Quest for the Sun Orb (29 page)

“To hear you say this, I realize that you are correct,” Zakiel said.  “I thank you, Tomas, for showing me what is right before my eyes.”

“You are welcome,” Tomas said.  “I would add, even though you didn’t ask me, that you needn’t worry about wagging tongues and dark, jealous rumors from those of us here, either.  Everyone will be excited at your happy news and if they aren’t, they won’t dare to say so.”

“Again, I think you are correct,” Zakiel said.  “Do you think I should not assign special guards?”

Tomas considered his answer carefully.  “I think that if it makes you feel better, then you should do it.  However, I also think that, should you announce your news to the entire company, you will have many more than four special guards, and you won’t have to ask for them.”

“Yes, I see that you are right again,” Zakiel said, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders.  “I believe that I will take your advice, Tomas, then see what happens.”

***

Karma watched Zakiel and Tomas as they rode together at the front of the line, and rolled her eyes.  She guessed she’d soon find a few more men shadowing her every move, as if the circle of guards that rode around them each day weren’t enough.  She wouldn’t object though.  Zakiel needed to do what he could to assure himself of her safety, and she would not take that from him.

“Are you well, Karma?” Kapia asked from where she rode on the far side of Tiari.

“Yes, I am,” she replied, pasting a bright smile on her face.  Kapia frowned.  Karma lost the smile and resisted the urge to roll her eyes again.

“There is something different about you,” Tiari said, frowning at her intently.   Suddenly her eyes widened in surprise.  “Karma, there is a...light...inside of you.”

“Shhh!” Karma said quickly, then looked around to see if anyone had heard.  Apparently everyone had since she was getting looks from all of the men closest to them.  She sighed.

“I’m sorry,” Tiari said, following Karma’s gaze.  “I said something I shouldn’t have, didn’t I?”

“It’s all right, Tiari,” Karma said.  “So, you see a light inside of me?”

“Yes, a very bright one, though it’s quite tiny.  I almost missed it, but I’m sure it wasn’t there yesterday.  You know what it means, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do,” Karma admitted.  “Do you know?”

Tiari shook her head.  “No, I don’t.  It’s not bad, is it?”

“No, it’s not bad,” Karma said.  She gestured for Kapia and Tiari to ride a bit closer, then she leaned over and spoke in a whisper.  “It’s a baby.”

Kapia started to squeal and quickly slapped her hand over her mouth before looking around to see if anyone had noticed.  No one was looking their way this time.  “I’m sorry, Karma,” she said.  Then she grinned.  “I’m so excited!  I’m going to be an Aunt!”

“It is wonderful news,” Tiari said, “but I don’t understand the need to keep it quiet.  Should you not be rejoicing?”

“Yes, normally,” Karma replied.  “But Zakiel doesn’t want the demons to learn of it.  And there’s the fact that under usual circumstances I would not know about this for another couple of months.  People may think I’m three months along rather than a day, and that would set tongues wagging since we’ve only been married a few weeks.”

“I see,” Tiari said with a grimace.  “I don’t think I like this entire
reputation
business.  It seems wrong that you cannot shout such news for all to hear for fear that someone will think wrongly about it.”

“I agree wholeheartedly,” Karma said.  “Where I’m from, such things don’t matter at all.”

“They certainly matter here,” Kapia said.  “However, don’t forget, you are now a Princess, and future Queen of Isiben.  Those wagging tongues will not touch you, Karma.  Besides, your child will not be born for nine months, give or take a few days.  That alone will prove the truth.”

“That’s true,” Karma said.  “But, Zakiel asked that we keep it quiet, except for you two and Lashi and Caral of course, so for now, I will do as he asks.”

“I have no doubt that he will be taking a few men into his confidence so that he can set more guards over you,” Kapia said. 

“Yes, he already has, unless I miss my guess,” Karma said, nodding toward the front of the line where Zakiel and Tomas still rode side by side. 

Kapia smiled.  “With so many in on the
secret,
it will not be long before all know of it.”

“No, it won’t,” Karma agreed with a sigh.  She wondered again if telling Zakiel had been the right thing to do.  Well, she decided, it didn’t matter now.  He knew, and there was no changing that.

***

Bredon collected the hare he had just shot with his bow and cleaned it quickly and efficiently.  His appetite had grown smaller and smaller over the past couple of weeks until, finally, it had become non-existent.  His Hunter training was such that he continued to hunt, prepare, and eat food, even though he had to force every bite down. 

As he worked he noticed a new sore on the back of his right wrist.  He had several now, scattered all over his body.  He also had an idea what was causing them.

“What are you doing?”
Marene demanded suddenly.

“I am cleaning dinner,” Bredon replied, no longer surprised by her sudden appearances. 

“
Well, it’s disgusting
,” Marene said.

Bredon barked a laugh.  “You aren’t squeamish over murdering people, but the sight of a few hare guts is too much for your delicate sensibilities?”

“I did not murder anyone.”
 

“Yes, you did,” Bredon said.  “You murdered Worrow, his young apprentice, and the four men that were with him.  You used my body, but you did it.”

“Wherever did you get such a ridiculous idea?”
Marene demanded.

“I’m not certain,” Bredon said honestly.  “It just came to me the other day when you took over while we were crossing that valley of wildflowers.  When I woke up, so to speak, the whole thing was right there, in my mind, like a memory.”

“That’s impossible,”
Marene snapped.

“Obviously not,” Bredon said.  He wrapped the meat in its own skin and went back to where his diplo stood, grazing as it waited patiently  He put the meat in a spare bag hanging from his saddle and mounted.  “These sores I’m getting, the loss of appetite, the increased tiredness and difficulty sleeping, all of it is because of you, isn’t it?”

“Perhaps you need to bathe more often,”
she said snidely, but he felt the worry beneath her words.  That was new too.  His ability to feel her emotions.  But he wasn’t sharing that bit of information.

“Perhaps not having an evil she-demon share my mind and body would be more helpful,” Bredon replied.

“Are you going to blame me for everything now?”
Marene asked.

“I don’t see why I shouldn’t,” Bredon said lightly.  “You’re the only demon here.”

“I am not a demon,”
she hissed, as he’d known she would.  If there was one thing that set her off it was being called a demon.  He sighed.  He really did need her cooperation, so maybe he should stop trying to make her angry.

“Marene,” he said, forcing himself to sound reasonable.  “If I cannot eat, or sleep, and if these sores continue to multiply, I will only grow weaker and weaker.  Before long I won’t be able to saddle the diplo, let alone ride it.  Nor will I be able to hunt for myself.  At this rate, we may not even make it to Darkly Fen, and if we do, I will be in no condition to fight off demons.”

Marene was silent for a while, but Bredon knew she’d heard him.  He bit his tongue and let her think without interruption. 
“You have a point,”
she said reluctantly. 
“I don’t know what I can do about it, though.”

“You need to stop taking over my body,” Bredon said.  “The more you do it, the worse my symptoms become.”

“I get bored doing nothing all the time,”
Marene complained.

“Boredom or death,” Bredon said.  “You pick.”

“
Fine
,” Marene said irritably. 
“But I warn you, Bredon, my cooperation will not stop the symptoms, it will only slow them.  You need to travel more quickly.”

“I travel from sunup to sundown as it is,” Bredon said.  “I can do no more than that.”

“Then you must pick up the pace,”
Marene insisted.

“One more question,” Bredon said, sensing that Marene was getting ready to go back to sleep.  “How is it that I know what you did to Worrow?”

He felt her hesitation, and her worry. 
“I don’t know,”
she said finally. 
“You should not have been able to see that.”

“Perhaps you are growing weaker, too,” Bredon suggested, hiding his satisfaction.  From her response, he didn’t think she was able to see into his mind, which was all he cared about. 

“All the more reason for you to hurry,”
she said.  With that she withdrew, cutting off further conversation.

Bredon didn’t care.  He’d gotten his point across, and learned a thing or two in the bargain.  His greatest concern was that she would discover his talks with Kapia.  But even that wouldn’t matter too much.  Kapia was careful never to talk about where they were, or their destination, and if she began to veer into dangerous territory, he warned her back.  He would not allow her to say anything that might be dangerous to her, or the Orb Quest, if it were overheard. 

He was relieved that Marene had agreed to stop taking over his body.  He hadn’t been exaggerating his worries on that subject.  He’d been growing weaker by the day and had only just realized that Marene was the cause of it.  If she continued as she had been, he truly didn’t think he’d live to reach the center of Darkly Fen. 

From the information he’d given Kapia, Zakiel had been able to provide him with a good idea of his current location.  If the calculations were right, he had only a three more days to travel before reaching Darkly Fen.  Marene had to stay back and let him regain some strength before he reached it.

***

Tiari decided to retire early since Tomas had to attend a meeting with Prince Zakiel and the Hunters.  She was surprised to see that Lashi had already prepared a bath for her, which she eagerly stepped into with a sigh of pure pleasure. 

She’d always washed regularly with water she warmed over the fire in her hut, but she’d rarely had the time to haul in enough water for her to indulge in a full bath before Una locked her back inside.  Now, she enjoyed the luxury nearly every day, thanks to Caral and Lashi.

“Do you want to wash your hair tonight, Hara Tiari?” Lashi asked from behind her.  Tiari turned her head to see Lashi kneeling on the floor, gently unbraiding her long hair.

“You and Caral spoil me shamelessly, Lashi,” she said, smiling.

“You deserve to be spoiled, if I may say so,” Lashi said.

“I’m not so sure about that,” Tiari replied.  “However, I won’t argue with you because I like it too much.”

“Good, then we are doing it correctly,” Lashi said with a grin.

“The new outfit you finished today is amazing,” Tiari said, thinking of the deep, golden colored skirt, top, and vest that made up the usual attire for the women.  She’d never had a single item of clothing half so beautiful as any of the basketful of clothes she now had, thanks to Caral and Lashi.  “I think it’s too beautiful to wear every day, though.”

“We are most pleased that you like it,” Lashi said.  “It is meant to be reserved for a special occasion, should one arise.  I confess, I wasn’t sure if it would work with your coloring, but Caral was correct, as always in such matters.  It’s quite flattering to your skin and hair.”

“Lashi,” Tiari said suddenly, “what would you say if I asked you to cut my hair?”

Lashi studied her face for a long moment, then ran her fingers through the long tresses in her hands.  When unbraided, Tiari’s hair fell to the floor in a puddle of black silk.  “I would first ask, why have you never cut it before?”

“Because I never had a way of cutting it myself, and there was no one to do it for me,” Tiari responded. 

Lashi smiled.  “In that case, I would say that it is your hair, and you should do as you please with it.  Why do you wish to cut it, if I may ask?”

“It is so much work, as you know since you’ve been helping me with it, and so long that it must always be braided or drag on the ground.  I noticed that Karma’s hair is to the middle of her back, and Kapia’s is to her waist, so shorter hair must be acceptable.”

“It certainly is,” Lashi agreed. 

“So, will you cut it?” Tiari asked hopefully.

“Yes, if that is your wish,” Lashi said.  “I will say that Caral is much better with hair than I am, though.  May I suggest that she be asked to do it?”

“Of course,” Tiari agreed excitedly.  “Do you think she can do it tonight?”

“I will ask her as soon as you finish your bath,” Lashi said.

Tiari reached for a cloth and soap, for the first time in a hurry to leave the hot water.  Still, it was an hour later before she found herself sitting on a stool in her chamber with Caral, Lashi, and Kapia standing around her, staring at her hair.

“I had no idea your hair was so long,” Kapia said.  “Not only long, but beautiful.  Are you sure you want to cut it?”

“Absolutely,” Tiari said firmly. 

“How short do you want it?” Kapia asked.

“I think the same length as yours would be good,” Tiari said.  “Then I can wear it loose for a change instead of always having it bound so I don’t walk on it.”  She heard a soft intake of breath and turned to see Caral gazing at Kapia with round eyes.  “Is something wrong?”

Kapia started to shake her head, then changed her mind.  She had decided from the start to answer Tiari’s questions honestly, and she meant to stick to that rule. 

“In Isiben only those women of the royal family are allowed to have long hair unless they keep it bound,” she said.  “It’s an old fashioned tradition, and it has nothing to do with you.  I intend to do away with it, or ask Karma to do it, when we return to Ka-Teru anyway.”

“Are you certain?” Tiari asked.

“Positive,” Kapia said.  “Now, Caral, what do you think?  What would be the best length and style for Tiari?”