Shanks eyes narrowed. “He met…”
“Yes, exactly.” Jaaniyah nodded at his unspoken question. “And now, Becknah is missing. I’ve been searching for him.”
“Missing?” Shanks frowned. “Becknah?”
“I can’t find him,” Jaaniyah said in a low voice. “Someone thinks he’s been kidnapped—” she snorted out her derision— “however, she was the one with him at the time of the supposed disappearance.” She pressed her lips together. “A strange coincidence, wouldn’t you agree?”
Shanks searched Jaaniyah’s face. “You’re not suggesting she had something to do with this, are you?”
“I don’t know what I’m suggesting,” Jaaniyah whispered. “I’m just not convinced we should trust her, considering she was raised by—” Jaaniyah caught herself— “well, as she was and all. Don’t you find it a bit odd, Jonn, the first time she leaves the room someone disappears?”
Lines of weariness were etched across his face and she wondered where his travels had taken him. “How do we know she doesn’t have a spy here in the palace? Maybe she’s working for her father even yet.”
“She wasn’t planning to come here to spy on you, Jaani.” Shanks spat the words out. “She didn’t know you existed until I brought her here. You forget who her true father is—” his tone held an underlying note of anger— “and you know nothing of the man she’s been forced to call father.”
Jaaniyah took a step back. She had pushed too far. Why did that girl matter so much to him?
Shanks took a deep breath. “Who is it you think could have taken him?”
“She says Becknah called him Tarantu, though she didn’t see who it was.” Jaaniyah hesitated, then whispered, “Becknah thought Nica’s return somehow tied in with the Getheas quatrains. He thought it was time to search for the Getheas Stone.”
Shanks cast a slow look around the area to see if they could be overheard. “I don’t think we should speak of this here. I’ll meet you in your chambers.” His voice was solemn, matching the look in his eyes. “Is the guard still outside your door?”
At Jaaniyah’s nod, he continued. “Go there directly and wait for me. I’ve got some business with Heathron and then I’ll be up. Stay there.”
Relieved, Jaaniyah nodded. If Becknah truly had been taken, she trusted Shanks to find him.
HEATHRON HAD JUST hailed Jaaniyah when a guard intercepted their path.
“M’lady.” The guard bowed to Jaaniyah then nodded to the Minister of War. “A man has arrived from the Isles of Corsock asking for admittance through the palace gates.”
“Corsock?” Jaaniyah looked at Heathron. “Were you aware someone was coming? Did my father invite him?” Corsock was too far south in the Sea of Nephalon to make travel to Jarisa practical on a regular basis. It took almost the same amount of time from the new moon to the full to sail there. It was very odd someone would show up, unannounced.
Heathron shook his head. “No. This is news to me.” A deep frown creased his forehead. “Most unusual.”
“Please show him into the Great Hall.” Jaaniyah instructed the guard. “I’ll be there shortly.”
“Yes, M’lady,” The guard bobbed his head and hurried away.
“I’ll accompany you,” Heathron said. “This timing seems a bit suspicious to me. I don’t know how, but if Corsock has heard your father’s been captured this could be an attempt to gauge the situation.”
“Do you think they’re planning an attack?”
Heathron rested his large hand on the hilt of his sword. “I have no idea what they might be planning but I certainly don’t want to take any chances given the current circumstances.”
JAANIYAH ENTERED THE Great Hall flanked by Heathron. Guards, dressed in Jarisan colors of brown and gold, stood at each end of the large hall. Next to one of them stood the stranger, his hands clasped behind his back, staring up at a mounted head of a huge wildebeare.
“Greetings,” Jaaniyah said as she waited for him to turn and introduce himself.
He was dressed in a bleached white shirt and dark breeches, soft brown furs draped across his shoulders. His long white-blond hair was braided back with a leather thong, colorful glass beads strung through the plait. The man turned slowly and stared at her. His face was weathered as though he had spent much of his life outside and she could see curiosity in his pale blue eyes as he looked her up and down.
Jaaniyah raised her chin, and gave the man a cool gaze. “Welcome to Jarisa.”
“M’lady Jacoby.” The man gave her a sweeping bow. “Thank you for granting me entrance to your beautiful home. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Versonga Blacksmeer from the Isles of Corsock.” He spoke with a thick accent, saying Isles so it sounded like ‘ees lees’ and rolling his r’s with a trilling sound. “I bring you greetings and gifts from the southern seas.”
“I’m pleased to meet you.” Jaaniyah nodded. “Allow me to introduce one of our court ministers, Eisle Heathron.” The men nodded to each other and murmured a perfunctory greeting.
“May we offer you food and wine?” She waved toward a platter which had been placed on a nearby table.
He inclined his head in acceptance. “How very kind of you.”
Heathron eyed the man, his voice gruff when he spoke. “You are an envoy of Canja?”
Blacksmeer raised his palms as if in surrender. “Not in any official diplomatic capacity. But as I travel, I act as his representative and proffer his good wishes to the countries I visit.” He bowed his head. “Today, I offer his good will to the country of Jarisa.”
Jaaniyah motioned to the nearby seats. “Please sit, tell us how we might assist you.” Heathron stepped closer to the visitor, openly sizing him up. “What brings you so far north from Corsock, sir?”
Blacksmeer smiled in response. “Exploring the continent, finding what’s out there to be found.” His posture relaxed. “I saw one of your spiny bears for the first time just a few days ago. The thing jumped out of a tree and almost landed on me.” The tall man chuckled. “Thank the stars he missed me because I fear he would have punctured me with those quills.”
“Ah, have you seen our brindy bucks yet?” Heathron’s face brimmed with enthusiasm. “Now there’s a sight to behold, to see a full grown male with a ten point rack on his head coming straight for you….”
They moved to the table where Blacksmeer and Heathron ate, drank and talked while Jaaniyah waited for them to finish their meal. She tried not to show her impatience as her thoughts drifted from her wounded father, to the missing scholar, from Jonn Shanks to her sister and this unexpected visitor.
“What do you do in Corsock?” Heathron’s voice was loud in the quiet of the room.
Blacksmeer took a long drink of red wine, savoring the fluid before returning his glass to the table. Letting out a satisfied sigh he replied, “As you know, we are ruled by Canja.”
“The pirate, isn’t he?” Jaaniyah interrupted. She had heard stories of the bloodthirsty ruler of the islands within the Corsocks.
“Yes.” The visitor cleared his throat. “A bit wild, that man, but then, the Isles are wild country.” He smoothed his white-blonde hair back with a rough hand. “I like to think of myself as an explorer.”
“And you like to explore foreign countries?” Heathron watched Blacksmeer with a neutral expression.
The Corsock raised his wine glass and swirled the contents as he contemplated the question. “I do.” He nodded. “I find the natural diversity of the continent fascinating and the hospitality surprisingly refreshing.”
“So you’re just passing through?” Heathron pressed.
Blacksmeer wiped his mouth on a cloth and scooted his stout wooden chair back with a low screech to cross his legs. “Yes, my plan was to stay in LaBricé for a fortnight or two. Make some day trips exploring before I head up over the mountains toward Ajeratauk.” He tilted his head. “Is there a problem?”
“No.” Jaaniyah said. “No problem at all. We would be pleased to
have you stay in LaBricé during your visit.”
“That is very kind of you, M’lady,” Blacksmeer replied. “Have you had many visitors lately?”
Heathron boomed out an answer before Jaaniyah could speak. “Explorers, mostly—like yourself.” The Minister of War stood up. “You must be tired from your journey. Let me have the guard show you the way to your rooms.” Jaaniyah rose, anxious for the visitor to leave so she could meet with Jonn.
Blacksmeer stood and bowed low before Jaaniyah. “My thanks again for your hospitality. I look forward to learning more about your beautiful country.” His blue eyes seemed bright compared to his white hair. “I hope, M’lady, I’ll have the opportunity to provide the same courtesy to you some day.”
“Thank you.” Jaaniyah nodded, both of them knowing full well she would never travel to the Corsocks. “I’ll look forward to hearing more of your islands.”
Heathron motioned for a guard to lead Blacksmeer away and put a hand on Jaaniyah’s arm to hold her back. As the door closed behind their visitor Jaaniyah turned to the minister.
“What do you think?”
“We need to keep a close eye on him.” Heathron’s bushy red eyebrows were drawn down in a frown. “Versonga Blacksmeer is not just ‘exploring’. He’s here for a reason.”
“And what do you think that is?”
Heathron’s expression was grim as he stared at the door through which the explorer had departed. “I believe the man is a bounty hunter.”
id you find him?” Nica jumped up from the sofa where she had been reading and stared at her sister with anticipation.
“I found Tarantu. He said he hadn’t seen Becknah since the two of you walked through the Great Hall earlier.”
Nica gasped. “He’s lying, then.” Her thoughts raced. “Did you look for Becknah? Had anyone else seen him?”
“I looked for both of them, but it’s a big palace. Becknah could be in any number of rooms. He likes to squirrel himself away in the oddest places to read, or he could have left to visit someone.” Jaaniyah took a breath and brushed her hair from her brow. “I found Tarantu in the stables but he was his ever-annoying self. Didn’t act guilty in the least.”
“You don’t believe me, do you?” Nica sat back down with a thump. She was alone, even now.
“I didn’t say that,” Jaaniyah snapped. “After I talked to Tarantu I ran into Jonn and he said…”
“Shanks is back?” Nica looked up hopefully.
“Yes,” Jaaniyah nodded. “He told me to come up here and wait for him. He said he’d be up shortly.”
“Did you tell him about Becknah?” Nica clutched her hands together. Shanks would believe her. “About Tarantu?” At Jaaniyah’s nod, she queried further. “And what did he say?”
“He seemed surprised and concerned,” she admitted. “But we’ll know more when he comes up and he and I can discuss the situation. What have you got there?” Jaaniyah nodded at the thin black book Nica held in her hands.
Nica looked down. “Oh, it’s one of the books of quatrains from the Avedla. It’s called The Ages. Becknah gave it to me to look at and I forgot to set it down before I left his study.”
Jaaniyah’s eyes lit up. “Let me see it.” She held out her hand.
Nica hesitated. Her sister was always so demanding. Did anyone ever tell her no?
“Well?” Jaaniyah snapped. “What are you waiting for?”
Nica handed the book over and began to pace around the room. Twenty minutes had passed before she asked, “When do you think Shanks is coming?”
Jaaniyah’s head was still bent over the pages of the book. “Anytime. He said he had business with Heathron first.”
Nica walked into the alcove and blew out the nearby candle. She peered through the diamond leaded panes out into the dark night. Where was Becknah? An uncomfortable chill spread through her at the thought Mosaba somehow knew of Becknah’s plan to pursue the Getheas Stone. Mosaba was fascinated with the Stone. He had been for years, believing it was his destiny to find the legendary artifact.
A movement below the window caught her eye. She leaned forward.
“Jaaniyah,” she called urgently. “Come here, quickly.”
Jaaniyah slid off the bed and hurried over to peer out the window over Nica’s shoulder. “What?”
“Look down there. Along the wall with the torches.” Nica pointed through the window. “Do you see that rider there with the long white hair? Headed toward the forest?”
Jaaniyah moved closer to the window, squinting to see. “What of it?”
“Do you know who that is?” Fear made Nica’s voice tremble.
“Yes,” Jaaniyah said. “I just met him. His name is Versonga Blacksmeer.” She gave Nica a curious look. “Why? Do you know him?”
“I’ve seen him in Sartis before. He’s friends with my... with Mosaba.”
There was a long silence before Jaaniyah spoke again.
“Do you think he’s a spy? He says he’s just arrived from Corsock. Said he’s an explorer, but Heathron thought he was a bounty hunter.” She peered at Nica. “Do you think he’s looking for you?”
Nica shivered at Jaaniyah’s words. “I don’t know,” she replied. They watched as the rider disappeared into the forest. Nica took a deep breath and faced her sister. “Do you think Becknah was serious when he said it was the time to seek the Getheas Stone?”
“I believe Becknah is serious,” Jaaniyah said carefully, “though I can’t say I believe the Stone exists. Becknah is a fervent believer in the texts of Getheas and has studied the Avedla for most of his adult life.”
Nica nodded. “Mosaba, as well. He’s always claimed to possess some of Getheas’ original writings himself. Stolen from Jarisa, no doubt,” she added quickly. She pushed away from the window. “I’m afraid Mosaba has something to do with Blacksmeer’s arrival and Becknah’s disappearance. Mosaba is a very superstitious man. He had the Xanfere cards and the stars read for him every day for a long time.”
Jaaniyah turned to follow Nica. “And then what? Did he stop believing in the predictions?”
“No.” Nica looked away. Her words were flat, emotionless. “Mosaba was drunk one day and killed the man for telling him a fortune he didn’t like.” She turned away from Jaaniyah’s gasp of horror, closing her eyes against the memories that tried to push their way in; the vision of the man strung up in the courtyard, his eyes gouged out and his tongue cut from his mouth while he still lived.
“Your father is hidden and too ill to defend Jarisa,” Nica whispered. “Your scholar is missing. You question the loyalty of your finance minister.” She raised her head to look at Jaaniyah. “Your army no longer has the strength it once did.”
Nica’s voice trembled with emotion. “You don’t understand about Mosaba. How vicious he can be. How obsessed he is. Right now he’s outraged, not only at the escape of a prized prisoner, but he must know of my escape, as well. He won’t stop until he gets what he wants or we’re all dead. ”
Nica continued, her words were low, urgent. “If the Getheas Stone does exist, and if it does have magical abilities or provide the capacity to see the future, then we are all doomed if Mosaba finds it first.”
Jaaniyah’s face was pale. “What are you suggesting?”
“It’s simple. We need to find the Getheas Stone first.”
“We?” Jaaniyah gasped. “Do you mean you and me?”
Nica nodded. “Remember that quatrain Becknah recited? About the two daughters royal born? Perhaps it’s meant to be us.”
Jaaniyah barked out a bitter laugh. “Are you mad? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. We’re not even sure the thing exists. We wouldn’t know where to begin to look.”
Nica brushed by Jaaniyah and walked to the bed to pick up the thin book of quatrains that lay on the satin quilt. “What if the answer lies in the Avedla? In the texts of Getheas? Where else would it be?” She opened the book and fanned the pages. “There’s got to be a pattern, a clue, so
mething that makes sense.”
“But the texts of the Avedla deal with a huge range of information,” Jaaniyah protested. “How would we even know where to start?”
“Look what I’ve found.” Nica pointed at the flowing silver letters on the cover that spelled ‘The Ages’. “If you rearrange the letters of ‘The Ages’ you get ‘Getheas.’”
“And what exactly does that tell us?” Jaaniyah’s tone was not as sharp.
Nica let out a long breath. “There are twenty-six verses in the book. The same number as the letters in the alphabet.” She brushed backwards through the pages. “There’s one poem per page except on five pages. Each of those pages has two poems.”
Jaaniyah moved closer to see the pages Nica indicated. “So?”
“I think the double entries are meant to be the vowels.” At Jaaniyah’s puzzled look Nica explained. “Each quatrain represents a letter of the alphabet. The vowels have double entries. What if we’re meant to follow the order of the quatrains spelled out by either ‘The Ages’ or ‘Getheas’?
“It couldn’t possibly be that simple.” Jaaniyah retorted. “Someone would have figured it out long ago.”
“No,” Nica said slowly. “Becknah told me they’d just discovered this book hidden inside a bigger text.” She raised her eyes to her sister’s. “Nobody but Becknah has studied these verses yet.”
“I don’t know…”
“There’s a way to test the theory,” Nica replied. She recited the alphabet as her finger counted through each page. “If it starts with ‘T” for ‘The Ages’ the first quatrain would be this:
“When a witch’s storm brews on high
Serpent tongues fork the sky
Upon the winter solstice return
All of Carpis shall burn.”
“But that can’t be it,” Jaaniyah said. “That verse has already come true. Carpis burned from a lightning strike during a storm over a hundred and fifty years ago.” Her eyes dropped to the book in Nica’s hands. “See what verse lines up with G.”
The Midnight Spy Page 11