by Lexy Wolfe
The young woman laughed softly. "We are not that naïve, Se'edai Magus Ellis Avarian."
"Please. Call me Ellis in private. I'd rather leave the pretentiousness to public venues where pompous louts flourish."
Kiya inclined her head, eyes reflecting amusement. "Ellis. Please, you may call me Kiya away from the pompous louts." He chuckled, nodding in acknowledgement. "Desanti know what diplomacy is. But I think the practice is not something you would recognize here." It was Ellis's turn to look quizzical. "Forenten love to talk. I have even seen angry talk. They do not so much love what is typical discussion in Desantiva."
"Physical altercations?" Ellis asked in dry tones.
"We are a warrior people," Kiya pointed out as she took less than a quarter of the portion that Ellis took of the food brought to them.
He blinked, looked at his plate, and stopped himself from taking much more, consoling himself that she was just a tiny thing, not needing as much as he needed. "But a stronger, more skilled warrior is not necessarily in the right," Ellis pointed out.
The young woman chuckled. "You assume that combat victory is the same as a discussion victory. Not that it is not sometimes that way, but what matters is the heart with which you fight. If you truly believed in something, you would fight your hardest for it, would you not? The one you fight against would recognize that and while they may win the fight, they would concede the argument to you."
"Fascinating," Ellis murmured. "Unfortunately, I do not think my people would easily adapt to such a view. We are not as… wise as Desanti when it comes to winning and losing, or accepting loss."
Kiya shook her head with a wan smile. "Do not think we are so noble, Ellis. Many Desanti have died over the virtues of the colors of face paint. Not everyone is as accepting of loss and often those who purposely kill another in such an argument meet the same fate as punishment for an unyielding attitude."
"With your people so… challenged with survival, death over petty matters is allowed?"
She shrugged. "There is no tolerance for a lack of self-control among the people. Better they are removed than to allow their lack to weaken the tribes further."
Ellis was silent while they ate, both lost in thought for a time. "And I had hoped to ask Githalin Swordanzen Storm to serve as a diplomat to her people while she was here. I had no idea what I was risking if she would have agreed."
Kiya laughted. "I think even Githalin Storm would agree, you would not wish a Swordanzen to stand as a diplomat. The Path of the Sword dictates that disputes that cannot be resolved by words be resolved with combat. Few Swordanzen have the patience to contend with the more… stubborn sorts. She is not known for patience."
Ellis mused. "I suppose you are right. Still, I would like to establish a more formal arrangement with your people." He sipped his wine briefly. "Perhaps if we mages spoke more with warriors, we could resolve disputes before tensions incite another war neither of us can afford."
"True," Kiya agreed. Her gaze turned to regard the main room of Naveen's Rest. "I do not know if your people would welcome such an arrangement, though. The distrust and hatred between our nations run deep. Many are patient with us. Tolerant of our presence here. But I suspect they would balk at Desanti being given much more status than 'visitor.'"
Ellis grimaced briefly. "I cannot deny that. But change must happen if we are to avoid another Great War. It must begin somewhere." He lowered his eyes, staring at his wineglass. "The gods granted me a second chance to serve my people as they should have been served. I do not want to squander it."
He looked up when she rested a delicate hand on his wrist. "I understand, Ellis. Your great mother has given you a great responsibility. It is not a light burden you bear. And I agree. It should be done. But I do not know how to begin. Desanti have shunned even our cousin race the Vodani from our lands. We do not know… how to interact with others."
"Perhaps it could begin with you," Ellis suggested.
Kiya blinked in surprise, looking at him. "With me?"
"Of course." He reached out to put his hand on hers, squeezing reassuringly. "You are tolerant and patient. Your demeanor is mild, but you are not timid. Drawing a weapon in the face of conflict is not your first instinct." He smiled when she met his eyes. "You could be the voice of the Desanti people. And eventually, perhaps we can find someone suitable to be my people's voice in your land."
"The voice of the people?" Kiya whispered. "I suppose it might be possible. The Path of the Spirit would be more suitable for such…" Then she shook her head. "No. It would be wrong of me to claim to be my people's voice without acknowledging their wishes. It would be a grave insult to them. But I will consider how we can see this happens. For both of our people's sakes."
"You could send a message back to your people's leader and explain it all," Ellis suggested.
Kiya looked at him with a sad smile. "A leader to the Desanti as you are to the Forentan? I cannot. There is no such person. The closest there may be is the Elder of Elders. But the Elders are, at most, respected advisors to the tribes. The tribes are sovereign, answering only to our god, the Raging One, those who serve Him and the Totani. He will not take the people's choice from them unless there is no other means to preserve the great balance."
"No single leader? That seems to be a great risk. Without guidance or uniform laws and rules—"
"We know the risks. We live with their consequences both good and bad." Kiya shrugged. "But freedom comes with a price. A lack of vigilance, a lack of effort… it is often paid for in blood and lives. But to sacrifice our choices? No. We had already suffered to survive an attempt to silence our freedom to choose. We are not giving it up for a lie."
Ellis looked affronted. "You are saying Forentan laws are a lie?"
"They are to Desanti," Kiya replied, her voice matter-of-fact. "There are few Desanti laws shared by all tribes, given to us by the Great Father. Survive. Live. Respect and honor the land. Respect the living. Respect and honor the dead. Even those laws are not always obeyed, or they are interpreted differently.
"You could pass a law, saying all must never wear the color red, but for what purpose? It may be suitable for one situation, but what about others where the wearing of red might be needed? That is taking a choice away, or forcing someone to have to choose punishment to do the right thing. But this is your land, and your customs. Your laws and the way you govern yourselves may be right for your people." A small smile played on her lips. "It is your choice. But it is not ours. I respect your choices."
Ellis opened his mouth to speak, then shut it again to mull her words over. "Not all of your people would agree with our choice."
"No," Kiya agreed. "Not all would. Some would no doubt challenge your choices. In our traditions. And more would challenge your challenge to our challenge."
"That would be… yes, I see where the differences between us present some, ah, challenges of their own." Ellis pinched the bridge of his nose. "I had hoped this solution would be simpler."
Kiya chuckled. "If it was simple, would it be worth trying to attain?" She raised her glass briefly. "Knowing the bitterness of what failure would mean, we will fight harder for the sweetness victory will bring." Ellis smiled and raised his glass in return, touching hers lightly before they both drank.
Chapter 49
Nolyn made a face as light flooded across his eyes, waking him from a sound sleep. He squinted to see Marcus drawing the blinds back. A tray of food and drink sitting on the small table. He made a disagreeable noise under his breath, pulling the blanket back over his head. "Master," Marcus said apologetically. "You should get up and eat something. You have been asleep for nearly three days."
Eyes snapped open. "How long? Why didn't anyone wake me up sooner?" he asked as he pushed himself up unsteadily. He looked around the wide bed, worry creasing his brow. "Where is Kiya? Is she okay?"
Marcus closed the door, then returned to the table to pour some tea for Nolyn. "Su'alin Kiya woke up a few hours after
Seeker said you were both resting. Se'edai Magus Ellis had requested to speak with her a couple of days ago about something, but neither has specified what they were talking about. Today, she recently returned with two of the Swordanzen from the Magus Academy. Right now, she is sleeping, I think. The Swordanzen are out training. They had been standing guard over you until a few hours ago when Seeker told Miss Kelafy you were waking soon."
Nolyn attempted to get to his feet and dropped back to the bed when his knees gave out on him. "Serves me right for pushing myself too hard, I guess," he grumbled. "Still, I am surprised Miss Kelafy did not have me roused sooner. My duties as Edai Magus—"
Lending Nolyn a shoulder to move from bed to the chair by the small table, the apprentice continued his update. "Miss Kelafy put her foot down and said that you were to be left alone to catch up on yourself. Master Ellis agreed and assigned some of his own circle to cover some of your lesser duties. The important ones have been able to wait. Mostly."
"Mostly?" Nolyn settled in the chair, taking the tea gratefully.
Marcus nodded, his expression solemn. "Master Eptina came to speak with you yesterday and has been rather insistent, so Miss Kelafy said she could wait in the common room. That was yesterday morning and she hasn't moved to leave yet."
Nolyn grimaced a bit. "She is a stubborn woman. But she has promise to be a good Edai Magus if she can stop letting politics rule her life."
Marcus reported with complete innocence, "Master Eptina seemed a little bothered when Su'alin Kiya told her that the last time she saw you was when you were both sleeping together." He managed to keep a straight face when Nolyn choked on his tea. Waiting for him to finish coughing, he continued. "Miss Kelafy figured after this long, you should at least get some food in you since she won't be serving supper for several hours. And you should have your wits about you so you can send Master Eptina on her way before propriety dictates we must invite her to remain for supper." He added, "Miss Kelafy would really like for Master Eptina to leave. She says it is not proper to poison guests, but if she is here for much longer, she could be considered a trespasser and therefore propriety be damned."
"Miss Kelafy is a real piece of work," Nolyn observed drolly as he sat the teacup down. "Gods bless Ash for hiring her on."
A smile brightened Marcus's expression. "I like her a lot, too. She is tough, but not for bad reasons. I think even the Desanti like her, and I didn't think Desanti liked anyone. She just wags her finger at them when they start to pull a blade for whatever reason. Everyone in the house is relieved you are going to be okay. Even the idea of having to explain to Illaini Magus Ash what happened to you if you weren't was terrifying." The smile faded as he looked away from Nolyn's searching gaze.
"How are you doing, Marcus?" Nolyn asked, his voice gentle, reflecting his concern and affection. "I imagine no one has paid much attention to you with everything that has been going on."
"Master Ursin comes by now and then to teach me some of what he knows. He said he's here on 'official escort duty' with Master Eptina. And Master Ellis gives me lessons when he remembers, but mostly I just go visit Zoe at the Academy when I am not studying and help her with her own lessons." Marcus tried to be reassuring.
"Forgive me," Nolyn sighed, closing his eyes in shame. "I've been neglecting you, haven't I, Marcus. I've rather abandoned you the past while. Again."
"You do not need to apologize, Master. I know you did not try to get hurt on purpose and I am just glad you are going to be all right. And I do not mind being ignored. I am used to it." He looked up when Nolyn cleared his throat, blushing at the affectionate, chastising look on the man's face. "Master Ursin taught me about fletching back in Quoesia and now he's teaching me how to shoot a bow and the Se'edai Magus stopped asking for more details on the report he asked me to write. I think he finally accepted the fifteenth version of it. I didn't think it was possible to get so detailed and still have a coherent paper!"
Nolyn smiled lopsidedly at the rushed addition, his voice gentle. "Normal or not, usual or not, it does not make it right, Marcus. I need to ensure if I am out of action in the future, you are not forgotten in the madness. Now sit down, please, and tell me what you have been doing with yourself during my incapacitation while I eat to make sure Miss Kelafy doesn't scold us both." Nolyn arched an eyebrow as Marcus pulled out his journal, opened it to the marked page, and slid it across the table. "What's this?" He read, sat up straighter in surprise, looked at Marcus, then looked more intently at the book, turning the pages back and forth. "You met a Totani? In Forenta?"
Nodding excitedly, Marcus sat forward in his eagerness to share what he learned. "I was talking with Master Ellis and Zoe while Miss Kelafy and Swordanzen Seeker were taking care of you and Su'alin Kiya. Zoe tried to ask the great mother what happened to the Trisari. The Knowng One... got upset. Really upset. For a little bit, I was afraid She might kill Zoe! But she didn't. Zoe asked me later when she was feeling better to tell Seeker that the Knowing One wasn't mad or punishing her for asking. She is very upset even thinking about Her lost servants. Zoe said She felt ashamed, too, but don't say that too loud," he whispered.
Nolyn sat back, rubbing his finger under his chin thoughtfully. "Seeker thought the Knowing One was angry at Zoe? That the great mother punished her for asking a question?"
"He did, Master. And he seemed very bothered by it. Enough that he wanted to help me find out about the Trisari." Marcus glanced at his journal a moment before continuing. "We went out to the forest. He cut himself with his sword and stuck into the ground like it was butter... the sword, not the hand he cut... and Anibu the Shadow Jackal came. He-he turned from a strange dog to a man that... sort of looked like a dog. I tried to sketch him, but I need practice." He took a deep breath. "Anibu called what Seeker did to summon him blood magic. I wanted to ask more about that, but it seems limited because it is tied to the injury Seeker gave himself. So I asked about the Trisari instead."
"Sketches will come in time," Nolyn assured. "I am sure that Anibu is memorable enough you will still have the image of what you saw in your mind for a very long time."
Marcus nodded emphatically. "Oh, yes, Master. I know that 'beautiful' is usually used to describe females or things but Anibu was… beautiful is really the only word that fits. I wish you could have seen him!"
Nolyn smiled. "As do I. But if any Forentan got to see a Totani in Forenta, I am pleased it was my apprentice who did." Marcus blushed brightly, squaring his shoulders in pride. "I find it fascinating that Seeker was so willing to let a Forentan see anything of that nature. Storm and Skyfire were always incredibly secretive. At best, I saw the results of their contacts with their Totani, but never the Totani themselves."
"Storm and Skyfire are Githalin, right? It's like the Illaini or the Oracle. They can talk to their Totani anytime, just like Zoe and Master Ash can talk to the Knowing One." Marcus shrugged at Nolyn's surprised expression at the insight. "Normal Swordanzen cannot talk to the Totani without calling them to their presence. So he had to."
Pulling the book back, Nolyn read in silence, frowning as he ran his finger along the passage. "'In shamed retreat'?"
Marcus pulled his hand back from the plate stacked with tarts when Nolyn looked up. He turned bright red when the man waved for him to take one. "Does that mean something, Master?" he asked around a mouthful of tart. "I admit, I don't understand any of what Anibu said. I just guess the Trisari are lost somewhere."
"In my mind, no. But in my heart..." He grimaced a little, looking at the star-shaped scar in his palm. "I wish Ash were here. He is so much better at reading the meaning behind words."
"The Illaini will both be home soon, won't they?" Marcus asked quietly.
Nolyn smiled. "That is one thing I am certain of, yes. Ash is getting impatient." His smile turned wry. "Probably because of me in part." Sighing, he closed his eyes, resting his head against the back of his chair. "Goddess, I miss the simplicity of being a guard some days." He closed the journal, lost i
n thought. "No wonder Ash was always irascible. So many demands, and he had so little help."
Marcus accepted his journal back, running his finger along the edge in silence while Nolyn ate. "Shall I inform Edai Magus Eptina you are resting still? Maybe she will go away."
"No, no. She did bring the trouble in Quoesia to light instead of trying to conceal it any longer. She deserves the courtesy of my time." Nolyn stretched as he stood. "However, I want to bathe first. I feel like I rolled around drizzen muck."
"Drizzen don't leave much behind. Oh, yes." He paused, waiting for Nolyn to look at him before he continued. "The carpenters are lamenting that these new drizzen are eating the stall doors." Nolyn blinked at the unexpected return to normalcy. Then started to laugh as he realized he considered the presence of stall-eating drizzen normal. Marcus grinned at his master's laughter, relieved to hear him sounding so relaxed.
Nolyn tossed his tunic over the arm of his chair. "Ask the Desanti to speak with their animals about limiting their meals to things that do not require replacement. Storm and Skyfire seemed to succeed well doing that with their animals." More to himself, he added, "I really must take some time to study those beasts. Absolutely fascinating creatures." Marcus took the plate with tarts off the tray and gathered the rest to return to the kitchen. His smile faded when he glanced down the hall to the common room and he tugged the door shut securely behind him.
Chapter 50
Eptina stood as soon as Nolyn walked into the common room, her eyes flashing with barely controlled fury. "You are sleeping with that animal?" she demanded. "I know you are not from one of the great families, but I thought you would have better sense than that! She's a savage. An enemy of Forenta."
Nolyn arched an eyebrow, his impassive expression quelling her rant. "Not that my private life has any bearing on anything, but it was sleeping in the purest sense of the word. We slept to recover from the exhaustion caused by the ordeal of freeing me of the trouble plaguing me."