The town was called Mara. It was the oldest settlement on the island, consisting mostly of the ancestors of those who traveled on the first few ships that carried the refugees who had accompanied her grandfather from the mainland. Even at this time of the night, bright lights burned in the taverns and inns. Way beyond the town, she could see several fires burning in the plains. These were the watch fires of the various caravans or solitary travelers who waited for morning to enter the town. Some might be merchants or traders who brought their wares for sale, or perhaps messengers or other islanders from distant parts of the kingdom seeking an audience with the king.
She wondered what Alicia would do for those who wanted to see the king. Perhaps, she would sit on the throne as his representative. Alicia’s gift was of healing, but she was good with decision-making and had the patience of a saint. Over time, she had proven herself to be a valued advisor to their brother, and could make any decision in his stead.
Zo herself barely tolerated the nitty-gritty demands of administration and her only reaction to such duties, if Seve was ever foolish enough to fob them off on her, was impatience. Now, her brother was unable to do anything, much less annoy his sister by giving her any duties. An image of her brother as she last saw him popped up in her head; helpless, sick and teetering on the cusp of death.
She forced the image away from her mind. It wouldn’t do to lose her focus by worrying. Her mission was clear, and it was imperative she accomplished her goals on time. The flower of rosem was all she needed to bring her brother and sister back from the realm of death, and she would do it, whatever the cost.
A light breeze blew a cloud over the silvery visage of the moon. Guided by the twinkling light of the stars, they made their way off the mountain and on to the dusty road that forked into two branches, one that led into the town and the other that veered off towards the beach. Arkon led the way towards the beach, his horse galloping fearlessly now that the road was safer to travel. Soon, they left the perilous mountain lane behind.
This was the same road Zo traveled earlier in the night. She nudged her stallion slightly, encouraging it to keep pace with Arkon’s horse. Ria was holding up the rear. Soon, they came upon another fork in the road, and Arkon guided his stallion onto the narrow lane that led to the harbor. The horses now galloped fiercely, and to make matters easier, the cloud cover slid off the countenance of the moon, giving them a view of the nicely lit path ahead. Silvery moon beams showed the ruts in the lane carved by the wagons that traveled that way.
The biggest danger was if one of the horses thundered its way into a rut and broke a leg. The fall could prove to be fatal for the animal and its rider.
Zo muttered an incantation. The spell flew ahead, making their path safe for a fast passage. Now, they could continue their mad gallop towards the harbor without the danger of an injury.
The moon still shone luminously in the sky when they reached the sea. Leaving the horses with the harbor post, they walked on foot towards the cold rushing waves. Usually, Zo loved spending time at the shore, sitting and looking out in the distant horizon. Seeing the foamy waves pounding the sandy beach gave her a sense of peace and serenity. Tonight, her mind was elsewhere. The balmy smell of the ocean did little to calm her jittery nerves.
Without an exchange of words, they walked on the wooden ramp towards the sturdy boat anchored there.
“Ahoy,” Arkon called as they neared the vessel.
A man sat up from the gulley where he’d obviously been sleeping. “Step up,” his voice was gruff as he peered at them.
Arkon helped Zo and Ria, and then stepped on the boat.
The boatman suppressed a yawn, and bowed. “Princess, are you expecting more men to join you?”
“Just the three of us,” Zo said.
“Please sit,” he said. “We’ll cast off right away. I would rather be back here before morning than be stuck on that cursed shore.”
True to his words, he immediately undid the ropes that tied the boat to the ramp, and cast off into the restless ocean waves. Zo looked back as the boat pushed off the shore. She was leaving her home, and with her departure the blood oath her father had weaved would die an abrupt death. From now on, they would never be safe on the island.
Although her decision to break the blood oath was born out of necessity, Zo couldn’t shake off the feeling that one day they might long for the meager protection of the spell. That is, if they all lived to see that day.
For now, her priority was to save Seve and Alicia, and in order to do so she had to come back well in time.
She stared out into the distance, mentally reviewing the map Zima gave her. If they didn’t stop too often, it would take six days to reach the mountain of Ibarjan, one day to climb up the plateau and another to come down. If Zima was right, as she always most annoyingly was, the flower would be in bloom at that time. Coming back would take another six days. Although she’d told Alicia two weeks, Zo knew they would have to really push themselves to make it within that time.
Alicia would have to do her best to keep Seve alive. Zo wished she’d had the time to ward her sister with extra protection, but she would have to place her trust in Alicia's ability to protect herself. She was a competent mage, and surely she would take extra care knowing that if anything happened to her, their brother would also die in a heartbeat.
Zo loved both her siblings with an equal ferocity, and the mere thought of their death sent her into a mental frenzy. With effort, she pushed aside her fears and concentrated on the gentle rocking motion of the boat. It was important to rest her body and mind. Their journey would be long and hard, and she could not afford to let anxiety get the better of her.
She gazed at Arkon. He was sitting on the hard seat, one of his hands clenching the bench with a fierce intensity. His knuckles had turned white. “Are you afraid of the water, commander?”
“I don’t much like it,” he said.
Zo rolled her eyes. Why had Alicia burdened her with this man? If he was afraid of water, what else scared him? She didn’t have the time or the patience to nurse him through the journey. Get in, get the flower and come back. It was all she intended to do, and if the commander was unable to keep up with her agenda…well, then, she would be forced to desert him and continue on her own. He was a big boy, and would have to make the return journey on his own. She glanced at Ria. The healer sat hunched on her seat, her cloak pulled tight against her body. Zo hoped she had the stamina to keep up with the pace they would have to maintain if they intended to come back within the promised two weeks.
Turning her attention back to the ocean, Zo peered into the distant horizon where she hoped to see the mainland’s rocky outline. To the east lay the cliffs of Jibral. She knew the boatman would land them on the more accessible west shore, and from there they would have to traverse the terrain, keeping close to the cliffs until they reached the inland.
The gentle rocking motion of the vessel lulled her into a stupor. For a while, she dozed. Zo woke as Ria tapped her on the shoulder. Opening her bleary eyes, she looked up to see the looming cliffs. With each mighty and repetitive crash, the waves smashed against the cliffs and sprayed the water back into the mutinous sea.
“I was instructed to drop you off as close to the cliffs as possible. From here, the road will take you inland, skirting the main towns,” the boatman said as he stopped rowing.
Zo stood, her cloak bellowing in the wind as she inspected the terrain ahead. While she slept, the night had given way to dawn. The golden, warm rays soaked into her skin, rejuvenating her tired body. To their west, shadows danced on the jutting cliffs as night still clung obstinately to the gigantic rocks but to their east, the land was bathed in an early morning light, its contours still blurred in the dewy luminosity of the sun rays.
A lone man stood on the shore, awaiting their arrival. He was dressed in black clothes. Erob, she thought. He was the spy who would guide them henceforth.
Hefting her pack on her back, Zo jumpe
d into the cold water without hesitation. The boat was as near to the shore as possible. Any nearer and it ran into the danger of running aground. The icy water rose just under her knees as she waded through the choppy waves and made her way to the golden sand that lined the shore. This was the first time she was stepping on the mainland. It was a journey she’d never thought she would make. And here she was, standing on the very land from where her grandfather escaped to save his life from his greedy, over-ambitious brother.
“We’ll need to make camp and rest for a while,” Arkon said as they neared the shore.
“No, commander, we move on. We’ll rest after we’ve bought four horses,” she said, her gaze fixed on the man who waited for them.
As she drew near, Zo realized he was short. His head was at her shoulder level. He was entirely bald, and an earring dangled from his right earlobe. Standing perfectly still, he watched as they stepped closer to him.
He bowed. “Princess Zo, Erob at your service.” A mocking tone threaded through his words. “It’s an honor to serve you, as it was an honor to serve your brother and your father before him.”
Nonplussed, Zo frowned. “You served my father as a spy?”
He appeared to be in his mid-thirties. How long had he been in the crown’s service?
“I served the old king well,” he smiled. His face was lean and thin, his nose straight. In fact, he was a handsome man. If taller, he would’ve been a striking figure. “Commander Arkon, I wish I could say what a pleasure it is to meet you again, but alas…” He shook his head, his eyes twinkling merrily. “You don’t look so happy to see me. And who is this lovely lady?” He winked at Ria.
The healer smiled at him. “Ria. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
He bowed to her. “The pleasure is all mine."
“Do you know of a place where we can buy four horses?” said Arkon in a clipped tone.
“Ah, always straight to the business. No time to waste on dillydallying for the illustrious commander.” Erob grinned. “Yes, I know a village nearby. We might find some horses that are on sale.”
Arkon stepped towards the hard line of the cliffs. “Let’s move then.”
Erob exchanged an amused glance with Ria and followed the commander. Zo frowned at him. Erob wasn’t the kind of man she would have thought appropriate for a dangerous endeavor like spying. He looked far too careless and irresponsible. She hoped he would prove to be a reliable guide.
Trudging up the shore, they reached the shadowy cool of the cliffs and began to follow a rutted trail. Zo took out a piece of bread from her pack, and munched on it. She was hungry and tired, but rest wasn’t an option. They needed new mounts, and it was imperative to get to a stable and make the necessary purchase. It might have been possible to bring the animals, but she hadn’t wanted to waste extra time arranging for a bigger boat or trying to get the animals on the vessel and then keeping them soothed and calm during the journey.
As dawn gave way to mid-morning, Zo was happy to be in the shadow of the cliffs for they blocked the harsh sunlight and provided the travelers with shade. Without stopping, she took a few deep swallows from her water bag and passed it on to Ria. The healer already looked exhausted. Clearly, she wasn’t used to such harsh excursions. Neither was Zo, but her determination boosted her stamina. On the trail, they met no other travelers, and the four of them trudged along in a single file. Erob led the party, Zo and Ria were in the middle, and she was sure Arkon followed them to ensure their safety.
If the act made him feel useful, she didn’t have any objection.
As the afternoon sun beat down, they finally reached the outskirts of Ikanoma. The cliffs were now behind them. Zo paused at the sight of tilled land that extended far and wide. The fields indicated that this was fertile land, worked on by hardworking farmers. In the distance, they saw a number of farmhouses. Even during this harsh time of the day, entire families worked in the fields. From young to old, women and children were busy plowing the land, mulching, cleaning the irrigation ditches, or doing other chores that made up the everyday existence of farmers all over the land.
“Ahoy there,” Erob called as they neared a couple of old men sitting under the shade of an oak tree.
The men looked them up and down. Clearly, not many travelers came this way.
“Where’re you from?” one of the men asked. He was thin, old, and wrinkled, and his back was stooped with age.
Erob smiled, and squatted to sit with them. “I’m Erob. This is my sister Sun and her husband Arkon. And that’s my lovely wife Ria. We’re from Gouma, on our way to Jingabas, but my brother-in-law wanted to show his new bride the mighty cliffs of the ocean and hence we took a detour from the northern road.”
“That’s adding a good one week to your travels, boy,” the other man said. He was a bit healthier than the other, but was bald.
“Oh, they’re newly married and you know how men are with new brides.” Erob winked at the men.
“Ah! That explains it. New love!” The first fellow grinned. “It’ll fade away soon in the harsh reality of life.”
“Well, we were wondering if you could point us to a nearby stable. We wish to purchase horses. My sister’s tired of walking.”
The men shook their heads as if they thought his sister’s demands were a bit too much.
“Wealthy fellows you must be to afford mounts?” the thin one said.
“Oh, my brother-in-law has some hard-earned money and he doesn’t mind spending it, so who am I to argue?” Erob spread his hands. “We’ll probably be able to sell them off for a profit back in our hometown.”
“Well, follow this lane. See those farmhouses, beyond them is the main village. Ask anyone to direct you to Gwen’s tavern. She has got an attached stable where you might be able to find horses. As is her nature, though, she will try to fleece you over the price.”
“Thank you.” Erob stood.
“And be careful,” the fatter man warned them. “There are groups of filthy mages wandering around, catching people, and enlisting men in the army.” He spat on the ground. “You’re all strong and healthy. They would want you.”
“Thanks for the warning,” said Erob. He saluted the men. “We’ll keep to the less traveled roads.”
Briskly, he walked away from the men. The rest of them followed.
“Wife? Bride?” Zo muttered after they were out of earshot of the men. “Are you crazy?”
“Sorry, princess.” He didn’t sound contrite. “Had to make up a story since I didn’t want them to spread gossip about islanders.”
“What would happen if they know we’re not from the mainland?” Zo was annoyed at his callous behavior. If he really needed a cover story, couldn’t he have consulted her? How dare he assume she would go along with any old ruse he pulled?
They neared a ditch. Arkon stepped over and gave her a hand. Ignoring him, she jumped over the ditch herself. What did he think she was? An invalid?
Erob lifted his lips in a quirky smile as if amused by her rebellious behavior. “News has a way of traveling. It’s just better if you two pretend to be a couple…and us too.” He grinned at Ria. “It’s a plausible story. No one will believe that you agreed to marry me, princess. The commander…well, he looks strong and healthy. He’s certainly an eligible man for marriage. And my story’s good. Two young newly married couples, visiting their relatives…anyone would believe it.”
Zo huffed. She couldn’t quite believe the nerve of the man. “Why the hell can’t we be brothers and sisters?”
“You don’t look anything like me or him. And look at Ria…who would believe she is my sister?” Erob shook his head.
“No one would believe she agreed to marry you, either,” Arkon muttered as he pushed past Erob and walked ahead.
Zo shook her head. Annoying though he was, Erob did have a point. His was a believable cover story. She fumed, hating the necessary deception. “Fine, I’ll be his wife and your sister.”
“Thank you, princess.�
�� Erob bowed impishly as he walked.
Zo rolled her eyes. Ignoring him, she focused on their surroundings. The ripe smell of the earth intermingled with the heady perfume from the wild flowers that grew in clumps at the edges of the fields. They passed under a pair of mango trees. Green unripe mangoes hung from the laden branches. Zo longed to pluck a few, but the farmer’s young son who was digging a ditch not eight feet away glared at them menacingly. Zo discarded the idea, not wanting to draw attention to their party.
Soon they reached the village. It wasn’t much; a few farmhouses, a couple of shops, and a single narrow clapboard building that, Zo concluded, was the tavern. The building had likely seen better days. Its paint was peeling and half the windows were nailed shut. An adjoining stable looked deserted. As they entered the cool confines of the tavern, Zo breathed a sigh of relief. It was comforting to be out of the range of the harsh, unforgiving sun. A long bar ran the width of the room. Seven round tables, five chairs each, occupied the rest of the place. Half a cooked boar hung from a wooden beam that ran the length of the bar.
“That boar looks like it is a day old at least,” Ria commented as they made their way to the table nearest the bar and sat.
“Two days, but who’s counting?” An old lady came out of the kitchen behind the bar, and grinned at them. Her three front teeth were missing, and one of the surviving teeth was blackened. “Travelers are few and far between in these troubled times,” she said. “What are you lot doing here?”
Erob spun the same yarn he’d told the old men.
She looked at Zo, Ria, and Arkon, smiling slightly. “Hard to start a new life these days. What with the war on? But my best wishes to you all.”
Zo felt her cheeks reddening. She hated lies. “Thank you,” she muttered.
Beside her she felt Arkon shift slightly on his chair as if feeling uncomfortable with the whole situation. Ria was the only one who didn’t seem bothered with the entire fiasco.
The Demon Mages (The Power of Three Book 1) Page 5
