Maker of Fire

Lisaykos, Healing Shrine of Mugash

I was worried when Aylem did not return from Crystal Shrine of Tiki. She had left in a fit of temper with Emily the Coyn. I don't know what the argument was about but the Queen was most upset. She seldom raises her voice like that.

A messenger bird arrived just past the seventh bell with a shocking message from my counterpart at the Crystal Shrine of Tiki. High Priestess Foyuna is possibly the only member of the royal family that I like. According to her message, when Emily, Aylem, and Asgotl arrived, Tiki appeared in person. This event happened without Aylem trancing to invoke visions in the crystal.

Foyuna included an unedited transcript of what Tiki said, with a note saying it was for my eyes only. After reading it, I understood why. Tiki's blessing on Emily would upset those who treated Coyn as a smart form of livestock.

I was surprised when Aylem, Emily, and Asgotl returned before the fourth bell the next morning. I was working in my study when I heard the sound of griffin claws on the tile floor. There are only a few griffins with leave to enter the shrine by the fourth-floor balcony.

I got up to greet whoever it was. It might not have been the Queen, but I wasn't about to commit a mistake of protocol by assuming it was someone else. One must go to the Queen. One does not make the Queen come to you. As it was, I was glad I got up to greet her and her party. I met them on the far side of the atrium since Aylem and Asgotl walked to match Emily's much slower pace.

"We can use my study," I offered, thinking it would be more comfortable for all parties than a room with a bed and chairs. Because I assumed I would be teaching Emily letters, I had already installed a small stair of two steps next to one of the lounges. "You too, Asgotl, so long as you are careful with those claws of yours on my carpets." My study had double doors so the griffin could enter without trying to squeeze through.

"Yes, Holy One," he said with just a tinge of mockery.

After everyone was comfortably seated, I lost no time in asking why they were back already. "Was the revelation from Tiki so short that it is already recorded?"

"I know this won't sit well with you, Lisaykos, but it is not recorded yet," Aylem said and then shared an inscrutable look with Emily. "Emily can't write in Fosk letters and she can't speak to dictate it to someone. Considering the circumstances, Foyuna agreed that it might be best for her to learn her letters first so she can write it herself. Foyuna even lent Emily a copy of the Lay of the Eleven Gods for reading practice. I will leave Emily here for now since I need to return to Is'syal before the chancellor makes off with the treasury. I can be back in a few days."

"So that's the plan? You will leave Emily here, and she and I can get started on writing in Fosk?"

"It seems that's the best plan for now. I expect she will pick up Fosk letters quickly since she can already write in a different but still phonetic alphabet. And it gives everyone time to think about what we need to do next, now that Emily's home has been destroyed along with all the things she needed to get ready for winter. There's no rush now that the Valley of the Vanishing River is not an option for Emily this year."

"And that is acceptable for you, Emily?" I asked. The little Coyn made a face of distaste followed by one of resignation and then scooped her hand to gesture yes.

"It will be very difficult to be left alone now that Tiki has made you a blessed revelator," I tried to sound sympathetic for her sake. She didn't strike me as the kind of person who liked a lot of attention, especially of the fawning variety. The worst possible outcome would be one of the other shrines wanting to install her as a live-in holy person. "Do you know the gist of the revelation, dear heart?" I asked Aylem.

Aylem looked at Emily. Emily looked back. They both looked at Asgotl, who started to laugh. Emily started a serious contemplation of the ceiling while Aylem worked hard not to smile.

"This must be some revelation," I remarked, unamused. "Please don't tell me that Tiki showed up in his aspect of the prankster."

Aylem's face lost the battle of dignity as an evil smile erupted, "I could refrain from telling you that, but it wouldn't be true. There will either be a plague of people dying of constipation or Tiki is indeed a prankster."

"Constipation?" This did not sound good. "The revelation is that there will be a plague of constipation?"

The smile got even broader. "No, not prophesy of a plague---just a recipe for a medicine to cure constricted bowels." The griffin was on his side by this point, helplessly sniggering away.

"Tiki's revelation is a laxative recipe?" It was unbelievable, except it was the God Tiki so it could be true. "At least it will be a short revelation," I pointed out. My statement had the effect of stopping all the mirth. The griffin sat up and his ears drooped. Emily stared at the floor.

"There's a problem," Aylem explained. "The recipe is impossible to make because the apparatus needed to make it doesn't exist on this world. Emily knows how to make some of it but not all of it. There's also the problem of finding the starting ingredients, the most important of which is a byproduct of treating black or brown fire rocks the same way one treats wood to make charcoal. So we are left not knowing what Tiki intended for this revelation."

Emily was looking quite miserable at this point. I concluded that she knew she was stuck until she put the revelation in writing. For someone who was used to being on her own, to do whatever she chose to do, the situation must be vexing. If it became too intolerable for her, there was the danger she would just opt to escape and go elsewhere. That wasn't a problem for us since Aylem could find Emily wherever she went by using the Great Crystal; however, it could be inconvenient if we had to chase her down. Emily's forest craft would be excellent and that would make her hard to catch.

It occurred to me just then that Emily might not know the extent of Aylem's abilities or about the powers of the Great Crystal. She may not realize there was nowhere she could hide and not be found. I would need to carefully inquire to find out how much Emily knew. With the Queen and Asgotl returning to Is'syal, it would be up to me to treat Emily well enough that she stayed put.

"We don't need to solve every one of these problems all at once," I declared. "The first thing that needs attention is the mid repast." I rang the bell for Wolkayrs, my scholar and attendant, to warn him some guests would be dining with me. I also wanted to see how he and Emily reacted to one another. If she could tolerate him, it would make my life much easier.

Wolkayrs was a man with just enough magic to make light and keep a pot of tea warm. His real talent was handling my routine paperwork and my research of medicines and healings. He also made sure I remembered to eat on time and didn't work too late into the evening. Of course, with such modest magic, he was about a head and a hand shorter than me. Short, a bit round, and prematurely bald: he looked rather harmless.

He was also one of the kindest people one could ever meet, a little bit fussy at times but very easy to get along with. He had the knack of knowing exactly what to say to just about anyone. I confess I was curious to see how he reacted to Emily and what he would say to her. It only took a moment after I rang the bell for the sound of his soft-soled boots to come echoing down the hall.

"Are you looking for mid repast, Holy One? Would you...," he stopped short when he noticed the Queen, Emily, and the griffin. He promptly fell to his knees, with bowed head and right hand over his heart. "May the blessings of the Gods be upon you, Great Ones."

"And also upon you," Aylem responded. "You may rise." Emily's eyes got a bit round.

"So, three people and a griffin for mid repast? Shall I serve it here or in the dining room? The cooks made flat coffins of beef, cheese, and spring vegetables today. I can serve them with no problem in either room. Asgotl, you have the choice of beef brisket or shredded mutton, but you must eat it in the hallway."

"Hey, are you saying I'm a messy eater?" the griffin snorted indignantly.

"Yes, I am." He smiled innocently at Asgolt and then turned to me with a questioning look.

"We will eat in here, Wolkayrs," I told him. He bowed and turned to leave. I snuck a peek at Emily and noted she was very still, following him with just her eyes out the door.

"I'm afraid I don't have your room ready yet, Emily," I said, more to distract her than anything else. Creating a comfortable environment for the Coyn would take some care on my part. She was doing better than when she first came here, but she had a ways to go still.

Emily gave me a confused look so I explained: "There's a small room used for storage at the end of the hallway, across from the stair. It has a door from my bedroom but since I don't store things there, I never use it. It also has a hidden sliding panel door in the hallway. Behind the shelving that used to be in there---I had the shelving removed out of the way---there's a window with a good view to the south. You can see the river and the farms to the south of town. Wolkayrs has been building a bed for you that you won't get lost in.

"On the other side of the inner wall is my personal necessary and bathing chamber. I'm putting in another sliding panel door so you can access it from your new room and we can share. I'm also putting in your own necessary closet. We will need to coordinate what time you can use the tub so you don't disrupt my schedule. I doubt it will be a problem since I like to bathe right before I sleep and I always work late."

By now Emily was looking at me with very round eyes and dropped jaw. Since I know that my natural smile makes me look like I'm plotting to gleefully dismember children and small fluffy animals, I resisted the temptation to tease her a little with a smile, which is something I often use on younger students. I had to remind myself that she may be my student for a short time, but she wasn't safe to tease. I didn't want to send her fleeing the building.

"You can look at what's been done so far after we eat," I offered. "My thought was to move you into a comfortable space that would keep you safe for as long as we need, from anyone who might want to intrude upon you. I'm sure you realize that the king's men were scouting out your home that just got destroyed. They were probably looking for you. I think you probably want to avoid a visit from them. That's why I thought to move you to a room just off my own."

I was unable to say more on the subject because Wolkayrs returned with a large hamper full of food. He brought lap trays, which made for a more informal meal than when I ate in my personal dining room or the dining hall. He served the Queen first, of course, and then he served Emily. I was pleased to note he had found a small tray somewhere. On it, he placed a child's portion served on one of her own dishes and with her cutlery. He even found a small beaker, into which he poured sweet cold tea from a jug he brought with him.

"My wife told me you liked sweet tea, so I will leave this here for you, Great One," Wolkayrs topped off the beaker and then left the jug on my sideboard. Emily looked a bit startled when he used the proper form of address for her, and then she gave him a questioning look.

"Oh, my wife?" he smiled innocently, though I suspect he was being quite deliberate. "I'm married to Thuorfosi, who I believe was one of your healers." In reply, Emily made a face that I had trouble interpreting, though I guessed she may have been just contemplating what she was just told.

"Hey, where's my meal," Asgotl complained.

"If Master Griffin would be so kind as to follow me," Wolkaysr made a perfect bow and gestured to the door, "I will lead your esteemed self to a place where you may make your usual disgusting mess while eating, far far away from my mistress's carpets."

"Are you still calling me a messy eater?'

"Why, yes, I do believe I still am."

"Humph," the griffin got up and left the room with Wolkarys on his heels as the two continued to banter.