study, they must have changed the use of the rooms- it was probably an anti-chamber in times past. The door is guarded on the other side and food is taken in twice a day by one of the serving girls.”

  “Is there a chance that girl could become you?”

  “I’ve thought about that. She shares a room with me, that’s how I know about the guards. Letta’s quite the gossip even though she’s been threatened not to speak a word about it.”

  “She is clearly not one to be threatened,” Mia Sara observed.

  “No, she’s quite a handful and the house keeper is constantly on at her.”

  “Has the house keeper been of any further help?”

  “No she’s done her part and keeps her distance. I’ll try and engineer it so that it’s me delivering the food tomorrow morning. I noticed one of the plants in the garden here. A little in Letta’s dinner tonight should throw her stomach enough to keep her in bed tomorrow.” Kara stifled a yawn. “How’s our escape route coming along?”

  “I have identified two as backups. Using them should enable us to get clear of the house and city. But if all goes well I should be able to jump us away from Magor. The field is little used here and is generally quite strong. I intend to place markers at several distant jump points to ensure we are able to put a considerable distance between the city and ourselves. In nine days Issa and Lissu will be obscured, the house’s proximity away from the walls means it is not well lit at night and the nearest lookout towers are reasonably distant. If possible we should aim to leave then. If you are agreeable?” Mia Sara added.

  “It’s not much time but I’ll make sure I’m ready. Same time here next week?” Mia Sara nodded in agreement. Kara almost didn’t ask but then thought she should make the effort. “Would you mind showing me were the Talls are?”

  Mia Sara stood up and for an instant Kara thought she was just going to walk away. “We can go this way,” she gestured her voice uncertain. “There are a few other things you might like to see.”

  In the end Kara bought some sweets, which she laced with the plant sap she’d collected. She left them out on her bed and true to form Letta helped herself and was quite sick the next morning. Kara timed her appearance in the kitchen just as the food tray was to be taken through. The cook was furious at Letta’s absence and snapped at Kara to take it up instead.

  “And remember to knock girl, or the guards will have you pinned to the wall and I’m not setting that tray again.”

  Kara made her way to the study and was about to enter, but instead paused. She was actually feeling nervous and this irritated her. The house seemed to have that effect, the staff were constantly on edge and wary of Culsen, even Letta preferred not to talk about him.

  “Where are you going?” an imperious voice demanded.

  Kara started and quickly turned. Culsen was stood uncomfortably close. Focus she scolded herself, you didn’t even sense him coming. Her natural instinct would have been to meet his gaze directly but she thought better of it and tried to appear flustered. The effect, as anticipated, was not lost. “I’m to take the food through,” she said dipping her head and trying to sound timid.

  Culsen stepped even closer a smug smile on his lips. “You’re new here aren’t you?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “I’ve noticed you,” this was clearly meant as a compliment.

  “Thank you sir,” she said thinking she might drop the tray down his front if he took another step closer.

  He rea
ched out and slowly inspected the items on the tray she held, every now and then looking directly at her, testing her reaction. Kara avoided eye contact. “You’re different to the other girls. Something I can’t quite pinpoint but it intrigues me,” he said at last, trying to look into her eyes.

  Kara corrected herself. It wasn’t the house that had an atmosphere it was his presence in it. She didn’t like playing a role, pretending to be something she wasn’t and so had not found herself in a situation like this before. She felt distinctly uncomfortable and Culsen sensed this. “Yes,” he mused taking a step closer so that he pressed lightly against the tray, “quite different.”

  “I must go.” Kara said making to open the door without dropping the tray. “The cook is expecting me and I’ll get into trouble if I’m any longer.”

  “We can’t have that, can we,” he purred but didn’t hurry to move “Very well, you may go. Tell the cook you are to bring the meals through from now on,” he smiled in a sell-satisfied way, which made Kara want to punch him.

  “Yes sir, thank you sir,” she managed, pushing the door open and stepping quickly into the study. Culsen mistook this sudden departure for coyness enjoying the effect he had accomplished.

  As she carried the tray through the study and tapped on the room’s other door she could feel his eyes boring into her back. A glance over her shoulder confirmed this. He was still stood there returning her gaze, unblinking. Lizard, she thought to herself, an involuntary shiver passing through her. At that moment the connecting door swung open. A guard on the other side blocked her way but after a tepid inspection of the tray allowed her to pass. Kara took one last look over her shoulder as the door closed, Culsen was still there watching.

  The door clicked shut behind her. She felt instantly relieved by the barrier between herself and the UruIldran Adept. Convincing herself it was tiredness that was getting to her she focused her mind back on the job in hand. She now found herself in a gloomy corridor with many closed doors leading from it.

  “Fourth door down,” the guard grunted before returning to a table and two chairs placed against the wall. She noticed a set of cards set out for two players and heard a water closet flush in one of the rooms ahead of her. As she passed it the other guard came out wiping his hands on his trousers.