Marie Brennan - Doppelganger
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- Название:Doppelganger
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But thanks to the work of Miryo’s sisters, she was able to find lodgings for the night at a reasonable price. The Primes had given her a purse of money as well as a pack-horse laden with supplies, but she had no idea how far she had to go. She could, of course, ask for more should she come to need it, but Miryo was determined to put that off as long as possible.
One of the Cousins saw to the stabling of the horses while the other took their bags upstairs. They had dinner in the common room that night. Miryo hardly received a second glance from the other patrons there. Witches might be an unusual sight elsewhere in the land, but in Samalan they were commonplace.
The reverse was not true for Miryo. She was twenty-five years old, but the world outside the halls of the witches was nearly as alien to her as the moon. She’d studied the domains in excruciating detail—their histories, their peoples, the ways of life in each place—but that was not the same as going out into them. Not the same at all.
Miryo couldn’t imagine trying to learn everything she had to know to be a witch without isolation and intense study. Still, looking at the prospect of now having to face a world she’d never seen, she was inclined to seriously question the teaching methods of Starfall. Farmers, herdsmen, weavers, carpenters, merchants—such people were strangers to her. It was enough to make her want to choose the Void Ray, just so that she could spend her days talking to witches and Cousins, who were familiar.
The thought made her glance at her two silent companions. I’d almost feel better if one of them would ask me where we’re going, or say something, Miryo thought. I hope I adjust to them quickly; somehow I never noticed before how silent they are. Mother’s mercy, I don’t even know their names. I assume they have some. I should fid out. Except it would feel weird to ask; at home Cousins are about as noticeable as the furniture. They’re the perfect servants — except this silence is getting on my nerves .
“We’re likely to be traveling for a while,” Miryo said abruptly, causing the Cousins to look up from their food. “And I don’t even know your names.”
They exchanged swift glances. Miryo wondered suddenly if Cousins had any kind of society, if they relaxed together when they weren’t serving the witches. She had absolutely no idea.
“I am Kan,” the taller of the two said. It was the first time either of them had spoken since Miryo had met them this morning. “This is Sai.” The shorter Cousin nodded, but said nothing.
Miryo nodded back. “I’m Miryo.” The Cousins glanced at each other again, then went back to eating their food. “We’ll be going east at first,” Miryo continued, determined to get some kind of conversation started. “I think we’ll take the coastal road. We might have to change our path along the way; I don’t really know.” She wondered if Satomi or anyone else had told them what she was doing on this journey. Whether they knew or not, she wasn’t about to broach the subject in the common room of an inn. “Is there anything we need to buy here?”
“I don’t believe so,” Kan said. It looked like she was going to be the spokesman for the two of them. “But I may go through the market tomorrow morning to be sure.”
“All right. The market opens at First; if we leave an hour after that, will it give you enough time?”
Kan nodded.
“I’ll see you in the stables an hour after First, then. In the meantime, I have an errand to run.” Miryo rose to her feet, then stopped as Kan also stood. “Is there a problem?”
“I’m going with you.”
Miryo stared at her. “What?”
“The Primes have charged us with keeping you safe, and it’s getting dark out.”
“Samalan is the safest place in the world, except for Starfall itself. No one would dream of giving me trouble, not so close to our domain.”
Kan merely shrugged.
Miryo continued to stare at her, but the Cousin ignored it. Misetsu and Menukyo. I probably couldn’t get her to stay here if I tied her to a ceiling rafter . She eyed the Cousin’s muscles. As if I could . “All right. I don’t think it’s necessary, but it doesn’t look like I’m going to change your mind.” Kan didn’t answer that.
They went out into the evening light, Kan walking a few steps behind Miryo. Glancing back, Miryo saw that the Cousin was alert, keeping one hand near to the handle of her short sword. Maiden wept. She’s probably going to act like this the whole trip, too .
Shaking her head, Miryo turned her head and paid attention to where she was going.
It was a fair walk; lying in the grasslands as it did, Samalan had all the open space it needed to sprawl through. The directions she had been given led her finally to a modest-looking house near the north edge of town. Both the Water Ray and the Void Ray had representatives in Samalan: Perachi, a Hand of the former, lived farther to the east and served the people of the town. Morisuke, however, was responsible for monitoring who came and went from the witches’ domain.
Kan hovered behind Miryo as she knocked on the door.
A moment later she heard the lock turn. A tall blond woman opened the door and took in the two of them with a quick glance. “Miryo, I presume. Satomi-aken spelled to say you might be coming to see me. Do come in.”
With a start Miryo glanced at the woman’s neck. The triskele pendant hung there openly enough; Morisuke was apparently one of that minority of witches with blond hair. “Thank you,” she said, realizing she had yet to move or speak, and stepped over the threshold. Kan followed silently.
“May I get you anything to drink?” Morisuke asked, gesturing Miryo toward a chair in her small sitting room. Her house was modest but obsessively tidy; even the fireplace, unused right now, was swept spotless.
“No, thank you,” Miryo said.
Morisuke nodded and seated herself. Kan took up a sentinel position against one wall; Miryo resolved to speak to her about that. There was no need for the Cousin to behave as though she expected an assassination attempt any minute.
“What can I help you with?” Morisuke asked.
“I was hoping you could give me some idea of the road conditions we’ll be facing.”
“Which direction are you headed?”
“East, through Haira and Teria, but I don’t know how far.”
Morisuke closed her eyes and looked thoughtful. “There have been some storms in the coastal bills, but any damage to the road will likely have been repaired by the time you get there. If you go as far as Razi, that’s the only place you might find trouble. Cano is not as good about keeping up his duty of road maintenance as he should be. But the storms were mostly west of his domain, so even if he hasn’t yet seen to the roads, they should be in passable shape.”
“Is there any political unrest?”
“Not in that region. Ruitte spelled earlier today to say that Lady Chaha of Kalistyi is claiming some of Seach’s men-at-arms caused havoc on her side of the border—Lord Mimre is, of course, denying the charge—but that’s up near the mountains. Southern Seach should be quiet. The only other trouble is up in Askavya, well out of your way.”
Askavya again. And if anyone would know where Ashin went, Morisuke would; wherever she went, she almost certainly passed through here . “Narika said something about that as well. Do you happen to know if Ashin-kasora went there? She left Starfall about a week ago.”
“Yes, she went north, and very suddenly. Did Narika by chance tell you what’s happening up there? I’ve received very little word.”
Miryo shook her head. “I’m afraid not. She wasn’t certain herself.”
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