Muddy waters: Novel fragment

[tsaiko]

Even if no one else is amused by this I am. For all that Han claims to not be superstitious, she checks the back of Tahn's neck just to make sure he's not a demon. LOL.



Less than an hour later, Kaden was back. Han didn't need to look to know who it was. She could hear the unicorn's hooves – clip-clip, clip-clip, clip-clip – as it walked across the wooden dock. It was so different from the usual background noise of creaking wood, running water, and chirping birds that Han didn't know how unicorns got their reputation for being silent.

"I found someone to help you pole."

That caused her to look up from where she'd been watching the sunsparkles on the water. Kaden was standing on the dock, his unicorn on one side and a stranger on the other. The stranger was tall though he kept his head down and his eyes averted. His whole posture said louder than words that he was nervous.

"Well. Let's see what you found." Han got up and leapt from deck to dock. Her boat rocked slightly with the movement. For a split second she contemplated going back on her boat and getting her dock shoes. Instead she stepped forward. Hopefully, she wouldn't pick up any splinters.

"He looks strong enough," Han said. She wasn't worried about his strength. Strength could be built up. It was the fact that he wasn't from this area that bothered her. The cut of his over shirt was wrong: crossed over in the front and with sleeves that were too loose. The edges of all the stranger's clothes were frayed. None who resided in the muddy waters region would let their clothes get that worn, no matter how bad off they were. In contrast, his boat shoes were so new that Han was sure they had to be hurting his feet.

But it was the hair that really tipped it off. No man ever wore his hair so short. It made him too easy to be mistaken for a demon.

"He says he's worked boats before," Kaden. That made Han snort. The city-dweller couldn't tell a good boater from a poor one. "You said you needed a poler in order to take me up river. Now you have one."

Han ignored Kaden. "What's your name?"

"Tahn, mem." His name was one syllable.

"None of this 'mem' stuff. And turn around." Tahn complied. Han used her hand to push up the hair on the back of his neck. Just skin. "You can turn back around. When on my boat you call me 'Bahss.' No slouching and look at me when I speak to you. I don't like talking to the top of your head. Do you understand?"

There was a long moment where Han wasn't sure whether Tahn would listen to her. She didn't like that hesitation. Then he slowly straightened and brought his head up. His eyes were blue, like the endless sky at midday. "Yes, Bahss."

"Next time when I give an order, don't hesitate. I don't want to be killed because of your uncertainty."

"Yes, Bahss." The nervousness was still there. Han debated with herself for a second before deciding to get it over with. Either he'd leave or stay. There was nothing she could do.

"Right then. First order of business is for you to take off those shoes." Tahn sucked in a breath, but obediently sat down on the dock. He pulled off first one shoe and then the other. Kaden gasped. There were thick claws at the end of each toe.

"Dragon," Han announced. Tahn's shoulders slumped. "Why are you this far inland?"

"I left."

"I can see that. Did your female relatives approve of this?" Dragons were matriarchal. Males did nothing without the female's approval. Tahn's head came up and there was fury in those blue eyes.

"They don't own me," Tahn hissed. His hands twitched slightly as if they were clawed as well. Han was impressed. He did have a backbone.

"I'm sure they are thrilled you left them," Han said dryly. Tahn flinched but didn't back down. "Right. You have trouble on your tail. I can understand that. Best place for you to be is far away from the coast. No wonder you're looking to be taken on by a boat heading up river."

"What say you, lady unicorn?" In response to Han's question, Kaden's unicorn dropped her head and gently touched Tahn with her golden muzzle. It was probably as close to a blessing as a unicorn would give. "I see."

Han turned around and jumped back onto her boat. It took a bit of digging, but she managed to find a spare pole among the tack. Damn. The tack was a mess. She'd been in dock for too long.

When she returned, Tahn had gotten up. He was back to staring at his feet again. "Tahn. Catch." She held the pole across her chest, and tossed it to him with both arms. Tahn caught it the same way: with both hands across his chest. That more than anything convinced her. "Board and push us closer to the dock."

"Yes, Bahss." Tahn leapt aboard, barely rocking the boat. He took the pole to the far side, set it down into the water and gently pushed. The boat moved slowly closer to the dock. Han was pleased to note that the dragon didn't dig in his claws when he pushed. Meant she wouldn't need to replace her deck.

"Come on Kaden. We're leaving," Han said. Once the boat was close enough she stepped onto the dock and began to undo the lines.

"Now?"

"Yes now. The sooner we're gone the farther from trouble we'll be." Han paused long enough to watch as the unicorn delicately stepped from dock to boat. "I'll take you as far as the falls. Once there, you can find someone to take you up into clear water territory."

"Thank you," Kaden said. His step was a lot heavier than everyone else's and the boat rocked. Tahn kept his pole planted, but applied only enough force to keep the boat steady. Han undid the last of the lines and stepped aboard.

"Don't thank me yet. We haven't gotten there. Tahn, we'll back her away from the dock and into the current. On my mark."

"Yes, Bahss."

***

"You know, I've told you multiple times to call me Kay," Kaden said. Tahn was working on a bit of bone, turning it into a very nice piece of scrimshaw. Here in one of the side channels, the current wasn't as strong and she could handle the boat by herself.

"No one in the muddy waters will call you Kay," Han replied. She set her pole and walked the length of her boat, twenty four steady steps, before lifting the pole slightly and walking forward again. "Only demons have a single syllable name."

"You have a single syllable name," Kaden replied. His unicorn was lying beside him. She whickered in agreement.

"Yes, and that's why half the people in this place think that I'm a iddi-yo." Set the pole again, and walk. Twenty-four beats. Unset the pole and head once more to the front. She only spoke on the return trip, when she wasn't using her strength to push. "Even I have a longer true name though."

"What is it?"

"Han is the only thing you'll ever get to call me," Han replied sharply. Kaden shook his head.

"No, no. I mean what is an iddi-yo? I've heard the term before but don't know what it is." Kaden laughed. "Strangely enough, I first heard it in reference to you."

"Not surprised." Han irritably shook her hair from her eyes. She'd have to stop soon and tie it back. "The iddi-yo is a demon that inhabits the swamps. They mostly prey on the towns, though they'll take a boater if they can. One side of their head looks like the most beautiful person in the world, while the other side is a horrible face with gaping jaws and sharp teeth. They only go by one syllable names, because something prevents them from saying their own name if it has more than one syllable. No one knows why."

"The iddi-yo can be either male or female. The females rule the males, make them wear their hair short so that people can see what they are. It keeps them from leaving their homes. The females hide what they are with long hair. That way people don't know what they are until it's too late." Han wiped sweat from her forehead. "Tahn, I need a break. Take over."

Obediently, Tahn put down the piece of bone he was carving and took the pole from her. Han sat down in the spot he'd just vacated. The wood was still vaguely warm. "So because you wear your hair long and ask people to call you by a name with one syllable, they think you're a demon?" Kaden asked. "That sounds kind of..."

"Ridiculous? It may seem so to you, but it makes sense to me," Han replied. "There are stories about iddi-yo luring people out of the safety of towns and onto boats by pretending to be a boater. I don't believe in them myself, but better safe than sorry. Many things can happen out on the muddy waters that seem unbelievable."

"Well, look at it this way. Being called a demon is a back-handed compliment. They are saying your pretty," Kaden said. Han snorted

"Sure." Han paused, finally digging in her pocket to find a hair tie. She put up her brown hair into a simple pony tail, ignoring the loose strands that escaped and tickled her face. "Do you have anything like the iddi-yo out towards the coast, Tahn?"

"No," Tahn replied. He set the pole in the water, took twenty-four steps, and then lifted it before replying. "We have our own demons though."