by Jon Kiln
“Ever the interrogator,” Artas laughed at her.
He had been somewhat surprised that Josiah had pulled out of his attempt to take over the throne, but it was sensible. His advisors had probably forced his hand.
“We cannot simply turn him out, he is a relative of the Queen, after all,” Parsival stated. “I’m afraid we’re stuck with him for as long as he wishes to stay.”
“Well, do not seat him with me for dinner,” Leonie remarked. “I refuse to have anything to do with the little weasel. What I will be doing, though, is keeping a very close eye on him. I simply do not trust him or that advisor of his.”
“You mean Lexx Farrow?” Artas knew the man to be nothing but an accountant. “I don’t suppose you go from counting money to advising the one who provides the money by being dishonest. Surely he can be trusted?”
“No one who has anything to do with Lord Josiah, is ever to be trusted in my eyes,” Leonie said. “Fear not, Artas, I will have my spies watching their every move.”
28
“That is all she asked me to tell you,” Arriba informed Ganry, readying herself to throw the bucket of cold water over his body.
“I appreciate your daily cleansing methods, Arriba,” Ganry told her, smiling, “but this is more important. If you are able to let me know how my companions are, I would appreciate that even more.”
“I have just told you,” she said, becoming impatient with the human. “I do not understand what more you require of me?”
“Are you taking her blood yet?” he dared to ask. He hoped this would not put her off speaking with him. It had already come as a surprise when she informed him that she had news from the Queen.
“Only the two men provide blood for my Empress at the moment. Ghaffar’s plan is to leave Queen Myriam until the last, hoping that under her care the Duchess will thrive again and once more provide another source of blood.”
Arriba was fast becoming nervous, glancing around the cell and listening at the door to hear if the two guards were near, but they paid her no attention. If Ghaffar was to learn that she was sending secret communications between the human Queen and her soldier, he would have her killed, of this she was certain.
“And the men, Linz and Hendon, are they well?” he asked.
“They sleep a lot. My Empress cannot keep her strength up with their blood alone though. I fear that she will demand the purer supply soon. If the Duchess is not well enough, then it will come from your Queen. I should say no more. Please, if I am found to be speaking with you, I will be put to my death for treason.”
Ganry nodded his head and smiled at Arriba, and thanked her for the information. This was a worrying turn of events. They would need to find a way out of here soon, before Myriam was too weak to leave.
His body suddenly shook in shock as the cold water rained down on him. Arriba had done her duty of drenching his battered body and cleansing his wounds. It may have been his imagination, but he felt that the water was a little warmer today.
Arriba repeated her task with Perseus and then left the cell.
Perseus shook his head to rid himself of the excess water in his long hair. He also appreciated the water and the information.
“Can you not do something to go and check on them?” Ganry knew he asked much, but the daily torture of the kewers was causing him to weaken. If he was not out of this cell soon, then he would be no use to Myriam at all.
“Could you not tell them what you know, Ganry, or simply tell them a lie?” Perseus asked. “Ease your suffering, my friend. I fear you cannot withstand this torture much longer.”
He would die before he would give any information to the Akkedis that might give them an advantage. Perseus was helping all he could, for now, by finding him extra food and water, and releasing him from his shackles every time he had endured the torment of the insects.
It was obvious what Ghaffar was wanting. He needed confirmation that the humans in the Kingdom were not aware that their Queen had visited the Akkedis city. This could bring war between the two cities and that would ruin any chances of their survival.
Ganry was not allowing the Akkedis the luxury of such peace of mind. In fact, many knew that they had come here, though not all, but certainly Qutaybah was aware. Ganry could only hope that sooner or later, Qutaybah may come in search of his slave, Perseus. Perseus, on his part, would give him no information on whether his master might follow him or not.
“Yes, the thought of lying had crossed my mind, but I hate to give that creature any satisfaction whatsoever. And besides, I fear our death may follow such a confession.”
Perseus nodded his agreement. He knew that Ganry was correct. It was the search of information that kept them both alive. Once they had no use for them, they would be surplus to requirements and quickly dispatched. As much as it pained Perseus to see Ganry suffer so, it was to his advantage. The longer he could hold out, the more he could discover about the caves in this city.
Perseus could not tell Ganry all that he knew, as he was sworn by his master not to reveal his real mission with anyone. Qutaybah, his master, was an outlaw with an army of mercenaries, but he was a good man in his heart. He had saved Perseus from death and had always treated him with respect in the years he had been with him. This was his opportunity to pay back that kindness.
Whilst his mission was to aid Queen Myriam in her quest, he had also a secret task for his master. Qutaybah was aware of the vast riches the Akkedis had in their mines, riches they jealously guarded and shared with no one. It was his master’s intention to take those mines for himself, and Perseus was here to facilitate that.
“I am ready to take you to visit your Queen,” he told Ganry. “Then maybe you will stop all your complaining.”
“Complaining? I am a warrior, I do not complain, I merely tell you of my opinions.”
“I must warn you, Ganry, we can only be free a short while and must return to these shackles. It is not yet time for our escape. I take you only because you are in need of encouragement. I see you flagging every time those cursed insects enter your body. You just need to hold on a little more. Soon we will be free and you can extract your revenge on the Akkedis.”
29
Ganry awoke with a start as he felt his shackles being removed.
“It is only me, Ganry. It is time, if you still wish to visit your Queen,” Perseus said while loosening his chains. Once free he slumped to the floor, his legs temporarily unable to support him.
“How do you do that?” Ganry asked. “Are you some magic being? You shake off your shackles easily and you can shape shift into a giant snake. I’m glad you’re my ally and not my foe.”
Perseus smiled at him. “You haven’t seen me eat a body yet,” he said, a wicked twinkle in his eye.
Ganry knew he was not joking. He’d seen the giant snake and it was more than capable of swallowing a body whole.
“Come, we do not have much time.” Perseus rushed Ganry once he was able to stand. “I do not wish to alarm the Akkedis too soon. I will transform back into the snake and you must hold onto my tail as I make my way through the tunnel. I have already burrowed while you rested. It is very dark and there’s little room in there. You will feel enclosed within a tiny confinement but it will only be for a few moments. Are you ready?”
Ganry nodded and watched in awe as Persues Changed from a tall muscular man into a huge snake, right before his eyes. The transformation was instantaneous. The snake’s body was wider than the thickness of a human, and its length was at least ten feet.
It slithered about the floor before gathering up in a coil, its scales shimmering in the candlelight. It raised up to Ganry’s height, putting its face level with his, and hissed at him. A forked tongue slipped in and out of its mouth before it quickly turned and dived into the tunnels. It moved so fast that Ganry almost missed the tail, but he lunged just at the last moment and was dragged into the darkness of the earthy hole.
It seemed an age to Ganry that they wer
e twisting and turning through the ground with him clinging on desperately to the snakes tail. The tunnel was only just wide enough to accommodate his body, and the walls bumped and rubbed against his skin as they quickly passed through the tunnel. Eventually, he could see light up ahead as they both exited the end. He realized that they had arrived into Perseus’s room, the one he had occupied before they were imprisoned. It was the same one where he had met the snake under the bed.
Ganry clambered out of the hole and under the bed, then stood up and brushed off the dirt from his body. The snake turned back into its human form.
“It has taken me much adventuring to find the best way. I have spent many a night wandering through tunnels looking for options of the safest route for both of us,” Perseus whispered.
“I wish you would share with me exactly what your intentions are, Perseus. Perhaps I can aid you.” He tried his luck, though he knew it was pointless.
“In time, all will be revealed, but the less you know the better. Then you cannot tell our mutual enemy anything as he tortures your body.”
Ganry had to admit that was probably a good idea. Ghaffar never relented in finding any excuse to put those creatures underneath his skin. The fact that he was still alive was making him believe that Ghaffar was actually enjoying watching his personal agony far too much.
“I will have my revenge on that monster,” he assured Perseus.
“We will all have our revenge when the time is right. For now, we have other things on our minds. The Duchess sleeps in your room and Linz and Hendon are still sharing. We will enter the Queen’s room. Are you ready, Ganry?”
“Indeed, I am,” he said, breathing a sigh of relief that at last he could talk to Myriam and know she was fighting fit.
They stood at the other side of Myriam’s door in Perseus’s old room, listening. The Duchess slept soundly in her bed in Ganry’s old room. Once they were certain that Myriam was alone, Ganry slowly opened the door and glanced in.
He could see Myriam sitting up in her bed with her bedside light still shining. Looking closer, he could see that she had fallen asleep in that position, her body supported by a pile of pillows. He looked upon her innocent face. It seemed strained and pale. She probably slept like this every night, on guard and nervous.
He quietly entered her room and quickly crossed to the bed, but she did not stir. He gently shook her shoulder and she moaned in her sleep. He had expected her to awaken with a start. It seemed a shame to wake her up when she slept so deeply.
“My Queen,” he whispered as he leaned down to her ear. “It is me, Ganry. Wake up, I need to speak with you.”
She mumbled his name, but she was still in a slumber. As her arm fell forward he noticed the puncture marks on her skin. The bastards had started on her already. This sleep was not a natural one but induced upon her as they drained her blood. His anger quickly rose. Had Ghaffar been present now, he would gladly have killed him with his bare hands, regardless of the consequences. Finally she opened her eyes and upon seeing Ganry, she smiled.
“Ganry, is it really you or am I dreaming?” she asked, sleepily.
“Perseus has managed to find a way to get me here,” he kept his voice low, not wanting any of the guards to hear anything.
He stroked her pale skin, once again remembering his own daughter, Ruby. His love for his Queen was purely paternal, and he hated that the lizards of this city were hurting her.
She shot up, suddenly realizing it was all real.
“Oh, Ganry, Ganry, it really is you?” she said in a loud whisper.
“Yes, I am here, you are not alone in this,” he assured her. “Hang on in there. Soon, I promise, all this will be over,” he tried to reassure her, but inside himself he was unsure how it would all end. He had confidence in Perseus, but would they all live through this, he was not too sure.
“How are Linz and Hendon baring up?” he asked her.
“They are constantly tired and now the Akkedis Empress is demanding my blood every other day. Arriba tells me she takes two measures of their blood one day, and then one measure of mine, the next. I tire very quickly on the days that they drain me. They were here earlier today.”
“And the Duchess?” Ganry asked.
“The Duchess is probably healthier than any of her rescuers,” a female voice said behind him.
He rose up from his knees beside Myriam, and looked upon the old lady. She was quite right, she looked in far better health than when he had last looked upon her in her own room.
“I’m glad that they’re leaving you alone for now,” he said, but with a little regret for in his heart he wished they would not feed upon Myriam. “You must keep yourselves as healthy as you can and stay ready, for soon we shall have our revenge upon these reptiles.”
“You have a plan?” Myriam asked, still whispering, for fear of alerting the guards.
“My friend here is the one with the plan,” Ganry turned to Perseus, who was bowing down to the Duchess.
What happened next shocked Ganry. The Duchess approached Perseus and embraced him.
“Perseus, my dear, dear friend. I knew Qutaybah would not let me down,” she said to him, a tear in her eye.
30
Lord Josiah was unaware that he was being watched. He never thought for one moment that the boy Artas would have a spy network up and running. He assumed he was quite safe going about with his plotting and scheming, with little or no caution.
Already he had managed to find some information, in that the girl had gone searching for her grandmother. She had taken her closest bodyguard, who was a seasoned and respected mercenary, so she must have had a destination. It is doubtful that she went wandering around endlessly in her search. He now needed to find out where this journey had taken her.
Rumors in his own network of spies indicated that she had been seen in disguise at the borders, awaiting to cross into Vandemland. Most had been fooled, but there had been one sly merchant who knew exactly who she was, and he had sold his information at a high cost to the Lord’s spy.
Queen Myriam was somewhere in Vandemland. It would only be a matter of time before he knew of her ultimate destination.
Meanwhile, he would play the fool, let this boy think he was regretful over his actions and stayed on only to make amends. The boy had foolishly allowed him more freedom, saying he was welcome to stay at the castle as long as he liked. Either the boy was totally incompetent or too merciful for his own good. Whatever the reasons for his kindness, Lord Josiah would take the fullest advantage of it.
Sat on his balcony that overlooked a lake, he was about to enjoy the luxuries of an expensive tobacco in his pipe when Lexx burst through the door to his apartment.
“We have her sire, we know exactly where she has gone,” he cried out, shutting the door behind him so none would hear their secrets.
“Well, go on then man, what is so urgent that you burst into my chambers and give your Lord such a stir?” Lord Josiah asked, keen to hear the news.
“She has gone to the Akkedis city, Lord Josiah,” his man informed him, as if this was the answer to everything.
“Good god man, why is that good? I have no idea where those stinking creatures live,” Josiah replied, disappointed at the information.
“I have not told you all yet, sire,” Lexx burst forth in excitement, once again. “Word is out that Ghaffar of the Lizards, is seeking connections with those in Palara who hold some influence and would benefit from the Queen never returning. I paid a high price for this information, Lord, and it could be to your best advantage to be the first to respond. There is no more Lord as deserving as you, sire,” he finished.
“I’ve met that slimy creature before and he is not to be trusted,” Josiah responded. “How are we to contact him? I will not go to that stinking place of Vandemland.”
“I am way ahead of you, sire,” Lexx bragged.
“Yes, yes, man, get on with it then.” Josiah was becoming impatient with the amount of time it was t
aking to get all the information out of his man today.
“I have set communications in motion to pass word to this Ghaffar that we are interested in his proposition. Now we know where the Queen is, that gives us an advantage, but we must be quick to act. There are others in Palara who would be happy to deal with Ghaffar.”
Lexx made himself comfortable on a chair opposite Lord Josiah, looking smug at his achievements.
“Well, get on with it then, man!” Lord Josiah shouted at him. “You don’t have time to dally smoking my tobacco. Go and ensure our success, we do not want any others jumping in front of us. Who knows what part of my family will be seeking to take the throne from this child. I want a deal sealed with this lizard man as soon as possible. Off you go.”
Lexx jumped up and saluted his Lord, although a little disappointed that he was not celebrating in praise. Of course, Lord Josiah was quite correct, a deal needed to be secured and once his Lord was King, he would yield many benefits for all his efforts.
“I may need some gold, sire, if I am to do business with the Narcs,” he said.
“I pay you well. Use your own gold and if all turns out, I will compensate you tenfold,” his Lord commanded.
Lexx was not too keen on paying with his own purse. If it all fell through he would be heavily out of pocket. Still, if it all worked as he planned, soon he would be the right hand man of a King.
31
Qutaybah was relaxing on cushions and drinking his favorite tea. It had been a long hard day, attending many meetings with his network of smugglers and traders, and there should be only one more matter to see to.
He had agreed to see a mercenary who had come out of the desert requesting a meeting. His personal interest in the desert people meant that he would not refuse. Many of them worked for him, transporting his goods all over Vandemland. One of his best men, Perseus, was on a very important mission there. He hoped the news was not about Perseus as he had no news of him for a few days, and this was concerning.
