The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure - By Storm Constantine Page 0,150

new territory and this should concern us more than anything. We could find out about Pell in Galhea.’

Mima nodded, staring ahead up the river. ‘Yeah.’

Just after mid-day, a Parsic patrol ordered them to halt. They were a magnificent sight: black clad hara, wearing black plumed helmets, on horses with black glossy coats. There were five of them and at their signal, Ulaume steered the boat over to the bank. They carried guns.

‘What is your business, tiahaara?’ enquired their leader.

‘We are seeking work in Galhea,’ Ulaume said.

‘How many travel on this boat?’

‘Four,’ Ulaume replied. ‘Do we need permits or something?’

‘We will escort you to the council house in town,’ said the Parsic, ‘but first we must search your vessel.’

‘Of course,’ Ulaume said.

Flick, lurking behind him, went cold. Mima and Lileem were below deck. As the Parsic troupe leader and his deputy dismounted and came aboard, he shot into the main cabin and hissed, ‘Look busy. Look as if you’re working, not hiding. We have guests.’

Fortunately, Lileem and Mima were already sorting through some of the materials Lileem had collected on their journey. While Ulaume and Flick worked in the fields, they planned to create more artefacts to sell.

The two Parsics came into the room and Mima stood up and bowed. ‘Greetings, tiahaara. May we offer you refreshment?’

The leader took off his helm and a long brown plait fell down over his shoulder. ‘What have you got?’

‘Wine and coffee from the Unneah.’

The Parsic leader inclined his head. ‘A measure of wine would be most welcome.’

Lileem got up rather furtively. ‘I’ll see to it.’

The Parsic sat down at the table, while his assistant made a cursory search of the room. He rifled through Lileem’s collection of stones, feathers, leaves and bird bones. ‘What are these?’

‘We make charms,’ Mima said. ‘We sell them for fuel and food, and so on.’

‘Travellers,’ said the troupe leader. ‘What was your tribe originally? Are you Zigane?’

‘We come from all over,’ Mima said smoothly. ‘You know how it is. We just met up and became friends and decided to live on the water. We like it.’

Flick was impressed by her cool.

‘Were any of you connected to the Uigenna?’ asked the Parsic.

Mima laughed. ‘You think we’d admit it if we were?’

He laughed back. ‘I doubt it.’

‘But we weren’t in any case. We had to head east because they took our little settlement from us. They wanted slaves. They are disgusting.’

‘You won’t have to worry about them any more,’ said the Parsic. ‘If you send a petition to Lord Swift, Parasiel might even be able to help you reclaim your land.’

‘Really? That’s amazing,’ said Mima as Lileem put down cups of wine on the table. ‘But, you know, we’ve kind of got used to travelling. It’s great to see the land, and experience the seasons. We really love this life now, even though we were forced into it really.’

The troupe leader narrowed his eyes at her. ‘You know, you look slightly familiar.’

‘How so?’ Mima asked brazenly.

The Parsic shook his head, laughed beneath his breath. ‘No. It’s nothing. I pay no heed to the stories that say the Tigron sometimes travels in disguise among his hara.’

Mima shot Flick a hot glance. ‘You say I look like him? Have you met him?’

Flick stared at her hard, willing her not to block his thoughts: shut up!

‘Not met exactly,’ said the Parsic. ‘I went to Immanion once, with Lord Swift. Caught a glimpse, that’s all.’

‘You’ve been to Immanion?’ said Mima, eyes round. ‘I’d love to hear about it. It’s like a dream.’

‘Perhaps we could meet while you are in Galhea,’ said the Parsic. ‘I am Chelone. You can look me up at the barracks.’

‘Thanks,’ said Mima. ‘I’ll take you up on that.’

After the Parsics had left, and Ulaume had gone with them to acquire official permission for them to dock their boat in Galhea and work there, Flick gave vent to his feelings. ‘Are you insane? Don’t you dare go the barracks, Mima! It’s far too dangerous. You know what he wants from you. Would you risk being found out?’

‘He thinks I’m a charming har who looks like the Tigron,’ Mima said. ‘What harm would there be in having a drink with him one night? This is what we came for, isn’t it?’

‘Ulaume and I won’t let you,’ Flick said. ‘At least…’ He sighed. ‘Not alone.’

Chapter Twenty Two

Mima knew exactly what she had to do and that she must do it alone. Flick and Ulaume cared for her, but there were certain things in life