Ildiko took another sip of water before answering. “I wanted to send a kit with essential medicines, plus basic ingredients with instructions so that you can make less common mixtures as necessary. I would rather you have too much and not use everything than to be in need in the middle of nowhere.”
“Thank you, Ildiko,” Nerissa said. She scraped the cream from the sides of the mixing bowl and transferred it to one of the glass jars. “You really should have woken me earlier so I could help you.”
Ildiko peered stubbornly at Nerissa over the edge of her glass as she took another drink. Instead of responding, she changed the subject. “Einar had an unexpected meeting with the other Chiefs this morning. Apparently some new development has come up that affected the plans for the mission.”
“I wonder what it is,” Nerissa mused. “What should I label this container?”
“He left without telling me any of the details,” Ildiko said. “That is lotion to relieve skin irritation from poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.” Once Nerissa had labeled the jar, Ildiko began to walk her through the recipe for the next lotion.
Some time later, long after lunch, Einar stomped through the front door. His heavy steps resounded through the house, and glasses rattled on their shelves as he entered the kitchen. “I’m home,” he said gruffly. The chair legs scraped across the floor as he pulled it out from the table to sit down.
By now, Ildiko was feeling well enough to work again. She and Nerissa stood side by side at the counter, still blending mixtures for the mission. “Welcome home,” she said. “You seem awfully cheerful.”
Einar sighed and rubbed his eyes. He knew that Ildiko’s sarcasm was her indirect way of asking what was wrong. “I—” His explanation was abruptly interrupted by a knock on the front door. “That must be Ebba. Haku said that she and Aravind would be coming by with Nerissa’s sword today.”
All of Nerissa’s curiosity about the source of Einar’s frustration evaporated like fog in sunlight. “My sword?” she asked.
Einar rose to answer the door. “You can’t go on a mission like this without a weapon to defend yourself, even if you are still a novice.”
A short time later he returned with Ebba and Aravind. Aravind clutched a fabric-wrapped bundle against her chest as if the object inside were a priceless treasure.
Nerissa and Ildiko washed their hands as they exchanged the usual polite greetings with the other two women. Aravind fidgeted nervously the whole time, which Nerissa found endearing. It reminded her of Raysel, even though he did his best to conceal the habit. The two siblings resembled each other in many ways, even if they were not similar in appearance.
“I’ve already told Caeneus that you’ve brought a sword for him,” Einar said. He put a slight emphasis on the words ‘Caeneus’ and ‘him’ as he spoke. It was a discrete reminder that Aravind did not know Nerissa’s true identity. “A sword would not usually be given to a novice, but this is an unusual circumstance.”
Ebba tightened the knot on the strip of fabric that held her flaxen hair away from her face. “Normally, a sword would be made specifically for each man when they reach the senior level. It takes months to forge a blade. Each one is custom made to suit the length, size, and weight preference of the individual swordsman—so we don’t have ready-made ones sitting around,” she said. “However, it just happens that we do have a blade we can offer you. Aravind’s training has progressed to the point that she is learning to make swords. This is the first one that she created which meets my standards.”
She turned to Aravind, who squeezed the bundle even tighter. “It was meant to be a keepsake to mark a milestone in my training, but I want you to have it instead,” Aravind said. She unwound the fabric to reveal a sword with a white sheath. Ebba took the cloth, and Aravind held the sword across her outstretch palms.
She bowed her head as she offered it to Nerissa. “Caeneus, I give this sword to you in the hope that my work will protect you and return Chiyo to its rightful Heir. May you always have this sword by your side.”
“May you always have this sword by your side,” the others in the room echoed in unison.
Nerissa accepted the sword and held it in front of her, uncertain how to respond. Einar leaned over and whispered the ritual words in her ear. She smiled gratefully and repeated the phrase. “I will carry it with honor and pride.”
“Normally, a sword would be given a name by its owner,” Ebba said. “But since this one was not made for you, we have chosen one for it instead.”
Aravind lifted her head, and Nerissa could see that her gray eyes were watery with emotion. “What is this sword’s name?” Nerissa asked her.
“I chose it with you in mind. Since this is the blade the next Heir of Chiyo will carry on his mission to retake the throne, I called it Harbinger of the Phoenix.”
Nerissa beamed. Aravind had no idea exactly how apt the name really was. “I couldn’t have thought of a better one for it myself,” she exclaimed.
Aravind smiled from ear to ear. Her face flushed with happiness, and she threw her arms around Nerissa’s neck to hug her. “I’m clumsy and still an apprentice, but I hope that it will serve you well, Caeneus.”
“I am sure that it will,” Nerissa replied after Aravind let go. She slid the sword from its sheath to examine it. The length of the blade was engraved on one side with a lace-like pattern of roses, orchids, and lotus blossoms. “This matches the design on Raysel’s sword perfectly,” she said.
“Cattleya did the engraving work for both blades,” Ebba said proudly. “In that way, I guess the two swords are a pair.”
“It looked so beautiful on Thorn that I wanted the same pattern on my sword too,” Aravind added.
Nerissa slid the sword back into its sheath. “I am fortunate that you were willing to give this one to me.”
Ebba tilted her head to the side, and there was a glimmer in her eyes. “I think it is fitting that you and Raysel have matching blades.”
“I agree,” Aravind chirped. “The new Heir and his guardian, wielding twin swords as they go on a quest to take back the throne! It’s like something right out of a romance story. The heroic adventure kind of romance, I mean, not the lovey-dovey sort,” she amended with a blush. Einar and Ildiko exchanged an unreadable glance, but both remained silent.
Ebba patted the top of her youngest daughter’s head. “It’s time for us to go home,” she said. “There is still much work left to do today.”
**************************************
It was late evening when Nerissa arrived at the stables carrying a suitcase filled with her clothing and necessities for the trip. Einar and Ildiko followed shortly behind her with the medical kit. It was almost time for the team to meet and load the wagon in preparation for departure early in the morning. Nerissa glanced around the yard, curious to see who else was around. She was not surprised to see that Leal and Jarold had beaten her there. They were already circling the wagon, following the stable master as he performed a final inspection.
This wagon was much bigger than the one they had taken on their recent trip to Niamh, and the exterior was plain, devoid of markings or decorations. With a door at the back and small windows on the sides, Nerissa thought it looked like a miniature, rolling house. She circled around and climbed the set of folding stairs that led to the back door. The interior was more spacious than it appeared from the outside. Squat, strongboxes lined the floor on either side beneath the windows, secured to the wall by leather straps. Nerissa assumed that they were already packed with money and supplies. There were two more sets of straps on the wall above them so that other trunks could be added as goods were acquired. Spanning the far wall was a set of bunk beds. The mattresses were thin and the beds were shorter than a normal bed, but Nerissa was sure they would still be comfortable enough for a brief rest while they traveled.
“Everything checks out,” she heard the stable master say to Einar as the two men approached the back door. “There are two extra
wheels and other spare parts strapped to the ceiling inside.”
Nerissa looked up and, sure enough, there were the parts the stable master had mentioned. The wagon was definitely designed to maximize storage space. There were even cubbies beneath the bottom bunk bed for storage of the suitcases.
“Go on in,” Einar said from behind her.
Nerissa obliged, stepping inside and allowing Einar to walk past. He slid the medical kit into one of the cubbies and fastened it into place with another of the leather straps. Nerissa followed his lead and slid her suitcase into the next open spot where Einar secured it as well.
“What do you think?” Einar asked. “This is your first time traveling for more than a few days, isn’t it?”
Nerissa knew his last question was rhetorical. If she had traveled extensively in the past, Einar or Raysel would have accompanied her in secret. “It’s very efficient,” she replied. “Though this wagon was certainly not designed with an emphasis on comfort.”
“So this will be our humble abode for the next few months,” a familiar voice said from the doorway.
Nerissa turned excitedly, but her words of greeting dropped from the tip of her tongue. For a moment, all she could do was stare at Raysel, open-mouthed and wide-eyed. “Y-you’ve dyed your hair,” she spluttered.
Raysel’s still-damp hair hung loosely around his shoulders. It was now nearly the same pale shade of gold as his mother and sisters. A hearty laugh escaped his lips at Nerissa’s reaction. “I didn’t mean to shock you. Since the white color is so unique, I thought dying it would avoid attracting unwanted attention,” he explained. He slid his suitcase over to Einar, who placed it in the cubby beside Nerissa’s.
“I guess that makes sense, but you still should have warned me. I liked your hair the way it was,” Nerissa said, pouting a little.
That made Raysel laugh even more. “I do too.”
“How did you do it?” Nerissa asked.
“I used a strong brew of chamomile tea,” he said. “It takes a long time, but it’s something that I can easily maintain while we are on the road.”
“More bags coming through,” Leal said from the doorway, interrupting their conversation.
“It’s getting crowded in here. Let’s get out of the way,” Raysel said to Nerissa. Einar preceded them out to rejoin Ildiko, who was a short distance away from everyone else.
They stepped into the fading sunlight just as the twins arrived. While everyone else had brought a single suitcase, Cole and Eloc each carried a suitcase and tugged a large, wheeled trunk behind them.
“Dragging this thing over cobblestones is really not my idea of a good time,” Cole huffed.
“It never is,” Eloc concurred wearily.
Jarold looked back and forth between the pair and their trunks. “I think even noble ladies pack lighter. We were only supposed to bring the essentials,” he teased.
Cole dragged his trunk to the base of the stairs then released his grip on the handle. The chest dropped to the ground with a resounding thump, and he popped open the lid. Nerissa immediately recognized the black cases that were nestled on one side of the trunk amidst a mass of clothing and wigs. She knew from their previous trip to Niamh that those cases contained supplies for the twin’s disguises: makeup, paints, glues and an array of prosthetic chins and noses. Cole reached in and randomly yanked out an article of clothing.
“These are as fundamental to performing my job as a sword is to yours!” he exclaimed.
He waved the pair of frilly ladies’ bloomers around in front of Jarold’s face. Nerissa bit her lip to keep from laughing, and her eyes watered from the effort. She managed to resist the urge until she heard Eloc start snickering too.
“I’m sure that you look lovely in them,” Leal taunted from the doorway.
Cole finally looked to see exactly what article of clothing he was holding. “Of all the things I could have grabbed...” he grumbled and threw his hands up in exasperation.
Jarold laughed so hard he snorted. “Don’t be sore,” he said between guffaws. “I was just giving you a hard time. We all know those are your supplies. We took the same trunks with us for the mission last week. I would have helped you carry them over if you had asked.”
“These are the young men we are entrusting our future to?” Einar murmured with feigned disappointment. Ildiko jabbed him gently in the ribs.
Raysel shook his head sadly, but he was grinning at the same time. “And I’m the one you put in charge of bringing order to this chaos. You must not like me very much,” he said to Einar with a wink.
Jarold poked his head out the back door of the wagon. “The last trunks have been stowed,” he called out. “The food will be packed tomorrow before we leave. Are we done for tonight?”
“No,” Einar said, frowning. “There’s still one more person who is supposed to report.”
That is unexpected, Nerissa thought. Yesterday, the Chiefs had agreed to keep the same team that went to Niamh. “Who else is coming?” she asked.
“Me,” a dulcet voice answered.
Nerissa’s head swung in the direction the voice had come from. The half moon hung low in the twilight sky with its partner, the evening star, twinkling brightly beside it. And just below, with the orange and purple glow of sunset glinting off of his long black hair, was Rian. Nerissa placed her hands on her hips, and a sigh of vexation escaped her.
“Is this the reason why you’ve been in a bad mood all day?” Ildiko whispered. She and Einar stood far enough away from the group that it was unlikely anyone would overhear, even if she didn’t whisper, but there was no harm in being cautious.
Einar nodded stiffly. “He found out about the mission from the twins and was insistent that he be able to join in. He said he feels responsibility for his father’s part in the attack and wants to be directly involved with helping take back Chiyo. I said no, but was outvoted by Hania and Haku.”
“That foolish boy. Caelan came here with him when he was an infant. He never even knew his father. How can he be responsible for the actions of a man he’s never known?” Ildiko raised an eyebrow questioningly at her husband. “But why do you not want him to go? Surely you don’t think he’s untrustworthy.”
“It’s not that. He is among the best of any of the Ohanzee—in swordsmanship or archery,” Einar admitted. “But I don’t like the attitude that he has toward Caeneus. You heard what he did during the sparring match a few weeks ago.”
Ildiko gave Einar a knowing look. “So the real reason is that you’re feeling overprotective.”
“If I can’t be there to protect her, then I at least want her to be surrounded by those who would defend her as passionately as I would,” he hissed.
“Protect ‘him,' you mean?” Ildiko corrected.
Einar pressed his lips together and looked down at her through narrowed eyes. “Don’t nit-pick,” he said. “Because of his rivalry, I’m not convinced that Rian would protect Caeneus as vigorously as the others would. In some situations, even the slightest hesitation could make the difference between life and death.” Einar paused a moment, then added, “I’ve been his instructor long enough to know that he tends to lose his temper too easily and acts hastily as a result.”
“I see, so you fear he will be both too slow and too quick to action.” Ildiko emphasized both words to call attention to Einar’s contradictory opinions. “I understand your feelings,” she whispered, leaning against her husband and hugging his arm. “But I think Haku and Hania are right. Rian is just as honorable as the rest of these men. I think that he will surprise you.”
Einar smiled down at her gratefully and wrapped his arm around her waist. “I hope that you’re right,” he said.
Chapter 8
Warning
The discordant ringing of dozens of bells on collars could barely be heard amidst the baaing and bleating of the flock of sheep as it meandered across the road. Rian sat atop his horse, a gelding named Keme, and watched in amusement as the scene in f
ront of him unfolded. There really was nothing else he could do, since the road ahead was currently impassable. The arrival of Rian and his companions hardly stirred the creatures, though it had awakened the boy tending them. The flock now slowly moseyed out of the road at the prodding of the boy and his stubby-legged herding dog.
The journey to here from Darnal had taken four days. The trip would have taken only two days for a single rider, but the wagon had slowed their movement significantly—especially in the wooded and hilly terrain immediately surrounding Darnal. Some of this lost time was made up by keeping to the less-traveled back roads. Even so, their progress was hampered by the need to make frequent stops to rest the horses and switch out the team pulling the wagon.
Overall, it had been a pleasant and uneventful trip. Jarold and Leal, who were posing as the merchant and his partner, sat at the front of the wagon and drove the horses. The remaining men were acting as the merchants’ guards. Cole and Eloc naturally paired off. It made sense for Raysel and Caeneus to ride together since the Heir and their personal guardian should always be near each other. That left Rian with the extra horse as a companion. Even though he would have preferred to pass the time in amiable conversation with his best friend, the arrangements still suited him just fine. Caeneus had not been hostile, but he also made no effort to be friendly either. Not that Rian could blame him.
Rian knew that his behavior during the sparring match had been inappropriate, but he couldn’t bring himself to apologize for that now. The incident had led him to discover that Caeneus was somehow related to the girl he had met at the masquerade, so he did not feel entirely sorry for his actions. Although it had not been his primary motivation for requesting to come on this mission, he definitely intended to use the opportunity to further unravel the enigma of Caeneus’ identity.
Keme whickered and stomped a foot impatiently. The last of the sheep finally cleared the road, roaming into the open field with the yawning shepherd boy and his dog trailing behind them.
Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix (Records of the Ohanzee Book 2) Page 6