Free The Fire Seer and Her Quradum by Amy Raby

that way. The man was as clever as he was nasty.
    “We’ll come to supper, then,” said Taya.
    He wished he possessed her happy idealism, that he could believe, as she did, that a reasonable bargain could be struck. But Mandir had lost his innocence a long time ago.
     
    ∞
     
    “So much for getting out of here quickly,” a disgusted Mandir said to Taya as they walked down the hallway, vaguely in the direction of their guest room.
    “What does that star tattoo mean?” asked Taya. “I’ve never seen it before.”
    “It’s the mark of a palace guard,” said Mandir. “Most of them will have just one star. Bel-Sumai has two, which means he’s a veteran and particularly trusted by the king. Though he must have done something bad to be assigned out here a second time.”
    “It’s a punishment to be sent out here?”
    “Often it is,” said Mandir.
    “So all the guards will have the tattoo? Either one or two stars?”
    Mandir nodded. “Also, all their names start with the honorific Bel .”
    “If we can’t talk to Tufan until supper,” said Taya, “what do we do between now and then? I can’t see that there’s anything to be gained by talking to Setsi again.”
    “No. His mind was made up.”
    “Did you want to speak to any of your brothers?”
    Mandir shook his head. “If Haban were still here, I’d pay him my respects.” And make him an apology. “But he’s gone now, escaped this place, and good for him.”
    “I think we’ve spoken to them all now, anyway,” said Taya. “All except Ilinos.”
    Ilinos—Mandir had forgotten about him. Now that she mentioned it, he wouldn’t mind meeting this half-brother he hadn’t seen since he was a small boy. Having observed Runawir, Shardali, Yanzu, Setsi, and Nindar, he had some idea of what the dynamic would be like at supper. But Ilinos was an unknown, and he didn’t like unknowns. “We should meet Ilinos.” He altered course toward the dining hall.
    Runawir, Yanzu, and Shardali were at the table, playing a game on a marked board with small carved figures. The game must be something they’d acquired after he’d left the household, since he was not familiar with it. Runawir and Yanzu played, while Shardali looked on.
    “Mandir.” Runawir acknowledged him without looking up.
    Small details, like which brother spoke first in a group, gave Mandir hints as to the household’s hierarchy. Runawir appeared to be at the top, with Yanzu second and Shardali third, unless Ilinos fit between them somewhere. “Where can we find Ilinos?”
    Shardali giggled.
    Mandir gave him a reproachful look and glanced at Taya out of the corner of his eye, worried about her reaction. She raised a brow at his brother’s odd behavior.
    “Down by the river, probably,” said Runawir.
    Mandir was wary of rivers since Taya had nearly been killed in one, by a jackal-summoned flood. “Why there?”
    “To do laundry,” said Runawir.
    Yanzu smiled, not in a nice way. “He had a problem with his shirt.”
    Shardali erupted with another giggle.
    Disgusted with the three of them, Mandir left the room before his brothers could embarrass him further.
    “What was that about?” Taya asked, when they were out of earshot.
    “Someone must have played a prank on Ilinos,” said Mandir. “Shardali was laughing because he was pleased the target wasn’t him.”
    “Do they always act like overgrown children?”
    “Yes, but don’t underestimate them. The crimes they commit are very adult.” And if Mandir hadn’t left this household when he did, he’d probably have grown up just like them.
    They headed out of the house and into the sunshine, where they turned toward the river. In the valley, one always knew where the river was.
    As they descended the bank, a shout rose up behind them. “I didn’t do it!”
    Both of them froze.
    “That sounded like Setsi,” said Taya.
    “I think you’re right.” Trouble was brewing, and for once, Mandir might be able to do something about it.