by C. R. Daems
"I don't like traveling with dead men, but I agree," Irmak said. "Gather them and their equipment. We'll take an hour to rest and then clean up the area before we move. It's going to be a long day and night, because we aren't stopping until we clear the pass and get rid of them."
Irmak was right. The area needed cleaning so it wasn't obvious a battle took place here, and carting dead bodies, we needed to get through the pass as soon as we could.
* * *
Our routine didn't vary—ride for six hours, rest the horses, eat, and begin again. We made good time approaching the pass, because the land was open prairie and the ground dry and even, but going through the Sobek Pass was slow. The terrain changed from lush valleys with small waterfalls, meandering streams, and mountain pines to steep, narrow, rocky trails. A couple of the mountain peaks were covered in snow that shimmered under the full moon and glistened in the morning sun. I reveled in the sights, sounds, and fresh scent of virgin country. At one of our rest stops, Irmak sat down next to me.
"How do you do it, qi'Nisha? You look nearly as fresh as when we started yesterday morning. We've been at it for over a day and the troops are close to exhaustion. I'd hate to fight off a pack of sheep right now. Thankfully, we should be clear of the pass in the next six to eight hours."
"For one thing, I have no chores when we stop. In addition to leading the dead men's horses, everyone else has at least a half hour or more of things to do before they can relax. In addition, my training helps me to recuperate with even short periods of meditation."
Purplish circles surrounded Irmak's eyes and her face was drawn. Soldiers were the perfect example of yang. They survived by force of will—meeting adversities head on. The Qi were the perfect example of yin. We survived by not opposing the force—giving it nowhere to find purchase.
"I somehow don't think the chores would matter," she said, biting into the dried beef ration they carried. As soon as she finished, she had everyone up and back in the saddle.
Several hours later as we crested a ridge, we were greeted by a cascading wall of water which surged around and over boulders as it raced toward the open savanna below. As I sat marveling at the beauty of the landscape before me, I heard a collective sigh of relief.
* * *
We reached the foothills several hours later and turned south away from Sobek, riding several leagues before Irmak called a halt. By that time it was dark.
An outcropping of tall, gray boulders edged the trail. Irmak's voice was strained with fatigue, but she harried the troops as they dumped the bodies and saddles out of sight behind them. She decided to keep the horses as relief for our own. Although everyone was exhausted, Irmak wasn't taking any chances after the incident with the Zeno detail.
"I want volunteers to stand guard—four-hour shifts," she said, looking to find someone interested. Not surprisingly, everyone appeared busy or not to have heard her.
"Lieutenant, I'll take the watch for the night. It's about time I did something useful." When Irmak began to protest, I continued. "I can rest and yet be alert, so it's a minor inconvenience. You need the rest." Seeing only smiles and hearing sighs of relief, I wandered off to find a spot. I found a boulder only a few minutes away and scrambled atop it. There I folded into a meditation position, which required a minimum of energy, yet I could hear every sound, even the wind rustling the bushes. Toward morning, I heard someone approaching quietly from behind me.
"Well Lieutenant, is it time to leave?" I asked, guessing she would consider it her duty to check on her sentry.
"Almost. I thought I'd check on my sentry first. I see she's alert and, I imagine, rested."
"Yes, I too needed the rest. Fortunately, meditation is restful and yet does not hinder awareness. Like your martial skills, it was learned over many years of practice. And like in your profession, many never master the art. I was lucky."
"I'll bet luck had nothing to do with it. Some have a natural talent and put in the hard work it takes to develop it. Others don't." Irmak looked back to the east. "Well, everyone will be up soon. Come, we need to eat and be on our way. We lost a day because of the Zeno troops and still have another five days before we reach Inwood. Then another ten to twelve days into the Sands, back to Inwood, and yet another six back to Xihu. I'm worried about Wenrich's next move. If he attacks Xihu, I'd like to be there to help."
"Wenrich may be power hungry, but he isn't stupid. He may try to blockade Ferox, but he has to worry about the tribes. He isn't ready for two wars. I think he'll be a bit more cautious, at least until he knows what threat the tribes pose."
"Judging from the Zeno patrol we encountered, I believe you're right. It did look more like an attempt to isolate Ferox than preparation for an attack on Xihu. How long do you think we have?"
"It depends. He'll have to send an expedition into the Sands. I'd be surprised if one hasn't already left Inari. If he finds the tribes are stronger than he anticipated, he might try negotiating with Sandar and Tebos. If not, he may try to take Xihu, hoping Duke Tebos would capitulate after Xihu surrenders, and he controls Ferox Province."
"Which do you think most likely?" Irmak asked, frowning. "You seem to think he'll try to overthrow Duke Sandar eventually, in either case."
"Yes. I believe Wenrich considers Duke Sandar an adversary whom he must eliminate at some point—either by force or assassination. As to your other question, I can't make an assessment without knowing more about the new leader of the tribes. He targeted the Scepter for some reason. I believe he's expecting or hoping the loss of the Scepter will cause us to act in a way that benefits him. Otherwise, why steal it? We need more information, which is why your detail's so important. I do think that the new leader of the tribes is less impulsive and more strategic than Wenrich."
For the next three days, we rode for four hours, rested the horses and ate, and repeated the process until sunset. We made good time, as the terrain was mostly open prairie with low shrubs, small streams, and the few trees small and sparse. The talk at night tended to be limited to the upcoming trek into the Sands. Interestingly, although no one in the detail had seen the Sands or fought against the tribes, everyone had an opinion about the terrain and how the tribes fought. They'd all heard stories, but most of them varied.
At noon on the fifth day after leaving Xihu, we reached the Kiwaq River. It was late and Irmak decided to make camp and cross into Hala in the morning.
"I don't like the idea of traveling the forest at night. Especially if Zeno troops are also blockading Hala," Irmak said, looking toward the forest, which the setting sun had turned into impenetrable shadows.
The next day, we crossed the river. The change in terrain was dramatic: on one side, clear skies, bright sun, and open prairie; on the other, majestic trees allowed only filtered sunlight, the air lost its warmth, and the trails through the trees became increasingly narrow. Toward sunset, we topped a hill looking down at a gigantic lake, which had to be Lake Taimyn. The weather was clear with only a slight breeze that carried a scent of pine. The lake looked like a sheet of blue ice. While we sat looking down onto the lake, a man appeared on the side of the trail, a stone's throw away. He dressed in a shirt and pants of browns and greens that made him appear to fade in and out of view.
"You're on Hala land."
"I'm Lieutenant Irmak of Ferox, and this is qi'Nisha. We were sent by Duke Sandar as part of the joint scouting party with Hala into the Sands." As Irmak talked, I quieted my mind, looking for nothing and somehow seeing everything. The slight movements of greens and browns that initially looked like parts of trees, weren't—they were legs, arms, and arrows. When we had encountered the Zeno troops, we had been ready and won because they weren't. Now the Hala troops were ready and we weren't. The two situations provided a practical demonstration of battle tactics and were far more instructive than reading about long past battles.
The man saluted. "Qi'Senka did say that qi'Nisha looked very young. We're being cautious because we've been having trouble with t
he Iovis troops out of Akan. They claim we're prohibited from crossing the Kiwaq River. You're free to pass, Lieutenant. Stay on this trail and you won't be bothered. There's a clearing ahead where you can camp for the night. It's another eight hours to Inwood." Just as quickly as he had appeared, he faded back into the trees.
"Nice trick," Irmak said as we passed. "I'll bet the Iovis troops aren't interested in attacking Inwood. I wouldn't want to fight here against bows and an enemy you can't see."
I loved the narrow, winding trail leading to Inwood. As the shadows began to lengthen, the trees looked like an army of giant men. A short time later, we found the clearing, and while the troops made camp, I wandered off deep into the forest. There I sat listening to the peaceful sounds of the night residents and enjoying the fresh smell of pine resin. My Qi reached out and I became one with the world around me.
* * *
We were on the trail by sunrise. The talk was mostly about a comfortable bed and a hot meal. Late that afternoon, we broke out of the forest into a large open area a league from the wall surrounding Inwood. Inwood rose gently on a small hill providing a good view of the city. The large number of trees and green fields inside the city and that part of the wall surrounding the city rose out of Lake Taimyn made Inwood unique. The castle towered over the city from its position at the top of the hill, and its multiple towers looked like the fingers of a giant hand. When we reached the gates, they were open, and an officer, judging by the markings on his shoulders and beret, waited with a three-man detail.
"Lieutenant…?" The officer asked. He was tall, lean, and dressed in a green coat with brown pants.
"Irmak."
"Welcome, Lieutenant Irmak, I'm Lieutenant Javaid and your escort to the Inwood Castle. I'll also be joining you to scout the Sands." He looked in his late twenties, with shoulder-length curly black hair, angular face, and devilish smile. He gave me an appraising look. "And you must be the notorious qi'Nisha, who backed down Duke Wenrich. Very impressive." He bowed. "If you'll follow me." He signaled his sergeant, and the detail began walking up a road wide enough for eight horses. Javaid dropped back to ride alongside Windrunner.
"You're nothing like qi'Senka. Of course, she's the first Qi'advisor I've ever met, until now. Are you here to visit her? That must have been a strenuous trip for you."
Irmak laughed. "We've been slowing qi'Nisha down. She would have been here two days sooner without us. She's our Qi'advisor on our sojourn into the Sands."
Javaid remained silent for several minutes, sneaking frequent sideways looks in my direction. "Qi'Nisha, my sergeant said that Duke Sandar's Qi'advisor killed Duke Wenrich's top sergeant—Lazar. Is that true?" He stared at me while awaiting the answer. I nodded.
"Unfortunately." I had concluded I did the right thing, but that did not mean I was happy about it. Qi was a beautiful gift that should never have been used to injure anyone. Worse, I couldn't promise I'd never use it like that again. I couldn't change the past or predict the future; therefore, I couldn't commit to doing or not doing anything. I was a traveler on the Path of life, enjoying what might come—neither expecting nor wishing for what tomorrow would bring.
The iron portcullises were raised as we approached the gate to the castle, and we passed through without challenge. To my surprise, qi'Senka waited in the courtyard.
Javaid held up a hand for the troop to halt. "Lieutenant, if you and your troops will follow me, I'll take care of getting you settled. Qi'Senka will see to qi'Nisha." He turned his horse to the left and trotted off with Irmak and her detail following. As I dismounted, a young girl took the reins of Windrunner.
"I thought you might advise Duke Sandar that you should accompany the detail, but I'm surprised he let you." She gave me a hug before leading me up the steps of the castle, a three-story square structure with massive wood doors, each carved with an intricate tree-and-vine design. Inside, she led me up to the second floor and into a bedroom.
"He realized I'd be of more value to Lieutenant Irmak than him and that the mission could be critical in the upcoming contest, whether that be with Duke Wenrich or the tribes."
"It's an interesting time, Nisha. Our world as we know it is in chaos, and Qi'advisors are being asked to help steer course through to safety. I wonder if that's a role our training has prepared us for."
"It doesn't matter, qi'Senka. We can only face today, with our Qi to guide us."
"Yes, that is what the Qi'temple teaches or tries to teach us. Unlike you, I care about tomorrow and your safe return." She paused, looking around the room. "I see Anna has brought you hot water to wash. Duke Tebos has asked to see you and Lieutenant Irmak as soon as possible. I suggested he give you an hour to refresh yourself and change. Anna will come and get you when it's time."
* * *
After so many days traveling, a thorough wash and change into clean clothes was more than welcome. I left my dirty clothes on the bed, knowing someone would magically sweep them up and return them clean. I spent the rest of the time in meditation, reflecting on the trip to Hala. Learning to be a Qi'advisor was proving quite challenging. At the Qi'temple, I spent most of my time alone, studying and meditating. Here I spent most of my time interacting with people. There I was expected to learn. Here I was expected to advise. Strangely, both felt right.
A short time later, a young girl came and led me up a narrow flight of stairs and into a private study. The walls were paneled in a rich redwood and books lined one wall. A large desk and chair sat near two narrow windows, which looked out onto Late Taimyn. I nodded to qi'Senka and chose the chair next to her. Shortly afterward, Lieutenants Irmak and Javaid entered, and minutes later, Duke Tebos and his minister, Paeon. Tebos looked around the room and then at Irmak.
"Where is Duke Sandar? Is he bringing more troops? I expected him and at least a hundred soldiers. And why are you here, qi'Nisha?" He looked to me then immediately back to Irmak. I felt sorry for her, so I spoke before she could.
"Duke Sandar's expectations were the same as yours, Duke Tebos. I'm sure qi'Senka has pointed out that in light of the threat Duke Wenrich represents, you're needed in Inwood. Not to mention the consequences of you being killed in the Sands." I looked to qi'Senka, who nodded. "I told Duke Sandar the same. In addition, I mentioned that sending a force of two hundred troops into the Sands wasn't a scouting party. It constituted a war party, which would be easy to detect and was likely to be attacked by the tribes. In that case, the mission would have to be cut short—or, worse, Hala and Ferox would each have one hundred fewer soldiers to defend their provinces. As for my presence, the duke felt I would be of more use with Lieutenant Irmak than with him."
Tebos looked tired. He had bags and dark shadows under his eyes and sounded short tempered—clear signs the current situation had him under great stress and, like Sandar, running off to the Sands would provide him a diversion from sitting around worrying. He walked over to his desk and sat.
"Your Grace, qi'Senka has given you much the same advice qi'Nisha gave Duke Sandar. If Duke Wenrich decides to attack Hala, your people will need you here," Paeon said into the silence that followed.
"Qi'Nisha's presence maybe necessary to the success of the mission into the Sands. The lieutenants will be excellent in an engagement; however, a scouting mission should endeavor to avoid hostile contact with the tribes. Qi'Nisha will provide a good balance," qi'Senka said. I remained quiet. Tebos made decisions for Hala, not me.
"Did Duke Sandar put you in charge, qi'Nisha?" He gave me a hard look.
"No, Your Grace. I'm a Qi'advisor. It's not my function to make decisions for anyone but me."
"I apologize. These are trying times, and while I feel the need for a Qi'advisor, I'm still coming to grips with what one is and does. Qi'Senka and you give the same advice, but I feel like I'm being ordered to comply and want to fight it."
"Perhaps I can help, Your Grace. A Qi'advisor gives you her observations based on what she hears and sees. Her observations are as unbiased as a human can
be, because we have spent years training and developing Qi. That Qi permits us to give our observations without regard to anyone's feelings and without regard to the ultimate decision. If I cared, I wouldn't be Qi and would be a terrible Qi'advisor."
Tebos laughed, sat back, and poured himself a glass of wine from the decanter on his desk. "Thank you, qi'Nisha. That was brutally clear and understandable. A Qi'advisor tells you the hard truths no one else wants to, because they have no vested interest in the decision." He took another sip of wine and looked at each of us before continuing.
"Qi'Nisha's explanation makes everything clear. She and qi'Senka have given me good advice I don't want to hear. That's the very reason Duke Sandar and I need advisors in these troubled times. I'll stay here. Lieutenant Javaid will lead a party of ten Hala soldiers and proceed with Lieutenant Irmak and her party to scout the Sands. They will leave the day after tomorrow," he said and raised his glass. "Good luck and safe return."
After that, the discussion changed to speculation about Wenrich and his probable actions.
* * *
The next day, after breakfast with qi'Senka, I wandered down to the stables to visit Windrunner. I walked him around the soldiers' training area and brushed him, although it wasn't necessary. The stable boy had brushed him the night before. As I was returning Windrunner to his stall, Javaid and Irmak followed me into the dimly lit stable.
"Good morn. That's a beautiful animal," Javaid said as he stroked Windrunner's dark neck.
"Yes, riding him is like riding the wind."
"I'm glad the duke had his meeting last night. Before that, I'd have resisted any advice from you, thinking you thought you knew better than me. My troop and I have worked with Irmak to integrate our two troops into her emergency commands. I understand we don't have to worry about protecting you," he said, as both a statement and a question.
