by Guy Antibes
“I still can’t believe you are here.”
Trak stroked her hair after touching the crown. “Am I welcome in Pestle?”
She looked up at him. “More than welcome.”
~
“You really took this flyer all the way from Espozia in one day?” Valanna said.
The wind blew her yellow hair, while she drew her coat closer. Neel accompanied them on their flight. They looked over the army spread below them, marching over a mountain pass into Warish.
“I teleported, rather than flew. Would you like a demonstration?” Trak looked at Neel. “How about you?”
“I’m ready for anything after seeing you safe and sound.”
“I don’t know how sound I am, but I am safe. Hold on.”
Trak teleported them all the way over the mountains. They floated above a small city that Trak had barely made out from their original position.
“I can go from horizon to horizon. That’s how I made it across the Southern Sea to Warish from Pakoa. Flyers actually cut down on my distance, but they can carry more.”
“Like me?” Valanna said.
Trak nodded. “We better get back in sight of the army.” Trak teleported them back above the snaking columns.
“No posing.”
“I think both of you are strong enough for poseless teleportation,” Trak said. “Tembul can do some simple things. Actually few magicians are able to take advantage of my grandfather’s technique.”
“When can I learn?” Valanna said.
“My grandfather wrote a book on it. It’s among the possessions that I left in Pestledown,” Trak said. “Whatever happened to my portfolio?”
“That is back in Pestledown. I hid it in Esmera’s stableyard flat,” Valanna said.
Trak laughed. “I left my extra possessions in the same place. The portfolio has been there before.”
“Indeed it has. I’ve added a few more poses,” Valanna said. “I hope that is all right?”
Neel shaded his eyes. “A flyer is heading this way from the southwest.”
“Asem and Kulara?” Trak said. He didn’t think he’d be seeing them again after the debacle in King Marom’s throne room.
‘Let’s hope,” Neel said.
Trak teleported the flyer and matched the speed of Asem’s flyer. He waved over to him.
“Where is Kulara?”
Asem gave him a forlorn look. “Hostage.”
“What of your children?”
“They are all locked up in the tower,” Asem said. “Marom knows about the Colcanan army. It landed in Amorim, which is in flames. They have over ten flyers, which they have used to terrorize the city.”
“So much for civilized Colcanan society,” Neel said. “They have gone crazy.”
“Do you want Kulara and your children out of Balbaam?” Trak said.
“If we make a move on the tower, they will be dead in minutes.”
“They won’t even know we’ve been there.” Trak looked at Valanna. “Do you want to come, or is a rescue too much risk for a queen?”
“You know me better than that.”
Trak shook his head. “After what I have been through, I hardly know or trust anyone.”
“That includes me, doesn’t it?” Valanna said.
Trak looked away, but turned his head and shook it. “No, but if Pestle doesn’t want to risk the Queen, Neel and I can go. Both of us can teleport, right? I am assuming the Vashtans taught you on the way to Pestledown?”
“They taught me, as well,” Valanna said.
“I know,” Trak said. “I’d feel better if you stayed with the troops.”
“But the flyer?”
Trak lifted himself off the deck of the flyer and positioned himself a few paces away. “Do you think I really need one?”
“Silly me,” Valanna said. “You’ll teach me to do that, too?”
Trak nodded. “Neel?”
“Let’s go, son.”
“Your tower?” Trak asked, looking at Asem. “Will there be guards inside?”
“There is only one way in or out.”
“For most people,” Trak said.
Asem smiled. “But not for you.”
Trak flew back into the flyer and grabbed hold of Neel. “Let’s go.”
~~~
Chapter Thirty-Three
~
Trak and Neel looked down at Balbaam from high above. Trak held on to his father, who wasn’t comfortable with flying without a platform. It wasn’t difficult to take Neel with him. Trak found he could sip power from Neel, just like the Vashtans did when they teleported. As long as they were in contact, there were no issues flying together.
There is the tower,” Trak said. “I’ve been in that tower once before when I rescued Valanna.”
“Saved Warish and King Marom?”
“I didn’t enjoy rescuing the king,” Trak said. “Are you ready?”
Neel put his hand on the hilt of his sword and nodded. “Let’s grab Asem’s family.”
Trak nodded, and they appeared in a bedroom. “This is where I recuperated from a wound caused by an arrow. I can show you the scar,” Trak said, looking around. Someone else currently used it.
“No need,” Neel said, as he drew his sword.
Trak did the same and led his father out of the room. “There is a storage room above.” He climbed stairs and found Asem’s son, reading a book in the dusty room.
The young man, nearly Trak’s age, jumped to his feet. “Who are you?”
“Rescuers. Where are Kulara and your sister?”
“Probably in the library. Did you bring another sword? King Marom’s men have removed all weapons from the tower. I am Rensom, by the way.”
“Had we known we would have brought something, but when we linked up with Asem, weapons weren’t very accessible,” Neel said.
“Follow behind us. We are magicians,” Trak said.
“I wouldn’t have guessed. I don’t know how else you could have made it into the tower unless you teleported,” Rensom said.
They moved down the stairs to the library level. Trak heard a man’s voice and raised his hand. He inched closer to the door and saw Captain Mizor talking to Kulara. He walked in, with Neel and Rensom following.
“It’s been a while,” Trak said.
“How did you get in here?” Captain Mizor said.
Neel grinned. “We just dropped by for a visit.”
“Where is your daughter? Galara, isn’t it?”
Kulara nodded. “She is resting.”
“Wake her up, then. It’s time for a family reunion.”
“You’re included, Captain,” Trak said. “if you wish.”
“I am loyal—”
“To Asem,” Trak nodded. “We are going to save Warish from the Colcanans. I thought you might want to do something other than jail duty.”
Mizor smiled. “I’ll be included then. Will you let me leave a message?”
“Hurry.” Trak looked at Kulara. “Get Galara up here. No possessions, just cloaks and just the six of us.”
“Are you that strong?” Kulara said.
“As long as my father helps, I am.” Trak stuck his head out the window facing northeast to scout a suitable landing place in the distance. He wouldn’t chance flying with six people.
Galara came up the stairs. She looked young and afraid.
“Hold on to each other,” Trak said. When he saw that everyone was holding tightly, he teleported.
They landed in the middle of a fallow field.
“We are going to do this about ten times,” Trak said. “Stay together.”
He jumped and jumped and jumped again, until they stood at the bottom of a defended pass. Warish soldiers pulled out their swords.
Trak raised up his hands. “Don’t you recognize Captain Mizor? We are headed to the Pestlan Army. Haven’t you received instructions to let them pass?”
“Captain,” a young officer saluted as Mizor stepped forward.
Mizor looked a little embarrassed. “What are your instructions?”
“We are to let the Pestlans camp on this side of the pass until we receive further instructions from Balbaam.”
Mizor pursed his lips. “That won’t do. The Colcanan army is already heading south to Balbaam, and by the time word reaches here, it may be too late for the Pestlans to help drive off the invaders.”
“The Colonel is farther up the pass. You can speak to him,” the Lieutenant said.
Trak looked at the soldiers. These were not Ferezan warriors, but conventional forces. Even Mizor’s uniform was cut differently than these men.
“Where are the Ferezan?” Trak said.
“In Balbaam. There are only about a thousand of us,” Mizor said. “We are fierce fighters, but most of the Warish army is not from the Arid Lands, but from the fertile strip that hugs the Pusuun River all the way up to Amorim.”
“If Amorim is burning, then how effective are your troops?” Neel said.
Mizor turned to Neel with a stony expression and said nothing. Obviously, Warish was a paper tiger with the possible exception of the Ferezan teeth.
“Do you want to stay here, Captain?” Neel said.
He nodded. “I can be more use here among my people, at present.”
Trak thought Mizor would need rescuing once Marom knew he had accompanied them to eastern Warish.
“We will be going then and see you when the Pestlan troops finish going over the pass,” Trak said.
Neel instructed Kulara and Asem’s children to hold on.
~
Trak shielded his eyes from the sun while Asem descended in his flyer. Trak had found a rocky meadow on the Warish side of the pass. Asem ran to Kulara and hugged her and then his daughter and, finally, he wrapped his arms around Rensom.
He called Trak over to him. “Kulara said Mizor left with you.”
“He was consulting with Kulara in the library when we arrived. Rather than fight, I invited him to accompany us.”
Asem ground his teeth. “He’s put himself in a difficult position, personally, deserting his post.”
“As jailor? His charges have gone, leaving him with nothing to guard,” Trak said. “I’ll protect him. Pestle can use a good man like him, Ferezan or not.”
Asem nodded and clapped Trak on the soldier. “He wouldn’t have come if I had been with you, or if anyone but you had teleported to bring my family to me.”
“I do whatever I can.”
Asem growled. “Why do you always seem to make me indebted to you?”
“My personality?” Trak said, smiling.
Asem ruffled Trak’s hair. “That must be it. Let me formally introduce you to two of my children. We can share an evening meal?”
“My appointment book is blank,” Trak said.
They waited at the meadow for the advanced unit of the army. Asem took the flyer back above the troops and retrieved Neel, Mori, Derit, Ferikan, Able, and Valanna.
“I brought ingredients for dinner,” Mori said in broken Pestlan. “Trak can help. Remember?”
Trak grinned and replied in Benninese. “How can I forget? Do you have all of the same herbs and spices?”
She grinned. “I had to make do with substitutions. I will handle those.”
Trak rubbed his hands. “Then let’s get to work.” He took off his Benninese sword and gave it to Valanna. “My souvenir from Beniko.”
She removed it from the sheath. “It is beautiful.”
“It belonged to a noble,” Mori said in Pestlan, while she began her cooking. “Trak, it’s time to help.”
Trak went to work. He remembered how to cook the trail soup he had made plenty of times at the back of Mori’s wagon.
“And a cook, too,” Derit said when she tasted the final concoction.
They sat by the fire when the sun went down. Esmera joined them some time later. “I had my own cooking to do,” she said. She looked down into the pot and scooped the large spoonful that remained and tasted. “Interesting. I don’t know if my customers would like it.”
“Yes, they would, and you know it,” Able said. Trak noticed that he had Esmera sit down beside him.
The group talked about all kinds of things, while the soldiers continued to descend from the pass. Trak just listened. He was glad to just be part of a group and not have to take up the leader’s mantle for an evening. Except for Asem’s children, Trak was the youngest person in attendance, and he sat back against a rock and looked up at the sky and listened to the conversation.
Valanna had blankets in her arms and threw one over Trak. “Want a blanket warmer?” she said.
Trak sat up straighter. “I would indeed.” He got up and helped arrange them.
She sat down by him and put a couple of blankets over them, and then snuggled up next to him.
“Am I shameless?” Valanna said.
“Hmm. What would Marom think?” Trak said, half seriously.
“He has four others to choose from. His first wife is the Queen of Warish. I’m happier to be the Queen of Pestle and unattached at present in Pestle.”
“But you are in Warish.”
“Then you are my protector.”
Trak thought of Lia, and how he had failed to protect her. “I’m not sure you want me. I don’t have a good record of protecting queens.”
“Banish away those dark thoughts,” Valanna said. “That is the command of your Queen.”
“I will obey, then.”
Neel looked over at them. “What are you two doing?”
“I need an objective advisor,” Valanna said.
Kulara laughed. “He’s hardly objective.”
Trak could feel Valanna shrug under the blanket. “Nevertheless, Trak will do.” She found his hand underneath the blankets and looked at him. “Keep me warm,” she said quietly. Trak could see the sudden emotion in her eyes as she squeezed his hand.
“I will,” Trak promised.
~
Asem kicked Trak’s shoe. “Wake up.”
The sun hadn’t risen yet, but the camp was visible in the early morning light.
“The commander waits for us at the bottom of the pass.”
Trak noticed a covered lump beside him and was surprised that Valanna had stayed next to him all night. He left her sleeping and looked up at Asem. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Tell that to King Marom,” Asem said, with a grim face waiting for Trak’s reaction, but then he smiled. “I’m sure you are awake now.”
As intended, Asem’s comment had driven all drowsiness from Trak.
“Just you.” Asem took his hand and leaned into a pose and the pair of them looked across at a command tent. Trak had been close to here with Kulara and Neel. “I visited the company commander at the bottom earlier today. He wants to talk to you.”
Asem removed his hand from Trak’s and walked towards the tent. “Follow, and say nothing unless asked. You are walking into a negotiation.”
Trak followed Asem inside the tent. Mizor sat, sipping tea, with a grizzled looking Warishian. He didn’t look like a Ferezan either, when both men turned to look at Asem.
“I have brought the Bluntwithe boy,” Asem said. “Sit,” Asem pointed to two chairs, side by side.
Trak took a seat and looked on, trying to figure out who was on what side.
“Tea?” Mizor said, handing cups to both of them. Trak didn’t have a chance to decline. He spelled any drugs away and took a sip of pure hot water.
The three of them looked at Trak for a few moments.
“What?” Trak said.
The colonel leaned back. “I guess that confirms it.”
“A test, Trak. They put a sleeping drug in your tea. I told them you wouldn’t be affected.”
Trak couldn’t help but color a bit. “I removed any, uh, impurities,” he said.
“Colonel Hazemel, here, would like to hear your version of the incident in Marom’s throne room. Leave nothing out. Then tell him how you brought my w
ife to his camp here yesterday. He speaks Pestlan about as badly as Mizor does.”
Trak left nothing out but a description of his emotions in Marom’s throne room, and then he described how Neel and he flew to Balbaam and brought Kulara, Mizor, and Asem’s children to Eastern Warish.
“No differences,” Mizor said.
“I was in the throne room when you saved Warish.” Colonel Hazemel said. “I always thought our King was a bit harsh with you and with Valanna Almond. I will do what I can to let your army fight alongside ours.”
“Pestle doesn’t come to conquer.”
Hazemel and Asem exchanged glances. “Pestle could, you know, but many lives would be lost.”
“There is no need,” Trak said, but then he stopped talking, remembering what Asem said.
“No need.” Hazemel bobbed his head in agreement. “I agree. Conquering Pestle has never been needed until King Harl and his father ruled your country. Queen Valanna knows Warish and will make things better between us.”
Trak couldn’t see any hidden meaning in the Colonel’s eyes.
The Colonel leaned forward. “Do you pledge not to take over Warish?”
Trak blinked. “Me? You should be talking to Queen Valanna.”
“She doesn’t worry me, boy, but you do. Asem thinks you could take over the world if you wanted to.”
Trak had to laugh. “Me? Even if I wanted to, I’m no one-man army.”
“Do you deny that you stopped an invasion of Zamiel in a single morning?”
“No, but that didn’t save the life of Queen Pullia.” Trak looked at Asem. “What did you tell these people?”
“Word gets around, Trak,” Mizor said. He rose to his feet. “I’ll leave the details to you. I’ll get acquainted with my new unit.”
“You do that, Captain,” Hazemel said, and then he turned back to Trak. “Your answer wasn’t quite specific enough. Are you here to kill King Marom?”
Trak sat back and tried to calm down. He took a deep breath. “If I wanted to kill King Marom, he would have died months ago. I still don’t want to kill King Marom, even though I personally hate the man.”
Hazemel looked at Asem and nodded. He put his hands on his knees and rose. “That’s good enough for me, Asem. We will join your army as you suggested. There is no need to guard the East when those you are guarding have already passed you by.”