Mortals & Deities (29 page)

Staring out over the vast emptiness of the grassland, a steady breeze blowing from the coast bending the grass to one side, the full impact of their situation fell on him. “Arderi, what are we going to do?”

“What our Ma and Papa taught us, brother. We are going to make do.” Standing, Arderi walked over to Elith’s dead horse and unstrapped the saddle from the beast’s chest. “There are clothes in here we can use for bandages. Plus, we still have one horse. Once we tend her wounds, we will tie her to the horse and head out.” He grunted and fell on his backside when the saddle pulled free. “Hopefully, we have made up some ground on that caravan. It is not as if we will have difficulty following the trail, we just need to push on until we catch them up.”

Alant was surprised to find himself nodding his head at his brother’s words.

I even feel better!

When Arderi returned to his side, the two rolled Elith over and Alant helped his brother clean and wrap the girl’s head wound. After they wiped away much of the black blood, they saw that the injury was not as bad as it had first appeared.

Before they were even finished, Elith moaned, looking up at them with her strange, slit-pupiled eyes. “What has happened?”

“Well, while you took a nap…” Smiling as he worked on her wound, Arderi’s voice came out soft and gentle. “…my brother and I dealt with a bunch of insect-like monsters attacking us.”

Elith tried to sit up, yet Arderi’s hands on her shoulder kept her down. “She did not fall asleep, she—”

Chuckling, Arderi continued to wrap her head. “I am joking, Elith. Your horse kicked you in the back of the head. How do you feel?”

Raising a hand to her temple, she patted at the make-shift bandages. “She feels like she was kicked in the head by a horse.” For the first time, Alant saw Elith smile. Her eyes brightened as she looked up at Arderi before she glanced at Alant. “As you both live, she can assume there are no more Sareeza?” When both brothers looked at her with puzzlement, she continued. “Sareeza are the creatures that attacked you. They are very dangerous. The venom in their tails can kill in moments.”

“Aye. I created a fire and scared them off.” Alant rubbed his temples. “Though they killed two of our mounts, so it will be a lot of walking from here on out.”

“Fine by me! I would not be upset if I never rode a horse again.” Arderi grunted as he stood. “Do you think you can stand?”

A little shaky, Elith pushed herself into a sitting position. “In a moment. She needs time.” Crossing her legs in front of her, she placed her hands on the side of her head and closed her eyes.

When it became apparent that she intended to stay in that position, Alant poked his brother in the shoulder, then pointed a thumb at Elith’s horse. “Mayhaps we should gather our supplies?”

With a nod and a last glance at Elith, Arderi returned to the dead horse with his brother.

After about a quarter aurn, once all the gear had been transferred to the remaining horse, Elith stood. “She is better now.” Reaching up, she pulled the bandages from her head. Black blood still stained them. Her head, however, looked undamaged. She took a moment to fix her long hair into a neat braid. “Who will ride first?”

Walking over to her, Arderi ran his fingers over where the wound had been. “I would have said you, though it seems you are more than better. The gash in your scalp is gone.”

“As she said, she is better.”

Alant took up Torture’s reins and approached them. “So you have the ability to heal yourself?”

“If she has the time, yes. And the damage is not extensive.” Turning, she walked down a wagon rut made by the caravan they followed. “You will have to push hard if you are to catch them anytime soon.”

With a glance at his brother from the corner of his eye, Alant shook his head. “That girl gets stranger and stranger.”

Arderi laughed aloud. “Oh, aye! And glowing red eyes and the power to ignite animals into a raging inferno is
absolutely normal
?” Slapping his arm around Alant’s shoulder, he pulled him after Elith. “Nix, brother. I do not think she is the only one who is strange around here.”

Joining his brother in his laugh, Alant flung his arm over Arderi’s shoulder as they walked on. Thoughts of Arderi killing the first Sareeza and the speed at which he had moved came to his mind. He decided not to say anything, however. He did not wish to spoil the moment.

Aye. I guess none of us are normal any longer, brother.

Dawn broke over the Asgarthian Plains with little fanfare. Teamsters made ready the horses after eating a cold firstmeal of cheese and bread. The sell-swords picked up their own sleeping rolls and readied their mounts. The rest of the men Rohann had brought took down the tents, packed them and any other gear used overnight back into the wagons. This same routine transpired each morn, and Klain knew it well.

With the time he had available, and with the oddness of finding Rohann talking to himself still fresh in his mind, Klain set off to find Timms. He did not feel bad for throwing the man to the ground on their last encounter. On the contrary, it could not have brought him more pleasure. Still, he could not shake the feeling that mayhaps the man was on to something. If Klain neglected to heed the warning signs and failed to protect Charver—even if it meant protecting him from his own father—Klain would not be able to live with himself.

He headed first to the sell-sword area, the favored haunt of the man this time of day. Asking the Humans Klain knew Timms associated with gained him no information to the man’s whereabouts. Klain headed for the man’s tent.

Like most of the others, Timms tent lay disassembled on the ground while workmen milled about packing up supplies. Walking over to a human rolling up Timms’ tent, Klain stopped in front of him. “Have you seen Timms?”

Stopping his labors, the man stood and kneaded the small of his back. “Nix, Master Klain. Not since last eve.” As with all the men of the expedition, this one gave off the stench of fear once he realized it was Klain to whom he spoke.

“So, he turned in early? That is most unlike him.” Timms was a man who enjoyed a late eve’s drink with his fellows. Klain filled his nostrils in an attempt to gain the man’s scent.

Mayhaps it will lead me to where he is hiding this morn.

“Nix, Master Klain.” The smell of fear from the man heightened. “I meant he has not been in this part of the camp since last eve. He must have slept elsewhere.”

“You mean you did not see him all eve?” Spittle flew from Klain’s mouth as he growled out the words. “And why did you not tell someone before now?”

Wide eyed, the man backed away. “He is his own man, Master Klain.” The thin Human cowered. “He can take care of himself.”

“Aye. Mayhaps. Yet, you say he did not return to his tent! Did that not seem out of place to you?” Glancing around, Klain scanned the grassy hills that surrounded the campsite. If Timms had wandered off, a trail of bent and broken grass should be in evidence.

Why would he not be able to follow his own trail back to camp? Even in the dark he should have been able to manage that!

Thinking back to the large black Niyoka snake, Klain shivered in spite of himself. “It should not be too difficult to pick up his trail.”

“Pick up whose trail?”

Rohann’s voice cut into Klain’s search of the surrounding hillside. Looking over his shoulder, Klain stared at the man as he walked up.

There is something not right. He is changed somehow.

A big smile spread over Rohann’s face. “If you are speaking of Timms…” He waved an arm toward the trail of broken grass leading back toward Mocley. “…he has chosen to return home.”

Facing his master, Klain picked up a strange scent from the man. He could not quite place it. “Are you certain? I did not get the impression he had any ambitions of leaving.”

Laughing, Rohann slapped Klain on the shoulder. “You are becoming as bad as Timms, Master Klain.” At Klain’s scowl, Rohann removed his hand. “Easy now. I meant no disrespect. Late last eve he came to me. He apologized for his harsh words and told me he had decided I had been correct. The best thing for him to do was to return to Mocley. He wanted to leave last eve so he would not have to face the shame of telling his men.” He shrugged his shoulders. “You know how vocal he has been. He has argued against this expedition from the start.” Rohann’s voice became harsh. “Last eve, he saw the error of his ways.”

That was true. Since Rohann had first announced they were heading to Sar’Xanthia, Timms had seemed determined to talk him out of it. He had not, however, made any attempt to withdraw himself from the journey.

Why would he now? When we are so close to our destination?

And then Klain recognized what he smelled. The odor that hung around his master.

His smell is almost that of a predator! Only, tainted somehow.

Running along at a half crouch, the tall grass of the Asgarthian Plains reaching almost to the top of her chin, Elith raced to the top of the small hill. She had heard the sounds of men and animals several hills back, though now she could make out distinct words and conversations. A man complained of a broken strap. Two more discussed how long until they would return to Mocley. She gave them little attention.

Dropping to her stomach, she slid the last bit to the crest of the hill. A large camp spread out before her. Over a score of wagons sat around at least as many large white tents, and a long string of horses stood off to the side grazing. A big fire blazed away in the center, while several smaller ones lay scattered about in what looked like random locations. Mayhaps a dozen men—by their appearance common laborers—meandered around the area. If anyone was in charge, she could not tell who.

Just past the campsite, a thick jungle ran off into the distance. The brown grass they had traveled through for the past tenday and a half ended so abruptly that the green brush and tall, white-barked trees of the jungle looked fake, as if someone had painted an endless canvas and rolled it out along the edge of the plains. The terrain sloped downward from there, and the tops of the tress rolled on for hundreds of leagues like a vast green blanket. Further on, almost to the edge of her sight, the land rose again and Elith saw massive jagged mountains breaking free of the dark green canopy of the jungle. She had seen the haze of the green mountains for over a day now. Still, she had assumed the change of landscape would not be so abrupt.

Slipping back down the hillside on her belly, she returned to her crouched position. When she was sure she lay beyond the sight of the camp, she ran back the way she had come. Once two more hills separated her from the group of men, she stood up straight and ran in earnest.

The air felt wonderful. A chill had descended late the day prior, and by last eve, the land sat cold and refreshing. This held throughout the morn and into the day. It made her feel alive. She held her fast pace for near half an aurn as she followed the wagon trail back to her charge. Topping a hill, she saw the brothers leading the horse the Mah’Sukai had named Torture. Stopping at the top of the hill, she waited on them while catching her breath.

As they approached, she noticed that Arderi Cor was grinning. She had to say, the young Human impressed her. The time she spent in
conversation
with him pleased her more than she liked to admit. In speaking with him, she found herself letting her newfound emotions go for the first time. An uncontrollable happiness bubbled up in her and she had even laughed a few times just the way Humans did.

It was terrifying!

To have her body do something she did not directly will to happen! The first time Arderi Cor made her laugh she jumped up and ran away. She kept on running through most of the night, and did not returned to their makeshift camp until just before dawn. She knew she should end it. Stop seeking Arderi Cor out each eve to speak with him.

And she would end it…if it were not so pleasing.

It made her feel alive for the first time. She knew this was a weakness. However, it did not bother her as much as she thought it should. She liked spending time with Arderi Cor and refused to stop.

“You have returned early. Is it time for halfmeal so soon?” Arderi Cor carried an easiness that she had never seen with any other Human. The Mah’Sukai certainly did not have it.

“No. She has found your caravan. Although, there is something odd about it.” Falling in step with them, she took the waterskin the Mah’Sukai offered her. “There are not enough of them. She thinks the majority of them headed into the jungle already.”

Shading his eyes with a hand, Arderi Cor looked off into the distance. “Those tree-covered mountains look days away still. Does the jungle start sooner?”

“Yes. The camp is not far. You should be there in two aurns. They put the camp on the edge between the grassland and the jungle.”

The brothers picked up their pace and it was just over an aurn when the three topped the hill overlooking the campsite. When they drew near, she pulled her hood up to cover her gray skin.

Several Humans spotted them as they made their way down the hill and after a bit of commotion, one man approached. “Hail and well met. My name is Nad Grath.” A nervousness bordering on fear laced the man’s voice. The old man, mayhaps in his fortieth winter, walked with a slight limp. He was dressed much the same as the others in a plain cream-colored cloth shirt, brown trousers, and boots. He eyed Arderi Cor’s sword more than once while he spoke.

Arderi Cor stepped forward. “Hail and well met, Mir’am Grath. I am Arderi Cor.” He waved a hand to the others. “And this is Alant and Elith. We are looking for Master Vimith.”

If seeing three people materialize out of the vast emptiness of the Asgarthian Plains had shaken the man, the fact that Arderi Cor knew his master’s name seemed to terrify him. “How did you find us? Is there something wrong back home?”

Raising his hands, Arderi Cor waved the man down. “When we left, all was well. We were not sent. I met Master Vimith a few days prior to this expedition leaving. He was looking to hire men. We were late in arriving to his villa and decided to try and catch you up.” He turned and pointed at the trail the wagon train had made. “We have been following you ever since.”

Arderi Cor’s words pacified the man and he visibly relaxed. “Well, you missed them.” Turning, the man headed back to camp and to the group of men who stood hovering like a pack of scared hens. “Come, you all look more than worse for wear. Halfmeal is over, yet we should be able to scrounge up something for you to eat. You can wash yourselves in camp as well.”

Arderi Cor glanced at the Mah’Sukai, then followed after the old man. “When you say we missed them, what do you mean?”

“Master Vimith and the rest headed out this morn, mayhaps three or four aurns gone. We do not expect them back for at least a tenday, if not more. You folks are welcome to stay with us, though I doubt you will get the pay you were hoping for.” The old man chuckled. “Seems you have wasted a trip.”

“Nix. We have not wasted it.” The Mah’Sukai quickened his steps to come even with the other two. “You say they headed off into the jungle this morn?”

The old Human stopped. “Aye. You are not thinking of going in after them, are you, young man?”

“Aye, Mir’am Grath. We are.” At Arderi Cor’s nod, Alant continued. “If you could spare some rations and mayhaps keep hold of our horse, we can start after them immediately.”

Arderi patted his belt pouch. “We will pay for the food.”

“Boys. I admire the courage of anyone willing to help keep others alive. However, it would be suicide to go into that jungle alone.” Shaking his head, the old man reached out and clapped the Mah’Sukai on the shoulder. “Darn near fifty good men and one very large Kith ventured in there, and Master Vimith voiced concern about not having enough to come out alive.”

Arderi Cor laughed. “Aye. I have had the pleasure of meeting the Kith.”

Elith had only seen pictures of the lion race. Still, the fact that Arderi Cor had drawn a sword on one—one that they planned to travel with no less!—did not sit well with her. All the reports she had read said they were a formidable adversary prone to violence without cause. She smiled thinking she may get the opportunity to find out just how formidable.

The old man shook his head. “Aye, then. It is not my place to tell you how to die.”

Once they had refilled their waterskins and replenished their dry rations, the three headed out in the direction the Human said Rohann Vimith and the rest of his men had gone. The trail was easy to follow—broken and trampled grass bore a straight line from the camp into the thick jungle. Once they reached the tree line, the trail became even easier to spot for the group had cut their way through the undergrowth with blades, leaving a kind of tunnel through the foliage.

As they stepped into the thick growth of plants and trees, a darkness like that of dusk enveloped them. However, the path the others had cut made it easy for them to make their way through. It weaved its way around trees and large rocks, yet for the most part ran straight. Insects had been plaguing the brothers for much of the trip. Once in the jungle, however, bugs of all shapes and colors descended upon them, and each swatted or slapped themselves almost continuously. As they had in the grasslands, the bugs ignored her. This fact did not upset her in the least.

Reaching out, Arderi Cor pulled a cut stalk about as thick as his wrist to his face. He then examined it with a closeness it did not deserve. “I guess it is a good thing you are here as well, Elith. There is no way we could follow this trail. Look, this tree only has its top half missing. The untrained eye would surely miss it.” His statement earned a laugh from the Mah’Sukai.

“Yes. She is happy she is here as well, Arderi Cor. If she was not, she could not tell you that the plant you hold is a Siferious tree—its sap among the most poisonous of any known.”

With a horrified look on his face, Arderi slowly let the stalk bend back to its original position. He then snatched his hand away and rubbed it across his travel-stained shirt. “Aye. Well, as I said…it is a good thing you are here.”

She actually had to fight to control the laughter that bubbled up inside her. She knew she was smiling, however, because Arderi Cor gave her a suspicious look. The Mah’Sukai laughed aloud.

For the most part, Human humor escaped her.

Still, it is interesting to know she can learn from Arderi Cor and his mischievous ways.