Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira (2 page)

Olaf, Rand and Rudy chuckled softly, but the Sphin did not deign to look at them.  He continued staring out over the water, as motionless as a statue.

Relieved that the cat...er...Sphin had fallen silent, Karma wondered again why she was here, on Rathira.  After a few moments, she lifted one shoulder in her characteristic half shrug, and decided to stop worrying about it.  The answer would either come, or not.  She decided to follow Aisling’s example and enjoy the view.

The river was very wide, the water so calm that the surface shone like a mirror, reflecting the pale blue skies above.  Now and then small fish would leap into the air, breaking the surface with flashes of bright silver, green and red, but other than that there was no movement. 

When they’d boarded the boat there was nothing but white sand as far as the eye could see on either side of the river.  As they traveled further north, they began to see greenery along the banks, just a little at first, then more and more the further they went.  As the foliage increased, so did the wildlife.  There were more fish leaping into the air, and flocks of birds trying to catch them.  The number and variety of birds increased by the mile, as did the size and color variations of the fish. 

“Captain Singer, what is the name of this river?” Aisling asked.  “Do you know?”

“It is called
Ank-Teru
,” Captain Singer replied.  “The River of Life.”

Aisling smiled as she watched a flock of tiny pink and white birds fly overhead.  “That’s a good name.”

Karma silently agreed.  A river such as this through so much barren desert certainly made the difference between prosperity and starvation, if not life and death for the people who lived here.  Of course, she thought wryly, if there were no river, then there probably wouldn’t be any people here to begin with.

A few miles further up the river they began to see small farms along both banks, usually with one or two people working the fields.  A bit further along, the farms got bigger, and there were more people working them.  They also began to see herds of livestock drinking along the banks of the river, tended by children.  There were other boats on the river now, fishing boats mostly, but occasionally they saw bigger ones, much like their own, though not quite so large.  Those seemed to be pleasure boats, from the sounds of music and laughter that drifted across the water.

Karma got up and wandered toward the front of the boat where she leaned against the railing.  A short distance ahead of them the width of the river doubled, then tripled before splitting around a large island.  It was set exactly in the center of the river, an oasis of lush, green foliage with buildings peeking out from among the trees and bushes. 

“Look at that, Aisling,” Karma said, pointing toward the island.  Aisling joined her at the railing and smiled.

As they drew closer to the island they noticed that all of the boats on the river kept a good distance away from it as they traveled along the two forks of the river around it. 

“That island is called
Ka-Teru
, the Soul of the River,” Captain Singer said, joining them at the railing.  “That’s where the royal city is located.”

“Is that where we’re going?” Aisling asked.

“Yes,” Captain Singer replied.  “If we were not on a royal barge, marked with a golden deck, we would never be allowed within fifty yards of the island. 

“What would happen if one of those boats got too close?” Karma asked.

“I do not know,” Captain Singer replied.  “Nor do I want to.”

“That sounds ominous,” Aisling said.  “Are these violent people?”

“No more violent than most,” Captain Singer replied.  “The people of Isiben use a system of knowledge levels.  Those who live on the island are of the first level, and they are very careful about who they allow to visit.  The punishment for anyone stepping foot on the island, or even attempting to approach it without permission is, I am told, quite severe.”

“Is there a city for those who do not live on the island?” Aisling asked.

“Yes,” Captain Singer replied.  “The city of Ausar is situated on the east bank of the river after the forks merge about two miles north of the island.” 

As they neared the island the boat veered slightly, then slipped into a canal that was largely hidden behind a u-shaped rock outcropping.  As the boat passed into the canal, they saw a tall stele set into the rock at the edge of the water that had writing carved into it.  Karma stared at it, but it was gibberish to her.

“I can’t figure out what that says,” Aisling said, surprising Karma.  Aisling had a knack for languages that rarely failed her.

“The writing is Rathirian script,” Captain Singer said.  “They write from right to left, but I cannot tell you what it says.”

Aisling frowned as she studied the stele again. 

“It still doesn’t work,” she said. 

“Try reversing the letters in the words themselves,” Torl suggested. 

Aisling frowned at Torl.  “Why would someone go to such lengths to make a sign post so difficult to read?”

“It’s a common practice on worlds that have different levels of knowledge for different classes of people,” Torl explained.  “They tend to take great pains to hide the highest level of writing and knowledge from the masses.  It increases their mystery.”

Aisling looked back at the stele.  After a few moments, she began to read aloud: 

“
Ka-Teru, Sacred City of King Rhobar, founded by King Arth-Mar, the Builder, in the ninth year of the Third Dynasty, in whose honor this marker was erected.  This city is protected by the Gods of Ank-Teru, whose wrath shall be avenged by the glorious Knights of Rathira.”

Karma gasped as they passed the stele and rounded a bend.  The canal opened into a broad marina that was thick with boats, most of them tied to short docks like the one they’d use to board earlier, a few of them drifting casually along the line of docks.  The boats were in a rainbow of colors, some with stripes, some solid, but all of them had stylized figures of some sort depicted along their bows.  Even as colorful and interesting as the boats were, they paled in comparison to the sight of the buildings along the banks.

From what Karma could see through the heavy foliage, the buildings appeared to be either square or rectangular, with flat roofs and tall columns holding up deep overhangs that shaded the doors and windows.  The buildings seemed huge, even from a distance, much taller than anything she’d seen outside of a modern city.

About half way into the marina the boat turned toward a dock that was much larger than the rest.  There were several boats tied to it, with one empty spot near the end.  As their boat floated gently toward the empty slip, a procession of people came rushing between two buildings.  A large man with a gray beard wearing a red cloak trimmed in gold led the party onto the dock. 

“That’s King Rhobar,” Captain Singer said in surprise.  The Gryphons nudged Karma and Aisling back from the railing, and they all waited respectfully as they watched the group hurry toward them.

“Lo, Captain Singer, I ask for your aid,” King Rhobar shouted before he reached them.

“Certainly, Highness,” Captain Singer agreed at once.  “How can I be of assistance?”

“My daughter was out fishing this morning and her retinue was attacked,” King Rhobar said, stopping beside their boat.  He was close enough now that they could easily see the man’s real distress.  “One maid survived long enough to tell us that Princess Kapia was taken.  We do not know by whom, but we know from the tracks they left behind that they were riding on machines that go very fast.  Hunters track them, but they cannot hope to catch up to them before they leave Isiben.  I ask that you use your machines to help us rescue my daughter.”

Karma glanced at Aisling, then the Gryphons.  They were all thinking the same thing.  Those who had taken the Princess were surely led by the man they were after.

Olaf bowed to King Rhobar.  “Forgive me, Highness, for interrupting,” he said.  “I am Olaf Gryphon.  My brothers and I would offer our assistance in this matter.”

King Rhobar looked at Olaf with hope in his faded brown eyes.  “Do you have devices such as Captain Singer?”

“Highness,” Captain Singer said, “I am willing to offer all the help I can, but I believe that the Gryphons would be of far more immediate use to Your Majesty.  They are shifters, and can fly like the birds in the sky.”

“I will take whatever assistance I can get if it will bring my daughter back to me,” King Rhobar said. 

“Can you tell us where she was last seen?” Olaf asked.

King Rhobar waved another man forward who immediately gave Olaf the information he asked for. 

“What does your daughter look like, please?” Rand Gryphon asked King Rhobar while Olaf listened to the other man.

“Kapia is sixteen years old,” King Rhobar said, his voice breaking.  He swallowed hard and squared his shoulders.  “She has long black hair, to her waist, and was wearing a brown and silver day dress.”

Olaf finished talking to King Rhobar’s man and turned to face his brothers, Rand and Rudy.  Before he had a chance to say anything Aisling stepped forward. 

“I’m coming with you,” she said.  “This girl is going to be terrified of you three.”

Karma turned her head to hide her smile at the Gryphon’s expressions.  Aisling was the first friend she had allowed herself to make in many years, and she knew her well.  If the Gryphons thought to treat her like a delicate flower, they were in for a surprise because Aisling would not stand for it.  She was generous, kind, and the best of friends, but she was also tougher than kevlex, very independent, and more than capable of taking care of herself. 

 “Very well,” Olaf agreed after only a brief hesitation.  Karma was impressed.  He’d given in quickly and with good grace. 

“Karma,” Olaf said, “if you, Captain Singer and Torl would be so good as to move to one end of the boat, I believe we have enough room to shift here.”

The three immediately did as Olaf asked, moving to the corner where the cat still sat, watching the activities with an air of boredom.  Olaf walked to the center of the boat deck leapt upward, transforming from a man into a huge half eagle, half lion beast with wings that looked just a bit short for it’s size.  There was a gasp of surprise from the people on the dock, but Karma barely noticed as she watched her friend walk to the middle of the deck.  Aisling took a few moments longer to transform, but she was new at it, and Karma was proud of her.  After Aisling flew skyward, Rand, and finally Rudy transformed and joined Olaf and Aisling as they circled low over the harbor.  

Karma watched King Rhobar as he watched the gryphons circle overhead, then speed off to the north.  When they were out of sight there was a collective sigh from the men on the dock.  King Rhobar looked over at Captain Singer, who offered him a reassuring smile.

“Do not worry, Highness, the Gryphons are honorable warriors.  They will find and return your daughter.”

“I thank you, Captain Singer,” King Rhobar said as he eyed the remaining people on the boat.  “Are you also able to transform yourselves into beasts such as those?”

“No, we are not,” Captain Singer replied.  “We three are human.  The Gryphons are Clan Jasani, all of whom are shifters.”

If Karma hadn’t been watching for it, she would have missed the tiny sigh of relief from King Rhobar.  She didn’t really blame him.  It wasn’t every day you saw four perfectly human looking people turn into impossibly huge half lion, half eagle beasts and fly away before your eyes.

“Come,” King Rhobar said after one last glance into the northern sky, “let us return to the palace and await the Gryphons’ return with Princess Kapia.”

Karma watched as two tall men with deeply tanned skin, wearing nothing more than a thin white cloth wrapped around their waists, quickly tied the boat to the dock.  As soon as they were finished, the Sphin leapt easily off the boat, followed by Captain Singer.  Karma went next, then Torl. 

As soon as they were all on the dock, King Rhobar gestured to the dozen or so guards standing politely behind him.  They immediately surrounded the small party. 

“As your friends seek to rescue my daughter, so shall I see to your safety and care,” King Rhobar said.  Then he turned around and led them off the dock, up a wide stone ramp and onto a street paved with large blocks of stone cut so precisely that there was no gap between them.  There were wood and stone buildings lining both sides of the street, most of them shops from what Karma could tell as they hurried by.  She thought it might be interesting to explore the city, but now was obviously not the time for it.  There were quite a few people out and about, but the overall feeling was subdued and quiet.

They were walking so quickly, and she was surrounded by so many of King Rhobar’s guards, that she couldn’t really see much more of the city than those first vague impressions.  Until they rounded a corner and she looked up to see what had to be the royal palace.  The building was immense, with massive pillars of stone along its front.  The walk leading toward the main entrance was at least thirty feet wide, and paved with polished red stone.  On either side of the walk way, spaced about fifteen feet apart, were dozens of statues leading from the main road all the way to the palace.  Each one was at least 25 feet tall and depicted a different being or creature.  Some appeared human, some partly human, and some so alien that Karma couldn’t begin to guess what they were.