Suddenly Milamber threw back his head and laughed, long and hard. In a moment tears were running down his cheeks. When he quieted, Hochopepa said, ‘I fail to see the humor.’
Milamber raised his hand in a placating gesture. ‘No offense was intended, my civilized friend. But surely you must see the irony of the situation. I was a slave, my life subject to the whim of others. For all my training, and advancement in station, I find that this fact has not been altered.’ He paused for a moment, and his smile was friendly. ‘Still, I would rather have you hold my life in your hands than my former overseer. That is what I find so funny.’
Hochopepa was startled by the answer, then he, too, started to laugh. ‘Many of our brothers pay little heed to the ancient teachings, but if you are familiar with our older philosophers, you will understand my meaning. You seem to be a man who has found his wal. I think we have an understanding, my barbaric friend. I think we have started well.’
Milamber studied Hochopepa. Without knowing the unconscious process whereby he reached the conclusion, he judged he had found an ally, and perhaps a friend. ‘I think so, as well. And I think you also a man who has found his wal.’
Feigning modesty, Hochopepa said, ‘I am but a simple man, too much a slave to pleasures of the flesh to have reached such a state of perfect centering.’ With a sigh he leaned forward and began to speak intently. ‘Listen to me well, Milamber. For all the reasons enumerated before, you are as much a weapon to be feared as a possible source of knowledge.
‘Tsurani are slaves to politics, as any student of the Game of the Council can attest; while we of the Assembly are reputed to be above such things, we have our own factions and infighting, not always settled in a peaceful, bloodless manner.
‘Many of our brothers are little more than superstitious peasants, distrusting that which is alien and unknown. From this day forward, you must bend yourself to one task. Stay peacefully hidden within your wal, and become Tsurani. To all outward appearances, you must become more Tsurani than anyone else in the Assembly. Is that understood?’
‘It is,’ Milamber said simply.
Hochopepa poured another cup of hot chocha each. ‘Be especially wary of the Warlord’s pets, Elgahar and Ergoran, and a reckless youngster named Tapek. Their master rankles at the progress of the war upon your former homeworld and is suspicious of the Assembly. Now that two of our brothers died in the last major campaign, fewer of our brothers are willing to lend further aid to that undertaking. The few magicians left within his faction are overtaxed, and it is rumored he will be unable to subdue any more of your world without a miracle. It would take a united High Council – which should happen when the Thun raiders become agriculturalists and poets, and not before – or a large number of Black Robes agreeing to do his bidding. The latter should occur about a year after the former, so you can see he is in a somewhat poor political situation. Warlords who fail in conducting war tend to fall from grace quickly.’ With a smile he added, ‘Of course, we of the Assembly are far above matters political.’ His tone turned serious once more. ‘You must face one thing: he may view you as a potential threat, either influencing others not to aid him, or openly opposing him from some deep-rooted sympathy for your former homeland. You are protected from his direct actions, but you still might run afoul of his pets. Some still blindly follow his lead.’
‘“The path of power is a path of turns within turns,”’ Milamber quoted.
Hochopepa nodded, a satisfied expression upon his face. His eyes seemed to glint. ‘That is Tsurani. You learn quickly.’
In the following weeks Milamber grew into the fullness of his new position, learning the responsibilities of his office. It was remarked on more than once, and occasionally with distrust, that there had been few who had demonstrated so much ability so soon after donning the black robe.
For all the changes in his existence, Milamber discovered many things were unchanged. With practice he discovered he still had untapped wells of power within, which could be called up only in times of stress. He studied to bring this wild augmentation of power under control, but with little success. He also discovered he was able to put aside the mental conditions placed upon him during training. He chose not to reveal this fact to anyone, not even Hochopepa. His reordering of these mental conditionings also regained him something else, a nearly overwhelming desire to be with Katala once again. He put aside that desire, to go to her at once and demand her release from the Lord of the Shinzawai, well within his ability now he was a Great One. He hesitated for fear of the reaction of the other magicians, and for fear her feelings might have changed toward him. Instead he plunged into his studies.
His time in the Assembly brought forth his true identity, as he had been told it would. This identity proved the key to his unusual mastery of the Greater Path. He was a being of both worlds, worlds bound together by the great rift. And for as long as those worlds stayed bound together, he drew power from both, twice the power available to others of the black robe. This knowledge revealed his true name, that name which could not be spoken lest it let another gain power over him. In the ancient Tsurani language, unused since the time of the Escape, it meant, ‘One who stands between worlds.’
• CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE •
Voyage
MARTIN WATCHED.
Motioning silently to his companions, they slipped through the wood line, just out of sight of those in the meadow. They could easily hear the shouts in the Tsurani camp as orders were given. Martin crouched low, so no hint of movement would betray their presence. Behind him scurried Garret and the former Tsurani slave, Charles. In the six years since the siege of Crydee, Charles had met Martin’s expectations, proving his loyalty and worth a dozen times. He had also become a passable woodsman, though he would never have Garret or Martin’s natural ease.
Whispering, Charles said, ‘Huntmaster, I mark many new banners.’
‘Where?’
Charles pointed to a spot near the farthest edge of the Tsurani camp. With the aid of the dwarves remaining in the high villages, Martin and his two companions had made the dangerous climb over the Grey Towers, easily passing the few Tsurani sentries left along the western edge of the valley, the flank thought least in need of vigilance. Now they were within a few hundred feet of the main Tsurani camp.
Garret let forth a nearly silent whistle. ‘The man has eyes like a falcon. I can barely see those banners.’
Charles said, ‘I only know what to look for.’
‘What do the new banners mean?’ asked Longbow.
‘Ill news, Huntmaster. Those are the house banners of families that were loyal to the Blue Wheel Party. At least when I was captured. They have been absent since the siege of Crydee. This can mean only another major shift in the High Council.’ He studied the Huntmaster’s face. ‘It tells us the Alliance for War is again restored. And next spring we can expect a major offensive.’
Martin motioned for them to move back into the woods. The trees were fully covered in fall colors, riots of red, gold, and brown. Moving quietly through fallen leaves, they found a sheltering stand of brush skirting an ancient oak and knelt behind it. Martin took out a small piece of dried beef and chewed it. The climb over the Grey Towers, even with the dwarves’ help, had taken its toll: they all were hungry, tired, and dirty. ‘Where are the new companies of soldiers?’ Martin asked.
‘They won’t bring them through this winter. They can stage outside the City of the Plains on Kelewan, at ease in a milder climate. They’ll move through the rift just before the spring thaw. By the time flowers are blooming in Princess Carline’s garden again, they’ll be marching.’
A high-pitched keening sound came from the north. Charles’s expression changed to one of controlled alarm. ‘Cho-ja!’ He glanced around, then pointed upward.
Martin nodded and made a stirrup with his hands. He boosted first Charles, then Garret, into the oak tree. Then he jumped, and they caught his hands and pulled him up.
Moving in
to the higher branches, they were motionless and had weapons ready when the cho-ja patrol came into view, passing beneath the tree. Six of the antlike creatures moved at steady pace; then the leader, marked by a crested helm of Tsurani make, motioned them to halt. He turned one way then another, then made commands in their high-pitched language. The other five spread out, and for nearly ten minutes the three men in the tree could hear them searching the area.
When they returned, they quickly formed up and moved off. When Martin was certain they were out of hearing range, he whispered, ‘What was that?’
‘They smelled us. My scent will have changed from all the Midkemian food I have eaten. They knew we were not Tsurani.’
Climbing down from the tree, Charles said, ‘Cho-ja cannot look easily upward, so they rarely do.’
Garret asked, ‘What if some of your former countrymen had been along?’
Charles shrugged. ‘The cho-ja would have been speaking Tsurani. Their language is almost impossible to learn, so no one tries.’
Martin said, ‘Will they be able to mark our trail?’
Charles said, ‘I don’t think so, but—’ He stopped as loud barking came from the Tsurani camp. ‘Dogs!’
Martin said, ‘They can track us. Come.’ He set out at a controlled run, back toward an ancient trail into the mountains, one almost completely overgrown and undiscovered by the Tsurani but used by Martin’s band to enter the valley.
For a few moments the three men loped through the woods, listening to the barking behind. Then the sound of the dogs changed, and barks became howls and baying. ‘They’ve gotten the scent,’ said Garret.
Martin only nodded and picked up the pace. They ran for another minute, the sound of the dogs steadily gaining on them, when Martin halted and grabbed at Garret’s arm to keep him from running past. With a signal, he changed directions away from the trail and led the others to a small stream. Entering the water, he said, ‘I remembered hearing this when we passed by before.’
The other two entered the water, and Martin said, ‘We gain only minutes. They’ll search up- and downstream.’
Garret said, ‘Which way?’
Martin said, ‘Downstream. They’ll search upstream first, as that’s the way out.’
Charles said, ‘Huntmaster, there’s another way.’ He quickly un-shouldered his backpack and removed a large pouch. He began sprinkling black powder up and down the shore of the stream where they had entered.
Garret felt his eyes tearing and blew hard through his nose to keep from sneezing. ‘Pepper!’
Charles said, ‘Mastercook Megar will be angry, but I thought we might need it. The cho-ja and the dogs will smell nothing for hours when they sniff around here.’
Martin nodded. ‘Upstream!’
The three men splashed through the water, then got into a quieter, steady rhythm. They were out of sight of the place where they entered when the baying of the dogs was interrupted by sneezes. Angry voices shouted commands, and frustrated replies were heard. Charles indulged himself in a faint smile as they continued to move through the water.
Finding a branch low enough over the stream, Martin boosted his companions out and climbed up after them. They moved along the tree until they found another branch of a nearby oak close enough to jump to.
They touched the ground again a dozen yards from the stream bank. Martin glanced around to ensure they were not seen and motioned for the others to follow as he led them back toward the Grey Towers.
Sea breezes swept the walls. Arutha looked out at the town of Crydee and the sea beyond, his brown hair ruffled by the wind. Patches of light and dark flashed across the landscape as high, fluffy clouds raced overhead. Arutha watched the distant horizon, taking in the vista of the Endless Sea whipped to a froth of whitecaps, as the noise of workmen restoring another building in the town blew by on the wind.
Another autumn visited Crydee, the eighth since the start of the war. Arutha considered it fortunate another spring and summer had passed without a major Tsurani offensive; still, he felt little cause for comfort. He was no longer a boy fresh to command, but a seasoned soldier. At twenty-seven years he had seen more conflict, and had made more decisions, than most men of the Kingdom knew in their lives. In his best judgment, he knew the Tsurani were slowly winning the war.
He let his mind drift a little, then shook himself out of his brooding. While no longer a moody boy, he still tended to let introspection overtake him. He found it best to keep busy and avoid such wasteful pastimes.
‘It is a short autumn.’
Arutha looked to his left and found Roland standing nearby. The Squire had caught the Prince lost in thought and had made his approach without detection. Arutha found himself irritated. He shrugged it off and said, ‘And a short winter will follow, Roland. And in the spring . . .’
‘What news of Longbow?’
Arutha balled a gloved fist and gently struck the stones of the wall, the slow, controlled gesture, a clear sign of his frustration. ‘I’ve regretted the need for his going a hundred times. Of the three, only Garret shows any sense of caution. That Charles is a Tsurani madman, consumed by honor, and Longbow is . . .’
‘Longbow,’ finished Roland.
‘I’ve never met a man who reveals so little of himself, Roland. If I live as long as an elf, I don’t think I’ll ever understand what makes him the way he is.’
Roland leaned against the cool stones of the wall and said, ‘Do you think they’re safe?’
Arutha returned his attention to the sea. ‘If any man in Crydee can crest the mountains into the Tsurani-held valley and get back, it is Martin. Still, I worry.’
Roland found the admission surprising. Like Martin, Arutha was not a man to reveal what he felt. Sensing the Prince’s deep trouble, Roland changed the topic. ‘I’ve a message from my father, Arutha.’
‘I was told there was a personal message among the dispatches from Tulan.’
‘Then you know Father’s calling me home.’
‘Yes. I’m sorry about the broken leg.’
‘Father was never much of a rider. It’s the second time he’s fallen from his horse and broken something. Last time, when I was little, it was his arm.’
‘It’s been a long time since you were home.’
Roland shrugged. ‘With the war, I felt little need to return. Most of the fighting’s been around here. And,’ he added with a grin, ‘there are other reasons to stay.’
Sharing the smile, Arutha said, ‘Have you told Carline yet?’
Roland lost his grin. ‘Not yet. I thought I’d wait until I’d arranged for a ship south.’ With the Brotherhood’s abandonment of the Green Heart, travel by land to the south was nearly impossible, for the Tsurani had cut off the roads to Carse and Tulan.
A shout from the tower caused them to turn. ‘Trackers approaching!’
Arutha squinted against the glare reflecting off the distant sea and could make out three figures trotting easily along the road. When they were close enough to be seen clearly, Arutha said, ‘Longbow.’ There was a note of relief in his voice.
Leaving the wall, Arutha descended the steps to the courtyard to wait for the Huntmaster and his men. Roland stood by his side as the three dusty men entered the gates of the castle. Both Garret and Charles remained silent as Martin said, ‘Greetings, Highness.’
‘Greetings, Martin. What news?’ asked the Prince.
Martin began to recount the facts unearthed at the Tsurani camp, and after a moment Arutha cut him off. ‘Better save your wind for the council, Martin. Roland, go gather Father Tully, Swordmaster Fannon, and Amos Trask, and bring them to the council hall.’
Roland hurried off, and Arutha said, ‘Charles and Garret are to come as well, Martin.’
Garret glanced at the former Tsurani slave, who shrugged. Both knew the long-anticipated hot meal would have to wait a little longer upon the Prince’s convenience.
Martin took the seat next to Amos Trask, while Charles and Garret remai
ned standing. The former sea captain nodded a greeting to Martin, as Arutha pulled out his own chair, as was his habit, ignoring most formalities when with his councillors. Amos had become an unofficial member of Arutha’s staff since the siege of the castle; he was an enterprising man of many unexpected skills.
Fannon sat to Arutha’s right. Since his wound, he had been content to accept Arutha as commander in Crydee and had sent a personal note to Lord Borric advising him so. The Duke had sent a reply ratifying the transfer of command, and Fannon had returned to his former role as adjutant. The Swordmaster seemed pleased with the situation.
Arutha said, ‘Martin has just returned from a mission of special importance. Martin, tell us what you’ve seen.’
Martin said, ‘We climbed the Grey Towers and entered the valley where the Tsurani have their headquarters.’
Fannon and Tully looked at the Huntmaster with surprise, while Amos Trask guffawed. ‘You toss aside a small saga in one sentence,’ said the seaman.
Martin ignored the comment and said, ‘I think it best to let Charles tell you what we saw.’
The former Tsurani slave’s voice held a note of concern. ‘From all signs, the Warlord will launch another major offensive next spring.’
Everyone in the room sat speechless, save Fannon. ‘How can you be sure? Are there new armies in his camp?’
Charles shook his head. ‘No, the new soldiers will not arrive until just before the first spring thaw. My former countrymen have little liking for your cold climate. They will stage during the winter months on my former homeworld. They’ll move through the rift just before the offensive.’
Even after five years, Fannon still had lingering doubts about Charles’s loyalty, though Longbow held none. ‘How, then,’ said the Swordmaster, ‘can you be certain there is to be an offensive? We’ve had none since the assault on Elvandar three years ago.’
The Riftwar Saga Page 57
