Amiran’s death cast a shadow on the expedition, and Aibek thought of his wife. They’d have to find a way to break the news to her. No doubt that was what had kept Faruz so quiet by the fire. He had always taken it personally when his subordinates were injured on missions, and this would be no different.
Ahren dropped into the chair beside Aibek, startling him back to the present. Wayra settled onto the floor by the hearth.
“That was really nice of you,” she murmured.
Aibek laughed. “No, I should have stopped at your room on the way to his. At least this way he had a chance to bathe first. He smelled like the swamp when I saw him in the foyer.”
Wayra wrinkled his nose. “I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of that stench.”
“I remember it well. It never leaves the memory.” Aibek laughed.
Wayra made a show of sniffing the air. “I’m going to go find out what smells so good and maybe have a snack before dinner. I’m starving!”
He jumped up and hurried out the door.
Smiling, Aibek watched him go.
“I’m glad I got all the arrangements figured out today, because it looks like I’ll have to go back to Nivaka with Faruz in the morning.”
“Why? Did he–”
“We shouldn’t talk about it here.” Aibek pointed to the open door. “Anyone could overhear. Let’s just assume he did, and I’ll need to complete the task.”
She nodded. They had discussed the fact that villagers had been approached here by Helak’s men on earlier visits, and he knew she understood the need to keep their purpose to themselves. What he hadn’t told her was that the forest grew weaker by the day, and he feared any delay could mean the end of the Tsari. In fact, if the sun hadn’t already set, he would have insisted on setting out that night, regardless of Faruz’s obvious fatigue.
27
Spies
The next morning, Ahren sat with Kai, Dalan, and Hekma near the others. Animated conversation flowed between the tables, but she tuned it out, studying the small groups of locals gathered in the dining hall. Most were absorbed in their porridge and quiet conversations, but one group watched Aibek's table with open interest. One of these, a short, muscled man with wild black hair and an unkempt beard that reached his waist, caught Ahren watching, met her eyes with a vicious glare, and turned back to his breakfast. She shifted in her seat so she could eat her meal without losing sight of the man and his friends. She listened with half an ear as her friends discussed plans to get Faruz’s group home and pretended not to notice when the watcher’s friends left the room and he moved to the table behind hers.
When Aibek stood and left the dining hall, Ahren lingered behind, pretending interest in a second bowl of porridge and waiting to see what the poorly-groomed listener would do. He stood, hesitated, and followed Aibek from the room. Without making a sound, Ahren trailed behind. She hadn’t packed her belongings, as the others had, because she had planned to stay in Kainga. Now, she questioned the wisdom of that decision. This man was dangerous, and clearly had an interest in their group. Besides, she couldn’t stay alone, since Zifa would return home with her husband. She heaved a sigh and rushed passed the bearded man hiding in a doorway near Aibek’s room. She would have to hurry if she planned to catch up to the others.
* * *
The midmorning sun had burned away the last of the mist when Ahren trailed Aibek’s group out of the inn. Zifa had attached herself to her husband, so Ahren walked alone without drawing any attention. She couldn’t help but notice that the hairy man and three of his friends followed them through the crowded streets to the ferry. She longed to tell the others, but hadn’t been able to find an opportunity to speak with one of them in confidence since breakfast. She’d had to rush to pack her things for the trip home. Still, the small hairs on her neck stood on end and she felt the hairy man’s gaze boring into her back.
What’s their purpose? What do these men want with Aibek?
They clearly had no interest in her, as they had all but ignored her at breakfast, and they didn’t bother trying to avoid her gaze.
She kept them in sight as she followed Aibek onto the broad top deck of the ferry. They kept several people between them in the ticket line, but boarded the boat close behind Ahren.
The narrow stairs wobbled under her feet as she climbed aboard, and she moved faster to get to more stable footing. This part never failed to unnerve her. Once she stepped over the small gap, she hurried up onto the wide, flat top deck and caught up to Aibek and Faruz at the railing.
The feeling of eyes burning into her back never left, even when she couldn’t see the men. She worked to ignore the feeling, tipping her face up into the faint warmth of the morning sun and letting the breeze ruffle her hair. The ferry had shoved off when she spotted the bearded man again, standing at the far rail.
At first glance, he appeared to be lost in a friendly conversation with another passenger, but he never took his eyes off Aibek for more than a breath. She glanced to the sides and spotted his friends nearby, each talking to separate passengers. They were no more than a few paces apart.
Now was her chance. There was no way they could hear her over the building rush of wind, so she turned to face the outer rail beside Aibek.
"Don't turn around, but we're being followed." She kept her voice low, but spoke clearly.
Aibek frowned, but didn’t turn toward her. “Who? How long have they been following?”
“A short man with a heavy black beard and long hair and his two friends. They look similar, but their hair is lighter. They’ve been following since breakfast.”
He nodded. “I saw the one with the black hair. He looks like one that Dalan described from their trip north. I hadn’t noticed the others. Hopefully, they just want to see us leave the city.”
“If that was all they wanted, wouldn’t they have stayed in Kainga? Seeing us board the ferry would have been proof enough that we weren’t staying.” She struggled to keep her voice down, but her anxiety grew with every passing moment.
“I know. It’s more likely that they’ve decided we’re an easy target for a robbery. It’s no secret that we’ve let half the rooms in Kainga for the Grand Council, so they’ll know we have all the coin they could want. We should prepare for an assault as soon as we debark. We’ll keep quiet for now, so we don't arouse their suspicion."
She nodded and turned away from the rail, searching the crowd for the dark-haired follower. He had moved closer and stood in the center of the deck, conversing with a farmer. Ahren decided she wouldn’t turn her back to him again.
* * *
Ahren was right. No matter how Aibek moved on the deck of the ferry, the man with the bushy black hair followed a few steps behind. The other two followed Faruz and Hekma. Aibek worked to keep them in sight as the pier came into view and workers piled onto the deck.
It was the distraction Aibek had been waiting for. While the bearded man and his cronies disappeared in the throng of workers, Aibek signaled Ahren to tell the others what she had seen. While she spoke to them, he hurried over to the stairs that led down to the enclosed deck where they would debark. He wanted to know if Helak’s men would stay on him, or turn back to close in on Faruz.
None of the men followed him. Instead, they circled closer to the rail where Faruz, Wayra, Hekma, and the women stood shoulder to shoulder. Aibek edged his way around the outer rail toward them, never taking his eyes off the unkempt pursuers. He caught the gaze of one man, a slightly taller man with short brown hair and a beard that looked as wild as the thorny brambles that grew near the lake. At Aibek’s direct stare, the man dropped his gaze, shuffled over to the black-haired man, and tapped him on the shoulder. They exchanged a few hushed words, cast furtive glances at Aibek, and turned back to the group along the rail. When they looked back at Aibek, he had covered half the distance to where they stood, and their eyes widened in alarm. They scattered into the crowd, and Aibek rejoined his friends, though he remained vigilant as t
he ferry docked.
The bearded men were nowhere in sight as the passengers lined up and filed down the ladder and away from the tall-masted vessel. Aibek’s shoulders prickled under the unseen watch, but he resisted the urge to turn and search them out.
Instead, he let Faruz lead their group toward the southbound road. He kept to the rear, watching beside and behind his team for any sign of attack. Nothing happened. They strolled over the gently rolling plain, and Aibek relaxed a bit and enjoyed the fair weather. The morning had warmed to a pleasant temperature, and only a soft breeze ruffled his cape around his ankles. The snow had melted away, leaving the road clear, but damp.
Tilting his head toward the warmth of the sun, he listened to the soft sounds of the river: the rush of waves against the banks, birds calling overhead, the rustle of wind in the grass, the tinkling sound of pebbles bouncing down a gentle incline. Wait. That last one was wrong.
He straightened and turned in time to dodge a vicious blow. The black-haired man had managed to find a club, and he wielded it now with an evil glare.
“Look out!” Aibek ducked away from another swing of the club.
He yanked his sword from its scabbard and spun to face his attacker. Now that he was armed, the bearded man gave him a wider berth, circling just out of reach and waiting for an opening. He tossed the club from one hand to the other, wiping each hand on his trousers and adjusting his grip.
Aibek suppressed a smile. His adversary was new to combat and was nervous. Perhaps, that would give Aibek and his friends an advantage, though he wasn't worried since Aibek's group had eight members and their opponents only had three. As he and the black-haired man circled, Helak's other two men moved past and swung staffs at the other travelers. With his back to his friends, Aibek couldn't see who approached, but he had little doubt they were after Faruz's pack.
The dark-haired man stepped closer, planted his foot, and swung the club with surprising strength. Aibek jumped backward, stumbled on a rock, and regained his footing without taking his eyes off his opponent. Perhaps he didn’t have much of an advantage, after all. He adjusted his sword in his hands and waited for his adversary to drop his guard, if only for an instant.
“Run!”
Aibek glanced back to see who was shouting. Zifa, Ahren, and the dwarf, Hekma, were running toward the safety of the forest, while Faruz, Dalan, and Wayra faced six bearded attackers. Where had the others come from?
"Umph!" The air rushed out of his lungs and Aibek staggered. The black-haired man had taken advantage of his distraction and struck him in the shoulder. Somehow, Aibek managed to keep hold of his sword, and he swung it in an easy circle, checking for injury. Finding none, he pulled his focus back to his attacker, circling until he could see Faruz beside him.
One of the new warriors fell to Faruz’s sword, and the black-haired man leaped toward him. Without hesitation, Aibek swung, cutting a deep slice from the man’s shoulder to his hip. Red blossomed across his dingy tunic and he clutched his side, stumbled, and fell. The wound wasn’t likely fatal, but would keep him out of the fight, which was good enough for Aibek. He kicked the club away from the fallen man’s groping hands, stepped around him, and moved to help Faruz. When he looked to the place where Faruz had stood, his eyes widened.
More enemies had joined the fight. Faruz, Dalan, and Wayra were doing a fine job of keeping them at bay, but they wouldn’t hold for long. Desperate, Aibek scrambled for ideas. Time stood still, and his eyes landed on the heavy weapon his opponent had dropped. He scooped up the discarded club, tested its weight, and nodded. This would do.
He looked up, saw that none of the others had noticed him, and paused to pull a length of slender rope from his pack. As quickly as he could, he secured the cord to the club’s rough handle and stepped into the fray beside Wayra.
* * *
Faruz kept his eyes on the growing number of Helak’s men, but he couldn’t deny the relief that coursed through him when Aibek stepped in the line. It was nowhere near a fair fight, but they would have a better chance if they stayed together. They’d won against all odds the year before. His leg tensed in remembered pain, but he shook it off and parried a new assault. This time, his opponent carried a staff, and Faruz’s sword cut deep into the wood before he yanked it loose.
As he prepared for the next onslaught, Faruz glanced over at his friends and frowned. Aibek had stepped out in front of Wayra and Dalan and was swinging something dark and heavy above his head. His entire body swayed with the effort of controlling his weapon, and Faruz stared, transfixed, at the raw power it contained. If Aibek could time the release just right, that thing–whatever it was–could take out half of Helak's henchmen. The problem was that Aibek didn't seem to be paying attention. He had his eyes closed, and his face relaxed as if he were sleeping. What was he doing?
Something jerked him backward and Faruz reeled, struggling to stay on his feet. He had taken his eyes off his enemies for too long, and one of them had managed to get behind him. A blade flashed over his head, and he lurched right to dodge the blow.
Aibek released his weapon and it crashed into the assembled warriors, knocking several to the ground. Two sat up, but the others stayed down, groaning and bleeding. Faruz spun on his attacker and froze. He had meant to use the distraction to his advantage, but so had his opponent. Two men bore down on him, though only one carried a dagger. The other wielded fists covered in cuts and scars. These men were no strangers to fighting. Someone behind him grabbed his pack, and he lurched toward the approaching men. He couldn't let them get his pack; it would be better to take his chances against the men in front of him. One strap of his bag fell loose, and he clutched at the remaining strap with his free hand.
With his sword raised to strike, Faruz spun. Shock jolted through him when Aibek lowered his dagger and sliced through the second strap.
“What are you doing?” The words hissed through Faruz’s clenched teeth. “We have to get to the forest!”
Aibek pointed to a dozen men carrying axes and clubs and running toward them.
“We’ll never make it this way! Give them the pack. We’ll get back to the forest and get help. We can’t save anyone if we’re all dead.”
Aibek’s face was a mask of cold, hard determination, and Faruz blinked. He didn’t object when Aibek tossed the bag to their enemy, but turned and ran down the rocky path.
He shouted as he passed Wayra and Dalan. “Get to the forest!”
Running had been impossible for him since the battle, and it felt foreign now, but he pushed his stiff leg as fast as it would carry him. His lungs burned; his breath came in shallow gasps, but he forced himself faster. The forest loomed up before him, a welcoming darkness that meant safety and reinforcements. Surely Hekma had gathered more elves and dwarves inside the forest, and they would help fight off the men that Faruz could hear behind him.
He ducked into the beautiful darkness only a few paces behind Aibek, and began to slow his steps.
Aibek glanced back and shouted over his shoulder. “Keep going! They’ll meet us at the brook!”
Unable to speak, Faruz could only gasp for breath and push his screaming legs back to a sprint. He couldn’t maintain this pace much longer.
All around them, the forest came alive with elves and dwarves filing out of their hiding places and taking up positions on the trail behind them. Surely, the handful of Helak’s warriors couldn’t get past all these groundfolk. Why did they need to keep running? The question burned in his mind, but he couldn’t find the breath to give voice to his thoughts. Instead, he followed his friend over the treacherous forest trails at breakneck speed.
When they reached the narrow stream, Aibek stopped and bent over, bracing his hands on his knees and breathing hard. Faruz stood beside him panting as well. When he could manage a few words, he straightened and turned on Aibek.
“What were you thinking?” Each word came on a gasp, but Faruz didn’t care. He couldn’t believe his friend had given that fruit to
their enemies–the one thing he had been warned to avoid above all.
Aibek shook his head, still panting. A sudden burst of wind blew their cloaks around their ankles and a strange rumbling sound broke the silence. All the others were looking up, so Faruz followed their gazes, blinked and wiped his hands over his eyes, and stared. Three enormous creatures–were those dragons?–flew among the treetops, dropping toward Faruz and his friends.
Sheer, unabashed terror washed over Faruz, freezing him to the spot and robbing him of what little breath he had managed to catch.
The first dragon landed in a flurry of wings and wind and leaves, swung its wide brown head around, and stared at the group with brilliant orange eyes. Aibek stepped up to it, placed a hand on its neck, and met its gaze. Without any hesitation, Aibek climbed onto the beast’s back.
Faruz thought his eyes would pop out of his face if he opened them any wider, so he tried to relax his features somewhat when Aibek waved him over.
“Faruz, this is Gworsad. He’s the Bokinna’s protector, or rather one of them, and he’s going to take us to her. Gworsad, this is my best friend, Faruz. He’s the best sort of person you could ask to meet.”
Unsure what manners were required when meeting a dragon, Faruz stepped closer, bowed, and turned to grasp Aibek's outstretched hand. It took some effort, but eventually, he managed to seat himself behind Aibek on the great beast's back.
“I carry one more. Maybe small one.” The dragon rumbled, and lowered his head to Dalan.
Aibek laughed. “Of course. That’s Dalan. He’s the Gadonu’s son, and will someday be our liaison with your queen.”
The Nivaka Chronicles Boxed Set Page 55