take part of a man, they’re still killing him, only it’s by degrees.”
“So you are not Sleth?”
“Do you know where that word comes from?”
Talen did not.
“It comes from Urz. In that country it is the name given to the dry killing wind that comes from the east. The wind that steals all moisture from the crops.” River paused. “Brother, I do not steal life.”
Talen searched his sister’s eyes, those kind, lovely eyes, and he believed her. “But what are you then?”
“In the beginning, the Creators taught all how to use their powers. Some excelled in the lore, but instead of sharing their knowledge, they hoarded it, and in some instances killed to keep their advantage. Over the ages, those people have gained the upper hand. Look at the Divines: they kill any who try to use what was given freely in the beginning.”
“There are others then?”
River nodded. “A few. We cannot do the mighty deeds that were done of old. But still we work what we may. We are banded together in an order whose purpose is to break the yoke of the Divines and let every man, woman, and child control their own Fire just as they control their own breath.”
Her words astonished him. “How do you know you’re not under some spell? How do you know your master, or whatever you call it, hasn’t subverted your will?”
“Talen, there are those that practice wickedly. There are indeed nightmares in this world. But I’m not one of them. This is the truth of the matter.”
“But why was all this kept from me?”
“Because telling you would endanger many lives.”
“Despite what Da thinks, I do not have a butter jaw. I can hold my tongue.”
“No, that isn’t what I mean. It doesn’t matter how much you want something, you need the skill to perform the act. You have a pure and loyal heart, but you don’t have the skill to close your mind to a Seeker. And that can’t be taught to a child. And so it is better to tell you nothing so that if something happens, and you are taken, you have nothing to share. The Order is not yet powerful enough to reveal itself. One day we will walk in the sun, but for now we must keep to shadows. We are bound by oath to do so.”
Nettle, the girl, and the boy stood in the doorway. He was ashamed to look at them.
“Purity, Sugar’s mother, and Uncle Argoth are both part of the Order as well.”
Talen’s world was spinning. “And the creature?” he asked. “That thing that fetched the Sleth woman?” Talen did not want to hear the answer to that question, but he steeled himself.
“Her name is Purity,” River corrected. “And we have no idea what the creature is, much less who it belongs to.”
Talen heaved a sigh. At least there was that. Then something struck him. “If I couldn’t keep a secret yesterday, what has changed so I can keep it today?”
“Nothing,” said River. “A Seeker would ransack your mind as easily as you would that cupboard. But, as I said, we are leaving. And in time you will learn the skill.”
“Leaving? But what about Da?”
River looked down. “We are bound by an oath,” she said. “Da.” Her voice faltered. She closed her eyes and regained control of her emotions. When she opened them they were wet with tears. “Ke has been set to watch him. Once he’s assessed the situation, he will meet us at the refuge where I’m taking you. We’ll see what we can do at that time. But you need to prepare yourself because Da might not ever be coming back.”
Prunes was roused by a sharp dig into his ribs.
“It seems we have ourselves a situation,” said Gid.
Gid had already wakened him twice. Once to tell him that he’d had to tell a pack of Fir-Noy they already had the place under observation. Another time to watch the spectacle of two boys in a wagon pull into the yard. If this was another false alarm, Prunes was going to throw the man off the side of the mountain. And he didn’t care about blowing their cover.
Prunes sat up. He was wrapped in his soldier’s sleeping sash. “This had better be good.”
“Oh, it’s the tart’s delight. They’ve been busy as bees down there all night. In and out, lamps burning. And something interesting just went into the barn but she’ll be back out.”
“Who?”
“The girl who told the bailiff she was from Koramtown. But