The ashes began to stir slightly, as though a light wind was teasing at them, though the air was still and hot. The ashes stirred faster, then faster still, until they were whirling in a circle. The faster they spun, the higher they rose until they were in the shape of a column the height of a man. The ashes began to glow with a golden light that came from within the center of the column. The light grew brighter and brighter until the Hunters had to close their eyes and turn their heads away. Bredon placed his hands over his eyes, trying to peek between his fingers, but the light was simply too bright. Finally he closed his eyes tightly, and still he saw the light through the flesh of his eyelids and his hands. When the light began to fade, he lowered his hands but kept his eyes closed, not quite ready to see whatever had happened.
“What’s going on here, Bredon?”
Bredon’s eyes flew open at the familiar voice, and he had to blink fast to stop the sudden sting of threatening tears. There, standing in place of the pile of ash was Zakiel.
“The Return of Vatra has come at last,” Bredon said, his voice hoarse with emotion. He stood up straight, pressed his palms together and bowed low. “Welcome back, Lord of Sky and Fire, Prince Zakiel, my friend.”
Zakiel stared at Bredon in silence, then raised his hands and saw the red and blue feather shaped markings of the Vatra running from the back of his hands up his arms to his shoulders. So, legend has become real, he thought. But how? He could not remember. He looked up at Bredon and opened his mouth to ask what had happened when he saw Karma lying on the ground.
Everything else flew from his mind as he raced forward, pushing between Bredon and Garundel to reach Karma. “What happened to her?” he demanded as he went to his knees in the sand beside her. He reached for her, lifting her into his arms and pulling her close to his chest. He realized at once that, though unconscious and frighteningly pale, she was warm and alive. It was enough to quell the panic that had risen so quickly when he’d seen her lying motionless in the sand.
He rose to his feet, cradling her carefully for fear she might be injured somehow that he couldn’t see. When he turned around his eyes fell on the remains of the Ken-No-Kel, and everything came back to him. The battle, Karma’s beam of burning light, the sharp spikes from the beast’s tail swinging toward her, his race to protect her and, finally, the sharp spikes slicing into his chest.
He shook his head. It didn’t matter. Not the battle. Not his resurrection. Not even the Return of Vatra, the Fire Bird, as astounding it was. All that mattered to him was Karma. He carried her past the silent Hunters, barely noticing them, to his diplo, then paused as he realized he couldn’t mount while holding her. He turned around, relieved to see that Bredon was just behind him.
“Will you hold her for me?” he asked.
“Highness, I would be honored to do so,” Bredon said. “But I think it would be best if we sent someone back for some clothing before we return.”
“Clothing?” Zakiel asked. He looked down at himself, nonplussed when we realized that he was completely naked. Not even his bracers or egora remained.
“Very well,” he said. “Please send someone to fetch Timon for me.”
Bredon nodded and turned away, leaving Zakiel with Karma. He didn’t bother to suggest that he set Lady Techu down. He knew that would not be a welcome suggestion.
Zakiel stood beside his diplo, Karma clutched tight against his chest, his eyes on her face as he waited. He had a vague recollection of Karma leaning over him as he lay in the sand, her hands warm against his cooling flesh. He remembered feeling himself begin to float up and away, but her heartbreaking cries, her soul-wrenching grief, held him back, pulled him toward her.
How could he leave her? He had only just found her. Was only beginning to know her. And she needed him. His people needed him. Rathira needed him. He could not leave them. Could not leave her.
His gaze remained fixed on Karma’s face until, several minutes later, he heard the sound of approaching diplos. He looked, relieved to see Timon accompanying Jenz. He was not embarrassed to be unclothed before his Hunters, but to appear before Karma or Kapia in such a state would be a grave insult to them.
Timon shook out a new set of riding leathers while he passed Karma carefully into Bredon’s arms. Then he dressed hurriedly in boots, pants and vest.
“Timon, I will need a new egora,” he said as he slipped a pair of gold trimmed leather bracers over his forearms. He picked up the sword belt and buckled it on, then checked the new set of swords before slipping them into their sheaths.
“Yes, Highness,” Timon said. “Unfortunately, I was unable to locate the box containing your spare egoras. I will make a new one. Shall I add new bead sign to it?”
Zakiel frowned at Timon in confusion. “New bead sign?”
Timon gestured toward Zakiel’s arms. “Ah,” Zakiel replied as he looked down at the blue and red markings. “No, Timon, not just yet.”
Zakiel called for the men to attend him, and in moments all of them, including Timon, were gathered around.
“We are all in the presence of what seems a miracle,” he began, choosing his words carefully. “It is a great relief that we will have the Vatra to aid us in the coming days.”
There was a low murmur of assent among the Hunters and he waited for it to quiet. “As exciting as this is, I believe it would be best to keep this news quiet, for now.”
The Hunters took a moment to consider his words. “You think we have a traitor among us?” Garundel asked.
“Perhaps,” Zakiel replied. “Whatever the reason, something warns me to keep this to ourselves for now.”
“We will of course abide by your request, Highness,” Bredon said. “Will we not?”
All of the Hunters voiced their agreement and bowed solemnly.
“Timon?” Zakiel asked, looking at his attendant. The man had served him for many years and he trusted him implicitly. But he could not demand a promise from his Hunters, and not ask the same of Timon.
“I promise, Highness, that no word shall pass my lips of this,” Timon said with a deep bow. “I shall prepare your egora without the Vatra sign, and have it ready before we break camp tomorrow morning.”
“Thank you, all of you,” Zakiel said. “We should return to the caravan now.”
The Hunters left to mount their diplos, and Zakiel turned to Bredon.
“Where is Kapia?” he asked, his arms out to receive Karma.
“She is safe,” Bredon replied. “Once you are mounted, I will hand Lady Techu to you.”
Zakiel nodded, took one quick look at Karma, then mounted his diplo. He saw that Dippy was standing patiently on the other side of his diplo, Nikura in the saddle and the Ti-Ank safe in the saddle loops. He realized he should have thought about the Ti-Ank sooner, and was glad that it was safe. He leaned down toward Bredon who handed Karma up to him. He settled her carefully across his lap, something inside of him relaxing now that he had her in his arms again. The Hunters surrounded him, but he waited for Bredon and Garundel to mount and ride up beside him and Nikura before setting out.
“Shall we return to the oasis and allow Lady Techu to rest for the day?” Bredon asked.
Zakiel sighed. He wanted to do that more than he wanted to do anything else. But he didn’t think it would be wise. He turned toward Nikura who rode Dippy on his other side, his eyes on Karma.
“Nikura, what do you say?” he asked. “Nod once for yes, we stay another day, twice for no, we continue on.”
Nikura looked at Zakiel for a moment, then shifted his gaze back to Karma. He folded his ears flat against his head to show his displeasure, and nodded his head twice.
“Yes, I know, I don’t like it either,” Zakiel said. “But we must do what we must.”
Nikura’s ears popped up and he nodded once, then crouched down on the saddle and returned to staring at Karma.
“We cannot waste another day,” Zakiel said to Bredon who had watched the entire exchange in mild surprise. “As much as we
would wish to allow Lady Techu a day of rest in her own bed, we dare not. She will have what rest she can take in my arms, instead. What are the damages from the harpies?”
“Nothing serious,” Bredon replied. “No casualties, no losses. They didn’t come close enough to do anything other than claim our attention. Everyone should be ready to move as soon as you give the order.”
“The harpies were a diversion of course,” Zakiel said. “Nikura warned Lady Techu of the Ken-No-Kel, which followed our tracks to the oasis.”
“I never thought to see a mountain demon here, in Isiben,” Bredon said with a grimace.
“Nor did I,” Zakiel replied. “The question is, how did it come to be here, and how did it know where to find us?”
“That is why you wish to keep the news of the Fire Bird quiet, isn’t it?” Bredon asked, keeping his voice low so that only Zakiel and Garundel could hear him.
Zakiel nodded curtly.
“In that case, my friend,” Bredon said, “you might wish to figure out how to make those markings fade before we reach the others.”
Zakiel looked down at his arms ruefully. He hadn’t thought of that. “Good idea, Bredon,” he said. “Unfortunately, I have no idea how that is to be done.”
“They are quite faded now from what they were, if that helps any,” Bredon said.
Zakiel thought about that for a moment. He closed his eyes and focused his mind, then pictured the markings on his arms and hands. Once he had a good image of himself with the red and blue markings, he concentrated on making them disappear, starting with one hand and working his way up his arm. When he was finished he opened his eyes and looked down.
“That worked very well,” Bredon said. “You need only make those on your face disappear.”
“I didn’t know I had them on my face,” Zakiel said. “Anywhere else?”
“Nowhere else that I can see,” Bredon replied, not mentioning that the markings had been on Zakiel’s legs since that part of his body was now covered.
A few moments later the markings were gone from Zakiel’s face, much to his relief. He asked Bredon to look him over carefully, and even moved Karma away from his chest to be sure there weren’t any there either. When he was satisfied that all of the markings were either gone or covered, he urged his diplo to a faster pace and they soon rejoined the caravan.
“Send a detail to ride down the line and be sure everyone is ready, then give the order to walk on,” Zakiel said.
Bredon bowed his head, then turned his diplo and trotted away to give the orders just as Kapia burst between the men guarding her and raced toward her brother. She stopped in her tracks at the sight of Karma lying limply in Zakiel’s arms, her face paling alarmingly.
“Is she...is she...please tell me, Brother, is she all right?” she stammered.
“She lives, Sister,” Zakiel said. “She expended all of her energy to defeat the Ken-No-Kel and needs rest.”
“Will we return to the oasis, then?” Kapia asked.
“No, we cannot risk it,” Zakiel said. “We must continue on.”
“But she needs rest,” Kapia argued, shocking Zakiel greatly. His little sister had never argued with him before. He found himself holding back a smile. He was proud of her for standing up for her friend.
“She does need rest,” Zakiel agreed. “I shall hold her as we travel.”
“Brother, what of Lady Techu’s honor?” Kapia asked, caught between fear of angering her brother, and worry for Karma.
“Do not worry, Sister,” Zakiel said. “You will ride beside us, and we will remain in full view of the Hunters at all times. I will guard her honor as best I can, but in the end, there is no other option.”
“Very well,” Kapia agreed, knowing that Zakiel was correct. She was pleased that he would allow her to ride beside them. That would help. What man would dishonor a woman in full view of his younger sister?
Bredon appeared with Goldy and lifted Kapia into the saddle before remounting his own diplo. “Shall we detour around the Ken-No-Kel or remain on the return trail?” he asked Zakiel.
Zakiel looked down at Karma, then to Kapia and smiled slightly. “Perhaps seeing the beast that Lady Techu risked her life to kill will silence any tongues which may dare to wag due to her current condition.”
“Excellent idea,” Bredon said. He raised one arm, signaling the caravan to walk on. Before they reached the mountain of flesh still sizzling on the sand, he sent a few Hunters back to spread the story of the battle Lady Techu and Prince Zakiel had waged against the beast. The sight of the Ken-No-Kel frightened Kapia, especially when she learned that Karma had been the one to destroy it.
“Are you certain that she will be all right?” Kapia asked.
“I hope so, Sister,” Zakiel said, gazing down at Karma’s face. “She must use her own energy to power the Ti-Ank, and I fear she depleted herself quite dangerously on our behalf.”
“Is there anything we can do to help her?” Kapia asked.
“Let her rest,” Zakiel said. “For now, that is all I know to do.”
Kapia nodded, then turned in her saddle and made a gesture. Lashi and Caral both urged their diplos forward at once, nimbly slipping between the Hunters surrounding the Prince, Princess, and Lady Techu.
When the women reined in beside her, Kapia saw the depth of Lashi’s fear for her mistress. “Lashi, do not worry, Lady Techu will be well,” Kapia said gently “We shall not allow otherwise.”
“Thank you, Highness,” Lashi said, tears in her eyes as she bowed as low as she could from the back of her diplo, grateful for Princess Kapia’s kind words. “What can I do to help her?”
“I think some damp cloths and cool water would be of use,” Kapia said.
“At once, Highness,” Lashi said, relieved to be able to do something. She had become quite fond of Lady Techu over the past few weeks. She opened one of the baskets she carried tied to her saddle and rummaged around.
“Caral, I need some lavol for Lady Techu’s face,” she said. Caral bowed as Lashi had, and reached into one of her own baskets.
A moment later Lashi held a bundle of damp cloths and a container of water, but didn’t know what to do next. The expression of distress on her face was obvious.
“What is the matter, Lashi?” Kapia asked.
“I apologize, Highness, but I cannot reach my Lady to tend to her,” Lashi said.
“I shall tend to her myself,” Kapia said reaching for the cloths, not even noticing Lashi’s shocked response. Once she had the cloths and the water container she urged Goldy closer to Zakiel.
Leaning over she was able to reach Karma’s face, which she dabbed at carefully with a damp cloth.
“Hand me one of those cloths, Sister,” Zakiel said.
Kapia handed him one, not surprised at all when he shook it out and began wiping Karma’s neck with slow, careful strokes. Together they cleansed the dust and sweat from her skin, neither of them noticing the strange looks they were getting from those around them. If they had noticed, they would not have cared.
Lashi handed a fresh cloth to Kapia at her request so that Zakiel could wash Karma’s hands, while Kapia applied the lavol to Karma’s face and neck so that she would not be burned by the sun. When she was finished, Zakiel took the little pot of cream and applied it to Karma’s arms and hands for good measure.
When they were finished with their ministrations, Kapia handed the cloths and water back to Lashi and thanked her. “When Lady Techu awakens, she will most likely be quite hungry and thirsty,” Kapia told her.
“I will have food and drink ready for her, Highness,” Lashi replied. Kapia nodded, and watched as Lashi and Caral returned to their places in the line. She turned back to Karma, but there was nothing more they could do for her now but wait.
***
Karma felt herself rocking back and forth, a gentle, swaying motion that she found soothing. Wondering why her warm, cozy, slightly more firm than usual bed was moving, she opened her eyes. The s
ight of Zakiel’s pale blue eyes staring down at her was the last thing she expected to see. She clamped her teeth together, refusing to allow herself to gasp aloud.
She couldn’t think of which question to ask first, so she simply raised a brow at him.
“I’m afraid that we could not stop for the day so that you could rest in your tent,” Zakiel said.
Karma frowned in confusion.
“Do you remember the Ken-No-Kel?” he asked.
Karma started to shake her head when it suddenly came to her. She nodded. “Yes, I do. Very big, very ugly, very loud, very bad smell? We fought it, didn’t we?”
“Yes, on all counts, Lady Techu,” Zakiel confirmed with a hint of a smile. “You used too much of your own energy though, and have been sleeping for hours. I was beginning to worry.”
“Hours?” Karma squeaked in worried surprise.
“Yes,” Zakiel replied. “I apologize for taking the liberty of holding you, but there really was no other choice. We could not afford to lose a day’s travel. You can be assured that we were carefully chaperoned the entire time, so there can be no question as to your honor.”
“Um...thank you,” Karma replied, though honor was the least of her concerns at the moment. It wasn’t that she didn’t care about her honor, it was just that other, more pressing questions topped her list. Had she snored? Had she drooled? Had she said anything too embarrassing in her sleep? She blushed at the thought.
“I would like to sit up now, please,” she said as she felt her face heat, hoping the Prince would assume her position in his lap was the cause.
Zakiel hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He eased her into a sitting position across his lap, holding her firmly in his arms as he felt her body start to tremble. “I think you should lay back down for a while,” he suggested, leaning to the side so he could see her face.
Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira Page 21
