Like thieves in the night, they began anew. Lord Serant assumed the lead and Geoffrey took the rear. Captain Brodst rode beside Midori and Calyin. Several hours of veiled sky remained before dawn and they were going to put this time to good use. Until just before first light, they maintained the road, and shortly afterwards they moved far to its outskirts.
The land had gentle, gradual slopes going downhill. In the distance they could now see the ridges that marked the Borderlands, and beyond them the snow-capped mountains of the north. Geoffrey knew this region the best as it was within the area patrolled by his fellows. In his youth, he had been on many patrols in this area himself. The closest garrison of the kingdom lay where the borders of the Barrens, the Borderlands, and the Great Kingdom met; and now they had just moved beyond its grasp.
They still thought it queer that they should attempt to avoid the very ones who should by all means be their confederates, but they would still follow caution and hope it was folly when they reached Solntse. As afternoon came upon them, they saw several patrols pass along the road at a distance, and an ever-increasing amount of traffic. This was not odd at all. They saw groups of wagons, riders, and even people on foot. Sometimes the passersby traveled in mixed groups but always they had some sort of armed company with them, usually an escort of two to three men heavily equipped, who probably required higher fees than would the rogues who could have found them.
An attack by outlaws was now Lord Serant’s primary concern also, for they had not much to offer in the way of monetary gain. They stayed close together with eyes constantly on guard and hands always at the ready. Serant gave heavy consideration to moving beyond the kingdom borders and into the borderlands. He didn’t believe all the tales he had heard about the place; but if so many believed them, it would surely be a good place to be. The rain that had held off in previous days found them at first morning light as a drizzle but it quickly turned into a downpour. They sought cover or, possibly, to outrun it. Unbeknownst to them as they raced to escape the storm, their course turned northerly; and before they knew it, the land had turned to rock and crag. However, they did not stop, nor did they heed their own instincts.
Lightning crackled in the air around them, sending sparks of energy through the air, and growing ever nearer. Their steeds turned of their own accord as the brilliant bolts struck within a few feet of horse and rider, and all the riders could do was to hold on and pray they could maintain their mounts. The sound of thunder suddenly swallowed all sound, and a split second later a flash lit the sky to their immediate left. Midori fell on the hard rock as her horse reared.
As she fell to the ground, she rolled away from the horse’s feet, which were seeking unintentionally to stomp her life away. Both Lord Serant and Captain Brodst saw her fall, but only the captain could turn his mount around to offer her a quick hand. The reins stung as they bit into his hand, but he did not release his right grip. He grasped her arm at the elbow and was able to pull her to safety.
Midori rubbed the sore spot on her head only for a moment before she locked both arms around Brodst’s waist. She wasn’t going to fall again if she could help it. She searched for her horse, but it was now long gone, lost among the ridges and the many turns in the path. A spot of white caught her eye; it almost looked as if a clear area lay in front of them, but she wasn’t quite sure.
Suddenly, they broke past the clouds, the rain stopped, the lightning receded, and the setting sun filled their field of vision. Captain Brodst reined his horse to a sudden halt. Directly in front of him, the path fell away into a very steep downward slope. As he gazed, he saw that they were on the very edge of an enormous valley—more a ravine than a valley. As he looked, he changed his mind. It was definitely a canyon, narrow and deep, winding like a great serpent through the rock.
“Downward—” whispered Midori.
Geoffrey didn’t like the looks of the place; his choice was to wait until the storms passed and turn back toward Solntse. “We must go to the garrison; only then will we know.”
Captain Brodst had heard Midori’s faint murmur. She had whispered almost directly into his ear. He gave weight to both Geoffrey’s and Midori’s words. “I say we follow Geoffrey to Solntse,” stated Brodst.
“I say,” started Serant, “that we continue along our current path and see where it takes us.”
Calyin was the only one who had not spoken her mind, and the other four turned toward her to hear her opinion. She wasn’t as quick to make a judgment as the others and she returned Midori’s wry look to her. Midori thanked Captain Brodst and dismounted.
“I believe we should continue; there is much at hand that we do not understand, and it is best to follow when led, to see where the path takes us.”
“Three to two,” spoke Geoffrey sadly. He shrugged his shoulders, shedding the sense of foreboding he perceived, and urged his mount onward at a cautious pace. After Midori mounted behind Calyin, the rest followed his lead; and as they journeyed down into the depths of the canyon, the darkness of night seemed to come immediately over them or at least its shadows did. The sky overhead was still a washed-out blue.
The descent was extremely drawn-out since they had to follow a staggered path crisscrossing the wall of the canyon many times. By the time they found the canyon floor, it was too dark to continue. The rush of water led them on for a time until they came to the edge of a river, where they made camp. They did manage to find enough scrub brush in the immediate area to get a blazing fire burning, giving no heed to precaution.
Lord Serant clapped a hand to Geoffrey’s back in response to his far-off stare during their evening meal. “It isn’t that bad, my friend. Soon you will be home with nothing but time on your hands, and all this will be far behind you, behind all of us.”
“I hope so,” responded Geoffrey weakly, “I hope so.”
The captain, who had wandered off in search of more wood, returned. His eyes were almost as distant as Geoffrey’s as he sat next to Serant. He looked to Midori and Calyin who quietly watched the flames, and then to Geoffrey and Serant. “Do you really think so?” asked Brodst.
“It is the desire of my heart, yes.”
“Lord Serant, I mean no disrespect when I say, this—I have been thinking very carefully—”
“Don’t—” whispered Midori.
“I must go to Solntse. We are only a full day’s ride away—we cannot turn away. What of the garrison troops there in full company? Tomorrow, I will go alone if need be, but to Solntse, I will go.”
Captain Brodst spoke the words that had been on the tip of Geoffrey’s tongue, and Geoffrey was quick to add his opinion, which was to go to Solntse. “We’ll take the capital back by force. We’ll round the garrisons from the whole of the kingdom! And we’ll march on Imtal and drive Jarom back to his lands as we would a mad dog!” Two pairs of eyes fell to Lord Serant, and wondered why he held his thoughts in check, and why he would continue along this path, which was completely against his nature.
“Do not say your thoughts!” announced Serant. “Or I’ll cut out your tongues myself. I thought we gave this great consideration before we began this journey. Our path is fated—” As Lord Serant continued to speak at length, Geoffrey understood Lord Serant’s reasoning even though the captain did not, for he understood the superstitious nature of those of the Territories and the captain did not. Honor took second place to beliefs, which were very strongly based. Geoffrey also saw the hatred Lord Serant held for Midori, not because he disliked her personally but because she had the power to hold his fears over him and show them to him.
The night was calm with the gentle sound of the river lulling their thoughts for a time. Lord Serant opted for the first watch, and he remained on guard all through the night, waking no one to replace him. The stars appeared so very far off as he stared at them; they did not bring answers to his questions, for he did not seek the answers. The blackness of night slowly dissipated replaced by morning light, but no sun.
Geoffrey
and Captain Brodst parted from the others as morning came; the three who sat around the fire watched them retreat without saying a word. Lord Serant, Calyin and Midori would continue on their own. The canyon floor proved to be very rough and strewn with boulders, making it extremely difficult to traverse. With only two horses to bear the burden of three, they would walk this day.
Their thoughts were with the two who went to Solntse. They did not fear for their own safety. Three could survive as easily as could five and three could possibly remain more invisible than five. Before, they would have retreated from any force and that had not changed. A fight was not what they sought, so they would not confront a hostile force. They continued on through the rains and sleet, downward, inward, outward, upward, wherever their feet led them.
Chapter Nineteen
“Valam? Valam?” asked Jacob. “I am finished.” Jacob nudged Valam a second time with no response. He quickly began to speak again, “I am sorry, gentlemen, for taking up so much of your time, but now I conclude and give you to Prince Valam.”
“Valam? Valam?” said Jacob, louder than he wished. He smiled graciously and then apologized. He shook Valam, who was slow to open his eyes. “My prince, I am most sorry. Perhaps we should delay this meeting until tomorrow.”
Valam opened his eyes, blinked once, then blinked again. “Captain Mikhal?” asked Valam.
“He has not yet arrived, I am sorry.”
Valam sat up straight and looked around the tent. His eyes opened wide. “Ekharn? Where did Ekharn go?”
Sensing something was wrong, Father Jacob dismissed all present saying, “Let us adjourn until this evening, or better still, tomorrow morning. I apologize again most graciously.”
Valam stood, excused himself, and walked out, but just before the entry, he turned back to look at those seated around the table, and he smiled and said, “Eran, brother of Ylsa. I should have caught the resemblance.” Valam fled to the middle of the encampment, waiting for a thing that did not come. Puzzled, he waited, quickly walking away as Father Jacob approached.
He sought refuge not in his own tent, but in another on the far side of camp. He did not seek out Evgej, or Seth, or even Liyan. His search led him directly to another. He did not pause at her door or announce his arrival. Actually, he did not even think anyone would be there. He was shocked to find someone was indeed in the tent.
“You need not lower your eyes,” spoke Tsandra, whispering to his thoughts. “I have no secrets.”
“I am sorry. I did not think—”
“Yes, I know. Just wait one moment. No need to leave. I shall only be a moment,” said Tsandra without even a trace of embarrassment in her words. She stepped into her woolen robe, and then slipped on her boots. She smiled at Valam’s wide eyes and bade him to sit. “Your thoughts read like an open book. I thought the time before last when we spoke that we discussed that problem of yours.”
“I—I—guess we did,” answered Valam. “Wait, wait a minute. This is not what I came here to talk about, so don’t lead me astray.”
“Well—”
“I understand now what you said to me as our journey began; though, to be honest with you, at the time I did not.”
“I thought you would come to understand it, but isn’t your timing a little off? Is this why you walked out of council?”
Valam glared back at her and asked, “You can’t read what I am thinking right now. Can you?”
“Yes, you are still embarrassed, but I think it will pass.”
“That’s precisely it,” replied Valam, confused.
Tsandra sensed the falseness of his words but did not know what made them false. She wondered what he was hiding from her. Carefully, she prodded his mind while she smiled at him, and she grinned even wider as he smiled back. She found no hidden walls in his center, yet there was something she could not see.
“Why did you do it?” asked Valam.
“Do what?”
“Why did you gather your forces? Was it really for the queen? Or was it over me?”
Now Tsandra comprehended where he was going with his interrogation. “It was for the Queen-Mother; I feared for her safety. I am a warrior; mine is to protect.”
“No. The order of the Red are the protectors. Is this not so?”
“It is the right of the Brown to protect also.”
“But you protect your people, do you not? You hold the Queen-Mother in check. Is this not so?”
“Where do you get the audacity to speak of such things to me?”
“Is this not so?”
“I think you should leave.”
“I will go nowhere!”
“Leave, or I will kill you, myself.”
Valam removed his sword from its sheath, and stood eyeing her intent. He considered her words, her tone of voice, and her stance. She did not stand at the ready like one who was willing or wanting to fight. He turned his blade around and handed her the hilt end. “Do me in if you will,” said Valam kneeling down on one knee and bowing his head, an act he knew would infuriate the heart of any warrior, no matter their origin.
“I would not strike you down in such a way. Do you think me so treacherous?”
“No, I do not think there is treachery in you, but perhaps you could find the truth and share it with me.”
Tsandra was stumped. Where had the questions come from so suddenly, and why now? She had not meant it to come to this. She had merely done what needed to be done, nothing more, so why did it now smite her in the face. She did not make it secret this time that she wished to enter his thoughts. She burst into his mind, seeking to tear it apart and search his every thought but was repelled from the emptiness she found. Again, angrily, she forced her will into his mind. Her eyes went wide with fury.
“It wasn’t any of those things, was it?” asked Valam, oblivious to her will upon him.
“Get out!” she yelled, reaching out with all her wrath, again forgetting to enclose its reaches.
“I will not, not until I hear the truth. Tell me, Tsandra of the Brown. Find the words in your heart of hearts and speak them to me.”
“I don’t know what you are saying.”
“The time for playing games with me is over. I remember. I remember it all.”
“Oh, really. You remember what?”
“Do not be coy with me! I am asking you in all honesty. I believe you want to tell me the truth, but what keeps your tongue in check?”
“That would be me,” spoke Liyan stepping into the tent.
“How long have you been standing out there?” asked Tsandra.
“Only a few moments, but I know of what you speak. I heard the name you spoke, though I think others did not catch it. I don’t even think Tsandra heard it.”
“What name are you referring to?”
“Why the name of Ekharn the old, of course?”
“Where did you learn it?” asked Tsandra, confusion showing on her face.
“In a dream of sorts.”
“A dream, or was it Seth?” asked Liyan, searching Valam’s thoughts as he asked it.
Valam stood there staring at Liyan for a time before he responded, but his words were cut short by another. “No, it was not I, brother. You should know I would not speak of such.”
“Tell us of this dream, if you may,” asked Liyan, yet speaking aloud.
“I don’t think I may, Brother Liyan.”
Liyan furrowed his brow, but did not reply to Valam; in thought, he told the others what he knew about Valam’s words and about Brother Ontyv’s visit. Tsandra’s response was only a passing complaint, but Seth’s was anger, anger so strong it turned his face livid. “Please sit, sit all,” begged Tsandra. “Let us talk as friends, as we are all friends in this room.”
Tsandra continued to speak, but not aloud; now she carefully thought to enclose her words only to those around her. “Ours is a tale best left untold, but I will say you are correct in your words, Prince Valam Alder.”
“Yes,” added Liyan, �
�the Brown began from tragedy and necessity, and so you see, not all our past is bright and glorious either. We, like your kind, also came upon many turnings during the dark times, times that are possibly upon us once more, but now I think we have a correct balance.”
“She said there were two queens and two kings,” said Valam, slipping, moving his thoughts into words.
“She?” asked Seth, and lagging only moments behind him, Liyan stated the same thing.
“The past is best left to remain in the past. Let us progress not regress. I will be honest with you and say Brother Ontyv did come to send your people home, for this is what the Queen-Mother wished. She did not want you to go home to your lands, and to your fate, for she had altered your fate already in bringing you here at the first. She did not want it to return at the last. I am afraid in so doing, she has upset the balance, and many dark things have come to pass in your lands. For this we are forever sorrowful, Prince Valam.”
Complete In the Service of Dragons Page 51