The Forbidden Library

by David Alastair Hayden

  “They’re moving fast, but they’re having to meander from village to village to stop and interrogate people.”

  “How do they know he lies in this direction” Herd Chief Boronaru asked.

  “The flight trail of the dragon was seen by many people,” said Hufu.

  “How much time until they get here?” Sudorga asked.

  “Two weeks,” Hufu replied. “Possibly less. Especially if they get word from the reitsu.”

  Earth Priestess Faika stood. “The Council will recess for a few minutes to discuss this matter.”

  Turesobei leaned his back against a wall and tried to shut out images of a blood-stained Awasa, taller and infused with more power from the warlock than before. Ninefold Awasa … She must have learned how to use the amulet.

  Enashoma fell into his arms. He hugged her tight.

  “I’m so sorry,” Shoma said. “This is terrible.”

  “It’s my fault,” he said.

  “Let it go,” Iniru said. “Even I don’t blame you for this. Yes, you shouldn’t have brought her along because she could get killed. But no one could’ve imagined this happening.”

  Zaiporo started to say something but then shook his head. He looked as shaken as Turesobei had ever seen him. Zaiporo may not have liked Awasa, but he had spent a lot of time around her, more than the rest of them had.

  The Council returned to the chamber. Sun Priestess Oroki said, “We have discussed it amongst ourselves and agreed. The danger is too great for our people if you stay here. We hope that you understand.”

  “I do,” he replied.

  “However,” said Tsuroko. “We shall give you the supplies and mounts you will need to escape here and take on the expedition you have planned.”

  “I can’t ask that of you,” Turesobei said. “We haven’t paid you.”

  “But you must take the supplies, or you won’t make it,” Tsuroko replied. “It’s the only way.”

  “And you have done good work here,” said Shaman Eira. “The machine man stacked stones night after night. You brought warmth to rooms with magic symbols. You healed injured people. You helped as much as you could. You made good on your promise.”

  “But we’d only just begun,” Turesobei said.

  “We know you would’ve followed through to pay us in full, faster than we could’ve imagined,” said Earth Priestess Faika.

  “I will personally share the largest part of the financial burden,” said Tsuroko. If Turesobei wasn’t mistaken, tears welled in the big grizzly goronku’s eyes. “If you settle the matter and return safely, you can pay us back then. And live with us as long as you wish, my … my son.” Tsuroko restrained a sob.

  Narbenu stepped forward. “They will have no chance without a guide. No chance at all. I would like the Council’s approval to serve in this capacity.”

  “You are needed here, Narbenu,” said War Chief Sudorga.

  “There’s nothing left here for me. I have friends, yes. And I may be of value to the community. But my heart is lost. My brother murdered … a wife and two children lost to the plague … too old to start a new family.”

  “You are not too old,” Shaman Eira said. “You are just too depressed to try.”

  Narbenu shook his head and set his jaw. “With me guiding them, Turesobei has a chance at surviving, maybe even returning home to his clan. And the farther away he gets, the safer our people will be. Besides, it might be nice for me to see the wider world and have a bit of adventure.”

  “We can’t ask this of you,” Turesobei said. “It would be a death sentence.”

  “I insist,” Narbenu told him.

  “Perhaps Hufu can lead us away from here, taking us just far enough that it will be safe for your people,” Enashoma said.

  “Hufu has a sacred role as a ranger,” Narbenu replied.

  “He’s right,” said Hufu. “I must go to warn other people. I can, however, see to it that word reaches the reitsu and the yomon that you have left here already. I can put them on a false trail.”

  “No,” said Turesobei. “Put them on the correct trail. We’ll be heading north, toward the Glass Sea. If they find out they’ve been misled, they’ll return here seeking retribution. I want them to stay far away from here, even if that puts us in greater danger.”

  “As you wish,” said Hufu.

  “Narbenu,” said Turesobei, “you could lead us away from here for several days then double back.”

  “I want to help you find your way home. I insist. End of discussion.” He turned to the Council. “Kemsu will come with me and we will return if we can.”

  “I’d rather you didn’t doom Kemsu as well,” Turesobei said.

  “I go where my master wishes,” said Kemsu. He glanced at Iniru. “And I wouldn’t mind seeing more of the world. I might even earn my freedom through this.”

  Narbenu said in a doubtful voice, “You might.”

  Sun Priestess Oroki stood. “It is decided then. Go and rest, all of you. We shall see to it that all the supplies you need will be ready by sunrise.”

  *****

  Turesobei gathered his companions in Motekeru’s room.

  “I could face the yomon and get this over with. As the Storm Dragon I could save all of you and rid this land of the yomon. And maybe you could save Awasa. Afterward I could roam the skies and you could live here safely with the goronku. I doubt we can find a way back anyway, and we’ll just get Narbenu and Kemsu killed.”

  “I don’t like that plan, master,” said Lu Bei. “You can’t.”

  Motekeru nodded. “Only as a last resort. Stupid plan otherwise.”

  Zaiporo chimed in. “What they said.”

  “But this is the only way our safety is guaranteed,” Turesobei argued.

  Iniru slapped him. “Just stop. I’m sick of the I can turn into a dragon and sacrifice myself crap. If it’s the last resort, the absolute last resort, like they’re really about to kill us all, then you can do it then. Otherwise, no.”

  “But, Niru, I —”

  Iniru grabbed him and jerked him in close, face-to-face. “Look, I kind of hate you right now, but I don’t want to lose you to the dragon.” She kissed him on the lips then shoved him back against the wall. “Got it?”

  “Yes, Niru.”

  Shoma pointed at him. “That goes for me, too.”

  “And me,” added Lu Bei. “But without that kiss. Gross.”

  Chapter 23

  At dawn Turesobei and his companions gathered in the common room. Decorative ribbons still hung from the ceiling, and no one had shoved the tables back into their places. Turesobei smiled briefly and tried to burn the memory of the party into his brain. He’d barely slept, having stayed up worrying about the goronku and feeling guilty about what had happened to Awasa.

  They sat down to eat a final hot meal before setting off. The goronku cooks had clearly been told because they served a small feast made of leftovers from the night before. Narbenu, Kemsu, and War Chief Sudorga joined them and made smalltalk. As soon as they finished they put on their parkas and overboots.

  Tsuroko, Ukiri, and Kurine entered the commons. Kurine was wearing full cold weather gear as well. Turesobei expected her to run up to him and give him a deep embrace. But she didn’t. Instead she turned, with tears in her eyes, and gave her mother a tight hug. Tsuroko wrapped his arms around both of them, tears streaming down his cheeks.

  “This doesn’t look good,” Zaiporo said.

  “Turesobei,” Iniru whispered, “tell me she’s not coming with us. Tell me you didn’t invite her.”

  “Of course I didn’t.”

  “Kurine has to come along,” Kemsu said. “She’s your betrothed.”

  “But it’s not safe,” Turesobei replied.

  “Doesn’t matter,” Kemsu said. “Betrothal is a sacred bond only one step short of marriage. You can’t leave her here like this.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” Turesobei said. “If I were on a trade expedition, would she follow along?”<
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  “No, but that’s different,” Kemsu said. “If that were the case, you’d be expected to return. Doing this, you might never come back, so she must go with you.”

  “There’s no way she can refuse?” Enashoma asked.

  Kemsu shrugged. “Only if she could prove Turesobei was dishonorable and unfit so the marriage would be called off.”

  “So maybe if I suddenly … I don’t know … made out with Iniru?” he suggested.

  Kemsu scowled. “That’d just make her mad, very very mad. No one here’s going to believe you’re unfit. They’d see right through it. And I don’t think you’d want to use Iniru that way.”

  Judging from the dagger-stare Iniru was giving Kurine, Turesobei wasn’t so certain she’d be opposed to doing whatever it would take to make Kurine to stay behind.

  Turesobei approached Kurine and her family. “I understand the betrothal is sacred, almost like marriage, and that we shouldn’t risk being permanently separated … but this is incredibly dangerous, Kurine. I care so much for you. I don’t want to see you injured or killed.”

  Tsuroko rounded on him. “You’d dishonor my daughter by leaving her behind?!”

  “I would never dishonor her. I just want to keep her safe.”

  “I know you’ll do your best to keep her safe,” Tsuroko said. “But we all must face death someday. Dishonor, however, we do not have to face. Dishonor is worse than death.”

  “I won’t be a drag on you,” Kurine said. Her eyes were red from crying. “I have all the skills needed. I’ve been listening to daddy tell me about how it’s done all my life. I even went on one short trade expedition two years ago. I have training in fighting. I’ll be a ton of help.”

  Turesobei took her hands. What could he do? What could he say? “I know you will be helpful. I know. You’ll be better out there than I will. I just … I don’t want you getting hurt is all.”

  “My daughter chose you,” said Ukiri. “She must live with her choice. I think it was a fine choice made on good faith. I’m not happy she must leave, knowing I will likely never see her again, but it is what it is. The decree of the gods does not change to suit our whims. To retain her honor, Kurine must go with you or become a priestess, and that is not a suitable vocation for her.”

  Turesobei sighed. “I don’t understand your culture. It’s so different from mine. But if this is how it must be. If this is what you want Kurine …”

  “It is.” She hugged her parents one more time and kissed each on the cheek.

  Tsuroko put his hands on their heads. “You have our blessing to marry at any point along the way. We understand you may never see us again, and that if you do much time may have passed. Do not wait just so that we may be there. Have the ceremony performed when it pleases you. Be with one another and be happy, wherever you may end up.”

  “In my heart,” said Ukiri, “I know that the two of you will always be happy together and I will never believe otherwise. I shall never mourn this day.”

  Turesobei let Kurine spend a few minutes more with her family and returned to his friends. “I did all I could. Who knew one kiss could screw up so much.”

  “A single kiss can screw up a lot more than your tiny brain can comprehend,” Iniru snapped.

  Hufu entered from outside. “Thought you should know, there are two reitsu scouting the village. I didn’t let them know I’d spotted them.”

  “I suspect one will return to report back to their village while the other follows us,” said Narbenu.

  “That’s perfect,” Turesobei said.

  Hufu was eyeing Turesobei. “I think most people, if I told them they were being stalked by a reitsu, they’d be afraid.”

  Turesobei shrugged. “Motekeru killed seven of them and I defeated their champion in single combat, despite a broken arm.” He felt a little guilty about bragging, but Narbenu nodded in appreciation. Hufu simply stared dumfounded at him.

  The Council came and said their goodbyes. The priestesses both said prayers and beseeched the gods to protect them and asked for their endeavor to be blessed. Goodbyes were said to all, including a last tear-filled one between Kurine and her parents. Then they set off.

  Outside long, sturdy sonoke laden with supplies waited for them. Narbenu and Kemsu each rode a mount that carried extra supplies. Turesobei shared a mount with Zaiporo. Iniru and Enashoma rode together as before. Kurine rode with the amber hounds, Rig and Ohma, who sat in a special saddle Herd Chief Boronaru had rigged up for them. Motekeru rode alone on the last mount, a particularly strong one that could easily take his weight.

  When asked by a groom if he could guide the mount, Motekeru replied, “Just because I live simply and speak little does not mean I’m a simpleton.”

  Narbenu gazed at Aikora and sighed. “Let’s ride slowly and make sure it’s obvious we’re leaving. Don’t want those reitsu to miss it.”

  Once they were outside the village area, Turesobei cast the spell of personal obscuration on Lu Bei. The fetch flew up and circled several times.

  “Good call,” he said upon returning. “One wraith is following us, while the other has set off back toward their village.”

  The group rode all day, stopping only for a midday break to stretch and eat. The travel was smooth and presented no problems. Kurine rode near Turesobei and asked him endless questions about his world. He figured her curiosity was mostly an attempt not to think about leaving everything she knew behind, something she hadn’t even expected twelve hours earlier. It was the most they’d ever talked. It concerned him that she’d wanted to marry him before ever having had such an opportunity. What had she expected out of him? Was he really the only decent choice around? Would she get bored with him and regret her choice? He had to get back to his world where things mostly made sense.

  By late afternoon, everyone was competent in guiding the sonoke. They weren’t skilled enough to ride them into danger. They’d have to work on that as they went. When they stopped at dusk, Narbenu and Kemsu instructed them in the proper art of cutting ice and compacted snow, which was best, to make snowhouses. Motekeru remembered it from before and began cutting immediately. He constructed one snowhouse with Kurine’s help and settled the sonoke into a trench in the time it took the others to make half of a snowhouse.

  At Narbenu’s insistence, the girls again piled into one snowhouse with Motekeru and the hounds, while the boys went into the other. In the night strange beasts howled in the distance. Even worse things hunted them. Turesobei curled up on the blanket, cold and miserable on the hard ice.

  “This stinks,” Zaiporo muttered.

  “Get used to it,” Kemsu replied. “We’re going to have a lot of nights like this.”

  Chapter 24

  As they rode, Narbenu pointed out tracks of various creatures that could serve as game, though wild sonoke were preferable. “Starting tomorrow, we’ll devote an hour each day to hunting. More if we don’t find game. We have to keep our stores up in case we get into trouble or get pinned by a blizzard. There are few places to stop for supplies along the way and I have nothing to trade.”

  Kurine held up a tiny purse. “Father gave me ten jade and an ingot of iron.” She smiled at Turesobei. “My dowry. Enough for a week of food for all of us.”

  “That’s quite the dowry,” Narbenu said appreciatively. Kemsu nodded in agreement.

  “It was very generous of him,” Turesobei said. He glanced at Zaiporo whose eyes were wide with surprise. In their world, Zaiporo had earned ten jade every month as a guard, a zaboko, a second-class citizen. In addition to that, the Kobarai had fed him two meals each day plus gifts of clothing and any equipment he needed.

  “Are blizzards common?” Turesobei asked.

  “Anything more than a light flurry is rare,” Narbenu replied. “But blizzards do happen every few years. And you can’t predict them. They’ll come up out of nowhere.”

  “You do all know how to hunt, right?” Kemsu asked.

  “I do,” Iniru replied.

>   “I knew you would,” Kemsu replied with a wink.

  “Well of course she can,” Zaiporo replied. “Iniru is awesome like that.”

  Enashoma scowled at Zaiporo. Turesobei sighed.

  “Zaiporo has hunted a little and is excellent at butchering kills,” Turesobei said. “I’ve only hunted a few times. Once with magic.”

  “Cheater,” Iniru said, almost playfully. She started to smile at him, but then she stopped and scowled.

  “I can also detect the presence of any creatures nearby using a spell,” Turesobei said. “Though I can’t keep it up all the time.”

  Iniru snorted and Narbenu stifled a cough. Turesobei glanced at them and shrugged. He almost asked what was so funny but decided not to.

  “I can use the spell periodically to make sure nothing’s creeping up on us. Lu Bei can scout from above. We have the hounds, too, though I’m not sure of their footing on the ice. I won’t be able to sense exactly what’s out there if I’ve never encountered it before and my range is limited to about two hundred paces normally, though it uses air kenja which is strong here so I can probably do three times that. We’ll have to test it.”

  “I’ve gotten decent at cooking,” Enashoma said.

  “Unfortunately,” Narbenu said. “We can’t cook out here on the ice. No fuel for the fires. We can warm water to melt it with the star-stones, but that’s about it.”

  “You mean we have to eat the meat raw?” Enashoma asked. “That’s gross.”

  “Only way to do it,” Narbenu replied. “Cooking is a luxury. And you’ll get used to the flavor. Richer but good. I prefer raw, personally.”

  “I’ve eaten raw as part of my qengai practice,” Iniru said. “I didn’t like it much, except for fish. Speaking of my training, the goronku may not have to worry about it with their fur and fat layer, but for all of us, you three more than me, we have to make sure we don’t sweat. The moisture will freeze to our skins. Take off layers if you get hot. We have to avoid frostbite at all cost. Keep your circulation going. Watch your feet. Make sure they stay dry. Check them every night and rub them. You may not be able to feel frostbite setting it. If they do get frostbitten, don’t warm them too fast and don’t rub them.”