by CM Raymond
Sef tilted his head in thought and then laughed. “Damned if anyone would want to go anyplace north of here. What is this quest?”
Suddenly, she wished Ezekiel were with her. The story she carried about the Oracle was outlandish, and she wasn’t sure how it would play with these strangers. “There is a woman there that we wish to visit, an ancient and wise woman. We are hoping she will have some answers about the future of Arcadia.”
The old man nodded. He was patient—too patient. The silence was maddening. Hannah gave up on waiting and recounted an abbreviated version of the story about Arcadia and Adrien, how the people had overcome his tyranny and were working to rebuild the city. All of the villagers leaned in as they listened, and Hannah wished she could create holograms to enhance her tale.
“And what might the wisdom of an old woman of the North add to the restoration of Arcadia?”
She froze again, mind racing. “Well, you see, Sef… Our hope is not just for the city, but for all of the Arcadian Valley. Perhaps all of Irth. Our hope is to gain counsel on how the regions of Irth might be once again united, like in the days before the Madness.”
The old man laughed, and the others, after a pause, joined in. “Well, I guess the Arcadian Valley is still rife with fairy tales. People have never been united, never will be. Our region is living proof of that. I guess that is why we have you here.”
“Tell me more.” Hannah sat and waited, hoping to get out of the interrogation seat.
He nodded and rubbed the coarse hair on his cheeks. “Did they tell you why you’re here? Why we took your friends into custody?”
“Not exactly.” She glanced over at Hadley who gave her a slight nod. “I assume it has something to do with Samet.”
She paused again and tried to read Sef’s face. It softened, his eyes grew glassy. With a nod, he said, “It does indeed. But I can tell, you don’t know what that means, do you?”
“I wouldn’t be so fast with that judgment, Sef,” the woman who had accompanied him in broke her silence and hissed into the circle. The firelight danced in her eyes as she stared at Hannah. “If they know his name, then they know his worth. It’s proof that they are somehow involved with all this—as if their strange powers weren’t reason enough for suspicion.”
“Hush, Vatan,” the chief said, while raising a finger to silence her. “Give our guests a chance to explain themselves.”
Hannah could tell he was smart, testing the waters. The woman, Vatan, sitting to his right wasn’t as patient as the old man. Patience is a product of years, and she only had a few more than Hannah under her belt.
Placing her hands in her lap, Hannah closed her eyes for a moment, so as not to show her red glowing eyes as she tried to enter the man’s mind. He was not barring her, but she still could not make out much—all she found was a deep and mournful grief.
Opening her eyes again, she said, “I don’t know who Samet is. But I know loss when I see it. Before I came upon my companions here, I lived with my father and brother. They were both taken from me by the tyranny of a wicked man and those who followed him. I sense that you also have lost someone. You’ve lost Samet.”
Finally, the smile she hoped for moments ago spread on his face, but this smile was contrasted by the sorrow that filled his eyes. “Indeed. You are correct. I have also lost, lost all that remains dear to me. Samet is my son.” Eyes dipping to the dirt ground, he crossed his long lanky arms over his chest and exhaled slowly, as if to gain his composure in front of the foreigners.
After a moment, he looked back at Hannah. “Violence is everywhere indeed, and we outside of the Arcadian Valley are not immune to it. We, the Baseeki, have lived here for generations. Most of our ancestors founded this community sometime during the mad times. Like people the world over, they did what they had to do to survive, often taking to the rocks,” he nodded to the south, “or the sea, but they never gave up on this spot, their home.”
Hannah listened intently, she could feel Hadley beside her, taking in the words. He, too, understood the connection to place, as did Laurel and Karl. And while life in the Boulevard wore her down, she still felt some sort of affinity for the only place she had ever called home.
“But not all are good on this stretch of land,” Sef continued. “There are tribes on the other side of the mountains. We used to be at peace with them…” he stopped and looked at the woman beside him. “But recently they have been giving us some problems. Then there are the roamers.”
“Remnant?” Hannah asked in a hush.
The chief’s eyes narrowed. “I do not know this word.”
“That’s what we call the creatures who remain from the Age of Madness. The descendants of the ones who never fully recovered when the Madness fell. They are stuck between man and animal. Desiring nothing more than to eat, sleep, and screw, they wander our lands ravaging anything they come across.”
“Ah, you mean the kilgin. At least that is what we call them here.” He shook his head and shifted in his seat. “They can be found near Baseek, but we have learned how to deal with them. Our people keep watch from the cliffs. Even the kilgin know that our aim is true, and the Mother has given us the means to defend ourselves.” He held up his long arms in display. His hands were huge wrinkly masses, but they clearly retained their strength. “No, the roamers may be wicked, but they are not unwise. They are human enough, traveling in large numbers throughout the region. For some time, we thought they wanted our land, to settle in our houses. But their motivation is, well, perhaps baser. It seems they only want to sow confusion and fear, which makes their pillaging that much easier.”
Parker leaned forward. “And how does your son fit into all of this?”
The chief sighed. “I don’t know. But yesterday, he was hunting in the forest with several of the guard. They never returned. I sent my men searching, which is when they stumbled across you and your companions here. My son wouldn’t just disappear, not unless something terrible had happened.”
“And you believe these roamers took Samet?” Hadley asked.
Sef glanced at the woman behind him and then back to Hannah and the others. “No. I do not. That would be the simple answer, but the truth is seldom so simple, except in children’s stories.” A few snickers arose from the audience. “I mentioned another tribe, Kofken. They settled east of here, on the coast. For years, Kofken and Baseek have lived in harmony. Trade, common defense against outsiders, even intermarriage from time to time. But we have begun to doubt their good intentions toward us.” He glanced to the woman on his right hand, and she nodded her affirmation.
“And then you all showed up. I don’t know what this means. You could be hired kidnappers from Kofken or the roamers. Or you could represent some other threat. Or it could just be a coincidence.”
Murmurs arose from behind the chief and his council. Clearly, some were in affirmation of his suspicion, but others doubted.
Sef raised a hand, and the group grew silent.
He’s a good man, Hannah heard Hadley say in his head. His thoughts are a bit wild, but it is because he is distraught.
She nodded, reaching a decision. “Or maybe it is fate. Maybe we were brought here to help you, to help find your son.”
He smiled. “Help us? Half of my village believes you are the cause of our woes. I am impressed by your courage, but the boldness of youth often ends in peril. What makes you believe that you and your friends are able to make a difference in our plight? How can I know this isn’t just another trick?”
Looking back at her friends, Parker gave her a wink. “We are fighters, but we also have more than our fair share of power. Some of your people caught a glimpse of what we can do even today.”
She raised her hands in front of her chest, and moved them around, as if smoothing them on an invisible orb floating in the air. Her eyes glowed bright red, making the campfire pale in comparison. A bright yellow ball appeared before her. Hannah pushed her hands together in a clap, and the orb burst in a million
tiny balls of light, each floating around like fireflies before scurrying off into the surrounding trees.
The old man laughed. “Power indeed. But it takes more than a trick like that to mount a rescue.”
“I have more. And my colleagues possess other types of magic. Instead of fighting us, or locking us away in some dungeon, use the power fate has dropped in your lap. Send us with the best of your guard. We will find your son.”
The chief opened his mouth to speak, but Vatan cut him off. “Sef, let us not be fools. We do not know her,” she said pointing at Hannah. “You trust the guiles of a witch over the strength of your own? How do we not know that they are the evil which has crept in? Some other evil from an unknown land? You have heard her tale. They want to sneak off with our best fighters so they can kill them in the woods.” She paused and scanned the group. “I bet they are mercenaries hired by Kofken.”
“Aye, lass, if I were hired to do a job,” Karl snorted, “ye’d all be dead on the ground already.” His knuckles were white, wrapped on the shaft of his hammer.
A man, taller than anyone Hannah had ever seen stepped out of the shadows and between Sef and the Arcadians. His arms were massive, and his fist were like giant baskets. The guard’s face was resigned, showing neither passion nor anger. “I would like to see you try, little man.”
“Stand down, Dardanus,” Sef said. The man immediately bowed, and then stepped back out of the circle. Hannah was glad the chief acted as he did. She for one had no interest in fighting a person that size.
“You must forgive, Vatan,” Sef continued. “She and Samet were close; he was like a brother to her.” He paused choosing his words. “But… I must admit, it is hard to trust in the words of a stranger, especially when we simply do not know the truth.”
Hannah shifted in the wooden seat. “You’re a cautious man, and I respect that. But your son is gone—caution isn’t really an option right now. But trust is. If you knew the truth, then there would be no need for trust. Trust can only happen when there are doubts. But... I have an idea that might help us earn your trust.”
“Speak freely.”
“My friend Laurel and I will go with your best guards. Together we will find your son. You can keep our men here in our stead as a guarantee of our return. Two young women couldn’t pose much of a threat, but it would give us a chance to prove ourselves.”
“Scheisse, Hannah—” Karl grunted, but he fell silent when his leader shot him a steely glare.
The old man laughed. “Something tells me you and the other fair magician are more of a threat then all of the men combined. But, I will take your deal.”
“Sef—” The woman, Vatan, placed her hand on the chief’s shoulder, but he silenced her with a shake of his head.
“My decision is final. Return with my son, and you shall have my eternal gratitude, along with whatever help my village can offer. But if you fail, or we find you to be false, your friends lives will be forfeit.”
Hannah paused for a moment, not happy with any ultimatum that put her friends in jeopardy. But Parker placed his hand on her shoulder, and she could feel Hadley’s affirmation. She turned to look at Karl, who still looked like he wanted to finish the fight. Vatan and him were trying to burn holes in each other with their eyes.
“What do you think, Karl?”
Finally, he sighed, and gave her a smile. “Scheisse. I’d place my money on you and the beansprout any day.” He then leaned in close and whispered to her. “That chief is alright, but I don’t trust these people. Keep yer eyes open, you hear me?”
She nodded, then turned back to Sef. Crossing over to him, she offered her hand to seal the deal.
Dardanus, the head guard, motioned to Sal, laying lazily by the fire. “And what about that thing?”
Hannah grinned. “Trust me—he would make for a horrible house guest. But I actually have a job for him, if you would allow me.”
****
The sun had set hours ago, but Gregory still stood on the deck of the Unlawful, waiting for his friends to signal their return. Nerves were getting the best of him, so he set about checking every technical piece of their flying machine, and then checking them twice. His father’s handiwork still amazed him, but over the course of several weeks, he made modifications that improved upon the man’s mastery.
He respliced a rope connected to the bow, more for the sake of distraction than necessity.
Gregory, Hannah said in his mind. He jumped, as he always did.
Months had passed since they had first met in the Arcadian Academy, since she tried to teach him magic. Still never really taking to physical magic, they soon found he had some affinity for the mystical arts. Hannah was convinced that it had to do with his brilliance. While he still couldn’t conjure images or read minds, he and Hannah could connect mentally. He was convinced it had to do with their friendship.
Where are you? He concentrated harder than ever to reply.
No time to explain. Laurel and the rest of them are safe, but we’re going to be down here for a while longer. Keep the boat safe, and DO NOT disturb Ezekiel.
He swallowed hard, thinking of being alone on the ship. Ezekiel hadn’t emerged from his room in hours—and there was no telling how long he’d be in there. The physics of it still confused him, but Gregory imagined the kind of long distance connection Ezekiel was trying to achieve took prodigious amounts of energy and focus.
And what if we’re…
Gregory, Hannah interrupted, you’re a hundred feet in the air. You should be fine. But… Just in case, I’m sending your favorite body guard.
No sooner than Hannah finished speaking in his head, did the rushing sound of a mighty wind rise up around him. Sal slammed to the deck and clawed at its boards, pulling himself to a sudden stop at Gregory’s feet.
“Great,” Gregory said to himself. “And who will protect me from this damned thing?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Sunlight cut through a gap in the curtains and onto the bed. Hannah ran a finger along the long seam of the mattress, impressed by the villager’s craftsmanship. Not only well constructed, but the borrowed bed was more comfortable than the one she had slept in at the mystic’s temple. On arrival, she had assumed that the simple nature of the tribe in Baseek meant they were primitive, but evidently that was not the case. Although their village was downright puny in comparison to Arcadia, the Baseeki were nevertheless gifted in construction of all kinds.
Stretching, she rolled out of her bed and nudged Laurel. The girl scrunched her nose and rolled back on her opposite side. “Stop dreaming of Gregory and get your ass out of bed.”
Without moving the rest of her body, Laurel raised an arm. “Look, I’m doing magic. I’m making this grow.” As she spoke, her middle finger slowly extended toward the sky. Hannah laughed, endeared by the druid and her favorite hand gesture.
“Come on. We gotta go save a prince.”
As Laurel stumbled out of her bed, Hannah packed the few things she had brought down from the ship and turned to find a leather vest waiting for her. She held it up, admiring its lapped seams.
“He had it made for you,” a voice interrupted her from the open door. “My aunt stayed up all night to get it done before dawn.”
Hannah turned to find Vatan standing in the doorway. “It’s beautiful.”
The woman stepped into the room. “I’ll let auntie know. I hope you bring it back in one piece.”
The woman smiled, which didn’t quite set Hannah at ease. Judging from the events of the previous night, she surmised that Vatan wasn’t a fan of the Arcadians, and she certainly didn’t trust them. But Hannah couldn’t blame her. She would feel the same if a group of warriors and magicians rolled into her town after her brother had been kidnapped.
“About last night,” Vatan said.
Hannah stepped forward and extended her hand, which Vatan took in her own. “No worries. You were right to be suspicious, and, frankly, we can be a pretty frightening lot—when we’
re in the mood.”
Vatan’s mouth turned in a crooked grin. “I can believe that.”
“But it’s good to have the scary on your side—and we’re on your village’s side. We will bring Samet back.”
The woman’s eyes hit the ground, and when they leveled back on Hannah’s, they were glassy. With a blink, two large tears dropped, rolling down her chin. She quickly wiped them away. “You must think I’m just some dumb girl.”
“No.” Hannah placed a hand on her shoulder. “My brother…” Her throat grew tight. “Let’s just say I know a piece of what you’re going through.”
Vatan thanked her and gave Laurel a tiny wave. “Good luck, you two. You find Samet, and I’ll make sure your friends are in good hands.”
“Seems nice,” Laurel said after she had left the room.
Hannah’s eyes were still on the doorway, suddenly very worried for her friends’ safety. “Yeah. A little too nice. That’s what worries me.”
Laurel nodded. “A tiger doesn’t change its stripes overnight.”
“Yeah. I... wait.” Hannah raised an eyebrow. “I thought tigers couldn’t change their stripes at all.”
The druid smiled. “We need to start working on your nature magic. There’s a lot you don’t know.”
****
Having finished breakfast, Hannah and Laurel were allowed one last chance to visit the others. They stood in the prison room on opposite sides of the bars.
“You sure you’re going to be OK in here?” Hannah asked. She addressed it to everyone, but she was staring at Parker.
“I’m gonna be great,” Karl shouted. He had a large mug of something dark in his hand. It seemed Sef was keeping his promise about taking care of them. “No worries at all. I’ve got a good drink, a comfy bed, and nothin’ to do. It’s like a vacation. I’ve always wanted me one of those. And ya know the best part? No bloody airship. So, ya just take a nice, long time finding Prince Twat.”