Chapter 27
THE SOUTHERN SHORE
The coast of the southern shore emerged out of the sea to their starboard side in late morning. Ty dozed fitfully in the shade of the sail, unwilling to go below while they sailed in reach of the Crossing with its strong tides and sudden storms. He eyed the distant shoreline. The midsummer grasses of the Steppes of Umbrel tinted the gently rolling land a dark ochre-green. Satisfied that they were beyond the worst of the current, he headed below for true sleep.
When he woke, it was to twilight and without the memory of having reached his cabin. Ty rubbed his eyes, blinking up at the dusky light. The Crossing, and everything before, felt like a dream, as if he was waking up in his father’s boat before he was to leave for his apprenticeship. The feeling left him queasy. Ty swung his feet out of bed, double checking the room to be sure he was on the Grey Dawn. It was a sense of relief to know the last few weeks were real, even his apprenticeship. He didn’t want to have to go through it again.
Lavinia guided the ship, her eyes bright as she watched the nearby shoreline slip past. A sense of pride for his sister’s skill at navigating and sailing fluttered in him before it was buffeted by the memory of Drufforth and Darag. The pinch of pain was the first real connection he felt to recent days. A weight settled on him, but it wasn’t overwhelming. Not like it had been. Ty sighed.
“Do you want to take over?”
“No, you’ve done well. If you are up to it, why don’t you take us in?”
Ty settled on a seat next to Niri. Their conversation that morning, despite the worries she had shared, stirred something lighter in him. He felt like he could laugh, or at least manage a smile, when he was near her. Ria sat opposite, her eyes on the shore.
The dying sun set behind bleached grassland, gilding the sandy tops of small dunes. They heralded the beginning of the Great Desert. Before the dim light of evening faded completely, the swaying palms above Rah Hahsessah came into view. Lavinia turned the bow of their boat to head toward a wide canal entrance.
The city had been constructed where there was no natural harbor. Instead, the sand between buildings had been excavated and the edges shored with stone blocks. The deep canals were filled with seawater and now ships could navigate to the city center on roads of water. At dusk, lights along the edges of the canal were lit to aid navigation. Rah Hahsessah plied commerce night and day, although it was at night when the city streets awoke, as Ty had found on his first visit. During Ty’s short time at his apprenticeship, the Gypsy Empress had made the crossing to the southern shore six times. The largest city along the southern coast, Rah Hahsessah had always been the first stop.
Lavinia coasted the ship into the city, the wind off the water pushing them directly along the canal. Figures moved beyond the lamplight, barely seen between the cargo piled on the canal’s edge and secured boats. Ty strained his eyes for an empty section where they could dock the Grey Dawn.
Hundreds of boats were tied up along the canal's edge. Even though the sun had set, the evening was early. It was still the transition time as the stones and desert released heat absorbed during the day. The air was humid and sticky. Merchants and sailors moved slowly, wearing long loose robes and headscarves to protect from the sun and wind-blown sand. The town would not really awaken for a couple of hours.
“Stall the boat here,” Ty said to his sister. There was a space between ships tied to the canal wall only a few feet longer than the Grey Dawn.
Lavinia did as she was told, spilling the wind from the boat’s sails. She looked from the stone edge across the watery gap to their ship.
“How?”
Ty smiled. “Just hold her steady,” he said.
Darkness and lantern light broken by wavelets hid small balls floating between the other two ships. Ty grabbed a pole from the Grey Dawn and fished a mooring ball out of the water. Attached was a line that ran to the stones of the canal’s edge. Lavinia understood instantly. She held the wet line at the stern, giving Niri a glance. Niri’s eyes glowed faintly. Even with a bit of a breeze, the boat was not going to move. He had no doubt. Ty walked to the bowsprit and pulled up the other line.
“Ready? We have to pull together.”
“Waiting for you!”
Ty chuckled as he and Lavinia pulled the Grey Dawn sideways to nestle between the other two boats. It moved without resistance despite her draft and, when in, did not scrape the edge of the canal. He suspected Niri was the cause of both, but when he glanced at her she was looking away.
“Now what do we do?” Ria asked as Ty and Lavinia finished cleating the boat to the iron rungs along the canal.
“There was an old road that led from Rah Hahsessah to Karakastad back when the Temple of Dust was the Temple of Stone,” Niri said.
“All roads north and south lead to and from Rah Hahsessah. We will ask in the market to see if anyone is going that way," Ty said.
Rah Hahsessah was a world very different from the cities along the northern shore of the Sea of Sarketh. The wind off the desert held a mineral smell. It pushed the sea air before it, leaving behind the scent of sand mixed with food cooking in the market. The buildings were tall blocks in the night, nondescript and with darker alleys between. Thick walled and light colored to withstand the desert sun, the houses in the city were not elegant like those in the Archipelago.
Compared to Dion and Kyrron, the sounds of the nighttime market were muted. Burbles of laughter mixed with the low murmur of merchant voices. There were no shouts or chants to hock wares. Instead, a bass flute vibrated in the night air, weaving above and below the chattering hush.
By the time they made the streets of the main market deep within the city, the night had cooled to a moderate warmth. Faint breezes drifted across exposed skin with a frosty kiss that awakened senses. Rah Hahsessah could be intoxicating, as Ryic had happily shown Ty on his first visit. He only had dim memories of that initial night in the city.
The citizens of Rah Hahsessah spilled from the houses that had been their refuge during the baking day. Now they shopped, visited, gambled, and ate in the cooling breeze. Headscarves were unwound to reveal black or well-tanned faces. Women walked through the market in brightly patterned jewel-toned dresses. Simple music escorted their dancing steps from jangling jewelry and bells sewn on the long trailing hems and tunics.
Ria cast glances into the shadows and avoided the mouths of alleyways. Lavinia walked by her side with nary a care in the world from her look. She wore her sword at her side. It was not an unusual sight in Rah Hahsessah, but it made Ty look twice. He could not picture his sister wielding such a thing. Niri was on alert too. She floated more than walked, her concentration internal. Ty assessed his companions.
“It will be quickest if I make a few inquiries alone. I know where the traders are. Stay here and rest. You sailed all day. Order some food, I’ll be back within an hour.”
Alone, Ty found himself walking on the balls of his feet, fingering the three throwing knives he kept on his belt. In the city, learned habits were hard to break it seemed. Silently, he slipped into the darkness.
—
Ty found Niri, Ria, and Lavinia sitting at a table littered with dishes of rice, spiced meat, and vegetables a little less than an hour later. His stomach growled. Ty picked up a plate before he updated them on his search.
“Well?” Lavinia asked, expression poised between impatience and amusement at Ty’s obvious hunger.
Ty shook his head, frowning. “The merchant trains who don’t think I’m crazy said the roads to Karakastad from Rah Hahsessah do not exist anymore. If we want to reach Karakastad, we’ll have to hire camels in Tabook.”
Ria sighed. Lavinia squeezed her hand. “Not to worry. We can make Tabook tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow it is. We’ve made it to the southern shore finally, after all!” Ria replied.
Lavinia grinned, a smile flashing across Niri’s face as well. The lavender highlights scattered across her irises made it look like her eyes were shot t
hrough with moonlight. Ty’s gaze slipped off Niri as she turned toward him. He found himself looking at three teenage girls across the wide street. A girl with dark skin that shaded to soft brown around the curve of her cheeks and bare shoulders watched Ty from under her lashes. Her friend nudged the third girl. The first girl blushed. Ty’s cheeks flooded with warmth. He looked away. Giggling, the three girls disappeared around the corner of a stall in a flash of violet and scarlet silk. The scent of jasmine and sage wafted across to their table.
Lavinia started to laugh. Ty looked up in consternation at his sister, which only made her laugh harder. Ria stifled a giggle. Niri coughed on her drink, unable to keep herself from chuckling. Despite the growing fire on his cheeks, Ty started to laugh as well.
It was the first time he could remember really laughing in months. Tears rolled down his cheeks until he ran out of breath. Lavinia grinned at her brother, Ria’s eyes were closed as her shoulders shook, and Niri wiped a tear from her eye. It was the first time Ty felt happy to have come.
“So now what?” Lavinia asked. “Just go back to the boat?”
“Can’t we look around?” The request coming from Ria surprised Ty. But the tense lines around her mouth were gone.
“I’m game,” Lavinia said, scooting to her feet.
“I don’t see why not," Ty said.
Ria and Lavinia shot away from the table like released hawks, weaving across the boulevard toward a silk merchant. Niri waited for Ty, her gaze roaming the quiet market. Walking by his side, Niri glanced over to see Ty's attention on her.
“I haven’t seen my sister so spirited since she was a girl,” Ty said before Niri could ask anything.
“Hah, you should've seen her in Drufforth then. It wasn’t just Darag that she was driving crazy.” Realizing what she had said, Niri paused.
Ty stared at the sandy stones of the street, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I probably should have. It would have been something to see.”
Ty caught a flash of surprise on her face. Niri blinked it away. “We better catch up,” she said.
Ty followed. Ahead, Ria and Lavinia fingered piles of silk cloth. Ty picked up the gaudiest scarf he could find and wrapped it around his sister. Lavinia stuck her tongue out at him. Ria giggled over the mauve silk she was holding. As Ty moved toward her, Ria’s chin came up and she gave him a look suitable to the face of a disdaining princess. Ty grinned.
Lavinia held up a piece of teal fabric that shimmered lavender in the shadows. She eyed Niri tentatively.
“Please, I’m not good with silk.” Niri waved it away.
Ty held the soft fabric toward her, tilting his head for a broader view. “It does suit you.”
Niri blushed. “I couldn’t.”
“Oh, no. You aren’t getting out of this one.”
Ria grabbed Niri’s hand and headed toward the back of the stall to pay. Ria was not satisfied until a hem of silver bells graced one end of the scarf and she had wrapped it around Niri just so. Outside the stall, Ria had Niri spin around in the alleyway for Ty and Lavinia’s approval, Niri blushing all the while. Lavinia grinned. Ty found his gaze lingering. A few market goers applauded in good humor.
“Enough! I think you are giving attention to the wrong person. Shouldn’t we get betrothal gifts for Lavinia?” Niri pleaded.
Ria looked uncertainly at Ty, but his smile never faltered. “That is a very good point.”
Lavinia’s eyes widened a fraction as Ty put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her ahead, deeper into the market.
An hour later, it was nearly midnight, but the market was far from its end. Despite having sailed all day, Lavinia and Ria outpaced Niri and Ty.
“I don’t think they ever tire,” Niri said with a yawn.
“We should head back soon in any case. Tabook will be a full day sail. Someone has to be awake enough to get us there.”
Niri chuckled.
“Vin," Ty called to his sister.
“Just once around the plaza.”
Lavinia didn’t turn when she answered him. Ria giggled as together they darted by the last market stand and into an open square. Stalls ringed the periphery of the moonlit park, while a tall fountain bubbled precious water in its center. In haste to get ahead, Lavinia dodged around a large man in a deep red tunic. He stepped back in surprise, directly into Ria’s path. She skidded into him, nearly falling if not for his quick grab for her shoulders.
Next to Ty, Niri froze. The man laughed, his extended stomach bouncing. A round face, double chin, and complexion nearly as brown as his hair left the impression of nothing remarkable. But something had frightened Niri.
“Careful child, you could knock over someone less well built.”
Ria gave her savior a bashful smile. Focusing on her, his eyes narrowed as his fingers gripped Ria tighter. She started to squirm. Then Ty saw what Niri had sensed: the white trim of the man’s tunic rippled with embroidered red and gold flames. The man was a Fire Priest. Panic ripped through Ty.
Ria tried to pull away as a faint glow enveloped her and her captor.
“Well, what have I caught here?”
With golden-red flooding his small eyes, a sinister look replaced the Priest's humor. Ria whimpered. Niri stepped around Ty, movements tense.
“Let her go.”
The man turned to face Lavinia where she stood with her sword drawn.
“I said let her go," Lavinia repeated.
“Run away, child.”
Freeing one hand from Ria, the Priest sent a spout of flames toward Lavinia. Lavinia dodged it, jumping to the left. Ria struggled against the cage of his other arm, prying her fingers against his locked hands. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Stop that, girl.”
The Priest hit Ria across the face. Her head reeled back. She would have lost her footing if not for the man’s grip. Niri hissed as Ty pulled out a knife.
“I said let her go!”
Lavinia whacked him with her sword. The point caught his tunic and ripped it from the small of his back to collar. He whirled in a fury. Fire erupted from his fingers, flying at Lavinia. She dropped and rolled toward him, whipping her sword up at the last moment. This time the sword strike shed blood as she nicked his thigh.
His sister was too close for Ty to throw his dagger and Ria blocked the Priest on the other side. Lavinia dodged fireballs, trying to get close enough to strike the man again. Unable to help, Ty glanced at Niri to see her eyes blazing swirls of aqua and lavender light. The water from the fountain sprayed toward the Priest.
“Ria can’t use her power.” Niri’s voice wavered between fear and relief.
Ty took a breath and lunged forward.
He caught Ria’s arm. His force combined with her struggle pulled the Priest sideways, distracting him from Lavinia for the moment. Ty pulled Ria against his chest as pulsing red filled his eyes and heat fanned his face.
“No!” Lavinia shouted, voice ringing through the courtyard.
Everything fell still. Water misted the air around him. Ty looked up into the Priest’s frozen face. The point of his sister’s sword pierced the Priest's throat. Ria pulled herself from his lifeless grip, but staggered against Ty. As Lavinia pulled out her sword, the Priest collapsed downward onto his knees before falling to the ground.
Ria swooned against him. “I feel that. I felt his death. Why? How can I feel that?” Ty looked desperately at Niri, unable to understand what Ria was asking.
Niri gathered Ria against her. “I don’t know. I don’t know.”
Niri smoothed Ria’s hair as Ria trembled and held onto her tightly. Around them, the merchants and market goers were beginning to stir. Lavinia joined Ty and Niri, wide-eyed and pale. Her gaze jumped from Ria to the darkness around them.
“I don’t think they are happy with us," Lavinia whispered.
Ty shook his head, the shock beginning to wear off. “They don’t like trouble in Rah Hahsessah, especially the type that brings the eyes of the
Church.”
“This will bring more than eyes,” Niri said with a hitch to her voice.
“We have to go. Get back to the boat and leave now," Ty said as he put an arm around Ria. He pushed Niri and Ria forward toward the nearest alleyway, Lavinia on his heels. The growing crowd closed in behind.