Unicorns' Opal (18 page)

“My two needs right now are feeding the army and setting up a player in the Contest,” stated Mikal. “Both of those will be expensive. I will probably need to hire mercenaries for the Contest part so we can keep the army out of it. I also need you to provide a clear picture of the players involved.”

“Mercenaries are expensive and not very secure,” warned Larc. “They can be bought by a higher bidder.”

“I know,” frowned Mikal. “I haven’t quite worked out the plan to stop that from happening, but I will not use them until I have.”

“Since your last visit we have been trying to identify the players in the Contest of Power,” added Larc. “We will have a much clearer picture when you return.”

“Keep your eyes open for a couple of mansions as well,” requested Mikal. “I will need some homes for any players I can get into the game.”

“Understood,” agreed Larc as he rose to leave.

***

Niki heard Mikal and Yolinda leave their room and shot a glance towards Tanya who was sharpening her sword.

“I am going to get a bath while we are here,” smiled Niki.

“Remember what Mikal said about leaving the inn,” warned Tanya.

“Of course I will,” sighed Niki. “Can’t I even take a bath without a warning now?”

Niki slipped out the door and Tanya sprang from her chair and raced to the door. She cracked the door slightly and watched as Niki passed by the stairs and headed for the bathing room. She frowned slightly because she had expected Niki to immediately leave the inn. Tanya stuffed her hair under a leather cap and pulled a brown cloak out of her bag and slipped it on. She reached for her staff and headed down the stairs. She slipped out the back door of the inn and hid in an empty stall in the stables. Within a few moments, she nodded to herself as Niki slipped out the back door of the inn.

Being careful not to follow so obviously, Tanya trailed behind Niki as the redhead walked down the street, her head swaying from side to side as if in search of something. It was obvious that Niki had no idea where she was going, but it was also obvious that she was looking for something in particular. Tanya’s curiosity was aroused. At first Tanya thought it was a shop that Niki was looking for, but the redhead acted the same way when she walked through residential areas. Tanya began to think that perhaps she was wrong about Niki knowing what she was looking for.

Niki suddenly stopped in the middle of the street and Tanya darted for a nearby alley. Niki turned and looked back along the street before approaching a small house with a tailor sign out front. Tanya peered around the corner of the building and saw a man open the door. Niki pointed to something next to the door and the man furtively looked up and down the street before hurriedly ushering Niki in and closing the door. Within a couple of minutes, the man emerged from the house. Again he looked furtively up and down the street before hurrying off. The man came back within five minutes and reentered the house.

People were starting to look strangely at Tanya hiding in the alley, so she left her concealment and walked up the street past the house. She looked at the spot near the door that Niki had pointed to and saw a small black metal raven nailed to the doorframe. The raven had shiny red eyes. Tanya almost had to jump out of the path of seven riders that came down the street rather swiftly. She scowled at the black clad riders as they passed closely. She watched as they halted in front of the house that Niki had gone into. The leader was a tall man with a long braid of black hair and black eyes and he ordered the others to wait while he entered the house.

Within a few moments, the tall leader reappeared and he was holding Niki’s hand. He mounted his horse and pulled Niki up behind him. Niki was smiling and wrapped her arms around the leader. The leader said something to the other six riders and then rode swiftly off. Tanya thought briefly of running after the horse, but the other six riders rode slowly and running after Niki would only alert them to the presence of herself. Tanya started walking swiftly back towards the inn. As she drew abreast of the six riders, her ears perked up to the conversation they were having. They appeared to be debating a strategy of some kind and Tanya was only able to pick a few words out of the conversation before their horses picked up speed and started racing down the street. The words she had overheard caused fear to race through her body. She distinctly heard one of them say ‘Grand Boulder’ and ‘second floor’. Tanya started running after the horsemen, even knowing that she would never reach the inn before they did.

Midge flew in the windows and lighted on Arik’s knee as the boy sat on the bed.

“His horse is gone,” reported Midge. “I searched for blocks around and could not find him. Do you want me search farther?”

“Why would Fredrik just up and leave?” questioned Tedi. “It makes no sense. Not only is he violating the order to stay in our rooms, it appears that he does not plan on coming back.”

“I don’t know,” frowned Arik. “I agree that he does not plan on coming back though. He took all of his belongings with him. Now that we know that his horse is gone too, there can be no doubt about his intentions.”

“That still doesn’t answer the question of why he decided to leave,” Tedi pointed out. “Alex will be furious.”

“Call him Mikal while we are in this city,” warned Arik. “We must be careful with our words. He spent an awful lot of time with Niki on the voyage here from Tice. Perhaps this has something to do with her.”

“She is always needling him to leave the group,” confirmed Tedi, “but I cannot imagine him seriously doing it.”

“How do you know that?” queried Arik. “I have never heard her say anything.”

“I hear things sometimes,” blushed Tedi. “I guess I tended to dismiss the conversations because her arguments make no sense. Maybe I have been foolish to think that Fredrik would see through her whining as I do.”

“Check the Grand Boulder Inn,” Arik said to Midge. “See if Fredrik or Niki are there.”

Midge leaped into the air and flew out the window. Arik rose and paced the room as he waited for Midge to return.

“I have seen that look on you before,” commented Tedi. “You are planning on going after them. Need I remind you that they have descriptions of all of us? Every minute out of these rooms increases our risk of capture.”

“I know,” sighed Arik, “but we need Niki to defeat Sarac. What good does it do to put you on the throne if Sarac still lives? All we will accomplish is endangering your life by making you visible. Don’t you see why we must go after them?”

“If she does not wish to be part of this,” responded Tedi, “there is no way we can force her to perform her part. I think we should notify Mikal of the problem and let him decide.”

“We cannot continue to depend on Mikal and Yolinda,” argued Arik. “I am not saying we should not do as you suggest, but we must start learning to think for ourselves. The day may come when they are not around to make decisions for us.”

Midge flew in the window and landed on Arik’s shoulder.

“Nobody is in the rooms,” reported Midge. “I did see Mikal and Yolinda walking down the street towards the inn, but both rooms are empty.”

“Tanya is gone too?” questioned Tedi. “This is beginning to sound very bad.”

“What about the horses, Midge?” inquired Arik.

“The horses are all there,” declared Midge.

“So we are the only ones in our room,” stated Arik.

“And I know you are about to change that,” frowned Tedi. “Where are we going?”

***

Niki hung on to the man in black as the horse raced through the streets of Tagaret. People jumped out of the way of the horse and many of them shouted curses as Niki flew by. After a couple of minutes, the rider slowed the horse as they entered and area of stately mansions. Niki gazed at the huge houses as they rode along the street. The houses were set back well off the street and all of them had large metal fences or stone walls surrounding the estates. Niki noticed that the estates also had armed guards manning the gates that allowed access to the houses.

The horse halted at the gate of one of the most magnificent estates of all. The guards at the gate appeared to recognize the rider and opened the gate to allow him entry. They rode up to the front of the house and the rider helped Niki dismount and then jumped to the ground himself. A servant ran over to take the reins and bowed as the rider led Niki up the steps to the large double doors of the house. The rider banged loudly on the door with his fist and it immediately opened. A servant bowed and held the door as the rider led Niki into the entrance foyer. The servant closed the door and led them to a sitting room.

“Duke Everich will be with you shortly,” bowed the servant as he left the sitting room.

“Duke Everich?” questioned Niki. “Dalgar, is this wise? He is the one who is after us?”

“He is not after you,” responded Dalgar. “It is Alex and Jenneva that we are after. They must die for misleading you.”

“You mean Duke Everich works for you?” asked Niki.

“He serves us as he strives for power of his own,” corrected Dalgar. “Speak only when prompted to.”

Niki nodded as she heard footsteps in the hallway and Duke Everich entered the sitting room.

“Dalgar,” greeted Duke Everich. “How nice of you to visit. I trust your journey was pleasant?”

Dalgar rose and greeted the Duke and Everich squinted at Niki as if something was tugging at his memory.

“Have I met this young woman before?” asked Duke Everich. “Something about her seems familiar.”

“I doubt you have met her before,” snickered Dalgar, “although you did issue a bulletin with her description on it.”

“The dungeon break!” exclaimed Duke Everich. “And you have captured her.”

Niki fidgeted in her chair and prepared to bolt for the door.

“Yes,” laughed Dalgar. “Although I would not use the term captured. Niki is a very important person. She has been led astray in the past by Alex and Jenneva, but hopefully that matter will be resolved shortly.”

“Led astray?” Duke Everich questioned with raised brows. “Allowing the General to escape is a very serious offense. He can cause a great deal of trouble here in Tagaret. Are the other Children here as well?”

“They are in Tagaret,” confirmed Dalgar. “Do not worry about them, but you should alert the army to the fact that Alex and Jenneva are here in case my men fail to kill them.”

“Don’t worry about them?” echoed the Duke. “I want them all captured, especially the one playing Lord Wason. I will not be made a fool of in my own city.”

“Fredrik is not playing,” scowled Niki. “He is Lord Wason of Cidal. I don’t want him hurt, Dalgar.”

Both Dalgar and Duke Everich turned to stare at Niki.

“He really is Lord of the Manor?” questioned Duke Everich.

“Yes,” pouted Niki. “We should have stayed there, but he had such terrible servants. I do not know why he kept them employed.”

“Interesting,” stated Dalgar. “That may become helpful to us.”

“It won’t be so interesting when my men capture him,” snarled Duke Everich.

“Your men will not capture the Children,” declared Dalgar. “They are not to be touched. You leave the Children to me.”

“But they allowed the General to escape,” protested Duke Everich.

“So find the General and kill him,” snapped Dalgar. “Put your efforts towards solving the problem at hand. These Children can help ensure your power here in Tagaret. They can make you King of Targa.”

“How?” Duke Everich asked quizzically.

“You will host Niki as an heiress,” instructed Dalgar. “Make sure she becomes well known in the city. Promote her. Find her a mansion of her own and work to get her a seat on the council. She will guarantee you support in your efforts.”

“Hmm,” pondered Duke Everich. “There might be some merit in that plan. The council is too evenly divided for me to make headway right now. Are you sure she will back me?”

“She will back you,” smirked Dalgar. “You should also promote Lord Wason. Get him on the council as well. If he is truly Lord of the Manor in Cidal, it should be an easy task.”

“And his support is guaranteed?” queried Duke Everich.

“Not yet, but I am sure it will be by the time it is needed,” answered Dalgar. “Can you control him, Niki?”

“Of course,” grinned Niki as she thought of her own mansion and servants. “He has already left the group and is waiting for me at the Palace Shadow. Alex and Jenneva have no idea that we have deserted.”

“What about the other two?” asked Dalgar. “Can you sway Arik and Tedi?”

“They don’t matter,” quipped Niki. “They are lap dogs for Alex and Jenneva. We don’t need them.”

“That was not what I asked,” scowled Dalgar. “I will decide who we need and who we don’t. Can you control them?”

“I can try,” pouted Niki. “They could never play the part of royalty though. They are just fisherboys. I don’t see why they matter.”

“There was another girl involved,” interrupted Duke Everich. “What about her?”

“She is not important,” decided Dalgar. “I have ordered my men to dispose of her when they have finished with Alex and Jenneva.”

“Let me get a message off to the army about Alex and Jenneva,” suggested Duke Everich. “Just in case they get past your men.”

“They are using the names of Mikal and Yolinda Obanik,” declared Niki.

Duke Everich nodded and left the room.

“So all we have to do is support Duke Everich and we will get mansions?” asked Niki.

“You will do what I tell you to,” smirked Dalgar. “That will mean supporting Duke Everich for now, but his time will end soon. You must rally the Children to follow me.”

***

Mikal and Yolinda entered their room at the Grand Boulder Inn. Yolinda plopped on the bed and Mikal paced the floor, lost in thought.

“You indicated that you knew where Oscar might be,” Yolinda probed. “Why have you remained quiet all of these years?”

“There is little Oscar could have done to search for the Children,” reasoned Mikal. “He needed to remain dead as Alex and Jenneva did. You see what has happened to King Byron. Would our cause have been advanced if Oscar died too?”