"He is dead," Kalina said softly. "He was fine when he arrived a little while ago."
"Why was he here?" asked Garth.
"He wanted to practice with you," frowned Kalina. "He seemed rather cheerful and even offered to start the fire for us."
"Did you feed him?" asked Natia.
"No," Kalina shook her head. "I invited him to share the morning meal with us, and he seemed eager to do so."
"Well he looks as if he was poisoned," stated Natia.
Kalina's face paled and she nodded in agreement. She rose and moved quickly to the waterskin, kneeling and inspecting it carefully. A small amount of white powder was visible below the spout.
"What is it?" Tedi asked with concern.
"He drank some of our water before building the fire," declared Kalina. "There is some white powder still visible on the waterskin. The poison was meant for us."
"Don't move," Natia said sharply. "I swept our site last night before bed. There might be some footprints left by the assassin."
Everyone froze and stared at the ground around them.
"All I see are Smokey's footprints," announced Garth. "Where is that dog?"
"He has taken to sleeping under the food wagon," answered Natia. "So much for loyalties, eh?"
"I see some prints over here," announced Tedi. "They are leading towards the first wagons in the caravan."
Garth moved towards Tedi and knelt by the footprints, being careful not to disturb them. He gazed at them and then lifted his eyes in the direction they were heading. There were no caravan warriors in that direction, and that brought a frown to Garth's face.
"I would have suspected one of the warriors," he said softly, "but not in the direction these are heading."
"Why a warrior?" asked Natia. "It could be a driver, and most of them sleep under their wagons."
There were four wagons in the direction that the footsteps led. They were the first four wagons of the caravan.
"Your task, Natia," Garth said, "is to spend the next four days with those four drivers. The man we are looking for has a smaller than normal boot. See if you can find any reason for one of them to want us dead."
"What do we do with the body?" asked Tedi.
"I think we need to alert Edmond," sighed Garth. "While I am not happy to speak to that man any more than I have to, the attack on us is serious."
"Why not tell Sidney?" asked Kalina.
"He would just tell Edmond," answered Garth. "I would just as soon get this taken care of before the whole camp is awake."
"I will go get him," volunteered Tedi.
"Natia," instructed Garth, "go get Smokey. Maybe he can smell who the culprit is."
"He is not a bloodhound, Garth," Kalina rolled her eyes. "Don't you know anything about dogs?"
"Not really," shrugged Garth as Natia ran off to find the dog. "I am just thinking that it can't possibly hurt. What else are we supposed to do?"
Tedi arrived with Edmond a few minutes later. Garth explained what had happened, and Edmond nodded thoughtfully as he listened.
"Tedi," ordered Edmond, "take the body into the woods and bury it. Try not to let anyone see you."
"I will give you a hand," offered Garth.
"No," Edmond said brusquely. "You are coming with me to Sidney's wagon. It is time for you to explain a few things to us."
Garth opened his mouth to argue, but Edmond had already turned and strode off. Garth shook his head and followed the head warrior. Sidney was already up when they arrived at the wagon. Edmond explained the circumstances, and Sidney waved Garth into a chair.
"I think it is time for you to level with us," Sidney said. "While we know that you are not what you pretend to be, we do not know who you really are. However, someone in this caravan has figured it out, and that someone wants you dead. Why not help us determine who the assassin is?"
"I have told you all that I know," Garth replied stubbornly. "There is nothing more that I can add that will shed light on the situation."
"Why must you be so stubborn?" snapped Edmond. "Haven't you been listening? We know that you have been lying. Just tell us the truth. Can't you even manage that?"
Garth stared coldly at the head warrior, but Edmond stared right back.
"Look," Sidney said calmly, "we are not your enemy, Garth, and I am sure that you are not our enemy, either. If I wasn't sure, you would not be traveling with this caravan."
"Maybe that is the best solution for all of us," shrugged Garth.
"What are you going to do?" snarled Edmond. "Are you going to walk all the way to Giza?"
"If that is what we must do," replied Garth, "then we will walk to Giza."
"Are you truly heading to Giza?" asked Sidney.
"We are," nodded Garth.
"Then you must learn to trust me," declared Sidney as he pulled a pouch off his belt. He opened the pouch and extracted a nugget of gold and placed it on the table. "The first time you use one of these in Federation territory, you will be arrested. You do recognize it, don't you?"
Garth stared at the nugget and exhaled anxiously. "I used it at the inn in Calusa where we met," Garth stated. "Why do you have it, and why would I be arrested?"
"I have it because I am a curious person," smiled Sidney. "Very few people carry such a ruby as the one you showed me that night. That made me curious. As to why you would be arrested, The Federation owns all the gold mines. The only way you could have such a nugget is to have stolen it from them."
"Well," shrugged Garth, "that is obviously not true because I do have one, and I didn't steal it."
"I didn't think that you did," stated Sidney, "but what matters is what the Federation thinks. Personally, I think it is a gold coin that was melted down, but that thought will not occur to Federation soldiers. I have thought long and hard about this nugget, Garth. The only reason to melt down a coin is if it was minted in a country that you did not wish to have known, and that puzzles me greatly. Coins in Zara are interchangeable, so there is no benefit in hiding the origins of a coin. That suggests that you are from a land beyond Zara, and that intrigues me greatly."
Garth frowned heavily and Edmond suddenly became interested in the conversation. He pulled a chair to the table and sat down.
"You know of lands beyond Zara?" Garth asked.
"I have heard stories," nodded Sidney. "They are old stories mind you, but they speak of the land of dwarves and elves. Many believe that the Baroukans of old sailed to these strange lands and brought back prisoners to work the mines. Of course, that was in the days when people believed in water witches. It was said that those witches could guide a ship safely to those other lands and back again. I have always been a skeptic, until now."
"You are ready to believe fairy tales based on a single golden nugget?" chuckled Garth.
"Not on the nugget alone," stated Sidney. "There is much more about your group that stirs the imagination. Kalina pretends to be a poor orphan girl from the backwoods of Karamin, but she is one of the most refined women I have ever met. Were you to tell me that you were not truly married to her, I would propose to her this very day."
Edmond blinked and stared at his father in disbelief.
"It's true, Edmond," smiled Sidney. "While no woman could ever replace your mother, Kalina is a rare woman. I would gladly spend the rest of my days in her company."
"She is my wife," Garth said brusquely.
"A shame," smiled Sidney, "but I am very happy for you. Then there is Natia," the merchant continued. "Supposedly another poor orphan, but she has the best eye for horseflesh I have ever seen. She could easily attend the markets in Ur and make a killing in one day. It takes a rare skill to pull that off."
"And Tedi?" Garth pressed in an attempt to find out how better to cover their tracks in the future.
"Tedi has not yet revealed himself," answered Sidney. "At first the thought of him as a soldier was ludicrous, but after the battle in the gorge, it is obvious that he has a fighting talent close to your own
and a strength that is almost unbelievable. Edmond's men reported that a single tap with his staff had shattered skulls. I cannot imagine the strength that is required for such a feat."
"Tedi is a strong lad," smiled Garth.
The room fell to silence as Sidney waited for Garth to say more, but the Knight of Alcea was content to remain silent. Edmond stared at Garth as if making a weighty decision. Finally, the head warrior decided to take a risk.
"Answer me one question and I will be satisfied," stated Edmond.
"What is that?" asked Garth.
"Are you working for the Federation?" asked the head warrior.
"No," Garth replied.
"Then you are welcome to remain with my men," Edmond declared.
"I take it that you do not hold the Federation in high regard?" asked Garth.
"Who do you think is attacking us?" asked Edmond. "Oh, they act like bandits and dress like bandits, but it is the Federation that seeks to spread their devastation. Karamin has fallen into anarchy with the death of their king, and I am willing to wager that they end up joining the Federation before we reach Waxhaw. Why do you think we decided to leave Calusa so quickly? Now is the time for the bandits to step up their attacks so that a strong government is needed to restore peace. That strong government will come with the coronation of Prince Vlador."
"And Prince Vlador favors the Federation?" asked Garth.
"You truly are from a different land," chuckled Sidney. "King Vlador will join the Federation on the day of his coronation. He was schooled in Giza and Despair, and he has adopted their zeal for crushing dissidents."
Garth stared at the two men with new respect. He understood now that they were afraid that he was an agent for the Federation, yet the words they had just spoken would surely mean their deaths if he was. They had openly decided to trust Garth with secrets that could kill them both.
"Why have you revealed your feelings to me?" asked Garth.
"The Federation intends to control all of Zara," answered Edmond. "We need people who are willing to stand against them, and I think you are one of them."
"I cannot get involved in those struggles," Garth stated. "While I wish you all the success in the world, my path is different from yours."
Edmond's face reddened and he was about to speak in an unfriendly tone, but his father placed a comforting hand on his arm.
"Not everyone walks the same path, Edmond," Sidney said softly, "but that should not alter our friendship here. I think Garth and his party are after the same ends, but for a different reason. Am I right?"
"You are," Garth admitted after a long hesitation. "I do not want you to think that I am not agreeable to your solution, but I think the problem is much graver than you imagine. I am hesitant to say more to you, not because I doubt your intentions, but because the Federation has a way of stealing thoughts from your mind. Were you to know more about me and my purpose, both you and I would be in graver danger than we are now."
"Mercy!" exclaimed Sidney. "I have heard stories of such things, but I have never believed them. Is this truly possible?"
"I am afraid that it is," nodded Garth. "I do not know for sure, but the visitors to my land exhibited some rather strange mental capabilities. I cannot take chances against such magic."
"So you are from a land across the sea?" asked Edmond.
"Your father had already determined that," smiled Garth. "My denials would never change his mind."
"No, they wouldn't," laughed Sidney. "You have found a kindred spirit in me, Garth Shado. Before you leave my caravan, I will purchase your ruby for a fair price and provide you with plenty of coins of the realm. I will also work with Kalina to develop a decent cover story for your group, one that each of you can memorize and become familiar with. At least when we part company, you will be prepared for what lies ahead."
"I would be eternally grateful," declared Garth. "I guess we have gotten off to a poor start when the first people we met could see through our stories."
"You will find few people who are as curious as my father," grinned Edmond. "Were it not for him, I do not think I would have questioned your stories. Still, he will ensure that you pass all further inspections."
"There is still the question of the assassin," Sidney stated. "Someone in this caravan must recognize your group as a threat to the Federation. Do you have any idea who it might be?"
"Not really," Garth shook his head. "All that we know is that the man's boot is smaller than average. It is not much to go on."
"If he tried it once," postulated Edmond, "he will try it again. Perhaps we should set a trap for him."
"I doubt that he will try poison the next time," mused Garth. "It will be obvious that we discovered his attempt."
"Will it?" asked Edmond. "If Tedi was successful in disposing of the body without being seen, the assassin will not know why he failed."
"That is possible," interjected Sidney, "but you cannot depend upon it. The trick for the assassin will be to kill all four of you. The poison attempt was a clever one if it had succeeded. What else could possibly succeed?"
"We could all die in an attack on the caravan," suggested Garth.
"That attempt would mean my death as well," Sidney pointed out. "Kalina spends all day in here with me."
"Unless the bandits attack at night," offered Garth.
"We have the wagons in a defensive circle at night," countered Edmond.
"And most of your warriors are asleep," stated Garth. "If these bandits are truly agents of the Federation, they will care little about destroying the cargo."
"How would you do it?" asked Sidney.
"I would set the wagons on fire," Garth replied without hesitation. "Our men would be illuminated by the flames, and their night vision would be destroyed. Meanwhile the enemy would merely hide in the darkness and lob arrows into the campsite. When morning came, they could ride through the ashes and complete the massacre."
"You paint a bleak picture," frowned Edmond. "How do you combat such techniques?"
"The best way," smiled Garth, "is to strike the bandits before they strike you."
"Do you mean go into the forest and fight them?" asked Edmond.
"That is exactly what I would do," nodded Garth, "but we have a problem with that plan."
"Which is?" asked Sidney.
"Our assassin is also a spy," declared Garth. "If the spy knew what we were going to do, not only would the plan fail, but we would have left the wagons unprotected. We would lose everything."
"And if they attack before we discover the spy," sighed Edmond, "we lose everything. Even if we do find the spy, they must have people tracking us. You clued me in on one of them the first day out. I don't see a good solution to this problem."
"To win a war," stated Garth, "one must know his enemy. Let me take my people into the forests. We will find the bandits that are keeping track of our progress and eliminate them."
"That is why you have come to Zara!" Sidney exclaimed. "You have come to learn about the Federation."
Garth merely smiled.
"How will that help us find the spy?" Edmond asked as if he hadn't heard his father's revelation.
"I am suggesting that I take Tedi and Natia away from the caravan," answered Garth. "Kalina will remain in this wagon, day and night. No one will know that she still exists. Let the assassin think he got at least one of us, and that the rest of us were kicked out because we are bringing too much trouble to the caravan. If I am not missing the mark, I think eliminating my people is a much higher priority than destroying your caravan."
"So the spy will have to leave the caravan to find you?" asked Edmond.
"He will have to at least contact the bandits so they can find us," replied Garth. "Either way, he has to leave the caravan."
"Our outriders leave the caravan everyday," Edmond pointed out.
"Not anymore," replied Garth. "You lost a squad of them yesterday, and they did not perform their function of alerting you to danger. Keep th
em with the caravan, and let my people sweep the woods for you."
"You will be taking on a task that I have assigned forty men to," frowned Edmond. "I know that you are an excellent warrior, but no one is that good."
"Are you thinking of taking Natia into the woods, too?" asked Sidney. "Wouldn't it be wiser for her to remain in here with Kalina?"
"You underestimate Natia," grinned Garth. "She can take care of herself just fine."
Edmond's eyebrows rose, but Sidney smiled knowingly.
"Do it," said Sidney. "Keep the outriders with the caravan, and let these people take to the woods."
"Alright," frowned Edmond. "It is your caravan, but I think the idea is foolish."
"Get out of here quickly, Garth," ordered Sidney. "Send Kalina as soon as you can so no one sees her entering the wagon."
"She will be here in a moment," Garth declared as he rose and headed for the door. He paused at the door to the wagon and turned to Edmond. "Do not send anyone into the forest until you hear from me," Garth warned. "We will assume that anyone we see is a bandit."
Edmond nodded and Garth disappeared through the doorway. Edmond waited until the door was closed before speaking to his father.
"Why did you make such a decision?" he asked. "Three people cannot replace forty men."
"I think you are wrong," Sidney answered with a smile. "Look at it this way. If you were the leader of this foreign land, and you had to choose who you would send to learn about your enemy, who would you pick?"
Edmond stared blankly at his father.
"I know who I would pick," Sidney continued. "I would choose the very best because my country's survival depended on them coming back with the information. Whatever land these people hail from, they are the best of the best."
"Then what about Kalina?" asked Edmond. "Are you supposing that his lady is also a magnificent warrior?"
"I do not know what her skills are," answered Sidney, "but I will guarantee you that she could best any of your men with ease. She wasn't sent here just because she is Garth's wife."
Final Voyage of the Remora Page 23
