“I would ask you to be silent, unless you wish me to knock you in the head again,” said Aisha.
The old woman continued to argue from behind the gag but went abruptly silent as Aisha raised her heel.
Knowing they would need food and water on the journey once they escaped, Aisha took what supplies she could from the Rain Queen’s lodge to carry them to the prisoner’s hut.
She had only stepped away a few paces and she could hear the old woman growling against the gag. She went back inside and said, “Told you,” as she knocked the old woman unconscious.
Gathering up the supplies, she left them in the prisoner’s hut, saying, “We must be swift. I think the longer I wait, the more they will be roused and moving across the camp. Be ready, I have our weapons in the witch’s hut. I will go get the horses. I will shout and you will run from the hut and mount and we ride like all the devils are at our backsides.”
“Because they will be,” said Catlo.
Aisha grimaced and went to get the horses. This would be trickier. No one worried about the Rain Queen, or who they believed to be the Rain Queen, moving about the camp with supplies or even weapons, but they would wonder at her having the prisoner’s horses.
To help in the acquisition of both supplies and horses, she moved the weapons wrapped in a bundle closer to the horses, where she could mount them on a saddle bag once it was time to go. She carried them as casually as she could manage then left them near the rear of a hut where she could hear the men still snoring inside.
“Mother? Why do you pace all over the camp on a morning like this? Should you not be resting in your hut?” asked Chitunda, surprising her.
“Ah, Chitunda,” she answered without raising her head. “As this is one of my last days, I thought to stretch my legs and enjoy the world one more time. You will understand when you are aged,” she said, hoping she sounded enough like the Rain Queen.
Chitunda looked dubious but nodded and walked away.
Aisha then hurried and carried the bag of wrapped weapons to the horses. Glancing about, warriors milled all over the camp, but none paid her any attention yet. A bull was being slaughtered a short distance away, but the men were intent on their work, apparently preparing it for a feast later that evening.
She attached the saddles which had been left nearby, and then put Ole’s axe in the notch built for it. She placed her own boarding cutlass and knives in their scabbards and hung them with care on the saddle bags. Her own sword, she put on and hid beneath the robes of the Rain Queen, that way, no matter what, she was armed. Catlo’s rapier was sheathed upon his saddle, but she had never found Musa’s spear. He would simply have to get another once they escaped. His bow and quiver were still attached to his saddle, but there were no more arrows.
She led her horse and the others and began to slowly walk them toward the prisoner’s lodge. She stopped just short of the main clearing, so the animals would still be somewhat covered by the rows of huts, and hopefully most of the Umoja would not notice until the prisoners were already fleeing.
But Chitunda noticed.
“Mother? What are you doing?”
“Chitunda, can not an old woman admire a beast?” she answered, putting her left hand on the horse’s shoulder while secretly putting the other on her sword hilt, ready to slay him if necessary.
He drew closer, trying to get a better look at her face, which she kept low and hooded. “Who are you?” He grabbed at her forcefully, but Aisha knocked him back with her incredible strength while drawing the blade.
He saw his death in her yellow eyes.
She pressed the point close, hoping he would shut his mouth. “I can kill you or you can be silent. Which shall it be?”
Chitunda’s eyes darted back and forth, then he willfully accepted death by drawing his own robe open and baring his chest to accept her blade. “Umoja!” he shouted the alarm.
Aisha paused, admiring his courage. This was bad, the alarm was sounded, and they must flee, but she still didn’t want to kill this Chitunda who had been the only one wishing to speak with her when they believed she was the Rain Queen, so she knocked him on the head with the sword’s pommel and mounted her horse.
She rode to the prisoner’s hut, shouting, “To me!”
Ole, Catlo, Musa, and Diamanda rushed out. They mounted their horses as Umoja men woke from their slumber or jumped up from their busy work and rushed toward them. They moved like lions. They burst from their huts with weapons in hand and moved like ants—everyone knew their job and position.
Aisha led her folk to the right, but the way was quickly barred. She turned to the left, only to be met with a wall of spears and men.
They were surrounded by the Umoja warriors in an instant. There would be no escape without being wounded or more likely slain. The attempt was a failure.
The jingling of a bell broke their sudden standoff. The mule carrying Zahur’s corpse came striding by at a good clip. It brayed as it ran past the camp.
The Umoja looked to each other and laughed. The drumming thunder of hooves put an abrupt end to their laughter.
Down the valley, following in the wake of the mule, came the Kathulian cavalry. They charged en-masse with light gleaming upon their sabers and lances. The Umoja forgot their prisoners and moved to meet this greater threat.
“Come on!” shouted Aisha, urging them to break free of the few remaining Umoja and race after the mule.
One of the near Umoja warriors tried to stop them and was trampled by Ole’s horse. Another Umoja warrior knocked Catlo from the saddle, but the bandit got up swiftly with his saber and ran the man through. Diamanda then allowed him to climb on the saddle behind her and they chased after the others.
The sound of battle soared as the two opposing forces met, but the adventurers didn’t stop to look back. They raced on for freedom and the lure of treasure untold.
22. The Vault of Mirrors.
The next day, the sun glared at them for their continued trespass into the inhospitable land. The sky could not have been a brighter blue, and even the clouds fled away from diluting the brilliant feature in any way. There was the smell of sage near them but there was no breeze, just the hot and dry breath of the red land itself. The heat made dizzying waves dance on the horizon, and several times Aisha thought she saw the tall forms of trees, only to have them vanish as she approached. She wanted to believe the oasis was near but gauged from her knowledge of the map she knew it was still quite distant.
Zahur’s mule brayed at its discomfort.
“This is ridiculous,” murmured Catlo. “The corpse rides by himself, while two people share my tired horse.”
“It’s Nyo’s horse, you know,” said Aisha, purely to taunt him.
“We are dying, you know,” mocked Catlo, between his cracked lips. His words were soft and almost crushed and lost beneath the sound of the tired horse’s hooves as it clopped along the stony hillside.
Aisha frowned deeper if that were possible and shook her head at his complaints. “It should not be far now. As I already told you”
“That’s what you said an hour ago,” whined Diamanda.
“Three hours ago,” corrected Catlo.
“You’re more than welcome to go back the way we came and stop following me. I don’t need nor desire your piss-poor company,” Aisha said. If she had any saliva left she would have spit the words, but she was as bone dry as they were.
Looking out across the vast tablelands of sloping red rock, she wouldn’t have believed there was anything worthwhile out here either. Coming this way to escape both the Kathulians and Umoja flew in the face of everything common sense whispered, but she alone had read the map and committed it to memory. She alone knew the way to the secret places along the trail to gain entrance to the sacred mountain, the graveyard of dragons. So they all persisted and followed her on.
The hills of stone resembled nothing so much as steps in a giant’s rock garden. They continued up flat slopes that led only to ano
ther and another. It was strange that never any peak was visible, just another flat mesa one after another.
The horses started to act strangely, stamping and growing impatient.
“What’s the matter? Are they mad?” snarled Catlo, struggling to regain control of his mount.
“They smell the water.” Musa smiled in glee, despite also fighting against his rambunctious horse. “We are near the sacred waters!”
“Just up ahead, I think,” said Aisha.
“Are you sure?” asked Ole.
“I’m sure.” She led them up over another great step of rock. “Look there.”
She pointed at a purple peak in the hazy distance. Jokameno. It stood in stark relief. Jutting and sharp with a slightly flat top. Even from this great distance, they could see a faint crack running down the top to about a third of the way down. Smoke lifted lazily like a dark pillar from the peak and it was a wonder they had not noticed it before.
“Forget the mountain, look at this!” squealed Diamanda.
They all glanced to see what she had found.
At first Aisha thought Diamanda held an old buckler or shield. But as her eyes glanced over the peculiar ridges that made their way down the sides like a saw’s edge, it became clear.
“A dragon’s scale!” said Diamanda, with glee. The underside was almost black while the slightly curved outer side had a metallic blueish sheen that caught the light despite a hazy covering of dust.
“The legends are all true and this is proof!” Catlo took the scale from Diamanda’s hands.
“It’s mine!” she said petulantly, snatching it back from the bandit chief.
Catlo sneered. “Keep it. I want the whole thing and the gold besides!”
Diamanda clutched the thing to her breast like a suckling babe.
Ole, standing some steps away, said, “Take a look at that. More precious than gold right now.”
Below them was an incredible vista among the tumbling face of stone. A deep blue pool fed by a falling waterfall lay like a jewel. Clouds in the sky reflected on the pool’s surface. Small bits of green grew about the base as a small stream sped away through a curling serpentine canyon. The refreshing breeze gave a kiss of the moisture and coolness promised.
“I never thought I should see the Vault of Mirrors!” exclaimed Musa. “Thank you, Aisha.”
They struggled to find a way down, frustrated to see such a wonderful oasis when it was so difficult to traverse themselves and the horses down the cliffs.
It was dusk by the time they made it down and the clouds rolling in were splashed pink by the setting sun. Fire-like projections of light streaked extra color across the landscape. The majestic beauty nearly brought Aisha to tears.
The horses drank greedily from the edge of the pool and Ole let them. He dove into the water to refresh himself.
Musa drank deeply, then gathered the horses and tethered them together in the shade upon the grasses nearby.
Catlo and Diamanda stripped and dove into the cool waters. Aisha was more careful, leaving her clothing and weapons lodged in a rock where she could get to them quickly. She washed the dust from her body and throat. Ole swam back and forth across the pool nearby. It seemed the Northman could not get enough of being in his own element once again.
Aisha laid on her back on the shore of the pool and took in deep breaths, enjoying the moment. She felt so at peace, so comforted. She closed her eyes.
The movement of water caressing her breasts alerted her that someone moved beside her. “Kiss me, Ole,” she said.
Instead of the Northman’s lips, she felt taut fingers at her throat. She opened her eyes to the mad gaze and gritted teeth of Diamanda. She was trying to strangle her. While the shock might have been sudden and given the Princess of Irem a feeling of easy superiority and opportunity, Aisha was infinitely stronger. She tore Diamanda’s hands from her throat and kicked the Princess of Irem in the stomach.
Determined to kill her enemy, Diamanda set her teeth and launched herself back at Aisha, drawing a knife from her girdle. “I should have used this first! But I wanted the satisfaction of killing you with my bare hands. That was a mistake I won’t make again!”
Aisha shook her head fiercely, spat, and beckoned with her index finger. “Come on, then.”
Diamanda raised the blade and charged.
Aisha easily disarmed her. She had fought so many better fighters who knew what they were doing that she had lost track. Becoming captain of her own pirate ship, let alone being one of the crew, made this child’s play by comparison. She caught Diamanda’s wrist, snatched the knife, and kicked the princess into the pool. She thought to grasp her sword, but instead turned back and dove into the pool after the retreating princess.
Diamanda tried to swim away, but Aisha caught her ankle and yanked her down.
By now the tumult had caught the men’s attention.
“Ole! Stop her!” cried Catlo.
“Why?”
“Because I said so, that’s why!”
Ole shrugged. Musa grinned, enjoying the spectacle of the two women tumbling beneath the surface. Diamanda was frantic, while Aisha was just angry.
“Stop stalling and save Diamanda, Ole. I’m begging you. She is my chance at becoming nobility! Please.”
“Why don’t you jump in and do it?” responded the Northman.
“I can’t swim with this leg. You know that. Do it. Save her.”
“I don’t need to.” Ole sat on a boulder and let the water lap at his thighs.
Aisha brought Diamanda to the surface. The princess was unconscious at the very least.
“Is she alive?” asked Catlo worriedly.
“She is, but care to tell me why I shouldn’t end that?” snapped Aisha.
For once Catlo had no words.
“I’ll spare her life, this time. But if she tries anything on me again, I’ll snap her neck,” said Aisha. She dropped the princess in the water at Catlo’s feet. The sudden drowning sensation resurfaced and Diamanda choked, screamed and floundered, until she realized she was only in a foot of water. She glanced about angrily and saw Aisha across the other side of the pool.
Catlo pled with Ole, “Please, don’t let that happen again.”
“What can I do? Diamanda started it. She’s lucky Aisha wants to keep her alive, for now.”
“What do you mean ‘for now’?” snapped the princess. “Don’t talk like I’m not here. Like I can’t hear you. I am a Princess of Irem. My forefathers ruled the whole of the continent. We sailed the Iraythian sea upon ships of bronze and made the whole world bow to us!”
“We’ll you’re not shit, now are you?” snarled Aisha. “Just try and come at me again and you’ll get this knife edge for a necklace.”
Diamanda glared daggers. “Why did you spare me?”
“I want your father to know what a terrible brat he has. And if the Kathulian host comes at us again, I want to put you under the knife in front of them. No more of this merry hostage. Try anything and you’re meat.”
Diamanda gulped. “Another time,” she threatened.
“Why wait?” challenged Aisha.
Diamanda froze.
Aisha strode up and slapped her across the face, sending the princess reeling. “Do it now or be done,” shouted Aisha.
Diamanda, held her reddened face and stole away like a whipped dog.
23. Visions to Come
Later that night after they made camp and had a small fire going, Ole curled up next to Aisha and said, “I’m surprised. You showed more restraint than I expected.”
Aisha sniffed. “It would have been easy, and I was tempted. But I think the Kathulians are still out there and should we meet them again, I think a stronger show of force with a hostage could be worthwhile.”
“You’re probably right.”
“Of course, I’m right. I was a captain remember?”
“And I was a first mate.”
“You’re my first mate now.” She took his face in
her hands and kissed him deeply.
They lay embraced in one another’s arms for quite some time. Ole asked, “How will we know the right place on the mountain?”
Aisha, who had been reclining in his arms, shot up. “You really want to ask me that now?”
“I was just curious.”
“For yourself or for Catlo?”
“Easy,” rumbled the Northman.
“You still owe him. I don’t understand the loyalty. I’d think saving his miserable life once should have been enough.”
“It wasn’t. I agreed to three times and it will be three times, and it has only been two. But I also swore to you that I would allow no harm to come to you while you were with us.”
“I can take care of myself,” she snapped.
“So, I’ve noticed!” Ole shouted.
“Will you two shut up?” Catlo called.
They looked over at him and saw that he and Diamanda lay face to face together in their sheepskin blankets. Both of their shoulders were bare, and their clothing was strewn about their blankets in wild disarray.
Catlo gave a sheepish grin. “What? I’m sorry. I know we made a pact but it’s been a long trip and she needed the physical company.”
“I needed the company,” agreed Diamanda, with a lascivious grin.
“I did too,” said Catlo, triumphantly pleased with himself as he heaved atop the writhing princess.
Aisha rolled her eyes and whispered to Ole. “You’re earning that third time right now, because I want to kill them.”
Ole folded his massive arms across his chest. “You know that doesn’t count. I gave an oath.”
“A foolish oath.”
“So, I’m a fool?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Yes, you did.”
Aisha threw her hands in the air. “Please, you’re letting my hatred of them transfer to you. Don’t do that.”
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