Chapter 20

  Iru shi Kyo

  The coastal wind whipped savagely at Kivaan’s slowly lengthening hair, but he breathed in deeply with a broad grin on his face, finally feeling the first hints of arriving in country that he loved. This was the feeling he had missed so much while surviving not only the trials of Raashim, but also the apathy of the temple city’s society. Jiriou cackled his jubilation to the steel grey skies and spread his arms to welcome the sight of the Bay of Separation, while even Oniwa cracked a small smile as the last true obstacle on their journey presented itself.

  “From here, I make it to be less than half a day’s march to Chosam,” Kivaan smiled, his gaze still captured by the shikyo-coloured waters of the bay. “It is the nearest town from where we might take ship across the bay. “Once at sea, given the normal conditions of the bay, we should arrive at Shikyo within four days.”

  “Ah, the bay is as rough as ever with her lovers,” Jiriou laughed. “I heard that such trips would take no more than two days in the midlands!”

  “Hmmm? Do you enjoy tempestuous loving?” teased Kageyu from her position, sitting behind Jiriou on his dragonkin mount. She cuddled into him as if she were a princess being taken on a recreational ride.

  “Ugh, it speaks,” Jiriou complained, shivering all over.

  The steeds had condescended at last to bear the Chuho, and Kivaan could only guess that perhaps something about their scent had changed from mistrustful to ally. The Chuho aside, Vashti had taken a great liking to the princess herself, although she still barely tolerated her handmaidens.

  “Is it possible to sail directly to the midlands from Shikyo?” asked Tsuzumiyu quietly, huddled into Kivaan’s chest where she sat side-saddle in front of him.

  Kivaan understand her intent immediately. “In theory,” he nodded. “However, it is small wonder they were forced ashore here in the Land of Mountains. They likely needed to crew their vessel exclusively with foreign agents to avoid word of their activities leaking, but that would also mean having no seamen with the skills necessary to navigate the Bay of Separation. Most likely they barely managed to cross the bay and were driven ashore by the currents that swirl between the lowest point of the Land of Mountains and The Reaper. The Reaper is named such for good reason.” Kivaan rested his sword hand gently on Tsuzumiyu’s shoulder, a reminder of his oath to her. “It is by Jiaduni’s good grace that your abductors were forced to cross our intended path.”

  “And his good grace that I was in your party?” asked Oniwa sombrely, his intent hidden by his soulless tone.

  Hajuyu was seated in front of him, and had travelled lounging against his broad chest in the most entitled manner imaginable. She was silent now, listening and observing the conversation of everyone else. From time to time, her golden eyes would flicker to a new subject; whoever’s expression had interesting reading.

  “Yes,” Kivaan nodded firmly, in reply to Oniwa’s question. “I do believe Jiaduni has work for us to accomplish together. Whether that work is completed now or not is not for me to declare.” He dipped his head with gratitude at both of his male companions. “Whatever you decide when we make land at Yomian, you have my thanks, and I am in your debt.”

  Jiriou exhaled with great feeling and his knuckles whitened on the reins of his great lizard.

  “Peace, Kivaan,” he muttered through gritted teeth, barely audible over the sighing winds. “You are obnoxiously pious if you truly believe you still owe me anything. I have perhaps barely repaid my debt to you for fleeing like a cur into the night. Do not speak to me of debts you owe me. If you will allow it …,” and he chewed on the inside of his cheek with great vexation, “I will hold my course to lay eyes upon both Shikyo and Hotsukiyoem. I believe I should see these places to better understand the role I wish to play going forward. If you will not have me, I will depart in peace.”

  The glum turn to Jiriou’s usually gregarious nature surprised Kivaan, although Oniwa seemed to think nothing of it. If anything, the larger man nodded tersely, as if he agreed with everything Jiriou had just said.

  “Then let us have no further talk of debts between us,” Kivaan said firmly. “We are companions now. And it is not my place to permit or deny you access to Shikyo or Hotsukiyoem. Come with me if you will. I will welcome the company.”

  “So let it be,” Jiriou nodded, bowing his head enough to show respect, but not so much that made any unwanted contact with Kageyu.

  “So let it be,” Oniwa repeated, emulating Jiriou’s respect in a curious reversal of their usual order of doing things.

  “Now let us continue on our way,” urged Kivaan. “I hope to find Tsukio in Chosam. I cannot imagine he has been travelling quickly, but he does have close to a five marches on us. If he hurried, he might already be at sea.”

  Vashti moved without prodding, her attentive ears attuned to the words Kivaan used. As the small procession continued on their way, Tsuzumiyu let out a small sigh and let her head flop against Kivaan’s chest. As they were at the head of the party, this gave them a modicum of privacy, separated from the rest by several spans and the wall formed by Kivaan’s body.

  “I … I am looking forward to the future for the first time in many seasons,” Tsuzumiyu smiled shyly at the passing ground.

  “Even after I warned you about myself?” Kivaan sighed, defeated.

  “You wrapped me in your cloak,” the princess said with a certain level of smugness.

  Ah, she is a troublesome one, Kivaan thought to himself. And I am not so obtuse as to argue that I did so to keep her warm and protect her modesty. She wants to believe it was my warmth of character … and certainly for now, I should allow her to think that.

  “Do you think we will have trouble finding passage?” Tsuzumiyu murmured on, seemingly very content in her current position.

  “No trouble,” Kivaan said confidently. “I have the means to pay, as well as the credentials to book on credit if need be. It will be more a question of how soon a vessel passes by, travelling in the direction we need.”

  “Could I book on credit, do you think?” Tsuzumiyu asked curiously.

  It put Kivaan at ease to see her countenance lifting and becoming more lively. A little of the spirit she had shown the first time he rescued her was seeping back into her behaviour.

  “You could,” Kivaan said cautiously. “However, that is not something one of your station would ever be expected to take care of personally. Such preparations fall to the …” He stopped and smiled slightly. “… the knights in your command.”

  “Hmm?” she questioned coyly. “Am I someone with knights in my command?”

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  “At least one,” Kivaan responded drily. Was she always so bold? he wondered with a small surge in humour. She is certainly taking more liberties now that she is unofficially betrothed …

  “Aah,” Tsuzumiyu nodded, her eyes closing gently, her head nodding slowly against Kivaan’s chest. “But he is worth a full garrison to me …”

  "But he is worth a full garrison to me ..."

  AI-rendering of original characters and narrative by T. Sharp

  Her breathing changed, and Kivaan guessed that she had fallen asleep. She was sleeping more during the day, but he knew she slept quite poorly at night now. And he could not blame her for that. Every shadow now held potential threat for the princess who had been stolen away twice now by powerful agents of the enemy. And enemy in league with The Fiends. Kivaan grit his teeth and steeled his resolve. He finally found himself remembering the words of his mother’s sister. Madari. Jiaduni’s blessing had made him a terror to those consorting with The Fiends, but they would always have ways of attacking him through underhanded and roundabout means.

  The day passed easily. Although the constant, stiff breeze would have driven many to near insanity – and, indeed, Jiriou did complain about it frequently – it was a familiar and nostalgic sensation to Kivaan. His father’s keep – Hotsukiyoem – was built overlooking The Black Sea, and the ramparts were almost always scourged by howling winds. He suspected that Shikyo was much the same, as it, like most Yomian keeps of note, was built on The Black Sea’s coast, albeit on the opposite end of the islands’ stretch.

  Behind him, Kivaan heard the sporadic bickering of Jiriou and Kageyu. Jiriou was very highly strung around the Chuho, and having to ride with one snuggling into him was proving to be a trial on a level with martial tests they won through in the temple city. And unfortunately for him, she knew it, and tested his limits with the glee of an entitled little sister.

  The sun seemed to be balancing on top of the distant Crooked Spine when they finally emerged from an ongoing stand of gnarled and skeletal coastal trees while rounding a coastal spur to the sight of a town spread out in front of them. The smoke from cooking fires had been visible for some time, but the town itself, nestled as it was in the embrace of a sheltered cove, was hidden almost until the last second. A broad road had been built at what must have been great cost to the town, but it also allowed the town to serve as a major point of trade and transition into overland merchant routes.

  Tsuzumiyu had awoken perhaps one watch prior, and now she leaned forward, eyes bright with curiosity as she took in a new experience and tried to see everything at once.

  “Is this Chosam?” she asked excitedly, unable to read the neatly carved script on the sign they passed by.

  “It is,” Kivaan nodded.

  “Do you understand the words of the Land of Mountains?” asked Tsuzumiyu straight after, barely waiting for his answer.

  “Of course,” Kivaan smiled. “After all, my grandfather comes from these lands, but much further towards The Cold. We have maintained a practical understanding of our ancestor’s words for the purpose of communication and potential alliances. Have you not heard the tale? I thought everyone knew it.”

  Tsuzumiyu looked up in awe. “I knew a princess of Eres Anchi Chuho married a supposed brigand to safekeep her title from the manipulations of her relatives,” she confessed. “Did she really travel so far before she found someone willing to aid her?”

  “Yes,” Kivaan nodded grimly. “In those days, the clans and tribes were still much more insular, and any alliance was made solely on the premise of its being worthwhile. Anchi Chuho was on the edge of a blade, only struggling onwards by the iron will of the princess Zirikaiyu. Honestly, many of the major houses of the time hoped they would fall, for the insights of their princesses always laid bare their corruption and deceit.”

  “Eres Anchi Chuho is one of the oldest three Ways, after all,” Tsuzumiyu nodded with respect. “Even my father’s Eres is but an infant in comparison.” She looked around at the brightly panelled homes they now rode past, roofs of steeply sloped thatch providing a charcoal-coloured contrast as the straw had aged out of its golden period. There was a new appreciation in her gaze for what she saw.

  Children gawked at the unlikely procession, and parents either joined the gawking or hurried them inside. A little ways up the road, coming from the direction of the docks, Kivaan noted a small column of armed guards approaching. A part of him wondered what sort of welcome he could expect. How far had the infection of the Cult spread?

  Chosam is well and truly segregated from midland trade by the bay’s currents and the Crooked Spine. Most of its trade is done with Yomian. We should not have to fear aggression here, besides that which is natural between our people.

  “Hold here,” Kivaan called, Vashti obeying the command instantly. Behind him, Jiriou and Oniwa also reigned in their mounts.

  The town guard arrived, and Kivaan was put at ease by the presence of the town’s Master of Guard. The senior officer was set apart from his comrades by a magnificent plume of red and white feathers sprouting from his helmet, and his straight, double-edged, sword had a hilt moulded in the likeness of the Land of Mountains’ heraldic beast – the muon ji uk - which also soared across their banner of green.

  “Well met, Knight of Zoru!” called the Master, breathless from his hurry to meet what he seemed to consider an auspicious visitor. It impressed Kivaan that he was able to speak in the language of Yomian. “Welcome to Chosam.”

  “We thank you for receiving us,” Kivaan replied courteously, dipping his head as low as the princess’ presence would allow. “We seek lodging for as long as necessary to gain passage to Yomian. Please tell me … did any of my kinsmen pass this way? He would have sought passage to Yomian as well.”

  “You honour us with your patronage,” the Master blustered, bowing low in return. “Yes … there is an inn close to the docks. It may struggle to accommodate all of you comfortably …” The Master went a little red, ashamed of the limitations of the town in his care.

  “Our thanks,” Kivaan assured him. “We have been sleeping under the stars for the past seven marches at least.”

  The Master delivered a terse command to one of his soldiers in his own language, which Kivaan understood to be a directive to reserve whatever rooms might be available at the inn and ensure the best linens and covers were used. The Master seemed particularly driven to give them the best treatment he could accomplish.

  “As to your kin,” he went on hurriedly, turning back to Kivaan, “yes. He passed through here not two suns past. Er …” Once again the Master looked profusely apologetic. “He boarded a ship bound for Shikyo … er … yesterday.”

  Kivaan breathed a sigh of relief he had not realised he was holding in ever since he had parted ways with Tsukio. That his good friend was alive was some of the best news he had received since crossing the mountains.

  “Thank you,” he said sincerely to the Master of Guard. “You have put my soul at ease. It matters less when he boarded than that he did board. I will look for him at Shikyo then.” He laughed then. “Although it is unfortunate news for us that he boarded yesterday. How long do you think until another ship passes in that direction?”

  “Chosam sends two regular ships on a tour of Yomian’s dark coast. They are scheduled so there is as near equal amounts of time between them as possible. Of course … the Bay of Separation has its own notions on what schedules should be kept. They have been known to dock within a day of each other when conditions slow the first down. Beyond that … there are also the small, independent merchant vessels, but they arrive and depart when they will. If you seek passage on one of them, you must keep an eye on the dock. They have been known to dock, put down and take on cargo, resupply, and leave in a single afternoon if conditions permit.”

  “I thank you for the information,” replied Kivaan. “You have been far more helpful than any foreigners could expect. You have the thanks of Kivaan, Knight Ascendant of Eres Zoru.”

  “You are no foreigner in this town, Knight of Zoru,” the Master of Guard said seriously. “We may not have any direct claim to be your kin, but we do remember that men of this nation left comfort behind to aid a princess in need, and have since given much to fight against The Fiends.” He bowed low again. “Chosam will honour you for as long as you choose to stay. Now. Please, follow me. We will escort you to the inn, and then leave you in peace.”

  Iru shi Kyo: lit – blue with grey.

  Zirikaiyu: lit – gentle grasp, second treasure.

  Muon ji uk: lit – large bird of fire. Similar in lore and appearance to the mythic phoenix, although understood to be significantly larger. It is synonymous with drought and wildfire. Note: these words are those of the Land of Mountains.