Flight of the Renshai

CHAPTER 21

The dungeon corridors stank of mold, urine, and long unwashed flesh so rank it became physically painful to Tae's nose. Keyed to the location of every prisoner, he slunk through the confines unseen, except for the guards, who followed orders to ignore him. Finally, he came to the proper wall that would allow him to listen without being seen and waited for the group of guards and interpreters to step into place.

Soon, they arrived, a motley contingent of massive, uniformed Bearnides with weapons, accompanied by a thin, sandy-haired Erythanian, a portly balding Westerner, and an elderly woman who walked with a cane. As they stepped into place in front of the cell of the captured pirate, Tae gestured to them to proceed.

"We brought some visitors," one of the guards explained in a booming voice. He spoke slowly and distinctly. "We're just trying to find out if you need anything." He waved at the woman, who stepped forward next.

Leaning on the cane, she spoke in careful Northern, the singsong syllables emerging graveled by age. "Can you understand me? Please acknowledge if you can. We only want to make your stay more pleasant."

Tae could not see the prisoner's reaction, but he heard a shuffle of movement and no reply.

The thin man spoke next, his voice as reedy as his figure. "Can you understand me?" He used one of the many Western tongues; all so similar to Tae that he thought of them as simple dialects of the same language. "Can you understand me?" he said in another.

When he reached his fifth, the prisoner finally responded with a few words of his own. Tae focused firmly on the sounds, tone, and timbre. It had to contain frustration, perhaps contempt; it would help to see the gestures that accompanied the words. Despite most beliefs otherwise, there were no unfailingly universal gestures; but emotion was still readable in the force and boldness of them. Tae found facial cues far more reliable and cursed his need to remain hidden, even though he had insisted upon it.

Everyone in the translation party turned to look at Tae as if to ask if he had heard enough.

Tae would have liked more, but their obvious concentration on him jeopardized any future plans. Once the pirate knew of his presence and talent, getting information would move from difficult to impossible. He shook his head, waved dismissively, and headed back out of the prison, without waiting to see what the others did.

Several guards and a snarl of cats met him at the exit. The men clearly wanted to ask him what he had learned, but they remained silent. They knew better than to upstage the king.

Tae did not say anything. He needed to consider his strategy and his words carefully before they rushed him to his meeting with King Griff, Queen Matrinka, and whichever trusted guards and advisers they chose.

Plaintive mewing accompanied them as they hurried down flights of spiral stairs and through long hallways. Then, something hooked the hem of Tae's tunic. Still moving amid the clot of guards, he looked down as a cat clawed its way up his side, gouging fabric and flesh alike.

Tae reached down, snagged Imorelda, and placed her on his shoulders. She stretched out around the back of his neck.

A guard reached for her. "Sorry, Sire. Usually, they're not that bold."

Imorelda slashed a pawful of nails at the man's hand.

Anticipating the attack, Tae lurched, forcing Imorelda to tend to her own balance instead. The unsheathed claws pierced his shoulder like needles. "Leave her," he gasped. "This one's mine."

"Yes, Sire." The man retreated. *Ease up!*

Imorelda obeyed, though not without protest.*Walk more carefully, and I won't have to do that.*

Tae knew better than to argue with a female or a cat.*Of course. It's all my fault.*

The guards paused, while the leader knocked briskly on a door.

It opened almost immediately to reveal a small room that contained only four people and a table surrounded by chairs. Tae knew everyone inside: the king and queen of Bearn, Darris the bard, and Rantire, Griff's fierce Renshai bodyguard. Matrinka and Griff gave Tae acknowledging nods, while Darris bowed decorously and Rantire only stared with aggression.

Tae waited until his escort left, closing the door, before speaking. "Ah, so one Renshai remains in the West."

Clearly addressed, Rantire did not seek permission from her liege before speaking. "Vows to gods take precedent over any human decree."

Tae could not argue. Colbey's son, Ravn, had bestowed the job of Griff's guardian on the Renshai, and her loyalty was total and unwavering. It was also obsessive and annoying.

Matrinka asked the question on every mind, "So, were you able to understand him?"

Clearly mortified by his guardian and his wife, Griff offered their guest a seat. "Please, make yourself comfortable."

Tae did not worry about politeness or formality, but he did appreciate the delay. Choosing the nearest chair, he sat, and the others did the same. "I didn't," he admitted.

Matrinka sagged. "It's hopeless, then?"

Tae explained, "He's not speaking any known language of our world." Imorelda clambered gingerly from his shoulders into his brand-new lap.

Griff leaned forward, "Are you sure?"

Tae nodded, stroking the animal absently.

"Because," the king continued carefully, "there are several languages. And maybe you've just never heard…"

Tae remained silent, allowing the king to finish his thought; but, as Griff trailed off and clearly awaited an answer, Tae explained. "I speak all ten of the major languages, Griff. Even ancient barbarian. Even elfin, though not necessarily with great fluency. Anything else is simply a dialect, and I can figure it out quickly. Now, I only heard a few words, but this… this was… different."

They all went silent, waiting for him to explain.

Tae had nothing more to say. Five or six words, spoken by one individual, was not enough to make pronouncements.

"So," Matrinka broke the silence. "You're saying these pirates come from another world?"

Tae shrugged. He did not feel competent to make a statement of such significance, but it seemed like the only logical answer. *They do, don't they?* *If I knew, Imorelda, I would tell my friends.*

Darris opened his mouth, then closed it with a sigh. He rose and started pacing, the Renshai watching him through slitted eyes.

Tae understood his discomfort. The bard wished to speak but remained constrained by the curse.

Griff clearly also noticed his bard's distress. "If you need to sing something, Darris, feel free. We would all love to hear it."

Darris nodded. He did not carry an instrument with him, nor did he need one. Tae had long ago noticed he mostly resorted to it when performing or when trying to evoke emotions. In a pinch, Darris had no trouble performing a cappella, his songs fashioned on the spot, though his rhyme scheme lacked the richness and beauty of the songs he inherited or deliberately wrote. The bard cleared his throat and cringed apologetically: To bring Outworld enemies would require An angry god all wreathed in fire, Or strong jovinay arythanik: Combined magic of elves, none of whom could panic. For magic is needed to open the portals, A deed that could never be done by mere mortals. Yet neither gods nor elves have suggested That humankind must be divested. But in the Sage's tower high, I found the tale of an armory by The enormous city we know as Pudar, Three centuries past, or about that far. As he prepared for the Great War, King Sterrane's friend, Garn, he took a tour, And tried a weapon bigger than he From a warrior 'cross the Western Sea. Who came, they said, when the world was young, A giant of a man who left no crumb But that massive sword too heavy for man. Perhaps his descendants have come to our land?

As Darris finished the last note, he looked askance at his companions. Clearly, he sought answers to his question, not praise for his song; which, despite his phenomenal voice and perfect pitch, was notably clumsy.

Tae considered the information in thoughtful silence. He had known that bringing in humans or creatures of parallel worlds required the magic inherent in a portal. He and his companions had traveled through several as they pieced together the ancient, broken Pica Stone that now tested the heirs to Bearn's throne. Each opening had required a massive number of elves working their magic together. It could never occur by accident. Tae had to concede and broke the silence, "Surely, if gods or elves intended to destroy us, they would open a portal to a world with man-eating monsters rather than simply subject us to an endless sea battle."

Imorelda batted Tae's hand but said nothing.

"Well," Matrinka added. "Griff, Darris, and I discussed this before; and I've given it some thought. If I had to choose between gods and elves, I'd have to guess the latter. If the gods wanted us gone, they could simply… um… unmake us, right? Slam us with fire or floods, famine or lightning, and they wouldn't need to open a portal." She glanced around the group. "Right?"

Darris turned his gaze directly on Tae. Clearly, he wanted to say something but hoped his Eastern friend would obviate the need for more singing.

Imorelda stood up in Tae's lap, planting her paws on the edge of the table.*The gods do things that don't make sense sometimes.*

Tae softened the words, "The gods aren't always predictable. Still, Matrinka makes a good argument. It doesn't do them any good to punish us if we don't know we're being punished or why."

Darris' head bobbed sideways. Apparently, he felt Tae had made an interesting point, but not the one he was hoping for.

Tae tried again. "I don't think it's elves either. They chose to go off on their own, to leave Bearn. They know they're welcome to return at any time. If they had a grievance, they would bring it to you." He jerked his head toward King Griff. "Wouldn't they?"

Griff bobbed his shaggy head. "Tem'aree'ay visits them regularly. She tells me they're happy." He laced his fingers through his beard. "As I recall, when the first pirating incidents happened, the elves were still here. We would have known."

"Unless it happened accidentally." Tae scratched behind Imorelda's ears, and she raised her head high to expose her throat, practically driving her head against his moving fingers. "While they were opening portals for us to gather the Pica shards."

Murmurs swept the room. It seemed the most logical answer.

"Or," Matrinka added, "they come from across the ocean, like Darris surmised."

"A giant of a man," Tae quoted. "With a sword so big most men couldn't lift it. Are these pirates enormous?"

Again, Darris tipped his head from side to side, indicating "yes" and "no" simultaneously.

Griff explained. "Well, no. Not most of them. But my men report more than the normal number of impressively-sized warriors, and we have captured a few weapons that befuddle our strongest."

"Big?" Tae tried to clarify.

"Huge," Griff confirmed. "A few. But most are normal-sized. Impressively well-tempered and forged, too. Early on, many Renshai were happily taking enemy swords in lieu of payment."

Matrinka's eyes widened at a fact she clearly had not heard before. "And you know how picky Renshai are."

Imorelda made a noise distinctly like a sneeze.*Not too picky, apparently. One made a baby with the likes of you.*

Tae ignored the insult.*She means about their swords.* *So they're more careful with their swords than their children?* *Renshai?Yes.* *Sounds about right.* Imorelda curled back into Tae's lap.*Nasty things.* *Renshai? Or swords?* *Children.*

Tae disengaged to ask Bearn's king, "I presume you still have some of these weapons? Their make-?"

"Our best experts couldn't identify the workmanship, though they were most impressed by it. We reused as many as we could. The ones too damaged or large, we melted down and recast." Griff sighed. "Iron ore shortage, you know."

"I know." Tae did not wish to discuss trade issues now. The East still had a reasonable amount, but its price had tripled because of the West's shortage. Only the North still had a strong, steady supply. "It's common, though, for armies to see the other side as having a greater percentage of larger men."

When no one said anything, Tae continued.

"Just as it's customary for enemies to multiply during battle. You know, a few dozen men seems like a hundred when you're fighting for your life. And a hundred men seems more like ten thousand."

"Yes," Darris finally spoke again. "But these are Bearnides."

Tae glanced at the king and queen, and he got the point. Matrinka had sported a whale-boned frame even before she carried the extra childbirth weight, and Griff had always looked more like a bear than a human. Tae chuckled. "Yes, I suppose when Bearnides start reporting an unusually large number of huge warriors, it's probably not exaggeration." Though he enjoyed the conversation with his old friends, it seemed pointless to continue in this vein. "So, we seem to have established that the enemy comes from beyond our known boundaries, likely from beyond the Western Sea. What next?"

"I don't know," Griff hung his leonine head. "I thought if only we could communicate, we might parley. Or, at least, learn what to expect. Right now, we're fighting this war blind. We don't even know what they're after." He shook his head. "But if you can't talk to them…"

Tae allowed his brows to creep steadily upward. "Who said I can't talk to them?"

All eyes jerked instantly to the Eastern king, who remained utterly composed, more from habit than intention.

"Eventually," Tae added, the plan he had considered on his walk taking a more solid form in his mind. "Given the right circumstances."

"Go on." Darris leaned far forward in his chair, excitement lighting up his hazel eyes.

Tae kept his attention on Griff. "Didn't you tell me you managed to capture a second man?"

"Two days ago.Yes."

"Can you put the two together? In the same cell?"

Griff's head started to shake, slowly at first, then with more force. "Tae, the reason it took us so long to take prisoners is because these enemies fight to their last breath. When things look hopeless for any one of them, they choose death over capture. In fact, several took the lives of companions and their own rather than surrender."

Though not directly spoken, Griff's issue became clear to Tae. "It's hard to kill yourself alone without sharp or heavy objects."

"It is impossible," Griff finished, "to strangle yourself with your bare hands."

That made conjoining cells unworkable as well, since one could reach through the bars, and the other, presumably, would allow it. "So," Tae continued, "you could put them in the same area, so long as there was one entire cell between them."

Griff nodded, clearly waiting for Tae to explain.

"They could talk freely. And, if some ratty little thief got put in the cell between them…"

"No!" Matrinka leaped to her feet. "I'm not letting you lock yourself in that filthy, disgusting place."

Rantire started laughing, the sound startlingly loud and out of place given the intensity of the discussion. "Your Majesty," she managed between guffaws. "You just called-the king of the Eastlands-a ratty little-"

Matrinka would have none of it. "I didn't call him that. He called himself that."

"I know." Rantire could scarcely get the words out. "You only concurred." She lapsed into another fit of laughter.

Imorelda patted Tae's ear.*A more fitting queen would have her beheaded.* *Matrinka is the best queen in the world and totally fit for her job.* "Actually," Tae continued aloud, "I didn't say who the ratty little thief was, but thanks for clarifying it, Matrinka."

Matrinka flushed. Rantire could not stop grinning, but at least her laughter ceased.

"I only meant I would pretend to be a ratty little thief who happened to get imprisoned between them. In the past, I've learned languages just by listening to conversations." Tae added for Rantire's sake, "It's how I picked up Renshai, for example."

Rantire's jollity disappeared completely.

"And I still say 'no.' " Matrinka placed her hands firmly on her ample hips. "We are not going to lock Tae in that horrible place, wedged between two killers."

Griff cleared his throat softly. "I'm not sure we have a choice." Matrinka whirled to face her husband, clearly speechless.

"We can see to his comfort there. Warm, soft blankets, good food."

Though the idea pleased him, Tae knew it could not happen that way. "No. If they see me getting special treatment, the captives will guard their tongues."

Matrinka opened her mouth, but Tae spoke over her.

"Believe me, the eyes of inmates miss nothing. In fact, it would be best if we could do this without the guards knowing."

"But that's just stupid, Tae!" Matrinka had to get her words out. "Someone might hurt you. Even the guards themselves. And the food. It's… it's unsanitary."

"I'm sure I've eaten worse."

"You have?" the words were clearly startled from Griff. His features screwed into a knot. "Ewww."

Tae barely stopped himself from laughing. Despite nearly two decades on the throne, Griff still fell back into his naive farmboy ways at times. In fact, childlike simplicity seemed to be a prerequisite for passing the tests that chose the king of Bearn.

Matrinka looked positively pained. "How will we talk to you? What if you find out something important? Or you're hurt? Or in trouble?" *I always take care of you.* Imorelda yowled.*Is she insulting me?* *Not deliberately.You know she loves you.* Aloud, Tae spoke for the cat. "Imorelda can let you know if I'm in trouble."

"How?" Matrinka demanded, apparently forgetting Rantire and Griff did not know about her bond with Mior nor Tae's with Imorelda. "You're the only one-"

Tae interrupted before she could say more. "She can be very persistent and persuasive when she needs something."

Imorelda stalked across the table toward Matrinka, tail lashing.

Rantire snorted. "You mean like a fish head? What good does it do you to have your cat badgering the cook?"

Mid-movement, Imorelda lowered her head and advanced on Rantire.

"She's extremely intelligent for a cat," Tae explained. "She understands more than most people give her credit for."

Rantire eyeballed Imorelda, hand falling to her hilt. "Yeah? Well if you don't want the furball in tonight's stewpot, you'll call her off me."

"Rantire!" Darris grumbled warningly. "Show some respect. Tae is a king."

Imorelda sat on the table and calmly licked her paws, as if she had merely intended to do so from her first movement.*I hate her.* *I'm not fond of her either,* Tae admitted.*But she does take good care of King Griff.*

Rantire glared at Darris but forced a curtsy. "Forgive me, Your Majesties. I was out of line."

Griff nodded his acceptance despite the obvious insincerity of the Renshai's apology.

Tae simply ignored it. "All right. So schedule me for weekly torture sessions or something. Just make sure whichever guard is supposed to administer them knows I'm actually meeting with you, and he has some acting experience so that he doesn't give it away."

Matrinka pounced on a single word. "Weekly?"

"You want me to suffer beatings every day?"

Matrinka's mouth fell open. She looked positively horrified. "You're not really going to get tortured, and we could get you out for at least one good meal a day."

Tae heaved a sigh, wishing he could have met with Griff alone. The wise, innocent king would not harry him with speculation. "Matrinka, this is learning, not magic. You can't expect me to glean anything useful day by day. I have to fully immerse myself in this language, and that's hard enough when I only have two speakers and they're constrained by locks, guards, and distance."

Tae avoided mentioning that he would have to suffer at least a small amount of violence during the briefings. Cosmetics would not fool his new neighbors, especially if they started rubbing or flaking off. He had a high tolerance for pain but hated it as much as anyone. "Like it or not, this will take time." Knowing Matrinka would have a new question for every answer, Tae rose. "Now, if it's all right with everyone, I'd like to prepare. I need to totally undo my bath and combing, dress down into some rags… you know, enjoy myself."

Griff pulled at his beard. "How will you make yourself unrecognizable to the guards?"

"Very few prison guards have seen me up close more than once or twice. Even most of those should be fooled by grime, location, and clothing." Imorelda returned to Tae's arms. "They won't expect me in a cell, so they won't recognize me there. If one does, you can let him in on the secret so long as he can keep it."

Tae rose, hoping that would forestall more questions. They could not anticipate everything; the details would fall into place.

Imorelda clambered up Tae's chest and draped herself across his shoulders.*You're not fooling me.You don't want to do this.* *Of course, I do. It's an adventure.* *Liar!* Imorelda patted his face with a plushy paw.*Admit it.You can't stand closed-up places you can't get out of.When you have a choice, you don't eat garbage, and you don't wear dirty rags. Although you do turn everything nice into dirty rags.*

Tae walked toward the door, still engaged in this internal dialogue.*Are you saying anything I wear should be considered tainted just because I'm wearing it?*

Imorelda slapped him again, this time with just a hint of claw.*I mean you shred the seamstresses' handiwork by crawling around and climbing like a child. Only you can't do that here, because it might alert the guards to what you're doing. So you're going to have to consort with pigs and cows, aren't you?* Imorelda crinkled her kitty nose.*Disgusting.*

Tae had not yet given any thought to the "how." Imorelda was right, though. He did secretly dread the job he had demanded. It had taken him years of hard work to overcome the panic that used to assail him in enclosed places in the wake of his imprisonment in Pudar. Accustomed to doing whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, and at no one's say-so, he did not look forward to being manhandled by strange guards who believed him a thief or an Eastern spy.*It's not a matter of what I want, or what makes me comfortable.* He reached for the door latch.*I'm the only person who can crack this language, and I'm doing it for the security, not just of my friends in Bearn, but for the entire world.* *The entire world?* Imorelda sneezed.*Aren't you being just a bit… melodramatic?* *Maybe.* Tae Tae tripped the latch and opened the door.*But I don't think so. I don't know what these pirates want, but it's obviously not to negotiate. Not if they're taking and leaving no prisoners.* He stepped out into the hallway, inhaling the familiar smells of Bearn castle: mustiness, cat dander, and baking bread. Though enticed by the food, he deliberately turned away from the kitchen. Nothing would draw suspicions more than a captive gaining weight in prison.*I think we're only seeing the first wave.They're testing us before sending in a larger force to take our land or our ore or, simply, our lives.* *I still think you're overthinking this.* *Maybe,* Tae conceded.*But we can't afford to assume it. Because, if I'm right, we're all in dire trouble.*