by Pedro Urvi
“It looks like that,” Ingrid said. “They look tribal, though we’d better not be too confident till we know more about them. They might be dangerous.”
“They don’t look dangerous to me,” Viggo said.
“Don’t be a smartass and keep your eyes open. We don’t know what we’re up against.”
“Yeah, we’d better not trust them,” Nilsa agreed. “Although they are really unusual.”
“I think we’re looking at an unknown race,” Astrid said. “Or at least one that’s unknown in the north and west of Tremia.”
“I don’t think they know about them in the south either,” Ingrid said. “I have the feeling that they live on these islands and they’ve never been out of here.”
“They’re looking at us, but they’re not doing anything,” Nilsa wondered. “Doesn’t that seem odd?”
“They’re probably as surprised to see us as we are to see them,” said Astrid.
Ona growled. She did not like the new arrivals.
Easy, girl. Lasgol transmitted. We don’t know whether they’re hostile.
Not magic, Camu warned.
It’s better if they’re not. The situation’s already odd enough as it is. They look like warriors, or a watch patrol. As we still don’t know how they’re going to react, we’d better be prepared.
I prepared. Ona too.
The panther growled,
Good. Don’t do anything until we know what their intentions are. Let’s hope they don’t attack.
For a moment the group watched the inhabitants from the starboard gunwale without saying or doing anything. As the ship was leaning to one side and they were holding fast so as not to slide, the situation was picturesque in the extreme. The turquoise warriors, in return, were watching them intently.
Lasgol decided to warn Eicewald. “Sir, we have company!” he called.
The Mage and Captain Olsen looked toward the beach, where Lasgol was pointing. The look of surprise on Olsen’s face was like their own. But the Mage did not even flinch.
“I’ll take care of this,” Eicewald said to Olsen and the team. “Don’t show your weapons, or any aggressive attitude.”
Lasgol looked at Viggo, who was looking saintly, as if he would never dream of doing anything bad. Lasgol glared at him to make him behave.
“Shall we go with you?” he asked. He was concerned about the Mage’s fate.
“No, I’ll go alone. Wait on the ship.”
“And if they kill him …?” Viggo said.
“They’re not going to kill him,” Ingrid assured him. “He’s a very powerful Ice Mage.”
“I wouldn’t go near those turquoises with their tridents, just in case,” he said. It was clear from his face that he thought it might be dangerous.
Eicewald clambered down from the ship on to the rocks, not without some difficulty, then from there down on to the sand. Very slowly, he walked toward the natives.
Suddenly one of them took out a conch and blew on it hard. The call echoed throughout the island.
“Uh-oh,” Viggo muttered. “This doesn’t look good.”
“Yeah, it sounds like an alarm call,” Astrid agreed.
The Mage ignored the call. When he reached the natives, he showed them his hands to make it clear that he was unarmed. He was not even carrying his staff. The natives responded by threatening him with their tridents.
Eicewald showed them his pearl-guide. “I request an audience with the Turquoise Queen,” he said. Then he spoke in a strange language which they guessed was that of the natives.
Then from the jungle two other groups of natives appeared, to surround the Mage.
The situation was now very tense.
Chapter 24
The group watched from the ship, with their nerves on edge.
“This is turning ugly,” Nilsa asked restlessly. “Shall we pick up our bows?”
“Eicewald told us not to do anything,” Ingrid warned her.
“Yeah, but that lot don’t mean well.”
“Still … we’ll stay where we are.”
Gerd joined Nilsa in her plea, looking worried. “But they’re going to skewer him.”
“The Mage knows what he’s doing,” Astrid said firmly.
Mage use magic.
Did he cast a spell?
Yes, before.
“Don’t do anything,” Lasgol told them. “Eicewald used his magic before he went down. He must’ve protected himself.”
Eicewald repeated his words: “I request an audience with the Turquoise Queen.” And he said it in the language of the islands.
The natives stared at him and went on making aggressive gestures. One of them – apparently the oldest, since his hair showed white streaks amid the green, even though his age was not so obvious from his face – addressed the Mage. He pointed at the ship with his trident, then at the Mage himself. He did not seem to like the answers he was getting, because he was waving his weapon angrily, which made everyone even more nervous.
Eicewald pointed to the ship and gave various explanations in a voice which was serious, albeit neutral and calm. In the end the native seemed to grow calmer, and he signaled the others to lower their weapons.
“It looks as though things are calming down,” Ingrid said with relief.
“At least for the moment,” Nilsa said. She let out the tension she was feeling in a long snort.
“It could be a maneuver to make us relax,” Viggo pointed out.
“We’d better stay on the alert,” Astrid agreed.
Eicewald spoke for a while longer with the natives, and they let him leave. He came back to the ship and called Captain Olsen, Lasgol and the rest of the team. Meanwhile the natives vanished into the jungle, leaving the tropical beach deserted.
“We really are in the domains of the Turquoise Queen,” the mage confirmed. “This is one of the islands of the archipelago, but it’s not the main one, where Uragh lives. I’ve requested an audience with her.”
“Will she grant it?” Lasgol asked.
“Let’s hope so. Still, we ought to be ready for a negative answer.”
“What’ll happen if she refuses?” Olsen asked.
“I’m afraid they’ll attack us. As far as they’re concerned we’re invaders, and they’ll want to do away with us.”
“We can’t be invaders,” Olsen said. “We haven’t brought an army.”
“I explained that, and that we need the Great Queen Uragh’s help. It was hard to convince them. I told them that I already know their Queen and I have her permission. The fact that I speak their language seems to have persuaded them.”
“They didn’t know you?” Olsen asked.
The Mage shook his head. “I was on the main island, the biggest one, and that was many years ago. The natives are scattered across all the islands of the archipelago. I’ve never been to this particular one.”
“We ought to prepare ourselves for a refusal from the Queen,” Olsen suggested. “We might try to get away.”
“That isn’t a good alternative. Where would we go, Captain?” Eicewald waved at the surrounding sea and tropical vegetation. “We’ve no boats to escape by sea, and if we go into the jungle they’ll catch us by surprise. Here on board, thinking of the worst that could happen, at least we’ll see them coming and we’ll be able to confront them.”
Olsen had to admit that he was right. “Quite honestly, I belong on salt water. The jungle doesn’t attract me at all,”
“Rangers, draw your weapons and get ready, but don’t attack unless I give you the order,” Eicewald told them. “Captain, tell the sailors to arm themselves too, but discreetly.”
“Right.” The captain turned to the team. “Take up your positions.”
The six found positions where they could get a good view of the beach, which was the only way to reach the ship, since the rocks where they had come aground were inaccessible from inland. They waited with bows at the ready, in silence. The sun was beginning to be a problem by now. It
was really scorching, and had already burnt a part of Gerd’s arm which he had not covered properly. The Norghanians’ skins, so white and unaccustomed to the sun, were a great weakness in that tropical climate.
At mid-afternoon the natives came back, and the waiting was over.
“Here they are,” Ingrid warned them. “Stay alert.”
“Weapons at the ready,” Astrid said.
A dozen natives appeared on the white sand of the beach, making their way toward the ship.
“Well, there’s only a dozen of them,” Viggo commented. “That’s not too bad …”
Gerd snorted. “Thank goodness …”
The natives walked nonchalantly over to the ship. Eicewald and Olsen waited on the side which gave access to the rocks.
Nilsa pointed toward the sea. “It looks like more than a dozen to me.”
Following the beach in the direction of the ship, twenty or so canoes with several natives in each were approaching. They were long and narrow, unusual because they had something like a guide-arm joined to one side of the boat.
“Jinx!” Ingrid said to Viggo.
“There still aren’t so many,” he said defensively.
“In all, more than a hundred,” said Lasgol, who had counted them.
“What are a hundred savage warriors from a bunch of tropical islands beside the Snow Panthers? I won’t even break into a sweat if they attack.”
“What d’you mean, you dumbass, you’re already sweating!”
He smiled at her. “Well, that’s because of this scorching sun, not from the effort.”
“Pah! Shut up and pay attention!”
As the leading canoe approached their ship, a man stood up in it. There was no doubt that he was old. His hair was completely white, but it was a very strange greenish-white. His face was marked by wrinkles which ran from side to side, like long lines. His clothing too was unusual. He wore something like a tunic, but made of long, braided strands of seaweed of different colors, which fell from his shoulders to the ground. In one hand he carried a staff decorated with corals of different, intense, colors, which seemed to have been treated somehow in order to make them into adornments. He began to speak, with a powerful voice. Eicewald went to the point on the gunwale which was closest to his canoe.
“Arrain, Shaman of Life and Sea,” he greeted him. “My friend, my brother, it gladdens my heart to see you again.”
The native switched languages and went on in Norghanian. “Eicewald, Mage of the Ice, my heart rejoices to see an old friend.”
“I see you are as young and healthy as always.”
“As a Shaman of Life, if I were unable to keep myself young and healthy, little use would I be to my people.”
“Very true,” Eicewald said, and bowed respectfully to the old man.
“I had not expected to see you again in this life.”
“Neither had I, but life takes these unexpected turns and leads us into situations that are unforeseen. And nor was I expecting you to be the one sent to welcome us.”
“The warriors mentioned a man with power who spoke our language. I had to come in person to see who it was. Besides … if it is someone with power, it is my duty to help my warriors with my own.”
“It could not be otherwise.”
“Although as you well know, my power is more aligned with the magic of life than with that of destruction.”
“True, but despite that, if you had to use your power for death, I’m sure you’d be able to.”
“Let us hope this meeting doesn’t lead to that.”
“It would be a great pity. The last thing I want is a confrontation with the Turquoise People, and especially not with you, my old friend.”
Lasgol was not liking the tone of the conversation very much. At first it had seemed that they were old friends, but now it was clear that this was not entirely the case. They respected each other, true, but they did not seem to be altogether friends. This awoke many doubts in him. If Eicewald had been to the islands years before and knew the Shaman, why was the situation so tense? Why such a cool welcome? Beside him, Astrid looked at him questioningly. Lasgol gave a small shrug and gestured to her to stay alert. A little further to the right, Viggo glanced at both of them, and in his eyes Lasgol saw the same doubts.
“You should not have returned to the turquoise realm.”
“It wasn’t of my own free will, that I can assure you. I had no choice.”
“You are taking a great risk, one which will very probably cost you your life. You know this as well as I do.”
“I knew the risk, and even so, I’ve come. I’ll accept whatever must be.”
“The Turquoise Queen will dictate your fate: yours and that of your people. As it should be.” He pointed his coral-covered staff at the ship.
“I don’t like this,” Astrid whispered to Lasgol. “The Mage was supposed to lead us to the Queen and make things easier for us, not the opposite.”
“I don’t think Eicewald has told us all the truth about what happened to him in these islands.”
Viggo bent and whispered into Ingrid’s ear: “The Queen’s going to ask for the Mage’s head. There’s something strange going on here. It’d be better if we attacked first. We’d stand more chance that way.”
“I’m with you in that something fishy’s going on here and that Eicewald isn’t very welcome, but they still haven’t attacked us or done anything suspicious. We’re not going to attack them without provocation.”
“By the time they provoke us it’ll be too late. We’ll be in the thick of it. It’d be better to start it ourselves. Nilsa can hit that Shaman easily from this distance.”
“No, nobody’s going to release unless Eicewald orders it, or unless they attack us. Stay put and don’t make trouble.”
Viggo sighed. “Someday you’ll do as I say, and we’ll all be better off.”
“For the moment we’re doing pretty well without needing to listen to you,” Ingrid replied with a touch of irony.
Eicewald spoke calmly. “I know you’re not seeking to put an end to me here today, are you, my old friend?”
“That depends very much on you and your people.”
“I can assure you we have no hostile intentions. You know I value your people greatly.”
“That’s true, but the value might be overridden by reasons, or feelings, that are more important. You haven’t told me why you’ve come back to these islands.” The Shaman raised one bushy greenish-white eyebrow skeptically. “What is the reason for this surprising visit?”
“I need something. It’s very important.”
“The powerful Norghanian Ice Mage needs something from our uncivilized people?”
“That’s so,” Eicewald admitted with a look of resignation. “Not even the most powerful magi or the strongest kingdoms always have the weapons to solve all problems.”
The Shaman gave a slight smile, and his eyes shone as if he were enjoying a small victory.
“The Turquoise People have this weapon you seek?”
“Yes, Arrain, your people have it.”
“Then it must be a weapon of power.”
“So it is.”
“What do you need it for?”
“To save my people.”
The reply took the Shaman aback. He studied Eicewald for a long moment.
“The great and powerful realm of Norghana is in danger, and its Great Mage comes in search of help?”
Eicewald nodded. “That’s so. My King has sent me.”
“Now I understand your reasons, and I can understand better why you take the risk of coming back here. Your King will not accept your failure.”
“That’s right.”
“Knowing the benevolence of the monarchs of the North of Tremia, which is something you taught me yourself, failure will cost you your life.”
“Once again, you’re right.”
“So, you find yourself in a very complicated situation. Failure in Norghana means your death. Coming he
re practically means the same thing.”
“Here, I have a chance. There, I don’t. Will you take me to your Queen?”
The Shaman thought about this. “Have you brought any gift of great worth to present to her?”
“I brought it, but unfortunately the sea has taken it.”
“Our Mother the Sea Goddess is sometimes capricious.”
“And temperamental,” the Mage added.
“She is within her rights when man sets foot in her realm,” the Shaman recited, as if it were a dogma.
“Mother Sea took away our offerings and threw us on these rocks.”
“You were always a daring man, but this time I think you are going beyond what your luck allows you. To come back here and request an audience with the Queen without even having anything of value to offer her goes beyond what is sensible.”
“I know that, but I have no choice. Not now that I’ve come this far.”
Arrain studied the Mage, then Lasgol and the other Rangers.
“Very well. Let us see whether you have gone beyond the limits of your luck, my old friend and daring traveler. I will take you to the Queen, I will request an audience. I wish you luck. You are going to need it.”
“Thank you, old friend. I hope Mother Sea will grant it to me.”
The Shaman gave him a smile which was crooked and not in the least encouraging.
“May she protect you.”
Eicewald nodded. “If you don’t mind, I’ll bring a small escort with me. There are only half a dozen of them. They won’t cause any trouble.”
“Ice Magi? Too dangerous.”
“They’re not Ice Magi, they’re Rangers. Like your Island Trackers.”
The Shaman meditated his answer for a moment. “If they are not Magi, and they are Trackers … an escort for a Great Mage is acceptable. They can come with you, but I must warn you, you will be answerable for their actions with your life.”
“I understand. They won’t cause any trouble. They have my complete trust.”
Ingrid elbowed Viggo in the ribs. “You see, you numbskull?”
“Yes, my mermaid, I see.”
“What d’you mean, mermaid?”
