The Questing Game

by James Galloway

  Miranda gave Keritanima a dirty look. "I'm not half as much trouble as you," she accused.

  "I know," Keritanima winked to her.

  "I can keep the flipskirt under control," Azakar said with a hint of a smile.

  "That was business, Zak," Miranda said cooly.

  "I'm sure it was."

  "I don't do that unless I have to. Arduous men are cesspools of good information."

  "You certainly didn't sound like you minded wading into that cesspool."

  "Do you mind?" Miranda asked huffily.

  "Not at all," he grinned.

  "Men!" Miranda snorted, opening her shoulder bag and pulling out a bit of embroidery.

  Binter and Sisska traded mysterious looks, then they nodded to one another.

  "Odds are, my father's going to hold off seeing me for a couple of days," Keritanima continued. "He'll want some safeguards in place to protect himself from any kind of magical attack, because I don't doubt he's expecting one. I want to remind you, Zak, that absolutely anything you say or do is going to be on my father's desk in triplicate. I hope you remember your Knightly training about stoicism, silence, and fortitude. Not a word, Zak. Not a word."

  "I won't say a word unless Miranda says it's alright," he said soberly.

  "Good. Most of the time they'll be speaking Wikuni, but most Wikuni know Common, so assume that anyone around you can understand what you're saying."

  "I will," he promised.

  "Good. I'm depending on you, Zak."

  "I'll make you proud, Kerri."

  "I don't doubt it," she said with a toothy grin.

  "It is unseemly they return you without a meal waiting," Binter announced. "I think I will arrange some lunch."

  "I'd really appreciate that, Binter," Keritanima said with a grateful look. "Absolutely nothing involving ham, tackbread, or ale, please. Fruits and vegetables. I've been dying for an apple."

  "I will arrange some fruit, cheese, pastries, and wine until the dinner hour," he offered.

  "That sounds wonderful," she told him.

  Binter bowed silently, then turned and left for the kitchens. Keritanima leaned back against the footboard of her chest. "There's a spare bedroom off the sitting room, Zak," she said. "It's supposed to be for a maid, but we don't use it. Miranda stays in here with me. You can stay there."

  "No offense, but no thanks," he replied. "With Sisska leaving for her home, Binter would probably rather have a second set of eyes and ears in the room defending this one. I'll stay in there."

  "Wise," Sisska agreed.

  "Well, then I guess that's the plan," Keritanima frowned. "I hope Binter doesn't mind."

  "He will demand it," Sisska told her charge in her deep, sibilant voice. "Azakar serves no purpose that far from his duty."

  Azakar nodded to the female Vendari. Their training of him was showing more and more every day.

  "Alright then. I guess we can unpack and get settled in, then. And get something to eat that hasn't been packed in salt," she said with a grunt.

  After a light meal, they settled in. Azakar and Binter helped Sisska pack what she would need for her journey, and he settled into the room the Vendari mates shared as Miranda unpacked what few belongings they had managed to bring with them from Shoran's Fork. About all that entailed were the clothes on her back and those Miranda made for her, a few personal effects, and Miranda's shoulder bag. The precious satchel was stowed in a secret cubbyhole in the room's hearth, the same cubby that held the key to the treasury, her skulking clothes, lockpicks, some rope and a grapple and other thiefly tools, and the Royal Seal she had used so many times as a young girl. The tools of an enterprising young lady with a plan to leave the horrible conditions of her life. That little girl would be very put out with her for screwing all that planning up and coming back. There had been few good times in the room, but there were one or two. Mainly remembrances of the special friendship she shared with Miranda, when the young commoner was placed with the Princess to be her personal maid, and turned out to be her only friend.

  It had been so long ago. She smiled as she patted the old writing desk, a desk that hadn't seen much use when she was very young. Before the struggle to stay alive had overwhelmed her life. The orders of alot of killings had come from that desk, orders passed on through her network to Ulfan, her criminal friend in the city. Ruler of the Black Shadows, a thieves' guild in the city, with enough underworld connections to arrange for any murder she so ordered. Ulfan's cooperation had been one of the only things keeping her alive at that time. Of course, that cooperation came from the fact that she paid him well for his work, but the fact that he could have sold her out at any time reminded her that his working for her had been as much out of friendship as it was business. He was one of only five that knew her secret at that time. The fifth was Kalina, another Fox Wikuni that looked so much like Keritanima that it was like looking into a mirror. Kalina was a harlot and a pickpocket, stealing what she could to make a living, and prostituting for the rest. The only difference between them was that Kalina was just a shade taller than Keritanima, and she was just a bit more busty. But she could imitate Keritanima's voice almost perfectly, and she knew enough about the Princess to be a convincing imposter. Keritanima had used that many times to confuse her enemies, for them to literally see two Keritanimas in two different places at the same time. Kalina was a bit coarse, but she was a loyal employee when she was paid well. Ulfan and Kalina would be vital to her plan, as would the Black Shadows.

  Maybe some good memories would come from the apartment now. Gods only knew, whether she succeeded or failed, they would be memorable.

  No servants or emissaries from her father showed up, even after dinner was brought to them. Damon Eram was trying to sweat her, she knew. Trying to be unpredictable, trying to throw her off guard. It worked in her favor that he was putting her off, trying to assert his dominance by making her wait. By keeping her pinned in her room, he was obviously trying to upset her, get her worked up. If he only knew that he was playing right into her hands.

  She was forced to eliminate another round of spies, obviously come to find out why the first hadn't reported, then taken their places. She and the others sat in the sitting room by her large hearth and its crackling fire. She sat at the coffee table, on the floor, continuing to write her documents, as Azakar sharpened his sword, Binter and Sisska played chess, and Miranda continued with her embroidery. That was when the note was pushed under the door. They all looked at each other for a moment, and then Miranda padded over and picked it up and unfolded it. "To K.; time to walk the dog." She looked up at Keritanima with a slight smile. "I guess Ulfan already knows we're here."

  "I wonder how the messenger convinced the Marines to let him slip that note," Azakar mused. "What does 'walk the dog' mean?"

  "It's an old code phrase between us," Keritanima replied sedately. "This means he'll be looking for one of us, Miranda."

  "I'll go see him first thing tomorrow morning, Kerri," she promised. "As soon as you convince your father to let me out of the room."

  "The orders were for me to stay in here, not you," she pointed out. "I doubt they'll stop you. You'll just have to shake the tailers they put on you when you leave."

  "Child's play," she grinned. "Ulfan can smell the money."

  "No doubt," Keritanima mused.

  The next morning dawned warm and promising of good weather. The morning sun streamed in through the barred window, filtering through the curtains blocking them in from the bed. Keritanima had always liked that bed. Miranda was still asleep on the other side of it, and her tail had managed to get up underneath Keritanima's leg. It had been quite a while since she'd shared her bed with Miranda, but it seemed like old times again. For mutual protection, they had always slept in the same bed, where Keritanima's nose and Miranda's ears would detect any intruder. Keritanima and Miranda both were exceptionally light sleepers. She stirred at Keritanima's movement, then opened her eyes and swept her blond bangs out of her
blue eyes.

  "It's time to get to work," she said sleepily in Sha'Kar.

  "Time indeeed," Keritanima replied. She closed her eyes and put her hands to her amulet, and reached out across the vast miles, searching out the sensation of her brother. "Tarrin," she called. "Tarrin, it's Kerri," she caled out in Sha'Kar.

  "Kerri?" came the reply a second later, in Sha'Kar. Tarrin sounded out of breath. "How are you doing? Is there something wrong?"

  "Of course there's nothing wrong," she replied. "Is that any way to greet your sister?"

  "It's been so long since we spoke, I figured you'd only call in an emergency."

  "Nothing stopped you from talking to me," she accused as Miranda giggled.

  "I figured if it was important enough, I'd call to you," he replied. "What's going on?"

  "We've reached Wikuna, deshida," she announced.

  "Have you killed your father yet?"

  Keritanima chuckled. "No, not yet. He's making me wait. He'll probably call me in for an audience late today or tomorrow. Where are you now?"

  "Right now, I think we're somewhere off the coast of the Desert of Swirling Sands," he replied. "We ran into some problems."

  "What kind of problems?"

  "A storm broke a mast, and then we had a fight with some pirates that Renoit said hide in the islands off the desert coastline." There was a pause. "No, I'm not going to explain it right now, Camara. Just give me a minute."

  "Camara?"

  "Camara Tal," he elaborated. "After Zak got stuck with you, the Goddess decided to find someone to replace him. Another sword to help us. She found an Amazon. She's been with us since Shoran's Fork. Her and a Faerie that Triana sent along to help me control my power."

  "A Faerie, huh? That must be interesting."

  "Sarraya's a bit rambunctious, but I kinda like her," he replied. "How are the others?"

  "So far so good," she replied. "Sisska's leaving today to visit her people. I'm glad we have Zak here, because Binter would have been stressed trying to protect both of us. We don't stay together often."

  "I'm glad he's not just sitting around," Tarrin commented. "Care to trade? I'll give you the Amazon, and you can send me Zak."

  Keritanima laughed. "I hope she can't understand you," Keritanima teased. "She'd kick you for saying that."

  "She's alright enough, but sometimes she gets on my nerves," he grated.

  "And she's still alive?"

  "Yeah. I guess I should do something about that."

  Miranda and Keritanima both giggled. "That's Tarrin, alright," Miranda grinned.

  Keritanima grinned at her maid. "How is Allia, and everyone else?"

  "Allia's fine. She's kinda hijacked one of Phandebrass' pet drakes. I can never tell them apart. It absolutely adores her. Dolanna and Faalken are fine, too. Dolanna spends most of her time teaching Faalken and the others Sha'Kar. Dar's been learning how to juggle, and he's beginning to break some of the hearts of the younger girls on the ship. That boy learns fast," he chuckled.

  "You said you had a fight. What was the Amazon like?" Keritnaima asked curiously. She'd heard legends of the Amazons.

  "She's a monster," he replied immediately. "An absolute monster. She's just as good as Faalken, and she's a Priestess to boot. That sword is bad enough, but she also throws magic around in a fight. She's not someone I'd care to have to fight."

  "A priestess?" Keritanima said in surprise.

  "Yah," he said in a distracted tone. "Sorry. That damned drake is biting my tail. Allia, get rid of it or I'm going to eat it for lunch. Oh, Allia sends her love."

  Miranda giggled. "Send her our love," Keritanima replied. "Sorry to break this off, brother, but it's about time for us to get up and get going. We have alot to do today."

  "I should go myself. I'm kinda in the middle of something."

  "I noticed you're out of breath. What are you doing?"

  "Beating Camara Tal senseless," he replied. "She wanted to spar against me. I'm taking my frustrations out on her."

  Keritanima and Miranda laughed. "Well, don't let us stop you. I'll contact you when I have more news for you, alright?"

  "Good enough. If something serious happens here, one of us will let you know. Goodbye, sister."

  "Goodbye, brother," she said, then she took her hand off the amulet.

  "It's good to hear from him," Miranda said, mirroring both their feelings.

  "Very good. Now then, Miranda, let's get up and about. There is much to do today."

  "Very much," she agreed.

  After dressing in one of Miranda's plain, well made dresses and finding a pair of matching slippers in her closet, they moved into the sitting room for breakfast. Azakar and Binter were already awake, and Sisska was nowhere to be found. Keritanima was a bit put out with the Vendari for leaving without telling her, but then again, that was the Vendari way. She knew what she had to do, so she was going to do it. It was that simple. Azakar had his armor on for some reason, and he clanged and jangled as he walked circles to settle it into place. They'd taken it from him during the voyage, and it had some rust on it here and there. He'd have to take care of that. Keritanima knew that he knew how to care for his armor, that was a basic skill taught to the Knights during their training. Every Cadet had to maintain his own armor. "You're rusting," Keritanima told him.

  "I know," he grimaced. "They didn't oil it when they stowed it away."

  "When did they drop that off?"

  "It was stacked by the door when I came in this morning," he replied. "As well as our weapons. Sisska already left."

  "I see that," she noted. "She got her axe back?"

  Binter nodded. "She asked me to give her regards."

  "I hope she doesn't have any trouble," Keritanima sighed. "Why are you wearing that, Zak?"

  "I put it on to make sure they didn't bend it up," he replied. "Besides, I get the feeling that leaving this room without my armor would make me feel very vulnerable."

  "Smart boy," Miranda said lightly.

  There was a curt knock at the door, and then it opened. A thin weasel Wikuni entered, with brownish-gray fur and a very narrow, needle-like muzzle. Keritanima didn't know him, but he wore the livery of the Chamberlain, the overseer of the palace's daily affairs. He had the sunburst over the ocean symbol which was the crest of Wikuna on one side of his doublet, and the three-tailed whip device that was the coat of arms of the house of Eram on the other side. She recalled absently that the old Chamberlain was on her list of people for Ulfan to kill. This had to be his replacement.

  "Princess Keritanima-Chan Eram, you are summoned to an audience with high Majesty, Damon Eram, king of Wikuna," he said formally. "You will attend immediately."

  Keritanima's heart seized for just a second, then it was gripped with an icy calm. "Fine," she said. "I'll put on something--"

  "Immediately, your Highness," he interrupted. "I am instructed to bring you right now."

  So, her father tried catching her sleeping, so she'd have to report to him in her nightgown. That meant that the audience would take place in the Hall of the Sun, the throne room of the Palace, and she had no doubt that there would be many members of court present. They probably had to be dragged out of bed. Most court members didn't get up until noon. That had two uses for her father. To humiliate his daughter, and also to put a great many witnesses in the room with them to prevent her from carrying out on her threat. Killing him without being fingered for the crime was just fine, but if there were witnesses, she would be executed for high treason.

  Azakar belted on his sword, and Binter immediately went into his chamber to retrieve his massive warhammer. Miranda set her plate aside and stood up, then brushed the front of her maid's dress with her hands calmly. "Very well," Keritanima said. "As soon as my bodyguard gets his weapon, we'll be on our way."

  "You are instructed to come alone, Highness," the Chamberlain said tersely.

  "I will not leave this room without my bodyguards, and I won't leave my maid behind alone,"
Keritanima retorted flatly. "If my father doesn't like it, he can come to me and voice his displeasure."

  The Chamberlain looked a bit unsure, and his eyes darted back and forth for a moment before blowing out his breath. "Then have him hurry up," he prompted.

  "Binter!" Keritanima called. "Let's go!"

  The monstrous Vendari returned from his chamber holding his wicked weapon in his hand easily. He looked at Azakar, who simply nodded and set his large shield on his right arm and strapped it in place. Keritanima tended to forget the fact that Azakar was left-handed, and that made him a dangerous opponent for a right-handed adversary. He came up to Keritana's right, a position that would allow him to turn and throw his shield arm across her body quickly, in case she was threatened by some weapon.

  After that, they were on their way. The Hall of the Sun was a good distance from her apartments, so the four of them and the ten Marines surrounding them walked for some time through luxrurious passageways. They passed many servants along the way, servants sho scrambled out of the way and bowed as the Princess passed. Keritanima's mind was surprisingly calm and serene. She had been preparing for this for nearly a month. She already knew exactly what she wanted to say, and now that she had an idea of what was waiting for her, she knew how to turn the banter with her father down the avenues she wished to travel.

  They stopped in the antechamber leading into the throne room, and she smoothed her dress unconsciously before the two huge bear Wikuni holding halberds crossed in front of the ornate, deeply polished Heartwood doors opening into the throne chamber. They wore yellow and orange doublets and hose, the livery of the Royal Guard, and the sunburst symbol of Wikuna was emblazoned on the chest of their uniforms. They recognized Keritanima and pulled their weapons aside, then turned and faced each other to open a path for the procession. Then they saluted. The Royal Guard was an institution nearly a thousand years old, and their loyalty was to the throne of Wikuna, not necessarily the individual sitting upon it. Because Keritanima was the heir-apparent, next in line for the throne, they afforded her more respect than they did other people.