"We don't even know if they are our enemy," frowned Tedi.
"They are our enemy if they attack us," declared Garth. "They can ride to Calusa much quicker than we can reach it. If one of them reaches the city, we will be imprisoned when we arrive, and in Zara, imprisonment means death for us."
"I agree," stated Kalina. "Haditha said that the Baroukans knew that Alceans were coming to visit. She also said that they had spies in every country. If we are caught, we will easily be identified as foreigners, no matter what country we are in. A captured foreigner would be sure to be noticed by Baroukan spies. If we are forced to fight, we must leave no survivors."
Tedi and Natia nodded in agreement as the bend in the river drew near.
"Down," Garth ordered softly as he dropped to the deck of the raft.
Garth positioned his legs so he could manipulate the tiller. He tried to steer the raft as close to the shore nearest the soldiers as possible in the hopes that the riverbank would shield them from view, but the current fought against him. As the river bent sharply to the left, the current dragged the raft away from the riverbank and towards the opposite shore. Garth shuddered as the Karamin soldiers came into view.
The green-clad soldiers were over four hundred paces from the river, and they were all sitting around the small fire ring talking. There was no sense of alertness or concern in their deportment, and Garth hoped that they would not notice the raft floating past them. Such a wish, however, was not to be granted. One of the soldiers stood up and pointed at the raft. Garth could not hear the words being spoken, but he noticed an immediate change in posture of the other soldiers. The soldiers stiffened and rose quickly. All of them turned to stare at the raft floating lazily down the river. As one of the soldiers pickled up his bow and quiver, Garth knew their chance at a quiet entrance to Karamin had just been shattered.
Chapter 15
Coin of the Realm
As Garth watched the green-clad soldiers grabbing their weapons and starting towards the river, other figures came into view. Slipping out of the forest beyond the soldiers were three women. Two of the women were dressed in brown leather. They had quivers hanging down their backs and sheathed swords attached to their belts. Their hands held bows with arrows nocked, and their precise movements spoke of dedicated training. Between the two warrior women was a third woman, but she was a study in contrast to the warriors. She wore a torn gray smock and had bloodstained bandages on both arms. Her face was tearstained and dirty, and her eyes were wide with the look of shock.
Garth was not sure what had alerted the soldiers to the presence of the women, but one of the men shouted an alarm. All of the soldiers immediately turned around, the raft forgotten as if it were a diversion. As the soldiers pulled their swords and charged towards the women, Garth heard the men utter shouts of death. The women warriors pivoted and let fly their arrows as the wounded woman ran for the jungle. The two soldiers who had been carrying bows fell to the ground. The women warriors nocked new arrows with the speed and grace of veteran bowmen. Two more green-clad soldiers fell to the ground, but there was no time left for a third round of arrows. The women dropped their bows and drew short swords just in time to block the blows of the remaining two soldiers.
One of the women lost her sword as the blow sent her sprawling. The other woman managed to retain her weapon, but she also was thrown off balance. As the soldiers raised their swords for the killing blows, two arrows streaked out of the jungle. The arrows hit both soldiers, but Garth never saw the green-clad bodies fall. The river had carried the raft past the clearing and into the forest.
"What was that all about?" asked Natia.
"I am not entirely sure," mused Garth. "Whoever those women are, they have friends in Atule's Maze. The last two arrows came from the jungle."
"And it is obvious that the women were heading for the jungle," agreed Kalina.
"Indeed," continued Garth. "And as much as the soldiers were curious about our presence, I think they were sent there to stop those women from reaching the jungle. The posture of the soldiers clearly indicated that they expected a battle."
"And they got more than they expected," added Natia. "Do you think they were kidnapping that woman?"
"No," Garth shook his head. "They abandoned her when the soldiers turned around. The woman could have fled, but she ran into the jungle. I think they were helping her to reach the jungle."
"Why flee from the Karamin soldiers only to die to the Rhodans in the jungle?" asked Tedi. "That makes no sense."
"I think those women are the Rhodans," stated Kalina.
"I concur," Garth agreed after a moment's thought. "Those two women were well trained."
"But they almost died," frowned Natia. "They should not have taken the time for the second shots."
"It was close," shrugged Garth, "but they knew that help was in the jungle. They merely needed to avoid the initial blow, and they succeeded. Such a strategy requires a faith in your fellow warriors and a great deal of courage."
"Well," smiled Tedi, "they certainly solved a problem for us. I thought we were in for a battle of our own."
"We may be yet," frowned Garth. "If relations between Karamin and Atule's Maze is as hostile as it appears to be, we cannot afford to be seen on this raft. The jungle is the only place we could be coming from. Let's find a place to ditch the raft. We will walk the rest of the way to Calusa."
* * *
The Knights of Alcea remained hidden at the edge of the forest as they gazed down on the road heading into the city of Calusa. The road was a broad, dirt boulevard running alongside the river, and its traffic was mostly pedestrian. Two merchant wagons had ridden by, but there had been no riders.
"Not much of a wall around the city," remarked Tedi. "I guess whatever trouble they have with Rhodans in Atule's Maze, it doesn't extend to ransacking Calusa."
"Hardly," replied Garth. "I have been watching the gate guards, and they haven't stopped anyone in the whole time we have been here. I think we could move down to the road and just walk into the city."
"Wait for Bitsy to return," urged Kalina. "We haven't come this far just to be killed by our impatience."
Garth nodded silently and then moved his scope further along the wall. "This is not a city that is prepared to wage war," he commented a few minutes later. "I wonder how accurate Haditha's knowledge is?"
No one answered, but Bitsy dove out of the trees and landed on Garth's shoulder. He pulled the scope from his eye and stored it in a pouch.
"It is the perfect day to visit Calusa," chirped the fairy. "The king has died, and people are coming from all over Karamin to pay their respects. The guards at the gates are not even bothering to watch the people."
"How did the king die?" Kalina asked with alarm.
"He was old," shrugged the fairy. "No one seemed surprised that he was dead, but many were saddened. I think the king was well liked by his people."
"Then we should go and pay our respects," stated Garth as he rose to his feet. "It will feel good to sleep in a bed tonight."
The Knights of Alcea waited for a pause in the traffic on the road and then moved quickly down the hill and onto the road. Garth set a fast pace until they caught up to a slow moving group of citizens. He slowed down and matched the pace of the Karamins as if they were all traveling together. It was an unnecessary maneuver, for as Bitsy had reported, the guards were not even looking towards the gate. In fact, the soldiers appeared as despondent as the rest of the citizens.
Calusa was an ancient city that had grown over the centuries without a great deal of thought. The oldest streets in the center of the old city were straight, but extremely narrow, and those near the outer wall were bent and twisted to accommodate as much growth as possible and still be inside the old walls. Most of the buildings rose at least three stories, and black pieces of cloth hung from almost every window. The citizens were somber and quiet, and no one raced through the streets. There were plenty of beggars on the streets, but ev
en they stood quietly, accepting whatever passersby wished to give.
Garth led the Knights of Alcea in a slow stroll around the city, trying to get a feel for it. The city docks were much like the docks in any city. Dozens of small fishing boats dotted the bay, and the wharfs were packed with merchants selling fish, but the prices seemed quite high to Garth. Moving onward, they passed through an area of shops and trade stalls. The quality of some of the wares was impressive, but again the prices seemed greatly inflated. Garth led the group into an alley and retrieved a large pouch from his pack. Inside the large pouch were measured pieces of gold and some fine gems. Garth transferred some of the gold and a single ruby to his money pouch and replaced the larger pouch back into his pack.
"Things cost a lot more here than at home," he said softly. "I imagine that horses will take a hefty sum of gold."
"If you can find any," commented Kalina. "I haven't seen many horses in the city."
"No," frowned Garth. "I haven't either. The only blacksmith we have seen so far was closed down. I am starting to get a bad feeling about our decision to come this way."
"If the prices are high," stated Tedi. "This might be just the place to sell a gem or two. At least we would have some local coins."
"That is what I was thinking," nodded Garth. "The ruby ought to fetch enough for four horses even at these inflated prices. Let's find an inn and get settled. Afterwards, I will sell the ruby and buy some horses."
"You can't use Alcean coins here," warned Natia.
"Prince Oscar has foreseen that problem," smiled Garth. "We have a supply of weighed nuggets."
Garth led the group out of the alley and away from the bay. The narrow streets were practically empty in the old section of the city, and Garth turned northward at an intersection with a major avenue. It proved to be a wise choice as they soon found several inns in a row. With a nod from Garth, Natia split from the group and moved along an alley that ran to the rear of the inns. Smokey followed the Gypsy woman, but he did not return when she rejoined the group a moment later.
"The Spoke and Wheel is the only one with horses in the stable," the gypsy reported.
"Then that is where we will stay," decided Garth. "Perhaps we can buy the horses."
"Or at least leave with them," grinned Natia.
"No," Garth said sternly. "While I admire your talents, Natia, you must restrain yourself for now. We already have many enemies in this strange land. Let's not add to them just yet."
Natia pouted in jest, and Garth led the group into the Spoke and Wheel. The common room was fairly empty, and the group settled at a table while Garth went in search of the innkeeper. A serving girl arrived before Garth, and she placed plates of food on the table. Each of the four plates consisted of a small piece of unidentifiable fish and half of a small boiled potato. The girl left without a word and returned with four mugs of ale. A moment later, Garth returned and sat down, his eyes scanning the room and settling on a pair of men in the corner. One of the men was older and coarse looking with a long beard and a balding head. The other was around Tedi's age and solidly built with a black warrior's braid.
"I take it that there is little choice of menu here?" asked Tedi as he poked at the fish on his plate.
"Be thankful that you have food," Garth said softly. "It cost more than the rooms, and the rooms weren't cheap."
"Any problem with the nuggets?" asked Kalina.
"The innkeeper looked at me as if I were a thief, but he took the gold quick enough," answered Garth.
The Knights of Alcea devoured the small portions of food on their plates in silence and sat quietly drinking their ale as the serving girl collected the plates.
"I am worried about Smokey," Natia said. "Some of the people in this fair city looked at him the way one might look at a hog or a deer. I told him to stay out of sight in the stables."
"With the price of food so high," frowned Garth, "I think that was a wise decision. I cannot imagine what is going on here. Even after the great war, people didn't charge this much for food."
"We need to get horses and get out of this city," stated Kalina. "When people are starving, they will do anything to put food in their bellies. We do not need to get involved in such a conflict."
"Getting horses will be the hard part," frowned Garth. "I asked the innkeeper about buying some, and he merely laughed at me."
"There are still those horses in the stables," Natia whispered with a glint in her eye.
"Perhaps," Garth said as he rose, "but I will try to get them the proper way first."
Natia frowned in confusion as Garth walked across the room towards the two men in the corner. Both men turned to watch Garth as he approached. The younger man seemed wary of the coming encounter, but the older man looked on with curiosity.
"Greetings, friends," smiled Garth. "May I join you for a spell?"
"We're not really looking for company," the younger man replied gruffly. "Why don't you stick with the friend you already have?"
"Well," Garth said through a thin smile, "I was hoping to talk to you about obtaining some horses. I understand that you have some stabled here."
"You touch those horses…" the younger man said as he started to rise.
Garth stood impassively, but as the younger man rose his posture stiffened reflexively.
The older man waved a hand to still the younger one. He stared up at Garth as if measuring his worth.
"You aren't from around here are you?" asked the older man.
"No," Garth replied. "I am looking to buy some horses to get my bride and my friends home to Giza."
"Ah," nodded the older man as he waved a hand indicating that Garth should sit. "You are a long way from home. I am Sidney Mercado, and this is my son, Edmond. Please, sit."
Garth nodded and sat down. "I am Garth Shado," he said. "Thank you for the courtesy."
"Even in Giza the price of a horse is exorbitant," stated Sidney. "Surely, you don't have the gold to buy four of them?"
"I am desperate," declared Garth with a smile. "I am willing to part with a family heirloom in exchange for four horses that are capable of making the journey."
"Are you now?" smiled Sidney. "And what exactly is this heirloom?"
Garth reached into his money pouch and extracted the ruby. He held it in his palm for the older man to see. Edmond gasped in surprise at the sight of the large ruby, but Sidney reached for it. Garth closed his fingers as the old man tried to take the gem.
"I must appraise it," declared Sidney. "Do you think a merchant of my status would steal from you?"
Garth stared at the old man for a moment and slowly opened his fingers. Sidney picked up the ruby and examined it closely. With a nod of appreciation, he placed it back in Garth's hand.
"An excellent gem," stated the merchant. "It is certainly worth the price of four horses, if not more, but my horses are not for sale. Without them, I could not conduct my business. Mind you, if I had spare horses, I would make the trade."
"Can you direct me to someone who will sell me horses?" asked Garth as he put the ruby back into his pouch.
"I am afraid that I cannot," replied Sidney Mercado. "Horses are scarce in Calusa. I doubt that there is a single horse in all of Karamin that is for sale, regardless of price."
"Why?" asked Garth.
Sidney gazed at Garth for a long moment before responding. "I don't know where you have been for the last year," he began, "but the people of Karamin are starving to death. The drought riddled the harvests, and shipments coming in from the other side of the Barrier seldom seem to arrive safely. The fact is, there isn't food enough to go around. Most people sold their horses to buy food. Those horses that couldn't bring a decent price have been eaten."
"What about the people who bought the horses?" asked Garth. "Surely, one of them would be wiling to realize a profit?"
"Perhaps," shrugged the merchant, "but you would have to travel to them to ask. The horses were sold to those across the Barrier. Perhaps your ow
n family has purchased some."
"I see," sighed Garth. "Thank you for your time and courtesy."
Garth started to rise, but the old man placed a hand on his arm. "Sit for a spell," Sidney requested.
Garth looked at the two men questioningly. The son seemed as surprised about the request as Garth was, but Sidney had a gleam in his eye. Garth sat back down.
"You seem to be a man who does not falter in the face of danger," Sidney said as he glanced at his son. "Is your friend as courageous?"
"Tedi?" asked Garth as he glanced back at the other Knights of Alcea. "I would place my life in his hands any day. Why do you ask?"
"You are over five hundred leagues from Giza," replied Sidney, "and you are carrying a gem worth a small fortune. It would not be much of a wager to bet that you would be attacked multiple times before you got home. Are the two of you capable of defending your women?"
Garth's eyes narrowed and lips pressed tightly together as he glanced from father to son.
"If you have even the slightest thought of enriching yourselves by sending henchmen to attack us," Garth warned sternly, "I would advise you to hold your son back. I would hate to see you lose him."
"I had no such thought," Sydney said with a smile on his lips and a dismissive wave of his hand. "The truth is, I might have a proposition for you."
"Is it one where I get to keep my life?" Garth asked gruffly.
"I cannot guarantee that," answered Sidney, "but it is one that gets you out of Karamin. Mind you, I have not been to Waxhaw in some time, and I do not know if there are any horses for sale there, but I am sure that there are none here in Calusa."
"Waxhaw is not really on the way to Giza," Garth replied. "Why would I want to go there other than the off chance that they might have horses for sale?"
"Waxhaw is not far off the track," smiled Sidney. "I have a caravan heading there tomorrow morning. With the current situation in Karamin, I could use a couple of men to help with security. I cannot pay much, but I will supply food for you and your women. The women of course will be allowed to ride the wagons. I cannot guarantee a safe trip, but it will be as safe as any other, and you will get out of Karamin much quicker than you can on foot."
Final Voyage of the Remora Page 19