“Are you talking about that lady who was behind the counter in the shop?” Kirna asked and Chalice nodded.
Ben held the stone in his closed palm and shut his eyes. The stone on the cord around his neck glowed a soft grey and light shone all around it. A few moments later, he said: “Yes, this is just what I thought. It is a daietych. That spice lady you met was one of Dar’Maalda’s spies. That is how they found us.”
Kirna slapped her forehead. “Of course! In the shop, you told me where you and Jeremiah were staying. You even gave me the room number. Remember, Chalice?”
Chalice nodded. “It’s also how they knew where you and Tycho were.”
“That’s right. I told you where we were staying, didn’t I?” She paused and ran her fingers through her hair. “Stupid! I’m so stupid! I just wasn’t thinking. I was so excited to see you and I just wasn’t thinking of it.”
Ben looked sternly at all of them. “There’s no way any of you could have known or even suspected, but let this be a lesson. Be wary of strangers, don’t accept anything they give you, and certainly be careful what you say around them!”
“Whaffa daiefik?” Tycho asked through a mouth full of food as he walked over to Ben to look at the blue stone.
Ben smiled. “A daietych is an object that can only be made by a Terravailian. It consists of the same crystal as a daieoden except for one difference. The daietych contains another material as well and the two crystalline substances are folded in on each other, forming the object.” He held the broach so Tycho could see it clearly. “This other material is imbued with power that allows the daietych to serve a certain function, that function being whatever its maker wants it to do. In this case, the mother of pearl embedded within this broach has been sealed with a tracking power so that whoever holds the broach can be tracked by the creator of the object. That person will be able to feel where the object is at all times. This is how they have been able to follow us.”
Tycho stuffed the rest of the bread into his mouth and held out his palm to Ben. Ben handed him the broach and Tycho examined it closely.
“I have an idea,” Ben said. “Jeremiah!”
“Yeah?”
“Can you find me a bundle of sticks and few long, thin strips of eucalyptus bark?”
“Sure, I’ll be right back.” Jeremiah handed his reins to Chalice and ran off toward a knot of trees in the distance.
Ben glanced down toward Bunejab. “Go with him, will you?”
The little Chinuk squeaked in acquiescence and scurried off.
Chalice felt like she had a rock in her stomach. Is it my fault? she wondered. It was, after all, because of her actions that the destruction of the past couple days had occurred. She turned to Kirna.
“Your cousin’s farm and now Master Duncan’s inn. I feel terrible.”
Seeming to read her thoughts, Kirna put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Chalice You didn’t burn them. They did. Ben’s right. There’s no way you could have known.”
Chalice glanced up at her best friend and fiery vengeance shone in her eyes. “I would like to see Jezebelle again someday. Next time I meet up with her, I will remember the price of her gifts.”
“That’s the spirit!” Kirna smiled and hugged her.
After a few minutes, Jeremiah and Bunejab returned with the bundle of sticks and strips of bark. Ben gathered them together and assembled a tiny makeshift raft, intertwining the sticks with the strips. He placed the broach on top and rolled the layer of sticks over it, making a small wooden cylinder that gripped the stone inside. With the last strip, he tied the bundle tightly together and tossed it into the water. It bobbed up and down a few times before settling on the surface and moved north with the current of the river.
“There. That should get them off our trail. It will lead them north while we travel west. We need to move on now. The horses have rested enough.” After placing Bunejab in the front of his saddle, Ben mounted his steed and clicked the young horse into motion. “Tycho, did you get enough to eat?”
“Well, no, but I’ll live,” Tycho answered, scowling.
“Aw, poor baby,” Kirna said in a patronizing tone and smiled at him. Then, she brushed the top of his head with her hand as she walked past to mount her horse.
They crossed the river slowly. It was narrow and shallow, but the current was still strong and the river bottom was strewn sparsely with sharp rocks. Finally, they reached the opposite bank and after passing through the forest thicket that lay on the other side, the ride to Cedarwood progressed smoothly.
Within hours, they entered the Cedarwood forest where the shadows were lengthening and the air was cool and calm due to the late afternoon hour. The forest offered a clear, broad path upon which they rode side by side, slowing their mounts to a walk. After many minutes, the path wound upwards around a large, steep hill. As they moved along it, Chalice glanced toward the sky to see tall, grey spires of an enormous fortressed castle peeking out from beyond the tall cedars that blocked it.
“Who lives here?” she asked Ben, pointing toward the towers. The others were gaping in the same direction.
“The Farahs. They are dear friends of mine. They are a very old and wealthy family. Their castle used to be a Naeonic school until it was shut down eighteen years ago by Dar’Maalda. Now, it is used in secret as a shelter for those in need of help and as we are in need of help, it is a fitting place for us to rest. We’re almost there.”
“A Naeonic school that was shut down? Why?” Jeremiah asked.
“Think about it, Jeremiah,” Ben replied. “Why would someone like Dar’Maalda shut down a school?”
“Because he doesn’t want young people being educated unless he is in control of it?”
“Precisely. After he won the battle against the Royal Legions, he shut down Cedarwood University because he knew that the Naeon of this area were too loyal to the Ielierian. Since then, many other universities have been shut down as well. The ones that are still functioning are being run under his tight rein. Fortunately, he cannot control everything that goes on in the smaller Naeonic villages. There, children are given an education by their parents and elders.”
“That’s right! In Canton, we attended school with our Shaunta,” Kirna said.
Ben nodded at her comment and then looked up. “Ah, here we are.” They had arrived at a tall, stone wall that surrounded the entire fortress.
Chalice noted that the shape of the wall around the castle was odd. Instead of extending straight out to a corner, it was angled to the left about fifty spans down and stretched out into the trees.
“The shape of this wall is strange,” she remarked.
“That’s because this is a bastion fortress,” Ben answered and she shot him a questioning look. “A star fort. The outer wall around the structure is built into the shape of a star for better protection.”
“Oh, right. I see.” She nodded although she had no idea what that meant.
A wide gap in the wall was given to a massive, wrought iron gate, large enough for several wagons to pass through side-by-side. Above the gate, hung a large bell under an arch that supported it. A thin rope that stretched from the bell to the wall hung from a hole carved into the stone next to the gate. Ben pulled it twice and the bell rang loudly.
“Now we wait for Charleton,” he said.
“Charleton?” Tycho asked. “Is he the doorman … or, I mean, the gateman?”
Ben smiled. “Yes, Tycho, he is the gateman, among other things.”
As they were waiting, Chalice’s skin itched and she knew immediately what the strange sensation meant. She glanced upward and there it was.
“Jeremiah!” she called out.
Jeremiah didn’t miss a beat. As soon as he saw her gazing toward the sky, he unlaced his bow and nocked an arrow. His reaction was so swift and his skill so practiced, the arrow was loosed before anyone knew what was happening. It flew true, right to its target and the red falcon plummeted from the sky, landing a
few paces away down the path.
Ben’s face tightened in alarm. They all dismounted and led the horses over to the fallen bird to find that the arrow had pierced its chest. It was dying quickly. The red color of its feathers and of its eyes began to fade into a tawny brown as its life drained away. Curious, Chalice stretched out her arm to reach down and touch it.
“Chalice, no! Don’t—” Ben shouted, but it was too late. When her finger met its wing, she felt a powerful jolt that shook her entire body. She fell to the ground. Darkness engulfed her and she saw two red, gleaming eyes that burned into her fiercely with an indescribable hatred. She knew the eyes could see her and it filled her with dread. She did not want to look at them, but she could not turn away.
“Chalice! Chalice!” a terrified voice said and she woke suddenly, afraid of what she would see. But instead of eyes that were red and hateful, she was soothed by those that were brown and tender and desperate to see hers. She was lying on the ground in Jeremiah’s arms. The expression on his face calmed her and she immediately forgot about what she had seen. Her whole body felt as if she had been hit by a falling boulder. She tried to move and get up, but couldn’t. Fortunately, she could still speak.
“I can’t … I can’t move, Jeremiah,” she said weakly. Her voice was shaky. Jeremiah lifted her from the ground, cradling her in his arms as he walked. Other faces swam into view, those of Ben, Kirna, Tycho and Bunejab. They were all there.
“What was that, Ben?” Jeremiah asked, trying not to show any fear and wishing Chalice would learn to be more cautious.
“I don’t know and that is what bothers me. I have never seen anything like this before.”
He placed his hand on Chalice’s head and his stone glowed softly. Chalice felt a warm sensation rush through her like hot tea into her belly. It flowed down and heated her body.
Ben frowned. “I can’t heal this. I don’t know what it is. Come on. We need to get her inside, quickly.”
As soon as he had spoken, the enormous gate behind them opened and a handsome, dark-haired, young man in fine clothing emerged.
“My Lord? My Lord Graeystone!? Is it you?” The young man paused in shock. “It is you!”
Lord Graeystone? Chalice wondered. Her thoughts were slow and she tried to focus. He is a Lord?
“Charleton! Charleton Farah! My good man, we need help. First we need to get this young lady to a bed where she can rest and receive treatment. The horses need to be tended and we need to sup before anything else. I will explain everything.”
“Absolutely!” He turned toward the gate and shouted. “William! Tremmon! Make haste! We have guests and their horses need to be stabled.”
Two burly men in smocks came running. They were both large, muscular and smelled of horses. Charleton continued giving instructions.
“Please place their belongings in the quarters of the North Wing, in Lord Graeystone’s apartments.”
“One moment,” Ben said to them as he removed a large cloth from his bag and wrapped it around the dead bird, lifting it into a sack that he attached to his saddle. “Be careful with this,” he warned.
“Here, let me escort you into the North Wing. Come. This way.” Charleton motioned to them and they followed.
Cradled in Jeremiah’s arms, Chalice peered upward to the towering turrets that reached high into the cedar tops. The castle was immense, made of smooth, dark grey Tusquaran stone, handcrafted by the Musquoni, the Tusquaran masons of the east. Dark green ivy curved along every wall and the structure held a patina of a bygone age, an age of chivalry and noblesse. As they entered the angled bailey within, a young, beautiful, raven-haired woman ran to meet them, breathless. She wore a dark green velvet, evening dress with lace at both the neckline and the cuffs.
“Wha … what’s happening, Charleton?”
“Naeren, get mother. Tell her we have new guests for tonight. This young woman is ill. I’m taking them to Lord Graeystone’s quarters.”
The young woman glanced down at Chalice with concern. Her eyes were as dark as her hair and her face was fair, smooth, and oval. It carried a touch of confusion as she darted back across the bailey and ascended the short staircase to the main entrance of the manor house.
Charleton led them to the left, around to the north side of the castle. They entered through a thick wooden door into a long hallway. An open door to their left revealed the plush and sumptuous apartments of the North Wing. The enormous room through which they passed was a large dining and sitting room, with a huge table, polished and gilded, that lay along the length of it. At the opposite end, a large, grey marble fireplace blazed with a warm fire. A circle of settees and small polished tables sat in between.
They quickly moved through into a bedchamber that offered a large canopied bed, draped with grey silk, supporting a feather mattress. Jeremiah gently laid Chalice on the bed and covered her with a blanket. As soon as they were settled, Bunejab quickly got to work. He placed his medicine bag on a table nearby and shuffled through it.
“We will need a cloth, a basin of hot water, and a goblet,” Ben told Charleton who immediately left the room to collect the items requested. “How do you feel, Chalice?” he asked, taking a seat in a chair next to the bed.
“Like I fell from the Praeceps.” And she did. She felt like ten years of her life had been wrung out of her. She was unable to move and barely able to think.
“That good, huh?” joshed Tycho, in an attempt to lift her spirit. “How do you always manage to get yourself into these situations? What are we going to do with you?”
He attempted a mock shake of his head, but Chalice knew what he was doing. Both Kirna and Tycho had taken a seat on the opposite side of the large bed and Kirna was looking at her, trying not to show her worry.
Chalice managed a weak smile. “I don’t know, Tyke. I need … to be more careful,” she muttered through a heavy, laborious breath.
Just then, a tall, beautifully elegant woman entered the room. She was dark of hair and eyes and dressed in a wine red evening gown. She bore a striking resemblance to the young woman they had seen in the courtyard. Her grace and air immediately caught everyone’s attention and she greeted them warmly.
“Hello, friends. Be welcome to Farah Manor.” Then, the elegant woman turned around to gaze tenderly down at the face of her old friend and shook her head in disbelief. “Benjamin Darren. I don’t believe it. I thought we would never see you again.”
The Life of the Terravail
“Sieren!” Ben exclaimed and stood up to meet her. They embraced in a tight hug. “It is such a relief to see you! Is Jor with you?”
Benjamin Darren? Chalice was confused. She looked at Jeremiah who shrugged.
Sieren glanced back toward the door. “Of course. He will be along soon. We have instructed the chef that we will be dining in your quarters, if that is alright with you.”
“You honor me, Sieren.”
“No, you and your guests honor us, Benjamin.” She moved toward the bed and took a seat next to Chalice. “How are you, my darling? I am Sieren Farah. Sasha will be here soon with your hot water.”
As soon as she had said it, a young woman in an apron appeared in the doorway with the items Ben had requested. She moved in and set them on the table next to Bunejab’s medicine bag. Bunejab rushed up, dipped the cloth into the basin of water and placed it on Chalice’s forehead. In a matter of minutes, he had concocted a goblet of warm, medicinal liquid that she was sipping gently with Jeremiah’s help. At once, her consciousness cleared and the leaden chains that had been gripping her body seemed to fall away. Her breath came more freely and she found that she could move her head.
During this time, the others conversed with Sieren. They introduced themselves and related the story of what had taken place outside the courtyard. Chalice was curious about this elegant woman. She wanted to know about these people and their friendship with Ben. She had a feeling it would tell her more about him.
“You say it was a falcon?�
� Sieren asked. “But there are no falcons indigenous to these parts. The only falcons I know of are—”
“Maaldanese,” Ben interrupted. “Exactly.”
“Ah, yes, of course,” Sieren said, nodding. “The Naie’Ielian.”
As she said this, there was a collective gasp from Jeremiah, Kirna, and Tycho. Sieren grinned wolfishly and Chalice could tell by the tone in her voice that she had no love for the man.
“Here, we are not afraid to call him by what he rightfully is, a false king, among other names that I will not repeat out loud. We are protected behind these walls. We are also protected by our status. As long as we keep providing him with the goods that he needs, he is kept at bay. Granted, we do get palace visitors from time to time, but they do not stay long, only long enough to complete their business and leave. We do not need to worry about them. There are many secret rooms and corridors in my family’s castle to protect the people that we help.”
“The people you help? Like who?” Kirna asked.
“Those who are in need, like those who have lost their homes, their jobs, or their families because of his cruelty. What they have lost, we replace. Unbeknownst to him, we especially help those who take part in the Resistance. That is our first priority. That is why we are honored to have Benjamin with us again. His role is central to the Resistance and its mission. We are happy to help him, and what’s more, we are able to provide these services right under the Naie’Ielian’s nose, without him even knowing.”
She smiled mischievously at Chalice who smiled back. She liked this woman. She was elegant, but tough.
“What is the mission of the Resistance?” Tycho asked.
“Why, to restore the old kingdom, of course. I have not given up hope that our glorious King Duquaine is still alive. We will find him.” She turned to Ben. “But enough of this. What of you? Why have you come, Benjamin? What can we do for you?”
Before Ben could answer, a tall, handsome, fair-haired man in his middle years opened the door and the smell of roast duck and honeyed ham wafted in from the dining room.
The Raie'Chaelia (Legend of the Raie'Chaelia, Book One 1) Page 19