Quelling the South

Quelling the South

Three Drops of Raoy 2

Alexandra A. Cheshire

Published by Howling Wolf Books at Smashwords

Copyright 2016 Alexandra A. Cheshire

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All characters, events and places in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual people or places past or present is strictly coincidental.

Table of Contents

Prologue

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Epilogue

About Alexandra A. Cheshire

Other Works by Alexandra A. Cheshire

For all those who continue to aid me on my journey

Prologue

The blond, well built, golden skinned man looks up on hearing footsteps. His amber eyes easily spot another man approaching. This one is also blond and of the same height and build, but with blue and green streaks through his hair and bright green eyes.

Tariq, The golden man straightens up, You're back without Qamra or Shiri?

Tariq nods, Not my first choice, but Qamra said you should be warned the border's weakening. Also they've found some way under or around... They're coming around for another invasion now. Without another obstacle in place...

I know, The golden man sighs, I also know the border could fail any time. Qamra said five years and it's been four and a half. Speaking of whom...

Tariq shakes his head, You know Qamra won't be back until whatever path she is following brings her back.

Ravi?

Both men turn to look at the approaching brunette woman. Her dark brown eyes are studying both of them. Her fingers absently toy with one of the many feathers in the ends of her long hair.

Did you finish? She is addressing the golden man.

Ravi nods, We're as protected as we're likely to get... short of Qamra's return.

The woman shakes her head, Don't plan around Qamra. She'll turn up when she's ready, do what she feels is necessary, and be off again.

You're wasting your breath, Sidra, Tariq is shaking his head, Have you been keeping your own eye on the border?

We've been sending patrol groups. Two just returned, Ravi answers the question, And another three due back tomorrow.

Sidra is studying Tariq carefully, What's bothering you?

He takes a deep breath, My cousin. They're hunting him. There's mention of traitor in almost every broadcast between the oncoming groups. They won't care what I did to him. Only that he told me everything he ever knew about them.

Sidra and Ravi exchange glances before Ravi speaks, He won't be the only one they hunt.

They won't interrogate you, Tariq counters, If they get their hands on him... I know he doesn't want it to happen... I don't really either... but if it does...

You think they could force him to talk? Sidra frowns.

I know they could, Tariq scowls, And with no more difficulty than I did.

Ravi and Sidra exchange another glance. This time it's Sidra who speaks, He was part of one of the patrol groups who haven't reported back.

He seemed genuinely concerned when he volunteered for the patrol, Ravi adds, Do you want to wait here and see if his group returns on time?

I can't, Tariq draws in a deep breath, releasing it slowly, Qamra wants eyes and ears in the very south and since I can make myself go unnoticed... But I need some equipment she doesn't have access to.

Ravi nods, You'll have to speak with Aldan about it. But what if you get captured? They could easily use you against us.

And while they would have a harder time making me talk, they might be able to do it. Tariq grimaces.

Sidra frowns, You're no use to either side without your memory.

Ravi considers the idea with a deepening frown, If it's talking you fear...

Sidra slowly nods, Mute might do the trick... Preferably via ritual so it can be undone later, once the danger is past.

Tariq takes a deep breath, Is it even doable?

Ravi nods, I know the ritual. Midday would make it most effective.

Tariq nods.

And after? Ravi is studying the other man, Will you leave right away?

Once I have the equipment I need. Tariq's eyes meet Ravi's.

Sidra frowns thoughtfully, Perhaps a weaving is in order. You have enough time before midday.

It's Tariq's turn to frown, A weaving?

Trust me, Sidra's eyes meet his, Qamra did what she did with an ulterior motive in mind. That's just how she works. There's something more in your path.

Tariq sighs, I don't second guess Qamra. But I'll do the weaving if it's so important.

If you would. Sidra nods.

Ravi addresses Tariq, Midday, by the creek.

I'll be there. Then Tariq follows Sidra through the city gate and along the streets to her workshop. Inside, she takes a basket full of skeins of thread from a cabinet and holds it out.

I'm sure you know how this works.

Tariq nods, his eyes studying the various colours. The first two skeins he picks are bright blue and bright green. The next two are silvery grey and golden yellow. The last one is a red as bright as fresh blood. On seeing the red, Sidra frowns, then nods to herself. She puts the basket away as Tariq takes the threads to an open spot on the floor. He settles himself comfortably before letting his fingers go to work.

Tariq blinks and looks up to see Sidra standing nearby.

You'll have to run to meet Ravi on time, Her expression is apologetic, I'll clean up here.

Tariq glances over the scattered bits of thread surrounding him, then at the woven and knotted cord in his hands. The contrasting colours form a chaotic almost pattern from one end to the other. Tariq sighs as he goes to fasten it around his wrist. Sidra ends up helping tie it in place.

Get going.

Tariq nods before leaving the workshop. Outside, he glances up at the sky overhead. Realizing just how late it is, he takes off running for the city gate closest to the creek. By the time Tariq finds Ravi standing on the bank, the green eyed man is breathless.

Ravi studies him, amber eyes going to the cord on Tariq's wrist, You're ready?

Yes.

Ravi extends an arm, palm facing up. On his hand is a small white stone. Hold this in your mouth.

Tariq takes the stone and sets it on his tongue. Then he watches as Ravi scoops some creek water into a ceramic container. A mixture of powdered herbs gets sprinkled on the surface.

Spit the stone in here. Ravi stands back.

Tariq bends down, making sure the stone goes directly from his mouth into the liquid. The stone enters the liquid with a plop and sinks to the bottom. That done, Tariq straightens up and turns back to Ravi.

The golden man glances over him, Tell me your name.

Tariq moves his mouth to answer, but no sound comes out.

My name?

Tariq attempts it with the same result.

Ravi nods, Keep in mind only Qamra or I can reverse this.

Tariq nods.

Ravi glances at the cord again, I don't know what path has been set you, I just won't stand in the way of your following it.

Tariq also glances at the cord. He grimaces briefly before nodding again.

One

I'm breathing hard and soaked in sweat when I wake, just like last night and the night before and the night before that. Easing myself into a sitting position, I look around. Nothing seems out of place. In fact our camp is exactly as it was when I fell asleep. My eyes go to the woman rolled into a blanket across the firepit from me. She's still sound asleep and probably will be until dawn.

My mind plays back through the remnants of my dream. The more I try to recall, the more the fragments slip away. Still, I'm certain it's the same dream I've had every night for days now. I think it's time to see what's happening in the wider world again.

Except the seeking ritual which would give me the best information is most effective when done at midday. Which means I need to get more sleep and go about my morning as usual. It would be easier if my companion didn't know me well enough to tell something is wrong.

Qamra? She's studying me critically.

I shake my head, I've had the same dream every night for days.

She frowns, You're sure?

Once midday comes, I'll do a seeking. See what's going on.

She nods to herself, Could it be time to go back?

I shrug, We'll see. I go back to the component preparation I'd been working on.

Just before midday, we go over to the still pond we've been camped beside. My companion seats herself on the bank while I sprinkle a mixture of powdered herbs over the water. Both of us study the images which appear in the still water. Neither of us speaks until the last image clears.

Another invasion? She shivers.

We expected it would happen sooner or later. Just maybe not to this extent or this soon I sit beside her, Shiri, I need you to go to Ravi and Sidra. Tell Ravi to meet me at the eastern end of the border. Then stay with Sidra to help her defend the city if necessary.

Shiri frowns, but nods, Tariq?

Is following his own path for now. As much as I don't like to be apart from my husband, it's nothing more or less than the truth. Still, I know it won't be forever.

Her frown deepens, but she nods again.

A moment later, we get up and return to our camp to finish up any tasks in progress.

In the morning, after a dreamless night for me, Shiri and I pack up our camp, dividing gear and supplies as necessary since we're going two different directions. As we finish, she begins to look apprehensive.

You know enough to get yourself there safely, I double check I have everything I know I will need, And you know more than enough to give Sidra any help she needs.

Shiri nods slowly, I know, She sighs, And I know I'll be okay.

Somehow I don't think that's what's bothering her right now. Since she doesn't say anything else, I leave it alone.

Take care, Qamra, Shiri adjusts the straps of her bag on her shoulders, We'll meet up again after this crisis is resolved?

I nod, Probably at the city. Undoubtedly Ravi will want to return home after this.

He'd like you to as well. Shiri's expression twists wryly.

No city will ever be my home. I shake my head, Take care.

She's chuckling as she sets out due east. I'm headed south for a while before I turn east.

In our wanderings over the last however long it's been, we had somehow ended up right on the west coast of the continent. Now both of us have a long hike to get to our different destinations. By going due east, she has to pass through two mountain ranges and the wasteland left behind from the first invasion five years ago. For me, headed south, I'll stay close to the coast until I absolutely have to turn east. I'll also have to cross part of the wasteland, but I'll bypass the mountains.

What I didn't tell Shiri is I want to make two stops before meeting Ravi.

The first stop is right on the coast, in a beautiful little cove. We had stumbled on this place over a year ago when fleeing some trouble we'd accidently disturbed. It's a haven protected by an aquatic race we'd never heard of. On the other hand, for as much as the science side of our society had explored and investigated the world around them, there's a lot they never came even close to finding. But now I'm returning to the gyti cove with a specific purpose in mind.

I arrive at the cove just after midday and spend the hot afternoon in the shade of some overhanging rocks. Once the sun goes down, I leave my bag in a hole in the rocks and walk down to the edge of the water. Looking out, I can see what appear to be small white waves in the silvery grey ocean. I kick off my shoes and wade out to meet those waves. I'm knee deep in the surf when gyti heads surface around me.

Gyti, at their largest, are maybe half my size. They have sleek grey-blue skin with large pale eyes set on either side of their heads. Their faces, as far as I can tell, consist of gills on either side of a wide mouth. One set of flippers extends from their sides just behind their heads. A second, smaller set extends from their sides, just above their tails, which are fluked.

You return, The largest of the gyti is studying me with those large eyes, Seek aid?

I take a deep breath, Last time we spoke, you expressed a concern. Has the situation changed?

No.

I nod to myself, I think I might know the source of your concern.

Can help? There's a hopeful note to the query.

I hope so.

Seek aid? The earlier question is repeated.

If you have any to offer.

The heads all vanish below the surface for a short time. Then the