Maker of Fire

Moo'upegan, Northport Pirate Base, 7th rot., 9th day, East Coast time

After I disposed of the remaining pirates with the death charm, I needed to rest but was mostly recovered by evening.

During the late afternoon and the early evening, the ship crews left the heights and assembled at the remains of the waterfront. They took stock of their losses and injuries and sorted out who would fetch their ships and who would make camp. I spent most of my time healing injuries before sleeping.

Emily was strange during all of this. She wrapped herself in a blanket, sat by one of the big fires the sailors built, and stared at the flames. She would answer questions when asked but didn't talk otherwise. I brought her our dinner of smoked fish, soda bread, and soft cheese, but she didn't eat. When it was time to sleep, I spread out her bedroll. I placed mine next to hers so I would block the breeze while she slept.

She stayed by the fire when most everyone turned in. I woke briefly in the middle of the night to find her still watching the dying fire. I cast the charm of deep sleep on her and tucked her in. But when I woke in the morning, she was gone. That upset me because she shouldn't have woken from that charm so soon – not without intervention. Searching with my clairvoyance, I found her north of our waterfront encampment in the company of the god Sassoo, in his aspect of Lord of the Winds.

The sight of the god frightened me right out of my trance. I gasped loudly.

"Exalted One?" Willis ran up to me, concern on his face. "What is wrong?"

"The Beloved," I wrapped my arms around my stomach and took a deep breath to calm myself. "She is in the trees about a thousand hands that way," I pointed to the north, "with Sassoo in his form as a griffin. We should tell everyone to avoid walking that way until she's done talking with the gods this morning."

Captain Willis frowned and sighed, "I'll spread the word. It's trouble, though. The ones who saw the gods yesterday are scared, but many others don't believe it happened or that the gods will visit this morning."

"I can cast a barrier to stop people from walking that way," I offered.

"Save your strength," Willis directed. "We'll need your magic to recover the undamaged trebuchets."

I spent the first half of my morning moving the bodies of the dead and building pyres for them. After that, I was up on the eastern heights, ready to levitate the first trebuchets, when I heard screams. Looking up, I saw the gold underside of a purple dragon. My stomach clenched in fear as I recognized Landa circling above me. As he landed in the clearing, I fell on my rear with my ears ringing and my head dizzy. He lowered his muzzle so close that I could have reached out and touched him.

*Peace, daughter,* Landa mindcasted as he pushed me back.

Suddenly, I was no longer afraid. I scrambled to my knees and bowed my face to the ground to honor the god.

*Get up, child, and get on my back,* he commanded. *Your presence is requested.*

I thought to myself that he was polite for a god. After all, I saw no difference between a god's request and a god's order.

The short flight to a meadow north of the harbor was the first time I was privileged to ride on Landa's back. When we landed and I levitated to the ground, I turned to find Landa was now the same size as the Lord of the Winds and Erhonsay in her aspect as a gigantic owl.

The rest of the gods were also present. I recognized Tiki's flaming mask, Vassu in her aspect as the water bearer, Mugash in her grey robes with a white stole and veil, and Surd dressed in black as the matron of the hearth. I guessed the magnificent white cow was Mueb, and because he had a staff with ring bells, the little man in a strange red robe was Gertzpul. The cat god was unmistakable. That left a tall, androgynous being with lavender hair, who had to be Giltak by process of elimination.

The human-shaped gods were seated in magnificent armchairs upholstered in tapestry fabric. Sitting in their midst was the Prophet Emily.

"Yo, Moo, could you sit, please?" she asked. "You're too tall. I'll get a crick in my neck looking at you if you don't." A chair appeared beside me.

"In a moment, Beloved," I replied, "but first," I took off my hat. I got on my knees and bowed my head to the ground, "I, Moo'upegan nu Mattakwonk, humbly greet the gods of Erdos."

"Rise, child," a sonorous voice echoed across the meadow, "and be at your ease. The Prophet needs to speak with you."

"My thanks," I lifted my head but could not tell which god had spoken. I took a seat in the armchair facing Emily. "Beloved, what do you need to speak to me about?"

"I can't decide what to do without knowing what you want to do," Emily said calmly while her face held its own conversation, one of frustration, anger, and fatigue writ large. "You are the Empress Presumptive. The lives of millions of people are your responsibility. Instead of following one insignificant Coyn on a joyride, do you not want to return to Mattamesscontess to take up your rule?"

I immediately saw how Emily was thinking because she had visited this territory with me before. The poor dear was suffering from deductions based on faulty assumptions. She wrongly assumed that she was insignificant, second, that the current quest was meaningless, and third, that my involvement with this quest was less important than an immediate return to my empire.

I gave her my honest opinion. "What I want, Beloved, is the greatest good I can achieve for the greatest number of my people," I said in my most regal voice. "I believe the best way to accomplish that is to do what the gods want me to do."

"You really think chasing me to Tirmarra and Foskos is a better use of your valuable time than going home to repair your realm?" Emily's face was a battle between incredulity and consternation.

"Vassu promised me that Mattamesscontess would profit from my involvement on this trip," I reminded her. "While I may be here to help you, I can also tell that Vassu wants me to learn things from you and from the others I will meet while we travel. And you can't say that we haven't accomplished anything in the three rotations we've already been together. I've established friendly personal relations with Souk and now Zaleka, which will help with trade and diplomacy between my empire and the five federated Coyn seaports. And we found and eliminated a rogue pirate base.

"You taught me how to sail and fish, fold clothes, brew tea, boil water without magic, and make porridge. I even know how to tie knots now! You might think learning these new skills is unimportant, given that I will never need to use them as an empress. But doing all these things by hand has been invaluable to me. Beloved, before I met you, I never knew how hard it is to live without magic. That is probably the greatest thing you've taught me since I've known you. I can now look my Coyn and nohair subjects in the eye with an understanding of how everyday life is an effort. And that, dearest Emly, is something no amount of magic or money could ever buy me. That alone has been worth traveling with you."

I was satisfied to see her eyes widen as she comprehended what I said.

"I feel I must correct you on several points, little one," I smiled to soften the lesson. "You are the most important person alive and maybe the most enlightened. You need to stop thinking of yourself as insignificant. You are formidable. When you speak, the rulers of Erdos must pay heed to what you say.

"Emly, Beloved, the gods have given you great power. And those who wield great power also have great responsibility. I have told you what I believe and what I desire. I also know what you desire – your home, your man Tom, a chance to have a family, and a peaceful, normal life. But dearest, you are not a normal person, just like I am not a normal person. People like us may not be able to live simple, normal-person lives. As much as you don't want to admit it, as much as you don't like it, your life is one of great responsibility.

"You are torn between your desire and your responsibility. But I have taken your measure, little one. You have a great heart. If you try to follow your desire and leave your burden as the Prophet, your heart will not allow you. Even now, I can tell you are conflicted over the two we were destined to rescue in Tirmarra because your heart will not allow you to abandon them now that you know they are there. This is who you are, Emly. When you know that you can right a wrong, it is your nature to do so.

"I will offer my advice since you requested to know my thoughts and desires. You should stop fighting your fate. Acknowledge that this is what you are in this life. And with that, you should also acknowledge that you are a small, weak Coyn with no magic, which is a fact that I know you hate. But as such, Beloved, you should stop trying to save the world by yourself and ask your friends and allies for help. Have you not realized that the gods sent me to you because you must learn to ask for help when you need it? I believe that is part of my role – to help you learn that you, like me, are not alone despite your exalted position in life."

I looked at her astonished face and at the satisfied faces of the gods and knew that I had said what was needed.

"You really don't need to consider what I want, dearest," I smiled at her with encouragement. "If I understand correctly, right at this moment, you have the power to shape fate. I believe you need to find the quickest way home to your Tom that doesn't betray the responsibilities that only you can fulfill. You know what you want to do. You also know what you need to do. All that is at issue is how to accomplish both those things. So, let's make a list of what you both want and need to do. First, before going home to Foskos and Tom, is there anything else you want to do that won't create a large delay in returning?"

I was amazed when Emily blushed from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.

"I'd like to get enough pineapples, coconuts, and rum to make pina coladas for my overgrown friends," Emily meeped in a soft, timid voice.

"What's a pina colada?" I asked, wondering why this was important. "And what are rum, coconuts, and pineapples?"

"This is a pina colada," the sonorous voice of Tiki's flaming mask stated. A clear, strangely shaped goblet appeared before me. "Take it, daughter, and drink."

I dared not disobey, so I reached out and grasped it. It was cold and wet from condensation. A wedge of yellowbird fruit was stuck on the goblet rim. I took a sip and was gobsmacked by the taste. The flavors were sweet, tart, and delicious. "That's amazing. Is this your recipe, little one?" I asked the Prophet.

"No, it's Tiki's," Emily replied. "I think your coconuts are what you call hairfruit, and pineapples are yellowbird fruit."

"Whatever," I said, relishing another sip. "This is divine!"

"I am happy you think so, daughter," Tiki said. I could feel his pleasure.

*I can send you home with a firkin of rum and several crates of yellowbird and hairy fruits, Emily,* Mueb the cow said. *That is a simple request to fulfill. I can even deliver it so it will be waiting for you when you get home.*

"What else, Emily?" I inquired, savoring another swallow of Tiki's heavenly liquid goblet of bliss.

"You are right about my not wanting to abandon the Cosm and Eagle in Tirmarra now that I know they are there," Emily said more softly than usual as she drooped and stared at her feet. "Landa offered to take me to where they are confined. What will happen next will depend on how the Tirmarrans react when I ask that they be freed. You can come along if you want. We can be in Foskos before the Coldtide Festival."

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"I should finish helping the folks from Souk and Zaleka with their trebuchets," I responded. "It would take them a rotation to get them off the heights without me."

*I can wait while you help your Coyn allies,* Landa said.

Tom, Shinakosettkut, 7th rot., after dusk on the 9th day, East Coast time

I found it difficult to remember all of Usruldes's names. While we were in Shinakosettkut, he was Lord Irhessa when we were in the city. But at the moment, we had just finished an afternoon of fishing. While the poles were out and we were doing the fishing buddy thing, I was "Little Man" or "Py'oask," and he was "Big Guy" or "Hessakos." We even had a cask of beer, which Big Guy kept cold with magic. It was our second cask of the day because Spot likes beer and drank at least half of the first. It was good that Cadrees didn't drink beer, or we would have needed three or four casks.

Neither of us caught any fish. Twee caught all the fish. He jumped into the surf and would reappear after a few moments with fish in hand. He didn't understand why we tried to catch fish with poles and bait despite its inefficiency. Hessakos finally terminated our attempts to explain by telling Twee, "It's a human thing."

The evening on the beach was lovely. The air was dead calm, and the water of the bay was smooth like glass. All the glory of the stars was reflected by the surface of the water. We grilled the fish over our campfire on the beach after the sun went down. I had my divine out and was playing riffs alternating with guitar-adapted lute songs by Dowland and Weiss. Twee had gotten into the habit of humming along. When Chem hum, it sounds like a string bass. It was a really cool sound. The two of us spent a lot of time while traveling to No'ank and back making casual music together.

"Gaaa!" Hessakos scrambled suddenly from sitting on the sand to kowtowing toward the dark figure of some kind of animal approaching the shore. I could see its eyes reflecting the light of our fire. Twee then dropped to all fours and planted his snout in the sand. Cadrees had his head bowed.

"The cat god is here," Spot said, looking at the shadowy figure. When I could finally make out the tuxedo cat markings, I wasn't sure what to do, so I stood up because that was how people paid respect back on Earth when someone important arrived, like a judge or an elder at the dinner table.

*Well, well, well, isn't this a purrrfect little gathering,* Galt said. *Here, this should help, Usruldes,* Galt waved a paw. *That's a charm of peace for you, son. I need you to be coherent because this will affect all of you. And sit back down. Not you, Spot and Cadrees. You can stay standing. Any chance I can steal some of that fish?*

I know he was a god, but he was fixated on leftovers of our grilled fish. Emily was right: Galt really did act like a cat. I took one of the skewered fish and held it out to him. He stood up on his hind legs and snatched it with a forepaw. It took him only a moment to devour it. He licked his chops and licked his paw. Then he sat back down in the sand.

*Ah, thank you. That was pawsitively yummy. And now to business. Twee, Tom, and Spot must return to Foskos immediately. Make whatever arrangements you need to make and return as soon as possible. Usruldes and Cadrees, you should go with them. Having a mage on the journey will ease their way, especially with the cold weather snowing in the passes. Twee will need your help to stay warm. I advise you to take the route up the Mattaheehee River and then down the Stem. Avoid going anywhere near the Impotuan army under Arkaline Ugi. Tom, I lost my bet with your girl, so give some thought to where you want me to take you to dinner when you get back. That's all I have to say for now. Thanks for the fish.*

And with those parting words, he was gone, leaving us all in shock. Then, the implications of what Galt said sunk in. I looked up at Usruldes and blinked, "Galt lost a bet with Emily?"

Lyappis, Fated Shrine, Is'syal, 8th rot., 2nd day, Foskos time

"I can't believe how winded I am," I fell into an armchair in my daughter's sitting room. "I've only been in bed for a rotation and a half. Oh! Welladay, House." I waited for the grey fluffball to settle in on my lap before starting to scratch.

"You're not as young as you used to be, Mom," Kamagishi put a beaker of hot tea next to me and sat in her favorite armchair. "It does take longer to recover at your age."

"Quit reminding me of inconvenient facts I'd rather stay in denial over," I took a sip of tea to mask my desire to scowl. "Speaking of getting old, the Queen told me to stay here at your shrine instead of following her to Black Falls tomorrow."

"I can tell you all the good bits about the Convocation meeting, Mom," Kamagishi volunteered. "Besides, it would be a physically tasking meeting for you because we'll be walking around to view the consequences of the fever outbreak."

"I'm hardly infirm, young lady," I snapped at my middle-aged daughter.

"Whatever you say, Mother," Kamagishi smiled with sympathy. "Walking here from the Palace did just tire you out. What would your healer say?"

"Oh, folderol," I grumbled, unhappy to be outmaneuvered. "I humored that youngster Kidsodos and brought a walking stick. Now, don't you be snitching on me that I complained about being winded." I glared at my daughter to drive that point home. Then, I collected myself and steered the conversation to what I wanted to talk about. "Something is up in Black Falls. The Queen and my Mistress are hiding something, and the Holy Senlyosart is in on it. See if you can ferret it out when you're down there tomorrow."

"Why do you say that, Mom?" my daughter asked.

"Remember when my Mistress and you had words with the Queen over summoning the Holy Senlyosart right after I fell down the stairs?"

"I'm not likely to forget. Poor Opa."

"Evidence suggests that Senlyosart did not visit the Palace because Princess Opo'aba started a food fight. I believe that was misdirection to mask Senlyosart's real purpose in Is'syal."

"The Queen's anger over her daughter's misdeeds was real, Mother."

"Of course it was," I steepled her fingers and opened my mouth to speak when House butted my elbow and meowed in protest.

"What? House?" I examined the cat on my lap.

"Meow!" House snagged my sleeve and pulled.

"Mother," Kamagishi chuckled, "you stopped scratching."

"Is that all? My apologies, oh queen of cats!" I had to roll my eyes but started scratching again. "Alright, Kami, here's what happened the morning after you and Lisaykos had words with the Queen about Senlyosart's visit to the Palace. First, my Mistress hosted Priestess Twessera and Scholar Attendant Onsus for breakfast. When she was done, she came and spoke with the Queen. Then she came to say goodbye to me because the silly woman was overly worried about me."

"It wasn't silly, Mom. We were all worried about you," my daughter chided me. "And you're one of the last people left alive that Lisaykos knew in her youth. You're special to her. She treasures you."

I had to frown at that. I hadn't thought of Lisaykos's reaction to my accident from that point of view. I would need to think about that.

"Regardless," I returned to my subject, "when Lisaykos came to say goodbye, I asked her about the Queen, Opa, and Senlyosart. After all, the Queen is my patient, and we've discussed her parenting of her daughter several times. The fact that Senlyosart was here concerned me because Aylem appeared to have overreacted again and in a way that affected more than just Opa. But Lisaykos said she had spoken with Aylem earlier that morning and that the matter concerning Senlyosart had been resolved to her satisfaction."

"She said that?" Kami was shocked. "No, that can't be right."

"That was my reaction. That led to me to push my Mistress a bit, hoping for an explanation, but she went full regal on me and said the matter was closed," I added. "I found this odd and out of character."

"That doesn't sound at all like Lisaykos," Kami was thoughtful. "Her anger over Senlyosart's visit to the Palace was blistering the night before. She wouldn't have dropped the issue without at least speaking to Senlyosart first."

"Exactly!" I commented. "So I sent a bird to the Holy Senlyosart on the premise that Aylem is my patient, and I was concerned that she had forced Senlyosart to travel while she was still recuperating. Senlyosart sent me back a very tactful reply. She stated that, given the circumstances, her trip to the Palace had been appropriate and that I shouldn't take Aylem to task over it, especially since the King was also involved. She added that their conference together discussed Opa's demeanor beyond just the food fight, including the implications for Opa's role as an instructor and the possibility that Opa may be a candidate for king."

"You're right, Mother," Kamigishi frowned. "None of this adds up, and the timing is all wrong. A food fight is not a reason to summon the still-recovering Senlyosart from Black Falls for a sudden, unscheduled conference on Opa's demeanor as an instructor or her potential to be king. That's not logical. And Senlyosart might not complain to the Queen about a thoughtless demand to come to the Palace, but she would complain to the King. She's a distant royal cousin and has been upfront with Imstay before, about far less than this. And yet, she fed you those implausible excuses for her sudden trip to Is'syal. Something is not right, and I agree that the King, Queen, Lisaykos, and Senlyosart are in on it. I'll keep my eyes and ears open tomorrow, Mom. And now, you will have dinner with me this evening and stay overnight because you are not walking back to the Palace."

"You don't have any say in this, daughter," I snapped. "I just need to rest a little while longer."

"And your healer, Kidsodos, agrees with me," my traitorous offspring smiled. "I already mindcasted her. She agrees that you should stay here for the evening."

"Oh, bother." My youngest daughter certainly had become bossy ever since she became a high priestess.

"Meow," House said and then started purring.

"See?" Kami pointed at the cat, "House agrees with me."

"Meow."

Holy Senlyosart, Singing Shrine, Black Falls, Harvest Season, 8th rot., 2nd day, late afternoon – Foskos Time

"Don't worry, Holy One," Scholar Yox reassured me, "We will have plenty of time for tutoring on the boat. He's doing well. He has already memorized his multiplication tables, up to one-eight and four in the old numbers and two and ten in the Queen's numbers."

"That's not why I'm worried," I frowned at him, "as I'm sure you already know."

"The boy can hardly contain himself," Yox said, smiling. "He's fascinated by riverboats. This was his suggestion, after all, and it's not a bad one because it gets him out of town."

"Are you sure twelve wraiths are enough to keep him safe?"

"Quite." His face told me he was pondering something, and then he spoke again, "Four wraiths would be more than enough. I might venture, Holy One, that you may be leaning toward the overprotective side, just a little."

I opened my mouth to protest and then thought better of it. "You may be right, Yox. But I worry about him. He's only been here for a short time, and he's not really settled yet. But we need to get him out of sight before the first of the high priestesses arrive in just a bell or two. Here," I tossed Yox a purse, "take Sid for scallion pancakes and nips when you get to Gunndit Town. The best street stall is in the West Market, three blocks from the dock master's office, on the left by the tinsmith shop with the red siding. It's run by a short, round nohair named Meli. Give her my greetings. Don't forget to let Sid have a little fun, and I'll see you in two days."

Yox winked at me, "You will, Holy One. I best go because I know the kid is already chafing to board our boat." He bowed his way out.

I told myself, again, that Sid would be fine. The salt barge belonged to Heir Sertfos. We replaced the crew with wraiths and garrison gals with river experience. Sid would ride as a passenger from the Holding's loading quay to the boat landing in Gunndit Town. Because the barge had a full cargo of salt, the trip would take two days of pulling against the current by ten mules. Sid would eat, sleep, study, and play on the barge under Yox's careful watch, supplemented by eleven other wraiths and four garrison gals. The garrison guards and two of the wraiths were experienced river rats. They were the visible crew. The rest of the wraiths would be out of sight to Sid and everyone on the river.

Of course I was worried that he was outside my safe, secure shrine, but the Convocation would convene at the third bell tomorrow. It was best that Sid be nowhere near his great-great aunt Losnana, the Impotuan High Priestess of Galt.

Regardless, Sid would not be present when the shrine's choir performed his hymn version of the Consolation of the Prophet. He deserved all the praise I knew the piece would generate, but protecting his identity was more important.

I rang the bell for Gill, my scholar attendant, to ask if he succeeded in securing desert grouse for tonight's dinner with Fassex, Rakkalbos, and Irralray from the three northernmost shrines. Because they had the farthest to travel, they would arrive this evening. Then, I mindcasted for Healer Twipdray because I felt a headache coming on. Even with Sid safely out of the shrine, tomorrow's Convocation meeting would not be easy for me.

House, Fated Shrine, Is'syal, Harvest Season, 8th rot., 2nd day, night – Foskos Time

I waited for my human to fall asleep. Then I jumped off the bed, rolled onto the foot latch to open the door, and went into the sitting room. The big double doors into the corridor now have a cat-sized door just for me. I followed the smell of my human's mother to the bedroom next door. I could see a light through the door crack. I rolled onto the foot latch to let myself in. The room was used by my human's early-morning attendant, but the attendant on duty had vacated it so my human's mother could sleep there.

"What?" the old lady's voice asked from the bed. I made a running jump and landed in the middle of her stomach, just like I planned. The "oomph" that resulted was most satisfying.

"Oh! House, what are you doing here?" the old lady was reading in bed. I kneaded the blankets and laid down, tucking my paws in. I closed my eyes and purred. Yes, this was where I needed to sleep tonight. The old lady was unsettled and needed my skills to relax and fall asleep.

She waved her hand, and the door closed itself. Then she picked her book back up. I waited for her to turn five pages to be sure that she was once again engrossed in her reading. That was when I snaked out a paw to pursue the wobbling knots on the ends of her sleeve laces. As she squealed in protest, I congratulated myself on a job well done. I would save hunting toes under the covers for after the second night bell.