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Topiara - Chapter 62
The six ponies came to a halt when the city gates of Tandri were but a few moments' ride away. The tired riders watched as a steady stream of people flowed in and out of the tall portal under the watchful gaze of the guards, both on the ground and in the ramparts over the gate. "Well, there it is," Lyara sighed.
"I can hardly believe it," Jilan shook her head and sidled her pony closer to that of her i'ilim. "It's so familiar – and yet so strange now."
"We spent more time in the trees than we thought we would," Lyara commented, her hand resting on her stomach protectively. Already she'd had to open the seams of her trousers and create a lacing to accommodate her extra girth, as well as slit up the sides of her jerkin.
"So this is Tandri," Bandriel shook his head. He looked overhead and then at the tall walls of the city – none of which allowed any of the buildings beyond to be seen. There were no spires, no golden glow, no clean cobblestones leading through the gate. This city was low, lit by the glowing ball in the limitless firmament above that made its pass in regular intervals. The road leading through the gate was as dusty and dirty as the roads that crossed the land itself, and the people seemed to be comfortable wearing some of that dust on their persons and their clothing.
"Such as it is," Jilan remarked wryly. "Not much has changed." He glanced at Lyara. "Where do we head first?"
"To the Guides Hall, I suppose," Lyara replied. "Master Lyndon will hopefully know what needs to happen to Bandriel to get him installed properly as Oracle – or at least he'll know whom to ask."
"I'll need to speak to the King," Bandriel commented quietly. "That much is certain."
"Master Lyndon will know the proper way to make the arrangements, I'm sure," Lyara told him.
"Sitting out here on our ponies isn't getting any of this accomplished," Jilan remarked as he watched Lyara stroke her stomach gently. "Something tells me that you could use a tenday or two without the need to walk any great distance or sit on a pony – not even one with such a smooth gait as Surefoot," he added when Lyara opened her mouth to complain.
Lyara shot him an indulgent glare and kneed Surefoot into a walk. "It's been nearly two years since we left," she stated as the group hastened to catch up. "It will be interesting to see the changes…"
Jilan gazed about at the stream of humanity around them. "The people look pretty much the same as they did when we left."
"Something's different though," Lyara muttered as she began to notice the higher concentration of yellow-garbed guards and military mixed in with the populace moving in and out of the city gates.
"There is unrest," Bandriel said with a tone of certainty. "I think we are coming at a very opportune time."
Once through the gates, the ponies stretched to single file in order not to crowd the people in the streets – which made the progress toward the more affluent center of town where the Guides Hall was located that much slower. Bandriel was curious and very aware and observant, with his head swiveling this way and that to take in the people and their customs. The market square was as crowded with venders and buyers as ever, and the smell of fresh-baked bread and savory meat pies wafted from the doorways of the bakery that was a major supplier of the wandering venders. Laundry still floated overhead between the buildings, and the women still leaned out of their windows to gossip across the empty space. Dogs still slunk and wove their way between and under the feet of the passers-by, looking for scraps of food.
Lyara looked about her, remembering the very first time she'd ridden into this huge and bustling city – how strange the press of people, the strange smells, the narrow streets bounded by tall grey stone walls had seemed to her then. She glanced at their tall friend and wondered what his home was like – if he had ever been to a great city like this?
She missed Farranby's wit and wisdom, and she'd dearly missed having Sharin on this long trek home. The only thing that made the separation with her best and dearest friends bearable was the thought that she would be returning to them as soon as she could – as soon as the baby was born and Jilan convinced that it was safe for them to travel again. She'd never thought it possible, but she had yet to get completely comfortable in her Talandri clothing again – the cloth and leather she'd worn for the better part of her lifetime had been itchy and smothering at first, only barely tolerable even now. She could finally appreciate Yiren's delight at her shi'ili clothes in the trader's village almost a lifetime ago – and could only chuckle at her own reaction back then.
Jilan's entire focus had been on Lyara for the majority of the trip. She'd made the journey well enough, with nary a complaint once her digestion had settled back down again. But he knew through the way she now loved a good backrub before being able to settle down to sleep at night that the long trek had been wearing on her.
Now that they were finally so close to home, he started to make a mental list of the things he needed to do. He'd long since decided he'd have to talk to Lyndon privately – hopefully the man could steer him to one of the better midwives in the city long before her services would become necessary. Lyara would probably chide him for fussing so much – but he was doing his best to take care of his child already.
They'd have to find a place to live until the child was born and old enough to travel too – someplace with lots of open space and room to breathe. He wasn't entirely certain he could find such a place within Tandri itself – but he was hoping that wherever they ended up wasn't too terribly far from the city. Once that was finished, he'd send word to his old family retainers Erla and Debin of how his fortunes had changed in the time since he'd left – they were really the only pieces of his past he'd truly miss when the time came to return to the trees. He'd like to see them once more – even if only for a short time.
Then there was the issue of the school – he doubted Lyara would let him forget that he'd wanted desperately to found an institution of learning dedicated to the Truth about the world. It would take money and time to get it set up properly – and the second of that list was a commodity that he was afraid was in a very limited supply.
Finally the trio pulled their ponies to a halt in front of the tall gates of the Guides Guild Hall – and Lyara reached out carefully to pull the rope to ring the bell she remembered so well. Just a few moments later, a small boy in brown leather – one she'd not seen in the Hall before – opened the gates. "We're here to see Master Lyndon," she announced in a business-like tone. "Tell him Lyara and Jilan have brought a very special guest for him."
The gate swung open, and the three ponies entered the courtyard and then pulled to a halt by a hitching bar. The young boy scampered back inside the Hall to announce their arrival while Jilan dismounted quickly and then moved to Lyara's side to ease her descent. "That's getting harder and harder," she commented wryly.
"I'll be glad when you're not climbing up and down like that," Jilan agreed with a healthy nod, and then both of them turned with smiles as a deep voice sounded behind them.
"I was starting to think that Nilyaron had finally made a faulty prediction," Master Lyndon boomed and swooped down on Lyara to pull her into a strong, fast hug. He quickly backed away to an arm's length and regarded her with an eyebrow flying high on his face. "Congratulations are due, I see..." He turned to Jilan with an outstretched hand. "…to the both of you. It's good to see that you two are still together."
"And this is Bandriel," Lyara pulled her tall friend forward. "He's…"
"Nilyaron's successor," Lyndon finished for her. He smiled down into her expression of shock and surprise. "After you were gone, I received my own letter from the Oracle. He said it would take time before you returned with his successor – I just didn't think it would take almost a whole two years." He then turned to the tall, golden-haired stranger. "Welcome to Tandri. Please, come in and make yourselves comfortable after your long journey."
"I will need to speak to the King," Bandriel stated formally as he moved to follow this man that his companions called 'Master.'
"Once the notifications of your arrival have been sent and received, and once you have taken possession of the estate that Nilyaron left in trust for you, I'm sure the King will be petitioning to see YOU," Lyndon chuckled.
"Lyara was saying that things didn't look right when we got here this morning," Jilan remarked cautiously. "Is there something going on that we should know about?"
Lyndon shook his head. "Nothing that won't hopefully be resolved once the King finally has the services of an Oracle again." He led the way down the hallway without turning to look at his guests. "In the absence of credible guidance, certain political influences have been sparring for prominence – there have been a few fights breaking out between groups of partisans loyal to one faction or the other…"
"Wonderful," Jilan commented wryly and then glanced at Lyara. "First in the trees, now here. It must be contagious."
"Contagious?" Lyndon frowned, not following the logic of the statement. "What are you talking about?"
"We'll tell you later, we promise. But tell me - is Iliria still working for you?" Lyara asked anxiously.
"As a matter of fact, no," Lyndon announced. "She and the youngest son of one of Master Dilan's trainers were formally married three months ago. They moved to one of the breeding estates up north." He pushed open the door to his office and stood back so that his guests could enter. "Chip, see to our guests' ponies – make sure they get the finest rubdowns, stalls and feed that we can provide, and bring the luggage in."
"I don't know that we'll be staying here," Jilan stated apologetically. "We don't want to…"
"The Guides can afford to provide an apartment for you until you find a suitable place of your own," Lyndon answered firmly. "Even if you two weren't exactly employed as Guides, you've done the kingdom an immense service in Guiding our new Oracle safely to Tandri. A few nights' lodging is little enough compensation." He gestured for them all to have seats in the chairs in front of his desk and then frowned. "What about… Wait a moment. Didn't you leave with a total of four?"
"Farranby and Sharin stayed behind in the trees," Lyara told him and then rested a hand on the mound that was her child. "And when this one is ready to travel, Jilan and I will return there too."
Lyndon slowly sank into the comfortable chair behind his desk as the meaning of her announcement penetrated. "You prefer it there?"
Lyara nodded after a quick glance at Jilan. "Of all the places we've visited – from the Kauwlut Homelands to the Great Forest – it is the place we feel most at home."
Lyndon's gaze rested on the tall stranger. "I will have an apartment prepared for you as well, Master Bandriel, while I send a courier to the King and to those in charge of maintaining the Oracle's estate pending your arrival. You no doubt would like to relax and freshen yourself after your long journey…"
Bandriel inclined his head gracefully in the manner he'd noticed was tradition in this new place. "I am grateful for your hospitality, Master Lyndon."
Lyndon's gaze rested for a long time on the very youthful looking stranger who in very many ways looked a great deal like the old Oracle, and then turned to the tanned faces of the young Guide and her friend who had brought him back from parts untold. Hopefully when all the excitement sure to break loose when word came that the new Oracle had arrived had died down, he would be able to closet himself with these two and get a more complete picture of exactly what life was like in the trees. With luck, he'd have them help him compile a lexicon – and maybe be able to garner enough of a description of skills essential to life in such an unusual setting that the information could be used to benefit Guides for generations to come.
Lyara turned her head slightly to look at Jilan and see if he was as awestruck and agape at the display of pomp and circumstance that highlighted the official installation of Bandriel as the new Oracle. She sighed when she saw that he looked completely at ease with the fine robes and capes and sparkle of gold and precious jewels, and then consoled herself by remembering that he'd grown up in this rarefied noble crowd. It was only right, therefore, that just as she'd taught him how to behave as a proper Kauwlut, he would get the chance to teach her how to act in a manner consistent with Talandri nobility.
Her jerkin and trousers had been replaced by a fine gown and even finer undergarments that were nowhere as itchy, a gown that had been tailored for her almost on the spot by talented seamstresses capable of working under a pressing time constraint. Her feet were encased in soft leather, and her hair was caught back from her face by two decorative golden combs. Except that her hair was short and tumbled about her ears rather than be gathered back in decorative braids, she was the image of a Talandri noble's wife.
The King was talking, and aiming pointed remarks at various of his assembled nobles – Lyara could see several of them fidgeting nervously under the not-so-subtle criticism. As was to be expected, Jilan's father was at his monarch's right hand – and Lyara had blushed the one time those cold, grey eyes had touched upon her and then widened slightly in recognition. How hard it must be for him to accept that the son he had disowned had been the one to serve the land in such a unique manner – and be called by the King himself to stand and be recognized, along with the Kauwlut Guide he'd attached himself to!
At her left, she felt Master Lyndon's hand slip under her elbow – and she was grateful for the understanding in that touch. She knew he'd been aware of her growing discomfort at the idea of being so surrounded by Talandri's finest, and had arranged to accompany the two of them to the installation.
On the dais, Bandriel finally stepped out from behind a thick curtain to be escorted to a chair and seated by the King himself. Once the King moved back out of the way, he rose and raised his hand in the greeting that had confused Lyara ever since she'd met the man. "Let all peoples benefit from what I have to offer," he pronounced in a voice that seemed at the same time soft and yet carried to the furthest corner of the vast hall, "and may the information I give be used to promote peace and harmony in all the lands." He inclined his golden head and then seated himself once more while a burst of applause arose from the collected nobility.
"Is that it?" she bent to Jilan as the entire crowd around them seemed to break from their designated places to find and chat with friends and colleagues.
"Must be," Jilan replied with a shrug. "I suppose we should at least greet my father…"
"He disowned you," Lyara complained in a soft voice. "He treated you horribly…"
"He's still my father," Jilan told her with a gently sad smile. "Just because he was a bad father doesn't make it right for me to be a bad son." He grasped Lyara's hand. "Come."
Reluctantly she followed him until they were standing next to the tall and stern Rovan Torbishahn, who quickly finished his discussion with his fellow noble and turned to his son. "Jilan."
"I'm here to pay my respects," Jilan pronounced very carefully, in the most formal of languages that years of university education had taught him. "As you can see, you will be a grandfather soon – I will see to it that you receive notice when the child is born, so you know. But you won't have to worry about my wishing to be reinstated as son or even desiring a place within the family. Lyara and I will leave Tandri and Talandria as soon as we can – and we won't be returning."
Once more Rovan had cause to wonder that the self-assured and capable young man who faced him without even a quiver of awe was the same soft and barely-adequate son he'd known in years back. "You've done well for yourself," the elder Torbishahn admitted with a slight nod, and then eyed Lyara warily. "I wish…"
"You said quite enough the last time we spoke," Jilan said flatly. "I will never forgive you for the insult you gave to Lyara when she lay gravely ill. I pay my respects out of propriety, nothing more." He tightened his grip on Lyara's hand. "Come. I know you're getting tired. We can head back to the Hall now."
"Will you not allow your father to apologize?" Rovan demanded in consternation as his son turned his back on him.
Lyara paused and turned to look at the incensed aristocrat. "He isn't worth it, Lya," Jilan spat in Kauwlut and pulled on her hand. "I have no father," he announced in formal Talandri and continued threading his way through the crowd, heading for the exit.
Lyndon eyed the King's Chancellor with a critical look. "The chance you had to apologize to your son was lost long ago, Rovan."
The Chancellor glared at the Guides Master and then gazed after where his son had vanished with his lady. Jilan was a national hero – his lady was equally famous and respected. There HAD to be a way to make amends for precipitate anger and a hasty rush to punish.
There was a gentle touch on his arm, and Rovan turned to snap at the person disturbing his thoughts to find himself face to face with the new Oracle. "Do not pursue him," Bandriel shook his head gently. "You will only drive him further away. Their path will bring them back to Tandri once more within your lifetime. You will have one more chance to repair that which you have nearly destroyed – but not for a very long time. If you truly would make amends, you will need patience." The tall and golden-haired Oracle inclined his head politely and moved on without another word, leaving Rovan gape-jawed and shaken.
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