Chapter 7

SEVEN AMBUSH 1 THE YOJEH’S VISIT The Yojeh’s visit to Kazalumu Sanctuary was planned for the tenth day of Tosalu Balu, the month of early summer, around the time that Leelan’s cub would be weaned. From the day she was born, the Yojeh had never set foot outside the palace grounds, and her announcement that she was going to Kazalumu caused an uproar. The ministers, her granddaughter Seimiya, and her nephew Damiya joined forces to convince her to abandon the notion. If she were to leave the palace, they insisted, it would be far more difficult to protect her. But the Yojeh would not listen. Damiya suggested that if she wished to see Leelan’s cub that badly, they could have it brought to the palace, but she retorted that she did not want to see a Royal Beast dragged into her garden. Such stubborn insistence was very unlike the usually rational and considerate Yojeh, but her longing was acute and stemmed from the fact that, unlike her forebears, the risk of assassination had prevented her from setting eyes on the country she ruled. In the end, all who opposed the idea gave in. After that, the discussion focused on planning their travels and how to protect the Yojeh and her procession. The Kazalumu highlands were about one day’s travel from the capital. They had decided that the Yojeh would stay one night at the manor of the Lord of Kazalumu. However, traveling by horse and carriage on the unpaved highland roads would be very hard on her at her advanced age. “There’s no choice on the way there because the terrain is all uphill. On the return journey, however, the best solution might be to travel to the town of Salano and, from there, take a boat down the river.” This proposal came from the Lord of Kazalumu, who had offered her his manor on the way there. “But she might feel queasy,” one of the ministers protested. “And besides, traveling by boat is dangerous.” The Lord of Kazalumu shook his head. “That river is very broad and flows slowly, so there is no fear of capsizing. Many elderly people prefer to travel by river than by horse because it’s much easier on the body than bumping over rough roads in a horse-drawn carriage. “As the river flows all the way to the capital, I believe that going by ship will be less strenuous than other forms of travel.” Trial runs by both boat and carriage were undertaken, and it was confirmed that boat was easier, just as the Lord of Kazalumu had said. The Se Zan were split in two, some to accompany the Yojeh and the rest to remain in the palace to guard Princess Seimiya. Ialu was to be in charge of protecting the Yojeh. It was on a bright, cloudless summer day that the Yojeh left the wood surrounding the palace, and the air was fresh with the scent of green leaves. People eager to see the procession lined the road and strewed flowers before her carriage wherever she went. The entourage proceeded to the Kazalumu highlands without incident. The Yojeh, for whom this was the first long journey of her life, was certainly tired when she reached the lord’s manor, but she was treated to such a warm welcome, and had such a good night’s sleep, that she felt refreshed by morning. Gazing at the vast green meadow from the carriage window, the Yojeh exclaimed with childlike excitement, “What a lovely place!” A leisurely wind pushed cloud shadows slowly across the field, while birds flitted between earth and sky, chirping merrily. Flowers, yellow and white, dotted the field and swayed in the breeze. But when Kazalumu School came into sight, the Yojeh’s face clouded. “My goodness … What an old building. I never thought it would be so plain.” Her nephew, Damiya, who sat across from her, smiled dryly. “It’s a sanctuary for Beasts that are ill. Naturally, the official Royal Beast sanctuary in Lazalu is much grander.” The Yojeh frowned. “Then we’ll have to think of a more fitting treatment for Kazalumu. After all, they have achieved what the grand Lazalu Sanctuary could not.” Damiya grinned. “I’m sure your gracious words will send this lot into ecstasy.” Ialu rode ahead, intent upon the surroundings. Although he had posted many guards around the highlands, in a place as open as this, it would be quite possible for an assassin to kill one of his men without being noticed, and so he remained vigilant as he escorted the carriage. The entire school, from the teachers to the students to the custodians, were dressed in clothes specially ordered for this day. Tense and nervous, they stood to attention to greet the Yojeh. The twelve-year-olds, their cheeks flushed, burst into a song of welcome. The Yojeh smiled as she listened. When the song came to an end, a middle-aged woman, who appeared to be the headmistress, stepped forward. She delivered a speech of gratitude for the honor of this visit in prim and proper language befitting her station. She then gestured for the Yojeh to proceed toward the stables. It was a fine day, and the Yojeh could see the Beasts in the sanctuary napping here and there in the sun. Her eyes crinkled in a smile as she watched them from outside the fence. “They look so content. The grass must feel very warm and cozy on such a sunny day.” The headmistress stopped just before the rolling meadow and said, “If it would please Your Majesty to look in that direction, you will see Leelan, Eku, and their cub, Alu, just over there.” “Oh my!” the Yojeh exclaimed. “So there they are! Why, what a darling little cub!” Hearing her excited cry, the others also looked toward the meadow. There, indeed, stood two large adult Beasts with a small cub at their feet. The grand chamberlain who had accompanied the Yojeh frowned, however, and turned to Esalu. “But they’re so far away,” he said. “We can’t see them very well from here. Why didn’t you keep them in the stable?” “If we kept them inside on a sunny day like this, they would make a great fuss to go outside. We let them out because if they threw themselves against the stable walls, they could injure themselves.” Esalu responded with firm composure, and the grand chamberlain fell silent. The Yojeh, who was a head taller than the headmistress, smiled down at her. “I see … But as the chamberlain said, it is a bit far. We have come all this way to see them. Could we not be allowed to go a little closer?” Esalu shook her head. “I beg your pardon, Your Majesty. Royal Beasts never become truly accustomed to people and…” But Damiya interrupted. “What could be the problem? Her Majesty only wishes to go a little closer. Surely the Royal Beasts would never harm the Yojeh. And even if some problem occurred, you could use the Silent Whistle.” Ialu noticed the frown that flickered across Esalu’s face at his words. But Damiya missed this reaction entirely as he turned to Ialu. “Our dear swift-footed Ialu, it is the Yojeh’s wish. It won’t matter if we go beyond the fence and get a little closer, will it?” Ialu thought a moment, and then asked Esalu, “If several people with Silent Whistles stand ready, would they be able to stop the Beasts for certain?” Esalu said reluctantly, “Yes, I believe so, but I still cannot recommend it. Besides, if too many people approach at once, Leelan may become agitated.” Ialu nodded. “In that case, choose a few teachers who are accustomed to handling the Beasts to accompany the Yojeh with their Silent Whistles ready. From our group, only the Yojeh, Lord Damiya, and I will go.” He turned to his men and gave them instructions, while at the same time checking his bow. As Esalu was selecting the teachers to accompany the Yojeh, Ialu noticed something unusual. Instead of being focused solely on the Yojeh, the eyes of the teachers and students, who were keeping their distance, kept flitting elsewhere. Following their gaze, Ialu’s eyes fell upon a tall woman. She appeared to be a young teacher. She wore the same uniform as the others, but of all those assembled, she was the only one who never even looked at the Yojeh. In her hands she bore a strange-looking harp partially covered in leather, and she stared steadily at the Beasts with their cub. This bothered him, but as he sensed from her no hostility or intent to harm, he shifted his attention outward to the whole picture. Esalu, who up to that point had been very efficient and quick, seemed to be having trouble selecting the teachers. She said something to the teacher beside her. He turned on his heel and began making his way through the students, heading toward the young woman. When he spoke to her, she listened carefully, then began to speak. The teacher, obviously her senior, listened to her, nodding frequently. Ialu thought that he would bring her, too, but when she had finished, he came back alone. “What message did you give that girl?” Ialu asked. Esalu raised her face to look at him. She mumbled at first and then said, “Well, er, she’s the teacher in charge of Leelan, you see, but she has a cold, so I asked her to leave this to us and not to come any closer.” The teacher returned and whispered something to Esalu. She nodded. “All right. I see … But you’ve told her not to come this way just to be on the safe side, yes? Good.” Esalu then turned to the Yojeh. “Your Majesty, I beg pardon for the delay. The preparations have been made. Allow me to serve as a guide. I must ask Your Majesty not to make any loud noises or sudden movements.” The Yojeh’s attendants looked offended, but the Yojeh nodded magnanimously. They entered the meadow through a place where the fence swung into the field. Ialu walked in front, opening his being to every sensation around them, and placing himself between the Yojeh and the Beasts. The two adult Beasts raised their heads and looked toward them, as if wondering what was going on. The cub, which stood between its father’s feet, extended its neck just like its parents and watched them approach. “It’s adorable,” the Yojeh whispered, her voice filled with emotion. The cub’s fur shone brightly in the sun. Its innocent eyes moved from one face to another as if fascinated. “I’ve never seen such beautiful Beasts before … Of course, the cub is amazing, but look at its parents. The color of those wings! Lapis lazuli with fine lines of red, just like a gemstone! And their breasts of shining silver. They are more magnificent than any Beast I’ve ever seen. The large one is Eku, and the smaller one, Leelan, yes?” “Yes,” Esalu whispered from behind her. “Forgive my rudeness, but I must ask Your Majesty to please stop here.” The Yojeh stopped, but Damiya smiled and looked back at Esalu. “Surely a little farther won’t hurt. That Beast was a gift to the Yojeh. It would never harm her.” The Yojeh hesitated for a moment, but then, as if pushed on by the thought of the long distance she had traveled, she stepped forward toward the Beasts. With a frown, Esalu whispered to Ialu, “You must stop her. If we approach any closer, it will alarm the Beasts. Remember, they are protecting their cub…” Ialu nodded and was about to call out to the Yojeh when Eku began to quiver. Letting out a shrill warning cry, he raised his wings protectively. As the startled teachers raised their Silent Whistles to their lips, a stern voice cried out. “No!” Ialu was stunned to see the teachers release their whistles. Nocking an arrow to his bowstring, he spun in the direction of the voice. The young woman was racing toward them. “Don’t use your whistles!” The maidservants, who were crowded along the fence, screamed. Damiya whispered fiercely, “What’re you doing? Use your whistles! Hurry!” But the young woman ran straight toward the Beasts, without even a glance at the Yojeh. She spoke to them, and then began plucking her strange instrument, which, although it sounded like a harp, had a duller tone. She played a complex melody, and the Beasts mimicked it, as if in response. Eku flapped his wings angrily two or three more times, but then reluctantly folded them in response to the soothing sounds Leelan was making in her throat. For a moment, Ialu forgot his mission and stared at the tall girl. She was standing so close to the Beasts that she could have touched them. Gazing up at them with a worried frown, she plucked the strings of her harp, oblivious of all else. From here, her eyes looked green. Impossible. Could she be Ahlyo? At that moment, a shaft of sunlight shone through the thin clouds and softly lit her hair as she exchanged sounds with the Beasts. “What is she doing?” the Yojeh whispered. Esalu wore an anxious frown. “She’s calming the Royal Beasts.” “She can do that? With a harp?” “Yes,” Esalu answered and then abruptly changed the subject. “Your Majesty, we must leave this place. Please understand that it is particularly dangerous to approach Royal Beasts when they are rearing their young.” Leaving the Beasts with the young woman and her harp, they quietly exited the meadow. 2 DAMIYA’S PROPOSAL The Yojeh was enjoying a conversation with Esalu over tea and sweets in the dining hall, which had been specially decorated in her honor. The headmistress, whose skin was like tanned leather, appeared intimidating, but the Yojeh seemed very taken with her. She asked her many questions, not only about the Royal Beasts, but also about everything from education to the management of the school, and made no move to retire, even though the afternoon was wearing on. Ialu, as usual, stood listening to the conversation from a slight distance with his attention focused on their surroundings, yet he noticed that every time the Yojeh tried to bring the conversation back to the young woman who had calmed the Beasts with her harp, the headmistress casually changed the topic. When the Yojeh said, “I have never seen anyone calm the Beasts with a harp before. Is that a method you often use at the Sanctuary?” Esalu was silent for a moment, as though considering her words with care. When she finally responded, she was still hesitant. “No, Your Majesty, we do not … In the case of Leelan … She has been listening to that harp since she was a cub … I believe that may be why the sound of it soothes her.” Ialu was puzzled. Why did she become disturbed every time the young woman was mentioned? Did she fear that she would be reprimanded for entrusting a Royal Beast to an Ahlyo? “I’d like to talk to her myself,” the Yojeh said. Esalu bowed, but then replied, “I am afraid that that is not possible … The girl is coming down with a cold, and therefore I have strictly forbidden her to approach Your Royal Highness.” Damiya drank his wine and listened to the two of them for some time without uttering a word, his eyes on Esalu’s face as if he was pondering something. Presently, he put down his glass and rose from the table. With a flick of his eyes, Ialu directed the guard beside him to follow him. Even when close to half a toh had passed, Damiya had still not returned. Noticing that the light shining through the window had turned the color of honey, the Yojeh smiled. “My, look at the time. It was so interesting talking with you that I could not stop. But we should be going soon.” Yet despite her words, she appeared very reluctant to leave. She looked at Esalu. “The Royal Beasts return to the stables for the night, don’t they?” “Yes. It is almost time for their evening meal. They are most likely returning to the stables now.” The Yojeh laughed lightly. “I would love to see the Royal Beasts and their cub one last time before we leave. Please take me to see them. Surely you will let me see them feeding?” Esalu did not respond immediately. Her face went blank for a moment, as though she were thinking, but then she nodded. “Yes, of course, Your Majesty. It would be a great honor … Allow me.” Esalu took the lead. Ialu directed his men to encircle them as they walked, while he himself walked at Esalu’s side. The procession moved through the long shadows of the trees and the golden light of the westering sun that filtered through the leaves. Esalu pointed out the largest of the stable buildings and said, “That is the stable that houses Leelan, her mate, and their cub.” Ialu noticed that the guard he had sent with Damiya was standing idly by the door. “What are you doing?” he asked as they approached. The man’s face went rigid. “He ordered me not to come in…” Peering inside, Ialu frowned. The young woman was standing by the bars where the Royal Beasts were. Her face was stiff, and she was staring at her feet. He could hear a man’s voice. “There’s no need to be so defensive. I’m a straightforward man. I like you, and I’m just letting you know that.” It was Damiya’s voice. Hearing footsteps approach, Ialu looked over his shoulder. Before he could speak, the Yojeh put a finger to her lips and shook her head. Her face taut, Esalu also stopped and stood listening to the conversation inside. “Think about it. My offer is to your advantage, too, isn’t it? There’s no need for you to be separated from these Beasts. All I’m asking is that you bring them with you and move to Lazalu. If you think that working with the teachers there will be a problem, I can simply replace them for you with the staff from Kazalumu.” The young woman made no response. Damiya grasped her arm, as if he had run out of patience. She raised her face with a startled expression, but her eyes went not to Damiya but to the Beasts. They had begun to growl, perhaps out of concern for her, and she seemed to be desperately trying to calm them with her eyes. She turned quickly toward Damiya and said in a low but clear voice, “I beg your pardon, but as I have already told you, I am not in the position to make such decisions. Forgive me. Please, would you let go of my arm?” Standing by the door, Ialu suddenly smiled. Damiya’s charms appeared to have no effect on this girl. He could imagine the surprised look on the man’s face. Damiya dropped her arm abruptly. Accustomed as he was to courting women, he must have recognized that pushing her would only have the opposite effect. “You’re a coolheaded woman, aren’t you? That was a bit of a blow to my confidence. I thought myself a little more attractive than that. Did you feel nothing? Not even when I touched you?” She did not answer, but gazed at him steadily. There was not a trace of flirtation in her face. “What beautiful eyes. I have never seen eyes like yours so close before. Now I can see why people say the Ahlyo have magic.” He reached out his hand and gently touched her cheek. Her face froze, but she said nothing, only glaring at him. “Now don’t be angry with me,” he murmured. “The Ahlyo are wanderers who have not sworn fealty to the Yojeh. If it became known that such a person was caring for Royal Beasts, people would be bound to talk. The position of the headmistress might be jeopardized. But I have fallen in love with you. I will protect you.” From behind him, Ialu heard the Yojeh’s sigh. She walked past him and entered the stable. The young woman turned, and Ialu saw her eyes widen in surprise. Then he heard Damiya’s laughter. “Were you listening? Well, that’s embarrassing. How long were you there?” “Long enough to know that you were pestering this girl and that she refused your advances.” She sounded amused. Turning to the girl, she said, “I apologize for my nephew’s behavior. It’s a bad habit of his. When he sees an attractive girl, he just can’t help but approach her. I hope you’ll forgive him.” The young woman knelt and bowed her head. “Your Majesty, please pardon my rudeness.” The Yojeh smiled. “Rise. I was most pleased by the way you stood firm in the face of my nephew’s flattery. Tell me your name.” Elin rose and bowed. “My name is Elin, Your Majesty.” “Elin … ‘mountain apple.’ I see. The fruit with a lovely fragrance that grows deep in the mountains. The name suits you.” Elin’s pale face suddenly relaxed. She looks so different when she smiles, Ialu thought. He had first guessed her to be about twenty-five, but when she smiled, she looked about twenty. The Yojeh smiled gently and gazed at Elin. “So you are Ahlyo. Tell me, how did an Ahlyo come to be working here? You don’t need to worry. I have no intention of reproaching anyone, so please speak freely.” “If it pleases Your Majesty, I am not Ahlyo.” The Yojeh’s brows rose, but Elin continued calmly. “When my mother met my father, she chose expulsion from her people in order to marry him. So I have never lived as an Ahlyo. I entered this school because I aspired to be a beast doctor, and I have lived here ever since.” The Yojeh’s eyes shone with curiosity. “I see. Your mother must be a very determined woman. What is she doing now?” A shadow crossed Elin’s face. “She’s dead. I have no parents. My father also died when he was very young.” The Yojeh frowned. “I see … So this is your home.” At that moment, Leelan let out a cry. She had been pushing her head against the bars for some time, as if trying to touch Elin, but now, apparently having lost patience, she began complaining loudly. The cub at her feet followed suit, beating its little wings and shoving its snout through the bars as it tried to lick Elin’s hand. Only Eku stood aloof and seemingly unconcerned. Giving Alu her fingers to lick, Elin looked pleadingly at the Yojeh. “I beg your forgiveness, Your Highness, but the Beasts wish to be fed.” The Yojeh laughed. “It is I who must apologize. I interrupted their dinner. They must be very hungry. I’m so sorry, Leelan. Go ahead and feed them, Elin. May I watch from here?” Elin cast a quick glance at Esalu and, when she nodded, bowed to the Yojeh. “Yes, of course, Your Majesty. Please watch from there.” Elin took several chunks of meat from the corner of the room and, opening the gate, walked inside the enclosure. Ialu and Damiya watched with amazed expressions. “She doesn’t use the Silent Whistle?” Damiya whispered. Esalu sighed and said in a low voice, “Because she has been caring for Leelan since she was a cub.” With the cub fawning at Elin’s feet and the mother beast demanding her attention, the scene seemed to contradict the idea that Beasts could never become accustomed to humans. Elin did not give any meat to Alu, nor did she respond to Leelan’s persistent calls. Instead, she threw a large chunk at the feet of Eku, where he stood protectively by the cub. He held the meat down with his hind foot while he tore it into smaller chunks and fed these to Alu. When the cub was breastfeeding, Leelan had never left its side, but once it was weaned, Eku had taken over its care. Now the father Beast never left its side, while Leelan spent much of her time basking in the sun as she pleased. Once Eku began feeding the cub, Leelan butted Elin’s back with her belly while calling insistently, as if to let Elin know that it was her turn. The Yojeh, Damiya, and Ialu watched speechlessly. Wiping her hands on her apron, Elin came back through the gate. As if trying to excuse her behavior, Esalu murmured, “Leelan was near death, you see … Elin cared for her day and night, never leaving her side. She saved Leelan’s life, so, as you can see, unlike the other Beasts, Leelan has become very attached to Elin.” “I see…” Damiya said. “Leelan was the cub that was hit by the arrow.” The Yojeh raised her brows. “The arrow?” Damiya looked at her quizzically. “Why yes. You remember, don’t you? This is the cub that I presented to you on your birthday, my dear aunt.” “Oh…” The Yojeh’s face darkened, but Damiya paid her no heed. Laughing, he said to Elin, “This Beast that you raised saved the life of that man over there.” Elin looked at Ialu questioningly, and he nodded. “The arrow grazed Leelan’s shoulder,” Damiya continued, “so that by the time it lodged in his stomach, it had lost much of its force. Isn’t that right, Ialu?” “Yes, but to me it was still sufficiently painful.” Damiya laughed cheerfully, but Elin frowned, as if she could feel the pain. “The arrow struck him in the stomach?” she whispered. “Ialu served as my shield,” the Yojeh said. “He threw himself between the arrow and me … But let us speak of this no more. I have no wish to recall that incident.” Ialu stared at Leelan as she licked the mouth of her cub. So it was you who saved me … He recalled how she had looked so pitifully anxious when the men had dragged her on a cart into the garden, and her terrified scream when the arrow had sliced through her shoulder. She must have been in miserable shape when she was brought here. What an amazing recovery. “I can understand why Damiya was trying so hard to seduce you,” the Yojeh said in a cheerful voice, as though attempting to lighten her mood. “I, too, wish that you would come and care for the young cubs at Lazalu. You do not use the Silent Whistle, do you? I am glad, for I, too, hate that whistle. If it were possible to raise the Beasts without it, then that would be my greatest wish.” Elin and Esalu looked like children who, expecting to be whipped, had been given a sweet. “What’s wrong? Are you reluctant to leave here?” Elin blinked, as though the Yojeh’s voice had suddenly brought her back to her senses. “Oh, ah, yes … This is my home.” She drew a deep breath to calm her nerves. “Also, Alu is still a cub, and therefore I do not wish to make him move a long distance … If it is possible, I would prefer to stay here.” The Yojeh looked disappointed. “I see. Well, I do not wish to force you against your will, but do think about it. I have taken a great liking to you, and would very much like you to care for the cubs at Lazalu. I am sure that Leelan was able to bear young because you raised her with so much love and without the Silent Whistle. I would so like to see the young Beasts at Lazalu raised in the same way. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see the meadow filled with Royal Beast cubs? I will be in touch again.” Elin bowed deeply. “I am honored, Your Majesty.” As the Yojeh’s procession rolled out of sight, fatigue etched the faces of everyone at Kazalumu. The teachers breathed a sigh of relief that the visit had gone smoothly, but when Elin thought of what Esalu must be thinking, she could not bear to look at her. “How could you do that when I begged you to stay out of sight?” Esalu scolded her when the teachers had gone. “I’m sorry.” Esalu sighed. “It’s not that I don’t understand how you must have felt. I was so worried about Alu, my heart almost stopped.” The cub was far younger than those that were captured and brought to the Sanctuary. When the Yojeh had insisted on going closer, all the teachers had been concerned that the whistle might harm it. And that was why Elin had shouted for them to stop when they had been about to blow. “Still, it’s very odd,” Esalu murmured with a frown. “I wonder if the Yojeh doesn’t know the purpose of the Royal Beast Canon … Or did she say that even though she does know?” Elin recalled the Yojeh’s face when she had said that she hated the whistle too. “She didn’t seem to know, did she?” she said. “No, you’re right. She didn’t.” Esalu brushed back her hair. “Perhaps we were reading too much into this. Maybe the Royal Beast Canon doesn’t have the meaning we thought it did.” Although Elin thought this unlikely, it was also clear from the Yojeh’s response that, unlike the Ahlyo, she did not wish to keep the Royal Beasts confined within the Law. “At any rate,” Esalu continued, “we’ll have to figure out what to do if she really wants the Royal Beasts to breed and increase … Her nephew seemed pretty intent on having you under his thumb, too.” The thought of Damiya made Elin’s flesh crawl. After leaving Esalu and returning to her room, Elin found it difficult to sleep. Anger flared whenever she remembered how Damiya had pressed her. She had been very afraid. No man had ever touched her like that before, and fear had made her cringe. It was this that made her angry. How she missed Yuyan. Confiding in her friend would have helped to dispel the feelings that weighed like mud on her mind, leaving it free and clear. Yuyan must be living happily in her village now, working as a beast doctor. Kashugan, as the third son in his family, had no obligation to carry on the family line, and, if they married, he would probably be adopted into Yuyan’s family. Elin gazed absently out the window. A cold loneliness spread through her chest. The solitude to which she had long grown accustomed had suddenly returned. As she gazed at her reflection in the windowpane, the faces of everyone she had met that day flitted through her mind. For some reason, the person who had left the strongest impression was neither the Yojeh nor Damiya, but rather the guard who had stood quietly in the background. Perhaps it was the air of solitude that had enveloped him, like the silence of an empty forest in midwinter. He had hardly spoken, yet he did not wear the grim expression of the other guards. Rather, he seemed to be one step removed from everyone there. To use his body as a shield and throw himself into the path of an arrow aimed at the Yojeh … What kind of a life was that? Would he go on like that forever, never knowing when he would have to throw his life away? A wind must have sprung up. Elin stood for a long time gazing out the window at the branches moving in the darkness. 3 AMBUSH The whole school had gathered on a bluff overlooking the Kazalumu River where it wound along the edge of the highlands. From here, they could see the many streams that flowed from the wooded hills to join the river, slowing it and widening its course. The vessel that would bear the Yojeh back to the capital would leave Salano around noon and, after passing below this spot, would vanish under the broad forest canopy. One of the teachers had complained that to look down on the Yojeh from the bluff would be disrespectful and proposed that they abandon the idea, but everyone else pretended not to hear. After all, they might never have another chance to see the lavish ship in which the Yojeh sailed. Elin was leaning against a rock and chatting with Tomura and the others. The sun-warmed stone made her drowsy. A well-prepared student had brought a telescope and was under orders to announce the boat’s appearance. “There they are!” he shouted, and everyone jumped to their feet. Far in the distance, three ships glided toward them on water so calm that it gleamed like molten silver. Two small ships sailed in front. Behind them, they towed a large vessel topped by a cabin adorned with glittering gold. Cheers rose from the group on the hill. The ships had just passed the mouth of one of the tributaries when the student with the telescope said, “What’s that?… What are … those … things?” The boys beside him gave him a friendly shove. “What’re you babbling about?” But the lookout ignored them, keeping his eye glued to the telescope. “They’re coming out of that stream. Lots of them. They look like logs … with men on top … They’ve got bows slung over their backs…” A confused clamor erupted from the other students, and the teachers shielded their eyes with their hands, peering up the river. Although they were too far away to discern any bows, they could make out men astride what appeared to be logs, gliding from the shadow of the forest into the river. With a start, Elin realized what they were. Toda!… Toda bearing Warriors. And they were closing in on the vessel that carried the Yojeh. It was only too clear what they planned to do. When the boy with the telescope shrieked, “They’re going to shoot!” Elin set off at a run. “Where do you think you’re going?” Tomura yelled, but she did not stop to answer. You’re about to do something very foolish, Elin, she thought. She knew she shouldn’t do it. If she did, something terrible would happen … But if she didn’t, the Toda would rip the Yojeh to shreds. The vivid image of what that would look like spurred her on. Faster! Faster! She raced down to the meadow. “Leelan!” she yelled. Leelan had been romping about in the grass, but she raised her head and then bounded across the field. As they met, Elin shouted, “Take me up!” Leelan turned around and dropped into a crouch. Everything seemed surreal. Before she even realized what she was doing, Elin had shimmied up Leelan’s back and grasped her neck, pressing herself against her body. There was no time to get the saddle. She would have to fly like this. “Fly?” Leelan asked. “Fly!” Elin answered. Leelan’s muscles rippled beneath her as the Beast spread her huge wings and leapt into the sky. “To the river. That way.” Shifting her weight, she leaned to one side to indicate the direction. Leelan responded instantly, veering to the right. As they flew over the crowd of spectators on the cliff, Elin heard the faint sound of surprised voices, but she had no time to look. The Toda Riders had already reached the stern of the Yojeh’s ship. Arrows fell like rain on the deck, striking several soldiers, but the Yojeh’s men put up a stiff fight. Standing near the stern, Elin saw one man in particular loosing arrow after arrow. With each shot, another rider fell from his mount into the river. But this did not slow the Toda. They rammed the lead ships, capsizing them, and the men on board were thrown into the river, where the Toda snapped them in their jaws. As they swarmed around the lead boats, the Yojeh’s ship began to tilt, pulled to one side by the ropes. It’ll capsize! The vessel listed sharply, and the gunwale almost touched the water. Several men who had been thrown from the boat clung to the thick cables. The Se Zan in the stern threw down his bow and drew his sword as he half slid, half ran to the gunwale. He raised his sword and severed the ropes with a single stroke. They shot into the air, and the ship ponderously righted itself, rocking slowly back and forth. Before it could come to a standstill, however, Toda began slamming into it. Bursting through the rails, one beast clambered onto the deck and made straight for the cabin. The man who had cut the ropes flung himself away from the gunwale and leapt in front, blocking its path. The Toda reared its head, preparing to snap him in two, but at that instant, the man plunged his sword deep inside its gaping maw. The Toda crashed to the deck, squealing in pain, and the man, dragged by its weight, fell with it. “There!” Elin shouted, but before the word had even left her mouth, Leelan launched into a dive, her muscles as hard as steel and her fur standing on end. Although Leelan had never seen a Toda nor been taught how to respond, the sight of this natural enemy seemed to trigger an instinctive hatred that told her exactly what to do. A piercing sound cut through the wind roaring in Elin’s ears—a long, high-pitched whistle that she had never heard from Leelan before. The Toda below paused, then rolled over and exposed their bellies to the sky. Their Riders screamed as they were flung into the river. One of them fell onto the deck, and he bravely raised his bow, aiming straight at Leelan’s belly. Elin closed her eyes as the arrows flew toward them, but when the shafts met the Beast’s steel-hard muscles, they bounced off and fell harmlessly into the river. The archer stared openmouthed, then dived into the water. Leelan attacked the huge serpents in a frenzy, ripping their bodies to pieces with her sharp claws. The cloying scent of Toda and the metallic odor of blood filled Elin’s nostrils. Overcome by a wave of nausea, she closed her eyes again. The sound of rending and crunching seemed to go on forever, and it was all she could do just to hold on and not fall off. The Yojeh’s men and Damiya, who was peering through a hole in the cabin wall, watched dumbfounded as the Royal Beast, with a young woman perched on its back, slaughtered the defenseless Toda. Only when she had killed every last Toda did Leelan seem to come to her senses. She flapped her wings and flew leisurely across the river to alight on the bank. Elin was shaking so violently that she could not move. She clung to Leelan’s back even when the Beast waded into the shallows to wash the blood and slime from her belly. Every time she bowed her head to lick her chest, Elin felt herself jerked forward. At the sound of Leelan’s lips smacking, her stomach heaved. Sliding off, she crumpled to her knees in the shallows and vomited. A thin film of Toda slime spread across the water’s surface and drifted slowly away. Chunks of flesh fell from Leelan’s fur and plopped into the water. She poked them with her snout and sniffed, then plucked them out with her pink tongue and ate them. Oblivious to the water soaking her clothes, Elin knelt in the shallows and watched her blankly. A deadly chill spread from the pit of her stomach—as if a block of ice had slid across her insides. Gripping her thighs with her hands, she tried to still her trembling, but to no avail. Shuddering uncontrollably, she stared at the blood-spattered Beast. Elin heard shouting—someone calling a name over and over, as if trying to keep a dear friend from dying. For a long time, the sounds of people screaming in agony had only registered as distant background noise, but the sudden realization of their meaning jolted her back to reality. A horrifying sight met her eyes. Tattered fragments of warriors, boatmen, and Toda floated down the river. Perhaps because of their weight, those Toda corpses that were still relatively intact had floated in to shore, where they caught in the shallows and bobbed against the bank. The smaller vessels, still upturned, had drifted away, but the Yojeh’s boat remained in the middle of the river. Without a steersman, it would be carried precariously downstream. A voice from on board was frantically calling someone’s name. Elin rose. If there were survivors, then they would need help. And for that, they would have to bring the boat to shore. She walked slowly over to Leelan. 4 HEALING The teachers rode straight to Salano and reported the news to the Lord of Kazalumu. Then they, and others from the manor, traveled swiftly downriver by boat. By the time they reached the scene of the attack, however, an hour had already passed. While she waited, Elin made Leelan tow the Yojeh’s boat to shore, following the direction of the current. Then she climbed aboard. She considered riding Leelan back to the school to get supplies, but decided that her first priority was to bind the wounds of those who were bleeding profusely. She had ripped open the sleeve of a man whose arm was pierced by an arrow and had just begun staunching the blood when she heard someone call her from the cabin. One of the Yojeh’s menservants was beckoning her from the cabin door. “Come quickly! The Yojeh’s hurt! Hurry!” Elin stayed to tie off the man’s wound, from which blood was gushing. The servant, however, ran over, grabbed her by the arm, and yanked her to her feet. “I said, ‘Hurry!’ The Yojeh’s badly hurt!” The damage inside the cabin was pretty bad. A huge hole gaped in one wall. The Yojeh’s servants lay sprawled on the floor or sat crouched over, groaning with pain. They must have been thrown against the walls when the Toda had rammed the boat. The Yojeh lay on a mat, pale-faced, with her lips slightly parted and her eyes closed. Damiya sat beside her, his face chalk white and filmed with sweat. His left arm hung awkwardly and appeared longer than his right. He must have dislocated it, Elin thought. A maidservant knelt on the other side of the Yojeh, calling her. Elin dropped to her knees by the mat. “She hit the wall hard when the Toda attacked,” Damiya said, breathing shallowly. “I tried to catch her, but I was too late…” Elin brought her face close to the Yojeh’s mouth and felt a breath of air brush her cheek. Relieved, she sat up and took the Yojeh’s wrist in her hand to feel for her pulse. Then she raised her eyelids to check whether the pupils were different sizes and how they responded to the light. Closing the lids gently, she glanced around the room. Seeing an armrest lying in a corner, she asked the maidservant to fetch it. She was a young woman and seemed to be still in shock, for her hands shook violently when she handed Elin the armrest. Elin slipped it under the Yojeh’s neck as a brace and then turned to the maidservant. “Fortunately, the injury is not life-threatening at the moment. But I must ask you not to move her head under any circumstances. Please keep her still.” She picked up a small blanket from where it lay on the floor and carefully covered the Yojeh. Then she stood up to leave. Damiya stared at her. “Surely you’re not going to leave without treating her?” Elin shook her head. “There is nothing more I can do for her right now. The teachers were watching from the hill, and I’m sure they’re on their way with the medicines and equipment we need.” She grasped the shoulder of the maidservant who was gazing up at her and said, “You must not let anything jar her. Listen to her breathing and if you notice any change, let me know.” The woman nodded, her face very pale. Concerned, Elin looked at her closely. “How about you? Are you all right? Do you feel any pain?” The young woman looked surprised, then smiled faintly and shook her head. “Thank you. I’m fine.” Elin turned to the manservant who was standing behind them. “Damiya’s shoulder is dislocated. Will you help me fix it?” The man nodded. “He hit his shoulder against the wall when he tried to catch Her Highness.” Elin knelt beside Damiya. Leaning over him, she looked into his eyes. “Did you hit your head?” she asked. “Yes … I feel a bit nauseous.” She checked his pupils to see if they responded properly to light. “You probably have a slight concussion. When the doctors come, be sure to tell them that you hit your head.” “I will.” Elin glanced at the manservant. “Do you have something stiff that we can stabilize his neck with? Even thick paper will do.” The manservant looked around the room in a fluster, but the maidservant held up a book that had fallen on the floor. “What about this?” “Ah! That might work.” Elin placed it against Damiya’s neck. The width fitted perfectly between his shoulder and his ear. She placed it against the back of his neck to support his vertebrae, then wrapped it securely with a sash that the maidservant gave her. When she was finished, she turned once again to the maidservant and said, “Resetting his shoulder may be extremely painful. Do you have a piece of cloth we can put between his teeth so that he doesn’t bite his tongue?” “Don’t worry,” Damiya interjected. “I can use my sleeve.” He raised his right arm, bit his sleeve, and grinned. Elin nodded. “Thank you. It may be very painful until the bone is back in the joint, but once it’s in, it should feel better. Try and bear the pain until we’re done.” Damiya let the sleeve fall for a moment. “I may not be a warrior, but I believe I’m strong enough. If you fail, I’m not going to blame you, so you might as well go ahead and get revenge for yesterday.” Elin smiled in spite of herself. “All right, then. Let’s begin.” The manservant supported Damiya from behind while Elin grabbed his left wrist with both hands. Relocating a shoulder is hard work, and Elin, as well as the white-faced Damiya, was drenched in sweat by the time she finished. When the bone finally slipped into the socket, none of them could speak for some time. Damiya spit out the gag and let out a long breath. “Amazing … The pain seems to have almost disappeared.” Elin secured his arm with a sling made of some bleached cotton recovered from a trash basket, and said, “Don’t move your arm. And please remember to tell the physicians that you hit your head.” Damiya looked at her. “I understand. And thank you. We owe you our lives.” Elin bowed her head. “It was nothing.” She rose and looked around the room. Even those who had been lying prostrate when she came in were now sitting up. Although some held their heads in their hands, there were none with life-threatening injuries. The wounded on deck were in need of more urgent attention. As she bowed to Damiya and turned to leave, he said, “Is there really nothing you can do for the Yojeh? Surely you could use the secret powers of the Ahlyo.” Elin stopped and looked at him. “I have no secret powers.” He gazed at her steadily. Although he said nothing, his eyes gleamed with a strange light. As Elin passed out the door, she almost collided with a man coming in from the deck. It was Ialu, the Yojeh’s guard. He seemed to exude a savage heat along with the smell of blood, sweat, and Toda, and Elin shrank back instinctively. “How is the Yojeh?” he asked in a low voice. “The fall was severe, and she’s still unconscious. The fact that she hit her head worries me. Right now, however, all we can do is keep her still and warm.” Ialu nodded as he gazed over at the Yojeh. His right arm was blood-soaked from the shoulder to the fingertips. Even with a tourniquet tied round his right armpit, blood still dripped from his fingers. Elin suddenly recalled the man who had plunged his sword and arm down the Toda’s throat. “Were you cut by Toda fangs?” Ialu looked at his arm. “Ah, this? It’s just a gash. It should be all right. The bleeding will stop if I put pressure on it.” Elin frowned and gently raised his blood-drenched sleeve to examine the wound. Then she looked up at him and said, “Toda fangs are poisonous. If it isn’t washed with a brew of shilan leaves, you could lose that arm.” Expressionless, Ialu gazed down at his arm as if it belonged to someone else. “Please wait while I go and get some,” Elin said, and turned to leave, but Ialu grabbed her arm. “Help my men first. Please.” Elin stared at him intently, but his face remained unmoved. She nodded and then went out onto the deck. Many men lay bleeding and groaning in agony. A life or an arm—Ialu was right. She should stop the bleeding first. Behind her, Damiya’s voice rose in fury. “Ialu! How could you let this happen? Why weren’t you aware of the Aluhan’s treachery?” She could not hear Ialu’s reply. She was busy tying a tourniquet when Ialu came out of the cabin. He immediately joined her, deftly using his good arm to help. By the time a ship bearing the Kazalumu flag drew near, first aid measures were complete. “Did you bring stewed shilan leaves?” Elin called out as soon as the ship was close enough to make out the faces of those on board. The teachers looked dismayed. “We brought bandages and ointments for treating most injuries, but we were in such a hurry, we didn’t think of that. Have some of the injured been bitten by Toda?” “Yes, the wounds are mostly arrow wounds or lacerations from Toda fangs and scales, with some broken bones and bruising. Her Highness, the Yojeh, was slammed against the cabin wall and hit her head. She’s still unconscious.” There was a commotion as people boarded from the other ship. While the teachers could see the wounded lying on the deck, the true extent of the slaughter was not apparent, as most of the bodies had already been washed downstream. Quietly, Elin said to Ialu, “I’m going to ask Leelan to take me to the school so that I can get some shilan potion.” Ialu nodded. “Please. But don’t bring it here. Go to the lord’s hall. I’m going to have this boat towed there. The Aluhan is a clever general. If he has a second unit waiting to attack, we can’t possibly repulse them here.” Then he added in a low voice, “When you come to the hall, come by horse, even if it takes more time.” Elin looked at him in surprise. He was warning her not to let people see her riding the Royal Beast. She nodded. “I understand.” On her way back to Leelan, Elin had to pass the corpses of the Toda where they had washed against the shore. Whether she wanted to or not, she could not avoid seeing them. At the sight of their dorsal fins, however, she frowned. There were no notches. A chill ran through her as she realized what that meant. It can’t be … She glanced back to where Ialu stood on the ship. Should she tell him? But if she did, she would have to explain why she knew so much about the Toda. Still frowning, she walked over to Leelan. The Beast was grooming her fur, but she paused and looked up. “Fly?” she asked. Elin nodded. “Fly.” Leelan crouched down to let Elin mount as if it was the most natural thing to do, then, once Elin was on, she shot into the air. As he watched the Royal Beast dwindle into the sky, Ialu struggled to understand his own heart. He should not have let them leave—not if he were considering the best strategy for defense. With no one left in any shape to fight, they would be slaughtered should the Aluhan send a second wave of Toda. So why had he let the girl go? Why had he been so anxious that she leave as soon as possible? Remembering that he had told her to come to the lord’s hall by horse, he closed his eyes. While he knew what he had thought and the choice that he had made, he could not understand what had moved him to do so. I must be getting used to this, Elin thought, for she had lost her initial fear of flying. With her cheek against Leelan’s neck, she could hear the sound of the Beast’s breathing and her mouth moving. At times she heard a clicking noise, like nails being clipped. For a while she wondered what it was, then she recognized the source. Leelan must have Toda scales caught between her teeth, and she was nudging them out with her tongue and cracking them between her jaws. The sound of Leelan tearing the Toda apart leaped vividly into her mind—a sound like shattering glass. Something twisted in her gut, and a shiver ran up her spine. The sensation was disturbingly pleasant. Realization dawned. When she had ridden Leelan, wild with the scent of blood, when she had felt her invincible power and heard her crush Toda hides like mere glasswork, she had experienced not just fear, but pleasure as well. Pressing her face into Leelan’s fur, she closed her eyes and did not open them again until they began to descend. When Leelan landed in the meadow beside Eku and Alu, Eku sniffed the air. His hackles rose, and he began to growl. He quieted reluctantly when Leelan responded in a low, soothing tone, but his fur still stood on end. Elin slipped off Leelan’s back and looked up at her with a heavy heart. She seemed as calm as if her killing frenzy had never occurred. And that very calmness alarmed Elin. If Leelan had been human, she could have talked to her about what their actions meant. But Leelan was not human. No matter how much Elin might wish otherwise, she could never share with her the fear, or the elation, that violence could evoke. Nor could she consult with her about what they should do next. Royal Beasts were beasts. They did not think like people. With a word, she had made Leelan fly and kill the Toda, and Leelan had done exactly as she had been told. Like a sword that fit perfectly in the hand, once tamed, Royal Beasts could become convenient tools to be wielded as their master pleased. And by using Leelan as a weapon, Elin had just demonstrated that fact to the world. Alu brushed up against her and licked her hand. Elin looked down at it, then squeezed her eyes shut. Royal Beasts must never become accustomed to people. Intoxicated with the joy of communing with them, she had trained them to respond to her. Now she could see all too clearly where this would lead. She buried her face in her hands. Although she had washed them in the river, they still smelt of blood. Passing through the back door of the school and into the dark hallway, she felt as though she were seeing it for the first time, despite its familiarity. All sound—the clamor of the students, the voices of people who spoke to her—seemed to come from very far away. Someone must have told the headmistress that she was back. With swift strides, Esalu approached, her face fierce with anger, but when she saw Elin’s expression, the fury in her eyes ebbed. She grasped Elin’s hands in her own. “Are you all right?” Elin looked at her in a daze. “Yes. I’m all right.” Even her own voice seemed to come from a great distance. “Well, you certainly don’t look it. You look like the walking dead.” Elin shook her head. “No, I’m fine … But some of the wounded were bitten by the Toda. I need to brew a potion of shilan leaves and take it back.” Esalu nodded and fell in beside her as they walked to the dispensary. “I saw what happened from the hill. Is the Yojeh safe?” Elin spoke softly. “She was thrown against the wall and hit her head. She’s unconscious.” Esalu frowned. “I hope it’s just a mild concussion.” “I checked the pupils of her eyes, and she didn’t seem to have any internal bleeding. For now, at least…” She knew that even when nothing happened immediately after a hard blow to the head, bleeding could begin much later, and that could be fatal. But she could not bring herself to say something so unlucky. “I told the Lord of Kazalumu to take physicians and sent our most experienced teachers,” Esalu said. “There’s nothing more we can do but leave Her Highness in their hands.” As she helped prepare the potion in the dispensary, Esalu glanced frequently at Elin, as if there was something she wanted to say, but in the end she said nothing. Elin concentrated on her work, pretending not to notice. She was all too aware of the gravity of what she had done. But she was not yet ready to confront it. The finely chopped dried shilan danced in the boiling water. Her eyes were focused on the leaves bubbling in the pot, but her mind was racing round and round, seeking excuses for what she had done. Reasons why she had had no choice floated up one after the other. So this is how the human brain tries to protect itself when exposed to shock, she thought. But none of the reasons her mind suggested could erase the coal-black darkness at the bottom of her heart. Quietly and coldly that blackness declared the reality. She had opened a door that must not be opened. If she acted now, she might still have time to close it with her own hands. But if she went any further, she would never be able to do so again. She watched the leaves dye the boiling water red. 5 THE MARK OF THE TODA CLANS The gate to the lord’s hall was firmly shut and guarded by soldiers, but when Elin dismounted and told them why she had come, they let her in. Ialu must have warned them in advance. The hall and garden were surrounded by thick mud walls roofed with clay tiles. Inside, everything seemed to be chaos. Men hurried to and fro, many of them dressed in obviously makeshift armor. The scene reminded Elin of a hive of honeybees when a hornet approached. At least three times as large as their prey, hornets were ferocious, and, if they attacked in a group, they could exterminate an entire hive. But honeybees did not give in passively. Elin had once seen them swarm over a lone hornet, wrapping it in a ball. When the bees had dispersed, she saw not only the corpse of the dead hornet but also that of a tiny honeybee, crushed by its fellows with its mandibles still sunk in the hornet’s leg. In her mind’s eye, the tiny corpse merged with the figure of a man, and she shook her head to dispel this gloomy association. Someone was weeping quietly, fighting to suppress their sobs. Perhaps a loved one had been killed by the Toda. The sound made her want to plug her ears. A maid came running up as she stepped into the lord’s hall and led her into a room beside the entrance. The wounded Se Zan lay on mattresses on the floor. There were already two men fewer than those she had treated on the ship. A young man whose arm had been bitten off and another whose breast had been pierced by an arrow were nowhere to be seen. They had not made it. She closed her eyes for a moment. Only two others had been gashed by Toda … It was, she realized, a miracle that as many as two of those within range of the Toda’s fangs had survived at all. She smeared their wounds with the shilan ointment and helped them drink the antidote she had brought, all the while wondering where Ialu was. When she finished treating them, she went out into the corridor and stopped a maid who was hurrying past. “Excuse me, but do you know where I can find Ialu, the Se Zan?” The maid shook her head impatiently. “I’ve no idea. I’m sorry, but I’m in a hurry.” Elin watched her as she rushed away, wondering what to do. She could not leave without treating his wounds. She began walking along the corridor deeper into the hall and bumped into a middle-aged man coming through a door on her right. He was speaking to someone in the room behind him. “Be sure to follow my instructions. You can serve dinner in about an hour,” he said. Turning, he noticed Elin and stopped, staring at her as if she were a ghost. His face was familiar, and she realized it was the servant who had been on the boat with the Yojeh. Judging from a blue bruise along his jawline, he must have hit his chin when they were attacked. He was a very lucky man to have come away with such a minor injury. “How is Her Majesty, the Yojeh?” she asked quietly. “Ah…” He blinked, as if recollecting himself. “Her Royal Highness has not yet regained consciousness. But according to the physicians, while we must be vigilant, her condition is not life-threatening at this moment.” Elin let out a sigh of relief. “I am very glad to hear that.” “Yes, well, Lord Damiya’s injury is also not dangerous, but he has gone to bed with a fever.” “I’m sorry. Please take good care of them, and of yourself.” He nodded, and Elin asked, “Forgive me, but can you tell me where I might find Ialu, the Se Zan? I have brought him some medicine.” “Ialu? He’s in the middle of a meeting.” “A meeting? When he was that badly hurt?” The manservant frowned. “He failed to save Her Royal Highness, the Yojeh. As a Se Zan, he has no right to be concerned about his own health.” Elin’s temper flared at the tone of his voice, but she hid her emotions. “I am very sorry to trouble you,” she said, “but may I ask you a favor? Could you please tell Ialu when the meeting is over that I am here treating the wounded Se Zan?” The manservant nodded haughtily and stalked off down the corridor. Ialu did not come. Even when the last rays of the sun falling through the window had faded and a blue darkness spread across the land, he still had not appeared. A servant came and lit the lanterns, but when Elin asked if the meeting was over, she just shrugged her shoulders. The medicine administered by the physicians must have been working, because the wounded were all sleeping. While she listened to their shallow breathing, Elin noted that the tension inside her must have eased, for she was suddenly starving. Thinking back, she realized that she had not had a bite to eat since breakfast. Annoyed, she stood up. She had just put her hand on the door when someone pulled it open from the other side. It was Ialu. He raised his brows. “You’re still here?” “You mean you didn’t come here to be treated? I asked the servant to tell you that I was here.” It was obvious from his expression that no one had told him. “Well, never mind. We need to do something about your wound.” She led him to a corner of the room. Being careful not to wake the sleeping men, she brought a candlestick over and set it beside him where he sat on the floor. Someone must have dressed his wound already, for his arm was securely bandaged, but his thumb, which protruded from it, was red and puffy. Gently removing the bandage, she found that not only the area around the wound, but his entire arm had swelled. “Why didn’t you come to me sooner? You knew that I must be here.” “There was no time.” Elin frowned as she cleansed the gash with the ointment. “You could lose the use of your arm with the poison spreading like this. How could you put off taking care of yourself like that? Especially your right arm.” Staring dully at the wound, he whispered, “It wasn’t much use to me when I needed it most.” Elin’s eyes flew to his face. He raised his head and looked at her. “I never even thanked you, did I? Forgive me. It was you who saved all of us, yet we didn’t even offer you a meal…” She shook her head and turned her gaze back to his arm. “It’s better that way. It would be so much easier if everyone would just forget what I did…” His face darkened. “That will never be … Now everyone sees you as a wielder of the Ahlyo’s secrets.” Pain pierced Elin’s heart. Washing his wound carefully, she said, “Do you also think so?” “There’s too little evidence as yet,” he said quietly. “If raising a Royal Beast from infancy can make it tame enough to lick your hand, then you wouldn’t need any secret powers to get on its back and fly.” He smiled faintly and added, “And besides, if it is you who wields those secret powers, then as a Se Zan, I have nothing to fear.” Elin looked up. “Why?” “Magic is the same as martial arts—what matters most is the user. If you had attacked us, then we should worry. But as you saved our lives, there should be no need for concern, right?” Still, there was a shadow in his eyes. He started to say something, then shifted his gaze to his companions where they lay in the darkness. “Whatever the case, these lives you saved won’t last long.” Elin shook her head. “Yes, they will. They’ll all get better. None of their wounds are fatal.” “I wasn’t talking about their wounds.” He looked at her again. “Today it became very clear that the pillar which has shored up this country for so long is too rotten to last. The Yojeh has no army. If the Aluhan has decided to dispense with reverence and awe, with faith in and loyalty to the Yojeh, and to take up arms against her, then this country will never be the same again.” Elin watched him, saying nothing. Gazing into her green eyes, he continued, voicing thoughts he normally would never have shared with a woman or a commoner. “It is not the Se Zan that have protected the Yojeh. It is the hearts of the people who love her and believe that she, as the divine ruler, brings happiness to this land. There are only forty-three Se Zan in all. While we may be able to protect her from assassination, we would be no more than a wall of straw against even the smallest of the Aluhan’s Toda troops.” He spoke simply, without either belittling or romanticizing the Se Zan’s state. He knows exactly what he’s protecting, Elin thought. He isn’t sacrificing his life from a blind belief in the Yojeh. As she listened to him speak, it was as if the kingdom as she knew it had grown thin and transparent, exposing the structure beneath—a land held together by placing an army-less ruler at its summit, a ruler supported solely by her people’s will. She looked down at the floor. Yet someone is trying to shatter that will like brittle glass. Clearly, he believes that the Aluhan has finally revealed his intention to rebel. Because Toda were used in the attack. But he’s probably wrong. From the moment she had noticed the lack of notches on the Toda’s dorsal fins, Elin had been thinking, and her thoughts always led her to the same conclusion. The Aluhan could not have ordered the attack. Rather, someone had used the Toda to implicate him. If she were to tell Ialu this, she would have to tell him about her mother. If she did not tell him … both the Yojeh and the Aluhan would be forced down a terrible path, dancing to someone else’s tune. She raised her eyes and watched him sip the medicinal brew she had given him. “Those Toda…” she said. “They weren’t the Aluhan’s.” He took the cup from his lips and stared at her. “How can you be so sure?” “Their dorsal fins bore no clan marks.” “Marks?” Elin continued. “There are twelve villages that care for the Aluhan’s Toda. The Stewards of each village take great pride in the Toda they raise. In order to determine which village’s Toda excel on the battlefield, each clan makes distinctive notches in their dorsal fins so that they can tell them apart … There were no notches on the fins of the Toda that attacked you today.” Ialu frowned. “But what if they were raised especially for the purpose of assassinating the Yojeh…” he began, then shook his head. “No, there would be no point. The Toda themselves are the symbol of the Aluhan. And if the Aluhan indeed attacked with the intent to kill the Yojeh, then he would have no reason to hide his intentions…” He rested his chin in his good hand and stared into space. Finally, he returned his gaze to Elin. “If you speak the truth,” he said in a strained voice, “then I must reexamine the meaning of what happened today. Not even I, a Se Zan, knew about the notches. It’s not that I doubt your word, but can you be absolutely sure?” Elin nodded. “The Toda marks were developed out of clan rivalry. I doubt that anyone outside those clans would know about them.” She closed her eyes briefly, then looked straight at him. “There is no mistake. I know because I was raised among Toda from the time I was very small. My mother was a Steward.” His eyes widened in surprise. She told him about her upbringing, her mother and the reason she was killed, and finally about how she had ended up in Yojeh territory. She told him everything, except the fact that her mother had controlled the Toda. Ialu listened, his face expressionless. When she had finished, he still said nothing. In the wavering light of the candle, they sat in silence while he stroked his chin thoughtfully. Suddenly, a spark of amusement kindled in his eyes. Seeing the look on her face, he explained hastily, “Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t laughing at you … I’m not quite myself, maybe because of everything that’s happened today. I feel like I’ve been telling you a lot of things that I shouldn’t. And I just thought that perhaps the same was now true for you.” A faint smile rose to Elin’s lips. He might be right. She did not know why, but telling him about her mother had been much easier than she had expected, even though she barely knew him. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, a bell rang in the distance, heralding the coming of night. As though waking from a dream, he said, “It’s so late … You should stay here tonight. I’ll let the servants know.” Elin shook her head. “No, I have to get back to take care of Leelan.” “Ah, I see.” Standing carefully so as not to knock over the candle, Elin said quietly, “You should rest. Even if just for a little while. You’ll probably have a fever tonight. I’ll ask someone to bring you some water. Be sure to drink as much as you can.” “I will.” Ialu paused, then said, “I won’t return your kindness with disloyalty. You can rest assured that I won’t tell anyone about your mother.” Elin smiled. “Thank you … But if necessary, don’t hesitate to tell. It may still be hard for me to talk about, but it’s over.” She bowed and left the room. Ialu watched her leave. Only when she had closed the door behind her did he lie down in the dimly lit room and turn his eyes toward his men. Listening to their breathing, he thought of those who breathed no longer. Like him, in return for serving as the Yojeh’s shields, they had all gained a station and lifestyle far beyond that into which they had been born. Yet, even so, a life was a life. Was there not something he could do before they were caught and crushed within the schisms of this kingdom’s twisting structure? He ran a hand through his sweat-damp hair. If it was not the Aluhan who attacked us … The ambush now revealed a scheme completely different from the one he had been considering. Because the attackers were Toda Riders, he had simply assumed that they were the Aluhan’s men. Now, however, he realized that the Aluhan would never stoop to such underhanded measures. It was completely out of character. If he ever decided that the Yojeh must be removed, he would announce his intentions openly and surround the capital with his formidable army. What can that man be thinking? The man he had suspected for so long … If the attack were his doing, then the scheme made more sense. Yet, the falsely accused Aluhan would be furious. Even if the man had connections with Toda dealers, surely he could not have amassed a force large enough to oppose the Aluhan. He could never prevent the destruction of the Yojeh’s sovereignty if the enraged Aluhan should attack, and what could he possibly gain by bringing the Yojeh’s reign to an end? He sighed. As he puzzled over the meaning of the attack, an image of a woman’s face distracted him. Half hidden in the shadow cast by the candle, it flickered in the back of his mind and would not let go. She saw her mother devoured by Toda, right before her eyes … Maybe that’s why she had a quietness that set her apart—because she carried such a cruel memory concealed within. He recalled her face as she had cared for the Royal Beasts, and closed his eyes. He did not want to drag her into this any further. But that was likely impossible. The sight of the Royal Beast descending from the heavens and feasting on the docile Toda like sacrificial offerings had been burned into the mind of every person there. He could see all too clearly the path that she would be forced to tread. 6 RESOLUTION Four days after the attack, Elin received an invitation to dine with the Yojeh. She found the lord’s hall much calmer than when she had last visited, and the maid who greeted her at the door treated her with deference. As she followed her down the wide, shadowed corridor, Elin’s agitated mind raced madly. It was highly unlikely that she had been invited here purely out of gratitude for saving the Yojeh’s life. There would be no turning back once she stepped into the room at the end of the corridor. Now was her last chance to decide, yet her mind was still frantically seeking a way out. Two guards with unsheathed swords stood on either side of the entrance. As she approached, they swung the doors open, and light spilt out of the room. Myriad candles burned in a glass chandelier, shedding a soft glow over the rich gold-threaded tapestries that covered the walls. A feast of sumptuous dishes had been spread across a low table in the center of the room, and servants knelt near the door. At the far end of the table, the Yojeh reclined on a rug bolstered with soft wadding, while Damiya sat on one side of the table holding a wineglass in his hand. His other arm was still in a sling, but he looked far better than the last time Elin had seen him. When she entered the room, all eyes turned to her. “Elin,” Damiya said happily. “It’s good to see you. Come, come. There’s no need to stand on ceremony. Come and sit beside the Yojeh.” He gestured with his hand. Elin knelt where he had indicated and then bowed her head to the carpet in formal greeting. “Your Majesty, I am here in response to your summons.” The Yojeh smiled and said gently, “Raise your head, Elin.” She did as she was told. There was a bright gleam in the Yojeh’s eyes, despite her neck brace, bandaged head, and sallow skin. “It is thanks to you that we are able to sit together at this table tonight,” she said. “We owe you our lives.” Elin bowed her head again. “I do not deserve such praise … Please accept my humble felicitations on Your Majesty’s speedy recovery.” “Thank you. Now raise your head and relax. There is no need to speak so formally with me.” She gestured to her lady-in-waiting. Rising gracefully, the woman approached Elin and placed a large, heavy brocade bag in her hands. “Forgive me for not giving you a greater reward at this time,” the Yojeh said, “but as you know, I am traveling. Ask for anything you desire, and I will make sure it is yours.” Elin set the bag she had been given on the carpet. “I am very honored, but—” Before she could finish her sentence, however, Damiya interrupted. “There’s no need to hesitate. Your service was outstanding. When you dropped from the sky on that Royal Beast to rescue the Yojeh, I shook with awe … It was as if the legends of the gods were coming to life before my very eyes.” Elin kept her eyes on the floor, but he ignored her, continuing gaily. “With you and that Royal Beast on our side, we have nothing to fear. Even if the Aluhan were to send more Toda against us, you could easily repel them. How could we be any safer than that?” Elin stared fixedly at a single point on the carpet. In her soft voice, the Yojeh added, “It’s just as Damiya says. Thanks to you, we can sleep soundly at night.” Elin bit her lip and closed her eyes. The heat seemed to ebb from her body, yet sweat beaded her brow. “While we stay here, let Leelan sleep in the garden and watch over us,” Damiya said. “Then, when the Yojeh has recovered, the two of you can guard us on our journey to the capital.” Elin took a deep breath and opened her eyes. A cool stillness spread through her, and she knew that the time had come … Here, right before her, was the last line. Once she had crossed it, it would no longer be in her power to close the door. She raised her face and looked straight at the Yojeh. “While you are here, Leelan and I will protect you. However, I beg of you, please do not ask me to take Leelan to the capital.” The Yojeh’s eyes opened wide. Before she could speak, however, Damiya leaned forward. “What exactly are you saying?” he asked quietly, as if trying to reason with her. “Do you realize what that means, Elin? Think carefully before you speak. What you just said could be interpreted as a refusal to protect the Yojeh.” Elin turned to him. “I beg your pardon, Lord Damiya, but I am fully aware of what it means.” His expression changed abruptly. “Then no doubt you are equally aware that it is a crime for which the punishment is beheading.” The Yojeh did not protest. Her gentle expression had turned cold, and there was a stern glint in her eyes as she gazed down at Elin. Damiya calmed his breathing, but his voice still resonated with suppressed anger. “Let us pretend that we did not hear what you just said. Elin, I hereby command you to take the Royal Beast and accompany the Yojeh to the capital.” With a face drained of color, Elin gazed at the Yojeh. “Please forgive me. I beg you.” Silence fell over the room. She heard Damiya draw a deep breath. “Did you not hear me say that you would refuse on pain of death?” The words sounded as though he were forcing them through his teeth. Elin nodded. “Indeed, I heard you, sir.” The air was so taut with tension that she felt it must snap at the slightest touch. “So you’re prepared to die for this, are you?” Damiya said quietly. “But I am afraid that your life alone can hardly atone for such a heavy crime. The fault lies also with those who allowed you, who would refuse to protect the Yojeh, to care for the Royal Beasts.” Elin could scarcely breathe. Gazing steadily at the Yojeh, she inhaled shallowly and said in a shaking voice, “To accuse the teachers who trained me of treason … such a punishment would be far worse than killing me … it would feel like being torn in two. If you wish, you can torture me like that … but you cannot make me obey you.” Just to utter those words was like spitting blood. Looking intently at her white face, the Yojeh frowned. “Why would you refuse to protect me, even to that extreme?” Elin inhaled slowly. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them. Struggling to keep her voice steady, she said, “I would tell that reason to you alone, Your Highness.” Damiya turned pale. “Are you saying that you can’t tell me?” Elin ignored this outburst. “Your Majesty, you told me that you would grant me whatever I desired. If you will honor your word, then I beg you to grant me this wish. Please ask the others to leave this room.” The Yojeh raised her hand to silence Damiya and gazed sternly at Elin. “Are you suggesting that I remain alone with someone who has just refused to protect me?” “If you fear that I may betray you, then please have the Se Zan here remain by your side.” The Yojeh narrowed her eyes. “You mean that you trust Ialu, is that it?” “Yes. I can trust him because he used his body as a shield to save Your Majesty’s life.” Turning to Damiya, who was demanding in a shrill voice whether Elin meant that she could not trust him, the Yojeh said quietly, “Please take the others and leave this room.” “Aunt Halumiya!” Damiya protested, but she did not bother to repeat herself. When the door had closed behind them, quiet descended on the room, as if a thunderous wave had receded from the shore. “Well then, let me hear what you have to say,” the Yojeh said. “It will be a long tale, Your Highness,” Elin said, her voice tenuous. “May I suggest that you lie down while I speak?” A cold smile lit the Yojeh’s eyes. “After all that, you now show concern for my well-being? Do not trouble yourself. Get on with it.” Elin sat up straight and rested her hands on her knees. “Before I begin, allow me to ask one question. Was it not in fact in accordance with Your Majesty’s wishes that I should refuse to use the Royal Beast to protect Your Highness?” The Yojeh looked bewildered. “My wishes?…” At that moment, Elin, who had been watching her intently so as not to miss the slightest nuance of expression, felt her last thread of hope snap. She had thought that, if the Yojeh were forbidden to speak of the Canon and its secret purpose in front of others, she might be merely feigning ignorance, but it was clear from her answer that she simply did not know. Apparently impatient with Elin’s silence, the Yojeh demanded, “What on earth are you getting at? Speak plainly so that I can understand.” Elin made up her mind. If she doesn’t know, then I’ll have to start by explaining what I think about the Canon. “I was told that it was the first Yojeh who wrote the Royal Beast Canon,” she began. “Therefore, I assumed that Your Majesty must already know why I refused to manipulate the Royal Beasts. It would seem, however, that I was mistaken.” The Yojeh raised her brows. “The Royal Beast Canon? Yes, it was written by the first Yojeh. Is there some connection?” Elin nodded. “Yes. If those who tend the Royal Beasts follow the procedures written in the Canon … the Beasts they raise will never fly and never bear young.” The significance of this must have been lost on the Yojeh, for she merely gazed at Elin silently. “The first thing we learn about caring for Royal Beasts is that they can never be tamed. The rules for their care make sure that they have no human contact. Their handlers are taught to place food in their cages when the Beasts are outside and to paralyze them with the Silent Whistle before treating them. Repeated use of the Silent Whistle and daily doses of tokujisui prevent the Beasts from sexually maturing. That is why, for several centuries, no Beasts in captivity have ever borne young.” The Yojeh stared at her intently, as if searching for the meaning behind her words. “Are you saying that the first Yojeh purposely made the rules to prevent the Beasts from multiplying?” “Yes.” “But why?” “It would be presumptuous of me to guess what the first Yojeh intended, but I believe that she wished, at whatever cost, to avoid repeating the catastrophe that she had experienced in her homeland.” The Yojeh’s expression suddenly changed. Although her eyes never wavered from Elin’s face, they no longer saw her. After a long pause, she finally spoke. “So you know what happened on the far side of the Afon Noah?” Then, as if to herself, she added, “I, myself, do not.” Elin looked at her in surprise. This was not what she had expected to hear. The Yojeh’s eyes were as still as glass. “When the palace burned and my mother died, I was only three. My grandmother died of the aftereffects when I was just five. I ascended to the throne knowing nothing…” Anger twisted her face. “The filthy Sai Gamulu! They took everything. My mother, my grandmother, and the memory of my people that had been passed down for three hundred years!” She clenched her age-stained hands, as though to suppress the wave of anger that disturbed her thoughts. Shakily, she took a deep breath and opened her fists, then pressed her fingers against her mouth. After a few moments, she dropped her hands and looked once again at Elin. “My ancestor came down from the far side of the Afon Noah. That is the only memory of my people with which I was left. I do not know what gods lived in that land far across the mountains or why she left it to come here. “Elin, how do you know what happened on the other side? Do the Ahlyo have some kind of connection to the gods?” Elin gazed at her and said, “I do not know if the story I was told is true. But having seen firsthand the clever way in which both Royal Beasts and Toda in captivity are prevented from breeding, I feel that it is quite likely. Will Your Majesty listen? It is a very long tale.” The Yojeh nodded. “Let me hear, no matter how long it may be.” Elin took a deep breath, then began to speak. She told the Yojeh about her mother, about how she had commanded the Toda with her finger whistle and chosen death because she believed this was an unpardonable sin. And she shared the terrible tale that had been told to her by the Ahlyo. She told her everything. When she finished, the Yojeh stared at her unblinking. Her face seemed tragically aged, as though Elin’s tale had sucked all the vitality from her. “I see…” she whispered. Placing a trembling hand over her eyes, she was silent for some time. “Your Majesty…” Ialu said. It was the first time he had spoken. His voice must have penetrated her mind, for she said hoarsely, “There’s no need for concern.” She placed her hands, still trembling, into her lap and looked at Elin. “If your tale is true…” Her words died away. She appeared to be struggling to grasp the reins of her mind in the maelstrom of her confused thoughts. Closing her eyes, she waved her hand. “You may leave me now … You shall hear from me in due course.” Uncertain, Elin glanced at Ialu. He nodded and, with his eyes, gestured for her to leave. She bowed deeply and left the room. Ialu slid forward on his knees and sat formally before the Yojeh. She opened her eyes slowly and murmured, “Ialu, you have wasted your life by serving as my shield.” He regarded her sternly. “If you will pardon me, Your Majesty, I must beg you never to say such things. Regardless of who the first ancestor was, Your Majesty is, without doubt, the true ruler of this kingdom.” The Yojeh stared at him with a look of surprise. He continued quietly, “If what Elin said is true, then the previous Yojeh, and the Yojeh before her, knew. They knew, and yet they still fulfilled their duty as rulers of this land. I am Your Majesty’s shield, but it is you who are the shield of this kingdom. Without a strong and sturdy shield, this land would still be doomed, regardless of the past.” As his words permeated her mind, she felt the familiar weight of responsibility wrap itself around her like a cloak of steel. A faint smile crossed her face. “You never lose your head, do you? Even when the pond is murky with mud and debris, you can reach in and seize the fish.” Ialu bowed his head. “Your Majesty, while there are no other ears to hear, there is one other thing of which I must speak.” As she listened to what he said, her eyes clouded with pain. When he had finished, however, there was no longer any doubt in her face. She might be old and hurt, but she was still the Yojeh. Two days later, Elin received a message from the Yojeh. In it, she praised Elin’s service and expressed her gratitude for sharing what was in her heart. And she declared that she had no need of the Royal Beast’s protection. Ten Se Zan arrived from the capital and, with them as her guards, the Yojeh began her journey home to the palace. If she had reached the capital safely, Elin’s fate would have been very different. However, as the Yojeh passed through the palace gate, she complained of a severe headache and fell into a coma. Although her bruises had faded and her head injury appeared to have healed, blood must have been seeping slowly into her brain. The long journey home in a jolting carriage had aggravated the damage. Carried into the palace, she never regained consciousness. Her sudden death caught everyone by surprise.