“I think that answers your question,” Poe remarked.
Burandu looked down at the body, then up at Joqdan, and nodded. “Joqdan is never wrong. I am pleased you are safe, Fan Irlanu,” he said to her. Then the Elder addressed Wesley and the others. “Forgive the dishonor of evil Zulron. Judge us not by his actions. You too have such men in your world, eh?”
Wesley glanced at Thranic and Royce.
Burandu shouted to his warriors and they dispersed the crowd. Many paused to kiss Fan Irlanu, who stood weakly, leaning against Joqdan. She offered a strained smile, but Hadrian could see the paleness of her face and the effort in her breathing.
The Elder spoke briefly with Joqdan and Fan Irlanu, and then Joqdan lifted the seer once more and carried her to one of the smaller dwellings. Zulron’s body was dragged away and with him went most of the Tenkin.
“That’s it?” Grady asked.
“Wait,” Dilladrum said as the leopard-skinned man approached. They spoke for a moment, and then Dilladrum returned. “The village of Oudorro asks our forgiveness for the misunderstanding and begs the honor to continue as our host.”
They looked at one another skeptically.
“They are sincere.”
Wesley sighed and nodded. “Thank them for their kindness, but we will be leaving in the morning.”
“Kindness?” Derning muttered. “They nearly skinned us alive. We should get out now while we can.”
“I see no advantage in venturing into these jungles at night,” Wesley affirmed. “We will leave at first light.”
“And what about Melborn?” Thranic said.
“You, Dr. Levy, and Seamen Blackwater and Melborn will come with me. The rest I order to quarters to get as much sleep as possible.”
A young Tenkin trotted up to them and spoke to Dilladrum, his eyes watching Royce.
“What is it?” Wesley asked.
“Fan Irlanu has requested Royce and Hadrian.”
Wesley nodded at them, but added, “Try not to start a war this time. You are to report to me directly after—by your honor, gentlemen.”
Before Thranic could object, they both nodded and offered an “Aye, aye, sir.”
Fan Irlanu lay on a bed beneath a thin white sheet as a young girl patted her forehead with a damp cloth, rinsed repeatedly in a shallow basin. Joqdan remained at her side. His great spear, still covered in Zulron’s blood, stood by the door.
“Is she really all right?” Hadrian asked.
“I be fine,” Fan Irlanu replied. “It was terrible shock. Will take time.”
“I’m sorry,” Royce offered.
“I know,” she told him. Her face was sympathetic to the point of sadness. “I know you are.”
“You saw something?”
“Were I to touch Joqdan’s hand with the tulan smoke in me, I could tell what he ate for his midday meal yesterday and what he eat tomorrow. If I touched Galenti’s hand, I could name the woman he will marry and who will outlive the other. I could also tell the precise events that will surround his death. So clear is my sight that I can see a life in detail, but not you. You are mystery, a cloud. Looking into you is seeing a mountain range in thick fog—I can only see the high points with no means of connecting them. You are kaz in the Ghazel tongue—in your language a mir, yes?—mix of human and elven blood. This gives you long life.” She paused to gather some strength, and Joqdan’s brow furrowed further.
“Imagine looking down road, you see most things well, the trees, the rocks, the leaves. But with you, it is as if standing high in air, staring out at horizon—very few details. My sight can only span so far, and that not include life span of a kaz. There is too much.”
“But you saw something.”
“I saw many things. Too many,” she told him. Her eyes were soft and comforting.
“Tell me,” Royce said. “Please, I know a woman. She’s very much like you, but something troubles her. She won’t speak of it, and I think she has seen things like you have—things that trouble her.”
“She is Tenkin?”
“I’m not sure, but she bears the same mark as you.”
Fan Irlanu nodded. “I sent for you because of what I saw. I will tell you what I know and then I rest. I sleep for long time, and Joqdan will not let any disturb me. So I speak now. Am certain I will not see you again. I saw much but understood little—too much distance, too much time. Most are vague feelings that are hard to put in words, but what I sensed was powerful.”
Royce nodded.