The Ruthless. Peter Newman

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СКАЧАТЬ and that’s okay. She’s only frustrated because she cares.’

      ‘About you, maybe,’ muttered Pari.

      Arkav didn’t argue, just quirked his lips in such a way that, for a moment, it was like truly being with him again. Pari sighed and turned back to the window. The Godroad had been slowly shifting in colour as they travelled, going from bluey-violet, to dark, then lighting up again, pure-blue, dazzling.

      ‘You’re worried about me too,’ said Arkav.

      ‘I was worried. But now we’re together again, I know things are going to get better.’ She took his hand and squeezed it.

      ‘Why?’ he asked.

      ‘Because I’m not going to rest until they are.’ When he didn’t respond, she squeezed his hand more firmly. ‘Do you understand? We will get through this.’

      There was no reaction. It was as if a vital part of her brother had withdrawn to places she could not follow.

      They were truly entering Sapphire lands now. Pari could see a simple wooden tower had been constructed next to the Godroad, allowing those stationed there plenty of warning when visitors approached. However, no structures survived long in close proximity to the Godroad’s energies and the nearest legs showed signs of repeated repair.

       How typically Sapphire to stubbornly endure rather than build somewhere more sensible.

      Despite her sneer it dismayed her how easy it was for the Sapphire to police their lands. Everyone but the brave and foolish used the Godroads. Traders and Story-singers would have to come this way. Those that needed to deal with the Sapphire for survival, and those that needed to travel through on the way to other houses would first need to gain permission from the tower.

       That’s a lot of power to have, I hope it hasn’t gone to their heads.

      It had been some time since a Deathless from another house had paid the Sapphire a visit and she wasn’t entirely sure what kind of reception they were going to get. A guard stepped up onto the Godroad in front of their carriage and ordered them to stop. She was sure that at least two more were in the tower.

      As the carriage slowed she looked at Arkav. He remained locked in his thoughts. It would be up to her to lead things.

      She opened the door of the carriage as the guard marched over. They looked young and inexperienced, but to Pari everyone looked that way. ‘You may approach,’ she said.

      ‘I don’t need your permission,’ came the blustered reply. ‘Who are you and what is your business here?’

      Pari turned her head so that the young woman could admire her profile. ‘See for yourself.’

      The guard took in her fine clothes, her dark sky-born skin, the golden marks on her lips, and paled. ‘I … we weren’t told to expect you.’

      ‘Ah well, let us be on our way and I won’t hold you responsible.’

      Pari could see her thinking about it, minute shifts in posture and expression telling the story of surprise becoming fear becoming pride, so she was disappointed rather than surprised by the reply.

      ‘No, Tanzanite, I asked you your business.’

      ‘And I ask if the lofty Sapphire have forgotten their manners?’

      Small dots of pink appeared in the white of the guard’s cheeks. ‘I’m here with the authority of High Lord Sapphire and in his name I say who comes and goes. Me! And if you don’t answer my questions you’ll have to sit here till you rot or go back home. I don’t care which.’ Several guards had appeared at the top of the tower, bows held casually, yet prominently in their hands.

      ‘I’ll take that as a yes,’ said Pari.

      ‘What?’

      ‘Clearly, you have forgotten your manners and clearly nobody’s taught you any history or you would know better than to claim authority here.’

      ‘What are you talking about? This is Sapphire land!’

      ‘No it isn’t.’

      ‘Yes it is!’

      ‘No,’ Pari replied, smiling a sweet smile and pointing at the nearby trees. ‘That is Sapphire land.’ She pointed at the tower. ‘That is on Sapphire land. We are on the Godroad, and the Godroad runs through your lands and mine, and the lands of all the Crystal Dynasties. It was built before even the first Deathless took breath and though it is our duty to protect it, it is also our right to use it. No one house claims ownership. No High Lord. No one.

      ‘So, by all means, patrol your dirt tracks and pathways, but do not think anyone has the authority to block me using any part of the Godroad, for I am Deathless, and you, road-born, you most certainly are not.’

      There was a pause as the guard tried to process this. After a moment she looked back to her fellows who all stared back, their blank faces doing the equivalent of a shrug. One or two of the bows disappeared from sight.

      Pari waited for the guard to realize that she was alone and in trouble.

      ‘I …’ she began. ‘I …’

      Pari lowered her voice. ‘I would advise apologizing, using my proper title, and then getting out of our way as quickly as possible.’

      ‘I’m sorry, Lady …’

      ‘Pari. Of House Tanzanite.’

      ‘Lady Pari of House Tanzanite.’

      ‘There. Much better.’ She gave a little wave of her hand. ‘Now, off you go.’

      The guard backed away, head bowed low, and the carriage set off, swiftly leaving the tower behind. Pari gave one last regal wave to the stupefied guards and sat back in her seat to find Arkav was staring at her.

      ‘What is it? Something on my nose?’

      ‘You lied. There is no law that separates the Godroad from the rest of the land.’

      ‘I think lie is a bit harsh. The law is unclear. I thought my interpretation made a lot of sense.’

      ‘It’s wrong.’

      ‘Careful, Arkav, rigid thinking has always been an issue for the Sapphire, but never for us.’

      He turned to look at her, suddenly, intensely present. ‘No, I mean this is all wrong. The way they talked to you, the way they made you act, it’s all wrong. It never used to be this way.’

      ‘I agree. Yadavendra’s a fool to arm children and tell them to hassle every poor soul on the Godroad. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he wanted to provoke a war.’

      Arkav continued to stare at her. ‘The Sapphire are broken, like me. Are you going to fix them too, Pari?’

      And what else could she say, looking into those sad, bleak eyes, but: ‘Yes.’

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