Falling From the Tree (Darshian Tales #2) Read online

  Karik felt sick. He’d never been struck in his life, and although a couple of the village children had been given several strokes of a stick when they had done something not only wrong but very dangerous, none of the adults he knew habitually cuffed and slapped their children the way Jembis’s father did. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

  “Oh, don’t worry—when I reach eighteen, I’m off. I already know what I’ll do—I’m going to Andon to look after the animals they catch from the wild. Maybe I’ll even start my own menagerie.”

  Despite the cheerful words, Jembis was afraid of his father’s wrath. Karik would ask the embassy to try and protect him, but he didn’t know if they would or even could. He already hated the Prij if this was how they treated their children.

  He fetched some breakfast, although between his anxiety and the lack of sleep, he had little appetite. He brought the food up on top where the sailors were swabbing the decks and, so it seemed to him, making repairs to damage caused by the bad weather. As the hours passed, the sun grew hot and burned off the water lying in puddles. The sailors were full of energy, perhaps because their destination was approaching.

  A couple of hours after dawn, Gyo staggered up on deck. Karik told him the news, and couldn’t hold back a shiver of anxiety. Soon their fate would be known. Gyo put a comforting arm around his shoulders. “I won’t let them hurt you, Ka-chi,” he said stoutly. “I won’t let them take you away either.”

  Karik leaned against his tall friend, glad of the comfort but uneasily aware even Gyo’s bravery wouldn’t protect him. Jembis kept a diplomatic distance while the two friends watched the island of Kuplik draw ever closer.

  It was close to noon before they got close to the coast, and negotiated their way through the moored ships towards the harbour. The entrance to the harbour was down a long cliff-lined passage. Karik saw huge cannons and armed soldiers along the cliffs at various points, and he shook a little as he thought what this meant for him. Nothing he or Gyo or even Jembis could do, would stop soldiers doing what they wanted. Like Gyo at the start of this nightmare, he wondered if this was how his mother had felt when the Prij had come to take her from her home.

  It took a long time to actually dock the ship, and there was a lot of frenzied shouting and activity, sails being hauled up and down, ropes thrown to the sounds of tortured grinding of the wooden boat against the dock. But at last gangplanks were being put in place. Karik found he was shaking again—would they make it? Jembis, who had stood with them for the last half hour as they came into dock, nodded. “Right, you boys, come with me,” he whispered. “Follow my lead.”

  They moved surreptitiously to the gangway, but not discreetly enough. The captain bellowed Jembis’s name, and this was followed by a burst of angry Prijian.

  “Run! Down the gangplank!”

  Gyo grabbed Karik’s hand and pulled him along, racing down the gangplank to the accompaniment of the angry shouts of the captain and other crew. They didn’t even stop to look to see if Jembis was behind them, although Karik heard him shouting to them to keep running, not to stop.

  Unfortunately, they hadn’t figured on there being someone on the ground who was very interested in them doing just that. Suddenly, they found themselves surrounded by soldiers, and in Karik’s panicked state, it took a few moments for him to realise that the soldiers weren’t Prijian, but Darshianese. They were held firmly but carefully by four men, and a fifth, not a soldier, but also Darshianese, came towards them. “Are you Gyo and Karik? Karik of Ai-Albon?”

  Unable to speak for fear, Karik could only nod. The man gave them a wide smile. “Oh good. Don’t be afraid, lads, I work for the embassy. I’m here to get you to safety.”

  Jembis had disappeared, but his father, the captain, was pushing his way through the milling throngs of people. “We n-n-ne—” Karik stuttered, tugging on the man’s sleeve, unable to force the words out and almost choking in his panic.

  “That man’s the one who took us,” Gyo said urgently. “We’ve got to get away!”

  “And so you will. Lieutenant?”

  The soldier whistled, and a carriage was brought up. Gyo and Karik were bundled into it along with the embassy official and one of the soldiers, and another took the reins, whipped the jesigs and got them clipping along at a good rate away from the docks.

  The relief was so great, Karik almost wanted to be sick. “Are we safe?” he whispered to Gyo, clinging to him, feeling weak all of a sudden.

  “You’re safe, lads,” the official said. “You’ve got some very worried people waiting for you back in Darshek, and I’ve been assured by Lord Meki that if anything happens to you, it’s my arse that’ll be kicked. Are you all right? You’re not injured or sick?”

  Karik shook his head and Gyo assured the man they were all right. “Who are you?” he asked.

  He stuck out his hand, and Gyo shook it hesitantly. “Urso, assistant to the ambassador. Ah, there we are.”

  They had come to a large white building with an imposing looking fence of stone and metal guarding it. Large gates were swung open and their carriage admitted. Once the gates closed behind them, Karik let out a breath, finally believing they were now safe. It would be all right—somehow, Arman and Kei and the others had found out about the abduction and arranged their rescue. It was all nearly over, and hopefully they’d be going home soon.

  The embassy was a very formal, rather cold place—he somehow knew it wasn’t something a Darshianese had designed—but his own people were everywhere. Urso led them through echoing halls to a private chamber, and told them to sit. “I’ll fetch the ambassador. And after that, you can eat and bathe and rest. Perhaps not in that order,” he said, wrinkling his nose. “We’d best get you some clothes. Leave all that to me.”

  One of the soldiers waited with them, but it was clear they weren’t under guard. It was more so they didn’t feel they’d been abandoned. Karik couldn’t stop shaking, which was odd because they were safe now. Gyo kept his arm around him, which felt good. Karik put his hand on his tero stone for comfort too. Did his parents even know he’d been missing? Would they find out he’d been rescued?

  In a few minutes, they heard footsteps, and a tall, middle-aged Darshianese man approached them, smiling and holding out his hand in welcome. “Hello boys, I’m Yuko, the ambassador. Come with me to my office so I can just check what’s been happening to you, and then I can send a message to Lord Meki.”

  He took them just a short distance to a very big office, with wide windows that opened out to a garden behind the building. “So, you’ve had quite the adventure. Can you tell me what happened?”

  Karik let Gyo do the talking. He’d held himself so taut all morning, and had been so worried, that he now felt exhausted on top of the lack of sleep. He was conscious they were both dirty and untidy, and it had been a long time since a sparse breakfast. He just wanted to do something completely normal and stay away from boats for as long as he could.

  Gyo finished his tale, and the ambassador turned to Karik. “So this man, this captain, knows who your mother is?”

  “Y-yes. P-please don’t ll-let them take me.”

  “With any luck, you’ll be out of Utuk before there’s any problem. Urso has a list of ships and knows when they’re departing. We’ll put you on the first boat back to Darshek, I promise you that, and I’ll send two soldiers with you to keep you safe.” He looked a little preoccupied for a moment or two, but then he smiled. “Let’s get you fed and watered. You can use one of our guest chambers. I’m sure the Rulers won’t mind lending it out to you this once.”

  Gyo’s eyes went wide at that, but he said nothing as they trailed behind the ambassador back along the hall and then up a flight of stairs. “The facilities are as Darshianese as we can make them, so there’s a decent bath. There are robes in the cupboard—probably a bit too big for you, but you won’t mind, I’m sure. Leave your clothes out and they’ll be cleaned. We’ll have to beg clothes from some of the staff.”

&
nbsp; The ambassador showed them the washroom and stoked the bath stove himself. “I’d like you not to leave these rooms without an escort. See this?” He indicated a long length of material on the wall. “If you need anything, pull it.” He did just that. “In a minute or two, someone will come and I’ll ask them for a meal for you. Then I’ll let you have some peace—you both look tired, so I think a nap wouldn’t hurt you, even though it’s early.”

  Karik let the man’s chatter wash over him. The promised servant came, and the food arrived not long after. Gyo fell on it eagerly—fresh fruit, good bread and milk all made a great change from the food on the ship. Karik ate too, but for all he thought he was hungry, he found his appetite died pretty quickly. He wanted to get the stink of the animals and the ship off him, and even before Gyo had finished eating, Karik excused himself to use the washroom. He stripped his disgusting clothes off and tossed them aside—he wondered if they would ever be clean again—before slowly and methodically cleaning a week’s worth of grime off his skin and out of his hair. He swore he was pounds lighter by the time he’d rinsed off.

  Gyo had come to join him by then, and like Karik, clearly relished getting clean again. “I hate ships more than I hate trading,” he said with feeling. “I guess we have to put up with it a little longer, but we’ll be home soon. Do you feel all right, Karik? You look a little pale.”

  Karik had to sit on the stool—he felt odd all of a sudden. “I j-just....” To his shock, he began to shake very hard. He hugged himself but it didn’t seem to help.

  Gyo crouched in front of him, his hand on Karik’s knee. “Shhh, Ka-chi, it’s all over.”

  “I kn-know.” Perhaps that was why he was so upset now—he’d held himself in check all week, trying to be brave for Gyo, to help him, and now he didn’t have to. “I want m-my M-Ma.”

  “There, there,” Gyo soothed, holding him close. “You were so calm on the boat. I thought you weren’t afraid at all, not right until this morning, but I guess you were scared too?”

  Karik nodded, resting his head against Gyo’s bare wet shoulder. He felt such a fool.

  Gyo let him rest for a bit then urged him to his feet. “Get into the bath, Karik, you’ll feel better. That’s what Ma always says to me.”

  Voyaging: 12

  The news came just before noon, and it was something Arman had to pass on in person. He walked the short distance between the Rulers’ House and the academy with more of a spring in his step than he’d had in a week, and the moment he walked through Kei’s office door, his lover guessed. “They’re safe?”

  “They’re safe,” Arman confirmed. Misek looked as if he didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. Arman came to him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Yuko says they’ll be on a boat back to Darshek by noon tomorrow. They’re tired, dirty, hungry and completely safe.”

  Misek hid his face in his hands. Kei came from behind his desk and knelt next to his friend, holding him close and letting the tears of relief come out. Misek had had an appalling week. Risa had left four days ago with a very heavy conscience, and although Kei had done his best to keep Misek busy looking at papers and plant specimens, having him talk to the gardeners about new techniques, it was obvious the man was just a ghost, drifting through the days until he could get word of his precious child. Rarely had Arman had so much delight in bringing news to someone.

  “So what happened to them?” Kei asked. “How did they end up in Utuk?”

  Arman sat on the edge of the desk. “Apparently it was a prank gone wrong. They met this Jembis and told him rather too much about Karik’s past, and the boy tricked them into being on board when the boat sailed. Used a drug on them, if you can believe it. But there’s no harm from it, and Yuko’s man got them away from the ship easily enough.”

  “And Karik?”

  Arman met Kei’s eyes. “So far, nothing. The captain knows who his mother is, but little more. Yuko certainly won’t confirm anything along those lines, and he’s going to keep quiet about it. Once they’re on board, they’ll be safe. And then they’ll be back in eight days.”

  “Oh, gods. Thank you, Arman. Thank everyone who’s helped, please,” Misek said, his eyes still red, but his smile brighter than it had been for over a week.

  “I will. Now, finally, I hope you can get some decent sleep so you can get your boy home without falling off the cart.”

  Kei grinned. “Do you have to go back to the Rulers’ House? I think I could be free.”

  Arman was about to refuse, because there were things he had to do—but then he looked at Kei’s face, Misek’s face, and knew that his lover and his friend needed time with him not spent in tortured waiting. “Of course. Can we afford a meal from a vendor?”

  “I think the budget can stretch that far,” Kei said, his smile now blinding. “I might even be able to buy us all a beer.”

  Misek put his hand on Kei’s arm. “No, this time the beer is on me.”

  ~~~~~~~~

  It was good to sleep in a real bed, but even so and even with the lack of sleep, he only managed a couple of hours—it was the middle of the day after all and his body was telling he should be awake. He sat up, yawning, and his movement woke Gyo who rubbed his eyes. “I’m hungry again,” he said.

  “That’s b-because you th-threw up s-so much.”

  “Maybe. Did someone come in before?”

  Karik hadn’t heard, but when they went out into the main room, there were clean clothes neatly folded on a chair, and the dirty items had been removed. The clothes were a little small for Gyo, and a little big for Karik, but it was pure pleasure being clean once more so they had no complaints. “Do you think anyone’s around?”

  He didn’t know, but when he opened the door, there was a soldier standing on guard, who nonetheless gave him a friendly smile. “Ah, the ambassador would like you to stay here, lads. But it won’t be for long—they’ve organised berths for you both back to Darshek tomorrow morning. So enjoy dry land while you can.”

  Gyo was ecstatic. “Tomorrow? We’re going back!”

  Karik hugged him. It was so much better news than they’d been expecting. Gyo insisted on ringing the bell pull for more food, even though Karik thought it might be seen as greedy. “Don’t be silly, Ka-chi—they can afford it.” Karik rolled his eyes—that wasn’t the point at all.

  The housekeeper who came wasn’t at all put out by the request for food and even seemed to be expecting it. “You can keep those clothes, boys. Your own ones might still be a little damp by the time you go on board, but if you hang them out where you’re told, they’ll dry soon enough.”

  She told them that the ambassador had been called to the palace but he would come and see them later. In the meantime, they were to stay in the room. Karik didn’t mind—there were plenty of books and it wasn’t for long. The food, when it arrived, was delicious soup and more good bread, which filled even Gyo’s emptiness. Replete and feeling safe, with the prospect of home to look forward to, there were worse ways to spend a grey afternoon than to stretch out on the bed, a book in hand and to enjoy a few hours’ peace and quiet. He had no curiosity at all to see Utuk, the place of his birth. Kuprij and all its natives only meant danger, a threat to his family and pain. He just wanted to leave it and them as quickly as humanly possibly.

  He read for hours and dozed a little again. Gyo nudged him awake. “Someone’s at the door.” Just as he spoke, the knock came again.

  Karik sat up and followed Gyo out into the main room again. The ambassador was already there. The look on the man’s face meant bad news. Karik’s gut tightened. Yuko asked them to sit, and then took a chair himself. “I gather you’ve heard you’re going home tomorrow, Gyo.”

  Karik couldn’t help noticing the omission. “N-not me?”

  “I’m afraid there’s a problem, Karik.”

  ~~~~~~~~

  Arman let fly with some oaths he hadn’t used from his army days. “Pissing Mekus. I’ll strangle him. You’re not going to let them get away wit
h this, my lord?”

  Kei and Misek were silent, wisely deciding to let Arman say what they were all thinking.

  “I don’t know that I’ve got much choice. You heard Yuko. If he refuses to hand Karik over, the Prij will put the word out that Prijian children are being kidnapped. If they try and force the boys onto the ship, there’ll be a fight—and that could end with the boys injured or dead.”

  Misek made a small sound of distress at those words. “Then I’m going to Utuk.”

  “And I’m going with you,” Kei said.

  Arman turned to him. “No. I beg you, Kei, don’t push yourself into this.” Kei gave him one of his stubborn glares. “Look, I don’t want a single other person there they can use as a hostage against me, and you would be a prize and a half for them. Misek, you have to make sure Gyo leaves too.”

  “They won’t risk war with Darshian over this,” Kei said. “Not over one young boy.”

  “It’s not about Karik. It’s about me,” Arman said heavily. “This is Kita and Mekus’s dream come true. I told Karik this wasn’t something to bruit about—I thought he understood. Why didn’t the stupid boy keep his mouth shut?”

  “Karik’s a child. Don’t blame him over a pissing match between adults,” Kei snapped.

  “Gentlemen, this doesn’t advance us,” Lord Meki interrupted. “Arman, if you’re serious about going to Utuk, then you need to find out when you can leave. Misek, Neka will make it possible for you to talk to Gyo if necessary, but he has to get onto that boat at dawn—Arman’s right, we don’t want any hostages, and with his parentage also under a cloud, we can’t afford to leave him there.”

  “He’ll fight me,” Misek said, his expression grim. “He won’t leave Karik there.”

  “I know. You have to convince him it’s the best for all concerned.”

  Arman ignored the discussion as he asked Neka to let him talk to the harbour master. “There’s a ship leaving at three in the morning,” he announced when he was done. “I can be on that.”