Knights of Alcea

by Richard S. Tuttle

"That is not the case," answered Eddie. "The bravery of the dwarves will forever be remembered by most humans, but there are some strange things happening. There is a new religion in Trekum, and the priest is beginning to spout hatred. In fact, I had intended to send a message to King Arik on the ship tomorrow. Instead, I think I will be joining you for the voyage."

  * * *

  The elf ducked under the human's powerful swing and sprang upward with his staff between the human's arms. With a quick twist of his staff, the human's arms separated. The human's staff fell to the ground, and the man raised his hands in defeat.

  "I am no match for you, Prince Garong," declared Karl Gree. "Let us rest for a while."

  "It takes a lot of practice to be proficient with the staff," the elven prince said compassionately as he picked up Karl's staff and handed it to him. "You have already improved a great deal in a short period of time. Do not give up."

  Karl smiled and nodded towards Tanya and Arik as he sat down on a log. "I am not impatient, but I can never compete with the likes of those two. I have never seen such grace of movement in all my life."

  "They are known as the Warrior King and the Warrior Queen," smiled Prince Garong. "Those titles were not bestowed without reason. I do not know of anyone who can stand up to them, but you have great strength and control. With practice you will become a mighty warrior."

  "I have no desire to become a warrior," frowned Karl. "I seek only vengeance for my friends and family. After those elves are killed, I hope to return to my wife and start hunting again."

  "How is she?" the elven prince asked softly. "You never speak of her."

  Karl Gree frowned sadly and stared at the ground before his feet. For several long moments, he did not speak.

  "She does not even recognize me," Karl finally said, unaware that Arik and Tanya had ended their bout and had approached the fire. "She looked me right in the face and had no idea who I was." The hunter paused. "There was not even a glimmer of recognition."

  "The elves have great healers," Tanya offered comfortingly. "When this is all over, we will take her to Elderal."

  "It might be time to go to Elderal now," commented Prince Garong. "I have had no luck picking up the tracks of the Dielderal. They could be anywhere, and I doubt we will find them just roaming around these mountains."

  "They must be found," declared King Arik, "yet I cannot abandon the rest of the kingdom for months. Tanya and I should be returning to Tagaret."

  "You will abandon the search?" Karl scowled. "I thought you promised to hunt them down?"

  "Valon's word is always honored," stated Prince Garong. "At Elderal we will raise a party of hundreds of elves for the search. It may take months to find the Dielderal, but we will find them, and you will be with us when we do, Karl. There is no reason for Arik and Tanya to be with us."

  "I will be riding with elves?" asked Karl.

  "Does that bother you?" asked King Arik. "You will learn lessons about the forest that would make you the envy of all the hunters in Cordonia."

  Karl looked at the smile on the elven prince's face and shook his head. "I guess the thought scares me a bit," he admitted. "I had never known elves until the day of the attack. I don't know what to expect."

  "Expect to meet some of the finest people you have ever met," smiled King Arik. "You will be surprised how quickly you will feel at home with the elves."

  * * *

  The gypsy encampment was huge. Hundreds of gaily-painted wagons circled a massive clearing in the hills, and an enormous campfire raged in the center of it. Thousands of gypsies sat in a circle around the fire and clapped a beat as the dancers spun and twirled. Ale flowed from the kegs into mugs, and the air was abuzz with hundreds of conversations. Adan, King of the Gypsies sat alongside Rax, an old female gypsy healer. Both of them were watching the prince and princess of the gypsies dancing.

  "He acts as if he has been a gypsy all of his life," Rax commented.

  "And she has never looked so happy in all her life," agreed Adan. "I can't imagine what Natia would be doing now if Tedi had not stumbled into our camp."

  "Stumbled?" laughed the old healer. "If I remember correctly, you had him hit over the head with a tree trunk."

  "It was only a stick," Adan frowned, "but Caroom was a brute in wielding it. That is one gypsy that I do not miss."

  "I do not think anyone misses his savage ways," agreed Rax. "To trade Caroom for Tedi was the best bargain the gypsies ever made. We got rid of an embarrassment to our people and gained a near-brother to King Arik as our prince."

  "We are the only gypsy camp to have a Knight of Alcea riding with us," grinned Adan. "And we have two of them. I am so proud of both Natia and Tedi."

  "It is their skills that make them Knights of Alcea," smiled Rax, "but it is their hearts and souls that make them gypsies. I have never known two finer people."

  A loud whistle pierced the air, and Adan was on his feet in a flash. The King of the Gypsies dashed out of the clearing and disappeared into the forest. A few moments later the loud clapping stopped, and Natia and Tedi returned to sit next to Rax.

  "Where is Adan?" asked Natia. "He promised me a dance."

  "One of the sentries sounded a warning," answered Rax. "He went to investigate. I am sure he will be back shortly."

  "Which sentry?" Tedi asked with alarm.

  Rax pointed in the direction that Adan had left the clearing. Natia rose and chased after Tedi who was already off to see what the trouble was. The couple ran across the clearing and slowed to a silent walk when they reached the forest. They followed a game trail up the side of the hill and came out on a promontory overlooking the valley of the Chi River just outside the Lanoirian city of Porang. Adan and a scout were staring into the valley, and Tedi and Natia moved up alongside them.

  "What is it?" asked Natia.

  "A man was running for his life," answered Adan. "It appears the men chasing him have caught up to him."

  "Probably just a local dispute," commented the scout, "but I thought you should be warned."

  "You did right," nodded Adan. "Anything approaching us is worth sounding the warning for. Those aren't soldiers chasing the man. I don't know what he did to deserve such attention, but it is no concern of ours."

  "What are they doing to him?" asked Tedi as he saw the man thrown to the ground and his arms and legs spread wide.

  "It looks like they are staking him to the ground," answered the scout. "I haven't seen anything like that since…"

  "Since the emperor's death squads," spat Adan. "No humane person would torture another soul in such a manner."

  "I am going to stop it," Natia vowed before she spun around and dashed down the trail.

  "I am going with her," declared Tedi as he ran after Natia.

  "Take riders with you," shouted Adan. "There may be more attackers lurking around."

  Tedi raced along the narrow path. He saw Natia running towards her horse and shouted to the closest warriors to mount up. He ran to his wagon and grabbed his magical staff before leaping onto his horse and racing after his wife. He could hear other gypsies galloping behind him, but his thoughts were focused on catching up to Natia.

  Natia was known for her impulsive behavior, but it bothered Tedi each time she flew off without notice. He pictured her surprising the attackers and receiving an arrow in her chest before the other gypsies could catch up. Fear coursed through his body, and Tedi gripped his staff tightly as the trail flowed into the grassy valley. He needed to scare away the attackers before Natia surprised them. Tedi stuck out his magical staff and smacked it into a short tree as the forest ended. A resounding crack split the air as the staff split the tree in two.

  Across the meadow, the attackers looked up and saw the riders approaching. They scurried for their horses as the gypsy warriors spilled out into the meadow. One of the attackers threw a knife at the captive, and the attackers fled towards Porang. By the time Natia reached the staked-out man, the attackers were out of sight. She dis
mounted and knelt next to the man. Tedi was just a moment behind her, but he did not dismount. He stared in the direction the attackers had fled in case they decided to return.

  "Why did you do that?" scowled Natia. "They killed him."

  "Better a quick death than what they had in mind," Tedi responded. "How many times have I asked you not to run off like that? Are you trying to get killed? Or are you just trying to age me into a quivering mass of nerves?"

  The other gypsies arrived and formed a defensive ring around the prince and princess. Natia cut the ropes binding the man to the stakes, while Tedi still stared towards Porang.

  "At least give me a hand in burying him," snapped Natia.

  Tedi turned to help his wife bury the stranger. His eyes were drawn to the knife in the man's chest, but when he walked around to lift the man, he stopped short and stared at the stranger's face.

  "What are you waiting for?" demanded Natia.

  "I know him," Tedi said softly. "So do you."

  Natia put the man's legs down and stared at his face. "I do?" she asked in confusion. "I don't remember him."

  "Perhaps because you would never expect to see him so far inland," Tedi commented as he knelt next to the man's head. "He is a sailor. We met him three years ago on a voyage with Arik."

  "The brothers!" gasped Natia. "I remember now. What is he doing in Porang? He is far off course for a seaman."

  "There is not much sailing along the Chi River for such an experienced seaman," remarked Tedi. "I wonder which brother he was?"

  "Of the six of them," nodded Natia, "I could never keep them straight."

  "Nobody could," replied Tedi as he moved to the man's feet and pulled off a boot.

  "What are you doing?" asked Natia.

  "They had trouble recognizing each other as well," explained Tedi. "They also had trouble keeping their belongings straight. One of them told me that they had to inscribe their names in their boots so they wouldn't get mixed up. This one was called Garander."

  "He still needs to be buried," sighed Natia. "Are you going to help me?"

  "No," Tedi said as he rose to his feet. "You have plenty of help here for the burial. I am going into Porang to see what I can find out about Garander and why a seaman would be here. Perhaps he was just passing through."

  "Not without me, you aren't," stated Nadia as she waved for two gypsies to bury the seaman.

  "Yes, without you," retorted Tedi. "Those men saw you charging towards them. They will kill you if they recognize you."

  "Then they will not recognize me," smiled Natia. "I know how to keep to the shadows. Besides, I am a Knight of Alcea, the same as you. If you think this murder is a threat to the kingdom then I am going with you."

  Tedi put his hands on his hips and glared at Natia, but she merely smiled innocently at him. He knew that there was nothing he could say to dissuade Natia from going into town, so with a sigh he accepted her company. At least if they traveled together, he could keep an eye on her.

  "Tell Adan we went into Porang," Tedi said to one of the gypsies. "We will be back by morning."

  The gypsy nodded, and the couple mounted their horses and rode away. Tedi led the way, and they rode in a circuitous route so that they would enter the city from the opposite direction. Natia took the red scarf from around her neck and tied her hair up with it.

  Porang was the center of a large grazing region, and the gypsies often helped themselves to a few cows, so it was important not to be seen as gypsies. Tedi removed his scarf and slid it into his pouch. He instructed Natia to remove her jewelry and hide her weapons. When they arrived at the gates to Porang, they looked like a young foreign couple touring the area. The guards looked them over as they entered the city, but no questions were asked of them.

  Porang had a large population, but there was little in the way of comforts for travelers. The city existed to serve the outlying ranches. One half of the city was devoted to cattle pens, and most of the other half consisted of homes. In the very center of the city was a string of shops and two inns. Tedi led the way to the first of the inns. The couple dismounted and entered the common room.

  There were a few Lanoirians in the common room, but there was no large group visible. Tedi and Natia sat at one of the empty tables, and the innkeeper came to take their order. They ordered ale, and the innkeeper served them promptly. The other patrons had glanced at the door when they entered, but soon ignored them.

  "I wonder if we should ask about Garander?" Tedi whispered. "I don't want to be obvious about our interest."

  "Stay and drink your ale for a bit," Natia said as she stood up. "I will be right back."

  Tedi gritted his teeth as the gypsy princess crossed the common room and exited the rear door of the inn. He had the urge to race after Natia, but he knew that would draw undue attention to both of them. He sipped his ale and tapped his foot nervously. The minutes dragged by, and Tedi downed his ale in preparation to leave and find Natia. Before his mug hit the table, Natia walked in the rear door. She crossed the room and sat next to Tedi.

  "The attackers are no longer in Porang," she announced.

  "How do you know?" asked Tedi.

  "The stableboy," grinned Natia. "The foreigners arrived yesterday and stayed at the other inn. They were searching for a man, one they described as a foreign seaman. They had a drawing that they showed around. The seaman worked at the cattle pens. He arrived about six months ago. I guess they found him this morning."

  "So the attackers were not from Porang?" Tedi asked for clarification.

  "They were not even Lanoirians," stated Natia. "Their only purpose for being in town was to find Garander."

  "But why was Garander in Porang?" pondered Tedi. "He had far too much experience to be working in the pens. And how did the foreigners know he was here?"

  "It hardly matters anymore," shrugged Natia. "There is nothing we can do to help him now."

  "That is true," admitted Tedi, "but I have a feeling that there is more that we must do."

  "What do you mean?" asked Natia.

  "I am not sure," sighed Tedi. "I only met Garander once, but that trip was extremely important. Not only did Admiral Hill say that he chose the best men for the crew, but the whole voyage was cloaked in secrecy. Even after we returned, King Arik stressed that we should not discuss it. Don't you find it strange that one of the crew should show up at the cattle pens in Porang?"

  "Only to be tortured by foreigners," nodded Natia. "I think I am beginning to see what is bothering you. Had they just wanted to kill Garander, they could have done so easily."

  "Exactly," agreed Tedi. "They wanted information from Garander, and I suspect that whatever they wanted, Garander refused to tell."

  "And we only know of one secret that the seaman carried to his grave," summarized Natia. "Is it possible he had some other secret that he refused to reveal?"

  "It is possible," sighed Tedi, "but I must assume the worst. I need to get a message to King Arik."

  "There is a mail boat that comes up the river weekly," said Natia, "but it would take a long time for a message to get to Tagaret."

  "I would prefer to get the message there as soon as possible in case it is important," frowned Tedi, "but I cannot think of any other option."

  "There is one other way," grinned Natia.

  "What is that?" asked Tedi.

  "We can catch a ship to Dalek in Ongchi," suggested Natia. "I wouldn't mind seeing the big city again."

  "It has been quite a while," chuckled Tedi. "Do you think Adan would mind?"

  "I guarantee that he won't object," laughed Natia.

  Chapter 9

  Caged Rats

  Bin-lu saw the mail cart being pushed down the corridor. Not wanting to be seen loitering in the corridor, he bent down to lace his boot as he waited for the soldier to slide the letter under Rut-ki's door. His brow creased with concern as the soldier pushed the cart right past Rut-ki's door without stopping. A shiver of fear raced up his spine as Rut-ki had bee
n sending letters faithfully every week. Her last letter had stated that she was getting close to understanding what Mu-chen had discovered, and the lack of a letter this week meant certain trouble. Bin-lu rose and hurried after the mail cart.

  "I am expecting a letter from Chi-Chan," Bin-lu said to the soldier. "My name is Bin-lu."

  The soldier nodded as he reached for a stack of letters and began looking through them. Bin-lu spied over the soldier's shoulder so that he could see if Rut-ki's letter was in the pile.

  "I do not have one for you," stated the soldier. "Maybe it will come next week."

  "Look again," demanded Bin-lu as a lump formed in his throat. He was sure that he saw a letter addressed to Wei-ra in the pile, but he had to be sure.

  The soldier mumbled under his breath, but he scanned the letters once again.

  "There is nothing from Chi-Chan for Bin-lu," declared the soldier. "We do not get many letters from there, and I am sure I would have remembered it."

  "Maybe next week then," Bin-lu said apologetically. "Thank you for looking."

  The soldier nodded and began pushing his cart down the corridor again. Bin-lu calculated the amount of time until the cart reached Wei-ra's office and turned and ran to his quarters in the diplomatic section. He filled his pack with everything that he thought he might need and then left the room. He walked slowly towards Wei-ra's quarters trying to think up some excuse for his coming absence. As he rounded the corner of the corridor, Wei-ra was just coming out of his quarters. He saw Bin-lu and motioned for him to approach.

  "Something has come up," Wei-ra said as he reopened the door to his room. "Come in."

  Bin-lu followed his superior into the room. Wei-ra unlocked an ornate chest and extracted a wristband. It was similar to the black wristband that Bin-lu wore to gain entrance to the Temple of Balmak, but the designs on the wristband were golden.

  "I have been called to go out of the city," explained Wei-ra. "I may be gone for some time. In my absence, you will report to Wu-kang. You will wear this wristband on trips to the temple instead of yours. The golden design denotes a trusted officer of the order. You will seldom be questioned when you wear it, but do not let it be seen outside the temple. For now we must keep our association with Balmak a secret. Do you understand?"