As The World Catches Fire

Chapter 6: Tea & Tea

I didn't hear Andiya speak for a week. Not in the mornings, when she would eat quietly on the balcony and stare out at the passing scenery, nor during our days following Irina as she signed orders and spoke with advisors, nor at night, when she would collapse onto the bed from the strain of holding herself upright all day.

The Korongorod revolved around us. At first, people had simply bowed to Irina and been on their way as we passed—now they froze in fear, whispering to each other when they thought us out of earshot. The fear and whispering grew with every passing hour as the rumours spread to every cook, every maid, every letter bearer and scribe and stable keeper. That's the High Order, they said. She killed the archon. The servants' eyes only passed over Irina momentarily now. All of them fell right to Andiya, and to the deep hood that kept her face a mystery.

It had been nearly ten days since I'd woken up bonded to Andiya. Most of it felt like some strange dream. I couldn't really be here, in the princess's chambers, guarding her door as she drank a morning coffee.

"Kain," Irina called.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"What do you think of the view?"

I peered out the balcony. It was like a slap to the face. "Ardila Vos."

The Korongorod had halted beside a low, sprawling city of pale wood and stained glass. It was built against a sparkling lake ringed with willow trees, the fields around it flush with a rainbow of blossoms. Ardila Vos, capitol of Azherbal. A place I had not been in many years.

"I've heard it called the most beautiful city in all the Canavar lands," said Irina. "Seeing it in this light, I am inclined to agree."

"It certainly is a sight, Your Majesty," I replied in a forced flat tone. I never thought I would see Ardila Vos again. Right now, I wanted nothing more than to run away from it. From what I had done.

"You are Azherbali, Kain, are you not?"

"I am, Your Majesty."

"And yet your captain has consistently requested assignments in Novosk and Os Tjerjik. I'm told your bonding expedition in the Teeth is the first you'd been in Azherbal in nearly a year. Does your captain have some aversion for your home country?"

I kept my face flat. How much had Irina looked into my past? How much did she know of Barje Vos?

"No, Your Majesty. He put those requests in because I asked him to."

"So it is you with the aversion to Azherbal?"

"In a way."

"I see," Irina said with a small pout. "Well. We should be off. I'm expecting a guest." She pulled on a floor-length fur coat and met another Eon at her door. "Come along, Kain."

But Andiya was staring out the window.

I leaned over to her and whispered "Let's go."

"You lived here."

Her voice was rough from disuse. I was so surprised by it that I answered without thinking.

"No. But not far. The other side of the lake."

"There's nothing on the other side."

"Not anymore."

She looked up at me, and I caught her eyes from under her hood, pushed in a confused frown. "I saw something. When you bonded me. A city, just like that one, but burning. Screaming. I heard swords and death and war."