“When we arrived at the overlook,” Harun said, “Lieutenant Hall noticed that the grasses had been broken. He concluded that the king’s men had camped there recently.”

The faded red wallpaper of the Meeting Room glowed in the growing light of morning through the floor-to-ceiling windows. In twin chairs in front of the windows, Aadam and Huwaa’ Truslow sat in audience while Captain Harun Truslow and Lieutenant Severide Hall stood in their mustard-colored uniforms in the center of the room. Their colonel, Ronald Culver, stood by the northwest doorway with his hands behind him. Jeddy Ridvan sat in his usual chair in the corner, reading a book through his gray mane.

The fireplace had an array of cleaning tools scattered  around.

Aadam turned to his wife, a loose and graying black curl falling over his right eye. She set her lips together and brushed a red curl behind her ear.

“The king’s men,” she said. “On our ridge?”

“It seems problematic,” he said with a nod.

Both of them turned back to Harun.

“Captain Harun,” said Culver from the back of the room. “Hadn’t Captain Marlowe reached the overlook first?”

Harun’s face fell in annoyance. He straightened it, turned, and nodded at his superior.

“Yes, Coran’s section was at the overlook when we arrived. But, they hadn’t noticed the broken grass.”

“Coranobis,” Culver said. “We are in a formal setting.”

Aadam and Huwaa’ sat up in their chairs. Ridvan looked up from his book.

“Could it be,” Culver said, “that Captain Marlowe’s section trampled the grass before you arrived?”

Harun glanced at Severide and grinned. He suddenly appreciated his lieutenant’s instinct to keep the details in confidence.

“Captain Marlowe’s men were surprised by our observation,” Harun said. “And, after they marched off down the ridge road, Lieutenant Severide ordered two scouts down the Shenandoah side. They found the remains of the Shenandoah section who had broken the grass.”

Colonel Culver blinked and stood straight. Aadam and Huwaa’ leaned forward in their chairs. Ridvan closed his book.

“The remains?” Ridvan said.

Harun nodded.

“Decapitated. Their heads on stakes.”

Severide leaned forward. “The symbol of Cumber Six was drawn on the rocks in blood.”

“Who?” Culver said. “Who is Cumber Six?”

Ridvan set the book on the floor.

“He is a ramkin. One of the wild folk. A scientist.”

Harun turned back to his colonel.

“He’s a leader of the wild folk.”

“We think,” Severide said, turning his attention to the couple of Orange, “that this Cumber Six is sending a message to Shenandoah not to violate our truce. Not to ascend to the Blue Ridge.”

Aadam took a deep breath.

“This wild king knows we have a truce with Shenandoah?”

“They,” said Ridvan, “meaning the wild folk, have contact with human beings. Friendly relations at times. They share resources and news.”

“Jeddy Ridvan,” Huwaa’ said. “How can this be true? The wild folk are aberrations. Genetic monsters.”

“Even the jinn can be Muslim,” said Ridvan.

Huwaa’ nodded thoughtfully.

“Jeddy Ridvan is right,” said Harun. “We know that Orange men on the frontier trade goods with the wild folk. They must trade news as well. The wild folk have to know that the Shenandoans have agreed not to scout the ridge and that a violation of that agreement could only mean more Orange and Shenandoan soldiers fighting in wild folk lands on the border.”

“Coranobis,” Culver said, “has assured me that we have nothing to fear from these wild folk.”

“Has your nephew engaged them in combat?” asked Aadam.

Colonel Culver sent his hands behind his back.

“I do not have that information, Mr. Truslow.”

“The wild folk should not be engaged in combat,” Ridvan said, “if they are enforcing our truce with Shenandoah.”

Harun nodded.

“I agree.”

Severide looked up at the leading couple of Orange.

“I agree as well.”

A clattering noise came from the chimney. All eyes turned that way as a boy clambered out of the chute.

“I’m sorry, Jeddy and Teta,” the boy said, his ragged clothes stained with soot. “I tried to stay up there. It’s so much ash.”

Culver gestured angrily at the boy.

“Is this meeting not secure?”

Ridvan raised his hand toward the colonel.

“He is a trusted servant. He’s just cleaning the chimney.”

Harun glared at the boy.

“Benjamin, sir,” the boy muttered with eyes lowered.

Harun turned to Ridvan, his face tight.

“Jeddy, this boy is now privy to intelligence about Cumber Six.”

Ridvan nodded. “He can be trusted with that confidence. I have already discussed the ramkin with him.”

Aadam and Huwaa’ shared a look.

“I can be trusted,” Benjamin said. “I just clean chimneys, fix clocks, and check lightning rods. I don’t talk much to people.”

Huwaa’ looked at the boy with compassion and amusement.

“So you,” the lady said, “know about the wild folk?”

The boy blinked and looked at the hardwood floor.

“I know they are beautiful,” he said. “And that Cumber Six leads them and knows a lot.”

“He’s just a wood wizard,” Aadam said, waving his hand in the air.

“Yes, sir,” said Benjamin.

“He,” Ridvan said, “is also seeking the power to speak through the air.”

“Speaking through the air?” Culver said.

Huwaa’ leaned her head to the side.

“Jeddy, not this again.”

“If the wild folk learn this first,” the old man said, “we will be at a severe disadvantage.”

“We will?” said Culver.

Ridvan nodded.

“They could establish their own country on the mountain frontier.”

Harun stepped forward, but stopped when Aadam lowered his eyes.

“Jeddy Aadam,” Harun said. “Our men found footprints. Mostly ramkin, but also a few goatkin, and…”

He turned to Jeddy Ridvan.

“At least one lionkin.”

Ridvan sat back in his chair. The lionkin were thought to be largely confined to the Midwest, beyond the mountains, beyond the Shenandoah kingdom.

“Perhaps,” Severide said. “As many as five, based on sole scarring evident in the prints.”

“And several wolfkin,” Harun said. He felt the heat of victory rising in him. And admiration for his lieutenant. Severide had been correct in holding those facts in reserve.

“This wild king has lion men and wolves?” said Aadam.

“He does,” Harun said. He heard Colonel Culver huffing behind him.

“He also has many books,” Ridvan said, “with old tech in them. His advantage is growing.”

“We have thousands of books at Beauty House,” Aadam said with tight lips. “Literature from the United Times. Beauty House has the tales of Stephen King. Can this horned magician match that?”

Ridvan and Harun shared a look.

“King named a book It,” Huwaa’ said, grinning at Benjamin. “Can you imagine that, boy? A best-seller simply named It.”

The boy forced a smile and a nod to his lady.

“My son,” Ridvan said to Aadam, “radio technology could make the all the difference in our conflict with Shenandoah. And, against the grievers of the Union. We could literally talk through the air.”

Harun nodded. “God forbid that King Barladine get that power. Shenandoah would overrun us.”

Aadam waved his hand in the air. “Barladine is a crazy old man who believes in pagan gods.”

“A crazy old man,” Ridvan said, “who could soon hold the power to communicate through the air.”

“Jeddy,” Huwaa’ said, “those are surely just tales.”

“I am old enough to remember it. Taylor and Fayruz tried to secure it. We had this power, in the United Times. Before the Package. Shenandoah could recover it. Or Cumber Six.”

“Or,” Harun said, “the Union could gain it, and overrun all of the free lands.”

“The Union,” Huwaa’ said, “would see it as a scientific, imperialistic evil from the past.”

“They might,” Ridvan said. “They tend to overlook that ethos when it benefits them.”

Harun nodded. “We have seen increased incursions from the Carolinas. Both Roanoke and Tidewater have complained about Unionist raids.”

“Petty skirmishes,” Aadam said, “like Captain Coran’s with Albemarle.”

“Captain Coranobis,” Culver muttered.

“These things happen,” said Huwaa’.

Harun gritted his teeth. Benjamin noted this as he gathered his tools.

“Is the chimney up to use?” Ridvan asked.

Benjamin nodded. “It will be soon, Jeddy. Then, the residue will need scraping again at the New Year.”

“And,” Ridvan said, “what do you think about allowing our enemies the power of speaking through the air?”

Aadam huffed. “Father, this is a chimney sweep.”

“He also maintains our clocks and lightning rods. He has technical expertise.”

“He’s a tradesman,” Huwaa’ said, her eyes rolling. “He likely drinks ale.”

“I do, my lady,” Benjamin said, “but I prefer an aged bourbon or rum when I can afford it.”

Aadam frowned and nodded. “The boy does show taste beyond his station.”

Harun narrowed his eyes on Ridvan, his great-grandfather. “So, what does this servant boy think about allowing our enemies the power of speaking through the air?”

Ridvan nodded. Aadam and Huwaa’ nodded in unison. All eyes were on Benjamin Black.

“I, uh,” the boy said, still collecting his tools. “I think that… um… I think Orange should be first in all things.”

“A true Orange man,” said Aadam, slapping the arm of his chair.

“Indeed,” said Huwaa’, reaching affectionately toward her husband.

“So,” Ridvan said, “we should ensure that Orange is first in rediscovering radio technology.”

Aadam raised his hands in confusion. “Of course! Only a vile traitor would say otherwise!”

“Indeed!” said Huwaa’.

“So,” Harun said, “I should look into the wildfolk serving Cumber Six?”

“Of course, boy!” Aadam said. “Have you not been listening?”

“My apologies,” Harun said, with a frustrated glance at Ridvan. “My section of the Orange Company shall look further into it.”

“Yet,” muttered Culver.

“Do your duty,” Huwaa’ said to Harun.

“I shall,” Harun said, “my Teta.”

“Still,” said Culver.

“And let us remember,” said Aadam, “that we are superior to Shenandoah because they bow to a monarch while we in Orange have a government that represents all of the common interests. Muslim, Christian, and otherwise.”

“Well said, my love,” Huwaa’ nodded.

“My Jeddy and Teta,” said Culver. “Captain Coranobis has proved his section faster. Surely he should lead this effort?”

Aadam waved his hand.

“Coran was swift in moving but not in seeing.”

Culver sniffed. “As you say.”

Ridvan leaned forward in his chair. “So, we agree that seeking out this knowledge of radio is of paramount importance. Captain Harun and his section should seek it out, but also even the least of us. Even a servant like…”

He gestured toward the boy.

“Even a servant like young Benjamin should seek it out.”

“Everyone,” Huwaa’ said. Aadam nodded solemnly.

“I should, then,” said Ridvan, “like to speak with young Benjamin after the lord and lady of Orange have dismissed Captain Harun, Lieutenant Hall, and Colonel Culver.”

Harun nodded. Aadam and Huwaa’ nodded in imitation.

The three soldiers snapped to attention and filed out of the Meeting Room. Aadam and Huwaa’ sat nodding in their chairs.

“May I have the room?” Ridvan said.

The leading couple shared a look.

“Footmen!” Aadam said.

A quartet of turquoise uniformed guards marched into the room with stoic faces. Jeddy Aadam and Teta Huwaa’ stood from their chairs and strode toward the door between the guards, who followed them out with carefully ceremonial steps.

“Benjamin Black,” said Ridvan.

The boy looked up from his tools.

“Jeddy.”

“Are you actually done?”

The boy shook his head.

“I need maybe another half hour. I just thought my cleaning was less important than the captain’s report.”

“You were right,” Ridvan said. “But, the captain’s report is over now.”

Benjamin nodded. He started reorganizing his tools to continue the cleaning.

“Are you ready to take on these extra duties?”

Benjamin looked up at Jeddy Ridvan hesitantly. He nodded.

“Well, then,” the old man said. “You’ll need an assistant to fill in while you work for me.”

The boy stood tall, thinking. He nodded.

“I think I know who.”