Undeniable Vengeance

6. Preparations

Preparations

Camissa stood next to Rahg in the center of the room. It bristled with fear and anxiety. Wisp sharpened his knives while Rahg paced the floor. "I'll go it alone," he said. Insanity had taken the place of fear. “I don’t want anyone else to die because of me."

Camissa was the first to voice her opposition. "I'll not sit by and let you bungle this, Rahgnar Fal-Thera; too much is at stake. I'm going with you to make sure you do it properly."

Tobias fumed as much as his pipe. "Lad, I watched you be raised and taught you how to do more things than you still know. You can't tell me I'm stayin' here. Wouldn't know what to do if I wasn't scared half to cryin' like I have been these last ten moons."

Rhaven stepped forward. "Mikkellana swore me to help you. It will prove a difficult journey—no doubt—but I feel you will come to appreciate our company. The matter is settled. I'm going with you and so it seems are Tobias and Camissa."

Rhaven looked to Darstan standing with Aenaila and Wisp. "And you, Darstan? We could use someone with your talents. That goes for you too, thief, though I shall miss the bickering between you and the bounty-man. It is a pity fate found him so soon." Rhaven turned to Aenaila. "And you, fine lady, you would be welcome."

"I can't go." Darstan stared at Rahg. "I'm sorry, but I promised Aenaila that when this was over, I'd go back to Khatara with her. I promised, Rahg."

Rahg stared at Darstan, feelings slighted.

"I gave my word," Darstan offered in response to Rahg's unspoken sign. "If you need me, wait until I finish this business with Aenaila, then I'll come."

Rhaven interrupted. "Is this business of yours so important, Aenaila? Can't it wait for our return?"

"No, Rhaven. Darstan gave his word, and I'll not have him compromise it on my account." Rahg smiled at Darstan. "We'll be fine, brother. It was enough that you offered, and while I'd like you to come, I'm afraid that wouldn't be possible. As you heard Mikkellana say, we must leave at once."

Camissa tugged on Rahg's sleeve, whispering. "Ask her what's so important. I sense bad feelings about this."

"Leave it be, Camissa."

Rhaven stared at Darstan. "How did you lose the hand?"

"There's nothing to talk about. The hand is gone, and it won't grow back."

"I've seen men lose hands, Darstan. Better a hand than a foot; better an arm than a leg."

"Those words come easy for a person with all their limbs."

Camissa used her senses every chance she could. A dozen vows had fallen this day already, but she had abandoned the fight with her conscience long ago. Despite her vows to respect the privacy of her friends, she had to know whether her powers still worked properly. A dangerous journey lay ahead, and she might have need of every advantage she could muster, so she poked and probed and reached out to touch everyone's mind.

Rahg's demeanor offered little surprise—dread and fear prickled under a thin layer of bravado, a very thin layer. Darstan had lost some of his bitterness, only brought to the surface when someone raised the issue of how he lost his hand. Aenaila proved to be a fortress of stone; Camissa could extract nothing from her. Camissa ignored Wisp. He had been her friend for many years and through much strife; that was one vow she could afford to keep a while longer; besides, Wisp held no secrets she cared about.

Camissa had purposefully avoided Rhaven all day; she had probed his mind on the way to see Shera Kevon, and the experience proved unsettling. She finally relented and convinced herself to try again. Her mind touched his, and she immediately sensed the tenseness and strong emotions.

Rhaven got up and approached Aenaila, his voice hesitant. "I would ask a favor, Aenaila."

Aenaila's green eyes stared at Rhaven. "What is it? If I can help you, I will."

"Argus was left behind in Genda. I need to check on him. I'm told you can travel like the immortals." Rhaven paused before adding, “And if you can bring him back, I will pay generously in gold."

Adju's eyes ran up and down Rhaven's body as if he were looking for the gold.

Aenaila hesitated. "If Kender knows the place well enough, I can take you, but as to bringing back the horse, I dare not risk it. There are dangers involved with Shifting."

Camissa saw the sorrow in Rhaven's eyes. No probing was necessary.

"You are most kind, Aenaila. If you just take me to him, I'll arrange for his safekeeping until I can return."

"I will take you, warrior." The voice that came from the corridor had everyone turn at once.

Mikkellana's form seemed to fill the doorway, yet it didn't. Rhaven's smile broadened his face. "My thanks, lady. I will be in your debt."

"You are already in my debt. Now the purse you owe will be fatter." Mikkellana's smile lit her eyes. "Prepare to leave."

"Will we be able to bring him back?" Rhaven's voice shook with anticipation.

Her soft gaze fell on Rhaven. "Yes, we can. Now grab my hand." She turned to the others, "Prepare for departure in the morning."

"We have barely rested from the battle," Rahg said.

"The voyage at sea will afford plenty of time to rest. More time than you would care for. I told you earlier I wanted you gone before Aentarra returned. Once you leave, she won't be able to find you." Mikkellana took a firm hold on Rhaven's hand. "We shall return shortly."

In a back alley off a side street in Genda, the air cracked and shimmered. Mikkellana and Rhaven stepped through a rift onto broken pieces of old, worn cobblestone. Rhaven appeared truly stunned. For a brief moment he said nothing, and when he did, it was a single question. "Can Rahg do this?"

"In time he will learn."

Rhaven thought of all the marvelous possibilities it presented in battle. "A man with this power would have many advantages over the enemy."

"A woman too," Mikkellana said.

Rhaven laughed. "Yes, a woman too."

"Where is the horse being kept?"

"A friend of Sennar's is keeping him. It's only a few streets away."

Rhaven increased his pace to almost a run by the time he reached the stable, his heart bursting with anticipation. "I didn't know how much I missed him."

"In my experience, animals make better friends than people,” Mikkellana said.

A large, brawny man met them at the front of the barn. "I see no mounts to stable."

"I've come to get mine," Rhaven said. "A black stallion. Argus is his name."

Panic showed in the man's eyes.

"Where is the horse, stableman?" Mikkellana demanded.

"Where is the horse?" Rhaven yelled. The man backed up at Rhaven's advance.

"He wouldn't even let me feed 'im; he was a wild one. Scared all the others so much I couldn't take in more business. Had to do somethin’. Can't blame a man for that, can ya'?"

Rhaven's hand trembled, squeezing the hilt of his sai. "Where?"

"Sold 'im at fair market on the docks—”

"Who?"

A sai pressed against the man's gut. He had already backed against the wall; there was nowhere else to go.

"Who bought him?" Rhaven asked.

"I don't know. He had gold, that's all I know. Good gold."

Rhaven's fist dropped him to the floor, and his boot struck hard at the man's stomach. Between gasps of spitting blood, the man pleaded for his life. "I'll find 'im. I'll get your gold."

Rhaven prepared to strike.

"No!." Mikkellana's command halted him, a wild dog on a tether.

Rhaven stopped to look at her, his arm shaking with fury.

"Leave him," she said. "I'll find Argus."

"How? You said we have little time."

"I do not ask how you wield a sword, warrior."

Rhaven nodded. He had regained some of his composure. "Lead on."

Mikkellana soon located the new owner of Argus. He was living on a large estate outside of Genda. A rap on the door brought a servant to open it.

"I have come for the horse," Rhaven said, without any introductions.

Mikkellana laughed. "I feel quite certain he has more than one horse. Perhaps you should let me speak."

Rhaven fought the desire to handle things his way, but he placed his trust in Mikkellana. The servant stared at him like he had lost use of his senses, but he listened well when Mikkellana spoke and went to get his master. Rhaven felt he had chosen well to let her speak.

The man listened to the Mikkellana’s story, asking no questions until she had finished with the tale. "It is a fine story, my friends. A fine story. But how do I know if it's true? The horse is a wild one; if it recognizes you as the owner, we can then negotiate. I have no wish to sell him, but I'll not keep another man's horse." The man stood and motioned for them to follow. "Come, he is in the barn."

Argus's neigh pierced the night air as soon as he caught Rhaven's scent. He reared and kicked wildly. Mikkellana sent a message to Argus, then walked up to him as if they were old friends.

"You have a way with animals, my lady," Rhaven said. "Argus lets no one come so close."

"Yes," she said.

The man nodded. "I have no option but to acknowledge the horse belongs to you; none of my horse trainers have been able to get so close. "The horse is yours," he said. "All we need do is discuss the price."

"I'm not one to bicker on price," Rhaven admitted. "Name a fair price, and it is yours. I have gold."

Mikkellana saw the greed glowing in the man's eyes. "I think a fair price would be what you paid for the horse; what you fed the horse; plus three silver dirnars for your troubles."

The words seemed to come with difficulty, but he soon found himself uttering them nonetheless. "I accept your generous offer."

Rhaven found the coin quickly and paid the man; then he led Argus out onto the road to Genda. "It has been a long time, Argus, but I came back." Once again, Rhaven found himself in Mikkellana's debt. "You seem to have a way with people as well as animals."

"Only some of them, my friend, only some of them."

Aentarra appeared at the docks alone. She needed only a moment, just enough time to commit the scene to memory. She had no intentions of participating in the voyage itself; all she needed to do was Shift aboard once they were close to the destination. The journey would take about a month the Entirians had said, which provided ample time to conduct more studies in the library. There is much to learn before I get to Arangar.

She heard the footsteps long before they arrived and realized it was no one she knew. The captain of the ship and several of his men came aboard, crates laden with cargo were stacked high but not quite blocking the view of Aentarra. It was the first mate that saw her first, his stop so abrupt the captain bumped into him. They had seen her at the battle and knew who she was.

"May the Ancient Ones smile on you, Lady. I bid you good morn." They all moved aside to give her wide berth.

The captain bowed low, holding his position longer than normal, longer even than he would to address the Shulan, leader of all Entiria. There was no future in risking an offense to this one. Too many whispers had crept along the halls of the temple regarding her. "I'm making preparations for departure, My Lady." The captain had somehow managed the words without his voice faltering. "If I could but know when you are through so that I do not disturb you."

The captain, standing erect, looked to her for a response, and though taller than her by a head, his eyes avoided meeting her dark, penetrating gaze. He paid special attention to keeping his hands far away from weapons, not wishing to give any reason for her to think he meant harm. A cautious glance found an unexpectedly warm smile on Aentarra's face. Once again he was caught off guard. H brought all his willpower to focus on concentrating, trying not to leer or overstep his bounds. He had a tenuous understanding at best of what they were anyway.

Her voice could have melted the ice on top of Mount Sharmand. He barely managed to restrain his own racing heart.

"You have my leave, Captain. And don't worry, I won't linger to frighten your men."

She glanced toward the stern where the men huddled as if conversing, though they looked to be straining to hear every spoken word.

Aentarra's voice touched his heart again. "You carry cargo that holds my interest, captain. I need to know if you anticipate trouble, and I need to know how long this voyage will last."

The captain cleared his throat, full of nerves and close to being full of bile. "The winds should be favorable and the seas calm. We should be there just before their spring. That would be about thirty days from now."

The length of the voyage didn't surprise Aentarra.

"Is anything wrong, My Lady?"

"It is no matter, captain... what was your name again?"

The captain shook visibly. "My name is Katsu."

"Katsu. I shall remember. And as for you, Captain Katsu, remember that we will meet again, and unless you want it to be unpleasant, you will make certain that no one knows of my visit today."

Captain Katsu trembled under the threat. "Yes, My Lady. You can rest assured." Katsu thought that Aentarra was leaving, but then he saw her turn to him again. "I would see your cabin, Captain. Show it to me."

Katsu opened the door to his cabin and stepped aside to let her enter. He'd not be the one to enter before her. Aentarra walked slowly around the room, staring at all the walls, then the bed and desk. She nodded her head a few times, then abruptly turned to depart. "That will do, Captain. But remember, tell no one of my visit."

Katsu bowed lower than ever, this was the second time she had reminded him of that, so it must be important. "Yes, My Lady, no one."

"And your men, Captain, make certain that they understand as well. Inform them of my interest."

Katsu bowed to let her know he understood, but when he raised his head to address her, she was gone. He tried to stop the bile from rising in his throat, tried to stop his limbs from shaking, but he couldn't. “Meet again…” echoed in his mind like the clang of steel after a battle. It was not a memory he'd cherish. A heavy sigh helped start the clearing of his head; there was much to do.

He hurried topside. "Come, men. We sail before the dawn." The men came warily, each one scouring the ship—probably for signs of the sea witch.