The Silence of Medair

"Better not," Ileaha replied, and allowed the silence to stretch before answering. "He is Illukar Síahn las Cor-Ibis, Keridahl Avec."

High Lord Right of the Cold Blood. Medair had always found Ibisian titles clumsy in translation. Kier was a title which meant Highest Ruler more than High King, since the word was not specific to a gender. Keridahl was High Lord, something similar to a Duke. Avec was an extra title awarded to only one Keridahl at a time. The man was the current Kier’s second most favoured lord. She had guessed the Keridahl, from those absent earrings, but not the Avec.

Medair, after a short pause, recited: "Keriel, Kerivor, Kerikath, Kerikal, Keriden, Keridahl, Keridahl Avec, Keridahl Alar, Kierash, Kier."

"And AlKier," Ileaha finished, softly.

"That I’ve never quite understood, this idea of a Ruler of All. Farak does not rule, she provides, nurtures."

Ileaha shook her head. "Worship of the land. It is –" She paused. "Probably it is best not to become embroiled in a discussion about the AlKier or your land which provides."

"No," Medair agreed, studying the girl. Farakkian and Ibisian both – there had been none of her kind during the war. "Who are you? A name tells so little."

"Your name is one which usually tells everything."

Medair would not be drawn. "My misfortune."

"I am one of Cor-Ibis' wards."

"One? He has many?"

"A half-dozen. He is Cor-Ibis. Dependants are inevitable."

"You don’t seem a child. How long do you remain a ward?" This girl was at least twenty, which was the Ibisian majority.

"I am no longer in care," Ileaha replied carefully. "But, being without family, a suitable trade, or sufficient property, I am not quite disposed of."

The traditional poor relation. "So…the Keridahl Avec, Illukar las Cor-Ibis, travels to Kyledra with a cousin, an ex-ward, a singularly impolite woman, a couple of Farakkians and remarkably few servants. He settles them in an inn in Thrence, shape-changes into a Farakkian child and somehow ends up spell shocked at the site of a battle in Bariback Forest, an area essentially under-populated and dull, too far west of the Lemmek Pass to be of interest even to the merchants who died there, let alone the Kyledran Kingsmen, various mercenaries and oddly dressed Decians. And I see you’re not going to tell me what it’s all about."

The girl shook her head, mutely.

"Very well, then. Who is this Jedda las Theomain, who seems to be in charge of Cor-Ibis' people? She’s an adept, isn’t she? Don’t tell me she’s another ex-ward or cousin? His wife?" No, las Theomain had not had a second piercing in her right ear.

After a pause, the girl replied carefully: "Keris las Theomain is an adept, yes. Her family head is Keriel Theomain. The Keris is strong in arcane power, more so than most, and has made a name for herself acting on the Kier’s behalf and as a close friend of the Kier. She is not in charge of Cor-Ibis' people, but had authority in his absence."

Medair decided to pry. "Over you in particular?"

Ileaha was inspecting the tablecloth again. "I believe Keridahl Cor-Ibis has discussed the possibility of my being given into service to Keris las Theomain as secretary. I have a small amount of mage skill, which would be useful to an adept."

"Someone for her to snap orders at?" Medair interpreted. "Couldn’t you serve the Keridahl in that capacity, if you must serve? Or is the carefully dressed cousin already filling the role?"

"Kerin Avahn is Cor-Ibis' heir," Ileaha replied, again startled at Medair’s ignorance. A frown came into her eyes and she closed her teeth on whatever she had been about to say. It was apparent she did not approve of Avahn. Something to remember.

Medair drained her glass and stood.

"Well, shall we go and see if your ex-guardian has woken up? I assume Keris las Theomain has not gone to rouse him expressly for the purpose of telling him I have no manners."

"You did not display such self-command yesterday," Ileaha commented.

"I was tired, yesterday, and I knew it was unlikely that Cor-Ibis would be going anywhere immediately. All haste to get here, knowing that he would fall down by journey’s end. I suppose he wanted Keris las Theomain to send a wend-whisper, knowing that he could not."

Ileaha did not reply.

Chapter Seven

More than a decem passed before Medair was summoned into the presence of Cor-Ibis, and she had to work hard not to stoke her resentment. There was very much an air of a royal audience in the manner in which she was finally conducted, after much to-ing and fro-ing by the attendant Ibisians, into a large, gently lit bedroom which smelled of sandalwood. Jedda las Theomain and Avahn waited until she had stepped past them, then positioned themselves on either side of the door, almost as if they thought she would try to escape.