“There is room for all of you,” he said. “However, keep in mind that you are the twenty best knights we have, and there may be trouble here while we are gone. Demons and, perhaps other enemies as well, will attempt to stop us, but they may also cause problems for our people here in our absence. We do not want to leave our homes, not to mention our wives, mothers, sisters, and children, unguarded behind us. After all, Rathira is full of threats and dangers—which is why we have Knights and Hunters in the first place.”
The troubled expressions on his knight’s faces told him they understood the problem, and would consider it in spite of their own desires. Some of them would have to opt out of the Orb Quest, and take the far less exciting task of guarding Isiben instead. It was not a choice Prince Zakiel would have wanted to be faced with himself, and he would not make it for his men. The best he could do for them was let them make their own decisions.
“I will now leave you to work this out among yourselves. We shall set out at dawn on the fifth day from today, which gives us four full days to prepare.”
“Excuse me, Highness,” Bredon said, “but by my counting, we have room for another seven men.”
“No, we don’t, Cousin Bredon,” Zakiel replied. “Both Lady Techu and Princess Kapia will be with us, as well as their personal attendants.” He held up one hand to silence the shocked questions. “Princess Kapia is the only one who can claim the Moon Orb. Without her and Lady Techu, there is no point to the quest. I know that we are still not at seventy-five, but I wish to leave us a margin of safety in case the wells of the Duat are less generous than expected.”
Zakiel looked at his knights, meeting their eyes, satisfied that the danger of this quest was sinking in for them, as it had for him. It was one thing for them to go off to battle. It was what they did. But to take women along, and such important women, added a new dimension that none had expected.
“The very fate of our world depends on the successful completion of the Orb Quest,” he said. “I do not need to tell you how much faith you must have in any man chosen to join us.”
Prince Zakiel nodded, then turned to Bredon. “Please report to me once the final decisions are made,” he said quietly. Bredon nodded, and Zakiel left the chamber, trusting his men to choose as well, or better, than he could himself. He paused outside the door to organize his thoughts.
He needed to give orders for diplos to be selected and transported up river to Coris as soon as possible so that they would have time to recover from the stress of a boat trip. The best servants must be selected, and the best drovers. Supplies must be calculated and gathered. He turned and headed for the quartermaster’s office.
Chapter 6
“I don’t think this is a good color for you,” Kapia said, indicating a bright yellow outfit lying among those displayed across Karma’s bed. Karma was surprised by the number of outfits that had been created for her to choose from in only three days. The day outfits consisted of the long flowing skirt, and sleeveless fitted top that all of the women wore, with fabric, color and decoration being the only differences between them. The riding outfits were the same as the day outfits except that the skirts were divided like trousers into wide, full legs. There were also a dozen pair of sandals and low riding boots in soft leather, several night shifts, shawls, long vests to match each outfit, lightweight jackets, and a range of undergarments.
“No,” Karma agreed, “yellow is definitely not my color. Though I do like this pale gray with the silver beading at the neckline, and the tan, as well as the soft blue and dark green. The lighter green will not suit my coloring either.”
“What of the pale peach and light pink?” Kapia asked. “I think they would look good on you.”
“Yes, those are fine, though not my favorite colors,” Karma replied. “This burgundy is very nice.” Karma turned away from the clothing, deciding this was a good time to talk to Kapia. They’d had three lessons with the staff since the first one, and Karma felt that the girl was getting worse each time rather than more comfortable.
“Kapia, not to change the subject, but do you dance?”
Karma was surprised to see Kapia’s face flush red as she dropped her eyes and crossed her arms in front of herself in a defensive gesture. Karma placed one hand lightly on Kapia’s arm.
“I’m sorry, Kapia, I did not mean to upset you,” she said.
“I know, Karma,” Kapia replied. “It’s not your fault.”
“Do you want to tell me about it?”
Kapia gazed at Karma for a long moment, then nodded. “Yes, I think I would like that, if you don’t mind. I’ve never had a friend I could talk to before.”
“Me neither,” Karma admitted.
“Really?” Kapia asked, astonished.
“Yes, really,” Karma said with a smile. “Now, out with it.”
“All right,” Kapia said, looking a bit more relaxed. “Dancing is important in our culture, particularly for women. Sometimes a woman can say something with a dance that she could never say with words.”
“Yes, my culture is much the same,” Karma said, nodding.
“All my life I have heard stories of what a wonderful dancer my mother was,” Kapia continued. “As a child, I dreamed of learning to dance as she did. But when I finally convinced Marene to teach me, it was a disaster.”
“Marene taught you?” Karma asked.
“Yes,” Kapia replied. “It’s customary for a mother to teach her daughter, generally when she becomes a woman. But as I have no mother or aunt, and Marene is my Father’s ward, she offered to teach me instead.”
“I see,” Karma said, a suspicion forming in her mind, though she hoped she was wrong. “How old were you?”
“Twelve,” Kapia whispered. “I looked forward to the day of my first lesson for years, counting the days until, finally, it arrived. And it was a disaster. I was a disaster. I worked as hard as I could, really I did. But it was no use. After a few months, Marene gave up on me, and I don’t blame her. It seemed the harder she tried to teach me, the worse I got.”
Karma’s eyes narrowed as her suspicion deepened. She’d had several opportunities to observe Marene over the past few days, and she could honestly say she had rarely liked another woman less. Even so, she was hesitant to believe her own suspicions. It made no sense. Why would Marene deliberately sabotage Kapia’s efforts to dance? Kapia was no threat to her.
Karma set all thoughts of Marene aside. She had to focus on her goal, which was to teach Kapia the use of the staff. But how to undo, or at least get around, the damage that had been done, deliberately or otherwise, without telling Kapia what she suspected?
“Why did you ask about dancing?” Kapia asked, interrupting her thoughts. “Is it because I’m so clumsy? Are you going to give up on me too?”
“Absolutely not,” Karma said firmly. “Don’t even think such a thing, Kapia. I will never give up on you. I asked because dancing is a good way to strengthen your muscles.”
“Strengthen my muscles?” Kapia asked.
“I think part of your problem is that you lack strength,” Karma said smoothly. “Therefore, in addition to your daily staff lessons, I will also begin giving you special exercises to do to strengthen your body. You will need to do them every day. Agreed?”
“Karma, do you really think that will help?” Kapia asked, unable to hide her hope or her worry.
“Of course I do, or I would not have said it,” Karma replied.
“I will do whatever you ask me to do,” Kapia promised. “I will work as hard as I can, every single day.”
“I have no doubt that you will,” Karma said, giving Kapia a quick, spontaneous hug.
“Excuse me, Lady Techu,” Lashi said with a bow. “Hara Marene is requesting a moment of your time.”
Karma’s brows rose in surprise. Marene was the last person she expected to see. She glanced at Kapia who shrugged, her expression reflecting her own surprise.
“Show her in please, Lashi,” Karma said.
>
A moment later Marene stepped into the room, dressed much as she usually was, with too much beading and too much jewelry. The woman did enjoy wearing her wealth for all to see.
She bowed politely, her expression a thin mask of serenity. “Greetings, Princess Kapia, Lady Techu,” she said politely, though the slight twist of her mouth as she spoke spoiled the effect.
“Greetings, Hara Marene,” Karma replied with a brief nod. “What an unexpected surprise. Is there something wrong?”
Marene’s eyes narrowed slightly, and Karma bit back a smile. Her own background and training indicated that she welcome Marene as a guest, and offer her a seat and refreshment before inquiring as to the purpose of the visit. She’d realized over the past couple of days that the culture here was very much like the one she grew up in, so she assumed the protocols were similar in this instance as well. Marene’s reaction indicated that her assumption was correct.
But, as Marene had not been invited, and since she had made it abundantly clear that she disliked Karma intensely, Karma saw no reason to observe proprieties that she had long ago abandoned. On the other hand, she decided with a mental sigh, there was no reason to deliberately antagonize the woman.
“I apologize for not offering you refreshment,” she said, “but I have an appointment with King Rhobar and must leave in a moment.”
“In that case, I will not keep you long,” Marene said. She turned to Kapia.
“I wish to speak with you and Prince Zakiel on a matter of some importance. I ask that the two of you join me for the evening meal in my quarters. The usual time will suffice. Please do not be late.”
“Unfortunately, Hara Marene,” Kapia replied, surprising Marene who was already shifting her gaze back to Karma. “I already have plans for this evening. I thank you for the invitation though.”
“Very well, your presence is not really needed,” Marene said shortly. “I’m sure Prince Zakiel will not object to sharing a meal with me alone. You will accompany him first, of course, then you may leave.”
“Actually, my plans for the evening are with my brother,” Kapia said, meeting Marene’s eyes without flinching for the first time in her life.
Marene’s eyes narrowed briefly before she caught herself and stretched her lips into a smile. “Tomorrow night then,” she said. “I will be sure that my cook prepares his favorite dishes. I will see both of you then.” She turned her attention to Karma with a determined expression of dismissal.
“I will not accept an invitation on my brother’s behalf, Hara Marene,” Kapia said firmly, surprising herself with her boldness. Marene had manipulated her in this way so many times in the past, but now, for the first time, she dared to speak against it. “If you wish to invite Zakiel, you must do it yourself. As for myself, I will be unable to join you, though I thank you for the kind invitation.”
“You know perfectly well that I cannot invite him to my quarters myself,” Marene replied irritably, forgetting herself entirely. “You must do it for me, and pretend you plan to stay. Must I explain everything to you? Whatever plans you have can wait until you are no longer needed.”
Kapia tilted her head slightly and raised a brow, mimicking an expression she had seen Karma use. Marene flushed angrily, but she bowed her head. Karma raised one hand to her mouth and cleared her throat.
“I apologize, Highness,” Marene said, ignoring Karma. “It’s very important that I speak with Prince Zakiel before your departure, and time is running short. I suppose the stress of the situation is getting to me.”
Marene’s fingers itched to slap the girl but she realized that would be a mistake, even if Lady Techu had not been present. Princess Kapia was no longer the shy, withdrawn little snippet she’d always been. She wasn’t sure what had happened to change her over the past few days, but she sensed that if she were to raise her hand to Kapia now, she would not accept it in silence as she always had. She glanced at Karma, suddenly sure it was her influence that had caused the change in Kapia.
Silence fell while Marene struggled to get control of her temper. Karma had just opened her mouth to speak when Marene quickly interrupted. “If you do not mind, Princess Kapia, I would like a few moments alone with Lady Techu.”
Kapia turned to Karma, who lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Go ahead, Kapia,” she said, infuriating Marene with her use of the Princess’s given name. “I must leave in a moment anyway. I will meet you before dinner, if you like.”
“Yes, I would like that,” Kapia said with a smile. She tossed Marene a cool glance, then left the two women alone.
Marene relaxed slightly when the door closed behind Kapia. It would not do for the Princess to hear what she was about to say.
Karma waited for Marene to say whatever it was she had on her mind. After a moment, she realized that the other woman was waiting for her to ask first. She smiled and shrugged again before turning away.
“I will be late for my meeting with King Rhobar,” she said, heading for the balcony where Nikura was sleeping. She would not give Marene the satisfaction of asking what she wanted.
Marene wanted to growl with frustration. She would have to speak first or lose this chance altogether. “I wish to speak to you about Princess Kapia,” Marene said finally. Karma stopped half way to the balcony and turned to face her, her expression giving away nothing of her feelings.
“I know that as an off-worlder you are unfamiliar with our customs, but nevertheless, it is very important for your own sake that you understand a few things.”
Marene waited for Karma to say something, but the other woman remained silent. “The rules governing the behavior of men and women are very precise,” Marene continued. “Your status as Lady Techu will not protect you should you violate them.”
Karma sighed heavily and crossed her arms before her as though bored. Which she was.
“I see that you have little interest in what I am attempting to share with you, so I will come to the main point,” Marene said through gritted teeth.
Karma smiled.
“Princess Kapia is soon to be my sister,” Marene said. After delivering that announcement, Marene studied Karma very carefully, but she saw no reaction whatsoever. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not, which was irritating. “Therefore I take great interest in her, her behavior, and in her reputation,” she continued. “It cannot be allowed to be tarnished in any way. For her to go on this journey without proper guardianship is a mistake which could have devastating consequences to her future.”
“Why are you discussing this with me?” Karma asked, though she knew the answer to that perfectly well. Obviously Marene was warning her away from Zakiel. As if. She considered assuring the woman that she had no designs on the Prince, but decided not to since that was obviously what Marene was fishing for. Instead, she said, “You should be taking this up with King Rhobar.”
“I intend to,” Marene replied, omitting the fact that she had already discussed it with King Rhobar. “However, since you will accompany the men on this journey, I thought I would attempt to appeal to your sense of decency.”
“My sense of decency?” Karma asked with more than a little amusement. She shook her head. “Marene, let’s be clear. I have nothing to do with the decisions as to who goes on this journey, and who does not. Also, Kapia’s guardianship, or lack thereof, is most certainly not my business, therefore, I will not engage in a discussion about it.”
Marene’s face turned bright red, a most unbecoming color for her, Karma thought.
“Now,” Karma continued, “if you will excuse me, I really must not keep King Rhobar waiting any longer.” Karma turned and walked out to the balcony to wake Nikura, leaving Marene standing in the middle of the room. When she returned Marene was gone, much to her relief.
“Let’s go, Nikura. As much as I enjoy making Marene angry, I do not want to do the same with King Rhobar.
“You are most wise, Lady Techu,” Nikura said.
Karma snorted in a very unladylike
manner as she opened the door and led the way out into the hall.
***
Marene hurried away from Lady Techu’s quarters, too angry to keep to her usual indolent pace. First King Rhobar had refused her request to accompany Kapia on the upcoming Orb Quest, then Kapia had refused to assist her in meeting with Zakiel, and then Lady Techu had...had...well, she wasn’t exactly sure what sin to lay at her feet. She knew only that since the off-worlder’s arrival, things had not been going her way. This entire journey was simply ridiculous! She hadn’t even been told about it until that very morning and they were leaving in less than two days. She didn’t have time to do anything other than try to get herself included as Kapia’s companion. It was her only option, and so far, she was hitting dead ends at every turn.
She had to be included on this quest. Not that she cared about the search for the orbs. She knew there was some importance to it, but that mattered very little to her. No, what was truly important was the expression on Prince Zakiel’s face whenever he looked at the off-worlder. She’d known him her entire life and never had she seen such a disgusting display of infatuation on the face of a grown man. For an off-worlder, no less!
From all she could tell, the off-worlder had no interest in Zakiel at all, which was a relief of sorts. Nevertheless, she could not allow the two of them to go traipsing across the country on their own. She had too much at stake to allow her plans to be so easily endangered. But what was she to do? King Rhobar had refused her, and Kapia was proving to be more useless than usual.
She simply had to talk to Zakiel. Now more than ever. Since no one would help her, she was going to have to side-step the usual channels. She would go directly to Zakiel herself. She would explain to him that Princess Kapia’s reputation must be protected at all costs, and he would forgive her breach of propriety when he understood her concern for his sister. He would believe that she had done it for the most selfless of motives.
Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira Page 9
