From the journal of Abudi Ibn-Nasir, Dragon Mountains, 24 Machl 1426.

 

And once again we were back on the trail. The monk and I joined the Paladin procession traveling to meet Gwillzeth's envoys. Due to his advanced age, the Grand Master was persuaded to travel in a black litter, effectively slowing down the procession.

In addition to the higher-ranking dignitaries, the procession included a bodyguard of thirty cavalry, led by Lenthian Cavalieur. At the Grand Master's evening meeting, which lasted almost until morning, I received a task I would gladly have avoided. I was to act today as an envoy from Khaz and, if necessary, support the Paladins in the negotiations. My dear cousin was thrilled when he learned of my mission.

The surroundings did not look inviting. The mountainous terrain, crisscrossed by forested gorges, provided excellent cover for Gwillzeth's bands. Despite the scouts sent out, which encountered no one, an unnatural tension was palpable. The lush trees effectively hid the spies who watched our every move. Only occasionally we could see the flashing lights on the mountaintops, the signals they used to communicate.

"By surrendering this land, we'll eliminate this problem," said Lenthian, riding closer on his gray bike. "And that shows who truly rules these mountains."

Not quite knowing what to say, I simply made a stupid face. Undeterred by my silence, Lenthian Cavalieur continued his argument.

"My men support the desire to resolve this matter through diplomacy. Don't think, Mr. Nasir, that we're afraid to fight. These two-way attacks and skirmishes have simply exhausted the men, who sleep in full gear, ready to go on patrol. And if it so happens that peace cannot be achieved, we will fight. You can be sure of that."

He said the last sentence a little louder, as if to reassure himself of the righteousness of the mission they had been called to perform.

"He should carefully consider the privileges guaranteed by the treaty," I said. "He may not have a better chance. He's getting what he desires—his own state, which otherwise would have been difficult for him to win in an uncertain war."

At these words, the young paladin's face brightened. He smiled at me and said, "It is a joy to speak with you, worthy Nasir. Your words are encouraging. I hope the god you believe in will aid us in our mission.

" "Hebin's paths are uncharted!" I replied. Meanwhile, the scouts returned, reporting that the road ahead was clear. Walverde, who was now practically in charge, ordered a halt. We watered the horses. We also ate part of the soldiers' meal, which consisted of salted meat, constantly bread, and wine. Sahib and I sat down next to Khail Walverde, who had just finished issuing new orders and was only now able to eat.

"We'll have to speed up our march, or we won't make it before dark," he said, taking a bite of his food. "Unfortunately, the Grand Master's presence is advisable to bolster the legation. I hope we can reach an agreement, but it's still better to be safe. I'd like to post guards before dark.

" "Master Nasir, I recommend defecating in the lap of the local nature!" cried the Grand Master, who, carefully supported by two guards, was descending the mountainside where he had been relieving himself. I greatly appreciated the old Paladin's demeanor, whose good humor had never wavered since we left the fortress. He constantly recounted to his escort the adventures of his youth. Thanks to him, I got rid of my importunate cousin, who listened with great interest to the Grand Master's tales.

"I'll buy you a barrel of my finest wine, as there's no such thicket in your region. Perhaps it's unbecoming of an old goat like me, but some insects devoured me while I was relieving myself. To them, a king or a farmhand is one thing. They bite both with equal ferocity.

" "Indeed, your forests are rich, with a vast array of plants and animals, but there's nothing worse than the mosquitoes that live in my country. May Hebin exterminate their offspring.

" "You have given us great joy by taking part in our escapade, sir.

" "Always at your service, if it allows me to repay even a portion of the debt I owe you," I replied, remembering that I wouldn't be welcomed back home, as I'd also incurred considerable debts for my expedition, which I'd have to repay for several more years. And here's an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Without thinking long, I decided to present a certain proposal, as it was the last opportunity to make minor changes to the plan that the Paladins had prepared.

"Eminent Gentlemen. With the good of our mission in mind..." I began, carefully observing the dignitaries as they ate, "...I thought that to bolster my position, we could quickly reach an agreement. Speaking as an outsider, say a member of a Khazian merchant organization similar to yours, I could not only testify on your behalf, but also support it with appropriate trade proposals.

" "Yes, but with all due respect, Mr. Nasir, you are not a member of such an organization because, as far as I know, there is no such organization on the Khazian coast.

" "That's true, but there are no objections to creating one.

" "If I understand you correctly, you're proposing a joint trade pact operating on both coasts," Walverde guessed.

"Exactly..." I interrupted, unsure.

"Yes, thanks to this, we could expand our offer, but Mr. Nasir, can you guarantee the validity of such an agreement on the Khazian side?

" "I think that with the help of your Order, such a guarantee would be possible."

At the raised eyebrows of the Paladins, I quickly explained,

"I could guarantee the validity of this agreement if I could use your ships to establish a trade route across the sea. A regular exchange of goods at an appropriate rate would quickly pay for itself, and the possibility of such extensive trade would satisfy both sides.

" "You have devised a very clever plan, Mr. Nasir. It's a great advantage to see such benefits in such a difficult situation." The Grand Master's face lit up with a sly smile.

"So we still need to negotiate a location for a port in the land of Gwilzeth, in exchange for affordable taxes.

" "Only there's the matter of a loan..." I began hesitantly.

"Don't worry about the cash, Mr. Nasir," Walverde interjected. "I'm sure the Trade Council will be happy to lend you the money to start your business."

He looked at the Grand Master, whose smile faltered.

"I don't know if that can be arranged...

" "The possibility of profit from this deal will quell the Council's doubts, for whom Khaz will be a new market capable of housing all goods produced in this part of the sea," Walverde explained.

"And the pricing of these goods will be up to the Council," I added.

This convinced the Grand Master, whose face brightened again. He nodded to the guards and said, "Bring us our best wine; we must celebrate this deal with something more delicious than this." He pointed to the wineskin Walverde held.

"Hold on, sir. It's time for us to be on our way. We'll celebrate on the way back, when Xenor is in our hands."

With these words, we ended our rest and, having gathered ourselves, set off as quickly as possible, without stopping.

***

"Perhaps we could scare them, Madame?"

"Not this time, these monks can offer much greater benefits alive and intact." The red-haired woman turned to her elven companion, whose delicate face was covered in green and black makeup. It gave him a demonic appearance. Both were dressed in light green and brown outfits made of delicate leather, perfectly suited to remaining unnoticed even at close range.

They lay high on a slope, observing the path below, along which a column of armed men followed. In the center, surrounded by eight knights clad in black cloaks emblazoned with a silver lily, rode the Grand Master of the Templar Order of Kharonaey himself. About two halves earlier, the riders abandoned the black litter, from which the Grand Master had transferred to his horse, and continued at a gallop, if the road permitted.

"They're not that stupid. They know they won't secure the area after dark. That's why they're rushing."

The fair-haired man looked down. A beautifully ornate bow, custom-made by the finest elven masters, was slung across his back. He belonged to the bodyguard of a woman called Lady Loxley, and had known her for many years, when together they spread fear across the western reaches of Oxydia. Now they are the crown jewel of spies in Gwillzeth's Guard, which they joined to escape King Wijnhard's raid.

"And we must hurry, Rhyan, to get there before them," Lady Loxley said, retreating into the shelter of the branches. They descended into a small valley where the remaining three members of the troop awaited them, their horses painted in colors similar to the elf's face.

The woman swung into the saddle with catlike ease, signaling for departure. The commando set off under the cover of the leaves, taking shortcuts to outrun the armed procession.

***

Ives sat by the window of her chamber, pondering the visit of the royal chamberlain, who was talking incoherently, sometimes incoherently, about voices. Then he was silent for a moment, and when asked by her father about the purpose of his visit, he couldn't answer. She and her father concluded that something strange was happening to him, at which point he, flushed, ran from the chamber, shouting over his shoulder about the return of the old order. Her father went to the ruler to discuss the details of the meeting with the Order's envoys.

She heard a rustle in her father's chamber. A gentle breeze blew through the room, signaling someone had entered. She assumed it was a servant carrying her father's belongings and glanced out the window again, which overlooked the town that had sprung up at the foot of the rebuilt castle. The tightly packed wooden houses, built on stone foundations, reminded her of the suburbs of Southill, the capital of Pandynia. Equally dense, only the inhabitants were different. Normal. Unlike here. The civilian population of all races was a distinct minority, exploiting prisoners captured from raids on the trade route as slave labor. The rest was an army composed of cruel orcs, humans, and dwarves. Nevertheless, Gwillzeth guaranteed peace in this area, which created the possibility of development. The condition was openness to the outside world. Everyone around them realized they had stumbled upon a tasty morsel, Xenor of Ashyria, offering them the opportunity to strike a deal with their enemies. They would gain freedom and cease being pursued by the authorities of neighboring lands.

A dark strip of the night sky approached from the west. The first stars were appearing. Ives rose and crossed the room to the courtyard from which they would depart. Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice the staff with a serpentine head hanging just behind her. She stopped in the middle of the room, cluttered with the stack of books and parchments used by the old astrologer. She glanced around, making sure everything she would need was packed. She turned, and in an instant, her gaze froze on the staff's head, which hissed toward her. The runes on the shaft glowed unnaturally. Time slowed; that brief moment seemed like an eternity. To her horror, she realized she couldn't move. She was paralyzed with fear. She watched the snake bite its teeth into her shoulder. She felt cold spreading through her body. She was losing her willpower, drowsiness enveloping her like a cloak. She felt herself sinking deep within herself, jealously protecting the last vestiges of warmth, sealing herself off with an invisible barrier from the outside cold. She closed her eyes, which refused to open again. Before darkness fell, she saw yellow, evil eyes gazing hungrily at her.

***