The quintessential Alberic fishing town. A cold sea, fish markets with fresh fish, friendly, simple people. That was what I learned from novels. Unfortunately, such a thing is a myth; Alberic fishing towns, as a rule, are smelly, brine-stained collections of hovels that reek of fish guts.
-Nicolette de Alvreine, Journeys of a Leyons Lady
***
When Laidu awoke, it was still raining.
It didn't pour down in the deluge before, but it fell in steady grey sheets. He sighed, and felt the two people snuggled up to him shift in their sleep. He smiled for a moment, and held them close.
There was Thaen, small and wiry compared to Laidu. He curled up against Laidu, his head resting on the dragon Changed's chest, arms wrapped around his stomach. Laidu's hand rested on Thaen's back, and with every rise and fall of the Vesperati's chest, he could feel the soft fur shift underneath his fingers.
He remembered those nights when Thaen had stayed with him, when the snow had turned everything cold and made the air freezing. Laidu had never felt it, but Thaen had. He had always curled up against Laidu, always called him Thaen's "big brother."
He knew his mother and father loved him. He knew that. He knew -from all the times they got in trouble together, all the times they pranked another monk or broke the rules- that Po Shun loved him as a friend. But he knew at an even deeper level that Thaen loved him as a brother. He knew that every night for a year when Thaen snuggled up to him and fell asleep, calling him "brother."
And then there was Kyra.
She laid on his chest, breathing evenly. Laidu held her closer, wrapped his arm around her a bit tighter. He wanted to do more, wanted to wrap his arms around her, shelter her, guard her and keep her warm and promise her she'd never be hurt or taken again.
But he remembered the words she had said, the things she had called him. "Friend." That was what he was to her. A friend. Laidu had hoped for more, had hoped she reciprocated his feelings, but that was probably too much to ask for. Too much, definitely.
Why had he gotten his hopes up? He could see his body, covered in scales, in ugly, filthy scales. It didn't matter if he polished them until they shone like gems, they were still ugly. They were sickening to look at. It was a wonder Kyra could abide to be touched by them.
You're a friend, Kasran said. She thinks they're an affliction. She can only stand it because she pities you. That is how she sees you. She pities you, like you're a wretch.
Laidu shifted his arm away, so he wasn't holding Kyra as tightly. She shifted, and groggily, still asleep, pulled his arm back, hugging it close to herself. You're wrong, Kasran, Laidu said. He gently stroked Kyra's hair, smoothing out the tangles as she slept against him. You lie. All you do is lie. And I'm done believing it.
He gave her a soft and gentle whisper of a kiss on the forehead, and settled down, back to sleep. The last thing he remembered was Thaen shift slightly, and then lay still. And then, everything evaporated into the mist of dreams.
***
The rain had stopped just before dawn, Karik'ar said.
Mist rose from the rocky earth, and Kyra kept close to Laidu to keep warm. They had left the ruin an hour ago, and although there were a few stone altars that jutted out of the mountain, the path returned to nature. Trees had sprouted up, and although there were enough to be counted as a forest, they were sparse, few and far-between.
Thaen's eyes scanned the gaps of the trees. "I can see the town," he said. "The docks seem to take up half the place."
"Yeah," Laidu said, "that sounds about right. These small fishing towns are born on the sea, and that's where their life comes from. What else do they have? No real good mines around here, and not nearly enough timber to harvest. Too cold for good pastures. Plus, this side of the mountains keeps the cold winds up here. Somewhere like Glanwell and northern Castillera, they're sheltered by their mountains, but not here. Here, only the dark sea allows one to make a living."
"And there's a lighthouse, too," Thaen said. "Pretty little brick thing." He winced. "And there's the lighthouse keeper. I wish I didn't see that."
"Oh?" Karik'ar asked. "What did you see."
"Well, he's surprisingly flexible," Thaen said. "And somehow, he can stand the cold in his skin. And for that age, and all those wrinkles...well." Laidu winced. That put mental images in his head he didn't want in there. "I don't think he's entirely there in the head."
"If he's stretching starkers in the cold, I'd say so," Karik'ar said. "Though how far did you say it was?"
"Hmm. A good five miles, though the lighthouse is a bit farther. Maybe seven or eight miles." Thaen frowned. "You said this land was too cold to farm anything."
"Yeah," Laidu said.
"I see something that looks like a farm," Thaen said. "Well, a small, small farm growing... rocks?"
"Frost melon, maybe." Laidu said. "Taste's like boiled shoe leather, but apparently it's good to distill and brew with. Probably a tavern or something."
"Oh." Thaen said.
"It's not considered a crop. You can eat grain without wanting to retch." Laidu said. Thaen shrugged, pulled the fur closer around himself, and kept marching, his legs working double the pace of Laidu's to keep up.
Skaria was quiet for a good mile of the trek, but finally she spoke. "Why this town?" she asked. "There are plenty of bigger ports, more ships there."
"Exactly. And that's where Kazalibad would look," Laidu said. "I'd rather wait a few days to catch a ship. It's a stupid move that goes against Ranger training. I'm keeping Kyra in danger, but it might be safer."
"Safer?" Kyra asked. Her eyes widened slightly.
"If we go to one of the larger ports, like Broadhill Port or Gullaetown, Kazalibad would be there. He's expecting me to follow Ranger protocol, get you out of harm's way as quickly as possible. He's going to expect that and plan accordingly. So I'm going to go for a contingency. Aiming for what most likely would be something he has covered 'just in case.' Not the most likely choice."
"What if he's expecting that?" Skaria asked.
"He would have no way to know which port town I'm going to. There are about fifteen within a day's walk from here. Every inlet and small bay has its own town." Laidu smiled. "They're too many to be certain which we'd go to."
"Oh," Kyra said. "Still, I just have one question. What makes you think that I'll be safe at home?"
Laidu was quiet. What was he going to say? That he planned, because of his love for her, to find a way to kill Kazalibad? That he planned to assassinate legend? To end a myth? If anyone else had told him that was their goal, he would have laughed in their face. But here he was, about to do that very thing.
"Well, he's trying to stop you from getting to Saefel Caeld," Laidu said. "He doesn't want you to reach home, right? There's a reason for that. I might not know what it is, but Kazalibad wanted you out of Saefel Caeld for a reason," Laidu said.
"Ah," Kyra said. "Seems like that's built on sketchy logic, though," she said.
"It's built on what we know," Laidu said. "It's all we can do now."
***
"Hold on," Laidu said.
They had stopped across the street from a larger building, a tavern most likely. From the smells, Laidu was assured there was food there. His stomach grumbled and hunger clawed at him. "Let me and Karik'ar go in first." He looked at Skaria. "Keep your sword ready. I don't want any surprises." Skaria nodded, and Kyra moved closer to her. "Come on," he said to Karik'ar.
He felt the Kai'Draen's presence behind him as he crossed the street. Laidu felt slightly self-conscious, walking across. Others stared at him, fishwives and kids and old, crusty men stained by salt and yellowfin guts. They have never seen someone like him, and for all Laidu knew, there was no one else like him.
He felt oddly lonely. Thaen no doubt had a sweetheart at home. Or if he didn't, he could find one. A charming Vesperati girl. Skaria, Indra, and Kyra could all find a man, a human man for them to love. Karik'ar could find another Kai'Draen. Or, even if they didn't go with a human, they could find someone of another race to love.
Laidu was alone. Abnormal. Maybe there was another, but how could he find another like him? How could he abide to live with another, when the only person he could ever imagine loving, much less liking, stood behind him, moving closer to Skaria.
He was miring in his own self-pity when he heard three men plotting murder.
"Look, it's easy. He doesn't care how the brat dies. A quarrel through the throat, a blade in the back, shoved off a cliff, all he said was he wants her dead." Laidu stopped by the wall and indicated for Karik'ar to remain silent.
"You don't get it." A second man, voice lower than the first, snapped. "She's not some wench the guy's trying to cover up bedding and she's trying to blackmail. She's bloody Lord Solstael's brat. You want to kill the daughter of one of the most powerful merchant lords in Caeldar?"
"Look," a third, more nasal voice said, "Solstael can only hurt you if you go to Caeldar. Trust me, Willim, there's plenty of nice whores in Castillera you can play with, just like in Caeldar."
"But that's not who I'm really worried about," the second voice said.
"Oh?" the first voice asked. Laidu was ready to move. "And who would that be?" He looked at Karik'ar, nodded, and went for the door.
"The bloody Ranger," he heard, before Laidu shoved the door open.
Everyone in the tavern stopped. A bartender stared, eeys wide. An old, white-bearded man with a face like dried, cracked leather looked up from a mug of dark ale.
The three men, however, had a more drastic reaction. they wore dark clothes, and Laidu saw the glint of armor underneath their pelt cloaks. Swords were drawn, and three pairs of eyes widened, one in shock, one in rage, and one in fear. "Bloody thorns! He's here!" the second one -Willim- shouted.
Give me your blood, Rhaem said. Or was it Kasran? He couldn't tell. We'll end it quick. End it swiftly. With seven heartbeats. Let us do this.
Laidu thought he was crazy. Why? Would they hurt him? Only seven heartbeats, he said.
Seven is all we need. Everything seemed to slow down as he moved without will, as someone else took over his body. He could feel his heart slow, hear the song of Fever Blood replaced with a fuller, more grand song of the same melody.
One. Willim charged towards him, sword thrusting. His armor had little flecks of rust on it, and the sword had nicks on it, but it was used, and used frequently.
Two. Laidu sidestepped the blade, the length of steel barely missing Laidu's heart. The man, with a ratty beard, widened his eyes slowly.
Three. The man swung the blade to try and save the lunge, and Laidu ducked it.
Four. The blade swung over Laidu's head, and he sat up, moving ever faster than he had before.
Five. Overbalanced, he was completely open to Laidu's blows. And now Laidu's arm shot out, motivated by a will that was not his.
Six. Like a viper, his hand wrapped around Willim's throat. Willim's eyes widened more, and he took his last breath.
Seven. And with a flash of this new Blood, Laidu ended Willim's life.
There was a flash of blinding light, and ash crumbled to the ground. Solar Heart. With Fever Blood, you burn with the fire of the forges of war-smiths, the blazes of fires. With Solar Heart, you burn with the fire of the sun.
Laidu stumbled back, head reeling. Be careful, Rhaem said. It will take your blood, consume it faster than the others. Laidu tried to move, but his arms were sluggish and slow. And that was the point when the two other would-be murderers got over their shock and charged.
Karik'ar stepped in. He dodged one wild swing, grabbed one of them, and with a violent twist, snapped his neck. Laidu heard the pop as vertebrae were wrenched out of alignment, saw his lifeless eyes as he fell to the floor. The other's eyes widened as he stared in shock, giving Karik'ar just enough time to scoop the fallen man's blade up and shove it through the final assailant's stomach. He collapsed.
For a moment, there was silence. Laidu steadied himself, head still light, and the two men, the old man with the white beard and weathered face, and the bartender, were quiet. "Out," the bartender said. "Get out."
Karik'ar didn't protest. He put an arm around Laidu's shoulders and walked him out.
The dragon Changed marched over to the others. "Come with me," he growled to Kyra, grabbing her.
"Hey!" she said, tugging back. "What are you doing?"
"We just got bloody attacked in there," Laidu snapped. "I need answers." He led her over to an alleyway, sat her down on a crate stained with something like dried fish guts, sat her down, and slumped over onto another. "Look, you've been keeping a secret. I know that. And before, I didn't care." He sighed, head still a bit light, and he had to think over his words. "But since someone just tried to gut me because I was protecting you, I think I have a vested interest."
"They tried to kill you?" Kyra asked.
"Yes. They're dead now." He paused. "They called you 'Lord Solstael's brat.' You know anything about that?"
Kyra was quiet for a while. "He's my father. The reason that Skaria, Karik'ar,and Indra are after me is because he offered a large reward for whoever found his daughter. I knew he'd do that, but I didn't know how much, precisely. Fifty thousand crowns, according to Indra."
Laidu sighed. "Why?" he asked. His head was starting to feel better, probably from the blood slowly replenishing his veins, but he needed more answers. "Why in the world would you try to hide that?"
"It's complicated." Kyra said.
"We're not going anywhere. I'm not leaving until I know." He looked at Indra. "Take Thaen, check when the next ship to Caeld leaves. Alright?" Indra nodded, grabbed Thaen by the arm, and the two of them left the alley. "Why?"
Kyra sighed. "Would you believe me if I told you that you were my first real friend?" she asked.
"I'd have a hard time believing it," Laidu said. Someone like Kyra, kind and beautiful, would have an easy time getting a friend.
"Well, because of my father, because of my status, everyone is underneath me." She paused. "I had a man who I was romantically involved with." Laidu kept his face a mask of emotionlessness, but inside, he was cringing. She had others who liked her, others who she loved. "He talked of marrying me. Against my father's wishes, of course, as my father wanted me to marry someone of real status, not a minor lord's son. But it enchanted me. I was head over heels for him.
"And then, one day, at a party, I had gone out to the garden to grab something. I don't even remember what it was, but he was on the other side of a hedge, laughing with his friends about how that dumb brat had swallowed the whole fib. How he was pretty much set for life. He had my fortune, my family's name guarding his honor, a dumb whore in his bed who would believe anything he said."
Laidu hated himself for it, but he felt glad. Of course, he was sympathetic to Kyra. He wanted to comfort her, wanted to hold her close and tell her that he wouldn't do anything like that. But he was glad. Her heart, wounded, at least, didn't belong to anyone else. It was selfish, callous, sure. But it was just a gut reaction.
"I see." Laidu frowned. "You didn't want any friendship we had ruined with the idea of you being rich. You didn't want our relationship tainted by greed."
"Exactly." Kyra said. "You treated me like a normal human being. You didn't act submissive, like the servants I know, like the people who are paid to be nice. And since you didn't know, I knew you weren't angling at my fortune." She sighed. "I got to feel like a normal person. And that's something I have to thank you for."
"Oh." He could only imagine the alienation. When everyone else viewed you as strange, as different, it made being treated normally a treasure. Maybe being treated normal happened a lot, but it only took one or two times when someone recoiled at the sight of Laidu to make it seem like every time was like that.
"I mean, I felt horrible about not telling you," Kyra said. "Sorry."
"No, no, I get it. I mean, I needed to know a few minutes ago. I didn't know it was you they were talking about." Kyra winced. "But I'm alive. And relatively unhurt. Though we're not staying there in that inn." Laidu looked up. "Where's Karik'ar?"
"He said something about cleaning the tavern up." Skaria said. "Leaving three dead bodies in there probably wasn't the best thing you could do."
"There's only two." Laidu rose. "I... I let the voices use my power, and they used something called Solar Heart. I turned one to ash." He quickly described what had happened, including the dizzy spell and Karik'ar saving his life.
"That's strange," Skaria said. "Normally, crazy voices in your head don't help." She frowned. "I still don't think you should trust them."
"I don't."
"Good. They did go immediately to violence, and though I am all for solving things by hitting them, I don't think that is healthy."
"I was ready to do that. When you're fighting one, or two maybe, you have nonlethal options. Not in this case," Laidu said. But he didn't even consider not killing them. Did that make him a monster, a fiend?
His thoughts were interrupted by Thaen and Indra. "Good news and bad," Thaen said. "Good news, there's a ship called the Wintersea that's heading out tomorrow."
"Bad news?" Laidu asked.
"Yeah. None of the five taverns we stopped in would take us in," he said.
"Lovely," Laidu said. "Looks like we're going to have to find somewhere else to stay."
***
Eventually, they found a place to take shelter for the night.
Karik'ar flopped down on fortunately clean straw. "I've slept in worse than a stable before." Thaen sat next to him, wrapped up in his cloak. Skaria leaned on Karik'ar's other side, and Indra lay close by.
"I'll say I've never slept in a stable before," Kyra said, leaning down next to Laidu. "The stablehand was kind." He was. He had only looked frightened for a second when he had seen Laidu, and told them that they could stay in one of the cleaner stables. They had all half-buried themselves in the straw, and they needed to keep warm.
Kyra snuggled up close to Laidu. "Thank you for not getting angry," she whispered. "Thank you for not losing your temper."
"Not a problem," Laidu said. He loved the way she curled up against him, loved the smell of her hair, through the dry straw. "I don't tend to get angry that easily." A horse snorted, as if in disbelief, in the stall next to them. Kyra moved closer, wrapping herself up in a bit of Laidu's cloak, pulling straw out of her hair.
"Well, my father's not going to be thrilled that I was sleeping in a stable," she said. "Convinced I'm like a glass statue. Beautiful, but fragile."
"Well," Laidu murmured to himself, "he's half right." By no means was Kyra Solstael fragile.
"Huh?" Kyra asked. "I didn't hear that."
"Oh, nothing. Nothing. It was nothing." Laidu felt his cheeks reddening, heating up. Nothing. That was a lie.
"Of course, that won't be the only thing he won't like," Kyra said.
"What else?"
"You, probably." Kyra sighed. "He's a fan of this philosopher, says that the Changed are just a bunch of urchins and degenerates, and the animal parts are only a tell of that."
"Charming," he said. "I've dealt with worse, probably."
Kyra exhaled. "Well, no matter what, I'm still remaining your friend." And there it was again. Friend. Was that all Laidu was to her? "Because that's what you are. My friend, and my hero." She smiled. "Most ladies don't get their own hero."
"Well, Kyra Solstael, you aren't like most ladies," he said.
She paused. "Just Kyra. Or my full name. Just my given name and surname sounds... odd." She shifted, getting into a more comfortable position.
"Then what is your full name?"
"Kyra Tiranai Solstael." She said it as an oath, a declaration, the words proclaiming who she was, though she was quiet.
"Kyra Tiranai Solstael." Laidu tasted the name, let it roll off his tongue, savored the feel in his mouth. "It's a very pretty name. Not like mine."
"Well, Laidu, your name's unique. It's more... you." Kyra smiled. "I'm going to try to get some sleep. When you keep watch, stay near. I don't feel like freezing." That was a command Laidu was happy to keep. "G'night."
"Goodnight," Laidu breathed. Kyra Tiranai Solstael. As she slumbered next to him, the faint traces of worry in her face vanished, relaxed, erased themselves with the gentle oblivion of sleep. She was so pure, so beautiful. She didn't need jewels, fine samite, or a crown to make her ravishing. She wore furs, no gems or stones, and her crown was a few lengths of straw jutting out of her head, and yet even like that, she was the most beautiful woman Laidu knew.
Kyra Tiranai Solstael. She curled up against his side. So much about her had changed. She wasn't just some young woman lost in another country. She was the Caeldari equivalent of a princess. Rich. High society. And she seemed to enjoy her time with the low-born folks. He remembered that headdress he had gotten her. Compared to the jewels and treasures she had at home, it must have been tacky, but she was gracious enough to accept it.
Kyra Tiranai Solstael. The name itself, beautiful. It was the name of one of those God Himself had made, one of those whose form He had labored over in love, in special devotion. The words of her name, the syllables, as intoxicating as the sweetest wine. And her. She didn't have the fiery beauty of the sunset, but the cool, icy majesty of the glaciers of her home.
Kyra Tiranai Solstael. That was the last name on his mind, the last name on his lips, before he drifted off to join her in sweet, dreamless sleep.