After the council meeting, Faruz limped across the square to the home he shared with Zifa. Married life suited him well, in his own humble opinion, and he couldn't wait to see her again. She wasn't going to be happy that he had volunteered for the trek to the swamp, but he couldn't do anything about that. As the army captain, he had to set an example and take responsibility for the safety of their home.
He hobbled through the front door and collapsed into his favorite chair by the fire. Zontrec the green of the ferns under the village covered the plush seat, and it had a matching ottoman. It was comfortable enough, but he liked it because it was wide enough for two, and Zifa often sat with him while he elevated his healing leg. For a day or so after the battle, he had expected to lose that leg altogether, and he'd been shocked when feeling and movement had returned to his foot. Still, it had been a hard year. He had needed to relearn how to walk, and tasks he had performed easily before, such as running or jumping, were now difficult or impossible.
A noise startled him out of his reverie, and he glanced up. Zifa pushed through the door carrying a tray of food. She set it on the table beside his chair and sank into the plush seat beside him.
“How was the meeting?” She wiggled further down into the chair and tucked her skirts around her legs.
He hesitated. Should he tell her now, or wait until the evening?
“It went well, for what it was. None of us really understand what’s happening besides Valasa, and even he seems puzzled this time. How are you feeling? Is your headache gone?”
“Almost. I think it’s all the strange smells in the forest. The trees are sick, and I spend so much time up in the branches that it’s making me sick, too. I hate to miss the meetings, though.”
“I know. We’ll figure out how to fix it.”
“So, what did you–”
“Valasa thinks we should–”
They spoke at the same time and erupted in laughter.
Faruz placed a hand over his mouth and gestured for Zifa to talk.
She laughed again and pulled his hand down. “You’re absurd. So, what do you do now? You said Valasa has an idea?”
"Yes." He drew the word out, and her smile vanished. "He says the fruit of the Saethem will cure the forest, so I'm going to lead a small team to the swamp north of Kainga to retrieve the fruit."
“You’re leading the team? But we just got married!”
He groaned. “I know, but you should have seen the way they looked at me. They don’t think I can do it. How am I supposed to lead the army if even the council thinks I’m incapacitated?” He leaned over so that his face was close to hers. “This is my chance to prove myself. I can show them that I can still do everything I used to do.”
She chewed her bottom lip, and he narrowed his eyes at the uncertainty he read on her face.
“You don’t think I can do it, either, do you?”
He fell back into the soft cushion, his breath leaving him in a painful sigh.
"That's not it, and you know it." She snuggled closer to his side, pressing a hand to his chest. "I have no doubt that you can do anything you set your mind to, but I'd rather you stay here and build a life with me. We've been married less than a week, and you're already planning to leave. Besides, how do you know where the Saethem is? People have guessed and theorized about it for as anyone knows."
“We won’t be gone long, a couple of weeks at the most. As for the Saethem, Valasa says the forest told him where to go.” He sat forward again and grabbed her shoulders, staring into her eyes.
"I have to prove I can do this. What kind of captain can't go on a simple expedition like this one? We're not even going to battle, just going to pick fruit off a tree in the swamp. Besides, Aibek and I are the only ones who have been there before, and he's going on a different errand."
“Wait a minute. What other errand? And why does Aibek have to go? Who’ll be in charge here if you’re both off traipsing across the countryside?” She threw her hands up and shook her head.
"He has to go to the Heart of the Forest, to beg the Bokinna to help us keep Helak's forces out of the Tsari. He also wants to see if she's well since the forest has been falling apart. He's going because Valasa said he's the only one who has the authority to approach the holy ancient being or something like that."
"Oh. Well, I guess that makes sense. He is the mayor, after all. What if I go with you? I can hold my own, and I won't slow you down."
He paused, considering. “I know you can, but I’m not sure it would be the best idea, and only because I’ve been out on that road. You’d have no privacy; you’d have to bathe with the men or not at all. I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that idea.”
“I’d have privacy in the swamp. There are trees there, right? They would provide some cover.”
"Not really. I mean, yes, there are trees there, but no, you wouldn't be able to go off on your own safely. We stayed very close together, and we never stopped moving. There are creatures there that would attack given half a chance."
Was that true? He hoped that wasn’t true. If it was, he might be in trouble.
“If that’s the case, shouldn’t you…” She trailed off before she could finish the thought.
"Shouldn't I what? Stay here where it's safe?" He worked to control the fury blossoming in his belly, though his thoughts had mirrored hers. He took a few deep breaths and waited for the feeling to pass.
“That’s not what I meant. I’d just be happier if you’d stay here with me. We haven’t even finished unpacking my things.”
He ducked his head and kissed her hard. “We’ll get you settled before I go, but I have to do this. I need to prove that I can.”
She nodded, and he limped down the hall toward their bedchamber. Their lunch sat, untouched, on the table where she had set it earlier.
8
Farewell
Aibek tossed his old linen shirt into the pack, along with the leather breeches he had worn when he arrived in Nivaka. Compared to the zontrec clothing he wore in the village, the fabric felt stiff and uncomfortable, but it felt wrong to wear garments made from the trees to visit the Bokinna. Shaking his head, he glanced up at Serik who had also packed the linen and leather clothing they had worn in the city.
“I didn’t think I’d be doing this again so soon,” Aibek said.
“We won’t be gone for long, sir.” Serik pulled a second pair of leather pants out of the wardrobe and tossed them to Aibek who rolled them and tucked them into his knapsack.
Once he had everything he needed in the pack, he set it by the door and slumped into his favorite chair by the fire.
Serik stood beside his chair. “Would you like something to eat, sir?”
“Yes, that would be wonderful.”
The elderly servant turned and left the room, leaving Aibek alone with his thoughts.
It had started to turn cold with approaching winter. Was it wise to spend an extended amount of time outdoors this time of the year? Was it cruel to bring Serik along on such a journey? He stood and stuffed one more blanket into his bag. It wouldn’t hurt to have an extra.
He had just settled back into his chair when someone tapped on the door. A woman’s form huddled inside a cloak rushed into the room ahead of his housekeeper.
Aibek smiled. “Thank you, Giana.”
The plump woman nodded and backed out of the room, leaving the door open to the hall.
His guest shrugged out of the cloak and turned, draping the garment over her arm. Aibek frowned and blinked. Tamyr, the woman who had tried to hide the weapon after Alija's stabbing the summer before, stood in his sitting room, glaring across the space. Once Ahni had taken the blame for that attack, Tamyr had gone free, but she had never been friendly to Aibek or the council. Why had she come?
"Please, make yourself comfortable." He adjusted his facial expression and waved her into a chair; he seated himself across from her. "What can I do for you this evening?" He kept his voice both formal and friendly.
<
br /> “You leave for the Heart of the Forest in the morning, and you’ll be on the ground for at least a week, right?”
He nodded.
“I came to warn you. The forest is full of creatures who would gladly destroy all humans. Do not trust it.”
“Trust what? The forest?” A sour laugh bubbled up in his chest. “I learned that lesson well from our neighbors in Kasanto.”
“They are not the greatest danger in the forest, not by far. You’ll need to keep your wits about you.”
She kept her gaze on the fire, and he wished she would look at him. He couldn’t read her expression in profile. His eyes widened as her words hit home. “What do you know of nights on the ground?”
“My family have long studied the plants and herbs in the forest. They’re useful for helping with mild illnesses and injuries that don’t require the Gadonu’s attention. I used to go with my father and brother into the forest to find the leaves and berries we needed.” She knotted her fingers in her lap but didn’t turn her head.
“So, you were the one who poisoned our bed linens?”
She nodded. “I am sorry about that. We didn’t know yet what kind of mayor you would be, but we thought a local would be better. We were wrong.”
“Thank you.” He paused, waiting for her to meet his gaze. When she didn’t, he reconsidered her warning. “What sorts of dangers should we be worried about?”
“There are too many to list. Just know that everything isn’t what it seems, and never let your guard down. Some creatures look exactly like the trees they hide amongst.”
She pulled a leather pouch out of her skirt pocket and handed it to him, meeting his eyes for the first time. The concern in her expression shocked him, and he examined the worn leather. Opening the pouch, he flipped through the paper packets inside. Each bore a tidy label with its contents and uses.
“My father asked me to bring these to you. Hopefully, you won’t need them, but if you do, it will be best to have them available.”
"Um…thank you. I really appreciate it." He stood and tucked the pouch into his pack, between his clothes, so they could cushion and protect it.
He had seated himself again when Serik entered the room carrying a tray laden with steaming famanc and Aibek’s favorite heavy, fruit-filled cakes.
“Pardon the intrusion. I didn’t know you had a guest.” He set the tray on the table between Aibek and Tamyr and turned toward the door.
“Don’t leave, I was just going.” Tamyr jumped up and walked to the door. She turned in the doorway and said, “Good luck,” before she disappeared down the hall.
“You have the oddest visitors sometimes, sir.”
Aibek laughed. "I can't deny that. Something about me makes women act weird whenever they come to see me." His mind was on the strange visit from Tamyr as well as a similar visit from Ahren the year before. He sighed. He would prefer a less prickly response from the village women. Marah had certainly been friendly enough before she left, but nothing could ever come of a relationship with her. She was the mayor of her village, so she wouldn't likely want to move to Nivaka, and Aibek wouldn't relocate to her home.
“Have you heard anything more from your parents? I haven’t seen them in nearly three weeks now.” Serik settled into his usual chair and picked up a mug of famanc.
Shaking his head, Aibek chose a cake from the tray. “Me neither. I hope everything is all right. They’ve never been gone for this long before.”
He grabbed a mug of famanc from the tray and ate in silence, mulling over the events of the day. One of the things he liked best about his oldest friend was the fact that Serik never felt the need to fill the silence with idle chatter.
Remembering his earlier concern, he glanced over at the elderly servant.
“Serik?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Would you rather stay here this time? I don’t know how difficult this journey will be…” His words trailed off as he searched for a way to phrase his concerns.
A smile stretched across Serik’s weathered features. “No. Perhaps the next time I will stay home, but I cannot pass up the opportunity to stand in the presence of the Bokinna herself. I will do my best not to slow you down.”
“That isn’t what I meant!” Aibek’s eyes widened. “I was merely concerned for your comfort and well-being.”
Serik laughed. “Very well then, I shall come along and move as slowly as an old man ought, and if I slow you down, then that is your problem.”
Incredulous laughter escaped Aibek, and he stared at Serik through wide eyes.
“Serik! Did you just make a joke? I’ve never heard such a thing from you.”
The old man flushed and chuckled but said nothing.
Perhaps this journey meant more to the old man than Aibek could understand. Their laughter faded into quiet as they finished their snack, and Aibek made a mental note to pack one more blanket. If he might need an extra, then Serik certainly would.
* * *
The dense clouds obscured much of the early morning light, and a blustery wind howled through the trees. Aibek dropped the curtains and stepped away from the window.
“Um…Do you think there’s any way we can put this off for a day? You know, let this storm blow past before we leave?”
Serik laughed. “You know the answer to that. The elves will be waiting. Are you finished with your breakfast? You didn’t eat much.”
Aibek placed a hand over his nervous stomach. "I can't eat anymore. I'll bring a few cakes with me for the trip." He picked up a favorite cake, wrapped it carefully in his napkin, and placed it inside his pack–right on top so it would be easy to get to later.
As he wrapped a second cake, Faruz limped through the door wearing his academy sword around his waist and a bulging knapsack strapped onto his back. Aibek watched, concerned, as his friend hobbled across the smooth floor. How would he make it through the mud and muck of the swamp? It had been well over a year, but Aibek hadn’t forgotten how hard it had been to walk through that bog, the mud pulling at his boots and sucking his feet deeper into the mess.
“Well? Are you going to stare at me all day or are we going to start out?”
Turning back to the blazing fire, Aibek laughed. “I’d much rather stay here if I have a choice.”
Faruz laughed along. “You never were much for adventures. You always sent me off into the mountains while you stayed at home–to train you always said.”
Aibek’s smile vanished. “I was training. I would have gone with you in an instant, but my uncle forbade it.”
“I know, I know. So, let’s get going! The day’s not going to get any better, and we’re wasting daylight.”
Rolling his eyes at his friend's enthusiasm, Aibek slung his pack over his shoulders and waved Serik ahead of him. He was not looking forward to this journey, though it would be an excellent chance to learn more about the forest that was now his home.
They had made it halfway to the east entrance when Valasa rushed toward them from an intersecting boardwalk, his face flushed and his breathing ragged, as if he had been running.
“Thank the forest I caught you.” He grabbed onto Aibek’s arm and held it tightly while he heaved for breath.
“I very nearly forgot.” He held up the medallion he had shown them in the meeting. “Faruz, you’ll need to wear this in the swamp, or you won’t stand a chance.”
Perplexed, Faruz scratched his head. “Uhh. We’re talking about trees, right? I can climb a tree and pick the fruit.”
Valasa laughed with an uncomfortable tenor. “These aren’t ordinary trees. They’re aware, and they can move.”
“You said they move very slowly, and that it takes a great deal of effort.” Faruz shrugged, undaunted.
Shaking his head, Valasa grabbed Faruz’s arm as the young man stepped away. “Yes, it takes time and energy for them to move their roots. However, their branches and leaves can move freely, like your arms.”
“Of course. Wonderful. So
how does this work? I stroll up to the tree and shove this trinket in its branches before it has a chance to swat me like a bug?”
"Well, not exactly. You'll have to announce yourself well before you get close. The Saethem has protectors in the swamp."
“And you didn’t tell me this sooner?” Faruz’s voice pitched higher with each successive question.
Aibek turned his head between Valasa and Faruz as he tried to keep up with their rapid discussion.
"I did. I mentioned it when I first found the medallion, remember? 'Valasa holds the key,' and all that. Besides, it's common knowledge. The keepers of the forest are some of the richest parts of our lore."
“Now that you mention it, I do remember you saying something about the protectors before.” Faruz glowered into the dim forest below. “I didn’t grow up here, remember? And you’ve been pretty busy trying to heal the forest, so you haven’t exactly taught us a lot of the religious lore.” He paused, glaring at the heavy necklace.
Valasa went still, staring wide-eyed at Faruz. “You’re perfectly right, of course. I have completely shirked my duty where you were concerned. Please accept my humblest apologies. I will remedy that oversight as soon as you return, but you have to be on your way now. You don’t want to anger your escorts on the ground.”
He ushered Aibek and Faruz to the entrance, muttering the entire time. Aibek only caught a word or two here and there, but it sounded like he said something about city folk not maintaining forest customs. He had probably thought that Noral or Ira–or Serik–had told Aibek those stories as he grew up. Well, hopefully, they would both make it through their confrontations with the keepers. Maybe they wouldn't be as dreadful as they sounded.
The entrance loomed ahead, and Aibek forced his attention to the moment at hand. A large group of elves and dwarves surrounded the stairs, each brandishing their traditional axes, staffs, and spears. This journey was not off to a promising start.
* * *
Eddrick stalked between the window and the four-poster bed. Their guest chamber was large and comfortable, but still, he paced like an animal in a cage. They had been trapped in Hiraeth for eight days, and he needed his chance to address the ancients. He had learned some troubling secrets in his time spying on Helak, and he needed guidance. What was his next step? How could he use that information to protect his son? Would they even let him intervene? He longed to talk to his father, but Agommi had left the city the morning after Eddrick and Kiri had arrived. They had not been allowed to leave Hiraeth this week, and the two weeks before had been wasted trying to find the city and the hall within. Only once had he gone so long without seeing his son.
The Nivaka Chronicles Boxed Set Page 37