Final Voyage of the Remora Page 15
"You might," replied the witch as she bent down and touched the alligator. "Are you sure he will live?"
"You have my word on it," answered Yolinda.
The witch stood up and stared at Yolinda for several moments before nodding slightly.
"I am Haditha," she declared. "Sit down and I will get a cup of tea for you."
Yolinda looked at the small table and a lone chair in the corner of the room. Next to it was a large chest, and Yolinda chose to sit on the chest so that Haditha would be able to use the chair.
The witch poured tea from an old pot. Yolinda could not see a fireplace in the room, but steam came from the tea as the witch poured it. Haditha poured a second cup and then brought both cups over to the table. She placed one in front of Yolinda and then sat in the chair.
"What do you want from me?" Haditha asked.
"Very little actually," answered Yolinda. "You imprisoned me and my friends this afternoon. That was not a nice thing to do."
"So you are one of them, are ye?" asked Haditha. "I should have known, but how did you escape?"
Yolinda shrugged and smiled. "Why did you imprison us? We meant you no harm."
"Is that so?" retorted the witch. "You were planning to surround my home and attack me. Do not take me for a fool."
"Surround you, yes," conceded Yolinda, "but we would not have attacked you. We are travelers and are seeking information about the swamp. The people in the previous huts we have come across all fled when we approached. We wanted to avoid that this time. How did you know what we planned?"
Haditha looked unconvinced, but her guarded posture began to relax somewhat. "I hear things," she answered.
"That is quite a distance to hear things," smiled Yolinda. "You must have excellent ears."
"I don't hear things with my ears," Haditha responded as she poked a finger at her temple. "I hear them in my mind."
"Then you know that orders were given to ensure that no harm came to anyone inside this hut," stated Yolinda. "Yet you still imprisoned us."
"I couldn't be sure," Haditha said defensively. "I don't always hear the complete story. Besides, I only meant to scare you all off. Come morning there will be a path opened to the east. No harm was done."
"Perhaps," Yolinda mused with an air of disbelief, "but what about the alligators? Wouldn't they get hungry during the night?"
Haditha turned white, and she chewed on her lower lip.
"I thought so," Yolinda said accusingly. "How easily you are prepared to kill as long as the blood is not on your hands."
"That is unfair," protested the witch. "Your party is heavily armed. I assumed that you were from the Empire. How was I supposed to know?"
Yolinda stared at the old woman for a long time before responding. "How do you know now that we aren't from the Empire?" she asked.
"I am still alive," answered Haditha as she started to rise. "I must cast a spell to halt the island's shrinkage."
"Sit!" commanded Yolinda. "My people are in no danger."
"The island will reduce to nothing," warned Haditha.
"They are no longer on the island," smiled Yolinda.
"How?" the witch asked with wonder.
At that moment, Mikal entered the room and looked around. Haditha trembled slightly, but she made no move to magically attack him.
"Introduce me," Mikal said.
"Mikal," said Yolinda, "this is Haditha. I am sure that she is sorry for the trouble she has caused."
Haditha's eyes grew large as she stared at the Knight of Alcea. "Mikal?" she asked. "Are you from across the sea?"
Mikal raised an eyebrow at the old woman, but he said nothing.
"Mikal Obanik?" pressed the witch.
"How do you know me?" asked Mikal.
"I have heard of your coming," answered Haditha as she rose from her chair. "Sit. I will get you some tea."
Mikal glanced questioningly at Yolinda, but she shrugged her shoulders. He turned and watched the old woman pour hot tea out of an old pot that sat in the corner of the room. She smiled broadly as she returned to the table and handed the cup to Mikal. He took the cup and waved the old woman back into her chair.
"The Empire wants you badly, Mikal Obanik," the witch smiled as she sat down. "No wonder you are in the swamp. It is the last place they would look for you."
"How do you know this?" Mikal asked guardedly.
"As I was telling Yolinda," answered Haditha. "I hear things in my head. Sometimes what I hear is very close, but other times it comes from far away. Your name has been talked about for weeks."
"And you heard the Zaran Empire talking about me?" asked Mikal.
"The Empire of Barouk," corrected the witch. "Although they aim to make it the same thing, they have not yet conquered all of Zara."
"Do you mean that the Empire of Barouk is waging war against other countries here?" asked Yolinda.
"Nothing so simple as that," Haditha shook her head. "Oh, it may come to that in the end, but Emperor Jaar prefers more subtle means of gaining what he wants. He spreads his tentacles through devious channels, and you had best beware even in those areas where the Baroukans are not in control. He intends to capture you, Mikal Obanik, and he usually gets what he wants."
"What of those who travel with me?" asked Mikal. "Are they known as well?"
"Not by name that I know of," shrugged Haditha, "but I do not control what I hear. Were your name not mentioned so continuously, I doubt that I would have remembered it."
Mikal fell quiet as he contemplated the ramifications of the witch's information. He distractedly sniffed at the tea, and the witch laughed heartily.
"I have no desire to poison you," chuckled the witch. "Anyone who intends trouble for the Empire is welcome in my home."
"You said that the Empire was after you as well," Yolinda said. "Why is that?"
"I am a water witch," replied Haditha as if that explained everything. Seeing the blank expressions on the faces of her guests, she continued, "Water witches are rare in Zara. For centuries we have been used on ships sent out to explore the world, and we served with pride, but the Baroukans are a different breed of Zarans. They do not seek to explore, but rather to plunder and kill. When they started to bring slaves back to this land, the water witches decided to protest. We could not be a party to the suffering of the dwarves and elves. At first the Baroukans merely threatened us, but then they began enslaving us as well. Many of the witches fled, but the Baroukans hunted us down. Few of us survived."
"Dwarves?" asked Mikal. "There are dwarves on Zara?"
"Not any more," Haditha shook her head. "They all died off hundreds of years ago, but the elves still live. The Elfwoods are full of them from what I hear. Of course, I have not been there in a long time."
"How long?" Yolinda asked suspiciously.
"Almost four hundred years now," answered Haditha.
"Four hundred years?" echoed Mikal.
"Water witches live for a very long time," smiled Haditha. "Our bodies are mostly water, after all. It is one of the benefits of holding the ability."
"Where is this Elfwoods?" asked Mikal.
"Beyond the Barrier," answered Haditha.
"The Barrier?" questioned Yolinda.
"I forget your origins," smiled Haditha. "The Barrier is the range of mountains that splits Zara in two. There are only three passes through the Barrier. Sebastian Pass far to the north, Ramaldi Pass in the center, and the Chute down here in the swamp. The Elfwoods stretch from the Barrier to the Badlands and from the Despair River to the sea. That forest is a major part of the Empire of Barouk."
"Then we should head for the Chute," Mikal said as he nodded in thanks.
"That would not be wise," the witch responded. "While the Chute does pass through the Barrier, it truly is only passable from east to west. Most of the pass is fast-flowing water, which is where it gets its name. The Muddy River comes out of the Chute and flows into the swamp. Going through it from this side is impossible, and no one
in his right mind would come through it from the other side. You will find that Zarans avoid the swamp unless they have no choice. That is one of the reasons I live here."
"I am sure that is only one of the reasons," smiled Yolinda as she gazed at the thawing alligator. "Will he behave when he thaws?"
"Oh yes," chuckled Haditha. "They are really well-mannered creatures. Only when they are truly hungry will they ever bother anyone, and he has eaten far too much to be a threat to you."
Mikal looked questioningly at Yolinda and flicked his eyes towards the witch. Yolinda smiled in return.
"Haditha," asked Yolinda, "there is much that we do not know about Zara. Would you be willing to let us stay for a few days? We would camp outside and not disturb you other than to ask questions."
"As enemies of the Empire," smiled Haditha, "you are welcome to stay for as long as you need. I am not sure how much help I can be to you, as I no longer travel the world, but I will share whatever I can. I only ask that you do not mention finding a water witch in the swamp. Emperor Jaar would spare no expense to find one of us."
"Fair enough," smiled Yolinda. "And you will make no mention of Mikal Obanik, either."
"Actually, I think it is time to change our names," declared Mikal. "Mikal and Yolinda must disappear."
"I have always preferred Kalina," suggested Yolinda.
"You will have no argument from me," chuckled Mikal. "I always preferred her, too."
Yolinda laughed. "Then Garth and Kalina Shado we shall be," she declared. "Perhaps during our travels we can spread the rumor of Mikal's demise."
Chapter 12
Rivers of Magic
The sun was dropping low towards the horizon as Garth and Kalina exited the brick hut and approached the small gathering around Clint McFarren. The Ranger had his chart spread out on the ground while he knelt beside it with Karl Gree and Prince Rigal.
"The chart is filling in nicely," commented Garth.
"If it is accurate," nodded Clint. "Two days of questioning the witch has provided a bounty of information, but can we depend on it?"
"You can't believe that Haditha might be giving us false information?" Kalina asked.
"Not at all," answered Clint, "but even she has said that what she remembers might no longer be true. It has been a long time since she has ventured outside the swamp. A lot of things can change in a hundred years."
"You will have to have the fairies verify its accuracy," stated Garth. "One thing we can depend upon is the basic geography of Zara. Even if the borders of the countries have changed, at least we have that."
"Don't be too sure," interjected Kalina. "Do not forget what the collapsing of the Universes did to Alcea, and that was only a couple of decades ago."
Garth's eyes grew wide, and he nodded thoughtfully. "I had not thought of that," he conceded.
"Still," remarked Clint, "what we have now is a vast improvement over the blank chart we started with. I will continue to utilize the fairies to verify it."
"Use them wisely," warned Garth. "We will be splitting up when we leave this swamp. That will reduce the number of fairies at your disposal."
"Have you decided where we will be going?" asked Prince Rigal.
"You and your kinsman are dedicated to finding the Dielderal," answered Garth. "The best place for you to begin your search is the Elfwoods. Mite will be your communications link to the rest of us."
The elven prince nodded, and Clint looked at Garth questioningly.
"You will lead the Rangers to complete this chart," Garth answered the unspoken question. "If Haditha is correct about the scope of the Barrier, I suspect that will be your best vantage point to start with. That will allow Runt to map both the east and the west while keeping you and your men where the Zarans will not find you."
"Only Runt?" frowned Clint. "That will slow down the mapping a great deal."
"Understood," replied Garth, "but you will have plenty of time to complete the task. Based on the distances Haditha gave us, it will take my group over a month just to reach the Ramaldi Pass, and that is quite a distance from the Sea of Tears. Had I known about the Barrier earlier, I would have taken my chances with the sharks."
"I wish we had brought horses with us," commented Clint. "You will need several pairs of boots just to get to the Sea of Tears."
"The horses would never have survived," Kalina pointed out. "We barely had enough water for the people."
"It is too late to deal with such thoughts," Garth said with an air of finality. "We will have to adapt to our current situation."
"What about me?" asked Karl Gree.
"You are well suited to accompany either the elves or the Rangers," replied Garth. "Both could use your help, but the decision is yours."
"But not with the Knights of Alcea?" queried Karl.
"Not right now," Garth answered without hesitation. "I plan to enter the cities of Zara, and the best way to do that is as young couples. Tedi and Natia will accompany Kalina and me. People have a tendency to take notice of single males far too much for my liking. As couples we will blend in easily."
"I could use your help," Clint said to Karl, "and having Peanut along with Runt will make the mapping twice as quick."
"That might be wise," interjected Prince Rigal. "The Dielderal will probably not be comfortable in the presence of a human. If we need help, we can always send Mite to ask for some."
"Then it is decided," nodded Karl. "I still wish we could find at least four horses for you, Garth. It would save you a tremendous amount of time. Ramaldi Pass if an awfully long trek."
"And it is only half way to the Sea of Tears," nodded Garth. "Horses would make life simpler."
"Let me ask Haditha," volunteered Kalina. "Perhaps she knows someone who has horses."
Kalina turned to reenter the hut, and Garth hurried to catch up to her. Together they entered the home of the water witch. Haditha smiled knowingly and added two more cups of tea next to hers on the table.
"You knew that we were coming back in?" asked Kalina.
"I hear things," smiled the witch. "Sometimes even when the words are spoken nearby."
"Then you already must know what we are about to ask," tested Kalina.
"I do," grinned the witch, "but I don't."
"I am confused," interjected Garth. "You do, or you don't?"
"I do know what you want to ask," declared Haditha, "but I don't know anyone with horses."
"A pity," chuckled Garth. "That would have made the trip to the Sea of Tears much easier."
Haditha stared intently at Garth and Kalina while they drank their tea.
"I have welcomed you into my home," Haditha said in a serious manner, "and shared what I know about Zara, but you have not shared anything about yourselves with me. Why have you come across the sea?"
Garth and Kalina glanced at one another for a long awkward moment. Finally Kalina sighed and nodded her head.
"The Zarans have been sending people to our homeland for some years now," explained Kalina. "The men that were sent were intent on killing and plundering. As we battled these Zarans we discovered their plan to send armies across the sea to conquer Alcea. We have come to see what we can do to spoil their scheme."
"So you are on a noble quest?" asked the water witch.
"We are trying to save our people from extinction," answered Garth. "To be truthful, we are not sure what we can accomplish here. Our main objective is to learn as much as we can about our enemies. If we can also take action to cripple their armies, we will do so."
"So you have come prepared to kill?" asked Haditha.
"I will not lie to you, Haditha," sighed Garth. "While I would prefer not to kill, I am a warrior. I do not kill indiscriminately, but I would not hesitate to defend my friends or myself. Nor would I pass up an opportunity to strike a serious blow to my enemies if I could do so successfully."
"But there are only eleven of you," retorted Haditha. "What can you possibly do to harm the Empire of Barouk?"
"You haven't answered my question," pressed Haditha.
"We are not just eleven soldiers," interjected Kalina, "as I am sure you are aware. While not wanting to sound boastful, we are among the most able of Alcea. If it comes to a battle with the Zarans, we will make them suffer greatly before we die."
The water witch grinned broadly. "I suspected as much, Kalina. I have watched your people practice for the last two days. While I am not an expert on staffs, swords, or bows, I do recognize talent when I see it. Is Natia a witch as well?"
"No," Kalina shook her head. "Natia is a gypsy warrior. Do not let her charming smile disarm you. She can be deadly when it is called for. Why are you concerned with our skills?"
It was Haditha's turn to remain silent for a while. The water witch stared blankly out the window as if weighing some heavy burden. Finally, she looked back at Kalina and smiled.
"I have not left my home in many years," Haditha said softly. "It is too dangerous for me even to come close to the edge of the swamp. If the Baroukans captured me, it would mean a lifetime of slavery at best. At worst, I would no longer exist."
"We would never reveal your existence," promised Garth. "We have already given you our word on that. Your home is safe."
"You have indeed," replied Haditha, "and I know your words to be true. Yet, it is another thought that causes my conversation today. You asked about horses, and I do know where you might find some. There are no guarantees of course, but the city of Calusa in Karamin would be the closest place to look for some."
Garth started to rise, but Haditha held out her hand to stop him.
"I need to see the chart," explained Garth. "I cannot picture where Calusa is."
"Sit," smiled the water witch.
Garth frowned, but he sat down again. Haditha turned her cup over and spilled her tea onto the table. The liquid did not race for the edge of the table as Garth had expected. Instead it swirled and coalesced into a representation of a portion of Zara. Garth recognized the shape of the lower half of Zara. As he stared at the spilled tea, streams began to flow through it, and lakes appeared.