racing the ship. It was beautiful, this open world of air and water, and quite alien to Ythnel. She lingered at the starboard rail well after sunset, watching the stars twinkling in the night sky, her breath forming puffs of white before her.
She shivered, hugging herself and rubbing her arms to keep the blood circulating. The wind cut through even the thick coat and mittens she had borrowed from Master Saelis. It was probably best if she headed belowdecks for the night anyway, before he worried why she hadn't returned to the cabin she shared with Prisus and Leco.
Ythnel turned and noticed two sailors were watching her from their stations across the deck. Most of the crew was asleep; the current shift included a helmsman along with a single guard fore and aft. These two were supposed to be making repairs to the sails or mending lines or something. Their work lay at their feet.
The intent behind those stares was unmistakable. Ythnel had seen it many times before, though she usually hadn't been the target. If necessary, she was confident she could handle the two men but decided it was better to remove herself from the situation. She strode toward the hatch that would take her belowdecks, not even bothering to glance at the sailors.
The approaching sound of boots on wood planks told her they were not going to give up so easily. Ythnel stopped and pointed at one of them.
'Fall!' she ordered. Propelled by divine energy channeled from Loviatar, the force of the command struck one of the sailors and knocked him prone.
The sailor who kept his feet jumped slightly at the obvious use of magic. Then he visibly screwed up his courage. 'You're gonna pay for that, witch.' The man continued to advance, his face twisted into a lecherous leer.
'What's going on here?' Leco emerged from out of the hatch. Ythnel saw his eyes dart between her and the two sailors. 'Master Saelis sent me to look for you.' He pulled Ythnel past him and closed the hatch after they both had descended.
'Thank you for your help, Leco,' Ythnel said as they started down the narrow corridor toward their cabin.
'Don't thank me. I'm just doing what Master Saelis asked of me. Those men could have had their way with you for all I care.'
Ythnel pulled up short, shocked by Leco's harsh words. 'Why? What have I done to you?'
'You are a Loviatan. I know what that means. Master Saelis's wife was a Loviatan before they were married. I told him it was a bad idea to hire you. Rest assured, I will be watching you. I won't let you hurt him or his daughter.' He continued down the corridor without waiting for Ythnel to respond.
She stood there for a moment after he disappeared into the cabin, shocked. The man hated her simply because of her faith. She had heard stories about this kind of prejudice from sisters in the manor, but now that she had come face-tface with such a situation, Ythnel realized she hadn't really understood what those sisters experienced. A deep sadness washed over her as she let herself into the cabin and quietly slipped into her bunk.
On the afternoon of the sixth day, they arrived in Luthcheq. The reflection of the sun off the white buildings created a dazzling brilliance that nearly blinded Ythnel, but she would not close her eyes. She had never been beyond the manor's grounds before; she had read of other cities besides Bezantur but had never seen them. All she had known were walls of dark stone. Here everything was so bright and clean. Even the movement of the crowds seemed orderly. Ythnel feared that if she blinked, if she looked away for just a second, it would all vanish like a dream.
Prisus had Leco run ahead to fetch a carriage while he and Ythnel waited with the luggage. As she watched people walk by, she noted how different they looked. There was a hint of olive to their skin tone, and their eyes did not have the same tilt as hers. Most of them were short, like Prisus. The men wore their hair cropped, with the bangs brushed down onto their foreheads. The women had their hair pinned up in back, with several loose strands of curls trailing down to their shoulders.
A carriage pulled up, and Leco jumped off the back and began loading their belongings. Prisus motioned for Ythnel to get in then followed, closing the door behind himself. Leco finished with the luggage and climbed up next to the driver. Ythnel's stomach began to flutter, and her palms sweated as the carriage started off. Prisus had gone over her new duties while they were aboard the ship, but now that she was moments away from meeting his daughter, she was nervous. The world outside the manor was so different. For the first time, she began to feel awkward about her beliefs. It seemed that they now served to alienate her rather than provide a common bond.
Ythnel wiped her palms on her dress and bit her lip. Prisus noticed the nervous gestures and smiled. 'You'll do fine, Ythnel. I'm sure Iuna will like you. She's really a good girl. It's just that her mother's death hit her hard. It hit us all pretty hard.'
Prisus sighed and looked out the window of the carriage. Ythnel gazed out as well, thinking the sights might help her to relax. They had left the docks behind and passed a solitary tower in the center of a well-tended garden. Four giant trees surrounded the tower, obscuring all but a single window at the top from view.
'The tower of Naeros Karanok,' Ythnel breathed.
'So, you are versed in the politics of our city,' Prisus chuckled. 'Let's test that knowledge, shall we? Anything more you can tell me about the ruling family?'
'From what I understand, Naeros is also known as the Marker because he likes to disfigure prisoners. He's the grandson of Maelos Karanok, the family patriarch and ruler of the city, though that's mostly in name only. Jaerios, Maelos's son and Naeros's father, is the real source of power. I believe Jaerios also has a daughter, but I know nothing about her.'
'Excellent.' Prisus nodded. 'What else do you know about Luthcheq politics?'
Ythnel thought for a moment as the tower faded from view. 'The Karanoks have decreed that all arcane magic is outlawed. Wizards and sorcerers, and those who associate with them, are summarily executeda policy that has caused tension with neighbors and hindered the economy of the city.'
'An understandable point of view for one who comes from a nation ruled by wizards, and not without merit,' Prisus conceded.
The carriage pulled into a private courtyard and stopped in front of a twstory building squeezed between its neighbors. It had a flat roof and an unremarkable exterior. A short flight of stairs led up to a plain but sturdy wooden door. Ythnel followed Prisus in.
'Iuna, precious, I'm back,' Prisus called out when he entered. For a moment, they stood in silence in the middle of the living area. A beautiful woven rug covered most of the stone floor. Two sofas and a chaise lounge formed a semicircle before a marble fireplace where a small fire burned lazily. A doorway beyond the sofas led into a dining room.
'Papa!' A young girl of about eleven summers stood at the top of a staircase to the right. She wore a knee- length blue dress with lace ruffles at the shoulders rather than sleeves. Her dark hair was done up much like that of the women Ythnel had seen in the streets.
Prisus strode to the base of the stairs and opened his arms, catching Iuna as she leaped down the last two steps. He gave her a twirling hug then set her down. 'I want you to meet someone,' he said, turning her to face Ythnel. 'This is Ythnel. She's going to help you with your studies.'
Iuna's smile suddenly turned into a pout. 'I thought we decided it was just going to be you and me, J? apa.'
'Now, Iuna, you know how much I want that. But I can't always be here because of business, so you need someone to look after you when I'm gone.'
Iuna crossed her arms over her chest, unconvinced. 'I don't like her. Find a different one.'
'There isn't anyone else,' Prisus sighed. 'Just give it some time, precious. Why don't you show her around the house? That will give you both a chance to get to know each other.'
'All right, Papa. I'll do it for you.' Iuna stood on her tiptoes and gave Prisus a kiss.
'Excellent.' He smiled. 'Now, I have to run to the Trade Center, but I'll be back by dinner. Have a good afternoon.'
'Good-bye, Papa.' Iuna waved as Prisus headed back outside. Then she turned to Ythnel. Her lips were pinched, and anger smoldered in her brown eyes. 'Follow me.'
Iuna led Ythnel up the stairs and down the hall to a small room with a single bed, a dresser, and a desk. Ythnel's belongings were sitting on the bed.
