《Ironkeeper》


 Chapter 1

    Why is it that so many words for water start with the letter d? Dew, drip, drizzle, droplet, downpour, deluge, drenching.. And yet somehow, the default word used is the woefully pedestrian (and alphabetically aberrant) rain. Looking back on that day, he would not have called the precipitation that flowed through the city and forcibly diverted the course of his life rain. No, he would have called it a drowning.


    Eldan was 12 years old on the day of the drowning. He woke to a sky that felt like cotton wadding, thick with strangely bright, suffocatingly close clouds the color of an old, yellow bruise. Electricity seemed to hum and crackle just out of reach, the atmosphere itself dangerously alive. He blinked at the sickly light and pushed himself up on his elbows to see the rooftops just below his window ledge, gray, flat expanses with the occasional clothesline hanging perfectly still in the breathless morning. Eldan habitually checked to see how cold or warm the day might be as he awoke, dressing according to whether wind was whipping empty lines and blowing sheets of sooty dust or rain across the rooftops, or if perhaps somewhere a matronly figure snapped sheets or even took a moment to stand staring, contemplative in the sun, basket on hip, past the cluttered buildings to the winding gray river dotted with ships beyond. As he looked blearily across the empty, airless view this morning he felt a vague sense of unease stirring in his stomach.


    Eldan pulled his eyes from the window and shook himself awake. This was the morning! Finally, after years of imagining this day in excruciating detail he was finally following his sister (and everyone else, but mainly his sister) to prove himself in the Court of Keepers. Sylvan, his sister, as naturally poised and restrained as he was awkward and impulsive, had risen to a position of diplomat trainee in her four years with the Court. He knew he was unlikely to follow her path but perhaps someone would notice in him a glint of an iron will and he would find himself on an expedition to push past the edges of the maps of the known world, or he would execute a perfect dive and series of swimming strokes and be tapped to lead a dangerous mission to the sea floor. He had never met anyone who held anything like these positions, but then he had never heard of a diplomat before his sister achieved her position, either, and with the pride his parents took in her achievement he couldn¡¯t hope to only find the path to blacksmith, like his mother, or musician, like his father, or even jeweler, like his best friend Cale¡¯s father.


    Cale! Eldan shook off the last of his sleepy ruminations as he remembered he had to meet Cale this morning so they could make their journey together. Eldan threw off the covers and ran to the sturdy wooden bench where he had laid out his clothes and shoes the night before. He had, in fact, tried to sleep in his clothes and shoes to make sure he was ready as quickly as possible but his mother had somehow felt the clothes beneath his blankets when saying goodnight and her tender, last night at home tuck-in had quickly turned to much more familiar annoyance as she made him get up and change into nightclothes. Eldan pulled on his best canvas trousers (these had caused an argument, as well, but they were his best because they were perfectly worn-in and comfortable and he wanted to feel his best) and laced his rough, brown suede boots with blood-weed red laces. Most of the boys wore white, soft leather boots but his mother had refused to buy him any color but brown as she said he would just get in the mud and they would turn brown, anyway.


    Eldan grabbed his pack filled with all the items required on the list sent from the Court: four changes of clothes, one set of exercise clothes, one set of swimwear, birch sticks for teeth, a brick of soap, notebooks, pens and ink. As he glanced around his small attic room one last time his gaze caught on the window and the thick, yellow sky and as he watched a dark flicker of a fish tail seemed to pass just overhead.


    ¡°Eldan! Are you going to be late for this, too?¡±His mother shouted up the stairs.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± Eldan jerked away from the window and slammed the door behind him as he ran down the steep, narrow stairs, skipping chunks of the staircase with each step by coasting most of his weight on loose palms sliding down the banisters. He slightly misjudged the final step, landing with the hard half-stumble that comes from expecting to hit one more step than existed at the bottom. As he staggered to a stop he crashed into the bentwood umbrella stand next to the front door, catching it and standing it back upright with an enormous clatter. He winced as his mother¡¯s footsteps thundered down the hall from the kitchen while he froze, trying to still his body enough to look convincingly as though he had taken the stairs at a measured pace.


    ¡°I must have tripped..¡± he laughed nervously.


    ¡°River¡¯s depth, Eldan! Don¡¯t you dare try to lie to me.¡± His mother¡¯s eyes flashed dangerously and she stopped inches away from him. Eldan withered and dropped his head to gaze at the floor, his wavy, shoulder-length hair falling into a curtain over his face. ¡°Look me in the eyes. And stand up straight!¡± She grabbed his shoulder and pushed back with one hand while using the other to shove inward from the small of his back, forcing him upright. ¡°For keep¡¯s sake at least pull your hair back if you insist on going out dressed like a street urchin.¡±


    Eldan obligingly reached into his pocket, finding a leather thong among several stones, and tied his hair at the back of his neck while attempting to hold his mother¡¯s furious stare.


    ¡°I raised you to be better than this, Eldan. I don¡¯t know why you want to dress and act the way you do but you didn¡¯t learn it from me. Appearances matter, you know. When people see you in those worn-out clothes they will think I don¡¯t know how to raise a proper child¡±.


    This is what it always came back to, the idea that every choice Eldan made reflected poorly on his mother. He wanted to make her proud, he really did, but he felt suffocated and self-conscious in the soft tunics and hose she preferred he wear. He also had an unfortunate tendency to come home with these finer garments wet, torn, or worn through at the knees and elbows, so in exasperation she had once made him wear the rough canvas pants and flax tunics worn by her forge-hands while doing labor. This had been meant as a punishment of shame, he knew, but putting on those clothes had felt like such an enormous relief that from that day he refused to wear anything else unless forced. His dress had become a source of constant tension with his mother, and no small amount of ridicule from the other children and even adults in the annex, but Eldan just couldn¡¯t go back. He struggled under the weight of her disapproving silence, wanting to apologize but knowing how disingenuous it would sound, when she suddenly shook his shoulder and released him with a sigh.


    ¡°Well, at least I know you will work harder than anyone else. You will have to, if you want anyone to take you seriously, you know. But at least you can do that.¡± She turned toward the kitchen while Eldan followed, looking at her broad shoulders and the cords of muscle on her arms. She must have been in the smithy early, as she was wearing her heavy leather apron and had smudges of soot on her upper arms, and her face had been red and glistening from the heat.


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    The kitchen was the heart of their house, and Eldan felt his throat clench as he stood in the spacious room with big windows where they spent most of their time together. Eldan was competent, if not gifted, when helping her in the smithy but he was a natural in the kitchen. He had always thought he might be selected as a chef, and though he felt some muted enthusiasm at the prospect of spending all his time creating recipes he mostly dreaded the idea of being trapped in a single room for the rest of his life. The fact remained, though, that cooking was one of the only times when he was able to channel his overabundant energy into something productive, and demonstrate patience and delicacy that he typically sorely lacked. Eldan pulled himself from his reverie and saw that his mother was standing expectantly behind the work table, waiting for his notice. He started to crumple again, expecting her to dress him down for his inattention and daydreaming, but she simply tapped a canvas bundle sitting before her on the table.


    ¡°This is for you.¡± Unexpectedly, her voice caught as her hand trailed over the package. ¡°You are the best son I could have asked for. Infuriating, yes, and exasperating, yes, but you are the kindest, funniest and sweetest boy..¡± she trailed off and seemed to wrestle with what to say next before coming to some kind of decision and soldiering on. ¡°I was always afraid I would have a son and wouldn¡¯t know what to do with him. I was afraid he would be rough and cruel, looking down on women and girls and bullying weaker boys and animals. I¡¯ve known too many boys like that, and I wasn¡¯t sure if they might not emerge, fully formed, as smaller versions of the terrible men they would become. When I had you I was terrified, and I know I wasn¡¯t always the best mother to you because of that fear. But you.. are something different.¡±


    The look she gave him then was the softest he had ever seen, though tempered with fierce expectation, and his mouth worked silently for a moment while he tried to work out how to respond.


    ¡°All right then, open it up.¡± His mother nudged the package and Eldan shuffled to the bench, pulling the heavy canvas bundle across the smooth, heavy wood table, and slowly unfolding the long cloth. When he rolled out the last fold a short sword lay in front of him and he gaped at it in bewilderment. Only the military and nobility were allowed to wear swords, and he was certainly not nobility, nor had anyone ever suggested he might be an appropriate candidate for the military.


    ¡°It¡¯s a dagger¡±, his mother said, staring at him meaningfully, ¡°a long one, but you will grow into the length. Even so, it¡¯s prudent to keep it concealed for now to avoid any confusion, so when you roll it back up you will find this has a stave pouch and a strap so you can carry both on your back with the stave in easy reach.¡± She seemed to struggle with what to say next again, pushing on with considerably less than her typical fierce certainty in her words. ¡°When you get settled at the court I ask that you seek out a woman smith you feel you can trust completely, one who is skilled in blade-work, and ask her to teach you to wield this safely. Mind it must be a woman and you must be absolutely sure she is trustworthy. Don¡¯t rush this out of excitement, and don¡¯t show anyone this blade until that time. There are certain traditions only passed down among the women smiths. If you do as I have said, when she sees this blade she should understand.¡±


    Eldan made a formal bow, understanding the burden of responsibility she was giving him and the risk she took by forging this weapon, though he could not fathom why. ¡°It will be as you say. I promise.¡±


    His mother nodded sharply and pulled a second, smaller bundle from her apron pocket. This one she put into his hands, and he untied the strap to find it was a small double pouch with two knives, one lage and one small, both utilitarian kitchen blades.


    ¡°These are so you can care for yourself and prepare food whenever and wherever necessary. You will also be making a home of your own one day, and these will be the knives you will need first and use most often.¡±


    Eldan was far more comfortable and confident holding these familiar blades and he hefted them and held them to the light, smiling uncertainly. ¡°Thank you. I will use these well¡±.


    Finally, she pulled a whetstone and a small bottle of oil from her apron and set them down among his gifts. ¡°These blades require constant maintenance, as you know. I expect to never find them dull and never see a spot of rust or grime. Can I trust you to care for them?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I promise. I know exactly what to do¡±. This Eldan could promise, having often been tasked with finishing and maintenance work in the shop, and expected to care for the household kitchen blades each time he used them. While he was somewhat thrilled by the sword, and in truth no one would ever call that blade anything but a sword, he mostly felt suffocated by the confusion and responsibility that came with the blade and his own inexperience. This could only be another arena where he would fail to distinguish himself in any manner, hampered by his small frame and tendency to lurch suddenly with his every movement, and the fact that the nobility and military hopefuls were trained nearly from birth in the art of swordsmanship. Eldan¡¯s experience with swords was limited to a few, secret swings of commissioned blades when he snuck into the smithy alone or with Cale, and even those left him shaky with the fear that a single slip would leave him injured or maimed, or worse, reveal his disobedience to his mother.


    ¡°Well, I suppose if you intend to see your father before you leave you had better get moving.¡± His mother¡¯s face set into hard lines as she mentioned his father, and Eldan felt guilty for wanting to make the trip, though the thought of not visiting his father made him equally guilty.


    ¡°I told him I would come. I don¡¯t know when I will see him again so..¡± He trailed off.


    ¡°No, of course. You need to see him and say goodbye, I understand.¡± His mother¡¯s tone was clipped and she didn¡¯t look like she understood at all.


    Eldan drew in a deep breath and began folding his new sword in its cloth, tying it tight with the stave pouch on the outside. He walked self-consciously to the door and withdrew his stave from the umbrella rack, sliding it into the sleeve and fumbling his head and arm through the strap so the case crossed his back. He reached over his shoulder and attempted to draw the stave, digging the strap sharply into his chest as the stave caught in the sleeve with only a few inches withdrawn. His mother sighed impatiently behind him and grabbed his hand, forcing it into the motion of drawing the stave smoothly over his head. ¡°Oh.¡± Eldan mumbled ¡°I will practice.¡± He managed to clumsily force the stave back in place by himself.


    ¡°I will write you. And I will make you proud.¡± Eldan shifted his feet, torn between a desire to run out the door and end this confusing, complicated goodbye, and to comport himself with some kind of dignity in their last encounter for many months.


    ¡°I am already proud of you. Now it¡¯s time you find your own path of pride.¡± His mother pulled him into a strong hug and kissed the top of his head, making Eldan all too aware that he had yet to hit his growth spurt. He leaned stiffly into the hug and then pulled away, putting his hand on the knob and running his eyes over the familiar spaces of his home one last time. He nodded to his mother, opened the door and stepped across the threshold, releasing a breath he didn¡¯t realize he had been holding as he walked into the street. He turned back to wave at his mother, still standing in the doorway, one last time before resolutely marching toward his father¡¯s home.

 Chapter 2

    As Eldan walked he noticed the streets were unusually empty. He supposed perhaps the morning of a new court starting was always quiet, though he had never noticed it before. The sky still felt oppressively close and the greenish light filtering through the yellow clouds made the buildings and trees look alien and menacing to his eyes, as though he hadn¡¯t walked these streets thousands of times. His sword dug painfully into his back and forced him to stand bolt upright to keep it from rubbing a sore between his shoulder blades, and he idly wondered if his mother had gone through all of this just to improve his posture.


    Eldan slowed as he approached the overgrown, nearly wild garden of his father¡¯s house, never quite knowing how to announce himself, and hoping his father might see him through a window and come outside, saving him the decision between knocking or just opening the door as though he had a right to enter. It had never been clear to Eldan whether he was supposed to behave as a family member or a guest.


    Out of habit, he glanced up to check the time by the height of the sun, and realizing he couldn¡¯t tell with the thick cloud cover resolved him to move more quickly, striding up to the door and knocking firmly. After a few moments he heard his father¡¯s footsteps coming and wriggled his back straighter still, his hands clenching nervously.


    ¡°Eldan! Well, come inside, boy.¡± His father beamed as he opened the door. He pulled Eldan into a rough half-hug and clapped him on the back. ¡°Would you like some tea? No? Well, put your things down and have a seat. Make yourself at home.¡±


    Eldan¡¯s father was a musician, though equally a scholar, and was quick with a joke and a laugh. He was also quick to anger, Eldan knew, and unlike his mother, who was predictable in her near-constant disapproval and irritation, Eldan never seemed to realize when he was about to make a misstep that would set his father off. Too many times he had made the mistake of relaxing into conversation and banter only to suddenly find his father erupting with fury and disgust, while not quite knowing what he had done or said to make the conversation take a sudden turn.


    Once, years ago, Sylvan had found him hiding behind a tree, crying, after one of these rages, and uncharacteristically decided to attempt to comfort him. ¡°It¡¯s not you, you know¡± she sighed. ¡°When they look at you they see each see the other, and neither can stand the parts of you that remind them of their time together.¡± She patted his back awkwardly as he sobbed into his knees.


    His parents had separated almost immediately after Sylvan was born, and Eldan was the result of a brief attempt at reconciliation while she was a toddler. They apparently had stayed together until he was about one, though he obviously had no recollection of this time, before parting in mutual disgust with Sylvan firmly insisting on following their father while a bewildered Eldan clung to his mother¡¯s chest. Sylvan and Eldan considered themselves siblings, and both parents claimed both children, but they each rarely saw the other parent.


    ¡®Why isn¡¯t it like that for you? They are both so proud of you, and they never get angry.¡± Eldan shoved his tears away with a grimy palm, leaving a streak of wet dirt across his face as he turned to his sister.


    Sylvan grimaced, and some unreadable emotion flashed across her face before she schooled her features back into their usual placid expression. ¡°I am a mirror, Eldan, nothing more. All that anyone sees in me is what I reflect back at them, and it seems people love their own reflections a great deal. You are too much yourself to ever escape their notice¡±. At that she stood up and brushed herself off, walking away without a backward glance.


    Eldan dropped his pack inside the door of his father¡¯s home, and wrestled the stave pack off his back, setting it down carefully so it didn¡¯t make a heavy thunk from the hidden weight of the sword. His father had headed into the kitchen, presumably to make tea for himself, so Eldan took a seat and waited for him to come back. He heard a rumbling purr, and looked down to see a a large brush-tailed river cat stalking through the legs of a harpsichord, carrying a ball in its mouth. ¡°Ah, hi Glade¡± said Eldan, relieved to see the familiar pet that would give him something to do with his hands and possibly a subject to talk about with his father. Glade dropped the ball at his feet and sat back expectantly. Eldan rolled the ball toward her and Glade swatted it back lazily, clearly expecting better.


    Eldan¡¯s father wandered back into the room holding a mug of tea. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want tea?¡± When Eldan shook his head his father sat down, folding one long leg over the other. Eldan did not have his father¡¯s height, though to be fair, he didn¡¯t have his mother¡¯s, either, but he did have his features. They both had thick, wavy hair that refused to be tamed and bright green eyes under bushy eyebrows. His father¡¯s hair was now streaked with white and worn with an equally wild beard, but the resemblance was unmistakable. Sylvan, to further the irony, took after her mother, with fine, blonde hair and cat yellow eyes.


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    ¡°Well, I suppose you are heading to my old stomping grounds today, aren¡¯t you? I remember how nervous I was on my first day at the court, suppose I wouldn¡¯t have wanted any tea either. Have you thought about what you are going to pursue?¡±


    ¡°I.. haven¡¯t decided. I have a few options but think it¡¯s probably best to do the circuit studies first and see where that takes me.¡± In truth Eldan had absolutely no idea what he wanted to do, and had yet to be tapped for any trade or excel in any area of study, but he wanted to keep the conversation light and far away from the subject of his deficiencies.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine, that¡¯s fine. You know I went in as a scholar first and found my way to music in my second year. You don¡¯t have to have it all figured out just yet.¡±


    Eldan was well aware that his father had distinguished himself as a scholar and mathematician before following that with exemplary distinction as a musician. His groping his way through the circuit studies would in no way resemble his father¡¯s ¡®finding his way¡¯. He bounced the ball to Glade, who snatched it out of the air with her claws before giving it a good bite and sending it back.


    ¡°Ah, how is Sylvan faring in her diplomacy training?¡±


    His father¡¯s face lit up at the chance to discuss Sylvan, who was currently in an extremely rare fourth year of advanced study with the court. The vast majority of students went into basic trades and spent their second year in preliminary apprenticeships, going on to become full apprentices afterward. A smaller percentage went into highly specialized trades or services and studied for the second year before being accepted into apprenticeships or guilds, and a select few went on to advanced studies in areas of scholarship or politics. The Court of Keepers operated on the principle that talent and dedication alone would shape an individual¡¯s destiny, and that anyone had the opportunity to rise into the ranks of nobility or power during their time with the Court, but in practice it was virtually unheard of for a child of commoners to make such a leap. Sylvan had, of course, managed to accomplish this feat and was rising to a position of great political importance with a very real possibility of entering the ranks of the nobility someday. His father had also been one of the rare individuals to pursue four years with the Court, though while he was sought after as a composer, orchestra leader, instrumentalist and teacher, advanced music scholarship brought no attendant rise in rank or political power.


    ¡°Sylvan is thriving. She was born for this position, it seems. She is already participating in council meetings with the major states and there is talk of sending her abroad to handle trade negotiations with a minor state. She is on track to become the youngest diplomat in the history of the Court.¡± Eldan knew all this, of course, as Sylvan had been the talk of the annex since she was selected for the role, and his mother missed no opportunity to discuss her achievements. He let the ball drop from his fingers and roll slowly towards Glade, who didn¡¯t even deign to look.


    ¡°So..¡± his father seemed to search for some accomplishment of Eldan¡¯s to comment on after discussing Sylvan ¡°are you still playing with that stave?¡±


    Eldan crumpled in his seat. ¡°Yes. I, ah, got pretty good at it this year and was selected to participate in the inter-annex tournament.¡± His father looked at him expectantly, but there was nothing more to tell. He had been selected, but his mother did not believe he would perform well enough so he withdrew to train another year in the hope he would be better prepared for the Court tournaments. She explained that it would be to his benefit to seemingly come from nowhere, with none of his competitors having had the chance to see and exploit his weaknesses. Even more embarrassingly, his selection had been of so little import that the news hadn¡¯t even reached his father.


    As the silence continued uncomfortably long, Eldan felt ridiculous for his dreams of being noticed and chosen for some thrilling position while at the Court. He had never been noticed or singled out for anything he had attempted in his life, and it seemed ludicrous that just this morning he had imagined that might suddenly change. Eldan glanced out the window at the yellow, indeterminate light and his stomach twisted with anxiety. ¡°I think I should head out, to be sure I am on time to the Court.¡± His father nodded and stood up, seemingly just as eager to keep the visit short and civil, setting his tea on the cluttered desk behind his chair.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be a stranger, then. And maybe you can ask Sylvan for some pointers when you arrive. She has a great deal of experience and might be able to help set you on your path.¡± His father didn¡¯t look particularly hopeful, and Eldan was both disappointed and relieved by his lack of expectation. He stopped to pet a dismissive Glade on his way to the door before struggling into his pack and stave case for the second time that morning. Once settled he looked up at his father and, on impulse, stuck out his hand to clasp hands as a man might say goodbye. His father chuckled, took his hand and gave it a firm shake.


    ¡°One last thing, boy. Find your people when you get to the Court. Maybe that girl, Belladonna, can be one of them, but find other people that understand you and that you can trust. The Court can be.. difficult.¡±


    ¡°Her name is Cale, short for Caledonia.¡± Eldan murmured.


    His father sighed. ¡°All right, Cale, then. Well, may you find the favor of the Keepers, son.¡± Eldan bowed quickly, stepped outside and gratefully closed the door behind him, hearing his dad muttering ¡°Caledonia, Belladonna, who chooses names like those?¡± as he walked back toward his tea. Eldan smiled slightly at that. His father, it seemed, hated Cale¡¯s full name almost as much as she did herself.

 Chapter 3

    Eldan climbed the few steps up through his father¡¯s small garden and began to run towards Cale¡¯s house, finally ready to move into his new life with some partial closure on his old one complete. The painfully distant and banal visit with his father and utterly confusing goodbye with his mother had stripped him of most of his early morning excitement and fantasies. He would likely be shunted into the first trade where he showed any aptitude, starting his apprenticeship next year. As he ran, though, he shed some of the thick anxiety and dread that had settled in his chest over the course of the morning, and found himself jumping over small hedges and rock walls despite the stiff, awkward blade pressed against his back as he cut through shortcuts to Cale¡¯s street. He slowed down a few houses from hers and settled the packs on his back, not wanting to arrive on her doorstep out of breath.


    As he walked up to her house, nearly twice the size of his parents¡¯, with cheerful white siding and green shutters, the door swung open and Cale¡¯s father stepped out to greet him.


    ¡°Good morning, Eldan!¡± He called up the walk. ¡°Come on, come on, Cale has been about to jump out of her skin waiting on you all morning.¡±


    Cale¡¯s father was slightly round and slightly balding, with bright, intelligent eyes and a nearly permanent smile twitching to break at the corners of his mouth. He was as relaxed and easygoing as Eldan¡¯s parents were tense and unpredictable, and Eldan took enormous pleasure in his company.


    ¡°Thank you, Master, I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m late.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, you aren¡¯t late. And I¡¯ve told you before, none of this Master stuff. Don¡¯t I wish I was young enough to be mistaken for a journeyman.¡± He shook his head ruefully, laughing. ¡°Just between you and me, Cale has come down with a near terminal case of the jitters, and she had us up hours ago worrying over what to pack and what to leave behind. Mind you, her bag has been packed and repacked twice a day for a full lunar cycle.¡± He winked conspiratorially and waved for Eldan to follow as he turned to the door.


    Cale¡¯s father, Gregorial Goldkeeper, was the current Master of the jeweler¡¯s arts within the 32nd annex, and had been honored with the title of his trade. While the other annexes had Goldsmiths, Goldmen and Goldwomen, all of whom would take apprentices and pass on their trades, Gregorial alone personified the depth of knowledge and sheer artistry that denoted a keeper. He had taken apprentices over the years and considered himself a proud father and grandfather to several of the jewelers in the surrounding annexes, but his heir apparent now sat on his parlor floor frantically examining the tools, notebooks and clothing sitting around her empty knapsack in neat piles.


    Cale glanced up at the approaching footsteps, then sat back with a sigh, brushing a tangle of brown curls away from her storm gray eyes. ¡°So I suppose it¡¯s time to go, then.¡± She gave a tense, sad smile, a slight flush rising on her heavily freckled face before she dropped her head and began to methodically repack her knapsack.


    Eldan started to step forward to try to break the tension hanging over his best friend, but Gregorial beat him to it, doing a small jig of silly dance steps before grabbing Cale¡¯s hands and pulling her to her feet to swing her around. Cale¡¯s face broke into a true smile as she spun around her father. ¡°A greater goldkeeper than Gregorial Goldkeeper goes to the grotto of goldlore to gain grace, good grades and.. gills!¡± Gregorial sang in a deep baritone, enunciating his words as though he were performing a call to arms in an opera.


    Cale rolled her eyes, laughing. ¡°Ugh, that was terrible!¡±


    Gregorial held her at arm¡¯s length, raising his eyebrows in mock affront. ¡°Are you telling me I should not proceed with my plans to petition the Court for a new career as a bard? I burn from your vicious betrayal.¡± He pulled her in for an embrace, burying his nose in the curls on the top of her head. ¡°All right, my little river shrimp. Let¡¯s get you out the door.¡±


    Cale nodded and turned back to her knapsack, quickly finishing her task and hoisting it onto her back. She walked to Eldan¡¯s side and leaned her shoulder companionably against his, then throwing her arm across his shoulder and unexpectedly finding the rigid weapons across his back. ¡°What the¡­¡± Eldan cut her off with a quick shake of his head. Cale shrugged slightly and went back to leaning against his side.


    ¡°Look at the two of you all grown up.¡± Gregorial shook his head sadly. He sighed, rocking back on his heels, then shook his head and visibly made an effort to throw off the weight of melancholy. ¡°I bet you aren¡¯t too big to turn down my famous gooseberry tarts, though!¡± He pointed to a table by the door, where two paper packets sat, tied with string.


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    Eldan¡¯s stomach growled immediately, the thought of tarts further chasing away a bit of the cloying tension of the morning and leaving him suddenly famished. ¡°Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Master¡± he bowed slightly.


    Gregorial rolled his eyes ¡°always so formal and yet always bringing my daughter home covered in river muck.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Caledonia..¡± a sing-song voice floated down the stairs and Eldan felt Cale stiffen against his side. Even Gregorial faltered as his wife¡¯s footsteps began to click slowly down the wide staircase that curved up from the entranceway. Iyena of House Goldkeeper drifted into view like an eldritch specter, draped in layers of gauzy, silvery silks. Her silver hair tumbled down her back, her eyes a lighter gray than Cale¡¯s storm cloud eyes, and her skin so pale it was nearly translucent, reflecting the silver fabric to complete the illusion. ¡°Were you planning to leave without paying your respects to your mother?¡±


    ¡°Now, now, Iyena. She didn¡¯t want to disturb you so early.¡± Gregorial¡¯s tone was light but his smile was strained.


    ¡°Mmm.. perhaps.¡± Cale¡¯s mother reached the bottom of the staircase and turned her gaze, somehow simultaneously piercing and unfocused, on her daughter, her lip curling slightly as she seemed to peer through Cale to a distasteful truth crouched, hidden behind her back.


    Eldan had never been clear what had happened to Cale¡¯s mother, but he understood that there had been a time before when she was different, full of life and laughter like her husband. Whatever had wrought this change had occurred before Eldan first laid eyes on Cale, when the two five year olds had both wandered away from their parents at market and found their way to the river¡¯s edge to splash in the mud and search for newts. Eldan had been knee-deep in the water, dipping his face into the surface and opening his eyes to try to see through the silty water to the creatures at the bottom. He lifted his dripping head to see a girl had unexpectedly appeared nearby, dragging a stick through the mud. Their eyes met and Cale had imperiously waved him over with her stick, marking the beginning of a fast friendship and the first time they would be dragged apart by her exasperated, laughing father and his indignant, infuriated mother to be dried off and scrubbed clean of each other¡¯s influence at their respective homes.


    ¡°Does your mother truly mean so little? Is she so light that she might float from her own daughter¡¯s memories?¡± Eldan faintly felt Cale tremble, whether with anger or fear he didn¡¯t know. Iyena waved her hand as though brushing a spiderweb aside. ¡°Mm, I see.. the currents tumble on but she drifts in an eddy.¡± Her lilting, singsong voice made her words sound eerily childlike.


    ¡°Iyena, be fair.¡± Gregorial¡¯s face was drawn, seeming to age a decade as he unconsciously stepped to stand protectively in front of Cale. ¡°You know well how important this morning is for all of us. I beg you to remember the day we went to the Court and find it in yourself to send her off with your blessings.¡± Iyena¡¯s gaze remained fixed in the middle distance, appearing as though she registered neither Gregorial¡¯s entreaties nor movements. Her attention slowly slid toward the space just behind Eldan.


    ¡°Mm, does the boy wonder if he is a man now he bears a blade?¡± Eldan froze, a jolt of cold fear spearing through his body. ¡°It matters not, he will not bear her any more than he could bear the rapids. He will be washed downstream and battered against the rocky shore.¡± Suddenly she bubbled with laughter, a light, completely natural and joyful sound that left Eldan reeling with dissonance. As the laughter trailed off she waved her hand airily and dabbed a tear from the corner of her eye, all while fixated on the same spot behind Eldan¡¯s back. ¡°I jest of course.¡±


    Gregorial turned to Eldan and Cale and put a hand on each of their shoulders, speaking with forced joviality. ¡°The sun must be high now, let¡¯s pack up those tarts and send you off. I trust you to take care of each other on your journey and write to let me know when you are safely at the court.¡± He kissed Cale¡¯s forehead and gave Eldan¡¯s shoulder a squeeze before nudging them forward.


    Cale glanced at Eldan and then shot toward the door without looking up at her mother. Eldan followed, feeling unsteady and exposed, keeping his arms rigid to stifle the urge to reach back to feel whether his sword had somehow become visible. They silently packed up their tarts and moved to open the door.


    ¡°Ca-le-don-i-aaa..¡± the lilting song came again. ¡°A kiss for your poor mother, at least?¡± Cale¡¯s eyes darted to her father, who nodded reluctantly. She tugged on the straps of her knapsack, hoisting it higher on her back, and trudged across the entranceway and up two stairs so she could reach up to kiss her mother¡¯s cheek. Iyena stood stock still, arms hanging at her sides. As Cale turned back her mother¡¯s hand shot out and seized her elbow. Cale yelped but Iyena held fast, and as Cale whipped her head back in fright her mother stared straight in her eyes, her mocking song now interspersed with warbling and gurgling mirth.


    ¡°Have you seen the fattened ripples? We will meet once, years ago, between the sunken and the drowned, so I may let you take what has been taken, so I may let you wake the unforsaken.¡±


    Iyena¡¯s pressed her lips together, seemingly satisfied with her pronouncement, as her eyes unfocused and her hand dropped limply to her side. Cale leaped backwards to the door, throwing it open and running out onto the walkway, with Eldan spinning and running behind after a fast half bow to Gregorial and Iyena, who stood in what looked like a frozen tableau.

 Chapter 4

    Eldan chased Cale up the walkway and onto the street, where she walked briskly just ahead of him. He reached back to fumble with his stave pack, patting every part he could reach until he was satisfied that the blade remained fully concealed in layers of canvas. As he pulled abreast with Cale he realized she had tears streaming down her face. Eldan had seen the remote but vicious side of Iyena, if rarely, as she remained cloistered in her rooms most of the time, but had never seen anything like the sheer strangeness she had exhibited today. Cale very seldom spoke about her mother, and Eldan knew that while whatever had happened to change her so completely cast a pall over the household, Cale¡¯s life with her father was a happy one, in part because Iyena was, for all intents and purposes, absent.


    ¡°I¡¯m all right, I just..¡± Cale blew out her breath sharply and stopped to scrub her face with her sleeve. ¡°Let¡¯s just keep going, we have a long way to go, right?¡± She smiled tentatively and Eldan nodded. He bumped his shoulder against hers and their hands, both cold and clammy, clasped briefly before they fell in step beside one another. Eldan felt a snake of guilt as he realized he was relieved that the bizarre scene between Cale and her mother had completely overshadowed the comments about his blade.


    Eldan and Cale needed to travel through a warren of annexes to reach the Court of Keepers in the center of the sprawling city of Servandor. Each annex functioned as a nearly entirely self-contained town within the city, providing its residents with an independent and complete mercantile system, infrastructure, local governance and law enforcement. As settlements surrounding the city were annexed into the city proper each was required to establish boundaries and demonstrate self-sufficiency and the ability to accept and enforce the city laws. Some annexes centered around a single powerful individual with enough wealth to purchase the entire tract of land, and some, like the 32nd, were much more egalitarian, with land purchased in parcels by its citizens and governance enacted by elected council.


    While people regularly traded among annexes or traveled to the city center for resources, it was not uncommon to hear of people that lived from birth to death without traveling outside their annex except for the required term with the Court of Keepers. Eldan had traveled with his mother to the outer annexes to purchase unrefined metals, and to the military barracks beyond to deliver orders of weapons. Cale was far better traveled, having accompanied her father to the heart of the city when he fulfilled his obligations as a Keeper, as well as among the annexes to trade with other jewelers. She had even having journeyed with him for many cycles to reach the mountains and sands to acquire rare gemstones, returning with stories of far-flung cities with foreign foods and customs, and nights spent making camp under the stars.


    Cale now led them through streets, alleys, markets and neighborhoods, dodging people, horses and carts as they made their way toward the waterfront to follow the river to the main harbor at the city center. When they reached the low stone and sandbag wall at the river¡¯s edge she scrambled over and dropped onto the firm, dried mud at the shoreline, with Eldan following gingerly as the stiff pack impeded even this short climb. When he dropped to the shore in a stumbling crouch Cale¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the pack peeking over his shoulder, but she just turned to face the water. ¡°Thought we should come here one more time to take our lunch. After all, we might not be able to do this anymore after today.¡±


    Eldan sat on a flat stone, gratefully removing the packs from his back, and began untying the laces on his boots. ¡°I won¡¯t let that happen. Even when you become Goldkeeper and I become.. successful, I will remember. We won¡¯t be like all the other stuffy adults who never explore anything and only swim in the pools.¡± He pulled his boots off and tied the laces to his pack, rolling his pants to his knees and standing to walk across the expanse of mud leading down to the water.


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    Cale¡¯s freckled face began to lighten at that, her eyes crinkling as a hint of her typical mischievous smile emerged, so Eldan pressed on. ¡°There is going to be so very much to explore at the Court. I heard there are secret passages and hidden rooms that no one has found for centuries. There is supposed to be a door hidden in the fountain at the city square that leads to an entire abandoned underground city.¡± Eldan flushed with excitement. ¡°We are going to be the ones to find them all. Perhaps we should look for the fountain door today?¡±


    Cale shook her head, immediately beginning to turn over the logistics of searching for forgotten passages. ¡°No, we will need to plan. We don¡¯t want anyone else to know we are looking. There are guards that patrol the city center, and more people than you can imagine, especially when Court is starting session. We should start scoping out our approach, though. Take a stroll around like we are just city-struck outer annex yokels and memorize the layout.¡± Cale nearly always took the role of planner in their adventures, having a mind that seemed made for breaking down devious ideas into manageable steps. If Eldan was the impetus for their schemes, Cale was the driving force behind their ability to pull them off.


    Eldan stepped into the shallows of the river, his feet sinking deeply into the soft mud as gentle waves of current lapped against his shins. The river was unusually placid, without the usual winds racing sheets of shallow ripples across the surface. Only faint dimples and swirls from the sluggish current and wide, slow bumps from the wake of distant ships disturbed the glassy surface. The thick, yellow clouds, however, made the depths look black and impenetrable rather than murky green. Eldan shivered, imagining huge, sightless, pale catfish deep beneath the dark waters. A small sunfish that had been eyeing this strange trunk that had suddenly appeared boldly nipped at his ankle and he gracelessly leaped backward out of the water with a strangled cry.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Cale jumped back, too, startled.


    ¡°Nothing, just a little fish. I.. I don¡¯t know why it scared me like that.¡± Eldan turned and walked uneasily back toward the dry shore, pulling his feet free with a wet, sucking sound with each step. When he stepped onto firmer ground Cale turned to walk with him back to his packs, where by unspoken agreement they sat down on the flat rock to eat their tarts. They savored the flaky pastries in silence, each lost in their private worries about what was to come when they reached the Court.


    Cale finished first, standing up to brush crumbs from her lap and crumpling the paper wrapping into a ball. Eldan took the last bite of his tart, smoothing and folding his paper carefully into a small square while he chewed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s walk on the shore as far as we can go and then cut into the 1st annex?¡± Cale gestured upriver. Eldan nodded his agreement, mouth still full of tart, and began shrugging into the straps of his packs, remembering that the river wall grew steadily higher and closer to the river¡¯s edge deeper into the city, until the shoreline disappeared completely as it neared the main harbor. He had never seen the harbor in person but had seen paintings of the dizzying maze of docks and winches surrounded by dozens of ships.


    They both kept their boots laced to their packs as they trooped upriver, pausing occasionally to skip an especially smooth and flat stone across the river surface and making up the time by racing each other as they jumped from rock to rock closer to the wall, seeing who could make it the farthest without slipping and touching a foot to the ground. All too soon they found themselves running out of easily passable shoreline and had to stop to put on their boots before climbing back over the wall. They clambered out onto a large rock jutting into the current and took turns gripping the other under the armpits while lying flat on the rock as the person being held inched down to dip their muddy feet into the water to rinse them clean.

 Chapter 5

    Cale faltered briefly before taking a deep breath to continue. ¡°I can teach you, too, or Father will. But some things he says only the Keepers can know, that even if I become Goldkeeper someday I have to be taught directly by the Court.¡±


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 Chapter 6

those made by his mother. The artistry of the decorative work was not quite as fine, and the blades looked just a bit duller than hers.


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 Chapter 7

    The actual gate of Servandor, a massive iron portcullis, stood fully raised, as it had for centuries, since the annexes were built. The city was roughly circular and sat at a sharp bend on the river, backed by water almost halfway around its circumference, with annexes radiating outward in concentric half circles around the remainder. Between the high, sheer harbor wall and the layered defenses provided by the annex militias the main city was nearly unassailable.


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 Chapter 8

    ¡°River¡¯s depth, they¡¯re dropping the gates!¡± Someone shouted from the outer half of the tunnel, setting off an explosion of screams and cries as the crowd began pressing to get out before the gates fell. A mass of bodies stampeded forward blindly, crushing Eldan and Cale back against the wall as they pushed and shoved down the tunnel toward the city opening into the city. The cacophony of noise from the ancient gates dropping was deafening now, and Eldan pressed desperately against the much larger figures around them to create an opening to see how far down the gate was falling. Between the already crepuscular, murky shadows of the tunnel and the snarl of people blocking the gray light at the mouth, he was plunged into complete darkness, unable to make any sense of the pandemonium.


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    ¡°I¡¯m here! Can you follow my voice?¡± Eldan sounded strangled to his own ears, his throat raw. He heard splashes to his left and turned his head to squint through the gloom, just able to make out Cale stumbling toward him, feeling her way along the stone. He stood up and reached out his hand, clutching at her fingers. Tenebrous light began to filter from the mouth of the tunnel in the distance as the last of the crowd ducked under the gate and rushed into the violence of the storm, seeking shelter deeper in the city.

 Chapter 9

    At the tunnel mouth they discovered shallow, raised alcoves sat at the sides of the gate, where they could sit close together just above the waters on the floor, sheltered from most of the rain blowing through the iron bars wild, sideways spurts. They huddled in silence for a while, knees drawn against their chests to keep their boots within the alcove.


    ¡°Why would the gates drop today after being raised for centuries?¡± Cale finally asked, seeming to be talking aloud more than asking a question she hoped to have answered.


    Eldan pointed at the huge spouts of water still shooting off the parapet. ¡°My guess is that the storm brought so much water down so fast that it wasn¡¯t draining properly, that they had to get excess weight off the walls. The gates should act as supports when closed. Maybe that first crack we heard was something failing and lowering them was the only option.¡±


    Cale cocked her head slightly, looking up at the spouts. ¡°I suppose that makes sense.¡± She sighed, spreading her hands and examining her scraped, bloody knuckles. ¡°It¡¯s just hard to imagine we happened to be under the wall at the moment the gates had to drop. What are the chances of that?¡±


    Eldan shrugged uncomfortably. ¡°Someone had to be there at that moment. Why not us?¡± As they spoke the storm began to lessen as suddenly as it had started, the rain coming in fitful spurts and the sky starting to lighten. Eldan shivered as the wind stilled unnaturally quickly and the light took on a familiar sickly, greenish cast.


    ¡°Is it passing, do you think?¡± Cale asked, frowning in the sudden silence, broken only by the slacking water spouts splashing to the ground.


    Eldan shook his head, his stomach sinking with ominous certainty that the perverse calm was a portent of something worse to come. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so.¡± He fidgeted, leaning forward to peer anxiously through the gate, waiting for guards to appear. He was torn between desperately wanting to get out of the tunnel they shared with the body lying in the bend and dreading the possibility of another guard questioning the long, heavy pack at his back. The city remained eerily quiet, the streets stood empty, water pouring from gutters and dripping from rooftops the only sounds.


    Quiet settled over him like a smothering blanket, the heaviness making it difficult to breathe. He was so focused on trying to soothe his rising panic as he made shallow, ineffective gulps of air that at first he didn¡¯t notice when the sounds of falling water had been muffled completely. His eyes widened at the realization and he tried to turn toward Cale but found his body locked in place, pressed down by a rising pressure bearing in on him from every direction. His breathing was reduced to desperate sips as the weight became crushing. He felt his rigid body collapse back onto Cale, who folded limply, silently beneath him.


    The yellow light outside the tunnel grew to fill his entire field of vision and he lost connection with his body, feeling only a vertiginous sense of weightlessness and a faint recognition that he was suffocating, no longer able to force his lungs to intake even the smallest breaths. He could sense a titanic presence, something so massive his mind struggled to conceptualize its size, moving toward him, hidden within the light.


    Even in his bodiless form the pressure of this presence bore down on him, taking shape in some way he could sense other than sight into a gaping, cartilaginous maw beneath flat, lidless eyes. He understood the utter inevitability that he would be devoured, a speck before this ghastly hunger. The mouth surrounded him, so large that he could no longer perceive its boundary.


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    Eldan¡¯s thoughts began to drift, the tether to his oxygen starved body dissolving in motes of dust. He could no longer be bothered by the pain of suffocation as he let himself disperse into the endless yellow light. Time lost all meaning, as did connection and identity, leaving only release. He gratefully gave himself over to sate the insatiable, gluttonous beast that had swallowed him whole.


    Just as the final thread connecting Eldan to the physical world began to sever, he felt the pressure on his psyche increase exponentially as he was suddenly forced to bear the attention of the massive hunger, as though he were a tiny bone that had snagged in its throat, impossible to swallow. He snapped back to awareness, his mind screaming against the burden of the terrible weight of having been noticed. Limbless, drowning, he struggled hopelessly to find some purchase in the infinite field of bilious yellow glare, but that last wisp of connection was too weak.


    ¡°A marked one..¡±


    The voice that assaulted Eldan was a dissonant cacophony, sounding like thousands of raspy, gurgling voices forced into one. He couldn¡¯t tell if he was hearing the words or if they had been forced directly into his shattering mind.


    ¡°No, we see, he carries a mark that isn¡¯t his to keep. He should not be here..we could not see here.¡±


    Eldan could barely understand the words, each one crashing into him like a hammer onto an anvil, flattening and distorting the thoughts he was already struggling to pull together. ¡°What are you?¡± The question tumbled out, unspoken but understood.


    ¡°When all were consumed, they had no need to name us. Though the marked remain they are too few, we are too many. They might call us the drowned..the found..the bound.¡±


    The voice echoed in disagreement, trailing off before returning in full force to renew the assault.


    ¡°We are Without.¡±


    Eldan¡¯s mind shuddered as though electricity lanced through the core of his very identity, finally collapsing it into fragments. He felt huge chunks of himself slipping away even as he desperately grasped at them, as though he were trying to grab fistfuls of water. Memory fled from him, leaving behind an aching, bewildering void. He scrabbled at the walls of his mind, trying to understand what had been lost.


    ¡°We are Without..we are devout.¡±


    The voice and its echoes seemed to sigh in satisfaction as the beast flung Eldan aside and the vast body swam on, a monstrous, spectral finned tail sweeping at the edges of his perception.


    Eldan found himself back in his body, blinded and unable to move. His mouth was a desert, his eyes crusted and painfully dry. His breath came in stuttering spasms, his chest refusing to expand even in the residual pressure of the beast¡¯s passing. He repeated his own name to himself over and over in his mind, miserably attempting to find some meaning in the two syllables, but they were a barren wasteland. Eldan had never existed.


    As he lay there, rigid, lost in the horror of the light, he felt something cool wash over him, soothing his cracked lips and allowing him to draw in a lungful of clean air. His body slowly relaxed as he began to breathe regularly again, feeling returning to his tingling, leaden limbs.


    A new awareness brushed against his feverish mind, this one gentle but formed from an impossibly deep well of sadness and regret. He felt it settle over him like a cloak, seeming to enfold him and gently rock. It reminded him of.. something he could not quite grasp. Its voice was the barest whisper, speaking under the weight of unfathomable loss.


    ¡°You must keep, youngest. All that was before now has not been..even now the gouges and furrows fill as the waters find their new level. You must carry the burden of what is no more alone.


    You did well to protect the other one this far but she should not have remained..we are unable to return more to her than what you have shared. She will be neither sunken nor drowned but never will she fully breach the surface, the hands beneath will ever clutch, refusing to release. Her path lies through deep caverns she must choose to swim without light or guidance.


    Would that the youngest not suffer so..but it is required. The mark has been cast.¡±


    The words trailed off with a soft sigh carried on a breath of wind. Eldan felt something forgotten return to him before slipping under the dark waves of unconsciousness.

 Chapter 10

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 Chapter 11

    The scholar sighed loudly, rolling his eyes. ¡°There is no 32nd annex. I don¡¯t have time for this, want to try it one more time?¡±


    The scholar signed again. ¡°The annex dissolved, either through rebellion and inability to enforce the city laws or by economic collapse. It should be common knowledge that this has happened on occasion since the formation of the annexes.¡±


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 Chapter 12

She looked at him searchingly.


    Cale shook her head. ¡°We never knew our parents. I don¡¯t understand what is happening with you right now.¡±


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 Chapter 13

    Eldan awoke to sun pouring through the small window in his room, his clothing and hair sticky with sweat. Glade was gone, and he would have thought he imagined her visit had there not been a rubber ball, pocked with toothmarks, in the corner of the room.


    He saw there was a trunk for his belongings under the window, and crawled out of bed to stuff his two packs into it, leaving both unopened. He couldn¡¯t bear to even look at anything he owned as it was all tied to memories of his mother. He climbed back into bed, taking a moment to unlace his boots and shove them underneath, out of sight. The mattress was gritty with dried mud that had fallen from his pants and boots during the night but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to care.


    His grief came in devastating waves, crashing down on him with immeasurable force, leaving him gasping, only to recede when he was past the point of what he could bear. He would sit, staring dully at the wall, during these brief reprieves.


    During one of these lulls, when the late afternoon light slanted from the window, casting deep shadows across the room, Glade appeared in the windowsill. She leapt to the floor, opening her jaws to drop a large, silver scaled fish to the floor with a wet slap. Eldan stared at the fish, fixated on the holes piercing its side, trickles of red blood running down the silver scales where she had clamped it with her teeth, as she bumped her head against his knee.


    He slid off the bed, wrapping his arms around her body and clenching his hands in her thick, spotted, still-damp coat. She smelled of the river, and Eldan thought he could catch just a whiff of his father¡¯s tea. When he was sitting on the floor Glade¡¯s head reached his shoulders, her muscled bulk firm and solid in his arms. His shoulders heaved with fresh sobs and he pushed his face into her side, grateful for the warmth of her living body.


    Eventually his sobs calmed again, and he crawled back into bed, Glade settling to press against his back as he drifted into fitful sleep.


    Eldan awoke to find his room bathed in soft moonlight and rich with the scent of woodsmoke. Glade stretched lazily as he stirred, her spreading toes ending in long, curved claws silhouetted in the pale light. Eldan sat up, suddenly ravenous with thirst and hunger. He idly scratched behind Glade¡¯s ears as he wondered how he might slip out to find something to eat and drink, finally standing to look out the window, where he realized with surprise that they were five stories above the ground below. The wall below the window ledge was sheer, when he leaned out he could see no way to gain purchase to climb down. The next ledge was too far below and too shallow for him to drop. To his side, if he could somehow shimmy across a series of what he thought were eleven windows, stretched to his limit to gain toe-holds from one to the next, he would eventually reach a thick downspout from the gutters that he thought he could easily descend, but he wasn¡¯t sure he could reach the adjacent sill even with his body fully extended. He shuddered as he looked at the drop to the paving tiles below. He turned back to Glade, bewildered. ¡°How the abyss did you find me? And just how well can river cats climb?¡±


    Glade yawned in response, exposing a mouthful of sharp teeth with long, dangerous looking incisors, then hopped off the bed to sit next to the fish she had brought earlier, reaching out a paw to bat it twice, scooting it a short distance across the floor. Eldan pressed his lips in distaste, though he enjoyed eating fish he had always found them unsettling, and he loathed fishing and cleaning whole fish. With the stiff, bony feel of their gills and eyes that never closed, they filled him with an undefined sense of horror. But.. it was here.


    Eldan felt a sharp pang as he remembered the knives his mother had given him the morning prior, tucked inside his knapsack. He eyed the chest beneath his window apprehensively, not yet feeling prepared to face the contents, especially in this blessedly calm moment of relief from his raging grief.


    He walked across the room, stepping carefully around the fish, and sat beside Glade, wrapping his arm around her back and burying his face in the thick fur at her neck. ¡°It¡¯s just you and me now. I know it¡¯s a lot to ask, but please stay with me. You can do all the hunting you want, I will let you come and go just like my father did, but please come back. I need you.¡± Glade rumbled with a deep, throaty purr. Eldan sighed, ¡°I suppose that will have to be answer enough.¡±


    He sat back up and regarded the fish in front of him with distaste. ¡°I could use your help with this.¡± He cocked his head to look at Glade, who yawned again and began licking her shoulder. Since she at least did not seem inclined to leave he decided to take it as assent, and steeled himself to open his trunk.


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    Eldan found his knapsack was still damp, but the canvas was waxed and the contents were mostly dry. His knives sat on top, safe in their wrapping, and he was realized he still had the folded sheet of brown paper that had held his tart tucked in the pack, as well. He emptied his clothes and supplies from his pack so he could hang it up to dry, taking a moment to stack his notebooks and pens on his desk, and gratefully chewing on a birch stick to relieve the cottony dryness in his mouth. Finally the pack hung from the hinge of his casement window and only his weapon pouch remained. He pulled out his stave and stood it in a corner, returning to unroll the bundle with trembling hands. He blew out a sharp breath when the sword was finally exposed, still dry and unblemished.


    Eldan rocked back on his heels, truly taking in the blade for the first time. He had been so shocked and overwhelmed when his mother presented him with it that he hadn¡¯t studied it in any detail, unwilling to even touch it in the moment.


    The sword was hardly the dagger his mother claimed, but it was unusually short, only about three hands in length. The double-edged blade, however, was a thing of beauty, the steel rippling with blue waves. It had a simple cross-guard and hilt wrapped in brown leather, and the pommel bore an elegant, understated mark he didn¡¯t recognize. He looked closer at the mark, following the curves with his eyes, and it seemed to itch insistently at something at the edge of his memory. He finally shook his head and picked up the weapon gently, turning it so he could see his mother¡¯s mark hammered into the underside of the cross-guard. His eyes pricked at the simple insignia, and he laid the blade back down.


    Glade grumbled softly behind him, breaking him from his reverie. ¡°You¡¯re right, I know. I shouldn¡¯t have it out even now.¡± He mumbled around the birch stick still sticking out of the corner of his mouth, clamped between his teeth. He hissed out a sigh, placing the sword at the bottom of his chest and arranging his clothes over it, latching the trunk lid closed and draping the cloth case over the back of his chair to dry. He would oil and wrap the sword again as soon as he could. ¡°I will need to find a lock.¡± He mused to Glade, who was still sitting expectantly with the fish.


    Eldan spread the paper from his tart on the floor, dragging the fish onto it by its tail. He unfolded his two knives from their cloth and positioned the larger one just behind the fish¡¯s head, turning his own away and squeezing his eyes shut as he pressed down hard on the blade, feeling it snap through the spine and meet the resistance of the floor. The knife was sharp and well-made, and he turned back to find the head completely severed. He scooted it to the far corner of the paper with the tip of the knife blade and took up the smaller blade to perform the less onerous task of gutting the fish.


    Soon he had a clean fish sitting at one corner of the paper, with the head and a pile of glistening entrails at the other. ¡°Go on, those are for you.¡± He motioned at the pile to Glade, who snapped up the head in two horrifying bites and began nibbling at the bloody heap.


    Eldan wished he had water to clean his hands and wipe his knives, but he settled for wiping them on his travel stained pants. He took the time to wipe down the blades with the oil and cloth his mother had given him, wrapping them back up and leaving them on his desk. He eyed the door leading out of his room warily, knowing from the scent of smoke there must be a fire burning but having no desire to encounter another person. Finally he tore off a section of the paper and picked up the fish with it, walking to the door and easing it open.


    The outer room was dimly lit by two windows, one on either side of the wide fireplace, and the glowing embers of a fire burning low. Eldan tiptoed into the room, kneeling in front of the fireplace and laying the fish on the hearth. He saw that a pair of tongs were hanging from a hook at the side of the fireplace and carefully lifted them off, using them to awkwardly pick up the fish and lay it across the embers. The fish skin popped and sizzled, making him start from the sudden noise. He sat stock still, feeling sure that someone would have heard the noise and would come out to investigate, but slowly relaxed when the room remained silent, save for the soft pops and cracks of the fire. He gently laid the tongs on the floor beside him while he waited for the fish to cook.


    When he thought the fish was ready he used the tongs to lift it back onto the paper, slipping once and nearly dropping it into the ash but somehow adjusting his grip on the unwieldy tongs to keep it aloft. He was so hungry that he tried to immediately pick the fish up but burnt his fingers, forcing him to wait. He placed the tongs back on the hook and turned back into the room, realizing his eyes were no longer adjusted to the dark after watching the fish cook in the fire for so long. He scooted further back, staring into the darkness until he could make out the detail around him again. He peered at a table in the far corner, where he thought he might see the shape of a pitcher, and finally drew himself to his feet to pad cautiously across the room. He was enormously grateful to find it was, in fact, a pitcher, and when he dipped his fingers inside he discovered it was at least half full of blessedly cool water. He picked the entire pitcher up, drinking greedily directly from the mouth. When he had finally drunk his fill he poured a small amount into one cupped hand, rubbing his hands together and then on his tunic to clean them as best he could.


    His thirst slaked, he padded back to his fish, finally making it back inside his room and slowly closing the door behind him, releasing the doorknob slowly to avoid a click. He exhaled in relief, walking over to where Glade now lay extended on the floor, the paper of fish remains licked clean. Eldan devoured the fish, shoving chunks of it into his mouth with his fingers until nothing remained but the tail, bones and ashy, charred skin. Those he wrapped up in the torn paper and set on the windowsill, not sure what else to do with them.


    Glade seemed to be deeply asleep on the floor, so he dragged a blanket and pillow from the bed and lay down beside her, back to back, as they had been sleeping. Exhausted from grieving and sleepy from his full belly, he fell asleep even as the sky began to lighten and the stars fade in the early morning.

 Chapter 14

    Eldan startled awake only a couple of hours after falling asleep to find Cale sitting in front of him. He jerked back, sitting up quickly, only to realize his arm was numb from sleeping on the hard floor. It collapsed under his weight and he fell back hard on his side.


    ¡°Eldan, I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to scare you. I shouldn¡¯t have just come in here like that.¡± Cale crouched over him, helping him back into a sitting position and brushing the hair from his face while he cradled his arm.


    ¡°It¡¯s ok. I was just startled.¡± Eldan looked down at himself uncomfortably, seeing his dirty, mud and bloodstained pants, wrinkled tunic and bare feet. He twisted to look behind him, but Glade was gone. He sighed, turning back to face Cale with no idea what to say. He couldn¡¯t explain the state he was in, or tell her about Glade, he wasn¡¯t even sure he knew her anymore.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been worried about you.¡± Cale looked sad and drawn, and as Eldan looked more closely he realized she looked somewhat disheveled, too. She wasn¡¯t wearing filthy clothes smeared with fish blood and grease like he was, but her hair was uncombed and she still had untended scrapes on her knuckles, and one on her forehead that she must have gotten during their tunnel ordeal but had gone unnoticed at the time. She remained half-crouched on the floor, looking at him intently.


    ¡°I know. I needed some time, I think I still do need time..¡± Eldan dropped his head into his hands, mashing the heels of his palms against his eyes and forehead. The poor night¡¯s sleep buzzed like cheap metal scraping against his teeth, grating at his thoughts. He felt shaky and insubstantial, incapable of having a difficult conversation.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. I won¡¯t bother you if you don¡¯t want.¡± Cale chewed her bottom lip. ¡°Would you like to have breakfast, at least? Just the two of us, we don¡¯t have to meet anyone or talk about anything.¡±


    Eldan looked back up to see her expression was painfully hopeful. He realized with a twist of guilt that her first day at the Court must have been a lonely one. They had always talked about attending together, and while he couldn¡¯t wrap his mind around what memories of hers had been ripped out and replaced, from what little he had gathered it seemed their relationship had remained largely intact in her recollections. ¡°Yes, let¡¯s have breakfast, but..¡± he glanced down at his clothes again, grimacing at the sight and smell, ¡°I will have to clean myself up first.¡±


    Cale brightened immediately, looking enormously relieved, if still somewhat sad and unsettled. ¡°I think you will like the baths here. I can show you the way.¡±


    Eldan gathered a change of clean clothes and followed Cale through the main room and into the hall. The three doors other than his that opened into their shared common room remained closed,and he did not learn which room was hers or who might belong to the remaining two, for which he was grateful, as he had no desire to meet his new suite mates in his current state. They walked past several doors in the hallway that looked like they opened into other suites, and then Cale stopped and pointed to a room at the end of the hall.


    ¡°That is the boy¡¯s washroom. They should have big tubs in there and stacks of towels, ours is really nice. I will wait for you in our room.¡± She smiled uncertainly and turned back to walk down the hall, leaving Eldan to go in alone.


    He turned the brass knob in the heavy, polished elm door and stepped into a tiled room with a light fog of steam in the air. Just as Cale had said, large tubs ringed with curtains for privacy sat at intervals on the floor. He must have missed the prime bathing time as most of the tubs were unoccupied, with quiet splashes sounding from only a couple with the curtains closed. He chose a tub at the back of the room, took a towel from a rack on the wall, and stacked his clean and dirty clothes in neatly folded piles on a small bench provided next to the tub before stepping in and closing the curtain. He opened the taps and let the tub fill with the hottest water he could stand, scouring the filth, sweat, blood and tears from his skin. The scalding water and soap stung the scrapes on his knees, palms and cheek, but the pain felt right to him, a shred of his grief made manifest in a tangible, understandable form. Finally he emerged, feeling far less shaky after the long soak.


    Cale was sitting in one of the leather chairs in the common room when he returned, resting her back against one armrest while her legs were thrown across the other. She was dressed boyishly, as always, in a soft tunic and hose with a long, lightweight hooded cloak draped over the back of the chair. Her curly hair was cut relatively short, falling just above her shoulders with bangs trimmed at her eyebrows in a hopeless attempt to keep the curls out of her eyes while she performed delicate jewelry training. Eldan wondered what reasoning had been thrust into her memories to account for her short haircut now that her time with her father had been..forgotten? Carved out? Rewound and replaced, spun with an alternate thread? Or had it never happened at all?


    She swung her legs to the floor, greeting him with another heavy smile. ¡°It is too late for the hot breakfast in the dining hall, but they leave a few trays of fruit and pastry out between meals. I thought perhaps we could pick something out and explore a bit? Find a quiet spot to eat? I..will leave you alone afterward if that¡¯s what you want.¡±


    Eldan nodded his assent, hurriedly placing his dirty clothes in his room and pulling his muddy boots from under the bed. Cale was sitting by the door, lacing her boots when he re-emerged, and he sat beside her, frowning with displeasure as he stuck his foot into his boot to find it still slightly damp inside, while the stiff suede scratched at his ankle. He sniffed the other boot warily, quickly shoving it on his foot and lacing it tight to enclose the unpleasant, sour odor. He would need to clean the boots soon, especially since he had no idea how he would earn the money to replace them on his own.


    Cale led them confidently down the stairs and through the halls of the Court, backtracking only once before they reached the dining hall doors. The massive, arched double doors were closed, but a table sat outside with two platters, one piled high with whole fruit and another with breads, glazed pastries and small tarts. Eldan selected a small, wrinkled fruit he had never seen before, but gave off an enticing, perfumed scent, and a hard roll. The pastries and tarts reminded him too much of Cale¡¯s father, and he did not want to carry something sticky while they looked for a place to eat. The fruit and roll fit easily into his pockets. Cale slipped an apple into a pocket and held what looked like a gooseberry tart in one hand.


    ¡°Where should we go?¡± Eldan asked, overwhelmed by the sheer size of the building. Cale pulled the folded map they had been given from her pocket, fumbling as she tried to open it with one hand. Eldan took it from her and stared, trying to orient himself within the maze of rooms depicted. The layout showed the building having seven floors, five above ground and two below. The top three floors were residence halls, the other four made up of offices, meeting halls, classrooms, workshops and training halls.


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    Cale pointed at a spot on the first floor, which Eldan now saw was clearly marked as the dining hall. ¡°We are here. Testing for applicants is happening mostly on this floor, so I thought we should explore below? Most of the other circuit students are out in the city so I don¡¯t think anyone will really be down there.¡±


    They traced a route on the map, deciding to go to the bottom floor, and Eldan folded the map and handed it back to Cale, letting her take the lead. The staircase they had chosen was narrow, opening from a nondescript door in a side hall, as they had opted to avoid the main staircase. The polished plank steps were worn smooth, and it was lit with flickering flames from oil lamps set in iron and glass sconces with mirrored backs set into the walls. The atmosphere was claustrophobic after the wide, sunny halls of the upper floors. Eldan felt a mixture of apprehension and excitement as they descended, the high, narrow walls and tight corners muffling their footfalls. He could not resist the temptation to push at the walls in a few places where a stone looked slightly out of place, hoping for a hidden door.


    The air rapidly cooled, and Cale had pulled up the hood of her cloak by the time they reached the door at the bottom of the staircase. They emerged into another wide hall, this one warmly lit by braziers set in alcoves. Eldan was shocked by the sheer quantity of fuel and manpower that must be required to keep these massive lower floors illuminated.


    The hall was empty, so they sat on the floor next to a brazier to eat their breakfast. Cale devoured her tart while he nibbled at his roll, eating about half and putting the rest into his pocket. He pried at the rind of his wrinkled fruit but could not pierce the thick skin with his fingernails so he finally gave up with a shrug, putting it away to cut open later with his knife.


    Cale sighed with contentment after finishing her tart. ¡°Those are so good. I¡¯ve had better, but..¡±


    Eldan stared at his hands as she trailed off, momentarily glazed over in confusion, wondering if she would always have these moments when connections wouldn¡¯t fit. He had seen the scholar who checked them in experience something similar, but Cale¡¯s mind appeared to have been hollowed and reassembled with especially unsteady hands


    ¡°Should we explore a bit?¡± Cale asked, stretching, her confusion apparently shaken off. Eldan hummed in affirmation, standing and offering a hand to pull her to her feet.


    They wandered the halls at random, avoiding the occasional one where they could hear voices or the sounds of tools in use, peering into darkened classrooms with rows of desks or workbenches. Finally they reached a door at a dead end, opening it to find an expansive room with mats covering the floor and padded training dummies lined along one wall. Unlike the other rooms they had explored to this point, this one was brightly lit, ready for use. Weapons racks sat around the perimeter, filled with training swords and staves, along with a handful of crossbows and unstrung bows.


    A rack mounted to the back wall held a selection of more unusual weapons, secured with iron locks. These included blunted axes, mallets, and a thick stave with a wooden ball hanging from a length of chain. Eldan thought it was no wonder they were locked, as they looked like they could easily be used to kill even in their blunt training forms.


    ¡°Let¡¯s find somewhere else? This looks like a room that probably gets a lot of use.¡± Cale was already turning back to look down the hall as she spoke.


    ¡°Can I try out one of the training swords? I will be quick, I just want to make a strike or two.¡± Eldan was compelled by the opportunity to see what his own blade might feel like in his hand, and he knew Cale was right, they were unlikely to find this room empty again. ¡°Will you watch the door for me? Please?¡±


    ¡°Um.. yes? But do it now, I don¡¯t want to get caught. I¡¯m not sure we are allowed to handle even the practice swords without reason.¡± Cale looked uncharacteristically nervous.


    Eldan darted into the room, searching the racks for a sword of similar length to his own. The shortest one he saw still exceeded its length, but when he picked it up it felt lighter in his hand than his blade had when he held it the night before. He approached the nearest training dummy, settling into the familiar loose stance he used when training with his stave. The stance felt completely wrong for the sword, and he was not sure what to do with his other hand, so he tried shifting into an approximation of what he had seen sword fighters do in demonstration spars at the tournaments, first folding his off hand behind his back while pointing the sword at the dummy, then trying holding the off arm mostly extended, the flat of his palm forward. Nothing felt comfortable, so he gave up and charged forward, sweeping and stabbing the wooden blade in a series of strikes. The blade reverberated uncomfortably in his palm, his grip obviously too tight, but he was exhilarated as he danced around the dummy, dodging imaginary return blows.


    ¡°Eldan? I think we need to go.¡± Cale stood anxiously in the doorway, glancing back over her shoulder into the hall then back into the training room. Eldan nodded and ran to the rack, replacing the blade, then hurried toward Cale. He could hear adult voices echoing in the hallway now, rapidly coming closer. He stepped through the doorway and Cale eased it closed behind him, pointing to the nearest door in the hall. They shot toward it, turning the knob to find another darkened room, and darted inside, closing the door with a soft click just as the voices and heavy footfalls turned into the hall they had exited. They were surrounded in inky darkness, unable to move for fear of running into something in the pitch black room. As the footsteps drew closer Eldan could make out the deep, gruff words of the person speaking.


    ¡°¡­the timing only proves my point. We have utterly lost control of the situation. Imagine how this could have gone, happening on the first day of Court as it did. What if the thirt..¡±


    A silky, tenor voice interrupted, cutting the first off. ¡°This is not an appropriate place to talk openly of details or specifics.¡± The voice paused before continuing. ¡°I don¡¯t entirely disagree, for the record, but it was largely a minor loss with seemingly little consequence.¡±


    The deep voiced speaker made a scoffing, grunting sound in response and their footsteps stilled, seeming to stop almost directly in front of the door behind which Cale and Eldan stood. Eldan took a step backward, knocking into something hard and large that caught him in the small of the back and slid slightly backward with a scraping screech. His heart leapt into his throat. Why had they hidden instead of simply turning back? As far as he knew they were allowed to explore the Court freely, but hiding in a dark classroom made it immediately obvious they had been doing something outside the rules.


    ¡°Hmm. It seems a few classrooms are already seeing some use. Perhaps we should continue at another time? We would hardly wish to disturb our instructors while they prepare.¡± The oily tenor voice spoke smoothly.


    ¡°Hmph.¡± The deep voice grunted again, and their footsteps began moving back down the length of the hall. Eldan sagged with relief, letting out a slow exhale.


    As the footfalls faded he heard Cale stirring, shuffling toward the door. Light flooded in as she pulled it open and he turned to see the desk he had run into sitting askew in the neat row. He tugged it back into position, making another short screeching sound. When they stepped outside the room Cale stopped, scrutinizing the blank walls on either side of the hall.


    ¡°Why did they stop here?¡± She asked, glancing at him briefly and stepping to the side to examine the wall more closely. ¡°They didn¡¯t go far enough past us to be standing outside the training room, and if they had meant to come into the classroom we were in they would have simply entered. So why stop here?¡±


    The adrenaline of the training room and having nearly been caught hiding had drained from Eldan, leaving him exhausted. He felt as though he were underwater, every movement heavy with the weight of resistance. Even the prospect of secret passages felt tiring, all he wanted to do was turn back and return to the quiet of his room. He slumped against the doorframe as he remembered his gritty, muddy bed, blankets strewn on the floor, sword in need of oil and wrapping and clothes and boots in need of cleaning. The heavy mantle of grief began to settle back on his shoulders, his mind swimming in thoughts of chores he had always done at his mother¡¯s behest. He pressed his eyes closed, flailing to keep afloat in as his emotions roiled.


    Just then, he heard a click, and cold, damp air flooded into the hall.

 Chapter 15

that? someone


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    anything


    had

 Chapter 16

    ¡°I think it¡¯s barley porridge.¡± Cale gestured with her chin toward the pot Eldan was peering into while scooping scrambled eggs onto her plate.


    They stood in front of a table laden with steaming platters and pots, and trays of breads and fruit. Eldan studied the thick porridge a moment longer before filling his bowl, topping it with gooseberries and a splash of milk from a cold jug, wet with condensation. At the end of the table sat a tray of earthenware mugs and tin cups, along with pitchers of cider and hot tea. He filled one of each, then turned to face the room, awkwardly balancing the bowl between his arm and chest while picking up his beverages.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take that spot in the back corner?¡± Eldan motioned with his mug while Cale finished pouring a cup of cider. She nodded, picking up up her plate, which he saw now also held a small tart nestled against her eggs, and began leading them through the crowded dining hall.


    The large incoming class was jammed into long tables and benches in the center of the room, while the second through fourth year students spread out, occupying the choice spots at shorter tables under a bank of large windows along the side of the room. Cale and Eldan picked their way toward a short table in a shadowy corner that sat unoccupied. The reason for this became clear as soon as they sat down, discovering the corner was cold and drafty, the table situated over a vent that funneled a constant chill breeze around their legs. They tucked into their breakfasts anyway, rather than attempting to find two open seats at another table.


    Eldan was ravenous, he drank his cider in a single gulp and was soon scraping the bottom of his bowl clean before setting it aside with a sigh. He wrapped his hands around the rapidly cooling mug of tea and sipped while Cale ate at a more measured pace. He noticed two people walking toward their table and straightened up, studying them more closely.


    To his surprise, one was the red-headed mountain girl they had seen outside the tavern on their journey to the Court. She was dressed nearly the same as she had been that day, in leathers and skins, though he saw she no longer carried her knives on her belt. The boy behind her was tall and broad-shouldered, with short-cropped black hair, dark bronze skin, high cheekbones and deep, black eyes with long, full lashes. He walked with a feline grace, giving the impression of a body coiled with strength, while his face could only be described as beautiful. He wore a white, hooded robe that fell almost to his ankles, cinched at the waist with thick, silk cord.


    The girl reached the table first, setting down her plate and cup and unceremoniously dropping to the bench beside Cale, who nodded and raised a hand in greeting, her mouth full. The boy stopped at the end of the table, his attention on Eldan.


    ¡°I apologize for the presumption of my friend. I believe you must be our suite-mate. My name is Stal, may we join you to take our breakfast?¡± His voice was melodious and faintly accented, and he dipped his head in a respectful greeting as he spoke.


    ¡°Eldan, and yes, of course.¡± He scooted over slightly on the bench as Stal sat down, his eyes flicking to the girl.


    ¡°Amuel. Hullo.¡± She grunted, thrusting her chin up in greeting then returning to her food, eating nearly as quickly as Eldan had.


    ¡°Sorry, Eldan. These are our suite-mates. We haven¡¯t had much opportunity for introductions.¡± Cale glanced up apologetically, looking around the table.


    Stal paused in between bites. ¡°Amuel and I are delegates of a sort from outside regions. I hail from Helios while Amuel represents the mountain tribal coalition. We are to spend a term or more with the Court and return to our homelands in the spirit of strengthening relations through the sharing of information. I myself hope to pursue the path of scholarship.¡±


    ¡°Gon¡¯ join military.¡± Amuel spoke around a mouthful of bacon, not looking up from her plate.


    ¡°Eldan and I are doing the circuit. Did you and Amuel test into your areas?¡± Cale pushed her empty plate to the side, leaning her elbow on the table.


    Stal looked at Amuel to reply but she kept her head down, focusing on her food with single-minded intensity. He took a sip of cider and cleared his throat delicately. ¡°The nature of our program requires that we join the entire circuit before requesting specialization.¡±


    Eldan could not stop the question that formed on his lips, even as he worried it might be impolite. ¡°Do you have a gelik? We saw one on our way to Court, is that yours?¡±


    Stal chewed on a bite of fruit slowly, seeming to choose his words carefully before swallowing. ¡°I had been intended to bond with a war steed, but that did not happen. The steed you saw was not mine.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I apologize, I should not have asked.¡± Eldan felt a flush of embarrassment rising in his face.


    Stal regarded him with what looked like sympathy and a hint of amusement. ¡°You asked nothing wrong. We are well aware of the fascination geliks hold for those beyond our sands. You likely saw my parent and their bond.¡±


    Three sharp tones from a bell rang out at that point, and suddenly the dining hall became a mass of confused activity as students jumped to their feet and raced to clear their tables. Apprehension settled in Eldan¡¯s gut like a stone, it was time to report to class.


    They joined the line of students returning their dishware for cleaning and then hurried from the hall. There was no question of where they should be going as they followed the sea of students making their way toward the first class in circuit studies, tramping down to the first of the lower floors while much smaller streams of individuals who had successfully applied into their fields of study split off in other directions. They finally reached the double doors of a large classroom set up like an auditorium, with tiers of desks descending to a brightly lit platform at the bottom. The foursome selected desks in one of the middle tiers, rushing to pull out their notebooks, pens and inks before the first bell tolled.


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    A nervous silence descended over the room at the sound of that peal, broken only by shuffling papers and the occasional groan of a wooden seat as someone shifted their weight in their chair.


    An absolute mountain of a man with a full head of salt and pepper hair pulled back at the nape of his neck and a neatly trimmed, thick beard strode onto the stage at the bottom of the room, followed by a severe older woman with steel gray hair pulled back into a bun. The man was dressed in a crisp tunic with the blood red military insignia stitched to the front over leather pants and boots. A wool cape in brilliant blue hung from his massive shoulders and he wore a sword so large Eldan thought it might be longer than he was tall at his waist.


    ¡°A new Court begins!¡± He barked, and around the room students shifted anxiously, sitting upright in their chairs.


    ¡°You should all understand how this will work by now, but I will explain the basics regardless for those foolish enough to ignore the papers you were given upon arrival. This will be the last time I account for failure to inform yourselves by repeating information.¡± He glared around the room balefully, as though attempting to ensure he stared down the uninformed by letting his accusatory glaze pass over every individual in the room.


    ¡°Everyone will pass through the circuit studies at different rates, and few of you will complete the entire circuit. You may receive an offer to remain in a certain field longer to assess suitability for an apprenticeship track at any point, and those who are inept in a field will be summarily dismissed and moved on.


    The trades studied will progressively increase in terms of the level of skill required. Those of you who excel in a field may choose to move forward rather than accepting a placement in the hope of obtaining a higher skilled placement, and the rare few who complete the entire circuit with distinction will find unique opportunities available. Turning down an offer does, however, carry the risk of the apprenticeship track offer being withdrawn should another suitable candidate secure the position.


    Anyone who fails to perform at a satisfactory baseline level in three consecutive fields without a previous placement offer remaining open will be withdrawn from the circuit and assigned to apprentice in what we call the unskilled trades, though as we get further in the circuit some may instead be recalled to an earlier field where they showed promise should there be a mentor willing to accept an additional student.


    Hear me when I say that there is no guarantee this will happen. I have witnessed students who received more than one initial offer push beyond their skill sets and end up in the unskilled trades.¡± He paused here, sweeping his gaze around the room again.


    ¡°It should be noted that there is no dishonor in the unskilled trades. Our great city is built on the backs of those who sweep our streets, clear our riverbanks, light our lamps and fill the many other roles that go unseen and unnoticed but keep our city and annexes clean and healthy. Do not despair if you find yourself among this number.¡± Eldan lowered his head slightly and closed his eyes, grateful to this man for the kindness of saying those words, but saying a silent prayer that he would not fail out of the circuit entirely all the same.


    ¡°But!¡± The military man barked again, startling Eldan back upright. ¡°The first two fields in the circuit you will all pass through together, and while success may see you find a field, failure will not count among your three. Who here can tell me which fields these are, and why they are done first and as a unit?¡±


    He stared at the students expectantly, and slowly a few hands were raised. Eldan was unsurprised to see Stal confidently lift his hand, staring directly at their instructor.


    ¡°You there.¡± The man pointed at a boy with a shock of blonde hair, who seemed to immediately regret volunteering as he glanced around in the hope the finger was pointed at someone else. Finally he stood up and began speaking in a shaky voice.


    ¡°We will first undergo military training, and then study in areas of scholarship. These are done first because they require the longest terms of study and together so the largest pool of potential may be assessed?¡± He spoke as if he were reciting the words but his voice lilted up at the end in question.


    The man opened his mouth to reply, but to Eldan¡¯s utter shock the woman beside him drew a rod from her belt and struck him sharply on the arm. He showed no reaction to the blow, simply closing his mouth and stepping back to let her speak.


    ¡°Sit, boy. That is mostly correct, if simplified.¡± She sniffed, giving the boy a moment to slump gratefully back into his seat.


    ¡±Without our military the city does not stand, and without our scholars we do not advance or learn the lessons of what has come before.


    While it is true that most scholars and members of the military come to the Court already prepared to pursue those courses, we sometimes find great talents and minds among those who had not considered these paths.


    Additionally, it is vital that all our students to leave the Court with training and knowledge in these areas as it strengthens the city and annexes as a whole. Those of you in the annexes may be required to both take a trade and be a reserve member of your militia.¡± She stepped back, and the bearded man stepped forward again, nodding at her respectfully.


    ¡°Today we will begin your military training. You will spend a full cycle in both this training and scholarship for the reasons outlined by our esteemed Ironkeeper and Weapons Master.¡±


    Eldan heard a few surprised gasps from around the room, and his own attention immediately returned to the woman on the stage. It was likely that many of the students had never been in the same room as a Keeper before, and even though Eldan had, he had grown up thinking of the Ironkeeper as something of a legend. His chest constricted painfully at the memory of listening to his mother regaling him with larger than life tales of the woman who now stood before him.


    The man cleared his throat emphatically, and the whispers and rustles around the room died down.


    ¡°As the Master said, some of you will be selected for ongoing military training even as you continue into the remainder of the circuit.


    I will be leading this training in tandem with the Ironkeeper, and you will be divided into squads led by our fourth years on the officer track.


    My name is Captain Gelth, you will refer to me only as Sir or Captain. You will refer to our Master only as Master or Ironkeeper, and you will refer to your squad leaders as Sir or Seargent. Is that clear?¡±


    A few muttered yes¡®s and yes sirs came from around the room, along with some nods and even one sloppy attempt at a salute. Eldan nodded numbly, still stunned by the fact that he was sitting in front of the Ironkeeper.


    ¡°When I ask a question I expect a response!¡± Captain Gelth bellowed, a vein popping out on his forehead. ¡°If you understand me you say ¡®Yes Sir!¡¯ Now let¡¯s try that again. Are you clear on the terms of address for your superior officers?¡±


    This time there was no hesitation, the ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± ringing out in unison around the room, students shifting to sit bolt upright. The Captain nodded in satisfaction, clasping his hands behind his back.


    ¡°We will begin with physical testing to assess your current level of conditioning. The squads will be assigned according to your ranking and you will develop alongside the members of your unit. Assuming you all prepared according to direction you should have exercise clothes and swimwear with you. We will now depart for the training grounds.¡±


    The Captain strode forward without further ado, the Ironkeeper directly behind him as they ascended the tiered rows and opened the double doors to exit into the hall. The students rushed to repack their notebooks and crowded into the aisles to follow.

 Chapter 17

    They were led up to the main floor and through a maze of halls, finally exiting the building and processing to a massive, walled field that included an area of untamed forest and large wooden structures that Eldan thought were forts. There they were directed into a low, squat building to change into their exercise clothes, and as they exited back onto the field they were each handed a paper badge with a number to pin to their chests. Outside, the students spilled out into an untidy cluster on the grass. Eldan and his suite-mates formed up together, he and Cale sharing a nervous look while Stal stood serenely in a wide stance with his hands behind his back and Amuel crossed her arms over her chest, glaring straight ahead.


    ¡°We will start with a run.¡± The Captain shouted. ¡°You will run the entire perimeter of the field twice. Your squad leaders are positioned at regular intervals, do not attempt to shave any distance or circumvent any obstacles. You will be assessed on speed as well as the ability to cross different terrain challenges. You will start NOW!¡±


    The crowd moved in a mad dash, many students sprinting as hard as they could to race to the head of the pack. As the jostling for position slowed and the large group began to spread apart, Stal turned to the other three roommates and gave an apologetic smile.


    ¡°I suspect I will perform to less than expectation in other portions of this assessment, so I must take an advantage where I am able. I would be glad for company should any of you wish to join me, but please understand I will not slow down once my pace is set.¡±


    Amuel snorted in response, focusing on the path ahead. ¡°Not gonna get in a foot race with someone from the sands.¡±


    Cale glanced at Eldan, and sensing his agreement turned her head to Stal to speak for both of them. ¡°We will hold at a pace we can maintain and hope it is enough.¡±


    Stal nodded at the three of them politely and then leaped ahead, his legs stretching in impossibly long strides as he devoured the ground beneath him, soon disappearing in the distance. Eldan shook his head and kept running, pushing himself to keep the fastest pace he could without winding himself to a point that he would have to slow down to recover. They slowly passed some of the early sprinters who had blown their reserves too early, and Eldan saw that they were approaching a series of terrain changes ahead.


    Their trio broke apart and reassembled several times as they crossed the first terrain obstacles, running over hills and steppes and through a mud flat. Eldan took the lead as they scrambled over a field of huge boulders, and Cale edged past him when they shimmied up poles to cross narrow rope bridges between. They passed other runners at several points, though Eldan could not tell where they now fell in the group as a whole. As the Captain had said, they occasionally saw an older student in military dress watching them and making notations in small books.


    After the obstacles they plunged into the wooded portion of the field, where Amuel immediately surged ahead. While Eldan and Cale dodged branches snapping at their faces and stumbled through undergrowth and over fallen branches, she ducked and leaped with preternatural grace, forging a direct line forward as though nothing stood in her way. Eldan managed to keep her in sight as he ran, though he emerged covered in scratches from brambles and shaking twigs and leaves from his hair. Cale followed doggedly behind him, cursing quietly.


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    Finally they rounded the last corner and the Captain and Ironkeeper came back in view. They both stood exactly where they had been at the beginning of the run, watching the now somewhat bedraggled students turn into the second lap of the perimeter. When Eldan passed them he thought he saw a twitch of a smirk at the corner of the Captain¡¯s mouth.


    The second lap was excruciating. Eldan saw several students give out entirely, dropping from the course to be sent to walk back across the field by the fourth years. One girl sat on the ground in tears, finally being cajoled and pulled to her feet by another boy who had abandoned the run. Eldan¡¯s breath came in gasps, the terrain challenges proving to be more than he could handle at his original pace, but he pushed through regardless, refusing to slow more than absolutely necessary. His arms shook as he pulled himself up hand over hand on the face of a tall boulder this time, and rather than race up three separate poles to the rope bridges they worked together to climb one, boosting and pulling each other up in turn. Amuel pulled ahead again in the woods but Eldan saw her miss her footing once or twice, and she stopped briefly to catch her breath as he and Cale caught up to her at the other end.


    They ran the final leg abreast, their feet hitting the ground in hard, short thuds. As they approached the group of students already at the end they found them divided into two groups, those who had finished the second lap early and those who had been forced to abandon that lap partway through. Most of the runners in both groups sat or huddled on the ground, some holding cups of water. Eldan saw that one or two had vomited. Stal stood, looking completely relaxed, in the same wide stance with hands folded at his back that he had adopted before the run began.


    ¡°Starting with you three, form into a new group.¡± The Captain called out to them as they approached. Cale nodded and waved a hand in understanding as they slowed to a walk. As they staggered off the path and stumbled to a stop a haggard looking boy looked up, pointing toward a barrel nearby before dropping his head again. Eldan dragged himself over, taking a cup from a stack and ladled out water, gulping at it greedily.


    ¡°Don¡¯t drink so fast. S¡¯why some of those kids threw up. Probably.¡± Amuel stood at his elbow, ladling out a cup of her own. Eldan reluctantly stopped drinking, and they carried their cups to over to where Cale had flung herself, flat on her back on the grass. They watched as the remaining students straggled in, some running down the path and more trickling in from across the field. Eventually the fourth years followed, jogging briskly from their various stations directly toward the Captain. Eldan counted twelve in total.


    A lean young woman with classical features, olive skin and glossy black hair tumbling down her back stood smartly at attention, addressing the Captain. ¡°All runners have returned, Sir!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Seargent.¡± The Captain turned back to the students, who were clambering to their feet.


    ¡°You have been divided into three groups based on speed of completion. We will refine these rankings based on your individual performances in the terrain challenges as noted by your Seargents. Physical prowess is not the only factor we will judge, camaraderie may also count in your favor.¡± The Captain¡¯s eyes flicked briefly to the boy Eldan had seen helping another student cross the field before sweeping across the crowd.


    ¡°As you know, our military force has a major naval presence. Today¡¯s second assessment will test your aquatic skills. At the second bell you are expected to be on this field in proper swimwear. Failure to arrive on time will mean failing that portion of the assessment. You have until that time to rest from the first test, use that time wisely. You are dismissed.¡± The Captain turned his back on the students at that, marching toward one of the forts with the Ironkeeper at his side and the Seargents following.

 Chapter 18

    ¡°If anyone here does not know how to swim you must excuse yourself from participating in this part of the assessment now.¡± The Captain began without preamble, sweeping his gaze across the assembled students.


    ¡°Despite the mandate that all able citizens know how to swim, we have had students arrive here without having learned the skill. Make no mistake, anyone in that position who attempts to continue this test under the absurd notion that overall conditioning will overcome their deficiency will very quickly find themselves in mortal danger.


    Excusing yourself will result in an assignment for remedial training, yes, but continuing will leave slim chance of your remaining alive to receive that remedial training.¡± Captain Gelth let silence fall over the field, waiting for anyone to speak up.


    In spite of the countless hours and days he had spent swimming in the river waters, Eldan found himself growing nervous as he listened to the Captain¡¯s ominous introduction for the next assessment. He had thought the aquatics test might take place in one of the manmade pools favored by many for recreation, but it seemed clear from the speech that it would take place in the river itself. Eldan had no illusions about the dangers of the river, it was deep and the currents could be swift and unpredictable, with insidious undertows. It was also home to a number of dangerous animals, from sharp-toothed eels and massive sharks that swam far upriver from the sea to pup, to heavy plated reptiles that lurked in the shallows and could snap off a leg in a single bite, and dusky gray flat-tailed river cats that had been known to hunt large prey in pairs or packs. Attacks from any species were rare, especially deeper in the city, but the river remained a wilderness even there; no one had ever seen the river floor or mapped its depths.


    Looking around, he saw he was not alone in his worries. The other students fidgeted uncomfortably, glancing at each other surreptitiously to see if anyone would bow out of the test. Stal looked troubled for the first time since they had met that morning, standing with his head down and lips pressed into a thin line. Eldan felt foolish as it dawned on him that Heliotians probably had few opportunities for swimming, and this was likely what Stal had been referencing when he took the lead in the running assessment. Though he had just met the boy, he did not seem like the type to skimp on preparation, and Eldan hoped it would be enough to see him through the challenge ahead.


    ¡°Very well, then. We will proceed to the testing grounds.¡± The Captain turned on his heel and marched toward the nearest fort, the class forming into a column behind him. Eldan tugged self-consciously at his swim attire, feeling small and exposed even though almost everyone wore the same slim, lightweight short tunics and short pants that ended above the knee. Amuel and Stal were the notable exceptions, Amuel wearing a form-fitting bodysuit that covered her arms and legs and was made of a skin Eldan didn¡¯t recognize, and Stal simply dressed in what appeared to be a shorter robe.


    Eldan and his roommates had retreated to the dining hall for a light lunch during the break between assessments at Stal¡¯s urging, eating fruit and salted nuts to replenish themselves after the grueling run without leaving themselves overly full for the aquatics test. They returned to find only one Seargent waiting at the field, a short statured young man with a stern expression belied by twinkling eyes, who wore a patchy beard and swim clothes that stretched over bulging muscles. He marked a new number on each of their arms with a greasy, black pencil as they walked out, denoting their ranking after the first test. Eldan¡¯s eyes widened as the number 32 was written on his arm, and the Seargent gave him a wink before moving on to the next student. Amuel had received the number 31 and Cale 33 so he had no real reason to think it was personal, but he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if stories of his outburst at check-in had traveled around the school. Stal had received an impressive number 4 but refused to acknowledge the achievement other than to say running was valued highly in the sands. The boy who had the number 1 written on his arm strutted around with his sleeves rolled up, making sure everyone could see, loudly telling anyone who would listen that he was a natural athlete and sure to be short-listed for officer track.


    The line processed slowly into the fort, and inside Eldan saw a door propped open in the floor, with students descending into a staircase beneath, and cool, musty air rising up from below. The steps were narrow and steep, only wide enough for the line to move in a single file.


    The staircase was lit by flickering torches on the walls. Eldan supposed the Seargents must have gone ahead to prepare the test and light the torches while the class was dismissed to rest between assessments. Eventually the stairs opened into a tunnel, wide enough for two people to walk abreast but with a low ceiling so Stal and a few other unusually tall students had to duck under the support beams that crossed overhead at regular intervals. The walls and ceiling were smooth and weathered, like stones that had been worn down from years of storms or the passage of water.


    ¡°Do you think this and the tunnel we found are part of the same system?¡± Cale walked beside Eldan as they traversed the wider tunnel, speaking softly enough that only he could hear.


    Eldan thought about the chasm they had discovered the day before, with the flickering and thrumming lights, and the insistent whispering buzz. He listened for a bit, then shook his head. ¡°No. I don¡¯t know what that was but this is different.¡±


    Cale nodded and they continued in silence until light began filtering in from ahead. When they emerged, blinking into the sunlight, they found themselves on a long, narrow ledge with the river spreading out in view before them. The Captain and several Seargents in swim attire with diving knives strapped to their calves stood at the tunnel mouth. One of the Seargents split them up, Eldan and Cale each sent in the opposite direction to join the lines of students waiting, backs to the wall in either direction.


    Eldan took a couple steps out to look over the edge and then up, realizing they stood in a shallow alcove set into the harbor wall, with the river running directly beneath. He quickly stepped back to the wall, considering the test anxiously as he took his place in line. They had clearly traveled upriver far enough that they were past the main harbor, as he could see the activity of ships moving in the near distance to his left but little took place directly ahead or to his right. He saw a long, narrow floating dock holding a few people anchored in the center of the river, almost directly in front of the ledge.


    He heard a loud creaking noise overhead, and watched as two well-muscled Seargents worked thick ropes that trailed down the wall to lower a huge wooden platform from above, finally bringing it level with the ledge. The Ironkeeper sat primly on a chair at the center of the platform, reading from a leather bound book as casually as though she were resting beside a fire. Captain Gelth and his Seargents walked out onto the platform to join her, turning back to face the students.


    ¡°For the first portion of this test you will swim the distance from this wall to the dock you see in front of you twice, touching the dock or wall at each turn. Seargents are positioned on the dock to mark your progress, and we will descend to the water level as the test begins to assess from this position. Are we clear?¡±


    After the ¡®yes, sir¡¯ had been cried out in unison, Eldan saw a boy on the far side of the ledge raise a hand tentatively.


    ¡°Not so clear, I see. What is your question?¡± The Captain asked, seeming to enjoy himself.


    ¡°How do..I mean..how are we expected to reach the water, Sir?¡± Eldan thanked the boy silently for asking the question that must have been on everyone¡¯s lips.


    The Captain smiled, baring his teeth menacingly. ¡°Why, you jump.¡± He ran his gaze slowly over the lines, clearly relishing the reaction. ¡°Now, if there are no more questions..¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± A voice came from further up the line, ¡°I..know how to swim but..not well enough to complete this test.¡±


    ¡°An honest answer.¡± The menace faded from Captain Gelth¡¯s face immediately. ¡°Hear me, soldiers, when I say that knowing your limitations saves lives, whether your own or that of the person who would try to save you. This soldier was brave enough to state her limits.¡± He glared up and down the lines.


    ¡°Like this morning, if someone is physically unable to complete the full test they must leave the course, but unlike the first test each one of you must know your limits well enough to stop before you put yourself or others in danger. That means if you are not sure you can complete the next leg of the swim you pull out onto the docks, and if you cannot complete the first leg you withdraw now.¡± He turned to the girl who had spoken, his expression softening slightly. ¡°Are you a strong enough swimmer to complete a full leg of the test?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Her voice was almost a whisper.


    ¡°Is anyone else unable to complete the first leg?¡± The Captain barked.


    Two more hands were slowly raised. Eldan looked toward Stal, visible in the line because he stood a full head higher than those on either side of him, but the boy stared grimly forward, his hand not raised.


    ¡°You three, come forward to the dock. We will conduct a less strenuous test from here to assess your current ability.¡± Eldan watched as the three students broke from the line and reluctantly made their way along the ledges to the platform. As the girl who had first spoken up passed him he recognized her as the same one who had broken down in tears on the running course. The boy who had helped her stood only a couple places behind Eldan, and he smiled apologetically at the girl as she passed.


    Once the three had shuffled onto the platform, clustering together behind the Captain¡¯s group, he resumed. ¡°Step forward to the edge, and space yourselves out.¡±


    The lines stepped forward. Eldan tried to catch a glimpse of Cale but could not see her, so he focused on the water below, his heart pounding in his chest. The drop to the water was about the same as from the roof of a two-story building. Eldan knew it was not a dangerous jump if made correctly, but it looked terrifyingly high from the top. In another circumstance he might have been thrilled to find such a jumping point, climbing up again and again to make the leap. He let out a slow breath, closing his eyes and steadying his nerves.


    ¡°Jump in feet first, and leap out to ensure you clear the wall. When you hit the water, turn back and touch the wall to begin the first leg. The test begins now!¡±


    Eldan bent his knees deeply, swinging his arms as he pushed off to gain as much distance as possible. The drop lasted only an exhilarating moment before he felt the shocking cold of impacting the water, sinking deep beneath the surface. He turned and kicked back upward, surfacing right before the wall to clap his hand against the rock, twisting to kick off and strike toward the floating dock.


    He swam with an economy of movement, pressing the water down and back with the flat of his hands, and quickly pulling ahead of many of the other swimmers. The current was slow at this point in the river, and anyway, he was used to navigating against the persistent sideways pull downstream. He sighted the dock in the distance frequently, holding his bearing. The swim would be long and tiring but he felt cautiously optimistic that he could complete all four legs.


    Eldan had always loved the river. He loved playing in the shallows and deeper water alike, diving and exploring or performing underwater acrobatics, his movements graceful and agile far beyond his abilities on solid ground. He loved swimming over distance, as well, enjoying the silence and solitude of the noisy outside world vanishing beneath the surface. He had found a spot in the river near his home where the current was steady and tested himself against it for years, first drifting inexorably backwards until he had to swim to shore and walk back upstream to his starting point, then matching its speed with his strokes, and eventually conquering it, ending his swims by letting himself float lazily back downstream.


    Now he settled into the familiar rhythm of a long swim, every muscle in his body straining in concert, his breaths exact. The water, originally icy cold, began to feel warm against his skin. He slapped the floating dock with a thunk and took a large breath as he turned, kicking off again.


    He paid little attention to the other swimmers except when they were close by. He noticed when he passed a handful still working toward the dock on his way back, and knew others were keeping pace with him or pulling further ahead somewhere in the distance, but he made no effort to look for them. He was alone with his thoughts, the events of the past three days pressing at him insistently from all sides even as he tried to push them away. His grief would drown him here if he let it, a hitch in his breath enough to take in a lungful of water and sink him under the gentle waves, finishing the job left incomplete during the storm.


    He slapped the wall for a second time nearly an hour after the first, turning again, his thoughts growing increasingly dark and murky. He felt like he was completing the motions of the swim only partially conscious and participant as he drifted in some liminal state between the deep gulfs of his grief and the consuming exactitude required of him now in the physical world. He felt a guttering terror each time his awareness dropped into his body, deeply aware of how fragile and vulnerable he was, a tiny thrashing animal clawing his way across the top of waters of unknowable depth. He was suffused with a sense of unreality, the thought occurring to him that he hadn¡¯t survived the events of the tunnel, existing now only as a fraught spirit haunting the river. Once this idea had come it became persistent, nagging at him until it seemed the only possible truth.


    Eldan almost swam face-first into the dock, throwing his hand up at the last second to arrest his movement. He hung there briefly, startled and disoriented, before slowly turning around and kicking off, swimming underwater with wide strokes and frog kicks while his pulse slowed and hazy thoughts cleared. He was exhausted, the strain of carrying his memories and sadness while presenting a normal face to the world was a constant drain on top of the weariness that came from the grief itself. The physical exhaustion from the tests was almost a welcome relief, even now when his leaden arms felt like they were threatening to fail. He opened his eyes in the water, looking through the pale green murk fading to black below. He caught a glimpse of something white moving in the water, probably a fish. He surfaced, taking a couple of deep breaths as he continued in breaststroke before pulling a tired arm over his head to begin the final leg of the swim in earnest.


    The swim had worn him out enough by this point that his mind no longer drifted, each stroke and breath taking his full attention to execute. He briefly saw flashes of white limbs in the water nearby, which had to be another student who was swimming mostly underwater. They hadn¡¯t been given any instruction on how to execute the swim, after all, and Eldan considered switching to his back to rest a bit, a possibility that hadn¡¯t occurred to him until he noticed the underwater swimmer. He vaguely heard voices calling in the distance, alternately muffled and silenced as he turned his head to breathe and then back under, and wondered if the first swimmers were receiving encouragement as they approached the dock. He saw another flash of white and then the water boiled as he suddenly slammed into the other swimmer, their bodies colliding with bruising force, knees and elbows flailing and limbs tangling. Eldan threw himself backward in the water, pulling free and hanging upright, treading water as he looked around for the swimmer he had hit. The ripples and waves around him died down and he found himself alone, the other swimmers crossing the water far away.


    He could hear the shouts from the docks much more clearly now, they were obviously agitated, though the water in his ears still muffled the exact words. Most of the students were standing on the two docks by this time, and many of the people were waving their arms and gesticulating at the handful of oblivious swimmers still in the water. Eldan felt a rising sense of panic, something was obviously wrong. Had he somehow sunk the swimmer he ran into? He was almost exactly halfway between the two docks, he had no idea what to do. He ducked his head underwater, looking around him in every direction, but the water was empty. The crowds on the dock were still panicked when he surfaced, so he dove down, grasping wildly as the waters grew colder and darker, hoping to grab hold of a hand or arm. He swam down until his ears hurt from the pressure and his lungs screamed for air before turning back, the watery light of the surface seeming impossibly far above him. As he swam back up he had to fight against every instinct to take a breath, groaning into his mouth as his stomach cramped from holding back the reflexive inhale his diaphragm demanded.


    Just as he crossed into the warmer surface waters he caught movement in the corner of his eye, and suddenly a body was above him, a white, bulbous head looming over his own. The features were fuzzy underwater, but he could see beady eyes set wide in a bald head with no ears, mouth and nose formed together in some hideous hybrid of a snout and human features, the mouth protruding forward to reveal long canine teeth and a lolling tongue yet still wide enough to curl up in a grotesque smile at the sides. The body of the creature was lumpy and bloated, and it had thick, stubby arms and legs ending in widespread, webbed hands and feet tipped with talons. Its skin was rubbery and white, though Eldan knew its back would be a mottled gray. It leered at him, arms and legs dangling while its eyes rolled in its head in seeming delight at his entrapment.


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    Eldan¡¯s vision was darkening at the edges, he had to get to the surface. He weakly tried to swim to the side but the figure over him simply made a tiny push with one leg and slid into position above him again. Desperate, he finally swam straight up, ignoring the creature entirely. At the last possible second it rolled to the side, its face brushing the side of Eldan¡¯s own. As he passed, it lazily swiped down the back of his leg with a rubbery hand, talons slicing deeply into his flesh.


    Eldan did not quite breach the surface before he began to suck in a breath, taking in a mixture of air and water that left him choking and retching, taking on more water even as he tried to expel the first. He could see the water around him clouding with blood, his body spasming uncontrollably while he flailed to keep his head above water, kicking with his ruined leg. The creature poked its head above water in front of him, its membranous inner eyelids retracting from the sides to expose pitch black sclera within bloody pink orbs. It pulled back its upper lips, its entire nose sliding back as the skin bunched and wrinkled, exposing wide, speckled gray gums and yellowed teeth. Eldan sputtered and gasped, trying ineffectually to push back and gain some distance from the thing in front of him.


    The animal leered at him, looking nearly gleeful. It made a grunting, chittering sound Eldan thought was a grotesque laugh and vanished beneath the surface. Eldan looked around wildly, expecting it to resurface, but the waters appeared calm and empty again. He knew he could not trust that the beast was gone, but had no choice except to turn onto his back to float, coughing and drawing in a shuddering breath. He could feel flaps of skin hanging from the back of his leg, and his hands trembled as blood flowed into the water.


    Eldan craned his head, and to his immense relief he saw what could only be one of the Seargents striking toward him from the wall, slicing through the water with strong, sure strokes. He rolled back over, launching into a choppy, uneven swim toward his rescuer on the strength of adrenaline alone. His heart beat far too fast and his body felt hot even as the water began to feel very cold. He swam with his head above water, eyes searching wildly for his attacker.


    Delta ape, the words rang over and over in his mind. The creatures were nearly a myth in this region, a story told to children to keep them from venturing into waters they could not handle yet, but they lived far, far away, where the river opened into the sea. The aquatic apes were vicious, intelligent carnivores that seemed to delight in torture and violence in a manner only equaled by man; they toyed with their prey, wearing them down and isolating them before striking a killing blow. The few people who had survived an attack told of being pulled under again and again, the apes allowing them to fight their way free only to immediately recapture them, or of being worn down by attrition, one wound at a time accumulating until they were bled almost to the point of death. They did this solely for enjoyment, as hungry delta apes, even weakened ones, had been known to ambush, strike and kill an adult in a single motion, slashing an artery with precision or snapping a neck. Eldan had even heard stories of coordinated attacks on ships that annihilated entire crews, leaving the vessel to float aimlessly until it was discovered, the sides gouged with claw marks and deck stained with blood. He had read about delta apes with morbid fascination, and knew that one appearing this far inland was impossible, yet it was unquestionable that the creature he had encountered was anything else.


    Eldan was caught in the current now, his jerky movements and one legged kicks insufficient against the inexorable pull downstream. He drifted closer toward the other swimmers, whose panicked, splashing strokes made clear they understood they were in danger of some kind. A wet head popped up in the distance, looking around anxiously before ducking back under, and his stomach plummeted in horror as he realized Cale was still in the water. Unthinking under the will of blind panic, he immediately shifted direction to swim toward her, feebly kicking with his injured leg as his arms windmilled wildly.


    He saw, then, the moment she was dragged under the surface. He cried out incoherently, screaming over the distance. He felt strong arms wrap around his body, trying to subdue him as he thrashed at the water. He vaguely recognized the dark-haired Seargent who had announced the end of the running test earlier but he pushed against her, straining to free himself from her grip.


    ¡°Stop! We have to go back. You can¡¯t help.¡± She growled at him. Eldan didn¡¯t respond, focused entirely on the spot where Cale had disappeared as he continued to struggle. ¡°There are others in the water who are trained for this. You are going to kill us both if you don¡¯t stop. Just stop and look!¡±


    Eldan slowed down, looking around. He saw that she was right, there were other Seargents in the water and a ship flying the naval flag was approaching with archers at the railing. He stopped struggling against the Seargent¡¯s grip. ¡°Can I let you go now?¡± She asked, her breath hot on his ear. He nodded, and the iron grip encircling him slowly released. Eldan began to tread water as his arms were freed, unwilling to look away as time ticked on far too long from when Cale had vanished beneath the surface.


    Suddenly she breached and Eldan surged forward again, hands clasping him around the shoulders as soon as he did so. This time he twisted violently, kicking back hard with his good leg and feeling his foot connect with the Seargent¡¯s ribs. Her grip loosened and he dove under, swimming as hard as he could toward Cale. He knew on some level that the Seargent was right, that the armed soldiers were vastly better equipped than him to save her, and that injured and exhausted as he was he would only interfere, but in that moment he was far beyond rational thought. Cale was all he had left in the world. He could not lose her, it was too much.


    He dove deep into the cold waters, putting as much distance between himself and the Seargent as possible before climbing to the surface for a gulp of air and diving again and again to stay out of sight from his much stronger rescuer. His injured leg was still mostly useless but he could no longer feel the pain, it seemed distant and unimportant. When he came up for another breath Cale was at the surface again, gasping, close enough that for a second he met her terrified eyes. One of the Seargents was nearby, treading water, and Eldan saw the glint of a knife held in one hand. The ship had drawn close enough that the archers had arrows nocked and trained on the surface, and he saw them rapidly lowering a smaller vessel from the side. The water rippled, and the delta ape was on Cale again, leering as its webbed hands clutched and dragged her under. The Seargent surged forward, catching the ape with a glancing blow on its rubbery hide only to be immediately thrown aside with a kick to the head that sent him hurtling backward, water arching in a crest around his shoulders. He looked dazed and disoriented  when he stopped moving, blood trickling from his ear and one eye rapidly swelling closed. The archers followed the ape¡¯s movements with rapid adjustments but it was gone before they could loose any arrows, a clear shot impossible while it was entangled with Cale and the Seargent.


    Eldan dove, swimming as hard as he could to cross the distance to Cale, with no plan at all other than the driving thought that he had to reach her. He felt his strokes getting stronger as he focused on that thought, pushing the fear from his mind and simply refusing the reality of his injury and bone-deep exhaustion. He searched the dark, murky waters to the limit of his breath and had begun to rise when he saw a hint of something moving beneath him. He folded and plunged, grabbing blindly until he grasped what was unmistakably a human arm. Cale¡¯s hand closed on his wrist, linking the two of them together, and his heart leaped. He could barely see the two figures but in this moment it seemed the ape was simply pinning her in place from behind while she exhausted herself trying to fight free. Eldan pulled at her ineffectually, unable to gain any purchase or momentum in the water. Desperate, he elbowed the creature in the head and pushed against it with his foot, grabbing Cale with both hands to pull.


    The ape didn¡¯t fight against him. It didn¡¯t need to, all it needed to do was sink deeper. Eldan refused to release Cale¡¯s arm, and was pulled along with them further and further under the surface as he hit and kicked and even bit at the ape. He realized the cost of toying with Cale at the surface must have grown too high, the animal was intelligent enough to know it was being surrounded. If he let go now to surface he would never see her again. He felt her grip on his arm growing weak and his own body spasmed from lack of air. Finally he grabbed the ape by the head, clenching his teeth and shoving his thumbs into its eyes. The inner eyelids were tough and resilient, and Eldan recoiled at what he was doing as the ape thrashed its head back and forth, trying to throw him off, but he held on, and pushed with all the strength he could manage. He felt the orb under his right thumb burst with a flood of warm liquid and the creature exploded into action, wrenching Cale from his grasp and holding her with one hand as it kicked him in the stomach with a taloned foot, shredding the skin and forcing the air from his lungs.


    Even as he reflexively inhaled Eldan grabbed the creature¡¯s leg to his chest, wrapping both arms around it and locking them in place, utterly unwilling to let it swim away with Cale. The water burned and ached in his sinuses, throat and chest, the pain dwarfing that in his leg and abdomen. His lungs were heavy, throbbing, leaden weights, expanded to the point of bursting. He somehow expelled the water, only to immediately draw in another excruciating lungful of the icy cold water. The cold water in his head felt like a ringing bell, vibrating with sharp, stabbing pain behind his eyes.


    It took him a moment too long to realize that despite the pain, he was breathing. He had no time to process that impossibility as the ape stopped trying to escape and twisted around, sinking its teeth into his shoulder and letting go of Cale, who immediately began to sink. Eldan didn¡¯t hesitate for a second this time, reaching around and gouging his fingers into the animal¡¯s uninjured eye, snapping through the inner eyelid and plunging into the eye itself. The ape released his shoulder with a short, bubbling scream of pain and rage, clawing at its face with webbed hands.


    Eldan dove toward Cale, grabbing her limp body and pulling her away from the blinded ape. Each breath of water was easier than the last and as the pain began to recede he felt a trickle of strength and energy flowing into his exhausted limbs. His wounds were hot, the pain he already felt exacerbated by what felt like red-hot needles stabbing into his flesh. His left arm was stiff and weak from the deep bite on his shoulder, and his right leg still nearly useless, making his progress painfully slow as he tried to ascend with Cale¡¯s dead weight dragging him down. He clutched her to his chest with his shaking left arm, only able to gain any distance backwards and up at all because he was able to breathe, panting mouthfuls of river water in and out as he stroked and kicked with one arm and leg.


    The enraged delta ape stilled in the water, and Eldan realized, to his horror, that taking its sight would not be enough to prevent it from being able to find him. He knew time was running out to get Cale to help at the surface, if there was any time left at all, so despite every instinct telling him to stop moving he kept on in the desperate hope that the Seargents might still be diving to look for them, and that someone might see him and take Cale if he could get out of the depths.


    The ape slowly turned and tilted its head up toward them, blood leaking from its savaged eyes and teeth bared, its grins and leers replaced with an expression of pure hate. In the back of his mind Eldan registered that he saw the ape clearly, his vision no longer clouded by the water. He looked up, willing someone to be headed toward them. He could see the dark silhouette of the ship in the distance, and a few people moving at the surface, treading water or swimming, but none were close and no one moved to dive into the deeper waters. He tried to call out but no sound emerged, only an exhale of warm water.


    Helplessly, Eldan watched as the ape swam directly toward him. It seemed entirely aware that he was now defenseless, flicking its hands and feet in slow, sure motions as it rose. He kicked and pulled even harder and faster, feeling a little more strength than he had before in his injured leg and abusing it mercilessly, gritting his teeth against the agony of forcing shredded muscle into violent motion. With a single fluid movement rippling down the length of its body, the ape shot forward and was on him. Eldan threw up a foot and managed to connect with the bony top of its head, not doing any damage but preventing it from swiping him with its talons again. He kicked frantically, gaining a little more height as the ape rolled and struck forward, and then something blurred from behind him and stuck the animal in the face, drawing a clawed paw across both ruined eyes. The ape threw its head back in shock and the other animal ripped into its neck with its teeth, tearing the thick hide open. The fight was a blur of tawny fur and white skin, but Eldan could see enough to recognize the animal attacking the ape as a river cat, hope and fear warring in his chest. Blood poured into the water as the ape swam backward erratically, flailing with its arms and disengaging the cat at its throat with a wild swipe that sent it spinning to the side.


    When the delta ape retreated its attacker did not pursue. Eldan continued his dogged ascent as Glade swam out of the blood cloud, his heart pounding. A trickle of blood trailed from her mouth, and another from her side, but he was relieved to see she did not look seriously injured. She swam to his back, gathering the neck of his tunic in her mouth and swimming toward the surface, the additional pull from the large, muscled cat finally enabling him to make real progress. Cale felt so cold against his chest, and as he swam he tried to figure out how long they had been under since she went limp. It felt like he had been fighting his way upward ineffectually for hours, but he knew it had only been a couple of minutes. He had heard of people being pulled from the water and surviving after being drowned, but he didn¡¯t know how quickly they had to come back out. Everyone knew the story of the girl who fell through the ice and was pulled out the next morning and revived, though they said it was being frozen that saved her. Was the water cold enough now to make a difference?


    Finally they broke the surface and he began waving wildly, laying on his back so Cale¡¯s head was above the surface. A cry went up immediately, and he saw the small boat turn toward them, rowing fast. Water poured out of his mouth and when he inhaled his body screamed in protest, his lungs and throat burning and aching all over again as he took in air. When the boat reached him he was choking and gasping, only Glade continuing to tug at him keeping him from slipping back under the water.


    Strong arms grabbed Cale and lifted her onto the boat and he heard shouts as they laid her on the deck to attempt revival. He felt hands reach under his own arms and he was hauled onto the ship and sat on a bench, wrapped tight in a blanket. Bloody water ran in rivulets around his feet and his teeth began to chatter uncontrollably. The boat rocked as Glade clawed up the side and leapt onto the bench next to him, shaking out her fur with a spray before pressing her warm bulk against his side. The sailors backed away but made no move to attempt to remove her.


    Eldan could only watch as two of the sailors worked on Cale. He had heard one of them say her heart wasn¡¯t beating, and those words echoed dully in his head. Medical scholars had developed techniques for reviving drowning victims long ago, but the process for one whose heart had stopped was a relatively recent discovery. Efforts were being made to teach the new technique in the annexes, though many people were suspicious of a process for returning someone from the dead, so it hadn¡¯t been adopted widely yet. Eldan¡¯s mother had explained to him that a person revived in this way hadn¡¯t truly been dead, but was somewhere along the brink of death. Eldan was grateful they had been picked up by sailors unafraid of trying to pull her back to the realm of the living.


    ¡°Hey, kid. Is it still down there?¡± A sailor with dark, wet hair crouched in front of him, eyeing Glade warily then looking back at him with a serious expression.


    Eldan nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s dead but it¡¯s injured pretty badly. It¡¯s blind and has a wound in its neck, and I think maybe a smaller wound, too.¡±


    The sailor looked surprised, his eyes widening slightly. ¡°Did the brushie do all that?¡±


    Eldan¡¯s forehead crinkled in confusion before he realized the sailor was referring to Glade. The sailors must have a shorthand for differentiating the two species of river cats.


    ¡°She got it in the neck and in the face at the end, it¡¯s what finally made it stop. We wouldn¡¯t have.. it would have..¡± he shivered uncontrollably, folding in on himself. ¡°One of the Seargents got it with a knife but I don¡¯t think it was deep, and I..did the eyes.¡± The horror of the experience seemed to fully manifest as he tried to explain, darkness closed down on him, pressing at his aching, savaged lungs until he was panting in shallow breaths that didn¡¯t bring in enough air.


    ¡°Hey, hey. It¡¯s over now, you¡¯re safe here. You did real good, kid. Real, real good.¡± The sailor put his hand on Eldan¡¯s knee, the touch pushing the darkness around him slightly back. Glade turned her yellow-green eyes on the sailor, staring at him balefully, and he quickly withdrew his hand.


    ¡°Turn her on her side!¡± The shout came from the other end of the boat, along with a whoop of joy. Eldan threw himself to his feet, his damaged leg collapsing under him immediately. The sailor caught him as he tumbled forward, his knee slamming down painfully and the boat rocking from his sudden movements.


    ¡°You gotta stay here, kid, give them some space. You¡¯re hurt bad, too, but we gotta get you on the ship to patch you up so you¡¯re gonna have to stay still.¡± The sailor eased him back down on the bench, keeping his hands as far away as possible from Glade, who was now standing on the bench with her tail lashing. He backed away rapidly as soon as Eldan was seated again. ¡°So, what¡¯s the story with you and this brushie, anyway?¡±


    Eldan pulled his focus from the other end of the boat, where Cale was vomiting and coughing out vast amounts of water, though he couldn¡¯t tell if she was conscious or reflexively expelling the liquid. He wasn¡¯t sure if the sailor was trying to keep him talking or assess the threat Glade posed, but he was somewhat grateful for the distraction either way. ¡°I found her a while ago, she wasn¡¯t a kit but not full grown, either. She had a hurt leg so I wrapped it up and took her home. She still goes to the river every day to hunt but she¡¯s always come back and she followed me to Court. I guess she was out hunting and found me in the water.¡±


    ¡°Huh. Never heard of such a thing but I reckon you see something new every day. Guess I¡¯ll be able to tell my grandkids about meeting a hero river cat.¡± The sailor still gave Glade an anxious look but seemed to relax slightly.


    ¡°Is she going to be all right? I mean, have you ever seen anyone come back and be all right?¡± Eldan couldn¡¯t stop tears from welling up in his eyes as he asked the question.


    The sailor looked sad, casting his eyes to the deck. ¡°You never really know. It¡¯s a miracle any time someone makes it this far but sometimes people aren¡¯t the same after and sometimes they don¡¯t survive the first couple days. Comes down to how long they were under and whether they can survive having had the water in their lungs.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s breathing! On the oars!¡± The sailor crouched over Cale shouted over his shoulder and his partner and the sailor who had been talking to Eldan jumped into place at the oars, rapidly turning the boat and heading toward the large ship.


    When they reached the ship there was a frenzy of activity, ropes thrown and stretchers lowered, sailors running along the deck of the larger vessel. Cale was lifted up first, looking pale and still under a tightly wrapped blanket, and then Eldan was laid down, secured across the chest, and lifted to the many waiting hands above. Glade dove over the side of the small boat as he rose from the deck, disappearing beneath the surface of the river with barely a ripple.


    Once on board he was whisked into a large cabin where he was moved to a cot and his wounds were efficiently cleaned and dressed. He was given a draught of something bitter and viscous that made him feel warm and safe, and blunted the pain as his injuries were stitched closed. The medical scholar who cut open his tunic to dress the first wound on his abdomen looked taken aback when he saw the injury, but he just shook his head and kept working. Eldan saw the medics whispering to each other as they dressed his leg, pointing and frowning as they sutured.


    Cale lay on a cot next to him, and Eldan kept his head turned to watch her throughout most of the process of his wounds being dressed. Her wet clothes were cut away and she was laid on her side, knees curled up, while two medics focused on wrapping her tightly in warmed blankets and rubbing her down to restore circulation.


    Slowly, his surroundings grew fuzzy and Eldan¡¯s eyelids became harder to open each time they closed. He felt warm blankets of his own being wrapped around his body and knew no more.

 Chapter 19

    Eldan woke up in an unfamiliar bed, his mouth dry and eyelids gummy as he searched his mind, trying to understand why he was in a room he didn¡¯t recognize. He sat up slowly, a stabbing pain in his abdomen and deep, throbbing ache in his shoulder bringing memories of the swimming test and his fight with the delta ape flooding back. He looked around blearily, his mind still in a medicinal haze.


    As the room came into focus he recognized that it was obviously a medical ward. Curtains hung from rods on the ceiling were pulled along either side of his bed, and he could see a cart laid with neat trays of medical instruments against the opposite wall. Looking down at himself, he realized he had been dressed in a loose, soft tunic and pair of drawstring sleep pants, both much too large for him, and grimaced with discomfort at the thought of someone dressing him while he slept.


    Eldan pulled the curtain back on one side, peering out to find a second curtained bed nearby. He cautiously tested moving his legs, and though his right leg felt bulky with bandages and very sore, he eased them off the bed and gingerly pushed himself to his feet. His leg held under his weight this time, so with awkward, stiff steps he hobbled to the other bed, pulling back the curtain to reveal Cale. She was still positioned on her side under tight blankets, unmoving even when he reached down to gently brush her curls away from her eyes.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re awake. Probably shouldn¡¯t have gotten up by yourself but I suppose that answers one question, at least.¡± Eldan turned his head to look at the speaker, finding a slender middle-aged man with a kind smile and spectacles perched on a nearly bald head. He wore a long, white smock and held a ledger in one hand.


    ¡°How is she?¡± Eldan turned back to Cale as he asked, staring at her still, small form under the blankets. He heard the whisper of soft leather-soled shoes as the man walked over to join him by her bed.


    ¡°She came through the worst of it, but right now all we can do is wait. We won¡¯t know much more until she wakes up, and some don¡¯t wake at all. She is stable at the moment but there is a risk of infection settling in her lungs.¡± He sighed, reaching down to tuck the blankets around her shoulders. ¡°Like I said, all we can do is wait.¡±


    Eldan nodded, glad the man had told him the truth plainly even though it was hard to hear.


    ¡°I do need to check you over now that you¡¯re up, however. Perhaps we could let her rest while we do so? Afterward I can set up a chair so you can sit with her, or you can rest more nearby.¡± The medic put a hand on Eldan¡¯s back, gently guiding him back toward his bed and assisting him up into a sitting position.


    ¡°So we know you can put weight on your leg, which is very good. I would like to try moving your leg and arm to check your range of motion and then change your dressings and have a look at the state of your injuries.¡±


    The medic spent some time manipulating Eldan¡¯s injured leg and shoulder, slowly folding, extending, lifting and turning his limbs and making notes in his ledger. Several times Eldan winced or could not stop the escape of a small moan of pain and the medic paused to ask if a particular motion hurt too much to continue, but while all the movements were stiff and painful none were impossible to complete. When he was finished the medic hummed in apparent confusion, his eyebrows knitted.


    ¡°From what the naval medics described I would have expected you to be in far worse shape. They noted some.. anomalies in the wounds but even so..¡± He looked up at Eldan, scrutinizing his face. ¡°Ah, well. Let¡¯s have a peek behind the curtain, so to speak. Shall we?¡± He brushed his hands on his tunic and hustled off, returning a few moments later with a folding chair and a cart filled with dressings and suturing materials.


    The medic placed clean, folded towels on the bed, along with a basin for the used dressings. He noticed Eldan eyeing the suture hook warily and shook his head good-naturedly. ¡°It¡¯s just a precaution, in case any have pulled out. I promise not to start stitching you up without fair warning and I can provide something to help with the pain if I find you need multiple sutures.¡±


    Eldan settled back back on the bed as the medic organized his materials. ¡°How should I address you?¡± He asked.


    ¡°My students and apprentices call me Usher Wen. You may call me the same. If you would, please take off your tunic so I can start with the dressings on your abdomen.¡± Eldan worked his tunic off slowly, impeded by pain. Once it was off Usher Wen unwound the wrappings from his waist and peeled off the bandages to expose his wound, which looked like exactly what it was, five claw-marks torn through his flesh, each crossed with rows of black sutures puckering the skin.


    Usher Wen frowned at the wounds, running a finger lightly over the surface of the sutures. Finally he poured a medicinal smelling liquid onto a piece of cotton wadding, daubing Eldan¡¯s entire abdomen and applying fresh bandages. That task complete, he carefully unwrapped his shoulder, which Eldan saw had four large, round punctures and a ring of smaller wounds and scrapes. The medic examined the placement of the wounds carefully before sitting back with a sigh. ¡°Don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but you should not be able to move your arm right now if what I was told happened to you is true. My understanding is that you were attacked by an adult delta ape this afternoon. Is that correct?¡±


    Eldan nodded. ¡°Yes, Usher Wen.¡±


    ¡°And this bite was from that same animal?¡± Eldan nodded again, and the medic shook his head. ¡°Teeth the length of those on a delta ape should have pierced the tendons. Healing from that injury to the point that you have this much freedom of movement..¡± He held up a hand, forestalling the rebuttal Eldan was about to make. ¡°Even if that movement is painful or difficult, the fact remains that it should not be possible. Now, we know you didn¡¯t have these injuries when you went into the water, but when you came back out they appeared to be healing, and from the inside out, no less. I don¡¯t expect you to have an answer for this, but it does raise a lot of questions, so I suppose there is no harm in asking if you can give me any explanation?¡±


    Eldan shook his head slowly, his mind whirling. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Usher Wen sighed again. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would.¡± He began dabbing the punctures, the liquid stinging so that Eldan squeezed his eyes shut, turning his head away until the bandages were replaced. The medic then busied himself disposing of the bloody bandages while Eldan awkwardly wrestled his tunic back on and shifted onto his stomach to give access to his leg. Finally all of his wounds were dressed, and Usher Wen helped him turn back over and sit up, propping pillows behind his back.


    When Eldan was settled again, the medic gazed at him seriously. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened to you down there, but I do know that you are either very, very lucky or we don¡¯t have the full story. The injuries to your leg are grievous, though those, too appear somewhat healed.¡± He blew out a breath, shaking his head.


    ¡°It is hard to believe you returned from this encounter at all, much less with what looks like will be no lasting damage beyond some scarring. The fact that in addition to all that you came back having somehow freed another student from the clutches of a delta ape belies all rational explanation. Had someone told me this story it would stretch beyond the limits of my credulity.¡±


    ¡°A river cat, my cat, fought it off. I didn¡¯t do it on my own.¡± Eldan protested, apprehensive about where the conversation was headed.


    Usher Wen sighed. ¡°Ah, right. The benevolent river cat. I forgot that fantastical detail.¡±


    Eldan hung his head, anxiety roiling in his stomach at the medic¡¯s apparent disbelief. The experience was a series of horrible flashes in his mind; terrible, crushing depth, white skin, a misshapen smile, pain beyond his experience, eyes crushing in his hands, and Cale¡¯s dreadfully cold, lifeless body.


    Among those flashes, though, were other memories, of cold water rushing down his throat in restorative breaths, murky dark resolving to daylight clarity, the stinging heat of knitting flesh, and the indescribable relief of Glade appearing when all hope was lost. He couldn¡¯t parse all of these yet, some were too unbelievable, and it seemed he needed to offer something in the way of a rational explanation to Usher Wen, not more details that ventured into the utterly absurd.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard stories of animals saving people, though. Geliks, of course, but dogs and falcons and horses, too.¡± Eldan searched for a compelling example but his thoughts felt fuzzy and inaccessible, as though he were grasping for handholds in a flat, featureless expanse. ¡°It¡¯s not so strange, right?¡± He finished lamely.


    ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t include geliks in that list considering they are an fully sapient species, but I suppose you¡¯re not wrong about there being instances of the others you mentioned engaging in what appears to have been extraordinary altruistic behaviors. I am even willing to believe that you formed a unique bond with a typically wild predator that might inspire such an act. What I cannot easily find credible is that the animal arrived at your side, appearing from seemingly nowhere and pinpointing your location within the depths, at the exact moment of your greatest need.¡± Usher Wen¡¯s voice rose in a slight crescendo of agitation as he spoke, chopping with his hands in sharp gestures of emphasis.


    ¡°And yet, here we are.¡± He lowered his hands, his posture softening as he seemed to realize Eldan was growing increasingly distressed by the conversation. He was silent for a moment, looking pensive. ¡°Understand I¡¯m not accusing you of anything here, and I apologize if that¡¯s how I came across. I am simply attempting to reconcile a series of events that range from the improbable to the impossible, and you are at the center of them all. We haven¡¯t even touched yet on the fact that an animal whose habitat lies hundreds of miles downstream appeared here for the first time in record and attacked only you and your friend. I am understanding correctly that you are both wards, yes? And grew up together?¡±


    Eldan nodded, his head lowered as he deflected. ¡°She is my best friend.¡±


    Usher Wen hummed sympathetically. ¡°Then this must have been, and must still be, a terrible experience for you. Perhaps we should let these questions lie for now, then, until you have had time to rest. It has only been a scant few hours after all.¡±


    Eldan had wondered how much time had passed. The room was windowless, and the unnatural medicated sleep had felt of indeterminate length. ¡°What is the day and hour, Usher?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I apologize. It remains the same day and the city bells tolled eight past the apex not long before you awoke.¡±


    Eldan¡¯s eyebrows lifted in surprise. The second Court bell rang at an hour past, so he could only have been out of the water for three or four hours at most. ¡°When people do awaken, how long does it usually take?¡±


    Usher Wen turned his head to look at Cale. ¡°Ideally, she would have awoken when her heartbeat returned. At this stage there are no rules but I would hope to see it happen soon.¡± He returned his attention to Eldan, and busied himself removing the towels from the bed and placing them on his cart. ¡°I will leave you to rest. You may sit with her, if you like, I will leave my chair here, and I will bring you something to eat and drink shortly.¡± He finished packing up his supplies and turned to exit, one wheel of his cart squeaking softly as it rolled across the room.


    ¡°Has anyone ever breathed underwater?¡± The medic was almost to the door when Eldan asked, unable to stop the question from spilling out of his mouth. He held his breath, hoping he hadn¡¯t made a mistake.


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    Usher Wen looked back in confusion, but then his face cleared. ¡°Ah, the delta ape. They do look frighteningly human, do they not? No, they don¡¯t breathe water, but they are able to go without a breath for an exceptionally long time by our measure, twenty minutes or more, I believe. As far as a person breathing water, well, there are very old stories of such things, but I am no scholar of myth and cannot recall the details.¡± He smiled gently and opened the door, wheeling his cart out and leaving Eldan alone with his thoughts.


    Eldan gingerly climbed back out of his bed and dragged the chair to Cale¡¯s side, sitting down heavily. His mind ran over the same thoughts repeatedly, the horrors of his encounter with the ape, deep terror that Cale would not awaken, and endless, looping, obsessive guilt. He picked apart every moment of his fight with the ape when he could have moved faster or more decisively, and remembered with punishing shame how slow and weak he had been bringing her to the surface. At times his thoughts drifted to his mother, and he would be hit with waves of remorse, wishing he had told her how much he loved her instead of rushing out the door.


    His brooding was interrupted by the sound of raised voices somewhere beyond the room. As they steadily grew closer they resolved into those of Usher Wen and Captain Gelth, clearly in the midst of an argument.


    ¡°You will not enter that room! My other patient is in an extremely delicate state and the boy is in no condition for this right now.¡± Usher Wen¡¯s muffled voice was nearly a shout.


    ¡°He needs to hear this no matter his condition.¡± Eldan started at Captain Gelth¡¯s growl, realizing for the first time that his voice was one of the ones he and Cale had heard when they explored the basement and found the hidden tunnel.


    ¡°This is my ward and these are my patients. You have no authority to barge in here, Gelth!¡± The medic was shouting in truth now, and it sounded like he was directly outside the door. Eldan hastily drew the curtain over Cale¡¯s bed, flimsy protection though it was, and hobbled to his own, hoisting himself up and scooting his back against the wall, huddling behind the curtain that was still drawn on the other side.


    ¡°I have authority beyond yours anywhere. Your rooms and your patients are mine to commandeer under the rules of enemy engagement by jurisdiction of the military.¡± Captain Gelth¡¯s words dripped with derision.


    ¡°Do you seriously have the audacity to attempt to cast an animal attack during a training exercise for first years as an act of war to justify an abuse of power? You tread in dangerous waters, friend.¡± Usher Wen¡¯s voice had grown soft with tightly controlled fury.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time or patience for this. Step aside!¡± Eldan¡¯s eyes were wide with fear as he heard a thud from outside, followed by the door slamming open and the thunder of boots crossing the floor. Captain Gelth threw the curtain open and glared down at him, his face purple and distorted with rage.


    Usher Wen stood behind him, pale and rigid. ¡°You will answer for this. I will have you removed from this room.¡±


    Captain Gelth did not bother to face him as he sneered his reply. ¡°Go air your petty grievances, it matters not at all.¡±


    The medic turned on his heel and left, presumably to seek assistance, but Eldan¡¯s heart sank as he walked out, leaving him alone with the Captain. He kept his eyes trained on the door, willing him to turn around and come back.


    ¡°So, you are the insolent whelp who endangered the lives of your superiors. I can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised, you look like the little coward you proved yourself to be today.¡± The Captain¡¯s lip curled with disdain as he spoke.


    ¡°Let me recount your actions today. First, you broke course from withdrawal when you were physically failing in the water, in direct contradiction to my orders. Then you resisted your superior officer, disobeying another direct order delivered by that officer. To follow that, you assaulted your superior officer and forced her to abandon her protocols so she could pursue your cowardly escape. And then you interrupted a military action against an enemy in progress solely to seek your own glory, without a thought for anyone but yourself.¡± As he ticked off his points on his thick fingers the Captain¡¯s voice rose to a bellow.


    ¡°You thought you knew better than your Sergeants? You thought you knew better than me?¡± Eldan sat frozen in the bed, trembling, as the Captain leaned to within inches of his face.


    ¡°You cannot begin to understand the rigors of training and discipline within the military ranks. Our operation was entirely secure and you, you were its point of failure. That girl over there would be snug in her bed if you hadn¡¯t interfered. Do you understand me?¡± The Captain was nearly screaming by this point.


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Even as Eldan spoke the words, cowering under the assault and wondering if Captain Gelth was right, a tiny voice in his head wanted to scream back in argument. But they weren¡¯t there, it wanted to say, not yet. There were archers without a clear shot and one Sergeant with a knife, not a rescue operation.


    ¡°And while you clearly don¡¯t have the maturity to understand this concept, sometimes in battle tactical considerations involving the level of engagement with an enemy have to be balanced against the total risk of loss of life. An enraged delta ape without distraction, running amok, could have cost multiple lives, including officers. And once again, you would have their blood on your hands.¡±


    Eldan gritted his teeth as the Captain immediately contradicted his previous statement, now seeming to imply Cale had been considered an acceptable potential loss when balanced against the risk of the ape turning on the Sergeants.


    ¡°Now, stories of what happened out there are running around the Court like wildfire, but the truth is, those kids don¡¯t know what they saw. So I¡¯m going to tell them the story they should be hearing, one that doesn¡¯t involve a mutinous coward disgracing himself and my officers. If I had my way you would be dumped at the very bottom of the unskilled trades at this moment but it seems even a ward can somehow fool a powerful supporter into their corner. So what you are going to do instead is back up everything I say and never breathe a word of your shameful actions. I will tolerate you until the moment you leave my class and then I will look forward to the day that I hear you have failed out of the circuit and hope to never see your craven face again. Am I clear?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Eldan¡¯s voice was barely more than a whisper, and he stared straight ahead, not looking at the Captain. He heard footsteps approaching the room, punctuated by the steady click of metal striking stone at regular intervals.


    ¡°I see you decided to undertake briefing the boy on your own schedule.¡± Eldan moved his head cautiously to see the Ironkeeper standing in the doorway with Usher Wen just behind her, his arms crossed over his chest and a satisfied expression on his face. The Ironkeeper was dressed as though she had been pulled directly from the forge, wearing a plain, coarse tunic and pants tucked into high, leather boots, though she wore an elegant, wool cape in rich purple around her shoulders. Her forearms were bare and smudged with soot, and she held a telescoping metal rod in one hand, leaning on it like a walking stick. Eldan realized this must be the rod she wore at her belt and wondered how heavy a blow from it in its compact form must feel.


    The Ironkeeper strolled into the room, her back strong and straight in spite of the rod she used to guide her steps. ¡°Do you feel assured that the threat he poses to our great military will be quashed? Or shall you berate him further lest he take up arms in pursuit of his rebellion?¡± Her tone was unaffected but the sarcasm rang through clearly.


    Captain Gelth turned, giving her a perfunctory, not entirely respectful bow. His face had smoothed, showing no trace of emotion, but his eyes burned with anger and resentment. ¡°I have outlined how we intend to move forward following this unexpected tragedy.¡± His tone was clipped.


    ¡°Excellent!¡± The Ironkeeper rocked back on her heels as though she was genuinely delighted by his response. ¡°Since you have wrapped up already I would have a word with him, as well, to clarify my understanding of events.¡±


    She looked at the Captain expectantly. He gave a curt nod and strode from the room without so much as another glance in Eldan¡¯s direction, forcing Usher Wen to step aside as he plowed through the doorway.


    Eldan regarded the Ironkeeper warily. Her eyes looked like steel coins when she turned her gaze on him, her expression placid and unreadable. ¡°Well, you have certainly been a surprise today.¡±


    Eldan flinched, unable to hold her eyes as she let a pause draw uncomfortably long. He could feel her stare boring into him as he dropped his gaze to his hands, still clenched in his lap. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for my my insubordinate behavior. Captain Gelth has explained the ways I failed the test.¡±


    ¡°Mm, yes. I would imagine he did make his position clear. Did he mention that our soldiers captured the delta ape this evening?¡±


    Eldan¡¯s head whipped back up. ¡°No. Is it..¡±


    ¡°It was killed, yes. But they were surprised to find it had sustained significant injuries before those they inflicted during its capture. The sailor who brought you in had passed along your account but we had thought it unbelievable.¡± As she spoke she slowly circled his bed, her stick ringing as it struck the floor. When she reached the chair Usher Wen rushed over to pick it up and place it by Eldan¡¯s side. The Ironkeeper sat with a brief nod toward the Usher in thanks. ¡°Perhaps you would indulge an old woman by letting her tell an old tale?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Eldan murmured in agreement, still tense and uneasy after his encounter with the Captain.


    ¡°Wen, perhaps you could fetch a cup of tea for me? And something hot for the boy to eat?¡± The Ironkeeper tapped her rod as she spoke, snapping it back into its shorter form with a flick of her wrist.


    ¡°Of course, Ironkeeper.¡± The medic nodded and bustled out of the room, closing the door behind him.


    ¡°You have heard of the first great flood, I presume?¡± She began, waiting for Eldan to nod before continuing. ¡°We know little of what the world was like at that time but a few songs and stories have survived, handed down over countless generations. The story I wish to tell you is one of these. You should know that these were originally told in the old tongue and much of the original meaning has been lost or changed as words were exchanged for newer ones again and again. The tales were considered unimportant for much of our history, so we have no written records to consult.¡±


    She settled back in her chair, her gaze growing distant. ¡°The land before the flood, as it is told, was a great and lush wilderness, filled with beasts both great and terrible but also abundant with food and resources. Life sprang from the river, and the people gave thanks in ritual and offerings back to the river in return. They say that the beasts, whether those that stalked and prowled, or crawled and slithered, or swam beneath the waters, all had language and could speak and be understood.


    It was into this world that a girl was born. Her mother was in the river with her other son when the child came due, and the girl was born in the water. The river was greatly pleased with this birth, considering it a great offering, and laid bare its secrets to her, allowing her to visit its deepest canyons and asking its denizens to guard her. It was said that the river would tumble her in its rapids as play, and rock her to sleep with gentle waves.


    Her brother grew deeply jealous and demanded the same treatment from the river. He raged and insulted the waters even as swam and dove, determined to unlock for himself how his sister spent hours playing in its depths, returning unharmed.


    When the girl grew old enough the river led her to its deepest point, past places so dark none who lived there knew of light. Further still the river guided her and though she was cold and afraid, she trusted the river and followed, until to her astonishment, she found warmth and light like a hearth. In this place the very heart of the world leaked out in liquid stone and metal. The river showed her this and she understood.


    The girl returned to build the first forge, and she smelted iron. Iron flowed like water in her hands but for everyone else it held its shape, and they used the iron to make powerful new weapons and tools to tear down the lush forest. They slaughtered and subjugated the animals until they would no longer speak, and as they ripped apart the land to build cities their mud poured into the river until its waters were dark and dirty. The girl, a woman now, begged them to stop, but they no longer listened to the strange woman who spoke to the river and bore liquid metal.


    The river still loved the girl but many of its denizens did not, believing that the river and she were to blame for the actions of all men. So while the river counseled patience, wishing no harm to come to the girl, some of its citizens prepared for war. A great beast, a fish as wide and deep as the river itself, was born of their fury, their grief and their dead. It was made of rage, hunger and bone, form without substance, a river without life. The beast named the girl¡¯s brother its general, granting him smooth white skin, webbed hands and feet, and great lungs so he was finally a master of the waters. He prowled among his former people, striking and dragging them beneath the surface so he and his commander could feast.


    The hunger called out to the skies and asked for fresh waters and the sky obliged, sending them down in a great torrent. The beast swam between the the raindrops, hiding in the light, until the waters rose high enough that it could feast on land, swallowing huge swaths of the people whole and drowning them within its gullet.


    The girl, an old woman now, returned to the river, flinging her liquid iron up and out in a net that captured the beast, holding fast so it could not swallow more. They fought until her strength was nearly gone and then, realizing she could not defeat it, she dove down, down to that deepest hearth. She fused her net into the liquid metal that bubbled out into the coldest waters, ensuring that though the beast may rise again in hunger it would never pass beyond the boundary of her restraints.


    The river rocked her as it had when she was a child and they wept for what they had wrought in their naivety, unleashing the terrible greed and violence of man, which became the beast, the un-river, the without, in reprisal. Never wishing her secrets to return to the surface, the sunken guardian remains there to this day.¡±


    Eldan sat spellbound as the Ironkeeper finished her story. The silence afterward was broken by a small squeak, and he turned to see Usher Wen standing in the doorway with a steaming bowl and two mugs on his cart.

 Chapter 20

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    river to outperform those from the city center.¡± One eyebrow quirked slightly as she said this, but she continued on smoothly. ¡°Regardless, the Captain and I have agreed to rate both of your results as though the attack had not happened at all, any actions from that point counting neither for nor against your placement.¡±


    Your friend will be briefed, as well, when we are able.¡± She flicked her wrist again, extending her rod to full length and tapping the tip to the floor. ¡°Unless you have any more questions, I will take my leave.¡±


    The Ironkeeper pursed her lips. ¡°It would be irresponsible to give you false hope, so I will not. I am sure the Usher has given you a fair account of her prognosis. In truth, I am simply hopeful it will be the case.¡±

 Chapter 21

but,¡±


    Captain Gelth took two long strides to the side, leaving a space open at the center of the stage.


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 Chapter 22

    Eldan again stood in the weapons room on the lowest floor of the Court, this time lined up against the wall with his fellow students. They had been assigned new number badges after changing into training clothes, and Eldan had the number 23 pinned to his chest. Stal had dropped from number 4 to 19, so must have at least performed adequately in the aquatics test after all, while Amuel had held her position at number 31. If Stal had looked grim prior to the swim, he looked positively miserable now, his lips pressed thin and turned down at the corners, and his brow furrowed. Amuel, by contrast, appeared to be nearly vibrating with anticipation for the assessment to begin, and her eyes flicked excitedly at the equipment around the room.


    The Ironkeeper stood in the center of the training mats, the Captain and Sergeants off to the side, as she began to speak. ¡°This test will operate differently from the previous two, testing potential in addition to present level of skill. We do not expect all students to arrive at Court with weapons training, and those that have experience will also be tested using weapons unfamiliar to them. To begin, those with experience with the stave, please raise your hands.¡± Eldan lifted a hand, along with quite a few other students, and the chiseled blonde Sergeant, Devis, noted their numbers in a ledger, nodding at the Ironkeeper when he finished.


    A smaller number of hands, including Amuel¡¯s, went up for the bow and arrow, and fewer still each for crossbow and spear. The boy who had come first in the running assessment was the only one to raise his hand as having experience with a sword, and Eldan noticed his hand had also gone up among the stave users.


    ¡°And as for our Heliotian student, am I correct in thinking you have received training in the use of a scimitar?¡± Stal gave the Ironkeeper a curt nod, which she acknowledged, ignoring the slight of a non-verbal response, with a gesture toward Sergeant Devis to note the experience in his ledger. ¡°And our coalition delegate I believe will have knife skills?¡±


    Amuel inclined her head. ¡°Yes, Ironkeeper, and throwing knives.¡±


    ¡°Excellent. Do we have any other students experienced in uncommon weapons?¡± The Ironkeeper looked around the room and one hand slowly went up, raised by a tall, stocky boy with thick, dark hair pulled into a tail and what looked like the barest shadow of a mustache on his upper lip. The Ironkeeper motioned for him to speak.


    ¡°M¡¯Da taught me the mace, Master,¡± he mumbled, looking stricken.


    The Ironkeeper raised an eyebrow as Devis dutifully noted the skill. ¡°Quite uncommon, and very interesting.¡± The boy looked like he hoped to vanish into the wall, closing his eyes and making a gulping swallow as the Master studied him for a moment. ¡°Very well then,¡± she clapped her hands together and waved for the officers to join her. ¡°We will divide into groups, working with your familiar weapons first. Number 12, join the stave wielders for now, we will assess your swordsmanship afterward. Number 31 will join the archers, and 19 and 40 with me, I wish to see your techniques.¡±


    The Sergeants began calling the groups together and Amuel bolted to join the archers. Stal and the mace user trailed after the Ironkeeper as she strode across the mats, both boys looking somewhat nauseous, and Eldan watched as she unlocked the massive wooden ball and chain from the rack and handed it to the stocky boy, who hefted it easily in one hand.


    Eldan had to look away after that as the stave users were herded to the side of the room, led by Sergeants Strake and Filon. The sword wielding boy, wearing the number 12, puffed his chest out proudly as he marched behind the officers, looking every inch the natural athlete he had proclaimed himself to be after the first test. He was tall for his age, his body compact with lean muscle, and his movements smooth and confident. His skin was bronzed from the sun, his chin length, wavy brown hair streaked with blonde, and when he flashed a smile his teeth were white and straight. If Sergeant Devis had the looks of an idealized soldier, this boy looked like the ideal recruit, and Eldan wondered why he had not tested directly into the military at the outset.


    The Sergeants selected staves from the racks, handing them out to the students. When Eldan reached out to take the one being offered to him Sergeant Strake held on for a moment, looking down at the bandages exposed below Eldan¡¯s short pants meaningfully. ¡°You sure about this?¡± He asked quietly, his expression concerned.


    Eldan nodded, meeting the Sergeant¡¯s eyes and closing his fingers tightly around the stave. The Ironkeeper expected him to participate and he would not fail to meet that expectation. Sergeant Strake sighed softly, releasing the stave to his grasp and moving on to the next student.


    They were put through a series of exercises, first mirroring the Sergeants as they went through moves and positions on the mats, and then moving on to the training dummies. Eldan felt painfully weak and unsteady executing the familiar strikes, blocks and sequences, stumbling or pulling up short again and again as he aggravated his injuries. The wide-armed grips left his arm shaking, his left shoulder unable to maintain support, his right leg buckled during deep lunges and back-steps, and every twist, jab and stretch inflamed his abdomen with agony, causing him to jerk back out of position or stutter to a stop each time he pushed too far into a move. Strake and Filon took turns making notes and moving among the students, adjusting stances and demonstrating forms, but they left Eldan to fumble through alone, apparently deciding he was too compromised to train.


    Finally the group was pulled back for one on one spars, and the students collapsed on the mats to be called up four at a time, one pair for each Sergeant. The winner of each spar would stay to take on the next, and the final two would spar each other. Eldan sat at the back of the cluster of sweaty students waiting to spar, trying to catch his breath and watching the spars distractedly. His attention roved between Amuel, who was loosing arrows into a target with alarming speed and accuracy, firing at easily twice the rate of the other archers, and Stal, who was performing a flowing series of sequences with a training sword that looked like an incredibly complex dance, his loose robe drifting around him so it was nearly impossible to predict his movements. Occasionally his eyes drifted to the boy with the mace, who was pummeling a training dummy so hard that it was listing to one side, obviously on the verge of breaking.


    The skill levels among the stave users were mixed, and the dual weapon wielding boy easily outclassed most of the students. He had been one of the first called up to spar and was now systematically working his way through his opponents. A serious looking girl wearing badge number 28 had held her position in the second set of pairings through a couple of opponents now, but it seemed clear she was struggling to keep her place as champion. Eldan realized his turn must be approaching so narrowed in to study the spars more closely, focusing on number 12. Despite the boy¡¯s boasting and bravado, his fighting style was efficient and restrained. He easily defeated many of his partners but never crushed them, trading a few strikes and blocks before almost politely ending the fight, usually with a single, precise move, disarming or breaking their guard to land at a vital spot. Eldan thought that if he were at full strength he could at least block some of these finishing strikes, but in his current condition he doubted he stood a chance. He clenched his teeth, wondering why the Ironkeeper had been so adamant that he join this assessment.


    When the second to last fight concluded Eldan worked his way to his feet, walking around the already defeated students who sat splayed out on the mats, to take his turn against the boy with the number 12 badge. The serious girl continued to trade blows with her last opponent on the other side, both fighters red-faced and sweating. Sergeants Strake and Filon gave each other a look as Eldan approached the tanned boy, making a quick bow in greeting and settling into a loose stance, waiting for the command to begin the spar.


    ¡°Number 23, you are not required to join this exercise. Do you wish to withdraw?¡± Seargent Filon called from the sideline.


    Eldan shook his head, ¡°no, Sergeant, I do not.¡±


    Filon nodded curtly, picking up her pen to note the spar in the ledger. ¡°Very well, then. You may take your positions.¡±


    Eldan wasn¡¯t sure why it was important that he be there but he did not intend to back down, even if he would likely summarily fail. He saw the Captain walk up behind Sergeant Filon out of the corner of his eye as he waited for his opponent to take his starting position. The boy made a stiff bow and slowly began to settle into a stance, then straightened back up, lowering his stave and shaking his head slightly.


    ¡°Is there a problem, number 12?¡± Sergeant Filon asked, sounding tense under the Captain¡¯s observation.


    The boy looked extremely uncomfortable, his blue eyes darting between Eldan and the officers. ¡°Respectfully, Sergeant, number 23 is injured and I don¡¯t think he should spar. I want to win but I don¡¯t want to hurt him.¡±


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    Captain Gelth reacted immediately, seeming to swell with anger as he stalked forward. ¡°Your partner presented himself and your commanding officer approved the spar, ordering you to take position. Are you under the impression your Sergeants haven¡¯t noticed this boy¡¯s injuries?¡± He towered over the two students, even the taller number 12, blood rising in his face.


    ¡°No, Sir.¡± The boy held the Captain¡¯s stare without flinching, though his knuckles were white from gripping his stave.


    The Captain snorted, ¡°if this boy was foolish in his decision it is not your concern. If he hurts himself in a fight he isn¡¯t prepared for it is not your concern. All that you need to know is that your officer instructed you to take position. Is that clear?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    The anger began to drain from Captain Gelth¡¯s face at the boy¡¯s quick, clear, response, and after staring him down for another moment he nodded in grudging approval. ¡°You show promise, boy. Don¡¯t destroy your opportunity here by ignoring orders.¡± He turned on his heel, glancing at Eldan with his lip curled into a look of disdain, and walked back to take his place behind Sergeant Filon.


    Eldan lowered himself into an opening stance, tucking his left arm to his side to keep it steady, and this time his sparring partner took position across from him, dipping his head respectfully toward Eldan.


    ¡°I¡¯m Mercad. What should I call you, 23?¡± He asked quietly as he adjusted his grip.


    Surprised, Eldan answered, ¡°I¡¯m Eldan, and thanks for the spar.¡± Mercad smiled at that, seeming to relax, while Eldan rapidly reevaluated his initial impressions. Mercad might be somewhat arrogant and overbearing but there was obviously more to him than that, and he certainly had the skills to back up his boasts.


    Sergeant Filon called for the spar to begin and Eldan immediately stepped back and began circling warily as he waited for Mercad to take the offensive. The boy came in with a few testing strikes, making no real attempt to pierce Eldan¡¯s defense, then held back, clearly expecting Eldan to come back at him with strikes of his own. When Eldan remained on the defensive, making no move to attack, Mercad looked briefly confused, then came back in significantly harder, with a flurry of quick strikes and jabs.


    Eldan managed to barely meet the wave of attacks, twisting and blocking, the strikes that met his stave ringing up his arm to his damaged shoulder. When Mercad stepped back again Eldan released the stave with his left hand momentarily, shaking the tension from his arm. Mercad set his jaw, an expression Eldan had seen him make in the earlier spars just before moving in with one of his lightning fast finishing moves. Eldan clenched his own teeth, determined to block at least one of these attacks.


    Mercad lunged forward, flicking his stave up in a disarming strike, and Eldan spun out of the way, crouching to sweep toward Merced¡¯s ankles, forcing him back. He felt some of the stitches in the back of his leg straining and then tearing from the sudden extension but Mercad was already back on him, swinging down at his side from above. Eldan rolled under the strike, leaping to his feet to catch the next blow directly on his stave, then kicking up on Mercad¡¯s thigh, using his bent leg as a launching pad to jump backwards and force back the follow-up strike heading up toward his chin. Mercad staggered backwards from the kick as Eldan landed in a crouch. He could feel blood trickling down his leg under his bandages but a strange elation was creeping through his body, and his wounds were beginning to burn with the same hot, needling sensation he felt in the river. He closed his eyes momentarily, drinking in the heat.


    When he opened his eyes Mercad was coming in with a ferocious jab toward his stomach that Eldan had to contort to avoid, bringing up his stave vertically so Mercad had to swing his head back to avoid slamming into the pole. He jabbed down with the butt of his stave toward Eldan¡¯s foot in response and Eldan snapped his up to deflect, dancing backwards.


    Mercad came in again and again, his strikes increasingly harder as Eldan continued to dodge and deflect. His expression changed from confusion to grim determination and sweat started to trickle down his face, plastering his sun-streaked hair to his head.


    The training room fell away around Eldan, everything fading except the two staves crashing into each other. He had worked hard to develop his skill with the weapon but he had never experienced such assurance in his movements or responded to an opponent as naturally as he did now. He felt liquid, his body flowing around blows with bare inches to spare, finding impossibly small gaps to slide through to slip from a domineering attack. He could have used this same fluidity to pierce through Mercad¡¯s defenses but somehow he knew that when the bout ended his pain and stiffness would surge back, and anyway he didn¡¯t want the experience to end. He clung to the sensation of ichorous movement like a life raft, buoyed by the freedom of feeling nearly weightless.


    Mercad rushed toward Eldan, feinting toward his side and spinning at the last moment, using the momentum to launch himself upward and swing down, holding the stave like a bat, in a ferocious overhead strike that would likely break bones if it connected. Eldan simply stepped to the side, the wind from the stave ruffling his hair as it passed down his side to slam into the mat. Mercad swept outward immediately, driving at Eldan¡¯s ankles with the stave still clutched at one end with both hands, extending a leg in line with the sweep with the intent to propel himself up into his next strike in a single motion. Eldan leapt over the sweep, bringing up his stave toward the anticipated attack only for Mercad to surprise him by lunging back off his extended leg and swinging backwards in a rough, one-handed swipe at his knees. The swing didn¡¯t have enough power to knock Eldan¡¯s legs from under him, the momentum lost when he reversed directions, but Mercad was strong, and he was using his other hand to push off the floor to add weight to the move. Eldan knew that even if it wasn¡¯t disabling it would hurt, and put him on the back foot, which Mercad would mercilessly exploit. His body thrummed with heat, and he had the sensation that he was at the threshold of something, not quite understanding how to grasp the limits of this sudden agility. He slammed the butt of his stave into the mat and swung his knees up to his chest, hanging briefly as if he were climbing a pole while Mercad¡¯s strike smacked into his stave instead of his legs.


    Eldan dropped back to the mat in a crouch, holding his stave horizontally as Mercad drew to his feet and regarded him for a moment, slowly spinning his stave in his hands. Mercad came back at him in an erratic zig-zag, twirling his staff from side to side in rotating strikes so Eldan was forced to dodge back and forth, his hands at the center of his stave like a fulcrum as he snapped the ends up to catch the flurry of downswings. Mercad made a sudden, tight spin, bringing his stave down in a brutally powerful swing.


    Eldan felt the thump of a heartbeat and heat sang in his veins, followed by an icy rush that flooded his muscles, like the shock of diving into the frigid river on the first warm day of spring. His breath caught and he froze for a second before exploding into motion, invigorated by the cold, but the hitch in his movement had been enough, he would not escape the strike. He twisted, bending backwards and flinching as the stave approached with terrifying force directly toward his wounded shoulder.


    Eldan pushed desperately against the insubstantial barrier he could sense, feeling as though he was pressing in a direction that could not exist, pushing both inward and outward, toward a space between spaces. He somehow felt the pressure of the air bending as Mercad¡¯s stave was about to connect with his skin, and then his body rippled, flowing around the weapon in a sinuous, impossible movement. The stave passed through him and around him and past him as though those distinctions didn¡¯t matter, Eldan¡¯s senses spiraling out in tendrils of awareness, stretching his body like taffy as his mind flooded with information. He instinctively dove into the some of the channels for movement that were suddenly available to him, finding space to spare within the collision of body and weapon, and a susurrus of whispers rose briefly in his ears in an excited chatter. A pale, barely visible light flickered across his skin and his hair began to rise, fanning around his head as though he were underwater.


    As the stave whistled through the air, passing beyond him, Eldan gasped, straining to feel his feet planted on the ground. He fumbled to find the place where he had pushed through, finally releasing the pressure and snapping back behind his eyes, strands of awareness coiling into a single thread. His stave, which had already been in motion as he tried to bring it up in time to meet Mercad¡¯s strike, now pointed just below Mercad¡¯s chin. The two boys stared at each other, Eldan shakily lowering his stave as Mercad let his fall to his side, loose in his grip.


    ¡°23 Forfeits due to injury, win to 12.¡± Captain Gelth barked, pulling both of their attention to the sideline. Eldan stared dumbly, not quite comprehending the words, while the Captain stared back with an expression of seething disgust.


    Sergeant Filon looked surprised but didn¡¯t hesitate in her call, ¡°23, step down, 12 will spar with 28 at second bell. All are dismissed until that time.¡±


    Mercad gave a short bow, stepping back with a final, hard look at Eldan as the other students began getting up, forming around the two Sergeants to hand back their staves. Eldan shook his head quickly, trying to clear his thoughts and ignore the confused and alarmed glances being thrown in his direction. He wondered what the spar had looked like from the perspective of those watching, whether they had seen..whatever happened at the end.


    The Captain walked past him, sneering, ¡°take yourself to the medic, boy, and clean yourself up. You look disgraceful.¡± He stalked on without waiting for a response, his blue cape fluttering behind him.


    Eldan looked down at himself, realizing the Captain was right. He had a large bloodstain on his tunic at his stomach that was slowly creeping outward, blood trickled down his arm from a second, wet stain on his shoulder, and the bandages on his legs were soaked through, the top of his boot smeared with blood. He stumbled when he turned toward Sergeant Strake to hand in his stave, hit with a staggering wave of exhaustion.


    The Sergeant looked up, stepping away from the last few students and reaching out to take the stave from Eldan, leaning in as he did so to speak quietly. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you pulled off that performance in your state but it was impressive. For what it¡¯s worth, from what I saw you won.¡±


    Eldan looked at Strake blearily, letting go of the stave in his hands and trying to form a response with his cottony mouth. Sergeant Strake gestured behind him with his chin, ¡°I think your friends are waiting,¡± he said with a small smile.

 Chapter 23

    Eldan looked over his shoulder and found Stal and Amuel standing nearby, talking quietly. Stal looked up as Eldan turned, stepping toward him.


    ¡°We thought to walk with you to the medic should you want company,¡± he said formally, reaching out to take Eldan¡¯s elbow to guide him. ¡°I believe your wounds must require tending?¡±


    Eldan nodded, allowing himself to be pulled forward by Stal¡¯s grip. They worked their way around the last few students handing in weapons, stopping to collect their packs near the door and taking a moment to drink water from a table that had been set with pitchers and cups. Eldan poured a little in his hand and attempted to wipe off the blood on his arm, mostly succeeding only in diluting it and spreading it around. He found himself beginning to recover from the initial, overwhelming wave of exhaustion that overcame him after the spar, but his injuries throbbed with pain and he wanted nothing more than to lie down and go to sleep. Stal offered his arm for support as they readied to leave the now mostly empty room, but Eldan waved him off, walking stiffly toward the door. ¡°I saw your demonstration, you are very good,¡± he mumbled, a little embarrassed that the boy had needed to help him, and hoping to shift attention from himself.


    Stal¡¯s face clouded, the corners of his mouth tugging downward. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it is performative only, and I disappointed our Master and Captain by that admission.¡±


    Eldan puzzled over this statement but Amuel beat him to a question. ¡°I thought your people were known for fighting skills?¡± she asked, cocking her head to the side to look at Stal, her thick, auburn braid falling over her shoulder.


    Stal looked pensive, thinking for a moment before he answered. ¡°The reputation of a city or people does not represent its entire populace. Helios is known as a city of warriors and it is true that most there take great pride in martial prowess. However, it is also a city that sees much value in philosophy, and some there ascribe to doctrines of non-violence. These ideologies may not be popular but they are respected nonetheless.¡±


    As they slowly traipsed down the hall outside the training room Eldan¡¯s attention drifted to the wall where he and Cale had opened the chasm passage. He ran his eyes over the veins within the stone, trying to pick out the pattern he had seen that day, but the wall remained completely mundane, giving no hint to its secrets. Eldan thought he could just make out the faint thrumming beneath, though, his heartbeat buzzing in muted resonance, pulsing throughout his body.


    ¡°So you don¡¯t want to fight? I can understand that, it¡¯s not for everyone, but what¡¯s it matter for training? Not like they expect you to go to war here at Court.¡± Amuel¡¯s voice broke Eldan from his reverie.


    Stal sighed, ¡°it¡¯s not just about fighting. I will not raise a weapon or inflict violence upon any being under any circumstance. I did say I would likely fail a portion of our testing, did I not? I learned the dance of the blade, as is customary, but I will not wield it against another even in sport.¡± The tall boy looked somewhat slightly defensive when he finished speaking, as though he were expecting to be challenged on his position.


    Amuel looked thoughtful. ¡°S¡¯why you don¡¯t eat meat at meals, then?¡±


    Stal dipped his head in acknowledgment. ¡°Yes, I attempt to practice non-violence in every aspect of my life. It is a path from which I often stray in ways both small and large, but I always return to seek to walk the path again.¡±


    Eldan looked down at his blood-stained clothes, feeling somewhat ashamed as he listened to the conversation. He was not by nature a violent person but he had just sparred with great pleasure, and the memory of the raw violence he had inflicted on the delta ape was all too fresh.


    ¡°S¡¯pose I can appreciate your point of view but hope you don¡¯t mind if I don¡¯t see things the same,¡± Amuel said, shrugging apologetically.


    Stal smiled, seeming to relax. ¡°I have no wish for a world with only a single philosophy, only one where differing viewpoints may coexist with mutual respect and a desire for understanding.¡±


    They reached the bottom of the main staircase and Stal glanced over at Eldan with concern, but did not offer assistance this time. As Eldan began his dogged climb Stal turned back to Amuel. ¡°On the subject of martial prowess, from what I observed your archery skills are nothing less than extraordinary.¡±


    Amuel shrugged again, this time modestly, though Eldan noticed she also straightened her back a bit. ¡°If I couldn¡¯t shoot I wouldn¡¯t eat. Bows are weapons in the mountains, sure, but mostly tools. Had one in my hand soon as I could walk.¡± She looked a little wistful as she spoke, as though recalling fond memories.


    A couple of steps later Amuel turned to Eldan. ¡°Don¡¯t know what to say ¡®bout what you did back there. Didn¡¯t see it all but saw enough, no way you shoulda fought like that hurt like you are right now. Not gonna lie, I¡¯m impressed but a little scared of you.¡±


    Amuel laughed as she finished but Eldan could tell she wasn¡¯t entirely joking. He ducked his head, unsure how to respond. ¡°I just got caught up in the spar. Nothing really hurt while it was happening, I didn¡¯t know I opened up my wounds until afterward. I don¡¯t think the Captain was happy with my performance, either.¡± He was obviously underselling the intensity of the Captain¡¯s animosity toward him but saw no reason to pretend it did not exist. They rounded the top of the stairs and Eldan motioned toward the hallway they would need to take to reach the medical ward.


    ¡°I believe you may have caught the eye of the Weapons Master,¡± Stal said thoughtfully as they turned into the long, flagstone floored hall. ¡°I noticed her observing your spar with some interest. She is a..difficult instructor to please.¡± He rubbed his shoulder absently, as though recalling an injury.


    ¡°Did either of you happen to see the end of my spar?¡± Eldan asked cautiously. ¡°The last couple of moves were really fast and it was kind of hard to tell what was happening even though I was the one fighting.¡±


    A flicker passed over Stal¡¯s face as he glanced at Eldan from the side. ¡°I did, and it was difficult to parse as an observer, as well. From what I could gather you employed an unusual movement technique to avoid a certain strike, though I was unable to ascertain exactly how it could have been dodged. You shifted position quickly enough that you appeared to blur momentarily, returning to nearly your original position.¡± He rubbed his jaw, the restless motion strange for the usually poised boy. ¡°I have seen arts used in Helios that look similar from a spectator¡¯s perspective, but their purpose is different.¡± He shrugged helplessly, ¡°regardless, the strike was dodged and you landed in position to make a final strike but did not execute the move. I apologize, but I cannot provide further clarity.¡±


    Amuel turned her palms up apologetically. ¡°Sorry, didn¡¯t see any different.¡±


    They reached the medic¡¯s door and Eldan knocked, unsure if he should just walk in or not. He heard shuffling and Usher Wen opened the door with a smile, which fell instantly when his eyes reached Eldan.


    ¡°River¡¯s..¡± he shook his head, ¡°did I not adequately explain how imperative it is that you prevent your stitches from tearing?¡± He sighed, ¡°come in, come in,¡± he beckoned, waving Eldan through the door.


    Eldan turned back to Stal and Amuel as he crossed the threshold. ¡°Thank you. For everything.¡± He gave a small wave as the medic closed the door behind him.


    Usher Wen sent him straight back to his bed with a set of the soft sleep clothes he had worn the night before, instructing him to remove his tunic so his upper body wounds could be addressed. Eldan sat on the bed, leaving the fresh clothes folded at the foot, while the medic assembled materials on his cart.


    Once the medic had the bandages removed from Eldan¡¯s abdomen and shoulder, and had thoroughly wiped them down with water and medicinal liquid, he sat back with a snort, his shoulders shaking as he put his head in his hands. Eldan stared at the medic, bewildered, realizing he was laughing.


    Finally Usher Wen composed himself, looking back up. ¡°If I could replicate your rate of healing in others I would be recorded as the greatest Keeper of medicine in the history of Servandor. I will, indeed, need to replace a few sutures, but I need to remove far more to prevent your skin healing around them.¡±


    Eldan looked down at his stomach and then his shoulder and saw the medic was right, the wounds looked significantly different than they had that morning. Two of the large puncture wounds on his shoulder had opened up but all four had rings of new, pink skin around the edges, and the smaller punctures were now shiny, red scars. On his stomach he had several places where sutures had obviously ripped and his skin gapped open, but large sections of the claw-marks had settled into jagged, red lines of scar tissue. The open wounds looked somehow shallower than he remembered, bleeding like new wounds where they had ripped apart but simply not as deep. He blinked at the fresh scars, remembering the stinging heat he felt during the spar, and the energy that had coursed through his body.


    Usher Wen made a sound that was part giggle and part sigh as he organized suturing materials on his tray. ¡°The only logical conclusion is that your physiology is simply unique. Have you ever had a major injury before this one? A broken bone, perhaps?¡±


    Eldan shook his head. ¡°Just normal ones, Usher Wen, nothing like that.¡±


    The medic nodded, ¡°and did those minor injuries heal unusually quickly? Well, you might not know what is normal, but did they, say, heal within a day? Two?¡±


    Eldan thought on this, even though he knew something inside him had fundamentally changed at the moment he took a breath underwater, or perhaps that breathing water was the trigger for a cascade of changes that had already begun. He hadn¡¯t been able to take it all in, everything was happening so quickly, but it was becoming undeniable that something impossible was happening to him. He was overwhelmed, excited, afraid.. and so, so lonely. Despite Stal and Amuel¡¯s consistent kindness and the sea of people surrounding him, he had no one he knew and trusted. His eyes drifted toward the drawn curtain around Cale¡¯s bed, wishing he could talk to her, Usher Wen¡¯s question reminding him of all the skinned knees, barked elbows and other minor hurts they had endured on their adventures together.


    Eldan suddenly thought of the scrapes he had gotten in the tunnel on his way to Court, forgotten in the wake of his far more serious injuries, and held out his hands, looking at his unblemished knuckles and palms. He rubbed his cheek, finding no hint of the scrape that had been there, and he knew without looking that his knees would be healed, as well.


    The medic cleared his throat pointedly, reminding Eldan he was waiting on an answer.


    ¡°I..think they have mostly healed normally but a few have been fast? Burns took the longest.¡± The last Eldan was sure about, as he remembered a few careless burns from the forge or stove that lingered painfully.


    Usher Wen nodded thoughtfully. ¡°That makes sense. Burns are an entirely different sort of wound and we have tragically little success in treating those afflicted with serious burns even under expert care.¡± He picked up a bottle and began to pour a draught of the dark liquid Eldan had been given by the ship¡¯s medics.


    Eldan shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t want the medicine, I have to go back for second bell.¡±


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    The medic sighed, setting down the bottle. He looked as though he was about to argue but ultimately gave up, motioning for Eldan to lie down. ¡°This will hurt, and I will need you to remain absolutely still,¡± he said, raising an eyebrow. When Eldan had nodded his understanding Usher Wen picked up his suture hook. ¡°Take a deep breath, and you might want to look away,¡± he said as he leaned in to begin the process.


    Eldan sucked in a lungful of air, turning his head to the side and squeezing his eyes tightly shut. He couldn¡¯t help flinching slightly at the touch of the medic¡¯s cold fingers on his stomach, and again when the needle first pierced his skin. After the first couple of sutures he relaxed slightly, they were painful but quick and regular, and not as bad as he had feared. After a last tug of the thread, which felt extremely strange, Usher Wen snipped the suture and sat back, and Eldan let out his breath in a whooshing exhale.


    ¡°I am starting the next set momentarily. Apologies, I didn¡¯t mean you have to hold your breath, just try not to take sudden ones while I¡¯m working. Deep breath in, then out, then breathe normally.¡± The medic leaned back in as he said this, his cold hands touching back down on Eldan¡¯s stomach.


    The remainder of the sutures went quickly and fresh bandages were applied, then Eldan self-consciously worked off his borrowed pants while Usher Wen respectfully busied himself elsewhere. Finally Eldan had himself dressed in a fresh tunic with towels wrapped around his waist, ready for his leg wounds to be assessed. Unsurprisingly, the medic reported that he would need to replace a number of sutures and remove nearly double that amount from healing skin. Eldan craned his head around trying to see the wounds but couldn¡¯t make out much while lying flat.


    Finally he was cleaned up, sitting on the edge of the bed with new dressings secure around his leg and wearing the soft, flannel sleep pants with his boots. He wasn¡¯t particularly happy about wearing the outfit back to the training room but he kept losing clothing. He was still chagrined about his only set of swimming clothes having been shredded and cut off, but if he was honest with himself the thought of returning to the river filled him with dread.


    Usher Wen came back into the room with two hard rolls and a chunk of cheese wrapped in paper for Eldan to take with him, as the second bell was rapidly approaching. When these were handed off the medic reached into a pocket, and Eldan¡¯s eyes lit up when he was handed one of the fragrant, wrinkled fruit.


    ¡°What are these, Usher Wen? I¡¯ve never seen them before I came to Court.¡± Eldan held the fruit up to his nose, breathing in the scent.


    Usher Wen smiled, ¡°ah, these are heart fruit, they occasionally come in on the ships. I am particularly fond of them, as well.¡±


    Eldan tucked the heart fruit into his pack, swinging it onto his good shoulder and lowering himself to the ground. ¡°Would it be all right if I came back to sit with Cale after the assessment is finished?¡±


    Usher Wen¡¯s smile fell, ¡°yes, you may, though I think it may be best that you sleep in your room tonight. We can discuss this more this evening.¡±


    Eldan stared at Cale¡¯s curtained bed, guilt washing over him as he prepared to leave again. The medic placed a hand gently on his shoulder. ¡°She must wake on her own, there is nothing you can do for her right now. If she is anywhere near as stubborn as you, I suspect she would want you to go prove yourself in this test. That said, I am only allowing your attendance at the Ironkeeper¡¯s request. Even as rapidly as your injuries are healing, I would be remiss if I did not say that my advice is that you stay here and rest. The decision is yours, but whether you stay or go, do it for your own needs and purposes.¡±


    Eldan thought back on the conversation he had with Cale on the riverbank as they walked to Court, when she insisted that this was the time when he must bring himself to bear. Usher Wen was right, Cale would want him to go prove himself to the Ironkeeper, and if.. when she woke she would be disappointed in him if he had held himself back again. Resolved, Eldan set his jaw, silently promising Cale he would be back soon. He wanted to stride proudly from the room but instead limped, after a small bow of thanks toward the medic.


    The second half of the assessment was frustrating but unremarkable after the events of the first half. Eldan was not sure how his performance was received by the Sergeants; he managed to complete all the exercises, but with considerably less speed and accuracy than the other students in his group. He struggled most with archery, his left arm wobbly under the weight of the drawn bow, making his arrows fly unpredictably or fall short. Mercad had positioned himself at the target directly to his side, and several times Eldan caught the boy staring at him after a weak, fumbled shot. Mercad himself took to the weapon quickly, soon consistently landing arrows close to the target¡¯s center.


    Eldan handled the crossbow a little more easily than the bow, though he still struggled with his weakened left arm, and thought he may have turned in at least an adequate performance with the spear. He had difficulty sinking into some of the deep lunges and extensions in the spear sequences, but the weapon had enough similarities to the stave that it felt natural in his hands. Unfortunately, he was being assessed among a group of stave adepts, so his performance failed to distinguish him from the pack.


    Mercad was split from the group of stave users when they moved on to the sword, to be tested directly by the Ironkeeper herself, eliciting a small stab of jealousy in Eldan. He wasn¡¯t sure why, since Stal and the mace wielding boy¡¯s testing under the Weapons Master hadn¡¯t bothered him, and he pushed down the unreasonable reaction. Sergeant Selan led the testing for the remainder of the group along with a Sergeant Linsky, a broad-shouldered man with dark hair and a rather rakish mustache. Eldan was given a small training sword to fit his small frame, though it wasn¡¯t nearly as short as the short sword in his room. The reminder sent a pulse of cold anxiety through Eldan¡¯s stomach, adding to the worry in the back of his mind about Glade, and he resolved to go to his room that night to check on the blade and, he hoped, the river cat. He had to shake himself to keep from spiraling into darker thoughts, his worries and grief at risk of compounding until he froze up completely.


    Eldan¡¯s stave training seemed to work against him in the sword test, and he could tell that even without his injuries he would be no natural talent. He struggled with the stunted reach of the much shorter weapon, and found the stances and sequences awkward and unintuitive. As he repeatedly cycled through the moves they had been taught, Sergeant Linsky came over to adjust his form again and again, moving an arm or kicking a foot into position, or sometimes grabbing him by the ribs or hips to shift his entire body. Sergeant Selan ignored Eldan completely, despite his trying to catch her eye several times. He knew this was not the time or place to apologize or attempt to explain why he fled her rescue in the river, but he had hoped that some kind of understanding might pass between them if she would just meet his eyes.


    When the group broke into pairs for sparring practice Eldan fared even worse, reflexively flinching at strikes or meeting them in clumsy, ineffective parries. Once or twice he even threw out a hand to try to block a swipe, and was grateful he was sparring other inexperienced fighters using wooden swords. Despite being accustomed to the feeling of having weapons swinging toward him, he felt somehow defenseless with the one-handed weapon, and unused to such close-quarters sparring. He saw a few of the other sword spars devolve into grappling, and though the Sergeants had demonstrated how grappling might be properly used in sword fighting, the pairs were quickly pulled apart.


    Eldan was exhausted to the point that every move required an effort of will, his shoulders and legs aching from exertion and his breathing becoming ragged. He could see the drooping shoulders and sluggish moves of the other students in his group and was relieved when the Sergeants announced that at the end of the next spar they should come up in pairs to get individual feedback and hand in their swords.


    After his spar had ended and Eldan had bowed toward his partner, a mousy looking girl whose demeanor hid deceptive strength and speed, he cast around the room to see how the other students were performing while he awaited his turn with the Sergeants. The large group who had no prior weapons experience were unsurprisingly faring the worst, with most obviously flagging from the sheer physical strain of the exercises. He saw that several had dropped out entirely to collapse miserably against the walls, and a few had been given pails for vomit.


    True to his word, Stal had performed all of the training exercises but refused to spar, and he now stood by himself performing stave sequences. The mace-wielding boy was in the midst of a spar, swinging his stave like a club toward a terrified boy who was not so much sparring as running away from the wild sweeps, clutching his stave to his chest. Captain Gelth stood nearby, watching the stave spars, and occasionally glancing at Stal with undisguised disgust. Amuel was working with the spear and appeared to have taken to it with great enthusiasm, and was now attacking a training dummy like it was a mortal enemy.


    Mercad was still working with the Ironkeeper and he looked utterly spent, red-faced and panting, his tunic soaked with sweat. The Master was not sparring with him directly but had him running sequences back to back while she used her rod to jab and swipe at every point when he opened up his guard. She looked completely casual, simply walking around him at a leisurely pace, but her rod moved unerringly, seeming to flicker into existence at his throat or ribs or elsewhere on his body. To Eldan¡¯s untrained eye Mercad looked skilled, his movements graceful and precise, but the hits came so frequently he wasn¡¯t sure of that assessment.


    Finally Eldan¡¯s turn came to turn in his sword, and he dragged his aching body toward Sergeant Linsky. As he approached Sergeant Selan released the boy the had been speaking with and waved her arm, calling out, ¡°I¡¯ll take this one, Linsky, you get the next.¡±


    Eldan stuttered to a stop, looking between the two officers in confusion and some dismay, wondering why Sergeant Selan wanted to speak to him now after ignoring him throughout the training. Sergeant Linsky looked surprised but shrugged and nodded his assent, waving up the next person in the group. Eldan shuffled over to the long-haired Sergeant, holding his training sword awkwardly as he came to a stop. He swung his eyes up to meet hers, determined to face the consequences of his actions in the river.


    Sergeant Selan had her own eyes focused on her ledger, making notes, and she reached out to take his sword without looking up. He handed it over and she stalked away to place it back on the rack, looking around the room past him as she walked back. Finally she stood in front of him with her arms crossed and slowly lowered her eyes to meet his. For a moment they simply stared at each other and Eldan could read nothing in her expression or dark brown eyes. He was acutely aware of how far back he had to tilt his head to match her gaze, feeling even smaller than he usually did looking up at her regal features.


    The Sergeant quirked one eyebrow, glancing down at her ledger, ¡°I don¡¯t think I have to tell you that your practice with the sword was weak. If I hadn¡¯t seen you with the stave I would have said you had no fighting ability at all,¡± she said blandly.


    Eldan fidgeted uncomfortably but made no reply. She met his eyes again, resuming, ¡°however, since I did see that spar I am inclined to say that you struggled with the weapon transition and are likely simply unsuited for the sword. Your size limits the length of your blade and a short reach with a short sword will always be at a disadvantage.¡± Eldan winced slightly, though he could not say he hadn¡¯t had similar concerns.


    Sergeant Selan shrugged, looking over his head again, ¡°but then again, you were sparring injured with an unfamiliar weapon so who knows, maybe you would come back and give a better showing in different circumstances. Unfortunately, we don¡¯t have that kind of time in the circuit, so I am recommending you be dropped from sword training.¡±


    Eldan¡¯s heart sank and he opened his mouth to try to plead his case but the Sergeant held up a hand, cutting him off. ¡°Linsky would have told you the same. Most people come in excited about the sword so we talk to them alone to try to let them down easier. For what it¡¯s worth, most people won¡¯t make the cut.¡± She smiled briefly at her own joke, baring a flash of bright white teeth. Eldan hung his head, knowing the Sergeants were right in their decision. Had his mother not tasked him with learning the sword he would have been disappointed to have failed the test but not unduly so, having lost nothing more than an idle childhood fantasy. Now, though, the promise he had made hung on him like a physical weight, but it was not the Sergeants¡¯ burden to help him fulfill it.


    Sergeant Selan leaned down slightly, speaking rapidly in a low voice, ¡°you should know that only a few of us know what really happened out there on the river, or know enough, at least. There are stories on top of stories about it and none of them in your favor.¡± She paused, glancing up, ¡°you need to watch your back, you¡¯ve drawn attention no one would want, but a couple of us are looking out for you where we can.¡±


    Eldan stared at her in confusion as she stood back up. ¡°Wait!¡± he hissed, unwilling to let the opportunity pass, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I kicked you and that I didn¡¯t listen,¡± he said in a jumble, ¡°it was the wrong thing to do.¡±


    The Sergeant glanced around, seemingly worried they had been talking too long, and clapped a hand on his shoulder to steer him past her, speaking nearly under her breath as she did so. ¡°That girl would be dead if you hadn¡¯t, don¡¯t let anyone tell you otherwise.¡± With that she gave him a little shove toward the exit and called up the next student in the group.


    Eldan stumbled toward the benches where he had left his pack, reeling from the Sergeant¡¯s warning. He had worried that the younger officers might share the Captain¡¯s view of his actions but having his fears realized sat in his stomach like a stone. He didn¡¯t know what to make of Selan saying she was looking out for him, he had thought she would be one of the angriest after he fought off her rescue, and it made the disappointment of not achieving a place in her training group even worse.


    As he picked up his pack the noise of the other groups being dismissed rose up behind him in chatter and tired groans, and Eldan rapidly made his way toward the door. He saw Stal waving at him from the far side of the training hall and gave a small wave of apology back, ducking into the hall before the boy could catch up. He broke into a limping run, tracing his way through the halls until he reached the door to the back staircase, leaning against it when he had it closed behind him to catch his breath. He took the stairs slowly, and dodged through the halls, ducking into smaller hallways a few times to avoid groups of students, until finally he reached the medical ward.

 Chapter 24

    Eldan sat by Cale¡¯s bed through the dinner hours, slowly eating the roll he had leftover from lunch. His stomach grumbled in protest over the light meal but he was unwilling to leave her again after being gone the entire day. Cale looked deathly pale and her cheeks were cool to the touch. Eldan was struck by how small she looked when stripped of her personality, her expressive face and movements utterly stilled.


    Eventually he heard the squeak of Usher Wen¡¯s cart and to his surprise, the medic brought in dinner for both of them, pulling up a second chair to eat potato soup and hot tea, sharing the cart like a small table. He showed Eldan how to break open the heart fruit he had brought for dessert without a knife, lacing his fingers together and squeezing with the heels of his hands until the thick rind cracked, and laughing when Eldan burst his, frantically licking off the pulp that ran down his arm.


    When they had finished, Usher Wen retrieved a checkered wooden board and carved pieces to play a game of Crowns and Keepers, saying that the sounds of their voices might be good for Cale. Eldan found he enjoyed talking to the medic on subjects other than his injuries, the man was patient and kind, quick to smile and knowledgeable on a wide range of topics.


    When their game concluded Usher Wen left again, telling Eldan he could stay until the next toll of the city bells before going to his room to sleep. Eldan leaned forward on Cale¡¯s bed, resting his head on his arm with one hand on her shoulder, his exhaustion and a belly full of warm food coaxing him into a light doze.


    Eldan woke to the sound of a raw, crescendoing wail of terror that seemed to emit from the depths of Cale¡¯s being. It sounded, at first, like a muffled moan, a cry she had to reach across time or space to vocalize. As she slowly found her voice it amplified, growing stronger and steadier until it became a formless shriek that spoke of a fear so great it could not be named or understood.


    Eldan shot fully awake and lurched from his chair, grabbing her shoulders and then throwing his arms around her and holding tight as she wailed. Her body was rigid, back arched and hands formed into claws, her eyes open and unseeing. Usher Wen rushed into the room, gently pulling Eldan back and steering him to the side, then yanking the blankets off Cale, checking the temperature of her forehead and cheeks. He ran to his cart, filling a basin with water and grabbing cloths, then rushing back to wring them out and lay them over her forehead and neck.


    Finally the wail ended and Cale lay still on her back, her eyes closed. Eldan approached cautiously and Usher Wen made no move to stop him when he snaked out a hand to clasp one of hers. He squeezed gently and Cale¡¯s eyes fluttered, focusing on him momentarily. She made a croaking sound, her voice cracked and raspy, before her eyes drooped closed again.


    The medic daubed her dry, cracked lips with a wet cloth, eliciting a slight movement from her mouth in response, and replaced the cooling cloth on her head. The two of them stayed like this through the next bell, Eldan holding her hand and Usher Wen making gentle ministrations. The medic encouraged Eldan to talk to her, so he did, telling her how much he missed her and recalling a couple of stories of their adventures together. He also gave a highly edited account of his spar with Mercad, making it sound like a playful encounter and exaggerating both of their moves so it sounded like a storybook battle between titans. He knew she would have laughed at the telling had she been awake.


    A few times Cale opened her eyes and looked around, seeming semi-focused and confused, sometimes making another raspy vocalization. Each time Usher Wen rushed to moisten her lips, trickling water into her mouth. Eldan squeezed her hand periodically and thought she sometimes weakly returned the pressure, her cold fingers twitching subtly in his grasp.


    ¡°I think it is time that you return to your room and rest,¡± Usher Wen said gently. ¡°I am encouraged by the signs that she may be awakening but will not know more for some time. Should she more fully awaken she may not be herself, and I do not wish you the distress of seeing her in that state. You are in need of rest and recovery, as well.¡±


    Eldan nodded in resignation at the medic¡¯s words. He wanted to stay at her side but exhaustion had settled over him like a heavy blanket, his body aching and eyes burning. ¡°I can come back tomorrow?¡± he asked, sounding more plaintive than he would have liked.


    Usher Wen gave him a tired smile. ¡°Yes, you are always welcome here.¡±


    Eldan gave Cale¡¯s hand a last squeeze and she seemed to fold her hand slightly against his before letting go, as if to reassure him he could leave, though he wasn¡¯t sure if he was imagining the response. She lay still while he gathered his pack, bidding them both goodnight and trudging from the ward toward his room.


    When Eldan opened the door to his suite he found the sitting room empty, with a fire burning low in the fireplace. One of his suite-mates must have brought up a fresh load of firewood, as split logs sat stacked in a neat pile next to the hearth. He saw that their boots were lined up by the door and Amuel¡¯s cloak was thrown haphazardly on the back of one of the leather chairs, making the room look a little more lived-in and familiar that it had seemed before. He sat down and removed his own boots, adding them to the row before padding to his room.


    He opened his door with a creak and stepped into the darkened room, faintly illuminated by moonlight from the open window, making his way to the small desk and fumbling around, feeling for the candle and flint he knew he had left on its surface. Finally he got the candle lit and turned around to see Glade sprawled on his bed, stretching, her mouth open in a wide yawn from the sudden light. Warmth surged in Eldan¡¯s chest, a smile spreading across his face as he hastily set the candle down and stumbled to the bed to wrap his arms around the large cat.


    Glade vibrated with a rumbling purr while he buried his face in her thick fur. ¡°You saved my life, you know that? Of course you know, why else would you have been there?¡± he murmured, tears pricking at the back of his eyes. ¡°You saved her, too. I don¡¯t know how to thank you for that but I promise I will always take care of you.¡±


    Glade made a huffing sound, as though to say she obviously took care of him rather than the other way around, and Eldan chuckled, wiping his eyes on his tunic as he sat up. His eyes came to rest on the chest beneath his window and he slid off the bed, opening it and digging out his sword. This time when he unrolled it he had no doubt about what he was seeing, a faint light, something more than reflected candlelight, flickered within the curves of the mark on the pommel. When he gripped the hilt the blade hummed in recognition, and the silvery moonlight shining softly on his arm wavered, rippling and refracting like it was cast on moving water. Even as a trickle of warmth flowed into his body Eldan shivered, releasing the grip and tilting the blade to look again at his mother¡¯s signature mark. ¡°What were you really asking of me?¡± he whispered in consternation, settling the sword back in its canvas, ¡°and why did you think I could do it?¡±


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    He carried the rolled sword back to his bed, leaving it there while he changed into his own sleeping tunic and blew out the candle. Finally he settled under the blankets, holding the canvas bundle tightly to his chest while Glade curled up pressed against his back, and fell into an exhausted sleep.


    ***


    ¡°Eldan! S¡¯time to go, don¡¯t want to leave you here,¡± Amuel called through the door to his room.


    Eldan hastily pulled on a fresh flax tunic over his familiar canvas pants, combing his wet hair with his fingers and grabbing his pack. ¡°Sorry!¡± He threw the door open, narrowly avoiding hitting Amuel as she leapt backwards. Stal was already standing by the door wearing a crisp robe, this one in a golden yellow that was striking against his dark, bronze skin. Eldan caught himself staring and ducked his head, his cheeks warming. He quickly pulled on his boots, pointedly keeping his gaze away from Stal as they locked the room and hurried to breakfast.


    Everyone in the annex had seemed to take it as a matter of fact that Eldan and Cale would eventually marry, and people often joked that he would live a life of leisure as the next Goldkeeper¡¯s husband. The pair themselves knew their friendship would never evolve into more and snickered at the adults who cooed over them, describing ever wilder scenarios where Eldan reclined on a divan, dripping with gold and jewels, demanding Cale bring him luxurious items. In the back of his mind Eldan knew he was unlikely to marry a woman at all, but except for a childhood puppy crush on a playful and dashing forge-hand he had never noticed anyone before this morning. He pushed down the uncomfortable thought, rationalizing that his emotions were too high to trust the curious flare of interest.


    After a rushed breakfast the trio made their way to the auditorium, where Captain Gelth began a seemingly endless and dry lesson on military tactics. Eldan could not keep his focus on the lecture, listening for the faint chimes of the city bells as his hand mindlessly took notes that he knew would probably be useless to him later. Several times he straightened up in his seat, reminding himself that Cale would need to catch up and resolving to pay closer attention, but he kept drifting back to the same repetitive, unanswerable questions about what he would find when he went back to the medical ward.


    Finally class was dismissed for lunch and Eldan closed his notebook with a snap, shoving it into his pack and stumbling in his hurry to get out of his seat. ¡°I have to get to the medic but I will try to catch up before lunch is over,¡± he said in a rush to Stal and Amuel.


    Stal nodded sedately, ¡°I will prepare you a plate if you would like?¡±


    Eldan paused, thinking, ¡°sure, thanks. I guess whatever you are eating is fine,¡± he shrugged.


    Amuel smiled broadly, giving him an exaggerated wink. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll sneak something tasty on there for ya.¡± Eldan smiled in return and ducked out of the aisle, joining the stream of students heading toward the main hallway.


    When he reached the outer office of the medical ward Usher Wen beckoned him inside, looking pleased despite the fact that it appeared he hadn¡¯t slept since Eldan left the night before, his long, white tunic wrinkled and dark circles under his eyes. He guided Eldan into the main ward, where he found Cale sitting up in bed, looking haggard but alert.


    Eldan froze for a moment, a lump rising in his throat, as she turned toward him, her freckled face lighting up. He ran forward, limping only slightly, and fell into her open arms, half laughing and half crying with joy and relief.


    Usher Wen stood back, watching their reunion with a smile. ¡°Be careful with each other, neither of you are in fighting shape yet, although I suppose I can¡¯t say that to the boy who went through weapons training yesterday,¡± he said jokingly.


    Eldan pulled back and Cale glanced at the medic before giving him a confused look. ¡°I have a lot to tell you,¡± he said sheepishly, ¡°but none of it matters now. How are you feeling? I¡¯ve missed you so much, I thought..I didn¡¯t know for a while..¡± he trailed off, the lump rising in his throat again.


    Cale made a soft sigh, gesturing at her throat apologetically, then began speaking in a crackled, raspy voice. ¡°I feel like I was run over by a horse, and then the cart, and then maybe another horse landed on my chest.¡± Her eyes flicked toward Usher Wen, then met Eldan¡¯s. ¡°I don¡¯t remember everything that happened in the water, just that I was so scared and sure I would die there. At the end it was so dark and then suddenly someone grabbed my arm, I was sure it was you but..¡± her voice broke and she trailed off, as well.


    Eldan looked uncertainly at Usher Wen, not sure what he should say. The medic closed the door between the ward and his office, joining them at Cale¡¯s bed. ¡°There is an official version of events on which I am sure you will be briefed very soon, likely sooner than I might wish, given your condition. It would not be prudent to dispute that account, even privately, so I will say only that the fact that I am able to stand here speaking with both of you after what you experienced is remarkable and unlikely, and I do not believe it would have been possible without the strength of your friendship.¡±


    Cale looked between the two of them, clearly confused but seeming to understand the subject had to drop for now. Eldan held her eyes for a moment, trying to silently communicate that they would talk later, and Cale cocked her head, nodding slightly in agreement. He wondered how, only a few days before, he had thought she might be a stranger to him. Whatever vital parts she may have lost of her own history, that essential thing that made her Cale was indisputably intact.


    Usher Wen let Eldan stay a few minutes longer before sending him away, explaining that Cale needed to rest her throat and lungs. The medic asked him to come back after the second session to have his sutures checked, indicating he could stay longer if Cale felt up to it at that time. After a reluctant goodbye and a last hug Eldan hurried to the dining hall, unable to keep himself from smiling.


    The plate that awaited Eldan when he slid into his seat at the drafty table consisted of a mound of cut fruit and nuts, along with a chunk of meat that had obviously been picked out of a stew, presumably Amuel¡¯s contribution. His roommates were nearly finished with their own meals so he dug in, shoveling down the food and gulping at the cup of cider sitting next to his plate. He had missed or skimped on several meals since arriving at Court and felt ravenous, the meal barely making a dent in his hunger.


    ¡°I have not wanted to pry but it appears you may have received good news, so may I ask how Cale fares?¡± Stal asked quietly.


    Eldan washed down the bite he was chewing with a mouthful of cider, glancing up at the handful of students who were already up and clearing their tables. ¡°She is awake. The medic says she is still recovering but he thinks the worst is over. I was able to talk to her today.¡± He couldn¡¯t help grinning as he spoke, and then resumed eating, determined to finish his plate.


    Stal made a sigh of relief, sitting back in his chair. ¡°I am glad to hear this news. I do not know Cale well but I have been greatly worried.¡± He looked around the room and then leaned forward, speaking in nearly a whisper. ¡°I do not believe our Captain is aware that in Helios we are trained to see over long distances clearly. I am grateful that you pursued your friend, and more so that you both live.¡±


    Eldan¡¯s eyes widened in alarm and he lowered his fork to his empty plate, looking between Stal and Amuel, who sat with one arm thrown casually over the back of her chair, looking unconcerned. ¡°I know that recognition ceremony was a heap of terend dung,¡± she said matter of factly. ¡°Woulda thought we¡¯d see Bornin again, too, seein¡¯ as he was the hero in that tale. Hurt or no I figured he¡¯d get trotted out for us to admire.¡± Her voice was lowered but not so much that anyone walking by or paying close attention would not hear, even in the hubbub of clattering plates, scraping chairs and chatter as most of the students rushed to clear out of the dining room. Eldan scanned for anyone who might have been listening, only mildly reassured to find no one actively observing their table.


    Stal shot Amuel a look. ¡°This may be a conversation best saved for another time and it appears we should depart, regardless.¡± He stood, brushing off his immaculate robe with one hand, and Eldan quickly followed while Amuel leisurely uncurled from her seat.


    Eldan had worried over the absence of Sergeant Bornin, as well, and pondered the issue as they made their way back to class. He had assumed the officer was under medical care with the military but if so, it was somewhat odd that he was released even for the recognition ceremony. He shuddered slightly at the memory of the burning shame and anger in Bornin¡¯s one-eyed stare, wondering what was going on in the in the man¡¯s mind.

 Chapter 25

    ¡°Whoa there, Eldan,¡± Usher Wen said with a laugh, ¡°we can get you more to eat if you need.¡±


    Eldan looked up from his bowl, embarrassed, lowering his spoon. ¡°Sorry, Sir. I¡¯ve been really hungry.¡± Cale made a muffled snorting sound, obviously holding back a laugh, and he glanced at her with a smile, the tension in his body releasing.


    Usher Wen shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine, no apology needed. I suspect that your rapid healing may be linked to an unusually high metabolism, meaning that you need more food than you realize. Even so, eating faster will provide no benefit, you simply need to eat more.¡±


    Eldan nodded and turned his attention back to the thick barley stew in front of him, making a concerted effort to slow his pace. This was the second night he had eaten with Cale and Usher Wen since she had awakened, and she was to be released from care the following morning, barring any unforeseen complications. As glad as Eldan was that she would be returning to classes and their quarters, he would miss these shared meals with the medic. The three of them had quickly settled into an almost familial routine of dinner, games and conversation.


    ¡°How are your injuries feeling today? Did they give you any trouble on the terrain course?¡± Usher Wen asked, buttering a slice of crusty bread.


    ¡°No,¡± Eldan replied, shrugging, ¡°they are a little sore, and the scars feel strange, tight, I guess, but I could run the course normally.¡±


    The medic¡¯s eyebrows rose slightly. ¡°Even having seen the progression myself it is hard to fathom, but I am glad to hear you are doing so well after the removal of the last of your sutures.¡± He pushed the loaf of bread and butter toward Eldan, encouraging him to take another slice.


    ¡°How badly was he injured, on that day?¡± Cale asked slowly, without looking up from her tray. Every time their conversation touched on the attack in the river she looked haunted, seeming to sink within herself. Eldan raised his eyes from the bread he was cutting in concern.


    Usher Wen grimaced and he hesitated before speaking. ¡°He was wounded very badly, indeed. It is an extraordinarily lucky chance that those injuries were taken by someone who heals so quickly,¡± he said softly. ¡°Many of the events that led to the three of us sitting here together seem to have been sheer lucky chance, in fact.¡±


    Eldan awkwardly finished cutting his slice of bread in the silence that followed, the sound of the knife sawing through the crust sounding unbearably loud to his ears. When the slice was free he put his hands in his lap, chewing his lip as he tried to think of what to say that might break Cale free from the miasma that had settled around her. In truth, he was sapped of any interest in discussing his injuries more at this point, as well. Too many of the conversations so far had been heavy with implication, accusation or suspicion. Even Usher Wen had been confrontational on the subject at the outset, before deciding Eldan must have always had the ability to heal quickly. Eldan had gone along with the idea but couldn¡¯t help feeling like he was lying by omission, which felt worse as he spent more time with the kind medic.


    ¡°Did I die?¡± Cale blurted suddenly. ¡°I know I was revived, that my heart stopped, but was I dead?¡±


    Eldan blanched, reflexively shaking his head and opening his mouth to repeat his mother¡¯s assertion that resuscitation only worked on people still holding onto life, but Usher Wen just looked thoughtful.


    ¡°Life and death, as terms, are both definite and nebulous, and frankly the states are mysterious to us still. Obviously we can discern the living from the dead, and yet the flame that is life is utterly elusive to us, we cannot create it, or say what it means when it gutters or snuffs out.¡± Usher Wen pulled off his spectacles, wiping them absently on his tunic. ¡°For a moment you hung between, in a place where a technique could still reach you, yet unable to revive on your own. It was not death, no, that is a journey from which none return, but you traveled further than most who remain among the quick.¡±


    He replaced his glasses, leaning forward, ¡°I have heard of cases where people had experiences that seemed sublime or profane in situations such as yours. No one is sure why this happens but if it did, you needn¡¯t fear you are alone,¡± he said gently.


    Cale stared at the medic, something he said clearly having resonated with her, but after a moment she gave a wan smile, shaking her head. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t that, I just needed to know what happened.¡±


    Usher Wen sat back, looking between Eldan and Cale. Finally he clapped his hands on his knees, seemingly signaling a shift from the direction the conversation had taken. ¡°Shall we play a game, then? I can clear up and fetch the cards while Eldan finishes eating.¡±


    Cale smiled and nodded her assent, and as he stood up to take the empty dishes Eldan pounced on his waiting slice of bread, tearing off chunks to scoop up his remaining stew.


    When the medic had left the room Cale leaned toward him. ¡°We have two free days after tomorrow¡¯s class, right?¡± she said quickly, her voice low. Eldan nodded, making a helpless gesture, his mouth full of stew and bread.


    ¡°We have to go back,¡± Cale whispered urgently.


    ¡°Where?¡± Eldan said thickly.


    ¡°The 32nd annex.¡± Cale¡¯s storm cloud eyes were wide and serious, and Eldan swallowed hard. He didn¡¯t like the idea of her traveling over the distance but he could sense how important this was to her, and the request tugged at the gaping desire of his own to return. After a moment of indecision he made a single, sharp nod, and Cale released a low sigh of relief, settling back just as Usher Wen opened the door.


    ***


    Cale and Eldan stood inside the gates of Servandor in the gray, pre-dawn light, waiting for the guards to allow general passage. Eldan carried his pack, stuffed with hard rolls, pastry and fruit taken from the tables outside the dining hall, along with his canvas weapon roll, this time holding only his stave. They had decided to travel down the riverbank and Eldan was deeply apprehensive about being so close to the water, despite knowing the ape that had attacked them had been killed. He had no confidence that he could take on a delta ape with his stave but felt reassured by the weight on his back anyway.


    The city center was already a hive of activity when they slipped into the dark streets from the Court, as this was the day the military personnel involved in the attack were to be publicly commended. As Cale and Eldan darted through, skirting the main square on their way to the gates, they had seen workers finishing the raising of a curtained gallows next to the wooden stage, making Eldan even more grateful that they would be missing the ceremony. He was expecting the trial to be made spectacle but public executions were falling out of favor, so he was surprised to see the gallows being set up, even with curtains that would be drawn to conceal the final act. His mother, and father, for that matter, were staunch opponents of execution, public or otherwise, and Eldan found even the structure itself deeply unsettling.


    Eldan heard a sharp whistle from the parapet and guards began dragging the wooden barricades from the gates, preparing to allow the morning traffic through. The iron gates were raised high and locked in place as usual, since passage was not completely barred even overnight, just limited to persons with special dispensation or requirement to move between the city and annexes.


    Eldan and Cale were nearly first in the small line waiting to exit the main city but a large caravan from outside was let through first, presumably consisting of merchants bringing deliveries for the ceremony and accompanying festivities. The guards waved their line back as the horses and wide, covered carts thundered out of the tunnel, kicking up clouds of dust. Finally the caravan was past and traffic began to move in both directions, with shouts and whistles from the guards on the parapet to those below.


    ¡°State your name and business.¡± Eldan stood before a disinterested looking guard with bags under his eyes and a shadow of stubble on his cheeks.


    ¡°Eldan Ward, we are going to the lower banks for recreation and a picnic,¡± he said, giving the line he and Cale would both be using. It wasn¡¯t common that people from the city traveled downriver solely for pleasure, but not disallowed, either, and they had not been able to think of another viable reason to give for entering the annexes.


    The guard sighed, looking between the two of them. ¡°And you are¡­?¡± he asked, gesturing toward Cale.


    ¡°Cale Ward,¡± she said confidently.


    The guard shook his head, ¡°well, least I don¡¯t have to worry about some noble¡¯s kid honor. Y¡¯know you will be missing the ceremony, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± said Eldan, deciding not to attempt to give an explanation for why they would leave the festivities.


    The guard shrugged, ¡°just need to see what¡¯s in the bag. If yer coming from Court you can¡¯t bring any unsanctioned Court materials outside.¡±


    Eldan dutifully pulled off his packs, handing them both over. The guard withdrew the well-worn stave from its sleeve, glancing at it quickly and handing it back, then opened the pack and rooted around inside. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of picnic for two kids,¡± he said eventually, seemingly satisfied nothing else was inside the bag.


    As the guard handed back his pack Eldan felt his cheeks reddening slightly. ¡°I get really hungry,¡± he mumbled. His appetite had steadily grown to the point that it was becoming a constant distraction, so he had packed enough food for a lunch and several large snacks.


    The guard shrugged again, his attention already on the next person in line. ¡°Go on, then, be back before nightfall.¡±


    Eldan hurriedly put his packs back on and he and Cale made their way into the tunnel. The sun was rising by this time, the gray dawn mists quickly dissipating, and the tunnel was filled with echoing chatter and laughter from the people streaming into the city. Even the curve at the tunnel center ahead looked lighter than Eldan remembered, and a few of the travelers still held lit lanterns that illuminated the walls with swings of warm light. He hesitated briefly at the tunnel mouth, peering into the sheltered alcove where they had waited out the storm on their entry into the city. Cale laced her fingers with his, glancing at him with apprehension visible in her eyes but her jaw set in determination, and they treaded forward.


    The tunnel was far shorter in reality than it was in Eldan¡¯s memory, and soon they stood outside the gates, looking over the 1st annex. The river sparkled in the morning sun in the distance, white-sailed ships dotting its surface. They had decided to retrace their journey to the 32nd exactly as they had come, since it was unclear whether Cale would still know her way around the annexes as she had before. Strangely, she remembered most of their journey to Court, including their long walk up the riverbank, but the memory had no context to explain their starting point.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    They traipsed past the long line waiting to enter the city and entered the 1st annex proper, pushing their way slowly through the crowded streets. The market was already in full swing and the atmosphere loud and chaotic as people thronged the vendor stalls and shops. Eldan and Cale were constantly bumped and jostled, at times carried in directions they didn¡¯t wish to go by the movements of the other shoppers.


    Eldan felt a tug on his back and whirled around, grabbing the wrist of a sallow man with thin hair who held a pastry snatched from Eldan¡¯s pack in his hand. The man sneered at him, revealing gapped, yellow teeth and easily pulled his wrist free from Eldan¡¯s grasp, melting backwards into the crowd.


    Eldan reached over his shoulder to pat at his stave pack, reassuring himself it was still in place. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get out of here,¡± Cale said, tugging at the sleeve of his tunic.


    The piercing sound of someone whistling through their teeth carried over the shouts and chatter of the marketplace and Eldan whipped his head toward the sound, finding the same forge-hand who had been manning the Ironsmith¡¯s stall on their journey to Court staring straight at him. When their eyes met the man beamed, beckoning them with a wave. Eldan looked at Cale, who shrugged, motioning for them to make their way over. When they reached the tented stall they had to wedge themselves in at the corner of the table, as several customers were examining wares while two forge-hands manned the stall.


    The forge-hand who had called them over was busy negotiating the purchase of a sword with an ostentatious, jeweled hilt with a pudgy, red-faced man wearing an equally garish velvet jacket with gold brocade trim, and flashing several large jewels on his fingers. Even at a distance Eldan could tell the sword was mostly decorative, with too many jewels to sit comfortably in the hand, and too much work done in soft gold and silver to hold up to real use. The forge-hand glanced in their direction, giving a quick wink and holding up a finger while he finished the transaction. Finally the paperwork was complete and the sword slipped into an engraved and bejeweled scabbard, which the nobleman strapped around his considerable girth before strutting away, the dense crowd parting around him.


    The forge-hand, a young man with thick hair swept back and twinkling blue eyes, approached them with a grin. He was dressed much like Eldan, wearing a flax tunic dyed red with bloodroot and heavy canvas pants. ¡°Hey, I saw what happened to you out there. Didn¡¯t look like you¡¯re here for the market so figured I would see if I can help. We gotta look out for each other, right?¡± He gestured between himself and Eldan, his smile broadening.


    The forge-hand¡¯s relentless good cheer put Eldan at ease, even though he was worried they were just wasting time by stopping to talk. They had a lot of ground to cover to make it back to the gates by nightfall and their progress had been painfully slow so far. ¡°We just need to get to the wall at the riverbank,¡± he said, ¡°this is the only road we know to get there, but if you know a faster way we would be grateful for directions.¡±


    The forge-hand, impossibly, smiled even wider still at the question. ¡°That¡¯s an easy one! Come on inside, our workshop is right behind the stall and if you go straight through and out the back it will put you in sight of the wall. Come on, then!¡± He waved them in and after a glance at each other Cale lifted the canvas at the side of the tent, ducking under with Eldan just behind.


    The forge-hand called to his partner to cover him for a moment, garnering an irritated look that he blithely ignored as he pulled aside a flap in the back wall of the tent to reveal a wooden door. They stepped through into a large workshop where several forge-hands were doing finishing work, sharpening and oiling blades, engraving, or applying decorative work to hilts. More mundane projects were taking place, as well, tools being fitted with wooden handles and a wagon wheel being repaired. A large, sliding door in the side wall was open and a horse stood just inside, waiting to be shod. Eldan¡¯s heart clenched at the sight of the workshop and he stumbled, suddenly nauseated.


    ¡°Impressive, eh? Wait til¡¯ you see the real action in the back.¡± The forge-hand elbowed Eldan in the side, completely misinterpreting his reaction. Cale caught Eldan by the elbow, steadying him as they walked through the shop.


    The ringing of iron and steel grew louder as they approached the other end of the long, warehouse sized building, and when the forge-hand rolled aside the heavy, iron reinforced door they were struck with a wall of heat. The din and smells of a forge running at full tilt hit Eldan with the full weight of visceral memory, tears burning immediately in his eyes. He ducked his head, pretending to wipe his brow with his tunic as he drew in a shaky breath, trying to regain his emotional equilibrium. Cale¡¯s hand tightened on his elbow and he clamped his arm to his side as he raised his head, focusing on the open door on the opposite side of the room.


    ¡°Whatcha think?¡± the forge-hand called over the noise, gesturing at the room around them.


    ¡°Amazing,¡± Eldan said through gritted teeth, refusing to look away from the square of daylight that was his destination.


    ¡°We know you have to get back to the market and we can see the way from here, so please don¡¯t worry about heading back. Thank you so much for your assistance, and I hope we will have the chance to repay your kindness one day,¡± Cale said sweetly, smiling at the forge-hand.


    The forge-hand¡¯s smile dimmed and he looked slightly confused at being suddenly released from his role as their guide, but quickly adapted, bowing with a flourish and rising with his grin back in place. ¡°Like I said, us forge-hands gotta stick together. Where is your post, anyway? You look young even for an apprentice,¡± he said to Eldan, raising his voice higher as someone began pounding heavily on an anvil.


    Cale pointed to her ears and shrugged apologetically, ¡°thank you again! I am afraid we really must go, as well,¡± she called, pulling Eldan forward with one hand and waving cheerfully with the other. The forge-hand slowly lifted his hand to wave back as Eldan looked back over his shoulder and raised his own in thanks. He truly was grateful for the assistance in passing through the annex, he just hadn¡¯t realized how profoundly he would react to being inside the Ironsmith¡¯s workshop.


    Eldan reeled slightly when they stepped back out on the street, the cool air after the heat from the forges making him light-headed. Just as the forge-hand had said, the river wall was directly ahead, and Eldan plowed straight across the street, barely noticing the aggravated looks from passerby who were forced to halt or dodge to let him pass. Cale kept hold of his arm, making a few waves of apology and thanks on his behalf.


    When they reached the wall Eldan sat down heavily, putting his head in his hands with a soft moan. ¡°I have to get new clothes,¡± he muttered as Cale sat next to him.


    ¡°I have coin at Court, I must have been sent with it because there was a purse hidden inside my pack. We both need new swim clothes and I have enough to get you other clothes, too,¡± Cale said sincerely, taking his statement seriously.


    Eldan shook his head in embarrassment. ¡°I have a little, too, maybe enough.¡± He knew he didn¡¯t have that much but couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Cale spending the only coin she had on him. They would need to replace their swimwear, at the very least, and he hoped he could negotiate that purchase with the small amount he had brought to Court. He had saved more from doing odd jobs, and on occasion his mother letting him handle minor repair work when the shop was busy, but had left it at home for safekeeping. His gut twisted at the thought of his attic room and he forced himself to stop thinking about what he would find when they reached the annex. He twisted to look behind him at the long drop to the riverbank. ¡°Are you sure you will be able to make the climb?¡± Eldan turned back to Cale in concern.


    She gave him a playful nudge and attempted a laugh, which quickly turned into a wet cough, and then a constricted, painful looking wheeze that Eldan could only watch helplessly, waiting for it to end. When the coughing fit finally stopped she sighed, one hand clenched into a fist at her sternum, and leaned over the edge to look for herself. ¡°Down is easier than up, right? Anyway, it¡¯s not like there is a better option. If we try to walk through the annexes we will never make it in time.¡±


    Eldan nodded hesitantly. ¡°We don¡¯t have to do this today, though. Usher Wen said you have a cracked rib and..¡±


    ¡°I need to go today,¡± Cale interrupted, cutting him off, her eyes flashing with determination as she stared into his.


    He lowered his gaze in defeat, adjusting his packs on his shoulders as he stood up and reached down a hand to pull her to her feet. ¡°I will go first, then.¡± He gave her a last look and hoisted himself over the wall to begin the descent. Cale started over when he was about halfway down, her movements looking stiff but sure. Eldan suspected she was in more pain than she let on and winced in sympathy as he watched her flinch back an extended arm to feel around for a closer handhold.


    Eldan¡¯s own injuries were still noticeable but no longer restrictive, and even now he could feel the faint sensation of needling heat. He again had the sensation that he could push his body into some different form of movement and he itched to press against that immaterial barrier, but he kept his attention focused on Cale¡¯s climb.


    When Eldan¡¯s feet touched the bank he turned and scanned the water warily, searching for any movement out of the ordinary, keeping one hand touching the stone in case he needed to scramble back up. Finally he tore his eyes away to look back at Cale, who seemed to be frozen with about a third of the descent left to complete. He realized her arms were shaking and his heart began to pound as he saw one foot slip and she scrabbled against the rock to regain her hold.


    Eldan surged the moment heat bloomed in his chest and radiated through his limbs, pushing inward and downward until his vision unspooled and he streamed up through the crevices of the wall, flowing around Cale and catching her tightly in one arm. She gasped, her hands loosening from the stone, but he was already pouring back down, settling her on her feet before slamming onto his knees, his head pounding.


    Cale stumbled backwards a couple of steps and lowered herself to a sitting position, wheezing audibly, while Eldan groaned, his chin dropping to his chest as exhaustion crashed into him like a wave dashing him to the ground.


    ¡°What.. in the abyss.. was that?¡± Cale panted out between wheezes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Eldan said miserably. ¡°Something, well, some things have been happening but it goes so fast I can¡¯t really understand¡­ It¡¯s like I can feel this wall that¡¯s everywhere and beyond reach at the same time, but then suddenly I see the way through to the other side. Then, once I¡¯m through, for a moment I can move in every direction at once, or that¡¯s how it feels, at least. I thought you might fall and I went after you and then we were here.¡± He rubbed hard at his forehead, unhappy with his explanation but unable to offer a better one. ¡°That¡¯s only happened twice but other things have happened, too.¡±


    Cale¡¯s breathing slowly returned to normal as she sat, looking thoughtful. ¡°I didn¡¯t really see what was happening, but it felt like you were just moving insanely fast. You didn¡¯t really move like you were climbing at all, though, more kind of.. traveled.¡± She stood up, dusting herself off. ¡°Can you walk? You look really tired.¡±


    Eldan shrugged off his pack and dug out a couple of pastries from the bottom, not wanting to eat any the pastry thief might have touched. ¡°I think so? I¡¯m really hungry.¡± He shoved a tart into his mouth with a slightly trembling hand, swallowing it in three large bites. He ended up eating two tarts, a turnover, a hard roll, and a heart fruit in the span of a couple of minutes before standing up, feeling considerably better.


    They walked down the riverbank at a steady clip, both largely recovered from their exertions climbing the wall. Cale seemed to be lost in thought and Eldan let her be, replaying the moment when he retrieved her from the wall in his head. He should not have had the strength to do what he did in any circumstance. Even if he could support her weight on steady footing he knew he couldn¡¯t do so with just finger and toe-holds on a sheer wall, and yet he had done it without a thought for the impossibility of the attempt. He couldn¡¯t remember a climb, though, only flowing up and down, the only sense of solidity coming from feeling his arm wrap around her waist. He felt for the barrier he could sometimes push against, and though he thought he could sense its shape, it felt slippery and elusive, like trying to capture a bubble floating in the water without breaking it.


    ¡°Do you want to tell me about the other things that happened?¡± Cale asked suddenly. ¡°I¡¯m guessing something happened in the water and I understand if you don¡¯t want to talk about that.¡± She shuddered at even the mention of the attack, her eyes sliding to the river.


    Eldan followed her gaze, scanning the placid surface. ¡°I breathed underwater. Neither of us would have made it back up if it hadn¡¯t happened but it was more than that, I could see clearly and it made me stronger, and I could feel myself healing.¡± He looked up at Cale, who seemed pale but managed an encouraging smile, so he continued. ¡°The other time was more like today, when I was sparring in the weapons assessment. I felt the same way I did when I was underwater except it wasn¡¯t dangerous so it felt really good. Then, when I was about to be hit I pushed through that wall and.. I don¡¯t really know what happened, but I traveled through the hit somehow.¡±


    Cale nodded as though she had been expecting him to say something along these lines. ¡°Have you tried to do it again? Breathe water, I mean?¡±


    Eldan shook his head with a grimace. ¡°It hurt a lot, both when I started breathing water and when I stopped, and I¡¯ve been afraid I imagined the whole thing. Anyway, I haven¡¯t really wanted to swim yet.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think you imagined any of it,¡± Cale said softly. She didn¡¯t say any more on the subject so Eldan returned to his thoughts, his apprehension growing as they steadily grew closer to the familiar banks of the 32nd annex.

 Chapter 26

    A chill wind off the river ruffled Eldan¡¯s hair as he and Cale stood on the flat rock where they had taken lunch as they left the 32nd annex, staring into streets that didn¡¯t belong there.


    Eldan had played out every scenario he could think of about their return, imagining empty, desolate homes, or strangers occupying the familiar spaces, and nursing an aching hope of finding the annex just as they had left it, and facing down his irritated mother¡¯s questions about why he wasn¡¯t at Court before she pulled him into her arms. He had even considered the idea that the entire space might be missing, the thought of barren ground, buildings razed from existence, crossing his mind, but the reality directly in front of him was so much worse than anything he could conceptualize.


    The streets of the 31st and 33rd annexes collided into each other in an ugly, desecrating scar, a seam that bulged and frothed like a vile, sleeping mouth snapped shut. Eldan began to shiver, his teeth chattering from the tension in his jaw. ¡°Can you see this?¡± His voice came out in a strangled whisper and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to look away from the hideous tear in reality to turn toward Cale.


    ¡°The passageway? Yes, I see it,¡± she breathed, sounding both fearful and reverent.


    Eldan did turn toward her then, searching her freckled face as she stared forward, curly hair whipping around her head. Her arms were folded, wrapping her cloak tightly around her chest, her knuckles white where she gripped the cloth in her fists. ¡°I¡­ think we see something different,¡± he said tentatively, ¡°can you show me?¡±


    Cale¡¯s eyes, as dark as a thunderhead, met his for a moment, and then she turned her head forward again, pointing into the center of the seam. ¡°There, that¡¯s the way in,¡± she said, her voice quiet but resolute.


    Eldan squinted, trying to see the passage, but the perverse wrongness of the scene was overwhelming, it looked both impassable and unapproachable to his eyes. Even focusing on it intently made him feel sick and vertiginous, as though space itself was bending where the two misplaced annexes met.


    He felt Cale¡¯s hand close on his own and she raised his arm with hers, pointing again. ¡°Look, Eldan, it¡¯s right there.¡±


    For a moment Eldan was staring at a landscape in flux, the seam widening, flickering with glimpses of streets and houses that he had never seen, and bleeding at the edges with tendrils of untamed wilderness. Just as suddenly, it resolved, contracting into a wavering line terminating in an arched, square opening, a dark tunnel with stone walls hanging in the air.


    Despite the passageway¡¯s apparent solidity, he could see people from the 31st and 33rd annexes walking through the seam and the tunnel itself as though it wasn¡¯t there, disappearing from view on one side only to reappear momentarily on the other. Cale drew in a shuddering breath, releasing his hand and letting her arm drop back to her side. Eldan quickly snatched her hand back when the tunnel warped, the seam splitting with scenery from places outside existence, and it sealed before his eyes when their hands connected, the passage reopening into the unknown.


    ¡°I can¡¯t see it unless I¡¯m touching you, I think we have to stay together,¡± he mumbled uncertainly, still nauseated from the sight of the rift. The passageway was foreboding purely in its arcaneness, but exuded none of the grotesque aura of the seam.


    Cale cocked her head toward him again, her mouth drawn in a tight line. ¡°I have to go inside. I don¡¯t know how I know, but I¡¯m supposed to go there.¡± She closed her eyes, her eyebrows knitting in thought. ¡°When I was out, after the river, I spoke to someone, or really several people. It¡¯s like trying to remember a dream, but I know they told me to come here, that there is something I have to do for them. They talked about you, too, saying that the shield of paths walked again. I don¡¯t know what that means but I knew that you were the shield of paths. We have to follow that passage, I think there are answers for both of us inside.¡±


    Eldan stared at Cale, trying to take in everything she had said. ¡°Is this why you asked Usher Wen what you did?¡± he finally asked.


    Cale nodded, turning back to the passageway. ¡°The people that I talked with were dead,¡± she said softly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t scary, it felt like they are trapped, or guarding something, and they need me because I got close enough to hear them.¡± She chewed her lip, stepping forward and tugging at Eldan¡¯s arm, looking back at him pleadingly. ¡°I have to go, please come with me.¡±


    Eldan took a step to stand beside her, gripping her hand tighter. He needed answers about what had happened to their annex, what was happening to him, and, it seemed, what was happening to Cale. If there was even a chance of finding them in this passage he would take it. His stomach roiled but squared his shoulders resolutely. ¡°Let¡¯s go, then.¡±


    Cale and Eldan scrambled over the low wall from the riverbank, keeping their hands clasped. The passage looked even stranger when they stood before it, their feet planted on the cobbled stone streets, appearing to hang in two and three dimensions simultaneously. The passage itself looked utterly real and tangible, but the people walking around and through it made it seem wholly illusory, like a trompe l¡¯oeil painting hung on thin air. They tried walking to the sides and back of the passage and it disappeared completely, leaving only the sheen of the shimmering line dividing the annexes running as high as they could follow into the sky.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Finally they walked back to the opening, only a single step separating them from standing on the sunny, cobbled street and the smooth, dimly lit tunnel floor. They shared a look, lacing their fingers tightly together, and stepped inside.


    The light from the street vanished the moment they stepped over the divide, their backs suddenly against solid stone. Eldan whipped around, running his free hand over the wall, feeling in vain for some catch or lever to reopen the entrance. When he didn¡¯t find one he turned back forward, finding Cale staring down the passageway ahead. He blew out a breath, reaching over his shoulder to slide his stave from its sleeve, gripping the smooth, familiar wood tightly in his right hand.


    The passage had the look of stone worn by water over centuries, the walls and ceiling completely smooth and seamless. Only the floor¡¯s flatness and perfectly arched ceiling made it appear cut by hands rather than a natural process. The tunnel sloped downward in an even grade, wide and tall enough for the two of them to walk side by side. As they made their way further into the passage the dim light remained constant, as though the stone itself was suffused with faint luminescence, and Eldan¡¯s eyes slowly adjusted to the cool, pale illumination. The passageway was utterly silent, the only sounds coming from their footfalls and the soft whisper of their breaths.


    They walked for an indeterminate amount of time in silence, which was finally broken by a loud growl from Eldan¡¯s stomach. Cale snickered in spite of the tense atmosphere of the journey, and Eldan felt a knot of anxiety loosen at the sound of her laughter. ¡°Should we stop to eat?¡± He said in a half-whisper, his voice sounding far too loud to his ears.


    Cale gestured at the wall in response and they sat down. Eldan laid his stave across his lap and turned his back toward Cale so she could fish out an assortment of snacks while they kept one hand connected. Eldan had no idea if they still needed to maintain touch but the idea of being trapped alone in the rend was terrifying, so he refused to let go.


    They ate their rolls and pastries quickly, anxious to resume their journey through the seemingly endless tunnel. Eldan was growing increasingly concerned about finding their way back out as the passage remained featureless and unchanging, descending ever deeper in the same, gradual slope. He could see a curve coming up ahead, the passageway slowly bending out of sight, but they had already followed several similar curves only for the tunnel to continue on exactly as it had before at the end. Every so often he would use his stave to scrape at the stone, leaving a faint mark in case they needed to retrace their steps. Despite the fact that they had seen no branches or turns, if he had to walk all the way back up he wanted to be sure they were going the right way.


    Cale had given Eldan a heart fruit and he attempted to open it with one hand, wishing he had brought his knives with him. He squeezed the fruit between his fingers and the heel of his hand, trying to crack the thick rind, when his grip slipped and the fruit suddenly launched into the air, bouncing down the inclined floor and out of sight around the bend.


    Eldan sighed and he and Cale stood up, brushing themselves off to continue their walk, treading down the long curve in the path. When they neared the end of the curve Eldan heard a familiar, faint thrumming, the blood in his veins seeming to warm in response. He slowed warily as the tunnel began to open up into a large room with a shimmering pool of water at the center.


    Cale gasped in surprise and Eldan had to admit the space before them was beautiful. The cavern was so large the far walls were hard to see in the distance, and the ceiling rose up completely out of sight into blackness above, pierced with tiny, flickering lights like a starry sky. The pool was massive, with a beach of glowing, luminescent pebbles, the crystal clear water lit from within by ever brighter stones at the bottom leading toward the center, where large chunks of stone, deep below the surface, glimmered with tendrils of bluish light that danced across the surface in patterns that made his mind buzz with recognition, as though they held some meaning that was just beyond his grasp. He longed to dive in and swim down to see them closer, which made him even more distrustful of the space and his reaction to it.


    Eldan saw movement in the corner of his eye and twisted toward it to see his lost heart fruit rolling across the floor, coming to rest with a gentle tap on his boot. His eyes narrowed as he searched the shadows of the rocky shoreline, trying to see what had sent the fruit back to him. A dark figure on hands and knees slipped from the recesses in a pile of stones and Eldan drew in a sharp breath, reflexively dropping one leg back, readying his stave in a one-handed grip.


    The figure glided forward and he realized it was an animal walking on all fours, which was only slightly reassuring. As it came into view he saw that it was a cat of some kind, with tall, tufted ears, two long, spiraling horns with gentle curves and sharp points rising between its ears, and huge, feathered wings folded at its back. The cat had a thick, tawny coat with dark spots that reminded Eldan of Glade¡¯s, but its tail was long and sleek, with a tuft at the end, rather than her thick, bristled tail.


    The animal stalked toward them silently, stopping a short distance away and tossing its head, its body rippling and wings fluffing before settling again on its back. It sat back on its haunches, then laid down, crossing its front paws and cocking its head to regard them with what looked like amusement. At this distance Eldan could see, to his surprise, that the cat, if it could be called that, still had slightly juvenile features. It fixed its golden eyes on Eldan, examining him slowly, then turned them on Cale.


    Eldan maintained his defensive posture and attempted to step in front of Cale, but she pulled him back, shaking her head. The winged cat opened its mouth, revealing long, curved teeth.


    ¡°I have been asked to greet you, as one of very few who might speak to you both,¡± it said in a deep, growling voice with a distinctly inhuman cadence to its words. ¡°I belong among the sunken, those that are no more and have need of a voice,¡± it lowered its head toward Cale, ¡°and my kind are path-fliers.¡±


    Eldan blinked and suddenly the cat was directly in front of him, almost nose to nose, still lying on the ground with its paws crossed. Eldan flinched back, raising his hands to hold his stave protectively in front of his face and throat before he realized what he was doing, dropping Cale¡¯s hand in the process. The animal remained still until he slowly lowered his hands, then bowed its head a second time.


    ¡°We did not know if another shield would rise. You are long awaited,¡± it rumbled.

 Chapter 27

    Eldan¡¯s heart pounded and his skin tingled with adrenaline and energy. He could feel the air around him like a physical presence, something he could run up like stairs. The cat shook its head.


    ¡°You can feel my path but you are not ready, you will drain yourself or worse in the attempt. This land is barren, you have little means for replenishment yet.¡± The cat gestured with its nose toward the heart fruit still lying on the ground. ¡°Those are from somewhere else, a place where the channels remain clear. Feeding on them will help sustain you until you connect with a source.¡±


    Eldan looked at the fruit, hunger spiking in his stomach, resisting the urge to grab and eat it then and there.


    ¡°What may we call you? And what are you, if I may ask? Someone sent me here but I don¡¯t understand how or why, what do you mean by needing a voice?¡± Cale spoke up from Eldan¡¯s side. The cat shimmered like a wave of heat in the air. Abruptly, it was at a comfortable speaking distance, remaining in its recumbent position.


    ¡°You ask many questions, and have more unasked besides. I will answer as I can. Regarding what I am, your kind called mine til¡¯balan, in your old tongue. Long ago, far before my time, most of my species left the skies for the waters. Over countless generations they became the river cats of your present world. My pride would become the last of the winged til¡¯balan. Most of my kind fell as all do, to age, disease or violence, and eventually to the slow, weathering changes of time.


    ¡°As for what I, myself, am, that is more complicated. My name was Ak¡¯bis, son of owls, once. Now you might say I am a memory made manifest. I am a fragment of a whole, a part of those consumed to fulfill a bargain. We call ourselves the sunken, and we have need of a voice lest all drown. You are in a unique position, not among our number but having crossed into our realm twice.¡±


    Cale and Eldan looked at each other in confusion. ¡°I¡¯ve heard these terms, the sunken and the drowned, a couple of times now. What exactly do they mean?¡± Eldan asked.


    Ak¡¯bis rested his chin on his paws, managing to make his feline features look pensive. ¡°You must understand that you inhabit corrupted land, and that it is so by design. Your ancestors struck an accursed bargain, sealing paths and channels to concentrate power. Sacrifices maintain the arrangement, each tithe feeding the strength of a corrupted source. We call those lost the drowned,¡± Ak¡¯bis said, sounding both disgusted and heartbroken.


    ¡°Yet, one path remains shielded, and a few from each sacrifice saved, within the limits of our ability. That is to say, we are dead, or at least we are no more... but we remember who we once were and are not puppets forced to consume our own. We call ourselves the sunken, beyond reach of the living but not gone from this world.¡± Ak¡¯bis nodded toward Cale again. ¡°This path is yours alone, no others may move between this realm and yours in both directions.¡±


    Ak¡¯bis lifted his head again, sweeping his gaze around the room before turning back to Cale. ¡°As I said, though, I am here only to greet you both. One would speak with you, speaker, who was for a time trapped within your path, and may be better able to guide you.¡±


    One of Ak¡¯bis¡¯ ears swiveled as he faced Eldan, as though he was listening to something in the distance. ¡°We can offer little in the way of guidance to you, shield. You may not follow further into our realm, but you already know where you must go.¡± Eldan¡¯s eyes slid to the water and Ak¡¯bis inclined his head. ¡°I have no wish to speak in riddles but we, too, are bound by tenets of the bargain. I have already said far too much, but I may offer two truths. First, there are many lands unbound by the constraints of your barren one. And second, the histories known to your people, even the secreted ones, are falsehoods. You must seek forgotten knowledge, buried truths, and allies with paths of their own to find yours. We cannot guide you, nor would you benefit from guidance. None have treaded your path since the first shield, and you must forge it anew.¡±


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    Ak¡¯bis shimmered, reappearing nearly instantaneously, standing on all fours. A tall woman stood at his side, resting one hand between the wings at his shoulder blades. She flickered, fading in and out of view, present one moment and insubstantial the next. Silver hair tumbled down her shoulders, her gray eyes crinkling at the corners with a warm smile. Eldan sucked in a breath, realizing that he was standing before Iyena of House Goldkeeper.


    Iyena¡¯s smile widened as she gazed at Cale. Eldan saw her mouth moving and then she lowered her head, her expression falling in regret as she wiped her eyes. Eldan glanced at Cale, who was staring at Iyena in rapt attention, clearly able to hear her speak. Iyena looked back up after regaining her composure, smiling warmly again. She spoke silently, reaching out one hand toward Cale in invitation.


    Cale started to step forward but stopped to look at Eldan, seeming conflicted. He shot her a warning look and turned back to Iyena, eyeing her mistrustfully. Iyena watched their silent exchange, dropping her hand to her side. She gave Eldan a sad smile and turned to Ak¡¯bis, whose ears flared as he listened to her speak.


    ¡°Shield,¡± Ak¡¯bis rumbled, ¡°this one laments that she was unable to truly know you in life. You share not a path, and cannot cross the divide to speak directly. She wishes me to impart her experience, so that you may know her now.¡±


    Iyena spoke to Ak¡¯bis again, pausing to chew her lip as Cale often did when thinking. Eldan was struck by Iyena¡¯s expressiveness, her gestures animated in a way he had never seen. Ak¡¯bis nodded, turning back to Eldan.


    ¡°As I said before, this one was once trapped in our path. Specifically, she was trapped in a nexus between the realms of the living, the sunken and the drowned. She was meant for sacrifice but one with foreknowledge of the tithe attempted to shield her. The protection failed, leaving but a fragment of her mind in the physical realm. In that nexus, she became a conduit through which the creatures of corruption could travel to your own. Her body, her words, even her thoughts were not her own. She fought to restore herself but to no avail. In the end, she could only withdraw from her own life to protect those she loved. When the next tithe approached she seized the chance to flee her body, closing the conduit. She knew enough of the paths to escape the corruption and join us here. She grieves, much as you do now, for losses both in life and death. And yet, she must now pass on what she learned of the paths and the devourers. She asks you to hear the truth of these words through my voice.¡±


    Ak¡®bis paused, listening again. As Iyena spoke she rubbed the bridge of her nose, in a gesture Eldan found oddly reassuring. Iyena had always seemed so remote, even eldritch¡­ as though, he realized with a chill, she was only mimicking the behaviors of a person.


    ¡°How do you know she isn¡¯t corrupted now?¡± Eldan blurted. ¡°The drowned, they were people once. How can you know she isn¡¯t one of them? Or that they can¡¯t still come through her?¡±


    Iyena lifted her chin to look at Eldan directly. Her gaze was steady, even as her form flickered. ¡°You have only our word that this realm is incorruptible,¡± Ak¡¯bis growled. ¡°The drowned were complete beings once, but they are one with the devourer now. They cannot conceive of wholeness, the thoughts, desires and griefs that you call personhood. However, I offer no proof of my claims. You must both proceed on trust alone.¡±


    ¡°I will go with you,¡± Cale said with finality. She turned to Eldan, her face set in determination. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I know you are trying to protect me, but I have to do this.¡± She reached out and grabbed his hand, holding it tightly for a moment before letting go. Eldan nodded numbly, his throat tight as he watched her walk across the cavern floor toward Ak¡¯bis and Iyena. When she reached them, Iyena put a hand on Cale¡¯s shoulder, her ghostly face alive with emotion.


    Ak¡¯bis bowed his horned head toward Eldan. ¡°May you find the first steps on your path, shield. We will reunite you with our speaker soon.¡± With a waver of air they vanished, leaving Eldan alone in the cavern.

 Chapter 28

    The cavern was vast and silent without Cale and Ak¡¯bis. Eldan shivered involuntarily, dropping one end of his stave to the ground with a thunk. The sound vanished into the massive space and he looked up at the pinpricks of light overhead, wondering at the ceiling¡¯s height. A glimmer at the corner of his eye finally drew Eldan¡¯s attention back to the water. The underground lake radiated cold like a physical presence, a barrier he would have to cross at the shoreline.


    Eldan felt his compulsion to enter the water draining as he stood in the cavernous space, leaving only mistrust and dread. The attack in the river had left him terrified of unknown depths. Even now, staring into perfectly clear water, all Eldan could think about was the dark, hidden crevices between stones at the bottom. The wavy tendrils of light and shadow began to resemble the undulating ripples of eels. At the lake¡¯s center, rounded stones looked like pale, bulging heads laying in wait.


    The water¡¯s surface was glassy, without a hint of movement. Eldan crept down the bank, startling to a stop when he dislodged several pebbles, which clattered down the shore and rolled to a stop in the shallows. Ripples from the disturbance ran across the water, disappearing into the distance. After a moment Eldan crouched down, searching for flat stones. When he had gathered a handful he stood back up, turning one stone until his finger hooked the edge in a comfortable grip. He pulled back his arm, slinging the stone with a side-arm throw so it skipped, bouncing across the water. After four skips the stone wobbled and Eldan watched its slow, tumbling, descent to the bottom.


    Eldan skipped one stone after another, gaining distance as he relaxed from the familiar activity. Stone skipping was one of the few skills taught to him by his father, a rare sweet memory, unmarred by conflict. He remembered watching his father¡¯s impossibly long throws in awe, and the pride he felt when he made his first skip. Now, his last throw skipped across the perfectly calm surface until he could no longer count the bounces, vanishing far across the lake. Eldan let out a breath as the surface stilled to glass again, dropping his pack and sitting on the bank to unlace his boots.


    The water was frigid when he stepped in, his feet immediately numbing with cold. The clear water gave the illusion that he could reach the bottom with a short dive, but watching his skipping stones sink had proven the water was much deeper than it looked. He would need to bear the cold and, if he wanted to explore the large cluster of rocks at the lake¡¯s center, he would need to breathe. He rubbed his arms briskly to warm up and stepped back out of the water.


    With no alternative, Eldan self-consciously stripped down to his undershorts. He felt exposed and vulnerable, disquieted by the thought that someone or something might be watching him. He caught a glimpse of his reflection at the water¡¯s edge, green eyes staring back at him under bushy eyebrows. His wavy hair hung wildly around cheeks that had gotten thinner in his short time at Court, making his face angular. His gaze dropped to the jagged, angry scars on his stomach, and he quickly looked away.


    Frustrated by the vast, cold silence, Eldan rushed into the lake, diving beneath the surface when it reached his waist. He breached, gasping from the shockingly cold water, then struck for the center with fast, choppy strokes. Slowly, his rigid muscles relaxed, his back straightening and arms lengthening. He kept his eyes open, scanning the waters for any movement other than his own.


    Eldan felt his arrival at the lake¡¯s center without question. His entire body hummed with resonance, like a plucked string matching the pitch of a tuning fork. He stopped, treading water far above the luminescent stones. Unsure what to do next, Eldan dropped just beneath the surface and exhaled, then tried to draw in a breath of water. His body instinctively rebelled against the idea and after a brief struggle, he ended up swallowing the water instead. Sputtering, he rose to draw in another breath of air, exhaling at the surface this time before sinking to try again.


    Climbing to the surface after multiple failures, Eldan faced the realization that his natural defenses against breathing water were overpowering. Forcing himself past that wall would mean effectively drowning himself, diving too deep to possibly resurface in time. He slapped the water in frustration, unwilling to give up the safety net of proximity to the surface. Steeling himself, he tried again, emptying his lungs completely and treading just under the water until his body screamed for oxygen. He opened his mouth to inhale but could not force his airway open. Desperate, he jerked his head up, sucking in a lungful of air.


    Staring into the depths as his breathing and heartbeat slowed, Eldan resigned himself to diving past the point of no return. His mind wormed with doubt, telling him him that his memories of breathing water were impossible. Pushing the thought away, he inhaled as deeply as he could and dove. He swam straight down, intent on gaining as much depth as possible before the oxygen in his lungs was expended. His ears and sinuses began aching with pressure as he descended. He had known the lake was deep, but the bottom remained distant even as his stomach started spasming with the urge to breathe. Stubbornly, he crawled on towards the rocks that now loomed as monoliths beneath him.


    Spots appeared in Eldan¡¯s vision and his body clutched in anguish, stopping his descent. Rolling over to look toward the surface, he began kicking upward as his instincts took over. He filled his mouth with water, failing again in an attempt to inhale. He began thrashing ineffectually as panic set in, making no progress up or down. His thoughts were thick and remote, stuttering through the pain of asphyxiation and trying to remain conscious. He tried forcing a reflexive inhalation, throwing a slow, clumsy punch into his stomach. Enclosed in darkness, his jerky movements slowing to a stop, Eldan began drifting, limp, toward the bottom.


    He slammed back to awareness with excruciating pain in his head and chest, feeling like daggers of ice were thrust behind his eyes. The agony was blinding and he struck out wildly at the water around him, only vaguely understanding what was happening. When his hands felt only empty water he grabbed his head and screamed in pain, stilling when he felt the silent cry rushing past his hands in a stream of water. He lifted his head, blinking back tears and breathing deeply.


    Eldan¡¯s vision slowly cleared as he endured the brutal transition to breathing water, and then it crystallized, bringing the underwater landscape into perfect focus. His leaden limbs lightened and heat began trickling through his body, radiating out from his chest. He laughed silently, kicking his legs joyfully and raising a fist in victory.


    Eldan had drifted about half of the remaining distance to the lake floor, and now he jackknifed and dove down to finish the descent. He was energized, each breath making his movements faster and more effortless. The pain and pressure in his ears vanished, and he somersaulted and corkscrewed as he swam. He touched the lake bottom with his hands, then performed a backflip to land on his feet, grinning uncontrollably. His body had the perfect amount of buoyancy, requiring no effort to stay planted on the bottom but light enough to rise easily. Experimentally, he ran a short distance across the floor, striking off, tucking into a flip and landing at a stop.


    Finally, Eldan turned to face the stone monoliths. They towered over him like buildings, alive with tendrils of flickering light, forming and reforming in inscrutable patterns. He walked cautiously toward the nearest stone, reaching out and placing his hand on the surface. As soon as he touched the stone lights raced to converge around his hand, flickering curiously around his fingertips. He watched as one light darted up his finger, then shot up his arm. He jerked his hand back immediately but the light remained, zig-zagging down his torso and racing down his leg, then disappearing as it ran up his back. He caught sight of it again when it sped over his shoulder and back down his arm, coming to a rest at his fingertip and blinking insistently. He reached out slowly, touching his finger to the stone again, watching as the light darted away. He followed it with his eyes as it raced up the stone face, disappearing over the top edge. Shaking his head, he stepped back to begin exploring his way around the base of the huge stones.


    The stones covered a span of the lakebed similar in size to the entire Court of Keepers. Eldan estimated it took him about half a bell to circumnavigate the area, arriving back where he started. The stones sat in a cluster, as though they had been dropped there in a fistful by a colossal hand. During his walk around the perimeter he had seen a number of caverns and crevices large enough to walk into upright, and more that he could swim into horizontally. These were lit from within with the same luminescence that covered the rock faces. He hadn¡¯t yet worked up the courage to explore one, but had peeked in to find the walls covered with light filaments performing their dance of patterns.


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    Eldan swam up the side of the stone face he had first approached, landing lightly on the top. Lights ran up to form around his feet but none transferred to his body this time. He walked across the surface, watching with fascination as each footstep lit up in turn. Peering over the edge of the stone, he saw that the luminescence was concentrated at the center of the cluster. A path seemed to wind down between the stones, leading toward the bottom. He crouched, leaning forward and hanging his head over the edge, trying to see what lay at the path¡¯s end. With a flash of movement something large and living shot up from the deep recesses, nearly colliding with his face. He flailed backwards, landing in a seated position and scrambling to kick off, swimming backward rapidly. The creature followed him immediately, and to his horror he saw the blunt nose and gaping, fanged mouth of an eel.


    The eel was ribboning rapidly toward him, its mouthful of needle-like fangs jutting forward. It was a dark, muted green, speckled with orange, and larger than any eel Eldan had ever heard of. Its head was half the size of his own, made larger by the lower jaw hanging distended, wide enough to easily fit an arm or lower leg inside. The undulating body was as thick as his thigh, flattening to a wriggling, finned tail in the distance.


    Eldan backpedaled, trying to get as far as possible from the eel¡¯s cavern in the hope that it would retreat. The eel seemed intent on Eldan¡¯s face, insistently shooting forward so that its snout nearly bumped his nose. Eldan swiped at it wildly, trying to bat it away, but each time it came coiling back around to try again. Eldan was hopelessly outmatched in speed and maneuverability in the open water. Glancing back over his shoulder to look for somewhere he could retreat or hide, he turned back to find the eel waiting for him, so close that its bottom teeth grazed his chin.


    Eldan froze, staring wide-eyed, afraid to even take a breath. The eel¡¯s small, beady eyes stared back, and it slowly turned its head one way and then the other to give him a hard look with each eye in turn. When it was finished, the eel snapped its mouth shut, its face setting into what Eldan could only describe as a satisfied expression. It moved backward with a flick of its tail, undulating in place for a moment, then turned back toward the glowing stones.


    Eldan went limp with relief, letting himself sink toward the lakebed as he watched the eel swimming away. After a moment the eel folded back to look at him, jerking its head back twice in an unmistakable ¡°follow me¡± gesture. Eldan froze again in bewilderment, continuing in his fall to the bottom. The eel coiled in a graceful circle, spinning several times in a perfect ring before unfurling with a fluttering motion. It gestured again for Eldan to follow, a ribbon of light flickering down its long body.


    Eldan¡¯s feet touched the bottom and reluctantly, he bent his knees and kicked off, swimming after the eel. The eel¡¯s mouth was slowly gaping open again as it waited, and Eldan bit back his fear and revulsion. When he drew closer the eel began swimming ahead again, looking back frequently to make sure Eldan was following. When they reached the stones the eel swam straight up the rock face, nearly touching the surface. Lights rushed to mark its passage, tracing sinuous lines up the vertical stone. The eel¡¯s length was startling seen from this direction, extending nearly three times Eldan¡¯s height.


    Eldan ascended while the eel circled at the top. He trailed his hand along the stone as he kicked upward, watching the luminescent filaments swarm. When he touched down on the surface the eel dove into the opening between the stones, disappearing from sight. As Eldan walked forward it poked its head over the edge, looking like a predator lying in wait. It glided partway out of the hole and arced in a diving motion, then turned back to Eldan and wriggled impatiently. Eldan held up his hands placatingly and stepped to the edge, holding the eel¡¯s gaze. Apparently satisfied that he would follow, the eel dove back down, the stones lighting as it passed to mark the pathway. Eldan sat down on the stone lip, dropping in feet-first when the eel¡¯s tail flicked out of view.


    Eldan soon realized he should have taken the eel¡¯s direction to dive in headfirst literally. The passage down was claustrophobic, requiring Eldan to squeeze through narrow crevices barely large enough to fit his head and shoulders. After blindly forcing himself through the first choke-point, he folded and twisted so he could lead with his hands. Increasingly, he found himself in sandwiching clefts, with solid stone pressing against his back and stomach. He crept forward with his arms outstretched, pulling and pushing with his fingers and toes when he had no space to bend his arms and legs. He quickly became completely disoriented, unable to tell where he was in the stone cluster, or how far he had traveled. The eel seemed to be staying just ahead of him, lighting the way forward. He focused on the glowing lights like a lifeline, fighting the panic of being enclosed in an unfathomable weight of stone.


    The path wound in every direction, at times lateral or even ascending, but the longest passages were veritable chimneys, vertical descents plunging ever deeper into the stone warren. Eldan became increasingly convinced that he had long since left the rocks on the lakebed behind, entering into a cave system beneath. He was not by nature afraid of small spaces but the constant confinement was starting to eat at his sanity. He had no idea how to find his way back out and, even if he wanted to try, no space to turn around. After clawing his way through an opening so small that he had to turn his head sideways and exhale completely to flatten his chest, he stopped, trembling as he tried to regain his composure.


    Eldan lay on his stomach in relative spaciousness, with enough room to bend his elbows and put his face in his hands. He began giggling uncontrollably at the absurdity of his situation. He was following some species of giant, predatory eel into its lair, basing that decision solely on the idea that it was communicating with him. The more he thought about it the more preposterous it sounded, and the more silent giggles escaped his lips. Eldan saw the lights in the tunnel ahead growing brighter through his fingers, and laughed harder still at the thought that the eel was turning back to find out why he had stopped moving. He closed his eyes, deciding that he was not in a sufficient state of mind to stare into the eel¡¯s gaping maw again.


    The tunnel continued to grow brighter, the light visible even through Eldan¡¯s eyelids. He dropped his hands and began slowly feeling his way through the narrow passage, waiting for the light to recede as the eel turned back. He felt something firm and smooth bump into his forehead and his eyes shot open, finding the eel staring, nose to nose again. Eldan started at the sight even though he was fully expecting the eel to be there, cracking the back of his head on the stone ceiling. He made a silent cry of frustration, dropping his head back onto his arms while the eel wriggled backward to give him space.


    When he looked back up, the eel seemed to be staring at him with concern. Eldan huffed a single, mirthless laugh, unable to point to any objective reason for thinking the eel was worried about him. Its eyes were dull and unblinking, mouth hanging slack, exposing rows of strangely crystalline teeth leading toward its cottony throat. Processing what he was seeing with his logical mind, Eldan saw a mindless, alien creature. And yet, his instincts were insisting that the eel was projecting concern and sympathy.


    Wondering if he was truly losing his mind, Eldan nodded toward the eel, attempting to convey readiness to proceed. The eel waved its head side to side and then mimicked his nod. Interpreting this to mean ¡°not much further,¡± Eldan nodded again, placing his forearms on the floor in preparation for the crawl ahead. The eel folded back on itself, flowing in a thick ribbon until its tail flicked into view, gliding forward into the channel.


    The path continued on much as before, and Eldan sank into the process of crawling, inching and squeezing through the endless stone. He focused his mental energy on solving each problem the passage presented in turn, letting his worries about what lay ahead and behind fall away. Squeezing through a pinch on his back, he craned his head to find his next move, realizing he would have to descend into a hole almost immediately. He folded his shoulders, compressing his upper body enough to carefully rotate onto his stomach. This done, he stretched out his arms and reached into the downward passage, finding only empty space past the lip. Extending further, he managed to get his elbow into the opening, waving his hand in the open water.


    The water beneath him felt different, fresher, like an aquifer of cool water was feeding it somewhere below. Eldan licked his lips, realizing he was thirsty, and wondering if the water was safe to drink. He began working his hips though the stone pinch, gripping the lip of the opening to pull himself out. When he was free he scooted forward, looking into the space beneath.


    The hole opened into another huge cavern, this one dense with stone formations. Delicate spires spiraled from floor to ceiling, and rock arches and waves flowed up from the floor, frozen in towering, graceful arcs. Threads of light raced across every surface, entangling in complex, ever-changing patterns, as though the stones were draped in liquid lace. The moving lights gave the illusion that the rock forms were elongating and contracting, or waving gently in the water.


    The cavern¡¯s floor was covered in a moss-like layer of green-hued crystalline growth. Towering stalks, each with branching, radial extensions, erupted from the mossy bumps here and there, creating the effect of an ancient forest. Eldan got the distinct impression that these crystalline forms were living organisms, though the ethereal, translucent material was like no plant he had ever seen. Lowering his arms into the opening with a deep breath, he slid over the edge and into the cavern.

 Chapter 29

    Hovering near the ceiling, Eldan took in the entirety of the cavern, feeling like he was floating over a mountainous woodland in a world only loosely tethered by the laws of gravity. He saw several openings and passages dotted on the walls, and a few more on the ceiling, leading off into shadowy recesses. He tried to orient himself, memorizing where the entrance he had used sat in relation to the landscape of spires and arches, but worried the attempt might be useless. The array of stone structures was too complex and labyrinthine, and made more disorienting by the constantly fluctuating veins of light.


    The eel had disappeared after entering the cave, so Eldan descended to the floor alone, letting his body fall under its own weight. He kept his arms out, making small circular motions occasionally to keep his progress slow and steady, watching his surroundings for any signs of movement or life. When he neared the tops of the translucent, arboresque growths, he guided himself toward a jutting stone spire, sliding down it with one hand until his feet gently touched the bottom, sinking into the mossy bed. The crystalline substance that covered the floor was soft and springy, somehow simultaneously firm and gelatinous. He crouched down and ran his fingers through it, marveling at how the tiny fronds gave at his touch before springing back into position.


    Eldan padded toward one of the tall stalks, bouncing lightly across the floor in long, floating steps. The trunk felt soft and rubbery under his hands, firmer than the small fronds at the ground, though when he pressed on a branch experimentally it bent and sprang back much the same way. As he studied the tree he realized a single filament of light, as thin as sewing thread, stretched up through its core, splitting into even finer threads that ran through each branch. Unlike the lights that ran over the stones, these were constant and unmoving, like a hair-thin, luminous skeletal structure. When he traced his hand over the thread the light showed no reaction, not flickering, thrumming or racing to follow his movements. Curious, he stepped away from the trunk, kneeling down again to examine the tiny stalks more closely. Pushing them back gently he saw that each one had its own minuscule thread, barely large enough to identify.


    Finally, Eldan stood up to begin exploring the cavern in full, kicking off the floor to skim over the crystalline growths, winding his way through stone pillars toward the cavern walls. He kicked upward to one of the passages leading from the side, this one large enough that he was able to touch down in the opening in a standing position. He walked in short way, bracing his hands against the walls as the passage narrowed, lights swarming in excited tangles around his feet and fingers. He turned back when the passage made a hard turn, constricting significantly, after peering in as far as he could see to confirm it was not a dead end. Standing again at the opening, he made the decision to find the source of the cool, fresh water he could still feel flowing into the space. Remembering the icy cold when he first entered the lake, he glanced down at his bare chest and legs, wondering at the heat that flowed from his water-filled lungs.


    Eldan kicked off the wall, swimming slowly and feeling for a current of cooler water. He traversed the space, slowing and backing up a few times when he hit a cold patch, but not yet able to identify what direction the water was coming from. He pushed off the opposite wall, heading diagonally from his original location and dropping lower in the water. As he was nearing the next wall he hit another cold spot, stopping to tread water. He moved slowly, testing the water in each direction until he found the current, following it downward, toward the wall. At first he lost the cool stream several times, having to search to pick it up again, but as he descended the current became unmistakable, flowing around him and ruffling his hair as he neared the source. He touched down at a corner, where the floor and wall met, and fresh water flowed into the cavern from a small, unassuming hole, worn perfectly smooth and round. He held his hand over it, feeling the surprising force of the inflow, and then crouched, drinking directly from the stream.


    Eldan filled his belly with the fresh water, surprised by how thirsty he was, and realizing he was very hungry, too. When he was finished he sat against the wall, letting his hand play idly in the rushing water as he tried to figure out what he was supposed to be doing. The water had taken the edge off his hunger but he was acutely aware that he was essentially lost, far beneath the ground, underwater, and possibly disconnected from his own world. Even if he could find his way back to his pack of food and clothing, he still had no idea how to get out of the passage where he and Cale had started their journey. Ak¡¯bis had said he should ¡°take the first steps on his path¡± and ¡°connect with a source,¡± but Eldan had no idea what either cryptic statement meant, or whether anything he had done so far was on the right path to achieving those ends. He found himself missing the company of the giant eel, and wishing it would come back.


    Eldan leaned his head back, watching the patterns of light on the cavern walls. As he watched, the itch at the edge of his memory returned, and something like voices rose in his ears. He shook his head, quieting the whispers, and narrowed his eyes, staring at the patterns that blinked into existence from the chaotic tangles of luminescent filaments. With each blink, he became more convinced that the patterns were symbols, and that he was on the precipice of understanding what they meant. His mind buzzed, and this time when the whispers rose he let them chatter, the sounds washing over him while his eyes flickered in green and blue, reflecting the formations as they snapped into place, dissolved, and reformed.


    ¡°Fascinating, are they not?¡± Eldan jumped to his feet, looking around wildly as the voice spoke directly into his head, but he couldn¡¯t see who, if anyone, had spoken.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°You already know how to read them, or at least you should, if what your friend tells me is true.¡± The voice, lilting and feminine, echoed in Eldan¡¯s mind, seeming to come from every direction at once. ¡°They speak a language known to all born to our path, which is how I am speaking to you now. You hear very poorly, though, and you are all the wrong shape. I kept telling your friend to take you back, but he insisted I talk to you, so here I am.¡±


    Finally, the speaker swam into view, trailed by the eel that had brought Eldan to the cavern. The creature who had been speaking with him looked like something between a horse, a person and a sea serpent, with a vaguely equine head topped with a finned crest that continued down its long, serpentine back, ending in a flat fluke. It had two sets of fins, but also forelegs that bent like a horse¡¯s, terminating in five-fingered hands. It was entirely covered in silvery scales that reflected the cavern lights. It swam in a strange up and down motion, its back forming humps that rippled down to its tail. It kept its forelegs close to its body, its fingers making constant, restless movements in the water. It was bigger around than the eel, but nowhere near as long, maybe a little longer than Eldan was tall when stretched out. It came to a stop a short distance away, blinking at him with heavy-lidded eyes.


    Eldan stared back, his mouth hanging slightly open. The eel hovered over the horse-serpent, looking pleased with itself, no, himself apparently. Not knowing what to do, Eldan went through the motions of speaking, silently asking ¡°what may I call you?¡±


    The horse-serpent looked up at the eel. ¡°See? I told you it was a land animal,¡± its voice said in Eldan¡¯s mind, without any movement of the equine mouth to indicate vocalization. The eel rippled in frustration, gesturing back at Eldan.


    The creature rolled its eyes, dropping its legs as it looked at Eldan and making hand gestures as it practically shouted into his head, speaking very slowly. ¡°Use. Your. Thoughts. To. Speak. Through. Path.¡± At the last word it made a wiggling gesture with its fingers, like someone might make to indicate falling water.


    Eldan winced at the words thundering in his mind. He held up a finger to the horse-serpent, hoping it would understand he was asking it to wait, and closed his eyes, focusing on the buzzing in his mind. The feeling was similar to what he experienced when he reached the edge of the barrier around his physical body, and he had the sense that he needed to break through the same way with his mind now. Taking a deep breath, he focused on the heat that flowed in his body, trying to will some of it to flow into his head. He wasn¡¯t sure if he even needed his physical brain to cross the mental threshold, but figured it couldn¡¯t hurt.


    He lifted his head and opened his eyes, staring at the patterns on the cavern walls above him, letting the itching and whispering become deafening. He started trying to push mentally, like he did with his body, but the pressure began to recede, the whispers lowering in volume. So instead, he loosened, imagining he was opening his mind completely. He let his eyes relax, allowing the patterns to play without attempting to find meaning, the whispers just noise in his head. Relenting to the influx of light and sound, he simply allowed it to pour into him, unfiltered.


    The cacophony of whispers converged into a single, haunting note, becoming a slow, aching melody. Eldan focused his eyes, taking in the patterns around him again, sucking in his breath sharply as he began to understand what he was seeing. The symbols told stories of history, but on a scale of geological, even planetary or universal time. These were histories in which his species was only a fleeting breath, hardly worth mentioning. He could read them, as it were, though reading wasn¡¯t the right word. The patterns were impressions of experiences beyond comprehension. Of a canyon carved over millennia, the movement of ice through billions of years on a frozen world, the collision of debris in empty space, groundwater seeping up to form lakes, and lakes drying to cracked deserts. There were experiences of life, too, but told in flashes, isolated symbols telling of the experience of cell membranes, blood and sap, decaying flesh seeping into the ground. In worlds layered on worlds these events repeated, playing out in endless, simultaneous variation.


    ¡°Ah, there you go.¡± The horse-serpent spoke again, breaking Eldan from the overwhelming torrent of impressions. ¡°You might not want to stare like that, it¡¯s a lot even for us that have always been able to read the path.¡± Eldan pulled his eyes away from the wall, lowering his gaze to the creature and the eel still circling above, the melancholy melody continuing to play in his ears.


    ¡°Hey! Turns out you were right, it¡¯s not a land animal,¡± the horse-serpent called up to the eel, earning an irritated tail-flick in response.


    Eldan focused, trying to project his thoughts the same way he had opened his mind to the patterns. ¡°Can you hear me?¡± he asked tentatively.


    ¡°Yes! Oh, nice job. You looked very stupid to me, I apologize. Never judge a clam by its shell and all that.¡± The horse-serpent laced its fingers, staring at Eldan expectantly.


    Eldan let his questions out in a rush, worried he might lose the tenuous connection. ¡°I¡¯m from the surface, a land animal, I guess. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening to me but I¡¯m supposed to find my path and connect to a source. I was told I¡¯m the shield of paths, but I don¡¯t understand what that is. Please, if you can help me I would be so grateful.¡± He stopped, somewhat embarrassed. ¡°And if you would, please tell me your name? I am Eldan.¡±


    The horse-serpent froze, its expression suddenly grave. ¡°The shield of paths¡­now that is a term I never expected to hear outside of legend. I cannot help you understand that role, as it is belongs to your world. I know that if one has so been named, however, all worlds are under threat.¡± The serpent bowed its head for a moment in thought, tapping its fingers together restlessly.


    ¡°Allow me to apologize in truth. I know of your kind but none have traveled here in millennia. When some of your species began manipulating paths for their own benefit, this one was sealed from your world. I believed you had acquired the abilities required to travel here artificially, and intended to make sure you returned with as little understanding of the natural path as possible. I expected you to fail when I asked you to connect to the path¡¯s language¡­I should have realized. Come, Eldan, it seems we have little time and much to discuss.¡±

 Chapter 30

    The horse-serpent started turning to swim away, then folded back to look at Eldan. ¡°My name would not translate between my language and yours, but you may call me Nakrel. This path originates in my world, and I am the guardian of this between-place, as was my mother, and grandmother and so on, back beyond memory. Loosely translated, my name is She who swam the first, spinning place, sang the songs of dust became fire became water, holds fast the cords of spheres within spheres. So yeah, Nakrel is fine.¡±


    Eldan nodded gratefully and Nakrel turned back, gesturing for him to follow with one hand. Eldan swam behind her as she navigated through the cavern, the eel rippling leisurely above them. As they swam, Eldan opened his mind, projecting toward the eel to ask its name. The eel glanced down at him in confusion, fluttering his tail uncertainly.


    ¡°Their kind do not have language the way yours or mine think of it, so he does not understand what you mean by a name.¡± Nakrel¡¯s voice came in response.


    ¡°So, we can¡¯t really talk to each other, then?¡± Eldan asked.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you?¡± asked Nakrel, turning her head to look up at the eel as she swam. The eel waved his head at Eldan in affront, as if asking how they had gotten there together if they weren¡¯t communicating. Eldan turned his palms up, shrugging apologetically, and the eel made an eel equivalent of a huff, jutting out his lower jaw petulantly so his bottom fangs stuck up in front of his snout.


    Nakrel stopped at the base of a stone spire, reaching down and catching the lip of a low, rock overhang, nearly concealing a passage leading under the floor. The entrance was large enough that Eldan could swim inside, but he never would have seen the opening without being directly in front of it. Nakrel swung herself around, entering the passage in a single, fluid motion, and the eel circled behind Eldan, waiting for him to go in first.


    Eldan laid flat on the floor, looking into the passage, but it curved downward, revealing nothing except illuminated stone walls. He crept forward, slipping into the cave and descending, pulling himself forward with his hands. The passage was short, and soon he found himself crawling into another, much smaller cavern. He stood up, looking around, quickly side-stepping to clear the passage when he felt the eel bump his head against the back of his leg.


    The smaller cavern was illuminated but the light was constant, the stone walls glowing with steady, uniform luminescence instead of the racing threads. Eldan exhaled in relief, not having realized how much mental strain he had been under from the constant torrent of activity and information. The cavern was low-ceilinged and featureless, banal compared to the rich, chaotic landscape of the larger cave, or the twinkling one where he had met Ak¡¯bis. What it lacked in feature, though, it more than made up for in sensation. Eldan¡¯s body felt like it was on fire, every nerve tingling and vibrating. The heat and needling intensified the longer he stayed in the space, and he began twitching in discomfort, his heart racing. He felt a cool, scaled hand close on his shoulder and relief washed over him, the sensations fading to a soft hum.


    ¡°Sit, Eldan. You must acclimate to this path, and we must talk,¡± said Nakrel, gently guiding him as he lowered himself to the floor.


    ¡°What is happening to me? I¡¯ve never even heard of paths until today and a week ago my life was completely normal. Now my family is gone and I can breathe water and I¡¯m supposed to do some important thing but no one can tell me how or why¡­¡± Eldan trailed off, his throat suddenly tight and eyes hot with tears as his questions spilled out. He hung his head, ashamed by how desperate and plaintive he sounded, even speaking through his thoughts. He felt like a lost child, helpless, terrified and demanding.


    Nakrel settled on the floor in front of him, steepling her fingers and curling her body so her fluke rested at her side. ¡°As I said, I do not know or understand what it means to be a shield of paths, nor do I understand much about your world. The reverberations of your species¡¯ attempts to control the paths have echoed through many worlds, but it is not my role to intercede. What I do know is that you were born to the path of water. You are coming into your path very late, but I assure you, it has always been a part of you.¡±


    Eldan looked up, meeting Nakrel¡¯s eyes. She gave him a brief nod, her fingers starting to fidget and tap. ¡°The paths are exactly that, passages between places. This path, for example, led you to this between-place, and which leads further to my home. However, the physical pathways are secondary, often even irrelevant, to most with a connection. The importance lies in linking oneself to pure experience, building in understanding to harness the properties of the path¡¯s source.¡±


    Eldan furrowed his brow, opening his thoughts, but Nakrel held up a finger, staying his question. ¡°You caught a glimpse of the vast range of pure experience available within this path when you began to read its language. You could consider most of what you saw advanced studies, far beyond what most could harness within a body even after a lifetime devoted to building their path. Some abilities may come to you naturally, as you found when your body instinctually adapted to isolate oxygen from water, while others, like carving valleys as would a glacier, may always be beyond reach.¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Eldan interrupted, ¡°you said carving valleys may be out of reach. Does that mean someone could do something like that?¡±


    Nakrel nodded, ¡°yes, it is possible to harness experience at that level, though extremely difficult. The paths are powerful, and though I may be biased, I believe the path of water is among the most powerful. As you grow in control and strength you will become water, in a sense, and develop the ability to affect your environment as water would. It is unfortunate that you are already elderly. At your age it is unlikely you will achieve your full potential, a shame, as your innate connection appears strong.¡±


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°I¡­is it really already too late?¡± Eldan asked in consternation.


    Nakrel nodded sadly, ¡°perhaps, if you are lucky, your children or grandchildren inherited your abilities. Your task then will be to pass on what you learn so they may carry on in your stead.¡±


    Eldan gaped at Nakrel in confusion, ¡°but I¡¯m not old enough to have children, won¡¯t be for years yet.¡±


    Nakrel stared back, looking equally bewildered. ¡°Truly? How strange¡­you look positively ancient. Well, if that is the case, you may be able to recover some of the lost time, if you are willing to fully devote yourself to training.¡± She narrowed her eyes, examining him closely, ¡°you are sure you are not at the end of your life?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m very sure,¡± Eldan confirmed.


    ¡°Well, then, where was I?¡± Nakrel drummed her fingers, shooting Eldan occasional suspicious glances. ¡°Ah, yes. So most of the paths grow from the natural world, some from the greater elements, such as fire or water, and some far more specific, such as dust or rain. At the moment of an element¡¯s inception, the spark of its existence, a path originates, branching out among worlds as it spreads. Some greater elements have multiple points of origin, and the paths multiple intersections. Most of the paths are ancient beyond imagining, some as old as the universe itself, though we have witnessed the birth of paths on rare occasion.


    ¡°There is much yet we do not understand. The lights, their language, or why history accumulates at all is a mystery, as is connection between living beings and these paths. In some cases it is obvious, a water-kind being will usually have some level of natural connection to water path, for example, but then there are cases like yours, where a natural connection forms without apparent reason. These connections are universal however, forming in worlds on worlds, wherever life takes root.¡±


    ¡°If most paths are from the natural world, where do the rest come from?¡± asked Eldan.


    ¡°A few paths grow from concepts, for lack of a better word. There are paths of change, dreaming, time, thought, and, most pressingly, of corruption.¡± Nakrel met Eldan¡¯s eyes, her expression serious. ¡°The corrupted path is one of erasure. It eats at anything it touches, erasing land, life, memory, meaning, even other paths, leaving only void in its wake. It is this path that your species wielded when attempting to control the others, unleashing the corruption¡¯s spread.¡±


    ¡°If the corrupted path is a void, why isn¡¯t that from the natural world? Don¡¯t voids exist in nature?¡± Eldan asked.


    Nakrel heaved a mental sigh. ¡°The corrupted path is unlike any other. All of the paths have a sort of intelligence, but the corruption is cunning. The intelligence of the paths is evident in their patterns, vast experiential records written in a universal language. Yet for all that, the paths operate with their own set of internal laws. Complex laws, still exceeding the limits of our current understanding, but laws all the same. Their communication, as far as we can tell, flows only in one direction, we cannot ask questions or exert influence in return. They evidence no emotion, intention or reaction, only endless recording and connecting.


    ¡°The corruption, however, seeks its own ends, seemingly availing itself of the resources it devours. We learned from your kind that it can be bargained with, fed for favors, and we also learned it cannot be controlled. It has taken root, a deep infection within your world. It is for this reason, though it pains me to do so, that I cannot allow you to return here once you leave. This path must be sealed again, and you must find another source within your world from which to build your own path.¡±


    Eldan frowned, ¡°how can I connect to the path if the paths are sealed?¡±


    Nakrel smiled gently, ¡°you are already connected to your path. You must find a source, a wellspring at a physical intersection with the path, and link to that source. As for your question, the paths are far too resilient to be completely closed. However much your kind may seek control, they cannot yet snip every thread. This path is too important to risk, since it links directly to an origin point, but you will find another if you seek one.¡±


    Eldan rubbed his forehead, overwhelmed. ¡°But what does linking to a source mean?¡±


    Nakrel cocked her head in thought. ¡°I noticed you examining some of the plants in our forest. The threads of light that run through their cores is their source-link. That is what you lack. Right now you have access to the path, but no structure on which to build it. Without the source-link you might even be able to manifest from your path, but without understanding. You would have no control, or very little control, over your manifestations. It would feel like being caught in a wave, tossed around and dashed into the shore.¡±


    Eldan¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°yes! That¡¯s happened to me! I felt something that I could push into and then I moved really fast but I couldn¡¯t even tell what I was doing. Then when it was over I kind of crashed.¡±


    ¡°I suspect you accessed a hint of liquidity,¡± Nakrel replied. ¡°That is often one of the first manifestations, since it in an extension of movement. With a source-link you will have the stability and comprehension to learn control, and you will not burn through your energy reserves to the point of depletion from a single manifestation.¡±


    ¡°You have learned to hear the song of water, which is the most vital step. You must listen, follow the sound to its source. When you draw close it will feel like being pulled by a magnet. I cannot explain how to form the source-link in a way that you would understand before experiencing it for yourself. The process is personal, interior, but you will know what to do when the time comes.¡±


    ¡°You will understand this, too, but you must know you will be accepting a burden of power and responsibility. You will become a guardian of your path, protector of its kind, and bearer of its history. You may grow to wield the power of an ocean, but only by accepting the weight of what it means to be an ocean. You must be the cradle of life and bringer of death, the raging storm and silent, crushing depth. You must bear the weight of gravity on a spinning planet, the pull of its moons, and endure the passage of aeons. And in doing this, you must do what the path does not. You must feel it all, reckon with it and carry what you have learned into your world.¡±


    A weighty silence fell while Eldan processed this information, trying to wrap his mind around Nakrel¡¯s warnings. His hair swept into his face as the water in the cavern began spinning, a rushing current flowing around the perimeter. He looked up to see the eel staring at him proudly, making obvious gestures with his head to show he was creating the current.