The Brightest Shadow, page 62
Tani smiled at her execution of the skill, all her anger dissipating as she let the raw emotions relax into pure technique. She wouldn't want to feel all of that in real combat, but drawing on all her emotions had definitely made a difference.
Across the field, Narenel lifted his visor and breathed out heavily. "That was downright impressive, Tani."
"Says the man who just took all those knives without the slightest injury." In the beginning she had thrown carefully, not expecting his armor to stand up to weapons powered by sein. But Narenel had proved much more durable than she had expected, letting his sein flow through his armor as if it was part of him. She'd managed to stagger him, but never actually break through or draw blood.
"But I had to work to endure them. I should be the one asking you for training." Narenel took off his helm and ran a hand through his hair, which looked great even after being trapped in his helm. "I'm surprised you've been able to move from two knives to three so quickly. I suppose that's the advantage of focused practice of a single path."
Tani shook her head and began gathering her knives. Narenel tossed her a few that he had collected or that had stuck in his armor. By the time she gathered all of them, Tani had figured out where she'd gone wrong. "I actually meant to curve all three, to strike you in the side. I failed completely at that. When I try to throw three at once, I tend to use too much strength."
"Old habits, perhaps? Usually when you drew that much sein, you were trying to put everything into a blow, not aiming for finesse."
"That might be, but it won't be easy to undo the habit." Tani smiled at Narenel as they headed back to camp. "Thank you again."
"Not a problem. You aren't angry with me?"
"Angry? No, not at all, why?"
Narenel scratched at his hair, trying to get it to stay down after having been inside the helm. "Well, while you were throwing, you certainly looked like you hated me."
"Oh, that's nothing. Just a product of everything I was drawing on for the sein flow."
"Ah. That is very different from our path, but I understand."
Tani glanced over at him curiously. "How can your sein flow not involve memories and emotions?"
"It definitely does! But we are taught to refine all of that into pure sein during our meditation. A true knight brings no emotions into combat." Narenel winced a moment later. "Ah... sorry if that sounds like an accusation. I'm not saying that warriors can only be that way."
"No offense taken. I think that's a good ideal anyway, and the strongest of Nelee warriors accomplish the same. But when it comes to training like this, I think it's a good time to experiment. Sticking to old patterns won't let you move forward."
"In that, we can agree."
They walked back together, returning to the camp. The sight of the little tents huddled together in the distance soured Tani's good mood. She had been happy that their assignment took them to a pleasantly wooded area instead of grasslands, but it had soon proven muddy and covered with roots. The novelty of trying to run without tripping had worn thin very quickly.
It might have been tolerable if she believed that their assignment had true purpose. So far little had happened, and based on comments Veron had made, Tani had little hope that things would improve. It was possible that they could wait for a month and fight the enemy only once, or never even encounter them.
"Could we venture further to attack the enemy?" Tani reached back to tuck stray locks of hair back into her hairband - she really needed to cut it soon. "Surely that would draw them out of East Corah."
Narenel shook his head. "In this, I agree with Destrela. The Deathspawn are too aware of the fact that we can roam far and strike anywhere. If they do not stumble across us, they will assume it is just another strike to distract them."
"I just wish there was a way to get their attention that wouldn't come off as too obvious. I can't stand this camp much longer." Sleeping under the stars again and feeling the wind was pleasant, but since she couldn't run she still felt trapped.
"You may have no duty to Corah, but our kingdom thanks you for your sacrifice." Narenel had a bit of a sarcastic smile on his face as he spoke, but it faded. "I do feel grateful to you, though. This is not your fight, but you have risked your life to help keep our nation free of the Deathspawn."
"I'm not sure which fight is mine." Tani sighed, then decided to set those thoughts aside. Easier to focus on a simple question. "I've noticed that you always say 'Corah' instead of 'East Corah' - is that how Corans do it, or is there some other meaning?"
"That is... a matter of tradition. Our three kingdoms were once one, but generations past, a civil war between heirs broke us apart. It is commonly said that in our hearts, Corah is still one. I cannot say how much I believe that, but I still think 'East Corah' sounds strange and unnatural."
"I can understand that. So, you don't think the three Coran nations will merge together again?"
"Not likely. We may seem the same to outsiders, but we have drifted apart." Narenel shook his head. "There is no greater proof than that they stand and do nothing while East Corah falls to the Deathspawn. If they were to send even some of the Sapphire Knights from the west to fight against Aryabaus, it could make a real difference, yet they keep them all close to the palace."
That name sounded familiar to Tani, possibly from a Confederation of Tribes, but she didn't remember the details. "Are these Sapphire Knights so strong?"
"I mean no disrespect to the Emerald Knights, many of whom are strong and honorable... but it would be foolish to deny that the Sapphire Knights are stronger. They were a serious threat during the last border conflict. Fortunately, there are more Emerald Knights with a good level of training, enough that even exceptional masters cannot overcome them."
"I see. So the East and West kingdoms are roughly on par?" Coran politics had always been a strange mystery in her mind, just a generically named region on her map, but Narenel opened them to her in a new way. Her question prompted him to shake his head strangely.
"There are strengths and weaknesses on both sides. But at present, the greatest difference is leadership. King Rahler of the West is a bitter, cruel man. It is said that their royal line is severely inbred... though I may be repeating lies from the east there." Narenel smiled in a self-deprecating way. "As someone who once dreamed of becoming an Emerald Knight, I must admit that I am not unbiased on this subject."
Tani grinned. "I'd be more suspicious if you claimed otherwise. What about South Corah?"
"That is a mess all its own, politically, but their River Knights are quite formidable..."
Unfortunately, they had already returned to the camp even at their relaxed pace. There she was overwhelmed by the smell of bread and unwashed men. Tani circulated sein within herself just so the mint scent could drown out some of it, though it was impossible to cover the stench completely.
She had tried to get to know the other men with them on the assignment and found herself disappointed. Half of them were driven men who cared only for the war and the other half fulfilled all the worst stories of Coran men. It was no accident that there were so few Coran women in the resistance who were fully trained as fighters.
By contrast, Tani was glad to know Narenel better. She watched him out of the corner of her eyes as he removed the rest of his armor to clean it. His tunic underneath was very sweaty and plastered to his body, which she did not mind at all. Some of the other men were more muscular, but none of them wore it so well. Narenel transformed the brute force so common among Corans into a disciplined power that she admired in more ways than one.
She went to sit beside him as the others served up food. After training so intensely, Tani was hungry enough that she ate the bread without the slightest complaint. Narenel, however, was tearing into a huge mound of it with relish. After watching him for a while, she had to ask.
"I mean no offense, but do you actually enjoy bread so much?"
"Of course. A warrior's strength is built from bread, as they say." After spouting the line, Narenel reconsidered and glanced toward her. "So you dislike it?"
"I wouldn't say dislike, but it is... strange to me compared to the food I am accustomed to." So he really did enjoy it. Well, no one was perfect.
They chatted about nothing in particular until they finished eating, then unfortunately they were out of meaningful activities. Tani had more ideas for meditation, but her mind was still too filled with other thoughts. When Narenel picked up his sword and walked away from the camp, she followed him.
As she'd seen several times before, he knelt down, planted his sword in the earth, and clasped his hands over the hilt. She immediately felt his sein begin to flow within him. It was a very different form of meditation than any she had known, but it seemed effective.
After a time, he glanced back over his shoulder. "I can't concentrate with you watching me."
"Sorry." Tani considered leaving, but he didn't seem angry. She came to stand beside him, realizing with mild dismay that even kneeling, his head came up to her chest. "I'm too restless in the camp. I prefer to run."
"That is a form of speed I have never studied, yet you make it sound so freeing. It might be difficult in armor, but I think perhaps it could be done."
"Narenel..." Her voice trailed off. It would have been so easy before, when her view of relations between men and women had been simpler. Now she no longer knew what to do with what she felt. She hoped that truly being with another person might help wash away the memories and feared it would not.
Maybe it was best to just move forward. Tani laid a hand on his shoulder, over the strong curve of muscle flowing to his neck. To her surprise, Narenel flinched. Something within her flinched as well. She pulled her hand back, wondering if she should be offended, and he hastened to stand up, blushing and waving his hands in front of him. "I mean no disrespect, Lady Tani! And I apologize if if I misconstrued your intentions!"
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Shouldn't I be Sir Tani?"
"That's true, but..." Narenel took a step backward, flustered in a way she would have found adorable if it wasn't baffling. "We have, uh, never spoken of the relations between men and women in Corah. Even among fellow knights, there are very clear restrictions to be followed. Things that may be normal for you would be considered dishonorable in the extreme for me."
"Ah." All that from placing her hand on his shoulder? Tani was grateful that she hadn't been herself enough to try anything bolder. "All I had in mind was maybe kissing you. Is that so dishonorable in Corah? I hope you didn't imagine that I was going to throw you down and... dishonor you."
Narenel blushed and looked away. "Don't be absurd. But... you should know that there are stories told of..." His voice trailed off, though a little too late. Tani sighed.
"Tales of Rhen women?"
"Yes." At least he didn't back down from that, actually meeting her gaze. She shrugged.
"I'm sure I wouldn't enjoy hearing them, but I can't get offended right now. If this flusters you so much, no doubt some of the stories are true." The moment had definitely passed, but he could have responded much worse, so Tani didn't find herself turned away by it. This was certainly much more innocent than the thoughts in her mind as of late. "Is it so offensive in Corah for two adults to sleep together? I was not suggesting that we be partnered or anything of the sort, just to spend some time together. And I suspect whatever stories you've heard are much exaggerated. I haven't been with anyone since I left the Nelee."
After staring at her for a time, Narenel seemed to master his discomfort. He folded his arms and responded seriously, apparently unaware of how tight that pulled his shirt. "You don't understand how shocking your statements would be to many in Corah. Such... such relations are only between husband and wife."
"Hmm. It seems unreasonable to me, but I suppose I can see the nobility of the ideal." Tani smirked. "Does anyone actually follow those codes?"
"Not many." Narenel sighed and looked away from her again. "Almost no one, you might say. Maybe the Sapphire Knights are different, but the vows of the Emerald Knights are a common joke. But that doesn't mean one shouldn't strive to be an honorable knight. It may be different for the Rhen, but a Coran wife expects certain things of her husband. To do otherwise would be betrayal."
It still struck her as an overly rigid system, but Tani didn't intend to press him on it. "I can respect that. But does that mean it's completely impossible for there to be anything between us? Do I just give up now and hope things aren't too uncomfortable?"
"That is... difficult to say. We are at war, and Corah may not exist in time." Narenel picked up his sword, flicked the dirt away, and raised it to his forehead respectfully. "I would be honored to continue training with you, Sir Tani."
"And I with you, Sir Narenel." She smiled, he returned it, and some of the awkwardness dissipated.
She had no intention of playing the role of the temptress in some awful story, but Tani quietly decided that it wouldn't end like this. Traveling outside her home had certainly expanded her thinking. Marriage to a Coran knight was clearly impossible, but if in the future Narenel found his honor more flexible... well, she would see how they felt at the time.
At that moment, Tani saw a plume of dust in the distance, over his shoulder. He followed her gaze and saw it as well, and instantly the atmosphere became serious. Narenel hefted his sword to one shoulder and Tani drew her sickle knife as they ventured to the nearest ridge, peering between the trees to see the source of the dust more clearly.
A farmer driving a wagon. Tani groaned and slumped back toward camp. She had the feeling she would be doing a lot of meditation and training on this trip.
Chapter 47
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"One role is clear: the noble kingdoms that stand against the Deathspawn. All of us should desire in the deepest recesses of our hearts for Corah to be one of these kingdoms. But we will never fulfill that role unless we stand firm until the Hero arrives. The executions you have ordered for cowards and traitors are nothing compared to the consequences if we fail to fulfill our destined role."
- excerpt from a letter written by Lady Karerela of East Corah
-
"...eastern gate needs to be repaired, not to mention the storerooms. But even if we had the money to repair everything, we can't get any stone from the quarry, and our masons are all working deeper in East Corah. We tried to hire humans, but they have some sort of guild and refuse to work with us unless we give concessions. I tried to tell them I don't have the authority to do that, but of course they didn't listen..."
As Kolanin listened to the aide go on at length about all the problems facing Gerant, he slowly gained an appreciation for paperwork. It might build up and become difficult to work through, but it was much more easily organized than a verbal report. All he could do was listen and try to remember as well as he could, at least for as long as he was working in Gerant.
However, the problems he faced here were ultimately easier than in Bundlin. Not because Gerant didn't have its own complexities, but because no one expected him to actually build something new and lasting, just to fix what was most broken.
Eventually Kolanin resolved every problem the aides brought him, at least for the time being. Nothing but a warm-up exercise. His real goal here was to speak with the mansthein in charge and try to communicate that they couldn't simply continue with the status quo. No matter how much Aryabaus might be fine with that. If they wanted anything other than war in East Corah, they needed to change their methods.
That would start with Hanno-ren, who ducked under the doorway as the aides left. The Catai warrior was larger than average and his body half-covered in gold war paint. Kolanin recognized it as the custom of mansthein from Kammen-vas, but hadn't seen it in years. In the armies, such regional customs tended to be looked down upon. The fact that Hanno-ren still wore his proudly suggested that he was an unusual Catai.
"I have our troops ready to survey, Seinan. You wanted to reinforce our walls?"
"Actually, no." Kolanin gave the man a smile and gestured for him to take a seat. "We should speak, Catainan."
After a pause, Hanno-ren settled down opposite him, though he didn't put his weight on the rickety wooden chair. "Then why did you want them gathered, Seinan?"
"Please, you may call me Kolanin."
"That would not be proper, Seinan."
"Very well." Then there was no point pushing on it. All that really mattered was that he was open to the idea that would actually make a difference. "What I wanted to suggest is that you're not making proper use of the soldiers you have here. You don't need nearly so many to hold Gerant."
Hanno-ren frowned. "We need to be prepared in case the Coran resistance attacks."
"That is true, but what kind of preparations do you need? If they do attack, they will strike and retreat quickly, before you can bring your numbers to bear." Kolanin settled back in his chair, waited for Hanno-ren to acknowledge the truth of his words, then continued. "The best use of your soldiers is to undermine their attempts at the root. Send soldiers along with the human caravans."
"Guard human merchants?" Hanno-ren's lip curled and he seemed not to know which of those two words he found more disgusting. But he didn't outright reject the idea, so Kolanin pressed forward.
"You need the supplies they carry, not to mention the trade. But more importantly, it is the resistance preying on those caravans. For now, they can let others assume they are normal bandits. If you defend those caravans, not only will you prevent them from choking off your supplies, you will undermine their rationale. They won't find as many collaborators when you are the one defending them - humans may stick to their own kind, but they're not stupid."
After staring at him for a while, Hanno-ren grunted in acknowledgment. "A soft approach, but I know well that the soft fist can be as dangerous as the hard. Especially for a warrior who relies on exterior defenses. Very well, I will attempt this. How do we contact human merchants?"
