Excerpt: What the Night Keeps

"Time is the school in which we learn
Time is the fire in which we all burn"
~Delmore Schwartz

Eric's spell flashed over Jeso's shields in a spray of light and sparks. Jeso stood his ground feeling the tension between them. After a few seconds Eric's spell petered out to darkness. It was Jeso's turn now. With a gentle spell he pressed against the boy's shields and finding them strong, kept adding strength until he felt them almost ready to break.
With a flick of his wrist Jeso cut off the last of his spell and took a seat on the swinging hammock that tipped and tilted as the ship rocked beneath them. The small space at the back of the hold was the best they could afford. Jeso was fine with the arrangement and actually preferred the lower profile accommodations. They shared the hold with dozens of barrels of wine, destined for western islands. On its way the ship was planning on stopping at the mid way island of Frosh. That was where Eric said they were going to pick up Tisha Vell, the last person necessary for this mission of his.
Jeso did not mention to the prince that while Frosh was a common stopping place, it also had something of a reputation. Visitors would be wise to keep their purses close and stay in their rooms after nightfall.
"So how did I do?" Eric asked wiping sweat off his brow.
"Good." Jeso said with a shrug.
"Good? What does that mean?" Eric said with disappointment at the wizards less then enthused response.
"It means good. What do you want me to say, kid? You have a good strong shield, but your spell casting is minor at best. Something you should probably be thankful for."
"Thankful? Why would I be thankful for being weak?" Eric said folding his arms over his chest.
"Because if you had any strength then the Clan would have taken you with your sister."
Eric's offence drained immediately. "Oh. I didn't think about it like that." The prince watched Jeso in silence for a moment before venturing another question.
"Why didn't they take you? I mean when they over ran Vacarshi. I know you were only a little older then I was when they first came."
"They tried." Jeso said quietly, lost in many old thoughts. Had it really been that long ago? Fifteen year is along time to spend running.
"I had help." he said simply, pulling himself back to the present. Jeso could see the curiosity in the boy's eyes, but he really didn't want to talk about that particular part of his life just then. There were some memories that were best kept in the shadows.

"Where to now, kid?" Jeso asked shifting the pack on his back as they left the ship behind.
"I think it's this way." Eric said taking the lead. They wound their way through the thinning crowds. It was getting late and the inhabitants of the town were heading home, or more likely to the local pub. Jeso was not surprised when Eric lead him to a small pub that was tucked out of the way along the lane to the fishing docks.
The place seemed as reputable as any of the other pubs along the way. Jeso eyed the customers who filtered in and out through the central door. Most were rough faced fishermen or sailors coming off their ships for leave. A fairly low class establishment. Despite the looks of the patrons, Jeso moved to enter, but Eric caught his sleeve and pulled him into the darkness of a side street.
"I need to talk to you, before we go in there." the young man said a little nervously. "The woman I'm looking for, Tisha Vell. Well that's not her real name."
Jeso wasn't surprised and only folded his arms over his chest, leaning against the cold stone and mortar wall. "So who is she?"
Eric sighed. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you sooner, but I was afraid that you might not have come if I had."
Jeso frowned. "Get to your point, kid."
"This woman is Clan, but she's a rogue now." he added hastily seeing the look in Jeso's eye. "Something happened years ago and she's broken all contact with them. I think she may help us."
"I don't care if she says she's rogue or not. You can't trust the Clan." Jeso said shaking his head.
"I believe this one we can. Please. If you don't trust her, then at least trust me." Eric said with pleading eyes.
Jeso pressed his lips together for a moment then finally sighed. "Fine. What is the name of this Clan woman anyway. Her real name, mind you."
"I believe it's Shyn Aku'Mem."
Jeso felt his blood go cold and for a moment he hoped that he had heard Eric wrong. "Shyn is in there?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, I think so." Eric said not noticing Jeso's paleness in the dark of the ally. "Come on. We better hurry before the place is totally packed."
Jeso followed him silently, almost woodenly, around the corner and through the door.
The pub was crowded, but not as packed as the noise had made it seem from the street. Jeso felt himself holding his breath as he peered around the common room looking for her face in the crowds. After fifteen years, he knew he should have more control over himself then that. Deliberately drawing in the beer and smoke tinged air Jeso let it out again, collecting his thoughts at the same time.
"I'm not totally sure what she looks like. She might have some kind of disguise." Eric was saying to him as quietly as he could and still be heard over the inebriated laughter coming from several tables.
"She'll keep a low profile, but she won't be disguised." Jeso told him still peering through the smoky room.
"How do you know that?" Eric said with a frown, but Jeso didn't hear him.
There at the back of the room sat a clocked figure seated at the bar fingering an empty shot glass. A pale skinned and slender hand rose, beckoning the bar keeper over to refill her glass. Jeso saw the dark tattoo on the back of the hand. Two tapered lines curved towards each other, set just below the first knuckle of the thumb.
Before he knew what he was doing Jeso found himself walking towards her, pressing his way through the crowd, Eric right on his heels.
He stopped only a few feet from her. For a long moment he stood there staring at the back of her hood.
"Is that her?" Eric whispered ever so quietly in his ear. The woman's head turned slightly, as if she felt eyes watching her out of all the people of the room.
Her hand came up in a shooing motion. "Buz off. Whatever it is you want, I'm not interested." she said darkly, knocking back another full shot of clear liquid.
"That's no way to greet an old friend." Jeso said finally finding his voice.
The woman spun around at the sound of his voice and Jeso was again confronted with a pare of deep sapphire eyes. They widened for a moment then settled back into a darker look.
"Jeso." she said simply.
"Shyn." he returned, not quite sure what else to say.
Shyn shook her head with a chuckle. "I would have never excepted you to be in a backwater island like this one." she said, resting an elbow on the bar and leaning into it. "You might get your hand's dirty." she added with a dry laugh.
"They say you've gone rogue. Is that true? Or are you just up to your old games?" Jeso asked.
"Old games. New games. It's all the same. Barkeep!" she shouted over the ruckus of the room. "Leave the bottle." she ordered as the man came to refill her glass. "You didn't come here to chat. What do you want, Jeso?" she asked taking a long sip of her shot and rolling the glass between her fingers.
"Not me." Jeso corrected, glancing over at Eric.
The young man swallowed and stepped forward. "Lady Shyn, I am in need of your help. My sister was taken by the Clan. I need your help to get her back."
Shyn looked at him for a long moment then glanced back over at Jeso. "Who is this kid?"
"My name is Eric, prince of Karfor." Eric said and Jeso heard a touch of offence in his voice. "And I can speak for myself, ma’m."
"That is yet to be seen." Shyn said eyeing him darkly.
"Will you help me?" Eric pressed, trying not to let the Clanswoman get the upper hand. Jeso knew it was a losing battle, but left the young prince to learn that for himself.
"No." She answered tipping her shot up to empty the last of the glass and reaching for the bottle.
"Please, ma’m. I know the Clan are your people, but-"
Shyn's blue eyes flashed angrily. "I don't care a shek for the Clan. They can all burn in the third hell for all I care. Bloody zawate! Shyt unit dit Ashyle! Manim!" she cried, slipping into her native tongue as she cursed.
Jeso was a little surprised at her venomous. Perhaps Eric was right. He certainly had never heard her speak like this before.
"Then help us!" Eric pressed.
Shyn sighed releasing some of her tension. Reaching for the bottle she poured herself another shot and downed it.
"I think you've had enough to drink." Jeso said reaching for the bottle, but the look she shot him made his hand freeze inches from the glass surface.
"We are far past the time when you had any say in my life, Jeso." she said, a deadly chill in her voice.
Jeso's eyes grew as cold as hers. "I wasn't the one who diapered in the middle of the night. Where did you go, Shyn? I looked everywhere for you."
The woman turned away from him flipping back her hood as she downed another shot. The deep red of her long hair shown in the light of the lanterns hanging over head. A quiet came over the pub, then worried murmurs.
"You two can settle your differences later." Eric said trying to bring everyone back on target. "I still need your help getting-"
"Look, kid." Shyn said glancing over at him. "It sucks to be your sister, all right. What do you expect me to do anyway? Walk up to Uni and ask him for the keys to the Enkoma Akyle? Seeing as I tried to kill him last time I saw him, I doubt that conversation would go well."
"But you know the way in. You know the land. We need you. Please." Eric pleaded.
"It's called a map, kid. Go find one."
"I'll pay you." Eric offered.
Shyn opened her mouth to say something, but paused. "How much?" she asked cocking her head at him.
"Forty golds."
The woman snorted. "Forty! I could get forty cleaning manure from the stables around here."
Eric gritted his teeth. "Fine. A hundred, but only after my sister is safely back home."
Shyn eyed him for a moment then shook her head. "No. Too much trouble." she said turning away from him.
Eric's face turned red. "But you just said-"
Jeso laid a hand on the young prince's shoulder, silencing him. "You say you have a grudge against the Clan. What better way to get back at them then to talk a powerful breeder right out from under their noses? Can you imagine the chaos if she escaped? Heads would roll for that."
Shyn pondered his words for a moment then glanced over at Eric. "A hundred and twenty. Not a copper less."
Eric hesitated for a moment then nodded. "Agreed."
The Clanswoman chuckled dryly. "Then you have yourself a map, prince."
A look of relief flooded over the young man's face. "Thank you. I'm glad you-"
"Meh. Whatever." Shyn said waving a hand at him as she knocked back her last shot. Rising from her stool, Shyn took a staggering step forward. Jeso put out a hand to keep her from falling. As soon as his fingers touched her shoulder she spun around with amazing speed. Her hand snapped to his throat and Jeso could feel the tingle of deadly magic where their skin met.
"Don't touch me." she said her voice as cold and hard as ice. Jeso looked into her eyes feeling the chill of them run down his spine. She suddenly released him taking a staggering step back. Glancing over at the bar she changed directions and snatched up the bottle tossing down a few coins before staggering out.
Eric moved to follow her, but Jeso put out his arm to stop the prince. "Let her go."
"But we need to tell her which
ship we will be on tomorrow." Eric protested.
"Don't worry about it, prince. She'll know where to go." he said quietly. "She always does."