The Ruthless

‘Me?’

‘Yes. I wanted to ask your advice.’

‘Lady Anuja, I am not known for my wisdom. But,’ he added hastily, ‘it’s yours if you want it.’

‘My mother has prepared a vessel for her next lifecycle but the next auspicious alignment is over a year away. Normally, I’d wait, but with things as they are …’

‘What’s the alternative? Even we need the favour of the suns.’

‘There’s a partial alignment coming in two weeks.’

Vasin frowned. A partial alignment would place the rebirth at risk. To even consider it Anuja must be desperate. He asked, ‘Can we talk as we did before, as friends?’

‘Please. I’d like that. Acting as the High Lord’s hand is … tiring.’

‘I believe it and I want to help. How bad are things here, really?’

She sipped at her wine, prompting Vasin to do the same. ‘The Toothsack didn’t just take my mother, any more than the Wild took my sister; it decimated our hunters. The ones we’re fielding now are barely more than apprentices. Normally, a successful hunt silences the Wild, but the Toothsack’s attack seems unrelated to the other troubles.’

‘Have you had any trouble from Quiverhive?’

‘No. We’ve had Murkers, and at least one Weeper. And all kinds of rumours. My people are afraid, Vasin. They’re jumping at shadows, seeing all kinds of things that aren’t there. That hopefully aren’t there, I mean. We don’t expect the Toothsack to return any time soon, but just in case I’m making sure that no Deathless hunts with mortals alone. That’s possible at the moment with support from the other houses, but they won’t stay here forever.’

‘House Tanzanite sent three Deathless, didn’t they?’ Anuja nodded and he continued, ‘Was Lady Pari among them?’

‘Last I heard, she was between lives.’

‘Still?’

‘I believe she’ll be undergoing a rebirth any day now. Do you need her?’

‘Not exactly.’

The gold around her eye flashed in the gemslight ‘You’re hiding something from me.’

It was true. He was. But much as he wished to confide in Anuja, some secrets were too dark for their budding friendship. ‘I’m sorry.’

There was a pause and they both sipped from their drinks.

‘Well,’ she said. ‘I am still glad you came. Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I was hoping House Sapphire would send at least two Deathless so that I could relieve some of the others. And where are your hunters?’

‘I’m afraid I’m all you’ve got.’

She digested this for a while. ‘The last time you came to us without escort, you were here as messenger. It made sense for you to fly alone for the sake of speed. This time you are here to hunt. It makes no sense to hunt alone.’

Vasin kept his face neutral.

‘Could the great House Sapphire not spare any of its hunters to support you?’

‘My High Lord believes they are all needed at home.’

‘How are things in your lands?’

He wanted to just come out and say it: he hadn’t been sent. He’d come alone so that no others would suffer for his actions. ‘Things are quiet. High Lord Yadavendra would tell you this is only the case because we are being so vigilant.’

‘Yes, I have heard many tales of how vigilant the Sapphire have become. We had thought your wingless hunters a passing fashion but they seem to have lingered. No tales of battles against demons have reached us, but there are many stories of harassment suffered by any house traders not flying a blue flag. Perhaps you could make sense of them to me, Lord Vasin?’

‘Would that I could.’

‘Houses Spinel and Jet have their own problems. They have told me so, and I understand. But Houses Opal and Peridot have sent one of their Deathless to our aid, while House Tanzanite has sent three, each with a full flight of hunters at their back. Your house does not reply to my mother’s messages and then sends you alone? Unannounced?’ She looked at him but he could not meet her gaze. ‘This, I do not understand.’

‘I’m sorry that my house hasn’t provided proper aid. I’m … I’m going to make it right.’ They locked eyes again. He didn’t say the words out loud. Didn’t need to.

‘Go carefully, my friend. But don’t take too long. The other houses are poised to act. If not for the Wild, we’d have done so long before now.’

‘Please get them to hold off a little longer. If there is outside intervention, he’ll go to war. My family is proud, I don’t know if they’ll tolerate outside interference.’

‘I’m not the Ruby High Lord, just her voice while she’s away. My mother wants Yadavendra gone and as soon as my hands are untied, I intend to see her wishes met.’

‘Understood.’

‘You mentioned Quiverhive just now,’ said Anuja. ‘Why?’

‘I saw it on the way here.’ He relayed the events in as much detail as he could. ‘At first I thought it was simply using the Godroad as a means to kill the Murkers but it was more than that. It was experimenting.’

‘Experimenting? Testing the power of the Godroad is more likely. Looking for a way to cross and finding one. By the Thrice Blessed Suns! This changes everything. Our whole society rests on the sanctity of the Godroad.’ Anuja went to take another drink but her cup was empty. She set it down with an angry clink. ‘It must have come when I was hunting at Fourboards.’

‘You don’t think that’s a coincidence?’

‘No. It’s being tactical, Vasin. I don’t like this at all.’

‘Me neither.’

‘I think I’m going to bring mother back early. House Ruby needs her wisdom, now more than ever.’

‘If it fails, does your mother have a backup vessel?’

‘Yes, but it’s not the best match. A grandson. I’d have to play it safe and slow if it came to that. Eight years I’d say, maybe more to get him ready.’

Vasin wanted to rub his temples, but to do so would smear the paint. A headache was starting. His mother would know what to say. She always knew. But until he could restore her, he was on his own. ‘I think you should wait, I’ll stay as long as you need and support you. We could hunt together.’

He smiled at her but she didn’t respond in kind. ‘No, we can’t.’ She lifted her gown to reveal bandages and several splints, all conspiring to hold together a shattered leg. ‘The hunt at Fourboards was brutal. There were too many tributes. I and the Deathless from Opal and Peridot flew together, but their hunters were tired from travel, and mine weren’t ready for something on this scale.’ She sighed. ‘Six tributes was a mighty amount of bait and the Wild was hungry. It sent many mouths. More than our hunters could field. I …’

She fell silent and lowered her head, and the shadows grew darker under her eyes.

‘What is it? You can tell me.’

‘I haven’t mentioned this to anyone else, I didn’t want to appear weak or like I was making excuses. I’d told myself I was imagining it, but after what you’ve told me about Quiverhive I’m not so sure.’