Aakuta: the Dark Mage (11 page)

“Fairly simple, wasn’t it?” snickered the new Lord Damirath.

“Is that really you, Zygor?” questioned Brakas.

“It is,” sighed the mage. “I wish they had chosen a younger body. I feel old inside this one.”

“What happened to your old one?” asked Brakas as he gazed at the empty black cloak on the floor.

“Up in smoke,” shrugged Lord Damirath as he bent down and picked up the cloak and tossed it into the corner of the room.

“All right,” Brakas shook his head. “Now how do we get out of here?”

“We don’t,” explained Lord Damirath. “We call for a healer because Marshal Ulmreto has fallen ill. There will be quite a bit of confusion, I guarantee. During that confusion, you will leave and carry out the rest of our plan. They will not even notice that the one called Zygor is missing. I will be remaining here as Lord Damirath. My first act will be to find a new marshal. Have our men ready to move here within the week.”

“You will barely have time to have uniforms made up for them,” worried Brakas.

“Do not let such small details distract you,” chided Lord Damirath. “There are many people on this estate to make uniforms. Open the door for the soldiers as I shout for a healer. Then make haste in getting off the estate. Come back when you have completed this phase of the plan.”

Lord Marak signaled Botal and the squad leader called a halt to the column. Botal and the two cortains gathered around Lord Marak to hear his instructions.

“We are about to enter River’s Bend,” Lord Marak said softly. “This is where we will split up. Botal, your squad will accompany our foreign guests and me on a barge down the river. The two cortes will continue to the capital by road.”

“Why the change?” questioned Botal. “Lord Marshal Yenga will be rather angry if you dismiss your escort.

“Yenga already knows of this change in plans,” explained Lord Marak. “Lord Quavry’s message not only mentioned the caravan leaving Fardale, but also told of my plans to go to Khadoratung. We suspect that our enemy may attempt to ambush us on our way to the capital.”

“I understand the need for the barge,” nodded Botal, “but why not dismiss the two cortes? They are sure to be ambushed even if you are not among them.”

“I don’t think so,” smiled Lord Marak. “River’s Bend used to be a Situ estate before I took it for the Torak clan. I am sure that there are scores of Situ uniforms still around. The two cortes will change uniforms and continue their journey. When they arrive to a location within a day’s ride of Khadoratung, they may switch their uniforms back to the black and silver. Rest the cortes for a few minutes. I want to enter River’s Bend with a minimum of notice.”

The two cortains nodded their understanding, and Botal signaled his squad to break ranks from the column. The squad members instructed HawkShadow, StarWind, and Mistake to move forward. Lord Marak nodded, and Botal led the small group forward into the dark as the two cortes rested.

The guards at River’s Bend were alert and efficient. By the time the small group reached the gates of the estate, the Marshal of River’s Bend was there to meet them.

“Greetings, Lord Marak,” saluted the marshal. “We were not expecting such a visit.”

“This is no visit, Marshal Flutay,” smiled Lord Marak. “I would prefer that my presence here is not talked about. Bursar Kasa arranged for a barge to be available to me this evening. Is it ready?”

“We do have a barge that was scheduled to leave today for Khadoratung,” nodded the marshal. “It is fairly empty. I wondered why an empty barge would make the journey downstream. It did not leave as scheduled, so I assume it is waiting for you. Follow me, and I shall take a route that has few eyes.”

“There will be two cortes of Torak troops arriving in a short while,” Lord Marak said to the marshal as they rode towards the riverfront. “I want them outfitted with Situ uniforms for their journey to Khadoratung. Can you arrange that?”

“Without a problem,” the Marshal Flutay nodded. “We have a great deal of Situ uniforms left over. I have refused the seneschal’s plea to reuse the cloth. I thought they might come in handy.”

“You thought well,” grinned Lord Marak. “You have adapted well into the Torak clan, Flutay. Do you have any regrets?”

“None, Lord Marak,” the marshal smiled. “River’s Bend has never been more prosperous. My troops are well provisioned and well trained. Their morale is high, as is the morale of the whole estate. It is hard to believe that we used to be Situ.”

“Excellent,” beamed Lord Marak as they arrived at the wharf. “Keep them on the edge, Marshal. Your troops will not be idle for long.”

“Sir?” questioned Marshal Flutay.

“A storm is coming,” frowned Lord Marak. “I cannot offer more information at this time, but the readiness of your troops is important. Keep them well trained.”

“You may count on them, Lord Marak,” declared Marshal Flutay.

Botal’s men swarmed up the gangplank and inspected the barge. Within moments they signaled, and Botal escorted Lord Marak and the others aboard. Lord Marak and Squad Leader Botal entered the small cabin. The majority of the squad also entered, although four members took up positions on the deck as the lines were cast off.

As the barge entered the flow of the river, HawkShadow roamed the deck examining every parcel. StarWind went forward and sat on a crate near the bow. She stared off into the dark as the barge picked up speed. Mistake moved quietly through the dark and sat next to StarWind. For a long time, neither of them spoke.

“The questions come slow to your lips,” StarWind said softly. “I suspect that you want to know about MistyTrail, but you are also fearful of the answers you will receive.”

“You are perceptive,” replied Mistake. “The thought of a sister in the Sakova excites me, but I do not see how it could possibly be. She could not possibly be any farther from the village that I grew up in. I do not wish to entertain false hopes.”

“You are wise,” StarWind smiled sympathetically. “MistyTrail has never known any family of her own, but she is like family to all of us.”

“She does not know her mother and father?” questioned Mistake.

“She has none,” replied the Sakovan spy. “MistyTrail came to the Sakova as a young girl. She was not born there.”

“She wasn’t?” Mistake said excitedly. “Then maybe she was transported from Fakara somehow? Do you think she will remember?”

“I remember the day that MistyTrail joined us,” offered StarWind. “I was but a little girl at the time myself. It was in the year of the storm.”

“The year of the storm?” Mistake echoed. “Explain.”

“When I was a small girl,” StarWind began, “a tremendous storm raged through the Sakova. Even the oldest of elders could not remember ever witnessing a storm so savaging before. Large fargi trees were felled by the dozens, and the sevemore trees were toppled by the hundreds. We later heard that some of the Omungan cities had houses floating through the streets. Other houses were totally destroyed.”

“That sounds horrible,” shrugged Mistake, “but what does it have to do with MistyTrail?”

“That is how she came to the Sakova,” continued StarWind. “One of our patrols discovered a man with a child strapped to his back. The man was near death, but he told a tale of endurance before he died. He was a fisherman and had been out at sea when the storm struck them without warning.”

“Them?” questioned Mistake. “Why would a fisherman take a child out to sea?”

“He didn’t,” explained StarWind. “He fished with another villager. When the storm blew in, they decided to return to their village. That is when they heard a child crying. They searched for a long time before they found her. Perhaps the delay caused by the searching cost them their lives. We will never know.”

“They were brave men,” Mistake said as her lips compressed with sadness.

“They were indeed,” nodded StarWind. “As they neared the coast of Omunga, their small ship crashed upon rocks offshore. They tried taking turns carrying the child and swimming, but it proved too difficult. Finally, one of the fishermen strapped the child to the back of the other man. The man with the child was the only one to reach the shore. The other fisherman was lost at sea.”

“That is terrible,” sniffed Mistake as she thought briefly of her own narrow escape from the sea.

“It was a ferocious storm,” nodded StarWind. “The surviving fisherman made it to shore just as the brunt of the storm hit. There was no place for him to take shelter, so he walked in a daze. There was no way for him to even tell what direction he was walking. He wandered into the Sakova instead of along the coast. When we found him, there was not much life left in him. He told his tale and asked us to care for the child. Then he died.”

“So that is how MistyTrail came to be a Sakovan?” asked Mistake. “So I am no closer to finding out if she is my relative?”

“I can only tell of what I know,” answered StarWind. “What the child was doing out in the sea will never be known. I am sorry that I cannot tell you more.”

“She is your relative,” HawkShadow said from the darkness. “Nobody knows MistyTrail as well as I do. You look like her. You move like her. You even think like her. I have no doubt that you are related to MistyTrail. Tell us of your own childhood.”

Mistake’s eyes scanned the darkness as she sought to see HawkShadow, but the Sakovan assassin could not be seen.

“I know little of my childhood,” confessed Mistake. “I, too, was found by a fisherman, but my early years were far different. The woman who took me in was full of hatred towards me. It was she who gave me the name Mistake.”

“Why do you keep it?” asked StarWind. “Without parents, you could call yourself whatever you wish. MistyTrail was named after the place she was found. Surely you can call yourself something else?”

“I suppose that I could,” shrugged Mistake, “but I will not. I had to become hard to survive after running away. My name is a constant reminder of those days when I lived as a reviled being. How can I be strong enough to survive if even my name intimidates me?”

“And you are stubborn and hard on yourself like MistyTrail,” HawkShadow chuckled. “I think you should return to the Sakova with us.”

“HawkShadow?” interrupted StarWind. “What are you thinking?”

“I know, StarWind,” defended HawkShadow, “but I also think I know what Lyra would say if she heard of Mistake. Our Star would extend an invitation for Mistake to visit. I guarantee it.”

“You are probably right,” nodded StarWind, “but do not hold out empty promises. We should ask Lyra before giving false hope to Mistake.”

“I understand,” interjected Mistake. “I have heard some things about the Sakova. I know that outsiders are forbidden to enter, but I also know that I will do anything to find my family, even if that means going where I am not welcome.”

HawkShadow laughed from the darkness, and Mistake turned around with a scowl on her face.

“Do not laugh at me,” Mistake said sternly, even though HawkShadow was not visible. “You have no idea what I am capable of. My carozit will guide me to her.”

“I am laughing because I could have foretold exactly what you were going to say,” chuckled HawkShadow as he stepped out of the shadow of a large crate. “It is as if you are MistyTrail.”

“You know her that well?” asked Mistake in a calmer voice.

“Very well,” nodded HawkShadow. “I have personally trained her for several years. I could train you as well. In addition to moving swiftly as you do, I can teach you to move silently. You would make an excellent addition to the Sakova.”

“No,” Mistake shook her head. “I am sworn to aid the Astor. Rejji will need my help in restoring Fakara, but I can make a trip to the Sakova to meet MistyTrail.”

“What is this carozit you speak of?” questioned StarWind.

Mistake reached into her pack and extracted the carozit. She held it upside down and watched as the balls descended. They did not descend as far as they had at Fardale and Mistake frowned.

“We are moving away from her,” Mistake said softly. “At Fardale the balls hung lower. When they fully descend and touch one another, my family will be next to me.”

“Amazing,” frowned StarWind.

“Why are you so sad about it?” questioned Mistake.

“She is not sad,” interrupted HawkShadow. “She is worried. The carozit could lead you directly to StarCity. Our homeland has been hidden from outsiders for generations. To know that this magical carozit can lead you there is rather disturbing.”

“Does it work in the hands of anyone?” questioned StarWind.

“It does,” Mistake nodded nervously. “Its use revealed that Bakhai was Rejji’s brother. Do not try to take it from me.”

“We shall not,” promised StarWind, “but it may mean that MistyTrail will have to leave the Sakova.”

“Let’s not jump to any conclusions,” warned HawkShadow. “Lord Marak says that this Astor is tied to Lyra as much as the Torak is. I believe that we are all on the same side. Let us notify Lyra of what we have discovered. She will know what to do.”

* * *

The Kamaril soldier crept silently up the path of destruction leading to the cave of Aakuta. His brown and yellow uniform blended in fairly well with the destroyed trees and shrubs. When he reached the ledge that the cave sat on, he looked around nervously. The dark mage was nowhere in sight, but a small pile of human skulls were piled near the entrance to the cave. Quietly he eased himself away from the edge of the cliff before calling out.

“Aakuta,” he said loudly, “I come in peace with an plea from my lord. Please here me out.”

Loud grumbling flowed out of the cave. The soldier trembled nervously as the mage emerged from the cave and looked about. His head snapped towards the Kamaril soldier. Although the soldier could not see the mage’s face, he could envision the glare of rage that was hidden by the black hood.

“How dare you disturb me!” growled Aakuta. “What are you doing here?”

“Do not strike me,” quivered the soldier. “Lord Druck has sent me to ask for your help. His only son is dying. He begs you to come and save his boy.”

“I am not a healer,” spat Aakuta. “I have no time for such sentimental trash. Let the dying die as they are supposed to.”