By the Seven

Matthew Griffiths

Johlon the syhentist. Explorer, destroyer, criminal. Quite a history.

Ryhon stepped onto the porch of Johlon’s hut, lifted off his oil skin and hung it on a peg beside the door. A pool of water lay under the other oil skin hanging there. He leaned an ear against the rough wood door and raised a hand to knock. A low voice droned.

“Gaiah, guide me in harmony with the web of life.”

He pushed the door open a crack.

“Sollah, shine brightly and bring life to the world.”

A gust of wind blew the door open with a creak. Ryhon stepped inside quickly and shut it behind him. The voice stopped a moment and the sound of the rain on the slate roof filled the room. A feeble lantern glow illuminated a figure bent in front of a low alter in the far corner.

The drone started again “Meetor, bring rain and wind to feed our crops and turn our wheels.” “Kyhnah, make me productive that I may serve the world. Nassah, dispel illusion and falsehood.” The voice stopped and the head half turned. “Who is it?”

“My name is Ryhon. I have ridden from the kapital to talk with you.”

The head remined still. “A long way to come in the rain.”

“Yes. It’s important.” A drop of rain landed on Ryhons’ neck. He wiped it away and glanced up. Roof needed fixing. He glanced around the room. A pot stood on a wood stove. Two chairs sat by a small table the centre of the room. A low bed covered in rumpled blankets lay against a wall. A dozen books rested on a makeshift shelf. His nose filled with the smell of damp wool and wood smoke.

“Allow me to finish.”

Ryhon nodded. “Of course.”

The head turned back to the alter. “Onkoh, restrain me from excess and ground me in humility. Heedoh, grant me enjoyment in my efforts and contentment in my possessions. May the Seven guide and support me in all aspects of life.” The head bowed for a moment, then the figure pushed himself upright and turned around.

“Do I know you, Ryhon from the kapital?”

“No sir. But I’ve heard a lot about you.”

The man grimaced as he limped to the table and turned up the lantern “Tea?” He checked the pot and prodded the crackling fire.

“Thank you.” Ryhon sat down at the table.

“You’ve heard about me, eh?” He gave himself a grim smile. “These days I’m just a doktah at a mine, with a bad leg.”

Ryhon’s eyes followed the man as he bustled about the room. “You were a syhentist. Explorer of the neutral zone.”

Johlon gathered up two clay mugs and a tea pot. “That was a long time ago.”

Ryhon found his eyes drawn to the awkward bend in Johlon’s left leg, below the knee.

Johlon looked up at Ryhon. “You didn’t know about my leg?”

Ryhon shook his head.

“I was banished here as a kind of ironic punishment. Nassah would be proud.”

Ryhon nodded. Nassah, dispeller of illusion and falsehood, and, in the popular imagination, god of wit and irony.

“Master blaster at a copper mine was considered an appropriate use for someone skilled in the powdah. And this place is a long way from the kapital. Very convenient for those that put me here. Out of syht, out of mind, eh?” He sat down on the vacant chair by the fire.

Ryhon waited for the man to go on.

“One day I made the fuse on the powdah too short. A tunnel collapsed on me, broke my leg. The doktah here was an old fool. Didn’t set it right.” Johlon rubbed the bent limb under his coarse trousers. “When I could walk again, I asked to apprentice to him, learned his ways, improved on some of them. Saved a few legs that he wouldn’t have.” He leaned forward and stoked the fire.

“Can you still ride?”

“I suppose so. I have no need here. I’m not allowed to leave. A life sentence is a life sentence.” He sighed. “And anyway, where would I go?”

Ryhon watched Johlon’s eyes as they glistened in the firelight. He had heard the stories from his father. Johlon the banished. Johlon who lost his family. Johlon the man who singlehandedly…

Johlon turned to face him. “My work here has value, Ryhon from the kapital. I pray and I tend those that need it. Together they give me some small solace.”

A rumble began deep underground. Ryhon gripped the table, his eyes wide. “What is that? Blasting in the mine?” The noise grew until it drowned out the rain. The floor trembled and shook, like waves passing beneath him. He had been out on a boat a few times. The way they moved made him nervous. They never felt steady or safe. He’d rather a horse any day. This was worse than a boat. By the Seven.

Johlon watched him with a smile. “Aftershocks. Nothing to worry about. We’ve had them for weeks now, since the big one.” The movement subsided and Ryhon let go of the table. “It makes the mine dangerous. And it’s why the roof leaks.” He waved his hand above his head. “Moves the slates. Great timing, an earthquake just before the rainy season. Nassah’s work again, not doubt.”

The colour returned to Ryhon’s face. “He’s your favourite of the Seven?”

“It is to him I must atone for my delusions. And to Gaiah of course, although she is good at fixing our mistakes, given time.” Johlon dropped some dried leaves into the tea pot and poured hot water over them.

Ryhon considered his next question. This was not the man he expected to find: where was the restlessness, anger even, to reclaim some of his former life? Or at least escape this dreary prison in the north. Ryhon rubbed his left shoulder without realising it. The scar underneath his riding leathers was paler now, but still ached. Tohbah ambush. He used to laugh at his father’s aches and pains after half a lifetime in the army. Not anymore. “You could go back to the neutral zone. Explore again, live among the Kree perhaps. Teach them some of our ways.”

“They don’t need our ways. And the more I think about the way we live, the less I like them too.”

“What do you mean? With Gaiah’s help we have teknologies that give us better lives. We live in harmony with the gods, not like before the Reset. We certainly live better than the survivors.” He paused as Johlon filled the rough mugs. “Thank you. And these days we live better than the Tohbah, the Noovit, and the Kree as well. They don’t use teknology as well as us.”

“True, their lives have hardships that we avoid. But the Tohbah would use every teknology they could get if we let them.”

Ryhon shook his head. “They cannot be trusted, that’s why we have the restrictions.”

“And that’s why they buy and steal every machine they can, especially weapons.”

Ryhon took his chance. “That’s why I’m here. The last hunters to come out of the neutral zone before the rains started brought interesting news to the kapital. The earthquake uncovered treasure in the north west corner.”

Johlon watched the fire, sipped his tea and mulled Ryhon’s words. “The north west corner, eh?” Land of hills and valleys, forests and streams. Beautiful territory. It still would be no doubt. It was upwind of the Great Fire twenty three years ago.

“Huge fault lines have opened up. Great cliffs and ravines have been created, and exposed layers of rock. The hunters say they saw black seams running along the cliffs. Wide and thick. Fuel for our metal working.”

Johlon nodded. So that was what it was all about. Kohl for the fires of the kannon faktories. It also explained one other fact that had bothered him since Ryhon had stepped into his hut. Straight back, yes sir, no sir, military dagger at his belt. “So that’s why the army sent you, is it, lootenant?”

“Kaptain, sir. Just promoted. This is considered a matter of extreme importance for the future safety and prosperity of Skatch.”

Johlon took another sip of tea. “I bet it is.” Can’t have the neighbours getting hold of the fuel to start making their own guns. Still they were much more successful with guerrilla tactics. Trying to fight Skatch on its own terms was a fool’s game. But then, by Nassah’s wisdom, he had come to realise both sides were as deluded as each other. “You mean they don’t want Tohbah to get there first and try to steal it all.”

“Kohl is one of the restricted commodities.”

Johlon nodded. Yes. Restricted so that Tohbah resorted to buying scrap smuggled through the blockades just to make daggers and iron tipped arrows. And to fuel their furnaces they relied on charcoal, which was still in short supply since the Great Fire. Kannons were an extravagance they couldn’t afford. Yet.

“You know the terrain, you explored it many years ago and I need a guide.”

Johlon avoided Ryhon’s gaze. It was enough to hear the enthusiasm, the patriotism, the blind acceptance of the treaty and the restrictions. He didn’t need to see it. He had gone to the neutral zone all those years ago to get away from all that. Live free among the forest and the animals. Away from the politiks. He and Bekkah had hunted, traded with the Kree, tended a garden. They built a small homestead for the family they planned to have. He stopped himself. Best not go too far down that rabbit hole. At least that house had a roof that didn’t leak. He pushed himself to his feet and took the pot off the stove, topped up the tea pot and put the pot on the wet patch on the table under another leak. The wet wood sizzled and cloud of steam wafted up. He felt Ryhon’s eyes follow him.

“We must go quickly before the rains make the rivers impassable and turn the hills to mud. If the kohl gets covered over again we may never find it.”

“If that is Gaiah’s will, then so be it. Much better to explore after the rains are finished.” He had heard a rumour the old mines in the south west of Skatch were running low. The miners dug deeper and deeper for less and less result.

“No, that will be too late. We must ride north and meet up with the party from Tohbah before they reach the faults. They left Peg City ten days ago. Since it’s the neutral zone, under the treaty we must cooperate. The Great Kouncils will discuss what is to be done with any new resource.”

“But Skatch will decide.”

“Under the terms of the treaty, yes.”

Johlon cradled his mug. The neutral zone. The wedge-shaped expanse of territory that divided Skatch and Tohbah. By treaty neither county could occupy it and any resources where subject to joint decisions if it was allowed to be extracted at all. Sometimes the Kree vetoed it completely. For nearly a century it had provided a buffer between the two nations while also allowing the Kree to live outside the laws and customs of either country. They sensibly preferred it that way. The narrow end in the south was bordered by a network of small forts and lookouts as each country kept an eye on the other. But in the north it was unspoiled wilderness, forests and lakes, animals and birds. And small deposits of nyhtah and sulfur that were required ingredients for the powdah used in the mines, and for fireworks on festival days. And of course, for the army’s kannons.

He shuddered as a wave of grief swept over him. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. Gaiah, guide me in harmony with the web of life. Sollah, shine brightly and bring life to the world. All these years and a million prayers and he still felt the shame and regret. And most of all the loss.

Ryhon set his mug on the table. “I came here to take you on this expedition. You know the territory. This is possibly the most important undertaking in years. It could lead to another dispute, even war. We need to get there fast and find out if the hunters’ stories are true.”

Johlon shook his head slowly. “I haven’t been there for decades. Take a hunter. Someone who saw the kohl seams. They can guide you.”

Ryhon leaned forward. “I need a syhentist and a blaster. You are both. We will take powdah in case we need to open the seams.

“There are plenty who can use the powdah.”

Ryhon’s face hardened. “This expedition has the full support of the Kouncil.”

Johlon winced. Full support. He had heard those words before. Many years before. He and Bekkah had visited his family in the kapital one failed rainy season. One evening, under cover of darkness, Bernid, President of the Kouncil, visited his father’s house. His father was a government official and an old friend. Bernid asked Johlon to perform a secret mission to help achieve a grand alliance of Skatch and Tohbah. It would empower the alliance faction in the Tohbah Kouncil and swing the vote in their favour. At first, he had been reluctant. It violated the rules of the Seven. But Bernid was persuasive. He argued the greater good outweighed the short-term damage. He, his father and Bekkah had talked far into the night and finally agreed. For he and Bekkah a union of Skatch and Tohbah made sense since Bekkah was from Tohbah herself. Of course, nothing ever works out quite to plan. “Full public support?”

“The expedition is secret, both here and in Tohbah. No public announcement will be made until both Great Kouncils have discussed it and decision has been made.”

“Then definitely no.” Bernid had stepped down for period after his maximum term, then been reelected. It seemed he would never retire. Again? He expects me to fall for the same lie again? Bile rose in Johlons’ throat. He swallowed it down with a grimace. He picked up his mug and carried it to the basin on the bench under the window. “You can go now.”

Ryhon followed him with his eyes. “You have been in this place a long time. Surely you want out?”

Johlon stared at the reflection of the fire in the rippled windowpane. Nothing could bring back Bekkah. It didn’t matter where he was, he would be alone. “I don’t’ trust Ber…,” he choked on the name, “I don’t trust the Kouncil, Kaptain Ryhon. I will have nothing to do with them.”

Johlon stood up and reached inside his leathers. “Well, it seems I was wrong and the Kouncil was right. They anticipated you might be reluctant. They’re prepared to offer a deal.” He pulled a cylinder from his jacket, unwrapped the soft leather cover and unrolled two sheets of paper. “Your freedom in exchange for your cooperation. One kopy for you to carry, the other for you to give to whomever you please for safekeeping. If anything happens to yours, the second document will verify the Kouncil’s offer.”

Johlon turned slowly. Ryhon held out a kopy. “Read it for yourself.” Johlon grasped the page and sat by the lantern. His eyes flicked over the words. It was mercifully brief, and it was exactly as Ryhon had said. Release from the mine, and a new cottage in the neutral zone to sweeten the deal. No mention of past events though, and no apology. That would be too much to ask for. And he knew in his heart only the Seven could provide forgiveness. And he had to ask them himself, a million more times.

Ryhon held out the second page. Identical to the first, right down to the signature and the Kouncil seal at the bottom. “You won’t regret this. Trust me.”

Johlon searched Ryhon’s face. His voice hinted at something. What under the Seven’s watchful gaze was this kaptain up to? Or more importantly the Kouncil. Ryhon’s dark eyes gave away nothing. Johlon licked his lips. To his surprise the idea of freedom was more tempting than he expected. He thought he’d left that behind long ago. But the risks were huge. Johlon stared into the fire. Freedom, a cottage. His mouth moved but no words came.

Ryhon smiled. “Good. We leave in the morning. Get some rest.”

****

“This place looks even worse in daylight.” Ryhon glanced around at the ramshackle buildings and muddy paths between them. In the distance a dark mouth led into the mountain. The rain had paused but dark clouds hung in the west. The respite would be brief.

Johlon nodded as he hobbled from his hut carrying a leather bag of his own bag, and a big coil of fuse.

“We already have plenty of fuse.”

Johlon slapped his bent leg. “That’s what I thought when I got this.” He heaved the coil onto the horse and tied it on. He watched Ryhon check the straps on all the horses. Johlon looked over the loads, and then the bow slung over Ryhon’s back. “That’s not army issue.”

“No. I compete in tournaments. I prefer my own, custom made.”

Johlon nodded. Ryhon must be from a wealthy family. It made sense. No ordinary kaptain would be selected for something like this. His family had connections.

Overnight the mine manager had organised powdah, fuses, kohl testing cylinders, sample bags, tools, and rope. Another pack horse held the food and kamping gear, thick oil skins, spare horseshoes, nails, and water skins.

Ryhon gave Johlon a lift into the saddle and they set off to the east. “I can’t believe you stayed here so long.”

Johlon glanced back down the track. He had rarely gone beyond the kamp. “I told you. It was my chance to make amends.”

“But still, if it was me, I would have escaped after a week. Headed north and never come back. I’d have ridden so fast no one would ever catch me.”

Johlon chuckled. “I thought about it. Yes, you could go north to the tundra. To Noovit. But people would expect that. It’s close, a direct route.”

“So where would you go then?”

“Better to go south, under cover of the rain like now, when everyone stays inside. Get a boat, sail the canals and rivers down to the grey lakes. Then sail further east, beyond the treaty states, to the ocean territories, Niffinland, Sedwidland, maybe even as far as Greenland. They say it’s beautiful now the ice is half gone.”

Ryhon shook his head. “I hate boats. Can you sail?”

“My grandfather taught me when I was young. I think I could still do it. Like riding a horse, eh?” He leaned forward and patted the animal’s neck. “I thought about it a lot at the beginning.”

“Why didn’t you do it?”

He shrugged. “They kept a close eye on me. And my parents were still alive. I didn’t know what would happen to them.” Truth was he didn’t deserve freedom. Not after what he’d done. Yet, after twenty three years, here it was dangling in front of him. He looked back again. It was strange feeling leaving the mine behind. He half expected a posse to gallop up the trail behind them and drag him back.

Ryhon drifted ahead. “We head east for a while and then north up the neutral zone. We arranged to meet the Tohbah party at a specific location two days south of the northern boundary. I have a sextant and sun tables if we lose track of ourselves on the map.”

They rode for three hours and stopped by a lake to let the horses rest and drink. Johlon slid off the saddle and rubbed his rear. “I’m going to be sore tomorrow.”

Ryhon laughed. “And the next day and the next.” He pointed out across the lake. “I can see why you came here all those years ago.”

Johlon nodded. “Yes. I fell in love with all this when I was young. Then I got into prospecting in the neutral zone for nyhter and sulfah. I could make a living without having to be in the kapital or a town with all the bothers that go on there. And I met someone who wanted the same.”

“Your wife?”

Johlon nodded again and turned away before his eyes betrayed him.

“If it’s any consolation, you’re not the only man in the world to lose the love of his life.” Ryhon’s face was grim. “My father was transferred to Tohbah for several years when I was younger. I met a girl there and we…. My father got accused of spying a few months before the war of ’07. We left so fast I didn’t even get to say goodbye. I couldn’t write or visit after that. I went straight into the army. I’ve never loved anyone like that since.”

“Not your fault kaptain. Not like me.” Johlon paused. His mind dragged him back to times long ago. He moved further away and wiped a tear from his eye. Bekkah, by the Seven, I’m so sorry. For everything. Her smiling face was still as clear as day. He remembered his nervousness. She laughed and grabbed his hand. Placed it on her belly. The baby kicked, and he felt a glow of emotion like never before in his life. After the fire he not only lost her, but the baby too.

****

On the third day the rain was relentless. The previous night they had struggled to raise the tarps and get some sleep before water seeped in from everywhere. They headed north and met a swelling river that blocked their path.

Johlon studied the torrent. “We can’t go north here. The rivers in this region wind back and forth across the gorges a dozen times or more. If the water keeps rising we’ll be stuck half way with nothing but water and cliffs. We have to go further east.”

Ryhon stiffened. “If we get too close to Tohbah we could be arrested for spying.”

“It’ll be your job to look out for Tohbah patrols. I’m sure you’ve had practice at that.”

“Yes, but north is much more direct. Surely we could try for a day and see?”

Johlon shook his head. “And if one of the pack horses gets washed away with half our gear? No. You wanted my knowledge of the terrain, well that’s it.” He stabbed his finger in the air. “We have to go east. After that the trail north will be much easier.”

Ryhon turned and stared at the water. Finally, he turned back and nodded. “Ohkay.”

The next afternoon they cautiously crested a hill, scanning for Tohbah patrols, and saw smoke wafting through the rain in the distance. They tied the horses to a tree and crept forward on foot. They found cover and lay on a carpet of pungent wet pine needles. Ryhon pulled out a skope. “It’s a Tohbah outpost. Twenty to thirty men. They use them to mount patrols and keep an eye on the Kree.” He lowered the glass. “Can we go north here? I don’t want to go in behind that outpost. That would be asking for trouble.”

“Since when did the Skatch army slink off at the syht of a few Tohbah soldiers?”

Ryhon kept his eye glued to the skope. “It’s all politiks. If we’re friends it’s ohkay. Right now things are tense.”

Johlon grunted. He had no interest in the politiks in the kapital. If he had, maybe he would have made a different decision way back then.

Ryhon gasped, “By the Seven.”

“What?”

“Look,” Ryhon handed him the skope, “behind the outpost, they’ve cleared hundreds of acres.”

Johlon took in the outpost and then scanned right to see what lay behind.

“See? It’s normal to fell the trees around an outpost so you have a clear line of syht. But to clear such a large area makes no sense.”

Johlon lowered the skope. In a forest you had to fell trees and clear stumps to make a space to live. Big grassy meadows laid out for the pleasure and convenience of people were few and far between. “Unless they plan to build something there.”

“But it’s huge.”

“Looks about the size of the area around the fort on the Noovit border. I went there once. Just to say I’d been as far north in Skatch as I could go.” He handed back the skope.

“That holds a full brigade. Several thousand soldiers. If that’s true, then this is the start of the annexation of the neutral zone. There’s no other reason for such a big fort.”

“It would also stop a Skatch army from marching north through the neutral zone if Tohbah plans to take over the new kohl seams.”

“And getting there from the west over the hills would be hard. Especially if the passes are defended. I need to report this to my father.”

Johlon turned to face Ryhon. “Your father?

“He’s in the army too.”

“I thought he was diplomat.”

“He was, for a while.”

“So, he really was a spy?”

Ryhon shrugged. “Maybe. He never said.”

“Do we go back now, so you can report?” Johlon sighed. It seemed freedom would slip away once again.

“No, we go on. The fort isn’t built yet. There will be time for a response. We need to get to the meeting point. We are two days behind skedule already.” He scanned from left to right. “We can go back west a bit and then go north, or go around behind them.”

Johlon looked out over the outpost to the forest behind. “Based on my memory the way north is easier to the east. I say we go behind.”

Ryhon hesitated a moment, then nodded. “Ohkay. We wait for dusk and pass by to the south,” he pointed to a dense band of trees with a stream running through it, “and then kamp for the night. Hopefully the stream and the rain will cover our tracks. Let’s head south for now, we can eat and rest awhile.”

“How could they get away with this without the army knowing?

Ryhon scowled. “Our patrols were scaled back at Tohbah request, to reduce the chances of a skirmish.”

“How convenient for them.”

Ryhon nodded. “They have a certain rat cunning.” He rubbed his shoulder. “I lead a patrol into an ambush in the neutral zone. The raid seemed to have no purpose at all, except to cause a few casualties to splash on the front page of the weekly news sheet in Peg.”

****

“Ain’t nothing in this forest dry enough to burn hot, sir.”

Mayther laughed. “No, Verrill, we will have lukewarm beans for dinner. Again.” He wore the green of the Tohbah army and a knife at this side.

Verrill bent to pick up a stick. “How long we gonna wait here for them Skatch?”

Mayther straightened and stared south. “Dunno. Maybe one more day. If they don’t turn up, all the better for us.” He smiled. “We map the seams and get back home as fast as we can.”

“Gonna be another war then.”

“Maybe. If the Skatch try and stop us using this kohl. They got kohl, why shouldn’t we?” War wasn’t fun. He and Verrill knew that well enough. The damn Skatch were hard to beat. But skulking round in the forest picking off small targets wasn’t his style. If the only way to get the kohl was war then so be it. The new military leaders in the Kouncil agreed. He eyeballed his bundle of wood, and Verrill’s. “Ohkay, that’ll do. Let’s get back.”

Ayleen looked up as they entered the kamp. “I filled up the water skins and the pot.”

Mayther dumped his bundle and smiled at her. “Great. Wood’s half wet but we might get some heat out of it. They huddled under a lean to. Water ran off the end in sheets. They huddled in their oil skins around the sputtering fire. “You’re sure this is the right spot?”

Ayleen nodded. “I got a good fix at that lake yesterday, when the sky cleared for a little while. We’re in the right place. Maybe the rain has held them up?”

Mayther grunted.

Ayleen stared out at the rain dripping off the tarp. “I was looking at the map. If the western gorges were flooded they might have to go the long way around. It’ll take them days.”

He looked up. “How long do you think?”

Ayleen reached behind her and pulled out a map. “Four or five days if they went this way.” She traced a line with her finger

“Which means a few more days,” said Verrill. He added more wood to the fire.

Mayther nodded. “Depends on when they started out. Word from Skatch is that they weren’t sure who to send. Might’ve taken a while to get their party together.” He squatted beside Ayleen. “How many days to the kohl seams from here? If we move fast?”

“We’re here.” She pointed at a dot on the map. “The hunters’ report says the seams are about here.” She traced her finger west across the map to a series of valleys running north to south. “One or two days at most.”

“And how long for you and that thodlite to map the seams?” Ayleen was the surveyor and mapmaker. The Tohbah Kouncil wanted an accurate map before negotiations started, so Skatch couldn’t try and pull the wool over their eyes.

She shrugged. “Well, after we’ve found the seams, three or four days. I’ll need one of you to hold the post, and the other can do the scouting.”

Mayther gave her a grin. “I don’t mind doing some post holding.” Damn right he didn’t. She was pretty and smart and well, inviting her on this expedition wasn’t exactly an accident. He was told they needed a civilian for appearances. And what better than a pretty young woman to lull the Skatch into a false sense of security. Verrill looked up from the fire and gave him a wink.

Ayleen smiled at Mayther. “Good. We can be home and dried out in three weeks.”

Mayther felt his cheeks getting warm. “Get some food going Verrill, I’m hungry and I’m sure Ayleen is too. Move your ass.”

Mayther stood up and went to check the horses. The rain eased a little as he and returned to the kamp. Ayleen sat under her tarp brushing her long blonde hair. He stood and watched. She looked up and her blue eyes held his without blinking.

“What are you staring at kaptain?”

“Your beautiful hair, miss.”

She grinned. “Is that so? Just my hair?”

“Definitely not miss.”

She laughed. “I’m sure I could have you kourt marshalled for that, kaptain. ‘Konduct unbecoming an officer’. Isn’t that the term?”

“Yes, it is, ma’am.” He made a mock salute. “All depends on whether you’re offended or not, and I’m hoping not.”

She continued brushing. “Maybe I’ll let you off this time.”

He stepped under the tarp. “I’m curious Ayleen. Why did a pretty young thing like you decide to be a mapmaker, out here lugging around that thodlite?”

“You mean why aren’t I married off, having babies and gossiping over tea and biskits with my married friends?”

Mayther grinned. “Maybe.” That was exactly what he was thinking, while at the same time very glad she wasn’t.

“My grandmother said I was too smart to sit around and gossip all day. And I ain’t too fond of gowning up either.” She smiled. “I’ve always loved maps. I used to draw them as a kid and dig up the garden trying to find treasure. My Grandmama would bury things for me to find.”

“She sounds like a great lady.”

“She is.” She pressed her hand to the pendant that hung around her neck. “And you kaptain, what made you join the army?”

He shrugged. “My father was a soldier and it sounded exciting. I just always thought I’d do the same.” Of course, his father had left out the bits about friends dying, limbs cut off, and the vinegary aftertaste of defeat. But then, what kid was going to listen to any of that? He had just retired to a small farm outside Peg where the most dangerous thing was an ornery horse or a hungry pig.

“Will there be war, kaptain. Over this kohl? It’s happened before hasn’t it?”

“Mayther, call me Mayther.”

She nodded.

“I hope not Ayleen, for all our sakes.” He cast a glance at Verrill serving up three bowls of beans. Back on the border three brigades stood waiting to move in and build the forts they had planned.

“We move quick enough, Skatch will have to back down and let us have the kohl. They burned our forests, the only way to let Gaiah restore them is to burn kohl instead, until they can regrow.”

****

At dawn Ryhon and Johlon skirted the outpost and headed north. What confronted them left them stunned. Ryhon pulled has horse to halt and gaped at the destruction.

“Seven,” whispered Johlon.

East of the outpost, hidden by the thick forest, they stumbled on a moonscape. Tree stumps as far as the eye could see. And a road that lead directly back to Tohbah. Every tree for miles had been felled and hauled away. A few straggly saplings poked up through the trash. Gaiah was beginning to repair the damage. Maybe after the rains a new forest would sprout.

“I guess the wood shortage in Tohbah is much worse than we thought.”

Johlon nodded. The porridge in his stomach turned to lead. The wood shortage. First there was the drought, then the fire, then the war. Tohbahs’ forests had burned like a Halwenn bonfire. Skatch had extended aid and proposed a grand union of the two countries to share resources. But the Tohbah Kouncil had blamed Skatch for the fire and retaliated. The drought broke two years later but the forests had still not fully recovered.

“Come on, let’s get moving, It’s too open here. If a patrol comes this way, we’ll be sitting ducks.” Ryhon urged his horse forward and Johlon followed. They pressed on until late in the evening, their way lit by a rare syhting of the moon.

Next morning, they were up early and travelling northwards again, never mind Johlon’s sore behind. Ryhon was jettin it. Johlon was sure that whatever the kohl seams showed was only half the story.

The following day, they were astounded again. More felled forests and another road leading east. Freshly built. Ryhon took a sextant reading using the reflection of a watery sun in a small lake, consulted his book of sun tables and found the location on the map. “This is it, this the trail we need to take west.”

“Only it’s not a trail anymore.”

Ryhon nodded. “This was built before we heard about the kohl. I heard the new Kouncil in Tohbah had doubled the number of labour gangs for road maintenance. Now it makes sense.”

“Which means?”

“We’re heading into a hornet’s nest.”

“Your father will be impressed with your report, I’m sure.” But the consequences were more than Johlon cared to think about. If there was a war, his freedom would be worthless. And if Tohbah took over the neutral territories, his cottage in the woods may as well be one of the mythical cities on the moon. Only children believed the stories of footprints up there, let alone cities. Travelers from the south said a giant rocket lay on its side under the water in Florda. The Spoilers had tried and failed to leave the planet they had trashed. Another of Nassah’s delusions. Gaiah had prevailed in the end.

“It explains another thing that’s been bothering me. We haven’t seen any Kree this whole trip. I think the Tohbah have pushed them north, away from all this construction.”

“You can add it to your report.”

They rode a half mile north of the road then turned west. Enough distance to hide if they heard riders, or run if the riders saw them. Ryhon rode up beside Johlon and took a deep breath. “I may not live long enough to make any report. If I’m killed and you survive you must tell the kapital what we have seen. My father’s name is Orin. You will find him at the army headquarters.”

Johlon reined in his horse. “Orin is your father?”

Ryhon stopped and half turned. “Yes. Why?”

“Orin, nephew of Bernid?”

“Yes.”

Johlon spat. “You lied to me. You said this had Kouncil approval.”

“It has, I gave you the sealed documents.”

“That’s what Bernid told me last time.” Johlon shuddered and bent over in the saddle, his eyes squeezed shut. How could he be so stupid? Fool me once…Oh Nassah, save me from myself.

Ryhon rode back beside him. “What’s wrong?”

Johlon slowly straightened and opened his eyes. His glare found Ryhons’ s face. “You don’t know?”

Ryhon shook his head.

“It was your great uncle that asked me to set the fire.”

****

“Kyhnah, make me productive that I may serve the world, and free me from my fears. Nassah, dispel illusion and falsehood. Onkoh, restrain me from excess and ground me in humility. Heedoh, grant me enjoyment in my efforts and contentment in my possessions.”

Johlon chanted his prayers constantly to dispel the bleak visons that besieged his mind. They rode until they reached the meeting point near nightfall. The rain had resumed, and it wasn’t possible to chart their position precisely but the evidence of the Tohbah kamp was clear. The muddy tracks and trampled ground told the story of a small group who had stayed for several days. But they were gone.

The next day they set off as fast as the pack horses could handle. Johlon brought up the rear, his prayers the only relief from the sense of impending doom.

“Gaiah, guide me in harmony with the web of life. Sollah, shine brightly and bring life to the world. Meetor, bring rain and wind to feed our crops and turn our wheels. Kyhnah, make me productive that I may serve the world, and free me from my fears.”

Darkness fell and the rain bombarded them with malevolent intensity but still they pressed on. Johlon’s stomach rumbled and for this he gave thanks as it focused his attention on physical matters and quieted his mind.

They were about to call a halt when a light in the distance spurred them on. Fifty yards from the fire Ryhon called out. “Halloh!”

A shadow passed in front of the fire, blacking it out. He called again. “Halloh friends!”

The shadow loomed larger. A man. “Greetings riders of Skatch. We have been expecting you.”

Ryhon and Johlon chose a spot a little away from the Tohbah party, set up their tarps and unpacked the horses.

A voice called out. “Bring your plates and come and eat. We saved you some white tail.”

Ryhon and Johlon joined the others around the fire. The Tohbah party was huddled under a tarp, still wearing oil skins pulled forward over their heads, faces half hidden in shadow.

A man stood and clasped hands with both of them. “I am Mayther, kaptain of our party. Welcome.”

“Greetings from Skatch. I am Kaptain Ryhon of Jyhnah and with me is Johlon the syhentist.”

“With me are Ayleen the mapmaker and Verrill the scout, and he’s an excellent cook.”

Johlon heard Ryhon catch his breath. Verrill took their plates and loaded them with venison. “This is better than anything you’ve eaten the last few days, I’ll bet.”

“Thank you.” Ryhon sat and began to eat. Johlon’s stomach tightened at the smell. He had long since lost the toughness of a life on the trails. He mumbled quickly under his breath, “Gaiah, thank you for this bounty,” and began stuffing food into his mouth.

The Tohbah party waited a few minutes while they ate, then Mayther spoke again. “You’re late. We got tired of waiting for you at the meeting point and came here.”

Ryhon nodded under his hood. “I understand. Our path was blocked. The river gorges to the south were impassable. We made a detour to the north west.”

“Which trail did you follow?”

“We followed hunters tracks until we met the trail west of the meeting point.”

Johlon stopped chewing a moment. Ryhon was right. Given what they had seen, it was safer not to let on exactly where their path had taken them.

Mayther grunted. “You are fortunate Skatch hunters come to these parts so frequently.”

Ryhon laughed. “Yes, the white tail and moose bring many hunters here. And I can understand why, this venison is very tasty Verrill.” He chewed a while longer then asked the question that been on their minds since they left the mine. “I presume you have scouted since you arrived. Have you found signs of the kohl seams the hunters claimed to see?”

Johlon started at Mayther’s darkened face. He turned to each of his companions as if making up his mind how much to say. He took a breath and exhaled slowly. “Yes, we found the kohl seams. There will be energy aplenty for Tohbah and Skatch from this find.”

So it was true. And if Mayther’s attitude represented the Tohbah Kouncil accurately it would be a very difficult negotiation. Johlon raised his voice for the first time since they arrived. “How large is this resource, from your scouting so far?”

Verrill spoke up. “We’ve mapped two seams so far and scouted four more in the new fault lines to the north and west.”

Johlon nodded. “Tomorrow I will test the kohl. See if is genuine and measure its strength.”

Mayther nodded. “Certainly syhentist, and I will observe your tests. Your kaptain can scout for a day while Ayleen and Verrill continue the mapping.”

Ryhon put down his plate and wiped his hands on the wet grass. “I trust you are making two copies of the map.”

The woman’s voice answered in a measured tone. “Rest assured kaptain, you will have your map.”

Johlon felt Ryhon stiffen beside him. Ryhon coughed. “Thank you, mapmaker. The maps will be very important for the discussions when we return home.”

Mayther leaned forward. “Discussions?” He spat the word out in slow, long syllables.

Johlon swallowed his last mouthful and waved his hand, putting a smile in his voice. “Such things are for the diplomats and Kouncillors. We needn’t worry ourselves about that here.”

Mayther laughed loudly. The menace was unmistakable. “Skatch will not dictate to Tohbah how this resource will be used, and who will use it. We need it to replace the wood from our forests, destroyed by the fire you lit.”

Johlon cringed. Ryhon shot him a glance, then spoke. “That is for the diplomats to decide, and the Kologists. Uncontrolled kohlfire wrecked the world and left Gaiah poisoned and sick.”

“Skatch uses kohlfire. Why shouldn’t Tohbah?”

“We use very little and only for approved purposes.”

“Like kannons to sink our trade ships?”

“And protect them from pyhrates. It’s been years since a kannon was fired on any Tohbah ship.”

“They fired on our soldiers recently enough.” The last war was only a few years ago. From his tone it seemed that Mayther was personally acquainted with it.

Ryhon sighed. “The restrictions are for the good of all. The Kologists’ laws are clear. Heedoh tells us to be content with our possessions, not desire ever more. Those laws are…”

“The Kologists do not enforce the restrictions. The Kologists do not invade our territory each time Tohbah seeks to make its own policies, or use its own resources for the benefit of its people. The Skatch army does.” Mayther stood and jabbed his finger at Ryhon. “Our famers toil in the fields so we can sell potatoes, barley and beans for whatever Skatch lets us have in return, while you guard your teknology and machines to stop us making our own goods.”

Johlon felt Ryhon tense but his voice remained clam. “The temptations of teknology are many and dangerous.”

“And useful to defend ourselves from invaders.”

Ayleen spoke up, “Enough talk of diplomats and negotiations for tonight. I will get some more wood. Our visitors are tired, and we have a lot of work to do tomorrow. We should rest.” She patted Mayther on the shoulder and strode toward a copse of trees to gather sticks.

Ryhon leapt to his feet. “I will help you. We can’t enjoy your fire without providing some wood.” He bent and grabbed a burning stick as a torch and held it aloft.

He caught up with Ayleen. “Over here. I think I see a dry patch.” Ayleen paused, then turned and followed him. Ryhon pushed the burning stick into the soft earth.

Ayleen squatted a few yards away and gathered some sticks. “What are you doing here?”

“I heard you were coming, and I had to see you.”

“Horse shit. You’re a double-crossing liar.”

“Ayleen please. I was forced to leave Tohbah. Then the war started, and the borders closed. The post wouldn’t even accept my letters.”

“Your father was a spy. How do I know you weren’t just using me?”

“I didn’t know what my father was doing. He never told me anything. The last thing I wanted was to leave you.”

Ayleen turned away and threw some more sticks on her pile. “Five years ago I might have fallen for your fancy words.” She kicked a stone into the darkness. “Not anymore.”

“I wrote you a hundred letters.”

“I don’t believe you.” She gathered up the sticks. “This is enough for tonight, I’m going back. Stay away from me.”

Ryhon picked up his bundle, grabbed the torch and hurried after her.

Ayleen dumped her sticks under the tarp by the fire and strode to her sleeping tarp in the shadows. Mayther followed her. “Are you ohkay?”

“I don’t trust the Skatch.” She straightened her bedroll and turned to face hm. “Would you bring your tarp closer.”

Mayther leaned close. “Of course. And I will warn Verrill to keep a close eye on them. If they touch you, or get in the way of this expedition,” he patted his dagger, “they won’t make it home.”

****

Ayleen and Verrill left at dawn to survey the seams. Johlon lay snoring on his own while Ryhon and Mayther avoided each other as they each readied themselves for the day. When the food was warmed Ryhon nudged Johlon with his boot. “Time to get moving, the morning is already half gone. Eat.”

Johlon groaned, rolled out of his bed roll and squinted at the sunlight. By the Seven, the rain had stopped. He could even see patches of blue between the clouds. Good weather for his experiments. After breakfast Ryhon rode out with a sketch map to scout more ravines. Mayther hefted a sack and dropped it at Johlon’s feet.

“Is this enough kohl for your tests?”

Johlon nodded. “Plenty.” He selected a lump of the shiny black material in the sack. “First, let’s see if it burns, shall we?” He tossed it into the middle of the fire. They watched in silence as the flames licked around the edges until one corner began to glow orange. Jolon blinked. It was true, they really had found kohl. Mayther smiled.

Johlon laid out his scales, a thermometer, and two ancient battered metal cylinders. He scrabbled in the bag for small piece of kohl. He set it on his scales and made a note of the weight.

Mayther watched over his shoulder. “How do you measure the strength?”

Johlon pointed to the smaller of the two cylinders. “This is a kalorimeter. I will burn the small piece of kohl inside. By placing it in the bigger cylinder with water and measuring the temperature before and after, I can calculate how much energy is in the kohl.” He lifted the bigger cylinder. “Fill this with water, up to the mark.”

Mayther hoisted it onto his shoulder and trotted down to a stream.

Johlon repeated the experiments until the sun was well past noon. Mayther cooked some food and they ate together. “So, is the kohl good?”

“I need to do the sums. It will take me while. It’s been a long time since I did this kind of work.”

“Then why did they send you?”

“I was close. I work at a mining kamp in the north. And I know this territory a bit. I came here when I was younger.”

Mayther nodded. “How long ‘til we know.”’

“Soon enough my friend, soon enough.”

Mayther scowled and ate another mouthful.

“Are you in a hurry to get back?”

“You are not?”

Johlon shrugged. “I like it out here. I dreamed of living in this wilderness once.”

“What happened?”

“The usual. War. Death. I ended up at the mining kamp instead. Not nearly as pikturesk.”

Mayther laughed and reached for Johlon’s empty plate. “You can enjoy the view after you finish your sums. I’ll wash these.”

Johlon returned to his tarp and sat in the shade to do the calculations with his notebook and teks book. Knowledge carefully preserved from before the Reset.

Every quarter hour Mayther came to pester him for an answer. Finally Johlon stood and rubbed his bent leg, satisfied he had the answer. He limped to the stream to wash. Mayther came up behind him.

“So, is it good quality kohl?”

“Well, this is not a proper laboratory, but I think my results are satisfactory. Yes, it’s good kohl.”

“Good enough to smelt metals?”

“I think so, yes.” Johlon sighed. Good enough to build more kannons so the next war will be even worse than the last. He limped back to the kamp. “I’ll make you a kopy of my work.”

“Good. “Mayther ambled beside him. “What happened to your leg?”

“Mining accident.” He picked up the cylinders and carried them down to the stream to wash one last time.

Mayther gathered up several water skins and followed him. “My father limps a little too. Shrapnel from a Skatch kannon in the last war.”

Ryhon trotted back into kamp as the sun hung low in the sky. After he watered his horse he sat down by the fire.

Johlon lifted a pot off the flames. “Tea?” He filled a mug.

“Thank you. I’m parched.” Ryhon blew the steam off and whispered. “There’s lots of kohl out there. The earthquake has opened up many faults. I found four more seams to add to the map.”

Johlon nodded and sipped his tea. “I finished my tests. It’s good kohl. Mayther is pleased. I’m sure he’s already imagining the kannons rolling out of the foundry.”

“Our Kouncil won’t let that happen.” Ryhon took a sip.

Johlon shrugged. “I think I’ll go exploring tomorrow. See if there are any other minerals worth mining here. Can you draw me a kopy of the map?”

“Sure, I’ll do it now. Where’s Mayther?”

“Out looking for another white tail for dinner. He got bored waiting and as soon as I finished the kalkulations, he was off with his bow.”

“I’ll draw two copies of the map and hide one. We have to make sure Skatch knows what we found.”

“You think they’ll kill us?”

“They’re preparing for war. Two men pushed over a cliff in the middle of nowhere will be nothing if it comes to that.”

“Where will you hide it?”

“I arranged a set of signs for someone to follow if we don’t make it back. They know the location of this kamp. The signs will lead them to the hiding place.”

Johlon nodded and stood up. “I’ll made extra kopies.”

Horse hooves thudded in the distance. Mayther soon pulled up with a carcass slung over the haunches of his mount. “Venison for dinner again my friends. Stoke up the fire.” He jumped down and pulled off the deer. In a flash his knife was out and he began to skin and gut the animal. Johlon went in search of more wood. Ryhon followed him, stopping to pick up the odd stick, but more intent on finding a suitable hiding spot. He strode up a slope to a rocky outcrop. He soon found what he was after, a sheltered crevice, easy to conceal with a nearby boulder. He returned to Johlon’s side. “I found a place.”

Johlon nodded. Ryhon had tempted him on this expedition with the promise of freedom and a life away from the dreary confines of the mining kamp. Instead he found himself contemplating his own death.

Kyhnah, make me productive that I may serve the world, and free from my fears.

Had he served the world? Nassah had failed to spare him from delusion and his life’s work had amounted to little. And yet here he was about to lose everything for a second time. Kyhnah, make me productive that I may serve the world, and free from my fears.

We should not fear death, the Kologists taught. It was a natural part of life. He cast a long glance back at the kamp. Was there was still a chance to do some good? He paused as an aftershock rumbled beneath them. Perhaps Gaia would do the job herself.

“My grandfather used to say life is like sailing.”

“How so?”

“The wind, the waves. You can use Meetor’s energy but you must work with it, respect it. You can’t demand it go against its nature. She does not work in straight lines, you must tack back and forth, and slowly reach your destination.” He sipped from his water skin. “Short cuts bring your destination closer, certainly, but in the end you can never reach them.”

“Short cuts?”

“Yes. Like kohlfire. Trying to speed up the natural way of things. Gaiah will punish you eventually, even if you evade other penalties. I wasn’t even that lucky.”

The venison was spitting over the fire when Ayleen and Verrill returned to kamp at dusk.

Johlon poured tea into two mugs. He held them out as they neared the fire. “Welcome back.”

Ayleen took off her hat and ran her hand through her hair. She reached for the mug. “Thank you syhentist.”

Johlon could not respond. His voice had flown with the breeze. Her blonde hair, blue eyes, pointed chin. His hands trembled and spilt the tea. She grasped the mug. “Are you ohkay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Sorry, young miss,” he stammered, “my leg is not too steady.”

Verrill reached for the other mug.

“Please, sit down.” Ayleen gripped his arm and led him back to the fire.

Mayther turned the meat over the fire. “How many did you map today?”

Verrill grinned. “We did four, and some more caves. Ayleen says I’m a natural.”

Mayther reached out to give him a shove. “Watch yourself soldier.” He went back to the food. “The kaptain found another four today so there is at least one more day of work.”

Ayleen sat beside Mayther. He turned and smiled. “It’s been a good day all round. The syhentist here says it’s good kohl.”

Ayleen smiled back, then cast a glance around the kamp. “Where’s …?”

Mayther nodded towards Ryhon’s tarp. She nodded and smiled again. “You’ve been hunting.”

“Yes, nothing but the best for this expedition.”

Johlon stared at Ayleen. If she was a ghost, she was a very real one. Her nose, the way she brushed back her hair. The lead in the pit of his stomach grew heavier and heavier, yet he could not tear his eyes away. Memories came flooding back and his eyes began to water. He squeezed them tight. Such a resemblance. Of course, there were many blond-haired people in Tohbah, descendants of survivors from south of the grey lakes. Seeing someone like her was not impossible. Quite likely even. He held his head in his hands. The sooner he got out of this kamp the better. Oh Bekkah.

He staggered to his feet and shuffled down to the stream. He knelt and washed his face and brushed back his lank hair. He would sleep straight after dinner and leave early in the morning to prospect. Stay away from her. The resemblance was too much. He began to pray under his breath.

He felt a presence beside him. A splash of water. He kept his eyes closed and murmured the prayers that had sustained him all these long years.

“Thank you again for the tea.”

His heart pounded. He opened his eyes, took a deep breath. “You’re welcome.”

“Are you sure you’re ohkay? You look pale as a sheet.”

“Just tired. It was long ride getting here. My rear end still hurts.”

She laughed and he clamped his eyes shut tight again. The sound was so like Bekkah’s. He shook his head.

“Please, sit and rest.” She held his arm as he rocked back on the grass. He rubbed his bent leg and tried to gather his thoughts.

“I’m sorry to worry you.”

“Do you need water. More tea perhaps?”

“No, no. I’m fine.”

“Fine my pretty ass. That’s what my Grandmama used to say. She came from a village outside Peg and didn’t care much for fancy city ways.”

Johlon laughed. “Quite a woman by the sound of it.”

“Yes, she raised me on her own after Grandpa died.”

“What happened to your parents?” His own guilt surfaced again, and he almost choked on the words.

Her hand rested on his arm. Johlon kept his eyes down. “My mother died when I was born. Komplications.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“I never met my father. Grandmama never told me what happened to him, or even his name.”

Johlon shook his head. Tears sprang from his eyes.

“Hey, what’s wrong.”

He wiped his eyes. “Your story. So sad. I don’t know what to say.”

“It’s ohkay. I have my Grandmama.” She knelt in front of him. “Let me look in your eyes.” She held his head and stared intently. “Grandmama said you can see in their eyes when someone is sick.”

He shook his head, but she held him firmly. “Stop moving.”

Her blue eyes blurred in front of him.

Finally, she dropped her hands. “Can’t see anything.”

She leaned forward on her hands to push herself up and her pendant dangled out of her shirt.

Johlon’s eyes widened. “That’s lovely. Where did you get it?” He pointed to the pendant.

“My Grandmama gave it to me.”

“May I see?”

“Sure.” She drew the leather cord over her head and held it out.

He turned the pendant over in his hand. Elegant stone swirls. An ancient fossil preserved for eternity. “I knew someone who had a pendant like this, many years ago.”

He had given it to Bekkah before they were married. She laughed and said it was a very syhentifik gift. But beautiful too. Johlon told her their love would last as long as the fossil and they had danced around the room.

“It’s beautiful.”

Ayleen nodded. “Yes. Grandmama said may father gave it to my mother. She told me she held it her hand, right up until the moment she passed.”

Johlon looked up at her. Tears welled again. He wiped his face on his sleeve. Surely it could not be? Their baby had died at birth. They had told him that. When they closed the border just before the war, Bekkah was forced to go home. Seven days hard riding with a baby in her belly. The trip brought on the birth and neither survived. That’s what they told him all those years ago, when he was banished to the mine.

He shook his head again to clear his mind. How many years was it? He forced a smile and handed back the pendant. “You are young for an expedition such as this. May I ask how old you are.”

“Twenty three years next month.”

He closed his eyes and lay back on the grass. Breathing was impossible. All thought ceased. All he could do was cry with joy. Bekkah was gone but their child had lived.

Ayleen knelt over him then raised her head, “Ryhon! The syhentist is having a heart attack!”

“Johlon, Johlon.” Ayleen shook his shoulder. “Say something, are you ohkay?”

Johlon opened his eyes and smiled. “I’m fine.” He saw Ryhon appear behind her wearing a frown. Ryhon nodded his head toward Ayleen. Johlon smiled again and nodded. “Thank you, kaptain.”

“What?” Ayleen half turned. “What is it?”

“I think he’s just exhausted. We rode hard to get here. Let’s get him back to the fire.”

They hauled Johlon up and draped one arm over each of their shoulders. They staggered for a few paces before Ryhon stopped. “Ayleen, before we go back there’s something you should know.”

Her face turned stony and she eyed him in silence.

“On our way here, we came across a new road, probably the same one you followed to get here.”

She nodded. “So what? We need a road to get the kohl.”

Ryhon took a breath. “The road was built months before we even heard about the kohl. Before the earthquake even. And there’s another one further south, and both have huge clearings, big enough for forts.”

Ayleen scowled, “Skatch lies.”

Johlon shook his head. “It’s true. I saw it too.”

“Tohbah is planning to take over most of the neutral zone and I think it plans to keep all the kohl. The Kree have already been driven north.”

“Horse shit.”

“Then why build roads and clear land for forts in the wilderness?”

Ayleen glared at him. “Maybe to stop Skatch stealing everything we find.”

Ryhon closed his eyes for moment. “I can’t claim everything Skatch does is right. But this kohl, the roads, the forts.” He shook his head. “Ayleen, we need to do something or there will be another war.”

Ayleen grimaced. “Tell your jenerals to leave us alone and we’ll be fine. You can start with your father. Come on let’s get him back to the fire.”

Johlon frowned. They argued like old friends. Then he realised it made perfect sense. They knew each other in Tohbah, that’s how Ryhon had worked out Ayleen was his daughter.

They helped Johlon back and seated him on a log. Mayther looked up “What’s the matter?”

Johlon raised his hand “Don’t worry kaptain. I’ll be fine.”

Ryhon turned to Ayleen. “Let’s get some more wood before dark to keep him warm.”

She hesitated, eyes narrowed. “Ohkay.”

She saw Mayther glance up. She smiled. “Back in a minute. That venison smells great.”

They headed toward some tall trees. “Don’t try your sad little ‘I tried to write’ speech again or I’ll puke.”

Ryhon strode ahead of her. “I did write. I even tried to pay a smuggler to deliver a message. No one would accept. Too scared of getting shot as a spy.”

“Not surprising since you were one.”

“Maybe my father was, I don’t know for sure. But I wasn't.” He turned to face her. “I came here to see you, that is the truth. As soon as I heard the names of the Tohbah party I volunteered. I knew it would be my only chance to talk to you again.” Ayleen kept her back to him and searched in the gloom for sticks. “But there’s something else you should know.”

She straightened and half turned. “What?”

“That syhentist there. I chose him for a reason but even he didn’t know until now.” He glanced back at the kamp.

She rested the bundle of sticks on her hip. “For Seven’s sake. Are you going to tell me?”

He smiled. “Ayleen, Johlon is your father.”

“What?”

“It’s true.”

“But he died.”

“That was the official story.”

Her hand rose to her throat. “He knew my pendant.”

Ryhon nodded. “When we were together in Tohbah you told me what your Grandmama told you. After we left I spoke to my father and eventually worked it out.”

“By the Seven.” Ayleen marched back to the fire, dumped the sticks and sat down. Her hand reached inside her shirt and pulled out the stone. She clasped it tightly in her hand and closed her eyes.

Father? After all these years? Ayleen kept her eyes clenched shut and tried to remember the snippets she had heard from Grandmama. He and her mother had spent time in the neutral zone, then things turned bad, but nobody knew the details. Or so she said.

Mayther carved roasted meat off with his knife and handed Ayleen her plate. “Wake up sleepy. Here, first cut.”

She opened her eyes and smiled. “Thank you.” She picked at the meat but even her rumbling tummy couldn’t stop her mind swirling like windmill in a storm.

Mayther served up the other plates then sat down with his own. He leaned in close and whispered. “You alright? That Ryhon keeping his distance?”

She nodded.

“Good.” He put his mouth right by her ear. “Won’t matter soon. Verrill and me got a plan to get rid of them for good. Skatch will get the news in two months when it’ll be too late.” He grinned and took a bite of venison.

Ayleen stared at the side of his face. She could see he wasn’t joking. Her pulse raced and she choked on her meat. She scanned the faces. Johlon kept glancing up at her, couldn’t get the smile off his face. Ryhon looked grim. Could he be right? Tohbah was planning war, even before the earthquake?

Ryhon put down his plate. “Kaptain. I would like to talk about the kohl again.”

Mayther curled his lip. “Say whatever you want, kaptain, ain’t gonna make no difference.”

“Remember the stories the Kologists tell us about how the Spoilers got so tangled up in teknology they couldn’t live without it. They lived in cities disconnected from Gaiah. They had kars to carry them around. Fones to talk to each other. Didn’t do anything themselves. But them and their machines just ate more and more of Gaiah until she bit them back.”

Mayther shifted in his seat. “What’s your point?”

“What I’m saying is that kohl and teknology just leads to more teknology and before we know it, we’re ruining Gaiah again like the Spoilers before the Reset. They have to be restricted.”

“Not your decision or mine Skatch. We’re gonna use this kohl to fix our country. Peaceable development the new Kouncil calls it.”

Ayleen squirmed. Her Grandmama reckoned all Kouncil slogans were sweet smelling horse shit, but horse shit all the same.

Ryhon persisted. “More tek is not the answer. The Spoilers taught us that. They craved more and more but forgot the true meaning of life. Our prayers remind us of that every day.”

Mayther ignored him and tore off another chunk of meat. “It’s not just tek. There are the trade restrictions too.”

“Trade can reduce shortages, of course. But it also leads to exploitation, forests felled in faraway lands to grow crops, or for fuel.” Ryhon saw Mayther tense. “More people, more damage to Gaiah and then when the lean years come, it can turn into famine, like it did in the Reset.”

Mayther shook his head. “Our konomists say different. Trade the way Skatch runs it ain’t fair. It just means our farmers sweating in the fields for a few rich faktory owners on the other side of the neutral zone.”

Johlon tore his eyes away from Ayleen and focused on Mayther. “Kaptain, I was young and idealistic once. I wanted the best for my country and Tohbah too for that matter. But I was wrong, and I hurt my family, myself, and both our countries.” He shifted his gaze back to Ayleen.

Ayleen stared back at him. They hadn’t had a chance to talk. But he was saying something now.

Mayther shook his head. “I have my orders. Tohbah needs this kohl.”

Johlon shrugged. “The orders of men are sometimes flawed.” Ayleen saw Ryhon turn toward Johlon. Johlon ignored him. “We call the people before the Reset the Spoilers. What will our descendants call us if we make the same mistakes knowing full well the consequences? We should remember the wisdom of the Kologists.”

Mayther scowled. “Save your breath Skatch.”

Ryhon cut in. “Your Kouncil is making a bad mistake.”

Mayther leapt to his feet and drew his dagger. “Keep your mouth shut, or I will shut it for you.”

Ayleen leapt up and grabbed Mayther’s arm with both hands. “Mayther, no!” Barely half a sack of kohl had been taken from the seams and already their counties were fighting.

Verrill put down his plate and unsheathed his dagger. Ryhon didn’t move a muscle and returned Mayther’s glare with an eerie stillness.

Ayleen kept her grip on Mayther’s arm. “We are here to explore and map the kohl, not decide what will be done with it. Nor to fight about who is right or wrong. Enough people have died in our wars.” She felt his arm strain against her. By the Seven, he was strong. Ryhon was a fool to goad him but Mayther was losing his temper like a spoiled brat. “No more arguing, all of you. Put your daggers back where they belong.”

“It belongs in his gut,” Mayther hissed.

Ayleen whispered in his ear. “Mayther, put it away. We still have work to do. In two days, we’ll be finished and then,” she nodded at Ryhon and Johlon, “you never have to see them again.”

Mayther grunted and his arm relaxed. “He opens his mouth one more time and it will be his last.” He stooped, picked up his plate and stormed off to his tarp.

Ayleen glared at Ryhon. Whatever damn fool game he was playing it was putting his and Johlon’s life at risk. She sat and stared across the fire at Johlon. Her father after all these, years. She shifted her eyes back to Ryhon. He brought Johlon here so she could meet him. Perhaps for the only time in her life. She shook her head. She didn’t know whether to thank him or kick him.

The next morning Ayleen sent Ryhon and Verrill to survey in opposite directions. She took Mayther to survey the new seams, and keep an eye on him. Ryhon had the sense to nod, hop on his horse and disappear. Johlon took his pack horse and tools to inspect the rocks and caves. He broke the peace of the wilderness by setting off a couple of explosions.

They dragged themselves back to kamp in the evening gloom, tired and wet from the afternoon drizzle. Johlon looked very pleased with himself, showing off some fine kaolin clay and chunks of quartz rock he’d found. Each party ate under tarps by their own fires. Mayther, Verrill and Ayleen discussed the next day’s work. They had found only two more seams, half a day’s work to survey and update the maps. Then after lunch they could go their separate ways.

Ayleen pulled on her oil skins and walked over to Ryhon’s tarp. He pored over maps of Skatch and the neutral zone under the light of a lantern, while one hand rubbed his shoulder. She dropped a rolled-up map beside him. “Here’s the updated survey chart.”

“Thank you. We should be finished by midday tomorrow then?”

She nodded. “Thank you for what you have done.” Her voice caught in her throat.

“Having a suspected spy for a father has some benefits.”

“Ha, ha.” She kicked his boot. “I need to talk to Johlon.”

Mayther stood up from his fire and called out. “Hey, Ayleen, stay away from him.”

“I’m telling him the plan for tomorrow,” she shouted back, without turning around.

“Be careful Ryhon. He’s wound up like a spring. Let’s do our work and go our separate ways tomorrow. Whatever comes of it is out of our hands.”

“I’m keeping my bow strings dry.” Ryhon held her eyes. “I’ll scout a route north and west, so we go in opposite directions.”

She nodded. “Good.”

“I want to talk with you too.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “Too dangerous. Maybe if there’s no war, you can try writing to me.”

“Truly?”

She gave him a crooked smiled. “And maybe I’ll even write back.”

Ryhon reached out an grasped her hand. “Ayleen.”

She closed her eyes and let him hold it for a few seconds. Memories of happier times flooded back. Laughing and joking together, him teaching her archery, hiding from the world in a secluded glade in the park. But that was then. A lot had changed since. “I have to go.”

She tramped over to Johlon.

He was kneeling and chanting his prayers. “Nassah, dispel illusion and falsehood, Onkoh…”

“Father.”

He opened his eyes and pushed himself to his feet. “Daughter.” His eyes were already watering. “I can’t believe it’s you.”

She smiled. “I can’t either. I thought you were dead.”

“I was in a way. Banished for my mistakes.”

“What mistakes? What happened? “

“It’s a long story. Please sit.”

She sat crossed legged opposite him and reached for his hands. “Tell me.”

He sighed. “The short version is,” he paused and held her eyes for moment, “I started the Great Fire. Twenty two years and ten months ago.”

Ayleen’s mouth gaped open. “The fire? How?”

“It was a crazy scheme, but I was told it would bring Skatch and Tohbah together. That Kouncillors in Tohbah wanted to unite the two counties and bring an end to the wars. Especially since a long drought had ruined the crops in both counties.” He shook his head. “I was wrong. First the west winds blew up into a gale and fanned the fire, then different Kouncillors took control in Tohbah, blamed Skatch even before they knew what happened. Or maybe someone told them, I don’t know. Maybe it was all just some kind of plot.”

“What about Mother?”

“She was further south, in a Kree village, waiting for the baby, for you, to arrive.” He shook his head. “The Kouncil betrayed us. Forced all the Tohbah people to go home, including her, and locked me up.” Johlon pulled his hands away and covered his face. “I’m so sorry. It was because of me you lost your mother.”

Ayleen wiped tears from her eyes. “I wish I could have known her.” Stupid politiks and stupid wars. And why had her Grandmama not told her? Perhaps Mother never told her the whole story. “Why did we never hear of it?”

He raised his head. “My mission was secret and so was the punishment. I was banished to a remote mining kamp. And they told me you and your mother both died. That was the worst punishment of all.”

“Well, I didn’t die,” Ayleen squeezed his hand again, “and Ryhon has brought us together.”

He wiped his wet cheeks on his sleeve. “I am so glad. You are so like Bekkah. Seeing you, it’s almost like she’s still here.”

“Ayleen!” Mayther’s voice was insistent

She looked back to Mayther’s tarp. “Almost finished, learn some manners!”

She squeezed Johlon’s hand one more time. “I can’t stay. Tomorrow we have to finish quickly and get on our way, before Mayther gets any stupid ideas.”

Johlon nodded. “Fare well. I wish you a long and happy life”

Ayleen nodded, pulled the oil skin forward over her face and strode back to her tarp.

Mayther walked over. “Welcome back, Skatch lover.”

“Mind yourself, kaptain.” She met his eyes defiantly. “I’m trying to organise things so you all don’t kill each other. You will be my post man tomorrow. We’ll go out early and get it done by mid-morning. Verrill can pack up the kamp and prepare for the trip home. Ohkay?”

Mayther gave Verrill a look, then lay back on his sleeping roll.

****

In the morning Meetor decided to dampen Johlon’s joy by providing a grey drizzle. Maybe the Seven were trying to tell them something “Sollah, shine brightly and bring life to the world.” Or at least let us get this work finished and away from here safely. Johlon dragged himself out of his sleeping roll. He chewed some dry food and brewed lukewarm tea on a feeble fire under Johlon’s tarp.

Ayleen passed close by on her way to the stream to wash out her bowl. “Take care. Maybe I’ll see you in Peg sometime?””

“Yes. I’d like that. Say halloh to your Grandmama. I met her twice with your mother. Tell her….” His voice failed him.

Ayleen nodded. “I will.”

Johlon stoked the fire. “I can’t help thinking it would be better if nobody used this kohl. It will just cause more war.”

Ayleen cast a glance back at Mayther saddling up his horse.

“What are you saying?” Ayleen tried to read Johlon’s face. He was hiding something. At least he couldn’t light any fires in this weather.

“Perhaps the Seven will help us.”

“I’ll keep Mayther away from you and Ryhon, that’s all I can do.”

Johlon loaded up his pack horse, making sure to cover the powdah and fuses with layers of oil skin. He waved to Mayther and Verrill as he left the kamp. He felt their eyes follow him until he turned into some trees.

Ryhon found Johlon an hour later. “I’ve scouted a trail to the north-west. We can make good time to the border fort and let army messengers take the report from there.”

Johlon cut a fuse. “We have been fighting with Tohbah for decades, but I have little faith that things will change. The old books tell us that people keep doing the same dumb things as long as they possibly can.” He gestured back toward the kamp. “We can sit around this fire arguing, plotting.” He looked at Ryhon. “We may speed up or delay events, but I fear we can do little to change them.”

“So?”

Johlon shrugged. “Don’t put this in your report, but I’m going to try and bury the seams using my powdah. Perhaps I can prevent another disaster. The cliffs are unstable. Hopefully it will look like the aftershocks did it.”

Ryhon stared at him in silence, then nodded. “Mayther’s answers the other night confirmed my fears. Maybe we can delay them enough to prevent the war.” He grinned. “The weather on the expedition was terrible. Worst wet season for years. Lots of mud slides….”

Johlon nodded. “I’ll set the charges in the caves and dry crevices but I’ll wait until tomorrow before I set them off.”

“When Ayleen , Mayther and Verrill will be a day’s ride away.”

“Yes, and none the wiser.”

Ryhon nodded. “What then?”

“Back to the mine, I think. The neutral zone may yet turn into a battlefield. I’ll be safer back where I was.”

“There are better options for you than there.”

Johlon looked up. Ryhon held his gaze for several moments, then turned and galloped back toward kamp.

“Hey, syhentist, what are you doing?” Verrill held a fuse in his hands. “That’s a lot of powdah.”

Johlon waved at him from twenty yards away and shouted back. “I’m going to blast another block of quartz. People like the shiny krystals.”

It was mid-morning. He had planted powdah in three of the faults. The rain had eased but thunder echoed in the distance. With luck the powdah was well enough protected to stay dry overnight.

“Don’t let that fuse get wet. And get back, I’m going to blow it soon.”

Johlon packed another charge into a crevice and went to cut a fuse.

Ayleen cantered up. “Halloh Verrill. We’ve finished the survey and Mayther has gone back to kamp. Is everything packed up and ready to go?”

Verrill pulled out his knife. “Almost. I have a job to do first.”

“What? Kill him?” Ayleen hissed as leapt off her horse. “Do you want to start a war?”

Johlon looked over at them and waved.

Ayleen waved back. Verrill spat on the ground. “There will be war whatever we do. Better to leave Skatch in the dark while we make our move.”

“Dead bodies will just make it worse. I have a better idea. Tie him up and take his horse. By the time he gets back to Jyhnah weeks will have passed. Plenty of time for whatever our Kouncil wants to do.”

Verrill took a step towards Johlon. Ayleen grabbed his arm. “He’s just an old man with a bad leg.”

She waved again. “Johlon, can you come over here a minute?”

Johlon limped over slowly. It would be nice to see her one more time.

Ayleen smiled. “Here is the updated map for you to take back.”

Johlon nodded and slipped the roll into his jacket.

Then she planted her boots wide apart and crossed her arms over her chest. “Verrill, tie him up and take his horses. We’ll make sure the news gets back to Peg first.”

Verrill’s gaze moved between her and Johlon. He slowly sheathed his knife. He pulled a rope from a saddle bag, tied Johlon’s arms behind and shoved him to the ground against the cliff wall. “Have a nice walk home old man.”

Ayleen stood over him. “Go back to Skatch where you belong.”

Johlon looked up. Her face showed nothing but a scowl that perfectly matched Verrill’s. Then she winked. He lowered his head to hide a smile.

Verrill rounded up Johlon’s horses and pulled them behind him. Ayleen mounted her horse and followed him out of the ravine.

Mayther met them halfway back to kamp. “All done?”

Verrill shook his head. “Tied him up and took his horses.” He tilted his head toward Ayleen. “She wouldn’t let me kill him.”

“Is that so?” He rode closer. “Whose side are you on mapmaker? I thought you were getting a bit too friendly.”

“I’m trying to stop you starting a war before we even get home, that’s all.”

“Skatch will never find the bones. Tohbah army will be all over this territory after we tell them what’s here.”

“So, you never meant to let them go?”

“We got the kohl test report, don’t need them anymore.”

“You’re crazier than an outhouse fly. You’re deliberately trying to provoke Skatch. After all we’ve suffered over the years.”

“That ends here.” He turned his horse. “Tie her up, so she can’t cause any more trouble before we leave. I’m going to hunt the other Skatch.”

Verrill grabbed Ayleen and pulled her off her horse.

The air hummed and an arrow struck the soft earth beside Mayther’ mount.

“Found me already.” Ryhon stood on the cliff looking down on them, another arrow notched and aimed at Mayther. “Let her go.”

“Make me.” Mayther swung off his horse and crouched behind it. He pulled out his bow and notched an arrow. “Take her into that cave and tie her up, then we hunt him down together.” Verrill nodded and dragged Ayleen under the cliff.

“It’s two on one Skatch. Hope you been saying your prayers.” Mayther dived for the cliff face, then sprinted toward the end of the ravine. A minute later, Verrill appeared, cautiously eyed the cliff tops, then followed Mayther’s tracks, pulling the horses behind him. “Where is he?’

“Don’t know, we need to get up on top. Then he’ll be a sitting duck.”

“Up here Tohbah. I’m waiting.” Ryhon’s voice floated down from the cliffs.

Mayther and Verrill reached the end of the ravine and began to climb up the slope to the cliff tops. Each kept an arrow notched and swung backwards and forwards scanning for their target. “Look for his tracks, he can’t get far.” Mayther turned to face where they come from. “Damn Skatch is cunning. He’ll be trying to trick us.”

“Found horse tracks, kaptain, leading into the forest.”

They went back and mounted their horses and followed the hoof prints into the forest, one eye on the tracks, the other on the dripping trees that surrounded them. Half of them thick enough to hide a soldier.

Mayther shouted into the silence. “Damn Skatch, come out and fight like a man!

****

“Ayleen, where are you?” Ryhon galloped down the ravine. “Ayleen!”

“Here!” Her muffled voice came from a dark opening in the cliff face.

Ryhon pulled up outside and leapt to the ground, drew his knife and edged inside. In the gloom he made out a dark figure in the back of the cave. “Ayleen?”

“Yes. Hurry. Johlon is tied up. We have to get him before they go back and kill him.”

“I led them into the forest.” Ryhon cut the rope binding her hands and feet.

Ayleen rubbed her wrists and strode to the cave the opening. They rounded up her horse and galloped south to find Johlon. Ryhon scanned the cliffs for Mayther’s bow.

A boom echoed down the ravine. “What was that?” Ayleen shouted.

“Johlon’s powdah.”

“He must have got free.”

“With a little help.”

Ayleen cast him a sideways glance. “What’s he doing?”

“He told me this morning he wants to bury the kohl. He already started one war. He’s trying to stop this one. That’s what I’m trying to do too.”

Ayleen followed him to the southern ravine where she and Verrill had left Johlon. “How can you stop it?”

“Do what they’re trying to do. Delay the news getting back to the kapital.”

“Both kapitals, or just Peg?”

“Both.”

“What about you and Johlon? What will happen?”

“I don’t know. I have connections but…”

“But what?”

“My family betrayed Johlon many years ago. I don’t want that to happen again, to him or me.” He stopped and faced her. “Or you.”

Ayleen returned his gaze. Mayther was determined to eliminate anyone opposed to the Tohbah plan. The chances of her getting out of this mess in one piece from were slimmer than a poor man’s wallet, even if she made it back to Peg alive. “If you’re schemin’ something, it better be more than hope and prayer.”

“First step is get back to Johlon. Mayther and Verrill will have heard that explosion.”

They spurred the horses on. On the way he outlined the rest of his plan.

They stopped halfway down a ravine where Johlon’s horses sheltered under the cliffs. In the distance the southern end of the ravine had collapsed. Ryhon leapt off his horse outside a large cave. “Johlon?” He handed his reins to Ayleen. “Round up his horses and keep an eye out for the others.” He ran into the cave. Near the entrance he spotted powdah and a long fuse running into the cave. “Johlon!” He followed the shiny black wall toward a lantern glowing in the gloom. “We have to get out of here.”

“Go back. I’m going to light the fuses in a minute.” Johlon knelt in the middle of the cave setting another charge

Ayleen’s voice echoed from the front of the cave. “Mayther’s coming. Hurry up!”

Johlon struck a match. The fuse began to burn. This is for the powdah at the entrance. It’ll bring down the cliff. Get out now.”

“What about you?”

“This is the thickest seam. I’m going to destroy as much as I can. I don’t have a future, but you and Ayleen do.”

He set the match to a second fuse. “Go now! This one will collapse the whole cave.”

Ryhon sprinted back to the entrance. “Johlon’s going to blow the cave and himself. He’s lit the fuses.”

Ayleen’s face dropped. “No! Follow me, quickly.” She dragged the horses into the cave. They pulled back away from the darkness. “Come on, it’s ohkay.” She got them moving with Ryhon’s help. Her eyes widened at the fizzing fuse they passed.

Johlon’s eyes were closed. He murmured his prayers. Another fuse burned beside him.

Ayleen shouted and ran to him “Get up. We have to go.”

He waved her away. “No, you two must get out. My time is over.”

She grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet, then picked up the lantern. “There’s a back entrance to this cave. I mapped it the first day.” Ryhon took his other arm and they pulled Johlon and the horses deeper into the cave before taking a turn north.

“We’ve got you now Skatch skum.” Mayther’s voice echoed behind them.

Ryhon and Ayleen dragged Johlon deeper into the cave. The walls shook with a huge explosion. Dirt and rocks fell from the cave roof. “Run!” Ayleen screamed.

Johlon shuffled as fast as his leg would let him. A second explosion boomed behind them and a blast of air chased them and the spooked horses out into the light.

Johlon kneeled and muttered prayers under his breath. Ryhon drew his dagger and turned to face the cave mouth. The dust slowly settled but no one appeared.

Ayleen settled the horses. Ryhon sheathed his dagger and heaved Johlon into his saddle. “How many more charges?”

“I’ve laid three and have powdah for several more.”

“Tell us where, we can split up and set them off while you lay the rest.”

Johlon looked from one to the other. “Why did you come back for me? I’ll just slow you down.”

Ayleen and Ryhon exchanged a glance and laughed.

Ryhon slapped him on the back. “We need you to sail the boat.”