The Southling held up two fingers, the Timzinae three.
“What about, I think her name is Adasa.”
“You’re certain of that, yes.”
“I think her name is Mycah.”
“You aren’t certain of that. In fact, I suspect you’re certain that it isn’t. Though I wouldn’t know that based only on what you said.”
“That’s a strange line you walk,” Marcus said as they came to a rough corner. Nothing in the waystation was straight. The roads twisted and turned, following the shape of the rock. It gave the place an inhuman feel that Kit recognized and respected. It felt like the temple from which he’d fled.
“I think we all walk it all the time. I may be a bit more aware of it. I believe this is the place we needed. Only let me tell our captain where we’ve gone.”
He walked over to her. The spiders in his blood were excited, dancing and tugging at him. Being around so many people caught their attention after so long with only the same two. And there might only be five or six dozen people on the island, so small was it. To go from a long voyage into a real port was a deeply unpleasant experience. But that was a problem for another day.
“I can’t go lower than this and make enough to buy food,” the Southling man was lying.
Kit touched Adasa Orsun’s shoulder.
“Forgive me. I’m thinking of taking Marcus to the geographer’s shop over there. When you’re done here, will you look for us there?”
“I can,” she said.
“Thank you, and he can go lower and still buy food.”
“You are a madman,” the Southling called after him. “Madman!”
Inside the shack, an old Southling woman sat on a stool. Her wide black eyes took them in without seeming to see them. Or perhaps it was only that she passed no judgments.
“You’ve come for a map?” she asked.
“I hope we have,” Kit said. “I’m looking for the reliquary of Assian Bey.”
“You and everyone else,” the woman said, amused.
“Do you have a copy of the Silas map?”
To the degree that a Southling’s eyes could narrow, hers did.
“That map doesn’t exist,” she lied.
“It does, and I am the man who is to have it,” he said. In his blood, his body, the tiny things began to stretch and flail. He felt their delight. “Listen to me. Listen to my voice. You need to show me that map.”
“I don’t …”
“I do,” Kit said. “It’s going to be all right.”
The woman scowled, but then she held up a single finger.
“Wait here,” she said. “I have to go look at something.”
Another lie, but perhaps not too far from the truth. If she didn’t have the map herself, she at least might know where it was.
“What’s a Silas map?” Marcus asked.
“It’s the one that the last people to try to reach the reliquary used,” Kit said. “It seems like the best starting place.”
Marcus put a hand on Kit’s shoulder, turning him gently.
“Have you just told me that you don’t know where this place is?”
“I do. It’s on the north shore of Lyoneia,” Kit said. “Probably.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“You don’t know.”
“I could be more precise, but I think I’d be less accurate,” Kit said. “I believe there’s a word for reliquaries that are easily found and commonly known.”
“Is the word empty?”
“All words are empty, until a living will fills them,” Kit said. “But yes. I’d been thinking more of looted.”
“You could have told me before.”
“Would it have made a difference?”
“Yes,” Marcus said, and they both knew he was lying.
Dramatis Personae
Persons of interest and import in The King’s Blood
The Royal Family
King Simeon, Emperor of Antea
Aster, his son and heir
House Palliako
Lehrer Palliako, Viscount of Rivenhalm
Geder Palliako, his son. Also Baron of Ebbingbaugh and Protector of the Prince
House Kalliam
Dawson Kalliam, Baron of Osterling Fells
Clara Kalliam, his wife
Barriath
Vicarian, and
Jorey; their sons
also various servants and slaves, including
Andrash rol Estalan, door slave to House Kalliam
Vincen Coe, huntsman in the service of House Kalliam
Abatha Coe, his cousin
House Skestinin
Lord Skestinin, master of the Imperial Navy
Lady Skestinin, his wife
Sabiha, their somewhat disgraced daughter
her illegitimate son
House Annerin
Elisia Annerin (formerly Kalliam), daughter of Clara and Dawson
Gorman Annerin, son and heir of Lord Annerin and husband of Elisia
Corl, their son
House Daskellin
Canl Daskellin, Baron of Watermarch and Ambassador to Northcoast
Sanna, one of his daughters
Also, various lords and members of the court, including
Lord Ternigan, Lord Marshal to King Simeon
Sodai Carvenallin, his secretary
Sir Curtin Issandrian
Sir Alan Klin
Sir Gospey Allintot
Sir Lauren Essian
Sir Soluz Veren
Sir Sesil Veren
Fallon Broot, Baron of Suderling Heights
Daved Broot, his son
Lord Bannien of Estinford
Count Odderd Mastellin
Estin Cersillian, Earl of Masonhalm
Mirkus Shoat, Earl of Rivencourt
and also Houses Flor, Estinford, Faskellan, Emming, Tilliakin, Mastellin, Mecilli, Caot, and Pyrellin, among others
The Players
Kitap rol Keshmet, called Master Kit, apostate of the spider goddess
Cary
Hornet
Smit
Charlit Soon
Mikel
Sandr
Basrahip, minister of the spider goddess and counselor to Geder Palliako
also some dozen priests
The Medean bank in Porte Oliva
Cithrin bel Sarcour, voice of the Medean bank in Porte Oliva
Pyk Usterhall, her notary
Marcus Wester, her guard captain. Also the hero of Gradis and Wodford
Yardem Hane, his second in command
The bank’s guard, including:
Barth
Corisen Mout
Ahariel Akkabrian
Roach
Hart
Enen
Iderrigo Bellind Siden, Prime Governor of Porte Oliva
Qahuar Em, rival to the Medean bank and former lover of Cithrin
Arinn Costallin, his business acquaintance from Herez
Maestro Asanpur, a café owner
Capsen Gostermak, a poet and keeper of doves
Maceo Rinál, a pirate
Dar Cinlama, a hunter of ancient treasures and seeker of lost places
King Tracian
The Medean bank in Carse