by John Kerry
Golnessa pulled out a chair for her with one of her giant hands, and Ramin slid a steaming mug of brown slop to her as she sat down. It slopped over the rim and onto the table, sending Sammy a whiff of chocolate.
Perseopian hot chocolate was one delicacy Sammy remembered from her previous trip to the realm. There had been maggots floating in it last time. She left the mug where it sat.
Ramin went back to the billycan on the stove to fetch a mug for himself. “Did any of you guys see Principal Hootan before you left?” he asked over his shoulder.
“Moneer did, didn’t you?” Golnessa replied. Her voice was higher and girlier than Sammy would have expected from such a large woman.
“From a distance.” Moneer’s mouth barely moved when she spoke. “General Grotta took him around camp and introduced him to some of the guys. Even First Chief came out of his tent to meet him.”
Ramin joined them at the table. “You’ll probably get to meet him tomorrow, Calven. When you take Sammy to the Keep.”
“I doubt it,” Yaghoub said. “He’s leaving tomorrow.”
“Leaving?” Sammy asked. It was the first time she’d spoken and everyone turned in her direction. “Where’s he going?”
Yaghoub leant in close, a conspiratorial smile on his lips. “No one knows. He’s been talking with the Regent and has arranged a Marzban escort somewhere. A destination that he hasn’t told anyone about.”
A Marzban escort from Honton Keep? Sammy took a deep breath and steadied herself on the edge of the table. Something wasn’t right here. A guard called Borzin, and a Marzban escort like the last time she’d been in Perseopia. She began experiencing a weird déjà-vu-like sensation that was making her feel flustered and panicky.
“Why hasn’t he told anyone?” Ramin asked.
“I don’t know,” Yaghoub said. “We left soon after we heard about it.”
“Did you see Borzin?” Calven asked.
“No. I heard he’d come back, though. Leaving his outpost duties early.” He shook his head and tutted.
“I heard he even got to meet Principal Hootan and his friends,” Golnessa said, her eyes alight with excitement.
“Friends?” Sammy croaked, her mouth suddenly dry.
“Well, I don’t know about friends. Travellers that he’d joined up with. They arrived together in a caravan on the back of a giant gastrosaur.”
Panic locked Sammy to the table. She held on, forcing herself to breathe.
“What did the travellers look like?” she asked, her heart racing.
“Just a man and a young girl. She had blond hair like yours,” Moneer said, turning in her seat to face Sammy. “In fact, you look very much like her. Don’t you think, Golnessa?”
Sammy’s heart was accelerating towards a state of arrest and too much blood was forcing its way into her head.
“I don’t know,” Golnessa said. “I didn’t get a good look.”
“Yes, very similar,” Moneer said, squinting at her. “She was a little younger maybe, but you could almost be sisters.”
Sammy leapt up from her chair, knocking it over and pulling her stitches. She bolted for the door, threw it open, but collapsed against the frame. She clung on, struggling to make sense of everything. It couldn’t be her with Mehrak. It had been two years!
Calven came and put a hand to her elbow. “Are you feeling alright?”
Sammy didn’t reply. She stayed in the doorway, inhaling cool air from outside, trying to absorb energy from the forest. Her mental fog was clearing. The situation made no sense, but if she could get to Hami there was a chance he’d have answers.
She staggered to her feet. Her bandage must’ve come away, as small patches of fresh blood spotted her top inside the stain rings of her washed, but not quite removed, blood patches. She allowed Calven to walk her back to the table, but shrugged him off when they got close.
She faced Yaghoub. “You said Hami is leaving Honton Keep tomorrow?”
The weedy-looking Marzban put down his mug and looked her in the eye. “I did,” he said.
Sammy turned back to Calven. “Can we get to Honton Keep before then?”
“That depends when he’s leaving. If we set off immediately, we might make it to the Keep by late morning tomorrow. But that would be travelling at one heck of a pace. It’s more likely we’ll arrive after lunch.”
Sammy went to the sink to get some water. She pumped the handle until there was a steady stream, then she splashed some of it on her face.
No one said anything for a while. Sammy could feel their eyes on her. They probably thought she was crackers.
Eventually, Moneer spoke. “I still can’t believe Borzin got away from outpost duties and met Principal Hootan,” she said. “He’s always in the right place at the right time, isn’t he? I heard he and Leiss are babysitting those travellers. It’s because of the girl. Everyone’s saying she’s special.”
Sammy’s heart stopped. She clung to the sink, fearful that her legs would give way and she’d fall if she let go. Moneer had all but confirmed her worst suspicions. There was no doubt in her mind that she’d returned to Perseopia at the same time as before. There were two of her here. Right now. She stared at the water swirling down the plughole and tried to work out how this had happened. She pumped the handle again and watched the water drain away. She couldn’t rationalise it in her mind. But then, she supposed that wasn’t important right now. What was important was what she did with the information.
The day they’d set off from Honton Keep with the Marzban escort, they’d left early. First thing in the morning. She remembered now. The market had been empty. Even the market traders hadn’t set up for the day. She’d been tired, had hardly slept the night before … because it was the night after Borzin had been killed. Crippling grief racked her body. Tears filled her eyes.
Sammy pumped the handle again, blinked away the tears and stared into the draining water. She splashed her face so no one could see she was crying. What would they be thinking of her? Watching her pumping water and repeatedly washing her face.
Sammy took a deep breath and shakily took a place back at the table. Then she realised; if they were leaving the Keep tomorrow, then today was the day Borzin died. He might even be burning to death in front of her other self right now.
“Are you okay?” Ramin asked.
Sammy looked up. Wiped the tears from her cheeks. She’d never forget the events of that day. The nightmare carved into her mind’s eye. Borzin’s lidless eyes, bare ping pong balls with pupils, white and staring. The bloody and charred skin. And the smell. That was the worst part. The smell of burning meat had almost turned her veggie. She suppressed her gag as the fried animal she’d eaten for breakfast threatened to launch itself up and out of her throat.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I still don’t feel so good.”
What now? She couldn’t tell them Hami was with her other self and that she’d travelled back in time. The whole situation was insane. Where was there to go from here? She needed more information.
“Has there been a crabman attack on the Keep?” she asked. “Like a huge invasion?”
Golnessa frowned at her. “When? Recently?”
Sammy thought about it. Borzin and Leiss had been protecting them the day Borzin died because Hami had been worried about her after the crabman invasion the night before. “I don’t know. When did you set off from the Keep?”
“Yesterday.”
“After you’d seen Hami and those travellers arrive?”
“Yeah, they arrived early that morning. We left after lunchtime. We hadn’t gone far when Moneer caught us up so she could swap places with Eva. Eva was being recalled to the Keep to join the escort mission Hami had arranged with the Regent.”
“Lucky me,” Moneer said. “I get to spend thirty days away from my family.”
So they’d missed the crabman attack. They’d seen her previous self arrive with Hami and Mehrak, then t
hey’d left the Keep and the attack had happened that night. Today, her other self would’ve been to see Mehrak’s friend and his angry wife, and Borzin would … Sammy suppressed the thought. The important thing to remember was that if she left for Honton Keep now, she’d arrive tomorrow, after Hami and her other self had already gone. Which meant there was no point in going to Honton Keep.
Sammy rubbed her temples. The Marzban didn’t know where the escort was going, but she did. The fire temple in the lava. If they set off for the temple now, they might get there in time to meet up with Hami and Mehrak. Her previous self would be there. That would be weird, but this was her best opportunity to catch up with everyone.
“Hami won’t be at Honton Keep,” she said. “We need to go to the temple. The one that’s on a mountain in a ravine full of lava.”
“What?” Calven asked.
“The temple on a mountain in the big flaming ravine.”
“The Fifth Azaran?”
“Yes! That’s it! That’s the name of it.”
“Why would we want to go there?”
“It’s where the Marzban escort is taking Hami and the other girl.”
“How could you possibly know that?” Yaghoub asked.
He was right. How did she know that? “Victa told me,” she said, trying to sound convincing. “Before the crabmen attacked us.”
“Really?” Calven asked. “Victa only just met you. And you didn’t even know his name when we brought you here. Yaghoub here doesn’t even know where they’re going and he normally knows everything.”
Yaghoub raised his eyebrows and shrugged in what Sammy guessed was a show of ‘It’s true, I know everything’.
“Are you calling me a liar?” Sammy said, mustering all her dignity. “You said Victa told you to take me to Hami. He told me that’s where Hami was going before he passed out. We didn’t have time for pleasantries. That’s why I know it was on a mountain in the lava. I just forgot the name.”
“You said he told you before the crabmen attacked.”
“Before, after. It all happened so quickly.” Sammy managed a sob to make herself sound convincing. Which wasn’t difficult, considering she was still dwelling on Borzin’s death. “The crabmen appeared all at once. Victa lost his legs. It was traumatic, okay?”
Calven flushed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply …”
Ramin came and put his arm around Sammy. “It’s okay. We just want to be sure. You’re positive that’s where we need to go? The Fifth Azaran?”
Sammy rubbed the tears away with her forearm and looked Ramin in the eye. “I’m completely sure.”
–FOURTEEN–
MOVING ON
The boy had been in Honton Keep two days already and was beginning to find his way around. He didn’t like it there, though. The black alleyways, the refuse and stagnant air. He missed the mushroom forest with its fantastic animals and giant sparkling mushrooms. It was a magical place, and he desperately wanted to return. He wished he hadn’t allowed Borzin to take him to the Keep, but apparently the forest was unsafe.
From the shadows he watched the man in the turban lead the yellow-haired girl away. After they’d gone, he slipped out of his hiding place between two stone-walled gardens. He opened his palm and a flame sprung to life in his hand. He concentrated and the fire grew to a golden, peach-sized ball.
The girl was the only other person he’d seen with yellow hair like his. And there was something about her. She was different from everyone else. Like he was. The man had called her Sammy.
He closed his hand, extinguishing the flame. Did she come from the same place he did? And had this land changed her like it had him? Could she make fire in her hands too?
A wave of heat consumed and wrapped itself around him.
“You’re getting good at that,” the cold metallic voice said. “I knew I was right to teach you.”
The tall thin person emerged from the darkness just outside the reach of the cul-de-sac’s single lamppost.
“Who was that girl?” the boy asked.
“Someone you should steer clear of.”
The boy said nothing, he stared after the girl, towards the entrance of the alley where he’d seen her go.
“I must leave you again,” the thin figure said. “Keep practising your abilities, but reveal them to no one.”
“Am I to remain here?”
“For the time being, yes. But I will return soon. Then you can come with me.”
“What about my friend, Borzin? The man that found me. He said he’ll adopt me as his own and I can live here with his family.”
“He’s gone.” The thin person paused. “That girl with the yellow hair; she killed him. You’ll have to find new lodgings and food from now on.”
Sammy tentatively approached the karkadann while Calven and Ramin fetched the cart from the shed. It was about time she got over her apprehension towards the monster rhinos. They were pretty scary, what with their pointed canines and their ludicrous size, which consistently surprised Sammy every time she came into close proximity with them.
She held out her hand and patted the coarse hair on the animal’s cheek while the two Marzban pulled the cart up behind it.
“Are you sure it wouldn’t be more sensible to take you to Honton Keep?” Calven asked her as he began hitching the cart to the karkadann’s harness. “The road to the Keep has Marzban outposts every hundred stadia. It’s much safer. The trail to the Fifth Azaran isn’t patrolled and is rarely used. I’m sure Hami would prefer you to be safe. He could collect you from the Keep on his way back from the fire temple.”
“He might not be going back to the Keep,” Sammy said as she stepped away from the karkadann. “Victa told you to take me to Hami. And the fire temple is where he’s going to be. Victa also said there might be a purpose for me to fulfil there.” Another lie, but Calven seemed to be wavering. And then the icing on top of the cake. “I have magi abilities, after all. They need me.”
“But I should be spending my time off with my brother and his niece,” Calven said.
Ramin chuckled. “You can’t stand in the way of the magi.”
“Thanks for your input, Ramin.” Calven stepped back from the cart to inspect the harness. “Shame you can’t take her.”
“A damn shame,” Ramin said. “Regrettably, I have to report back to my unit. And you’re the one with six days leave.”
“Six days that I’ll lose travelling to the Fifth Azaran and back. And, by the way, you don’t sound particularly regretful.”
“You’ll be helping the magi,” Sammy said. “You’ll get your days back. Hami will square it with your boss. Trust me.”
Calven shrugged but didn’t reply.
Moneer and Golnessa brought Victa out on a stretcher. They carried him over to the back of the cart and carefully slid him in.
“You’ll have to take it easy,” Golnessa said. “He isn’t strapped down. We’ll pack your provisions around him, but take it slow and remember to keep him drugged up on Opiroot leaf. There’s a small bushel in this satchel.” She placed it at the top of the cart near Victa’s head.
“But not too slow, because we’re in a rush,” Sammy said.
“And why is that?” Calven asked.
“Because … Hami might not stay at the temple long. He might be on his way somewhere else after.”
Calven raised his eyebrows like he wasn’t convinced. “If they need you for a special magi purpose, I’m sure they’ll wait.”
“And if they don’t, you’ll be taking me and Victa back to the Keep. And you’ll have wasted all six days of your holiday because Hami won’t be able to sort your time off with your boss.”
Calven rolled his eyes. “Grab the tents, Ramin,” he said. “Let’s get this over with.”
–FIFTEEN–
THE EVENT
Perseopia’s First Minister to the high council didn’t appreciate being kept waiting.
B
axter watched him pace from the safety of his high-backed armchair while he clutched a handful of papyrus sheets and a quill to his chest like a shield. The minister walked up and down the council chambers, dragging his gown back and forth over the marble floor, stopping occasionally to stare pointedly at the chronometer on the wall.
The late night budget meetings were taking their toll on the honourable gentleman. Now the Grand Master was making demands of his time. The last four years had aged the minister considerably. He’d lost weight, hair, he’d grown jowls and his eyes were dark and sunken. Still he kept going, toiling for the public, unappreciated as he was. He was a great man, intelligent and fair, not prone to letting his emotions control his mood. He wasn’t angry now. More frustrated than anything else. It was already too late to go home and see his children before bed. Waiting around for the Grand Master was one more frustration in a long line of irritations. He wanted to move past the meeting and on to making provisions for the consequences.
A knock at the door.
The minister composed himself, then called out, “Enter.”
The Grand Master moved slowly into the room, clicking the door shut behind him. He came closer, stopped and bowed.
“You have news of some importance, Master Aegis?” the minister asked. Straight to the point. He hadn’t offered a seat, either. He was making sure the meeting remained brief.
“I do,” Aegis replied. “And thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Minister.”
“Not a problem, Master. I know you wouldn’t request my time unless necessary.”
“To the point,” the Grand Master said. “As you know, I came here to give you an update on what we’ve discovered in Aratta.”
“Principal Hootan has news from the old capital?”
“He does. About a third location that kidnap victims are being taken to.”