The Courier's Quest

by T. S. Valmond

  "Welcome, Courier Jenchat-42769 how can I be of assistance?" The robotic assistant had no humanoid features on its metallic plate of a face, only a faintly recognizable humanoid anatomy.

  "I request an audience with Courier's Keep to complete delivery of Fetch #456-257."

  "Processing…"

  Rasha twitched while she waited for the confirmation.

  "Please follow the blue lighted signs to the Courier's Keep located on the fifth floor."

  Rasha and Ladi didn't need the lighted signs to find the Keep. When they reached the imposing wooden doors of the Keep on the fifth floor, Ladi stopped short.

  "What's wrong?" Rasha asked.

  "I don't know if I can do this."

  "We don't really have a choice. You have to give the package back."

  Ladi shook her head and backed away.

  "No, Ladi, don't even think of running."

  "I'm sorry, Rasha, this can't go back to them."

  Rasha watched in horror as Ladi bolted down the corridor. The doors of the Keep opened and Rasha turned to run after her.

  "Wait, stop, there's no way out that way!" She ran after her but only made it as far as halfway down the hall before Ladi jumped through the window.

  "No!" Rasha ran to the window but the only thing on the ground was the broken glass. Ladi hadn't landed on the ground. She was flying in the arms of one of the Wola, his arms clutching her middle as her legs dangled in the air. Rasha's hand came down on the window sill.

  Rasha returned to the doors of the Courier's Keep. they were still open. She entered the large domed room, its eye-level windows letting in light from all sides. A man older than her father with a turquoise hue to his skin and blue hair stepped forward. His face was grim and disapproving.

  "Rasha Jenchat, I told them you wouldn't be able to bring her in."

  3

  RASHA STARED UP INTO THE face of her former courier instructor with as much sass as she could muster.

  "That sour expression has aged you."

  "I see you haven't learned any more respect being out in the world. You think your perfect record gives you the right to disrespect the couriers that came before you?"

  "I'm only here to deliver a fetch, not to get into it with you."

  The man lifted his sword and lunged at her. "Wrong, you'll leave when you're dismissed."

  Rasha had only a half a second to pull out Cutter and Blade to defend herself. She countered his hit with one of her own. They danced around the Keep, avoiding students in the midst of their practice. A few stopped to stare at them, at first wondering what was going on. After the whispered comments made it around the entire floor, they encircled them, waiting to see the outcome.

  "You're still dropping your left," he said.

  "I'm not, but you're not as fast as you used to be." They sparred for several minutes before Rasha used the exercise equipment behind her to propel her into the air. She landed on top of him, his sword barely able to absorb the shock of her hit.

  He raised a hand in surrender and the exercise ended.

  Applause erupted from all around them.

  Rasha sheathed her swords and shook hands with her trainer.

  "Let me present Rasha Jenchat. She used to be the youngest courier we had ever trained."

  "Rash," Chigo ran forward. He threw his arms around her and she had to hug him back or fall over. "I can't believe you're here. How is everyone? Have you seen Ladi?"

  "That’s enough questions for now. Back to your studies." The instructor clapped his hands, and they returned to their practice. Chigo did the same, keeping one eye on Rasha.

  Her former instructor raised a hand, pointing toward his office. She knew it to be soundproof. No doubt that was the reason he chose it now. He'd want to discuss Ladi but not in front of the others in her class.

  "Sit down, let me get you a glass of water."

  He poured her glass and put it on her side of the desk. He lifted a large bottle and drank from it. Then he picked up a sprayer and sprayed his face and head, letting the water run down his neck. As a merman, he struggled with the time on land like most, but committed his time and life to training couriers.

  "Tell me exactly what happened, from the beginning."

  "Jak, my partner, and I received the fetch and agreed to pick it up." He nodded at the mention of Jak but didn't interrupt. "We discovered the fetch was a prisoner, Ladi."

  "Did she explain why she took the package in the first place?"

  "No, sir. She admitted that she'd dropped out of her training and that she had doubts about taking the oath."

  "What kind of doubts?"

  "She didn't think she could, in good conscience, say 'In service of the ten kingdoms, allegiance to none.' I reasoned with her, insisted she return the package, and she agreed we'd came here to clear up the matter."

  "She agreed?"

  "Yes."

  "You used no force or coercion in any way?"

  "I did not."

  "Interesting."

  "Why would she agree to come all the way here just to jump out a window?"

  "She wasn't alone, then?"

  "No, a Wola caught her mid-air and carried her off. It was planned from the start, from what I could tell."

  "The package, did she give it to you, did you see it?"

  "She did not. I didn’t even see the contents. She kept it with her the entire time. We weren't together long."

  "How did you manage that? She was in the Twinlands, was she not?"

  "Yes, however, we traveled by dragon. It took only a matter of hours."

  "Dragon? You ride on a dragon?"

  "Are you avoiding my question?" Rasha asked. She put the water down and sat back in her chair, crossing her legs.

  Her instructor took a deep breath.

  "I don't know why she would bring you here," he said, avoiding her eyes.

  "That's a lie, try again," she said crossing her arms and losing her patience.

  "I don't know what she thinks you can do," he said looking her in the eye.

  "She's the younger sister of my former partner and friend. I've known her for years. She trusts me. The question is why doesn't she trust you or the courier system?"

  "She has no reason not to trust us. Her role is simple. You understood it at her age. You fetch and deliver, you don't ask questions and you don't deviate from your instructions."

  "Are you saying she deviated from her instructions?" Rasha asked.

  "She completed the fetch as planned but she did not deliver the package. To our knowledge, she still has the package in her possession which is paramount to theft and a betrayal to the courier's code and to the ten kingdoms."

  There it was again, he'd said the ten kingdoms instead of eleven. That had bothered Ladi and now it was bothering her.

  "What do you mean ten?"

  "The Wola did not accept The Courier's Keep and our courier system. We only serve the ten original kingdoms."

  There was something else there but she wouldn't get the chance to get it out of him as his communicator beeped and he jumped up from his desk.

  "I have some other business to attend to you. Shall I see you out?"

  Rasha stood up. She looked at her former instructor, measuring him with her gaze. He was hiding something. Something beyond this training program, perhaps for someone in a higher position of authority.

  "No, I know the way."

  Rasha took her time leaving the building. She reached the front desk and tried another tactic.

  "Can you help me?"

  "Courier Jenchat-42769, how can I be of assistance?”

  "The Courier's Keep, who has direct oversight?"

  "There is no direct oversight. The Courier's Keep must answer to all, loyal to none."

  "Do you mean they answer to all the kingdoms?"

  "Yes, they must answer or forfeit their diplomatic status,” the robot answered.

  "If they fail to adhere to a kingdom?" Rasha asked.

  "Then th
ey shall serve none."

  "Who would provide the courier service for the kingdoms should this happen?"

  "Answer unknown." The robot tilted its anatomically incorrect head to one side. "Do you need further assistance?"

  "Yes, why are assignments given out to multiple couriers?"

  "Please, clarify the question."

  Rashsa huffed. She thought that was as clear as she could get it, but she rephrased it instead.

  "Under what circumstances would two different courier teams be given the same job?"

  "Processing."

  Rasha waited for the whir of the machine to stop.

  "Unknown."

  "Really? It took you that long to figure out exactly nothing?" Rasha threw up her hands.

  "Please clarify the question."

  Rasha shook her head and thought for a moment.

  "Here's a better question, have duplicate assignments ever been given before?"

  "Processing."

  Again, Rasha waited while tapping her foot with impatience. This time, however, the whir stopped fairly quickly and she was rewarded with an answer.

  "Yes."

  "Please provide details," Rasha said.

  "That information is classified. Courier Jenchat-42769, you do not have the appropriate clearance."

  That might be worth checking into, but first she had to focus on Ladi. She turned to walk away.

  "Do you need further assistance?"

  "Not at this time, thank you," Rasha called out over her shoulder.

  "Courier Jenchat-42769, have a pleasant day."

  "I wish I could."

  4

  AFTER WATCHING LADI FLY OFF with one of the Wola, it was clear she was working with them in some way. Rasha figured the fastest way to find her was to track her down. The mystery of the Keep would have to wait. If Jak followed the route they'd taken, he'd still be on foot and more than a day away. She called the dragon to her then climbed on, heading for his approximate location. They were already losing time and she only half understood what was really going on at the Courier's Keep. When she was close to where she thought he might be, she signaled him and flew down to pick him up.

  "Did I miss anything?" he asked, taking in her facial expression.

  "Only my first incomplete delivery."

  "What? How?"

  "She bolted. At the last second, she did a flying piko right out the window and into the arms of a Wola."

  "The package?" Jak asked.

  "Gone. She took that too."

  "So, she went through the whole compliant thing to just leave you on the front steps of the Keep?"

  "Not the front steps, the training door. I met with an instructor. There's something going on, but I'm not sure what it is."

  "You look like you could use a ferm. Want to hit up Silae?"

  "Not particularly."

  "I'll take that as a yes."

  They rode the dragon less than two hours to the pub where Silae worked. Rasha hadn't been there since she'd announced Lu's death to his sister. She'd been proving a point then, and now it seemed pointless to hang out in the place without him. Jak had been trying to get her back in there for months but she'd refused. Seeing Silae would bring the memories back and she wasn't sure she would ever be over that. Silae, as it happened, wasn't bothered at all. In fact, she was more excited to see Jak than she'd ever been to see Lu, which only irritated Rasha more.

  "Welcome, Prince Jak Ameenu. Sit anywhere you like." Silae leaned forward enough to just brush his arm with her ample chest, then pulled him along, pointing out the benefits of one empty table over another.

  "Seems sort of quiet for this time of day. Where is everyone?" Rasha asked, looking around at the bar.

  "Sick. It's that time of year so, not unexpected. With the changing of the seasons from cold to warmer, it happens. Seems like more people than usual are dropping like pikos, though," Silae said.

  "I think the small table in the corner will do just fine." Jak smiled back at her. He would because he was that kind of guy, the guy who girls fell on top of themselves for whether they had a chance or not.

  "Could you get us some drinks?" Rasha asked.

  Silae ignored her and continued to fawn over Jak. She'd worn her hair down today, in the Karmirian style. The black waves reached her lower back and her skin, a chestnut red, had a glimmer as if she'd used some kind of body make-up.

  "So, I hear the Karmirian traitor will be sentenced for his crimes," Silae let Jak sit, then squeezed in beside him. "He might even be executed."

  "That's more than he deserves," Rasha mumbled.

  "He was doing it to protect his own family and kingdom. Can you really blame him for making that choice?" Silae asked.

  Rasha's fist came down hard on the table.

  "That muke put the whole of Bolaji in danger, not to mention he supported the torture and brutality of those animals. If it had been up to me, I would have taken a piece off of him for everyone who died because of that war."

  Silae tossed her hair to one side as if they'd disagreed on the weather and changed the subject.

  "Anyway, the prince will be inviting some eligible princesses and princes to the Ishola Palace in a few days. Are you planning to attend?" She slid closer to Jak and wrapped her arms tight around his right arm.

  "I hadn't planned on it, no,” Jak said, his tone casual and almost dismissive. "Is there any reason I should change my mind?" He gave Silae a wink and a smile that made her giggle.

  "Absolutely," Silae said.

  "Ahem,” Rasha said clearing her throat. "Do you mind?"

  "Not at all, you're excused,” Silae said with a wave of her hand.

  Rasha was not amused. She was beyond annoyed and heading toward full on furious. What was Jak doing? Silae was incorrigible. She had no shame and no respect for herself as she threw her breasts at anyone who dared to come into the establishment. Her apron covered more of her body than her clothes did. Rasha lost her patience.

  Her right hand reached for her sword and Jak gave her leg a nudge with his foot and shook his head.

  "Any interesting news come through here about the Courier's Keep?" He asked, an inch from Silae’s nose.

  Rasha watched as her smile grew. She tossed her long black hair behind her shoulder. Then she leaned into the table, looking at both Jak and Rasha.

  "I hear Lu's little sister got herself into some trouble."

  Rasha looked at Jak, amazed. This is what he'd been planning all along.

  "What kind of trouble?" he asked without taking his eyes off of her.

  "The Couriers have a code, as you know, and she didn't deliver. They say it has something to do with the package itself."

  "Does anyone know what's in it?" Rasha asked.

  Silae leaned back in her seat.

  "No one seems to know that bit. She’s not even supposed to know what's inside, but she found out without opening it. At least that's what they say."

  "She didn't open the package?"

  Silae shook her head.

  "Then how could she know?" Rasha asked.

  Silae shrugged.

  "The yahtz if I know." She looked over at Jak and put a hand on his chin. "You look thirsty. Let me get you something to drink."

  She bounced up from the bench and worked her way across the room like a master. Silae spoke to regular customers, greeted new guests, and cleared up dishes as she moved among the patrons. She did it all with that wide smile and the short skirt that emphasized her swinging hips.

  "We need to find out what was in that package,” Jak said.

  "It might be easier to find Ladi and ask her,” Rasha said.

  "I doubt it."

  "Why?"

  "She's just like you, she won't tell anyone until she figures out how to handle it or gets caught again."

  Rasha rolled her eyes. He was referring to when she hadn't told him about her royal status. He'd found out when she got them all arrested by the Chilalian royal guard for refusing to go to the
Choosing. She'd been made princess incumbent anyway and ruled for the months they were at war with the beasts of the north. After prince Bashir came out of hiding and took his throne, she'd immersed herself in the courier business along with Jak. They hadn't given the palace another thought.

  "What are you going to do if he comes for you?"

  Jak's thoughts must have followed hers. He was thinking of the New Choosing that Prince Bashir had announced. He'd all but said the whole thing was her idea. If the prince demanded she attend, she wouldn't be able to get out of it. In fact, she might even have agreed to go if he hadn't tried to force her to go. The majority of the idea was his but if she were being honest she liked the concept. Instead of choosing from the eligible princesses, he would host several gatherings to encourage all the royals to meet and choose among themselves. This worked well in this case since most of the eligible princesses had been killed by beasts at the former palace the year before.

  Rasha still couldn't erase all the gory images from her mind. She and Chiza had been the only princesses to survive. Lu sacrificed himself to save Chiza, and forced her into hiding with Bashir. The prince expressed interest in Rasha but she'd shrugged it off at the time. It had been over a year already since he'd told her how much of an impression she'd left on him at ten years old. The attack from the beasts had interrupted the rest, but it lingered in the back of her mind and, she believed, Jak's as well.

  "I'll do what I must,” Rasha said, and he seemed satisfied with that for the moment. Her gut told her it wouldn't be long. The prince would call for her and she'd be forced to go. The only good thing about it was that Chiza would be there, as would Jak. They'd handle it together.

  Silae returned with their drinks and this time didn't sit.

  "Any other news?" Jak asked before she could twirl away.

  "Just be mindful of your hygiene. That horrible flu going around is taking all my best customers and you don't want to get yourselves sick," she said then dashed off to deliver more drinks.