storm (28 page)

            “A useful skill,” Cal said dryly.

            “Indeed.  Once you have learned it, you may return to the earthly realm.  Together, we will examine certain areas of that reality, so you will go there informed.  But resist looking into Pell's life, Cal.  Put him aside for now.  Your love for him must grow and change, as you have done.  It must mature into its proper form before you can go to him.”

            “Is he and Rue all right?”

            “Yes.  Caeru has regained his health and Pellaz begins to learn many things.  They are sad about the pearl, of course.”

            “Yes, what of our son?” Cal demanded.  “May I see him?”

            “Perhaps eventually,” Thiede said.  “He has already left this realm.”

            Cal pulled a sour face.  “Thanks for telling me.  Where is he?”

            “Safe,” Thiede said.  “I won't tell you where, because it's dangerous for you to know.  What you don't know, you can't reveal.”

            “I understand that,” Cal said.  “Must he be hidden away for ever?”

            “No,” Thiede replied.  “Only one har in the earthly realm knows the harling's identity and he can be trusted completely.  The child will not be told of his heritage.  He must discover it for himself.  And if he doesn't, then that is meant to be.”

            “So basically, if I ever want to see him, I have to wait for him to find me.”

            Thiede nodded.  “That is a fairly accurate assessment.”

            “I think he will.”

            Thiede stood up.  “Let's go back inside.  We'll begin with the next stage of your training, and later we'll indulge ourselves with good food and wine.  We have spent little time together, and you won't be here for much longer.  Remember, you have a son who you
can
see, very soon.  We should talk about him.”

            “Tyson?”  Cal grimaced.  “He probably hates my guts.”

            “He regrets you cause him so much inconvenience,” Thiede said, “or he will do, at any rate.  I realise now that he is the most important har in Galhea.  I had always believed it would be Azriel.  I like surprises.  It would get very boring if I knew everything.”

            Cal glanced at Thiede sidelong.  “Training, then more talk,” he said.  “I want you to tell me what you know about Tyson.”

            “My pleasure,” Thiede said.  “That is something we can discuss freely.”

Chapter Fourteen

It was a few weeks after the autumn equinox, when the mists from the lake were at their most concealing, and the air smelled of burning and ripe fruit.  Moon and Ember went apple gathering in the sprawling old gardens at the edge of the city, where wasps were getting drunk on the windfalls.  Moon polished the best of fruit with his shirt and Ember arranged them in baskets.  They intended to take them to the dock to sell to boat-hara who might pay a few chips for refreshment before moving on to the more intoxicating delights of the ale houses.

            Business went well and by early afternoon, they had earned enough to buy steaming mugs of spiced milk from a tea house and sit for a few hours at a table outside to watch hara come and go along the lane.  It was close to the docks and many travellers wandered by to sample the wares of the refreshment booths, cafés and inns.  Moon became aware of being watched only when a shiver unaccountably fizzed up his spine.

            For a moment, he felt totally unsafe and dizzy, then glanced to the side.  It was one of those life-defining moments.  The lane, the hara all around, faded into a blur.  Sound seemed dulled.  All Moon saw was a pair of eyes gazing back at him intently.  He knew them and yet he didn't.  His face went hot and he had to look away.  Leaning closer to Ember, Moon whispered, “That har over there is staring at me in a really weird way.”

            “Where?” Ember asked, neck craning.

            “Don't look!” Moon hissed.  “To my right across the street.”

            “I have to look,” Ember said.  “Otherwise how can I see what you mean?”

            “Be discreet.”

            After a few moments, Ember said, “No har's staring at you.”

            Moon dared to look himself.  “He isn't
now,
but he was.   The pale-haired one.”

            The har in question had, like Moon, leaned closer to his companion, a dark-haired har dressed in black, who was sitting with his back to the street.  Even as Moon and Ember looked on, the dark har turned in his seat and gazed right at them.

            Moon felt a chill in his flesh.  “It's the Tigron!” he said.  “Look at him!”

            “Don't be ridiculous,” Ember said, although his voice did not sound certain.  “He does look like Snake, though.”

            “Why are they staring at us?  Who are they?  Are they Gelaming?”

            “They are too scruffy and ordinary to be Gelaming, surely,” Ember said.  “They look like wanderers, hara of no tribe.  They're probably traders and they're only staring at us because we're staring at them.”

            “That one looks like Snake.  You said so.”

            “You want to talk to them?” Ember asked, in an unusually sharp tone.  “Go over, then.  It's not big deal.”

            “I don't want to talk to them,” Moon said.  “I think we should go.”  He had told Ember very little about his family history, even though he knew Ember was aware of the basic details, and he'd said nothing about how Snake feared the Tigron would soon come for him.  Moon thought it would sound too improbable and dramatic and that Ember might think he was stupid, or else get into the idea far too much and then it wouldn't be private any more.

            “Just ignore them,” Ember said.  “You're drawing attention to yourself.  What's the matter with you?”

            Moon moved his chair a little, so that he wasn't so visible, but he didn't feel comfortable.  If the Tigron had come looking for his brother, maybe he'd be in disguise.  Maybe he'd pretend to be a trader.  There could be Gelaming warriors hidden all over the place.  He finished his drink quickly.  “I have to go.”

            “Moon, what's got into you?  You look scared.”

            “I
am
scared,” Moon said.

            “Why?”

            Moon shook his head.  Perhaps the time had come to confide in Ember a little more, but not here.  He wanted to feel safe first.  “I'll explain later.  Please.  Let's go.”

            “OK.”  Ember got to his feet.  “Oh... too late.”

            “What?”

            Moon glanced round and saw that the dark-haired har was coming over to them.

            “We could run,” Ember said.

            Moon couldn't move.  Half of him yearned to comply with Embers' suggestion but another part was brimming with curiosity.  This har looked like so much like Snake it was uncanny.  Snake would have looked like this before he'd been injured.

            The har halted a few paces from where Moon stood and regarded him inscrutably.

            “Yes?” Moon snapped defensively.

            “I am from the south,” said the har, “looking for family in these parts.  Forgive me, but you look very familiar.  My companion tells me there is a strong resemblance between us.”

            Moon was so stunned by these words, he didn't know what to say.

            “Are you the Tigron?” Ember asked, a question so bizarre in its directness and honesty that Moon almost laughed.

            The strange har, clearly more at ease, laughed spontaneously.  “No!  Do you think the Tigron would walk the streets of a Uigenna enclave so freely?”  He paused.  “Why would you think that?”

            “Don't say anything!” Moon cried.

            “Who are you looking for?” Ember asked, folding his arms.

            “A har named Dorado.”

            “We don't know anyhar of that name,” Ember said.

            “He may well have changed it.  You do not have to be suspicious.  I mean him no harm.  He is a relative of mine, from the old times.”

            “He looks like you,” Ember said to Moon.  “Maybe you are related.  Perhaps you should take him to Snake.”

            “Ember, shut up!”

            The pale-haired har had sauntered over to join them and now stood with his hands in his pockets observing the proceedings.  He jerked his head in Moon's direction and said to his companion, “You're so alike he could be your son.  This can't be a coincidence.”

            The dark-haired har nodded thoughtfully and asked Moon, “Who are your father and hostling?  Please tell me, it is important.”

            Moon wanted to resist and be silent, but the dark stranger's gaze was compelling, his voice commanding.  “Snake Jaguar is my father,” he said.  “My hostling, Silken, is dead.”

            The pale har frowned at his friend.  “Does that mean anything to you?”

            The dark har grimaced.  “No, but that is no indication.”  He ducked his head to Moon.  “I would like to meet your father.”

            “Who are you?” Moon demanded.

            “Terez,” the har said.  “I was known as Terez Cevarro.”

            This name meant nothing to Moon, because his father had never told him his old family name, nor had he ever mentioned any members of his human family apart from Pellaz.  Was it possible this even was unconnected with Snake's fears about the Gelaming?

            “I was incepted to the Uigenna,” said the dark har.  “I am no enemy of yours.”

            “Take him to Snake,” Ember said.  “I really think you should.”

            “I don't know...”  Moon was so shaken up he couldn't think straight.  These hara were both so tall, looming over him.  He felt weak.

            The pale-haired har said, “Look, we just want to find Dorado.  Maybe your father can help us.  Then we'll be on our way.”

            Moon looked into this har's face and felt a strange sensation.  It was the shock of recognition, which was what had made him feel so odd when he'd first noticed the strangers.  He'd never seen this har before, or anyhar like him, yet it was as if he had memories connected with him.  “I could ask Snake for you,” he managed to say at last.