Sarlice, Kestric and Thita assisted Ciera in the evacuation plans for Tanza. While they weren’t expecting to have to abandon the realm it was a contingency that had to be planned for. Ciera was in frequent contact with a skyearl representative in Ravra, Tanza’s only ally in the Highlands. Should the worst come to pass, the citizens of Tanza would be granted refugee status in Ravra for a time.
The Ravrans promised no aid in the actual battles—understandable given the immense difficulty they would have entering the realm. Only Kriite Ravrans could pass through the barrier. The skyearls would have to create a shroud for them to float down on, but creating shrouds outside of Tanza was said to be very taxing. It had been done recently in Highford to transport the survivors from Watercrag into the realm, but some three hundred skyearls had been required to make it stable.
I was aware of Ciera’s involvement in a failsafe plan to deactivate the dome of energy that kept the shrouds out of Centan should the Zeikas defeat the Defenders. It was sometimes difficult getting people to cooperate and answer his questions when they heard the word ‘defeat’, but Ciera was persistent about preventing the Zeikas from having free access to Centan and the sky kingdom, Raer. If they couldn’t see where they were going and were unable to light fires in the mists, they would have to leave the place alone—their hatred for water would extend to the mists of a shroud as well.
‘If only we could shroud the entire realm, it would be like a curse to them,’ Ciera sent to me privately.
‘But then it wouldn’t be all that practical for us, either,’ I commented.
‘I’m glad to hear you use the term “us”,’ Ciera replied. ‘Do you feel like a Tanzan?’
‘I wasn’t born here,’ I hedged.
‘Tanza welcomes people from all over the world,’ he countered.
‘I think I could consider myself Tanzan if my obligation to Jaria was fulfilled.’
‘I understand,’ he replied. ‘I know you’re anxious to discuss the matter with King Crystom. I happen to know where he is right now. We could try getting to see him.’
‘Please.’
Tyba met Sarlice, myself and our kin in a grand courtyard.
‘I hope you haven’t minded being left on your own out here,’ Tyba said. ‘We wanted to give you time to adjust.’
‘We understand,’ Sarlice said. ‘How fares the realm?’
Tyba’s brows pinched. ‘Skirmishes are already occurring in places around the border.’
Sarlice clucked her tongue in disappointment. ‘I just wish there was more Talon and I could do to help you.’
Tyba nodded his head. ‘Oh yes. We will get to that. Shall we?’
Inside the palace was just as incredible as outside. It was high enough for Ciera to stand with room to spare—the immense space of the interior required hundreds of lights at night. Fancy gold torches lined the walls and dozens of chandeliers hung from the roof. Whenever a candle burnt out, a skyearl of about Thita’s size would fly up and replace it.
There were four human guards positioned around the room, each one with a skyearl about the size of a large dog. One also had a ferret perched on his shoulder. I could sense the ferret’s thoughts, which were wide open and erratic. Despite this, the guard remained still, scanning left to right without distraction. Outside, the skies were patrolled by ten Defenders riding their Sleffion-kin. The skyearls of the Palace Flight-watch were all larger than horses, but nowhere near Ciera’s size. Though Centan was considered the safest place to be in Tanza, it was prudent to be on the lookout for trouble when the king, the queen, the heirs to the throne and the Emperor Skyearl were all in the same place.
King Crystom and Queen Emyla sat together on one side of the large square table. Clayr and Sarlice were on the side nearest the queen and Tyba and I sat near the king. All of us were dressed in formal attire, but nothing that would have taken long to get into. Unlike the Telbion nobility, Tanzans favoured practicality, comfort and speed over the frivolities of fashion. Sarlice was seated across from me, wearing an elegant, cool-purple slip with a dainty silver girdle. Her rust-red curls shone in the lights of the majestic dining hall.
Ciera, Thita and the other four Sleffion-kin reclined in an enormous sand pit nearby, chatting among themselves and dining on trees of many shapes and sizes. Rekala and Kestric sprawled on a square of lawn beneath a skylight, having eaten their fill of stuffed goose, roasted turtle and fresh fish.
King Crystom swung his arms when he spoke, sharing his vision for the future of Tanza. Sarlice engaged him in a challenging debate about the possibility for Tanza to use its unique position and resources to reach out to less enlightened nations rather than focusing on itself. I suspected she was trying to move the conversation toward a place where we could bring up the plight of the Lythians and the fate of the Jarians.
Crystom only smiled knowingly and cited the disaster that had occurred in Telby when Tanza had last tried to integrate with the Upper World. I ate quietly, wondering at Crystom’s self-serving attitude.
‘It’s hardly possible to go off playing the hero in other nations when we are still fighting to control our own,’ he said.
‘Should I ask about Jaria?’ I queried Ciera.
‘Not yet,’ he replied.
Tyba sighed. ‘We have been fighting the Zeikas on and off for as long I have lived. They hold us back, but we will soon triumph. Then… then we will fulfil the purpose Krii has for us.’
Ciera stirred from his divot in the sand. ‘I agree, in part, with Sarlice. That is why I have maintained relations with Ravra and Jesath.’
The king brooded over his wine.
‘Of course, Duuryn and Irin remain closed to all outsiders,’ Ciera added.
‘Now?’ I asked Ciera.
‘No,’ he sent. ‘You don’t want to be too abrupt with Crystom.’
We ate for a while in silence.
‘That’s a lovely earring you wear, Talon,’ Queen Emyla said.
I wiped my mouth before replying, ‘It is Tiaro, my Anzaii-kin. A gift left for me by my father…’
‘Magical.’
‘As far as I know, he had no idea it would become sentient upon our first meeting.’
‘I should have reminded you,’ Tyba said to his mother. ‘Tiaro will be a welcome presence should the Zeikas attack us.’
That made Em pause. For some reason, I had the impression that my Anzaii abilities were somehow very significant to her. She watched me out of the corner of her eye. I chewed and swallowed audibly.
‘Did you know there was an Anzaii division in the Defenders army,’ Crystom asked me.
I shook my head.
‘Was?’ Sarlice said cautiously.
‘There have been attacks on the Anzaii by our own people,’ he said slowly. ‘It’s some kind of faction. They believe that Anzaii powers are an open door for exploitation and they support the preservation of the majority at the cost of a few. Their aim seems to be killing Anzaii.’
‘That’s perverted,’ Sarlice said angrily. ‘And they still consider themselves Kriite?’
‘What are you doing to stop them?’ I asked.
‘All Tanza is under orders to detain and question anybody professing such beliefs,’ Emyla said. ‘They call themselves the Wavekeepers,’
‘We have heard of this cult in the Highlands,’ I said. ‘I saw a murder take place in Jaria…’
I nearly choked as I realised my time had come for requesting help for Jaria.
‘Very well,’ Ciera agreed. ‘But don’t get your hopes up…’
‘I won’t,’ I said impatiently, ‘but it’s my duty to try.’
All eyes turned to me as I told the story of Feera’s last moments at the hands of a Wavekeeper. I quickly summarised the battle near the catacombs of Krii. I stumbled over my words, leaping through time as I hastened to tell them all that had befallen my people and all that Sarlice and I had gone through to bring our request to Tanza.
I was nearly out of breath when I finally said, ‘Even though I have been relieved of my duty as ambassador and even though there may be only a few dozen Jarians and Rada-kin left, I must request your help to rescue them from slavery…’ I glanced at Sarlice. ‘And to prevent the same fate from gripping Lyth… and all Kriites in Telby…’
My request sounded ludicrous even to me. How could I expect this nation, on the brink of war, to fly to the aid of the Jarians and other scattered Kriites? Crystom stared at me for a long while, with a look of compassion and frustration on my behalf. Tyba and Em waited for him to speak.
‘I think you already know what I’m going to say, Talon,’ he said quietly.
He poured more wine for each of us.
‘The original mission you felt Krii impelling you with has not changed. Maybe it was not for Jaria that you were sent. It was for something even bigger, hard as that may be for you to accept. I’m not saying we won’t help Jaria. Once we’ve driven these black-hearted demon-worshippers back we will be able to spare some thought to the matter.
‘Of course you know we cannot march an army upon Telbion allies on Telbion territory. Not only because of the ban, but because that would give Telby’s armies every reason to band with Reltland against us. At present there is a tentative peace, contingent upon our staying out of their lands. It must be a quiet operation. Perhaps I will even send you… but not Ciera; he is not one for stealth…’
Crystom’s monologue ran down and I felt that he was truly trying to visualise a way it could be done. His strategic-thinking mind had clicked into process. I felt naïve to have ever thought all my problems would be over when I reached Tanza. Of course they couldn’t spare the planning time and resources, not to mention warriors, at a time like this.
‘You’re right,’ I said. ‘I knew this was what you’d say. I therefore accept your offer to assist Jaria and Lyth when the war is over. We will become allies as fellow Kriite nations should.’
Sarlice nodded and admiration shone in her eyes. I knew I was doing the right thing, but my heart sank with the weight of sadness and my appetite fled. Small and insignificant Jaria may be, but it was my home. They were my people and the Lythians were Sarlice’s. Could we change allegiance to Tanza so quickly?
‘That dilemma is part of the reason I’ve give you space these past few days,’ Ciera murmured through the waves, ‘but if it makes you feel any better, I believe that the Tanzans are your people too. In the holy scrolls, in fact, it is written that all people are “our people”. Sometimes Krii uses a harsher method to remind us of that fact. We must look out for all peoples, not just those in our own circle or culture.’
I thought back to the way Jaria had secluded itself from outside influence. Was that disobedience to the will of Krii? My heart pounded to think on the ramifications. Had it been out of my control all this time?
‘Sarlice, you are the ambassador for Lyth still, are you not? How do you feel about this?’ Queen Emyla asked.
‘Lythians are accustomed to being on their own,’ she replied. ‘We’ve been evading the Telbions and the Relts this far. Another few months isn’t going to make much difference.’
‘This war could go on for longer than that,’ Clayr said.
Sarlice glanced at me. ‘Kestric and I have known from the start that our quest from Krii was somewhat different to the quest from my father, the Prime of Lyth. We are here for Talon… and for the good of all Kriites.’
My heart swelled to hear her declaration of loyalty. ‘It is clear that Krii brought us both to Tanza for a reason,’ I said. ‘We are both Sleffion now. You have our allegiance in this war.’
Sarlice bowed her head in agreement.
‘Thank you, Talon and Sarlice,’ King Crystom said. ‘We accept your fealty.’
‘This does not diminish your allegiance to Jaria or Lyth,’ Queen Emyla stated. ‘If anything, it strengthens it.’
I wasn’t sure what to think about that, but I kept my peace.
‘Our thanks, your majesty,’ Sarlice said. Noticing my silence and perhaps sensing my distress, she reverted to our original topic of conversation. ‘And the Anzaii among the Defenders,’ she began, ‘what happened to them?’
Emyla put her hand on her shoulder. ‘Well they’re not all dead if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m sure you know Anzaii are a little more competent than that.’
‘Then what?’ I asked, my curiosity piqued. I tried hard to keep the concern out of my voice.
‘Let’s just say, they are not quite as open about their gifts as they used to be. We no longer distinguish them from other members of the Defenders except in the strike force, which is unavoidable. You will find Anzaii throughout all of the divisions. There are about 90 in total, most of whom I know by name.’
‘Perhaps you know where I might find my Great Aunt Jaalta,’ I said unenthusiastically, not willing to get my hopes up.
The king’s eyebrows went up. ‘Well, yes, I do know that name quite well.’
‘Is she the one with the…’ Clayr made a cutting gesture across her throat.
Crystom nodded. ‘The Jaalta I know is one of our most gifted Anzaii, here in Centan. Sadly, her throat was cut during a battle with Zeikas some years back.’
My heart sank. So she is dead then.
‘Miraculously she survived, but she cannot speak,’ Crystom added. ‘She can barely raise a croak.’
I couldn’t decide whether to react with joy or pity. Finally I said, ‘So she has learned to communicate with people through the waves?’
The king and queen suddenly had new respect in their eyes.
‘Yes,’ Em replied. ‘This “person-to-person telepathy”, as it is sometimes called, is a rare and valuable gift.’
‘For that reason, Jaalta has personal bodyguards with her most of the time,’ Crystom added. ‘We’ll arrange for her to meet you, Talon.’
I nodded my thanks.
‘So you do think the Zeikas are trying to capture Anzaii?’ Sarlice asked.
‘It is possible,’ Em said solemnly, ‘that the Zeikas have learned how to perform a waverade. It means “violation of the waves” in ancient Kaslonican. There has been some research into Zeika sorcery, you see. There is an ancient incantation that merges the wavelengths used by two people into an artefact. When the artefact is being worn, each person can use each other’s abilities and for that reason they are called psions.
‘It doesn’t seem to have been done with much success for centuries, but obviously it would be terrible if the Zeikas were able to listen to our wave communications.’