“I don’t believe so,” Kan said. It looked like she was going to be the spokesman for the two of them. “But I may go through the market tomorrow morning to be sure.”
“All right. The market opens at First; if we leave an hour after that, will it give you enough time?”
Kan nodded.
“I’ll see you in the stables an hour after First, then. In the meantime, I have an errand to run.” Miryo rose to her feet, then stopped as Kan also stood. “Is there a problem?”
“I’m going with you.”
Miryo stared at her. “What?”
“The Primes have charged us with keeping you safe, and it’s getting dark out.”
“Samalan is the safest place in the world, except for Starfall itself. No one would dream of giving me trouble, not so close to our domain.”
Kan merely shrugged.
Miryo continued to stare at her, but the Cousin ignored it. Misetsu and Menukyo. I probably couldn’t get her to stay here if I tied her to a ceiling rafter. She eyed the Cousin’s muscles. As if I could. “All right. I don’t think it’s necessary, but it doesn’t look like I’m going to change your mind.” Kan didn’t answer that.
They went out into the evening light, Kan walking a few steps behind Miryo. Glancing back, Miryo saw that the Cousin was alert, keeping one hand near to the handle of her short sword. Maiden wept. She’s probably going to act like this the whole trip, too.
Shaking her head, Miryo turned her head and paid attention to where she was going.
It was a fair walk; lying in the grasslands as it did, Samalan had all the open space it needed to sprawl through. The directions she had been given led her finally to a modest-looking house near the north edge of town. Both the Water Ray and the Void Ray had representatives in Samalan: Perachi, a Hand of the former, lived farther to the east and served the people of the town. Morisuke, however, was responsible for monitoring who came and went from the witches’ domain.
Kan hovered behind Miryo as she knocked on the door.
A moment later she heard the lock turn. A tall blond woman opened the door and took in the two of them with a quick glance. “Miryo, I presume. Satomi-aken spelled to say you might be coming to see me. Do come in.”
With a start Miryo glanced at the woman’s neck. The triskele pendant hung there openly enough; Morisuke was apparently one of that minority of witches with blond hair. “Thank you,” she said, realizing she had yet to move or speak, and stepped over the threshold. Kan followed silently.
“May I get you anything to drink?” Morisuke asked, gesturing Miryo toward a chair in her small sitting room. Her house was modest but obsessively tidy; even the fireplace, unused right now, was swept spotless.
“No, thank you,” Miryo said.
Morisuke nodded and seated herself. Kan took up a sentinel position against one wall; Miryo resolved to speak to her about that. There was no need for the Cousin to behave as though she expected an assassination attempt any minute.
“What can I help you with?” Morisuke asked.
“I was hoping you could give me some idea of the road conditions we’ll be facing.”
“Which direction are you headed?”
“East, through Haira and Teria, but I don’t know how far.”
Morisuke closed her eyes and looked thoughtful. “There have been some storms in the coastal bills, but any damage to the road will likely have been repaired by the time you get there. If you go as far as Razi, that’s the only place you might find trouble. Cano is not as good about keeping up his duty of road maintenance as he should be. But the storms were mostly west of his domain, so even if he hasn’t yet seen to the roads, they should be in passable shape.”
“Is there any political unrest?”
“Not in that region. Ruitte spelled earlier today to say that Lady Chaha of Kalistyi is claiming some of Seach’s men-at-arms caused havoc on her side of the border—Lord Mimre is, of course, denying the charge—but that’s up near the mountains. Southern Seach should be quiet. The only other trouble is up in Askavya, well out of your way.”
Askavya again. And if anyone would know where Ashin went, Morisuke would; wherever she went, she almost certainly passed through here. “Narika said something about that as well. Do you happen to know if Ashin-kasora went there? She left Starfall about a week ago.”
“Yes, she went north, and very suddenly. Did Narika by chance tell you what’s happening up there? I’ve received very little word.”
Miryo shook her head. “I’m afraid not. She wasn’t certain herself.”
“Pity. Well, it may just be some internal Air issue.”
Morisuke was good at keeping a smooth expression, but Miryo caught the slightest flicker of vexation. She had to suppress a laugh. Witches of the Path of the Head always hated not knowing things, and the Air Ray’s habit of not telling the Void about their affairs probably drove Morisuke crazy. The witch no doubt prided herself on knowing a great deal of what was going on in the land, even if decisions about how to react were not hers to make.
“Indeed,” Miryo said when she was sure she would not laugh. “Has anyone in the Earth Ray sensed any further weather problems?”
Morisuke shook her head. “Rain along the coast, which is to be expected for this time of year. But it shouldn’t be more than an annoyance.”
Miryo nodded and rose to her feet. Kan stepped forward. “Thank you for the information. I’d considered taking the northern route east, but I’ll take rain in the hills over raids in the mountains.”
The Void witch also rose. “I’m glad to be of help.”
And glad to know that the new little half-witch is going east. Now if anyone asks, you can tell them. Miryo had no reason to hide where she was going—she doubted her doppelganger would hear of it—but the prying habits of the Void Ray irritated her.
She walked slowly once they were back outside, lost in thought. Kan followed her as before, keeping an even sharper eye out now that it was fully dark.
Her steps took her, not to the inn, but to the fountain that stood in the center of Samalan. It was not elaborately carved, but a spell cast by an Earth witch many years ago had arranged for it to never run dry. Even in the depths of winter it flowed, the water always warm enough not to freeze over.
Miryo stood next to it in the moonlight, watching the water leap and dance. She was aware of no sound save for its splashing, until Kan spoke. “Katsu?”
The quiet word made her blink. It was, she realized, the first time anyone had addressed her by that honorific. That pleased her unexpectedly; every sign that someone considered her a proper witch was encouraging.
“Yes, Kan?” she said at last.
“We should return to the inn.”
“Not yet, Kan. No one’s going to attack me out here, I’m sure, and I’d like a moment to sit.” Behind her she heard the Cousin’s footsteps, backing away. No doubt she’ll stand like a guard dog in the shadows now. Well, she can if she wants to.
Miryo continued to watch the water, listening to it play. She was torn by indecision, unsure of her path.
When it was one hunch against another, I trusted my own. But now I know Ashin went north—she’s probably into Abern by now. I could try to follow her. It would be a lot more logical than wandering vaguely off to the east, following a choice made at random late one night. Ashin might even know where my doppelganger is. She might be heading toward it right now; maybe that’s why she left so suddenly. But if that’s the case, why wouldn’t she tell someone?