Shon leaned behind Amelia to give Matthu a playful shove. "Yes, and we're ready to receive yours."
"I have nothing to confess, and I'm not really sure I know what to think." Matthu grinned and took another bite of the dried meat. "If we'd been thinking, we could have picked up someone for me. Then maybe. Is that how this sort of thing works? Does it really go that fast?"
Amelia tossed another peeled fig apple at him. "Just eat your dinner," she said, laughing.
The rest of the evening passed pleasantly enough. Matthu had not seen any signs of the mercenaries, crudons, or any other such risks. It was almost easy to forget what had happened, and they chatted like old friends, exchanging stories and enjoying the time together. When dark fully came, they divided the night into shifts.
A soft breeze flowed from the valley, fragrant with lavender, heather, and fig apples. The insects chirped a calming tune, and the leaves rustled. Amelia had plenty of time to think when she took her watch.
It was easy to have faith at this point. She found herself smiling. Who knew what Uncle Joe would say? But she had something more to hope for now. Her thoughts kept drifting to the future. Not the future she had expected. But one that might end better. One where the Salvation of the Third Nalenth let her win. And one where she and Shon…Her cheeks warmed at the thought.
When Matthu came to relieve her from her watch, Amelia did not struggle to fall asleep. She had regularly slept on her bedroom floor to make sure she was accustomed to such discomfort. Exhaustion helped her rest even more. She let her mind drift to her prayers to Elonumato as she did every night, affirming her hope in His ability to see her through and excited to be finally starting on the fulfillment of her purpose. She had not succeeded in stopping Naatos or WroOth this day, but she would find the solution soon.
20
The Kolagro
At daybreak, Shon, Matthu, and Amelia ate a quick breakfast of fruit and water before clearing away the camp. The sunlight warmed the back of Amelia's neck and the top of her head. The romantic interlude the night before was set aside. Neither Shon nor Amelia spoke of it. It was time to focus on their current task.
The brightness of the rising sun brought some comfort, but by mid-morning, the sky had darkened with long grey clouds. The sunlight became dimmer, filtered through the clouds and leaves. Since they were taking the back trails to Polfradon, they still saw no signs of the mercenaries or Naatos. Amelia always paused whenever she saw a rabbit, lizard, bird, or any other creature. Even a stick bug caught her eye. But none of them were the Vawtrians. The overall mood grew more somber the nearer they crept to Polfradon.
Amelia caught a few glimpses of the fortress after noon passed. Each time, they were closer. The red stone fortress perched upon the top of a forty-foot butte. Composed of thick hand-hewn stones, it had withstood many battles. Amelia couldn't remember the names of those battles, but she knew that if Naatos and his mercenaries had entrenched themselves inside, they would be hard to get out. Fortunately, the three of them just had to slip in, complete their tasks, and get back out. Not the easiest job in the world, but certainly easier than driving back the entire army.
Throughout the day, her elmis throbbed and itched. Amelia scratched at them. But the discomfort grew like a migraine pulsing under her skin. Humidity increased as the day wore on, the thunderheads building in the sky.
At last Shon motioned for them to stop. The leaves shadowed his face. "We'll have to go the rest of the way on foot," he said softly. "Hide the supplies. Let the bruins roam."
Excitement and anxiety built within Amelia. She rubbed Halig's head. "Stay safe, old friend." She kissed him between the eyes. She knew that the Ayamin trained these bruins well. They would return when given the signal, yet she couldn't help but worry.
"All right." Shon drew in a deep breath as he looked between Matthu and Amelia. "We have three objectives. If possible, we need to find out where the king is being kept, find and remove the kolagro, and either uncover the Salvation of the Third Nalenth or gain information about it as well as any of the prophecies."
Amelia nodded. He was quite handsome. The filtered sunlight highlighted his square jaw and made his eyes like the color of the ocean after a storm, all soothing, comforting, and—
Enough of that, she thought, annoyed with herself. She closed her eyes. This was a terrible time to be noticing such things. Even if they were true. She had to focus. Focus.
"Are you feeling all right, Amelia?" Shon asked.
"Yes." Amelia lifted her gaze to his and smiled, resisting the urge to slip back into her pubescent observations. "I think we should split up. We won't have much time in there. And WroOth already knows Matthu."
"Yeah. I'd rather not run into him again. He doesn't seem like the type to forget a face. Presuming he's still alive, of course. Still, it's not like you'll be much safer. They're going to recognize you right away." Matthu checked the collapsed javelins in his quiver and tested the slotted rods for strength.
"Shon can't do this alone though," Amelia said. "And I'll be careful." She turned her gaze back to Shon. "Just make sure you remember, it's RO oth. Not Ruth. Ha CAR, not Hacker."
"I don't plan to forget it." Shon set his arms akimbo. "And, Matthu, you're right, but I need both of you. Amelia, only one of the Nalenths can remove the kolagro from its mount. Father thinks that your handprint may be enough, even without the Ayamin band."
Amelia nodded. Though the Ayamin band was the primary form of identification in Libysha, hers was somewhere in the palace, locked away. Every child had a unique symbol that was cast from sand and gold. Hers had been cast when she first arrived in Libysha with Joseph. It was what had revealed she was the Third Nalenth. Hopefully, whatever it was that the Machat had done to make the kolagro recognize the three Nalenths would allow her to be recognized based simply on her DNA.
"Matthu," Shon said. "You absolutely cannot run into WroOth again."
"I know." Matthu shook his head, his cheeks flushing. "Ro, Ro, Ro. And Acker. No. Ah. I've spent years calling them that."
"It's not really that hard," Shon said.
"Ha CAR." Amelia used her fingers to demonstrate the enunciation. "Ha very soft. Like you're taking a sharp breath when you see him because he looks like a ghost. Then 'CAR' as you let the breath out. And RO oth. RO like—"
"Like the sound I'll make if he sees me and stabs me," Matthu said. "I guess this means I'm looking for the king."
"Yes. And I will find out about the Salvation of the Third Nalenth and the prophecies." Shon removed some additional clothing from the packs. "Our Talbokian uniforms still have those stains on them if the light hits it right. It's possible Naatos might recognize that. Let's get changed. Amelia, do you want a jacket?"
Amelia shook her head. "That's all right." She still had the sashes that she now kept draped around her neck in a large pseudo poncho. Besides, the larger Ayamin jackets and doublets would either be too bulky and cumbersome or too constricting. She needed her arms unbound.
As they went to change, she completed her own assessment of her weapons. The handgun hadn't proved effective against WroOth or Naatos, but she reloaded it and placed it in its holster. It would almost assuredly work against the Talbokians. And she might be able to slow Naatos and his brothers if there was enough room to take a shot and run. The knives were all slid into their various sheaths around her body, and she checked everything in her satchel. Everything was as ready as it could be.
Shon and Matthu returned shortly. They stashed the old tunics and stained garments with the supplies, and then they went over their plan once more. They would separate once they entered Polfradon, and they would meet up again when the sun went down and leave together.
With everything settled as best it could be, they continued on their way toward the hidden passageway Shon had mentioned earlier. They needed to get into Polfradon unseen.
The hidden passageway was on the north side of the fortress. Amelia couldn't even see its outline when they st
ood at the base of the butte. The leaves rustled in quiet harmony, but no birds sang. Aside from the wind, all was still.
Shon stretched his fingers and pressed on one of the stones. He slid his hand down to another and pushed again. Waiting for a few seconds, he set his hand against several other stones. Something within the butte vibrated and whirred like tightening ropes and grinding stones.
Amelia cringed. How could no one hear that?
A formerly invisible door slid back into the rock. Dry, musty air flowed out along with faint clouds of red dust. A few steps inside was a staircase so narrow it was almost a ladder. "Follow me." Shon led the way inside with Amelia behind him, Matthu behind her. Matthu closed the door. It groaned into place, leaving a faint puff of red dust.
Instead of plunging the narrow passage in darkness, a faint-red glow suffused the area. Tiny pinpricks of light came from the coarse red rock. They were little lichen-like creatures. The light they produced wasn't enough to read details or text without squinting or getting up close, but it revealed general forms in a hazy red. Red was usually one of Amelia's favorite colors, but it didn't soothe her here. The total suffusion set her on edge.
Shon continued up the staircase, his movements slow but sure. Each step was more than fifteen inches tall. Amelia's calves ached a little after the first dozen. Up and up they went, the close air heating around them. The passage smelled of their own body odor and a faint musk from the lichens. No one had been up this way in years if the closeness of the air was any indication. Sweat soaked the back of Amelia's shirt and under her arms. She was glad she didn't have any sleeves unlike Shon and Matthu, who wore full black armor and long linen tunics. The light sashes over her neck and shoulders gathered sweat but didn't constrict her.
Up they climbed, higher and higher. Deep carvings appeared on these walls, etching out ancient depictions with symbols.
At last they reached the top of the staircase and entered into a wide, curved room. It looked as if it might have once been a meditation chamber. Twelve waist-high pillars stood around the curved wall, each with a small carved statue set on the top. Each red stone statue depicted one of the Twelve and the core value that he or she depicted. The one nearest Amelia was Makista. He symbolized perseverance. It brought a smile to her face. How appropriate, she thought.
Neither Shon nor Matthu could stand at full height. They hunched over as they moved farther in. Amelia was grateful she at least had an inch or so between her head and the ceiling. Four other passages cut out aside from the staircase. The carvings beside the passages had been inlaid with deep black or indigo dye, making them more visible in the red light.
"All right," Shon whispered. "These lichens light everything through the upper levels. They're growing everywhere so you won't need a torch. Matthu, that's where you're going." He pointed to the passage on the far side of the room. "Amelia, if they've found the kolagro, it's going to be in the Great Hall or one of the sub-libraries. You can work your way out from there if they haven't. Your best chance is that way. The secret doors are always under the tapestries with three green leaves in the left-hand corner. Press on the bottom right corner of the seam to open them."
Amelia listened carefully. As he spoke, a slow feeling of dread built within her. Almost a premonition. What if Shon and Matthu ran into one of the three brothers? She could always reveal her status as the Third Nalenth, and they wouldn't be able to hurt her immediately. Her fingertips brushed the Neyeb necklace. An idea formed.
"Here." Amelia unfastened the leather strap and pulled the necklace in two. The stone pendant made a sharp crack, but it did not break against the seams. "Both of you take one of these. When I first met Naatos, he told me this necklace would keep Vawtrians from hurting me. There's something special about it. I don't know what exactly. But you can always reveal it if you run into them. It should work for you as well."
Matthu scratched his head. "I don't know."
"Amelia, that's yours. If you need protection, then you should keep it," Shon said.
"I can prove who I am if I have to, and I'm not expendable. You two are." Amelia held the necklace pieces out. "At least in Naatos's eyes."
Shon took it reluctantly. "Be careful, Amelia."
"Yeah," Matthu said. "Don't get caught."
"You too." Amelia smiled faintly. It was time.
She kept her left hand on the wall as she slipped into the passage. It was strange not to be wearing her necklace. She had worn it every day for as long as she could remember.
The dull red light remained close, the air even closer. Sweat leaked down her face as she made her way down the passage. Deeper and deeper.
Then she heard voices. Not from inside the passage. Outside.
Amelia pressed her ear against the wall. Sure enough, Talbokian guards were speaking on the other side. She listened. The conversation passed quickly, and the guards said nothing of value. No more than daily tasks and hopes for the future, one was expecting his first child. But she didn't move until they stopped.
This walk, pause, walk again seemed to go on for hours. Amelia wiped the sweat from her face, listened for any snippet of a clue, and longed for fresh free air. She was nearing the sub-libraries.
She reached another stop point and froze when she heard more voices. They talked about several different things, their conversation drawing closer. Then one of the mercenaries said, "Don't go to the second study chamber. They've put the kolagro in there and some other things they found in the excavation. The Lord Paras have said that they'll waste anyone who enters without permission."
Well, at least now she knew where to go. That was a blessing and a small answer to prayer. Thank you, Elonumato, Amelia thought. She waited until the voices left and then crept forward. The door slid back with ease, grinding only a little. She was just behind a gold and orange woven tapestry with the telltale leaves in the corner. Amelia peeked out. Fresh air, rich with oxygen, poured around her, cooling her face. All clear.
Sliding out of the passage, Amelia cracked the door open but kept the tapestry in front of it. Time to get the kolagro.
The walls of Polfradon were not layered with anything other than basic stones. Sunlight flowed through narrow windows. Aside from the tapestries hung at various intervals, the hall held nothing but torch stands and doors. If anyone came around the corner or out of one of those simple wooden doors, she would be seen.
It was strange Naatos didn't have more guards near the kolagro. Surely he wasn't that trusting, even with his reputation. Then again, perhaps arrogance was Naatos's weakness. The man had to have at least one weakness she could exploit.
Her breaths shallow, her palms sweating, Amelia made her way toward the second study chamber. All of the rooms were marked with their name and purpose over the door jambs in white ink. When she reached it, she pressed the door open and peeked inside. Her breath caught. Now she knew why there weren't any guards.
The kolagro sat with several artifacts in the middle of the table a few feet in front of another door. But all around the table lay crudons. Seventeen of them.
The crudons slept, the room rumbling with their low snores and the air thick with the scent of rotten meat, bad breath, and damp fur. Their heavy heads rested on their broad paws. One rolled onto its side, kicking at the air and snorting. Another shook its head and then dropped back into a deeper sleep.
Perfect, Amelia thought. She removed the gun from its holster. Even if she managed a kill shot for each one, she didn't have enough rounds loaded. And it was unlikely they would patiently wait their turn for execution and for her to reload.
Her best bet was to be as quiet as possible. If the crudons did wake up, she might be able to scare a couple off with a shot in the air rather than risk wounding one and putting herself in more danger. They looked to be sleeping deeply, and she had no open wounds or other obvious scents to stir them. If they retained their bear-like qualities, then there was little reason to worry so long as she was quiet. Additionally, the doors on the o
ther side were locked, the lever-like mechanism horizontal and fastened into both doors with claws. This was the only way in.
With one more deep breath to settle herself, Amelia stepped inside. She took care to tread light, resting her weight on the balls of her feet. Her boots had been well-worn, and they didn't squeak or scrape. Thankfully.
The room itself had been stripped of the books that once filled its shelves. The only thing in here was the table. The kolagro sat in the center of that table, attached to a stand. Amelia stopped in front of it and holstered her gun.
The kolagro was almost a foot in length. It had seven sides and numerous markings. It might have been an ancient language or an abstract design. But at the base was the indentation for the marks of the Nalenths. While the markings were there, there were also adult-sized abstract and heavily lined palm prints.
One of the crudons sneezed. It opened its yellow eyes for a moment, then fell back to sleep.
Amelia held her breath. Her shoulders and back throbbed from the tension. She wiped her hands on her black jeans and then put the base of her palm against the indentation that most resembled her own.
With a click, the metal pinched against her skin. The gears clattered. Amelia leaned forward, hunching her shoulders as if that would silence it.
The door opened and clicked shut again.
"Please tell me you're here to return Inale and not to steal the kolagro."
WroOth. Even more perfect. Amelia braced herself and turned to face him. "I see you're feeling better." She was relieved to see him alive, oddly enough, even if she wasn't happy to see him here.
"Oh, you were worried about me. I am touched." WroOth dipped his head forward. "No, it will take far more than a single crudon landing on me to end my life. And given my brother's aim, that is a good thing. As for you…well, you are determined to be more than an annoyance, aren't you?"
Identity Revealed: The Tue-Rah Chronicles Page 19