The Maelstrom's Heart, page 9
Farukan and Akshira rushed together, their love so poignant it nearly drew tears from me. They rubbed their necks together in a sort of embrace, their thoughts shared privately between them. I could only imagine that each had been very worried about the safety of the other, and the great relief they were feeling now.
One of the Ulané Jhinura stepped forward. I thought it likely she was trying to draw focus to allow Farukan and Akshira a moment to themselves for their reunion.
“Welcome to Su Lariano,” she said. “I am Neelu Ulané Pulakasado.” Her eyes scanned over us, looking for something. Her smile was lost, and her lips formed a hard line; the disappointment told me she didn’t find it.
“We are glad that so many of the Rorujhen have come,” she went on. “It is our hope that they can be as free to run west of the Great Mountains as they are on the east of them. Meanwhile, we have prepared suitable pastures and grounds, with access to stables within Su Lariano. Akshira can show you and answer any immediate questions the Rorujhen may have.”
“Forgive me,” Farukan rumbled. “I was overcome. I am happy to see you again, Neelu’u. On behalf of my people, I thank you for your kindness.”
“There is nothing to forgive, my friend,” she smiled at him.
I climbed down from Nazani so that I did not tower so far above our host. Even so, I was nearly two feet taller than the princess. I gave her a respectful bow.
“I am Ancaera nya Balangur,” I told her. I gave a wry smile at her surprise. “Does my claim surprise you Neelu’u?”
“It shouldn’t,” she gave a tight laugh. I could see her taking in my manner and trying to reconcile the questions I knew she had. “And please call me Neelu. Rispan told us you had allied with Mira and that you had supported her when she made her claim. It’s just—” she paused. “Mira’s family just seems to keep getting bigger.”
I had to smile at that. “That’s because she has such a big heart.”
The slight suspicion I had seen in her eyes changed to warmth as she nodded at my words. I sensed that through Mira, Neelu could become family to me as well. Yet another priceless gift to me from one who was little more than a child. I wasn’t looking forward to giving her the news about Mira. Neelu must have read something in my expression because her eyes narrowed as she watched me.
Akshira led Farukan and the other Rorujhen off and I followed Neelu into the gates.
“My mother tells me,” Neelu spoke as we walked. I could see the turmoil of warring emotions on her face. “That when travelers arrive it is bad form to immediately start grilling them for information. I know that you have important news and you have traveled far to tell it. Take a breath. What if we have an early dinner together and you can fill me in after we eat? I’m trying to learn how to compromise. And then you can tell my mother what a charming host I was.”
“That will work wonderfully,” I nodded.
She paused for a moment, then looked at me. “How would you like to try Mira’s restaurant? The Raven’s Nest?”
“Mira owns a restaurant?”
“Half-owns,” she nodded. “It serves Urgaban food.”
That surprised me. “I’ve never eaten Urgaban food.”
“You definitely have to try it. They just opened a couple of months ago. The chef is incredible!”
“Perfect!” I gave her a nod. “But you have to tell me the story of how Mira became half-owner of an Urgaban restaurant.”
“Sure,” she said. Then she looked at me from the corner of her eyes. “Mira has a knack for finding good people.”
“One thing,” I said to her. “My news is not all good. Will we have some privacy to talk?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “There are three people I had hoped to see arriving today that are not present. I want desperately to know everything, and I am terrified to ask. Let’s eat first.”
I wanted to reassure her, but anything I could say would only raise other questions, so I didn’t reply. On the rest of the way to the restaurant, Neelu told me of how Mira had gone from a merchant partner with one Urgaban to restaurant partner with another. I couldn’t wait to meet all of Mira’s friends.
“And Rispan?” I asked. “Is he here or did he go on to Pokorah-Vo? It would be good to see him again.”
She shook her head. “He’s in Pokorah-Vo and probably will be for some time yet. Things are getting pretty hot over there.”
“We didn’t talk a lot about Pokorah-Vo,” I told her. “Other than he and Kiarash were taking Shéna there. I hadn’t even heard of Pokorah-Vo before that.”
Neelu nodded, “We didn’t know about it either. We just thought there were bands of Urgaban out there and they would attack and take our people when they got the chance.”
Neelu’s face darkened with her last words, and I suspected there was something personal involved, but I gave her the courtesy of not asking her about it.
“Then,” she went on, “We found out that Laraksha-Vo had been exiling their criminals for centuries and that the exiles had formed their own city, which they were careful not to advertise.”
“A city of criminals?” That certainly sounded like it could be a source of problems.
“I had to revise my opinions of the Urgaban,” she sighed. “They aren’t all bad. Not even everyone from Pokorah-Vo is bad.” She shook her head. “It would be simpler if we could draw nice, clean lines like that, but people are people, and you find good and bad in any race.”
I sensed this had been a struggle for her, and that her words were more to reiterate for herself than to tell me anything.
“Looking only at my fellow Ashae,” I told her, “I can say the same. We have our good and our bad. What is unfortunate is when bad people have power or position; this begins to color the entire culture.”
We had arrived at the restaurant and, despite the line of people waiting, we were immediately led to a private room off to the side.
“This room is reserved strictly for the Royal household,” Neelu grinned. “We always have the table available.”
“That’s very kind of them to provide that courtesy for you.”
Neelu just shook her head, “It’s not kindness or courtesy,” she laughed. “It’s brilliant marketing strategy. Who wouldn’t want to come to a restaurant and maybe see the Queen? And if it’s good enough for the Queen, who wouldn’t want a chance to try it?”
Of course! It was so obvious when put that way. “Was that Mira’s idea?”
“I think it was Bavrana. The whole idea for the restaurant was part of some grand strategy of hers to bring our peoples together. Seems to be working, too.”
I nodded, “This is what you meant when you said Mira has a knack for finding good people.”
“Definitely,” she shook her head. “Send her to the most unlikely places and she’ll come back with someone amazing.”
There was an undertone to her words that brought a little warmth to my face, but I ignored it.
“I’ve seen it,” I told her. “She went to the Rider Council and came back with Kaerélios as a staunch ally. I’d known him for years and knew him to be a good man, but Mira went in blind and came back with possibly the best of them.”
I didn’t recognize any of the dishes on the menu, so I asked for the chef’s special. Neelu ordered the same.
“I hope you like spicy food,” Neelu said. “A lot of Urgaban food tends to have a little heat.”
I wasn’t sure what she meant by heat until the food arrived, and I tried it. It was small pieces of chicken and some kind of mushroom I hadn’t seen, served over steamed cabbage with a creamy, reddish sauce. The contrasting and complementing flavors were incredible, but my mouth felt as if it were on fire, and I could feel my face start to sweat.
Neelu laughed as I reached for my drink. “That’s not going to help much, try the side dish.”
I took a bite of what looked like some kind of fruit in a creamy white sauce. It was cool and sweet and relieved the fire almost immediately. Neelu must have seen the confusion on my face as I looked back and forth between the two dishes because she laughed again.
“Not what you expected?” she asked.
“Not at all,” I said. “Now I understand what you meant by heat.”
“If it’s too hot, don’t worry,” she told me. “We can get something else for you.”
“Oh, don’t give up on me yet!” Now that I knew what to expect, I wanted to try it again and I took another bite of the main dish. It was a magnificent mixture of savory and nutty with just a touch of sweetness and maybe a little fruity. If this was any indication of the rest of the menu, I could see how easy it would be to become addicted to this place.
Neelu nodded at my obvious pleasure. “I’m glad you like it. This one is actually not that spicy. Next time we’ll see how you like something that’s really spicy.”
“Let’s not move too quickly,” I told her. “But I’m very willing to experiment more with this.”
We focused mainly on our meal and the plates had been cleared before we turned to important matters over after-dinner cordials.
“The first part you already know,” I said. “Mira was successful with her claim with the Riders.” She nodded at this. “She was also successful at the Royal Court. Ownership of a Rorujhen is officially seen as slavery and therefore illegal.” I took a breath.
“Now the bad news?” she asked me.
“There is so much.” I thought about how best to proceed. “First, Dimétrian and the Riders are claiming that the information about the Rorujhen is false. That the story is a fabrication to attack them. Unfortunately, many people believe them. The political divide in Shifara is reaching a critical point. It may even degenerate into a civil war.
“And second, on their way back from Shifara, Mira’s party was attacked by Riders. Farukan was wounded but, as you saw, he is fully healed. Tesia’s neck was broken,” I heard a sharp intake of breath at that. “I have some talent for healing, I did what I could, and she is mostly healed fine,” I reassured her. “But… she is blind. I couldn’t See why.”
“Blind?” Neelu looked shocked.
“Perhaps with a proper healer?” I shrugged. “Meanwhile, she is safe at Shianri.”
“And Mira?” She was practically holding her breath for the answer.
“She was taken,” I said simply. “We assume she is being held at Odaro, Dimétrian’s estate, but we don’t know that for certain.”
“I see,” she nodded, her hands gripping the edges of the table. “That’s why Mooren didn’t come with you. He’s trying to find her to get her back.”
“No.” I shook my head softly. “Mooren… He has given all he had to give.”
She looked sharply away as my meaning reached her. I could see her blinking away the tears as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. Then she looked back at me.
“Then we have to find her and get her back!” she told me.
I could say nothing to that. I understand her wanting to do something for Mira, but I felt that discussion on the matter would need to include others to determine the best strategy. I wasn’t sure that sending an Ulané Jhinura party north to raid Dimétrian’s estate was necessarily the best idea.
“I’ll talk about this with my mother,” she said. “She’ll likely want to talk with you directly as well, but that will probably be for tomorrow. I’ll connect you up with Arané-Li, our Chamberlain, and get you some quarters.”
A knock sounded from the door of the private room and an Ulané Jhinura stepped into the room. He was a little taller and stockier than other Ulané Jhinura I had seen.
“Pardon my intrusion,” he walked toward us. “I hope the meal was satisfactory?”
“It was as wonderful as always, Felgor,” Neelu smiled at him.
“When I heard you were here with an Ashae woman after a herd of Rorujhen showed up at our gates,” he turned to me. “I take it you’re Ancaera?”
I blinked at him in surprise.
He smiled, “Rispan filled me in on everything from up north.”
“Evidently, Rispan’s tongue is a little looser than it should be,” Neelu arched an eyebrow.
“He only seems that way,” the man laughed. “True, he makes his own choices on who he talks to, but he’s also very selective about that. I know he doesn’t even tell me everything. I respect him enough not to ask for more.” He turned back to me. “He did tell me how you had Mira’s back with the Rider Council. They call me Mouse,” he said. “And I am your friend should you ever need anything. Anyone who stands with Mira can always count on me.”
“Thank you, Mouse,” I said to him. “My world has become so much larger since Mira stepped into it, and I am still discovering by how much.”
Neelu left me in the care of Arané-li and went off to give her mother the news. Arané-li seemed quite intelligent and delightful and I felt a connection with her immediately.
“I would not impose on you,” I told her. “I have a feeling I would be able to enjoy hours of conversation with you. Perhaps while I am here, we might have a chance to sit down over coffee or tea and chat?”
“That is very kind,” she smiled at me. “I would like that as well.”
CHAPTER NINE
RISPAN
Two weeks. Barashan could have me in Shifara in two weeks.
Putri firgolo!
Mira was in trouble. When I was in trouble, she hadn’t hesitated. But this was different. They were basically sending a whole army for her. Not to mention that things were getting close to a tipping point here in Pokorah-Vo. What could I do that they weren’t already doing? What would Mira say if I left Pokorah-Vo and then things here went sideways?
It was Mira. She would understand and she wouldn’t criticize me for it. But I would have let her down, and that would be worse. I had to stay. I had to trust that Neelu would do whatever needed to be done. That’s why I was out here in my jahgreet cloak, creeping through a dark alley on my way to the Slavers’ Guildhall in the Julek District.
Bijoux was somewhere nearby. She had become a regular partner in my evening excursions. I don’t know if she saw this as some sort of a game, but she did seem to enjoy being undetected around other people. It seemed she thought of me as family, though it was unclear which of us she saw as the parental figure. She liked to keep to the rooftops, and while I was certain she always knew exactly where I was, I rarely knew where she was. Apparently, she also had very keen instincts on when I was in trouble. More than once, she’d made a noise to distract someone when they’d been close to discovering me.
After Dobarek’s death, the Slavers’ Guild had been in a shambles. He had no obvious successor as Guildmaster. There were rumors that someone had stepped up to put things in order. We still didn’t know who that was. We did have eyes and ears on the streets though, so when people started to show up at the Slavers’ Guildhall, we heard about it right away.
A quick circuit around the building showed me no easy way to slip in and no window to listen through. The meeting was already underway, and there didn’t seem to be anyone at the door to check who came in. I decided to take the bold approach. I stepped with confidence onto the boardwalk at the front of the building and went through the front door into the small entry area. A second set of doors was ajar. I could hear angry voices coming from what was probably the main room. I slipped through the doors and stood at the back wall.
“You can’t just walk in here and take over,” snarled a voice from the front of the room. “You aren’t even a Guild member. Why should we follow you?”
“Silly little man,” it was Darusa! She looked young and shapely and not at all what you would expect from someone so conniving and cruel. “I have always run this Guild. Dobarek was my proxy. He was the only one of you competent enough for me to trust.”
“I don’t buy it,” he answered. There were mumbles of agreement from others in the room. “And you come in here with an Ulané Jhinura! She should be in chains. Maybe you should, too! I—”
His voice was cut short, and I could see him rising slowly up from the floor, his face was red, and he was gasping, trying to breathe.
“Do you think you can put us in chains?” It was a female voice. She was blonde, but I couldn’t see her face. She laughed and it was a frightening thing. “What do you think, sister? Should I make an example of him?”
“It’s probably the quickest way to make our point,” Darusa agreed.
The floating Urgaban’s head suddenly twisted to the side with a sickening snap. Then his body was flung through the air to strike the back wall. Now I could see the blonde woman’s face.
“Laruna.” The word came out as a startled whisper, but it sounded loud in the suddenly quiet room. Her eyes found me immediately and I saw the recognition in her eyes quickly turn to fury. I was through the doors in an instant.
“Get him!” I heard the scream from behind as I launched through the front doors and onto the street. A thunder of feet told me a crowd wasn’t far behind me.
I dodged into the first alley and pressed myself against the wall, pulling my hood lower over my face. My jahgreet cloak made me almost invisible as long as I wasn’t moving. I wondered briefly at what evil deeds I must have committed in a past life that I kept being chased by slavers in this one.
About a dozen or so Guild members ran past. I could hear them calling to each other as they tried to figure out which way I’d gone. Laruna stepped into view, looking after them down the street. More Urgaban came out of the Guildhall and went past her after the others.
“Fools!” Her face was filled with fury. Even I could see from her glowing hands that she still held onto the magic. Her head snapped in my direction and her eyes latched onto me. “There you are!”
Before I could move, she gripped me with her magic, as she had done with the Urgaban only moments before in the Guildhall.
