CLOAK - Lost Son of the Crested Folk (The Wish trilogy)

by Russell Thomson

  With her brother still too weak to rise from his bed A’Quoo laid her star charm on the table, fuelled it with majic and set it spinning. She had followed the same ritual every week for the last two months, setting her star charm spinning after dark each god day evening. She had become accustomed to the majic fading, the charm spinning to a halt before sliding onto its side dull and lifeless. When finally one evening the charm stopped on its point and flickered between two distinct bearings her heart almost leapt from her chest in shock. A’Quoo tried again, the same result causing her to smile broadly for the first time in months.

  Assisting A’Skla from his bed, A’Quoo spun the charm once more, this time placing the small star on top of their precious map.

  ‘Two,’ gasped A’Skla, ‘do you know what this means sister?’

  A’Quoo nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. ‘It means god has at last chosen to bless us brother…………..a double blessing.’ A’Quoo wiped away an errant tear before composing herself once more.

  ‘Nevertheless sister,’ replied A’Skla weakly, ‘it is a mixed blessing as unless we consider travelling separately, one of the two may slip our grasp.’

  A’Quoo paced the room before returning to the map. ‘We are just entering Moon 4 of the year Quince 901. For now I suggest we bide where we are, fatten you up and let the spring sun dry your lungs some more.’ A’Quoo ran her fingers along the two bearings. ‘We will take a bearing each day, plot the paths and try to predict their way. We have only one star charm which means we need to know for sure where they are going before we decide on separate paths. If we are in luck brother we may still be able to travel together, if not, then……….’ A’Quoo paused, ‘like it or not, we will have to part.’

  A’Skla shook his head. ‘If we capture only one of the two and return south our king might indeed allowed us to live. However, knowing our great uncle, if he finds out we could have captured two and yet returned south with only one…………..’ A’Skla let his word’s hang, ‘……………..well, let’s just say that in his eyes our hard won success will likely be viewed as a failure.’ His breathing still laboured A’Skla stepped back from the table and eased himself into the narrow window seat. ‘We need them both sister and we need them before our king’s heel dogs find our scent.’

  A’Quoo considered her brother’s words, raising a hand to her face and tapping a finger against her pursed lips. ‘Consider this brother. Firstly, given the range of the charm I doubt our quarry is north of the Inner Sea. Secondly, the bearings are close together and both point to the Delta Lands. Thirdly, to the north of the delta there lies nothing but woods and wilderness, so,’ said A’Quoo with conviction, ‘provided they do not go further north we will soon be able to see the bearing change and plot the path they take. We can then project the lines on the map and can then better guess their destination.’

  ‘And if we measure the distance and estimate their speed of travel it will also allow us to better guess when they will arrive.’ A’Skla touched his forehead and bowed respectfully from the waist. ‘There remain a lot of ifs and buts sister but nevertheless your success is admirable.’

  A’Quoo smiled gently. ‘Thank you brother but we still have one major issue to resolve, one we will resolve with nothing more than the toss of a coin.’ A’Quoo removed a small gold piece from her purse flicking it into the air before catching it deftly between her hands. ‘Heads or tails?’

  End of Book One