Battle Magic

25

THE TEMPLE OF THE GODDESS RIVER

KANPOJA PASS

Two weeks later the twins accompanied Rosethorn, Briar, and Evvy to the Kanpoja Pass leading to the Realms of the Sun. Jimut and Luvo came as well. Jimut wanted to pay his respects to the river that was worshipped in Kombanpur as the goddess Kanpoja. Like the twins, who meant to work for the God-King for two more years to earn a nest egg for their coming war against their uncle, Jimut was remaining in Gyongxe.

Luvo had come to say good-bye to Evvy. One of Diban Kangmo’s daughters would carry him back to his mountain afterward.

“You’re the only thing I’ll miss about this place, really,” Evvy told him as they watched the river tumble by. It seemed less personal than watching Parahan and Rosethorn. “I mean, I’ll miss Parahan and Souda, but they’ll be riding all over the country and getting rid of any soldiers left behind. I don’t want that. No fighting, no war. I wish I could have stayed with you and learned more.”

“I wish you could stay, too,” Luvo said. “This traveling is so odd. We mountains never stray. It astounds my kin that I went to Garmashing.”

Parahan came over to Evvy and crouched before her. “I owe you everything,” he told her quietly. “You know this, don’t you?”

Evvy flapped her hand at him, her way of saying, “Forget that.”

“I would heap you with jewels were I at home, but here I am only a poor soldier. The God-King hasn’t even paid me yet!” Parahan smiled at her. “The gods bless you in your journeying, and give you sweet dreams.” He put his palms together before his face and bowed. Evvy hugged him fiercely. She would never get another chance.

When they let each other go, Souda was waiting. She, too, bowed to Evvy, her hands pressed together before her face. “Thank you for helping my brother to escape the emperor,” she told Evvy. She looked at Briar, who had come over with Jimut. “Briar, my thanks to you both. If our prayers count for anything, you will reach your home in health and safety.”

Rosethorn led her horse over to them. The peak spider followed her.

“Please count my prayers, too,” Jimut added. He had splashed river water over his face and head for what seemed like the dozenth time since they had reached the pass. “Because of you I have seen the place where the beautiful river crosses into the Realms of the Sun!” He looked at Parahan and Souda, then grinned at Briar and Evvy. “Don’t worry. I will take good care of them.”

“Then we should all go,” Rosethorn said, swinging into the saddle. Evvy and Briar did the same. “We have a long journey ahead. Emelan is almost half a world away. Luvo, your spider friend is ready to take you home.”

Luvo had been rocking back and forth on his stubby feet as everyone talked. Now he turned to the peak spider. “I thank you, but no,” he said with his usual courtesy. “You do not need to return me to Kangri Skad Po.”

“I beg your pardon?” Rosethorn asked.

Luvo made a humming sound full of rises and falls. The spider crouched low to the ground, then rose to the top of its toes. Luvo hummed louder and deeper, then turned toward Rosethorn. “If you will permit, Rosethorn, I wish to journey to this Emelan with you.” He turned his head knob toward the mountains. “No, my brothers and sisters!” His voice thundered against the rocky heights all around them. Everyone covered her or his ears. “That you have never gone forth does not mean I should not do it! My mountain is fine! Its waters and plants and creatures will do nicely without me, and I will wander where I choose!”

By the time he had finished, all of those near him but Evvy had moved away and were using their forearms to put as much flesh as they could between their ears and his thundering voice as it echoed in the pass. Evvy was crying. “You don’t have to do this,” she told the creature who had made her feel safe in those ugly hours after she fled her torturers. “You don’t have to leave your only home.”

Luvo turned his head knob up to her. “I have seen how your education goes, Evumeimei,” he said quietly. “It is well enough, but I can teach you other things. And I do not wish to sleep eternity away. I wish to see more. You and Briar and Rosethorn, and your friends, among you I have felt more awake than I have felt since the first humans came to Gyongxe. I wish to stay awake with you.”

“Well, if that’s settled, we still need to go.” Rosethorn opened a bag on one of the horses and pulled out some of the scarves the God-King had given them. “Will you ride a packhorse or with Evvy?”

“I will ride with Evumeimei for a time,” Luvo said.

Rosethorn and Briar quickly wound scarves around Evvy and Luvo until the living stone was tucked and secure in front of the girl.

Jimut handed Evvy the reins. “Give my greetings to the river goddess when you reach Kombanpur,” he told Briar. They clasped hands.

“I will,” Briar said. He bowed to Parahan and Souda and rode to Rosethorn, taking the lead rein for their string of packhorses from her.

Evvy waved as the twins and Jimut turned to gallop back to the main road to Garmashing. She waited until they were out of her view before she leaned over and spat on the earth of Gyongxe. “Pass that on to Yanjing, if you’d be so good,” she whispered to the gods of the realm. “I know at least a couple of you are listening.” She looked ahead. “C’mon, Luvo. Any place that gave us Briar and Rosethorn has to be interesting.”

“I look forward to it,” the heart of the mountain said.

“I look forward to going home,” Briar said. “Home! My sisters, and Lark, and a city where winter means rain and wool clothes, not furs!”

“Our garden,” Rosethorn added. “Winding Circle temple. The sea.”

“I have not been near the sea in a long time,” Luvo said. “It must have changed very much.”

“You will have to tell us,” Briar replied. “And the Kanpoja River will take us there.”

They set off at a trot, the road clear ahead of them.