Figurehead

eighteen

Tri returned ahead of us, since Miun is faster than both Jast and Iru. She only remained with us for as long as Miun needed to rest, leaving before first light the next day- if it can still be called that. There is little light at all during Dre.

In the silence, there is only the quiet whispering of the winds and steady trot of horse hooves.

Aranakiu's outermost fields come into view on the horizon.

"The last time I saw those fields, I was probably only ten Dre," he says suddenly, the silence dissipating. His voice is reflective. Wistful, almost. "Lac was 19 Dre, getting his first taste for firewater and farming, and Rist was 17 Dre, constantly apologising on his behalf whenever he did something stupid." He laughs. "So she apologised for him a lot. Me, I just... I ran amok. It was the first time I'd eaten Aranakiu sweets roasted by fire. First and last time."

What do I say? There is nothing to say. His brother and sister are gone. His parents on the other side of the empire. And he wears the burden of the Escatin name on his shoulders.

I reach out and take his hand instead. He squeezes it in thanks.

I drop his hand and hurry Jast as the fields grow nearer. It won't be long before we arrive. Already the silhouettes of farmhouses are beginning to appear. Eler's is familiar now, somehow.

There are several farmhands in the fields as we ride past at a faster pace. They are doing what they can to shield whatever is growing. "Janf!" One of the farmhands? No. Nirs. I lift a hand in greeting as Jast continues past, and in my peripheral vision I see her begin hurrying through the field in the direction of the farmhouse. Dein, Iru keeping step beside Jast, flicks me a glance I don't acknowledge. Later. I'll explain later.

Jast pulls up to a stop by the stables, Iru close behind, and Dein and I dismount. "Who are you, rushing through these fields? These crops are struggling enough without you making it worse." One of the farmhands snaps, approaching with her hands on her hips and dark eyes flashing.

I catch my breath. "Janf, messenger. I'm so sorry. I just need to speak with Nirs."

She narrows her eyes at me, hostility shifting into confusion as Nirs stumbles past her, coming to a stop before us. "Hey," she says simply, breathless. She turns to the farmhand. "It's alright, Kem, I know them. Don't worry about it." Kem frowns, but nods once.

Jast tosses her head and I tighten my grip on her reins. "Is there room for them in the stable?" Dein asks politely from slightly behind me.

Kem nods reluctantly. "I'll stable them for you."

"Thanks, Kem," Nirs smiles. Once Kem leaves with the two mares in tow, Nirs crosses her arms and frowns at us, gaze flicking between the two of us. "No guards?"

"No," he shrugs.

She narrows her eyes. "You're not very clever, then." He rolls his eyes. She sighs. "Tri told me. I just wanted to find out for myself." She sighs again. "Come, then. Frei is staying here, Tri is staying in the trusted dwelling."

She turns and heads for the farmhouse, and Dein falls into step beside me as we follow more slowly. "You stayed here too?" I nod.

We wait in silence by the door, waiting for Nirs to reappear with the farmer.

"Janf, what are you doing here?"

I turn. "Visiting," I say vaguely, and he raises an eyebrow.

"Uh-huh," he says flatly. He glances at the man beside me. "And you are?"

"A friend," Dein says simply.

Yud raises an eyebrow. "You two staying here for the night or something?"