OUTLANDER
Chapter Six
Consequences
The silence was palatable as Damna the Great stared at Dax and his men with his face turning from it’s usual olive skin to a deep shade of red. Finally Pollocan leaned forward and whispered something into his king’s ear. And Dax could see Jamin leaning ever so slightly to one side straining to hear the exchange. Her face a mask of deception, reflecting no emotions in what she could hear.
“This audience day is ended. Everyone, except this disrespectful delegation from Marden, clear out of the chamber. Guards escort all the others out, now!” Damna’s stare never wavered from Dax’s eyes as he bellowed the decree.
There was a hushed but thankful feeling of unrest that seemed to permeate the crowd of Pelians as they were hurried out of the Great Hall. Many of them turning their heads in the direction of the strangers on horses with large Dire Wolves, as they walked in the direction of the chamber doors.
Once all were gone and the large doors closed behind them, Damna spoke again. “I do not react well to threats, Emissary from Marden. Nor do I fear that oaf you serve now. However, this ancient and seemingly useless Maji I have in my employ begs that I pay heed to your entreaty and find some equitable solution. Personally I think he fears his own death too easily.”
“We did not come to create fear in any here, King of Pelia. We came at the bequest of our Thane. And he sent us to avert any and all incursions into his realm. I entered your kingdom and made my way here into your court in this manner, because I knew that any other way would be fraught with less cordial greetings from you, due to our past differences.”
“Rightfully so Dog, you fled my service without my leave. I see for myself that what I was told about your sure demise in the Dry Sea of Lost Souls, by your pursuers, were in fact lies. As I had come to suspect from reports recently of your avoiding the fate that all have had before you, who entered that place of supposed sure death.”
“Yes I left your service, as you call it, and yes I still live. But we are not here to discuss these things. What of your pledge to discontinue any trespass into Marden henceforth, to Thane Erik Throgmarden?”
“What of the other possession of mine that you have?”
“I have no other possession that belongs to you. I have already given back to you the only thing that you have any right to consider your property, even though you freely gave that to me years ago. That subject is closed. Speak plainly now of your intent on the pledge or we leave and you can reap the consequences.”
“Do not push me Dax, now of Marden. I will agree to think on this first. I will send for you once I have considered it more, say in two days’ time. Where will my men find you?”
“They will not. We will return on the third morning from now of our own accord. Attempt to find us and you will be missing those you send. We are not here to be taken for fools or prisoners by any deceit.”
“The third morning from today then. Now leave my chambers, you are dismissed.” As soon as Damna said this he rose and walked briskly from the hall, his Mage and mother behind him.
Dax and his men turned and left the chamber as they had entered. Everyone outside stepped far out of their path. The five men rode out the gates toward the Waste north of the city. After dark settled over Pelia they returned as they had previously, in stealth. Once their horses were stabled and all were inside Asbydahl’s house she greeted them. “You are the talk of the capitol. I hear you rode your horses’ right into the Great Hall during Damna’s court today. I would have loved to see that.”
“He was furious. May we beg your hospitality for two more days, if you do not feel we would threaten your good name? I do not wish you to become known as involved in what we do.”
“I would be glad of your men and the wolves. I am one person Damna will not scare, nor would his mother or the women of his harem take kindly to him attempting such either.” The woman smiled as she spoke a glint of hidden satisfaction in her large devilish black eyes. “Now, you men settle around my table and I will serve you a hearty dish I have prepared.”
“You knew we would return?” Vlad said aloud as he more thought the question.
“Where else would you wait your two nights, before you return to the Agha’s chamber. Surely not camped out on the Waste, with its cold sunless nights.”
Dax bit his lip and chuckled almost under his breath as a slight smile creased his face.
A few minutes later Vlad spoke between morsels of the food. “This tastes great, may I ask what the meat is?”
“Thank you. It is Tusker from Lagdian, I picked it up this afternoon from a trader in the bazaar. I thought you might like its flavor.”
“Tusker, I do, it is more tender than I would have thought from those great wooly beasts.” The other men nodded their heads in agreement with Vlad’s comment, which made Asbydahl smile.
It was then that the wolves grumbled as they lay on the floor with their heads turned toward the door to the street outside. This was followed almost immediately by a low knock on that door. They hushed their Dire Wolves quietly. Then Asbydahl spoke toward the entry door. “Just a moment and I will be there.” Then she turned to Dax and said softly. “I have invited a guest who wishes to speak to you tonight. I hope that is agreeable?”
“Of course, if is someone you trust with the knowledge of our being here.”
“It is, although I am sure you will be temporarily confused. Just allow them the opportunity for explanation before you pass judgment.”
“I hope I will always be open to discussion before jumping to conclusions.”
With that said, she went and greeted her guest. Dax and his men’s eyes did not betray their common surprise as Jamin Jaise stepped through the open door. Jamin was as regal in this light as if she were standing by her son in the Purple Court, age had done nothing to diminish her beauty. The cordiality between the two women was apparent for all to see.
“Good evening, Dax now of Marden. I appreciate your allowing me this unscheduled time for conversation.”
Dax bowed slightly at the waste and answered. “Of course your highness. It has never been that I held any ill feelings toward yourself. However that being said, I am curious as to what you would like to discuss with me in private. Speak as freely as you deem possible, I have no secrets from my men.”
“Nor do I have any misgivings toward you Captain. I am concerned however of your mission here and what may transpire depending on how my son will eventually react to that mission. If my late husband was alive and still the Agha, I would have no reason for such concern.”
“Were the great Agha Damna the fourteenth still alive your highness, we would not be here today. I also agree. He was a great man.”
“Thank you, it is rare in our situation to not only be married but in love as well. I love my son, but he is not his father. He is our only child, and my Agha had no harem. It was his choice and I was always grateful for it. But that meant my son grew up without the benefit of sibling rivalry, and he was spoiled by us both. In that we did him a disservice I am afraid. He no longer feels the need for my council in his decisions, nor does he pay much heed to his Maji either. He also will not name a queen, but instead has a harem with no favorite. Not even in his children as a possible successor. I am afraid that one day this kingdom will suffer from that.”
“Then what is it you wish of my men and I? We are not Pelians, Highness, we are not here to get involved in any Purple Court intrigues. Thane Throgmarden quite simply requires a cessation of hostilities to any inside his realm.”
“I only plead that you not allow any prejudice in dealings with Damna the great and deal with him in a better light than he has so far dealt with you.”
“What I will vow, Highness, is just that. My men and I will only prosecute our mission based on the facts and in the interest of the Thane of Marden.”
“Thank you. I see and saw that you still carry that dirk of your fathers. I never met him, but knew of him through his reputation as a respected Nel. What of him now?”
“He passed a long time past, Highness.”
“For that I am sorry for your loss.”
For the next two days the Wolf Pack stayed sheltered in the dwelling and stable of Asbydahl. The five men stood watches during both the daylight and nights. There was concern that Damna the Great would learn of their location prior to the appointed time.
Two hours before dawn on the third morning, Dax and his men slipped unseen back into the Waste and again entered Pelia from the same direction of the Waste that they had rode into when leaving Damna’s palace. No guard attempted to slow or halt them as they and the dire wolves, once again went up the palace steps and through the high doors that led to the Purple Throne Room Chamber. On this day the throne room chamber was empty save for Damna the Great, Pollocan, Jasmin Jaise and a retainer of palace guards along the walls.
Dax and his men halted several feet before the dais.
“We are here at the appointed time, Agha of Pelia and the Waste.”
“I have considered your Thane’s request with the consideration it is due and heard all the council on the matter that I am willing to listen to. Thus as agreed I will issue to you, emissary of Marden my decree. I have committed my agreement to this document I hold, so that you can return to there which you have journeyed from. I agree to not employ or send any into the realm of Marden in pursuit of yourself or any in stealth. I will not interfere with nor agree to employ any as subversives in that Realm for any purpose. I do however, state that this agreement is to be mutually binding on your Thane as well here in my domain. That is the sum of this proffered agreement. I make no such promises of any kind outside of that which is stated.” Damna then turned and motioned for the captain of his guard to step forward, take the scroll and deliver it to Dax, still seated on his mount. Once the scroll was in Dax’s hand, Damna continued. “From this day forth, Dax now of Marden, you are banned from traveling in my realm, under penalty of death, if you ever trespass into any of my lands again.”
“I find these terms agreeable, Damna the Great and will take them to Thane Throgmarden. We leave today and journey back to Marden. I deem that your decree of me will not be enforced until we have time to travel beyond your borders.”
“Just make all haste to make that so, Dax of Marden, all haste.” Damna’s stare at the eyes of Dax were all threatening. “Now you are dismissed from our presence.”
Dax and his men backed their horses out of the Purple Throne Room before turning and heading out of the palace. Then they left Pelia by the south gate and rode until they had crossed the bridge over the Arna River along the Bay of Arban. This put them in Lagdian lands. They would travel along the Lagdian coast until they reached Stolic where they could take the road north to the Prah River and Eigle. Several days later they entered Desham and decided to spend a night in an inn along the road, where they could rest on beds rather than the ground. After stabling their horses, they walked with their Dire Wolves to the nearby market area where they found an open air area to have a meal and refreshments, this did cause some people to stare at men walking openly with Dire Wolves as if they were just large dogs. As they sat waiting for their food to be brought to the table a rather tall man with a streaked grey beard, wearing the head covering of a Sand Walker approached them. All five wolves’ heads raised at his approach.
“Hal tatakalam Rmal Wakir” the man said toward the table of men.
“Asem alqlyl.” Dax replied then turning to his friends he interpreted. “He wants to know if I speak Sand Walker and I told him yes, a little.” Then Dax turned his attention back to the man as Ruthor and the other looked to each other with this new revelation.
“’iinaa aidaeaa Hamid al Bien. ‘ant al jundiin yamshi mae aldhiyab?”
“Asem. Jinaa aidaeaa Dax w hadha hu Ruthor, Ofid, Cran w Vlad.” Dax turned again to his men and said. “His name is Hamid al Bien and he asked if we are the soldiers who travel with wolves. So I told him yes and introduced each of us. This is highly unusual, Sand Walkers almost never speak to anyone except those they are trading with and other Sand Walkers of course.” Then he turned his attention back to the man and motioned for his to sit with them at the table.
“Shukraan. Naraju ‘an natakalam?”
“Asem.”
“Yuqal ‘ant safirat al Albahr Dayie Awfus yuskin. Alty ladayhn abadaan fiki aittarikh. Hal hdha sahih?”
“Asem. Kay flak ‘asmae hdha? Eindi safirat ealayh maratayn, rijahi marat maei. Fi almaratayn iiwahdihima.” Once again Dax interprets for his men as he turns towards them. “he asked if we could talk and I said yes, then he said he heard we had traveled through the Sea of Lost Souls and lived asking if it was true , as that had never happened in history. I have told him yes, myself twice and all of us once. But asked how he heard this as both times we were alone.”
Ruthor answered Dax before he could turn toward the man. “Do you think we have a problem?”
“I am not sure yet. Let us see where this goes.” And then Dax turns again the man starts to speak.
“Tamat ruyatuk bwastt alqawafil takhtafi, ‘iieadat ataeziz fima baed Albahr Dayie Awufus. Nahn hum ealaa bayina liljamie fi alsahra. “
“Ra’ayna qawafil. Tafeal shaebak tajid hdha alhujum”
“La nubu’at mumitalia. Sayakhruj ai’abtal aladhin yaeudun min Albahr Dayie Awufus.”
This time Dax’s interpretation leaves his men awe struck. “He said we were seen by caravans, that one we saw just before we went into the Sea of Lost Souls and then later once we were out. Then I asked if the Sand Walkers found this offensive. He said no, more of a prophecy fulfilled. One that says heroes will emerge who have returned from the Sea of Lost Souls.”
“Gads Bones! So is he calling us heroes now?” Ofid asks before Dax can say more.
“I don’t know. But that is what he says the prophecy says. The Sand Walkers are devout to their beliefs.” Then he turns to Hamid al Bien again and asks. “ ‘Ant Weihia Tugi?”
“Bed ai ‘ahyan w bed ai ‘ahyan Tajir. Aal ra ‘ayt ‘ayu shay’?”
“Kbir Temsaah, Usama w Lays Alrijal Yakul Alrijal.”
“Hal hdha sahih?”
“Asem.” Dax says then turns to his men. “We just talked about what we encountered in the Sea of Lost Souls. He is both a trader and one of their holy men.”
As Hamid pulls some disks from his garment and hands them to Dax, he explains. “Khudh hadhih, “ilnahum rumuz sharaf baynana. Sayatimh “ildafat ‘asma ‘ik Kitab Alnufus.”
Dax takes the five disks and hands four of them to his men saying. “These are for us, they show we are honored among the Sand walkers and he says our names will be added to their Book of Souls. No man outside the Sand Walkers has ever heard has this honor.” Then he turns back to Hamid and asks. “Kam aleadaa Rmal Wakir hank?”
“ ‘Akthar min ‘ashjar akahra’, ‘aqala min habibat alraml.”
Dax looks to his men and says. “I asked how many Sand Walkers there are. He says they are more than the trees of the desert but less than its grains of sand. I never dreamed there were as many as this would be.”
Before Dax can speak, Hamid does again. “Ahdhir Jundin yamshi mae aldhiyab, ‘ana ‘asmae tashia Damna yurid qutil ‘ant. Aliah maeak.”
“Shukraan.” Dax says and then interprets. “He says for me to be warned that Damna the Tyrant wants me dead and God be with me.”
Hamid al Bien rises and says as he leaves. “Alnae am ealaykum dayimaan. Amul ‘an naltaqi maratan iukheaa.”
“Waealak. Wa’ ana ‘aydaan.” Dax repiles as the man walks away into the night. As he does Dax turns around and says.” He gave us blessings and said he hopes to see us again, I returned the compliment. “We should keep these disks in our possessions with us. Who knows when they could become useful in the future?” Everyone nodded in agreement. “Now let us finish our meal and drinks. Soft beds will be greatly appreciated tonight.”
The men chatted as they ate and had extras drinks before returning to the inn and going to sleep for the night. All laid awake once there thinking about the unusual meeting with Hamid earlier. By the next morning they were leaving Desham and headed up the passes and toward Eigle on the Eagles Plateau. Their wolves seemed happy to be away from so many people in the town fading into the distance behind them. Three days later the first dwellings of Eigle could be seen in the near distance.
As the men were watering their horses at the stable where Dax had negotiated their purchase on a previous journey, the owner asked Dax to step away so the two could talk more privately. After walking a few paces the man spoke.
“I had a visit recently from Iron Beard and he wished of me or some of the others here to pass it along to you once we saw you again.”
“How is the old reprobate doing?”
“He prospers and is well. He said he has some news for you when you have time to climb into the Fire Mountains again. Not an emergency or urgent, but that it would interest you.”
“Thank you for relaying the message. I will try to stop by there before I follow the Arn back to Marden.”
“Tell Iron Beard hello for me.” With that he turned to go back to his work.
Once the horses were stabled for the night the men with their wolves walked into town and rented accommodations for the night. Then after their evening meal Dax talked with Ruthor as everyone was retiring for the night, everyone except Vlad that is, he was out looking for some recreation at a local ale house. He was always looking for female recreation when it was possible.
“At sunup I will leaving with Darma and heading up into the Fire Mountains to the north, the stableman told me Iron Beard had left a message for me to visit him when I could. I should only be there tomorrow as the message is not supposed to be of an urgent nature. I will rejoin you and the men at the campsite where I was taken into custody when we first met.”
“Are you sure you want to do this alone, my captain? I could go with you.”
“Not this time, my friend. And as you have seen I can get there and be no longer than one extra day to meet you by the Arn in that glade. On one of these trips though I would like to show you how the Dwarves live, you would be surprised.”
“I would like that Dax, your friend Iron Beard interests me. I come to want to know more as you do about the different peoples of our world. Then sleep well and we will see you in a few days.
The next morning Dax and Darma were up, back to the stables and Dax mounted on his horse with them headed up the mountain before the others were up and about. In the late afternoon, after, topping on of the ridge lines Dax sat for a moment scanning am all familiar vista below him. It was the village where Iron Beard and Estonia lived, he knew their dwelling well, having spent many happy youthful hours there. Within several moments later he was dismounting as Estonia came out the front door.
She ran to him and buried her full head into Dax’s chest. “You are such a welcome sight to these eyes, young one. My, do you have to socialize with nothing but giant creatures. My husband told me he thought you were now traveling with the wolf girl and her pups.”
“I have missed you, Aunt. Darma is a fine companion. Give her a hand brushing on her head and she will love you as I do. Where is that old Iron Beard today?”
“He will be here very shortly.” She answered as she rubbed her small hands all about the Dire Wolf’s head, ears and mane. “She is a dear isn’t she? Let me get you some tanbark tea and a bowl for her to have a drink of cool water.”
Only a short time later they could hear Iron Beard as he approached the house due to his constant whistle as he walked. Estonia and Dax were sitting on chairs in front of the house, smiling at his less than harmonious tune.
“My, we have been invaded by giants of all sorts in my absence. I am glad to see you, nephew. You must have gotten my message.”
“I did Uncle, just last evening as I was going through Eigle with my men.”
“So where are they then? And since I see she is with you, so where are those pups of hers?”
“I told Ruthor I would join them at a glade by the Arn just as it drops into the flatlands we know and then we would return to Marden together. Her brood are no longer pups, but full grown wolves themselves. Each of them travel with one of my men at all times now.”
“Interesting development. Ruthor, is he that young man I met on the mountain path back some time ago.”
“Yes, the same one. He is my Sargent-at-Arms now, Thane Eric has made me a Captain, Ruthor and our other three men make up what the Thane calls his Wolf Pack. We were returning from a mission to Pelia when I got your message.”
“Well, good for all of you. He seemed to be a respectable young fellow, for an oversized human. After his shock of seeing me, I saw not one hint of rudeness in him toward one of us. You can bring him with you, if you trust him, on your next visit. We must be out of Ale, I’ve said quite a few words now and I still don’t see a flask of Ale near me?” At this Iron Beard ducked quickly, just in case some object came flying his way. “Only kidding, my sweet wife.”
“You better be, or I will go pour out all the Ale I can find.” Estonia said as she rose laughing to go into the house and bring back a flask for her husband.
“So what were you doing in Pelia for the Thane of the Boars Throne?”
“Getting an agreement that he would cease any and all intrigues in Marden. We had found Lagdian rebels trying to kill me and steal my satchel for my possessions. That was when I saw you last and had Ruthor with me. We ended up helping Amish Magdar stop the revolt there, and he sent a pact and some valuables back to Thane Eric because of that. That is when I was made a Captain. But in the chase and capture I found that they had been paid by Damna the Great, he wanted an effigy I have, a gift from an old friend, so Eric sent us to Pelia to get such an agreement.”
“I bet that didn’t come easily, Damna is a treacherous Tyrant.”
“It was a long quest. I went there by way of No Fall and then down through the Waste. To sneak in unknown I took my men through the Sea of Lost Souls.”
“Once wasn’t good enough for you?”
“It worked and eventually we got the agreement. We were on our way back when we were greeted one night in Desham by a Sand Walker.” Dax had risen and retrieved the disk from his saddle bag, then handing it to Iron Beard to look at.
“This is an honor disk. I have never seen one given to anyone other than a Sand Walker.”
“I never had either. But this Sand Walker was a Holy Man and Trader. Talked with us for a time and then before leaving, gave one to myself and each of my men. I have the feeling it had to do with crossing the Sea of Lost Souls and some prophecy they believe in.”
“This is a great honor, Nephew. I know this prophecy of theirs, they now feel indebted to you. Did he say anything else?”
“Yes, he said they would be putting all our names in their Book of Souls.”
“Dax, you do know that means they accept you and your men as Sand Walkers and will treat you as such in all things.”
“I am glad to know you agree with what I thought it meant. But I do not know exactly why.” Dax paused as if waiting for an answer from Iron Beard, but when he did not speak, continued. “So why did you leave a message for me to come see you?”
“Do you remember old Blub Nose who lives in Fire River Cave Village?”
“Yes, he was a friend of my father many years ago. They mined for metal ore in the mountains above the springs that feed down to where the Fire River starts in the foothills just before the border with No Fall. I have not seen or thought of him since my father’s death.”
“That is him, he sent me a message recently that he has something to give you. I do not know what exactly, but it is something to do with your father.”
“I will go to see him as soon as I can. It won’t be on this trip though. I need to get back to my men and all of us to Marden first. Thank you, Uncle, for telling me.”
“Don’t wait too long Nephew, Bulb Nose is no young ram.”
“I won’t, I have enjoyed talking with you and Estonia today, I wish I could stay longer. But I need to catch up with my men. I will try not to let it be so long next time.”
All three rose and hugged each other goodbye. Then Dax went to his horse, mounted up and headed back up the mountain, Darma walking beside his horse. The evening of the second day after that Dax rode into the glen where the four men were camped and waiting. Darma’s four young wolves greeted her as if she had been gone forever.
Ruthor was the first to greet their Captain and friend. “I had hoped you would be here sometime today. How was your trip to see Iron Beard?”
“Good, but also with questions. After we return to Marden and give our report I will be traveling back at my first opportunity. I need to see an old friend of my father’s. It was about him that Iron Beard’s message concerned.”
“Nothing serious I hope?”
“No, it seems he has something for me. Something to do with my father.”
“Well, join us and have a meal. We can get to sleep early tonight, then make an early rise tomorrow so we can get home as soon as possible.”
“That sounds perfect. Anything happen while I was gone?”
“No, Cran killed us this Boar two days ago. By tomorrow’s early meal it will be gone. We have just relaxed and been getting fat.”
“Good, you have all earned a rest.” That said Dax sat on a log amidst his men before the small fire as they all ate and commiserated.
As the sun was rising in the east they were mounted and headed down the Arn River Road for Marden.
