She entwined herself with him and he quickly forgot whatever they had been discussing, seduced entirely by her embrace. They kissed each other and Samuel was thankful for the large fans that moved back and forwards on the roof, manned day and night by Alahativa’s tireless manservants, moving cool air onto their hot skin. She touched him in ways that had colours exploding in his mind and,each time she stopped, he begged her to continue. She seemed to like that most and she teased him constantly, making him want her all the more.
‘Tell me what you want, Samuel?’ she whispered into his ear.
‘I want you,’ he replied.
‘Is that so?’ she said and he could feel that she was doing something behind his back.
He could not see what she was doing, but when she brought her top arm before him, she was holding her magical ring between her fingers. She placed it onto one of the pillows not far from him and then returned her arms around his neck. ‘There. The ring is yours if you want it. It is within your reach, if you were just to release me and take it. You can have it…or me. The choice is yours to make, my darling.’
Samuel looked at the ring-a band of glinting silver on her pillow-but somehow it was hard to ignore what she was doing to him. His body reacted so much to her touch it was difficult to keep his mind on anything else. He closed his eyes as a wave of pleasure overwhelmed him but then opened them again as she paused and prised herself away so a tiny space appeared between them, letting cool air rush in and between their heated bodies.
‘What is your intent now, Magician? Do you really want me?’
A tiny voice of reason called out to him that he should grab the ring and kill the Paatin Queen as quickly as he could, but it was a soft and feeble sound, so dim and far away that he could barely hear it. All he had to do was listen to it and their mission would be accomplished.
The warmth of her svelte body radiated upon him and she looked at him hungrily and with total confidence that she was irresistible. And she was right.
‘Yes,’ he said. He pulled her back against him and they locked tightly together.
The little voice damned him and he knew it was right, but it was quickly pushed aside and forgotten. As they rolled about on her expanse of cushions and sheets, she smiled to herself knowingly, like the cat thathad wonthe cream.
He awoke with bright sunlight streaming in, for the veils had been drawn aside and Alahativa wasbeingwashedin the great,steaming bath that was set into the floor of the room. Her servants were washing her as she stood waist-deep in the soapy, petal-strewn water.
‘I have a gift for you, Samuel,’ she called to him, ‘to thank you for your efforts.’ Samuel sat up and looked out at the blazing,blue sky outside. ‘I will send you to meet your Empress,’ she told him and he looked at her with interest. ‘Go now. I have business to attend to after my bath. Utik’cah will arrange for everything.’
With that, Samuel clambereddownfrom the bed and drew on the Paatin-style clothes that had been left for him. Somehow, he did not notice or care that he was naked, as he dressed in front of a score or more of Alahativa’s servants. Eager to be away, he rushed from her chambers, intent on telling the others.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Well of Tears
The procession of laden camels wound out from the splendid city of Hol and passed across the fertile pasture lands. They reached the edge of the desert, where the pale dunes had begun creeping in and smothering the crops, and they started up the sliding sands without a pause.
Samuel was unhappy with being burdened by the Koian woman behind him, as she clung onto him with white knuckles,crushing him tighter with every loping step of the animal. Utik’cah had refused to let her ride behind another Paatin and so Samuel had been left with no choice but to put up with her.
She had seemed equally unhappy with the situation and complained long and loud before even the patience ofUtik’cah began to wear thin andhestarted using terse language. Her arms gripped aroundSamuel’swaist tightly, but he could feel the stiffness in her body as she fought to keep herself separated from him. The arms of Alahativa had snaked around his torso with warm caresses, but the Koian woman’s embrace was clammy and stiff. It was a mystery as to why Utik’cah had insisted that she come, yet the Emperor, who had been overjoyed at the news of his wife’s presence, had been forbidden. Samuel had argued long and loud with Utik’cah about this, but the Desert Queen’s servant was adamant about what could and what could not be done.
The Emperor, too, had hurled abuse at the apologetic Paatin, but it seemed pointless to argue. Utik’cah was bound by his orders, and they could not risk alerting the man to the fact that the one they called Sir Ferse was, in fact, the Empress’ very husband. Reluctantly, the Emperor had asked Samuel to pass his love and best wishes to his wife and child, and to give them the news that he was alive and nearby, waiting for them.
After half the day had passed, a tower became visible, rising from amidst the sands and,as they crested the final dune, they found a walled settlement built around a tiny sprig of green oasis. White-stoned walls surrounded the tiny town and the dunes had blown up against them on one side, forming a ramp against the lip of the wall. Scores of dark-skinned workers were in the midst of clearing the sand awaywith scoops. Laboriously, they filled the woven baskets that had been affixed to the sides of sitting camels; each waiting idly and chewing with their great,bucked teeth. Inside the walls, small clusters of trees and neatlyprunedshrubs struck out vibrantly from the bland surrounds. Several domed towers overlooked the sands. Most obvious of all, the place was saturated with the scent of Paatin magic.
Paatin wizards, dressed in all the numerous ways of the desert people, sat about in the shade. They sheltered from the heat of the day, fanning themselves as they watched the strangers shamble along the boiling street. There were dozens of them sitting in clusters, smoking from chambered,multi-piped implements. Some played or gambled with wooden pellets that they slapped down loudly upon their tables. There must have been several hundred of them just sitting around, and who knows how many inside the buildings.
Most surprising of all was the number of women. They sat beside the menfolk, dressed modestly,quite unlike their promiscuous city-dwelling sisters. Samuel was shocked, for they had the nerve to sit in full view, unashamed of the shimmering fields of magic that surrounded them. Aseach one that gawked at him, he stared back in utter amazement. If only the Lords of the Order could have seen-they would have had fits!
‘They have witches!’ Samuel said to the Koian women behind him, for lack of anyone else to tell. ‘I was just getting used to their healers, but I did not think it would be as bad as this.’
‘You make it sound so terrible. What is wrong with women using magic anyway?’
‘It is forbidden; that is enough. It is against the very nature of magic.’
‘Then someone forgot to tell the Paatin. Perhaps it is your Order that is mistaken.’
‘You don’t know what you are talking about, woman. In your country, all magicians are forbidden.’
‘In my country, we recognise the strengths of men and women both. To us-and to the Paatin,it seems-the sexes are equal in manyrespects. It seems to be your people who are the ignorant ones.’
Samuel gave up arguing with her, as she would not listen to reason. Apart from that one problem, there was also no doubting Om-rah’s effect on the place, for the odour of the magic was tainted and sickly. Nearly every one of his underlings was also streaked with the same repugnant, corrosive stain.
‘This is Yi’sit,the Well of Tears,’ Utik’cah called back as they reached a central square.
‘Abut! Abut!’called the camel wranglers, and the animals began settling down onto their bellies, forelegs followed by rear legs.
Cool,fresh water was pulled up from the depths of the well in wooden buckets and Samuel and the Koian woman quenched their thirst. Samuel let the water spill down his chest and emptied the last portion onto his head to cool himself down. After he had d
runk again and wiped his chin dry, Utik’cah motioned for them to follow him.
‘The Empress spends little time out of her room, although she has the freedom of the village,’ the desert-man explained. ‘She does not seem very contented here.’
Samuel surveyed the bare,stone walls. Everything was purely functional, with very little to tempt anyone out of their shady refuges and into the sun. ‘I can’t imagine why,’ he responded.
Utik’cah led them into one the towers and they climbed the curling stairs that hugged the inside wall. They stopped on a small internal balcony, just beforeasingle door. ‘I will leave you alone,’ he said, quietly slipping away.
Samuel knocked tentatively and called within, ‘Empress Lillith. It is Samuel, of the Order.’
He heard feet padding towards them from the other side and the door swung in, revealing the wide-eyed Empress, safe and well.
‘Samuel!’ she declared. ‘What are you doing here? I hope you have come to rescue me. Although…well, Iwill leave it to youto tell me about it. Come in, come in.’
Samuel went in past her, with the Koian following closely. The door was quite small and they had to duck their heads, but the room was spacious inside, darkenedto protect itfrom the outside heat and surprisingly cool. Young Leopold was sitting on a pile of cushions, drawing on some papers. The floor surrounding him was covered in similar scribble-covered leaves.
‘Come, sit,’ the Empress said, directing the pair to aset ofthatched chairs. ‘I must admit,I am surprised to see you here, but I must assume from the lack of excitement that this is not quite the rescue I was hoping for. And who is this young lady accompanying you?’ She peered directly at the strange features of the Koian woman and ran her eyesover herfrom heel to head in the deliberate manner of evaluation.
‘This is an emissary from the Koian nation,’ Samuel explained. ‘She is their god.’
‘A god?’ the Empress repeated sceptically, before realising her manners. ‘Then I am pleased to meet you. Please, call me Lillith. What is your name?’
The Koian woman shied, castingher eyes aside.
‘She doesn’t actually have one,’ Samuel explained. ‘She also does not understand Turian, but it would be pointless to translate for you.’
‘Of course she has a-’ the Empress began, but Samuel cut her off.
‘Actually, she doesn’t. She has all manner of titles, but it’s probably better we just ignore her. She’s more trouble than she’s worth.’
‘Samuel! You should be ashamed!’ Empress Lillith scolded. She then curtsied formally and graciously before the Koian woman, still looking indignant at Samuel’s comments, before retaking her seat and addressing the Koian with a welcoming smile. ‘I’m most honoured to meet you. Please, make yourself as comfortable as you can.’
Still, the Koian woman was silent and straight-faced, staring back at the Empress as if in a stupor.
Samuel gave the Empress a briefI told you solook, before rotating in his seat and putting his back to the Koian woman. ‘Please, let us speak quickly. I am not sure how much time we will be given.’
‘Are you captives? How goes the war?’ the Empress asked.
Samuel took a moment to scan the room with his senses. No spells ofListening seemed present, and there was no one within earshot that he could detect. ‘Our plan to free you is not quite going as well as we first hoped, but we are working on a way to return you to Cintar. I have heard no word of the war since we left, except what the Paatin Queen has told me. I’m not keen to believe what she says, but I would guess that the war continues as expected. I must assume more towns have been lost, but I cannot imagine the stubborn Turians giving in, or that Cintar would easily fall.’
‘I agree with you in both of those assumptions.’
‘I have news for you that may be of a surprise, however. Your husband is alive, and he is with us in the Paatin Queen’s city.’
‘My husband?’ the Empress said with confusion. ‘Edmond? What do you mean, Samuel? The Emperor is dead.’
‘No. He is alive.’
‘What trickery is this?’ she said, suddenly looking pale. Her hand went to her chest and then she looked back to Samuel withdesperatehope. ‘Some kind of magic?’
‘So I believe, but not any magic I know or understand. It seemed Master Celios was expecting your husband’s demise. He preserved his essence and distilled it into the body of another. He is alive, but he is not quite the same man you knew-that any of us knew.’
‘For goodness sake, Samuel. Explain yourself. Whatever do you mean?’
‘He lives on in the body of another: a nobleman called Sir Ferse-’
‘Sir Ferse? I know him well. His wife and I are quite familiar with each other.’
‘Sir Ferse no longer exists, Your Majesty. At least, not as anyone knew him. He and your husband are now one. No one knows about this, as far as I know, except Master Celios and me. He has come here to save you-’ and he looked over to where Leopold was still playing, ‘-and your son. He sends you both his love and hopes he can be with you soon.’
‘This is a shock, Samuel,’ she said, standing and pacing the floor. ‘Magic is a strange and alarming thing. I had no idea such feats were possible.’
‘Neither did I, Your Majesty. Suffice to say,I have talked to your husband at length and I am sure it is true. I wanted to tell you, so you can prepare to meet him. But please be warned: he is not the same man he once was. While Edmond Calais still exists, he is also partially Andor Ferse. They are merged as one, but your husband is by far the dominant spirit. I must say, it has changed him in many ways.’
The Empress retook her seat and looked deep within her thoughts. Samuel let her sit quietly, until she looked up once again.
‘What will we do?’
‘We have come to save you, but we cannot act just yet. The Paatin Queen is strong and she has you stashed within a nest of her wizards. As soon as I find a way, I will come for you.’
‘Who else is with you?’
‘There are only a few of us,and we are internedwithin her palace. Only Lord Lomar is still free.’
At the sound of his name, the Empress looked up, full of hope. ‘Lomar? He is with you?’
‘Yes, although I have not been able to reach him since I was captured. He followed your captors all the way from Cintar in an attempt to free you.’
‘That is good. I must warn you,there were magicians amongst those that captured me.’
‘It would have been the Paatin wizards. Did you see any of them?’
‘Not at all. I was overcome quickly. They used spells and tonics to keep us subdued. I remember only sparse moments-we were confined tightly, secreted away in some tiny space, I believe. It was not until we reached the desert city itself that we were allowed to regain our senses. We spoke with that wretched witch, but,since then,I have not been able to make a single one of these barbarians understand me.’
Samuel then sensed the familiar presence of Utik’cah climbing the stairs towards them. ‘It’s a relief to see that you and the young Emperor have been welltreated. Our guide returns, so it seems our time is already over.’
The Empress nodded knowingly and they waited patiently for Utik’cah to reappear at the door.
‘Apologies, Your Highness,Lord Samuel. It appears out visit will be cut short. A storm is approaching and Alahativa instructed that I return you both before evening, so we must hurry.’
Samuel nodded and stood and the Koian woman shadowed him. ‘It has been a pleasure to see you, Your Majesty. Until we meet again.’
‘Thank you, Samuel,’ Empress Lillith returned, and threw a dark scowl towards the desert-man in her door.
Utik’cah almost boundeddown the stairs and Samuel could not help but follow suit, sensing the urgency in his actions. They had barely reached the tethered line of camels, all sitting and chewing with their jutting,yellow teeth, when Utik’cah was shouting at his team to depart. His men scurried about and began ordering the stubborn animals to the
ir feet.
Samuel had no sooner mounted with the Koian woman clinging behind him, than the desert-men began shouting and starting out the gates. Samuel held on fiercely to the sun-warmed saddle. Already, he could sense the energies of the desert in turmoil. Looking over his shoulder, he could feel the storm approaching-a great tyrant of power rampaging in the distance.
They were only about halfway back to Hol when the desert-men began looking even more anxious. All of a sudden, they began shouting and pulling their camels aside and desperately pulling the bundles from the animals’ backs. Samuel was left not knowing what to do, until Utik’cah came scrambling towards them.
‘Get down! Get down!’ he called.
Samuel slipped from the high saddle and landed spryly on the golden sand, but he had forgotten about the Koian woman latched onto him, and she came sprawling down behind him, head first. He ignored her curses and splutterings as he interrogated Utik’cah.
‘What’s going on?’ he asked with concern.
‘The storm is upon us. It is greater and faster than we expected. We should not have left Yi’sit, but it is too late to go back now. We musttake shelter at once!’
The men had already thrown down some leathers and canvases and had started constructing a number of small, rounded, sturdy-looking tents. Utik’cah grabbed Samuel and the Koian woman roughly and dragged them to the first one that was readied.
‘No matter what happens, wait inside,’ he told them. ‘Sit still and we will come for you when we can.’
Samuel was about to ask what he meant, when a shrill scream sounded and something obscured the sun. Day became dusk as Samuel turned and saw a wall of darkness falling upon them,a storm-front of wind and sand that blocked out the very sun. Utik’cah gave them a shove and they were both insidewhenthe shadow struck. It was a sudden transition from the clamour and panic of the desert-men outside, to an unspeakable howling of wind and shaking of their tent, as if maddened banshees had descended upon them. Their refuge was tiny and Samuel was pressed against one side with the Koian against him. The struts and framework that kept the structure intact rattled and shook violently. The windward side of the tent began to bend in and Samuel could feel the soft sand pushing in upon them.
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