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As the three of them watched, the crew began to pluck or blow at the instruments, creating a strange cacophony of sound. Suddenly, without any prelude, the crewmembers with the instruments burst into music. The others surrounding them quickly picked up the beat with feet and hands. The synchronous tapping and clapping fell in rhythm with the music, enhancing it, giving it an organic feel.

  Laila felt the music reverberate through the hull of the ship. It had an uplifting quality. She could see why this was a tradition, especially after a day like today. This performance gave the crew a way to let off some of their stress. Though their passage had been mostly uneventful, Laila could understand that need. She felt the music work its way into her head, weaving a tune. She found herself unconsciously rocking side to side gently, in time with the beat of the music. Glancing at her two friends, she saw Connor tapping his foot lightly on the deck and Dio clapping his hands in time with the crew.

  They stood for a time as the musicians worked their way through a series of songs, all upbeat. As they transitioned into another song, a few of the crew, two of the younger men and young woman, Cadi, moved into the small circle that had formed and began dancing. Laila was surprised to see Cadi step out. Her demeanor always seemed withdrawn and quiet, and Laila contrasted that observation with what she knew of the dances she had seen in Terus. Most were performed by the Artisans, but they sometimes had more informal gatherings for the younger crowd. She had never been fond of dancing herself, but she had always enjoyed watching others. Most of her apprehension came from her belief that she was too clumsy to dance as gracefully as the Artisans did. And that belief was further enhanced by the dancing of the crew. Cadi spun her way around the men as they tapped their feet in time with the music, moving back and forth around her. Every so often one would move in, take Cadi’s hand and place a hand lightly at her waist. They would then proceed to spin around the circle, weaving in and out with the other men and encouraged by the cheers and snippets of song from the rest of the crew.

  "You should join them." The captain's deep voice spoke from behind the three young friends.

  They turned in unison, startled.

  "What? Dance?" Dio said.

  "Indeed," the captain answered.

  "I... I don't know how," Dio stuttered.

  "It's not hard, boy. You just let yourself move with the music. You think my crew has the time to learn how to dance properly?" The captain let out a deep, powerful laugh. "They barely have time to learn how to sail properly. No, they just enjoy the moment."

  Dio turned back to the gathering, uncertainty written across his face.

  "What about you, southerner? I've been down to where you're from, sometimes," the captain said.

  Connor nodded. "I've recognized a few of the songs. I haven't heard them in a long time, and I did not expect to hear them here in the Confederacy."

  "Not all of us are from the Confederacy," the captain said.

  They stood, listening for a while longer. Laila saw Lunete and Icarus join the gathering, standing at the edge across from the three of them. Other members of the crew moved in and out of the circle, dancing along. Some were graceful like Cadi and the first two men, but many simply moved with the music as the captain had said.

  As another song ended and the musicians moved into the next one, she felt a hand grab hers. It was Connor. The song began, another upbeat tune with an emphasis on the intricate melody of the violin. She had never heard the song before, but Connor must have recognized it. Pulling her forward as though he feared losing his nerve, they gently pushed their way through the crew who opened up before them. Reaching the center of the circle Connor leaned down and whispered in Laila's ear.

  "Just follow me," he said, a smile on his face.

  Laila looked at him questioningly but allowed him to lead her into the center. He placed a hand on her hip as the others had done. His other hand led hers up into the air. Then, without any warning, he snapped into motion. One hand pulling her and the other pushing gently against her hip. They moved and spun as the music picked up its pace. She could hear the crew cheering for them as they danced around the circle, moving in and out of other dancers. At first Laila felt awkward, but Connor seemed to know what he was doing and was a capable dancer, guiding her easily through turns and steps. Only occasionally did she step on his feet, but he did not seem to notice, caught up in the music himself.

  Laila caught a glimpse of Dio at the edge of the circle as Connor spun her across the deck. His mouth was turned down in a slight frown, but his hands still clapped to the beat. Another spin and Laila was facing Icarus and her mother, both watching her and Connor with hints of a smile. The music quickened and Connor’s steps sped up as well, trying to keep in time with the others’ dancing. A turn of her head and Laila saw Dio again, but this time Cadi was pulling him toward the center of the group. He planted his feet and tried to stay hidden in the crowd, but the young sailor would have nothing of it. Laila laughed as Dio stumbled out into the midst of those dancing. Cadi swung her arm around his shoulder and placed his hand against her hip before pulling Dio into the rhythm of the music as well.

  Laila caught glimpses of Dio stumbling along behind her and Connor as they moved in a circle across the deck. She laughed again, knowing that she did not look any more graceful. Dio caught her eye for a moment and an embarrassed smile crossed his face. The music continued its fast pace, increasing as they went, making the dance more and more erratic. Laila’s attention shifted away from her friend and back to her own feet to keep from falling over. The music reached a crescendo and with one, final note, ended. The note hung in the air, accompanied by the echoing of the final clap and stomp of those surrounding the musicians.

  Laila’s breathing was quick and shallow as she and Connor stood facing one another, letting the last note fade into the night. She leaned lightly against Connor's shoulder as the music finally faded away and the musicians began another, calmer song. The four of them moved out of the circle. Laila looked up to see an odd smile on Connor's face.

  "What? Did I do something wrong?" she asked, fearing she had embarrassed herself.

  He laughed. "Not at all. I've only danced like that once or twice before, back home in Custos. It was nice to remember home." His smile remained firmly planted on his face.

  Laila could not help but smile with him as they turned and watched the crew continue their dancing. Cadi and Dio stood next to her and Connor, watching quietly. After a while, the energy of the dancing dwindled and the music slowed. Finally, the musicians fell into one last song and the crew seemed to pack in a little closer as they listened. It was a slow song, bleeding off the energy of the crew. Laila found it almost haunting, as though it were telling a sad story. Nevertheless, she enjoyed it. Listening quietly, she found herself lean back against Connor without meaning to. For a moment she feared he would push her away, but he did not. If anything, he stood taller, letting her rest her back against him. She closed her eyes, letting the music pour over her. Reaching its slow, mounting peak, the lament of a song ended, the last lingering note drifting off into the night.

  Twelve

  Kios

  The ship slid neatly into the river slip in Kios's harbor. With practiced ease, the crew threw lines over the edge, and some of the sailors hopped off the deck to tie them off, securing the ship to the dock. As they finished, Captain Drachus stepped off the rear deck and walked over to Laila and her companions.

  "Remember, don't go running off too quick," the captain said to Laila, smiling.

  "I won't. Thank you again, Captain Drachus," Laila answered.

  "My pleasure. Now, head to the Slippery Fish. It’s an inn not too far from the harbor. You'll be able to find some lodging without much questioning. You'll know the sign when you see it, a strange thing, a man that seems to be dancing with a large fish." He laughed. "Not sure what that is supposed to be, but it's a good place. I'll meet you there when I finish here. Then we can discuss...your future destination."

  The
re was something more behind the captain’s suggestion, but Laila could not tell what it was. She nodded in return and made her way down to the dock, her friends following behind. Connor took his familiar position at her side, followed by Icarus and her mother, with Wyndam walking between. The Aurai wore a long cloak with the hood pulled up over his alien head. Laila knew his height alone would make him stand out, but she hoped that they could keep him hidden until they could book passage to the west. Dio walked on Laila's other side, a few steps behind.

  Above them, Kios rose up from the river. The harbor was built low, close to the mouth of the river, allowing for the larger ocean-going vessels to make their way in, but also leaving enough space for the smaller riverboats of the Confederacy. The rest of the city rose up along a steep hill, covered in trees. The city seemed to be woven in with the forest itself. Laila’s party climbed a series of steps, leading up from the harbor and into the first level of the city.

  The smell of fish and salt hung in the air. They walked past a series of merchant stalls. Most were covered in various kinds of fish. A few displayed goods from other cities, though Laila knew from her studies that the city center of Kios was where the real wealth was. Being positioned at the mouth of the Red Bay made Kios an easy place for some of the other countries to conduct their trade. The cities on the eastern side of the Red Bay were the main benefactors. Since they weren’t part of the Confederacy, they benefitted from a friendly relationship, and Kios and the Confederacy benefitted from the varied goods that they were able to produce. Laila's studies had also mentioned the large ships that arrived from the northeast. The people on those ships had always sounded so exotic, dark skin and narrow eyes, and they were said to be some of the finest metalsmiths in the world, crafting unique sculptures and tools. Laila wondered if she would meet any of them.

  Across from the merchant stalls was a line of buildings with a variety of signs. An apothecary, a few butchers. And then she saw the sign Captain Drachus had described to her. It was an odd sign. A man, standing with his arms outstretched, held the fins of a large fish and they did appear to be dancing, and the words “Slippery Fish Inn” had been carved into the wood beneath the pair. Laila smiled at the oddity and led their group toward the heavy wooden door.

  The inn was built into the rising cliff behind it, as many buildings were, and so it was much larger inside than it appeared from the outside. The great room reached back nearly thirty yards, filled with tables and chairs. As it was approaching the evening hours, many of those tables were filled with various patrons from both the docks and the lower side of Kios. Icarus walked over to the woman who appeared to be the innkeeper as Laila and the rest found a large table in a corner of the room that was somewhat separated from the rest of the patrons. Within a few minutes, Icarus returned, followed by a young serving girl expertly carrying a series of trays across her arms that were covered in food, mostly fish. Laila sat back as her friends began to eat. Now they just had to wait for the captain to return.

  Nearly two hours later, as the winter sun sank below the horizon, Captain Drachus returned to the Slippery Fish. To avoid scrutiny, Icarus had gone with Wyndam up to their rooms, leaving Laila, Connor, Dio, and Lunete to wait for the captain. He entered the busy great room followed by three of his crew. Several of the other patrons recognized him as he entered, and he slowly made his way across the room between greetings and brief conversations. He lost his accompanying crew members along the way, finally reaching their corner table alone. Waving off more greetings, the captain took a seat at their table and immediately dug into the food that remained on their table. The young serving girl appeared at his side, carrying a large mug of something, which he accepted gratefully, immediately taking several large pulls from the mug. Sitting back in his chair, he sighed heavily.

  "The food here is fantastic, is it not?" he asked, reaching forward one more time to grab a piece of breaded fish.

  "I've had better," Lunete said, taking a sip of wine from a small glass in front of her. Laila had tried a sip while they had waited and found the taste far easier to handle than the pungent mead she and her mother had shared following her Test.

  Captain Drachus raised an eyebrow at her and then smiled. "Indeed, I'm sure you have, Guardian."

  Lunete tilted her head to the side. "My actual title would be Praetori, but Guardian will do."

  The captain laughed. "A Praetori, huh? No wonder you wiped my decks with the young one here." He gestured toward Connor. "Had I known, I would have asked sooner. But what's a Praetori of the Terun Guardians doing traveling with this lot?"

  Lunete's face darkened. "It's a long story." Her tone indicated that there would be no further discussion.

  "Very well," the captain said. Then, turning his attention to Laila, he continued. "I believe I may have found a solution for you."

  "That was quick," Laila answered.

  "It was. However, the deal's not quite done yet. Give me another day, and then we should have something worked out."

  Laila looked at him questioningly, but it was Dio that spoke up.

  "Worked out?"

  "Indeed. It's not an easy thing your friend here is asking. Few ships go to the Splintered Isles. But, as I said, I think I have a solution. Just give me some time."

  Dio fell silent.

  "One more day," Laila said, nodding.

  The Captain smiled in return, reaching forward and grabbing another piece of fish before taking his leave.

  The city center of Kios was not as large as the one they’d left behind in Terus. It occupied the space at the top of the cliff that Kios was built into, looking south over the Red Bay. From the top of the stairs leading to it, Laila could just make out the edge of the bay. The haze of the winter clouds made the outline vague, but she could still see it. Out there lay the smaller city-states that held themselves separate from the Confederacy. They were mostly merchant states that had maintained their independence due to their distance from the main powers in the Confederacy, Terus and Balon. Connor had mentioned them a few times, as his home, Custos, was near them.

  The bay itself stretched out beneath Laila. The red tinge to the water was not as visible at this time of year. The memory of standing at the other end of the bay, looking out over it before heading to Grimmere, struck her. That, again, seemed a lifetime ago. She grasped her staff, taking a deep breath of the salty air and turning back to Kios's city center. Connor stood next to her, with Lunete and Dio not far behind, making their own way up the stairs.

  Connor had not wanted to leave the Slippery Fish, fearing that they would miss Captain Drachus's return. But Laila had insisted. She trusted the captain, and she needed to get out of the stuffy inn. She had never been to Kios before, and she at least wanted to see some of the coastal city. The thought that it was unlikely that she would ever return had occurred to her, but she had pushed it down, not wanting to cloud her thoughts with dark premonitions.

  They made their way into the city center, and Laila felt at home immediately. The Artisan's stalls were spread around the edges and through the middle, just as they would be in Terus. Laila did not know why she thought it would be different, but it was comforting to see the familiarity. She wandered amongst the stalls, stopping every so often to admire a piece of work. Her companions did the same. Connor stopped at a small stall with an aromatic haze around it. Lunete stopped with him, admiring the food, and motioning for Laila and Dio to continue. She and Dio continued further into the city center and passed the stall of a potter. Dio’s eyes were immediately drawn to the work.

  Laila turned toward Dio. “Reminds you of home, doesn’t it?”

  Dio nodded as they stopped in front the potter’s cart. Dio knelt down and examined one of the larger pieces.

  “Aren’t you going to miss this?” Laila asked.

  “Miss what?” Dio responded without looking at her.

  “This,” she motioned around, “the city, your work, all of it.”

  “Are you trying to convin
ce me of something?” Dio finally turned to look up at her from his kneeling position.

  “No…I…I just don’t know what’s going to happen. And being here reminds me of home. I can’t go back. Not now. But you—”

  “I what? I can’t go back either,” Dio said, cutting her off. “You do remember that I was part of your plan to break out the Aurai, right? That I disobeyed a Consul, who may not have been my father, but who was still a Consul! What do think I could go back to? And why would I go back?”

  “I’m sorry, I…”

  “You think that you’re the only one that’s given anything up. Look at us, Laila! I left Terus for you. Connor left his homeland, and he didn’t even know why. Your mother left her husband. All to be here…with you! And you still don’t understand…”

  Dio’s voice had remained quiet, but the force of his words struck Laila.

  “I…”

  “Just…don’t.” Dio turned back to the pottery in front of him, taking long deep breaths.

  Laila stood for a moment longer, trying to think of something to say. Nothing came to mind, and Dio did not turn back to her. Finally she turned away, making her way into the crowd to avoid further confrontation. The center had been busy when they arrived. Now the crowd began to press in around her, though she knew it might just be the impact of her heightened emotions on her perception that was making her feel trapped.

  A hand grabbed her arm suddenly from amongst the crowd. She turned, thinking it must have been Dio or Connor trying to catch up with her. The grip grew tight, almost painful, and a voice whispered in her ear.

  "Keep walking," it hissed. She tried to turn her head again, but the hand twisted her arm, this time driving pain into her shoulder. She let out a small gasp but kept walking.

  The man guided her out of the corridor of carts and led her to the side of the city center, toward a small alley. Laila felt her heartbeat increase. She began to call on her power, fearing what this man was trying to do and knowing that she had to do something.