“Does it bother you that your neighbor might get to paradise before you?” shouted Azmet. “Do you care if he might get a more favored place than those who arrive later? Of course you do! The path to paradise is by believing in Abuud with all your heart. The steps to paradise are gained through your deeds in his name. The door to the most favored place of all is opened by your devotion to his prophet, me. It is through me that Abuud chooses those who will be selected to the most favored places in paradise. My words are the words of Abuud, the god of peace and harmony. Let no man among you ever doubt my word again. For to doubt my word is to spit in the face of Abuud.”
Azmet sneered as those followers who had been most vocal with their doubts about Azmet bowed their heads low when he looked at them. A shiver of excitement raced through Azmet as he felt the power of the followers in the room and beyond.
“This morning Abuud spoke to me again,” Azmet continued. “He told me it is time to enlarge his following here on this dismal plane. His instructions were to spread his message of peace and harmony, and to spread it far and wide. He told me that he was displeased that his followers had allowed some infidels to defile his last statue. He demanded that it never happen again. Do you know what it means to me when I must suffer with Abuud’s displeasure? Will any of you ever allow this new statue to be defiled?”
A few worshipers mumbled the word no, but Azmet was far from pleased with the response.
“Will any of you allow this statue to be defiled?” yelled Azmet.
“NO,” screamed the crowd of worshippers.
“That is better,” snarled Azmet. “The statue of Abuud is sacred. Each of your lives is to be given freely to protect it. The life of Abuud’s prophet is also sacred. Each of your lives is also pledged to ensure that no harm come to me. Do you understand?”
“YES,” shouted the multitude.
“Good,” Azmet continued. “Let me tell you what Abuud has ordered us to do. In the morning thousands of us will leave this city. One thousand of you will be chosen to remain here in Cleb. This city now belongs to Abuud and it will never be given back. The chosen leaders of this city will be charged with maintaining law and order in Cleb. The Kartaria law that has been given to us by Abuud will become the law of Cleb. It will be administered severely.”
“What of the rest of us, Prophet?” sang out a lone voice.
“The rest of us are going to descend upon Klandon,” smiled Azmet. “We are charged with bringing the laws of Kartaria to Klandon and beyond. The defilers of the statue of Abuud were from the city of Tagaret at the mouth of the Boulder River. Our task is to spread Abuud’s message of peace and harmony from Klandon down the Boulder River to Tagaret. It is because Tagaret is the home of the defilers that Abuud has ordered us to deliver his message there.”
Murmurs ran through the crowd of worshippers and Azmet smiled as he listened to their excitement.
“Enough talk for this day,” concluded Azmet. “Those who are chosen to remain in Cleb will be notified by the end of the day. The rest of you are to prepare to leave in the morning. The city of Klandon awaits Abuud’s message of peace and Harmony.”
Azmet turned and marched down the corridor to his office. The mage Lotfi was waiting for him.
“You did well at the Island of Storms, Lotfi,” nodded Azmet as he sat behind his desk. “Did you manage to destroy our little troublesome friends?”
“No,” admitted Lotfi, “although I am not sure why. I managed to strike one of them with a fireball, but somehow he managed to survive it. I have never seen that happen before.”
“Perhaps he was a mage and you struck his shield,” suggested Azmet. “I would believe that one of them must be a mage to have escaped our prison.”
“No,” Lotfi shook his head. “I am familiar with shields. The force of the fireball threw this lad to the ground, yet he stood again. I do not understand it.”
“The statue is the important thing,” declared Azmet. “It feels good to have the following back in line. The defilers will be dealt with when the opportunity avails itself.”
“There was another strange occurrence while we were in Lanoir,” reported Lotfi. “The Darkness fled for some reason. There are clear skies over Lanoir now.”
“I do not see how that matters to our plans,” shrugged Azmet.
“There are rumors that the tale about the Sword of Heavens is real,” added Lotfi. “If that sword does have some magical powers, it is possible that would explain the lad’s escape from my fireball.”
“And why does that concerns us?” asked Azmet. “We have the statue and soon we shall pillage his favored town of Tagaret.”
“It concerns us because we once held the Sword of Heavens,” smiled Lotfi. “If we could somehow regain possession of it, think how powerful we could be.”
“An excellent thought,” grinned Azmet. “You are a credit to Abuud, Lotfi. Remind me and I shall host a special prayer session for you and your men for their valiant deeds in returning the statue.”
“Most of the men died,” responded Lotfi. “I am afraid I only returned with two of them.”
“That would not be good to advertise,” frowned Azmet. “No matter. Rest assured that I appreciate your efforts. There appears to be no need for a special prayer session.”
* * *
Tedi yawned as he opened the door to the wagon and climbed down the stairs to sit on the log. He wondered where Rax was, but Natia interrupted his thoughts.
“Good morning,” sang Natia. “I have your tea for you.”
“No,” called Rax from the direction of the central campfire as Tedi reached for the cup of tea.
Tedi looked curiously at Rax as she hurried towards him, but Natia frowned.
“He always has morning tea,” scowled Natia. “What does it matter to you?”
“He told me that he preferred coffee,” answered Rax as she handed a hot cup to Tedi. “I troubled myself to get one for him. Why don’t you have the tea yourself, Natia?”
“I have already had my tea,” responded Natia. “I really think the tea is better for him.”
Rax looked at Tedi and frowned when she saw him sniffing the cup suspiciously.
“You know?” Rax asked Tedi.
Tedi just looked at Rax and smiled meekly. Natia’s head swung between Rax and Tedi as she tried to figure out what was going on.
“Drink your coffee,” sighed Rax. “It will do you no harm. I think it is time we all had a talk.”
“What is going on?” quizzed Natia. “Do you two have some type of sign language or am I interrupting a previous conversation?”
“Sit,” ordered Rax as she placed herself on the log next to Tedi. “If you are so lost as to what we are talking about, let me sum it up for you in a word. Wendalweed.”
“You know?” Natia bit her lip.
“Did you really expect that I would not?” scowled Rax. “Do you so quickly forget who taught you your lessons? What confuses me is how Tedi knew and how long he has known.”
“I have never heard of wendalweed,” Tedi said softly. “I did not know what it was called.”
“But you knew that Natia was drugging you?” questioned the old healer.
“I suspected,” nodded Tedi as tears began forming in Natia’s eyes. “I was not sure which of you was giving it to me, but you gave me the answer yesterday when you dumped the tea in the bushes.”
“You are a clever lad,” smiled Rax as Natia started crying. “Yet you were about to drink the tea from Natia again this morning. Why?”
Natia tried to rise and run off, but Rax placed her hand on Natia’s shoulder.
“This is not something that you can run away from, Natia,” scolded the healer. “You have been playing with this lad’s life. The least you can do is to hear what he thinks about it. You know that wendalweed is poisonous. He does not.”
Tedi gulped as he said, “I did not know that it was poisonous. I am glad that you intervened, Rax.”
“I was going to
stop it,” sobbed Natia. “You know I would never hurt him.”
“I do know that,” consoled Rax. “Yet I wondered if you would be able to stop when the time came. Do not forget that I was young once myself. I know the pain that you are going through. Love is not an easy emotion to handle.”
“But now he will have to leave,” sobbed Natia. “If Adan even lets him leave. Please don’t tell my brother.”
“Adan already knows,” smiled the healer. “Tedi’s belongings are under the wagon. Adan delivered them yesterday before he left.”
“Then he will not harm Tedi?” questioned Natia. “He will let him go freely?”
“He will,” confirmed Rax. “We talked about it yesterday and we both agreed that Tedi would never cause us harm. He is free to leave. My worry is about you. I had hoped that Adan would be back to talk to you before this all came out. You cannot up and leave your people. They need you.”
“Tedi needs me too,” sobbed Natia. “At least I hope he does,” she continued as she looked at Tedi.
Tedi put down his coffee and moved next to Natia. He put his arms around her and kissed her gently on her cheek.
“I do need you,” he said softly. “I love you. Still I know that your people depend upon you and your brother. I cannot ask you to leave your home.”
“You don’t have to ask,” Natia replied through her tears. “Adan is all these people need. I want to go with you.”
“Perhaps it is time to find out who you are, Tedi,” Rax interrupted. “Gypsies are a protective lot. They will not take kindly to someone running off with their princess.”
“Princess?” echoed Tedi. “I do not understand. I thought Adan was just the leader of the tribe, not royalty.”
“Gypsy royalty is not as formal as basta royalty,” explained Rax, “but it does have its similarities. That is something we can discuss after we learn more about you. How long have you known about the drug?”
“Only two days,” Tedi answered. “I was not really sure I was being drugged, but my morning memories tickled me. Two days ago, I did not drink my morning tea. When nobody was looking, I poured it out behind the log. Then yesterday you dumped it in the bushes. That only confirmed my suspicions.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” asked Natia. “Why hide the fact that you knew?”
“Because it was my excuse to stay,” confessed Tedi. “That and the fact that I no longer have anywhere to go.”
“You sure were in a hurry when you were captured,” interrupted Rax. “How can it be that you now have nowhere to go?”
“I have already spent too much time here,” explained Tedi. “I was in a hurry to catch up to the group I was supposed to be traveling with. I had directions to meet them in the Southern Mountains, but they would not have stayed there this long. I have no idea where they would be now.”
“Who is this group that you travel with?” asked Rax.
“A group of friends,” Tedi said hesitantly. “We are on a quest to restore the Sword of Heavens.”
“Can you just forget about this sword and stay with us?” asked Natia. “I am sure that I could talk Adan into letting you stay.”
“I would love to stay forever,” admitted Tedi, “but this quest is more important than my life. As soon as I find out where they have gone, I must leave and rejoin them. I have no choice.”
“What could be more important than us?” scowled Natia. “You said that you love me, but now you cannot wait to be free of me.”
“That is not true,” Tedi replied defensively. “I do want to stay, but you do not understand how important the Sword of Heavens is. The world depends upon us restoring it.”
“I have heard of this Sword of Heavens,” interjected Rax as she sipped at her own cup of coffee. “Why is it so important?”
“The Sword of Heavens is the key to the Ancient Prophecy,” explained Tedi. “Once it is restored, it will be used to kill the Dark One.”
Rax dropped her cup of coffee and yelped as some of the hot liquid landed on her foot. Tedi raced to help her, but she waved him away.
“The Ancient Prophecy,” gasped Rax. “Does it have anything to do with the clearing of the sky?”
“Yes,” nodded Tedi. “The Sword of Heavens is what causes the Darkness to flee. Each time a gem is found and restored to its hilt, the Darkness is pierced and destroyed for a great distance around.”
“And when was the last gem added?” queried Rax.
“Just a few days before I got here,” answered Tedi. “The Diamond of Edona was restored in Barouk. The group left for the Southern Mountains. I had to make a trip to Ongchi before I rejoined them. That is where I was heading when I ended up here.”
“And do you know this king who will bring back the sun and the moon?” probed the healer.
“He is my best friend,” smiled Tedi. “Arik and I grew up together in Lorgo. He is not the king yet though. He still has not taken the throne of Alcea.”
“Is this what Adan was telling us that night of the feast?” asked Natia as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“It is,” Rax nodded seriously. “It is what Ora predicted. This lad is on a serious mission, Natia. We cannot hold him from it.”
“It sounds like a mission serious enough for the gypsies to allow their princess to leave for,” grinned Natia. “We must tell Adan.”
“Was Ora married to Beka?” asked Tedi.
Rax looked quizzically at Tedi and nodded slowly, “How do you know of Ora and Beka? You are not a gypsy.”
“I know their daughter, Tanya,” replied Tedi. “Do you know where they are?”
“Ora had no daughters,” frowned the healer. “Only two sons.”
The sound of a loud bell split the air and Natia and Rax stiffened. They both jumped to their feet.
“Grab your weapons, basta,” ordered Rax. “The bell only rings for danger. Come to the central fire when you are ready for battle.”
“Do not call him basta,” complained Natia as she hurried off with Rax.
Tedi crawled under the wagon and found the wrapped bundle. He retrieved the bundle and slid out between the forest and the wagon. He swiftly removed the clothes that the gypsies had given him and put on his black suit. Next he strapped on his sword and quiver and attached his bow to its strap. He grabbed a dozen stars out of the bag and slid them into the pockets designed for them. Finally, he picked up his staff and headed for the campfire ring. He found Rax at the rear of the large circle of people, but there was no sign of Natia. Caroom stood in the center of the circle.
“We must pack up and leave immediately,” Caroom said loudly. “Lanoirian soldiers will be coming here to annihilate us.”
“How do you know this?” someone asked.
“Where is Adan?” asked a female voice.
“Adan was captured by the Lanoirians,” Caroom reported loudly. “He will not be coming back.”
“Where have they taken him?” questioned Natia.
“To the garrison in Lori,” answered Caroom. “They are sure to learn of our location from him. We cannot risk staying here any longer.”
“Adan would die before he ever told our location to the Lanoirians,” argued Natia. “We need to rescue him before they harm him.”
“Adan is just a man,” spat Caroom. “He will tell the Lanoirians what they want to know. Rescuing him is a fool’s mission. It cannot be done. We would not get within a thousand paces of Lori before we died.”
“We are not leaving our king in the hands of the enemy,” declared Natia. “Who is with me?”
“Nobody is with you,” snarled Caroom. “I am taking over as King of the Gypsies, and I will not sacrifice all of our people to save one man. Get these wagons loaded up and prepare to break camp.”
Tedi started to push his way through the crowd and Rax grabbed his arm.
“Do not be foolish, lover boy,” warned the healer. “Caroom will snap you like a twig. The best thing you can do for Natia is to get her away from here quickly.
Caroom will kill her to secure himself on the throne. It rightfully belongs to Natia now.”
“I will protect her,” vowed Tedi. “He will have to kill me to get to her.”
“He would be most glad to do so,” cautioned Rax. “He will try to get you to be her champion and fight you for the crown. Do not let him goad you into it. Take her and flee to your friends.”
Tedi shook off the healer’s hand and pushed his way through the crowd to Natia’s side.
“Your princess asked who among you will help rescue your king,” Tedi shouted. “I thought the gypsies were warriors, but I did not see any volunteers.”
“Are you volunteering?” laughed Caroom.
“I am,” Tedi said defiantly. “Who will join with us?”
“There is some wisdom in what Caroom says,” answered Terrik. “Adan would not want to spill the amount of gypsy blood required to free him. I know that is what his advice would be.”
“That may be old man,” spat Natia, “but Adan would also be the first one to volunteer for the mission if one of your lives was at stake.”
“Do not be harsh with my father,” retorted Mandal, who was a gypsy around Adan’s age. “You know his allegiance will always be with Adan, but he also knows the risks involved in entering a Lanoirian city. It is almost certain death for all of us. My brother, Hortice and I will volunteer. It is what we must do for Adan.”
“I do apologize, Terrik,” nodded Natia. “I know your loyalty well. I am upset over my brother’s predicament.”
“As you should be,” smiled the elder. “I do wish that you would reconsider. Caroom’s plan to move the camp makes sense in light of the danger.”
“Caroom does not lead the gypsies,” declared Natia as a throwing knife filled her hand. “Not while Adan lives, and not while I live.”
“Then perhaps it is time for a vote,” snarled Caroom as he picked up a large piece of wood from alongside the fire.
Tedi slid in front of Natia and held his staff with both hands. Caroom looked at him and laughed.
“It seems we have a champion for the princess,” smirked Caroom. “A basta at that. You don’t know how much I have looked forward to this moment. You should not have been allowed to live for one night in our presence.”
Dwarven Ruby Page 17
