Sands of Nezza

by M. L. Forman

  “And the roots of the plant?” Tom asked.

  “The roots can be mixed with other things to make a strong sleeping potion,” said Alex.

  “What other things?” Tom asked quickly.

  “In time,” said Alex. “For now, study these flowers and the plant they came from. Tonight, I will try to find a book of herb lore for you. I think I have one in my bag that will be useful.”

  “You are too kind,” said Tom.

  Alex smiled and turned his attention to the food Dain was preparing. Tom wanted to learn, and that was good. Alex hoped there would be time to teach him. Once Virgil and his company reached Lord Talbot with Rallian, their adventure would be over. Alex knew he had to stay and help Rallian win his crown, but what would Virgil and his company do?

  Chapter Thirteen

  The Castle of Lord Talbot

  The days passed slowly as Alex and his friends made their way along the ancient path over the mountains. It took several days longer than Rallian had thought it would, and the need to hurry was pressing on them. The road was bad, and they were slowed because parts of the road were overgrown or covered by landslides. More than once they had to send Stonebill ahead to find the way for them.

  Alex continued to teach Tom about the different plants he found in the forest, and Tom remembered everything that Alex told him. Tom was also learning from the book Alex had given him. The two of them would sit up late into the night, Alex answering Tom’s many questions and explaining as much as he could. A few times Alex had to insist that Tom go to sleep because he was afraid that Tom would stay up all night if he let him.

  “He learns quickly,” Stonebill said to Alex as they were preparing to ride forward one morning.

  “Faster than I expected,” said Alex, saddling his horse.

  “As his knowledge grows, so will his power.”

  “Do you think that will be a problem?”

  “He will want to test himself at the wall,” said Stonebill. “He has a great desire to know more about the shadowlands.”

  “I will not take him there until I’m sure he’s ready,” said Alex.

  “He already knows the way,” Stonebill warned. “He may not know that he knows, but just the same, he knows.”

  “I will be watchful,” Alex promised.

  Stonebill flew ahead, but Alex continued to think about the raven’s words. Tom did know how to get to the wall. It would be dangerous if he went there alone, and chances were high he would not return. Until now, Alex had deliberately not discussed the wall or the shadowlands beyond it. Stonebill’s warning, however, made Alex think that he should start talking to Tom about the most dangerous part of being a healer.

  As they traveled down the north side of the mountains, the trees of the forest began to change. There were fewer pines and more aspen and birch trees now. Alex noticed the change and knew they were in Lord Talbot’s lands. If Rallian was correct, they should reach Talbot’s castle in ten days or perhaps two weeks.

  “Lord Talbot’s castle is very fine,” said Rallian in an excited tone. “His kingdom has had fewer wars than most, and far less damage has been done here.”

  “He has an army, doesn’t he?” Virgil asked.

  “A large one,” said Rallian. “His army is one of the reasons he’s had so few wars. None of the outer kingdoms, and few of the inner kingdoms, could raise an army to match Talbot’s.”

  “Then why has Talbot not claimed the kingdom for himself?” Tom asked.

  “Talbot is a noble man and would not make such a claim for himself,” said Rallian. “He knows he is not the true king of Nezza, so he is content to protect what is his and not make war on his neighbors.”

  “Then he is wise as well as noble,” said Skeld.

  The talk of Lord Talbot ended, but Alex could see Virgil still had questions and doubts. Alex also had questions, but he kept them to himself. Lord Talbot might be as noble as Rallian said he was, but would he be willing to give up his power and see someone else crowned king of Nezza? That was a question that only time could answer.

  They rode more quickly once they had left the mountains, and their increased speed made Alex happy. He knew that Lazar would not have been idle during these past few weeks, and he would not be likely to surrender to Rallian no matter what happened. It was more likely that he would launch an all-out war now that Rallian had escaped. Where would he start? Would he challenge Talbot? Perhaps he would begin with some of the smaller kingdoms first, building his own strength as he went.

  The most important question Alex had was, what was Magnus doing? Alex didn’t know what Magnus’s plans were, but he was sure they included Rallian. He had kept Rallian as a prisoner instead of killing him. The serpent in the desert had used magic to draw Rallian away but then spared him. Having Rallian alive and well seemed to be important to Magnus, but Alex couldn’t guess why.

  Alex was glad he had Tom’s training to take his mind off his worries. Late one afternoon, when the company had camped near a small pond, Alex started teaching Tom how to focus his magic.

  “Try using your magic to hold those floating sticks together, like a raft,” Alex instructed.

  “I’m not sure how,” said Tom.

  “Reach out with your thoughts, and let your mind feel the sticks and the water,” said Alex. “It might help you focus if you hold out your hand like you are actually touching the sticks.”

  Tom did as he was told, and after several minutes, the sticks floated together on the smooth water. Tom smiled and let his hand drop. As soon as he stopped concentrating, the sticks drifted apart.

  “Keep them together,” said Alex. “You can’t let your magic stop working like that. If you were trying to heal someone, stopping your magic like that might be fatal.”

  Tom raised his hand again and pulled the sticks back together. He held them in place on the water, a determined look on his face.

  Alex watched for a moment and then tossed a stone into the pond next to Tom’s raft of sticks. The raft came apart instantly, the sticks drifting away in different directions.

  “That’s not fair,” Tom complained.

  “No, it’s not,” Alex agreed. “Life is not always fair. When you can hold the raft together even when stones fall around it, you will be ready to use your magic to help others.”

  Tom accepted what Alex told him and continued to practice with his magic. Learning about plants and how they could be used to heal different sicknesses was easier for Tom than learning to focus his magic was.

  “Has anyone ever crossed the wall and returned?” Tom asked.

  It was late, and Alex was ending his lesson. Alex had explained how dangerous the wall between life and death was, but he knew that Tom would not truly understand until he stood before the wall in spirit.

  “No one that I know of,” Alex answered. “The call of the shadowlands is strong on this side of the wall. On the other side, I doubt that anyone could resist the desire to stay.”

  “How close can you get to the wall?” Tom asked, putting away the book Alex had given him.

  “The closer you get to the wall, the stronger your desire to cross it becomes,” said Alex. “I have been close, but I would prefer to stay as far away as possible.”

  Alex could see that Tom’s desire to go to the wall was increasing as his understanding grew. He knew that soon, much sooner than he would have guessed, he would have to take Tom there. He would go with him the first time to make sure Tom returned, but then what? What troubled Alex most was that to be a true healer of power, Tom would have to go to the wall alone and return without help. It was a dangerous test, but one that all true healers of power had to pass.

  As the days went by, the landscape continued to change, and so did the weather. It had been sunny and dry since Alex had come to Nezza, like a long and pleasant springtime. Now the sky was dark with clouds, and heavy rain fell almost every day. The muddy ground slowed their progress, but they continued north and east, counting the days until they woul
d reach Talbot’s castle.

  “The rains will continue for the next month or so,” said Rallian, sitting beside the fire one night. “Tomorrow we should start to see towns and villages. The roads will improve, and we will reach Lord Talbot’s castle the next day.”

  “A village inn would be most welcome,” said Skeld, shaking water from his hair.

  “Do we dare stop at an inn?” Dain asked. “Even if Lazar won’t send his army north, he will send his spies.”

  “And Rallian is well-known. It would be difficult for him not to be recognized,” added Tom.

  “Would Lazar dare tell his spies that they were looking for Rallian?” Alex wondered aloud. “He has let the rumors about Rallian grow. Most people think the prince is either lost on some adventure or dead.”

  “Which is why Lazar is ruling Karmus,” Virgil said. “I don’t think spies would be looking for Rallian—only for strangers.”

  “Which we are,” said Dain, lifting his boots to the fire in an attempt to dry them. “If we ride through towns and villages, we will be seen.”

  “We must pass through the towns and villages to reach Lord Talbot,” Rallian said firmly. “Travelers are not uncommon here in the north, and most people pay little attention to them. If we leave the roads and avoid the towns and villages, anyone who sees us will take notice.”

  “Then we will ride through,” said Virgil in a decisive tone. “But we will not stop at any inn or tavern as we go.”

  The others were disappointed but said nothing, accepting Virgil’s decision. Alex thought it wise not to stop, but he wondered what the people of the towns and villages would think. It seemed obvious to him that Lord Talbot would hear about them long before they reached his castle, and there was no telling how Talbot would react.

  The next day, the clouds began to break apart and the sun came out from time to time as they went along. They had not ridden far when they came to a well-traveled road. Rallian thought it was probably the road from Waymar, a city to the southwest.

  “If we follow the road to the northeast, we will come to Talbas, where Lord Talbot’s castle is,” said Rallian.

  “It follows open ground,” said Skeld, glancing at Virgil.

  “We will be easily seen,” Dain added unhappily.

  “And we’ll easily see anyone approaching us,” said Virgil, though Alex could see he shared the concerns of the others.

  They followed the road, moving much quicker than they had in the open fields. There was little talking as they went. Alex could tell that Virgil and his company were growing more nervous, and Rallian was getting more excited as the day went on. His own thoughts turned to Lord Talbot and what kind of man he was.

  “Our time grows short,” Tom said to Alex, his voice lowered so the others would not hear. “The adventure we agreed to is almost at its end.”

  “And you are worried that your training will not be complete,” said Alex, looking at Tom.

  “I have learned a great deal, but there are many things I do not yet understand,” said Tom.

  “A few weeks is a short time to train a healer. Already you wish to test yourself at the wall,” said Alex flatly—it was not a question.

  “A true healer of power can go to the wall,” said Tom, glancing at Alex quickly before looking away again.

  “And a true healer of power knows better than to rush into danger,” said Alex.

  “I just thought . . .” Tom began but stopped.

  Alex rode along in silence, waiting for Tom to continue, but Tom simply rode beside him, looking at the ground. After several minutes, Alex broke the silence.

  “Do you think you are ready for that test?”

  “I will do as you say,” Tom answered.

  “That does not answer my question,” said Alex.

  “I would like to try,” said Tom, his eyes still fixed on the ground.

  “Soon,” said Alex.

  They went on all day, riding through several small villages and one fair-sized town, but not stopping. The local people did not speak to them, but Alex could feel their eyes watching the group’s every move.

  Virgil finally stopped them for the night near a small stream, setting up their camp next to a grove of large oak trees. Stonebill flew off as it was getting dark, unhappy about their campsite’s location and wanting to see what was around them.

  Alex felt the same way Stonebill did about their campsite. The trees blocked the view to the north and east, and being so close to the stream put them in a low spot. It would be easy for a company of soldiers to sneak up on them from almost any direction. Alex wasn’t too worried about Lazar’s soldiers being here, but Talbot’s soldiers might be just as dangerous. If they attacked without waiting to find out who Virgil and the others were, their journey might come to a sudden end.

  “We can hide under the trees if we must,” said Virgil, noting Alex’s unhappiness.

  “I will not hide,” said Rallian defiantly. “Lord Talbot was a friend of my father, he is a kinsman to me, and, from what you’ve told me, a great friend of mine as well.”

  “But his soldiers may not recognize you or share his friendship,” said Tom.

  “And in the darkness, things could get out of hand in a hurry,” Skeld added.

  “I will not hide,” Rallian repeated, and his words ended the discussion.

  Stonebill returned just as the company was getting ready to go to sleep. He fluttered down to land on Alex’s shoulder, his feathers twitching slightly.

  “A large party of soldiers approaches from the north,” he reported to Alex. “They are moving quietly and with purpose.”

  “How many are there?” Alex asked.

  “At least fifty,” said Stonebill. “Another group of the same size approaches from the south, but they are farther away.”

  “Do you think they will attack us in the night?”

  “I heard them speak of encirclement,” Stonebill answered. “I think they mean to capture you. They will not risk a night attack.”

  Alex nodded and explained to Virgil and the others what Stonebill had seen and heard.

  “We cannot fight so many,” said Dain. “Even with Alex on our side, it would be a difficult victory.”

  “We don’t need to fight,” said Rallian. “These must be Talbot’s men, and if they mean to capture us, we should let them. We are going to Talbot’s castle anyway, so why not go with them?”

  “And if Talbot turns out to be another Lazar?” Skeld asked, voicing a question most of them had thought about.

  “Then there is little that fighting will do,” said Virgil.

  “Alex, what do you think?” Skeld asked.

  “We should wait for them to move first,” said Alex. “I don’t think they will attack us in the night. If they attempt to capture us, then we will have to decide what to do.”

  “Very well,” said Virgil, looking around at the company. “Double watch, and keep the fire burning. We will sleep ready for battle and hope that it is not needed.”

  They all agreed, though Rallian seemed unhappy about it. It was obvious he trusted Talbot, but then, he had once trusted Lazar as well.

  The night passed slowly, and none of them got much sleep. Alex spent most of the night listening and looking into the darkness around the camp. He knew the soldiers were there, even though they’d encircled the camp quietly. They didn’t seem to be in any rush to make their presence known, however, and Alex didn’t tell the others that the soldiers were waiting in the darkness.

  As sunrise approached, the adventurers were all on their feet. They could easily see the soldiers in the dim predawn light, and they weren’t happy about what they saw.

  “Why do they not announce themselves?” Dain asked, putting on his dwarf helmet and fingering his ax. “Why all of this watching and waiting?”

  “Perhaps they have been waiting for better light,” said Tom. “They may be under orders to capture us all, and in the darkness some of us could slip away.”

  “We’
ll find out soon enough,” said Virgil, pointing toward the soldiers. “They seem to be done waiting.”

  Three soldiers rode forward, each carrying a large banner. Alex looked at the banners with interest and leaned on his staff to wait.

  “The banner on the right is for the house of Talbot,” Rallian told them. “The banner on the left is that of the true king.”

  “And the middle banner?” Virgil asked.

  “It is the blue-and-white banner of truce,” said Rallian. “It means they want to talk to us before any hostilities break out.”

  “Then we talk,” said Virgil, sounding grim. “I will speak for my company, but I cannot speak for you, Prince Rallian, or for you, Alex.”

  “Then the three of us should all go forward,” said Rallian. “It is customary to meet the banner of truce on neutral ground.”

  Alex nodded and walked forward with Virgil and Rallian. As he walked, he wondered if he should have worn his sword. He had not yet needed it in Nezza, but he had a feeling that he would soon.

  The soldiers with the banners stopped and dismounted, waiting for Virgil, Rallian, and Alex to approach before speaking. Virgil looked nervous but firm; Rallian looked happy. Alex tried to look stern, but he felt strangely happy and found it hard not to smile.

  “We are the servants of Lord Talbot,” the man holding the banner of truce announced. “We wish to know if you are friend or foe to our lord.”

  “Friends,” said Virgil.

  “Why do you come?” questioned the man.

  “Lord Talbot sent us on a quest,” answered Virgil. “We return now, our quest complete.”

  “You are the adventurers that Lord Talbot hired,” the man said, looking past Virgil to the camp. “We were told there were six of you, but I count a dozen horses.”

  “We have extra horses, taken from those who would hinder us in our quest,” said Virgil. “Two of our company have fallen completing our quest. Lord Talbot asked us to find Prince Rallian, and so we have.”