Wanderer

by Nancy E. Dunne

  “Aye, Ginny, I’m fine,” he said. A tug on his robe got his attention and he looked down to see the gnome staring up at him angrily.

  “You’re on my list for now, wizard. But only I call her Ginny, got it?” Hackort said. Taeben beamed a gracious and facetious smile at the warrior.

  “Of course, my apologies,” he said, the wave of nausea rising. The Gin he remembered was too good for this lot. Something needed doing about this, and soon, but for now it would do no good to tip his hand.

  “Now then, hug the druid!” Gin said, grinning. Teeand and Hackort grinned back at her, sharing in the inside joke, and each grabbed her arms. Taeben looked down at her and placed a hand on the side of her face, causing her to blush under his fingers. He smiled as she started reciting the spell.

  “Will that do?” he asked, enjoying the feel of her oaken-tinged skin under his fingers. The smell of sunflowers filled his nose. Gin nodded, looking up at him with her ice blue eyes, and he felt warmth in his chest he had not felt in a long time. He would get her away from this group and especially from that Qatu if it was the last thing he did.

  Thirty-Four

  “I see your landing skills haven’t improved, Elys,” Sath grumbled as he untangled himself from his sister and Anni and stood up, brushing off the eternally green and fragrant grass from the spot in the Outpost where they magically appeared moments before. The grand hall of the Fabled Ones stood just beyond where they had landed, and they all were positively aching for a soak in the magical waters inside.

  “Gin’s aren’t any better,” the druid retorted. “I would think you’d be used to that by now, Cat.” She stuck her tongue out at him causing Sath to roar with laughter.

  “You travel with this Gin a lot, Brother?” Kazhmere said, looking at him quizzically.

  “Aye, Kahzi, and I want to tell you all about it, but we will have to catch up later. Right now I have business with Anni.” He glared at the bard who shrank away from him. “Anni? Great hall, if you don’t mind?” He held out his hand to her but she got to her feet on her own, nodding and heading up the ramp into the Guild lobby. Kazhmere stood as well, but Sath turned to her, one hand held up. “Please, I must settle things with Anni alone, Kahzi. When Gin arrives, tell her… well…just tell her where I have gone. I have much to settle with her as well.”

  The pain in his eyes at the mention of the name Gin coupled with, what looked to the Qatu Princess, to be strong and deep bonds of love. Kazhmere nodded sadly at her brother and stepped back, only to have Elysiam in her face. “What are they saying? It is so RUDE to speak that growly language in front of people that don’t understand it,” she said, pouting. Kazhmere laughed softly.

  “Sathlir has to settle things with Anni, Elys,” she said. “He is very angry with her, as was I, truth be told, but he will understand that she only did what she did to try to help me. Her methods are not always the best, but she has a good heart.”

  “That good heart was going to hand our Gin over to Lady Salynth in trade for you, did you know that?” Elysiam said. “I bet you…oof!” Her words cut short as Gin, Teeand, Hackort, and Taeben materialized and landed on top of her, knocking her to the ground.

  “Elys!” Hackort squealed happily. His tiny hands roamed her face and hair as his eyes, shining with tears, took her in. “Are you all right? I know that nasty minion hurt you but you were able to heal, right? Anni didn’t do anything to you did she? Where is she anyway? Where is Sath?”

  “That seems to be the question of the day,” Taeben said. He got to his feet and reached down to help Gin stand up. She took his hand, blushing a bit, and got to her feet. He held her hand a moment longer than necessary, memorizing the feel of her tiny fingers in his. “A slippery one, that Sathlir,” he said, pushing into Gin’s mind but finding no purchase there. She looked up at him, confused, and pulled her hand from his grasp. Seeing nothing but resistance from the faces turned his way, Taeben nodded his head reverently toward Gin and turned on his heel, headed for the tavern just past the grand hall, doubled back once he was out of sight and headed for the grand hall instead. He had seen in Kazhmere’s mind an image of Sath and Anni entering just before he had arrived, and he was curious as to why. Gin turned her attention back to Kazhmere.

  “Where did you say Sath was? I…need to speak to him about…some things,” she said shyly.

  “He has taken Anni to the grand hall of the Fabled Ones to straighten things out with her,” Kazhmere replied. “So you are Gin? I have heard a great deal about you. I am Kazhmere, but you can call me Kahzi,” she said, holding out a clawed and furry hand to Gin. Gin took it in both of her tiny hands, smiling broadly.

  “I am very pleased for your friendship,” she said in broken Qatunari.

  “Ah, my brother has fallen down on his duties as a tutor, clearly,” Kazhmere said, chuckling softly. “I am very pleased to meet someone my brother thinks so highly of that he would share our language with her.” Gin thought for a moment and then smiled. “You understood me! Excellent.”

  “My lady Kazhmere, I am at your service,” Teeand said, bowing politely. “I am Teeand and have been friends with your brother for a long time.”

  “Teeand, oh, you are Tee, are you not? Elys spoke of you. That must make you Hack?” she said, looking down at the gnome who grinned, then looked at Elys.

  “What did Elys say about me?” he demanded.

  “Nothing, you egomaniac,” Elysiam said, kicking him with a studded boot. He yelped and then grinned up at her, making the druid roll her eyes. “What say we hit the tavern for a few pints while we wait on Sath to tell off that bard, hey?” She headed down the hill toward the tavern before anyone could disagree with her, Hackort hot on her heels.

  “I never turn down a pint when a druid is buying,” Teeand said, grinning and tugging at his beard as he headed off after Elysiam and Hackort. “Gin, you coming?” he called over his shoulder.

  “In a bit, Tee. I’d like to get to know Sath’s sister a bit better,” she said. Teeand waved in response and Gin turned back to Kazhmere. “We might be more comfortable in the grand hall,” she said. “Perhaps Sath and Anni are finished with their talking?”

  Kazhmere took Gin’s hands in her own and knelt so that she was at eye level with the wood elf. “You must make my brother continue to teach you our language, for you have an excellent ear for it I think. But, I fear I must be off for home now, Gin,” she said. “I am quite positive that my mother is worried sick, and…I just need to sleep in my own bed, if that makes sense?” Gin smiled at her.

  “Of course it does. Would you like me to accompany you to make sure you get there safely?” Gin asked.

  “Tis no need,” Kazhmere said. She spoke familiar words in the language of her ancestors, and a magical tiger appeared at her side, rubbing his massive head against the palm of her hand. “It has been too long, old friend,” she said, squatting down and throwing her arms around the tiger’s neck as she buried her face in his fur. The supernatural beast purred and licked her face. “As you can see, I will be well protected.”

  “Indeed,” Gin said. She had heard those same words spoken by Sath so many times. She almost reached out to stroke the tiger’s head but remembered that this was not Sath’s and would not recognize her, so she thought better of it. “Kahzi, do promise me that you will visit? I would be honored to hunt with you.”

  Kazhmere grinned. “Every chance I get, Gin…only let’s go somewhere a bit warmer next time?”

  “Agreed,” Gin said, returning Kazhmere’s grin. I’ve had quite enough cold and ice for now I think.” Kazhmere nodded her head, spoke something in that same ancient language to the tiger, and the two of them loped off toward the north, on the path that would take them to the Dark Sea, just this side of their island home of Qatu’anari. Gin watched them go, still grinning, and didn’t notice that Taeben had returned to her side until she turned to enter the grand hall front lobby and ran headlong into his chest. She tumbled backward, landing in the grass on he
r backside.

  “Oh! I’m so sorry, let me help you up,” he said, offering her his hand and smiling down at her. Gin looked up at him, her expression wary.

  “I thought you’d gone, Ben,” she said as she took his hand, and then quickly released it when she was back on her feet.

  “I didn’t want to disturb Sathlir and Annilanshi,” he said. “I don’t speak Qatunari very well, but it sounds like a right cat fight is going on in your Fabled Ones’ grand hall.”

  “Oh no…” Gin dashed past Taeben, heading for the grand hall and he ran to catch up with her. She yanked her arm away when he grabbed for her elbow just after she pushed through the door, but slowed to turn and look at him, expectantly.

  “Wait! It might be dangerous in there,” he cautioned her, racking his brain to think of a reason why she should not go inside. Gin paid him no mind whatsoever and ran through the ornate lobby, bypassing the throng of merchants and others always gathered in the middle of the giant entryway to dart around the side corridors toward the Fabled Ones’ grand hall entrance.

  Taeben let his mind wander through the souls sharing the lobby a moment as he followed Gin, searching for a host that would let him enter and take over a mind. There was no way to catch her without reinforcements in his current state. He was shocked for a moment when it worked, but surprised mostly at whose mind and that he found not it only willing, but with an ulterior motive that complimented his own. A wicked smile oozed across his features. This had not turned out to be such a bad day after all.

  Thirty-Five

  “Your Highness, if you will just let me explain…” Anni said as she stumbled through the great hall doors and lost her footing, ending up sprawled across the floor. Sath slammed the doors behind them and stalked around in front of her, remaining silent. Anni pressed her forehead to the floor, as she should in the presence of a member of the royal family of Qatu’anari.

  “You must think that I am an utter fool,” Sath said, his voice a menacing whisper. “Who sent you with my sister? Who do you work for, Annilanshi?”

  Anni frowned into the marble floors of the grand hall. “Work for, Highness? I am afraid I do not understand the question.”

  “Let me make it plain for you then,” the Qatu Prince said, his voice deepening with barely controlled rage. “Did my father send you with my sister to make sure that she never returned to Qatu’anari?” Before she thought about what she was doing, Anni sat up, looking at Sath in shock at his question. He charged over to her and yanked her up off the floor by the scruff of her neck, bringing her face dangerously close to his. “You will answer my question, Annilanshi! Does my father wish to make sure my sister is exiled from Qatu’anari, as I was, or worse?”

  Anni stared at him in horror. That thought had never crossed her mind. It was true that the Rajah had not publicly acknowledged Kazhmere’s birth, saying instead that the cub was stillborn, because she was not the son he had hoped for, but as far as she knew he bore his daughter no ill will. It was unthinkable. The First Wife would never have allowed the Rajah to do anything to harm either of her children. Anni came back from her musing at a rough shake from Sath who was still holding her fast by the fur at the back of her neck.

  “Well?” he roared, his fangs inches from her nose.

  “No…no Highness of course not! Kahzi and I set out on an adventure on our own! Your father knew nothing of our plans, nor did he have any hand in them, I swear to you!” she stammered, her words falling out of her mouth faster than she could even think. “If you will permit me, your mother, our First Wife would never ever have allowed anything like that. She loves both of you so…” Sath roared again and Anni managed to keep her feet and stood, staring at him, her face a mingled mess of fear and shame at her boldness.

  “You know NOTHING of my relationship with my mother. NOTHING,” he said, glaring at her, his teal eyes ablaze with fury. Anni hit her knees, forehead again pressed to the floor in supplication. “Do not EVER presume to know anything about my family, do you understand me?” Anni whimpered in agreement and Sath paced about the floor, seething as he cracked each of his large knuckles in turn. Anni jumped with each popping sound, her heart in her throat. “So you and my sister just walked out of the city one afternoon, made your way to the mainland, found that blasted tower on the coast of the Forbidden Sea, and fell afoul of one of the most powerful and dangerous sorceresses of our age AND her ancient dragon captor?” he asked, growling deep in his chest as he spoke. “A sorceress, by the way, who just happened to have connections in the empire that would love a shot at the throne of Qatu’anari?”

  The hope that he would forgive her sank to the bottom of Anni’s stomach like a stone. She had no idea what he was raving about; she only knew that she and Kazhmere had landed in a hornet’s nest when they arrived at that cursed Tower. Putting aside ideas of telling the Prince that it was his sister who insisted on the destination and his sister who met up with the group that eventually led to her own capture, Anni swallowed her pride. “I knew nothing of any of that, Highness. All I can tell you is the truth, and that is that I am ever devoted to and in the service of your sister, the Princess Kazhmere.” Sath growled loudly in warning but Anni kept talking. “I would follow Kahzi to the ends of the Void, for she is like a sister to me, a sister I never had by birth. And, since she is your blood kin, that devotion and service extends also to you, my Prince.”

  She closed her eyes and knelt, forehead pressed into the floor, expecting to feel his claws slice into her back at any moment. Anni had seen Sath’s father, the Rajah, deal with all manner of traitors and other undesirables when she and Kahzi would sneak out of the royal nursery, and she had been present the night that Sath had defied his father and was exiled from Qatu’anari. She knew the tone in Sath’s voice, knew what would come next, and tried to steel herself against the blow. But none came. After a very long few minutes, Anni lifted her forehead until she could see Sath sitting across from her on the floor, his head in his hands.

  “Highness?” she said quietly, not daring to rise from the floor.

  “Recover yourself, Annilanshi,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “Do not ever, EVER prostrate yourself before me like that again, do you understand me?” Anni sat up slowly, noticing with no small degree of surprise that Sath had not raised his head to look at her as he spoke. “I am no Prince. No one of that station would ever frighten another living soul as I have just frightened you.” Anni opened her mouth to protest but he stopped her with a look as he slowly raised his head. “I can smell it rolling off you in waves, and I am utterly dismayed that I am the cause of that fear.”

  Anni’s heart skipped a beat. She got up from the floor and moved over to Sath, kneeling down in front of him but not bowing as she had before. “I do not fear you, Highness,” she lied, looking him in the eye. There was no time to get out her lute, even though her training as a bard had made her very convincing. Sath did not answer her, but instead stood and walked into a room off the grand hall where there was kept a pool of magical healing water. Anni remained a moment, unsure what to do, when she felt a strange sensation in her head. She rubbed her temples with her fingers but the sensation lingered.

  “Let me in,” said a male voice. Anni looked around the grand hall in a panic. Who else was there? “Let me in, Anni.” The voice was familiar but she could not place it, and it sounded for the entire world as though it was coming from inside her own head. “I know that you love Sathlir and I may be able to help rid you of a roadblock to happiness with him.”

  “Who are you?” Anni whispered.

  “No need to talk out loud to me, Anni,” the voice said. It seemed to resonate inside her head. “I can hear you if you merely think your response.”

  “How can you help me with Sath?” she thought, still looking around for the source of the voice.

  “I can help you make sure he is rid of the wood elf,” the voice said in her mind. Anni’s face lit up in understanding.

  “Taeben?”
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  “Aye. Now listen to me, this is what you must do. If you follow my instructions, you will have a happy life with the Prince and I will have the druid all to myself. Sound like a fair trade to you?”

  “Oh, aye,” she thought. “Indeed. Just tell me what I need to do.”

  “First, do you have your lute with you?”

  Thirty-Six

  Gin pounded on the heavy doors of the grand hall, the carvings there cutting and bruising her skin. “SATH! Let me in!” she cried. Why had he locked the door? Finally, she remembered the system of locks on the door that she and Sath had created to keep non-members out and she ran her fingers across the length and breadth of the door, touching all of the secret locks in turn. The heavy doors swung inward and Gin stood in the doorway a moment, just listening. Taeben cursed inwardly that she had moved too fast for him to memorize the sequence.

  “It seems to have gone quiet,” she whispered to Taeben who was hovering just outside the doorway. “I hope they’re okay.” Taeben smiled to himself. He hoped so as well. “Hello?”

  “Gin?” Sath called from inside the Great hall. He was sitting directly opposite the door, his back up against the wall. Anni sat next to him, her back against his side, gently strumming her lute. “Come on in, we’re all right in here, no need for all that yelling.”

  The wood elf entered and stopped short when she saw the scene that greeted her. Sath had thrown his arm lazily over Anni’s shoulders, and he absently stroked the fur on her arm as the soft music continued. “What…are you doing, Sath?” Gin asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Have you and…Anni…settled your differences?”

  “Aye, we have,” Sath said, a purr resonating in his words. “Anni is an amazing female. I had no idea…” He stopped, a low and threatening growl replacing the soothing purr, as his teal gaze settled on Taeben. “Brought your wizard with you I see?” he said icily.