could swim in close and drag unsuspecting fishermen into the watery depths. Sleth were forever stealing sisters, wives, and husbands to use in unnumbered abominations.
If these men thought he was associated with Sleth . . .
Or was this simply another Fir-Noy scheme?
He realized it didn’t matter at this point. If these men thought he associated with such evil, then his life floated like a piece of duff over a bonfire.
“What are you doing here?” asked the bailiff.
“Trading for chickens, Zu,” said Talen. “That was my crime.”
“Then why did you run?” asked the Fir-Noy.
What a stupid question. “It’s hard to tell,” said Talen. “I’m usually quite solid when facing a charge of Mokaddian villagers.”
Of course, stupidity was bred into the Fir-Noy. Their clan was forever trying to stir all the others up to push the Koramites into the sea. It was probably this man who started this whole thing.
Sabin clopped Talen on the head and sent him reeling to his knees. “Respect your betters.”
Talen steadied himself and stood again. The right side of his rib cage pained him. He took in a large breath, expecting to feel the sharp pain of a broken bone. There was a twinge, but it didn’t feel like it came from a break.
He looked at the bailiff. “I’m sorry, Zu. Let me restate.”
“No,” said the bailiff. “There’s no need to restate.” His face was full of a pent-up anger. “There soon won’t be any chickens, Talen. There will be nothing for you Koramites. You squander opportunity after opportunity, your race. You can’t keep yourselves clean, can you?”
“Zu,” said Talen. “All I did was come for layers. And these men, without provocation, set upon me.”
“You ought to press him,” the Fir-Noy suggested. “Who knows how wide their network is? And think about it. I’m told this skinny thing is a half-breed. But not just any old mongrel. This one’s connected to high places, given special treatment. I’m told Argoth is going to adopt him into his family and give him a chance to earn the wrist of a Shoka man.” He spat at Talen’s feet. “This one can walk about and spy without being given a second glance.”
It was true Uncle Argoth and Da had recently talked about marrying Talen to a Mokaddian. It wasn’t necessary for him to be adopted into a Mokaddian family to do so. But it would smooth the process. However, there were some Shoka who thought it a scandal. Even among the Shoka of Stag Home there were still a few who still wondered how Talen’s mother, a Mokaddian of some station, could willingly debase herself and foul her offspring by marrying and mating Da, a full Koramite. There were those who saw her untimely death as a confirmation of that poor choice. Nevertheless, Uncle Argoth was determined to make him a full member of the clan, wrist tattoo and all.
“Are you spying?” asked the bailiff.
“Zu,” said Talen, “I mean no disrespect, but what would the purpose of such spying be? I have no idea what this is about.”
“Don’t feign ignorance,” the Fir-Noy growled.
“I am what you see,” Talen said to the bailiff. “Nothing more.”
“He’s lying,” said the Fir-Noy. “Take him and press the truth out.”
The bailiff turned to the Fir-Noy. “This is Shoka land, not Fir-Noy. Your news has caused trouble enough. I won’t let it bring murder to my fields.”
“Killing a Koramite isn’t murder.”
“It is here,” the bailiff said.
The Fir-Noy licked his fat lips and shook his head in disgust, but he made no reply.
Talen addressed the bailiff. “You know my family. Surely, you can’t think I am one of them.”
“I can think anything I want,” said the bailiff. “I stake my reputation vouching for you and your people. But your actions have begun to stain me.”
“No, Zu. Not mine. We carry no stain.” The bailiff knew him. Da had given his boy a foundling wildcat. He’d taught the bailiff himself a better way of drawing his bow. And, in return, the bailiff had invited Da on many a hunt. Surely, the bailiff’s vision would not be clouded with Fir-Noy rubbish.
The bailiff looked at Talen as if he were weighing him.
“I find no cause to accuse this boy,” the bailiff finally said. “Not today.”
Talen bowed in gratitude. “Zu, you are clear-sighted and wise.”
“Then prove me right. Packs of bounty hunters will begin to stalk these woods. But if a Koramite were to bring the hatchlings in, that would say something, wouldn’t it.”
“Yes,” said the Fir-Noy. “It will say that Koramites,