Chapter 57. The Moist Consequences

Chapter 57. The Moist Consequences

“Tell me Erf,” Anaise said without taking her eyes off the scroll she was reading, “have you thought about getting a given name?”

“No?” I scratched my head. “Besides, picking a name for myself feels rather weird. A name given to me by my mother would be better than anything I would come up with. At least as I see it.”

“I hope she does,” she replied. “Otherwise my mother would need to do it. A Domina is the mother figure to an entire Manor, after all. Preferably quickly, so that I can use it. Something like...”

Anaise put her scroll down and faced me head-on. “Erf Kiymetl Biparva! Just what were you thinking!?”

I coughed without saying anything back. Something told me she meant it as ‘reckless’ rather than ‘fearless’.

“I knew that Albin Chasya was a bad influence on you but this is beyond even his antics!” Anaise fumed. “Irje! Say something!”

Irje put away the wooden shortsword blank with partially carved runes and examined me. “Did they try to get their hands on you?”

“No.” I shook my head. “While they did accost me in the river, they kept their distance. I did check their horns for you, by the way. As I expected, they are soft and warm.”

“Irje! Now isn’t the time. They were made aware of what we think about sadaq interlopers,” Anaise shrieked, scandalised. “Erf — first of all, you do not touch other girls’ horns! Even if Irje asks you to!”

Her finger stabbed my chest as her tail swooshed left and right in agitation. “Most importantly. You. Do not. Ask. About. Flow. Secrets! Do you understand? The spells of every Manor are their strength and power. It is akin to asking for the keys to their treasuries and gold coffers! You are extremely lucky that they desire alliance and I am a daughter of Enoch myself, because, if they chose to inform their Matriarch, Zamindar Enoch Azrin would have fleeced us raw for your blunder!”

“I know how important those spells are, Anaise, which is why I was very specific that I wanted none of those. My desire was for the spells that were already well-known among all Manors.”

She looked at me askance. “Why? Why would you incur a favour to them for something that I’ve given you already?”

“I am looking for patterns. For you — a spellcodex is a guide, telling you when and where to turn so that you can reach your destination. For me — it is a maze of cryptic messages, a string of landmarks that I can’t perceive. While your spellcodex, and your guidance, are helping me tremendously, there are simply too many unknowns for me to be confident in my findings. At least to the level where we can experiment without fear of reenacting the fate of my first workshop. Or even worse — creating a spell that would aim inward at the caster and cause harm either to you or Irje.”

The cougar’s ears flicked. “You are planning on making spells for us?”

“I am a murk, Irje. This is a fact of life. I am not studying this expecting to cast spells myself. I am studying Flow to understand it first and foremost. What it is, what it isn’t, and how far we can push it. If I am extremely lucky and find some loophole allowing murks to cast magic — that would be fantastic for me and I won’t deny it. But I am working under the assumption that I would only scratch my burning curiosity and possibly improve your spellcasting in the process.”

“Still.” Anaise rapped her fingers on the latest drone-delivered package from Samat, chewing on her lip. “This is the type of trap that I wanted you to avoid. The Kausar Twins aren’t clients of our Manor and they are shrewd enough to exploit it. By choosing not only to meet your outrageous request but to exceed it, they have created a situation where the honour of Kiymetl will force you to repay them in kind or have our reputation tarnished.”

“I mean,” Irje made a vague gesture in my direction, “this is Erf we are talking about.”

Anaise nodded. “Precisely, and the twins are aware of this as well. This isn’t some harebrained plot to throw mud on our faces. They did it fully expecting an equally outrageous token of thanks in turn. An outrageous gift from the Kiymetl’s daimon. They won’t be satisfied with blade steel, Arksite glass, or other trinkets.”

“Hold on.” Irje turned toward me. “Did they ask for any magic enhancement?”

“Even if they were hinting about it, I am not going to start teaching. First of all — Aikerim would kill me, second of all —” I gestured at the cabin we were occupying, probably our last residence to be sufficiently private for clandestine talks, “I am not stupid enough to have those discussions at the bonfire or in the ‘privacy’ of a canvas tent.

“I am also rather satisfied with the current amount of people I am teaching, especially after ditching that Shebet annoyance in Samat.”

Anaise rolled her eyes, a slight pink on her cheeks. “There are rumours that the recent growth in our skills, as well as Irje suddenly becoming a wermage herself, were caused by taking in your seed. Some whisper that my mother intentionally drained your Spark in such a way so that she could control the now-powerless daimon.”

I grimaced. “Great. No wonder that rat was clawing her way into my crotch. Am I to assume there will be similar attempts in the future?”

“No. The Denag wermage was being stupid.” Anaise scowled, showing off her tiny but sharp fangs. “And I made it clear to everyone that any further foolishness of a similar kind would face all of my wrath and the wrath of my Manor. That doesn’t mean there won’t be other attempts to acquire your seed willingly. Especially since our reaction likely strengthened those rumours. I am sure that even the Kausar twins might risk it.”

Her tail wrapped around my torso. “But that doesn’t mean we will let them. I will be honest with you — it took me two decades and that damn Feast to receive my adult Kiymetl spellcodex. Obtaining an Enoch spellcodex is immense, but I would rather apologise and reject their offer than give them that kind of leverage over you.”

Irje nodded along. “Especially since those rumours are false to begin with. They will suck you...”

“Irje!”

“They will suck him dry,” she pressed on, “realise that their Spark is unchanged, and demand even more in turn. Or worse — start craving that taste!”

“Well, they can fuck right off if they do that: I am not a walking cum dispenser.” I rolled my eyes. “But there is no need to reject the codex. Because I know their wish. And I can make it happen with ease without sacrificing my dignity.”

“And what do they want?”

“The Kausar twins want to fly.”

Anaise scoffed. “Every wermage wants to fly, our magic can lift boulders but it can’t lift the caster. Neither can it lift a boulder with the caster on top. Only Gods know the secrets of flying castles.”

“So the Pillars were made by gods?”

“That is why they are called Gifts. Because they were gifted to the Seven Manors by the Goddess herself.”

I scratched my chin. “What about Irje? I thought her spellcasting could affect her too.”

The cougar grinned. “It can! Unfortunately, my spells are still too weak to lift me in the air, which is why I would prefer to practise my art rather than see what Enoch has to offer.”

“Perhaps they are weak because they lack that limitation. Wermages use themselves as leverage while you apply the effect directly. You might actually benefit more from this invention than the twins would.”

Anaise looked at me. “You aren’t talking about flying with Flow.”

I smiled and shook my head. “They were rather ambiguous with their wish, allowing me to interpret it as I see fit. That is something that every wisher should beware of. I can make them fly, I can even make sure the flying would be comfortable and they will survive the landing. It won’t even take that long to make either, provided that we use the best fabric that only your Manor can provide.”

She ignored my conspiratorial grin. “What are you planning?”

“A hot air balloon. An enormous sack, made with strong and lightweight cloth and filled with hot air. We can light a bonfire to start it but I am sure wermages can keep it afloat with fire magic too.”

“And it would fly?”Fịndd new updates at novelhall.com

“It will go up into the air. As long as there is hot air inside in large enough quantities — it will continue floating like a fishing bobber.”

“I’ve read about quite a few unsuccessful attempts done in the past. Can you make yours work?”

“I can. While the idea is simple and easy to grasp, the challenge is in construction and available materials. Compared to the past Emanai inventors, we have fabric good enough to hold the air inside without tearing itself apart or being incredibly heavy. There are limitations too. Unless the twins are willing to travel at the mercy of the winds, the balloon would be tied to a spot and only travel up and down. Irje might be able to move a balloon with magic, but only in calm weather.”

“Yes, it might satisfy their ‘fly’ request,” Anaise murmured.

“I say, make it!” Irje clenched her fists in excitement. “We can keep the balloon to ourselves if they scrunch their noses. Or let them have that codex and work on this instead!”

“Or I could make two of them.” I smiled. “I’m happy to know you are that excited about it.”

“Of course I would be, you silly man!” She crossed her arms. “If what you say is true, this balloon would only listen to me and no one else.”

The previously discarded wooden sword lifted up and floated over. “I know I can move small things around and I am working on my control, but every wermage can do what I do. I would rather have a few spells that only I can do than many I can barely perform. I am Irje, the first of my kind, not just a weaker form of Anaise.”

“The question is — how long would it take and how are you going to get it all the way north?” Anaise asked. “We won’t be staying in Uureg that long, I am afraid. Just long enough to meet the Kosenya Matriarch and get assigned to a proper arm.”

I glanced out the window. The boat was moving quickly downstream and we weren’t that far from our destination. “As long as we are talking about the balloon itself, my drone is strong enough to carry it. We can make a basket here.”

“A basket? I thought you were going to attach it to a boat.”

“I wish,” I chuckled. “The design is simple but weight is a limiting factor as the balloon can only lift so much. Unless you use multiple balloons or make a single huge one. But then you would have trouble replenishing the hot air with ease. All balloons leak and the air cools with time; flame spells might be easy to cast but something that enormous would quickly deplete even the most robust wermage.”

“Large enough to lift people into the air but small enough not to be too burdensome itself.” Anaise nodded with a smile. “Sounds very reasonable, as long as I forget that we are talking about the feat previously thought impossible.” Anaise glanced at Irje and smiled. “Considering her eagerness, we have a consensus among us. Send the message back to our Manor.”

XXX

While lacking in splendour when measured against Samat, Uureg was still a very respectable city. The weather wasn’t as welcoming here compared to the Mediterranean climate of the south, and the buildings reflected that — chimneys were more common while windows were smaller and less frequent. It was also an unquestionably Emanai city. There were still aqueducts bringing water into the city, the walls were painted in bright red and clean white just as some rich dwellings in Samat were, and there was still shit on the streets here and there. More in the poorer areas where public latrines were less common, but even rich neighbourhoods had horses and mules to leave their marks on the road.

And manors had similarly enormous walls to separate elite families from the plebeian rest.

“Your name is on my lips, Roxanna Inayat.” Anaise politely greeted her back. “The words of Catriona Emanai Aethil were larger than me and I likely missed more than I understood. But I know that she urged me to act. To go forth and to accomplish what I was destined for. For the sake of my Manor and for the sake of Emanai.”

She glanced at Mushaf and Muramat. “And I am here for that reason.”

“I see... Then, with the powers bestowed upon me, I will assist in your undertaking. Rather than watching seasons pass by while you guard our borders, you will find yourself amongst the Emanai elite of the fifth arm: Kiannika. The brave soldiers of the first palm will accompany you on your path.” Her eyes shifted from Anaise toward me and Irje. “Your sadaq will join you, of course, but your male will serve in the thumb of the first palm instead.”

Irje frowned. “But-“

“Do you know the tasks of the palm?” Roxanna immediately interrupted her. “Do you think he can fire a werbow?”

“No-”

“Perhaps he is a hidden war mage and knows his way with a Flow oar?” She raised her eyebrow, causing a few snickers to spread through the room.

I placed my hand on her shoulder. Irje gritted her teeth but said nothing back.

“There is only one reason to have murks in the palm — servant slaves that tend to mules and pack equipment. Do you wish to see him as a warrior with a spear in his hand or as a slave shovelling manure?”

“Your words are wise, Matriarch,” Anaise gently reinserted herself into the conversation, “and your insight has no equals. My husband will make a fine warrior.”

She clapped her hands. “Please accept these gifts of gratitude from my Manor for this show of support.”

A suit of brigandine was brought forth, causing obvious murmurs among the crowd of onlookers. I was fairly certain it wasn’t the make or shape of the armour that caused such a stir. The outer layer of cloth was dyed bright Arksite blue and engraved with a golden three-headed dog holding a shield on the backdrop of a floating tower. The symbol of their Pillar Manor, the House of Defence.

“My, the skill of your tailors grows with every year. I wouldn't be ashamed to stand in front of the Goddess herself in something like this.”

“It is more than a decorative suit, Matriarch.” Anaise rapped her knuckles on her chest. “I will be wearing a similar style of armour to battle, knowing full well that it will keep me safe.”

Roxanna Inayat picked up the suit and quickly inspected it. “I can see that it is quite flexible without being too open. The inner layers are soft to the touch and will likely be pleasant on your skin. May I offer some suggestions, however?”

“Of course. Your knowledge of warfare is incomparable to mine.”

“Don’t forget to engrave runes on it — plain metal is only half as strong as runed one. And make sure that you have a slave tending to it at all times. The plates are covered by many layers of cloth and any sweat or mud will quickly turn them to rust. Field armours look naked so that warriors can easily clean the metal and keep it dry.”

Lita’af looked at Anaise askance. “You forgot to rune it?”

“My apologies, but the metal is fully runed. The individual plates are covered with an additional layer of metal that prevents rust and covers runes away from prying eyes. There are also layers of runed silk within the fabric to maintain its pristine look and catch the tips of spears and arrows. Of course, accidents happen. As such there are replacement armour plates provided with the suit so that it can be quickly repaired in the field.”

She passed a small chest over to the Kosenya Matriarch. “Please have your smiths test their strength if you are still concerned.”

“It doesn’t rust?”

Anaise glanced at me.

I shrugged. “Unless you let it soak in seawater for a few years, no. As long as the metal is washed with clean water, say every season or so, it will be fine. It is better to wash it after heavy use just to keep the smell to a minimum, obviously.”

Roxanna picked up a plate from the chest. The runes on her kaftan lit up, and then they brightened to a level that most people in this room had to look away from. Anaise was right about the Kosenya. If anyone could give some serious juice to runes, it would be them.

“Hah! He didn’t lie!” A grin emerged on her face. “There are indeed runes hidden underneath! How devious, indeed. Thank you, Anaise Hilal — I will try this armour when I am able.”

“Yes, it is unfortunate that our gift was so ill-timed. Allow us to present you with something more.” Anaise leaned in with a grin of her own. “Just two more trinkets. They are called a compass and a looking glass. The new products of my Manor. I am sure that someone of your status would appreciate their usefulness.”

Roxanna Kosenya Inayat

She stood on top of her castle and observed the lands under her domain. A rather boring activity if not for the curious looking tube that Anaise Hilal gifted to her. She could see every heap of hay in the nearby fields and every fishing boat in the waters of the bay. She could see soldiers sparring in the nearby barracks and sailors drinking in the port.

A single glance told her more and faster than any scout under her command.

Her hand gripped the other tool. A guiding arrow that could work in the dark of the night or the fog of the day. Or twilight of the Forest. Every tool like that meant another scout that could be sent into the thick of the Forest and return alive and return on time.

Anaise, no — Aikerim Adal knew how to make her voice known.

“You wished to see us, Matriarch?”

Roxanna put the looking glass down but didn’t turn around. “Yes, Lita’af Kamshad Hikmat. Can you tell me what your mother’s plans are? Because I am beginning to have doubts about this affair.”

“Roshanak Gulnaz is concerned about their growth. Especially after Kiymetl refused to align themselves with our Manor. She fears that they are trying to establish a new faction.”

“With what? Caravan guards and merchant ships? Or are they going to ask the builders of Enoch to give them a hand? Have they been bolstering their forces behind our backs?”

“They have brokered a large slave purchase with the Esca.”

“Slaves aren’t warriors. They caught a lamura by her tail and fleeced her clan for it. I swear, if it wasn’t for Shebet encouragement, I would have nothing to do with this! I still have my doubts about her placement — she is twenty years old! A child, just like you! Neither of you should be in the fifth arm to begin with, at least until you have a child or two...”

She harrumphed and turned around.

“You too!” Roxanna stabbed her finger at Mushaf Davlat. “Carry a child first then start gallivanting through the Forest! Kids nowadays. They think everything is possible while I am stuck here with my heart heavier than my belly, wondering if I would need to inform one of my cousins that their precious daughter didn’t return.”

Her nieces remained silent.

“I should just stop this charade altogether. Let Anaise Hilal pass through training first and then see where she would-”

A loud crack interrupted her tirade. Turning around, Roxanna saw a rising pile of dust from a nearby field, not that far from the city walls. The looking glass was immediately back at her eye.

“What was that!? Are we under a Creature attack?” Mushaf asked.

“No...We are not.” Rosanna kept on looking through the tube.

“Should we ready the forces?” Lita’af suggested.

Kosenya Matriarch sighed and put down the looking glass. “You should head back to your quarters and prepare for the path ahead. The fifth arm has no place for slackers.”

XXX

“...id it!”

I spat a mouthful of dirt and tried to clear my eyes. I failed at both.

“Ugh...” Irje groaned, “’s like bees in my head...”

“I did it!”

“It should pass, Irje.” I gave her an earthy grin. “I hope it will pass.”

The wermage hands grabbed me and yanked me into the air. “Did you hear, Erf? I did it!”

“I heard you the first time.” I tried to find some solid ground among the loose soil of the crater. “You don’t need to yell.”

“I can’t hear you, but you were right!” my fox screamed into my ear. “You need water for fire!”

Her outer kaftan was torn to shreds, and her neat hair had been transformed into a mane of red around her muddy face, but her bright smile managed to shine through all of that.

I gave her a weak smile.

Stupid wermages.