“Too late again,” laughed Mistake. “You will never beat me home.”
“I even took a shortcut unknown to you,” laughed Tamar. “Even MistyTrail would have beaten me to the rope. I must be getting old.”
“I would have had to push Mistake out of the way,” laughed MistyTrail. “That would not have been very sisterly.”
“Old?” Mistake frowned as she let go of the rope. “You can’t be much older than us.”
“Probably not,” smiled Tamar, “although I must have a few years on you. It is hard to tell without knowing your ages, but I left boyhood some time ago. Let’s get washed up for the meal. Mother would not be pleased if we arrived at the table as we are.”
MistyTrail whipped the rope to allow the platform to descend. When it reached ground level, they all stepped on. Tamar grasped the rope and swiftly hauled the platform upward. MistyTrail stood and stared at Tamar. She admired his form as his muscular arms powered the elevator up into the tree. When the platform reached the upper level, Tamar turned and saw MistyTrail staring at him. She quickly looked away.
Mistake led the way to the door of the elder’s house. She opened the door and shouted that she and MistyTrail were home. Anija immediately came out of the kitchen, an apron covering her skirt.
“Welcome back,” smiled Anija. “The meal is almost ready.”
She saw Tamar walk in behind the girls. She grinned broadly.
“Are you staying for dinner again?” asked Anija.
“If there is enough,” grinned Tamar. “I just happened to be in the area.”
“I am sure,” chuckled Anija. “That happens most frequently these days. There is always enough at my table for you, son. Go get cleaned up.”
While everyone was getting cleaned up, Volox arrived home. He walked into the kitchen and kissed Anija. She turned and stared at him with concern.
“What is the matter?” she asked.
“Nothing that cannot wait until later,” replied Volox. “Is Tamar coming for dinner again today?”
“Should today be any different than any other day since the girls moved in?” smiled Anija. “The three of them are getting washed up now.”
Volox nodded and left the kitchen. A few minutes later, Mistake and MistyTrail skipped into the kitchen to see if they could help. Anija handed them plates of food to take to the eating room. The family sat down to eat.
“How have you girls been getting on with people?” Anija asked casually. “Have you met any new friends?”
“Not really,” frowned Mistake. “People tend to avoid us. Occasionally someone will say hello, but most people will alter their path to avoid us.”
“That is probably because you are staying with an elder,” replied Volox. “I did warn you about that. They do not feel as if they can approach you. They do not know your status.”
“It is because they are foreigners,” interjected Tamar. “It has nothing to do with where they are staying. Word has spread about the troubling news brought back by the boys. Many people blame Eltor and Caldal for going astray. Their attitude towards the girls is part of that. They are seen as foreigners to be avoided.”
“That is not right,” frowned Anija. “I certainly hope that my son straightens out those misguided fools.”
“He cannot afford to,” Volox interrupted before Tamar could answer. “Tamar is an officer of the queen. He must speak as if he speaks for her.”
Tamar frowned and looked at his father as if Volox knew something that was not being shared.
“How are the girls doing with their lessons?” asked Anija.
“They excel at most things that I teach them,” Tamar reported happily. “Their ability with knives was superior before they arrived, but their archery has greatly improved. They still need much work with the sword, though. They do not do well in close quarters.”
“If one is good enough with a bow and knives,” grinned Mistake, “she would never have to fight in close quarters.”
“That can never be taken for granted,” Tamar replied sternly. “You must be prepared in all skills.”
“Or in none,” interjected Volox.
Tamar frowned again and stared at his father. “What do you know that you are not sharing, Father.”
“It is mealtime,” shrugged Volox.
“So you know of something official then?” asked Tamar.
“We will speak of it outside after the meal,” replied Volox.
“If it concerns the girls,” replied Tamar, “then it affects our family. It can be spoken of here and now. Those are your own rules.”
“They are visitors,” declared Volox.
“They are family,” Anija and Tamar said in unison.
“Not for much longer,” scowled Volox. “Very well,” he sighed. “The queen is greatly disturbed with your private lessons. She has sent word that they are to be stopped immediately.”
“Sent word how?” asked Tamar. “I speak with the queen everyday.”
“And that is another problem,” Volox continued. “It seems that your meetings are grating under Malid’s skin. Queen Alycia has demanded that they continue, but that may well pit you against Malid in the future. You must be careful in this, Tamar. She gave word to Malid who gave it to me. The lessons are to stop immediately.”
“I will speak to the queen in the morning,” stated Tamar. “I will explain the need for the lessons.”
“You will do no such thing,” Volox said sternly. “If you defy the queen, your career is over. My own status as an elder is in danger here. So far she has not learned that the girls live here, but it is only a matter of time.”
“Why should that matter?” asked Anija.
“She sees them as foreigners,” sighed Volox, “and she is not quiet about her feelings. It is no small wonder that people shun them on the streets.”
“This is not fair,” protested Tamar. “I would stand up to the queen on this, and damn my own career, because I feel that I am doing what is right, but I cannot and will not jeopardize your position. Why does she feel this way?”
“We do not want anyone to suffer because of us,” interrupted MistyTrail. “Mistake and I will leave tonight.”
“You are going nowhere,” Anija said with authority. “Volox, I will not allow this to happen. These girls are elves. They have every right to enter Elvangar society. If the queen thinks differently, she is wrong. You will tell her so.”
“I will cease to be an elder if I confront her on such a topic,” warned Volox. “While I am willing to give up my status and this home by telling the queen that she is wrong, to do so for such a trivial reason is foolish. There are other homes where the girls can live. That is what I should have done in the beginning. The queen can do nothing to harm the girls because they have not broken any laws. If they live in the home of a normal family, and are not privately tutored by a high officer in the army, they will never come to the queen’s attention again. I will find a new home for them in the morning.”
“But…” Anija began.
“Father is right,” Tamar interrupted. “I suspect that this started when I passed along the girls’ desire to meet with the queen. I should have known better. I will try to find a lesser officer to continue with the lessons.”
“I can’t imagine the queen being so busy that talking to her would offend her,” frowned Mistake. “We will move to another home. I think it is for the best. As for lessons, I would prefer to learn some magic if that is possible. That would ease the problem with Tamar teaching us.”
“Magic?” questioned Volox. “Do you have abilities?”
“A little,” nodded Mistake. “MistyTrail knows more than I do. She can heal people sometimes. Even if we are not good at it, it would take our minds away from these problems.”
“Finding a magic tutor in Morada will be impossible,” frowned Tamar. “They already have too many students to deal with. It is better that I find another soldier to continue tutoring you.”
“There was an old
mage in Etta,” shrugged Mistake. “He did not seem busy to me. He spent several hours doing tricks to make the children laugh while we listened to Eltor telling his tale.”
“Garl is a crazy old man,” scoffed Volox. “He is not even considered a true mage. There is a reason that he has a lot of time on his hands. No one would choose to be his student. He was kicked out of the Society of Mages. You do not know what you are asking.”
“Is Etta the village that you and Eltor went to when we arrived in Elvangar?” asked MistyTrail.
“Yes,” nodded Mistake. “It is the village where Eltor and Caldal lived. It is small and primitive, but the people there did not shun me.”
“It would get them out of the queen’s eye,” offered Tamar. “I might be able to take a day off here and there and come out and tutor you.”
“It is not a bad idea,” brightened Volox. “The girls would be safe there. I fear that once the queen sets her sights on them, she will try to cause them trouble. It would be better for them to be out of sight.”
“And when the queen has decided to forget about them,” smiled Tamar, “we can quietly bring them back here.”
Anija smiled, but tears were forming in her eyes. “Let the queen forget them quickly,” she said as she wiped her eyes. “I quite enjoying having them here. They have become like daughters to me.”
* * *
The soldier in the brown and white uniform of the Morgar clan peered into the darkness from his perch in an old tree. He was sure that he heard the noises of rigging slapping in the wind, but he could not see the ship. He quietly dropped out of the tree and moved through the trees to the edge of the beach. He squatted down and let his eyes scan the horizon, looking for the absence of stars. After a few minutes, his eyes began to feel weary from focusing on nothing. He blinked and refocused. He thought he saw a star blink out, but he was not sure. He stared again, and excitement grew as the star reappeared. He moved his focus to another star group and waited. He nodded when the new group of stars disappeared. A moment later they reappeared, and he heard the rigging again.
The soldier slid back into the woods and raced along the trail to the Morgar mansion. He ran straight into the mansion and into the Marshal’s suite. He banged loudly of the door to the sleeping chamber. The Morgar marshal opened the door and stared at the soldier with sleepy eyes.
“I am pretty sure that there is a ship off the coast,” reported the soldier. “I could not see it, but I heard it. Something is moving out there that is blocking the stars.”
“Well done, soldier,” nodded the marshal. “Alert the cortain on duty and tell him that I authorized his deployment. I will be along shortly.”
The soldier ran outside the mansion and found the cortain. He passed along the marshal’s message. The cortain quietly summoned his three squad leaders and snapped off curt instructions. Within moments, sixty men were quietly sneaking into the forest along the coast. They readied their bows and stood silently behind trees as they waited for something to happen.
Long minutes passed by as the men waited in the darkness. Suddenly a splash of water was heard above the noise of the surf. The clan soldiers tensed. Shapes appeared along the beach, and some of the Morgar soldiers watched the dark-clad men pass by on their way towards the mansion.
The cortain stood in the middle of the long line of his men in the forest. He counted six shapes pass by. He waited to see any more were coming, but he did not wait long. He knew if there were stragglers that his men further along the line would get them.
“Now!” shouted the cortain.
A hail of arrows flew out of the woods, and the six dark-clad men fell as one. Morgar soldiers immediately raced out of the woods, their swords drawn and held high. The six bodies were quickly decapitated. The cortain walked along the beach until he met the marshal.
“Six bodies accounted for,” reported the cortain.
“Did any go up in smoke?” asked the marshal.
“No,” answered the cortain. “This group was normal.”
“What about the ship?” asked the marshal.
“Never saw it,” answered the cortain. “Some of the men heard it, but it never beached.”
“Keep a squad out there until morning,” ordered the marshal. “I will take no chances with our mages. I must report this to Emperor Marak.”
* * *
Rhoda stood before Aakuta and dropped her robe. The dark mage ran his fingers over the red blotches on her skin and nodded.
“Turn around,” commanded Aakuta.
Rhoda obediently turned around and Aakuta checked her back.
“You are healing well,” Aakuta said. “I have to go upstairs for a while. Hide the robe and get up on the table. I have to strap you down in case someone comes by.”
Rhoda rolled up the robe and stuffed it in a drawer. She climbed up on the table and rolled over onto her back. She put her arms by her side and waited to be strapped down.
“Remember to feign unconsciousness if anyone enters,” advised Aakuta as he tightened the straps over her arms and legs. “I will not be able to help you if it is discovered that you are awake.”
“You cannot protect me forever,” Rhoda replied. “I was prepared to die before. I am still ready. Kill me now and be done with it. I do not want to endure again what has already passed.”
“Be patient,” advised Aakuta. “You are a courageous young woman, not someone to be sacrificed. I will figure a way to get you out of here. Speak no more.”
Aakuta checked the room for any sign that the patient had recovered. Satisfied that nothing was amiss, he opened the door and stepped into the corridor. He closed the door and locked it as he gazed along the corridor at the door to the holding cells. Aakuta hurried upstairs to Lady Mystic’s chambers. She smiled broadly as he entered.
“Right on time,” greeted Lady Mystic as she ushered the dark mage out the door and locked it. “I was just about to step out the door.”
“We are so close in makeup that our timing is as one,” smiled Aakuta. “What is the purpose of today’s session?”
“What is the purpose of any of them?” shrugged Lady Mystic. “Vand wants to express himself. That is reason enough to attend. Have you made any progress with the girl?”
“I have made progress in healing her wounds,” shrugged Aakuta as they climbed the stairs, “but not with information. I cannot interrogate someone who is unconscious.”
“Vand will not be happy,” frowned Lady Mystic as they reached the doors to the throne room. “Perhaps he will be occupied with something else.”
As they entered the room, it quickly became obvious that the session had already started. In fact, it appeared to have been going for some time. Two guards were already dragging out the body of a seaman.
“Ah, the great interrogator has arrived,” Vand snarled as he saw Aakuta and Lady Mystic enter. “Tell me, Aakuta, have you discovered the secret of the air tunnel yet?”
“Not yet,” sighed Aakuta. “Your last interrogator caused great damage to the girl. As I said last time, it is best to grab another Khadoran mage. Getting anything out of this one will be a long shot.”
“It might be easier if you try harder,” snapped Vand.
“I am doing the best that I can,” Aakuta replied in an annoyed tone. “The girl should have died during the last interrogation. The fact that she still lives is miraculous. I have been healing her wounds so that when she does awaken, I will be able to get the information out of her.”
“You have to heal her to talk to her?” questioned the Emperor.
“If I want her to cooperate,” nodded Aakuta. “Were she to awaken in her damaged state, she would welcome death. That is not conducive to getting what we want to know. Of course I am healing her. I want her to cling to life desperately. If I cannot threaten her with something that she holds dear, how then can I expect her to divulge the information? I still advise the capture of at least one more Khadoran mage. It would be quicker than dealing with this one.
”
“We have been trying to get another,” shouted Vand as his eyes glared at Aakuta. “Each and every time we send a ship to grab another, there is a trap waiting for them. How do you suppose that is happening?” he asked accusingly.
Aakuta shrugged and stared back at Vand, “Perhaps you have a spy in your organization? How do you expect me to know?”
“A spy?” mocked the Emperor. “In my organization? How rich. Yes, Aakuta, there is most definitely a spy in my ranks. Do you know what I do with spies?”
“I know what I would do,” Aakuta answered seriously. “I would make an example of him so that there would never be another spy. I would make him suffer greatly and publicly.”
“There are some thing that we agree on,” sneered Vand, “but not very many. You are that spy, Aakuta. I have felt it from the very first day that you arrived. You are as phony as a worshipper of Kaltara. So that now that we agree on the type of punishment that you deserve, how about we get down to specifics. How should you be punished?”
Vand sat poised in his throne. It was obvious to Aakuta that the Emperor was just waiting for him to make a move to protect himself. The slightest sign of offensive or defensive magic would result in sure death.
“You seek to punish me for the works of others?” retorted the dark mage. “Ask yourself this. When have I been privy to the sailing schedules of your ships? Who could have possibly told me what estates on the mainland you planned to kidnap mages from? There is no possible way that I am your spy. Oh, I agree that you have one. I think that goes without saying, if you are stepping into multiple traps, but you are looking in the wrong quarter. I have been loyal to you since before I set foot on this island. If you truly want a Khadoran mage, I will get you one. I had no trouble in the past getting whatever I wanted in Khadora. Their magic is weak.”
Emperor Vand stared questioningly at Aakuta. Lady Mystic cleared her throat and caught the Emperor’s attention.
“What he says is true,” volunteered Lady Mystic. “He has not been present in any of the planning sessions. Whoever is spying on you, it cannot be Aakuta. He simply did not have the information to use against your people.”
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