Inker and Crown

Chapter 11

11

Mara

The beast bared its fangs at Mara, snarling its dislike of everything she was.

“Nice dog,” Mara cooed, careful to keep her fingers out of the animal’s reach as she tossed meat into its bowl.

The beast snapped its teeth at her once more before tearing into its food.

“You can’t let the dogs know you’re afraid of them,” Carrow spoke from behind her. “They’ll start to think they’re in charge, and that’s a fine way to get left behind in the white.”

“I’m not afraid of them,” Mara said. “I just don’t like being snarled at.”

“You wouldn’t like freezing to death, either.” Carrow turned Mara around, took her shoulders, and looked into her eyes. “The dogs are what will keep you alive in the white.”

It was meant to be a kind gesture, but Mara hated the pack master touching her.

He wouldn’t pander to the men.

“I’m sure I’ll find a way to manage.” Mara smiled.

“Managing won’t be enough in the white mountains.” Carrow shook his head sagely. “You’re asking these animals to risk their lives for you. I’m not saying they have to love you, but if the dogs don’t respect you, they’ll leave you to freeze in the snow.”

A chill licked the back of Mara’s neck, as though the white mountains wanted to consume her so badly, they’d sent their icy breath to lure her onward.

“Well, give me a few days’ travel with the dogs, and I’m sure we’ll learn to get along.” Mara stepped out of Carrow’s reach.

“To tell the truth, going deep into the white mountains might be better than being in Ilara soon enough.”

“What?” Mara laughed. “Why? Are warmth and summer flowers too much for you?”

“Sometimes I forget how far away the Karrons really are, living up on the cliffs.” Carrow shook his head.

“I’m not a Karron―”

“’Course you are.” Carrow reached into the kennel, stroking the ear of the dog that had been near taking Mara’s hand off. “You may walk through the mud like a common man, but all of Karron’s brood have Guild colors on their backs and the Lord Map Maker’s title to shield them from the uglier bits of Ilbrea. Still, I thought you would have heard of the trouble stirring up what with Map Maker Endur getting into a scuff.”

“You mean Niko fighting at that pub?” Mara dropped her voice.

The whole of Ilara knew things had gotten rough at the White Froth, but Lord Karron had been careful to keep word of his former apprentice’s involvement quiet. If Niko were disciplined for fighting―not that he should be, but if he were―someone else would be assigned to the journey to explore the eastern mountains.

If a foolish brawl ruins Lord Karron’s plans…

“―and it’s worse for us unguilded,” Carrow finished darkly.

“I’m sorry,” Mara said, trying to sort through what she had missed while her mind had wandered, “but how is the fighting in the White Froth worse for the unguilded?”

“’Cause I work for the Guilds.” Carrow’s voice dropped to barely above a whisper. “The common folk are chivving furious with the Guilds. Last winter was bad―too cold, food prices high―and they’ve had enough. And when the common masses decide they don’t want any of our kind working for the Guilds, folks like me will have to choose between meeting the hard end of a stick and making a living.”

“Surely it won’t get that bad.” Mara stepped back as the dog snarled again.

“Down, Bayna,” Carrow said. “I hope you’re right, map maker. And if you’re not, then I hope you find a fairyland in the snow where you can live away from this mess.”

Mara gave a small, awkward laugh and nodded, unsure of what to say.

“And if you get Lord Karron’s ear before you leave,” Carrow said as Mara started down the long row that cut between the dogs, “ask him for more guards for the stables and kennels. I’d hate to see what angry people could do to these animals. And up the pay for the lot of us who’ll be risking our necks for the Guilds, too.”

“I’ll do my best.” Mara waved over her shoulder, not turning around as the dogs yipped and barked as she passed.

Twenty dogs had been chosen for the journey to the white mountains. Their job was to haul the supplies for the two map makers and ten soldiers. It would be nice if they could pull the party and not just the supplies, but venturing into the snow was not a thing commonly done, and only twenty dogs were dubbed fit and trained enough for the job.

“They really are nice, you know,” Tham said from inside one of the kennels. Dressed in his soldier black, he sat on the floor with a gray and white dog.

The animal didn’t snarl or snap at Tham. The dog had laid his head on Tham’s lap, panting contentedly.

“Not all of us can be as naturally brilliant with animals as you are.”

“Well, you’d better learn to like them. Starting tomorrow, they’ll be our best friends.”

If Mara hadn’t known Tham so well, she might have missed the hint of teasing in his voice.

“Yes, I’ll spend all my nights curled up with a snarling ball of fur to keep from freezing.”

Tham gave the dog one last scratch behind the ear and stood, brushing fur and dirt from his pants. “I hope you’re not too lonely on the cold nights.”

Mara bit the insides of her cheeks. “The thought of freezing winds howling through my tent is terrifying. Perhaps I’ll light an extra candle tonight to keep the fear at bay.”

It was Tham’s turn to bite back a smile. “May the night bring you peace before your journey.”

She longed to reach out and touch his face. To feel the tiny creases of his smile and the faint hint of stubble on his chin.

Don’t be a fool, Mara. If you let the others on the journey know about the two of you, your time in the white will be miserable. If they let you go at all.

“See you in the morning.” Mara nodded and strode to the kennel doors.

Bright, clean air greeted her outside the kennels. She took a deep breath, freeing her lungs of the stench of dog.

“I suppose it would be wrong of me to brag that the only animals coming on our journey are horses?” Niko called as he strode across the courtyard. “Though your way is bound for more glory, at least I’ll be traveling on horseback.”

“Such a gentleman, as always.” Mara shoved his shoulder. “If I freeze to death, you’ll feel very guilty for mocking me.”

“And if the ghosts of the eastern mountains swallow me whole, you’ll be glad you’ve been stomping around in snow shoes.” Niko gave a deep bow. “Though I do promise to give the ghosts your regards.”

“How kind.”

The courtyard at the map makers’ compound buzzed with activity. Both journeys were to leave tomorrow. Common workers loaded wagons of supplies under Lord Karron’s watchful eye. His journey to the southern islands wouldn’t begin for at least another two months.

The approach to the islands was impossible until the sea storms passed. So he lorded over the preparations for the other two journeys, ensuring perfection in every detail. Failure could not be allowed when the journey was under command of the King.

Niko tipped his head for Mara to follow him. They strolled along the stables and passed the statue of Aximander. Both bowed their heads for a moment before stepping through the high gates to the street beyond.

“Are you ready for your journey?” Niko asked, stopping at a stall selling sweet bread.

“You mean have I taken a moment to appreciate my ten toes in case I come home with fewer?”

“Two please.” Niko gave coin to the woman running the stall.

She couldn’t have been more than twenty, barely older than Mara and Niko, but bags hung heavy under her eyes, and her face had the sallow look of one who had seen too much work and too little food.

“Thank you.” Mara laid an extra coin on the wood as the woman handed them bread dripping with honey and fine sugar.

“There are other preparations to be made that don’t involve a fond farewell to your toes,” Niko said as Mara bit into her bread.

The pure sweetness was better than chamb.

Enjoy it now. All luxuries will be gone come morning.

“I’ve packed extra scrolls.” Mara glanced around the street, as though she were looking for a shop. “Tham knows to take them from the lining of my pack if anything happens to me.”

“I envy you having someone to trust so completely.” A bitter sadness crept into Niko’s voice.

“You have a whole clan to count on.” Mara looped her arm through Niko’s. “They just won’t be traveling with you.”

“Well, if the ghosts gobble me up, there won’t be anyone to keep the true map I’ve made safe. If I even find anything to make a second map for.” Niko tipped his face toward the sky. “The stories of spirits in the eastern mountains could really just be old wives’ tales.”

“Of course,” Mara laughed, “and the tales of magic in the Barrens are just children’s stories. And we can’t forget the lies about the floating islands.”

“Does it ever make you hate the Guilds?” Niko stopped so suddenly, Mara nearly dropped the meager remains of her sweet bread.

“Hush,” Mara warned, dragging Niko down a side street where tiny clusters of flowers separated the passersby from the houses’ front windows. “You need to remember yourself, Nikolas Endur. Having been Lord Karron’s apprentice can only save you from so much pain.”

“I’ll take that as a no then.” Niko shrugged and began walking down the street, half-dragging Mara behind him.

Mara glanced up to the windows of the houses surrounding them. “I never said that. Sometimes I do think we’d all be better off without the Guilds’ laws.”

“Who should hush now?” Niko chuckled.

“I shouldn’t have to hide extra map scrolls in my pack,” Mara spoke softly, the lilt of her voice more like she was talking about the weather than treason that could see half the Karron clan hanged. “I shouldn’t be making true maps to be hidden in case the Guilds ever realize they’re fools to fear everything they can’t control. There is magic in the world that is not controlled by the Sorcerers Guild. That’s a fact neither of us can deny, and a secret I hate to carry.”

“I shudder to think how incredibly wealthy we would be if we could only claim the bounty on the wonders we’ve seen.”

Mara hit Niko in the arm.

“What? It’s true. We should be swimming in coin and have our portraits hanging in the Map Makers’ Hall to boot. Instead, we’re Lord Karron’s former apprentices who have only moved up so quickly in the map makers’ ranks because of favoritism and unearned positions.”

“We are rather useless, aren’t we?” Mara sighed dramatically.

“The King deserves better.” Niko nodded solemnly.

“Are you heading up to see her?” Mara asked. “You know she’ll be furious if you don’t.”

“Am I walking all the way up the cliffs to visit a girl who has refused to marry me more times than Rance Miter has sunk the Sailors Guild’s ships? Yes, I suppose I am.”

“Good,” Mara said as they began climbing the road to the top of the cliffs.

They hugged close to the stone side of the road, letting the infrequent passing carriages take the outer edge. The road twisted up the solid rock of the cliff, doubling back on itself several times to keep the switchbacks from getting too steep to be easily climbed.

Every turn in the road had been carefully fortified by the Sorcerers Guild, jutting too far out into the open air to be stable by non-magical means.

The sorcerers wouldn’t have helped a normal Guilded man build a road to their estate, but for Lord Karron, they had made an exception.

Mara tried to cast aside her worries of what would become of the road to the cliffs if the sorcerers ever discovered what Lord Karron had been so carefully hiding.

She took a deep breath as they reached the fourth leg of their walk. “She really does care for you, you know. More than she’ll ever admit.”

“I know.” There was no joy in Niko’s voice at the words. “If she didn’t, I would have stopped trying a long time ago.”

“It really is the cruelest to her, not being able to talk about the wonders we’ve found. We, at least, get the memories of finding lights flashing inside mountains and valleys filled with magic so small we barely noticed it. All she gets are the scrolls that would see her hanged if the King ever found them.”

“That is the problem with treason.” Niko scratched his chin. “It doesn’t seem wrong when you’re the person doing it. I can’t imagine destroying the true maps. It would be a sin against Saint Aximander himself not to chart the wonders we’ve found. But to the King and the sorcerers…”

“We’re tiny birds pecking away at the foundations that protect the Guilds and all the lies Ilbreans hold most dear.”

They walked in silence, the cool spring breeze growing stronger as they climbed. They passed through the gates and onto the palace grounds, stopping at the very edge of the cliff to look out over Ilara.

The city sparkled in the afternoon sun, the top of the cathedral glistening and the white slanting roof of the library shining like a beacon. From this height, the great walls surrounding the Royal Palace didn’t block the spires and gardens from view.

“How many times did we stand up here, mapping the streets of the city?” Niko asked.

“A hundred.” Mara laughed. “Maybe two hundred or three. And mine were always better than yours.”

“Better is in the eye of the beholder.” Niko flicked her arm. “From up here, even the wharfs look pretty.”

“Distance and fair weather can hide a great many flaws. Do you ever miss it when you’re gone?”

“Ilara?” Niko tucked his hands into his pockets, looking for all the world like the boy he’d been at sixteen. “I miss the people. I miss warm baths and cold chamb. Every once in a while, I even miss clean clothes. But I prefer the mountains to the city.”

“Me too. Perhaps that’s what’s doomed us.” Mara leaned up on her toes, pulling Niko into a tight hug. “Journey well, my friend. I’ll miss you at the northern gate in the morning.”

“You’re not coming up to the house?” Niko asked.

“Not yet.” Mara shook her head and backed away. “I’ve got to stop by the mausoleum.”

“Well, then”―Niko squeezed Mara’s hand―“until next Winter’s End.”

“To the map makers.” Mara nodded.

“And the maps.”

Niko continued up the road through the wide, sweeping lawns that led to the Map Master’s Palace while Mara followed the smaller foot trail.

Wide trees, whose branches were just forming their new spring leaves, closed in on either side of the path. Mara shut her eyes and imagined them at the peak of summer, dripping with fine white petals. Their scent would fill the grounds, covering the stench the heat brewed in the city below.

A small building waited at the end of the path. A mix of pink and gray polished stone formed the walls of the mausoleum with black slabs covering the top. A golden compass marked the heavy, wooden door.

Mara laid her hand on the mark. The same mark she bore on her arm. The mark that gave her purpose.

The door didn’t squeak as it swung open, no rush of chill air met her skin, no darkness sent horror tingling in her spine.

The sorcerer-made lights cast an even glow around the small room, ensuring that, even though Mara was alone, the mausoleum did not feel like a place claimed by death.

Mara stopped in front of the only resting place that had been filled by a fallen Karron.

Alloretta Karron―born to the Soldiers Guild, loved by the Map Makers Guild, perished Lord Map Maker’s Wife.

Mara’s heart ached at the simple inscription. She had never even met Alloretta. She had died long before Mara came to live with the Karrons. But Alloretta guarded all of them in death, protecting them as none other could.

“Thank you,” Mara whispered, running her hands along the side of Alloretta’s stone. Her fingers met a tiny indentation, barely large enough to be noticed.

Pulling a pin from her hair, Mara pressed it into the tiny dent.

A c***k as quiet as the snapping of a twig sounded as the stone loosened.

Mara’s breath caught in her chest as the stone swung out. No matter how many times she had opened Alloretta’s tomb, Mara could never rid herself of the childlike visions of skulls and rats that flashed unbidden through her mind.

But no specter of death lurked behind the stone.

She let out a shuddering sigh.

A stack of neatly arranged scrolls waited for her. Mara’s fingers ached to pull each of them out. To see the maps Niko and Lord Karron had drawn of places she’d never been, or to remember the wonders of the true maps she’d created herself. But there wasn’t time for such things.

Mara pulled a tiny scroll from her pocket and placed it on top of the others. It seemed out of place with the maps, but Alloretta’s grave was the safest place she had and the one place Allora was sure to look if the white took Mara forever.