Belaika crossed to his owner and gesticulated unhurriedly. Marcus nodded, then the two sylphs, Marcus and Zandra left.
Zenepha crossed to Sandev and reached her the same moment as Djerana.
"Belaika's wife is birthing," said the ilven. "I am minded to go."
"Of course." Something flickered in Grayar's eyes and he turned to Sandev. "I have a feeling about this one. Coming?"
So two of the Ten, an ilven and an Emperor followed Marcus Vintner and his sylphs to the stables. Selkina caught up with her husband just before they turned in.
Sylphs filled every available space and the nimblest crowded on the rafters. Domestics, stablers, scouts; males, females and infertiles. For sylphs, the more who attended a birth, the greater honor reflected on the mother. It made births very public affairs, with well-wishers always present. As the mixed group approached, heads turned, but the humans and sylphs were almost ignored.
"Alvanya."
The whisper spread and sylph after sylph bowed his head, or knelt, or made some other form of obeisance to the ilven. Djerana gave no sign of embarrassment and acknowledged as many of the sylphs as she could. A clear way formed before her and closed up after she passed. The humans and sylphs had to push their way through. Sinabra thickened the air.
Although presently deserted, sacking had been laid out in the center of the stable. Eleka walked up and down, every now and then dropping into a squat, shuddering as she gave a little push. Belaika was beside her, offering support and encouragement. Flanked by Zandra and Jenn, Marcus stood to one side of the sacking.
Eleka waddled back to the center of the stable and crouched as she reached the sacking. Two more sylph females stepped forward, ready to help. Eleka had eyes only for Belaika and pride shone on his face. They grasped hands.
Total silence for a split second.
Eleka crouched even lower and gave a wordless shout. The sylphs surged forward, eyes expectant. Eleka repeated her shout, and it was all over.
A collective sigh rose from all those who could see. White, almost translucent skin, instead of the normal blue. Fine brown hair covered the newborn's scalp and the eyes – which in sylphs usually remained shut for the first day or so after birth – were open, if unfocused. Violet eyes, cat-slit in the same way as other sylphs. Her ears were pointed and already twitching, instead of tucked away as normal with newborns.
"Gwerin!" exclaimed Djerana.
"A gwerin," agreed Belaika, a little glumly. He had expected a son, but cheered up as his owner crossed to join him and Eleka.
"A beautiful baby," remarked Marcus. "You are both to be congratulated."
"Gwerin, gwerin." The sylphs seemed to hold this new arrival in as much awe as Djerana.
A thin mewling came from the baby, her small fists bunching. In a moment, uncaring of the birthing fluids still streaking the infant's body, Eleka put her child to her breast. Sounds of satisfaction filled the air. Belaika draped sacking around his wife. Births were public, but the rest of it – chewing through the umbilical cord and disposing of the afterbirth – remained private.
Sandev leaned closer to Grayar and lowered her voice for his ears alone. "This is going to give the soothsayers a field day. An ilven attaching herself to a sylph Emperor and a gwerin, born to a sylph belonging to a claimant to the Markan Throne. As if life wasn't complicated enough!"
Grayar remained expressionless. "The gwerin will be of little use for some years. Without older gwerins to teach and instruct, she must build her life experience alone."
"I'm sure the old palace gwerins will resurface once it's known Marka has an Emperor again."
Grayar's expression still did not change. "Unless they've found new owners. Or are dead. Life is rarely easy for gwerins without protectors."
Sandev looked away. Knowing Grayar was right did not make it any easier to accept. Surely at least one of the palace gwerins still lived?
Marcus congratulated his sylphs, promising both gold collars for giving him a gwerin. Pride shone in the parents' faces as he spoke. The cause of the excitement nestled comfortably in Eleka's arms, asleep.
Grayar, having seen enough, nodded to himself. "Only time will tell what this gwerin will bring."
"Usually honor," replied Sandev. "In the right hands, their counsel is always sought after. And this one is in the best of hands." She raised her voice. "What name for the baby, Eleka?"
The female sylph looked at Marcus who smiled.
"Your honor," he said.
Eleka looked at Belaika and he nodded.
"Salafisa," she replied.
***
"What?"
Marlen stared at Petan.
"An ilven attended the coronation feast last night," repeated Petan. "Shy, by all accounts. Only danced with sylphs and disappeared early on."
"And a newborn gwerin." Marlen's voice carried menace.
Petan looked out of the window. "Just coincidence," he said. "Or an omen?"
"Omen!" Marlen snorted in derision. "My orders may change once I pass this back." He glanced out of the window towards the beggar Janin who had plagued him these past weeks. "And we can pull him in and find out who he works for." He sighed. "That limitation is thankfully lifted, and not before time."
"I can sort the sylph now," offered Petan.
Marlen shook his head. "Get him another day. This ilven concerns me more. How did she get here? They abandoned this continent more than a century ago."
"She arrived with Sandev and a human man," reported Petan. "No idea who he is, only that he's short and old, with gray hair."
"Perhaps another warrior to give Sandev moral support," remarked Marlen.
"Sandev treated him like an equal. Or perhaps even as a superior."
Marlen shrugged. "Nobody I know, but I'm sure we'll soon find out. Get his name."
Petan nodded.
"An ilven and a gwerin in one day," mused Marlen, half to himself. "Has Siranva stirred into action?"
It was Petan's turn to shrug. "If he's getting involved, it's not good news."
"Find out who this new arrival is." Marlen smiled. "It's as easy to arrange two deaths as one."
***
The next few days were busy. A steady stream of people visited the new Emperor and still more summoned. Advisors were kept occupied and Zenepha began his changes. As with any change, not everybody was pleased all the time.
As Olista had suggested, Zenepha's first act standardized the currency. He utilized as many traditional names as possible, but the changes upset a few. Everybody agreed Zenepha had acted properly to prevent the illegal clipping of coins. Many grumbled at the thought of new coins, sweeping away many of the old traditional names, but it pleased Saylon Eund, Chief Cashier of the Royal Mint, and it certainly pleased the Guilds.
Saylon spent hours discussing the changes with the Emperor, while he and his scribes helped draw up designs for the new coins.
While Saylon worked with Zenepha, his wife called on Zandra.
Arran Sacla smiled her thanks at Jenn and inhaled the scent of the alovak. "Calcan bean," she said. "Always welcome and highly sought after."
Zandra smiled. "You are more of an expert on alovak beans than I. It all smells and tastes the same to me."
Arran waved a dismissive hand. "Comes with practice. Being surrounded by Guildspeople helps. But I'm not here to discuss alovak beans; I wished to meet with you privately."
"I'm honored. Jenn! Sweetmeats please."
Arran continued. "Of course, my husband is pleased that the currency will be properly controlled again, but..." She allowed her voice to trail off as she leaned forward conspiratorially. "I hope this isn't treason, but our Emperor is only a caretaker. My husband fears even more change when His Majesty steps down in favor of a more... normal monarch."
Zandra smiled to herself as Jenn returned with the sweetmeats. "Assure your husband that Marcus was involved in His Majesty's decision. The last thing anybody wants is a return to the days of poorly controlled m
onies in circulation. By all means, discuss this with your husband, but I can promise that..."
A small beginning. But it was a beginning. Zandra would see Marcus on the Markan Throne.
***
Once he had sorted the currency, Zenepha standardized the system of measurements, using his former owner Olista and Marcus's sylph Jenn for deciding on units of length, weight and so on. There were the inevitable howls of protest from some, but Zenepha ignored them all and involved the Guilds as far as possible. He compromised where he must, but managed to push through what he wanted.
This brought more wives to Zandra's door, most eager to make the acquaintance of the claimant's wife. Others clearly wished to size her up and try to fit her in with their own schemes. Eventually, most would end up playing in Zandra's scheme. Or struggling against her.
One visitor was Hulen Shayler. Although a wife, she headed the mercer's guild, a powerful woman in her own right. Her worries concerned the new measurements, which she felt were too complicated compared with the old.
"His Majesty believes this new system covers the greatest number of practical applications," Zandra said.
"I am sure that is so," continued Hulen, "but short and long feet? The inca is a different length and the new mila is longer than the old."
Zandra nodded. "His Majesty has taken the average of all the incas in use and standardized it. The short foot is based on a sylph's foot and the long..."
"I know, I know." Hulen watched for signs of annoyance in the other's face. Pleased to see none, she continued. "There will be much resistance to this new system of measurements. The old system was far superior."
"But very disjointed. We found fifteen different inca lengths in three days. Each Guild used its own system, all adding to the chaos. His Majesty has simply standardized each measurement so all are the same."
Hulen lowered her voice, after glancing quickly at Jenn. "I think many of the complaints come because it is a sylph who has imposed this on the city."
Zandra smiled. "Hulen, I assure you that my husband was fully involved with the new standard. Please reassure your Guild that the Emperor did not act alone."
The other woman's face changed completely. "I can tell my members that this is so? Oh, thank you; you have just made my life a little easier. Though the Guilds were involved, many feel that their suggestions were ignored."
"Certainly not, Zenepha only chose a course between them all. Jenn! Alovak if you please." Smiling, Zandra leaned forward. "The new system has been designed specifically for ease of use, rather than making arithmetic easy for schoolchildren. If the Guilds are still causing problems tomorrow, may I suggest that you..."
Hulen listened to Zandra's advice carefully, almost forgetting to drink her alovak. Much of what she heard sounded good, and she might strengthen her own position by taking the lead. Perhaps even the President's chair of all the Guilds awaited her.
***
Zenepha had not forgotten his other instructions. Ranallic finally presented his roster and the sylph, no military expert, barely glanced at it before waving it through. He listened patiently to Marshal Mikhan as he outlined his plans for Marka, to ensure the city's successful defense against the expected siege. He granted his marshal the authority to do what was needed.
He sent officials to discover which farms were deserted and scribes to trawl through the records to find those without a legal owner. As allowed in Markan Law, all such farms reverted to the Throne.
Though sensible in itself, how Zenepha planned to dispose of those farms caused a sensation. He proposed giving them to people who wanted a farm of their own. If they had no other bonds and were prepared to take two itinerant sylphs off the streets for every fifteen square jumps of land granted to them, the farm was theirs.
Some howled themselves hoarse, but the protests did not come from the expected quarter. Olista and Crallin raised the loudest complaints, aware that if Zenepha followed through with this plan, they would lose their network of spies. Both men tried everything to change Zenepha's mind, but the sylph announced his intentions at Council, which effectively ended all opposition to it.
Olista in particular dared not admit he had used sylph beggars as spies, but there were other arguments against the plan. Why should people made indigent through their own efforts be rewarded? Zenepha replied that the workshy would find a farm far too much hard work. The sylph could not be persuaded and once it had been announced to the Council...
Zenepha had no sympathy for the complaining Olista. He pointed out that he had been content to remain a slave and Olista had uprooted him and set him along a new path. Zenepha ruled Marka now and his former owner would have to make do as well as everyone else. He would grant the land and take sylphs off the streets. And that was that.
The sylph throwing his weight about brought Tamsin to Zandra.
"I do like Jenn's new livery." Tamsin smiled at the infertile before she inhaled the alovak's aroma.
Jenn scowled as she stared at Tamsin, her earpoints bolt upright. Her new knee-length breeches and work tunic had only arrived from the mercer that morning. There were others, but this set was pale gray, seams embroidered with blue memory flowers. These clothes looked much better than the near rags she had brought with her. She liked the gold dragon's head embroidered on the left breast, but her old kit had been comfortable.
"I'm afraid Marcus rather neglected Jenn's wardrobe while they were in the field. One set of best clothes is not enough in the city, so I ordered more. At least she looks respectable now; even beggars were better dressed." Zandra smiled at the infertile, but the sylph pretended not to notice.
"You'll get used to the new cloth," Tamsin told Jenn. "Ah! It is always a delight to taste such wonderful alovak."
Zandra nodded. "Lots of visitors compliment Jenn on it."
"Probably why your husband insists she accompanies him in the field."
Zandra said nothing to this. Jenn stayed at Marcus's side in the field because it meant she had him to herself and was at the insistence of Jenn, not Marcus. But she would not share private matters with relative strangers. "Has Olista calmed himself yet?"
Tamsin tasked. "I've not seen him so worked up for years. The plan for the abandoned farms has annoyed him."
Zandra sipped at her own alovak. "His Majesty clearly recognizes that paternalism is part of his obligation to Marka's people."
"Paternalism yes, charity no. Charity and State must be kept as far apart as possible, or the result is penury for all."
"Only if the State plunders the prudent to reward the reckless," countered Zandra. "Those farms are abandoned and the sylph beggars need owners – or else proper freedom."
"So Marcus would act no differently?"
"He certainly recognizes something must be done. A city can tolerate some beggars, but not the level we see in Marka. And I suspect Olista is more concerned for his intelligence network than he is that some farms might fall into the wrong hands."
A short silence followed. Tamsin glanced at Jenn – so quickly that Zandra almost missed it – and back again. Jenn had assumed a mask of bored indifference, but if the sylph wasn't listening, Zandra would eat the rug.
Tamsin's blue-green eyes glittered. "You know, men in positions of authority often only get told what others think they want to hear and Zenepha will be no exception. Same for Olista and I'm sure it's exactly the same for your husband." She smiled before she spoke again. "Of course, wives often let slip the truth while chatting with the wives of those in authority. A good wife will always pass this gossip on to her husband of course. It's the only way the truth can feed back to those in authority. Usually the only way."
Zandra blinked. "I support my husband as no doubt you do yours."
Tamsin took a careful swallow of alovak, her appearance unruffled. She nodded, as if she had made her mind up about something. "I must say that Olista has chosen to follow the right claimant to the Throne," she said. "And that claimant chose wisely when he looked for a
wife."
Zandra almost blushed. "Like other spymasters, Olista and Crallin must pay for their information in future," she said. "I am surprised a city such as Marka allowed so many beggars in the first place, but those sylphs need owners."
"There are always a few." Tamsin sounded dismissive. "But the situation worsened in recent years when raids on the farms began."
"Now General Ranallic has his roster sorted, I think those raids will lessen considerably. The Supreme Councilor should be encouraging His Majesty, not berating him for doing his job properly. And you can tell him I said so."
"Believe me, I will." Tamsin smiled. "I hope Zenepha leaves something for your husband to sort out when he reaches the Throne. Or the Senate might be very reluctant to let the sylph step down."
Zandra frowned. She had not considered this.
"I see you understand. Good." Tamsin's smile was still in place. "We cannot leave everything to the sylph. He's already proving himself rather adept at this game."
"I'm sure that perception will change once Hingast arrives."
"Perhaps." Tamsin shrugged. "But if the boy is any good – and it looks like he is – political inertia may set in. And the Senate will be happy to stay with what is familiar."
"A sylph as Emperor is too much change for most to handle."
"Right now I agree with you." Tamsin smiled and glanced at Jenn again. "But will that be the same next year? Or the one after?"
Zandra resisted shaking her head. "Human affairs need a human ruler," she said.
Tamsin nodded. "In Olista's time in public service, we have built up an extensive network of friends. Low as well as high. You know what I am saying? Of course you do. My husband supports your husband. I support your husband."
"You have a proposal."
Tamsin laughed. "I do. A compact between us."
Zandra leaned back and smiled. "Jenn: more alovak, please."
***
Nobody would dare restrict an ilven's movements, so Djerana came and went as she pleased. She spent her first day after Zenepha's coronation sightseeing, particularly impressed by the pyramid dwarfing the city. At first, she wandered unrecognized, as no human realized what walked among them. That lasted almost twenty minutes.