Markan Throne by Nicholas A. Rose
Tahena shook her head. "I'd like to, one day."
"They say nothing is more beautiful than an ilven." Neptarik's eyes were dreamy.
The woman laughed. "The only person I know who's ever met any is Sandev." Her face grew serious. Declining ilven numbers worried the Gifted. If it had anything to do with humans, might the Father rescind his permission? Or perhaps it meant that the Malefic Sephiroth gained strength. Either way, a cause for concern.
The sylph looked away, falling into his customary silence.
Tahena continued. "Sandev says they all have great beauty. Perhaps some still inhabit a sparsely populated area of the continent. And there will be a tribe of wild sylphs nearby."
Neptarik's interested suddenly increased again and his earpoints pricked up.
"Ilven and sylphs always got on well. Wherever there are ilven, wild sylphs are rarely far away." She turned as the two soldiers returned to the camp.
"Right," said Kelanus, briskly, "who has the first watch?"
***
"Good evening."
The farmer and his wife looked at Sallis ti Ath before they returned the greeting. They sounded cautious.
The whitewashed farm gleamed in the sunlight. Ti Ath failed to recognize the pale material used to tile the roof. The tiles were smaller than he expected, doubtless thanks to some quirk of the stone. Flowers of all colors filled the small front garden and climbing plants framed the door.
Their visitor looked around the farmyard and nodded to himself. Two dogs chained outside the barn barked, even if their tails were wagging. The barking might be for show, or perhaps the tail wagging showed eager anticipation of tearing the visitors apart. He heard more dogs barking inside the barn.
Small children played in the yard, while a couple of older boys guided cattle out of the shippon and nosy sylphs poked their heads out to spy on the strangers. He thought the sylphs should be helping milk those cows, then remembered that large animals and sylphs tended not to mix.
Sallis ti Ath noted those sylphs looked well cared for. A good sign. "The innkeeper told me you adopt foundlings," he continued.
"We have and we do," said the farmer, still wary.
Turning in his saddle, Sallis lifted the boy he had captured and set him to the ground. "He needs hard work and firm discipline," he said. "And to learn emotions other than hate."
The farmer and his wife eyed the boy, taking in his sullen resignation. "We can do that," he said.
"Your innkeeper said you could."
The boy looked up at Sallis and snarled. "You're leaving me here because you're too weak to kill me!"
The farmer's mouth dropped open. Sensing trouble, the sylphs withdrew into the shippon.
"Something like that." Sallis nodded. "One day, I trust you'll call that weakness 'decency'." He passed a bag of coins to the farmer. "For your trouble, Goodman."
The boy took a couple of paces forward, fists balled, as Sallis ti Ath turned his horse. "I'll be older soon," he shouted. "I'll come for you. Murderer! I won't be too weak to kill you! Remember my name. Remember Dian Cael Jeram!"
Sallis put a few milas between him and the farm before stopping for the night. Thankfully, he could guide his horse in even near darkness. Even better, as he caressed the sense telling him the heading and pace of his quarry, he had gained still more milas. With luck, he should catch his prey in about ten days, before the new moon.
Gathering water quickly, Sallis saw to his animal before eating and drinking. He didn't bother with a fire, just in case more enemies of Marka lurked nearby, and wrapped himself in his blankets before much time passed. He intended to be away early: preferably before or immediately after daybreak.
He had already put the boy out of his thoughts, but his name and the threat had been carefully filed away, added to the long list of his enemies.
***
The next few days passed in a blur for Tahena. Conversations with Kelanus and Balnus apart, she enjoyed Neptarik's company, though he was considerably less talkative than the two men. Sometimes he forgot himself and chatted with her as animatedly as if she were his owner. These talks took place when he wasn't scouting or foraging for edibles. He found almost all their campsites, good sources of water and collected far more than his fair share of food. She wondered how his species had ever become slaves.
The first time she arranged for fresh horses, leading the existing animals into a small town, she left Kelanus and Neptarik behind, explaining she found the task easier if alone. Balnus, who had his own reason to visit the town, escorted her.
While waiting for their return, Neptarik caught four brown fish, enough for their evening meal.
The next morning, Tahena found out why Balnus had insisted on escorting her into the town.
"Choca?" Balnus offered her a slab of the dark treat.
"Thank you."
"Sir?"
"Yes I will." Kelanus nodded his thanks. "That smaller piece will do for me, thanks."
Neptarik, who had been scouting around their camp, suddenly materialized and jumped at Balnus. The sylph's eyes were alight and his earpoints jerked in excitement. Tahena laughed at his antics.
"And a piece for Neptarik." Balnus grinned as he handed the choca over.
The scout had no intention of sharing and moved away from his companions to eat this rare treat free from distraction.
"Is he always like this with choca?" Tahena asked.
Balnus sighed. "You'd think I starved him," he complained.
"He probably thinks you do." Tahena saw that not a trace remained of the choca in a surprisingly short time.
They passed from Outer Marka, crossing a plain with the occasional stunted, twisted tree. A line of weathered boulders stretched into the distance from both sides of the road, here little more than a track.
"Are those boundary stones?" asked Neptarik.
"Yes," replied Tahena.
"Where are we now? Still in what's left of the Markan Empire?"
"The Prefecture of Ungst," answered Kelanus. "The southernmost Prefecture still ruled directly from Marka."
"The next border we cross will take us into Cadister," Tahena said. "At the southern end of that is the city and port of Cadister."
"Halfway there then," announced the sylph, before trotting ahead to scout.
Three days after passing into Ungst, Tahena again exchanged their horses in a small town. As before, the animals possessed stamina and strength in abundance, and their pace increased. Again, Tahena sought their pursuer, snatching her questing mind back later than the previous evening. Almost as if he knew what she had been doing, Kelanus brought his horse alongside hers.
"How is Sallis ti Ath coming along?" he asked, smiling.
"Falling behind a little," replied Tahena. "Before you rejoice, he'll probably change his own horse. He'll work out what we've done and be on our tails again. We've gained perhaps a few days, but he'll make that up, soon or late."
Kelanus's eyes hardened and he nodded. "If it's soon, we'll be ready for him."
She kept her sigh private. "What's the matter with you? You've no idea just what he's capable of."
"We might surprise him."
"You won't stand a chance in a fight; the odds are stacked in his favor. The man has the Gift!"
Kelanus fell silent, but Tahena knew she had failed to convince him.
As usual, when they stopped for the night, Neptarik took the first watch. The sylph stood his fair share of watches, most of them at night. He could catch up on lost sleep wedged between his master and the horse he rode. Besides, he could see in the dark. Nobody could accuse him of slacking. Tahena decided Balnus was right to describe his sylph as exceptional. She glanced over her shoulder to look along their backtrail and hoped his efforts would not be in vain.
***
Sallis ti Ath's eyes widened. Until now, his inexorable pursuit had only one possible outcome. Kelanus's steps had grown brighter and brighter... but. The long dead fire, cold ashes in a deserted ca
It clearly did not involve physical projection, or all signs of Kelanus would disappear. Besides, if the Gifted one or sorcerer riding with the escaped General could physically project, why not go directly to their destination instead of riding?
No, those he hunted must change their animals at regular intervals. Either they carried considerable coin with them; or else someone carried letters-of-right. It looked less and less likely that a sorcerer rode with Kelanus.
So if one of the Gifted rode with the escapee, there must be a reason. But why would any of the Gifted help a man wanted for murder?
"Or is one of the Ten aiding Kelanus?" he muttered. Only two of the Ten could be aware of the fugitive's existence.
Might Dervra be behind Kelanus and the murder of Branad Vintner? If he intended to weaken the Vintner cause, he had succeeded admirably. From what he knew of Dervra, the man preferred to attach himself to those who helped him, and then discard them once they were of no further use. He did not break them out of jail. Unless he wanted to further threaten the prospects of Marcus Vintner. Even then, ti Ath knew he would have found Kelanus's body before traveling far. Dervra never liked loose ends that might return to haunt him.
The other who probably knew of Kelanus's existence lived in Marka. But why would Sandev help a man suspected of murder? Why would she help a man accused of mutilating and killing sylphs? Why would a sylph help such a man? The more Sallis ti Ath learned on this assignment, the more complex it seemed. Again, his commission had proved rather more complicated that it seemed, having much more to the story than with a normal criminal. He laughed at his thoughts and shook his head. There was nothing normal about any criminal he had chased.
He would have no answers to those questions until he learned whether the Gifted traveling with Kelanus belonged to Sandev or Dervra. The most important question concerned direction.
"Where are you running to?" He must stop muttering to himself, it was a bad habit. Fine when alone, but once you started to indulge in company, those surrounding you believed you were insane. He leaned back on his horse to think.
The party he chased had headed more or less south since leaving Marka. They had first traveled east, wisely to avoid the Key, but then swung south. If, as Sallis suspected, Kelanus wanted to hire out his services in the southern lands, he must first travel to where he could take a ship. Cadister, a major trading port, lay south of Angst.
The coast had many – mostly small – ports, but the principal city of Cadister Prefecture presumably offered a wider choice of ships. Now wishing he could physically project himself and get ahead of his target, Sallis spurred his animal on. He would have to ride long and hard – and doubtless change his horse frequently – to catch Kelanus before he sailed to who-knew-where.
Why was nothing ever easy?
***
Cadister boasted the same bustle Neptarik now expected from every city. People thronged the streets, slowing the horses to a walk. Most of the flat-roofed buildings were painted white and reflected the strong sunlight to almost unbearable levels. The sylph's pupils had long since narrowed to almost invisible vertical slits.
Almost everybody stared at his shorter-than-normal hair, but he ignored them all. Sylph scouts were unheard of here. Or perhaps they stared at him because he sat on a horse.
"Very hot," the sylph muttered, waving a hand in front of his face.
"The sea breeze doesn't get into some streets," Tahena told him. "It'll feel more comfortable when we get that."
Neptarik wrinkled his nose; he could smell the salt tang, but had not yet seen the sea. The distinctive cries of gulls – and their speckled white droppings – were very much in evidence.
"Well, we got here ahead of Sallis ti Ath." Kelanus sounded cheerful and grinned at his companions.
"Yes, but he's still gaining on us." Tahena gave a faint smile of her own. "He must be fuming that we keep jumping ahead as soon as he gets close."
Neptarik gave her a carefully neutral look. "You are worried he might catch us before we leave."
Tahena looked at the sylph. "Astute boy," she muttered before raising her voice a little. "He's riding as fast as he can," she continued. "He's either buying or stealing horses to keep up his speed."
"Can he catch us?" persisted the scout.
Tahena sniffed. "If you ever decide to leave the army, you'll do well in the City Guard as an interrogator."
Neptarik blinked while Balnus and Kelanus laughed.
"We must find the port," rumbled Kelanus. "Sandev said to find the Portmaster, a friend of hers named Repp."
Tahena grinned. "Sandev has friends everywhere."
Neptarik wriggled to look at his owner.
Balnus looked back at him.
"I've never been on a ship," said the sylph. He quickly hummed a line from 'A Sailor Went to Sea'.
"Neither have I."
This answer satisfied the scout and he settled back to inspect the city and its people. Cadister boasted an even more cosmopolitan mix than Marka. Dark-skinned men, who reminded him of Nazan and southerners with eyes like Tahena's. There were men with pallid skins, men with honey-colored skins and men with skins every shade between.
There were rich and poor, not to mention human and sylph beggars whose cries for alms competed with those making a more honest living. Cadister had many more ragged humans and sylphs than Marka. Not for the first time, Neptarik felt grateful that he belonged to a good owner; life here looked tough for some.
Kelanus touched Balnus's arm. "Unless I miss my guess, the port's down that way." He nodded down a short hill where ships' masts poked above the height of the buildings. "Introduce Tahena and Neptarik to Cadisteran cuisine. Looks like a place to eat along to the right." He pointed. "See if they have rooms."
"What about the horses?" asked Tahena. "I doubt we can take them with us."
"If you know where to get rid of them, then do so."
Tahena inclined her head. "You're going to see the Portmaster alone?"
Kelanus smiled. "That's right. Won't be long."
"Don't forget Sallis ti Ath is catching up. He'll be here soon, if he rides through the night again."
"He must kill his horses." Kelanus grinned. "Or gets them from the same places you do. Don't worry, Sandev told me I could trust this Repp."
Dismounting and leaving the small group before anyone could protest further, Kelanus turned down the wide road. His guess was a good one and the street opened out as he turned a corner. The harbor lay before him.
An impressive number of ships were crammed into the small space; more entered the harbor and others left as he watched. The bustle of the busy port made Cadister's streets appear idle in comparison. Humans and sylphs were all hard at work, many hurrying crates of fish across to the curing sheds at the end of each quay. He asked directions to the Portmaster and, moments later, entered a small cube-shaped building.
Mounds of papers everywhere made the Portmaster's office look small and cramped. He recognized customs officers and thought the tall man standing before one desk might be a ship's owner, or its commander. Everybody turned to stare at Kelanus, a stranger dusty from traveling and wearing a sword.
"I'm looking for Portmaster Repp," said Kelanus.
"You just found him."
Repp wore shirt and breeches, but no jacket. Of medium build, he boasted wiry auburn hair and the grayest eyes Kelanus had ever seen. The way those eyes danced with the joy of life, Kelanus guessed that Repp enjoyed his work.
Kelanus forced a smile. "I'm looking for passage south, on the fastest ship you can find me. Sandev said you might be able to help me."
Repp's smile slipped. "Sandev? You a friend of hers?"
"Not exactly. More she's a friend of mine."
"Good enough for me." The Portmaster nodded. "Just you?"
"Three humans and a sylph," replied Kelanus.
***
Freshly washed, Tahena looked up as Kelanus entered the rooms she and her companions had taken at the inn. "Have we got a ship?"
Kelanus looked around the rooms quickly, pleased to note the accommodation was clean. Traveling clothes were spread out to dry, including Neptarik's woolens. The remains of a meal, cold now, stood on the table.
"We have. The Flying Cloud, under Captain Liffen Trallon. Heading to the far south, eventually reaching Hejiller. Any of that food left? Where are Balnus and Neptarik?"
"How long is eventually? Help yourself, what we saved is under that cloth."
"Thank you. Repp didn't say – a couple of months I suppose. Where are the others?"
"Here," said Balnus, from the doorway. "The baths are excellent."
Kelanus smiled at a considerably cleaner Balnus and Neptarik. Both had changed into clean clothes, though he wondered how Neptarik could be comfortable wearing woolens in this climate. He glanced at the plate in front of him and began to eat. The meat and vegetables were cold, yet he enjoyed the food.
Tahena waited for the others to sit, her dark eyes unusually intense. "When does she sail?"
"The ship? Day after tomorrow."
Tahena's mouth twisted. "That might be too late. Ti Ath –"
Kelanus held up a hand. "It's the only ship heading that far south. According to Repp she's the largest and fastest afloat. Sallis ti Ath catching us is a risk we are forced to take."
Neptarik turned from the window, after checking the wet clothes. "Are we having more ale?" he asked, licking his lips.
"There is no 'we'," replied his owner. "You've had more than enough for a year, never mind a night. Time for you to be asleep."
Kelanus and Tahena both smiled at the sylph. Neptarik glanced at Balnus, who nodded back. Not for the first time, the scout and his owner had felt obliged to steer their companions away from a row.
"Is this Flying Cloud sound?" Tahena brought the talk back to the important subject.
"I'm a soldier, not a sailor. No idea." Kelanus shrugged. "Repp tells me she turns a tidy profit with each trip. She's seventeen years old and overhauled in Cadister every year. And most of the crew are part owners."
Tahena nodded. "Good signs."