Winged Warrior

by Richard S. Tuttle

  “I will determine their true intent,” assured Rejji. “If they arrive in Angragar, you will treat them as brothers. It is that agreed to?”

  “I have faith in Rejji,” Yojji sighed in submission. “For better or worse, I bow before the Astor. The Jiadin will be treated as brothers.”

  “And the past will be forgotten?” frowned Blaka. “Do we just forget the slaughter of our brothers by the Jiadin scum?”

  “The tribes have quite a history of warfare,” replied Rejji. “The latest wars were the free tribes against the Jiadin, but each and every one of you can remember wars with other tribes. Those differences are well behind us now. It is time to put the Jiadin wars behind us as well.”

  “If they are truly repentant,” nodded Adger.

  “Agreed,” nodded Rejji. “They must be ready to accept our new way of life in Fakara, but that is the requirement that I have for them being allowed to enter Angragar. I will determine the truth of it.”

  The tribal leaders all nodded in agreement, and Rejji adjourned the meeting. The leaders filed out of the room, leaving Yltar and Bakhai alone with the Astor.

  “How will you determine their true intent?” asked Bakhai.

  “I was hoping that Yltar might have an answer to that question,” sighed Rejji. “He is the head shaman.”

  “I cannot tell for certain if the Jiadin will lie,” replied Yltar, “but there is an ancient spell that can accomplish such a thing.”

  “Then get the shaman who is capable of the spell,” directed Rejji. “We will take him with us.”

  “There is no such shaman,” Yltar reported as he glanced at Bakhai, “but there may be a candidate to learn the spell. How much time do we have before we must leave?”

  “We must leave in the morning at the latest,” answered Rejji. “Wyant and the Jiadin were seen heading for the pass in the mountains. Tomorrow they will pass through it. I would prefer to leave today, if possible, but if you can supply someone with the magical ability to determine if the Jiadin speak the truth, I will wait.”

  “I cannot guarantee success,” shrugged Yltar. “No Qubari shaman has mastered the spell in generations.”

  “And what makes you think that one of your shaman can now learn it?” frowned the Astor. “This is no time to take chances with new magic.”

  “I disagree,” replied Yltar. “It is the perfect time for it. Much rides on the words of the Jiadin coming here. Your decision to let them enter Angragar will either result in a terrible act of treachery, or it will herald a new beginning for Fakara. If the Jiadin are sincere in their vows to you, we may actually have a chance against the forces of Vand.”

  Rejji paced the room in silence for some moments before stopping and turning to face Yltar.

  “Have your shaman try to learn the spell,” Rejji decided, “but we leave in the morning whether he is successful or not. I will order four horses to be ready for us.”

  “We will only need three horses,” smiled Yltar, “and your permission for Bakhai to enter training to become a Qubari shaman.”

  “Bakhai?” questioned the Astor. “You think he will be able to learn this spell?”

  “He is the most promising student that I have ever encountered,” nodded Yltar. “His power and range are extraordinary.”

  Rejji looked at his brother with a questioning gaze. Bakhai smiled and shrugged.

  “Then let him begin his studies immediately,” replied Rejji.

  Yltar bowed and hurriedly ushered Bakhai out of the room. Within minutes they were seated in the library of the temple, and Yltar unrolled an ancient scroll and handed it to Bakhai.

  “Read it over first,” instructed Yltar, “and then I will explain what it is talking about. This is not the type of spell that I would prefer to start your training with, but we have little choice in the matter.”

  A few moments later, Bakhai shook his head and handed the scroll back to Yltar. “It makes no sense at all to me,” Bakhai confessed. “I do not even understand what the writer is trying to say.”

  “That is understandable,” smiled Yltar. “The scroll assumes a great deal of prior knowledge. That is why I said that it was not appropriate for a beginning student, but I can explain it to you. It will just take a fair amount of time. Push all thoughts from your mind. Nothing exists outside this room, and that must remain so for the duration of today’s lesson. Can you do that?”

  “I can,” nodded Bakhai. “Many times I do that when I must make a decision about something. Do you think you can really explain this spell to me?”

  “Over time,” sighed Yltar, “I am sure that you would learn to understand what is being said in the scroll, but even that understanding would not mean that you are capable of casting the spell. Truthfully, I have little hope that you can learn it by morning, but we will try regardless. My words to Rejji were truthful; his decision regarding the Jiadin is of the utmost importance. Let us begin.”

  Yltar and Bakhai worked through the day and into the night. Both of them became thoroughly frustrated in Bakhai’s inability to discern a lie when Yltar spoke. Fatigued by exhaustion and hunger, Yltar called a halt to the lesson.

  “I am sorry, Yltar,” sighed Bakhai. “I was trying. Truly, I was.”

  “I know, Bakhai,” Yltar nodded with a taut smile. “Do not blame yourself. There is no Qubari shaman alive who can successfully cast this spell. I was wrong to expect you to be able to.”

  “But it is so important,” frowned Bakhai. “I feel as though I have let the Astor down.”

  “Do not feel that way,” Yltar replied distractedly as Mobi appeared in the doorway with a plate of food. “Perhaps some food will allow us to continue. Or should we quit and get a few hours sleep before the dawn arrives?”

  “We shall continue,” Bakhai declared stubbornly.

  “Not without a bite to eat,” smiled Mobi as he slid the tray onto the table in front of Bakhai.

  The tray was piled with dry sticks of meat and assorted fruits. Yltar reached over and snared a banana as Bakhai bit into a piece of meat.

  “Bringing food was very thoughtful of you, Mobi,” smiled Yltar. “Thank you.”

  “I just happened to be roaming the halls and thought you would like a bite to eat,” Mobi shrugged modestly.

  Bakhai dropped his meat and stared at the warrior. His face creased heavily, and his eyes narrowed in confusion. Yltar noticed the reaction and slowly removed the banana from his mouth.

  “What is the matter, Bakhai?” the shaman asked with concern. “Does the meat not agree with you?”

  “Why did you really bring the food?” Bakhai asked Mobi.

  Mobi blinked and shook his head. “What do you mean?”

  “Why did you really bring us food?” repeated Bakhai. “Do not lie.”

  Mobi clearly did not understand what was going on. His eyes bounced from Yltar to Bakhai, and he shook his head.

  “Rejji asked me to check in on you until you were done,” explained Mobi. “You have been in here a long time, and I figured that you would be hungry. Did I do something wrong?”

  “So you didn’t just happen to be roaming the halls?” Yltar asked with a grin. “That is what you said, wasn’t it?”

  “I guess I did,” shrugged Mobi, “but I meant nothing by it. It was just that the act of bringing you food was not something that required a great deal of thanks. It is nothing. Anyone would do the same for you.”

  “But it was still a lie,” smiled Yltar. “A harmless one, perhaps, but a lie nonetheless. What did you feel, Bakhai?”

  “It is hard to explain,” Bakhai said excitedly, “but I knew that it was a lie. I knew it.”

  “That is excellent!” Yltar grinned happily. “I knew that you could do it if anyone could.”

  “But why didn’t it work on you, Yltar?” asked Bakhai. “You have been lying to me all night, and I could not detect it.”

  Yltar stood with a look of confusion on his face for several moments before suddenly smiling.

&
nbsp; “Of course,” he said with sudden realization. “How could I have been so foolish? One of the first spells a shaman learns is to guard his mind from compulsion spells. Why didn’t I think of that earlier? It is such a basic spell that I never even consciously think of it anymore. It must have been blocking your attempts to determine my truthfulness.”

  “Drop your protection and lie to me,” ordered Bakhai.

  Mobi watched with interest as the other two men excitedly spoke of their lesson.

  “Your father was ugly and stupid,” smiled Yltar.

  “Liar!” Bakhai grinned victoriously. “It works. It really works.”

  “And we still have time to catch some sleep,” Yltar nodded with joy. “Your father would be very proud to see you today, Bakhai. You will become the greatest Qubari shaman in centuries. It will take a lot of work on your part, but your talents are amazing. The beginner’s spells will be like playing around after you have already mastered a spell such as this one. Finish your food and let’s get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day for both of us.”

  Bakhai nodded and grinned broadly. He knew without a doubt that the words of praise just given by the head shaman were sincere. He would have detected it if they had been lies.

  * * *

  Wyant led the Jiadin through the forest east of the mountain pass. They rounded a bend, and Wyant immediately halted. Harmagan rode up alongside the Marshal of Fakara and stared at the three men blocking the trail.

  “He is King Rejji!” exclaimed Harmagan. “I saw him fly over Vandegar on the back of a dragon.”

  “I had expected to be met,” Wyant addressed Rejji, “but I expected tribesmen to be the welcoming committee, and I expected it yesterday.”

  “It is more fitting that I meet any Jiadin entering these lands,” replied Rejji. “Why have they come?”

  “They have come to rejoin their brothers of the tribes,” smiled Wyant. “Harmagan is the leader from Meliban. I promised to bring six of them to Angragar. The rest I have let leave the city. They now roam the western plains of Fakara.”

  Rejji looked at Bakhai and Yltar alongside him, and saw no need to disbelieve the Marshal of Fakara.

  “Well met, Harmagan,” greeted Rejji. “Have you truly put your Jiadin thoughts behind you?”

  “I have,” nodded Harmagan as he bowed slightly to the King of Fakara. “I know that Wyant’s word is not good enough to allow us entry into Angragar, but I beseech you to allow us to see the city. My men and I are truly ready to rejoin the brotherhood. We have been foolish and greedy over the past few years. I could make a thousand excuses for our past behavior, but I do not wish to start our reunion with lies. If you are willing to forgive our past, we are willing to fight and die for Fakara. We only ask that we be allowed to die with honor befitting a tribesman.”

  “And why does seeing Angragar mean so much to you?” asked the Astor.

  “Angragar is the symbol of greed that has plagued the tribes for generations,” explained Harmagan. “Wyant tells me that the treasures of Angragar are not gold and riches, but truth and enlightenment. If this is true, it will forever prove to my men that the tales told by Grulak and the others were lies. We will be able to see the folly of our past paths.”

  “The riches of Angragar are indeed truth and enlightenment,” smiled Rejji as he glanced at Bakhai. “Harmagan, I offer to lead you to the lost city of Angragar. Introduce me to the rest of your men so that I might also extend an invitation to each of them personally.”

  Harmagan introduced the other five Jiadin. The men had been chosen wisely, for each one of them truthfully explained his desire to put the Jiadin way behind him. One by one, Rejji extended his welcome into the brotherhood of tribesmen. Within the hour, ten riders turned eastward towards the lost city of Angragar. Rejji led the way, and Bakhai soon moved up alongside him.

  “Your talents have proved quite worthwhile today,” smiled Rejji.

  “I am pleased that I was able to aid you in such a way,” replied Bakhai. “Do you think the other tribes will accept the Jiadin as well as you have?”

  “They will,” nodded Rejji. “Your gift might make it easy to detect a lie, but there are other ways of determining what is truly in a man’s heart. The men of the free tribes will know the truth soon enough. Oh, they may be suspicious at first, but I think the Jiadin are prepared for such a reception. They are strong enough to weather that storm.”

  “What is the impact of the Jiadin coming over to our side?” asked Bakhai. “I know it is important, but how important?”

  “It is the difference between life and death,” smiled Rejji. “If Vand had succeeded in aligning the Jiadin against us, we would have surely perished. We may yet perish under Vand’s onslaught, but we now have a chance to survive. One thing we have yet to do, is to determine how best to utilize the Jiadin. Defending the coastal cities is not the correct path.”

  “May I make a suggestion?” asked Bakhai.

  “Words from a wise shaman are always welcome,” grinned the Astor.

  “I am not quite a shaman yet,” smiled Bakhai, “but I will be soon. My suggestion is to place Qubari shaman with the Jiadin riders. If you have the ability to contact the Jiadin via an air tunnel, you will effectively have two great armies of horsemen capable of acting independently.”

  “You have more talents than you have let on,” laughed Rejji. “That is an excellent idea. I know the last place that I would wish to be is in the middle of two charging armies of Fakaran horsemen. Talk to Yltar about your plan. I am ready to accept it, but Yltar must choose the men.”

  * * *

  Yltar had sent word ahead to Angragar about the Jiadin being led into the city by the Astor. The entrance to the city was lined with tribesmen, and each tribe had a banner guard present to form a human corridor. The Jiadin riders looked on in awe as the tribesmen welcomed their lost brothers to Angragar. Shouts of welcome to the entering Jiadin were loud and genuine. For the first time in history, the tribes of Fakara were truly united.

  Harmagan grinned from ear to ear as the other tribes welcomed him and his men. He nodded and waved to each and every tribal leader as the small group made its way into the city center. Rejji halted the group in front of the administration building and everyone dismounted. The leaders of the free tribes immediately gathered around the Jiadin and personally welcomed them into the fold. The plaza filled with thousands of people as the citizens set up tables and carried out food and drink. Within moments the usually quiet plaza was turned into a festival.

  The Jiadin and the other tribesmen filled the plaza at the administration end. Soon wrestling matches and sparring contests began. Rejji stood on the steps of the administration building and smiled at the reception. Although the Time of Cleansing was due to start at any moment, the Astor knew that he had already accomplished something that had never been done before. He had united the tribesmen of Fakara. Whether or not that would be sufficient to halt the advance of the Motangans was yet to be determined.

  At the other end of the plaza was another party. Qubari shamans filled the area of the plaza before the temple of Kaltara. They all gathered around Bakhai as Yltar announced that the brother of the Astor was in training. Word Of Bakhai’s mastering of the truth-telling spell had spread while they were out of the city. The shamans vied with one another for the privilege of tutoring one who was bound to become a Qubari legend. After much discussion, Yltar offered a compromise that would allow each shaman the opportunity to teach Bakhai those spells that the shaman was most proficient in. Bakhai’s head spun with all of the attention, but Yltar dragged him to one side of the festival.

  “With so many tutors,” grinned Yltar, “you will learn Qubari magic faster than any other shaman in history. I would advise you to free your days of obligations. You will be learning magic night and day until you cannot stay awake any longer. You must clear your mind and make your father proud of you.”

  “I will make him proud,” Bakhai promised as dampness invaded hi
s eyes. “As Kaltara is my witness, I will bring honor to his name.”

  “Your father has always had honor in my eyes,” smiled Yltar, “and I am sure in Kaltara’s, too, but his sons were left rudderless through the cruel hand of fate. Now he will have good reason to smile down upon you and your brother. You both are his gifts to the people that he loved.”

  THE END

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  You can contact the author at: tuttle@rstuttle.com