Finder: First Ordinance, Book One (23 page)

She also kept her promise to work with me, and my wings grew longer and stronger every day. After four weeks of cleaning Justis' quarters, all my feathers were grown and Ordin said my wings were almost long enough to attempt flight.

"You're not as heavy as some of the others, so it will be little more than a tall child's weight to carry. Suitable enough to get you started," he smiled at me. "Dena is doing a fine job of strengthening them."

"Dena is a wonderful friend," I said.

"You haven't had that, have you? A friend the same age?"

"No, Master Ordin." I didn't say that I was coming to think of Berel as the same—a friend. He and I chatted now and then through the tab-vid, and he always smiled at me when we talked.

"I'm quite pleased with your paper," he tapped a finger on the sheaf of paper on his desk. "I read it, and am amazed at the translation you did from the Kondari language. I could only get through parts of it, and relied much on their illustrations and photographs. I now have full knowledge of wet-lung disease. Gurnil is in the process of setting it for print, and it will become a book in his Library."

"I enjoyed doing it," I said. "I look forward to the next one."

"I've never seen anyone this thirsty for information," Ordin chuckled. "I'll assign a paper on the liver next week."

"I'll begin my preparations tonight, then," I said.

"I saw Halthea this morning, dumping an armful of sheets into a bin at the laundry," Ordin said, changing the subject. "I don't believe any of us are safe while she's running loose through the castle. I thought Jurris would keep her confined to his quarters, but he sent her away. Likely tired of her whining," Ordin grimaced.

"Ordin, we have to watch our backs, then," I said with a nod. "I'm used to this sort of intrigue, and saw too many nobles dead from knife wounds. I hope there's a way to keep weapons away from her."

"Jurris doesn't think she's a threat. He believes her to be like all other Yellow Wings, now—something benign and beneath notice—except for her haranguing."

I wanted to call Jurris a fool, but held back. Perhaps this was akin to what Wolter and I thought of Irdith; we both knew she was dangerous, but both held our tongues lest the danger visit us. Ordin thought Jurris a fool, just as I did, but it would benefit neither of us if we voiced our opinions aloud.

"May I go, now?" I said. "I want to pull a few weeds growing on Justis' terrace before dinner."

"You may go. I don't believe Justis has ever had anyone take care of him so well."

"Then he's never had a proper servant," I said. "In Fyris, I'd be beaten for not doing a proper job."

* * *

The small basket I'd borrowed from Ordin was filled with young weeds thinking to sprout in the spring weather. The grass was barely showing green on Justis' terrace, and the weeds would only claim moisture and root space if they weren't pulled.

"Taking care of my lawn as well?" Justis had flown in moments earlier and landed nearby, watching me work for a few moments before saying anything.

"It needed to be done." I was on my knees, pulling the last of the weeds when he spoke, so I leaned back and gazed up at him, blinking in the late afternoon light.

"Your knees are dirty, young Quin. Run to your suite, take a bath and I will join you and Gurnil at dinner tonight."

"Is it all right if Dena is there?"

"Of course." A small smile lifted a corner of his mouth, while dark eyes glittered from the sun's setting far to the west. I noticed that the breeze played with his feathers and his hair, ruffling both gently and making him appear younger than he was.

"I'll go now," I said, rising and stretching my back to get the kinks out.

"Good. Tell Gurnil I'll meet you in the Guild Masters' dining hall in an hour."

"I will." I hurried away before Justis could change his mind. Dena would be overjoyed that Commander Justis had chosen to have dinner with us.

* * *

"This came for you," Justis handed an envelope to Master Gurnil as he took a seat at our table.

"Thank you," Gurnil nodded at Justis. "Would you like to join me in my study for an after-dinner drink?"

"I'll join you as well," Ordin said, taking the last chair at our table. Dena's eyes widened when Ordin took the chair next to hers, while Justis chose the one across from her.

An after-dinner meeting meant the information contained in the envelope was important and of interest to all three. Holding back from using my talent in an attempt to solve the mystery of the envelope, I turned my attention to dinner. "Dena and I can get your plates," I said, scooting my chair back.

"Ask for extra meat and gravy for me," Justis said. "I've been drilling the Black Wings, today."

"I will," I said. Dena stood with me and we went to gather plates for Justis and the others.

"I wish they'd drill on my off-days, so I could watch," Dena said as we walked toward the kitchen to get plates.

"Ask Master Gurnil to change your days," I shrugged. "I don't think he'll mind."

"I'll ask to change one, then, Commander Justis always does drills with all the Black Wings midweek."

"Did you always work in the kitchens before?" I asked.

"Yes, and the younger ones were never allowed to choose off-days. They were always assigned."

"I don't see why Master Gurnil would object, then," I said. "As long as the work is done."

"If you hadn't come, I'd still be in the kitchens," Dena said. "I need five plates," she informed the yellow-winged server when we arrived at the counter. "Commander Justis wants extra meat and gravy—he has worked hard, today."

"We always accommodate Commander Justis," the Yellow Wing—a perky girl barely older than I, dimpled at Dena's request. "I see he's with Master Ordin and Master Gurnil. Do they need extra as well?"

"They didn't say," I said.

"So, one vegetable plate, three regular meals and one with extra meat and gravy," she said, beginning to dip food onto plates.

Dena and I each carried a tray to our table—she had three plates while I carried two. Once the meals were sorted out and the trays given to a yellow-winged boy to carry back to the kitchen, she and I sat to eat.

"Have you attempted to fly?" Master Cook Nina pulled up a chair to join us. Her question, oddly enough, was aimed at me.

"Not yet," I said.

"Nina?" Justis lifted an eyebrow at her.

"All right, my granddaughter has a cough," she sighed.

"And you want Quin and me to take a look?" It was Ordin's turn to lift an eyebrow.

"Yes, if you wouldn't mind."

"Do babies often get sick?" I asked. I hadn't heard that they did—not among the Avii, anyway. In Fyris, few lived, nowadays.

"Not often, but it happens at times," Ordin replied. "Nina, have you eaten?"

"Not yet; I had the day off, to help take care of the baby. I came to find you and Quin, because it seems to be getting worse."

"Eat, then, and we'll go as soon as we're finished," Ordin said.

"I'll get your plate, if you'll tell me what you want," I said.

"Just the usual," Nina sighed.

Just as Ordin said, the moment we finished eating and returned our plates to the kitchen, we followed Nina out of the dining hall.

"Quin, I'll carry you, as it's quicker to fly," Gurnil offered.

"I'll take her," Justis said. "Lead the way."

That was the first time I'd been carried by any Avii, and it was by Justis. Almost afraid to breathe as he lifted off a nearby common terrace and extended his wings with a mighty whoosh, I watched in fascination as his wings lifted and dipped, his primary feathers spread and communicating with the wind.

Gurnil, Ordin and Dena flew ahead of us, while we followed close behind. I was held tightly against Justis' chest, my wings pressed against him as he carried me. Closing my eyes for just a moment, I savored where I was and allowed the dream, slight as it was, to form before bringing myself back to reality.

* * *

"Master Ordin, the baby has the wasting disease in its lungs," I whispered after he and I examined the infant.

"That is what I thought as well," Ordin agreed softly, "although it would normally require Kondari technology to determine that for certain. I've never seen this," he added. "Can you heal it?"

"Yes," I nodded. "Are you going to tell Master Nina? It could cause a panic."

"I'll hold off for now," he said. "So she won't worry."

"The baby will be fine after I heal him," I shrugged. "No need to make things worse. At least not yet."

"I agree."

With that, Ordin and I returned to the crib where the baby slept, his breathing labored and punctuated with a frequent cough. Ordin lifted the child and placed him in my arms. "No need to worry," I crooned to him before the light enveloped me.

* * *

"If anything ever happens to me, get Quin," Justis said, accepting a glass of wine from Master Gurnil. He, Ordin and Gurnil were gathered in Gurnil's study after seeing Quin and Dena to their suites.

"I'd like two guards posted outside the Library, instead of one," Gurnil responded.

"I'll see to it," Justis said. "If babies are falling ill, here," his feathers rustled, "then the poison truly is seeping beyond Fyris."

"This is frightening, and I'd like to discuss it with the physicians of Kondar, but there's the First Ordinance to consider."

"Our hands are tied," Gurnil agreed. "No matter what. It makes me wonder if this was in the plan—for us to die if the one who could neutralize the poison every sixteen turns were killed."

"I think I'll call in our oldest, just to make sure they're not in jeopardy. That's who the poison will kill first—our most vulnerable. That means we have to be vigilant and check our youngest and oldest." Ordin shook his head. "I'd like to keep this from the other healers for now, so it'll involve Quin and me."

"I can do without a daily cleaning if that will make a difference in time," Justis offered.

"I'll remember that," Ordin said. "Gurnil, what does the message say?"

Gurnil lifted the envelope with a sigh. "We'll see if Quin is correct," he said and slipped a finger beneath the flap.

The DNA presented from both samples has revealed that the oldest sample is the parent, while the newer sample is the child
, the pertinent paragraph revealed. Gurnil read it twice, at Justis' request.

* * *

That night, as I practiced flapping my wings while Dena watched, I lifted myself off the floor. I wept when my feet touched the flagstones again. I was going to fly. Soon.

* * *

"Berel?" Edden Charkisul acknowledged his son, who walked into his study while he worked late, studying proposed legislation.

"Father?" Berel said, "I have something to show you." Berel sounded unsure of himself, and Edden wondered if Berel worried whether he might be in trouble.

"What is that?" Edden set aside his own tab-vid and held out a hand to accept the one Berel extended.

"Research. I know I wasn't supposed to overhear what you and Commander Melis said, but I did. It sent me in this direction, and the tab-vid shows what I found."

"Bring a chair and sit with me," Edden said, tapping his son's tab-vid to enlarge the images. Berel reached for one of his father's guest chairs and pulled it toward the desk.

* * *

"Mother," Amlis embraced Omina. His father had wisely stayed away from the Queen, choosing to take quarters in a seldom-used wing of Vhrist's castle, in order to be closer to the troops.

"Where is Yevil?" Omina whispered softly in Amlis' ear.

"Never far from Father," Amlis whispered back. "I think he's frightened, Mother. Father, not Yevil." He pulled away and offered her a false smile.

"I hear the troops barely know how to hold a sword," Omina said, taking a seat waving for Amlis to do the same. "I thank you for your gift, too."

Amlis knew she meant Fen, and breathed a relieved sigh. He'd worried that Fen might be killed along the road. "Did it arrive in good condition?" he asked.

Omina snorted. "It looked as if it had been dropped in mud and briars," she replied. "It was sound enough, beneath all the dirt and scratches, however. I am sorry to hear about Chen."

"We are all sorry, Mother."

"When does your father plan to set sail?"

"He thinks a week of sailing with the troops will get them used to the sea, then he plans to leave Fyris for the barbarian shores."

"Will you and Rodrik travel with him?"

"That is his desire," Amlis said.

"My desire is otherwise."

"As is mine."

* * *

"I sent him to bed, after thanking him for bringing this to my attention," Edden set the tab-vid before Melis.

"What does it show?" Melis asked as Edden took a seat nearby. "Is the information time-stamped and protected?"

"All of it," Edden nodded. "He'd already done it, but I made copies, placed them in my personal archive under my code and then brought this straight to you. Nothing has been altered. I do suggest enlarging the images, however, so you can see that it's Quin, although she seems covered in filth. Make note of the sailing vessel as well. I haven't seen anything like that in my lifetime. It resembles those we made when we first began our sea explorations, centuries ago."