“I went to Rhulyn with Gryndal, was there when he dueled Arion.”
That wiped the smile from her face, but once again, she failed to respond with the awe and fear he deserved. Imaly looked concerned in a maternal sort of way, worry creasing her brow. “Was it awful?”
Mawyndul? nearly laughed. “It was amazing. Gryndal was such a master. I miss him.”
Imaly didn’t say anything for a moment, then asked, “So, how’s the new tutor?”
“What?”
“Your father was just telling me about his desire for you to resume your studies. I thought you already had.”
Mawyndul? was aghast.
“I have to go.” He stood up.
“Mawyndul?.” She raised a hand to stop him.
He reached down and pulled her up.
“Thank you.”
Mawyndul? started to turn, but she held on to him.
“No, I mean thank you for everything,” she said in a soft voice, and then she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
A month ago he would have recoiled. A month ago he would have scrubbed his face with a bristle brush. But a month ago he’d never served in the Aquila nor held up a building while a rebellion raged around him. A month ago he didn’t have the respect of one of the highest-ranking officials in the city. Now, as he trotted down the steps, he smiled.
* * *
—
Mawyndul? stormed on to the east palace balcony where his father, Vasek, Vidar, and Taraneh were holding an impromptu meeting in the summer sun. The senior officer of the Lion Corps stood awkward and stiff, his helm under one arm, listening intently as Vasek droned on about something.
“I’ve just learned I’m to have a new—” This was all Mawyndul? got out before he was blown onto his back.
“Synne, that’s my son!” the fane barked, without nearly enough conviction or outrage to suit Mawyndul?. “I don’t think he’s here to kill me.”
Mawyndul? lay moaning. The floor of the Talwara was tiled in marble, and he’d landed on one hip and an elbow.
“Oh, get up, boy. She hit you with wind, not a bolt of lightning.”
Mawyndul? crawled to his feet and sneered at Synne, who didn’t see. She’d lost interest, dismissed him as no one of importance. If he returned the blow, she’d fly off the balcony and into the Shinara River—if she was lucky. He considered it, even chose the sounds and movements that would be required to summon a good strong gust, but his father’s voice was already raised, and Mawyndul? had another, more pressing, issue. Still, he was embarrassed and more than a little angry to be knocked on his backside by a diminutive goblin-girl whom he hadn’t heard of until after the Gray Cloak Revolt. He also felt the fight to be unfair. He hadn’t heard the attack. Without a warning, there hadn’t been any time to defend himself. Thinking about it, he hadn’t heard her freeze Vasek either, and she’d been just behind Mawyndul? at the time.
She’s fast. That’s all there is to it. The girl is fast—and apparently silent.
“Call a general assembly of the Shahdi,” his father told Vasek. “And let Kasimer know I want to see him.”
“Shahdi?” Mawyndul? said, coming to the balcony on the side that was opposite Synne. “Why assemble the general army? We have the Instarya.”
“Alon Rhist was taken,” the fane said. “We’ll need to re-form the Spider Corps. It’s been too long since the Miralyith went to war.”
“Alon Rhist was…” Mawyndul? was certain he hadn’t heard correctly, or that his father had misspoken. He sometimes did. Old people had dusty minds that didn’t always work right. They forgot where they put things, called people by the wrong names, and while they could remember an incident from a thousand years ago with perfect clarity, they had no idea what they had eaten for breakfast that morning. His father had once called him Treya, mixing him up with his servant, of all people.
“Clean the wax from your ears, boy,” his father growled. “The Rhunes surrounded the fortress and took it.”
“But that’s not possible. They’re just Rhunes,” Mawyndul? protested.
“Rhunes led by Nyphron and Arion, I suspect.” The fane looked at Vasek.
Vasek nodded. “Information is still coming in. What we know is that thousands of Rhunes, both Gula and Rhulyn, swept up from the south and surrounded Grandford. Within hours, the Instarya Guard surrendered.”
“The Instarya don’t surrender,” Mawyndul? said. “Those people are fanatical about combat.”
“You visited them once and now you’re the expert, are you?” His father shook his head.
“Nyphron is the son of their tribal leader,” Taraneh said. “After all those years of isolation on the frontier, it’s possible the Instarya’s loyalty tipped more toward one of their own and away from your father.”
The door at the end of the corridor opened with a bang and immediately slammed shut again. Cries of pain were followed by unintelligible cursing.
“My fane?” Haderas called out.