Chosen (13 page)

“The guards didn't speak, except to tell me to mind my own business. I didn't ask why they took him, who he was.” Morden cleared his throat. “Not a day has gone by that I don't regret accepting that job. He haunts my dreams. I gave away the gold if that makes you feel better.”

“Oh, you gave away your
gold
! Of course that makes everything better!” Gwen said.

Brok didn't miss the single tear she tried to brush away trickle down her cheek.

“I can't go back and change what I did. I'll have to live with that for the rest of my life. All I can do is move forward and try to make it right.” Morden stood. “My cabin is yours. As is my ship, any time you have need. I bid you goodnight.”

“Master Brok, why do you think she took him?”

Brok turned to face Saemus. “I don't know. But I will have the answer, mark my words.”

Dear Spirits, please don't let her find out he's one of the Chosen!

* * *

“Would you like some of my berries, Kaelin?” Gwen asked.

Kaelin shook her head. She did not look up from her absent scratching in the dirt. She held a stick loosely in one hand, the other lay draped across her knee. Her hair hung in ragged strands, concealing her face.

Gwen sighed and pulled her hand back. She ate the berries slowly. Gwen stole a glance at Kaelin and bit her lip. The girl seemed unconcerned that her actions had caused the boy she loved to run away from home. However, Gwen had to grudgingly admit that the girl was more quiet than usual and didn't take as much care with her appearance.
Maybe she does feel bad.

Gwen wiped her hand on her robes as she finished the last of the berries. Kaelin still sat, using the stick to draw aimlessly in the dirt in front of her.

A noise in the tree above her made Kaelin look up. Her brow furrowed as she scanned the branches, trying to find the source of the strange trilling purr.

“There it is!” Gwen pointed to a branch not far above Kaelin's upturned face. Though they could not yet see the creature making the noise, they could see the leaves stirring as it moved closer to the girls.

“Have you ever heard a sound like that?” Kaelin stood on tiptoe and clutched the bark of the tree, trying in vain to catch a glimpse of whatever was moving through the leaves.

“Be careful! It might not be friendly,” Gwen said.

Suddenly, a tiny animal appeared. It was the strangest, most wonderful thing the girls had ever seen. Its fur was palest pink, soft and luxurious, and it had black feet up to its mid-leg. It had five chubby digits per limb, complete with retractable claws. The animal's tail was long and bushy and ringed in black. It had large, dark, luminous eyes rimmed with long, elegant lashes. The tiny creature's chops were large and round. At a gasp from the girls, it perked up its ears, which were tipped with tufts of black hair.

It blinked its eyes and made its way slowly down the tree, heading towards Kaelin. It leaped onto her shoulder, causing the girl to cry out and stumble back in alarm.

“What is it, Kaelin?” Master Brok had heard her cry of alarm and hurried over.

She held out her hands and the little animal climbed from her shoulder into her cupped palms. It looked deep into her eyes and reached out one of its chubby paws to caress her face. Kaelin giggled in delight as the creature trilled at her softly.

“
She
is an urgit.” Brok smiled to see the girl so enthralled and in obvious adoration of the delicate animal. “They are shy, elusive creatures. It is strange to see one so close.”

The others gathered around Kaelin. The urgit flinched and cowered under its luxurious tail. She quickly crawled onto Kaelin's shoulder, using the girl's hair to hide. It peered from around her hair like a child peeking from behind a curtain. The Chosen burst out laughing and the urgit let out a squeak and pulled Kaelin's hair back across its face.

Brok called to the students. It was time for the evening chores. They had been so enthralled with the urgit that they hadn't noticed how quickly the sun was setting. Saemus gathered the water bags and ran for the river to re-fill them. The girls gathered wood for the fire. Soon, Master Brok had a cheerful blaze going. With the setting of the sun, the air grew chill. Everyone grabbed their heavy cloaks out of the saddlebags and gathered close to the fire.

“Look, Kaelin! I think she is copying you!” Gwen giggled in delight. Kaelin glanced at the urgit on her shoulder and laughed as she saw it holding out its paws, rubbing them together, emulating the girl's motions as she warmed her hands over the fire.

“Have you ever seen anything so cute? I hope Master Brok lets me keep her.” Kaelin's words were cut short as Saemus returned with the water. The girls set to getting supper ready while Master Brok and Saemus freshened up. Kaelin fed the urgit little bits of apple and berries, giggling as she watched the animal pick up the food in its chubby paws and shove it into its cheek pouches.

Master Brok and Saemus cleaned up after supper, giving the girls a chance to freshen up. The three giggled and chatted, much like they had on many occasions back home. Master Brok was thankful that the little urgit had found its way to Kaelin and was bringing her out of her depression.

The girls hurried back to the fire. Kaelin sat and brushed her long, dark hair, chatting all the while to the urgit. She couldn't explain why but she felt that the animal understood every word she said.

“Before we retire for the night, there is something I need to ask you. What do you know of Siswae Territory and the history of that part of the world?” Brok asked.

“The men in that country used to hold all positions of power. Women were not considered worthy enough to rule, govern, create laws, vote, own businesses or property. They were little more than possessions who stayed at home and raised children.” Saemus looked around at his fellow students. None were surprised that he knew the answer to Master Brok's question. The time that he was not at lessons was spent reading. Receiving nods of encouragement, he continued. “Fourteen hundred years ago, there was an uprising. The
women, and those sympathetic to their cause, took over the country after many years of brutal fighting.

“Now it is women who rule Siswae. They hold all positions of power and they guard that power jealously. Men have no authority. If the Queen receives word that men are beginning to grumble about their lot, or are holding secret meetings, they are put to death,” Saemus finished.

“As a Mystic, I have some prestige, even in Siswae. Most Mystics in Siswae are female, but male Mystics can still be found in some of the smaller villages. However,” Brok blew a smoke ring after a long draw from his wooden pipe, “the esteem I carry is miniscule at best.”

“Then how are we ever going to get Jon out of there?” Gwen gaped at Master Brok. She assumed he would sweep into the palace, glare daggers at the queen and demand the return of Jon, and the queen would bring Jon directly to Brok, humbly apologizing for ever carrying the boy off. Now the idea of Jon's return seemed impossible. She felt tears sting her eyes as she imagined all of the horrible things being done to Jon this very minute.

“We will get Jon back, child. It just may take a bit of…hmmm, hhhmmm…our being covert about it.” Truth be told, Master Brok was worried. Queen Cheye had gone to great lengths to obtain Jon and she might not give him up easily.

He must be rescued, whatever the cost.

* * *

The ride to Siswae was uneventful, though exhausting. The Chosen found themselves dropping off to sleep as soon as they dismounted, only to be awakened a few short hours later. They dozed in the saddle and ate in the saddle. The four grew to loathe the saddle. Only Master Brok seemed unaffected by the arduous ride. He was the first up and the last asleep. The antics of the urgit, whom Kaelin called Moira, helped keep their spirits up. They loved to watch her hold food in her chubby paws, looking just like a small child. She would stuff her cheek pouches full and then retire onto Kaelin's shoulder to eat at her leisure. Every now and again, she
couldn't eat all of the delicious treats in her cheeks. The urgit would leap onto a tree, scamper down, and bury her food in a hole dug in the ground. Kaelin wondered if the urgit planned on digging up her stores on the return trip.

While she would visit the other Chosen and ride on their shoulders for a time, she always came back to Kaelin. The two had formed a bond, much like the village children did with their dogs and cats.

The smell of the ocean assailed their nostrils as they approached Siswae. They could hear the sound of gulls, as well as the pounding of the surf against the cliffs below the city. The air was chill, as the wind blew across the ocean water. The five travelers pulled their cloaks tight around themselves.

They topped a rise and stopped, marveling at the city sprawled before them. Every building and wall was made of white stone, and the roofs were made of red tile. The palace of the queen stretched along the cliff face. It had hundreds of towers and turrets, some square, some round, some octagonal. The palace was surrounded on three sides by high stone walls constructed of huge blocks of white stone. There was one wooden gate, heavily guarded.

“The palace alone is larger than our whole village!” Keera shook her head in wonder.

“And most of it lies unused. Each queen adds to the palace, thus creating this sprawling metropolis.” Brok shook his head in disgust. “The people are taxed near to death to pay for it and many are forced from their land to make room for the expanding castle.”

Kaelin couldn't help but be awed by the sight, even after hearing about the plight of the people of Siswae. She could only imagine what sort of luxuries the castle must hold.

I bet they have a bathhouse.
She longed to lounge in a bubble bath, having her hair and body scrubbed with the finest scented soaps. She could almost feel the soft towels, warmed by the fire, draped over her bare skin. The servants would pour her a goblet of warm cider before fetching a sleeping gown of the softest silk. She would retire to a giant four poster bed and fall asleep under the weight of the down comforter.

“Listen children. Once inside the city, you must only speak when spoken to and keep your eyes averted at all times.” Brok gazed at each of his students. “A wrong move here can mean death to us all. I do not want to have to fight our way out of the city unless absolutely necessary.” Brok looked at Keera last. The girl's temper could get them into serious trouble.

The five turned their horses toward the main road into Siswae and loped down the hill. The young people kept their heads down, terrified to look anywhere except at their horse's head. Brok kept his eyes averted for the most part, glancing up now and again to get his bearings. He was grateful that his teacher back on Gentra forced him to memorize the maps of the major cities of Astra. At the time, he hadn't thought it necessary. He figured he would be in Heart Stone until the signs appeared, and then he and the Chosen would make their way to the portal cave.
It appears I was mistaken.

Brok made directly for the palace. He decided against finding an inn. Time was running out. He wanted to get Jon out as quickly as possible so they could head for home.

“State your business, old man,” one large man said blandly, eyes looking past the group.

Brok dismounted and bowed deeply before the palace guards. Both men were large and muscular, their oiled skin shining in the sun. He wondered absently if these two were the ones who had kidnapped Jon.

“If it please you, I request an audience with her greatness, Queen Cheye, the first of her name, blessed Light of Siswae, if it please you.” Brok's words were tinted with the Siswaean accent.

Saemus had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing out loud. Master Brok's obsequious manner was so out of character. Saemus glanced at the others and gave Keera a sharp shake of his head as he saw her open her mouth.

The guards snapped their fingers and a small man, dressed in simple white robes, came scuttling up to the party.

“I will take your request to her greatness, Queen Cheye, the first of her name. Wait here until I return.” His manner brooked no argument. He scuttled off and disappeared into the palace. The students and Master Brok stood quietly, staring at the ground,
scuffling their feet as they waited for the servant. No one dared to ask what would happen if the Queen refused an audience with them.

The little man returned, walking even more quickly than he had before.

“Right this way please.” The man hurried ahead of the horses. “The grooms will take your animals.”

The group followed the servant on foot, careful to keep their eyes averted. Brok glanced up to see where the horses were being led. The stables stood inside the gates and were manned by only a few grooms and stable boys.

“Please take off your shoes and leave them here.” The little bald man indicated a series of shelves against one wall. “I will return with water for the ritual foot washing.”

The group sat on a long wooden bench. Saemus took the opportunity to speak. “Master Brok, why do we bow to the elite guards?”

“The elite guards have special status here in Siswae. They are the only men to have any sort of power. It only extends so far. They are still below even the poorest woman in the country, and it is only other men and visitors who have to accord them any deference.”

“Well, I think it is ridiculous! Why should we have to bow and scrape to these people? The Village Council would never expect this kind of treatment,” Keera whispered furiously.

“We are in their country and we must abide by their customs. That is the way of things,” Brok told her sharply.

The return of the servant cut off the conversation. He had a bowl of warm water and rough cloth. He scrubbed their feet until they were red and raw.

“Please come this way.” The little man led the party down a long corridor. The entire palace was constructed of white marble, floor to ceiling. The floors were covered with thick carpets. Large tapestries and paintings adorned the walls. All along the walls were vases, some as tall as a man and others as small as a thimble. They were made of clay, porcelain, and other materials that the students could not identify. Some were inlaid with gold, silver, copper, other metals, and still others were covered with precious stones and jewels. Some of the more rare and valuable treasures sat in recessed
shelves, high above the heads of the people passing. Tables, inlaid with gold and stones, also held an array of pottery, vases, and statues.