Mickey Reichert - Flight of the Renshai

Everyone in the translation party turned to look at Tae as if to ask if he had heard enough.

Tae would have liked more, but their obvious concentration on him jeopardized any future plans. Once the pirate knew of his presence and talent, getting information would move from difficult to impossible. He shook his head, waved dismissively, and headed back out of the prison, without waiting to see what the others did.

Several guards and a snarl of cats met him at the exit. The men clearly wanted to ask him what he had learned, but they remained silent. They knew better than to upstage the king.

Tae did not say anything. He needed to consider his strategy and his words carefully before they rushed him to his meeting with King Griff, Queen Matrinka, and whichever trusted guards and advisers they chose.

Plaintive mewing accompanied them as they hurried down flights of spiral stairs and through long hallways. Then, something hooked the hem of Tae's tunic. Still moving amid the clot of guards, he looked down as a cat clawed its way up his side, gouging fabric and flesh alike.

Tae reached down, snagged Imorelda, and placed her on his shoulders. She stretched out around the back of his neck.

A guard reached for her. "Sorry, Sire. Usually, they're not that bold."

Imorelda slashed a pawful of nails at the man's hand.

Anticipating the attack, Tae lurched, forcing Imorelda to tend to her own balance instead. The unsheathed claws pierced his shoulder like needles. "Leave her," he gasped. "This one's mine."

"Yes, Sire." The man retreated. *Ease up!*

Imorelda obeyed, though not without protest.*Walk more carefully, and I won't have to do that.*

Tae knew better than to argue with a female or a cat.*Of course. It's all my fault.*

The guards paused, while the leader knocked briskly on a door.

It opened almost immediately to reveal a small room that contained only four people and a table surrounded by chairs. Tae knew everyone inside: the king and queen of Bearn, Darris the bard, and Rantire, Griff's fierce Renshai bodyguard. Matrinka and Griff gave Tae acknowledging nods, while Darris bowed decorously and Rantire only stared with aggression.

Tae waited until his escort left, closing the door, before speaking. "Ah, so one Renshai remains in the West."

Clearly addressed, Rantire did not seek permission from her liege before speaking. "Vows to gods take precedent over any human decree."

Tae could not argue. Colbey's son, Ravn, had bestowed the job of Griff's guardian on the Renshai, and her loyalty was total and unwavering. It was also obsessive and annoying.

Matrinka asked the question on every mind, "So, were you able to understand him?"

Clearly mortified by his guardian and his wife, Griff offered their guest a seat. "Please, make yourself comfortable."

Tae did not worry about politeness or formality, but he did appreciate the delay. Choosing the nearest chair, he sat, and the others did the same. "I didn't," he admitted.

Matrinka sagged. "It's hopeless, then?"

Tae explained, "He's not speaking any known language of our world." Imorelda clambered gingerly from his shoulders into his brand-new lap.

Griff leaned forward, "Are you sure?"

Tae nodded, stroking the animal absently.

"Because," the king continued carefully, "there are several languages. And maybe you've just never heard…"

Tae remained silent, allowing the king to finish his thought; but, as Griff trailed off and clearly awaited an answer, Tae explained. "I speak all ten of the major languages, Griff. Even ancient barbarian. Even elfin, though not necessarily with great fluency. Anything else is simply a dialect, and I can figure it out quickly. Now, I only heard a few words, but this… this was… different."

They all went silent, waiting for him to explain.

Tae had nothing more to say. Five or six words, spoken by one individual, was not enough to make pronouncements.

"So," Matrinka broke the silence. "You're saying these pirates come from another world?"

Tae shrugged. He did not feel competent to make a statement of such significance, but it seemed like the only logical answer. *They do, don't they?* *If I knew, Imorelda, I would tell my friends.*

Darris opened his mouth, then closed it with a sigh. He rose and started pacing, the Renshai watching him through slitted eyes.

Tae understood his discomfort. The bard wished to speak but remained constrained by the curse.

Griff clearly also noticed his bard's distress. "If you need to sing something, Darris, feel free. We would all love to hear it."

Darris nodded. He did not carry an instrument with him, nor did he need one. Tae had long ago noticed he mostly resorted to it when performing or when trying to evoke emotions. In a pinch, Darris had no trouble performing a cappella, his songs fashioned on the spot, though his rhyme scheme lacked the richness and beauty of the songs he inherited or deliberately wrote. The bard cleared his throat and cringed apologetically: To bring Outworld enemies would require An angry god all wreathed in fire, Or strong jovinay arythanik: Combined magic of elves, none of whom could panic. For magic is needed to open the portals, A deed that could never be done by mere mortals. Yet neither gods nor elves have suggested That humankind must be divested. But in the Sage's tower high, I found the tale of an armory by The enormous city we know as Pudar, Three centuries past, or about that far. As he prepared for the Great War, King Sterrane's friend, Garn, he took a tour, And tried a weapon bigger than he From a warrior 'cross the Western Sea. Who came, they said, when the world was young, A giant of a man who left no crumb But that massive sword too heavy for man. Perhaps his descendants have come to our land?

As Darris finished the last note, he looked askance at his companions. Clearly, he sought answers to his question, not praise for his song; which, despite his phenomenal voice and perfect pitch, was notably clumsy.

Tae considered the information in thoughtful silence. He had known that bringing in humans or creatures of parallel worlds required the magic inherent in a portal. He and his companions had traveled through several as they pieced together the ancient, broken Pica Stone that now tested the heirs to Bearn's throne. Each opening had required a massive number of elves working their magic together. It could never occur by accident. Tae had to concede and broke the silence, "Surely, if gods or elves intended to destroy us, they would open a portal to a world with man-eating monsters rather than simply subject us to an endless sea battle."

Imorelda batted Tae's hand but said nothing.

"Well," Matrinka added. "Griff, Darris, and I discussed this before; and I've given it some thought. If I had to choose between gods and elves, I'd have to guess the latter. If the gods wanted us gone, they could simply… um… unmake us, right? Slam us with fire or floods, famine or lightning, and they wouldn't need to open a portal." She glanced around the group. "Right?"

Darris turned his gaze directly on Tae. Clearly, he wanted to say something but hoped his Eastern friend would obviate the need for more singing.

Imorelda stood up in Tae's lap, planting her paws on the edge of the table.*The gods do things that don't make sense sometimes.*

Tae softened the words, "The gods aren't always predictable. Still, Matrinka makes a good argument. It doesn't do them any good to punish us if we don't know we're being punished or why."

Darris' head bobbed sideways. Apparently, he felt Tae had made an interesting point, but not the one he was hoping for.

Tae tried again. "I don't think it's elves either. They chose to go off on their own, to leave Bearn. They know they're welcome to return at any time. If they had a grievance, they would bring it to you." He jerked his head toward King Griff. "Wouldn't they?"