Abuud: the One-Eyed God (9 page)

"My life?" laughed Niki as she led the way to the sitting room. "You could not be further from the truth. Everyone in Tagaret loves me. Tomorrow is the day I have been waiting for. Tomorrow they will choose me to fill a vacancy on the Council."

"They do not intend on letting you live until tomorrow," Arik persisted.

"How would you know what they will do, fisherboy?" spat Niki. "You are just jealous that I am finally taking my rightful place in society. I thought you were coming to pay your respects to me, but I can see now that you just cannot stand the thought of me as queen."

"Niki, I know we have not always seen things in the same light," protested Arik, "but this is serious. We were just passing through Tagaret when we heard about the plot on your life. That is why I am here. Evidently someone doesn't want you to take that seat tomorrow."

"I think it is time for you to leave now," growled Niki as she stormed around the room. "I will not have you spoiling the greatest time of my life. Everyone in Tagaret loves me. There is not one soul in this city that would even think of hurting me. Even if they did, my magic would destroy them."

Arik felt Midge land on his collar and wondered how he managed to bring Tedi back so quickly. It took only a moment for Arik to realize that it was not Midge.

"This is Glori," a small voice said in Arik's ear. "I am the watcher for this house. Somebody is coming."

Arik drew his sword and moved behind the door. Niki was still stomping around the room when a black shape slid through the doorway. Niki turned and stared at the assassin as he withdrew a throwing dagger from his belt.

"Who are you?" she demanded. "How dare you enter this house without my permission. Is he with you, Arik? Arik? What are you doing hiding behind the door, Arik?"

The assassin whirled towards Arik, and Arik slammed the door into him. The assassin tumbled to the floor and his dagger slid along the floor until it hit the wall. Arik raced over and put the tip of his sword to the assassin's throat.

"Who sent you?" demanded Arik.

Niki raced over and pushed Arik away from the assassin.

"What are you doing?" she screamed. "Have you gone crazy? If you two want to fight then do it outside. I will not have you spilling blood on my fine floors."

The assassin leaped to his feet and scrambled for the dagger. Arik knew he could not reach the assassin in time. He rushed over to Niki and shoved her toward the wall just as the assassin let fly his dagger. The blade bit deeply into the wall just inches from Niki, and the dagger sang as it vibrated. Arik rushed the assassin as the black-clad man was going for his sword. The swords crossed and Arik used his considerable strength to push the assassin backwards. As the assassin smashed into the wall, Arik's sword sliced into the man's midsection. The assassin fell to his knees and then died. Niki was screaming hysterically as her eyes focused on the still-vibrating dagger, which was only inches from her head. Arik wiped his blade and slid it back into its sheath as he crossed the room to Niki.

"Somebody does not want you to take that seat tomorrow," Arik said softly. "Whoever it is probably sent your servants away too. I do not know who it is, Niki, but I know they will not stop after just one attempt. You are being used as a pawn in this city. Let me take you outside the city. You don't have to come with us if you don't want to, but at least you will be alive to make that decision."

Niki stood staring at the dagger. Slowly she nodded. She ran out of the room and Arik heard her footsteps on the stairs. He moved into the entrance foyer and waited impatiently at the foot of the stairs. A knock on the door startled him and he drew his sword again. Slowly he cracked the door open and saw Tedi standing outside. Arik opened the door wider and let him in.

"The first assassin has already been here," Arik stated. "I think Niki is getting her travel belongings together. Did you manage to get a horse?"

"Right outside," answered Tedi as two bags came sailing down the stairs.

A moment later, Niki struggled down the steps with two more bags.

"Get my other bags," Niki ordered as she nodded to the bags she had thrown down the stairs. "I can't believe that I am leaving some of my things behind. How long will I be away?"

"That is up to you," Arik responded as he held the door for Niki.

Niki handed one of her bags to Arik as she stepped through the doorway. Arik shook his head and tossed the bag into the entrance foyer where it landed next to the two bags she had thrown down the stairs. Tedi chuckled under his breath as they exited the mansion and mounted their horses. Arik led the way out of the estate and along the streets of Tagaret towards the nearest gate. The guards looked suspiciously at the trio as they exited the city.

Tedi rode up next to Arik and said, "I think we should put some distance between us and the city before we stop."

"That sounds reasonable," nodded Arik. "I wonder why the guards looked at us so? Do you think they recognized Niki?"

"Probably just her horse," Tedi said shyly.

"Her horse?" echoed Arik. "I didn't look closely at it. Was it expensive?"

"I don't know," admitted Tedi sheepishly. "I stole it. I did not notice the brand of the army on it until I had gotten to Niki's"

Tedi found a clearing far enough off the trail to be safe from pursuers. He started to prepare a meal while Arik gathered wood for the fire and tended to the horses.

"Where are my other bags?" shouted Niki. "I can only find one of them."

"I guess the others got left in the rush to flee the city," shrugged Tedi.

"Oh great," pouted Niki. "Bad enough that I don't have any servants. Now I don't have any clothes either. What is that you are making? It looks horrible."

"It's a secret," grinned Tedi. He didn't want to explain that most of their provisions were with Alex and Jenneva and that he was trying to make a stew from dried meat and plant leaves.

"I think I will wait until we get back to Tagaret to eat," decided Niki. "I wouldn't put anything that looked that bad in my mouth."

"If you go back to Tagaret you will die," declared Arik as he dropped a load of firewood near the fire ring. "Don't you realize that they are trying to kill you?"

"I am sure it was a mistake," scowled Niki. "They probably just got the wrong mansion. Everyone in Tagaret loves me, and I demand that you take me back in the morning. I want to be back in time for the vote on my Council seat."

"You just don't get it," sighed Arik. "I do not know how to convince you, but you will die if you go back."

"Assassins are probably combing the city for you now," added Tedi. "I bet they even send the army after you when they figure out that you have fled the city. They want your head, girl."

"You are just trying to scare me," growled Niki. "I should have you arrested after we get back."

Prince Midge fluttered across the campsite and landed on Niki's knee as she sat by the fire. Niki screamed and flinched so violently that Prince Midge was tossed into the air. He recovered before he hit the ground and flew back to hover before Niki's face.

"Sorry," apologized Midge, "I didn't mean to scare you."

"Prince Midge!" exclaimed Niki. "Where did you come from? I didn't know you were traveling with us."

"Fairies are often overlooked," smiled Prince Midge as he fluttered back to Niki's knee. "I am quite used to it. In fact, I manage to pick up a lot of information that way."

"Well I am glad to see you," smiled Niki. "Maybe you can talk some sense into these fisherboys."

"Actually," frowned Prince Midge, "I was the one who warned Arik about the assassin. I am afraid they are correct."

"Why would you make something like that up?" asked Niki. "I always thought better of you. You were the only one who never got mad at me."

"If you will allow me to explain, perhaps I can make you see why we are concerned for your safety. Can I share with you what I know?"

"Alright," shrugged Niki, "but I am not going to believe that the people of Tagaret have turned against me. I know that I am going to be elected to the Council tomorrow."

"There are thirteen votes on the Council," nodded Midge. "Two spots are empty and as of yesterday you were assured of six votes. That is certainly enough to secure your seat."

"That is what I was trying to tell these fisherboys," nodded Niki. "They are just too dense to understand."

"That was yesterday," corrected Prince Midge. "Last night, Duke D'Ales was assassinated."

"I know," nodded Niki. "That is why there is an open seat. Duke D'Ales was not going to vote for me anyway."

"Yes, but Duke Engar was going to vote for you," responded the fairy prince. "He was arrested this morning for hiring the assassin that killed Duke D'Ales."

"That still leaves me five votes," retorted Niki. "Many of the seats are filled by less than a majority vote. Most of the time there is never a majority on the Council for anything."

"You are quite correct," smiled Prince Midge. "You learned a lot while you were in Tagaret, but there is more that you do not know. The other members of the Council learned about your proposed marriage to Duke Engar's son. Several of the councilors were extremely angry that you were leading them all on with these marriage proposals. You not only lost three more votes, but you gained three very powerful enemies."

"How could they find out?" asked Niki. "Nobody was supposed to know."

"From what I understand," explained Prince Midge, "Duke Everich allowed Duke Engar to make his nomination before arresting him. He wanted to know who Duke Engar was trying to create a seat for."

"Oh drat," scowled Niki. "They weren't supposed to find out."

"I fear that Duke Everich was not pleased either," continued Midge. "He feels as if Dalgar is trying to use him because he was not informed of the assassination. That eliminates your last two votes because Duke Jiardin will vote however Everich tells him to."

"Dalgar?" interrupted Arik. "How does Dalgar fit into this? He is a Black Devil."

"Dalgar will kill Duke Everich if he doesn't vote for me," growled Niki.

"Not if you are dead," Midge pointed out.

"He wouldn't dare," shouted Niki.

"He could easily blame it on one of the disgruntled suitors," Midge informed her. "Who could prove otherwise?"

Niki's brow creased and she started biting her nails. Prince Midge could tell that she was frantically searching for a way to recover her status in Tagaret.

"There is more," announced Midge. "You told people that your father was wealthy and inherited the riches of Stafa Rakech."

"How do you know that?" asked Niki. "Besides, what is wrong with that? They will never know."

"You might be interested to know that several councilors have visited with Stafa Rakech in the last day," added the fairy prince. "He lives in Tagaret now, and he denied having any heirs in the city. The sum of all of this information is that everyone in Tagaret now knows that you are a phony."

"How could this happen?" cried Niki. "Dalgar promised that everything would work out."

"It all started unwinding with the death of Duke D'Ales," answered Prince Midge. "You probably are not ready to hear that Dalgar is using you as well, but I suggest that you start thinking about his promises and why he wants to promote you."

"Dalgar would never lie to me," insisted Niki. "He is my father."

"Dalgar is your father?" interrupted Arik. "I thought Sarac was your father?"

"No Sarac is my grandfather," sobbed Niki. "I must find Dalgar. He went south on business a while ago. Will you help me find him?"

"Find Dalgar?" Tedi said shockingly. "You can't be serious? Dalgar wants us dead."

"Not if you do what he says," argued Niki. "He wants Sarac defeated just like you do."

"Why would he want to kill his own father?" asked Arik.

"No," puzzled Niki. "Aurora was Sarac's child, not Dalgar."

"You were with Dalgar in Tagaret?" questioned Arik. "Was he the one who tried to kill Alex, Jenneva, and Tanya when you left us?"

"Yes," admitted Niki, "but he doesn't want you two killed. Alex and Jenneva killed Aurora and they must die for it."

"And Tanya?" quizzed Arik.

"Tanya is a nobody," snarled Niki. "She doesn't have any place in the prophecy. Dalgar told me that he wants you two alive though. He will place one of you on the throne of Tagaret, whoever is found to be the heir."

"How nice," drawled Arik, purposely not informing Niki that he was the heir. "We are following the Sword of Heavens to the Diamond of Edona. You are welcome to join us if you wish."

"You got the Unicorns' Opal?" questioned Niki.

"We did," answered Arik. "If Dalgar wants Sarac defeated then he would agree that finding the Diamond of Edona is what we should be doing."

"And if I chose not to go with you?" asked Niki.

"You have a horse and can go where you wish to," retorted Arik. "I would suggest that your list of locations not include Tagaret. You will surely be killed there."

At that moment the sound of a large number of riders drifted into the campsite. Tedi swiftly threw dirt over the kindling fire he had just started. Everyone remained silent as they tried to avoid being discovered. The sounds of the column grew louder, carried on the wind coming from the south. The column stopped on the trail fairly close to the concealed campsite and Arik silently grabbed his bow. The shouted voices of the soldiers could easily be heard.

"It is getting too dark to track them," complained one soldier. "We should camp until morning."

"There will be no camping," retorted a voice full of authority. "That wench must hang for her actions. Take half the men and continue along the trail. Be mindful of campfires and don't stop until morning. If you do not find them, then retrace your steps and try to track them. I will lead the rest of the men back to Tagaret and report on your lack of progress."

The Rangers listened with held breath as the column split and headed in two different directions. Only when the sounds diminished to nothing did Arik speak.