Lukien dismounted, then helped Carlan and Minikin down from the back of their small kreel. The Jadori warriors who had accompanied them kept a respectable distance away from the gate. They still considered Grimhold a holy place, and though they were welcome they rarely crossed its threshold, preferring instead to overnight in the village beyond the fortress. Trog got down from his own enormous kreel and went to stand beside Minikin. The little woman took hold of Carlan’s hand as she led him past the gate. As she approached, Greygor fell to a one-kneed bow, lowering his head. When Minikin told him to rise, he towered over the lady and her charge. Carlan lifted his head as if to stare in awe of the guardian.
‘Welcome to Grimhold, Carlan,’ said Minikin. ‘You will learn much here, and you will be happy. I promise you that.’
Carlan didn’t speak, but his mouth hung open just the same. Lukien quickly told his Jadori companions to see to his horse before heading through the gate. There was a place in Grimhold where the kreels and horses were kept, a small stable that Monster looked after. It was much less grand than the stables in the village where Lukien himself made his home, but he knew his mount would be safe there until he needed it. He was eager to get inside suddenly, to see Thorin and his other friends, and when he entered the fortress he was greeted at once by happy calls throughout the hall. The Inhumans — those strange and magical people he’d come to protect — always cheered him as a hero whenever he returned. He shook hands and slapped the backs of men and women who’d once been part of the tiny army he’d made of them, an army disbanded since the defeat of Liiria. But he was at once dismayed to see that Thorin was not among them. He had news for his old friend and expected the baron to be here waiting for him. Disappointed, he looked around and caught a glimpse of Meriel, standing apart from the other Inhumans, her face hidden in her cowl, her hands tucked beneath her flowing sleeves. Shyly, she watched him greet her fellow Inhumans. Lukien offered her a smile which she returned with a small nod. But she came no closer, and that bothered Lukien. Instead of waving her over he held up a hand, gesturing her to wait for him. There was no way he could return home without greeting her properly. She was in love with him and he knew it. Before he could greet her, though, there was another young woman to see. White-Eye had come to welcome them home. She was already embracing Minikin, giving the tiny mistress a heartfelt kiss. Lukien beamed at her as he approached. She was a beautiful girl and easy to fall in love with, as Gilwyn had. Her sightless eyes spotted him coming forward. She turned and gave him a warm smile.
‘Sir Lukien,’ she said, her voice like music, ‘it is good to see you well.’
‘And it is always good to see you, Kahana,’ replied Lukien. Just as Greygor had greeted Minikin, Lukien fell to one knee before White-Eye. Taking her delicate, caramel hand, he placed a reverent kiss there. Of all the people in Grimhold that were his to protect, White-Eye was his particular business. He had taken her mother from her at birth, and had made a promise to her now-dead father to guard her. It was a task that weighed heavily on him constantly. White-Eye grinned at his attention, which always made her uncomfortable, and asked him to rise. When he did, she pulled him close and kissed his cheek.
‘I am happy you are safe,’ she said. She did not speak Jadori to him, but rather the language of his northern homeland. ‘The men that came ahead of you told us about the battle with the raiders.’
‘Aye, it was bad business,’ said Lukien. ‘But we saved the Seekers and ourselves, and that’s the point of it.’
‘And Gilwyn is well? Nothing happened to him?’
‘He is well, White-Eye,’ said Minikin. ‘He sends you his love.’
The message brought sadness to White-Eye’s face. It was plain that she missed him. ‘Has he said when he’ll return?’ she asked.
‘There is much in Jador that needs doing,’ said Minikin. ‘I’m sorry, child. He wishes he could be with you, but things are difficult. With Prince Aztar’s men on the move and so many Seekers. .’
‘I understand,’ said White-Eye. Forcing her mood to improve, she smiled down at Carlan, who still held Minikin’s hand. ‘But who’s this? Have you brought a new friend for me to play with?’
‘My name is Carlan,’ said the boy. Oddly, his blindness seemed no bother as he spoke to White-Eye. ‘I’m from Marn, but this is my home now. I heard you were very pretty, lady. I wish I could see you.’
White-Eye laughed in delight. She crouched to face Carlan. ‘Oh, you will see me soon enough, Carlan. Then maybe you won’t think me so pretty, hmm?’
Carlan reached out with his free hand and touched White-Eye’s face. The blind kahana did not flinch. She closed her eyes and let the boy read her features. Soon he gave a bright smile.
‘Pretty,’ he declared.
Lukien agreed. ‘Aye, but she’s taken, fellow. We’ll just have to find you another girl of Grimhold to love.’
‘White-Eye,’ said Minikin, ‘I will be returning to Jador soon. Carlan will need you to look after him while I am gone.’
‘Of course,’ said White-Eye. ‘But why leave so quickly?’
‘Because I have to speak with Gilwyn.’ Minikin gave a secretive smile. ‘I think his time has come.’
The answered confused Lukien, but made White-Eye beam. ‘That is good news,’ said the girl. ‘He will be very pleased.’
‘I don’t understand,’ said Lukien. ‘What do you mean, Minikin?’
‘It is time for the boy to learn about his Akari, Lukien. He has matured, and he has a way with the kreel. I think his gift is starting to bloom.’
All Inhumans had a gift, as they called it. That much Lukien understood. Meriel’s gift was fire, because it was such a part of her. Were the kreels Gilwyn’s gift? It only made partial sense to Lukien, but then everything about the Inhumans confused him. His own Akari, residing in the amulet, had so far refused to speak to him, a mystery not even Minikin could explain. It had made Lukien bitter toward the very force that kept him alive, and less inclined to show interest in the Akari or their strange ways. He was happy for Gilwyn, though, because he knew the boy chafed to learn more. Still, the conversation had taken a difficult turn, and he groped for a way to excuse himself.
‘Minikin, if you are all right with the boy, I’d like to go find Baron Glass, to tell him about the Liirians.’
White-Eye’s interest was piqued. ‘Liirians?’
‘The new Seekers that came to Jador,’ Minikin explained. ‘They are from Liiria.’
‘And I’m sure Thorin would want to know that,’ Lukien added. ‘Have you seen him, White-Eye?’
‘No,’ replied the kahana. ‘I have kept to myself this evening.’
Minikin’s elfish smile sharpened. ‘Meriel might know where he is,’ she said, flicking her eyes in the young woman’s direction.
‘I was just going to see her, thank you very much,’ said Lukien. With a bow and goodbye to them all, he meandered through the crowded hall toward Meriel. The young woman was still where she’d been all along, backed into a dreary corner of the rocky walls. She straightened when she noticed Lukien approaching. The knight took pains not to draw too much attention to himself or to Meriel, who couldn’t bear the stares of others. Thankfully, Meriel had picked a quiet corner for their meeting.
‘Meriel, how are you?’ he asked. He came very close to her, easily seeing within her protective cowl.
In a demure voice she replied, ‘Well, Lukien, thank you. When I heard you were returning I wanted to be here to greet you. I hope you don’t mind.’