Sands of Nezza

by M. L. Forman

  “But Lazar’s soldiers may guard the paths over the mountains,” said Virgil. “What we need is a way across the mountains that Lazar does not know about.”

  “If he has any brains at all, he will know about every path there is,” Dain said, spitting on the ground.

  “There is an old path that he may not know,” said Rallian, a look of deep thought on his face. “My father told me about it when I was young. He once pointed out the peaks that the path led through.”

  “If your father knew, Lazar would know as well, wouldn’t he?” Virgil asked.

  “Lazar has never traveled much,” said Rallian. “My father told me that my uncle always preferred to stay in Karmus, close to the seat of power.”

  “But your father did not believe that Karmus was the seat of power,” said Alex.

  “My father was wise. He knew that a king’s power came from the people he ruled,” said Rallian, a touch of pride in his voice. “He knew that no true king would make slaves of his own people or put unneeded taxes on them for his own gain.”

  “You have learned well from your father,” said Alex. “If you can remember where the path is, we may be able to slip into Talbot’s kingdom without Lazar knowing about it.”

  “East,” said Rallian, looking toward the mountains. “The path should run along that large round mountain to our east, though finding the beginning of the path may be a problem.”

  “We will find it if it is there,” said Virgil, bowing to Rallian.

  They rode east, staying just outside of the pine forests as they went. They had to move slower because the ground was more uneven and many small streams flowed out of the mountains. Rallian rode in front beside Virgil, which pleased Alex. He thought it was a good sign that Rallian was learning to take command, and a better sign that he knew when to let Virgil make decisions. Stonebill continued his habit of flying ahead of the company to see what he could, and it was on one of his flights that he discovered the path Rallian had spoken of.

  “The path begins inside the trees,” Stonebill told Alex. “There is no one guarding the beginning of the path, and I saw no one along it as far as the round mountain.”

  Alex told the others what Stonebill had seen, and Rallian was obviously pleased that his memory had served him so well. With Stonebill’s information and guidance, it didn’t take them long to find the path.

  “We should rest here,” said Virgil, looking from Rallian to Alex. “The climb over the mountains will be a hard one, and both horses and men need rest.”

  “It will take several days to cross the mountains this far west,” said Rallian. “And even after we are over them, it will take at least ten or twelve more days to reach Lord Talbot’s castle.”

  “Rest now, and an early start tomorrow would be best, then,” said Alex, looking around at the pine forest.

  “You are troubled by the forest?” Virgil asked, following Alex’s gaze.

  “Remembering troubles past,” said Alex. “I think we are safe enough, at least for now.”

  Virgil and the other adventurers set up camp. That night as they ate, Rallian told them stories of his childhood. His father had often taken him on journeys to other kingdoms, hoping to teach him about all the lands of Nezza. Rallian always spoke of his father with great respect and pride, while also sounding sorry that his father was not here with them.

  “What can you tell us about Lord Talbot?” Alex asked Rallian after the prince had finished his stories.

  “A great deal,” said Rallian. “I can tell you about his family history and about the land he rules. I know that he has three children, that his wife died years ago, and that he has never remarried. What is it that you would like to know?”

  “I’m not sure,” said Alex. “I just thought it would be good to know something about him before we reach his lands.”

  “You think that he might be like Lazar,” said Rallian, frowning.

  “No,” said Alex. “I’m not sure what to think.”

  “I told you he is a noble lord,” said Rallian. “He sent Virgil and this company to rescue me. My father trusted him, so I’m sure that I can trust him as well.”

  “Then I will accept your belief and hope for the best,” said Alex.

  “Your concerns are well-founded, but I also believe that we can trust Lord Talbot,” said Virgil. “He did set up our adventure after all.”

  “How did he set it up?” Alex asked. “I’m sure he didn’t send a geeb to Mr. Clutter’s shop.”

  “No, not a geeb,” Virgil said. “He sent some of his people to Telous, just before Lord Bray put his soldiers all around the great arch. The men Talbot sent didn’t understand how adventures were arranged for, but Utmar Samuelson was able to explain things to them. I met with them when I accepted the position as leader for this adventure.”

  “Utmar Samuelson?” Alex asked.

  “He’s a traveling adventure salesman that I know,” said Virgil. “Not so well-known as Clutter, and he often takes on clients that don’t really understand how adventures work.”

  “Not the normal way things are done,” said Dain, shaking his head.

  “No, not exactly normal,” Virgil agreed. “But they seemed like honest men, and I could tell they needed help. It was their sincerity that convinced me to accept this adventure.”

  “Then I hope that Lord Talbot is as sincere as the men you met,” said Skeld with a smile. “But I wonder sometimes if you are not too kindhearted, Virgil.”

  “I have wondered that myself,” said Tom, grinning at Skeld. “After all, he chose you to join this adventure.”

  “And a lucky thing I did,” Virgil interrupted. “If not for Skeld’s friendship with Alex, this adventure would have come to a sad end weeks ago.”

  The talk around the fire soon died down. When the others rolled themselves in their blankets to sleep, Alex remained beside the fire. His body was tired, but his mind was busy with thoughts and ideas. Dain smiled at him from beside the fire but remained silent, a sign of his respect, and possibly fear.

  Alex let his thoughts wander, not really focusing on any single idea that came into his head. After a while, he felt his mind drifting and the fire in front of him seemed dimmer, which was a little odd. He looked at his friends, sleeping in their warm blankets, and for a moment he focused on Tom’s face. Tom was smiling in his sleep, remembering some happy time, or so Alex thought.

  The change happened in an instant. Alex knew he was still sitting beside the fire looking at Tom’s face, but now his mind was someplace else. He was standing on a pleasant gray-green hill, a warm light shining from behind him. At the bottom of the hill was a low stone wall, and beyond the wall the land was in shadows. He had been here before, but then he had a reason, now he didn’t know why he was here.

  Looking around, Alex saw Tom standing a short distance away. He was looking down at the wall and at the shadowlands beyond it. Alex realized he was in Tom’s dream and not really near the land of shadows or the wall between life and death.

  “Tom,” said Alex, walking up beside his friend.

  “Yes,” said Tom, his eyes fixed on the wall.

  “Why are you here, Tom?” Alex asked.

  “The oracle said I would find my answer in my oldest dream,” said Tom in a quiet voice. “This is the oldest dream I can remember, so I’m looking for my answer here.”

  “Why do you dream about the wall and the shadowlands beyond it?”

  “I used to dream myself here so I could talk to my brother on the other side of the wall,” said Tom.

  “An older brother?”

  “He died when I was six,” said Tom. “I thought the world would end, but it didn’t.”

  “How did your brother die?” Alex asked, his gaze turning from Tom to the wall below them.

  “He was sick for a long time,” said Tom, his voice choked with emotion. “A healer came, but he couldn’t help. When my father asked him to call Richard back from the wall, the healer would not. It was the only tim
e I’ve ever seen my father cry.”

  “Do you think the healer was wrong?”

  “I did at first,” said Tom, his eyes dropping to look at the ground. “But in my dreams, Richard told me that it was his time to cross the wall, and the healer would not have been able to call him back, even if he’d tried.”

  “You doubt what your brother said?”

  “It was only a dream. It was what I wanted to hear, even if it wasn’t true.”

  “And is this only a dream?”

  “Yes,” said Tom, looking at Alex for the first time. “You are only here because I am dreaming you here.”

  “You think dreams are not real, then,” said Alex.

  “They are not,” answered Tom, looking back to the wall.

  “Come,” said Alex. “I have your answer, and it is not wise to stay in this place for too long, even in dreams.” Alex reached out and touched Tom’s shoulder. There was a moment of darkness, and then he was sitting by the fire again.

  Tom’s eyes opened slightly, but he did not wake up.

  “Sleep,” Alex said in a soft voice.

  The next morning, Alex woke early, his mind clouded from his own dreams. He put his things away and sat by the fire, watching Tom. He knew what Tom had asked Tempe, and he also knew the answer to Tom’s question. But how could he let Tom know that he knew?

  Dain woke next and started building up the fire and preparing their breakfast. Virgil took Rallian to check on the horses, and Skeld got up slowly and went to look for water. Tom remained in his blankets, rolling over to get a little more sleep before breakfast was ready.

  When Tom woke up, he sat down next to the fire but didn’t look at Alex. “I dreamed of you,” he said in a quiet voice. “You came into my dreams last night and asked me questions.”

  “Yes,” said Alex. “And do you still think dreams are not real?”

  “How did you know?” asked Tom, looking up in surprise.

  “Because I was there, looking at the wall with you.”

  “But it was only a dream,” Tom protested.

  “Dreams are often more than they seem to be,” said Alex.

  “Then you know the answer to my question?” Tom asked hopefully.

  “The answer, and the question. Your question was harder to find than the answer, but I know both.”

  “Will you tell me the answer?” Tom asked, a desperate look on his face.

  “Are you sure you want to know?” Alex asked. “Answers are not always what we hope for, and having questions that are not answered is not always a bad thing.”

  “Tell me, please,” Tom begged.

  “Very well,” said Alex, taking a deep breath and looking into Tom’s face. “You do have some magical ability, but your magic is not what you think. You will not be a wizard. You will not follow the path of so-called greater magic.”

  “I had hoped,” Tom began, then broke off.

  “You have two gifts, Tom,” said Alex. “You have the gift of healing, and you have some magic as well.”

  “A healer? Me? But how? I know nothing of the healing arts.”

  “But you know how to get to the wall,” said Alex. “Not many can go there and return, even in their dreams.”

  “But—”

  “You have a gift for healing,” repeated Alex, his voice serious. “And some power as well. If you wish to use this gift, it must be trained. I know something of healing, and if you wish, I will teach you what I know while we travel together.”

  “Would you?” Tom asked, a hopeful tone returning to his voice. “I mean, I would like to learn. Can you teach me—” Tom started and then paused. “Can you teach me to go to the wall?”

  “Yes, I can,” said Alex. “But only when you are ready for that knowledge.”

  “Yes,” Tom agreed, nodding. “If you will teach me, I will do all that you say.”

  “I am not a master healer, but perhaps, when this adventure is over, I can help find you a teacher who knows more than I do.”

  “Would you?” Tom asked, sounding both grateful and pleased.

  “If Virgil agrees,” Alex promised. “Now, for your first lesson. You must let Virgil and the others know that you have these gifts.”

  “But I’m not trained,” Tom protested.

  “A gift, even an untrained one, is often of value,” said Alex with a smile. “And Virgil must agree before I can teach you, as he is your leader on this adventure.”

  “As you wish,” said Tom, bowing to Alex.

  “What are you two whispering about?” Dain questioned, breaking eggs into a large frying pan.

  “Tom has something to say,” answered Alex. “Something that the entire company should hear.”

  “Then it had better wait ’til after breakfast,” Dain said, looking from Alex to Tom.

  The others soon returned to camp, and Alex watched as Tom approached Virgil and whispered something to him. Virgil nodded, then sat down and accepted his breakfast from Dain. While they ate, Alex could see both Tom’s excitement and worry growing. Tom ate very little, and he looked almost relieved when Virgil stood up to address the company.

  “A moment, before we begin our day’s journey,” said Virgil. “Young Tom has an announcement.”

  “Not tired of the adventure already?” Skeld joked, but he stopped laughing as soon as he saw the look on Alex’s face.

  “I must tell you all that I have a gift,” Tom began, nervously looking at the ground. “Two gifts, I should say. I did not know what they were until this morning, when Master Taylor explained things to me.”

  “And what gifts do you have?” Virgil asked, his voice kind and encouraging.

  “Master Taylor tells me I have the gift of healing,” said Tom, still looking at his feet. “And that I have some magic as well.”

  “A great gift,” said Virgil, looking at Alex for confirmation.

  Alex nodded but said nothing.

  “Master Taylor has offered to train me as a healer, if you will agree to it,” Tom added.

  “It is not a little thing that you ask,” said Virgil. “To be trained as a healer is to take great responsibility. If Master Taylor is willing, however, I have no objections to your being trained.”

  Tom looked up for the first time since he’d begun to speak, a wide smile on his face. Virgil, Skeld, and Dain were all smiling as well.

  “Another moment, if you please,” said Alex, getting to his feet. “If I am to teach Tom the art of healing, I must take his oath now. I would ask you all to be witnesses.”

  “As you wish,” Virgil answered for the group.

  “Thomas Aquil,” Alex began, holding Tom’s gaze with his own. “You have the gift of healing and desire to be trained. I have agreed to be your first teacher, so I am your finder. As such, my honor will be linked to yours. As your honor grows, so will mine. If you ever use your gift for evil, your honor—and mine—will be diminished. If you diminish my honor, I will call you to account. Do accept this linking of our honors?”

  “I accept,” said Tom. “I will do as you teach me to do, and use my gift only for good.”

  “Then I ask all here to witness,” Alex said. “Thomas Aquil has accepted the linking of our honors. Will you all witness?”

  “We will witness,” four voices answered. Rallian spoke slowly but firmly.

  “So be it,” said Alex, holding out his hand toward Tom. “Take my hand in friendship and as a brother healer.”

  Tom moved forward and took Alex’s hand, bowing to him as he did so. Alex smiled and returned Tom’s bow.

  “Well then, Thomas the healer it shall be,” said Virgil, slapping Tom on the back. “A fine gift for any adventurer to have.”

  “And a fine teacher to learn from,” added Skeld, winking at Alex.

  “And a lot to learn,” said Tom.

  Virgil, Skeld, Dain, and Rallian all took turns congratulating Tom on his newfound gift.

  “Tempe said there was something special about him,” Stonebill said in Alex’s
ear.

  “Not to me she didn’t,” said Alex.

  “She knew you would find it when the time was right.”

  “Did Tempe tell you things about all of us?” Alex asked, looking at the raven on his shoulder.

  “A little about all and more about others,” said Stonebill. “Some things she told me; others I see for myself.”

  “Then you can do more than spy out the land and speak to animals?”

  “I see things that others do not, as you already know,” said Stonebill. “Tempe would say that I am a seer, but I do not understand what she means by that.”

  Alex continued to ride at the back of the group and lead the extra horses behind him. As they started to climb over the mountains, Tom rode beside him but did not ask any questions. Alex was still considering the best way to start teaching Tom about being a healer. He had never thought about teaching anyone before, and the idea was something he had to get used to. He had learned a great deal about healing on a previous adventure, and he thought he might try to teach Tom the same way that he had learned.

  When Virgil stopped them for their midday meal, Alex walked a short distance into the woods. He had decided to give Tom one of his own magic books so Tom could study on his own, but first he needed to make sure there was nothing too dangerous in the book. He had also decided that teaching Tom about plants and their use in healing would be a good place to start.

  Alex found a familiar plant as he walked and was happy to see it was in bloom. Picking a few of the flowers, he returned to the group with them in his hand. Tom looked at him expectantly.

  “Do you know what these are?” Alex asked, handing the flowers to Tom.

  “I’ve seen them before,” said Tom, studying the flowers. “In Barkia they are called sun maids, but I do not know if that is their correct name.”

  “Sun maids is one name for them, also day stars and midget lilies,” said Alex. “Do you know what they might be good for?”

  “Apart from being nice to look at, no,” answered Tom.

  “The flowers can be brewed into a tea,” Alex explained. “The tea will relax the mind and give the drinker a feeling of well-being. The leaves and stem of the plant can be chewed to relieve headaches and small pains.”