by Brett Vonsik
Rogaan stared at his friend with his mouth agape. He saw the whole affair at the Hall of Laws just as Pax, but failed to remember anything near these details except for those in black uniforms shoving his father into a jailer wagon. Suhd sat smiling as if she expected her brother to know such details. Pax gave her a wink.
“We have da night ta watch da guards here,” Pax continued, forming a plan. “We be needin’ sarigs ta get away and keep ahead of da Sakes and Tusaa’Ner.”
“Where will we go?” Suhd asked. “Won’t tanniyn be a danger traveling?”
Rogaan looked at them as if he had never seen either of them before. He was surprised at their attention to details . . . and scheming, or at least Pax’s, and Suhd’s confidence in her brother’s scheming. He shook his head in a satisfied, yet thankfully disbelieving way, then answered Suhd. “My mother’s family. Their estate is large, and it provides trails to the mountains and their mine deep in the wilds. We get our parents free and run and keep running from here . . . on steeds. It will take us less than two days to be in Isin lands. Meaning . . . We need to get rest tonight and the following, if this is going to work. As for the beasts in the wilds, they move around a lot during the day, looking for food and water. Tanniyn quiet down at night. Most of them have poor sight after the sun sets, making travel safest then, except for the leapers and some others. They have better night sight than us. They will be our greatest fear traveling when the sun goes down. Ravers and other longtooths will add to our problem by days. We learned this from Kardul and some others on the hunt.”
“Kardul will help us too.” Suhd spoke with certainty. Pax and Rogaan shared a less confident look between them. Suhd scrunched her brows in confusion, “What . . . ?”
“Suhd, Kardul and his companions will no be tellin’ us how ta save our parents,” Pax spoke up first.
“I do not know what to believe of Kardul and his band of Sharur,” Rogaan added. “Kardul said they would help us free our parents, but his Sharur seem less concerned of our parents than with us. I have seen the way they look at all of us. I do not know if they can be trusted to free our parents.”
“Maybe Kardul and Trundiir—” Suhd started to defend them before getting cut off.
“Kardul be no friend of me or ya.” Pax made to set his sister straight. “He sayin’ so much on da trail. But he has his eye on Rogaan.”
Rogaan gave Pax a concerned look, worried at what his friend was insinuating about the Kiuri’Ner’s intentions for him. Pax returned an exasperated look at Rogaan. “He be havin’ plans for ya. Me and Suhd be in da way . . . I think.”
“Well, maybe Trundiir can be . . . maybe,” Rogaan spoke of the one Sharur who seemed different than the others. “I think . . . Maybe he might help. And . . . Kardul seems a little too easy to kill a fellow and that fight with Im’Kas . . . the Dark Ax. I just do not know. Seems everyone has plans for me that I do not know of.”
“Ya just givin’ Trundiir a chance because he be Tellen,” Pax accused. “I say we no trust ‘em all. We need ta be ready ta break our parents free without Kardul and his band. We do this. We can be doin’ this.”
“Maybe you are right,” Rogaan agreed, hesitantly. “But I have to get my shunir’ra back from Trundiir before we start.”
“Let that ta Pax,” Suhd spoke with pride for her brother. “We know how important it be ta you. He can snatch anything from anyone.”
“Trust me, Rogaan.” Pax asked for his friend’s unconditional trust.
Rogaan nodded in agreement. “If he will not return it to me freely, then I will trust in your snatching.”
The warmth of the hearth bathed them as they continued talking details of what needed preparing. Suhd moved to share Rogaan’s bench while they plotted. At first, Rogaan was unnerved and did not know how to act with Suhd so near. He stammered much as he was distracted from his thoughts. Then, as their conversation progressed, he stopped thinking about how he should act around her and just conducted himself as he would with Pax. She warmed to him, taking his hand shyly and hugging him several times when she approved of pieces of the plan. It was impossible for Pax to hide his grin. Suhd obviously ignored the smell of sarig and the purple flower ointment on him. He was ripe with the scent of the beast. She too smelled of steeds and ointment despite their washing of hands and faces prior to the meal, but as pungent the scent of sarig hung in the air, she smelled of wildflowers . . . sweet wildflowers. Her scent intoxicated him. He felt more than willing to ignore the unimportant smells to be close to her and her wildflowers. Rogaan found himself being drawn to Suhd more deeply as the moments passed. To look into those beautiful blue eyes of hers was to lose himself into . . . well, he just could not describe it, even to himself. Suhd wore joyful smiles at Rogaan’s delighted heart with each of her touches and in the way she looked at him. He wanted this to last forever.
Chapter 3
Treachery
A group of four guardsmen dressed in the blue hide armor of the Tusaa’Ner noisily entered the establishment and sat themselves at a table in the middle of the room. They were followed by other guardsmen until almost every table filled. Over twenty guardsmen took seats in the place and all were hungry, wanting the fresh sarig Shimil had on the cook fires. The tavern was plunged in rowdiness and impatience.
Rogaan grew angry at their presence, more specifically, their interruption on his moment with Suhd. Not only did they intrude on his and Suhd’s sharing of talk and touch, but they brought with them unpleasant odors and foul talk. Rogaan wondered if any of them bathed in days and by their wrinkled noses, Suhd and Pax agreed with him. More guardsmen pushed into the tavern until only standing places along the walls remained. The pleasant scent of wildflowers fled Rogaan’s wanting nose as more came filling the Long Journey. A bad mood settled on Rogaan as his head started to hurt. He wanted to yell . . . lash out at the guardsmen for making noise, fouling the air, and sharing his time with Suhd.
Shimil and family served them all an evening meal of sarig and tatters and spice wine with speed and efficiency Rogaan found surprising and pleasing. Some of the men eyed Shimil’s young daughter as she came and went with hungry looks they should be ashamed of. When Shimil’s venomous stare caught their eyes, their faces darkened and only managed frequent sly glances at the aware youngling, who seemed to take joy in the guardsmen’s attentions. Rogaan, Pax, and Suhd had long since stopped talking of their plans due to so many ears being so near and talked of safe topics such as Brigum’s affairs or some unknown details of their family life they wished to talk of. As the meal went on, many of the guardsmen turned their attentions to Suhd with, at first, their occasional glances . . . turning more and more to long lust-filled stares. Isiki was almost completely forgotten by the crowd as Suhd looked to be uncomfortably mortified at the unwelcomed attention. Rogaan fought his protective instincts . . . and jealousy at every one of their looks. He knew to get into a fight with a room full of Tusaa’Ner guardsmen was a losing act for them and their parents. One rough-looking fellow with a poor keeping of his uniform kept eyeing Suhd lewdly in a way that infuriated Rogaan. The Baraan eyed at her like a leaper looking at a wounded meal and was giving her none of the honor and respect she deserved. Rogaan stared back at the guardsman who seemed amused at his attempt at intimidation. The fellow kept his hungry eye on Suhd even when Pax joined Rogaan staring back at him to make it clear his gaze was unwelcomed. The fellow appeared to be pleased with himself in making three younglings uncomfortable. Rogaan’s fury built, but he held it in check . . . for a time. Just when Rogaan felt he would explode, the rough and tough guardsman rose from his table with his companions, his eyes still on Suhd while wearing an expecting grin. The big guardsman, maybe a little taller than Rogaan, strode to their table to a spot off Suhd’s left. Pax followed the fellow with heated eyes, but kept his seat instead of challenging him. Rogaan did not watch the guardsman approach as he was fighting with himself not to meet the cad
on the floor and pound him.
“How ‘bouts a little dance, lass?” The brown-haired, scruffy-bearded Baraan Tusaa’Ner guardsman more demanded than asked in a tone lacking respect or politeness.
Rogaan almost jumped up from his bench as did Pax. With a mature poise, Suhd held up her hand keeping them both from committing rash actions. Her eyes focused forward away from the guardsman. “No interest.”
“No interest in a little dance and having a fella?” He asked in a snide way, playing up his question so his companions could hear.
Pax rose from his seat half a blink quicker than Rogaan, both confronting the guardsman with heated demeanors and blazing stares. Immediately, the guardsman lost his snide and arrogant grin, replaced with a mix of surprise and caution on his face as he looked past them to the tavern’s front door. Rogaan and Pax shared confused looks . . . Who knew it would be so easy?
“The lass made herself known,” Trundiir rumbled before leaning out from behind the guardsman, his white beard sticking out from this hooded cloak. How did he sneak up on the guardsman without me seeing him? Rogaan wondered. Rogaan caught sight of Trundiir’s hand under the fella’s blue tunic. A shocked smile came to his face as he realized Trundiir must have the guardsman’s prize possessions in hand . . . and likely twisting them from the look of discomfort on the Baraan’s face. When the fella did not respond to Trundiir, his expression turned painful. Trundiir was not being gentle. “Leave the youngling be or I’ll remove what I hold of.”
The guardsman quickly nodded in agreement. A stolid look of satisfaction came to Trundiir with the unspoken answer. Then, with a little more of a twist and tug that forced a yelp from the Baraan, he staggered back to his companions holding his crotch. Trundiir watched the angry Baraan with a casual disregard, as if he did not matter, but also not closing his eyes to catching any rash actions. Trundiir made to ask Suhd a question, but the metallic ringing of swords being drawn filled the room. Trundiir kept a calm face, but shook his head slightly in disbelief before turning to confront the entire tavern full of Tusaa’Ner guardsmen.
“Bad plan!” Kardul’s voice boomed from the tavern entrance. The room full of guardsmen looked to Kardul, questioning him with their eyes. Kardul remained calm as he took several steps into the room with his Sharur following him. “Not for my friend or the younglings. The Tellen would kill half of you before you organize yourselves. Now . . . if a one dares to cut as little as a lock of hair from them, I’ll skin him alive.”
“That’s Kardul . . . isn’t it?” A guardsman in back asked his companions. The room of tough-acting guardsmen started looking to each other, not so certain of themselves any longer. A murmur rose, then settled down as swords were sheathed and guardsmen rejoined their companions at tables and immediately started acting as if nothing happened. The offending guardsman who had started the confrontation waddled gingerly back to his table, keeping his eyes to the floor. He sat with a grimace as his companions snickered at him. But no eye in the tavern was taken from Kardul and his Sharurs.
Rogaan felt a heavy burden lift from him as his anger subsided. As much as Suhd’s honor had to be protected, fighting a room of seasoned guardsmen was foolhardy, if not deadly. Still, he was ready to take them on to keep Suhd’s honor and reputation pure. Rogaan looked to Trundiir. “My gratitude.”
“Mine too.” Suhd stood and kissed Trundiir on his white-bearded cheek. She looked relived. Trundiir appeared to blush, though his face remained stolid.
Rogaan felt his heart sink, and his jealousy boil at her kiss of the Tellen. He realized immediately his feelings were uncalled for and felt embarrassed for them. He hoped his face was not as red as it felt, though by the way Pax glanced at him, his face could be glowing red as his father’s smithing fires.
“Mine also,” Pax added, though not as enthusiastically as his sister.
“Makes me all warm watching you four,” Kardul interrupted with a hint of insincerity. Rogaan caught Trundiir’s stolid demeanor breaking just for a moment as he shot an unwelcomed glance at Kardul. Kardul either did not notice Trundiir’s display or did not care for it. He looked about to see if anyone was near enough to listen to their words. Not satisfied with all the ears around, he nodded toward to tavern door to the citadel grounds. “Need to talk. Walk with me.”
Kardul led Rogaan from the tavern without ceremony. They left Suhd sitting at the table looking after them with concerned eyes, as much for herself as for Rogaan. Pax sat at the table as well, flashing a look of panic before determined anger washed across his face. Rogaan guessed his anger was likely at being left out of this discussion. Trundiir plopped himself down at their table before Kardul ushered Rogaan out of the tavern, who felt guilty leaving Pax and especially Suhd in the tavern without him, but Trundiir’s presence made him feel confident they would be kept from more unsavory advances by the guardsmen. Pax and Suhd had as much at stake as him, and he felt a bit wrong talking plans with Kardul without them. Still, he had little choice. Kardul had the experience in these matters, and he wanted to understand what Kardul had planned to help free their parents. Stepping outside into the windless, cool air of the night, only a few buzzing biters hovered about him. They did not bite thankfully, due to the purple flower ointment Rogaan wiped on himself while riding through the forest. The scent of dung hung sour in the air, wafting from the fenced stable yard to his right where their steeds now mingled and rested with other sarigs and smaller animals. Lanterns hanging from poles near the barn at the opposite end of the stable yard cast eerie shadows over the animals. Rogaan shivered a moment, not from the cool air, but from the uncomfortable and dark atmosphere hanging over the di’tij. From the bunk houses an unfamiliar tune, played from a windpipe, sounded pleasant to him, if a little rough. Kardul strolled toward the main gate with Rogaan at his side with little talk. A small group of Baraan dressed in dirty tunics and complaining to each other tended to a small sarig in front of the barn. They seemed oblivious to everything except what they were doing. The di’tij walls stood over the inner citadel with thinning ranks of guards. Rogaan guessed many were taking their evening meal or tending to other duties. Those still on watch were mostly keeping an eye on him and Kardul. Rogaan thought that strange. Should they not be looking into the wilds?
Behind and to the right, nestled up to the same di’tij wall as the tavern, a long wood building having the look of a general store collected a mix of guardsmen and livered workers, the bunch carousing under its lantern-lit covered porch overlooking the corralled steeds. Several cook fires danced low in front of the four rows of wood barracks on his left. Barefooted womenfolk, dressed in worn tunics, huddled over pots stirring what Rogaan assumed to be stews. A hand of little ones ran wildly between the barracks, annoying their mothers and frequently getting swatted for it.
“Thought of how to see your father free?” Kardul asked.
“Well . . . I . . . We hoped you had ideas,” Rogaan lied. He, Pax, and Suhd had schemed a plan they believed would free their parents and allow them to escape. It was simple, filled with uncertain risks, but it was a plan. Once free of his jailers and away from the di’tij, Rogaan did not speak to his friends of where he figured his father would take them. Pax would jump out of his skin. Suhd would likely end up in tears and wails. The Ebon Circle temple. The attacks on his home and on his mother’s carriage with Suhd proved the name Isin was not enough to deter those with motivations to hunt them down. So far, it seemed just about everyone had their eyes on him and his family for reasons still to be revealed. It all made little sense . . . the law and assassins after him and his family had to have different motives for wanting them . . . temple and end-of-the-world zealots, Brigum’s leadership and Tusaa’Ner, Farratum’s Tusaa’Ner, the Ebon Circle itself, and that unknown traveler Rogaan wanted to believe had helped him. But how could he be sure of anything? His head hurt with all the possibilities. The Ebon Circle was the only place Rogaan could think that was beyond the r
each of most of those after them . . . and for some reason beyond him his father thought the dark temple to be the safest place.
Kardul scrubbed his unshaven chin while looking off distantly. He kept in deep thought for a short time before scanning the walls and main gate with that predatory gaze of his. “It will be difficult.”
“We are ready for difficult,” Rogaan puffed out in bravado.
Kardul sniffed loudly as he looked to the main gate again. “Difficult means people can, and likely will, get hurt . . . maybe lightless. Your father will be a target and by doing this, so will you.”
“I understand,” Rogaan replied without bluster. “Father is doomed if we do not act.”
Kardul stood for a time pondering, occasionally glancing at the main gate and walls. He sighed deeply, then spoke. “Youngling, I, as many do in and around Brigum, owe much to your father. What you want may not be possible. It will depend on many things yet unknown if we can free him in this di’tij. Worse, we might have to wait until the jailers leave this place for Farratum to free him. If to be successful here, we’ll use the moment when the caravan first arrives as the Tusaa’Ner guardsmen will be looking for a meal and rest. The local guard are likely to reinforce them. We may be able to find weakness in their wagon protection then . . . before they figure how to work with each other. If the Tusaa’Ner wagon protection is light, we look for weakness and opportunity to free your father. If heavy, we wait until they leave before making to free him.”
“Wait?” The word burst loudly from Rogaan before he realized he spoke. Kardul seemed surprised with his raised brows at the outburst. He quickly glanced to the walls and main gate, then back to Rogaan.
