Maker of Fire

The Crystal Shrine of Tiki, Growing Season, 5th rot., 2nd day

"Are the Blessed Spot and the Revered Tom safe?" Foyuna asked, her eyes still wide as she watched the battle in the Great Crystal with the Queen, the Revered Lyappis, the Queen's attendants, and several of the priestesses and priests of the Crystal Shrine.

"I'm confident that the Blessed Spot can outfly any eagle," Aylem Queen said as she shifted the scene in the Great Crystal to locate Spot. She welcomed the opportunity to take the focus away from the battle. Foyuna had fled once already to lose the contents of her stomach.

Foyuna had been raised as a sheltered princess in the Is'syal Palace. She moved to the Crystal Shrine as a sheltered trainee and stayed on as a priestess, living in relative seclusion from the rest of the world ever since. She had been unprepared for the skewering of war mages and their eagles by Chem arrow spears. Foyuna went running, hands over her mouth, after watching a mage who was split in two. The unfortunate's intestines and lumps of her lungs went spinning in the opposite direction from her severed torso and legs, blood and semi-liquid feces making spirals of fluid through the air along with the head of her decapitated eagle.

Foyuna didn't make it out of the Great Dome in time. The cleaning staff had already handled the mess she made in the back of the Throne of Judgment. Lyappis had run after the young High Priestess. She took Foyuna to get cleaned up and settled her stomach and nerves. Foyuna returned after a while in fresh, unstained robes.

Given Foyuna’s reaction to the gore of war, Aylem was happy to shift the scene in the Great Crystal to Spot and Tom. When it was clear the flying horse and his Coyn rider were ahead of their pursuers, Aylem dropped the vision in the crystal.

"Foyuna," Aylem addressed the pale High Priestess, "I want to return to watching the battle. Will you be alright with this?"

"To be honest," Foyuna shook her head, "I don't know. Regardless, I need to witness the doings of the Chem, the Revered Tom, the Blessed Spot, and the Prophet. This is a war commanded by the gods, and I am the custodian of the Great Crystal. Recording what is seen in the crystal is my duty."

"Dear heart," Aylem clasped Foyuna's hand, "your staff is already at work recording what we see. You do not need to stay if this is too distressing."

"It is no worse than some of the executions I have witnessed," Foyuna stated, sounding braver than she looked. "I was merely unprepared for the quantity of the carnage."

"Are you sure?" Aylem was genuinely concerned.

"Well, no, I'm not," Foyuna admitted, "but Grandmother Lyappis is now prepared if I feel indisposed again." From her seat next to Foyuna, the old healer quietly lifted a bucket and several towels so the Queen could see them. Then, Lyappis put them out of sight without a sound.

“I see,” the Queen said, sighing. “Veflia? Zdatel? How are you two doing? I know you asked to watch, but you don’t need to stay if it’s too much for you.” Aylem asked her two Coyn attendants sitting at the end of her lounge.

“We will stay, Great One," Zdatel stated. "The Blessed of Galt and the Prophet are in this battle, and we want to see their deeds with our own eyes." The beautiful and always cheerful Coyn was unusually grim.

“Have you any physical distress that I can help you with?” Aylem asked, concerned for these two who had served her as long as she had been Queen.

“It is unpleasant, but we are fine," the serious Veflia replied.

The Queen overheard a stray thought from Veflia that the battle was no worse than the slave yards of Blockit, a place where Coyn were sold like livestock and treated far worse. As one who hated the system of slavery in Foskos, Aylem found Veflia's opinion upsetting. She did not react to Veflia's thoughts only because of years of maintaining her proper demeanor as Queen.

“Good enough,” Aylem smiled at her two attendants with what she hoped was a kind expression. “Back to the battle, friends.”

The group watched as the time for midday repast came and went. None felt like eating; however, stomachs were rumbling after the sixth bell as they watched Emily, the diminutive prophet, frighten a heretic priestess of Cragi.

“Priestess Loyseeya,” Foyuna gestured to one of her staff, “please have the kitchen bring us some platters of bread, cheese, and meats—just enough to get us to dinner. There, that should keep the Queen from devouring us all.” Foyuna smiled at the group seated around the Great Crystal and noticed the Queen pouting at her. “Don’t give me that look, Great One. You should have taken a break and eaten. Pregnant ladies should not skip meals.”

“And who would have sustained the vision in the Great Crystal?” the Queen made a long-suffering face at the High Priestess.

“We could have managed without you for a moment or two,” Foyuna waved a hand in mock dismissal. After all, none of them was willing to stop watching the battle to eat at midday.

“The Prophet is such a timid little thing most of the time,” the Revered Lyappis steepled her fingers in thought, “unlike today. I almost felt sorry for that heretical priestess. Emily looked like she was ready to bite her.”

"Timid and frightening are mutually exclusively qualities if you're Emily," Aylem stated.

“Dear heart,” Lyappis replied, “that doesn’t make sense.”

"It does if you're Emily," Aylem sighed. "What I want to know is what will she do with all that sulfur?"

“Knowing Emily, it will be something novel and deadly to the enemies of the Chem,” Lyappis said dryly. “Care to wager on it?”

"No, I don't," Aylem rolled her eyes. "I don't care to be robbed by you twice. Besides, you are likely correct. It will be something none of us would have thought of, and it will be to the detriment of the Mattamesscontan Empire." The Queen shook her head. "Gods, what is wrong with those people out east? Their names are so complicated and hard to say. Why do they have to be so long, too? Why can't they be like our easy-to-say Foskan names?”

“Closer to home, Great One,” Foyuna waded in and changed the subject, “have you checked on the progress of the southern army lately? I think the last update was last seven days ago.”

"I checked this morning before you arrived," Aylem replied. "The priestess on duty recorded it all. Lord Bobbo did not chase the Imperial Hier and her army across the Stem River. She has retreated east about ten wagon-days. She burned all the crops in the fields as she fled from her defeat north of Salicet and has now crossed the Sasnakra River. She abandoned her supply wing to escape our forces, but the first grain harvest is coming in on the south-central plains, so she won't hurt for food."

“So, Bobbo missed his chance to squash Heir Arkaline Ugi?” Foyuna wondered.

“I don’t think it’s that simple, granddaughter Foyuna,” Lyappis responded. “Lord Bobbo’s objective was to secure the Arkeseld River Road and the confluence of the Arkeseld and Stem Rivers. He has now achieved that. If he pursued the Imperial Heir, he would detach his army from its supply line, which could be fatal. That could even be what Arkaline Ugi wants him to do since she devastated the food supply between the two rivers. She could now fortify the crossings of the Sasnakra River and trap Bobbo'a army—if he pursued—with no supplies, several days from our lines between the Blue Mountains and Salicet.

“Lord Bobbo is smarter than that. A lowborn halfhair does not become a general by being impulsive or stupid. He will consolidate his gains and fortify the Ahkeseld River Road before moving forward. Unlike Arkaline Ugi, he will strengthen his supply lines. In comparison, the Imperial Heir is cut off from most of Impotu's biggest cities east of the Stem, so she is in worse shape. Lord Bobbo can afford to take his time now that Heir Arkaline is isolated from her sources of resupply for armaments, wagons, mounts, and mules. No, Foyuna, dear, Lord Bobbo was wise not to chase Arkaline Ugi."

“Are you sure you’re a healer?” Aylem teased. “That sounded like strategy worthy of a priestess of Erhonsay.”

“You youngsters forget,” said the elderly Lyappis, “my late husband was a great general in his day. It’s hard not to pick up a thing or two from one’s partner in life.”

“What about the northern army?” Foyuna asked. “Has Suapsepso fallen yet?”

“No, but Imstay’s most recent message said he planned to breach the city walls before the end of this rotation,” Aylem replied.

“Details, Great One,” Foyuna insisted. “Details, we want details!”

“I don’t have any,” Aylem shrugged. “Besides, the King would never divulge what he had planned on a messenger bird that could be intercepted. We’ll have to wait for something to happen—or are you suggesting I set up surveillance of the siege?.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” Foyuna opined.

“Yes, it is.” Aylem made a face. “Watching a siege is worse than watching wheat grow. Sieges are boring. You should remember what it was like when this shrine was besieged: lots of waiting around while nothing happened.”

“I guess you’re right,” Foyuna conceded. “I had forgotten already, maybe because I’d rather not remember. Oh, look, here comes our food. So, while we snack and wait for dinner, maybe you could check up on Tom and Spot?”

“Of course, I can, though I'm sure they are fine. I doubt there's an eagle out there who can catch up to Spot."

“Aren’t you worried about preventing what you see in the Great Crystal from leaking out to our enemies, Great One?” Lyappis asked formally, though she knew she could address the Queen by name. The group around the Great Crystal was a small private gathering. Informal address could be used without consequences. She was the Queen’s healer and friend, after all.

Foyuna laughed with a good-natured smile, “I can answer that, Grandmother Lyappis. While we do not admit anyone untrustworthy to view the Great Crystal, greater magic is at play when the visions are active inside it. Only the Queen or myself can divulge what is seen inside the Great Crystal outside the dome. The records that my clergy keep during viewing sessions can’t leave the dome. When a codex is filled, it is stored in the vault, which only the High Priestess of Tiki can open. What is revealed here stays here unless Aylem or I decide otherwise."

"I think I learned that," Lyappis remarked, frowning, "long ago. I had forgotten. So, does one forget, or is it merely impossible to reveal what one saw in the Great Crystal?"

"The latter," Aylem said. Then she saw the unhappy faces of Veflia and Zdatel. "What is wrong, you two? Did you plan on telling others about what you saw here today?" She immediately regretted how she phrased her questions when Veflia’s and Zdatel’s auras pulsed with the green of fear.

"Please forgive us, Great One," Zdatel bowed her head and put her hand over her heart. "We have no traitorous thoughts. We merely wanted to spread the Revered Tom's and Blessed Emily's exploits to other Coyn, especially the heroic actions of the Revered Tom. Sinking the enemy ships from the Blessed Spot's back and then outrunning the mounted mages who pursued him—that’s worth making songs about, Great One. We didn’t realize there was a magic that would prevent us from spreading their deeds to other Coyn.”

Aylem looked at Foyuna, who raised an eyebrow back. Aylem sighed, distressed that she had scared the two Coyn. They had been with her for many years, and she knew they were trustworthy.

“I will confer with the Holy Foyuna about what we can disclose regarding Tom and Emily,” Aylem tried to sound sympathetic and unthreatening. “I’m sure something can be arranged that won’t compromise the Chem fleet.”

Emily, Miskwoomsettkut Beach, Growing Season, 5th rot., 5th day (Midsummer Day)

We beached twenty-two ships for repairs. We also hoped to meet any worshippers of Vassu who may have heard my message to free their Chem. My boat was one of those that anchored. Two of my crew swam me ashore, pushing the extra dinghy we towed just for my use. Spot, Tom, and Twee were already there when I arrived.

When I got out of the boat, a Cosm silverhair appeared out of a grove of beach pines, dressed as a fisher. I was chagrinned but not surprised when she kowtowed to me.

"I greet the Beloved of Vassu," the silverhair said, her face almost in the sand. "I am Uncohegan, who is an aspirant of Vassu."

Once again, I was forced into the role of speaking as someone who was in charge, which I disliked. I kept thinking I could slough off the leading and speaking bits onto Tom or Twee, but those damn godmarks kept getting in the way.

"Please lift your face, Uncohegan, and sit to speak with us," I said as I tried to sound welcoming. We had agreed, Tom, Twee, and I, that we should make allies of the underground worshippers of Vassu.

While she sat cross-legged in the sand, Chem sailors brought Tom and me stools to sit on. Spot was grazing on dune sweetgrass within earshot. Twee lay between us, pushing his nose and neck into the sand to enjoy its warmth. Chem were as bad as cats when it came to seeking out warm patches.

"Uncohegan," I studied the middle-aged silverhair, "may I ask, what is an aspirant of Vassu? Is that what the hidden worshippers of Vassu call yourselves?"

"No, Beloved of Vassu," Uncohegan looked surprised by my question. "I thought you knew. Aspirants like myself hope to become priestesses some day. We lead the worship of Vassu and hide those in danger of being taken by the authorities." She studied Tom, Spot, and then Twee. Her eyes grew wide when she looked at Twee.

"Please, Beloved of Vassu," she looked at me with a pleading face, "pray introduce me to your companions, who all bear the touch of the gods."

"Uncohegan, this is Tom, Blessed of Galt; this is Twee, Revelator of Vassu; and that," I pointed, "is Spot, Revelator of Gertzpul."

Uncohegan's head almost touched the sand as she bowed, "May this sacred company forgive me for not greeting you all properly."

"Sssss will not," Twee said, "for I see nothing needing forgiveness, faithful of Vassu. Your intent and respect are manifest in your aura. We know you have already greeted us in your hearts."

Uncohegan lifted her head, looking surprised for a moment. Then, she regained her composure. "I thank you for your understanding, Beloved Twee. We have come with some of your missing kin. We have brought all of those we could liberate on such short notice." She turned and waved at the trees. I counted thirty-seven Chem guided by Cosm of all stripes come out of hiding from within the grove. The Chem sailors all sat up, dropping whatever they were doing, and ran to their kin. Twee was one of them. The Chem are an emotional race, and this was an emotional moment for them.

The Cosm guides for the blinded slaves were frightened by the sudden approach of the Chem running on all fours. Three of the Cosm fled back into the trees as the Chem from the fleet ran up to them. The rest stood their ground while the Chem twined and tail-wrapped their blinded kin in an exuberant greeting. After all, this is what the Chem of Sussbesschem had come for: the lost and enslaved Chem captured by slave raiders from the sloughs and bayous of their watery homeland.

The scene brought tears to my eyes. I had to wonder how I had turned into such a soggy person. I never wept this much in my life on Earth. Was Coyn biology different from humanity on Earth or had I changed that much? Then I noticed Tom wipe the tears from his eyes. He saw me looking at him.

“What?” he drew the word out, daring me to say something. “It’s moving, watching this. It makes me feel like all our work for the Chem is worthwhile.”

“And you didn’t before?” I needled him.

"Of course I did," he poked me in the side, "but it's one thing to know something in your head, and it's another to actually watch the results of your work come to fruition before your eyes.”

“Yeah,” I conceded. “This is special. This is the beginning of what we came here to do. Those are happy Chem. What do you think? Send two transports and twenty ketches to take them home? Twenty ketches would be able to take care of any threats they would encounter. I think we've destroyed all the naval vessels between here and Sussbesschem, so twenty should be enough to protect the first shipment of returning Chem? Yes, mister commander of the Chem fleet?"

“That should be good enough,” Tom considered. “What do you think, Uncohegan?”

Poor Uncohegan. She was looking gobsmacked from watching the Chem. She turned her head and looked at Tom, startled by his question. “What? Blessed of Galt? You’re asking me?”

"Well," Tom shrugged, "you're a fisher, yes? You probably know what goes on in the shipping lanes heading south better than we do. I thought you could tell us what threats these Chem might face as they sail back to their home. I believe we have eliminated all the naval galleys between here and Sussbesschem. Still, we don't know what other vessels they may have out there."

"Oh!" Uncohegan's eyebrows almost vanished into her hairline. Then they came back down into a frown as she considered what Tom asked her. "Those of us who fish for timerhime sail across the gulf and follow the fish south in the Cold Season and north in the Growing Season. By road, my own home of Nagasettkut is more than twenty wagon-days south of Shinakosettcut. I was anchored there when the Chem towed in the Sister Mareegeegee. I know the captain of that boat. She is one of the faithful of Vassu. She told me of your command to free the slaves and bring the Chem to Miskwoomsettkut.

“When I left my fishing partners two days ago with a cargo of Chem, your fleet had eliminated all the navy ships from Shinakosettkut south to the last settlement on this side of the gulf. The threats left for the Chem heading home will be pirates and slave raiders. From what I've heard about your ships, those will not be a danger with their strange loud weapons that make things explode and catch on fire. What you should worry about is the mounted cavalry that survived your assault.”

“Are they really a threat?” Tom frowned. “Do you know how many?”

“How many followed you and the Blessed Spot down the coats?” Uncohegan asked. “Those are the ones who survived the battle. The rest were killed by your fleet.”

“So, about twelve,” Tom worried his beard. “How do we take out twelve mounted mages?”

“Can we not bother?” I asked. “Let’s just take the rescued Chem with us and have the trailing end of the fleet ready to engage flying cavalry out of Shinakosettkut.”

“You don’t have some nifty way to take out those mages, Em?” Tom asked, looking hopeful.

“Do they live in the same building?”

"No," Uncohegan said. "They are officers. They have their own residences where they live with their families and servants.”

“No, I have no quick way to take out those mages, Tom,” I admitted.

“I can tell you had a thought, Em,” Tom looked at me, still hoping for a fix. “What was it?”

“Carbon monoxide.” I used English. There were no Fosk words for chemicals.

“What?” Tom was bemused.

“Just get me enough zinc, relatively pure limestone, and a heat source, and I could kill everyone in a barracks with carbon monoxide. If they lived in separate residences, it wouldn't work. Too many buildings and too many people would be required. It would take too long and involve too many people. It wouldn’t be viable. We should just take our freed Chem with us for now. We don’t have time to kill off a paltry twelve mages. Besides, I’m not sure I could secure enough zinc this far from Foskos.”

“I was thinking more along the lines of a weapon innovation, Em,” Tom slumped. “A bomb or some clever way that just twenty ketches could take out twelve flying cavalry.”

“The only way we have to take out mages is overwhelming force, Tom. I'm not a miracle worker. I've been thinking about a counter to flying cavalry ever since the battle. I don’t have any good answers for you.”

“Not a miracle worker?” Tom needled. “I thought you were the prophet?”

“Knock it off, mister sleeping alone on a rowing bench tonight. Prophet and miracle worker are two different things.”

"Could have fooled me," he needled me back, but I could tell he was disappointed.

“Uncohegan, how much is sugar worth here?" I asked, having the beginning of an idea.

“It is precious. Only nobles can afford it.”

“Can we lease some of your fishing boats manned by your faithful to Vassu?" I queried. "We can pay you in sugar to make up for the fish you won't catch. Is that possible? I was thinking that flying cavalry wouldn't suspect fishing boats heading into the middle of the gulf. Once you were far enough south, you could turn west to the coast. Then, all you need to do is follow the coast to Sussbesschem. We could send some of our sailors with you with Chem bows and arrows for security."

“I would do it without payment, Beloved of Vassu,” Uncohegan replied, “though payment in sugar is a great temptation. It would convince the more mercenary of my fellow fishing captains. But everyone I know is in Nagasettkut. It will take a day to row there because the wind is in our faces. I thought you were in a hurry.”

“It will take a day to repair our ships, so we have a little time to spare,” Tom waved his arm at the beached ketches. “If we leave now, we could be in Nagasettkut by dusk. Right, Spot?”

“Twenty wagon-days down the coast from Shinakosettkut? Before dusk, I should think,” replied Spot, who is vain about how fast he can fly.

“Even with a Cosm on your back?” Tom inquired.

Spot rolled his eyes, which I didn’t know horses could do. “Yes, even with a Cosm on my back.”

“Wait. Are you saying we should fly on the Beloved of Gertzpul to Nagasettkut right now?” Uncohegan’s jaw dropped.

“Yes,” Tom said. “Do you need to tell your crew? We should get a bite to eat before leaving. I hope the fish isn’t burnt. The Chem working on the fire pits are still talking with their freed kin. We should eat something before leaving.”

“We can eat in Nagasettkut,” said Uncosettkut. “Let me talk with my crew.” She got up and headed for where the Chem were still greeting their freed kin, though the exuberance was tapering off.

“Wow. She agreed quickly,” I remarked. “I thought we would need to persuade and haggle.”

“Good thing we brough a supply of sugar to pay and bribe people,” Tom chuckled. “Who should go?”

“You and Twee," I replied. "Spot is your mount, and bringing Twee will add credibility for hiring the fishing boats. Damn, I forget to ask Uncohegan about how many boats we need to hire."

The Godspaces

"Are you still swimming around in that silly shark aspect, Vassu?" asked the whirlwind. "The lipstick and eyeshadow are a bit much."

"Emily liked them," Vassu replied.

"She was humoring you," Sassoo rebutted in his aspect as the storm.

"I know that, but our first meeting was Emily's third encounter with a god. She wasn't comfortable with us yet. I didn't want to frighten or overawe her, so I drew from her memories for something comedic. I found an Earth performer, Anna Russell, and applied her apparel to my shark aspect. The silly presentation worked with Emily, and I achieved what I wanted. Our prophet is now comfortable talking with me on any topic, including the serious ones. You must admit, Tiki, with his stupid cocktails, and Mugash, with her holy woman routine, chose the wrong presentation for this prophet.”

“That’s the problem with prophets who are too damn smart,” groused Sassoo.

“Don’t give me that, mister stiff butt. I know you enjoyed taking her to Earth opera. I’m surprised you haven’t tried to visit with her more than that. She’s such a lover of music. I would think you’d get along.”

“She’s … well, she’s too...”

“What’s the problem here? Did you really want a fan girl but got someone intelligent instead?” Vassu teased. “No one is asking you to manage her, Sassoo. You don’t need to be so standoffish.”

“Humph.”

“But that’s not what I came to discuss today, mister cloud full of farts.”

"What did you call me?!"

“Got your attention,” the shark grinned. “Remember your promise regarding the Chem and their invasion to free their enslaved kin?”

“I do remember it.”

“It is time to deliver on that promise.”

“Starting when?”

“Starting now, though adding some nasty high winds in just Shinakosettkut would be nice too.”

“Might I ask why, Vassu?”

“It would help a great deal if it was too windy for the Mattamesscontan flying cavalry to patrol for a rotation. I want the first returning Chem slaves to have an easy trip back to their home.”

“Consider it done.”

Growing Season, 5th rot., 6th day

The subtropical jet stream shifted to the north, pulling the humid air of the monsoon into the temperate valley of the Mattaheehee River early—and with it, rain where drier conditions should have prevailed for most of the season.

Oddly enough, the imperial capital of Toyatastagka, at the mouth of the Mattaheehee, didn’t get a drop of rain even though the skies emptied themselves just one wagon-day inland.