Rise of the Red Harbinger (23 page)

“Indeed. To the southwest there is an extensive forest. At the other side of it is the Serpent. Perhaps you can also use that to distance your enemies.”

Garrison cut off Marika before she could ask the question, “The Serpent is a river that flows through Galicea. The southernmost part of it is less than a day’s ride to the House.”

Marika nodded. “Our course is set. However, there is one thing that must be done once we depart.” She turned to the servant, “You must send another boat toward the town you mentioned. In the chance that an ambush awaits us, at least that might throw off anyone waiting for us.”

“Very well. It will be no trouble for us to provide an additional boat. There may even be one traveling to Gangjeon tomorrow anyway. We can also equip you with horses and food if you would like.”

Garrison smiled once more. “That would be quite helpful. Is there any possibility that you have weapons to loan us?”

“I apologize, Garrison. It is not our way to keep weapons in the Tower. We do collect the weapons of any guest, but they are untouched and then returned when guests leave.”              

“I understand. Then perhaps we could have a look at your storage rooms in the morning?”

The servant’s brow furrowed. “That should not be a problem. I shall refrain from questioning your interest in this. I shall meet you at your quarters in the morning and show you the way. Why, what timing. Here comes Augur Harlan now. Hopefully he has glad tidings for you.”

“One question before you leave. You made it clear that the Tower does not take sides in the wars and quarrels of the rest of Ashur. Yet, you are helping us against the King of Ashur. I do not understand.”

“Garrison, you are not seeing the situation from the correct perspective. I am not taking a side. I am helping to preserve a precious life. Four precious lives, in fact. While the Tower abstains from the conflicts of the outside world, we support the preservation of life above anything else. I shall see you in the morning.” The servant scuttled away without waiting for a response.

Another servant slowly approached, leading a Blind Man who must have been Harlan. Garrison stood and Marika followed his actions. Garrison glanced down at the pastry tray, which was now empty, then looked agape at Marika. She understood his countenance immediately and the twin black lines on her face could not hide her reddened cheeks. Marika then smiled, “Do not judge me, dear boy. It has been over a day since I have eaten anything of substance.”

Harlan now stood before them in a dark green robe with a white stripe down the center and at the end of each sleeve. He was younger than Garrison realized, but in his head, Garrison pictured all of the Blind to be old. He wasn’t sure why, he supposed it was simply because he thought Blind Men and Women were all full of wisdom and experience. Harlan looked about twice Garrison’s age, tall and slim with yellowish Mireyan skin, and long hair tied back behind his head.
Perhaps it is good that he cannot see me. Likely he would attack me as well.

“Sit, sit, my friends. I have heard yer journey has been quite tryin’ thus far. No need ta stand on my account.”

Garrison and Marika obliged him. “How did you know we were standing?” Garrison felt foolish asking the question, but it slipped before he could think twice about asking.

Harlan smiled at the question, “My escort here informed me that ya had stood up ta greet me. Ya see, despite what everyone says, they’re useful sometimes.” He patted the servant on the back. “I’d like ta apologize fer keepin ya waitin. We were lookin fer a prophecy that might be useful to ya, but couldn’t find anythin’ about ya, Garrison.”

Garrison sighed. “No apology is necessary. Thank you for searching. We only came here for shelter and a short rest. We shall be gone in the morning.”

“Ya didn’t let me finish, boy. I couldn’t find anythin’ about ya, but well, when that happens, we like ta give a prophecy anyway. Usually somethin that at least might interest ya. Now, o’ course I can’t see yer face, but ya got a line down yer eye, don’tcha?”

“I do.”

“An yer headed fer the House o’ Darian?”

“Yes.”

“Then perhaps this one’ll be o’ some help. My servants tell me we haven’t told anyone this prophecy yet. Apparently it was only seen about a year ago. An’ well, it’s been some time since any o’ ya from the House has been here. Anyway, wait, let me see if I remember this correctly.” Harlan paused for a few moments, mouthing words silently to himself. “Oh yes. The Night o’ Fire an’ Water will mark the beginning o’ Jahmash’s retaliation.”

Garrison cocked an eyebrow, “What does that mean? ‘The Night of Fire and Water’?”

“Well. I forget.” Harlan turned to his servant. “Hey. Did ya bring the volume like I asked ya ta?”

“Of course, sir.” The servant reached into his broad hat and retrieved a volume. He flipped through several pages, then placed the book in Harlan’s hands. Once Harlan had the book secure in one hand, the servant placed Harlan’s right hand at the top of the left page.

“Thank ya. Ya see Garrison, so many o’ these servants are unreliable. But this one. He’s not sa bad. They all think they know better than we do, since they can see an’ we cannot an’ all. As if sight means ya got better sense.” Harlan must have sensed Garrison’s discomfort, or perhaps he heard Garrison tapping his feet. “Ah, boy. I’m just jokin’ with ya. We Blind Men have a habit o’ poking fun at our blindness an’ ribbin all o’ ya who can see. Can ya blame us?”

Garrison hesitated for a second. “No, of course not. It is just surprising that you can take it lightly.”

“O’ course we can. We live with the thing our whole lives. Anyway, let us see what this thing means.” Harlan ran his finger slowly over a few lines of raised dots and dashes on the page. “Yes. That makes sense now. Armaan saw this one. A Shivaani fella. Anyway, he saw a night o’ severe rain. He described it like someone poured the sea from the sky. It was in the middle o’ town, they were all watchin a hangin. Then, right after the man was dropped, the hangin platform caught fire despite the rain. Town was called Haedon. Armaan wrote that he heard a boomin voice loud enough ta drown out the rain, that said ‘The era o’ Ashur an’ Darian’s Descendants has come ta an end. The era o’ Jahmash begins.’ Armaan wrote that nobody around him heard the voice or responded ta it. Usually a sign o’ two situations overlappin’.”

“This prophecy seems rather shaky. I have traveled through all most of Ashur and have never heard of Haedon. Besides, even the man who saw it said that nobody heard what Jahmash supposedly said.”

The Blind Man retorted quickly. “Garrison, yer young. I wouldn’t be so bold ta call ya a fool, but travels alone don’t educate a man. Just because ya never heard o’ anythin’ doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. If we relied only on our senses an’ never thought fer ourselves, we’d all be fools. Look at the Blind. None o’ us has ever seen a thing. That mean the world doesn’t exist?”

“Well, no. But…”

“O’ course it doesn’t. What yer also forgettin’ is perhaps the world is bigger than Ashur. Anyone who’s studied the history o’ this world an’ the Harbingers knows the world was much bigger before Darian—bless the man—drowned it. What if this Haedon place existed beyond Ashur?”

Garrison breathed deeply. His stubbornness often got the best of him, but Harlan had a point. “Fine. I’ll assume that Haedon is a real place. But why would Armaan be the only one who could hear the voice?”

“I can explain that easily. Ya see, when we see these prophecies, some o’ the Blind can experience more than one thing at a time. Ya forget, while we see what is real, we aren’t in the real world. It isn’t the norm, but it’s happened enough that a Blind Man or Woman can see one point o’ view an’ hear another. Even if the two aren’t in the same place. I can see yer still havin’ some trouble believin’ me, boy. Never mind whether ya believe or not. There has yet ta be a prophecy that hasn’t come true.”

“I still have my doubts. But I will refrain from arguing. Assuming the prophecy is true, how will we know when this is going to happen? Should we not find this Haedon place and have scouts inform us of this night?”

“Garrison, this prophecy is over a year old. Tryin ta find Haedon is a futile task. This may have happened already an’ we wouldn’t even know it.”

“Very well. What do you suggest we do about this then?”

“Yer goin ta the House, aren’t ya? Tell them o’ this when ya get there. They got some real intelligent men there, might be able ta do more with this information than we can.”

Garrison yawned and acquiesced. He was too tired to argue. “Very well, Augur Harlan. I will deliver this message.”

“Thank ya, Garrison. And o’ course, yer free ta stay until yer companions are fully healed. We will accommodate yer needs until yer stay has ended.”

A curious thought struck Garrison’s mind. “That is very generous of you. However, we shall leave in the morning. Your hospitality is greatly appreciated, but we are being chased and time is of the essence. There is something I am wondering about though, if you would not mind explaining it to me?”

“Well, that depends on yer request. I cannot guarantee ya I’ll answer. But go ahead, boy. Ask yer question, ya won’t offend us regardless.”

“Very well. All of you at the Tower have tended to our every need. From the moment we arrived, you asked no questions. Stones of Gideon, you were not even surprised that we were here. And beyond that, you have no issue with us staying here. I am simply surprised that the Tower can be so welcoming, yet it is not overrun by people, especially the poor, looking to take advantage of your hospitality.”

Harlan and the servant both smiled at Garrison’s words. Harlan then gestured for the attendant to lead him to the bench, where he sat between Garrison and Marika, who looked especially worn down as she fought heavy eyelids and still wore tattered leather armor. “That is not a difficult thing ta explain. I suppose there’s a bit o’ irony that exists on Augur Island. That’s this island in case it wasn’t obvious. Ya see, we’re a bunch o’ blind fools, but well, we have eyes everywhere on this island. We know about everything that happens, especially who’s showin’ up at our docks, all five o’ them.

“O’ course, that doesn’t mean we’re adverse ta visitors. But we have rules in place so people don’t take advantage o’ us. Anyone who comes ta the Tower is only allowed ta stay fer so long. It’s not like we just let ya move in if ya got nowhere ta go. Most o’ the poor don’t have the means ta get all the way here. An’ those who do come, we give ‘em a choice. Ya see, if they ain’t got many prospects fer a better life, we only let em stay if they agree ta become a servant. An’ if ya don’t understand my meanin, all servants are sent ta Fangh-Haan fer trainin’. That’s not so pleasant a thing.”

Garrison understood now. “Do many of them agree to go through with this? It seems like the servants here have a decent life.”

“Oh they have very good lives! Aside from dealin with the nonsense an’ whims o’ us unseein’ folk, the servants here do well fer their selves. However, the processes an’ preparation ta get here is the difficult part. Many o’ the poor are willin ta be trained. I’d say less than half o’ them comes back. Tell ya the truth though, I don’t think the Anonymi let ‘em go if they quit. Too many secrets with them folk. I believe anyone who goes there an’ can’t finish the trainin ends up bein a servant fer them. Still a better life I suppose.”

“I suppose it is. At least there is still dignity in being a servant. I have seen my share of beggars and poor folk. They have so little that even pride is beyond them. Though I cannot fault them for being that way. I imagine that when you have nothing, you will do whatever it takes to better yourself. To live.”

“Indeed ya will boy. Indeed ya will. But let us stop takin up yer time. It’s late an’ by the sound o’ ya an’ yer friend’s yawnin, ya need some rest.” Harlan directed his voice toward the servant, who was still standing a few yards before them. “Hey, boy. Let’s get them ta their quarters, huh.” Harlan stood and the servant interlocked their arms, then waved for Garrison and Marika to follow.

They walked toward a doorway in the wall, then turned right and continued up a ramp that seemed to have bordered the circular perimeter of the Tower. Luckily for Garrison, they only walked up to the second floor, which was wholly different from the first. The common area was much smaller, relatively, and the room was surrounded by doors. However, the lack of color and decoration were still consistent with the room Garrison had just left. He supposed that would not change no matter what floor he was on. Although this floor contained several rooms situated around the perimeter, there still existed well over one hundred yards from one side to the other. A few servants still walked about here and there, some leading Blind Men, some not.

The servant and Harlan led Garrison and Marika to two adjacent doors, and the elderly servant spoke for only the second time. “Each of you has your own quarters and you’ll find everything you need inside, including anything we carried in for you when you arrived. We left some trays of food as well, mostly fruits, cheeses, and thinly sliced cured meats. Servants will check on you shortly to ensure that you have everything you need. If you would like to bathe before sleeping, please let them know and they will arrange it. There are additional robes and clothing inside that should be of an appropriate size to fit you comfortably. If at any time there is something else you need, simply come out to the common area. Servants patrol every floor, and if you don’t see anyone, it will not be long before you do. Is there anything with which I can accommodate either of you at the moment?”