by Jess Allison
Ja'Nil, who was wide-awake, heard him rise and go into the woods. She had heard him tossing and turning. Was he thinking about her? We’re they both going to spend a sleepless night? It would be so much nicer if they could sleep together. Under the same blankets. Maybe with their arms around each other. Maybe he would kiss her again. Only this time a better kiss, a different kiss. Not the kind you would give some little kid.
He thinks I’m just a kid.
Maybe she could show him she wasn’t. After all, if she had the money she was old enough for the adult ritual ceremony; old enough to be a full citizen.
He would be back soon. Abruptly but quietly she stood up. There was no sound of Ee'Rick returning. She picked up her blanket and crossed to where his lay in a crumpled heap. Straightening it, she added her blanket and lay down, being sure to leave enough room for Ee'Rick when he returned.
What would he think?
Maybe he would be angry. Maybe he would laugh at her. She couldn’t stand that. Maybe he would just take his blanket away and go lie somewhere else, completely ignoring her. She could feel her body heating with embarrassment at that thought.
Oh Lord of the Circle, what am I doing?
She sat up; still no sight or sound of him. She stood up, grabbed her blanket, and fled back to her side of the barely glowing fire. When he came back, would he notice his blanket was in a different position? Would he realize what she had done? He was probably standing just outside the circle of light watching everything. Waiting tensely for his return she imagined a dozen different scenarios, each one more embarrassing than the other. She waited and waited.
* * *
In the morning, Ee'Rick was there. Ja'Nil awoke to the smell of roasting Gundi bird. Barely awake, she scratched her stomach just above her belly button (for some reason she always had an itch in the exact same place every morning) then she twisted around onto her stomach and stared blearily at Ee'Rick who was busy tending to not just one but two Gundi birds.
“Morning,” he said with a cheerful smile.
Oh Lord, he was one of those morning people, who got up at the crack of dawn all bubbling, and eager to start the day.
Ja'Nil hated morning people. They always acted as if there was something morally superior about waking up hours before a sensible person was able to crawl out of bed. Finally she had found one flaw in the beautiful, perfect Ee'Rick. Mornings. Ugh!
Ja'Nil grunted and rolled over onto her back and stared up at the awakening world. It was going to be a beautiful day, no excuse to curl back into her blanket and sleep for a few more hours. Suddenly Ja’Nil realized that for the first time since she had left her village she was waking up to a new day completely unafraid.
Her eyes fell on Ee'Rick’s blanket, neatly rolled and ready for travel. Her bizarre behavior of last night came crashing back to her. Had he noticed his blanket was in a different position than he had left it? Could he possibly have seen her lying in his blanket?
She groaned to herself. He probably knew all about it; probably laughing at her. She hated him!
“All right, are you?” asked Ee'Rick.
“Yeah, yeah,” she mumbled, crawling out of her blanket.
“You’re one of those, ‘I don’t do mornings,’ people,’ aren‘t you.” He grinned a morally superior grin. She didn’t bother answering him, just staggered off into the bushes.
Ten minutes later, bladder emptied, face washed, teeth brushed, hair damp from the ice-cold stream that she had dunked her whole head in, she returned to camp.
When she pulled out a clean tunic from her pack, Lady Fayre’s ring tumbled to the ground. There wasn’t much of it left. She carefully placed it on her right thumb; better than carrying it around in her pack.
Ee'Rick was still cheerful. “Can you eat a whole Gundi bird?” he asked.
“No.”
“Didn’t think so.” He took out his knife and cut one of the birds in half, handing her one of the halves.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She squatted down next to him and tore into breakfast.
They washed their meal down with a spicy tea Ee'Rick had made. By this time, Ja'Nil was in a much better mood.
“Did you wake up during the night?” Ee'Rick asked as he bent to slip his knife in his ankle sheath.
Ja'Nil hesitated then said, “Once I fell asleep I was dead to the world.” Well it was the truth. She didn‘t mention how long it took her to fall asleep.
They finished eating and washed their greasy hands in the stream, then strapped on their packs and were off to Cordia.
CHAPTER 22
It wasn’t that far. After only two hours of walking, Ee'Rick called a halt on a modest hill overlooking a small fertile valley. On the far side of the valley, on top of a much larger hill they could see the walled city of Cordia, capital of Cancordia. The walls were made of some red-pink-orangey material that glowed under the two suns like a tiny faceted jewel.
However, by the time they had crossed the valley and were starting up the hill, Cordia had grown to gigantic proportions. There was just one road up the hill and, wide as the road was, it was crowded with people coming and going, carts pulled by strange draft animals that Ja'Nil had never seen before and whole families riding small furry, six-legged beasts with sad eyes.
“What’s that?” she asked, pointing at the six-legged beast.
Ee'Rick squinted at it, and then reluctantly shrugged. “Don’t know.” He disliked not being able to answer her questions. Being a know-it-all big brother to Ja'Nil was a real ego booster. He didn’t like letting her down.
Considering how much effort had been expanded in putting up the city walls, it was surprisingly easy to enter the city. There were guards at the gate but they were busy talking among themselves and seemed to pay no attention to the people coming and going. The only difficulty getting in was the groups of people who had stopped just inside the gate to talk in low excited voices. These people kept looking over their shoulders, staring rudely at everyone who passed them. Some even stopped talking until Ja'Nil and Ee'Rick passed, then they started excitedly whispering again. A number of people stopped and stared directly at Ee'Rick, some even pointing fingers.
“What rude people,” said Ja'Nil, feeling vaguely afraid.
“They’ve probably never seen one of my Clan before,” said Ee'Rick. He was standing very tall, his expression cold and impassive. It was so different from his usual friendly grin that Ja'Nil was almost afraid of him. Everywhere they went conversations stopped only to be heatedly picked up when they were past.
So many different kinds of people were there, in different kinds of dress with different kinds of accents, that she was surprised Ee'Rick was even noticed. Of course, he was beautiful, but frankly, the stares he was collecting did not seem to be admiring.
Ja’Nil had never imagined there were so many people in the whole world let alone in one place. The colors, the smells, some lovely, some gross, the constant hustle and bustle, the sheer noise of so many people and animals crowded together, gossiping, working, yelling, buying and selling, standing around stalls slurping down noodles, all made her dizzy.
Ja'Nil’s stomach growled, reminding her that breakfast had been hours ago. The streets were dusty, her mouth dry. She remembered telling the children not to worry, that she would have no difficulty finding their father. Hah! How could she possibly find one mummer in this swarming madhouse? She didn’t even know how to find the Queen.
“There’s the Palace,” said Ee'Rick gesturing with his chin.
Ja'Nil eyes followed where he indicated. The Palace was surrounded by its own walls. They were made of the same glowing material as the city walls but these were brilliant throbbing blue-green shading from light to dark as the clouds floated in front of the suns. They seemed almost alive. Hypnotized by the wall’s beauty Ja'Nil reached out her hand and touched it. It was warm and smooth, seeming to welcome her caress.
“Hey, ya,” yelled a rough
voice. “What youse doing there?”
Two guards, dressed in red and gold uniforms rushed over to her, long curved knives raised to attack. Their eyes were glassy with anger.
Ee'Rick reached out a long arm and pulled her away from the wall placing her behind him. “She just wanted to touch the wall,” he said, his voice cold and imperious. “She’s never seen the like before.”
The two guards slid to a stop. They were still waving their long knives but seemed unsure of their next move. There was something wrong with the left eye of one of the guards. He tried to look Ee'Rick up and down but his eye kept wandering off in a different direction.
The other guard sniggered. “Well, whatta ya know,” he said, looking insolently at Ee'Rick, “It talks.”
“It does a lot more than talk,” said Ee'Rick, cold as ice.
Ja’Nil cut in hastily before they could come to blows and/or stabbings. “Is there a Queen’s audience today?” she asked.
The guards reluctantly took their eyes off Ee'Rick. “Wha?”
“I’ve been told the Queen holds audience twice a week. “
“Are ya simple?” asked the guard with the wandering eye.
“Just answer her question,” Ee'Rick growled.
The other guard looked as if he was enjoying himself. “Yas goes ‘round to the Audience Gate, ya does. It’s a big un‘. Blood red, it is.” He looked up at the two suns, judging their positions. “Queen’s Audiences always start when Little’un catches up wit First Sun.”
“Any minute now,” added wandering eye. He also seemed amused. “Cause I don’t know whats doin’, considern.”
“Considering what?” asked Ee'Rick.
The other guard sniggered but they didn’t answer.
“I don’t recognize your uniforms,” said Ee'Rick. “Whose colors are those?”
The question seemed to anger old wandering eye. He shoved his face close to Ee'Rick’s, although since he was quite a bit shorter than Ee'Rick, his aggression was not as effective as it might have been. “We be of Raptor Keep.”
“Lord Raptor.” said Ee'Rick, Ja’Nil was surprised that Ee’Rick seemed to know about the workings of Cordia.
“Aye, these be his colors.”
“Where are the Queen’s soldiers?” asked Ee'Rick.
“I told ya where be the Audience Gate, That’s all I’m tellen’ ya. Now be off,” said the other guard. “Ya, too,” he added looking at Ja’Nil. Giving Ee'Rick another ferocious glare, the two guards continued their patrolling of the palace.
* * *
The guard hadn’t lied; the Audience Gate was both big and a throbbing blood red color. In fact, it was quite intimidating. Surprisingly there were no guards at this important looking gate.
“Security seems pretty spotty,” said Ee'Rick. “Almost as if they know there’s no danger but want to make a show.”
“Should I go in?” Ja’Nil wondered aloud. Just looking at the throbbing blood-red gate was making her nauseous.
Ee'Rick understood her unease. “Don’t worry about the gate’s appearance, it’s meant to scare away all those who have no serious concerns to put before the Queen. A sort of triage,” he explained.
“Are you going in, too?”
“Of course, I have business of my own with the Queen,” he said.
She looked at him in surprise, “I didn’t know that.”
Ee'Rick walked through the gate, which gave off a mellow “BONG” as he passed through. Ja’Nil froze. Once on the other side, he turned back and looked at her. “Come,” he said.
Ja’Nil swallowed, readjusted her pack, closed her eyes, and stepped through to join Ee'Rick. “BONG,” said the gate. She jumped nervously and glanced behind her; everything on the other side of the gate looked very small and far away, as if they had traveled a mile instead of just a few feet.
“Look,” she said to Ee'Rick.
He nodded. “It’s a travel gate. I’ve seen them before. Can save you miles, days sometimes. Pretty powerful gift.”
“The Queen’s gift?”
Ee'Rick shrugged, “Don’t know. But it’s benign.”
Ja’Nil thought about that. Maybe this time it was benign but what if the owner of the gate decided to deliver travelers where they didn’t want to go? It could be a very powerful weapon. Ee'Rick was already moving down the hallway. Ja’Nil hurried to catch up with him.
* * *
The audience room, its official name was The Hall of Rulers, was huge and brightly lit. The walls were a smooth creamy off-white and the light came right out of the walls themselves. It was at least three stories high, with a curved ceiling painted so that clouds seemed to drift across its blueness. Around the room were twelve pillars each painted a bright scarlet. On the pillars, painted in gold, were the twelve vows every Cancordian ruler took before ascending to the throne.
An elaborate chair was situated on a raised platform at the far wall. There were seats along the other walls but the center of the room was bare of furniture. It would have been a cheerful room, except for one thing; it was completely empty.
“Maybe there’s another audience room,” said Ja’Nil.
“No,” said Ee'Rick. “This is it.”
The room was so large and empty it seemed to echo back the sound of their breathing. Ja’Nil found herself looking nervously over her shoulder.
Suddenly, “What are you doing here?” asked a sharp male voice.
Ja’Nil whirled guiltily but Ee'Rick turned slowly and looked the man over carefully.
He was a fussy looking middle-aged man, his bald pate was completely encircled by a stringy fringe of gray hair. He was dressed in bright colored, expensive looking clothes with an emblem in the shape of a shield sewn onto the middle of his tunic. The initials QT were embroided onto the shield.
“QT?” asked Ja’Nil
“Queen Ten’Aj,” snapped the man. “I am Grand Usher of the Queen’s Audience. Who are you?”
“We were told there was a Queen’s Audience today,” said Ee'Rick.
“Who told you that?”
“Is there an audience today?” asked Ee'Rick.
“Of course not,” said QT.
“But I have a message for the Queen,” said Ja’Nil.
“You and every citizen of Cancordia.” He seemed very put out.
“The message is important, it’s from…” she hesitated. She had not even told Ee'Rick that she was doing a service for Lady Fayre. “Uhm--I’m supposed to say, ‘I have walked through the Rushita Path with my Queen.’
“What did you say?”
“I have walked--,” Ja’Nil started to repeat the phrase.
“Who told you to say that?” asked the usher. He seemed very agitated.
Ja’Nil drew herself up as tall as possible. “That is something for the Queen alone to know,” she said in her best imitation of Lady Fayer’s grand elegance.
The usher stared at her for a long moment, and then looked at Ee'Rick. “Are you with her?” he asked.
Ee'Rick nodded.
“Wait here,” ordered the usher. “Both of you.” He turned and scuttled from the room.
Ee'Rick looked thoughtfully at Ja’Nil. “You carry a message from Lady Fayre?”
“How did you know it’s from her?”
He grinned. “That was a very good imitation you did.”
“You know the Lady Fayre?”
“We’ve met.” His tone was neutral.
They waited in that great empty room for the usher to return.
“There is something weird about all this,” said Ee'Rick. He stepped to the doorway and looked up and down the long hall. Suddenly he called out, “You there.” Ja’Nil peered around him. A long way down the hall a woman carrying a tray stopped at his call, but made no move to approach them so Ee'Rick, with Ja’Nil trailing him, went to the woman.
By the looks of her, she was some sort of a servant. She was carrying a tray of half-eaten food and she was crying. When Ee'Rick drew close, she gasped at his st
rangeness but being well trained, gave him a quick curtsy.
“Is there a Queen’s Audience today?” Ee'Rick asked her.
He was answered by a loud wail and a great many more tears. “’Course not,” the woman blubbered.
“Why not?” asked Ja’Nil.
Apparently, the servant was either too upset or didn’t think Ja’Nil merited a curtsy. Her crying however got even louder.
Ee'Rick crossed his arms and glared at the woman. “Stop that bawling and answer the question,” he ordered. “Why isn’t there an audience today?”
“Cause she’s dead,” sobbed the woman.
“Who’s dead?”
“Queen Ten’Aj a ‘course. Yesterday it was.” Having delivered the news, the woman blew her nose on her sleeve, slightly lowered the decibel level of her sobs, and continued on her way.
Ja’Nil and Ee'Rick stared at each other.
“Do you think it’s true?” said Ja’Nil.
Ee'Rick nodded. “Something’s wrong,” he said. “Something’s been wrong in Cancordia for over a year now,” he muttered to himself. He looked up and down the hallway. “Let’s get out of here.”
“But shouldn’t we wait for QT?”
“Who?”
“The usher.”
“No.” He took her arm firmly. “Off we are.”
* * *
Getting out of the palace was like finding their way through a maze. Only when they reached a public plaza did they finally stop to catch their breath. Immediately Ja’Nil’s stomach growled.
Ee'Rick grinned, “Yes, I’m hungry, too.” He looked around. “There’s a tavern over there. Let’s see what sort of food they’re serving.” He started off, but Ja’Nil held back. Realizing she wasn’t with him, Ee’Rick came back. “Problem?”
Ja’Nil had only the few coins Lady Fayre had given her. Considering the outrageous prices she had run into ever since she started this trip, she doubted it was enough for a meal at the very up-scale looking tavern Ee'Rick was headed for.