“He told me earlier he was feeling drowsy.”

  “Why didn’t you examine him right away?”

  “He refused, saying he was just tired from all the travelling he’s done recently. Forgive me, my lord, I should have insisted,” Sebi said to Duke Ashem, his head bowed.

  They were at Ven’s bedside. Rae numbly observed the conversation between the Duke, Sebi, and Camp Ashem’s chief healer.

  “It’s just as I’ve seen in the other camps. Not a mark on him, no fever, no signs of infection at all…” the chief healer said.

  “But he won’t wake up?” Duke Ashem’s pallid face was obscured by the hand on his forehead.

  The healer was too scared to speak, so Sebi stepped in, “The other victims have remained like this. None have woken yet. But I’m already working on a cure. Hope is not lost,”

  “How long can he last like this?”

  “The first victims died because they were in isolated camps, without competent healers, and the families had no idea what was happening, nor what to do. In this state, they can’t feed or care for themselves. As long as healers continue to feed him, he can survive indefinitely,”

  A little of the tension in Duke Ashem’s face relaxed.

  “Is the whole camp in danger now?” he said, his voice more metallic than it had been.

  “The manner in which it spreads… We haven’t uncovered it yet. The disease seems to strike randomly. People closest to the patient —family and caregivers— don’t seem to be any more at risk than anyone else,”

  Duke Ashem sighed, “Even so, you shouldn’t linger here too long. If it does spread to you, Duke Bejuk would give me hell to pay. Please continue your work on the cure; my healers will handle his care in the meantime.”

  After saying this, Duke Ashem locked his eyes on Rae.

  Rae had taken on the role of an invisible ghost ever since they brought Ven to this room. Being acknowledged made him startle.

  “And you. You shouldn’t trouble yourself any further.”

  Soon after, it became clear that their presence was no longer welcome. Rae followed Sebi and the other man out, his limbs feeling like an automaton's.

  The hallway was brighter than Ven’s bed chamber, with windows overlooking the trees beyond the camp. Built of old, slightly fragrant wood, that hallway felt like the portal to return to the land of the living.

  The healer said a few more words to Sebi before leaving.

  “I’ll make you something to calm your nerves when we get back to our courtyard,” he said to Rae, once they were alone.

  “No need,” Rae said, “Go ahead without me. I want to stay a little longer,”

  “The Duke,” Sebi said, his voice low, “probably won’t have a kind word to say to you if he finds you lingering here.”

  Rae found that an amusing thing to be concerned about. Duke Ashem had never had a kind word to say about anyone, least of all Rae. And Rae had said some vicious things in turn.

  “Even if he is angry, I think he would be justified in this case… But I just can’t go back yet,”

  Sebi made a sour face, but left.

  Rae stood for some time, watching the birds. By the time Duke Ashem emerged, his heart had fully settled, and he felt himself a part of the world again.

  When Duke Ashem saw him, he narrowed his eyes but didn’t speak.

  Probably, Rae thought, he wants to tell me to ‘scram!’ but is trying to save face.

  “Your thoughts,” the Duke said, after schooling his expression, “regarding the imperial?”

  Rae stumbled over his words, before answering the sudden question.

  “I don’t think he poses any danger. I’m willing to allow him to stay. But if you don’t want him within your camp, I can find accommodations elsewhere,”

  “I’ll keep him. As you said, he’s no harm.”

  “Do you want me to call for the other camps to send warriors? In case the imperial army returns?”

  “Since we don’t know how the disease spreads, you better not. Besides, the men in this camp are strong and numerous enough. The imperials haven’t dared encroach on our land for three generations, and for good reason.”

  Rae nodded.

  “I’ll stay until master Ven is well again,” Rae surprised himself by voicing this. And he was even more surprised when Duke Ashem didn’t take the opportunity to pounce. There was vulnerability in saying it, the implication all too obvious. I like your son. Perhaps Duke Ashem already knew, or maybe he didn’t care… Either way, he didn’t argue.

  Their eyes met as this understanding passed between them. Duke Ashem looked so old. Rae recognised that blend of weariness mixed with fear. It was something that only the people who knew him best could recognise in him. The terror that had followed him for thirteen years since he had seen…

  Duchess Ashem had died long ago. If Ven resembled his late mother… Had Ven —in his death-like sleep— reminded the Duke of her still body, just as it had reminded Rae of someone else’s? The sympathy washed over him like ice water.

  “What are you standing around looking gormless for? Don’t you have something better to do?” Duke Ashem broke the spell, his voice laced with the same poison it always had been.

  “Right!” Rae stammered and went to trouble Sebi for a calming elixir.

  Rae’s stomach had turned at the prospect of lunch, so when a servant came to ask what he wanted, he only requested tea. He sipped it in the courtyard outside his room.

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  Sebi was there, too. He’d spread out the contents of his medicinal bag on the floor and was pouring over a packet of notes. The curiosity was agonising but Rae was afraid that asking any stupid questions would slow down his progress.

  So, it was Sebi who initiated, “Are you feeling alright now?”

  Rae shrugged, “well enough.” He honestly couldn’t tell if the throbbing in his head was from the alcohol or the worry.

  “You should get something to eat then,”

  “It’s not long till dinner, I’ll eat then,” Rae promised, not intending to keep it.

  Sebi gave him a look, and Rae glowered right back. He didn’t see how his eating habits were a matter of concern, given the state Ven was in.

  A few hours and a few more cups of tea later, Rae decided to sneak back to his room where he could hide and hope Sebi would forget about the fact he hadn’t eaten, and have dinner without him. Just as Rae was pantomiming tiredness and talking about how much he fancied a lie down, Laovin Ashem entered their courtyard.

  He had seen the Ashem Shana in many troubling situations, and it seemed she was accustomed to dealing with them with grace. She smiled sweetly at Rae and Sebi.

  “This place feels so lonesome right now. Won’t you join us for dinner?”

  Rae was sure he saw a hint of satisfaction on Sebi’s face when he halfheartedly agreed.

  Rae had eaten with the Ashems a few times during his visit, but being under Duke Ashem’s gaze always unsettled him. So, he avoided it whenever he could. The weather was fair, so they ate in the main courtyard. A table was set up on a stone floor, surrounded by ornamental trees and shrubs.

  In attendance were Duke Ashem, the Ashem Shana, the eldest three Shali, Sebi, and —to Rae’s surprise— Zott. The beast, as Ven had once called him, has vanished from Rae’s sight almost entirely since they’d arrived at camp Ashem. It was impossible to get a straight answer out of him as to what his role was here. He liked to act as if he were a servant, the best servant, or some kind of secret weapon, but it was clear to Rae that he usually just did whatever felt like. And Duke Ashem kept him around for some inconceivable reason.

  The food was light: milky porridge, fried smelts, nuts and berries drizzled in honey. All served elegantly in small portions. Perhaps, Rae wasn’t the only one whose stomach was doing somersaults.

  Still, it was a challenge to feign that he was enjoying the meal.

  The Shana was showcasing her skills as a hostess, delicately directing the conversation and keeping the gathering from descending into silence.

  “When you spoke to the foreign boy, did he tell you about his people’s peculiar customs?” she asked Rae.

  “Yes, yes. It seems they live lives quite different from ours,” Rae said, desperately searching for the excited, slightly drunken joy he had found earlier that day.

  Eventually, the children were excused, and even the Shana was flagging. All eyes instinctively turned on Sebi.

  “What do you intend to do?” Duke Ashem asked. Sebi seemed completely oblivious to the intensity of the scrutiny he was under.

  He closed his eyes in thought for a moment and then said, “Based on the symptoms, I have an idea for how I should start with crafting a cure. But my stores are limited and some of the herbs I need must be gathered fresh to achieve full potency. Tomorrow, I will go and search for them.”

  Both the duke’s and the Shana’s foreheads furrowed.

  “You don’t know this area, and the terrain is treacherous…” the Shana said.

  Rae was inclined to agree with her. Sebi was serious and capable with a roof over his head, but Rae didn’t like to imagine him braving the wilds alone.

  Before Rae could say anything, Zott had leapt to his feet, and bowed his head so aggressively that Rae worried he would bang it on the table.

  “My lord! Give me this duty. I know the forest well,”

  “As you wish,” Duke Ashem said, “accompany him. Help him find his way, and warn him of any dangers,”

  At this, Zott beamed. Rae was almost stunned speechless by the sight.

  “I’ll…” Rae said, “I’ll join you, too. It’s better to go in a group, and I’m good with a bow, if it’s of any help.”

  They left at dawn. Rae was grateful for this; he couldn’t rest easy after all that had happened, and the early morning was pleasantly cool and fresh.

  A few people in the camp were already up, feeding the livestock or fetching water. The air was as moist as a riverbank, and the ground was soft underfoot.

  They would be spending hours in the mountains. If necessary, they were prepared to not return until after sunset. They had taken with them bundles of dried meats from the Ashem storehouses. There was a quiver of arrows on Rae’s back, and a small blade at his waist. Zott also had his blades, and Sebi had his medicine bag.

  In the early morning, both Sebi and Zott were too sleepy to start quarrelling, and Rae lacked the energy to chat to them. So, they made their way out of the camp in silence.

  They were barely a few steps past the boundary when a voice rang out from behind them.

  “Wait!”

  Iova, with his hair gathered into an untidy topknot, was sprinting to catch up with them.

  “Wait a moment!” he gasped when he reached them.

  Rae raised an eyebrow. Over the coarse robes he had borrowed from the camp, Iova had draped a yellow-green silk robe. After his sprint, there was already a sheen of sweat on his forehead.

  “It’s for good luck,” Iova said when he saw Rae looking.

  “Good luck for what?” Rae asked.

  “Good luck in finding a cure for Master Ven, of course!”

  Iova wiped his forehead with his sleeve, making his sweat-damp fringe snick up at an odd angle. Before Rae could say anything else, Iova was speaking to Sebi.

  “Whatever you need, I’ll try my best to help. I can help you carry your things,” he said.

  Rae glanced at Zott, “I’m not sure you…”

  “I understand— I understand your concerns. But I got used to traversing the forest before I came here, and I want to help however I can.” Iova’s words rushed out like a waterfall, “I simply must come along with you. Master Ven saved my life, so I want to repay him.”

  The sentiment touched Rae. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that this boy would be more trouble than he was worth.

  Thankfully, Zott made himself the bad guy. “What help could an imperial noble offer us? You’ve probably never stepped off a paved road before you came here. What do you know?”

  “Well… If you insist a noble can’t join you…” Iova pointed at Rae “Why is he here? He’s the Shak. That’s something like royalty, isn’t it? Therefore, he has even less reason to be here than I.”

  Rae was stunned speechless. How to explain this…

  “The Shak isn’t just some pampered prince. This whole forest is his domain, granted by the heavens. He has more right to wander as he pleases than anyone else,” Zott said.

  Iova pondered that thought for a minute before turning his attention to Sebi and Rae. He looked at them with large pleading eyes.

  “Please, your majesty, and young master Sebi, allow me to at least carry your supplies for you,”

  Before Rae could say anything else, Sebi shrugged, “It would be good to have an extra pair of hands.”

  Iova beamed at him, took the bundles of food from each and tied them to his back.

  “Which way are we going? North?” he asked.

  Zott pointed him in the right direction, and they took off at a decent pace. Rae forced his stride to slow, so he could hang back with Sebi.

  “Why did you agree so easily?”

  “I wonder if in the Empire, there are herbs with healing properties that are unknown to us. It would kill two birds with one stone, to talk with him and have him carry our things,”