by Craig Davis
Chapter LII
In a copse sufficiently distant from the stockade to be private, but not too far from safety, Krait paced slowly and designed his plotting. The leaves of the branches hung heavily with dew, and he swatted with malice at their damp, unwelcome touch – spraying moisture, such as he had never seen in his desert home, reminding him yet more of his detested surroundings. A tangle of deceit traced its way around his hatred and ambition to weave a foul plan, and his words spoken only to the trees painted a portrait of treachery.
“Dungo has-sss no right to ensnare the Bedoua in this-sss fight. We have no part with these-sss Rufoux, who raid our lands-sss and drive us-sss into the desert! But I will take part with them! I will take our part away from them! Their crimes-sss of the pas-ssst will not long remain unpunished. I will be my own instrument of vengeance-sss again-ssst that fool Dungo and the Rufoux! But I mus-ssst weigh carefully my alliances-sss, for trus-ssst must be given only to one who also mistrust-sss.”
His ambition settled in his head, Krait knew his conspiracy must hatch from within the stronghold, and so he made his return. Intractable as he was, only with great struggle could he force himself to call out for the ladder to scale the wall. He particularly abhorred seeking help, and if he instead could have dug under the wall or chewed through it, he certainly would have chosen to.
Having successfully navigated the climb, Krait pulled the ladder up to the wall walk and plunged the end rudely to the ground, into the mass of Raspars, who consistently stationed themselves tightly along the walls of the fortress. Gathering his robes around his knees, the Bedoua clumsily descended until he found himself hip-deep in archers, all involved with their morning meal. He quickly scanned the sea of bobbing heads and spied one with a patch.
“I have found out your name, Vespus-sss,” he whispered, “For I know you have no misguided love for foolish alliances-sss.”
“Lo, what do ye say to me, Bedoua?” Vespus replied.
“I have seen you refuse-sss your own kinsman, when he is-sss fated to a brutal beating. I have seen you take the better part of wisdom. I need to speak to such a man.”
“Lo, and who are ye?”
Krait looked at him with hard, hidden eyes, and Vespus could neither see nor tell. “The name I bear will remain known to me for now. You have no need for secret knowledge of me at this-sss moment. You have no need to hold that power over me.”
“Aye, ye say? Ye would speak with me?”
“Yes-sss, but not among so many.”
“Lo, nobody walks about. Only Raspars abide, in the Raspar way, hearing only what is spoken to ye, and turning aside from all else.”
“We mus-ssst be away, for this-sss is-sss not for the ears-sss of so many,” Krait insisted.
“Lo, we will speak here, or not at all,” said Vespus coolly. “I will not depart the safety of my clansmen. Lo, do ye make demands, and yet will not reveal your name to me?”
Krait looked about him and seethed. He very nearly turned to storm away, but he knew that would not serve his ends. Even so, he looked about the compound wildly. Indeed, none of the other Raspars did seem even aware of his presence. Perhaps he should give in to Vespus. Still, he kept his voice low.
“Very well, then. Have your way, Raspar, but soon you will agree to my desires-sss. I am Krait, a high minister to Dungo, vizier of the Bedoua. Never would I seek you out except that we are both in this-sss putrid hole. Together we fester, imprisoned securely within Rufoux walls-sss. For generation-sss the Rufoux have persecuted the Bedoua, since the day-sss they drove us-sss from the waters-sss of the Alluvia and into the dry deserts-sss. The Bedoua have no fondness-sss for the Rufoux; do you, Raspar? Do you claim any love for their clan?”
“Nay, I have no love for any other clan. My allegiance lies with the Raspars only. Yet ye say ye are minister to your vizier? Do ye speak for him?”
“I will speak for him when my time is-sss ready. You have no loyalty to any outsider, for you are a man of wisdom. Nor do I, but my hatred I reserve for the Rufoux. Many times-sss I have seen the abundance-sss of their land. I have left the desert at the times-sss of my clan’s-sss superstitions-sss, even at the full moon, to spy out the Rufoux lands-sss and see their fullness-sss. I have seen the prosperity of their fields-sss, and their handiwork at metals-sss; I use-sss their skills-sss to my own end,” he said behind his dark lenses. “I say, these-sss are things-sss that rightly belong to the Bedoua. The Rufoux have stolen our lands-sss from on old, and all the blessings-sss that belong to the lands-sss.”
“Lo, and why should I spend my concern upon ye? Ye are Bedoua.”
“Yes-sss, I am Bedoua, and I dwell in the courts-sss of the vizier. Dungo is-sss a fool, to join in this-sss suicide, and he will not stop talking.”
“Lo, indeed, Severus also has said your vizier would be death to us all.”
“Dungo is-sss an ass-sss,” said Krait with unusual emphasis. “He will lead the Bedoua into oblivion if I do not stop him. Already he has-sss revealed the strategy to me: The warriors-sss are to meet the Aoten in the open and draw them toward Raspar archers-sss. Raspar archers-sss are known to draw their bows-sss from high, hard walls-sss. Well I have heard of the Raspar city, and its-sss crowding. Think of the Raspar future, Vespus-sss, and a greater Raspar kingdom with lands-sss to expand. Are not the Rufoux the mos-ssst powerful clan? What other clan of Medialia would ever hope to defeat them in battle? Surely you see, with no Rufoux, with no Aoten, your people could safely live outside your city. No longer would you be confined to your defenses-sss. Then you would be a great people within Medialia.”
“Aye, and what do ye mean, ‘With no Rufoux’?”
“Rufoux have held Bedoua lands-sss too long! The Aoten will remedy this-sss injustice-sss for my people at long las-ssst. Thrice-sss the Rufoux have failed agains-ssst the giants-sss, fighting alone; even with Melic and Koinoni help, they can be no more than grateful to have survived. It is-sss only for the giant-sss now to eliminate the Rufoux, and the Bedoua can again claim their lands-sss.”
“Lo, have we not come here to fight against the Aoten? Did we not travel this great distance to make war alongside the Rufoux? Did ye not do likewise?”
“What is-sss this-sss you say?” accused Krait. “Do you now take the side of the Rufoux, to whom you owe nothing? Do you claim allegiance-sss now to this red clan of killers-sss, who would gladly steal your city in return for your help?”
“Nay, I have no love for any clan, save the Raspars,” said Vespus flatly. “I prefer to remain within my city even today. But the tunnel already lays revealed.”
“Then join with me, to overthrow this accursed alliance-sss, and let us-sss lay was-ssste to the Rufoux and all others-sss who squat upon Medialia. We have all gathered to battle the Aoten, have we not? What did the Melic say, that all clans-sss mus-ssst join to defeat the giants-sss, no? As-sss the clans-sss lead the giants-sss to the stockade, I will withdraw Bedoua lancers-sss, and you will restrain your archers-sss, and the res-ssst will fall like rumidonts-sss under the jaws-sss of thylak. With one clan removed from battle, perhaps-sss the giants-sss would defeat the res-ssst; with two gone missing, the Aoten surely would rout every man outside the walls-sss.”
“Lo, what say ye?”
“You and I, we mus-ssst prevent our clans-sss from doing battle. We mus-ssst allow the Aoten to defeat the Rufoux, the Melics-sss and Koinoni; then the land will be ours-sss. The Aoten will prevail, they mus-ssst destroy all the Rufoux; but the fighting will surely leave them badly wounded and worn. Then the Bedoua, with Raspars-sss, will descend upon the giants-sss and wipe them out forever. The Bedoua will regain their birthright, the territory stolen ages-sss ago, and the ripe fields-sss and running waters-sss of the Alluvia. Foolish Dungo, he curses-sss the very river of his-sss forefathers-sss, who-ssse blessings-sss belong in the hands-sss of his-sss people! He too mus-ssst die! I will return them to the Bedoua, I will make them ours-sss again. Then will the Bedoua rule over Medialia! And then will the R
aspars-sss have lands-sss to build new cities-sss, to expand your kingdom.”
“Aye, but how will ye, a single man, arrange such events?”
Krait again looked about suspiciously at the crowd of Raspars, and he dropped his voice yet lower. “Dungo, that fat slug, he will feel the wages-sss of my ambitions-sss fir-ssst! That lumbering simpleton will fall heavily out of my way. Poison is-sss among the Bedoua ways-sss, and even Dungo himself is-sss always-sss surrounded by bottles-sss teeming with death. A drop or two, or the entire draught, there will be enough to give res-ssst to his-sss struggling heart. Left alone with his-sss empty-headed palaver, opportunities-sss to lay him was-ssste will abound. I will find a way to remove that billowing butterball.”
“Lo, ye would kill your own leader? Ye do not make that odd clicking of your people — ye defy those who would read ye. Would ye truly kill Dungo?” Vespus’ one eye displayed real shock.
“His-sss judgments-sss have brought the Bedoua to the edge of ruin. He is-sss no longer a wis-ssse leader of the Bedoua, and I mus-ssst replace-sss him. What is-sss in your mind now — would you think to hinder me? Would you betray me for Dungo’s-sss sake?”
Vespus considered Krait carefully for a moment, then shrugged. “Lo, if ye wish to betray your leader, it does not concern me. I have no loyalty to your vizier. I have no loyalty to any, save the Raspars.”