The Prince rode up on Keles’ left side. “The sun will be down soon. We’ll find a spot to rest, then push on.”
Keles peered off to the south. “Is it me, or do the Helos Mountains appear further away?”
“Trick of the light, Keles.” Jasai gave his arm a squeeze. “Eiran, can we make it to the Valley of Rubies?”
“That’s where I’d like to go, but I’m not sure we’ll make it. We have to cut west again. Rekarafi and Tyressa are scouting ahead, but I’m not sure that way will be open.”
Keles coughed again. “I wish I felt better. If I could concentrate I could tell you where our enemies are.”
Eiran laughed and the road led down into a small, bowl-shaped valley. “Don’t worry, Master Cartographer, we know this area well enough. We used to drive cattle through the Valley of Rubies on our way to higher pastures. Steep, but good water; we could hold off an army there.”
Jasai snorted. “You always dreamed about holding off an army there, but the only thing that invaded were our cattle.”
“I’d think a valley of rubies would be invaded constantly.”
“No, Keles, you’re thinking of a place where the wild magic changes flowers into rubies. But this isn’t Ixyll.”
The Prince grinned. “You forget, sister, that stories are told of the year when all the red flowers did have ruby petals-real rubies.”
“That’s a silly story, and you know it.” Jasai shook her head. “People tell how, that year, the flowers blossomed with gems. People ran to the valley, trampled the plants and each other. There were fights and murders. Then the plants died and the cattle had no fodder, so they died.”
She gave her brother an exasperated glance. “It’s all just a story to remind people that all the wealth in the world doesn’t matter when money isn’t what you need.”
“Well, it is a very pretty place.” Eiran smiled.
“I’m sure it is.” Keles returned the smile. “Everything I have seen of Helosunde is beautiful. I understand why you continue the fight to win it back.”
“It’s more than just the land.” Jasai pointed toward the mountains. “The land and our experience here has shaped us, but people must be connected to the land. It’s like the story of the Valley of Rubies. How do children learn the true value of things if they don’t have stories and traditions? A tree cannot become mighty if it has nothing to be rooted in.”
Keles nodded. “But that story works even if you are not from here.”
“But for how long, Keles?” She shook her head. “I know that the story is probably made up. At best it’s a gross exaggeration of some minor historical incident. That being true, whenever I think about the valley, I can feel the cool grass under my feet and smell the flowers, and that makes it all real. Anyone can tell you the evils of greed. Objectively we all understand it, but I feel it because I can relate the story to a real place.”
She stroked a hand over her belly. “What will my child feel? If he is connected to nothing, can anything have value for him? If he knows no hardship, can he have sympathy for those who are hard-pressed to survive? Can a man who has never known combat be a good general? Could you be a good cartographer without experience of the world?”
“No, probably not; but experiencing something doesn’t always make it beneficial.” Keles arched his back and pops rippled up his spine. “Tyressa and I had a conversation once. She said she hoped your people could move on and find a home, not just keep fighting over this one. She said the struggle for Helosunde was what defined all of you.”
“I’ll grant she might be right, that being rooted here in Helosunde has warped some people.” She looked over at him. “The Council’s agents did not treat you the way we welcome guests and friends.”
“I don’t believe I was seen as a guest or friend.” Keles coughed again. “Ieral Scoan saw me as a xingnadin. He wanted me broken. I don’t think he’s that different from anyone else in the Nine.”
“You may have a point there.”
“And your point is also well-taken, Princess.” Keles shrugged. “The political climate in Helosunde shaped those who now chase us. The Council feared Prince Pyrust for a long time. Now they curry his favor by trying to capture you.”
“This means that both Jasai and Tyressa are right.” The Prince nodded firmly. “People need a place whence strong traditions can grow; and it would appear that Helosunde in its current state is not that place. Whether we find another, or reshape Helosunde, the task that awaits us will not be simple.”
It seemed the Prince had more to offer on the subject, but the pounding of hoofbeats coming up the road from the south cut him off. Tyressa reined a well-lathered horse to a stop beside them. “There’s a company of cavalry ahead of us. Scoan is leading them.”
“How did he get south of us?”
Jasai waved away her brother’s question. “How did he find so many horses?”
“They’ve been ridden hard, and no one has a spare mount that I saw. They must have paralleled us, then come east to cut us off when we didn’t make for the coast.” Tyressa leaped from the saddle and drew a sword. “Everyone into the woods. We’ll hold them off while Keles gets Jasai out to the west.”
Jasai shook her head. “No. These people are exhausted. I’ll not have them die now so I can be caught ten miles from here.”
“Jasai. Rekarafi can get you out of here.” Keles looked around. “Where is he?”
“He was scouting to the west. He may have already run into them.” Tyressa grabbed Jasai’s reins. “Do not defy me, Jasai. Get out of here. Take Keles and your brother. Go.”
Eiran slid from his saddle and grabbed Tyressa’s wrist. “Let her stay.”
“You can’t do this, Eiran. You abandoned her once in Meleswin. You’re not turning her over to him.”
Eiran hesitated as Tyressa’s words sank in. He ran a hand over his mouth, then looked up at his sister. “I was a coward then. I didn’t know my own limits. I have a better idea of them now.”
The Prince drew his sword and stepped further down the road. The thunder of approaching riders became unmistakable. The Desei warriors and Eiran’s loyalists blocked the road, with Tyressa beside the Prince. A few people kindled torches and Eiran’s wavering shadow weaved side to side over the roadway.
A mounted warrior burst from the dark forest tunnel. His sword hissed from the scabbard. The rider came on hard, his sword raised. It flashed down. Eiran’s sword rose, caught the slash and turned it aside. The rider jerked his reins hard, spinning his horse around. Hooves gouged the earth but before he could make another pass, Tyressa darted forward and yanked him from the saddle.
The man yelped. Tyressa silenced him with a knee to the face.
Ieral Scoan drew rein. His men spread out. “Caught at last.”
Eiran settled into a fighting stance, his sword raised by his right ear. “Not yet caught.”
“Said as if you were the one who had unhorsed my man. I am not impressed.”
“I don’t care if I impress you or not, Ieral Scoan. My only concern is for true sons of Helosunde, not some creature given to obeying its Desei masters.”
“I’m not the one consorting with the Desei, Duke Eiran.”
“ Prince Eiran, duly voted to that post by those you serve. Their failure to kill me did not remove that title.” Eiran jerked his head back toward those behind him. “Desei these may be, but they are in service to my sister.”
Ieral laughed. “And she is a Desei Princess, carrying Pyrust’s child.”
“But she’s here, isn’t she? A daughter of Helosunde, returning to her home to give birth.” Eiran’s head came up. He looked around at those who had ridden with Scoan. “How many of your mothers made the same journey so you could be born north of the mountains? How can you dishonor those brave women by stopping my sister?”