"Besides," continued Kelanus, "you don't think a friend of Sandev's would recommend a sinking ship?"
Tahena smiled.
"Another thing." Kelanus turned to Neptarik. "There's something called a ship's sylph. An infertile that belongs to the ship in some way. Repp didn't explain it very well; he thought everybody knew what he meant. When I asked him about price, he said I'd have to negotiate with the ship's sylph. Ever heard of it?"
The scout pushed out his lower lip and shook his head, eyes solemn. "Some sort of servant?" He turned to Tahena. "You mentioned something."
Tahena nodded. "Sandev told me we must look for a ship sylph without a ship when we reach Hejiller. It's meaningless to me."
"Sounds like she's anything but a servant. You don't negotiate with servants. Either way, we'll find out tomorrow." Kelanus yawned and stretched. "It's been a long day. I'll be grateful if someone shows me the way to these baths."
***
Sandev ensured Caya was comfortably settled with Stanak in another room. Much as she loved her company, she knew the sylph hated having the Gift used around her, even after fifteen years. Sylphs had a natural fear of the Gift and she had hoped buying a breeding sylph might have made a difference. One who might be better at hiding or at least rationalizing her fear.
Eyebrows were raised in the flesh markets when Sandev placed her order. Men expressed surprise that a woman wanted to buy a female sylph who would stand as tall as, if not taller than, her owner. Some human females avoided buying sylph females for just that reason, but Sandev thought this an irrational excuse. Breeding female sylphs were as compliant and obedient as any other sylph toward humans. Either way, Caya had proved as unwilling to stay around as Sandev's previous sylph whenever her mistress used the Gift.
Sandev sighed. Her thoughts only delayed what she must do.
She had tarried as long as she dared and could not now afford to waste more time. She'd made an appointment for tonight, so she was expected. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the villa that stood in almost the exact center of Sandester. Not an old student of hers, but Gifted and knew her well.
She slowly released the Gift, feeling it surge in and around her. For a thousandth of a second she sensed complete nothingness, then the world returned. But she was not in the same place she had left.
"Good evening Sandev. I trust you are well?"
"Sernan Lodern, you should know better than most that I'm always well." Despite her tone, she gave her companion a warm smile, genuinely pleased to see him. "How are things in Sandester?"
"Quiet, which is how I like it. May I offer alovak? I sent my sylphs away for the evening. They'll be back later, but I'm sure I remember how to brew the stuff."
"Alovak will be most welcome, thank you." She watched Sernan as he levered himself from his chair and padded quietly through to his kitchen. Her eyes flickered quickly across the three shelves of books – a veritable library in these semi-literate times – but saw little to interest her there. She raised her voice to carry into the next room. "How are things with the Guard?"
"Another promotion," Sernan called back. "No difference in the uniform, but the pay is better now."
"You must be getting some things right." Another door led through to the sleeping chambers. The fire burned low now, but from the heat trapped in here, it had burned for most of the day. "No wife yet?"
"The ladies run a mila the moment they learn I am Gifted."
"I'm sure that's not true for all of them." She noted the polished wood paneling that stretched from floor to ceiling; it must take his sylphs most of every day to keep it that way.
Sernan gave an unintelligible reply.
Having inspected the room, Sandev sank into one of the comfortable chairs dotted around the room. One emanated the not-quite-pleasant, not-quite-unpleasant sinabra of sylphs and Sernan had risen from another, so she opted for one of the two remaining. The man clearly enjoyed his comforts. And few owners allowed his sylphs a comfortable chair of their very own. Even Caya had to make do with the floor or a wooden stool.
"Your alovak, Madam. As good as any sylph could brew."
Sandev thanked her host as he settled into his chair, followed by a short silence as both savored their drinks.
"I assume your visit is not merely a social one," said Sernan, eventually. "How can I help you?"
"General Kelanus and the sylphs."
"Ah. Nasty business."
"Quite. I understand two sylphs made accusations."
Sernan made a moue and sucked in air across his teeth. "Yes, but were most reluctant to do so officially."
"Who are they and might they be persuaded to speak again now?"
"I can find out names and inclinations for you, but I cannot remember offhand."
"And I believe you had a seven-year spree of sylph murder before the accusations were made?"
"We did." Sernan nodded. "Always males and always mutilated before death. Well, we assume before."
Sandev winced. This was a difficult subject. People often took advantage of sylphs' pacific natures; they abused them and sometimes even killed them. Bullies always delighted in persecuting those weaker than themselves. Although she could never excuse such behavior and despised those who indulged, people rarely damaged sylphs who did not belong to them. "How?"
Sernan gave her a sympathetic look. "Certain body parts were removed and the unfortunate left to bleed to death. That's what we think."
"Did this happen to the two who accused Kelanus?"
A quick shake of the head. "They escaped. One wriggled free just in time and we think the killer, still frustrated, sought out another victim."
"Who also got away?"
"Yes."
"If I was guilty, do you think I would be so foolish as to leave witnesses to identify me?" Sandev recalled Kelanus's words.
"The murders stopped once Kelanus had left, I assume? Did every murder happen when Kelanus was here to do it?"
Her host spread his hands and shrugged. "We were never called on to conduct a thorough investigation. I'll check the file and make a few enquiries. Sylphs get murdered all the time, but it's usually infertiles rather than males. More run away and are not always recovered. Or even reported missing."
Sandev drained her alovak. "I'll be pleased and grateful if you would do that for me. Please be cautious, I don't want to get you into trouble. Let me know immediately if we can prove Kelanus did not kill any of those we know he's been blamed for."
Sernan smiled. "I'll do my best for you. Names of the accusers, where Kelanus was for each murder, if any more murders have been committed since Kelanus's expulsion from Sandester. Can I not press you to a light meal? More alovak?"
Sandev stood. "Thank you, but nothing more for me. There is work I must attend tonight."
"Understood. Perhaps I can find your answers."
Sandev smiled. "I hope so."
***
Chapter 10
Plots
Hingast Rexiter shrugged his broad shoulders, trying to shake off the feeling of being watched. He sat among friends here, inasmuch as he had friends, and attacks were unlikely. Dervra's deep blue eyes watched everyone present and perhaps Hingast sensed this continuous scrutiny.
Hingast enjoyed his home comforts. His tent's opulent furnishings suggested Dervra's tastes were plain at best. Large wooden furniture lined the tent walls, with even chairs made from expensive dark Re Annan wood. Two wood burners kept the air delightfully warm, while heavy tapestries showed battles and hunting scenes.
Three others sat in the tent with Hingast and Dervra.
Marshal Janost Jillar, the illegitimate son of a weaver and the most skilled battle commander available to Hingast, bar one. Not to mention the most loyal and successful, bar none.
General Hanan Aelton was Janost's second-in-command and a man after Hingast's own heart. The General displayed greater ruthlessness than his monarch, an impressive feat.
And Kanad Tanur, a civilian, but no l
ess deadly than the others. One-time governor of the Prefecture of Eldova and used to overseeing the displacement of entire populations. A superb administrator, Hingast would need him after the conquest of Marka.
Marshal Janost spoke.
"Our raiding parties tie down a large part of the Markan City Guard, which helps weaken Marka's defenses. Unfortunately, two Vintner armies are camped outside the city, swelling the numbers of men-at-arms to more than the original number of guardsmen. And led by men who know the work."
"We received some news about the Vintners," interrupted Dervra. "One of the claimants is dead, murdered. Rumors claim Marcus Vintner used an assassin. But only rumors."
Hingast sat forward. "Was one of ours responsible?" he asked, tone neutral. Killing those of royal blood set dangerous precedents. As his own murdered father would testify, if he could.
Dervra shook his head. "One of those quirks of fate which aid our cause. A godsend, you might say. It's helped my men in Marka considerably with rumors."
Hingast gave a tight smile. "I'm sure it has. Continue, Marshal Janost."
The commander bobbed his head. "The reinforcements we called for should join us shortly and balance out numbers nicely. Behind them is General Mirrin and his southlanders, keeping the people between here and home sweet and willing." His tone changed. "I cannot vouch for those Master Dervra claims will join us."
It was Dervra's turn to give a tight smile. "The wraiths are not easily called, Janost. They demand a lot of power to keep them here and they are, alas, easily dispatched. However, I guarantee their number and sudden appearance will terrify the enemy."
Hingast restrained a delighted giggle. Wraiths sounded like fun. According to Dervra, they were not of this world, but could still inflict nasty wounds and even death. However, anything containing iron passing through them, or even close to them, would return them to wherever they normally lived. "I trust these wraiths will not frighten or turn on our own men."
"They'll know who to attack." Dervra's eyes were hard.
"That may be so." Janost spoke again. "However, I question the wisdom of sitting here doing nothing. Although we are out of the range of both City Guard and Vintners, there are still people who might tell Marka of our presence if we tarry too long. And these troubling reports of sylphs working in Marcus's army persist."
"Sylphs are weak and of no use in a fight," remarked Kanad. "They have little weight and can't be very strong. What good can they be?"
"You obviously do not know sylphs." General Hanan came to his commander's aid. "They may be slightly built and have trouble keeping their feet in high winds, but, weight for weight, they're as strong as humans. They have superior vision and hearing; they can blend into almost any background. With training, they must be impossible to spot and I'm certain they have a way of communicating in the field. If Marcus Vintner has enough sylphs, he can glean intelligence from a large radius very quickly."
Kanad spread his hands in surrender. "I am not a soldier."
"No," continued Hanan, "you are not. And, like those of us who are soldiers, I am tired of listening to civilians talk of things about which they know nothing."
"Thank you, General Hanan." Hingast's voice brought instant quiet. "We do not need to squabble."
Both Hanan and Kanad bowed.
"Another advantage we hold," said Janost, dragging the discussion back to the subject in hand, "is that we probably have the most experience in siege tactics. Better for us, Marka is quite ordinary and easy to besiege. Numbers aside, I foresee no difficulties there. Only Mikhan Annada has much experience on their side and that gleaned when a young soldier; he has no experience of siege as a commander. But we don't want them to learn of our presence until as late as possible."
"I agree." Hingast nodded. "However, we must wait for reinforcements. Marshal, if we advance to the point where our presence becomes known and reinforcements arrive afterward, do you not think this will also be to our advantage? If nothing else, the enemy will think we are less than we really are."
"Assuming those who report our presence do not also report theirs."
Hingast turned to Dervra. "Can you think of a counter to these sylphs? There must be some weakness we can exploit."
Dervra smiled. "I will do my best, Majesty."
"Good." Hingast dismissed his lieutenants and ended the meeting.
***
The season was now warm enough for Janin to need his blanket only to insulate his backside against the cold pavement. He sat cross-legged on the blanket and not on his haunches as most sylphs preferred. Bare chested, he wore only breeches and a cord that tied back his long silvery gray hair. Some copper coins lay before him and he had just finished a bread roll a kind passerby had quite deliberately dropped onto the blanket.
His earpoints twitched in contentment as he basked in the sun. The next few moons would be superb, probably the only time of the year when he felt glad to be a beggar. Remembering why he begged here, he kept an eye on the Guildsman across the road, waiting for any of Marka's enemies to leave. Several men he recognized as working for Marlen had come and gone but he had no idea where they were staying. Others probably reported on them. He passed all his information to Sandev and she rewarded him.
A cart blocked his view of the inn.
"Boy!" called the driver. "Catch!"
Something green and red streaked toward the sylph and he leapt to his feet to snag it from the air. He stared in surprise at the apple. Fruit was out of season, so where had the driver managed to get this? He looked up again, but the cart had already passed along the street. The driver's attention had returned to the crowded road ahead. Janin bit into the apple, eating it quickly. A rare treat when in season, the only apples he usually saw at this time of year were wrinkled things from the last harvest. This one could taste no fresher.
His head shot up and he stuffed more apple into his mouth. Marlen had left the Guildsman. The man's head turned this way and that, checking for carts as he crossed the road. His pale blue gaze fixed firmly on the sylph beggar. Janin swallowed the last of his apple and tried to hide the first stirrings of fear. Marlen barely acknowledged the sylph as he swept past.
Janin heaved a sigh of relief. For one panicky moment, he'd believed that Marlen had come out to drag him away to torture him or worse. So far, he hoped that the men in the Guildsman had not guessed the real reason he begged here. He listened for the chimes of the nearest clock, so he knew how long Marlen had been gone. Other sylphs would see the man and report where he went, so no need for him to follow. If he started following these men everywhere, they would very quickly realize his game. He must stay put to be of use.
A couple of soldiers in the strange armor of the Vintners strolled past and one winked at the beggar. He stared at the gold dragon's head on the soldier's blue surcoat. He had heard this device called the Vintner Arms. A sylph scout walked with the soldiers.
The scout wore gray breeches and a pristine white shirt, a silver collar snug about his neck. The beggar knew the sylph must be a scout because only they wore their hair so short. Close to, without the body paint he had seen on others, he looked quite normal.
Janin admitted sylphs wearing paint intimidated him, particularly those with black slashes across face and chest. He had no idea why some scouts wore the black paint and others did not.
"Freedom or slavery?" he hissed at the scout, speaking quickly in sylph.
The Vintner armies had brought wild sylphs to Marka. Rumors abounded about this group as well. They had sparked a massive debate concerning freedom or slavery and which was best for sylphs. An argument that now raged in the camps and the city.
The scout stopped and looked down as the two soldiers walked on.
"It is our place to serve humans," he replied, earpoints slanted forwards. "Better for sylphs that way." He looked away from the beggar and shrugged before hurrying to catch up with the soldiers. Perhaps one of them was his owner.
The "freedom or slavery" question
had replaced the more customary greeting between sylphs. The answer could result in a new friendship or a squabble.
Sylph slaves on their errands stared curiously at him as they passed, a few smiled if they recognized him, or if they had spoken in the past.
All asked for his opinion. All received the same answer, even those who now seemed to envy his relative freedom.
"Freedom or slavery?" a neatly-dressed male sylph asked, throwing furtive looks in all directions.
"Slavery," Janin replied, and ignored the disappointment that bloomed on the other's face. He indicated himself. "This is freedom. Hunger and dirt. I would love to have an owner."
The other sylph looked like he wanted to argue.
"We can change places if you like." Janin's eyebrows rose and his earpoints slanted forward.
The other sylph took one look at the beggar's ragged breeches and unruly hair, then hurried away.
Only infertiles still looked at him with pity. None favored freedom, or so they claimed. Perhaps some might secretly hold the opinion. They were embarrassed to see him forced to beg, while they were looked after, or pampered pets.
The Emperor would make things right for sylph beggars. Janin knew good owners would be found for them all then. He hoped they would have an Emperor again very soon.
He settled back on his blanket and crossed his legs. He watched and waited and marked off the time until Marlen returned.
***
Marlen took his time as he walked through the streets, trying not to be noticed or stand out in any way. He looked at the sylph beggars. No one pushed their luck with him and looked away the moment they realized he had nothing for them. They probably sensed he would tolerate no nonsense. Others stared as he passed, without even trying to beg. Not even a hopeful look.
The beggar outside the Guildsman never followed anybody anywhere, so Marlen ignored him. If that sylph spied for Sandev, then he could not be among her better agents.
But now, with most of the beggars paying him no mind, but a fairly significant minority staring at him, suspicion surfaced in his mind. Were the beggars who just looked at him somehow connected with the creature loitering outside his lodgings? Did they belong to some sort of guild and discuss what had gone on during the day? If so, who controlled them?
Marlen's blood ran cold as he considered the beggars may have something to do with the City Guard. That the beggars might report to the authorities had not occurred to him before now. Sandev had long gathered information from sylphs and other lowlifes, but if the City Guard played a part in the scheme...