Winds of Torsham (The Kohrinju Tai Saga Book 2)

by J P Nelson

  Like Gordi, Kaurl’s finesse was apparent due to vast skill and experience, but the silky polish of Albri’s Tai’Jhi style was not his method; Kaurl relished in the use of his power and brute force. Twice his halberd struck a shield solid and split the worked metal with a loud thwang.

  Gordi’s staff was imbued with radiant energy, but the weapon of Kaurl’s delivered with the authority of his raw might. Nothing may ever be compared to the visage of exerted muscle and sweat in the realm of physical contest, whether it be for blood or sport … or both.

  It was upon dispatch of one opponent that Kaurl turned to see yet another, this one in full leap toward his backside, that he whirled his weapon into a spin and caught the man-sized vermin in midair on the point, held him high for all on the field to see, then tossed him to the side as if a rotten bale of hay that the assault broke; the remainder of the Umbertijei retreating back into the southern hills.

  There were wounds, yes, but none of the caravan folk were lost this day, yet Logan was not yet done. With no hesitation, he gathered the men within the box and said, “Quickly! Let us reconnect the teams and depart this place.”

  A guardsman asked, “But, Don’Syre, have we not won the day? Surely, Eayah has blessed us with victory.”

  “Do not be deceived, these are a deadly folk and we have been fortunate. What you perceive as a victory is but the result of poor planning on the part of the Umbertijei. They took us for easy prey.”

  Logan gestured to the hills and added, “They will regroup and seek another shaman. I have not yet discerned their purpose here, but it is of no matter. We must leave, now, and camp close to the Crown.”

  He glanced around and took note of the astonished faces, “It is a dreadful place, but we must hope they are in dread of it as we.”

  As Logan made way to his team to assist reconnection, Jann Raul heard Rh’Tosh confront him, “Your Excellency? Did you use a dagger to slay that woman?”

  For the first time, Jann Raul saw Logan’s features become cross as he looked up from the wagon tongue and glare at Rh’Tosh with paused impatience. Rh’Tosh put up his hands, backed away and climbed inside his wagon.

  ___________________________

  The pace was quick and miles were covered with purpose, but a counter attack by the Umbertijei did not occur … at least, not against this particular caravan.

  Twice there was an encounter with humans; once in the middle of the road to demand tax, whereupon the speaker suddenly grew old and feeble, thereby changing the minds of those demanding said tax; once a few days short of journey’s end after camp was made.

  Those of the second encounter were a bit more cordial, their leader recognizing Albri straightway. He remembered a debt of gratitude for saving his life once-upon-a-time, but, it was made clear in a pleasant but direct way, that such debt was now to be declared paid in exchange for safe passage through their territory.

  Albri and company were fine by that. There was no point in shedding blood when blood need not be shed. Albri explained to Jann Raul later, “You see, that fellow knew me personally, and he knew Logan, Gordi and Kaurl by reputation. He wanted no part of a fight he couldn’t win and he doesn’t have enough followers to even give us a good fight.

  “Out here, if you are going to lead ruffians and riff-raff, you have to be both smart and tough. Rather than appearing weak to his thugs by backing down, he was letting us know there would be no trouble between us making it sound like he was returning me a favor, while still looking strong and in control for his men.”

  He watched Jann Raul’s face as he processed the thoughts in his mind, and he seemed to understand. Albri added, “Actually, it was us doing him a favor by accepting his terms. He knows it, and we know he knows it. We go our separate ways happy.”

  The remainder of the Xenias journey was completed without further challenge. Once the caravan met with travelers headed east. A night’s camp was made in union with the travelers, then onward to Xenias.

  Jann Raul cultivated a good friendship with Caroll and the two traded stories and played the dice. Jann Raul’s favored story was when Caroll told of his once having to fight a full-grown bear with nothing but a twelve-inch curved knife blade. He slew the bear, but he still carried the scars, and the knife. Caroll even raised his mantle to show several rake marks about his back and shoulders.

  Once in Xenias, the caravan disbanded to go separate ways. But the four friends, add Jann Raul, took quarters together and refreshed themselves.

  The time had come for Logan to accept his position as High Priest, and the friends were there to see the grand ceremony. Xenias was a city built around what was now the Chief Temple of the Eayahn Religion, and the High Priest of Xenias was also something of a governor of the city.

  During the ceremony, Gordi remarked under his breath to Albri, “Just a way for those bastards to keep him under lock and key …”

  Kaurl heard the remark and grunted his accord.

  Albri just leaned over and with a mischievous grin asked, “Do you really think that is going to happen?”

  Gordi pondered the idea, then cast Albri an amused glance and nodded in afterthought agreement.

  Logan was now required to fulfill all manner of acclimating functions into his new office. There were endless meetings and conferences to bring him up to speed, but he was able to entertain one more evening with his friends. Afterward, there was a solemn parting of ways.

  Jann Raul could detect a sense of wonder between them as to whether they would see each other again. What, he imagined, would it be like to have such close friends of his own.

  Kaurl was headed to the western end of the Pihpikow Road where it made way into the Kilgore Mountains. Up there he was going to return to his ancestral lands and take up farming, perhaps a wife and family.

  Gordi pouted, “I reckon I’ll head up Nahjiua, I got some unfinished business up that a’ways.”

  Jann Raul was surprised, but pleased to learn Caroll had appealed for and received a position as Logan’s, Father Superior Logan, now, as his personal body guard. “It is my desire to make study from this man,” he told his young friend.

  “Take these …” he put two pair of dice, one blue pair and the other of ivory, into Jann Raul’s hand and cupped his fingers around them, “… as a token of friendship.”

  Jann Raul faltered a moment, then reached into his side pouch and took out a smooth stone seamed in multiple colors. The two had found it beside a stream one night during camp.

  Holding it up to the big man he said, “And you take this.”

  Albri was standing to the side as he watched the exchange and his heart was touched.

  Caroll reverently took the stone, bowed deeply and said, “I will treasure it always.”

  With that, the friends departed to go their own ways.

  ___________________________

  The morning was clear as just south of Xenias Albri led Jann Raul to a stand of trees with a flask of water and a crosscut saw.

  “Very well, young sir, let us build a vessel. We could traverse the Norder-Sau Trade Route. But we have already vested much time in overland travel …” he winked at his young partner, “… and I have my wife and daughters waiting, who I have not seen in a year.”

  Albri chuckled, “The Melphashic River, yonder, is a broad lady and much faster. I think you will like her.”

  Together the two built a sizable raft with a low cabin. Albri taught his ward how to carve an oar, the best way to lash poles together, how to apply pitch and much more.

  Once their craft was outfitted, audience with Logan was enjoyed once more. Then the pair were en route on a new adventure. Jann Raul learned to guide their vessel, deal with sand bars, navigate rocks and rapids, fish by spear, crossbow and by hook, and to read the stars.

  Albri made it a point to lead the still ever quiet lad to speak, and in the process speak well with proper pronunciation. Albri’s own tongue was well educated and his wife, J’Hene, was a teacher by profession.
In fact, she was one of the few women in Vedoa to study in a university.

  J’Hene’s grandfather had been Gallagher, sailing master and lieutenant under legendary Captain Raul Vier of the Tab’Oleen. Gallagher’s young son, Ruben, grew up on the ship and served as ship’s boy, worked as carpenter’s mate, coxswain, into sailing master, and ultimately was granted captain of the Tab’Oleen when Raul Vier retired.

  Ruben developed a relationship with Raul Vier’s one known daughter, Shuella, and the twain beget a son and daughter, the daughter being J’Hene.

  Raul Vier was never a member of the Vedoan Navy, but he often performed actions in her favor, thus was well regarded by the government. Ruben was actually commissioned as a privateer on Vedoa’s behalf. As a result, his petition for his daughter to attend Anton University, one of the world’s finest schools, was well received.

  It was at Anton that J’Hene met a young professor of physics named Albri and the two fell in love. Albri was full of desire to study the beginnings of world history and the two journeyed to Kohnarahs Bay, where they met Logan and Gordi.

  Today, J’Hene had founded a school on Robinto Island, second largest by diameter, but highest peak of the Georgian Isles, and there were some high peaks among these islands.

  High up on that peak was a structure built around a large cave. Part of the construction was of rock, but a significant amount of the outer work was some form of concrete. Albri had many questions about this structure, not the least of how the material was conveyed to the site. Also, this structure was ancient, but far superior to anything of modern times.

  And then there was the telescope … this apparatus was many, many times larger than any other he had ever seen or knew of, and it was mounted from within and positioned to gaze into the heavens.

  Over the better part of the last two decades, Albri had become an expert, or as expert as one can be, in the study of the ancient’s technology. Many ruins could still be found in the far north, if one was determined to dig deep and far enough to find them.

  But it was here the two were headed.

  Down the river traversed Jann Raul and Albri, laughing, working, twice encountering pirates, weathering a violent storm, practicing Tai’Jhi and forming a deep and lasting bond.

  It was just after the two had become covered in mud and silt in effort to free the raft from a nasty bar, Albri climbed upon the raft and held his hand out while absently saying, “Come on, son.”

  Jann Raul hesitated, then looked up into Albri’s face, took his hand and climbed onto the now moving raft and said, “Yes father.”

  The moment was awkward, but only a brief time, as Albri breathed deeply and felt emotion run through his core as he nodded and smiled and replied with a wink, “Yes, let us bring it home.”

  The Melphashic made travel a chore in most places, but together father and son met the challenges and claimed victory.

  Should one follow the river all the way to the south, it opens into the Monarrol Gulf. There, several miles wide, is a delta called the Melphai Marshland. Many land-bars have been formed and the region is mostly a swampland. Some of these bars support a domicile or two, and in the midst of the marshes a small village has been established.

  Practitioners of voodoo, witchcraft and various other arts can be found if you look hard enough. Traversing from the one side of the marshes to the other is not impossible if you do not mind poling a boat, wading through the murky water of indeterminate depths, chancing a sink-bog, or paying someone to float you to the other side. But this is not the kind of adventure Albri had in mind.

  For much of their journey the land to the west often appeared to be a wasteland and sometimes plains. The further south, however, scrub brush and trees eventually gave way to a vast forest.

  Albri pointed out and explained, “The land to your west is the Territory of Tahn’Sae. It is named for the Tahn’Sae Elf Tribes who once lived here, but they have been gone for a long time. These woods are the Langford Forest, where you can find the tallest oak and maple trees in Aeshea, maybe the whole world.

  “Instead of following the river all the way to the ocean, we are getting off at Leonard’s Bridge and heading west to N’Ville.”

  Jann Raul asked, “Leonard’s Bridge is part of the new trade route they are building, is it not?”

  “That is correct. The bridge is not located at the most narrow point, but the riverbed there is most solid. I doubt it is finished, but it has been set upon key bedrock positions and built so that the bridge bottom is forty-five feet above the river surface. This allows free movement to any craft upon the water. There isn’t anything like it except for the bridge city of Stafford.”

  Albri raised his eyebrows as he continued, “Leonard’s Bridge is even S-shaped and stretches three quarters of a mile across the river.”

  “How can they do that?”

  “Well, it is what they call a suspension bridge … you will see when we get there. People are saying it is going to be one of the wonders of the world.”

  Albri smirked, “Well, they have to finish it first. There are already small settlements on either end. On the west end is the town of Rachel’s Grove, where we will spend an evening or two.” He winked at Jann Raul and added, “If we are fortunate, we will meet Baron Leonard, himself.”

  This made Jann Raul breathe in with anticipation.

  The closer they got to the bridge’s location, there was more traffic on the water, mostly in the form of canoes, but there were a couple of other rafts which were transporting folk and goods from one side of the river to another. The river was not congested by any means, but more occupied than was seen for the majority of the journey.

  When Jann Raul saw the bridge, he was amazed; the bridge was without a doubt the most incredible thing he had ever seen. There were people working all over, huge hoists in operation … it was fantastic.

  Even more fantastic was the sight of the familiar figure on the landing they angled too. Jann Raul’s eyes were wide in astonishment as he stared at the crouching figure in the gray hood and cloak, bushy beard concealing most of his face and hanging even longer than remembered.

  And … why was Albri not in the least bit surprised? Instead of asking the obvious question he remarked with mocking scorn and sarcasm, “Miu’Ganté, I declare, will these folk allow any rascal to frequent these docks?”

  “Ah, but for that very thing I am upon this wood … to find a daft man of malignant intentions to stand before the Baron.”

  Albri threw him a rope and said, “Make us fast you scodger.” Laughing, he added, “You remember my first mate, do you not? He journeys with me to be a brother to my girls.”

  “Indeed, I do.” He finished tying the line and stepped upon the raft, extending his hand, “Jann Raul Jha’Ley, to be sure. If you are to be brother of such grand lasses, then you must accept myself as an uncle …” he bowed deep in a sweeping formal gesture, “Teaberry at your service.”

  Jann Raul imitated Teaberry and replied, “And I at yours.”

  Albri and friend clasped forearms and embraced in a manly hug as the rogue commented in an approving tone, “It is a good thing you do with the lad, you behoove each other and a man needs a son. Though your girls are splendid, you must not possess a male in your bag …”

  Albri’s face became intense as he exclaimed, “Oh-h-h-h! A challenge is it? And where is your son, come now?”

  With a double whip of his head and animated hand gestures Teaberry declared matter-of-factly, “Why my straight-laced friend, they are everywhere …” and both laughed heartily.

  Teaberry turned toward two men standing some distance away, raised his hand and motioned them to come forward as Jann Raul noticed he spoke in a very different accent, “Come hither yon lads, bear watch o’er me mate’s craft. We shall send direction as to deliverance and the where of his values.”

  As they quickly came forward, Teaberry added with gruff demeanor, “See to mind your posts with honor. I would be sorely vexed to find
need of stretching your hides upon shoe horn.”

  A cart was waiting for them to make the ride to Hunters Inn in Rachel’s Grove. Within they found their room comfortable. Two baths were ordered and by evening the trio were ready to attend formal dining with Baron Leonard, former ship’s captain, founder of Rachel’s Grove and long time friend of Albri’s.

  After the fine meal, Teaberry guided Jann Raul outside as Albri and Baron conversed. The youngster very much wanted to ask how the rogue got to Leonard’s Bridge so much faster than they. But as he was forming the question in his mind, he suddenly decided not to ask … he didn’t know why. Instead, they talked of the venture through the Devil’s Kitchen and down the Melphashic River.

  On the second morning after arrival, Albri, Jann Raul and Teaberry made journey to the great port city of N’Ville by horseback. The trip was quick and without incident, but when they crested a rise and saw the splendor of the Ahrgos Ocean, Jann Raul’s breath caught and he felt his pulse quicken.

  Suddenly a breeze found them, filled with the salt air of the sea. But Teaberry was staring at something, too, only it wasn’t the sea, it was something he had seen only once in his lifetime.

  Slowly, gently touching Albri’s arm with the back of his hand, Teaberry whispered, “Look …”

  Albri whispered in return, “… what, where are you looking?”

  Teaberry nodded to Jann Raul, whose back was toward them, “… in the folds behind his ears …”

  Albri looked as the breeze billowed his new son’s hair and quietly said, “Damn …”

  As Jann Raul inhaled deeply of the ocean essence … then exhaled … small slits behind his ears made themselves revealed. Jann Raul Jha’Ley had gills.

  Chapter 5

  DURING THE VOYAGE from N’Ville to Robinto Island, Jann Raul was fully enraptured by life at sea, the routines of crew upon the vessel, bloom of the canvas as filled by wind, colors of the sky, and there was the sea itself.