The Fateless: Errata

by Seri Anne Lynn

  The arrangement allowed the boys to share one bed, leaving Tat the other bed to herself and occasionally Tok. Tybor couldn’t have gotten more than a few hours’ sleep since he was also the first one up; getting the rest up and ready to move out at the crack of dawn.

  As a matter of fact, this shop just opened for the day, and many weren’t even open yet. He kept them moving from street to street until something opened, searching for the perfect place to go shopping for the ceil’s gift.

  After walking a few blocks in silence they arrived at the Graymark Embassy. The now rundown looking building was once designed to look somewhat like a medieval castle, complete with ramparts, parapets and grotesque looking gargoyles at the corners. The old relic stood mockingly as a reminder of a time of a stronger rule, and once had been an impressive piece of architecture. Tybor led them up the chipped dark gray marble steps to a small checkpoint where a lone uniformed elven officer stood guard.

  “State your business,” the Envarian guard inquired matter-of-factly.

  “I am Tybor MonSeils, Ambassador of the Otherworld. I’m here on official business with the Ceil, and these are my... assistants,” he flashed his credentials.

  Studying the seal on the badge, the guard took his time looking over Tybor and his ‘assistants’. His thoughts were almost readable in his expression, ‘oddest official bunch he’d ever seen’. And they were an odd-looking bunch; an Envarian official wearing a wrinkled Crown uniform, and the ‘assistants’ were just humans wearing hooded cloaks.

  “Proceed,” the guard announced loud enough for the posted guards at the front entrance to hear they had clearance.

  “Stays wid me, an’ keep silen’, an’ dun touch anythin’,” Tybor whispered to them.

  A child-like Aelish girl, or at least she appeared young, met them in the foyer. All Aelish appeared youthful despite their true age.

  “Merry meet. May I help you?” she spoke in a trill voice.

  “Merry meet. I am Tybor MonSeils, Crown Ambassador of the Otherworld, and these are my assistants,” he repeated to her. “I’m here to request an audience with the Ceil. I had an appointment yesterday evening but was unable to attend.”

  It still creeped Rowen out to hear Tybor speak so eloquently, without his mishmash of southern Envarian refugee and backwater Cajun accent.

  “Oh, I’m sorry to inform you Ambassador, but she isn’t receiving anyone today.”

  Great, now what? The kids exchanged frustrated glances.

  “I’m sure if you contacted her and let her know I’m here, and on a strict time schedule, she’d be glad to rearrange her prior affairs.”

  “I’m sorry Ambassador, but it simply isn’t possible today. She’s at the skitterdu station readying to leave for a trip that’s rather urgent. She will be departing anytime now. I would never be able to get a messenger to her in time.”

  “I see. Well thank you for your consideration. Merry part,” he gave a quick salute and bow, then hurried back toward the entrance.

  “Merry part,” she called back in response.

  “What do we do now? If the Ceil doesn’t help us get to Breah Dorn what are we going to do?” Aidan panicked.

  “You’n hush,” Tybor quietly answered and hurried down the marble stairs past the guards. Once they were away from potential eavesdroppers and down the street a little, Tybor let them in on his plan, possibly so he wouldn’t be inundated with questions later.

  “We’s gots ta gits to da skitterdu station an’ fin’ her before she’s dun gone.”

  “But that’s clear across town.”, “That’s not possible, the lady said she was departing anytime now.”, “Man! How are we ever going to get there in time?” They inquired, forgetting his ‘no mo’ cryin’, complainin’, an’ whinin’ rule’. He quickly reminded them of how he felt about it with another strong glance in their direction, then sharply whistled, signaling for a steam powered vehicle, one that served as a cab in these parts.

  “Official bisness,” Tybor said to the driver flashing his Ambassador badge. “Git us to da skitterdu station as fas’ as you’s can.” They loaded into the tiny cab meant for no more than two to three passengers. Knowing this was no time to be picky, they sat jammed in as tightly as they could, holding their packs in their laps.

  Tok felt the jostle and knew something was different so stuck her paw out letting Tat know she wanted out, so Tat loosened the cinch cord.

  Aidan recognized the car type from what he’d seen in the list of hybrid steam engines he’d skimmed over in the book on magical engineering. If he had time, he would love to get the chance to study the vehicle further; but for now time was just one thing they didn’t get the luxury of having.

  The thick mustached driver warned them to ‘hold on’, flipped a toggle switch and pulled a lever down just as Tok decided to perch on Tat’s shoulder. The vehicle vaulted into the air, flying upwards, arching over blocks of buildings, nearly crashing into more than one balcony, scaring scads of birds, and snapping several clothing lines.

  ‘Hold on’ was an apt warning. They braced themselves on the seat and frame to keep from falling out. Tok leaped out just as they began to soar, gliding beside the cab. Tat squealed, unsure if from fright or joy; causing both Rowen and Aidan to grab onto her, thinking she could fall since she was sandwiched between them and didn’t really have the best place to hold on to.

  To their amazement none of them fell out. The car landed with a thud once it connected with the ground, jarring them a bit.

  “Well, we’ve arrived... ‘as soon as I could’,” the driver announced with a grin. “Hope it was worth it, ‘cause that will be 10,000 coin.”

  “10,000 coin!” Rowen repeated.

  “Yup, I call it my ‘special delivery’. I only use it in cases of emergency or when ordered by the Crown, like today,” he winked. “It’s a one-shot deal and will cost me at least 9,500 coin to install another magick flying flask, and well, I got to make some coin somehow.”

  “Jus’ bill da Crown on Ambassador MonSeils account,” Tybor instructed helping Tat out of the cab.

  “Will do,” the cabby called back. With everyone safely out of the vehicle the cabby eagerly moved up the street, already pursuing other fare.

  “So that was expense account worthy?” Rowen grumbled.

  “Maybe. Now’s le’s go fin’ who we’s lookin’ fer,” Tybor dismissed Rowen’s annoyance and led them down into a small nook in a back corner of the station that appeared to be a storage area of some kind.

  “Stay’s here ‘til I return. Won’t be but a minute.” He left them, thinking this time they would do as told and understood the danger as well as the urgency.

  Tat was glad he told them to stay there, still catching her breath from the unexpected flight. Fearing there was more adventure to come, she was also glad that Tok was there with them. Tok would keep her calm at least. Setting her pack down, she sat on top using it for a makeshift stool. Tok jumped into her lap purring as if she’d read Tat ‘s mind and knew just what to do.

  “I wonder how long he’s gonna keep treating us like kids?” Rowen complained.

  “Well, we are, sort of,” Tat replied, seeing the look of objection on Rowen’s face, “I mean, you’re only sixteen, I’ve just turned fifteen, and well I don’t know how old Aidan is.”

  “Seventeen. I’m almost eighteen, or maybe I am nineteen by now, not sure what day or month or even year it is here... or there,” he pouted.

  “Seventeen? I thought you said you’ve already graduated high school!” Rowen asked, confused.

  “I had high enough scores on my junior exams, so they tested me and put me on an accelerated degree program and I only had to take a half year more to graduate.”

  “Well... So what?” Rowen debated. “We’re human and in our world even some sixteen-year olds are on their own, making a living for themselves and everything. They don’t get treated like kids. They get treated like the adults they are.”

  “They do?” Tat
asked with genuine curiosity. She wasn’t aware that in the Otherworld they would consider her almost an adult. Here, you were often still considered a child even well after a few hundred years.

  “Not really,” Aidan commented. “I mean yeah maybe some are on their own because they have no other choice or other circumstances, but it’s not most of them. I know that even though I’ve graduated, I would still be home with my parents if I’d have had much of a home to stay in,” he rambled again, thinking maybe he’d said too much.

  “Well, ok, not everyone but... I mean... this is bull! He keeps telling us to do what he says and then he doesn’t even bother to tell us what he’s doing. It’s just not right. We’re not little kids. I wish he’d stop treating us like that.”

  “Well’s maybe I would if you’n stop actin’ like li’l kids. Now quit yer complainin’ an’ come on! An’ Tat get dat cat back into yer pack, we’s don’ need it attractin’ no attention,” Tybor ordered, causing Rowen to jump a bit since he hadn’t heard him coming back into the nook.

  Tat stood, lifting Tok carefully and resting her back into her pack then they all followed Tybor down an empty corridor that led into a loading platform.

  “Dat’s where’s she be, an’ where we’re a ‘goin’,” Tybor whispered and pointed to one of the cars on the skitterdu. “Stay here’s an’ keep quiet while I take care of some... obstacles,” he pointed out the guards that were standing just outside that one particular car on the track.

  The three of them watched quietly as Tybor crept toward the unsuspecting guards. Wrapping one arm around the guards’ neck and the other across his forehead he gave a quick jerk and the guard dropped without so much as a sound, then he lowered him gently to the floor so the other guard wouldn’t hear.

  Tat gasped, she hadn’t meant to, but she didn’t know if the guard was dead or not, and she’d never witnessed anything like that.

  Acting on impulse, Aidan grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her back into the hall. He thought it might be best if Tat didn’t see this part, but by the time he peeked around the corner again Tybor had already subdued the other guard as well and was motioning for the three of them to come to him.

  “Did he kill them?” Tat whispered.

  “I don’t think so, but we’ve got to go, and you need to stay quiet so come on,” he whispered back, and then hurried to catch up to Rowen.

  Tybor waited for the three of them to get to him, wishing he had trained them to move faster.

  The slogbotton connected at the front of the skitterdu cars began stomping. It wouldn’t be long now before the entire skitterdu train was in motion.

  The four of them hurried to the rear boarding area. Tybor yanked back the sliding door on the skitterdu car with a swiftness and kicked down the metal loading step.

  A guard reaching for his sword hilt charged forward.

  “Halt!”

  Grabbing him by the wrist, Tybor bashed the guard into the door frame knocking him out, then threw him out of the car.

  “Get in quickly,” Tybor ordered. Rowen was the last in just as the skitterdu tottered forward. Tybor slammed the sliding door shut and latched it in place. Two burly guards wearing the Queen’s royal uniform rushed towards them. One a light green skin and one a light gray looked like muscular moss and rock elementals. Appearing to be at least half dwyver; a breed of dwarf, and maybe some type of mountain giant, they moved to grab Tybor.

  The Ceil approached, glaring at them as if she were debating if she should have them arrested. Her skin was the same hue of light purple as Tybor’s and she wore a black and gold trimmed dress with a turban to match, hiding most of her white hair. Her dress clung to her curves, much in the same style of Miss Perry’s with the front cut away revealing her matching leggings and thigh high boots, the typical garb of most Envarian women.

  Raising her hand, she stopped the guards in their tracks.

  “Well if it isn’t Ambassador MonSeils. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  “Hello, Cara.” Tybor greeted her as if he were greeting an old acquaintance.

  She turned as if all of this was completely normal, motioning them to follow her down a short corridor to her private car.

  Decked out in a posh style, the car shone with polished wood and granite walls with brass trim, a crystal chandelier, and a full wine bar. It was much better than any of the typical passenger skitterdu cars they had seen before.

  The Ceil took her time and made herself a drink at the bar while they all remained silent waiting for her to address them.

  She sat down on a pink velvet-tufted high-backed bench seat sipping her beverage, then when she finished she casually walked over to Tybor. Kissing him on the lips; she wrapped her slender arms around his neck, pulling his face into hers.

  “Give me some good news, tell me you’ve finally come to your senses and decided to be mine,” she teased, stroking his bristled face with her well-manicured pointer finger that flaunted a giant diamond cut ruby and gold ring.

  “I’m sorry Cara, that’s not why I’m here; and besides the answer is still no and will always be no,” he replied dryly while prying her hands and arms from his neck and face.

  “Then give me one good reason why I shouldn’t have you bound and tossed in a cell? Or maybe I should just have you shot right now for illegally boarding my train.”

  “I’m here on official business,” he declared then paused, “and I brought you a gift.”

  “I should’ve known. You’re using that pretentious voice they made you learn,” she scowled. “Tell me, are you still seeing that trick?”

  “Her name is Emelda, and she’s not a ‘trick’, and that isn’t any business of yours.”

  “Oh why not?”

  “You know very well that I am sworn to the Crown and have my duty to maintain. As do you,” he reminded her.

  “Well then, what’s the problem?” she flirted with a little hope in her voice while moving closer to him.

  Rowen rolled his eyes, doing nothing to attempt to hide the disgust he was feeling right now. The mention of Tybor and his grandmother was bad enough, but he also had to witness this? It was clear that both Tat and Aidan were just as uneasy about it but they stayed quiet in the background.

  “What was between us was a long time gone, so let’s move on and discuss why I’m here.”

  “Oh cut it out Tybor! I want to hear your real voice. I want to see the real you,” she paused, tracing down the middle of his chest with her fingers, “all of you.”

  “Like I said, I’m here on official business, so this is who you get. Deal with it.”

  “Fine then. If you’re not going to play along just come out with it and get to the point. Tell me what you want. You do want something, don’t you? No one comes to me unless they do – but know I have wants and needs too.”

  “My assistants and I need...”

  “Your assistants? Since when have you ever needed assistants?” she asked as she walked over to Aidan and yanked back his hood, gasping and then turning to Tat and Rowen and repeating the process. “Human children. You brought human children here? Why in Shadderah? Wait a minute,” she paused, “are these the brats the Annokai are looking for?”

  Tybor sighed then nodded.

  She laughed, “who would’ve thought mister perfect soldier boy would defy the Fates and Crown so blatantly?” She signaled to her guards, “throw them off the skitterdu.”

  The obedient gray skinned guard grabbed Tat from the front by the waist, pinning her arms to her side, lifting her off her feet while the other guard tried to pass by Tybor and unlatch the car door.

  “No wait!” Aidan yelled as Tat screamed, panicking and unsure of what to do. Tok lunged from the pack and clawed at the guard’s face while Rowen jumped on the guard’s back trying to knock him backwards.

  The guard held Tat fast with one arm and snatched Tok by the wings and threw her into the wall knocking her out then shook Rowen off him and kicked him hard in the stomach, sending
Rowen flying, crashing against the car wall near Tok.

  “‘Nuff of dis Cara,” Tybor called out in his natural vernacular, “they’s jus’ chil’ren’.” Any other time that sentence would have peeved Rowen, but this time he was especially glad to have Tybor on his side and being called a child was the least of his concerns at the moment.

  “Ah there you are. I thought I’d be able to get you to come out and play.”

  “I know dere’s history ‘tween you’s an’ me, but le’s not take it out on dese kids. Da higher ups put me on a mission ta gets dese youngun’s ta Breah Dorn, an’ da best way to do dat is ta huvel an’ you’s gots da bes’ port fer dat. Now, you’s goin’ ta let us use it, or do’s I gotta report dat you’s weren’ cooperatin’?”

  “Do you know what trouble these kids are causing me? Things were calm but now I’ve got Annokai breathing down everyone’s necks all over my territory. And as I know you’re aware, I’ve now even got the Minions of Khaos poking around the Braegins land.”

  “I know. I sorry ‘bout dat, an’ as soon as we move on, dey’s will too.”

  “Please... Miss... Cara...” Tat cried, “this is important...”

  “The things I do for you Tybor MonSeils! Release the girl,” she motioned to the guard then smiled, “on the condition that Tybor here is a good boy and decides to be my love slave.”

  With that Rowen doubled over again, making a retching sound as if he would vomit.

  “What’s your problem?” she asked Rowen.

  “Oh, nothing ma’am, just a little motion sickness I guess,” he feigned innocence.

  “Uh hmmm, so what’s it going to be?” she directed her question back to Tybor.

  “If that’s what–” Tybor began to speak as Aidan interrupted.

  “Don’t do it. It’s not worth it. I don’t need to get back that badly. Heck, I doubt anyone’s even missing me. Like you said, I’m here now, and it’s for an important reason, right? I just need to get used to it.”

  “You’s dun know what yer sayin’ boy. Dis mission is dat important, an’ I gots orders ta keep you’ns safe and do whatever it takes to get you’ns ta Breah Dorn. An’ if’n dis is what it takes ta use da huvel we need ta gets dere, so be it. But I gots a condition of my own.”