“Your hearing is still very sensitive,” Boris said softly as he slid out from under the wagon. “I did not mean to wake you. I thought an early breakfast would allow us more time in the city.”
“You know about my hearing?” inquired Tedi as he rose cautiously and looked around the campsite.
“I know much about you, Tedi Markel,” smiled Master Khatama. “You need not fear any attackers here. Make a small fire. It will not draw attention this time of day.”
Tedi nodded and sheathed his sword and started preparing a small fire.
“You need to get used to reaching for your staff instead of your sword,” commented Boris as he prepared a pot of coffee. “You will have little use for your sword from now on. In fact, Bin-lu will have need of your sword today. He will also be using your horse. You will ride on the wagon with Niki and me.”
“Why are you secretive about our plans for today, Master Khatama?” asked Tedi. “You hint at what we will be doing, but you have not actually said what the plan is. Do you fear that one of us will tell someone?”
Boris smiled at Tedi as he retrieved a basket of fresh bread from the back of the wagon. Tedi stared at the bread, which smelled like it had just been removed from the oven. He wondered how the old mage managed to constantly get fresh food out of the wagon. Tedi had peeked in the wagon when they had stopped last night, and he saw no food at all.
“Hardly,” Boris finally answered. “All four of us will risk our lives today to free your mother, Lara. There are portions of the plan that have not been written yet.”
“You mean the plan is not complete?” questioned Tedi. “Shouldn’t we finish the plan before try to free my mother? Alex always taught us to have a solid plan and a backup plan before going into battle.”
“Alex?” echoed Boris. “Do you mean Alexander Tork?”
“Of course I mean Alexander Tork,” frowned Tedi. “Who did you think I meant?”
“I was not sure if he still lived,” replied Master Khatama. “What of Jenneva? Have you seen or heard of her?”
“Master Khatama,” frowned Tedi, “we left them in Barouk yesterday. They were traveling as Garth and Kalina Shado. Surely you knew?”
Boris set the basket of bread near Tedi and sat on a rock near the fire ring. His head slumped to his chest and he stared into the flames. For a long time, the old merchant sat silently.
“I understand the reasons for your anxiety,” Boris finally said. “I thought they looked familiar, but I could not place their faces. They must think of me as an old tottering fool. Perhaps I am. When you rejoin them, you must offer my apologies.”
“What is happening to you, Master Khatama?” inquired Tedi. “I know that everyone in the Rangers has the greatest respect for you. They all idolize you, especially Tanya, but you do not seem to remember any of them. Then yesterday you talked about Tanya’s early years with you. It does not make any sense to me.”
“Nor to me,” admitted Boris as Bin-lu and Niki joined the group. “Perhaps I have lived too long. Maybe there are too many memories for my mind to hold them all. Whatever the problem, it seems to be getting worse.”
“You remembered Fredrik yesterday,” interjected Niki. “I think you are getting better. Besides, why should you remember everybody you ever met? It clearly is not important.”
“You mentioned Tanya’s early years yesterday too,” added Tedi. “Maybe your memory is getting better. How far back can you remember Tanya?”
“Remembering Tanya is not important,” quipped Niki. “Pass me some of that bread.”
“No,” Boris said suddenly. “Tanya is very important. I cannot remember why, but she is important.”
“Important to the Ancient Prophecy?” asked Tedi as he passed the bread to Niki.
“I am not sure,” conceded the old mage. “I think she is important for another reason. I needed to find something for her.”
“What did you need to find for her?” asked Bin-lu.
“I cannot remember,” Boris shook his head. “I do remember what day this is, though. Enough talk about the past. Bin-lu, there is a uniform in the back of the wagon. You need to put it on. Take Tedi’s sword also. Today you will ride well ahead of us on Tedi’s horse. You will portray an officer in the Lanoirian army. If you are questioned, your reply will be that you are under special orders relating to the external diplomacy of the Imperial Palace. You will offer no further information. If you are pressed for more information, get indignant and threaten to report your questioner directly to the Emperor. Can you do that effectively?”
“I think so,” nodded Bin-lu. “I will try my best.”
“You will do more than try your best,” warned Master Khatama. “Your life depends upon following my instructions. Do not look back at us when you leave. We will be heading towards the harbor. I will leave the wagon in an alley near the docks, and we will proceed on foot from there. You can tie Tedi’s horse to the wagon. Remember what I have told you to do. If it looks like we are in trouble, step in and take charge. Be off now. We will follow shortly.”
Bin-lu slipped into the uniform and retrieved Tedi’s sword. He mounted Tedi’s horse and rode out of the campsite without looking back.
“Will he be safe?” queried Tedi. “He does not know how to use that sword.”
“If he has to resort to using the sword,” frowned Boris, “he will die. We will not succeed in freeing your mother through the use of force. It is trickery that will accomplish this task. There may be some fighting, but if it comes to a fight before we get to your mother, all is lost.”
“Understood,” nodded Tedi. “What do I do?”
“Clean up the campfire,” replied Master Khatama as he rose to hitch the horses to the wagon.
“Now I am worried,” Tedi said softly to Niki as he shook his head.
“You have nothing to worry about,” scowled Niki. “I am responsible for the major part of the rescue. All you have to do is march in and get your mother. Then you just march out again. I have to do the tricky stuff.”
Tedi closed his eyes and shook his head as Niki rose and sauntered off. For the first time since hearing of his mother’s captivity, Tedi wondered if rescuing her was a good idea. At least she was alive and apparently healthy in the Imperial Palace. If she was caught escaping, who knows what the Emperor might do to her. With Niki having the major role in the rescue attempt, Tedi could not help feeling dreadful at their chances for success. He rose and cleaned up the campsite.
Boris whistled as he broke camp and climbed up onto the seat of the wagon. Niki bounded up shortly after and sat next to the old merchant. Tedi was still shaking his head as he climbed up and sat next to Niki. Nobody spoke as Boris pulled the wagon onto the road and headed for Ongchi.
Tedi saw the city walls of Ongchi as they rounded a bend in the road. It was an impressive sight, but his eyes sought out the double gate he knew they would have to go through. Without thought, Tedi reached for his staff and held it on his lap.
“You will not need that just yet,” Boris said softly. “Even great walled cities have to let merchants pass. The cities would wither and die if they did not. For now you shall be my nephew. Behave respectfully at all times.”
“I shall, Uncle Boris,” replied Tedi as he thought of Tanya calling Master Khatama by that name.
Tedi’s mind drifted to thoughts of Tanya. In many ways she was much like Master Khatama. She hid most things from everyone and often talked in riddles. Tedi wondered if that came from many years of traveling with the old mage, or she was indeed his relation in some way. Before he realized it, the wagon halted at the first gate to Ongchi.
“Papers,” demanded a guard at the gate.
Master Khatama handed his pass to the guard. The guard barely looked at it and then waved the wagon through. The wagon halted again under the wall as it waited for the second gate to open. An officer walked up next to the wagon and stared at the three passengers.
“What is your business in Ongchi?” the offic
er asked.
“We have been paid to pick up a delivery,” replied Boris as he stepped down from the wagon.
“I did not tell you to get down,” scowled the officer. “Give me your papers.”
“It is a fine stop for stretching your legs,” smiled Boris as he handed the officer his papers. “That sun is brutally hot. I think I preferred the Darkness. This head of mine was not meant to bask in the sunlight.”
“I have no time for small talk,” sneered the officer as he examined Master Khatama’s papers. “Where are the passes for the other two?”
Boris turned and saw two other wagons passing through the first gate behind him. He stared up at Niki and Tedi for a moment before saying, “Pass this officer your papers, children.”
Tedi and Niki took out their passes and handed them to Boris as the officer tapped his foot impatiently. Boris examined the passes meticulously before slowly handing them to the officer.
“What cargo are you supposed to pick up?” demanded the officer as he examined the passes.
“Cloth,” Boris answered after a long pause. “Yes, that was it. Cloth from a ship on the docks. Can you direct me towards the docks? It has been many years since I was in Ongchi.”
“I am not a guide,” snarled the officer as he handed back the passes to Boris and headed towards the next wagon. “You may go.”
“Wait,” replied Boris.
“What is it?” snarled the officer.
“You have not inspected my wagon,” Boris declared. “I do not want to be accused of smuggling. You should check the wagon.”
“I will determine what needs to be checked,” retorted the officer. “Move that wagon out of here.”
“I have a right to have my wagon inspected,” scowled Boris. “I will not be accused of smuggling again. I demand that you inspect my wagon.”
The officer pulled his sword and held it to Master Khatama’s throat. Other guards swarmed around as if expecting bloodshed.
“Open the inner gates,” ordered the officer. “If this fool does not immediately remove his wagon from under the wall, drag it out and burn it. Leave the passengers on it.”
Boris held his hands high and backed towards the front of the wagon. As the officer stood menacingly with his sword still extended, Boris climbed to the seat and urged the team forward.
“Was that really necessary?” whispered Tedi as the wagon passed into the city streets. “They might have killed you.”
“Would you have preferred that they search the wagon when we exit?” retorted Boris. “Their task is a tedious one. Those men have little sufferance for fools. Even less so when the fool tells them how to do their job. They will not be happy to see us when we return, but I think they will be impatient to see us leave the city.”
“That was clever, Uncle Boris,” smiled Niki after she glared at Tedi. “I am sure that a warrior would never have thought of such a plan.”
Tedi shook his head as the wagon rolled down the main street of Ongchi. His excitement rose as he realized that his mother was in this city. As the wagon approached the center of the city, Tedi stared at the imposing wall of the Imperial Palace. A tremor raced down his spine as he saw the security surrounding the gate and glimpsed hundreds of soldiers inside the compound. He was still staring at the palace when Boris turned down a street towards the harbor. The street was narrow, and the colorful shops gave way to nondescript buildings with doors large enough for wagons to pass through. Boris passed all of the buildings and finally pulled the wagon into an alley barely wide enough to allow it entry. Boris climbed off the seat and slid between the wagon and the wall of the alley until he reached the rear of the wagon. Tedi and Niki followed him.
“Niki,” whispered Boris, “the docks are only a short distance from here. Remember well what I have told you. Concentrate on what you are doing. Let nothing distract you. Go.”
Niki nodded and walked out of the alley. Tedi saw her turn towards the harbor and disappear. Boris reached into the back of the wagon and pulled out two hooded robes. The robes were white with a gold trim and he handed one to Tedi. Master Khatama put on the other robe.
“Put this on,” instructed Boris. “Leave your papers in the wagon along with anything else that would identify you. You are now an emissary from some foreign country. Behave like one.”
“What country?” asked Tedi.
“I do not know yet,” sighed Boris. “Just behave appropriately. And don’t forget your staff.”
Boris reached into the wagon and pulled out a black staff that looked similar to Tedi’s. He tapped it softly on the pavement as he waited for Tedi. When Tedi was appropriately dressed and armed with his staff, Master Khatama turned and followed the path that Niki had taken. They reached the dock area, which consisted of a wide wooden street with large buildings along the city side of it. Across the wooden street piers jutted out into the harbor. Boris halted as soon as he reached the dock area. He stood silently as if waiting for something to happen.
Tedi gazed out at the harbor trying to see if one of the Dalek boats was tied up to a dock, but the ships were too far away to identify. He felt uneasy standing somewhat in the open as patrols of soldiers marched along the wooden street. Other groups of guards stood at the foot of the docks. Tedi remembered such groups from when he and Arik had arrived in Lanoir.
Suddenly, a large dog raced along the wooden street and started growling at one of the soldiers. The soldier picked something up and hurled it at the dog. The dog barked furiously and leaped at the soldier. The soldier screamed and a commotion broke out among his fellow soldiers. The dog turned and ran and the small group of soldiers ran after it.
Tedi couldn’t help but smile at the antics of the soldiers. The small group tried to trap the dog, but the dog was elusive. He seemed to enjoy letting the soldiers almost grab him before he darted off in a different direction. Soon there were shouts along the docks with people pointing at the spectacle. Some of the other soldiers laughed, while some joined in the chase.
Finally, the soldiers managed to back the dog into a small alleyway and the soldiers drew their swords to kill the dog. That was when the other dogs arrived. Some came out of alleyways, others off the low roofs of buildings. The new dogs surrounded the soldiers and started growling ferociously. Cries of help poured out of the alley and soldiers from all over the docks raced towards the confrontation. Tedi was amazed to see the spectacle of the army fighting against dogs.
“Let’s go,” Master Khatama said softly as he strode onto the wooden street and headed for the closest dock.
Tedi hurried to catch up to Boris as the old mage strode purposely onto the dock. Master Khatama’s head swiveled from side-to-side as he passed the ships. When Boris reached the end of the pier he stopped, and Tedi stopped alongside him. Boris pulled out a couple of passes and looked at them. He ran his hand over one of the passes and then handed it to Tedi. While Boris was running his hand over the other pass, Tedi looked at his. The pass was whiter than the old one he had left at the wagon. It also had gold edges and print that was in gold.
“We are from Cordonia,” Boris announced. “The third ship up on the right is ours.”
“I thought Cordonia did not exist anymore,” whispered Tedi.
“It doesn’t,” confirmed Boris, “but we will claim that it does. That ship is from Kantor. We shall announce that a new government is reforming the old country of Cordonia. They only have to believe it for today.”
“Why not just say we are from Kantor?” questioned Tedi.
“Because Kantor is not large enough to matter to the Emperor,” explained Boris. “Cordonia, however, could pose a threat to the expansion of Hanchi’s empire. He will want to know why the new Cordonia has sent an emissary. Let’s go.”
Master Khatama led the way off the pier and onto the wooden street. The dogs had dispersed, and the soldiers were returning to their posts. A pair of soldiers stopped Boris and Tedi.
“Papers,” demanded one of the soldiers.
>
Boris did not hand the pass to the soldier, but instead held it up in front of the soldier’s face.
“Direct us to the Emperor’s Palace,” Boris said sternly. “Wait. Perhaps you should escort us. After that display of discipline with the dogs, I fear our safety is not as assured as we had been led to believe. Lead the way and make sure we get there safely.”
“We do not escort people…,” one of the soldiers began.
“Do not tell me what you do, or do not do,” scowled Master Khatama. “Are diplomatic visitors to your Emperor supposed to be subject to villains and bands of wild dogs? Must I start my meeting with the Emperor by complaining about his soldiers?”
The second soldier leaned over and looked at the pass with a worried face. “We had no notice that you were coming, Ambassador,” he said apologetically. “Perhaps your ship arrived earlier than expected. Normally there are officers waiting for any arriving envoys. I shall escort you to the gates of the palace. I am afraid that I can take you no further though.”
“Get me to the gates of the palace safely, and you have done your country a service,” nodded Boris.
The first soldier shook his head in confusion, but he followed the second soldier’s lead and escorted the robed Cordonians to the gates of the Imperial Palace. The four men halted at the main gate to the palace and an officer stepped in front of them.
“What is this?” questioned the officer.
“Cordonian envoys, Sir,” replied the second soldier. “We thought it best to escort them here. I think the ship arrived early. There were no officers to greet them.”
The officer nodded to the soldiers to dismiss them and then asked for the Cordonians’ papers. Boris held the pass in front of the officer’s face, as he had done with the soldier, but the officer took the pass and held out his hand towards Tedi. Tedi promptly handed his pass to the officer.
“I do not recall hearing about the arrival of any envoys today,” remarked the officer. “I am always kept well-informed. Besides the fact that Cordonia ceased to exist with the Collapse, why should I believe that you should be admitted to see the Emperor?”
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