Chapter 19
Last Question
The camp was chaotic as the food line for the morning meal ended. With outriders still in the camp, Edmond was busy switching around the postings for the day. The number of men in the front and rear guards were increased as were the number of guards assigned to each wagon. It was not the type of change that Edmond would make on such short notice if he could avoid it, but chaos was preferable for this particular morning. Squads were pulled apart with half of the men being joined to one squad and the other half to another squad. The warriors complained loudly that things were out of control, but Edmond remained opposed to all of the suggestions others were giving him. He was, after all, doing exactly what he had planned to do. He was giving Garth and his party time to get in position without the enemy knowing what was going on.
"Hey, Harker," greeted Tynker. "Me and Cobb have been assigned to your squad."
"Alright," frowned Harker. "We have the food wagon today, so just hang around for a bit while I wait for the others to show up."
"What others?" asked Tynker.
"I haven't seen Garth or Tedi yet this morning," Harker replied.
"They won't be coming," Cobb said. "They left camp long before the sun came up."
"How do you know that?" asked Gerry.
"Tharis and I had planned to go over there early this morning to get in some practice before the day started," replied Cobb. "I got there early, but their campsite was gone."
"Hey where is Tharis?" asked Tynker. "I knew someone was missing."
"He is probably with a different squad," replied Harker. "I don't know what got into Edmond this morning, but everything is messed up. For some reason he decided to keep the outriders with the wagons today."
"Probably has to do with the attacks yesterday," suggested Cobb. "We lost a whole squad up on the ridge in addition to the six guys that died in the battle with Edmond. I guess he figures the men are safer on the road."
"Since when do outriders travel the road?" griped Harker. "Maybe Edmond got hit in the head during the battle."
Tynker laughed loudly and some of the warriors passing by turned and glared at him.
"What's wrong with them?" asked Tynker when the men had passed by.
"They are outriders," answered Harker. "They lost a few of their own yesterday, and today they are reduced to caravan regulars. It doesn't exactly put them in a good mood."
"What is wrong with this beast?" scowled Gerry.
Harker turned and looked at Gerry questioningly.
"He's acting strange," Gerry said with a shrug of his shoulders. "I am going to exchange him for one of the spare mounts."
"Make it quick," advised Harker. "This caravan is about to start moving."
"I'll be right back," promised Gerry.
A few minutes later, Edmond stopped next to Harker. He glanced at the men gathered near the food wagon and frowned.
"You're one short," Edmond declared.
"Gerry's gone to exchange horses," Harker said. "He'll be right back. Hey, here he comes now."
Gerry returned and Edmond started walking towards the next wagon.
"I heard that Garth and his group moved out," questioned Cobb. "Is that true, Edmond?"
Edmond turned and stared at the warrior. "I heard that three of them pulled out early this morning," Edmond stated.
"Only three?" asked Tynker. "Who stayed?"
"I can't say for sure," Edmond replied. "All I know is one of my men reported a new grave near where they were camped. I guess someone didn't make it through the night."
"Why would they leave?" asked Cobb. "I thought everyone was getting to like them?"
"It's not my problem," shrugged Edmond. "I've got a caravan to run, and I need to get to it. Get your squad ready to move, Harker."
* * *
Garth paused as he looked down at the caravan getting ready to start. He stuck his finger into his breast pocket and stirred Bitsy to life.
"Where has everyone gone?" yawned the tiny woman as she gazed down at the dog next to Garth's horse.
"You have to be quiet from now on," warned Garth. "We are sneaking up on the enemy."
"Oooohhh," grinned Bitsy.
"But before we begin, I have a task for you," smiled Garth. "Somewhere on the western ridge are Tedi and Natia. I want you to find them, and tell Tedi to use Button as a scout. Then get back here as soon as you can."
The fairy nodded and leaped into the air. Garth smiled as he sat silently observing the road below and waiting for Bitsy's return. While he waited, he opened his pack and extracted a small quiver of myric quills. He strapped the quiver to his belt and checked to make sure the reed was handy. Next he retrieved a couple of pouches of Lanoirians stars and strapped them on. By the time he was finished checking all of his weapons, the fairy had returned.
"Button is excited, too," Bitsy reported quietly. "What am I to find for you today?"
"There are men amongst the trees up here somewhere," explained Garth. "They are enemy soldiers dressed like bandits. We have to eliminate them all."
"How many of them?" asked Bitsy.
"I do not know," answered Garth. "I suspect there will be at least one, but there could be more. We will take them one at a time. If you find a large group of them, report back to me immediately."
"Shall I put them to sleep if I find them?" asked Bitsy.
"No," replied Garth. "We cannot take the chance of any of them getting away. Just locate them for me, and keep an eye out for anyone leaving the caravan."
Bitsy saluted and jumped from Garth's shoulder. She darted up into the branches of the tree and disappeared. A distant horn sounded, and Garth's attention was drawn to the road. He watched as the circle of wagons unfolded and started heading north on the road. Despite all the commotion he saw earlier, the caravan looked orderly and well defended. The addition of all of the outriders made the caravan look more like an army supply convoy.
There was a game trail that ran parallel to the eastern ridge, and Garth guided his horse onto it. He could not see the caravan from the trail, but he didn't want to take the chance of being seen on the ridge. Setting a pace that was slightly faster than the wagons below, Garth rode on in silence, his ears attuned the forest noise. It was half an hour later that Bitsy first reported in. A lone bandit on the ridge had been set to note the progress of the caravan, and the fairy had located him. Garth crept up on the man and slid a myric quill into the reed. The Knight of Alcea brought the reed to his lips and sent the myric quill flying into the man's neck. The bandit collapsed instantly, and Garth searched the man's body. A few Karamin coins were added to Garth's pouch before he mounted his horse and rode off. A few minutes later, Bitsy had located the next bandit scout.
Across the valley on the western ridge, Tedi was using Lanoirian stars to take out the bandits. While Garth was forced to leave the enemy's horses behind, Tedi was not so restricted. Natia followed behind her husband gathering the horses with a wide grin on her face. After Button had found four of the bandits hiding, she could find no more. Tedi sat staring down at the caravan and wondering what to do next.
"Is that all of them?" asked Natia.
"I think it is," nodded Tedi. "I suspect that the four men were meant to leapfrog to keep track of the caravan's progress, and we got all four of them. I hope Garth has done as well."
"I have faith in him," smiled Natia, "but what do we do now?"
"That is exactly what I was wondering," admitted Tedi. "We can't go back to the caravan until the assassin is flushed out."
"Won't the bandits discover that their spies have been killed?" asked the gypsy princess.
"Eventually," shrugged Tedi, "but probably not until tonight, unless they are planning an attack today."
"You don't think they will attack today, do you?" asked Natia.
"I wouldn't if I were them," replied Tedi. "They attacked yesterday and Edmond's people will be expecting another attack today. That means that they will be on alert.
I would let them remain tense all day today and hit them tomorrow."
"You have learned to think like a gypsy," chuckled Natia. "Adan would be proud of you."
"I wonder if we will ever see your brother again," Tedi said softly as his eyes scanned the line of wagons below.
"I am sure we will," replied Natia.
Natia's reply didn't register as Tedi's brow creased heavily. Down in the valley he had seen a caravan warrior prick his horse with a knife. The horse screamed and reared on its hind legs. The rider fell off the horse, but Tedi could tell that the fall had been expected, and the man was uninjured.
"What's wrong?" shouted Harker.
"This horse is crazy," Gerry scowled in anger as he rose to his feet. "The beast threw me for no reason. Look at it."
One of the other riders had managed to grab the reins of Gerry's mount, but the horse was skittish.
"Take it back to the spares and get another one," ordered Harker. "Things are tense enough today without having to worry about the horses."
"That was my thought exactly," smiled Gerry.
The small, wiry man grabbed the reins to his horse and started walking towards the rear of the caravan. When he reached the spare horses that were tethered to the last wagon, he exchanged it for a fresh one. Standing in the center of the road, Gerry fiddled with the saddle while the rear guard rode around him. The squad leader of the rear guard called to him and warned him not to be too long. Gerry waved and nodded with a smile on his lips. The departure from the caravan had been timed perfectly to coincide with a bend in the road. Minutes after the warning from the squad leader, the rear guard disappeared from view. Gerry mounted his new horse and headed up the eastern ridge. High above the road, Button soared through the trees and landed on Garth's shoulder.
"Tedi said to warn you that the assassin is fleeing the caravan," Button reported.
"Thank you, Button," replied Garth. "I have been watching him. How is your hunt going?"
"We found four of them," the fairy answered. "I can find no more."
"The same on this side," nodded Garth. "They appear to be content just watching the caravan today. That may work out well for our plans, providing we can locate their base camp."
"Won't the assassin head for it?" asked Button.
"He will," nodded Garth, "but I can't afford to let him get to it. If your work with Tedi can be halted for a while, I could use your help."
"There is nothing for me to do over there," replied Button. "How may I serve you?"
"I need Bitsy to keep track of the assassin," explained Garth. "I would like you to see which way he is heading and then scout far ahead of him until you locate the base camp. When you have located it, return and inform me. Once we know where it is, I will confront the assassin."
"I shall find the bandits for you," promised the tiny woman.
Button leaped into the air and shot up through the branches of the trees. She paralleled the eastern ridge in search of Bitsy. Fairies could locate anything and anyone given enough time, but finding another fairy was the easiest of all. Fairies were able to sense one another, and Button found Bitsy within a few minutes. Button explained what her part was in the mission, and together the fairies kept track of Gerry as he climbed the ridge. Once he was deep into the forest, Gerry altered his course to the north, and Button separated from Bitsy and went in search of the base camp. It was almost an hour later when Button returned to Garth. She landed on his shoulder with an acrobatic flair and a broad grin across her face.
"Mission accomplished," boasted the fairy. "There are over a hundred bandits in the camp, but they do not seem to be going anywhere today."
"Will you be able to show me on a map?" asked Garth.
"Easily," answered Button. "I even flew high over them so that I could give you a view as if you were a high-flying, migrating swan. You can see for leagues that way."
"Excellent," chuckled Garth. "Coordinate between me and Bitsy as I get into position to intercept our assassin. After I am in place, Bitsy will put the assassin's horse to sleep, and you can go back to Tedi and instruct them to return to the caravan. They are to have Sidney halt the caravan when they get there, and have him set up camp for the night. The warriors are to get some sleep if possible."
Button nodded her understanding and set off in search of Bitsy. Less than half an hour later, the trap was set. Bitsy cast a sleeping spell on Gerry's horse, and Button departed for the western ridge. Gerry didn't understand what was going on. After trying to get his horse to move, he dismounted in disgust. That was when Garth stepped out of hiding with his sword drawn. Gerry was slow to react, and Garth had the tip of his sword placed on the assassin's chest before the wiry man could flee.
"Garth!" Gerry grinned nervously. "I was hoping that I could catch up to you."
"And why is that?" Garth asked with a gravelly voice.
"Everyone wants to be in the presence of a true hero," smiled Gerry. "When I heard that you had left, I had to come after you. I want to join up with you. Where are the others?" he asked as he tried to scan the forest.
"They are all well and fine," smiled Garth. "Disappointed?"
"I don't understand," frowned the assassin. "Why would I be disappointed?"
"I do not have time for games," declared Garth. "I not only know who you are, but I also know where you are heading. Your little plot last night only managed to kill Tharis. I am sure that will disappoint you, but not for long. The Federation will need another fool to take your place. While the penalty in these parts for horse stealing is death, I am willing to give you a boon."
A glimmer of hope appeared in the assassin's eyes.
"I will allow you to ask me one question before you die," Garth smiled thinly, "and I promise you that I will answer truthfully. What do you want to know? What is the question that has been plaguing your every waking moment?"
The glimmer of hope faded from Gerry's eyes as they darted left and right, hoping against hope that someone would come to his rescue, even though he knew that was an impractical thought. Garth pressed the tip of the sword harder against his chest, and the spy knew that he was about to die. Finally, his mouth opened to ask the question.
"Are you one of Mikal Obanik's men?" croaked Gerry.
"No," smiled Garth.
Confusion flooded Gerry's eyes. He had been sure that he had stumbled upon some of Obanik's people. He couldn't believe that he had been wrong.
"I am Mikal Obanik," Garth said in a whisper just before he shoved the sword through the assassin.
Gerry's eyes widened in surprise and then he fell dead to the forest floor. Garth searched the assassin's body and prepared to return to camp.
* * *
"I am not sure that I believe in those tales of magic," Sidney said. "I am the type of man that has to be able to touch something to believe in it."
"Magic is real," replied Kalina, "and the people sent to my land were adept at it. Make no mistake about that."
"But reading people's minds?" Sidney shook his head. "That is just unbelievable."
"Why?" asked Kalina. "How can you go through life with blinders on? I am certainly not amazed at the ability of reading one's mind. What amazes me is their ability to do it at a distance. If they physically touched the person, I could fully understand the principles involved, but performing such an act at a distance troubles me."
"Could you really understand the principles?" chuckled Sidney. "I think you are just fooling yourself. Magic is no more than sleight of hand. The person who professes to be a magician is nothing more than a shyster looking to take your gold."
"Oh?" Kalina said with a challenging tone. "I am sure that most mages would take great insult at your words. I understand that they are very proud of their skills, and it takes a great deal of study to be good at it."
"Posh," scowled Sidney. "Those are fairy tales. I expected much more from a woman of your caliber."
"Did you now?" chuckled Kalina. "I am rather curious now what you did exp
ect of me. What would you do if I told you that I was a mage?"
"Laugh," chuckled the merchant. "I would suspect that you are trying to impress me with nonexistent skills, but there is no need for you to do that. I am already impressed with your poise and grace. And your intellect," he added, "but your belief in magic is troubling."
"Well," declared Kalina, "I am a mage, and I fancy myself to be a rather good one."
"Prove it," challenged Sidney. "Create a pile of gold on the table here. If you can do that, I will happily believe you."
"I am sure you would," laughed Kalina, "but I cannot do that."
"As I thought," snickered Sidney.
"What I could do though," smiled Kalina, "is read your mind, with your permission of course."
"Alright," smirked the merchant. "Go ahead. What do you want me to do? Should I pick a number or something like that?"
"Just relax," Kalina said softly. "Close your eyes and relax."
Sidney closed his eyes, and Kalina placed her hands on his temples. She smiled as she cast the Mind Probe spell. Sidney fell asleep while Kalina peeked into all the nooks and crannies of his mind. For half an hour she probed the merchant until she knew what he knew. With a devilish grin upon her face, she woke the merchant up.
"I must have dozed off," yawned Sidney. "Are you through playing witch yet?"
"She was very beautiful," Kalina said. "You still miss her dearly, don't you?"
"Who?" Sidney asked suspiciously.
"Abigail," Kalina replied. "Edmond's mother."
"I find your joke distasteful," frowned the merchant. "I thought better of you."
"Yes, you do," replied Kalina, "and I am flattered, and a little embarrassed. I have never known a man who had such thoughts for me other than Garth."
Sidney blushed a deep red, but he was still unconvinced.
"Two thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven gold is what you expect to earn on this journey," she continued. "That is a hefty profit for a single caravan, and you are worried about Edmond not taking a wife yet."
"Go on," the merchant urged skeptically.
"You see Karamin joining the Federation soon," Kalina continued, "but you also think that Vinafor is not far behind. You are thinking of giving up your business and retiring to your mansion in Ur, which is quite beautiful by the way. The view of the gulf from your porch is especially inspiring."
Final Voyage of the Remora Page 24
