65 Ishalem

Every ra'vir learned how to blend in with the people he loathed most; the Teacher made certain of that. The kidnapped Tierran boys and girls who survived the training might look innocuous, but they were tough, tempered into hard steel.

During his escape from Windcatch, picking his way along the rugged unpopulated shores and highlands, Davic survived on grasses, a few berries, tiny fish he caught in tide pools, and a bird he snared. When there was no food, he did not eat; he made his way ever southward.

Finally, the determined boy reached the towering wall that cut across the isthmus from Oceansea to Middlesea, blocking any Aidenist incursion. God's Barricade. All alone, he gazed at the piled stones in awe. During his secret life with Prester Ciarlo, Davic had heard rumors of the great wall Soldan-Shah Omra was building. And though he had glanced at maps and knew the width of the isthmus, he had never imagined that the project could be so titanic. He tried to comprehend the amount of labor and raw materials that had gone into constructing this line of stone. Surely Ondun Himself would notice it.

Near regularly spaced guard towers, he saw Uraban soldiers in clean uniforms, colorful sashes, and olbas wrapped around their heads. Fern banners rose from the crenellations, rippling in the breeze. Davic smiled, feeling great relief. At last, he had returned to a place where he could feel at home.

He was just a boy and looked completely harmless. Men pointed at him; archers unslung their bows. The guards on patrol probably considered him a foolhardy Tierran pilgrim who had come to see the holy city, and he feared they would use him for target practice before he had a chance to report. Davic was willing to die in the service of Urec, but he refused to let himself be killed before he could deliver his news. He yelled out in clear Uraban, “I follow the Map!”

In the trampled dirt outside the wall, he took a stick and quickly sketched a crude spiral—the sign of the unfurling fern—on the ground where, not long ago, Aidenist invaders had been killed by other brave ra'virs like himself. He stepped back and held out his hands to show that he carried no weapon.

A guard shouted out in Uraban, “Who are you? Why are you here?”

Davic spread his arms, blinking in the bright sunlight, dazzled by the glory of Ishalem. “I have come from Tierra with news. Send for the Teacher—then you will know who I am.”

Invoking the name of the Teacher struck fear into the guards, and some of the men disappeared from the wall. Before long, the nearest wooden gate clanked and shuddered as the huge crossbolt was pulled aside. With a groan, the door opened, and two guards hurried out to grab Davic by the arms. He did not struggle or argue with them and let the men hustle him through the gate, which closed behind him with finality.

Suspicious that the boy's arrival might be a trick, the lookouts continued to scan the landscape beyond the wall. But Davic was alone. “I have important news for Soldan-Shah Omra.”

“The soldan-shah has returned to the Olabar palace,” said the lead guard.

“Then take me to the provisional governor. This news cannot wait. In the name of Urec, we must act quickly, or we won't be able to act at all.”

Kel Unwar rushed to the main governmental tower, still clad in dirty work clothes from the canal excavations. When Davic was brought before him, the kel shot an angry glare at the guards. “A boy? You made me cease work on the soldan-shah's canal because you found a boy?”

“Not a boy, Kel Unwar. A ra'vir.”

Davic straightened. “I am a student of the Teacher. I've been pretending to be an orphan in the 'Hook village known as Windcatch. I lived among them, but never lost my hold on the true faith. And now I bring urgent news. That is why I made the long journey.”

Unwar's brow furrowed, and he could barely force his words through his deepened scowl. “I've heard enough bad tidings recently.”

“No, I bring opportunity.” Davic could not hide his satisfied grin. “Tomas, the young prince of Tierra, is making a
celebratory procession down the coastline to announce Queen Anjine's impending marriage. I know when he is due to arrive at various villages and towns. I saw the schedule.” Davic narrowed his gaze. “I know how you can intercept him.”

Unwar's angry expression became one of calculation. His nod was slow and thoughtful as the variables coalesced in his mind. “Maybe it's time we took action of our own.”