Work Text:
P—
I have received your letter of last month. Your handwriting has greatly improved. I am sorry that the archivist would not let you look at the map of the Empire. I am sure that when your tutor returns he will allow it. I have made this map in haste to give to the messenger who leaves today. I will hope you have already seen a better one by the time it reaches you.
Yours in Friendship,
—K
—End papers, Thick as Thieves
~~~
It was mid-morning. The sunlight streamed straight through the window of the little house in the village of Reyatimi, about a mile below the temple complex that sat at the top of the mountain.
The light illuminated Kamet as he stood at his drafting table. His dark hair gleamed in the sun as he bent over his work.
"Are you almost done with the map?" asked Costis. He was dressed for travel, and his pack stood open in the corner by the door.
"I just finished, but the ink hasn't dried yet," said Kamet. "I'm sorry. I know you want to reach the fort before sunset."
Costis shrugged.
"There's still time. Besides, some of Prokep's men know me now—they'll let me in even if I get there after dark."
Every few weeks or so—and carefully not on a predictable pattern—Costis left the mountain village for one of his little hikes, ostensibly to collect specimens of local flora. In reality, he was sending messages back to the Attolian capital.
Kamet's mouth twisted thoughtfully.
"You think Prokep's men can be trusted?"
Years ago, General Prokep had been captain of the queen's guard. Before he could grow too powerful, the queen sent Prokep to take command of Attolia's northernmost fort, just shy of the Roan border. It was about as far from the Attolian court as you could go without literally being exiled.
That was one of the rumors, anyway.
According to Kamet—who had it from Relius—General Prokep had benefitted greatly from the transfer. The northeastern region of Attolia might be far from court, but Prokep had grown up there, and his exile was more like a voluntary retirement. In addition to overseeing the fort, Prokep presided over a substantial family estate: land the queen had granted him in exchange for his devoted service.
"The soldiers at the fort are all local men," said Costis. "They don't have any reason to know who I am."
"That's true," said Kamet, cautiously. "And I am certain my master's influence never reached this far. But I only know about his mischief. Your court treated Melheret like a fool, but he isn't one."
"You think Melheret could have undermined Prokep?" asked Costis, doubtfully.
"He may have tried. Perhaps he appealed to Prokep's ancestry."
Prokep's name invoked the Mede god of justice; the difference in spelling was a regional variant. His family had lived in Attolia for several generations.
"I don't think that would work," said Costis. He liked Prokep, and he didn't think it was fair to hold the man's family origins against him.
Kamet shrugged.
"Maybe he left Prokep alone and suborned one of his men. I'm only speculating. Come and look at my map before I fold it up."
He beckoned, and Costis stepped obediently closer, standing a little behind Kamet so he could look over his shoulder.
"The Little Peninsula can't be that small," said Costis.
He had never seen a properly scaled map of the two countries, and the difference was startling. But he was also trying to get a rise out of Kamet, who predictably rolled his eyes.
"It is called the Little Peninsula for a reason. I suppose your Attolian geography tutor only used Attolian maps?"
"Something like that," said Costis, cheerfully.
He tapped a finger over the mountains Kamet had drawn between Magyar and Attolia.
"You didn't label Reyatimi?"
"I want to befriend the young Erondites, not put him in danger," said Kamet. "Especially if Relius is not there to protect him. He doesn't need to know where we are."
Kamet placed his slender hand over Costis' own, nudging it out of the way so he could point at the dotted line drawn carefully across the Middle Sea.
"I did draw our route to Attolia."
Costis's eyes scanned along the dotted line, tracing their route backwards from Attolia, to Sukir, to Zaboar, then down through the empire.
How odd, Costis thought, to see their journey reduced to ink on parchment, the dotted line occasionally zigzagging in places where their luck had run out. Somewhere in the paper inch between Koadester and Zaboar, he had almost lost his life three times. And somewhere between Sherguz and Perf—
"Oh," said Costis, his heart suddenly light. "You drew our lioness."
Kamet smiled a little defensively.
"It's important information: 'Watch out for lions.' By now, those cubs are old enough to menace travelers without their mama's help."
"You're right," said Costis, with mock seriousness. "I would hate for any of our friends back at home to be caught unawares by a lion colony outside Perf."
Kamet laughed. He twisted around to face Costis, his back to the desk.
"I think the ink is dry enough, now," he admitted. "I am just delaying because I will miss you."
Costis smiled down at him.
"You could come with me."
Kamet shook his head.
"Not this time. I’m worried about what Pheris said in his letter."
"About Baron Orutus breaking into Relius's office?"
Kamet nodded.
"It might be simple jealousy. But if there is more to it than that, I don't want us to do anything here that will draw attention. If I remain at the archive as usual, no one will notice if you're gone for a few days."
"If Baron Orutus is a traitor, and sneaking around behind Relius's back, maybe I shouldn't leave you here alone," said Costis, bluntly.
Kamet's mouth flattened in annoyance.
"I'll be fine. It's probably nothing. Pheris's letter is a month old, anyway."
"Is there anything in Relius's office that could have given us away?"
Kamet shrugged helplessly.
"I have no idea. Maybe the letters we already sent him, but we didn't mention where we are."
Costis knew Kamet was probably right, but there was no way to know for certain, and no point arguing about it. Frustrated, he turned back to his own preparations, gathering up the other gear he needed—his sword, and an empty water skin. He would fill the skin at a spring down at the base of the mountain.
Kamet folded the map and placed it in Costis' pack, along with their other messages. He watched quietly as Costis buckled on his sword belt and shouldered the pack.
Together, they walked to the little gate in front of their house.
Costis bent to kiss him goodbye. Kamet clung to him briefly, his arms twined around Costis' neck.
They ought to mark this spot, Costis thought. If the lion meant something, surely this meant more.
"Journey in your god's favor," said Kamet, when they pulled apart.
"Watch out for lions," said Costis.