That also seemed a wise decision.
Aras smiled. “Just so. Well. Now that that's behind me, as I'm still alive, I need to speak to Geras.”
“You do,” I acknowledged. Standing, I offered him my hand. He took it, and I lifted him to his feet. Then we walked together back toward the inGara camp. “I must go to my father,” I added. “I am very certain he will wish to speak to me regarding my disrespectful behavior today.”
“Will he beat you?”
I glanced at him sidelong. “He may. Probably he will. I should not have spoken in that way at all, but certainly not to Koro inKarano, nor before a gathering of many tribes. You know I am afraid of the whip, even now, after this long.”
“Anyone would be.”
“I think this is so. I have accepted this fear. It is not important. Do not protest on my behalf, if you have thought of that.”
He smiled. “You know me well, Ryo. Very well, if it would embarrass you for me to speak to your father, I won’t, but I’m grateful for your temper on my behalf.” He paused, touching my arm to make me pause as well. Facing me, he said, “Here’s something you may not have realized. I’m going to have to go to my king for judgment—I promised Koro, but I would have to do that anyway, after all this. We Lau handle oaths differently than your people, but I’ve now broken a very serious oath I swore directly to Soretes. He certainly won’t take that lightly.”
I had, of course, realized that. “Yes?” I said.
“Well, under the circumstances, I don’t think it will matter very much if I severely bend one or two other, lesser, oaths. I’m not going to put those people to death. I'll extend clemency and declare a different punishment. Something harsh, there’s no help for that, but not as harsh as the law technically requires. So that’s one good thing that will come out of all this.”
So many days had passed, and so many important things had happened, that I had actually forgotten that problem entirely. I remembered it now. “Aras,” I said, smiling. “Good. You uncle will permit this?”
“If I make an official proclamation of clemency, probably. Almost certainly. Doing so will be a serious enough failure of my duty that he might break my scepter for it. But he'll have several other more important reasons to do that, so it hardly seems to signify.”
I was very, very pleased. His nature had not changed at all. He was still very much himself: generous even where that might be a fault; deeply revolted by any kind of cruelty; willing to take a difficult burden on himself to spare other people.
I made no effort to put this thought aside. I did not mind at all if he saw it.
“I hope that’s true,” he told me. “I think it is. I’m sure it is.” We began to walk again, not fast.
I asked, realizing what else he had said, “Do you truly believe your uncle will break your scepter?”
“I don't know. It's not unlikely. If he does, I'll accept that.” He added, firmly turning the subject, “It would probably be best if I left soon. It's a long way south to the river, and I don't think it would be wise for me to impose on your king's tolerance any longer than necessary. It’s still cold, but there’s not much snow, at least. I hope my poor horses will manage.”
I was still thinking about what might happen if the summer king withdrew the authority he had granted Aras, but I made myself set those thoughts aside and smiled. “Do not be concerned. The season has turned. We will ride from winter into spring. By the time we come to the lower steppe, the snow will be less, so I think the horses will do well enough. By the time we cross the Little Knife, all the snow will be gone. Long before we come to the river, we will ride all the way from winter into summer.”
“I look forward to that very much,” he said softly. “I’m very glad to think I’ll live to see another summer ... and glad that you’ll be making that ride with me. We’ll go at once to Avaras, and I swear to you, I’ll see about asking Tesmeket-an to removing the tie from your mind even before dealing with this other business.”
“I am less concerned for that than I was. You know this is true.”
“You’re remarkably forbearing. I’m very grateful for that. Thank you. But you were right to demand it—you were right in every regard—and if there’s any way at all to remove every sorcerous tie from your mind, I will certainly see to it that this is done.”
“So,” I said. “Good.” I wanted that; this had not changed. But I had spoken the truth: I thought now, for the first time since he had set his will upon me, that if the tie between us could not be broken, I might be able to accept that.
He touched my arm. Then he let his hand fall again. We walked back toward the tents of my people, side by side, not speaking. Before us, the towering mountains rose up against the sky and, high above, the eagle turned and turned in his golden spiral through the brilliant light.
Endnotes
I hope you enjoyed reading TARASHANA! I certainly enjoyed writing it.
I love this world and these characters. By the time you read this, I will probably be working on the 4th and 5th books in the series. The 4th, KERANAUNI, will be a shorter novel offset from the main story arc. The 5th, probably titled TASMAKAT, will be a direct sequel to TARASHANA, picking up just
