“I suppose that it doesn’t matter what her other rules were,” Kapia said. “That one is enough.”
“Yes, I think it is,” Karma replied.
“The worst part of this is that the other things she taught me were like that one. Things that I knew instinctively were wrong, even then, but I forced myself to do them anyway, because she said to.”
“Learning to trust yourself, your inner voice, or instincts, whatever you want to call it, is a very difficult, but important lesson,” Karma said. “I’m sorry it was such a harsh lesson for you.”
“I’m sorry too,” Kapia said. “Sorry that I trusted her, sorry that I once wanted to be like her. But I am very happy, and very lucky, to have you come into my life, Karma. Instead of thinking about Marene, I’m going to focus on the things you’re teaching me.”
“Good for you,” Karma said. “Marene’s fate is her own. You need to focus on yourself, and decide what kind of person you want to be.”
“That’s easy,” Kapia said with a grin. “I want to be like you.”
Karma laughed but shook her head. “That’s very flattering, Kapia, but I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”
“Well, I am sure,” Kapia said stoutly. “I wonder though, and if it’s too much to ask, I’ll understand, really I will, but I just....”
“Come on girl, spit it out,” Karma said with a grin.
Kapia laughed, shaking her head at herself. “Karma, do you dance? And if you do, would you mind teaching me?” She smiled, then added, “That’s what I wanted to say, but as you are already teaching me the staff, please don’t feel as if you should do more.”
“Well, I do dance, as a matter of fact,” Karma said. “I was taught as a child. But whether the dances I was taught are the same as those your people do, I cannot say. I’m certainly willing to find out though, and any case, I can teach you some basics.”
“You’re the best, Karma,” Kapia said, her eyes suspiciously bright.
“It will give us both something to do,” Karma said. She finished her tea and set her cup down. “Right now though, I admit to being very tired. It’s harder to sit in a saddle all day long than I thought.”
“I certainly agree with that,” Kapia said.
“Let’s not admit that to anyone outside of this tent, okay?” Karma whispered.
“Agreed,” Kapia said with a grin.
Chapter 13
The harpies continued to harass the caravan nearly every day, but they were expected now. Two servants failed to report one morning and it was thought the harpies got them, but there were no other casualties.
After a few days of extreme discomfort Karma and Kapia became used to spending their days in the saddle. They fell into the routine much more quickly than either Zakiel or the other Hunters expected, earning a measure of respect from the men that they weren’t even aware of. Their daily practice with the staff also earned them respect, but they were aware of that. Kapia gradually became accustomed to being watched, and as her skills and confidence increased, she even began to enjoy it. Especially when Sir Bredon was there, which was more often than not.
Karma continued giving her exercises to aid in building her strength, and she’d begun teaching her to dance. Lashi and Caral had been very useful in helping Karma determine the appropriate dances for Kapia to learn. Karma wasn’t all that surprised to discover that, with a bit of modification here and there, they were very similar to those she’d learned as a girl. The dance lessons took place at night though, in the privacy of their tent.
Those were happy times for both Karma and Kapia. Neither of them had ever had a friend to laugh and play with, and in spite of the difference in their ages, they enjoyed each other’s company tremendously. They often included both Caral and Lashi in their evening lessons, none of them stopping to wonder how much of what they did and said could be heard and seen through the thin walls of the tent by lamplight.
At Zakiel’s order, the guards kept their backs to the tent when the women were dancing, though he could not seem to force himself to do the same. He found himself standing in the dark outside of his own tent, watching Karma’s graceful shadow as she taught Kapia. He was captivated by her. There was simply no denying it. He had never admired a woman so much, yet he barely knew how to act around her.
Sometimes she made him so angry he could barely contain himself, other times he wanted nothing more than to laugh until tears rolled down his cheeks. He had grown accustomed to not understanding a great deal of what she said, but he could not accustom himself to constantly dreaming about her.
He often wondered about her reaction to him when his Tigren had surfaced. Had he imagined it? Had she really not minded? He must have dreamed her response, because he kept imagining her telling him that his stripes were attractive, and that couldn’t be right.
One thing he was certain of though, and that was his feelings of gratitude and respect for all she had done, and was still doing, for Kapia. Not since her early childhood had he seen his sister so relaxed and happy. She was no longer the shy, hesitant, withdrawn girl she’d been until Karma’s arrival. She was relaxed, confident, and while not quite bold, she was more outgoing. The sound of her laughter was no longer as shocking as it had once been.
Karma was very pleased with the changes in Kapia, particularly since she knew that they weren’t changes so much as a blossoming. The real Kapia had been deeply buried, but she was emerging now as a strong and beautiful young woman.
The only thing that really bothered Karma was Tomas. She just couldn’t figure him out.
The day after the first harpy attack, Tomas had tried to ride up beside Karma and Kapia, only to be rebuffed by their guards. He’d been furious, demanding to be let through, even going so far as to shout and threaten the men until Zakiel had ridden back to find out what the ruckus was about.
The moment Tomas had seen Zakiel his entire demeanor changed. He sat up straighter in his saddle and turned his back on the guards. Zakiel had spoken to him for a moment, but this time their voices were soft and Karma heard nothing of what they said to each other.
Zakiel turned his diplo around and rode over to Karma, guiding his animal in between her and Kapia.
“Tomas has expressed a desire to visit with his cousin, and with you, Lady Techu,” he said.
Karma waited, but Zakiel said nothing more. She thought for a moment.
“I think we should allow it,” she said finally, earning a quick, unreadable glance from Zakiel. “I know that he is your Close Cousin, and I’m sorry if this offends you, but I don’t trust him. Nor do I like him. But I am very suspicious of him.”
Zakiel turned to look at Kapia, who gave her head a tiny shake. Zakiel turned back to Karma, and she sensed his relief.
“He thinks me naive,” Karma said with a bitter smile that, from the expression on his face, surprised Zakiel. “In some ways, I am. But when it comes to people like him, I possess no naïveté whatsoever.”
Zakiel gave her one short nod, then rode back to where Tomas waited beside Bredon. A moment later, the guards parted and let Tomas through. He took Zakiel’s place between Karma and Kapia, and they rode silently for a few minutes. Karma glanced sideways at him and noted that his jaw was clenched, his hands fisted tightly around the reins, his eyes narrowed as he sat stiffly in the saddle, facing forward.
He was angry. Very angry. And he was trying to hide it. Did he think she was both deaf and blind? Everyone in the caravan had heard his outrageous display of anger when the guards had refused to allow him through their protective circle.
“Sorry about that,” she said, choosing her tone carefully. “We didn’t exactly ask for those guards though.”
Tomas laughed, a harsh bark of sound, and Karma noted his hands relaxed a fraction on the reins. “Forced upon you by His Bossiness, weren’t they?”
“That’s one way to put it,” Karma replied.
“That’s Zakiel for you, always has to be in charge of everything and everyon
e,” Tomas said snidely.
“Maybe he worries,” she suggested.
Tomas glanced at her, his eyes suddenly wary. Karma flicked her eyes toward Kapia, then smiled.
“Yes, I’m sure that is it,” he agreed, relaxing again. “I tend to say things I shouldn’t when I’m angry. Forgive me, please.”
“Of course,” Karma replied.
After that, Tomas rode up the line and spent a few minutes with her and Kapia each morning, and sometimes in the afternoon as well. He’d been unfailingly polite to them both while making pleasant, if inane, conversation, and he’d made an effort to be a bit more subtle in his disparaging comments about Zakiel. So far, he hadn’t given Karma any idea of what he was up to. In truth, she would almost be willing to think her earlier suspicions about him were wrong except for his frequent, covetous looks at the Ti-Ank.
He was careful, and never asked to touch it again, but when he thought she wasn’t paying attention, he looked at it as though he could barely refrain from leaping for it. She pretended not to notice, but she’d taken to removing the ankh from the staff, and sleeping with it beneath her pillow at night. Even though there were guards around their tent, and Nikura slept in her chamber every night, she still worried that Tomas might find a way to take it if he really put his mind to it.
Karma was startled out of her thoughts when Zakiel trotted back to where she rode, then turned his diplo around to ride beside her. She smiled at him, and was only a little surprised when he returned it. He did that every now and then, and as much as she tried not to react to it, she could never quite prevent the fluttering of her heart when she saw the dimple in his right cheek that only appeared when he smiled.
“Good morning, Highness,” she said.
“Good morning, Lady Techu,” he replied. He glanced over at Kapia who was riding beside Sir Bredon, and shook his head.
“You don’t approve?” Karma asked.
“In honesty, I do approve,” Zakiel replied. “Bredon is a good man, and unlike many, he truly cares for Kapia and always has. I am concerned that she is yet too young.”
“Were you aware that your sister will turn seventeen in a few days?” Karma asked. On her world, seventeen was the age of adulthood, and she hadn’t been surprised to learn it was the same on Rathira.
“Yes,” Zakiel said, then frowned. “Well, no, not precisely. I knew the day was coming, but I confess I did not realize it was only a few days away.”
“She hasn’t said so, but I think she’s in love with him,” Karma said softly. “I agree that she is too young to wed, but she is not too young to love.”
“I suppose not,” Zakiel said.
“I also believe that Bredon cares for her very much,” Karma said. “Although, Kapia had to be the one to initiate their first conversations.”
“I think he was afraid she would reject him,” Zakiel said in a low voice.
Karma wondered if he was talking about himself, or Sir Bredon. “I can’t imagine why he would worry about that. He’s a good man, from what I can tell.”
Zakiel knew that she had given him an opening. All he had to do was take it. “Yes, he is a good man, and a brave one. But courage with a sword is nowhere near the same as courage with a woman.”
“Yes, I can understand that,” Karma said. “It’s no easier for women. Well, most women.”
“I’m curious about something, Lady Techu,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“Why is it that you are not disturbed by the Tigren in me?” he asked, speaking quickly in an effort to get the question out.
Karma considered her answer carefully, knowing that this was important to him. “I suppose part of it is the age I live in,” she said. “There are many worlds, and many different peoples. Differences are commonplace. Also, as I said, I spent months on Jasan, a world of shifters. The Gryphons, who rescued Kapia, are Clan Jasani, as is their mate, Aisling, who is my friend.”
“I see why you would have tolerance for such differences,” he said. “But on a personal level, doesn’t it bother you? For example, how would you feel about having a child who would one day manifest the Tigren?”
Karma’s eyes widened at the provocative question, but one glance at his face and she knew that there was no hidden meaning. Or at least, there didn’t seem to be.
“Honestly, I don’t understand why you, or anyone, sees the Tigren as a bad thing,” she said. “I would be enormously proud of such a heritage, in myself or in another.” Zakiel’s expression was surprised, but still doubtful.
“Are you disgusted that I am able to speak with the dead?” she asked. “Or with Nikura? Or that I can power the Ti-Ank?”
“Of course not,” he replied, shocked by the question.
“Why not?” she pressed. “Those things make me different from everyone else. Would you be ashamed to have a child with such abilities?”
A slow smile spread over Zakiel’s face and he turned toward her and bowed his head deeply. “I thank you, Lady Techu, for opening my eyes.”
Karma returned his bow with a nod, relieved that he had understood her. She wondered why he felt as he did, and an image of Marene popped into her mind. Not fair, she admonished herself. You cannot lay everything bad at Marene’s feet just because you don’t like her.
She glanced at Kapia. “Sir Bredon will not do anything to dishonor your sister,” she said, returning to their original subject.
“That is the only reason I allow them to speak as they do,” Zakiel admitted.
“You are a wise brother,” Karma said solemnly.
Zakiel chuckled softly, sending her heart from a flutter to a gallop. “I’m not so sure about that,” he said. “I am sure, however, that you have been a very good influence on her, and for that, I thank you.”
“I haven’t done anything other than befriend her,” Karma objected. “She’s a wonderful young woman. She’s intelligent, unspoiled and good hearted.”
“She is all that,” Zakiel agreed. “But she has also been painfully shy for most of her life. You, and your lessons, have been of enormous benefit to her.”
“It helps her to know that she can defend herself if necessary,” Karma agreed.
“It is more than that,” Zakiel said. “That she spars with you each day in full view of the Hunters was more than a little surprising to me.”
“She didn’t want to do it at first,” Karma admitted. “But, we made a deal, and I insisted on holding her to it. I knew that once she focused on the staff, and not the people watching, she would do fine. And she did.”
“What deal did you make with her?” Zakiel asked curiously.
“I agreed to teach her, but only if she promised to work at it every day,” Karma said.
“You are good for her, Lady Techu,” he said again. “Because of you, Kapia no longer hides herself. Instead, she shines.”
Karma had the sudden urge to ask him to call her Karma, rather than Lady Techu. She bit the inside of her cheek to prevent the words from coming out. She had no wish to say something on the spur if the moment that she could not take back later.
“The reason I came back was to ask your opinion on something,” he said, his smile fading.
“All right,” Karma said agreeably. “What is it?”
“We’ve been traveling for two weeks now and, according to the charts, we are making very good time,” Zakiel said. “We are, in fact, several days ahead of schedule.”
“That’s very good news,” Karma said.
“Yes, and it is in large part due to you and Kapia,” he said. “We expected that the two of you would slow us down, but you haven’t.”
“That’s good to know,” Karma replied, pleased that she and Kapia had done so well.
“There is an oasis about a one day’s travel from here,” he said. “The problem is that it’s directly opposite from the direction we are heading.
“We have enough water to reach the next well, especially since we are ahead of schedule. But, as you ha
ve seen, the water in the wells is limited and sometimes brackish. It’s adequate to keep us and our diplo alive, so going out of our way is not necessary.”
“But it would be nice to refill all of the empty barrels with fresh water, and perhaps take a bath,” Karma said, trying not to wrinkle her nose at the thought of the well water. The deep desert wells spaced several days apart across the desert were all that allowed caravans such as theirs to make the deep desert crossing. But the water was limited, warm and tasted terrible. She longed for a drink of fresh, cool water. And the idea of a bath was almost too good to imagine.
“Yes, exactly,” Zakiel said. “I just don’t know if we should take the risk of losing two full day’s travel. If we cut south now, we should reach the oasis well before nightfall, but it will take all most of tomorrow to return to this position.”
“Let me ask Nikura,” she said. She turned to her right, surprised to see the Sphin sitting up on the platform on his diplo, his nose in the air, eyes narrowed to slits. He was generally asleep at this time of day.
“Nikura, have you been listening to our conversation?” she asked.
“Yes, of course,” Nikura replied as he continued to sniff the air.
“What do you think? Should we take the risk?”
Nikura sniffed the air for another moment, then turned his large eyes on her. “I believe so,” he said. “As Prince Zakiel says, the water is abundant, clean, and fresh from the scent.”
“What about the time factor?” Karma asked.
“We are in the deep desert,” Nikura said. “Passing up the opportunity to thoroughly replenish our water would be foolish in the extreme. The brackish well water is sufficient for life, but it takes a toll on the diplos that will slow them down considerably until they are able to refill themselves with fresh water.”
Karma turned back to Zakiel and told him what Nikura had said. “He did not say so, but I think that without fresh water for the diplos, the time factor will become an even larger issue.”
Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira Page 17