I shook my head. “That is what I heard.”
“Then you have heard a lie!” he barked.
“That is what I heard,” I repeated, crossing my arms.
“Then it is true,” the wife said. She’d remained silent until now. “Lady Skol took many of our kind years ago when she herself ruled in the Warlands. It is our great shame…but it will not all be for nothing.” She swallowed, looked at her daughter, then back at me. “We will learn your anti-melody.”
“What?” the father said.
“Good. I cannot pay you now, but as a sign of good fortune I will give you my purse.” I handed them a fat bag that I used for such occasions. “I will return in a month or two’s time, it may be of use then. But–”
“Do you know what melody you just sang?” Zani asked, her face downcast. Sad.
“What?” I wasn’t aware I’d sang any Sleep Singer’s melody.
“It is the Song of Sorrow,” she said. “It is a deep, hurtful song. It was sung by our people before we were freed in the creation of the world. It is a song of freedom and sadness.”
I looked at the family, ignoring the shivers rising up my spine and turned to leave. At the doorway I stopped. “Then we must free your people.”
I made good time returning to the cart, taking side streets I was able to avoid any merchants or late night sellers. I however couldn’t help passing the outpost of Lady Skol’s guards on the way.
The building was a hideously fortified thing. Not many guards came into the Warlands to patrol in her name, if they did, they only stuck to towns that they still controlled. I didn’t believe any men were stationed here other than a messenger. Lonely men abandoned by the people they worked for, and banished by the people they lived among.
But there was something interesting up. It was a reward poster for the return of a missing person. Ten thousand Lassigian marks would be given to those who could bring her back. Triple, if the kidnapper was brought in too.
I stared in horror at the portraits. The wealthy merchant’s daughter looked exactly like Feyra’s friend Agatha.
And the kidnapper was Feyra herself.
I tore the posters down and ran back to the wagon as quick as I could.
Chapter 9
FEYRA
I knew he was coming before he came into the square. I didn’t know how I knew, but it twinged in my mind, mysenses,before I even saw him.
We were at the meeting place Roman, our guide, had said they always met. We had our horses, pack mules with food, and enough water to last us until the next village.
But I’d smelled Dion even with all the merchants nearby. His scent wafting through stronger than anything around us. I could see him from it. I could hear him from it. I knew him, because of it.
Then something else was with him.
Fear.
He entered the square looking for us in quick movements. I hoped for him to look at me, and at the same time didn’t want him to. Then when he didn’t, I felt sad. But I didn’t want to doom him like that.
I couldn’t.
Yet…
He came to Roman hurried, spoke in low tones and the two looked relieved. He’d been longer than expected, so I could only assume it was to do with Zani, the Sleep Singer girl. Jealousy rose in my heart and I wanted to ask him what he’d done with her. Instead I pretended not to notice him. Acting like I didn’t care. Pretending that I wasn’t desperate for him to look at me. I steeled my heart, if he reached out like he had before, he would only meet a steel wall.
I busied myself with the horses again. I rechecked their harnesses and food bags, I double checked all of the strapping for the food and water. I’d unloaded enough horsesand wagons for Aunt Teetee to know a thing or too. But that life was very far from me now.
I allowed myself a minute to think about Aunt Teetee, then got back to work.
I’d been receiving odd looks all evening. I suppose it must’ve been when we came into town, but I didn’t notice it until after we’d bought the horses. The man was smiling and joking with Roman, and then when he saw me and Agatha an odd expression passed over his face.
