Chapter Nine
The Payelaga Desert
I smiled broadly, dressed in my garb. A loose button-down brown shirt covered my chest, which had been bound tightly to give the appearance of male: uncomfortable, but a necessity. My arms remained free. The leggings fitted so that the shirt covered down to my knees. The sandals tied up my leg. A large floppy hat sat on my head, covering my braided hair which had been twisted into a bun.
Falco wasn’t happy with my hair. “If this is to work, she needs to cut it. One burst of wind and all will be for naught!”
“I have faith it will stay in place,” Cono countered, quite forcibly I thought. “She is to be my page. I will tend to her needs and will worry about her appearance. The braids under the hat should be sufficient. If discovered she is female, it will be my reputation that will be tainted, prince.”
My eyes caught Cono. I had never had someone defend my needs before. I would have cut my hair for this journey, but to my shame; the loss of my long hair would have been a great sacrifice. I dreamed not of much, but in my return to my family I saw myself dressed in the fashion of the ladies in the Pool in all their finery with my hair pulled back in the most fashionable manner. Not in the manner of a page!
Johannes said that most pages wore their hair cut like a bowl had been placed on their head and cut around. But I would not have to make the sacrifice. Not yet. Cono winked at me. I blushed, for he had that effect on me.
Johannes watched and, I believed, found the whole of the situation amusing. Twiten found nothing amusing, constantly reminding of my mission, of which I could never forget, but I was to leave the forest! Leave the forest! In all, I realized that most would not found excitement in being deployed to a desert, but in this I found freedom.
Gunilda left on the morrow. I hugged her tightly. I wished I could have found some solace in the fact that she was beyond my own excitement. She, too, had been a prisoner within the realms of the forest. Although she had no knowledge of my adventure planned, I would have thought she would have been concerned about leaving me behind. There was nothing. I refused to contemplate her reaction. I was to go to battle!
It was a mild, cloudless afternoon, perfect weather the day I arrived at the encampment. Northwestward, domes lay visible along the horizon of mounds of rock formations. Straight ahead, lines of tents mellowed the landscape edging the desert sands, along with scores of Sordarin warriors littering my view, on the ground and above. Under my feet lay grass, brown and brittle. But I was too preoccupied to notice the scenery.
I reflected upon on my view. In truth, much of the allure of my venture had left me. First of all, my journey to the encampment had not only been frustrating, it had been indubitably disagreeable.
I saw not Cono during this time. I reasoned it was with reason to play this charade. Cono had made a stance for me. Determined not to disappoint him, I endured the journey in silence. Twiten allowed me only to transport into Yucca. From there I was directed in with the other pages.
I found quickly I had not the freedom I had around the forest. Confined with giant stonewalls, a swirl of activity surrounded me. Countless warriors interacted within the frame. Wagons rode in and out all the day, filled with supplies. Walking toward the dusty center, a large burly man drilled out orders for me, even before I was introduced by Falco’s underling. I stood confused and not understanding most going on around me.
I thanked the Great One that a young page, Siegfried, took pity upon me. Kushner, the head of us, thought me to be slow and seemed irritated that I would join the ranks at this late date. Siegfried told me only to follow him, in which I did. The night was long. I slept not much. The room was cramped, but each of us had our own pallets. The noise bothered me. I had been used to the sounds of the forest. I had little privacy allotted to me, but upon the good side no one much noticed pages, insignificant as we were. I held only to the thought that on the morrow I would be back with Cono.
For the first time, I doubted our plan. Harder still was the silence imposed upon me! Before I left the forest, for some reason, all consented upon the fact that I should appear mute! And above all, keep my head down and never, Cono reminded me, never look anyone in the eyes.
“One look into those eyes and all would know they belonged not to a boy,” Cono cautioned in a sober tone. In that, I took to heart.
After the initial shock of all around me, I reminded myself only that I followed my destiny. My reasoning taught me that all was a test around me. I watched the sun rise and heard the horn sound. All rose without a word in the hall where the cots aligned. We were summoned to ride within the holdgate. I was on my way to Cono. I was on my way in battle.
Enduring the long flight to the best of my ability, I leaned against the side walls of the holdgate. My stomach unsettled with the swaying of the large cart. A sudden resentment encompassed me to the unfairness of the male species to be able to fly in the wind. Unlike me, who had to be transported within a transport cart filled with supplies of food, animals, and weapons.
The stench overwhelmed me the closer we came to our destination. I felt I couldn’t breathe with the sweltering heat. My arms chafed with rubbing against the bounding of my chest. The whole of the holdgate smelled of the foulest odors, for the trip was long. Never had I been more thankful than when I could feel the fleogans ease their pace and felt their descent downward.
With all that is good! The holdgate’s door opened finally. I felt a burst of fresh air, hot though it might have been, rush in. Mingling with the other pages, I crept out the door when the supplies had begun unloading. My intent focused only on finding Cono. So enthralled with my new surroundings, I didn’t noticed everyone else had left. I turned abruptly, hearing Kushner’s voice bellowed out for me.
“Where is that boy?”
“I’ll take charge of my page.”
A voice walked soundly up behind me. Never before I had felt relief with such a beautiful voice.
For a moment, I forgot all and met his eyes. His eyebrows rose in a reprimanding manner. I bowed immediately, like a page should show respect. I could have cried. I ruined all before my training began. I was happy now to lower my head, so none saw the brimming tears. I followed silently behind Cono.
“I would have sent him over in the morning, Lord Rothworth. I had thought of offering you another. I’m not certain if this one will work out for you. I have a scrapping young lad, Siegfried. Has a lot of potential.”
“I assure you I’m quite pleased with my page, Kushner. I will let you know otherwise if the need arises.”
Cono dismissed my keeper and I followed him. He moved quickly. His strides longer, more assured, I fell behind. A moment later, he slowed his pace. I heard acknowledgements toward Cono when we passed by, but they were brief, for Cono took no time to stop. Only when we came to a large tent did I gather the courage to look upward.
I followed Cono within the tent. His tent set large and abundant, but entering, I noticed only one bed and wondered if he was the only one within. To the front of the tent lay a pallet, clean with bed covers. I glanced up to find Cono’s eyes on me. He walked soundly over to me and turned me so he faced the entrance. But quickly his arm rounded me, pulling me into him.
He caught me off guard with his actions, but the moment his lips touched mine I stopped thinking altogether and focused on him. I kissed him back, weaving my hand into his hair. I lost all train of thought except his lips on mine.
He broke from my lips, but lingered. His fingers ran over them, staring into my eyes. I felt flushed.
“I worried so about your trip. All went smoothly?”
I nodded, for I could find no words. His hand cupped my face. He whispered, “I wish all were different now. This façade…having you so close within and…you understand we can’t be caught in each other’s arms like this. From now on, I will have to use more caution. There will be no more talks as I’m talking to you now.”
> “I know,” I said simply, although certain my eyes betrayed my want to be as I was now.
“I will look after you. Do not doubt but until we have proven ourselves there can’t be…” Suddenly he laughed. “You haven’t a clue, do you, of the danger of staying in a tent alone with a man?”
I answered indignantly. “Gunilda has warned me. Of course…” my voice lowered. “I…know a lady would never find herself in the situation I have placed myself in, but, Cono, most have not been trained in the manner I have…Do you think less of me?”
“By the Great One! No, my Euchoun. Never. I would plunge my dagger into one who questioned. You are so innocent in some manners, Kela. So…innocent.” His mouth descended down upon mine again. “This will not be easy, Kela, for this bond we have - we can’t let others see yet. Not yet.”
I nodded, but in that moment footsteps interrupted our talk. I stepped back as did Cono. Only moments after, Falco entered without notice. From Cono’s look, I could see irritation and quickly surmised Falco would be the only one to enter without notice.
My time alone with Cono ended. My mission began. Falco wasted no time in spelling out my duties and responsibilities that would be expected of me. Lighter than most pages, I assumed, for, in all, I was to observe the maneuverings. Over the next few days a routine emerged. I worked from sun up to sun down.
About ten thousand Sordarins boarded within the encampment, composed of many of the different tribes of Scarladin, each with their own division. Cono taught me. He taught me the tribes - the Challow tribe from the middle region of Sordarin, small, but quick; the Acciptritutes from the north, muscular and Cono said strong fliers; the Mortalita tribe from the south, known for their strategies and intelligence; the Lanka tribe from which Cono descended, dark-skinned and agile. Cono said they were the fastest fliers. I listened while he told me that each tribe had their strengths in which the strength of Sordarin survived.
“King Edulf uses each to their strengths, which makes us stronger as a unit. We fight together. Never as one.”
I watched from a distance while Cono led. Twiten's words were brought to question, for without a doubt, Cono had been born to lead. Falco also commanded attention and none would dare challenge his position. I found that my brother's unpretentious nature and unmistakable courage made him extremely well liked by his men. But my eyes lay with Cono. The days wore on. I began to feel Cono’s movements in the sky. Meditating, I felt as if I could almost see what he saw while he flew. No, there was no doubt within me that we were bonded.
Within the camp, I became like a shadow that no one took note. I was merely a page, a silent one at that. In that, it allowed me the freedom to observe. Keen observation of their soaring skills was needed to be able to protect my warrior in battle. I took to the task. I learned while I watched all; the strategic maneuvering meant only one thing to me: no immediate opportunity to do battle. The only action I had seen had been in my imagination. The waiting, anticipating was surely the worse, I thought, than the fighting would ever be.
Over two weeks passed with no sightings of the Arachnideans. The rumors of a stirring calmed. Instead, I found my will tested night after night. In the heat of the day, the coolness of the night lent to me yearnings I had no knowledge possessed me. Although I slept on the pallet in front of the tent and Cono on his bed, I could not help but watch Cono when he readied for bed. I resisted not the temptation to stare at his muscular frame, broad shoulders, and wings. He showed no shame at his body, the sculptured muscles of his leg and chest. His manner teased me often, offering to help me with my binding around my chest in the mornings or at night when I removed it. At times he would smile at me in a manner that I wanted nothing more than to creep up into his bed. No, I understood in this was the danger that Twiten worried upon.
The day had been long. I waited for Cono to return from the grounding tent where strategy was discussed and formulated. Sodden with sweat and covered with sand, he returned in a bad mood. He snapped at me soundly, for I had fallen asleep in wait for his return. At most times Falco and Johannes accompanied him, but this night he returned alone.
“Are you, too, questioning your involvement?”
Startled, for I was sound asleep, I jumped up and for a moment unaware of where I stood. I wiped my eyes, but with his tone my own aggravation swelled.
“I question nothing, Cono. I never have.”
He shook his head and his wings fluttered. He walked over to the edge of his bed and sat. His hands covered his face. I ran to his side and fell to his knees.
“Tell me, Cono. I am not a child.”
His hands broke from his face. “King Edulf has reconsidered this approach. Falco has expressed his concerns about you being discovered. I suppose our connection is harder to hide from the eyes of all. My actions toward you have been discussed of why I’m being soft toward a page. A page should show signs of becoming a warrior instead of watching our maneuverings, staring in amazement at our soarings.”
“I have never seen such before…” I responded in defense of my awe. My head drooped; my heart sank. I swallowed the involuntary bitter tears of disappointment and rejection.
“It is useless, I suppose, Kela. It is my fault as well. I cannot treat you as a lowly page. I want you by my side and in that…we can’t do as of yet,” he said bitterly. “Falco wants to send you back with the morning sun. The scouts have come back with no signs of the Arachnideans. We will be moving out further along. Harder terrain…”
“I’m to go back. Where? The forest?” I whispered, struggling with my emotions.
“It is the thought.”
I sat back and fell upon the floor of the tent, overcome with a sense of failure. “But it hasn’t been that long. I haven’t seen a battle…”
“That is one of the problems, Kela. Falco asked me how are we to train as it is now. We can’t do so openly in front of all. We have nowhere to do so privately except the forest.” He bent down and took my hands in his.
My chest heaved heavily. My gaze locked intently on him. “I can’t leave you.”
My words seemed to hang in the air for an eternity. He said nothing, but his eyes told me all I needed to know. His eyes broke from mine. There wasn’t a choice.
“We may have more time than the morrow. The winds have picked up. A desert storm is descending down on us. There will be no flying with the winds. It could give us more time, not much…”
I had not noticed before, but now I heard the winds whistling and felt them pushing briskly against the tent. Then a sudden cry screeched in the air: a high echoing cry. One even I knew well what it meant.
Instantly, Cono leaped to his feet and gathered me upward. “We’re under attack. Don’t leave my side until I fly.”
“Never.”
The moment we exited the tent, we struggled with the wind. A violent hard wind encircled the camp with the sand from the desert. Blown backwards, Cono caught my hand. I couldn’t see, for the sand blew in my eyes. Immediately, my hand flung wide. The wind beat against my shield, but we could move again and see. I caught Cono’s eyes. His hands rounded my waist.
“Keep hold of the shield.”
I stepped in unison with Cono. Sordarin warriors scrambled out of their tents, beaten back with the wind. Suddenly I felt air under my feet. I was in flight.
“The higher we go, extend your shield.”
The shield widened. More Sordarins took to the sky within my shield. I heard commands and wings fluttering in the darkness, with only the moonlight to guide. A moment later my brother was by my side.
To the right, Kela. Swing your shield to the right.
For a moment I doubted my shield would widen that far out, but a surge of energy ran through me with Cono holding me tight. From behind me, Falco yelled out commands. I couldn’t see, for I was afraid to let the shield down, but suddenly Cono unfurled his wings in a tremendous downward thrust. I dove hard and fast in Cono’s arms.
A moment lat
er we landed upon the sands of the desert. I could feel the ground trembling beneath me.
They are coming from below!
Winded, I caught my breath, losing hold of one side of the shield. I looked up. In the dim light I could make out movement in the dark, slowly ebbing their way out of the ground: hundreds of them as if ants exiting their mound, crouching, and then leaping forward only to hit upon my shield.
They are coming from tunnels below. They have to be.
Need to cover the opening.
If we can find it.
I listened to the frantic thoughts of Falco and Cono. Cono leaned his head down to me. “If the tunnels beneath the sand, it could not be stable if…”
I knew immediately of what he wanted and nodded. My arms heaved downward. The ground shivered slightly, but little else. Cono rounded me, taking my hand in his.
“Now!”
With his hand in mine, I intertwined my fingers together, gone for the moment the shield around everyone. The winds blew fierce, but Cono didn’t let go. Over my head, I raised my arms and with a sudden motion, I lunged my hands downward with Cono’s.
The ground shook with a tremendous bang. Beneath me the ground gave way. I heard frantic calls to fly from Falco. I had no time to think, only react. I could feel Cono struggle to fly in the winds.
“Shield!”
I couldn’t see with the sands, but I rose back up the shield. Immediately we were back in flight. Cono lifted me back up to shield all around. My head spun, but I refused to give in to the blackness. For how long I hovered over the encampment, I knew not. In the midst of all, Cono handed me over to Johannes. I saw not the battle, nor the outcome. I focused on shielding the camp. I knew only when Cono returned for me.
"Let go! All is finished! The storm is over. The battle won.”
Weakened, I stared into my warrior’s eyes. He took me into his arms. Then a worry encompassed me, for in my vision I saw the moon set. The sun rose at nearly the same moment. I had no hat. My hair hung down around me. All would know I was a female.
Cono laughed as he read my thoughts. I knew nothing else except I was in his arms. Safe in his arms. Then all went black.