Rise of the Red Harbinger (38 page)

“Fortress? I thought the man lived on a small, remote island. How does he have a fortress?”

“The man has been alive for thousands of years and has the exceptional capability of controlling weak-minded people. You should be very wary of that, actually. If you are not strong-willed and if you lose your focus easily, he will be able to look into your mind and make you do things against your will. That is how he has a fortress. He found other men who could build it for him.”

Bo’az nodded, though the room had become so dark that he doubted Slade could see him. “Very well. But why tell him the truth? Are I not worth more if he thinks I am Baltaszar?”

“That is the part of my plan with which you will likely not agree.” Slade sighed audibly. “The only way to keep you alive is to use you as a bargaining piece. As bait. We have to convince Jahmash that Baltaszar would willingly come to him to save you. If Jahmash believes he can lure Baltaszar by keeping you prisoner, then you will become extremely valuable to him. Although he may kill me and Linas for failing to retrieve your brother.”

“Why? Why is Baltaszar so damn important? You are all so afraid of this Jahmash? Why does he need my brother so badly then if he is capable of all these miraculous things? What is so bloody special about Baltaszar?”

“You likely already know and simply do not realize it. Linas told you that Jahmash is deathly afraid of water. As long as this sea separates Jahmash and Ashur, he cannot follow through on any of his threats and cannot carry out revenge. Baltaszar is the one who can eliminate that threat.”

“But how?”

“All of those fires that occurred throughout Haedon. All of them were caused by Baltaszar.”

Bo’az shook his head, “No. He was in a different room when the Jobens’ kitchen caught fire.”

Slade snickered, “Baltaszar is a Descendant. He does not need to physically start it. He needs only his mind.”

Bo’az grew angry. “Then why did he cause so much trouble? Our father died because he was blamed for them. That goddamned cretin-he did all of it and let our father die for his deeds.”

“Keep your voice down. Joakwin did so willingly. Toward the end of his life, your father knew he was a fool to think he could keep Baltaszar hidden. He accepted death because he knew it was the only way to get Baltaszar to leave Haedon. Believe me, I tried to convince your father otherwise a long time ago. I see where you and Baltaszar get your stubbornness from.”

Tears formed in Bo’az’s eyes and he quickly wiped them away. Anger filled him. Anger at Baltaszar. At his father. At the whole world. He swallowed hard before speaking again. “So what…Baltaszar is supposed to burn away the sea for Jahmash? Is that what he expects my brother to do?”

“Precisely. Jahmash has not told most people of his plan because he wants Baltaszar first. And the only reason I know is because I know what Baltaszar can do. But Jahmash is very powerful. He assumes that once he has Baltaszar, he can control him and force him to eradicate the sea.”

“And what if Baltaszar does not come? What if he decides to be selfish or thinks that I am a worthy sacrifice for the rest of the world? If our roles were switched, it would not be such an easy decision for me.”

“You need to let go of your resentment. Your anger is based on things that are beyond Baltaszar’s control.”

“Beyond his control? Why is he so bloody special and not me? We are twins. What magic do I have?”

“That is the way it works sometimes. I have seen other cases where one sibling bears the Mark while the other does not. It depends on the faith of the person. In Baltaszar’s has borne that Mark since you were barely little boys. Normally a person is not eligible for it until around six years. I would imagine his faith is stronger than yours, especially for him to earn his mark so young. Baltaszar is your only hope to survive. You would do well to keep faith in him and hope that he is a better person than you.”

Bo’az snorted. “Better? If he never had that damn Mark, I would not be here in the first place.”

Slade stood up. “I wonder how he’ll react once he finds out that you pretended to be him, and then laid with the girl he loves, just before she died. Perhaps if he had that knowledge, he might not come for you at all. Like I told you before, consider your own sins before you scrutinize anyone else. You have so much anger. Why? Because of what happened to your father? That night that I met Baltaszar, he found me at your father’s dead body. He had come back to retrieve it so he could bury Joakwin. Where were you then if you cared so much for your father? Why was Baltaszar alone?” Bo’az mumbled as Slade turned and walked away. Slade turned back, “What was that, boy?”

“Nothing. I was talking to myself.” With that, Slade ascended to the boat’s deck.
I said ‘Rot in Opprobrium,’ you stupid prat.

***

For the next few days, Bo’az barely moved of his own accord, except to eat and relieve himself. When Linas and Slade wanted to move him, they dragged him below deck or up onto the deck. The rest of the world could do what it wanted. He was merely a pawn and had no say in how anything turned out.

Bo’az sat against the wall below deck, resting his head against it with his eyes closed. If his death was inevitable, he would find as much peace as he could.

For the first time in days, Slade sat down near him. “We have arrived, Bo’az. Whatever anger, hatred, or ill will you have toward me, or anyone else, you must let it go now.” Slade paused for a response, but Bo’az had had enough of talking. “I imagine they will bring us directly to Jahmash. Our return will mean only one thing for him, that he now has Baltaszar in his possession. No matter what emotions you feel now, let them go before you are brought to Jahmash. You will need all of your focus, all of your strength, to keep your mind from him. And that still may not be enough. Remember that we are telling him who you really are. It is the only chance of keeping you alive.”

Bo’az sniffed a sort of laugh at that. A group of men descended into the room. Before Slade could turn completely, three men forced him onto his back and cuffed his hands behind him. Four more surrounded Bo’az and did the same. Three held him down while the fourth covered Bo’az’s head with a sack. He was helped to his feet and then led to the deck of the boat. None of their captors spoke a word to them or even to each other the whole time. Bo’az instantly wished he’d been nicer to Slade during the past few days. They’d descended down a steep ramp and Bo’az assumed they’d left the boat. Shortly after, he was lifted onto what he assumed was a horse, and the rider sat behind him. He could no longer even be sure that Slade was near him. They rode on for several minutes and then stopped to dismount. Bo’az was lifted horizontally and several arms wrapped around his body. He bounced along in their grasp for another few minutes and finally he was allowed to stand again. The sack was removed from his head and Bo’az looked around to see Linas to his left and Slade to his right, standing in a small wooden room.

Four of the men stood against the wall to the right, each with a spear in hand.

“Welcome, friends.” A deep voice came from behind them as the door shut. A light copper-skinned man, nearly a foot taller than Bo’az and nearly as tall as Linas and Slade, circled around them and stood a few paces in front of Bo’az. The man smiled at them and eyed all three up and down. He stared at Bo’az the longest. He turned and walked to the opposite wall and sat in a cushioned wooden chair facing them. “Well, is this my Baltaszar? He is certainly more battered and bruised than I was expecting. Master Nasreddine, was this boy a problem during your voyage?” The man, whom Bo’az assumed to be Jahmash, spoke slowly and deliberately to the point that Bo’az almost felt that Jahmash was toying with them.
Focus.

Linas cleared his throat and spoke solemnly. “He…he was not a problem, Lord Jahmash. Just…quite stubborn. There were many times when he…he needed to be put in his place.”

The man’s grin grew wider than before. “Ah. Was he not thrilled to be coming to see me?” Bo’az could also sense arrogance in Jahmash’s tone, yet it was so subtle that he could not be certain of it.

“My lord, he…he did not know of your existence until a few days ago. The source of his anger was that he was taken against his will. And…and that his lover was killed by Gibreel.”

“You dared to bring a companion, Master Kontez. I imagine she proved to be a burden, and that is why Master Casteghar killed her?” Linas nodded. “Where is Gibreel Casteghar, then? Surely he is overjoyed to return so that I may send him on another journey. How that man loves to kill.”

Linas cleared his throat again and paused before speaking. “My lord…the boy killed Gibreel. He pushed him off of a mountain.” Linas stared intently at the ground.”

Jahmash showed no emotion at any of the news. “Killed Gibreel. I suppose his personality did not afford him any favors, but you killed one of my favorite soldiers, Master Kontez. That is your first offense against me.”

Bo’az knew he should be afraid of Jahmash, but his mannerisms and even the way he spoke made him seem incredibly harmless. Even likeable. Bo’az could see how a man so charismatic could have a fortress and followers, and why Slade had stressed so much about this meeting. “I apologize for my offense, sir. Gibreel killed the girl I loved. Surely you would have done the same?” Bo’az could feel Slade staring at him.
Have I overstepped my boundaries by explaining myself? Could I have offended him? Light of Orijin, stop talking you fool!

Jahmash showed no evidence of having taken offense. He remained reclined in his chair and spoke matter-of-factly. “If there is something I might relate with, it is the anger and rage that come with losing a loved one, whether in death or betrayal.” He squinted at Bo’az. “Do you have more news to share with me, Master Kontez?”

Bo’az’s heart pounded.
Should I have anything else to say? What does he want to know?
Bo’az looked at Slade, hoping for some sort of help. Slade closed his eyes and nodded.
What does that mean? What…oh.
“There…is…something. We…I think you should know. I am…I am not…Baltaszar Kontez.”

“What!” Linas turned to Bo’az and looked like he would have strangled him, had his hands not been tied. One of the soldiers used a spear to jab Linas in the back, sending him to his knees.

“Master Nasreddine. This boy is clearly not Baltaszar Kontez. He does not bear the Descendant’s Mark.”

“Rhadames told me that it was him! Why would I believe otherwise! Rhadames came with us so that he could identify the boy! That was his job!”

“Indeed. It was his job.” Jahmash glanced at Slade and back at Linas. “But you were the leader of this expedition. His faults are yours. Master Slade clearly lied to you. And we shall discern the reason for that shortly. There is something more important that I would like to know first. You are not Baltaszar Kontez. We know that. But then, who are you? How have you managed to fool my three collectors?”

Some of the nervousness left Bo’az. His heart calmed slightly. “I am Bo’az Kontez. Baltaszar is my twin brother.”

Jahmash rubbed his short dark brown hair then stroked his stubbly beard. His face was angular and sharp, yet powerful. He looked at Slade. “And Master Slade, were you aware of this when you found him? And when you lied to Master Nasreddine?”

Slade took a deep breath. “I knew he was not Baltaszar right away. I assumed they were twins. This boy looks just like his father. I knew he must be related to Baltaszar.”

“I charged you three with this mission over three years ago. Why is it that, in all that time, you could not find Baltaszar Kontez? Why do you have his ordinary brother here instead?”

Linas spoke first. “My lord, I apologize. Clearly if I had known, this would not have happened. I would not have allowed us to return without Baltaszar! Slade even said that he would take the blame!”

“Linas. Come here. Let me show you something.” Linas arose and walked toward Jahmash, though he looked to be straining to stand still. “Face your peers. Do you see them?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“How? Jahmash’s voice maintained a pleasant, yet deliberate tone. “How could you possibly see them? You are so blind that you could not tell the difference between a Descendant and this ordinary boy. Now tell me, do you see them?”

Linas furrowed his brow. “No, my lord.”

“Very good, Linas. Very good. You are so blind that you do not see things right in front of you.”

“I do not, my lord,” Linas said, flatly.

Linas’ hands moved to his face, twitching the whole time while Jahmash spoke to him. “And if you are so blind, then you do not need your eyes for anything. Obviously, they betray you.” Jahmash had spoken so soothingly that Bo’az would never have guessed what came next. As Jahmash finished speaking, Linas silently dug his fingers into his eyes and pulled them out of his face.

Bo’az shut his eyes tightly and fought the urge to vomit. At first, he had no idea how a man could do that to himself and not scream from the pain. Only then did Bo’az truly understand just how powerful Jahmash was. He opened his eyes, but tried to focus on something besides Linas. Simultaneously, Bo’az and Slade were hit in the chest by small objects. Only when Bo’az looked at his feet did he realize that Linas had thrown an eyeball at each of them. Bo’az gagged and recomposed himself.

Jahmash spoke again. “You are now just as useful as you previously were. Only now, you cannot be deceived by your eyes. Do you understand?”