by Guy Antibes
Norra felt a rush of relief. “So Herran was right. Can you get us there?”
“You said maps? Did he leave them with you?”
“He left the important one.” Norra had to move through Cloud. “That feels good. I hope I didn’t poison you from the scum in the bathtub.”
“Oh no. I’m used to being called scum myself, you know.”
Norra narrowed her eyes. “Who calls you scum?”
“No one. Just joking.” Cloud laughed and floated above their heads.
“Here is the map. It’s a recent copy. The pass is here,” Norra pointed to the path that Herran had left along with his markings of the conical hills. “There are hills here that are shaped like cones or something. Herran thought they might have changed shape since Yulga made his map.”
“That’s the spot. The hills are now mounds and a village surrounds this spring,” Cloud said, as he floated back down to join them.
“Well, we don’t need Herran anyway,” Delia said.
Norra didn’t like Delia’s attitude. “We don’t know if we’ll need Herran or if we’ll need Cloud.” She turned to Cloud. “You certainly can’t be seen here, so what will you do?”
“Perhaps I can go back to Torell Port and see if that mage has made it into town. I’ll meet you at the village before the head of the trail to the pass or sooner if I spot you on the road. Paint three stripes on your canopy so I can spot you from above.”
Norra didn’t want him gone that long, but there was little Cloud could do. He confirmed everything that Herran said and at least that gave her some comfort that they could make it to Magia. They had their money and the wagon. Norra wouldn’t mind not having to ride, but the additional weight might slow the wagon. Perhaps Kendro might have an extra horse.
She walked over to the caravan master’s wagon. Kendro stood talking to a man in dark clothes. He must be the merchant, she thought.
“Norra. Just the person I was looking for. This man asked about you and now I can introduce you.”
The man turned and looked at Norra. He bowed and smiled and wore a forked beard. “ I do believe we met briefly before.”
~~~~
Chapter Eleven
Add Two, Lose One
~
Namen
The surprise on the young woman’s face gave Namen a measure of satisfaction. He waited for a moment until the panic left her.
“My name is Namen. I am a mage, but certainly you know that, don’t you?” He saw the fear, no, the horror in her eyes. “You are Norra?” He looked at Kendro for confirmation.
“That’s her. She’s one of two guards for Willa, the Queen of the Laputs.” Namen saw some merriment in Kendro’s eyes. Perhaps the auburn haired woman that confronted Bloggo performed the other role. My father’s beard, these are interesting women, he thought.
“What do you want?” She fingered the sword at her side.
“No spell?” Namen had a counter spell ready to keep his feet on the ground.
“No spell.” She said it and it sounded like she meant it.
“Is there some place we can talk?” He had to talk to this Norra before he continued. Such mystery, and in such a young body. He would have thought his adversary to be twice her age. She looked less than twenty and still a maid now that this second encounter was less… hectic.
“If you will excuse me.” Norra looked at Kendro. “Our guides have left us.”
“Herran, too? He was a bit drunk when I last saw him the night we arrived, but he’s not the kind of person to leave you without explanation.”
“Herran left a message with Gristan. He said he’d return, but Gristan didn’t know when,” Norra said.
So the women had lost a protector except for this Gristan, she talked about. Perhaps this would be an opportunity to get some questions answered. “I will protect them until the guide you know arrives, Master Kendro.”
“I need a horse, Kendro. Not a protector,” Norra said. She gave Namen a look out of the corner of her eye. The woman was rather scared of him, but obviously tried not to show it.
“I have a number of spare horses. Pick one.”
The woman eyed Namen. He could see her trying to find a way to evade him, but that wouldn’t work this time.
“Perhaps if you picked one out for me, it would save us both a great deal of time.”
The caravan master laughed. It seemed to Namen that laughter was the man’s mission in life. “May I join you?”
“Why not,” Kendro said as he led them to a makeshift corral on the other side of his wagon.
“I like the roan,” Kendro said. “Nice and placid.”
“If I may be so bold, Norra…” It was delicious to see her shrink when he said her name. “The black with the star on her forehead. She has good legs, but what is outstanding is her full chest. There is much wind in that mare.”
Kendro ground his teeth. The woman noticed his reaction and her eyes flashed. “How much for the black with a saddle.”
“A gold crown and four silvers since you are a friend of Herran’s, and that’s a good price.”
Norra looked at Namen, who nodded. She might know good advice when she sees it after all. He smiled and nodded back to her, satisfied that at least the slimmest of the bonds of trust might be forthcoming. That opened up many interesting avenues.
~
Lily
When she saw Namen walking behind Norra, Lily whipped out her sword. He held the reins of a black horse and that might keep him from throwing a spell at her.
Norra held up her hand intent on keeping any blood from being spilt. “This is the mage who has been looking for us.”
Lily peered at Namen and noticed his servant some paces behind, leading two horses.
“I’m ready to fight him.” Lily jumped off the wagon and faced the wizard.
“I am ready for you this time, woman, and attack me at your peril,” Bloggo said, whipping out his long knife.
“Put your sticker away, Blog,” Namen said and turned to Lily. “You know something of what we have done. Norra has told me in no uncertain terms what she thinks of it, and to some extent I agree with her.”
The mage nodded to Norra, which brought a scowl to Lily’s face and she wondered if the mage had enchanted her. Why did she send Cloud back to the city? It would be weeks before he would return and Gristan couldn’t help them at all with this man.
“You must believe me when I say, I hold no animosity for my injuries. It has been quite some time since someone has attacked me and lived. However, all of you are a special case. I remain intrigued at how I have not been able to catch up to you until now. I’ve followed you since Hiddington, when you showed your power and I’ve seen wizards killed, your auburn-haired friend captured,” he nodded at Lily, “ and the death of the little wizard. I saw the look on your face when he died. He must have been a good companion.”
Norra couldn’t hold back the tears welling in her eyes and that unexpectedly brought a tear to Lily. “The best of wizards,” Lily said.
“Ah, then it is good that I am not a wizard but a mage. There is hope for me yet. I was there just hours after you left Nastaly Port and you know all about Plover’s Beach. I’ll never forget it. But then there are other questions best left for another time.”
“Aren’t you just going to kill us?” Delia said, her hands to her bosom.
“No. I wish to learn more about you. I promise you I will not kill you and will not hand you over to the Nine Mages for slaves.” He looked at Norra. “If you have a truth charm, I will gladly submit to it.”
“But you are a mage.”
“I said I would submit to it.” He said it as if it meant something and his sincerity meant a great deal to Lily.
~
Norra
Norra had no idea what a truth charm was or how to perform one. If he meant them no harm in the short term and they continued on with the caravan, perhaps there might be some safety among the fifty or so wagons under Kendro’
s watch. In any event, Norra was powerless against this man from a magic standpoint now that all of the spells were forgotten once again. She clutched the handle of her sword. She knew that wizards were men and could be defeated with normal weapons, if caught unawares.
“Very well. You can join our group. We have food for you or you can eat with Kendro. We have purchased meal and water privileges for the two men who have deserted us. It can just as well be you two. There is another of our party who we expect to return in a few days. His name is Herran and he sells maps and acts as our guide.”
“Maps? I thought you were heading for the Pass. I thought you meant to enter Magia.”
“We do.” Norra took a deep breath, hoping her next statement was the right one. “We are going over Yulga’s Pass.”
“That is a myth and there are none among the Nine Mages who believe the pass exists.” Namen actually appeared shocked. So much he knows, Norra thought.
“I’ve seen Yulga’s map myself and the markings of the pass.”
“Yulga’s map? They disappeared long ago. It is rumored the new Ninth Mage has them. He wouldn’t sell them to some mapmaker.”
“Your wrong. A mapmaker in Torell Port has a few. I felt the magic. If you think we are mad, then perhaps you should find a different wagon or return to another country in Polda.”
“I really don’t need to return to Magia. My interests lie elsewhere. In fact, right now they lie right here. However, if you are going to enter Magia by way of Yulga’s Pass, I will go with you, just to prove to the Nine Mages that they do not know all of what is in the world.” His face went from disdain to amusement and then he laughed. It was a sincere full-bodied laugh, and without guile as far as Norra could tell. “Yes. I’m with you. This might be fun. There are wizards in this caravan, of course, and they will be able to see your light, Norra. If you don’t mind, I will change out of my robes and wear suitable traveling clothes for a guard and play out my part in this drama of your making. Between you and I, they’ll be a very confused lot.”
Norra could only feel amazement. She looked at Lily, who looked stunned by this man. She couldn’t detect any animosity in his voice or manner. Where was Gristan? She needed to talk to him.
“If you will excuse me there are matters I need to attend to. Matters left unseen by earthly eyes.” She gave a little laugh. “Perhaps you might want to chat to Lily and Delia, our Queen of Laput.” Norra left him with a bit of a smile. “And introduce your servant.” She said walking away.
“Gristan, where are you?” She tried to keep her voice down. “Gristan.”
“I walk at your side, Norra.”
“Were you there when the mage came?” Norra looked nervously and walked right through the inn from the entrance and out the back door from the kitchen. “I am so scared, I don’t know what to do.” She stopped and sat on a chopping block, folding her arms and moving back and forth.
“I believe you handled it as well as possible. He seems a bit distant and certainly has a practiced arrogance, but from this old ghost’s viewpoint, you could do worse for a guard than with that mage. He has a sense of irony and laughs at it. He is genuinely perplexed by your behavior and, it seems he has something to prove to you and to the Nine Mages about Yulga’s Pass which I find quite fascinating.”
“You’ll both have quite a time being fascinated with each other.” Norra groaned. “Where is Herran when I could use his help?”
“Undoubtedly you could use the young man’s assistance, but not against a mage of his caliber. As Cloud said, he’s the one going about Polda stopping these wizard battles on his own. Perhaps you can get him to answer that question as he wheedles answers out of you. He’s made it plain that he’s well aware of your power and it has so intrigued him that he has set aside his own personal quest to track you down.”
Norra stood, totally confused and feeling like a little girl who’s been caught doing something she didn’t know was wrong. She wanted to cry, a good old-fashioned cry-for-hours kind of cry, but couldn’t.
Why couldn’t she? Then Lily and Delia came into her mind and then Gristan, Cloud and finally Herran.
“Are you chafing against being our leader? I can see the tension in your body. You are fighting against yourself, again. I wish it were in my power to hug you, Norra. You need some physical reassurance. He materialized and put his hand to her cheek.
“I can feel you, Gristan.” Norra put her hand where she could barely feel the tingle of the ghost’s touch. “And I appreciate it. You’ve been such a comfort to me.” Norra could no longer hold back the tears.
“Me? I’m just a broken down old ghost.”
“You are a rod of iron that I grab onto, so I don’t go insane leading the others. I’m barely seventeen and I wish I didn’t have to do this by myself. “
“But you know you can’t.”
Norra sat up straight and wiped her face with her sleeve. “I know I can’t and it scares me. A lot more than you do.” She tried to laugh and couldn’t quite turn it from a sob. “But not as much as Namen.” At that she managed a smile. “Do you really think I can trust him?” Norra felt better as her thoughts turned back to her current dilemma.
“I do and it will be interesting to see how Cloud reacts. As I’ve thought more about that creature, I bet he’s a mage as well and not just a wizard.”
“Don’t confuse me further. I know about his spell, but I don’t want to think about two mages, fighting each other before our very eyes. I’ve seen what wizards can do, I’ve even acted like one.” She smiled weakly and realized that her crisis was over. “Cloud will return in a few weeks and we shall see what we shall see.”
“Good girl.” Gristan touched Norra’s hand and she could see him try to squeeze. “I’m always here and I amaze myself at that.” He put his hand to where his heart should be and gave Norra a deep bow.
~
The stars looked different in Taxia. Norra lay on a blanket outside by the wagon, looking up at the stars. They were in another dismal little town. Delia and Lily slept in the two tiny rooms left at the inn and two caravans lay up on either side of the river. A bridge separated them. Kendro’s men patrolled the perimeter of his own caravan.
Norra saw Namen at Kendro’s fire some distance away. She couldn’t tell him about her experience with the Master Mage, so she implied she was born with the power. It didn’t matter to her if he believed her or not.
“What’s your master like, Bloggo?”
Namen’s servant rose from his bedroll. “My brother. He’s not my master, although sometimes he acts like I’m his slave. I go along with it. He likes to use me like a servant, but it’s my job to keep Namen grounded. He’s absolutely brilliant, but he nearly burned himself out, literally. Wizards can do that, you know, when they try to rise to a mage’s power. I was there for him. I still am.”
“You love your brother, don’t you?”
Bloggo nodded in the dark. “I do. I’d protect him with my life but I don’t want to go back to Magia. I hate it there. Men,” Norra could sense him looking at her, “and women without sufficient magical power are treated like dirt for wizards to tread upon. That’s why we came out of Magia. When Namen saw the wizards destroying cities, trying to claim territory that the Nine Mages could reclaim with a snap of their finger, it made him angry and he vowed to stop them. He’s not impressed with mere wizards making life worse for others. It’s not their place.” Bloggo shook his head.
Norra was about to ask what kind of place wizards and mages should have when Lily ran up to her. “Delia’s gone!”
Norra ran around to the other side of the wagon to get her sword. “Bloggo, watch the wagon, I have to go to the inn.”
The man jumped up from his blankets. “Do I need to tell Namen?”
“Only if he comes back to the wagon or if someone tries to drive you away from here,” Norra said.
He stood up and rummaged around for the little sword he carried.
The two women ran back to
the Inn. Norra clutched the scabbard of her sword, and carried it in her hand as they went.
Norra couldn’t believe Delia would have left on her own accord. “Could she have gone out for a visit to the privy?”
“With a chamber pot in the room? She’s used it, I checked.” Lily made a face.
“What’s missing?” Norra began to look around the room. “Everything’s gone, even her fan. Slavers wouldn’t let her take any possessions would they?”
Lily shook her head. “No. I don’t think so.” She leaned over and examined the floor and Norra joined her. “What’s this?”
“A feather? She didn’t have anything with feathers on it,” Norra said examining it closely.
“It’s colored or dyed, I think. Maybe we should take this to Kendro. Is he still up?”
Norra rolled her eyes. “He and Namen have become good friends.”
“Like Herran?” Lily said. Norra wondered what kind of friends Kendro made. She wondered about Herran, who hadn’t come back yet. Although Bloggo was such a nice man, she still couldn’t quite think of Namen as trustworthy. She couldn’t help but frown.
“Sorry,” Lily headed out the door.
Bloggo had fallen asleep where they left him and Namen still sat with Kendro.
When they reached Kendro’s fire, both men stood.
“What’s the matter?” the caravan master said.
“This,” Lily handed the feather over to Kendro. “Delia’s gone.”
He smelled the feather. “This is from a native decoration. Southwest of here most likely.”
Namen put out his hand for the feather. He put it to his nose and sniffed. Norra vowed not to touch the feather again.
“Watch and let us see what the feather saw.”
He mumbled and then gestured. A picture appeared in the air. The feather seemed to be tied to a decoration on a belt as the picture was from waist height. Another man walked ahead. The images were dark and could barely be seen. A door opened and Delia sat up in bed. The man who bore the feather went to her. She grabbed at the man, and the feather fell to the floor. They could see one of the men quickly put a cloth to her face. She relaxed and it looked like she fell asleep. They tenderly laid her back on the bed, while they gathered up all of her belongings and bowed to her sleeping form before they picked her up and took her away.
