A flurry of fig-thieves erupted from a spread of rustlenut trees on the distant heights that loomed beyond the forbidding outer wall of the fortress. Kheda shaded his eyes with a hand to see a yellow-banded eagle slice through the hysterical flock. Then a second eagle appeared, sending the little birds darting this way and that in terror. The first predator swooped low, wheeling and disappearing into the topmost branches of the copper-leafed trees. Then the second reappeared seemingly out of nowhere to scatter the fig-thieves again. Each eagle flapped its mighty wings and rose high into the air with a plump corpse in its talons.
Kheda caught his breath as a third eagle darted out of a stand of ironwood trees barely visible against the shadows of the high ground. It looked as if it would fly straight into the lower of the original pair, only veering away at the very last second. The startled eagle tumbled ungainly through the air, letting go of its prize. The attacker was ready, stooping to catch the lifeless fig-thief before vanishing into the dark-green gloom. The bereft eagle flapped disconsolately after its mate, venting its rage in a harsh scream. A thread of that mournful, angry cry floated through the air to brush Kheda’s ear. ‘What is it?’ demanded Dev.
‘An omen,’ Kheda said slowly, ‘in the arc of the sky where one looks for portents for the self. What are the stars in that reach of the sky?’ he mused, speaking more to himself than to Dev. ‘It’s the Bowl, still hidden below the horizon, though. Token of shared food and drink, so of mutual support and faithfulness.’
‘Which means what?’ Dev persisted. ‘For you or for
Chazen?’
‘The eagle is a warlord’s symbol,’ Kheda said slowly.
‘So are you the one robbed or the opportunist snatching advantage?’ asked Dev, idly amused. ‘My lord?’ An apologetic knock at the outer door startled warlord and barbarian alike.
‘Tasu?’ Kheda whirled around. ‘There were three eagles, a pair and one other. Three always signifies a potent omen, that much we can be sure of—usually notice of something entirely unexpected, according to my father. What do you have to add?’
The old man advanced through the anteroom. ‘Could you see which birds were cock and which were hen, my lord?’
No,’ said Kheda slowly, ‘which could have been significant. Was that some wiser female robbing an inexperienced younger sister? Can we expect Janne’s rapaciousness to defeat Itrac?’
‘What were the little birds?’ wondered Dev mischievously. ‘Aren’t they all part of this?’
‘My father always said there’s unlooked-for wisdom in chance words.’ Kheda stared at him. ‘You may be right, for all you’re an ignorant barbarian.’
‘That’s me.’ Dev grinned.
Tasu coughed uncertainly at this exchange. ‘Fig-thieves are no innocents, my lord. They’re pests with their incessant sneaking into storehouses and granaries and they foul whatever they don’t plunder. Little short of fire scares them off,’ he concluded thoughtfully. ‘Do you suppose they signify the invaders?’ Kheda wondered. ‘Am I the yellow-banded eagle throwing them all into confusion?’
‘Or is that the dragon?’ asked Dev slyly. ‘Or if you’re the first bird, is it your present wife or your former who’s flying off with a plump dinner?’
‘You’re not really helping.’ Kheda warned Dev off with a scowl.
Or is that more unlooked-for wisdom in an ignorant mouth?
‘This might be some kind of warning.’ Tasu frowned. ‘Such noisy birds carry their alarm to the whole forest. None of those eagles will hunt successfully in these woods today.’
‘Perhaps the eagle is the dragon,’ Kheda said slowly. ‘It’s certainly spreading alarm among the wild men, according to the Mist Dove’s dispatches.’
‘Is there anything in the night skies to make sense of such an omen, my lord?’ Tasu asked humbly.
‘The Diamond, the warlord’s talisman, is sharing the sky with the Sea Serpent, token of unseen forces at work. There’s a warning there but it counsels self-sufficiency as well,’ Kheda mused. ‘And both are in the heavenly arc where one looks for omens for siblings and anyone close through friendship rather than blood.’
Itrac may not he a true wife to me but she must count as close as a sister in this so-called marriage of ours.
‘Is there anything significant in direct opposition?’ prompted Tasu.
‘The Opal,’ Kheda said briefly, ‘which unlocks emotion and rides in the arc of travel and ambition, along with the Sailfish whose self-assured boldness can so easily slip into exaggeration. Maybe that’s why Janne Daish has journeyed here so confident that she’ll secure all she wants,’ he said sourly.
‘What exactly has any of that to do with eagles?’ Dev wondered with spurious innocence. ‘And forgive me, my lord, but we’re supposed to be going to dine with my lady Itrac and our guest from Daish.’
‘Indeed,’ said Kheda heavily. ‘And what a delightful prospect that is.’ He turned to Tasu. ‘What brought you here? Have any more courier doves arrived?’
No, my lord,’ the old man said apologetically. ‘Though I did check right before I came to see you. It’s just I found something about sharks. You said you were curious about their lore, what with the omen—’
‘Yes,’ said Kheda, diverted. ‘What have you found?’
‘There’s this.’ Tasu took a heavy book bound with red-tooled black leather from under his arm and opened it. ‘In an otherwise positive context, a shark can be an encouragement to perseverance.’ He tapped smoothly flowing writing below a detailed portrayal of all manner of sharks. ‘You see, there are sharks, many of them, that must keep swimming otherwise they drown.’ He frowned. ‘Which is a curious fate for a fish. I’m sorry, my lord, it’s not much but it’s all I found. A shark can be a sign that you must just keep on going, keep doing all you can.’
‘Otherwise we’re all sunk,’ said Dev quietly. ‘There might just be something in that.’
Kheda looked at him. We’re doing all we can, aren’t we? I certainly trust Risala to keep going north at best speed.’
‘I’m sure we’re all doing everything we can,’ said Dev meaningfully, ‘whether or not we can see each other doing it.’
‘I’ll bid you good evening, my lord.’ Tasu shut his book with a brisk clap. ‘I wouldn’t want to intrude further.’
‘You’re not and thank you.’ Kheda grinned. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Good night, my lord.’ Tasu withdrew with a low bow. What now?’ asked Dev tersely. Kheda jerked his head towards the bath chamber. ‘Try again:
The wizard groaned and turned but another knock on the outer door halted him. He went to open it instead.
‘My lord.’ Beyau was twisting his warrior’s hands together with some considerable emotion.
‘I take it we’re ready to offer Janne a dinner to equal any Daish could present?’ Kheda shot Dev a wry look ‘We’ll keep the conversation strictly limited to the food and the seasonings. Itrac will follow my lead there.’
‘It’ll be a splendid meal, my lord, but it’ll just be you and my lady Itrac who will enjoy it.’ Beyau couldn’t keep the indignation out of his voice. ‘My lady Janne Daish has just sent word that she wishes to dine alone in her suite tonight.’
‘Daish courtesy is certainly lessened of late,’ said Kheda with sudden irritation. Then he smiled with patently false sympathy. ‘The exertions of the voyage must have caught up with her. She’s neither as young as she was nor as tireless as she thinks she still is. Make sure our household offers every comfort that a woman of her years might welcome.’
‘I can think of a few suitable things, my lord.’ Beyau chuckled before schooling his face into proper immobility. ‘So where will you dine, my lord?’
‘I certainly don’t want to miss out on such a feast even if Janne Daish is so weary.’ Kheda glanced in the direction of the various wives’ apartments. ‘And everyone’s had a long and busy day, so I see no need to have the whole household dancing attendance on me and Itrac. We’ll eat in my private audience chamber, with just our own slaves to wait onus. Let the kitchens know; I’ll tell Itrac. Dev, you tidy up in here and then help set things out for the meal.’