Island of Darkness Read online

  “I didn’t know,” apologized Aakuta as he moved to the table and sat down. “I am sorry.”

  “I also disposed of that krul child you killed on the beach,” Lady Mystic continued. “Such a fiery death would certainly cause alarms to sound.”

  “Child?” frowned Aakuta. “That thing was over seven feet tall.”

  “Child,” repeated Lady Mystic. “The average krul is at least ten feet. Some grow to over fifteen feet. Here, try this on,” she added as she tossed a package to Aakuta.

  Aakuta opened the package and saw a fine black cloak with a hood. His eyes opened wide in appreciation of the fine craftsmanship. He stood up and held the garment before him. Nodding, he stripped off his hooded cloak and dropped it on the floor. He pulled the new cloak on.

  “Much better,” smiled lady Mystic. “You might have gotten by with the old one, but why take chances. Why didn’t you take Smarc’s when you killed him?”

  “Smarc was a skinny thing,” shrugged Aakuta. “I could never fit in anything that small.”

  “Well, you are a large man,” grinned Lady Mystic. “At least you are properly dressed now. I did not want to be seen in public with you wearing those old rags.”

  “In public?” echoed Aakuta. “Why are you doing this for me? Surely you will get in trouble if you are caught with me?”

  “Then you had best not do anything to arouse suspicion,” smiled Lady Mystic. “At least not until you have met with Vand. Until then, I think I will enjoy having you around. This island can get quite boring at times. Finish your tea. I want to show you the sights.”

  Aakuta finished his tea and placed the cup on the laboratory table. He looked quizzically at the woman and then shrugged with a devilish smile.

  “Lead on, Lady Mystic,” he said. “Show me the sights of Motanga.”

  Lady Mystic smiled as she opened the door and stepped into the alley. After Aakuta had joined her, she waved her hand over the door to seal it.

  “I take it you don’t trust the natives?” Aakuta asked as one eyebrow rose.

  “Trust is such a misunderstood word,” chuckled Lady Mystic. “I trust that some people would not think twice about entering my home and making off with everything they could carry. So, in a sense, I trust the natives a great deal.”

  Aakuta shook his head and chuckled. He walked silently alongside the woman as she led him onto a wide boulevard. His eyes constantly moved to take in the sights of the strange city. The shops lining the street were much like the stores that one would find in any city, but there was something different about them. Aakuta could not put his finger on it, but there was a feeling of death in the air.

  As he studied each passerby with curiosity, he noticed two distinct types of men. Some wore black cloaks and hoods as he did. The others wore bright red uniforms and were obviously military men. The women wore a variety of clothing. Some were hooded similarly to the men, while others wore colorful dresses. Some women wore only plain brown tunics, and Aakuta wondered if they were slaves.

  Lady Mystic did not narrate on the journey. She walked at a moderate pace, and Aakuta noticed that she was trying to give a complete tour of the city as she continually backtracked on parallel streets. Eventually they emerged from the houses and shops into a wide plaza. Fine stonework covered the ground for hundreds of paces right down to the harbor’s edge.

  When they reached the quay, Aakuta stopped and stared out into the harbor. Dozens of huge ships were anchored offshore. The vessels were obviously new and had not been weathered yet.

  “They are large,” Aakuta commented softly.

  “They must be to transport the armies,” replied Lady Mystic. “Come this way. I will show you the shipyards.”

  Lady Mystic led the way along the quay. They walked for fifteen minutes and around the natural curve of the island. Lady Mystic halted when Aakuta suddenly stopped and stared at the shipyards. A series of monstrous frameworks rose high above the island. Cradled in each of the frameworks was a huge ship under construction. Hundreds of workman moved over the frameworks like tiny ants streaming in every direction. While the ships had looked large in the harbor, they were gigantic up close.

  “They must carry a thousand men each,” gasped Aakuta.

  “Easily,” remarked Lady Mystic. “This is not the only shipyard, either. There are three others scattered around the island. The army sent forth from Motanga will be the largest ever seen since the fall of Vandegar.”

  “Why are you showing me all of this?” frowned Aakuta. “I must presume that the building of this great navy is a closely held secret of Vand’s.”

  “As secret as he can keep it,” nodded Lady Mystic. “Any ship sailing near Motanga is intercepted. The crews are either destroyed or captured. The ships are sunk. The arrival of your small ship would be an embarrassment to the authorities. Perhaps your clothing was sufficiently close enough to local garb to spare you from close scrutiny.”

  “But you didn’t answer my question,” prompted Aakuta. “Why are you showing me these things?”

  “I am not sure,” Lady Mystic admitted after a slight hesitation. “I don’t expect that you will ever leave this island, but I suppose there is more to it. I wanted to see your reaction to gauge where your sentiments lie.”

  “And what have you discovered?” inquired the dark mage.

  “Little,” frowned Lady Mystic. “You hide your emotions well. You are a mystery, Aakuta, and I find that attractive. This whole civilization is geared for war, but I find wars quite boring. Your meeting with Vand promises much more entertainment than a hundred thousand men charging another hundred thousand men. It will be a battle of wits, and that is the most delicious battle of all.”

  “So you expect me to oppose him?” questioned Aakuta.

  “I do not know what to expect,” chuckled Lady Mystic. “That is the delight of it. I can hardly wait to see what happens.”

  Aakuta turned and stared at the huge pyramid that overlooked the city. He knew that his entrance into the holy temple of Vand might well be the last journey that he ever undertook. The thought brought a tremor of fear to his body, but the dark mage found the feeling exhilarating.

  “When will he see me?” the dark mage asked.

  “When I am ready to present you,” declared Lady Mystic. “I shall enjoy your company for a few more days before your audience. Excitement is best served after it has simmered a while.”

  * * *

  StarWind dashed into the temple atop the palace in StarCity. MistyTrail was on her knees in the center of the pentagon inscribed on the floor. Her head was bowed with her chin resting upon her chest. She did not look up when the Sakovan spymaster entered.

  “MistyTrail,” called StarWind. “Enough with your prayers. If you have not received guidance enough by now, your answer will not be forthcoming. We have a problem.”

  MistyTrail’s head rose, and she turned to look at StarWind.

  “I have received what I have asked for,” stated MistyTrail. “I was merely thanking Kaltara for showing me the way. What is the problem?”

  “Mistake is missing,” StarWind announced. “I thought she was hiding in her room these past few days as you were in this temple, but I decided that is was time for the two of you to stop acting so childish. I entered her room unbidden and found that she was gone.”

  “Perhaps she is in one of the gardens?” suggested MistyTrail.

  “I don’t mean that she has left her room,” frowned StarWind. “I have already had the city searched for her. I mean she has left StarCity.”

  “No,” MistyTrail gasped. “That is not possible. How could she escape without the guards knowing? Where will she go?”

  “I don’t know,” admitted StarWind. “I doubt she could possibly return to Fakara without provisions and transportation. MistyTrail, she has a magical carozit that will lead people directly to you. If she is captured in an Omungan city, the location of StarCity could be learned.”

  MistyTrail stood unsteadily
and frowned at the pentagon beneath her feet. Her body shook with tremors as her muscles refused to assume a position other than the kneeling she had done for the past few days. StarWind rushed over to steady her.

  “We must find her, and quickly,” StarWind said with urgency. “I have alerted HawkShadow and SkyDancer. They are working the fringes of the Sakova.”

  “She is not to be hurt,” MistyTrail said worriedly.

  “I doubt that they would have to use force to stop her,” mused StarWind.

  MistyTrail was silent for several moments as she tried to control her body. Eventually, a deep frown creased her forehead.

  “They will not find her,” MistyTrail said with conviction.

  “HawkShadow can find anyone,” asserted StarWind, “and other than yourself, SkyDancer is the best assistant that HawkShadow could have.”

  “Other than myself,” echoed MistyTrail. “Mistake is much like me. Oh, she does not know the ways of the Sakova, but she has spent her life being invisible. At times, her very survival has required this. Mistake will not be stopped.”

  “We must bring this information before Lyra,” StarWind decided. “Let me help you.”

  “I am fine now,” MistyTrail insisted as she waved off StarWind’s help. “Let’s talk to the Star of Sakova.”

  StarWind led MistyTrail out of the temple and off of the palace roof. They walked silently through the corridors until they reached Lyra’s office. The door was open and they entered the room. Lyra looked up and smiled as the two Sakovans took seats before Lyra’s desk.

  “Did you find her?” asked Lyra.

  “She is not in the city,” reported StarWind. “I alerted HawkShadow and SkyDancer, but MistyTrail is convinced that Mistake has the ability to leave the Sakova undetected.”

  “The timing of this is most unfortunate,” frowned the Star of Sakova. “I just received a message from SunChaser in Okata. I was about to send for you, StarWind.”

  “What is wrong in the capital of Omunga?” asked the Sakovan spymaster.

  “The Katana made a public speech today,” replied Lyra. “He denounced the Sakovans as treacherous enemies of the people of Omunga.”

  “But I thought Larst was for peace with us?” frowned StarWind.

  “As did I,” sighed Lyra. “I have made a terrible misjudgment of the man. I hope the damage that I have caused can be limited in some way. Having Mistake and her carozit end up in Omungan hands right now would mean the end of the Sakovans.”

  “I will issue immediate orders to our people,” declared StarWind. “We will send out two patrols to cover the entire Sakova. I will alert my spies in Omungan cities to keep an eye out for her. We will find her.”

  “No, you won’t,” insisted MistyTrail.

  “We must,” retorted StarWind. “Her carozit must be destroyed. There is no other way.”

  “There is another way,” MistyTrail said softly.

  “What is it?” asked Lyra.

  “I must leave the Sakova,” declared MistyTrail. “Her carozit will only point towards me. If I am not here, the Omungans will not discover StarCity.”

  Tears started to roll down MistyTrail’s face, and StarWind put her arm around the small Sakovan.

  “No,” soothed StarWind. “There must be another way. The Sakova is your whole life. You can’t just abandon it.”

  “Where will you go?” asked Lyra.

  “I don’t know,” MistyTrail admitted tearfully. “I suppose that I will track down Mistake. It is what Kaltara would want me to do.”

  “Where will you start?” asked Lyra.

  “Alamar,” answered MistyTrail. “Kaltara showed me an image of what I thought was myself in piles of watula. Now I understand that it must have been Mistake that he showed me.”

  “The caravans,” nodded StarWind. “Why did I not think of that? What an easy way to slip out of the city. I could contact FalconEye and have him search the city for her.”

  “No,” MistyTrail shook her head adamantly. “Mistake has done no wrong to us. It is not her fault that her sister resides in a secret city. She is not to be bothered by Sakovans. I, alone, will go to her. It is the proper thing to do.”

  Chapter 6

  A Boat for a Boat

  MistyTrail rode into the Omungan city of Alamar on the last wagon of the Sakovan food caravan. As the caravan passed the center of the city, she bade farewell to the Sakovans and jumped from the wagon. She stood in the street for a few moments, watching the caravan continue onward to the headquarters of the Imperial Guard. She was surprised to see the soldiers running out of the building and hailing the Sakovans, as one would greet an overdue friend. She shook her head in amazement and turned the corner onto a narrower street.

  MistyTrail was not sure where she should begin her search for Mistake, but she did know where she would find a hot meal and a place to sleep. She had heard that Lyra’s uncle had rebuilt his school. She had even talked to a few mages who had been there for magic training. She followed the directions that had been given to her.

  She felt awkward carrying all of her belongings in her pack. She was used to traveling lightly on her patrols of the fringes of the Sakova. She adjusted her pack several times during the short walk to the magic school. As she walked into the school, several students looked at her in confusion before returning to their studies. MistyTrail ignored them. She walked through the large common classroom and along a corridor that led to smaller classrooms. The rear end of the corridor opened into the dining room. Temiker was sitting at the table with an empty plate in front of him. He looked as if he had just finished the midday meal and was sipping a cup of tea. MistyTrail noticed a second plate at the spot next to the master magician, but no one else was in the room. Temiker silently waved invitingly to MistyTrail and indicated that she should sit.

  MistyTrail removed her pack and sat down at the table. Her mouth opened to speak, but Temiker smiled and shook his head. She said nothing as she frowned in confusion. A moment later, Mistake entered the room with a cup of tea. She walked mechanically towards the chair next to Temiker. When she looked up and saw MistyTrail, she dropped the cup of tea. The cup shattered on the floor.

  “What are you doing here?” gasped Mistake as she looked at MistyTrail and then accusingly at Temiker.

  “I have nothing to do with this,” Temiker declared defensively as he stood up. “I will clean up the mess and get you both some tea.”

  As Temiker swiftly left the room, Mistake rose hesitantly.

  “I thought you would be glad to see me,” frowned MistyTrail.

  “I am not returning to StarCity,” Mistake declared. “Who told you where I was?”

  “No one told me,” MistyTrail said sadly. “I came here for some food and a place to sleep. I did not know that you would be here.”

  “That makes more sense,” scowled Mistake. “I bet you are traveling with the watula caravans.”

  “I did ride into the city on one,” nodded MistyTrail, “but I am not going back with it.”

  “Well, don’t even think of trying to talk me into going back with you,” Mistake said adamantly. “I know where I am not wanted.”

  “You are a fool if you think the Sakovans would not accept you,” frowned MistyTrail. “What did they do to you that was so terrible that you have to speak of them this way?”

  Mistake stood speechless as Temiker returned with two fresh cups of tea. He placed one on the table in front of Mistake and the other in front of the empty chair next to her.

  “I would prefer that you drink your tea on this side of the table,” he said to MistyTrail. “That side has already been cleaned.”

  MistyTrail nodded distractedly and picked up her pack.

  “Aren’t you glad to see her?” Temiker asked Mistake. “I thought you would be ready by this time.”

  “She is just sent to make me go back,” snipped Mistake. “She doesn’t care about me. They probably thought she had the best chance of finding me. I guess they were right. I
should have left for Fakara a week ago.”

  Tears rolled down MistyTrail’s face as she lugged her pack around the table. She dropped it on the floor near the chair

  “What are you carrying in that pack?” asked Temiker. “It looks like it weighs more than you do.”

  “Just my belongings,” sniffed MistyTrail as she pulled the chair out to sit down.

  “Have you run away, too?” asked Temiker.

  Mistake’s brow creased as she looked at the pack on the floor and then at Temiker’s concerned face. She looked at MistyTrail questioningly.

  “I have left the Sakova,” stated MistyTrail.

  “Why?” asked Temiker.

  “To find Mistake,” MistyTrail said softly.

  “I knew it,” scowled Mistake. “At least you admit it.”

  “You hardly need all of your belongings to come to Alamar,” frowned Temiker. “Where did you expect to go to find Mistake?”

  “Fakara,” sniffed MistyTrail, “but that is not why I carry all of my belongings. I am not returning to the Sakova.”

  “So you have left your people to join your sister?” Temiker nodded as his eyes moistened. He knew rather well what MistyTrail was giving up.

  MistyTrail merely nodded and stared at the floor. Mistake’s mouth fell open in surprise, and defiance fled from her eyes. The room was silent for a long moment; only the distant sounds of students talking in the classrooms could be heard. A singled tear rolled down Mistake’s cheek as she moved close to MistyTrail and hugged her. MistyTrail hugged her in return.

  “I am sorry,” sniffed Mistake. “I never meant to make you choose between the Sakovans and me. I just wanted you to love me as I love you. I will go back to StarCity with you.”

  “I could not understand how you felt in the Garden of Hope,” sniffed MistyTrail, “but I think you taught that to me today. To come chasing after you, only to have you reject me, hurt a great deal. I understand you now. We are very much alike.”

  “I will get my things,” offered Mistake as she tried to break the embrace.