The Corin Chronicles Volume I: The Light and the Dark (35 page)

5.4

A
M
ERCHANT’S
T
ALE

T
he sight of women aboard the many carriages that continuously filled the roads leading to Sabudu brought a smile to Mikael’s face. He had heard many tales about the great city. Although the inhabitants were unable to catch even a small glimpse of the sun on most days, he assumed that constant twilight for them was better than perpetual sunlight. The large buildings that now surrounded them reminded him very much of Tustodes. Thought of as one of the wealthiest cities in all of Corin, Sabudu was considered an independent entity, ruled entirely by elected female delegates from noble families.

Their leader, Xantia Marlow, a young woman who was as brave as she was beautiful, welcomed merchants from every section of the planet to sell their many goods: clothing, food, weapons, gold. Some merchants told forgotten tales, while some just drank ale and flirted with the many women who filled the streets and markets.

Mikael’s smile broadened considerably, thinking about all the reasons he was grateful for being able to spend a night or two in this great city.

The sharp glare from Ramon sprang him out of his daydream. “We must guard everything we say from here on in,” Ramon said. “It is likely they will know that I am royalty, but we must not promote that knowledge ourselves.”

“But they do not have to know you hail from Tustodes, my lord,” said Kasa. “You could very well be a lord from Moktu. Would it not be beneficial for us if they knew you were some sort of dignitary? We might get free boarding and even a better meal.”

“There are too many whisperers,” Topenga said. “Words said here could easily reach Earth or Tyranis in no time at all. Even if they do know who we are, we must guard our desired destination and the purpose of our journey.”

As they approached the city’s entrance, the smell of fine ale filled the air. The undeniable pleasure and happiness across the faces of the men and women left Prince Ramon intrigued. Sabudu was a place like no other he had seen in his previous travels across Corin. The citizens walked with smiles fixed on their faces, and even the guards remained cheerful and polite, as they permitted people in and out of the city. The thick armor that covered their bodies did not seem intimidating in the slightest, and neither did the large swords they held by their sides at all times. The vastness of the city at times overwhelmed Ramon, as did each of the tall, white buildings that seemed to smother them as they continued to approach.

From time to time through an open window, he caught sight of servants cleaning and scrubbing with extra conviction. He wondered at the wealth that surrounded him, and although happy to see such financial progress on Corin, he worried about the lack of cooperation with his father’s kingdom and other cities around his planet.

“This is truly magnificent, my lord,” said Kasa. His mouth hung open. “This could be the home of a King of Corin.”

Ramon heard the voice of his comrade but continued to study the many people around the pathway leading to the city entrance. He noticed that most people walked in mixed groups of two. A number of the women held on to the wrists of men, almost highlighting the women’s dominance. The thing he found most interesting, however, was the fact that each couple was walking with a pair of Furorets, one each of the Sinti and Santi variety.

Seeing a Sinti breed of Furoret was not a new experience for Ramon. They were among the more savage animals to be domesticated as pets within the Light World of Corin. The creatures were almost as large as the women who held on to them with thick, golden leashes. He marveled at how obedient they were to their dainty masters. Their thick tails constantly hung down from their own weight, and their two heads could not be more contrasting. One head was covered in long, dark hair that nearly shrouded what, to Ramon, seemed a gentle face. The other head was more gaunt in appearance, with sharp, piercing cheeks and bright, red eyes.

The men of Sabudu seemed to walk completely in their partners’ shadows. Holding on to their smaller Santi Furorets by thin, bronze leashes, the men almost seemed to look toward the women for permission to breathe. The Santi Furorets were pale gray to white, with wrinkly, short-muzzled faces and a curled tail. At a mere fourteen inches in height, the contrast with their Sinti cousins could not be starker.

“It is just as I have heard,” said Topenga. “The women carry the voice of this great city.”

Ramon looked toward him and nodded. “All the more reason why we must not alert them to our presence here.” He realized that they were three parties away from the front gate, where one of the guards seemed to shift nervously. “The last thing we must do is upset the order.”

“My lord,” Kasa gasped. He squeezed Ramon’s wrist.

The prince noticed his comrade staring intently at a golden, Ikrenum-driven carriage manned by three men—another three on foot beside it—beyond the gates. Within it was the frame of a woman, her face covered in a see-through veil. A beautiful lady, he thought, porcelain-skinned with bright cherry lips, and long, flowing black hair.

“Lady Xantia?” Kasa asked, his mouth hanging open.

“Yes,” answered Ramon. “It is indeed odd to witness such beauty and yet such power at the same time.” He nodded at Kasa before steering his Ikrenum toward the city entrance.

Approaching the thick, fifty-foot gates, all five men tried to maintain eye contact with the guards without appearing intimidating. The sight of their weapons drew whispers from the people behind and beside them. The size of Mikael’s axe seemed to cause the greatest stir.

Reining his Ikrenum to a halt, Ramon removed his helmet and held his right hand up in the air. “I am a merchant from Isotap,” he started. “I seek shelter and food, after which I shall be on my way.”

The guard lifted his sword from the ground and approached them. He stopped beside Ramon, studying the prince’s Ikrenum and backpack. Slowly, he shifted his gaze to the other four riders, hardly blinking the whole time. “And where is it that you five travel to?” he asked. “What dangers could befall you that you travel so heavily armed?”

“We come in peace,” added Topenga. He dismounted his Ikrenum and stepped forward. “The cargo we carry is of the utmost importance to many, and we must protect it at all costs.” He glanced over at Ramon before continuing. “We bring no evil to this great city. Lady Xantia has nothing to fear from us.”

The guard retreated and whispered into his partner’s ear for a few seconds. The restlessness behind the five warriors began to turn vocal, with numerous people shouting angry words, asking for haste. Ramon noticed that Mikael had started to shift his hands toward his axe and quickly halted him with a raise of his right hand. As he turned back to face the guards, he noticed the second one walking toward them.

“Merchants, you say?” The guard folded his arms.

Ramon nodded, still glancing at Mikael to ensure he did not plan on doing anything.

“Very well, then,” the guard said. “Welcome to Sabudu. We have many inns and huts. Find one that is adequate for you, but I warn you. Misbehavior will not be tolerated. We shall allow you to keep your weapons to protect the goods you carry, but the use of any of those weapons with no justifiable reason will end in execution. Is that understood?” The guard glared at every one of them.

Ramon nodded. “It is understood,” he said.

As the man moved to the side, Topenga remounted his Ikrenum and rode with the other four into the village.

“I do not like the way he spoke to you, my lord,” said Kasa. “How dare he speak to royalty in that manner?”

“At this moment, we are nothing more than merchants,” said Ramon. He glanced toward his comrades. “Is that clear?”

“Yes, my lord.” They all answered simultaneously.

The Spree Inn seemed to be one of the busier ones they had come across as they rode through the town. The sight of many merchants, each carrying different kinds of weapons, made them feel more comfortable about carrying their own. The continuous stares they received from a number of young women eased the tension within them. Ramon noticed Mikael smiling at several, resulting in some giggling and nervousness among the ladies. Ramon had always considered Mikael as overly confident when females were concerned. His chiselled face had attracted many in the past, and sometimes Ramon wished he found it as easy to converse with women as his childhood friend did.

At the entrance to the inn stood several guards, each with swords in their hands. The guards seemed to be taking orders from a number of women, who each held on to Sinti Furorets. The stables behind the inn held a large number of Ikrenums from every corner of Corin, as evidenced by the colors of their saddlecloths—red, brown, and black. It seemed a high number of places were being represented in Sabudu.

With his axe still covering his entire back, Mikael led the way toward the inn’s entrance. Following a polite nod to the guards, he stepped inside, closely followed by his comrades. The inn had a sweet smell inside, almost eclipsing that of the ale that kept coming out to the many customers. Most of the tables were full, with many people standing at the edges. The mass of people seemed to be congregated around merchants, some who told tales, while others sold goods for gold and rubies.

Edging in, Ramon worried about catching the attention of the people in the room, but his party seemed to go unnoticed. “Mikael,” he said. “Go with Kasa and secure our room. The rest of us will try and get a listen to some of the things being said here.”

Mikael nodded and walked toward the bar, where five men and two women continued to serve the very loud customers.

Walking around the different tables, Ramon studied each merchant, trying to avoid eye contact. Some were old, and some did not have many years on him. Those who sold goods did not interest him much, but the ones who told tales seemed to attract the most attention. Most of the stories were ones he had been told by Master Ndu, mainly about the legacy of Corin. He paid particular attention to the clothes worn by the different merchants. Most dressed in fine silk, and he could not move his gaze from one who looked like he did not belong among such a wealthy group.

Realizing that Ramon had fixed his gaze toward one particular corner, Rumin shifted toward the table that had seemed to capture his prince’s attention. “Does his face look familiar, Lord Prince?” he asked.

Ramon walked beside him. “What do you see around you?” he asked. “Men who pride themselves in looking wealthier than others. Yet we have a merchant there with rags for clothes.” He edged beside the people listening to the words spoken by the man. His green tunic had faded quite significantly. So much so that Ramon could not make out if it had once been another color. His saggy face was lined with wrinkles, mostly around his cheeks and eyes. The stubbly white beard that covered his face reminded him of another, the Colonoy master himself, Master Ndu.

“These tales are as true as they are false,” he heard the man saying. Crouching, he squeezed himself through a small gap in the crowd, receiving a number of angry grunts from the two men either side of him. The sudden presence of Topenga, however, immediately shut them up, as they continued to listen to the merchant speak.

“The Tree of the Cosmos is one such myth,” the merchant continued. “Said to mark the tombstone of the banished Corin gods, its resting place is believed to be in the depths of Mount Anobis, but the burning tree knows no real resting place.”

Ramon tipped his head closer, listening intently after hearing the mention of a burning tree.

“The tree is a symbol,” the merchant said. “A symbol of our father’s blessing to any who cast their eyes upon it. It is stated that he who lays eyes on the burning tree shall receive a gift from Baran himself. A gift that shall bring victory at a time when defeat is inevitable. A gift that the gods themselves hold dear. As I sit he—”

The frame of Ramon standing up halted the merchant. He looked intently at Ramon before placing his pipe in his mouth, emitting smoke as he puffed on the tobacco.

“You wish to challenge me on something you have heard. Correct?” The merchant placed his left hand on his chin.

Ramon shifted uneasily, glancing at all the eyes that had moved to him. The stares from around the table seemed to pierce through him, as if reading his thoughts. He had risen without thinking, eager to understand the things he heard. “This burning tree you mention,” Ramon started. “Is it possible that it could be seen, even in the Light World?”

The merchant continued to smoke his pipe. His eyes remained fixed on Ramon, as did the eyes of every other man and woman around the table. “The burning tree resides nowhere, yet at the same time everywhere,” the merchant said. “There have been many sightings of it, but no story has been anything more than a legend.” The merchant took a few more puffs from his pipe before resting his eyes on Ramon once again. “Why do you ask these questions? Have you laid your eyes on such a tree?”

Rumin swallowed loudly, making everyone shift their gaze to him.

The merchant started to study him intently. “Odd clothes,” he said. “Torn and somewhat ragged, but yet, made from fine materials. But I sense something other than just wealth.” The merchant stood up. “Are you from a noble house, young man?”

Rumin took two steps backward, with his every movement watched by those at the table. Glancing backward, he noticed that the bar staff had also started to focus their gaze on him. He opened his mouth to speak a number of times without coming out with the words. “I hai…I hail—”

“We all hail from Tustodes,” interrupted Topenga. He took a step backward, where he was quickly joined by Ramon.

The entire inn suddenly went quiet. Whispers instead filled the room. Women and men walked toward Ramon and his comrades, studying them. He could hear people saying insulting things about the royal family. Some cursed loudly, enough so they could all hear. Looking beside him, Ramon noticed Rumin sliding his hands toward the fork on his back but quickly halted him with a raised right hand. Looking around him, Ramon noticed the other merchants all looking at him, open mouthed.