cabin.
He'd gone outside to treat his hair. Instead of gray, it was now a dark, nutty brown. His eyes too he had altered with chemicals, dimming their distinctive yellow to a lighter amber. Treating them thus also gave Sol a slow look. Lord Grau was an amusement in the Emperor's court and 'endearing' to a few of the kinder women. A lotion, yet another handy trick, darkened his skin. With the sun bowing to winter's strength, the lotion would not be necessary for much longer, but it would seem strange if his skin did not show at least a hint of a tan.
Mella clucked at him. "It's always strange, the way you alter your appearance. You'd think I'd be used to it by now."
"I'm not used to it, Mella. Why should you be?" Sol dropped to one knee and carefully took one of Iah's hands, letting Iah know exactly where he was. " How fair you, Captain? " He spoke in Illussor.
" Well enough, considering. " Iah lifted a hand to his bandaged eyes. " I don't think I'll ever get used to it. "
" I would imagine not ," Sol replied. He stood slowly, never releasing Iah's hand. " I doubt you find it reassuring, " he said teasingly, " but you make for a fine Krian. "
Iah laughed sadly. " At least I make for a good something. Certainly I'm not much of an Illussor anymore. "
" Now don't say that, " Sol said. He tugged Iah up, gently adjusting his clothes so that they fell properly. It had taken Sol a long time to adjust to Krian clothing—the heavy fabrics and intricate fastenings, all of it lined or trimmed in fur. Iah seemed to wear his long coat without trouble. Perhaps because, unlike Salhara, Illussor spent almost as much time buried in the cold as Kria. " When you bring home the Breaker, all will call you a hero. " He touched the bandages softly.
" I suppose. " Iah said then changed the subject. " I would imagine we can't go around calling me Iah, can we? "
Sol hesitated. " No, we cannot. "
Iah smiled. " Am I running up against a stigma with names? You shall have to explain it all to me sometime. I fear I do not understand it. "
" Names are power. Power of life. Power of death. Do not give a name lightly, do not take a name lightly, do not share a name lightly, do not speak a name lightly ," Sol recited, " To give a name is to give a life. To strike a name is to kill a man. Whosoever names you has power over you. "
" I still don't really understand. "
Sol nodded. " I will explain over dinner if time permits. For now, we must attend more important matters: do you speak Krian at all? "
" Only battle speech, " Iah said. It was not unusual for soldiers to pick up a measure of fluency in the language of his enemies. Krian, Salharan, and Illussor soldiers alike all managed to learn at least a bit of one another's languages.
" Then we will practice on the journey. You will have to be fluent. "
Iah smiled. " Or I could be mute. "
" That will be our last resort, " Sol said. He stood and tugged Iah to his feet. " We will also have to drill you on Krian custom. I don't suppose you know any of that? "
Iah frowned, and his head swayed back and forth in thought. He stopped abruptly, a pained look on his face. "They're obsessed with their weapons," he said finally.
Sol threw his head back and laughed. " Obsession is what we would call it. Krians know weapons and how to fight the old way. They take it very seriously. "
" Yes, " Iah said. He shook his head. " I've been told they name their swords. The more absurd rumors state they treat their swords like lovers. "
" Sort of ," Sol said quietly. " A man names his sword after the person he loves. "
Iah grimaced. " How Krian, to call a tool for killing after a lover. "
Sol's voice carried a gentle reprimand. " Like all of us, Krian soldiers go into battle assuming they will die. They call their swords after their 'beloved' so that they'll die with the person they love beside them. "
" I have never heard such a thing, " Iah said softly, ducking his head.
" Neither had I, many years ago when I
He'd gone outside to treat his hair. Instead of gray, it was now a dark, nutty brown. His eyes too he had altered with chemicals, dimming their distinctive yellow to a lighter amber. Treating them thus also gave Sol a slow look. Lord Grau was an amusement in the Emperor's court and 'endearing' to a few of the kinder women. A lotion, yet another handy trick, darkened his skin. With the sun bowing to winter's strength, the lotion would not be necessary for much longer, but it would seem strange if his skin did not show at least a hint of a tan.
Mella clucked at him. "It's always strange, the way you alter your appearance. You'd think I'd be used to it by now."
"I'm not used to it, Mella. Why should you be?" Sol dropped to one knee and carefully took one of Iah's hands, letting Iah know exactly where he was. " How fair you, Captain? " He spoke in Illussor.
" Well enough, considering. " Iah lifted a hand to his bandaged eyes. " I don't think I'll ever get used to it. "
" I would imagine not ," Sol replied. He stood slowly, never releasing Iah's hand. " I doubt you find it reassuring, " he said teasingly, " but you make for a fine Krian. "
Iah laughed sadly. " At least I make for a good something. Certainly I'm not much of an Illussor anymore. "
" Now don't say that, " Sol said. He tugged Iah up, gently adjusting his clothes so that they fell properly. It had taken Sol a long time to adjust to Krian clothing—the heavy fabrics and intricate fastenings, all of it lined or trimmed in fur. Iah seemed to wear his long coat without trouble. Perhaps because, unlike Salhara, Illussor spent almost as much time buried in the cold as Kria. " When you bring home the Breaker, all will call you a hero. " He touched the bandages softly.
" I suppose. " Iah said then changed the subject. " I would imagine we can't go around calling me Iah, can we? "
Sol hesitated. " No, we cannot. "
Iah smiled. " Am I running up against a stigma with names? You shall have to explain it all to me sometime. I fear I do not understand it. "
" Names are power. Power of life. Power of death. Do not give a name lightly, do not take a name lightly, do not share a name lightly, do not speak a name lightly ," Sol recited, " To give a name is to give a life. To strike a name is to kill a man. Whosoever names you has power over you. "
" I still don't really understand. "
Sol nodded. " I will explain over dinner if time permits. For now, we must attend more important matters: do you speak Krian at all? "
" Only battle speech, " Iah said. It was not unusual for soldiers to pick up a measure of fluency in the language of his enemies. Krian, Salharan, and Illussor soldiers alike all managed to learn at least a bit of one another's languages.
" Then we will practice on the journey. You will have to be fluent. "
Iah smiled. " Or I could be mute. "
" That will be our last resort, " Sol said. He stood and tugged Iah to his feet. " We will also have to drill you on Krian custom. I don't suppose you know any of that? "
Iah frowned, and his head swayed back and forth in thought. He stopped abruptly, a pained look on his face. "They're obsessed with their weapons," he said finally.
Sol threw his head back and laughed. " Obsession is what we would call it. Krians know weapons and how to fight the old way. They take it very seriously. "
" Yes, " Iah said. He shook his head. " I've been told they name their swords. The more absurd rumors state they treat their swords like lovers. "
" Sort of ," Sol said quietly. " A man names his sword after the person he loves. "
Iah grimaced. " How Krian, to call a tool for killing after a lover. "
Sol's voice carried a gentle reprimand. " Like all of us, Krian soldiers go into battle assuming they will die. They call their swords after their 'beloved' so that they'll die with the person they love beside them. "
" I have never heard such a thing, " Iah said softly, ducking his head.
" Neither had I, many years ago when I
Similar Books
Lady in Flames
Ian Lewis
Three Hundred Million: A Novel
Blake Butler
Shop Talk
Carolyn Haines
Imposter
William W. Johnstone
City of Devils: A Novel
Diana Bretherick
Worlds Apart
J. T. McIntosh
Salt
Jeremy Page
Chasing Shadows
Rebbeca Stoddard
A Baby on Her Christmas List
Louisa George