The Ruthless. Peter Newman

need to get better at hunting and strategy and understanding the flow of trade. There’s so much still to learn and I have to be perfect, Mother, you know that. Nothing else will do. I’m Lord Rochant’s only chance to return so I have to get it right. So you have to send a message to High Lord Yadavendra and tell him to call off the Bringers. It’s too soon for the ceremony.’

      ‘This is really worrying you, isn’t it?’

      He nodded quickly and she could see his eyes welling up. The sight of it choked her heart. ‘Come here,’ she said, opening her arms, and he flew into them. ‘Oh my poor, sweet Satyendra.’

      ‘I’m not good enough. I’m not ready. Don’t let them take me away.’

      She stroked his hair as he sobbed, so long, so like her own, and it struck her that this might be one of the last times she would be able to comfort him. There was a pain in that thought that she wasn’t sure she could endure. Would postponing the ceremony be such a terrible thing? It would give her more time with her son, and it might make the rebirth smoother. How can I advocate sending him to his death? I know it is a great honour. I know it serves Lord Rochant and the house. But now the moment is here I … How have the other Honoured Mothers and Fathers done this in the past?

      She soothed him with gentle sounds and cuddling, as she had when he was a baby.

      Eventually, he lifted his head to look at her. ‘Will you tell him?’

      ‘You mean Yadavendra?’

      He sniffed and nodded.

      ‘He’s the Sapphire High Lord, it’s not my place to tell him anything.’ As Satyendra’s face began to crumple again, she added, ‘But we can ask him, together.’

      ‘When?’

      ‘As soon as he arrives. He’s already on his way.’

      Pari felt the change in territory before they reached the official border. The Tanzanite lands had a lot in common with their Sapphire neighbours, both contained their share of woodland, threaded through with rivers and lakes. In their own way, both were beautiful. However, her home landscape was more varied, with open plains and hillsides breaking up the relentless forest, whereas here she saw densely packed trees in every direction, like some vast green flood that was only thwarted by the upper reaches of the mountains. Though her own forests were certainly dangerous – the Wild was the Wild no matter where you were born – it was less aggressive somehow.

      Once, this view had been tinted by her love for Lord Rochant Sapphire. Now that had been ripped away she saw it in all its menacing glory.

      They travelled with only two carriages, one for herself and Arkav, the other for their staff, all competent, but none dear to her heart. It was too risky to take someone who might get hurt or used against them. I wonder if our High Lord was thinking the same when she chose us for this venture.

      ‘I think High Lord Priyamvada is worried about me,’ said Arkav. ‘She tries to hide her feelings but I see them. I frustrate her.’

      ‘No you don’t.’

      ‘I do, and that’s okay. She’s only frustrated because she cares.’

      ‘About you, maybe,’ muttered Pari.

      Arkav didn’t argue, just quirked his lips in such a way that, for a moment, it was like truly being with him again. Pari sighed and turned back to the window. The Godroad had been slowly shifting in colour as they travelled, going from bluey-violet, to dark, then lighting up again, pure-blue, dazzling.

      ‘You’re worried about me too,’ said Arkav.

      ‘I was worried. But now we’re together again, I know things are going to get better.’ She took his hand and squeezed it.

      ‘Why?’ he asked.

      ‘Because I’m not going to rest until they are.’ When he didn’t respond, she squeezed his hand more firmly. ‘Do you understand? We will get through this.’

      There was no reaction. It was as if a vital part of her brother had withdrawn to places she could not follow.

      They were truly entering Sapphire lands now. Pari could see a simple wooden tower had been constructed next to the Godroad, allowing those stationed there plenty of warning when visitors approached. However, no structures survived long in close proximity to the Godroad’s energies and the nearest legs showed signs of repeated repair.

       How typically Sapphire to stubbornly endure rather than build somewhere more sensible.

      Despite her sneer it dismayed her how easy it was for the Sapphire to police their lands. Everyone but the brave and foolish used the Godroads. Traders and Story-singers would have to come this way. Those that needed to deal with the Sapphire for survival, and those that needed to travel through on the way to other houses would first need to gain permission from the tower.

       That’s a lot of power to have, I hope it hasn’t gone to their heads.

      It had been some time since a Deathless from another house had paid the Sapphire a visit and she wasn’t entirely sure what kind of reception they were going to get. A guard stepped up onto the Godroad in front of their carriage and ordered them to stop. She was sure that at least two more were in the tower.

      As the carriage slowed she looked at Arkav. He remained locked in his thoughts. It would be up to her to lead things.

      She opened the door of the carriage as the guard marched over. They looked young and inexperienced, but to Pari everyone looked that way. ‘You may approach,’ she said.

      ‘I don’t need your permission,’ came the blustered reply. ‘Who are you and what is your business here?’

      Pari turned her head so that the young woman could admire her profile. ‘See for yourself.’

      The guard took in her fine clothes, her dark sky-born skin, the golden marks on her lips, and paled. ‘I … we weren’t told to expect you.’

      ‘Ah well, let us be on our way and I won’t hold you responsible.’

      Pari could see her thinking about it, minute shifts in posture and expression telling the story of surprise becoming fear becoming pride, so she was disappointed rather than surprised by the reply.

      ‘No, Tanzanite, I asked you your business.’

      ‘And I ask if the lofty Sapphire have forgotten their manners?’

      Small dots of pink appeared in the white of the guard’s cheeks. ‘I’m here with the authority of High Lord Sapphire and in his name I say who comes and goes. Me! And if you don’t answer my questions you’ll have to sit here till you rot or go back home. I don’t care which.’ Several guards had appeared at the top of the tower, bows held casually, yet prominently in their hands.

      ‘I’ll take that as a yes,’ said Pari.

      ‘What?’

      ‘Clearly, you have forgotten your manners and clearly nobody’s taught you any history or you would know better than to claim authority here.’

      ‘What are you talking about? This is Sapphire land!’

      ‘No it isn’t.’

      ‘Yes it is!’

      ‘No,’ Pari replied, smiling a sweet smile and pointing at the nearby trees. ‘That is Sapphire land.’ She pointed at the tower. ‘That is on Sapphire land. We are on the Godroad, and the Godroad runs through your lands and mine, and the lands of all the Crystal Dynasties. It was built before even the first Deathless took breath and though it is our duty to protect it, it is also our right to use it. No one house claims ownership. No High Lord. No one.

      ‘So, by all means, patrol your dirt tracks and pathways, but do not think anyone has the authority to block me using any part of the Godroad, for I am Deathless, and you, road-born, you most certainly are not.’

      There