The Ryle of Zentule

by Michael Green

  Jeva looked back at them. “Oh no, that will never work.”

  “What won’t, our clothes?” Staza asked, a little annoyed.

  “Yes, but we have a secret place in the Wreck. There are clothes we Elazene share in case we ever need to travel into the city.”

  “The Wreck?” Dean inquired.

  “Ah, Ada, how have you left them so ignorant? You shame me.”

  “Please,” Ahmet said, directing his son to pay attention to the road, “you pilot, I’ll talk.” And then to Letty and her friends, “The Wreck is a considerable expanse of abandoned city that surrounds Degoskirke proper, which starts with the curtain wall. Though the curtain wall can be here or there.”

  “Are you saying the city walls move?” Dean asked, incredulous.

  “Quite often,” Ahmet answered, before moving on, “We will equip you with local clothes, though they will be of old styles, and the locals will think you paupers as a result. This will work to your favor, however. Once inside, avoid anything resembling a debate; this activity can have serious consequences.”

  “What does that mean?” Quill asked. “Should we avoid speaking with people? The whole point is to find out where they’re keeping Andy. We’ll need to ask questions.”

  Ahmet looked unsure. “I’ve never been to the city, only to the fringes of the Wreck. These are old tales given to me by courageous traders.”

  Letty glanced at her friends. They seemed unsure.

  Ahmet quickly recovered and tossed Letty a large bag of the awful purple carrots. “Don’t forget to eat these. I have let you go without them today, and I apologize for forgetting—my mind was elsewhere. One thing I can say for certain is that Seers are outlawed in Degoskirke, just as they are here. The same is true for the Argument, so do not rely on it, unless forced. The firelock—the small thing that makes the loud bang—might attract attention as well. Keep it hidden.”

  Letty turned to Blue, who had his small mouse claws dug into her shirt, as the bouncing was too much for him.

  “What?” Blue snapped at the sudden stares.

  “Is that true, what Ahmet told us? What else can we expect in the city?” Letty asked.

  “Damned if I’m a tour guide! I stayed in mouse works, mostly. We don’t even use the city gates. I haven’t been home—in some time.”

  “Damn it! Tell us what you know, mouse!” Ahmet snapped.

  Blue glared at the Elazene. “The city is insane. Its customs are unlike anything else in the Netherscape, and though I’ve never been, I can speak with certainty that they are unlike anything on the surface as well. Debate is life there. Everything and everyone takes part. Law changes at a turn of phrase and life being turned upside-down is a matter of course. Millionaires are made in an instant and then destitute in another. Trade is constant but treacherous. They will seem rational in one moment, and then behave with deep religious mania the next, though they often call it secular instead. You will find every intelligent species I know of living and ruling in that city, every one, except the ryle. Though you’d be a fool to think that none live there.”

  They were silent.

  Finally, Ahmet nodded. “This is what I’ve heard,” he said.

  “Of course it is, you daft merchant!” Blue snapped, shaking a fist and nearly falling off Letty’s shoulder.

  “Careful now,” Ahmet chuckled.

  Dean and Emma smiled, but the Caspians looked uneasy.

  They sat in silence and watched the plains roll by. With time, the land became rockier and there, among the foliage, grew large speckled mushrooms.

  “Look at those!” Emma said.

  Everyone leaned over the side in time to see a large lizard sunbathing on the cap of a nearby mushroom.

  “Hart-roots. These are the speckled variety,” Ahmet said.

  “Perhaps tell them the history of this plant, Ada,” Jeva said.

  Ahmet scowled. “All you need to know is that they are food for the monitors.”

  They continued watching the countryside. The patches of tall mushrooms thickened, as did sightings of the monitors. Eventually they came upon pockets of ruined buildings. They passed other traders on the roads who pulled over and gave way, only to raise a fuss when they saw it wasn’t brutox on the ravager.

  “Will there be trouble for you if word gets out that you have this ravager?” Letty asked.

  Jeva laughed.

  “Immense trouble,” Ahmet said. “We will have to go into hiding, my garden…”

  “Forget the garden, Ada, war is on the horizon!” Jeva yelled as he reigned the ravager to a halt. He then flicked the reigns thrice, motioning it to bend down. “Please be quick, we are safest on the move.”

  Letty and her friends picked up their packs and hopped overboard.

  Ahmet led them to a walled yard behind a sunken, two-story house. Approaching a shed, he searched and found a key between two bricks before unlocking the door. Inside the shed were racks of clothes and concealable weapons. There were also suits of brutox armor sitting in piles.

  “Those are for people coming back from the city,” Ahmet said.

  They hurried to don the colorful and geometrically patterned robes. Ahmet took them out to the street. “The side roads out in the Wreck are dangerous. Stick to this path until it meets another, larger road before a bridge. Turn towards the three massive pillars and stay on that road. There are more secret ways, but this is the surest and safest path.”

  “What pillars?” Dean asked.

  Ahmet looked up at the tall hills that obstructed his view. “Before long you will see them, there is no mistaking what they are. Good luck, my friends. Please return to us so we can begin thanking you for the gift you have given us. I will do my best to rid my son of his foolish notions about war and saints before you return; have no fear in that regard. I beg that you send word if you cannot come yourselves, or my heart will worry for you.”

  Ahmet gave them each a hug, before returning to the ravager. He waved as his son piloted the monster away.

  Letty and her friends watched the Elazene fade into the distance before turning towards the road to Degoskirke. Somewhere in that tangle of ruined buildings was the way to Andy. Letty felt her heart skip, and with the warm presence of the Argument in her grasp, nothing would stop her.

  To the reader:

  Letty and her friends are at the outskirts of Degoskirke. Ziesqe has his plan, and Andy is within reach, but Caspian—and a certain three-headed beast—are circling. Thank you again, dear reader, for joining my characters on their adventure; I hope you’ll return for this trilogy’s conclusion: The Immortal of Degoskirke. If you enjoyed Letty’s tale, I hope you’ll recommend this series to friends, or younger readers who might be ready for their own adventure.

  I would again like to recognize my editors and most helpful friends: Noa Zilberman, Jon Addley, and Oliver Pinchot in particular. They loved the crow, Akri, and insisted on more humor in subsequent works. It is their good sense that will improve these stories. I must also thank my exceedingly talented illustrator, Alexey Rudikov. He has outdone himself with this cover.