Maker of Fire

(Continued from installment 2.85 - Emily, Aybhas, Planting Season, 5th rot., 10th day evening)

The guard situation got sorted out quickly. Flea and Cignet were sent off to sleep. Peregrine and the guard officer on duty on the dome followed Tom and me to the chapel shrine. To give Tom some time with Gerta, I picked the hallway with the most Coyn in cots lining the walls. Then, I started chatting with the riot victims, most of whom were recovering from broken bones or brain injuries.

Burns were something the healers could and would fix immediately. Most broken bones were healed in under ten days though brain injuries took longer. By Earth standards, broken bones took weeks to months and brain injuries never fully healed, if ever. I liked Erdos's healing magic better than Earth's medicine: less detailed knowledge but better and faster cures.

Healing magic was good with injuries, but primitive with infections and fevers. That made me wonder. Would knowledge of parasites, bacteria, and viruses help healers do better with infectious diseases? For example, could a healer learn to target a bacteria like streptococci and kill it selectively like an antibiotic? It was something I would need to ask Aylem. That was the sort of thing she would know. I needed to stop chasing tangents and tackle the task in front of me: talking with people I didn't know. I was never good at starting a conversation, even though I coerced the King, Queen, and Lisaykos to do just that yesterday.

I took a suggestion from Tom and picked something about a person to ask about. I would introduce myself only after we talked a bit. Then I would ask about what they did and what they might want to do after they were free. I was happy that strategy worked with the injured Coyn at the chapel shring because it was essential to do that leadership thing of being seen and reaching out. I needed to start building my own credibility with other Coyn, and I had to leave the fourth floor of the Shrine to do that. I had to mingle more and be seen. Tom was right about that.

I worked my way through a hallway of cots until half past the sixth bell. By then, I was dragging from all the smiling and sincere listening I had done. My ability to do more went on strike, so I went to find Tom. He was still chatting with Gerta. To my relief, she did remember me. She turned out to be really nice. It took only a few minutes for me to feel comfortable with her.

We stayed for dinner and talked until the healers got up the nerve to throw me out. They recruited poor pregnant Arma, who was restricted to doing evaluations on walk-in patients.

"Come," I said as loud as I could when I heard a knock on the door. I knew my voice didn't carry well. Then I saw who it was. "Arma, how are you doing? You look like you have a serious abdominal growth problem there."

"Very funny, Great Bug," Arma rolled her eyes. "I have been appointed to invite you to leave, Emly." She still mangled my name. "It's time to turn the lights down and put everyone to bed."

"How late is it, Arma?"

"It's almost the first night bell, laundry worm." Arma was one of the least restrained Cosm when talking with me, which I found refreshing.

"Hey, you're the one who suggested it," I countered, remembering the evening when Arma hid me in her laundry basket so we could escape the hidden Impouan fort with Twee. "If I'm a laundry worm, what does that make you?" I needled her right back. I would like to spend more time with Arma, given that we shared an ordeal together and that she risked her life to help me.

"What are you two talking about?" Tom looked lost and so did Gerta. "I surmise that you two already know one another."

"I know I told you about Arma," I reminded Tom. "She helped me escape with Twee."

"We have met, Revered One," Arma answered Tom. "Emly and I got to know each other well over the four, or was it five, days that Emly barfed all over my bed while I slept on the floor." She smiled with a hint of mischief. "I see you don't remember me, Revered One."

"We have met?" Tom looked puzzled.

"Twice," Arma was amused. "Once, when you were here with chilblains, and shortly after that, at my wedding in the Well of Mugash."

"That was you?" Tom now looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I did not recognize you."

"I didn't have my hair up at the wedding, nor was I almost halfway through pregnancy," Arma chuckled.

"There is that," Tom conceded, "but I don't remember you from when I had chilblains."

"Well, I remember you because chilblains are uncommon in a large city like Aybhas," she replied. "I have your flying gear at the greeting counter, and the Blessed Asgotl, who we requested bring you two back to the Shrine, is complaining about the cold in the forecourt. The High Priestess reported he was napping, like usual, in her study when we asked him to come get you. Besides, your security guard refused to take a break and turned down the dinner we offered, so have some mercy on her empty stomach and go home, please."

"It has been fun talking," Gerta added, "but it sounds like you should head back. "Thank you for stopping by. Py'oask," she said to Tom, "I'm glad you're okay. Don't get hurt down there with the lizard people of Chem, and don't be a stranger when you get back."

We said our goodbyes after that and flew the short distance back to the Shrine with that goofy griffin, who cheerfully complained the entire time about the chilly evening.

"I'll be taking Aylem in the morning to the bidding farewell services," Asgotl said before we retired for the evening. "Do you want to go with us or with Tom on Spot?"

"I'll go with Tom. It's awkward flying with the pregnant Aylem," I replied. Too many of the Cosm I knew were pregnant. Soon, Kayseo and Twessera would join their ranks. Lisaykos hinted she had found someone to marry Twessera. Cosm don't think twice about arranged marriages for silverhairs, especially ones arranged by royalty.

Aylem, Aybhas, Planting Season, 6th rot., 1st day

Imstay decided not to head up to Kas after the news that an ice dam-fed flood took out the bridge over the Salt River. Lord Kas and High Priestess Irralray had all the residents evacuated and the levees built up, so there were no casualties other than some cattle and sheep. After deciding to stay in Aybhas for the bidding farewell ceremonies, he became the worst nag in the kingdom. He insisted that I take Asgotl to the bidding farewell ceremonies.

The Holy Sutsusum was flying in to lead the rites for the collective dead: one for Cosm, one for Coyn, and then a private one for those who knew Wolkayrs at Lisaykos' request. Imstay and Flavriansha gathered the boughs of rosemary for the ceremonies, so none of us staying at the Shrine had to worry about that. Imstay collected enough for one of his armies just because I said I would get some.

When I walked out onto the south balcony to mount Asgotl, I found him speaking with the most beautiful flying stallion I have ever seen. The lines on this flying horse screamed speed at me. He was black except for a white mark on his nose. He had to be the Blessed Spot, the revelator of Gertzpul. I walked up to him, put my hand over my heart and bowed my head in greeting to an equal.

"May the blessings of the eleven gods be upon you, Blessed Spot," I said and then looked up, wondering if he knew all the intricacies of Foskan protocol. He didn't.

"Wow," Spot blinked. "I didn't know humans could be as big as you. Are you carrying foals? Do humans get taller when they are carrying unborn foals?"

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or be appalled. Years of experience in court took over. I smiled at the clueless flying horse. "No, Spot, we don't. I'm always this tall, and yes, I am pregnant. We humans call them babies, not foals."

"Oh," Spot blinked again. "Oh. Babies, right. Not foals." He shook his head. "There's so much to remember. You look ready to give birth to your young. Is it safe for you to be up and about? I know humans are more fragile when giving birth."

Now I did laugh. "No, Spot. I'm carrying twins. I'll be giving birth after the harvest is over."

"But that's a half a year away," Spot said. "No, more than a half a year away. Are you really alright? I can call for help if you need it," he offered.

I suddenly remembered what Usruldes said about Spot being unfamiliar with Foskan society and interacting with humans. I smiled at the clueless flying horse who was trying to be helpful. "Spot, I am fine. The way I look is normal for pregnant human females. I am a Cosm, and we carry our young for twice as long as Coyn humans and a season longer than flying horses."

"Really?" Spot made a very credible fish face for a horse. "But your stomach is too big."

"It will get bigger before I give birth, Spot. This is how pregnant women look," I had to work hard not to chuckle. Spot's naivety was cute, in a way.

The bidding farewell ceremonies were thankfully brief, as is the custom in Foskos. Sutsusum recited the rites. Then, all the dignitaries present tossed their rosemary branches into the cremation pits, and Sutsusum invoked the charm to incinerate the bodies. Tom and Emily did the honors of throwing the rosemary for the Coyn ceremony, which was a first. Before the gods touched those two, there had been no sacred Coyn to toss the rosemary branches. The presiding priestess or priest of Gertzpul would have done the honors on behalf of the Coyn attendees.

Despite the visitation of the soul of Wolkayrs on the previous day, the private ceremony was difficult for all of us. Because there were only bone fragments left in the the debris, Lisaykos had wrapped them in Wolkayrs' tablecloth from his work table in her study, and had added several of the charred roof beams from the ruins of his family's shop for the cremation portion of the ceremony. I never knew that Lisaykos could weep that badly.

I was glad several crafters from the north market came, including Prelb. Before we broke up, I made sure that Craftmaster Prelb knew that my offer of patronage was sincere and that I expected to hear from her if she needed any help to set her shop back up.

After that, those of us staying at the Shrine prepared to leave for Truvos. Kayseo and Otty helped Thuorfosi pack up for the wedding. Lisaykos and Twessera helped Emily and Tom pack the correct clothes since they would wear yellow for Kayseo's wedding but blue for Bobbo's. Imstay's page packed for him. To my embarrassment, Lyappis and Kamagishi, who should have been in Truvos by now, helped me get packed. As mother and grandmother of the groom Otty, both should have left for Truvos already.

The big surprise of the day was Emily, who tentatively knocked on the door. I had to restrain myself from smiling whenever I heard her "shave and a haircut" knock pattern. I wanted to sing out "two bits" whenever I heard it. What made it worse was that Tom had now adopted the full "shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm as his knock pattern.

"Come," I said and then patiently waited for Emily to pull the door open. "No, wait," I held up a hand when she was finally inside, "I'm having a precognisant vision!" I dramatically put my hand against my forehead, palm outward. "I can see it now! You are coming to talk with me! Yes! That's it!" I said triumphantly, confident in my ability to foresee the near future.

The disgusted look Emily gave me was worth it. "I heard the mommy hormones were making you goofy and soggy, but really, Aylem? I think your precognisance needs a little work."

I gave Emily my haughtiest look, "I will take that under advisement, Great One." Then, I waited for her reaction. Emily did not disappoint me, as she rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Can I get a hand up onto the lounge?" Emily asked, kicking off her slips. That surprised me.

"May I, Great One?" Lyappis asked,

"Please," Emily plunked down cross-legged on the end of my lounge, between my feet. She was collected and polite. She was also looking focused and intense. I knew this pattern. Emily was going to ask me about something magical.

"Alright, Em," I sat back and smiled. "I know that look. What outrageous thing do you want to ask about this time? I will point out that Kamagishi is right behind you, itching to take out that recording scroll she keeps in her belt pouch whenever she's around you."

Emily gave Kamagishi one of her looks. Kamagishi smiled sweetly. Emily gave Kamagishi one last glare and then turned back to me, her face full of inquiry.

"How many of those ice charm gems would it take to make a block of ice out of three horns of water?" Emily asked.

"It depends on the size of the gem, Emily," I replied. "Lisaykos could have told you that."

"What about the ice charm gems made for the Chem?"

"One of those will make approximately one horn of ice." This was basic stuff. Did Emily really not know this?

"If you took three of those ice charm gems and put them in one container with three horns of water, would you get three horns of ice?" Emily persisted.

"Yes, Emily," I said patiently. "The effect is additive."

"Just to confirm, if I wanted to make one hundred horns of ice in one big container, I could bundle together one hundred of those charm gems, yes?"

"Yes."

Emily sank into thought. I looked at Lyappis and Kamagishi and they looked back. We all knew not to interrupt Emily while she was thinking.

"If I took a hundred ice charm gems, put them together in a bag, and threw them in a river, would I make a hundred horns of ice in the river?" Emily asked.

That question caught me by surprise. "I don't see why not. It should work, but why would—"

"Let's not go off on tangents," Emily warned. "Does the Shrouded Shrine of Vassu also make the charm gems that boil water?"

"Yes, they do," I replied, wondering where Emily was going with this.

"Are the proportions the same?" Emily asked. "Does one of the little gems boil a horn of water?"

"Yes." Now I was getting both vexed and curious.

"If you took a gem that boils water and put it in an eighth of a horn, what would happen?"

"That's dangerous, Em," I cautioned, knowing she liked to experiment. "You would make steam. If you did it in a ceramic pot instead of a metal one, it would break and throw harmful fragments."

Emily's sudden maniacal smile scared me. "Oh, that's what I thought might happen. How much does the Shrouded Shrine sell those gems for?"

"You can't buy them, Emily," I frowned at her, wondering what mischief she was thinking of this time. "All of last year's and this year's heating gems were bought up by Imstay for the army. Each nohair soldier gets ten."

"How long do they last?" Emily went back to looking intense.

"About twenty uses before they fizzle out."

"They will really need that many, even with carrying matches?" Emily asked.

"That's cut back from the former allocation of thirty per soldier, Em."

"Did the Shrouded Shrine cut back on their production of heating gems, Aylem? Because if they didn't, then there should be a surplus. Do you think Imstay would sell me, say, two or three thousand heating gems?"

"Emily," I looked at her askance, "what do you want with three thousand heating gems?"

"I want to blow up a bridge." She looked so earnest that I knew she was serious.

"With heating gems?"

"Heating gems, salt and ice gems," she nodded. "It should work."

"Dammit!" Kamagishi said. She grabbed a chair, sat down, and clasped her head between her hands. "Ow!"

Emily turned her head and looked at Kamagishi with concern, as did I and Lyappis.

"I just shifted the future again, didn't I?" Emily asked. "I'm sorry, Kamagishi. I didn't mean to make your head hurt again."

Kamagishi just nodded and grimaced. "A huge number of futures just vanished. It's like drinking something really cold too fast." She opened her eyes and shuddered. "The pain is fading. This isn't as bad as when every possible future event vanished three days ago."

"You'll be alright?" Emily asked, looking distressed.

"I'll be fine, Great Bug," Kamagishi managed to smile. "How do you blow up a bridge with heating gems, ice gems, and salt? I want to hear this."

"We put the heating gems inside a block of salt," Emily explained. "Next, we embed ice gems all around the salt. Then, we drop the ice gem-encrusted salt block in the river next to the bridge pier we want to blow up. Then we get out of there as fast as we can before the steam explosion takes out the pier and the bridge beams resting on it." Emily ginned. "It's much safer than transporting enough nitrocellulose to blow up the bridge in No'ank. I bet I don't get horribly injured in this version of the future. In fact, I don't even need to be there. I can instruct the Chem on how to blow up the bridge on their own, while I head home if I want. Right?"

"Well, you are there at the bridge," Kamagishi replied, "but yes, you don't get hurt. Spot drops the salt next to the bridge and flies away unharmed."

Emily's smile was incandescent, "I believe this means that Imstay sells me his surplus of heating gems."

"Emily," I cautioned, "Imstay will be difficult. He's very greedy for anything that involves the comfort of his army."

"That's fine," Emily grinned. "I'll just ask my agent to do my bargaining for me."

"Your agent, Emily?" Lyappis asked, looking wary.

"Yes, my agent, the Blessed Lisaykos." Emily beamed. I felt sorry for Imstay, but not too sorry.

(continued in installment 2.87)