The Panids' Children_The Panids of Koa Read online

  All of the slaves had lowered their heads apart from one, a look of recognition stirring on his grubby face. Thankfully the handlers didn’t catch this and Gwen deliberately stepped forward to attract Aaron’s attention. He turned groggily, noticing the movement and almost made to step towards her. Would he realise what they were trying to do and keep quiet? She subtly motioned for him to keep still before quickly returning her full attention to the Talent in the shadows.

  The owner had continued his study of Carrick now noticing the honourable face and the air of respectability. Indeed, as they chatted he could see this man was clearly someone to respect, someone of a high calibre, yet limited means he felt himself quickly adding, he mustn’t forget that. It would be an honour to do business with… yes, yes an honour...

  “Why sir,” the owner enthused. “I'm sure we can come to an agreement that will suit you… I mean us both.”

  He found himself liking the man even more as they shook hands, such good manners. “However it is rather unusual to sell outside of auction. There will have to be an extra charge for such a transaction,” he felt strangely guilty for saying this and wanted to say something else to reassure the man.

  “Oh I quite understand,” Carrick replied, not wanting to push things too much. Controlling the will of others wasn’t Carrick's specialism and to add to the problem he didn’t have the money to buy all five men. He was already applying quite an amount of persuasion and the owner was no fool. Too much and the man's natural instincts could begin to cut in. He tried not to look at the guards. “I have two hundred in my purse here,” Carrick said brightly but he felt the man’s mind lurch and the smile slipped somewhat. Obviously a bad offer but nearly all the money they had. A quick glance over the owner’s shoulder checked that the Talent in the shadows was still completely distracted. Carrick gently pushed a little more with his mind. The smile returned to the owner’s face.

  “Then perhaps 220 would be a more suitable offer?”

  “Hmm,” the owner was obviously struggling subconsciously. “You're… you’re, clearly a man of… honour,” he began haltingly, “and… it is such a pleasant day.”

  Even Carrick wondered where that comment had come from. The man was squeezing at his chin thoughtfully, his tongue wanting to say something but some part of his mind still wanting to try for a better price.

  “250!” Carrick quickly offered, pressing a little further. They’d have to worry about food when that problem arose. Kellim always had money but he was a long way off yet.

  There was a long pause that seemed to last an age. The slow cogs of the slaver’s mind turned. He had to be given time but even so Carrick couldn’t help a glance at Gwen and Bryn. Thoughts of a forced exit from the warehouse and the city’s formidable walls filled his mind. The owner’s head suddenly filled with the image of fighting, arrows and long sharp spears. Carrick stole himself. He was losing focus. With an effort he calmed his nerves, abandoned caution and pressed harder. The owner suddenly seemed to have been given the go ahead from deep in his subconscious and his face changed from a picture of extreme concentration to one of relief. With that he took Carrick's hand in a firm and decisive shake, offering him a broad smile.

  Carrick quickly handed him the purse and made to edge away. “If you don't mind. I’m in bit of a hurry,” he said trying to free his other hand. “My cart is just outside. I wonder if you would have the men loaded.”

  “Don’t mind…bit of a hurry, men loaded…of course,” the owner beamed. “An honour sir.” He clapped his hands and pointed. “You two get that lot loaded onto this fine gentleman's cart. Well, don't just stand there can't you see I’m - I mean he’s in a hurry!”

  The men in question snapped to and the slaves were roughly turned around and pushed and shoved onto the cart. Bryn made to block this rough handling but Gwen, still focusing on the man in the shadows, motioned anxiously with her hand and Bryn reluctantly sat down again, clenching his fists hard around the reins.

  “And now that our business is complete perhaps you and your lady would care to join me in a small drink,” the owner offered. “After all it has been such an honour…”

  “Most kind…err, big rush.” Carrick held up his hand and edged away, “Must be off. Time and tide and all that sort of thing.” With that he turned on his heels and made for the doors. Gwen was already on the cart. Carrick reached it and leapt on. Bryn stirred the team into movement and they were off.

  “Sir where do you want this lot put?” One of his workers was talking to him. “Sir... sir!”

  But the owner was miles away, watching the departing cart. “Such an honour,” he was mumbling dreamily. “Such an honour.”

  “Sir, the slaves!”

  “The slaves?” It suddenly occurred to him. “Oh, let them all go. Let them all go,” he repeated with a magnanimous wave of his hands.

  ***

  Kara reined in her mount, looking up at what could have been ribs from some great beast. The two curving structures would have once made a ring, perhaps thirty feet across, part of the Pidone field line, she guessed. Now they stood half buried and broken; red fern and cliffwhite fixing them to the landscape. The metal had rusted decades ago and the gilded decoration stolen long before that, leaving them stark against the sky. She looked far into the distance but couldn’t see any others. In fact, she hadn’t seen many in all of her travels; few remained from the time of The Panids when the field flowed freely. She walked the mount closer to the chalky cliff edge and looked out across the Tana Sea. She’d been watching a small slaver ship sheltering in the wide bay. There was no one on board and she wondered if it was abandoned. The crew would have to be small, perhaps a raid had gone wrong and they hadn’t returned. Pidone, like most of the south, had suffered from a disturbing increase in raids. Segat’s proclamations and threats had unsettled many countries. Mercenaries, outlaws and slavers were starting to take advantage of troop movements to the borders and the reduction of patrols along the coast and highways. She’d offered to come because the raids had to be stopped and because it was always hot here. Pidone however was currently undergoing a glitch in its climate. It was cold! A topic almost every local she met needed to talk about, at length and in great unchanging detail. And now, well now it was raining! It had rained the day before and the day before that. So now she was not only cold, she was wet. Kara was not prone to maudlin thoughts but really this was past a joke!

  Of course, she hadn’t actually believed she’d encounter any problems. This was Pidone. She’d dismissed Jac’s offer of company and waved them all off. That seemed like such a long time ago. It was a long time ago and a lot of things had happened since. She was tired and tiredness dulled her edge. It was time to head back. She was a long way from help. A distant shout cut short her grumbling and three armed men started to head her way, clearly unwilling to pass on the business opportunity presented to them; a young, unaccompanied and unarmed Hallorn woman.

  “Oh bollocks!” Chill realisation set itself in the pit of her stomach. She really was a long way from help.

  Chapter 3

  Jac stood listening to the night. Behind him the fire crackled, ahead only the lonely call of a moon eye came from the desert. There was no wind, no moons, just stars and the chill night. The events of his old life, as he called it, meant he knew The Ugasi, a great expanse of sandy desert that dominated the remote northern reaches of Amaria. There were no great cities, few roads and little in the way of vegetation; only needle bush managed to find a footing. The people who lived here had always been viewed as inferior by the rest of Amaria but Jac preferred their direct and honest nature. Travel further south and you were treated with indifference and arrogance matched only by the sharp featured people of Urukish.

  They’d put enough distance between themselves and any possible pursuer, sold their exhausted mounts and continued on foot towards the Western Amarian Mountains. He was tired - they were all tired, months of constant travel and little sleep had taken their toll.
Hopefully the pass would force them to ease their pace and provide a distraction. He’d had too much time to think. The Ugasi made you do that, the monotonous terrain, the parched landscape, nothing to distract, only your own thoughts and the unfailing heat. But now it was dark out there, dark like the cavern. The images came back as they always did. The same events playing over and over in his mind; the same sickening feeling of helplessness and aching loss. He flinched, his expression playing out every terrible second. The sudden crash of rock, the realisation and then Kellim’s hand dragging him from the abyss as his own hand reached desperately to...

  “Jac,” Kellim griped his shoulder and brought him back.

  Jac turned sharply, his face troubled. It was a moment before he fully registered where he was.

  Kellim was speaking “… come back to the fire. It’s small but provides a distraction.”

  It did. The fire cast flickering shadows on the rocky entrance to the pass and illuminated a circle of ground, an island in the absolute dark. Kellim now thought it safe to light a fire, a welcome comfort, which lifted some of the pressures of the past days. Their meal was hot and comforting.

  “So you think he just let us go?” Lewen asked.

  “Indeed,” Kellim began. “At first, I believe he intended to attempt our recapture but we weren’t pursued for long.”

  “So, let me get this right,” Jac asked trying to catch up. “At first you think he didn't want us to escape?”

  Kellim nodded. “He has removed himself from his Order, hidden himself away from them and against strict laws managed, somehow, to develop his talent. A man so devoted to his Order does none of this lightly. He has an objective and needed time and space to reach it, without interference. We became a possible source of interference.”

  “So something must have changed shortly after we left?” Jac conclude.

  “Apparently.” Kellim stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Quite what, I don’t know. I am also intrigued by something else I sensed down in the cellars. It may need investigation at a later time.” Kellim’s brow knitted. “Something…”

  “That was a lot of risk for nothing,” Jac said irritably.

  Kellim inclined his head. “We now know more than his Order,” he corrected lightly. “And we are by no means any the worse for our detour. Certainly things might have been far worse without this young man’s help.” Kellim said. Lewen smiled self-consciously as Kellim patted him on the shoulder.

  “You did a good job,” Jac agreed, allowing his mood to be clipped by Kellim.

  Lewen tried to turn the attention away from himself. “You and Kellim had everything in control. You didn’t need me there to help.”

  “Maybe, maybe not,” Jac shrugged. “You dealt with the courtyard guards and planted lots of those copper ba-spheres of Kellim’s. They created enough mayhem to give us a chance.”

  “Didn't they,” Lewen enthused. “I've never seen anything like that before. They were amazing! I wouldn't have believed something so small could help create that much damage. And the guards! They didn't know what hit them. It terrified the ones near me and then when you hit the main gate,” Lewen mimicked the explosion with his hands. “Boom!” he rocked back laughing.

  The young man’s sudden excitement was infectious and the other two found themselves laughing. The relief was sudden and the laughter broke the tension.

  “They proved themselves a useful way of carrying out several tasks right under Naicarn’s nose.” Kellim said once the laughter had faded. “He believed me to be unaccompanied and a bit of a doddering old fool,” Kellim was clearly amused by this.

  “So, what next?” Lewen asked.

  Kellim picked up a stick and poked at the dying fire. “We should think about sleep. We’ve a long journey still. Jenna will be worrying about us and eager to see her brother so we must catch up with Carrick and Gwen in good time.”

  “I'll take the first watch,” Lewen offered, suddenly eager to make time move quicker.

  “I’ll do that," Kellim replied. “I’ve much to think about and at last a clear enough head to do it. You rest, I’ll wake you when it’s your turn.”

  “Okay,” Lewen shrugged settling himself down. “Though I'm wide awake now. It'll take me ages to get to sleep.” Lewen wrapped himself in his blanket and settled down. “Night Kellim, night Jac.”

  “Sleep well,” Kellim replied. He looked over at Jac who pointedly started counting on his fingers. As he reached his ninth, a loud snore rang out from the bundle of blankets.

  Jac snorted. “I think I can remember being that young,” he whispered.

  Kellim snorted. “And how old are you now?”

  “Twenty-six.”

  “Then you most definitely should. I am considerably older and can still remember being that young. However, I cannot remember ever snoring that loud.”

  An early start saw them on the last leg of their journey to collect Jenna. The air was chilly but the luxury of a hot breakfast helped set them off in good spirits. Jac in particular had spent too much time in his own thoughts and Kellim was glad that the change in terrain was about to prove more of a distraction. The old spice trail they were about to follow wove its way steadily through the Western Range of the Amarian Mountains, marking the border with more fertile lands in Ildra. As the sun rose and the full heat of the day asserted itself their pace slowed. The trail was dusty and barren, running between steep glaring escarpments. The going was difficult and loose under foot. Large boulders diverted the narrow path and at one point blocked it and had to be clambered over. They crossed the mountain river that kept a lazy pace with them several times. The bridges were serviceable if a little rickety and the only other sign that the trail was used regularly. However, they reached its widest point to find the bridge destroyed, providing Jac with a probable explanation for the lack of patrols at the entrance. It presented little problem to them, as Kellim was able to transport them across in the blink of an eye. As they continued the conversation was quiet and sparse, each concentrating on the journey until after several days Kellim began pausing to check the way behind them.

  “Anything wrong?” Jac asked, coming back to where Kellim stood shielding his eyes from the glare.

  “I think we’re being followed. Not by Naicarn’s men,” Kellim quickly added as Jac tensed and Lewen appeared wanting to know what was wrong.

  “Bandits?” Jac asked, thinking it unlikely even before Kellim shook his head. Merchants now limited business to the main roads still policed by soldiers. “Any ideas then?”

  Kellim tugged at the short beard on his chin. “I’ve never been good at this sort of thing. It’s not a strength of mine and all these rocks and bends make it very difficult.” He pulled a dissatisfied face. “Now, if Gwen were here she’d have a much better idea.”

  Jac looked about them searching the surrounding slopes and boulders for signs of movement. He shrugged off his bow. “I'll back track a bit and see what I can find.”

  “And I'll go on ahead,” Lewen offered.

  “No, we’re quite safe. The trace is fleeting and a long way off. There are no other tracks in this part of the pass so we should continue.”

  “If you're sure,” Jac was not fully convinced Kellim was telling all, but he knew better than to push the old Panid. Jac took a drink from his water and once again looked at the river below them, even less chance of a swim now. He poured some of the water over his head before following.

  By midday the pass began to open out and the steep walls started to fall away until eventually they rounded a long bend and found themselves looking down onto the fertile lands of Northern Ildra. Small clumps of spine trees marked open water and in the distance a fort was under construction. With a good line of sight Kellim was able to transport them well past it and they remained alert to the possibility of patrols. It was some time before they paused briefly to eat.

  “A softer bed for the night and a proper meal,” Jac stretched, before hefting his pack onto his back and steppe
d back into the full sun.

  “Indeed,” Kellim agreed, reluctant to step out of the shade. “And it will be good to spend some time with Malik.”

  “Yep,” Jac said looking at Lewen, a smile spreading across his face. “You've hardly mentioned her.”

  Lewen blushed slightly. “You mean Jenna? Err…well… we get on and she's good company and...”

  “You like her,” Jac interrupted, “And I think she likes you too.” He ruffled Lewen’s hair. “It's good to see you smile,” he relented not really wanting to embarrass the young man too much. “Come to think of it, you do a lot of that around her.”

  “I'm not sure what she thinks. I mean I don't talk much and she probably likes people who have a bit more to say and …” he slumped down on a rock. “It's…oh I don’t know. It’s just nice being around her,” Lewen tried to flatten his hair.

  Kellim smiled. “I’m quite sure she appreciates you for who you are. Remember it is often she who seeks you out and even though I’m well past all that sort of thing. I would say, that is a good sign. Like Jac I too am happy to see you smiling.” He turned pointedly to Jac. “Indeed, I’m happy to see you both smiling.” The point was not lost on Jac and a brief shadow of guilt passed over his face. “Come on my friends, the path waits,” Kellim gestured. “We have a little more walking to do until I can speed our progress again.”

  The other two checked their packs and set off with renewed energy. With a last lingering look over his shoulder Kellim finally turned and followed them. They laughed and talked as they walked and made good time despite the heat. Open terrain meant Kellim could make several transports that cut their journey time greatly. The tracks were easy going, flanked on either side by wide expanses of grassland, grazed by herds of horned animals. Here and there small huts, used by herders, sheltered from the hot sun under large spine trees. As they walked, the land became cultivated and was dotted with small-holdings and larger farms.