Second Guard Read online

  “But you’ll help me with that, won’t you, pretty girl?” she said, running her fingers lightly through the white-gold mane. The mare nickered in response, making Tali laugh. “All right then, let’s get started and quicken the pace a bit.” She gave the horse a quick squeeze with her soft boots and the mare moved into an easy trot.

  As the day lightened, the forested path gave way to highland farms, and Tali was amazed by the varieties of green that undulated across the landscape. Coffee plants with bright red berries lay in rows to the right of the dirt track, while the leafy heads of potato crops ran up and down for leagues on her left. Behind the rolling fields, deep green mountains stood like sentries in the distance. A half league to the east, a windmill turned lazily, easing itself into the new morning.

  The scene reminded Tali of a painting she had seen in the markets of Porto Sol, and she slowed her horse to a stroll again to enjoy the quiet beauty. Surely no place in all the worlds, Far or Nigh, could be more peaceful than Tequende. Last night’s fire had been a mere accident, she told herself. And Paulo’s harsh words about the Guard had been spoken in haste by an exhausted young man. She would dwell on them no longer.

  They passed a field of grazing alpacas, their long woolly hair nearly ready for harvest, and a fluffy white yearling followed them for several minutes, trotting alongside them like a playful pup. The alpaca’s ears seemed to work separately from the rest of his face, popping up and down in random intervals, and the absurdity of his expressions made Tali laugh aloud.

  When it became clear that the yearling seemed intent on following them for the entire journey, Tali sighed and pulled on the reins. “Come along,” she called, turning her horse around. “Let’s go find Mama.”

  Though it was time she could not well afford, Tali backtracked until she found the yearling’s mother at the edge of a wooden fence, bleating for her baby’s return. A young Earth Guild girl, nearly lost inside a frayed, mud-colored poncho, ran forward and thanked Tali with a grin, displaying several missing teeth.

  Tali smiled in return and raised her fist in the sign of her guild. “May Intiq warm you.”

  The girl dipped her head and placed a small hand over her heart. “May the Mother hold you.”

  Tali nodded to acknowledge the blessing, then urged her horse forward. She knew the traditional Earth Guild words were meant to be a comfort, but she could never hear them without feeling a sense of loss. Mother Earth was no replacement for a real mother, no matter what anyone said.

  By midday, she finally reached the Queen’s Paseo, the wide stone-paved loop that connected all the major cities of the realm before running straight down the southern bridge to the Alcazar. The Paseo had been designed to accommodate a full Second Guard legion: five columns of twenty soldiers on horseback. Tali had seen the legions pass a few times in her life, and on each occasion a tingle had traveled her spine, knowing that one day she might wear their coveted blue uniform. If she were good enough, she might even be named one of the red-sashed centurios who helmed the legions, their left arms adorned by iron brassards studded with firestones to signify their years of service.

  Tali’s hand now dropped to the hilt of her sword as she remembered her father’s parting gift. The sword had been a surprise. “This was your mother’s, given to her by Queen Twenty-one,” he’d said, pulling it from a leather sheath and handing it to her. The blade was a bit longer than Tali’s arm and felt heavy in her grip, but not overly so. The hilt was made of forged steel, but the pommel and crossguard were both plated with silver. The smooth, round pommel had been engraved with the last queen’s mark, XXI, the foreign numerals another import from the Far World along with horses and ironwork. Intricate filigree decorated the crossguard, intertwining all three guild symbols of earth, sun, and moon.

  “I’ve had it polished and sharpened,” her father said as Tali ran her fingers along the flat of the blade. “Take care with it, my girl,” he added, his voice growing quieter. “This is no practice sword.”

  “Yes, Father,” Tali said, replacing the sword carefully. Her father took the sheathed sword and leaned forward to buckle it to her belt, as if she was still a little girl. His eyes dropped and his face went slack. She wondered if he’d had the same look on his face twenty years ago, when he’d seen his young betrothed off to serve the realm.

  When the sword was securely tightened, Alondro Sanchez set his hands atop Tali’s slim shoulders. “You are a brave daughter, an honorable sister. Your sacrifice will not go unnoticed by Intiq.”

  Tali blinked back tears. She did not wish her father to regret his words, to second-guess a decision made long ago. She was ready for this.

  He gripped her shoulders tightly then, as if reading her thoughts. “Listen, my child. Do not let pride get in the way of reason. I know you dream of becoming a warrior like your mother, but there is no shame in service. Your sister and I value your safety above any military honor the Queen could bestow.”

  Tali swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to smile. “You worry too much, Father. The Second Guard is a peacekeeping force, not one of those bloodthirsty armies of the Far World. Besides, you know me, I’d make a terrible servant. I’m much better at fighting than cleaning.”

  Though Alondro’s eyes softened, he did not laugh at her attempted joke. “You’re as stubborn as Cora,” he said, shaking his head, as if he wasn’t sure whether to feel pleased or distressed by what he was going to say next. “She was a fighter, your mother, until the very end, and if she were here, she’d tell you this: If you wish to excel as a warrior, you must always know what it is you’re fighting for. You must know it, and believe in it. Otherwise you are not a warrior, but a hired hand with a blade.”

  Tali nodded. “I understand.” Gods, how she would miss the somber man before her. She threw her arms around him in a fierce embrace. “I will live up to her name, I promise.”

  “I’ve no doubt,” he’d said. “But above all, remember your own name, Talimendra. Do not live as I have these eleven years. The shadow of the dead is no place for a young girl to dwell.”

  Tali’s horse strained at the reins, pulling her back to the present. She heard the sound of another horse’s hooves trotting up from behind, and she turned in her saddle to see who approached. A young man on a white stallion neared, and when he lifted a hand in greeting, Tali brought her horse to a halt.

  As he pulled up beside her, Tali tried to keep her expression neutral, though inwardly she felt a stab of surprise. She had met many Moon Guild men, with their pristine white clothes and closely shorn hair, but never had she laid eyes on one nearly so striking, or perhaps, she let herself admit, so handsome. His eyes radiated a golden light from within a warm, brown face. His riding posture was sleek and elegant, his tall, trim form obvious even atop his horse.

  “Good day,” he said, smiling as he held out his left palm in greeting. “I am Zarif Baz Hasan, second-born of the Araby Scribes.”

  Of course, Tali thought. He’s an Arabite.

  Although she had never seen one, she had heard many tales about the sophisticated Far World immigrants from Araby, with dark skin and scholarly minds. They had settled mostly in Fugaza, the capital city, and registered with the Moon Guild as doctors and scientists, archivists and teachers. Queen Nineteen, it was said, had encouraged and aided their immigration to Tequende after meeting an Arabite refugee in neighboring New Castille. The man had been her consort for twenty years after that, until her death. And no wonder, thought Tali, if he was as striking as this Zarif.

  Tali returned his smile and reached across to place her palm on his. “I am Tali, second-born of the Magda River Traders.”

  “I am honored by your acquaintance, Tali,” he said, bowing his head. “You ride for the Alcazar?” His voice carried the refined accent of the capital, with just a slight hint of his foreign roots.

  “Yes,” Tali answered. “Do you also pledge service to the Second Guard this full moon?”

  “I do,” said Zarif. “I bel
ieve we’ll catch sight of the Alcazar just beyond that rise.”

  “Praise Intiq,” Tali said, patting her horse’s neck, as if the mare too would be comforted in this knowledge. “It has been a long journey.”

  Zarif laughed. “And praise Elia. We have also had a long ride, from Fugaza,” he said, reaching down to scratch his own horse.

  A few moments later they reached the crest of the rise, and both halted to survey the view. Below them, the Paseo switchbacked down the hill several times until it joined a mighty stone bridge that extended a quarter league into a vast lake. At the end of the bridge emerged an oval island, dominated at its far end by a sprawling stone fortress that looked as if it had risen straight from the depths. The Alcazar. Its pale gray stones appeared violet in the afternoon light, reminding Tali of the Moon Temple in Porto Sol, although the building in front of her was many times larger. From this view, the fortress resembled an arrowhead, with three large towers at each point. The towers, at least ten men high from the ground, were connected by ramparts and battlements, and for a moment, Tali imagined herself on top of them.

  Several smaller outbuildings and fenced areas dotted the rest of the island, each with an obvious function: stables, practice yards, an armory. The entire compound bustled with activity as servants and guards attended the business of training the realm’s army. The island itself seemed small, however, compared to the lake surrounding it. Lake Chibcha appeared endless. Even from this high vantage point, Tali could not see across it to the distant shores of Oest Andoria.

  “Have you ever seen anything like it?” asked Zarif, breaking the silence.

  Tali shook her head. “I’ve only seen it from the lakeside, many leagues out.”

  “The renderings do it no justice,” Zarif agreed.

  Tali held her breath and took one last look at the view below. For as long as she could remember, she had dreamt of this moment, this chance to bring honor to her father and Nel, to prove herself worthy of her mother’s name. The time had finally come.

  “Race you down there!” Tali called, then kicked her horse without waiting for a response. The mare went flying down the road. Tali nearly lost her balance as she looked back to see if Zarif was following. He and his horse were closing fast, obviously amused by the challenge. Soon their horses ran neck and neck, Tali hanging on for dear life, but exhilarated by the speed.

  As they neared the end of the bridge, Zarif raised a hand and shouted “For Tequende!” He gave his horse one last kick, then easily took the lead. Tali was still laughing by the time she caught up to him at the tall wooden gates of the Alcazar grounds.

  “It’s about time you two got here,” Zarif said, already dismounted and smiling widely.

  “We demand a rematch!” Tali said, swinging down beside him.

  A loud slam interrupted their good humor. “The Queen’s Paseo is no place for games,” barked a burly man who appeared from a small iron door in the gates.

  Tali swallowed her smile and dropped her eyes to her boots. In trouble already and I have yet to set foot on the island. Brilliant.

  “Yes, sir,” she said.

  “Excuse us, sir,” Zarif added.

  The scowling sentry was in no mood. After finding their names in the leather-bound register he’d pulled from his vest, he proceeded to give them a dizzying number of directions.

  Tali’s tired mind tried to keep track of it all: where to stable her horse, how to find her room in the Alcazar, when to report to the Great Hall. Zarif looked equally overwhelmed. When they were finally ordered off to the stables, the two spoke little as they navigated the busy grounds. Once the horses had been unsaddled and left with the stable hands, the two new pledges separated with a formal good-bye, palm to palm.

  “The Gods’ protection upon you,” Zarif offered.

  “And to you,” Tali answered.

  Tali made her way to the east entrance of the enormous fortress, as instructed by the sentry. She moved slowly beneath the weight of the packs slung over her shoulder. Occasionally she would pass a fellow pledge and exchange a polite nod, but everyone was too burdened by bedrolls, packs, and bags to stop for the customary greetings. I suppose there will be plenty of time for that later, Tali thought, and concentrated on the maze of hallways and stairwells inside the Alcazar.

  Sunshine struggled through the building’s small, triangular windows, casting dim patches of light every few feet. The hallways smelled of lavender, which had been strung from the ceiling to ward off bad vapors, or perhaps the smell of warriors. More than once Tali lost her way and had to backtrack until she could orient herself again. She decided to draw herself a map, if she ever managed to find her room. Finally, she arrived at a curved wooden door with a tagua tree etched upon it. She shifted her packs and pushed it open.

  A sickly, pale girl looked up from across the room. She stood over a cot, her hand atop a tidy pile of clothes. The girl’s simple hair and plain clothes marked her as an Earth Guilder, but she seemed too young and small to be a pledge.

  “Forgive me,” Tali said, closing the door behind her as she let her heavy packs slide to the floor. “I should have knocked. I am Tali of the Magda River Traders,” she said with a smile, then crossed the room and extended her left hand.

  The girl did not return the smile, but placed a bone-thin hand over Tali’s. “Brindl of the Zipa Salt Miners,” she said softly.

  A miner, thought Tali. No wonder she looks so small and ghostly.

  Both girls bowed, but when they arose Brindl kept her eyes on the stone floor. The silence suddenly felt as thick as the fortress walls surrounding them. Tali struggled to think of something pleasant to say, but Brindl turned abruptly and started packing her meager items inside a threadbare bag.

  “You’re not leaving, are you?” Tali asked. “Look, there are two cots, one for each of us. I believe we’re to share this room.”

  “Not any longer,” the girl replied, buttoning her pack. “I have been granted my request.”

  “Your request?” Tali asked, puzzled by the girl’s odd behavior. “Do you wish to room with another Earth Guilder?”

  Color rose in Brindl’s milky cheeks, and she flashed Tali a quick look of resentment.

  Oh Gods, can I do nothing right today? Tali’s mind raced, trying to determine what she had said to offend the strange girl. Picking up one of the satchels at her feet, Tali began to unpack to cover her discomfort.

  “I am moving to the kitchens quarters,” Brindl said stiffly, moving toward the door. “I will serve my six years there.”

  “Six years in the kitchens…” Tali said, confused. “Will you not try for a place in the Guard?”

  “Why should I?” Brindl asked, her voice resigned and bitter, like someone much older than fifteen. “Girls like me have no training for the Guard. I’ve never even held a practice sword,” she said, her eyes skipping across Tali’s fine clothes, her Queen’s sword, the bulging packs at her feet.

  Tali’s ears suddenly felt hot. “I…I didn’t know, I—”

  “It doesn’t matter,” said the girl, pushing open the door. “Even if I could fight, I have my own reasons for staying close to the kitchens. May the Gods bring you luck.”

  “And to you,” Tali said, with a polite bow.

  “I need no luck to scrub pots,” Brindl said, and pulled the door closed behind her.

  Religious beliefs are considered a private affair in Tequende, and all citizens are free to worship gods of their own choosing. Most natives, however, are devout believers in the Trinidad: Machué, Intiq, and Elia, the three patron deities of the guilds. Indeed, many of Tequende’s immigrant citizens have chosen to give up the gods of their homelands in favor of the beneficent Trinidad, whose devout followers have been blessed with a peaceful and prosperous realm.

  —M. DE SAAVEDRA, The Rise of Tequende: A History

  Tali woke with a start. Alone in the small dark room, she felt disoriented, almost dizzy. Where was her father? And Nel? A sharp knock on the wooden d
oor cleared her thoughts. Of course. She was in her room at the Alcazar.

  “Tali? Are you in there?” called a voice behind the door. Tali grinned, recognizing the stately accent.

  She rose from her cot and opened the door. “However did you find me? I feel like I’m in the middle of a maze.”

  Zarif laughed. “I like mazes. But I forgot that your room would be marked with a tagua tree. I had to knock on twelve other doors in the women’s tower before I found yours.”

  “Oh, how dreadful,” Tali said, with a mock look of horror. “Having to speak with all those young ladies. What a nuisance!”

  “Indeed,” answered Zarif, taking a golden-colored candy from the tin box Tali offered him and popping it in his mouth. “Gods, this is delicious. Is that honey I taste?”

  Tali nodded. “My sister’s invention. She calls them sun babies. Go on, have another. She sent me off with enough sweets to feed the entire Guard.”

  “Did you tell her you’re training to be a soldier, not a candy merchant?”

  “If Nel were queen, she would have everyone put down their weapons and pick up soup spoons instead. There’s no problem she can’t solve with a hot meal or a tin of sun babies.”

  Zarif laughed again, then looked around the stark room. “No roommate?”

  “I scared her off,” Tali said with a small frown, then settled back onto her cot and gestured for Zarif to sit on the other.

  “How so?” he asked, taking a seat across from her.

  “She was an Earth Guilder. I said something to offend her.”

  “Ah,” said Zarif, nodding in sympathy. “My roommate, Chey, is of the Earth Guild as well. They have a different way of thinking.”

  “So I discovered,” Tali said, picking up her sword and sliding her fingers across the leather sheath. “The girl, Brindl, had already requested placement in the kitchens. Why would anyone choose to be a servant?”

  “It is not as uncommon as you might think. A number of girls do the same, as do many Earth Guilders, male and female.”