Finder: First Ordinance, Book One (18 page)

"Much like the one before, I believe. Jurris received the message; I only have secondhand information."

"When?" Gurnil asked.

"Two days. They're sending another airchopper."

"Is that what they call them?" I asked.

"Has no one explained that to you?" Justis asked.

"No." I huddled in the chair I'd been given, fearing any reprimand that might come.

"What do you think of that name?" he asked instead.

"It is appropriate, I think, although a bit blunt."

Gurnil laughed. Ordin coughed after swallowing a mouthful of tea. The corner of Justis' mouth threatened an upward turn.

* * *

"What does Kondar look like?" Dena asked when I returned to the Library later.

"It has cities filled with tall buildings, some of them made of glass," I replied. "Those are surrounded by fields of crops and trees. Vehicles fly or roll everywhere, without the aid of horses or any other animal."

"I can't imagine how big it is. I've always been here," Dena sighed.

"I thought I would never leave Fyris," I said. "You cannot say where you might be from one day to the next."

"Do you miss it?"

"I cannot miss what has never treated me kindly," I said. "I was an orphan. Orphans are considered less than animals, much of the time. I was never paid for my work, or given a kind word. I was beaten for mistakes, real or imagined, and never treated as one would expect to be treated. At least here, Master Gurnil and Master Ordin treat me kindly and allow me to read and learn."

"I have only heard of Fyris through the cursing of others. I was small when Elabeth and Camryn died, and don't remember them at all."

"Will you help me pack a few things?" I asked. "Master Gurnil said to take enough for three days, although he doesn't expect to stay that long."

I wanted to direct Dena's attention away from Fyris and the happenings there. I felt increasingly concerned, not only about Tamblin's intended attack upon a land he knew nothing of, but of the poison that continued to spread across the planet. Eventually, it would kill everything, including the Avii.

Chapter 12
 

Had I known that Halthea would join us on our journey to Kondar, I would have been more reluctant to go. Two Yellow Wings and an extra black-winged guard accompanied her, while I was escorted by Gurnil, Ordin and Justis, as before.

Halthea monopolized Justis' time, chattering away while he pretended interest. I knew she wanted him; wanted to take him as a lover or a second mate, she cared not which. Justis wanted nothing to do with her, and I imagined that he knew, just as I did, how shallow, empty and cruel she was.

Her yellow-winged maids cowered about her, and I recognized their demeanor—Halthea didn't hold back her blows if she were angry. I felt disgusted by that; those in power should protect the vulnerable, instead of abusing them.

Perhaps my sense of fairness was finally waking—it had remained buried while I lived in Fyris. There, it was even worse. The laws against murder and theft were only created to protect the privileged and not those considered inferior to them.

"Quin, you're frowning," Gurnil said softly beside me. He'd taken the seat next to mine on the flight to Kondar, and allowed me my thoughts until now.

"I was thinking, Master Gurnil. My apologies."

"No need to apologize. You must be concentrating quite hard on your thoughts," he offered a smile.

"I was. Will we request more books while we're there?" I asked, betraying my hope that more might be supplied.

"We will ask. Ordin and I intend to speak with their Master Healer concerning more books on medicine and such, so you might learn from them."

"Thank you, Master Gurnil."

"Master Ordin says your feathers are peeking out, and your wings are longer. Have you attempted to flex them, yet?"

"No. I'm afraid to. Afraid they won't move," I mumbled. I was terrified that they'd never be useful as wings—that they were merely a decoration I'd accidentally received from one of my parents, whoever they were.

"I think they will. Ordin will go into detail about the muscles connected, and how they work. Young ones generally spend hours before a mirror, flapping away and getting used to the exercise."

"How long do you think it will take before they are fully-grown?" I asked.

"Usually it takes the better part of eight moon-turns, but yours are growing quite rapidly."

"I have much time to make up," I said.

"Very true," Gurnil agreed.

* * *

Our first destination was the hospital, just as before. High President Charkisul didn't meet us; his Chief of Security, Melis Norwal did. I blinked at him as he greeted Halthea in a solicitous manner—he wasn't expecting her arrival, just as I'd not known that she planned to make the trip with us.

Perhaps I should have made the attempt to read her intentions sooner, but I didn't. She meant to watch the healing, with more nefarious plans in mind for the future.

* * *

"This is the price paid for supporting me," Amlis said softly, shaking his head. Chen's body had been loaded onto a wagon brought by his brother, to bury outside Lironis. Rodrik stood beside Amlis outside the stables, where the body had been kept until it could be collected.

Weak sunlight shone in the early afternoon hours as thick canvas was laid over the wrapped corpse. Chen's brother had given Amlis the briefest bow out of duty, reminding Amlis of what he already knew—that Chen's faithfulness had resulted in his death.

Amlis let out a breath as Chen's brother climbed onto the driver's seat and clucked to his horse. The wagon creaked and its wheels crunched on the stones of the courtyard as it was driven away.

"I never thought an assistant cook could become a target," Rodrik agreed. "I will be more watchful from now on."

"Rod, we can't watch everybody; that will raise more suspicion," Amlis muttered. "You know what happened to Finder. This time, it was Chen. Who will be next? Garth? I haven't taken another page for the obvious reasons—my brother's turned against him, and Finder was sent to her death."

"I've located two recruits who came from Warrel," Rodrik said, attempting to turn the conversation away from death. "I will wait a day or two before seeking them out. It is my hope they are willing to tell me what they know, if anything. We need information, my Prince, and there is little to be had while time grows short."

"We must put a stop to these murders. I cannot approach Wolter, to convey my condolences. Whoever killed Chen may target him, next."

"That is also my concern."

* * *

"Quin, this is Charlis, of the High Council," Hadris Jem, the High President's medical advisor, informed me as Justis, Ordin, Halthea and I were led into Charlis' hospital room.

"Charlis has," he began.

"I know what she has." I did—the wasting disease had first settled in her lungs, then began to spread to other organs. Charlis was of middle age and still young enough to warrant the healing. At that moment, I wanted several things. I wanted to ask Ordin to protect me. He couldn't. I wanted to ask Justis to take me elsewhere. He wouldn't. I was forced to allow Halthea to watch as I healed Charlis of a disease that would ordinarily take her life in a matter of moon-turns.

* * *

"I will have the tests done in a few days, and send the results to you," Hadris agreed.

Gurnil handed the samples from Quin and the half-blood to Hadris with a nod. "I appreciate this," Gurnil said. "We cannot determine Quin's parentage, as she is an orphan. I hope you will be able to tell something from these samples, as to whether they are connected or not."

"We'll run all tests, never fear," Hadris nodded. "The information will be sent to you directly. When will your party be ready to leave Kondar?"

"I don't know," Gurnil sighed. "Halthea wishes to visit the shops."

"Ah."

* * *

"We can't do this, with the Princess here and glaring at Quin as often as not," Edden Charkisul tossed the chip onto his desk with a troubled sigh.

"We were fools, to think we could gift citizenship, I suppose," Melis shook his head. "They have an archaic government, where the monarchy rules absolutely. Yes, they have a Council, but the King can overrule most anything. I fear for the girl."

"As do I."

* * *

"I heard you were here."

I knew him. Had healed him. His renewed health had added flesh to his frame and color to his cheeks. Berel, the High President's son, had come looking for me.

I'd been placed in a suite with an adjoining walled garden, where I'd gone to sit in the early-morning sunlight the day after Charlis' healing. That's where he'd found me.

"Where are your guards?" I asked.

"Outside your door. I asked them to wait there. My father trusts you, when he doesn't trust many others."

"Your father works to be fair to all. I have not met many like him who were placed so highly."

"Kondar elects High Presidents for ten sun-turns. Presidents in the four principalities are elected for shorter terms—half that, actually, with the option of reelection once. High Presidents can only serve one term. My father's term ends in three sun-turns."

"Kondar should weep when he walks away from his office," I said.

"His opponents on the Council would be happy to disagree."

"Fools are everywhere," I responded with a shrug. He laughed. It was a good sound to hear.

I'd only seen him in a bed before, where he'd been thin and wasted. This Berel had curiosity in his blue eyes, combined with a hint of mischief. His hair was quite short and dark brown—the disease had caused it to fall out before; now it was growing back as it should.

"Tell me about Avii castle," he begged. "I've only seen images of it, and most of those from the outside."

"I haven't seen much of it, either. I didn't grow up there," I hedged. It was truth, and I worried about how much truth to give him.

"That's all right," he said. "Have you seen their library? I heard it's filled with paper and parchment books, instead of vid-files."

"It is. I was hoping to find more books available in your language," I blinked at him. "I'm reading two books on anatomy, now, and making notes for Master Ordin."

"Where did you study? You're smart, if you can make notes on anatomy texts."

"I didn't," I said. "Somehow, I know those things without the teaching. Master Gurnil is much surprised, too."

"You learned how to read and write on your own?"

"Yes. It just happened," I said.

For the first time, I felt it. I'd moved my wings in agitation, much like I'd seen the others do. I stopped still for a moment, savoring the act, as if a miracle had occurred. For me, it felt just the same. Sadly, my feathers weren't present enough to rustle as most others were, but perhaps someday soon, that might transpire.

"I'd like to learn how to read the Avii language. Father says I must finish my required studies first, before moving on to another language."

"Are you behind—because of your illness?" I worked to steer the conversation away from the Avii and me.

"Yes. A half-turn, at least. I must begin again, next week. The physicians say I'll be strong enough, then."

"Do you like your studies?"

"Some of them. Others are tedious."

"What do you find tedious?"

"Science and mathematics. I prefer history and social sciences."

"I like geography and history," I said. "I'd really like to see books on those subjects."

"Paper books?"

"Yes. I don't have any other means to read."

"I might be able to fix that."

"How?"

"Let me speak to my father."

* * *

"It recharges in the sun," Berel explained barely two hours later. "It has an entire library of books on it, all you have to do is tap a word into the search line, and it will offer all sorts of choices."

"What is this?" I accepted the thin, metal tablet gingerly, as if I might break such a precious thing in clumsy fingers.

"It's a tab-vid, with the library available to those in the higher learning classes. That means that anything we can use to learn is available to you. There are maps, too, in addition to the texts on geography."

"This is the greatest gift ever," I held the tab-vid against my chest, as if I were afraid someone might take it from me. More than thankful that I'd received it while the others were engaged elsewhere, I contemplated where I might put it so it would remain my secret.

"Most people I know would consider it work and not a gift," Berel grinned. "I'm glad I could do this for you, after what you did for me."

"I was happy to do it, for you and your father." I didn't add that it shamed me that others had demanded so much in return for my services.

"That's all my physicians can talk about—that you healed a disease that would have killed me and they couldn't stop it."

"I can't explain how I can do it," I said. "It just comes."

"Those who know say it's an amazing gift."

I blinked at his words, then using the talent I had, discovered more that he was unwilling to say—that some members of his father's Council might consider my healing gift as something unnatural or evil, and would work to see it banned or destroyed. Therefore, only a few were trusted enough to know of Berel's recovery, and how it was accomplished.

I should not have been surprised. In Fyris, which was much smaller than Kondar, there was always dissent, although those who thought to oppose the King were continually wary. Yevil would kill because of an unguarded frown aimed in Tamblin's direction.

While I had no problem with disagreement, I found it abhorrent if disagreement resulted in unnecessary deaths. As for superstitions, I had no use for them at all. Why would anyone consider the healing gift an evil? It made no sense to me. If something were an evil, then it would have evil intentions. I had none.

"What do you think might happen to me—if word of my ability became public?" I asked.

Berel didn't want to say. For a sixteen-year-old, he was well educated and savvy in the ways of Kondar's politics. Hunching his shoulders, he turned away from me before he answered.

"You could die," he admitted. "Or be used by the wealthy who are striving to cure the illness of old age, and that shouldn't be. Father wants to protect you by offering citizenship, but the arrival of Princess Halthea put a stop to that."

"Did she know?" I began.

"No. Father didn't wish to interfere with you or the Avii form of government, so he withheld the offer."

"I thank him for it, anyway," I sighed. "It was a good thought, as none have sought to protect me like that before." I worried that Gurnil and Ordin's protection might come to an end soon, but didn't explain that to Berel. He was barely recovered from an illness that was taking his life, and had more than enough worries as it was.

"Can we be friends, at least? I wish I had more political power than I do, as I see that something troubles you."