Sallis frowned at the cup opposite and looked down the street again. He expected company; there would be work for him very soon. He caught sight of a short, stocky man hurrying down the street and smiled to himself. At first glance, the casual observer could be forgiven for thinking the short man to be fat, but closer inspection would reveal broad shoulders and a powerful physique. If Oston ever punched someone, Sallis felt certain death would follow.
Oston saw Sallis and crossed to him.
"Good afternoon." The two men shook hands as Sallis stood briefly. The serving girl appeared silently with the alovak can.
"Thank you." Oston nodded to the girl as she filled his cup and breathed in the aroma. "Ranva's breath! I needed that."
Sallis winced at the casual use of the Father's name. That wince alone marked him as one of the Gifted, as all those who used the Gift almost never called the Father by name.
"We have a problem," said Oston, casually. "And we have use for your skills."
Sallis ti Ath came from Re Annan, one of the islands that lay east of the mainland. An island that had never been conquered or colonized by Marka, though Markan seafarers were well aware of his old home's existence. One of Sandev's old students had healed Sallis when he was still very small, recognized the youngster was Gifted, introduced himself as Elvallon and persuaded his parents to let him train the boy.
"Something to do with an escaped General who cannot be found in the city?" Sallis kept his voice low. "I know he can't be found; I've looked."
Oston glanced at the soldier a few tables along. "He left the city during the night with two companions. On foot."
The Gift had been slow to manifest itself and Sallis doubted his ability. Elvallon had more determination and, slowly at first, but with gathering pace, dragged the power from within him and set it free. Something many had cause to regret ever since.
Most of the Gifted had several skills, always within certain areas. Many could project themselves either ethereally or even physically. Others could heal injuries, influence people to their will, draw on impossible strength and there were even some who could shapeshift into any creature they wanted. The best could shapeshift even into creatures that did not exist. There were other skills as well.
But Sallis ti Ath had to be different.
He could influence people, but only in the way any ordinary person could bend others to their will. Though considerably better at it than most, it had nothing to do with the Gift. Sallis and his former teacher were certain of that.
His skill was different, very different. Once he had the scent of a person, he could see where they had been and follow their trail. Not by smell – he only needed to touch something they had owned to trigger the skill – but by something in the back of his head that showed him the way they had traveled. This skill, known to only a few in the City Guard, had served Marka well for more than twenty years.
Sallis ti Ath sipped at his alovak. "You want me to bring him back."
Oston leaned forward. "We want you to bring him back alive," he whispered. "He's not been found guilty."
If that skill had been the only oddity, he knew Elvallon would have continued his training, instead of reacting in fear to him. There were more differences.
His ability to slow time terrified his tutor. Not that he slowed it down of course, only that he could move faster within it. A tiring skill, if useful in fights, whether with weapons or fists. He only wished that he could manipulate time for longer periods. And it only worked for him. If he chased a malefactor with a good lead, Sallis could not make time slow for both him and his horse. A great pity and a terrible limitation. Even now, he tried to manipulate time for himself and his horse, but failed every time. But persistence might pay off eventually.
His teacher knew of only one other with this skill: one of the Ten.
But manipulating time was not why Elvallon decided he would no longer teach him.
"More alovak, good sirs?" The serving girl smiled as she proffered the alovak can.
Sallis ti Ath nodded. Both men savored the aroma before drinking.
The ability to heal supposedly also burned in him. He learned the skill assiduously and methodically. Unfortunately, when he came to put the talent into practice, the power that in others wrought miraculous recovery, brought only death. He was a killer, with the Father's Gift coursing through his veins.
Elvallon dropped him the very next day. He was only eleven years old.
Sallis came to Marka aged fifteen, following his father's suggestion that his talents would be put to good use catching criminals. He had lived here ever since, except for short visits home.
"My warrant?"
Oston drained his alovak and called for the bill. "Captain's writing it now. I suggest you come with me."
"Very well." Sallis watched as Oston counted out the coins to pay for the alovak. "You immediately thought of me, so I have a favor to return. Men from the Guildsman are spreading most of the rumors on the streets. Dangerous men, led by one named Marlen, who once studied under Sandev."
"We're aware of them."
"And there is a traitor in your ranks, who allowed these men into the city. His real name is Gestlin, but I suggest you never let Guardsman Ellec Wayre Zennon work alone again. And if anyone dies as a result of the men he let into this city, he dies too. All right?" Sallis smiled. "Shall we go?"
As Oston and Sallis left, Guard Commander Mansard watched them, wondering why the taller man caused him such unease.
***
"I am part way through the seventh volume of the Legal History."
Zenepha stared at Sandev and his earpoints twitched backwards in nervousness. His voice echoed around the banqueting hall, though he and the three humans ate in one corner of it. Olista's two wives were eating at some ladies' get-together in the city, which reduced this small gathering still further.
He was grateful for that.
Zenepha never knew how a meal shared with Sandev and her bodyguard might turn out. That he shared food with free humans caused enough worry. The sylph glanced around the table. His master seemed subdued. He had returned from the Supreme Council quite obviously in a bad temper, but had let none of it out. Zenepha knew his owner hid something, but had no idea what.
Sandev always had a secretive air and Stanak never said much, if anything, while eating. He played the affable guest here, but Zenepha recognized a dangerous man when he saw one. This human was capable of extreme violence and the sylph hoped the man kept it under tight control. He trusted this man only because Sandev employed him. Whatever reservations Zenepha had about Sandev and her interest in him, he knew she stood for good. His silvery gray eyes regarded her, waiting for the next question, or her reaction to his answer.
"You are slower with this than with History of the Markan Empire." Sandev's sapphire-blue eyes twinkled.
"I am sorry, Sandev-ya," apologized Zenepha. "It is harder work and the events of the past couple of days have been exciting."
Sandev laughed. "History being made, Zenepha. All around us at this very moment, history is being made. Tomorrow new precedents may be set. Who knows?"
She exchanged a look with Olista.
Zenepha noticed it immediately.
"It's annoying," intoned Olista, "that they rejected Marcus Vintner's claim. Not just disgruntled Branad-cum-Verdin supporters who turned that one today."
"True," agreed Sandev, "but not entirely unexpected."
Olista nodded. "Something to say, Zenepha?"
The sylph's earpoints twitched wildly. "What will happen now? Put forward more claimants to the Throne?"
Olista and Sandev glanced at each other again. Zenepha looked at Stanak, pleased to see that he, at least, appeared equally in the dark.
"Something like that, yes." Olista answered the sylph's question.
"I am missing something here," complained the sylph.
"Join the party," muttered Stanak, before taking a careful swallow of wine.
Olist
a arched an eyebrow at Sandev, who shrugged.
"He must be told sooner or later," she said. "If the shock's going to kill him, best get it over with."
"Told what?" demanded Stanak.
"What shock?" Zenepha echoed the sentiment.
"The reason why we bought him in the first place," Olista explained to Stanak, before turning to the sylph. "You are aware that Sandev possesses some power."
Zenepha nodded.
"I can see some future events," continued Sandev, carefully. "I Saw that when the Vintners came here, turmoil could engulf Marka as a result. I Saw that the claims might be rejected."
"You... Saw... this?" Zenepha distinctly heard the capital S.
Sandev nodded and smiled. "I knew that to survive what's coming to this city, she must have an Emperor, that the Throne must be recognized. But I also Saw that the Vintners would bring problems with them, problems that might not be overcome in time. So it has come to pass."
"Indeed." Olista nodded.
The sylph still looked confused.
"Someone must take the Throne and unite all the factions." Olista sighed. "Someone to act as a caretaker Emperor until a solution to the mess we're in is found."
"Which is where you come in, Zenepha," smiled Sandev.
"Me?" The sylph noticed realization dawning on Stanak, but he was still confused.
"Yes, you." Sandev's smile spread wider. "Your owner quite deliberately sought the most intelligent sylph he could find. You have been trained – and trained hard – for this most important task."
"Task?" Zenepha felt the first stirrings of real fear and his earpoints lay back in his hair.
Sandev looked at Olista.
The sylph's owner cleared his throat. "Zenepha, you are to be the next Emperor of Marka."
***
Chapter 8
Running
"I think we're safe now. At least for a few hours."
Tahena looked over her shoulder at Kelanus and finally nodded. Her dark hair lashed in the wind, slanted eyes expressionless. Her features softened when she saw Neptarik asleep on the third horse, his head resting against Balnus's chest. So much for sylphs being frightened of horses.
"Those trees will do very well," continued Kelanus, nodding uphill.
"We must move before the sun reaches its meridian," cautioned Tahena. "Or shortly after." She glanced behind, in the direction of Marka. As Kelanus and Balnus urged their horses towards the trees, the southlander woman closed her eyes and muttered under her breath before following her companions.
Neptarik came awake, shivered and rubbed his arms. "She is using the Gift," he said darkly, turning to stare at Tahena.
"How do you know?" demanded the sylph's owner.
"Belaika told me all sylphs know when it is used."
"How does he know?"
"He got told."
Balnus decided not to press the issue.
The sylph turned to Kelanus. "I am rested, donenya. I will keep watch while you sleep."
Kelanus nodded to accept Neptarik's offer, pulled a blanket free from one of his saddlebags and wrapped himself in it. Balnus followed the General's lead and in moments, both men dozed off.
Neptarik glanced at Tahena, his earpoints twitching backwards warily. "Will you not sleep, Tahena-ya? I will give warning if needed."
"Of course you will, Neptarik-y-Balnus. But I don't need as much sleep as other humans."
The sylph blinked, but he remained on edge, silvery gray eyes watching Tahena as she looked back towards Marka. Again.
"Why do you always look behind us?" asked the sylph, while his eyes scanned the horizon. Kelanus had chosen a good place to stop, with excellent all-round views. "There is nobody out there, bar a scout or ten."
Tahena smiled at the sylph. "I thought you were going to keep watch," she retorted.
"Se bata." Neptarik took the hint and walked away, collecting an empty quiver from his master's horse.
Quickly out of sight, Tahena marveled how easily he blended in with the background, despite blue skin.
"The boy is right." Kelanus's bass rumble caused Tahena to start. "You are worried about whoever or whatever is behind us. Do you think the City Guard will follow us for any length of time?"
"I thought you were asleep."
"I'm too excited for that. At last, I might have a chance of revenging myself on Ranallic. The possibilities are thrilling. And you haven't answered my question."
"No," replied Tahena, as she wrapped herself in her own blanket. "I haven't."
***
In between keeping his eyes and ears open for anything out of place, Neptarik foraged for edibles. He stayed close to the wooded knoll, far enough away to be out of the humans' sight. Even as he filled the quiver, his head kept questing. He hummed quietly and ate some foragings himself. Like Tahena, he concentrated his efforts north, towards Marka. Any pursuit would come from there. But he also paid attention to all other directions; they were still within Marka's administrative district (which he knew was called a Metropa, not a Prefecture), so pursuit might come from anywhere.
Within the next two days, they would pass into Outer Marka, where patrols of the City Guard were scarce. They risked being seen, though he and his companions intended to avoid everybody until well away from Marka. He had heard no whistles from the scouts dotted around Marka, but this did not mean none were in their path.
Of course, he could send a pinger – a short identifying whistle – to learn if any scouts were about and they would soon tell him whether or not his small group had any pursuers. But Marcus-ya had insisted that Balnus and Neptarik were to disappear and leave no traces. Not even for other scouts.
But those other scouts might still spot them and not even Neptarik would know until he heard the sighting reports whistled back to Marka.
He pushed another leaf into his mouth and chewed slowly, peering north again. Still nobody there. He decided that if something frightened one of the Gifted, he would be wise to heed that fear.
If they only had to avoid the City Guard and sylph scouts, life would be simple. But bands of lawless men roamed the countryside at will: plundering, murdering and looting their way through life. Neptarik had heard Marcus say that these men were controlled by an outside agency, such as Hingast, to bring additional terror and misery to the inhabitants of Marka's farms. Damage to agriculture led to price rises and threatened starvation.
He felt strangely out of place in the field without skin paint, naked without his camouflage. He wore green and brown traveling woolens, which helped to hide him, but he half wished he had painted up before leaving Marka. Of course, doing so would have aroused suspicion among his brother scouts, and he knew he had no time to prepare the paint now. Every scout had his own variation of the color scheme, and Neptarik needed another sylph to paint him properly.
He looked back to the wooded knoll, pleased to see nobody stirring. A quick glance at the sun showed him that the humans had a little time left to sleep. He could sleep on horseback.
Neptarik returned to the knoll, keeping alert as he went. He hoped the nearly-full quiver held enough for his companions. He had sated his own appetite while foraging, now content to wait until the evening meal. Perhaps after his recent efforts, the rare treat of choca might be granted.
Tahena was already awake when he returned to the small camp. The sylph dropped the quiver upright onto the ground, muttered "Food" under his breath and stalked to the northern end of the knoll, eyes and ears still questing for anything out of place.
"It's all right, Neptarik," called Balnus. "Come and sit down; we're quite alone."
The sylph returned and crouched on his heels while the humans ate their meal, all three thanking him for taking the effort to forage.
"We'd best not wait long," commented Tahena. "We should push on and get a few more milas between us and Marka."
"I'll feel happier when the Metropa is behind us," rumbled Kelanus. "We're less likely to be pursued then."
&n
bsp; Neptarik sensed that Tahena did not agree, but she said nothing and concentrated on eating her meal. The moment she finished eating, she began to ready her horse. Balnus and Kelanus were not far behind her and soon Neptarik again accepted his master's hand and scrambled up the side of the horse to sit before him.
"Time to bear east," suggested Tahena. "Get another range of hills behind us."
Kelanus nodded. "But not for too long," he replied, "or we'll be headed for Calcan."
Tahena smiled. "That's what we want people to think."
***
"We'll follow the road all night if need be," said Tahena.
"Foolishness," countered Kelanus. "We've got milas on any pursuit. The dark is dangerous; we might fall into an ambush, or startle honest folk, or the horses might stumble."
"The horses will be fine," insisted Tahena. "I'll see to that."
"How will we see where we are going in the dark?" demanded Kelanus.
"We'll tie the horses together and Neptarik will lead. Sylphs can see in the dark. Enough for us."
The scout struggled upright. "I can do that," he agreed, nodding vigorously. "And I have had more sleep than usual."
"But what's the point?" demanded Kelanus. "Pursuits take time to organize, and I should know. Gathering enough men in the right place with the right equipment. It's not easy. And then they've got to find out which way we've gone."
Tahena sniffed. "I don't think you understand. There are people with special skills – with the Gift – who are capable of tracking us. We must press on as long as possible."
"People with the Gift?" Kelanus blinked. "I thought Sandev controlled people with the Gift. Hasn't she ensured they know about us? Aren't they supposed to be on the same side?"
Tahena threw her head back and laughed. "If we all knew everything that was going on, we wouldn't have time to do anything. Why should Sandev tell all with the Gift everything that she has planned? Why would those of us with nothing to do with this need to know about you? If my plans took me another way, I wouldn't know about you."
"I get the impression that you rather wouldn't know me." Kelanus looked disappointed. Balnus tried to appear unconcerned and Neptarik listened while trying to pretend otherwise.
Tahena sighed. "It's not that," she replied. "I just wish you'd listen to good advice."
Kelanus threw up one of his hands in surrender. "All right, have it your own way. Just don't grumble if any of the horses go lame."