The Quest for the Heart Orb (15 page)

The smaller kadjet, the one with three segments, was already falling from the sky with one of Tomas’s arrows in its heart, but the one with five segments was approaching fast.  “Where are the hearts?” she asked Tiari as she aimed the Ti-Ank.

“Second and third,” Tiari replied.  Karma heard Zakiel roar, causing her heart to race, but she remained focused on her current task.  It wasn’t easy to send two beams of fire from the Ti-Ank, but she’d had enough practice that it no longer drained her as it once had.  The hardest part was aiming the two beams so that they incinerated both of the kadjet’s hearts at the exact same moment.  If she was off by even a fraction of a second, the kadjet wouldn’t die.  Instead, it would break apart, each section becoming a duplicate of the original five segmented creature.

The kadjet was directly above them, just beginning its dive when she released the fiery power of the sun that she’d drawn on through the Ti-Ank.  She knew before the wasp-like creature began falling from the sky that she’d succeeded.  She immediately spun Dippy around, already sending more of her own energy into the Ti-Ank.

At first she couldn’t decipher what her eyes were seeing.  There were about a dozen unfamiliar creatures doing battle with a group of Hunters in the wide area between the trail and the trees.  They had heads, chests and arms similar to men, but from the waist down they resembled two legged goats, with hooves, dirty brown fur, and short stumpy tails.  And they were fighting with swords.  Since the Hunters didn’t appear to need her help against the strange creatures, Karma guided Dippy in a wide circle around the fighting to where she knew Zakiel and Nikura fought the serpin.

She reined Dippy to a halt, barely glancing at the remains of one serpin lying near the trees.  Nikura leapt over another serpin’s back, raking his saber-like claws across its thick neck, opening a set of gashes that were significantly smaller than she expected them to be.  At the same time, Zakiel raced in, attacking from the front.  The serpin pulled its triangular head back with an ear shattering scream just in time to avoid decapitation by one of Zakiel’s flashing swords. 

Karma started to draw on the sun as she usually did, but something warned her that it would do very little good against the serpin’s thick hide.  She immediately shifted her focus and drew on power from the moon instead, something she’d only practiced with before now.  Seconds later she sent a thick, icy white beam at the serpin.  At the last moment it spotted the new threat and moved lightning fast.  Instead of engulfing its head and neck as she’d intended, the beam hit its hind quarters.  It wasn’t a total miss since it froze the serpin’s back legs, slowing it down significantly.  She drew on her energy again, ignoring the familiar trickle of blood that always signaled the end of her endurance.  The second beam was not as wide as the first had been, but this time Nikura feinted at the serpin’s head, distracting it enough that it never saw the beam aimed directly at its face.  A split second later Zakiel swung his sword and the frozen head fell to the ground with a muffled thump.

Relief flooded Karma, but it wasn’t over yet.  She turned Dippy around, searching for the third serpin, and was surprised to see both Zakiel and Nikura race past her to help the Hunters with the other creatures.  Assuming they knew what they were about, she drew power from the sun to use against the half man, half goat creatures.  She was surprised when nothing happened.  Fortunately, her help wasn’t needed.  Nikura and Zakiel arrived in time to assist in the destruction of the final two creatures.  The Hunters, led by Bredon and Garundel, had taken out the rest on their own.

Once he was certain the danger was passed, Zakiel went straight to Karma and waited for her to slide from the saddle into his arms.  He didn’t put her down as she expected.  Instead, he held onto her tightly, his strong arms trembling around her.  She buried her face in his neck and relaxed into him, tears burning her eyes when he held her with one arm so he could slide the other hand down between them to rest lightly on her still flat stomach.

“We’re all right,” she whispered.  “We’re fine.”

Zakiel nodded and took a long, deep breath before lowering her feet to the ground.  “You strained too hard again,” he said, wiping blood from her upper lip.

“Not much,” she said.  “And it’s my own fault for missing the first time.”

“We’re lucky it’s so cold here,” Zakiel said.  “The serpin were very slow because of it.”

“That was slow?” Karma asked.

“Yes, very,” Zakiel said grimly.

“What happened to the third serpin?”

“It never showed itself,” Zakiel said.  “Nikura sensed it running off after we killed the first one.  There is no such thing as loyalty among demons.”

“What are these things?” Karma asked, pointing to one of the man-goat creatures that lay dead nearby with a sword still in its hand.  The stench of the thing was overwhelming even from several yards away, so she didn’t try to get any closer to it.  “The Ti-Ankh wouldn’t work against them.  I hope it’s because they’re natural creatures of Rathira.”

“Yes, they are, unfortunately,” Zakiel said.  “They’re called satyrs.  They have just enough rudimentary intelligence to fight with swords, though who teaches them the skill is a mystery.”

“Serpin?” she asked.

“No,” he replied.  “They aren’t that intelligent.  Even if they were, they have no arms or hands themselves so what would they know of sword fighting?” 

“Can we expect to see more satyrs?”

“I don’t think so,” Zakiel said.  “They don’t build shelters, they don’t use fire, and they eat only raw meat, so they can’t live for long in the cold.  I’m surprised the serpin were able to force them this far.”

“Well, that’s good news,” Karma said, grimacing as she stepped around one of the smelly things.

“Yes, it is,” Zakiel said.  “In fact, very few demons thrive in the cold.  Those that can manage to stand it for any length of time will not be at full strength.  The deeper we go into the mountains, the fewer we’ll see.  Unfortunately, those that fly high in the sky are used to cold, like the kadjet, so we’ll probably be seeing more of those so long as the skies are clear.  They avoid heavy cloud cover and storms.”

Karma nodded, then took a breath and looked into his blood red Vatra eyes.  “So, what’s this about?” she asked, running her fingers over the thick row of red and blue feathers that ran across his shoulders and down his arms.  There were more feathers in the shape of a crest on his head, along with the usual red and blue markings combined with black and orange signs of the Tigren on his face, neck and chest.  This was the first time she’d seem him with actual feathers, not counting the two times he’d fully manifested Vatra.

“I was unable to summon Vatra,” he admitted with a frustrated sigh.  “Just enough to make me look like this, and add somewhat to my speed and strength.  I don’t understand it.”

“That’s because you are beyond stubborn,”
Nikura said, joining them.
 
He looked at Karma.
  “If you will, Lady Techu, I would speak with our hard headed Prince.”

“You can’t hear Nikura?” she asked Zakiel as she reached for the Ti-Ankh that she’d already returned to her belt, and extended it.  Zakiel shook his head.

“Not since he told me that the third serpin ran away,” he said, his eyes on the Sphin.

“Go ahead, Nikura,” she said a moment later.

“As I attempted to tell you weeks ago, Highness, you are not meant to fully summon Vatra at this stage,”
Nikura said.
  “The first time you did it, it was thanks to Lady Techu’s power, and even then I warned you of the dangers.  The last time it was due only to your fury and fear for Lady Techu’s life.  As necessary as that was, you still very nearly destroyed yourself, a fact you refuse to appreciate.  Unfortunately, those two incidents have led you to believe that you should be able to summon Vatra whenever you please, but that is not the case and will not be for some months.  This new ability to manifest feathers is an indication that you are progressing as expected, which should bring you relief.  It is certainly not a sign that something is amiss.”

“Iit’s good news, then,” Karma said with relief.  “Isn’t it?”

“Yes, I suppose that it is,” Zakiel said reluctantly.  He looked down at the feathers on his arms and closed his eyes to help himself concentrate.  Karma watched as the feathers and the markings of the Tigren vanished.  Nikura leapt forward and slapped his paw down on the ground.

“Lady Techu,”
he said. 
“You should keep this.”

Karma walked over to Nikura and picked up the red feather with blue edging that he’d caught with one of his plate sized paws before it could blow away in the light wind. 
“Why should I keep it?”
she asked him silently, twirling the feather in her fingers.

“Luck?”
Nikura asked sardonically.

Karma arched a brow at him and his tail twitched.
  “I remember Karaken trying to bargain a Vatra feather from Prince Zakiel.  Why a fish would want a feather is a puzzle I’ve frequently pondered ever since.  In any case, it cannot hurt to hold onto it. ”

“No, it can’t,”
Karma agreed as she slipped the feather into a pocket of her skirt, wondering if it might, in fact, really bring good luck.  She’d never admit that to Nikura, but as he’d said, it couldn’t hurt.  She patted her pocket and returned to Zakiel, who’d been watching with a small frown. 

“That didn’t go too badly,” Garundel said, joining them before he could ask what Nikura had said.  “We’ve no casualties, and the only injury is a sprained ankle one of the drovers got while fighting off a satyr with a tree branch when it got too close to the pack diplos.”

“See to it that he is properly commended for his bravery,” Zakiel said.

“Of course, Highness,” Garundel replied, then glanced toward the dead serpins.  “It didn’t take them long to discover we’re on the move again.”

“No, it didn’t, and that troubles me,” Zakiel said.

“What troubles you, Highness?” Bredon asked as he, too, joined them.

“It seems odd that after weeks of peace the demons should attack so soon after we resumed traveling,” Zakiel said.

“Do you think there’s a spy?” Bredon asked.

“I’ve suspected as much since the first day,” Zakiel said, frowning at Bredon’s vest.  “Looks like one of those satyr blades nearly got you.”

Bredon glanced down and saw the long slice in the leather of his vest just over his ribs.  He frowned as he fingered it, remembering the moment he’d felt a quick stinging pain during the battle.  The pain had faded almost immediately and he’d forgotten about it till now.  He pulled the vest aside, relieved to see that his skin was unmarred.  “That was close.”

“Yes, it was,” Zakiel said soberly.

“I’d suggest having lunch since we’re already stopped, but as bad as those things smell, I doubt anyone will have much appetite,” Karma said, changing the subject when she saw Kapia and Ren approaching.

“Agreed,” Zakiel said.  “Bredon, get everyone mounted.  We’ll travel for another hour, then stop for lunch.”

“At once, Highness,” Bredon said just as Kapia, Ren, and Marl joined the group.  He gave Kapia a quick glance to ascertain that she was unharmed, then smiled warmly at her before mounting his diplo and trotting off down the line.

“Are you all right, Ren?” Karma asked, frowning.  Her skin was almost translucent and her lips were so pale they were nearly white.

“Yes, Karma, I’m fine,” she said, pasting a smile on her face that fooled no one.  “It’s just that I’ve never seen a demon before.  Or fighting.  Or death.  I’m just…surprised.  Please do not concern yourself over me.”

Karma and Kapia exchanged glances.  Clearly Ren was scared half out of her mind, but she was fighting to put a brave face on.  They were proud of her efforts, and silently agreed not to embarrass her by calling attention to her fear.  “Come with me, Ren,” Kapia said.  “I’ll show you how to use the stirrup so you can mount on your own.”

Karma and Zakiel watched the two women walk away with Marl a step behind them.  When they were alone Karma looked up at Zakiel and spoke quietly.  “Do you know why Sir Marl is hovering around Ren?  I noticed he did not rotate with the other guards at mid-morning.”

“Does it trouble you?” Zakiel asked, looking toward the tall, quiet man.

“Not in the least,” Karma said.  “I’m just curious.  Did you tell him to guard her?”

“No,” Zakiel said. 

“Then why is he?”

“Garundel selected him to watch over her.”

“Why?”

“He felt it was wise.”

Karma arched a brow at him.  “You generally don’t make me drag things out of you, Husband.  What’s going on?”

“It’s a matter I will not interfere with,” he said.  Karma’s eyes narrowed.

“Is this going to be something I don’t like?”

“I don’t see why it would be,” Zakiel replied, then leaned in close and lowered his voice to a whisper.  “Sir Garundel is Ren’s father.”

Karma reared back to stare at her husband.  She opened her mouth.  Closed it.  Turned to watch Kapia and Marl as they assisted Ren with the stirrup.  Then she looked for Garundel, only to find him watching Ren from atop his diplo with an indecipherable expression on his face.  She returned her attention to Zakiel.  “Okay, spill it.”

“There’s little to
spill
,” he said, glad that he didn’t have to ask her what she meant.  He was getting used to her strange remarks, what she referred to as
slang
, and even used some of them himself from time to time.  “Garundel told me only that Ren is his daughter, that he believes she is aware of it but has yet to acknowledge the connection, and that since she had no objection to Marl, he assigned him to act as her personal guard.”

“Why does he want it kept secret?” Karma asked, the stars in her gray eyes flaring dangerously.

Zakiel frowned, wondering why she was getting angry.  Then he remembered what she’d told him about her own father, and understood.  “He doesn’t want it kept secret,” he said.  “She does.  He’s decided to go along with that until she has time to know him better.”