Rise of the Red Harbinger (37 page)

“Six against two isn’t really a fair fight, Reed. Thought I’d even things up. Ya know better than ta be startin fights with Descendants in this place, don’t ya? The new ones are supposed ta feel welcome in here!” The men immediately fell to the ground in a chorus of smashes and grunts. “Let’s go, we can talk outside.” The boy waved his hand and the other four Descendants followed him. Horatio glanced at Baltaszar. He nodded to Horatio, who turned and followed. As Baltaszar walked through the crowd of people, he tried to mouth ‘Sorry’ to as many people as he could.

Baltaszar followed the group out onto the road. After walking for several feet, the one who had spoken inside stopped and turned around. The rest formed a sort of scattered circle, allowing everyone to face one another. Baltaszar stuck his hand out, “Thank you for helping us. That sort of thing hasn’t happened to us before.”

“Desmond. It’s Desmond. An’ don’t worry about it. Reed is a regular there. He likes ta start trouble when he’s drunk. Nothin’ personal. Next time he sees ya, he probably won’t even recognize ya.”

That’s why he looks familiar.
“Desmond? Anahi mentioned your name. She told me to try and find you, that you hadn’t left Vandenar long before I had gotten there.”

Desmond smiled, “Oh ya know Anahi, do ya?”

Baltaszar felt his face heat up.
Dammit.
“Yes. She…took care of me.”

“It’s fine. What did ya say yer name was? Even if ya fancy her, there’s nothing ta worry about with me. I think o’ her more like a sister now anyway.”

“Baltaszar. My name is Baltaszar Kontez. This is my friend Horatio.”

Desmond pointed to the others as he introduced the others. “Vasher, Lincan, Marshall, an’ Badalao. Say…ya can create fire? Never seen anyone be able ta do that before.”

“I’m still learning. That’s why we’re going to the House of Darian. I need to be able to control it. I almost melted my hand off just showing Horatio what I can do.”

Lincan spoke up. “You only just found out about your manifestation?”

“Less than a week ago.”

“And you’re our age? How is that possible? How long have you had the Mark?” Lincan scratched his head roughly.

Baltaszar shrugged. “From what my father told me, I’ve had it since I was about three or so. But I was brought up my whole life thinking it was a scar. It wasn’t until about a week ago, just before I left my village, that someone told me what it really is.” The others bore mixed reactions to Baltaszar’s admission. A couple looked at him incredulously while the others unsuccessfully suppressed laughter. “Look, I know how bloody stupid that sounds. I don’t need all of you telling me what a fool I am for thinking so.”

Lincan retorted with a smile, “I apologize. The thing is…the Mark is something that the whole world knows about. How is it that any town in Shivaana could let you go on thinking that? Were there no other people there with a Mark?”

Baltaszar clenched his teeth tightly. Horatio seemed to know his thoughts and spoke for him. “He’s not from Shivaana. He’s from a town north of Vandenar, hidden in the Never.” Horatio’s explanation only brought more confusion to the others’ faces.

Desmond tried to clarify. “But yer skin, it’s brown. Only people in Ashur with brown skin are Shivaani. An’ I think I would know if there was a town in the forest near Vandenar.”

Baltaszar’s frustration boiled over. “For the love of Orijin! Don’t you all think that I would know where I’m from?! Why would I bloody make up a stupid story if I was really from Shivaana? I come from a town hidden in the mountains of the Never! It is called Haedon! I have lived there all my life! There are no people there with marks on their faces! Not everyone there is brown-skinned! They come in all hues from pale to copper! And no, Desmond! You would not know if there was a town in the forest because, as far as I know, I was the first person from Haedon to leave the village for anything besides fishing in the seas nearby! I am so damn tired of having to explain this to everyone!”

Lincan responded sarcastically. “Fine, fine, you’re not from Shivaana. It’s not like ‘Haedon’ is on any maps—ever. At least you’re not sensitive about where you’re from, though.”

Baltaszar attempted to stifle the laugh, but it escaped more loudly than he’d hoped. Vasher quipped, “No, that’s better. I didn’t want to share my country anyway.”

Marshall chimed in, “The two of you could pass for brothers though.” Baltaszar shook his head, feigning annoyance.

“When are you two riding to the House?” Badalao looked back and forth between Horatio and Baltaszar.

Horatio looked at Baltaszar, then back at Badalao. “We were looking forward to seeing more of the city. It is our first time here. Our plan was to spend to explore today and spend the night. Then take in more of the city tomorrow morning and leave for the House afterwards. When are you all headed back?”

Badalao looked around at the others. “We really only came here to regroup. Certain…events…unfolded this morning and we desperately needed to relax for a bit. But I think I speak for everyone in saying that we have no issues with following your agenda. We do not get to have much fun at the House these days and it would be nice to unwind.” The others nodded in agreement, sharing the sentiment.

Desmond asked, “It’s goin’ ta get dark soon. We should start walkin’ if ya want ta see anythin’ today. Any idea what ya want ta do first?”

Baltaszar immediately responded, “If you all don’t mind some business before the fun, I would like to go to the Hall of the Chancellor first.”

Desmond looked at him curiously. “What’s there?”

“I need to learn about Vitticus Khou.”

Chapter 14

An Unfortunate Identity

From
The Book of Orijin
, Verse Seventy-Four

Life is balance. Before Our judgment is cast, you shall answer to Mankind for your sins for a final opportunity to repent before hearing Our Song. There can then be no question that We are unfair or unjust.

Linas spit on
the deck and looked up at Slade. “Rhadames, this idiot has been a disappointment since we found him. No Descendant’s Mark, his one courageous moment was killing our other companion, and he has yet to control any fire. I tell you, I am afraid that if we bring this…joke…back we will be tortured. Tell me truly, Rhadames, we traveled so far and wasted so much of our own time looking for him?”

Rhadames Slade turned from looking off into the sea. “We scoured all of Ashur. I was chosen specifically for the purpose of finding him. It is no mistake. And if,” he looked down at Bo’az, “our master is unhappy with what he requested, then you can blame it on me. I will suffer for it. If that is what you are afraid of.”

Linas shook his head and spit again. “Enough is enough. We should tell him the truth about who he is going to see. He is tied up; he cannot run. Even still, what would he do, swim to escape? Baltaszar, do you really think you are being brought to see Darian?”

He shrugged his shoulders and instantly regretted it, as his arms both scratched against this mast of the boat. “I never had any reason to believe otherwise. I barely even know who Darian is, aside from his name.” Slade looked at him with a frustrated countenance. “What? Look, I get it. You all think I’m stupid and a waste of the effort. You don’t have to keep saying it. Just tell me what it is that I don’t understand.”

Linas stroked his beard; likely his mouth was out of spit. “Near eighteen years old, boy, and nobody bothered to inform you that Darian, your beloved and precious Harbinger, has been dead for thousands of years? Are you so dense? All of Ashur celebrates the man. For Orijin’s sake, your whole culture and way of living is based around his death and the events that led up to it. The whole reason Ashur is the way it is, is because the man killed himself flooding the world. And you don’t know anything about him? And you think he’s alive? Slade, what am I missing here?”

What is he talking about? Father never told us about any of that
. Bo’az glanced toward Slade for help, who nodded to affirm what Linas had said. “My father never taught…me…about anything you just said. What are you talking about?”

Linas sighed deeply. “The Orijin and his Harbingers? First the Three, then the Five? The Red Harbinger? Not familiar?” Bo’az felt lost. “You’ve never heard of Magnus, Cerys, Taurean, Darian, Jahmash, Abram, Gideon, or Lionel? You have no idea who they are?” The way Linas stared at him dumbfounded, Bo’az swore a second head had grown from his neck. “You asked us if we were taking you to Darian! Why would you mention that name, of all names, but know nothing of him? This is frustrating me, Rhadames. I am beginning to wish that Gibreel pushed him off the mountain instead of the girl.”

Slade responded tacitly. “Calm yourself, Linas. It will be sorted out once we get there.”

Bo’az grew more confused by the moment. “Look, all my father ever taught me about the Orijin was…that there is one and that there are three rings that await us in the afterlife: Omneitria, Oblivion, and Opprobrium, depending on how we live our lives now. None of the extra bunkum that you spoke about. Nobody in my entire village ever mentioned any of it, even once. How do I know that you are not mistaken?”

Linas finally smiled, but it wasn’t one that made Bo’az feel at ease. “Because you are going to see Jahmash, fool!”

Bo’az got the feeling that what he was being told was a great deal more profound than he could grasp. He looked back and forth between Linas and Slade, the latter’s face bearing and expression of guilt and regret. “And obviously that is a bad thing?”

“Maybe Gibreel was that much more intuitive than I. I wonder if this is what he saw in you from the beginning and I was merely too blind. Or stupid. Baltaszar, if Jahmash wants you, then your life is likely over, one way or another. He would not dare tell peons like me and Slade what he truly wants. But I am sure it involves using you, likely for your manifestation.”

“So he needs me for something special. Why is this Jahmash such a bad person?”

Linas shook his head. “Seriously? It angers me that I even have to explain this. Thousands of years ago, Orijin chose five Harbingers to bring order to the world. Mankind had become very corrupt and vain, so these five were charged with the task of fixing things. Once they did set the world aright, Jahmash killed three of them. Darian was the only other, and he forced Jahmash to follow him. This sea was never here before then. Darian could control the water, so he flooded the world and stranded Jahmash on an island so that Jahmash could not harm anyone else.”

“So now you’re talking about magic and a lot of crazy things. And you’re saying that this Jahmash has been alive for thousands of years? But I’m the stupid one?”

Linas palmed his head. “You know what, I am finished talking to you. Jahmash can sort out your idiocy when we get to him in a few days.”

“A few days?! We’ve already been sailing for several days! What are both of you even getting out of this that you would hunt me down, lie to me, drag me along this damned journey, and then tell me that you’re bringing me to a man who just wants to exploit me?” A sense of desperation formed in the back of Bo’az’s mind. “Is your reward so great that you are willing to sacrifice someone else’s life? I know, I know, you get to go home to your family. And in the process, you have destroyed all that is left of mine! My parents are dead and I am all that remains.” He nervously glanced at Slade. “Your whole nonsense story about your daughters and crying and all that—I don’t feel sorry for you, coward. You’re compromising my life because you are too afraid to stand up for your own.”

Linas opened his mouth to respond, but Slade grasped his shoulder and stopped him. “That is enough. You should be the last person to speak of dishonesty and cowardice, boy. You have whined nonstop since leaving your house and the only times you dared abandon your cowardice were when you were worried about the girl. And where did that even get you and her? Despite your efforts, she is dead now. Before you dare judge us for our actions and sins, accept the reality of your own life. We have done nothing but coddle you this whole time.” Bo’az could feel his face redden. He hadn’t expected Slade to be so direct and curt. He looked down at the deck to avoid eye contact. Slade continued, “I see. You dislike the truth, yet demand it from us. Perhaps you will reconsider the next time you question another man’s motives.”

As Slade walked away toward the front of the boat, Linas walked closer to Bo’az. Linas grabbed his torn shirt and lifted him to stand. He loosened Bo’az’s manacles and then punched Bo’az in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. Despite the pain, Bo’az had grown used to it over the past few days. Since they’d gotten to the boat, the routine was to stun Bo’az as soon as the manacles were undone. In truth, Bo’az preferred Slade’s punches to Linas’. Slade had a tendency to only hit hard enough to knock Bo’az down. Every time Linas hit him, the pain lingered.

Linas secured the manacles once more and lifted Bo’az back to his feet. Bo’az forced himself to walk, despite the daze making him clumsy. If he didn’t walk, Linas would drag him the whole way. Linas brought Bo’az below deck to his quarters, which really was only a corner where empty sacks had been laid on the floor for him to sleep. Bo’az knew what came next and almost cringed at the thought. Whenever they brought him down here, they would hit him again, but hard enough to knock him unconscious. The previous morning, Linas hadn’t knocked him out on the first try and Bo’az hadn’t been clever enough to lie still. Instead he smugly moved around, thinking he’d gotten the better of Linas. Linas had responded by hitting him a few more times, even harder. Bo’az had thrown up when he awoke later on. He’d learned quickly and did not make the same mistake last night. It was Linas again who had brought him down and after the first strike Bo’az closed his eyes and lay still, clenching his jaw so hard that he was surprised his teeth hadn’t cracked.

Bo’az lay still with his eyes closed, expecting Linas’ kick or punch to come at any time. By the time Bo’az realized there was no hit coming and opened his eye, Linas was already gone.

***

Bo’az awoke with a startle, not remembering that he had fallen asleep. As he looked around, the long shadows and dim light revealed that the sun was either setting or rising.

He pushed himself up to a sitting position and leaned back against the wall. One thing he was thankful for, and likely the only thing, was that Linas and Slade had always left his hands in front of his body when they manacled him before knocking him out. From the day that he’d killed Gibreel until they reached the boat, Bo’az’s hands had been behind his back the entire time. His shoulders and back ached continually, even when his hands were tied in front. His broken arm still hurt incredibly, but luckily for Bo’az, the manacles did not position his forearm awkwardly. In the past few days, Bo’az somehow had gotten very accustomed to pain.

Bo’az jolted again when he looked up and saw Slade sitting on the ground only a few feet away. “Have you come to break me down even more? I thought at least you were on my side after what you told me in the mountains. But you are no better than Linas, are you?”

Slade put up a hand, gesturing for Bo’az to stop talking, and then whispered, “Quiet. Linas has gone to sleep and he assumes you are sleeping as well. I was harsh with you up top because Linas needs to believe that he and I are no different. Well, truthfully, I was also harsh because it was necessary. You have a habit of talking too much and letting your emotions overrule your sensibility. That is something that you need to control.”

Bo’az whispered back, “Why did you not tell me the truth about where we’re going?”

“Would it have mattered? Would you have known the difference between Jahmash and Darian?” Bo’az reluctantly shook his head. “The night before we found you, I spoke to your brother. He knew nothing of Darian or the other Harbingers. It would have taken too long to explain the whole truth to you. And it was better for your spirits that you didn’t know.”

“If you are really trying to help me, then why did you agree to bring me to see this man? You said something about owing my father, but from the looks of things, you’re just bringing me off to be killed.”

“None of this was supposed to happen, Baltaszar.”

“Bo’az.” Bo’az wasn’t sure if Slade had even known his real name.

“Bo’az. You were never supposed to come with us. Neither was your brother. I accompanied Linas and Gibreel because I intended to stall them and throw them off. Neither of them, nor Jahmash, knew of my true intentions. All they know is that I am very good at finding people and that I would be able to track down Baltaszar. I brought Linas and Gibreel through all of Ashur looking for your brother.”

“Ashur?”

“Right. If you had ever thought to leave your town, there is a whole continent beyond the forest. It is called Ashur. I brought Linas and Gibreel to every nation in Ashur and nearly every city over the last few years. I knew where your father really lived, so I stayed away for as long as possible. I thought that if I had stalled long enough, Baltaszar would have left for the House of Darian by the time we arrived in Haedon.”

“So Tasz was telling me the truth.” Slade tilted his head at Bo’az. “Baltaszar. I call him Tasz. He told me he was leaving Haedon to search for some House. He wanted me to go with him. I thought he was crazy for believing some stranger, which it turns out was you, wasn’t it?”

“It was. But why did you stay? I came to Haedon at that specific time because I knew your brother had not been in the town in weeks. The plan was for Linas to interrogate the town after I told him of your father’s death. By that time, Baltaszar would have had at least a day’s head start on us. Linas insisted on starting at your house and I agreed because…well, because I had no idea about you. All this time, I thought it was only Baltaszar.”

“What do you mean?”

“The last time I saw your father, your mother was still pregnant with the two of you. Obviously they had no idea they were having twins. They told me then that if they had a girl, she would be named ‘Sarai’. If it was a boy: ‘Baltaszar’. I had gotten word years ago that they’d had a boy, so I knew Baltaszar existed. But when you walked out of that house and there was no line on your face…I knew you were not Baltaszar. By then, it was too late, though. Gibreel would have killed you quickly if he knew you were Baltaszar’s brother, and not actually Baltaszar. The only way to save you was to lie to them.”

“Sooner or later, someone will realize I am not Baltaszar. And when that happens, I am going to die. Yasaman was right, there is no way out of any of this. Coming with you three was a death sentence.” Bo’az said the words more calmly than he’d expected.

“You should have more faith in me than that. I have kept you alive this long despite some bruises and broken bones. And truthfully, the broken arm had nothing to do with me. Once we arrive at Jahmash’s fortress and are brought to him, the best course of action will be to tell him the truth.”