Journey to Water's Heart

by Lea Ben Shlomo

  He bowed before the queen. His bold and surprising entrance enraged her. He hadn’t sent anyone to announce his arrival and hadn’t received permission to join the trial. Now, in the courtroom, before everyone present, she couldn’t do a thing. Once again, she felt her incompetence before the captain of the guard’s great power. The ministers moved to give him space in the front row. Galrock sat down and looked around, his eyes burning, his face grave, and his huge mustache quivering.

  If only he’d arrived earlier, he would have canceled this unnecessary fiasco.

  That morning, he had entered the capital city, accompanied by the guard and some of his high-ranking commanders. They’d ridden hard for several days, hardly stopping to rest. When they arrived, Galrock ordered his people to bathe and change uniforms. He wore his cape and immediately snuck to the White Tower. He needed that vial with the magic powder. It would assuage his exhaustion and present him again as a tireless, legendary man. He wanted to show his gratitude to the master mage and receive his blessing in honor of his victory. Evidently, he’d be rewarded, perhaps in the form of an increased dose, which would last him a long time. He approached the hidden door, the trembling running through his body increasing. For a long time, he’d made an effort to hide his desperate need for the calming smoke. Now, in the darkness of the corridor, he could relax. He took a stick of light from a niche in the corridor’s wall, and with his second hand, he supported himself against the damp wall. When he reached the ancient door, he was surprised to see it half-open. Did the master mage expect his return? Was this how he expressed his gratitude? His heart swelled.

  This time, he didn’t hear the welcome fizzing.

  “Hamanalo koleham,” he whispered. There was no response. Concern crept into his heart. The silence was complete. What experiment was White Lune conducting today? His body’s anguish urged him forward. He had to finish his business here and reach the queen as soon as possible. It was important that he looked his best before her. Today was his big day. Her hesitations would disappear, and together, he and she would walk toward greatness. Despite the mage’s advice, he did not intend to hurt her. She’d sit by his side, and the two of them would rule the country. While thinking about it, Galrock climbed the contraption, which would bring him down. He untied the ropes and started his journey down the slide. He could barely hold the ropes or pull them. No matter. After he received what he wanted from the master mage, his strength would return.

  The familiar smell of sweet rotting that welcomed him as he came closer was different this time. The whispering didn’t accompany him as he entered the room. Once again, he called out, but only silence answered him. Suddenly, terror gripped his stomach like an iron vice. He looked around. The table lamp was off. The light from the stick in his hand weakly illuminated the room, yet didn’t hide the emptiness of the place. No one was there. The shelves and bookcases were empty of parchments, old books, jars, and bottles. The mage was gone. He’d abandoned him and left.

  Galrock attacked the empty shelves, searching for bottles or jars with remains of the desired powder. Maybe the mage had dropped a bag with the dried mushroom? He’d make the powder himself. The mage knew he’d come here. Why hadn’t he left a thing?

  A terrible cry ripped from his throat. He fell on his knees, clenching his fists.

  When he could no longer endure the pain in his knees, he got up and sat in a chair. What would he do now?

  He remembered his plans. He had to hurry to the queen. What had he heard when he had arrived at the palace? A trial was taking place today, the trial of the Blue king. He had to hurry over, before things that he had taken such pains to hide were revealed. Anxiety gave him the strength to get up. He mustered his courage and pulled himself out of the hole. Then he stole to his room and tidied his appearance hurriedly. Tomorrow, he’d investigate the mage’s disappearance. He couldn’t believe that he’d just abandon him and leave. He was a man of riddles. Perhaps he had left behind a hint or sign for him.

  After several minutes, he walked down the path, hurrying to the hall while gathering his strength for his life’s battle.

  Now, in the hall, he hoped he wasn’t too late.

  “Honorable queen,” he said in his sternest voice. “For the last few minutes, I’ve been standing here and listening to the lies of the Blue king and his people, their attempts to shirk their responsibilities, and their pathetic excuses. The Blue king lost the war. He would do well to admit his defeat and accept the conditions of peace imposed upon his country. As for the fate of his life, that’s something we will decide at a separate meeting, without this miserable act of his and his people’s.”

  Murmurs of agreement were heard from the judges’ bench. The queen pursed her lips.

  “It’s an honor to see you here, Minister Galrock, military leader and victor,” she said, clenching her fists tightly. She wouldn’t let him take over the trial now. No.

  “The trial will continue according to the Anurian constitution.”

  Galrock’s dark expression darkened even more. Another thing that had gone wrong today. The queen dared defy him. Later, he would prove to her that she was wrong, before his influence over her weakened.

  The queen continued, addressing Balanter. “Did you want to add something, advisor?”

  Balanter shook his head.

  “If so,” Queen Laorin said. “From your words, it sounds as though someone else, neither you nor your king, was interested that these letters would fall into my hands, and that the others wouldn’t reach their destination. Meaning, someone else desperately wanted a war between the Blues and Whites. Why should I believe that it wasn’t your king who wanted that?”

  “Because… Because we had nothing to gain from this war. Why should we want it?”

  Laorin noticed Nikon nodding. She leaned toward him.

  “He’s onto something,” Nikon whispered to her. “Who had something to gain from this war? If not the Blue king and not us, then who?”

  “We are well aware who the man is,” Halior said.

  “That’s impossible,” Laorin said. “Impossible.” Suddenly, the picture is becoming clear.

  The three of them looked at Galrock.

  He stood there, taller than any other man in Anura, surrounded by those loyal to him, full of decorations of valor, looking more than ever like an invincible captain of the guards. Yet despite his confident appearance, the queen noticed something unusual. Galrock’s hands trembled. And was she imagining, or were his pupils spiraling into themselves?

  “Who can testify against him about the letter writing?” Halior said quietly.

  Galrock heard her question and understood the significance of their gazes. He contained his panic. He had nothing to fear. Who could undermine him in his position? He had meticulously calculated and planned his moves. The people who had served beneath him at the time had all been the first sent to the battlefield, and none of them had returned.

  “There’s no doubt that the Blue king wrote those vile letters,” Galrock said. “And there’s no one to testify that these letters and others are forgery.”

  “I can.” A voice was heard from the faraway gallery, where the low-ranking members of the Blue entourage sat.

  Into the hall strode a young man with a golden shirt, scarlet pants, and a black embroidered scarf around his neck. His white shoes stood out in their oddity and increased the unexpected impression of his appearance.

  The guards, who he’d shoved when he’d burst out of the barred wing, rushed after him and gripped his arms. One small gesture from the queen stopped them.

  “You…?”

  Tanti bowed deeply.

  “Arrest that man!” Galrock screamed.

  Tanti tried to shake the guards off him.

  “Why would you arrest me? What is my crime against you?” He turned to Galrock.

  For too long he had hidden among the B
lues in order to guard the mushroom and return with it to his country. Then suddenly, he changed his stance, when he realized he had the answer to the letters. He couldn’t abandon the Blue king to Galrock’s cruelty. When he remembered how they’d tortured him, his bitterness and anger overcame his caution. His hesitation disappeared.

  “Your Majesty!” Galrock said. “Standing before you is the prisoner, the Blue spy who escaped the White Tower.”

  “I know…” Her voice was almost inaudible.

  “Take him back to the tower, and then we’ll decide what to do with him.”

  “First, I’d like to hear what he has to say,” she said. Why did he see it right to suddenly appear? She wouldn’t let Galrock harm him. Not anymore. She addressed Tanti. “Say what you have to say.”

  Tanti didn’t dare look at her. He continued facing Galrock. “I’m not the man you call ‘Blue spy.’”

  “You are the man! And I recognize you, Tanti Marin. You were sentenced to death after admitting that you spied for Nautilin.”

  “I was interrogated by you. And despite the beatings and the threats, I didn’t admit to anything.”

  “But I read your confession and saw your signature,” Halior said.

  “I didn’t sign the confession. Someone else did.”

  “We’re hearing similar accounts too many times today,” Halior said. Nikon passed a note to the queen. She nodded.

  “If so, please bring the letter,” Nikon said. “It is among all the other letters of confession of the condemned spies. We’ll see if you can deny your signature.”

  “Snailed signature,” Laorin whispered. “Like all those other signatures of those poor ‘Blue spies’ who don’t know how to snail.” A chill ran down her back. How many innocents had lost their lives because of her?

  Nikon told his attendant where the files were and ordered him to bring them quickly.

  ***

  They sat down and went through the pages before them, comparing writing and signatures. Galrock sat, withdrawn.

  “King of Nautilin, you claim your people don’t know how to snail,” the queen said.

  “I claim so,” the king said. “And I stand behind my words.”

  “If so, why were the confessions of the Blue spies caught crossing the border written and signed in snail writing?”

  “That is impossible!” the king said. “First of all, because I didn’t send spies, and second, how could they have confessed to something they didn’t do? Excuse me, Honorable Queen. I’ve never heard of a spy who went of his own accord.”

  Halior gave her sister two letters. One was a prisoner’s written confession. The other was Galrock’s order to sentence him to death. Both letters were given to her and signed by her. The handwriting in both letters was very similar. The queen paled when Nikon gave her the third letter, which had been torn and then glued back together—one of the Blue king’s nasty, threatening letters. The same handwriting was there as well. There was no doubt about it. The letters were forged. The three letters were passed among the judges and returned to her.

  The White queen stood again. “Sit!” she said, when she saw that the entire courtroom was preparing to rise. She stood before Galrock’s seat. She gave Nikon the letter in which Galrock ordered that the prisoner be sentenced to death, and instructed him to present it before Galrock.

  “Do you recognize your handwriting?” she asked.

  “Of course.”

  Now she showed him the other letters. “Do you recognize your handwriting here as well?”

  “No. You can’t be accusing me of the crimes of the Blue king and his spies.” The letters passed among the ministers and the judges.

  “It is agreed by all that the handwriting in all three letters is the handwriting of the same person,” Nikon said. “And if Galrock recognized his handwriting in the letter in which he orders the ‘spy’s’ death, then all the other letters are his as well. It’s not difficult to understand his motives.”

  “And without doubt,” Halior said. “We must admit that this isn’t the Blue king’s handwriting.”

  The courtroom erupted. Tanti remained standing in the middle of the courtroom as the Blue king rushed to him and gripped his hand gratefully and excitedly. The queen stood as though stunned, her gaze tortured.

  “Why?” She waved the letters before Galrock’s face. “I believed in you. I trusted you…”

  The captain of the guard looked like a different man. He was taller, his limbs longer. His body swayed.

  “It had to be done,” he said. “For your honor, for Anura, and in order to intensify our power when facing the surrounding countries.” He was shouting now. “I had to make you angry enough to go to war, a war of victory. I did what I did for you. For your glory, brave and magnificent queen.”

  “You did it for your glory!” Nikon shouted. “And you deceived your queen and people!”

  “I, Galrock, son of Garruf, led Anura to victory, after which other victories will come. The reign of the Whites will stretch from the foresters’ border to the bottom sea.” His mouth was foaming, his pupils spiraled. His next words were unintelligible. Tanti recognized the signs, which were similar to those of the gardener of the Blue Palace. Without noticing, he laid his hand on his heart, where he had hidden the deadly treasure.

  “Arrest this man,” Nikon said. The soldiers hesitated.

  “I trusted you…” the queen said again. “I followed you blindly, you traitor. Take him away. Lock him in the tower until he’s sentenced for his crimes.”

  The guards ceased hesitating and obeyed her order. They grabbed the man from both sides. He thrashed like a madman until suddenly he collapsed. He was taken out of the courtroom, his legs dragging behind him. Silence descended around them.

  The queen stood in place. For some time, everyone waited until she raised her head and turned to the Blue king.

  “King of Nautilin, I cannot tell you just how ashamed I am of the things discovered during this trial. I am withdrawing my allegations. I ask for your forgiveness for this evil caused to you. My only consolation is that the truth was revealed and a harsh injustice was prevented. You and your people are free to go. And you, Tanti Marin, forgive me. I have wronged you terribly.”

  Before any of them had to time to respond, she turned around and left the courtroom, passing by her ladies who waited in the foyer and hurried after her.

  Nikon and Halior knew they had to act quickly now and dismiss everyone from the shameful situation.

  Nikon called out the names of Galrock’s men and ordered them to wait in the daily meeting room under guard, until their fate was decided.

  Halior instructed that the king of Nautilin and his people be escorted to their rooms. She dismissed the guards surrounding their accommodations, and appointed one of her loyal helpers to be at their service and respond to all their needs and requests.

  She declared that the trial had come to an end and set up an extended meeting in the evening, which included all the ministers. Until then, she knew that she and Nikon had much work before them.

  But first, she hurried to find her sister, concern in her heart.

  Chapter 49

  Tanti and the White Queen

  Even though the Blue king wanted to return home more than anything, he couldn’t leave Anura without saying goodbye to the White queen. They had to complete the details of the treaties, sign declarations, and decide on the future of the region.

  However, Queen Laorin had shut herself in her room right after leaving the courtroom. She’d locked the door and wouldn’t let anyone in.

  Halior and Nikon knocked on the door of her headquarters, adjacent to her rooms, worried and helpless. Ministers came and went, and her ladies stood on the other side of the door, wishing to console their queen, yet unable to.

  Tanti also waited. He wanted to see her, now that he w
as no longer a fugitive. He still had many things to tell her.

  In the White Palace, he received much respect. Nikon and Halior appreciated his courage, and the fact that he’d risked himself and was willing to expose himself in order to throw the trial and testify about the forged letters. They felt obligated to him, because they’d known of his difficult imprisonment in the past.

  He was allowed to wander through the castle freely, with an attendant closely accompanying him. Afleck, with the Blue king’s permission, didn’t budge from his side. At first, he was very hostile toward the White attendant, who threatened to steal his position. After a while, the two of them found many things in common concerning service and serving. They became friends and enthusiastically shared ideas and suggestions, discussing them in detail.

  When Tanti asked the attendant to lead him to Queen Laorin, the man hesitated. “The current situation doesn’t allow that. The queen is shut in her room.”

  “Nevertheless, lead me to her,” Tanti said.

  They climbed the wide stairs, walked along the balcony surrounding the wing, and turned to the corridor leading to her room.

  The foyer was full of people who needed the queen. Ministers and high-ranking officers, judges, clerks, the queen’s ladies-in-waiting, and a servant with a tray full of food and beverages. They stood quietly and waited.

  Nikon and Halior knocked on the door, calling her name. There was no answer.

  Nikon scowled at the attendant who brought Tanti.

  Afleck hurried to defend his White friend. He bowed deeply. “Forgive me, the master insisted and demanded we bring him to the queen. And we were told to fulfill his requests, right?”

  “Indeed,” Nikon said impatiently. “But this isn’t the time. As you can see, the queen refuses to see anyone.” He turned to the people standing there. “You should all go now. When the queen comes out, we’ll let you know.”