The Courier's Quest

Chapter 4

3

RASHA STARED UP INTO THE face of her former courier instructor with as much sass as she could muster.

"That sour expression has aged you."

"I see you haven't learned any more respect being out in the world. You think your perfect record gives you the right to disrespect the couriers that came before you?"

"I'm only here to deliver a fetch, not to get into it with you."

The man lifted his sword and lunged at her. "Wrong, you'll leave when you're dismissed."

Rasha had only a half a second to pull out Cutter and Blade to defend herself. She countered his hit with one of her own. They danced around the Keep, avoiding students in the midst of their practice. A few stopped to stare at them, at first wondering what was going on. After the whispered comments made it around the entire floor, they encircled them, waiting to see the outcome.

"You're still dropping your left," he said.

"I'm not, but you're not as fast as you used to be." They sparred for several minutes before Rasha used the exercise equipment behind her to propel her into the air. She landed on top of him, his sword barely able to absorb the shock of her hit.

He raised a hand in surrender and the exercise ended.

Applause erupted from all around them.

Rasha sheathed her swords and shook hands with her trainer.

"Let me present Rasha Jenchat. She used to be the youngest courier we had ever trained."

"Rash," Chigo ran forward. He threw his arms around her and she had to hug him back or fall over. "I can't believe you're here. How is everyone? Have you seen Ladi?"

"That’s enough questions for now. Back to your studies." The instructor clapped his hands, and they returned to their practice. Chigo did the same, keeping one eye on Rasha.

Her former instructor raised a hand, pointing toward his office. She knew it to be soundproof. No doubt that was the reason he chose it now. He'd want to discuss Ladi but not in front of the others in her class.

"Sit down, let me get you a glass of water."

He poured her glass and put it on her side of the desk. He lifted a large bottle and drank from it. Then he picked up a sprayer and sprayed his face and head, letting the water run down his neck. As a merman, he struggled with the time on land like most, but committed his time and life to training couriers.

"Tell me exactly what happened, from the beginning."

"Jak, my partner, and I received the fetch and agreed to pick it up." He nodded at the mention of Jak but didn't interrupt. "We discovered the fetch was a prisoner, Ladi."

"Did she explain why she took the package in the first place?"

"No, sir. She admitted that she'd dropped out of her training and that she had doubts about taking the oath."

"What kind of doubts?"

"She didn't think she could, in good conscience, say 'In service of the ten kingdoms, allegiance to none.' I reasoned with her, insisted she return the package, and she agreed we'd came here to clear up the matter."

"She agreed?"

"Yes."

"You used no force or coercion in any way?"

"I did not."

"Interesting."

"Why would she agree to come all the way here just to jump out a window?"

"She wasn't alone, then?"

"No, a Wola caught her mid-air and carried her off. It was planned from the start, from what I could tell."

"The package, did she give it to you, did you see it?"

"She did not. I didn’t even see the contents. She kept it with her the entire time. We weren't together long."

"How did you manage that? She was in the Twinlands, was she not?"

"Yes, however, we traveled by dragon. It took only a matter of hours."

"Dragon? You ride on a dragon?"

"Are you avoiding my question?" Rasha asked. She put the water down and sat back in her chair, crossing her legs.

Her instructor took a deep breath.

"I don't know why she would bring you here," he said, avoiding her eyes.

"That's a lie, try again," she said crossing her arms and losing her patience.

"I don't know what she thinks you can do," he said looking her in the eye.

"She's the younger sister of my former partner and friend. I've known her for years. She trusts me. The question is why doesn't she trust you or the courier system?"

"She has no reason not to trust us. Her role is simple. You understood it at her age. You fetch and deliver, you don't ask questions and you don't deviate from your instructions."

"Are you saying she deviated from her instructions?" Rasha asked.

"She completed the fetch as planned but she did not deliver the package. To our knowledge, she still has the package in her possession which is paramount to theft and a betrayal to the courier's code and to the ten kingdoms."

There it was again, he'd said the ten kingdoms instead of eleven. That had bothered Ladi and now it was bothering her.

"What do you mean ten?"

"The Wola did not accept The Courier's Keep and our courier system. We only serve the ten original kingdoms."

There was something else there but she wouldn't get the chance to get it out of him as his communicator beeped and he jumped up from his desk.

"I have some other business to attend to you. Shall I see you out?"

Rasha stood up. She looked at her former instructor, measuring him with her gaze. He was hiding something. Something beyond this training program, perhaps for someone in a higher position of authority.

"No, I know the way."

Rasha took her time leaving the building. She reached the front desk and tried another tactic.

"Can you help me?"

"Courier Jenchat-42769, how can I be of assistance?”

"The Courier's Keep, who has direct oversight?"

"There is no direct oversight. The Courier's Keep must answer to all, loyal to none."

"Do you mean they answer to all the kingdoms?"

"Yes, they must answer or forfeit their diplomatic status,” the robot answered.

"If they fail to adhere to a kingdom?" Rasha asked.

"Then they shall serve none."

"Who would provide the courier service for the kingdoms should this happen?"

"Answer unknown." The robot tilted its anatomically incorrect head to one side. "Do you need further assistance?"

"Yes, why are assignments given out to multiple couriers?"

"Please, clarify the question."

Rashsa huffed. She thought that was as clear as she could get it, but she rephrased it instead.

"Under what circumstances would two different courier teams be given the same job?"

"Processing."

Rasha waited for the whir of the machine to stop.

"Unknown."

"Really? It took you that long to figure out exactly nothing?" Rasha threw up her hands.

"Please clarify the question."

Rasha shook her head and thought for a moment.

"Here's a better question, have duplicate assignments ever been given before?"

"Processing."

Again, Rasha waited while tapping her foot with impatience. This time, however, the whir stopped fairly quickly and she was rewarded with an answer.

"Yes."

"Please provide details," Rasha said.

"That information is classified. Courier Jenchat-42769, you do not have the appropriate clearance."

That might be worth checking into, but first she had to focus on Ladi. She turned to walk away.

"Do you need further assistance?"

"Not at this time, thank you," Rasha called out over her shoulder.

"Courier Jenchat-42769, have a pleasant day."

"I wish I could."