Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira (42 page)

Karma gave Kapia a good work-out, moving around the entire circle as she attacked and parried in an effort to cover all that she had taught the Princess.  She also threw in a few new moves, just to see how Kapia would respond to them.  She was very pleased with Kapia’s growing skill, and was satisfied that she would give a good accounting of herself in battle.

When she saw Kapia begin to tire she guided them back to the center of the ring before calling a halt.  They bowed to each other, Kapia fighting to hide how happy she was with her own performance.  The roar of approval from those watching outside the ring brought smiles to both of their faces. 

“You did extremely well, Kapia,” Karma said, wrapping her in a spontaneous hug.  “I am so very proud of you.”

“Thank you so much, Karma,” Kapia said, blushing at the praise. 

“Sister, you do our Blood proud,” Zakiel said, speaking loud enough for all to hear as he walked toward them.  Kapia blushed as she pressed her palms together and bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Brother,” she said.  “You honor me with such kind words.”

“I believe it’s my turn,” Zakiel said, winking at Kapia.  She offered him her staff, gave him a quick grin and hurried out of the ring.

“Do not expect me to go easy on you,” he said to Karma.

“Nor I on you, Highness,” she replied.

As they moved apart, bowed to each other, and prepared to spar, they both heard the shouts of bets being offered and taken around the ring.  Karma arched a brow at Zakiel, who smiled back before attacking without warning.

When Karma sparred with Kapia she moved slowly and deliberately, thinking of each move before she made it, and watching Kapia’s countermoves carefully so that she could guide and teach her.  When she sparred with Zakiel, however, or anyone with skill, she allowed her mind to relax and unfocus so that her body could move without thought. 

During their journey across the Duat, she and Zakiel had sparred several times.  Usually she won, though sometimes it was a draw.  This time, however, Karma sensed something different from the first moment she raised her staff to block Zakiel’s strike.

She knew that, while Zakiel would never be able to best her, she would never again be able to best him, either.  It took only a moment to understand that the reason for the change was the Vatra.  When she figured it out, she smiled.  Finally, she could go all out against someone and not worry about embarrassing her opponent.

Karma swung the lower end of her staff toward Zakiel’s legs, while at the same time setting her feet to prepare for his block.  The second his staff hit hers, she used the momentum to spin herself around as she bent her knees, then snapped the opposite end of her staff at his hip.  He followed her around, met her strike and, almost instantaneously, struck with the lower end of his staff. 

They were both smiling as they struck, parried, attacked and retreated, moving so quickly back and forth across the sand that it was difficult for those watching to follow.  Their staffs moved so fast they were only a blur, the rapid tap-tap-tap-tap-tap the only sound on the beach aside from the soft, soughing of nearby waves. 

The spectators were stunned, hardly able to believe what they were seeing, knowing that they would never see such a sight again.  How was it possible for two people to move so fast, react to one another so quickly, hit so hard and yet never break a block or give away a single step?  Not just once, or even twice, but so many times in such rapid succession that it was impossible to count. 

The answer was obvious, of course.  They were not ordinary people.  They were the Lady Techu, and the Vatra. 

The tension that had begun to build in the watching crowd began to dissipate as they remembered who they were watching.  They allowed themselves to enjoy the sight before them, and to rejoice that these two people, upon whom so much depended for all of the peoples of Rathira, were even more special than they had imagined.

Several minutes later, as though by unspoken agreement, Karma and Zakiel stopped, set the end of their staffs into the sand and bowed solemnly to each other.  It was only then that Karma realized the crowd had fallen silent.  She looked up, meeting Zakiel’s worried gaze with her own.  They turned together, looking to Kapia and Bredon for some sign. 

Every member of the crowd bowed to them in silence, surprising them both greatly.  They had no idea why they were being bowed to, but they gravely returned the bow to their audience.

Rosia stepped into the ring and approached them.  “If ever there was doubt that you are Techu and Vatra, there can be none now.  Never has a sight such as you have given us been seen before.  I will make a story for the ages of this fearsome contest, so that it shall never be forgotten.”

She bowed again, then smiled at them.  “I had thought to challenge you, Techu, to an exhibition, but perhaps you will allow me to challenge another so that I do not make a fool of myself.”

Karma laughed.  “You are generous with your praise, Rosia.  I would enjoy watching you spar.  Choose whomever you like.”

“Perhaps you would honor me by choosing an opponent for me?” Rosia suggested. 

“Of course,” Karma agreed readily.  “How about you, Sir Bredon?”

Bredon stepped forward without hesitation and bowed his acceptance of the challenge.  A few moments later Karma and Zakiel were on the sidelines, listening to the cheers and the bets as Bredon and Rosia sparred with each other.  They were equally matched, as Karma had suspected, and put on a good show for the crowd.  For the next couple of hours, the two peoples mingled together, laughing and cheering as couple after couple took their turns in the ring. 

Finally, Rosia stepped into the ring and announced that it was time to prepare for the evening’s festivities.  The crowd broke up, but this time, there was no silence.  Karma was pleased to note that fast friendships had sprung up during the activities and she was very pleased that her plan had worked.

“Techu,” Rosia said, “you are both strong and wise.  It is a true honor to have you as our guest.”

“Thank you, Rosia,” Karma said with a smile.  “I think we both did well.”

“Yes, we did,” Rosia agreed.  “I look forward to spending the evening with you.  At sunset then?”

“Yes, at sunset,” Karma agreed.  Taking Kapia’s hand, they went to find their tent to prepare for the evening, both of them looking forward to a hot bath.

Chapter
21

After the sparring that afternoon, the feast that the Chya held for their visitors was far more relaxed than it might otherwise have been.  There was much talking, laughter and sharing of stories around the bonfire that went on long after the food was eaten. 

“You mentioned earlier today that there were dangers in crossing the sea,” Zakiel said to Rosia when the evening began to wind down.  He sat in a circle with Karma, Kapia, Sir Bredon, Sir Garundel, Rosia and three of her companions whose names he could not pronounce.

Rosia studied Techu and Zakiel for a long moment, then nodded as though making up her mind about something.  “Prince Zakiel, we are aware that many people believe us to be responsible for the deaths of all who come here,” she began.  “We would have you know that we are not responsible, though we do not speak against the rumors.  We have learned that it is best for others to believe we are dangerous as it encourages them to stay away.  Will you believe what I say is true?”

“We would not doubt your word, Cadusar,” Zakiel said.  “We would like to hear the truth, if you are willing to tell us.”

“There is a creature that has resided in the deepest part of the sea since the beginning of the Chya,” Rosia said after smiling her thanks to Zakiel.  “He is Sobek, and he is most fearsome.  He rules the deeps of Savu, what we call the Wide.  None who cross into his territory survive.  We keep to the shallows, where Sobek cannot go, and so live in peace with him.

“When we have visitors, we try to warn them of the dangers in the Wide. Either they do not believe us and venture out to the Wide anyway, only to learn too late that we spoke truth, or, they do believe us, and wish to slay Sobek for their own glory.”

“Cadusar Zabeth indicated to me that Sobek must not be slain,” Karma said.  “That he is needed by your people.”

“It is true,” Rosia replied.  “Savu is not so large as one would think.  It is only fifteen miles across at the Wide, which is its widest point, and narrows to a mile at either end.  It is perhaps fifty miles long though, and much of that length is marshland and swamp, which is quite treacherous and should not be crossed on foot.”

“What makes it so treacherous?” Zakiel asked.

“Crocodiles,” Rosia replied.  “Savu is a landlocked sea, and the marshes are a perfect breeding ground for the beasts.  Sobek alone prevents the crocodiles from overrunning Savu and killing all other fish and animals.  There are many of them still, but there are not so many that we are forced to abandon our homes and seek a new place to live.”

“Is Sobek so fierce and large that he kills that many crocodiles?” Zakiel asked doubtfully.  Crocodiles were a common hazard along the Ank-Teru, known for taking both people and livestock regularly.  They were large, powerful and cunning beasts.

“Sobek is monstrous, Highness,” Rosia replied.  “He is, at last sighting, perhaps one hundred feet long, not counting his tail which is half again as long as his body.  He feeds entirely upon crocodiles and eats many each day.”

“What does he look like?” Kapia asked, forgetting her shyness.

“He has the head and body of a crocodile himself, though rather than legs and feet, he has flippers and fins as a fish would have.  Because of his size and lack of feet, he may not enter the shallows.  But he rules the Wide, and it is across the Wide that Cadusar Zabeth has ordered us to take you.”

“Is Sobek a demon?” Karma asked. 

“No, he is not demon,” Rosia said.  “Sobek is an animal, though we believe him to be the last of his kind.  If he were demon, we would beg you to destroy him regardless of our own needs, as demons do not belong on Rathira.”

“I am glad of that,” Karma said.  “Killing is not to my taste unless there’s a need for it.  If he were demon, I would not hesitate.  As he is not demon, I prefer to find a way to subdue him only.”

“How many of your boats will be needed to ferry our party across?” Zakiel asked.

“For your people, two,” Rosia replied.  “For your animals, three, perhaps four more.”

“How long does the journey take?” Karma asked.  “From shore to shore?”

“That depends,” Rosia replied thoughtfully.  “If we have good winds, less than half a day.  Otherwise, the boats will need to be rowed.  The more rowers on a boat, the less room for your people.”

“Our Hunters will assist with the rowing,” Zakiel said.  “The faster we can cross through Sobek’s territory, the better.  I’m concerned about your boats returning though.  We will not be there to assist with Sobek then.”

“That is not a problem,” Rosia replied.  “The boats will go around on the return, avoiding the Wide where Sobek lives.”

“Rosia,” Karma said, “is there a way of attracting Sobek?”

“Why would you wish to do that?” Rosia asked, her expression suddenly wary.

“If we must cross this creature’s territory with a string of boats, the likelihood that he will destroy one or more of them before I am able to subdue him is great.”

“You think to attract and subdue him before we cross,” Zakiel said in a low voice.

“Yes, that seems best,” Karma replied.  “Once all of the boats are loaded and prepared to go, I will venture out far enough to call him.” 

“And once he appears, what will you do?” Zakiel asked.

“I have an idea about that,” Karma replied.  “I don’t know how long it will take to call Sobek and subdue him, so we should get an early start if we want to be sure of reaching the other side of Savu in daylight.  I will be using a lot of energy tomorrow, so I best get what sleep I can tonight.”

Zakiel rose and began thanking their hosts, as did the rest of their party.  As they made their way back to their tents, Karma turned her idea over in her mind.  As soon as they were a short distance from the gathering of people, Nikura trotted out of the darkness and fell into step beside Karma.  His presence made the Chya uneasy, so he chose to stay out of sight rather than cause problems.

Karma silently told Nikura her idea. 
“Will it work, do you think?”
she asked.

“I cannot say for certain,”
Nikura replied. 
“Who knows what will work on a fish, and what will not?”

“Do you have a better idea?”

“No,”
Nikura replied
.  “If I did, I would share it.”

“Karma, will you come to my tent for a glass of wine before turning in?” Zakiel asked. 

Karma hesitated, but the expression of hope and desire in Zakiel’s eyes was irresistible.  “Yes, I’d like that,” she said.  She turned toward Kapia who was walking with Bredon a few yards away.

“Kapia,” she called softly.  The Princess looked up and hurried toward her. 

“Yes?”

“I am going to visit with Zakiel for a little while,” she said, casting a quick glance at Bredon.  “I won’t be long.”