by Nichelle Rae
“Yes, my lady. Our most recent maps are from ancient times. Not many travelers have come across the sea to Casdanarus needing them, not since the Nameless War ended. Casdanarus has changed very much since that time. Very few travel outside their own realms these days, so maps are useless. The small number that used to travel often has decreased further due to the Shadow Creatures awakening in the past few months.”
I looked at Rabryn and Ortheldo just as they looked at me. I could tell our muscles were tense, as we all thought the same thing. Was it really that bad out there already?
I let out a heavy breath of annoyance. I had to get out of here, more than ever. “If you knew I was coming, why didn’t you start drawing the maps weeks ago?”
“I’m sorry my lady, but we couldn’t do you any favors until we understood you better,” Elraramir replied.
I squeezed my eyes shut and pinched the bridge of my nose as a sudden wave of fatigue threatened to bring me to my knees. I really needed to sleep. “How long is a few days?” I looked at him. “I’m really pressed for time. If it will take more than a week, I’ll take my chances without the maps.”
“Very well. Fali? Reese?”
Two Salynn Humounts stepped forward, one from the angry group and the other from the smiling group. “Yes, my Lord.”
“Take the guests to their quarters, then get your team straight to work on the maps. I want them done in three days. No more.”
“Yes sire,” they both said and bowed.
“Everyone else,” the king called, “back to the kitchen duties. We have a feast to prepare for tonight.”
The crowd dispersed, some looking over their shoulders at me with suspicion, others looking amused and licking their lips as they absorbed me, and some just looking curious. I breathed a sigh of relief when I didn’t feel every single pair of eyes on me.
“My lady, I am Reese,” the Salynn from the angry group said. “If you’ll follow me, I’m in a hurry to get you to your quarters.” He was attractive, like all Salynns. He had long dark brown hair that fell straight to the middle of his back. The top half pulled back into a tail, and two smaller tails were at his temples, falling in front of his shoulders. He had big grey eyes that were set far apart, beautifully centering his nose and apple blossom pink lips. Too bad he was a jerk.
I glared at him. “If you’re in such a hurry, you can take the members of my party to their quarters. I have a young Whiteian in Wizard Beldorn’s room that will be sharing quarters with me. Since Fali isn’t in such a rush, he can escort me after I get the boy. I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you.”
His prominent cheekbones turned a little red and his brows dropped slightly. After taking a moment to calm himself, he glanced at Fali then looked back at me. “As you wish.” He looked past me to my friends. “If the rest of you would kindly follow me.”
“My quarters better be very near the lady’s,” Ortheldo said, also glaring at Reese.
“As well as mine,” Rabryn added.
“Ours too,” Addredoc said gently. “All of ours, please.”
I tried to suppress a smile and almost managed, but I had to look down when it came despite my efforts.
“I don’t decide who goes where,” Reese replied, a little shortly. “I put you where I’m told.”
“While you boys hash it out”—I looked at Fali—“would you mind coming with me for a moment, my dear Blue-Violetian?”
His soft looking, peach cream skin reddened a little bit. “Not at all, my lady. Please lead the way.”
Fali and I turned to walk back towards Beldorn’s room, but someone took hold of my upper arm, stopping me. I turned and saw Ortheldo giving me a meaningful look. “Be careful.”
I nodded. “You too.” Fali and I headed across the room to the stone staircase towards Beldorn’s quarters.
Fali was also good looking, but then again I had yet to see even a remotely unattractive Salynn. He had small tight curls in his blonde hair, which were close to his head and looked stiff, unmoving. His hair was only as long as the nape of his neck, so he only had a few Sallybreath Flowers. He had large attractive cheekbones and a slightly round, gentle looking face. His pale blue eyes were hypnotizing. The skin-tight white silk leggings that stretched over his strong buttocks made the fact that he was a male a little too obvious. His close fitting, light blue silk tunic had belled sleeves with purple lace around the hem of each. It was cinched at his small waist by a purple sash. He had rather a human quality about his body structure. He wasn’t gracefully thin like most Salynns, but actually had slightly broad shoulders and a little thicker build—or perhaps it was the way his clothes were fitting that was giving me the wrong impression.
“So Fali,” I began, feeling the need to break the silence, “you’re heading the team drawing up the maps?”
“Reese and I are, yes.”
“How do you like the idea of working with Mr. Sunshine back there?”
He chuckled. “Reese can be hard, my lady, but he takes the jobs he is given very seriously.”
“I bet he’s very serious about getting rid of me, so I apologize right now if he works you and your team too hard.”
Fali laughed. “You’re lovely, my lady. Something I didn’t expect.”
“My name is Azrel, not ‘my lady.’”
“Azrel. What a beautiful name.”
We approached Beldorn’s door. I pushed it open a crack. Cairikson was still lying curled up on Beldorn’s bed, sound asleep. I tiptoed inside and gently gathered him in my arms. I felt so guilty about riding so hard with him. He’d just gotten better from a terrible sickness and I’d driven him on like a pack mule.
Fali was still smiling as I stepped back into the hallway. He caressed Cairikson’s cheek with the back of his index finger. “He’s beautiful. He’s not yours, is he?”
“No no,” I whispered with a smile. “Me? A mother? Never.”
Fali laughed softly. “Well, follow me my la…Azrel,” he quickly corrected himself and smiled.
I smiled too. “Lead the way.”
He led me back up the stairs and as we crossed the throne room, which was now empty, I got an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something didn’t feel right. The magnificent throne room suddenly looked terrifying and foreboding. It felt like I was standing in the heart of a hornets’ nets and I was about to wake the entire hive. Though my discomfort was probably all over my face, Fali was in front of me, so luckily he couldn’t see it.
He led me through one of the many doors on the opposite side of the throne room into a massive hallway where fifteen men could walk abreast. Cases of weapons and gorgeous woven tapestries filled it. “It is absolutely incredible what you people do inside mountains,” I said in false awe. I really wasn’t interested, but felt the need to hear a kind voice. Perhaps I had one ally in this hornets’ nest. Fali seemed friendly enough.
“Thank you.” He smiled at me over his shoulder. “Your admiration is appreciated.”
I smiled in return. Maybe one.
He took me through the last door on the left side of this hallway, from which a circular stone staircase led downwards for about 5 minutes. The stairs ended in a perfectly round display room with more cases of weapons, suits of armor, rugs and tapestries. It was a good-sized room, with comfortable looking seats lining the walls and in a square in the center. A balcony ringed this room, but because it had a solid stone wall as opposed to banisters, I could only see the tops of beautiful tapestries and a few more wall displays cases above it. Columns circled the lower portion of the room and some decently tall windows across the way let in light, grey though it was.
He took me to a door to the left of the room that opened into another stone hallway. We walked down it to the very last door on the left. When he opened the door, I cringed. There were no windows in this room. A bed was on the left, stretching across to the right. Tables carved from the rock wall were on each side of the bed with unlit lamps on them. A writing desk, also carved right f
rom the stone, protruded from the back wall in the right corner. It had lovely tapestries on the walls but no carpet covering the floor. It looked like a cave.
I stepped inside and laid Cairikson down on the bed, covering him with the wool blanket.
Fali smiled at me from the doorway. “You need your rest. We have a feast tonight and I won’t have the guest of honor dragging herself in.” I smiled at him as I crawled into the bed on the opposite side of Cairikson. “When you wake, I’ll bring you and the boy a small snack to tide you over until sunset when the feast begins.”
“Thank you, Fali.” I was asleep before the door even clicked closed.
Chapter Seven
Azrel
My eyes opened only the Gods knew how long afterwards. Because there were no windows, I couldn’t judge the time by the sky. Suddenly I realized that Cairikson was gone! My heart fluttered with near panic, but I was too terrified to move. I feared if I sat up I’d see his small mangled dead body at my feet, so I searched the room first with my eyes.
“Cairikson?” I called.
No answer.
No! He couldn’t be far. I would have woken up if something had happened to him. Wouldn’t I have?
“Cairikson?” I managed louder.
Breathing heavily, I forced myself to sit up and turn my head. The room was empty! I threw the covers off and stood. “Cairikson!” I yelled as I bent to look under the bed. Nothing.
“Cairikson!!” I was almost hysterical now. Nothing was under the writing table. My boy! My baby! My brave orphan!
“Cairikson!!!” The closet was empty. I wanted to die! I should have been watching him! I should have been taking care of him! I looked behind things, in things, under things! Nothing! Nothing! Nothing!
“CAIRIKSON!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, pushing away images of what might have become of him.
“Azrel?”
I spun around to the sound of a wonderfully familiar voice. Cairikson stood in the doorway, holding Fali’s hand. My body went limp with relief and then I ran to him and dropped to my knees, wrapping him up in my arms.
“Gods Almighty, you had me scared to death! I thought something happened to you.” I pulled away and cupped his face in my hands, brushing his hair off his forehead, looking for any harm done. “Are you alright?”
“I’m okay, Azrel,” he said innocently.
I pulled him into my arms again. “Next time, leave me a note and tell me where you went. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I did leave a note.”
I pulled away again and looked into his face. “You did?”
“Yeah,” he said and pointed in the direction of the writing desk. “Right there. I thought you’d worry.”
I eyed him with playful suspicion and went over to the stone desk. Sure enough, there was a piece of parchment with large, barely legible handwriting all over it: Azrel, I went to explore. I’ll be back. Cairikson.
I sighed and smiled over at him. “So you did. I’m sorry. I didn’t see it.”
“It’s okay,” he said with a sly smirk. “I understand that you were just so worried for adorable little me that you were blinded from all mind usage.” I laughed when he gave me the biggest, toothiest grin I’d ever seen in my life.
I went over to him, dropped to my knees again and started tickling him. He laughed and screamed and squirmed in my grip. “Oh yeah? Yeah? Who’s worried for who now? You’re worried for yourself, aren’t you? Because you’re being tickled!” I sat him up and started planting kisses all over his face.
“Ew! Ew gross! Girl slime! Yuck!” he cried out, still laughing. After a few more I let him go. He stumbled away from me, wiping the sleeve of his tunic over his cheeks and forehead. “Thanks a lot!”
I winked at him. “Any time.”
I looked behind me at Fali, who had made his way into the room. When I looked forward again I saw Reese standing in the doorway. His hands were pressed into the doorframe, and he was staring at me.
My smile melted and my brow went up. “May I help you?” He simply pushed himself away from the doorway and walked away without a reply. I scowled. “How long was he there?”
“The whole time,” Fali said. “He came with me and Cairikson to the kitchen.”
I got to my feet and ruffled Cairikson’s hair. “So you ate, then?”
“Sure did! They have lots and lots of food being made in the kitchen. Reese made me a plate.”
“Humph. Let’s hope it wasn’t poisoned,” I muttered to myself.
“What, Azrel?”
“Nothing,” I said and went towards Fali. I realized he’d placed a tray of food on the nightstand. “Thank you.”
Fali turned to me and smiled. “Enjoy. I would stay but I have to join Reese in checking up on the mapping team.”
“Where are they being made?”
“In the history room.”
“History room?”
“Book room?”
I sat in thought. “Library?”
“Yes, library,” he said with a smile.
“Where is that?”
“It’s up on the third level of the Northern side of the mountain.”
“This is the…Northwestern side, correct?”
“Yes, it is.”
I nodded. “Could you tell me where the rest of my company is?”
“I don’t know. Reese took them to their rooms.”
“I’ll poke around and look for them.”
“You’ll see them tonight.”
“I know, but I really want to see them now.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know where he put them.”
“I’ll try to find them then.”
“As you wish. Eat. You’ll feel better. Dinner is at sunset.”
“Is everyone going to be at dinner?” I asked, hoping the answer would be no.
“Yes.”
I sighed. “Okay. Thank you for your time. I’m sorry to keep you.”
He smiled and bowed. “Not a problem.” Then he left.
Damn it all! I didn’t want to go to this feast and let these people feel honored by my presence. I wasn’t about to mingle with them like some bubble-headed socialite and act like I wanted to be here! I wanted the maps and I wanted to go. That was it!
I pressed my lips together and narrowed my gaze at the open doorway from which Fali had left. Something didn’t feel right. As the thought crossed my mind, Cairikson walked up to me and embraced my leg. Uh oh. I sat on my bed and pulled him up onto my lap. He quickly curled up against me. “I don’t like it here, Azrel.”
I sighed and shook my head as I looked at the open doorway again. “Neither do I.” I looked down at him. “Cairikson, tell me where you went and what you saw.” Some instinct told me he had a worthwhile story to tell. Maybe he saw something he might not have understood that could shed some light on this bad feeling that was like a black cloud resting on my shoulders.
“Well, I left because I had a funny feeling inside. I just walked around until it led me to a door that was cracked open. It was dark inside, but I could hear voices talking even though I stood far away. Salynns have really good ears.” I smiled. “But before I could get closer to make out what they were talking about, Fali came from some hallway farther down and started walking towards me. He smiled at me and said, ‘Hey there, youngster. You’re a little far from your friend. Come on, I’ll take you back.’ He’s real nice. He took my hand and we laughed and joked while we walked.
“Before we came back to this room, he took me to the kitchen, which Reese was just leaving. ‘What were you doing in there?’ Fali asked. He sounded funny, a little…suspicious.
“Reese’s tone was no better when he said, ‘Why are you going in there?’
“‘I’m bringing our guest some food,’ Fali told him. ‘She needs something to tide her over until dinner.’ Reese looked at me and bowed, then asked if I was hungry. I said yes and Fali took me into the kitchen. Reese nearly stepped on Fali’s heels as he followed
closely behind. He didn’t look happy about Fali going in there, and Fali glared at him, too.
“They both watched each other as they each prepared a plate, one for me and one for you. I ate mine in the kitchen. Fali tried to make me more comfortable by talking and laughing with me. Reese just glared at Fali—he always looks angry. After I ate, all of us came back here.”
A few things I took note of; a group of Humounts had gathered in a dark room with a door I’m sure they meant to close. Reese had been in the kitchen before anyone, and suspicion clearly surrounded the two Humount Salynns. Fali must know Reese was up to something.
“Cairikson, I have a bad feeling about this place. We need to find the others and get out of here without being noticed, tonight.”
“We can’t leave tonight. You’re expected at dinner and they’ll know something is wrong if none of you are there.”
I smiled in spite of myself. A ten-year-old shouldn’t be smarter than me. “You’re right. After dinner then, while it’s dark out.”
“That will work.”
I ruffled his hair. “Come on, let’s find the others.”
I looked at the plate of food waiting for me and sneered. I liked Fali, but the fact that Reese had been in the same kitchen as my food made me lose my appetite. I could only hope Fali had watched him closely enough while he’d made Cairikson’s food. If something happened to my boy, their heads would roll. I dumped the plate of food in an old scarf and threw it in the closet, leaving the empty plate on the bedside table where it would be found.
As we walked down the hallway, I tried to think about where Reese would put my most powerful friends—probably as far away as he could, so I’d be alone. He probably had them somewhere on the Eastern side of the mountain. South was way too far to walk, and I doubted he’d put them on the Northern side so close to where he was working on the maps and probably plotting.
As we entered the round common of weapons, I felt as if a blast of freezing winter air had hit me in the face. I stopped in my tracks. I felt cold eyes on me, like daggers stabbing my skin. The feeling was everywhere, as if the walls themselves had horrible glaring eyes. The fine hairs on my arms and back of my neck stood straight up and I felt chilled. I turned my eyes up to the balcony level and listened to the silence. My ears were throbbing with nervous heat, and I felt a fearful tightness in my chest which nearly forced me to start breathing heavily, though I kept it slow and steady with effort.