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Ensin Andik Thawill stepped onto the gangway that led from the ship to the wood and stone pier. The harbor air was thick with aromas: the salt of the sea, the pungent scent of spices, and the smoke from the burning braziers along the pier.

Belur unfolded before him, alive with a mosaic of colors and shapes; tapering towers and palaces stood out against the pale sky. Near the harbor, flat-roofed houses mingled with hanging gardens and small fountains where water gurgled gently. Large arched doors adorned the warehouses, with saffron and purple fabrics hanging from the windowsills like the drapes of dancers, ready to seduce tourists and merchants.

He walked at a slow pace, out of fatigue, yes, but also out of the joy of getting used to the place. He knew little of the city, to be honest, and had always preferred the lands surrounding Urook to those ruled by Napur. But after weeks at sea, he had neither the desire nor the strength to be picky.

He slung the heavy bag over his shoulder and, after a final nod to the boat captain, set off. The most important pleasantries had been exchanged hours before, when the city had appeared over the horizon.

Andik also left behind a contingent of eight well-trained and highly efficient soldiers who could finally enjoy some rest.

"Ensin! Ensin Thawill, sir!"

Andik turned to meet Lieutenant Jaesh's gaze. His cheeks were burning, as always, and his eyes were wide with joy. "You really don't want to stay with us tonight? Just one more, sir, to celebrate the end of the mission!" Jaesh made his way through the sailors and soldiers until he jumped onto the gangplank. He almost lost his balance, giggling, and then joined him on the pier. He ran a hand through his thick black hair and gave a quick bow of respect. "I mean, we may not see each other again for weeks or months, right? The boys would be proud to buy you a drink." He gestured to a group of soldiers huddled near the gangplank, all pretending not to hear the conversation.

Andik couldn't help but smile. Five or six years younger than him, Jaesh was much taller and much more muscular.

And despite his size, he now looked like a rejected little boy. There was a note of melancholy in his voice that Andik appreciated.

"Didn't we say goodbye already?" He looked sideways at the lieutenant, feigning annoyance.

Jaesh nodded, staring at his boots. "Yes, sir."

Andik punched him lightly in the chest.

"Come here," he said, pulling the young man into a tight embrace. "Thank you, but I can't stay." He continued to hold him. "You have done well. Rest assured, those in charge will know." When he released him, he wasn't surprised to see a hint of emotion in the man's eyes.

"So you're going straight home?" asked Jaesh, coughing and puffing his chest.

Urook. Home. The capital of the Tutor Kingdom was far—too far away. Had he been free to choose, Andik would have left immediately. But after spending so much time patrolling the vast sea toward the rising sun, he had resigned himself to enduring long, excruciatingly boring hours in the presence of men infinitely more powerful than himself, all waiting to ask him important questions.

"Not as soon as I would like. In any case, you should know that your presence, and that of all the others," Andik said as he pointed to the other waiting soldiers, "has made this operation far more than bearable. I am glad to have met all of you. And I'm even happier to have brought you back safely to the ground."

Jaesh nodded again. He brought a clenched fist to his heart. "May the Iron Lords protect you, my lord."

"May they watch over you and your family, Lieutenant." Andik returned the gesture, patted him on the shoulder, and then turned on his heel.

They might have become friends in time.

But Andik was on a definite path that would soon lead him away from operations like this. Which was both good and bad, in a way. He tried to focus on the present without dwelling too much on missed opportunities.

There had to be someone to greet him, usually a couple of guards who would take care of his luggage and guide him to the nearest garrison. This was always the case. His superiors demanded thorough reports and did not like to wait.

There was no one there. That wasn't a good sign, but maybe he could wait a little longer before getting really worried. He wandered among peddlers proudly carrying their wares in ornate baskets and local sailors unloading crates of exotic fruit and bundles of fragrant wood. In the shadows of the crowd, he caught a brief glimpse of city guards in their armor, which seemed to be tinted emerald green, the ancient color that represented Napur and all cities loyal to the Nurturers.

As he made his way through the crowd, Andik lifted his gaze to the upper part of the city, where grand bridges spanned the waterways that made it so unique. He would have liked to take some time to explore, especially the city center, where the Lugalen’s mansion towered.

A light touch on his shoulder made him turn away. The woman's face was partially hidden by the hood of the dark cloak, but he recognized her immediately.

"I can't believe I caught the great Ensin Thawill off guard. Were you really not expecting me?" she asked with a smile that did not soften her gaze.

Andik crossed his arms and studied her. "And why should I have? Acutes don't usually deal with situations like this. They have better things to do. Spy on some rich merchant or kill another in his sleep. High stakes business, in short." He raised his eyebrows and feigned fear. "Or are you here to slit my throat?" And almost immediately he regretted being so blunt. After all, Vinna did not deserve such suspicion. But perhaps the lack of sleep had clouded his mind.

She chuckled and lowered her hood, revealing her short, honey-colored hair, which contrasted with her dark clothing. "Maybe next time. And I swear, if the burden of bringing you down falls on my shoulders, I'll make it fun, Ensin." She watched him for a moment, sideways, still smiling. The small tattoo on her right cheek seemed to light up at that expression. "I don't like it."

"What?"

"The color of your hair."

Andik instinctively ran his hand over his hair, which was gathered into a tail. It had grown very long during the journey, and the sun had lightened the deep red of the tips until they were almost blond.

He shrugged. The color of his hair, his light skin, and the freckles that dotted it were unique, more than rare, in Urook, and even more so in the rest of Kenjir. These features usually fascinated the women and provided an excellent topic of conversation, often leading to fiery nights.

It had happened with Vinna, too.

"You must come with me," she said, taking his elbow.

He narrowed his eyes, examining her with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity, but did not move. "Am I supposed to follow you blindly?"

"The usual paranoid. I won't hurt you. This time."

Andik raised an eyebrow, pretending to ignore the implied tone of her words. "I'm tired, Vinna. I've been traveling a long time and tonight I just want to rest on a bed that doesn't sway."

She stood impassively. "We are wasting time. Your Marzouq sent me."

When Andik heard that name, he tensed.

Vao Marzouq, the Great Ensin in charge of the entire Red Army, was asking for him? He was silent for a moment before he gave up with a sigh. "I surrender. Lead the way."

The smile on the woman's face widened.

Vinna knew how to move inconspicuously through the crowd and didn't seem to care if Andik could keep up.

He wasn't quite sure if he could trust her, especially under these circumstances. He planned to ask her some uncomfortable questions soon. Trust might come later, but only if her answers seemed reasonable to him.

They crossed narrow streets animated by intense voices and smells. The aroma of spices mixed with the thick scent of olives and figs left in the sun. In one corner, smoke from a censer rose in lazy coils, covering the street in a thick veil. Before them, children chased each other, their laughter echoing off the stone.

They finally arrived in front of a white stone palace, its facade decorated with exquisite carvings: geometric symbols and small animals immortalized in a motionless run.

Vinna paused, gave a quick nod toward the narrow stone staircase, then climbed it at a brisk pace. On the third floor, she pushed open a heavy inlaid wooden door.

The apartment reflected a studied elegance, suspended between restraint and luxury. The walls, plastered in a soft ochre, were decorated with tapestries depicting hunting scenes and journeys to distant lands. The afternoon light filtered through the dark silk curtains, casting a golden glow on a carpet of intricate designs and deep colors of ruby and midnight blue.

Scattered here and there were small dark wooden tables on which rested bowls of dried fruit and colored glass cruets sealed with gold stoppers. A bookcase, filled with parchments and books with worn leather covers, took up an entire wall, and the ancient smell of ink and paper hung in the air.

Every nook and cranny seemed to tell of stories never told, of secrets kept under lock and key, as if the apartment itself was complicit in the mystery surrounding the woman and her work.

Andik glanced across the small terrace bordered by a wrought-iron railing that opened onto the vast rooftops of the lower city. Above them, the sky was a deep blue sea.

Vinna removed her short cloak and pointed to a corner near the front door. "You can leave your luggage there."

"I don't think I'll be staying long."

She turned and placed a hand on her hip as she studied him from head to toe. "You are rude. Have your travels made you forget who your friends are and who are not?"

Andik shook his head. "No. But you have to admit, at least, this is at least unusual."

Vinna shrugged. "I'm just following orders. And I need a drink. Just stand there if you want. Or go, but I have to do my part first," she chuckled.

With a sigh, Andik slipped off his bag and cloak and sat down on the green linen cushions on the floor while Vinna poured an amber liquid into two glass cups. She handed one to him.

They drank in silence for some time.

Andik watched the city of Belur that stretched out beyond the terrace. Although it was still winter, the weather there was already warming up, while Urook was surely still cold. Suddenly this place did not seem so attractive to him, maybe because of the way Vinna danced around the truth. Or maybe because he just hated surprises.

"Well?" Vinna asked, looking at him from over the edge of the glass, "What news of the rising sun?"

Andik decided to suppress the instinct to lash out.

"The masters bless us. No threat in sight. The borders beyond the Peaks and at the foot of Napur are well protected. And there is no sign of invasion from the seafaring peoples." The thought did indeed help him find some serenity.

Like many of his colleagues, Andik spent several months each year guarding the borders of Kenjir. There had been no real conflicts with other major nations since long before Negus Aabar came to power thirty-three years earlier. His reign had been one of peace and prosperity. The only real headaches had been caused by the Lugalens and their families, who were constantly competing with each other and seeking greater power. Even the merchants of the Covenant Guild had learned to keep a low profile.

Vinna nodded and took a last sip, clucking her tongue. "Now my heart is at peace."

"How much longer will you make me wait?"

"The bare minimum, Ensin. I must say, though, I’m disappointed. There was a time when you would have seized an opportunity like this to indulge in far more pleasurable pastimes," she continued with a bitter line on her lips, then silenced Andik, who had felt his pride stung, by raising her hands.

"You're right, you're right. It was a lifetime ago. We were different people." Vinna stood and walked over to a light wooden cabinet. She opened a door with a key she wore around her neck and pulled out a small red alabaster cylinder. Then she turned to him and held it in the open palm of her right hand.

"Grand Ensin Vao Marzouq sends you a message. For your eyes only." She twisted the two ends of the cylinder until it split in two. One of the two halves had a tip as sharp as a needle. "Give me your left hand," she ordered in a low voice, tilting her head.

Andik hesitated.

He had heard of these tools, Sacred Artifacts created with the power of the Masters, but he had never seen one. They were said to be used mostly by agents like Vinna, men and women who cloaked themselves in secrecy to carry information.

She raised an eyebrow. "I have no desire to poison or harm you. And if I didn’t know you so well, I might even be offended by such suspicion." She pointed the needle at her right wrist and made a short incision, leaving a thin trail of blood. "Instead, I will simply do my duty, as always. So?"

Andik watched her in silence, clenching his jaw. The device must have been designed to react to Andik's body and deliver its message to him alone. With her gesture, Vinna tried to dispel his doubts. But the truth, which they both knew, was that she might have been trained to resist certain kinds of poisons. So what she had done remained mostly a symbolic act, a demonstration that she was putting aside pride and resentment at the way he treated her in favor of duty.

Andik inhaled slowly.

Finally, he decided to hold out his left hand.

She wiped the tip of the Artifact on the fabric of her sleeve and then bent down to prick his finger.

The heat was immediate and took Andik by surprise.

Vinna took a step back. "The message will only be visible for a few moments. Read it carefully and keep it in mind. I will wait for you on the terrace." She walked swiftly to the large door, pushed aside one of the curtains that had been stirred by a light breeze, and stepped out.

Andik followed her out of the corner of his eye, but kept his attention on the palm of his hand, which was glowing brighter and brighter. Then he saw the skin light up like a thousand angry fireflies.

Soon after, words appeared, flickering. They became clearer.

Ensin Andik Thawill, Tutor of the Red Army,

I hope this letter finds you well. I understand that you are returning from a long and arduous journey, and I imagine that you seek nothing more at this time than a well-deserved rest.

However, I must urgently request your presence.

A few hours ago, I received news of a deeply disturbing incident with potentially dangerous ramifications. The daughter of a Napuri Lugalen was found lifeless in Urookite territory. Your mission is to determine the details of this event and to manage communication with the family.

I grant you full decision-making authority, trusting in your unwavering devotion to our masters, the Master Tutors. It is imperative that this matter be handled with the utmost speed and discretion to avoid causing a stir.

Ensin Thawill, Andik, I appeal to you as a personal favor.

Act with a light foot and a strong hand.

I assure you that your service will not go unrewarded.

Just as Vinna had said, the message disappeared as soon as it was read.

Andik wrinkled his eyebrows as he stood up, feeling a knot of fear tighten in his chest. He had only met the Great Ensin a few times and knew that he had been close friends with his grandparents and parents. But he wasn't sure if that bond was strong enough to create the level of trust necessary for such a request.

A personal favor.

The more he thought about what he knew, the less he liked it.

Vinna returned a moment later.

"Bad news? No, forgive me, I shouldn't have asked. Anyway, I'm not done with you yet."

"What does that mean?"

She ran a hand through her short hair and turned toward the terrace. "Marzouq required unconventional transportation."

Andik narrowed his eyes as he realized what she was referring to and stepped out onto the terrace. A creature was flying through the sky above Belur.

He smiled as he admired the grace and power of the large bird of prey.

"Have you ever flown on one of these?" asked Vinna, standing at his side.

He shook his head.

"You will like it. But you'll have to hold on tight. Scarlet Lanners are fickle beasts."

Andik turned to her. "Forgive me, Vinna."

She looked up at him, and for the first time that day, a soft light flashed in her eyes, a warmth he knew well. "For being rude, gruff and cold?"

He nodded. "Tiredness overcame common sense. You deserve better."

"I'm painfully aware of that." She caressed his shoulder. "Sooner or later you'll find a way to make it up to me, I'm sure."

Andik held her gaze, wondering, not for the first time, if their past relationship had been a mistake or a missed opportunity. He put his hand on Vinna's and squeezed it gently. "Will we see each other again?"

She smiled. "Sooner than you think."

Andik pulled her into a hug. "You are my favorite spy."

"I know more attractive Ensins."

"Now you're the rude one."

Vinna took a step back, ran a hand through her hair, and looked at him as if she were about to add more. Instead, she went back to watching the raptor, which was approaching, huge and fast. "I have a bad feeling about this. Come and find me when this story, whatever it is, is over. Promise me you'll be careful, Andik."

He nodded.

There were a lot of things he wanted to tell her. For example, that he had the same fears. But he remained silent, waiting for his passage to Urook, thinking about secrets, lies and omens of doom.

Andik held on tightly to the Tamer who was riding the huge raptor. After hours of flying, every muscle in his body ached relentlessly. He felt pain even in parts of his body he had always ignored. The lingering fatigue from the sea voyage only made the journey more unbearable.

A few hours earlier, the Tamer's recommendations had seemed useless.

"The saddle is not designed for two passengers. You will have to hold on to me, Ensin, with all your might. I will do my best to make the flight fast and safe. But it will be uncomfortable, I'm afraid, especially as time is clearly running short." The man, whose face was covered by a Lethenium mask, had apologized.

"I understand, Tamer, and I thank you."

So Andik had bitten his tongue and avoided pointing out that he, an Ensin, knew how to use a saddle properly and also how to share it. Riding one of these beasts could not be that different from mastering a warhorse, right? Wrong.

And he wasn't sure how much longer he could hold out before he begged the Tamer to give him a break from this torture.

He tried to distract himself by watching the Crimson Desert below them, even though the raptor was so fast that it was difficult to see clearly.

Now that sunset was approaching, the sand and rock formations that dominated that endless expanse were tinted a deep, almost ominous red. It was a sight that never ceased to amaze him.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he finally caught sight of Urook. Towers and palaces with red stone walls, carved by the gods, dominated the horizon. The polished iron and slender silhouettes of the bridges suspended between the tallest coils glowed in the rays of the waning sun. In the center, like the blazing flame of a huge hearth, stood the ziggurat. Its towering terraces and staircases rose to the sky, defying the laws of the land and the passage of days.

The Tamer urged the Scarlet Lanner to paint great circles on the outskirts of the city. Even from up there, they were not much to look at, and contrasted with the wonders of the areas closer to the Ziggurat. But they remained far more livable than the outskirts of Napur or Larsa.

They touched the ground, kicking up dust and dirt in a large stretch of wasteland near a neighborhood that was anything but wealthy; the maze of low, flat-roofed houses not far away was shrouded in an air heavy with smoke and the smell of stale spices.

Andik slid down from the saddle, suppressing the foolish desire to kiss the ground. His feet sank into the dusty ground as the bird of prey still flapped its wings and uttered an uneasy cry.

The Tamer dismounted immediately, stroked the Lanner's neck and whispered something in a language Andik did not understand. Then he turned back to him. "It was an honor, Ensin. Give my regards to our beautiful city."

"You will not stay?"

The man shook his head. The mask, mirror-like and finely inlaid, with large eyes and features similar to those of his bird of prey, glowed in the red light of the sunset. "My services are needed elsewhere."

Andik understood. He didn't know the Tamer's name, and the Tamer didn't know his. Both had accepted the unspoken agreement that governed such situations: the less they knew about each other, the better.

The man climbed back onto the lanner's back, snapped the reins, and let out a low, barely audible whistle. Nodding, he bade Andik goodbye with a light fist to his heart.

Then the raptor spread its wings wide and flapped them vigorously, raising a cloud of dust that escaped into the sky. The two of them took to the air and projected toward the first stars that began to claim the firmament.