An Aimless War - Chapter 35: Chapter 35

I woke up early the next morning, nervous for the day ahead. For a while I tried to fall back to sleep, but when it became clear that it wasn't going to happen I sat up. Tannix was sprawled out on his side of the bed, still deeply asleep. He always looked so peaceful when he was asleep. It was the only time he could forget about the war and West Draulin.
I wanted to touch him, but I didn't want to wake him up. So instead I carefully climbed out of bed. The room was still dim, but not dark. Our windows faced east, towards the rocky desert and the Adymuss mountains. Towards the sunrise. I leaned in the window to watch. The sun slowly peeked over the distant mountains, causing the clouds to glow orange while the sky around them brightened to blue. Sunrises were hard to see from the lower city, so I had never really paid them much attention.
The sun had fully emerged from behind the mountains when I heard Tannix moving. I thought he was just rolling over, so when arms slipped around my waist I jumped.
Tannix laughed and tightened his arms, pulling me snugly against his bare chest. "How does the sunrise compare to sunsets?"
"I prefer sunsets." I relaxed into his arms without turning around.
"Hmm." He planted a kiss on my shoulder. "Did I ever mention how much I like it when you wear this tunic?"
It was one of Tannix's, an older tunic that had been mixed in with the things Roland had delivered to Zianna for us. It was too big on me, but it was made of a wonderfully soft, expensive material, and it was very comfortable to sleep in. I knew that Tannix liked me wearing it because it was his.
I twisted around in his arms. "Did I ever mention how much I like it when you sleep without a tunic?"
"No. But the way you look at me says it all."
I didn't dignify that with an answer, just slipped my arms around his neck and pulled him down to kiss me. He backed me into the window, and after a moment lifted me so I could sit on the sill. Being face to face was easier on both of us. He didn't have to lean over to kiss me, and I didn't have to stretch. I kept one arm around his neck, and slid my other hand into his soft hair.
Things I had accidentally seen in the brothel as a child came back to me in a rush. I had always known more than a child should, but I had never walked in on two men. My mother's brothel, at least at the time, hadn't employed any men.
There were gaps in my knowledge that I had never really needed to consider. And Tannix, with his proper upbringing, probably didn't know any more than I did.
The thought gave me pause, and I distractedly went still. Tannix continued kissing me for a heartbeat, then noticed that I wasn't responding and stopped.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I just realized that I don't know how we're supposed to-"
There was a knock on the door, and before Tannix could call out, the hinges started to creak open. Tannix stepped away from me and turned around, suddenly professional. I recovered less quickly.
It was Mayah who barged in, Acen a step behind her. "I'm sorry," he said. "I told her you were probably still asleep but she insisted and I-"
Tannix laughed, and grabbed a tunic to pull over his head. "She's unarmed, Acen. You're telling me you can't defend me against someone who's unarmed? To what do I owe the pleasure, my lady?" he asked.
"I'm coming with you to Navire." Mayah didn't seem in the least bit concerned that she had walked in on him half dressed. I guess she was used to that from our time in Deorun. "As I'm sure you recall, I'm fluent in Navirian. I have an aunt who married a Navirian noble, so I've visited many times. Esmeranda thinks my story might help convince Queen Navire to join us. So, when are we leaving?"
Tannix exchanged a glance with Acen. "Um... right after breakfast, I believe. Can... can Atricen help you your bags?"
Acen stepped up. "It would be an honour, my lady."
"Oh. Yes, please," she said. "I'll meet you at the ship, Tannix." She left as quickly as she had come in. With a glance at us and a shrug, Acen turned to follow her.
"Well," Tannix sighed, but he was smiling. "I wasn't expecting that. Let's go eat, we have a long day ahead of us."
While Tannix went over some final details with Tandrin and the queen, I was allowed to leave the castle. With Evrik in tow once again, I went to the lower city. It was a busy morning at the gates, but soon enough we were mingling with my people again.
And almost immediately I walked into Baisan.
I stepped back. "Baisan, were you waiting for me? How did you know I was coming?"
The startled look he gave me answered my first question. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm leaving today," I said. "I came to say goodbye. What are you doing here?"
"I live here." His eyes darted over my shoulder at Evrik, then he nodded briskly. "All right, come on." He started to lead us out of the crowds, onto quieter side streets. "Finn, if you're going to be dragging a knight around with you from now on, you should pick one who looks less rich."
Behind us, Evrik chuckled. "I was a farmer. I work hard to not look like a rich Teltan. Do you have any idea how many times Acen's told me to shave?"
I smiled to myself, remembering the first time I had seen Evrik and wondered if his scruffiness was deliberate. "Sorry, Evrik. To us, every Telt looks rich."
"Oh, I... That never occurred to me."
Baisan didn't seem to be feeling very talkative, and Evrik went quiet. So we walked in silence until Baisan's new building was in sight. Then Baisan stopped abruptly and looked at Evrik. "Can Finn and I have a moment to ourselves?"
"Oh, of course." Evrik looked at me for confirmation before wandering a little further down the street, back towards the brothel. A few of the girls near the door easily lured him into a conversation.
I would have kept watching, but Baisan's odd behaviour was more important. "What's wrong?"
He was looking towards his building, and he didn't turn to me as he replied. "Nothing. You're leaving for West Draulin?"
"Navire," I said.
"Navire?" he repeated, finally turning to me. "Why?"
"Tannix is supposed to be acting like an ambassador. Tandrin is hoping Queen Navire will decide to join us."
"So... you won't be with the army."
The pieces clicked together. "You were hoping I could pull some strings for Castin," I guessed.
He dropped his gaze and kicked at a loose cobblestone. "I just... I'm not sure if I can do this without him."
"Well, he-"
"Don't lie to me," Baisan said roughly. "Don't tell me he's going to come back."
I sighed, and found myself looking at Evrik. He was proving to be very popular, three of the girls had already flocked around him. War loomed in his future, but he was smiling and laughing with the women. He wasn't nervous about it. Or if he was, he was doing a good job of hiding it. Of course, he had about eight years on Castin, and he had been training even longer than that. He was one of the best knights in West Draulin.
I had already been through so much with the knights. They had become as much my family as the thieves were. But when the knights entered a fight I was confident in their skills. I had been scared many times in Deorun, but never because I was worried that the knights would be killed in a fight.
Castin was different. I dragged my attention from Evrik to look at Baisan again. "He's being trained," I said. That was true. "And he's going to be given good weapons and armour. I think there's a pretty good chance he'll come back. Zianesa willing." I wasn't quite sure if I believed it, or if I was just trying to convince myself as much as I was trying to convince Baisan.
"Zianesa willing," he repeated quietly.
"I'm sorry I'm leaving. I wish there was something I could do to help," I said.
He shrugged, but he was still staring down at the loose cobblestone. "You don't belong here anymore. Not..." he paused and glanced up. "Not that you wouldn't be welcome. But you're part of something bigger than this. Lovi made you meet Tannix for a reason."
"Baisan, I-" His words caught up to my thoughts. "Oh."
"It was Lovi, wasn't it? It isn't about money, or status, or anything like that. Is it?"
I wasn't prepared for this conversation. I hadn't thought about how I wanted to tell them, or what exactly I was going to tell them. Baisan had taken those decisions away from me. Once the surprise passed I realized I was relieved, and I nodded. "It was Lovi. I didn't know until the night he arrested me in the castle."
"He came down to talk to us," Baisan said. "The next day. I thought he was going to tell us that you were dead, but then he explained what had happened and asked us about Kassia. Before he left he promised he would get you out. I admit, I... I thought he was going to forget about you. I didn't even think you'd last until your execution. But Stria saw something I didn't, and she believed in him."
I nodded. "She sort of said something that day I visited before going to West Draulin."
"I can't imagine what you went through in jail," Baisan said. "But you can't imagine what it was like for us. For me. I relied on you in ways I didn't really understand until you were gone. I couldn't have done it without Castin. But now, without either of you, I..."
"Baisan, you're an incredible leader," I said. "It'll be hard without Castin, but you still have Stria, Ninavi, Leker and Orrun. They'll step up to support you. And when Castin comes home, everything will go back to normal."
He smiled and shook his head. "Nothing is ever going to go back to normal, not unless you come back. Anyway, let's go find the others. You should call your knight, before those girls convince him to go inside."
I laughed. "He's not mine."
"He didn't walk away until you nodded," Baisan said. "Also... watch this." Without warning, he stepped closer and pushed me back against the wall.
Down the street, Evrik immediately pulled away from the women, his hand flying to his belt. Where he kept his throwing axes.
"No, wait!" I shoved Baisan away and waved. "Stop!" When Evrik froze, looking utterly confused, I turned to Baisan. "Did you forget that he throws axes?"
Baisan nodded slowly. "Yes... I did. Still made my point, though. So let's go find everyone else." He turned abruptly and continued down the street.
I followed him and waved for Evrik to catch up. At the door, Baisan knocked in a new complicated pattern. When the door opened, Baisan told the boy standing there to collect the rest of our family. The boy gave Evrik a wary look before running down the hall.
Leker and Orrun were already in Baisan's office. Their low conversation cut off as we stepped through, and Orrun grinned at me. "That was a good speech, Finn."
"It was convincing," Leker agreed.
"But Baisan and Castin said we're too young to enlist," Orrun added.
"You are," I agreed. Baisan flashed me a grateful look as he joined our little brothers at the table.
"Finn!" Ninavi's shriek was the only warning before she nearly jumped on my back with an eager hug. I laughed as I struggled to turn around and hug her back.
Stria stepped in then, with Gale in her arms. Ninavi wiggled away from me but I hesitated before going to hug Stria. It wasn't my fault Castin had enlisted, I knew that. Still, part of me felt like it was my fault. "I gave him a Tros and Anniva amulet."
Stria nodded, but she saw through my words. "I'm not angry at you."
"Are you angry at Castin?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe. Mostly I... I'm scared."
I moved towards her and Stria stepped into my arms. Cradling Gale between us, she buried her face against my shoulder and started to cry. For a moment it was just the two of us, but then Ninavi came to join us and I pulled her into the hug. With my sisters crying in my arms, I looked over at the boys.
It didn't take long for Leker and Orrun. They stepped up behind the girls to join the hug, so that the three of us made a circle around the girls. Only Baisan hung back, leaning against the table with his arms crossed.
I looked over our siblings' heads to meet his gaze. Baisan took a breath so deep I could see his shoulders rise, then he nodded.
We didn't need words. I understood him. He was going to take care of our family without me or Castin to help him. It was going to be hard, but he was telling me that he was ready.
I believed him.
I expected us to take one of big warships, or maybe the Queen of Crele with Roland, so I was surprised when Acen led us to a merchant ship. The same ship we had stolen in Deorun. It had been altered. Bright new sails were rolled up on the masts. The hull was scrubbed clean and looked like it had been repaired in a few places. There was a new wooden figure of a mermaid at the front, and beside her, painted in large black letters, was what I assumed what the ship's name.
Ender, grinning, met us on the dock. With a flourish, he gestured at the ship. "Welcome aboard my new vessel, the WDN Thief Queen! Named for Finn, of course," he nudged me. "Not that I'm calling you a queen, mate, but the ship's a she, aye?"
"We're taking this?" I asked.
"She's a fine ship, mate. She could be a little bigger, I suppose, but I like her just the way she is. Besides, I asked the king if I could have her and he agreed. So she's been my little side project for the last three months."
"Your project?" Kor appeared on deck and glared down at his brother. "Half of the money was mine, mate. So she's half mine."
"I asked King Tandrin for her, not you! I'm her Captain!"
"And who paid for the new sails? I did!"
"Aye, but I paid for the repairs to the hull, and the furnishing in the captain's quarters, and all the replaced rope. Not to mention the figurehead!"
"I designed the figurehead!"
Tannix and Acen exchanged a look, but before either of them could say anything Mayah stepped up and lay her hand on Ender's forearm. "She's a stunning ship."
"Oh. " Ender looked down at her hand. "Thank you, my lady."
Tannix cleared his throat to poorly disguise a laugh. "I hope I'm not losing my archers to the navy?"
"No, mate." Ender shook his head. "The Thief Queen is at your disposal, as are my obnoxious brother and I. She'll rest in the West Draulin port when we don't need her." Ender led us up the gangway and proudly started showing us around as if we hadn't already been on the ship.
They had changed things a bit on the inside of the ship. Underneath the captain's quarters, there were eight new tiny bedrooms. Enough for the knights to each have one, and for Mayah and her handmaiden to share one. The small crew of hired sailors would sleep in hammocks, which was apparently normal for sailors.
Ender looked like he belonged at the helm. He stood on the quarter deck with one hand on the wheel, and called out orders to his sailors. As they worked, Tannix, the knights and Mayah had a meeting in the captain's quarters. I stayed at the back of quarter deck, well out of the way, and watched Zianna slowly get smaller and smaller.
When Tannix eventually joined me, he leaned against the railing beside me. He wasn't wearing his cloak or his sword. He looked like he had the first time we had sailed away from Zianna together. But a lot had changed in that time.
"Navire," I said slowly after a moment had passed. "I never thought I'd go to Navire. Or Deorun. Now I've been to Deorun and I'm going to Navire, and it's all because of you."
"If it wasn't for me, you would have spent your entire life in a single city. Isn't this more exciting?"
"More exciting. More dangerous." I looked at him. "I wouldn't go back though, given the choice."
"Glad to hear it." Tannix turned around and leaned back against the railing so he could watch the ship. "Tandrin and I did something."
"The champion ring. I know."
"What?"
His surprise surprised me. "Wait. What were you talking about?"
"Tandrin gave you a champion ring?"
I slipped my thumb under the chain and pulled it out. My two rings swung gently as the ship swayed beneath us.
Tannix steadied them with his left hand. "He actually did it. Did he say anything about recording this?"
"Um... he said we would have a ceremony after all of this was over." I slipped the rings from Tannix's hand and tucked them back under my tunic. "What were you talking about?"
"Right." He leaned back against the railing again. "He bought you back from me."
"What? What does that mean? You sold me?" I didn't know how I was supposed to feel about the news.
"King Edarius sold you to me as a slave. I didn't have the power to free you. But King Tandrin does have the power to pardon you for all your past crimes. So he did. You're a free man."
"What?" I repeated. I didn't know what else to say.
"So, that said," Tannix continued. "You don't actually have to come to Navire with me. But it'll be quite the swim back to Zianna."
I frowned. "You're telling me this now?"
"If you choose to stay, I have a proposition for you." Tannix smiled. "I'd like to hire you."
This was clearly something he had figured out already, but I decided to play along and leaned against the railing beside him, with my arms crossed. "Really? Hire me as what?"
Tannix paused. "I suppose... as a..."
"You didn't come up with a title for me, did you?"
He laughed. "All right, no. I didn't. I'll hire you as my thief."
"Hmm... and what would be expected of me?"
"Nothing you don't already do. Follow me around, rescue me from prison, sleep in my room. So, are you interested in the position?"
I nodded. "I guess so. Working for Lord West Draulin would mean a great salary. Maybe some interesting adventures, too."
"I can promise both of those things." Tannix turned around to face the water again, and I copied him. Tentatively, he took my hand. Standing the way we were, with our backs to the rest of the ship, meant that no one could see what he had done. "Finn. I love you."
I rose our clasped hands to my lips and kissed his West Draulin ring. Then I kissed the back of his hand. "I love you, too."
Tannix pulled our hands over so he could kiss my knuckles, right where my skin was scarred by the hand clamp in Deorun. "Despite the trouble I put you through?"
It wasn't cold, but I shivered. "Despite all that."
He smiled. How could I have ever not seen how handsome he was?
"Excellent," he said. "On to Navire."