The white wolf and the black hound were speaking one day, when the raven ca to greet them. He wished them a good morning, and asked what they spoke of.
The hound replied that they spoke of hunting, which was dear to them both.
The raven said that he did not see the sport in such a thing, for it was trivial to track prey from his perch in the sky. There were none, he said, that could hide from him.
The hound and the wolf smiled and laughed, and told the raven that he had missed the point. Tracking prey was not hunting, they said. Sight was not pursuit. To hunt was to inhabit the mind of the prey, to know its turnings before fear provoked them. In turn, the prey must know the mind of the hunter to have any hope of escape.
The raven agreed that this sounded more interesting than a simple chase, but still did not see the purpose of such a contest.
The two hunters licked their lips and offered to show him.
- Pre-Gharic Ardan manuscript, vellum, c. 500 PE
It took so ti before they reached the nearest point on the road to the cottage, which was still far removed from the hidden building. They parked the truck and gave the n their ease while Michael, Unai, Sobriquet and Zabala prepared to climb the long and sloping hill that led upward to the listening post.
At Unais insistence, Sobriquet had been keeping them well-hidden. There was a change in the old mans manner as they drew closer; his eyes roved ceaselessly across the ground, his footsteps smooth and soundless. Michael felt no tension from him, though. There was only a quiet, excited pulse of feeling.
Hold, he murmured, pausing so distance away from the cottages stand of pines. His hand ca up to point at a patch of ground strewn with dried, dead leaves. Walk carefully, he said. Step only where you see grass growing. Zabala, egon prest.
Zabalas eyes narrowed, and Michael felt the fortins extend his soul out to Unai and Sobriquet. Prest nago. Mines?
Its what I would do, Unai murmured. Has our man noticed us yet?
Michael briefly shifted his sight up to the cabin; the man inside was still reading his book. Doesnt look that way, he said. Still reading.
Unai smiled. Sloppy, he said. Okay. In my footsteps, and if we trip any sort of alarm or trap- He turned to Sobriquet. Knock him out gently, young mistress; hes one of ours.
He turned and began to advance up the slope. If there had been a change before, now it was glaring; Unai reminded Michael of a cat that had sighted prey, low and slinking in his movents. Despite his warning, or perhaps because of it, they made it to the cabin without incident.
Michael checked to find the man still in his chair, absorbed in the book. At Unais direction, he moved to stand square with the door - and then kicked it in.
The man was already standing as the door crashed to the ground. There was a pistol in his hand, sohow; Michael had not seen any trace of it before. It fired, and Michael felt two light taps in the center of his chest. A third carod off the side of his forehead, burying itself in the doorfra.
The pistol disappeared as quickly as it had arrived, its wielder turning towards the cabins sole window on the far wall. Michael shook off his surprise and strode forward, grabbing the mans shoulder. He felt the tension as muscles worked, the ndiko ducking in a way that left Michael holding a fistful of his shirt, his bulk colliding with Michaels legs-
Nahikoa da, nahikoa, Unai said, grinning as he walked into the room. He stood smiling at the other ndiko, who had frozen in apparent shock.
Michael released the man, though only half in reaction to Unais entry; whatever trick the man had used was effective enough to unbalance him, and he had been tottering at the edge of stumbling when Unai spoke. He stepped back, watching as the other man slowly straightened up.
Jaun Goikoetxea, the man said.
Jaun Bidarte, Unai replied. Egun on. My friends and I happened to be passing through, I thought Id drop by and say hello.
The man, apparently nad Bidarte, gave Michael and Sobriquet a quick glance; his eyes lingered for a mont longer on Zabala before snapping back to Unai. I see, he said, matching Unais Gharic. An odd place to be passing through.
Not so odd, Unai said. He looked over at the wireless, which was still hissing softly on the table. Pick up anything interesting lately?
Bidarte gave Unai a flat look. You know better than to ask that, he said.
Unai smiled at him; he turned and walked slowly over to the wireless. Youve been briefed, I assu, he said. You recognize my companions.
Dont do this, Bidarte said. You know I cant tell you anything.
The wireless hissed in the space between words. Unai drumd his fingers on it twice, then turned to Bidarte. She chose him, he said. The succession is certain, despite the current - uncertainty.
The ndiko agent made a disgusted noise. Tch. And? I serve at the pleasure of the Batzar, not the Star. You know that. Even with the soul-
Consequence over all, Unai chided him. The Zuzendaritza is delivering the soul to Michael, in the end. I assu the briefing covered his extant souls. The nature of his abilities.
Bidarte pressed his lips together. It did.
Then you know what he could do, Unai said, stepping closer. And you see that hes not doing it.
A mont of ominous silence stretched out; Bidarte smiled. Werent you the one who taught not to make threats? he asked.
Facts arent threats. Unai did not return the smile. If you dont tell us what you know, we will leave and search elsewhere. Perhaps in the wrong place. He raised an eyebrow. Perhaps too slowly. Lekubarri retrieves the soul first. Michael becos the most powerful Star in our history; Lekubarri becos the most powerful batzarkidea.
Annoyance flitted over Bidartes face. Thats the plan, he said.
The smile ca to Unais face at last. He stood there quietly, expectantly, watching as the other mans scowl deepened.
After a few monts more, Bidarte grunted and shook his head. Factions dont necessarily an division-
They are a precondition for it, Unai noted. Add to that our loss of neutrality, an impending large-scale conflict with the Safid, a new Star-
Yes, yes, Bidarte muttered, waving irritably at Unai. Youve made your point, let think. His eyes strayed to Michael, then back. You do realize theyre going to put to a verifex when I return.
Who do you think suggested that practice? Unai chuckled. Im sorry, Txiki. Its a bad spot to put you in, but it could be the advantage we need.
Theyd probably transfer to a desk just for talking to you. Bidarte sighed, then shook his head. Fine. As far as Im aware, nobody has picked him up. I certainly havent.
Unai frowned. Are you certain? Surely youre not in contact with the other observers.
Central has been demanding updates too frequently. Theyre as desperate as you are to catch him, and theyve got no idea. Two days ago they expanded the range of target frequencies, still nothing. Estimates said we should be expecting at least one radio burst per day from a neophyte Star.
Michael squinted, half-following; the two n were omitting detail from their speech, confident in their shared context. Youre counting on Luc to lose control of his soul? he asked. And that would - ah, like on the docks. It seed like years rather than months from when he had walked into the freighter cabin with Jeorg to see its grizzled captain glaring at the wireless. Always goes to shit with the fish co in-
The two n looked at him. Its how weve always found the Star in the past, Unai said. Tracking sickness and death, unexplained fires, strange variances in the weather - traditionally, of course. Radio bursts are much easier to monitor.
If he loses control with any frequency, Michael pointed out. But hes not newly-ensouled. Hes had practice restraining his anatons soul, its all he focused on during the trip north. More souls makes it easier, not harder - in my experience, at least.
Unai winced, turning to Bidarte. Ah. I believe he may be correct. I cant speak to the latter comnt, but the remainder - it fits with my own observations of Luc. He was extrely reluctant to use his soul at first, and kept another soul entirely hidden from us. At minimum, we can assu that it will reduce the rate of involuntary expression. Perhaps the intensity as well.
Bidarte grumbled a few low profanities in ndiko. You always used to say that plans and wishes were made alike.
I would prefer to be less correct in this case, Unai sighed. But here we are. He walked over to the cottages sole window, looking out at the trees that crowded close around them. Youre close to the border with Saf, have you heard anything to indicate that he might have crossed?
No, Bidarte replied. Although Im hardly a definitive source. I know weve got people watching for the old signs as well, so if the Safid begin to drop of - whats the Gharic word, fishrot? He snorted and shook his head. Wed know. But I received a request for confirm-negative last night, and I doubt theyd have troubled with the communication if they had a positive lead.
Unai nodded. All right. Lets assu our detection thods are useless. Luc might be idling shy of the border, or already across into Qalo.
Or neither, Bidarte pointed out. Always plan for the least-convenient developnt first, rember?
You derive entirely too much enjoynt from confronting with my own maxims, Unai noted. But youre not wrong. He tapped a finger on his chin, considering. The destination with the most variability would be the port of Rouns - but I imagine that most ships departing for Saf would have done so already.
What about back to Esrou? Bidarte asked. The briefing noted that he was Esroun.
Michael shook his head. He has no ties to Esrou, he said. His ho was Braun Island, and theres nothing left for him there either. They cleared the island- He paused, a horrible thought taking root in his mind. Lucs hand outstretched, naming Saleh a murderer; his mournful face on a day far before that, reaching within his shirt to reveal a handful of bloodstained wooden tokens. These were my friends-
Saleh isnt the only one who killed those dear to Luc, Michael said. Only the most recent. Luc has plenty of reasons to hate Ardalt, and Sever in particular. His mouth twisted. The Institute. , for that matter.
Unais eyes narrowed. Do you think thats likely?
I think its possible, Michael said. If were listing possibilities.
There was a long mont of silence as the four of them considered.
Michael clenched his fists as an overwhelming tension began to make itself felt, speeding his heart, tightening his muscles. There had been the hope of finding Luc if he was right ahead of them, traveling overland through Saf. Now, though, the winter seed far shorter, the looming deadline of spring rushing forward with unseemly haste. And if he had truly decided to cross the ocean-
Sobriquet walked up to lay a hand on his shoulder. I dont know how much Ill be able to see, considering the way that Luc twists my sight, she offered, but if he did pass through Rouns I imagine there will be so traces left. Illness, death, soone who spoke to him.
And if he didnt? Michael asked.
She shrugged. Then there wont be. We can always turn aside to Saf from there, if we choose. She let her fingers trace down to Michaels hand. Well find him.
It would be stranger if we had followed unerringly in his path, Unai sighed. He turned back to Bidarte. You should break your silence and report our suspicions to Central.
Bidarte blinked. I was going to anyway, he said. But I must admit Im surprised at the request, considering you just outlined the importance of your man finding the Star first.
Lekubarri is ultimately our ally, despite my misgivings, Unai said. He gave Bidarte a thin smile. And I am notionally the liaison to the Zuzendaritza. Lets phrase this as cooperating in good faith; I imagine that will keep him up late wondering at our motivations.
You havent changed much, Bidarte snorted, extending a hand. He grinned as Unai shook it. Its good to see you again, old man.
And you, Txiki, Unai said. I hope this doesnt cause you too much trouble down the line - but if you find yourself without a situation, let know. He returned the smile. I can put in a kind word with the next Star.
Both n looked at Michael, who gave a helpless shrug. I seem to need all the help I can get, he sighed. Off to Rouns, then?
Apparently, Unai agreed. Lets let the others know.
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