Chapter Twenty Five
Lozni was right that Unisayan travelled much faster than a horse. Raliena paid close attention now to how far they had travelled into the Canah, and relished the feeling of the wind whistling past her ears, and the trees fading past her.
They travelled for the rest of the day and through the night again with ease, neither needing to sleep or eat much. The Unisayan had far more energy and stamina than a horse. They arrived at the main road just before sunrise. Raliena gently halted Eni and turned him back into the forest, keeping out of sight as they followed the road.
Soon they spotted the carriage up ahead that Eni had showed her in the vision but could not see the General. There were no guards around the carriage and it was made to look like an ordinary traveller cart, with one driver and the shadow of a man inside, who was too large to be the General.
“Are you sure this is it?” Raliena whispered to Eni as they watched it through the trees.
The Unisayan snorted at her and stamped his hoof. Raliena rolled her eyes and pulled her hood high over her head, and wrapped her scarf round her nose and mouth so she would not be recognised.
They went ahead of the carriage ready to ambush it, and then Raliena jumped down from Eni.
“I need you to head back to the Lagania for me.” Eni bucked his head in protest at Raliena’s order. “Please, I need them to reach Verxia quickly and I cannot risk you being seen, you are too conspicuous.”
Eni bowed his head in grudging acceptance and Raliena patted his silky neck in thanks and then left the Unisayan.
She climbed a tree a similar height to the carriage, and watched as it made steady progress towards her. It had four brown horses pulling it but Raliena could still only see two people, the driver and the large man inside. They must just be delivering the General and the only place she could see that he could be, was one of the two chests attached to the carriage.
Once it was directly beneath her, she jumped down onto the front and knocked the driver out before he knew what was happening, then she pushed him to one side with ease and checked the chest but found nothing, but food and clothes for the journey.
The other chest on the back she knew would be locked and the man inside the carriage would have the key, so she pulled the horses to a stop and climbed down, unsheathing her sword.
“What is it? Why have we stopped?” The courier lent his head out the carriage window to get a better view, but stopped dead when a sword was placed across his neck.
“Ah. I’ve suddenly got the feeling I’ve done something wrong!”
Raliena stepped to the side bringing the point of her sword level with his Adam’s apple.
“Get out the carriage.” She commanded, but he just sat staring at her trying to fathom who she was, he was sure he recognised her from somewhere.
Raliena pressed harder and repeated, “get out the carriage. Now.”
He looked at her again then obediently stepped out onto the cold ground.
“You will find no money with this carriage I’m afraid.” He said as Raliena’s sword stayed on his throat as she used it to guide him to the back of the carriage where a large chest had been attached.
“Your money is not what I am after.” Raliena replied. “I am no bandit.” She tapped her sword on the lock ignoring his confused expression.
“Open it!” She said. He did as he was told this time through fear of losing his voice box.
The man took a golden key from his inside pocket and turned it in the brass lock, then replaced both back in his jacket. Indicating with his hand for Raliena to open, he stepped aside.
She placed her sword back in her belt keeping an eye on him at all times. Then in one swift movement she swung open the chest to reveal a rather pale looking General; tied up and gagged.
They stared at each other for a moment while the General’s eyes adjusted to the sudden burst of sunlight. Raliena looked back at the messenger and asked. “What is this?”
“What is what?” He replied flustered.
“Do not test me!” Raliena shouted taking a step towards him.
“I said you would find nothing of worth with this carriage.” The man said irritably.
“And I told you I am no bandit.” Raliena replied. “Explain yourself, and quick!”
She put her hand on the hilt of her sword making him automatically put his hand up to his throat.
“This is the General Kassen of Attashar. We were ordered to deliver him to King Dagerten; he has been banished from the Kingdom for his crime.” The messenger replied gaining confidence again.
“And what is his crime?”
“The murder of Araman Raliena of course. They say that King Baynil wanted to drive a Unisayan horn through his heart in front of the whole Kingdom, but he was advised against it. But don’t worry; he received the very best treatment from us while a guest of Verxia.” He laughed at this just to provoke Kassen, who started to struggle against his bonds so he could show the messenger the meaning of pain.
Raliena looked down at the General. He had tears in his eyes, either from pain or hurt at what he was saying, she could not tell.
The messenger finished laughing and continued. “That’s why we have to tie him up. We don’t want anything to happen to him or risk war.”
Raliena smiled under her scarf. “Shame I am going to have to do this then!” And before he could stop Raliena, she swiftly pulled out her sword and stabbed it deep into the chest, missing the General’s head by an inch.
Kassen stared at his reflection in the shiny surface and closed his eyes in relief.
The messenger was face down in the mud, where he had tripped on a rock trying to stop her. He scrambled up and composed himself once he saw the General was unharmed. Raliena leaned on her sword which was still imbedded in the chest.
“Now here is what we are going to do,” she said smoothly. “You are going to untie him and give us two of your horses, then continue to Attashar with news of the General’s release.”
“And who exactly are you to do this?”
Raliena removed the hood and scarf, which concealed her face, so her identity was revealed. “I am Sa Raliena,” she replied. “And I am here to stop an evil that threatens the kingdoms.”
The messenger stumbled and looked as if he had seen a ghost; he bowed to the Araman and then quickly fumbled to untie the General’s feet.
Raliena looked back at the equally stunned Kassen, winked, then pulled out her sword and walked away to get the horses untethered. His gaze followed her then he collapsed back into the chest, amazed he was still alive.
Raliena brushed her hair away from her face as she busied untying the horses. They were a day’s ride away from both kingdoms in either direction and she was struggling to decide whether to continue to Attashar or turn back to Verxia to assist King Baynil.
It was a matter of her heart or her head and she tried to think of a way to satisfy both.
“Lady Araman?” Raliena heard the man call from behind the carriage. She glanced round the horse she had just tied to a tree and saw the man holding the General up. Kassen could barely walk he was so weak.
“Go fetch some food,” Raliena barked. “Quickly!”
She took Kassen from the man who ran to the chest kept at the front of the carriage.
“What has that bastard done to you?” Raliena muttered. It was much easier holding Kassen with the amount of weight he had lost.
“Much less than what I am planning to do to him.” Kassen choked out. He knew who she was referring to.
“I am afraid you will not get the chance if I find him first.” Raliena replied with malice. “Now try to remember you are still hurt, till we are away from here.”
Kassen was going to question what she meant when he felt his whole body warming and his pain dissipating. He looked down and saw Raliena’s hand glowing where i
t held his chest up. He covered it with the coat that had been placed round his shoulders, as the owner of it returned with food for him.
Raliena sat him down against the large wheel of the carriage, despite him feeling well enough to stand. It would have looked odd if he suddenly recovered and they had to keep the couriers on side. The driver had since woken up and Raliena apologised for hitting him before promising that both men would be greatly rewarded for helping them.
“Where have you been?” Kassen asked in a hushed voice while the couriers were busy rearranging the horses. He did not sound angry, only concerned.
“I will explain later, but we do not have the time now.” Raliena said, getting the water from the bag of supplies she had been given by the driver. “Dergen is a traitor and an army from Namare is on its way to Verxia.”
Kassen looked stunned at this news. “We knew he was up to something but I did not expect he was planning to take the whole Kingdom.”
“Neither did I.” Raliena replied. “That is why I need you to go to Attashar and convince King Dagerten to help us. Verxia is too weak on its own and Lord Lishini would already be within its walls by now.”
“No.” Kassen said. “I will not let you out of my sight again, I am coming with you.”
“Without Attashar’s help, Verxia will fall. You know this is true, you have seen it for yourself how weak we are.” Raliena pleaded, already packing away the food once she thought Kassen had finished.
“We will send word to Dagerten,” Kassen insisted. “If Lishini has taken Verxia, you will need my help.”
“I can look after myself.” Raliena said standing up and walking away to attach the bag to one of the horses. There was little time to be arguing with him, if he went to Attashar then she could go to Verxia and try to save her people.
“But you should not have to.” Kassen had gotten up and stood beside her, no longer pretending to be hurt. “And you need someone who knows how to use a sword.”
“You think that I do not?” Raliena scoffed and pulled her scarf and hood back over her face before turning to look at him again. It took him a while to register what she was implying.
“You?” Kassen accused. “The masked man in the village!”
Raliena said nothing but winked before finishing her packing.
“Where did you learn to fight like that?” He asked, still accusingly now that he knew she had defeated him.
“I taught myself, in the forest.” Raliena replied, removing the hood. “You did not notice the sword marks on the trees?”
“Apparently not.”
“It would be frowned upon for an Araman to fight, as she has no need for it. She is protected almost as much as the King.”
“Yes, I was getting that impression.” Kassen said thinking back to how readily people had accepted that he had done something to their Araman. It could not have completely been Dergen’s influence.
“It was only for sport. I gave the bet money to good cause.”
“The money you gave to the holy man.” Kassen said as everything came together.
“He does not exactly agree with what I do, but knows the money can be useful.”
“You do not take any for yourself?”
“What would I need it for?” Raliena shrugged. “The King supplies everything.”
“This does not change anything.” Kassen said, following Raliena back to the cart. “I am still going with you.
Raliena turned back to him and saw the determined passion in his eyes.
“If only to see Dergen dead myself.” He said. “I am owed that much.”
Raliena resigned. She could not argue with that and it was clear he was not going to give in.
Once the horses were ready to leave, Raliena wrote a letter to King Dagerten, getting Kassen to sign it as well, explaining what had happened and that Verxia was in need of desperate aid. Kassen told her what words to use so that Dagerten would know it came from him and that what they said was true. This way Raliena could travel to Verxia and still get Attashar to help. The letter told of how they had a traitor in Verxia and that Lord Lishini had raised an army and had taken the Kingdom.
They had very little time to discuss details at that moment and Raliena gave the letter to the courier and made certain he told King Dagerten the situation. The man seemed too stunned to argue and then her and Kassen mounted their horses and rode back towards Verxia.
Kassen stretched out his body from where he had hunched in a tiny chest. His muscles were fully recovered and the cuts and bruises he had been collecting were nowhere to be found, except where congealed blood still covered most of his body.
“You need to wash,” Raliena said seeming to read his mind and they pulled their horses off the track, and ventured into the woods looking for a stream or river; a necessary delay.
They had to travel far to find one but Kassen was grateful when they did. He peeled off his dirty shirt and began washing it in the river they found.
Raliena tried not to stare at his bare chest but she cringed at how bloodied and dirty it was. Even though she had healed him, the congealed blood was testament to how many injuries he had suffered. She was impressed he was still alive, and very grateful.
Kassen place his shirt on a nearby rock and began washing himself, keeping his breaches on but trying to get off as much grime as he could. Raliena knelt down beside him quietly a few feet away. She kept her eyes on the water to give him a little privacy.
“I am sorry.” Raliena blurted out, needing to say it.
Kassen paused in washing his hair and looked at her in puzzlement.
“What for?” He asked before continuing.
“I should not have left. Then this would not have happened to you.”
Kassen snorted and shook his head. “If Dergen wanted to do this to me he would have found a way. He had an agenda to stop the alliance, I am glad you were not there or he may have hurt you instead.”
“No,” Raliena answered. “What he would have done I consider far worse.”
Kassen finished washing and sat on the bank to look at Raliena, waiting for her to explain. Now was as good a time as any.
“There are a group of people called the Lagania.” Raliena started, sensing that an explanation was long overdue. “They had been searching for me through the Unisayan, and they need my help to stop Dergen. He is far more dangerous than either of us even suspected, and he wants to use the side of my power I did not tell you about, as I did not fully understand it myself, until now.”
Raliena continued to explain her encounter with the Lagania, and she told him everything they had told her, about her inheritance, the Master sinners, Armon Lozni and her father.
Kassen did not interrupt but kept his eyes on her. He did not say anything once Raliena had finished either and she began to feel uncomfortable.
“I needed to go with the Unisayan when I touched its horn. Someone with my ability can communicate with the Unisayan and it urged me to leave with him. I cannot explain it and I do not expect you to forgive me, but I imagine we both would like to see Dergen pay for what he has done, and perhaps afterwards I can begin to make amends?”
Kassen still did not speak and Raliena decided to leave him to his thoughts. It was enough for her to take in all this information and she had had several days to do so, and had not had to endure whatever cruel torture Dergen had thought of. He had much to answer for.
“I thought I had lost you.” Kassen’s voice was so quiet Raliena thought she might have imagined him speaking at all. She turned to him and saw a tear fall down his cheek.
“I even began to think maybe it had been my fault, I had such terrible dreams.” His voice broke off and he punched his leg in frustration.
“You were concerned for me?” Raliena asked quietly. “After what Dergen put you through?”
“The torment o
f thinking harm could come to you was far worse.”
Raliena glanced at Kassen as he stared at the flowing water and saw his expression was both pained and determined.
“I feel your concern is unwarranted.” Raliena replied looking away again.
“I don’t.” Kassen said and this time their eyes met, his gaze intense and burning. “I’m in love with you Raliena.”
Her mouth fell open slightly and she dropped her gaze. Raliena admitted it wasn’t entirely unexpected that he cared for her, but she had not known exactly how much until she saw it there in his eyes and had to look away before she was lost in a swell of confusion.
How could she begin to answer him when she had had no time to think from the moment she had met him to now? She knew she cared for him too but her mind had not allowed room for anything more.
“I...” She began.
“Don’t.” Kassen stopped her before she could reply. “It is distraction enough just telling you but the thought of never having you hear it was too distressing to hold onto any longer.”
He got up and put on his still damp shirt then retrieved his horse from where it was grazing.
Raliena remained on the grassy bank before deciding Kassen was right, there would be time enough later to think on what was between them, but right then they had to stay focused.
They mounted their horses again and travelled in silence for most of the day, only stopping in the forest to rest and eat the food that Raliena had brought for them, then they set off again, both keen to confront Dergen.
The sun was beginning to set before they knew it and they were very close to Verxia town now.
Raliena pulled her horse to a sudden stop and held out her hand for Kassen to do the same.
“Is something wrong?” He asked pulling alongside her.
“I am not sure.”
Raliena listened carefully trying to place her unease. They both looked around down both directions of the road, and through the trees either side of them.
“We should leave the road.” Raliena confirmed noticing black smoke rising above the trees in the direction of Verxia.
They dismounted and fled to the safety of the trees, watchful for anything suspicious. They ventured cautiously forward on foot and stopped dead again when Raliena heard something on the road ahead, and to the side of them, Kassen hearing as they crept closer to it, after leaving the horses tied to a tree.
They kept close to the floor and were grateful for the dim lighting when they saw four heavily armed men on the road, striding arrogantly down the middle, having a hearty conversation in a foreign language.
Kassen and Raliena stayed silent as they passed where they were hiding, but the men were not interested in the forest.
Once they had gone they made their way cautiously back to the horses, glad they had left them far from sight of the road.
“That’s definitely Lord Lishini’s men.” Raliena whispered. “The people from the West lands speak that language.”
“They were wearing the mark of Namare.” Kassen confirmed. “It would take weeks to get to Verxia from there. Dergen must have been planning this for a while.”
Raliena looked at the ground in despair. “It will be another day before the Lagania arrive in Verxia and it looks as if they have already taken full control.”
“There is no way Attashar would be here on time either.”
“Then we need to do what we can, to get to Dergen before he takes this too far.” Raliena said determinedly.
“You are strong, Raliena, but I know Lishini has many men following him, and there is no way for us to pass them without an army.”
“Then I will find us one.”