Finn ignored his comment and took a deep breath. “I was a tree for over a hundred years . . . ”
Her explanation carried them on until the sun set behind the horizon. Though her feet dragged with exhaustion, she forced herself to tell him most everything she knew about herself; from what she had learned, to what her memories told her. She could see no reason not to be honest. He already knew the most damning things about her. The only part she left out was what Iseult had told her about his clan, and the mission they had decided to undertake together. Those things were not hers to tell.
Kai stopped at a small clearing and unstrapped their supplies from his back. He took a moment to stretch, then set about making a small fire and heating a kettle for tea. Finn watched his impassive face, waiting for him to speak.
“Do you have nothing to say?” Finn finally asked, frustrated.
Kai was silent for a moment, then looking up from the fire, met her eyes. “You stood in that field, for over a hundred years?” he asked, slightly astonished. “How did it not drive you mad?”
Finn shrugged and sat. “As far as I knew, it was what I was supposed to be. It was peaceful.”
Kai nodded as he sprinkled herbs into the kettle. After a few minutes he poured Finn a cup of tea and handed it to her.
When he did not speak, she said, “It is your turn.”
Kai sighed, and Finn thought he would not speak at all. Finally he began, “I was born into servitude. My family owed a great deal of coin, as many farm families do outside the Gray City. I was raised in a state of slavery, working to pay off a debt that only increased the more my family worked.”
He looked into the fire. Finn could tell that he was embarrassed of his past, and almost regretted demanding his story.
“Eventually I gave up. Though in a way I was doing quite the opposite,” he went on. “I refused to work any longer. A city official sent to monitor the farm whipped me with a switch of braided leather. He had hoped to scare me back into submission, but the harder he whipped, the more vehemently I refused. I cursed the Gray City and the so-called Alderman that had enslaved us. The guard whipped me until I passed out.
“I awoke in a field, covered in my own blood, and realized I had been left for dead. A young woman found me, and nursed me back to health. That woman was Anna.”
“Anna . . . ” Finn began as the pieces fell into place.
“Anna taught me a different way of life,” Kai went on. “She taught me that the most important person in the world is not an Alderman or a friend, it is yourself. Sometimes we've worked with others, with each other, or alone. Yet no matter who I've worked with, the person I've worked for has been me, and no one else.”
“That sounds lonely,” Finn commented.
“And being a tree for one-hundred years was not?” he countered.
Finn shook her head. “As a tree I was connected to everything. I was never alone.”
“Well you asked for my story, and now you have it,” Kai said tiredly.
“What of your family?” Finn pressed.
He shrugged. “They think I am dead, and it's for the best. I deserted them that day.”
Finn scrunched her face in confusion. “I hardly think being whipped nearly to death counts as desertion . . . ”
“I deserted them when I refused to keep working,” Kai replied. “My mother believed we would some day work our way out of debt, yet I couldn't help but see the futility of it. Tariffs were raised on a regular basis, and we could never produce enough to pay what was required. We remained in debt, because that was where the city wanted us.”
“I still don't see how that counts as desertion,” Finn argued.
“I knew I would be killed or jailed,” Kai explained. “I knew in refusing to work, I would leave my family even worse off than they already were.”
Finn looked down at her lap as understanding dawned on her. “Then why did you do it?”
Kai opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. He stared into the fire, and Finn realized he was trying to figure out an answer he simply could not explain.
“Well thank you for your honesty,” Finn said quietly, not wanting to push any further.
Kai smiled back, but it was a sad smile. “Who said it was honesty?”
Finn smirked. “And who said I was actually ever a tree?”
As their soft laughter died down, they sat in silence for a time, staring into the fire and thinking their own thoughts.
Eventually Kai cleared his throat to speak. “I did feel bad you know . . . about kidnapping you. It's just that Anna had her mind set on it, and after what happened to her, I was simply glad to see her acting like her old self. Then with you planning on running off with Iseult and Àed the next day. I had little time to think things through.”
“Oh my,” Finn said as she looked up at Kai's slightly hunched form. “That almost sounded like a genuine apology.”
He let out an exaggerated sigh. “Well at least I tried,” he stated ruefully.
“Yet you still would have turned me over?” Finn asked seriously.
Kai had the grace to look embarrassed. “Well yes, but I would have felt bad about it.”
“Well,” Finn replied. “If you help me to find my companions again, I might consider forgiving you.”
Kai shook his head. “I said I'd get you as far as Port Ainfean, then I'll be about my way. I would not want to face Iseult when the two of you are reunited.”
Finn laughed. “And why is that?”
Kai shook his head again. “I've no doubt that he will try his very best to kill me, and that is a fate I'd rather like to avoid.”
Finn smiled and shook her head. “I would not let him kill you, even if I've considered it myself.”
Kai laughed. “As interesting as it would be to see you trying to stop him, I think I will have to pass.”
After several minutes of silence, Kai asked, “Why is it that he's so set on you?”
Finn perked up out of her thoughts. “Iseult?” she questioned, not sure what Kai was asking after the pause in conversation.
Kai nodded. “You've known him as long as you've known me, and the two of you already had plans to continue traveling together. It just seems odd to trust someone so quickly.”
“Not everyone is like you,” Finn replied, but with little heat to her words. “Some people can be trusted.”
“And you trust Iseult?” Kai pressed.
Finn nodded. “I do.”
Kai shook his head like he wanted to say more, but held back.
“Mock me if you must,” Finn taunted. “I can see that you would like to.”
Kai held up his hands in a surrendering gesture. “I was not going to mock you. I was going to ask if you were in love with him, because I can see no other explanation for such blind trust.”
Finn raised the corner of her mouth in a crooked smile. “And would you be jealous if I was?”
Kai chuckled. “Oh Finn, I imagine love from a woman like you would only bring a man misery.”
Finn yawned as the day and night of walking, and lack of sleep hit her all at once. “Well then it is fortunate that I have no intention of falling in love.”
Kai stood to retrieve their bedrolls, then laid them out side by side near the fire. Finn climbed into the bedding, feeling light and floaty from exhaustion.
As she closed her eyes, Kai said, “Love doesn't care about intentions.”
Finn smiled softly with her face turned up toward the dark night sky. “And I do not care about love,” she replied.
Later that night as Finn tried to sleep, she battled contradicting emotions. Part of her told her she should escape in the night, and take her chances backtracking. Yet, the other part was oddly content in her situation. Before she could decide either way, sleep took her.
The next day as they walked, Finn quietly let the too-heavy sword drop down into the dirt. It really didn't do her much good to carry it, as she would never be able to properly wield the monst
rous thing. She didn't think she would need it regardless. She looked at Kai's back, hoping he had not noticed as she discarded the weapon. No, she did not need it. Kai might be a liar, and he might have tied her up, but she knew with a fair amount of certainty that he would not do so again.
It was difficult for Anders to sleep while his sister was in such a state. As soon as the sun had set on their travels, she started mumbling about a war, and that “they were coming”. She spoke of the Cavari and other ancient tribes. Branwen of course knew of the tribes from her research, but Anders believed it was something more. Though she spoke of ancient tribes, she also spoke of recent events. She spoke of the end of the Blood Forest, and of the current Alderman of the Gray City.
Besides the names, he could not make much sense of what his sister was saying. She spoke of a great search to turn the tide of war. Yet there was no war to speak of. At least not yet.
His sister was curled up in her bedroll, still mumbling quietly to herself. Suddenly she sat up and turned directly to her brother, looking at him this time, rather that through him.
She whispered three words.
“They are coming.”
Hoof-beats thundered in the distance. Branwen whipped her head in the direction of the sound. “It is too late. I have failed.”
Chapter Nineteen
Port Ainfean was not what Finn had expected. Metal spires lined the gates, raising twenty feet over Finn's head to block out portions of the sun. The spires were topped with brightly colored banners, wafting about in the brisk wind.
Kai leaned in close to her ear. “Stay close,” he ordered.
They passed through the gates unhindered, though the guards eyed them as if they would memorize every last detail of their faces. Finn turned away from their searching gazes to observe the large port town. The presence of the river Cair was evident throughout the hard-packed streets. In Garenoch, the earth surrounding the various buildings had been hard and dead, but in Port Ainfean the deep green of moss and grass could be spotted in between buildings and sometimes even on rooftops. Shirtless men carried planks of wood strung from one end to the other with fresh-caught fish, in fact, the entire town reeked of fish guts. Many of the inns and shops had names relating to the river, fish, or both.
Kai reached behind Finn and pulled the hood of her green cloak up over her head as they walked. “Hide your hair,” he ordered.
Finn pushed the loose locks of her hair back within her hood without argument. The Port town made her nervous with its bustling streets and strange architecture. Many of the houses were no more than shanties made of driftwood, though Finn could see that there were nicer parts of the town further in.
“I feel as though we are likely to lose our coin walking in these streets,” Finn observed.
Kai laughed. “I would not say that too loudly.”
Finn blushed and tugged on her hood to cover more of her face. “Should we not be finding an inn? I imagine that is where we'd gather news of Iseult and Àed, if there is any to be had.”
Kai shook his head. “That might be so, but that is also where news of the bounty would have spread. I imagine another kidnapper would not be as kind as I have been.”
Finn snorted. “Yes. Kind. I wonder what your definition of that word might be.”
Kai smiled and took a turn down an alleyway. Finn had to side-step various puddles as they walked, and found herself hurrying to keep up with her companion as he strode confidently forward. The pair passed several back doors and stables before Kai found what he was looking for, though Finn could see nothing remarkable about this door compared to the others. Kai pounded his fist in a pattern of knocks on the small door, then waited patiently as he rocked back and forth on his feet. After a few moments, the door swung inward to reveal nothing but darkness.
Kai grabbed Finn's hand and pulled her into the eerie darkness before she could ask with whom they were meeting. The door shut behind them, revealing a diminutive woman with several missing teeth, half of her face cast in shadow. Her dress was a plain brown that nearly matched the color of her lackluster hair.
Finn could see the soft glow of oil lamps further into the house, though the entryway was void of any lighting of its own.
“Haven't seen you in these parts for ages,” the little woman commented cheerfully, if not without a touch of disdain.
“I've been working elsewhere,” Kai explained vaguely. “This is Breya,” he added, gesturing to Finn.
Finn almost corrected Kai as he gave her the made-up name, but realized quickly that giving her true name was likely a bad idea. She cleared her throat as she looked down at the tiny woman, confused as to what social protocol might be necessary. Erring on the side of caution, she took the woman's hand in her own. “L-lovely to meet you.”
The little woman raised an eyebrow. “Not your usual type,” she said looking back to Kai.
“Now what is that supposed to mean?” Kai asked good-naturedly, yet with a hint of sarcasm.
The woman turned back to Finn as she laughed. “She looks so proper. Skinny little thing too. My name is Malida.”
“I'm not his-” Finn began, but was cut off by a pleading look from Kai.
Malida's face turned suspicious as she aimed a more scrutinizing eye on Finn. “Not his what?”
Kai stepped up beside Finn. “She's not my lady friend. She's my wife.”
Finn inhaled too suddenly and started choking on her own spit.
Kai smiled warmly. “She's not used to the term yet.”
Malida continued to look suspicious, but after looking Finn up and down one more time, led them deeper into the building. Finn could tell that they were in the back of some sort of shop by the various crates of whiskey and other goods piled about haphazardly. The space they passed through had no windows, but still had the feeling of a small home, with candles and lanterns illuminating overstuffed chairs and wooden furniture in a flickering glow.
“Are you two waiting for passage?” Malida asked, then added, “You better not be waiting for that Anna.”
Kai winked at Finn behind Malida's back. “No Anna. We have parted ways.”
Malida turned around with an enormous smile on her face, showcasing the few teeth she had left to her. “Well you two lovebirds can have the room at the end of the hall. I'll fix you up something to eat. Don't you worry about a thing.”
Malida hurried off down the hall while Kai ushered Finn in the opposite direction. They reached the end of the corridor and Kai held the door open for Finn, gesturing for her to enter before him. She did so quickly, and as soon as the door was shut, she turned to face him.
“Why did you tell her all of that?” Finn whispered angrily as her peripheral vision took in the sight of a sparsely furnished room with one small, wood-framed bed.
Kai grimaced. “Malida doesn't like it when I bring my work with me. She would not have let us in.”
“Then why did you say I was your wife?” Finn pressed.
Kai sighed. “Because you were acting strangely and she was starting to get suspicious.”
Finn took in a deep breath. “Then why did you not warn me before we faced her?”
Kai shrugged. “I assumed we would be dealing with her husband, Buerny. Malida is usually running the tavern up front during the day while her husband manages their other affairs.”
“What other affairs?” Finn asked suspiciously.
Kai shrugged. “Buerny and Malida transport certain goods for . . . certain people.”
“They're smugglers!” Finn gasped. “Don't we have enough trouble already?”
Kai looked at her in surprise. “Now how do you even know what smugglers are?”
Finn glared. “Just because I was a tree, doesn't mean I was born a week ago.”
Kai laughed. “Very well, oh wise one. I brought you here because Malida is just as good at hiding people as she is at hiding stolen goods.”
Finn sniffed. “Fine,” she acquiesced. “Now how do we find my friends?”
Kai unstrapped his portion of their sparse belongings from his back and set them on the wooden floor. “You will stay here. This evening I will ask some questions, and ask a few people to keep an eye out.”
“I will not stay here,” Finn argued, tossing her hood back in frustration. “For all I know, you're still trying to turn me in.”
Kai crossed his arms. “And what if someone figures out who you are? You have no idea who else might be tracking you.”
“They just know that I'm a girl who once was a tree. They don't know what I look like,” Finn said smartly.
“And how do you know that?” Kai countered. “Word travels fast. Anyone could have overheard something about you in any of the towns you have visited.”
“I'm coming,” Finn said flatly.
Kai rolled his eyes and began unpacking his belongings. “If we're lucky, Malida might fix us a bath,” he said, changing the subject. “I'll even let you go first.”
At the mention of a bath, Finn let the argument drop. She was pretty sure that she had won it anyhow. A knock on the door announced Malida with two heaping plates of food. Finn wolfed hers down appreciatively before allowing their hostess to lead her off to get clean.
She followed Malida's small form back through the living-area, and into a small bathing-room. The room was mostly barren, with a large tub dominating the center, and a small wooden bench to be seated on near the tub. The walls were made of the same rough wood that composed the rest of the house, boasting only a few rough towels hanging from hooks near the door. Finn mimicked her hostess as she crouched in front of the bath. At a gesture from Malida, Finn handed her kindling from a small container as Malida built a fire in the metal vessel underneath the already full tub of water.
Once the fire was stable, they sat on the small bench to wait while the water heated. As Finn waited for the inevitable conversation that would take place while they sat, she repeated in her mind that her name was Breya, and she was Kai's wife.
Malida shifted in her seat to make herself more comfortable. “When was the marriage? It must have been recent, judging by your reaction when Kai told me.”
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