“I will speak with your brother in regards to the incident in the prison,” Callum said suddenly, cutting through the uncomfortable quiet. Reminded of his presence Edric looked up from Neomi’s hands. Of all the ideas Callum had, his current suggestion was the worst possible course of action. Onuric would be furious. They couldn’t possibly tell him the truth.
Before he could offer an argument Neomi raised her hand, shaking her head disapprovingly in Callum’s direction. “There will be no need for that,” she replied, an expression of serene calm having settled over her dirt-covered features. Edric had to hold himself back from wiping the mud away. “The voice I heard in the corridor did not belong to Onuric. As I expected, Moinie must have lost her nerve in going to her husband for assistance. Even she knows what a foolish move that would have been.”
“I heard another voice with her,” Callum said in protest. “She has made our visit to the cells known to someone.”
“Her companion was Enapo. While he is not so easy to sway, I believe it is possible to convince him to protect our secret.” She glanced down the hall again, taking a step toward the curtained doorway, waving them to go on without her. “I will arrange a story in which you came to the prison because you suspected my intentions were to interrogate the prisoner. When you arrived, I was already inside the cell, and you discovered me to have been attacked by Naphul. In my defense, you both rushed in, brought Naphul to his death, and escorted me from the prison.”
“That does not explain how we gathered the information from him which must be passed on to the others.”
“I spoke to him before you arrived. After you rescued me from Naphul’s clutches, I relayed the details for you to bring to the attention of my family. It is a clear enough story. One which my father and brother will not question. They know me too well. I have a habit of disobeying orders.”
“I am not comfortable with this,” Edric shook his head. It was too risky. There was no telling what her family would do if they believed her to have blatantly disregarded the orders given by her father. After she had done so much to prove her loyalty, for her to falsify claims of sedition seemed self-destructive.
A gentle pressure from Neomi’s hand on Edric’s arm urged him to move away from the door where she stood, narrowing her eyes. “I did not ask of your comfort,” she lowered her voice, shifting her gaze up and down the hall, her nerves faintly showing through her otherwise calm demeanor. “My father will be more lenient if he hears of my behavior than he will be if he discovers you to have recklessly placed me in danger the way I allowed you to do. I understand the importance of my role in what you did, but he will not. Your relationship with my father is crucial to the survival of my people. Now go. It is best you boys not be found in my company.”
Edric’s heart sank at the feeling of Callum’s hand tugging at his other arm. It had taken so little to convince Callum to comply when Edric was prepared to fight the subject more. “Neomi…”
“Edric, we should do as she says,” Callum interjected, tossing a polite nod to Neomi as he gave another hard pull on Edric’s sleeve. “Neomi, we will see you again. Please take care. You are an important asset to your people. They simply do not realize everything you do for them.”
Lowering her eyes to the floor she said nothing in response to Callum’s compliment. Edric wondered if she was accustomed to hearing such flattery. It seemed unlikely that kind words were common amongst her people. She avoided Edric’s gaze as he gave in to Callum’s insistent hold. Unable to tear his eyes away from her, he watched as she disappeared behind the curtain, wishing he could go to her, to make her understand why she couldn’t take the fall for what happened. They had done nothing wrong. If anything, they should be commended for their work – if what Naphul said was even somewhat based in truth. Only time would tell. For now, they had little choice other than to believe. It was the closest thing to a plan they had in some time. And right now, a plan was exactly what they needed.
Edric’s feet carried him swiftly across the snow, fighting through the strong wind to keep up with Callum’s long strides. He wished there was a way to see inside his friend’s mind. To know what he was thinking. Caution was the best course of action but time wasn’t with them when it came to determining a way to utilize it. The information gained from Naphul needed to be relayed to Onuric before he had a chance to gather his men and set out for Isavo. If this weapon Naphul spoke of was truly the key, they needed to focus their attention on finding the cave, bypassing the guards, and getting their hands on the blade.
Still his mind returned to the story of the shaman, shuddering to think of what stood between them and victory. Death. Someone would have to die. The question was how. They knew nothing of the magic used by the ancient shaman. Without someone who understood the function of the weapon, they would be guessing wildly in their attempts; and even then there was no guarantee of success.
He didn’t want to think about it. The thought was frightening. In a way he found himself praying that Neomi would be punished for her disobedience, disallowed from leaving her room. At least then she would be safe. There would be no fear of her running off with the warriors to sacrifice herself to the gods. Maybe telling Onuric the truth is the safest plan after all…
“Prince!”
Moinie’s voice rang through the air, freezing Edric’s already cold veins from the fear of what she might say or do. Had she spoken with Neomi? They hadn’t been outside the walls of the home long enough for her to have conversed with Neomi and already found her way across the village. No. She had come directly from the dark passageways of the prison. Moinie knew Neomi better than anyone. She would suspect them to have parted ways.
Mid-stride Edric came to a halt, chin held high, preparing himself for whatever Moinie intended to do upon her approach. Up ahead he could see Callum pause, spinning to face the sound of Moinie’s voice. “We are in a bit of a hurry, Moinie,” Callum stated calmly. “I must speak with your husband. Do you know where he has gone?”
“I will tell you nothing until you explain what happened in that cell,” Moinie narrowed her eyes angrily. “Why is our prisoner dead? That was not part of the deal.”
“Sometimes interrogations don’t always go the way we plan. Now, unless you want to see more of your people die needless deaths, tell me where your husband is.”
Hearing Moinie’s question confirmed for Edric that she hadn’t been in contact with Neomi. Good. It would work to their benefit if they could explain the situation before Neomi had a chance to warp the truth and make things more difficult in passing the information to Onuric. “Moinie, please,” Edric urged. “We must find Onuric before he leaves for Isavo.”
She held his gaze, staring him down as if to intimidate him. Challenging him. He sensed the lingering anger harbored inside and he couldn’t blame her for it. His behavior toward Neomi had been out of line, but a single comment didn’t seem enough to merit the hatred with exuded from every part of her being. In the back of his mind he wondered if some of it was fabricated. Forced. A show put on for the sake of Neomi, supporting her in her decision to sever ties with Edric. He refused to back down. The request they made had nothing to do with their personal issues. It directly affected the safety of their entire race – and Moinie would be a fool if she interfered.
Slowly the hardened expression on her face started to ease. Nodding her head she stepped around him, motioning with a sharp wave for Edric and Callum to follow.
Taking his place at Callum’s side Edric leaned in, whispering the question in Callum’s ear which had been burning in his head since they left the house. “What exactly do you intend to tell Onuric? His temper is easily flared. If he hears the truth, he might not give us a chance to explain ourselves.”
“Lying to our allies is not an option,” Callum replied simply. “However, there is nothing wrong with keeping a few details a secret. It’s not lying if the words spoken are truthful. Just try to let me do the talking. You have a tendency to say mor
e than you should.”
He wanted to argue but he couldn’t. It was a flaw he was well aware that he possessed. With a slight nod he acknowledged Callum’s request, knowing it was pointless to argue. Callum was better suited to such discussions with foreign dignitaries. It was the main reason why Edric felt his friend was a better candidate for King. Edric let things become too personal, making it impossible to separate emotions from business.
They weaved through the ice structures of the camp, their presence no longer drawing the notice of the warriors the way it had when they first arrived. The Ovatai were growing more accustomed to the Vor’shai. It provided a minor sense of comfort, knowing that these men would soon be under Callum’s direction. Did they know? Had Okivra made his decision public? The time spent in the prison after their earlier meeting left him unaware of what steps the Chief had taken to put their plans into motion… if anything had been acted upon at all. Most of the work was on Onuric to complete. He was the one who had accepted the task of hunting the Ythes. Without knowledge of the weapon Naphul spoke of, Okivra was counting on Onuric to uncover the secret of the Avaern’s defeat, leaving the rest of them in Nahedu to do nothing until his return.
Near the front of the camp Edric recognized the familiar form of Onuric crouched over a long wooden sled, securing a heavy pack to the rear, examining the contents carefully. Alert, he lifted his head, squinting at Moinie in confusion at her unexpected approach. “I thought you were with my sister.”
“I was,” Moinie replied, emotionless, detached. A strange greeting between a husband and a wife. There was no indication to imply satisfaction at being in one another’s company. Edric found the display depressing though he had to believe, based on Onuric’s behavior at the thought of another man coming near his wife, that Onuric held some emotion for Moinie which ran deeper than those he made known on the surface. “The Vor’shai men insist on speaking with you before your departure. I know not of what they require, but if you would accept an audience with them, I would consider it a favor.”
Flipping the flap of the pack closed Onuric rose, straightening his muscular torso to meet Callum’s steady gaze. “If it is what you wish, then I will humor them,” he lifted his chin in a haughty gesture, looking down his nose at Callum and Edric in turn. “What business have you which requires interruption of my preparations? You waste time.”
“On the contrary, we are saving you a significant amount of trouble,” Callum replied, moving forward, unfazed by Onuric’s austere manner. “I have received intelligence which leads me to believe a trip to Isavo in search of the Ythes is no longer necessary.”
“And whose intelligence might that have been?”
“The prisoner your sister spoke of during our meeting.”
Onuric’s eyes flashed with discontent, barely containing the obvious anger he felt at the mention of Naphul. “What were you doing speaking with that man? My father made it clear he was to be left alone. Moinie,” he looked to his wife, muscles tensed in preparation to take flight at the first indication of trouble. “Where is Neomi?”
“Your sister is safe,” Callum assured him, raising his hand to direct Onuric’s attention away from his wife. “It was her intent to speak with the prisoner. That I will not deny. The Prince and I followed her when we concluded what her intentions were upon exiting the meeting. We managed to keep her away from the prisoner but my curiosity got the better of me when faced with a man of the very tribe you intend to seek in search of answers. Even if it lacks in accuracy, the details he provided are worth investigation. In the event of it being truth, it could save hundreds of lives while sparing the time which would otherwise have been spent hunting the Ythes that we cannot even know for sure to still be in the area.”
“Then speak fast. I have no desire to entertain foolishness.”
“Neither do I,” Callum nodded in agreement. “Naphul spoke of a weapon created by the Ythes for the sake of destroying the Avaern when it originally threatened the lands of Ethrysta. It was designed using rock from a fallen meteor and infused with the life essence of a powerful Ythes shaman. This weapon was supposed to be used to deal a fatal blow to the Avaern, however, a miscalculated strike caused the energy of the shaman to transfer into the beast rather than aiding in its destruction. The shaman’s spirit was eventually able to quell the Avaern, allowing the leader of the Ythes to order the creature buried and the weapon retrieved, hiding it in a cave deep in the northwest, beyond Ilaka, placing warriors around the entrance to guard the area in fear of anyone discovering the location. It is believed that if this weapon was to be uncovered and energy restored to its core, the wielder of the blade could again seek to inflict the mortal blow which the Ythes failed to accomplish, offering us our only chance at bringing the beast down.”
Despite his attempts to remain stiff and uncompromising, Onuric’s features softened somewhat, thinking over the information Callum provided. “I recall an old story about a meteor which devastated an ancient village in the north. Are you suggesting we take this man’s word and risk a journey even further than the one we already planned to undertake? Do you have any idea the dangers which lie that far north?”
“They cannot be worse than the danger we risk in staying here doing nothing. The Avaern is not going to go away unless we’re willing to make the sacrifices necessary to stop it. It is my opinion that any chance of destroying the beast once and for all is worth whatever threat is posed.”
Onuric snorted, looking toward the watch towers of the camp in contemplation. No matter what his opinion was of Callum, Onuric couldn’t deny the truth in what was being laid before him. It was the lives of his people at stake. Although his hatred was obvious at the thought of bending to the idea of a foreigner, the chance of destroying the Avaern made it too tempting to pass up. “Very well,” he said sharply, setting his gaze back on Callum. “I will agree to make this journey north in place of our original plan. I grant you this one chance to prove yourself worthy of the honor my father bestows upon you in leading our warriors in my absence. This matter will be brought before the Chief prior to departure and I expect you to send your strongest fighter to aid in the collection of the weapon. If the entrance to the cave is guarded, as you say it is, we must travel in minimal numbers and only with those most capable of surviving a battle against the Ythes. This idea is yours. I refuse to lead only my men to their possible deaths. You must make a sacrifice as well.”
“A fair request. I will choose those to accompany you and have them prepare for departure immediately upon your word.”
“Have your soldiers at the gate before the end of the hour. If they are not there, I will consider your conviction lacking and recall my agreement to make this ridiculous trip. Understood?”
“Do not worry yourself on my convictions. My men will be ready.”
With a firm nod of his head Onuric turned away, disappearing into the bustle of camp in search of the Chief. Once he was out of view Edric found his breath to come with greater ease. They had succeeded. He was prepared for a more heated argument between the two men. Onuric’s relatively quick concession made him wonder if there was more to his reasons than he let on. He mentioned stories of the meteor. Could it be that Naphul’s information rang with greater truth than they realized? He and Callum lacked the knowledge of Ovatai legends. Perhaps there was something hidden in their lessons which sparked Onuric’s interest, helping to bend him into submission.
The question now was in who to send to aid the mission. Onuric had been very specific in his command. I expect you to send your strongest fighter. Singular. One man? What good would a lone soldier be on a journey that was destined for disaster? If they kept their numbers too restrained, they would be vulnerable in an attack by the Ythes. They were going into this blindly, lacking the knowledge of exactly what they would find. They had no map. No guide. It would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Of all Callum’s men, there was no doubt in Edric’s mind that Gadiel was the stro
ngest next to Callum himself. But he wasn’t ready to undertake something of this scale. His injuries were only just beginning to subside. He was barely well enough to enter the fighting, let alone to attempt traveling such a distance on his ankle. It would make him a risk in the event of an attack. Sending him would be like sentencing him to his death at the hands of the Ovatai and their strange ways in the field. But who else was there?
Distracted, Edric vaguely became aware that they were moving again, instinctively following Callum in the direction of the Vor’shai tents. Their time was limited in determining who to send with Onuric. Callum’s mind was no doubt filled with the same questions Edric now pondered. In the end it would be his decision. He placed anyone at risk in sending them with the Ovatai. Their success was contingent on whether Naphul’s information was accurate. It was a long shot. Even Callum knew that. They had absolutely nothing to go by in understanding how the Avaern worked. So far there had been no sign of weakness from the beast, their weapons causing no damage when fired, if they were able to get a strike in at all. At the rate they were going, the Avaern would continue its attacks, slowly dwindling down their numbers, until finally there would be no one left.
In the cover of the command tent Edric absently made his way to the heated coals at the center, warming his hands, frustrated by his inability to come up with a solution. Letting his thoughts drift he glanced up from his hands, noticing Callum standing rigid, glancing over to where Gadiel sat to his left. Ehren was positioned at Gadiel’s feet, examining his ankle for signs of swelling. At Callum’s odd entrance they looked up to him, curious.
“You are far away, Captain,” Gadiel stated plainly, leaning forward in his seat. “I don’t usually see that look on your face unless something is wrong.”
“I’m not sure I would say something is wrong, exactly.” With a heavy sigh Callum weaved his fingers through his hair. Edric hated to see him in that state. It was easier for Edric to remain confident when Callum exuded enough strength for both of them. When he failed to conceal his uncertainty, everyone in his presence felt the effects. “I have a short span of time in which to determine who to send on a mission with Onuric. Who I choose will impact his opinion of the plan but circumstances do not allow me to make the choice the way I otherwise would.”
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Three: Crown of Ice Page 77