Dark Quest (2 page)

Egam looked again at Oscar’s collection of paintings and laughed. “I had heard that money cannot buy love, but I think I know a young man who enjoys standing tradition on its ear.”

“Actually, I think my money well spent on John’s art and my relationship with Callie would last without a purchase. Did you know that John’s pictures hang in the finest galleries in Cordonia? Even the Presidential Palace is loaded with them.”

“That I can believe, Oscar. These paintings are exquisite. Perhaps I will bring Jenneva one to brighten her home. Are your intentions serious in regards to this woman?”

“Egam, I know that a secret is safe with you. I plan to ask for her hand this trip. I would love for Jenneva to meet her and I would also like to invite her to the wedding.”

“Well, it’s settled then. I must join you for your trip to Kantor and then to Atar’s Cove.”

“Yes,” said Oscar. “I will have to change captains though. Raymond is the only one who knows of Atar’s Cove, so he will have to take the ship tomorrow.”

The springtime voyage was pleasant. The seas were smooth and the Targan Current was particularly strong. The Dalek Shipping Company had its own dock in Kantor and Captain Raymond Hill had the ship dockside in short order. A tall, beautiful woman was waiting on the dock. “Oscar, you’re a day early. Father will be so pleased. I saw your dockhands running through the plaza and knew you were here.”

Oscar and Egam disembarked and Oscar introduced Callie Secor to Egam. They proceeded to the plaza where John had a small studio. The plaza’s aroma of beef, spices and leather gave way to smell of paint and thinners as they entered the studio. John was a sturdy man and resembled a sailor more than an artist. His thick, hairy arms were just hanging a picture on the wall as they entered. John was surprised to see Oscar and nearly dropped the painting he was hanging. “Oscar, you old sea dog, you should keep to your schedules or you’ll cost me an embarrassment,” he laughed. “That painting is our President Suarez and I’m due to present it tonight. Ah, I’m glad to see you early, though. Callie, see if you can grab a courier in the plaza, I want to send a message to the Palace. Come on in, Oscar, and introduce your friend. I have tea on in the back.”

The three men went into the back of the studio and Oscar introduced Egam as an old friend and associate. John hurriedly scribbled a note and handed it to Callie who had caught the attention of a courier. “I hope you won’t mind having dinner with the President this evening. As I said, I have to deliver this portrait and he has invited Callie and myself to dine with him. I’ve asked him to include Duke Dalek and his associate and I’m sure he’ll agree. Your visits have become more frequent and yet the other member of my family feels that you are absent too often. Why don’t you take a stroll with Callie and I’ll get to know Egam better.”

Oscar went into the studio gallery where Callie was just dismissing the courier. “So, I’m gone too often, am I?” he smirked.

“Certainly, you are!” Callie embraced Oscar and dragged him into the plaza. “Come on, let’s go for a walk. I imagine that father is getting you invited to the Palace this evening. I’m sure the President will want to meet the man who is buying all of my father’s art. You’re making his works a rarity in Kantor.”

“Your father creates things of beauty. His painting is not bad, either,” Oscar chuckled.

“Oh, you sailors are all alike,” she retorted. “You probably have a woman in every port.”

Oscar stopped walking and held Callie. “Callie, don’t even joke like that. I love only you. As a matter of fact, I have something very important to discuss with you. It’s, well, I really want to tell you, I mean . . . I want to know if . . . ”

Callie laughed. “This is Oscar Dalek, the man who could sell sand to the Sordoans?” Her face went into a mock expression of seriousness. “Yes, Duke Dalek, the terms of this contract look fairly reasonable. I think I could find it possible to consider doing business with your firm.” Oscar was turning red and sporting a hurt look upon his face and Callie relented. “Of course I’ll marry you, Oscar, and if you give me a kiss I won’t even make you finish asking.”

Oscar laughed and hugged Callie so hard he lifted her off her feet. “There’s still your father, Callie.”

Callie giggled. “Father is perhaps the most impatient of all. I believe he may have already spoken to the President about performing the service.”

They hurried back to the studio to spread the good news. John opened a bottle of wine to toast the young couple and a courier arrived with the President’s response -- four were expected for dinner.

The Presidential Palace was a large, white stone mansion on a spreading estate. An ornate carriage had been dispatched to pick up the dinner guests. Callie looked stunning in a lovely, yellow gown with her long, brown hair sporting a matching yellow ribbon. Oscar spent the entire ride to the Palace staring at her.

President Suarez and his wife were in a receiving parlor when the party arrived. John made the introductions and presented his painting. The President had the painting hung over the fireplace. Oscar marveled at the incredible likeness of the painting to the actual President. The black, wavy hair was parted in exactly the same spot. The long black mustache ended precisely where it should. The green eyes were so lifelike that he felt like the portrait was actually looking at him. Oscar knew that the painting was done from memory. The President may have sat for a sketch, but he certainly did not have the time to sit for the entire painting. John seemed to have the ability to recall vivid images that he had seen previously.

The dinner was very informal and Oscar was impressed with the President’s ability to keep the conversation moving. Oscar’s magic ring let him know that the President was prone to exaggeration. The stories he told were true enough, but the numbers quoted or reactions to events were stretched in proportion to reality. John happily announced the engagement of Oscar and Callie and the President offered a toast.

“You shall have the congratulations of the entire nation,” said President Suarez. “Does this mean that Kantor is to become the home of Duke Dalek of Targa?”

“I do intend to have a fine home built here in Kantor,” answered Oscar. “I will, of course, still maintain my homes in Dalek and Bordon. I imagine Callie and I will spend time in each depending on the needs of my business. I hope that John will live in our Kantor home and use it as his own.”

“I offer whatever help the Republic of Cordonia can give in finding a site for your home, Oscar. The Secor family is fondly thought of here and I am happy to add your name to the list of their members. When will the wedding be?”

“The wedding will have to wait at least two weeks. I would never be forgiven if we married without my mother here as a witness. Callie and I will leave tomorrow by ship for Dalek. Hopefully, we shall return with Duke Whitley and my mother on the return voyage. John told me that you would be gracious enough to perform the service. Would your schedule permit a small wedding in two weeks time?”

“If not,” President Suarez laughed, “I’ll change my schedule. I can’t promise a small celebration, though. John Secor is a bit of a celebrity here in Kantor and the marriage of his daughter will bring many requests for admittance.”

The rest of the dinner was spent in pleasant small talk and soon it was time to leave. They returned to John’s studio and Callie went off to pack a travel bag. Egam roamed the studio looking for a suitable painting for Jenneva. He finally settled on a picture of Kantor’s harbor from the edge of the marketplace. The picture sported one of Dalek’s ships approaching the dock. When Egam went to pay John for the picture, John waved him away.

“No, Egam,” John stated, “Oscar has already made me a very wealthy man. Please take it with my compliments. I cannot afford to give my paintings to Oscar for he is my largest customer. I can, however, give one to his friend and my friend too.”

The next morning, John escorted his daughter to the ship and waved goodbye. The weather was pleasant and everyone spent the days on deck. Egam spent a lot of time with Callie and got to know her well.

Far to the east in the town of Paso, three black clad figures hid in the bushes not far from the wall of the Temple of Dori, goddess of soil. The night was moonless and the townspeople were sleeping. One of the black clad figures detached from the shadows and leapt at the wall. He hoisted himself to the top with a cat-like grace and peered into the courtyard below. He signaled for the others to follow and soundlessly jumped into the courtyard. The only light visible was from a candle near a second story window.

The first figure extracted a long, thin piece of metal from his clothing and went to work on the rear door of the temple. The board holding the door shut hit the floor with a loud thud and the figures froze. Hurried footsteps could be heard approaching the door from the inside and the black figures melded with the shadows. An elderly priest flung the door open. He looked around the courtyard in confusion. He stepped through the doorway for a better look and one of the shadows stepped forward and seized him from behind, slicing his throat with a small, sharpened dagger. The shadow propped the body against the wall and crept into the temple. Down the corridor was an open doorway with candlelight flickering patterns on the floor of the hallway. The shadows crept down the hall and peered into the room. The room was deserted and the black figures stealthily approached the staircase.

Aurora knew that the temple’s acolytes lived in a building alongside the temple. There should have been no one in the temple except a priest to guard the library. The other priest must have had some unfinished work to be in the temple at night. She followed Dalgar and the other Black Devil up the stairs. The three figures stood in an alcove outside the doorway to the library, barely breathing.

Aurora stripped off her garments, knocked on the door and stepped back five paces. The priest opened the door and peered into the hall. The candlelight flickered off Aurora’s pale, naked skin and the priest was speechless and confused. He took a couple of steps forward and shook his head as if trying to clear his vision. Dalgar wasted no time. He stepped out of the alcove and looped a thin metal wire around the priest’s neck. He viciously tightened the wire and the priest frantically tried to claw at the restriction around his throat. In just moments the priest’s struggles ceased and Dalgar lowered the body to the floor. Aurora hastily dressed and dragged the body into the library.

The library was small and the three Black Devils would have no problem emptying it long before morning. They carried the books downstairs and out the rear gate of the temple’s courtyard. Through the bushes they had a cart waiting in a clearing. It took many trips to completely strip the library and Dalgar made a mental note to have more Black Devils available for the larger libraries.

Dalgar dragged the first priest’s body into the room he had been working in. He searched the room for more books. Aurora’s knowledge of the layout of this temple was very helpful in assuring the success of the raid. He pondered how they could get information on other temples while he closed the back door to the building.

He secured the gate to the courtyard and scampered over the wall. When he arrived at the cart, Aurora and the other Black Devil were covering the books with the hay that was originally in the wagon. He jumped up on the wagon and started the horses moving.

The ship arrived off Atar’s Cove and was holding steady instead of anchoring in the cove. Oscar could hear shouting and raced up on deck to the helm. “What is it, Captain Hill?”

“I’m not sure, Oscar. There are jagged rocks throughout the cove as if the sea bottom was jutting upward.”

Oscar ran to the bow and gazed at the cove that he had seen several times before. There was no way a ship could enter the cove without ripping its hull on those jagged rocks. He became concerned for Jenneva. If some upheaval had occurred to destroy the cove, she might have been harmed, as well. He knew Egam could communicate with his former student and went below to wake him.

Egam staggered onto the deck still half asleep. He silently looked at the cove and smiled. “Full ahead, Captain. Just ignore the rocks.”

Captain Hill did not issue any orders. Instead, he waited for Oscar’s instructions.

“Come, come,” called Egam. “They’re just illusions. Jenneva’s fine and is preparing breakfast for us.”

Oscar nodded to the captain and Raymond shouted orders to proceed. The crew was tense as they approached the first of the rocks and passed through it. Callie appeared on deck and stood fascinated as the ship progressed through the columns of stone. The ship anchored and a rowboat was lowered for the shore party. Captain Hill joined Oscar, Callie and Egam for the trip to Jenneva’s home.

They landed on the pristine beach and wandered to the jungle path. Oscar started heading for the small clearing where the hut was that he dropped Jenneva off at, but halted when a wide pathway appeared off to his left. The pathway was lined with brilliantly colored flowers and seashells and Egam led the way down it.

The path wound quite a way through the jungle before it came to the base of a small mountain. At the base of the mountain was a large door positioned between two massive stone pillars. A thin, young girl opened the door and allowed the party to enter. Oscar stared at the girl’s short, blond hair and wondered if Jenneva had gotten married. The girl did not speak, but led the party to a sitting room and left. Jenneva entered the room and Egam smiled when he saw that she was dressed in a long, purple kaftan with red flowers, just like the one that her mother, Kirsta, had worn. The little girl returned with a tray of refreshments and Jenneva introduced her.

“Welcome to my home. This is Shanor. She lives with me now.” Jenneva went over and gave Egam a long embrace. “Captain Hill, Oscar, I’m so glad you decided to stop for a visit. Oscar, you seem to have the look of a lovesick puppy, introduce me to this beautiful woman.”

Oscar laughed and introduced Callie. He explained about their forthcoming marriage and invited Jenneva to the wedding. Jenneva turned to the young girl as Shanor left the room.