“You haven’t brought it up with him and you want the old medic to take a look without him knowing I’m taking a look?”
“I guess so. I really am worried.”
“I’ll drop by for a visit next week.”
Lu Bei popped out, sputtered around, stretched his wings and arms, wiggled his toes.
“There’s the fetch! Didn’t think you’d even say hello.”
Lu Bei clapped Onudaka on the shoulder and bowed his head. “Was napping, sir. Most apologetic. But I heard it all. I’m always caught up.”
“How do you know what’s going on if you’re asleep?”
“Sleep memory, sir. I dream what happens as good as if I were awake.”
“Why would a diary need sleep? I thinking you’re pulling my leg.”
Lu Bei suppressed a devilish grin ineffectively. “Would I do that, sir? Would I ever?”
“Without hesitation. Listen, keep your master out of trouble, would you? I think he’s up to something.”
“I’ll do my best to keep him true, sir.”
Chapter 15
Surrounded by piles of books and snoring, Enashoma drooled on a table in the back of the library. Turesobei touched her shoulder. She snapped up and smacked him.
“Hey!”
“Oh! Sorry. I fell asleep.”
He pointed at the drool. “I noticed.”
“Gross. Ew. Don’t tell anyone I ever did that.”
“I’m going to tell everyone.”
Her eyes narrowed, but then she smirked. “You don’t talk to anyone but me and old people. So whatever.”
“Gee thanks.”
“Truth hurts?”
“Did you find anything?”
“Nothing. I’ve combed every book I could think of. You’re far better at research. Maybe you should look.”
“I’ve been here for half an hour while you were sleeping. I checked the most promising books and looked to see if you’d missed anything on the shelves. Nothing. Grandfather?”
“He recalled reading some legends about assassins with that name who lived in Tengba Ren. But he couldn’t remember where he’d learned about them or any details. Onudaka?”
“Nothing useful. The spell failed, by the way. Well, not entirely.” He explained about sweeping over the mountains as the Storm Dragon.
She frowned. “You sure you got that stuff under control?”
“Nope.”
“Comforting. So the Monolith of Sooku?”
“Looks like. Gather those supplies for me. I’m leaving before dawn.”
“How are you getting out of here?”
“Magic, of course.”
“I’m sure there must be other ways past the inner and outer gates.”
“Magic is the easiest way for me.”
“Grandfather will know something’s up when you don’t show up tomorrow. He’ll have people out looking for you.”
“I’ve already taken two days off. I’ll leave him a note at breakfast and tell him I’ll be at the library all day.”
“You’re going to need a denekon to reach Sooku. Walking is too slow.”
“I’ll have to steal one from the army stables in Outer Ekaran. I don’t want to try sneaking mine out past the guards at the Inner Gate.”
“You should take two.”
“That would be a lot more conspicuous, wouldn’t it?”
“Remember what happened last time, when your denekon died?”
“I don’t think that’s a likely risk.”
“Just promise me you’ll take an extra, okay?” She squeezed his forearm. “Promise me.”
“Okay. Okay. I will. Sheesh.”
~~~
The High Wizard’s Tower was dark and quiet. Turesobei cast the spell of the silent footfall and the spell of personal obscuration on himself. He had to say goodbye to his grandfather. He crept up to his room. Kahenan had a nose for detecting magic, but he was a heavy sleeper.
Turesobei slid the door open. Kahenan’s chest rose and fell regularly. His unbraided splayed out like the bristles on a broom. Turesobei grinned. He hadn’t seen the full beard in years.
Kahenan’s personal desk sat in the far corner, but he mostly used the one in the workroom. Turesobei crept over, the crunching of the mats silenced by his spell. He placed a rune-covered letter behind some books, touched one of the sigils, and whispered a command. Kahenan snorted but didn’t wake. The letter disappeared, perfectly camouflaged on the desk. It would reappear in four days, explaining where he had gone and why.
You’re going to hate me for this. I’m so sorry. I hope you’ll forgive me.
Turesobei returned to his workroom. He packed his normal spell book and Chonda Lu’s grimoire in his satchel along with Lu Bei. Over his shoulder he hefted a heavy backpack containing extra clothes, survival basics, and his light armor. He checked his spell pouches. The sixty spells he had ready no longer seemed like enough.
Turesobei took out Sumada, his father’s blade. He was so much like Noboro. What had made his father go out on his first journey? Was it love, or just the thrill? Turesobei could live without the thrill, and he could get by without seeing the world. But Iniru was like a hole in his heart. He had to save her.
He hooked the scabbard to his belt and left.
Chapter 16
Spell-shrouded and dressed in black pants and a charcoal outer robe, Turesobei crept through Inner Ekaran. As promised, Enashoma had left the supplies and rations outside the back of their house, just over the garden wall. Two packs worth. Twice what he’d told her to bring. Shoma, how strong do you think I am?
He lifted one pack and groaned. Too much weight. No way he could do both. But he couldn’t leave one behind. He drew a spell strip and cast the spell of the might of three men. That should do the trick.
He gathered the packs. With the two Shoma had gotten for him and the one with his personal gear, plus the satchel with the books, he was carrying over twice his bodyweight.
The walls around Inner Ekaran were rune-warded. Any attempt to go over them through magic would cause a high-pitched screeching noise. Warded by Chonda Lu, using his kavaru, and reinforced regularly by Chonda wizards. Nothing for Turesobei to worry about. He’d been the last one to strengthen the wards.
“Lu Bei,” he whispered.
The fetch popped out, flew up over the wall, and returned.
“Clear, master.”
His strength boosted, he tossed the first pack over and crossed his fingers that Shoma hadn’t packed anything breakable. It landed with a crunch in the bushes on the other side. He tossed the other two. After casting the spell of prodigious leaping, he bent his knees, bounced once, then leapt up. He caught the edge of the wall by his fingertips and pulled himself up. Before any guards spotted him, he dropped over.
Now for the mounts. He sighed. Both of them. A promise was a promise. Especially if the alternative was crossing Enashoma. Not that she would know until he got back. Still …
The denekon pen was basically a fenced in woodland park. The big riding lizards were native to Okoro’s rainforests. Keeping them in as natural a habitat as possible kept them healthy and relaxed. He hopped over the low fence. The only two guards dozed at the gate. No one worried about the theft of military denekon from within Ekaran. The crime was punishable by death, but he doubted they wanted to kill the next High Wizard.
He wished he could have told everyone he was going on a riding trip through the countryside. But they would have known the exact time when he left. Someone would probably be able to tell them what direction he’d gone. Especially since the threat of war brought on heightened security. From dawn to dusk, military defense exercises were being practiced outside Ekaran over the next three days. Too many eyes on the lookout.
Turesobei chose two sturdy mounts, took them to the stables, saddled them, and loaded the packs. He released the strength spell so it wouldn’t keep draining his internal kenja. Which was good, because he was going to have to expand his obscuration
to include the two denekon. He cast the spell of blending colors to camouflage the packs, in case he got into trouble. It would make coming up with an excuse easier.
Now he had to get past the denekon guards.
“Lu Bei. It’s showtime.”
Lu Bei flew deep into the wooded pen, made screeching animal noises, and pounced harmlessly on a few denekon. The lizard beasts freaked out. They stamped, bellowed, and sprinted in fear. The two guards left their posts and ran to check out what was wrong. Turesobei hurried out from behind the stables. Leading the denekon, he rushed for several blocks before slowing down.
Four gates led out from Ekaran. All guarded and shut for the night. The trick now was to act cool and hit the guards at the gate with the spell of compelling obedience. Tell them to let him pass and to not make note of it. If he did the spell perfectly, they wouldn’t remember seeing him, even at such an unusual hour. If all else failed, he’d tell them he was on a mission for Lord Kahenan. That wouldn’t buy him much time, though. And they might not believe him.
Turesobei rounded the corner, keeping to the shadows. The gate was only a block ahead.
A large figure stepped out from behind a stack of crates.
“Going somewhere?”
Chapter 17
Onudaka crossed his arms and tucked his chin into his chest. His eyes pierced Turesobei. “Thought you’d come this way, lad.”
“Daka! What — What are you doing here?”
“I think you stole my question. And you know why I’m here. I’m not a fool. Why on earth are you after the Deadly Twelve? Whoever they are.”
“You’ve got to let me past, Daka. They have Iniru. I’ve got to save her.”
“I think she can take care of herself. Besides, how do you know she’s in trouble?”
Turesobei handed him the note and explained about boosting the animated origami falcon.
“I shouldn’t have done it. Would’ve been better off not knowing. But now that I do know — I’ve got to go after her. Life isn’t the same without her. And …”
Onudaka patted him on the shoulders. “I get it, lad. I get it. But you’re risking more than your life. You’re risking your stake in life, your position. Your clan, if they come under attack and you’re not here … And you do understand that she’s probably dead already, right?”
“I’ve got to try. I should be back before the war and … It’s foolish, isn’t?”
“That’s love for you. I’m not going to tell you how to live your life. But what you have here seems pretty sweet to me.”
“I know, but I have to go.”
“Then I wish you well.”
“You’re not going to try to stop me?”
“Why would I? It’s your life and what you said sounds sensible enough.”
“How’d you know I’d go tonight?”
“I knew you were up to something, and I didn’t think you’d waste your time. You could have just ridden out tomorrow with your supplies hidden.”
“I want as much lead as possible. And with the military exercises too many people would see what direction I was heading and what time I’d left.”
“The guards at the gate are on high alert. They’re good at what they do. How’re you getting past them?”
“The spell of compelling obedience. If that doesn’t work, I’ll make something up.”
“It’s not a good plan.”
“Why is that?”
“These men are suspicious. It’s hard to deceive them. They train their senses and willpower to resist spells that could bewitch them.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Your clan is thorough. Don’t like to be caught off guard. I’m sure your spell would work, but maybe not as well as you hope.”
“You got a better plan?
Onudaka gestured at a covered wagon loaded with empty barrels and stacks of hay parked nearby in a pen. The driver lay asleep on the bench in front.
“That wagon will be leaving as soon as the gates open. You could hide in there pretty well and ride out of the city without being seen and there’s room for your denekon. Besides, that’s where your sister is hiding.”
Chapter 18
“What?!” Turesobei nearly shouted.
“Shhh! You heard me.”
“She can’t come with me.”
“She’s been in the wagon for two hours. She slipped the driver a handful of copper coins. I’d keep a watch on him. He didn’t even ask a question. She’s naive. You’ll have to protect her.”
“Well, she’s not going.”
Onudaka smiled. “Good luck, lad.”
“Why didn’t you stop her?”
Onudaka shrugged. “I was waiting for you. I figured you were working together. Besides, who am I to tell the young lady what she should and shouldn’t do?”
“She’s only fourteen.”
“When I was fourteen, I was already serving in the army, lad.”
“How did she get past the guards at the Inner Gate?”
“I don’t know. But I think she’s been planning this for a while. She’s visited me several times to ask me questions about the world, survival and all. I could tell she was going to run away eventually.”
“You should have said something.”
“Not my place. And I can’t say I blame her. I think a girl should stay at home, that’s how I was raised. That’s how she was raised, too, but it’s not in her spirit. She’s like you and your father.”
“She’s got a good life here, other than the arranged marriage part.”
“Sobei, better she gets a taste of adventure under your watch than on her own. No telling what the wagon driver has in mind. He may be fine and all, or he may be … Look, either she’ll taste adventure and want more, or she’ll have her see of the world and come back content to be a lady of the Chonda, after the worst scolding ever and a few seasons of being scandalized. But she’s got the stirring, and unless you want to lock her up, sooner or later she’s going to go whether any of us like it or not. She’s too clever not to escape.”
Six new guards showed up. They were changing the watch.
“You’d better go. I’ll distract them for you.”
“No. You had no part in this, you understand? If anyone even thinks you did, I compelled you. I love you too much to get you in trouble with this, too.”
Onudaka clapped him on the shoulder.
“Good luck, lad. Come back in one piece. Save Iniru. Watch out for young Shoma.”
“She’s not coming. I’ll talk her out of it.”
“Then your first test will be one of the hardest. Don’t underestimate her. See that you’re back before the war starts.”
“I’ll be back by then. Be well, Daka.”
Onudaka slipped away into the shadows.
Lu Bei flew into an alley and knocked over a few crates. Two guards rushed over to check it out. The other guards looked in that direction. A cat-like screech echoed in the alley. Turesobei crossed over to the wagon unseen. He got the denekon behind it. No one had noticed. He cast the spell of somnolence onto the already sleeping driver to be sure. He lowered the gate, shoved aside some barrels, and brought his denekon in.
Enashoma had arranged the interior so that the barrels and hay bales were stacked along the the edges, leaving her space in the middle. She was dressed in cotton riding pants, a simple shirt, and an outer robe made for travel. Not the proper attire for adventuring, but he supposed it was the best she had.
He closed the gate. “Shoma, have you lost your mind?”
“You weren’t supposed to find me before we got out of the city,” she hissed. “I was going to meet up with you later.”
Lu Bei zipped in. “The trick worked.” He climbed into Turesobei’s pack and turned back into a book.
“Shoma, how could you! And how would you find me? I’d be riding away.”
“There’s a note packed in with the food telling you where I was going. We would to meet you at Tesisa Shrine. You’d o
nly have had to backtrack a half day at the most.”
“I would never have come back for you.”
Enashoma smiled wickedly. “Oh yes you would have. Read the note.”
He pulled out the slip of paper.
Turesobei, I’m going with you. Meet me at Tesisa Shrine. You know the old ruins out past Lake Yutira? Unless you don’t want your Zhura ink or blank bamboo strips.
Turesobei riffled through his bag and cursed.
“Give them back to me. Now.”
“Can’t. I sent someone ahead with them.”
“You gave them to someone else?”
“Someone trustworthy. Turesobei, I planned this out well.”
He grabbed her arm. “You’ve got to go back. You can’t come.”
“You can’t stop me.”
“I can make you get out of this cart. I can buy more ink … somewhere … Or make whoever has it at the shrine give it to me.”
She put her hands on her hips. “And I can yell to the guards and tell them what you’re doing.”
“If you did, I’d never get to Iniru.”
“Please, Turesobei. I’ve got to get out of here. I can’t take it anymore. I want to be like you and father. I don’t want to marry some fussy old nobleman who dazzles Mother with a smile and a fortune. Not a single suitor she’s interviewing is under the age of twenty-seven. They’ll all be over thirty by the time I can marry. Please. I want a life of my own. I’ll never get that here.”
“It’s too dangerous. You don’t have training. You can’t use magic or fight.”
“I do pretty well with a staff.”
“You don’t have one with you.”
“I can get one. And I’ve got my knife. I’m not bad with it either. Onudaka has been teaching me a bit of healing and survival skills. I saw you talking to him. He’s going to let us go, right?”
“He shouldn’t, especially you.”
“Onudaka understands the wanderer spirit. He understands what it’s like not to have freedom.”
“If I take you, you might die. And when I bring you back, I’m going to be in even more trouble because of you.”
Lair of the Deadly Twelve (Storm Phase Book 2) Page 7
