Figurehead

seventeen

The rider secures Miun's reins to one of the few trees here before moving toward us.

She reminds me of Nirs. Same skin colour, same hair colour, same braids, although this woman's hair is much shorter. I glance at Dein but his attention is fixed. She's older than us by several Dre, that much I can tell as she approaches, forearms held up. Slowly, he lowers my hand, but doesn't let go, his arm reaching across me because of it.

"Who is she?" I repeat, eyeing her as she comes to a stop beside the still-sleeping horses. Her eyes are golden-green. At least, I think so. He still doesn't respond to me.

Instead he asks, "What brings you here?" What is it in his voice? It is not curiosity, or hostility. Not quite. Something else.

She takes a deep breath. "Nirs sent me."

"Is she alright?" I blurt out. The woman nods once, gaze flicking over me, over his hand on mine, expression unreadable before he turns back to the king.

"She's fine," she says curtly. "I need to speak with you, Dein." So they know each other, that much is clear.

He shakes his head almost imperceptibly. "So speak." His voice is firm, but not hard. Her eyes flick to mine, and for the first time since her arrival, I see the uncertainty, the concern in her features. "I trust her." I squeeze his hand lightly in appreciation, then drop it.

She nods once, reluctant. "The message you received from Kalsemir over ten years ago did not come from one of the Sirdiu. It didn't even come from one of the Escatin high militia."

"What are you saying, Tri?" he asks, voice hard. Tri? Nirs' older sister? The one who was close to Dein's sister while she was alive? The message didn't come from Escatin? What-

"I'm saying it came from the Avu empire, Dein," she replies. Her eyes blaze. "I'm saying it was a trap. It came from the hand of one of Overseer Avu's High Commanders."

"It was sealed by one of the Sirdiu," I murmur to him.

"How do you know?" he asks. He flicks me a quick sidelong glance and I know he has heard me. I wonder what he is thinking right now, I wonder what thoughts are spinning around in his mind, wreaking havoc.

"One of our commanders sent word. You declared you were coming to Kalsemir, they protested and asked why in the lands you would do such a thing. Sher told them what you said in the High meeting." She pauses to search his gaze. "Dein, they didn't send that message. This commander, Frei, she wrote on behalf of the Escatin high militia. I have her message here."

"Who else knows?" he asks, and he sounds utterly overwhelmed.

She shrugs helplessly. "It won't be so long before the whole empire knows. I don't know. Word spreads. There are messengers everywhere, after all."

Silence drops like the snow falling around and over us, but the silence is colder. More tangible.

"Give me the message, then," he says after a long moment. She comes up to us, wordlessly handing him the sealed note with a mix of emotions etched into her features.

He glances at me and I pass him the blade without a word. He slices the seal, hands the dagger back to me and then unfurls the note, letting the two halves of the seal drop to the ground. He crushes them underfoot.

Hail, king of the Escatin.
We've been told you thought we wished your presence here in Kalsemir for encouragement and the raising of morale. On behalf of the high militia of this empire, I write to tell you we don't wish that at all. On the contrary. Remain in Anshakim where you are safer, please. If you were to be killed, here especially, morale would drop and hope would be lost significantly. You are our king. To come here would be to walk into the hands of the Avu High Commanders, who we assume are they who sent the false message to you. I apologise profusely. Please, I repeat, do not come to Kalsemir.
Faithfully,
Commander Frei.

He glances at me, then turns to face Tri. "When did she write this?"

"She came to Aranakiu herself to write it less than two days ago."

We share another glance.

"I need to speak with her as soon as possible."

"Whose idea was it to travel unguarded?"

I glance at his sleeping figure and nod once in his direction. "His."

She narrows her eyes at me. Already I can see the maternal love she has for him, as if he were her own younger brother. "You know my sister?"

I nod. "Not extremely well, but yes, I know Nirs."

She examines me. "How well do you know the king? He must trust you a lot if he felt safe enough to travel with you alone."

"I know him quite well," I say uncertainly. It's always hardest to explain things like this to others who don't know you, but know the other. It's hard to put into words the importance someone holds to you. "He trusts me, I trust him."

She nods. "Uh-huh." I can't tell if I'm squirming under her scrutiny of chafing under her interrogation.

Both.

I don't know if she wants my presence.

"How long have you know him?" she asks. Her eyes are beautiful, golden-green. And although not as vivid as the green of her sister's, they are far more intense. As if they see more. But they are utterly unreadable.

"Four Dre."

She glances at him, then returns her gaze to mine. "So you didn't know he would be heir?" I shake my head firmly. She pauses, then tilts her head. "I assume you hold the same beliefs...?"

"Yes," I affirm.

Her eyes don't leave mine. "I see." That could mean absolutely anything.

I turn away from her. "I should rest," I say after a pause. She makes a noncommittal noise, and I go to wake him.

Sleep always takes its time to come. Always.