Rencha had found Keats lying on the floor outside her son's room. He didn't look well at all. She reached down to touch him and he hardly moved. Something was definitely wrong with him. He never just laid there. She hollered to the nearest servant to get their physician. Surely he would know what to do. Frelish would be heartbroken if anything happened to his favorite pet. When the servant returned to tell her that the physician was on his way, Rencha decided to get Frelish to come to dinner and afterward she would tell him of his pet's illness. She entered her son's room. He was lying on the bed with his back turned toward her. As she walked toward the bed to wake her sleeping son, she saw the array of gems. As she came around the bed to face him, she was wondering where he got the gems and why did he have them. It wasn't until she looked at his face that she knew he was dead. The physician had been out in the hall looking at Keats when he heard her scream. Both he and the servant rushed into the room. Kaleed, the physician, was just in time to grab her and pull her away from the bed and her son.
Alleed rushed in followed by a flood of guards. Rencha was struggling with Kaleed and the servant to be released. Alleed rushed over and subdued Rencha. It was the physician and servant's quick action that saved his wife's life. Alleed saw the gems on the bed and the ones clutched in his son's hand. He knew that in one way or another, those gems had caused his son's death. Alleed pulled his wife from the room and instructed the guards that no one was to enter the room and nothing was to be touched.
He was heartbroken but knew that he had to be strong for his wife. It would do no good to breakdown also and be of no help. He knew his son was murdered and he had been informed by his father earlier that there had been an attempt on the elder's life. Something was going on and he was going to get to the bottom of it.
Alleed sent messengers to all tribes and the elder of the death of his son and that he knew it had been murder. The elder, along with the selected guards from the different tribes, made their way to Alleed's home. Daveed went alone into the room where Frelish was. He carefully examined the gems with tongs and some of his potions. He determined that the gems themselves were tainted and any living creature that touched the oil on the gems would certainly die. He instructed that a funeral pyre be assembled immediately and all floor coverings as well as Frelish and the bed he was lying in be burned. Keats had already passed away as well and Daveed instructed that he also be burned. That was the only way to be sure that all traces of the oil from the gems would be destroyed.
It was awful for Alleed and Rencha to have to deal with the death of their son in such a way, but they knew that they could not risk anyone else being contaminated by the oil. Daveed even had Rencha, the servant, Kaleed and Alleed strip their clothes and shoes off and had those burned as well. He did not wish to take any chances.
Daveed stayed with Alleed and Rencha and their families until the last of the embers of the fire died out. "My dear Alleed and Rencha, it is with a heavy heart we say good-bye to Frelish." He hugged each of them. He then stood back and took one of their hands in each of his, "This may be of little comfort to you at this time, but know that you will have more children and you will have a son to take your place one day. As you know, it is not custom to tell you all things I see, but I feel it necessary for you to know that your line does not stop with Frelish as you both had thought it would."
"Thank you," responded Alleed. "It does give us comfort to know that. Now if you will excuse us, Rencha needs to rest."
Daveed watched them retreat. He decided that he would send the Princess's party on their way before any other misfortune happened. He knew that these things stemmed from their arrival and the sooner they left the sooner things would settle here. He turned and headed back to his home. His guards fell in beside and behind him. Cardel was changing he thought to himself. His mind wandered, wondering who would have held such a grudge against the house of Alleed to want their son dead.
When he reached his home he instructed one of his messengers to go to Tor's tribe and inform the Princess and her group that he would hold counsel with them the morning after next. They needed one day to get things prepared for the proper burial of the prince's ashes and he wouldn't have time for much else.
Chapter 31
Disappointing News
It was Sir Taz that informed the group of the recent death the next morning. He had asked that everyone meet in the small dining hall and when they arrived he began. "Please be seated and help yourself to something to eat and drink. We will be dining here alone today."
"And what has happened now?" asked Bishoff as he took a drink of ale.
That remark brought everyone's attention to Sir Taz.
"You're right in asking what has happened now," Sir Taz sighed and took a seat at the table. "The Elder wishes to speak with us tomorrow morning and most likely he is going to suggest that we take leave of Cardel before nightfall." He glanced around and saw that he had everyone's attention. "Alleed is a tribal leader's son and is next in line when his father passes. Alleed's son was murdered last evening."
Elise gasped and shot a glance toward Angelina. Her shock and acknowledgment of the seriousness of the situation was finally setting in.
"As you may have already guessed, our coming here will be blamed as an ill omen. The attempt on the Elder's life as well as the murder of the son of Alleed will be recognized as events brought on by our search for the sorceress," he hurried on and had to raise his voice to be heard above the objections and comments made by his companions. "I know that we personally didn't have anything to do with these two occurrences, but that doesn't matter. I may have been gone from here for many years but our beliefs hold strong," he eyed them to stress the seriousness of the situation. "Already there is talk that we are involved in some way. If we stay here we are all at risk of being hauled off and thrown in prison until the tribal leaders and the Elder determine we weren't involved. I know that my father and the Elder side with us, but the other three leaders may have different opinions."
"How can they think that we would be a part of any such thing?" demanded Corbin. He wasn't happy that anyone would think ill of him or his father. "We are good, honest people and would never intentionally harm anyone. Especially a child," he continued vehemently.
Corbin was half out of his chair as if he was looking for anyone to disagree with him so he could put them in their place.
"Corbin," rasped Koren as he grabbed his son's arm. "Sit down," he commanded. "No one here is accusing anyone of anything. Sir Taz is trying to prepare us for what will happen if we stay." Corbin sat down and regained his composure. "I'm sorry for the interruption Sir Taz, sometimes my son gets too excited about things." He gestured with his hand, "Please continue."
"As I was saying," continued Sir Taz, "if we are tossed in prison, it will be years before any of us are able to leave Cardel and continue our search. I personally know that two of the tribal leaders will favor our being held here at Cardel until it is decided that we weren't involved. That is if it can be proven."
"Are you implying that we were some how involved with these two occurrences?" asked Merk defensively.
"I think he is," answered Angelina, "and he wouldn't be wrong."
"You mean to say that one of us was involved in the murder and attempted murder?" Pendrake asked with disbelief.
"Not directly," she explained, putting the piece of bread down that she was eating. "I believe that because we came here searching for answers these things happened. It certainly wasn't coincidental that while the Elder is meditating on an answer for us that someone tries to kill him so he won't be able to tell us if he finds one. The only thing that I can't figure out is how was the grandson of a tribal leader involved?"
"That's what's bothering me," Elise added as she placed her goblet on the table in front of her. "What would a young boy do that someone would feel that they needed to murder him for it? It doesn't make sense." She ran her hands over her face as if to erase the confusion. "But I do know one thing,"
she continued as she looked at Sir Taz, "that we should be ready to leave after we talk with the Elder."
"I agree," chimed in Lord Farley as everyone else nodded in agreement.
"Fine, then that's settled. I suggest that we all try to relax today and get rested up for the continuation of our journey. I have a feeling that it's going to be a long time before we again have the luxury of a soft bed and a private room," commented Dax.
They finished their meal and headed back to their rooms. Angelina noticed that Sir Taz was heading out into the city and was about to ask him where he was going when she saw that Olena was waiting for him by the door. She smiled to herself and entered her room. It was good to see the two of them together. Sir Taz had been alone for so long and she had been worried that Olena would still be angry with him. She knew herself that she could stay angry with any of her family members for a surprising amount of time. She laughed at that. It was never for too long. She noticed the way they looked at each other and knew they loved each other. In a way she was hoping that Sir Taz would decide to stay in Cardel, but felt a twinge of guilt as she knew she wanted him to continue on the journey with her. It just wouldn't be the same without him.
She went back to her room to wash up. What ever decision Sir Taz made she knew she would stand behind him. That made her think of Airic and what he was doing and how he fared. Even though she thought of him often because that was what their quest was all about, she caught herself thinking of him more and more. It wasn't so much the older vision of Airic she saw in her thoughts, but the younger one from the painting. He would be that way again if they could succeed on their quest. She lay back on her bed lost in thought and even though it had only been a few hours since she had gotten up she felt herself beginning to doze.
A fleeting thought crossed her mind before she drifted off to sleep, a thought of Airic not being interested in her after he had his youth restored. After all, the only reason he had chosen her was because of what her title was, not because of who she was. And it was at her persistence that they wed, not his.
She must have only dozed for an hour or so when Elise came in. She and Merk had still been sitting at the table talking when she went to her room.
"Oh, I'm sorry," apologized Elise, "I didn't realize that you were napping."
"That's okay," responded the groggy Angelina with a yawn. "I probably shouldn't sleep the whole day away. Besides," she continued as she rolled over to face Elise, "I don't want to be awake tonight anxiously waiting to meet the elder."
"Well, we can't leave our building because they are getting things ready for today's burial of poor little Frelish. It's horrible that someone would cold bloodily murder a child," she said with a shudder. "I can't imagine what a child could do to deserve someone's wrath. Merk and I were discussing it and even he hasn't any idea."
"I really feel bad for his parents. It must be terrible to have to go through the loss of a child." Angelina was fully awake now and was sitting cross-legged on the bed. "I know how awful it was to lose mother and I still think of her often and really miss her. It must be so much worse for it to be one of your children."
"Yes, I'm sure it is," agreed Elise. "Well, on a lighter note, I thought that since we are stuck here we could check out the small library they have," Elise said with a gleam in her eye. "We could spend some time going though all those books."
Elise and Angelina loved to read and it was too much of a temptation to pass up.
"That sounds wonderful, and it will take our minds off of what's been going on around here."
Elise and Angelina spent almost the rest of the day pouring over the books in the library. The library was a small room with bookshelves only lining two walls and they didn't extend more than half way up the wall. There was only one table and a few throw cushions lying around it. The other two walls had tapestry hangings and a few pictures. It was kind of dreary since there weren't any windows. Elise had asked Sir Asen about it when he stopped by to say hello. He thought that maybe if the sand blew in it might damage the books. He wasn't sure though.
It was later than usual when they were called to dinner. No one had much to say except they were glad that they would be leaving the next morning.
Angelina was hoping that the elder had something to tell them and that it wasn't a wasted trip. Although it wouldn't have mattered since they would probably have had to come searching here to see if anyone knew anything anyway. They didn't have much of an idea where they were supposed to be heading.
Once everyone had finished eating they headed back to their rooms.
Morning came all too quickly and Angelina did not feel rested at all. "Wake up and get dressed. We must be on our way before dawn," quietly urged Sir Taz as he and Koren knocked on doors to wake everyone.
They all knew that they should hurry and were dressed and ready to go in a short period of time. The servants had water, fruit, cheeses and bread prepared for them so they could hastily eat. Not much was said during the meal.
After everyone had finished eating they were escorted to see the elder. They put their packs down in the first room before being shown into the elders counsel area. They were all seated around the white table and asked to wait.
It was only a few minutes when Neek appeared. He explained that the elder would be with them shortly. He had the servants bring cool nectris to them.
They made small talk until the elder arrived.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting but it has been a long couple of days and I had a few more things than usual to attend to," explained the elder as he took his seat at the head of the table.
"I asked that you meet with me this morning so that I could tell you a few things," he began has he slid his white cloak from his shoulders. He was wearing a white smock with brightly colored thin stripes running diagonal from his shoulder to his waist. These were the colors of the tribes.
"First of all, after going over all of the evidence, we have determined that the attack on my life and the murder of Frelish the prince were directly related and that these occurrences were because of your arrival in Cardel."
"What?" gasped Angelina. "But how, we never were in contact with the tribe of Alleed, only you."
The elder held up his hand for silence amid the raucous cries which broke out as a result of his last statement. "Please let me finish." He waited until the commotion died down before he continued. "As you have been told, it was banded snakes that were put in the room with me. It is very rare for these snakes to venture into the city at any time during the year. It is even more rare for these snakes to be captured by anyone and brought into the city. The meat of the snake is extremely bitter and has been known to cause great illness when eaten. So therefore, we do not hunt them as food." He noticed the questioning looks he was getting from his guests. "Before all of the items in Frelish's room were burned. We very carefully and cautiously examined them for any evidence that might tell us who did this. Upon examining the inside of a pouch that was lying on Frelish's table, we discovered scales from banded snakes." He again raised his hand for silence. "We determined that there were at least three if not more snakes in that pouch due to the different sizes of scales that were found. Those scales were compared to the scales from the snakes that were found here and they matched. This means that it was Frelish that released the snakes. The only question is who gave him the snakes."
There were gasps from Elise and Angelina. The other companions were surprised and even Sir Taz looked a bit shocked as well.
"Are you sure?" questioned Sir Taz. He was having a hard time believing that someone in line for the tribal title could have done such a thing. It definitely wasn't the same Cardel that he left.
"Unfortunately, yes," confirmed the elder. "It is with heavy heart that we find out this news. It is also a large blow for Alleed and Rensha. It may change the future chance of any descendent they have of reaching tribal leadership. And if it doesn't change, I fear that the next son they have will have a hard life while he grows
up." He sighed a disheartening sigh. "Things are changing."
"I'm sorry that these things happened after we arrived and forgive me for changing the subject," began Lord Farley, "but do you have any information for us regarding our quest?"
The elder smiled a slow smile, "Unfortunately, I didn't have much luck. The only thing that I can tell you is that you must cross the Lavgeldor Ocean. Other than that, I can tell you nothing. And I will not be able to begin another meditation session for at least two months." He noticed Angelina's look of disappointment. "I'm sorry Angelina, I really am." With that the elder got up to leave.
Angelina stood and approached the elder. "Thank you for your efforts and I'm sorry about what has happened because of this quest. I never thought that she would turn her efforts on anyone else but one of us."
"Thank you," the elder said at her words. "I'm sure you wouldn't have come had you known what would happen. But I believe that all things happen for a reason, whether they be good or bad." He turned his attention to the rest of the group. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have things to attend to."
The Uzan Crystal Page 26
