Rise of the Red Harbinger (5 page)

Bo’az interjected. “Garrick Mol? The banker? The man is more than twice our age! Is money that important to them?”

“Tasz, I’m sorry! I know we haven’t seen each other in so long and we don’t have a plan about what we’ll do and we’ll have to leave Haedon forever, but I couldn’t face living the way my parents want me to. I need you.”

Bo’az walked over to her and took her hand in his. “Calm down Yas, calm down. We’ll figure something out. It’ll be fine.”
That’s something Tasz would’ve said, I think.

“Calm down? Calm down? I just gave up my life here for you, Tasz! The first thing my parents are going to do in the morning is have this whole property torn down to find me! If we’re still here, you’ll be dead and I’ll be the slave wife of Garrick Mol! And if we’re not here, they’ll comb the forest and mountains to find me! And the best you can say is ‘calm down?’ We need to get out of here and get a head start to make sure we’re not found!”

“I’m sorry; I’m sorry, it’s just that this is all so sudden…I came here planning to get some clothes and supplies for me and Ba…Bo’az. Let’s just take a second and figure out how to get out of here and what we need to take.” He sat on the bed next to her.

Yasaman laid back on the bed, her feet resting on Bo’az’s lap. “You’re right…I’ve been so wound up lately, it would be best to take a little while to think things through. I assumed you’d want to just get out of Haedon as quickly as me. You’ve always been just as whimsical as me. I guess so much has changed since your fa…in the past few weeks.”

“You don’t have to avoid it. I know my father’s dead. Nothing will change that now. That’s part of the reason why I’m here. I needed to come back and be around all this one last time. It makes it so much more real.”

Yasaman looked on the verge of sleep, getting comfortable in his bed, her eyes fighting to stay open. “Were you in the Square last night?” she paused to yawn. “I couldn’t bring myself to go, but I had a nervous feeling you might go and try to save him. I heard a fire broke out. Many were hurt and killed. They blamed that on your father as well.”

“I didn’t go. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. And now I feel guilty about hiding in the forest while it happened.” She didn’t have to know what Baltaszar really did. Bo’az really did feel guilty about not going now, and at least he could let it all out.

“I’m glad you can finally open up to me. For so long, I felt something was wrong with me because you’d never admit that anything bothered you. But maybe everything is different now.” She sat up and kissed him again.

Bo’az seized the opportunity and kissed her back more vigorously. This was wrong. She led him closer with one hand until he lay on top of her slender frame.
I…I can’t do this. I’ve got to tell her.
She pulled him closer, more tightly. Bo’az pulled away, “Yasaman, I can’t d…”

A thunderous voice boomed from the front of the house. “Baltaszar Kontez! Come out! We saw you enter the house!”

Bo’az froze. Yasaman’s eyes popped open, no sign of drowsiness left in them. He put his finger to his lips. Perhaps the men were bluffing. There was no way he would just walk out of the house and give himself up.

The thundering voice continued, “Baltaszar! We mean you no harm! My name is Linas Nasreddine; I have come with my two acquaintances from afar! We were sent here to help you escape and to protect you!”

Linas Nasreddine. That wasn’t a name that Bo’az had ever heard before. Ducking out of view from anything outside, he glanced over at Yasaman. Her expression was difficult to decipher, but she shook her head as well, equally confused. Whether he could really trust them, Bo’az wasn’t sure. But he knew eventually they would come inside and check it for themselves, and if that was the case, things could get violent and careless very quickly in the dark. Bo’az put up a hand toward Yasaman, implying for her to stay put, then cautiously crept out of the room and down the hall to the left. He had to calculate every footstep, as most of the upstairs floor creaked. While he tiptoed to the window facing the front yard, the wooden floor let out a massive groan at his last step before the window. Diving from in front of the window, he knew he’d reacted too late.
Damn it!

A gravelly voice exposed him, “I saw him up there Linas!”

“Baltaszar!” Linas repeated. “Look out the window, my friend! You have nothing to fear! We have no weapons drawn. We do not look or dress like the people of your village; we are not trying to kill you. The longer you wait the more danger you will face. Again, my name is Linas Nasreddine. I have come to save your life.” Linas’ voice now seemed pleading.

Why is it always Baltaszar? Why couldn’t they be looking for me?
Bo’az, huddled beneath the window, arose to see for himself. He scanned the front yard, noticing that only one man stood on the porch, while two others stood as far back as the fence, all in plain sight, not trying to hide. They were larger men than any he’d seen in Haedon. The one closest to the house, Linas Nasreddine, seemed the biggest of the three. All wore long coats with high collars hiding their faces and any armor or weapons they might be carrying beneath.

Realizing he’d been standing with his mouth agape the whole time, Bo’az finally found something to say. “Even if you’re not from Haedon, how do I know I can trust you? Do you think I’m stupid enough to believe three strange men who show up on my father’s farm in the middle of the night? Give me a reason to believe you. Prove to me that I can trust you.”

“We were sent by someone else to find you, Baltaszar. We are simply messengers for a greater man. He had hoped that your father would have educated you about the world long ago, and that you would seek him out. But he has waited long enough. With your father’s passing, the time has come for you to understand the world beyond your town.”

Could it be? Could there really be a connection between Father and their master? What if Baltaszar was right?
“What are you talking about? What is beyond this town?”

“Baltaszar, you are quite a special young man. Our master has known about you for a long, long time. There are things outside of Haedon that depend on you. My master simply wishes to guide you and protect you.”

What was that name Baltaszar said? Damn it, what was it?
“Who is this master of yours and how does he know about me? Is his name Da…Darian? Is it Darian that you’re talking about?”

Linas paused, and then turned to look at one of the men behind him. The man nodded approvingly, and Linas turned back and looked directly up at Bo’az. “Yes my friend. We answer to Darian. At least your father mentioned something to you. Now please, come down. If we really meant harm, we would have just broken into the house and attacked you.”

Maybe it should have just been Baltaszar here instead of me. What am I doing? If he had just come with me, this wouldn’t be so difficult. And now he’s off on his own, trying to find Darian, when these men are willing to take him right to Darian. Fool.

It was too coincidental that so many people were showing up after their father’s death, trying to get them out of Haedon. Someone found Baltaszar, and these men had now found him. Going with them seemed wisest, now that Yasaman had intruded upon his house and made it no longer safe.

I guess it’s either go with them or wait for her parents to chase us. Stupid girl. Is kissing her really worth the trouble?
Bo’az turned and stared down the dark hallway to see her petite silhouette peeking from a doorway on the right. Linas hadn’t mentioned anything about her. There was a chance he didn’t know she was here. Turning back toward the window, Bo’az leaned out. “I need to pack some clothes, tools, and supplies. Give me a moment and I’ll come down.” Linas nodded in agreement.

“Did you hear that?” he asked Yasaman.

“Somewhat. I mostly heard your side of the conversation, and tried to make sense of it all. I guess we’re leaving, then?” she pulled him close again.

Be natural
. Bo’az wrapped her in his arms and kissed her forehead. “Looks like it. They want me, though. I don’t think they know you’re here.”

She pushed him away. “So what, you’re going to run away with strange visitors in the middle of the night and leave me here?”

“You know that’s not what I mean, Yas.” He almost felt he was Tasz at this point, arguing with her. “I’m just saying that when we walk outside, they might be surprised to see you. So don’t do anything crazy or stupid.”

“Thanks.”

Perfect. Now she’s mad at me, and she doesn’t even know who ‘me’ is
. “Come on, let’s just get our things packed and go.”

Bo’az returned to his room and put on his black cloak. He went back to the closet and grabbed another pack, randomly threw clothes and another cloak in it, and slung it onto his back. Yasaman waited in the hall after getting her pack from Baltaszar’s room. “Why are you taking your brother’s clothes instead of your own?”

Great. Questions
. “I…uh, I was going to see if we could stop in the forest first to give these to him. Even if he won’t come along, he could use these.”

“Wait, he’s not coming with us?”

“He’s not going to want to. Besides, the man out there, Linas, only seems to be looking for me. He said ‘Baltaszar,’ not ‘Bo’az.’ And I don’t think Bo would come. He’s pretty set on doing his own thing. Ever since Lea Joben’s kitchen burned down, he’s hated it here and hasn’t trusted anyone.”

“Yeah. I’ve always felt bad for him about that. He deserved better. Even if he’s scared of
everything
, he has a certain charm to him. Who knows, if I hadn’t fallen for you so quickly, maybe I might’ve ended up with your brother.” She smirked at him, making it impossible to tell whether there was any truth in what she said. “So then what are these men going to say when we stop to see Bo’az?”

“I don’t know; I guess we’ll see when we get outside.”
My God, girl, can you please stop?
“Any more questions or can we go?”

“You don’t have to be an ass. I’m just curious. You’re the one who wanted to plan things out. You go out first.”

“Wait here a moment.” Bo’az dashed down the hallway to his father’s room on the right. It was just as dark in there. He headed toward the bed, lifted up the pillow, and found what he was looking for. Bo’az brought the dagger close to his face to examine it, then, satisfied, tucked it into his belt at his right hip and covered it with his muddy black cloak. He returned to Yasaman at the stairs and they descended.

Slowly nearing the front door, Bo’az gripped the dagger’s hilt from outside his cloak. “Before we go outside, promise me one thing. Don’t mention Bo’az to them. I’ll tell them we have to make a stop.” Yasaman nodded in agreement. He opened the door, peered through the crack to ensure there was no surprise attack, then pushed it farther open and walked through. The three men now stood together at the bottom of the porch stairs. As he walked forward, Yasaman came out from behind him and revealed her presence.

Linas glared at her, the annoyance evident in his eyes. “Who is this girl? She is not welcome on our journey.” He spat on the ground.

“She comes with us.”

“Baltaszar, there is much work to do in the days ahead, we cannot bear the burden of any unnecessary people in our camp.”

Yasaman’s head swiveled back and forth between Bo’az and Linas. Her mouth opened, ready to defend herself. Bo’az interrupted. “She is necessary for my well-being. I know her and trust her with everything, including my life.” She glanced at him, then darted her eyes away. Even in the dark, Bo’az knew she was blushing.

“Baltaszar, we do not have time for this. Our master gave us strict orders that we were only to bring you.”

“He’ll have to bend his rules then. If I’m that important to this Darian fellow, I’m sure he won’t mind. If she doesn’t go, neither do I.”

Linas took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. “As you wish. But our journey is long and dangerous. If the girl slows our progress or hinders us, I make no guarantee about the consequences. I cannot stress enough the importance of delivering you unharmed as quickly as possible.”

“Understood.”
No guarantees about consequences? What exactly is he trying to say?

“Baltaszar, these are my two…associates. Gibreel Casteghar and Rhadames Slade.” Linas nodded behind him to the other two, extremely tall men. Of what little Bo’az could discern of them despite their coats, Gibreel had a grizzly, chiseled face, like rock, and very nappy shoulder-length hair with a scowl on his face. Rhadames, who was slightly taller, had longer dark curly hair and a beard just as thick to match. Rhadames stroked his beard and glared at Bo’az.

Linas continued, “On the road ahead we will face forest, mountains, water, and desert. Whatever hardships the landscapes forget, the beasts will surely remember. The three of us will save your life on more than one occasion, but be prepared at all times to defend yourself.” Rhadames stared quizzically at Bo’az, and then looked down again.

Linas turned to his associates. “Gibreel, Rhadames, get our horses. Bring the girl; I’d like to speak to Baltaszar alone. Hurry. We’ve wasted enough time in this forsaken town. We must begin our journey back.” Linas spit again.

Gibreel and Rhadames rushed to the fence and out the gate, toward the corner where they’d tied the horses. Yasaman followed unwillingly. Linas took Bo’az aside. “We didn’t expect there to be others. The girl will have to ride with one of us. There are only four horses. Are the two of you smart enough to come equipped with a blade?”