Rojer sipped his fourth — or was it his fifth? — cup of couzi. His head was beginning to spin. ‘How many boys did they take from … where are we, anyway?’
‘Used to be Appleton,’ Darel said. ‘Now it’s some long bunch of sand words. We just call it Sharachville, ’coz that’s our tribe now. There were thirty boys here the right age for Hannu Pash or whatever.’
Rojer had to steady himself on Gared as they climbed back up the steps. He had drunk a big mug of fresh water and chewed a sourleaf, but he doubted his wives would be fooled if he stumbled over his own feet on the way to bed. Fortunately, Rojer was Arrick Sweetsong’s apprentice and had a lot of practice pretending to be sober when he was anything but.
‘They’re building an army bigger than all the Free Cities combined,’ he said quietly. ‘Lakton doesn’t have a chance.’
‘Gotta do something,’ Gared said. ‘Find the Painted Man, fight, something. Can’t just sit back and let ’em take everything south of the Hollow.’
‘First thing is to warn folk in Lakton what’s coming,’ Rojer said. ‘Got some ideas about that, but I need a night’s sleep and maybe a pot to sick up in first.’
It took all his mummer’s skills and acrobatics to keep steady as he walked by Enkido. If the giant eunuch took any notice of him, he did not show it. Inside, Amanvah was still in her private chamber, the evil glow of wardlight shining from under the door. He made his way into bed without a problem. Sikvah was waiting for him, but she said nothing as he collapsed face-first into the pillows. He felt tugging as she pulled off his boots and clothes, but while he did not resist, neither did he have strength to assist. She stroked his back gently, cooing as he fell fast asleep.
14
333 AR Summer
20 Dawns Before New Moon
Rojer’s head was pounding when he was woken an hour before dawn. The novelty of Sikvah waiting on his every need — bathing him, picking his clothes, dressing him — had begun to wear thin, but he was thankful for it now. His head felt like it was kicked by a mule, and his mouth stuffed with cotton.
‘Haven’t gotten sauced like that since Angiers,’ he muttered.
Sikvah looked up. ‘Eh?’
He shook his head. ‘Nothing. Going to need you to entertain Erny and Elona in the carriage this morning. Need to talk to Leesha.’
‘That is not appropriate, husband,’ Amanvah said, sweeping in from her personal chamber carrying a small wooden box, varnished black and polished to a shine. Had she been in there all night? Rojer had no recollection of her coming to bed, but he had been far gone. ‘The daughter of Erny is unwed and my father’s intended, and you are a married man. You cannot …’
Sikvah was buttoning his shirt cuff, but Rojer yanked his hand away so fast she gasped. ‘Demonshit. I swore to be a good and loyal husband, and that was honest word, but that don’t mean I gave up my right to talk to my friends in private. If you think it does, we’ve got a problem.’
Sikvah seemed scandalized, and Amanvah was silent a long moment, looking down at the box she held, tapping it against one hand. Rojer knew that was as irritated as he would likely ever see her, even if she were about to put her knife in his eye, or have Enkido break his fingers.
But at that moment, Rojer didn’t care. ‘Marriage is the death of freedom,’ his master used to say. He shook his head, deliberately buttoning his own cuff. Not for me. Corespawn me if it is.
At last Amanvah looked up and met his eyes. ‘As you wish, husband.’
Leesha was a little surprised when Rojer asked to ride with her that morning, but did not question it. She told herself she was still annoyed with his decision to marry, but truer was she missed him terribly. Rojer had been her best friend and closest confidant for over a year, and she felt an emptiness when he was not close by.
Amanvah and Sikvah had put up an impenetrable wall with more than their singing and wailing. When they stopped for the night, they guarded Rojer like lions around a kill. This was the first time Leesha had been alone with him since the trip started, and even now they were forced to leave the curtains of the carriage open as a nod to Krasian decency. Sharum rode by regularly, not even bothering to hide their spying as they checked to ensure that she and Rojer remained clothed and on opposite benches.
But they had privacy nonetheless. Gared and Wonda rode to either side to keep everyone out of earshot, and Leesha had selected a driver she was sure did not speak a word of Thesan. Most of the Krasians who knew more than please and thank you in Thesan tended to keep it secret as Amanvah and Sikvah once had, but the Hollowers were wise to the trick now, and had ferreted most of those out over the last week. Elona had proven particularly adept at the game, making outrageous statements and watching closely for tics and tells.
‘I think my mother liked your carriage a little too much,’ Leesha said. ‘You may find her unwilling to trade back after we stop for lunch.’
‘It’s a bit cold at the moment,’ Rojer said. ‘Amanvah and Sikvah did not care for the idea of us being alone together.’
‘Well they’re just going to have to get over that.’ Leesha nodded out the window to where Kaval was passing by on his horse. ‘Ahmann as well. I didn’t agree to cut every man out of my life when I slept with him, regardless of what his people think.’
‘My point exactly,’ Rojer agreed, ‘but I think it will be an ongoing battle.’
Leesha smiled. ‘That’s marriage, as I understand it. Are you regretting the decision?’
Rojer shook his head. ‘No one gets to dance for free. I’ll put my coins in the hat, but corespawned if I’ll be overcharged.’
Leesha nodded. ‘So what was worth risking the wrath of your wives to discuss?’
‘Your intended,’ Rojer said.
‘He’s not-’ Leesha began.
‘You’re throwing your weight around with the Krasians like he is,’ Rojer cut in. ‘So which is it?’
Leesha felt a twinge in her temple and pretended to brush back her hair so she could rub it. ‘What business is it of yours? You didn’t consult me on your betrothal.’
‘My wives aren’t kidnapping every able-bodied boy under fifteen,’ Rojer said. ‘If just half of them make it through Hannu Pash …’
‘In a few years Ahmann will have an army of Thesan fanatics big enough to conquer everything from here to Fort Miln,’ Leesha finished. ‘I’m not blind, Rojer.’
‘So what are we going to do?’ Rojer asked.
‘Build our own,’ Leesha said. ‘The Hollow must keep expanding, and training Cutters in battle. Ahmann has named us tribesmen, and will not attack us if we do not attack him first.’
‘Do you really believe that?’ Rojer asked. ‘I’ll admit he’s not what I expected, but do you trust him?’
Leesha nodded. ‘Ahmann is many things, but he is honest. He has made no secret of his plans to conquer everyone who does not willingly join him in Sharak Ka, but that does not necessarily mean all must bow to him in the day.’
‘And if it does?’ Rojer asked.
‘Then perhaps he will take my hand as a symbolic conquest,’ Leesha said. ‘It’s not my first choice, but better than open war pitting neighbour against neighbour.’