Ricardo Pinto - The Chosen

He came to the firepit and peered into the pots. Some had green sauces, others yellow. In one a pair of carp swam round in the warming water. He stirred another, fishing for morsels with a ladle, curious to see what might be wandering in the depths.

He reached the pool into which the Hold's spring was pouring its liquid ice. Girls were ranged around its edge, drawing water out with pitchers. He asked for Keal and one of them pointed. He did not see her shy adoration or the way the other girls exchanged meaningful looks. He made for his brother's broad back and slapped it.

Keal spun round cursing. The anger slipped from his face. 'What're you doing here? Grane'll be furious-'

'Grane's always furious. Besides, his bird'll be back in the cage before ever he finds that it's flown.'

The order to keep you there came from the Master himself. You do know that, don't you?'

Keal's eyes were storm-grey. His skin was a pale honey-brown. He was tall enough to reach Carnelian's chest. Of all the children his father had sired upon the household women, Keal was the one who looked most like him. Those eyes, that severe look, were the Master's. Carnelian felt a familiar pang because Keal would never see this for himself. In the household none but the eldest had ever seen his father's face.

'Come on, you'd better get back there anyway,' said Keal.

'Before I do I'd like to know a few things,' said Carnelian. 'First, tell me what happened last night. The warlike preparations-'

'Hush!' Keal grabbed his arm and dragged him off into the intoxicating stink of one of the storerooms, whose walls rustled with dried squid.

Keal looked so serious Carnelian almost laughed.

'I'll tell you what I know but you must keep it to yourself, OK?'

Carnelian nodded.

'I don't know why I'm doing this.'

'Because we're brothers, of course.'

'As well as that. I'm just hoping that you'll make less trouble if your damned curiosity's satisfied.'

'And because you know you're no good at hiding things from me.' Carnelian grinned.

'Do you want to know or not?'

Carnelian made his face serious, then nodded.

'Well listen then. The Master armed us and made us man the Holdgate. I was with him as we watched the Masters coming up the road. I think he was as shocked as the rest of us that they were here.'

'How do you know that?'

Keal shrugged. 'I just do.'

Carnelian let it pass.

'He put me in charge of the Holdgate. He told me that when the Masters demanded entry I was to delay them, tell them that we were waiting for word to come back from him in his hall before we could let them in. He told me that I mustn't on any account open the Holdgate till he sent word. Then he left with Grane and-'

They left you there to face the Masters by yourself… to openly disobey them?'

'Well, it wasn't quite like that. It was their tyadra that actually demanded entry. Mind you, even then it wasn't easy.'

'Go on.'

Keal's eyes blanked. Though the Masters said nothing I could feel their anger rising like the storm. They just loomed in the background. It was terrifying. It was like contradicting the Master himself.'

Carnelian shuddered. 'I can imagine.'

'At last one of the Master's blindmen came. I can't remember all he said, you know how weirdly they speak when they're carrying one of his commands, but the gist of it was…' He stopped and walked to the doorway to make sure there was no-one nearby, then came back. The gist of it was that we were to let them in with all proper respect and to escort them to him, leaving none at the Holdgate. They were to be treated as the Masters they were but… we should think of them as being pirates come to plunder the Hold.'

Carnelian stared at his brother. 'He said that?'

Keal nodded, his eyes big and round. 'Or something very close.' 'Was that it?'

Keal chewed his lip. 'Not quite.' He had lowered his voice. The blindman also said that, at the Master's word, I was to be ready to destroy them.'

'What?' Carnelian was stunned. Even the suggestion of harming a Master seemed blasphemy.

That's what the man said, and he brought the Master's ring to prove it.'

Their eyes locked.

'Is there more?' Carnelian said at last.

'I was to stay at the Holdgate and expect an attack from the ship. If any of them came back through the Hold without their escort they were to be destroyed.'

'And later?'

Things changed. When you came out of his hall with the two Masters, you remember, I took them to the west rooms? That's where they are now… I hope. When I came back Grane was there and the other Master was still inside. The Master came out-'

'Which Master?'

'Our father.' Keal blushed from the use of the word. 'He came out and told us that we could relax our alert a little. He made most of us stand down. He said he wanted us rested and fresh for this morning.'

'And today?'

Today he's told us to paint wards everywhere. Grane was told to protect you and stop you wandering about.' He gave Carnelian the severe look again.

Carnelian patted his shoulder. 'It'll be all right. Tell me about our people. How are they feeling about all this?'

'What do you think, Carnie? They're all dancing for joy.'

'What're they afraid of?'

The Masters, of course, and do you blame them? They're a scary bunch. People know something's up but they don't know what.'

Carnelian nodded grimly. 'I suppose I feel a bit like that myself.' He saw his brother tauten and reached out to touch him. 'We'll be OK. My… our father won't let them harm us.'

'But, Carnie, they're taking so much, so much of everything.'

Carnelian remembered the kitchen. 'You mean food?'

That and other things. Their demands just don't stop. We've already started digging into our reserves. If they stay even a few days they'll eat into our stores, and you know as well as I do that there's nowhere to get more before the ships come.'

Carnelian nodded. He knew how carefully they had always had to husband their resources, especially in winter. He was still brooding as they walked back into the kitchen.

There you are,' a voice cried.

Carnelian's heart sank. His Aunt Brin was sweeping towards them across the kitchen.

'You do know it was the Master himself who ordered you to stay in your room?' said Brin as she reached him. She turned on Keal. 'And I would've thought you at least would show more sense.'

Keal flushed. Brin was not only the Master's sister but she also had control of all the household except for the men of the tyadra. That did not stop them fearing her tongue. The kitchen clatter faded away as people turned to stare.

Carnelian grew angry. 'Don't you dare take this out on him, Brin. I was the one who forced him to talk to me. He was all for getting me back to my room.'

Brin grunted, scrunched up her face. The legs of her chameleon tattoo disappeared into the creases in her cheeks. 'Look at the way you're dressed, Carnelian. Do you have any idea at all what might happen if any of the strangers were to see your face?'

Carnelian drew his cloak back to reveal the mask hanging at his hip.

'It's a lot of use there under your cloak. Besides, the Master's command is the Master's command. Go back to your room.' She turned to Keal. 'And you, since you're so easily forced away from your tasks, maybe you'd better give up what you're doing and escort him. Make sure he gets where he's going, then go and tell Grane that I don't want to see you or any of his other boneheads in my kitchen for the rest of the day.'

Keal hung his head. 'Yes, Brin.'

Carnelian lost his anger. He knew Brin was right and already had enough to do without having to run around looking out for him.

'What are you lot gawping at?' bellowed Keal, glowering.