Azurite (Daughter of the Mountain Book 1) (4 page)

“Talan, you’ve arrived.  Please come in.  Let us not waste time.” 

He stood up and adjusted his overcoat before following Evangeline into her room.  The chamber was quite expansive and simply decorated.  On the far end hung a large embroidered tapestry with the Samarian crest.  On the other wall, a portrait of the late King Edgar and Queen Cecelia loomed over the chamber as they watched protectively over their daughter.  Underneath the portrait, a beautifully designed sword, with Samarian runes engraved on the grip and blade, was proudly on display.  The chamber’s balcony doors were propped open, letting in the fresh mountain air that ruffled the curtains surrounding them.

The Queen was dressed casually in dark leggings, a large linen shirt, and slippers.  Her thick brown hair was pulled away from her face in a simple braid that accentuated her small chin and high cheekbones.  With all regalia that normally surrounded her removed, Talan was able to see how strikingly beautiful the Queen actually was.

“Have a seat,” she said, gesturing to a wingback chair sitting in front of the fire.   “Would you like some tea?”   Talan nodded as he slowly lowered himself into the chair.

“Yes, thank you,” he said, keenly watching the Queen while she poured his drink from a teakettle hanging above the hearth.  She seemed even-tempered at the moment, almost polite, which was unlike the viper tongued Queen who’d been bellowing at him earlier.  It made Talan’s skin crawl.

She wants something from me,
Talan thought to himself.  Evangeline’s cool voice was quick to confirm his suspicions.

“I’m sure you’re probably wondering why I brought you here so informally,” the Queen began as she prepared his tea.  “It’s nothing unscrupulous, I assure you.  But I do have a particular request that I’d like to keep just between the two of us.” 

She handed him a teacup and saucer, then turned around and went over to the writing desk to retrieve a leather cylindrical container.  She opened it up and poured the contents into her hand, cupping them protectively as she brought them over to Talan.

“Do you know what these are?” she asked, holding the objects up to the burning fire so he could see them more clearly.  The yellow flame danced wildly on their smooth surface, and prisms of light radiated across the room painting rainbows on the stone walls and ceiling.  The object was such a rich blue color that it put all other colors in the Queen’s chamber to shame.  It sparkled like the clearest of diamonds.

“Aye, my Queen,” Talan replied, recognizing the object immediately. “It’s azurite crystal.  They are quite common in the copper mines, and we come across them fairly frequently.”

“Hmmm,” Evangeline mused as she rolled the crystals around in her palm, causing the prisms of light to swirl around the room.  “Here is the thing, Master Leatherby.  I have someone who is extremely interested in buying these crystals from us, in large quantities, for a large sum.  Apparently, he has been searching for an earthly wonder such as these for some time now, and the Anion Mountains are the only place it can be found.”  Talan looked confused.

“I don’t know why anyone would pay for such a thing, My Queen.  It’s quite useless really, except for making paint and things from the pigment.  I’ll admit they are magnificent to look at, but there are thousands of other crystals just like them in the mines.  If it’s copper this buyer seeks, he’s better off going to Rienne.  Their copper production is much more established than ours…”

“Master Leatherby!” Queen Evangeline cut him off and gave him a level setting stare.  “For what reason our buyer wants this crystal I do not know, nor do I care.  Do you follow me?” 

Evangeline was standing in front of Talan now, giving him a once over with her gleaming blue eyes.  Gently, she reached down and grabbed his calloused miner’s hands that had dirt underneath the fingernails.  She dropped the crystals into his palm and securely closed his fingers around them as if they were the most treasured items in the world.  She turned away from him and walked over to the open balcony doors.  The valley was covered in night, but here and there were spots of light glimmering faintly from Alumhy, the Samarian capitol. 

“I just want to do what’s right for Samaria, Talan.  If this buyer is willing to pay a substantial amount for these crystals, then maybe I can figure out a way to pay off my debt to Olger Guttensen without compromising our land.  Hopefully, the Overlord will be satisfied with such an option.”  The Queen leaned against the balcony doors and heaved a heavy sigh.  “Then there will be no worries of Olger harming Samaria, for I know that is what you all fear.”

Talan got up from his chair and went to stand next to the Queen.  Together they surveyed the outline of the mountains against the clear night sky.  The Argent River that flowed from the eastern range down the length of the Realm looked silver in the moonlight.  He rolled the azurite crystal around in the palm of his hand while he thought, feeling the jagged texture against his skin.  Finally, he spoke.

“My Queen, I will do as you ask without question.  You know I always will. However, I do not suggest completely stopping the mining efforts of precious gemstones, minerals, and gold in order to focus only on the azurite.  Most people are scared of change.  Samarians would rather chip away at unfruitful mountain rock then be instructed to mine such a useless crystal.  It doesn’t make sense to them, and the spirits of the miners have been disheartened enough with the heavy decrease in production.  I can’t tell you how many of my men have just packed up and left Samaria all together, going as far as Wayanee just to secure a future for themselves and their families.  But those who are loyal stay because they have faith that our mines are still healthy.”

Evangeline studied Talan for a moment as he finished talking. Young Master Leatherby had wisdom beyond his years, and Evangeline was quick to notice.

“You’re right,” she answered.  “This new arrangement is only a temporary fix.  Eventually we will have to face the challenges of the dying mountains, so it’s imperative we move forward and continue normal excavation as planned.  I just need you to formulate a new strategy and gather a new team for mining the azurite.  Once that’s complete, I’ll review it before you start to ensure there are no holdups.”  She turned towards him, still leaning against the wall, and crossed her arms over her chest.  Her braid hung haphazardly across her shoulders and was coming undone by the wind.

“How goes your experimentation with the fire powder?  Any new developments?”  Talan couldn’t repress his smile when she mentioned this.

“It goes well, my Queen!  The fire powder will blast through rock sure enough.  I’m just trying to work it up to a larger scale now.  You should come down to the mines soon and witness our progress.  I’ll show you first hand what the future of our mining industry will look like.”  Evangeline gave him a small smile.

“Soon, Master Leatherby.  But for now I need you to focus on the task I just assigned you.  Now, let me show you something.”  She nodded her head towards the writing table positioned between the wingback chairs sitting in front of the fire.  The table was covered with scrolls and manuscripts of all sorts.

Evangeline spread one particular document across the table, and Talan moved around next to her to see it better.  Drawn in intricate detail was a map of the Realm that included Samaria and the lands that Olger Guttensen ruled. 

The Anion mountain range ran all the way to the eastern sea where it abruptly ended in a display of giant cliffs that were continuously assaulted by turbulent sea waves.  The massive Argent Canyon, which broke up the Anion range, was highlighted in color.  The canyon was what separated the country of Samaria from the territory of Nomanestan, and Olger outwardly claimed ownership east of the canyon to the sea.  The canyon itself sat in limbo between the two countries, with constant squabbles between Samaria and Nomanestan when it came to who had access to it.  The Argent River flowed deep and swiftly through the canyon, and its waters were supplied by the unending snowstorms to the north of the valley.  Since the wars, the tyrants of Nomanestan held control over the river, which prevented Samarians from benefiting from its use.  Therefore, Samaria was forced to use long, twisting mountain passages as trade routes instead of the river.

“Talan, I want you to begin excavation of the azurite here,” Evangeline instructed, running her nail along the jagged part of the Anion range that ran near the Argent Canyon.  Talan looked at her puzzled.

“My Queen, those mines haven’t been touched by Samarian miners in decades.”

“I’m aware they are abandoned,” the Queen responded adamantly. “But that does not mean there’s no copper ore in those rocks.  And where there is copper, there is azurite.”

  “But it’s too close to the Nomanestan border and to heavily patrolled,” Talan beseeched, then he lowered his voice as if someone was listening in on them  “According to the Nomans, those lands are not ours to mine.  Olger’s army controls the canyon and both river banks day and night, even though he denies it.”

“Isn’t it though?  Our land to mine?” Evangeline asked. She rolled up the parchment and shoved it at Talan. 

“It’s land that was stolen from our ancestors by sea dwelling foreigners at the turn of the millennium, and I say we have more of a claim to it than anyone.  Olger Guttensen may think that by entering into a contract with me that he is laying claim to land that
we
took from him!  But I say that this negotiation will only reunite the people of Samaria with what is rightfully ours.”  She smiled deviously at him.

Talan just looked at her with a blank stare.  This didn’t sound like the responsible, careful Queen who’d been ruling the peaceful country of Samaria since she was a child.  This slightly isolated country had been beaten down so tragically in the Sea-Dweller Wars, that Samarian rulers had an imbedded aversion to violence and conflict.  Queen Evangeline had always upheld this view.  Since the Sea-Dwellers had been pushed past the Argent Canyon, and the Anion valley reclaimed by Samarians, the Winnser bloodline had focused on strengthening their country through their people, mining, and trade.  Not through the needless conquest of land.

Queen Evangeline must have notated the look of disbelief on Talan’s face because she placated it by responding with, “Don’t look so worried, Talan.  I assure you, no one will bother your team when you start mining along the Argent Canyon.”  She reached up and caressed his hand that held the scroll map. 

“Remember, this is just between you and me.  Understand?”  Talan nodded gravely although inside his head he was screaming.  He didn’t understand what was so special about this azurite that it would cause her to do this. 

“Aye, my Queen,” was all Talan could respond with.  “As soon as I have a plan, I’ll send word to you.”

“Thank you, Talan.  Now please go and get some sleep.  It’s late.” 

Talan gave a deep, graceful bow to his Queen before exiting her chamber.  Vincent still stood guard outside, and Talan didn’t look back to see if that annoying smirk still occupied his face. 

For the remainder of the evening, Talan sat awake in his study devising a plan for the Queen that included a new team of minters, locations, and tools to start mining the azurite crystal.  He had the Queen’s map of Samaria laid open before him and kept looking at the region known as Nomanestan that was causing him such strife.   He thought constantly about the feelings of deceit and uncertainty that all the advisors had voiced to each other today after the Queen’s assembly. 

It’s time, men, to take things into our own hands.
 

That’s what Ambrose had said to them, and he seemed to feel strongly about it.  Never before had Talan experienced such dissention among the normally close-knit team of advisors and the Queen.  Never before would anyone dare mention contradicting the Queen’s orders. 

But what Talan experienced tonight in Evangeline’s chambers was a Queen who seemed truly distraught about the predicament her country was in and was willing to fix it no matter what the cost.  Talan was a born and raised Samarian, and never before had the Winnser bloodline forsaken their country.  Why start now?  He would do as the Queen asked.  Yet despite everything, Talan couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still off, and a lot of things were about to change.

If this plan to mine the azurite is so great,
Talan thought deeply
, then what’s the need for Evangeline to hide it from those closest to her?

Talan fell asleep that night without an answer to his own question.

Chapter 2

The following morning, Evangeline rose before the sun to begin her journey to Sugarpine Pass, which was located on the outskirts of Samaria.  There she was to convene with the anonymous emissary whose final letter she’d read only yesterday.  For weeks Evangeline had been receiving these peculiar letters expressing interest in purchasing the azurite crystal, yet this most recent communication was the one that had convinced her to make the trip to Sugarpine Pass and listen first hand to what the emissary had to say.  The trip would take all day. 

Vincent, who looked more than displeased about being up before the crack of dawn, joined her as an escort. The early spring morning held a hint of chill, and a wet fog clung to the air all around them, including the sky, which was overcast with clouds.  Before they set out, Evangeline opened the dark piece of parchment one more time and held it up to the radiating heat of her hearth.  Its contents had somehow changed and now revealed a detailed map of the Anion Mountains and instructions on where to meet the emissary. 

Evangeline couldn’t dismiss the perturbing feeling that she was getting mixed up in some sort of ancient sorcery, if such a thing truly existed.  The idea of an invisible, omnipotent evil roaming the edges of the earth chilled her spine and made the normally dauntless Queen shudder in fear.  The legends of a race that could control Mother Nature with a flick of a hand and possess another person’s mind by the slightest of touch were still told by traveling bards to scare young children. 

Legend also said the races were divided at the beginning of time for a reason.  It was split between what the Creator made good in this world and what had become wicked in order to keep the
Slythos
, the slang term for sorcerer, from destroying the earth through their hate and violence.  In her Queendom, and across the Realm, even mentioning the idea of sorcery would land you in the gallows for the remainder of your living years.  But Evangeline could remember her father telling her as a child not to discredit legends, for their content was based on some truth, and learning the tales of old could only benefit the future.  Knowledge was everything.

              It took several hours on horseback to reach Sugarpine Pass, and their route wound its way through the steep, looming mountains before leveling out into a glen.  Once they reached the road leading southeast out of Samaria and passed the two outpost towers stationed on each side, Evangeline turned towards her consort.

              “Vincent, I’m going to ask that you stay here and allow me to move forward without you.”  Immediately, her companion began to protest.

              “My Queen, it could be dangerous,” Vincent argued.  “You don’t know who this person is or who they are working for!  They could be a spy for Olger Guttensen sent here to slit your throat for all we know.”  Evangeline held up her hand to silence him.

              “This is a time where you must trust your Queen’s judgment.”  Without another word, she dismounted her horse and handed the reigns to the Guard.  Evangeline glanced around, noting the dismal sunlight that was barely making its way through the clouds of mist overhead. 

              “I don’t know how long I will be,” she began, sounding unsure.  “But I
will
return.” 

With an imprint of the hand drawn map burned in her mind, Evangeline turned to her right and began ascending the side of the steep mountain via small rock footings and hand grips that lead into the pine forest surrounding them.  Once she’d scaled the wall of rock that was about six feet high, Evangeline was able to pull herself up and over to where the land was more level.  Breathing hard, she looked before her and saw a trail slithering its way vertically up the mountainside, jumping through the trees and sometimes disappearing all together.  That was the path the Queen needed to take.

Evangeline lost track of how long and how far she wandered the trail, but she did notice the air begin to get colder and thinner, causing her working lungs to burn in protest.  At times, she could glimpse the panorama of snowcapped mountain peaks below her, and it made her head spin.  Eventually, she came unto a flat rock formation devoid of trees but still surrounded by the enormous sugarpines that layered the air with their sweet scent.  Evangeline paused to catch her breath and rest her exhausted legs when a male voice broke through the silence of the forest surrounding her.

              “Evangeline Winnser?” 

The Queen felt her heart stop in surprise then spun around to meet the emissary whom she’d quested out to find.  He was younger than the Queen would have assumed, boyish almost, yet his eyes told a different story.  The sleeveless jerkin he wore displayed his toned arms and shoulders, and it was made out of some type of reptile skin with the scales still intact.  Black leather pants covered his legs and he wore cumbersome black boots with spikes on the toes.  Evangeline couldn’t help but notice the strange tattoo that inked the inside of his forearm from wrist to elbow.

              The young Queen stood up straight, regaining her regal air, and looked at him without letting on how nervous she was.

              “Yes, I am Evangeline Winnser, Queen of Samaria.  And who are you?”

              “A messenger,” he answered quickly as he surveyed his surroundings.  “Would you mind going someplace more private to talk?”  Evangeline also looked around.

              “We are on the top of an uninhabited mountain, sir, thousands of feet above sea level.  I don’t think we have to worry about anyone listening in on us.”  The emissary looked at her seriously.

              “Someone is always listening,” he whispered.  His gaze fixed on a point nearby and he said, “This way.” 

The man extended his hand to lead her, but Evangeline just looked at it distrustfully, wondering how she could avoid becoming possessed by this young sorcerer’s mind tricks.  He just shrugged and dropped it.  The Queen began following the emissary down the rock formation, hopping to and from flatter stones to keeps from falling until she was finally forced to take the stranger’s hand to keep stable.  She flinched initially, but it was dry and warm, just like hers. 

He led her to an enormous Sugarpine that reached up further than Evangeline could see.  Its cratered trunk was deep brown and massively rotund.  The emissary stood in front of the tree trunk, and with a swift yet controlled movement, he skimmed his hand along the rugged bark.  The air sizzled and glowed with power, followed by the sound of old creaking wood as the monstrous trunk began to shift on top of and below the earth.  It was opening up and hollowing out until there was an indented space big enough for the two of them to stand inside, yet none of the tree was broken or harmed. 

The man brought Evangeline inside the cratered trunk then ran his hand along the outside of the tree until a coat of sticky bronze sap covered his fingers.  Again, he touched the opening of the trunk and the tree sap lifted from his hand and began to expand until its sticky texture covered the entire opening, sealing against the indented edges of the wood.  It then fell like a curtain to the ground before hardening into an amber-like substance, enclosing the pair inside.  Evangeline gulped.  He had her alone, and there was nowhere she could go.

“Now, that’s better, isn’t it?” the emissary commented with a sly smile.

Evangeline was trembling with fury.  This messenger had tricked her.  She felt like screaming at the top of her lungs and pounding at the solid amber so that Vincent would find her and free her from this trap.

“What are you playing at, stranger?” Evangeline snapped angrily.  “I demand you tell me what you are!  I don’t deal with
Slythos
!”  She was unable to keep the words from coming forth.  The man’s smile faded, and his eyes hardened as she harried him.

“That’s a
very
derogatory word, Evangeline.  I know plenty of people who wouldn’t take kindly to it.  You’re lucky I’m not one of them.  Keep your prejudices to yourself!”  He leaned back against the inside of the trunk and stroked his fingertips along the leather baldric that crossed his chest.

“My people back home say that the North is a dying land.  They say your kind have used, abused, and depleted the gifts the Creator has given you, and you’re struggling just to survive.  But I’m not so sure about that.”  He cocked his head and looked deeply at her.  “I think your problem is just ignorance.”

“What right do you have to speak about the goodness of the Creator?” Evangeline demanded in anger.  “
Your
kind is responsible for the destruction of the Genesis.  That’s why you live sequestered from normal civilization in a steaming prison.  The Creator saw what was good and evil and blessed those who followed the light.  You and your kind are nothing but…but…”

The emissary leaned in till he was so close to Evangeline’s face she could hear him breathing.

“
Slythos
?” he said, finishing her sentence.  “My father always said legends were based on fact, and I’ve heard the legends told to your children, Evangeline.  But remember, there are two sides to every story.”  He leaned back again.  Evangeline didn’t dare tell him that her father used to tell her something eerily similar.

  “See now, all this bigotry and we haven’t even discussed the offer my Master has planned for you.  But from my observations, you really don’t have a choice other than to accept it.”  His snide comment caught the Queen off guard.

“What do you mean?  What could some one like
you
possibly know?”

“My Brothers and I are in and out of this Realm quite frequently.  Despite your low opinion of us, we are highly educated in the ways of the Commoners and see more than you know.  I can tell you’re hesitant to consider my Master’s offer because you believe the lies that stem from two thousand years of biases.  Well, I say you’re out of time to have that option.”  Evangeline had gone deathly pale when the emissary said this, but she checked her pride and continued to let him speak.

  “The Overlord of Nomanestan is gathering troops as we speak. I’ve seen them myself.  He’s preparing to invade Samaria.  How and when he plans to do it, I know not.  Samarian armor, weaponry, and quality of skilled soldiers may be better, but Olger crushes you in numbers.  Maybe it’s a good time for you to reevaluate your relationship with the Overlord, in order to avoid the senseless slaughter of your people.  All because you cannot pay him back for the simple necessity of food he loaned you.”

Evangeline was silenced for a couple of minutes.  If what the emissary said was true, the consequences of her mistakes as Queen were finally coming to pass, and the whole Realm would revel in her failures once they found out. 

“Olger Guttensen has an insatiable appetite for power.  Obviously my contract with him was like giving a starving wolf a taste of meat,” the Queen said sourly.  “He’ll kill to have more of it.  Once I default and he claims the land up to Sugarpine Pass as notated in our agreement, he’ll have better access to invade us in the valley.  He won’t hesitate to march his troops into Alumhy and try to take Mizra.  There will be no way out for my people once he attacks.”  Evangeline looked at the emissary helplessly, her rage completely humbled by the desperation of her circumstances.

“Maybe I can help?” he said eagerly, as if seizing an opportunity to further his Master’s interest.  “My Master prefers to have two hundred barrels of azurite delivered per week.  Any less is unacceptable in regards to what we are using it for.  Furthermore, once Samaria has begun mining the azurite, my Master will require faster transport of it.  I have one hundred pounds of gold bars available for you right now as a prepayment for your first shipment.  You’ll get the other half when we receive the material.  Perhaps that will tame Olger’s appetite for wealth for just a little while longer and hold off any plans of war.”

“No doubt Olger will accept my delinquent payment,” the Queen said bitterly. “But that won’t nearly cover all of my indebtedness.  He’ll allow me to think we are on good terms, and then without warning he will attack.  That’s what his people did to us half a millennium ago.”

“Gold is gold, Evangeline,” the emissary argued.  “My Master will pay you fairly for the azurite, and with the funds you can clear up your debts with Olger Guttensen.  He has no reasons to attack if he has what he wants.  It’s a win for all of us.”

“Obviously you don’t know the Noman people,” Evangeline retorted under her breath. 

The Queen didn’t want to admit to the emissary that she’d already decided to accept his offer and had already explained to Talan Leatherby where and when to begin mining.  Even before this emissary told her that Olger was gathering troops, she knew that nothing good could come out of being in debt to him; that’s why she’d decided to start mining the azurite.  She didn’t know before today that she was dealing with a sorcerer, but at the moment, the Queen didn’t see any other option, not if what the emissary was saying about Olger invading Samaria was true.  The Nomans use to rule Samaria and brutally enslaved all of her ancestors for many centuries until they were driven out by years of war.  She couldn’t risk such a fate for her country.

  “I agree to mine the azurite for you, stranger, if only for the future of Samaria.  But unfortunately, I don’t have a faster means of transport. The pass you came up though is our best trade route, and it takes days to get through the mountains with wagons.”