Chapter 19

They ate fruit and flatbread as darkness fell, and again Never kept watch on the doorway, listening too, but it seemed there was at least enough time to finish their meal before leaving once more. If pursuit was to come, even aided by the field-workers, it would have to actually reach the site of Ayuni’s escape before locating and then following their trail.

“So where is your mother?” Never asked.

“In the Cesanha Mountains,” she said. Ayuni was much calmer now but the troubled look had not totally left her eyes.

Never raised an eyebrow as he took a drink of water. “Isn’t that halfway across Kiymako? She must have mighty lungs to tell you I was coming from there.”

She laughed, and the welcome sound eased his own worry. “No. She told me when I was very young, before Father came to take me away.”

“Ah. When was that?”

“I was five, I think. It’s been nearly twelve years at the end of this summer, of being carted from temple to temple so they could drain me for their salves.”

Never lowered his flask. “They use your blood for healing?”

She nodded. “The monks mix it with regular medicine and use it to save those who cannot be healed by regular means, and sometimes themselves. Part of me is glad that my blood can help people...”

“You’re not something for them to harvest, Ayuni,” he said, a little more sharply than he’d intended.

But she only nodded.

Never found himself pacing again. Once more, Father had revealed new depths of his depravity. Was there no limit to how far the man could sink? “Is that why he left you at the temple?”

“He only told me I would be safe there, and that the monks would protect me,” she said. “And that he would return soon.”

“A lie I’m sure he spoke to many.”

“To you?” she asked.

“Not that I remember... but certainly to my mother,” he said. “But I’m sorry to have led the conversation to him. Tell me more of your mother and how you think we can reach her. Is she an Isansho or can she help us escape Brother Hiruso somehow?”

“I think she can, yes. But in my mind, she was always more humble than any overseer. If we can reach the mountains, I would love for you to meet her, Never.”

“And I her.” He glanced into the darkness beyond the farmstead. The moon would be rising soon, their best chance to travel swiftly. Now that he’d actually found Ayuni, he had to protect her and if that meant travelling halfway across Kiymako then he’d do just that. “Do you have any ideas of how we’re going to reach the mountains?”

“I didn’t think about it when I called the fire. I simply ran – I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, we’ll figure something out. We can start with the cover of darkness.” She probably didn’t know the countryside too well, if she’d been confined to temples or a steel cage most of her life, but there was still Niswan’s friend Pinshe in the Blue Feather. Even if heading to the capital would be a great risk, there was at least one person who might be able to help.

And visiting Mondami wouldn’t be much of a detour at all, since both it and the mountain range lay to the east of Takbisu.

Still, was it too great a risk?

Before finding Ayuni, he hardly had a plan of his own for what would happen after. He’d simply needed her to exist. But now he might have a chance at more – he’d found a family member who needed him. And perhaps someone who would understand him, who might see the world like he did. Who might become the sibling Snow should have been.

And Never would protect her no matter what they faced.

“Never? Is something wrong?”

He sighed. “I’m trying to think of someone who might be able to help us. I have a name but they’re in the capital. I’m not thrilled about travelling closer to Brother Hiruso.”

“I know perhaps two monks in all the temples who I would trust. One resides in the capital and the other in Yalinamo. I think we need a disguise.”

“Any ideas?”

“How about a Lady and her Bodyguard?”

“Well, it’s not far from the truth at all but I still don’t think I’ll ever pass for Kiymako,” he said with a smile.

“The very rich have been known to employ foreign blades. People will assume you’re a holdover from before the sealing of the harbour.”

“All right, that might do for most people, but the monks will be looking for me specifically – and you too.”

“Then we need to act the part,” she said. Her voice grew hard with resolve. “And put a stop to any who see through.”

“Agreed,” he said. Obviously she didn’t want to be recaptured and he’d burn every damn monk to the ground before he let them take her. “And I can’t think of anything else so let’s try it. But we’re still going to need help with this. I know someone but we have to head back to Takbisu City.”

“Are you sure?”

He nodded. “More and more. Hiruso’s men will be focusing their search beyond the point of your escape. They’ll assume that neither of us would be stupid enough to return to a densely populated place like Takbisu.”

She hesitated. “But thanks to you, we are?”

“I know. But they don’t know that,” he said with a grin. “So, all we have to do is slip inside and let Niswan look after us.”

Ayuni blinked, a hand reaching up to touch the silk at her throat. “Niswan the Seamstress?”

A voice spoke from the darkness. “Yes, but I’d rather we left her out of it this time.”

Never spun, dagger in hand but the voice was familiar. A large shape blocked the light. “Muka?”

“It is.” He entered, footfalls soft. When he reached their room, he inclined his head to Ayuni. “Lady. I am relieved to see you well.” He was sweating but moved easily enough; he still bore a tyrant and pack with little to suggest he’d recently been mortally stricken.

Ayuni stood, offering him her chair. “Please, you look exhausted.”

“I fear we cannot afford to rest until we find a safer place to do so.”

Never introduced Muka to Ayuni properly before turning back to the warrior. “You’ve seen searchers?”

“None, but they will be heading this way sooner or later. And if I could follow the traces of spent lunai, believe others will be able.”

Never met the man’s gaze. “Niswan didn’t let you follow us, did she?”

“I do not need a nursemaid.”

“That’s not why she’s worried –”

“I meant you, Never,” he said with a faint smile. “Understand, I have come here to fulfil not only my word as I gave it to Wanatek, but my debt to you. I owe you my life.”

Never shook his head. “You’re too forgiving; it was my idiocy that landed us in that mess with Hiruso in the first place.”

“You must accept me if you are to help your sister.”

“And you have to tell us if you need to rest. I saw what he did, Muka. Even with my blood, you must need more time to heal.”

“A warrior heals through action.”

“A lovely thought but I’m not carrying you if you collapse,” Never said.

Again, his smile was slight. “That is fair.”