A laugh escaped from her mouth. "Well, you were tied up. I guess it was a bit hard for you to resist."
"No, I mean it, I should have done more." His piercing eyes were fixed on her now in earnest attention. "I hurt your feelings and I'm truly sorry for it."
His words resonated in her heart. He had hurt her, regardless of whether he intended to or not. Seeing him there like that had stained her image of what intimacy would be like with him. But at least now she felt a little better, like his words had cooled her anger and allowed her to feel that warm connection with him once again. She bowed her head and slumped, feeling the tears well up in her eyes.
Tael came to her at once and wrapped his strong arms around her in a warm embrace. The held back tears spilled down her cheeks and wetted his shirt. It felt good to have him close once again, after so many days of being apart. She hated to admit it, but she missed him sleeping next to her each night. Often she'd woken after a nightmare and reached for him, only to find herself alone and filled with an empty, lonely feeling of loss. She hoped it would never happen again.
"I don't want to lose you, Sebine," Tael whispered, and ran his hands up along her back. "I'll do whatever you want to make it right with us. What can I do?"
"I'm going to need your help to get us to Shaar'el." She separated from him and studied his eyes. "You know the world, you've seen so much more of it than I have. You're a traveler and used to life out on the run. I'm afraid of what I've heard of Rez'el. And from the whispers of the sailors, they avoid going into the city proper, and stay mostly to the shantytown around the docks. They're afraid of the cultists who worship a god of the earth, a god of fertility and wine."
Tael smirked and widened his eyes in mock horror. "Sounds like a terrible cult if they worship wine. Could it be all that bad? Rez'el is famous across the world for their red wine. My father always raved about the Malathian wine that hailed from Rez'el, and their vineyards high in the hills surrounding their city. The hills have the right combination of coolness and moisture needed to grow their particular variety of red grapes."
"Why are we talking about wine?" She scowled at him, wishing he were more serious. "What I am saying is I'd rather avoid Rez'el altogether and find another ship to Erelim. And I think it will be faster if we go overland from there."
"Assuming we can actually find a ship. And after all the wait, it might be faster just to travel to Shaar'el from Rez'el. Why don't we just ask around and see which way is faster? I'm worried that the Malathians might declare war before we reach Shaar'el. We should try and form an alliance with them."
Sebine gave Tael an incredulous look. "What alliance? Master Vhelan abandoned us, the knights are gone, and your grandfather is gone."
"He said he'd meet us in Shaar'el before the end of next month." Tael's voice was indignant and irritated, but beneath all his bluster he sounded just as scared as she felt.
"You know we have nothing to negotiate with. If we had the dragons and Master Vhelan it might be different. We have to act cautiously and feel our way around in the Malathian Kingdom. Once we get to Shaar'el, our best hope is to seek out an audience with Prince Jaraz, or if he won't see us, I believe his sister Princess Marei will be open to talking with me. I did save her life." And I saved her from torture and rape by the King's soldiers. She felt a shiver run through body at the memory.
"Then we need to get to Shaar'el as fast as possible." Tael's face fixed in a firm expression. "Trust me to find a way there. I want to make it right with you. During our journey I spent quite a bit of time talking to the few Malathian sailors on board, and I found out that one lived in Rez'el for a several years when he was young. His parents journeyed on a pilgrimage to visit the seven sacred relics of Shaar'el. The pilgrims made the journey overland in a vast caravan of camels and horses. And get this, he said that we are in the holy days, and likely there will be caravans leaving daily to reach Shaar'el before the end of a month of fasting and prayer. We can make it, I know we can."
Sebine doubted whether or not they could fit in with the pilgrims, but she nodded in affirmation to Tael, not wanting to diminish his hope of finding a way for them to travel to Shaar'el. And she admitted to herself that the timing of the caravans was fortuitous, and going with a large group of religious adherents would likely be safer than trying to purchase passage on a trading caravan. Though what Sebine knew of the bishops of Trikar, the priests were often more greedy than merchants, and they would certainly need to offer a steep donation to the priests to guarantee their place amongst the caravan of devotees.
The ship veered towards shore and Sebine could see they had reached the outskirts of the city of Rez'el. The coast was dotted with shacks with women out in front stretching fish to dry in the sun. Fishing boats dotted the water, and men cast out long nets between the vessels, trawling the bay for their rich harvest. The sailors seemed excited to finally sail to port, and the faces of the men stared in hunger and lust at the life bustling around the port.
Where Glar Bay had been chaotic and dirty, the city of Rez'el looked pristine and organized, and the city itself was nestled high above the port on a hill overlooking the bay. The walls were white-washed as were the buildings, with golden-domed temples and thin, gold-capped spires stretching towards the brilliant blue sky. Peace filled Sebine's heart as she stared at the city, and she wondered why there were so many stories of warning about the place. Compared to Glar Bay and their visit to Lord Oberon, this place was a dream.
Soon they anchored at the pier, and Tael went with Sebine to retrieve their things. They thanked the captain for the safe voyage, and Tael handed the man a gem as payment for their trip. The man refused, claiming that Sebine had likely saved his life and the life of his men, and that he was forever in her debt.
"Anytime you need to sail back east to Cranth just ask around for when Captain Hainish will return to port. I anchor here and sometimes in Erelim, though now I will return to Cranth with a load of Rez'el's finest wines and honey from the hills." The old captain gave Sebine a pitiful look. "Don't look so sad to be here, love. I'm sure you'll find your way to Shaar'el unscathed. Just keep your wits about you and stay cautious, the citizens of Rez'el are a strange people."
They debarked the ship and waved goodbye to the sailors, and Sebine reached out and slipped her hand in Tael's. He gave her a kind look and squeezed softly, and they strode together past men unloading crates and barrels from the boats. There were several dockmasters studying the activity, and farther up the pier, a band of soldiers wearing light ringmail armor and plumed helms marched in formation, their hard eyes scrutinizing the passengers leaving the ships. Sebine felt her heart go cold when their eyes fixed on them. She'd forgotten to cast an illusion over herself.
The squad leader spotted the sword at Tael side, and he withdrew a long, curved blade went to intercept them. Scanning around, Sebine realized that none of the men wore swords, as was the custom of most men of Valance. At any lack of recognition on the soldiers' faces, Sebine relaxed, hoping none of them had ever traveled to Valance and might have seen her.
"Who are you?" the squad leader said, and cast suspicious eyes at Sebine and Tael. "What is your purpose for visiting the Malathian Kingdom? You wear the style of clothing common to the cursed kingdom of the east. Swords are not allowed to be worn within our cities."
Sebine realized she had not even thought of practicing a suitable response, nor even talked with Tael about establishing an alias and a story of why they had come here. How could she have allowed them to be so unprepared?
"We are seekers of spiritual wisdom," Tael said, and pressed his hand over his heart and two fingers on his forehead and bowed. The squad leader put away his sword and the soldiers returned the expression, pressing palms to their hearts and touching their foreheads with two fingers. Sebine found her mouth forming a small smile. Tael had prepared for this. Impressive. "I am called Geldrin Salan, and this is my wife."
"Welcome, seeker." The squad leader said, and Sebine wo
ndered if it was customary for husbands not to reveal the names of their wives in Rez'el. For the soldiers now fixed their attention solely on Tael, and unlike their earlier inspection, ignored her.
"We come from the City of Cranth, on this long and troublesome voyage, as pilgrims to your holy land. We have been persecuted by the Calathian Church for our humble study of the seven truths of the earth, water, and the sky." Tael touched his forehead again with his fingers, and the soldiers did the same.
"You may find sanctuary here in the city of the earth." The squad leader eyed him with a zealous expression on his face. "Tell me, are you here for the pilgrimage to the city of the sky?"
Tael nodded in agreement and tilted his head as if in a question. "We have heard this from devotees of the seven truths. But we feared we were too late, as we found trouble plaguing our journey, and we were trapped in a foul, evil place."
"You mean Glar Bay?" The soldier's face went angry and his eyes narrowed in rage. "Curse that man who calls himself Lord, and for his inviting dark magic into that viper's den. May the god of the earth dry their wells and spoil their rivers." The man again touched his fingers to his forehead, and Tael bowed and did the same. "But do not fear! You are not too late for the pilgrimage, though you will need to pass through certain formalities..." He waved his hand dismissively, as if any government concerns would be solved easily.
With renewed vigor, the man stood in attention, and his men did the same. "Follow me, young seekers. We will escort you to the gates of Rez'el, and tonight you will worship at the temple of the god of the earth, and drink of our sacred waters. The priests of our god will guide you and teach you his sacred name."
The squad of soldiers turned in formation, and marched down the docks past sailors and captains and men pushing carts towards vast warehouses set along the harbor. Sebine saw the curious eyes of the olive-skinned Malathians staring at her long, wavy hair. The few women in this part of town wore scarfs or covered their heads with silk hoods, and kept their hair tied in intricate knots. The taverns were filled with red-eyed sailors drinking beer and laughing, their longing gazes making Sebine feel uncomfortable.
But soon they left the lower town and reached a guard post, and the buildings inside were white-washed and the way lined with lavender and olive trees. Once past the low gate, she noticed a dramatic change from the port, and from the suspicious stares of the soldiers at the post, she realized that sailors were not allowed here. The squad leader had been unopposed as he marched them here, with the other soldiers granting him the respect of his station.
The path up towards the City of Rez'el was steep, and Sebine found herself huffing as sweat drenched her back from the exertion of the grueling march up the winding way. Where the land farther down the coast had been a tropical jungle, Rez'el was drier, but the moist air still nurtured the green, flowery landscape around them.
Finally they reached the white city walls, and Tael and Sebine waited while the squad leader conferred with the captain of the barracks. She felt nervous as the men appeared to argue, their bronzed hands gesturing and flourishing as if in a fight. Soon another, older man waddled over, a civilian in a copper colored robe edged with geometric patterns. He nodded his head, listening to the men talk, and after they finished, the old man furrowed up his brow in an expression of deep thought. He turned and studied Tael and only briefly glanced at Sebine.
To her concern, the squad leader and his men were dismissed, and Tael and Sebine were left alone to the inspection of the soldiers and the civilian, whom she guessed was likely a government official of some kind. The old man waddled over to them, his eyes studying the white stone square.
"It has been said that a man of foreign birth and his wife seeks entry into the Malathian Kingdom," said the old man, his eyes facing off towards the sea. "A supposed spiritual seeker with some knowledge of our beliefs and traditions. Was this understood correctly?" Still the old man refused to look at them.
"Yes, this is correct."
"I will always be addressed as your wisdom, is this clear?" The man's tone grew sharp and impatient.
"Yes, Your Wisdom. My apologies—"
"Now, since this request is a strange one, and this man and his wife are unknown to us, there must be a process of purification and examination before this man and his wife are allowed into our lands. Are my words understood?"
Tael bowed to the man. "Yes, Your Wisdom."
"Then the man will come with me, and the woman will follow another, as is our custom. This way." The old man turned and hobbled over to a side entrance along the gate, and the soldiers parted to let them through. Inside they followed a long stone corridor that wound around until they climbed several flights of stairs, pausing a few times as the old man wheezed and recovered from the exertion.
At the top of the stairs they found an expansive office of some kind, with a clerk sitting at a desk, scribbling away at a letter. He raised his head and stood in respect as the old man approached.
"Find Dorith. They are here for processing. Handle the details..." The old man wagged his head in disinterest, and turned and waddled away down a side passageway. The clerk motioned for them to sit on a wooden bench, and walking away, disappeared into another room.
"What is my name supposed to be?" Sebine said, and winked at Tael.
"How about Gulia? We'll be Geldrin and Gulia."
Sebine frowned at him as if displeased by the name, then shrugged as the door opened and the clerk returned to the room.
"You will follow me," the clerk said to Tael, and he motioned to a matronly woman in a heavy, white robe. Her black hair was tied up in a bun. "And your wife will follow Dorith. Don't be concerned, you will see each other when we are finished with our examinations. Come with me."
At Tael's concerned eyes, Sebine found herself suddenly afraid of being separated from him. But Dorith seized her arm and guided her down another hallway, and Tael was gone.
Chapter Fourteen
TAEL FOLLOWED THE clerk into an empty room with a sleek, metallic table and three wooden chairs. The small side window mounted high along the wall provided a few fragments of light to the otherwise dim room. The clerk motioned for Tael to sit, and he left the room and locked the door behind him. Tael waited for what seemed like an hour, alternating between sitting and pacing about the room, tempted to drag the chair over to the window to see what was outside. When the temptation was almost too much to bear, a door opened on the far side of the room, and two men entered and took a seat at the table.
The first man was young and had a shaved head and bore the manner of a priest. He was dressed in a gold silk robe and wore gold rings on each finger, and each was engraved with the likeness of a deity, or perhaps a demon or monster of some kind. The other man was also young but far more serious, and he wore similar copper-colored robes as the strange old man that had led them into the city. His black hair was cropped short, and he had an odd, precise manner about him.
The priest spoke first. "I am called Yaran, and I am a priest of the god of the earth, the giver of all blessings and life to our people."
"And I am known as Illan, an official of the Malathian Kingdom," said the other man, and he withdrew a vellum scroll and an ink and quill set. "We have a few questions before you are permitted to enter our lands."
Two hours later, after an intense examination, the men stood and nodded in seeming satisfaction. Tael hoped that his web of lies had held up to their scrutiny. The administrator still seemed a bit suspicious, but the priest's eyes beamed in a radiant look of sacred joy, and he took Tael's hand and led him through the door where the men had first entered.
"Come, come, we have much to discuss before we perform the purification ritual. It is rare to have one so devout visit us from the Kingdom of Valance. The high priestess will be most pleased to have you join us tonight." Tael was glad he'd spent so much time talking to the Malathian sailor. Without his knowledge of their beliefs and culture he would be doomed to ignorance and likely exp
ulsed from their land.
The administrator insisted on taking Tael's sword before agreeing to grant him entry into the city. Tael bowed and asked him to keep his father's precious sword safe. The priest told him not to worry, that his sword would be waiting for him upon his departure from the city, and he flapped his hand in dismissal of Illan. The administrator remained behind in the room. It was clear that at least in Rez'el, the priests possessed the power.
"You are most kind, Priest Yaran, to allow us entry into your holy city." Tael touched two fingers to his forehead. "I am humbled and I can already feel the power of the earth god filling the soles of my feet."
The priest allowed a sly smile to creep over his face. "Tonight you will feel more of our god's power filling you, young supplicant. That is, if the high priestess finds you sufficiently devout. Though from your demeanor and appearance, I believe she will be most pleased."
Past a massive, copper gate guarded by two burly soldiers, the priest guided Tael outside into a stone courtyard flanked by orange trees. They walked around a square fountain with a statue of an elder sage spouting water from his mouth. Tael remembered the words of the Malathian on the ship, of their earth god who was also the god of fresh water and wisdom. Perhaps this statue was a figure of their god?
As they left the grove of citrus trees, Tael could see the facades of several stone buildings around them. The architecture was solemn and subdued, and Tael guessed they were all buildings of the government and civic institutions. Only a few people strode along the square. The central part possessed a twenty-foot statue of a scholarly woman in long, flowing robes. Her outstretched hand pointed east towards an enormous temple situated at the highest point of the city. The priest turned and walked towards the temple.
Tael was surprised to find the city relatively empty of people, save for the few citizens walking purposefully from building to building, often holding scrolls or satchels, and several times he spotted groups of servants carrying heavy loads. Their eyes were strangely indifferent and aloof. Far from the fanatics that he had heard rumors about, these citizens were calm and content, although excessively diligent in their work. Tael found himself suspicious of the obsessive orderliness of the city.
Lord Of Dragons (Book 2) Page 8
