“I calculate a one hundred percent probability you are correct, Wizard Scout.” Nickelo sighed. “I cannot be positive, but I calculate I hate waiting too.”
* * *
The elves’ lead scouts had come upon the tracks of bare feet in the deep sand an hour earlier. Where they’d come from and where the tracks were going was anybody’s guess. The prints in the sand were mysterious enough the elf high priestess altered their party’s course to follow the tracks and find their owner. After an hour of alternatively riding and walking, Commander Astradis came riding from the point and stopped in front of Mia.
“Our quarry is close,” said the monk commander. “Probably just over that next dune.”
How the monk knew, Amir didn’t have a clue.
“Very well,” said Mia. She turned and looked at the others at the head of the column. “Lord Derander, Master Freestrod, and Commander Astradis, I want you to come with me to the top of the hill. Amir, you will come with us too.”
Sergeant Thornbriar, the leader of the lancers, raised his lance to get Mia’s attention. “It might be advisable to send a squad of lancers around each side of the dune to trap whoever might be on the other side.”
“He has a point, Mia,” said Lord Derander. “There is no use putting yourself at risk.”
Mia smiled. “I will have Master Freestrod and you with me along with Amir and Commander Astradis. I hardly think I will be at risk.” She looked at the dune before turning to the sergeant. “Very well, deploy your lancers. Let us find out who is on the other side.”
Amir followed Mia up the steep dune while a squad of lancers rode around each side of the five-elf high pile of sand. When he got to the top, he spotted the owner of the tracks. He had to look twice to make sure what he thought he was seeing was actually what he saw.
“My eyes aren’t that good in this blasted sun,” Amir admitted, directing his comment to no one in particular. “I can tell the owner of the tracks is a human, but if I didn’t know better, I’d swear he was naked as a family of dwarves on wash day.”
“Then swear away,” said Master Freestrod. “All modesty aside, my eyes are excellent, and the man is as bare of clothing as the day he was born.” The old elf glanced overhead at the blazing sun. “How he has survived long enough to make it this far is beyond me. By all rights, he should be dead.”
The high priestess started her horse down the dune.
Lord Derander reached out and grabbed her reins. “Mia. Wait.”
The glare from the high priestess made the elf lord pull his hand back as if bitten by a two-headed pit viper.
“I mean, please wait, High Priestess,” said Lord Derander. “We should let Sergeant Thornbriar’s lancers check him out first. The human could be dangerous.”
Amir noticed the two squads of elf lancers had just cleared the sides of the dune with spears at the ready. They stopped a dozen meters from the human with their steel-tipped spears aimed directly at the naked man’s chest.
With nary a word to her fellow lord, the high priestess galloped down the dune followed by a slightly flushed Lord Derander, Master Freestrod, and Commander Astradis.
Amir took his time making his way down the sandy slope. The sand was deep, and he had no wish to fall. By the time he reached the bottom, Sergeant Thornbriar was already there with the rest of his soldiers, having ridden around the right flank of the dune. The sergeant and his lancers now formed a full circle around the human. The man had nowhere to run. Not that he tried.
Stepping next to the high priestess, Amir took a closer look at the human. At this range, he was able to pick out more details. The human male was a head shorter than him. Every bit of the man’s exposed skin was red as a rose in full bloom. His closely cropped dark hair gave an impression of military or ex-military. Except for the severe sunburn, the man looked in excellent condition.
Thoughts of the black-armored human that had murdered Glory crossed his mind, but he shoved the thought aside. This isn’t the one I’m looking for. The human I seek was a head shorter and more stocky. Also, I’m not getting the sensation of Power from him that I sensed from Glory’s killer. The murderer’s Power was shielded, but it wasn’t shielded enough to hide it from a seeker. If this one has a Power reserve, it’s either better shielded or so small as not to make a difference.
Mia rode through the line of soldiers. Lord Derander moved to join her, but she held up a hand, stopping him in place. Once she was inside the circle, she stopped her horse two spear lengths from the human and nodded her head. “You are a long way from home, stranger. Were you, uh…robbed?”
The human said several words, but all Amir could make out was gibberish.
“I asked if you were robbed,” said Mia, keeping her voice calm as one would to a frightened child. “Your shoulders and face are sunburned. You must be in pain. We have a medic with us. Do you need aid? Water perhaps?”
The man shrugged his shoulders and spouted more gibberish.
Mia looked back at Master Freestrod and Lord Derander. “I cannot understand a word he is saying. Does anyone recognize his language?” When the mage and her fellow lord shook their heads, she looked around at the soldiers forming the circle. “Anyone?”
No one spoke.
“I have already cast a translation spell on him,” said Master Freestrod, “but it did not take hold. He is either making words up as he goes, or he is somehow resistant to my spell.”
Amir doubted the latter. The human’s lack of detectable Power made spell resistance unlikely. He must be feigning ignorance, he thought. I wonder why. Is he a spy? Glancing around at the barren landscape, he had his doubts. If the high priestess hadn’t decided to follow his tracks, the man would probably have died before nightfall. He looked around at the readied spears of the elves. He still might, come to think of it. Elves don’t like humans any more than we giants do.
The high priestess dismounted and leaned her staff against the side of her horse. She removed her dagger from its scabbard and let it drop in the sand, making sure the human saw what she did. After unhooking the water skin from her saddle, she started forward.
“Mia, err, High Priestess,” said Lord Derander. “He is a human. He might be dangerous. Let one of the lancers—”
“I must agree,” said Commander Astradis as he started to dismount. “You take an unnecessary risk. I will—”
Glancing over her shoulder, Mia raised her hand again. “Stay where you are, both of you. I am High Priestess of the Lady of the Tree. I am quite capable of taking care of myself.” She flashed a smile at Lord Derander and the monk commander as if trying to take the sting out of her words. “Besides, what are you worried about? Do you think he has a weapon hidden somewhere we cannot see? That would be a good trick, considering his current state of dress.”
Without waiting for a reply, the high priestess walked forward until she was only an arm-length from the human. Removing the stopper from the water skin, she took a sip and swallowed. Then she held the bag out to the human. Smiling, she said, “Take it. You must be thirsty. It is all right. No one is going to hurt you.”
* * *
Richard glanced at the ring of soldiers atop their horses that had suddenly surrounded him. The word lancers came to mind. A second word, elf, followed close on the first word’s heels. He didn’t know how he knew they were elves, but he did. It was as if bits and pieces of his memory were coming back when he needed them. He studied the soldiers closer.
The lancers’ steel-pointed spears were half again as long as a tall man, and they were all pointed at him. Each of the lancers wore thick leather chest pieces, leg, and arm guards. Bows were strapped to their backs, and metal-reinforced wooden shields dangled from the pommels of their light saddles. In addition to their lances and bows, the soldiers carried long swords and daggers attached to their waist belts.
“They look efficient,” commented Nickelo.
Richard didn’t argue the point. The five unarmed elves, three males and two f
emales, concerned him more than the soldiers. They wore no armor, only brown tunics that came down to their knees. Their arms were bare.
“Monks,” said Nickelo. “The information just appeared in my databanks. They are experts in hand-to-hand combat. I believe my databanks once contained more information on them, but that is all there is now. I would advise avoiding conflict with them if possible.”
“I’m hoping I can avoid conflict with any of them. The brown-haired elf and that white-haired geezer look like mages to me. They’ve got large Power reserves. Their staffs and other gear are practically yelling ‘I’m magic.’ I think the brown-haired elf has some kind of magic armor under his robe.”
“I concur,” replied Nickelo. “The older elf is the more dangerous of the two in my opinion. Also, the big brute on foot wearing the chainmail is no slouch. That sledgehammer of his is magic, and I’m sure you noticed the size of his muscles. I calculate he could break your back like a brittle piece of wood if you were foolish enough to let him get ahold of you. After correlating your sensory input with the information in my databanks, I calculate he has some giant characteristics, but he is about eight meters too short to be a giant. Maybe some distant relative of his was some giant kin. I cannot be sure.”
Richard noted the bands of muscles on the man. He was almost half as wide as he was tall. Something about him gave Richard the feeling the man was even stronger than he looked. He decided to take his battle computer’s advice and stay out of his grasp. Forgetting about the man, Richard turned his attention to the woman to his front. No. Not a woman. She’s an elf, he reminded himself. The blackened staff she’d leaned against her horse radiated Power from a blue crystal at its top. The energy from the gem seemed familiar to Richard, but he couldn’t place it. The female’s long black hair accentuated her dark eyes. She was very beautiful.
“I calculate she is a priestess of some kind,” said Nickelo. “Based upon input, I believe she is the most dangerous of them all. I would advise using care when interacting with her, Wizard Scout. By the way, there are thirty-one elves in the party, plus the big guy.”
“Do you understand what they’re saying?” Richard asked. “It’s all gibberish to me.”
“Negative, Wizard Scout. There is an area in my databanks that I believe should contain translation tables for thirteen thousand two-hundred and seventy-three languages, but it is currently empty. Truth be told, I do not even know the name of the language you and I are speaking. I know I should, but I do not. It is very strange.”
“Well, strange or not, I’ve got to make contact with the elves. Wandering around in the desert, headed for who knows where hasn’t been working out for us so far.”
Taking the offered bag of liquid from the elf, Richard took a sip.
“It’s water,” Richard told his battle computer. “It tastes flat like it doesn’t have any minerals in it, but at least it’s wet.” He took several large gulps in an attempt to give his dry throat some relief.
“Slow down,” said Nickelo. “They might be short on water. I calculate your self-heal takes care of your needs. You do not need to drink anything to stay alive.”
“Easy for you to say,” Richard said. “I’m the one who’s thirsty.” Despite his protest, he stopped drinking and returned the bag to the female elf. By the time she replaced the stopper in the bag, his thirst was already beginning to come back.
“See,” said Nickelo. “Your self-heal seems to return your body to some predetermined state. I calculate that state is a little on the thirsty and hungry side.”
Lucky me, Richard thought doing his best to keep the comment from his friend. Since his battle computer didn’t make a snide remark in return, he figured he’d succeeded in keeping his thought private somehow.
The female elf spoke a few more words of gibberish.
Richard shrugged his shoulders again. “Sorry. I still don’t understand you.”
The dark-haired female seemed to lock eyes with him.
He noticed small flecks of silver spiraling around in her otherwise dark eyes. The pattern of the silver’s movement appeared familiar somehow. He felt himself being drawn in. Something inside him pulled him back out.
Shaking his head, he took a step back. “What just happened, Nick?”
“I am not sure, Wizard Scout. I calculate the elf was attempting to probe you. Some Power source inside you resisted. My recommendation is not to look directly in the elf’s eyes again. Based upon the Power radiating from her and from the staff leaning against her mount, I calculate she is someone not to be trifled with. My advice is to keep a low profile.”
The female said several more words of gibberish.
Once again, Richard shrugged his shoulders, this time doing his best not to look the elf in the eyes. It proved difficult. She was very beautiful after all, and the familiar something in her eyes kept pulling him back. The something inside Richard continued to resist.
The elf touched her chest and said a word that sounded like ‘Mia.’ She said the same word again before pointing at Richard.
“Hmmm,” said Nickelo. “I do believe she’s trying to make introductions. I calculate her name is Mia. I find it strange that I can retain her name but not any of the other words she’s using.”
The word Mia stayed in Richard’s mind as well. He touched his chest and said, “Rick.” Pointing at her, he said, “Mia.”
The elf nodded and pointed at him. “Rick,” she said before spouting out several words of gibberish.
Richard shrugged. “Sorry, Mia. I haven’t got the faintest idea what you’re saying.”
The elf said a few more words of gibberish with his name mixed in the middle, before returning to her horse. She picked up her dagger, and mounted. Once her staff was cradled in the crook of her arm, she turned to one of the other elves and said several words of gibberish.
Chapter 11 – Distant Thunder
__________________________
“Sergeant Thornbriar,” Mia said. “Have your medic treat the human’s burns and see if you can find some clothing for him. He does not seem to speak our language, but I think his name is Rick. After he is dressed, see if you can get him on one of our spare horses. When you’re ready, we will take the human with us.”
“With us?” asked Lord Derander. “Are you sure that’s wise, Mia? Perhaps it would be best to have a couple of Sergeant Thornbriar’s lancers escort him to the nearest human settlement. The rest of us can—”
“I said the human is going with us,” said Mia. “It is the Lady’s will.”
Lord Derander’s eyes narrowed, and he opened his mouth to speak but closed it before any words came out.
Amir raised a hand to his mouth to hide his smile. I’ve got a feeling Derander doesn’t quite believe her. But since the Lady only speaks to her high priestess, or so they say, he can’t argue?
As if sensing her fellow lord’s disbelief, Mia sighed and gave a half smile. “I share your concern, Lord Derander, but I believe our meeting with this human was not by happenstance. He is either playing the part of a fool or has been placed in our path by someone. Who is anybody’s guess. In either case, I want to keep him close so we can keep an eye on him.” She turned to the monk commander. “Send one of your monks and four of Sergeant Thornbriar’s lancers to follow the human’s tracks back to their point of origin. Have them take the extra water skins and one of the pack animals. We will wait for their return at the Donyar River if they have not caught up with us before then.”
Commander Astradis nodded, then left to talk to Sergeant Thornbriar who was speaking to the lancers’ medic.
Standing near the high priestess as he was, Amir noticed her glance over at the human before looking at him. “Elf Friend Amir, I have a mission for you.”
“You have only to ask, High Priestess.”
Mia smiled. “Has no one ever told you that you should wait until you hear a request before agreeing to it?”
Amir felt his face growing warm. Glory had often
told him as much.
“In this case, I do not believe you have agreed to anything too hard,” said Mia. “We need to keep an eye on our, err…guest, but all of our troops have their own duties. I would be grateful if you would take it upon yourself to watch over this mysterious Rick of ours, and keep him out of trouble.”
Amir flinched. While he was convinced the human wasn’t the one who’d murdered Glory, he had no wish to associate with the human species more than necessary.
A smile from Mia convinced him to push his dislike for humans aside at least temporarily.
“What exactly is it you want me to do? Be his guard?”
The high priestess laughed. “Oh, nothing so blatant, Elf Friend. I merely want you to help our new friend Rick integrate with our party and keep him out of trouble. I will have Sergeant Thornbriar assign a team from his lancers to watch over him as well. The man is our guest, but he will be under watchful eyes at the same time.”
With a sigh, Amir said, “I will do as you say, High Priestess.”
The smile the high priestess gave him convinced Amir he’d made the right choice.
* * *
Three days passed without incident as Richard and the troop of elves made their way across the desert. On the morning of the third day, the depth of the sand began to lessen. By mid-afternoon, an occasional clump of dried grass or a shriveled shrub tree started appearing.
Mounted on a horse, Richard half-dozed in the saddle. Like usual, the big brute in chainmail walked by his side. Even on foot the man’s head still came to Richard’s shoulder. The brute’s name was Amir, or at least that was as close as Richard could make out from the gibberish the big man and the elves used for a language.
“Well, at least you can retain names,” said Nickelo. “I am not sure why, but try as you might, you cannot learn any of their language. It’s like their words are erased from your memory the moment the elves’ stop speaking. I calculate it is very strange.”
“Calculated that all by yourself, did you?” Richard snorted. “What I think is strange is that you can’t learn their language either. According to you, all you retain is their names the same as me. I’m starting to wonder if you’re telling me the truth.”
Wizard Gigantic (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 9) Page 11
