Azra of the Burning Sands (Genesis Project) (11 page)

Before Azra could say anything, Fera ducked back into the throne room. Azra stood there in silence for some time.

He felt very alone at the moment.

The door opened again, the young blond boy, Prince Gray, stepped out. ‘The King will see you now.’

‘Thank you, Prince Grey,’ Azra said, following him in.

They walked up to the dais. Cina and Kia were standing off to the right. The King was sitting on his throne, and Fera was standing on his right. Prince Gray walked up and stood on his left.

‘Baron Azra Hemnoth, brother of my Queen, uncle to my children, after much deliberation, I have decided to grant your request. While we may not always see eye to eye, I understand your desire to protect your niece, and your continued service to the Kingdom. The Sorcerer Shakla has shown himself to be the enemy of the Kingdom of Minna, and right now the Kingdom cannot afford a grand reshuffling of resources to deal with him. As such, your request for one ship is a small price to pay for the future safety of my daughter and the Kingdom. Lady Cina and her guards will accompany you. You will also have the crew of the ship at your disposal. Word will be sent ahead, and the ship will be waiting for you in the port town of Salvor,’ King Hadrian announced.

Azra bowed himself. ‘Thank you, my King,’ he said.

‘You may go Baron. May the Heavens smile upon you.’

Azra got up and turned to go. He heard Cina and Kia walking behind him. After they left the throne room, Azra stopped and turned to them.

‘What did you say to him?’ he asked.

Cina looked at Kia and then at Azra.

‘Kia said she wanted to be there when you figured it all out,’ Cina grumbled. ‘I am to help you find what you’re looking for.’

‘How many of your guards are you bringing?’ Azra asked.

‘Ten, not counting myself. It’s a small ship we’ve been given. I suggested it. It’ll be less conspicuous, and it’s fast. It’s called the
Summer Wind
.’

‘
Summer Wind
,’ Azra repeated, with a smile.

END OF VOLUME II

VOLUME III:

‘I’ve always wanted a ship... do you know that. One of those dreams you have, but don’t really think about. Then you turn around and...
Summer Wind
you called it, Cina?’

-Azra, to Kia, as they travelled to Salvor

SALVOR – VAHOUR PROVINCE – HALLI

J
ohn Fort stood by a set of crates, tying the rope up next to it, while one of the royal guards worked on the other side. Once they finished, they stepped back, and the dock workers started working the large wooden crane to load the supplies onto the ship.

John looked over at the guardsmen. ‘Ever been out to sea before?’ he asked.

The man turned to him. He had short black hair, and was wearing a neat red runic and trousers with gold trim. ‘Only once. Princess Kialandria and her sisters went for a cruise one summer. What about you?’

‘Never in my life. I guess that would come with the territory of being Guard Captain of a city in the middle of a desert,’ John admitted with a chuckle.

‘Guard Captain? You’re a
long
way from home aren’t you?’ the guardsmen asked.

John nodded. ‘Yes. I’ve come at Baron Hemnoth’s personal request. He trusts my expertise.’

‘What sort of training have you had,’ the guardsmen asked while walking over to another set of crates, a new set of ropes dangling from above.

‘I served in the army for a few yehvs. I became a sergeant-at-arms before the hostilities with King Consan. I fought at Terla Hill, with Marshal Ken.’

‘My Father fought there too. He was a spearman on the south face.’

John’s eyes widened in appreciation. ‘The fighting was fiercest there. Anyone who could walk away from that had providence and skill in healthy helpings.’

‘Father never talked much about that day, but it was his service that made me want to follow in his footsteps. I became a royal guard as soon as I could,’ the man said.

‘My name is John by the way, what’s yours?’ John offered.

‘Kennith.’

‘Pleasure to meet you Kennith. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to get better acquainted as we sail.’ John finished with his bit of rope, and saw that Kennith was also done. He waved at the crane operators and they nodded, hoisting the bundle into the air and swinging it over the ship.

John looked around and saw the sailors had already finished loading the other supplies.

‘Looks like we’re about ready to go. Let’s get on board,’ John said.

They walked up the ramp to the ship.

Azra was on the deck talking to the Captain. John walked over to them, while Kennith went to talk to some other guardsmen.

‘You’ve been to Milla before Captain Phips?’ Azra was asking the man.

‘Yes, and I recommend we try to sail for the kingdom of Nedin before we dismebark,’ the Captain said, holding a map in place over a barrel. He pointed at the map and John leaned over to look, as gulls cried in the distance. ‘Specifically down here at the port of Nolmi,’ the Captain said.

Azra stroked his chin. John noticed stubble was showing.

Azra pointed at the map again, and said, ‘But the north shores are much closer, and it would make our journey easier,' Azra then pointed to the islands to the west of Milla, 'Or on these islands. There's settlements on them we could use as our ports.

‘While that may seem like the case just looking at the map here, the area closest to the Ash Sea,’ he gestured to a sea the separated the continent of Milla with the continent of Halli, ‘are not known to be pleasant places. The people in the north part of Milla, or the islands, are not the friendliest. Nor, for that matter, are the people on the south tip of Halli. The only thing we’d find there are bandits and tired fishing villages. If you want information, Nolmi is the place to go.’

‘We’re not going there to make friends,’ Azra pointed out.

‘Well we aren’t going to make enemies either. Besides, if you want to actually be able to ask questions, I’d recommend we stick to the south and the Kingdom of Nedin,’ Captain Phips said.

‘I defer to your judgement, Captain,’ Azra said, standing up straight.

‘Thank you, Baron Hemnoth.’

‘Please, no need to stand on ceremony while I am a guest on your ship. Just call me, Azra.’

‘Very well. You can still call me Captain Phips though. I run a tight ship,’ the captain replied.

Azra nodded to him and turned to John as the Captain walked away to get underway.

‘Ready to go, John?’ Azra asked.

‘Ready as I’ll ever be,’ John replied.

‘Good. Let’s get below deck and out of the way of the sailors.’

*

They passed through a square hole in the wooden deck and walked down eight or so steps into the hold. There was a galley toward the prow, a dozen and five hammocks hung from the ceiling between prows and aft and at the back were four rooms, with a hallway between them, and finely crafted, golden wood, doors from the northern forests of the Kingdom of Alta

One room was for Azra, one for Cina, one for Jahnyz, and the last was for Kia.

John had opted – before they even reached the boat – to sleep in hammock amongst the sailors.

Presently Cina was standing in the doorway of her cabin, looking across the hallway to the open door of Kia’s cabin.

Jahnyz hung back as Azra walked to the doorway of the room and looked in on his Niece. The room was small, but elegant, with a window that looked out over the water, a tall wardrobe with mirrors on it, a dresser, a bedside table and a single bed up against the back wall of the room.

Kia sat on her bed, back to the wall, knees hugged to her chest, and she stared up toward the wardrobe. The great, golden, cabinet was presently topped with the coiled from of the inky black serpent that was now Kia’s constant companion. The creature held its red eyes on Kia, then looked toward Azra and hissed.

Azra kept his eyes locked on Kia.

‘You okay?’ he asked.

Azra saw the girl’s jaw clench and unclench - blue eyes always on the snake - and then she nodded.

Azra knew she wasn’t okay, not at all.

There was a call from the main deck, and the boat creaked as it started to move, out from the dock.

Azra held out a hand and steadied himself on the doorway.

‘Are you okay?’ Jahnyz asked, stepping toward him.

‘Yes,’ Azra replied. ‘Moving on water,’ he looked at his apprentice,
‘that’ll
take some getting used to.’

Jahnyz smiled and rolled her eyes.

Azra let his eyes fall on Kia again.

‘Kialandria,’ he said to her, and she turned.

She looked so scared.

‘I
will
make this better,’ Azra promised.

Kia nodded at him. ‘I know, Uncle,’ she told him. ‘I know.’

She looked back at the snake.

‘Could someone close the door?’ she asked. ‘I think I’d like to be alone for a while.’

‘Of course,’ Azra agreed. He grabbed the golden door knob and gently pulled the door closed. It made a soft click.

‘What are you doing?’ Cina growled.

Azra looked to the woman and he frowned. ‘She is safe, Cina, and besides that, she already has one pair of eyes always watching her... I think that is enough for now... don’t you?’

Cina ground her teeth, turned sharply, and stepped into her cabin, closing the door.

Azra sighed and turned to Jahnyz. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said.

‘For what?’ the girl wondered, furrowing her brow.

‘Taking you away from your young sir.’

Azra smirked.

Jahnyz smiled at her teacher. ‘This is a different side of you.’

‘What?’

‘Impish?’

Azra chuckled.

Jahnyz smiled and then said, ‘Anyway, Dykyn and I both know the game, Azra. This is the job. We’ll see each other again.’

‘The journey we are taking... it could become long, if we don’t find what we’re looking for quickly.’

‘I know,’ Jahnyz responded. ‘I’m your apprentice, for better or worse... It’s okay.’

Azra winced. ‘Jahnyz, things were said during the battle... I apologize if you think I’m holding you back. Perhaps we can put these many weeks away to good use.’

Jahnyz smiled genuinely. ‘I would like that, Master Azra,’ she said, bowing her head.

‘Well then,’ Azra said, a little more gruffly than he’d meant to. ‘I suppose I’ll go topside and try and gather my sea legs.’

‘Okay.’

‘Yes,’ Azra said and he turned, starting away.

‘Azra,’ Jahnyz called after him.

He turned back.

‘Its
better
mostly... you know that, right. When you said “for better or worse”, most of its
better...
I know I can be a pain. I’m sorry too.’

Azra nodded. ‘No apology necessary, Jahnyz. None at all.’

Azra walked to the top deck, and despite the dour situation he was smiling, and felt a little bounce in his step.

He guessed it must be the water.

‘One day you will be Ruler, boy... you must be rounded, you must know many powers, so that you can reach your full potential and fulfil your destiny... don’t look at me like that child. Everyone has a destiny... Dykyn Rahva of Paltia, you more than most...’

-Thyryn, Royal Vizier of the Paltian Royal Court, speaking with Dykyn, before he went on his exchange program to the Anciantos Empire

SALLOCK – BAZRA DESERT – HALLI

‘I
t’s strange here, not like it is back home... but fascinating,’ Dykyn Rahva said holding a Paltian computer tablet in one hand, as he sat at a table in a far, lonely corner of the Wyzard’s library of Sallock. The red-eyed Paltian gazed down at a holographic whisper-image of a beautiful, dark-haired, Paltian woman. She wore a long, black and red gown that hugged her toned form. She held her hands in front of her. Her solid red eyes seemed to glow a little, and the blue scale-patches under her eyes glittered, catching the light where she was on Paltia...

Back home...

‘Things that we use technology for back home, they used this... Mahgic,’ Dykyn went on, ‘I’ve even heard that some of their sailing ships are imbued with Mahgic power, making them sail on the waves at tremendous speeds... like a skimmer boat back home.’

‘Have you seen them at work?’

‘Not as yet, but Jahnyz has gone off on one for a while... she told me she’d share everything she learned when she got back... You should see this place too... the library. It’s somehow larger on the inside than the out... I don’t even know of any Dorash power that can do that... maybe the fabled Shadow Travellers of the Emahra of ancient myth could do things like that... it’s truly wondrous here, despite being so far from home... I’m learning a lot...’ A slight frown creased Dykyn’s face as he added bitterly, ‘The Royal Vizier should be happy about
that.’

‘Thyryn just wants what’s best for you, he’d been leading and guiding the next generations of Paltian Royals for hundreds of yehvs,’ the Paltian woman said in a calm, placating, voice.

‘Dad could have taught me.’

‘Are you telling me you don’t like being in the Anciantos Kingdom... what about that girl you told me about on our last communication?’

Dykyn blushed a little.

‘What was her name?’

‘Mum, you’ve got that impish look in your eyes again.’

Dykyn’s Mother giggled.

Dykyn smiled at her. Then he sighed and asked, ‘How is Dad?’

His Mother’s features saddened and she said, ‘Tired... the recent problems with the Klat and the Quant have taxed him greatly... and there are tensions rising again with the Loute Empire... he soldiers on though.’

Dykyn smiled. ‘Of course he does,’ the boy said proudly, ‘he’s Dad... I miss you both
so
much... and how’s Lythy?’

‘Your sister is fine... your Father is slightly horrified that she’s started to take such an interest in boys lately, but... I’m sure we’ll all survive.’

Dykyn sighed. ‘I wish I could come home.’

‘Finish your training, Dykyn,’ Mum said, ‘you will one day take the throne from your Father, and you need to be the best ruler you can be... you know we all love you right, and want the best for you.’

Dykyn nodded and his heart ached a little. Hearing it helped as it always did, but it also made him miss everyone all the more.

‘What ever happened with that Kingdom that was under attack... and that Wyzard you talked so glowingly about?’ Mum wondered.

Dykyn snapped out of his melancholy and grinned. ‘I got to meet him... I told you he’s Jahnyz’s Wyzard teacher... but I got to meet him.’

‘Was he the Wyzard you thought he was.’

Dykyn frowned a little. ‘Well, the stories seemed to paint him a little more boldly... and he’s a little grumpy, but... he seems like a pretty keen Wyzard. Jahnyz says he is a little slow teaching her though... they have an odd relationship.’

‘And what kind of relationship do you and Jahnyz have?’ Mum asked in that way of hers. It was like she was pretending to be casual, but Dykyn could hear in her voice how much she wanted him to just tell her everything.

‘A good one,’ Dykyn smiled at his Mother.

‘Good... have fun my son. Enjoy yourself...’ sadness filled her face, ‘these days will never come again.’ Dykyn’s Mum hesitated for a moment. ‘Does she understand that-’

Dykyn raised a hand. ‘I haven’t told her,’ he said softly, ‘and besides that, I don’t know that we’re that close yet.’

‘You will tell her though.’

‘I like her a lot, Mum... couldn’t-’

‘Oh, my son,’ Mum said softly, ‘I wish that we could... It’s unfair to you I know, but who can fight thousands of yehvs of tradition.’

‘I don’t want to hurt her.’

‘Then don’t.’

Dykyn sighed.

‘You’re becoming a man, my son... these are the trials that will make you the leader our people need you to be.’

Movement caught Dykyn’s eye and he looked up, watching his Master crossing the distance toward him.

‘I have to go, Mum... I’ll call again later,’ Dykyn said quickly, ‘I love you.’

‘I love you too, my son.’

Dykyn turned off the comm and stood up, putting the thing into his robes, and he bowed.

‘Master,’ he said.

*

NAMA OCEAN

Standing on the deck of the ship, as the moon rose on a glittering horizon, Azra looked out over the dark sea. The green coast of Halli was still visible to the port side. The straight south course meant they didn’t need to sail far from land, which was comforting to Azra. Had they needed to, go further from shore, Azra would have requested a larger ship.

The wind was with them this evening, as it had been since leaving dock, and the
Summer Wind
was carried at startling speeds, enhanced by Mahgics that had been woven through the ship by some of Minna's most powerful Wyzards. This speed was only enhanced all the more by the seasonal trade winds that were blowing south, in their favour. The
Summer Wind
was making excellent time, and they’d already travelled, in one day, what it would have taken a conventional sail ship two weeks to do. At this rate it would be maybe a couple days more before they reached the port of Nolmi. They might even start seeing the coast of Milla by tomorrow evening.

The first day of the journey had been quiet. Azra and his charges had stayed out of the way of the Captain and his crew, and Kia had struggled to get used to her new constant companion. Azra had warned the crew to steer clear of the Princess and the snake, due to the danger involved. They had done so. There was an uneasy feeling though, through the whole day, and Azra quietly wished he could have been sure enough about he Archways to use them.

Still, he knew he should not be too vexed... this was the quickest way he knew... next to teleporting, but then he'd have to leave his niece behind.

Hearing steps on the deck behind him, Azra turned and saw Jahnyz approaching. Despite her usual impatient nature, the girl, over the last several days, since the battle at Jarridon, she’d seemed to be calming her spirit. She was more personable. She’d even started wearing her hair more loosely. It made her look softer, prettier.

Having a boyfriend seems to be doing her good. Too bad I had to pull them part,
Azra thought again.

‘Master Hemnoth,’ Jahnyz said, stepping next to him.

‘Jahnyz. Anything new?’ Azra asked, turning to the ocean again.

The girl was silent a moment, thoughtful, and then she said, ‘If the Nehhom are indeed real, they have made no signs of it thus far... of course this is just the first day. I’ve been open to Mahgic energies, and other than the normal ones, I’m not noticing anything out of the ordinary.’

Azra nodded. ‘Your ability to sense things like that has
always
been better than mine. If
you
can’t sense anything, then there is probably nothing to be detected.’

Jahnyz smiled at Azra, then looked at the sea with him and wondered, ‘So, do we continue?’

‘I’m sorry,’ Azra said.

‘For what?’ Jahnyz asked.

Azra looked at her. ‘For taking you away from that boy... I don’t know how long this might take... our quest doesn’t exactly have a fixed end-date... we could be out her for weeks... a month...’

‘Dykyn and I will live,’ Jahnyz assured her teacher with a smile. Then she said, ‘Then we
are
continuing?’

‘We must,’ Azra told her with conviction. ‘Shakla believes the Nehhom to be real. Until we can figure out a way to get that snake off of the King’s daughter, we’ll have to believe they are real too.’

‘Have you had any ideas about how to go about that... getting rid of the snake I mean?’

Azra sighed and turned away from the sea. ‘I have not,’ he said.

They were silent for a moment as the Wyzard turned back to the sea.

‘Master... do you mind if I ask you a question?’

‘Go ahead.’

‘With your ability to teleport... why not just go on your own to look for these creatures that Shakla is so intent on finding?’

‘I can’t teleport to places I’ve never been.’

‘You’ve teleported with just the image on a map before.’

'You mean the map I found at Sallock? Of the area near the Zharin Fortress?'

'Yes Master.'

'No, I'd been to the the outcrop of rocks that the caves lead to. I'd gone there with John some time before you'd became my apprentice. Though even then, since I hadn't been there in so long, it was still a dangerous risk. If they had changed since then, I could have been killed. It was very dangerous...'

‘So is a sea voyage... and even more so on a ship that travels as fast as this one.’

Azra grimaced and leaned on the railing of the ship, letting out a long sigh.

‘What?’ Jahnyz asked.

‘In truth... I believe it might have been out of my own selfishness... I worry for my niece... I don’t want her out of my sight. I want to help her if I can, save her if it’s possible.’

‘Not tactically sound.’

‘No,’ Azra chuckled. ‘I suppose not.’ He was silent a moment and then asked, ‘Kia... is she comfortable?’

‘As much as possible... You know it as well as I.’

‘Yes,’ Azra grumbled, ‘when she’s in her room, the snake watches.’

‘She can move freely around the ship, but it’s always following,’ Jahnyz added. ‘The sailors give her a wide berth, as you told them to.’

‘And she stays in her cabin, for the most part, alone,’ Azra said sadly. He looked up at the blue sky. There were a few clouds moving across the night time sky, pushed by the same winds that helped move the ship. Azra didn’t know what he’d do if he couldn’t find the Nehhom. He’d have to think of something.

‘It’s a shame,’ Jahnyz voice.

‘What is?’ Azra asked.

‘I’ve heard stories from Anciantos of ships...
air
ships and
space
ships, much better and more advanced than our void ships... It would make this trip
tremendously
quicker. Dykyn talks of his homeland... the vessels they have... it’s like something from a story book.’

‘One of the many disadvantages of living on the fringes, my Learner.’

‘I suppose,’ Jahnyz smiled.

‘I’ll be below deck if I am needed,’ Azra said, after a moment. ‘Good evening.’

‘Yes Master Hemnoth, good evening.’