Мерседес Лэки - Passages

“You are such a liar, grandson,” said a familiar voice to the group’s right.

Reyis, accompanied by Riduil and Simon, led the large chocolate mare she’d ridden home on last night. And seated atop the mare was Aerus herself. A dark cloak covered her shoulders and the horse.

Connak stepped forward as if to challenge Reyis and his grandmother. “You think dragging this ancient remnant of a long-gone Hold changes things? I am the leader in this village.”

“By what vote?” Aerus said. She did not dismount, and Imra smiled. Her seat put her above everyone, even Connak. “Where is your legal tenure? What voice made you king, Connak? Surely not the people assembled here.”

“The council made me leader, and you cannot challenge it. Only a Herald can.”

“But we have a Herald here,” Izli burst out. “And you would have put her in jail!”

Imra cringed inwardly. No, no, dear child.

:Let her speak, my dear one.:

Voices, murmurs. The people glanced around as if to see a Herald and their Companion appear from the air. Izli pushed her way through, Imra’s Whites in her hands. She stood in front of Imra and held them out. “I can’t believe—I won’t believe—that you are only a Herald if you have a Companion. A Herald is the voice of the Queen. They fight for justice. They take care of Valdemar.”

Reyis handed the reins over to Riduil and walked through the crowd to stand beside Imra. “Aerus told me you were once a Herald, not long ago. One she met in Polsim many years ago. And from what I’ve seen—what I now know—you have dedicated your life to aiding us in our time of need. You have listened to this village’s bickering and its successes. In just the short amount of time you have been with us,” his voice rose just a bit as he looked around, “Imra has taught Merelyn to cook—”

“Ah, bugger off, Reyis!” Merelyn commented.

Others laughed.

“—and she helped us organize as a village should. Just this morning, the original council met with Aerus Carnei, and we created a new contract.” He reached into his jerkin and held up a folded document. “To restart and build the surface irrigation from the lake we the people of the town of Carnai own, as set up by the original agreement negotiated by another Herald.” He held up the document Aerus had given to Imra the evening before.

“Lies!” Connak stomped forward. “ I am the leader. This woman isn’t a Herald! She has no say here!”

“And you never traveled to Haven,” Imra finally yelled out. Bolstered by Reyis’s words, she straightened her shoulders and took a step toward Connak. He was so much taller than she was, and he had bullies on his side. But Izli’s words carried her along. “I no longer have my Companion, but I still have the Queen’s sense of what is right and what is wrong. Wrong is paying lackeys to bully others into getting your way. Wrong is taxing the village to use a body of water that was never included in the original document.” She pointed to the document in Reyis’s hand. “ That document. Sealed until witnessed yesterday upon its opening.” She moved her finger and pointed it at Connak. “You were never in Haven because I came from Haven, down a road you have never traveled.”

“You lie!”

“I’m afraid not,” Aerus said. “I have friends in Polsim, and I’m sure they will testify that you have spent the past week in Polsim, gambling.” She smiled sweetly at him. “If you protest, I am more than sure those same friends will call in your debts?”

Reyis lowered the document and raised his other hand to command attention. “I raise the vote of the people of Carnei to dissolve the council set up by Connak Errel, and reestablish the former council.”

A resounding cheer went up around them. Imra felt her heart soar and clutched her Whites to her chest. So much had happened in such a short time. Her head was spinning.

“Vote seconded,” Riduil shouted out. “All in favor?”

Another cheer went up.

“Passed!” Aerus held up her hand. “And now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to visit this inn and have some of that stew Simon Dod raved about in the middle of our meeting this morning.”

Riduil helped the matron down from her horse as Izli ran up to her and led her to the inn. Villagers patted each other on their backs as the new council—the former council—formed a circle around Connak.

“Imra.”

She nearly jumped out of her skin to see Reyis was still beside her. His expression was warm in the midmorning sun, and he tucked the papers back into his jerkin. He then placed his hand on the Whites against her chest. “I can’t even imagine what kind of loss you’ve suffered. When I was a child, my sister was Chosen, and I resented the Heralds for a very long time, because they took her away from me and my family. She was killed by Karse soldiers, and I blamed the Heralds and the Queen. But, to know you, and to know your grace and your fairness, tells me that I misjudged them and their purpose. Reading the words laid out in those documents told me my sister had labored hard to set out the rules of Carnei.”

Imra blinked a few times. “It was your sister who originally solved the irrigation issue?”

He nodded. “Not many really remember. Not many know she and Islian passed from this place a year after. Like I said—I blamed the Heralds. But not anymore.”

Reyis moved his hand from her Whites to her upper arm. “You may not wear them anymore, Imra. But you live them, as you were born to do.” He laughed when he heard Merelyn’s voice calling for Imra. “And as you were born to keep helping Merelyn navigate that kitchen.”

Imra laughed as they made their way to the inn. She tucked the Whites under her arm as they entered and smiled at the villagers inside, many talking and laughing, and making plans to work tirelessly until the new irrigation channels were in place. Once in the kitchen, she placed her Whites in a cupboard away from the mess of cooking, rolled up her sleeves, and gave instructions to those volunteering to help.

“Hey, Imra,” Simon Dod said from the bar. “I nominate you as new village leader!”

“Seconded,” Reyis called out.

Imra put her hands to her face as those gathered threw up a cheer for her. Silence entered the square as everyone present waited for her answer.

:I think you’ve finally come home,: the ghost of Saelihn said to her, and Imra felt the memory of her Companion’s love and pride.

“Well?” Simon said, his hand out. “Will you stay and lead us, Imra?”

Looking at their faces, Imra wiped away tears and nodded. “Yes . . .” She fanned at her face with her hands. “I would be honored.”

The chill of a damp spring breeze bit Marjom’s cheeks as she and Herald Graylan rode in the center of a wide road shadowed by tall trees. Her arm hurt where she’d wrenched it in a fight that morning, and she was so tired it was hard to keep her head up and watch the sides of the road for wild animals or bandits.

Marjom’s Companion, Hannra, Mindspoke, :We’re almost there.:

As if he’d heard Hannra, Graylan echoed her. “The inn is close.”

She answered them both back at once as she straightened her spine and stretched. “I could ride for another hour if I had to.”

Neither of them called her on the possible lie.

The Forest Sow Inn needed a new coat of paint and a carpenter’s touch. Nevertheless, light spilled through the windows and promised heat, meat, and wine. The stable girl, Lisette, jogged up happily, a wide smile on her face. She curtsied to the two Companions, Hannra and Yinna, her eyes shining with adoration for the graceful, silver-white horses that she clearly knew were much more. Astride Hannra, Herald Marjom noted with wry amusement that Heralds evidently didn’t rate as highly in the child’s view.