As afternoon faded into evening, a breeze sprung up over Taz, bringing scents from flowering trees out from the land to the sea. Electra sat on a marble bench in the courtyard of the Caliph's former house, fashioning a fertility rune out of grasses. She closed her eyes and sniffed the exotic scents carried in the warm breeze before examining the finished rune. With the addition of a bit of mandrake root and a boar's tooth, the amulet for Odval would be complete. She debated taking the charm to Odval herself and decided against it. Odval had tried to poison her once—why give her another chance.
Rabar and Tandor returned from transporting their plants to the ship to join her in the courtyard.
"How are our scarlet fever patients?" she asked, as she put the finishing touches on her amulet.
"They are all doing well, but conditions on the ship are cramped and uncomfortable. I am anxious to transport them to Fernland to recuperate," Rabar answered.
Tandor waited a moment to be sure Rabar had finished speaking, then coughed to attract his attention. "You said you might make a map to show me where the white powder could be found."
Rabar hesitated before replying. "The cave is at least three days journey from here. We will be here only four more days. I must not delay returning to Fernland with so many sick on board. We would be gone before you return. I'm afraid you must do without the white powder. I'm sorry."
Tandor bit his lower lip as he made his decision. "I would still like to have the map. Perhaps I will find the powder and make my way back to Helsop by other means."
Rabar looked first at Tandor, then at Electra with a bewildered expression. "Surely the fertilizer is not worth such a sacrifice?"
Electra shrugged and quickly changed the subject. "Tandor, I have completed this fertility charm for Odval. Would you be so kind as to deliver it to her with my wishes for a propitious outcome?"
Tandor took the charm, reluctant to leave without the promise of a map, but finally left for Odval's tent.
As soon as he was gone, Electra sat closer to Rabar and spoke softly. "The white powder is more than a fertilizer. It is an ingredient in a mixture that explodes when exposed to flame. Barburee has perfected the mixture. They send it off attached to arrows and it explodes where it hits."
Rabar's mouth sagged open. "I heard of such an exploding arrow just before we left Taz. Those Barburee devils exploded an oil vat from the top of our wall! I never guessed the white powder could be used in such a mixture." He paused. "But why are you telling me this?"
"I believe both Tandor and Muller will do whatever it takes to secure a source of this powder. They will go to the cave even if it means being left behind. Is there some way we could meet up with them later, after they have gathered up quantities of the powder? I fear for their safety if they must make their way back to Fernland through the great desert."
"I see." Rabar lifted his head and looked out at the ship anchored off shore. "We could perhaps meet them at Venito if they take a direct route there from the cave. The cave is between Venito and Taz. They should be there before us if all goes well."
"We would all be grateful."
"Grateful enough to share the secret of this mixture?"
Electra nodded. "I know it will make trouble for me, but I will tell you what I know. After all, you are sharing the secrets of your herbal cures with me."
Rabar smiled. "I will pass whatever you tell me on to the Caliph. As for me—I am happy to be a healer rather than a warrior."
That evening they had dinner in front of Bataar's tent where a large fire had been laid to accommodate a spit turning a goat carcass. The carcass had doubtless been well tenderized by horses' hooves.
Avor regaled the group with stories of the day's buzkashi matches which had been won by Bataar's team.
"It was amazing," Avor raved, addressing the whole group. "Bataar rode from the pole to the circle with both arms wrapped around the carcass so no one could steal it—guiding his horse with just his knees."
"Good horse. Know game," Bataar added.
"Any injuries?" Electra asked.
"Lots. But I don't think anyone was killed." Avor looked at Bataar. "Was anyone killed today?"
Bataar shook his head. "Good day. No killed. Next day—archery."
Avor brightened. "Tomorrow you must watch. We will ride fast toward a very small target and shoot from horseback. I'll be riding one of Bataar's horses."
Hilgard and Muller looked cautiously at one another. Finally Muller said, "We may do a bit of visiting here and there tomorrow. Some of our archer friends may be about." He looked at the fire with a vague expression.
Avor seemed puzzled. "Of course they will be about. They'll be competing in the archery contest." Avor stared at Muller as though he wondered about his sanity.
Electra took a deep breath and smiled at Avor. "We'll all be watching you with one group or another. What an honor—to compete with the best archers in the Nomadic Games. I'm sure you will make Fernland proud."
Avor seemed mollified. His enthusiasm returned. "Then after, there will be the awards ceremony and the Great Khan himself will present the prize to the winner."
Odval stepped out from inside the tent with cups of tea for the guests. She smiled at Electra and pointed to the fertility charm she now wore around her neck. Electra smiled back, took the tea and held it until Odval returned to the tent. Then she quickly emptied the cup on the ground beside her.
Electra moved closer to Muller and whispered in his ear. "Tandor has a map of where the white powder is located. He will leave early tomorrow to find it."
Muller's cup shook in his hand. "What have you done?" he whispered back, trying to contain his anger.