Evil Within

by Richard S. Tuttle

  "I certainly hope so, Kanior," laughed King Caedmon. "Only a fool enters Odessia with ill intent. I look forward to our journey across your sands."

  The Odessian warrior smiled warmly and waved for the group to follow him to the Oasis.

  * * *

  The Oasis was much larger than Sandar had expected. A wide green belt surrounded three lakes, and palm trees grew in abundance. Domed circular yurts were scattered throughout the oasis with a much larger one situated in the center.

  The Odessians escorted the group to three of the yurts. King Caedmon and Sandar were assigned one, while Prince Antion, Prince Derri, and Jared were shown to another. Prince Umal was given his own. Sandar stored his belongings and went back outside the yurt.

  "What do you think?" Prince Antion asked Sandar.

  "I don't know how to express my thoughts well," Sandar answered after a moment's pause. "I could not have imagined such a sight before actually seeing it. It is so lush and it sits in the middle of so much sand. The huts appear to be very comfortable, especially after so much time on the road."

  "They are called yurts," smiled the Arin prince, "and you will find them to be a safe refuge from the wind and the cold. Have you mentioned the horse camp to my father yet?"

  "No," Sandar shook his head. "The king has a great many things on his mind right now, and he does not need to be distracted by someone asking for the impossible."

  "You don't plan to ask him, do you?" sighed the Arin prince.

  "I could not," Sandar shook his head. "Is it not enough payment for my services that he cared for me when I was hurt? How can I act so greedily before one so great as King Caedmon?"

  Prince Antion shook his head and sighed heavily. He really liked Sandar and knew the man would excel at horse camp, but he also knew that such a thing would never come to pass without a little help. He saw his father emerge from the yurt, and Prince Antion's fingers started moving rapidly by his side. The prince continued to engage Sandar in small talk as he communicated secretly with his father. After a few minutes, the king walked over and joined the conversation.

  "What do you think of Odessia, Sandar?" the king asked.

  "I have just heard this answer," chuckled Prince Antion as he turned to leave. "I think I will excuse myself and see what Umal is up to."

  "I find it very interesting," answered Sandar. "I think I will enjoy the trip across Odessia. It is so foreign to how we live in Arin, and yet it seems like much is the same. The camaraderie of the Odessians is much like you might find in the Arin army, but their culture is quite different. I think it will be an interesting trip. Will we get to see the famed city of Natura?"

  "We shall," smiled the king. "How is your body feeling?"

  "Rather good," answered the Arin soldier. "The aches are gone now. There is a little soreness in the shoulder, but I can work that out."

  "You are a good man, Sandar," declared the king. "I know that I do not say that to my men often enough, but I am proud of each of you that have entered my personal service. I am thinking of expanding the training for some of you. What do you think about spending some time at an Odessian horse camp?"

  "Are you serious?" Sandar grinned. "I would be thrilled, King Caedmon. I would give up my pay forever to experience such a thing."

  "Then you shall," smiled the Arin king, "and you will not have to give up your pay. In fact, I will be paying you while you attend. We will discuss it on the way to Natura. Accompany me while I pay respects to some Odessian friends. I will introduce you to them."

  Prince Antion stood near Prince Umal's yurt watching the conversation his father was having with Sandar. The Odessian prince emerged from the yurt and followed Antion's gaze.

  "What trouble are you getting into?" asked the Odessian prince.

  "I am just watching Sandar get a fitting reward for his service," smiled Prince Antion. "I suspect he will be attending a horse camp soon."

  "Excellent," smiled Prince Umal. "We can always use more Arin gold."

  "Behave," chided the Arin prince.

  "It is hard to," admitted Prince Umal, "but Sandar deserves such an opportunity. He is a good man. He never wavered from his duty or his devotion to you and your father, even when he was close to death."

  Prince Antion turned away from watching his father and let his eyes roam around the Oasis. He sighed heavily.

  "What troubles you, Brother?" asked Prince Umal.

  "This is a beautiful place," remarked the Arin prince. "It would be easy to just forget about the Borundans and the coming war and remain here in peace."

  "But that is not where your future lies," Prince Umal said sympathetically, "nor is it your nature to remove yourself from the troubles of the world. When do we leave to meet up with Kerzi and the others?"

  "In the morning," answered Prince Antion. "It took so long to cross into Odessia that Kerzi will be in Laborg before we catch up with him."

  * * *

  "I found it," Kenra called from the alley in the heart of Laborg.

  Gunnar and Jared rode towards the sound of Kenra's voice and entered the dark alley. The light from the full moon illuminated the yard at the far end of the alley, and Gunnar could see the outline of the Salacian prince. Still, a knife slid into his hand as he rode slowly towards the Salacian. Kenra turned and rode away from Gunnar and disappeared around the corner. The Arin prince moved cautiously as he reached the end of the alley. He looked to the left and saw a wagon and the Salacian prince alongside it.

  "Are you sure it is his?" asked Gunnar as Jared appeared at his side.

  "Without a doubt," answered Kenra. "This is where they are staying."

  The three men dismounted, and Gunnar put away his knife. "It took us long enough to find him. I am hungry. Let's go sit in the common room."

  "Where is Horst?" asked Kenra. "Isn't he with you?"

  "No," frowned Gunnar. "He was supposed to be with you."

  "Well," shrugged Kenra, "he is not. He will find us. I couldn't hide from the Odessian if I wanted to. Let's get something to eat."

  The three men tied their horses to the wagon and entered the back door of the Wagon Wheel Inn. Unknown to them, a pair of eyes was watching them intently. The man stepped out of the shadows and started to scurry away, but he didn't get very far. Unexpectedly, an Odessian scarf flashed before his eyes and tightened around his neck. The man's hands flew to his throat to tear at the scarf, but the Odessian tightened his grip and bent a knee into the man's back.

  "Stop struggling, or I will have to kill you," Horst hissed.

  The man froze for a moment and then dropped his arms to his side. "What do you want?" wheezed the man. "I don't have any gold."

  "I want to know who you are spying for," stated Horst. "Lie to me, and I will tighten the scarf enough to make sure that you can never talk again."

  "I work for Tabansi," the spy replied. "I don't know who he works for. He said if I could find out something, he would pay off my gambling debts. That is all I know."

  "And what were you supposed to find out?" asked the Odessian.

  "I was to find a certain wagon," the spy answered, "and find out who owned it. I did that and Tabansi paid my debts."

  "Tell me what you told him," demanded Horst.

  "I was supposed to find a wagon that delivered cork into the city," answered the Vinelander. "I was told it would have a driver and two warriors. I asked around and found out the merchant was staying at the Wagon Wheel, so I hung out and found the merchant's name was Kerzi. I told Tabansi and that was that. How about letting me go now?"

  "So you already delivered your information?" posed the Odessian. "Then why do I find you back out here now?"

  When the spy didn't answer, Horst tightened the scarf a bit as a warning and then relaxed it slightly.

  "Tabansi told me to watch for others coming to join with Kerzi," gasped the spy. "I was told they were expecting three to six others, but I should report back as soon as anyone else showed up besides the two warriors already wi
th the merchant. When I saw the three men approach the wagon and tie their horses to it, I knew that I had to report back."

  "Where can I find Tabansi?" asked Horst.

  "I don't know," answered the spy.

  "I said no lies," Horst hissed threateningly.

  "It's not a lie," swore the spy as his hand slid a knife from its belt sheath. "I go sit in a certain tavern down by the river and Tabansi comes to me."

  "What tavern?" questioned Horst.

  The spy made his move, trying to stab Horst with the knife by plunging it behind him. The Odessian had seen the move coming, and he moved to one side while tightening the scarf. The knife slid past the Odessian's thigh and then fell to the ground as Horst twisted the scarf tightly. An audible crack echoed in the still night air, and the spy's body went limp. Horst dragged the body back to where it had hidden in the shadows. He dumped the body and hurried to the back door of the inn. He entered the common room calmly and saw all of his friends sitting at a long table. He smiled amicably as he crossed the room and slid across the bench to sit next to Gunnar. Members of the group were talking softly, sharing tales of the days they had been apart. Horst said nothing as he placed his hands on the table and began moving his fingers rapidly. Everyone in the group fell silent.

  "We must leave this city immediately," Horst said softly. "Somehow they know about Kerzi and his two warriors, and they are waiting for his friends to show up."

  "How do you know this?" asked Gunnar.

  "A spy was watching the wagon when the three of you tied your horses to it," answered the Odessian prince. "He will not report our arrival, but others may be watching as well."

  "Jared rides in the wagon," instructed Gunnar. "Kenra, Horst and I will shadow the wagon's progress out of the city, but you will not see us. Kerzi, take the Caxon-Laborg Road and keep on riding until we meet again. Stop for no one."

  Chapter 40 - Dissolution

  Dissolution

  The wind howled, sending a shiver through the old man's nearly numb body. He turned his head away from the wind as a flurry of snow danced to the wind's music and threatened to hide the beaten path from his eyes. His cloth-wrapped hands curled tightly around the log, and his breath drifted away in visible vapors as he labored towards the dying fire. His left foot missed the path and sank foot-deep in the freshly fallen snow. He grumbled under his breath, and his teeth chattered as another shudder shook his body. Kerzi pulled his leg out of the snow and continued to follow the path towards the fire ring set before the makeshift shelter.

  The canvas cloth that usually covered the wagon's goods was now staked out to create a lean-to. In front of the opening of the shelter was a large, circular, stone ring with only a wisp of smoke rising from it. Kerzi carefully placed the new log on top of the others he had gathered. He grabbed the long metal prod and began to poke the coals until they glowed, and a thick layer of ash sifted down around them. The merchant picked up a handful of twigs from next to the stone ring and shook the newly fallen snow off of them. He tried to place the twigs on top of the glowing coals, but his frozen hands would not cooperate. They fell into the ashes.

  "Let me help you," Jared said softly from the opening in the makeshift tent.

  The young mage stepped out of the shelter and knelt by the merchant's side. His unprotected hands fished the twigs out of the ashes and placed them onto the coals. They sparked with tiny popping sounds, and Jared leaned forward and blew gently across the tops of the coals.

  "I didn't mean to wake anyone," apologized Kerzi. "I thought I would get the fire going and have some tea ready for when everyone woke up."

  "You didn't wake me," Jared smiled as he used the edge of his tunic to fan the tiny flames. "You should go inside and get warmed up. I will start the fire."

  "I have new snow all over me," the merchant shook his head. "I would just get things wet inside. Let's get the fire going, and I will be fine."

  "The cold bothers you more than the others," Jared observed. "You should let the rest of us gather the wood."

  "It has been a long time since I frolicked in the snow," admitted Kerzi. "When the winters come to the northlands, I usually return to Capri until spring. You can't make any gold getting stuck in a snowdrift, so you might as well stay where it is warm."

  "I had never seen snow until these past few months," Jared replied as the twigs began burning. "I think it is wonderful. I love the way it blankets everything and makes it appear clean and new. It is almost like being in a different world. It is so peaceful."

  The flames began to burn Kerzi's logs, and a small pillar of smoke began to rise. The merchant's eyes brightened at the thought of a warm fire.

  "Is there tea yet?" Horst asked as he stepped out of the tent.

  Kerzi glared at the Odessian prince, but Jared quickly replied.

  "The fire is just getting started. We could use some more wood. Kerzi is too cold to be searching for logs."

  Horst shrugged and nodded. "Gunnar can get some wood chopped. I need to check on the horses."

  The Odessian marched off through the newly fallen snow to tend to the horses, and the tent shook as the others prepared to emerge. Gunnar, Talot, and Monte exited the shelter and crowded around the newborn fire.

  "You need more wood chopped?" Gunnar asked.

  "I will take care of it," offered Talot. "The exercise will warm me."

  "I will help," Monte added. "We should create a pile of it closer to the fire."

  Gunnar saw the old man shivering. He ducked back into the tent and snared a blanket. He draped the blanket around Kerzi, and the old man's hands clutched it around him.

  "Thank you," the merchant trembled.

  "I think you should return to Capri," Gunnar said as he knelt next to Kerzi and poked the fire with a stick. "You should have returned straight from Laborg when we found out that the spies had identified you. I was wrong to keep you up here all these months."

  "Winter is almost over," shrugged the old man as he held his wrapped hands towards the growing flames. "By the time I got back to Capri, it would be time to leave again. I will survive."

  Jared scooped a pot full of snow and placed it on the fire. "Kenra did not return last night," he remarked. "Should we be worried?"

  "No," Gunnar shook his head. "The nearest town is quite a distance from here. I would expect with the weather the way it is that he decided to stay overnight. If he is not back by midday, then I will get concerned."

  Horst returned and rummaged through the wagon, brushing snow off the meager supplies. "We are almost out of feed for the horses," he remarked. "How much longer are we going to stay here?"

  "Not much longer," Gunnar answered. "We have been to every village in the area, and no one has even heard of Audric. We will try a little further north tomorrow."

  A blustery jolt of icy wind whipped through the camp. Horst slammed a feedbag into the wall of the wagon, and Gunnar turned to stare at him.

  "You are irritable this morning, old friend," Gunnar said softly. "What bothers you?"

  "I don't know," sighed the Odessian prince. "Perhaps it is the idleness. My country could be embroiled in a war with Borunda right now, and we have no way of knowing. I wonder if I shouldn't be there to stand by my people. You and Derri must be feeling the same thing, aren't you?"

  "I guess I hadn't thought about it," admitted the Arin prince as he stared into the flames. "I have dragged you all up here into the wilderness in search of some mythical old man who may not be able to tell me anything if we do ever find him. Perhaps we should head home."

  "No," Kerzi said adamantly. "It is not just for you that we search for Audric. Jared must be trained to use his skills properly. He saved my life without knowing what he was doing. Think what he might accomplish if he is properly trained. Is suffering through a harsh winter really that steep a price to pay for the gift he has within him?"

  Gunnar stared at the young mage and slowly nodded his head. "Thank you for reminding me, Kerzi. I have vowed to seek th
is elusive master of the Talent, and I must not give up, but there is no reason for the rest of you to suffer while Jared and I search for Audric. I imagine that once we do find him, we will be stationary for some time while events back home may be boiling into a full-scale war."

  "No," Horst shook his head as he moved to the fire and warmed himself. "It is my attitude that is wrong here. I am not used to such inactivity, but our mission is important. I believed in its importance the day I stood on the road north of Oran and demanded to join with you, and I still believe in it today. Perhaps I should just take the horses out for some exercise and work off my ill feelings."

  "Rider coming," announced Monte as he and Talot hurried from the woods to get their weapons.

  Gunnar and Horst reached into the tent and grabbed their weapons and immediately spread out. As Monte and Talot retrieved their weapons, Horst and Gunnar moved farther away from the tent so that the group had a wide field of fire. The sounds of the horse drew nearer, and soon a distant rider appeared amid the white flakes falling to the ground. The group waited tensely until Gunnar recognized his friend.

  "It is Kenra," the Arin prince announced.

  "It is too early for him to arrive," commented Horst. "He could not have stayed in the village overnight."

  The group relaxed somewhat, but they did not lower their weapons. Eventually, the Salacian prince rode into camp and dismounted. Horst moved immediately to take care of the horse and the rest of the group returned their arrows to their quivers.

  "I hope there is some tea," Kenra said as he approached the fire. "It is hard to find one's way out there. The trails are indistinguishable from gullies and streambeds."

  "Did you get lost?" asked Gunnar.

  "Not exactly," answered Kenra. "I got distracted. I was returning from the village last night and ran into a traveler in distress. The man's horse had stepped into a hole and turned its leg. I helped him back to his cabin and ended up spending the night there. It is not far from here."

  "Ah," brightened Kerzi, "a cabin. Now that sounds delightful. I can well understand why you did not return here."