"I know what you're here for, I only wish I could help you."
"The cure isn't ready,? Mr.–?"
"I'm Idobe, and we don't have anything like a cure. Nothing we've attempted so far has had any effect on virus. It's like nothing we've ever seen before."
"Any clue as to origin?"
"No, my people are starting to believe it is from off-world."
"What?" Rasha couldn't hide her shock. There were several implications if it had come from another world. "How do you know?"
"We've been in contact with people from two other worlds that have dealt with the disease."
"How did they cure it?"
* * *
"They didn't." Idobe's face remained passive despite his devastating words.
"So, they just let their people die?"
"No, anyone with the disease was quarantined from the general population and then terminated."
Rasha couldn't believe what she was hearing. They'd ended the virus by killing the victims. It was so barbaric that she couldn't imagine a people willing to do that. She must have made a face.
"I see what you're feeling and I can't say I blame you. However, when a third of your population is already sick and you've got a wide spread epidemic on your hands, you're desperate for a way to save the other two-thirds. That was just the one case. The other was a sole survivor from a planet destroyed by a neighboring species who feared the disease so exterminated them rather than deal with the virus themselves."
"So, there's no hope."
"I wouldn't rush to that conclusion just yet. Our circumstances are not so dire." He looked up from the microscope again, but this time Idobe looked up at her, "You seem smart. Tell me, how long before all nine kingdoms showing cases will be rendered incapacitated?"
"Nine?" Rasha had assumed all the kingdoms had citizens that were affected.
"The Wola and the Majiwan have no cases within their borders. As far we understand, not one Wola has fallen sick. The Majiwan infected were outside of the water at the time and were quarantined on land."
Rasha wondered about what that might mean.
"I don't know what that means," Idobe said as if reading her thoughts. "It's only a place to start and not a place to give up. I believe through science we can find a cure, but we must keep working."
"But you're all alone here. Where are the others?"
"Some are sick with the disease. We determined it was best to work within independent labs. Every lab in the facility had dropped their work to focus on the search for a cure. We keep our contact with others limited in case of exposure, but all the science is put into a shared database until we land on the solution to this complex problem."
"What shall I tell Prince Bashir?"
Idobe thought for a moment. Then he looked up from his work with a sad smile. "Tell him to pray to the goddess Mat`ka of Poda we find a cure in time to save the Bolaji kingdoms. Otherwise we'll be forced to take more drastic measures."
Rasha understood now what he meant by 'drastic measures' and a chill ran down her spine. If the science labs at Q Prime couldn't manufacture a cure, they were lost. She left the building feeling less sure about her next move than ever before. If Jak was with her, he'd say something funny to keep her spirits up or sing a song. Instead, he was lying in a bed at the Ishola palace dying of an incurable disease. She missed him and wished more than ever that their last words had been different. She wrapped her hand around her amulet. He'd said to pray. That's exactly what she planned to do. Rasha wasn't ready to return to the palace empty handed, so she made her way home first.
20
THE INTERNAL DEBATE ABOUT whether to contact Sochi for some kind of update on Chiza and Jak lasted most of the ride to Chilali. Rasha decided there was no use in worrying if they were worse or if they were too far gone. Sochi would have already contacted her if it were the latter. Rasha led Zele to touch down on the grounds out front where she was most likely to be seen. The guards rushed out to greet her and to see to her animal, though they were never quite sure what to do with the creature who shied away from their sharp staffs.
"Zele will be fine on her own, leave her," she said as they reached up to help her dismount.
"As you wish. Welcome home, Princess Indari,” Kufre the captain of the guard said.
The six guards bowed in unison as she walked past them to the castle. How much things had changed in just a year. The entire castle had been improved upon during her nine months as princess incumbent. Her parents’ status had been elevated again, and it showed in the improvements.
"Your parents are awaiting your arrival in their chambers. It is requested that you take all the time you need to ready yourself before you attend them," he said, looking her over.
It was the one thing that her parents still demanded. Her father refused to see her if she dressed as a courier. In his presence, she was a princess first and above all else. It would grate on her nerves, but she didn't have time to worry about that sort of thing. She ran a hand over her face.
"Your room has been prepared, and a bath drawn."
A bath sounded nice. She'd been a long time on Zele's back and she needed to seek their council. It wouldn't do her any good if she were tossed out for inappropriate dress. Rasha hadn't seen her old room since she'd gone years ago, but when she entered, she wasn't sure she was in the right place. The guard who escorted her broke into a smile at her reaction.
"Yes, your highness, this is your room. I'll inform your parents you will join them at your convenience." Kufre bowed again and left her to inspect the room on her own.
The pink bedroom with the ruffled curtains and nauseating feminine touches had been completely redesigned. The walls were now painted a soothing cream color and embellished with large paintings of oversized flowers in blue, purple and white. Her pink bed coverings had been swapped for a soft white lace overlay with rich royal blue and purple throw pillows made of a soft silk. Her vanity chair was recovered in the royal purple. The adjoining bath was decorated in black and white, including lace accents on the towels and window coverings that took her breath away. Rasha ran her hand over the purple and blue soaps in the dish beside the water basin. She sighed at the sight of the lit candles around her prepared bath.
It was such a drastic change, she couldn't wrap her mind around the reason her parents would do such a thing. She walked to the closet, hoping she'd find dresses more to her taste. The clothing that hung in the closet had changed little. There were two notable additions in more neutral tones but other than those, her wardrobe remained the same. Change came slowly, but she was happy for the small blessing.
She bathed and put on one of the new dresses. The fit was nice and the sleeves were short to go along with the warm weather. The silver of the gown complimented her skin, and she pulled her hair up and back, away from her face.
The king and queen were waiting in their chambers when she arrived. Rasha wasn't sure, but it looked like they'd been arguing about something. The table between them sat askew, as if they'd sat down in an abrupt manner. The chamber maid must have taken a step back, because she took a step forward now. Her father's temper was legendary, as she could attest. What had her mother said to anger him so?
Rasha bowed low before them and waited to be addressed.
"Welcome, daughter," her father said in a tone dripping with sweetness.
Unnerved, she rose again and stared at them.
"I hope your room is to your liking," her mother said with conspiratorial grin.
"It is, I love it. Thank you."
Her mother nodded and looked to her husband and waited. What were they discussing before she'd entered?
"Were you expecting me?" Rasha asked them, wondering what all the fuss was about.
"Sooner or later we had no doubt you would return. You may sit." Her father waved a hand, and the chambermaid lifted a small chair and placed it in front of her parents. They sat in a perfect triangle.
"Well, I don't want to waste your time so I'll get to
the point," Rasha said. "I need information and I'm hoping with your many connections you can point me in the right direction."
Her father nodded and smiled. "We hoped you would consult us. That is wise. First let me say it is very generous of the prince to allow this without beheading you both."
"We were prepared for everything," her mother interjected.
Rasha was confused. How had they heard of her mission? Bashir wouldn't have told anyone.
"He's a fine boy but we think it would be prudent to keep your options open. A prince he may be but he's got no royal family line. The others of the kingdom have more of a legitimate upbringing."
The realization of what he was talking about hit her between the eyes like a dull axe. They were still concerned about the New Choosing. They didn't realize with all the commotion over there that the Choosing was on hold. Besides that, she wasn't there for the Choosing but to help the prince. Her father continued speaking while her mind filled in the missing blanks of their original meaning. It was Jak they didn't approve of now.
Rasha could feel the anger rising in her belly and turning her skin a darker purple. It was never ending with them. First, they were mad that she wouldn't attend the Choosing. Now they didn't like all the choices available. She hadn't chosen Jak, but he'd made no secret he'd chosen her. By law, he was a prince and she could choose him, but to her parents his upbringing in the Wilds away from his royal family made him unsuitable. The two of them were unbearable.
She raised a hand to stop her father's ramblings.
"Your highness," she used the formal speech to get his attention, "you mistake my purpose in coming here. I am here as a courier for Prince Bashir on behalf of the eleven kingdoms of Bolaji. I am not here to discuss the New Choosing. If you will forgive me, may I continue?" Rasha was so pleased by her own restraint she had to keep herself from smiling.
Her mother and father looked at each other then back to her. Without a word, her father nodded for her to continue.
"You may have heard of the deadly sickness that is sweeping the lands. The sickness has officially reached the palace and many of the princes and princesses are unwell."
"The prince?" her mother gasped with a hand to her chest.
"When I left the palace of Ishola, he was in good health. I have no idea how long that will last. The sickness is spreading far more rapidly than originally thought. Since it is already here, I wanted to discover if you've made any progress toward a cure."
Her father put a hand on his chin and stroked.
"No, our people haven't made any advancement in that area. We believe the Tero-Joro may have something. If they do, we'll do what we can to get the cure here as soon as possible."
"I have just come from there. They are hard at work on something but they do not have a cure. None of the other kingdoms are as advanced as they are in the sciences and they are struggling. I'm afraid if they don't find something soon, we will all be lost."
"What about the New Choosing?" her father asked. She wouldn't get out of that one so easily. The truth would be hard to hear but she wouldn't dash their hopes to the rocks yet.
"The New Choosing is postponed while the entire palace is in quarantine." Their disappointment was no surprise. But her mother's next question floored her.
"And your Jak? How does he fare?"
The tears that sprang to her eyes almost blinded her as Rasha tried to speak. All she could see was his ashen face lying against the white pillows.
"He is quite unwell,” was all she could get out. "If you'll excuse me. I must go to the temple."
Not waiting to be excused, Rasha dashed from the room and into the hall. She brushed angry fists over her eyes before taking measured steps down the hall. Rasha found her way outside the castle. The doors of the temple were open wide and welcoming, despite her father's decree they remain closed when not in use.
21
THE TEMPLE WAS AS SHE'D left it. The benches were polished, and the Eye sat at the front of the alter, glowing day and night. She knelt in front of it and poured out her heart to the Universal. She prayed for the life of her friend Chiza and for Jak. Countless more would be sick and could die if she didn't find an answer soon. Her shoulders slumped with the weight of the mission in front of her.
A soft shuffling to her left brought her head up. She saw an old woman coming toward the altar.
"I'm sorry, I need to be alone,” she said, hoping that the woman would understand she wasn't trying to be rude.
The old woman didn't speak, but eased herself down to her fragile knees and bowed her head to the Eye, her purple skin already ashen and her hair black with age. Rasha turned away, then stopped short when she noticed something in her hand. An amulet identical to the one she wore around her own neck. The necklace had been a rare gift and the sight of it in the woman's frail hands gave her mixed feelings.
"I'm sorry, where did you come by your amulet?"
The old woman mumbled something before the Eye without looking in her direction. Rasha took the woman for too old to hear and turned back to the Eye and reached for her own amulet. It no longer hung around her neck. She felt around the floor around her and then within the folds of her dress, wondering how she hadn't realized it was missing. Perhaps the old woman had found it. She turned to ask but the old woman had disappeared.
"No,” she said in a hushed whisper. She got to her feet and raced around the altar, looking for any sign of the amulet or the woman who'd been beside her just a moment ago.
The soft shuffle she'd heard before returned just a head of her. Rasha glimpsed the old woman's cloak as she turned the corner, and followed. Behind the altar there was a small door that whispered closed as she reached the corner. She had no idea where the passageway lead. This was a part of the temple she'd never dared to venture to before and hesitated out of respect for those who worked here. The shuffling on the other side of the passageway door was fading. How could the woman move that fast?
Rasha pulled open the door and entered the space. It looked like no one had been there in ages. There were wisps of webs all around the entry way and she could see her footprints in the dust on the floor. Where were the prints of the old woman, she wondered? Why hadn't anything been disturbed as she entered?
The small cackle of the old woman reached her ears and Rasha picked up her skirts and continued after her. The next corner was darker than the last. If it wasn't for the faint light ahead, she'd be lost. She moved toward it and at last she arrived in a small chamber. It was no bigger than a small changing room. Rasha looked up and caught the faint residue of fire marks, the kind made from burning torches. Four lit the upper part of the room. The old woman wasn't here. She had to be close, there was no way the woman could have beaten her speed. Rasha was huffing as it was and wouldn't be able to keep up the pace much longer.
A faint light moved to her left, and she found another small door. It was almost half the size of the door to the room. Rasha pulled the door open and it lead to a winding set of stairs. They were steep and when Rasha poked her head inside and glanced up, the light vanished. She reached up to her neck, wondering if she was daydreaming. Her hand came away empty, and she knew she'd race after the woman until the ends of the earth for her amulet. Rasha climbed the stairs, not bothering to rush now she realized that the nearness of the sounds of the old woman bore no resemblance to her actual whereabouts.
A whisper of fabric, another door, and she was standing on the peak of a steeple near the castle. She'd never needed to come here before but as she looked around, she took in most of the grounds and most of the kingdom of Chilali.
The view from up on top was breathtaking and Rasha took it all in. She noted that Zele had found a nice cool spot to sit underneath the cover of some trees near to the edge of the castle property. Rasha caught her resting close to asleep. After a moment, she turned in the other direction. She noted the guard performing various drills as they readied themselves for whatever might come their way.
"You move slow for one so young." The old woman's voice from behind her made her jump. Rasha's hands flew to her sides but her swords weren't there. It was becoming a horrible habit, her leaving her swords in her room.
"I want my amulet back, old woman."
A gnarled hand snaked out of her cloak and she held up the amulet for Rasha to take. Rasha grabbed it and checked it for a broken clasp. It seemed intact, which only made her wonder more how the woman had come by it.
"I have a gift,” she said waving her hand in the air. She spoke as if she'd read Rasha's mind which only unnerved her more.
"What do you want with me?"
"You are the courier, yes?"
"I am."
"The cure is what you seek but cannot find."
"What do you know of the cure?"
"The entire kingdom is at the mercy of the plague. If we don't want to lose many, we must cure them all."
Rasha looked out over the trees. "The Tero-Joro are the closest to a cure."
"They have nothing." The old woman spat on the ground.
"How do you know that?" Rasha asked, turning back to the woman and examining her more closely.
"The cure is The Niramaya Tree."
"What is The Niramaya Tree? Where can I find it?" Rasha asked.
"It is a tree that grows and grows. Where it lives, nobody knows. The blossoms and the leaves upon it are red. If you do not find it we are all dead," she sang.
"I don't understand. No one has ever mentioned The Niramaya Tree before."
"It is as ancient as the land, long after the kingdoms will it stand. Many long to live forever, but the tree is much more clever."
"I'm not good with riddles," Rasha said, rubbing her temples.
"If you look on land you lose, it is underwater you must choose. Right or wrong, it stands for all. Once cut, the leaves and tree will fall."
The old woman lifted her voice and whistled. Zele lifted off the ground, responding to the call, and moved to the roof. Rasha held up her hands to stop the beast from trampling the old woman. But when she turned back, the old woman had vanished again, not leaving a so much as a shoe print behind.
The Courier's Quest Page 10
