Revised 5/11/11

…

Karigan leapt to the floor, knees buckling as her feet smacked against the wood.

"Karigan! What are you doing?"

She dragged herself up, grabbing fistfuls of Zachary's sleeve. "Up there – it's dead. It's all rotted and dead and there's a knife in its neck."

"Kari – what? What are you talking about?"

"Is there trouble?" Fedir watched them curiously. Karigan whirled around to face him.

"There's a rotting body up in the hayloft," she accused. The men stared at her. She looked from one to the other. "Well?"

"I'll – uh – check it out." Fedir climbed up the ladder, peered around the loft, then shrugged down at them. "There's nothing up here." He began his descent.

"What?" Karigan tugged Zachary's sleeve. "Of course he wouldn't see anything – it's his hayloft," she hissed.

"Karigan, I don't – "

"Please?"

Acquiescing, Zachary inched up the ladder, keeping his right arm tucked carefully against his stomach. Karigan held her breath, releasing it only when the king looked down with a lost expression.

"There's nothing up here, Karigan."

What? "That-that's impossible. There has to be. It was right there, in my face."

Zachary looked again, shaking his head. "I'm sorry." He climbed down. Karigan rushed back up. It was just as they said – there was nothing. No body, no bloodstains, no bent piece of hay. She thumped her elbow on the loft and dropped her head in her hand.

"It was here. It was…awful." She twisted around. "You can't smell it?"

The men sniffed. "No…"

Neither could she, now that she thought about it.

Down below, Zachary leaned toward Fedir. "I'm very sorry," he whispered. "Our coming to this island happened under great strain. Karigan has also been witness to some unsettling things. The combination…"

"I understand."

Zachary studied his face. He was upset. Understandably so. Karigan thumped down the ladder. She raised a bewildered face and sighed. "I-I thought I saw it," she mumbled.

"I will take you as far as the main village." Fedir slouched out to his cart.

Zachary watched him, then turned as Karigan readied Condor. She avoided his gaze, saying as she cinched up the saddle, "You should take Night Hawk's tack out to the cart."

"Karigan – "

She turned. "I know what I saw, Za – Your Majesty. Now I don't know where it went, but I know it was there."

He rested a hand on her shoulder. "I believe you, Karigan. After all you've done I'd be a fool not to." He smiled, touching her cheek with his thumb. She held his gaze, then turned back to Condor. Zachary dropped his hand. "We'll speak more when we're – not here."

He lifted the tack from the hook and instantly dropped it again, grimacing. Karigan slipped the horses' leads into his hand and took his load for him.

"I must ask, why did you climb up to the loft in the first place?" Zachary followed her out to the cart.

"I smelled it. Barely, but it was there. I wanted to find out what it was."

Zachary frowned. "Shouldn't a rotting corpse smell a bit more than 'barely'?"

Karigan dumped the tack into the cart and looked at him, about to speak. After a moment, her mouth closed. "You're right." She rounded Condor and mounted, taking Night Hawk's reins. "You're right."

…

"Did you notice anything about it? Any identifying clothing or items?"

They stood in the town square, watching Fedir drive away. Karigan sighed as she turned to begin walking. "I was preoccupied with the rotting flesh. How is your back?"

"I can't feel it, actually. The medicine Marli put on seems to have numbed the injuries." Zachary stretched his spine. "Quite a mender."

"She must be the only mender on this island, which would explain why they summoned a midwife to help you."

Zachary stopped walking. Night Hawk's nose bumped into his head. "A midwife?" he echoed. "They brought a midwife?"

Karigan looked at him with a small smile. "Yes. Is that offensive?"

He recommenced walking. "No, not at all."

"They know how to stitch – "

"Of course. So this corpse. You smelled it, searched the stalls, climbed up the ladder."

"And there was the body, right next to the ladder with a dagger in his neck."

"His?"

"What?"

"You know he was male."

Karigan frowned. "Yes…he was."

"Mmm."

After a moment, Karigan said, "Maybe I've finally cracked. After everything I've seen, my mind has finally failed me."

Zachary laughed. "I doubt that very much."

"Then where did the body go? I saw it, smelled it, but it wasn't really there."

"Do you remember the expedition to Eletia?"

Karigan closed her eyes. Did she remember it? As if she could forget. "Yes."

"You were the only one to feel the danger there. It's very possible a similar thing is happening now." He gave her a lopsided smile. "The rest of us are just less sensitive."

That didn't explain why the body disappeared for her as well as him, but she warmed at his reasoning. They fell into silence as they paced through the strangely quiet village.

"Where is everyone?" Karigan finally asked, peering at the surrounding houses.

"Karigan! There you are!"

The setting sun gave Trev a long shadow as he bounded toward them. "Where have you been?" he said breathlessly. "You have to come down to the beach."

"Why? Is something wrong?" Not another fight, I hope.

"Oh no, nothing of the sort. There's a full moon tonight and every full moon we have a celebration down on the beach, for Aeryc. We've been waiting for you for hours. Mama wanted you to help cook the stew." He leaned in. "Lucky you were gone." He leaned away. "Anyways, there's dancing and music and food and drink. Not that papa will let me have any." He took Condor and Night Hawk's leads. "Let me take care of your horses. You go right down."

He led the horses away, stopping to call over his shoulder, "By the way, Karigan, Rich won't ask it himself, but he wants a dance with you." He winked and smiled before disappearing.

"How old is Rich?" Zachary inquired casually as they headed toward the beach.

"Are you jealous?" It was out of her mouth before she could stop it. Zachary looked at her sidelong.

"Have I reason to be?"

She pushed back her hair in agitation. Remember your place, Kari. But…she couldn't help it. "Rich is probably around fifteen. I only have to wait a few years for him. You, on the other hand, will be in your…fifties? when Emmi is old enough. Assuming she'll still have you." She flashed her dimples at him and had no idea how close she came to being swept up and kissed.

"Assuming…what? What reason would she have not to accept me then?"

"Just that, well, when you're that old..." She waved a hand. "I'm sorry. Forget I said anything. You're the king of Sacoridia and she's a common girl from the coast. She would have no reason not to…." The irony of her words struck her and she looked away.

"I see. Well, I guess we'll find out, won't we?" He flashed her a smile and crouched down. Seemingly coming out of nowhere, Emmi shamelessly launched herself into Zachary's arms, squealing with glee. "You have to dance every dance with me, okay?"

"Every dance?" He looked over his shoulder at Karigan, who tried to smile. "I'm too old to dance every dance." He winked.

"You can stand on my feet," she offered loyally, "when you get tired."

Zachary stood, balancing the girl on his side. She chattered incessantly at them as they made their way to the beach. Five bonfires blazed on the sand, silhouetting the groups of people surrounding them. A wooden platform had been constructed near the beach stairs and a few musicians were busy tuning their instruments. Tasty aromas drifted along the smoke and ocean breezes, filling the air with what Karigan could only describe as home.

Dancing had already begun by the time the threesome descended the stairs. Despite her claim on all of Zachary's attention, Emmi wriggled out of his arms and raced across the sand to join a rowdy group of children.

"Karigan! Zach!" Rena's husband clapped their shoulders. "Good to see you here! There's food on those tables over there. Rena cooked that big pot of stew, so you better try it or she'll kick you out of the house." He winked.

"So it's true then, Ainsley. These two magic lovers are staying at your house."

Ainsley shook his head and said while turning, "Show a little respect for our guests, please, would you Potts?"

Potts, sporting Karigan's signature all over his left eye, glowered as well as he could. "Guests from the Mainland? Them's evil over the ocean. Tainted they are, by Mornhavon. Is why they protected that Spinter devil." He leaned in. "Brought their evil to align themselves with the Spinters."

Zachary placed a calming hand on Karigan's shoulder and said, "We merely mediated an unfair fight."

"Don't you throw your uppity jawbreakers at me. Merely mee-dee-tated, my wife's corset. You've done nothing but cause trouble since you come." He cast his eyes over Karigan's apparel and a leer spread across his face. "Some of the king's messengers, eh? Don't you know what happens to them when the king sends them to this island? They disappear. That's what happens. How'd you like to disappear?"

"How'd you like another black eye?" Karigan replied sweetly. Potts's leer disappeared and he spat his tobacco at Zachary's feet before sauntering away.

"I'm sorry for that." Ainsley scratched his tuft of hair. "You'll find simple folk have simple minds." He shrugged with a smile.

"What did he mean about Green Riders disappearing?" Zachary asked. Ainsley waved a hand vaguely.

"Just some old stories. People here like to be left alone, without Sacor City's bothering them, so they made up some tales to scare the messengers away." He grinned. "Obviously didn't work on you two. Gonna gather the taxes tonight?"

"Ainsley, we aren't here for – "

"I know, I know. Just pulling your legs. You're welcome at our home as long as you like, no matter why you're here. Always good to have fresh faces around here. Now, please, go get some food, stomp around a bit to the fiddles, and get drunk. If you see Trev with a pint, though, send him straight to me. Boy's trying to grow up too fast." Ainsley wandered off, leaving Zachary and Karigan standing awkwardly at the edge of the gathering.

"There's your ardent suitor," Zachary said, gesturing. Karigan followed his gaze and grinned at Rich, whose face flamed.

"Are you going to dance?"

Zachary shifted uncomfortably. "Ah, I don't think so. Not with my back."

Karigan threw up her hands. "What am I even thinking? You practically tore yourself open today. You need to go and rest. No celebrating for you tonight."

"No, no. I really can't feel any pain at all. I'd like to just sit and mingle." Deliberately misinterpreting the reason for her frown, he continued, "I don't recognize any of these dances." He watched the animated dancers with some trepidation. "I'm afraid I'd make a fool of myself."

Karigan laughed. "Is that it? They're really not that much different than court line dances. Just…more jumping and stomping and clapping. And yelling." She smiled. "If you feel like an idiot, then you're doing it right." She frowned. "But no dancing. You'll hurt yourself."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Don't do that. I'm going to go give Rich a dance. You eat and sit. When I'm done, we'll go back to Rena's so you can get to sleep." Her eyes moved past his head. "But who knows, maybe one of those young maidens will claim you before Emmi or I can." With a wave of her hand she was gone, hurrying to Rich and pulling him into the center of the bonfires.

Young maidens? Zachary turned and heard distinctly feminine giggles. With a smile and a nod, he walked past the tight group of girls, feeling their eyes follow him all the way to the tables. He gritted his teeth as he took up a bowl.

"Zachy!" Rena bustled up beside him and took the empty bowl from his hands. She peered into it, then shook her head. "You don't eat enough. I give you food." He watched in mounting despair as she loaded the bowl with spoonful after spoonful of food. Dropping a roll on the top of the pile, she passed it back to him. "You want drink?"

"Oh, no, this is – "

"I get you a man's drink." She filled a mug and thrust it into his other hand. "How is back?"

"Wonderful."

"Good. You will dance with your lady tonight, yes?"

"Ah, my, uh – what?"

"Your Kari. You dance together, yes? Or you go back to house early. We won't disturb you two." Before Zachary could register her words, she moved on to a new subject, "Don't worry about townspeople. They just angry because your dainty love crushed all the men."

"My – dainty – "

"Will name first daughter Rena, yes? I saved your life. If son, then Ainsley. Husband helped." She patted his cheek. "You need to trim beard. Eat everything." Then she was gone.

Zachary wandered to a small, weedy hillock. "My dainty love," he muttered as he sat, then chuckled. "Dainty Karigan." He laughed loudly and took a drink. It flamed in his mouth and he succumbed to racking coughs. Wheezing, he peered at the bitter liquid Rena had given him. What was this stuff?

A familiar laugh brought his head up. Karigan clung to Rich's hands as they skipped down the line of dancers. Zachary smiled. There was that glow again. Karigan hooked arms with the boy and they swung around in a few wild circles. Here she was completely in her element; this is what she grew up with. Never mind the glares she received from more than one onlooker – this was her world. No politics, no mincing words or masks. No life-threatening duties or disaster looming in the distance. Here she was Karigan G'ladheon, merchant.

Zachary's smile faded. She didn't belong in his world. He threw back another gulp and squeezed his eyes shut at the blaze.

"What do you think of our island ale?"

Zachary looked up. A heavy man stood over him, shadowed by the full moon hanging behind him. "It is…distinctive," the king responded.

The man guffawed and settled down beside him. "Peels your flesh on the way down, but warms you right up like another man's wife." He grinned. Zachary frowned. The loutish man stuck a hand out. "Mickey Morriseen, if you please."

"Zachary."

"Just Zachary? No family name with that?"

Zachary waved a hand and took another drink. "Not one worth mentioning." Perhaps it was the effect of the ale, but there was something about this man that put him on edge.

Mickey laughed. "You're entitled to your secrets, Rider, I'll let you have that. I almost didn't believe it when I heard we had visitors from the mainland. Haven't seen outsiders in years now."

In the dance, Karigan whirled around, pausing to search the crowd. Zachary raised his hand and waved. She smiled and returned the gesture before jumping back into the dance.

"That's the little lady that caused all the commotion yesterday?"

"Yes."

"She's a lovely little thing."

Considerably irritated, Zachary stood abruptly. "It was a pleasure, Mickey, but I'm afraid I must – "

"Oh now, now, I didn't mean to get you all worked up. Sit back down and have another drink." Once Zachary had seated himself, Mickey continued, "She belongs to you?"

"Karigan and I are traveling together," Zachary said evenly, swishing the drink around in the mug, regretting the gulps that already warmed his fingers.

"Right, right," the man guffawed, throwing more ale down his throat. "Traveling. Two Green Riders come to this island without messages?" He winked grotesquely. "Right. Running away from something's more likely."

Zachary examined Mickey's face. His words were slurred and his movements erratic, but his small eyes were sharp and very much alert. Zachary allowed a tight smile. This was a game very familiar to him. "What do you do, Mickey?"

"I'm just a blacksmith. I'll take care of your horse's shoes when you're ready to go home. Where's home for you, anyways?"

Zachary laughed and saluted him with his mug. "Too early in the night for that." He tipped his cup, but didn't swallow anything.

Mickey scrutinized him, then returned the salute. "So it is. You're a smart man, Zachary."

"Thank you. Yourself, I'm sure."

"Smart enough that you should know to stay away from the Spinter home."

Zachary contemplated him. "Oh?"

"I saw you two ride that way today and saw Fedir bring you back. That's a family worth keeping away from."

"How so?"

Mickey emptied his mug. "You met Marli, I'm guessing." When there was no response, he continued, "She's from an evil house. Now, that family left the island a long time ago, but she still keeps up with their strange ways. Fedir tries keeps her secrets secret, but I know better. Poor Dagon. Guess you can't choose what family you're born into."

Zachary took the man's mug. "Let me get you another drink and you can tell me more about these secrets."

…

Karigan pushed her hair out of her face, laughing breathlessly as she backed away from Trev's entreating hands. "I need a rest," she cried, waving him and his friends away. She laughed at their protests, which put her very much in mind of Yates, and set out to find the king. She promised to find him after one dance, but that one dance had become two, then three, then four. Last time she saw him, he was seated over on that little hillock….

He was still there. Karigan approached slowly, disconcerted by the apparent tension between him and his new companion. The man looked like a boor. Nasty veins splintered across his scruffy cheeks and puffy red seemed to bleed out of his eyes. He leaned toward the king, accentuating whatever he was saying with sharp gestures from his thick, blackened hands. As she drew nearer, his voice grew audible in slurred rushes, punctured with coughs and hiccups.

Zachary watched him intently, one hand on his beard, his face studious as though he listened to information of national importance. It was a familiar expression. It meant that not only was he hearing the words, but somewhere in that brilliant mind of his, pieces of some puzzle settled into place.

His eyes came up and he met her questioning gaze with a brief, acknowledging smile before returning his attention to the man.

"You listen to me, Zachary," he slurred. "This is some news you need to take back to King – King – " He gave a sudden hoot. "Zachary! You have the same name as the king!" As hysterical as this fact apparently was, Karigan felt the sudden need to take her king as far away from this man as possible. She moved to Zachary's side, staring down at the man with what she hoped was a warning expression.

Zachary reached for Karigan's hand. "Well, Mickey, your company has been prized," he said. Karigan helped him to his feet, but once he stood he didn't release her hand. It was his turn to be stared at. "I fear we must part, however."

"Oh! This is your Karigan, then, yes?" Mickey wavered to his feet. "Karigan, yeah?"

With a suspicious frown at Zachary, she answered, "Yes. Karigan G'ladheon."

Zachary stiffened. Karigan winced at his painful squeeze of her fingers and the realization of her slip.

"Rider G'ladheon, is it?" Mickey murmured. His small eyes shifted to Zachary's face. "And Zachary with-no-last-name, who shares his name with the king." He grinned toothlessly at them. "What a pair you are."

"Indeed. A pleasure, Mickey." Zachary pulled Karigan away.

"I'm sorry," she hissed. "I wasn't thinking."

He gave a small shrug. "I doubt your name means much to him. The less he knows about us, however, the better."

Stung, Karigan reclaimed her hand. "My father's family lives somewhere on Black Island," she responded coolly. "He may have heard of them."

Zachary blinked, then yielded with a slight bow. "Of course."

Karigan sniffed. "Have you been drinking?" she inquired with suspicion. He avoided her eyes.

"Rena gave me a mug of their ale," he answered.

"Just one?"

"How many dances did you have?"

It was Karigan's turn to look away. She couldn't, however, resist a soft laugh. "It's a celebration, right?" A dimple peeped at him. "And speaking of dancing…" Karigan inexplicably stepped away.

"Zachary!" A small body latched onto his legs, but the smile that beamed up at him was massive. "You have to dance with me!"

Zachary laughed as he tried to disentangle Emmi's arms. "I have to?"

"Yes!" she squealed. "You promised!" Only when she had a firm grip on one of his hands did she allow him to walk. "Mama says I have to go to home soon and I said a big 'no!' to all my other s-soo-suitors just for you. Please?"

"I'm afraid I don't dance very well."

She patted his hand. "That's okay. They never watch the man. It's always the beautiful lady they look at. Now come on!" She pulled him away. He threw a glance over his shoulder and grinned at Karigan, who returned it with a laugh. She watched Emmi drag him into the clearing, then promptly begin instructing him on proper dance decorum. There was a moment of confusion when she realized he was too tall to maintain a suitable frame, but she solved the problem by simply raising her arms. He hoisted her up into the air and her shrieks of delight echoed all around the beach.

Karigan held herself tightly, a sort of wistfulness mushrooming in her chest. She watched him spin the little girl around and around, his laughter just as audible as her squeals. He almost tripped into a fire, but quickly righted himself with a self-conscious glance at Karigan, who snorted with laughter. His grin flashed at her, but it dropped when he turned to see all of Emmi's little friends gathered at his feet, begging for their turn. He complied happily, however, shifting his position as far from the fire as possible.

Karigan lowered herself into the sand, resting her chin on her knees. How wonderful it would be, she thought, to stay like this forever. She wouldn't mind. It would be almost too easy never to return to Sacor City. No one knew where they were. They could be happy, she dared to think. That is, until another king took the throne and their guilt destroyed them. Or until Mornhavon returned and killed them all.

She gave her head a brisk shake. Such gloomy thoughts. She returned her attention to the king. Two boys yanked on his hands, trying to pull him down and…wrestle him? She giggled as he caught one of them under one arm and struggled to snatch the other. They loved him. He would be an extraordinary father.

She dropped her forehead onto her knees, suddenly overwhelmed by all sorts of unwanted emotions. No, she thought. No. She took a shuddering breath. They needed to return to Sacor City. If not for the sake of the country, then for the sake of her sanity. Impatiently dashing away a single, bold tear, she raised her head.

"I surrender!" Zachary cried, each limb laden with at least one small body. "I surrender!" He laughed as they pulled on him relentlessly nonetheless.

Karigan smiled, then noticed a sudden movement at the edge of the clearing. She stiffened, squinting. Potts. The man from before. He was plowing straight toward the oblivious king, his face twisted with fury. Karigan scrambled to her feet, throwing sand and dirt every which way. She tripped more than ran toward Zachary, but Potts was closer.

"No!" she shouted. Zachary looked at her in surprise.

"What?" he called back. Karigan made a strangled holler as Potts shoved the children aside, whirled Zachary to face him, and clobbered the king with one meaty fist.