Imstay, tent city, Black Falls

At the meeting, Usruldes was in the middle of explaining about Ud when Aylem twitched. Then Usruldes stopped mid-sentence.

"The Blessed Emily was just attacked by a Priestess Voice," Usruldes said.

"Asgotl was just attacked by a charm of discipline," Aylem said.

"I've alerted all my wraiths," Usruldes stood up. "They will secure the scene. Great One Lisaykos, please come with me."

"Is Emily hurt?" Aylem asked.

Usruldes held up his hand for a moment, "broken bones, probably a concussion, and..." He paused and I could see the anger flare in his eyes.

"She was kicked by a Voice for a distance of about 100 hands. The agent assigned to the Blessed Emily could not get to her in time to prevent the attack. My agent reports that a trainee cast two charms of discipline on the Blessed Emily. After the second charm, the Blessed Emily felled the trainee with a rock and then immobilized the trainee with a knee applied to her throat and a knife at the side of her neck. Emily was talking to the girl about the consequences of what she had just done when she was kicked by a Voice."

"Let's reconvene at the half before the quarter night bell," I declared. "Let's go, Usruldes, Lord Skalta, Great One."

"I'll be right behind you," Lisaykos said. I saw her turn to talk with Aylem. I exited the pavilion. I was too tired to cast levitation so I cast a speed charm on myself and ran to the trouble spot. Coming through the opening into the camp, I eyeballed the distance between a bleeding trainee and the small crumpled body of Emily. I noticed her left arm and knew that bones aren't supposed to bend that way. One of Usruldes' agents was standing between her and an angry-looking silverhair in red ochre and grey Priestess robes.

"Blessed what? That’s a stinking filthy Coyn," the woman shouted. "What nonsense is this? I should just stomp on it now and put it out of its misery since it will die anyway. No Coyn should have survived that. How can it be alive?"

"You should hope she's alive," I said as I walked up to Emily. I trusted that Usruldes would contain the situation. I needed to know what sort of state Emily was in. It was important since it could affect Aylem's state of mind. I confess I was also worried because I wanted to know Emily better, to talk with her, and see what she thought of life in Foskos with that unworldly perspective she had. If anyone had told me I would feel this way about a Coyn two or three years ago, I might have sent him or her to the healers to have that delusion cured.

I knelt next to that small broken body but couldn't see her breathe. Given her injuries, I was afraid she was dead or dying.

"Say something, please, Emily?"

Her eyes opened briefly as if it hurt to see. "Alright, something please," she smiled at her own little joke. "That's a silly request, Imstay King. "I think my back is broken, Imstay King. I need a healer but I w...wanted to talk to Opa before she sees Aylem. Imstay, this is important. Please, tell your daughter that Mugash showed Aylem all of Opa’s fear of her. I think it's w...why Aylem ran away. Aylem couldn’t face the guilt of making her own daughter afraid of her. Opa needs to know."

As that old saying goes, think of someone and your thoughts will bring them to you. Emily mentioned Opa and then there was Opa, ducking under the arms of guards and the wraith agents and running straight to me before anyone could catch her. She looked so grown up in the shrine's gray working overtunic with the wide bands of red ochre on the sleeves and as trim.

"Mighty One?" Opa's voice had dropped enough that she was starting to sound like her mother's alto. She stopped just a few steps away. "This is awful," Opa was horrified. She knelt and reached out for Emily.

"Don't touch, Opa," I put my hand in the way of hers. "Moving her could make the injuries worse. A healer will be here soon."

"I'm already here," Lisaykos' voice said from behind me. The old bird could be as sneaky as her son when she wanted. "Before you ask, Katsa and Kamagishi are with Aylem and keeping her in at the royal pavilion. She wanted to come but she was convinced that keeping her promise to Emily was the right thing to do."

I tapped my daughter on the shoulder to get her attention and motioned that we should both get out of the way. I didn't have to worry about Emily with Lisaykos here. I looked around and Usruldes was already segregating witnesses to keep them apart until interviewed.

Before I bothered Usruldes, I guided Opa over to Asgotl, who was down with his head on the ground. A small flock of Coyn children and some Coyn adults were speaking with him. All the children were petting him, which I thought was touching. He's always been good with children of all species. I wish more mounts were like him.

“He still likes playing with children," Opa sighed. "He's such a sweet griffin."

"How much have you been around Coyn children, Opa?"

"Not much but I do know the rules," she pouted that I had to ask.

"Opa, I don't know what you know,” I explained calmly. "That's why I asked. As king, the well-being of the Coyn is part of my responsibility. As you just saw, it's easy to break them. A kick that would give you or me a bruise threw Emily 100 hands and left her with multiple broken bones. Frankly, it should have killed her. By some miracle, she survived that attack. So when we get up to Asgotl, please watch where your feet go, kneel slowly, and stay very still. If you need room, to get more comfortable or to get up, tell the Coyn first so they know to get out of the way. And forgive me if you already know all this."

I wasn’t about to tell my daughter that I had not been around this many Coyn in years. I gave her instructions for approaching Coyn because I needed to remind myself. Other than Emily, I do not think I had ever had a real conversation with a Coyn.

It was a disturbing thought that sprinted across my mind. How could I possibly ensure the wellbeing of the Coyn if I knew nothing about them and their lives within my borders? It occurred to me just then that I knew more about the lives of flying mounts than I did about the Coyn. But I had work to do so I put the thought away for now.

"Welladay, Asgotl," I called out before I got too close. It was mostly to give the Coyn some warning I was near. I walked carefully around the Coyn. Then I slowly knelt in front of Asgotl. Opa did the same, kneeling next to me.

"How are you feeling, big guy?" I asked the unusually-quiet Asgotl. "I know griffins and charms of discipline don't mix."

His eye opened and studied me. "It doesn't hurt too much if I don't move."

"Can you walk?"

"I don't think so. Maybe in a few hours."

"Let me see if we can leave you here for the night," I looked around to see if there was any obvious person as camp master.

"No need to ask, Mighty One," a bearded black-haired Coyn made a bowing obeisance at my side. "Master Asgotl stepped in front of the charm discipline to protect our youngsters, so he may stay as long as he likes and the whole camp will take care of him. And he is welcome to come back to play with the children whenever he likes."

"You are?"

"I am the camp master for the shrine's Coyn. My name is Oytwee. The griffin shielded our children, Mighty One. It means the world to us."

"We all saw him, master big person," a tiny tow-headed boy piped up. "He saved us."

"Katkol, that's the King," Oytwee grabbed the boy's earlobe. "His title is Mighty One. Now apologize." Oytwee was firm with the child but not overbearing, He was also not acting out of fear of me. I could see why he was appointed camp master.

"I'm sorry migh..."

"Katkol, I know we taught you how to do obeisance, just like you do to the Holy One when you pass on the street or outside. Start over but with an obeisance."

The boy performed a good bowing obeisance, "I'm sorry for calling you the wrong name, King big person Mighty One."

"It was just an accident," I smiled at the boy and tousled his blond hair with a light hand. "You meant no disrespect. I accept your apology." I looked back at Oytwee, "Yours?"

"Not with that head of hair, Mighty One," the camp master laughed. "He's my nephew. He lives with me and my partner," He slapped the boy on the butt. "Now scoot, child, because I need to talk to the King."

"Oytwee, it is good of you to let Asgotl stay with you tonight,” I told the Coyn camp master. “I will send a wrangler with his dinner and a water bucket for him. Now I must be going. Thank you for your help."

"Mighty One, a moment, please? Might I ask who was the injured girl in the mantle of the healer shrine, the one the healers just took away? We have her divine and need to return it to her."

"You don't know?" I was surprised.

"We asked her to show us her divine and in all the confusion, I never caught her name. If you know where she is camped, or can send word, we can get her divine back to her."

"I can take it back with me," I offered. "She's staying with the Queen."

"She's yours? But she wears the Mugash mantle."

"She's her own person. If anyone owns her, it's the gods. Her name is Emily and her divine is the first one ever made."

The poor Coyn was speechless and his fish face was so perfect that I should have thrown him into the river with the rest of the fish. "Can you fetch her divine, please, since I do have many other things to take care of today?"

"Right," he ran to a tent and then came running back. "This is it," he handed it up to me. Then he gave me the strap for it, though it was muddied and had been stepped on.

"What happened to the strap?" I looked at the dirt on it, wondering how to carry it without getting my clothes soiled.

"The Blessed Emily used it as a sling to knock Trainee Moyuxkol down,” Oytwee replied, “after the trainee cast the two charms of discipline on the Great One."

"She what?" I guess it was my turn for a fish face and Opa was equally astounded. Then I remembered Usruldes' tale of how Emily protected him from their pursuers in the Island Swamp. I realized the sling must be one of her preferred hunting weapons, to have such good aim. The Blessed Emily just keeps surprising me.

"I could tell the charms hurt her, but she never screamed nor did she fall down from the pain,” Oytwee explained. “She just turned and walked away after the first charm. She stumbled a little after the second charm. Then she used the divine strap as a sling and knocked the trainee over. It was amazing to watch. I've never seen anyone resist a charm of discipline before."

"What happened after that?" I was curious.

"The Great One put her knee on the trainee's neck and kept her from moving by holding the knifepoint at the side of her neck. Then she started talking to the trainee. I wasn't close enough to hear what she said because she has a soft speaking voice that doesn't carry far."

"What happened with the Voice who kicked her?

"Oh, right. Voice Druyudros came into the camp at a run and kicked the Great One away from the trainee."

"She didn't try to speak to the Blessed Emily first?" I asked.

"Voice Druyudros didn't even stop running, Mighty One," Oytwee looked a bit angry. "We all thought she was doomed, she was kicked so high and so far. I have no idea how she is still alive, though I am happy that she is. She was good-natured and extremely polite. No one had any inkling that she was the Blessed Emily. She came across as a serious but friendly kid."

"Well, that sounds just like her," I remarked, handing the dirty strap to my daughter. "Carry that for me, please."

"Yes, Mighty One."

"Thank you for your help, Oytwee.”

"Blessings be upon you, Mighty One," he bowed an obeisance and backed away.

"And now, you, Opa hat Kas'syo, will come with me to the royal encampment," I stood up carefully and so did Opa. I leaned over so no one could hear and whispered to her: "I'm trying not to blow your identity. Your cover is that your Uncle Hessakos is here after being away on whatever mission it is I sent him off on. I might even be able to produce him."

She look disgusted with me for some reason. "Oh please, he's standing right over there."

"What? You know?" I was alarmed. Usruldes' disguise was getting more and more precarious.

"I’ve known since the first time you took me over to his house two years ago. It's so obvious since he's the only man I know of who's taller than you. I get it, Dad. I haven't told anyone. Garki knows too, by the way, and I'm sure he's never mentioned it to anybody."

I just shook my head. My life was getting too complicated. "Alright, youngster, let's go." We started walking out of the encampment and back toward the royal encampment. "Are ready for this, Opa?"

"To tell the truth, I'm nervous. Is mom really alright?"

"Well, no, I won’t lie to you. Your mother is fragile right now. She cries a lot when she thinks no one is watching. She knows now that her temper is out of control and she's scared of herself. And she's worried that she might hurt someone again like she hurt Emily and Asgotl. In a strange way, this assault on us by Impotu has been good for her because it gave her something she could do for Foskos for which everyone is grateful. She has been able to put up a good front around people because of it, but for anyone who knows her, it's just a cover."

"What about you, Dad? Has mom gotten any better with how she treats you?"

I could hear some anger in Opa when she asked that. "Don't let that anger out for now, Opa. Save it for when your mother is more stable. Your mother and I were getting along better than we had in years right before she killed Emily and Asgotl. Since she came back, she's changed. She has a hard time talking to people as if she doesn’t know what to say and it comes out all awkward.

"Now, I promised I would tell you this before you talked to your mother," I found myself saying. “The Blessed Emily thinks your mother ran away because she couldn’t face you. You see, my little princess, the day before Emily released Aylem from her punishment, Mugash made her relive one of your memories. In this memory, you saw your mother use the charm of a thousand stings on me, and it made you afraid of her.

“Wha..?”

“Less volume, please,” I was glad there were few people on the lane we were walking down. “Your mother loves you and your brother more than anything else in the world. The thought that you were afraid of her because of her bad temper knocked her down and stomped on her. She couldn’t face her shame over hurting the daughter she loved. That may be why she fled when we came to bring her home after her punishment in the Well of Mugash.”

“What was mom afraid of? Opa stopped and looked vexed.

“She was afraid of losing the love of her daughter,” I’m not sure where that came from but it flew out of my mouth before I could catch it. But it felt right to me.

“Well, that’s stupid,” Opa looked annoyed.

“Not really. Think it through,” I had realized this morning that Emily’s theory made sense. It explained a lot about Aylem’s actions. It also struck me as absurd that the kingdom's defenses currently relied upon a broken queen and her relationship with her touchy adolescent daughter.

We were almost to the entryway into the royal encampment, “I think the most important thing I want to say to you is: please, just for today, don’t be angry with her and don’t do one of your classic pouts. Your mother is hurting and she’s fragile and she needs a hand up, not a slap down. Please try your hardest to make it clear that your mother is not in danger of losing your love.”

"Got it, King big person Mighty One," she gave me an impertinent grin.

I stopped just in front of the encampment entrance with its two citadel guards to either side. "Well, we're here."

"Here, King big person Mighty One," she grabbed my hand and put the dirty divine strap into it. "This is my show so I'll take it from here." She walked through the gate with a confident stride. I had to run to catch up but I was careful to stay a few hands behind her.

She stopped before the pavilion entrance to listen to the voices inside.

"You are going to wear a hole in that rug if you don't stop pacing, Aylem," Kamagishi said. "Will you please sit down? I'm getting stressed just watching you."

"I'm sorry," Aylem sounded agitated. "I just can't relax. I was doing fine before the meeting was interrupted but now I just can't stop worrying. First Opa, then Emily and Asgotl. If charms of peace worked on me, I'd cheerfully accept one right now."

Opa timed her entrance right when Aylem turned toward the front of the pavilion. She sprinted toward Aylem, yelling "Mom!" and grabbed her around the middle with a flying tackle hug. The look on Aylem's face was pure panic.

"Hi, mom," Opa beamed up at her. "Been worried about you." She hugged Aylem tighter, "I'm so glad you're home."

Aylem finally unwound enough that she hugged Opa back and smiled in relief, tears silently falling down her cheeks. Katsa and Kamagishi got up and left quietly, leaving Aylem and Opa alone.

Outside of the pavilion, Aylem's voice pursued me: "Imstay, before you disappear again, are Asgotl and Emily alright?"

"Broken bones and internal injuries for Emily. Lisaykos is patching her up right now. Asgotl needs to sleep off a charm of discipline. He'll be sore but he should be able to walk in the morning. I don't know how long it will be before he can fly."

"Thank you."

"You are welcome."

I found Kamagishi and Katsa grabbing my elbows and leading me off to one of the tables in the center of the encampment. After they sat me on a bench, they instructed me to tell them everything.

"Ah ladies, I can not. I have too many problems to take care of and should return to where Usruldes is doing my job. I also need to see if Senlyosart is awake yet, and..." I looked at Kamagishi and had a revelation, "Holy Kamagishi, how fortunate you are here!"

"I don't like the sound of that, Imstay King." She gave me a look ripe with suspicion.

I lost my smile, "we may need to put a Priestess Voice on trial and as the chief justiciar of Foskos, I could use your advice since I believe the laws regarding assaults on Coyn and the laws regarding assaults on royalty and the God-blessed contradict each other. This could create legal challenges. Can you come with me? We can talk on our way."

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