Antiagon Fire

32

By Samedi night Quaeryt, Vaelora, Arion, and first company were far enough from the waters of the Gulf that the evening breeze was more than chill. When they broke camp on Solayi morning, a fine white frost coated the browned grasses bordering the stone road, as well as the grasses of the open meadows between the stands of bare-leafed trees. In its construction, the road reminded Quaeryt of the ancient Naedaran stone roads, but there was one principal difference. The Naedaran roads Quaeryt had seen had largely followed or paralleled streams, canals, or rivers. The one on which Arion guided them did not, but appeared to have been laid out more directly through the hills to the northwest of Kherseilles. While it followed a stream now and again, that appeared only because the stream happened to be where the ancient road builder had wanted the road, and not the other way around.

On Lundi evening, they stayed the night in an abandoned and not quite ruined stead-a place Arion said that he and his men had used on the ride from Saendeol. On Mardi evening, just before fifth glass, they arrived in the town of Rheon, set in a gentle valley flanked by vineyards, where, once again, a number of the houses appeared abandoned, although Quaeryt got the impression that the empty houses were more on the order of one in ten, rather than one in three or four, as they had been in Kherseilles.

Arion led the column along the stone-paved road that had become the main street of the town until he reached an open square, where he turned eastward and rode toward an oblong two-story building that had to be an inn.

As Quaeryt and Vaelora followed the major past the signboard in front of the building, Quaeryt found he could read the letters on the signboard, but had no idea what the words meant, although, in a way, he felt he should, since they were Pharsi. That just shows how lost you are.

“One of the two towns between Kherseilles and Saendeol with a proper inn,” Arion announced as he dismounted in the courtyard.

“What’s the name of the inn?” Quaeryt asked, gesturing back toward the signboard.

“It means ‘the warm hearth’ or ‘the welcome inn.’”

“I have some golds,” Quaeryt said, “but my funds are far from unlimited.”

“He’ll accept whatever you offer.”

“A copper for each man for lodging, two for the officers, and three for each meal?”

“He’d find that more than fair, especially since the men will be in the barns and stables.”

“Is there anyone here who doesn’t speak Pharsi?” asked Vaelora.

“No one who would likely admit it at the moment,” replied Arion. “Some also speak Bovarian. Almost no one speaks Tellan.” He turned and began to talk to the stable boy, who had hurried across the paved courtyard from the open stable doors.

Quaeryt swung down from the black gelding, then held his hand out for Vaelora. Surprisingly, she took it, if but for a moment, as she dismounted.

“You should meet the innkeeper,” said Arion. “If you would follow me, sir, Lady…” The Pharsi major guided them toward the side door of the stone-walled inn.

Sandstone, not gray stone, Quaeryt noted as he eased Vaelora after Arion. He did extend his shields to cover her, just to be careful. The side door opened on a narrow corridor leading to the main hallway off the public room.

Arion offered a greeting in Pharsi as he neared the main entry hall, and in moments a dark-haired, honey-skinned man appeared from somewhere in the back of the inn. After an exchange of words, the innkeeper bowed slightly to the major.

Arion spoke a few more words, and the innkeeper turned from Arion to Quaeryt and Vaelora. He froze where he stood. His eyes widened, and then he bowed, and offered a welcome, one of the few Pharsi phrases Quaeryt knew.

Quaeryt offered a short reply in Pharsi, then had to add in Bovarian, “Thank you, but I was orphaned young and did not learn Pharsi beyond what I knew as a small boy.”

“I … understand,” the man replied in Bovarian, but his eyes fixed on Vaelora, and he bowed even more deeply, offering a more voluble greeting.

Vaelora responded with a longer phrase, and then a second, before finally saying, in Bovarian, “Those are what my grandmere taught me.”

Arion stepped forward and began to talk to the innkeeper once more.

The man finally nodded, smiled, and said in accented Bovarian, “Most welcome you both are.”

“Thank you,” said Quaeryt, this time in Pharsi, one of the few phrases he’d learned from his Pharsi undercaptains on their long rides.

“My daughter … honored lady … she will show you … the way.”

A young girl appeared, perhaps ten, and stepped carefully toward Vaelora. She stopped a yard short and bowed, then gestured for Vaelora to follow her.

Quaeryt followed the two several yards past the main hall and then up a set of stone steps. Halfway up, one step was a bit higher than the others, and the longer boot heel on Quaeryt’s bad leg caught the edge of the riser, and he stumbled and almost fell before catching himself-and almost jamming the two immobile fingers on his left hand. At the top of the staircase, the girl turned to the right and walked to the end chamber. There, she opened the door and stepped inside, gesturing for Vaelora and Quaeryt to follow.

The chamber was modest, floored in slate tiles, with clean white plastered walls, and a double bed, with a table, an armoire, and an alcove set off by a decorative screen that held a wash table and basin and other items. The large window had no curtains, but a set of dark-stained inside shutters, swung open to admit the light.

Once they were alone, Quaeryt asked, “Do you know what the innkeeper said to you?”

“I didn’t catch all of it, but he called me ‘Seliora,’ and I know that’s the daughter of the moon. There’s something about the two of us together that surprised him.”

“I think I’ll ask Arion while you wash up, if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind, dearest. Take your time.”

Meaning, don’t hurry back. Quaeryt slipped away, closing the heavy door, and headed down to the courtyard, where he found Arion and Zhelan directing the men and mounts. He stood back in the shadows of the inn wall, watching and not wanting to interfere. Once it was clear that they had finished, he stepped forward. “Arion?”

The Pharsi major turned. “Yes, sir.”

Zhelan also turned, clearly interested.

“I don’t speak much Pharsi … almost none, as you know. It seemed to me that the innkeeper was referring to Vaelora as the daughter of the moon … and that he was surprised that we were together. Or did I misunderstand?”

Arion laughed softly. “You didn’t misunderstand, but he said more than that. He said that few had ever seen a hand of Erion-that’s the old way of saying a son of Erion-and fewer still had seen him with the daughter of the moon.”

“He didn’t look exactly happy about it, not at first.”

“When the two are seen together, according to the old tales, it foretells great change. Great change,” Arion added sardonically, “usually means war, famine, or disaster … if not worse.”

“And you told him?”

“That you two had come in hopes of making that change as peaceful as possible.”

“I hope the High Council sees it that way.”

“So do I. So does Subcommander Calkoran.”

“Let’s hope we can convince the Council. What can we do about getting the men fed?”

“Your three cooks will help in the kitchen, and they’ll feed the men two squads at a time, beginning in half a glass. There’s a table in an alcove at the end of the public room that will seat ten…”

“That would suit the officers and Vaelora and me,” suggested Quaeryt. “That’s nine. We could eat together, once the last squad is fed.”

Arion looked to Zhelan.

“I can take care of this,” replied Zhelan. “It’d be best if you talked to the innkeeper.”

When Arion had reentered the inn, Quaeryt asked, “What do you think?”

“Seems straightforward to me. Ostler and stableboy know their business. Place is one of the cleanest inns I’ve seen. No one looking away. Everyone’s cheerful. One of the serving girls was flirting with Undercaptain Khalis. He was trying not to blush. Lhandor rescued him.”

“Whether he wanted to be rescued or not, I imagine.”

“He needed to be rescued. She had her blouse down so far…” Zhelan shook his head.

“He’s a handsome young man, and sometimes too courteous.”

“Except in battle … or protecting you.”

Quaeryt didn’t contradict the major. He recalled Khalis hovering over him when he’d been flattened by a cannon powder explosion.

Once the men and mounts were settled, Quaeryt walked back into the inn. As he headed toward the stairs, he saw one of the serving girls looking at him. He smiled back and started to turn when he saw a man in dark gray leathers lean toward the serving girl and murmur something. The girl replied, and the man stepped away. There was something about the exchange that troubled Quaeryt, but he couldn’t have said what.

He kept walking and returned to the room, where he washed up. Then, at half past sixth glass, he led Vaelora into the public room, down one side past the tables where the last two squads were finishing their meal. He did catch a few murmured remarks.

“… wouldn’t be letting my sister ride with us…”

“… would if he were guarding her…”

“… heard the innkeeper near-on filled his britches when he saw her … called her a moon goddess or something…”

What Quaeryt did hear confirmed his faith in the ability of troopers to find out far more than their commanders ever intended.

The officers at the table all rose as Quaeryt and Vaelora approached. They had left vacant the two places in the middle of the table on the side closest to the wall. Quaeryt eased Vaelora into the seat beside Arion, while he sat between her and Zhelan.

“What are we having for dinner, Arion?” asked Quaeryt.

“Lamb. What else? For a Pharsi, the best meal is always lamb. The lamb tonight will be stew with mushrooms and potatoes and spices. With fresh-baked rosemary bread and red wine.”

The wine carafes were already on the table, and Quaeryt filled Vaelora’s goblet and his, then passed the carafe to Arion, who handed it back to Zhelan. The first casserole dish was set before Vaelora, but Quaeryt served her and himself, and then the two majors. That was deliberate, especially since he could see the innkeeper watching.

The daughter of the moon should be served first, especially in Khel.

Once all the officers were served, Quaeryt lifted his goblet. “I’d like to offer a toast, and thanks, to Major Arion, for his guidance and his knowledge … and for finding a good inn.”

For a time thereafter, there was little conversation, but after a bit, Quaeryt turned to Arion. “What is the road like from here to Saendeol?”

“Much like it has been. If the weather holds, we should reach Saendeol by Samedi evening.”

“How large a place is it?”

“Perhaps twice the size of Rheon. It does have more inns. There was little destruction.”

“Why was that?”

“There is little of great value grown there, and no mining, and the Bovarians like to trade by canals and rivers.”

Others asked a few questions after that, and Arion was more than happy to tell the officers about Khel.

Quaeryt and Vaelora mostly listened.

As they rose after eating, Quaeryt leaned toward Vaelora. “I need to talk to Khalis and Lhandor.”

“I would have suggested it, if you hadn’t.”

Quaeryt gestured to Lhandor, the nearest of the two. “I’ll need a moment with you and Khalis after I escort Lady Vaelora to her chamber. If you’d wait here.”

“Yes, sir.”

Quaeryt escorted Vaelora through the public room and then up the stairs, again shielding her until she was inside their chamber. “You will bolt the door.”

“Yes, dearest. I’ll even unbolt it when you return.”

“I’d hope so.”

“There are times, dearest, when you hope too much.”

Quaeryt let the wince show.

She lifted her hand to stroke the side of his face. “Do what you must and hurry back.”

Quaeryt returned her smile. “I will.” But he waited outside in the hall until he heard the bolt slide into place.

The two Pharsi undercaptains were waiting at a table in the corner of the public room. Quaeryt gestured for them not to rise and eased a chair into place across the table from them. “As you both know, I speak little Pharsi. I have little idea what’s being said. What have you heard?”

“I don’t catch everything,” replied Khalis. “They speak a bit different here, but you scared the innkeeper when you came into the inn and took off your cap and he saw you and the lady together. The serving girls were whispering about it.”

“One asked me if you were a lost one,” added Lhandor, “or maybe an ancient.”

“An ancient?”

“One of the old Pharsi from the east.”

A Naedaran Pharsi? “Were there Pharsi in Naedara?”

Lhandor shrugged. “I don’t know. There are tales that the oldest Pharsi fled into the west.”

“I never heard that,” said Khalis.

“My grandmere talked about them. My father told me not to believe her, that all good Pharsi came from the west.”

Quaeryt nodded. In that light, the road and some of the legends made sense. “Did they say anything else?”

“One of them asked me why all your hair and your nails were white, if you painted them to look like the son of Erion. I told her that your hair and nails turned white, that it was part of the price you paid for calling down the ice on the armies of Bovaria. It was, wasn’t it?”

“It was,” Quaeryt said quietly. But only a part.

“She got real quiet then. The other one whispered something about telling her father. I got the idea he might be the innkeeper.”

“Was there anything else?”

The two shook their heads.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d keep listening. Any little thing could be important.”

“Because of the High Council?” asked Khalis.

Quaeryt nodded. “I don’t want Lord Bhayar to bring an army into Khel. The Pharsi don’t want that. We’d all be better off if we can work something out.”

“Yes, sir.”

Quaeryt could sense the doubt in their voices. “It won’t be easy, but it’s something we have to find a way to do.” Because that’s best … or because you don’t want to destroy thousands more? “Thank you both. I’ll see you in the morning.”

With a parting nod, he turned and headed back to the room … and Vaelora.

When he had bolted the door, he walked to the armoire and sat on the stool, where he began to pull off his boots.

“Dearest … I’ve been thinking…”

“Yes?” he replied warily.

“There isn’t anyone, except perhaps the Autarch, who can threaten Khel. By defeating Kharst, Bhayar has removed the threat of Kharst. Weak as it is, Khel poses no threat to Telaryn or Bhayar. Not now. Why are you going to press the Council to accept Bhayar’s agreement?”

“Besides the fact that he dispatched us to do so?”

“If it’s not a good idea, it’s not a good idea.”

“You’re right about that, but uniting Khel and Telaryn is a good idea, even if the Council doesn’t like it.”

“Go on. Tell me why. You’ll have to tell the Council why.”

Quaeryt turned on the stool to face Vaelora, who sat on the end of the double bed.

“First, Khel can’t protect itself from the factors who flee Bhayar and move to Khel, especially those in the north and west of Bovaria. If Khel doesn’t accept Bhayar’s terms, he certainly won’t have any interest in pursuing those factors. Why should he protect Khel from them? Second, what’s to stop traders from Jariola or Ferrum or other places from trying to establish themselves in Khel? If they do, and it’s against the interests of Telaryn, then Bhayar will have to do something in the future. The Khellans certainly won’t like that. Third, if Khel accepts his terms, the Pharsi will have Bhayar’s protection, under law, against factors and others who try to exploit them, and they will have the ability to trade freely throughout all of Lydar except for Antiago. That will make them far more prosperous.

“Equally important, Khel can get better terms now because, sooner or later, he will take over Khel. If he has to fight to do it, Khel will suffer far more than it already has. If the High Council agrees to terms he can accept, then there’s no war, and everyone benefits.”

“That makes sense … and they won’t agree,” said Vaelora sadly, glancing toward the window and shivering.

Quaeryt rose and walked over to close and fasten the inside shutters. Then he turned back to face her in the dim light. “I’m afraid you’re right. Do you have any better suggestions?”

“Not tonight, dearest.”

Later, much later, outside the window, even with the inside shutters closed, Quaeryt could hear the wind and the beat of heavy rain on the roof and the walls of the inn, but his mind drifted back, time and again, to the same words.

What can you do to persuade them? The question kept circling in his thoughts, and yet he had no answer-none at all.

At some point, he finally drifted into sleep with the beating of the rain on the walls and the roof.