Flameseeker (Book 3) (32 page)

Tachus blinked several times and then sneered. “
Uncle
?
Amil is your
uncle
?”

Kaijin nodded once, virtually unfazed by Tachus’s
surprise.

Tachus swore under his breath.
As if I didn’t
already have Omari to deal with! However ...
The thought of a Firebrand in
the family would perhaps make things even better between the families.
Yes,
of course. I’ve been such a fool to not see it before.
He smiled to Kaijin.
“Regrettably, Amil has a point. In that case, you have my blessings to marry
her.”

Kaijin blinked, perhaps startled that Tachus had accepted
so easily. “Th—Thank you, sir! Oh thank you so much!” He sprang up from his
chair.

“And I will see that Vargas is surrendered to you
before you and your friends leave tomorrow.” Tachus stood as well. “For now,
however, I think his time is better spent where he currently is: locked away in
the dungeons under close watch by my guards.”

Kaijin nodded. “That is fine. Thank you again for
this talk. It was an honor.”

“Likewise, Kaijin.” Tachus inclined his head and
watched the young man take his leave.

XXXIII

The next morning, Kaijin and his friends had
breakfast, restocked their provisions, then gathered in the main hall with Tachus,
Vargas, Niveah, and several guards.

Tachus hugged his teary wife and kissed her on the
cheek. “I sent a messenger out to fetch Saris. He should return in a few
months.”

Niveah nodded solemnly, then dropped her gaze to
the floor.

Tachus tilted her chin up to urge her to look at
him. “Now you must be stronger than ever, my love. You will be acting in my
stead until our son returns.”

“But this change is so sudden. And what am I to
tell our people when they begin to inquire and speculate about your
whereabouts?” Niveah asked.

Tachus pursed his lips a moment. “Tell them that I
have gone on a religious journey.”

She sighed. “No more lies, Tachus.”

“It is no lie. I do plan to go on a religious
journey if—when I am free. I sense that Almighty Ignis is angry with me, and I
must rectify that. When Saris returns, he will ascend as Zebi’s new leader.”

Doubt still lingered on her face.

“I will serve out my term—quietly—and return when
the time is right,” Tachus assured, and then kissed her on the lips.

Kaijin looked sidelong at Jarial, who remained
rigid as he watched the exchange. It seemed the man felt no remorse for Tachus,
who might not ever see his wife again.

If Master Jarial cannot help him, then he will
most likely be committed to death. Ranaiah would be devastated....
Kaijin
bit his bottom lip.

Jarial cleared his throat gently. “Honored
Shak’ha,
we should be off soon before the afternoon heat renders it too dangerous to
travel.”

Frowning, Tachus turned back to Jarial, and gave a
reluctant nod. He kissed Niveah on both of her cheeks, then her lips, and
finally released her. He joined Kaijin and the others. “All right. Let us go.”

Jarial looked around. “Aren’t we missing someone?”

Tachus’s eyes fixed toward one of the far walls, where
shadows cloaked the area. “Masrah,” he called.

The shadows converged and formed a figure. Masrah
appeared and silently approached the group.

“I had gone out earlier to check on Haas, Jahi,
and our mounts,” Omari explained to the group. “They are all fine. They made
camp outside the city last night while they waited for us. They will be expecting
us soon, so let us get going.”

“Very well, then,” Tachus said with a nod,
somewhat relieved that he would not have to call upon his own precious camels for
the trip. “Lead the way.”

* * *

Kaijin and his group returned to Haas and Jahi,
who had set up a small camp under the shade of a group of palm trees not far
outside the city. The animals sat in a small huddle in the shade and rested.
The two guides, relieved to see everyone again, quickly broke camp and prepared
to leave. Kaijin mounted his camel and Haas helped Vargas up on it as well to
sit behind him. Unlike the rest of the group, Aidan opted for walking again,
and it was decided by the rest of the group that Tachus and Masrah do the same.

“This is preposterous!” Tachus protested. “You
expect us to
walk
such a long way?”

Omari adjusted himself on his mount, then looked
over his shoulder. “Indeed, no murderous scum deserve the luxuries of riding my
father’s camels.”

Aidan, who was standing behind Tachus and Masrah
bumped them both forward with his weight. “Walking is good exercise. Now, no
more complaining, or does Aidan have to carry you both over his shoulder?”

Tachus and Masrah stared horrified at the giant.

“No, that ... that is quite all right,” Tachus
said.

Kaijin felt a pulsating heat on his chest and
winced. He pulled out his necklace and stared at the fiery-shaped charm, which
gave of a slight, orange glow. Was Za’thaak attempting to communicate with him?
Curious, Kaijin concentrated and tried to mentally reach out to the afriti.

“What are you trying to tell me, Za’thaak?”
Kaijin asked.

Za’thaak’s menacing voice echoed in his mind.
“The
dais ...”

“What dais? Where?”

Za’thaak showed him something that looked like an
oasis. The image panned, and just outside the oasis, drawn in golden sand, was
a large circle, similar to the one he and his group had investigated the
morning before. Kaijin blinked, and the image disappeared.
Where is that?

“West,”
Za’thaak said, answering Kaijin’s
thought even though he hadn’t put it into thought-speech.

Unperturbed by Za’thaak’s unexpected response,
Kaijin looked to the west. He noticed a line of palm trees dotting the
distance, well-beyond Zebi’s outskirts.
“Is there another portal over there?
Are you able to activate it?”

“I can.”

Kaijin looked to the rest of his group, who had finished
getting situated and were ready to go.
They’ll think I’m crazy for wanting
to go there—for trusting a rogue afriti.
Kajin figured Za’thaak heard his
thinking to himself, but Kaijin decided to speak to the afriti mentally regardless.
“You better not be leading us into a trap, Za’thaak.”

Za’thaak didn’t respond.

The group formed a line, with Jahi at the front.
“Let us be off,” he said.

“Wait!” Kaijin called, and everyone turned to him.

“What is it now, Kaijin?” Omari asked, annoyed.
“The longer we delay, the longer it will take us to get back!”

Ignoring Omari, Kaijin looked at Zarya. “Zarya, do
you remember the portal you discovered on our way here?”

The priestess nodded. “Of course.”

“Well, there is apparently another one near by,
and I think I know how it can be activated—Za’thaak.”

Zarya blinked. “The afriti? But how can you be so
certain ...”

Kaijin heard Vargas whisper behind him to himself.
“I think ... I remember ...”

Kaijin peered over his shoulder at the old man.
“That is how you managed to get here so quickly, wasn’t it?”

Vargas nodded slowly.

“It makes sense now,” Jarial muttered. “But I
still don’t think we should trust Za’thaak.”

“Aye!” Nester spoke up. “For once, I agree with
you! That afriti was scarier than my Aunt Nina! ’E’s liable to turn us all into
flamin’ toads or somethin’!”

“No, he won’t. He obeys me—of this, I am certain,”
Kaijin said. And I think he is telling the truth.”

“Why don’t we see for ourselves?” Zarya suggested.
“I don’t see the harm in investigating. Is the place far from here, Kaijin?”

Kaijin shook his head. “Not too far.” He pointed.
“Just over there.”

“Another oasis, it looks like,” Haas said from
behind him.

Omari grumbled. “Confound it. We are wasting
time.”

“Perhaps not,” Jarial said. “
If
Za’thaak is
being truthful, we will be back at the Harran in no time at all.”

Omari reluctantly complied, and he gave his orders
to Jahi.

The sun had just reached its apex by the time the
group approached the oasis and dismounted. Kaijin spotted circles drawn in the
sand like the ones they had first found. “This must be it,” he said.

Tachus stepped beside Kaijin and looked toward the
circles. “What is it? And how did it get here?”

“It’s a portal,” Zarya replied. “It requires powerful
divine energy to be activated.”

Tachus tapped his chin. “I have not seen a portal
like this before.”

Kaijin noticed Vargas fidgeting nervously. “More
memories coming back to you, Vargas?” Kaijin asked.

Vargas nodded. “Za’thaak created this. I recall
him explaining how he required a dais in order to travel freely in the mortal
realm.”

Kaijin arched an eyebrow.
So, Za’thaak cannot
even travel the mortal realm on his own. He requires a host—a master.

Tachus confronted Vargas. “If that is true, than
it is possible for this portal to take us straight to Ghaeldorund?”

Vargas shook his head. “No, all of the portals he
has made are attuned differently. This one is attuned to the oasis near the
Harran.”

Tachus scowled. “The Harran? I do not wish to see
Amil.”

“You have little choice in the matter,
Shak’ha,
”
Jarial said flatly. “But I will ensure that any conflict between you and Amil
is diffused.” He nodded to Kaijin for him to continue.

Kaijin lifted his charm. He concentrated on
Za’thaak, and tried to communicate with him mentally.
“All right, Za’thaak.
Open this portal. No tricks now, understand?”

The heat from the charm intensified, and fire
leapt from it and landed on the ground in the circle. The fire grew in size,
taking Za’thaak’s shape and likeness. The fire burning around his feet created
small ripples in the sand, like a rock does when thrown into a lake.

Everyone but Kaijin backed away. The animals cried
out in fear, and Jahi and Haas tried to calm them.

Za’thaak stared at Kaijin, but unlike before, the
afriti’s intense turquoise gaze did not faze him. Za’thaak turned his back and
knelt down. Golden flames erupted from his body, then traveled down to the
rings in the sand. The flames dissipated, and the rings began to give off a
warm, golden glow.

Za’thaak stood and turned back to Kaijin.
“It
is done.”
Afterward, he became a blaze of fire and returned to the charm.

Kaijin heard a series of gasps behind him.

“By the goddess!” Zarya exclaimed.

“I saw it, an’ I still don’t believe it!” Nester
said.

Kaijin placed one foot into the glowing circle. He
felt the ground, but there was no heat from the light. Afterward, he placed his
other foot in the circle and walked toward the center. He looked back to his
friends. “It seems all right, I think ...” He paused, and an image of the other
portal they had encountered not far from the Harran appeared in his mind.

Zarya approached the circle cautiously, followed
by Jarial. She examined the circle for a moment, then stepped in the light.
Jarial hesitated before following.

“Come on, everyone,” Kaijin beckoned the rest of
the group.

Omari, Nester and Aidan drew near and entered the
circle. Jahi and Haas followed with the camels. When everyone stood inside the
lighted circle, Kaijin concentrated on the image he saw in his mind.

“It’s not gonna ’urt, is it?” Nester said.

“I hope this thing works, Kaijin,” Omari muttered.

Not responding to his companions, Kaijin tried communicating
with Za’thaak again.
“Send us safely to our destination.”

The circle’s glow brightened and blinded Kaijin. He
squeezed his eyes shut. The brightness subsided, and he opened his eyes again.
He and his companions stood under the shade of date palms in the oasis they had
first visited.

Kaijin asked the group, “Is everyone all right?”

Everyone appeared shaken, but was physically unharmed.

“What just happened?” Nester asked, scratching the
side of his head.

Jarial looked around curiously. “The portal seems
to have worked.”

Tachus’s gaze fixed on the small mountain in the
distance, where the lighted outline of the Harran could be seen on the orange
horizon. A growling sound rumbled in his throat. “And now, we must go to
that
place.”

* * *

It was mid-afternoon when Kaijin and his group
reached the path leading up the mountain. They were stopped by Leilanna, who
let them pass, but not without a displeased look at Tachus and Masrah. Miele,
who flew above the group, alerted Kaijin of more people ahead. As Kaijin
ascended the long mountain path, he discovered some of the mages already
waiting for them at the Harran’s front entrance. Kaijin and his group
dismounted the camels, gathered their belongings, and Jahi and Haas headed to
the stables with the animals. With scowls and glares on their faces, the mages
at the entrance reluctantly let Kaijin and his group in and escorted them
through the main hall. Unlike the first time he walked through here, Kaijin
heard scornful whispers about Tachus from some of the mages.

Kaijin looked over his shouder at Tachus,
wondering if he had heard some of what was being said, but Tachus’s face was
expressionless.

Omari, who was walking at the head of the line
with one of the mage attendants, stopped and faced the group. “Just a minute,”
he said, prompting the rest of the group to halt. “
I
will get my
father.”

The attendant opened his mouth to say something,
then promptly closed it and nodded curtly to Omari. “Of course, Young Master.”

Omari spun on his heel and marched toward the east
hallway where the staircase going up was located. He returned several minutes
later with Amil.

Amil stopped before the group and fixed his gaze first
on Masrah, and then on Tachus. “So, you are here.”

Masrah stared back and kept silent.

Tachus lifted his head haughtily. “Indeed. And my
son will rule in my stead.”

“Saris?” Amil blinked. “The new
shak’ha
?”

“For now, at least.” Tachus narrowed his eyes.
“Why? You do not think my son is capable of ruling?”

Kaijin cleared his throat, sensing unnecessary tension
building. “Good news, Uncle!
Shak’ha
Tachus has given me his blessings
to marry Ranaiah!”

“
If
she agrees to it,” Tachus added
sharply, shooting a glare at Kaijin.

Amil’s face softened. “Ah! That
is
wonderful news! I am glad you agree with this union, Tachus.”

“Yes, well ... if it will make my sister happy ...”

Gaping, Omari whipped his head back and forth.
“What! Marriage?
Kaijin
? No one has informed me of this!”