by Paul Heisel
Feln understood that Iristi was determined to save her city, no matter what the cost to her. The council and her uncle thought she was delivering a symbolic token of redemption, as well as giving a grand speech to the Most Favored, Chang. What she was really doing was giving herself to Hiru, one of Chang's leading rulers of the province, and giving into his demands. She would make the political marriage official and seal her fate. Iristi didn't want to do it, but she felt she had to. She had no other options.
Then there was the horse demon. She didn't know where it came from. It would make matters worse for the community if more showed up, and it would prompt additional people to leave Hou. She dreaded the thought if more came. The last time horse demons had appeared, long, terrible wars had begun.
What she asked of Feln was no surprise. At the Amber Tun the previous evening, travelers spoke of incursions of Furawa warriors into Emesia territory along the mountains. It wasn't as safe as she had thought to travel along this road. She asked him to accompany her to Hiru so she could fulfill her destiny, and she would see that Hiru paid him handsomely for his work. Feln told her he would decide in the morning, such matters needed time to think over. Iristi didn't protest and respected his wishes, and promptly curled up near the fire and went to sleep. That had been hours ago. He took out his book, wrote Iristi's name, and sketched her as best he could. As the night wore on, he became sleepy and curled up by the fire. He thought that in the morning everything would be much clearer. At the minimum, hopefully, the skies would clear and they could stay dry.
#
The morning greeted them with sunshine and a hint of warmth. Birds tweeted and flitted about. The underlying dampness was musty and dank, the ground was soaked from the storms. The pale glow of the sunrise filtered through the trees, casting first light over their camp. Feln dismantled the shelter and scattered it amongst the trees, and made sure he covered the coals of the fire with the wet dirt. Iristi went about getting the draft horse attached to the wagon and checking her things for water damage. Most everything had survived the constant downpour she was happy to report, and she hoped there would be no more rain on the trip to Hiru.
At last they were on the road, heading north toward Hiru and the crossroads that could take Feln into Ashimo, if he decided to go that way. Feln sat next to Iristi, wondering what she was thinking. He hadn't given her an answer about accompanying her to Hiru, and he found it intriguing that she wasn't pushing him. Thoughts drifted, and he wondered what he should do. He was stuck in this land with no way to get home, and having the belt on his waist was both an advantage and a disadvantage. Through talking with Iristi, crafting questions cleverly, he learned only seven belts of the Most Favored existed in all of Pyndira. There were hundreds of Favored Ones spread throughout the land, who were in direct service of the Most Favored and their families. Each ruling family had varying numbers of belts, a direct indication of their status. The more belts a family had, the greater their power and influence. Favored Ones, when caught in enemy lands, were killed and their belts taken, and bestowed upon the victor's family.
The use of the term family was not literal. Each province had a ruling family, and anyone with a belt adopted the family name. There was a strict naming convention, which Feln knew of from his research. According to Iristi, families had been at odds since time began, fighting over borders, resources, and Favored One belts. Iristi had commented that since she had been a girl, all she could remember was fighting along every border with no one claiming victory.
They came to a crossroads; there were three roads, one that went north along the foothills to Hiru, one that went northeast into the mountains toward Furawa, and another that went east into the mountains to Ashimo. It was a small town, spread out along the foothills, with structures densely set in one area. People bustled about, tending to their business or pleasures. Homes, a smithy, grocer, and general market were in the center, as well as civic building, and farther out were farms and ranches. In the distance Feln could see a magnificent looking estate, with tall spires on either side of the main building and a stout stone fence surrounding it. The market was open and trading continued into the early evening, and they shopped for additional supplies. When they finished Iristi suggested they stop for the night and completely dry out, change clothing, and get a good night's rest underneath a sturdy roof. They were more than ten days from Hiru if they traveled from sunup to sundown, and this was one of the last large towns between here and Hiru.
They found an inn and stable for the horse and wagon. The inn reminded Feln of the homes near the Waskhal monastery, but on a larger scale. They were boxy shapes, very straight and made up of two or more stories and the roofs were slightly pitched. Before Feln retired to a small room upstairs, he told Iristi he was going to accompany her to Hiru. She was delighted and gracious, thanking him for his service. The decision made him relax, as he had a direction now and didn't have to wonder what was next. Of course he wanted to get home, but that seemed impossible and he needed to get more information. Iristi was his best opportunity now. Inside his room, he sat down on the floor, trying to sort out his thoughts and stretch his muscles. So much was happening in Pyndira and he was in the middle of it. He wasn't sure what his mother's belt really meant, but it appeared he was the head of a family. That was the only conclusion he could draw. Suun wouldn't bother traveling to Malurrion to retrieve a Favored One belt if hundreds of them existed. This had other implications that he had no clue about.
It was clear to him, though, that his mother had lived a double life, one in Malurrion and one in Pyndira. She was a Most Favored, the leader of a family. But which family? No matter how he tried, he couldn't get Iristi to elaborate on what she knew about the other Most Favoreds. Granted, he had learned enough to know these families ruled the provinces, and they ruled with absolute power. The only person with more influence was the Emperor. That was the extent of his knowledge.
After washing and donning cleaner clothing, Feln made his way into the common room downstairs. Iristi wasn't there. That didn't concern him. She was probably taking a nap, as this trip would have worn out the heartiest of travelers. He took a table and ordered food and drink, and ate hastily. There was a sense of urgency that he couldn't explain. Was his own intuition telling him there was a problem? Or was the belt telling him to be cautious?
Feln finished and was about to return to his room when Iristi came down the stairs. Like he, she had washed and changed, but that wasn't what Feln noticed. She was wearing a dark, green, silk dress of elegant design. It wasn't as stylish or beautiful as the blue dress he had seen her wear before, yet he couldn't take his eyes off her as she descended. She was definitely overdressed for this establishment. Her dark hair was pulled up and those dark eyes flashed when she smiled. She glided down the stairs. The conversations dwindled and the whole inn stopped to observe her. Iristi took a seat across from him, leaning her chin into her hands, slumping forward as if worn out. She smiled.
"I feel better, more civilized," she said. "I love this dress. It's my favorite."
Feln was about to respond, but was reminded of Owori. He remembered her telling him he needed to work on his compliments. Checking his initial thoughts, Feln devised a simpler response.
"You look enchanting," he said. Catching himself from stammering the idiotic phrase he had in mind, he looked directly at Iristi and took a deep breath. "You're the one full of surprises," was all he could muster.
"You're very kind," she said. "For a monk, you seem far too courteous and helpful, and you have a good knowledge of basic etiquette. Most monks I've met wouldn't know what to do in a social situation like this. I mean, they aren't barbaric, but hardly cultured."
"I'm sure I still have lots to learn."
Iristi laughed. "Where are you from?"
"You wouldn't believe it if I told you."
"What's there to believe? It's obvious you're from Ashimo. My mysterious monk who went to charm school." She laughed.
Feln ch
uckled. He wasn't sure if he could trust Iristi with the complete truth; he wasn't sure he could trust anyone in this strange world. It would be a great leap for him to trust her, and this wasn't the time to confide in her with additional details. He held back any comment, not willing to explain himself further. It would be best if he remained elusive as he could. "Tell me about the city of Hiru," Feln asked. "I've never been there."
"I went there once as a girl - I was ten." Iristi sighed. "It's a massive city. It makes Hou look tiny. The whole city is built around a palace and extends for miles and miles along the natural contours of the dominant foothills. It's the seat of power in Emesia, where Jun-ba-Ku-Chang rules. Because it's so close to the Furawa border, they are constantly harried by Furawa's armies. The conflict over the border has gone on for years. No one is content to have the border on their side of the mountains. Each of them wants to control the passes, trade routes, and mines."
"You haven't been there since you were ten?"
"It's a long way to travel, and my family had no reason to go there. My betrothed," Iristi glanced at the table, "went there often on official business for Hou. He never took me with him. Once we decided to make Hou independent, he stopped going and he called it a waste of time. We had no reason to go, so we didn't."
"That's a shame you didn't go with him to Hiru," Feln said. "Traveling to other places can be interesting. Believe me. I know what I'm talking about."
The innkeeper came over, twirling a towel around his arm. He offered Iristi standard fare, tonight is was rabbit stew and a local wine, which she graciously accepted. As he left, Iristi turned to Feln. "Don't you want something to eat?"
"I've already eaten, before you came down. I'm sorry, I assumed you were resting or that you had turned in for the night. Remember, monks tend to rush through meals because there are always other duties to attend to. Scrubbing floors and whatnot."
"Oh." Iristi looked disappointed. "You may take your leave if you must. I'll be fine by myself."
"I'll stay," he said.
"I would like that." And she smiled.
#
The evening wore on and time passed quickly for Feln. He talked about himself at her prompting, and he knew he couldn't avoid the subject for the whole trip to Hiru. At least he could tell the truth about his father and mother, although he didn't tell her that his mother had been thrown in a dungeon. That he kept to himself. Iristi was intrigued with his story about his father leading a local rebellion, living in a palace, and how he became the ward of one of the monasteries. She tried to coax the name of the monastery out of him, but her efforts came up with nothing. Feln remained silent in that regard, figuring he still couldn't trust Iristi as much as he wanted. There was too much he didn't know about her and Pyndira.
Over the course of the evening, he thought about his situation. There wouldn't be any answers unless he found help. If another family caught and exposed him, it would be disastrous, and that meant he had to find Suun. He had learned from Iristi the names of the ruling families, hoping one would sound familiar, but he couldn't remember Suun's full name. It escaped him. He wished he would have paid closer attention. It was late and the common room drew silent as the last of the patrons retired for the evening. A weary innkeeper began barring the doors, placing wood planks across each. The innkeeper gave them a scornful look, then departed, winking out lanterns as he went.
They stood in concert, Feln motioning toward the staircase. He picked up the candle from their table and held it aloft, illuminating the path ahead. Iristi slipped her arm in his and pulled him close. They walked up the stairs together, Iristi taking her time to ascend. Feln kept pace, and he wondered if it was normal for a woman in Pyndira to take a man's arm? Or did Iristi have other intentions? At last they reached Iristi's small room down the hall from his. Feln released her and bowed, that was the custom here. He thought that she would laugh at the notion or make a clever remark about his manners, but she did neither.
Iristi bowed in kind, her dark eyes looking deep into his. They were wide open. "You've been a great companion thus far," she said. "I'm grateful for your help."
"Likewise," Feln said. "Rest well. I will see you in the morning."
"Yes." Iristi swept forward and slipped her delicate arms around Feln, pressing her face against his chest. The hug lasted a few seconds. She pointed to the candle. "May I."
"Of course."
Iristi disappeared into her room with the candle and returned after she had lit the small lantern in her room. The candle went back into his hand, she sauntered away, and the door closed. He lingered there, unsure why he was still tingling from her embrace. Other women had hugged him before, so why was this different? Why now? Feln tried to push it all out of his mind as he went to his room. He couldn't though, as it was prominent in his thoughts, and instead of lying down, he began writing in his journal. Perhaps the ink and paper would soothe his restlessness and put him at ease. He tried to think about Owori, his friend, his confidant, his partner, his new found love. No matter what he did, though, all he could see was Iristi and that damn, gorgeous, green dress.
#
A clamor woke Feln, and it felt as if he had only been asleep for a scant few minutes. There were noises coming from outside the inn, shouting and clanging. It sounded like people were running in a panic. Now there was screaming, shouts, and cries for help. He lit a candle and gathered everything; he was ready to depart if the need arose. Outside there were the sounds of battle. More people screamed. He grabbed his things, as it was time to leave no matter what was happening.
He strode down the hall to Iristi's room, candle in hand, using his free hand to keep it from blowing out. Other guests were awake, rubbing the sleep from their eyes. They wandered the halls, trying to find out what was going on. A bell began to ring a steady beat, sounding out a warning. The awaking guests said it's an attack. Abruptly the warning bell stopped. Feln rapped on the wooden door and pushed it open when he realized it wasn't barred. The candle illuminated the room with flickering light. Before him was Iristi, clad in a thin white nightgown.
"Come with me! The town is under attack!" Feln reached for her. "We must move! Now!"
Iristi stepped forward, then stumbled backwards. She looked half asleep.
"Hurry!"
"Feln, I beg you."
"What? We must leave now!"
"Feln!" Iristi pointed to the door. "Out!"
He didn't move, not understanding. What did she want? Why was she delaying? Every moment counted should the fighting get to this building!
"Feln, I would like to put on my clothes! Get out of my room! Now!"
What she wanted sank in. He looked at her, nodding, then backed out of the door. As he closed the door, he could see her slender legs and beautiful body through the nightgown. Just as the door shut, the entire gown went over her head and revealed everything not meant for him to see.
Feln took a deep breath and turned his back on the door. There was chaos in the hallway as all the rooms were emptying, people were in a variety of states of dress and panic. A roar filled his ears. Crackling erupted and flames shot from the end of the hallway. He felt the heat. Smoke drifted toward him, rolling off the ceiling. There were more screams and people began running, pushing, shoving, and trampling each other. There was no time left, so Feln burst into the room. Iristi was pulling on her green dress, sliding it down over her breasts then wiggling the skin tight garment it over her hips.
"Feln!"
"The building's on fire! Out! Now!"
Feln directed her toward the door where smoke was bellowing toward them. Iristi grabbed what she could. Feln slammed the door, gripped Iristi's hand, and pushed through the sea of people. Both were knocked around, but Feln guided them safely by sheer strength. They fled down the stairs into the common room, only to find the front half of the building was in flames. The inn was in disarray as people climbed over each other to get out through the windows. The front door sat open with flaming arrows, now char
coal sticks, stuck in the burning wood. They continued hand in hand, finding a window. Smoke rolled at them and the heat intensified. Feln shoved Iristi out the window, pushing hard against her thighs to make sure she got out. She fell to the ground and landed with a yelp, her small case of possessions spilling out on the ground.
Like a cat, Feln slipped out the window and landed on his feet. In one swift motion, he pulled her up and yanked her away from the burning building. The intense fire illuminated the area, brightening the night sky. Smoke rolled up, winking out the blanket of stars.
"My dress!" Iristi resisted his tugs, trying to get back to her spilled possessions.
"Leave it!"
"You don't understand! My dress! My blue dress!"
"Leave it!" Feln half dragged half carried Iristi away from the building, heading toward a safer place. It was a small building, a shop perhaps, and in the darkness they could remain unseen. They hid on the opposite corner of the building and crouched down next to a barrel of rainwater. Feln could see the inn engulfed in fire, soon it would be consumed and everyone inside would be dead either from the fire or from the smoke. The panicked people were running wildly into the street. Cavalry thundered past, striking at the innocent with swords and shooting arrows at anyone who ran away. The fire at the inn spread to other structures, the stiff breeze aiding the effort. Soon it would reach them. They had little time. The chaos continued in the streets as the fire spread. Soldiers came marching through with long pikes and swords, slaughtering anyone in their way. It seemed the residents had two choices - die by the sword or die by fire.