Speckles of white light danced in front of her eyes. If not for the pain, she might have expressed wonder at the ease with which Osrik cut through the landscape. He seemed familiar with the forest. Expecting every twist and turn before it arose. With expert direction he weaved in and out of the trees, spending only short bursts of time on the well-trodden paths before entering the thick foliage once again. He followed no particular pattern, making their steps harder to track by never remaining on a single route for too long. The soldiers would have to gain significant ground in order to follow without having to slow in search of traces indicative of their passing. Still, it offered minimal comfort when she knew the soldiers weren’t far behind. It wouldn’t take much to make up the distance and overwhelm Osrik.
They continued in the same fashion for several miles. Eventually the trees opened into a clearing, removing the safety of cover the forest provided. Kaori’s heart felt as if it skipped a beat as Osrik started to urge the horse onward. The clearing was large. More like a small field in the middle of nowhere. It left them vulnerable if the soldiers found their way to this location, leaving them out in the open, exposed. Perfect targets for a proficient marksman with a bow. She considered saying something. Warning Osrik of the danger he placed them in. The words had barely formed in her mind before Osrik suddenly slowed, pulling the reins to turn the horse around, moving swiftly back in the direction from which they had come.
Curious, Kaori closed her mouth, choosing not to say anything. She didn’t want to distract him. He was so focused! Intent on what he was doing. Carefully, he maneuvered along the tracks the horse had already left, veering only slightly to the left once they reached the tree line. In the cover of the woods he angled further, moving steadily to the southeast, away from their original northward path. Kaori understood the idea behind Osrik’s tactic. He wanted the soldiers to believe they were headed north. The soldiers wouldn’t expect their target to turn around, though it placed a lot in the hands of luck to assume the men would charge onward without taking note of the fact that the tracks came to a sudden end in the middle of a field. It bought them only enough time to place a larger gap between them and the soldiers which would allow an opportunity to seek a place to hide.
This would be easier if she knew where their intended destination was. No one had shared that detail with her, despite the fact that it seemed the most important piece of information. Without that knowledge, she couldn’t offer assistance – not that she was familiar enough with the area to be of much help. She hated not knowing. It gnawed at her insides, unnerved by the frightening truth that she would be lost if anything happened to Osrik. She knew very little about the surrounding cities. In her mind she tried to picture the maps from her lessons as a child but in all the images she recalled there to be very little east of Eykanua. Desert. Harsh, burnt, endless dunes of sand. Not many people ventured in that direction. It seemed safer to continue northward and remain in the cooler climate and more forgiving landscape. Unless that was part of Osrik’s plan. Cross the dangerous expanse of the desert to deter the soldiers from following. It was a risk, but it had merit. She just wasn’t sure what their plan would be once the dunes were behind them.
Osrik continued to weave through the trees, avoiding the main paths though there were fewer trails through this part of the woods. The deeper they went, the narrower the pathways became until they winked out of existence altogether, leaving Osrik to find his way through the foliage on his own. His pace had slowed. Kaori was grateful for that. Without the constant pressure against the wounds on her back, she was able to fight through the pain, clearing her vision, the spots in front of her eyes gradually starting to fade.
“You might as well try to get comfortable,” Osrik’s voice cut through Kaori’s thoughts. She peered up at him, wincing from the strain the motion caused, stretching the skin on her back with the simplest movements. At the sight of her pained grimace Osrik’s lips curled downward into a deep frown. “We will stop before morning so I can try to dress your wounds. Until then, I need you to stay strong and muscle through. It’s too dangerous to stop just yet.”
“Do not worry about me,” Kaori forced a smile through the pain. “I have too much to be grateful for to dwell on a few scratches. You are a good man, Buldan. May the gods smile upon you for all you have done.”
Osrik chuckled at Kaori’s praise, digging his heels into the horse to quicken their pace through the trees once again, pushing onward into the deepening darkness as night cast its shade over the forest. “Let us pray your gods truly do watch over you. The human deities haven’t smiled upon us since the Emperor seated himself upon that throne. I have little faith they will do anything to help us now.”
Under the cover of night Osrik allowed the horse a chance to rest from its hastened pace they forced it to maintain since escaping the palace. Kaori was grateful for the break, lowering herself onto the leaf-strewn ground, a sense of peace settling over her at the cool sensation of an early morning dew soaking into what was left of her dress. The moisture was heavenly against her muddy, sweat-covered skin. Alongside their resting place ran a small stream, the last body of water they would see before passing into the desert once the sun had risen. The water called to her. Beckoning Kaori to immerse herself in the clear stream and rid the dirt and blood from her body. Right now it just felt too good to sit. Take in the fresh air that she’d been denied for so long.
They covered a significant amount of ground since leaving Eykanua. By now every soldier in Carpaen would be looking for her. Again. Although it hadn’t been her intention when starting the rebellion, she’d managed to make herself one of the most prominent and sought-after women in the country. Whether that was a good thing merely depended on which side of the fight those looking for her were on.
She had to assume Therek and the others were still out there. Plotting. Preparing for an attack against Sulel. The trouble would be finding them. She had been gone too long to believe any of her friends were still looking for her. Everyone knew where she was. Sulel wouldn’t have been able to keep his lips sealed about his prized prisoner. And while her people looked up to her, they weren’t stupid enough to storm the palace to get her back. They would simply seek leadership from someone else who proved worthy of the role. Liurn would have fallen easily into the title. With Davian’s support, the rebellion would be alive and stronger than ever. Kaori couldn’t wait to have her strength back so she could fight by their side.
A loud rumble in her stomach pulled Kaori from her reverie, reminded of the discomfort which had remained ever present in her abdomen. Without fear and adrenaline to distract her, she couldn’t overlook the hunger pangs any longer. Food was a necessity. Her only concern was in whether Osrik thought to bring a supply of food with him on this journey. “Lord Buldan…” she whispered hesitantly. Afraid of discovering he had nothing to offer her aching stomach.
From where he stood next to the horse, Osrik turned his head to face her, his hand never ceasing its gentle rub along the animal’s nose, smiling at Kaori through the moonlight which filtered down through the trees. “Please, call me Osrik,” he chuckled. More lighthearted than Kaori expected at a time like this. “I doubt I hold title anymore. Might as well get used to hearing my name again.”
Forlorn, Kaori couldn’t bring herself to join in Osrik’s laughter. She saw no humor in his predicament. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that it was her fault he was in this position. If you hadn’t been stupid enough to let Deliao catch you in the first place… “I owe you quite a debt and I am not certain I will ever be able to repay it.”
“I did not do this for payment,” he waved dismissively. “The Emperor is out of line in his recent decrees. Some of the greatest people I have had the honor of knowing in my life were Vor’shai. You parents, for instance – they did not deserve the fate he dealt them. It is a travesty. Despicable.” With a glum shake of his head Osrik stepped away from the horse, casually observing the area before moving clo
ser to where Kaori sat. “We are going to get you out of the country,” he assured her, slowly kneeling on the leaves in front of Kaori. “The desert may test us, but it is the only route which will make the soldiers hesitate to follow.”
“We?” Kaori’s brow rose, inquisitive. “I see no one other than you. Who else has played a role in this plan?”
“More than you know.” Osrik’s smile remained, a soft twinkle in his eyes revealing the joy he felt in speaking of the matter. “The Empress has been awaiting word from the Duke of Avishul for some time. Before leaving Eykanua, he sent a request to the Namiren Ambassador here in Carpaen, Ramis Valdur. Word of the Emperor’s behavior has spread quickly across Myatheira. Given the differences between the humans and Namirens, it’s only a matter of time before the prejudice spreads beyond the Vor’shai. Ramis was the most likely candidate for an ally. As it turned out, the Duke was right.”
Intrigued by the idea, Kaori leaned forward, listening intently. “Therek struck a deal with the Namirens?”
“The Ambassador, yes,” Osrik nodded in affirmation. “It would take too long for Ramis to send a messenger to Namorea. No official alliance has been established, but it is promising.”
In awe Kaori stared at Osrik, unsure if she was willing to believe what she was hearing. The Namirens were far from prominent in Carpaen but those who chose to make it their home were respected by the humans. Kaori’s parents spoke very little of their neighbors to the east but what they said of them indicated a belief that the Emperor feared the Namirens. They were a strong race. Proud. Intolerant. It took little to spark their ire and once the deed was done, they weren’t easily swayed back to peace. Their support would be beneficial to the Vor’shai. Quite possibly the key to victory over Sulel and Deliao. And they were only the beginning! If the Namirens were willing to fight the Imperial Army, it was safe to assume that other lesser known races within Carpaen would join as well. The Ven’shal were at just as much risk as the Vor’shai. Their lower profile made them less of a target since they avoided court and positions of rank but they were known throughout the country as a force to be reckoned with. Even some Esai might find it in their hearts to join the battle. Defend their Vor’shai heritage.
Questions swam through her mind. There were so many things she wanted to ask but it would accomplish nothing to press Osrik for answers he likely didn’t have. The plans he spoke of were far from complete. He said it himself that an alliance hadn’t been formed in an official capacity. They were in the beginning stages of amassing an army but with little to go on currently other than the agreeable nature of one foreign dignitary. Resting her hands in her lap Kaori swallowed her curiosity in regards to the Namirens, choosing her words carefully to inquire on the one detail she couldn’t bring herself to ignore any longer. “Then what of me?” she gazed at Osrik through her long lashes. “The soldiers will not stop searching until I am returned to Eykanua. Where do you intend to take me?”
“Your friends are waiting for you on the Carpaen coast with a boat set to sail for Namorea,” Osrik stated calmly. The lack of color to his usually tan complexion belied the steadiness of his tone, his eyes constantly shifting to look between Kaori and the woods behind them. Searching for signs of an ambush. “Rather than send a courier, Ramis agreed to accompany you out of the country. You will remain at his home in Namorea until he is able to speak with his King and determine whether an alliance is something their people are willing to forge.”
Namorea? It was the last place she would have thought to go. Very few people travelled there if they were not native to the island country. It was home to not only the Namirens but to the Sanarik as well, a dangerous, stealthy race who didn’t take kindly to foreigners trespassing on their land. She wasn’t entirely comfortable with the thought of being anywhere near them. “Are you sure that is wise?” she asked, lowering her gaze to stare at the shackles which still bound her wrists. “Mialan would be a better place to hide. And safer. I could stay there and await word from Therek of the Namiren King’s decision.”
“The Emperor will send soldiers to Mialan in search of you. He knows that is where your people have fled in the past.”
“He holds no power on Mialan land…”
“Do you think that will stop him?” Osrik challenged, leaning forward to draw Kaori’s gaze back up, holding it with a steely eye. “The Mialans will not want to risk their own war with Carpaen over an escaped Vor’shai prisoner. They would hand you over without a second thought of what would become of you.”
“What is to stop him from doing the same in Namorea?”
“Nothing would stop him… if he thought to look for you there.” In that instant Osrik’s frown eased, the corners of his lips twitching upward into a half-smile. “The reputation of Namorea is enough to make the most intelligent of soldiers hesitate to believe you would run there for protection. And the Namirens have no qualms about starting a war if the Emperor oversteps his boundaries.”
It was a lot to take in. She’d been prepared for a long journey, but nothing to this extreme. Crossing the desert? Not many people were foolish enough to attempt such a feat. Adding an unexpected vacation to Namorea only made it feel worse. If the heat or wildlife in the desert didn’t kill them before reaching their destination, the Namirens very well could. The cooperation of a single ambassador hardly seemed enough to trust their lives would be safe in Namiren territory. “And you say Therek has approved this? He agrees it is the best option?”
“He has been at the forefront of the planning since the day he left Eykanua. Your safety and freedom is of the utmost importance to him and the rest of your people. They won’t allow any harm to befall you.”
“On Namiren land they have no control over what happens to any of us,” she sighed. Disconcerted by the realization that the plan was perfect other than that one… more than minor detail. A handful of Vor’shai would be helpless in defending her if confronted by an army of Namiren fighters. Unfortunately, it was too late to turn back now. The plan was already set into motion. It was too much to hope that Therek might be among those waiting for her at the coast. Since the day she watched him walk out of Sulel’s courtyard she longed to see him again. He lost everything because of her. She wasn’t sure what she could say to him after everything he had done, but an expression of gratitude, even if small, was better than appearing to ignore his sacrifices. “Where on the coast will my friends be? Is it far from here?”
“A few days,” Osrik rose back to his feet, reaching into a satchel at his waist. Kaori watched with excitement as he pulled a loaf of bread from inside, offering it to her with a warm smile, a soft chuckle escaping him as she snatched it hungrily from his hands. “They are waiting in the port village of Gavir. It’s a small town. The people there most likely haven’t heard of anything which has transpired throughout the rest of the country. The desert and the mountains lie between us and them. That makes it a safer place for you to pause and rest before starting the journey across the Nahpoa.”
Biting into the bread Kaori gave a moan of pleasure, thankful to finally have something to put in her stomach. It wouldn’t be enough to quell her hunger entirely, but it might ease the pain for a short while. Long enough to put more distance between them and the soldiers before taking the chance to stop again. She wasn’t comfortable with their current position. They were still too close to Eykanua. While the soldiers may not desire to enter the desert, they wouldn’t hesitate to continue searching the forested land which covered the area she and Osrik took refuge in currently. They had barely been riding a single night. It would take a few more hours before they began to see the trees thin out once again to make way for the harsher landscape. She wasn’t sure she was ready to trade the humid air for the dryness that lay before them.
She had just pushed the final remnants of bread into her mouth when a sharp snap echoed through the trees, drawing Kaori’s eyes upward to stare into the darkened woods around them. The echo made it impossible to pinpoint exactly from
which direction it had come. It was distinct enough to set her heart racing, rising swiftly to stand at Osrik’s side, prepared for the worst. Was it possible the soldiers had tracked them so far? And so quickly! Osrik had been so careful in choosing their path. Covering their tracks. Maybe it is an animal; she tried to comfort herself. It did nothing to ease the pounding inside her chest. For a noise that loud, even if it was an animal, it wouldn’t be a small one. The only thing she knew for certain was that they weren’t safe where they were. They needed to get moving.
“Let’s get you back to the horse,” Osrik whispered, gently grasping Kaori’s shackled hands in his. She gave no argument, swallowing hard as she followed him toward the animal. Slow. Quiet. Cautious not to do anything which would signal their location to whatever was out there. It took little effort for Osrik to lift Kaori onto the horse in her malnourished state. Her heart beat with a strange, erratic rhythm, an uncomfortable tingle coursing along her skin to make the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Something wasn’t right. Her stomach lurched, a discomfort beyond hunger, almost as if a sixth sense was trying to warn her that they were in danger. But she didn’t require an extra sense to know they weren’t safe.
As another loud noise erupted through the air, Kaori cried out to feel the horse start to move underneath her, startled by the sound. It was different from before. Louder than that of a twig, its familiarity unmistakable in her mind, recognizing the snap of a bowstring just as she felt Osrik’s body stumble forward into her leg, a loud grunt coming from him as he struggled to regain his balance to get the horse under control. Kaori’s reactions came as nothing more than instinct while conscious thought seemed to shut down in her head. Her eyes remained locked on Osrik’s pain-filled grimace where he stood, shaken, a long, slender shafted arrow protruding from his back. Reflexively, her hands grabbed for the reins, keeping the horse from running off as she tried to reach down to her friend, urging him to climb into the saddle.
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning Page 63
