by Alex Cannon
They couldn’t glare at each other forever.
They had met with Nowata that afternoon—but never passed the group of men traveling between them.Lazerek ranted and raved forever. They had set up camp and Lazerek called Nowata and Gidas into his tent.
Nowata had told his part of the story. He and Lazerek were now standing in the tent, glaring at each other.If looks could inflict pain, both men would be writhing.
“I do not believe you,” Lazerek finally said.
Nowata said nothing.
“Your story is too preposterous,” Lazerek said.
“Believe what you will,” Nowata said.
Lazerek took a step toward the priest. Nowata did not back down. They were the same height, Lazerek’s white hair starkly contrasted by the Osaban priest’s black outfit. Nowata’s mask covered his face, only his burning eyes revealed.
“Lo would be happy to have one of his favorite priests with him,” Lazerek said.
“If you can find the person strong enough to put me there, direct me to him,” Nowata said.
Lazerek scrunched his face.The oddest thing: normally Lazerek would have already blown his cool by now, yet here he was, holding back. Why? Gidas once more wondered just exactly what was going on here.
The two men stood almost nose-to-nose for what seemed like forever. Gidas wondered if they even knew he was in the tent.They had to. There was far too much left unsaid. What was the missing piece of this puzzle?
“I have a Platen woman here in camp,” Lazerek said. What Platen woman? Gidas didn’t know of any Platen woman.
“Bring her in then, we shall settle this now,” Nowata said.Gidas had to admit the priest was bold. Was he telling the truth?
“Hope that I do not. She can smell lies,” Lazerek said.
Lazerek leaned toward Nowata.Nowata did not back down.Gidas thought this little show of braggadocio ridiculous. Just fight and get it over with.
A thought occurred to him: They were not saying everything they wanted.
Why?
The answer: he was there.For some reason, there was information that Lazerek would not even share with his adjutant.
“You will not change any of your story?” Lazerek asked.
“When you tell the truth there is nothing to change,” Nowata said.
“You went into town, killed a person, and then chased after some people that left around the same time. That’s it.That’s your story,” Lazerek said.
Nowata stood.
“Why did you kill the person in the town?” Lazerek asked.
“Why does the grass grow?” the priest asked.
“I forbade any action on your part.”
“Any action concerning the Sword.”
Lazerek chewed on that for a moment,”You still give no good reason for why you lost them.”
“I have two of my minions following their wagon right now.”
“But why didn’t we see the wagon? Did they turn off to the east or the west?”
“Once I recall my minions, they will tell me.”
“So why didn’t you follow the wagon? You can sense the Sword! How can you let it get away?” Lazerek asked.
“Do you do everything in this camp? Or do you have your people do it?” Nowata asked.
“How. Did. They. Get. By. Me?” Lazerek asked.
“You’re not as young as you used to be,” Nowata said.
“Who is?” Lazerek asked. Small emanations of power were zipping between his fingers.
“You passed no one between the time I spoke to you and now?” Nowata asked.
“No one,” Lazerek said.But Gidas knew that was wrong, and the look on Lazerek’s face said the same thing.They had passed no one, but they had sent out a small number of men to investigate something Lazerek had sensed on the side of the road.
The group of men never returned.Gidas had even sent men back to look.What could have dispatched a group of Sicari?Maybe riparions? Maybe something else.
Lazerek turned from the Osaban, tension in the room eased. Nowata still did not move.
“I want you to find your minions and determine where that wagon went,” Lazerek said.”I want to know by tomorrow night.”
Nowata said nothing, but walked out of the tent.He showed no signs of emotions. Gidas hated him for it.
“Gidas, prepare the troops to turn around. We’re heading back north,” Lazerek said.
“Master, do you think our missing men have something to do with—”
“Of course they do! There can be no other explanation.”
“I will tell the troops and also plan on a search of the are where we sent the men out.”
“Make it so.”
Gidas stepped out into the cold night. He could just see Nowata riding into the darkness.
Good riddance.
.