The Baldari (Book 3) (45 page)

“
It will work
,” S’erom said, supported by the cheers of the five Baldari who would be traveling with the expedition.  They had come to watch a Tall ride one of the U’nydyn.

Nycoh nodded, pleased with how it had gone.  She no longer felt intimidated by the creature, and patted its nose after she dismounted.  Lyes had delivered another sixty of the harnesses designed to fit on the U’nydyn.  Now it was time to reveal to the team members what was in store.  Debi had been getting them ready, but none had yet learned about the U’nydyn. 

Training and preparation for the expedition would take place at a separate oasis.  The single creature could be contained without difficulty, but having more than fifty wizards learning to ride an equal number of the beasts needed to be in a more restricted environment.  It would also be an important test of the Baldari and their protective harnesses.  The second oasis wouldn’t have the backup of the overall barrier.  Four days had been scheduled for the adjustment period.  During that four days, the Baldari would function under the same conditions they would have to live with during the trip, which would last for weeks.  They would only be free of the harnesses each evening when they returned to the oasis and their families.

Nycoh wondered how many of the wizards wouldn’t be able to adapt.  It had been decided to bring the same team that had located and been attacked near S’erom’s home village.  Any who could not adapt to the U’nydyn would be dropped from the expedition.  If more than ten failed to meet the needs, Nycoh would have to approach Daim so they could reconsider how to go forward.

A separate oasis, one considerably removed from the large center where the captured, or perhaps protected, Baldari were being held was selected as the staging area for the team that would attempt to find the valley where the Brryn was thought to be located.  The herd of U’nydyn that would be expected to carry the wizards and Baldari through the jungle were acquired in advance of bringing the team to be led by Tara and Debi to the location.  It was deemed advantageous to have the U’nydyn outfitted with harnesses and somewhat adjusted to the non-Baldari humans before the others were introduced to their mounts.  Most were skittish enough about the beasts, and seeing them close up before being controlled wouldn’t help settle any nerves.

The method of capturing the creatures had been modified.  They anticipated they needed nearly sixty of the unpredictable U’nydyn, and the means used to capture the one that Nycoh had learned to ride was considered too time consuming, not to say somewhat risky.  Instead, the beasts were stunned, and while unconscious, they were fitted with one of the harnesses.  When they were allowed to recover from the stun, one of the six Baldari who would be making the trip was present to place them under mental command.  After being taken over, they obediently marched through the
Bypass
portal that took them to the special reinforced corral where they were being gathered in preparation for the introduction to the wizards who would ride them.

Tara and Debi waited with Nycoh as S’erom and two of his fellow villagers moved the three U’nydyn that they had been riding back into the corral.  The three women, who would lead the expedition, were all now qualified on the mounts, and would serve as an example for the rest of the team that would be coming in later in the day.  Crissi wouldn’t be part of the expeditionary force this time.  Ardra had objected to sending both of Sedfair’s experienced jungle explorers on the same mission, and had managed to win the ear of Queen Jusay.  The loss of a single member wasn’t significant.  What remained to be seen was how many of the experienced group would be comfortable with the conditions under which they would travel.  Nycoh and Tara had targeted a team of at least forty wizards for the journey.  The number was somewhat arbitrary, and they hoped to have no contact with either Baldari or the Brryn’s captured sorcerers during the adventure.  One couldn’t predict what they might encounter, and having a strong force of capable wizards was important to ensure they were strong enough to resist anything they might encounter.

From what they had seen in the past, they were now more than capable enough to resist the Brryn’s armies, both those with magic and those without.  Of course, a fight would reveal their presence, and that would be very bad.  Stealth was key if they were to have much chance of approaching the hidden valley.  While they felt more than capable of taking on the Brryn’s army, they didn’t know what the woman herself was capable of.  Thus far she remained trapped in the chamber, but Mitty feared that wouldn’t last too much longer.  They would get daily updates about her situation, but if she became mobile, the entire situation could change.  In addition, no one knew what influence she could wield once they came close to where she was trapped.  Perhaps she could directly control her magic within the entirety of the small valley they were seeking.

“Those things make me uncomfortable,” Debi said as they watched S’erom release the three they had just finished riding into the herd to join the others.

“You should be getting used to them by now,” Nycoh replied.  She was the most experienced, but over the past day and a half, all of the U’nydyn had been ridden by one of the three wizards to acclimate the beasts to non-Baldari riders. 

“Is the Baldari control as dependable as they imply?” Tara asked.

“Apparently,” Nycoh answered.  “They are no more friends with the beasts than we are, and during all the use they have made of them, not one case exists where the U’nydyn turned on a rider.  Remember also, in the past they had no shield to protect against a bite.”

“That assumes that your Baldari buddy is being truthful,” Debi said doubtfully.  “You appear to trust him more than I would.”

“You have been influenced by Ardra too much,” Nycoh said.  “She is having trouble getting past years of fighting them, and seeing the horrors their attacks wrought.  The Baldari have as much reason to hate the Brryn as we do.  They have lost far more countrymen than we have.  Besides, the link is more open to understanding the person with whom you are communicating.”

Nycoh knew the others had doubts, but she was certain of S’erom.  She also had the exchanges of the other Baldari to compare, and even if S’erom was skilled at masking his feelings, the sense she got from the other five Baldari was enough to confirm her trust.

“Let’s go home,” Tara said finally.  “Tomorrow we have to introduce our people to the U’nydyn and get ready to start this expedition.  Too much time has passed already, and we have been fortunate that there have been no more attacks.”

When the full team stepped into the green clearing of the oasis the next day, they were initially shocked to discover the six Baldari warriors waiting for them along with Nycoh, Tara and Debi.  The first thing they were told was the importance of secrecy, and that no discussions or reference to the Baldari, or the means of travel be conducted outside of the group, and then only when on the trail.  One reason they had not been informed of certain facts was a concern that the Brryn might use some of her captive wizards or Casters to try and monitor the rumors within the kingdoms.  If she were to learn anything about this mission, or that the Three Kingdoms was holding a large number of protected Baldari, the entire plan could be at risk, not to mention the lives of countless Baldari.  Since the team would be spending their nights back at this oasis, with occasional trips to the barracks in the Three Kingdoms, they had to be very careful.

The idea of working cooperatively with Baldari would take some getting used to.  Some had been aware that Nycoh had an ability to communicate with the small warriors, but none had realized the degree of the communication or that allies had been made of the defeated villagers.  The assembled wizards had thought they were heading back into the southern jungles to continue their search for more Baldari villages, and were surprised when Nycoh explained their true purpose.

Then they were introduced to the U’nydyn.  Some thought it a joke.  Others were immediately appalled.  Those with previous experience with the nasty creatures didn’t like the idea at all.  Nycoh explained the reasons, and how the beasts were being controlled.  Then she had S’erom bring out her mount, and she showed them how the creatures could be ridden much like horses, although without any form of saddle.  After an extended demonstration, including showing how the beast would sniff at her hand, but made no attempt to rip it to shreds, she explained how they would be broken into five teams of ten under the direction of one of the Baldari.  The Baldari would be responsible for the mounts of their respective group. 

S’erom, who she introduced as one of the Baldari generals, would coordinate the overall training, with Nycoh providing translation, since she was the only one who could communicate with him.  They would have three days to become accustomed to working with their designated Baldari and their new mounts.  Any who couldn’t adapt, would be cut from the team and assigned guard duty at the Baldari oasis.

Not all adapted.  A couple of wizards flatly refused to have anything to do with the U’nydyn.  They were appalled when they discovered both Daim and the King had ordered them to be kept secluded until the mission was over.  They had learned intelligence that must be controlled, and as such, they couldn’t be returned to normal duty.  Nycoh hadn’t been kidding when she said they would be assigned guard and support duty.  Despite some fuming, all realized the seriousness of the situation, and that any resistance would find them banded and locked away until the time came they could safely be released.

By the time the three days was over, the force had been reduced to forty-four wizards, counting Nycoh, Tara, and Debi.  With the six Baldari, that meant fifty U’nydyn were required.  They had sixty.  S’erom suggested bringing them all.  These mounts were already “tamed” and were adjusted to the smell of the wizards.  They could be commanded to follow along, and would do so without riders.  If something happened to one of the mounts in use, always a possibility in the jungle, they wouldn’t have to stop and seek out a replacement.

It had now been ten days since the decision had been made to go in search of the hidden valley.  Getting ready had taken longer than hoped, but finally they were ready to travel.  The expedition would leave in the morning.  Nycoh had some misgivings about making the journey after learning of recent developments back in the Three Kingdoms.  Jeen had come by the previous evening, and had told her of the strange crystal device that had been recovered under the ocean near Roin.  It was now being studied by Ash’urn and a team of wizards and Casters from both the Three Kingdoms and Sedfair.  She wondered whether her skills in magic might help that investigation.  She knew, however, that she was needed here.  Her communication skill was unique, and while one of the wizards from Sedfair had shown some small reaction to S’erom’s attempts to communicate, none had actually been able to do so.  She would have to stay informed by checking with those working the problem when they returned at the end of each day.

Jeen had also come to bring a message from Lyes.  He wanted to see Nycoh before she headed out.  Nycoh wondered what that was about, but decided that she had time to make the trip to Sedfair and still be ready for the morning departure.  Jeen was also looking for Rigo, and asked Nycoh to have him check in with Daim should she see him anywhere.  She didn’t explain to Nycoh what the issue might be.

Reluctantly, and with great care so as not to awaken Lyes, Nycoh broke free of the embrace of his arms.  Dawn was just breaking here in Sedfair.  It would still be night in the oasis.  Due to being farther west, a couple of glass difference in time separated the two locations.  If she left now, she would have time to be back and ready for the early departure for the south.  It would be poor form to be late the first day.  She should be exhausted after the long training session the day before and a night of intense lovemaking, but she was instead refreshed.  She smiled happily.  She had forgotten how good it felt to be with Lyes when all was well between them.  Suddenly the world had changed, and in a way she found satisfying.  A few weeks ago she had been burdened with doubts and loneliness. Now, suddenly, it was all cleared away.  A distant part of her mind wondered why that felt so ominous.

Lyes snuffled and shifted as she lifted his hand from her breast, but didn’t wake.  She hated to break contact from him.  He was warm, and had wrapped himself around her.  She had snuggled back in return, and spooned in close, had slept warmly despite being naked.  Fortunately he was a sound sleeper, especially when sated, and she was able to carefully slip away and then quickly dress before making the portal to her home, and then shortly afterwards another to take her to the oasis.  She and Lyes had said what was necessary the night before, healing the gap that had separated them recently, and she didn’t want to color her departure with any awkwardness.  She would see him as time permitted during the periods when the team returned from the southern jungle each night, so it wasn’t a long good-bye.

She had originally intended to go to Sedfair and see what Lyes had wanted, then make a stop at the Outpost and learn more about the strange device Jeen had described from Ash’urn.  She wanted to see Ash’urn anyway.  Her old mentor and friend always had a way of clearing away any confusion and placing problems in clear perspective.  The journey ahead was fraught with danger and complications, and she would have to speak with him from time to time.  Then the unexpected reconciliation with Lyes had come out of nowhere, followed by the resulting night of pleasure and rediscovery.  Now there was no time.  She’d also had some idea of trying to find out why Jeen was seeking Rigo.  Was it Rigo or Mitty Jeen really wanted?  If something had changed with regards to the Brryn, Nycoh needed to know.  Of course, if that was the case, she was certain she would have been informed.  As she stepped out of the
Bypass
and saw the activity of those already preparing for the start of their journey, she pushed the thoughts into the back of her mind.

“That’s not what she said,” Rigo argued.  He and Mitty were in an early meeting with Daim, after returning from their private spot a short time ago.  Frequently these days, Rigo and Mitty took off on their own, destination varied and unannounced, where they spent the night.  Rigo wasn’t entirely certain how secure even the Outpost was, especially after Mitty had some vague sense that it was at risk of attack.  Unfortunately, her premonitions were few and far between these days, and always vague.  Queen Mos’pera had said that was something that would pass once she delivered the baby, but until then she couldn’t reliably count on having the kind of premonitions she had become accustomed to.  Fortunately her
Farsight
hadn’t been affected, and she could still see what was happening in the far off chamber the wizards sought.  Mitty was clearly a target, and Rigo felt it best if no one knew where they might be on any given night.

The previous morning, Rigo, Mitty, and Jeen had gone to visit the Queen.  Jeen had come looking for Rigo, indicating that Queen Mos’pera wished to see him.  That’s when she had explained her most recent vision, at least the parts she chose to reveal.  Rigo had learned over the years that no matter how much he liked the Queen, she was very cautious about her visions.  She revealed what she thought was best, and sometimes that wasn’t everything that Rigo would have liked to know. 

“She said that I must be part of the encounter with the Brryn,” Rigo explained.  “That indicates she is confident we will encounter her.  That is encouraging news and suggests that the expedition won’t be in vain.  She seemed worried, however, so I suspect all will not go as we hope.  For some reason, she believes my involvement is essential if the result is to be at all favorable.  I cannot fathom why.”

“So, it is as I just said,” Daim insisted.  “You must join the expedition.”

Once again Rigo shook his head.  “She says I must be part of the encounter with the Brryn.  She did not indicate I need to be with the team as they search for her.”

Daim looked at Mitty, who nodded her agreement.  Jeen did so as well, although it seemed she felt Rigo might be stretching the words of the Queen.

“You are unwilling to join the team as it makes its way through the jungles?” Daim asked.

“I cannot see what I can add to the large force that is already planned,” Rigo replied.  “There is much to be done here, and spending day after day in the jungle with the others doesn’t seem to be the best use of my days.”

The truth was Rigo didn’t really believe it was good for Nycoh to be going either, but given her unique situation with S’erom, he could see no alternative.  In his own case, he wished to learn more about the discovery Jeen had told him about, and he couldn’t do that if he was riding some damn half horse through a faraway jungle.  The real reason, however was Mitty.  He had become obsessive about her safety.  Daim wanted her to make daily viewings of the Brryn woman, and Rigo believed each viewing brought her to the attention of the woman.  He couldn’t be sure how well the woman could sense Mitty, or if she knew exactly where Mitty was when she made the attempts.  He felt he needed to be close to insure her safety.  He would never forget that his wandering off to pursue his search into the Ruins had resulted in Inge being killed.  That simply wasn’t going to happen again.  Leaving her here with Daim while he rode off into the jungle left her less protected than he felt comfortable with.  Taking her into the jungle simply wasn’t an option.  Mitty lacked the ability to make her own protective shield, and trying to protect her and be able to fight was too great a risk.

The lengths to which Rigo was going to ensure Mitty’s safety would have surprised even Daim.  Rigo had gotten together with Fen, and had the young Caster create a special device for him.  The small wand they had prepared and which Rigo always carried these days was set so that Rigo could easily trigger a short timer and the automatic spell that would open a
Bypass
much as they had done in the Hoplani caves.  In this case the
Bypass
would open from wherever they were to one of the secure caverns.  Rigo wanted it because triggering the
Bypass
in this manner allowed him to remain unhindered in his use of fighting magic, which might be required at the same time he wished a
Bypass
so they could escape.

Daim surveyed the group across the table from him.  He sighed.  “If this is the case, then perhaps it isn’t necessary for you to travel with the group.  We will learn of their progress each day.  But once the valley is discovered, it will be important that you join with them.  Is that agreeable?”

“We will see what the situation is when that day comes,” Rigo hedged.  “It is too bad no one has been able to simply use the map to create a
Bypass
to somewhere close by to where we’d like to go.  It would save a lot of effort and be more timely.”  Jeen had done something like that once long ago to save Rigo’s life.  That had been over a much shorter distance, in a known area, and using a very precise map.

“We’ve all tried,” Daim said.  “You know that it was one of the first things we considered when it became clear we needed to go there.  None of us had any success.  Most likely the problem is that the map Jeen found is as much a drawing as a true map.  I doubt the actual dimensions are correct, and that would thwart any such efforts.  We will have to do this the hard way.”

“I still cannot see what difference my presence will make,” Rigo said.

“It is enough that Queen Mos’pera foretells the importance,” Daim countered.  “Recall, my staff chose you those many years ago, even when it had to seek you in a land I didn’t even know existed.  You have a special role to play in events even now, it seems.”

“If we can consider the matter settled, at least for now, what can Jeen tell me about the device that was found near Roin?” Rigo asked, happy to change the subject.  “Do we know anything about it?”

Jeen shook her head. “Not really.  There are a number of guesses by the team Ash’urn has assembled to study it.  He believes it has a variety of functions, although admits he has little to base the belief on.  Given the Brryn like to use crystals in their protective shields, he believes that it might have had a role in protecting the citadel that once existed along the shore.”

“From your description it was burned and broken,” Rigo said.  “That suggests that something overcame the device.  If it was their protection, and it can be defeated, we need to know how.”

“That is one of the reasons Ash’urn is so determined to understand it,” Jeen agreed.  “The group working with him is carefully disassembling it, hoping to get the gold base with its glyphs apart in sections small enough that they can be read by the devices at the Repository.  An initial look by Fen and the scholars from the Guild University revealed that many are totally unfamiliar to us.”

“I’d like to go and see this thing,” Rigo said.  “Where is it being kept?”

Jeen told him, and Rigo decided after this meeting he and Mitty would go and have a look.  “Has the dig revealed anything else?”

“Nothing anywhere near as interesting as the crystal unit,” Jeen said.  “There are many melted and badly damaged items, most so severely damaged we have yet to even guess at what their function might have been.  All indications are that the area was exposed to an incredible level of heat when it was destroyed.  One very complex set of gears was found.  The shaft was broken off, and even Ash’urn had no guesses at what the unit might have been for.  There are the usual items one might find, with no magical function, and one strange box, found in near perfect condition, with some odd, clear strips inside.  They link to form a circle, but there are no symbols, and nothing to indicate what they might be for.  They are inert, and the ends which appear ought to fasten, simply drop apart.  We have been lucky to find as much as we have.  It could take years to properly investigate the area.”

When it was clear that Jeen had explained all she intended to, Daim turned to Mitty.  “Have you seen anything else of interest from the Brryn woman and her companions?”

“She has been quiet of late,” Mitty said.  ‘I cannot say if she is planning something, or if the chamber has slowed her activities.  It has done so in the past, but this time I do not think that is the reason. Two of the others are stirring, and I suspect she is biding her time until they are able to help her.  She appears aware of the increased ability of our wizards, and might be saving her resources until she has a means of countering our sudden strength.”

“Is she still trapped?” Daim asked.

“That is another thing.  She might be conserving her strength for an effort to break free.  I cannot see what is restraining her, and I sense she is nearly able to break free of whatever holds her.  Once she is free, she might flee the chamber.  We can hope she remains to help the others, at least until we can find her.  Of course, once she is free, she might have access to magic that we cannot counter.”

“Suline has detected no sign of activity at the staging area near S’erom’s village,” Daim said.  “She uses her special
Doorway
to check a couple of times each day.  Of course, since the Brryn woman must know that location has been compromised, she might elect to assemble a force somewhere else.”

“So long as she is trapped, I think we have the upper hand,” Rigo said.  “The wizards and Casters she has taken are not a match for those of us that now have the ability to protect ourselves with shields.  That is most likely what is restraining her.”

“I’m actually surprised she hasn’t triggered a number of Baldari terror raids, simply to keep us distracted,” Daim said.  “She doesn’t seem to mind losing the Baldari, and the current situation must irk her immensely.  I fear matters might change soon, however.”

Rigo, Jeen, and Mitty all looked up at Daim when he said this. 

“What has happened?” Jeen was the first to ask.

“I learned this morning that we may have lost another wizard.  One of our people left for the eastern border of Lopal.  Apparently a parent was dying, and he wanted to be there.  He left alone, but failed to return when he told one of his friends he’d be back.  A little checking and we discovered he never arrived where he was going.”

“He knows shields and
Greenfire
,” Rigo guessed.

Daim nodded.  “If his wizard’s knowledge can be passed to the captured wizards that the Brryn holds, then in future encounters we can expect to see individuals every bit as capable as ourselves.”