Part 15 (1/2)
”You don't have to take everything out to reach the garments on the bottom.”
”The tube opens halfway down,” he reminded her. ”You only have to take half the clothes out to reach the bottom.”
”But then the ones on top fall down.” She indicated the temple. ”The people of the Ruby Empire used tubes like this to suspend things. The design of the cylinder in your room probably derives from that same principle. But it lacks the technology to float garments or move them up and down, just as this can no longer move people up and down.”
Eldri hesitated. ”You speak as if you know the builders of this castle.”
”They were my ancestors.”
He touched a tendril of hair curling around her face. ”So it is true. You descend from the makers of this place.”
”Well, yes.” For some reason, she felt as if she had given him the wrong answer, though it was true.
His face paled. ”I thought so.”
”You did?”
”From now on,” he vowed, ”I will observe the rituals. You have my oath.”
”Rituals?”
”For the G.o.ddesses and G.o.ds of the sun, wind, and reeds.” He paused with his hand near her cheek, as if he wished to touch her but was unsure she would allow it. ”Are you a sister or daughter?”
”Of who?”
”Valdor and Aldan, the sun G.o.ds.”
”Ah, no. Eldri, no.” She put her hand on his arm, letting him feel her solidity. ”I'm a person, just like you.
Nothing more. People built this castle. Not deities.”
”Even so.” He held up his fingers. ”Every ten days, I will make a flame in a reed as thanks.”
She peered at his hands. ”That is eight. Not ten.”
”Eight?” He glared, apparently already forgetting his intent to be deferential. ”Whatever could 'eight'
mean?” He sounded far more irate than puzzled, and she suspected he knew perfectly well what it meant.
”Your fingers.” She counted them. ”Eight.”
Glowering, Eldri made two fists and uncurled each finger as he counted it. ”One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, ten.”
”Of course!” Roca beamed at him. ”You count in base eight. It makes perfect sense. Eight fingers, base eight.”
”You sound like Brad,” he grumbled. ”And you make no more sense than him. Ten is ten. Not twelve.”
He took her hands and indicated her ten fingers, including her thumbs. ”Twelve.”
”We call that ten.”
”Itisn'tten.” Eldri crossed his arms. ”You are as bad as those resort planners. They never listen, either.”
Her smile faded. ”When I return home, I will see what can be done about them.” The a.s.sembly had to dispute Earth's claim here, lest it set a precedent of giving Skolian territory to the Allieds.
”Stay, Roca.” He lowered his arms. ”Don't leave.”
She swallowed. ”Please don't ask me that.”
He didn't answer, only took her hand and walked with her out of the Reed. The day's light seemed to dim around them.
On their fifth day, Eldri took Roca up to the battlements atop the highest tower. Bundled in heavy jackets and trousers, they stood in the wind under a vivid lavender sky with no trace of clouds. Valdor, the large sun, was a huge golden coin hiding Aldan, his smaller brother. The mountains spread around them, spectacular in their jagged, dangerous beauty.
Far below, young people were clearing snow off the bridge that arched to the castle. Beyond it was the plain of windswept stone that visitors to Windward had to cross to reach the castle. Cliffs bordered both sides of the plain, rising higher as they came closer to Windward, until on its east and west sides, they towered straight up from the chasm, making it impossible to reach the back of the castle from this side.
Across the plain, Roca could see the end of the path that led up here from Dalvador. Two great statues bracketed it, each carved in the shape of a winged beast with curved horns. From a strategic point of view, she could see why Eldri's ancestors had put a fortress here; it was almost inaccessible. But she didn't understandwhat.i.t protected. Windward had no city, no farms, no population of any kind except its staff.
”Eldri, look.” She pointed toward the path. ”Do you see?”
Squinting against the sun, he shaded his eyes. ”Riders!” He grinned at her. ”We have visitors.”
”That means we can leave here, yes?”
”I think so.” Jubilant, he heaved open the gla.s.swood door to the tower. They ran down the steps inside.
At the ground floor, many of Eldri's men joined them. They all jogged across the courtyard, through the melting snow, and out under the portcullis. Garlin was already on the bridge, surrounded by soldiers from the castle, all in disk mail and leather armor dyed a dark purple. As Eldri came up to Garlin, the older man handed him a belt with a finely tooled scabbard. The sword it held had a crystalline pommel made from the same prismatic material as lyrine hooves.
”Saints above.” Roca gaped as Eldri took the weapon. ”You aren't really going to use that thing, are you?”
He glanced at her as a man helped him into his armor. ”You must go inside the castle.”
”You can't think we're in danger from those few people.” She knew nothing about combat here, but surely some principles were universal. They wouldn't all be standing out here if Eldri genuinely believed they were about to be attacked.
”We do not know who they are.” He paused as his man finished outfitting him. ”Probably friends, but they could be enemies. We will see.” He strapped the sword belt around his hips.
It astonished Roca that he wore the weapon so easily. It had to weigh a great deal, with its great length and wide blade. ”Eldri, that thing is dangerous.”
Garlin spoke dryly. ”That is the idea, Lady Roca.”
Looking around, she realized all the soldiers on the bridge were similarly armed, many with daggers as well, and a few with weapons that resembled curved axes. She frowned at Garlin. ”And if those people coming here are friends?”
He shrugged. ”Then we will invite them inside.”
Eldri drew her aside and indicated the castle. ”Look.”
Gazing up, she saw archers lined up along the battlements atop the castle wall, partially hidden behind merlons, between the crenellations. She arched an eyebrow at Eldri. ”Are you always this friendly to visitors?”
He adjusted the belt around his hips. ”Rumors say Lord Avaril plans to attack.”