Page 37

Tobi shrugs. “I come from the world of mummers and players. I know many things can be created with trickery. But I do not much care whether Gods are real. Or demons. ”

“Perhaps that is the wisest view of them all. For my part, I am sworn to serve the ruler of Urynwud. And, as such, I worship whatever Gods he chooses. Sometimes I think my only true God is Urynwud itself. But with Irgo Lal and Emperor Erond matters of faith caused an impossible rift between them. Lal tried to find a way to show Erond that Zai and Diazuul could be one. There was a great storm in the Amber Forest. Some say the greatest storm any Solwen living could remember. It brought down several branches of Susal-ur-Bellan. From the largest branch, Lal had four statues carved. Two to be gifted to Emperor Erond. Statues of his God Zai carved from the wood of the sacred tree of Diazuul. And two to be kept here. But I don’t know if he ever received them.”

Tobi thinks. Statues of Zai. “Perhaps he did,” Tobi says. “I served as Selim’s page in his private shrine as a boy and although there is a great taboo against images of Zai, in that shrine there are two such statues. I always thought they were stone. Not wood.”

“Ah,” says Mereli leaning forward and holding out his staff, which is black and glossy, exactly as those statues were, “that is a property of the sacred wood of Susal-ur-Bellan. My staff is made from another of the branches that fell in that storm. The living tree is white, but the dead wood appears like a black stone. Some say this is because the tree is fae-touched.”

“And where are the other two?” says Tobi. “I have seen no such statues in Urynwud.”

Mereli shakes his head. “The other two are long gone. When Lal died his brother Vahul served as Harok’s regent for a time. Vahul said he’d had the statues sent to Ceruleum, as they were images of the Azurian God. But he may simply have had them destroyed. When he took the throne he wanted no trace of his brother in Urynwud. Anything that signified Lal’s ideas about moving the Forests of Amber closer to the Azurian Empire was prohibited. Vahul and Lal had very different views about such things”

Tobi nods. He wraps his hands tighter around his cup, enjoying its comforting warmth.

Comforting, up until the moment he takes a sip. The tea is so bitter he almost spits it out. He forces himself to swallow for the sake of politeness.

Mereli smiles warmly, “Ah, yes. Bark tea is something of an acquired taste.”

Clearly Tobi did not manage to hide his expression of shock at the taste of the tea.

Mereli continues, “I usually recommend that if you are new to it you add a generous amount of honey.”

Mereli nods to a lidded dish on the table. Tobi does not need encouragement to add honey to anything. He opens the dish and spoons a generous amount into his cup, when he sips the tea again, the bittersweet flavours blend into something quite delicious. “Oh,” he says, immediately taking another sip.

Mereli smiles at Tobi’s delighted expression. “There,” he says in his soft, wavering voice. “See?”

Tobi takes another long drink. The warm, sweet tea seems to bubble through him. “I’ve never tasted anything like it. It's making me quite…” He can’t explain, tailing off and shaking himself. The bark tea feels like it is opening up his mind, making him feel more awake and alive.

“I drink a cup every morning,” says Mereli. “I swear by its powers.”

Tobi drinks some more. “Do you think I would be allowed to drink it every morning too?”

“I see no reason why not.” says Mereli, appearing quite amused. “If you wish, I could arrange for an urn to be installed in your chamber. And stocked with tea and honey.”

“That would be allowed?”

Mereli shrugs, “Many people have them. Bark tea is a very popular drink among the Solwen of Urynwud. I know you do not have it in Azuria. Irgo Lal once suggested we try introducing it to the Rose Court. But, ah, that never quite happened.”

“How does it stay hot?”

“The urn has a small compartment for coals from the fire.”

Tobi takes another long sip. He has drunk more than half the cupful. He is already hoping he can have more. There are wonderful things in this forest. When the Imperial Army rescue him, Tobi could be the one to bring this bark tea to Attar and everyone will delight in it just as he does.

“So,” Mereli says, “You know of Alyse in Azuria?”

Tobi nods. “Yes. When I was young my mother was part of a troupe of travelling players in Fanost and they would sometimes perform the tale. It was a very popular story.”

“Really,” says Mereli, sounding quite amused. “All the way in Fanost?”

“Yes. My mother would play Alyse when she was younger. And I, her babe, sired by the King of the Amber Forest.”

Mereli raises an eyebrow. “So you played the part of Lymok?” he says.

Tobi frowns. “Lymok?”

“Alyse did indeed have a babe with a forest king. As I said, she later became kushir to Irgo Vahul after Lal’s death. Vahul took Alyse as his kushir. You ought to tell Lymok you know of his mother in Azuria. I’m sure he would be interested to find out more about her from you. As I expect you are realising, the Amber Forest is a strange place for an Azurian. Lymok has lived here all his life, but the circumstances of his birth can make life complicated for him. He clashes with Harok often. Or he used to when he sat on Harok’s council.”

“Lymok is part Azurian?” says Tobi, thinking that he will certainly track down Lymok again as soon as he can. These extra details about him are quite fascinating.