“Come back quickly!” they said. He smiled and waved. Then he glanced once more at the Blue Palace, so charming, surrounded by plants and flowers, endless balconies, stone and woodcarvings, towers, wings, and numerous twists and turns. Once again, he was on the road, alone. His horse was fresh and trained. A packhorse was tied to him, loaded with equipment and food. Both were decorated with garlands. Their long tails were braided and decorated with flowers. Tanti himself was full of fine food, wearing the Blue queen’s gifts.
He remembered another queen. The White queen. Laorin. Walking with her ladies in the grove, white flower petals falling softly around her like snowflakes. She held in her palm the colorful tassels Tanti had thrown at her, and smiled at him.
The day he and Dionun had escaped from the White Tower and hid behind the rock by the spring, she had looked like a child, free of her queenliness, relaxed, and hugging his stolen horse as her expressive lips widened into a grin. He saw her stroking the long neck of the horse, who bared his teeth in foolish pleasure.
A deep sigh left his chest. Instead of the crystal drop, he carried a secret, which was like a jewel on his heart, and there he left it.
He spurred Larimer to go faster, and started singing, filling the air with melancholic notes.
I dreamed a dream – that here you wait
Greeting me in tranquility and radiance
Your eyes like flowers, hair the gold of grain,
Your dress colored in poppies’ crimson stain.
I opened my eyes in another land
The treasure is distant and there, too, you hide.
The light in your eyes like a tender flower
The memory of your face like a fading treasure…
Hey, oh hey..
•
How hard it is for the wanderer to wake from his dream.
His future is not yet clear and full of fear.
Will we merit to stride amoung the Shernan trees?
Will we hear the song of Izmeran?
•
Hey, oh hey…
He fell silent when other riders passed him by. Wagons that traveled to the City of Water crossed his way with a cheerful uproar. Strangers waved at him; people greeted him, waving their blue hats.
***
The Blue king entered the Meeting Hall. Balanter and Azium Nasusion waited for him there, standing by a big map hanging on the wall, discussing how to spread the troops. They had a general meeting set for a later hour, and now met, just the three of them, in order to plan the meeting and decide on the main subjects they’d discuss.
Another man was in the room. When and how he’d entered wasn’t clear. Dionun stood there in his black clothes, his arms crossed.
“How did you get in here?” the king asked. He hadn’t changed his approach to the Lizards, despite agreeing not to jail their leader. Dionun’s invasive presence in the room didn’t help change his mind.
“You’re not supposed to be here right now,” Azium Nasusion said. “Leave and wait with the rest of the ministers and commanders of the troops.”
“I have no time,” Dionun said. “And I’d better say what I have to say before the ministers come in.”
“Say what you have to say,” Balanter said curtly.
“The White forces are approaching the border.”
“Repeat yourself.” The king and the military commander came closer. Dionun, who now had their full attention, hurried to relay the information he had.
“The army is approaching the western mountains,” he said. “At the Edges district, they’re setting up an army base. Which means that the Whites want to be prepared to attack immediately, with a warning of several hours.”
The king went to the big map hanging on the wall and pointed at the aforementioned place. “If this is true, then they’re creating a significant advantage for themselves. What do you think, Azium Nasusion?”
“Where exactly are they building their camps?”
Dionun pointed at several locations. “Here they built a camp, and here, and here they started work two days ago.”
“Which means that they intend to attack at the Valley of the Edges,” Azium Nasusion said. “Just like the last war. Galrock dreams of eternal fame, like his father had at the time. Given the situation, we have to move our troops as quickly as possible.”
“Shouldn’t we wait until we’re sure of their intentions?” the king asked. “They won’t start a war in the winter.”
“We’d better obstruct the border while there’s still time,” Dionun said. “If they enter Nautilin and conquer land, it’ll be hard to push them back. It’ll be easier to stop them beforehand.”
“Of course,” the king said. “I don’t like your unexpected invasions, Lizard, but you’ve brought us priceless information. Your advice is accepted. What do you think, my friends?” He addressed his question to Balanter and Azium Nasusion. Both of them nodded.
“We’ll surprise them,” Azium Nasusion said. “We can spread our forces beyond the hill without them noticing. The minute we notice any sign of the Whites moving, we’ll attack.”
“Maybe that’s what they want us to think, so that we concentrate our army in the west,” Balanter said.
“In the meantime, they can come in through Hey Hill, or through here, or through here.” He pointed at places on the map. “If I were them, I’d do that.”
“Even though I don’t underestimate the Whites’ military wisdom,” Azium Nasusion said. “I think they’re too sure of themselves. In my opinion, they will indeed attack the Valley of the Edges. We can station ancillary forces next to the passages you stated, and they’ll delay them if they indeed invade Hey Hill, until backup arrives.”
The king covered his mouth with his palm to hide his smile. Azium Nasusion had woken up. He was behaving like a military man and justifying his reputation.
“I see things are taken care of,” Dionun said. “I’ll take my leave and return to my boys. Your Majesty, I don’t think I’ll continue disturbing you with my unexpected visits. I’ll be busy in the following days.”
“I think I can endure your visits,” the king said with a smile. “The advantages are greater than the disadvantages.”
Dionun bowed deeply. “I’ll be far away.” He started walking toward the window.
“And if you have important information, will you notify us?” Balanter asked.
“I’ll send a mail bird,” Dionun said, and before any of them had time to say a word, he disappeared through the window.
The ministers and high-ranking commanders started shuffling into the room. Zoded, the commander of the volunteer forces, and his three aides, were with them as well. Azium Nasusion invited them in order for them to accumulate military experience, get used to their new positions, learn how to look at situations generally, and prepare to make quick and crucial decisions during battle.
***
Tanti tied the horses to the trees with long ropes so that they’d graze on the abundant grass. He started climbing up the mountain, wanting to check if there was a village close by. He’d been riding through isolated areas for many days. The supplies on the packhorse had almost run out. He had food left for the next day or two, if he carefully rationed it. Hunger was his constant companion all through the day. He had to stock up in order to continue his journey. The likelihood that he may have to hunt animals didn’t please him, but he’d do that if he had no choice.
Climbing up the hill was invigorating after riding for many days. He had already gotten used to the green-blue grass, the deep color of the sky, and the blue rocks. In the clear light that followed the rain, he could observe to a distance. Far in the east was a chain of white mountains. Their peaks seemed to be covered with snow. In the north, he saw plateaus and ravines. He turned around. At the foot of the mountain, the horses grazed calmly. When he raised his eyes
, he noticed what looked like distant houses, paths, and fences. Finally, he noticed a settlement.
The settlement was in the northwest. His route took him east. Should he turn back and add miles to his journey in order to stock up and gather his strength? Or should he obey the arrows directing him in the opposite direction?
More than anything, he wanted to reach his destination and complete his quest. But what good would he be if he starved?
His head hurt. His vision was blurry as he took off the scarf and studied the arrows. The direction was clear. If he went to the city, he’d have to retrace his steps, and it would be quite the distance. He didn’t know if he had the strength to do that. Nevertheless, he decided to go to the city to improve his situation and stock up.
He mounted his horse with difficulty, tying the packhorse to his arm. “Come on, Larimer!” The horse turned back, as opposed to Tanti’s directions, and started walking east. Tanti didn’t try to change his direction. “All right, you decide this time!” he said. “I hope you’re making the right decision, because if not, we’re doomed.”
In the evening, he ate his last piece of cheese. He drank from his waterskin. Luckily, he had managed to find water sources on the way. Tomorrow, Tanti decided, trying to calm himself, he’d try to hunt before continuing on his way.
A feeling of unease crept into his heart. He felt as though someone were watching him. Looking around, he didn’t see anyone. He rode away from the path and found a place to sleep in a cave of terebinth trees and parasitic shrubs, which covered their branches and created a rather comfortable shelter. Even after camouflaging himself in the cave, he couldn’t rid himself of the feeling he wasn’t alone.
The feeling that someone was watching him grew stronger as he rode deeper into the mountains.
Chapter 39
Captivity
Tanti wanted to believe he was getting closer to his destination. Before him rose the high eastern mountains, their snowy caps cutting into the skyline, the mountains separating the Whites from the Blues. As he rode closer, they looked higher. The mushroom was there, in the east. Perhaps even beyond. He knew he couldn’t climb to those enormously steep heights. The mountains slanted down toward the north. There, on the plateau, the Whites and Blues would meet for war. How unfortunate that they hadn’t found a way to prevent that war.
The Blue king didn’t want it. Queen Laorin, he knew, didn’t want the war either, yet she was moving her troops forward. Why? Who wanted this war and was putting it into motion?
Now, he had to fight his own personal battle with exhaustion, hunger, and thirst. He didn’t think he’d have the strength to complete his quest. He’d been riding alone for many days, and he hadn’t met a single soul. Once again, he had come across a small village in a green valley, with a river running through it. He’d left there the packhorse, who was slowing him down, in exchange for food, water, and supplies. The food he’d bought had run out. Yesterday, he had managed to hunt a rabbit. Yet he was still hungry, and he knew that from now on, hunger would be his constant companion, as would loneliness.
He searched for a place to stop for the night. Perhaps today he’d be lucky and find something to hunt before the sun had set. When one was hungry, the blood, guts, skin, and eyes of a poor animal didn’t touch one’s heart. What interested him was preparing the food, waiting for the meat to roast, and anticipating the moment he would sink his teeth into the meat.
This time it was partridges. Their foolish screeches and padding feet drew him out of his reveries and revealed their place in the bushes. Tanti didn’t hesitate. He quickly slid off Larimer’s back and started chasing them. It took only a moment of hesitation and confusion, during which one of the partridges couldn’t decide where to turn. He leaped and managed to grab the edge of its tail, while its sisters ran for their lives.
“Forgive me,” he said, when he ended its life with one slice of his sharp knife. He noticed a nest with four speckled eggs, collected them, and blessed his good luck.
There were still several hours until the sun would set. Not in a rush, he turned and rode on the path leading up the mountain. Next to a wide, old carob tree, he stopped and prepared his food. Dinner included roasted partridge and boiled eggs seasoned with rosemary, which grew between the rocks. For dessert, he nibbled on sweet carobs dripping with honey.
That night, he chose not to set up his tent. He spread a blanket on the grass and lay down, under the star-speckled canopy of the clear sky, the white rucksack beneath his head. A moon, as yellow as a lemon, climbed to the middle of the sky, just as his eyes started drooping.
A rustle in the bushes caused him to jump to his feet. He looked around, searching for the source of the noise, and hurried to grab his sword from the blanket, yet his attackers were quicker than him. Strange creatures jumped on him, tied his hands and legs with unbelievable speed, gagged him, and carried him away without making a sound.
While they carried him on their shoulders, he realized that these “demons” were actually humans, judging by the smell of their sweat and their heavy panting, which increased as they climbed up the mountain. He heard the beating of Larimer’s hooves behind him and assumed they were taking him with them.
Finally, they arrived at a cave with a bonfire at its entrance. His abductors threw Tanti in the corner of the cave. Someone slapped him for no obvious reason. One of the youths kicked him, then lifted his shoulders and leaned him against the wall of the cave. The rocks behind him dug into his back painfully. Tanti was frightened. He closed his eyes in order not to reveal his fear before his victorious captors.
“Spy!” They called toward their friends in the cave. “We caught a Red spy!”
“Green, I think,” someone said.
“He’s Yellow, I’m sure,” someone else said. “According to that bag with him.”
“Are you color-blind or what? That’s a white rucksack.”
“It’s not white, that’s for sure. Did you see his coat? But maybe he is a spy.”
“His sword?”
“Excellent quality. So he’s not Blue, for sure.”
“I’m going to go look through his saddlebags. That’ll probably give us more information about him.”
“You’re not going through any bags,” said a firm voice. “You’ll wait for the Tongue to arrive and allow you to touch things that aren’t your own.”
“I already checked. No food.”
“We should interrogate him.”
They were young, about his age, wearing black, and circling him restlessly. Occasionally, some of them would jump and leap back with the elasticity and agility of acrobats. Others climbed amputated tree trunks as though they were climbing stairs. They swung from the only branch left, rolling themselves down, while spinning around themselves and jumping down lightly, continuing what they were doing as though they hadn’t just performed a complicated acrobatic feat.
Tanti didn’t know what would be better—that they leave him alone, or perhaps that they interrogate him so he could prove that he wasn’t a spy. He didn’t know who they were. They rolled their tongues like Blues, yet wore black. They were lean, their movements lithe and sharp. His wrists and ankles hurt from how tightly they’d bound him. Breathing was difficult when he was gagged.
“Where are you from and what are you doing here?” asked someone who looked like the oldest one in the group.
“Ask him who sent him.”
“Ask him where he got the sword from.”
“What’s the point of asking if his mouth is gagged? He can’t answer. Take off the gag.”
Tanti opened his eyes hopefully.
“Leave him like he is. We won’t believe a word he says anyway.”
“Wait for the Tongue. He’ll interrogate him.”
They continued to argue about what they’d do with him. After half an hour, they lost interest and left the cave. They sa
t around the dying fire and talked quietly among themselves. Two youngsters approached him, grasped his shoulders, and dragged him to an alcove at the side of the cave. They blocked the entrance with a board and left. Tanti found himself in utter darkness. He felt insects crawling next to him and recoiled in disgust. He couldn’t do a thing when they started crawling all over his body. He tried to move and improve his position. The voices outside grew fainter, until it was silent. Apparently, his captors had gone to sleep.
Hours passed. Every so often, he’d nod off, and then jerk awake when a rock dug into him or something stung him.
Suddenly, he was furious. What right did they have to tie him up, beat him, and throw him here? Who were these people? He wouldn’t stay here. No. He wouldn’t stay here and wait for their “Tongue,” who might be even crueler and more hotheaded than they were.
He had to get out of these terrible bonds. He put his hands close to the stone that pressed into the side of his body and started rubbing the rope against it. The stone, although sharp enough to hurt him, wasn’t sharp enough to cut the rope. Tanti didn’t give up, injuring himself mercilessly. He worked for a long time until he felt the rope loosen. Until relief came. He managed to free one hand and immediately ripped off the gag. For a moment, he sat silently, rubbing his wrists in order to restore circulation. Then he started working on his bound legs. Inch by inch, he moved aside the board closing up his makeshift prison. He noticed the graying sky. Soon, a new day would dawn. He had to leave immediately, before his captors woke up. He wriggled out through the entrance and found himself crouching over a black-clad young man, whose overbite and long, hooked nose made him look gloomy and bemused. The young man sat and looked at him silently. For a moment or two, they didn’t move, staring at each other. Tanti heard distant footsteps. The man in black leaped, held Tanti’s arm, and hauled him to his feet.
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