Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira

by Laura Jo Phillips

  “You haven’t said anything about my egora,” Zakiel said, his voice giving no hint of his feelings.

  Karma glanced at him in surprise, looked down at his egora, then back at his face. She saw the tension in the set of his shoulders, the tightening of his jaw.

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand,” she said. “Is there something I should have noticed?”

  Zakiel turned to her with a frown, then, as understanding hit, he smiled. “Actually, yes, but I see that I was assuming you know bead sign, which of course you do not.”

  “No, I don’t,” Karma said. “You wanna fill me in?”

  Zakiel shook his head. One day he was going to have to ask her the precise meaning of that particular phrase. He’d heard it enough to understand that she wanted more information, though, and that was more important at the moment.

  “The gold bead is now in the engaged position,” he said.

  Karma smiled, then thought about the curious glances she’d gotten that morning from some of the Hunters and blushed to the roots of her hair. Zakiel’s expression turned wary, so she knew she had to explain herself or risk another misunderstanding between them.

  “I noticed a few strange looks and smiles this morning,” she said. “I thought they were because of how long I stayed in your tent last night.”

  “Did anyone say or do anything inappropriate?” Zakiel demanded.

  “No, not at all,” she replied. “Now that I know the real reason, I wonder that I thought what I did since the smiles were friendly, not insulting.”

  Zakiel relaxed and glanced down at the bead. “When we are married the gold bead will take its place in the center, indicating that you are the center of my existence.”

  Karma smiled happily as she studied the current position of the bead on his egora. She really needed to learn more about egoras and bead sign.

  “Did you speak with Kapia this morning?” Zakiel asked.

  “I told her that our differences had been resolved, and that I’d been wrong in my assumptions,” Karma replied. “She was pleased, to put it mildly.”

  “You didn’t tell her we were to wed?” Zakiel asked.

  “I didn’t know if it was something you wanted others to know,” Karma said, turning her face away.

  Three more white haired warriors stepped from the bushes and they stopped again. A few moments later the men faded back into the bushes and Zakiel turned to Karma.

  “I do not regret our engagement, valia,” he said softly. “Nor will I ever change my mind.”

  Karma nodded, blinking hard to keep the threat of tears at bay. He’d read her correctly, but she didn’t want to talk about her own vulnerabilities.

  “Would you like to tell her, or would you prefer that I do it?” Zakiel asked.

  Karma laughed softly, the husky sound sending shivers down Zakiel’s spine. He wondered if he would always react that way, and found himself smiling. He certainly hoped so.

  “Now that I think back on it, I really got a LOT of smiles this morning,” she said. “I have a feeling that by now Kapia already knows.”

  “Good,” Zakiel said. “I want everyone to know how much I love you, and what you mean to me.”

  “I love you as well, Zakiel,” Karma said.

  “If this gets any more disgusting I may be forced to do something drastic,” Nikura said.

  Karma turned in the saddle and glanced at the Sphin sitting behind her. “Such as?” she asked.

  “Such as begin yowling in an effort to drown the two of you out, thereby terrifying the Chya into hiding and ruining our chances of convincing them to assist us.”

  “Oh,” Karma said. “I thought you had something much more drastic in mind.” She turned back around and silently counted to herself. She reached four before Nikura’s curiosity got the best of him.

  “Like what?” he asked grumpily.

  “I thought you might actually hop down and walk on your own four paws instead of sitting behind me eavesdropping on our private conversation,” she said lightly.

  “I considered it,” Nikura replied after a few moments. “The truth is that I have a hairball and needed something stomach-turning to help bring it up.”

  Karma grinned, struggling to stifle her laugh. She didn’t want to encourage the Sphin, but she had grown to enjoy his sarcastic wit a great deal. It was a lot like her own.

  They were stopped twice more before reaching the edge of the village. As soon as they stepped out of the trees, they were confronted by a large group of warriors headed by one woman. The woman’s face was painted white with bright yellow markings on her forehead and cheeks, but otherwise she looked much like the males of her kind.

  “To hold the Ti-Ank is not to hold the power,” the woman said, her dark green eyes meeting Karma’s without blinking.

  Karma deliberately rolled her eyes and sighed. Why did everyone require proof? At least she’d practiced controlling the energy enough that this wouldn’t exhaust her. It probably wouldn’t even tire her very much.

  She sent energy into the Ti-Ank, relieved when Cadusar Zabeth appeared a few moments later just a few feet away from the woman with the white face. She sent the power from the Ti-Ank to Zabeth so that everyone could see her as she did.

  Cadusar Zabeth was easily the oldest looking being Karma had ever seen. Her face was a mass of lines and wrinkles, her pale brown eyes so bright they seemed to glow. Her hair hung nearly to her feet, a waterfall of white that floated around her stooped body. As old and bent as she was it seemed strange that she exuded so much power.

  As soon as she was fully visible to everyone, the white faced woman and all of the warriors gasped in astonishment, then fell to their knees and lowered their foreheads to the ground. Zabeth gestured for them to rise, which they did only when the white faced woman told them to.

  “This is Techu,” Zabeth said, “Speaker for the dead, she whose coming has been foretold since the trials of our people began. She carries the Ti-Ank by right of birth, and calls me, Zabeth, ancient Cadusar of the Chya, to command you.

  “Techu and her mate, the mighty Vatra, lead their people on the Orb Quest. Welcome them as honored guests, give them food, wine, and shelter. When the chariot of the sun next begins its journey across the heavens, you will carry them across the Wide of Savu.”

  The woman with the painted face gasped aloud as she stared at Zabeth, her head shaking in denial.

  “Speak, Cadusar Rosia,” Zabeth said, her voice not unkind.

  “Sobek has grown in might and temper these many years, Honored One,” Rosia said. “To risk the center of his lair with Techu is to risk all of Rathira. It would be safer to take her around Savu, and avoid the Wide.”

  “Safer, perhaps, but there is not time enough for such a journey,” Zabeth replied. “Techu and Vatra must brave the Wide. Their strength together shall aid them.”

  “They will kill Sobek?” Rosia asked in shock.

  “No,” Zabeth replied, turning her glowing green eyes to Karma. “The people must not be deprived of Sobek.”

  Karma nodded imperceptibly to Zabeth, understanding the warning. Somehow, she was supposed to subdue a beast without killing it, so that they could cross the sea to the other side safely. If her memory was correct, and this Sobek was anything like the Ancient Egyptian god of the same name, she had her work cut out for her.

  “Nikura, do you know what sort of creature this Sobek is?” she asked silently.

  “I have an idea,” Nikura replied. “I will share it with you later.”

  “So commands Cadusar Zabeth, most Honored One of the Chya, so shall it be done,” Rosia intoned.

  Zabeth raised her arms into the air and bowed her head. She held that position until Karma, understanding the need for drama, allowed the glow to fade slowly until, finally, it went out and the image of Zabeth was gone.

  Rosia turned to Karma and held her arms out wide. “Lady Techu, Mighty Vatra, be welcomed to the home of the Chya,” she said. “Call forth your peo
ple and together we shall celebrate the future of Rathira, the world we share.”

  “Thank you, Cadusar Rosia,” Karma said with a nod. “We shall return shortly.”

  Rosia and all of the warriors bowed solemnly, then she and Zakiel turned their mounts and rode back the way they had come. When they reached the caravan, Nikura leapt from his place behind Karma and sauntered over to his own mount.

  “How did it go?” Bredon asked as he rode forward to meet them.

  “Quite well,” Zakiel asked. “We are to be accepted as honored guests of the village tonight, and tomorrow they will take us across the sea.”

  “That simple?” Bredon asked doubtfully.

  “Yes, and no,” Zakiel replied. “I will explain later. For now, pass the word to move in five minutes.”

  As soon as Kapia saw Karma she urged her diplo into a trot and hurried toward her. “How come you didn’t tell me?” she demanded, though her bright eyes and happy smile told Karma she wasn’t truly upset. “I’m so excited that you are going to be my sister!”

  Karma smiled as Kapia rattled on for a few moments, enjoying her excitement. When Kapia wound down a little Karma moved Dippy closer to her. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this morning, Kapia,” she said. “I wasn’t sure if Zakiel wanted to announce it yet.”

  Kapia frowned, not understanding that at all, but she shook her head. “His egora announced it for him,” she said. “Everyone knows now.”

  “Yes, he explained that to me,” Karma said. She glanced up, looking for Zakiel, and saw that he was still talking to Bredon.

  “Will you tell me what happened?” Kapia asked.

  “Of course,” she said. Karma quickly told her everything that had happened while they waited for Zakiel to give the order to walk on.

  “Come on Kapia,” she said when she was finished. “I want you to ride into the village at the front of the line, with us.”

  “Are you sure?” Kapia asked doubtfully. “Perhaps one of the knights should have that honor.”

  “I want you,” Karma said firmly. She turned to Nikura who was back on his diplo. “You too Nikura.” The Sphin dipped his head in a slow nod, and the three of them rode forward to where Zakiel awaited them.

  “I want Kapia to ride with us,” she said to Zakiel, forestalling his question. “I want to establish her importance to us. There appears to be an overabundance of males in the village, and I want to make it clear that Kapia is of high rank, and is not to be addressed by them.”

  “Of course, you are correct,” Zakiel said. “I thank you for thinking of it as I had not, and should have.”

  Zakiel gave the signal, and the caravan made its way through the trees and into the village. Cadusar Rosia welcomed them again, and invited them to a special feast in their honor that evening at sunset. An empty field beside the village was offered as a place to set up their tents, and the servants were shown the path to a fresh water creek nearby.

  While everyone bustled around, Karma watched the villagers watch them. At first she’d been concerned that they were hostile, but before long she realized they were simply shy. She wanted to break through their shyness, but she didn’t know how.

  “I suppose we must again forego our sparring this evening,” Kapia said, trying to hide her disappointment. She could not help worrying that, without practice, she would lose the progress she’d worked so hard to achieve.

  Karma turned to her and smiled brightly. “As a matter of fact, I think sparring is exactly what we need to do.”

  She looked around and spotted Zakiel not too far away and headed toward him. When he saw her and Kapia coming, he dismissed the man he was speaking to and hurried to meet them.

  “What are you up to?” Zakiel asked, recognizing the smile on her face.

  “I have an idea that may help break the ice,” Karma said.

  “Break the ice?” Zakiel asked in confusion. He did not need to look around to know that there was no ice within hundreds of miles of their current location. The heat and humidity were proof enough.

  “To break the clear, but cool wall between our people, and our hosts,” she explained.

  “Ah yes,” Zakiel said, understanding. He had noticed the nervousness of the villagers as well. “Our own people are wary as well. Though the Chya have shown no sign of aggression, the power of those rumors still has effect. What is your idea?”

  Zakiel frowned uncertainly as Karma explained. “Do you really think it will work?”

  “Yes, I do,” Karma said. “Let Sir Bredon and Sir Garundel know that we will be sparring, and ask them to spread the word. I think it would be entertaining if you and I spar as well, if you agree. If so, ask them to place a bet between them, loudly enough for everyone else to hear. That should encourage the usual behavior.”

  “Yes, Lady Techu, I begin to see your point,” he said with a grin.

  “Come along, Kapia,” Karma said after Zakiel left to do his part. She turned around and led the way deeper into the village. It didn’t take long for her to find Cadusar Rosia’s dwelling since the woman stepped out of it as she approached, having been warned ahead of time.

  Karma smiled at Rosia and nodded respectfully, while Kapia curtseyed. Rosia returned Karma’s nod with a bow, acknowledging the Techu’s rank.

  “Cadusar Rosia,” Karma said, “you and the Chya have been most kind to us, and your generosity boundless. I would ask, however, for a favor, if you do not mind.”

  “If I am able to grant it, Techu, I shall,” Rosia said warily. They could not risk offending the Techu, but who knew what these strangers might ask of them?

  “I have been teaching Princess Kapia the use of a weapon we call a staff,” Karma said, gesturing toward the staff at Kapia’s belt. Kapia took the hint and quickly removed the staff and extended it to its full length, making it more recognizable as a weapon.

  Rosia’s eyes showed her surprise and interest. Techu was a warrior? A warrior with enough skill to teach the royal daughter? That boded well.

  “Each day at this time, we practice,” Karma continued, noting Rosia’s interest with satisfaction. “Princess Kapia’s skill has increased such that many of the warriors that accompany us enjoy watching and placing friendly wagers. Occasionally, Prince Zakiel and I spar too, and it can be somewhat boisterous. We ask only for a place to practice so that we will not disturb your people.”

  Rosia caught the gleam in Techu’s eye and grinned in perfect understanding. “If Techu would not mind, I believe that many of the Chya would also enjoy such sport,” she said.

  “Excellent,” Karma replied, returning Rosia’s grin.

  The women spent a few minutes in rapid discussion and the plans were set. Before long, almost everyone in the caravan and the village both were gathered around a large circle that had been drawn in the sand on a wide stretch of beach.

  Karma removed the ankh from the head of her staff and put it in her pocket, then stepped into the center of the ring with Kapia.

  “I’m nervous with so many people watching,” Kapia said in a low voice.

  “Focus on me,” Karma said. “Forget everyone else. This is simply one of our afternoon practice sessions.”

  Kapia nodded, and stepped back, though Karma saw the worry in her eyes. She smiled, then bowed to her opponent. Kapia bowed as well, and took up a defensive stance. Karma attacked at once, wanting Kapia’s attention on her staff, not the audience.

  Kapia blocked the attack with one end of her staff, swinging the other end up in a strike of her own. Karma blocked and sidestepped, forcing Kapia to shift with her or leave herself open. Karma smiled, pleased with Kapia’s natural ability to flow back and forth across the sand, without a trace of her old wooden stiffness.

  Karma gave Kapia a good work-out, moving around the entire circle as she attacked and parried in an effort to cover all that she had taught the Princess. She also threw in a few new moves, just to see how Kapia would respond to them. She was very pleased with Kapia’s growing skill, and was
satisfied that she would give a good accounting of herself in battle.

  When she saw Kapia begin to tire she guided them back to the center of the ring before calling a halt. They bowed to each other, Kapia fighting to hide how happy she was with her own performance. The roar of approval from those watching outside the ring brought smiles to both of their faces.

  “You did extremely well, Kapia,” Karma said, wrapping her in a spontaneous hug. “I am so very proud of you.”

  “Thank you so much, Karma,” Kapia said, blushing at the praise.

  “Sister, you do our Blood proud,” Zakiel said, speaking loud enough for all to hear as he walked toward them. Kapia blushed as she pressed her palms together and bowed deeply.

  “Thank you, Brother,” she said. “You honor me with such kind words.”

  “I believe it’s my turn,” Zakiel said, winking at Kapia. She offered him her staff, gave him a quick grin and hurried out of the ring.

  “Do not expect me to go easy on you,” he said to Karma.

  “Nor I on you, Highness,” she replied.

  As they moved apart, bowed to each other, and prepared to spar, they both heard the shouts of bets being offered and taken around the ring. Karma arched a brow at Zakiel, who smiled back before attacking without warning.

  When Karma sparred with Kapia she moved slowly and deliberately, thinking of each move before she made it, and watching Kapia’s countermoves carefully so that she could guide and teach her. When she sparred with Zakiel, however, or anyone with skill, she allowed her mind to relax and unfocus so that her body could move without thought.

  During their journey across the Duat, she and Zakiel had sparred several times. Usually she won, though sometimes it was a draw. This time, however, Karma sensed something different from the first moment she raised her staff to block Zakiel’s strike.

  She knew that, while Zakiel would never be able to best her, she would never again be able to best him, either. It took only a moment to understand that the reason for the change was the Vatra. When she figured it out, she smiled. Finally, she could go all out against someone and not worry about embarrassing her opponent.