The Peasant (7 page)

“Not interested, eh?” Flying Arrow shrugged. “Lord Hawk, what's the name of that Captain at Burrow, the tall one?”

“Lord Emperor Arrow,” Guarding Bear said quickly, “I'd be honored to serve as Security Commander of Emparia Castle.” A voice deep inside told him this was a mistake.

The Emperor brightened. “Congratulations, Lord Security Commander Guarding Bear!” Flying Arrow rose and lifted the Imperial Sword from its cushion. He descended from the dais, securing the Sword to his side. “Let's drink to your new position. Servant, the finest from the cellars!”

Instantly, the aged personal servant appeared with three chalices on a tray.

That was fast, Guarding Bear thought. Standing, he sauntered toward the dais, chuckling and walking slowly to give himself time to think.

Now
, I know why you gave me the post, Lord Nephew.
Now
, I know why you summoned me to the castle.
Now
, I know why you poisoned my daughter. What about my promises? Didn't I promise myself not to war on anyone? Not to kill anyone? Yes, I did. On the condition they
don't
war on me and
don't
try to kill me—and that includes my family. Very well, Lord Emperor Arrow and Lord Sorcerer Hawk, I know what to do about you now.

“You look different, Lord Bear. You haven't lost your senses, have you? Perhaps we should call you 'Crazy Bear.' ” Flying Arrow stood at the base of the dais.

Lurking Hawk stood between the Emperor and the General. They both took a chalice of wine and watched him like a hawk.

“Call me anything you want, Lord Nephew.” Remembering his father, Guarding Bear smiled and took the last chalice from the tray.

“Congratulations, Lord Bear, on your new post.” The Emperor smiled at the General over the rim of crystal chalice.

Guarding Bear brought the chalice to his mouth and sniffed. The soporific stung his nose. “A fine, pungent vintage, Lord Nephew.” He put the chalice to his lips as if to drink, and then lowered it.

Their eyes followed it down.

“Let's get blind drunk, eh Lord Nephew?” He wanted to dump the wine down their throats. “Lord Hawk, I want you to do something.” Drawing a knife, Guarding Bear extended it haft-first toward the Sorcerer. “Take it, Lord Hawk.” Again, he lifted the chalice as if to drink. “No, you're holding it wrong. Point it downward with your thumb over the pommel. Yes, that's it.” Then he turned to face the double doors. “Now stab me to death, Lord Hawk!”

When the silence had stretched to a full minute, he turned. “Why didn't you kill me? Has the Infinite addled your brains, Lord Hawk?”

The Sorcerer frowned at the knife in his hand.

Flying Arrow glared at him. “What's the meaning of this, Lord Bear?”

The General swirled the wine with his finger. Immediately, it went numb. Potent poison! he thought. “A demonstration, Emperor. Sorcerer, if you're honorable enough and charitable enough not stab me in the back, please extend that honor and charity to helpless infants.” With his empty hand, he grabbed Lurking Hawk by the collar and yanked him close so fast their foreheads collided.

Metal clattered and crystal shattered, the Sorcerer dropping knife and chalice. Blood seeped from a cut over Lurking Hawk's eye. His feet dangled inches above marble floor.

The General hadn't spilled a drop. “If you harm my daughter again, Traitor,” he snarled, “I'll tear off your testicles and feed them to the Emperor!” He hurled Lurking Hawk onto the dais steps, then glared at Flying Arrow. “The poison you put in this wine had better not kill me, Emperor.” Smiling, Guarding Bear dumped the wine down his own throat.

T
he talent of prescience is actually three types of sight: Extant, temporal, and prescient. Extant sight, or viewing the present, is watching of someone's current doings at a specific location. Temporal sight, or viewing the past, is an extension of extant sight, all presents extending from some causal past. Prescient sight, an extension of both these talents, is infinitely more complex, the future always in flux, changing moment by moment.—
The Vortex of the Time Sights
, by the Prescient Wizard Thinking Quick.

Moments after giving birth, a mother bestows upon her child half her psychic reserve. Thus, she imprints the child to recognize her and imprints the fetal frontal lobes with the capacity for talent. Through this imprinting, a child develops a strong affinity with the mother and a psychic link that slowly fades but never breaks. Rarely does a mother
not
bestow the psychic gift. When this happens, the child grows up crippled, bereft of a full range of senses and unable to participate fully in society.—
Motherhood: Nature and Nurture
.

* * *

Guards encircling her, Bubbling Water glanced back at Emparia Castle and frowned. Darkness enfolded them as they left the bright glow at the gate. The wind swirled vigorously around them, scolding these denizens of the day to fear this trespass upon the night.

“Your outer robe, Lord Captain,” she said, shivering.

“Of course, Lady Matriarch.” Silent Whisper slipped it off and handed it to her without question.

Another new Captain to train, she reminded herself, knowing Guarding Bear had too little patience to train a new one. The previous Captain had died the week before, thwarting an inept attempt to assassinate her mate. Scowling Tiger had sent so many assassins that warriors joked about the danger of being on Guarding Bear's personal staff. None had even nicked the General.

“A more favored guard would've offered before being asked, Lord Captain,” she chided gently. “That's why they're favored.” Wrapping her daughter in the robe, she thanked the Captain and resumed walking.

Infinite knows what mischief the Emperor plans for my mate, she thought, again shivering and glancing back at Emparia Castle. While she'd been discussing the advantages of primary colors for the nursery with Flowering Pine, a servant had brought a message from Guarding Bear. He and the Emperor would be meeting for some hours, and she should return home alone.

Bubbling Water wanted to go places other than home. “Lord Captain, take me to the boy.”

“Forgive me, Lady Matriarch. The Lord General ordered me to allow no one to speak with the boy until he had.”

“I'm certain you executed those orders flawlessly, Lord Captain.” Bubbling Water emitted trust. “You enlisted with us just recently, and aren't familiar with how we operate. You'll find that the Lord Bear and I often act in concert. When we refer to ourselves, we refer to each other.”

“I'll remember, Lady Matriarch,” Silent Whisper said, meeting her gaze.

Bubbling Water smiled. “I'm confident you will.”

“Lady Matriarch, the Lord General asked me to insure that the boy and his parents were safe. I found the boy and his mother, but not the father, and took them to one of the sanctuaries. Although the Lord General ordered that the boy speak to no one, I didn't separate them. You know how mothers are, eh? I hope my measures were adequate.” Silent Whisper ordered three men to scout the route to the sanctuary where he'd taken the boy and his mother.

“That was thoughtful, Lord Captain. I commend you for your caring. And for taking them to a sanctuary. From the boy's dress, I gather they live in the southwestern quarter, eh? If you'd posted guards in the poorest part of Emparia City, someone would've gotten suspicious.”

“Indeed, Lady Matriarch.”

“Well done, Lord Captain. The Lord Mayor Puma didn't exaggerate your abilities. I'm pleased you've joined our staff.”

“That's very kind of you. Thank you, Lady, Infinite bless you.”

Bubbling Water would've liked Flying Arrow as tractable as this new Captain, but the Emperor was a petulant brat. Flying Arrow was a resurrection of the Empress Steaming Water, the Matriarch Water's elder sister. Having reared him and succored him after her sister had died birthing him, Bubbling Water knew him as well as any of her children. And feared him more than her sprawling brood in its entire.

I wish I'd had more experience, Bubbling Water thought for the thousandth time.

Flying Arrow hated the Bear Family, the most immediate threat to Arrow Sovereignty. By the letter of law Guarding Bear wasn't a relative. In the spirit of law, Guarding Bear was the Emperor's Patriarch, being the mate of Flying Arrow's aunt. The spirit of law was sometimes more influential than the letter. The penalty for harming one's patriarch was death. But Flying Arrow was an arbitrary Emperor, unrestrained by custom and above the law. He could arrange the General's death on whim or pretext. Guarding Bear had planned against such a contingency. The Bear Family and its allies were prepared to rise in rebellion if they suspected that the Emperor had so much as bent his pinky in the General's demise.

Oh, Lord Infinite, she thought, don't plunge us into another civil war. Shivering in the wind, Bubbling Water drew her robes tighter, the child tucked close.

Guarding Bear was but one threat to Arrow Sovereignty. Time was another. At thirty years old, Flying Arrow was childless, even though he'd put his shaft into fifty different quivers. Most the courtesans stayed only a night, but ten had become formal consorts. Before and after, these women had born children for other men, but their quivers had refused to yield the Emperor a single arrow. Five years ago, the shame of his sterility too much to bear, Flying Arrow had begun to select virgins. When they too had failed, he'd insured they wouldn't fornicate again. The Consort Flowering Pine would likely share the same fate.

Bubbling Water felt sad, liking the young woman. She'd probed the Consort and found herself listening to someone's thoughts. Several moments passed before she realized the thoughts didn't belong to Flowering Pine. Instead of stopping the Matriarch's probe, the Consort's talent had diverted it without alerting Bubbling Water. Few talents disguised their effects so well. Knowing death to be Flowering Pine's fate, Bubbling Water prayed for the Infinite's mercy. Oh, let it be fast! she thought.

The circle of guards turned down a poorly lit street. The fetor of refuse and excrement became pungent. At the fourth house, a shadow emerged from other shadows. At a signal, the circle of guards parted for the wraith.

“Infinite be with you, Mother,” said Rolling Bear, her eldest son. His ample hood was lumpy from the thick, black curls beneath. “Where's Father?”

“Detained with the Emperor,” she replied, calmed by his presence. “I've come to see the boy.”

“This way.” Rolling Bear glanced toward an alley.

“One moment,” Bubbling Water said, turning. “Lord Captain, post a scout near each castle entrance and escort the Lord Bear when he leaves. If you don't see him by midnight, discreetly ask for him at the east castle gate. Ask about every hour because you've … blast, I can't think of anything—some pretext, eh? Signal me on the flow each time they deny your request. Code: Empty sack.” She sent an image. “Questions?”

“None, Lady Matriarch. When the Lord General leaves the castle, I'll be there to greet him.” He bowed and issued orders to the detachment.

Bubbling Water followed Rolling Bear into the alley. Whispering guidance over his shoulder, he led her through gapped fences and withered hedges, around reeking cesspools and fetid heaps of refuse, between dilapidated hovels with crumbling walls.

They emerged onto a stone path. Ahead, steel sang from scabbard as a trio of rag-garbed guards prepared to defend their post. At a signal, they sheathed their swords and bowed. The house behind the trio was dark and, like many around it, in disrepair. Mother, son and daughter entered. The moment the door closed, Rolling Bear switched on the house shields, then the lights. He threw back his hood. “How's Rippling Water?”

The Matriarch looked around, familiarizing herself with the interior. Run-down on the outside, the furnishings inside were comfortable. The house was one of many sanctuaries secreted throughout the city. Knowing the cost of maintaining them, Bubbling Water regretted the drain on the family coffers.

“Thanks to the boy, as healthy as can be,” she replied finally, unwrapping the girl.

“What a talent he has! Why'd the Lord Captain bring him here?”

“Someone induced Rippling Water's illness. They poisoned her.”

“What? Infinite blast them! Why
her
, a helpless infant?!”

“I don't know, my son, unless …” Sighing, Bubbling Water closed her eyes. “Unless it was a ruse to get your father to the castle.”

She knew she was right.

“That
sounds
like them. Father's in danger! What can we do?”

“I don't know. On my way out, I stopped at the eastern hall and asked to see Guarding Bear, but that proved fruitless. The servants told me the Emperor had sequestered himself with Guarding Bear with orders that no one disturb them. So I didn't see him, which makes me anxious. Your father's a wily man. He's survived worse traps. Oh, Infinite protect him! Son, put our forces on twenty-four hour alert. Unless countermanded, I want insurrection across the Empire. Twenty-four hours and we'll know if he's safe.” Bubbling Water prayed her order wouldn't plunge the Empire into civil war.

“Yes, Mother. Countermand code?”

“Code: Bloody hand. Now, where's the boy and his mother?”

“Shielded, in the back room.” Rolling Bear pointed.

“Thank you. Here, you'd better take Rippling Water. I don't know what I'll find in there.”

“They
look
docile enough.” Taking his sister anyway, he rocked her gently, peeking at the sleeping girl's face.

Sighing, Bubbling Water checked her mindshields and put each of her worries in its niche. Until she reached her worry about Guarding Bear's behavior during the audience. “Rolling Bear, you're a warrior. What does it mean when you're fighting the enemy in his lair, and suddenly you lay your sword aside and turn your back on him?”

Her son shrugged. “Could mean anything, Mother.”

She told him Guarding Bear had turned his back on the Sorcerer.

“He
did
? We need a Wizard to examine his brain, eh?”

“Sounds crazy, doesn't it? Before he sat down, he said, 'I have a few habits to break.' He
meant
to turn his back. He even said to Lurking Hawk, 'If a helpless infant's good health disturbs you, I pray the Infinite opens your heart to the joys of fatherhood.' ”

“He said
that
to Lurking Hawk? How absurd,” Rolling Bear muttered, frowning. “When was the last time you argued with him?”

Looking at him, Bubbling Water searched her memory. “I don't remember.”

“I don't either, Mother. You argue less now.”

“We'd fight silently for days over something meaningless, until we'd both lose our tempers. Then Infinite help anyone who stepped between us. We don't do that anymore, not since Rippling Water was born, not since he retired and … went north.”

“Went
north
? When did he go north? And
why
?”

“I shouldn't tell you this, Rolling Bear. He went to kill Scowling Tiger, said he'd kill him or die trying.”

“Unlike Father to make a vow and not fulfill it. What stopped him?”

“I don't know,” Bubbling Water said. “When he came back though, he talked about Brazen Bear and Fleeting Snow, and dreamed about them.”

“I still don't understand why she mated Scowling Tiger. I know you don't like anyone calling her the Traitress, Mother, but after she mated the man who betrayed her own mate, she deserved the name.”

Bubbling Water smiled at her son. “The ways of woman are inscrutable.”

Rolling Bear snorted. “Women!”

“Men!” she replied, and they shared a laugh. “I don't know whether the Infinite's addled your father's brains or just put him on a different path. Well, I'd better speak with the boy before he falls asleep. Come get me if Rippling Water wakes. She's probably hungry.” Bubbling Water felt the pressure of an overdue feeding in her breasts.

“Yes, Mother, I will.”

“Bless you, Son.” Tucking away her worry for her mate, not knowing what to expect from Healing Hand and his mother, she strode down the corridor.

Entering the room, Bubbling Water saw the blond-haired boy asleep on the bed. Trying to peer out the window, a woman spun toward her. Shoulder-length, dust-blond hair framed her drawn face. Her eyes were chilling green and wide with the fear of an animal caged.

She
looks
like the boy's mother, Bubbling Water thought, feeling their intense maternal link. Why is it so strong? she wondered, feeling in that link the mother's fear for the son's safety.

Sitting at the edge of bed, Bubbling Water woke the boy and queried him with a feather-light contact. Sitting up, Healing Hand smiled. Underneath his anxiety was his panacean power. “That's a remarkable talent you have.” She felt serene in his presence. “Able to determine cure
and
cause. You're quite perceptive.”

Healing Hand smiled modestly, glancing toward his mother.

Abruptly, the woman stepped forward. “What do you want with us, matron turnkey?”

Boiling at insult, Bubbling Water almost crushed the woman between two plates of psychic metal. Infinite grant me patience, she thought, stopping her Wizard-strength telekinesis in time. She realized the strain she was under, her worries so great she couldn't contain them. “Forgive me, gentle lady. I'm sorry.” She let her face show her anxieties and felt them almost master her. I'd better see a Wizard soon, Bubbling Water thought, knowing she approached the limit of her tolerance.

The woman demanded again, “What do you want with us, matron turnkey!”

Why's she so hostile? Bubbling Water wondered, wilting and wanting to cry. “My day is long, my family large. I beg you please be patient.” She bowed deeply to the mother, held it for a moment, then bowed to the son. She probed the woman, wanting to know her name. Her signature didn't carry it. Remembering that Healing Hand's signature also lacked his name, Bubbling Water wondered if the trait were genetic. “I'm Bubbling Water.”