Rise and Fall (24 page)

Why did he stop me?
Too weak to move, he knew he was finished.
This is it.

But the killing blow never came and instead he felt Tobin roll off of him. When his eyes focused, Jober saw that the Kifzo struggled under the same symptoms, half dragging himself to lean against a nearby wall.

On his knees, Nachun breathed heavily. “I’m sorry, Tobin. I barely had enough strength to send that spell let alone ensure it did not affect you.” The shaman’s voice sounded faint.

The room fell silent as all three men struggled for air. He knew he should try to move as he felt strength return to his limbs but he had little motivation to do anything other than move a hand to his side, hoping the pressure would slow his bleeding. He wasn’t sure why he bothered, he knew he would die.

Maybe if they kill me, they will leave my family alone. What threat is my family with me dead? They think I’m just working on some special project for Bazraki.

Jober grimaced at the lie. He remembered the sparkle in his wife’s eyes, the pride she had shown when she had found out that he was specifically chosen for the task. Realizing she would discover the truth after tonight, he almost wished for death.

Better than to face her disappointment when she learns the truth.
So rather than live, he moved his hand away from his side and waited to die. But death is often fickle and sometimes slow. And while he waited, he listened.

* * *

Control of his limbs slowly returned, and once Tobin had the strength, he propped himself up against the nearest wall, picking up his blade that he had heard clang to the floor following the blinding light. Prepared for the strange man to attack him once again, he readied himself. However, other than his labored breathing, the burly man lay motionless on the stone floor.

Still weak from the sorcery, Tobin decided against finishing the man, worried the stranger feigned his condition. He remained cautious, eyes searching for any sudden movement.

Tobin glanced at the shaman; a man he had thought was his friend, someone he could trust. But now he didn’t know what to think. He felt betrayed, confused, and angered. Yet his concern for the shaman, a man who had befriended him when no one else would, decided his response. Nachun’s eyes were sunk into an already lean face and his dark skin seemed to have paled noticeably. The features of the shaman’s face even looked foreign, unlike any other Heshan he had ever seen. He squinted into the gloom and shook his head, not sure if he was still feeling the effects of sorcery. “Nachun? Are you alright?”

The shaman nodded, closing his eyes. Opening them, he seemed to look more like himself. “I will be eventually,” he answered in a whisper.

“What happened?”

“I’m sorry. He had your knife and I was too weak to isolate the spell’s effects.” He swallowed.

Tobin looked at the man on the floor and then back to Nachun. “That’s not what I meant. What are you doing down here? And what did you do with Kaz?”

Nachun coughed, then sighed. “I was trying to solve both of our problems.” He paused. “But you distracted me at such a crucial point. I warned them that the results could be terrible if that happened.” He looked at the two bodies lying near the doorway, each cooling in their own pool of blood, and snorted.

“That doesn’t answer my questions.”

Nachun nodded. “It will take time for me to explain.”

“Then I suggest you hurry. Dawn is in a couple of hours and when my father wakes and discovers that Kaz is missing, he will likely kill us both.”

Nachun’s eyes widened. “You’re right.” He thought for a moment as if searching for a place to begin. “Do you remember the maps I’ve been researching and buying up in the market these past few weeks?”

“Yes. You said you were doing research on the land in order to aid Father.”

“Do you also remember that I said there were other things about them that interested me?”

“Yes.”

“This was one of those things,” said Nachun, gesturing with his hand as if the statement answered all of Tobin’s questions. “Most think of teleportation as something found in children’s stories. But I can tell you that it is a very real and powerful form of sorcery, one that is rarely used for the risks are quite high. You saw me take that risk with your brother only moments ago.”

Teleportation? Impossible.
“Then where is he?” asked Tobin, more confused than before.

“To be honest, I’m not sure.” Nachun closed his eyes. “Let me start over.” He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “You know my interest in history and such. Well, in my youth I came across several antique texts that spoke of powerful weapons in the cities of old. Cities and lands our people inhabited before the crossing of the Great Divide. If those weapons do exist, no one could stand in the way of the Blue Island Clan. In turn, such a thing would help me realize my own goals. Unfortunately, the locations of those weapons and for that matter the ancient cities themselves are not well documented.

“Since coming to Juanoq, I’ve stumbled across a new wealth of information, and coupled with what I had previously known, I’m much closer to discovering those locations than ever before.” He pointed to the parchment lying on the floor. “That map is one of several I bought, detailing Hesh as it was hundreds, perhaps thousands of years ago. I’ve made some improvements, but that faded portion is where I believe the great city of Quarnoq once stood. It is there I hoped to find one of those ancient weapons.

Quarnoq? The capital of our people before we were forced to cross the Great Divide.

Nachun continued. “However teleportation can be unpredictable, unless attempted by someone skilled enough. But even then, other elements come into play. Familiarity with the location you are teleporting to as well as distance from one location to the next all factor into the success of the spell. I have never purposefully traveled a distance as great as the map indicates, nor do I even know with certainty if Quarnoq still exists.” He shook his head. “I couldn’t just send myself.”

Tobin’s eyes widened. “So you sent Kaz instead? You are mad to use my brother for…”

“Mad?” Nachun cut in. “Don’t fool yourself. I could have chosen any beggar off the street who would have gone unnoticed. But that would have only benefited me.” His voice softened. “And why would I waste an opportunity to help both of our causes?”

Tobin exploded. “I never asked for this!”

“You didn’t have to ask. You yourself said that things would never change for you as long as Kaz was around. With him gone, Bazraki will learn to trust you, rely on you, and in time take pride in your accomplishments as he should have all along.”

“You act like I need my father’s approval!”

“I never said you did. But do not try to fool me into believing that you are not envious of the way he treats your brother, that you do not desire such treatment yourself.”

Is my displeasure so obvious? Does everyone else see it?
Tobin sat in silence. “Perhaps I was jealous of Kaz, but I didn’t want this,” he said, gesturing around the room. “I only wanted my father to respect me.”

“And without Kaz spreading lies to your father and everyone else, you can have that respect, and, in time, much more.” Tobin looked up and a thin smile appeared on Nachun’s face. “Many things are within your grasp, my friend. One in particular would probably be of most interest to you. Lucia is suddenly available.”

“I told you never to speak of her again,” said Tobin.

The shaman put his hands up. “Very well. But during her time of
mourning
I’m sure she will seek comfort from
someone
.”

“You speak of Kaz as if he’s dead. Before you said he was
teleported
.”

“He was. But due to the interruption in the spell, I’m not sure where. All I know is that he is bound, naked, without his memory, and injured thanks to these idiots,” he said pointing to the bodies at the door. “So even if by some miraculous chance he should recover and stay alive, he’ll probably find himself alone in some part of Hesh he’s never even seen before without the slightest idea on how to return. He’s dead.”

“What do you mean, he is without his memory? And if you don’t know where he went, then how would you have determined the spell’s success?”

“I cast a spell that caused Kaz to lose his memory. I figured it was in both of our best interests to do so. I was also working on a tracing spell in addition to the teleportation one, but my concentration broke before I could complete it. If I had been able to finish, I could have determined if he’d arrived alive and in theory even return him if I wanted. But now, he’s lost forever.”

Lost forever or dead?
Tobin stood up and began pacing as he tried to come to terms with the realization.
I should turn Nachun in. It would be the right thing to do by Kaz. Despite our differences, we are still blood. Or should I say we were? Father may even reward me for coming to him. I wouldn’t even need to lie to gain his favor.
He shook his head, and clenched his hand around the blade he still carried.
No. He would blame me for not stopping Nachun.

He glared at Nachun, hating the position the shaman thrust upon him.
He risked his own life for me more than once. Even now, he put himself in danger, and he was honest with his intentions. And now I have the chance to do the same for him. Should I reward his friendship with a death sentence?
He knew his father would expect him to do just that, and perhaps it was the right thing to do, but he couldn’t.

It doesn’t make sense.
In the last couple of months Nachun had done more for him than Kaz ever had. They may not have shared the same blood but the shaman was more of a brother to Tobin than Kaz had ever been.

“You’re right. It’s done.” He changed his grip on the dagger in his hand and moved toward the man still lying motionless on the floor.

“No! Wait,” Nachun cried out.

Tobin came to a halt. “Why? We need to remove all evidence.”

“We need a diversion to throw them off of the truth. Kaz would never just leave on his own accord and without a plausible explanation, his disappearance will raise too many questions.”

“But he’s dying,” said Tobin, gesturing to the man.

“He’s dying, but far from dead. We can use him yet.” The shaman pulled a pouch from under his robes. “I’m too weak to perform even the most basic of healing spells but I always carry a few things with me, just in case,” he said, grinning. “This will keep him alive until we get him to a healer.”

“What makes you think he will help us?” asked Tobin.

“Oh, he will help us. He has far too much to lose, if he doesn’t. Isn’t that right, Jober?”

Jober. I knew the man was familiar. Of all people to be here with Kaz.

“Besides,” said Nachun, bending over the man and opening his pouch, “who would turn down the chance to be a hero once again?”

Chapter 10

Squalor Bay, like most of Slum Isle lived up to its name. Little had changed in the two years since Jonrell’s last visit. Most of the docks looked ready to collapse at any moment. Like the rest of the island, the only law a man followed in Squalor Bay was his own. Drinking, fighting, gambling, and whoring passed the time.

Ocean Spirit
eased through the green water and moved past ships of various shapes and sizes. Galleys, cogs, and even longboats crowded the area around the small wharf. Many of the ships rocking in the small waves at berth looked abandoned. Tattered sails hung lifeless. Rotted railings drooped over the side of the ship like drunken sailors. Yet the swaying caskets floated alongside the occasional Cadonian royal ship that docked there.

Many would think those lesser vessels were outmatched against the better constructed great ships, but Jonrell was not one of them. He had been to Slum Isle countless times since leaving Cadonia and knew the captains of those decrepit ships could out-maneuver and out-sail many of the royal navy’s commanders.

Captain Sylik maneuvered his way through the harbor, nestling into a spot away from most of the other ships. The old captain had proven his worth more than once during the voyage, first with Melchizan, and then with a series of storms, one after the other, that battered the crew. The only clear sailing since their first week out came just two days ago. Both the ship’s crew and the band of mercenaries longed for the chance to unwind after such a trying voyage. Once the weather cleared and they no longer had to pull together to stay afloat, the close confines began to wear on them. Jonrell knew they needed to release some of their aggression.

One Above, help the man who dares start something with them tonight.

Men already pushed each other aside in an attempt to be first into several row boats lowered into the bay. Sylik walked up next to Jonrell, shaking his head in disgust. “The fools act like this is their last chance at dry land.”

“I guess being at sea affects some more than others,” said Jonrell.

“What about you, Commander?”

“Oh, I may have acted the same when I was younger but I’ve learned to be patient. I’ll follow them on the next wave when they’re done tearing each other up. I only gave them one night to themselves so I won’t slow them down. Come tomorrow, we’ll begin working to bolster our numbers for when we reach Cadonia. Sixty-five men aren’t enough for what I have in mind. One group will recruit the north half of the island while my group works the southern half. You?”

Sylik shook his head. “I’m an old man.”

Jonrell chuckled. “Even an old man can have some fun from time to time.”

“Aye, but I got all the woman I need below my feet and she’s in need of some attention after what we’ve been through. I need to see to her so she’ll be ready when we meet up on the other side of the island in Mudhole Bay.”

“Well, if everything goes as planned, we should all arrive at roughly the same time.”

The captain chuckled. “I’ll see you in a couple of weeks then. Just don’t get killed in the meantime. You still haven’t finished paying up.”