Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira (18 page)

“Interesting theory,” Karma said slowly.  “I admit I had my doubts at first, but I don’t think she’s afraid of him.”

“Really?” Tomas said in obvious surprise.  He opened his mouth as if to say something further, then seemed to change his mind.  He turned around and looked down at the diplos.

“Why don’t you come on down with me, I’ll give you an introduction to the diplo,” he offered.  “You will see that they are nothing to be afraid of.”

Karma turned around and studied the animals below for a long moment, trying to make up her mind.  They really did remind her of dinosaurs with rough, reptilian skin and long thick tails that tapered to a point at the end.  But they also looked a bit like horses, with elongated heads and long, arching necks.  They were larger than horses, and wider, with long legs that ended in clawed, webbed feet rather than hooves.  The feature that disturbed her the most was a set of very long, curved fangs that extended below the animal’s mouths.  In spite of the giant teeth, they were grazing in the fading afternoon light, and Kapia had said that they were not carnivorous.

“All right,” Karma agreed.  “Let’s go get a closer look at these things.”

***

Half an hour later Karma entered the tent that had been designated for her use and paused just inside.  She couldn’t believe what she was looking at.  The ceiling was at least seven feet high, and the front opened into a wide, narrow area that Lashi had set up as the kitchen.  There were two openings, each covered with a flap of heavy silk, leading into separate chambers.  One contained a bed, a copper tub, and two baskets of clothes, and the other was set up as a sitting room with cushions on the floor. 

Could all of this really be just for her?  Someone made a mistake, surely.  She turned around and stepped back outside just in time to see Kapia step out of an equally large tent next to her own. 

“Kapia,” she called, walking over to her.  “Do you know where I’m supposed to sleep tonight?”

“That tent right there is yours,” Kapia said, gesturing to the one she’d just left.

“Are you sure?” 

“Is there something wrong with it?” Kapia asked.  “If there is, I’m sure Zakiel will do all that he can to correct it for you.”

“No, no, there’s no problem,” Karma replied.  “I just thought it was kind of big and fancy for me.”

Kapia smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. 

“Are you all right?” Karma asked.

“Yes, I’m fine, just tired I think,” Kapia replied without looking up.  “I did not get much sleep last night, and it’s been a long day.”

Karma studied the girl for a long moment, then decided to let it go.  Almost.  “Kapia, if there is ever anything you want to tell me, or talk to me about, I promise you, I will never repeat anything you ask me not to.”

Kapia offered her a genuine smile.  “Thank you, Karma.  That means much to me.”

“Greetings, Sister, Lady Techu,” Zakiel said, joining them.  “I hope that you both find everything that you need in your tents.”

“Yes, thank you,” Karma replied.  “Much more luxurious than I expected.”

“I’m afraid there is one luxury we will all have to do without,” Zakiel said.  “If you wish to bathe, this will be your last opportunity to do so for many days.  Water will be too precious for bathing once we enter the Duat.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Brother” Kapia said. 

“I ask that you both remain in your tents after dark,” Zakiel said.  “If you need anything, send your attendant to me.”

“Is there any particular reason for staying inside?” Karma asked.  She saw Zakiel’s jaw clench at the question and bit back a sigh. 

“I am not arguing with you,” she said, “but if there is a danger, I would prefer to be aware of it.”

 “We are no longer in the city, Lady Techu.  We are now in the wild, and there are many dangers to be wary of.”

His answer raised more questions for Karma, but she noticed that Kapia seemed tense, and guessed she wanted to speak to her brother alone.  For her sake, she decided to let the matter go for the night.

“I suppose I’ll turn in now,” she said.  “Goodnight Kapia, Prince Zakiel.”

“Goodnight, Karma,” Kapia said with a grateful smile.  Zakiel nodded and Karma turned and went into her tent.  As soon as the flap closed behind her, Kapia turned to Zakiel.

“Might I speak with you, Brother?”

“Of course, Sister,” Zakiel replied.  “I noticed that you were unable to spar as you wished.”

“Yes, it was disappointing,” Kapia replied.  “Tomas unexpectedly joined us.  He wondered why you decided to use diplos rather than strikels, though he was kind enough to grant that, as he was not a part of the planning due to his absence, he supposed there must have been a reason.”

Zakiel nodded, not trusting himself to respond in an appropriately polite manner in front of his sister.  “It appears that we have brought trouble along with us on this journey.”

“Yes, it does,” Kapia said.  “It’s obvious to me why we cannot use strikels, as it would be to anyone of Rathira.  But Lady Techu is not of Rathira.”

“What do you have in mind, Sister?”

“I want to make it clear to her that Tomas is not to be trusted,” Kapia said, meeting her Brother’s gaze straight on, though her hands were trembling.

Zakiel’s jaw clenched as he considered Kapia’s request.  After a few moments, he shook his head and sighed.  “You cannot speak against Blood, Kapia.  However, I think that if you tell Lady Techu the difference between strikels and diplos, she will figure out the rest on her own.”

“Yes, Brother, I am sure you are correct,” Kapia replied, wondering why she hadn’t thought of that.  She hesitated for a moment, biting her lip with indecision.

“There is something else you want to discuss?” he prodded gently.

“Yes,” Kapia replied.  “It’s about Marene.”

“Go on,” Zakiel urged.

“She told me that she intended to accompany us as my companion,” Kapia said.  “She was quite...emphatic about it.  I saw her retinue leaving the palace this morning, very early, yet I see no sign of her.  Is she to join us later?”

“She did approach Father about accompanying you as your companion,” Zakiel said, seeing no reason for Kapia to know the full story.  “In the interest of keeping our party to a bare minimum, Father agreed that between me and Lady Techu, you would be adequately cared for.”

“Marene accepted that?” Kapia asked doubtfully.

“Not really, no,” he replied.  “She left Ka-Teru for her estate in Tahar this morning, which is what you saw.  Not before expressing dire warnings as to your future, however.”

“Yes, she does like her threats, doesn’t she?” Kapia said softly, earning an intense look from her brother that she didn’t notice.  “She has used me as an excuse to get to you for so long, I did not dare dream that she would fail this time.  Thank you, Zakiel.” 

Zakiel nodded slowly.  He knew that Marene had used Kapia, but he had always assumed Kapia to be a willing participant.  He suddenly realized how wrong he’d been.  What else had he been wrong about, he wondered.

“Get some sleep tonight, Sister,” he said gently.  “Tomorrow will be a long day.”

“Goodnight, Brother,” Kapia said, pressing her palms together and bowing.  As she watched her brother walk away, she sighed with relief.  She’d been afraid that Marene would, as always, get her way.  The prospect of several weeks without Marene was new and very pleasant.

Chapter
11

Karma stood with her arms crossed defensively in front of her as she studied the diplo she was meant to ride.  She’d gotten a closer look at the things the evening before with Tomas, and was relieved to discover that the
fangs
were actually tusks, used to uproot vegetation rather than tear into prey.  But she hadn’t gotten close enough to touch the animals, and was uncertain what to expect. 

The animal turned it’s long, horse-like head toward her on its arched neck and stared at her with large yellow eyes.  Its slitted nostrils widened as it scented the air, then it stretched its neck closer to her and blinked slowly.

“What’s this?” she asked.  “An offering of peace?”

The diplo made a deep rumbling sound that sounded suspiciously like a purr.  Unable to resist what appeared to be a friendly overture, she smiled and stepped forward.  The diplo lowered its head and nudged her arm, startling her at first.  It waited patiently until she took the hint and patted it on the head.  It rumbled again and tilted its head sideways so that she could scratch behind its tiny, nubby ears. 

Karma laughed.  “All right, I get it,” she said.  “You’re cute and cuddly on the inside and I shouldn’t judge by looks.”

“May I help you mount?” Zakiel said, coming up behind her. 

“Sure,” Karma said, turning toward him with a bright smile.  Her eyes widened and her smile faded as she stared open mouthed at him.  Instead of the usual red kilt, which, to her mind, bared way too much skin for her comfort, Zakiel was wearing black leather pants that laced up the front and hugged his body from hips to ankles.  He wore high, soft leather boots instead of sandals, and the usual leather vest with the symbols and signs worked into it which bared a wide swath of his broad, smooth, deeply tanned chest and muscled stomach.  Her eyes were drawn to a narrow trail of dark hair that led from his navel downward until it dipped below the leather laces.  She blinked and jerked her eyes away from the sight, hoping he hadn’t noticed.

He wore leather braces trimmed with gold on both forearms that glinted in the sunlight, and the strange, beaded leather band on his upper arm that all the men wore, and which served to accentuate his bulging biceps.  He also wore the usual pair of short curved swords, one on each hip. 

After a long moment she realized she was still gaping at him, although at least her eyes were no longer on his...pant laces...and spun back around to face the diplo, her face burning with embarrassment.  She’d been staring at him as though she’d never seen a man in a pair of pants before.  Yes, he was gorgeous.  But she’d seen gorgeous, well built men before, she reminded herself.  Plenty of times.  This was the first time she’d ever made a fool of herself staring at one though. 

She couldn’t deny that the way that soft, buttery leather hugged every bulge and curve of his body sent hot shivers through her.  But she didn’t want to think about that.  Not right now.  Maybe not ever.

She struggled to think of something ordinary to say.  The diplo nudged her hand, and she automatically rubbed its ears, the gentle motion soothing her as well as the animal.  “Do you know what this guy’s name is?” she asked, turning her head just far enough to see Zakiel.

“Name?” Zakiel asked, his eyes fixed on her mouth.

Karma wondered if she had something stuck between her teeth.  She closed her mouth.  “Yes, it’s name,” she repeated, trying to talk without opening her lips too much.

“It does not have a name, as far as I know,” Zakiel said, turning away from her.  He stepped up to the enormous saddle on the back of her diplo and began checking the straps. 

Karma found herself staring again and turned back to the diplo.  It was the only safe thing to do.  With her back to him, her mind cleared enough that she remembered there was something she wanted to discuss with him.

“Prince Zakiel, I would like to speak with you about something Nikura said this morning,” she said.

“Of course, Lady Techu,” he said without turning to face her.

“He said that, beginning today, I should carry the Ti-Ank at all times rather than keep it hidden.  I wanted to ask what you thought of that.”

Zakiel frowned as he tightened the perfectly adjusted straps on her saddle and considered her question.  “Did he say why?”

“No,” Karma replied, admonishing herself to keep her eyes above his waist as she turned to face him.  He still had his back to her, but she quickly changed her mind.  She would keep her eyes above his neck.  “There are some questions that he refuses to answer, and that’s one of them.”

Unable to remain with his back to her any longer, Zakiel turned around, admonishing himself to keep his eyes off of her delectable mouth.  And that little dent in her bottom lip that was, quite simply, driving him crazy. 

“What are your thoughts, if I may ask?”

“I don’t like the way people react when they see it,” she replied. 

“What do you mean?”

“They’re either in awe of it, or frightened by it,” Karma said.  “Either way, it draws attention, and I’m not comfortable with that.  On the other hand, I feel it would be a mistake to ignore Nikura’s suggestions regarding the Ti-Ank.”

“I agree that ignoring him would be unwise,” Zakiel said.  “I also understand your hesitation in displaying it.  For the next few weeks there will be a limited number of people around you.  This may be a good time for you to become used to carrying it openly.”

“That’s true,” Karma said with a sigh.  “I’ll put it together after I get on this beast.”

“There’s a set of loops on your saddle designed for holding spears.  They should work well for the staff,” Zakiel said.  He fell silent for a moment and stared off into the distance before taking a deep breath and meeting her gaze.  “I would like to ask you something as well, if you don’t mind.”