Read Online The Water Road by JD Byrne - Free Book Online

vital to my work over the past few years.” Jamil ignored the
introduction. Alban continued, “Jamil was a trade missionary from Kerkondala
back when I was a Sentinel. We met more than a few times on the roads. Or what
pass for roads in the Arbor.”
    “We were much younger then, were we
not?” Jamil said, with a jovial smile that quickly disappeared. “And perhaps
less prone to eccentricity.”
    Alban smiled and took a drink, as
if thrown back on his heels. “We were younger, Jamil, certainly,” he said,
after an awkward pause. “So what brings you back to Tolenor? What task has the
mayor given you?”
    Jamil launched into a discussion of
his trade mission, about which Antrey knew nothing and cared little. She stood
beside Alban and sipped her wine. As he spoke with Alban, Jamil kept his gaze
fixed on him alone. It was as if Antrey was not even there. This was a new
sensation for her. Usually her appearance caused strangers to gawk and follow
her through a room. She had come to terms with that years ago. Being treated
like a black hole, a nonentity that could simply be ignored, was more
difficult. She did her best to keep a calm façade for Alban’s benefit, at
least.
    Rather than pay attention to
Jamil’s story, Antrey studied Utka. She stood silently behind Jamil. Presumably
she knew all that Jamil was saying, yet she nodded as if hearing it for the
first time. After a few moments, she turned her gaze to Antrey. They said
nothing, but Antrey could sense some shared misery between them. Antrey was
roused from her thoughts by Alban’s hand on her shoulder.
    “It was good to see you again,
Jamil,” he said, turning to walk away. “Perhaps we can talk in a few days.”
    “That would be good. I might have
to ask you for some help, depending on how things turn out,” Jamil said.
    “Come by my office,” Alban said.
Without any other parting words, he and Antrey began to walk away.
    As they passed each other, Utka
reached out and grabbed Antrey’s arm. The two women paused, exchanged glances,
and then went their separate ways.
    “I apologize for that,” Alban said
as they wound their way around various clutches of people.
    “For what?” Antrey asked.
    “For Jamil. The way he treated you.
Or didn’t treat you, as the case may be. I can’t go so far as to call him a
good man, but he’s not a bad one. He isn’t the most enlightened of fellows,
however. Even within the Arbor. Try not to let it bother you.”
    “I really didn’t notice,” Antrey
said, lying. She appreciated Alban’s attempt to smooth things over, even if it
cost him little.
    They had almost reached the other
end of the room when Alban changed direction and intercepted a woman who had
just broken away from a small group. “Galenna!” Alban called out after her. She
stopped, turned, began to walk towards them, and greeted him with a smile.
    Antrey surveyed Galenna as she
approached. She looked to be about Alban’s age, with some cracks and wrinkles
evident on her face, which was dominated by bright black eyes that almost
overpowered the pale green of her skin. She was dressed in a formal military
uniform, pale yellow with hints of silver around the collar and cuffs. Although
Antrey did not recognize the insignia, she must be from the Guild. Telebrian
women were not part of the military. While some of the cities in the
Confederation had women fighters, they were more organized as irregulars or
ready militia. A professionally dressed military woman could only be from the
Guild.
    “Hello, Alban,” she said, greeting
him with outstretched hands. “How does the evening find you?”
    “It finds me well,” he said. “This
is my assistant, Antrey Ranbren. Antrey, this is Galenna, Master of the Guild
of Soldiers and the new member of the Grand Council from the Guilds.”
    “Pleased to meet you, councilor,”
Antrey said with a courteous nod.
    “Please, call me Galenna,” she said
to Antrey, before quickly shifting attention to Alban.