The Sslia prepares the path. The Sslia, by virtue of its own desire to escape the role it has been given, does the only thing that it can do.”
“And what is that?” asked Caliph.
“The Sslia destroys the world.”
“That’s a lot to take in, Ku’h … especially on an empty stomach.”
Ku’h’s smile was dark and cunning. Caliph could tell that the huge Veyden was not underestimating him. “The Sslia told us that you had arrived. She said you would need food and safety, that you were already protected against the disease. Bablemum is no threat to you. We have come up to invite you to dinner.”
“Thank you. We’re all hungry. But I’ve just woken up and I need a shower. Can I ask for forty minutes?”
Ku’h’s eyes were predatory. “Of course.”
“Again, thank you.”
Caliph reached out to shake the man’s hand but Ku’h only simpered. “You are in the south now. We do not touch here … unless we are mating.”
Caliph followed the giant man back into the other room. Without a word, Ku’h made a gesture and all his men stood up.
Caliph cringed at the demure moment of separation between Taelin and the Veyden who had been reclining next to her on the divan. The sight of it made him hugely uncomfortable.
When all the Veydens had left, Caliph turned to Baufent. “Tell me when you think it’s safe to talk.”
“I think it’s safe,” she said.
“Are we in danger?”
“I don’t know.” Her face was as gray as her hair. She looked exhausted. “He’s not the lord mayor, that’s for certain.”
“What’s going on? What happened?”
“You know as much as I do,” Baufent snapped.
“I mean with Sena. What happened?”
“I can tell you what happened,” said Taelin.
Shielded from the priestess, Baufent offered Caliph an elevated eyebrow.
“Taelin? Can you excuse the doctor and me for just a couple of minutes? I want to talk to her about my injuries.”
“Sena healed you.” Taelin beamed. She giggled softly and sauntered toward the door. “But that’s fine. I know you want to talk about me.” She blew him a kiss and then the curious octagonal portal slid shut.
As soon as she was out, Baufent exhaled. “She’s lost her blessed mind. Completely. She practically worships your…” An awkward moment. Baufent’s face was deeply lined. “Anyway, I have to admit, I’m starting to wonder whether I should join her church.”
The humor was so dry that neither one of them smiled. Caliph was looking at his hand. The stitches were gone. There were no scars or traces of injury.
“Look, I’m sorry you’re here. I know you didn’t want to come—”
“Of course I didn’t want to come!” Baufent yelled at him. “Do you realize where I am? I’m fourteen hundred miles south of where I should be. Fourteen hundred!”
“I know. We’ll get you on a ship headed for Stonehold—”
“There aren’t any ships.” Baufent’s voice was a chisel. She chipped her words directly from his optimism. “Did you
Caliph couldn’t reassure her so he changed tack. “What did Sena do while she was here?”
“You think that’s going to help us figure—”
“I want to know!” he barked. “What happened while I was asleep?”
“I already told you.”
“Tell me again.”
Baufent glowered. “They had me in a cell. The Iycestokians I mean. Lady Rae let me out and told me you needed a doctor. We were on our way to the cockpit to tend to you when Sena walked onto the deck. She’s the one who fiddled with the controls.”
“How did she get on board?”
“The same way we all saw her leave the ship in Sandren. She just walked clean out of the sky!”
“And she left the same way?” It sounded stupid but he wondered if Baufent might have seen her go into the city.
“I didn’t see her leave. All I know is that she took the Iycestokians with.”
Caliph noticed for the first time how quiet the ship was. He remembered the silver arms flailing, the hands pawing at him. “So there’s just the three of us now?”
“As far as I can tell.”
“And you never spoke to Sena?”
“No.”
Caliph found it hard to believe, but the fear on Baufent’s face as she remembered the event was clear.
“Sena talked to Taelin. I stayed away. They moved you into the room over there.” She waved her hand toward the place he had woken up. “Then the ship started moving. I came back to find out what was going on and Taelin said we were headed for Bablemum.
“I assumed she was delusional but she wouldn’t let me give her anything to calm her down.
“Anyway, that’s pretty much it. Shortly after that I realized Sena was gone and so were the Iycestokians.”
“Did you check the cockpit?”
“I looked in. I’m not a pilot. I didn’t dare to touch anything.”
“And you said we arrived here last night?”
“That’s right. We drifted in low, through the trees. Ku’h showed up right away. Said he’d seen us coming from a lookout in one of the towers. He basically showed up and said hi, then left and didn’t come back until this evening. That’s when I came and got you.”
“Did he say he wanted anything?”
“He’s offering us dinner,” said Baufent. “Which I’d like to take him up on. We’re down to a few canned goods in the kitchen.”
Caliph was hungry too but he remained thoughtful.
“So,” said Baufent. “Are we going? To dinner?”
“Indeed,” Caliph mumbled.
After half a minute of silence Baufent asked, “What are you going to do?”
Caliph looked at her. She was powerful and fierce, defiant of her own lack of options.
“I’m going after Sena.” When Baufent didn’t reply he offered a few qualifiers. “It’s all I have left. It’s the only thing that makes sense. Sigmund’s dead. Alani. So many people.”
“Well can you at least get me fed before discarding me for your silly quest?”
“I’m not discarding you. What else do you want me to do? What makes sense? I couldn’t have planned for this. How the fuck could I have planned for this?” He saw the truth of it register in her face. He saw her regret her words. “You can come with me,” said Caliph. “Or you can do whatever you think is best. I’m not your king anymore. I’m not a pilot either. I can’t fly us back home.
“I just need to understand what happened. How everything turned upside down. Even if it kills me.”
“Again?” Baufent asked.
“What?”
“Even if it kills you again?”
He studied her face for cynicism but she was unreadable. “You really believe that?” he asked. “That my organs are in jars back in Stonehold?”
Baufent pawed the side of her face, a combination perhaps of pensiveness and nervous tic. “The organs you were born with? Yes,” she said. “Yes I do.”
