Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira (11 page)

“Father,” Zakiel began, but paused at King Rhobar’s upheld hand.

“Zakiel, you will treat this woman with respect,” King Rhobar said.  His tone was soft, but there was an underlying steel in it that brooked no argument.  “I do not know what you heard, nor do I care to.  I know only that this young woman does not know us, or anyone on Rathira, and has no ties here.  She risks her life for us for no reason other than she chose to do so when I asked.  I will not have you chase her away, no matter how much you dislike off-worlders.  She is essential to the future of our world.” 

“I apologize, Father,” Zakiel said as he continued to stare at Karma’s prone figure.  “I do not know why I spoke as I did.  I should have known better.”

Karma’s eyes fluttered open and she found herself looking up into Prince Zakiel’s face.

“Damn,” she said as she struggled to sit up.  “I wish that would stop happening.”  She looked down at Nikura who cocked an ear forward. 

“Don’t look at me,”
he said.
  “It is not my fault.”

Karma swung her legs off of the sofa and a wave of dizziness swam through her head.  She swallowed hard and lowered herself back to a prone position.

“I’m sorry,” she said, “I think the dizziness intends to remain a few more minutes.”

“You were unconscious far longer yesterday,” King Rhobar said.  “However, you also held a connection with Techu Samyi longer than you did with Nikura.  Shall we call for a physician?”

“No, thank you,” Karma said weakly.  “I believe I just need some rest.  I feel tired is all.  If you will give me a moment, I will get up and return to my room.”

Neither the Prince nor King Rhobar were surprised when Karma’s eyes closed before she finished speaking.  It was clear within moments that she was sound asleep.

“I will call someone to take her to her room,” King Rhobar said.

“No, I will do it,” Prince Zakiel said, much to his father’s surprise.

“You?” he asked doubtfully.

“Do not worry, Father,” Zakiel said.  “In spite of my behavior toward her, I would never harm this woman, nor allow her to be harmed.  Nor shall I allow another to carry her, whoever it may be, so long as I am able to do it myself.”

King Rhobar held his face to stillness, but inwardly he was shocked.  And pleased.  Zakiel had never shown interest in a woman before and he had begun to wonder if his son’s outward coldness went deeper than even he suspected.  He watched as Zakiel lifted Karma into his arms as carefully as if she were made of spun glass.  The expression of tenderness on his son’s face nearly brought tears to his eyes. 

“Will you hand me the Ti-Ank, please?” Zakiel asked.

King Rhobar did not want to touch the Ti-Ank, but he could not very well refuse either.  He bent down and picked the staff up from the floor where it had fallen and handed it to his son.

“Thank you,” Zakiel said as he took the object into one hand while still supporting Karma with his arms.  He then turned and crossed the room, Nikura at his side.

Chapter
5

After leaving Lady Techu in the care of her personal attendant, Prince Zakiel left the palace, crossed the quad and entered the Hunter’s compound.  As he walked he attempted to force the image of Lady Techu’s large gray eyes from his mind, along with the memory of her soft body in his arms. 

Never in his life had he felt the way he felt whenever Lady Techu was near.  From the moment he had first seen her with Captain Singer and King Rhobar on the day Kapia had been abducted, he’d been unable to get her out of his mind.  He’d never seen a woman like her.  And it wasn’t just her appearance, though she was undoubtedly beautiful with her soft gray eyes that shone with silver stars when her emotions were high, her long, shiny dark hair, and expressive brows.  He loved her mouth, particularly her full bottom lip which had a tiny dent right in the center of it.  But he was
not
going to think about her figure.  Or her soft skin.  Or the way she walked.  Or the soft, husky sound of her laugh that touched something deep inside of him on the two occasions he’d been lucky enough to overhear it.  Or unlucky enough, he wasn’t sure which.

He shook his hands a little, trying to dispel the lingering numbness he’d felt since sparring with her that morning, smiling to himself as he thought about it.  Her power and speed with the staff was phenomenal.  No matter how hard he’d tried, and he had tried
very hard
, he had not been able to break through her guard.  When his hands had become numb from the power of her hits, he’d called a halt to the contest, knowing that in another moment he would have been publicly bested in front of all the Hunters in the practice yard.  By a woman.  A rather small, very beautiful woman.

He shook his head and sighed.  Lady Techu was confident, bold, and, he’d learned this day, sharp tongued when angry.  She was also courageous, as shown by her decision to remain on Rathira.  Why had he allowed himself to believe Marene’s insinuations that there was a secret bargain between Lady Techu and his Father?  He knew Marene well enough to know better, so why had he chosen to listen this time?  Probably because he wanted to believe something bad about the off-worlder, he admitted to himself reluctantly.  He wanted a reason to stop thinking about her.

She was both an off-worlder,
and
the Lady Techu.  To allow himself to care for her would be an exercise in futility.  Even with his knowledge of space travel and other worlds, he knew that he would never leave Rathira.  Journeying among the stars held no appeal for him.  He was, and always would be, connected to his world, his land, and his people.  But, as much as he loved his world, he could not imagine Rathira holding such a woman as Karma Baraka. 

No, he admonished himself for the thousandth time that day, he must keep his distance from Lady Techu.  Hide his attraction to her, his admiration for her, his rapidly growing respect for her.  Above all, he must not show her his heart.  If he did, he would be lost forever. 

He realized that he had been rude to her, and admitted that a part of him was glad of that as it pushed her further from him.  But, it was beneath him to treat such a woman with so little respect.  She deserved the best Rathira could offer her for her sacrifice, not the worst. 

Unfortunately, he truly had no idea how to behave around her without revealing his growing regard, and that was something he could not do.  Nevertheless, he decided to work on tempering his behavior when in her presence.  He would find a way to maintain his distance without being rude.  That decision made, he sternly ordered himself to focus on his current task.

As High General in command all of the Hunter packs, as well as his own pack, he knew that what he was about to tell his knights would probably not go down well.  The Orb Quest was more than a legend; it was a life long dream held by even the most hardened and jaded of Hunters.  In recent years competition for the highest positions had become more fierce than ever in anticipation of the coming Orb Quest.  Everyone knew that only the highest ranked, the best of the best, would be included. 

Never had anyone suspected that there would be room for so few Hunters.  Yesterday he had begun with plans for five hundred men, and had known there would be grave disappointment with such a low number.  Now, it was going to be far worse.  But, he had no choice. 

He paused before the double doors leading into the War Council Chamber and waited for the guards to open them.  The low murmur of voices quieted as he entered and crossed the room to his seat at the front, but he did not sit down.  Instead he gestured for the twenty knights he had summoned to gather round.  This would be an informal meeting as he wanted these men to speak freely.

“Greetings, Knights of Rathira,” he began.  He waited for their return greetings to die down, nodding politely as he studied each of them briefly. 

Sir Bredon, a distant cousin, life-long friend and honored warrior, the highest ranked knight in all of Isiben.  Sir Garundel, a grizzled and wily veteran of many campaigns.  Sir Corbon, young, handsome, a favorite with the ladies with his ready smile and easy manner.  How little those ladies would recognize his cold ferocity on the battlefield.  Sir Harmin, also young, but quiet and serious in stark contrast to Sir Corbon.  Sir Kirken, Sir Stiven, Sir Jenz, and more.  Zakiel had fought alongside each of them, and knew their worth.  These men truly were the best that Isiben had to offer. 

“I have called you, the twenty Knights of the First Rank, for an important reason.  I will speak plainly.  Lady Techu has been found, as has the Ti-Ank.  The Orb Quest must now begin.”

Zakiel paused to allow his announcement time to sink in.  The shock, wonder and eagerness on the faces of the men gathered before him made him smile.  The Orb Quest might be a dream, but it would also be dangerous and risky.  No Hunter was fool enough to believe otherwise.  These were not knights of the First Rank—the highest rank of the seven in the Order of Knights—for nothing, he reminded himself.

When all eyes were on him, this time with expectation, he broke the news they would most dislike hearing.

“Unfortunately, we are already short on time, and have not yet begun.  We must travel to the Sirelina as quickly as possible, and we must take the Path of the Duat Wells.  The fewer people, the more quickly we can move.”

“The fewer people, the less likely you will die of thirst,” Sir Garundel added. 

“How many people do you suggest we take?” Zakiel asked Garundel. 

“The Duat Wells will water seventy-five men, and ninety diplos, provided they have a thirty day span to refill,” Sir Garundel replied without hesitation. 

“I had hoped for more than that,” Prince Zakiel said. 

“How many more?” Sir Garundel asked.

“A hundred men and one hundred twenty diplos,” Zakiel replied.

“No, Highness,” Sir Garundel said, shaking his head.  “If you start the journey with a hundred men, you will reach the far side of the desert with no more than seventy-five.  The others will decorate the sands with their bones.  I have led troops across the Duat four times, and each time came to the end of the journey with men and beasts alive and ready to fight only by sticking to those numbers.”

“There is no better teacher than experience,” Prince Zakiel said.  “I will heed your wisdom, Sir Garundel, and lower the numbers even more.  We will take the full ninety diplos.  In addition, we will take fifteen drovers and fifteen common servants.  The servants can help with the diplos, and the drovers can help with camp duties.  That leaves room for thirty-five Hunters and two knights.

The knights will be Sir Bredon, and Sir Garundel, as they are the highest ranked.  If either of you choose not to join us, the next highest ranked knight will take your place.”

“I am honored,” Sir Bredon said.  “To be a part of the Orb Quest is beyond any dream.  Nothing this side of the Beyond could keep me from it.”

“I cannot match Sir Bredon’s pretty words,” Sir Garundel said.  “But his sentiment is my own.  This is an honor that exceeds all others.  I would not miss it for any reason.”

Prince Zakiel nodded, pleased that both men would join him.  All of these men were good men, but in his estimation, they were the best.  “The two of you will select thirty-five Hunters.  However, before you make your selections, I offer the rest of you the choice to accompany us on the Orb Quest.  If you accept, you will act as a Hunter, and obey the orders of those placed over you, for the duration of the quest.  You will retain your current rank and station, of course.”

At once, every knight in the room spoke up, volunteering to go on the quest, as Zakiel had expected.  He held up one hand for silence.

“There is room for all of you,” he said.  “However, keep in mind that you are the twenty best knights we have, and there may be trouble here while we are gone.  Demons and, perhaps other enemies as well, will attempt to stop us, but they may also cause problems for our people here in our absence.  We do not want to leave our homes, not to mention our wives, mothers, sisters, and children, unguarded behind us.  After all, Rathira is full of threats and dangers—which is why we have Knights and Hunters in the first place.”

The troubled expressions on his knight’s faces told him they understood the problem, and would consider it in spite of their own desires.  Some of them would have to opt out of the Orb Quest, and take the far less exciting task of guarding Isiben instead.  It was not a choice Prince Zakiel would have wanted to be faced with himself, and he would not make it for his men.  The best he could do for them was let them make their own decisions.

“I will now leave you to work this out among yourselves.  We shall set out at dawn on the fifth day from today, which gives us four full days to prepare.”

“Excuse me, Highness,” Bredon said, “but by my counting, we have room for another seven men.”

“No, we don’t, Cousin Bredon,” Zakiel replied.  “Both Lady Techu and Princess Kapia will be with us, as well as their personal attendants.”  He held up one hand to silence the shocked questions.  “Princess Kapia is the only one who can claim the Moon Orb.  Without her and Lady Techu, there is no point to the quest.  I know that we are still not at seventy-five, but I wish to leave us a margin of safety in case the wells of the Duat are less generous than expected.”