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“MEMFIS,” AVEN ASKED as Memfis drove the cart through a wide gate. “Is this a palace?” He glanced behind them, and saw that two men were closing the gate.
Memfis chuckled. “No, but I can see why you’d think so. You’re about to meet the scion of one of the first families of Forge, a straight line descendant of Nerris and Axia.”
Aven shrugged. “That doesn’t impress me nearly as much as you seem to think it should,” he said. “I’m a straight line descendant of Abin and Axia. So this person is technically related to me.”
“What about this, then?” Memfis offered. “Her bloodline is the first page of the Book of Silver.”
Aven looked at him. “Shouldn’t the entire Fire tribe’s bloodlines start on page one of the Book of Silver?”
Memfis burst out laughing. “True. Very true.”
“You told Karse you were taking me to meet your mother. My grandmother, if we go with the story. Is she really your mother?”
Memfis looked around. “It’s safe inside these walls. She’s Fisher’s adoptive mother,” he answered. “She knows who I really am. She’s known me since I was a boy. She’s not my mother, but she’s the closest I have to one.” He drew back on the reins, and the cart slowed and stopped. “You can go let them out,” he added, nodding toward the back of the cart.
Aven jumped down and went to the rear, moving bundles so that he could flip back the canvas cover. “Owyn, Aria, we’re here.”
Owyn sat up, blinking sweat out of his eyes. “And we’re needing another bath after that,” he grumbled.
“And something to drink,” Aria added. She wiped her face. “Where are we?”
“Big house, belongs to someone important. That’s all I know,” Aven answered. Owyn looked up.
“Lady Meris,” he said. “She’s the Senior Smoke Dancer for the city. Sits on the Council. Both Councils. She’s been part of ruling Forge for fifty years at least.”
Aven frowned. “I thought you said smoke dancing was illegal.”
“Now it is, sure,” Owyn said. “Except for her. Lady Meris... she’s honorary grandmother to most of Forge. If Mannon tried to have her removed from the Council, there’d be blood in the streets. So she’s the last official Smoke Dancer, and the oldest. And the best. And there’s a Magistrate chomping at the bit, waiting for her to stand down so he can finally take her place. But she just keeps on going.”
“Out of pure, unadorned spite,” Memfis said as he joined them. “She says she’s keeping her seat until the Firstborn once more wears Axia’s Crown. Come along. We shouldn’t keep her waiting.” He turned and headed toward the house. Aven glanced at the others. Owyn just nodded, then turned and followed Memfis.
“Are you all right?” Aven asked Aria. She nodded.
“I wish I knew more of what is going on. What Memfis is planning,” she said as they started walking after Owyn. “I feel as if I’m in the middle of The Lay of Axia’s Choice, and I’m missing half the notes of the song.”
Owyn turned around, walking backwards. “You sing?” he asked. “Why haven’t I heard you sing?”
“Because there hasn’t been much time for music for a long time,” she answered, and took his arm. “I haven’t sung a note since before I left my flock. Do you sing?”
“Yeah, some. I like music. How about you, Aven?”
“A little,” Aven admitted. “Not as good as some, but I can carry a tune. I drum. But most of the Water tribe knows how to drum. It carries well underwater.” He looked ahead. “There’s someone there.”
At the door of the house, they saw a woman, stooped with age and leaning on a cane. Her crepe-like skin was dark, but not as dark as Memfis’, and her hair had gone completely white. She was the oldest person Aven had ever seen. Older than his grandmother, he was certain. Possibly old enough to be his grandmother’s grandmother. Memfis leaned down to hug her. Then he turned to look for them.
“Come here,” he called. “You need to meet our benefactor.” He turned back to the old woman. “Meris, this is—”
“I think I know who she is,” Meris said, her voice stronger than her appearance would have indicated. “Memfis, you’ve brought me a great gift.”
“I couldn’t not bring her, Meris.” He held his hand out to Aria. “Aria, daughter of Milon, this is Meris. Your great-grandmother.”
Aria stopped, her nails digging into Aven’s arm. “My... my what?” she gasped.
“You didn’t warn her, Memfis?” Meris said. “Oh, that’s cruel. She had no idea I even existed.”
“You didn’t know about me, either,” Aria said.
“I did. I knew. Milon told me that his Liara was expecting, the last time he came to visit me.” Meris held her hands out. “Come and let me look at you. My eyes aren’t what they used to be.”
Aria let go of Aven’s arm, and moved to stand in front of the old woman. Meris straightened slightly, one hand on her cane for support. She smiled.
“You’re his, and no mistake about it,” she said. “I can see him smiling in your eyes.” She held her hand out. “Come inside. I want to know you. I’ve waited a long time for you, my dear.”
Aria took Meris’ hand, and Meris led her into the house. Memfis gestured for Aven to follow. Owyn waited until Aven was next to him before he started walking.
“She’s a legend, Lady Meris is,” he said, his voice low. “She’s possibly one of the strongest Smoke Dancers ever. She wore the Fire gem for Firstborn Riga. Her oldest daughter was Firstborn Tirine, and her younger was Milon’s mother.”
“Does that mean I’m related to Milon? And to Aria?” Aven asked.
“No, Riga didn’t sire either girl,” Memfis answered, falling back to walk with them. “They were full sisters, and their father was another Smoke Dancer.”
“His name was Versin,” Meris called back, and laughed. “My eyes are failing me. My ears are not. Memfis, once we’re settled, introduce me to the young Water man.”
“What about me?” Owyn protested. Meris looked back and smiled.
“I already know you. My darling reprobate. My bonus grandson. My Owyn.”
Owyn grinned. “I know. I just wanted to hear you say it.”
“And you’re a brat,” Meris finished.
Aven snickered. “She really does know you,” he teased. Owyn elbowed him gently. “How’s Trinket? How’d she do on the trip?”
“Burrowed into the straw and went to sleep,” Owyn answered. He patted his pocket. “She’s here now, and she’s fine. I wish she’d have stayed. We’re not going to be safe.”
“Maybe she’ll stay here?” Aven suggested. Owyn looked up at him.
“I’ll have a talk with her. And with Lady Meris. But Meris keeps cats, so maybe not.”
They walked through the halls, and Aven knew that if he’d been left to his own devices, he’d have been hopelessly lost in a matter of minutes. Finally, they stopped in a large room lined with bookcases. There were cushioned chairs here and there, and a long, high wooden table along one wall that bore bottles of various colors.
“Come in and sit,” Meris said. “Aria, sit here by me. Memfis, introduce me.” She sat down in a tall chair and smiled. “It’s all right, my dear. I don’t bite.”
Memfis turned to Aven, who came to stand in front of Meris. He bowed, the way he would have to his own grandmother.
“Meris, may I present Aven, son of Aleia and Jehan?” Memfis said formally.
“Of what canoe?” Meris asked. Aven blinked.
“Arana’s canoe, Mother,” he answered, giving her the formal title he’d have offered to any older woman of the Water tribe. She smiled.
“You’re surprised I know to ask that?,” she asked. “I spent years with a Waterborn as one of my closest friends. Hara, of Listell’s canoe. She was our Water. Arana’s canoe, that’s a very exalted bloodline. And Aleia and Jehan? My Milon’s Aleia and Jehan?”
“Yes, Mother,” Aven said.
“Then you’re Riga’s blood! His... let me think. His great-grandson.” She leaned back in her chair. “Well.”
“I only just learned that,” Aven admitted. “Ah... yesterday? The day before? I’ve lost track of the days.”
Meris nodded. “I see.” She looked thoughtful, then up at Memfis. “We shouldn’t keep them, Memfis. We’ll only bore them with our talk.”
Memfis arched a brow, then nodded. “Owyn, why don’t you show Aven and Aria down to the kitchens, and get something to eat?”
“Do we have to go?” Aria asked. She blushed when everyone looked at her. “I... I’ve only just found you. I don’t want to leave yet.”
Meris smiled gently. “I’m not throwing you out into the streets , my dear,” she said. “Just sending you off for a bit. We’ve time before the Council meeting to get to know each other.” She made a graceful shooing gesture. “Now go along. We’ll walk in the garden later, just you and I.”
“Come on,” Owyn said. He led them out of the room, and into the hall. Once the door was closed, he looked up and down the hall. Then he turned to them, a serious expression on his face. “Come on,” he repeated, this time in a whisper. “Follow me. Don’t argue.”
Shocked, Aven looked at Aria, who shrugged. They followed Owyn down the hall to another door, and into another room.
“Owyn, what are we doing?” Aven asked.
“Listening,” Owyn answered. “Look, you don’t have to. Not if it makes you uncomfortable. But I need to. I... you need to know why. I don’t like it when people talk about me behind my back. On the streets, that shit gets you killed. I learned that lesson a long time ago, and I learned it well. So, I listen.” He looked at Aven, then Aria. “If I don’t know, I get nervous. Scared. And... yeah, it’s not good. Mem understands. He usually is pretty good about making sure that I know what’s being said. But this? He usually doesn’t shut me out. He knows I don’t deal well with it. And he only ever does it with Meris, so... I listen.” He pointed to another door. “That closet backs up to Lady Meris’ library. We’ll be able to hear them if we’re quiet.”
Aven looked at the door. “Memfis won’t like this, will he?”
“Probably not. But this is about us. And what we don’t know might hurt us,” Owyn looked at the door. “Are you coming, or not?”
“I am,” Aria said. “I don’t like being sent from the room like a child.”
Aven nodded. “I’ve spent the past few weeks feeling as if I’ve been swimming my entire life through muddy waters, and just never knew it. I’m not going back to ignorance now.”
Owyn smiled. “Right. Once I open that door, not a word, not a sneeze, not a fart. Got it? If we can hear them, they can hear us.” He opened the door and they crowded inside. The closet was small, and cramped, and they couldn’t close the door because of Aria’s wings. They ended up with Owyn kneeling, and Aven standing over him, with Aria pressed against his back. And, as Owyn said, they could hear every word.
“— drink, Meris?”
“Just tea. Which you should have as well. I don’t want you crawling back into a bottle, Memfis.”
Memfis’ voice grew louder, and Aven realized that this wall was the same as the one that ran behind the long table of bottles. “As if I would,” Memfis said. “No, I need my head on straight for this.”
“Tell me your thoughts, then.”
“I’m still getting my thoughts in order,” Memfis said eventually. “She’s the dove. I’m certain of it.”
“Memfis, really. We were all of us certain about Yana.” There was a long pause. “No. No, I’m wrong. You were the only one who said you weren’t certain. I was always impressed that you didn’t tell the rest of us ‘I told you so’ when she vanished. So convince me. Why are you so sure of Aria, when you weren’t about Yana?”
“Yana didn’t have any of her Companions. She wasn’t interested in finding them, either. Aria has two of the four. Aven is the water-cat. Owyn is the flame,” he chuckled. “My Owyn. My Fire Mouse.”
“Are you surprised?” Meris asked. “He’s been through the heart of the furnace to become the man he is. And then you took him and put an edge on him. He still has his flaws, but he’s a masterwork all the same. Memfis, you should be proud of him.”
“I am,” Memfis said.
Aven looked down and smiled, resting his hand on Owyn’s shoulder. Owyn tipped his head back.
“You’re that sure of them,” Meris said. “And what? What are you hoping to accomplish tonight?”
“Tonight? I’m getting them the fuck out of Forge—”
“Memfis! Language!”
“Sorry. But not much. You know as well as I do that this place is Mannon’s back pocket. And he knows they’re here.”
“They’re connected to the fire in the harbor?”
Memfis sighed. “I don’t have the whole of it, I don’t think. Aven was ill. Aria told me some of it, but I think Aven will need to tell you the rest.”
“Memfis, if you can’t convince me, you can’t convince the others,” Meris said. “So convince me.”
“It’s not my place to convince you, Meris. That’s for Aria and her Companions. She does have the Diadem. I’ve seen it. And... Meris, she’s a Smoke Dancer. Untrained, but she’s had her waking vision. And she’s had the vision of the dove.”
“She inherited the gift?” Meris sounded shocked. “And she’s had visions without being in the vents? Mother of us all, Memfis, how can she possibly dance in the vents with wings? There isn’t room!”
“Apparently, she dances on air,” Memfis said. “From what she’s told me, all of her visions were had on the wing.”
“Oh,” Meris gasped. “Oh! How are you going to teach her?”
“I have no idea,” Memfis said. “Now, tonight? All I want is the supplies we’ll need on the road. I’m not looking to start the war tonight, Meris. We need to find her other two first. That was the mistake the last time.”
Aria tapped Aven on the shoulder. He turned to see her gesture out of the closet. She stepped out, and Aven tapped Owyn. They slipped out of the closet and closed the door.
“More questions than answers,” Aria said. “Do either of you know who Yana is?”
“You know I don’t,” Aven answered. “What’s the vision of the dove?”
“That I will tell you later,” Aria said. “Owyn?”
“I know it. I’ve had it. But I’ve never heard the name Yana before,” Owyn added. “Let’s go to the kitchen. We’ll get something to eat, and go out into the gardens and talk. The gardens are private, and I don’t know about you two, but I’m hungry.”
Aven nodded. “I could eat. All right.” He looked back at the closet. “That didn’t make much sense.”
Owyn nodded, and led them out of the room and down the hall. There were people in the kitchen who seemed to know Owyn, and who were more than happy to put together a meal for them to share in the garden.
“And no cheese,” Owyn said. “And could we have extra salt, please?”
An older woman chuckled. “I know how to feed a child of water, Master Owyn. Go along with you, and I’ll bring the basket to the garden.”
Owyn turned slightly pink, and led Aven and Aria through the kitchen and out into a large garden surrounded by a high wall. Owyn led them to a wooden structure covered with plants, and where there was a stone table and several benches.
“You spend a lot of time here?” Aria asked.
“We come every Respite,” Owyn said. He tucked his hands under his arms. “Huh. I just realized something.”
“What?” Aven asked.
“Mem is a lousy liar.” Owyn snorted. “He told Karse that he’d sent me out to the coal field yesterday, didn’t he? That’s what I thought I heard.”
“He did,” Aven agreed. Then he groaned. “But Fandor saw you at the forge today!”
“Right.” Owyn sighed. “Good thing we’re out of here tonight.” He looked up and shook his head. “He scares me.”
“Fandor?” Aven asked.
Owyn nodded, starting to shift gently from foot to foot. He tucked his chin down to his chest. “If he gets his hands on me again, I don’t think I’m surviving it.” Owyn’s voice was quiet.
“We’re not letting him get his hands on you,” Aria said. She moved to stand behind Owyn, putting her arms around him and resting her cheek on his shoulder. “You’re mine now. No one is taking you away from me.”
“Ours,” Aven corrected. “He’s ours. You have to share.”
Owyn smiled and covered Aria’s hands with his own. “Keep telling me that, will you?”
“Mine,” Aria repeated. “Mine, mine, mine.” She paused, glanced over at Aven, then sighed. “All right. Ours.”
“Yes, ours,” Aven agreed, coming to stand in front of Owyn. He rested his hands on Owyn’s shoulders, then stepped closer, wrapping his arms around Owyn and Aria. “Ours.”
He felt Owyn sigh against his chest, and rubbed his cheek against Owyn’s short hair. Behind him, he heard a door opening. Their meal, he assumed, and let go so he could turn. There was a man there, a stranger.
“No,” Owyn’s moan sounded like it came from a wounded animal. “No, no, no...”
Aven knew immediately who this was. Fandor. How had he gotten into the garden? No time to think of that now — he stepped in front of Owyn, hiding him from view. “Go inside,” he whispered.
“He is between us and the inside,” Aria said. She joined him. “And I think he came from inside. Try to get past him.” she said softly.
“I can’t leave you!”
“I am armed. You are not.” She raised her left arm, and armed her crossbow. “You will come no further,” she ordered.
“I heard you, you know,” Fandor said. “He’s not yours. He never was. He’s mine. My little slut, and I’m not leaving without him.” He gestured, and men in the same uniform that Karse had worn came filing into the garden. “You don’t have enough arrows to take all of us, girl.”
Aven stepped back, drawing Owyn with him, back into the shelter of Aria’s wings. He looked around, hunting for a weapon, something he could use... Owyn whimpered, and Aven turned to see another group of men behind them. They were surrounded.