CHAPTER ONE

Keshav entered the library of the university of Godwalkar and inhaled the smell of wood, dust, parchment and candle wax. His favorite smell, especially here where the floor was covered with wood, like in Delen. The other libraries had stone floors that made them feel colder.

Oil lamps hung from the high arched ceiling, currently unlit since enough light came in from the windows. He passed the row of desks close to the windows for the dozen copyists busy with their craft. He headed for the rows and rows of bookshelves set up perpendicular to the walls to form a narrow corridor. He still had plenty to discover in the huge room.

On the right side there were the tall and narrow windows with pointed arches between the rows. On the left side sometimes a door, sometimes a spiral staircase that led to a gallery with more shelves set flatly against the wall.

This was easily the biggest library in the world, although even in Agharek there were plenty of works – heaven for a scholar like him.

He reached a secluded table between two shelves of leather-bound books towards the end of the long corridor. He'd been working his way through the library for months and had found many interesting and sometimes thought-lost works, with the help of the chief librarian.

The book he had taken down the day before still lay on the table. He sat at the bench, glad he didn't have to carry the mighty tome all the way to the entrance to read it. The leather cover was engraved and the pages were thinner than usual. Not parchment, not papyrus, but light paper for a finely illuminated manuscript in a foreign language, with fascinating miniatures depicting blond androgynous beings with pointed ears busy with daily tasks or mythical creatures.

Keshav carefully turned the colorful pages, frowning in concentration. He was still trying to figure out what the book was about. The most interesting books he had found here, at the end of his journey through the southern kingdoms and closer to home.

He studied the manuscript, quickly forgetting that his father had already written to him twice in the past five years, telling him it was time he put an end to his education and came home. To what, Keshav wasn't sure and didn't want to think about it.

Son of a diplomat from the Islands Empire and an Amrendran noble woman, Keshav had grown up bilingual in Delen, capital of Amrendra. His father was a clerk for the Emperor's ambassador at the Amrendran court and his marriage of love had almost thrown him out of the country with his beloved.

Keshav could have been born in the Islands Empire if the ambassador and the bride's brother hadn't intervened, and the king hadn't allowed them to stay and keep working at the court. Keshav's family wasn't rich, but Keshav had been particularly bright, thus King Daruka Dahana had admitted him to the local university, where he'd been the brightest student. He had studied languages, grammar, mathematics, philosophy and public administration.

The crown of Amrendra had trained him to be a clerk, but he was too bright to just work for the king. Thus Keshav had started traveling on the dime of his uncle, Lord Hitendra – now a member of the High Council of the Amrendran court – who had decided to sponsor him in his trip to the universities of the southern kingdoms.

He'd left at twenty-five, spent almost a year in Jevina, capital of Lakeshi, six months in Arquon where the university was just starting, another year or so in Agharek, capital of Akkora, that had a big library and a thriving university, a few months in Argantael, capital of Rajendra, and now here he was, in Gajendra, and definitely not ready to go back yet.

Keshav was thirty, by now, and loved his life as a scholar. He wasn't good at communicating what he learned, therefore he couldn't really teach. He had tried to tutor some young noblemen, but never felt at ease. In Delen, students ran the school, which put the teachers under a lot of pressure, while in Godwalkar, it was the teachers who ran the education system.

He didn't feel he could be a professor, though, and would rather just be a learned person anyone could consult or hire for specific tasks. And the contents of this library seemed to be a treasure trove for his thirst of knowledge more than any other library of the southern kingdoms.

The university of Godwalkar had been founded by the king's best minds a couple of centuries earlier. It was the first of its kind and the other southern kingdoms had soon followed suit, but Gajendra had the oldest university of the continent. And the biggest library of the time where monks of the God Vedas with shaved heads and dark-blue robes meticulously copied books and documents.

Keshav had made an arrangement with a family – renting a room at a fixed rate for the time of his stay that was now nearing a full year – much like he'd done in the other towns. The family lived near the university compound, a monastery with the library attached, in a quaint suburb of merchants who didn't mind making extra money by renting room to foreign students. He even had a discount if he helped with accounting, although calculus wasn't really his forte.

He hadn't looked for a teacher so far, but after this manuscript discovery, maybe he should. Godwalkar trained its students also in fine arts, medicine, astronomy, politics and the art of war. He could take on a new subject, or maybe a new language and learn something about the people who left those precious written records.

He leaned on the book to take a closer look and his black hair fell in front of his eyes. He quickly tucked it behind his ear, straightening his back. Squinting at the miniature wasn't going to help. He needed something to magnify it. He caressed his clean-shaven chin and the little scars of a childhood fall, thoughtful.

Maybe a glass globe with water could be used to read letters no matter how small or dim. Where could he get such a lens? Maybe at a glassmaker's shop. But even if he could see more details, he still couldn't read the text. There must be someone in Godwalkar who knew what it was and who those beings were.

The chief librarian shuffled his feet on the creaky floor as he came into view. Bald with age, the wrinkled brown face smiled at Keshav as the man stopped by the table. The blue-robed monk had spent most of his life in the library and knew everything about it. Every couple of days he came to check Keshav's research and give him information on what he saw on the shelves.

"What have you found today?" The librarian's voice was so frail he didn't need to whisper.

"This section is fascinating," Keshav answered, keeping his voice low and waving at the shelves around him. "I was about to come and ask you about it."

"Ah, yes, I bet it is. It's the collection of Genn works the royal family has gathered through the centuries. They couldn't be bothered to keep it at the palace's library, since nobody can read them, so they donated all the books to us."

"The... Genn works?" Keshav asked, puzzled. "What does that mean?"

"It means that those ethereal beings portrayed are not human like you and me." The old man nodded, thoughtful. His eyes weren't so good anymore, but he had obviously studied the books before. "The Genn are one of the Magical Races. Those mythical beings we rarely meet, but the Genn are somehow tied to our royal family. Ever wondered why our king is blond and blue-eyed?"

Keshav had seen King Prem at public gatherings. A handsome man with sky-blue eyes and fair skin who hid his hair under a bejeweled turban. But he did look different from the rest of the Gajendran people as much as his brother, Prince Dilip.

"Oh." He nodded, pondering. "So the Gajendran royal family has Genn blood?"

"Yes." The librarian caressed the thin pages of the book. "Who knows when these magical people mated with them. I think these books are as old as the university, maybe older."

The old man slowly sat next to him and turned a few pages.

"See the dragon here? They might know something about them." He pointed at another page and another miniature. "And here? Water people. See the underwater town?" He turned back to a previous chapter with great care. "And winged people." He pointed again.

By then Keshav's jaw had dropped. He had noticed the creatures, but didn't think they were important, or even real. He thought they were legends or metaphors or who knew what, like the ones he'd seen in other manuscripts.

"I think this book tells the story of the Magical Races." The librarian sighed. "It's all assumptions on my part, of course. Blessed Vedas knows, but I'm just a librarian."

"And really nobody can read them?" Khesav asked, recovering from his surprise.

"You might find someone who speaks the Old Tongue," the librarian answered. "As for reading it... I don't know."

"Who?" Keshav pressed, excited.

"Aagney the Storyteller. You can find him usually at The Sour Stallion Tavern..."

***

Keshav stepped into The Sour Stallion Tavern and stopped near the entrance to look around. It looked decently clean and of overall good quality for a medium-sized establishment. He wasn't interested in a room, or the food, but the place was so crowded it must be popular. Almost all patrons were sober and almost none armed – it was a loud and cheerful crowd of artisans and merchants with only a few shady characters among them.

The most notable patron seemed to be an elegantly dressed mercenary wearing expensive jewelry and a sword. He looked like a young prince and seemed very keen to buy drinks for everyone. A couple of his men sat at a nearby table, the only ones openly armed in sight.

The princely mercenary had light brown hair and amber eyes, which were uncommon in the southern kingdoms, but not so much in Gajendra and Amrendra, that bordered the northern kingdoms. Still, his looks reminded Keshav of the talk about the royal family and he thought he heard someone call him "Highness" – to which the young man retorted, "Please, call me Rohan."

There were dancing girls in a corner and the bartender was also female. Keshav hadn't seen many in the southern kingdoms. Either she was the owner's daughter or the owner's wife, probably. She stared curiously at him and greeted him when he neared the counter.

"What can I get you, handsome?" she asked.

Keshav looked over his shoulder, but she was really talking to him. Weird.

She smiled. "Not used to compliments?"

"Ah, no, not really," he answered after clearing his throat. "Scholars don't get much traction with women."

"When you're tired of your monastic life, you can always come to me," she replied with a wink. "So, what can I get you? Wine, beer?"

"I don't drink much alcohol," he answered. "I'm actually looking for someone."

"And who would that be?"

"Aagney the Storyteller. I've been told he comes here often."

"He does, during the day to entertain our patrons. At this time it's the girls' time." She waved towards the dancing girls. "Why don't you stay for the show? Drinks on me."

"Ah, no, thank you. I shall come back in the morning," he said, a little disappointed. "When would be the best time to meet Aagney?"

"Midday... there's always someone buying him lunch after he finishes his stories..." She shrugged and moved to his left to welcome another patron with a bright smile.

"Thanks," Keshav muttered, leaving the tavern.

He felt relieved to have to come back during the day. He didn't like walking the streets of Godwalkar at night. He knew his way through the city by now, but there were never enough torches around. Not that he'd get mugged or anything, but he wasn't too comfortable in the dark.

He went back to his rented room and lay on his cot, thinking about the librarian and the bartender's words. Not much library time tomorrow. He had another kind of research to do.

***

Rohan wasn't really as drunk as he pretended to be. He noticed the newcomer who went to speak with Zoya at the counter. Tall and handsome, although he lacked the muscles of warriors. He also wore the brown frocks of a scholar, but that didn't mean he was boring. The oval face was very unusual, with those exotic black eyes as if he were of mixed blood.

Rohan had had a sword-teacher from the Islands Empire and was used to their looks – the slanted eyes, the straight black hair, the flat round faces – but the scholar looked from the southern kingdoms. He was probably someone attending Godwalkar's university, maybe even a teacher, although Rohan hadn't heard of a mixed blood teaching classes.

"Your Highness, would you like more wine?" Zoya's younger brother stopped by the table with a full jug, flashing an impish smile. The scrawny teen might grow up into a fine young man one day, but currently he wasn't to Rohan's taste.

"Absolutely," he said, offering his goblet. "Until my head falls on the table."

"Are you sad because Lord Abhilash is not here?" the teen asked, pouring wine to him and his table companions – commoners for the most part, since the guards accompanying him sat at another table.

"Sachit, mind your own business," he threatened. He didn't want to think about Abhilash. That was another reason to drink himself asleep at the Sour Stallion.

He sipped his wine and kept watching the scholar. He saw him blush under Zoya's stare and smiled. Typical of scholars being embarrassed by women.

"Your Highness, I think it's time we take you back to the palace." That was his bodyguard, a bulky man who had defeated him often when they exercised.

"I don't want to go back, Sanjay!" he complained as the man forced him to stand.

"Either you come with your legs, or I'll carry you."

Rohan glared, but Sanjay didn't react. Rohan knew better than to cross his bodyguard. Sighing, he headed for the tavern's door, followed by the two guards.

He didn't want to go back to his empty rooms. Not now that Abhilash was gone.

He stopped at the tavern's door and turned to face Sanjay. "On second thoughts, I think I'll stay..."

He had barely finished when the big man grabbed him and threw him over his shoulder. Rohan screamed "Let me down!" as Sanjay carried him outside.

But the bodyguard carried him in that undignified manner until they reached his father's palace, where he dropped him back on his feet in front of the main door. Rohan scowled, straightened his wrinkled clothes and entered the building.

"Damn you, Sanjay!" he muttered, unhappy. He didn't want to sleep alone.

"Should I carry you to your bedroom?" the bodyguard suggested.

"I can walk," he snapped in the empty entrance. "But I'd be grateful if you stayed in the room," he added grumpily.

Sanjay just bowed in acceptance. He usually stood guard outside to grant Rohan privacy, but he was ready to do his duty inside if that was what was required. Probably someone else would take his place during the night to allow him some rest.

Rohan grunted and headed for bed, feeling defeated and not drunk enough for a good night's sleep.

CHAPTER TWO

Keshav went back to The Sour Stallion Tavern after a couple of hours spent at the library and a quick lunch with the chief librarian. Eating at the university canteen was much cheaper than the tavern and he hoped he wasn't too late to meet Aagney.

He headed for the counter in the half-empty main room. The bartender nodded a greeting and pointed to a table where four men sat. One was eating what looked like a whole boar while the others watched and chatted with him.

Keshav reached the counter and leaned towards the bartender. "That's Aagney?" he whispered, shocked.

"Yes, don't ask me where he puts it," she answered shaking her head.

For someone with such an appetite, the man was surprisingly thin. His hair was hidden under a red turban that matched his embroidered tunic. His clean-shaven and suntanned face looked middle-aged.

Keshav headed for the table noticing Aagney sat alone on his bench, as if continuing his show while eating. He had a stash of sheets of parchment next to him, hence his companions all sat in front of him. Keshav noticed the papers when he went around the table to approach him. Maybe the storyteller had his own notes, but glancing at the upper sheet, Keshav noticed it was written in the same alphabet of the Genn manuscripts he had been checking.

His heart beating faster, he stopped next to the man. "Excuse me, are you Aagney the Storyteller?" he asked, just in case.

"I am he." The other man answered between bites. "And you are?"

"Keshav of Amrendra, a scholar currently studying at Godwalkar's library... may I sit with you?"

"Sure." The man shrugged and pointed at the bench on the other side of the table.

The other three men rose and said good-bye to him. They were busy men who had taken only lunch time off and had their businesses to go back to. One of them was paying Aagney's bill with the promise to hear more stories tomorrow.

Keshav sat on the vacated bench. He wasn't sure how to start his request.

Aagney finished his meal and licked his fingers, then downed a jug of water. At least he didn't drink wine. With a satisfied burp, Aagney pushed away the plates and stared at Keshav.

"Well?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. He had deep brown eyes that seemed to read souls.

"I was told that you speak and possibly read the Old Tongue," Keshav answered, fidgeting uncomfortably under the man's stare. "I was wondering if you could help me to decipher some manuscripts at the library."

"Would that be the Genn books?" The man smiled. He had all his teeth and they looked very white in the brown face. "I can tell you those stories by heart. The rise and fall of the Genn kingdoms in the north and how they hid underground since Humans were so stupid that they couldn't appreciate them. Of course Humans are too stupid to deal with anything different from them." Aagney snorted and looked away. "Sometimes I wonder why I bother... but then, I like you more than I like my own kind!"

He grinned at Keshav's startled expression, then leaned forward.

"So you're a scholar... can you keep a secret? I'll pass on secret knowledge to you if you promise you won't teach it anywhere."

"I'm a very bad teacher," Keshav replied, puzzled. "But I'm hungry for knowledge. I want to understand how this world works and what forces move it and..."

Aagney straightened and sighed. "What forces? Nature and the Immortals. Who are the Immortals? They are the creators, but Humans are mostly oblivious to them. You have your own gods and don't know shit of how the world works."

"Such contempt seems out of place in your mouth," Keshav said.

"Just because I look Human doesn't mean I'm Human, does it? I did mention that I don't get along with my own kind... I'm of Fire's people. Hence this very appropriate Human name for this form."

Aagney meant "Born from fire" or "Son of fire", and it was common for people who adored the Fire God. Keshav had noticed there were many deities throughout the southern kingdoms and they were not always the same. Surya and Chanda were almost everywhere, but Zindagi was mostly in Akkora while in Arquon they adored their king as a god.

"So you're not Human?" Keshav asked, skeptical.

"No, I'm Fajrulo, but I like to mingle with Humans." Aagney shrugged. "So, the Immortals created the Magical Races and chose one race for each. Fajrulo and Fire, Waiora and Water, Sila and Air, Genn and Ether... Earth took Humans, since they were the most harmless. That's fourteen hundred years ago, of course. Then, in the course of time, Humans evolved and became a pest for the Magical Races who decided to hide... at least for a while and especially in the north, where those barbarians destroyed the Genn kingdoms."

Keshav gaped. Amrendra was at the border of the Gallian Kingdom and he had heard a lot about the blond barbarians of the north. The Amrendran army had been guided by two Gallian mercenaries for a while and he could understand their dialect, even though he wasn't very fluent in it.

He knew there were other kingdoms up north, but he had no idea that they had sprung from the ashes of Genn kingdoms. Maybe that was when the Genn had come south and mated with the Gajendran royal family? He asked Aagney who shook his head.

"No idea," he answered. "I'm not into Genn politics. I know their stories, but I don't care about their history. It's boring. All Magical Races are quite boring, in my opinion. They never change. That's what's so fascinating about Humans. You're totally unpredictable!"

"I'd be delighted if you told me the story of the Genn kingdoms," Keshav said humbly. "I can't really afford to buy you another meal, but..."

"I'm full, thank you." Aagney turned towards the counter. "Zoya, can I have more water, please? I need to talk a lot again!"

"Sure thing, honey." The bartender smiled and winked at Keshav. She brought two jugs of water and put them on the table, taking away the dirty dishes and the empty jug.

Aagney emptied half the jug and slammed it back down, cleaning his mouth with his hand.

"So! Genn kingdoms! Ever heard of the Moren Empire?"

***

The silence of the house was deafening after the noisy room of the Sour Stallion. Keshav had stayed at the tavern way past dinner time and left only when the music and the dancing girls had made all talking impossible.

Aagney had told him fascinating stories about the Magical Races and the Moren Empire and northern history. He told them as if he'd been there, participating in those battles or watching over them like a god. He even said that his father passed himself off as Axis, God of War, and had led many armies to war.

Keshav's landlady came out of the bedroom with a candle.

"You're late, Keshav, what kept you at the library all day?" she chided.

"I was at a tavern, actually, listening to stories," he answered absentmindedly.

"Did you eat?" She was often more motherly than his own mother had been.

"Ah, no... I'll have a flatbread, if there's any, and go to bed," he answered, lighting the oil lamp near the door.

"Help yourself in the kitchen," she said with a nod. "We also have fresh fruits."

"Thanks, and good-night."

He went to the kitchen to grab a flatbread and a couple of peaches, then went to his room in the attic, where he put the oil lamp on the bed table. He ate and undressed at the same time, still thinking about Aagney's words. He needed to jot down everything.

Still munching, he took his journal and his quill, sitting on the bed to take notes. Biting a peach, the juice ran down his chin, so he decided he better eat the fruits before dropping any juice on the precious pages. He put down the leather-bound notebook and quickly finished eating, throwing the seeds out of the window.

He sat down again, closer to the lamp, and took the journal in his lap. The dancing shadows on the sliding roof overhead helped him remember the succession of events recounted by Aagney.

It seemed to have all started with Norina, a Human shaman, who had become immortal through a Dark Pond at twenty-five, some five centuries after the arrival of the Immortals and the creation of the Magical Races, whom at the time were wide-spread throughout the lands and mingling with fairly uncultivated Humans.

Then there was the birth of the first hero, Bran Silverhand, and a war against trolls and giants. Faeries and dwarves were also very common back then. And Fajrulo had Human forms and passed themselves off as gods to those first scattered Humans.

Apparently the Magical Races didn't breed as much as Humans. Three centuries later the first Human king founded Moriana. Bran Silverhand battled against Norina, the Queen of Darkness, and died. Then the Magical Races helped the foundation of the Moren Empire, that had lasted almost three centuries and covered the north except the south-eastern coast.

Powerful half-bloods had lived in the Moren Empire and finally one of them, the prince of Rayheart, had managed to get rid of the Queen of Darkness, although her son Manusia was still in charge in the underworld. Therefore demons were very real, but nobody in the southern kingdoms bothered summoning them because of different religious beliefs.

The Genn Kingdom of Rayheart had fallen approximately five centuries after Norina had gained the dark power. The Genn Kingdom of Sunlight had followed suit less than twenty-five years later. Almost two centuries into the Moren Empire, the third Genn kingdom, Ravenlock, had been abandoned to go live underground.

Aagney had been very clear about all three kingdoms: Rayheart was in the plains of the east, Appleyard in the forests of the west and Ravenlock in the mountains of the north. Now Keshav wished he had a map of the world to ground himself and understand where everything had happened.

He needed to talk more with Aagney about what was left of those lost kingdoms in the north, since apparently the Moren Empire had fallen too and the north was now divided into tribes and city-states of a warring kind. He needed to know if it was safe to travel to those lands and look for physical proof, or if he should just forget those stories and stick to the more peaceful southern kingdoms.

He closed his journal after writing down what history he could remember. He'd better bring it tomorrow, so he could jot down dates and places, and then go looking for a map. Maybe there was one or three at the library...

Keshav blew out the lamp and lay down on his cot. The miniatures of the manuscripts came to life in the darkness, acquiring a new meaning after Aagney's storytelling skills. Sleep won him rather late that night, but he was up early as usual.

He dressed, shaved and went downstairs to the kitchen to find his landlady.

"Mrs. Jaya, can you tell me where I can find maps? If I wanted to purchase one, I mean."

"You reached Godwalkar without a map, what would you need one for?" the woman replied.

"I traveled with seasoned people on the trade routes, but now I need to see what the world actually looks like to decide what to do next."

"Oh. I think Babita has maps."

The woman explained to him how to reach the shop in a nearby street while offering a tray of freshly made biscuits. Keshav ate one as he listened and took one for the road.

"Thank you, Mrs. Jaya, I'll try to come back on time for dinner tonight."

It was early, but shops were already opening. The university wouldn't let anyone in for another hour at least, not even if he knocked at the back door. The monks had their morning prayers to the God of Knowledge, Vedas, and the Sun God, Surya, and the chief librarian had never given Keshav a copy of the library's key.

Keshav looked at the brightly painted signs until he found the shop he was looking for. The shop specialized in maps but also provided potions, trap components and adventuring supplies. It was of average size with the interior sparsely decorated. It was peaceful and smelled of incense, probably because of the morning hour. Maybe the owner cleansed it with incense every morning before starting the day.

The shopkeeper was a highly attractive woman with light brown hair and blue eyes. She was talking with a male apprentice and sneezed twice as Keshav entered the shop.

"Open all the windows and get rid of this smell," she grumbled, glaring at the assistant who bowed and obeyed. She turned towards Keshav and smiled. "I'm Babita. What can I do for you?"

"I'm looking for a map of the lands, all of them, north included," he answered while the young man opened the two front windows and the back door of the shop to let air circulate.

The shopkeeper sneezed again. "Sorry, I can't stand such smells," she muttered. "They give me headaches."

"I didn't know, ma'am!" the apprentice apologized for probably the umpteenth time.

"Right, get out of my sight now," she retorted. The young man rushed out of the back door. "Sorry, sir." She turned to Keshav again. "Maps of Varia, is that what you're looking for?"

"A map of the world would be great, if such a thing exists," he said.

"Ah, no, I'm afraid you can find that only at the library. They have big maps of the world somewhere."

She looked at a shelf and headed straight for a stash of parchments. The smell of incense was soon covered with the scent of dusty paper that Keshav had learned to love. Still Babita sneezed two more times before she stopped altogether.

"Here it is." She pulled out a big parchment with what looked like a big island and a few smaller ones. "This is Varia." She pointed at the main land on the map. "We are here."

"Where is Delen? And the Islands Empire?" he asked, leaning over the counter to give a closer look at the map. Luckily a ray of sun entered the shop and reached the counter where Babita had put down the maps.

She pointed and he marveled at how small the Islands Empire looked, compared to what she called Varia. As he studied the big map, she pulled out another that was a closer look at the continent, mostly the southern kingdoms and the Central Massif.

"Do you have anything of the north?" he asked, since he was familiar with maps of the south, having seen a few in the libraries he'd visited in the past five years.

She raised her eyebrows and nodded. "Where are you from? Delen?"

"Yes, well, my father is from the Islands Empire," he answered while she shuffled parchment in search of what he was looking for.

"I thought so," she said. "I can't find it right now, but I know I have one. I do trade with the north and speak their language. What are you looking for up there?"

"The Genn cities."

"You mean the ruins of the lost Genn cities? I doubt they're on any map." She shook her head. "Those kingdoms fell over four centuries ago."

"I think I can find them by studying some manuscripts at the library," he said. "Please, when you find that map of the north, take it either to the library or to the Sour Stallion. I'm Keshav, the Amrendran scholar."

"Will do, Keshav," she said, staring at him.

"Thanks." He left the shop and headed for the university, pondering.

Since there was no trade between Amrendrans and Gallians, he was surprised to hear there was some between the Gajendrans and their northern neighbors. He'd have to find a guide or someone who could take him there – maybe Babita herself.

The southern kingdoms were well connected, but that wasn't really the case with the lands north of the Central Massif. Between an artery of roads and waterways, goods and people circulated widely in the south, but not so much in the north. He had used mostly waterways, but had seen the main paved roads leading away from the cities.

Keshav was more and more curious to learn something of the northern countries, and wondered if there was anything about those places in the library. He entered the university compound, heading for the library.

Maybe the chief librarian could help him once more in his research. Gajendra was close enough to the north to have at least heard rumors... otherwise he'd go back to Delen and try to find out something on the Gallian border.

***

Babita stared at the back of the first customer of the day, thoughtful. Funny how some people suddenly found an interest in the north. The foreign scholar seemed to be looking for a treasure trove, as if he was certain there would be artifacts and other interesting traces of the Magical Races in whatever was left of their cities.

Babita had seen the north – at least part of it – in her travels, and never saw anything that even remotely reminded her of the Genn culture. There was more in Godwalkar than up north. But she wasn't going to deter a prospective customer.

She sighed and realized the smell of incense was finally gone. Good. She shuffled the maps again, looking for one of the northern territory. She even went back to the shelves, but she must have misplaced it. Or maybe sold it?

"Vikram!" she called.

The apprentice appeared from the back door, still looking guilt-stricken. She wished she could find a less devoted assistant who wouldn't spray her shop every morning for good fortune. The young man was smart and a very good accountant but his bigoted family had trained him to pray too much. He should probably enter a monastery instead of bothering with business.

"Did you sell a map in the past week?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am, two, actually," he said. "It's in the books."

He pulled out the accounting book and showed her the entry. The purchase included the map of the north. She cursed under her breath.

"If it wasn't for sale, you should have told me!" he complained, expecting another scolding.

"No, no, it's fine," she grumbled. "What's this sudden interest in the north anyway?"

"It was a merchant who wanted to try a new trade route," Vikram said.

"Makes sense, but what does a scholar want from the north? Going looking for ruins seems like a wild goose chase to me!"

"Maybe he's a treasure hunter," Vikram said, relaxing slightly.

She snorted and shrugged. "I might have another, but it will take all morning to find it. Take care of the shop, will you?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Babita went to a wooden chest of papers and started rummaging in there. Born thirty years earlier in Delta City, Gajendra, she had inherited her late husband's shop in Godwalkar and swore she'd never obey any man again – except it wasn't so easy to get rid of her husband's family.

Her mother-in-law still dictated much of her life and she had had to hire her nephew as assistant after her husband's death. Maybe the handsome scholar was right. Maybe the ruins of the Genn cities of the north hid some treasure that would allow her to buy her own shop and get rid of her mother-in-law's influence...

If she didn't find another map, she could surely draw one herself, at least up to Konigtown!

CHAPTER THREE

Keshav entered The Sour Stallion Tavern still lost in thought. For three days he'd been studying all that he could find about the elusive Magical Races, both with the help of the chief librarian and by listening to Aagney's stories. He'd seen a map of the world at the library but he wasn't sure he knew enough to start the journey.

Not many merchants traded with the north. The roads weren't safe. Mostly there were no roads. It was easier to trade with coastal towns, but the Genn kingdoms had been inland, therefore in mostly hostile territory.

He had discovered the Genn had been present when the kingdom of Gajendra was founded, but had vanished since. Obviously they still felt burned by the Moren Empire and the spell they had helped create for the succession. Gajendra had a dynastic succession not based on any spell, but still, the Genn must have had enough of monarchy.

Keshav was curious to hear about other forms of government. The southern kingdoms were similar in their traditions, and he wondered what happened in the north after the collapse of the Moren Empire. His father had told him how things worked in the Islands Empire – the bureaucracy was similar to the one enforced in the southern kingdoms – but apparently things were done slightly differently in the Moren Empire.

And there were the lost cities and their treasures – artifacts, books, things that could tell the story of a race that looked mostly Human but could handle magic as if drinking water. The chief librarian had showed him a book with reproductions of paintings and tapestries that were inside the royal palace and represented the Genn mingling with the first royal family.

"Again looking for information?" The bartender shot him a mischievous smile. "When will you pay me?"

"How much do you want?" he asked.

She pretended to think about it. "I want a kiss on the lips for every new piece of information I give you," she answered leaning over the counter to show off her cleavage.

Keshav gulped and looked away.

"Ah... I see... what's your name?"

"Zoya."

"Zoya, don't you think you're behaving like a whore? What would your father or husband say about it?"

She raised her eyebrows and straightened, putting one fist on her hip.

"My, aren't we uptight, my noble scholar! You must be used to virgin brides, even if you've never had one yourself, am I right?"

Keshav cleared his throat and glared at her. Obviously the lower classes didn't make such a fuss about the bride and groom being virgins on their wedding day.

She shrugged and crossed her arms on her bosom. "My father doesn't care and I don't have a boyfriend at the moment, so who's going to complain if I kiss someone? But if you feel ashamed to show such intimacy with a woman in public, you can always come with me to the stables, where nobody would see us."

"I'd rather not," he snapped, jarred. "I don't need any information today, I just came here to meet someone."

"Mm, more non-paying patrons." She snorted and shooed him away. "Well, go sit somewhere and wait for your someone! I'm busy here."

There wasn't anyone at the counter, but Keshav got the hint and looked around for a table where he could wait for Babita. The shopkeeper had sent him a note saying she had found a map of the north and would bring it to the Sour Stallion at lunch time.

Aagney was still telling one of his stories to a cheerful audience and Keshav listened in, pulling out his journal to check his notes. The smell of food from the kitchen made his stomach rumble. He hadn't eaten, too engrossed in his research, and wondered if he had enough money to buy one of the dishes.

He signaled the scrawny teen boy who served tables and asked him for the menu. It was written in an ornate hand and had limited variety, but the pricing seemed fair and the smells... He wasn't going to order a boar like Aagney had done, but maybe he could try the lamb with rice. Or maybe just bread and cheese, since Mrs. Jaya's cooking was probably better than the tavern's.

He ordered his cold meal with water and watched other patrons drink their soup from cups or eat from wooden dishes. Every person had their own knife, including him. Zoya brought him a tray of bread and cheese and shot him an approving look. It was the first time he ordered something at the tavern and he hoped he wouldn't have to pay in kisses.

"Two coppers," she said. "Would that be all?"

"Would you have some honey?" he asked, testing the smelly cheese odor.

She seemed about to say something but closed her mouth and nodded. She brought the honey without further attempts at seducing him.

Babita entered the tavern and he waved at her with his knife in his hand. He finished putting honey and cheese on the bread as she sat in front of him with a huff. She put a folded parchment on the table and pushed it towards him before turning to the bartender.

"Zoya, can I have some sweet cheese and bread?" she called.

This time it was the teen boy who brought Babita's food.

"Thank you, Sachit," Babita said. "Won't you look at it?" she asked Keshav.

"Not while I'm eating," he answered. He hated seeing drops of food on manuscripts and other written papers.

"Oh. All right."

They both ate in silence while Aagney finished his story to thundering applause. Then, to Keshav's surprise, the Storyteller declined all invitations and came to sit next to him, with a bag full of parchment that ended up on the floor.

"Mind if I join? I wouldn't mind listening to your stories while I eat," he said, winking at Keshav.

"I don't have stories..."

"Of course you do. What else did you discover today about the Magical Races?"

Keshav gathered his ideas and glanced at his notebook while Aagney called for a couple of rabbits for lunch, quick since he was so hungry he could eat them raw. Babita wrinkled her nose at hearing that and Keshav almost choked on his last bite of bread.

After drinking a full goblet of water, Keshav told Aagney what he had found while opening the folded parchment Babita had brought: the map of the northern kingdoms, although it looked quite empty.

"I drew it from memory," she said with a shrug. "I've been to Konigtown a few times with my late husband, and I could take you there, if you want. We have an associate there with whom we trade every year, and he can take us around what used to be Rayheart."

"Sila maps are more accurate," Aagney commented, checking over Keshav's shoulder. Then Sachit brought his food and he concentrated on the wooden plates filled with chopped meat mixed with vegetables.

Babita glared at the storyteller, and Keshav shook his head, amused.

"Maybe you could copy a map for me?" he suggested to the merchant. "I tried, but I don't seem to be very good at it. I found a Sila map in one of those manuscripts, but I can't pull it out of the book for my purposes."

"Oh, I'll be delighted to copy from somewhere," she answered, brightening. "But what does Sila map mean?" she added, frowning again.

"The Sila are Air's people," Keshav explained. "They have wings and see the world from the sky, so they can draw very precise maps."

"But they don't write, so any writing you see on there is done by Genn," Aagney added between bites. "Or Humans sometimes."

"Would you by any chance know where those cities stood?" Keshav asked him.

Aagney pretended to be too busy eating to answer. Keshav had noticed the Storyteller could be very mysterious when he didn't want to answer. Sometimes he talked in riddles. Keshav had learned more by talking with the chief librarian than with Aagney.

"That's what I thought," he muttered, staring at the map again.

"That's a long trip and it's not safe," Babita said, serious. "There are no highways, no patrols. No tolls or borders either, but still... we should probably hire someone to protect us."

"What are you looking for and where are you headed?" The voice startled Keshav and Babita.

"Outside of our borders, your highness," Babita answered with a curt head bow.

It was the elegant mercenary Keshav had already noticed in the tavern. So his assumption that the young man was actually a prince was correct. The warrior rolled his amber eyes and sat next to her.

"Please, Rohan is enough," he muttered. He looked Keshav in the eye. "You seem very interested in Genn history," he said. "How come? Where are you from?"

"Amrendra. I saw the manuscripts the royal family donated to the university library and was fascinated by the Genn miniatures and the reproductions of paintings hanging in the palace."

Rohan scoffed. "Ah, yes, there's one in my father's great hall too. We seem to be very proud of our origins, although I doubt we have any of their blood left."

"You still have some," Aagney said absentmindedly. "It's very diluted, of course, but you all show your Genn ancestry."

Rohan shrugged. "They're long gone, why do you want to find their lost cities?" he asked Keshav.

"Because I think we could find treasures of art in those ruins," he answered. "And maybe answers to some questions. Even though we have moved on without them, maybe they can teach us something?"

"They're definitely more long-lived than Humans," Aagney commented without looking at anyone in particular. "Which doesn't mean they're as long-lived as Fajrulo, so you won't find the original Genn who founded Godwalkar anymore, but their grandchildren are probably still alive."

"Fine, I'll come with you," Rohan said.

Babita stared at him wide-eyed and the bulky guard sitting at a nearby table cleared his throat, obviously disapproving.

"What?" Rohan glared at the guard. "I need to get away, all right?"

"Your father won't allow you," the guard warned.

Keshav thought the young man was too old to be King Prem's son. Maybe the king had another brother he hadn't heard of?

"I'm just the king's cousin, why should I stick to Godwalkar?" Rohan complained.

Ah. Made sense. A prince related to the king. Maybe that was too much as a bodyguard. Although the prince looked very fit and with tight muscles. He was probably an excellent warrior, even though he'd never seen a war in his life.

"Your highness, the north is barbarian country," Babita said. "My husband usually hired mercenaries at the border of Gajendra to protect us when we went to the Konigtown Fair."

"Well, one more reason to prove to the world that I'm a real warrior," Rohan replied. "And stop calling me 'your highness' right now!" He pointed a threatening finger at her.

She raised her eyebrows. "Or?"

He rolled his eyes and looked away. Aagney chuckled, cleaning his greasy hands on his tunic. His plates were empty and he downed a jug of water again. Keshav thought they couldn't afford to take the Storyteller with them because he'd eat all their savings. Literally.

"We will have to make a plan," he told the merchant. "Babita, I'll show you where to copy that map. I'd also like to you to make an estimate of expenses, so I can ask my uncle to finance the trip."

"If he says no, I'll convince my father to finance it," Rohan said. "Who is your uncle, by the way?"

"Lord Hitendra."

"Ah, King Rahul's father-in-law!" Rohan grinned. "No wonder you reached Godwalkar and were able to live here. Tell me, what is King Rahul like?"

Keshav stiffened. He didn't like talking about his family, especially with someone who so obviously knew a lot about them already. And especially not about his pretty cousin Chitrangda who had married one of the twin kings of Amrendra.

"Harish the Jester became Rahul of Amrendra after King Vijay of Lakeshi put his greedy hands on him," Aagney started with his storytelling voice. "But even though he was twin-heir of Amrendra, he kept his male lover by his side, until Kartik was killed in a conspiracy seven years ago and Rahul decided to get married for the sake of his twin, King Rohit, and the rest of the royal family..."

Rohan rolled his eyes. "We all know that story, Aagney," he said. "What I want to know is... what is King Rahul really like?"

"He is the shadow king," Keshav answered. "He doesn't have a very public life."

"But he did marry your cousin... did they have children?"

"Not when I left. I don't know what happened in the past five years."

"But do they sleep together?"

"As far as I know, yes."

"Oh. Interesting."

"I could have told you that, if you'd let me finish the story," Aagney snapped. "Just because Abhilash told you he doesn't want to see you again now that he's married doesn't mean all male lovers split up when they get married!"

Rohan glared at the storyteller.

"You better keep that story to yourself, Storyteller! Or go tell it in some other kingdom, is that clear?" he said sharply.

"As your highness wishes," Aagney replied with a mock bow.

Keshav cleared his throat. "I think I should show Babita that map. If you'll excuse us..."

He was glad to get out of the Sour Stallion this time. He didn't like the direction the conversation was taking. Even though Aagney had spared him from talking about his cousin's husband.

Babita eagerly followed him outside. They exchanged a glance and both burst out laughing.

"Seems our royalty like their own sex," she commented, shaking her head. "What a waste..."

Keshav wondered if it was really a waste. He was chaste, was he also a waste because he didn't have sex? Was it really a waste if men didn't have sex with women?

But he had enough of the sensitive topic and decided to keep his mouth shut.

***

Rohan watched the back of the scholar leaving the tavern. In spite of the long tunic, he could imagine the body underneath and was even more pleased. The handsome foreigner was the cousin of Queen Chitrangda of Amrendra. He really had to talk to him about King Rahul.

Sanjay sat heavily next to him and Rohan snapped back to reality and realized Aagney was staring at him with a smirk. Rohan scowled at the storyteller who just chuckled.

"Man, you like him, don't you? Keshav is really bright, but I bet that's not what you like about him," Aagney said.

"I obviously didn't talk to him as much as you did," he snapped. He should thank Aagney for telling him the scholar's name, but the man's stare was jarring. "But yes, he sounds fascinating."

"And very good-looking, I know." Aagney smiled impishly at him. "And yes, leaving town at this time might be good for you, although I don't think your father will let you go if you tell him you're not coming back."

"But I will come back!" Rohan replied. "It might take a detour to see Delen and meet King Rahul, but eventually I will come back!"

"Not with Keshav, I'm afraid," Aagney said. "I've never met a Human so uninterested in sex! You can ask Zoya how he reacted to her!"

"What?" Rohan quickly glanced over his shoulder at the bartender who leaned on the counter with her chin resting on her hand, looking bored in the slow hour after lunch time. "Wait, if he refused a woman, I might have a chance!"

"Like I said, he's probably not interested in you either," Aagney replied. "Anyhow, do as you please, as usual. As long as you leave your crush on Abhilash behind."

Rohan glared at him. It wasn't a crush. It was his first love. His beloved foster brother and only companion until Abhilash had gotten married a couple of weeks earlier. Rohan had tried to maintain the relationship, but his friend and lover had said they had both better move on. He even suggested Rohan got married too! Rohan still fumed at the thought.

"Your highness, you should talk to your father," Sanjay said. "He's been hoping you changed your mind now that Abhilash is married."

"He might actually kick you out if you decide to stick to male lovers," Aagney added, amused.

"You stay out of my life," Rohan said, pointing a threatening finger at the storyteller. "And don't you dare go around telling my story! You hear me?"

"Now I'm really scared." He sounded sarcastic, mostly.

Rohan rose and decided he'd had enough. His empty threats always backfired. He better do as Sanjay suggested. Speak to his father and see where that would take him.

His bodyguard might be right. If he stuck to what his heart told him, his father might as well kick him out... and he was more than ready for a brand new adventure in foreign lands!

CHAPTER FOUR

Keshav was going to miss Godwalkar. Of all the capitals of the southern kingdoms, Gajendra had touched him most. It couldn't be just because there was the oldest university with the best library. It probably had something to do with the Magical Races, though, and their closeness to that particular kingdom.

Heading north was both exciting and daunting. He didn't know much about the northern populations and a part of him was curious. He hoped the northerners respected culture and wouldn't try to kill a harmless scholar like him. Traders did go that way, therefore it couldn't be that bad.

When he'd left Delen going south on a sea-faring ship, he hadn't thought he might actually come back from the north. That was going to be a surprise for his family, and he could bring news of what happened beyond the Gallian border. He was certain that King Rohit Rahul would appreciate the information.

Although that might be a reason to be killed. The barbarians might think he was a spy.

As he gathered his things in Mrs. Jaya's spare room, he frowned in worry. Luckily he came from Amrendra, the only southern kingdom with four seasons instead of three, and was used to harsh winters and heavy cloaks. Except of course he hadn't brought his, since he wasn't expecting to travel north.

He wondered if he should do the research the other way round – go back to Delen and start from there. But what if his father forbade him to leave again? He knew Prince Rohan had fought with his own father and ended up renouncing all his rights, going to brood at his cousins' palace until it was time to leave...

At least the prince would come alone. Although maybe his bulky bodyguard would have been more useful than Rohan himself. His cousin Dilip was very fond of him and had agreed to finance them. Keshav wondered if Dilip did it to get rid of a weird cousin that put the family to shame with his strange ways.

In any case Keshav didn't need his uncle's financing. Babita was used to traveling lightly and knew where the cheapest places were, at least up to Konigtown. Then they'd find someone else to guide them west, through Varian and Gallian territory and back to Amrendra.

Keshav had filled his journal with notes of possible locations for the lost Genn cities. He had talked extensively with the chief librarian and any other traveler he could find, just to get the feel of the place.

It was time to say good-bye to Mrs. Jaya and start his quest.

What the quest would bring, he wasn't sure. Fame or fortune didn't really interest him. Knowledge was more important. And hopefully he could convince his father and uncle that marrying him off would be a waste of his potential...

***

"Isn't it a little early for the Konigtown Fair?"

The petulant voice of her mother-in-law grated on Babita's ears, but she didn't stop packing.

"I want to explore other markets," she answered with a shrug. "I've heard so much about Moriana, I might get there too. Vikram can look after the shop while I'm away."

"Don't be away for too long, or someone else might step in," the woman retorted.

It was definitely time to leave. Her husband's inheritance was becoming way too burdensome. If she couldn't find a place in the north, she might look for something in Amrendra. And if even Amrendra or Lakeshi proved too harsh for a single woman, she'd go back to Delta City and her birth family. They'd always have room for her.

Her husband's family had never really accepted her, and as soon as he was gone in that unfortunate accident, she'd felt even less welcome than before. She was certain the woman was glad to be rid of her, and her nephew would soon be in charge of the shop.

She was sad to leave the little apartment over the shop she had shared with her one and only love, but it was obvious she couldn't stay there. The lack of children had made her even more unwanted in the family, therefore she might as well leave and start a new life somewhere else. She knew nobody would miss her in Godwalkar.

She had copied the map from the book Keshav had found, marveling at how precise the drawing in the book was. Definitely done by someone who could fly over land and see it all. She had added her own notes, but mostly traced the other artist's work and felt confident they wouldn't get lost.

There was still the problem of security on the road, but Prince Rohan had insisted on coming and he certainly could manage a few ill-equipped bandits, if they ever crossed any. Maybe his simple presence would be enough to deter them, since attacking a woman, a scholar and a warrior might be more hassle than anything.

She hoped the prince would leave his jewelry at home.

"See you in a few months," she said lightly, putting her travel bag on her shoulder. She had everything. She didn't even listen for a reply and left the house that had both her apartment and the shop in common with her mother-in-law, heading for the north-eastern gate where she was supposed to meet Keshav and Prince Rohan.

***

Keshav reached the gate first and sat on a bench under a lemon tree in the square opening in front of it. By his calculations it was still summer up north, therefore he might not need that cloak after all, unless some accident slowed them down. But they could probably get to Amrendra before winter kicked in, thus they'd be fine.

He pondered the five years spent traveling through the southern kingdoms, mostly by ship or barge since the capitals were all on river shores and easier to get to by water than by land. The monsoon sweeping over Arquon, Akkora and Rajendra barely touched the southern parts of Lakeshi and Gajendra.

There were very few elephants in Jevina and none in Godwalkar, but plenty in Agharek, Argantael and Zarquon. Keshav had watched the big animals work for the southern kingdoms, but hadn't dared climb on any. In fact, by land he always went on foot, or maybe hitched a ride on a wagon.

They'd travel on foot at least until the border, since there were inns on the roads at regular intervals. Beyond they would either buy a wagon or a tent, since it was less easy to find a place to sleep. It might be summer, but sleeping under the stars in unknown territory wasn't safe.

Maybe a closed wagon was the best thing, but then they'd have to buy an animal to pull it – an ox, a donkey, a horse... more expenses.

Keshav frowned in worry, then saw Babita arrive with her travel bag. She greeted him and sat next to him.

"What's wrong?" she asked then.

"How did you travel beyond the border?" he asked. "Did you join caravans of traders?"

"Yes, we usually traveled in groups," she answered, thoughtful. "But it's early for the Konigtown Fair, so I doubt there will be many people on those roads. Why?"

"Where will we spend the night outside the border?"

"Ah, I see. Well, there are some farms on the way to Konigtown... and yes, we might spend a night or three under the stars, hoping it doesn't rain."

"And is it safe?"

She made a grimace. "Mostly. Why? What do you suggest, we hire more bodyguards?"

"Buy a closed wagon?"

"That would mean we have something to protect." She wrinkled her nose. "No, I think that traveling on foot and sleeping under the stars would keep the robbers away more than if we look like we have something worth protecting with wooden walls."

"I hadn't thought about that," he said, staring at the street that led to the town center. "The stars it is, then." He smiled at her.

He hadn't done it very often, especially not in recent years, but he didn't mind sleeping under the stars. It was a good way to check his astronomy knowledge and see if he could still name the main constellations.

"Sleeping out on summer nights can be very romantic," she warned with an impish smile.

"I don't think our bodyguard will let you anywhere near him," he replied, amused.

She leaned closer to him. "And what about you?"

He looked away as his heart jumped in his throat. "I'm a scholar. I'm not interested in romance."

"Great, then we're all set for our adventure!" she said cheerfully. "Oh, thank Chanda! He left his jewels at home!"

"What?"

Puzzled, Keshav looked the way she was looking and saw Rohan coming towards them, with his sword by his side and a backpack on his shoulder. The elegant garb had been changed into comfortable travel clothes and even the rings were gone.

Keshav and Babita stood to meet him.

"Am I late?" he asked with a smile.

"No, not at all, the bell hasn't sounded yet," Keshav said. "Let's go."

All three stepped towards the gate. They looked poor enough for nobody to attack them, unless they were really desperate. Good. They'd reach Konigtown and then they'd improvise from there.

***

Rohan turned once to look at the gate of Godwalkar. He could see the turrets of the royal palace over the wall and felt a pang in his heart. No matter how the quest went, he probably wasn't coming back. Dilip had suggested he left and tried to find someone to love away from Godwalkar. His cousin had mentioned the court of Lakeshi was famous for male lovers and King Vivek apparently had seduced Suresh of Arquon to the point that the young king had abdicated in favor of his brother and now lived with his male lover and former bodyguard in Zarquon.

"Of course you can bring your lover here," Dilip had said. "Unless you feel happier somewhere else."

Rohan wasn't sure of what to do. He hoped he could get in the pants of the handsome scholar at some point, or maybe convince him to introduce him to King Rahul. From what Aagney had said, even if he was married, King Rahul of Amrendra still had a male lover. And then there was King Vivek. Prince Suresh of Arquon.

In any case he was happy to leave his father's domineering presence. He'd been kicked out of the family palace with barely his clothes and his sword, but Dilip had been very generous. The few bangles and rings he still had were now hidden in a pouch. He'd sell them when he needed more coins.

As he followed the merchant and the scholar away from his hometown, Rohan thought he had made the right choice. His heart felt lighter as he walked towards his freedom.

CHAPTER FIVE

The first leg of the journey was easy as expected. The road mostly followed the river, it was paved and well-traveled. Often they could jump on carts or wagons for stretches of road and spare the soles of their shoes. They slept in farms or small villages on the river shores.

The Central Massif loomed over them, the highest peaks still covered in snow, but the rest mostly dark green from the conifers growing on the slopes, or gray when rock was the main sight. Sometimes a patch of the lighter green of a meadow or a clearing gave a different color to the mountains.

And then the road crossed the river on a large stone bridge that allowed two-way traffic of carts and wagons. On the opposite shore stood the Lucky Snake, a medium-sized inn that stood at a very good point on the road that now headed almost straight to the coast.

They reached it close to sunset and had no other choice than to spend the night there. Keshav thought the overall quality was a bit shady, and the food overpriced, but at least the rooms were cheap. They took the last two beds in the men's common room and Babita found one spot in the women's common room. Not ideal, but they didn't have much choice.

They kept their travel bags with them at all times and didn't dare ask if there was a bath chamber. They'd wash in the river before leaving in the morning. They huddled together at a corner table in the crowded main room and chose from the very plain-looking menu. Only Rohan had meat, which was always on warriors' diets but not everybody could afford it. Since the farms hadn't provided him with any, he looked forward to a good steak.

The room was quiet but cheerful and the tavern was so well-lit that there were no dark corners. From their table, they could see the rest of the patrons, most sober and almost all openly armed. A minor brawl erupted between two peasants and a badly wounded adventurer who didn't seem to be drinking at all.

Keshav and Babita had their lentil soup, Rohan his steak, then they retired to sleep, ignoring the games going on at some tables. Leaving early meant that the common bedrooms were half-empty and their sleep was deep enough after the last stretch of walking that the other guests didn't wake them up when they went to bed.

With the first light they had breakfast and headed for the river to wash themselves and their clothes.

"I miss the public baths of Godwalkar," Babita said, sitting on a rock with only her undergarment as she waited for her gown to dry.

"I don't think we'll find anything until we reach a town, right?" Keshav said, looking at the bridge further downriver. He and Rohan had shaved as well as washing themselves, and had hung their tunics onto low branches.

"Unfortunately no." She sighed. "But we should reach Nalach in another ten days."

"Where is Nalach?" Rohan asked. He lay on another rock, bare-chested, eyes closed under the sun.

"On the coast." Babita shrugged, looking away. Her eyes seemed to linger way too much on the half-naked young man.

Keshav smiled and pulled out his map, opening it on his lap. She leaned to point to the town on the map.

"This is the northern border," she said. "Beyond it's nobody's land. There are castles and villages, but no real king taking care of the roads or of security or even taxes, although we might find bandits roaming there."

"Bandits?" Rohan opened his eyes and sat, grinning. "I get to use my sword?"

"Let's hope not," she replied, not looking at him. "I think we should take a ship to Hurlevent, here, it's safer."

"Have you seen the sea?" Rohan asked.

"I was born on the coast," Babita said.

"Delen is on the coast," Keshav added.

"Oh, right. So I'm the only one who never went on a ship." Rohan hugged his knees, frowning.

"There's nothing to be afraid of," Babita said. "Those ships are very safe."

"I took a few from Delen to go around the continent, and yes, it's a very safe way of traveling," Keshav added. "Probably safer that trudging on unknown, unsafe roads."

Rohan smiled again. "I trust you both! Ship it is, then!" He lay back down and closed his eyes again.

Keshav and Babita exchanged a glance, then shrugged.

"So in ten days we reach the coast, and then? How long by ship?" Keshav asked.

"Another ten days, maybe less if the winds are good." She pursed her lips. "Then the hard part starts. It might take us up to twenty days to reach Konigtown through here." She traced the map with her finger. "That's where we'll probably have to sleep under the stars a few times."

"Nice," Rohan commented without moving.

"How many times have you slept under the stars, your highness?" Babita sounded slightly sarcastic.

"Never." He sat again and smiled impishly at them. "You're making me do things I've never done before, and I'm very happy about it. Enough of that sheltered life already! I look forward to using my sword and sleeping under the stars and sailing the sea..."

"And reaching our destination safe and sound," Keshav said, amused. "My tunic is dry, shall we move?"

He rose and folded the map again. With a sigh, Rohan put on his tunic and soon they were on their way again, on the paved road that followed the other shore of the river, now to their left. On the other shore, the lower slopes of the mountains had vineyards and meadows. A thick forest of beeches and aspens grew on their right, sheltering them from the sun for most of the way.

Again they walked, hitched rides, slept in farms and washed in the river until the road kept going straight east while the river bent towards the mountains it came from.

"I sure hope there are public baths in Nalach," Keshav muttered as they prepared to sleep in a barn.

"Don't worry, we'll be there in a couple of days," Babita answered, rolling over the hay to get some sleep.

Keshav noticed that Rohan was smiling. Maybe he should ask for a private bath chamber if he wanted to avoid the burning stare of the prince while he washed himself...

***

Two weeks after leaving Godwalkar, they reached Nalach. It was a small town with no walls except around the fortress at the mouth of a small river that came straight down from the Central Massif. A stone bridge crossed it and led to the sea harbor. A couple of small fluvial piers were on the side of the fortress.

There was only one inn, right outside of the fortress and next to the public baths. The Wandering Jester Tavern had most rooms occupied, but they were able to book a small room for Babita and a double room for Keshav and Rohan. The rooms had locks on the door, so they left everything but clean clothes at the inn and headed for the baths.

Keshav was glad to immerse himself in clean water, almost warm and definitely more comfortable than wading into a river. The pools were similar to the ones he was used to and other men lingered in the water.

Keshav gratefully removed the dust of the journey from his body and hair, then shaved, mirrored by Rohan. They sat in a corner of the pool and didn't try to make friends with the other men until they felt at least decent.

"I'm surprised to see you grooming yourself so well," Keshav said, breaking the silence between him and Rohan. "I thought a king's cousin would be used to having servants doing everything for him."

"Indeed." Rohan smiled. "I told you it's an exciting journey that is teaching me lots of new skills."

"You mean you never did it before?" Keshav asked, puzzled. "You never shaved yourself?"

"No. I had the palace barber showing up every morning at my door." Rohan chuckled. "How am I doing?"

He showed off his clean jaw.

"I'm impressed," Keshav had to admit. "You never cut yourself and managed to do it perfectly fine since we left."

"Well, I had considered asking you, but I'm sure it's not easy to shave somebody else, so I thought I might as well learn," Rohan replied. "What about your face scars? Are they from the razor?"

Keshav touched his chin and upper lip. "No, childhood fall. I still had my milk teeth or I'd have a toothless smile by now."

"Oh." Rohan's eyes fell on his torso. "And the other scars? You're not a warrior, how did a scholar manage to get all those?"

"By being beaten up quite often," Keshav answered. "Nobody likes a scholar. Or a smart student that puts everybody else to shame. Except in gymnastics, that is."

"You have a great body anyway. For not using it much, I mean. You do keep yourself fit, don't you?"

"I do walk a lot, more than you ever did." Keshav shrugged.

Walking helped him think and ponder on what he read. Walking helped him remember what he learned or elaborate on it. He had noticed the walking was hard on the prince, but Rohan had never complained.

"I'm getting good at that too, am I not?" Rohan asked.

"You're doing just fine, your highness."

"Don't!" Rohan threatened.

"We seem to be using your title only to tease you," Keshav replied, amused.

Rohan opened his mouth, realized it was true, and laughed good-naturedly.

"You're right. Sorry. Over-sensitive in that field."

"You must have been used to being called by your first name."

"Well, I'm the king's cousin, not his brother. Yes, we're still royal family, but it's less formal at my father's palace..." He frowned. "Was. Although he still wanted me to behave like a prince. So I had very few friends there. I spent most of my time with my cousin Dilip when I was a child. And Abhilash. But then both got married and..." Rohan shrugged and stared at his body in the water.

"And what are you waiting for?" Keshav asked. "Even if you prefer male lovers, it doesn't mean you can't do your duty to a wife..."

Rohan's amber eyes stared at him.

"Is that what King Rahul does?" he asked bluntly.

Keshav nodded. "And King Vivek of Lakeshi. And King Roshan of Rajendra was healed by a male lover, so even if he loves his queen, sometimes he still visits his general. And I know of other men who do both."

Rohan nodded, thoughtful. "I would like to speak to any of them eventually. But what about you?"

"Me?" Keshav scoffed. "I'm a scholar, I'm chaste."

"And how do you manage that?" Rohan asked with an impish smile.

"I'm sure you can control your urges if you want," Keshav answered. "Or are you so used to getting what you want that you'd force yourself on someone who doesn't want you?"

"If that were the case, you'd already be mine." Rohan winked, then averted his eyes. "I think we better get out of the water. I'm hungry, and you?"

Keshav wasn't sure he understood the prince yet, but hopefully he had deterred Rohan enough that he wouldn't try anything with him.

The Wandering Jester was crowded by the time they went back to eat, but the noise was quiet and subdued. It wasn't as well-lit as the Lucky Snake and all the dark corners were occupied, so they had to sit in a more central table with a passed-out drunk mercenary who didn't even notice.

"He should have bathed too," Rohan said, wrinkling his nose with distaste.

A bard had come in and was playing good music in the background. Rohan had his usual meat dish while Keshav and Babita had fish and potatoes.

"Tomorrow morning we'll go looking for a ship to Hurlevent," Babita said, rising from her bench after the meal. "I wish you both good night."

Keshav and Rohan retired to their room. The sun had gone down and a cool breeze came in from the sea through the single window.

"Is this the smell of the sea?" Rohan asked as they lay on their cots before blowing out the oil lamp.

"Yes." Keshav was so used to it, that he hadn't noticed it. But it was a new scent for Rohan who inhaled the salty air as if tasting it.

"Interesting," he said. "Almost as interesting as you."

Keshav felt his cheeks on fire under the prince's burning stare. He cleared his throat.

"Good night, Rohan," he said a little bluntly.

"Good night, Keshav. Don't worry, I won't force myself on you while you sleep!"

"You can always try." Keshav scowled before blowing out the lamp. He heard Rohan chuckle in the dark.

"That would be an interesting challenge," the prince said. "Sweet dreams."

"G' night," he muttered, rolling over to sleep.

***

Rohan stared worried at the ships lolling in the waves. Even the sea with its foam and whitecaps looked dangerous. Who could control all that water? Where was the other shore? On the map he had seen there was land beyond, since both Nalach and Hurlevent were on the same, huge bay... but there was nothing in sight.

Seagulls screamed over his head, gliding on the water or on land. The breeze was cool on the sandy beach, but he felt uncomfortable as he stared at Babita, standing on the wooden pier, talking to ship captains.

Prince heirs got to travel to the other kingdoms. Their brothers or cousins didn't go around much. He and Dilip had never left Godwalkar and even though Nalach was still in Gajendra, it felt like an alien place. Even though people dressed like in Godwalkar and spoke the same language.

Rohan sighed. He had learned to travel on foot, to shave, he could learn to travel by ocean-faring ships. He glanced at Keshav, standing next to him, lost in thought. That was someone who came from far away! Well, at least Keshav's father had come from far away.

His admiration for the scholar grew with every passing day. Keshav might not know how to wield a sword, but he knew everything about swords. He had told him the history of swords, and the various shapes and...

Rohan smiled and caressed the hilt of his weapon. Babita said the northerners used straight swords like his, but theirs weren't double-edged with the blade swelling towards the point as far as she could tell.

The other southern kingdoms used curved blade sabers – talwar, saif, shamshir, kilig – or scimitars, but Amrendra also had an almost straight sword with forward-curved blade in the shape of a lily petal.

Of course this knowledge didn't allow Keshav to actually use those weapons... but it had been fun to listen to those stories. Keshav was as interesting as Aagney when he spoke of the things he'd studied. Otherwise he was quiet and serious, but Rohan thought there was a sweetness in him that made him want to hold the scholar tight.

I'm a grown man! I won't beg anyone to love me!

He glanced at Keshav's profile. They were the same height and Rohan crossed his arms on his chest to stop himself from stroking Keshav's shoulder-length raven hair.

He looked at Babita again. She was coming back towards them.

"Good, let's get done with this!" Rohan muttered.

"Are you still worried?" Keshav asked him.

"I've been on river barges. I've swum against the current in Godwalkar. But this..." His hands whipped out again and waved at the ocean. "This seems too much to handle!"

"And it's quiet today," Keshav said. "It can be much worse when a tempest hits."

"Don't scare him, Keshav," Babita chided, stopping in front of them. "We leave with the evening tide. No tempests in sight, don't worry, this is a coast with a very calm sea."

Rohan took in a deep breath and stared at the ships again.

"So which one is our passage?"

"The one on the beach over there." She pointed at a couple that had their flat hulls partly on the sand.

"I thought they had sails?"

"They're setting up the mast and it will have a rectangular sail tonight, don't worry."

"I'm not worried."

"Just a little," she teased. "You can worry when you see the sailors worried."

"I'll keep it in mind, thank you, Babita."

"Keep your meals light," Keshav said as they headed back to the Jester for lunch. "You might be seasick if you eat too much."

Rohan had had his meat meal the previous night, so followed the scholar's advice and ate boiled halibut with lemon. He didn't even try the cabbage and beans the other two ordered.

As the second high waters rose, the three of them waded into low water that now covered the whole shallow-draft hull and climbed on a wooden gangway onto a longship. Rohan saw there was a dragon head sculpted both at the bow and the stern that were symmetrical. The mast had been set up at the center of the ship, with its rectangular sail already displayed.

He sat on one of the chests used as rowing benches. There were oars on each side and a steering oar at what was currently the stern. Rohan had no doubt that positions could be reversed without having to turn around the ship.

"Would you like to row?" Keshav asked him, sitting on another chest on the other side. "Might keep your mind off the rolling..."

It was a relatively small ship with only room for eight oars on each side. Babita went to sit near the steering row and the captain but both men didn't mind some exercise. Sailors sat near them and showed them how to properly handle the oars.

As the sun set behind the Central Massif, Rohan started enjoying the ride, having fallen into the rhythm. The captain switched on an oil lamp and soon they were in a current going north, with the wind pushing them, so they could relax.

Rohan was too excited to sleep, so he sat with Keshav and looked at the stars. A couple of sailors pointed out their own constellations and Rohan almost forgot there was a woman onboard. The camaraderie felt a lot like his evenings at the Lucky Snake, with Keshav posing as Abhilash.

Yawning, he put his head against Keshav's shoulder and curled up in the night's cold. The warm body of the scholar was very comfortable to lean against.

"Should I ask for a blanket?" Keshav asked, feeling him shiver.

"No, I'm fine..." he whispered, drifting off to sleep.

CHAPTER SIX

A week later the walls of Hurlevent came into view. Keshav was relieved to see them. It meant sleeping on the ground, in an inn and probably finding public baths again. Maybe the last for a while.

Rohan had proved himself a good sailor, or at least a good rower, and the physical exercise had kept him from feeling seasick. Both had watched the coast slide by, greener and greener, and sometimes sending unknown smells to the ship.

They'd slept either onboard or on deserted beaches under the stars, eating the fish sailors caught on the way. And more often than not Rohan had curled up against him to sleep, but it hadn't been sexual. Maybe Keshav could try to consider Rohan a younger brother.

"I'm sure Rohan looks forward to his accursed meat," Babita said as the ship docked by a pier and they prepared to disembark.

"I'm hungry, fish doesn't really fill my belly," Rohan said.

"At least you were never seasick with those sea rations," Keshav teased him. Then he turned to Babita again. "Do you know an inn here?"

"Yes, I told you, I know the way up to Konigtown." She smiled. "And there are public baths. And barbers, if you want."

"We're good with doing it ourselves, aren't we, Rohan?"

The prince nodded and smiled. He had stubble by now, since neither of them had bothered shaving every day on the sea, but seemed eager to clean himself.

They got off the longship and headed for the town center. The town wasn't big, but it was enclosed in tall walls with round towers at regular intervals.

"What's with the double towers?" Keshav asked Babita.

"That's the gates," she answered, pointing down the street at the closest one. "East Gate number two near South Gate. There's another East Gate further up and one goes to the north."

No west gates, since the west was all on the sea shore. The gates had a portcullis with two gray towers. The stone of the walls obviously came from the Central Massif looming on the east.

"We're going out from North Gate, right?" Rohan asked.

She nodded, amused, and steered them towards the town center. The streets were wide and airy, paved with the same gray stone of the walls, and most buildings that had small backyards, and the salty air from the sea made Keshav almost feel back home. The town thrived on fishing and trading spices from the south, but Babita assured they also had venison from a nearby forest – Rohan could taste animals he'd never heard of.

There were fountains and marketplaces and the language sounded different. Keshav strained to understand it. It definitely wasn't Gallian.

The public baths were in a street that went by the western wall and the inn they were looking for was near a temple they could see beyond the smaller houses.

"Should we stop here and head for the inn later?" Babita suggested, pointing at the sign for the public baths.

"I'd love that!" Rohan said immediately. "This salty air is... sticky!"

It was a different kind of dirt from the dust gathered on the roads, but Keshav was grateful to wash it off too. Sweat from rowing, splashes of saltwater... it was good to get rid of them and there was even a pool of thermal warm water!

"Oh, this is bliss!" Rohan said, relaxing in the warm embrace of the water. "I could sleep here!"

"No, you couldn't." Keshav smiled. "But let's hope they have decent beds at the inn..."

"Mm, I didn't mind using you as a pillow," Rohan said, leaning towards him and shooting him an adoring stare.

Keshav cleared his throat and scowled at him, which only made the prince chuckle.

"So, did you enjoy our sea trip?" he asked, scrubbing himself.

"It was good." Rohan smelled the perfumed soap, then put it under Keshav's nose. "What do you think this is?"

Keshav inhaled the scent. "Goat milk soap."

"Oh." Rohan smelled it again. "Weird."

"You only had milk and honey soaps at the palace?" Keshav asked, amused.

"And orange and clove."

"Mine is sea and foam." Keshav gave him his soap.

"Do you think they have perfumed shaving creams as well?"

"I think they don't shave much up north. At least the Gallians didn't. To them one isn't a real warrior if one doesn't sport a manly beard..."

Rohan stared awed at him, then snapped back to reality.

"Wow." He shook his head. "I guess I have a lot to learn."

"So will you stop shaving?" Keshav asked him.

"No. I don't like to cover my face with facial hair. Not even mustaches, so fashionable in other kingdoms of the south."

Keshav nodded. He didn't like facial hair either. He didn't have much because of his father's blood, but he did have some.

The pool was comfortable, but both were hungry, so they washed, shaved, wore their last clean clothes and headed back for the baths' entrance where Babita was waiting for them. She had changed her gown for something plain – a long tunic to her ankles with a leather belt where she had hung her purse. Her hair was braided and she wore a veil over it, again of a different shape than the southern ones, held by a brass circlet.

She gave them the once over, looking critical.

"Gentlemen, it's time to buy you new clothes," she said. "You'd look less conspicuous and we probably won't be attacked if we look like locals. Can you handle a last meal of street food? I promise tonight you'll eat your fill."

Rohan sighed but nodded. Keshav shrugged.

"Whatever you say is better for us. Do we need to change our coins for the local ones?"

"That too. Come, we'll go to a merchant-banker and then to the dressmaker. But first we'll stop in the marketplace, I want Rohan to taste what they call sausage..."

***

Babita thought she should have brought Advik's northern clothes, they would have fit Keshav if not Prince Rohan. But then, her mother-in-law would have balked. And giving a dead man's clothes to another man didn't sound proper.

Besides, her traveling companions had money, so they might as well use it. The merchant-banker gave them a fair exchange for their southern coins and even bought one of Rohan's rings for more northern money. The Moren Empire had fallen, but its coins were still the preferred paying method north of the Central Massif, at least until kingdoms and city-states like Hurlevent reorganized themselves and started minting their own coins.

Then they stopped at a street vendor that had both crab skewers, chicken skewers and sausages made on the spot. The mixed smell made Keshav wrinkle his nose, but Rohan's eyes widened in pleasure as he sniffed the sausages roasting on the fire.

"They're so small, I'll need at least five," he complained.

"Try one first, the smell and the taste might not be the same," Babita suggested, amused. She told Keshav what the different sauces for the crab skewers were as Rohan tried the new food, trying not to burn his mouth in the process.

"What mix of meat is this?" he asked, gulping down the last bit. "It's... weird."

"Mostly pork meat," she answered. "Would you prefer the chicken skewers?"

"White meat isn't as good as red meat." Rohan shook his head. "I'll have four more of those sausages."

He showed four fingers and pointed at the sausages. The vendor gave him his order and a couple of chicken skewers for Keshav and Babita who had eaten the crab skewers. Rohan was the only one still eating as they left the food stand and headed for the dressmaker.

"Do you want to drop your bags?" Babita asked, pointing to the inn where they'd be staying. "The Laughing Lion is often all booked up, so we'd better ask for the rooms now and come back later."

"You're the expert," Keshav said. "Is this a good inn?"

"It's fit for a Lord," she answered with a wink, entering the large two-story building. "The food is vastly overpriced, but their roasted boar is worth the price. You might want to eat meat too, Keshav."

"Roasted boar..." Rohan seemed to savor the word. "Do they cook it differently from us?"

"You'll see tonight," Babita answered, heading for the innkeeper.

As expected almost all the rooms were occupied, but there were still three small rooms available. They could each have their privacy for a night. The innkeeper gave them the keys and they dropped their bags upstairs, keeping their money on themselves.

They headed out again for the dressmaker, Serina, who took the necessary measurements, let them choose the fabrics – Babita suggested they took plain cotton, since the summer would soon hit the north – and promised to deliver "two pairs of breeches and two tunics the day after tomorrow."

Babita thanked her as Rohan and Keshav counted coins to give the dressmaker half the money for her work.

"You're here out of season," Serina said. She had piercing blue eyes and copper hair. She was annoyed by expensive but unnecessary things and excessive alcohol, probably because her own husband was a drunkard. "Where's Advik?"

"He... fell from a ladder while taking goods from a high shelf and broke his neck," Babita answered, looking away. Talk about a stupid death leaving her in an awkward situation.

"I'm sorry to hear this," Serina said, shocked. "I didn't know..."

"It's been almost a year..." Babita shrugged. "We had just come back from the Konigtown Fair."

"So who are your traveling companions?"

"A scholar and a warrior for our protection. We're looking for new trade routes."

"I remember you didn't get along with Advik's mother." Serina nodded. "I so understand you! Luckily mine lives on the other side of town, but she can't stop herself from putting her nose in this household, as if she still owned her son."

Both rolled their eyes at the thought. Mothers-in-law could be very possessive of their "baby boys" – refusing to acknowledge they were now grown up men and treating their daughters-in-law as rivals. That seemed to be the same in the north and in the south!

"Can you check we counted right?" Keshav offered her the coins and she quickly checked before nodding. He offered them to Serina who accepted them with a smile.

"See you the day after tomorrow," she said. "You have two handsome traveling companions, Babita, I'm sure you're not missing Advik right now!"

"No, not really," Babita chuckled. "Although both of them seem to be quite oblivious of the luck they have to be with me..."

Serina laughed and waved them out of her shop. Thank Chanda, her traveling companions didn't speak the northern language. Hopefully her interest for them was not so obvious.

"You do know people here," Keshav said as they headed back to the Laughing Lion.

"I did come here for ten years in a row with Advik," she replied. "They all knew my husband, so of course I need to give them the news."

"I thought I'd heard a familiar word in your talk," Rohan said. "So Advik was your husband? When did he pass away?"

"Last fall, when we came back from the Konigtown Fair. I thought I wouldn't go this year, but then you came along..." She smiled at them. "Thank you for providing me with an excuse to get away from my mother-in-law's clutches."

"Ah, yes, my sister-in-law hates my mother!" Rohan chuckled. "I guess it's the same everywhere!"

"My mother didn't have a mother-in-law to deal with, since my paternal grandparents never left the Islands Empire," Keshav said. "But my sisters do get along with their husbands' mothers..."

"I guess Amrendra is an exception, then," Babita said, amused. "Or maybe your family is lucky."

"Or maybe your sisters are as meek as you and don't mind a bossy mother-in-law," Rohan added with a chuckle.

Keshav smiled. "That's also a possibility. Strong-headed women probably have more problems than meek ones."

"It's getting late," Babita said, looking at the sun. "Shall we go back to the inn and relax?"

***

The Laughing Lion Tavern was very crowded by the time they got back for dinner. The noise was loud and cheerful and the innkeeper ignored them, too busy to take their order. They sat at a table near the stairs that went to the upper floor and waited for someone to show up with the menu.

Keshav noticed there were a few shady characters and almost all patrons were already drunk, which didn't make him want to try the local ale. He hoped Rohan wouldn't drink either, although they had a full day to rest tomorrow if the prince got drunk.

At a nearby table a harried-looking hunter was losing at cards. A little further, men were playing dice with loud screams of excitement.

"Are you a gambler?" Babita asked, almost shouting to be heard.

"No, but I like watching men losing their belongings in those games," Keshav answered. "Are you?" he asked Rohan.

"No, I wasn't allowed to squander my father's money." Rohan averted his eyes with a rueful smile. He waved with both hands at a serving maid, catching her eye.

She put down the food from her tray in front of other customers who ignored her, then came to their table and pulled a menu from the pocket of her apron. Babita thanked her as she rushed back to the kitchen.

"Look, there's even sketches of the items," Babita said, turning the wrinkled paper towards the two men. "You can tell they're used to foreigners here, can't you?"

"And what is that supposed to be?" Rohan asked, pointing at a drawing of what looked like a dead hairy pig.

"That's the roasted boar I mentioned," she answered. "Or you can try the stuffed pheasant – it's a bird, but it doesn't taste like chicken. Or you can have more sausages, or simple steak."

Rohan licked his lips in anticipation, but didn't seem to be able to make up his mind.

"Let's take the boar like you suggested," Keshav said. "We can all have some."

"It goes well with a local red wine," she warned. "Would you like to indulge yourselves for a night?"

Rohan and Keshav exchanged a glance and smiled.

"Why not?" Keshav answered while Rohan nodded eagerly. "If we're sick afterward we won't throw up on each other!"

He chuckled as Rohan rolled his eyes.

The servant girl came back and Babita gave her the order, handing back the menu.

"Can you teach us some basic words?" Keshav asked her. "I am grateful that you're my interpreter, but I'd love to be able to ask questions myself."

"Sure, but maybe tomorrow, in a quieter place," Babita answered loudly. It was hard to make conversation in the inn's main room, so Keshav nodded.

"Is there a library or university in this city?"

"I don't think so. They might have some books at the temple, but they're probably in the local language."

"Or the Old Tongue of the Magical Races..." Keshav mused.

Maybe he should have asked Aagney to go with them, but remembering the storyteller's appetite, he thought they were good. Prince Rohan paid for his own food and even if he ate more than each of them, he didn't eat as much as Aagney.

Soon the maid came back with a tray with two big legs of wild boar. Rohan took his knife and started cutting off pieces and putting them on the round wooden plates while Babita poured the wine into their wooden goblets.

"It smells good," Rohan said of the food, then Keshav put the goblet under his nose. "That too!"

Keshav helped him to cut the meat in smaller bits, leaving one full leg to him. Potatoes and cabbage surrounded the meat, and more went to Keshav and Babita and less to Rohan.

Before starting, they raised their glasses.

"To the success of our journey," Keshav said.

"That we may find what we're looking for," Babita added.

They toasted and sipped the rich red wine. It immediately went to Keshav's head.

"Eat, and it will pass," Babita suggested, noticing his face. Rohan licked his lips and didn't seem upset.

Keshav plunged his knife in the meat and tasted it. The sauce had red currant and the meat was so well done, it melted on his tongue. It had been marinated in red wine, fresh thyme, cloves, carrot,  onion and vinegar, much like they did in Amrendra.

"Can you ask how they do it?" Rohan asked, obviously enjoying the meal as much as Keshav was. Babita pointed at the busy servers with a shrug, so Keshav told him what he thought the ingredients were.

"Mm, I wish I could have traveled to the Amrendran court like my cousin Prem," Rohan said, happily attacking the rest of his boar leg.

After the good food and the wine, Keshav was glad to retire in his little room. There was just a cot, a basin and a piss-pot, but at least it was quiet compared to the main room. He closed the shutters of the single window that opened on an alley that was clearly used as a sewer and sat on the cot to fill his journal.

He might have not found traces of the Genn yet, but he was in a foreign town that spoke another language and he needed to gather his ideas to ask more questions of Babita tomorrow. His full belly and the wine soon made him drowsy, though, so he blew out the candle and settled to sleep.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The next morning they met late in the main room, ready to explore the town. They tried the local pastries and teas, then headed out. Babita tried to teach them some of the language, but she was as bad as Keshav at teaching, which made them burst out laughing quite often.

Keshav asked her about the temple. It was built in gray stone, with a front porch and a dome over it. It looked square and had big rectangular windows of stained glass all around it. There wasn't much for decoration outside, but inside there was a long tapestry that covered each wall with stories of what Keshav supposed must be the local religion.

"This is the temple of the moon goddess," Babita said. "They call her Clair de Lune, not Chanda, and they have a different origin story for her."

She pointed at the scenes and translated the inscriptions starting on the left side. They stopped to admire the marble statue of the goddess in the middle of the back wall, surrounded by windows with star designs, then continued to the right side with some other adventure of the moon in the northern kingdoms.

"As if it were so different up here," Keshav muttered.

At both sides of the altar there were two small back doors that led to the priests' chamber and a small library. The local priest was dressed in white with a shaved head and glared at the visitors. Not even Keshav's long tunic convinced him to open the library to foreigners.

"I'm sorry," Babita apologized. "Priests are known for guarding their knowledge from the rest of the world everywhere, I guess."

"But not all scholars are monks or priests, are they?" Rohan asked as they emerged into the sun again and headed for the beach.

"No, I wasn't ordained to any god," Keshav answered. "Besides, in the south most libraries either belong to royal families or to universities founded by royal families, therefore they're not controlled by priests, although many copyists are monks, usually worshiping the God Vedas."

"I hear in Agharek there's the library of Zindagi," Rohan said.

"Yes, Agharek has two libraries, the Fighting Monks' and the Royal Library. That's why I spent most of a year there. But what you have in Godwalkar is... amazing. And you put it all in one place, which is even better."

Rohan grinned proudly.

"I guess we're not too fond of those books after all... Although I do miss some of the illustrated texts for children I used to read at my cousins' gatherings..."

Keshav smiled. "I had one from the Islands Empire that my father brought with him."

"Do you read their impossible alphabet?" Babita asked, impressed.

"Yes, I speak their impossible language too, of course," he replied. "But I'm at loss with the language they speak here."

"Mm, sorry I'm so bad at transmitting what I know," Babita said, averting her eyes.

"It's fine, with full immersion like this one and your help, by the end of the summer I can probably understand most of it," he replied.

Rohan looked impressed and Keshav avoided looking at him.

They lingered on the beach until lunch time, had street food for lunch, then headed for the governor's palace. It had occurred to Babita that they might have some books there, and that they'd probably be less protective of them.

Keshav liked watching people and Hurlevent seemed as busy as any other town. He liked trying to imagine the life of those people, like that cute, obnoxious young woman who has a black eye and a split lip. Did she have a violent husband? A violent father? Did she just fall?

The very short, out-of-breath old woman pushing a small cart – did she have children or grandchildren? Why weren't they helping her? And the expensively dressed, sly girl who kept bumping into people looked like a pickpocket to him.

The half-naked, sleepy young woman walking unsteadily could be anything, from a whore to a washerwoman. The redheaded, determined young man who just emerged from an alley, where was he going? And the oddly dressed, frightened man wandering aimlessly, what was he looking for?

The very pale, confused young man trying to avoid notice might be sick or just pretending. The fair-haired, worried boy chasing a small child reminded him of himself running after his younger sister.

Babita elbowed him and he stopped watching people to look at the only government building of the town. It had a sliding roof with red tiles and green shutters at the windows. It was a two-story, rectangular construction of gray stone standing in a side street on the northern part of the town.

The main door was open and didn't have any guards. A clerk sat in the entrance that had a big staircase that led to the upper floor. Doors opened on the left and right, leading to ballrooms or great halls for the town gatherings.

The current government was made of several elected officials chosen from the town's guilds. The clerk told them they had mostly law books upstairs, to deal with the town matters. And no, he hadn't heard anything about the Magical Races, and thought they were bedtime stories for children.

"I don't think there was much more at the temple," Babita said as they left the government building. "I'm afraid the northern kingdoms wiped out the Genn so thoroughly that they now consider them stuff of legend."

"Which won't help us in finding the lost towns." Keshav sighed. "Fine, never mind, we'll find them without the locals' help!"

They slowly headed back for the inn. Rohan said he wanted to try the stuffed pheasant Babita had mentioned and Keshav missed the lentil soup.

"Tomorrow Serina will give you your new clothes and we can be on our way," Babita said as they dined in the still crowded main room of the inn. "We should reach Konigtown in a couple of weeks."

***

Rohan awoke with a sun ray caressing his face. The cot wasn't really as comfortable as his bed and he didn't really think the inn was "fit for a Lord" like Babita had said, but it was certainly better than other accommodation they'd had during the trip. The food was very good and the wine pleasantly strong. He considered buying a bottle for the road, but then remembered they were on foot, and he already had enough weight on his shoulders.

He sighed and stretched his limbs. Time to move again. He had enjoyed the stay in the town, even though he needed Babita to talk to people. He was certain, though, that if someone was like him, he wouldn't need words. Except he hadn't seen anyone that had caught his eye among the bearded fishermen and merchants of the town.

He yawned and put on his southern tunic for the last time, he assumed. He was kind of curious to see what the dressmaker had done and wondered if she'd make identical clothes for him and Keshav or if she would respect their different status.

He certainly didn't want a long, scholarly tunic that would hinder him if he had to use his sword. He also wondered if they'd be provided with northern hats for protection against the sun, since the barbarians didn't seem to use turbans, but were definitely covering their heads when necessary.

He shaved with the small mirror and basin provided by the inn, then packed his things and went downstairs. He was the last one to sit at the table, as usual.

"Don't you ever sleep?" he asked both Keshav and Babita who greeted him with amused smiles.

"I don't sleep much," Keshav admitted.

"I do sleep, but I eat less than you do, so that probably accounts for less sleeping hours," Babita added.

"Do you miss the company?" Rohan asked her.

"Sometimes." She shrugged. "But I'm not ready to have another man dictating my life."

"Was Advik that bad?"

"He was good, it's his mother who is a witch." She scowled. "Next man must be an orphan! Or at least motherless!"

Rohan and Keshav exchanged a smile.

"What's that pastry with?" Rohan pointed.

"Blueberry muffin," Keshav answered. "Really good."

Rohan grabbed it and tasted it. Really good indeed. "Glad we have the same tastes for something," he said, grinning at Keshav.

The scholar cleared his throat and looked away. Rohan chuckled. He liked to embarrass Keshav. Maybe eventually he'd even dare kiss him. But not yet.

He finished the pastry and drank some tea with milk. "I'm ready," he said. "Shall we?"

Babita nodded. They had already paid for the rooms and the meals, so they headed for the dressmaker's. The redheaded woman gave them "breeches" and tunics cut the northern way. Keshav's was ankle-length, but Rohan's was barely knee-length, with openings on the side.

"In case you need to mount a horse," Babita explained, amused. "That's what warriors wear up north."

Rohan put on everything and tried some movements. It seemed fine. He had to adapt his sword scabbard to the leather belt that accompanied the clothes. Keshav looked like a lord with his long tunic held by a leather belt.

"Can we keep our sandals?" Rohan asked.

"Sandals are sandals... when we need boots, we'll buy them. But sandals are fine for the summer," Babita answered.

"Good." Rohan packed his southern clothes in the bulging backpack and so did Keshav.

Soon they exited from the portcullis of the northern gate and followed the now unpaved road that followed the coast. A forest loomed on their left, the sea was on the right. Even if the road was sunny and dusty, they stuck to it. Entering the forest might be dangerous for the presence of bandits and outlaws hiding there.

"We shouldn't be attacked, but you never know," Babita said. "Especially in the summer they can easily live off the forest, it's in winter that desperate men attack other men. Like packs of wolves."

Rohan shivered at the thought of wolves. There were no tigers in the forests of Gajendra, but once he'd gone on a hunting expedition with his cousins on the Central Massif. It was winter and a pack of wolves had tried to steal their prey.

He was very happy to be traveling in summer time.

The road was fairly busy with carts going to and from the town. Mostly peasants carrying their goods to Hurlevent's market or going home after selling everything – the latter were more eager to take passengers in their empty carts and carry them forward, sometimes even offering food and their barn for the night.

So far things weren't much different, except for the language that meant only Babita could communicate with the locals. Rohan didn't care much, he was happy just watching the landscape or looking at Keshav...

And then they reached an inn. Babita said it was called The Leaping Griffen Tavern.

"What is a griffen?" Rohan asked.

"The griffen or gryphon is a mythical creature with the body, tail, and back legs of a lion, the head and wings of an eagle and an eagle's talons as its front feet," Babita explained.

Rohan whistled.

"They think the same of our Winged God," Keshav said, amused. "I mean, a God depicted as having the golden body of a strong man with a white face, red wings, and an eagle's beak and with a crown on his head..."

"But apparently gryphons existed in the northern kingdoms," Babita said. "Along with the Magical Races, unicorns, faeries and other beings we never saw or heard about."

"I see... well, let's go inside and see if they have rooms. And maybe bath tubs?" Rohan looked hopeful.

Babita smiled and pushed the front door. The inn was large and had most rooms occupied, but they found accommodation for the night. The rooms were all small and slightly over priced, but they treasured the privacy. And yes, bath tubs were available for customers, for a few extra coins.

Thus all three retired to wash and change clothes, wearing the southern ones to go back downstairs for dinner in the crowded main room. Most patrons were drunk which kept the noise level loud and cheerful.

The bartender was female and reminded Rohan of Zoya, the bartender of the Sour Stallion. The food was of poor quality and overpriced, but Rohan was starving by then and would have eaten anything. Babita suggested he tried the mutton while she and Keshav had porridge.

Rohan noticed the thoroughly tattooed herald with oddly-colored eyes who must come from a nearby castle. He was losing at a very active dice game and soon left the table, snorting in frustration. The oddly-colored eyes met Rohan's amber eyes and quick recognition passed between them. The herald smiled and joined them at their table.

"His name is Duncan," Babita translated when the herald realized Rohan didn't speak his language. "He is wondering if you'd like some company tonight."

"Why not?" Rohan grinned at the young man, staring appreciatively at his tattoos. "Will you keep my purse for me?"

Keshav chuckled. "That's smart," he said. "Sure, leave it to me and you won't be robbed."

Rohan nodded, finished his meal, then cleaned his hands on his tunic and discreetly gave his purse to Keshav before offering his hand to Duncan.

He was glad to have company. Duncan was blond and tattooed, but he could always imagine being with Keshav instead.

CHAPTER EIGHT

"You should probably go and check on him," Babita said, putting down her empty mug. "Just in case the tattooed guy killed him after... whatever they did together because he couldn't find his money."

Keshav sighed, looked outside of the inn's window, then rose.

"Keep his purse while I wake him up," he said giving her Rohan's purse.

He went back upstairs and knocked on Rohan's door. When no answer came, he opened the door and found both young men still in bed, naked, Duncan's tattooed arms wrapped around Rohan's muscled body.

Keshav closed the door with a thud that startled both awake.

"Keshav!" Rohan looked confused. "Is it late?"

"The sun is high and we should go," Keshav answered. "Please come downstairs as fast as you can."

"Uh, sure." Rohan blushed, hiding under the bed sheet. As if Keshav hadn't seen everything already.

Keshav waved and went back down the stairs.

"They were still asleep," he muttered, sitting down again in front of Babita. "Glad my room wasn't near theirs."

"Mine was." Babita smiled. "I heard them until quite late. No wonder they were still asleep."

"You could have told me." Keshav glared at her.

"Did you want me to find them naked in their bed?" she teased. "At least you're a man too, they don't have anything that you don't have as well, right?"

Keshav looked away, frowning. As long as Rohan didn't ask him to have sex...

"Do you have a problem with sex?" she asked.

"No, I just don't get people's obsession with it." He shrugged.

"So you don't find it hard to remain chaste."

"No. Why? Should I?"

"Just asking. I sometimes miss my husband. Especially now that I'm traveling with two men not related to me – and who make me feel invisible."

"I'm sorry, scholars and women don't really get along well," he said, looking towards the stairs. Rohan and Duncan were rushing down the steps. Duncan briefly kissed Rohan's lips, then stormed out of the inn.

"He's late, his lord might scold him," Rohan said, sitting at the table and taking a pastry.

"We shall scold you too, your highness," Babita said. "You overslept."

Keshav tried not to burst out laughing at her serious face and Rohan's puzzlement. The prince stopped munching and stared at her wide-eyed.

"She's right, your highness," Keshav said, putting emphasis on the title to remind him they used it only to tease him.

Rohan gulped, relaxed and shook a threatening finger at them. "You got me," he muttered. "Is there still any warm tea in that pot?"

Babita poured him some while he quickly finished the pastry and drank some not-so-warm tea.

"I hope you are well rested," Babita said as they gathered their things and headed out. "Let's try to get to the next inn today. Although they're not at regular intervals like in Gajendra and if I remember correctly we might not find any until tomorrow."

Rohan nodded, adjusting his sword by his side and his backpack on his shoulders. The wind from the coast brought some clouds, but it didn't rain. Still they had to use their southern sashes to cover nose and mouth from the dust of the road.

"Maybe mud would be better than this sandstorm," Keshav muttered.

"Trudging on muddy roads means no carts or wagons out and about," Babita replied, and soon enough they could hitch a ride on a peasant's cart headed for a nearby village.

That night they had to sleep under the stars. They made camp on the road side, just outside the woods still lining the left side. They found wood to make a fire in a pit that had already been used by other travelers.

There was also a wooden canopy for whoever stopped in bad weather that allowed shelter from the rain. Just a roof over four shafts, open on all sides, that made them wish they had cloaks, since at night the temperature went down.

"Maybe we should take turns and keep the fire alive," Keshav said while Babita distributed traveling provisions she had bought in Hurlevent. "If it goes out, we might freeze."

"It's not that cold," Babita said. "It's the summer! But yes, it's better if we keep the fire alive."

"Can you do the first shift?" Rohan asked. "Wake me up when you need sleep!"

"Sure." Keshav smiled. Considering that the prince slept a lot more than him, he was ready to spend most of the night awake, but then, he wanted to jot down observations in his journal and check his notes, so he didn't mind.

Soon both Babita and Rohan were asleep and only the crickets kept him company. An owl watched him from a nearby tree and sometimes called upon another who answered from within the forest. A small stream ran nearby and Keshav saw beavers busy around their nest. At least he had freshwater for tomorrow morning.

He settled against a rock and took his journal, pen and ink, keeping an eye on the fire. The flickering light wasn't perfect, but better than nothing. He also looked at the map, trying to trace the journey they had made so far. Well over halfway from Godwalkar to Konigtown, but apparently the worst was still to come.

The night was quiet and moonless. Soon he had to throw more wood in the pit and lay down to stare at the starry sky. Then night animals went quiet. Only the crickets seemed oblivious, but owls and beavers seemed to be still.

Someone was coming. Keshav kicked Rohan awake and signaled him to be quiet. Rohan half rose and listened, soon nodding in understanding. He quietly pulled out his sword from its scabbard, but lay it down so the fire wouldn't gleam on the metal blade.

Keshav took his own knife and kept it hidden in his sleeve while Rohan rolled over his sword and covered it with his body. Whoever was coming might think they were all asleep around the fire.

Four figures emerged from the forest. One was clearly limping, another looked like a hunchback. They had woodcutters' axes or scythes – typical peasant's weapons – and now that they were getting closer, they weren't that silent. Their shuffling forward awoke Babita who sat and glared at them.

Keshav sat too as she asked them something. Toothless smiles and incomprehensible answers shot back their way. The four advanced on them as if they owned the camp and wanted some kind of toll for the use of the fire pit.

"Bandits?" Keshav asked. Babita slowly nodded, frowning, still staring at the four. Rohan hadn't moved and still pretended to sleep. "Tell them we don't have anything worth taking."

"I already did," she replied. "They want our clothes and our bags anyway."

The bandits wore rags, so it wasn't surprising they'd get anything they could.

"Do you have weapons?" Keshav asked.

"Of course!" she snapped. "Is Rohan...?"

"Awake and ready," Keshav answered.

The limping bandit asked something in a threatening tone. Babita answered mockingly.

"They don't like the fact that we talk in a language they don't understand," she said. "They think we're going to attack them back."

"It's still four against three, but then, our prince should be able to handle two, or when I get back to Godwalkar, I'll have a talk to his sword-teacher!"

Keshav glanced at Rohan and saw his lips twitch into a smile. Babita hid her smile behind her hand, then found a scythe's blade at her throat. The hunchback leaned on Rohan and raised his axe, ready to hit.

"Now!" Keshav said, swinging his arm and thrusting his knife in the body of the bandit behind him. At the same time Babita struck the scythe man and Rohan rolled over, revealing his sword and stabbing the hunchback who screamed in pain. Rohan was immediately on his feet, attacking the fourth man and breaking the shaft of the axe he had raised in defense, hitting him between neck and shoulder.

Still panting, wide-eyed, Rohan looked around, but the four bandits were all down and moaning in pain.

"We should tie them up, lest they bother us again," Keshav said. "Or we could leave, but it seems the road is quite dark still."

"They came with rope," Babita said, pointing at the hunchback. "We will use their rope and tie them to that tree over there. Someone will free them when we're long gone."

"And if nobody shows up?" Rohan asked, worried.

"Not our problem," Keshav replied. "Unsafe roads should be kept safe by whoever is in charge here."

"Nobody is in charge on this stretch of the road," Babita said. "That's why they've tried to rob us. I doubt they have families to feed somewhere anyway."

"Put away that sword, Rohan, and help me take them by that tree."

Rohan nodded, still frowning. Both men carried the bandits to the tree and Babita tied them up.

"Get some sleep now, Keshav," she said as they lay back down by the fire. "I'm sure Rohan can't sleep right now."

"No," Rohan admitted, clearly shaken. "I hope they don't die."

"We'll see in the morning," Keshav said, closing his eyes with a sigh.

***

Babita didn't sleep well, and not only because she was lying on the ground in the open. Maybe coming now, without waiting for the other merchants traveling to the Konigtown Fair, hadn't been such a good idea after all. But she really thought that the summer would be safe enough, without desperate people trying to survive by robbing travelers.

Rohan still looked upset when the sun came up. He had obviously never shed any blood before, but his training had worked perfectly. He had struck surely and without hesitation, and took out two opponents with almost a single move.

Unfortunately two of the bandits hadn't survived – the ones that had met Rohan's sword. The other two didn't seem to have long to live either, since the knife wounds had been well placed.

Rohan washed himself in the stream and refused to eat. He actually threw up his dinner after they cut the ropes and let the bandits go. Not that they went anywhere. The two survivors bared their teeth at them, but didn't move.

Keshav extinguished the fire and they packed their things, leaving the camp by the road as the sun was barely rising. The stench of blood and unwashed bodies was unbearable. They quickly walked away in silence and Babita prayed they wouldn't meet any other outlaw band on the way to Konigtown.

Around mid-morning the smell of freshly made bread led them to a small village where Rohan filled his stomach again. He seemed less pale than in the morning, but still unwilling to talk about his nightly feat.

They shared a loaf of bread near the village well, drank and washed their faces, then continued their journey.

It took them a week to reach the Howling Ogre Tavern at the border of the Blackmore Kingdom. The inn was filthy and very small, built next to a toll building where guards with the king's coat of arms checked who entered or exited the kingdom. The fee for pedestrians with no goods to trade was minimal, and most of the travelers' money went to the king through the inn anyway.

Prices were fair, but the food was strange, exotic and mildly sickening, so Babita warned Keshav and Rohan to stick to what they knew. Two boar legs like in Hurlevent seemed to be the best bet, even though all three of them tried to get rid of the greasy sauce.

There were rooms of all sizes, but no bath service. And all the rooms were occupied except one, so they had to share. But at least they'd have a roof over their heads. Babita asked them if they wanted to stay for two nights and recover, but both men didn't like the small inn and said they'd happily continue the next morning.

"Fine, we'll rest in Ilitan the day after tomorrow," she said with a shrug.

CHAPTER NINE

Ilitan was small but growing. Already a second wooden wall with smaller gates had surrounded the newer houses. It was built around two main roads at the border of the Blackmore Kingdom, therefore it needed protection, especially from the direction of Hurlevent.

Babita said the locals were friendly and the town was famous for its clerics. There was a thriving nightlife and they could see talented street performers in the few squares of the town.

The old town had buildings that generally had attics under their sliding roofs and the streets smelled like flowers even in summer. Keshav looked around with interest and curiosity while Babita mentioned a few notable locals.

"There's the supposedly philanthropic artist who has been talking of changes. He has few open enemies. Rumors say that he fears priests. He can usually be found at a party. And I know the foreign mercenary who has a family closet full of skeletons. She has questionable allies. Rumors say that she is wary of offending clerics, even though she comes from another country and doesn't believe in the local gods. She can usually be found at a friend's house."

"A female mercenary?" Rohan asked. "Is she an Amazon?"

"No, I think she's Kelvan, from the eastern coast. In the north there are plenty of warrior women."

"We had a Gallian warrior woman leading our border troops in Amrendra," Keshav said. "Prince Rohit had a crush on her."

"Rahul's twin?" Rohan asked.

"Yes, only the jester has a male lover, your highness," Keshav answered. "The prince was never interested in men. He fell in love with Gaia when he discovered she was a woman."

"Oh." Rohan nodded and looked away. "And where's the closest tavern?" he asked Babita.

"Downtown. Yonaline is like that Gaia, I think. And probably she doesn't want to offend any clerics because she's very good friends with a very wealthy cleric who is associated with allegations of bribery. She has more enemies than allies. Rumors say that she fears criminals. She can usually be found near the outskirts of the city. And her worst enemy is the obnoxious priest who is known to spin complex schemes. She has few open allies. Rumors say that she has been having trouble with the guard captain. She can usually be found at the market. So you see, not all women get along."

"Any other interesting characters in town?" Keshav asked, amused.

"The deeply religious guild leader who has been accumulating debts. He has many allies. Rumors say that he aspires to be like artists. He can usually be found among a group of supporters. And the gaudy entertainer who has a dangerous vendetta. He seems to have little trouble with obvious enemies. Rumors say that he is enraged by traders. He can usually be found at work..."

The Hearty Watchman Tavern was large but looked quite old. Babita mentioned it was the oldest of the town and still in business in spite of the ups and downs of life on the border of a kingdom. It was clearly still thriving, since the small and medium rooms were all occupied and the main room was crowded with loud and cheerful people.

The innkeeper sent them to a house that rented rooms and was even closer to the public baths. They had to pile into the building's attic, but the landlady promised a full meal at the end of the day, and from the smells coming from the kitchen, and her plump figure, she seemed to know what she was talking about.

Keshav, Rohan and Babita dropped their bags, took their spare clothes and money, and went to wash at the public baths. In this case Keshav and Rohan kept to themselves in the men's common room because they couldn't communicate with the locals.

"What a barbarian language," Rohan commented, scrubbing himself clean from the road dust.

"I'm starting to understand a few words every now and then," Keshav said, thoughtful. "But it will take me a few months before I can have a real conversation."

"You're that good?" Rohan stared admiringly at him.

"I'm good at languages."

"And history. And what else?"

"Nothing that could be useful to a prince." Keshav smiled. "Unless you decide to become a diplomat, which would probably take your father off your back."

Rohan thought about it. "I had never considered that. But then I hadn't traveled before."

"And do you enjoy it?"

"It's..." Rohan frowned, relaxing in the water. "Well, there's the good and the bad."

The bandits' attack flashed between them.

"We should be fine now," Keshav said. "It's a kingdom. We're bound to find guards and patrols on the road and less outlaws or desperate people."

Rohan nodded, thoughtful. "Do you think what we did was right?"

The amber eyes looked lost now. He was still blaming himself for killing the bandits.

"We would all be dead if you hadn't killed them," Keshav replied. "I think your sword master can be proud of you. You didn't panic and made a clean stroke."

Rohan nodded again, but didn't look convinced.

"Rohan, you're a prince and a warrior. You chose to travel to barbarian lands. You couldn't expect to come back with your hands as clean as when you left. We've been lucky there were only four of them. Just imagine if it were a bigger band. We'd be dead and nobody at home would know about it."

Rohan sighed. "It's just... it's not..."

"It's not pleasant, I know. I used a knife, but the one I stabbed is probably dead too. I hadn't shed blood before either. And I'm a scholar. Don't berate yourself for being who you are. You'll be a mighty warrior fighting for justice and peace."

Rohan's lips trembled into a smile. "Thanks," he whispered.

He resumed washing, then shaved and then they got out of the main pool and dressed. Babita was ready and waiting in the baths' entrance.

"I'm spending my life waiting for men," she said, staring at them with her fists on her hips. "Shouldn't it be the opposite?"

"You're the quickest woman I ever met," Keshav replied with a smile. "Even my sisters are not as fast as you are in getting ready!"

She rolled her eyes. "I know, I'm too fast. Let's go, our landlady has probably already set the table..."

"Do you think we'll have roasted boar?" Rohan asked, hopeful.

They had sausages and meatballs with a greasy sauce that smelled very good and tasted even better. And there were beans and cabbage and the last strawberries of the season. Rohan asked Babita how to thank the plump host and made the cook blush with pleasure.

Then they retired to the attic. There were only cots and a bed table for a lamp in the middle of the room under the sliding roof. They had to go downstairs to use the outhouse, so they left the lamp on, in case they needed it.

"The roads are still unpaved, but they should be safer from now on," Babita said as they lay down to rest.

"How much longer to Konigtown?" Keshav asked.

"Six or seven days, depending if we can hitch rides or not."

"Good. Terrain?"

"As soon as we get down these hills, we'll find ourselves in the northern plains. So even easier to trudge forward. Unless we get a summer thunderstorm, that is."

"Let's pray for Surya to watch our steps," Rohan said. "Good night!"

***

It had been a little more than a month since they'd left Godwalkar and summer had exploded in the north. It wasn't as hot as Amrendra or the other southern kingdoms, but it became more pleasant to sleep under the stars if there were no farms or villages in sight when the sun set.

Keshav was getting to know his traveling companions and had somehow formed an opinion about them. The two strangers that had started on the path with him, looking for the lost Genn towns, were now almost family. Sometimes they even bickered like family members – like siblings when the parents weren't looking, mostly.

Rohan seemed to have forgotten the killing of the bandits and looked at the world with eyes wide open in wonder. The same wonder he had when he listened to Keshav's history lessons or whenever he related something he'd read in a book – a wonder that never showed up when Babita was talking. The prince was definitely not interested in women.

Babita seemed to be fairly independent for a southern woman, but apparently her late husband had given her a lot of freedom, much like her family of origin. That was probably why she had decided to break free of her mother-in-law's influence.

Keshav was a little surprised that in her ten-year marriage she hadn't had any children, but it was none of his business, so he never asked why. She didn't seem too keen to talk about it, so he simply ignored the topic.

The hills ended after three days, then the unpaved, dusty road went mostly through meadows. One night they camped in a thicket of hazelnut trees and managed to catch a couple of pheasants that they roasted on the camp fire. Two nights they found farms and slept in barns. And then they found villages with no inns, but usually someone allowed them to sleep in their barn or stable, since there usually were no guest rooms in houses.

After eight days of fairly easy road, they reached a lake and a small village on its shore. On the other shore they could see a town with no walls except around the rectangular keep.

"That's Konigtown," Babita said, pointing at the town from a small, wooden pier. "I doubt we'll find a boat to get there, so we'll have to go around the lake and reach it tomorrow."

"Do they have public baths?" Rohan asked, staring at the town on the other shore. It wasn't a huge lake, but another day would probably be necessary to go around it and reach the town.

"Yes, of course. We can rest there for a couple of days. My late husband's associate can accommodate us and tell us if he knows anything about the former Genn capital."

"It might be anywhere around this lake," Keshav said, looking at the log houses of the village. "I don't mind following the shore, we might see the ruins somewhere."

"We'd still go to wash and rest in Konigtown, though, wouldn't we?" Rohan asked, frowning.

"Yes, of course, Rohan, I want a real bath as much as you do, but we'll have to make do with the lake for now."

"I will leave you to your ablutions, then," Babita said, amused. "I'm going to ask where we can eat and sleep. I won't be long."

"This water is cold," Rohan complained, kneeling on the pier to put a hand in the water.

"It's much further north than Godwalkar." Keshav tried the water too. "I guess the full bath will have to wait until Konigtown."

Rohan sighed and looked towards the village. Bearded fishermen with blond hair and blue eyes were busy with their nets.

"I guess we'll have fish tonight," Rohan grumbled, standing again.

"The forest is too far for something else," Keshav said. "Although there are pigs, so we might find a few sausages..."

Rohan brightened. "I'd love that!"

Keshav chuckled. "You'll introduce sausages to the Gajendran court as soon as you go back, your highness?"

"If I go back, why not?" Rohan winked and smiled at him.

"Would you really spend your life among bearded barbarians?" Keshav asked.

"Not in such a small village, but I'd like to meet some noblemen in the towns... they might be less refined than us, but who knows... they might have other qualities..."

They got off the pier and headed back to the village square. Babita raised her eyebrows at the sight of them.

"No bath?"

"Water's too cold," Keshav answered. "Have you found any food?"

"There's a widow at the edge of the village, if we help her with some house chores, she'll give us food and shelter for the night."

"No problem."

"Your highness?"

"Stop. Calling. Me. Highness." Rohan glared at her.

She guffawed. "When I see you sweeping some floor, I'll stop considering you a prince."

"Good, what does the widow want me to do?"

"With those muscles, chop some wood and she'll be able to cook," Babita teased.

"Fine, show me where!"

"Don't be so hard on him," Keshav chided. "Let's go help the widow so we can earn our food and shelter!"

***

Rohan was thoroughly enjoying his adventure. Now that the memory of the night attack was fading, he started appreciating the northern men. The Blackmore Kingdom was not as barbarian as he'd thought or been told. If there was a king and his lords in charge, obviously things were better even for travelers.

Still, he preferred Keshav's oblong brown eyes and raven hair to the blond men of the north. Although he often reminded himself that he was meeting peasants and commoners, not noblemen, and was kind of curious to meet the northern elite. Not until they got to Konigtown, obviously.

Maybe he could ask for a detour to the kingdom's capital, but he doubted it was on Keshav's route. He still wasn't sure what the scholar was looking for. If the Genn cities had been destroyed, what could have survived? Didn't Keshav have enough with the paintings and manuscripts available at Godwalkar?

Obviously not. And Aagney's stories weren't enough either. Rohan didn't really understand Keshav's thirst for knowledge of things long gone, but when the scholar started talking about them, he couldn't help but listen, fascinated by Keshav's voice.

The stinky fishermen's village was left behind at dawn. The widower had cooked him some sausages when Babita had explained that fish didn't really fill him and he was glad he had cut all that wood for the lone woman.

Apparently he reminded her of her own son who had left for the town and hadn't come back, so she had tears in her eyes when they left in the morning.

"Do you think we should look for the young man?" Rohan asked Babita as they walked along the lake shore. "Tell him his mother misses him?"

"He might be dead, Rohan," Babita answered. "Many young men who left their villages and went to town eventually enrolled in the king's army. The Blackmore Kingdom is expanding, but mostly needs to defend the border on the Ondan, since the Varians threaten to cross it and invade them. They have already subdued the northern tribes..."

"And will probably crush the Gallians too on the other side," Keshav muttered. "We'll have those Varians at our border very soon. And you might have the Blackmore at your northern border soon enough as well."

"Do you think these northern people might eventually rule in the south too?" Rohan asked.

"Their history proves they can set up an empire, and hold it for a few centuries, while we keep having smaller independent kingdoms living in peace," Keshav replied. "I think if a king comes along strong enough to unify the north, they might march on the south and have an empire that covers the whole continent. They're warring people, Rohan, unlike us. Yes, they could succeed if they put their mind to it."

"So we're safe until they're not united." Rohan sighed. "I wonder how long it will take them to conquer everything!"

"We probably won't be alive to see it," Babita said.

"But Aagney might," Keshav mused. "He said he's not Human and has lived centuries already..."

"Do you think that's actually possible?" Rohan mused.

"I think there are creatures who are much more long-lived than we are and they probably can do magic more than we do and wear a human form so they wouldn't scare us," Keshav said. "You should know, you've seen them painted from childhood..."

Rohan shrugged. He never saw those paintings come to life, neither at his father's palace nor at the royal palace. He thought those blond beings with pointed ears were the stuff of legend and doubted they'd ever find a trace of their cities.

They passed by what looked like ruins or maybe simply rocks oddly shaped, and stopped to eat and observe more closely.

"If it's a town, it's buried," Babita said. "You'd need to dig to find something."

"Well, it certainly was in the open and it doesn't look like a walled city," Keshav mused. "I hope the other city has more things left. I think that Rayheart, being out in the plains, was more vulnerable than Appleyard, the forest kingdom."

By evening the road around the lake took them into Konigtown. They passed by the fortress enclosed in high stone walls and headed for a secondary street that led to the lake shore. In town, the streets were paved and wide enough for double-way traffic. The houses weren't too crammed together and a big town palace even had a small public park attached to it.

The street had two houses near the fortress and three more on the lake shore, with some empty space in between where cows wandered undisturbed with a flock of sheep. The single house that also had a warehouse attached belonged to Bran, Babita's associate. Built on the lake shore, it had the house itself two-stories tall and the lower warehouse where the merchant kept his goods and opened his shop.

Babita knocked at the house door since the warehouse was closed. Rohan held his breath at the sight of the handsome man who came to open the door. Tall, with long blond hair and his face clean-shaven, blue-eyed like everybody else up north, he had the most dazzling smile Rohan had ever seen. He was even more beautiful than Keshav!

Of course there was a slight communication problem with the handsome merchant who presently introduced them to his wife and his seven children, which made him lose a lot of points in Rohan's eyes. What a waste of good material. He better stick to Keshav, at least the scholar wasn't married, he still had a chances!

They dined with the family and Rohan observed their interactions with curiosity, even though he couldn't understand what they were saying. The children were between eight and fifteen, including twins, three girls and four boys. The youngest were the twins, a boy and a girl so blond that they almost looked white-haired.

"They'll get darker when they grow up, like their father," Babita said as they prepared to sleep in the house attic. "Sorry, Keshav, I didn't ask them about the ruins yet, but I had some catching up to do."

"It's fine, we can rest a couple of days," Keshav said. "Tomorrow I'll take Rohan to the public baths if you tell us where we can find them, and then if there's a library or an old scholar or anyone who can give us more information..."

"Tomorrow," Babita promised with a smile. "I think we're getting closer."

"I'm just wondering, now that I've seen the place, if there's anything left," Keshav said. "What do you know of the western lands?"

"Not much," Babita answered. "And I'm afraid Bran can't help us. He might take us to the Ondan, but then we'll be on our own."

"Can you talk to them at least?"

"Yes, the northern dialects are quite similar. They were all under the Moren Empire after all."

"You're right, now that I've been here for over a month, I see the similarities with Gallian..."

Rohan still didn't understand a word of the conversations. If he hoped to find someone up here, he'd have to really start learning a new language. But he hoped he could stick to Keshav long enough to reach Amrendra. If not King Rahul, he was almost certain he could find someone at the Amrendran court...

CHAPTER TEN

Keshav woke up early as usual, and kicked Rohan out of bed too. Rohan muttered a little, then dutifully followed him to the public baths that were right next to the fortress, on the lake shore. Some of the water came directly from the lake, but it had been heated and was pleasant enough. The soaps had a strange smell, but they washed away the dust from the road.

"Maybe we should get spare northern clothes while we're here," Keshav said as they dressed quickly in their southern garb, the only clean things they had.

"Or maybe we can ask a washerwoman to take care of our clothes, I don't think we'd be attacked for wearing foreign clothes in town, right?" Rohan said, wrapping his sash around his thin waist.

"Let's get back to Bran's and ask Babita."

Passing by a baker they couldn't help but stop and buy a fresh loaf and some pastries for both themselves and their host family.

"I'm sure the children will love these," Rohan said, tasting one since he was too hungry to wait.

Indeed the children squealed in delight and even the teens seemed happy to have something new for breakfast. Bran spoke some of the southern language because of his many interactions with Advik and Babita, so Keshav was able to ask him about libraries or scholars or any news of the destroyed Genn capital of the plains.

"I fear there is nothing left. Maybe in Moriana," Bran said, shaking his head. "I'm sure the former capital of the empire has something about history."

Keshav nodded, thoughtful. It made sense. Konigtown was a brand new town, they couldn't have any memory of what had come before.

He asked Babita if they should have their clothes washed or just buy new ones and she said they had enough luggage already, therefore she'd wash everything before they headed further west. Bran said he could carry them with his open wagon up to the River Ondan, but as soon as they met the border patrols, he'd head back.

"And at that point we'd better wear our southern clothes again, so they'll know we're not trying to infiltrate from the Blackmore Kingdom," Babita said. "There is no war between the Varians and the southern kingdoms, so they should let us in, although we should probably give them a reason."

"Research is not a good reason, I take it?" Keshav asked.

"Scholars are not really revered up north," Bran said. "You'd better pass yourself off as merchants. I'll give you some goods to trade at Moriana, and also the name of a trader who might assist you there. In spite of the trouble at the border, some of us still interact against our kings' will..."

"You smuggle goods?" Keshav asked, amused.

"The best vineyards are in the west and the best pastures in the east..." Bran smiled. "Our kings close both eyes when someone provides them with a much loved food item that can't be found in their lands."

Keshav glanced at Rohan and chuckled. "I guess royal blood is spoiled everywhere."

Rohan blew him a kiss.

"Royal blood?" Bran asked, puzzled.

"He's the cousin of our king," Babita told him. "Yes, Rohan is royal blood, but very special." She smiled fondly at the young man who bowed his head in acknowledgment.

"Right, let's go to the shop and see what I can give you," Bran said. "I'm not expecting you to come back this way, but I sure hope someone will come from Godwalkar for the Fair."

"Probably Advik's nephew will take over." Babita shrugged. "I'm going to look for some other place to set up shop."

All four exited the house and went to the nearby building. The warehouse and shop was fairly large, with a warm color scheme, well organized, peaceful but poorly lit. There were no windows and only lamps either hanging from the wall or on the shelves showed what was inside.

Babita and Bran proceeded to the counter and started making an inventory of what could be traded in the west. Soon Keshav and Rohan got bored and went to sit on the lake shore.

"It's peaceful here," Rohan said. "You wouldn't think they're actually at war."

"Wars are mostly on the borders," Keshav replied. "The Amrendran army is all deployed on the Gallian border, since no threat ever comes from Lakeshi. Sometimes I even wonder if the southern kingdoms actually have armies. They have guards, of course, town militias answering to the king or his representative, but armies?"

Keshav shook his head. The royal families of the south were so intermingled that nobody would think about starting a war. It would mean marching against someone else's brother or cousin or close relative. It was obviously not so in the north.

Rohan pulled out his sword and started sharpening the blade.

"Do you really think you're going to use it again?" Keshav asked him.

Rohan shrugged. "You never know. If I manage to learn this impossible language, I might become a mercenary. It would be a good way of earning a living."

"And die young." Keshav shook his head and stared at the lake.

Rohan stopped sharpening and leaned towards him. "Would you miss me?"

"I'd be sorry to hear you're gone before your time, Rohan," Keshav answered, a little embarrassed. "I sure hope you'll find a place where you can live long and happy without having to fight for a living."

Rohan sighed and resumed sharpening. "Maybe at the Amrendran court."

"Or Lakeshi. King Vivek is a charmer. And he doesn't mind having many lovers."

"I'd rather have just one."

"In that case, I doubt you'd find anyone in Delen. I know only a couple of people with your inclination and they're together."

Rohan shrugged and dropped the subject. Keshav stared at the lake again. The shore was unusually quiet on that side, but he could see boats coming and going from the piers on the other side of the fortress.

"I'm going for a walk," he said, rising and heading towards the fortress, following the lake shore instead of the town streets. Rohan nodded and didn't follow him.

The sun was high when he stopped in the shade of the fortress walls. The lake glittered under the blue sky and it was an awesome sight. Keshav could see the village they had spent the night in on the other shore, along with a couple more.

He sat to rest in the peace of the lake shore. The walls blocked any sound from the town and all the boats were either back to shore or too far in the middle of the lake to interfere. Birds sang on the few trees and a sudden splash startled him.

"You've come a long way, Keshav, son of Akira," a voice said in Amrendran. A woman emerged from the lake. She had long brown hair and a sleeveless tunic of a nacreous fabric. Her skin was very pale, brightened by big blue eyes with long lashes.

"Who are you and how do you know my name?" he asked as she came out of the water and sat next to him.

"My name is Aleinea and I live in this lake, but water carries us news, so we know everything of anyone living near a body of water. And Delen is both on a river and the sea shore."

"You live in the lake... you're a Waiora?" he marveled, remembering the Genn manuscript and the description of the Magical Races given by the chief librarian of Godwalkar. Aagney's words also came back to him.

Her smile was dazzling. "Yes, I am Waiora. And your fame as a scholar has reached the north – at least whoever is interested in Human history."

"I assume you can tell me if there's a Genn town around here?"

Her smile vanished.

"There was one. Rayheart was a joint kingdom of Genn and Waiora. But then the Humans got rid of us, so we hide in the water and they hide underground."

"Anything left?"

"No, Keshav, there's nothing left of Duckworth. You might find something in Appleyard, including some Genn communities hiding in the forest, but that's it. It was a peaceful civilization, famous for its food, prosperity, and literature. It was gradually destroyed by those warring barbarians."

"Why do you think we destroy what is beautiful?"

"Ignorance, mostly." She shrugged. "You're heading west, right?"

"Yes, Bran is taking us to the River Ondan."

"Tell him to leave you at the Old Gods Sanctuary. It's close enough to the river that you can get there on foot. Some of my siblings will show you how to ford it and you'll be in Varian territory without going through border control. Then you only have to follow the river shore to get to Moriana or go to the source of the Ondan."

"Well, thank you, Aleinea. Do we have to call upon someone when we get there?"

"No, they'll find you." She smiled briefly at him. "May you find what you're looking for."

She rose and went back into the water, diving and vanishing like a dream before he could say anything.

Keshav remembered to close his mouth and stood. Time to go back to Bran's warehouse. It was lunchtime and his stomach was rumbling.

He found everyone in the house, already seated at the table.

"Sorry, I went farther than I thought," he apologized, joining them. "Where is the Old Gods Sanctuary?"

"It's close to the Ondan, on this side," Bran answered. "It's a seven-rowed star-shaped arrangement of stones that stands about nineteen feet high at the highest. Many of the stones are painted with a holy symbol. It's said that an incarnate deity ascended here. People go there to seek healing. Why, are you sick?"

"Ah, no, but I was told... can you take us there?" he answered, embarrassed. He might end up telling Babita and Rohan about the meeting with the Waiora, but he didn't know Bran enough to trust him with his encounter. He had no idea of what the northerners thought of the Magical Races.

"Sure, but I don't know how you can cross the Ondan from there."

"I'll find a way," Keshav said quickly shoving the food in his mouth. Babita and Rohan stared curiously at him, but didn't ask questions until they were back in the attic that night.

"A Waiora!" Rohan's eyes were wide in wonder. "Do you think there are some in Godwalkar's rivers?"

"Anywhere there's a body of water, apparently. I'm sure they know you and Babita too," Keshav replied.

"Well, then, let's visit this Old Gods Sanctuary," Babita said. "And then meet more members of the Magical Races..."

***

The next morning they helped Bran put the oxen to the wagon and headed out of Konigtown. It was much more comfortable to ride on the open wagon and sleep in a tent than what they'd had so far. They had provisions for a few days and only twice did they stop to get fresh food in villages they crossed on the way.

After seven nights of camping, they reached the Old Gods Sanctuary near the western part of the forest that used to be Appleyard. The arrangement of stones must be very old but the place was obviously still visited, since there were fresh or fading flowers under some holy symbols. The painting was faded in most cases, but some had obviously been repainted over and over.

There were no buildings, so Bran shared his tent for the last time. The next morning he'd head back for Konigtown, leaving a backpack of small goods for them to trade in Moriana.

"I hope you won't have to build a boat or a raft to pass the Ondan," he said that night as they cooked some beans in his pot.

"I've been told there's a ford somewhere," Keshav answered.

"I wonder where your information comes from," Bran replied, amused. "You've never been here, have you?"

"No, but you find a lot of information in those books you barbarians seem to despise so much," Keshav said with a smile. Although in this case the information didn't come from a manuscript or a book, but he'd let Babita explain to her associate where his knowledge came from if she felt so inclined.

The next morning they waved him good-bye and headed for the river. Moriana was almost halfway along its long course and the river was quite large by then. Keshav began to doubt they'd actually find a ford anywhere in the vicinity.

"Are you sure we're meant to cross here?" Rohan asked, worried, as they watched the strong current rush towards the northern sea.

Keshav pulled out his map and looked at it, but it was too small to be very precise.

"Moriana is that way," Babita said, pointing upriver. "We might as well go there and see if there's some kind of ferry service anywhere closer to it."

Keshav nodded and folded the map again. For now the river ran through the plain, but further upriver the forest loomed, therefore it might not be that easy to follow the shore.

As soon as they entered the first trees, though, they found a narrow path that did follow the river shore. They weren't sure if it was made by animals going to the river to drink or Humans trying to cross the river unseen. It stayed parallel to the shore, though, with no sign of heading for the water.

Until they reached a rocky point and found a pale young man with a short, sleeveless tunic of the same nacreous fabric the Waiora of the lake wore, seated on a stone as if he were waiting for them.

"Greetings, I'm Eronal," he said. "Aleinea mentioned you'd come this way."

Rohan gaped at the beautiful turquoise eyes and androgynous features, which made the Waiora smile.

"Hello, Rohan, would you like me to let your cousin Dilip know you're safe? He's a little worried for you since you forgot to write..."

"I wouldn't know who to give my message to!" Rohan complained. "Nobody goes that way!"

"I can transmit a message to him, if you want. Not personally, of course, but my siblings from Godwalkar's rivers will let him know you're alive and doing just fine."

"I'm amazed at how you communicate," Keshav said. "We left Konigtown barely nine days ago."

"News swims quite fast," Eronal said with a smile. "Would you like to let your father know you're on the way back to Delen?"

"Gods no! Or he'll prepare an arranged marriage for me!"

Both Eronal and Babita chuckled.

"Wait a moment, how come we understand them?" Rohan asked, frowning.

"The Magical Races can speak all the Human's dialects," Eronal answered, amused. "Would you like to go to the other shore now or tomorrow morning?"

"How long will it take?" Babita asked.

"Just walk across there." Eronal pointed to the river. The current might look less strong, but there were no rocks or logs. "It's a submerged bridge." The Waiora smiled. "We built it. Most Humans don't see it and pass right by. The water will be knee-height maximum, so you might want to take your breeches off or tie your skirt above the knee."

"What about sandals?" Keshav asked, putting down his travel bag to take off the breeches.

"Unless you're used to walking barefooted, I'd keep them," Eronal replied. "The bridge isn't smooth, there are rocks and pebbles, so... up to you."

Babita pulled up her gown and knotted it so it would stay above her knees. Keshav pulled up his long tunic as well. Rohan simply removed his breeches. They hesitantly approached the water and looked where Eronal was pointing.

"Don't worry, the current won't disturb you," the Waiora said. "That's why I'm here."

He smiled encouragingly.

Keshav saw the underwater, irregular bridge and stepped into the water. "Gods, it's cold!" he said, gritting his teeth.

"Apologies." Eronal waved his hand and the water warmed.

Keshav stared admiringly at the Waiora, then stepped forward. It was as easy as walking on a mountain path and he quickly reached the other shore, followed by Babita and Rohan.

"Thank you!" they chorused, waving at Eronal. The Waiora waved back and dived, vanishing into the river.

"Well, that was fun!" Babita said, pulling down her gown and covering her ankles again.

"I forgot to tell him to warn Dilip!" Rohan said, slapping his forehead.

Eronal's head popped up near the shore they now stood on.

"Don't worry, Prince Rohan, Prince Dilip will be notified you're alive," he said before vanishing underwater again.

"Yes, that's what Aleinea did too," Keshav said with a chuckle. "Those Magical Races like to vanish on us!"

"Let's go," Babita said. "We should probably be in Moriana tonight."

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Babita had never been to Moriana and wasn't sure what to expect. She found out it was relatively small, with stone walls that had several large gates. The guards looked a bit lonely and waved them in without bothering to check their identities. The road that led to that particular gate probably came from deep within the Varian Kingdom and they didn't think the travelers might have reached it from the river.

Entering from the closest gate, she saw a map of the city on the wall of a building that showed the layout had concentric circles, with at the center what used to be the palace of the Moren Emperor.

She had heard of their lavish temples, well-stocked merchants and race tracks. She knew it was famous for mages and pickpockets and had warned her traveling companions to keep their valuables well-hidden on their body.

The nearest tavern was just beyond the entrance, but Bran had told her to look for the Wandering Skull Inn where she'd be able to meet Luca, who often went there when he closed shop.

The locals seemed very hospitable and there was very little crime also because there was a big garrison in the barracks under the walls. Bran had mentioned the vineyards and orchards that made Moriana rich, especially the very sweet melons that now abounded on all the marketplaces.

The streets smelled like garbage and rotten fruits, since in the summer heat it was hard to make those melons last for long, and the buildings had large windows. She asked for directions and was pointed to the inn she was looking for.

The Wandering Skull was large and decently clean. Down the same street there was the sign of the public baths. It had medium and large rooms, so she consulted with Keshav and Rohan and they decided to take one large for the three of them. She could have some privacy at the baths and would save money. She didn't have much left, unless she managed to sell the goods Bran had given her.

They dropped their travel bags and went for the baths. On the way back to the inn they were all starving, and she was surprised to see strange and exotic food on the menu slightly torn around the edges.

"I'm sorry, I really don't know what to suggest," she apologized to Keshav and Rohan, translating as best as she could the various dishes. They asked more information of the cynical waiter who came to take their order. He was unusually attractive but quite blunt.

As they waited for their meal, they looked around. The main room was crowded now, with many shady characters and most patrons drunk. There was a darts game in the corner and Rohan eyed it, but he was too hungry to try it immediately.

The most notable patron was a depressed, whiny hunter wearing expensive jewelry who sat at a nearby table. Babita wondered how she'd recognize Luca, since all the northern barbarians looked the same to her.

Then the food came and with a full stomach she went to the attractive waiter and asked him about the merchant. The man pointed at a blond young man who was currently playing darts with a couple of friends.

Babita noticed that the young man had caught Rohan's eye and sighed. She left her traveling companions at their table and approached the darts players.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Luca De Leo," she said.

The blond young man stared at her. "Who sent you?" he asked. He had a pointed chin and bright blue eyes.

"Bran Danielson of Konigtown," she answered.

Luca grinned. "Ah, yes, how is he?"

"He's fine. He's sending some of his goods and we need your help to move around in this kingdom."

"We?" He raised his eyebrows, skeptical.

Babita took him to the table and introduced him to Keshav and Rohan who brightened as soon as Luca sat with them. She explained to him who they were and where they came from.

"Don't you have some of those southern spices with you?" Luca asked her.

"I think I may have something," she said. "But mostly we're here because Keshav is a scholar looking for the lost Genn town. Can you tell me if there is a library or anyone we can consult with in town about this?"

Luca pondered, pursing his lips. "I could take you to Kaara," he said. "But some say she's completely crazy. What else do you expect from a woman who paints her hair blue and writes poetry?"

"If you think she can help us, please, take us to her house. Tomorrow?"

Luca nodded. He told them at what time he'd show up to take them and left, saying it was getting late. Rohan stiffened a yawn.

"It is getting late," Babita said, amused. "Luca will take us to a certain Kaara tomorrow. She's a poet, but she might know something about the Genn."

"Good. She must be the equivalent of Aagney in this town," Keshav said. "Most people think he's crazy too."

"You understood that part?" she asked, impressed. "You're really getting the hang of this language, aren't you?"

"Well, after more than a month, I can hear the similarities with Gallian, so yes, I think soon I'll be able to understand everything." Keshav smiled. "As for talking, though, I'll probably still need you for a lot longer," he added.

She chuckled. "No problem. I don't feel useless yet, I'm sure Rohan will still need me, unless he moves to unspoken communication!" She winked at the prince who scowled at her.

"Do you think I might have a chance with that Luca?" he asked.

"I don't know." She shrugged. "He's your age and not married... but I've just met him, so I have no idea if this means anything or not..."

Rohan sighed. "Thanks anyway," he muttered. "Shall we get some sleep?"

Babita gratefully followed him to their room. The constant translating was really getting to her. Sometimes she wondered if she could even speak anymore. The wrong language popped out when she was too tired, therefore she'd better get some well deserved rest in a decent bed and among four stone walls.

***

Keshav followed Luca and Babita with Rohan through the streets of Moriana. They went to the old town – the inner circle – and not far from the palace and the main temple there was a small house.

The yard was large and looked very formal but the house itself was in poor condition, as if the owner didn't really care about it. The interior was done in colors that reminded Keshav of a willow tree. It was sparsely furnished, again as if the owner didn't really need any furniture.

They ended up seated on a carpet in the almost empty main room with a woman that had no definite age. Her pale face was smooth, but her eyes had a wisdom only ancient people possessed. Her long hair was cobalt blue and she wore a fashion that was a mix of north and south. No wonder the people of Moriana thought she was a little crazy.

Luca introduced the visitors to the blue-haired poet who stared at them with piercing eyes.

"Godwalkar, huh?" she asked in the southern dialect with no accent at all. "What are you doing in the barbarian lands?"

"We are looking for the ruins of Sunlight," Keshav answered, recovering first from the surprise of hearing her speak their language. "Do you happen to know where they could be?"

"Deep in the forest of Appleyard." Kaara shrugged. "Why? Nobody ever came back from searching for the ruins. Maybe the Genn got wise and killed the curious Humans trying to intrude on their peaceful lives." She sniggered.

"Could you take us there?" Keshav insisted.

"My dear boy, me and forests? Not really." Kaara shook her head. "Who put all these ideas in your head anyway? You don't sound or look Gajendran."

"I'm Amrendran," Keshav answered. "But I discovered the Genn works in the library of Godwalkar and then listened to the stories of Aagney the Storyteller..."

Kaara snorted. "Aagney! That's the name he uses in the south! Over here it's Aedwyr the Minstrel... or sometimes Morthi the Wizard." She scoffed. "He's good at luring Humans into useless quests, I'll give him that!"

"He wasn't the one who started my interest, ma'am," Keshav said. "Like I said, I found the Genn books at the library."

"And you should have stuck to those, my boy," Kaara replied, shaking her finger. "Why didn't Aagney guide you here? Because he knows I'm here and we'd rather stay away from each other for the time being."

She might be as long-lived as Aagney, which gave her the right to call him "my boy" but it was jarring. At thirty nobody called anyone "boy" anymore, not among Humans. The hair color helped in considering her not Human, though.

"So you're Fire people too?"

"Yes, I'm Fajrulo, and I had a mating flight with him," she snapped. "Thank Fire, our daughter is now independent, but I had to keep her with me for centuries."

Rohan gaped at the blue-haired woman. Luca listened but didn't seem to understand a word, therefore kept looking at Babita for explanation, but she was too stunned to translate.

"So, Fajrulo like telling stories and writing poetry, but don't like to go looking for lost treasures," Keshav said.

"Boy, we have our own treasures, we don't need the Genn's," Kaara retorted. "Besides, we like mingling only with Humans."

"And can you do magic? Real magic?" Keshav asked.

"It depends on what you want."

"Since you speak naturally all the Human languages, can you make Humans understand and speak all the Human languages? I don't mean all the Humans, of course, but one or two individuals?"

Kaara narrowed her eyes as she studied him. "You seem to be doing fairly well yourself, what would you need that gift for?"

"It's not for me, it's for Rohan, here."

Rohan closed his mouth and shook his head, frowning in worry. Kaara chuckled.

"He doesn't need it either," she said. "None of you do. Whenever you figure out your own feelings, you'll be able to express them and be understood and accepted for who you are. That I can promise you."

Babita raised her eyebrows, skeptical, and Rohan didn't look convinced. Keshav smiled.

"Thank you for the prediction. So, any hint of where we should look for the ruins of Appleyard? Any Sila maps you could provide us with?"

"Maps! Of course! I can draw you one! You know, not only the Sila can fly!" She rummaged in a wooden chest and took out parchment, ink and quill. "So, your best bet is to follow the Ondan, here, and then cross over to Havenstock's river. If you keep going around the Central Massif, you'll end up back in Amrendra and can go downriver to Delen here."

Quick strokes on the parchment made for a crude map, but the distances seemed right. Kaara added Konigtown, Moriana, Godwalkar and Delen, just to help them understand how long it would take to go from one point to the other, then handed the parchment to Keshav.

"That's all I can do for you. The ruins are covered with vegetation after two centuries and I'm not sure where they are exactly. I was in Nera when the Genn kingdoms fell, then I went to Maadre and... Aagney, like you call him, could probably be more precise. I'm surprised he didn't draw you a map himself."

"I got a lot of stories out of him, but not much else," Keshav said, pocketing the map. "Thank you so much, Kaara. Is there anything I can do to return the favor?"

Kaara eyed him, then leaned forward. "You can spend the night here," she whispered. She chuckled as he felt his cheeks burn. "I'm joking, you chaste scholar won't have to do anything you'd regret," she added, straightening her back. "Good luck with your search."

She shooed him out. Keshav hesitated as Babita, Luca and Rohan rose.

"Since I don't think we can leave right now, I shall come back tonight," he promised.

Both Babita and Rohan stared curiously at him but didn't say anything. He wasn't sure he'd keep the promise and spend the night with a non-Human being, but then, he wasn't a warrior with a sense of honor. He'd see how he felt when the night came.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Keshav awoke on Kaara's carpet as the first rays of sun entered the room through the windows. It wasn't the uncomfortable bedding – he was used to sleeping on the ground – but the smells and sounds of the foreign house.

He was naked and he knew why, but he didn't remember much of the previous night. The blue-haired woman had probably put a spell on him, because he hand only a vague memory that felt more like a dream than anything else.

Kaara was a woman, but also a dragon. Could it be? Was that the real nature of the Fire people? He'd been both terrified and fascinated, but unable to do anything about it. He knew they'd had sex, but that was it. Maybe it wasn't worth remembering? Because she wasn't Human?

Her warm body lay next to him, with the long blue hair spread around her head like a halo. Keshav sat and hugged his knees with a sigh. He watched the dust dance in the sun rays and pondered the mystery of the Magical Races.

He'd met Waiora and Fajrulo. What would the Genn be like? And the Sila? Would he ever meet them? Had it been worth the journey to look for them? Hell, yes, it was a worthy quest! He probably wouldn't be able to write about them because no matter how scholarly he was, he couldn't find the right words to describe them.

He wasn't even sure how they made him feel, with their seemingly omniscient knowledge of everything and everyone. He had no idea of how old the Waiora he'd met were, but he was certain the Fajrulo were at least a few centuries old. He wished he could live that long and acquire their knowledge.

Kaara's hands caressed his back and reached his neck.

"Good morning, Keshav. What makes you sigh so much?"

"I'm wondering... how old are you? And Aagney?"

"I'm five-hundred and twenty, he's forty years older," she answered, amused. "Why? You plan on living that long? You should look for a sorcerer or a demon lover if it's immortality you want!"

He stared at her, shocked. She smiled.

"I'm sorry, Keshav, Earth's children are not meant to live as long as we are. Not even the Genn and Waiora live this long. What would you use all those years for, if you don't plan on finding someone to spend your life with?"

"You don't have anyone to spend your life with, and you're doing quite fine," he retorted.

"Honey, I'm Fajrulo. Most would say I don't have a heart. I certainly don't fall in love. But you're Human. What are you waiting for?"

Keshav averted his eyes, jarred. "I'm waiting to quench my thirst for knowledge," he said.

"You probably haven't met the right person yet." She shrugged. "Thank you for the pleasant hours you spent with me. I've told you everything I know about Sunlight, the lost Genn capital. I'm sure you'll find something in your quest for knowledge. I'll be here for another dozen years or so, but then... maybe I'll see you around!"

She ruffled his hair and rose, gathering their scattered clothes. He took his own and dressed, still not sure what to say next. He was definitely bad at expressing himself!

As he opened his mouth to thank her and say good-bye, she put her finger on his lips and shooed him out with a wink. He nodded, bowed and left, still a little shaken by the encounter.

He wasn't going to talk about it with Babita and Rohan. He went back to the inn and jotted down a few more notes before packing and joining the others in the main room. For once he was the last one to sit at the table. Even Luca was already there.

"Did you sleep at Kaara's?" Babita asked.

"Yes," he said grabbing a pancake.

"Then you're excused for your lateness," Rohan said.

"We're not going anywhere without him," Babita replied, amused. "He's the expedition leader!"

Rohan chuckled and Keshav smiled despite himself.

"I'm not sure I have a more precise destination, but we can start to go upriver and then we'll see. Maybe the Waiora can point us the right way."

"Luca is coming with us," Babita said. "He's very curious. I've told him everything."

"So you found another associate? Good."

"Since I'm probably losing my shop in Godwalkar, I might as well make other connections elsewhere, don't you think?"

"You're an independent, smart woman, Babita, do as you please. Shall we go?"

***

They left Moriana behind and started following the Ondan on an unpaved road. They frequently met border patrols and Luca's presence was a good passport. Bringing him had obviously been a good idea after all, even though he didn't speak the southern dialects at all.

Babita said he'd been happy to leave because his father was pressuring him into getting married and he didn't feel like it yet. He had found the excuse of looking for a new trade route, much like she had done with her mother-in-law.

Upon hearing about the disagreement with the head of the house, Rohan brightened and tried even more to communicate with Luca, who seemed as eager as he was to learn a new language. Keshav watched them bond on the road on spite of the language barrier and wondered where this would take them all.

He had no idea of what the others were actually looking for when they'd left their home, but he wasn't so sure of his goal anymore either. As if the legendary ruins were just that – a legend, something intangible that he could never find.

The world was full of wonders, though. And even if his quest would bring just that – knowledge of the world and the people living in it – he'd feel enriched enough. Luca had told the legend of Norina and her twin sons Belfi and Manusia and he'd understood almost everything without the help of Babita's translation that was more for Rohan's benefit.

Now that they were away from towns, the forest looked very much like his native Amrendra and if it weren't for the presence of blond Luca and the occasional meeting with border patrols, he could think he was headed back home through the southern kingdoms.

The forest road wasn't very populated. Every now and then they met villages of woodcutters and slept in log cabins. More often they slept under the stars, but the presence of armed men kept the bandits away from the Ondan.

The river was always close enough to their camps to allow them to wash and fill their flasks. They didn't meet any other Waiora, so they assumed they were on the right path. Sometime apple trees grew among the beeches and aspens, which made sense if the forest was called Appleyard.

Luca was a fairly proficient hunter, so he took down a deer or two on the way, allowing them to eat abundantly for a week. Whatever they didn't consume immediately was smoked and packed for future use.

They found other camps, but it was mostly a lonely journey. At some point even the border patrols stopped. Babita said that the Blackmore Kingdom hadn't reached the Ondan yet on that stretch of river, hence there was less control. On the other shore was the no-man's land with bandits and outlaws they had passed on their way to Konigtown.

"Let's hope we don't get attacked again," Rohan commented. "Although there's four of us now... and I think we can defend ourselves pretty well!"

Babita consulted with Luca then said there weren't supposed to be big bands of outlaws this far from any civilized town. Besides, the Varians thought Appleyard forest was haunted. Whether it was the Genn's souls or real Genn hiding in the deep green was anyone's guess.

"We won't meet many people from now on," she warned. "Which is both good and bad. If something happens to us, nobody will know."

"Unless our Waiora friends report to our relatives," Keshav said. "But I think they're keeping an eye on us from the depths of the river..."

***

Two months after leaving his father's palace, Rohan felt reborn. New people, new faces, new language, but still someone familiar to talk to. Babita and Keshav treated him like a younger brother and he didn't mind. Not too much. He still wished he could get more from Keshav, but the scholar knew how to keep him at arm's length.

And then there was Luca. A few months younger than him, but obviously as happy as he was to be away from his family. Babita said Luca had a domineering father, thus Rohan felt an affinity with him even though he couldn't really communicate with him.

He thought Luca was cute, but probably not interested in him more than Keshav was. Rohan still hoped to find someone at the Amrendran court if Keshav proved too difficult to get, at least they'd speak the same language.

The landscapes of the northern lands weren't much different from Gajendra and he wondered if he should continue his trip to the south and visit the other southern kingdoms as well. Wanderlust was a powerful drug and he was now addicted to it!

And with the help of his traveling companions and Luca's eagerness to communicate, he was getting the hang of the northern language at last. After almost two months of hearing it, he could even tell that the western dialect was slightly different from the eastern one. But some words were the same, whether they came from Bran's or Luca's mouth.

Rohan was sure his great adventure would end well now. Hopefully the blond barbarians wouldn't attack them again and force him to use his sword, but if they did, he'd defend his traveling companions to the death if necessary.

He'd grown so fond of them he hoped they'd be together forever, the four of them, wandering throughout the continent, searching, exploring... Definitely much better than getting married to someone chosen by his father and being stuck in a golden cage to breed!

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

About a week into their journey from Moriana, they found the ruins of what must have been a wonderful town in the middle of the forest. The non-existent road seemed to end against a broken wall and going around it they went further inside the forest and found the clearing and the ruins.

Most buildings were crumbled and very few still had a roof. A couple of towers were still standing, but were broken, as if they'd lost a floor or two and the original roof. Ivy climbed the ruined walls and a wall facing the south even had grapevines on it, although it didn't look like anyone was using those grapes.

"Well, I guess we found Sunlight," Babita said as they camped among the broken walls. There were traces of other fires, as if other people had used the ruins as a base a long time ago. "What do the books say about it?"

Keshav took his notes and read by the light of their camp fire, since night had fallen on their discovery.

"The Magical Races had kingdoms before the Humans destroyed them. Not the Sila, who don't build anything permanent, but the Genn had kingdoms and capitals: Sunlight, the marble-and-crystal forest town, and Waterlock, the obsidian-and-granite lake-shore capital in a valley up north. Then there was Duckworth on another lake-shore in the east, shared with the Waiora."

"It doesn't say what Duckworth looked like?" Rohan asked.

"No, not in the manuscripts that I checked. But Sunlight was the jewel of Appleyard with its palace of marble and crystal and turrets with coned roofs. It was built at the heart of the forest on a hill and its towers were higher that the highest tree... centuries ago. The forest gave way to leave room for the white buildings that shone in the sun. No Human ever laid eyes on Sunlight – until they conquered and destroyed it."

"And they did a thorough job at that," Rohan muttered, looking around.

"A century ago some people hid here," Luca said, lying on his elbows by the fire. "They were mercenaries between Salamar and Moriana, but I think they hid here when they weren't working. You can tell from the remnants of camps we found around here."

"Which means the Genn villages can't be too far, right?" Keshav said, putting away his notebook. "We're bound to find at least one soon."

"There is no road left," Babita said. "We could easily get lost in the forest. We should stick to the Ondan, and then head further west when the forest ends."

"I think there's an opening somewhere." Luca sat and offered his hand to Keshav. "Can I see your map?"

Keshav gave it to him. He had no trouble understanding Luca, since Varian was even more similar to Gallian than Blackmoren, but speaking it was another matter. Luca studied it for a moment, then pointed.

"Yes, I think here we can head west. There should be an inn, the Fighting Star Tavern. And a small town over here." He pointed at another river.

Keshav sighed and folded the map. He'd really been hoping to find something worthy in the ruins. But obviously whatever had been here had been taken away. Who knew where the Genn dwelt now. He'd never find out anything more about them...

"We can look around some more tomorrow," Babita said, lying down. "Get some sleep, Keshav, we're in no hurry to leave, are we?"

"No." Keshav looked around in the darkness. The moon rays shed a faint light on the white walls. He doubted tomorrow they'd find anything new. "Good night."

He lay down on his blanket, using his travel bag as pillow. The stars glittered in the sky, blinking as if to tease him for his useless search.

There must be more than ruins left! Gods, help me to find the Genn!

***

One of the towers of Sunlight was still standing among the ruins. Its white height didn't reach the top of the trees, but it was tall enough to make the forest sounds feel far away, probably also because of the strong wind.

Keshav and Rohan had climbed to the top while Babita and Luca searched other crumbling buildings. As they moved around the battlements, Keshav discovered he had vertigo and couldn't get too close to the uneven border of the tower. At some points the wall had completely crumbled, so he had a fair view of what lay beyond without going close, in other places it was still tall enough to make him feel safe, but some points made him turn away and ask Rohan to tell him what he saw.

In spite of being overgrown with vegetation, the layout of the city was still visible from high up. Keshav sat on the floor of the tower and pulled out his notebook, trying to jot down a map. Rohan helped him fill the gaps of what he couldn't see and he came up with a star-shaped map of a town that had now vanished. He wondered if there was a specific reason for the shape, but he knew nothing of the Genn religion.

"I think they worship the Immortals," Rohan said, thoughtful, sitting next to him after being his eyes from above.

"Oh, makes sense." Keshav pondered, remembering Aagney's description of the Magical Races. "Do you think Ether might have the shape of a star? A five-pointed star or two triangles overlapping?"

"I don't think Ether has anything to do with stars, but you're the scholar." Rohan shrugged.

"You're right. And I don't think stars have points either, it's just our representation of them."

"They look like lights in the sky, smaller than the moon... do you think they're like the moon?"

"I don't know." Keshav sighed. "I wonder if the Genn or the Fajrulo know."

He closed the notebook and put it away with the pencil in his belt-purse. Time to move on, there wasn't much else they could find among the ruins.

"Let's go back downstairs," he said, getting back on his feet and heading for the spiral staircase that had taken them up.

Rohan hesitated, then rushed after him.

"Keshav!" He grabbed his wrist and stopped him. "Are you very disappointed that we found nothing?" he asked, frowning in worry.

"I am disappointed, but I don't think we found nothing," Keshav replied, looking around and inhaling the forest scents. "Traveling is always enriching, especially to places you've never been before."

"I agree. I hope to learn this impossible language soon. And to keep traveling for years. But would you take me with you?"

"I don't think I'll be allowed to travel for much longer," Keshav said wistfully.

"Then we better take the most out of this trip, right?" Rohan smiled.

Keshav nodded, a little puzzled. He couldn't figure out where this was heading, but then Rohan took his head and pulled him closer to kiss him on the lips.

Keshav stiffened. It wasn't his first kiss, but at the same time he wasn't used to being intimate with anyone, man or woman. Even his family was quite "cold" in that department.

Rohan's lips tasted his, then the prince pulled away, serious now. He probably had felt his resistance.

Neither seemed to know what to say. Rohan broke eye-contact first and turned towards the staircase, noticing Luca standing there with a look of curiosity on his face. Blushing, the prince ran down the stairs, passing by Luca who followed him with his stare before looking at Keshav again.

"He likes men?" Luca asked. He didn't sound upset.

Keshav nodded, still breathless.

"Oh. And you?"

"No. I don't know," he muttered, averting his eyes. "Let's go."

He headed for the staircase and noticed Luca was smiling.

Good. You take care of Rohan and leave me alone!

***

Babita saw Rohan emerge from the tower alone and frowning.

"Where's Keshav? And Luca?"

"Up there," Rohan muttered without looking at her and heading for the camp.

"Wait." She grabbed his arm. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah." He shook his arm free. "You try and get him!"

"What? Who?"

"Keshav."

"Oh. I don't think he's interested. In anyone."

Rohan grunted and resumed walking while Keshav and Luca emerged from the tower. She raised her eyebrows at Keshav who shrugged.

"There's nothing here, time to pack and continue," he said, avoiding her stare.

"Fine." She put her hands on her hips and watched him head for the camp after Rohan. Luca stopped next to her.

"Rohan has a crush on Keshav?" he asked.

"Apparently... did you see what happened?"

Luca smiled. "Rohan kissed Keshav, then ran away. Obviously not the expected reaction from your scholar friend... Why didn't you tell me Rohan likes men?"

She glared at Luca.

"We didn't really discuss such private matters before," she said. "Why? Is that the reason why you're not married and looked forward to getting away from your father's clutches?"

Luca chuckled. "Sort of. I actually like sex in all its forms and enjoy the company of both men and women, hence I see no reason to be faithful to just one," he replied with an impish smile.

Babita rolled her eyes. "Great," she muttered. "Let's pack, Luca. Would you like me to let Rohan know of your peculiar tastes?"

"I'd be grateful," Luca said with a half bow that was more mocking than thankful. "And I want to learn your language, so I can talk to him. He seems a most interesting person!"

Babita shook her head and sighed. But then, maybe Luca and Rohan were meant for each other.

They joined Rohan and Keshav and finished packing. The sun was still high and Luca had found a path that headed west from one of the outer buildings.

"We should get back on track and find the Fighting Star soon," he said. "We can relax a couple of nights there and then resume our exploration of the forest. I find it fascinating, don't you?"

And he glanced at Rohan, waiting for Babita to translate for the prince.

"Yes, we might as well go back to Amrendra this way," Keshav said. "We're too far into our trip to go back the other way. I'm sure we'll find a way to Amrendra even through the thickest forest."

Babita nodded, thoughtful. She was used to traveling with a majority of men and none of her traveling companions was really interfering with her life, so why not. Some nights she missed Advik. He would have loved the adventure. But if he were still alive, they probably wouldn't change their routine to go on an adventure.

Some nights she wondered if she wasn't better off on her own. If she could keep going even without male companions. But she doubted people would trade with a single woman. Eventually she'd have to remarry or settle somewhere with someone.

Maybe Keshav had a brother. Or maybe he'd open up to a relationship eventually. The dreamy scholar seemed to be living in another world, but maybe eventually he'd come back to the real world. Or maybe she'd meet someone else.

In the meantime she grabbed her travel bag and followed her companions on the path through the forest.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

They reached the Fighting Star Tavern ten days after leaving Moriana. It was large, grungy but tolerable, built at a crossroad where the forest became less thick. It had stables on one side and baths on the other side, in a low building near a stream, divided into two rooms, a bigger one for men and a smaller one for women.

Food and drinks were expensive, but room pricing was fair and almost all rooms were vacant. They had both small and medium rooms, so Keshav and Babita took a small room each, while Luca and Rohan decided to share a medium one.

Before the evening meal, they all took advantage of the baths. Tomorrow they'd wash their clothes, but for now they just washed their bodies and hair, and the men shaved in the common pool, wearing the southern clothes in the case of Rohan, Keshav and Babita, and spare clothes for Luca who stared admiringly at Rohan's "princely" looks.

The food quality was poor, but the variety was above average. Rohan and Luca shared a joint of roast-beef with baked potatoes, while Babita and Keshav had trout with cabbage cut in small slices and raisins with a sauce that contained oil, vinegar and something else they couldn't identify.

The main room was very crowded by now and it was impossible to talk. It was a dangerous-looking crowd, but only a quarter of the dark corners were occupied and almost none of the patrons were armed. The danger could come from drunk people making trouble, like the minor brawl that erupted near the main door.

Both Rohan and Luca observed the very tall adventurer whom the bartender was clearly afraid of until Keshav asked them what they found so interesting about him, at which they realized they'd been staring at the same person.

Rohan blushed – the adventurer wasn't particularly handsome – and Luca shrugged.

"I think I know him from Moriana, but he probably doesn't remember me, so..."

"Maybe Rohan would like to be introduced to him?" Babita suggested, amused.

"No, no!" Rohan shook his head. "I was just curious because the innkeeper seems to be afraid of him, so I was wondering if it's just because he looks mean or because he has done something specific to be kept at arm's length."

"When he came to drink at the Wandering Skull he often boasted of his adventures. He's a treasure hunter..." Luca stopped to ponder and turned to look at Keshav. "Do you want me to ask him if he knows anything of Genn towns?"

"If you think he has any information, why not?" Keshav answered with a shrug.

Luca finished his roast-beef and excused himself. He went to talk to the tall man, but soon came back shaking his head.

"We all know the Genn are long gone," he said, sitting down again. "The last one was probably seen in Havenstock half a century or so ago. We might find his descendants, but I'm not sure you want to go through Havenstock at this point."

Keshav pulled out his map and looked at it. Luca pointed at Havenstock and Keshav sighed. It might be interesting to visit the Varian capital, but it wasn't really on their way. And in spite of Luca's presence, they could still get in trouble with the locals.

"I guess we'll have to keep going through the forest," he muttered, staring at the map. "Hopefully the Waiora will show themselves when we reach the next river and point us the right way..."

"This road does lead to that river," Luca said. "And then we can either cross it, although I'm not sure where the ferry is, or just keep going towards Havenstock until we find a way to pass it."

"Sounds like a plan." Keshav folded the map. "I guess I'll go to my room now."

The other three agreed that the main room was too noisy. They went upstairs and waved each other good night. Keshav sat on his cot for a couple of hours, taking notes, comparing maps and pondering the next move.

***

The next morning he was the first to go downstairs, as usual. Soon Babita joined him, but there was no trace of the two younger men. Rohan and Luca didn't show up until lunch time. By then Keshav and Babita had washed their clothes and made plans for the rest of the journey without them.

Rohan looked slightly flushed as he sat next to Luca who declared himself to be famished.

"Didn't you oversleep again, your highness?" Keshav asked, amused.

"Who says we slept until now?" Rohan retorted.

Keshav smiled. "I'm glad to hear that you found ways to entertain yourself," he said. "I think last time was when we reached that inn on the Blackmore Kingdom's border."

The amber eyes glared at him.

"Glad you're on non-verbal communication," Babita said. "I'd be embarrassed to be an interpreter  for you."

"You could help us learn each other's language," Rohan replied.

"And who is going to wash your clothes?" she retorted.

Rohan groaned, remembering that part. He was probably tired of doing everything himself, but he didn't bring any servant on the trip to do the work for him.

"I think we can rest here another day," Keshav said. "You'll have time both to wash your clothes and learn some words. I'll happily practice what I've learned so far as well."

Then he tried to explain everything to Luca with a mix of Varian and Gallian, but Luca understood even if some words sounded wrong to him. He grinned and gave his thumbs up – and then their food arrived.

Luca and Rohan had a local dish called "polenta e osei" – basically a thick mush of cornmeal and small game birds with a meaty sauce – while Keshav and Babita had lentil soup. Luca said sometimes his mother did the polenta with sausages, which Keshav tried to translate for Rohan, and they ended up exchanging the words for food and cutlery and anything in the inn they could point at.

Quite a fun language lesson, then they went to the stream to wash the two young men's clothes, again improvising a language lesson that went both ways – Varian/southern dialect. At dinner time the inn was very busy again, so they had to stop, but Keshav noticed Luca and Rohan kept exchanging vocabulary by pointing and saying the word.

"By the end of the journey, they might be able to actually communicate," Babita said, leaning towards him so he could hear what she said. "It wouldn't be just wild sex, but also something else. I don't know about Luca, but I'm sure Rohan was used to the company of a sole companion besides his cousins... he is royalty after all."

"That's what sort of worries me," Keshav replied. "What else do they have in common? Rohan had his family, whom he has given up, hunting, martial arts, games, listening to stories, boating trips with beautiful partners, watching entertainers... no work to do of any kind. When they exhaust the physical part, what will they have?"

"We don't know," she replied. "Besides, sometimes the sex part lasts for some time. Especially for someone like Rohan who has been quite lonely for the past two and a half months... since someone he fancied kept him at bay." She shot him an impish smile.

Keshav looked away. It wasn't his fault if the prince had a crush on him. It wasn't his fault if he had stepped into the Sour Stallion when Rohan was trying to forget his first love and he'd caught the prince's eye.

"I'm not relationship material," he muttered.

"Why not?" she asked. "What are you afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid!" he snapped. "I just don't have time!"

She shrugged and let it go. Luca and Rohan stared questioningly at them, but the noise was too loud to tell them what was going on. Besides, Keshav was not in the mood to discuss relationships. He waved them off and finished his soup.

"Tomorrow we keep going," he announced as they stepped out of the main room and headed upstairs. "Try not to oversleep, will you?"

"Yes, sir," Luca and Rohan chorused, each in his own language. They looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Keshav scowled at them. "Good night," he said bluntly, heading for his room. He could hear them chuckle behind his back.

***

Rohan had missed waking up next to someone. Not that he'd slept with Abhilash every single night since they'd become lovers, but they had happened to share the bed quite often. And since Abhilash had gotten married, he'd felt very lonely.

Yes, he had managed to curl up against Keshav during the ship trip and had found the tattooed herald for a night, but besides that, he'd had very lonely nights. He'd slept mostly because he'd been exhausted from all the walking he was doing, otherwise he'd probably have brooded a lot more.

When he'd felt Keshav stiffen under his touch, he'd understood there was no way he'd convince the scholar to be more intimate with him. And then Luca had smiled at him, and they hadn't needed any words before they'd found themselves naked and sweaty in each other's arms.

So the physical part was back to normal, but he was a little bothered by the lack of communication. It hadn't been just sex with Abhilash, and he hoped that soon he'd be able to talk to Luca about his life and ask him about life in barbarian countries.

He certainly paid much more attention now when Luca spoke and tried to understand what he said or tried to say it in the foreign language with the help of Keshav and Babita. Hopefully soon they'd both be fluent enough. They were both young and well-versed with languages, one because of his trading work, the other because royalty was usually more educated than the rest in case they needed to be sent as diplomats to foreign governments.

They left the crossroads inn and followed the unpaved road in the opening between the trees. Unlike previous paths, this was a real road with enough room for two-way traffic of carts and wagons. Often riders passed by, headed one way or the other, probably messengers reporting to the king or taking his orders to the border patrols.

After two nights in log cabins set up on the side of the road, where travelers could rest under a roof in case of bad weather, they reached another river. The road continued on the shore towards the north, but they decided to set up camp on the shore and see if anyone would show up and point them at a ford, a bridge or something like that.

Rohan went hunting with Luca and then curled up next to him under the stars. He was glad it was summer and no rain seemed to threaten their adventure. Apparently marshes and meres made it hard to cross the forest in autumn and winter, but at the moment the ground was dry.

The temperatures went down at night, though, therefore it was pleasant to have a warm body nearby when falling asleep...

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The water of the river was cold, so Keshav gave up the idea of a full bath. He shaved, looking at himself in the water, then washed his hands and face. He was about to go back to camp and wake the others, when a sudden splash startled him.

A head emerged from the river without approaching the shore. Water-green eyes stared at him from a pale face framed by brown hair. He couldn't tell if it was a male or a female, since the androgynous features could belong to anyone.

"Surya bless you," Keshav greeted. "Are you here to tell me which way to go for the Genn?"

"Upriver," the fleshy lips whispered, not allowing him to figure out the sex of the Waiora by the sound of its voice. "You will find a stone bridge and a path..."

With a splash, the head vanished again. Keshav stared at the concentric circles. Some Waiora were definitely shy.

He sighed and rose to go back to camp. Babita was awake and had put a pot on their dying fire to boil water for their morning tea.

"I'll go to the river and bring some wood," she said. "Watch the water and wake up those two."

Keshav sat and threw the last twigs they had gathered the day before in the fire.

"Rohan, Luca!" he called, checking the pot. Since the two young men didn't seem to hear him, he turned towards the river. "Babita, bring that bucket of cold water, please!"

Rohan sat up, eyes wide. "Don't you dare!"

Luca yawned and stretched while Keshav chuckled.

"We don't have any buckets, your highness," he reminded Rohan who scowled at him. "Now go to the river and when you're done we can have breakfast and head upriver."

"Why upriver?" Rohan retorted.

"Because a Waiora said so."

Rohan grunted and glared at him again, then headed for the river shore with Luca while Babita was coming back with a few more twigs. The water was starting to boil, but adding wood to the fire helped.

"What was with the bucket?" she asked, sitting by the fire and throwing the twigs in the pit they'd dug the night before.

"They were pretending to sleep, so I pretended to throw cold water at them." Keshav chuckled. "Rohan didn't like the joke at all!"

She shook her head with a smile, adding herbs to the boiling water.

Soon they were on the road again. The sun was high up in the sky when they reached the stone bridge deep in the forest and crossed the river. On the other side the path was very clean and seemed to be well used, but only by pedestrians.

The river ran through a series of hills that were quite barren. They followed the desert road for a couple of days until the path entered the forest again. They spent one night in a clearing where someone else had already camped who knew when and the next day around lunch time they found a village hidden in the depths of the forest.

They stopped to stare in wonder at the little timber houses that vanished into the undergrowth.

"I didn't know there were woodcutters this far from any trade road," Luca commented.

"I don't think they're Human," Keshav said as they entered the village.

They stared wide-eyed at the blond, androgynous beings with pointed ears who lived in the hamlet. They dressed differently from Humans and all had very long hair.

Keshav held his breath and heard Rohan gasp. It was as if the miniatures and paintings they'd seen in Godwalkar had come to life under their eyes.

"Whoa," Luca whispered, impressed. Babita was speechless.

The Genn stared back at them, unsmiling but also not openly hostile. For a moment the scene seemed to freeze, then one of the elders – Keshav assumed he was an elder because his long hair was platinum blond, not because he had wrinkles or any other Human sign of aging – came forward and stopped before them.

"Greetings. What brings you into the depths of Appleyard Forest?" He spoke Varian and Rohan looked disappointed.

Keshav tried to come up with an answer in Varian, since he was supposedly the expedition leader, but he was too awestruck to do it.

"I'm not sure what I was actually looking for," he said in Amrendran after a couple of failed attempts. "I saw your manuscripts in Godwalkar and was wondering how it could be possible that your civilization was lost."

The Genn smiled. "Not lost, hiding," he answered, switching to Amrendran with no apparent effort. "Although some of us sometimes interact with the Varians – when they're not on the warpath, that is."

"Speak for yourself, Joyrise!" A woman with the same hair color came forward, frowning. "You're the one who likes to mingle with Humans!"

Joyrise rolled his eyes. "Blondemelody, it's because of Genn like you that the Genn kingdoms were wiped away," he snapped at the woman. He turned back to look at Keshav. "I'm sorry, apparently there are still some descendants of the former royal families of the Genn who still think they have something more than everybody else. We live in equality, now. Councils of elders run the towns and cities – and villages like this one. The size of the council depends on the size of the settlement."

"Which leaves us with two elders who bicker constantly." A golden-haired young man came forward. He could be the son of the previous two, except they all looked the same in Keshav's eyes – blond, ethereal, impossibly beautiful and ageless. Much like his father's people looked all the same to whoever wasn't born in the Islands Empire.

"And I'm their unfortunate son," the younger Genn continued. "I have some half-siblings in the Human towns, but we don't show ourselves there very often."

"Joyrise is the only one who ever lived and mated with Humans here," the woman said with contempt.

"You don't know, Mother," her son retorted. "Some of us left and never came back. Even though they said they were headed for the Valley, doesn't mean they didn't stop in some Human town on the way."

"Luca said there were Genn in Havenstock until half a century ago," Keshav said.

Joyrise chuckled. "That would be me, yes. When I buried my Human wife, I came back here. My daughters are still there – well their children and grandchildren. Unfortunately you Humans don't live as long as we do."

"Why, how old are you?" Keshav asked, puzzled.

"I'm about a century and a half. But I'm a magic user and the descendant of the Immortal Half-blood... The Genn usually live to a century, which might probably be possible for Humans too if they weren't so busy fighting each other and dying young, at least in the north."

"I've met a few old men in the universities of the south," Keshav said, frowning. "They were in their sixties and seventies."

"I'm impressed. The oldest I've met around here was in his fifties. But then, I hear the south is much more peaceful than these barbarian lands."

"Do you know the Genn who helped found Gajendra?" Rohan dared to ask.

"Ah, no, I'm afraid they live in the underground cities under the mountains. I've always lived overground, first in the forest, then in Human lands, hiding my ears under a headband..."

"Father, don't let our guests stand in the middle of the street," the younger Genn said. "They are obviously not hostile, only one of them is openly armed, but he's a Gajendran prince, so I think we're safe if we let them into our homes..."

***

Keshav wandered down a path, lost in thought, and ended at a spring that cascaded down a set of rocks in the shadows of the leaves. The sounds of the Genn village didn't reach that place, so he sat on a rock and pulled out his notebook.

They'd been staying with the Genn for a week. It was fascinating to watch them do their daily chores – sometimes with the use of magic – or art and crafts, to listen to their stories, to read more manuscripts with someone who could explain what was actually happening in the leather-bound books kept in a building made of stone but covered with vines so it still vanished in the general vegetation.

He hadn't learned their alphabet, but both Joyrise and his son Silverleaf were happy to read to him and explain the miniatures if any. He knew a little more about their history, and how their kingdoms had fallen, but there were really no treasures left, except in the underground cities that were really off-limits for Humans.

Therefore his quest was complete. He had found the Genn. He wasn't going to reveal where they lived and would keep the knowledge for himself. So now what? Was it really time to go back to Amrendra, and what? Become a clerk for King Rohit Rahul? Start teaching at Delen university?

He was still quite bad at teaching. He was sure that if Luca and Rohan made progress with each other's language it was because they really wanted to communicate, not because he or Babita were teaching them anything.

Joyrise and Silverleaf seemed to agree that one day the northern barbarians would conquer the south. The warmongering northerners would own the whole continent eventually. But none of them would be alive to see it, probably.

"Have you decided what to do next?" Babita's voice startled him.

Bird-songs and gurgling water, and then suddenly a Human voice. Keshav snapped back to reality and watched her as she joined him on the rock, trying not to trip over her long gown.

"Well?" she asked when she was seated, since he hadn't replied yet. "Made up your mind or not?"

"I don't know." He sighed. "I guess that my quest is over. What am I supposed to do with myself now?"

She pursed her lips, staring at the small waterfall.

"You could settle," she suggested. "Any place with a good library. You could be chief librarian. Or a copyist. I could sell maps and books. If you help me to find a place where I could open a small shop, that is."

"I'm thinking I should write my own book," he said. "About my travels, and the lands that I visited. I'd be very vague on the actual whereabouts of this village, but everything else..."

"We could write travel guides," she said. "With what inns are good, which cannot be avoided, what roads are safe..."

"That too. And you could illustrate them." He smiled. "I'm sure you can do better than just copy maps."

She wrinkled her nose. "I can't do miniatures like on those Genn manuscripts," she warned. "But if it's only an inked sketch of, say, an inn, a person or a place, I can try it."

"Perfect. Then we have a new job and a new goal. We should get to Delen and see if we can set up some form of business. Unless you prefer Godwalkar?"

"Gods no! My husband was from Godwalkar, but my birth family is in Delta City. I don't mind moving north, though. Maybe we can initiate some trade with the Gallians."

"It's easier that they ask for an alliance against the Varians," Keshav said, thoughtful. "If we really wanted to be safe from future wars, we should probably move to Agharek."

"I'm afraid it's too hot down there for me."

"Yes, it is quite hot. Delen it is for now, then. Do you think Rohan still wants to meet King Rahul?"

"He's probably content with Luca," Babita said with a shrug. "They might go further south together, I'm sure both would be very much appreciated in Lakeshi. Rohan for his amber eyes, Luca for his blond hair."

Keshav grinned. "You think they're handsome?"

"They are. But they're too young for me. And not interested."

"Who is not interested, you or them?"

"Both, I guess." She looked at him. "You, on the contrary, are quite interesting. A bit head-in-the-clouds but that's part of your charm. Do you think you can be with us mere mortals more often?"

"I am with you mere mortals! I'm Human! It's true that my studies take all of my time..."

"And it's good that you never stop learning, but at the same time, I think you should settle somehow. Start taking some responsibilities. Things like that."

He shook his head, unsure. "I don't know..."

"Why do men never want to grow up?" she complained. "You're supposed to become head of the family! What are you waiting for?"

"Scholars are not really supposed to have families," he replied, jarred. "How long were you married? How come you didn't have a family?"

"Because babies never came! Besides, I had inherited someone else's son who was expecting me to be his mother, so why give him children? Any problem he went to his mother first, then came to me! What was the point? I was blind and in love when I married him. I'm not saying I'm happy he's gone before his time, but it was getting tiresome!"

"So are you trying to do it again? With me?"

She glared at him. "You're different," she muttered. "It wouldn't be the same."

"Do you need to meet my mother to make up your mind?" he asked, sarcastic.

She scowled, then took his face in her hands like Rohan had done. She leaned forward and kissed him. Again, Keshav stiffened. But Babita's kiss was much shorter.

"I don't need to meet your family to know I want to spend the rest of my life with you," she said grumpily, holding her knees and averting her eyes.

Keshav wanted to snap back with something witty, but nothing came to his mind. He clenched his teeth and looked away too. He didn't know how he felt. He really didn't like being touched. He had grown fond of the smart merchant, but that didn't mean he wanted to spend his life with her.

She sighed and rose. "When do you plan on heading for Delen?" she asked wearily.

"I don't know, I guess tomorrow morning," he grumbled, shooing her away.

Her gown swished against his back, but he didn't turn. The bird-song and the gurgling water were the only sounds now.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Babita wasn't happy with herself. Talking to Keshav was sometimes frustrating. But she had liked kissing him. She knew he was very different from Advik and if he could accept someone in his life, he'd be a great husband.

Babita had thought her heart dried out by her marriage, but after meeting the dreamy scholar, she had started caring again. Keshav didn't need looking after, only to be reminded about the world outside libraries and universities.

She'd watched him interact with the Genn, his eyes gleaming whenever they explained something to him. She could see his admiration for the magical beings, but also that he was aware of being just Human, he couldn't stay in the hamlet forever.

The Genn living in the forest were either hunters or jewelers. Babita admired the pendants and earrings in the hamlet's workshop, even more so after Keshav explained some of them to her.

There was a gold necklace with five pendants carved into different gems that were a marvel of miniature work. She certainly couldn't afford it, but when Keshav explained the pendants, she wished she could.

"See the five Immortals through their preferred race? Air is a diamond shaped like a winged being, a Sila with tight-fitting clothes. And Fire is a ruby carved as a dragon. Do you think Aagney and Kaara are actually dragons? And here you have Water, a sapphire shaped like the Waiora female I met in Konigtown. And the Genn is silver because Ether has no substance. Us Humans, we get an emerald to represent Earth... Isn't this miniature work amazing?"

You are amazing. You just don't know it.

She said nothing, and was quite surprised when Silverleaf, who had made the necklace, told her she could have it as a memory of her visit.

"It's for a princess," she answered, embarrassed. "You should give it to Rohan for his mother or female relatives."

Silverleaf smiled and shrugged, offering the necklace to the prince. Rohan's eyes widened in surprise.

"I... let me see if I have enough money... do you take Gajendran coins?"

"It's a gift, Rohan," Silverleaf replied. "I can make another in no time. Unless Keshav wants it for the Amrendran court?"

"Yes, give it to the Amrendran court!" Rohan nodded repeatedly. "His cousin has married King Rahul!"

Keshav rolled his eyes, but accepted the gift.

"He's the one who appreciates it the most," Babita said, satisfied. "Thank you, Silverleaf. It's been enlightening meeting the Genn."

"You're welcome." Silverleaf smiled. "Would you like me to guide you to the river that flows through Delen?"

***

Going through the forest with a Genn guide was easier than following broken paths in a general direction. Silverleaf didn't need paths to know where he was going. And away from his parents, especially his grumpy mother, he was even more talkative than at the Genn village.

"I don't know about the Genn who went south," he said one night as they camped in a clearing. "But I do know a couple of half-bloods went to Amrendra half a century ago. My half-sister Bellinda came to the village with a couple of friends, all half-blood, and the cousins Keneith and Raykim went south while she headed back for Havenstock. Have you heard of them, Keshav?"

Keshav thought about it.

"I think my parents and King Daruka Dahana met them," he said. "Did one of them have blue hair and bat-like wings?"

"Yes!" Silverleaf grinned. "That would be Raykim, half-Sila and half-Fajrulo, so not Human at all! You didn't meet him?"

"No, both were gone before I was born," Keshav answered. "Apparently one of them was quite well-versed in magic."

"Yes, Keneith, half-Human and half-Fajrulo. I think they're still in the south now."

"My cousin Prem visited all the southern courts before getting married," Rohan said, a little puzzled. "He never told me of a guy with blue hair and bat-like wings! The only person with blue hair that I've seen is Kaara in Moriana!"

"Ah, yes, that would be Skywise... She mated with Runedemon, who is also Raykim's father."

"You mean Aagney the Storyteller?" Keshav asked. "Or... how do they call him in the north... Aedwyr the Minstrel?"

"That's him!" Silverleaf grinned. "But you'll never hear a Fajrulo boast of his offspring, half-blood or pure blood! Anyway, Raykim and Keneith could be anywhere now."

"And you're sure they're not dead?" Keshav asked. "I mean, how old are they?"

"Well, Keneith is about one hundred and ten, like me, and Raykim should be... seventy-five, so quite young for a Fajrulo cub. Except he's also Sila, of course, but still much more long-lived than any of us. So no, I don't think they're dead yet. They have a lot more years ahead of them, and I wouldn't be surprised if they withdrew from the company of Humans every now and then. Even Keneith, who is half-Human."

Rohan and Luca looked impressed. Babita was thoughtful. Keshav wished he could have met at least the non-Human half-blood. Maybe he could ask his parents about him. Although probably his father was still a child in the Islands Empire when the half-bloods had walked into Delen. He'd have to ask the eldest members of the Amrendran court.

Now he had a reason to go back home and continue his quest. And then maybe he could go looking for the half-bloods and study them for a while. But first he'd have to check in Delen. There must be at least a painting of the two wondrous beings somewhere.

He hadn't been to the palace often, but now that he was supposed to introduce Prince Rohan, he had a fairly good excuse to do so – besides visiting his cousin, that is. Maybe she could tell him if there was such a memento somewhere, since there was nothing in the great hall or the ballroom, as far as he knew. But she lived in the palace now, so she knew every nook and cranny.

"One might wonder why you went all around Varia looking for something when your hometown had been visited by even more wondrous beings," Babita said with a smile. "Now I'm curious to see a painting of the half-bloods. Do you think there's any in Delen?"

"I'll have to ask my cousin Chitrangda," he replied. "She lives at the palace. I have only been to the public parts of the palace and never saw any trace of the visitors."

"Raykim was still learning to deal with Humans," Silverleaf said. "He'd been quite lonely until he met his cousin and his friends. I'm sure the southern kingdoms gave him a warm welcome, or he'd have come back north."

"A winged being and a real magic user," Rohan said, awed. "They might be considered gods! Not in Arquon, of course, but everywhere else... why not?"

Silverleaf chuckled. "You Humans have strange ideas of divinity. But I won't try to change your minds, as long as you don't try to convert me to your religion."

"Why would we do that?" Rohan wondered.

"I don't know, but up north they tend to want you to follow their beliefs. And after the fall of the Moren Empire, smaller cults are coming forward and gods are changing names and it's a real mess sometimes to keep up with Human religions."

"Maybe you should go south and explore our kingdoms," Keshav suggested. "Aren't there more Genn in the south?"

"Yes, I could go to the city under Mount Flora and then go back through the underground cities of the Central Massif... I think I need a break from that wretched small village!"

"Or your domineering mother?" Babita asked, amused.

"Mostly that." Silverleaf winked with a smile. "My father is wonderful, but not very present until he had Humans to look after. We rekindled our relationship when he came back for good. I'm sure he'll be happy to hear of my travels."

"Don't tell me... you're running away without telling your mother you're leaving," Keshav said.

"Exactly!" Silverleaf chuckled. "You wouldn't believe how she still wants to dictate my life! I'm a hundred and ten! I told her I'd take you to the stone bridge and come back. My father knows I'm not coming back that soon, though."

"Does she pressure you into getting married?" Rohan asked.

"The Genn don't really have marriage. We can meet someone who becomes a mate for life. But this can't be programmed. Of course she grumbles that I should meet my animkunulo but she can't force me. I might actually meet him or her if I get away from that accursed place where I know everyone!"

"So she should be happy you're gone."

"She's never happy when I'm out of her sight." Silverleaf rolled his eyes. "She's afraid I might not go back."

"We all think we'll never go back home," Keshav said wistfully.

"Your journey might be almost over, but mine has just begun," Silverleaf replied. "And she's old, she might not be there whenever I go back anyway."

Keshav noticed that Rohan and Luca were thoughtful. They were probably thinking about their own mothers and if they should go back eventually. Babita looked amused.

"I'm glad the Genn are not as attached to their mothers as the male Humans are," she said.

Rohan glared at her, but Keshav smiled.

"Are you ever going home, Babita?"

"Home is where the heart is," she replied, staring at him across the fire.

Remembering her kiss, he looked away and cleared his throat.

"I think it's time we get some sleep," he said. "Do you think we need to take turns?"

"This stretch of the forest is safe," Silverleaf answered. "And I raised a magic shield around us anyway. Sleep well, my friends."

Keshav lay down to sleep, amazed at how easy things could be with a real magic user on hand.

***

The journey back to Delen was a breeze. Keshav suspected that Silverleaf used some magic to speed them along, but didn't dare ask questions. Still it took twenty days to reach the river and go down to the mouth with a raft, stopping on the river shore for the night.

Three full months had gone by since he'd left Godwalkar and five years since he'd started his journey through the southern kingdoms. He hadn't expected to come back from the north, but now he was happy to see Delen again.

The three-stories of gray stone decorated with vines of the royal palace were the first thing that came into view. The rectangular building had tall arched windows and stood on a hill from where one could see both the sea and the mountains from the top floor terrace. It towered over the noblemen's palaces and smaller houses of the city.

Around it, the city sprawled along the coast and the river mouth, with stone bridges and wide paved streets. Like most southern cities, Delen didn't have walls. Most buildings were made with the local gray stone with sloping roofs for the snowy winters. Usually they were two-story tall and some had attics. The public baths and warehouses were flat wooden buildings in the proximity of waterways.

The summer was almost over and soon the trees in the public gardens would start changing colors. Autumn in Delen was Keshav's favorite season. He was glad he'd come back just in time. And then winter would come, snow would fall... he had missed the snow in the southern kingdoms.

Keshav and his traveling companions had left the raft further upriver and taken the main road to the city along with other peasants and merchants headed to town. It was market day and even if it wasn't like the Fall Fair, the city streets were busy and crowded.

The salty air mixed with the scent of orange tea, copper and peppery mushrooms. The evergreen shrubs with dark green leaves that fenced the gardens had clusters of fragrant, pinky blooms and the honeysuckle climbing on the walls spread its scent through the streets. The city had good sanitation, unlike the northern towns, therefore unpleasant odors mostly ran in the underground sewers.

Keshav led the others to his parents' house first. His family still lived in a corner of Lord Hitendra's palace, a turreted building on the side of the hill of the royal residence, with two inner courtyards and a private garden of many kinds of roses with no access from outside.

But before meeting his noble uncle and asking him to take them to court, they'd better clean up from the voyage. It took some convincing with the butler, but eventually he let them go to his parents' apartment, promising to keep quiet with the master. Keshav climbed the grand staircase to the noble floor and went directly to the end of the corridor.

Akira's slanted eyes brightened at the sight of him, but his father now had gray hair. It had been black when he'd left.

"Keshav!" The man reached his shoulder, but gave him a bear hug. "We were wondering where you were! Your last letter said you were leaving Gajendra for unknown territory..."

"Yes, I've come back through the northern lands." Keshav pulled away and introduced his traveling companions. "Now if we could refresh ourselves before meeting Uncle Hitendra and all the rest of the family... Prince Rohan wouldn't want to be seen like this at court either."

"Of course, you can use the bath chamber!" Akira beamed. "Let me take the young lady to the ladies' room. Shalini! Keshav is back!"

Keshav's mother rushed into the ante-chamber from an inner room and almost burst into tears as she hugged him. Her hair was still all black, but she had more wrinkles on her still beautiful face. His parents had both aged in five years. He hoped it wasn't because they were worried for him.

He repeated to his mother his wish to refresh himself and pointed at Babita. Shalini brightened and took Babita's hand.

"I will take care of your girlfriend, don't worry," she said.

"She's not my girlfriend," he muttered, looking away and trying to ignore Babita's amused smile. "Let's go." He marched Rohan, Luca and Silverleaf to the bath chamber, ignoring the female giggles following him.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Clean and shaved, the four men met with Babita and Keshav's parents to go downstairs to the great hall for dinner. Rohan didn't have his princely clothes, but he had worn his southern garb and the few rings he had kept, along with a family medallion. Amrendran fashion was slightly different from the rest of the south because of the harsher climate, but Rohan's silk tunic and puffy pants didn't look bad next to the damasks and velvets of the court.

Except he was cold in the big room, so Keshav made sure he had one of those long jackets with many buttons he could put on if the silk proved too light a covering. It wasn't easy to find one that fit Rohan's wide shoulders but Lord Hitendra had been a fine young man and one of his old jackets fit the prince just fine.

Keshav and Rohan were the center of everybody's attention during dinner and most questions were directed at them. Lord Hitendra also asked Luca a few things, in broken Gallian, but by now the northern young man was fluent enough in the southern dialects that he understood and was able to answer on his own.

Silverleaf was observed, but not bothered, and nobody dared ask him anything, since he stood out even more than the prince. His pointed ears, his long blond hair and androgynous features left everybody awed. Keshav's explanation of who he was seemed enough for now.

"Rohit, Rahul and Chitrangda would love to meet you all," Lord Hitendra said at the end of the meal. "Make sure to come to the palace tomorrow morning. You will probably have to repeat all this for the twin kings, but I'm sure you won't mind too much."

Rohan bowed his head and Keshav smiled.

"We will be there for the morning hearing," he said. "Uncle, have you heard of half-bloods coming to the court half a century ago? Have you seen any portraits of them at the palace?"

"Of course!" Shalini answered instead of her brother. "Our parents often told us of the foreigners who came from the north – the wizard and the winged youth!"

"Ah, yes!" Lord Hitendra chuckled. "But they were gone when we were too young to remember them. Let me think... yes, I believe there is a portrait of them at the palace, in the twin kings' wing."

"Apparently King Manish Mahesh found them in the forest during a hunting expedition when they were still prince heirs," Shalini added. "King Daruka Dahana were six at the time. They stayed at the palace about twenty years and left when King Rohit Rahul were born."

Rohan looked impressed, Silverleaf amused, Luca puzzled.

"Am I understanding something wrong?" he asked Keshav. "Do kings here have two names and get referred to in the plural?"

"No, Luca, Amrendra has twin kings," Keshav explained. "They are referred to as one king with a double name, but it's still two men. One is usually the executive king, the other is the shadow king. Currently, Rohit is the king, Rahul, my cousin's husband, is the shadow king. He's also the man Rohan wanted so badly to meet because he used to have a male lover."

Rohan blushed and looked away.

"He still has one," Lord Hitendra said, amused. "With the permission of both their wives... As long as they do their husbandly duty, the ladies don't care what they do in their free time. And both are very good husbands. And Chitrangda is pregnant, by the way."

Rohan glanced at Keshav who smiled. He had told the prince so. Rohan pursed his lips and tried not to smile back. Luca looked worried now, but Rohan squeezed his hand under the table, calming him.

"I'm glad to hear that Chitrangda is expecting," Keshav said. "Was King Rahul influenced somehow?"

"I think so." Lord Hitendra grinned. "Arjun is a doting father and Rahul probably felt comfortable enough with Chitrangda after seven years that they thought it was time to really start a family..."

"Good, good!"

"And when will my son start his own?" Shalini asked with an impish smile.

"Mother, don't pressure me. I'm only thirty, after all!"

"Most of us were already married and with children at your age," she replied. "It's only King Rahul who is very late – and we all know why!"

Keshav shrugged. He wasn't going to discuss marriage in front of everyone. "Most scholars never marry," he grumbled. "How can I keep studying and exploring if I have a family to look after?"

"I guess you will have to make up your mind about your future soon, Keshav. But for now we will let you rest after your long journey," Lord Hitendra said, rising from the table. "We'll see you tomorrow at the court. I'm sure that King Rohit Rahul will have questions for our revered non-Human guest too."

"I can answer your questions too, if only you asked them," Silverleaf replied with a smile. "But since you didn't, let's postpone everything to tomorrow. I don't like repeating myself much."

"That's what I thought." Lord Hitendra bowed his head. "I wish you all a good night."

Keshav retired to his parents' apartment with his traveling companions. Again Babita was given his sisters' room, while he shared with Luca, Rohan and Silverleaf. He was exhausted from the crowded meeting and hoped the formalities would soon be over, so he could go back to his studies, with no more talk about marriage.

***

Rohan was excited to finally meet Rahul of Amrendra. He was also curious to find out who he was still with. He had heard of the conspiracy that had killed his first male lover seven years earlier and had been wondering how Rahul had coped. Abhilash had dumped him, but he wasn't dead. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to see your loved one die in your arms.

The twin kings of Amrendra were thirty-five and looked exactly the same. They also dressed the same, and nobody would be able to tell them apart when their wives weren't present if it weren't for Rahul's malformed hand. And the fact that Rahul mostly sat quietly next to his twin, who was the speaking voice of the court.

Rohan was impressed by the quiet nobility of the shadow king and almost couldn't believe that he'd been raised like a jester and had learned court matters only thirteen years earlier, when he'd found out his true origins. But during the court ball in his honor, Rohan saw how nimble the king still was, and the best dancer of the whole room.

Keshav's cousin was a beautiful woman with dark hair and eyes and Rahul seemed to genuinely like her. He was very sweet with her, especially now that she was heavy with child and sat most of the time. Rohan didn't dare ask him about his male lover, but by the end of the celebrations he thought he found out who it was.

The twin kings' family seemed to comprise their cousin Prince Ajay and his wife, plus Lord Arjun and his wife. Ajay was a close relative, therefore Lord Arjun must be King Rahul's lover. Lord Hitendra's words seemed to confirm this, but if they were lovers, they didn't show it in public, ever.

King Rohit had married Princess Laxmi of Lakeshi, so Rohan asked her what she thought of her brother-in-law.

"Oh, he's very discreet, unlike my brother. Even when Kartik was alive, Rahul never touched him in public. It's very refreshing after growing up with someone like Vivek," Queen Laxmi told him. "Are you still unmarried because you like men?"

"Uh, yes, I guess..." He averted his eyes and glanced at Luca who seemed mesmerized by King Rahul's dance steps. "But Keshav mentioned there are others like me at the other courts and I decided to have a look for myself."

"You can go to my brother's palace, and bring that handsome northerner with you. But I don't think you'll stay. Even Suresh went back to Arquon after giving the throne to his brother..."

"I will, your majesty, thank you for your advice."

***

Keshav observed carefully the painting of the two half-bloods. They weren't very much alike, in spite of being cousins. Raykim's hair was painted a bright cobalt blue, with his bat-like wings a shade darker. He had brown skin and yellow irises and looked very young. The magic user looked completely Human, with northern clothes that must have looked strange in the eyes of the Amrendrans of so many years ago.

Keshav sighed. He'd gone around the world to find such a marvel at his back door, so to speak. He should have asked his mother and uncle earlier about the visitors. He had heard about them in Lakeshi, but they had no tangible proof there, even though apparently Raykim had enjoyed the company of then Prince Vijay – Queen Laxmi's father.

The Amrendran court painter who had done such a realistic portrait was long dead. Chitrangda had told him that there were no other traces of the cousins' passage besides that painting. Raykim could learn a new language in a few days, but he didn't read or write and Keneith had been quite introverted and if he had taken notes, he had taken them with him.

Keshav imagined the magic user traveling with a pack of sheets like Aagney. His own notes had become quite numerous and burdensome to travel with. So he might as well settle, like Babita had suggested.

He turned his back on the painting and slowly walked back down the stately corridor. The guards stationed in front of the royal apartments watched him pass with mild curiosity. He stopped in the palace library, inhaling the familiar smell of parchment, dust, ink and candle-wax.

The Genn necklace in his pocket felt heavy. He went to one of the library windows and checked it again. He should give it to someone, but couldn't make up his mind between his female relatives. It was also a memento of his quest and the fact that he had succeeded and found the Genn, therefore he didn't think he could give it away. It was a gift from Silverleaf and such exquisite work...

Rohan and Luca had left for Lakeshi with Silverleaf. Babita was setting up shop next to his sister, who had married a merchant and now lived close to the ocean waterfront. They had a big warehouse and had rented a quarter of it to Babita, who didn't need much room yet. She had moved into the attic over the warehouse and had started gathering wares for her shop.

Keshav decided to pay her a visit. He had avoided her after his family had made it clear that they wouldn't have minded if he married her, and now he felt guilty about it. She was still in town, so they didn't really need to say good-bye like they had with Rohan, Luca and Silverleaf, but still...

He exited the palace and went down the hill towards the sea. The air smelled of roses and wet leaves, since it had rained all night. Soon the wind from the sea brought the salty smell of algae and waves and he reached the suburb where his sister lived.

He passed her house and the part of the warehouse that belonged to her husband and headed for the little side door that was now the entrance to Babita's shop. He still remembered her shop in Godwalkar, with its selection of maps but also potions, trap components and adventuring supplies all stashed on shelves and tables.

The shop being in a warehouse, it had no windows. It was cramped, with a cool color scheme and as sparsely decorated as Babita's previous shop. Oil lamps hung from the ceiling to give light to the small room and a wooden staircase led to the attic. There was obviously no room for back-stock, but the shelves were still mostly empty.

Babita sat at the counter, busy writing, but she looked up when he entered. She brightened and rose, coming forward to greet him.

"Well, look what the ocean winds brought in today! How are you, Keshav?"

"I'm fine. I went to the palace to look at that painting."

"Oh? Was it as you expected it?"

"The Amrendran court had a very talented painter at the time. The portrait is very realistic. How are you doing here?"

"I'm fine. Still stocking up. I will sell maps and books. I was also thinking of offering services, but I'd need an associate for that."

"What kind of services?"

"Scribe. Writing or reading for people who can't read for a small fee. Or copyist, for whoever wants to have more than one copy of anything."

She stared at him intently. He'd been thinking about Raykim being illiterate and knew there were many in his condition. It was certainly better than teaching.

"And how much do you think you could ask for those services?" he asked.

"It depends on how good the scribe/copyist is," she answered with a smile. "You know, in Godwalkar there were places where students could have their papers written for a fee."

"That's cheating! I would never do that!"

She chuckled. "I had no doubts about that. But you can do everything else, if you want."

"And why would you take me as an associate?"

"Because I think you'd fit in perfectly fine. And because then I'd be able to see you every day without trying to find lame excuses to visit you." She stepped closer, serious now. "I love you, Keshav."

"Thank you," he answered as his heart started beating faster. "I'm afraid I'm not very good with that stuff, though."

"That's why I love you," she replied with a smile. "We can work it out, surely, can't we?"

He hesitated. He'd lose his freedom. And his chastity. But he'd be doing work he didn't mind. He'd have time to keep studying if he felt so inclined.

The necklace in his pocket seemed to possess a life of its own. He took it out without thinking and stared at it for a moment. He looked at her, then clasped the Genn jewel around her neck.

"I thought you'd give it to your cousin," she said.

"She doesn't need it," he replied. "You do, for when we go to the palace."

"Why should I go to the palace with you? Unless you're saying you return my feelings and are willing to give me a chance..."

He took her arms and pulled her closer.

"Babita, I'm really bad at this, but I think you know it. And your idea is wonderful. I'll happily be your associate for now and then we'll see where this takes us, all right?"

She nodded, amused. "I'll give you one year," she warned playfully. "And I started counting when I first saw you in Godwalkar."

"That's unfair, you're cheating me of three months!"

She chuckled. "What are you afraid of?"

She took his head in her hands and pulled him down to kiss him. Keshav stiffened, as usual, but then slowly relaxed. By the end of the long kiss, he was breathless. The wicked woman had him wrapped around her finger!