Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira (16 page)

Karma took the proffered bar of wood and examined it as they walked.  She realized at once that it was actually two bars of wood side by side, Each a bit over two feet long, connected at one end by a set of tiny brass hinges.  She pulled the bars apart and the hinges turned easily, until the two bars lined up end to end, forming one long bar.  However, when she released one bar, it slipped out of place.  She turned to Kapia with a questioning look.

“This sleeve, here,” Kapia said, touching a metal sheath she hadn’t noticed near the end of one bar.  She placed her hand around it and slid it upwards until it covered the hinged connection between the two bars.  Kapia reached over and gave the sheath a little twist, locking it into place.

Karma smiled, then hefted the staff experimentally.  The balance was only off by a little, but she doubted that Kapia would notice it, and the overall length was short of five feet, but it would do the job.

“This is ingenious,” she said, handing the staff back to Kapia.

“Isn’t it?” Kapia said, grinning happily.  “Easy to carry and yet, it works.”  She gave the sleeve a little twist and it slipped down, allowing her to fold the staff in half and return it to her belt loop.  “Master Jali presented it to me only last night.  I wanted to bring it to you right away, but the hour was late and Zakiel told me it would be rude and selfish to awaken you.  Of course he was right so I forced myself to wait until this morning.”

“Thank you,” Karma said, not sure if she was thanking her for waiting, or for wanting to show it to her.  “This will be much easier for you to carry while we travel.”

“Greetings, Daughter, Lady Techu,” King Rhobar said, startling Karma.  She’d had no idea how far they’d walked while she examined Kapia’s new staff.  She and Kapia both bowed their heads to King Rhobar, who was standing in the corridor outside of his audience chamber.  Karma noticed that there was another man with him who wasn’t one of the guards who usually accompanied King Rhobar wherever he went.

“Lady Techu, allow me to introduce to you my nephew, Sir Tomas,” King Rhobar said with a smile. 

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Karma said.  Sir Tomas was tall, though not so tall as Zakiel, with golden hair and dark brown eyes.  He was leaner and longer limbed than Zakiel, and gave the impression of being more relaxed as well.  The biggest difference between the two men, much to her surprise, was that Sir Tomas greeted her with a friendly smile. 

“It’s a great pleasure to meet you, Lady Techu,” Sir Tomas said.  “I apologize for not meeting you sooner, but I have only just returned to Ka-Teru.”

Sir Tomas turned to Kapia and bowed.  “Greetings, Cousin,” he said, still smiling warmly.

“Cousin Tomas,” Kapia said with a brief nod.

Sir Tomas’s smile faltered.  He met Karma’s gaze and shifted his shoulders uncomfortably.

“Tomas will be joining the Orb Quest,” King Rhobar said.  “I feared he would not return in time, but happily, he has.”

Karma glanced at Kapia, whose eyes seemed glued to the floor.  “Welcome,” Karma said politely, feeling that one of them had to say something.

“If you are ready to leave, I will accompany you to the docks and see you off,” King Rhobar offered, leaning down to kiss Kapia on the cheek.

“Zakiel?” Kapia asked.

“He has gone ahead.  All that is left is for the two of you to board.  And Tomas of course.”

“Are we late?” Karma asked worriedly.  She had no desire to start this journey off on the wrong foot with Prince Zakiel.

“No, no,” King Rhobar assured her as they turned and headed out of the palace, one arm around his daughter’s shoulders.  “Everyone else is early.  Zakiel is anxious to get started so he hurried everyone else along.”

“My Cousin takes his duties rather seriously,” Sir Tomas said, taking Kapia’s place beside Karma.

Karma glanced sideways at him and was surprised to see a little smile on his face.  She hid her own smile. 
Rather seriously
was a mild way of putting it, she thought.  The Prince never smiled, and rarely said anything that didn’t sound as though it was an order.  Sir Tomas’s easy smile was refreshing by comparison.

As the group stepped out of the palace into the pre-dawn light, they were surrounded by a dozen palace guards.  It always made Karma feel a little claustrophobic when that happened, but she was starting to get used to it. 

“I understand that you are a Master with the staff,” Sir Tomas said as they walked.

Karma lifted one shoulder in her habitual shrug, a little embarrassed to learn she’d been talked about.  “I don’t know about
Master
,” she said.  “I do have a feel for it though.”

“A feel for it?” Sir Tomas asked doubtfully.  “What does that mean, may I ask?”

“I have a friend who is a true warrior,” Karma said, smiling as she thought of Aisling.  “She’s an expert with bladed weapons.  I asked her to teach me to defend myself, but it was obvious that I was in more risk of injuring myself with a knife or sword than my opponent.  So I tried the staff.  No sharp edges.”

Sir Tomas grinned, as she’d intended.  “As soon as I picked one up I knew it was the right weapon for me.  Ash taught me how to hold it and the basics of how to block and strike.  After that, it was like I’d been born knowing how to use one.”

“That’s very interesting,” Sir Tomas said.  “Would that learning to use a sword were that easy for me.”

“Is that your preferred weapon?” Karma asked.  “The sword.”

“No, actually, it isn’t,” Sir Tomas replied.  “I’m competent enough with them, as all knights must be, but my true talent is as an archer.”

Karma had noticed the bow slung over his back, and had guessed as much in spite of the two swords he wore on either hip much like Prince Zakiel wore. 

“I am sure that you and your men will be a welcome addition to the Hunters joining us on this quest,” she said politely.

Sir Tomas laughed softly, but there was little humor in the sound.  “Do not be so sure, Lady Techu,” he said, his voice low enough that only she could hear.  “I am allowed only one of my Hunters, and that begrudgingly.”

Karma frowned, but Sir Tomas shrugged and smiled once more.  “It is nothing I am not accustomed to.  Nevertheless, I know my duty, and shall not be discouraged from doing what I believe to be right.”

Karma was uncertain how to take Sir Tomas’s little speech, but decided to think on it later when she noticed they were just turning onto the quay.  It was still too dark to see clearly, but she was able to make out four boats loaded with people, all waiting for them to arrive. 

King Rhobar led Kapia onto the main dock but Tomas stopped.  “I must part ways with you now, Lady Techu,” he said politely. 

“Oh, you’re not going on the same boat with us?” Karma asked.

“No, I will travel with my Hunter in the other boat,” he replied.  “Until we meet again.”

“Goodbye,” Karma said as he turned and walked further along the quay toward the other boat.  Karma watched him for a moment, then followed King Rhobar and Kapia onto the dock and, with Nikura by her side, boarded Prince Zakiel’s boat.  As soon as they were aboard the lines were cast off and the rowers put their oars in the water.  Karma and Kapia stood at the railing and waved to King Rhobar until they could no longer see him.

“Let’s find a place out of the way to sit,” Karma suggested.  “It’s going to be a long day so we might as well make ourselves comfortable.”

“Good idea,” Kapia said.  “How about up there by the bow?” 

“Perfect,” Karma replied.  “Lead the way.”

**

Karma opened her eyes and froze for a moment as she struggled to remember where she was.  She blinked, then yawned as it all came back to her.  She wondered how long it would be before she stopped doing that.  It was getting annoying.

“Feel better?” Kapia asked.

Karma turned to see the Princess sitting beside her, leaning back against the railing.  “Yes, I do,” Karma replied.  “Guess I was tired.”

“I slept for a little while too,” Kapia admitted.  “I didn’t want to, but it’s so boring just floating along the river.” 

Karma sat up and looked around at her surroundings.  The giant sails high above them were puffed with wind, giving the rowers below deck a much needed break from Prince Zakiel’s constant demand for speed.  The Prince himself was standing at the railing directly across from them, facing the river.  The rest of the men, all warriors wearing battle sandals and kilts of various colors, maintained a clear area around Zakiel, respecting his personal space. 

She’d noticed before that the Hunters wore a variety of different colored kilts, but hadn’t had time to ask about them.  Now seemed like a good time.

“Kapia, can you tell me about the Hunters?” she asked, keeping her voice low.

“Sure,” Kapia replied easily.  “What do you want to know?”

“Do the different kilt colors have a meaning?” 

“Yes, they do,” Kapia replied.  “A Hunter group is called a
pack
.  Each pack is led by a knight, and they all wear the knight’s colors.”

“How do you tell which ones are knights?” Karma asked.

“See the bracers on their arms?” Kapia asked.  Karma nodded.  She’d noticed that all of the Hunters wore wide bracers on their forearms, and a strip of beaded leather on their left bicep, but she hadn’t realized they meant anything.

“Hunters wear hardened leather bracers,” Kapia said.  “There are markings on them that indicate the Hunter’s pack, his rank within his pack, and his specialty, but mostly all you need to know is that leather means Hunter.  Silver bracers are worn only by Knights, although they often wear leather trimmed in silver for everyday, saving the solid silver for ceremony as they are quite heavy.”

“I seem to recall that Prince Zakiel wore gold bracers and a gold torc the first time I met him,” Karma said.

“Yes,” Kapia said with a nod.  “The gold bracers indicate he is Hunt General, in supreme charge of all Hunter Packs and Knights.  The golden torc indicates that he is a Warrior Prince.”

“I see,” Karma replied, wondering if Zakiel had earned his place as Hunt General, or if it was his only because he was Prince.  “How many men in a pack?”

“Each pack consists of thirty men; ten swordsmen, ten archers, and ten spearmen, though all Hunters are expected to know the use of each weapon.  Zakiel has his own Hunter Pack which is made up of the best Hunters.  His color is red, as you might have noticed.”

“Interesting,” Karma said.  “So how come all of the Hunters on board are wearing different colors?  Shouldn’t they all be wearing red, like Prince Zakiel?”

“No, Zakiel didn’t bring his Hunter Pack,” Kapia replied.  “This journey, this quest, is important, Karma.  We call it the Orb Quest, and its purpose is to stop the
Eschaton
, and save our world.  The legend of the Orb Quest is one told to all children from infancy.  To be included in this group is a singular honor, even for the servants and drovers. 

“That’s why Zakiel offered the top knights in the realm the choice of joining us in place of Hunters.  All of the men you see are actually knights who’ve agreed to take the lower position of Hunter in order to be included on the Orb Quest.  Sir Bredon and Sir Garundel are acting as Zakiel’s top officers over thirty-five Hunters, and Zakiel is in charge of everyone.”  Kapia paused a moment.  “I don’t know how many Hunters Tomas has, but it cannot be many.  Zakiel has been very adamant about keeping the number of people on this journey down to a minimum.”

“Sir Tomas told me he was allowed to bring only one Hunter,” Karma said.  “He seemed to take it personally.”

Kapia looked away, but did not respond.  Karma started to ask her about her cousin, but at that moment she saw the hatch in the center of the deck begin to rise, followed by Lashi’s familiar face.  She was struggling to hold the hatch and a large basket while at the same time trying to climb out of the hold.  Karma got up and hurried over to help, taking the basket and holding the hatch door for her.

“Many thanks, Lady Techu,” she said, her face red with embarrassment, her eyes on the deck.

“I needed to get up and move around after sitting for so long,” Karma said, handing the basket back.

“Of course,” Lashi said, offering her a shy smile, pleased that Lady Techu was discerning enough to understand such things so easily.  A few moments later Lashi had spread out a small feast for herself and Kapia, including a generous plate of fish for Nikura. 

“Karma, would you mind if I invite my brother to join us?” Kapia asked. 

“Of course not,” Karma replied, ignoring the thrill that raced through her at the idea.  “Should we not be eating in front of all these men though?  I don’t want to be rude, but I doubt that Lashi has enough in that basket for everyone.”

“Oh no, they have food of their own,” Kapia assured her.  “I just thought that Zakiel would enjoy this more, if you don’t mind.”

“There’s plenty here, Kapia, of course I don’t mind.” 

Kapia got to her feet and crossed the deck to her brother.  Karma kept herself busy by breaking up Nikura’s fish, watching from the corner of her eye as Kapia tried to coax Zakiel to join them. 

Karma turned and set the plate down in front of Nikura, who looked at the plate for a moment, then hunched down before it. 
“Thank you, Lady Techu,”
he said.