“A profit?” the general asked skeptically. “The farms are selling cheaply because their crops are dying. That watula may never grow again.”
“Thoughts like yours are precisely why the price is so low,” countered the Sakovan spy. “What if I told you that those farms would be producing a fine and healthy crop in just a few months?”
“Is this just a feeling you have?” asked General Kapla. “Or do you know something that everyone else does not know?”
“If I told you why I believe the fields will recover,” teased Cherri, “then it would no longer be a secret. Remember that I once told you that to reveal a secret is to give others a chance to profit before you. That is not how I got rich. I will say that the fields definitely will recover, and soon. You will just have to trust me.”
“Are you sure?” the general asked nervously. “I do not have much money to waste on bad investments.”
“Of course I am sure,” grinned Cherri. “I plan to buy some of them myself. Have you ever known me to make a bad investment?”
“I could not imagine that,” admitted the Minister of Defense. “Very well, buy one of those fields for me when you buy yours.”
“One?” pouted Cherri. “You can not get wealthy by buying only one field. You must buy at least a dozen of them. More if you can afford it.”
“That is the problem,” frowned the general. “I cannot afford it. Buying one will take most of my savings away.”
“Then you must borrow the money,” Cherri demanded. “You cannot waste this opportunity. Who knows when the next chance will come along?”
“Borrow?” echoed the general. “I could not. They dismember people who cannot pay their debts. I want to be wealthy, but I will not take the risk of dying to become affluent. Besides, who would lend me the money? They would ask why I am buying the fields, and that would point to me using information from the secret meetings. I cannot risk it.”
“You cannot afford to miss this opportunity,” Cherri said adamantly. “Within a couple of months, you could become one of the wealthiest men in Okata. I like you too much to allow you to miss a chance like this. I will arrange the loans for you.”
“You will?” brightened the general. “You must really believe that this plan is going to work.”
“I am positive about it,” beamed Cherri. “I am never wrong when it comes to gold.”
“Then I cannot refuse,” smiled General Kapla. “How do we handle this?”
Cherri rose and walked to a cabinet. She withdrew some forms and placed them in front of the Minister of Defense.
“You must sign these papers,” instructed Cherri. “One is a promissory note for the loan, and the other allows me to transact business in your name. That is all there is to it. I will take care of everything else.”
“You are so organized,” admired the general. “How did you know that I would need to borrow money to buy the fields?”
“I know the holdings of everyone in this city,” smiled Cherri. “How else could I gauge my progress to become more wealthy than all of them combined?”
“You should be the Minster of Finance,” chuckled the general. “It is a pity that it is illegal for a woman to hold such a position. You would do a much better job than anyone else.”
“I will just have to suffer by making myself rich,” shrugged Cherri. “Myself and a close personal friend, that is.”
“I hope some day to convince you that I am more than just a friend,” the general said amorously.
* * *
MistyTrail wrapped her arms around herself as the raw wind buffeted her body. Her eyes stared at Eltor’s back as he led the way across the peaks of Motanga. She shivered involuntarily as the cold crept through her clothes.
“How much more of this must we endure?” she finally asked out loud.
Eltor stopped and saw MistyTrail shivering. His eyes passed by MistyTrail to Mistake who looked just as miserable.
“I am sorry,” apologized Eltor, “but this is the safest way to get to the pyramid. Look,” he pointed, “we can see it now.”
MistyTrail turned and looked, her teeth chattering as a chill raced through her body.
“It still looks far away,” MistyTrail complained. “How long before it gets warm again?”
“We will start going down soon,” promised Eltor. “It will get warmer once we get out of this wind. I came this way to avoid the kruls. If you look below you will see where they have been foresting. It would not have been safe that way.”
“I bet we would have found more to eat than that one small rabbit,” complained Mistake. “I think I would rather risk running into the kruls than starving and freezing to death.”
“Let’s keep moving,” MistyTrail said. “I want to get out of this wind. We can complain about the route later.”
Eltor nodded and began leading again. He started angling downward every chance he got, and soon the wind was lessened as the mountain blocked it. Eltor called a halt and sat on a rock.
“We will rest here,” the elf stated. “I am sorry about the wind, but it was safer. The peaks give you a good feel for the island. It is almost like looking at a map.”
“How did you learn so much about the island?” asked Mistake. “You said you were just captured four months ago.”
“I have always liked maps,” shrugged Eltor. “The shipyard where they took Caldal and me after we were captured has a large map on the wall. I studied it every chance I got. I also listened to conversations of the masters. They unknowingly taught me a great deal.”
“What did you learn?” asked Mistake.
“The island is huge,” answered Eltor. “There are six major cities on it. Four of those cities have massive shipyards that are creating large sailing vessels as fast as they can. Vand is creating the greatest fleet in the world. I just can’t figure out what he plans to do with it.”
“He is going to invade our homeland,” replied Mistake. “All of those ancient scrolls were true.”
“Are there that many people living on this island?” asked MistyTrail. “I mean Sakova and Omunga have lots of soldiers. Khadora must have more.”
“And the free tribes in Fakara,” added Mistake, “but none of them will fight together.”
“There are thousands upon thousands of soldiers on this island,” interjected Eltor. “I could not even count just the ones that I have seen since I came here. The cities that are not on the coast are where the soldiers train. I have heard men at the shipyards talking about a thousand ships.”
“A thousand ships?” echoed Mistake. “If they put fifty men on each, that would be half the size of the free tribes.”
“The ships hold over a thousand men each,” Eltor reported glumly.
“Merciful Kaltara!” exclaimed MistyTrail.
“You know Kaltara?” Eltor asked with surprise. “How is it that you look like an elf and believe in our god, yet you claim not to be an elf?”
“Kaltara is the elven god?” asked MistyTrail. “I was told that he was the Sakovan god.”
“And the god of the Qubari,” added Mistake. “The Qubari used to trade with the elves. At least they did until the elves attacked Angragar.”
“Attacked Angragar,” scowled Eltor. “What are you talking about? The elves never attacked Angragar. We hid it so that it would be preserved.”
“Only after you attacked it,” retorted Mistake. “Don’t try to tell me otherwise. I have been there and seen the damage.”
“You have been to Angragar?” Eltor questioned with disbelief. “That is not possible. What the elves hide, no one will find. Besides, we left people to guard and protect it. You are making this up.”
“Those people you left to guard the city,” countered Mistake, “were they the Qubari people or the hellsouls?”
“Hellsouls?” echoed the elf. “What are they?”
“They are followers of Vand,” explained Mistake. “They are spiritual beings that have inhabited Angragar for thousands of years waiti
ng for someone to enter. They will not die unless the Staff of the Astor touches them. I know. One of them rose from the dead with my dagger in his throat.”
“I recall something from my youth about the Astor,” Eltor replied with confusion. “I cannot remember it well, but it dealt with an ancient prophecy. How do you know these things? How do you know of this prophesied Astor?”
“I am good friends with him,” beamed Mistake. “I was with Rejji when he learned that he was the Astor. I accompanied him on the historic visit to Angragar when the gates to the city opened at his very touch. We are very close friends.”
“And I personally know the Star of Sakova,” MistyTrail hurriedly interjected, “and we both know the Torak.”
“Those names mean nothing to me,” Eltor shook his head. “Maybe Caldal will remember more. We must push onward, or we will not reach the city until after dark.”
“After dark may be best,” replied Mistake, “but let us push on regardless.”
“Yes,” agreed MistyTrail. “It is bound to be warmer in the city than here.”
Eltor nodded and rose. He led the trio across the face of the barren mountain. Whenever the terrain allowed, Eltor moved further down the side of the mountain. As the sun dropped below the peaks, the three adventurers entered the forest at the base of the mountain. Almost immediately MistyTrail spotted a rabbit. She pulled a knife from her belt and threw it before the others realized what was going on.
“An excellent throw!” smiled Eltor as he looked at the dead rabbit with the knife protruding from it.
“I wonder if we dare a fire?” asked Mistake.
“A small one should be alright,” Eltor replied as MistyTrail retrieved the rabbit. We are close enough to the city and the mills that the smell of smoke will not arouse the kruls.”
“Let’s make it small and fast,” worried MistyTrail. “I do not want to draw attention to ourselves.”
The fire was small and lasted only as long as was needed to cook the meat. Still, it was dark by the time they were done eating. MistyTrail breathed a sigh of relief when the fire was extinguished and the smoke ceased to rise upward.
Eltor continued to lead through the dark forest. Within an hour they began to see glimpses of the city whenever the moon peeked through the clouds. A little while later, the screams started. Eerie, bone-chilling screams drifted lightly on the wind. Some of the screams were clearly human, but others defied description. The sounds tore through the three adventurers until they wanted to cover their ears, but they could not afford to be deaf so close to the city.
They reached the edge of the forest and halted. They gazed at the open area between the forest and the city with dread of having to cross it. Beyond the clear area the buildings and streets of the city were visible when the moon cooperated. The streets appeared deserted.
“Not many people out in the city,” commented Mistake. “At least that is in our favor.”
“Would you want to be out with the sounds of torture all around you?” quipped MistyTrail. “I would be hiding under my bed if I had one.”
“I am sure that the people of the city are used to the screams,” commented Eltor. “Still, they cannot enjoy hearing such things. I suspect the streets will be empty until morning.”
Mistake gazed at the towering pyramid as it rose above the rooftops. She swallowed hard as she realized what she had allowed herself to get into.
“Are we really going to try to get into that temple?” she asked anxiously.
“We must,” asserted Eltor. “Caldal is inside there somewhere. We must free him.”
“What if he is already dead?” countered Mistake. “We will be risking our lives for nothing. How long as he been in there?”
“About a week,” Eltor replied. “He was sent to the temple while I was sent to the mines.”
“In the Sakova,” retorted MistyTrail, “we would risk our lives even for the dead. Never leave a friend in the enemy’s hands.”
“I will go alone if I must,” added Eltor, “but I will not leave without Caldal if he is alive. I will turn back if he is dead, though. There is little chance of returning his body to Elvangar. Let’s get across this clearing while the moon is hidden.”
“You will not have to go alone,” promised MistyTrail as the trio slipped out of the forest and into the open field.
They moved swiftly across the open area and slid into the darkness of the city street. They kept close to the buildings as they moved silently along the street. They heard sounds of people moving about within the buildings, but every door was closed, and every window was shuttered. Not a soul stirred outside the buildings.
When Eltor reached the first intersection, he leaped back and hugged the building. He trembled slightly, and Mistake dropped to the street. She crawled forward and stuck her head around the corner to see what had frightened Eltor. A squad of soldiers was marching towards them just over a short block away. She knew that the trio could not retreat along the long block that they had just traversed by the time the soldiers marched the short block between them.
Mistake turned her head and frantically searched for a place to hide. There were no alleys or alcoves to hide in. She turned her head back towards the soldiers in time to see the column turning at the next intersection. She exhaled her held breath with relief. She stood up and signaled for the others to proceed. She looked quizzically at Eltor when he started leading them towards where the patrol had been.
“It makes sense to me that the patrol would not cover the same area again so quickly,” he said softly. “It is best to go where they have already been. Besides, this route will take us closer to the temple.”
Mistake and MistyTrail nodded and fell in behind Eltor. When they reached the next intersection, Eltor peeked around the corner and saw the squad marching away from them. He held up his hand for the two women to wait while he scooted across the intersection. MistyTrail ran across after Eltor had safely made it, and Mistake soon followed.
They wound their way through the city streets without further disturbances. Eventually, they reached the last buildings before the temple. They stopped and stared out at the open area surrounding the massive pyramid.
“I have heard that there are only two ways in,” whispered Eltor. “The rear entrance is for the slaves and those to be sacrificed. The front is for everybody else.”
“The front is definitely out,” MistyTrail responded. “It will be heavily guarded. They will not allow just anyone to walk in.”
“The same will be true for the rear,” shrugged Eltor. “They will not risk slaves escaping. We may have to bluff our way in.”
“How many elves are in good favor with Vand?” asked Mistake. “Is it believable that we might be people high up in Vand’s service?”
“No,” frowned Eltor. “All elves are considered the enemy of Vand. He would never have one loyal to him. We will have to disguise our ears.”
“I can create a fog,” offered MistyTrail, “but that may well alarm them.”
“That may be handy later,” Mistake shook her head, “but not to get in. We need to explore the inside of the pyramid without causing a disturbance getting in. There must be another entrance.”
“Just because we want one,” frowned Eltor, “doesn’t mean that we will get one.”
“I don’t know about that,” retorted MistyTrail. “I feel as if Kaltara is guiding us here for some reason. I feel strongly about it.”
“It is so odd to hear strangers talk about Kaltara so,” responded Eltor. “I am most intrigued to learn about your homeland.”
“Look,” Mistake said softly as she pointed to the side of the pyramid. “There are several balconies on the higher levels. Maybe we can scale the side of the building?”
“We would stick out easily when the moon shone on us,” frowned Eltor, “and that is if we were able to scale the pyramid. There is nothing to grab onto.”
“It feels right to me,” interjected MistyTrail. “There have to be cracks be
tween the stones. We can use our knives to make handholds.”
“I did something similar in Fakara,” Mistake nodded with enthusiasm. “It was not near as high, but I had to get over a stockade wall. It can be done.”
“You two are crazy,” commented Eltor as he watched MistyTrail drop to her knees and close her eyes. “What are you doing?”
“She is praying,” replied Mistake. “Leave her alone. If Kaltara is really the god of the elves, perhaps you should be doing the same. Give me the rope. I am going to try to get to the lowest balcony and tie the rope to it. You two can then use the rope to climb up.”
Eltor frowned, but he took the coil of rope off his shoulder and passed it to Mistake. She looped it over her head and eased one arm through it. She gazed upward as a large cloud started to move across the face of the moon. As soon as the moon was obscured, Mistake bolted across the open area.
Mistake reached the bottom of the pyramid without detection. Two knives slid into Mistake’s hands as she stared at the alignment of the stone blocks. She reached up and shoved one knife into the crevice above her head. She pulled herself upward with one arm and stretched her free hand high above her. She could barely reach the next crack, but she grunted with effort and succeeded in embedding another knife in the higher crack. She transferred the weight of her body to her higher hand as she worked the lower dagger free.
Across the clear area, Eltor strained his eyes to watch Mistake. He bit his lower lip and shook his head as the petite woman pulled herself up the side of the pyramid.
“She must have incredible strength to do that,” Eltor remarked.
MistyTrail opened her eyes and stood. She gazed into the darkness and finally located Mistake. She smiled at her sister.
“Mistake is a remarkable person,” she said to Eltor. “She never falters once her mind is made up to do something. We should move across the clear area to the base of the pyramid while it is dark. I will use a fog to conceal us if it is necessary.”
Island of Darkness Page 22
