Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira (29 page)

“Nothing serious,” Bredon replied.  “No casualties, no losses.  They didn’t come close enough to do anything other than claim our attention.  Everyone should be ready to move as soon as you give the order.”

“The harpies were a diversion of course,” Zakiel said.  “Nikura warned Lady Techu of the
Ken-No-Kel,
which followed our tracks to the oasis.”

“I never thought to see a mountain demon here, in Isiben,” Bredon said with a grimace. 

“Nor did I,” Zakiel replied.  “The question is, how did it come to be here, and how did it know where to find us?” 

“That is why you wish to keep the news of the Fire Bird quiet, isn’t it?” Bredon asked, keeping his voice low so that only Zakiel and Garundel could hear him. 

Zakiel nodded curtly. 

“In that case, my friend,” Bredon said, “you might wish to figure out how to make those markings fade before we reach the others.”

Zakiel looked down at his arms ruefully.  He hadn’t thought of that.  “Good idea, Bredon,” he said.  “Unfortunately, I have no idea how that is to be done.”

“They are quite faded now from what they were, if that helps any,” Bredon said.

Zakiel thought about that for a moment.  He closed his eyes and focused his mind, then pictured the markings on his arms and hands.  Once he had a good image of himself with the red and blue markings, he concentrated on making them disappear, starting with one hand and working his way up his arm.  When he was finished he opened his eyes and looked down.

“That worked very well,” Bredon said.  “You need only make those on your face disappear.”

“I didn’t know I had them on my face,” Zakiel said.  “Anywhere else?”

“Nowhere else that I can see,” Bredon replied, not mentioning that the markings had been on Zakiel’s legs since that part of his body was now covered.

A few moments later the markings were gone from Zakiel’s face, much to his relief.  He asked Bredon to look him over carefully, and even moved Karma away from his chest to be sure there weren’t any there either.  When he was satisfied that all of the markings were either gone or covered, he urged his diplo to a faster pace and they soon rejoined the caravan.

 “Send a detail to ride down the line and be sure everyone is ready, then give the order to walk on,” Zakiel said.

Bredon bowed his head, then turned his diplo and trotted away to give the orders just as Kapia burst between the men guarding her and raced toward her brother.  She stopped in her tracks at the sight of Karma lying limply in Zakiel’s arms, her face paling alarmingly.

“Is she...is she...please tell me, Brother, is she all right?” she stammered.

“She lives, Sister,” Zakiel said.  “She expended all of her energy to defeat the
Ken-No-Kel
and needs rest.”

“Will we return to the oasis, then?” Kapia asked. 

“No, we cannot risk it,” Zakiel said.  “We must continue on.”

“But she needs rest,” Kapia argued, shocking Zakiel greatly.  His little sister had never argued with him before.  He found himself holding back a smile.  He was proud of her for standing up for her friend.

“She does need rest,” Zakiel agreed.  “I shall hold her as we travel.” 

“Brother, what of Lady Techu’s honor?” Kapia asked, caught between fear of angering her brother, and worry for Karma. 

“Do not worry, Sister,” Zakiel said.  “You will ride beside us, and we will remain in full view of the Hunters at all times.  I will guard her honor as best I can, but in the end, there is no other option.”

“Very well,” Kapia agreed, knowing that Zakiel was correct.  She was pleased that he would allow her to ride beside them.  That would help.  What man would dishonor a woman in full view of his younger sister? 

Bredon appeared with Goldy and lifted Kapia into the saddle before remounting his own diplo.  “Shall we detour around the
Ken-No-Kel
or remain on the return trail?” he asked Zakiel.

Zakiel looked down at Karma, then to Kapia and smiled slightly.  “Perhaps seeing the beast that Lady Techu risked her life to kill will silence any tongues which may dare to wag due to her current condition.”

“Excellent idea,” Bredon said.  He raised one arm, signaling the caravan to walk on.  Before they reached the mountain of flesh still sizzling on the sand, he sent a few Hunters back to spread the story of the battle Lady Techu and Prince Zakiel had waged against the beast.  The sight of the
Ken-No-Kel
frightened Kapia, especially when she learned that Karma had been the one to destroy it.

“Are you certain that she will be all right?” Kapia asked.

“I hope so, Sister,” Zakiel said, gazing down at Karma’s face.  “She must use her own energy to power the Ti-Ank, and I fear she depleted herself quite dangerously on our behalf.”

“Is there anything we can do to help her?” Kapia asked.

“Let her rest,” Zakiel said.  “For now, that is all I know to do.”

Kapia nodded, then turned in her saddle and made a gesture.  Lashi and Caral both urged their diplos forward at once, nimbly slipping between the Hunters surrounding the Prince, Princess, and Lady Techu. 

When the women reined in beside her, Kapia saw the depth of Lashi’s fear for her mistress.  “Lashi, do not worry, Lady Techu will be well,” Kapia said gently  “We shall not allow otherwise.”

“Thank you, Highness,” Lashi said, tears in her eyes as she bowed as low as she could from the back of her diplo, grateful for Princess Kapia’s kind words.  “What can I do to help her?”

“I think some damp cloths and cool water would be of use,” Kapia said.

“At once, Highness,” Lashi said, relieved to be able to do something.  She had become quite fond of Lady Techu over the past few weeks.  She opened one of the baskets she carried tied to her saddle and rummaged around.

“Caral, I need some lavol for Lady Techu’s face,” she said.  Caral bowed as Lashi had, and reached into one of her own baskets. 

A moment later Lashi held a bundle of damp cloths and a container of water, but didn’t know what to do next.  The expression of distress on her face was obvious.

“What is the matter, Lashi?” Kapia asked.

“I apologize, Highness, but I cannot reach my Lady to tend to her,” Lashi said.

“I shall tend to her myself,” Kapia said reaching for the cloths, not even noticing Lashi’s shocked response.  Once she had the cloths and the water container she urged Goldy closer to Zakiel. 

Leaning over she was able to reach Karma’s face, which she dabbed at carefully with a damp cloth. 

“Hand me one of those cloths, Sister,” Zakiel said. 

Kapia handed him one, not surprised at all when he shook it out and began wiping Karma’s neck with slow, careful strokes.  Together they cleansed the dust and sweat from her skin, neither of them noticing the strange looks they were getting from those around them.  If they had noticed, they would not have cared.

Lashi handed a fresh cloth to Kapia at her request so that Zakiel could wash Karma’s hands, while Kapia applied the lavol to Karma’s face and neck so that she would not be burned by the sun.  When she was finished, Zakiel took the little pot of cream and applied it to Karma’s arms and hands for good measure.

When they were finished with their ministrations, Kapia handed the cloths and water back to Lashi and thanked her.  “When Lady Techu awakens, she will most likely be quite hungry and thirsty,” Kapia told her.

“I will have food and drink ready for her, Highness,” Lashi replied.  Kapia nodded, and watched as Lashi and Caral returned to their places in the line.  She turned back to Karma, but there was nothing more they could do for her now but wait.

***

Karma felt herself rocking back and forth, a gentle, swaying motion that she found soothing.  Wondering why her warm, cozy, slightly more firm than usual bed was moving, she opened her eyes.  The sight of Zakiel’s pale blue eyes staring down at her was the last thing she expected to see.  She clamped her teeth together, refusing to allow herself to gasp aloud.

She couldn’t think of which question to ask first, so she simply raised a brow at him.

“I’m afraid that we could not stop for the day so that you could rest in your tent,” Zakiel said. 

Karma frowned in confusion.

“Do you remember the
Ken-No-Kel
?” he asked.

Karma started to shake her head when it suddenly came to her.  She nodded.  “Yes, I do.  Very big, very ugly, very loud, very bad smell?  We fought it, didn’t we?”

“Yes, on all counts, Lady Techu,” Zakiel confirmed with a hint of a smile.  “You used too much of your own energy though, and have been sleeping for hours.  I was beginning to worry.”

“Hours?” Karma squeaked in worried surprise.

“Yes,” Zakiel replied.  “I apologize for taking the liberty of holding you, but there really was no other choice.  We could not afford to lose a day’s travel.  You can be assured that we were carefully chaperoned the entire time, so there can be no question as to your honor.”

“Um...thank you,” Karma replied, though honor was the least of her concerns at the moment.  It wasn’t that she didn’t care about her honor, it was just that other, more pressing questions topped her list.  Had she snored?  Had she drooled?  Had she said anything too embarrassing in her sleep?  She blushed at the thought.

“I would like to sit up now, please,” she said as she felt her face heat, hoping the Prince would assume her position in his lap was the cause.

Zakiel hesitated for a moment, then nodded.  He eased her into a sitting position across his lap, holding her firmly in his arms as he felt her body start to tremble.  “I think you should lay back down for a while,” he suggested, leaning to the side so he could see her face. 

“I just need a moment,” Karma said.  Her head began to pound and she struggled against a wave of dizziness.  “I don’t think it would be a good idea for me to remain in your lap when everyone knows I am now awake.”

Zakiel gritted his teeth.  He wanted to tell her that he didn’t care what anyone thought, that her well being was all that mattered, but at the same time he could not fault her concern for her own honor.  “Just give it a minute or two,” he said.  “When you’re ready, let me know and I will call a halt so everyone can take a break.”

Karma nodded, not trusting herself to speak at that moment.  She focused on breathing deeply as she waited for the dizziness to pass and the hammers in her head to quiet.  After a few minutes, the dizziness faded.  She took one last deep breath and blew it out.

“I’m better now,” she said to Zakiel.  “I’d like some water though.”

“Here,” he said, reaching down for his own water bag and handing it to her.  She pulled the stopper and took a long drink.  She paused for a moment to be sure the water would stay down, then took another drink. 

“Thank you,” she said.  “I assume we killed that...thing...whatever it was?”

“No,
you
killed it,” Zakiel corrected.  “Without you we may have eventually killed it, but it would have cost lives to do so.  You do not remember?”

“No, I don’t,” she said.  “Not yet anyway.  Maybe when this headache eases up a little I’ll be able to think better.  For the moment, I’m just glad to know that it’s dead.” 

Zakiel gestured to Bredon, who immediately called a halt.  Zakiel shifted Karma in his arms, then swung his leg over the saddle and slid to the ground.  He set Karma on her feet, remaining close to her in case she suffered another dizzy spell.

“How are you feeling?” Kapia asked anxiously after Bredon helped her to dismount.

“I think I’ll live,” Karma said with a smile.  “Where is the Ti-Ank?”

“It’s on your saddle,” Kapia replied.  “Do you want it?”

“Yes, please,” Karma replied. 

Kapia hurried over to Dippy, Bredon at her side.  He reached up to grab the Ti-Ank for her, then hesitated before stepping back and lifting Kapia up so that she could retrieve it instead.  As soon as he put her back down she hurried back to Karma and handed the Ti-Ank to her, releasing it as quickly as she could.

“It makes me a little nervous to hold that thing,” she admitted ruefully.

“I understand that,” Karma said.  “But, as you are one of only two or three people I would trust with it, I am glad that you got it for me.”

Karma looked up to see Lashi hurrying toward her, a smile on her face.  She held a tray loaded with food and several cups of cool water, and bowed carefully while holding the tray high so nothing would spill.

“Thank you so much, Lashi,” she said, not caring what anyone thought about her for thanking a servant.  The woman’s obvious relief at seeing her standing up and awake required some acknowledgment on her part.

Lashi’s tan cheeks turned pink, and her eyes warmed.  “If I may say so, Lady Techu, on behalf of all of the servants and drovers, we thank you for your courage, and are most happy that you are well.”

Lashi bowed again, this time even lower.  When she straightened again Karma selected some food from the tray and began eating, suddenly realizing how hungry she was. 

“You are well?”
Nikura asked, leaping down from his diplo after she had a chance to silence some of her hunger.