12 Preparation

Jaumes

“I’m joining the hihosa,” Jaumes said.

Silence filled the private room of the Oiv house. Jaumes had made the announcement in front of everyone he had left: his father, his sister, and his mentor. None of them seemed to know what to do with the news. Surprisingly, none were angry.

“So you’re leaving us again?” Launi asked softly.

Jaumes nodded resolutely, refusing to cry at her almost pleading tone to stay.

“I can’t stay,” he said, then added slowly, “It’s too much for me.”

“Besides,” Hajuc said to his daughter, “The Mountains have shown him his path, and it is not our place to judge or deny it.”

Jaumes felt a flash of indignation. The Mountains hadn’t shown him anything. The idea had been his from the start, years before his visit to Paravu yesterday! How could his father dismiss his ability to reason?!

But Jaumes caught his indignation and contained it. Insulting or not, Hajuc’s belief that the Mountains told him to join the merchants meant that Jaumes was allowed to. Even if he wasn’t, Jaumes would have joined, but this way he’d be welcomed back to this house if he ever decided to visit. Besides, there was always time to prove to Hajuc that Jaumes could make his own decisions just fine.

Reni stepped forward, looking Jaumes in the eyes with a solemnity that was becoming all too common for the older depijico. Yet he asked a simple question:

“Since I am no longer your vandonov, may I be your fana?”

His ‘uncle’. Was the feeling of family so important to Reni that he’d stick to it after Jaumes had betrayed him? What bigger betrayal was there between mentor and apprentice than for the apprentice to turn his back on the craft of his mentor?

But Jaumes nodded. Reni bobbed his head several times.

“Thank you, fara,” he said.

Jaumes only nodded again. As the word ‘nephew’ hung uncomfortably in the air, he turned and walked out of his father’s house. But before he could even make it past his street, a female depojico around his age cut him off.

“I’m Samonu’s apprentice,” she said in a low voice, “And I was sent to find out who you are, vand Jaumes Oiv Aljeaberav. Samonu won’t like that you lied to him. But I won’t tell- if you do something for me.”

Jaumes was surprised by this development, though he realised he should have expected a fact check of his story. But he was immediately suspicious of her offer. What would a merchant apprentice want from an ex-spy apprentice? What would she want badly enough that she’d go behind her mentor’s back for it? On top of that, if Jaumes agreed, he’d be at her mercy. Could she be trusted?

He studied her. Her expression was hard and cold, but her eyes sparkled with what could be excitement. Here was someone who enjoyed the thrill of going behind someone’s back. But she also seemed like she would hold to her word. Not to mention, he’d already told his family he was joining the caravan. So Jaumes made his decision.

“Alright. What is it?” he asked.

She bobbed her head several times before answering.

“Training. I want you to teach me to fight and spy,” she said, “Money-handling and collecting metal trinkets gets boring after a while.”

The thought of re-living training made Jaumes flinch. Every day, he’d have to expose himself to the memories of Reni and Mahela and Honasa- the life where he’d been happy. Where he’d belonged. Where nothing had to be hidden.

But those days were over now, and he couldn’t survive training alone with Reni. Staying in Jiwado was out of the question, too. So he nodded.

“You have a deal,” he said, “As long as you don’t go looking for or picking fights. That was a condition for my training, so it will be one for yours.”

The girl nodded. The excitement in her eyes somehow didn’t translate to her posture or movements as she turned. It was unnerving to watch. Was this how Jaumes looked to others? If so, then he was starting to understand why he was ignored so often here.

The depojico flicked her tail for Jaumes to follow her. As the two wove through the streets on the walls, she introduced herself fully.

“I’m vand Alfabe Teongu Metajo,” she said, “Don’t expect me to get close to you or be all warm and open. I don’t do that. But I’ll stick to my part of the bargain if you stick to yours.”

Jaumes nodded.

“I am neither warm, nor a bargain breaker myself,” he said, “It seems that we’ll give each other enough space, then.”

Alfabe bobbed her head, but said nothing else. The two apprentices continued to their caravan’s street corner.

* * * * *

Greenbrook

It was both admirable and frightening to see how excited Trail got at the news of the upcoming war. He had whooped and pulled Greenbrook into his room to talk about it, and the way he talked made it sound almost like a game. His animated hand movements definitely didn’t help that perseption.

“Serves them right, not believing us,” Trail was saying, “We’ll show them, when they get here. We’ll crush them and chase them back to their village, then burn it to the ground!”

Greenbrook winced. How could Trail be so excited about destroying a tribe’s village? Those weren’t soulless lizards- those were human beings with lives and value. Besides, if any people had divine right to burn a village, it was the Forest Glade people. The Western Forest had started a war without asking permission from Mother Moon. They would be up against Aunt Forest with no devine help backing them up. Chief Firmstone regretted doing-

Greenbrook stood up from the bed he’d been sitting on.

“Oh! I just remembered that the Chief said he wanted to talk to me before the bonfire tonight. I should go,” he said.

Trail groaned, sounding very much like a small child.

“Meetings, meetings, meetings. You guys have way too many!” he paused, then grew shockingly solemn, “I’ve been meaning to ask you this, but I keep forgetting when you’re around. Could you talk to Dad about the betrothal? He won’t listen to me, but maybe since you’re his successor he’ll listen to you?”

Greenbrook froze, caught off guard by Trail’s seriousness. After he recovered, he answered.

“I can.”

Trail flashed a smile, and he lost all traces of solemnity again.

“Thanks, Green. I owe you one,” he said.

Greenbrook laughed once.

“Even if I don’t change his mind?” he asked.

Now Trail laughed.

“Well, then I owe you half of one, since you didn’t do the whole job,” he said, then started laughing harder.

Greenbrook couldn’t help but join in. Trail may act more like a child than the young man he was, but his sense of humor couldn’t help but be contagious. Especially on a night like tonight.

Tonight, the war would begin.

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