Doppelganger

9 Departure [Miryo]

The dawn light was only beginning to peek through the stable doors, but Miryo had been up for an hour already. She dropped her saddlebags on the dusty floor, gasping from carrying them this far, and went to look for a Cousin.

The two who were to be her escorts were in the tack room, fetching saddles and bridles for the horses they would ride. Miryo asked one of them to deal with her bags, then went back inside to find breakfast.

Narika was not in the breakfast hall, but Miryo knew she was up; the witch had left a note under her door saying she’d be there this morning to see her off. Miryo hoped she would; she still needed to ask about Ashin. And what if Ashin went in a different direction? Will I change my path to find her, or go with what I chose last night? Miryo honestly didn’t know. She put the problem aside to be dealt with when and if it arose.

She seated herself on one of the benches in the empty hall and rubbled on a hard roll. Motes of dust drifted through the early morning sunlight, mesmerizing her. It would be easy to fall asleep right here, were her mind not racing.

She couldn’t believe she was about to leave Starfall. She hadn’t left it for more than a few days at a time since she had come here from Tsurike Hall fifteen years ago.

And yet, if she were to join the Air Ray, this would be her life. Assuming she was a Hand, of course, but as she had said to Eikyo, most of the Air Ray acted like Hands anyway. Which meant a lifetime of traveling, always on the move, lending her skills wherever they were needed, to whomever needed them. Within reason, that was; no witch was bound to aid a cause she deemed unjust.

Was that the kind of life she wanted? It was more uncertain than most of the other Rays. Fire witches received food, housing, and pay from the Lords and Ladies they served; Water got the same, on a much smaller scale, from the villages they watched over. The Void Ray was supported by the labor of the Cousins and the tithes paid by domains for the aid they received from other witches. Only those of the Earth Ray had a lifestyle at all like that of Air; they lived off the land. If Miryo were to follow this path, her life would be like that: traveling, living off the land as often as not, receiving occasional rewards for her work, but unable to depend on such generosity. The people the Air Ray served often had little or no money to spare.

With a start, she realized the beams of sunlight had moved. Time was passing, and she was wasting it. Rising to her feet, Miryo scanned the few women down at the other end of the hall; Narika was still not among them.

Nor was title witch outside, nor was she in the stables. Miryo bit one knuckle, wondering if she should go seek Narika out, or send a Cousin to find her.

“Good, I was hoping you hadn’t left yet.”

The sudden sound made Miryo jump. “You startled me, Narika.” She managed to swallow the “kai” just in time. It wasn’t wrong to address a fellow witch with the honorific, but neither was it necessary, and Miryo was determined not to do anything to reinforce the idea that she was not really a witch.

“I do apologize. You don’t look like you slept much last night.”

“Packing took longer than I had expected.” That, and she had spent well over an hour poring over a map, trying to figure out where she was headed in the east, where her doppelganger might have holed up. Assuming her choice wasn’t really random.

“That’s why I’m not a Hand,” Narika said with a smile. “They all quickly learn not to pack more than necessary, I’m told, but I take forever to get myself together.”

Miryo smiled and tried to figure out how to broach the subject of Ashin.

“Do you have any further questions before you leave?” Narika asked.

Well, that made it easy. “I was wondering, actually—do you happen to know where Ashin-kasora has gone? Satomi-aken told me she left not that long ago.”

Narika looked thoughtful. “I’m not certain. She travels so much, and she’s not my Key. She might have gone up to Askavya; Geike was saying there had been some troubles up there.”

Askavya was due north. Miryo sighed. “Thanks.”

Narika gave her a curious look. “Were you hoping to talk to her? I can try to spell to her, if you’d like.”

“No, thank you. That won’t be necessary.”

“Are you traveling toward Askavya?”

“No, I was thinking of heading east instead.”

“Does something draw you there?” Narika’s ears all but pricked.

Miryo shrugged helplessly. “I honestly don’t know. It doesn’t seem wrong, so I guess it’s as good a direction as any.”

Narika looked disappointed; Miryo supposed she had been hoping for some great revelation. “Very well. I would offer you a searching spell, but it would be confused between you and your doppelganger. You’ll have to trust instinct.”

Let’s just hope it’s doing something worthwhile for me. “I will. At least until I have something better.”

“Very well. I suppose I should let you go; you’re losing valuable traveling time, and if I keep talking like this, you won’t even make Samalan before nightfall.” Narika followed Miryo out of the stables into the early sunlight, where the Cousins waited with saddled horses. “Goddess go with you, Miryo. Travel swiftly, and return to us soon.”

“Thank you, Narika.” Miryo was surprised when the witch hugged her, but she returned the embrace. Then, before anything else could delay her, she mounted and turned her horse’s nose toward the road. She did not look back toward the students’ hall.

Trees enveloped them a few minutes into the journey. Miryo and the two silent Cousins rode through green shade dappled with pale, sharp morning sunlight. She let her horse choose its own pace; the road was well-built, but the rocky mountain soil here made for poor footing, and she had no intention of laming her horse on the first day out.

The ride was quiet and soothing. Given the Cousins’ habitual unobtrusiveness, she felt almost as if she were on the road alone, with no one around save rabbits, squirrels, and her horse.

“Miryo!”

Eikyo materialized out of the bushes so suddenly that Miryo’s horse almost reared. Her friend had the bridle in a heartbeat, though, and she soothed the animal with a soft word. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you like that. I was just practicing moving quietly in the woods.”

Miryo smoothed her hair back with one hand and shook her head. “I’d say you don’t need much more practice.”

Eikyo eyed the Cousins, who were sitting impassively on their horses, and edged closer to Miryo. “Did you ask Narika?” she said in a low voice.

Miryo nodded. “She thought maybe Askavya, but she wasn’t sure.”

“Are you going to go north?”

“Not without more confirmation than that. If it’s just one hunch against another, I’ll stay with my own.”

“That’s probably good.” Eikyo gave the Cousins another sidelong glance and lowered her voice even more. “Do you—do you want me to come with you?”

She didn’t even have to think about her answer, but she did, just to be fair to her friend. It didn’t change. “No. This is… it doesn’t get more personal than this, Eikyo. I’m only taking the Cousins because I have to. Besides, you have your own test coming up.”

“Not for a while. You won’t be gone that long, will you?”

“I don’t know.”

Miryo’s words fell more heavily into the silence than she’d meant them to.

“And don’t follow me, either,” she added firmly, to quash any rebellious ideas lurking in Eikyo’s head. “I mean it.”

Eikyo looked unhappy. “I just wish I could help you somehow.”

“You can,” Miryo said. “Pray for me.” She shook her head when her friend laughed. “I’m serious. I’m going to need it.”

Eikyo sobered up and nodded. “All right.”

“Thanks.” Miryo leaned down from her horse and gripped Eikyo’s arm. Her friend squeezed hard, still looking worried.

“Goddess be with you,” Eikyo said. Then she released the bridle of Miryo’s horse and stepped aside so she and the Cousins could pass.

They rode through the day, stopping briefly to eat and rest the horses, and came into Samalan in the late afternoon. The town, which sat just on the Currel side of the border, was a natural stopping point for people traveling to and from Starfall. It had taken a rare collaboration on the part of the Fire, Water, and Void Rays to keep the prices in Samalan fair; too many merchants saw it as a golden opportunity to gouge all who passed through.

But thanks to the work of Miryo’s sisters, she was able to find lodgings for the night at a reasonable price. The Primes had given her a purse of money as well as a pack-horse laden with supplies, but she had no idea how far she had to go. She could, of course, ask for more should she come to need it, but Miryo was determined to put that off as long as possible.

One of the Cousins saw to the stabling of the horses while the other took their bags upstairs. They had dinner in the common room that night. Miryo hardly received a second glance from the other patrons there. Witches might be an unusual sight elsewhere in the land, but in Samalan they were commonplace.

The reverse was not true for Miryo. She was twenty-five years old, but the world outside the halls of the witches was nearly as alien to her as the moon. She’d studied the domains in excruciating detail—their histories, their peoples, the ways of life in each place—but that was not the same as going out into them. Not the same at all.

Miryo couldn’t imagine trying to learn everything she had to know to be a witch without isolation and intense study. Still, looking at the prospect of now having to face a world she’d never seen, she was inclined to seriously question the teaching methods of Starfall. Farmers, herdsmen, weavers, carpenters, merchants—such people were strangers to her. It was enough to make her want to choose the Void Ray, just so that she could spend her days talking to witches and Cousins, who were familiar.

The thought made her glance at her two silent companions. I’d almost feel better if one of them would ask me where we’re going, or say something, Miryo thought. I hope I adjust to them quickly; somehow I never noticed before how silent they are. Mother’s mercy, I don’t even know their names. I assume they have some. I should fid out. Except it would feel weird to ask; at home Cousins are about as noticeable as the furniture. They’re the perfect servants—except this silence is getting on my nerves.

“We’re likely to be traveling for a while,” Miryo said abruptly, causing the Cousins to look up from their food. “And I don’t even know your names.”

They exchanged swift glances. Miryo wondered suddenly if Cousins had any kind of society, if they relaxed together when they weren’t serving the witches. She had absolutely no idea.

“I am Kan,” the taller of the two said. It was the first time either of them had spoken since Miryo had met them this morning. “This is Sai.” The shorter Cousin nodded, but said nothing.

Miryo nodded back. “I’m Miryo.” The Cousins glanced at each other again, then went back to eating their food. “We’ll be going east at first,” Miryo continued, determined to get some kind of conversation started. “I think we’ll take the coastal road. We might have to change our path along the way; I don’t really know.” She wondered if Satomi or anyone else had told them what she was doing on this journey. Whether they knew or not, she wasn’t about to broach the subject in the common room of an inn. “Is there anything we need to buy here?”

“I don’t believe so,” Kan said. It looked like she was going to be the spokesman for the two of them. “But I may go through the market tomorrow morning to be sure.”

“All right. The market opens at First; if we leave an hour after that, will it give you enough time?”

Kan nodded.

“I’ll see you in the stables an hour after First, then. In the meantime, I have an errand to run.” Miryo rose to her feet, then stopped as Kan also stood. “Is there a problem?”

“I’m going with you.”

Miryo stared at her. “What?”

“The Primes have charged us with keeping you safe, and it’s getting dark out.”

“Samalan is the safest place in the world, except for Starfall itself. No one would dream of giving me trouble, not so close to our domain.”

Kan merely shrugged.

Miryo continued to stare at her, but the Cousin ignored it. Misetsu and Menukyo. I probably couldn’t get her to stay here if I tied her to a ceiling rafter. She eyed the Cousin’s muscles. As if I could. “All right. I don’t think it’s necessary, but it doesn’t look like I’m going to change your mind.” Kan didn’t answer that.

They went out into the evening light, Kan walking a few steps behind Miryo. Glancing back, Miryo saw that the Cousin was alert, keeping one hand near to the handle of her short sword. Maiden wept. She’s probably going to act like this the whole trip, too.

Shaking her head, Miryo turned her head and paid attention to where she was going.

It was a fair walk; lying in the grasslands as it did, Samalan had all the open space it needed to sprawl through. The directions she had been given led her finally to a modest-looking house near the north edge of town. Both the Water Ray and the Void Ray had representatives in Samalan: Perachi, a Hand of the former, lived farther to the east and served the people of the town. Morisuke, however, was responsible for monitoring who came and went from the witches’ domain.

Kan hovered behind Miryo as she knocked on the door.

A moment later she heard the lock turn. A tall blond woman opened the door and took in the two of them with a quick glance. “Miryo, I presume. Satomi-aken spelled to say you might be coming to see me. Do come in.”

With a start Miryo glanced at the woman’s neck. The triskele pendant hung there openly enough; Morisuke was apparently one of that minority of witches with blond hair. “Thank you,” she said, realizing she had yet to move or speak, and stepped over the threshold. Kan followed silently.

“May I get you anything to drink?” Morisuke asked, gesturing Miryo toward a chair in her small sitting room. Her house was modest but obsessively tidy; even the fireplace, unused right now, was swept spotless.

“No, thank you,” Miryo said.

Morisuke nodded and seated herself. Kan took up a sentinel position against one wall; Miryo resolved to speak to her about that. There was no need for the Cousin to behave as though she expected an assassination attempt any minute.

“What can I help you with?” Morisuke asked.

“I was hoping you could give me some idea of the road conditions we’ll be facing.”

“Which direction are you headed?”

“East, through Haira and Teria, but I don’t know how far.”

Morisuke closed her eyes and looked thoughtful. “There have been some storms in the coastal bills, but any damage to the road will likely have been repaired by the time you get there. If you go as far as Razi, that’s the only place you might find trouble. Cano is not as good about keeping up his duty of road maintenance as he should be. But the storms were mostly west of his domain, so even if he hasn’t yet seen to the roads, they should be in passable shape.”

“Is there any political unrest?”

“Not in that region. Ruitte spelled earlier today to say that Lady Chaha of Kalistyi is claiming some of Seach’s men-at-arms caused havoc on her side of the border—Lord Mimre is, of course, denying the charge—but that’s up near the mountains. Southern Seach should be quiet. The only other trouble is up in Askavya, well out of your way.”

Askavya again. And if anyone would know where Ashin went, Morisuke would; wherever she went, she almost certainly passed through here. “Narika said something about that as well. Do you happen to know if Ashin-kasora went there? She left Starfall about a week ago.”

“Yes, she went north, and very suddenly. Did Narika by chance tell you what’s happening up there? I’ve received very little word.”

Miryo shook her head. “I’m afraid not. She wasn’t certain herself.”

“Pity. Well, it may just be some internal Air issue.”

Morisuke was good at keeping a smooth expression, but Miryo caught the slightest flicker of vexation. She had to suppress a laugh. Witches of the Path of the Head always hated not knowing things, and the Air Ray’s habit of not telling the Void about their affairs probably drove Morisuke crazy. The witch no doubt prided herself on knowing a great deal of what was going on in the land, even if decisions about how to react were not hers to make.

“Indeed,” Miryo said when she was sure she would not laugh. “Has anyone in the Earth Ray sensed any further weather problems?”

Morisuke shook her head. “Rain along the coast, which is to be expected for this time of year. But it shouldn’t be more than an annoyance.”

Miryo nodded and rose to her feet. Kan stepped forward. “Thank you for the information. I’d considered taking the northern route east, but I’ll take rain in the hills over raids in the mountains.”

The Void witch also rose. “I’m glad to be of help.”

And glad to know that the new little half-witch is going east. Now if anyone asks, you can tell them. Miryo had no reason to hide where she was going—she doubted her doppelganger would hear of it—but the prying habits of the Void Ray irritated her.

She walked slowly once they were back outside, lost in thought. Kan followed her as before, keeping an even sharper eye out now that it was fully dark.

Her steps took her, not to the inn, but to the fountain that stood in the center of Samalan. It was not elaborately carved, but a spell cast by an Earth witch many years ago had arranged for it to never run dry. Even in the depths of winter it flowed, the water always warm enough not to freeze over.

Miryo stood next to it in the moonlight, watching the water leap and dance. She was aware of no sound save for its splashing, until Kan spoke. “Katsu?”

The quiet word made her blink. It was, she realized, the first time anyone had addressed her by that honorific. That pleased her unexpectedly; every sign that someone considered her a proper witch was encouraging.

“Yes, Kan?” she said at last.

“We should return to the inn.”

“Not yet, Kan. No one’s going to attack me out here, I’m sure, and I’d like a moment to sit.” Behind her she heard the Cousin’s footsteps, backing away. No doubt she’ll stand like a guard dog in the shadows now. Well, she can if she wants to.

Miryo continued to watch the water, listening to it play. She was torn by indecision, unsure of her path.

When it was one hunch against another, I trusted my own. But now I know Ashin went north—she’s probably into Abern by now. I could try to follow her. It would be a lot more logical than wandering vaguely off to the east, following a choice made at random late one night. Ashin might even know where my doppelganger is. She might be heading toward it right now; maybe that’s why she left so suddenly. But if that’s the case, why wouldn’t she tell someone?

She seated herself on the edge of the fountain, trailing her fingers in the cool water. Kan was a barely visible shadow at the edge of her vision. If I follow logic, I should go north.

And yet…

Miryo knew she had no reason beyond gut feeling to think there was anything for her in the east. The river lands were more populous, it was true, so simple probability was on her side if she went in that direction. But she could hardly examine every person living in the eight domains that lay that way.

So the question is, how much should I trust my gut feeling ? Do I believe Narika, and believe myself? Or do I tab the safer, more assured path, and follow Ashin?

Miryo stood abruptly, making Kan shift. “Let’s go back to the inn. I’ve changed my mind; tomorrow we’ll go north to Askavya.”

Kan went the next morning to buy a few more supplies; the lands to the north were less heavily settled than those to the east. Miryo and Sai took their bags down to the stables and rearranged the packhorse’s load to make more room for the additional food.

The Cousin was back not long after the town bells rang First, and before the scheduled hour was up, they were ready to go. They led their horses through the market crowd, then mounted up as they neared the edge of town. Miryo cast an eye to the west; Morisuke’s house lay not far in that direction. If they were going to head north, they should ask about the conditions in that direction.

She and Kan left the Void witch’s house not long later, leaving Morisuke manifestly curious as to why they had changed their path. Miryo knew she’d pass the information on to others. Morisuke probably suspected she was following Ashin, and that was excellent gossip. She put the woman’s machinations out of her mind, though, as they went to rejoin Sai on the main road and begin their trip north.

Ten steps into that trip, Miryo sawed her horse’s reins around so sharply that it almost reared.

The Cousins glanced at each other, then watched her as she sat in the middle of the road, biting her knuckle in indecision.

Ashin’s in the north. Goddess only knows if there’s anything useful to me in the east.

“Misetsu and Menukyo save me from my own stupid impulses,” Miryo muttered. Then she raised her voice so the Cousins could hear. “Forget it. I’ve changed my mind again. We’re going east.”