by Bob Blink
For no apparent reason, the U’nydyn suddenly slowed its headlong rush and came to a stop. The beast glanced at the fleeing wizard, who was now slowing his pace, realizing he was no longer being chased. Nycoh could almost sense the still snorting beast was annoyed at having its attack cut short, but with a shudder, it turned and walked over to where S’erom and Nycoh waited.
Unconsciously, Nycoh tightened her grip on her staff, but S’erom waited calmly as the beast walked over and then he stroked its muzzle. The mouth opened baring the rows of sharp teeth, but made no attempt to bite the hand that was only a couple of fingers away. Nycoh wrinkled her nose at its smell.
After becoming acquainted with the recently acquired beast, S’erom lifted the harness off the ground and wrapped it around the neck of the creature. It took a while, as several adjustments had to be made to get the proper fit. If this worked, it appeared that several modifications to the harnesses would be required. The harness was positioned near the neck so the beast couldn’t reach it with its own teeth, and in a location that would discourage other U’nydyn from investigating it. The harness was also equipped with a pair of reins, something the Baldari didn’t require, but which the wizards who were used to horses would want.
Once everything appeared secure, S’erom motioned Nycoh to step back, and that she was to activate the crystals to establish the link. The harness on the U’nydyn wouldn’t provide protection, only the link. S’erom had said the brief interruption of his normal link until the link through the crystals was established wouldn’t be an issue. A command placed into the minds of the creatures would remain in effect for almost a full day. That would be useful when they left the creatures each night and told them to remain in a location while the team returned to the oasis.
Sometimes things work the first time. Happily, this was one of those times. Shortly after Nycoh activated the crystals and their associated link, which linked her, S’erom, and the U’nydyn, the beast was performing a series of actions under S’erom’s control. Nycoh was unable to sense any of the communication between S’erom and the U’nydyn, which showed how precise his command of the mental communication was. Thus far, Nycoh simply spewed out her thoughts, which could be heard by any Baldari nearby. S’erom had tried to explain how she could direct them to a specific individual, but she hadn’t a clue how to do what he asked. It was something to work on as they traveled.
Satisfied that all was working well, S’erom brought the beast to rest by his side, and turned and grinned at Nycoh. It was her turn. Now they would see if she could deal with being in contact with the creature, and reciprocally, how it would react to her. A weak shield in place, she nervously walked over to the beast.
It was not a match comfortable to either. Even with the shield, the teeth of the beast were a little unnerving. S’erom had her offer her hand so the creature could smell her. For some reason the shield didn’t mask such things as smell. The creature didn’t think much of her either. It shuffled uncomfortably, and S’erom had to exert additional force to calm it down. Baldari and the people of the kingdoms smelled differently. It wasn’t that the Baldari smelled bad, but their food, particularly the constant diet of Ler’ver’ar, resulted in a distinctive bias to their body odor which Nycoh lacked. The difference clearly made the creature restless.
S’erom forced them to move slowly, and for once Nycoh was glad of the relaxed pace. She led the creature around by the reins. S’erom had forced the idea of obeying into its mind, and it now did what Nycoh wanted, at least as well as it could interpret her uncertain moves. After a glass, she finally was ready to mount the creature. She’d thought the odd scales would be sharp and uncomfortable, but sitting aboard the beast without a saddle, she found the back to be surprisingly soft and comfortable.
It took more than a day before Nycoh and the U’nydyn adapted to one another. Finally, late in the afternoon of the second day, she and the beast moved comfortably and swiftly around the training area with S’erom directing the beast and Nycoh along for the ride and only making subtle changes to its movement. She couldn’t believe how quickly it moved, and how tirelessly. She rode for an hour at full speed, and the creature seemed barely winded.
“It will work,” S’erom said, supported by the cheers of the five Baldari who would be traveling with the expedition. They had come to watch a Tall ride one of the U’nydyn.
Nycoh nodded, pleased with how it had gone. She no longer felt intimidated by the creature, and patted its nose after she dismounted. Lyes had delivered another sixty of the harnesses designed to fit on the U’nydyn. Now it was time to reveal to the team members what was in store. Debi had been getting them ready, but none had yet learned about the U’nydyn.
Training and preparation for the expedition would take place at a separate oasis. The single creature could be contained without difficulty, but having more than fifty wizards learning to ride an equal number of the beasts needed to be in a more restricted environment. It would also be an important test of the Baldari and their protective harnesses. The second oasis wouldn’t have the backup of the overall barrier. Four days had been scheduled for the adjustment period. During that four days, the Baldari would function under the same conditions they would have to live with during the trip, which would last for weeks. They would only be free of the harnesses each evening when they returned to the oasis and their families.
Nycoh wondered how many of the wizards wouldn’t be able to adapt. It had been decided to bring the same team that had located and been attacked near S’erom’s home village. Any who could not adapt to the U’nydyn would be dropped from the expedition. If more than ten failed to meet the needs, Nycoh would have to approach Daim so they could reconsider how to go forward.
Chapter 58
A separate oasis, one considerably removed from the large center where the captured, or perhaps protected, Baldari were being held was selected as the staging area for the team that would attempt to find the valley where the Brryn was thought to be located. The herd of U’nydyn that would be expected to carry the wizards and Baldari through the jungle were acquired in advance of bringing the team to be led by Tara and Debi to the location. It was deemed advantageous to have the U’nydyn outfitted with harnesses and somewhat adjusted to the non-Baldari humans before the others were introduced to their mounts. Most were skittish enough about the beasts, and seeing them close up before being controlled wouldn’t help settle any nerves.
The method of capturing the creatures had been modified. They anticipated they needed nearly sixty of the unpredictable U’nydyn, and the means used to capture the one that Nycoh had learned to ride was considered too time consuming, not to say somewhat risky. Instead, the beasts were stunned, and while unconscious, they were fitted with one of the harnesses. When they were allowed to recover from the stun, one of the six Baldari who would be making the trip was present to place them under mental command. After being taken over, they obediently marched through the Bypass portal that took them to the special reinforced corral where they were being gathered in preparation for the introduction to the wizards who would ride them.
Tara and Debi waited with Nycoh as S’erom and two of his fellow villagers moved the three U’nydyn that they had been riding back into the corral. The three women, who would lead the expedition, were all now qualified on the mounts, and would serve as an example for the rest of the team that would be coming in later in the day. Crissi wouldn’t be part of the expeditionary force this time. Ardra had objected to sending both of Sedfair’s experienced jungle explorers on the same mission, and had managed to win the ear of Queen Jusay. The loss of a single member wasn’t significant. What remained to be seen was how many of the experienced group would be comfortable with the conditions under which they would travel. Nycoh and Tara had targeted a team of at least forty wizards for the journey. The number was somewhat arbitrary, and they hoped to have no contact with either Baldari or the Brryn’s captured sorcerers during the adventure. One couldn’t predict what the
y might encounter, and having a strong force of capable wizards was important to ensure they were strong enough to resist anything they might encounter.
From what they had seen in the past, they were now more than capable enough to resist the Brryn’s armies, both those with magic and those without. Of course, a fight would reveal their presence, and that would be very bad. Stealth was key if they were to have much chance of approaching the hidden valley. While they felt more than capable of taking on the Brryn’s army, they didn’t know what the woman herself was capable of. Thus far she remained trapped in the chamber, but Mitty feared that wouldn’t last too much longer. They would get daily updates about her situation, but if she became mobile, the entire situation could change. In addition, no one knew what influence she could wield once they came close to where she was trapped. Perhaps she could directly control her magic within the entirety of the small valley they were seeking.
“Those things make me uncomfortable,” Debi said as they watched S’erom release the three they had just finished riding into the herd to join the others.
“You should be getting used to them by now,” Nycoh replied. She was the most experienced, but over the past day and a half, all of the U’nydyn had been ridden by one of the three wizards to acclimate the beasts to non-Baldari riders.
“Is the Baldari control as dependable as they imply?” Tara asked.
“Apparently,” Nycoh answered. “They are no more friends with the beasts than we are, and during all the use they have made of them, not one case exists where the U’nydyn turned on a rider. Remember also, in the past they had no shield to protect against a bite.”
“That assumes that your Baldari buddy is being truthful,” Debi said doubtfully. “You appear to trust him more than I would.”
“You have been influenced by Ardra too much,” Nycoh said. “She is having trouble getting past years of fighting them, and seeing the horrors their attacks wrought. The Baldari have as much reason to hate the Brryn as we do. They have lost far more countrymen than we have. Besides, the link is more open to understanding the person with whom you are communicating.”
Nycoh knew the others had doubts, but she was certain of S’erom. She also had the exchanges of the other Baldari to compare, and even if S’erom was skilled at masking his feelings, the sense she got from the other five Baldari was enough to confirm her trust.
“Let’s go home,” Tara said finally. “Tomorrow we have to introduce our people to the U’nydyn and get ready to start this expedition. Too much time has passed already, and we have been fortunate that there have been no more attacks.”
When the full team stepped into the green clearing of the oasis the next day, they were initially shocked to discover the six Baldari warriors waiting for them along with Nycoh, Tara and Debi. The first thing they were told was the importance of secrecy, and that no discussions or reference to the Baldari, or the means of travel be conducted outside of the group, and then only when on the trail. One reason they had not been informed of certain facts was a concern that the Brryn might use some of her captive wizards or Casters to try and monitor the rumors within the kingdoms. If she were to learn anything about this mission, or that the Three Kingdoms was holding a large number of protected Baldari, the entire plan could be at risk, not to mention the lives of countless Baldari. Since the team would be spending their nights back at this oasis, with occasional trips to the barracks in the Three Kingdoms, they had to be very careful.
The idea of working cooperatively with Baldari would take some getting used to. Some had been aware that Nycoh had an ability to communicate with the small warriors, but none had realized the degree of the communication or that allies had been made of the defeated villagers. The assembled wizards had thought they were heading back into the southern jungles to continue their search for more Baldari villages, and were surprised when Nycoh explained their true purpose.
Then they were introduced to the U’nydyn. Some thought it a joke. Others were immediately appalled. Those with previous experience with the nasty creatures didn’t like the idea at all. Nycoh explained the reasons, and how the beasts were being controlled. Then she had S’erom bring out her mount, and she showed them how the creatures could be ridden much like horses, although without any form of saddle. After an extended demonstration, including showing how the beast would sniff at her hand, but made no attempt to rip it to shreds, she explained how they would be broken into five teams of ten under the direction of one of the Baldari. The Baldari would be responsible for the mounts of their respective group.
S’erom, who she introduced as one of the Baldari generals, would coordinate the overall training, with Nycoh providing translation, since she was the only one who could communicate with him. They would have three days to become accustomed to working with their designated Baldari and their new mounts. Any who couldn’t adapt, would be cut from the team and assigned guard duty at the Baldari oasis.
Not all adapted. A couple of wizards flatly refused to have anything to do with the U’nydyn. They were appalled when they discovered both Daim and the King had ordered them to be kept secluded until the mission was over. They had learned intelligence that must be controlled, and as such, they couldn’t be returned to normal duty. Nycoh hadn’t been kidding when she said they would be assigned guard and support duty. Despite some fuming, all realized the seriousness of the situation, and that any resistance would find them banded and locked away until the time came they could safely be released.
By the time the three days was over, the force had been reduced to forty-four wizards, counting Nycoh, Tara, and Debi. With the six Baldari, that meant fifty U’nydyn were required. They had sixty. S’erom suggested bringing them all. These mounts were already “tamed” and were adjusted to the smell of the wizards. They could be commanded to follow along, and would do so without riders. If something happened to one of the mounts in use, always a possibility in the jungle, they wouldn’t have to stop and seek out a replacement.
It had now been ten days since the decision had been made to go in search of the hidden valley. Getting ready had taken longer than hoped, but finally they were ready to travel. The expedition would leave in the morning. Nycoh had some misgivings about making the journey after learning of recent developments back in the Three Kingdoms. Jeen had come by the previous evening, and had told her of the strange crystal device that had been recovered under the ocean near Roin. It was now being studied by Ash’urn and a team of wizards and Casters from both the Three Kingdoms and Sedfair. She wondered whether her skills in magic might help that investigation. She knew, however, that she was needed here. Her communication skill was unique, and while one of the wizards from Sedfair had shown some small reaction to S’erom’s attempts to communicate, none had actually been able to do so. She would have to stay informed by checking with those working the problem when they returned at the end of each day.
Jeen had also come to bring a message from Lyes. He wanted to see Nycoh before she headed out. Nycoh wondered what that was about, but decided that she had time to make the trip to Sedfair and still be ready for the morning departure. Jeen was also looking for Rigo, and asked Nycoh to have him check in with Daim should she see him anywhere. She didn’t explain to Nycoh what the issue might be.
Chapter 59
Reluctantly, and with great care so as not to awaken Lyes, Nycoh broke free of the embrace of his arms. Dawn was just breaking here in Sedfair. It would still be night in the oasis. Due to being farther west, a couple of glass difference in time separated the two locations. If she left now, she would have time to be back and ready for the early departure for the south. It would be poor form to be late the first day. She should be exhausted after the long training session the day before and a night of intense lovemaking, but she was instead refreshed. She smiled happily. She had forgotten how good it felt to be with Lyes when all was well between them. Suddenly the world had changed, and in a way she found satisfying. A few weeks ago she had been burdened wit
h doubts and loneliness. Now, suddenly, it was all cleared away. A distant part of her mind wondered why that felt so ominous.
Lyes snuffled and shifted as she lifted his hand from her breast, but didn’t wake. She hated to break contact from him. He was warm, and had wrapped himself around her. She had snuggled back in return, and spooned in close, had slept warmly despite being naked. Fortunately he was a sound sleeper, especially when sated, and she was able to carefully slip away and then quickly dress before making the portal to her home, and then shortly afterwards another to take her to the oasis. She and Lyes had said what was necessary the night before, healing the gap that had separated them recently, and she didn’t want to color her departure with any awkwardness. She would see him as time permitted during the periods when the team returned from the southern jungle each night, so it wasn’t a long good-bye.
She had originally intended to go to Sedfair and see what Lyes had wanted, then make a stop at the Outpost and learn more about the strange device Jeen had described from Ash’urn. She wanted to see Ash’urn anyway. Her old mentor and friend always had a way of clearing away any confusion and placing problems in clear perspective. The journey ahead was fraught with danger and complications, and she would have to speak with him from time to time. Then the unexpected reconciliation with Lyes had come out of nowhere, followed by the resulting night of pleasure and rediscovery. Now there was no time. She’d also had some idea of trying to find out why Jeen was seeking Rigo. Was it Rigo or Mitty Jeen really wanted? If something had changed with regards to the Brryn, Nycoh needed to know. Of course, if that was the case, she was certain she would have been informed. As she stepped out of the Bypass and saw the activity of those already preparing for the start of their journey, she pushed the thoughts into the back of her mind.
