Book I of III: The Swords of the Sultan (54 page)

Finally, around two in the morning, Baltor
made the sobering announcement that the time had come for he and
his wife to go to bed, especially since they were going to have to
leave before sunrise. Except for the girls who didn’t have to get
up early in the morning, everyone else agreed that the time had
come to call it a night.

After all the goodnights had been made a few
minutes later, Baltor held on to an intoxicated Brishava with
Humonus staggering in the lead; meanwhile, Yaush carried a very
drunk Jimnee home; finally, the girls continued to drink at the
table.

Chelsea, who had not been drinking at all the
whole night, hurried over to the staircase, and purposefully
blocked Humonus’s path at the base of the stairwell.

As Humonus stopped in his tracks and threw an
inquisitively drunk look, Chelsea answered the look with a question
of her own, “Humonus, guys, would it be all right if…if I—if I came
along with y’all?”

Humonus turned his drunken head to look at
Baltor and Brishava, who had also stopped in their tracks; Humonus
noted that both were nodding their smiling faces in the
affirmative.

After a slight pause, Humonus laughed out in
a slur, “Surrre… Soo, what room you in…Chelsssha?”

“Close enough. I’m in room six!”

With another laugh, Humonus said, “I’ll be at
room shix firsht thing in the morning.”

“Thanks!” Chelsea said before giving each of
them a quick hug, and then getting out of the way, so they could
head to their respective bedrooms. She then headed back over to the
girls, told everyone the news, said her fond farewells, and then
headed to bed.

Brishava, now in her bedroom, had immediately
fallen into bed and passed out. Baltor stayed awake all night long
preparing for the ensuing journey, which would commence first thing
after sunrise.

Not only did he get everything neatly packed
up, but he also spent several hours drawing up a map based off
memory. The specific route he had taken to safely get through the
Bospa Mountains and into the Jungles of Galgaa.

As Baltor already learned the first time—take
the wrong turn and there would be some very serious, perhaps deadly
repercussions.

By the time he had nearly completed all of
his tasks, there remained about an hour or so until sunrise, or so
Baltor approximated upon looking through the glass windows that
revealed the lightening skies.

He decided that the time had come to change
into his new daily/sleeping attire, though he would wait until the
last minute to wear the hat with the optional facial visor that had
eyeholes. Therefore, he opened the black, leather waterproof bag,
and after pulling the hat out by the top of the crown, he dropped
it nonchalantly onto the bed, where it came to rest after a slight
thudding noise.

The next thing to catch his eye within the
bag was the one-piece black suit. Just after having pulled the suit
out of the bag, putting it on, and then buttoning it up, he threw a
quick glance over into the mirror.

He quietly chuckled, as he muttered aloud,
“Looks like kiddy pajamas.”

After he had donned the socks that had been
lying right under the suit, he pulled the final item out of the
bag—the black boots. After securing the boots to his feet, he then
donned the necklace Brishava had gotten for him.

He took one last look over to the bed, in
order to pick up the hat and put it back into the bag, but then he
noticed a string that was now poking out from underneath the
visor.

He picked up the hat and then flipped it,
while noting in surprise that Brishava had added two extra features
to the hat, since last he saw it. Not only did the hat now have a
front pocket that held the pocketed facial visor, yet it also had a
thick, black string sewn into the opposite ends at the base of the
crown.

He realized that whenever he didn’t want to
wear the hat on his head, he could simply hang the cord around his
neck, thus allowing the hat to hang loosely upon his back.

After choosing the second route, he finally
strapped on the black sheath that still held his beloved sword, and
looked again into the mirror. Instead of laughing this time, there
was only a very pleased smile imbedded upon his face, while his
head nodded in approval at the man who nodded right back in the
mirror.

Several seconds later, he wondered at how
much time he had until sunrise, so he opened his bedroom door,
peeked out the window on the other side of the hallway, which
revealed the colors of dawn that fast approaching. There was still
about a half an hour or so left until sunrise, so he closed the
door, walked back over to Brishava, who was still sleeping in bed,
and ever so gently shook her while calling her name.

“Hmmm?” she finally responded very
sleepily.

“It’s almost time to wake up. Everything’s
packed, and hot water will be on its way shortly, so you can take a
bath. Right now, I need to talk to Humonus about something
important, which he will later explain to you when you’re
conscious, so I’ll be right back—love you!”

After planting a light kiss on her cheek,
Baltor grabbed the map, exited the bedroom, and closed the door
behind him. He then walked over to Humonus’s room, and knocked on
the door.

A few moments later, Humonus said from the
other side of the door, “Come in.”

Baltor opened the door, entered, and then
closed the door behind him. As he turned back around, he noticed
that Humonus was still packing his belongings away, and that
Chelsea was sleeping soundly on the bed.

A few moments later, Baltor half whispered,
“Humonus, I made a map that will get us to the Galgaa Jungles
safely. It is important that I explain this map to you right now.
Later, you can explain it to Brishava and Chelsea…

“Most likely, I’ll be sleep by the time we
leave, so you’ll have to carry me to the wagon parked behind
Yaush’s barn. You know where that’s at, right?”

Humonus answered, “Yeah, I know where Yaush’s
barn is. Hold one more second…okay.” He then stopped packing, and
met Baltor halfway in the bedroom.

It only took Baltor several minutes to
explain the route based off his map, while Humonus continuously
nodded his head in understanding. Once completed with the
directions, Baltor concluded, “…and that’s it!”

“Gotcha, buddy,” Humonus replied, “I’ll
explain the map to Brishava and Chelsea later, as you requested.
Once I’m done packing, we’ll meet you over at your room, okay?”

“Okay.”

Baltor exited the room, and he headed back to
his room. Immediately upon entering, he became quite a bit
surprised to see Yaush and Jimnee standing inside.

Brishava was now awake yet still only wearing
her pajamas.

Once Baltor had closed the door behind him,
he turned around, and noted that Yaush was looking very sad.

In confirmation, Yaush said in a sad tone of
voice, “My friend, I am going to miss you so much!”

Baltor responded, “And I you, my friend!”

Yaush appeared to fight back some tears, as
he said with his arms extended out, “Come here.”

Baltor approached and accepted the tight hug
from Yaush. A minute passed until Yaush finally released his
embrace, and Baltor could see tears sprout down the giant’s
face.

Through his unabated tears, Yaush said, “You
must promise me that you’ll come back again. You and your beautiful
wife can stay in our home anytime!”

While trying to fight back tears, Baltor
replied, “I swear that I will come back, but only once our
situation has fully been resolved.”

Yaush replied seriously, “I know that you are
the man to resolve any situation that comes your way. And I know
that Brishava is the woman to help and support you along the way!
Did you know that the two of you are soulmates, just like me and
Jimnee?”

Without waiting for a response, Yaush
immediately walked over to where Brishava stood—though she
listened, she did not understand a word they said.

Upon drawing near, Yaush extended his massive
arms out and gave her a tight hug for a few moments. He then
relaxed the hug until he looked down into her eyes, and said,
“Baltor, please tell Brishava, ‘It truly was a pleasure, and an
honor, to meet you!’”

Baltor interpreted.

Brishava responded, “Tell Yaush that rarely
have I met someone who is as noble as he! And I’ve met many
nobles.”

Baltor interpreted.

Jimnee then walked over to Baltor, gave him a
tight hug, and with tears flowing out of her eyes, she said,
“Baltor, as my husband says, you two are more than welcome to stay
at our home at any time. If you should ever need any more clothes
made, you’ll always know where to come!”

She released her hold on Baltor, but then
immediately clasped onto his hands as she laughed, “Oh—did you know
some of the townsfolk of Valakan conjured a little nickname for you
after you left the first time? They began to call you,
‘Volfenpakslaer’!”

Baltor’s mind had already instantly
translated the words as “the slayer of a whole pack of wolves!” As
he laughed, he gave Jimnee another tight embrace; from all the high
emotions in the room, he could no longer fight back the bloody
tears that began to pour from his eye sockets.

As soon as Jimnee pulled back from the hug,
and she saw all the blood on Baltor’s face, she stammered out in
shock, “My God? What, what is this—blood pouring from your
eyes?”

Baltor wiped the tears, which only smeared
the blood further upon his face as he tried to explain, “I’ve
obtained a mysterious illness from the jungles.”

“How strange,” Yaush added with
astonishment—Jimnee replied at the same time, “Oh my goodness!”

Even though Brishava couldn’t understand the
language, she understood the strange and shocked expressions, and
said to Baltor, “They’re wondering about your illness, aren’t they?
Tell them that your illness may be strange—but that you are the
noblest man I’ve ever met!”

While still trying to wipe off the remaining
blood with his hands, Baltor translated the words.

Jimnee spoke first, “Tell Brishava that I
know this to be true, but I’ve never seen anything quite like it
before, and I, well, we were just in shock, that’s all. I am sorry
if our comments hurt you, or your husband’s feelings.”

As Baltor translated, Brishava soon relaxed.
Once completed with the translation, she replied with a curtsy,
“Gemne mao, Jimnee.”

Just then, a knock on the door interrupted
their conversation.

Brishava walked over to the door and opened
it, and there stood Humonus and Chelsea with bags in hand.

There was still a tad bit of dried blood on
Baltor’s face that he had missed—Jimnee noticed it, licked the
sleeve of her shirt, and then quickly wiped the blood off until
gone.

Humonus didn’t step in the room, yet instead
asked, “Well guys—are we ready to go?”

Baltor said, “Yeah, just about. Are you
ready, honey?”

“I haven’t taken my bath or gotten dressed
yet in my traveling attire.”

Humonus asked, “You haven’t? Why not?”

“Long story, Humonus,” Brishava answered.
“Give us ten more minutes and we’ll be ready to go.”

Baltor’s gaze fell to the window, and the
skies that were seriously lighting up—he figured it’d be about two
to three minutes until the sun rose.

“Baltor, please tell your friends, Yaush and
Jimnee,” Humonus said, “that it was a pleasure to meet them.”
Baltor translated.

“And tell Humonus and Chelsea the same
thing,” was Jimnee’s response.

Baltor translated. He then added in
Valakanese, “Oh, we’ll all be dropping by to pick up the wagon and
five horses, including Grasha—someone will have to ride her
separately as we will use her for scouting purposes. As I will be
sound asleep very soon, I must make my final farewell now. My
friends, Yaush and Jimnee—farewell!”

At the same time, Yaush and Jimnee came over
and gave Baltor a group hug, while saying, “Farewell!” Brishava
joined in a moment later. A few moments later Humonus and Chelsea
joined in on the group hug.

About twenty seconds later, once the hug had
been released, Yaush and Jimnee gave their farewells to Humonus and
Chelsea, and then exited the room; hand in hand, Yaush and Jimnee
returned home.

Once gone, Humonus informed, “We’ll be back
in the room, whenever you guys are ready.”

Brishava replied, “Okay.”

After Chelsea and Humonus had left, Brishava
took off her nightclothes and hopped in the warm bathtub—meanwhile,
Baltor pulled out the visor, laid the hat and visor right over his
face and neck, and fell asleep upon the bed.

Once Brishava was ready to go, she retrieved
Humonus and Chelsea. Together they walked to Yaush’s place,
retrieved four of their horses from the barn, attaching them to tow
the wagon—Grasha was, only minutes later, ready to go with her own
saddle and reins.

After saying their final farewells to Yaush
and Jimnee, they traveled to the inn. Brishava rode on Grasha.

Upon arrival at the inn, they packed
everything up into the back of the wagon, which included Baltor’s
sleeping body, and once everyone had taken a quick potty break, the
group began to make their way east. By the time they left the
borders of Valakan, it was an hour and a half after sunrise.

For the entire day, filled mostly with cloudy
skies and periodical light rains, Humonus followed the directions
of the map, all the while scouting the areas out for danger and the
best routes for the wagon—he rode upon Grasha. All the while,
either Brishava or Chelsea steered the wagon, and Baltor slept in
the back.

Never did they take any breaks, other than
breakfast, lunch, and one other fifteen-minute break in the late
afternoon.

That evening, around seven or so, the rain
had once again stopped for the dozenth time. It was then that
Humonus found a perfect spot for them to camp, which area was a
small clearing between three tree-covered mountains. Immediately
the girls began the process of setting up a four-man tent, while he
began building a campfire using timber they had stored in the back
of the wagon.