by Dan Decker
“Saying another woman was too fast is never an excuse.” Soret punched him in the gut. On impulse, Jorad pulled her close and kissed her. When he was done, Soret took a deep breath.
“Don’t think that means I forgive you.”
He went in again, and this time, she was out of breath when they finished, and he was sure that she was well on her way to forgiving him.
A little while later, when Leron and Wes found them, they left their gear with Wes before he could say no because Leron had already found a dance partner.
Soret giggled as Jorad spun her around. It would have been perfect if he hadn’t felt the need to continue to check the sky or if his back didn’t hurt with every move. Still, it wasn’t as painful as it had been a few days ago. It was getting darker, but the sky was clear, and there wasn’t a ship to be seen.
Karn went by dancing with a woman, looking uncomfortable. Jorad was glad to see that he wasn’t the only one who’d been dragged out into the melee. Their eyes made contact and Karn noticed the question on Jorad's face, he shook his head slightly. They hadn't been able to get the tablet. Jorad wanted to ask for details, but when he turned around, Karn had disappeared into the crowd.
Jorad almost tripped when he saw Xarda pulling Adar out into the chaos. He laughed at the bewildered look on Adar’s face as Adar was doing his best to keep up with Xarda. From what little Jorad saw, Adar was not happy.
There was less than half an hour of daylight left when Jorad and Soret decided to stop. Sweat covered both of them, and he wished they could find a nice inn. He could use a bath. Maybe one night in town wouldn’t be so reckless. He walked Soret to a couple of empty barrels which they rolled over to Wes, who was frowning. More gear had been added to the pile he was watching.
“About time!” Wes said. “Just like you to leave me guarding everybody’s things when there are pretty girls to dance with.”
Jorad didn't respond as Adar and the others approached. He felt guilty for leaving Wes with their stuff. He'd been so caught up in the moment that he hadn't given it a second thought. When would Wes see another celebration like this? Jorad pushed the guilt aside making a silent promise that he'd make it up to Wes someday if he could.
Adar didn't respond to Jorad's questions about how the attempt to get into the town hall had gone. It wasn't until he asked Karn that he learned the festival hadn't been only in the town square but that it was on the street with the town hall as well. The large town hall doors had been guarded by several dozen guards. The crowd and guards hadn't deterred Adar, and he'd insisted that they try the rear entrance. When they approached the town hall from the rear, they found half a dozen men guarding that door as well. Apparently, Adar wasn't the first person that had tried to get into the town hall during a festival.
As they left Zecarani and went to find a place to camp for the night, Jorad noticed that Tere and Tarner were acting weird. Normally, the two kept to themselves anyway so he was about to ignore it when he saw that the back of Tere's neck had a cut on it. While Jorad was watching, Tere pulled the collar of his shirt up to cover it. The cut had been fresh and bright red. After that, Jorad positioned himself to observe Tarner from behind and noticed that he limping. For awhile Jorad wondered if he’d imagined it because it was barely noticeable, but as the sun began to set, the more certain he became. Biting his lip in thought, he decided he would mention his observations to Adar later so that they could decide how much they wanted to pry into what had happened.
Chapter 21
Nelion smiled as she plucked a black rose from the tree, twisted off most of the stem, and placed the flower behind her left ear, it stood in stark contrast to her blonde hair and white dress. She was, as always, barefoot. Blades of grass poked up through her toes. That caused Adar to look down at his own booted feet. Should he take his shoes off? It seemed wrong that he wasn’t barefoot as well. Adar stooped and felt his sword shift on his back.
“You’ve been gone a long time,” she said. “I’d begun to wonder if you’d forgotten your way back.”
Sword? Why did he have a sword? He looked up at Nelion, afraid that she might be offended by his coarseness. He hadn’t been prepared to find her again. If he’d known, he would have dressed differently and left the sword behind. Their eyes met, and he knew it was okay. She reached out to him, causing him to stand, leaving a boot unlaced. Oh, how he longed for her touch, he reached towards her hand, but she took it away before they connected.
“Leave the boots and sword on for now.”
Adar ignored the voice in the back of his mind telling him something was wrong. Roses don’t grow on trees. Who’s ever heard of a black flower? But that seemed like such a little thing. What did he care what color the flower was? He’d found her again. It had been so long.
“I don’t need them anymore. I’m never leaving again.” Adar bent down to his boots again. He meant it. Never again. The rest of the world could be taken by the Hunwei, and he wouldn’t care. Aren’t you forgetting something? asked a voice in the back of his mind. He ignored it. “Never again.”
Adar stopped when Nelion touched his shoulder. It was the first time she’d touched him here, and it filled him with soaring exhilaration. He reached for her hand, but it was gone before he could touch it. He shouldn’t touch her, he knew that, but it had felt so good.
“You’ll leave again soon, but you always come back. That’s why I love you.” Something about the way Nelion said it made him think that it was because he left that she loved him. But that couldn’t be, could it?
“This time is different.” Adar bent over again, but when he noticed Nelion frown disapprovingly, he straightened. He’d wait until her back was turned, then he'd take them off. Once it was done, she couldn’t make him put the boots back on.
“I am staying,” he said with an air of finality.
Nelion just smiled and looked away in that way that she always did when he was wrong, but didn’t want to contradict him. Melyah! It had been years since he’d seen that smile and look. Their disagreement didn’t bother him as it usually did. It was nice to see her grin. He’d always loved that about her, that and so many other things. Even dealing with her hot temper would be more welcome than losing her again.
Nelion turned towards the forest, and Adar panicked.
“No.” He took a step towards her; he always lost her when she went into the forest. She took another step, turned and smiled.
“You’re needed elsewhere,” she said. “I must go.”
“Wait! I meant what I said.”
“We can’t stay here.”
“I’m not leaving.”
Nelion didn’t answer, and a fleeting look of loneliness crossed her face. “It’s nearly over; don’t make this harder than it needs to be. Remember Jorad.”
Like a lightning bolt, the fact he’d been ignoring returned to him. Jorad. He remembered now. That’s why she loved him, for always leaving and returning to Jorad, but it was different this time.
“Nelion—” Adar stopped. It was the first time he’d said her name here. That had been the wrong thing to say because she frowned as if she didn’t remember the name and was puzzled as to why he’d use it. He went on before she could speak. “He’s ready. There’s nothing more I can teach him. The boy’s as good with the sword as I am and he can track like a wolf. He doesn’t need me any longer.”
“It’s always about swords and war with you, isn’t it? Did it ever occur to you that there are other reasons to return? Even others besides Jorad?”
“But it’s been so long.”
“Do you think it’s been easy for me?” Nelion took another step backward. She was close to the forest now. Adar took another step toward her, and Nelion began to tremble. This was the closest he’d ever come to convincing her to let him stay. She wanted him to stay; he could see it in her eyes and the way that her hands were trembling. He took another step, confident that if he reached her, she’d change her mind this time. Maybe if he touched her? After all
, she’d touched him first, breaking the unspoken rule. Surely, that was a sign she wanted him to say.
Nelion stared as he took another step and took a deep breath, wanting him to come closer and fearing that he would.
“This is always hard,” Nelion said.
“It’s been so long. What about what we want? It’s not fair to us.”
“And it’s not fair to Jorad. He needs you.”
“He’s ready.” Adar took another step. Nelion’s whole body was quivering, and tears were running down her face. The tears didn’t mar her beauty, and the quivering seemed regal. “Melyah! Don’t go.”
“Careful uttering that name here.” Nelion took another step backward into the forest. Adar leaped after her and was stopped at the tree line as if he hit a wall. For a moment, Nelion stood looking at him from the trees, still quivering and crying. Then she was gone.
Adar would have stayed there at the forest waiting, but at the same instant Nelion disappeared, he found that he was in Rarbon palace facing a man whose face he’d tried so hard to forget. A man he always ignored. The rest of the room disappeared as Adar focused on Nelion lying on the ground before him. This time would be different. He would save her. There would be no need to find her again if he saved her here.
“Help me Ghar Rahid.” The man lifted his arm to Adar as he lay in a pool of his own blood. Adar ignored him, knelt beside Nelion, pulled the dagger from her chest as she screamed, and set it to the side. No, he thought, don’t remove the dagger! But it was too late. He flung the dagger to the side.
He covered the wound with his hands and tried to stop the flow of blood. He didn’t know the man and didn’t care if he lived. Save Nelion. He could save her. Why else would he have been brought back here? I must do things differently this time, he thought. Despite his desire, the scene played out before him like it had so many times before.
Nelion whispered, but Adar couldn’t understand. He bent closer, and she whispered again. It sounded like she had said “Sorry” but he didn’t have time to think about it. He needed to stop the blood.
“Don’t speak my love.” Adar ripped his coat off and used it to try to cover her wounds. The man beside him reached out again, but Adar ignored the gesture. Nelion continued to bleed despite his efforts. The blood was seeping into her hair now, giving it a red tinge.
Nelion coughed, and blood splattered out of her mouth.
“No!” he cried. “Hang on!”
Nelion opened her mouth again, but this time, only a gurgling sound came out.
“He comes,” the man gasped.
Adar spared a glance and turned back to Nelion. He didn’t look up as footsteps approached.
“Adar, what have you done?”
Adar recognized the voice. “Tere! Help me. Nelion’s been stabbed. Send for the doctor.” This time must end differently.
“She’s gone.” Tere’s voice sounded far away. “She’s no longer breathing.” Adar looked at Nelion’s mouth and realized that Tere was correct. Hurriedly and gently, he tried blowing air into her mouth.
“Quick, the healer!” Adar said between breaths. Surely Melyah would smile on him this time. He’d lost her so many times. This time would be different. Why else was he brought back here?
Adar awoke with a start as he puffed another breath into Nelion’s mouth and it took him several moments to reorient to reality. He sat up and noticed Jorad standing off to the side of the camp scanning the forest. How many times would he relive Nelion’s death?
Well, he was awake now; he might as well let the boy sleep. As he passed Tere, he thought about how fast Tere had found him. The words of the dying man, too little to condemn Tere, but just enough to make Adar wonder. He pushed the thought away. There were more important things to do then chasing the ghosts of the past. He’d been down that road before, and there was nothing for him.
Chapter 22
A bird chirping in the tree above Jorad brought him out of his slumber. It was uncomfortable sleeping on his stomach, especially on the ground. His back was still painful even though the salve from the healer was helping. The leaves rustled overhead, and a ray of sunlight hit his eyes. It was cold, and he preferred to enjoy a few more minutes of warmth underneath his blanket. His eyelids were heavy with fatigue still, and he wished for a couple more hours of sleep.
The unpleasant dreams were fading. He'd awoken while he was running from an oversize Hunwei. Soret had died, and his father had been missing. But as dreams do, it passed from his consciousness, and he turned his thoughts to other matters.
He was glad they had attended the celebration the night before. It had helped to take his mind off the Hunwei and even though he'd had an uncomfortable night of rest, he felt more rejuvenated than he'd felt in weeks. After they got the tablet, the pressure would get worse. So far, Jorad had been able to keep his anxiety about returning to Rarbon at bay because he knew obtaining the tablet would be a significant challenge in and of itself. With the tablet now in reach, he could feel his worry growing.
Could he measure up to the challenge ahead? It would be necessary to get the Rarbon council to see reason so they could expedite the process. Jorad didn't want to waste his time on the trials when all he wanted to do was gain access to the Rarbon Portal. He needed to know if anything in there would help in their fight. Rarbon could keep the stupid title and the responsibilities that came with it.
He rolled onto his side and stood. His back protested with several stabs of pain as he straightened. Everybody but Soret was still awake; she was curled up in a blanket, snoring softly. Adar paced at the edge of the camp, a tense look on his face.
After stretching, Jorad applied the salve to his wound. It felt cold on his skin and relieved the pain a bit. He ignored it and tried not to think about how much more comfortable a bed would have been.
Tere was standing off to one side of their camp, his arms folded, and staring at Jorad. Adar had confronted Tere about the cut that he was hiding and it had come out that he and Tarner been involved in a scuffle with some thieves. Tere had probably hoped to leave it at that, but Adar had continued to question him. After almost an hour without learning anything new, Adar had given up. It had almost come to blows between the two until Xarda and Karn had gotten in between them.
When it had come time to make a plan to get the tablet, Tere had insisted on coming, either going with them or following after. Adar had refused and told him that he'd caused enough trouble. The plan was for Adar, Karn, and Jorad to go to the town hall this morning while the others rested.
Soret was still sleeping by the time they left. Leron and Xarda were sparring while Wes watched, and Tarner wasn’t around. Jorad strapped on his sword, picked up his blaster, and nodded to Adar, who led them out of camp.
As they left, Tere joined them.
“You're not coming,” Adar growled.
“If you get into trouble, you'll want my sword.”
“We'll get into trouble if you're with us.”
“Kill me or get going.”
Adar reached for his sword but didn't draw it. Tere folded his arms. Neither spoke for several long moments.
“I'm leaving you behind if the thieves find you.”
The guards at the gate didn't say anything as they entered and Jorad sighed in relief. Tere had made eye contact with the guards as they passed by and they'd ignored him. Signs of the previous evening’s festivities were all around them as they headed toward the town hall. Lost clothing and bits of uneaten food littered the streets. Several unconscious people lay to the side of the road but mostly the streets were vacant and quiet. The further they got into the city, the more people they saw moving, but it was nothing like the throng from the previous evening.
The town hall was a four-story building located in the city center, a few blocks away from the town square. It had a spire that went up for several more stories from the top of the roof. It took up an entire block and faced the governor’s palace. A street that was double the width of normal
lay in between. There was a large clearing in front of the town hall where there was a pillar that was several stories high. Jorad had seen it before on other visits to Zecarani but hadn’t thought much of it. Now, after seeing Vigorock, he realized that it had been made by the same people. It was shiny, metallic, and several stories tall.
Jorad nudged Adar.
“I know,” Adar said without looking.
Adar led them past the great wooden doors of the town hall and knocked on a smaller normal sized door. The door looked plain and out of place. The rest of the town hall was covered with intricate decoration. The door frame was made from stone. Vines, flowers, and bees had been carved into the frame in great detail. The larger wooden doors were carved in a similar fashion. In the middle of each door was the likeness of a bear. Jorad couldn't imagine the amount of time it had taken to complete just one of the doors. It seemed as though the artist hadn't missed a single strand of the bear's fur.
All the attention to detail made the plain door stand out all the more, and he couldn't remember if this door had been here last time. He supposed that the original door had been replaced since their last visit and that was why he'd taken notice of it.
Adar was reaching for the doorknob when it turned, and he moved his hand away before the door was open.
“Surprised to see folks about already,” said an old man, poking his head out. His eyes were red, and his lips were cracked, there was a red mark along the side of his face as if they'd just woken him from a nap. The door opened further, there were several guards sitting at a table gambling with dice. “What do you want?”
“We want to see the archives,” Adar said.
“Our most popular attraction,” the old guard said dryly. “Been here before?” He paused. “Actually, I remember you. You know the drill. You’re going to have to set aside your weapons.”
“Agreed.”
The old man swung open the door the rest of the way, allowing them to enter. One of the guards looked up from their game, but his eyes didn't linger on them. If Jorad and the others had wanted to attack, it would have been easy, even without the blasters.
