Servants and Followers (The Legends of Arria, Volume 2) (18 page)

She paused, and then
tried to continue on without seeming to hesitate, as if it was
nothing she believed in, though she spoke a lot slower and more
seriously than before. Basha was starting to wonder about that as
well.
“
He cannot
see all, but he knows much about what is to come, and he will wait
for you to come and meet him if you are not
beaten
.” She inhaled deeply, and then
pressed on, “
Seek not only the Cup, but
seek also the
Tigora’l in this
quest
--” She paused, blinking for a
moment. “
seek him and know the
truth
.” She sighed. “
No more can I say, for I speak of only the beginning. But you
will learn more at the river o so wide and long
--” She stopped there. “It’s amazing.” She said. “I cannot
believe--”

“
Well, what do you
think it means?” Basha asked, staring at her. He wanted to know the
truth of her opinion.

Monika stopped and looked at him. “I
think you need to be more careful,” She said, handing the prophecy
back to him. “Try not to show this to anyone whom you don’t
trust.”

“
I would not do
that.” He sighed, wishing she would be more forthcoming about what
she saw in there. “The Old Man told me to be careful as well,” He
said, stowing the prophecy and handkerchief into his wallet again.
“He said it was my prophecy, and could be used against me. I did
not believe that, but--I have guarded it.” He said, putting the
wallet back into his pack.

“
Have you shown the
prophecy to Oaka?” She asked.

Basha hesitated. “I may have, but it
was awhile ago, and...I did not show him everything.” He said. “I
only gave Oaka a brief moment with the paper, and told him most of
what it said.”

“
What did you
neglect?” Monika asked.

“
Uh--the part of ‘man
and beast’, I think, and the Tigora’l. I don’t know what that
means, but do you--”

“
Stop asking me that,
I’m not an Oracle.” She said.

“
Sorry, Monika.”
Basha said. She knew something, though, and he suspected something
as well, especially about the ‘man and beast’ part with some of the
strange experiences he had with terrible creatures. But it did not
answer the question as to ‘why’ for him.

“
Basha--what about--”
Monika stopped, and looked at the map. “Where are we going? I mean,
in what direction, what--”

“
Sir Nickleby came up
with the route,” Basha said. “We follow the coast here in Mila
Forest for the most part, from Coe Baba to Coe Anji and then Coe
Aela, followed by a straight shot through the Popo Hills once we
have gathered enough supplies to survive the trip without stopping
at a town, to Coe Kiki. From there, we go west again to the coast,
and follow that all the way down to the Wastelands. At that point,
we start looking along the coast and edges of the Wastelands in
search of Coe Pidaria, heading east from west, and hopefully find
Tau’s Cup without getting any of Doomba’s notice.”

“
But the Black
Wolves
…
”

“
That was a few days
ago, and we haven’t seen any since,” Basha said, looking up. “I
don’t think it means anything. Maybe they were just out hunting, or
chasing Fato the falcon like he said, and we got caught up in that
mess. Poor Sir Nickleby, he died without a reason.” Basha said,
lowering his head. “I don’t think it means anything.” He said,
trying to convince himself. “We’ll get Tau’s Cup without disturbing
Doomba or his forces,” He added.

“
What do you think
he’s dreaming about?” Monika asked, turning towards the sleeping
Oaka a few feet away.

“
Probably about
leaving.” Basha said with a shrug.

“
Why do I have to be
brave all of my life?” Oaka asked, the forest-fire burning inside
of his dream. “Can’t I be a coward
,
or am I one already?” He asked.
“Is it better to be a coward, or would it be best to be brave? What
if I was brave once, and lost my life for it? What
if
…
I
do not know,” Oaka sighed and shook his head. The forest-fire died
down inside of him as he said, “It could be true that he’ll die
because of me, that I was not there to help him. But he could kill
me as well if I was to continue on with him. What am I supposed to
do, Sisila?” He asked, turning around to face her. “He has to live,
does he not?”

“
He has to fight to
live.” Sisila said, sounding not quite like herself, emotionless
and lifeless. “We have to give him life and love, and live with
him--”

“
This is hopeless,
Sisila. What--”

“
Forgive him, Oaka.” Sisila
said, sounding even more commanding than before. “Forgive him and
live. Live, and right your errors, do not make mistakes.
Remember--” Her voice changed, as she spoke from the past,
“...‘together you both have a chance. Together you are both
stronger than you will ever be apart. You can survive this journey
with him.’”

“
Forgive him.” Oaka
said. “I have been trying, Sisila, but it’s hard, because I am
being dragged, just like I said I would be!” He added.

“
You are unwilling
because you do not believe.”

“
I made no oath to
Tau for Jawen,” Oaka said. “I may not believe in a lot of things,
like Tau’s Cup, Jawen, Fato, Monika and the whole point of this
quest--but I believe in you, Sisila.” He said, turning to the dream
figure. “I made an oath to you. You are the one that--that pushed
me forward,” He said.

“
Do you believe in
Basha?” She asked.

“
I--believe--”

He woke up as he remembered something.
When Basha went missing all those years ago, just after he had
found out that he was not a part of their family by blood, but
rather adopted, Oaka had been worried about his brother being lost
in the forest, an awful place where anything could happen to him.
And then he had been so relieved when Basha had been found
that—

“
Oh, balnor,” Oaka
said as he remembered an oath that he had sworn, late at night just
before falling asleep beside his brother again, that he would
always protect Basha. And it was an oath, not one sworn by Tau or
any other god, but he had meant it then. Many years had passed
since then, but still they were the same, brothers by choice and
not by blood.

Oaka would have sat up then, but he
heard Basha and Monika talking in the distance, and he remained
still, pretending to be asleep as they talked about the prophecy
Basha had received and the route they were taking. Oaka listened,
realizing Basha had not shared everything with him about the
prophecy, and that even he had doubts, though he tried to deny it,
of what those Black Wolves were doing.

Basha had emphatically insisted that
they defend Fato, Oaka remembered, especially after the falcon had
admitted the wolves were Black Wolves, Servants of Doomba--who
could have ‘powers over man and beast’. Even though Oaka generally
did not believe in the words of the Oracle, like his mother and
father did not, Basha could be in even more danger than they had
first thought if Doomba wanted to stop him, but why would Doomba
want to interfere with--Tau’s Cup and the Tigora’l, Oaka could not
get those two things out of his head. If Doomba wanted to stop
Basha before he could find those two things, then now would be the
perfect time.

Oaka shook his head,
it was ridiculous to think that this was even possible, that Doomba
would ever consider them a threat just because
…
he could not believe
that
…
mind you, Monika had seemed interested in joining up with
them after they had mentioned Tau’s Cup and their quest...Oaka
stopped. Monika?

Oaka had known that
she was suspicious, claiming that she was protecting them and had
the best of intentions, but she never stated just why she wanted to
join up with them. Oaka could not leave Basha alone with Monika, if
she was an agent of Doomba or something like that who might kill
him, and Fato was suspicious as well if the bird was lying to them,
but
…
Basha did not trust him, Oaka realized.

After all Oaka had
done, threatening to leave, not wanting to go in the first place,
Basha did not trust Oaka to stay with him. How could Oaka get Basha
to trust him again, and maybe not follow what Monika and Fato
wanted him to do, if they were leading him to his
death
?
Oaka had to stay. And keep an eye out for Basha.

Oaka cursed his and Basha’s
misfortunes. Then he pretended to wake up.

Basha and Monika were both sitting
close together, too close for Oaka’s taste. They both looked up,
tense as he stood before them. Oaka wanted to question Monika right
then, and wondered if he could reach Monika’s pack before she
could, if she tried to attack him, but--not right now, he thought.
Better to make her think he suspected nothing.

“
So--what have you
got to say, Basha, about last night?” He asked, hoping his brother
would have an answer by now that would ‘satisfy’ him. “I asked you
what I would receive from this quest. Now tell me, truly--for what
end did I leave our home and my Sisila?” He said.

Basha inhaled. “Oaka, I know I haven’t
been--very supportive of you these past couple of days,” He said,
“With everything that you have gone through alongside of me, and
all of the doubts that you must have after I...sort of let things
get out of hand,” He said, looking around at the others. “But I
want you to understand that--I still trust you and rely on you and
you’ll always be my brother. I don’t want to let you down. I know
that you want something out of this trip, and I’ll try my best to
give it to you. I’ll ask you for advice more, and I’ll follow that
advice, and--maybe after we get back home, if Jawen is satisfied
with seeing the Cup and me alive, then perhaps you might get the
Cup.”

“
You can’t promise me
that.” Oaka said.

“
I know, it’s Jawen
who will have to be asked.” Basha said. “Sisila--I miss Jawen too,
but you and Sisila have been together for such a long time, longer
than us, it’s hard being apart. I can’t--I will try to keep you
safe,” He said. “So that you can return home to her. If anything
else should happen, I will send you home to her myself. I won’t
expect you to go any further. I just believe this trip is worth it,
I--”

“
Basha--” Oaka
sighed. “I will give you one last chance to prove yourself to me
before I think about going home. You will--try your best to satisfy
me, maybe with asking me for advice and possibly giving me Tau’s
Cup, and maybe then I will stay with you for the rest of the
way.”

“
All right, Oaka, I
will. Thank you,” Basha said, getting up to hug his
brother.

“
I knew it!” Fato
called from up in the tree, as everyone turned their heads toward
him. “I knew that Oaka is loyal! Good, let’s go have breakfast
now!” He cried, and then flew off in search of breakfast for
himself.

“
Did that bird just
compliment me?” Oaka asked.

“
He is a good bird,”
Basha remarked.

“
Do I--can I--”
Monika asked, hesitating.

Oaka sighed. “You can join this quest,
Monika,” He said, glaring at her. “I have no problems with you. But
don’t--be careful, and I will watch out for you.” He said.

Monika frowned at him, but said nothing
then. Basha looked back and forth, sensing something was wrong
between them, but he could not fathom what it was. Fato seemed to
be the only one unaware of any problems.

They ate breakfast slowly and quietly,
not speaking to each other much as they were still contemplating
what had gone on before. Everybody was frowning, especially Monika
and Oaka, unsettled by what had not been truly explained.

At one point, Fato said, “Can we bypass
Coe Aela?”

Basha and the others stopped eating.
“Why?” Basha asked.

Fato shrugged. “I have a bad feeling
about that place, after all of the trouble we’ve been through
recently, and I’m tired of resting--we just left Coe Anji.”

“
That wasn’t much of
a rest.” Oaka remarked, glaring at Fato as he wondered what the
bird was up to now.

“
No, it was not, too
many humans about.” Fato said, glaring back at Oaka. “Besides, we
have enough supplies to last us awhile.” He suggested a moment
later.

“
Fato, we haven’t got
enough supplies to last us all of the way through the Popo Hills,”
Basha said, “And we need those supplies. Coe Aela is the only
place. What is your problem?” He asked.

“
Nothing, nothing,
consider it nothing.” Fato said, looking away. Oaka was glad he was
still going on with Basha, considering that even Fato was acting
suspicious.

Yet after breaking camp, dousing the
fire and loading all of their supplies onto their horses, they set
off, going at about a steady rate for that day and the next, once
more into the routine of travel. Monika and her horse Deja, which
she soon explained meant ‘brother’ in the Old Language, seemed to
be used to that routine. Deja maintained his speed as Talan and
Joko, Basha’s and Oaka’s horses respectively, seemed to lag behind,
or went too fast and soon had to slow down again. Fato flew ahead,
or rested on one of their pommels as they traveled.