Miiya waited, resisting the urge to rush to Jubi. Jubi seemed to be waiting too, her attention focused on the door.

The silence continued, broken only by the sound of the waves and the wind.

“Miiya.”

Jubi’s voice was almost a whisper. Her eyes moved round the room, trying to see the invisible. “Miiya?”

Miiya’s smile was tender and grim. So all those probing questions Jubi asked her father were for her benefit as well. She walked up to the still form. “I’m here, Jubi.”

Jubi held out her hand. Miiya took it, feeling both the coldness and the strength.

“How did you know I was here?”

Jubi smiled, making her dead eyes come alive for a second. “When that sound came and Papa couldn’t find how the vase fell.” Her fingers tightened over Miiya’s. “May I see you?”

“Materializing and Dematerializing exhaust too much power.”

Jubi nodded. Her face and her bearing reminded Miiya of the sea, just before it produced a tidal wave.

Jubi said, “Miiya, I want to tell you...” and stopped, because Miiya had clamped an invisible hand over her mouth.

There were footsteps outside.

Jubi pointed to a painted screen at the far end of the room. Miiya whisked herself behind it. The screen covered a washing area, complete with a marble hip bath shaped like a sea-shell and a tall washstand. Miiya stood behind the screen and counted three different footsteps.

The screen was made of a scented wood and consisted of three panels. Each panel was adorned with a sea dragon motif, carved into the wood itself. She pressed an invisible eye to one of the motifs.

Jubi sat in the chair by the window. Three people stood before her, her father, Karila and a man Miiya hadn’t seen before. He was tall and heavyset, middle aged and richly attired.

“Daughter,” Jubi’s father’s voice sounded stiff, as if he was making an official pronouncement, with a strong undercurrent of worry. “This is His Excellency Minister Bansham, the chief minister to our revered Majesty. And this is Madam Karila who will be your guardian, until the marriage ceremony is over. His Excellency has some questions for you about...”

“That’ll do.” Bansham spoke in a deep voice, brimming with quiet authority. “My lady, your father informs me that you are filled with happiness at the great honour our most gracious Majesty is willing to bestow on you. You don’t look as if you are...eh filled with happiness.”

Please don’t say anything negative, Miiya thought. Please.

“Your Excellency, may I say something?” Karila didn’t wait for permission but said in a lowered voice, “They never look happy at the beginning.”

“Thank you, Karila.” Bansham’s expression was colder than ice. “When I need your input, you can be sure I will ask for it.”

“Yes, Excellency; pardon Excellency.” Karila sounded unctuous; but underneath the oily tone, resentment brimmed.

“My lady, I welcome you to the Castle of Eternity.” Minister Bansham spoke as if he was reading from a prepared script. Obviously he had made the same speech many times; perhaps he knew it by heart. “I hope your stay here will be long, happy and of course, productive. Now I need to ask you some questions concerning your unorthodox arrival. I don’t need to remind you that you must answer truthfully. I have to make a final report to my master. Your future will depend on the nature of that report.”

Jubi sat as still as a statute. Her father opened his mouth as if to say something and closed it again. He looked sick. Karila wore a resigned, almost an indifferent air, though it felt false. Miiya’s body was rigid with tension, her hands balled into fists.

“You left Draca by unlawful means,” Minister Bansham was saying. “Why?”

“I wanted to rescue my father or commit his remains to the God. It was my duty as his daughter. That is what the priests teach us.”

Bansham looked taken aback. Miiya could have applauded.

“And where did you go?”

“I went looking for a witch or a mage. But none of them wanted to involve themselves in human affairs. Everyone lectured to me about the Thula, their precious balance. Only Cillo would listen to me?”

Jubi’s voice wavered at the second mention of Cillo, like a suppressed sob.

She knows he’s dead, Miiya thought. That was why she didn’t ask me about him.

Minister Bansham frowned, and consulted a piece of paper in his hand, “Cillo? Was that the old man who was with you?”

Jubi bit her trembling lip and nodded.

“What was he? A mage?”

“Yes.”

“So that was how he set fire to the guard tasked with…subduing him?”

Jubi shrugged.

“He was stabbed. He couldn’t have survived it. Yet we couldn’t find a body.”

Jubi said, softly, “He was kind.”

Miiya heard an indrawn breath, and thought it was Jubi’s father.

Jubi repeated, almost to herself, “He was kind.”

“He was a fool.”Jubi’s father’s voice was harsh. “There’s no need to grieve over one such.”

Bansham cast a quick glance at Jubi’s father, an expression of distaste on his face. “Grief is a personal thing.”

Miiya frowned. But before she could examine his remark, he spoke again.

“So there was no one else with you?”

She shook her head.

“Where was this Cillo from?”

“Sammalore. I went there because it’s famed for witches and mages.”

“Did you approach any other practitioner of magic, other than this Cillo?”

“A witch. Her name’s Miiya. I’ve read books by her. But she refused to help, like all others of her kind.”

Bansham’s smile was thin. “My lady, allow me to commend you for your frankness. Allow me also to welcome you formally to the Castle of Eternity.” He bowed low as he said those words. Karila did too, as did Jubi’s father.

Jubi said, “Thank you.” Her voice was cool and haughty; the voice of a queen-to-be.

The three of them walked up to the door. But only Bansham and Karila left. Jubi’s father closed the door behind them. Then he hurried to his daughter.

“Jubi!” There was relief in his voice; and a needle-prick of shame. “Praise be to the Divine Father for showing you the way. I was worried, my dearest daughter, worried you’d say something foolhardy and bring all my hard work to naught.”

Jubi got up from her chair and caught her father’s hand in hers. “Please, Papa. Come with me. I’ll find a way out for both of us. I’m different now. I’ve survived so much, I can survive some more. I will find a way, trust me.”

The man sighed. “You can’t get out of this place alive, Jubi. Neither can I. Even if we do manage, somehow, they’ll find us. I can’t hide from the king. When you take part in that ritual, it creates a connection between him and us. He can’t read our thoughts, but he can command our actions to some extent, and locate us wherever we are. The more people we drain, greater the king’s capacity to control us. Bansham will cut his own throat, if the king commands him.”

Miiya repressed a shudder. Did Jubi’s father really understand the horror of his own words?

Jubi obviously had. When she spoke next her voice pulsated with urgency. “That’s why we have to leave now, Papa, so that you don’t become like Bansham. The king doesn’t own the world. If you feel uneasy, we don’t have to stay in one place. We can keep on moving. The world is a very large place.”

Jubi’s father grabbed her shoulders and shook her once. “Not large enough; not for long. Listen, girl, listen well. Most of the men who are brought here are turned into Tailosii immediately. They make excellent soldiers. They obey any command. They don’t have to be fed. They don’t need armor. Just something to cover them, for decency’s sake. You can’t have naked soldiers.” He laughed. “Minimum cost, maximum benefit.”

“What does the king need an army for? I thought he wants a son. No one is menacing Draca.”

“At first he wanted to become the overlord of all archipelago, to bestow not a kingdom but an empire on the son he’s sure he’d have someday. Now he has bigger plans, for the world.” He paused. “First we will use Human Husks as bait. We will approach other kings and rulers offer them a chance to live forever. If they agree, and most of them would agree, then violence will not be necessary. We’ll use the husks as soldiers only as a last resort, only against those who reject our offer. It was my plan, Jubi, all mine. His Majesty was most pleased with it. He praised me in the Council, saying that I have the vision he needs. It made those old fogies mad, I can tell you, daughter.” He laughed, as if remembering the discomfiture of his enemies. “That Bansham, he was the person who found the ritual knife. There is only one in the world and it was hidden in an ice desert, probably by some interfering witch. Anyway he found it. He was made the Chief Minister as a reward. He was a woodcutter in Draca. Look at him now, as proud as an army of peacocks.” He moved closer, his words almost a whisper, his eyes glinting. “You see the possibilities, daughter? I’ll ask our lord to make me the vice regent of a kingdom somewhere, a nice place, with good weather and nice food and good people. Your old Papa a ruler of a large kingdom somewhere; wouldn’t that make you proud?”

Jubi moaned, fell back on a chair and covered her face with her hands. Her father stared at her, his face clouded with confusion. Suddenly his face cleared. He knelt by her chair and removed Jubi’s hands from her face, with gentle firmness. “My poor girl. You are thinking of what will happen when you can’t produce a child. Have no worries, Jubi-girl. I’ll beg him to spare you and he will. Then we’ll go away together. That’s what you wanted, for the two of us to go away? We will, but not as fugitives.” He pulled Jubi to him and kissed her forehead. “So you and me, just the way it used to be, except we’ll not be poor and we won’t have to fear death or old age. I will find you a good husband, a nobleman, perhaps even a prince, and you will give me grandchildren.” He peered into Jubi’s face. “I’m doing this for both of us, Jubi. There is no other way. You do understand that, don’t you?”

When Jubi spoke her voice was soft, almost tender. “I do understand, Papa. Don’t worry. I will do what I must.”

The man smiled with relief and got up to go. When he was almost at the door, she ran after him and threw herself into his arms, clinging to him, her face buried in his chest. Her father returned the embrace, his head bent over hers, his lips moving.

Miiya closed her witch-ear.

Jubi moved away, wiping her eyes, a tremulous smile on her lips. “I love you, Papa.” Her voice was heavy with tenderness.

The door closed and the footsteps died away. Jubi returned to her chair by the window, and sat on it, her face turned towards the gently heaving sea.

“Jubi.”

Jubi continued to regard the sea. “Will you find a way for me to die, Miiya?”

“I’ll find a way for you to live.”

Jubi shook her head. “I’ve caused too much harm. I must atone for what I did.”

“Death is not how you atone. You atone by living, by doing things differently, by helping someone else to find the way.”

Miiya put her invisible arms round Jubi. The younger woman’s body went rigid for a second and then melted into the embrace.

What do we do now?

The dragonfly-buzzard. Miiya had forgotten he was outside.

Be careful. There are no other birds in this place. If they notice you, they might suspect something.

No birds, not even grasshoppers or mice. Still I’m safer here than you, and her. How are you going to get her out?

Miiya’s looked at Jubi, who was striding about the room, like a whirlwind caught inside a glass orb.

Wait till night, make her non-visible. I don’t know how safe that would be. The king’s human servants have developed extra powerful senses. They won’t be able to see. But they might sense something amiss.

Yes. I noticed that. Her father had me worried for a while. She acted fast to divert his attention. Surprised me.

She’s no weakling. I’m not sure I’d be able survive the hell she did.

The bird gave a mental shrug, as if Jubi’s past travails were of no interest to him. If you succeed in getting her out of here, what then?

Warn the world. Stop Iretsa. Miiya yawned. Her limbs ached and her head throbbed. The effects of the nidra lingered. Keeping her eyes open was a struggle. The tears she couldn’t shed for Cillo weighted on her heart. The horror of what Jubi’s father had become added to the pain. She had never felt so worn down in her entire life.

Weary? The bird’s normally acerbic voice was soft.

Miiya gave a mental smile. Extremely. It’s good to have you. Did I mention that?

There was no need. The bird’s voice too had a smile in it. I knew it.

Jubi had stopped her manic walking. She was sitting bolt upright on a chair, her restless fingers pulling at her hair; none too gently, going by the waves of pain crisscrossing her face.

“Jubi.”

“Yes, Miiya.”

“I need to rest a little. I’m too tired to think clearly.” Miiya was surprised how natural that admission of weakness felt. She would have railed against it even a week ago.

Jubi indicated the curtained bed. “That should be safe.” Her voice was gentle, almost maternal. “Are you hungry? They brought me food earlier. Would you like some?”

“No, just rest. To clear my mind.”

The bed behind the curtains was massive, its silver headboard decorated with the ubiquitous sea-dragon motifs. The silk-linen sheets received Miiya’s tired body in a warm embrace. Her eyes closed, as if they had a will of their own.

**

Get up!

“Miiya!”

The voices came in tandem, one in her head and the other in her ear.

Miiya slipped out of the bed and moved behind the screen, seconds before the door opened to admit Karila, accompanied by two Tailosii women, both dressed in light blue kits and carrying bulky parcels.

Jubi had moved to the window. When the door opened, she looked around as if she had been standing there for a while, staring at the slumbering sea. Suddenly she gave an unearthly cry, ran forward and embraced one of the Tailosii women.

“Megara, Megara.”

Jubi clung to the female Tailosii who looked no more than seventeen, her rosebud mouth frozen into a childlike pout. Jubi pulled at the arm holding the parcels, crying, “Megara, it’s me, Jubi.”

The Tailosii stared straight ahead, as if in her world, whatever that was, neither Jubi nor Megara existed.

A shudder of horror shook Miiya’s body. She had to clamp a hand over her mouth to prevent a cry from escaping.

Karila made a sound between a hiss and a sob, strode up to Jubi and yanked her away. The ease with which she did that, and the way she subdued Jubi’s wild attempts at freeing herself, indicated an almost non-human physical strength.

“She doesn’t know you. My lady.” The voice was like ice.

Jubi squirmed in the older woman’s hold. “We’ve known each other all our lives. We lived next door to each other. We played together. Let me go. I want to talk to her, tell her it’s...”

Karila grabbed Jubi’s shoulder with one hand and shook her, until her frenzied struggles ceased. Then she bent her head close to Jubi’s face and said, through clenched teeth, “Listen to me. My lady. That thing is not Megara. It’s a Human Husk, no different from any other Human Husk. It has no mind, no memories. It wouldn’t know its own mother, let alone you. My lady.”

Jubi stared at the older woman, her eyes blank, unfocused. Karila gave her one last shake and let her go. Jubi reeled, and steadied herself by clutching at a chair.

“My lady.” Karila’s voice was impersonal. “The wedding ceremony will take place at dawn, three days from now.” She paused, a faraway look coming into her eyes. “His Majesty’s previous wife died in childbirth this morning. His Majesty is now officially a widow and the Council has decided he should wed as soon as possible, so the important task of producing an heir for Draca can begin without delay.”

Miiya remembered the hysterical young woman. Did she really die in childbirth? Or was she escorted to the Past Nursery, where her husband waited by the glass urn containing the remains of their dead child, world’s sharpest knife in one hand?

Jubi stood with her head down for a while. Then she moved towards Karila, with slow deliberate steps, and stopped a few feet away. Her eyes searched the older woman’s face. When she spoke her voice was steady. “Will you help me to die, the way you helped her?”

Karila gasped. Miiya would have too, had her instincts not kicked in at the last moment.

What?! The bird’s voice inside her head was a shriek of surprise.

Karila stood looking as if someone had kicked her in the gut.

“I know you helped her to die,” Jubi’s voice was matter of fact. “I can feel it. Won’t you do the same for me, please.”

Karila screamed, a sound of rage and torment, and lunged at Jubi. Jubi didn’t move away or try to defend herself; just stood there like a statue, her eyes never leaving the demented face of the older woman. For a moment Miiya feared Karila would strangle Jubi and readied herself to intervene, mentally cursing Jubi’s rashness.

But Karila didn’t strangle Jubi. She stopped at the last moment and staggered back, her face distorted with terror and anguish.

Miiya took a deep breath. So Jubi was right. How did she figure that one out?

“How did you know?” Karila was leaning against a chair, her chest heaving with dry sobs, her eyes riveted on Jubi. “No one saw me. Who told you? Are you a witch?”

Jubi shook her head. Her face was no longer blank or wild. It was composed; and filled with pity.

“It was the way you talked about the king’s wife dying in childbirth, as if you were relieved about it; even happy.” She held out a hand to Karila. “Will you help me as well?”

“You won’t give me away? You won’t tell...your father?”

Jubi shook her head vehemently. “No, never. Never. And my silence is not conditional. I won’t say a word even if you don’t help me.”

Karila’s taut body relaxed slightly. “Why would you protect me?”

Jubi shook her head again, this time slowly. “On my way to Sammalore, I was caught by a gang of slavers and taken to a slave colony. I survived that place because of the kindness of other slaves. ”

Karila asked, “How did you escape?” In her voice Miiya sensed the first thawing of glaciers.

No, not the first thawing. The first thawing had already happened.

Is she being clever or natural? The bird sounded impressed.

A bit of both, I think.

It’s risky. The woman might betray her to save herself.

I agree. But humans are unfathomable. They can surprise you at every turn. Miiya paused and took a deep breath. Mentioning his name, even in her mind, was painful. Cillo trusted her. I intend to do the same.

She got him killed.

Miiya’s smile was bitter and tender. Yes, that’s why she can be trusted.

What is that? A puzzle?

An elementary one. She won’t let her emotions rule her judgment, this time around. Her way of atoning for Cillo’s death is to keep me safe.

Jubi and Karila were seated close together, Jubi giving the older woman a condensed version of her experiences in the slave colony, Karila listening, her hands clasped tightly together, her face grey.

“Your father is fortunate to have a daughter like you.” Karila said when Jubi was done, her tone indicating Jubi’s father was utterly undeserving of that good fortune.

Jubi’s voice dripped with bitterness. “I seem to have done harm rather than good. My father doesn’t want to be saved. He regards me as a troublemaker. All I achieved was causing the death of a man who loved me like a father.”

“We’ve all done things we end up regretting, my lady.” Karila paused as if considering something. “Jubi.”

Miiya sensed the crossing of some invisible line. Karila has ventured into unchartered territory.

“I’m not sure I want to live for years and years, bearing the burden of Cillo’s death.” Jubi’s voice sounded hollow.

“You’ll never be allowed to take your life. Even after you marry the king, you’ll never be alone. When you are not with him, at least one Tailosii woman will be with you all the time.”

Jubi’s laugh would have curdled milk. “As my father said, every life is precious to His Majesty.” She gave Karila a measured look. “My father seemed to have risen very high in a very short time.”

Karila sprang up from her chair, almost upsetting it with the violence of her movement. The words came out of her in a rush, as if they had been dammed up for too long, been waiting for this moment of release. “I’ve been loyal to the king for close to four decades. The first time I escorted a girl young enough to be my daughter to her fate, it almost broke my heart. She cried the whole night, and I sat with her and held her. In the morning I escorted her to the Past Nursery, where His Majesty was waiting. He smiled at me with his usual courtesy, and thanked me. Thanked me.” She spat out the last two words. “She begged me for death and I couldn’t give it to her.”

Jubi said, softly, “I’m sorry.”

Karila didn’t seem to hear Jubi. “What are the thanks I get for my service? Nothing. Men like your father are favored over me. They presume to order me around and undermine my authority at every turn.” Her laugh was a harsh cackle. “I...I can’t help you, my lady. Not now. Maybe someday. If you escape, I too will fall under suspicion. They’ll take me to that underground place. The king has means to make any of his servants vomit out the truth.” Karila’s voice turned pleading; Miiya thought she was going to go down on her knees. “He...he distorts our minds, makes us feel things. I’ve seen it happening, Jubi, a healthy man thinking he is suffering from some illness; a whole man thinking he has a broken leg; and feeling the agony of a broken leg. I don’t want it to happen to me. Please understand.”

Jubi took a deep shuddering breath. “I understand. I won’t trouble you.”

Karila stared at Jubi, as if she was trying to weigh Jubi’s promise. Whatever she saw reassured her because she relaxed visibly. “Please take a look at the materials in the parcels and choose the ones you like,” she said, all cool efficiency. “You’ll need a new wardrobe and the work must start immediately. The royal jewellery will be sent to you soon. For the ceremony you will wear red sea-gauze. Apart from that, you are free to use any color or material of your choice.” She moved about the room restlessly, as if reluctant to leave, until she came across Jubi’s uneaten lunch. “Now this won’t do, my lady. You must eat. You need to build up your strength. I’ll order the Head Chamberlain to wait on you to discover your food preferences. You are very fortunate, my lady. Now if you would excuse me…”

At Karila’s command, the Tailosii women placed the parcels on the table. Following Karila’s example they bowed deeply to Jubi and left.

Miiya waited until the footsteps had died away and made her way to Jubi. The younger woman must have sensed her presence, because she said, “I’m sorry. I thought I might be able to find a way out without imposing one more burden on you.”

“You did well,” Miiya said in a bracing voice. “I would never have guessed the truth about that unfortunate girl’s death. That was amazingly perceptive of you.”

Jubi wrinkled her brow. “I think it was the tone of Karila’s voice. When she said that the king’s wife had died in childbirth, she sounded glad, almost proud. Miiya, what can we do now?”

“Wait till the night. I will weave a spell of non-visibility over you and guide you....” she stopped short, ears straining. The sound was clear now, footsteps, running.

Miiya whisked herself behind the screen.

The door burst open and Karila rushed in, followed by the two Tailosii women. She slammed the door shut and turned to the Tailosii who had once been Jubi’s friend. “Take off your clothes.”

The Tailosii obeyed, undoing the buttons on her tunic with fingers which were sure and fast.

What’s happening? The bird sounded as shocked as Miiya felt.

I have no idea. No I do. This woman is trying to help Jubi escape.

A trap?

Miiya pulled at her ear. I don’t know.

The Tailosii had divested herself of her blue blouse and was undoing the drawstrings of her trousers. Karila picked the blouse and threw it at Jubi, who was standing stock still, her mouth hanging open. “Take off what you are wearing and put this on. I’m going to get you out.” Her eyes were wild, but her voice was steady.

Jubi asked no questions. She undressed almost as fast as the Tailosii had done and put on the light blue blouse and trousers.

When the exchange was complete, Karila turned to the Tailosii woman, now clad in Jubi’s tattered clothes, and pointed a commanding finger at the curtained bed. “Lie down and keep your face turned to the wall.”

The Tailosii got into the bed and Karila drew the curtain. Then she turned to Jubi. “This may not work. If we fail, we’ll both be Human Husks by tomorrow morning. They suspect I had a hand in that woman’s death. I’ve been warned, by a friend. Keep your face down and try to imitate this creature’s walk. Hurry.”

Jubi turned around for a moment towards where she thought Miiya was, her face confused and troubled.

Miiya wished she could say something reassuring. But she didn’t dare move. Karila would sense her if she did. That was not an affordable risk. If Karila was playing an elaborate charade or even if her attempt to help Jubi was sincere but unsuccessful, Miiya will have to intervene.

The door opened and closed.

What are you going to do?

Get out and make sure she is all right.

And then?

Let’s deal with then, then.

The door was locked from outside, but that didn’t present a problem. A simple charm and the door opened. Miiya walked out, wondering whether the Tailosii guards would try to find out why the door opened. They didn’t.

She had not gone more than a few steps in the direction Karila had taken Jubi, when she heard the thud of running feet, coming towards her from another direction. There was no place to hide. All she could do was to flatten herself against the wall and stand totally still, not even breathing.

A troop of Tailosii guards materialized round a corridor. Jubi’s father and a much younger man dressed in an officer’s uniform brought up the rear. Jubi’s father produced a key, opened the door and dashed into the room that had been Jubi’s prison. The younger man followed after barking an order at the guards. The guards formed themselves into a half circle around the door, and waited, still and ready.

Miiya picked up her robe and ran in the direction Karila had taken Jubi.

She caught sight of Karila, Jubi and the Tailosii woman near the end of a corridor. They were walking fast, but not fast enough. Somewhere behind her she could hear the sound of pursuit. “Run,” she cried not bothering to keep her voice low.

Jubi and Karila looked back. Jubi cried, “Miiya?”

“They are after you. Run.”

Karila stood for a moment, startled into immobility; only her eyes moved, trying to locate the source of that disemboweled voice. Then she pulled herself together with a visible effort and turned to the Tailosii woman. “Stand here. Don’t let anyone go past you.”

The Tailosii moved to the middle of the corridor. Karila grabbed Jubi’s arm and ran.

Miiya followed them, down another carpeted corridor. Their pursuers were close enough for the sound of pounding boots to be heard by ordinary ears. Karila stopped at one of the doors and pushed it open. It led into a long rectangular room, less sumptuously furnished than the rest of the castle. A door at the far end opened to a smaller room, once again bare of carpets or hangings.

Miiya could no longer hear the guards. The only sound breaking the deathlike silence came from their own desperate footsteps.

The next door led them to a series of winding stairs, the wood worn with time. This has to be the servants’ wing. The stairs ended in another bare chamber. Karila ran to one of the doors, opened it and sprang back with a strangled cry.

The door opened into a back garden. Several Tailosii guards stood in a semi-circle on its step.

Behind them, the sound of running feet returned, booted feet, faster, more purposeful.

There was no time to think. Miiya pushed Karila and Jubi aside and faced the guards. This time, when she ignited them from within, she didn’t look at their faces or hesitate.

What pierced her heart was not the sight of the ashes that lined the doorstep in six neat piles, but Jubi’s cry of horror.

“Witch.” Karila’s voice had only a slight tremor in it. “Take her. I’ll hold them at bay.”

“No, I can take care of the guards. You get her out of this place.”

Karila’s smile was brief. “He can trace me, and trace her through me. Get her away.”

Jubi’s fingers clung to Karila. “No, come with us. We...”

Karila freed her hand from Jubi’s clutch, as if the younger woman was no stronger than a rag doll. “Go.”

Miiya grabbed Jubi’s hand. “Jubi, in the name of Cillo, come.” It was a cheap trick, a heartless one. But there was no time to lose.

“Witch,” Karila’s voice stopped her in her tracks. “Will you come for me?”

Miiya clasped Karila’s hand for a second. “I will come for you.”

She turned towards Jubi and wove the spell of concealment around her with a few rapid mental strokes. Then she grabbed the younger woman’s icy cold hand with her own and ran.

Normally she could have done that spell ten times, climbed the highest of the mountains ringing Sammalore and be back home by lunch. Now running was an effort.

This way. There’s a gate here.

The bird’s voice was like a tonic. It reminded her of Cillo and gave wings to her tired feet. She ran in the direction the bird indicated, dragging Jubi behind her.

The gate was guarded by several Tailosii and one human officer, a young man seemingly in his twenties with a dashing moustache. Miiya swung open the gate and ran out pushing Jubi ahead of her. The Tailosii guards continued to stare ahead, as still as statues. The human officer too stood transfixed at the sight of the gate opening and closing on its own. But his paralysis lasted only a moment. Then he stared shouting, “Witchery! Witchery! They are here.”

Miiya paused to get her bearing. On this side, the cliff backed the Mere. But the cliff face was bare of vegetation, apart from a few scraggy bushes and some rocks. The lack of anything to hold onto would make climbing down dangerous for Jubi. And the sound of their descent would give away their hiding place at once.

Through the open gate Tailosii guards were streaming out and heading in all directions.

Miiya scanned the horizon. From here she couldn’t see the city of Draca. The Dollz Mountains covered it. But everything else was visible, much of the Mere, the sea, the marble quarries. And the wide avenue connecting the Castle of Eternity with the outside world, the road the silver carriage would take to and from Draca. The paved road snaked round the cliff, over a gorge, up the Dollz Mountains and through a pass. The road was long and empty.

It was her only hope.

She pushed Jubi against the wall, indicating she should stay still. Then she ran in the direction of the wide road, making as much noise as possible, crashing into groups of Tailosii soldiers, pushing them aside. When she neared the turn to the road, she kicked several stones. They tumbled down the slope. She kicked one more stone, a large one. It landed on the first bend of the road with a loud thud, and rolled down.

The mustachioed officer ran past, followed by groups of Tailosii guards. More streamed out from other gates and joined them. Miiya strode back to where Jubi was waiting, still invisible, only a shadow even to her witch’s eye. She took Jubi’s arm, whispering, “Come.” Together they circled the wall, heading towards the cliff path that led to the beach. Whenever they met a group of Tailosii guards with their human minders running in the direction of the carriage way, they flattened themselves against the wall.

They were within sight of the cliff path when they heard the sound of running boots behind them. Miiya pushed Jubi against the wall and stood next to her. And saw half a dozen Tailosii guards heading in the direction of the cliff path, led by Jubi’s father.

Jubi gave one tiny sob. Her fingers tightened around Miiya’s.

Jubi’s father stopped every few steps, peering and sniffing.

Miiya held her breath. He knew; or perhaps he guessed. Her instincts told her to run, but she feared that any sound they made, any loose stone rolling down, would give their location and their destination away. She didn’t think the Mere would pose a problem to the Tailosii.

Jubi’s father stopped again. He peered into shadows. He sniffed the air. He moved close to the wall and ran his hand along it.

A scream rendered the air, the sound of a man in agony. The shout came before the scream ended. “Here. They are here.”

Jubi’s father strode in that direction, his limp barely visible. The Tailosii trailed him.

Miiya grabbed Jubi’s arm and ran to the top of the cliff path. There were no guards there. She went down the rough hewn path, with Jubi following close behind. They reached the beach and ran towards the Mere. The spell had worn off and Jubi had begun to Materialize.

They were within a few paces from the tree line when Jubi pulled her hand out of Miiya’s grasp. Miiya whirled around, the question she was about to ask dying before she could utter it.

Jubi stood still, her face turned up, her eyes trained on the cliff top. Her father was standing on the edge, gazing down at her. Six Tailosii guards stood behind him, fanned out into a half-circle.

Miiya’s heart was thudding against her ribcage, its sound deafening her ears.

For a few seconds, father and daughter stared at each other. Then the man turned away and started walking in the direction of the Castle. The Tailosii followed him.

A shattering sob escaped Jubi. Miiya grabbed her hand ran towards the Mere. Jubi didn’t resist.

The malignant aura of the Mere greeted them in unceasing waves. Jubi moaned and cowered. Miiya put her arm around her shivering shoulders and guided her to the cave. She pushed Jubi inside and started repairing the spell-cover. By the time the reweaving was complete, she could barely stand. She leaned against the mouth of the cave and closed her eyes.

“Miiya!”

A cold hand took her still invisible arm and guided her into the cave. Miiya sat down.

Jubi’s face was pale and drawn. “Will they come here, the...the...Human Husks?”

“I think they will, eventually. Once they are ordered they’ll go anywhere. They’ll comb the city and the outlaying areas for a day or two. So we have enough time.”

Jubi nodded and moved away, swaying a little. Miiya leaned back against the rock wall and closed her eyes.

That did the trick.

The voice, oozing with smugness, was inside her head. Her eyes flew open. The dragonfly-buzzard was perched on a ledge, looking pleased with himself.

What do you mean? What did the trick?

I attacked one of the humans. Gave his eye a little peck. He’ll be one-eyed for the rest of his life. .

So that was the scream. Miiya took a deep breath. Her father saw her, and let her go. He didn’t raise the alarm.

The bird snorted. What makes you think he won’t send the Human Husks after her? He knows where she is now.

The thought had occurred to Miiya, and she had banished it aside.

“Miiya.”

Jubi was kneeling before her, holding out a plate. “It’s nothing but leftovers.”

“Excellent. And we’ll share it.”

Jubi demurred for a second, and succumbed. They ate the almost stale food in silence.

When that chore was over, Jubi said, “Miiya! I have to talk to him.”

Miiya’s voice was dry. “He is not likely to listen to you.”

Jubi shook her head. “But I must. I don’t know what you are planning to do. But I don’t want any harm to come to him.” She looked at Miiya, her eyes murky pools of pain. “He is my father, Miiya. I can’t abandon him.” She took a deep breath, as if steeling herself to utter the next words. “I know he has changed so much. I mean... But even if he is the worst monster in the world, he is my father, my only family. I love him.” Her voice changed suddenly, turning tender. “And he allowed us to escape. He could have raised the alarm, sent the Human Husks after us. He didn’t. He didn’t.”

Miiya sighed. How to tell Jubi that her father’s forbearance might have been a trick?

Jubi was gazing at her, her eyes questioning and pleading at the same time. Miiya said, “I’m not in a fit state to think of any plan; neither are you. We’ll talk about this after we have rested for a couple of hours.” She paused, looking at Jubi, holding her eyes with her own. “Can I trust you not to venture out on your own?”

Jubi said, “Yes, Miiya,” her face as solemn as her voice.

Miiya curled up in her corner of the cave and closed her eyes, reaching out to the bird. Keep a watch on her.

I will. Sleep in peace.