Zara the Wolf

by C. R. Daems

  "I'm not questioning you or Master Yanez, but there are others between Master Yanez and the duke."

  "Alf? No. He's faithful to the duke." He shook his head.

  "I don't doubt that." And I didn't. The real Alf probably was faithful. It was his replacement I questioned. "I'm not accusing anyone, so if I'm wrong, no one will be hurt, and you can consider me the fool," I said.

  After a long pause, he nodded. "For the duke's sake." He picked up a pen and wrote several names on a piece of thin parchment. "There. That should be the latest list Master Yanez has. I pray you're a fool."

  "Thank you, Healer Breen. The duke requests you keep this discussion to yourself." Shelly said. I concurred it was better from a noble than me.

  Whereas Healer Breen was on the top floor, Master Yanez was one level below the ground floor. In contrast, Yanez was a small pudgy man with thinning hair and stained fingers and hands. His clothes were of good material but old, worn, and stained. When we entered, he was bent over his worktable with a pestle, grinding something in a stone mortar.

  "Master Yanez?" I asked.

  "Yes?" he said without looking up.

  Shelly walked up to the table and stood until he looked up.

  "Yes, My Lady?" he said, letting go of the pestle and standing more or less straight.

  Shelly handed him the note from the duke. He read it and nodded, giving it back to her.

  When he did, I handed him the sheet of paper from Breen. "Is this the mixture you have been preparing for Duke Brodka?" I asked.

  He assessed me before looking at the paper. "Yes, that is the mixture I prepare each day for His Grace," he said, nodding and handing it back to me.

  "Is this the same mixture?" I placed the powder I had taken from the duke on his table.

  He bent over to examine it, then wet his finger, touched it to the powder, and then to his tongue. Then took out a magnifying glass and moved the powder around with a thin glass rod. "No. This has ... foxglove leaves added—"

  "Oh, would you also test this drink and let Lady Shelly know if you find anything wrong?" I placed the crystal goblet on his workbench. "Would that powder with the foxglove kill me?"

  "Over time, yes." He looked up at me. "The duke?" He frowned so deeply his eyes almost disappeared.

  "Yes, Master Yanez. We will need you to mix up five packets of the mixture Healer Breen ordered. We will deliver them to the duke. We don't want the individual who is poisoning the duke to know he knows. And the duke would prefer you didn't mention it to anyone," Shelly said.

  On the way back to the room, Shelly caught Minister Millard and asked for a meeting with the duke when he was available. We had no sooner gotten back to the room than Millard informed her that the duke was ready to see us. We were led to the duke's study.

  "Sit, and tell me what you have discovered." He waved us to velvet-padded chairs. Each chair had a small table next to it. One had an empty crystal glass and a pitcher of berryjuice, which Shelly favored, and the other an empty china cup and containers with the coffee and cream I favored.

  "Your apothecary is mixing the powder solution your healer prescribed; however, someone is adding grounded up foxglove leaves before you get it," Shelly said.

  "Alf?"

  "He's certainly delivering it to you. Whether he is grinding up the leaves is unknown. Whoever is adding the foxglove leaves knows his or her herbs. It appears they want you to deteriorate slowly before you die, like you had some sickness," I said. "We've had five doses made for you to substitute while you decide what you want to do."

  "What do you suggest?"

  "Extreme caution. Beside Alf, there are a couple of young ladies and a noble who aren't what they seem. And I'd wager there are others I haven't detected. So any direct action could alert them that you know, and that could lead to—an unfortunate accident." I suggested. "If you die, Your Grace, who would be in line to become Duke of Hipula? I'm not accusing anyone, but why kill you if they didn't plan for someone friendly to their cause to become duke?"

  "Normally, the eldest of my children. However, Ellissa isn't old enough, so a guardian would have to be appointed, an earl or baron in his or her own right ... Baron Woolan. My God. If my children died, the next in line would be the earls of Monis, Arucci, and Budia. Unless they agreed, it could mean a civil war." He looked pale and even frailer than yesterday.

  "You have a dilemma, Duke Brodka. If Shelly and I leave without eliminating the threat, they will kill you before the dukes can get you help. However, if we miss one or if he or she gets the word out, or we do it in such a way that it’s obvious we targeted talented ones, you and the other dukes will all be marked for immediate assassination, because you’ll know too much."

  "What do you suggest?" Brodka asked, his eyes clinging to me in hope.

  I suggest I'm in over my head, I mused. Eliminating each one in a manner that made it look like they fouled up would take many weeks, if not months. Sending them away or imprisoning them might just gain us new ones. Killing them would be cruel although necessary, but difficult without arising suspicion. And again, no guarantee more wouldn't be sent—Hipula would be a prize.

  "You need a Cheyo Monk," Shelly chirped with a broad smile.

  "The Trasslat Monastery claims they don't have one available and won't for another year or two," Brodka said, pouring a glass of wine.

  "But if you said one was coming ... "

  "But when a Monk didn't arrive?"

  "Zara?" Shelly looked at me with a puppy-dog expression.

  I closed my eyes, trying to clear my mind. Of course, she was right. It should scare the Sirens here away and preclude their society from sending any more, at least for a time. And we could leave to continue our look-around. However, that assumed I could pull it off, didn't get assassinated, and lastly, couldn't be identified at one of our other stops.

  "Lady Shelly is right. It's the best solution, but not without risks—huge risks."

  "What risks?" Shelly asked with her forehead furled in thought.

  "It's an all or nothing gambit." I said, turning toward Shelly and ignoring the duke.

  "How?"

  "I could be assassinated, or one of the talented could test me and win, or I could be identified. Any of those would terminate our mission and put the Sirens on the offensive and put the dukes and you at risk," I said.

  "Zara, why don't you and Lady Shelly think about it tonight, and you can join me for breakfast tomorrow?" Brodka said, knowing it wasn't his decision to make and that we needed time to think about the details.

  Shelly was quiet on the way back to the room. Once there, she dismissed her ladies until it would be time to get ready for the evening meal.

  "I know it wasn't my decision to make, but they will kill the duke unless we do something," she said softly, her eyes pleading.

  "It was a good suggestion, but you have to consider not only the benefits but also the risks and whether they outweigh the benefits. I know that's hard—having to kill defenseless men or having to sacrifice innocent people," I said. "Decisions that can't be undone."

  "The kind a duchess will have to make." She gave me a weak smile. "The kind that should be made after a very cold shower, not in the heat of the moment."

  "I'm not saying your suggestion isn't worth considering. It is, and while the benefits are substantial, the risks are great. So in my mind, the question is whether the Hipula Dukedom is worth the risk, because I don’t believe Duke Brodka is worth the risk of failing our mission and helping the Sirens."

  "I'm not sure I want to be duchess anymore." She gave me a lopsided grin. "You do have a way of stripping the issue naked. Although I hate it, I was right to trust you and to think watching you would make this trip a good learning experience. But this is harder than being a slave. There, my actions only affected me."

  "Much harder. But you can't go back to being just Shelly, a baron's daughter. You're a baroness now," I said, agreeing with her. This was the reason I wouldn't like being royalty. "Al
l right. Let’s discuss how we would pull it off, consider how much risk that would involve, and consider the value of Hipula in the Sirens' hands on Aesona." I looked at her, wanting her to think it through.

  "The robe and hood the Monks wear would keep your identity hidden, so long as you were careful. Some makeup would help just in case. You would have to be seen coming into Hipula, your absence around me explained, not seen leaving, and the duke would need someone loyal to fill in for you when we leave. Wow, more to consider than I thought … I guess in truth I only thought about saving the duke."

  "Let's consider each item and how much risk is associated with each. If we can reduce the overall risk, then it may be an option, otherwise … "

  "It feels so heartless, but I know you're not. All right, first item, your arrival … " Shelly settled herself on the floor with me and we began. When her ladies appeared to prepare her for dinner, she dismissed them and had our dinner served in the room. We finished in the early hours of the morning, just in time for her ladies to get her ready for breakfast with the duke.

  * * *

  "You look tired, Lady Shelly. A difficult decision?" Brodka asked after the meal had been served and everyone dismissed.

  "Yes, Your Grace. My companion has the sense to consider the risks as well as the benefits."

  "That does take the fun out of ruling, if you consider yourself responsible for the consequences." He nodded slightly. "The good ones do."

  "We'll try, if you agree," Shelly said. When he nodded, she continued. "Zara will ride to the Trasslat Monastery and convince them to send a troop to deliver her to Hipula. Her presence here as a Monk should scare the Sirens away, at least temporarily. Those that don't scare, Zara will identify and their arrest will appear normal. You'll have to find someone loyal to impersonate the Monk until we can reach Kariso, report our findings, and give the dukes the chance to decide on a course of action."

  "Thank you, Zara. I don't imagine this is anything you are going to enjoy," Brodka said. "And you, Lady Shelly, for the risk you're taking accompanying her." The duke had a servant fetch Lieutenant Eaton and Lutz at my request.

  They were out of breath when they arrived.

  "Relax gentlemen. We have talented intruders in my castle trying to kill me … " The duke went on to explain the poisoning and my play-acting as a Monk to get rid of them. This led to a discussion of protecting Shelly while I was gone and even after I got back, as I couldn't be seen while I was pretending to be a Monk. Eaton would provide some guards, but Lutz and his team, which included a woman, would take primary responsibility. That settled, we returned to Shelly's room to discuss the details.

  "How do we explain your absence?" Lutz asked after all the details of guarding Shelly had been resolved.

  "Let's say Duke Dewan has an Indian problem and wanted me to look into it. I left to see if I could help."

  "In two days, the duke will announce that the Trasslat Monastery has informed him that a Cheyo Monk will be arriving within a couple of days. That will give the talented ones a chance to leave peacefully and spread the word that Duke Brodka has a Monk in residence. When we feel it's safe, we'll proceed to Arucci."

  I left on Greystone later than night. I’d been told it was a three-day ride and hoped to make it in half that time, arriving early in the morning on the second day. Everyone played their part, questioning my route to Casstra and talking about the Indian problem we had at Jqedit as the stable hands saddled Greystone and servants brought me provisions for the trip. By the next day we expected the story to have spread and become general knowledge, which Shelly would reinforce.

  I walked Greystone out of the castle yard and through the city and then pushed her to a gallop in the direction of Castra. I alternated galloping and walking as I circled wide of Hipula and then south toward the monastery. Stopping only to eat, feed, and rest Greystone, I stayed wide of the traveled road. The land was mostly rolling hills of grassland and sparse woodlands, so I made good time. As planned, I reached the Forlorn River and the thirty-foot stone-walls of the Trasslat Monastery just after sunrise on the second day.

  Guards patrolled the walls and two stood at the front gate.

  "Who are you, and what is your business?" the guard at the monastery gate asked. His white uniform identified him as one of the Trasslat Monastery special guards, well trained in the use of the dagger and sword hanging from his waist and the poleaxe in his hand.

  "I'm Zara the Wolf, on a commission from the Cheyo Monk at Calle. I wish to speak to the Honorable Monk in charge of Trasslat."

  He nodded to the other guard, who spoke to someone through an opening in the gate door. I stood patiently for some time. Eventually, the door opened and the guard waved me through.

  "Follow me, the Abbot will see you now if you wish, or later if you wish to wash and rest first," said a senior guard, judging by the markings on his sleeve and collar.

  "Now would be my preference," I said, needing rest but wanting to set the wheel in motion before I relaxed.

  The guard took me to one of several small round buildings. He waved me in. I pushed aside the cloth that covered the doorway and walked into a large circular room bare of everything except a rug like the one the Monk at Calle sat on, a small table, and several candles, which gave the room a ghostly appearance.

  "Please sit, Zara."

  I understood but heard nothing. A small figure sat covered by a black robe that made it impossible to tell much of anything about the person underneath. When the Monk remained silent, I took that as permission to speak.

  "There are at least four Sirens at Hipula. Baroness Shelly and I must leave soon to finish visiting the other cities. When we do, they will kill Duke Brodka and take control of the dukedom. I hope to get rid of them by … " I went on to explain the plan we had devised.

  When I finished, the room lit suddenly, bathed in that blue mist I associated with a higher level of awareness or sight—a blue dimension. I felt frozen, naked, and my mind bared as I stared at a small girl lying on top of a very large snow leopard. I felt panic as my mind was invaded and wanted to run from her but couldn’t.

  To panic was to die, I realized. I worked to quiet my mind, slowly shedding my fear as I sank into myself. I could feel the earth beneath me and grew roots to anchor me. My mind closed, pushing out the invader.

  "You will do, Zara the Wolf." Her voice was bright and her eyes sparkled while she tenderly stroked the huge cat.

  I may do, but I knew she could have stripped my mind empty had she chosen to. She had merely been testing my mental strength.

  "Although I understand, I find it disturbing that you acquired your present level of control through hatred. I wonder if that means the Sirens are capable of getting stronger through their hatred of the Cheyo. And how long will it take and how much stronger will they become?" She buried her face in the cat’s fur and was silent.

  "I’m no expert on the subject, but I’d think only if they hate you more than they fear death. And so far, I’d say they are cowards."

  Her laugh was light, like the sound of bells on the wind. "I think you're right, but don’t dismiss not qualified to be a Cheyo Monk with weak or cowardly or not dangerous, because while you are quite strong for a novice, so are many of them."

  And I’m new to the game, I mused. "The Ojaza were good teachers, Honorable Monk."

  "I’m sure they were. Go rest while I make arrangements. Join me at first light." The blue light died and I rose, taking that as my signal that the meeting was over. Outside, it took several minutes to adjust to the sunlight. When I could see again, the same guard led me to another small hut.

  "You can rest here until the Abbot is ready for you. I’ll have someone bring you food and washing water." He pulled aside the cloth covering the doorway. The room had two small windows that provided a soft light and a small cot with a blanket and pillow, a Monk’s rug with those symbols, and a small table with a candle. I had no sooner walked around the room and looked out the windows into
a small forest when a young boy and girl arrived with a simple platter of roots, berries, bread, cheese, and water for drinking and washing. I found I was hungry and finished what I had been served, washed, and lay down. I must have been tired because I woke as the gray light of dawn began to replace the dark.

  Minutes later, a young boy entered with food and the brown robe worn by the Cheyo Monks—three sizes too big—a plain dark brown with no markings that covered the head and hands, and a leather cord to tie around the waist. And a beautiful Monk’s rug with the eight symbols. I ate quickly, dressed, and walked outside with my clothes and weapons wrapped in the rug. The guards nodded when I exited and led me to the Abbot’s hut.

  "Sit, Zara. We will keep your horse and clothes until you return. You should keep your weapons for emergencies," she said, sounding like she was amused. "The rug’s symbols are the Eightfold Path necessary to becoming a Cheyo Monk. Should you be unable to find what you are looking for, you are welcome to seek the path here at the Trasslat Monastery," she said to my surprise. "I can’t promise anything other than the opportunity to find what you are looking for. A detail is waiting for you outside. They will escort you to Hipula as they would any Cheyo Monk. I wish you peace, Zara the Wolf."

  I rose and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Honorable Monk. I will be mindful I wear your cloak and do my best to honor what it stands for," I said, knowing she was taking a risk letting me impersonate a Monk. She said nothing but bowed.

  Outside, nine guards, two of whom were women, waited as I entered the small enclosed carriage. When we left, four rode ahead of the carriage and four behind. The ninth guard was apparently the officer in charge and rode beside the carriage.

  * * *

  It took three days to reach Hipula. The convoy stopped each night and a tent was set up for me, and I was helped into it, brought food and water, and a woman guard was assigned to look after me and my wants.

  "Ma’am, my name is Sonya, a Cheyo Guard, here to take care of your wants and needs. The Honorable Abbot briefed me on your role. So from this minute on, I will treat you as I would a Cheyo Monk. Understood?"