“Safer and easier to say,” Oaka continued, “—and more Servants and Followers of Doomba should be coming after us—”
“No, I’m not leaving! I’m staying with you all until we reach the end of this quest, whenever and wherever that might be,” Fato insisted.
“Okay, I’m staying even though I feel like leaving with Fato still around. Can’t let the bird upstage me,” Oaka remarked as Fato tried to peck at him.
“I’m staying, too, if you need me.” Monika patted the hilt of the Blue Sword.
“Of course we need you!” Fato cried.
Basha agreed, and realized everyone was pledging their support as Gnat said, “I’m staying, too, or coming along, whatever the case may be. I’ve got nowhere else to go at this point.”
“Okay, we’ve got to keep moving, much as I appreciate…thanks, everyone,” Basha said.
“You’re welcome. What else are we supposed to do?” Oaka asked as Monika lightly punched him in the arm and Fato laughed.
“There’s no way we’re going back now, I agree, not with Goga and his men probably chasing after us,” Monika said.
“We could fight back against them with the Swords of Arria and Oaka’s fire magic. Maybe I could hold a sword, too?” Gnat asked. “I could learn.”
The others hesitated until finally Basha said, “I’m sorry, but we’re not ready to face such a fight. We’ve got some power and abilities, but we hardly know anything about them. We need more time, training, and knowledge, but we’re not going to get that. We’ve got to keep going and avoid any confrontation unless there’s no choice.”
“Maybe I could still teach you a little about sword-fighting, with a dagger when that might be easier for you to handle,” Monika said.
“Thanks, Monika. I understand. I just wish we didn’t have to run. Where we going?” Gnat asked.
“To Coe Kiki first. That’s always been our intent, especially with Fato’s message. I imagine it’s the safest place at this point,” Basha said.
“We’re not stopping anywhere else?” Gnat asked.
“Well, we only have as much food and supplies as we came to Coe Aela with, and you don’t have a pack, Gnat, so you’ve got to rely on us for your food and supplies,” Oaka said.
“That’s not enough to keep us going all the way through the Popo Hills,” Fato said.
“What about foraging and hunting?” Monika asked.
“We could try, but it might be difficult,” Oaka said. “The hills aren’t like the forest and we don’t know what we’ll find. We’ve got a limited supply of arrows. We might try snares or hunting with sword, dagger, or wooden spear, but that’s taxing. Fato can capture small prey, but that’s only enough to sustain him. I don’t know if we can feed ourselves through the Popo Hills.”
“When put that way, it’s a grim situation. I’ve seen the way Oaka eats. He’ll starve us all.” Fato said, and Oaka nearly slapped him.
“Sir Nickleby planned we’d ask for more supplies in Coe Aela, but that failed.” Basha reached back for his wallet and pulled out the map. “Now, perhaps we should consider...Coe Wina.”
“Where and what is it?” Oaka asked.
Basha showed them its location. “Southwest of here, across the boundary in the Popo Hills. And it’s not a town, but a castle on a hill.”
“I hate castles,” Oaka muttered.
“The nearest town is Coe Jawa, and that’s farther away by two or three days, riding, not walking like we are,” Basha corrected. “I don’t think we can go farther than Coe Wina without starving.”
“The hill’s a motte, I believe,” Gnat said.
“Do you know about Coe Wina?” Basha asked.
“I know that Lord Lagotaq has a deadly feud with Lord Fobata.” She grinned.
“Deadly feud? That sounds promising. He might help us!” Fato said.
“He’s not a Follower of Doomba?” Monika asked.
“I don’t think so, maybe that’s why he hates Fobata. He’s also strict about the boundaries between districts. If Goga or any of his men crossed the boundary without Lagotaq’s permission, armed like they would attack, Lagotaq would hang them, I bet,” Gnat said.
“So Coe Wina’s safe.”
“Probably the safest place for how close it is and near impregnable from what I’ve heard.”
“Coe Wina, here we come.” Basha folded up the map and they packed everything away.
As they set off, Fato started laughing. “Potential Knights of Arria. Oh, gods, to think that Sir Pacaben might be one of you bunch if holding a Sword of Arria qualifies him.”
“What’s so funny about that?” Oaka asked.
“He hasn’t got the potential. He’s worse than you lot. He hasn’t got the humility, decency, courage, or fortitude. He’s skilled in other ways, but he’s definitely not a knight of the realm. More like a knight of the harem.” Fato laughed again.
Chapter 15
Fire on the Mountain
Where Mila and Popo are met, forest to hill,
There rises a mountain some call Old Smoko.
Where Mila and Popo are met, marriage of nature,
There is where Tau rose and took his throne.
~ Legends of Arria, Arria
Basha and his group continued traveling south and west, zigzagging across the landscape, never going straight for long before they changed direction. They knew they might be tracked.
The trees were thinning as Mila Forest faded behind. In the distance they could see the start of the Popo Hills, mountains with some of their peaks mired in frost and cloud. It’d take two days at least to reach their base.
Basha felt like he was coming upon the edge of his world. He’d never known much of a life that wasn’t surrounded by forest. Even though dangers had lurked in the forest, he could’ve guessed at them.
Now he was going to a part of the world that rose and fell drastically. He didn’t know what to expect next, where his foot might lead, up or down. He’d be exposed on the heights and valleys with nowhere to hide.
“Fato!” he cried. The falcon flew back. “Can you scout ahead and see if there’s a pass we can walk over or through to the other side of the mountain range?”
“I’ll do that!” Fato immediately flew off.
“Shouldn’t we go around the mountains?” Oaka asked.
“That’s the easiest and most obvious route. If Goga suspects we’re going to Coe Wina, he’ll search for a way around. It might not be easy, but climbing might be faster than trying to find a way around.”
“It looks cold up there.”
“Just the peaks, but if we find a pass that cuts across the lower slopes we should be fine.”
“There are a lot of ‘ifs,’ but no certainty. We could die up there.”
“Where would you rather face your death?” Basha asked, aware of the worried looks passed between Monika and Gnat, who’d been talking off to the side. “What might be our best chance for survival, facing Goga or the cold?”
Oaka hesitated. “The cold, but it’s a lousy way to die.” Monika and Gnat nodded.
“It’ll be okay, we’ll keep ourselves warm.” Basha patted Oaka on the shoulder. “We won’t go so high up, just part of the way. You won’t even see the summit.”
“Is that okay that we climb?” Oaka asked Monika and Gnat.
Gnat shrugged, but Monika said, “I suppose so. I don’t know much about the terrain, but I imagine you’re right about Goga’s direction.” She examined the mountain range. “I imagine some of the mountain passes are narrow with steep slopes and we’ll have to watch out for snow or rock avalanches. But Goga wouldn’t climb.”
“Have you ever climbed a mountain, Monika?” Basha asked.
“Once or twice.” She walked past him.
“Once or twice?” he mouthed at Gnat before following after Monika.
“What’s her story?” Gnat whispered to Basha.
“I don’t really know.” Basha frowned.
“There’s a pass
!” Fato cried, coming back towards them. “It looks passable for a walk in certain places, although it’s steep.”
“That’s fine, Fato, we’ll manage!” Basha ignored some of the troubled looks tossed in his direction with his fear confirmed.
* * * *
“Where’s Fobata’s flag?” Hava stared up at a field of sable presenting a white bear in salient pose.
Hava and Goga rode alongside each other through the dwindling forest with half of Goga’s men on horseback and the rest on foot. The mountains rose before them, unrelenting with frozen peaks that merged with the sky.
The white bear seemed oddly appropriate, surrounded by the blackness of the unknown. Fobata’s black bear would’ve dwindled amidst the white space.
Captain Goga laughed, “This is my personal flag, my coat-of-arms as second son of a duke. Fobata wouldn’t allow it in Coe Aela, but now that we’re away, I can wave it as proudly as I like.”
“We should still have Lord Fobata’s flag as we cross onto Lord Lagotaq’s land, show we’ve got his authority.”
“That wouldn’t help us. We’re trespassing either way, but I can’t wait for Lord Lagotaq’s permission. We must find the group, and get out before we’re caught.”
“You’re taking a big risk. I fear what’ll happen.”
“Just write down my words, and keep your mouth shut. I don’t stand for cowardice. I can take impudence and your probing questions, but I won’t stand for cowardice. If you follow me, show me no fear. You march into battle with me, or I’ll leave you behind. Does that sound fair?” Goga asked.
It was unfair. Hava hadn’t asked for this, but he couldn’t turn back. For one thing, he was miles away from Coe Aela with no clue how to get back, afraid he’d die out here alone.
He couldn’t lose Goga, his lifeline who knew the terrain and what direction to take, not to mention the force at his disposal. Hava needed to stay with Goga and his men to feel safe.
And for another, he was surprised to find he was a little excited to be on this mission, perhaps even enjoying it. He wanted to continue on, no matter how tough or rowdy it might be.
He wanted to experience the adventure, the thrill of the chase. The capture and arrest of the group who’d escaped Coe Aela might be enough to satisfy him, though he wondered how Captain Goga might treat them.
“Okay, I’ll be brave. I’ll keep my mouth shut, write it down, and continue on. Sounds fair?” Hava held out his hand.
Goga grabbed and shook it briefly. “Sounds fair. And stop calling me captain. Call me sir. I could’ve been a knight if not for Fobata’s insistence I stay under his watchful eye.”
“Is it common knowledge you two are brothers?”
“We try to keep it to ourselves. It’s embarrassing to think we’re related. There are some who know, of course, you can’t keep a thing like that secret forever. But I don’t advertise it, and neither does Fobata. We keep to ourselves and present company, occasionally meeting to exchange news, drink, and maybe play a game or two. Nothing personal or fraternal.”
Goga had departed Coe Aela with a hundred and twenty-five guards, if you counted Hava, about half of its force with the rest left to protect the fortress. He’d split the search party into roughly four groups to cover the four directions. He wanted to be thorough.
He instructed them to go as far as they could, and sweep the area. If they couldn’t find the group in twelve days, a random number Goga had chosen, they’d head back to Coe Aela.
Goga chose to go with the southward group, knowing this was the direction the Knights traveled in when they arrived at Aela. Likely they’d continue this way, especially if they were going to challenge Doomba, but Coe Wina was their next stop.
They heard a man screaming. “What was that?” Hava asked.
“Trouble.” Goga smiled.
He dismounted and went towards the forest, Hava reluctantly following a few paces behind in case whatever attacked the guard might attack Goga first.
Hava halted when Goga did, and stretched his neck out carefully to see what Goga did. A guard lying on the ground, his left leg twisted and mangled, blood splattered everywhere with bone showing.
The man groaned, delirious with blood loss and fright. “It came out of nowhere, like a ghost.”
Hava gagged, and froze when they heard a growl emanating from the bush in front of them. Goga frowned at the quivering guard, and turned towards the bush.
“Show yourself,” Goga withdrew his sword. “Give us a good excuse. He’s one of my men, he’s on your side. Why’d you attack him?”
The Black Wolf emerged, gobbets of blood dripping down his saber teeth still as Hava nearly fainted. The haggard animal circled round, eying the captain, the injured guard, and Hava in turn.
“We’re hungry, angry. We’d no choice.” The Black Wolf growled. “Send you a message.”
Hava yelped. “It talked!”
“Of course, what’d you expect?” Goga eyed Hava. “Didn’t you know you could hear it?”
“Why would I?”
“Pay attention!” The Black Wolf barked as Hava and Goga froze. “Respect me as you respect my master. I bring you all a message from Doomba!”
“Of course, I’m sorry my friend’s impudent and ignorant.” Goga said.
“As are you.” The Black Wolf snarled. “Impudence and ignorance may lead to your downfall. You’ve no idea what you’re dealing with.”
“I’ve more of an idea than I did. I apologize, my brother and I won’t fail again.”
“This is your last chance. Against his better judgment, the Wolf packs are standing by. They won’t attack if you succeed and deal with the threat. But if you fail, the Wolves will have at them. Show them no mercy, Goga, or we’ll show you none.”
“I can handle it.”
“You’ve got twelve days to accomplish the task. Does this sound fair?”
“One question, do you know which one wields the Black Sword?” Goga asked.
The Black Wolf bristled. “I don’t. Keep your eye out, and see. I leave this man in your care. Farewell.” The Black Wolf left behind the injured guard, groaning softly as he faded into unconsciousness.
Hava shuddered. “Why’d you provoke it?”
“I wanted to know how much Doomba knew.” Goga examined the injured guard. “Apparently, not much. Hava, help me carry him out.”
Hava and Goga hoisted the injured guard, and transported him back to the others, where he was placed on horseback and strapped down.
“This is disturbing. Doomba doesn’t know what he’s facing, and it could be his end,” Goga muttered.
“But they’re just children,” Hava sputtered.
“They’re not just children, they’re growing up. They’ve the potential for violence, not as innocent as Janus would’ve led you to believe. They’ve the potential to unman and overthrow Doomba. That would be chaos for us Followers and Servants, because we need Doomba. You’re a Follower of Doomba, aren’t you?” Goga grabbed Hava. “You made the oath, swore to obey him, kissed the ring?”
Hava shuddered. “That was disgusting, imagining how many mouths might’ve kissed the ring.”
“Never mind that, but you felt something then, didn’t you?”
“What, like something was sucking the wind out of me?” Hava frowned as he tried to describe it.
“Exactly. That’s part of the ceremony, an exchange between you and Doomba. You owe him as much as he owes you. You’ve a part of him in you as much as he has a part of you in him.”
“Yes, they said that, but—they mean it, don’t they?” Hava gasped. “I’ve a part of Doomba inside me and he has a part of me? That’s disturbing!”
“Calm down, Hava.” Goga patted him on the shoulder. “You made the agreement, you’re a Follower of Doomba, no matter what. Sealed by the kiss and exchange of spirits. It’s binding even if you break it. You’ll be a Follower for the rest of your life and beyond, with a part of your spirit lingering inside Doomba. Be proud of
that.”
“How could you accept that?” Hava asked, changing the subject. “You gave away a part of your self, too. You wouldn’t have done that if Fobata was accepting your oath!”
“You’re right. I made the oath to Doomba as a young man, knowing what’d happen because my father told me. But I did it because I knew. I didn’t want to stay in my brother’s shadow forever. I’d rather stay in Doomba’s shadow forever. I made a choice, and I was proud of it.
“I’d obey Doomba, not Fobata. I’d be a better, stronger man than Fobata, who obeys only himself, no one else. Even when he kissed the ring, Fobata held a part of himself away from Doomba. I kissed the ring fully and embraced Doomba into myself. I felt the purest joy I’ve ever known. I’d no qualms about becoming a Follower of Doomba, not like some members of my family.”
Hava grimaced. “Whatever you say.”
“Certainly, whatever I say.” Goga’s grin seemed hollow, void of emotion, yet all the more menacing.
“Just one question,” Hava asked. “Do you think the Black Wolf was speaking as himself, or as Doomba?”
“I haven’t got an answer to that.” Goga said after a moment.
* * * *
“‘Twenty-nine children Za and Wan had, ’til fifteen of them left.’” Basha sang softly as Gnat snuggled up close inside the cave. “‘They went up, up, they went up, up, to the sky on the mountain. They went up, up, they went up, up to the sky on the mountain—’”
“Stop singing that,” Oaka muttered.
“Sorry,” Basha said.
“Keep singing.” Fato nestled close to Monika on her lap. “We need some music to keep us awake.”
“Do you object to everything I say to annoy me?” Oaka asked.
“Maybe,” Fato confirmed.
After two and a half days of walking and running, they reached the foothills. They started climbing on the 18th of Markee, managing to make at least fifteen miles a day on the foothills and lower slopes that day and the next when the path and incline were gentle enough.
Servants and Followers Page 23
