One winged angel
Deakon was dreaming. He was in that semi lucid state where he knew he was dreaming but was powerless to do anything to influence the dream. In the dream a girl, no older than he, wearing a beautiful crown, knelt on a mat floor with a kouta resting against her breast as she played and sang. He felt that he knew her but could not have said why. There was something in the set of her head that almost reminded him of someone, but she was painted like a ningyo doll, and he didn’t know why he felt that nagging sense of recollection.
Gomen na sunao ja nakute
He lay in his blankets listening and gone was the smell of Josian’s breath and it was replaced with the scent of incense, of myrrh and plum blossoms and he dreamt of Tenshiko.
Yume nu naka ieru
She remembered Kirieko with her small and capable hands, fussing at Tenshiko’s robes and patting her on the hip with a hairbrush when she had eaten too many sweets and how proud Tenshiko had been at how still she sat by the door when she admitted guests, and her face painted like a dolls with her puffed out red cheeks.
Shikou kairo wa denki no shoto
For a second he saw her small broken body lying in a pool of her blood, her mouth open in shock. Then it was gone and Kirieko was fussing with the way her robes splayed on the floor, before bowing and handing her the kouta. Tenshiko strummed it thoughtfully, deciding what to play. She would dance later for this man.
Ima sugu aita yo
She remembered the painted panel walls, the images of Tayu dancing.
Nakitaku naru you na gekkoo
For a second they were blood-spattered, and then it was gone, and the walls were lacquered wood and paper painted with beautiful Tayu dancing.
Denwa no dekinai mayonaka
She saw the low slung ebony table covered with glazed fruit and small pink cakes, the oil lamps burning merrily and a piece of half finished calligraphy lain across it for effect.
Datte junjou doushiyou ka
Then the table was smashed, its small white cakes trampled into the mats and the bottle of ink spreading like a stain across the floor with pieces of black glass and a piece of torn paper. Then it was gone and Tenshiko was amazed at the effort that Takajo had gone to, the candied flowers looked real and the room smelt of roses.
Shinzo wa mangekyou
Kirieko slid open the panel door and her customer stood in the doorway. He was a tall thin man with hair cut too short to his head and eyes that seemed almost washed out. He secretly frightened her. He also looked somewhat like a rat. Tenshiko would not give in to her fear and send him away like a common Geiko, she was a Tayu; she would entertain her customer. “This is not my first time,” he said in the formal manner, “Kakyuu-Jeseul sent me.” Tenshiko nodded and began to play.
Tsuki no hikari ni michibikare
He remembered him standing over her with the remains of her kouta in his hands as he brought the polished wood down again and again on her back. Then it was gone and she sat pulling the strings softly to play, the song she had chosen was “Gomen Na Sunao Ja Nakute.”
Nando no mataki kazoe
She remembered that he put her at great unease, his eyes lingered on the open collar of her obebe, painted with small lanterns and at her white hands, how he remarked she was the colour of porcelain. Yet she wasn’t afraid, outside her door were a hundred Senshi who would kill this man for telling her a crude joke. She was Tayu. She was untouchable. She had no reason to be afraid, but he disturbed her.
Uranao koi no yukue
He remembered the customer standing over her, and the glee with which he drove his boot heel down on her fingers. Tenshiko would have screamed if she could have. Then it was gone and his eyes lingered on the white hand against her bosom where she played the kouta.
Onaji kuni ni umaretano
“You play beautifully,” the customer said, taking a sip of his wine and licking his lips. Tenshiko wanted to flee, he made her that uneasy, but he had paid a kings ransom to see the Tayu of Duramatsen. She would not disappoint him.
Shinjite iruno.
“Don’t you run from me, boy!”
Deakon awoke with a start and a yell. He wrestled his way out of his blankets and ran out of the tent where he was violently sick until there was nothing more to come up, and then he retched for several minutes. Then he rocked back on his heels, his hand over his mouth, rocking back and forth, shivering and shuddering as the song stuck in his head. Josian was only a moment behind him, his yell had woken the entire camp and the Cadacus was already pouring him water. “Are you all right, pup?” Josian asked and Deakon hated him for his comfort.
“Bad dream.” Deakon murmured. “I had a bad dream.” He looked up and Maerian was across the fire from him, she knelt before him like a supplicant. “Were you responsible?” He asked her.
“No,” Josian protested.
“Not you,” Deakon said as he wiped his mouth, “her.” He looked clear at Maerian though it was clear that the others couldn’t see her. She shook her head, she looked older than Deakon and had changed from her usual dress into an elaborate obebe covered in a pattern of hemlock and bay leaves. He knew it meant something he just didn’t know what. She lowered her head to show a head dress of cypress twisted through with marigolds with the two golden feathers. In the back of his head he could hear Draima murmuring calming words in her sleep, she had felt his distress in her sleep all the way in Shiro, half a world away.
“Is she here?” The Cadacus asked loosening his sword in its saya.
“Yes,” Deakon said, “she’s always here to gloat.”
“I mean you no harm, brother.” She said quietly, she spoke Darin with an accent, “I merely wanted to see that you were well.”
“Don’t call me brother.” He yelled.
“But you are my brother.” She protested. “You are my Aniki.” That was a much more familiar term for a brother. “You are my twin.”
“My mother bore one child, me. Leave me, you witch!” Deakon hissed at her, he knew how the word hurt him, so why shouldn’t it hurt her too.
Maerian’s face quivered for a moment. “I’m not a witch,” she said a little sadly, “nonetheless if you wish me to leave, I will.” She closed her wing about her and then when she opened it she smiled sadly, and was gone.
“Just leave me alone.” Deakon screamed at her. “Please.” He started to cry. Miho had stuck her head out of the tent at the noise and was startled to see the Cadacus pull Deakon up unto his lap as he sobbed. “please, just leave me alone.” The Cadacus was murmuring something. Miho took one of the blankets from the bedroll she shared with her brother and brought it over to them. When Deakon looked up at her teary, she didn’t say a word, just kissed him on the forehead, her kiss burned like ice, and tucked the blanket about him. The simple gesture of kindness had taken the rage from his sorrow and left him to sob. He fell asleep in the Cadacus’ arms.
He awoke in a bed roll with the Cadacus sitting over him. When he saw Deakon awake he smiled a little. “I thought that you would suffer the nightmare again.” He said as he swept Deakon’s hair out of his face. “Miho has been up half the night with worry which has made Kyo cranky, and Josian won’t tell anyone if you spoke in your sleep. Do you feel up to discussing it.”
“I’ve never had a dream like it.” Deakon said, sitting up. The Cadacus handed him a cup of warm kir, it had been made some time ago, probably for the Cadacus who neither ate nor drank and had taken it for Deakon when he awoke. “It was like I was there, and there were two plays happening at the same time, in one the girl was entertaining a customer, she was singing a song,” the words of it were branded in his memory, he would never forget them, “and in the other the customer was attacking her. The room was ransacked and then he called her boy.” The Cadacus’ face tightened a little but he said nothing. “She thought she was safe, that she was Tayu, but he killed her anyway.”
The Cadacus didn’t breath but Deakon got the impression he just let out a breath he had been holding. “Don’t mention this dream to anyone,” he said, “especially Tobin or Josian, if they ask, you don’t remember, and never mention the song.” Deakon nodded, accepting the advice though he didn’t know why. “Tenshiko is six hundred years dead and her murder nearly plunged the world into war, and sometimes old enmities burn hottest.” Deakon nodded slowly.
“I promise.” Deakon said, for a moment he wondered how the Cadacus knew the girl’s name, but then he realised only one Tayu had ever been murdered. They were untouchable, a kings ransom paid for an hour of their company, only she had ever been murdered. But why did he call her boy. Again after one of the dreams Deakon had more questions than answers. “Cadacus, I am so tired of this.” The Cadacus nodded. “I just want to sleep and it to go away, to not have this power, to not have these dreams.”
“There is a tea,” the Cadacus said, “it will stop you dreaming, you cannot use it often or it won’t work, I’ll get the fixings of it in the next town, and you can have at least one night’s peace from them.”
Deakon’s smile was weary as he touched the Cadacus’ hand. “Thank you.” Then he frowned, emptying the cup of the spicy red kir. “Was Minako like this? Did she have the dreams?”
The Cadacus nodded, “until she was in her late twenties,” he said, “she used to wake everyone up screaming and weeping. I medicated her more than once to help her sleep, that’s why I know about the tea.” He frowned and looked sad, which was unusual, the Cadacus very rarely looked sad except when he spoke of her.
“You loved her didn’t you?” Deakon asked softly.
“No,” he said, “I betrayed her.” That silenced Deakon, “I was in Dramathen when she was killed when my oath was to protect her. I didn’t love her, I was only her husband.”
Deakon thought of the woman he had seen on the field of Samrath in the layers of white, at how she smiled when she saw him, as if she had been waiting for him. “Did she love you?”
The Cadacus shook his head. “We were married for over twenty years, I think I would have noticed.”
Deakon thought about it, would he want Draima see him die, would he want to watch Draima die? The answer was obvious, if he knew either of them was going to their death they would send the other away to be safe. “Maybe she did love you,” he said, “and maybe you loved her, twenty years is a long time to be proud.” He finished the kir, “and six hundred years is a long time to mourn, maybe you need a woman.”
“I am not taking advice on love from a twelve year old boy.” The Cadacus said, “and I don’t mourn her, I betrayed her.”
“You failed her.” Deakon corrected. “I saw the field at Samrath, before I came to Meirin,” he stopped, “both Tobin and Josian said not to tell you, that it would hurt you. I saw her die.” He stopped at the crestfallen expression on the Cadacus’ face. “If you were there you would have died too, before she did. I don’t think she could have stood that. You were in Dramathen because that’s where she wanted you to be.” He got up, preparing to leave the tent. “I know you’re dead, but six hundred years is a long time to be alone, but I don’t think it’s as long as twenty years loving someone and not telling them.”
“Leave me.” The Cadacus said, “please.” Deakon nodded, then turned back and kissed the Cadacus on the cheek in a strange show of affection, he had never kissed his mother like that, but the Cadacus was more than family to him, the Cadacus was all he had left.
Miho and Tobin were arguing, they were bickering over the fire that Kyo was tending as Josian sighed and cooked griddle cakes for breakfast. Miho had bound her hair up and was calling Tobin a bedamned pixie and he was calling her an accursed harpy. It was surprisingly calming, even the look of exasperation on Josian’s face and shame burning bright on Kyo’s couldn’t stop Deakon smiling when he saw it.
“You’re awake.” Josian said brightly. “Are you hungry?” Deakon shook his head. “you better be, you haven’t eaten in three days.” That was all the incentive he needed to put four large griddle cakes on a plate for him. “Eat, and if you miss any I’ll make you more.”
“I actually feel sick.” Deakon protested.
“Then eat them, throw them up, and I’ll make you more until you keep some down. Kyo, is there any kir left in the pot?” Kyo nodded pouring Deakon a cup.
“Don’t argue with him in this mood,” Tobin said, “or he’ll never let it rest.” Deakon wearily took the plate of griddle cakes and bit into one though his stomach loudly protested its objections. He had barely swallowed it when he was forced back to his feet and across the camp where he was violently sick.
“You,” Miho said, looking for words as she glared at Josian, “the poor child is green and you’re force feeding him.” She rubbed Deakon’s back, “I don’t know,” she murmured, “just bring it up, chibi, just let it go.” It seemed even she was calling him chibi now. Her touch was as cold as the Cadacus’. “Why I oughta just encase his feet in ice until he apologises.”
“He means well, Mi-chan,” Deakon murmured. “I haven’t eaten in three days.” He had never called her Mi-chan before and he didn’t know if she’d mind, to his amazement she treated him to a dazzling smile.
“You’ve been through so much,” she said quietly, pulling him into her arms, “you’re the only one who understands, and you’re so little, its easy to forget you’re almost all grown up.” She ruffled his hair where she had rested it against her bosom. “Kyo is going to get jealous of this, you know.”
“I know,” Deakon said, “but he can hold me like this if he wants.” Miho’s laughter was like a fireball, instant and devastating all in its wake. It was the first time Deakon had heard her laugh. She was hard as ice. She was beautiful and if not for Draima in Shiro he would have been head over heels in love with her, he knew that. But her beauty was hard edged, it was something she used to defend herself when the world turned on her for her gift. He knew her so well from what the dead told him.
“I swear Josian is worse than the bedamned pixie.” Deakon tried to laugh at that, but his throat and stomach were too fragile for the attempt. “Where’s the Cadacus?”
“He’s,” Deakon thought for a moment, trying out words, mourning, brooding, “thinking, its still early, he watched me all night.”
“The sooner we get you home, the better.” Miho said fondly. “you’re like a little brother, you know that. If you carry on like this I’ll call you akachan instead of chibi.”
Deakon pouted at the idea of being called baby, even his mother in all her expressions of love had ever called him akachan, she called him Deakon or she called him son, never anything fond. “I hate being called chibi.” He murmured, in Shiro they called him freak, or witch, or other words like that, it was a fond hate of being called chibi. It reminded him that he was a child when the dreams and the death visions made him feel very old.
“What do you want me to call you?” He thought of that for a moment, and a series of answers presented themselves, more than half of them he expected Tobin to suggest.
“Deakon,” he answered, “my friends call me Deak,” only Draima and Tobin called him Deak, but he wouldn’t mind if Miho did, or Kyo for that matter, though he had little in common with the man.
The Cadacus left the tent, clutching his long sword tight. “Tobin,” he called, “are you up to some sparring?” Tobin nodded and fetched his sword from the sheathe on his horse.
It was then that Kyo noticed the way that Miho held Deakon, nestling him to her breast like a child or a lover. He growled, Miho was only offering him mother comfort, something even his own mother had never really given him, even in moments of lucidity. “Shush,” Miho murmured into Deakon’s hair, she smiled at her brother as if to say it was fine, that there was no cause to worry as behind them Josian fussed and Tobin and the Cadacus were sparring in a way that made it look like the Cadacus was trying to kill Tobin and Tobin was doing him best not to let him. Kyo looked at Miho once again, the way she was murmuring into Deakon’s hair and stood up. “May I spar also?” He asked.
Tobin nodded and bowed to the Cadacus signalling that he was really not in the mood for the all out battle that the Cadacus wanted. “Do you have a weapon?” The Cadacus asked, Kyo looked at Miho and formed in his hand was a sword of perfect ice. “Then we will begin. Have you had any formal instruction?” Kyo shook his head. “that much was obvious from the way you hold the blade. Point the tip low, holding it high means you use more energy maintaining pose than attacking,” his voice was almost numb as he spoke, “your motions should be fluid, like grass on the wind.” Behind him Tobin was mouthing the same words, “to be successful in battle, you should be like water, it finds the path of least resistance, and, Tobin, I know perfectly well what you’re doing behind my back, prepare the horses.”
“Yes, Cadacus,” Tobin said taking a brush out of the saddlebags and muttering under his breath, then he laughed, “I haven’t done that since I was a boy,” he said, looking at the Cadacus.
“And I remember when you did that the first time around.” The Cadacus said dryly. “Now watch, Kyo, think of water when you attack. Water can shift stones and wear away mountains, ice destroys and cherishes, nothing stands in the way of water. Now watch,” he brought his sword up in a graceful arc that would have cut Kyo in two, “now replicate it,” Kyo tried to, and the Cadacus with barely moving blocked it, “and again,” he shifted slightly, sliding his icy sword against the Cadacus’ broadsword, who brought his sword up to bring the blade away from him and turned so Kyo’s blade was brought against himself. “Did you see what I did?” Kyo nodded, “now let’s try it again.” Kyo took a step back as he brought the blade up from his knees, forcing the Cadacus to turn his sword to block the blow, then without warning, the Cadacus drove his shoulder into Kyo knocking him flying unto his back.
Josian shook his head at Miho as she went to interfere. She settled back down to watch.
“Watch me, not the sword.” The Cadacus barked. “the sword can be in either hand, it is just an extension of my arm. I am the weapon, not the sword. Try again.” Kyo kept his eyes on the Cadacus this time, who blocked his attack, as Kyo stepped out of the way of a shoulder nudge, tripped over his outstretched leg and fell again.
“Kyo,” Tobin said, “if it makes you feel any better, you’re doing better than I did the first time.” He continued to brush out the horse’s mane with long slow strokes.
“Again!” Kyo said standing up. His face was a mask of fury and the air around him crackled with fiery sparks.
“As you wish.” The Cadacus said, “I am quite content to knock you down all day.”
“We’ll see about that. Don’t hold back.”
The Cadacus raised an eyebrow that Kyo had even noticed that. “As you wish,” he said, and in a flurry of blows Kyo could barely see to block he was flat on his back with a sword point to his throat and a foot on his chest. “Just because a katana is designed to slash doesn’t mean it can’t thrust, you are less exercise than Deakon, perhaps the two of you should spar in future.” Deakon felt a twinge of guilt, he was responsible for the Cadacus’ temper and for Kyo’s mood.
“I will defeat you,” Kyo said and the air around them grew hot, a single drop of blood fell from Kyo’s nose for him to wipe away angrily.
“Not in that temper,” Tobin said, “calm down, watch him, not the sword, try to predict what he’s going to do, where he’s going to be. Now count to ten,” Kyo snarled out the numbers, calming as he went through the upper register, “now try again.”
“You sound like him,” Miho protested, still stroking Deakon’s head as if he was a pet, but her attention was focused on Kyo. She was watching her brother intently and Deakon assumed that if the Cadacus truly hurt him she would attack.
“I trained him,” the Cadacus said, “and if Kyo shows that he can control his temper I will train him, just as I train Deakon.”
Kyo bowed his head and then he brought the sword up, and rather than allowing the Cadacus to block it, he stepped back bringing the sword within the radius of the Cadacus’ face, he was forced to bring his forearm up to protect his eyes, but it was not enough to stop him kicking out and sending Kyo sprawling. “Much better,” he said, “but remember, I am the weapon, not the sword.”
“Maybe he’s not suited to the sword.” Josian ventured, the Cadacus shot him a dark look.
“I have used the sword for five years.” Kyo said getting to his feet, he was going to be black and blue the next morning.
“I personally prefer the binasu,” Tobin said, “and am as happy with a hatchet in one hand and a wakizasshi in the other than using a full bladed broad sword, though I can use one well, and a pike, and a spear, but that doesn’t make it the weapon I’m most suited for.” He was trying to appease the boy, he really wanted to tell him he didn’t really stand a chance with Cadacus the man had been fantastic with his sword when he was alive and six hundred years had made him better. There was not a swordsman alive that was his match.
“Then what do you suggest?” the Cadacus asked.
“That you teach him swordplay to teach him control, but that I teach him to use a weapon, and we’ll try different ones until we find one that fits.” Tobin was skirting around the Cadacus, he was in a foul mood and Tobin knew he couldn’t take him, that only a trained battalion really stood a chance when he was living.
“A Dathylian sentiment,” the Cadacus snapped, “but nonetheless, you taught Deakon to shoot so that he only misses half his targets. I will allow you this.” He sheathed his sword with a dull thud. “Deakon, if you are ready then we will ride.”
Deakon looked up at the Cadacus over the rim of his cup. The concoction the Cadacus had made him was bright green and smelt like month old stockings. “If this is some trick…” he left it open, he couldn’t really threaten the Cadacus but it felt nice.
“Hold your nose and try and get it all down in one go,” Tobin suggested from his side of the table, “he used to give it to me, and no amount of alcohol or honey takes the taste from your mouth if you let it hit your tongue.”
They were sat around a table in a small inn just south of the Termigent in a place called Danekawa ford as they waited for their boat to take them to Sidi. Josian had taken Kyo to buy some necessary provisions, when really he should have taken Tobin, and the Cadacus had taken the opportunity to buy the ingredients for the special tea that would stop Deakon dreaming. “I could make you some warm poppy milk if you want,” Tobin said disingenuously with his bright green eyes wide as if there was no mischief in what he said.
“No,” Deakon said firmly, “not again.” He wanted to leave it at that. He closed off his nose with his fingers and drank the tea as fast as he could, then pulled a face, sticking out his tongue and scrunching his nose and pulling his lips taut. “That’s horrible.” He took a drink of Miho’s kir to get the taste out of his mouth.
She snatched it back. “Now it’s cold and Kyo isn’t here to warm it.” She said with a sigh. “I’m going to take advantage of the springs. If any of you so much as think of joining me…” she at least could carry through the threats she made.
“I’m settling in with a book.” Tobin said, “I found one about this Seraphim who apparently could defeat any enemy.” He sniggered to himself, “and was especially valiant about the rescue of ladies in towers.”
The Cadacus shook his head. “I was going to give Deakon a reading lesson before he went to bed.” Deakon shrugged, his evening planned by the Cadacus.
“Make sure it stays that way.” She flicked her scarlet hair over her shoulder. “Perhaps I need some female companionship.” She said loftily, “so I could be chaperoned surrounded by all these men.”
“You have your brother,” Deakon protested, “I’m underage and the Cadacus doesn’t have those feelings, and Tobin thinks you’re an accursed pixie, so that leaves Josian and I think he likes men.”
Tobin sprayed the beer he was drinking across the table as he laughed out loud. “I’m going to tell him you said that. He has been on his best behaviour since we left Samrath.”
“You mean he likes me?” Deakon asked raising an eyebrow. He was the picture of amused innocence.
“No, chibi,” Tobin said with a smile, “Josian’s a bit of a tart.”
“Is this a case of the knife calling the axe sharp?” The Cadacus said with a smile.
“Just a touch,” Tobin replied with a smile, “it’s one of the reasons that we have been such good friends for so long.”
“You mean that you and Josian are lovers?” Deakon asked managing the same wide eyed innocence that Tobin had a minute ago.
“You evil little chibi.” Tobin said picking him up by the waist. “My apologies, Cadacus, but someone needs a cold bath if he’s having thoughts like that.” He threw him over his shoulder and carried him out of the inn, across the courtyard whilst Deakon couldn’t put up much of a fight for laughing, and dumped him in the horse trough, scaring a messenger who was tethering up his horse and soaking both him and the messenger thoroughly.
“Demon,” Deakon said between laughs. “I’ll kill you,” but he was laughing too hard for anyone to take seriously. “I’m going to tell everyone you two are lovers, and that’s why you always share a room.”
Tobin dunked him, “Take it back,” he said as he lifted Deakon out from under the water.
“Never,” the messenger could tell it was all in good humour but nonetheless he backed away slowly.
“Take it back,” Tobin said leaning in to tickle Deakon’s sides
.
“Never, stop it,” he said thrashing about in the horse trough.
“Are we missing something?” Kyo asked from behind them, his arms were full of packages, and Josian was lingering a few steps behind.
“No,” Tobin said, “we’re just playing.” Tobin said offering Deakon his hand to pull him out of the trough, Deakon took it, and with a wrench pulled him into the water, face first into Deakon’s lap. Deakon’s laugh was truly wicked as Tobin came up, spluttering and red faced. “You little,” he said, going back to tickling.
“Although I have no real problem with you torturing him,” the Cadacus said showing up with a horse blanket, “in filthy cold water I must raise my objections.” He lifted Deakon from the trough as if Deakon was a much smaller child and wrapped him up in the blanket, “although I must admit that I thought it was true.”
Tobin went bright red and was unable to answer that. Josian and Kyo looked at each other, “I get the impression that we missed something.” Josian said quietly, before going into the inn.
“I think it is in your best interests that it was missed,” the Cadacus said dryly, as he walked alongside him, Deakon being led by the hand as the other hand held the blanket tight about him. “I am not sure you would like to know the argument they were sharing.”
“They were arguing over me?” Josian asked, causing Deakon to once again burst out laughing.
“You are a wicked child,” the Cadacus said firmly, “is it a wonder that Tobin decided to give you a bath, now we will have to see if Miho-san has left the spring to get the muck off your body, if not from your thoughts.” It was faintly fond though, and not in any way angry. The Cadacus was obviously as amused as Deakon was by the whole situation.
“Tobin, are you going to tell me what this is about?” Josian asked looking at Tobin, who also was trying not to laugh.
“Later.” Tobin said with a smile, causing Deakon to burst out laughing again.
“Saucy little minx,” Tobin said, reaching forward to flick his ear lobe with his finger, “no matter what you’ve heard, its probably not true.”
“Ah, but only probably.” Deakon said with a laugh, “not that I’ve heard anything.”
“You little,” Tobin said reaching to pick Deakon up again for another in-depth tickling session for the Cadacus to cut him off.
“He’s soaking in stinking water, tickle him when he’s gotten a bath and some dry clothes on, I won’t have you making him sick.” The Cadacus’ eyes were flashing with mischief but he had spoken and Tobin wasn’t going to contradict him on this. “Besides, I have that filthy little mind to wash out, someone has spent too much time with you.”
“Why Cadacus,” Tobin began managing a look of wide eyed innocence, “I don’t know where you got that impression of me.”
“Years of knowing you,” the Cadacus said patting Tobin on the cheek.
“I really feel left out now,” Josian said a little petulantly. “I can’t help but feel that I’m the butt of this joke and I don’t even know what it is.”
“Nothing to worry your pretty little head over,” Deakon said sweetly, “Just ask Tobin to tell you later.”
“Why you,” Tobin said diving for Deakon again, causing Deakon to dance out of the way.
“Why I never, all these beautiful men playing and not a single reason that I can see.” A woman’s voice broke the reverie as they went into the inn’s common room. She was a tall woman, easily as tall as Tobin or Josian, with short grey blonde curls framing a round face. Her dark eyes were painted with wide dark slashes, and her mouth bare, hanging from the centre of her forehead was an elaborate twist of diamonds with no chain to fix it in place. She wore lavender silk with a slightly darker lavender velvet cloak and it was clear that she was wealthy. Tobin’s face lit up when he saw her.
“Emithi, I never thought to see you here.” Whatever else Deakon had heard of Tobin’s reputation the fact that he knew this woman proved it. She arranged the folds of fabric so it showed a large expanse of bosom, “what brings you to the Danekawa Ford?”
She smiled, although this woman was older than Deakon’s mother, Deakon was surprised by how pretty she was, and how girlish, a string of diamonds surrounded her neck that was yet to sag and it was clear she was aiming at Tobin. “I brought my boys to see the handmaiden’s temple in Aran, now I know Josian, are you going to introduce me to the rest of your friends?”
“It would be my pleasure,” Tobin said bowing, and lifting her hand, she wore a coil of opals around her wrist that glowed in the lamplight, he kissed it eloquently, “this is the Cadacus,” he looked at the Cadacus who bowed his head slightly acknowledging the introduction, “and this is his,” Tobin’s pause was momentary, “son, Deakon, whom he is taking to Muchine,”
“And the young man with the beautiful skin?” Emithi pressed.
“My name is Kyo, my lady,” Kyo almost snarled it out. Kyo obviously didn’t like the woman or the way that she looked at him like he was some favourite meal to be consumed at her leisure. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.” He grated it out.
“The pleasure is all mine, I assure you.” She purred at him.
“Everyone,” Tobin continued, ignoring Kyo’s temper, “this is Emithi D’Aino, Bishop of Amitre. The most beautiful churchman in Dathyl.”
Emithi batted at Tobin’s arm playfully, “you are still a terrible flatterer and an incorrigible flirt. I must have had a vision to know to leave my Taliasen in Amitre to avoid your predations.”
“Surely she is still too young for such a long journey.” Josian said, “the last time I saw her she was still a babe in arms.”
“Taliasen is twelve now,” Emithi countered, “and you are as bad a flirt as him,” she flicked her eyes to Tobin, “I have not seen you pair in nearly ten years, if I wasn’t so forgiving I might have sent my guard to fetch you back for me, the cathedral of Amitre is empty without you, my Tobin.”
Tobin smiled and took Emithi’s hand, “and you do not look a day older, so tell me, Emithi, are you in love?”
“You wicked boy,” Emithi said batting him on the arm, “that is why I will not let you meet my daughter, now come, the Cadacus’ son is drenched to the skin, and I smell your stink about that,” she gave Deakon a dazzling smile, “I have had baths brought to my room for my sons to bathe, I am sure they won’t mind smelling for another day, for nothing short of the rapture will get them into the bath without prompting, and you and I can reminisce, you can humour an old woman’s fancy with your flirting.”
“In my eyes you could never be old, Emithi.” Tobin said with a predatory smile, “you are as beautiful as you were as a girl, if not more so.”
“And you are as honey tongued as your reputation.” Emithi’s smile was arch and playful, “and more so than I remember.”
“My lady,” The Cadacus said with a low bow, “I must thank you for you kind offer, but refrain from accepting it, Deakon is soaked to the skin and thick with muck from Master Tobin’s prank, I will dunk him in the springs until he is clean, I would hate for him to trek mud into your rooms.”
“It’s no problem, Sir Cadacus,” she said giving him one of the dazzling smiles, and was surprised when it had no effect on him. “Believe me, and as a bishop, you should know I can’t lie.”
“I should check on my sister,” Kyo said angrily, trying to extricate himself from a situation that made him uncomfortable.
“She was in the hot springs,” the Cadacus said, obviously not liking the Lady Emithi any more than Kyo did, “Deakon and I will accompany you to see if they are free.”
“I insist,” Emithi said with enough steel in her voice to give the Cadacus a moment’s pause, “I have not seen Tobin and Josian in nearly ten years, they must tell me what has happened in the mean time, Master Kyo, I would much like it if I could meet your sister, if she is half as pretty as you, for I have a son about your age and perhaps you could be acquaintances with him.” Kyo went rigid. “And Master Deakon, if you do not take advantage of my kindness I will be vexed. Tobin, Josian, if you would call on me later.”
The Cadacus admitted defeat at that. “Then thank you, my lady.” He said with another bow as she swept up the stairs. His hand was tight on Deakon’s shoulder and it was clear that he had no intention of letting go anytime soon. “You must allow us to make this kindness up to you.” The Cadacus obviously knew the ways of the Dathyl court better than he had let Deakon believe.
“We shall see about that,” Emithi gave him another of her dazzling smiles. “Tell me, Cadacus, are you married?”
“Yes, my lady,” he answered, “my wife is Shinigami no Minako. She is the light of my heart.” He answered, it was all true, he just didn’t mention the fact that she was dead.
“And she is master Deakon’s mother, I assume.” She was pressing him for information.
“No, my lady, Deakon is adopted following the death of his father, his mother asked us to look after him, we have no children of our own, but we love Deakon as the son we never had.” The Cadacus was perfectly capable of lying, but everything he said was in some way true.
She made a face as if that made sense to her, “and how is it that you know Tobin? I wasn’t aware that he often left Dathyl.”
“I trained Tobin in the sword,” the Cadacus answered sharply, “when he was a boy.” That was honesty, everyone had told Deakon that. “When we started our journey in Shiro we met with Tobin just north of Samrath, he was on his way to Dathyl and said that he would accompany us. Kyo, and his sister Miho, are merely servants on our retinue, to make Deakon’s transition easier.”
“You said you were going to Muchine.” Emithi prodded as the door to her room opened, it was much finer than the one the Cadacus shared with Deakon, and set on the floor was a copper bath, men and women in silver grey livery were about the room, and at one table by the window were two boys, both older than Deakon, one about eighteen and the other sixteen, were playing capture.
“Yes, my lady, Deakon’s mother was Aatorian and she evinced a desire for her son to know both countries equally well. I am acquainted with Lady Saaraphine and she agreed to foster Deakon, surely your sons followed a similar practice.” The Cadacus said with just a hint of irony in his voice.
“We have not fostered our sons in Dathyl in centuries.” Emithi said loosely, “what they learned they learned from me.” She clapped her hands, “Eva, Ana, prepare our guests some kir, and the bath for Master Deakon, I am sure some of Joshoa’s clothes will fit him well enough.”
“My lady,” the Cadacus protested, “your kindness is excessive, our room is only down the hall and Deakon has clothes there.” His tone was icy.
“I would not hear of it,” Emithi said settling her self on a padded chair and removing her cloak to show that her dress was cut around the breasts with no shoulders to speak of. Her skin was firm and well tended for a woman her age, and it was clear she was aiming her cap at the Cadacus and not only was he well aware of it, it annoyed him.
“Mama, who is this?” The younger boy, Joshoa said petulantly.
“This Joshoa,” Emithi said with a bow. “Is the Cadacus.”
“My name is Takehito Mamoru Senshisha, my title is the Cadacus.” The Cadacus corrected her, making sure she lingered on the suffix, he was the Senshisha, she knew what that meant, and then she started to back away from him.
“It is an honour, Takehito-san,” the older boy said with a bow, “perhaps we could spar in the morning before the ferry arrives, I have heard much of the reputation of the Senshisha and I would be honoured for the opportunity to practise against him.” The boy was tall and slender, with a bookish look about him, he was pale as if he had not spent much time in the sun, but there was a grace to his movements that matched both the Cadacus and Tobin. His hair was as dark as his eyes, and the shape of his face similar to his mother’s. He was her heir and that was clear.
“Devlin,” Emithi hissed, not liking the turn of events that this had taken.
“I would be honoured, your highness.” The Cadacus said with a bow, “I trust that you have some skill with the blade.” Devlin nodded and then turned back to his game but his brother still stared at the two of them incredulous.
“And you boy, who are you?” Joshoa asked, he looked nothing like his mother, his hair was an unruly ginger, and his skin blotchy, his figure was broad and there was a look of fat about him. His voice was squeaky in that stage just before it broke.
“My name is Taira Deakon,” Deakon said with a bow, despite that the cold water Tobin had dunked him in was drying to his skin and clothes, “I am the son of Taira Hatsuhara and his wife.” Emithi did some calculations in her head, Deakon could see it. She knew something about him, something occurred to her when she heard the name of his father.
“Consider our debt of honour paid, Cadacus,” Emithi said, “that we could be in the presence of such august personages. Now I promised Master Deakon a bath. Devlin, Joshoa, could you run to the kitchens and alert the staff that two more will be dining with us this evening.”
“But Mama,” Joshoa protested.
“Now,” Emithi’s bark was an order and Devlin bowed to her as he lifted his brother by the collar.
“It was a pleasure to meet you, Cadacus,” he said using the same title that his mother had, this boy was a statesmen, but Deakon had no idea what the other brother would do. “I will await our sparring match.”
“Into the bath, chibi,” the Cadacus said pushing Deakon forward, “it is best not to keep the bishop waiting.”
Tobin stood up perfectly straight as he entered the room to find a long polished broadsword at his throat, the expression on the face of the Cadacus was murderous, “explain, D’Cevni.”
Tobin went to swallow but it was stopped by the edge of the sword just below his adam’s apple. “Emithi is an old friend.”
“She is,” the Cadacus paused and took a deep breath, lowering the sword, “if she comes near us again I will personally chop those hands from her, and then gut you like a fish.”
“Yes, Cadacus,” Tobin said, “I didn’t know she would be here.” It was the only explanation he was going to give. “She’s just a little forceful, but she’s a good person.”
“She has more hands than a…” Deakon stopped looking for a word.
“The woman is part squid.” The Cadacus said firmly. “She wouldn’t let us leave until she was happy that Deakon sparkled, and in that time her hands were everywhere.”
“I’ll have words with her about that,” Tobin said, lowering his eyes, “I should have told you that she’d back off if you said you were married.”
“I did.” The Cadacus gritted out. “The fact that I am cold to the touch with no obvious pulse was more of an incentive for her, she wanted to try to warm me up.” Tobin was obviously trying to prevent himself from laughing. “Kyo is next on her itinerary, so I have sent him away. He will meet us on the boat tomorrow, and I have to spar against a lordling.”
“Be fair,” Tobin said, “Devlin’s pretty fair with a sword, just because I haven’t seen Emithi in ten years doesn’t mean I haven’t seen Devlin.” The Cadacus’ face tightened even more.
“Go in there, and keep her occupied, or I will make sure you sing soprano, and take Josian with you, if one of you keeps her occupied the other can guard the door.” The Cadacus was furious at Emithi’s presumption. “I will not stop Kyo if he tries to kill you for this, or if Miho takes objection to the lady bishop.”
“Emithi’s not that bad, you should have met her mother.”
“I have not been pawed like that since Nehelenia of J’Dan.” The Cadacus growled. “And she even apologised. I don’t think this bishop knows what I am.”
“I’ll tell her.” Tobin said, rubbing at his throat, “I’ll tell her you’re a six hundred year old reanimated corpse.”
“Why do I get the impression that would only be a challenge to her.” The Cadacus sheathed his sword.
“I’ll tell her you like men,” Tobin suggested.
“I get the impression that she would ask to watch.” Deakon went bright red at that.
“She only ever asks me to sing.” Tobin shrugged.
“You look no older than her son.” The Cadacus growled. “Deal with her, Tobin, or I will deal with you. Deakon, fetch me the papers from our bags, and we shall start tonight’s lesson.”
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