The Purlieu Experiment, Book 1

by Linda L Rigsbee

  By daylight they were far away from the cabin. The Nyumbani would find their escape route, and follow their trail, but they were hours ahead already and he intended to widen that gap. They traveled at a jog for several miles before they slowed to a walk to rest. He had intended to cross the desert at night and sleep by day, but that wouldn’t be possible now. They continued into the scorching desert, using the two fingers of rock as their navigation point. They were nearing that structure when they came across a dry ravine. Hopefully there would be water standing somewhere from the rain last night - if the rain got this far. He was thirsty, but not suffering the way Akira was. In any case, the ravine was traveling in the direction they wanted to go.

  They had been in the ravine no more than an hour when Donte was again troubled by the feeling that someone was stalking them. It couldn’t be the Nyumbani. He found a place where he could see for a distance beyond the brush that lined the ravine. Akira peered over the edge with him and they both caught their breath, looking at each other in surprise.

  Working their way toward them were a half dozen camelus with riders. They were obviously looking for something. If they continued their course, they would discover them.

  Donte considered their situation; Anialwch militia in front of them and Nyumbani raiders behind them. Did the Anialwch know the Nyumbani were there? There wasn’t much time to think. He’d rather be caught by the Anialwch than the Nyumbani. But what about Akira? He glanced at her.

  She shrugged. “We’re not enemies with the Anialwch, but we’re not exactly friends, either. I don’t know how they will react at seeing me here. You, on the other hand, can speak their language. They have a reputation for being good at defending themselves.”

  Donte nodded. “That’s what I’ve heard.” He studied the approaching riders. “I’ll go down the ravine a ways and come out so that they see me. Don’t come out until I call you. They may be searching for the Nyumbani.”

  Her pupils were large with emotion, but she nodded. “I’ll stay right here.”

  He patted her on the shoulder and left her there. Stooping low so that he wouldn’t be seen, he darted down the ravine. After putting a bend between Akira and his progress, he peered over the edge of the ravine again. A rider was approaching the ravine near him.

  A shadow caused him to look up. A large white avialae soared over him, likely curious. He turned his attention back to the rider. It was time. He stood and climbed out of the ravine, approaching the rider cautiously. The rider stopped and stared at him in surprise. He turned and called to the others.

  “Here he is!”

  CHAPTER 10

  Neirin studied the brush along the ravine. This was where Celyn had said they would find the couple, but so far there had been no indication that they were in the vicinity. His gaze drifted to the two fingers of rock. Sometimes pieces of Celyn’s visions were outdated. Had they missed the two? If so, where would they look?

  Clud yelled and Neirin swung around to see what he wanted. A half-naked man with a tall roach of hair stood beside Clud’s camelus. Neirin felt a surge of excitement as he turned his camelus toward Clud. Celyn was right. The young man had found them, and exactly where she had indicated they would meet.

  As Neirin joined Clud, he reached a hand down to the young man. “Welcome. I am Neirin, King of Anialwch. You must be Donte, Prince of Bergen.”

  Donte held his hand out, palm up, and Neirin grabbed his forearm. Donte grasped Neirin’s forearm in the traditional mascot greeting of good will. Donte’s grip was strong, his expression puzzled.

  Neirin glanced around. “Where is your traveling companion - the Lochfowk woman?”

  Donte released his arm, continuing to observe him with confusion. Was it possible that Donte didn’t speak Anialwch, as he had heard? He repeated the question, talking slower and more distinctly. Donte continued to watch him, but he finally spoke.

  “How did you know who I am…that I was here?”

  Of course, he was spooked by the unexpected. Celyn said he would defend the woman. Neirin leaned forward, looking into Donte’s eyes as he spoke.

  “My daughter had a vision. You have nothing to be concerned about. We mean you no harm. It is to our advantage to see both of you delivered safely to Lochfowk.”

  Donte studied him, obviously not completely convinced about the safety of the girl. He was taller than Neirin expected. Men from the colony of Bergen were usually shorter and stocky. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on Donte and his lean muscular frame was well proportioned. He was a strikingly handsome man, in spite of that silly haircut. Yet those were not the things that impressed Neirin most. Donte stood straight, his chin lifted, totally oblivious to his ridiculous state of dress. Deep blue eyes met Neirin’s gaze in open challenge of authority. He wasn’t going to admit the existence of the girl, much less reveal her hiding place.

  The remainder of Neirin’s men had converged on the rendezvous site. One of them dismounted and brought a robe and sandals to Donte.

  “This will keep you from being sunburned, Monomi.” He helped Donte into the robe and handed him the belt and sandals. Donte accepted them and thanked the man. With one last look at Neirin for reassurance, he turned and lifted a beckoning hand at the brush along the ravine. Neirin would have to thank the man later for the genius of using that word. Monomi was a term used to address male mascots of high rank.

  Immediately the girl climbed out of the wash. Her hair was a mess and her clothes were dirty. Both of them looked hollow-cheeked. Exhaustion; hunger or dehydration, or all three might be the cause. They were both offered water and drank before Donte returned his attention to Neirin.

  “We are pursued by the Nyumbani.” He said as he slid his feet into the sandals.

  Neirin stiffened and looked around. “Where are they now?”

  Donte shook his head. “I don’t know. They caught up with us at a cliff by the river yesterday. We escaped, but they found us at an abandoned cabin south of here early this morning. We escaped again and have not seen them since.

  Neirin stared down at Donte in amazement. “You escaped from Nyumbani raiders twice?”

  Donte shrugged. “We were fortunate.”

  No doubt, but it couldn’t have been all luck. “How many are there?” he asked Donte.

  “I’m not certain. I only saw six at the cliffs and couldn’t say this morning.”

  Neirin frowned. He didn’t want to risk the loss or injury of either of his two guests, but if the Nyumbani were that close, and there were so few of them, he would like to capture them. He looked at Clug.

  “We may be outnumbered, but we are better armed.”

  Clug nodded and Donte spoke again.

  “I will fight with you.”

  Neirin smiled down at him. “I have no doubt your help would be of great value, but I do not wish to put either of you in harm’s way.”

  Donte glanced at the girl and returned his attention to Neirin. “We both have a stake in this.”

  Neirin turned to Clug. “Send a scout to locate the Nyumbani raiders. I need to know where and how many there are.”

  Clug nodded and went to a man standing beside a camelus. They spoke for a few minutes before the man set out on foot. Clug returned.

  “He can move through the brush faster and hide better without the camelus.” He nodded to a distant clump of trees. “We can get water and shade over there until he returns.” He spoke to one of the men. “Bring that extra camelus for our guests.”

  Neirin watched as Donte examined the camelus. It occurred to him that Donte had never seen a camelus…and that he wouldn’t know how to mount or ride it. The woman came to his aid, though, instructing him through the process. When they were both on the camelus, the group moved to the shelter of the clump of trees.

  A cool spring formed a small pool of water where they all drank their fill. They waited there for nearly an hour until the scout returned. He had located the Nyumbani raiders camped a short distance away. The raiders were napping
in what little shade they could find.

  At first Neirin suggested that Donte and Akira stay at the water hole, but they both protested. Ultimately Neirin relented. Having Donte as an interpreter was a good idea, but he instructed them to remain outside the camp until he called them. They reluctantly agreed.

  Neirin and his men circled the camp and walked in. There were six raiders and they obviously had not anticipated resistance. Faced with a superior force, all but one quickly surrendered. One of the raiders ducked under the brush and ran. Neirin and Clug ran after him, leaving the other men to guard the prisoners.

  When Neirin realized the raider was headed in the direction where they left Donte and Akira, it gave his feet wings. He broke free of the brush in time to see Donte leap from the back of the camelus and land on his feet. With a smooth transition, he chased the raider down. There was a brief struggle before Donte twisted the raider’s arm behind his back, bringing him under control.

  Neirin glance at Clug and shook his head in amazement. Obviously this young man needed no assistance.

  After a long, and sometimes heated, interrogation, Donte finally turned to Neirin.

  “These are some of Farasi’s raiders. They escaped when the new Nyumbani government was rounding them up.” He pushed the man toward the others as he continued to reveal what he had learned. “They found our trail and followed us with the intent of killing both of us. They figured if they did that, it would bring the Lochfowk down on Anialwch and Nyumbani, creating the fall of the new government.”

  Neirin turned to follow them back to the camp. His stomach squeezed into a knot. The Nyumbani almost achieved their mission. He had been so intent on using Donte and Akira to form an allegiance that he had missed the danger. Not once had he considered the fact that Lochfowk might attack Anialwch. It could still happen if they were caught in a position that made the two look like captives.

  When they reached the camp, it was to a more immediate threat. A line of men on equines silently formed a half-circle around the camp. His men stood between the Nyumbani captives and the new Nyumbani force. Neirin’s mouth went dry. How could he have let this happen?

  Donte pushed the captive toward the group and spoke to one of the men on an equine. Their conversation sounded amicable. Finally Donte turned to Neirin.

  “These are members of the new Nyumbani government. They apologize for being on Anialwch soil without permission, but they were trailing Farasi’s raiders. They ask that you turn the men over to them.”

  On one hand, this could be a ploy to rescue their men. On the other, they already had the upper hand, so they need not try to negotiate. Donte could be working with them, but he didn’t think so. A glance around at the captured men revealed that they were frightened.

  Neirin stepped forward and addressed Donte. “Who is the leader?”

  Donte indicated a young bearded man in the middle, with a nod of the head. “That’s Kafil.”

  Neirin nodded acknowledgement of the leader and spoke to him in the only language he knew, trusting Donte to interpret accurately.

  “It pleases me that you have taken the responsibility for Farasi’s men.”

  Kafil glanced at Donte, who immediately translated. Kafil answered in his language, keeping his attention on Neirin while Donte translated his response.

  “He says he is honored to meet you. He has heard much good about you.”

  It was in this way that Anialwch and Nyumbani communicated for the first time. Neirin made the best of that historic meeting. He agreed to release the Nyumbani raiders to Kafil and offered to host a conference with their new government leaders in the near future.

  Later it occurred to Neirin that any conference would have to include Donte, because none of them could converse without him. That had to change. If Donte was successful in making a connection with the Lochfowk, he intended to learn both languages.

  The Nyumbani headed for the mountains with their prisoners and Neirin and his group headed for the Anialwch palace. Neirin smiled as he watched Donte and Akira. They rode together on a camelus, he behind her with his arm protectively around her waist; and she looking up and back at him occasionally while they chatted in her language. It was important to understand the language and customs of neighboring colonies. Why had The Parliament wanted to prevent that? Perhaps the success of their experiment depended on isolation. Certainly that would ensure that each colony would survive and progress…or fail…on their own. Why had the mother ship left so suddenly? Had the experiment been abandoned? Had they learned all they needed to know…or would they return at some time in the future to document the progress? Those were questions that often troubled him. The idea that they might return was one of the reasons he felt it was imperative to unite the colonies. It might be the only way they could survive.

  CHAPTER 11

  Celyn watched the desert from the wall around the palace every day for hours. She was at her sentry duty the day the group of camelus emerged from the desert. She caught her breath and turned to Glyn, her guardian, who was reading in the garden below her. “They’re here!”

  Glyn stood and shielded her eyes from the hot sun as she searched the desert for the men. “Yes, I see,” she finally said.

  Celyn watched until the group approached the gates. At that point she leaped down from the wall and raced to the gate, Glyn in hot pursuit, cautioning her all the while to stay back from the gate while the group entered.

  Finally the big gates opened and the camelus plodded into the enclosure. Caretakers collected the camelus and led them away as the men dismounted. When the camelus carrying Donte and Akira entered the gate, Celyn dismissed all the others from her mind. She wouldn’t have recognized him if it had not been for the redheaded woman with him. He wore a white robe and sandals, like all the rest of the men, and the hood covered his hair. He dropped to the ground first and held his hands up to help Akira down. Akira smiled at him in a way Celyn didn’t like. When Akira spoke to Donte, it was in a language Celyn couldn’t understand. It was obvious that the woman liked him, though, and that he liked her.

  “Celyn!” Her father’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

  She ran to him and hugged him. “I missed you,” she said.

  He hugged her. “I missed you too.” He turned and looked at the two newcomers. “It was exactly as you told us it would be. But there was more. I will tell you later. I must tend to our guests.” He glanced at Glyn. “It is good to be back.”

  Glyn’s eyes smiled up at him. “It is good to see you are safe. We will see that your chambers are ready. You must be exhausted.” She turned to Celyn. “Come on, Celyn, let’s help in the kitchen. They will be hungry.”

  Celyn followed Glyn, her head twisted as she continued to watch Donte. Probably feeling her gaze, he glanced at her. Celyn was mesmerized by his eyes. They were exactly as she had seen them in the vision. With her head turned, she didn’t notice when Glyn stopped, and she ran into her. Donte’s eyes flashed with humor before he looked away.

  “Glyn took Celyn’s hand in hers. “He is magnificent, isn’t he?” She said.

  Celyn smiled up at Glyn as she fell into step beside her. Glyn always understood her feelings and never made fun of her.

  Celyn and Glyn helped with preparing the table that they would share with their guests, Neirin and Clud. Everyone in the palace ate at the same time in the large dining area.

  “I want to sit next to him,” Celyn told Glyn.

  Glyn smiled. “Your father?”

  “Between father and Donte.”

  “I don’t know if that can be arranged, but we will see.”

  The hour before meal time dragged by, but finally arrived. Father arrived first, with their guests immediately behind him. Both Donte and Akira were wearing fresh robes, and Donte’s hair had been cut so that it was all the same length. It was a short cut and he kept running his hand over it, as if it bothered him. Their hoods were down and Akira’s red hair was swept up in a pile on top of her head. She w
as very pretty, for an old woman.

  Celyn grabbed her father’s hand and led him to the table. “You sit here.” She said. Skipping a chair, she turned to Donte “You sit here beside me.”

  Glyn gave Neirin an apprehensive look, but he merely chuckled and pulled the chair out. Donte helped Akira into the chair on the other side of him. Turning to Celyn, he held the chair for her. She plopped into it and he pushed it closer to the table. Father sat on one side of her and Donte on the other. She smiled at Glyn, sitting across the table from her. She breathed a contented sigh and glanced up at her father. He looked happier than she had seen him since mother died.

  Akira watched Donte every time he did something and mocked him. Donte didn’t seem to notice, though. As they talked, Donte would turn to Akira and speak in her language. She would say something and he would tell the others what she said. At first she looked uncomfortable, but after a while she was smiling. Donte’s voice was deep and gentle sounding. Everyone had questions to ask him, about the Nyumbani, Bergen, Libertad and his travels. Occasionally they asked him questions about Lochfowk and he would turn to Akira, ask her and then tell them what she said. Even Celyn was able to ask a few questions of him. By the end of the meal, she was certain that she wanted to travel with him. He had been so many interesting places and he knew everything.

  After the meal, Neirin took Donte and Akira to his office. Celyn would have liked to go with them, but knew better than to go to his office uninvited. They were in his office for hours - until after her bed time.

  Celyn was up early the next morning, barely in time to talk to them before they left. Father and Clud were in the stable with them when she entered. Donte glanced up and smiled at her. He had a way of looking at a person that made them feel like they were the only person in the room. His eyes were kind, his voice gentle.