by C. R. Daems
"Then I'm probably right about the three assassins I saw during our performance the other night."
"Probably. Wizard Baas and I will keep a watch on anyone approaching the camp. Someone may have made a connection between your giving Lady wu'Lichak a telling and her recovery. In which case, you could be considered dangerous to whatever game is in play."
"I'm looking forward to seeing Sister Rong and hearing what she thinks of this game."
"Yes, that will be interesting."
* * *
The next day was a typical performance day: a light practice, assignments for the night's performance, and the setting up and testing of equipment. The Magic Ball act was popular so it was always one of the night's entertainments. We were using three fireballs as a finale. It had proved a crowd pleaser and was the last act of the evening. As a consequence, the fortuneteller tent was the last to open, as I had to wash and change. As I entered, a young noble stood waiting as the first customer. I waved him in and took my place behind the table.
"Please sit, sir. How may I help you?"
"You are the fortuneteller, Ryana, who tells fortunes for high ranking nobles and wizards?" he said more as a statement than question.
"Yes, some nobles and wizards have come to me for amusement."
"What do you charge nobles to tell their future?"
"Two coppers."
"It would seem worth a lot more if you could really tell the future."
"I'm not promising to make you rich or to have the woman of your dreams fall in love with you. I can only tell you the future I see most clearly for you of the hundreds that are possible," I said, but smiled to keep it light. He laughed.
"That would work for a fake fortuneteller."
"And for amusement," I said, still smiling. I liked the young man in front of me. He seemed inquisitive and to be enjoying life.
"Alright, two coppers it is," he said dropping two on the table and giving me an eager smile.
"Place your hands on the table, palms down." I turned mine down to show what I meant. He nodded, still smiling and put them on the table. His smile got broader when I placed mine over his. I shut my eyes and sought that peaceful place meditation provided and gave me a deeper clarity in assessing my customers. "You’re viewed as a reckless man because you’re inquisitive and not afraid to seek answers. This could make you a better leader, but it could also keep you from reaching your potential. Now that you are older, your unchecked inquisitiveness will be perceived as a threat by some in power. Caution and sensitivity are necessary if you are to reach your full potential."
"That's two futures," he said. I didn't open my eyes, but I could feel it in his hands that he had lost the smile.
"You have not decided which path to pursue, so neither future looks clearer than the other." When I opened my eyes, he sat staring at me deep in thought.
"I see why nobles and wizards come to you, and it's not for amusement. And I'll wager they don't often hear how wonderful their future will be. If you asked for gold, you couldn't tell the truth as easily." He reached into his purse, threw a gold on the table, and stood. "Thank you, Ryana. I look forward to seeing you again."
The young noble was what made fortunetelling so interesting. Not only trying to get a glimpse into their lives, but perhaps giving them a glimpse into something that may help them have a better future.
"Well, Ryana, another noble tonight," Alida said as I entered the evening gathering. I was usually the last one to finish as the fortuneteller tent had long lines.
"They keep trying to get me to go home with them," I said, flipping the gold coin to Lujza, who grinned as she snagged it out of the air. "But I keep telling them my true love is Luka, but... for five gold." The reaction was spectacular. Three choked while taking a drink, spraying everything and everyone close. Three choked on the food they were chewing, resulting in coughing fits. A few were stunned into open-mouthed silence. And the rest laughed. Luka on the other hand gave me a warm smile that melted my heart.
"Luka is safe then," Alida said to more good natured laughter.
"Ryana, I don't know how you do it," Kata said. "Half the time I was bored to tears and the other half depressed. You not only enjoy it, but you attract nobles and wizards to liven things up, and they pay you gold for the privilege. You should start a fortunetelling school for us gypsies."
"Kata's right, hon," Luka said as we lay wrapped in each other’s arms after glorious lovemaking. "Before you, the fortunetelling tent bought in very little money, and it was mostly women who could ill afford the two coppers. You've made it into a gypsy gold mine."
"Luck. I started during a period when people were desperately looking for answers. And they hoped the gypsies could see the future. Then one notable event, like a noble asking for you, and people believe you have a gift and can really see the future."
"But... you can't... can you?" he looked wide eyed at me. I couldn't help laughing.
"That's exactly what I mean. My reputation makes it appear true. There is no way for anyone to verify how accurate I am. Because noble so-and-so came to me, I must be good. No, love. I can't tell the future."
"I don't understand, but it doesn't matter. I love you, and I'm glad you’re my wife even though you can only share part of it with me."
"I'm two people, but believe they are both in love with you." I buried my head in his chest and cried with joy of having been lucky to find Luka. When I knew he had fallen asleep, I untangled myself and dressed for night—gypsy clothes over blacks. I had no sooner entered the forest than Anil and Kasi had found Fayza, Baas, and three individuals circling the camp. They had passed Baas without noticing him and hadn't noticed Fayza following them. As they were slowly approaching me, I sat and waited. Sometime later, I could hear them approaching. Not only were they making crunching and cracking noises as they walked, but they were talking loud enough to be heard several steps away.
"You three appear to be lost," I said when they were within knife throwing distance. They spun looking for me, swords raised. I stood.
"Jake, a Shadow!" one said, pointing towards me. The other two turned, their swords at the ready. Fayza stood, bow nocked, a mere ten steps behind them.
"The Tobar clan is Shadow business. So you might want to explain to me why you think it's yours."
"You think you can stop us?" the old man said, although he didn't look anxious to act.
"Perhaps the assassins of Dazel have forgotten what happened to the assassin's guild in Tarion. They too thought they had the right to mess in Shadow business. Answer my Sister, now!" Fayza said, her voice tinged with amusement. The three spun around trying to find the other voice and see if any others where hidden in the brush.
"There is a ten gold reward for the fortuneteller Ryana dead and twenty alive," the older one said.
"Who's offering the reward?"
"Don't know. Someone in a white robe told us. Said the followers of Perun would pay it. We didn't know it was Shadow business. We'll make sure the gypsies aren't bothered."
"Your guild's continued existence depends on it." I watched as they half ran, stumbling back in the direction they had come. The ground rumbled in what I took as a laugh from Baas.
"That was fun," Fayza said, as she approached with Zara lying wrapped around her neck. She laughed. "You sure do have a tendency to upset people."
"I guess I'll have to make up better fortunes. Especially for the nobility."
"Lady wu'Lichak?"
"No. Within a sixday you won't be able to find a drop of the Passion nectar in Araby... or anything that tastes remotely similar."
* * *
We stayed for another performance, before leaving for Tarion, a four to five day trip. The second day out, around noon, some twenty Zunji appeared off to the east and within a half hour they had caught up with us. Santo called for a halt, and we pulled off to the side of the road. While everyone gathered to talk to the Zunji, Kato came over to my wagon.
"Ryana the fortunete
ller?" he asked. When I nodded, he gave a small bow. "I'm Kato, the youngest son of the Zunji chief, Sizwe. Father said you could get in touch with the Shadow of Death. Is that true? Not that I doubt my father..."
"Yes, she contacts me occasionally."
"Father would like to talk to her. We have discovered something she would be interested in knowing."
"Where can the Shadow find your father?"
"He's camped a short run from here... for the Zunji." He grinned, pointing off to the northeast. I understood his amusement. A short run for a Zunji was a four to six hour walk for the average Heslander.
"Thank you, Kato. I will tell her as soon as I can."
"What do you think?" Luka asked when Kato began walking back to the group.
"I think it's important. Sizwe wouldn't ask to see me otherwise. I'll bet Kato is negotiating for a performance, so I can see him tonight."
"It's funny. Before marrying you, I thought of the Zunji as barbarians and not as intelligent as the rest of us. But he's no fool and his people are much like gypsies. Actually, I like them better than most Heslanders."
When we reached Santo and the others, he was discussing where the performance would be held.
"Ryana, Kato, is it Chief or Lord Sizwe?"
"If I were you, I wouldn't call Chief Sizwe a Lord, if you want to cross his land," I said, which received hoots from the Zunji.
"Anyway, Chief Sizwe's son, Kato, has asked us to put on a performance for his clan. He will lead us to a good spot about an hour ahead. It's early so we should be able to setup for a performance tonight. No one seems to mind, in fact, I think everyone is looking forward to performing for the Zunji. They feel like long lost gypsies." Santo laughed.
Kato and his band led us off the road a few minutes ahead and into the desert to a spot with small trees and, to everyone's amazement, water. While we setup for the performance, Zunji began arriving with food and small fires began appearing everywhere.
We began at sunset to a very enthusiastic audience. Afterward we had a super-large gathering, with lots of conversations about Zunji and gypsy life and some private lessons which were hilarious. I ghosted into the desert when it looked like the party was breaking up. Less than an hour later I could see Sizwe's tent. He and his two wives, Nubia and Subira, were sitting on a rug outside. A drink sat in an empty space apparently reserved for me.
"Shadow, I'm glad Ryana could contact you. Please sit." He waved to the empty place. "Part of becoming an adult Zunji warrior is a half cycle alone in the land north and west of Tarion, across the road to Firdon. The land there is barren like here and uninhabited. Or at least we thought so. When a young one failed to return, we considered that the price of raising a nation of warriors able to defend our land and people. A season ago, five youths failed to return. I thought something might be wrong and sent my son, Mosi, and twenty warriors to investigate. Two returned yesterday." He paused looking out into the dimly lit desert of Sycorax quarter moon. His gaze never changed when he continued. "My son and his warriors discovered the Assur tribes had left the mountains and now occupied the desert land west of Tarion. My son assumed the five youths stumbled upon one of their camps and were killed. But why kill them, he wondered, so he and his warriors spent many days scouting the area. They found the Assur were training their men in the use of spears and knives and were organized in military-like units, who patrolled their camps, guarded fields of Passion flowers, and hundreds of white-robes that work planting, harvesting, and processing the flowers." He looked back to me. "It cost my son's life to find that information. He was not one of the two that returned. Warrior Efusa said they were discovered but would have escaped except for a... Storm Wizard. He created a blinding sandstorm which killed all but the two that made it back. They are badly wounded but will survive."
"What do you intend to do?" I asked. Neither Sizwe nor his people would let this go unpunished.
"I wish to enlist the Shadow of Death to help avenge his death. I believe we have a common interest. In exchange, the Zunji will ensure Passion flowers are eradicated from the desert." He sat back and took a long drink from his cup. My dream of drying up the Passion drug supply and thus ending the cults had just evaporated to be replaced by a nightmare. An endless supply of the drug would eventually end all resistance, and Hesland would fall to the Assur tribes.
"My heart aches for you and the Zunji people. You will have my support and that of the Shadow Sisters, and I believe the Earth Wizards will also help." The thought of revenge and more killing made my stomach rile, but the alternative was worse. "I will need time. Can you wait?"
"The Zunji are a patient people, Shadow. We will have justice even if it takes a cycle of cycles. We will wait your call."
"If it doesn't happen soon, it may take a cycle of cycles." I rose and trotted back to the wagons my mind in chaos.
* * *
The three days to Tarion was one continuous headache, as I tried again and again to think of a plan to combat the Assur problem. Of course, I knew why a solution wouldn't come—I was trying to force a logical one. I didn't have to fake a headache as an excuse for being quiet; it was obvious to everyone, and mercifully they left me alone.
I had explained the situation to Fayza and Baas the night I returned and sent them ahead to Tarion. Fayza to find Hajna and Rong, and Baas to get the word to the Earth Wizards. We agreed to meet at the wizard guild house the night the Tobar clan arrived in Tarion.
Even alone in the quiet night, I couldn't think, or meditate, or even enjoy time with my darlings. By the time we reached Tarion, my tortured mind conceded I didn't have enough information to make a plan even if I was capable of using logic. I didn't know how many Assur warriors, or Storm Wizards, or robed ones or passion plants or how they were processed or...
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
DAZEL: Tarion – The King
We arrived late and Santo decided to rest the next day while we waited on the king's invitation to determine what performances we would put on for the public. I was on pins and needles during the gathering and changed and ready to leave far too early.
"Hon, don't wait for me to go to bed. I know how important this meeting is. Go when you can," Luka said, after watching me pace the floor for some time. He was right. I let Anil out one shutter and watched. As soon as it looked clear around our wagon, I slipped out the door and into the forest. An hour later I was on Earth Wizard land. As usual, the door stood open and Wizard Wallis stood waiting.
"Welcome Shadow. Everyone is here as you requested," she said waving for me to follow. When we entered the great hall, Fayza, Hajna, and Rong rose and came to meet me. I got a hug from each and felt my tension ease. My Shadow family was here to solve the problem.
"We were all sorry to hear Jelena had been trapped by the Passion drug, and more so that it was you who had to confront her," Hajna was first to speak. "The blame rests with me. Jelena was by far the better fighter than you, and that gave her the confidence she could beat you easily. I teach new Sisters weapons which gives the illusion they are learning to be assassins. In truth, I teach them how to defend themselves when they screw up or things go bad. Sister Rong teaches them to be Spies and Assassins. As much as you never wanted to be an Assassin, you are the perfect one. You understand only thugs seek face-to-face confrontations. They do so to prove they are the best. To an Assassin, it's an assignment. The object is to kill the person quietly and leave without having been seen. There is no glory in making the kill and nothing to prove. I will make that clear in the future," Hajna said.
"Even I fell into the illusion that the greater the weapon mastery, the better the Assassin. Sister Hajna is the undisputed weapon master, yet I doubt she could have killed a Fire, Wind, or Water Wizard or would even have tried. But you did, not by direct confrontation but by finding their weaknesses. And like a true Assassin, you made it look like someone else killed the wizard and quietly left." Rong said.
"Our founding Sisters’ sole intent was survival when they
first joined together. But over the years, the Shadow Sisters have evolved into an organization that works to safeguard the legitimate rulers from being overthrown or corrupted. It's not a perfect system, but it prevents wars and reduces the evil that men are capable without some checks and balances," Morana said. "The Shadow Sisters have allowed you to carry too much of the burden for too long. It's time we help."
"Yes, Ryana, help." Rong said, with a twitch of her lip. "You've presented us with the greatest game I've ever encountered. You've shown us how to kill three kinds of wizards, but you've introduced a new kind with none of the others' weaknesses. You've given us allies, Zunji and the Earth Wizards, but shown the new enemies who appear to be superior. And you've revealed the truth about the ultimate drug—one that can be introduced easily and gives our adversary complete control and cooperation. A wonderful problem, and I for one can't wait for the solution."
"Me?"
"Yes, you, Ryana. We are here to help in any way you see fit, and we'll give you our input. But you are the most familiar with what has been taking place, and our allies are most comfortable with you." Rong said and the ground rumbled in what I had come to recognize as agreement from the Earth Wizards. Unfortunately, I knew Chief Sizwe would feel the same.
"So long as you don't expect me to work out a logical plan of attack," I said and had to laugh. "I don't have one. I had hoped you would. All right, it's a game, and Sister Rong has defined the problem. What's our first move?"
"Collect information," Sister Morana said. "I'll look into the white-robed ones. I put a drop of the Passion drug on my finger and held it out to her. She took my hand and licked the finger. "Yummy. Easy for anyone to get caught in its web."
I put a drop on each of their fingers and spilled a few on the ground. The reactions were the same. Hearing a description and tasting it was like night and day. I could see everyone recognized the ease as which someone could be trapped, and you wouldn't have to be susceptible as Jelena had been.