Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira (10 page)

When Karma reached King Rhobar’s private sitting room, she set the problem of Kapia aside.  She hesitated briefly in the doorway, surprised and disappointed to find Prince Zakiel there. 

He was incredibly beautiful to look at.  She would not lie to herself about that.  However, he was also abrupt to the point of rudeness, every word out of his mouth was either a demand or a command, his eyes were never anything but cold, and he clearly disliked her a great deal without having made any attempt whatsoever to get to know her first. 

“Good morning, Lady Techu,” King Rhobar greeted her. 

“Good morning, Highness,” she replied, bowing her head to him as Kapia had instructed before closing the door behind Nikura.  She glanced at the Prince who nodded at her.  She returned his nod civilly.

“Have you met my son, Prince Zakiel?” King Rhobar asked.

“No,” Karma replied.  “He has spoken to me, but he did not offer to introduce himself.  I did assume his identity though.”

King Rhobar frowned at his son, who remained silent.  It wasn’t like Zakiel to be intentionally rude.  He disliked off-worlders, true, but even he had expressed relief at the discovery of the Techu at long last, regardless of her origins.

“When did you speak?” King Rhobar asked curiously.

“In the practice yard,” Karma replied as she joined them in the sitting area and took a seat at King Rhobar’s gesture.  “He questioned my ability to give Princess Kapia a lesson on the use of a staff.”

“You gave her a lesson?” King Rhobar asked in surprise.

“She asked to be taught some method of self-defense,” Karma explained.  “After her...adventure the other day, she felt that it might be useful in future.  If nothing else, it will give her a sense of confidence in herself that she desperately needs right now.”

“You object to this course of action for your sister?” King Rhobar asked Zakiel.

“I do not,” Zakiel replied. 

“That’s interesting,” Karma said.  “Kapia indicated that you thought her to be too young and incompetent to wield a weapon.”

For the first time, Zakiel looked uncomfortable.  “I was given to understand that her physical prowess was such that she would be more of a danger to herself than an opponent.”

“I wonder who would say such a thing to you about your sister?” Karma asked softly, not expecting an answer.  “So, is that why you tried to stop us this morning?”

“My intent was not to stop you,” Zakiel replied.  “I wished only to ascertain the ability of the teacher.”

King Rhobar raised a brow in question. 

“I determined that she is more than qualified,” Zakiel said, his voice as cold as ever in spite of his words of praise.  “I’ve no idea what Lady Techu’s level of skill is considered to be on her home world, but on Rathira she easily surpasses any Master I have seen or heard of.”

“In that case, I am most appreciative of your efforts to teach my daughter, Lady Techu,” King Rhobar said with a deep nod.

“Thank you, Highness,” Karma replied.  After a moment she added, “And please, Highness, call me Karma.  I am not accustomed to being called
Lady Techu
.”  She was careful to address King Rhobar only, mindful of what Kapia had told her the evening before.  

“Thank you, Karma,” King Rhobar replied with a smile.  “You do me much honor.  I shall never abuse the privilege of your name.”

Karma smiled and steadfastly refused to look in Prince Zakiel’s direction. 

“Now, to business,” King Rhobar said.  “We must plan this journey to the Sirelina.”

“How far is it?” Karma asked.

“It will take ten weeks to reach the Kytherian Sea,” Prince Zakiel said.  “From there, perhaps another week to the Sirelina.”

“That’s a long time,” Karma frowned. 

“You seem worried,” King Rhobar observed. 

“I am,” she replied.  “I don’t know if we have that much time.”

“Unfortunately, Lady Techu, we do not have speeders on Rathira,” Prince Zakiel said coldly.  “We must walk, or ride, or travel on boats.”

Karma glanced down at Nikura where he lay beside her chair.  “What do you think, Nikura?”

“A smaller party will travel more quickly,”
he suggested. 

Karma repeated what Nikura had said, thinking that it certainly made sense to her.

“How do we know that?” Prince Zakiel demanded.

“How do you know what?” she asked, confused by both his question and his apparent anger.

“That Nikura said such a thing,” Prince Zakiel replied.  “We have only your word for it, and we know nothing of you.”

“Do not include me in your use of the word
we
,” King Rhobar growled angrily at his son and heir.  “I have no doubts, as I expressed to you quite clearly.

“You are calling me a liar,” Karma said in surprise.  “I agreed to stay here to aid your people, your world, at the risk of my own life, for no reason other than to assist you, and you call me a liar.”

 “I do not call you liar, Lady Techu,” he said.  “I am concerned as to the reasons for your...
generosity
.”  The emphasis he placed on the last word infuriated Karma.  And the King.

“What do you suggest, Son?” King Rhobar demanded. 

Prince Zakiel clenched his jaw and refused to meet his Father’s gaze. 

“Very well,” King Rhobar said, “I will tell you, straight out, that nothing was asked for, nor offered to Lady Techu in exchange for her agreement to aid us.”

Zakiel had the grace to flush in embarrassment.  “I wish only to be as assured as you, Father, as to Lady Techu’s identity.  Much depends upon her.”

 “Now you want proof that I am not a liar,” Karma said.  “Tell me, Prince Zakiel, if you do not believe me, then why do you call me
Lady Techu
?”

“Because my father has decreed it so,” Prince Zakiel replied.

“Assemble the Ti-Ank and I will give him his proof,”
Nikura said. 

Karma looked down to see that Nikura was now standing, his blue eyes narrowed at Zakiel.

“I have no desire to give him his proof,” Karma said heatedly.

“I understand that,”
Nikura said. 
“However, he is needed, so it must be done.”

“It doesn’t need to be done by me,” she replied.  “I believe that I made a mistake in remaining here.”  She turned to face the king.  “King Rhobar, I’m sorry, but you will need to find yourself another Techu.  I suggest you find one that your son will approve of beforehand.”

“There can be no other Techu,” King Rhobar said quickly.  “You are the only one.  Without you, Rathira will cease to exist.”

Karma set her jaw, too angry to back down.

“You will condemn all of Rathira because of the words of one man?”
Nikura asked. 

Karma returned Nikura’s stare for a long moment before giving in.  “Fine,” she snapped, knowing that Nikura was right.  She couldn’t condemn an entire world because Prince Zakiel was a butthead. 

She threw Zakiel a resentful look, then bent down and pulled up her pant leg to the top of her boot.  She slipped the ankh from her boot top, then repeated the procedure with the other boot to remove the black rod.  She extended the rod and snapped the ankh to one end before standing up and moving a few steps away from the Prince and King Rhobar.  Nikura shook himself, then sat down beside Karma and wrapped his long tail around his paws. 

Karma closed her eyes and tried to focus as she had done the day before.  She was gratified to feel the energy within her reach for the ankh much more quickly than before.  She opened her eyes to see that the ankh was glowing.  Within seconds the soft glow flowed from the ankh toward Nikura, then surrounded him as it had Samyi the day before.

“Greetings, King and Prince of Isiben,”
Nikura began.  Karma heard Nikura in her mind as she always did, not with her ears.  From the expressions of surprise on the faces of the two men, they heard him as well.

“Greetings,” they both replied, their eyes on the Sphin.

“Prince Zakiel,”
Nikura said, turning his gaze on the younger man, 
“this is not about you, your pride, your beliefs, or your likes and dislikes.  The fate of Rathira is at stake.  If I did not have information to impart to you, and were you not the most qualified man in Isiben to lead the Orb Quest to save Rathira, I would not be bothered to offer you proof of Lady Techu’s words.  However, should you continue to treat her in this manner, I have no qualms in removing you and seeking a replacement to lead us.  It is your sister, Princess Kapia, who is required to make this journey.  Not you.”

“She cannot go,” Prince Zakiel argued at once.  “She is but a child.”

“This is not debatable,”
Nikura snapped, his tail lashing angrily against the floor. 
“If she does not go, then there is no purpose in the journey.  I shall counsel Lady Techu to withdraw her assistance and leave Rathira to its fate.”

“Why does Kapia have to make this journey?” King Rhobar asked after shooting a warning look at his son.

“She is the only remaining female descendant of the creator of the Moon Orb,”
Nikura replied. 
“Only she has the right to claim it.”

“How do you know this?” King Rhobar asked.  “Techu Samyi did not say it was to be Kapia.  She said it was
She of the Blood of the Tree of Life,
whatever that might mean.”

Nikura yawned widely, exposing his teeth, and Karma felt his frustration and impatience.
  “What is the meaning of your daughter’s name?”
he asked.

“The meaning of her name?” King Rhobar asked, nonplussed.  “It is a family name for females of the House of Feenis that has been used for many centuries.  I know of no particular meaning.”

“The old word for the precious resin of the Tree of Life, that which is now known as
robus
, is
kapia
.”

Prince Zakiel swore softly, but King Rhobar remained silent for a long moment, his eyes unbearably sad.  “Will it be dangerous for her?” King Rhobar asked.

“King Rhobar, do you think only Lady Techu should risk her life to safe our world?”
Nikura asked
.  “I confess, I would expect your son to think so, but not you.”

King Rhobar shook his head slowly.  “No,” he said, “I do not.”

“Nor do I,” Prince Zakiel said, surprising Karma.

“It will be as you say, Nikura, of course,” King Rhobar said sadly.

“Thank you, King Rhobar
,” Nikura said. 
“I warn you, as Techu Samyi warned you, that time is important.”

“How much time do we have?” King Rhobar asked.

Nikura stared at the king in silence for a long moment. 
“I do not know,”
he said finally. 
“Perhaps at some point I will be given that information, but for now I can only say, hurry.”

“Preparations have already begun,” Prince Zakiel said.  “Unfortunately, even taking fewer men, I do not believe we can shorten our journey by very much.  Ten weeks is how long it takes to travel the Trader’s Road from Ka-Teru to the Kytherian Sea.”

“We cannot afford that much time, Highness,”
Nikura said. 
“There must be another route.”

“The Path of the Duat Wells,” King Rhobar said quietly. 

“Father, that is a very dangerous route,” Zakiel said. 

“How much time will it take to cut across the Duat?”
Nikura asked.

“Six weeks to the sea at most, five at best,” Prince Zakiel replied reluctantly.  He glanced at his father and nodded.  “We will cross the Duat.”

“I know that it’s dangerous, Prince Zakiel,”
Nikura said,
“but if we are too late, Rathira as we know it will perish.”

“I understand,” Prince Zakiel said.  “We will hasten preparations for the earliest possible departure.  I will push for five days.

“We will decrease the size of the party as well,” King Rhobar added.  “Is there anything else we should know?  Should I also go?”

“No, King Rhobar, you must remain here,”
Nikura said.  He turned to Zakiel. 
“I will inform Lady Techu of any further insights.  Hopefully, she will not be forced to expend her energy in this manner again for such a frivolous cause.”

“Expend her energy?” Prince Zakiel asked in confusion.

Karma frowned at Nikura, then glanced at the Ti-Ank when the soft glow of light blinked off suddenly rather than fading as it had before.  She opened her mouth to say something to Nikura when black spots appeared before her eyes, followed by a heavy dark blanket.

Zakiel saw Karma begin to crumple and leapt forward to catch her before she could hit the floor.  He lifted her slender form into his arms, his entire being reacting powerfully to the feel of her against his body.  He turned and laid her gently on the sofa, forcing himself to release her when everything within him screamed to hold her closer.

“I will fetch a physician,” he said, stepping back from the sofa reluctantly.

“Wait,” King Rhobar said.  “This happened yesterday after she used the Ti-Ank in a similar manner to speak with Techu Samyi.  Perhaps she will come out of it in a moment.”