Princess Electra Book 3 Gypsy Music

by Dory Lee Maske

  Chapter 47

  Desert near Crossroads

  Meeting the caravan at the oasis after being abandoned by Akbar had saved the lives of Muller, Hilgard and Tandor. Hilgard's spirit was especially revived, first by the rescue, and second by meeting a fellow student of languages, Dong Hao. While Hilgard spent more and more time learning Chinese from Dong Hao, Muller and Tandor spent more and more time together, plotting what to do about the bandits following the caravan. As soon as they broke off from the caravan they would be vulnerable to attack from the men who stalked them.

  Muller and Tandor sat behind rocks peering out at the trail they had just traveled, watching for the bandits who had been following the caravan. The caravan had reached higher ground this afternoon. From now on there would be more water. It was a perfect place for an ambush by Muller and Tandor, since the bandits would be at a disadvantage as they came up the steep trail. Muller and Tandor had agreed to try to scare off the bandits here, before they split off from the caravan to strike out northwest for Fernland. Sometime tomorrow they would reach the crossroads where one road led southwest to Ankar and the other northwest to Fernland. The bandits had not tried anything as yet, but their constant following had everyone on edge. And when the caravan broke up, the bandits would likely choose the smaller group to attack.

  "I see them," Tandor whispered.

  Dusk made the two strangers who followed the caravan little more than long shadows. But Muller could see them now, heading slowly, almost hesitantly, toward the plateau.

  "If we want to kill them we could wait until they start up the rim of the plateau. If we only want to scare them we could send out a couple of flaming arrows now," Muller whispered.

  Tandor could tell Muller did not want to kill them. Nor did he.

  "They have committed no crime as yet. But they have followed us too long without making themselves known to be anything but bandits or spies."

  Both men dipped their arrows in sticky black pitch then lit the tips. They aimed for a spot close to the bandits but a little in front of them.

  "On two," Muller whispered. On the count of one, both men pulled back their bow strings and on the count of two they released the strings.

  Curses rang out as the bandits pulled up on their reins. Their horses reared up, frightened both by their masters' shouts and by the flaming arrows. One bandit fell off his horse. He tried to get up quickly and fell back down.

  The second bandit urged his horse after the first horse that was running off in the direction from which they had come. The man who had fallen crawled back into the shadow of a bush.

  Muller and Tandor continued to watch. They wondered if the second bandit would return to help his comrade. They waited a long time, beginning to fear they might have to go check on the fallen bandit themselves. Then they heard horses approaching, quietly.

  The second man had captured the runaway horse. He called out softly to his friend and finally heard a grateful reply. He helped the injured man onto his horse and they rode off together back the way they had come.

  Muller stood up and stretched. "I believe we've seen the last of them."

  The two men walked back to join the rest of the men, who were already gathered around the campfire for their evening meal.

  "Where have you been?" Hilgard asked. He was seated next to Dong Hao as usual, chatting in English and Chinese. Both students of languages were intent on picking up as much of the other's language as they could before they must part company.

  "We shot flaming arrows at our bandit followers. One was injured falling off his horse. I think we have seen the last of them."

  Dong Hao leaned over to tell the leader of the caravan the news. "He is grateful," Dong Hao translated.

  Muller and Tandor found a place to sit close to Hilgard and began to load their plates with rice and chunks of meat. They feared it might be their last good meal before they reached Fernland.

  Muller spoke to Hilgard between bites. "Tomorrow we will take the trail that leads northwest. We will have to repack the load. If it is too much for two camels, we may have to carry some of the powder ourselves."

  Hilgard seemed despondent. He did not want to leave the safety of the caravan, nor did he want to leave his new friend, Dong Hao. He translated Muller's decision to his new friend and nodded at Dong's response.

  "He is very sad that we will be leaving. He wishes he could travel with us to beautiful Fernland."

  "He's welcome to come along with us if he wants." Muller spoke without thinking as he concentrated on his meal.

  Muller stopped eating when he heard a flurry of English and Chinese words exchanged between Dung and Hilgard.

  Hilgard was very excited. "He says thank you so much. He will ask permission from his uncle to go with us to Fernland."

  Muller frowned. "Isn't he, umm, under some kind of obligation to stay with the caravan?"

  "I don't know, I guess we'll find out." Hilgard tried to overhear the conversation between Dong Hao and his uncle. After listening for a few minutes, Hilard jumped up and went to shake his friend's hand.

  Muller hit his head with the palm of his hand. He wondered what King Geoffrey's reaction would be to this latest immigrant guest from another kingdom.

  After their evening meal, all the men went to check on the camels. Dong Hao carefully checked the hooves of the three Fernlanders' camels. Camels were contrary beasts. If one picked up a cut or a bruise to its foot, instead of limping or walking gingerly on the injured foot, the camel would stamp the swollen foot hard on the ground, further injuring the foot.

  Uncle came to choose which camel would be taken in payment for food and protection. He found the Fernland camels in relatively good shape and stuck with his original choice. His nephew argued with him about taking the camel, reasoning that the Fernlanders would now be providing him food since he would stay there long enough to perfect his English.

  His uncle argued that the Fernlanders would be learning Chinese and so his food was justified. Muller said it was all right. They would abide by their original agreement and then, in an unusual turn of events, the uncle suddenly decided that taking the camel might be a loss of face for him, and insisted that they keep all three camels. He said he must consider their help in ridding the caravan of the bandits. He seemed curious that the Fernlanders had not used this bargaining chip.

  Muller's head was spinning and he wondered if he was supposed to feel some loss of face by accepting the uncle's new offer. He thought about the added burden of carrying the powder and threw up his hands.

  "Tell your uncle he is a generous man and we appreciate his gesture. Tell him our king will surely send him a generous gift along with you when you return to your country."

  Uncle insisted this was not necessary but seemed content with the bartering.

  The next morning the four men bound for Fernland packed up their camels, had a quick meal of tea and noodles cooked in oil, and started off for the trail that led northwest.

  Muller had a map of sorts provided by the caravan leader. Their money was gone but Muller suspected Dong Hao's uncle had supplied his nephew with a bit of gold for the trip. He did not know how long a journey it would be before they reached Fernland. They might be very much in Dong Hao's debt by the time they arrived.