Red Leaves and the Living Token (15 page)

Fortunately, the area was just as empty on this side as it was on the other. Carts and wagons formed a second ring a couple of yards beyond the first, creating an alley way in between. Peaking through the second row, there was nothing but trees beyond. No more camp, as he had supposed. Perhaps this alley between the two rings would lead to something else.

The closest gateway wasn’t too far off to the left, so he decided to wander down the alley in the opposite direction. After a few minutes, the two rings began to converge causing the alley to narrow and then end abruptly. There were several large black carriages at the very end where the rows converged, much like the one he saw Valence riding in when they first ran into him in the swamp. These were perhaps his? Would he be camped near them? Possibly, he thought.

As he moved closer, he noticed one of the carriages rock slightly as though it were bumped. Then a moment later it rocked again. Either someone was knocking into it from the other side, or someone was inside.

“That’s strange.” He muttered, approaching it cautiously.

He heard foot falls behind him, causing him to whipped around, instinctively, just in time to see two large Zo guards rushing towards him. He ducked and turned to run, but it was too late. One grabbed him by the neck and pulled him straight, the other lifted him by the arms and slammed him up against one of the black carriages.

“What are you doing here?” One of the guards demanded.

Handers gasped for air, the soldier’s firm grip choking him. “Looking... for... Val...lance.” He tried to answer.

“You're looking in the wrong place.”

The guard eyed him suspiciously. “What business do you have with Lord Valance?”

“He… invited us… to the camp.” Hander squeezed out.

The guard eyed him for another moment as though trying to decide what to do, then dropped him. “We’ll verify.” The other twisted his arms behind his back and pushed him forward. They steered him in between the black carriages at the end of the alley.

Sure enough there was another small section of the camp on the other side. He’d have been happy with himself for guessing correctly if it wasn’t for the pain and embarrassment. They passed several large tents, each one easily five times as large as his own. Eventually, they stopped at the back of an even larger tent sitting in the center of this second camp.

Another large Zo man stood guard by a closed flap of the tent.

“We have a visitor.” The Zo, twisting Hander’s arm, said to the guard by the tent. He nodded and disappeared inside. A moment later the tent flap flung open.

“What the problem?” Lord Valance shouted as he stepped out.

“Oh.” He dropped his angry demeanor as soon as he saw Handers.

“OK, Let him go! Let him go.” Valance put his hands and Hander’s shoulders.

“We caught him back by the carriages.” The Zo that had been holding his arm said before releasing his grip.

Lord Valance raised an eyebrow at Handers.

“I was looking for your tent.” Handers explained. “I wasn't aware there were areas off limits.”

“My apologies.” Lord Valance lifted the tent flap and motioned for Handers to join him inside. “I'm afraid they have a tendency to over react.”

Handers rubbed his wrists as he followed him.

“I hope they weren't too rough with you.” Valance said.

“Nothing’s broken,” Handers grumbled.

“We do have some sensitive cargo, but nothing worth the assault. I apologize, again.”

The interior of the tent was impressive. Finely woven fabric hung from poles around the exterior to create walls of silk. A lounge chair and a couch sat opposite a large desk that Valance was moving towards. A Thickly woven carpet warmed the entire space.

“This is incredible.” Handers admitted.

“Thank you. I spend a lot of time traveling.” Valance said.

Handers turned his attention from the fabric walls to beautiful dark mahogany desk that Valance had just sat behind. He motioned for Raj to join him.

Raj smiled and wandered over to leather arm chair across from the desk. Before he sat something caught his eye, giving him pause. On the top of the desk, he noticed an old leather bound book. On the cover was the familiar image of the Token.

He realized immediately that he had just paused in the middle of sitting down and was staring at the book. Valance shot a glance back and forth between Raj and the book with a strange look of curiosity. Raj cursed himself silently and prayed he hadn’t revealed anything too important.

Its was the same book that Bedic had, he was sure of it.

“What can I do for you Mr. Handers.” Valance asked with an odd smile.

“I wanted to ask you about the trip ahead.” Handers said. “I was just curious how far out we are from Shishkameen?”

“Sure. We're four days out with the Caravan. I apologize for the slow down. That's the price of security.”

“That's a beautiful book.” Handers said. He couldn’t stop staring at it, so he might as well bring it up, he thought. “I'm a bit of an antiques collector myself. Do you mind if I ask where you found it?”

“I just picked it up from an old friend, actually. Are you familiar with it?” Valance asked.

“Not this book in particular. My grandparents passed down a lot of family heirlooms. Kind of got me started collecting.”

“I'm a bit of a collector myself. In fact, I pay quite handsomely for items in a particular vein of interest.” Valance lifted up the book and turned it to showcase the illustration of the Token on the cover.

“Sorry, I don't have any religious antiques.” Handers said.

“Who said it was religious?” Valance smiled.

"Oh. Just a guess." Handers answered, alarmed that he might have given even more away than intended. He couldn’t figure out why Valance had this book or what implications that might have. It was a subject that clearly warranted caution. Caution that he had probably already blown. He’d have to try to explain his interest in the book in a way that didn’t relate to the Token. The last thing he wanted was to answer any direct questions about that.

"You're right actually. Valance said. “This is a symbol of the Reds. An old one, though. Probably hasn't been used for 500 years. Have you studied the Reds much Mr Handers? I'd ask you if you were a believer, but that would be too personal to be polite."

"I've studied a little, but I certainly wouldn't consider myself a man of faith. You?"

"You might say that I have an interest in the Reds, yes.” Valance said, then leaned forward, putting his folded arms on the desk, as though he were about to whisper a secret. “It has been my observation that nothing in the natural world is permanent. All things come and go. There is an Ebb and flow, a rise and a fall. Birth and death, winter and spring. Even in the kingdoms of men, one rises to power, but then another rises to take that power. It is a constant cycle, nothing lasting, nothing permanent.

"But the Reds. They are constant. They are power unending, life unending, the antithesis to the ebb and flow of nature."

Handers was unconformable. This was turning into the exact conversation he needed to avoid. “I guess its a little out of my area of expertise. Most of what I've inherited is associated with the family clan OSO. Shields, crests, things like that.”

“Don’t discount them to quickly. You’d be surprised what you might learn from a family heirloom. There could be a wealth of information right under your fingertips.” Valance said.

“Interesting. Maybe you could take a look when we get back. Lend us your expert opinion. Can't say what I'd be willing to part with though. Family history and all.”

“Yes, perhaps I will pay you a visit once you're back safe with your boy.” Lord Valance put the book down. “I'm sorry I'm not able to get you to the Old Capitol faster. If I thought it was safe I'd put you on my fastest horse and send you on ahead.”

Valance stood up and circled around the desk towards Handers. “Do you know where you're going once you get to the city?

“I have a few ideas.” Handers answered.

“It's a very large city. I might be able to help.” Valance offered.

Handers nodded then stood himself. “Help would be most appreciated.”

-

Handers pushed through the flaps and stepped into his own tent.

Rinacht was laying on his cot, attention fixed on a book he was reading.

“Let me guess. Rinacht said without looking up from his book. “His tent is immaculate. You demanded that they upgrade our quarters, and we're moving to an officers tent?”

“No.” Handers answered quietly as he sat down on his own cot.

Rinacht looked over. “What? No witty retort?”

Handers sat staring at the ground.

“What's wrong?” Rinacht asked as he put his book down and sat up.

“I think we're in trouble.” Handers said, making eye contact.

Rinacht thew his arms up in exasperation and laid back down on the cot. “You know, you're possibly the most optimistic person I've ever met. You radiate sunshine and happiness. It's almost blinding.”

Handers stared back without response.

“This man pulled us out of the swamp twice, saved us from a band of barbarians, and offered us safe and secure passage for the remainder of our journey.” Rinacht almost shouted. “What else do you want? Angles from heaven?”

“I don't think it was a coincident that he found us in the swamp. That he happened to be passing through at the same time. I think he was looking for us.” Handers said.

“I don't understand. Why would you think that?” Rinacht asked, his tone suddenly more serious.

“I don't know.” He answered quietly.

“You don’t know? Or you don’t want to tell me?” Rinacht scowled at him. “What did you see?”

“What do you mean?” Handers asked.

“You came back here all doom and gloom. Something happened.” Rinacht said.

“The point is, I don’t think it would be safe for me to travel with our friend Mr. Valance.” Handers said.

“OK, assuming you are right, that leaves us in quite a predicament. Our wagon was smashed, our provisions are rotting in the swamp, and our protective escorts are all injured and miles behind us.” Rinacht exclaimed, staring at Handers with firm resolve. “Honestly, what choice do we have? We have to go with Valance.”

Handers stared back. Trying to read the reaction of his friend. Was he just being his stubborn usual self? Or was there something else? He looked away. That wasn’t fair, he thought. He hadn’t offered Rinacht any concrete reason for his concern. Of course, he’d be doubtful. And he was right they had no other transportation, food or protection. They wouldn’t get far on their own. That was for sure.

“You're right, we have limited options. Hopefully I'm just paranoid.” Handers said.

“You are paranoid.” Rinacht added.

Handers pushed back the entrance flaps to the tent. “I'm going to go see what they have for food.” He’d need as much as he could carry. As well as water and a small supply of Manea. Rinacht was right but only about himself. Rinacht would be safer with the caravan. No need for him to risk the danger of going out on his own just because Handers’s had a bad feeling.

This Lord Valance was obviously a extremely powerful man. Powerful men had ways of getting what they wanted. And if Handers was right, if Valance didn’t just happen to find them in the middle of the swamp, then he had something Valance wanted. Or at least Valance suspected that he might have it. How long would Valance wait to put that suspicion to rest? How long before he had him searched? What would happen then? What would happen after he got what he was looking for? Would he let them go on their way?

He even thought about just giving him the Token in exchange for safe passage. He’d choose finding his son over holding on to the Token without hesitation. But the Token was the kind of thing that the person you’re taking it from probably holds some importance too. Valance would probably want to know where Handers found it and how. He’d want to know what Handers knew about it. He might press him to talk about the experiences he’d had with it.

He wasn’t going to let him just walk away. Valance was the kind of person that, if he want a person to stick around and keep him company, he could make that happen. He’d be stuck for as long as Valance decided.

No, it would be much better to leave now while he still could, before Valance made his move to force the issue.

“Food? You just ate!” Rinacht shouted after him as he hurried out the tent.

-

Handers trudged through the underbrush, the moonlight shining down through the thinly wooded forest. He wished he had never brought the thing with him. But how could he have known it would’ve caused such a frustrating problem.

That raised another question in his mind. How did Lord Valance come to suspect he had it? If he hadn’t have just made it all up in his head, that is. How would this man have come to know anything about him? Even more, how would he know he was passing through the old roads on the way to Shishkameen?

He stopped and opened his overcoat. Then slid a hand down into an inside pocket and removed an object covered in black velvet.

“What did you drag me into?” He asked aloud, staring at the object in his hand.

Maybe he could just ditch it here in the forest and go back to the camp. No longer having anything of interest to anyone, they’d let him pass through, and he’d be on his way to find his son. But… He thought. The way Valance spoke to him, he was pretty sure he already suspected Handers had it. If his men found it in the forest close to the camp, they’d know who put it there. He’d still be in the same mess.

He unwrapped the velvet exposing the forest to a bright white light from the tiny object. Handers covered his eyes with his other hand.

“What are you?” He asked, holding it up higher.