Chapter 14

FOUR FATHER AND SON 1 THE BATHHOUSE Kokari wood felt as smooth as satin when properly polished. As Ialu ran his fingers over the white surface, his thoughts drifted to Elin. Images of her popped into his head—a casual gesture or expression. He let his mind follow these traces while keeping his hands and eyes focused on planing wood and assembling cabinet pieces, never pausing in his work. Perhaps because Elin wasn’t there, most of the memories that floated through Ialu’s brain were from their early days before they married. The way she had looked on the day he first saw her, when he was still a Se Zan. The uncertainty on her face as she stood unannounced outside the door of his dingy little house in the capital. Scattered fragments from the time when, despite their efforts, it became increasingly difficult to keep their distance. A shrill clanging startled Ialu from his reverie—the evening bell. It’s that late already? For some time, the light had been too dim to see his hands clearly. The late afternoon sun that had shone through the latticed window had faded, and the room was sunk in blue shadow. Brushing the wood shavings from his knees, he stood up. No flame burned in the lamp in the corner of the room or in the clay oven in the dirt-floored kitchen. Recently, Jesse had become obsessed with striking the flint, reporting eagerly how many strikes it had taken to ignite the fire. But today he was nowhere to be seen. Ialu slipped his feet into his sandals and walked to the clay oven. Children’s shouts came through the open door. There must be a fight going on somewhere, he thought. He could hear jeers and hoots mingled with voices pleading for someone to stop; his son’s shrill voice was among them. Ialu knelt in front of the oven and swiftly lit a fire. A neighbor had given them some fahko yesterday. With stewed fish and tsupa, vegetable soup, Ialu figured it would be enough for their supper. But when he looked in the basket where he’d left the fahko, he scowled. There was only half left, hardly enough for their supper, let alone breakfast tomorrow. Jesse … He had probably found another pup. Whenever Jesse snuck off with some fahko, it usually meant he’d taken a stray under his wing and hidden it somewhere. Banking the ashes around the fire, Ialu pulled a few coins from a pouch that hung above the oven and went outside. Though fairly wide, the lane in front of his house was cluttered with potted plants, laundry racks, and other paraphernalia the neighborhood women left out. The aroma of roasting meat and freshly baked fahko wafted through the air, borne on a thin haze of smoke from the cooking fires. A short distance down the lane was a major thoroughfare. Just before it was another lane that led to a grocer’s backyard. A gang of boys were gathered there, shrieking and shouting. No doubt the grocer would come out shortly and douse them with a bucket of water to shoo them away. A single glance told Ialu that Jesse was one of the two boys grappling in the middle, but he continued on without turning aside. The lanterns hanging over the shops on both sides of the main road had already been lit. The exhausted faces of the lower-ranked artisans hurrying home glowed briefly in the faint lamplight, only to vanish once again into the blue dusk. Ialu bought a round of fahko, the flatbread still warm and steaming from the oven. Folding it in half, he slipped it under his arm and headed home. Lamplight spilled from the doorways, casting bright stripes across the darkness that lay over the road. Ialu made out a shadowy figure standing in front of his house. The figure’s eyes were on the doorway, avoiding the light. A dark puddle spread around its feet. “Jesse,” he said. The shadow jumped. Even in the darkness, Ialu could see the boy’s sorry face and bloodied nose. He was sopping from head to toe and looked as miserable as a drenched pup. But he kept his lips pressed firmly together, and his whole body seemed to shout, “It wasn’t my fault!” “Stay there,” Ialu said. “Don’t go in like that.” Stepping inside, he grabbed a towel and handed it to Jesse. “Here. Dry yourself off first.” Jesse rubbed his face with the towel, then winced at his father. “My tooth’s loose,” he said. “Good thing it’s one of your baby teeth,” Ialu said. Jesse scowled. “That’s not what a father should say. You’re supposed to say things like, ‘Here, let me see.’” Ialu grinned. “Is that right?” “Yup. See. It’s wiggling!” Jesse pointed earnestly at his tooth. The look on his son’s face wrenched Ialu back to a memory of his own tooth breaking from a punch. He remembered how forlorn he’d felt as he gazed helplessly at his teacher, probing the root of the waggling tooth with his tongue and strangling the sobs in his throat. I guess I still had some baby teeth then, too. Ialu took a deep breath. Shoving aside his memories, he placed a hand on Jesse’s shoulder. His skin was cold to the touch. “Maybe we should go to the bath before we eat.” Jesse’s face twisted. “Aw! No! I’m so hungry I’m just gonna float away when I get in that pool!” Ialu gripped Jesse’s shirt collar and raised him up like a puppy, silencing any further protests. The boy was pitifully light. With such scrawny arms, it was no wonder that he walked away from every fight with a bloody nose. “Put your clothes in a bucket of water to soak while I get you some new ones, will you?” Ialu said gruffly. He left Jesse grumbling behind him and went inside. Once he’d taken a set of clothes from the chest of drawers, there was only one clean set left. Guess I’ll have to do the laundry tomorrow. It was a bother but he had no choice. I wonder when Elin will be back. The anxiety of not knowing where she was or when she’d be home swelled like a dark cloud, filling his chest. “Dad! I’m freezing!” Jesse shouted. Stripped down to just a pair of knee-length cotton shorts, he was hopping from one foot to another in the dirt-floored kitchen. With a sigh, Ialu bundled Jesse’s change of clothes in a towel and handed them to him. When they reached the bathhouse, it was full of tradesmen. The men stopped by to wash off the grime of a hard day’s work before going home refreshed and ready for a nice hot meal. Jesse took off his shorts clumsily, scowling when the burly men jostled him. He didn’t like this big public bathhouse much. It was always crowded and so dimly lit he couldn’t see people’s faces clearly. Besides, sharing the tub with all these men meant that he couldn’t swim. If he played around even a little, they’d yell at him to be quiet. When Jesse went with his mother, he was allowed into the women’s bath. He liked it much better, although he’d never admit that to his friends. In the women’s bath, he could play with the younger kids, and nobody scolded him. But best of all was the large bath at Kazalumu School. He had spent most of his life at the school. As a baby, his mother had carried him on her back while she worked in the Royal Beast stables. The sounds of the Beasts had served as a lullaby. Once he was old enough, he helped the men who worked there and played with the older students, sticking around until his mother was done with her work. When she finished late, they would stop at the school bath on their way home. They got the big pool all to themselves, and his mother would place him on her lap. He would chatter away about everything he’d done that day, and about the Royal Beasts, enjoying the feel of her silky skin. His mother, who was usually too busy to pay attention, would listen patiently. That’s why he liked the bath at Kazalumu the best. Jesse’s father stripped and stepped into the bath area. Watching him, Jesse sighed. He was about to ask when his mother was coming home, but stopped himself. He couldn’t ask. His father would just look sad and troubled. That look always made Jesse’s stomach tighten and tears sting his eyes. His face hurt where he’d been punched, and his lip was swollen. His lower back was really sore, too, throbbing with each step he took. That was really why he hadn’t wanted to come. He felt like crying, but shoved his tears back down. Nudging his wobbly tooth with his tongue, Jesse trotted after his father into the dimly lit bath area. The place where fresh hot water poured into the bath was crowded. He looked around for a space to wash himself, but couldn’t find any. Catching sight of him, his father waved him over. Jesse made his way to his side. His father sat him down between his knees, scooped up a basinful of hot water, and dipped a washcloth into it. “Here,” he said. “Wash yourself with this.” Jesse dabbed at his body, leaving a wide berth around the places that hurt. “Hey!” His father gave him a slap on the head. “Ow!” Jesse scowled. “That’s no way to wash! You’re filthy. Scrub yourself properly.” “But it hurts!” Jesse protested. “A little dirt won’t kill me. But if any of that hot water hits my sore spots, I’m gonna jump out of my skin. Then I might slip and fall, which really could kill me.” His father chuckled. “Honestly! You haven’t lost the gift of gab at least. Give me that.” He took the washcloth from Jesse and began to scrub him down. “Ow! No! Not there! It hurts!” Jesse twisted away when the washcloth reached his lower back. His father’s hand stopped, and Jesse glanced up to see why. He was peering at a point near Jesse’s waist. “Someone kicked you here, didn’t they?” he said. Jesse nodded. That spot hurt the worst. His face felt bruised and sore, too, but the pain in his back was a heavy, jarring ache. “Who did this?” “Oguran.” A stout man sitting beside them turned and said, “Oguran?” “Do you know him?” Jesse’s father asked. The man snorted. After glancing around to see who was sitting nearby, he lowered his voice and said, “His father’s a real ruffian, and the boy’s just like him. A good-for-nothing. Doesn’t work, even though he’s already thirteen. Rotten to the core. He picks on my boy, too. Seems like his father’s been teaching him how to fight. When boys get into a scrap with him, they come home with injuries you’d never expect from a kids’ fight.” He flicked his eyes to Jesse. “If you see him, run. He could kill you if he kicks you in the wrong place.” He poured a basinful of water over himself, then stood up and left the room. Gently, Jesse’s father touched the spot where Jesse had been kicked. “Jesse,” he said. “Right next to this spot is your kidney. It’s dangerous to kick someone there. Don’t fight with anyone who’d do that to you. Do what the man said. If Oguran comes near you again, run.” Jesse frowned. To be honest, Oguran scared him. The thought of being hit or kicked by him again made him feel like crying. But being told to run made him angry. Looking down at his son’s scowling face, Ialu smiled faintly. When he wore this expression, there was no budging Jesse. That’s just who he was. He talked big but was too little to win any fights. Yet if someone tried to hold him down, he’d rebel. He wouldn’t back down from his convictions for anyone. He would probably mellow when he grew up, but until then, he was going to keep fighting back against people much stronger than him … And he’d keep getting beaten. “If you don’t want to run away,” Ialu said quietly, “learn how to protect your vital points.” “How?” “I’ll show you when we get home.” Although he hadn’t seen the actual fight, Ialu could tell just by looking at Jesse’s body how he’d been hit, and how he’d tried to fight back. Ialu scrubbed him down, keeping an eye out for any cuts and bruises that could become serious later. This is my son. For a moment, he felt as if he were dreaming. Although eight years had passed since Jesse was born, this strange feeling still hit him at times. The fact that he had a wife and son made him uneasy, like he was wearing unfamiliar clothes or was in the midst of a forbidden dream from which he might wake up to find Elin and Jesse gone. Casting off such foolish thoughts, he took a deep breath and slapped Jesse on the bottom. “Right, then. Fetch some water,” he said. He watched his son heave an exaggerated sigh and walk away to fill a basin with hot water. 2 AMBUSH IN THE ALLEYWAY By the time they reached the lane where their house was, even the faint light of dusk had vanished, and night had cast its mantle over the town. People had closed their doors, perhaps against the evening chill, and the alleyway was sunk in darkness. Light seeping through window lattices and cracks in the doorways cast a faint glow on the shapes in the darkness, but potted plants and drying racks were just black shadows. As he was about to turn into the lane, Ialu stopped. Jesse looked up, but before he could speak, Ialu clapped a hand over Jesse’s mouth and peered into the darkness. He could feel their presence—one man behind the drying rack, another near the other end of the lane. Their motionless forms merged with the blackness. A tingling sensation swept over Ialu’s skin, and he frowned. With his hand still clamped over Jesse’s mouth, he picked him up and walked back far enough along the main road that they couldn’t be seen from the lane. Only then did he put Jesse down. Taking some coins from his robe, he handed them to Jesse and said, “Go back to the bath and stay in the changing room until they close. If I haven’t come to get you by then, give this money to the man in charge and ask him to take you to Kazalumu. When you get there, tell the headmistress what happened.” Jesse looked up at him anxiously, eyes wide. He didn’t ask why, but merely stared at his father with those big eyes. “Do you understand?” Ialu asked, keeping his voice calm. Jesse nodded. Ialu ruffled the boy’s hair, then pulled away. As Ialu passed a potted plant on the corner, he reached in and pulled out a thin pole used as a climber and stuck it in his belt behind his back. Then he strode off casually and turned into the lane. For a moment, Jesse didn’t move. His father no longer seemed to be his father. He had become a stranger the instant he had clapped a hand over Jesse’s mouth, just like in a child’s worst nightmare. Jesse could barely feel his trembling legs, but he forced them to move. He wobbled over to the alleyway entrance and stuck his head around the corner. Despite the darkness, Jesse could make out the shape of his father walking. He saw him stop in front of the house and reach to open the door. A dark shadow leaped out from behind, waving what looked like a club. In the light spilling from the crack in the doorway, his father crouched and turned, bringing himself up under his attacker. There was a groan, and the assailant staggered. His father smashed his knee into the man’s chin, sending the man slumping to the ground. There was a muffled sound of footsteps. Someone came hurtling along the alley from the other end. Jesse’s father flung the door open, reached inside, and grabbed the wooden stick with which they barred the door. Then he turned and ran toward the man, meeting him halfway. There was a muffled scuffling, but the noise was so faint probably none of the neighbors could hear it. No one opened the door to see what was going on. Shaking, Jesse swallowed. Dad … The shape that lay sprawled in front of his house didn’t budge. Peering down the lane, Jesse thought he saw a movement in the darkness, but he couldn’t tell what it was or what had happened to his father. Blood pounded in his veins, as if he had run a long distance. Gulping for air, he stared into the darkness. Dad! Unable to bear the suspense, Jesse stepped forward. His knees wobbled, and he felt as if he were swimming rather than walking. Fear paralyzed his brain, but still he didn’t stop. His legs kept moving as though he were being pulled by an invisible cord. When he reached the house, he saw something sticking up from the inert form. A thin pole. Sprouting from the man’s stomach. The same pole his father had stuck into his belt. Sobs rose in Jesse’s throat, and his shoulders heaved. The world began to warp and spin around him. He staggered backward, then turned and fled. Somehow he made it to the main street. Shoving his sobs down his throat, he ran without looking back. Ialu groaned. A dull pain throbbed in his temple. His ear felt stretched and swollen, and the ground heaved upward. Gritting his teeth, he moved in close to his assailant, dodging the strange weapon that swung toward him. He’d never seen anything like it. Although it looked like a club, it must have something flexible inside. When Ialu had parried the blow with his stick, the club had curved and hit him in the side of the head. He’d managed to twist aside before it hit the vital point behind his ear, but it was still a powerful blow. If it had hit him straight on, it would have knocked him out cold. His stick had flown from his hands and hit the wall with a clatter. Damn! That was careless. I must be getting rusty. Though gasping for breath, Ialu stayed glued to the man, giving him no space to wield his weapon. Then he dropped low and rammed his left fist into the region of the man’s liver. A single crushing blow to that spot could stop a man in his tracks. Although Ialu couldn’t put his full weight behind it, the man groaned and doubled over. Ialu followed through with a right-hand jab to the man’s solar plexus and swung his right knee into the side of his opponent’s knee. The man staggered. Ducking down, Ialu slipped his arm around the man’s right leg, twisted his body, and flipped him over. The man fell on his back and hit his head with a dull thud against the wall, sprawling motionless on the ground. His shoulders heaving, Ialu stared down at him. He looked like a complete thug. Even in the dark, Ialu could make out his thick beard and the sloppy way he’d left his robe undone, exposing his chest. But why? One in front of his house and the other at the end of the lane to block his escape. Clearly, they’d positioned themselves to attack him. The fact that they had waited until the light from the door had shone on his face before rushing him from behind was further proof. But he couldn’t think of any reason he would be attacked by thugs. The man was out cold. Ialu slipped the man’s arms from his sleeves and tied the sleeves together to immobilize him, then used the man’s sash to bind his arms above his elbows and his bootlaces to bind his ankles. Once he was tied up, Ialu slung him over his shoulder, took him inside, and laid him in the dirt-floored kitchen. After dragging the second man inside, Ialu closed the door. With a sturdy rope, he tied their hands behind their backs and their ankles together, then gagged them. He left the thin garden pole in the man’s stomach. He had stabbed him in the muscle to avoid injuring his organs, but if he pulled it out, the man would bleed. Only when he had finished did he go over and scoop water out of an earthenware crock, gulping straight from the ladle. He sighed and gingerly probed the spot where he had been hit. It was quite swollen and painful, and his head was beginning to pound. He winced as he crouched down beside the men and began searching them. Their clothes were new. He could tell just by the stitching that they must have cost quite a bit. Their daggers were still in their sheaths. He felt a chill run up his spine. The lane in front of his house was narrow. He could see why they would have armed themselves with daggers and not swords, yet they hadn’t drawn them. If they had meant to kill him, they would have tried to stab him from behind. Instead, they had both used those strange clubs. They intended to take me alive. He bit his lip. When he had seen them lurking in the darkness, he had assumed that they’d been sent to assassinate him. On Tahai Azeh, Ialu had killed Damiya, the previous Yojeh’s nephew and the man responsible for her death. And he had killed him in front of the new Yojeh Seimiya, who loved and was betrothed to the man. When he saw the Royal Beast save Shunan, heir to the Aluhan, and bear him back to safety, Ialu had thought, If I’m to kill Damiya, now is my only chance. If he lives, he’ll only do more evil in the future. But it wasn’t just noble thoughts of the future that had driven him. Without a doubt, he had also harbored a deep loathing for the man who had killed the wise old Yojeh, and who had mocked and tried to kill Ialu. Ialu was a shield. His sole purpose in life was to protect the Yojeh. To fulfill this duty, he had taken many lives. If anyone should sully their hands with Damiya’s blood, he had thought, it should be him. Later he’d heard that the Yojeh despised him not because he had killed Damiya, but because he had seemed to do it with such cold indifference. Regardless of how she might feel, however, he was permitted to remain a Se Zan and even offered a reward for saving her from great peril. But he had refused it all. Leaving the palace, he had submerged himself among the commoners. When had he first learned that his life was in danger? If he remembered rightly, it was soon after Seimiya married Shunan. Damiya’s supporters among the nobles had now fallen from grace, and they blamed Ialu. Kailu had come specifically to warn him that they were seeking revenge. Although Ialu had listened, he hadn’t bothered to change his ways. If they attacked and killed him, he had thought, so be it. Although he was attacked once, his assassins had been inept and their attempt failed. When he recalled that period of his life, all that came to mind was a clammy darkness as black as night. He had killed so many men that his continued existence seemed cowardly and despicable. Yet something within him rebelled angrily at this very thought. It was Elin who had shown him the true nature of the feelings that lurked inside him. Ialu frowned as he gazed down at his captives. He wished they had been trying to kill him for revenge. But instead they had tried to abduct him. Clearly, he was not their true target. Resting his forehead in his hands, he closed his eyes. It’s Elin they’re after. Were they hoping to force her to do their bidding by taking him hostage? Or were they going to use him as bait to lure her out and kill her? Whichever it was, who was behind this? Opening his eyes, he resumed his search of the unconscious men. Running his hands over the first, he discovered a chafed spot where the beard met the hairline. His eyes narrowed. Spreading the man’s hands, he found not only sword callouses but also a bruise on the back of the left thumb—the kind caused by a bowstring. An archer? That would explain the rubbed hairline. It was probably where the man’s headband had chafed the skin. But neither the soldiers of the Aluhan nor the Se Zan that protected the Yojeh were permitted to grow such thick beards. Judging by the length, they must have left the army at least a month ago. The ambush had been carefully planned and executed. Reaching a hand inside the man’s robe, he found a pouch weighed down with coins. When he dumped the contents out, his brows rose, and he stared numbly at two foreign coins which lay among the regular currency. He stood up and walked over to the oven. Picking up two beans, he slipped them inside a small bag that hung on the soot-blackened wall. With swift strides, he stepped into the back room and pulled a large satchel from a cupboard. The cloth smelled damp and dusty and was cool to the touch. He filled it with the bare minimum of things he would need along with Jesse’s last change of clothes and enough money for a long trip. Swinging the sack onto his back, he went to the kitchen and made sure the fire in the oven was out. Before he left, he stopped in the doorway and looked back at his home, at the half-finished cabinet, at Jesse’s clothes soaking in a basin, at the curtains that Elin had sewn. Then, pressing his lips together, he stepped into the dark alleyway. The public bath was still crowded. The men’s changing room was full, but Jesse was not there. Ialu wondered if he was in the women’s section, but he couldn’t go in to look. “Have you seen Jesse?” he asked the man at the counter. The man raised a hand, signaling for him to wait while he continued counting coins, muttering the numbers under his breath. When he finished, he put them into the drawers. Only then did he look up at Ialu. “Jesse you said? I haven’t seen him since he left with you a while ago.” Ialu’s pulse began to race. “I’m sorry to trouble you, but could you check if he’s in the women’s bath?” “Sure,” he said, then waved at someone behind Ialu. “Hey, Aina! Have you seen Jesse?” A woman had just emerged from the changing room and was wringing out her wet hair with a towel. She looked up and shook her head. “Jesse? Nope. He wasn’t in there. Good evening, Ialu. How’ve you been? I haven’t seen Elin around for a while. I was worried she might be sick.” Ialu bowed his head slightly. “She’s fine, thank you, but she’s away for her work right now.” “I see.” Before she could ask any more questions, Ialu bowed and left the bath. His forehead felt cold and tight. The route that led to the bath was crowded, but it was only used by locals. If a stranger had abducted Jesse here, there would have been a commotion. But if he hadn’t been kidnapped, where could he have gone? A few of Jesse’s friends popped into Ialu’s mind, but he had a feeling he wouldn’t find Jesse with them. When Ialu had told him to go to the bath, he had nodded. It was unlike him to break such a promise. In that case, there was only one place he could have gone. The Kazalumu Beast Sanctuary. Surely he wouldn’t have walked … It would take more than an hour for a child of Jesse’s size to walk that far. The livery stable where Elin usually hired a horse and buggy would be closed by now, and even if Jesse had gone there, they wouldn’t have let him hire one if he was alone. Still, Ialu decided to check it out. His headache was growing worse, and he had to fight down his nausea. All around he heard the sounds of shopkeepers closing up. The lights went out one by one. Hunching his shoulders, he hurried along the broad street. When he turned the corner, his eyes widened. The livery stable door was open, and light was streaming onto the street. Stepping inside, he called out, “Hello! Is anybody here?” “Coming,” a voice replied. It came from behind the large stable where the horse and buggy were usually kept. The stable was empty. A few moments later, the shop master’s wife emerged through the door on the opposite side. She appeared to have been washing up, because she was wiping her hands on her apron. Catching sight of Ialu, her eyes grew round. “Ialu! Are you all right? Can you walk?” “What?” “Jesse came dashing in here, saying that you’d been badly injured and that you’d told him to go and get the headmistress…” Catching sight of the expression on his face, her voice trailed off, and she cocked her head. “Isn’t that what happened?” Ialu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. “Where’s Jesse?” “My husband took him to the school.” “I see. I’m so sorry to have bothered you when it was past closing time.” The woman frowned and stared at Ialu. “Are you sure you’re all right? Your face is white as a sheet. I don’t think you should be walking around like that.” Ialu smiled. “I’m fine. I just hit my head. It gave Jesse such an awful fright, he ran off. I thought he might’ve come here, but I guess I was too late.” At this, the woman’s face cleared. “So that’s what happened. The boy looked so frightened. Like he was being chased by demons. I was scared you’d been badly injured.” “I’m so sorry to have worried you.” Ialu bowed his head. “Not at all,” she said, waving her hand. “Jesse paid my husband properly for driving him there, you know. He’s a very capable boy. He was just worried about you, that’s all.” She urged him to stay and rest, but Ialu thanked her and left. Honestly … Jesse was such a good talker. Ialu could picture him jabbering away, twisting the kindhearted couple around his finger. Still, if he’d gone by carriage, he must have reached Kazalumu safely by now. As the fear that smoldered in his gut eased a little, Ialu felt his body grow heavy. Pressing a hand against his forehead, he began walking slowly toward Kazalumu. 3 IN LEELAN’S SHADOW By the time Ialu reached Kazalumu, it was long past the students’ bedtime, but the lamps were still shining brightly in the main hall, and everyone seemed to be awake and out of bed. Here and there, he could see lights flickering in the woods and fields. Hearing voices, he turned toward the sound. Children were leaning out of a dormitory window on the second floor. Below them, a teacher waved up at them and said, “That’s enough now. Go to bed.” Ialu hurried over to the gate and reached out to ring the bell. At that moment, the front door opened, and a plump man stepped out. It was Yoshi, the master of the livery stable. He stopped and peered into the darkness when Ialu hailed him. “Ialu? Is that you?” he exclaimed. He hastened to the gate and pulled it open from the inside. Sweat beaded his forehead beneath his balding pate, and words tumbled from his mouth. “Ialu! What’s going on? Jesse said you were badly hurt. But when I brought him here, he disappeared while I was wiping down my horse. Now the place is in an uproar. “When he ran off, I didn’t think anything of it at first. I figured he must be with the headmistress. But when I went to fetch them, the headmistress said she hadn’t seen him. I couldn’t believe it. Then everyone got involved. They’re all out looking for him, the teachers and custodians and everyone. It occurred to me just now that he might be hiding under the buggy so I came out to look.” Ialu bowed low. “I’m so sorry. Please don’t worry about us. I’ve got a pretty good idea where Jesse is. I’ll go look for him. Please go on home. It’s late, and you have to be up early for work.” Yoshi dabbed his forehead. “You’re sure, are you? I’d like to stay and see that he’s all right, but I do have a customer at dawn.” “Yes, I’m sure. Really, there’s no need for concern. We’ll be fine.” Ialu took some coins from his jacket and handed them to Yoshi. “Thanks, and please accept my apologies.” Yoshi scratched his head and flashed him an embarrassed smile. With a wave, he began walking toward the carriage. Suddenly he stopped and looked back. “I don’t know what happened,” Yoshi said, “but don’t scold him too harshly. Elin’s been gone a long time, so he’s probably lonely. No matter what he did, I’m sure he’s already regretting it. When he came to our place, he was chalk white and shaking all over. On the way here, he didn’t utter a word either. He didn’t seem like Jesse at all.” Ialu nodded. “I understand.” Yoshi smiled and gave him a short wave, then walked off to his horse and buggy. Ialu opened the school’s front door to see Esalu talking with a group of teachers in the dimly lit corridor. She turned and raised her eyebrows. “Well, here comes his father,” she said. Ialu bowed his head. “I apologize for all the trouble we’ve caused.” Esalu walked over to him. “Trouble is right,” she said with a wry smile. “Elin used to scare the wits out of me, too, but I think Jesse might be even worse.” When she saw his eyes, however, her face grew grave. “What is it? You’re pale as a ghost.” Ialu lowered his voice. “There’s something I have to tell you, but I need to find Jesse first.” Picking up that it was confidential, Esalu just nodded and said, “We’ve split up to search for him, so I’m sure he’ll turn up soon. Although to be honest, we’ve looked everywhere, even in the storage sheds, and still haven’t found him.” “Did you check the Royal Beast stable?” “Of course. It was the first place we looked, but he wasn’t there.” Ialu held her gaze. “Please tell everyone to stop searching,” he said quietly. “Then take me to Leelan’s stable. I’ll thank everyone for their help later.” Esalu’s eyebrows shot up. “But I just told you. We already looked in Leelan’s stable.” Ialu’s lips twitched. “I think he might be copying his mother.” As Esalu led him through the dark forest, she warned him that Leelan was irritable because of her pregnancy. “Don’t do anything that might disturb her,” she said. “You may enter the stable, but whatever you do, don’t go near her cage.” Ialu nodded wordlessly. “I hope you realize that for me to let you enter the Royal Beast stable and stay there on your own is an extraordinary exception.” “I do. And I promise to be very careful.” Esalu sighed but said nothing more. When they emerged from the woods, everything suddenly seemed much brighter. The moon had risen, and the stable roof glowed a pale silver, as if covered in frost. Esalu opened the door, and Ialu felt something stir inside. A huge black shadow spread its wings in the darkness. Ialu’s unfamiliar scent must have alarmed Leelan, because she began to growl with a low rumbling in her throat. Feeling the hairs rise on his neck, Ialu stared up at the enormous creature. The scent of beast surged toward him, and his eyes stayed glued to the two bright orbs that shone in the darkness. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Esalu whispered in his ear. Recollecting himself, Ialu nodded. “Yes, I’ll be fine.” As he stepped inside, Leelan’s warning growl rose sharply. He pressed his back against the wall beside the door and slowly lowered himself to the floor. With a creak, the door shut, and everything was wrapped in darkness. Even after Esalu left, Leelan kept her wings spread and continued to growl for some time, but she did not throw herself against the cage bars. Ialu sat still, staring up at the towering black shadow. Like the ebb and flow of waves against the shore, Leelan’s growls rose and fell, eventually subsiding into a murmur and fading away like the receding tide. Slowly she folded her wings, but her eyes never left Ialu. Exhaling, Ialu whispered, “Do you remember me, Leelan?” At the sound of his voice, Leelan twitched, but she did not unfurl her wings. “You saved my life. A long time ago. Elin hid me behind you. I was so shocked. Who would have thought that a Royal Beast would hide me?” That distant memory came flooding back, vivid and powerful. He felt again the warmth of Leelan’s body. “When Elin was young, she used to hide behind Leelan to avoid a teacher she didn’t like … Did you know that, Jesse? Your mother once did what you’re doing now.” He heard the sound of suppressed sobbing, but he kept his eyes on the Royal Beast without looking toward the noise. “Leelan, our family owes you a lot.” The gleam in Leelan’s eyes never wavered. What thoughts passed through the mind behind those eyes? Ialu wondered. Did beasts, like humans, treasure memories of the past? Or did such things have no meaning for them? His eyes blurred, and he took several slow, measured breaths. “Jesse,” he said. “I’m sorry I scared you.” The boy’s sobs grew louder, gouging Ialu’s heart. On his way to Kazalumu, Ialu had pondered why Jesse had broken his promise and gone to the school alone. Gradually, an image had formed in his mind. He saw Jesse running through the dark, trembling. Fear must have driven him to Kazalumu. He was the type to dive under his mother’s covers if he had a bad dream. He must have been so petrified that all he could think of was burrowing under Leelan. I’m so dense. Especially when it comes to fear. As a Se Zan who shielded the Yojeh, fear was an emotion that Ialu had learned to rigidly control. When under attack, fear could cost him his life. He had pushed fear aside for so long that he’d failed to see how terrified Jesse must have felt when his father had sent him off on his own like that. Listening to his son’s faint sobs in the darkness, Ialu closed his eyes. The boy was only eight. Just a child. By rights, he should have still been sheltered under his parents’ wings, blissfully ignorant. But considering what would probably happen next, it would be far crueler to leave him in the dark. Nothing was more terrifying than the unexpected and the unknown. This would likely be Ialu’s only chance to tell Jesse what he and Elin had done and how that was bound to affect him. Ialu leaned back against the wall, wincing when it touched the place where he had been hit. The pounding in his head was beginning to subside, but there was still a dull ache deep within. “I first met your mother soon after Alu was born,” he began, his voice barely a murmur. “The Yojeh at that time, Her Majesty Halumiya, traveled here to see the miracle cub, the first one ever born in a Beast Sanctuary. At the time, I was a Se Zan, and I accompanied the Yojeh as her bodyguard. That’s when I met your mother. Do you know what a Se Zan is?” Receiving no answer, Ialu continued. “Se Zan means ‘impenetrable shield.’ They’re a band of warriors sworn to protect the Yojeh. If she’s attacked, they shield her with their bodies, flinging themselves in front of any arrows that might hit her. “Even a man who’s born a commoner can rise to the rank of a noble and make lots of money if he becomes a Se Zan. But he never knows when he might be killed. Or when he might have to kill someone else. It’s that kind of job. Anyone who takes the vow to become a Se Zan has to cut all ties with his family.” Behind his closed eyelids, he could see the light of a hot summer’s day. “I was born among the commoners in the capital. My father, who was your grandfather, was a carpenter. He made beautiful furniture. But when I was eight, just your age now, there was a big earthquake, and my father was crushed beneath a building and killed. It was a hot day, with puffy white clouds in a blue sky.” Ialu told him everything about the day that had changed his life. About how his mother had been widowed and left with not just Ialu but also a little baby to feed; about how she had sold him to the Se Zan for a bag of gold coins. He told him what had happened after he had met Elin, the events on Tahai Azeh, and the difficult position Elin was in because she could control the Beasts. It didn’t matter if Jesse couldn’t understand everything. It would be enough if he could grasp even a little. A breeze had sprung up. Ialu could hear the faint rustling of leaves in the darkness when he finished speaking. Leelan, who had fallen asleep during his tale, was breathing like a pair of bellows. With her eyes still closed, she stirred, her great wings shifting slightly, and a small face appeared from underneath one of them. Jesse stared at Ialu. Finally, he said faintly, “Is that story true? All of it?” Ialu nodded. “Yes, all of it.” Jesse opened his mouth to speak, then stopped. After a long pause, he finally said, “Are you really still you, Dad? The same person as before?” For a moment, Ialu was at a loss for words. He supposed it was only natural. “Do I seem like a different person?” “Yeah.” “Because of what I told you just now?” “No. Before that. You changed all of a sudden.” There was a tremor in his voice. “I never dreamed you’d do anything like that. Did you do it because you used to be a Se Zan?” Ialu sighed. “So you saw, did you?” Jesse’s little head bobbed once. “And that’s why you were afraid?” “Yeah.” “I see.” Ialu searched for words, but found he didn’t know what to say. “You must’ve been terrified,” he began. “But I couldn’t let them kill me.” He stopped and shook his head. Taking a deep breath, he said flatly, “Jesse, that man is me. The carpenter you know as your father, and the man who fights back without mercy when attacked, they’re both the real me.” Jesse stared at him. Ialu held his eyes steadily. “I know it’s frightening, but listen carefully. Those men were trying to kidnap us. I’m just guessing, but I think they’re after your mother.” Jesse caught his breath. “Mom?” he asked shrilly. “Are they going to kill her?” “No. Hold on and let me finish, Jesse.” Ialu spoke slowly and deliberately. “Remember what I said before? Your mother can control the Royal Beasts. There’re lots of people who would like to use them as weapons because they’re even stronger than Toda. But your mother’s the only person who knows how.” Jesse shifted. Ialu paused, thinking his son had something to say, but the boy said nothing. “Your mother, however, will never use them as weapons,” Ialu finished. “Oh!” Jesse exclaimed. “I get it! If they catch us, they can make Mom do what they want.” Ialu stared at Jesse in surprise. “That’s right. Smart thinking.” “That’s what Oguran always does,” Jesse said breathlessly. “He’ll say, ‘Tell me where Choi is. If you don’t, I’ll catch Atchan and beat him up.’” “Choi?” “Yeah. The pup I found. He’s got the most beautiful eyes. He’s a mutt, but I’m sure he’s got wolf blood in him!” Perhaps startled by the excitement in Jesse’s voice, Leelan’s eyes popped open, and she began to growl. Ialu and Jesse froze. Cold sweat trickled down Ialu’s temples, and his heart pounded. In his mind’s eye, he saw the deep scars on Elin’s shoulder and ear, and her left hand with only two fingers. If Leelan began stomping her feet in irritation, she would tear Jesse’s little body to shreds in an instant. Why was it, he wondered, that even though she was such a huge and fearsome beast, until this instant, both he and Jesse had been lulled into thinking that she would never hurt them? Because she was Leelan. Don’t move, Jesse, he begged silently. They both held their breath, waiting for the growling to subside. Even when Leelan stopped and closed her eyes, they still didn’t move. Annoyance radiated from her. They could practically feel it on their skin. Gradually, this too faded, and Leelan’s jaw sank onto her chest. Once again, she began breathing with the low rumble of a bellows. After making sure that no trace of Leelan’s anger lingered in the air, Ialu gestured for his son to come. Jesse moved slowly through the cage. Being careful not to disturb Leelan, he slipped through the bars and tiptoed over to his father. Rolling his eyes, he mouthed, “That was close!” Ialu gave his son a light swat on the head, then picked him up and hugged him. He smelled like beast and straw; his body was so slight, it seemed like it might break. “Ow! That hurts.” Jesse squirmed. His father had touched the spot where Jesse had been kicked. “Sorry,” Ialu said. “I forgot.” He lifted Jesse higher and adjusted his grip. With his son’s warm body wrapped in his arms, he left the stable. 4 HARD SHELL Esalu had stayed up waiting for them. Before Ialu could say a word, Jesse dropped to his knees and prostrated himself on the floor, begging forgiveness. Esalu fixed him with a ferocious glare, but then sighed and told him to raise his head. “Your scolding can wait until tomorrow,” she said. “The horse and buggy has already left, so you and your father might as well stay the night.” Still kneeling on the floor, Jesse answered weakly, “Yes, ma’am.” “Just look at you! You’re covered in straw and fur. Make sure to brush all that off before you get into bed. Change your clothes and comb your hair, too.” “Uh-huh.” “Answer properly, young man! With feeling!” “Yes, ma’am,” Jesse answered hastily. Ialu bowed his head. “Please forgive us for causing such a commotion.” With her arms still folded across her chest, Esalu shook her head and said, “Never mind that now. You’d better tell me what’s going on. I’ll take you to your room first. We can talk after you’ve put Jesse to bed.” Ialu shook his head. “No. If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep him with me until I’m done.” Esalu frowned. “That’s fine with me, but are you sure? I thought you wanted to tell me something confidential.” “I do, but there’s a reason I want to keep him in my sight.” It was long past Jesse’s bedtime. His eyelids drooped, and he looked up at Ialu with a blank expression. He’d been through quite an ordeal and had just had a big cry. Ialu guessed he must have been so tired he could barely stay awake. Esalu seemed to have realized this as well. “There’re some cushions over in the corner, Jesse,” she said gently. “Go lie on those.” Jesse stood up slowly, wincing slightly. By morning, he was going to be very stiff. Completely forgetting Esalu’s admonition to brush off the fur and straw, he laid his head on a cushion and curled up with a sigh. Within moments, he was fast asleep. Esalu gazed at the boy’s tear-streaked face, then shifted her eyes to Ialu. “Let’s have some tea while we talk.” She gestured for Ialu to sit by the hearth. Taking the kettle from the hook, she poured hot water into a teapot. “So,” she began, fixing him with a piercing gaze, “I was right. You’ve been hurt, haven’t you? Raise that lock of hair over your ear and let me see.” Her eyes were keen. Even in the firelight, she had noticed the swelling above his temple. She knelt beside him and examined the spot where the strange weapon had connected with his skull. “Were you hit with something?” she asked. Ialu nodded. “Some kind of club. I caught the blow with the stick I use to bar the door, but the end of the club bent around it and hit me here. It wasn’t that strong a blow.” Esalu rested her hands on her knees and rose slowly to her feet. Taking a candle from a cupboard and returning to the hearth, she lit the wick in the fire and placed the candle in a holder. She held this up in front of Ialu’s face. “Look at me. Let me see your eyes.” After carefully examining the pupil in his right eye and then his left, she blew out the candle. “At least you seem to have no internal bleeding.” “I think it just shook my brain a little,” Ialu said. “The headache and nausea are pretty much gone.” “But you should never take a head wound lightly. Remember Her Majesty Halumiya. Even when there’s no initial bleeding, blood can pool later, putting pressure on the brain. If you feel dizziness or nausea within the next few days, tell me immediately.” Ialu gazed at her. She seemed to have aged considerably, perhaps because he hadn’t seen her for so long. Her eyes, however, still burned with the same stern light. “Thank you,” he said. “But I’m afraid I’ll just have to pray that it heals naturally. At dawn, I must take Jesse and leave Kazalumu.” Esalu’s face clouded. “But why?” Ialu explained what had happened. When he finished, Esalu picked up her cup absently, then clicked her tongue. She’d forgotten about the tea. As she poured the now-bitter brew into their cups, she said, “But who would do that? Even if they could force Elin to do what they wanted, what’s the point without any Royal Beasts?” Passing a cup to Ialu, she shook her head. “Only the Yojeh and the Aluhan can actually use the Royal Beasts as weapons. Even if someone in the court wished to wrest power from the Aluhan, it would take years to raise and train enough Royal Beasts. And they could never hide what they were doing. They’d be discovered and executed in no time.” Ialu placed his cup on the edge of the hearth. “Just as you say, such a plot would be meaningless. To anyone from this kingdom, that is.” He pulled out two coins from the pouch at his waist and laid them in his palm. “I found these on one of those thugs.” The coins glinted dully in the hearth’s glow. Esalu’s face froze. “Lajimu coins…” Raising her face, she looked at Ialu and whispered, “You think the Lahza were behind it?” Ialu nodded. “The Lahza have been spreading across the plains like wind-borne locusts, growing ever stronger as they swallow up caravan cities on their way. Many countries, even ours, use their currency because it’s of higher value. “The bowmen who guard our border are paid only a pittance. Two lajimu coins each would be enough for them to take on any dirty job.” He tilted his palm toward the flame so the light licked the coins, highlighting the shape of a rearing horse. “Eleven years have passed since Elin rode Leelan and scattered the Toda forces on the plain of Tahai Azeh. If the Lahza, who covet this land, have heard about that…” The two fell silent, their eyes resting on the coins. If the eastern horsemen were secretly spreading their net through this kingdom right now while it was shaken by internal unrest … Esalu shuddered and rubbed her arms as though chilled. “What’re you going to do?” she asked. “We’d better warn the Yojeh immediately. The country’s in danger!” Catching sight of his expression, she faltered. Her mouth hung open for a second, then shut with a snap. She pressed her fingers to her forehead. “Oh, right. If the palace finds out, you and Elin…” She could not bring herself to finish the statement. By order of the Yojeh and the Aluhan, Elin and the Royal Beasts had been surrounded with a gentle wall—a loose supervision that didn’t interfere with daily life, just in case a hostile country tried to abduct her. It had been loose precisely because it was “just in case.” The threat of kidnapping had been considered remote. But if the palace discovered that Elin was the target of its greatest threat, Elin and her family would be placed under strict surveillance, possibly for life. “As you said, they can’t raise and train Royal Beasts in a night and a day,” said Ialu. “And even if they have managed to, which I think is highly unlikely, they obviously don’t know how to control them yet. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be trying to capture Elin. If so—” Esalu picked up where he had left off. “They must have raised them with the Silent Whistle. Which means that even if they managed to raise some, they can neither control them nor use them as weapons. In other words, there’s no imminent threat, so it won’t matter if we wait before informing the palace.” Ialu nodded and glanced at Jesse, who lay with his head pillowed on a cushion. The expression on his face as he gazed at his son wrung Esalu’s heart. “What’re you going to do next? Once you leave here?” she whispered. Ialu shifted his eyes back to Esalu. “Find Elin.” His eyes gleamed with a dark light. If they had tried to capture him, it might mean they already had Elin. The thought burned inside him. Raising the cup to his lips, he took a sip of the bitter, tepid brew. Then he turned the cup slowly in both hands. “I still have a few connections from the past. I’ll try to find out what Elin has been doing and where she is now. Then I’ll think about what to do from there.” “Let’s say you find her and you’re reunited as a family,” Esalu said in a low voice. “Then what?” Ialu said nothing. Branches scratched against the window, stirred by the night breeze. Esalu gazed into the eyes of this man who looked so much like an artisan. Would he continue to search until he found a way to be just a carpenter and Elin, a beast doctor; for them to live as man and wife? Would such a day ever come for this family? With a small hiss, a piece of wood crumbled in the fire. A flame flared briefly, illuminating their faces. “Have you thought about the possibility that you might miss her if you leave now? What if she turns up here after you’ve gone? What should I tell her?” “Tell her to go home. If she does, she’ll know.” Esalu’s brow clouded. They probably had some sign known only to the two of them, she thought. They had lived all this time knowing that one day they might have to flee. It was only natural that they would be prepared. But her chest tightened at his words. She felt excluded. A memory filled her mind. She had once told Elin it would be safer if anyone could control the Royal Beasts. Elin’s face, and her words, came back to her now. “I would rather that the risk was mine alone,” she had said. “If my actions might bring about a disaster, then when it comes, I won’t hesitate to lay down my life if I believe that could avert it.” She had only been eighteen. Does she still think that way, Esalu wondered, even now that she has a family? Something about Ialu reminded her of Elin. They’re both loners, she thought. They both avoid relying on others—because they don’t want to get them into trouble. Although they were now married, Esalu doubted that marriage would have changed this trait. They would love each other and within that love would guard their son by surrounding him like the hard shell of a walnut. If they had been selfish, she might have felt angry rather than lonely. But Elin and this gruff-sounding man tried so hard not to cause others pain. It was the very thoughtfulness with which they treated her that made Esalu feel excluded. She sighed and gave her head a little shake. “All right. If Elin makes it back here safely, I’ll let her know. But it’s time you went to bed. I’ll send someone tomorrow to tell the town officer that there was a break-in. In the meantime, you can make your escape. I can lend you a horse.” Ialu bowed his head. Gratitude overwhelmed him, robbing him of the words he needed to express himself. If he tried to pay her, it would only hurt her feelings. Neither he nor Elin had any parents. She was the closest person they had to a mother. In the end, all he could say was “Thank you.” Looking up, his eyes met hers. “I’ll do whatever I can to help,” she said. Her voice hardened. “So you’d better make sure you come back. Promise me you’ll return with your family and let me know you’re alive and well.” Ialu lowered his eyes and gazed silently at his hands for some time. Finally, he raised his head and nodded. “I promise.” 5 FLIGHT Ialu’s eyes flew open, sleep banished by faint sounds carried on the wind. Day had not quite broken, but in the pale blue darkness he could make out Jesse’s small form sleeping beside him. Gently, Ialu pulled back the covers and got up to raise the window. The chill dawn air washed over his face. The noise, which had been faint before, was now quite clear. The sound of hooves pounding turf; a band of horsemen was galloping toward Kazalumu. Leaning out the window, he could see the road that led up toward the school in the distance. Torchlight danced among the trees. Soon figures came into view. When Ialu caught the glint of armor in the lamp burning by the school gate, he closed the window softly. “Jesse.” He shook the boy, who grunted in response. “Jesse, wake up.” Jesse sat up with a groan, but his eyelids stayed closed. Ialu brought his lips close to Jesse’s ear and whispered, “Wake up! We have to go.” Jesse jerked and rubbed his ear as though it tickled. His eyes opened, and he looked up at his father. “What?” Ialu put a finger to Jesse’s lips and gestured for him to pay attention to the sounds. The bell that hung at the gate clanged stridently. It was an old bell, green with age. The visitors rang it urgently and repeatedly, and soon the school began to stir. Footsteps and voices sounded in the hall, as students, startled from their sleep, stumbled from their rooms to see what was going on. The large door at the entrance screeched open, followed immediately by the clatter of boots in the hall. The teacher on night duty called for the headmistress. Ialu opened the door a crack and peered through it. He saw Esalu stride briskly toward the entrance. When she approached the men standing in the entranceway, she put her hands on her hips. “It’s not even dawn!” she exclaimed. “What’s all this fuss about?” Through the murmur of voices rising from the students, a soldier’s voice, gruff and overbearing, reached Ialu’s ears. “We’re here by order of Her Majesty, the Yojeh. Kneel and listen!” The man flourished a document with a seal indicating it was a royal ordinance, and Ialu saw Esalu sink slowly to her knees. The students quieted, and this time the soldier’s voice rang loud and clear. “Her Majesty has commanded us to bring Elin’s husband and son to the palace to place them under her protection. Bring us Ialu and Jesse immediately!” Behind him, Jesse gulped, and Ialu gripped his shoulder to keep him quiet. “Ialu and Jesse are not here,” Esalu said. “They live in town.” Her voice was strong and penetrating, and Ialu guessed she was making sure her words reached every listening ear. “Do you intend to hide them?” the soldier snapped. “You’ll be arrested if you dare lie to us. We’ve already been to their house in town. We know they were ambushed and managed to beat off their attackers. We also know the boy escaped here and was followed by Ialu. We gave up sleep to come here. Surely you realize how critical this situation is. So think carefully before you speak!” Silence fell over the building, broken only by Esalu’s measured voice. “I am speaking the truth. Jesse did indeed come to Kazalumu last night, causing a commotion, but his father, Ialu, came to fetch him. It was very late, so I urged them to stay the night. However, Ialu refused and took his son back with him down the mountain. I believed they had returned home, which is why I answered you thus.” Gently, Ialu closed the door and gestured for Jesse to remain silent. He pushed the window up soundlessly. It was still dark outside, but he saw no other soldiers. They all appeared to be gathered at the entrance. After quickly surveying the surroundings, he pulled his head inside, folded the bedding neatly, and placed it back in the closet. Jesse handed him a pillow, his face tense. Placing the pillow on top of the bedding, Ialu closed the door, then knelt in front of his son. “Are you scared?” he whispered. Jesse nodded. “Put that fear away for now. Just like putting away the bedding in the closet, put it away deep in your mind and forget it’s there.” Ialu smiled. Jesse gazed at him as though he was looking at something strange and fascinating. Slowly, a faint smile rose to his stiff lips. Ialu ruffled Jesse’s hair. “Let’s go,” he said. “Do exactly as I say. All right?” Jesse nodded. Although the boy jumped when he heard a soldier bark commands to search the building, he kept his lips pressed firmly shut, and his eyes never wavered from his father’s face. “I’ll jump out the window first. Wait until I signal, then you jump, too.” Jesse’s eyes widened. He opened his mouth to speak, but Ialu stopped him with a look. “I’ll catch you. Jump straight without waving your arms or legs, just like when you jump into a river. Understand?” Although he was breathing shallowly, Jesse nodded. Standing up, Ialu grabbed the satchel from the corner and threw it on his back. Then he opened the window and, without a moment’s hesitation, leaped like a cat over the sill and landed almost silently on the ground below. Jesse stared after him, his lips parted, but when Ialu waved for him to jump, his face paled. Leaning out of the window, the height rushed up at him, and his knees began to shake. Ialu looked up, his face fierce, and gestured again. Jesse crouched on the sill, but could not bring himself to let go. One, two … One, two … He counted in his mind and tried to push off with his legs. But each time he failed. I can’t, I can’t, I can’t … The thud of footsteps rushing up the stairs disturbed his thoughts. They’ll catch me! Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. Jump as if you were jumping into a river. He pictured water below him, saw the light sparkling on the surface in his mind’s eye, and pushed off with his feet. He clenched his teeth, anticipating the shock of impact, only to find himself in his father’s arms. Holding Jesse close, Ialu ran along the wall and ducked behind a cart parked beside it. There was no horse in sight, just a cart with a large cargo box that was full of sacks stuffed with clothes. The students’ laundry, Ialu realized, guessing that it was collected and placed here until the launderer came and took it to town. Lowering Jesse to the ground, he slapped several of the bags with his hands, making dents in their shape. “Are we going to hide in the cart?” Jesse asked. “No,” Ialu said. He pulled Jesse down lower and pointed to a space under the building. “Crawl in there. As far as you can.” Obediently, Jesse got on all fours and crawled into the space under the dormitory. Feeling the cool, damp earth against his palms, he moved cautiously into the darkness. There was more room than expected, and his head never scraped against the wood above, but still he was afraid. It seemed a likely place to run into mice, bugs, or snakes. He could hear his father crawling in after him, and the darkness grew deeper. “That’s far enough,” his father whispered. “Stay there.” Jesse stopped and turned around, still on all fours. In the sliver of the outside world visible from under the floor, he could see the wheels of the cart. Jesse’s father crawled up beside him. “We’re going to be here for quite a while. You can sleep if you want, but don’t make any noise.” Jesse nodded. He cringed at the thought of pressing his belly against the clammy ground, but his arms and legs were already cramped from crouching. Once he gave up and lay down, it was much easier. Wrapped in the smell of damp earth, he stayed motionless beside his father. Gradually the tension in his body eased. Perhaps he had nodded off a little. His eyes flicked open at the sound of voices. He could see feet near the cart. Metal gleamed. Soldiers’ boots. Tensing himself for flight, he listened intently. “—here?” “Could be. The sacks have been disturbed. Someone might have jumped down onto the cart. But it could have been the students playing around.” He couldn’t see their faces, but he could tell from their feet and voices what they were doing. “See anyone inside?” “No. Just sacks of laundry.” “Right, then. I’ll check under the building.” One of the men dropped to his hands and knees and peered inside. Jesse froze, staring at the black shape of the man’s head backlit by the outside light. He was sure that they had been discovered, but the soldier rose, wiping his hands on his thighs. “Can’t see a thing,” he said. “But there’re no marks of someone crawling underneath.” Jesse’s brows rose. He cast a quick glance at his father, but his father just stared ahead without moving a muscle. They must have left tracks on the ground when they crawled in here. When had they disappeared? Dad must have erased them while I was sleeping. Jesse felt as though he were in a dream. His quiet, gentle father, the cabinetmaker, simply didn’t fit with this man who flattened thugs with a single blow, sprang like a cat from windows, and fooled their trackers. A distant memory floated into Jesse’s mind. Once, when he had gone to the baths with his father, an older boy had climbed onto the roof on a dare and accidentally broken the skylight. Light had poured through the opening onto Jesse’s father. The man beside him had looked at him in surprise. “Quite the body you’ve got,” he had said. “You’re a soldier, are you?” It was the first time Jesse had seen his father in such a bright light. His body was lean and powerful. Here and there Jesse noticed lumps and white lines that looked like scars from old wounds. His father had just laughed and said he’d done a lot of stupid things in his youth. Jesse hadn’t paid much attention. Now that he thought about it, though, since then his father only went to the bath after dark. Jesse glanced at him. Maybe his father sensed it, because he gestured for him to stay still and sleep. Jesse nodded and relaxed. Somewhere along the way, his fear had left him. Jesse felt someone shaking him and opened his eyes in surprise. For a moment, he wondered where he was, then remembered he was under the school. “Are you awake?” his father asked. Jesse nodded. “Follow me, then. Don’t make a sound, no matter what happens.” With these words, his father crawled outside. Jesse scrambled after him. For a moment, he was blinded by the light. He felt hands slip under his armpits, and then he was lifted into the air and pressed in between rough cloth. His father climbed in beside him, and after covering Jesse with laundry bags, buried himself under them, too. Although it was stuffy inside, Jesse smiled, feeling a thrill of excitement. Soon, however, he began to worry. He wondered how long they would have to stay under these dusty bags. Unlike when they were hiding under the building, he was afraid that someone might be able to spot them. Time dragged on forever. When the lunch bell rang, he heard the sound of approaching hooves. “Whoa, there. That’s a girl,” a gruff voice called out. The cart tilted, and Jesse clutched the bags. There was a loud rattling noise. Someone had connected the cart to the horse’s harness. He waited anxiously, afraid that the extra weight might give them away, but the launderer cracked his whip, and the horse began to plod. The cart jerked forward, swaying back and forth. Jesse tracked their progress along the wall and felt the cart turn a corner. We’re almost at the gate. At that moment, a voice called out, ordering the driver to stop, and the cart lurched to a halt. “Let me check inside,” the voice said. Jesse tensed and curled into a tiny ball, squeezing his eyes shut. Don’t look! Don’t look! he begged silently. Footsteps approached. Someone began patting the sacks. Hands grasped the one over Jesse. “Hey!” another voice called out. “I already checked in there. It’s all right.” The hands grasping the sack let go. “You did? Okay, then. You can go.” The driver called out to his horse, and the cart began to roll. Jesse let out a long, slow breath. As the tension left his body, he began to tremble and felt a strong urge to pee. The cart lurched, and he knew they had passed through the gate. Then they began the slow descent down the hill. “Dad,” Jesse whispered. “I need to pee.” “Can’t you wait?” “A little bit.” “Then wait. We’ll get off at the corner of Takalu Street.” At this, Jesse grimaced. “I can’t wait that long.” His father groaned. After a pause, he said, “If you can’t hold it, pee in one of the laundry sacks.” “Are you serious?” Jesse scowled. “Don’t worry,” his father said. “I’m sure they’re used to it. Kids wet their beds sometimes, you know.” Jesse felt his father’s hand on his head. The warmth of it made his nose sting, and tears welled in his eyes. He sniffed. “Dad?” “Yeah?” “Where’re we going?” His father’s face softened. “To see your mother.” 6 CAGED For a long time, Elin sat in the chair by the window and gazed outside. The Yojeh’s palace was located deep in the woods. When Seimiya married Shunan, she had a hall built within the same forest for Shunan to carry out his duties as the Aluhan. This, not the palace, was where his servants lived and worked. Elin and Yohalu had reached the hall the night before. Even though it had been quite late, Yohalu had gone to see the Aluhan as soon as they arrived, and Elin had not seen him since. The servants had given her some supper and then brought her to this room to rest. No one came to see her except the maidservants who brought her breakfast and lunch, and there was nothing for her to do but sit and wait. She was on the second floor where she could look out at the forest and feel the refreshing breeze from the window. But the scenery brought her no rest, because among the trees, she could see soldiers standing guard. The rain that had fallen all morning lifted by noon, but heavy clouds still hung low in the sky. A white speck appeared against the clouds. A pigeon, most likely carrying a message. Many pigeons had winged their way to the hall that morning, but this one came from a different direction. Elin’s face clouded, and anxiety filled her breast. That way lay Kazalumu. The bird flew through the branches and disappeared into the hall. Just as dusk began seeping into the room, there came a knock at her door. She opened it to see Yohalu. He glanced around the room, and his brow furrowed. “It’s so small. You must feel quite shut in.” Elin’s mouth crooked. “I didn’t realize it was small.” She stepped aside to let him in, and he sat down in a chair by the fireplace. Fatigue etched his face. “I told the Aluhan everything,” he said. “Including what was in the diary. We’ve spent hours talking about what to do and have finally reached a conclusion. He’ll be here soon to tell you himself. But there’s something I wanted to say to you first.” As she listened to him speak, Elin suddenly realized that he had dropped the deferential tone he’d used before. When had he first begun talking to her so familiarly, as though she were his niece? Rubbing his burly hands together, Yohalu said, “I met with the leader of the Sai Gamulu last night.” “You what?” “Many men in this hall are members, a few of whom once wanted you killed. After I met with the Aluhan, I went to see the leader. I let him know that a Toda Steward was abducted eight years ago.” A bitter smile touched his eyes. “He’s sharp. He understood immediately how that would change things. I can’t promise anything in the distant future, but for the time being, the Sai Gamulu won’t try to harm you or your family.” Elin gazed at him unblinking. She felt neither joy nor relief at this news. Her only thought was that now even the Sai Gamulu saw her as a pawn they needed to keep alive. At least for now. She opened her mouth to speak but at that moment, there was a noise outside the door. “The Aluhan,” Yohalu said. Before he could rise from his chair, Elin moved swiftly to the door and opened it. Shunan was walking down the hall, flanked by soldiers. He smiled faintly when he saw her. Telling his men to remain outside, he stepped into the room. Elin dropped to one knee and bowed. He nodded, then sat on the chair Yohalu had just vacated. “Elin, first I must thank you,” Shunan said. “You’re a clever woman to have solved the mystery of the Kiba deaths so brilliantly.” Head bowed, Elin said nothing. When he finished speaking, silence spread through the room. There was a small sigh, and Elin looked up to find Shunan gazing at her. “It’s not possible,” he said quietly, “to develop a Toda troop in a short period of time. But if they’ve had eight whole years, they could have made an army of considerable size.” Kneading the base of his thumb, he sighed again. “It seems we were careless. We thought we had covered every possibility, but we never really believed another country could develop their own Toda force. The Lahza, however, press forward with their plans far more audaciously than we do.” Pain flickered in his eyes. “We received news from our men in Kazalumu a short while ago.” Elin’s heart raced, and her face froze as she waited. “Your husband and son were attacked by robbers.” “What?!” Her face paled, but Shunan swiftly raised his hand. “It’s all right. Trust your husband, the swift-footed Ialu. He beat them off. Despite all those years living as a commoner, it seems he never lost his touch.” Shunan’s words, however, did nothing to ease the chill that ran through Elin’s body. She gripped her wrist with a trembling hand. “Ialu and Jesse. Are they all right?” Shunan’s mouth crooked. “I don’t know. By the time my men went to find them, they’d already escaped.” Elin stared at him blankly. “The two who attacked him,” Shunan continued, “were bowmen discharged from our forces. Considering that it was also one of our soldiers who led the men who attacked you and Yohalu, it seems clear that corruption has taken root among our troops.” His face twisted, and he glanced at Yohalu. “There will always be some who aren’t satisfied with their pay,” Yohalu said. “When soldiers are posted far away, such as in the eastern protectorates, they start mingling with foreign merchants and are more likely to lose their discipline. Lahza must be targeting and recruiting men like that.” Shunan nodded and shifted his gaze to Elin. “They were probably hired with gold to attack Ialu and Jesse. If so, that raises a frightening possibility.” A strong light kindled in his eyes. Elin’s breath came shallowly, as if an invisible net was drawing inexorably tighter around her. “Someone is after you,” Shunan said. “If it’s the Lahza, it means they already know Royal Beasts can decimate Toda troops. And that you can control them.” The sun had sunk completely, and the light had faded from the room. They could not see each other’s faces clearly, but no one moved to light a lamp. “When I think of it,” Shunan said huskily, “it was foolish to assume we could keep these secrets. Not when thousands of soldiers witnessed what happened on Tahai Azeh.” Trees brushed against the window. The wind must have picked up because the branches kept grating against the windowpane. “I won’t let them catch me off guard again,” Shunan said. He rose slowly. “Just as my ancestor Yaman Hasalu once called upon the Toga mi Lyo, I have called upon Yohalu to help me build the greatest Toda army ever seen. As for you, Elin, I command you to aid Her Majesty, the Yojeh. Like your ancestors who rescued the Yojeh in the past, save our kingdom from this crisis.” Elin kept her eyes fixed on his face. “What is it that you are asking me to do?” she whispered. Shunan took a step closer. “Breed the Royal Beasts and train them. Create a Royal Beast corps. Royal Beasts are only found in the Afon Noah, the sacred mountains of this kingdom. Our enemies may be able to smuggle Toda eggs out of the country, but they can’t possibly steal Royal Beast cubs without being detected. As long as we make sure we’re ready, the Lahza can never make their own Royal Beast corps.” A steady light burned in his eyes. “Now I finally see what I failed to understand before. This is what I was meant to do. Seimiya of the Royal Beasts and I of the Toda. We must join hands and, through the power of these sacred creatures, protect this land. That is the shape this country was meant to take. Just as the Royal Beasts soared through the sky and the Toda opened the way for our Royal Ancestor to descend upon Tahai Azeh.” Elin trembled. The needle of fate, which until now had been wavering, would soon be set. “Her Majesty, the Yojeh,” Elin said desperately. “Did she truly say this is what should be done?” Shunan did not answer right away. Gambling on what slim ray of hope might lie behind his hesitation, Elin plowed on. “I know it is not my place to say such a thing, and I humbly beg your pardon for asking, but would not the creation of a Royal Beast corps itself endanger the political affairs of this country?” Shunan’s brows drew together. “What do you mean?” “The Royal Beasts are the symbol of Her Majesty, the Yojeh,” Elin explained carefully. “The Toda are the symbol of Your Majesty, the Aluhan. If the Royal Beasts, with stunning force, should rescue this kingdom from defeat by a Toda army created and led by our enemies…” The light in Shunan’s eyes turned hard. “You are saying that it will seem as if I am merely the Yojeh’s lowly subject who must rely upon her power as the True Ruler.” Silence subdued the small room. Feeling that the tension hanging between them would snap at a touch, Elin gazed wordlessly at Shunan. A wry smile touched his lips. “Elin, you have misjudged me. The fact that I am a subject of Her Majesty, the Yojeh, is something in which I take great pride. No matter what crass conjectures the foolish nobility may dream up, not a single speck of doubt clouds that sentiment. Even though I am her husband, I remain her loyal subject. “Besides,” he added calmly, “you know nothing about the subtleties of politics. A man who grasps these can change a minus into a plus. Thanks to you, we now know the secret of the Toda and can make larger and stronger Toda troops. If the Yojeh should create a corps of Royal Beasts to aid her husband, it will demonstrate the strength of our bond.” The moment he spoke those words, Elin knew. Nothing she could say would change his mind. Shunan’s smile had vanished. For a long time he remained silent, looking at Elin’s pale face. “Do you know why the Lahza, who have no hope of ever capturing Royal Beasts, tried to take your family?” he asked suddenly. Elin said nothing. “Because they knew we have you in our hands. That’s how deeply they have penetrated our midst. But they are not trying to kidnap you and use you like the Toda Steward. To capture you would be meaningless because they can never get any Royal Beasts. There is only one reason they targeted you. Because they want to wipe you from the face of the earth. Before you raise up a Royal Beast corps. Before we can obtain this decisive weapon.” Elin felt as if her chest and throat were being gripped by a vice. Struggling to breathe, she stared at Shunan. He took a step closer and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “I owe you so much. If I could, I would not ask you to do this. I’m sure you feel trapped within a cage and forced to do what goes against your will. But for me, this is not about what I want to do, but what I must do.” His face twisted slightly. “And Her Majesty, the Yojeh, has resolved to sully her own hands, also.” Elin looked at him in surprise. For the first time, she considered what developing a Royal Beast corps would mean for Seimiya. The Yojeh, who for centuries had kept herself pure and stainless, was about to engage in war. “Is there anyone in this world who is truly free?” Shunan said. His face was only a vague shadow, but his eyes gleamed with a sad light. “My men are searching for Ialu and Jesse. No matter how fleet-footed Ialu may be, he can’t get far with a child. I’ve warned my men not to hurt them. It won’t be long before you’re reunited.” The weight of his hand on her shoulder lifted. Shunan turned toward the door, and Yohalu quickly strode over and opened it. Even after the heavy door shut behind them, Elin remained standing, rooted to the spot. 7 DAWN BIRD The night wore on, yet Elin still sat by the window, staring outside at nothing while her supper grew cold on the side table by the fireplace. No lamp burned in the room, and it was brighter outside, where the clouds had broken and stars twinkled against the ink-black sky. “I’m thinking of inlaying it with mother-of-pearl.” In her mind, she heard the words Ialu had said when spring was still young. “That will look nice on a small, lacquered cabinet like this. Not big pieces, mind you, but small, like stars scattered across the surface. But mother-of-pearl is expensive.” He had still been picking out the wood to build it. Had he finished it? Or had he been forced to leave it half done? Elin grimaced. So it’s finally crumbled. The quiet life they’d built together on that thin layer of ice. Where are they now? She could almost see Jesse’s frightened face. Had Ialu taken the satchel they’d prepared for such a day? Where were they headed under this dark sky? “Let’s be prepared to run when the day comes.” The words Ialu had whispered in her ear came back to her now. He had been holding their newborn son, Jesse, in his arms. “Let’s give this child a new life,” he had said. “No matter where we run to, it will be better than living trapped in the cage of our past.” Does he know? He must have realized why they had attacked him. He had run because he had guessed what would come next. But even if he managed to elude the soldiers, there would be no end to this flight. If he and Jesse were caught and their family reunited, they would be forever trapped within this cage. And the Beasts—Leelan, Alu, all of them—would be flown into battle, devouring men and Toda, captive until the day they died. Elin pictured a distant sky, wide and wind-swept. There was only one way to free them from this cage. She pressed her head against the cold window frame and gazed absently out the window. It was wide open. Through the branches, she glimpsed the flickering of campfires and the figures of soldiers on guard among the trees. Far below her lay the ground. She stared at the dark earth, drawn to it like the depths of a pool. “Elin.” Hearing her name, she searched for the source. At the foot of a mighty tree that stretched its thick branches up to her window, she saw a shadow. “Rolan?” she murmured. When had he come? She saw him wave. “I got permission from the soldiers,” he called up. “The maidservants insisted that I couldn’t go into your room. But if I stand here talking, I’m going to get a stiff neck.” Reaching up, he grasped a branch and began to climb, his lakkalu slung over his back. As Elin watched, Rolan shimmied up the trunk and swung his legs over the large branch that led to her window. He grinned. “That’s better,” he said. “Much closer.” Elin frowned. “That’s dangerous,” she said in a hushed voice. “Can you come in?” She moved away from the window but he raised a hand and stopped her. “It’s no problem. I’m quite used to climbing trees and serenading young maidens through the window.” With a wink, he swung his instrument around to the front and ran a hand over the strings. “When did you come?” “The day before yesterday. I came by horse so I passed my father’s carriage along the way.” He began plucking the strings with his thumb and forefinger. “Why did you come?” He simply smiled without answering, his fingers moving faster over the strings. “The clouds have broken and the stars look magnificent. How about a few love songs?” Strumming softly, he began to sing. He played one song after another, some she knew and some she didn’t, but as those melancholy tunes rode the breeze, Elin felt the blood begin to flow again in her numb and heavy heart. After the fifth song, Rolan began a sixth. The first notes pierced her heart so keenly, she felt pain spread like warm water through her breast. Frogs chirrup in the moonlit night, he sang. In the dawn mist the bird’s song flows. Oh, how it flows, disturbing the still night. Don’t weep, dawn bird, don’t weep, for I’ll recall your voice from last night. A kind face rimmed by a bushy beard floated into her mind. She remembered every detail, down to the shadows of the leaves dancing along the road where she had walked beside Joeun, who was singing this song. When he realized that she didn’t know it was a love song, he burst out laughing. Joeun. One after another, distant memories slipped into her mind. Once again, she saw the beloved face and heard the voice of the man who had found and raised her. Twenty years had passed since then. The memory of another night she had recalled this song came back to her, along with the weight and scent of warm skin. She closed her eyes, feeling the tears slide down her cheeks. Before she realized it, Rolan had stopped singing. Wiping her face, she opened her eyes. He watched her, his head resting against the tree trunk. “Elin,” he said. “You mustn’t die.” Silently, she stared at him where he sat in the shadow of the branches. “Even if you die, it won’t change anything. You will just make your family grieve.” With that, he swung his lakkalu over his back and slithered down the trunk. Elin gazed after him as he disappeared among the trees. Elin woke abruptly at dawn. Lying in bed, she stared at the ceiling, which was just a blur in the blue darkness. All sound had vanished, and silence filled her body, as though the rushing torrent that had swept her up had passed and left her floating on the water’s mirrorlike surface. Within that stillness, a warmth kindled and spread, reaching her fingertips. To alter the nature of living creatures is wrong, she thought. Her heart felt clear like a sky filled with distant, twinkling stars. No matter how entangled affairs became, to alter other creatures and pervert their lives was wrong. That point, and that point alone, would never change, no matter what the situation. Then let me defy any force that tries. No matter how formidable that power, no matter how enmeshed it was with the wishes of others, she must not let it bend or break her. She must not die. She had longed to let creatures live as they would in the wild; to share her life with the man she loved and with their son. I took all this on, prepared to accept the consequences. If so, then I must keep looking for a way to achieve it, no matter what may come. She closed her eyes. She saw Leelan soaring in the heavens, saw her radiating the light of the sun as she flew with Eku and the joy of their mating. I want to free them from the sanctuary. If that day should ever come, she and her family would finally be free. She opened her eyes. Something had brushed against her thoughts. What was it? Pressing her fingers to her brow, she followed the trail. The mating flight of Leelan and Eku had reminded her of something else. Ah! Her eyes widened. That was it. Alu, Leelan’s first cub. A white light flashed through her brain, and she sat up. Like a magnet, the first thought drew another and then another, linking all the questions in her mind. The world outside her window had grown brighter, and she heard birds warbling. She gazed at the morning light gilding the edges of the clouds. 8 SEIMIYA’S GARDEN The day after Elin met with Shunan, the Yojeh summoned her. The invitation was so unexpected that Elin had no time to bathe. She hastily changed into the clothes provided and headed to the palace. As she walked down the corridor, a door opened, and Yohalu stepped out. His brow furrowed. “Elin,” he said. “I heard that Her Majesty has summoned you.” When she nodded, his face grew stern. “The Aluhan left for his castle this morning and hasn’t returned.” He said nothing more, but Elin guessed it was only because the maidservant would hear. Clearly, it made him very anxious that the Yojeh had waited until the Aluhan was gone to summon her. Elin could feel his eyes boring into her back as she left the hall. Her feet crunched softly on the white sand that paved the road through the deep forest. After some time, she glimpsed the wooden buildings of the Yojeh’s palace through the trees. The blue roof tiles that covered the connecting passageways glinted in the sun. The servant guided Elin along these passageways, leading her deep behind the palace complex. It was very quiet, and they passed few people on their way. At length, they came to a garden bordered by a high hedge with a narrow gate. A single soldier stood before it—a Se Zan, one of the Yojeh’s bodyguards. As she walked toward the gate, Elin felt a spark of hope that it might be Ialu’s friend Kailu, but the man was a stranger. Passing through the gate in the hedge, Elin stepped into an inner garden bathed in soft light. Flowers bloomed in a riot of colors, emitting a sweet fragrance in the warmth of the early afternoon sun. Honeybees buzzed among the blooms, and little birds hovered, sucking nectar from yellow ivy blossoms entwined with the hedge. On the other side of the garden was a building, and a chair had been placed outside beneath one of its open windows. In it sat a woman, her eyes fixed blankly on the flowers. Elin halted in surprise. The woman, who now turned her head and inclined it slowly as though even that were too much effort, was the Yojeh. She looked shockingly gaunt. Her cheeks were drained of color, and her eyes were puffy. Elin couldn’t believe this was the same woman who had once reminded her of a delicate, porcelain doll. Although she had heard that the Yojeh’s third pregnancy was taking its toll, Seimiya looked far too thin. “Come,” Seimiya said. Elin jerked at the sound of her voice and blushed with the realization that she had been staring at the Yojeh. She bowed her head and walked a few steps nearer. Kneeling on the grass, she placed both hands on the ground and bowed low, feeling a twinge in her injured elbow. “Come closer,” the Yojeh said weakly. “It tires me to raise my voice.” Elin rose and came close enough to hear Seimiya even if she murmured. The maidservant brought over a small chair so Elin could sit, then bowed low and moved to a corner of the garden where she couldn’t overhear what they were saying. I see, Elin thought. Seimiya had summoned her here so there would be no fear of eavesdropping. “Raise your head, Elin.” She looked up to see Seimiya staring at the bandage over her ear. “They told me you’d been injured,” Seimiya said. “I see it hasn’t healed yet. Does it hurt?” “No, there is almost no pain now. Thank you for your concern.” Seimiya nodded and then said languidly, “It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Is it ten years since we last met?” “Eleven, Your Majesty.” “We’ve both aged, then, haven’t we?” Seimiya said, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. “Although I think I’ve aged a little faster than you.” Elin hesitated, then asked in a small voice, “Please pardon my impertinence, but you seem very tired.” Seimiya’s smile deepened. “Recently, I’ve forgotten what it’s like not to be tired. Especially since I became heavy with child.” She stroked her belly. The smile faded from her face. “But never mind that. Let’s get down to business.” Sitting up straight, she looked Elin in the eye. “I am sure you remember the promise I once made to you. I vowed that if you saved Shunan, I would free the Royal Beasts and never use them as weapons again.” “Yes.” “I must break that promise.” Her voice cracked slightly. “To break a vow is the vilest of acts. I do not wish to do this to you, Elin. You risked your life to save Shunan. When I consider how this happened because you flew Leelan to his aid—” Her voice caught, and she pressed her fingers against her pale throat. Closing her eyes, she bowed her head for a moment, then drew a deep breath and raised her face. “I would never break this vow if it were just to protect my power as the Yojeh. I would rather kill myself. But I cannot let foreign hordes lay waste to our kingdom. I must protect this land no matter the cost.” Sunlight illumined Seimiya’s pale face. Even when careworn and thin, she retained a dignity that made her seem larger than she really was. “When Hajan threatened this kingdom,” she continued, “my ancestor chose to have Yaman Hasalu defend this land with the Toda, knowing full well that this would jeopardize the purity with which her kingdom had been ruled. But I have no intention of doing as she did. I will not make my subjects bear defilement on my behalf just so I can remain unsullied.” Gazing at Elin, she said, “I, the Yojeh, order you to raise up a Royal Beast corps and defend this country from invasion.” Elin rose from her chair and knelt on the grass. Gazing up at Seimiya, she said quietly, “Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I cannot obey this command.” Seimiya’s face grew stern. “You think your wish is more important than the lives of the masses?” Elin shook her head. “No. I cannot obey because I do not know if creating a Royal Beast corps is truly best for this land. In the past—” She stopped, arrested by the look of loathing that crossed Seimiya’s face. The Yojeh’s lips curled, and her voice was cold. “You need not repeat that tale to me ever again. It will stay branded on my mind forever. But you also said that Royal Beasts suffer neither pain nor regret when they devour men and Toda. It is you, you told me, who suffers.” Elin was stunned. She had no idea Seimiya remembered her words so clearly. The Yojeh raised a slender finger and pointed it at Elin. It trembled slightly. “That’s what I’m talking about. I am asking if you would sacrifice the lives of millions just because using the Royal Beasts as weapons causes you pain.” “Your Majesty,” Elin began. Exposed to the unexpected disdain in Seimiya’s tone, she struggled to control her voice and subdue her urge to respond in anger. “I beg you to hear me out. Even if I were to bend my will and obey your command, I am incapable of making you a Royal Beast corps.” Seimiya frowned. “Incapable? Why?” “Because the Royal Beasts in the sanctuary do not multiply.” “What do you mean? Leelan has given birth to all those cubs…” Seimiya’s voice trailed off as understanding dawned in her eyes. “You mean Alu and Kalu.” “Yes. As you know, Alu was born while Her Majesty Halumiya was still alive. She should have matured long ago. And Kalu is now older than Leelan when she matured. Yet neither of them shows any interest in mating.” Seimiya’s eyes bored into Elin. “You aren’t doing anything to prevent them from maturing, are you?” Elin shook her head emphatically. Catching a ray of the afternoon sun, Seimiya’s light brown eyes gleamed golden. For a long moment, she gazed silently at Elin, who stood motionless, waiting. “No,” Seimiya said at last. “You would never do that.” Her eyes darkened, like the sun obscured by a cloud. “I suppose you’re relieved to have a good reason for refusing my command. But you do realize this could have terrible consequences for our kingdom, don’t you?” Elin gazed into her eyes, wondering whether she should say the words that hovered on her tongue. Seimiya seemed unstable. Her emotions rose and fell so rapidly that Elin couldn’t follow. Elin feared that if she touched the wrong nerve, Seimiya might explode. Hesitantly, Elin spoke. “Your Majesty, is there truly no other way to protect this country than to create a Royal Beast corps?” Seimiya brushed a lock of hair from her forehead and secured it behind her ear. Head bowed, she remained silent for a long time. “There’s no solution as failproof as this,” she said finally. A deep fatigue crossed her face. “Although I’m sure inwardly you must reproach me for sending the Royal Beasts to the battlefield,” she added. Her eyes burned with a fierce light as she fixed them on Elin’s. “You aren’t the only one who wishes to solve this without a fight, you know. You will never understand how much I abhor this decision, how I wish it didn’t have to be made at all. “To the Yojeh, war has always been an abomination. The blood of the gods may never have run in our veins, yet we still strove to live sincerely in accordance with this belief. In that regard, there was no deception on our part. And because that’s who the Yojeh was, this kingdom never took the path of a greedy aggressor. We never sought to expand our territory by invading other lands. Even though we possessed the mighty Toda.” Her face twisted. “Perhaps my ancestor should have tried harder to quench Oshiku Hasalu’s ambition when he sought to increase our territory. By attacking and destroying the Hajan, we took the caravan cities. As a result, our country prospered. But prosperity is a two-faced demon. “When a kingdom prospers, its population increases, and it needs more wealth to support its people. For this reason, we must protect the source of that wealth. We can’t afford to lose the caravan cities, which means we have to continue this unending fight with the Lahza who covet them.” Closing her eyes, she clenched her pearl-white teeth and gave her head a little shake. “The moment I utter the command to increase our forces and lead them to war, I am no longer the Yojeh,” she said in a strangled voice. “Unable to bring this war to a halt, I’m just an ordinary ruler like any other.” She opened her eyes. They were filled with tears. “Yet I have decided to make a Royal Beast corps.” Her expression turned fierce. “Elin,” she said. “Yes.” “What do you think we should do to end this war with Lahza?” Elin gazed at Seimiya. “I do not understand politics,” she said, “but is there no way to negotiate for terms that both sides can accept?” Seimiya’s expression softened. “You’re right,” she said quietly. “That would be the best way. But, Elin, we can’t simply resolve our differences by extending our hand to the other. The Lahza have attacked us for years. If they believe they can win and gain more wealth, they’ll never give up. The only time such a country will even consider sitting down to negotiate is when they realize they have no chance of winning; that to keep on fighting would be a waste of resources.” A cool serenity suffused her face. “If the Lahza already have their own Toda army, they’ll be eager to fight because they believe they have a much greater chance of winning. The whole country will be urging its leaders to strike soon. If we reach out and try to make peace, they’ll merely assume we’re desperate to make a deal because we’ve lost the advantage.” A bitter smile touched Seimiya’s lips. “Unless we can show them that their possession of a Toda army makes no difference because we have something even more powerful, they’ll never agree to negotiate. Or if they did, it would be as a victor making excessive demands out of contempt for the loser.” She looked at Elin, a sad resignation in her eyes. “If we want to negotiate an end to war, then we need the unsurpassed power of the Royal Beasts.” A wind rustled through the leaves on the trees and brushed Elin’s cheek just as a cloud covered the sun, hiding its light. Seimiya sighed, and her shoulders relaxed. The expression on her face seemed a little calmer. “Still, I wonder why Alu hasn’t borne any young yet.” “I wonder, too. Alu and Kalu were raised just like Leelan without tokujisui or the Silent Whistle. The only difference is that Leelan was born in the wild, while her young were born in the sanctuary.” Seimiya’s eyes brightened. “But that’s it, Elin! You see! There is a way to increase their number. If we bring wild male and female cubs to Kazalumu, we could build up a corps in just four or five years.” Her face shone like that of an excited little girl. Elin regarded her silently. Noticing her expression, Seimiya’s face clouded. “Is there some reason we can’t?” Elin nodded. “Wild Royal Beasts bear few offspring, so it would be hard to get enough. And there is another concern.” “What’s that?” “When I rode Leelan and subdued the Toda troops, didn’t something about that strike you as strange?” “Strange? Why?” “I didn’t notice at first, either, but later I realized it was quite odd. You said the tale I told you was branded on your memory. In that tale, the battle between two thousand Royal Beasts and tens of thousands of Toda wiped out not just the entire Toda army but the Royal Beasts and their Riders as well.” Seimiya’s nose wrinkled, as if at a foul odor, but Elin ignored this and pressed on. “It was because I actually flew Leelan against the Toda troops that I began to wonder about the story.” At this, Seimiya’s expression changed. “Wonder about what?” “Leelan showed no trace of fear or hesitation when she swooped down on the Toda, despite the number gathered there. And she slaughtered dozens of them in a matter of minutes. If I hadn’t stopped her, she would have killed a hundred.” Seimiya nodded as she listened. “I was raised in a Toda village. From a very early age, I saw how much training goes into preparing Toda as steeds for battle. But Leelan, who had no military training whatsoever, destroyed those well-trained Toda with ease. If two thousand trained Royal Beasts flew to battle, then even if they were met by tens of thousands of Toda troops, the Toda wouldn’t have stood a chance. It should have been an overwhelming victory for the Royal Beasts, not a disaster that wiped out both sides.” Lips slightly parted, Seimiya looked taken aback. “You’re right,” she said hoarsely. “I suppose their Riders might have been picked off by archers, but even so, the Royal Beasts would still have had the advantage because they were attacking from above. It’s much easier to hit your target when shooting downward than when aiming at the sky.” “Yes. The Toda Riders shot many arrows at me and Leelan, but Leelan’s body repelled them. None of them hit me. I was shot while on the ground helping Shunan to climb onto Leelan’s back.” Seimiya bowed her head and nodded. Elin guessed she was remembering the events of that day. “Even when Leelan was right among the Toda, attacking them,” Elin continued, “the Toda were milling about in confusion or rolling over onto their backs, so the Toda Riders had little chance to shoot. And that was just one Beast against several thousand Toda. If two thousand Royal Beasts descended, then—” Seimiya raised her face and leaned slowly back against the chair. “Then the tale might not be true,” she whispered. A fierce longing crossed her face. “It may not be true,” Elin said. “Or there may be something that we haven’t been told.” Seimiya’s eyes narrowed. “Something we haven’t been told. Yes, you’re right. That’s a possibility, too. After all, many centuries have passed.” Watching her expression, Elin asked hesitantly, “My Lady, do you know who the lord of Amasulu’s ancestors were?” Seimiya blinked. “The lord of Amasulu? You mean Yohalu Amasulu? What about them?” So she doesn’t know, Elin thought. It was just as the previous Yojeh, Halumiya, had told her many years ago. The fire set by the Sai Gamulu had completely severed the Yojeh’s link with the past. Spurred on by hatred, Yohalu’s great-grandfather had exacted a fitting revenge. But in the process, something infinitely precious had been lost. Elin’s knees ached. She rose and sat in the chair. The sun was already tilting in the sky, dyeing the plain wooden walls a warm amber. Taking a short breath, Elin said, “Like mine, Yohalu Amasulu’s ancestors had green eyes.” Seimiya’s eyebrows rose. “They did?” “Yes. When Hajan attacked Lyoza, the Yojeh of that time sent a message to the Toga mi Lyo, the Green-Eyed Ones who lived in a valley in the Afon Noah, and asked them for help.” Seimiya’s eyes widened. “I had no idea. And you’re saying they were Yohalu’s ancestors?” “Yes. According to the legend, the Toga mi Lyo were skilled in raising and training the Toda for war. Your ancestor Jeh, on the other hand, was a Royal Beast handler. She would not have known as much as the Toga mi Lyo about training Toda.” “So at the time of Yaman Hasalu, Jeh’s descendant summoned the Toga mi Lyo to teach him,” Seimiya whispered. She pressed her fingers to her temples. “But weren’t the Toga mi Lyo and Jeh bitter enemies? I thought it was against the Toga mi Lyo that she fought that disastrous battle.” Elin nodded. “I was shocked when Yohalu told me this story, too. But when I thought about it, a Toda army could never have been developed in this land without the Toga mi Lyo’s aid.” Seimiya heaved a sigh. “Incredible. The things you say always throw me into confusion.” She shook her head slowly. “If only we could peek into the past and see what really happened.” Elin’s pulse beat faster. They had reached the critical point. But would Seimiya understand? Elin took a deep breath. “I wish we could, too,” she said quietly. “Your Majesty, why do you think the Yojeh in Yaman Hasalu’s time did not arm this country with the Royal Beasts, which she could control? Why did she choose instead to write to the Jeh’s enemies and introduce their weapon, the Toda, to protect this land?” Seimiya’s mouth crooked in a bitter smile. “To preserve the purity of her reign by foisting the defilement of war onto the Aluhan and the Toda.” “Yes, I also suspect that was an important reason. But what if it was not the only one? What if there was some reason why the Royal Beasts shouldn’t be used as weapons?” Elin lowered her gaze, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “What could have happened on that battlefield so long ago? How on earth could two thousand Royal Beasts have been destroyed while attacking Toda?” She gripped her wrist with her hand. “Your Majesty,” she said, forcing out the words. “I’m afraid. There is still so much I don’t know. What if that tale is true? What if flying two thousand Royal Beasts to war caused some unforeseen disaster? If I breed and train a fighting corps before finding out, I’ll end up repeating the same mistake the Royal Ancestor Jeh made, a mistake that can never be undone.” A hush fell over the garden. Elin could hear the birds flitting among the branches above. Seimiya gazed at the hedge, a faint crease between her brows. “You think that we’re standing on the brink? Just as we were at that time?” “Yes,” Elin said hoarsely. “If we take one step further, we might plunge ourselves into a catastrophe that could reduce this land to ashes.” She rested her hands on her knees. “Lady Seimiya, would you give me a little more time?” Seimiya drew her gaze from the hedge and fastened it on Elin. “Time? To think?” Elin shook her head. “No. To find out the truth about what happened in the past.” Seimiya’s eyes widened. “Is there really a way you can do that?” Elin nodded and told her about the references to the Kalenta Loh in the diaries of her mother and Yohalu’s ancestor. “If the Kalenta Loh still live somewhere in the Afon Noah, and if I can find them, I believe they can help us solve the riddle of what happened in the past. And answer such questions as why Jeh’s enemies, the Toga mi Lyo, later agreed to help, why Royal Beasts shouldn’t be bred by man, and why those born in the sanctuary don’t mate.” Seimiya frowned, looking perplexed. “Do you intend to go to the Afon Noah to find out?” Looking her straight in the eyes, Elin nodded. Seimiya smiled and shook her head. “But that’s like grasping at clouds.” “I think I can find their valley,” Elin said quietly. “When I read the diary of the Kalenta Loh, it described several places that sounded familiar.” Seimiya’s smile faded, and she stared at Elin. “I was raised by a beekeeper,” Elin explained. “We used to move from one place to the next, following the flowers in the mountains very close to the Afon Noah. If I trace the places written in the diary and search for valleys with the right topography for Royal Beasts, I should be able to find it.” “Are you serious?” Seimiya said, her voice faint. “You would attempt such a journey?” Elin nodded. “Perhaps this seems like an unnecessary detour, especially when we may be threatened by invasion. Still, I don’t think it will be a waste. If time is of the essence, then please begin gathering wild cubs at the sanctuary. That can be done even if I am not there. But”—she looked straight at Seimiya—“if my investigation makes it clear that we should not use the Royal Beasts as weapons, please revoke your command.” Seimiya stared at her incredulously. “But the Afon Noah are steep and rugged. Do you intend to travel alone? What about your husband and your son? If you fail to return, you’ll never see them again. Would you really go despite that?” Elin’s face twisted. “Yes. Because this is our only hope.” “What do you mean?” “Making an irreversible mistake is not my only fear.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she struggled to keep her voice steady. “If I obey your command and develop a Royal Beast corps, my family and I will spend the rest of our lives under guard. The same is true for anyone else I might train to control the Beasts. This is our only hope for avoiding such a fate.” Seimiya cocked her head, watching the tears roll down Elin’s cheeks. “You are so strong,” she murmured. But Elin shook her head. “A cornered mouse is neither strong nor weak.” Seimiya frowned, repeating Elin’s words to herself. A bitter smile touched her lips. “You’re right. It is neither strong nor weak to search for the best path under the circumstances you find yourself.” She stared at the dusk creeping across the sky. Then, as if to shift her mood, she sighed and returned her gaze to Elin. “I can’t believe that traveling to the Afon Noah is a sane choice. And I don’t think you can possibly succeed. Are you telling me to gamble and risk losing you, even though you’re irreplaceable?” Elin didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Her throat was so swollen with tears that her voice found no way out. She bowed her head and let the tears stream down her cheeks. The sun had set, and a cool breeze touched her face. Watchfires had been lit at each corner of the hedge, and the flames wavered in the evening breeze. After a long silence, Seimiya said, “Tonight the Sick Ones will come.” Elin frowned, wondering what she meant. The Sick Ones were people who came to the palace, robed in white, to pray for healing on behalf of the many ailing people in the country and to touch the hands of the Yojeh and receive her healing power. “Elin,” Seimiya murmured. “Stay here a while. And when the Sick Ones leave, go with them.” In the darkness, her face floated like a white mask.