by C. R. Daems
I jumped up and sent a knife at the whirling center, knowing it would be spun off course before it hit. He laughed and sent a gust of wind my way, knocking me off my feet and sliding me along the road. I'd feel the pain later. When his attention returned to the Earth Wizard, I leapt up, ran several steps toward him, and threw another knife. Again, a gust set me bouncing down the road, ripping the back of my blacks. If he could have focused all his attention on me, he would have killed me.
The trick was to make him think I wasn't a threat and that my throwing knives at him was pathetic. Anil and Kasi's echo-sight helped me tell the distance to his vortex. I rose more slowly this time and threw another knife at him. As he deflected it, I arched one after another high into the air. I imagined the vortex like the narrow bottles the gypsies used and my knives the balls.
The first was too short and swept away, the second, slightly to the left side and swept away. The third and fourth were sucked into the whirling vortex. The Wizard screamed as he fell to his knees. The wind died. I threw two more knives, one into his chest and the other his neck. He collapsed, seeming to disappear into his robe.
As I sat to rest, sixty Zunji warriors exploded out of the surrounding desert screaming, laughing, and jumping up and down around the dead Wizard.
"Well done, Shadow," Gero said, standing over me. "I thought for sure he would kill you. I see now that was a painful distraction."
"The spinning vortex is their weakness," I said somewhat unnecessarily. Just then, the Earth Wizard joined us. "Thank you for your help, Earth Brother. Without it, he could easily have killed me."
"I had heard how you did it, but it was more instructional to watch. If you had arched the knives immediately, he would have realized what you were doing and could have countered the attack. Very nicely done." Wallia nodded his head in approval. "You'll meet another Earth Wizard further up the road. She will update you on the next blockade. Good-bye, Shadow. I hope to see you in Tarlon." He wandered off into the desert.
"Gero, I know you and you warriors are ready for the next roadblock, but I'm not ready for the Fire Wizard. We'll rest here today and attack tomorrow night."
"That will disappoint my warriors, but I understand. After your performance today, they would follow you into the teeth of a sand storm." He grinned.
We made camp well off the road. They started a fire to have cooked food now and cold food tonight when the fires could be seen for leagues. The talk was lively. They gathered in groups to discuss the attack on the mercenaries and my fight with the Wizard. Each took a turn elaborating on his kill that night. In the evening, the discussions switched to tomorrow's action. They talked well into the night.
In the morning, Gero produced a salve that helped ease the pain. I spent the time sewing up the bigger rips in my blacks while talking to the warriors about my trip across Hesland. I left out most of the details. In a small way, it helped ease my guilt for killing so many. Although I could have left some alive, I realized that I hadn't killed any innocent people. The warriors were fascinated with the story. They had trained to be warriors and to kill, but most had very little opportunity. For better or worse, these sixty would. I still hoped none of them would die.
At midafternoon, the Earth Wizard stood waiting in the middle of the road. Gero and I went to meet her. She was a tall, thin woman with wrinkled skin. Although obviously old, she stood erect like a much younger woman.
"Good day, Shadow. I'm the Earth Wizard Egica."
"It's my honor to meet you, Wizard Egica."
"As it's mine to meet you. You've a good reputation among my brothers, and a very bad one among your enemies, or should I say our enemies." She smiled. "The next blockade is another league ahead. There's a Fire Wizard there. I'll be interested in watching you kill him."
"As will I," Gero said.
"I'll need your help, Sister. There is nothing to hide behind that I can use to deflect some of the fire balls."
"I'll be glad to help, where I can." With that, she began walking back along the road.
* * *
We left at dusk planning to use the same tactics. The warriors would swing well wide of the mercenaries' line and position themselves behind them. They would be in position around midnight and attack two hours later. Gero and I followed until they turned to get in position. We continued for another league.
"What can I do, Shadow?" Gero asked.
"Stay back as far as you can. A Fire Wizard can only throw his fireballs about forty to fifty steps. How are you at throwing a knife?" The Zunji had a reputation for being good with a knife. I didn't know if that included throwing.
"Good." He bowed slightly, swinging his arm to his chest.
"If you're feeling particularly bored of living, begin running when I do. Count to eight and throw for the center of the fire ring as many times as you can."
* * *
We rested and waited. At noon, the Fire Wizard came walking up the road. He stopped fifty steps from me.
"I wanted something to kill. Your Zunji friends killed all but three mercenaries. Those cowards are probably still running. Hopefully, you won't."
I threw my first knife. As I expected, he brought up the fire ring and the blade melted long before it reached him. He brought it down, and I rolled as a fireball roared toward me. Searing pain shot across the back of my legs, which I forced away—something for later. His ring was already coming up as I threw another knife. A sizzle and it disappeared. As he brought down the ring, the ground rippled and the ball went high to the right. He had anticipated me jumping to the right and the earth's ripple caused the ball to shoot upward. Instead, I had dropped to the ground where I stood. His shield went up as I threw another knife. Boring, but I had to convince him that I was stupid. A few seconds later, his shield came down and he threw the ball of fire at Egica. The ball smashed into a dirt screen. I started running.
One, two…seven, eight, I threw, and again and again, and then dove for the ground. My rocktail dart was ready, just in case the knives weren't enough. He burst into flame.
Fire flashed in my face, and I bit back a scream. I'd been too close when he lost control, and my face felt burnt raw. As I lay panting, the Zunji came running from the sides screaming, laughing, and clapping. Gero stood over me looking down.
"That was fun, Shadow. Do you think we could find another one to practice on?" His eyes shifted to the burnt Wizard, half-melted hilts sticking out from his smoking body. Now the pain returned. When I looked, the backs of my pants legs were still smoldering. I considered myself lucky. Without the Earth Wizards, in the open terrain I would have lost both fights. Actually, I had fared much better than in my other two encounters. It helps when you know what you are doing and have help from a Wizard.
"That was nicely done, Shadow. You've discovered their weaknesses, which no one before has been able to do. You've shown us Wizards that we are as vulnerable as anyone else. The Wizards may not be as significant as they thought in the upcoming struggle," Egica said. "You should know there are armies gathering outside of the city. We'll help as we can." She turned and walked up the road toward Tarlon.
"Shadow, would you like the Zunji to do anything else? My warriors and I would be willing to help more. I think my warriors are in love with you." He grinned. "Me too."
"Can you scout the armies outside Tarlon? Where? How many?" Tarlon appeared to be the battleground. If so, why was it so important to stop me and the other Shadows? Logically, they want to keep the Shadows from knowing who was involved, when it would happen, or how it would happen.
That's it, HOW. Ironically, I don't know how—or do I? It has to have something to do with the armies massing outside of Tarlon, but what?
"Gero, even more I need to know who."
"I'll send my warriors out tonight. Where will you be?"
"I'll be with your father."
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Tarlon—Dazel Province
I sat just outside Sizwe's tent, enjoying an evening me
al with him and his two wives, Nubia and Subira. Although I should've been anxious to hear what Gero and his warriors had been able to discover, I felt relaxed. Over the past few weeks, I had gained the ability to widen the moment between the second that was and the one to come, where neither past nor future existed.
"I hear that my warriors killed many mercenaries, and you two Wizards. Not a bad two days. A few more days like that and they will make you chief of the Zunji." He slapped his leg and laughed. Nubia leaned over and gave me several slices of goat meat on a stick and a bowl of hot soup. She was a small, delicate woman about my age. Subira was an older woman with a soft, mature figure who was probably the mother of Sizwe's three sons. Nubia's daughter, about three cycles old, clung to her skirt.
"Your people's warriors are feared by your enemies. I understand why no one dares enter the desert without your permission." I believed it to be true, and it turned attention from the past to the present.
"Yes. Like you Shadows, we train our young men to be warriors from a very young age. They go through many rites of passage before they are considered adults. We haven't fought a war in my sons' lifetime, but we train as if we were at war. Perhaps we've been preparing for this day." He lapsed into silence as he ate. I looked around at the tents where groups of men, women, and children sat around small fires. I couldn't be sure, but there seemed to be a lot of excitement around the campfires. "Yes, they speak of war and the greatness of the Zunji warriors. If it comes to pass, they will talk about it for many cycles. The tales will be better than the war where real men, women, and children suffer and die."
They were the words of a chief who had seen war and its consequences, not of a young warrior's dream of glory.
Not too unlike the dreams of any young Shadow.
I shook myself mentally. The past had no place in the present.
Sometime during the day, Nubia had repaired my blacks. They had given me a robe and head wrap to wear while the blacks were being repaired. Sizwe understood my need to keep my identity secret. That night I lay in Sizwe's tent, watching Anil and Kasi feed on bugs and the Zunjis' cattle. Nothing moved beyond the camp except for a few small creatures. The tent and the blankets were welcome as the desert gave up its heat and the temperature plunged. I woke early when Kasi saw the warriors returning.
"You've good hearing, Shadow, or is it your familiar, which I understand all Shadows have?" Sizwe stood behind me looking in the direction of the coming warriors.
"Yes," I said and smiled. He nodded acknowledgment. Soon Gero and ten warriors neared. Gero knelt down on one knee.
"Father." He rose and drank from a bowl his mother gave him. Then he turned to me. "Shadow, there are three armies amassed outside the city. The one in the center numbers sixty hands. The ones on each side each number fifty. My warriors believe the army on the right is from Tuska, the one in the center from Araby, and the one on the left from Calion."
"Gero, you and your warriors are as good as if not better than the Shadows," I said, giving the group a small nod. Gero's eyes gleamed at the compliment.
"Sizwe, please excuse me. I must think about what I've just learned."
He nodded and I walked into the desert where I could be alone. I called Anil and Kasi to me for comfort while I thought over what Gero and his warriors had discovered. Three armies numbering one hundred thirty hands versus the king's army of ninety. They out numbered the king's forces by forty, but he had a castle with massive walls to hide behind. The enemy had to have enough soldiers inside to hold the gates open or some way to draw the king's soldiers out. In either case, it would require deception.
I understood deception. My enemies were composed of many factions with conflicting interests and only tentative alliances. Like in the dart game, the bull's-eye was made to look like it was in the center when it was not. Of course, in this case the bull's-eye was in the center. I rushed back to Sizwe's tent.
"Sizwe, if you haven't chosen to remain neutral, I would like another two hundred warriors." I looked from Gero to Sizwe, who would, with input from his sons, make the decision.
"That's not enough if you plan to fight those armies," Sizwe said. Gero frowned.
"No. I plan to do what you do best, harass two of the armies. I can't promise no one will get killed, but it'll be ten to one or better." The game everyone was playing—gypsy darts.
"Will it stop the war or win it for the king?" Sizwe asked.
"That's my intention, but I can't guarantee it." I needed their help, but I wouldn't lie. These people weren't my enemies.
"We'll help," Sizwe said after Gero nodded. "They will be ready by tomorrow night."
"I'll be back by then," I said as I began trotting toward the road.
* * *
I waited until late that night. In the camp, the cook fires had dimmed to embers. The only was sound a mournful song coming from one of the tents. Slipping into the camp would be easy. Negotiating the sleeping troops to get to wu'Lichak's tent would be more difficult, and then I would have her personal guards to contend with. Once there, wu'Lichak would decide whether I succeeded or failed.
The sentries were easy to avoid. They were positioned to detect large numbers of trespassers not a single invader. I waited until the one nearest me turned and began retracing his route. Once pass him, I used Kasi, Anil, and the shadows to avoid soldiers wandering the camp. I didn't want to dart anyone, as it could lead to a search of the area and me having to declare myself. It would get me to the first lady but might compromise her.
Two stood in front of her tent. I lay there considering my options. I needed to talk with her, but without anyone's notice. I chewed my lip. Lord Bolan's tent was next to hers with no guards. I crawled to the opening and slid inside. Inside, I stood and tiptoed to his bedroll, placed one hand over his mouth, and lay a knife at his throat.
"Lord Bolan, please don't move. The knife's sharp," I whispered.
His eyes flew open wide, and he choked back a shout to the nearby guards. Then he relaxed.
"Shadow, how may I help you?" he whispered.
I took that for a good sign. "I need to talk to the first lady without anyone seeing me. It could jeopardize her position, which, if I'm right, isn't good."
"Are you an assassin?" he asked.
"Yes, but it's a stupid question isn't it, Lord Bolan? You should know that the Shadows don't support opposition to the king. If you believe the first lady supports the overthrow of the king, shout for the guards when I let you go. If you aren't sure, let me talk to her. You can stay while I do." This was twice the risk. I would have to trust him now and wu'Lichak in the upcoming war. He nodded, threw on some clothes, and left the tent. I sat, dropping into the moment. I didn't know what to expect. I doubted I could make it out of the camp, but I would try if necessary. Several minutes later, wu'Lichak entered followed by Bolan. Two guards took up positions outside of the tent.
"Are you here to give me another telling?" she asked as she sat facing me, almost touching my legs with hers. Bolan's mouth dropped open, then he frowned. "You saw the future quite well. I thought I understood it at the time, but I didn't see it as clearly as I should have. It appears I'll decide who will win and who will die."
"When did you and your friends arrive?"
"I arrived two days ago, the others early yesterday."
"You realize if the king feels you're the threat, he will attack you if he feels he has support of the armies on your flanks. When neither army supports you, your army and the king's will destroy each other. The throne and Araby will be up for grabs."
Wu'Lichak flinched. She realized she was in a no-win situation. If instead she attacked the other two, she would again lose, as they outnumbered her.
"What do you wish for, wu'Lichak?" When I left off her title, Bolan started to protest, but she waved him to silence.
"What I've always wanted: to have my people prosper and live in peace."
"I see a world where that is possible. It's not the only future but the one
I see most clearly."
Bolan's mouth had been hanging open as we talked. "How?" Bolan blurted.
Again, wu'Lichak waved him to silence. She sat quiet for several minutes. "They have thrown their combined forces against you, and here you sit. They fear you more than the king and his forces. They believe you're the Shadow of their destruction." She tilted her head as she looked into my face. "I believe they maybe right, Shadow. I would like to think the future you see most clearly will be the future. What do you wish me to do?"
"Be prepared to move. If the king attacks the army north of you, attack the army on your south side. If he splits to attack both armies on your flanks, support him as you see fit. Otherwise, I'll send word with a Zunji warrior to Bolan."
"Bolan will see you out. It'll save you an hour sneaking around. Good luck, Shadow."
* * *
I arrived at Sizwe's camp several hours before sunrise. He and his son sat around a small fire as if they had been waiting for me. Sizwe looked up as I neared. I assumed one of his guards had alerted him of my approach.
"The warriors are ready, Shadow." Sizwe resumed staring into the fire.
I squatted next to the fire and warmed my hands. "Gero, split your warriors into two groups. Each group is to do exactly the same thing. One will take the army to the south and one the army on the north. Do what you did to the mercenaries. Sneak in and kill as many as you can then run. They will follow on horseback. Can you stop riders on horseback?"
"Yes, horses' eyes sensitive to sand like humans'." Gero smiled. I knew why the Zunji remained unchallenged: the Zunji were good fighters, the desert an unforgiving land, and horses were useless.
