The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

Relad nodded, watching me. My forces are close enough to attack Mencheys capital tonight, and even stage a strike on Tokland the day after. Theyre fully equipped, rested, and well supplied. Their battle plans were drawn up by Zhakkarn herself. He folded his arms, a bit defensively. With Menchey under attack, half your enemies will turn back from the assault on Darr. That will leave the Zarenne and the Atir rebels for your people to contend with, and theyll still be outnumbered two to one. But it will give the Darre a fighting chance.

I threw Relad a sharp look. He had gauged me well on thissurprisingly well. Somehow he had realized that it was not the prospect of war that frightened me; I was a warrior, after all. But an unwinnable war, against enemies who would not only take spoils but destroy our spirits, if not our lives that I could not stomach.

Two-to-one odds were winnable. Hard, but winnable.

I glanced at Sieh, who nodded. My instincts told me Relads offer was legitimate, but he knew Relads capabilities and would warn me of any trickery. I think we were both surprised that Relad had managed this at all.

You should abstain from drinking more often, Cousin, I said softly.

Relad smiled, utterly without humor. It wasnt intentional, I assure you. Its just that impending death tends to sour even the best wine.

I understood completely.

There was another of those awkward silences, and then Relad stepped forward, proferring his hand. Surprised, I took it. We were agreed.

* * *

Later, Sieh and I walked slowly back to my room. He took me on a new route this time, passing through parts of Sky that I had not seen in the two weeks since my arrival. Among other wonders, he showed me a high, narrow chambernot a dead space, but still sealed off and forgotten for some reasonwhose ceiling looked like an accident in the gods construction design. The pale Skystuff hung in attenuated extrusions like cave stalactites, though far more delicate and graceful. A few were close enough to touch; some ended barely inches below the ceiling. I could not fathom the purpose of the chamber until Sieh led me to a panel on the wall.

When I touched it, a slot opened on the ceiling, letting in a sharp, startling gust of ice-cold air. I shivered, but forgot my discomfort when the ceiling extrusions began to sing, stroked into vibration by the wind. It was like no music Id ever heard, wavering and alien, a cacophony too beautiful to call merely noise. I didnt let Sieh touch the panel to shut off the air until I began to lose the feeling in my fingers.

In the silence that fell, during which I crouched against the wall and blew on my hands to warm them, Sieh crouched in front of me, staring at me intently. I was too cold to notice at first, but then he suddenly leaned forward and kissed me. Startled, I froze, but there was nothing unpleasant about it. It was the kiss of a child, spontaneous and unconditional. Only the fact that he was not a child made me uncomfortable.

Sieh pulled back, and sighed ruefully at the expression on my face. Sorry, he said, and settled down beside me.

Dont apologize, I said. Just tell me what that was for. I realized that was an inadvertent command and added, Will you?

He shook his head, playing shy, and pressed his face into my arm. I liked having his warmth there, but I didnt like his silence. I pulled away, forcing him to sit up or risk falling over.

Yeine!

Sieh.

He sighed, looking annoyed, and shifted to sit cross-legged. For a moment I thought hed just sit there and sulk, but finally he said, I just dont think its fair, thats all. Naha got to taste you, but I didnt.

That did make me uncomfortable. Even in my barbarian land, women do not take children as lovers.

The annoyance grew in his expression. I told you before, I dont want that from you. Im talking about this. He sat up on his knees abruptly and leaned toward me. I flinched away, and he stopped, waiting. It occurred to me that I loved him, trusted him with my very soul. Shouldnt I trust him with a kiss? So after a deep breath, I relaxed. Sieh waited until I gave him a minute nod, and a moment longer than thatmaking sure. Then he leaned in and kissed me again.

And this time it was different, because I could taste himnot Sieh the sweaty, slightly dirty child, but the Sieh beneath the human mask. It is difficult to describe. A sudden burst of something refreshing, like ripe melon, or maybe a waterfall. A torrent, a current; it rushed into me and through me and back into him so swiftly that I barely had time to draw breath. Salt. Lightning. That hurt enough that I almost pulled away, but distantly I felt Siehs hands tighten painfully on my arms. Before I could yelp, cold wind shot through me, soothing both the jolt and my bruises.

Then Sieh pulled back. I stared at him, but his eyes were still shut. Uttering a deep, satisfied sigh, he shifted to sit beside me again, lifting my arm and pulling it round himself proprietarily.