The descent was extremely drawn-out since they had to follow a staggered path crisscrossing the wall of the canyon many times. By the time they found the canyon floor, it was too dark to continue. The rush of water led them on for a time until they came to the edge of a river, where they made camp. They did manage to find enough scrub brush in the immediate area to get a blazing fire burning, giving no heed to precaution.
Lord Serant clapped a hand to Geoffrey’s back in response to his far-off stare during their evening meal. “It isn’t that bad, my friend. Soon you will be home with nothing but time on your hands, and all this will be far behind you, behind all of us.”
“I hope so,” responded Geoffrey weakly, “I hope so.”
The captain, who had wandered off in search of more wood, returned. His eyes were almost as distant as Geoffrey’s as he sat next to Serant. He looked to Midori and Calyin who quietly watched the flames, and then to Geoffrey and Serant. “Do you really think so?” asked Brodst.
“It is the desire of my heart, yes.”
“Lord Serant, I mean no disrespect when I say, this—I have been thinking very carefully—”
“Don’t—” whispered Midori.
“I must go to Solntse. We are only a full day’s ride away—we cannot turn away. What of the garrison troops there in full company? Tomorrow, I will go alone if need be, but to Solntse, I will go.”
Captain Brodst spoke the words that had been on the tip of Geoffrey’s tongue, and Geoffrey was quick to add his opinion, which was to go to Solntse. “We’ll take the capital back by force. We’ll round the garrisons from the whole of the kingdom! And we’ll march on Imtal and drive Jarom back to his lands as we would a mad dog!” Two pairs of eyes fell to Lord Serant, and wondered why he held his thoughts in check, and why he would continue along this path, which was completely against his nature.
“Do not say your thoughts!” announced Serant. “Or I’ll cut out your tongues myself. I thought we gave this great consideration before we began this journey. Our path is fated—” As Lord Serant continued to speak at length, Geoffrey understood Lord Serant’s reasoning even though the captain did not, for he understood the superstitious nature of those of the Territories and the captain did not. Honor took second place to beliefs, which were very strongly based. Geoffrey also saw the hatred Lord Serant held for Midori, not because he disliked her personally but because she had the power to hold his fears over him and show them to him.
The night was calm with the gentle sound of the river lulling their thoughts for a time. Lord Serant opted for the first watch, and he remained on guard all through the night, waking no one to replace him. The stars appeared so very far off as he stared at them; they did not bring answers to his questions, for he did not seek the answers. The blackness of night slowly dissipated replaced by morning light, but no sun.
Geoffrey and Captain Brodst parted from the others as morning came; the three who sat around the fire watched them retreat without saying a word. Lord Serant, Calyin and Midori would continue on their own. The canyon floor proved to be very rough and strewn with boulders, making it extremely difficult to traverse. With only two horses to bear the burden of three, they would walk this day.
Their thoughts were with the two who went to Solntse. They did not fear for their own safety. Three could survive as easily as could five and three could possibly remain more invisible than five. Before, they would have retreated from any force and that had not changed. A fight was not what they sought, so they would not confront a hostile force. They continued on through the rains and sleet, downward, inward, outward, upward, wherever their feet led them.
Chapter Nineteen
“Valam? Valam?” asked Jacob. “I am finished.” Jacob nudged Valam a second time with no response. He quickly began to speak again, “I am sorry, gentlemen, for taking up so much of your time, but now I conclude and give you to Prince Valam.”
“Valam? Valam?” said Jacob, louder than he wished. He smiled graciously and then apologized. He shook Valam, who was slow to open his eyes. “My prince, I am most sorry. Perhaps we should delay this meeting until tomorrow.”
Valam opened his eyes, blinked once, then blinked again. “Captain Mikhal?” asked Valam.
“He has not yet arrived, I am sorry.”
Valam sat up straight and looked around the tent. His eyes opened wide. “Ekharn? Where did Ekharn go?”
Sensing something was wrong, Father Jacob dismissed all present saying, “Let us adjourn until this evening, or better still, tomorrow morning. I apologize again most graciously.”
Valam stood, excused himself, and walked out, but just before the entry, he turned back to look at those seated around the table, and he smiled and said, “Eran, brother of Ylsa. I should have caught the resemblance.” Valam fled to the middle of the encampment, waiting for a thing that did not come. Puzzled, he waited, quickly walking away as Father Jacob approached.
He sought refuge not in his own tent, but in another on the far side of camp. He did not seek out Evgej, or Seth, or even Liyan. His search led him directly to another. He did not pause at her door or announce his arrival. Actually, he did not even think anyone would be there. He was shocked to find someone was indeed in the tent.
“You need not lower your eyes,” spoke Tsandra, whispering to his thoughts. “I have no secrets.”
“I am sorry. I did not think—”
“Yes, I know. Just wait one moment. No need to leave. I shall only be a moment,” said Tsandra without even a trace of embarrassment in her words. She stepped into her woolen robe, and then slipped on her boots. She smiled at Valam’s wide eyes and bade him to sit. “Your thoughts read like an open book. I thought the time before last when we spoke that we discussed that problem of yours.”
“I—I—guess we did,” answered Valam. “Wait, wait a minute. This is not what I came here to talk about, so don’t lead me astray.”
“Well—”
“I understand now what you said to me as our journey began; though, to be honest with you, at the time I did not.”
“I thought you would come to understand it, but isn’t your timing a little off? Is this why you walked out of council?”
Valam glared back at her and asked, “You can’t read what I am thinking right now. Can you?”
“Yes, you are still embarrassed, but I think it will pass.”
“That’s precisely it,” replied Valam, confused.
Tsandra sensed the falseness of his words but did not know what made them false. She wondered what he was hiding from her. Carefully, she prodded his mind while she smiled at him, and she grinned even wider as he smiled back. She found no hidden walls in his center, yet there was something she could not see.
“Why did you do it?” asked Valam.
“Do what?”
“Why did you gather your forces? Was it really for the queen? Or was it over me?”
Now Tsandra comprehended where he was going with his interrogation. “It was for the Queen-Mother; I feared for her safety. I am a warrior; mine is to protect.”
“No. The order of the Red are the protectors. Is this not so?”
“It is the right of the Brown to protect also.”
“But you protect your people, do you not? You hold the Queen-Mother in check. Is this not so?”
“Where do you get the audacity to speak of such things to me?”
“Is this not so?”
“I think you should leave.”
“I will go nowhere!”
“Leave, or I will kill you, myself.”
Valam removed his sword from its sheath, and stood eyeing her intent. He considered her words, her tone of voice, and her stance. She did not stand at the ready like one who was willing or wanting to fight. He turned his blade around and handed her the hilt end. “Do me in if you will,” said Valam kneeling down on one knee and bowing his head, an act he knew would infuriate the heart of any warrior, no matter their origin.
“I would not strike you
down in such a way. Do you think me so treacherous?”
“No, I do not think there is treachery in you, but perhaps you could find the truth and share it with me.”
Tsandra was stumped. Where had the questions come from so suddenly, and why now? She had not meant it to come to this. She had merely done what needed to be done, nothing more, so why did it now smite her in the face. She did not make it secret this time that she wished to enter his thoughts. She burst into his mind, seeking to tear it apart and search his every thought but was repelled from the emptiness she found. Again, angrily, she forced her will into his mind. Her eyes went wide with fury.
“It wasn’t any of those things, was it?” asked Valam, oblivious to her will upon him.
“Get out!” she yelled, reaching out with all her wrath, again forgetting to enclose its reaches.
“I will not, not until I hear the truth. Tell me, Tsandra of the Brown. Find the words in your heart of hearts and speak them to me.”
“I don’t know what you are saying.”
“The time for playing games with me is over. I remember. I remember it all.”
“Oh, really. You remember what?”
“Do not be coy with me! I am asking you in all honesty. I believe you want to tell me the truth, but what keeps your tongue in check?”
“That would be me,” spoke Liyan stepping into the tent.
“How long have you been standing out there?” asked Tsandra.
“Only a few moments, but I know of what you speak. I heard the name you spoke, though I think others did not catch it. I don’t even think Tsandra heard it.”
“What name are you referring to?”
“Why the name of Ekharn the old, of course?”
“Where did you learn it?” asked Tsandra, confusion showing on her face.
“In a dream of sorts.”
“A dream, or was it Seth?” asked Liyan, searching Valam’s thoughts as he asked it.
Valam stood there staring at Liyan for a time before he responded, but his words were cut short by another. “No, it was not I, brother. You should know I would not speak of such.”
“Tell us of this dream, if you may,” asked Liyan, yet speaking aloud.
“I don’t think I may, Brother Liyan.”
Liyan furrowed his brow, but did not reply to Valam; in thought, he told the others what he knew about Valam’s words and about Brother Ontyv’s visit. Tsandra’s response was only a passing complaint, but Seth’s was anger, anger so strong it turned his face livid. “Please sit, sit all,” begged Tsandra. “Let us talk as friends, as we are all friends in this room.”
Tsandra continued to speak, but not aloud; now she carefully thought to enclose her words only to those around her. “Ours is a tale best left untold, but I will say you are correct in your words, Prince Valam Alder.”
“Yes,” added Liyan, “the Brown began from tragedy and necessity, and so you see, not all our past is bright and glorious either. We, like your kind, also came upon many turnings during the dark times, times that are possibly upon us once more, but now I think we have a correct balance.”
“She said there were two queens and two kings,” said Valam, slipping, moving his thoughts into words.
“She?” asked Seth, and lagging only moments behind him, Liyan stated the same thing.
“The past is best left to remain in the past. Let us progress not regress. I will be honest with you and say Brother Ontyv did come to send your people home, for this is what the Queen-Mother wished. She did not want you to go home to your lands, and to your fate, for she had altered your fate already in bringing you here at the first. She did not want it to return at the last. I am afraid in so doing, she has upset the balance, and many dark things have come to pass in your lands. For this we are forever sorrowful, Prince Valam.”
“No,” said Valam, his voice full of wisdom as he spoke, “the balance is brought back in check. Our past is also catching up to us.”
“You, my friend, have learned much.”
“Yes, and no.”
“What will you do now? Will you return to your home? Or will you stay?”
“I do not know, to tell you the truth. I must think, and there are several I must confer with before I decide.”
“Father Jacob is a wise man. He will know what is right for you where we may not. Go and talk to him.”
“I was not referring to Jacob. Do you know where I can find Teren?”
“Teren?” asked Tsandra, “Why, whatever for?”
“I know where Teren is,” said Seth. “He arrived in camp only a short time ago and he asked for you, but at that time I did not know where you were, and I only now recalled his inquiry to mind.”
“Yes, I would. Seth, thank you,” said Valam rushing out without even saying good-bye. His exodus led him back to his own tent, where he hoped to find Teren waiting. He wasn’t surprised to find another there. Valam closely inspected Jacob’s demeanor before he said a word. What followed was largely an apology and a subtle explanation, neither of which actually said anything.
Luckily, Father Jacob was clever enough to see through it all to find understanding, the only thing he had hoped to attain. The two sat regarding each other for a time and then Jacob left, departing just as Teren found his way to Valam’s quarters. Teren entered without announcement and without offering greetings to Jacob. Neither was surprised to hear an alarm sound throughout the camp moments later. Riders had been spotted approaching from the north, a large group by all accounts.
Chapter Twenty
One day passed without concern, and a second; now thoughts switched to their arrival at Krepost’, which would be soon. Xith considered the time lost as a whole, and he figured that they were now several days behind schedule, perhaps more. He took into consideration the rains of the previous days and their directions. They would have to push hard, very hard, for he knew that soon the storms would arrive, and with them passage to the north would come to an end until the seasons changed.
Strangely, they met their first travelers along the road this day, which was not entirely coincidence. Casually, nonchalantly, they greeted each other as they passed. The caravan consisted of many wagons. Xith counted twelve in all as the last one creaked on by. Adrina was unusually excited as she watched them cross alongside the carriage through her small peephole. Nijal was still halfway between sleep and consciousness despite Adrina’s nudging and did not wake fully until much later.
Adrina rested her hands on her stomach. She thought back, trying to remember how much time had passed, how long it had been since she’d met the Dragon King. There were many things she did not know, but the one thing she did know was that Tnavres’s presence was both a curse and a blessing. When she took the tiny dragon, she thought her move bold until the Dragon King mocked her saying, “As if you had a choice.”
The Dragon King also told her that one of them would be his regardless of what they did. Matched doors of black and white were the final test. White was supposed to bring the hope of life; black death. She chose black; Vilmos chose white. The dragon’s milk later saved Valam from the deadly poison and perhaps cursed him. The dragon’s milk later saved her and perhaps cursed her as well.
Feeling overwhelmed by all these thoughts, she snuggled tightly into the corner, drinking in the warmth against her hands, sending back feelings of joy and happiness. She dozed off to a light sleep, which did not come without dreams. When she awoke, Nijal’s eyes upon her seemed to delve into her very soul and as she looked up with sleep still in her eyes, she was startled. She shrank back as he reached out his hand to her until her wits were fully gathered. “Nijal, I am sorry. I thought it was—oh, never mind. I’m starving. When will we stop for lunch?”
“We already did. I am sorry I did not wake you. You looked so peaceful sleeping, I did not want to disturb you.”
Adrina frowned and rubbed her belly. Nijal was hesitant, but eventually produced a small basket, which had been tucked beneath his discarded cloak.
Adrina was quick to snatch it up and devour most of its contents, saving only two apples. She gave one to Nijal as her way of saying thanks, and because he was looking hungrily at them in her hands. “Apples, I love apples!” exclaimed Adrina. “Where did you get them?”
“On a little sojourn through the wilderness three days ago.”
“Late apples are the best, sweet and tangy, with a coat thick and crunchy!”
The great road took a turn to the north as evening fell upon them at a crossroads of sorts. Many paths seemed to sprout not far from the point where they had chosen to camp for the night. Some were old and largely overgrown. Others were apparently very well traveled; neither weed nor bush could be seen, at least as far as they could see or as far as they dared to venture. They were sure, though, that they were on the right path, for the great road had many characteristics that marked it, and they had been waiting now for several days for it to take its gradual turn to the north.
Neither Xith nor Noman liked the feel of the place they were in, and so they set a double watch this night. With so many to choose from, it had been two nights since Nijal last sat the watch. He took first watch, weary as he was, without complaint. He had only wanted to rest and to close his eyes, but he would have to hold off for two more hours.
Time dragged on slowly for him, but at least he was able to carry on a fragmented conversation with Shchander. Before he knew it, he was lying down to rest. Shalimar and another relieved the two, and after them Amir and Trailer took over. Trailer was a nickname for one of Shchander’s men, who was most often found as the last man in the group; thus he had gained the name Trailer.
For the most part Shchander’s men were very tight lipped. They held to the code of the warrior and the free man, and they took their responsibilities very seriously. Shchander, as their leader, was their voice and acted as such. The only person who appeared to be put off by their silence, and quite visibly so, was Adrina. She had taken a liking to Shalimar in an odd sort of way, and he had taken much abuse for his previous thoughtlessness. Amir smiled as he thought of Adrina, and soon he pictured another in his thoughts. The last two on watch were Xith and Noman, against the wishes of all present, who contended there was no need.
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