The Black Orb Page 6

  "So?" Aria snatched her hand free. Her fingers hurt where his nails had dug deep. He really was agitated.

  "She would never be able to overcome the wizards without the Black Orb. If she attacks one kingdom, she would transport the Black Orb there and suck the magic out from all living beings. Once that task is accomplished, no army, no matter how well-trained, could stand in front of her men.

  "Her soldiers are not afraid to die. Under her magical enchantment, even fatally wounded men would keep on fighting until they were too weak from loss of blood to stand. Her army doesn't consist of men. They are zombies who don't fear anything but her displeasure. They would overcome the other army through their unwillingness to give up."

  Aria pursed her lips. If he was right about everything else, such as the existence of magic and the kind of control the Black Orb exerted on the Queen's army, he was right about this too. "If that's so, there's no way to stop her."

  "But earlier there was hope." He pulled at the sleeves of his cloak in a nervous gesture. "If she attacked one kingdom, we thought we could have another kingdom attack her from a different direction. She would be forced to divide her army. There was even the chance that, in the resulting confusion, a group of our men could steal the Black Orb and hide it away. But if she can transport the Orb from one battle front to another... It could be the end of the free world." He pulled at a strand of his hair, deep in thought.

  "Who's we?"

  "What?" He looked at Aria as if seeing her for the first time.

  "You said 'we'. Does that mean that you're working for one of the other kingdoms?" Aria made a wild guess.

  "I'm the court wizard at Bagdesh," he admitted. "We'd hoped to ally the rest of the kingdoms and fight the Queen at once, hoping to distract her long enough to take the Orb away."

  "And now you believe, based on the tales of an innkeeper, that she has the magical means to transport the Black Orb from one place to another, and that puts your whole plan in jeopardy?" Aria laughed. "How can she move the Black Orb from one border of Azmeer to another in a hurry? It would take days, if not weeks. That's plenty of time for your plan to work. It's not as if she has a magical carpet at her disposal that will fly her through the air--"

  She raised her hand. "Now don't tell me that there is a magical carpet such as that?"

  "There are a number of magical items she could use for such a purpose." Bikkar didn't seem to hear her. He was talking to himself. "The sylph... But she's a living creature and the Queen won't be able to use her with the Orb. And then there's the Wand of Syth, but that's with the dryads. They would never part with her until the last one of them fell. If that had happened I would've heard, no matter where I was."

  His eyes focused on something far away that only he could see. "That leaves only the Mirrors of Azban. But they've been hidden away from the world on the island of Sisi. Could she have access to them?" He looked at Aria as if expecting her to have the answer.

  "I don't know what you're talking about. Who's Sisi and where's it?" Aria pinched him on the arm to bring him back to reality.

  Bikkar rubbed his arm in an absent-minded gesture. "Could Sisi have fallen already? We must get to the Forest of Dryads and find out."

  "Well, I'll go to the outhouse and we can be on our way," she said. Shaking her head at the old man's foolishness, Aria got up from the table. He appeared to live in another world altogether, one made up of magic, mythical weapons and magical beings. Did he really believe in all that?

  Could any of his rumblings be true? The possibility of real magic excited her. But then she tapped herself on the side of her head. There was no need to let go of her hold on reality just because her companion was deranged.

  She found the outhouse at the back of the tavern The prospect of another long hard ride didn't excite her but the sooner their journey finished, the sooner she could go back to her old life.

  When she emerged, Alian stood in front of her, legs spread apart, hands on hips. "Hey, beautiful lady. How about my payment?"

  "My father has paid you already," she said primly and tried to walk past him.

  Grabbing her arm, he pulled her to the side. "Not that payment. Come on, give me a kiss and I'll throw in a bagful of grains for your horses for free."

  "Let go of me." Aria pulled, but he was strong. With one hand covering her, he dragged her into an alcove nearby and pushed her against the wall. His greasy stink of roast pig and stale sweat clogged her nostrils, making her stomach recoil. She tried to shove him away but it was no use. She raised her foot, hoping to stomp on him but he shoved his knee between her legs. Fingers clawed, she reached for his eyes but he caught her hands and squeezed until the bones ground together. Aria cried in pain.

  "One little kiss is not going to hurt you," he whispered, and licked the side of her neck.

  Aria shuddered as his tongue scraped across her skin. He nibbled at her neck.

  "Now, just one kiss...nothing more," he promised, his breath hot against her neck. "Don't scream. No one is going to help you and you don't want me to fight your father over one kiss, do you?"

  Aria went limp. He brushed his lips against hers and she opened her mouth, allowing him to deepen the kiss. As he moaned, distracted by the taste of her, she tilted towards him. He eased his grasp on her hands and caught her around the wrist.

  Aria edged her knee in between his legs, almost as if she was trying to get close to him. He moaned again. She slammed her knee hard against his groin.

  "I don't need my father's help."

  Screaming, he doubled over and fell to the side, clutching his crotch with both hands. Still queasy from the gross feel of his tongue in her mouth, Aria delivered a satisfying kick to his stomach. She bent and rummaged in his pockets until she found his purse. "I'll keep it as a punishment for the low trick you tried to pull on me."

  He tried to grab her cloak as she walked past, but another hard kick to his abdomen subdued him.

  Outside the tavern, she found Bikkar waiting for her outside, both the horses saddled and ready. "What took you so long?"

  Aria pocketed the purse but not before handing him two silver coins. "Here's your money back. The innkeeper generously decided to let us have the meal on the house."

  "What?" Bikkar stared at the coins in his palm. "Did you cut his pocket?"

  "Yes," she stated. "But only because he tried to force himself on me. I take an exception to being manhandled."

  "What?" Bikkar's face turned red as comprehension dawned. "How dare he?" He took a step towards the inn door.

  "Don't bother, old man. He's no condition to fight you." Aria mounted her horse with an easy grace. Despite her calm demeanor, she was still hot with anger. Why did men always think they could pick on a girl any time they chose? "I taught him a lesson he won't forget."

  She spurred her horse and moved through the streets at a slow gait. There were people around everywhere, some on horseback, most on foot. Dippi was a thriving city, comprising mostly fishermen and traders. River fish, once properly salted and dried, could be stored for weeks. From here, the dried fish were hauled off to different parts of the kingdom.

  The bridge across the river rose between Dippi and Islo and had been built jointly by both cities. Bikkar paid the guard manning the toll booth and, after dismounting, he and Aria made their way across.

  Bikkar appeared deep in thought as he walked his horse along, the wooden bridge creaking under the weight of the two hefty horses. Aria was silent as well, wondering what the Forest of the Dryads would look like. She made a mental note to ask Bikkar.

  Once they reached the other side, Aria sighed at the view that met her eyes. The land was the same as before, an endless plain overgrown with tall grass in all directions. Bikkar did not stop to admire the scenery. Instead, he mounted his horse and took off towards the north.

  "You'd better know where we're going," Aria said. This part of the kingdom was unknown to her. During her travels with Marcus, she had visited many cities and towns.
Once they even passed through Dippi and Islo while they were heading toward another town perhaps a hundred leagues away, but they had not crossed the river to see what was on the other side. She had heard that the plain was enclosed on two sides by rivers and flanked Lake Char in one direction.

  As they galloped through the tall grass, Aria saw a hamlet to the west, consisting of perhaps five cottages. All through the day, they saw no other sign of human life. Once she spied a herd of black and white striped horses. They were smaller than the horses she and Bikkar rode. Following them were two wiry golden lionesses, probably searching for a weak animal they could target for prey. Bikkar steered them clear of the herd, not wanting to attract the predators' attention.

  At dusk they stopped for dinner and a much needed rest. Aria lit a fire and Bikkar readied his pots and herbs to make a stew.

  "I owe you an apology," he said as he placed the pot on the fire.

  Aria washed her hands and sat down near the fire. "What? Why?" She watched him add the herbs and spices to the simmering water.

  He wore a worried frown. "It's..." He cleared his throat. "It's been a hard life for you, hasn't it?"

  Aria shrugged. "It's been a good life."

  "No, I mean...being a woman, without a steady home, and only your brother for protection. You must've fought off many men over the years. It can't have been easy."

  Aria laughed and took off her headband. "Don't feel sorry for me, old man," she said, amused by his concern. "I know how to take care of myself."

  "Oh, I don't doubt that. But still... I didn't understand that being a woman makes life that much more difficult." He gestured aimlessly. "Do you remember your parents?"

  Aria stared at him, nonplussed by the sudden change of topic. "No. I was young when they died. All I remember is the orphanage we were placed in after they died. Marcus remembers them...some."

  "They must've been extraordinary people, because you're remarkable."

  "Why, thank you." Aria batted her eyes at him, not sure how to take this sudden compliment. Theirs was an uneasy alliance, both of them needing each other for selfish reasons. "Don't tell me you're making a move on me, old man."

  Bikkar turned a bright red. "Don't be silly, girl. I am old enough to be your father."

  "Well, you're not my father and don't think that you can say all these nice things and make me like you. I need you, you need me. That's the extent of our relationship." She brushed back a strand of her curly hair. “We are not bosom friends, or family, and hold no obligation towards each other. As soon as this quest is behind us, we will separate – and that will be the end of our relationship.”

  Bikkar nodded and turned his attention back to the stew. "Fair enough."

  Aria sat back and brushed her hair, a ritual she adhered to every night. The stew bubbled in the pot. As dusk turned to dark, Bikkar stood up and began his own ritual of staring deeply in all directions.

  Aria watched him scan the distant horizon, worry lines etched on his face. In the soft light of the fire, he looked older. "What do you think the innkeeper was talking about? Who could've attacked an entire contingent of the Queen's man and gotten away with it? Oh, I wish I'd been there to see her face when the Queen got the news?" She snorted.

  Bikkar looked down at her. "Let's hope we don't come in the way of the men who killed the Queen's soldiers," he said softly. "Let's eat and sleep. For now, it's safe."

  Sitting, he handed her a bowl of his stew and took one for himself. They used wooden spoons to pick the chunks of meat out, relishing the hot meal. He had replenished their stock of bread and cheese, as well as herbs and spices, at the bazaar outside the tavern while she was occupied with the innkeeper's unwelcome attentions. They had enough to last them for a week's march to the Forest of the Dryads.

  "See over there." He pointed at the distant sky with his spoon. "That's the star of Isabella. If something were to happen to me, I want you to take the key and head in the direction of that star, keeping it to your north at all times. Once you cross the Forest of the Dryads, you will find a citadel in the mountains. Inside it is the Claw of the Dragon."

  "Why are you telling me this?"

  "In case something happens to me, I think you should know what to do."

  Aria narrowed her eyes. She had the distinct feeling there was something more to this quest that he was not telling her. Why did he expect something to happen to him?

  And more importantly, if something did happen to the old man, would she be able to continue on her own? Without him, she wouldn't know what to do.

  What if her brother was lost to her forever? Plagued by doubt, Aria vowed to keep a closer look on Bikkar. Nothing must happen to him until she rescued her brother.

  As night fell around them, Aria resolved to keep a close eye on the old man. He was her ticket to rescue her brother. And there was no way she was letting anything happen to him.

  Chapter Seven

  For five days Aria and Bikkar sped across the reed-and-grass steppe at breakneck speed. Water was plentiful in the many streams they forded. On the dawn of the sixth day, Aria stood near her horse, brushing her fingers through the mare's thick mane. She stared back across the empty land through which they'd traveled.

  "You know, I do believe this isn't as difficult as I'd thought it would be." She turned back to Bikkar as he checked the saddle of his horse.

  "Not difficult?" He grinned, and his silver hair flowed behind him in the wind. "Trekking across half the kingdom in search of a mythical Dragon's Claw is suddenly not so difficult?" He mounted his horse.

  Aria smoothed down the horse's mane for one last time before mounting. She sat back and enjoyed the wind on her face. "It's a lovely day, isn't it? I feel we're right at the end of it...the quest, the adventure, it's about to finish. Three days more, you said?"

  Bikkar turned to frown in the direction the wind was blowing from. "A sudden gust, isn't it?"

  "Yes, it just came out of nowhere."

  "Do you smell something?"

  Aria sniffed. There was an undercurrent of something in the wind. Burning wood, perhaps?

  "Go, go, go," Bikkar yelled suddenly, and urged his horse forward. The horses ran willingly, as if sensing the danger.

  "Fire?" Aria screamed.

  "It's coming from the west," Bikkar yelled back. "The wind's driving it. We'll go that way." He pointed east.

  As they sped through grass and reeds that grew as tall as two men standing atop each other, Aria looked back. Far off in the distance she saw a black wall behind them. It was the smoke, driven ahead of the fire. If they were caught, it would mean a certain painful death.

  Not in this life. She urged her mare forward. If the fire was spreading in a circle, if it was ahead of them too, there was no hope. But as long as they were breathing clean air, she was not willing to give up. This is not how I am going to die.

  There was work to be done, and by the Grace of the Goddess, she would do it. Her brother had to be freed from the dark magic of the Queen. If she died before that, he would remain a slave forever.

  She could not bear that thought.

  Under a scorching sun, they sped on. In the distance Aria saw a pair of lioness running furiously, just ahead of the fire. Behind them was a herd of wildebeests. The smoke seemed to be nearer. The wind that was driving it howled past her ears. Not for a moment could they falter, for to do so would mean certain death.

  They pushed their steeds beyond the limit of endurance, but no matter how fast the horses ran the fire remained right behind them. As the warmth of dawn gave way to early morning, the horses began to trot, unable to keep up the fast gallop any longer. The smell of burning grass was still strong in their nostrils and although the fear of death would not let them stop until they collapsed, their strength was at an end. If their mounts collapsed, Aria knew, there would remain no chance of their survival. They could never outrun the fire on foot.

  Aria prayed to the Goddess for protection. It had been a long while since she
last prayed. Her belief in her own abilities was such that there was never any need to ask for divine assistance. But now as the fire raced behind them with its deadly heat, Aria prayed for safety. If she died, Marcus would be all alone, unable to save himself from the Queen's lust.

  For her brother, she had to live. She could not die. Not yet.

  Sweat tickled down her back and beneath her she could feel her horse quivering with exhaustion. Soon it would fall, unable to even trot anymore. And there would be no escape for Aria.

  Suddenly, as quickly as it began, the wind died.

  When Aria looked back, she could see the smoke falling back. The fire was slowing. She hoped, now that the wind had stopped, the fire would die a slow natural death. But grass fires were notorious for their unpredictability. She was not willing to take a chance of being caught up in its path again.

  The exhausted horses plodded along, heading for the chain of low hills ahead. After a while, Aria and Bikkar dismounted and led the horses onwards, keeping a wary watch at the progress of the fire behind them.

  "Behind those is the river," Bikkar said. "We'll rest on its bank tonight. If the fire still burns and catches us, we'll cross it. That will save us."

  Aria looked behind. Far away she could see a black haze. The fire continued to ravage its way across the land but its advance had slowed.

  They led their mounts over a ridge. Behind it, Aria could hear the rush of the water as it sped through the narrow channel that carried it towards the Forest of the Dryads.

  Four men, dressed in the Queen's regiment colors, appeared from behind the slope of the hill. "Hey, you. Halt!"

  Aria halted.

  This was not an ordinary guards' regiment. The red and yellow stripes sewn on their tunic sleeves indicated that they were part of the Queen's army. What were her soldiers doing here, in this remote part of the kingdom? How many of them were there?