Roger Parkinson - Summon Your Dragons

“It's a good idea, Vorish,” said Adhara. “Menish works too hard. There are plenty of foolish errands they expect him to go on. With Grath and Hrangil, and now Althak, gone there'll be even more.”

“Who should I have in my guard?”

“That's up to you, but choose eight or ten people of about your own age, people you like, of course. Try and include some that are closely related to the clan chiefs. That will make the chiefs pleased with you, and it'll be useful to have such people near you when you are King one day. Also, choose people who are interested in learning to fight in the Relanese way, people who can work together as a team.

“You should have your own standard too, if we can make one before the battle. People should see where you are.”

“Our family has a standard,” said Adhara. “You can use that if you want.”

“The eagle? I remember it. Mora has it hanging in Kronithal. I'm not sure. She treasures that standard. I'd hate anything to happen to it.”

“Getting the people are more urgent,” said Vorish. “I'd like to begin training them as quickly as possible.”

Drinagish counted on his fingers for a moment.

“Yes, I think all of the ones I'd choose are here in Meyathal, except one. He should arrive any day. The clan chiefs being here means everyone who's important is also here. I'm sure we can be ready by tomorrow except for that one. And… Uncle, I would like to include Neathy if I may.”

“Neathy? Why? I've just appointed her my standard bearer.”

“I would like her to be in my guard.” Drinagish looked embarrassed.

“Oh, I see. How long has this been going on?” Menish turned to the other two. Adhara was smiling. “I suppose you knew all about it?”

“I wondered,” she said.

“We're only friends as yet, Uncle. Nothing further has been discussed.”

Vorish grinned.

“A good choice, Drinagish. She admires you greatly.”

“She does?”

“You can see it in her face.”

“You'll have to put up with that cat of hers if you marry her,” said Menish warningly. “Meanwhile I'll have to find another standard bearer. I hope you'll not steal Bolythak from me.” He sounded exasperated but, like Vorish, he was pleased with Drinagish. Neathy was technically a member of the Rithyhir clan, but she was normally thought of as part of Menish’s household, and therefore she had no strong clan affiliations. If Drinagish married her he would not have the usual problem of placating the other clan chiefs. Besides, Menish liked her too.

“No, Uncle, I'll not steal Bolythak. Perhaps I should have a cat as a standard!” They laughed, but Vorish reached behind him and tugged at one of the wall hangings.

“Something like this?” It was a stylised picture of a leaping lion. With some trimming it would make a fine standard.

“You might change your mind about that standard if you don't marry Neathy. Standards are awkward things to change,” cautioned Menish.

“Perhaps,” said Vorish. “But I'd advise you differently. Set your heart on something, and never rest until it's yours. You quickly find that nothing can stand in your way.”

“That's exactly the sort of thing I'd expect you to say,” laughed Adhara. “Be careful of him, Drinagish. It's said that the Emperor of Relanor never sleeps and knows everything.”

“It's true, of course,” said Vorish, as if she had just announced that day followed night. “But don't let me keep you from your beds. It's getting late.”

They had arrived at the camp by horse, but it was an easy walking distance back to Meyathal. Drinagish chose to ride, Menish and Adhara chose to walk. The night had deepened and there was no moon yet. At first they walked silently, listening to Drinagish’s horse gallop away along the path ahead as they walked. He was in high spirits, probably off to find the friends he wanted in his guard. When the thudding of hoofs faded they could hear the low murmur of the river, sounds from the Relanese camp and, further up the valley, the hooting call of a bull.

“Does this change anything between us?” asked Menish, breaking the stillness.

“How could it? The only difference is that now you know that I know.”

“I should have told you. But I was afraid you might leave me.”

“Perhaps, if you had told me all those years ago to my face, I might have felt I had to leave. When I realised what had happened for myself it didn't seem that I had to do anything.”

“Then I'm glad I didn't tell you. I felt so guilty about it. That's one reason I left Thalissa for Thealum’s men. I wanted her dead.”

“What… what was she like?”

Menish hesitated before he spoke. The Vorthenki had regarded the youthful Thalissa as beautiful. Such things had never been said of Adhara, though she was hardly ugly. But could he tell her that?

“She was Sinalth’s favourite. You know how the Vorthenki choose their women, buying or stealing them like cattle, and Sinalth was the leader of the Invaders. She was very beautiful, in the Vorthenki fashion, but she was poisonous. One evening she put something in the wine I was drinking, or perhaps I just drank too much. I don't remember much more about it. I woke the next day with a splitting headache, and she was still in my bed. I came to my senses then and threw her out of the room.

“When I met her at Lianar she was old and sad, but perhaps still a little poisonous.”

He felt he had made a full confession at last.

“And, all these years I've wanted to ask you but I couldn't, did you really love me, or was it something like the pity you showed people like Althak and Vorish?”

Menish stopped walking, taken aback by her question.

“How can you ask this? You've shown them as much care as I have. It's something we both do. Not just me. Your comment in the council about how I take these people in could've been said of you as well as me. Who found Neathy when she was lost and homeless? Who was the only woman in Meyathal who would speak to Althak for years?” He put his arm around her. “I couldn't have shown these people pity without you.”

They walked on in silence, enjoying each other’s touch without need for words for a few moments until Adhara spoke again.

“I suppose you're wondering how Mara knew?”

“Was it something to do with the rite of Protection?”

“Yes. Only women who have had children may perform the rite. While the idea that a man might do it was acceptable enough, there were ancient precedents, a man without issue was out of the question. So I had to tell them what I knew.”

“I would have thought it would make me totally unacceptable.”

“Many argued that. But no one is innocent of some crime or other. I challenged them to find someone who was. Besides, your crime was against me alone. If I choose to ignore it they had no case.”

“I'd noticed their looks, and few of them have spoken to me since then.”

“They'll forget. Meanwhile you'll have to be satisfied with me for female company.” He heard the grin in her voice, and the fact that she could joke about this more than anything else convinced him that she had, indeed, forgiven him.

It was faster descending. Thalissa had slowed the way up, and now fear and horror drove them back down. After they had crossed the gap in the stairs they travelled even faster, for they knew there were no more obstructions.

The strange designs on the walls of the stairway leered at them like phantoms now, mysterious and threatening. Unconsciously the two men found themselves glancing behind them. Tenari simply held Azkun’s arm and walked.

Their legs became tired from the endless jarring of stepping down. They felt their knees become weak with fatigue and no longer trusted their steps. But still they kept walking without pause, refusing themselves rest. Azkun would have gone on forever. He feared the end of the stairs almost as much as their beginning, for at the end of the stairs he would have to think again. Althak simply wanted to get back to the boat.