Мерседес Лэки - Passages

“Your name rings a bell for me as well,” Imra replied. It might be that she had met Aerus in Polsim or Endercott during her many travels.

Aerus dismissed the familiarity with a wave. “So, have you finally come to ask for my help?”

Imra glanced at Izli. “I beg your pardon?”

“Well, it was only a matter of time before that scoundrel decided to make a profit off the channels. And I must say, that Herald’s idea was quite the talk for a while, though the original plan was for the irrigation to be used on my lake and not his.”

Imra frowned. “ You have a lake?”

Izli nodded. “It’s actually larger than Connak’s.”

“And it was that lake the original documents agreed upon. But after the Herald continued on his way, Connak seized the opportunity to cement his claim to being the town leader. He volunteered his own water supply and became a hero to the villagers. But you see, that wasn’t going to last because the rat’s got one very big problem.”

Imra smiled. “He’s a gambler.”

Aerus opened her mouth, then closed it. “Yes. Seems you know my grandson better than I thought.”

“Grandson?” Imra’s jaw dropped.

“I don’t claim him most days. Please, tell me how you knew?”

“Because he said he was going to Haven to ask the Queen’s assistance. But he didn’t go that way, or I would have seen him on my way here. The only travelers heading to Haven now are Heralds. He’s gone to Polsim.”

“Or Devin. Either has areas of ill repute. He’ll come back with even more debt and some sob story about the Queen refusing him, or maybe even putting him in charge.”

“That would be a lie.” Izli stomped her foot.

“Since when did that stop Connak? And the bad thing is, everyone in that village seems to think it’s somehow preordained, since he’s a descendant.”

“But you carry the name,” Imra said.

“Only by marriage. My dear sweet Vincent died a few years ago, not long after the Herald left our little village. As long as he lived, he was the leader. And when he died . . .” she looked past them into the fire. “A part of me died too. But by the time I awoke from my sadness, my grandson had bullied his way into taking my husband’s place. I know about his people on the council. They were not voted in, but bought in. And as long as they allow their fear of him to rule over them, he always will.”

She rose and walked to a chest in the corner, opened it, and took out a roll of parchment. The act seemed ceremonial to Imra as Aerus turned and offered it to her. It was still sealed by wax, pressed with the icon of a tree.

“What . . .” Imra began.

“This is the original document signed by the families of the town, and by my husband, willing that lake to the village and her people. All the preparations were made to start construction on the irrigation channels—the lake is a high enough elevation to permit fast travel and an ease for valves. The only thing it needs is someone to lead them to the lake and guide them to complete the work.”

“Oh . . . I can’t—” Imra tried to hand the scroll back.

“Take it. Give it to Reyis, if he’s still around. He was the only one with the balls to stand up to Connak. If you can’t lead them, then use what you have to support him.”

Izli pulled on Imra’s arm. “Let’s go and find Reyis. Connak’ll be back soon. There’s not much time.”

“I don’t think I can—” Imra said.

“When people invest in something that is theirs—and that piece of parchment says the lake is the town’s—you’d be surprised how hard they’ll fight for it.” Aerus patted Imra’s hand and yelled, “Goat! Get them a horse. We have no time to spare!”

“Yes ma’am,” came the reply.

Izli ran through the door. But Imra hung back and stared at Aerus, feeling a hidden strength there. Something she no longer had. It surprised her when Aerus wrapped her hands over Imra’s. “I lost myself for several years, little one. While the world around me lived and changed and went on without me. She would not want you to give up on life, not when you still have the gifts those Chosen have.”

It took Imra a minute to understand that Aerus knew , somehow, that she had been a Herald. Maybe she finally recognized her from some visit to a neighboring city. Regardless, the acknowledgement was enough for her to pull Aerus to her and hold her tight beside the fire.

“Fight,” Aerus said. “Fight for what is right, fight to bring people together. The Queen gathers her Heralds because there is danger coming, and all of us will have to move as one.”

Imra brushed back tears as she turned to hurry from the great room of the Hold. Goat brought them a horse of darkest brown, and together she and Izli made their way back to the village.

Once Reyis had the document in his hand, had the town notary witness him open it and read it out loud, it took him no time to call a town meeting that night, much to the protests of most of the council—the ones on Connak’s payroll.

The meeting was held in the inn. The place was packed, not just because the village seemed to have grown excited at the prospect of solving their own irrigation without having to pay to use the water, but also because a few who tasted the stew and pie earlier couldn’t stop speaking about it. It seemed Merelyn had magically learned to cook!

It became obvious to Imra that her dreams of a nice bath and a good night’s sleep were far away. Not only was Merelyn going to need help in the kitchen, but Reyis was going to need a bit of guidance navigating the fine print of the agreement. She gave assignments to Merelyn and Izli, drafted a young woman nicking a piece of bread into serving with the promise of free food, rolled her sleeves up and dove into the meeting among the heads of the families who crowded around. She took turns in both places and by the end of the evening, well after midnight, the family heads had drawn up plans for a work schedule to begin digging new channels.

One of the men involved suggested they save time and join the irrigation channels already in place from Crown lake below where they travel out of Connak’s border. Reyis agreed it was a nice idea, but it would be something they’d need to include Connak in. He wasn’t going to be too happy about the village working around his tax idea. Imra had to agree—though what they planned was legal and fair, Connak struck her as someone who would not be too pleased about losing control.

Reyis and a group of five would head up to Aerus’ Hold early in the morning to talk with her and see the lake and discuss the preparations that had been previously started, then they would report back to everyone else. Imra and a few others helped clean up the main room as well as the kitchen, and once finished, Imra gave Merelyn and Izli a hug before she went upstairs.

With it looking as if the town had found its footing again, Imra decided she would leave the next day once Telidji was reshod and continue her journey to Devin. She hadn’t thought that in less than twenty-four hours she would have become so attached to a place and its people. She hoped they would find success in their choices and wished them luck.

Imra was surprised to find Izli in her room when she returned from the privy the next morning. The girl was still in her sleeping gown and seated on the bed, her hands in her lap, staring at the floor. “You’re going to leave. Mother guessed it.”

“Yes.” Imra moved close to her. “It’s time I moved on.”

Izli looked up at her. “Is it because you’re secretly a Herald? If you are, can you show me your Companion? Please? I’ve always wanted to see one up close. I hear they can talk to you—Imra? Why do you look like that?”