Wind and Stone

Chapter 5: Akton

Chapter 5: Akton

“I thought we were supposed to send her reports,” said Akton as Talfryn shut the door and walked over to show him the letter. “I didn’t realize she’d be contacting us.”

“She said if she had instructions, or was paying us,” said Talfryn. He stared at the letter without opening it.

Akton didn’t want to think about it either. The first time they’d met Queen Ylenia she’d admitted them into her shifter forces known as the Kynithremyln; the second, she refused to let them leave. They were to obey her for life, with certain permissions. Ylenia had told them they could return home, write her updates, and have their skills occasionally requested. Akton had thought that meant she wouldn’t be needing them for a while. Talfryn had only written her one update—to say they’d arrived in Teorg—and wasn’t planning on sending another until the next season.

“There’s no package with it, so no money,” said Akton. Neither of them particularly liked the conclusion that the letter must contain directives from Ylenia.

“I thought we’d have more time,” said Talfryn, then slid a finger under the paper to pry it free from the wax.

“It’s probably nothing,” said Akton. “Telling us to take care of something in this section of Emylnor. What could possibly happen so soon after having taken care of someone trying to overthrow her?”

As Talfryn shook his head another knock sounded on the door. Akton swore, but Talfryn was reading the letter now, so he went over to answer it.

Akton was not prepared for who was standing just outside. One person he didn’t know at all, a man who peered warily around, wearing clothes tailored to fit the smaller arm at his left side. But the person next to him Akton was sure he’d met before—the cartographer in Lethrin, maybe? They at least resembled that annoying person who sold Talfryn a map book and not a just a single map sheet. And the girl—young woman—who’d knocked looked familiar.

Akton had a bad feeling about this.

“Yes?” he asked. He didn’t know everyone from Teorg yet, but these people were definitely not from around here. “Can I help you with something?”

“I mentioned we’d meet again, Child of Snow,” said the young woman. Akton stared at her and resisted the urge to run his hand through his hair. The white that showed up over winter was nearly gone, but there were still a few strands here and there and he was self-conscious of them now.

“Wren,” he said. He couldn’t forget her, the six-year-old child they’d met in rubble who had given him rue—yet this girl couldn’t be claiming to be her. “What does she want? Why did she tell you to find us?”

Her mouth turned up in a kind of smile.

“I’m Wren,” she said. “I have aged some.” Akton opened his mouth but she didn’t give him the opportunity to speak. “This is Arvi, a cartographer, whom I believe you met in Lethrin. And this is Arvi’s brother, Lochlann, also from there and specializing in confectionaries. Please, invite us in.”

“Talfryn,” said Akton, almost shocked he hadn’t been joined. When he glanced over his shoulder he saw Talfryn reading the letter, frown on his face. Akton pulled back the door and gestured for them to come in. Arvi looked around unimpressed while Wren examined the back of the letter Talfryn was reading. Akton noticed Lochlann was taking him in rather more than expected.

“I see you correspond with Ylenia,” said Wren. Talfryn looked up and blinked at her.

“Yes, that’s Wren,” said Akton. “But I don’t know how.”

“I’ve aged myself rapidly,” she said, taking off her pack. Arvi and Lochlann followed suit. “As rapidly as I dared, at least.” She looked at the backs of her hands. “I hope it’s enough. He knows enough by now to catch me when I’m young.”

“I don’t understand,” said Talfryn.

“Why are you here?” asked Akton. “And why did you bring these two?”

“I’m here only for the new maps,” said Arvi. Akton turned to look at Lochlann, who was standing a little removed but nevertheless keeping watch of everything happening. He held himself well, Akton noticed, and had a face he liked. He blinked, wondering why he was sizing up the other man like this.

“I’ll get to the point, then,” said Wren.

“I wish you would. You never did last time.”

“Akton,” said Talfryn sharply, and he shut up.

“Child of Snow,” said Wren, indicating Akton with one hand, then Talfryn with the other, “and Child of Flame. Allow me to introduce Child of Wind and Stone,” here the hand toward Akton shifted toward Lochlann, the other, to herself, “and Child of Life and Death.”

“You want us together,” said Talfryn. Wren let her hands fall back to her sides.

“Of course. I did mention this before.” She paused. “I think…this would all be better discussed over a meal.”

“No,” said Akton, “I don’t think it’s better discussed at all.”

“You’ll probably change your mind,” said Lochlann, and all eyes turned on him. “Wren has had clear indications that there’s a situation brewing at the border with the Dragon Realm. I…wasn’t going to go, either, but if there’s something I can do…” He trailed off and shrugged.

The poor man didn’t know what he was getting into with Wren. Akton almost felt sorry for him. He glanced at Talfryn, who looked completely at a loss.

“We’re in the Kynithremyln now,” he said, and Akton nodded agreement. Wren scowled.

“What a terrible decision,” she said, crossing her arms. “Well, it doesn’t much matter. Update her if you want, the old hag.” Her face showed surprise as Talfryn and Akton’s eyes met. “Oh? Ylenia’s turned over again? Early.”

“She was…having a difficult time mentally,” said Talfryn. Wren nodded.

“Well. That certainly changes my view on things. I haven’t met her in years, so she won’t remember me. And now that she’s changed…”

“I doubt she would want us running off with you,” said Akton. Wren brushed that away.

“She won’t have much choice. Ylenia, for all she is powerful and well-informed, doesn’t understand the dragons as I do. She will want us exactly where we’re going.”

“I have to agree with Akton,” said Talfryn, holding up the letter. “This…is a summons. She wants us back to the Queen’s City. We’re going to war with the Dragon Realm.”