Draggah (46 page)

“
Yes,
”
Lexi said through clenched teeth. 
“
You?
”

“
Fine, let
’
s get out of here.
”

He ran back to retrieve his dagger.  The sixth raider was watching from a distance now, but Rafe didn
’
t expect the man to cause trouble.  He might fetch his comrades and try to stop them from returning to the tribe with fresh water, but Rafe would have to deal with that later.  He bent low and pulled his dagger from the raider
’
s chest.  It made a gruesome sucking noise as he pulled it free and a wave of nausea passed over Rafe.  He stood up quickly, bringing his right arm up and covering his mouth and nose inside the crook of his elbow.

“
Let
’
s move!
”
Lexi shouted behind Rafe.

He bent low, wiping his blades on the fringe of the dead man
’
s tunic.  Then he jogged back and hopped into the bed of the wagon.

“
Go,
”
he said, waving at Lexi.

She flicked the reins and shouted at the horses, who were only too happy to move away from the smell of blood.  As the wagon rumbled forward, Rafe managed to sheath his weapons.  He was sitting in a small open area of the wagon.  All around him the large clay pots rode easily on the wooden bed of the Swanee
’
s wagon.  Rafe started to climb up and rejoin Lexi, but a wave of dizziness made him sink low in the wagon again.  He unbuckled his sword belt and lay his weapons beside him, then curled up in the small space.  The ride over the soft grassy moss of the wide plain was much smoother than Rafe would have guessed and soon he was asleep.

Hours passed, but Rafe was oblivious to them.  Only when the wagon lurched to a stop did he wake up and look around.  The light was fading and he struggled up to his hands and knees.  He felt hot and weak all over.  His stomach lurched and he fought down the bile that was rising in his throat.

“
Did we find the water?
”
he said in weak voice.

“
No,
”
Lexi said. 
“
But the sun
’
s going down and I
’
m going to need a torch.
”

They had packed several of the Tamaka bone torches, which the tribe had refined since their battle with the Draccon.  The bones still had thick layers of rawhide dipped in animal fat as the core of the torch head, but on top of that was a layer of loosely woven grass.  The outer layer of grass would be much easier to ignite and since the animal fat had soaked into the rawhide, it wouldn
’
t drip and risk burning the carrier or starting unwanted fires.

Rafe leaned on one of the empty water pots and watched Lexi flicking her steel dagger blade across a chunk of flint.  Sparks jumped in all directions, some landing on the torch head.  Lexi blew gently, coaxing the flame to life.  It took a long minute for the sparks to turn to flame and then for the flame to set in on the torch.  Lexi carried the torch back up to the seat of the wagon.  She already had one torch secured on the far side of the wide bench seat.  She used the newly lit torch to ignite the other, then secured the original torch on the opposite side of the wagon
’
s bench.

“
We
’
re moving,
”
Lexi said to Rafe.

He didn
’
t answer.  He had collapsed back down inside the bed of the wagon.  He was so thirsty that water was all he could think about and he felt his strength waning.  Just holding his head up had been a chore, and soon his eyes blinked closed again.

The next thing Rafe knew, cool water was being dripped onto his lips, which were dry, cracked, and peeling.  His tongue felt swollen and he was so hot.  He licked eagerly at the water, even though his tongue was clumsy and opening his mouth made his lips split painfully.

“
You okay?
”
Lexi asked with some concern. 
“
You
’
re burning up.
”

Rafe didn
’
t try to talk, he was too tired.  All he could think about was wanting more water.  Lexi poured water over Rafe’s head from the clay pitcher she was using to scoop water from the river and carry to the large clay pots.  To Rafe, the water felt divine.  Lexi poured it over his clothes until they were soaked and dribbled more into his mouth.

“
Thank you,
”
he croaked.

“
I don
’
t understand why you got so sick so fast,
”
Lexi said. 
“
It must be because you exerted yourself fighting the raiders.”

Rafe blinked slowly.

“
Sleep,
”
Lexi said. 
“
I
’
m filling the pots.  I
’
ll give you some more water when I
’
m finished.
”

Rafe tried to nod, but he wasn
’
t sure he was successful.  He was so tired, so hot.  He let his eyes slip closed and then the world went black.

Chapter 33

Leonosis

The trip had taken nearly a week.  Leonosis had spent most of that time in the spacious cabin reserved for the Earl.  It had wide windows that looked out the rear of the ship.  He guessed that would be aft, and that if the ship had been on the ocean he would have a view of the ship
’
s wake.  As it was, he saw nothing but a seemingly endless expanse of the thick cloud bank that covered the blighted lands.

Leonosis spent his time either lost in thought about his brother
’
s plans, or being entertained by the trio of servants he had hand selected to accompany him on the journey.  There were books in the large stateroom, a table with writing materials, and several well-built chairs.  But it was the large bed with its feather stuffed mattress that Leonosis chose to spend most of his time on.  There was enough space in the state room that Leonosis could pace by the windows when he wanted privacy.  At other times, he choose to roam the wide deck of the ship.

The captain kept the myriad of tools, rigging, and sailcloth neatly arranged and tucked out of sight on the ship, so the wide deck was relatively free of obstructions.  Leonosis would walk the deck listening to the sailors’ songs or the officers barking commands.  Sometimes he lingered on the command deck, watching the captain and his officers work the mighty vessel.  He couldn
’
t help but be impressed and he hoped that one day he could run Avondale or perhaps all Nine Cities of Valana with such absolute authority and confidence.

When Sparlan Citadel finally came into view, Leonosis changed his clothes and prepared to meet Princess Ariel.  He was coming unannounced, which was uncommon in the Nine Cities.  He was prepared to pretend that he was a suitor smitten with the Princess.  It was an easy lie to believe.  Anyone who knew much about the Princess would know she had recently returned from visiting Avondale.  Leonosis was the Earl
’
s son; there would be nothing strange about him courting the Princess, except for the fact that Leonosis
’
father wasn
’
t with him.  But then Earl Aegus was ill.  He needed time to recover and Leonosis, love sick as he was pretending to be, simply couldn
’
t wait another day to see the Princess.

Sparlan Citadel was completely different from Avondale.  The capital of Valana was the only one of the Nine Cities that had been constructed before the cataclysm.  In fact, Sparlan Citidel was an ancient fortress, much of which was carved from the rock face itself.  The city had a very wide open plateau surrounded by a high wall.  There were watchtowers at every corner, and Leonosis could see entire battalions of men training in the open courtyard.  There were few buildings on the mountaintop itself, mainly just military structures like the armory and additional barracks, along with the castle which rose up like a sentinel watching over the mountain.  The city
’
s inhabitants came out on clear days, erecting a colorful market in the bright summer sunlight and the crisp, cool mountain air.

The city proper existed beneath the surface of the mountain.  A huge cavernous opening had been discovered eons ago.  The mountain itself was very nearly unassailable, but tunnels had been carved that led down to the lower parts of the megalith that were now hidden by the mists.  Most of those tunnels had been filled with rock as the city was once again occupied after the cataclysm and new structures were carved into the stone.  In the huge cavern was a thriving city, with a market, shops, and merchants of every kind.  Many of the lifelong members of the King
’
s army retired to homes carved deep in the mountain.  To Leonosis, Sparlan Citadel was like a bee hive, with everyone working to please the high King of Valana, a position Leonosis craved but had rarely allowed himself to dream about.

The city was not self-sustaining.  Food was shipped in, along with material goods, and volunteers for the King
’
s army as a form of tax.  Each of the other eight cities in Valana contributed to the King
’
s vast hoard.  Avondale could well afford such taxes, but the main resource Leonosis
’
forebears had given was Hylum.  The invisible gas that fueled the great bulbous sails of the airships was by far the most coveted resource in the kingdom.  The other eight cities all needed Hylum, but only Avondale held a supply.  It gave Leonosis
’
father a level of importance among the cities that not even King Aethel could match in many instances.

The King
’
s airship was nearly as large as Leonosis
’
but much more spartan.  It was a military vessel, and stood high over the castle, attached by long ropes.  Leonosis
’
captain guided their ship in toward the castle, settling just over the tall receiving platform.  Ropes were lowered and the ship secured by the castle guards.  Leonosis had to wait while news of his arrival and reason for coming was announced to the King.  When the trapdoor was finally opened and the sturdy wooden staircase lowered to the receiving platform, Leonosis and Grentz, whom Leonosis had not seen since they left Avondale, were met by a red faced King Aethel.

“
Master Leonosis,
”
the King said. 
“
How wonderful and unexpected of you to visit us.  Is your father well?
”

“
Much as you left him,
”
Leonosis said.

“
Ah, I thought perhaps you were here to inform us of his passing.  It is good to know he is still with us.
”

Leonosis wanted to scoff at the King
’
s assessment of his father, but he restrained himself as he bowed before his sovereign.

“
What may I ask brings you all this way?
”
King Aethel asked.

“
I have our tax, your majesty,
”
Leonosis said. 
“
But I admit that is not the only reason for my visit.  I was hoping to see Princess Ariel once more.
”

“
Ah, yes, I see,
”
King Aethel said, relaxing visibly at hearing what could only be considered a welcome reason for another Lord to visit. 
“
My daughter will be pleased to see you again.
”

“
That is my fondest wish,
”
Leonosis said. 
“
I hope my arrival does not disturb your highness.
”

“
No,
”
King Aethel said, but Leonosis detected a note of insincerity in the King
’
s reply. 
“
You are always welcome here, Master Leonosis.  As are you, Sword Master.  It is an honor to host such a great warrior in the King
’
s Stronghold.  My steward will show you to your quarters.
”

“
Thank you, my lord,
”
Leonosis said, as Grentz bowed.

The King turned and another man hurried forward.  He was short and thin, but his gray hair and wide curling mustache showed him to be many years the King’s senior.  He bowed low and then looked up with a smile that was hard to see under the thick mustache.

“
My lord,
”
the steward said. 
“
I am Bynes, the castle steward, at your service.
”