"The stories are fairly accurate, though perhaps not entirely. Such is often the case with stories that are passed down over time. Mostly they become exaggerated, but Kroma was certainly an honorable god, and it is saddening to think that he is no more."
"You say that Kenra took Kroma's identity and power, which suggests he used some kind of death magic," Calthas said.
"You've got the right of it, mage. Death magic has long been forbidden and I wonder where he might have learned of it, but the answer to that question is a curiosity that may never be known. The problem now is finding a way to stop him from enslaving more people, and the first thing we must do is collect the copies of the book."
"There are five true copies if I understand correctly, but what about the other, lesser copies?"
"We will only need the five originals. The others have no true power, though it might be useful to have a copy or two."
"Well, there is one original copy at the temple, here in Maramyr," Calthas said, then he remembered something and held up his finger, for Stroma to wait a moment, and he exited the workshop then came back with a book in his hand. "I worried that they might have taken it, but I have one of the lesser copies here. The priesthood has made quite a few of them."
"Good," Stroma said, taking the book. "This will prove useful." Stroma placed the book on Calthas' work desk then waved his hand over it and four more copies appeared. "We now have five lesser copies that Kenra and his priesthood won't be able to distinguish from the originals. When you steal the book from the temple, you can replace it with this one." He held up one of the books.
"When I steal the book?"
"Of course. I can see that little spell you have used that makes them think you are one of them. It is very clever, Calthas. I should think that a mage of your skill would be able to sneak in and out of the temple with little problem."
"I did have a little help from a mage named Stavros," he admitted.
"Yes, I know of him," Stroma said, nodding thoughtfully.
"What about the other four books? How do we find them?"
"Oh, finding them should not be a problem. I know exactly where they are. Getting our hands on them without Kenra finding out, that might be a little more of a challenge."
*****
The ship rolled gently over the waves as the crew of the Al-Andor looked ahead to their home port as the great Aghlar city rose up from the horizon before them. With Ehlena aboard, the winds had been most favorable the entire journey, which had buoyed the morale of the crew, restoring their confidence, which had been shaken by the things they had witnessed at the pirate island. Ehlena and Stavros stood at the fore of the ship, enjoying the fine mist of the salt air and watched a pod of dolphins playfully leaping in and out of the water alongside the fast moving vessel.
"How long do you expect to stay at Aghlar?" Stavros asked.
"There are a few things we must do," Ehlena said. "A few days at most, then we can carry on and search for Aaron."
"I am concerned about the lad," Stavros said. "I wish he had not left so suddenly, and just when I had finally managed to find him."
"Stavros," Ehlena said with a smile. "You worry too much. Aaron must walk his own path if he is to achieve his potential, and sometimes that means letting him face challenges for himself. He is now free of the ward, which may have protected him, but it also held him back. Aaron has much to learn and he may have very little time to learn it. Whatever happens, we must see what he will become, of his own accord. And do not worry. Aaron may be hiding his power, but the wind will find him, and so will we."
"I am just glad he left his things behind," Stavros said, reaching under his grey cloak and pulling out a book. "I had no idea he was carrying this accursed thing around all this time."
They had found the book in Aaron's pack and even though Stavros was unwilling to test its magic, he was convinced that the power of the book had affected the ward, causing its magic to twist, and inflicting great pain on the boy. The effect the book might have had on him was something the two mages, Zachary and Stavros, and the two goddesses, Ehlena and Carly, had debated at length. Even though there might be some use to learning more about the book, they had all agreed not to open it for fear of alerting the god, whose mind was connected to it. They also worried that destroying it might have the same effect so Ehlena had suggested that they should take it with them, hinting that she might know of another way of dealing with it.
"It is curious that he should have had it," Ehlena said with a frown. "I told you that Aaron showed it to me once, before I became one with the goddess."
"Yes, and it was fortunate that you did not look upon its contents in your current form."
"I doubt it would have affected me, but letting the book see me would have given away too much. As far as this supposed one god knows, I am little more than some foolish young girl, and I prefer he continue to think that."
"I wonder how much he knows about Aaron," Stavros mused. "Hopefully the ward prevented the book from seeing too much of his life. There are many ways one can be manipulated and while I do not have the first idea about the personality of this god and what effect it might have upon him, not to mention that Cerric himself is certainly not above toying with people's lives."
"I would rather he did not toy with Aaron. His life is finally his own, and his choices are his alone to make." Ehlena stared at the mage, the glistening deep blue green of her eyes becoming almost a steely grey as her expression became hard and serious. "Stavros, we must help Aaron, and we may offer him guidance, but we cannot interfere with his decisions. That is the one thing I am most concerned about."
"You have said this before," the old mage commented. "Is there some reason for concern?"
"There is," Ehlena replied. "But one does not need a reason to respect the will of another."
"That is true," Stavros agreed, though he was not sure exactly why the girl-goddess would continue to belabor a point she had already made numerous times, but he was willing to accept the wisdom in her words, regardless of what her unspoken reasons might be.
CHAPTER TWO
The stands of the arena were empty and a warm wind whisked away the last traces of the many footsteps of the warriors, who had fought on the dirt floor among the stone circles the night before. The blood of their battles dried and crumbled, fading into the sand and would soon be scoured away by the dry desert wind. The contest finished, another king was named, but the talk among the people was of the warrior from the north, whose power they had only glimpsed but they knew it was greater than even the strongest who had fought at the Warrior's Palace that night.
Kasha knelt down at the edge of the circle and felt the stone that was embedded deep into the earth. It still hummed with energy from the brief burst of true fire that had nearly overwhelmed its protective magic. She was surprised when he had entered the match, not expecting to see him here at Ba'shan, let alone in the circles, but she was already aware of the potential of his power, though she wondered if he knew it as well.
"It is forbidden to use true power in the circles," Lento said, looking at the ground where Kasha's hand rested on the stone circle.
"When was it forbidden?" she asked, looking up at the man through the slit in the cloth that covered her face. "Once, long ago, many fighters fought with true power. That was why the circles were created. But you are right, we no longer allow such power to be used without first knowing the nature of those who posses it. That is for Ansari to determine, not the registers."
"Still, it was an unfair match," Lento insisted. "The registers did not know of this power and much money was lost. There is talk among the people of retribution against this Antal of Ashford."
"You would be wise to quell such talk, Lento," Kasha told him as she rose to her feet. "It was only one match and the registers and the traders saw plenty of winnings from the other fights. As for Antal, those who talk of retribution might consider how dangerous he is. Perhaps you might remind them that without th
e protection of the circles, many of them would already be dead."
"You know this man," Lento said accusingly. "You fought him at Forsina. It is said he visited your tent. Perhaps this was some trick between you to win many riches."
Kasha frowned beneath her wrappings and her green eyes sharpened to daggers as she stepped toward the man, but she held her temper in check, which was becoming more and more difficult with every passing day.
"You may check the registers, Lento," she said, keeping an even tone. "You will see that I placed no wagers on the fights. If you wish to discover the meaning of true pain, you may continue this way of thinking. If you speak such insults to me again, I will place your head on a spike as an example for anyone else who would dare to cross me."
"You would threaten me, here in the Warrior's Palace?"
"I do not threaten, Lento. I speak only a simple truth. I knew this northern warrior was strong, but he did not use such power at Forsina. Had he done so, the registers would surely have shown it."
"And yet, he bested you?" Lento would not be easily cowed but he pulled back his anger, knowing better than to provoke her further. Kasha was Ansari and, while Lento did not know Ansari, he knew more than most, and that was enough to make him fearful of her.
"He fought me to a draw," Kasha said, correcting him. "He used only his sword, and I only used mine. It was a fair match."
"And I am to believe that this northerner is as skilled with a blade as the mighty Kasha?"
"Yes, he is exceptionally skilled," she told him. "Why else would I invite him to my bed?"
"I have no interest in your personal habits," Lento said.
"You were the one who made mention of it. You are angry that an unknown fighter entered the circles and demonstrated skill and power. It upset the registers for they could not calculate the odds and people lost some coin, while others undoubtedly won more than they had imagined. Instead of admitting that there are powers in the world that you do not know about, you insult me by making dishonorable conversation about what happens in the privacy of my tent and suggesting that I would dishonor the circles by some trick for coin. If you and the registers are wise, you will take your losses and leave this issue. It will quickly fade like tracks in the sand."
"And what of this Antal? If he returns to the circles, what then?"
"He will not," Kasha told him. "He will walk the desert and will be known by Ansari."
"An outlander? Is such a thing permitted?"
"That is for Ansari to decide. This northerner will not be the first who is not of the desert to become known to Ansari. If he proves worthy, he may also come to know Ansari."
"You speak blasphemy," Lento said, his voice taking on a harsh edge once more.
"Blasphemy?" Kasha laughed. "If you truly knew Ansari, then you would know there is no such thing. There is only truth. I will leave you to think on that, for while you may know many things, Master Lento, it is clear that you do not know Ansari, and I wonder if it not time for a return of our people from the desert, to dispel some of your foolish notions."
Kasha turned and walked away from the man, making her way across the arena floor toward the grand entrance. She could tell that Lento was angry and he was likely insulted by what she had said to him but she did not care. If there were any words that approached blasphemy it was his mention of what occurred in her tent when she and Aaron had spent the night together. While it was no secret, such things had little bearing on the truth of matters, and she wondered if Lento's accusations were more a reflection of his own character or perhaps an indication that the registers were no longer following the neutrality of their position among the circles. It would be something she would discuss with Ansari, but first, she had other matters to which to attend.
Aaron answered the knock at the door and the boy named Tash carried a large basin filled with fresh, cool water into the room. It was full to the brim and drips of water spilled over the edges as the boy struggled with its weight so Aaron lifted it out of his hands.
"Thank you, Tash," he said, carrying the basin over toward the bed where Lexi lay shivering under a thin sheet that was soaked through with sweat.
The boy hung back as Aaron placed the basin next to the pallet and took a cloth from the girl's forehead. The thick fabric was hot from fever and Aaron felt it cool again when he dipped it into the large bowl of water. He twisted the cloth, leaving it just wet enough to cool and placed it on Lexi's forehead.
"Is she going to be okay?" Tash asked. "I could fetch the healers again."
"They have done all they can do," Aaron said, glancing at the glass vial that sat on a nearby table. Only a few drops of the magic infused liquid remained and he had given Lexi only the smallest amounts at a time, hoping to wean her off the poison. Tash had asked around the city to see if more of the potion might be acquired, but word had spread among the traders and none of them were willing to help, no matter the price that was offered. Aaron had tried using his meager skills at healing, but Lexi was resistant to his magic. Even the healers had experienced difficulty, though they had been able to help her a little. Now it was up to Lexi.
"She is strong," Aaron told the boy, trying to sound reassuring. "You should have seen her fight."
"Everyone in Ba'shan talks about it. They said you used true fire, powerful magic."
"I don't know what they mean by that, but I did use the power of fire, maybe more than I intended. I didn't want to use any of that power at all."
"Why would you not want to use your power in a fight? You could be a king very easily."
"I didn't come here to be a king," Aaron said as he turned over the cloth on Lexi's forehead. "I came here to get away."
"Get away? Does someone chase after you?"
"No, not really. I just wanted to think about some things, that's all."
"You are very strange, Antal, but I like you. I would be honored if you would hire me as your servant."
"You want to be a servant?" Aaron asked, though he suspected the word might have a slightly different meaning among the desert people than it did back at Maramyr.
"It is a respected position, especially for a king or someone powerful," Tash said. "And if I am careful in my duties, you can teach me the sword, maybe."
"I don't need a servant, Tash," Aaron said. "And I'm no sword teacher, but I appreciate how helpful you are. I will pay you an extra coin more than what we agreed, before I leave Ba'shan."
"You will leave? When?"
"As soon as Lexi has recovered. Like I said, I came here to get away and now too many people know I am here."
There was a knock at the door and Tash ran toward it, enthusiastically eager to please. He opened the door and, in the frame stood a person wrapped in desert clothes, but Aaron immediately recognized the sharp green eyes that stared past the boy and looked directly at him and he stood.
"Antal," she said.
"Kasha," Aaron replied.
Tash took a step back. "You're Kasha?" He turned and looked at Aaron then looked up at the desert warrior, who glanced down at him, then his expression turned serious. "I will bring food and drink, for the warrior king." Tash bowed deeply and fled the room.
Aaron could see Kasha's eyes squint with a smile beneath her wrappings as she watched Tash leave, then she turned her gaze back to him and walked across the room. She unwrapped the cloth from her face, revealing her dark, tan skin and strong, seductive features. It had not been long since he had seen her and he felt a stirring deep down as she drew close and the subtle sweetness of her scent filled the air. Aaron pushed those thoughts aside as her gaze shifted to Lexi, who lay unconscious upon the bed.
"Why do you cover her if you are trying to cool her down?" Kasha asked.
"I thought it best, with Tash coming in and out," Aaron said, not mentioning that he was also more comfortable having a sheet covering the lizard girl as well, though it made little difference since it was practically transparent now that it was soaked through with sweat.
"She is not able to decide, since she does not wake," Aaron said. "It would not be polite."
"I mean your servant, Aaron," Kasha said, using his name now that they were alone. "She would not care."
"Tash is a girl?" Aaron shook his head.
"Of course." Kasha laughed, then she reached out a hand and touched the place on Lexi's side where her scales blended to skin. "You have much to learn about the people of the desert."
"And now you are going to tell me how I don't know Ansari," Aaron said.
"No," Kasha said. "I would not say such a thing to you, husband. I came here to bring you a warning, and to offer my help if you wish it."
"A warning? About what?"
"Your fight, in the arena," she said, looking over at Lexi. "I saw this fight and you did very well against many difficult opponents, but you also used a power that is not welcome in the fighting circles."
"I didn't intend on using that much power," Aaron told her with a frown. "Still, I don't see why it matters. They would have killed us. Besides, nobody said there was a rule against using magic. Those other fighters did."
"There is no such rule," Kasha said. "The power of true fire is simply not used in the circles and by using such a power, you have attracted the attention of Ansari."
"But you are Ansari," Aaron said. "Can't you just tell them that I won't fight in the circles again? The only reason I did was to help that girl, who was being forced to fight."
"I spoke with the healers and I was pleased when they told me the reason for your fight. I made a good choice when we joined and the reasons your actions will matter to my people when you come to the desert to meet them."
"What if I don't want to go to the desert and meet with your people?" Aaron was frustrated. All he really wanted to do was avoid people, but so far he had done a fairly poor job of accomplishing that goal.
Book of One 04: A Child of Fire Page 2
