Quest for the Sun Orb (33 page)

“No, we don’t,” Tomas agreed. 

Tiari still didn’t fully understand the concept of reputations, but she understood quite clearly that they were important.  She needed to keep that fact in mind so that she never did anything to embarrass or shame Tomas.

“There are some heavy clouds coming in from the northeast,” Tomas said.  “I think it will rain tomorrow, which will make traveling more difficult for everyone.”

“Yes, I thought I smelled rain on the breeze,” she said.  They discussed the weather as they returned to camp, though Tiari barely remembered a word she said.  She had never felt the way she did at that moment, and wanted never to forget it. 

“I am so happy, Tomas,” she said when they paused at the entrance to the women’s tent.

“As am I,” Tomas said, reaching up to wind an errant curl around his finger, then letting the silk slip gently off as he pulled his finger back.  “Sleep well, Tiari-
mena
.”

Tiari felt her face heat as it always did when he touched her hair.  She wasn’t sure why that was, but she liked it.  “Goodnight, Tomas,” she said.

Tomas stood staring at the flap of fabric covering the entrance to the tent for several minutes after Tiari went inside, savoring the moment when she’d agreed to marry him, memorizing it.  He wanted to remember it forever.  Finally he turned and walked around the tent, checking the guards, speaking with a few of them, taking his time so as not to miss anything.  When he was finished he noted that the light in his small tent was out, indicating that Lashi and Caral had gone to bed, which meant that both Tiari and Kapia were settled in for the night.  He always tried to stay outside until then so as not interfere with their usual routines.  Now, he entered the women’s tent by the front entrance and stood for a few moments, listening to the rhythm of the night around him.

A noise from Zakiel’s tent caught his attention and he stepped to the connecting doorway and looked inside.  Zakiel sat on a cushion with his charts laid out before him, a glass of wine at his side.  He looked up at Tomas and waved him over. 

“I hope I’m not interrupting you,” Tomas said as he took a cushion opposite Zakiel and glanced down at the intricately drawn charts between them.

“Not really,” Zakiel said.  “I was just double checking a few things.  I think it will take us three more days to reach the foothills of the Hidden Sister instead of two, unless the weather holds out.”

“Yes, that’s what I thought as well,” Tomas said.  “From the way the clouds look tonight, we’ve little chance that the rain will miss us.”

“I know,” Zakiel said with a sigh as he began rolling the charts up.  Tomas would have offered to help, but Zakiel was wearing the only pair of gloves required to keep the charts from being damaged.

“How is Bredon doing?” Tomas asked, accepting a glass of wine from Timon with a nod of thanks.

“He expected to reach Darkly Fen today,” Zakiel replied with a worried frown.  “We will know more tomorrow morning, providing Kapia was able to speak with him tonight.”

“Do you know how long it will take him to reach the center?”

“At a guess, three days,” Zakiel said.  He set the rolled chart aside and leaned over one that had been beneath it.  “See here,” he said, pointing to a large dark circular area on the map.  “This is Darkly Fen.”

“There are no markings within the circle,” Tomas noted.

“That is because no one knows what is inside these borders,” Zakiel said.  “We have only rumor and hearsay.  The most reliable source of information we have is Nikura, and he ventured within its borders only once, nearly a thousand years ago.”

“So all we know is that it is reputed to be filled with demons, and a dark fog,” Tomas said. 

Zakiel nodded.  “Would that I could send a dozen men, or half a dozen, or even one to aid him,” he said.  “But I cannot.  Our quest to save Rathira must take precedence, and we need every man we have.”

“I do not envy you,” Tomas said.  He chuckled softly.  “Strange to say that, when I have spent much of my life envying you.”

“Much has changed for you in a short time, Cousin,” Zakiel said.  “For the better, I think.”

“Definitely for the better,” Tomas said.  “Please understand though; I did not envy you your wealth, or title, or rank.”

“I know,” Zakiel said as he began to roll up the last chart.  “You envied Kapia and I because we had each other, as well as one parent left to us, while you were alone.”

“You are even wiser than I thought, and I have come to realize that you are wise indeed,” Tomas said.  “Yes, I envied the unconditional love you had, that I had lost and would never regain.  Or so I thought.”

“Tiari loves you unconditionally,” Zakiel said. 

“Yes, she does,” Tomas said, his voice filled with wonder.  “It is almost impossible to believe, but I know it to be true.”

“Still, your changes began before Tiari joined us,” Zakiel pointed out.  “I think Saigar made you take a closer look at yourself.”

“Yes, that is also true,” Tomas said.  “After my parents died, I saw the world in terms of what I had lost, and I never changed that view, never questioned whether it was right, or wrong.  Until Saigar.  For the first time, I doubted myself.  But even though I had doubts, I had no idea what to do about them.  I had questions, but no answers.”

“Until now,” Zakiel said. 

“Yes, until now,” Tomas agreed.  “Cousin, I have news.”

 “Do you?” Zakiel asked with a grin.  “Shall I guess or do you want to tell me?”

“I would prefer to tell you,” Tomas said, returning the grin.  “Tiari has done me the great honor of agreeing to become my wife.”

“You have my most heartfelt congratulations, Tomas,” Zakiel said, reaching over to clasp hands with his cousin.  “I could not be happier for you.”

“Thank you, Zakiel,” Tomas said, his heart so full of joy each time he thought of Tiari that he couldn’t hold it in.  “We must wait until after she claims the Sun Orb, of course.  But we need to know whether it is safe to wed then, or if we should wait until after the orb’s final use.”

“I’m sorry we did not think to ask Samyi that tonight when we spoke with her,” Zakiel said.  “I will ask Karma to get an answer for you as soon as she can.  I know that waiting will not be easy for you or Tiari, and I would have you know precisely how long that wait must be.”

“Thank you, Zakiel,” Tomas said.  “As for the wedding itself, I’ve no idea how we are to go about it.  I don’t think that the woman who performed the ceremony for you and Karma would be willing to do it for us.”

“I don’t know about that,” Zakiel said.  “However, it isn’t necessary.  Have you forgotten that, besides being your cousin, I am also Prince of Isiben and therefore qualified to perform the wedding ceremony for a citizen of Isiben?”

“Actually yes, I had forgotten that,” Tomas replied.  “If I ever knew it at all.  You would do that for us?”

“Of course,” Zakiel said.  “You are my only close cousin, Tomas.  My family.  There are only four of us, counting Father.  That is why Father insisted that you live with us after your parents passed to the beyond.  We must cherish what family we have.”

“I thank you,” Tomas said, nearly overcome with gratitude and happiness that Zakiel would so easily forgive his years of petty behavior.  He finished his wine and got to his feet.  “I will check the guards again before retiring,” he said.  “Then I will add a gold bead to my
egora
.”  He grinned widely.  “I never thought to look on that task with such pleasure.  Goodnight, Zakiel.”

“Goodnight, Tomas,” Zakiel said.  “Once again, congratulations.  You are going to be among the happiest of men.”

“I already am,” Tomas said. 

Chapter Nineteen

When Tiari awoke the next morning she was so happy she felt as though she were walking on clouds.  So much had happened to her in such a short space of time that she barely knew how to count her blessings.  The only down side to her happiness was the prospect of telling Kapia. 

She loved Kapia as the sister she’d never had, and she knew that Kapia suffered daily with worry and fear for the man she loved.  She had no desire to flaunt her own happy news in Kapia’s face, so she kept it to herself while they ate breakfast together.  When Kapia told her that Bredon expected to enter the mysterious Darkly Fen sometime that very day, she was doubly glad of her decision.

A little while later, as she was finishing her tea, Kapia returned from her morning talk with Zakiel and Karma with a stony face.  Tiari was instantly concerned.

“What is the matter?” she asked, putting her cup down and getting to her feet.

“I am hurt, Tiari,” Kapia said. 

“Hurt?” Tiari asked, looking Kapia over quickly in search of some injury.  “Where?” 

“Inside of me,” Kapia said.  “My feelings are hurt that you did not share the news of your engagement to Tomas with me.  Why?  Did you not want me to know?”

“Oh, Kapia, I’m so sorry,” Tiari said, tears leaping to her eyes.  “I did not mean to hurt you.  I meant to spare you pain.”

Kapia frowned, then understanding lit her eyes and she relaxed.  “Oh, Tiari, you thought I would be hurt because Bredon is not here, didn’t you?”

Tiari nodded.  “I’m sorry, Kapia.  I wanted to tell you more than anyone else, but I didn’t want to make you sad, and now I have hurt you instead.”

“It’s all right,” Kapia said.  “I understand now.  But please know that I do not begrudge you happiness.  You and Tomas deserve every happiness either of you can get, and I am very happy for you both.  I am sad that Bredon is not here with me, that is true.  But it does not mean that I would wish the same for you.”

Tiari threw her arms around Kapia and hugged her tightly, the first time she’d ever done such a thing to anyone.  “Thank you so much, Kapia.  If I could have had a sister, I would wish her to be just exactly like you.”

“Thank you, Tiari,” Kapia said, hugging her back.  “I feel the same about you.  Soon we will be real family, cousins actually, though I shall always think of you as a sister as well.”

Tiari stepped back and wiped her eyes.  “Now that you know, and aren’t angry with me any more, will you help me plan this marriage ceremony?  I don’t know the first thing about what is to be done.  I’ve never even seen one.”

“Of course I’ll help you,” Kapia said.  “It’ll be great fun!  When Lashi, Caral, and I did Karma’s wedding we had only a few hours to prepare.  This time we’ll have lots more time.  Oh, when we were in the village of the Sirelina I asked Caral to get some red fabric just in case Bredon and I decided to marry before we return home.  We will use that for your wedding outfit.”

“Oh, no Kapia,” Tiari said, shaking her head.  “You mustn’t do that.  Keep it for yourself.”

“No, I want you to have it,” Kapia said firmly.  “You must be married in red, Tiari, it’s tradition.  I can always get more red fabric for myself.  Please, Tiari, don’t refuse me.”

“All right,” Tiari said, seeing that Kapia truly did want her to have it.  “Thank you, Kapia.”

“Excellent!” Kapia said, her face lighting up.  “This is going to be so much fun to plan.”

Tiari laughed, happy to see the excitement on Kapia’s face.  It was the first time in days she’d seen her smile. 

“I’d best go get dressed now,” Kapia said.  “Zakiel said he wants to get started earlier than usual this morning, before the rain hits.”

Tiari nodded and watched Kapia hurry into her chamber, then she turned around wondering what to do with herself.  Caral was in her chamber packing her things, but she knew she’d get in the way if she tried to help.  The two attendants had the entire process down to a routine.  Lashi was clearing the remainder of the breakfast dishes, and would also decline an offer of help.  There really didn’t seem to be anything for her to do, so she went back to her cushion.  After a moment she stood up again, deciding to go outside and look for Tomas.

“Lashi, Lady Techu would like to see you for a moment, if you please,” Timon said, poking his head through the connecting doorway. 

“Of course, at once,” Lashi said.  Timon withdrew and Lashi sighed softly and put the water bucket down.  She wiped her hands on her apron and turned to Tiari.  “Hara Tiari, if Caral finishes packing your things before I return, would you ask her to fetch a bucket of water for the dishes, please?”

“Of course, Lashi,” Tiari replied. 

Lashi smiled her thanks and hurried into the next tent.  Tiari thought a moment, then walked over, picked up the empty bucket, and stepped outside.  There was no reason she couldn’t fetch the water.  It certainly wouldn’t be the first time she’d carried water, after all.  She’d carried her own water for most of her life.  She paused, blinking in the dull light.  The clouds overhead were thick and dark, but what light there was still came from the sun, so she could see.  Not as clearly as she could in full sunlight, but well enough.

She noticed that everyone was bustling around more quickly than usual, and remembered Kapia’s comment that Zakiel wanted to get an early start.  She picked up her step and headed into the grove of trees.

A few minutes later, Tiari knelt by the edge of the river and dipped the bucket into the cold, fast flowing water, careful not to wet her skirt.  She heard a sound behind her, but assumed it was a servant fetching water, just as she was, so she finished filling her bucket before rising to her feet and turning around.  When she saw Una standing behind her, a satisfied smirk on her pinched and dirty face, she dropped the bucket in surprise, sending the water spilling out to soak into the stony ground.

“Una,” she gasped.  “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come for you, of course,” Una said.  “Those fools you travel with believe you to be the Maiden of the Sun, and you, wicked thing that you are, allow them to be deceived for your own evil purposes.  For the good of Rathira, I must rid the world of you so that I can take my rightful place.”

“Your rightful place?” Tiari asked numbly. 

“Yes,
my
rightful place,” Una screeched, her face turning almost purple with instant rage.  “I have waited my entire life for this and I will not have you, blind and worthless chit that you are, steal it from me!”