by D. H. Dunn
He looked over at her. Seeing the tears in her eyes he took her hands into his own, leaned close to her and kissed her. As their lips touched, he could feel the pulses of her passion running through her skin and into his own. She pushed into him with a fervor that nearly caused him to topple into the snow. The passion was like a chasm, a fissure into which he could fall and allow himself to be buried.
With an effort, he broke the kiss off and stepped back, the separation actually painful for a moment. He made sure to keep looking into her eyes, so strong and beautiful against her dark hair.
“See? We have control. We can deal with this together, we are not just a collection of hormones and emotions.”
She nodded, a small smile appearing.
“You keep researching and I will keep us honest.”
They walked in silence, Drew keeping his eyes on the road ahead and resisting the many temptations that walked next to him. Cresting one last hill, the distant sight of their destination came into view.
Rogek Shad was a chaotic and disorganized collection of hundreds of tent-like structures of various sizes, surrounded by significant amounts of farmland. Whatever this region might have in common with the Khumbu Valley Drew knew, the soil here was clearly more fertile.
The tents and yurts that represented the city grew larger as they came closer, bringing Upala nearer to a possible confrontation with whoever attacked her libraries, as well as her own people.
Drew quickened his pace down the dirt road that wound towards Rogek Shad. Since arriving in Aroha Darad, he had been presented with one mysterious threat after another, each one piling more pressure on top of him.
It was time to get some damn answers, and this collection of ramshackle structures seemed likely to be where he would find them.
Rogek Shad was nothing like Drew had expected.
He had seen the village from up high on the mountain, where Trillip had explained how the Rakhum had been divided centuries earlier into two communities, and Rogek Shad had appeared from that height to be a mostly agricultural settlement, large sections of outlying farmland leading to a small collection of dwellings, clustered on their side of the wide river.
As they had descended into the valley proper and approached the outskirts, the farmlands had been there as expected, golden yellow waves of grain fields blowing in the morning sun.
What hadn’t been there was any farmers. There was no one tending the fields, no one managing the herds that seemed to be roaming free, moving from stalk to stalk.
A quick question to Merin confirmed what he immediately suspected. Something was wrong.
As they passed the first small yurts heading to the village proper, they found the simple dirt streets as barren as the fields had been. There were simple wooden market stalls placed by the roadside, empty of any wares. Some crude dolls were scattered by the side of the path, the evidence of a few children’s games left out from the night before.
Yet just as in the fields, no people.
He was about to ask Upala if they should start knocking on doors when Trillip had cried out, pointing down the road towards the center of town.
Drew followed his gaze and gasped.
There was a pale, brown haired woman in the middle of the street, struggling as she hung from a tall pole. Her arms were tied above her head, the rope laced over a hook.
“Harliss!” Merin shouted from behind Drew.
The woman’s thin hair hung over her ashen face, a defeated look in her eyes. She wore a tan cloak over her clothes, tied at the waist with a gold cord.
Drew ran to help, remembering both Merin and Trillip mentioning the name earlier. Administrator Harliss, they had called her. The woman Upala had allowed to rule over Rogek Shad. She was more than just someone to rescue, she was someone who might have answers.
“Drew!” Merin called out, panic in her voice. “Wait!”
The darkened yurts flew by on either side of him, their window flaps drawn, no sign of life in the town save the woman on the pole.
Merin called after him again, joined by Upala, but his caution was overrun. After days of lying around and now trying to absorb all the information Upala was feeding him, a clear opportunity to simply assist someone, to take an action, was too much to resist.
Ahead, Harliss was shaking her head at him, her mouth forming the words “no.” Only then did he slow, stopping a few feet shy of the pole just as two arrows dug into the ground, inches from his feet.
“Do not approach,” the woman yelled, her voice hoarse. “They will shoot you if you get too close to me.”
Drew jumped back as a second attack came, two more arrows joining the first pair, embedded in the road.
He scanned the rooftops and open windows of few wooden buildings nearby that were not simple tents, but saw nothing. No sign of who might have launched the attack, yet there were plenty of shadows in the morning sun, no shortage of hiding spaces where they might be watching even now.
They could have hit me if they wanted to, he thought, still searching for his attackers. These were warning shots.
“Everyone freeze!” Drew yelled over his shoulder, putting his right hand up.
Upala and Trillip, who were rushing forward, both stopped a few feet behind Drew. Merin had moved to stand close to an empty market cart on the side of the road, both of her children protected behind her.
“Harliss!” Merin called. “What has happened? Who has done this to you?”
Drew could now hear activity inside the nearby yurts, a few window flaps briefly popping open. The people of Rogek Shad were here after all, at least some of them. They were simply afraid to come out.
But afraid of who?
“Merin?” Harliss squinted in her direction, Drew noticing the bruises and cuts on her face. She had struggled before being placed in this position, she had not been taken without a fight. “Merin is that you?”
“It is me, Harliss,” Merin’s voice cracked, filled with concern and worry. She glanced back at her daughter Arix. “It is Merin. I am here now, please tell us what has happened.”
“They came.” Harliss paused, coughed for a moment. Her voice gained a bit of clarity. “They came in the night, over the bridge from Nalam Wast. Took as many people as they could before we mounted a defense. Adults only, they would not take children.”
“Kater’s men?” Drew asked, as much to Upala and Merin as to Harliss. His fists clenched, his legs itched to move, to act. “Why would they do this? Perhaps they are behind the attack on your library as well.”
“We resisted, the guards and I,” Harliss continued, her voice passing in and out. “They were far too many, they could have overrun us. Yet they agreed to return with their captives and spare our lives, if I would agree to . . . to this.”
“Why?” Drew asked. “If they wanted us to find you, why shoot at us when we try to reach you?”
“Whoever you are, they are not interested in you, nor in Merin or any Rakhum. They made it clear that only one person could approach me and let me down. Any other would be shot. No one but the person I am supposed to deliver my message to.”
“Who?” Upala asked. “Who are you to give your message to?”
“To you, my lady Upala,” Harliss said, her voice cracking again. “To you and you alone.”
Upala took a step forward, her hand brushing against Drew’s as she passed him.
“And what is this message?” She began to approach Harliss on the pole, reaching for the bottom ropes that bound the woman.
“It is from Garantika himself,” Harliss said. “You, Upala, must be on the bridge between the two cities. At sundown tonight. If you do not, the Rakhum taken from Rogek Shad will be killed.”
Drew leaned against the center pole of the market tent, the large structure located not far from the main square of the town. Merin was only a few steps away, her eyes locked on Harliss with a gaze that Drew considered to be a mixture of concern and frustration. Trillip paced back and forth, looking as if h
e wanted to assist someone but had no idea what to offer.
Upala stood the farthest from them, looking out of the tent and into the empty streets of Rogek Shad. Drew felt a longing to go to her, to offer comfort. Yet he also recognized the sadness in her eyes and decided to give her distance.
He knew what it felt like to behold the results of your failures and bad decisions, to taste the bitter ashes of your own mistakes.
Harliss sat on a wooden bench, drinking a cup of wine Trillip had managed to locate, downing it with such fervor that it ran down her chin and onto her chest.
Two men stood by her, guards from whatever passed for Rogek Shad’s militia. They watched her with concern, yet to Drew it seemed they were more worried about Upala than worried for Harliss. Each seemed bent away from her, like plants wilting in the sun.
The tent’s fabric flapped in the breeze, cold air from the valley leaking through the many tears in the material. Long, poorly maintained tables lined the length of the large structure, looking worn and empty. There would be no market today.
Harliss had regained some strength since he and Upala had cut her down from the pole. The archers from Kater’s forces, wherever they had been hiding, seemed content that Upala had received the message from Harliss, and had not fired again.
The street outside the tent remained barren, the people of Rogek Shad still hiding.
After finishing her second cup of wine, Harliss finally began to talk.
“It was Garantika.” The statement fell out of her mouth, drink dribbling onto her chin. Merin let out a gasp at the name. “He led the forces himself.”
“Kater’s leading general,” Merin explained, Drew realized the clarification was as much for Upala’s benefit as his own. “From what I have heard, one of the few men he trusts.”
Drew walked over to the bench. “So, this Garantika, he leads Kater’s military now?”
Harliss nodded. “He does, and like many from Nalam Wast there was an intensity in his gaze, a focus for which I have no answer. He took about a hundred of our men and women, then sent his forces back over the bridge. Even though he could have laid waste to the whole of us, he relented.”
“Why?” Upala asked. “If these people from Nalam Wast wanted to raid the city, why not just do so? Why take only adults, do as little killing as possible and then retreat when victory was an option?”
Drew looked at the expectant faces in the room, realizing there was no with military training here except him. Upala may have had guards, but they existed only for protection. There was no one who had a sense of tactics or a view of the motivations of warfare.
No one but Drew.
“It was a message.” He was surprised by the confidence with which the words came from him. He was no expert authority, but he was the best available and the answer seemed clear. “Whoever this Garantika is, he wants you to know two things.” He felt himself blushing as he realized all the eyes in the tent were on him. Nervousness placed a lump in his throat, but he pushed past it.
“First, this is to show you that he can. Whatever your military responsiveness is, he’s got it outclassed and he wants you to know it. The only reason you are all standing here is because he allowed it.”
“And the second?” Upala asked. The expected wave of passion ran through him at the sound of her voice, further amplified because she was looking at him for answers.
“Second, that this is for you, Upala. Just as Harliss said. He’s got your people, he ensured that she would stay up on that pole until you got her down. No one else, just you. You personally are supposed to know that he has the people of Rogek Shad.”
“-and he expects me to come get them?”
“Remember, he didn’t kill anyone. This is a battle for hearts and minds I think. He wants your people to watch you and see what you do. If you come and try to rescue his hostages, he’s obviously going to be ready for you. If, on the other hand, you simply shrug your shoulders and allow those people to rot, well he knows the citizens of Rogek Shad will see that.”
“I have no intention of letting him keep these innocents,” Upala said, a flash of fire returning to her eyes.
“That is the Upala I know, but to be honest, that doesn’t seem to be the person most of these people are familiar with. What you have done in the past can’t be changed, but you do now is what could start to redefine you. To them, and to yourself.”
“I will not let him have these people. I have much to amend for, and it begins here.” Stepping closer, she took his hand in her own, triggering further warmth inside him and he suspected her as well. “Will you help me? I do not know what to do.”
Drew nodded, seeing the dampness in her deep, brown eyes. The simple touch of her fingers upon his filled him with impulses to stroke her hair, to caress her body.
With an effort, he released her hand.
“Focus,” she whispered.
He smiled, and was glad to see she smiled back.
Hands to yourself, Adley.
“I don’t suppose you’d want to just flame up and take them back that way?” he asked.
Upala shook her head. “No. No more death. Not at my hands. I also cannot ‘flame up,’ as you say, very well. That skill was always more Kater’s than mine.”
“Upala, I think there is a crowd gathering outside,” Merin said, looking toward the entrance of the tent as Trillip came walking in, the tall man hastily crossing the distance between them.”
“My Lady, the people are starting to emerge from their homes,” Trillip said. “Most look unsettled. It is likely they wish to know what action is being taken.”
The tent felt silent, Upala’s sigh coming like a single rain drop in a still pool.
“I would imagine I am the last person these people would want to hear from. Perhaps Merin…” She trailed off, her voice was soft and quiet, head down as if she were addressing the floor.
Drew placed his hand on hers, feeling his pulse quicken.
“You know it should be you, Upala,” he said. “If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have spoken up.”
She looked up, her eyes shifting between Drew and Merin. Merin’s face was stern, her jaw muscles clenching.
“Drew is right,” Merin said. “If you wish to change how our people see you, it must start somewhere.”
Upala nodded, her fingers intertwining with Drew’s. He felt the electricity of her touch, but also a welling of pride for her bravery.
“It’ll be a rough crowd,” he whispered. “But I’ll be right there with you.”
“You certainly will.” She gave his hand another squeeze, then released it. “Trillip, would you gather the people in the main square? I will address them shortly – as soon as we determine what our plan should be.”
“At once, my Lady,” Trillip replied, already turning to leave as he did so.
Drew found all eyes back on him again. He took a deep breath.
“Ah, you’re waiting for a plan, I guess. Well, I think we’re all agreed we are not going to leave those people for whatever this Garantika has planned for them. Based on my understanding, we don’t have the manpower or the experience to take on his forces in a fair fight, is that correct?”
Both Merin and Harliss nodded. Drew was more interested in Merin’s opinion, but it was good they agreed.
“We could try a covert operation, but if he’s smart, his guard will be up for that if he doesn’t see Upala. I think we need to trick him, and in my experience the best way to fool someone is to give them what they asked for. Namely Upala.”
“Drew,” Merin cut in. “You said yourself that this is obviously a trap for her.”
Drew turned to Upala. He decided he’d stare at her nose, hoping it would trigger less of an emotional reaction than her eyes. For the moment, it seemed to work, though it was a cute nose.
“Look, I’m still new to this Manad Vhan stuff. Just how invulnerable are you? Is there any way Garantika can really hurt you?”
“Nothing outside of magic ca
n injure or kill a Manad Vhan save a Dragon,” Upala said. “They could cause me pain, but I doubt they have the true means to do so. It would take no less than the Hero’s Blade to pierce the skin of a Manad Vhan.”
Upala showed more pride than Drew had expected in her own resilience, but he suspected she was making sure he didn’t try to talk her out of going.
“Well, back in the Under I saw Kater take some good hits from Vihrut, but I’m guessing here in Aroha Darad you will be healing at full strength. Fair enough, if my plan goes the way I hope it will, you won’t be in harm’s way for too long.”
“What is your plan, Drew?” Merin asked. He was glad she was curious, since she would have a role in it.
“Pretty simple. Garantika wants Upala on the bridge at sundown, so we’ll give him what he wants. In the meantime, a few of us will sneak over to their camp and free the prisoners. Once they are free, Garantika will have a lot less leverage and then maybe we can see what’s really going on here. Get some answers on what happened with your library for one.”
Harliss frowned. “The prisoners will be guarded. Even if Garantika accepts the ruse and believes Upala is surrendering to him, they might expect a deception.”
“They will expect Rogek Shad,” Drew said, “a peaceful society with a military that is focused on defense, not going on the offensive. They won’t expect someone who knows what they are doing.”
“‘Someone who knows what they are doing?’” Merin leaned in close to Drew to whisper. “Do you know what you are doing?”
“More than they do,” Drew whispered back with a wink, nodding at Harliss and her guards.
“Not that comforting,” Merin said, before turning back to the small assembled group.
Trillip returned, light streaming in through the open tent flap as he entered.
“The people out there, my Lady. They are getting restless for word from you. I am uncertain how much longer I will be able to stall them.”
Upala looked back and forth between Drew and Merin. Drew tried not to look directly into her eyes, as beautiful and scared as they appeared right now. With an effort, he focused on a chair behind her.