Fall
Chapter 36

Atlas

Atlas was not a man of patience. Milla had tried to stretch this virtue over the course of his ambassador training, but his nature had reformed like a rubber band.

He wanted to put words aside for once, and fight.

The two ambassadors from the East and West were rumored to be in the business side of Chesa. Staying with Armadillo, whom Linden called Jestin.

They had sent three requests to Armadillo’s residence, asking to meet with the other ambassadors. Each had been denied with irritating civility.

“Fine, we’ll wait. It’s a stalemate,” Milla announced. “A pity we have to use this tactic.”

Atlas had a much coarser way of phrasing it.

Since his heat spell, Hudson had preferred to stay inside Linden’s house with its cool stone floors. Atlas used his restlessness to ferry Skye to and from the Bay of Shiloh. He would bring the girl to the market as well to explore the stalls.

A well of free time often bubbled up in the space between Skye’s need for a chaperone around Chesa. In the second, much hotter floor, of Linden’s house, Atlas practiced his cartography.

The rasp of brush to parchment calmed him, and cleared his mind. He drew Chesa as he knew it, with its sifting streets and low halls. Linden helped him with official names. For the ones that didn’t have names, Atlas sketched in improvised ones.

What do you think I should name this one? Sand Street?

You can’t name them all Sand Street, Hudson said with a bit of mirth. He was splayed out on the stone floor below. Linden had started to call him her bear rug.

Watch me. Atlas dipped his vitrum pen into the inkwell and wrote in the blocky letters of Elben. Instead of what he had told Hudson, the words that dried said Coral Street.

Hudson yawned. Good, good.

Atlas worked on his map of Chesa for another steady hour while Hudson dozed. They had a supper of spiced meat and rice, then Atlas brought Skye to the bay again.

The stars winked through the dusk, growing brighter as time passed. Atlas took off the sandals he had bought at the market, and let the waves lap his feet. He watched Skye play with Madoc.

The girl would laugh and throw water into the air. Madoc would fly through the spray and then perform acrobatic loops with shimmering feathers. Occasionally, Atlas would call out a pattern for Madoc to fly.

Without Hudson to act as sentinel, Atlas was absorbed in watching over his charge. He was caught off guard when someone hastily sat next to him.

“Where’s your creature of night?” the coral vendor asked. His cat fera wove between them, purring.

“Black bear.” Atlas didn’t want any superstition hovering over Hudson. It would only widen the gap of trust from him and the Chestic people. “And he’s tired.”

“Been tired for a week?” the vendor said. “I haven’t seen him at the market.”

“I don’t know why you would be concerned.” Atlas gave him a sidelong glance.

The vendor shrugged. “Just curious.”

“Curiosity killed the cat.”

“Not this one.” The old man scratched his head. “I came to tell you something.”

“What is it?” Atlas turned his head this time.

“You know Jestin? Well, he’s been holed up with those two ambassadors for some time. They’re close to where I sleep most nights. Anyway, they all came out yesterday. Jestin was showing them the city, introducing them to people.”

Atlas clenched his jaw. “I see.”

“You’ve got a good head start on relations with our city. I can hear it in the gossip, and see it in their eyes. Don’t let them catch up, you hear?” the vendor cackled, then fell silent.

Atlas saw the man wait expectantly. “I don’t have any coins right now. I’m sorry.”

“Ah.” The vendor deflated. “Well, I wasn’t looking for coins anyway. It… was a favor to return.”

“Thank you.” Atlas nodded.

“Your welcome, friend.” The vendor grinned, then went away with his fera. Skye came out of the water a few minutes later.

“Who were you talking to?” she asked. Madoc cocked his head on her shoulder.

Atlas dusted sand off his clothes as he rose. “A friend.”

Kane

King Asher was discussing troop placement today. It bordered on dull to Kane, and he didn’t see the reason he needed to be there other than as a secondary royal audience.

Flint, as usual, paid attention to what was being said and filtered only the most important details to Kane.

You know, you’re lucky I do this for you, Flint said.

I am lucky, Kane agreed. You’re my closest advisor.

I’m your fera. I should be. Flint stood a little taller.

As the meeting drew to a close, Kane reminded himself of the reasoning behind what he was going to do. Kit had to be found.

He waited until the room was clear, and walked from behind his vitrum table. “King Asher.”

“Prince Kane.” The king nodded for him to speak.

Kane swallowed, and held the book in his hands tightly. “I would like to be allowed to help with the investigation for my sister. In exchange,” he said quickly as King Asher’s lips formed the automatic no, “for information.”

This surprised King Asher. “Information? This isn’t a matter of bargaining, Kane. Can’t you see I’m trying to protect you?”

“I can’t stay here forever,” Kane said. “I just can’t. I need to do something.” He took a deep breath. “This is my kingdom too.”

King Asher appeared indifferent, but Kane could tell he was thinking by the way Levi’s tail flicked back and forth. “Tell me what information you have.”

“Agree to let me help first.” Flint fed Kane a string of courage that he clung to. Without it, Kane felt as if he would fold like a house of cards. This was the king’s patience he was trying, after all.

King Asher sighed. “Are you seeking danger, Prince? Do you replace a thrill in death?”

Quite the opposite, Flint thought. We’re hoping to prevent the death of Kit.

“We haven’t even gotten a ransom for Kit. What do you think that means?” Kane demanded. “They know we want her back!”

King Asher clenched his fists on his throne. “Kane, we’ve searched the entire underground system. There is nothing but dead ends. Have you considered…” He paused. “Have you considered she might be gone?”

Kit? Gone? No, that wasn’t a possibility.

“We have so many patrols underground now, to make sure Nora can’t come up through the streets again. We would have seen her by now, Kane.”

“Why did it take Kit’s capture to make that happen?” Kane said. His voice was rising, he could feel it.

King Asher narrowed his eyes. “Nora has most likely joined the groups hiding on the other side of the mountains. We’re taking the offensive, and pushing back. I’m hoping Atlas was able to get someone to help us, but we can only assume that we’re alone.”

But my sister! Kane wanted to scream. He said, “Are we giving up on Kit?”

Levi’s tail swished in longer, faster sweeps over the dais. King Asher leaned back. “We won’t give up, Kane. But I don’t think she’s in Elbe anymore, if she’s alive.” He let this statement sink in before adding, “Now what was that information you wanted to trade?”

“I never had anything.” Kane looked to the book in his hands. “I only know what’s in the past.”

“History repeats itself more often than you think.” King Asher scratched the top of Levi’s head. “Even though we try to learn from our mistakes, we fall into the traps our grandfathers avoided.”

Kane turned, and went to the doors with Flint. “Let’s hope we learn from this one, then.”