Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Salam dozed fitfully for much of the night. Finally he fell into a deep enough sleep that he had a dream.

A large gray rock sat in the middle of a forest. It was perhaps as large as himself. The moon shined bright above, filtered through the leaves. From his right, a bright light started growing in the sky. It came closer, growing larger. He watched as what appeared to be a star came and fell right next to the rock. Salam stepped closer, examining the star. It was as large as the rock beside it and burned with a hot white fire. As he looked closer, he saw tendrils of darkness beneath the white, spiraling throughout the inside of the star. Since he was close enough, he investigated the rock. Now he was close, he could see veins of dark ore running throughout the gray.

Suddenly he heard the sound of battle behind him. He turned, but saw nobody.

Salam awoke to the sun shining in his face.

The sounds of battle were real. He stood quickly, drawing his dagger and checking his surroundings. He turned and saw, behind him, two men locked in battle, their blades locked. He recognized one as Gehem. The other was wearing dark cloaks, like the men who had attacked on the ferry.

Salam ran at the men, singing furiously at the one fighting Gehem.

“Wind that blows around, push this man aground!”

A gust of wind came down the hill, blasting into the man and causing him to fall. Gehem knocked the sword from his hand, then brought his knee onto the man's chest. He held his blade at the man's throat.

“Who are you!” he yelled.

Salam reached the pair and stood, catching his breath.

The man did not reply to Gehem.

“Why were to trying to kill this young man?” Gehem shouted at the robed man.

“What?” Salam said, stunned.

“He was sneaking up on you. I had been following him for an hour. When I saw you lying in the grass, I confronted him,” Gehem explained shortly. He pressed his blade harder, causing blood to trickle down the man's neck.

“Who are you?” he asked again.

The man finally replied.

“Mittat.”

“From where?” Gehem continued.

“Camena.”

That much was obvious. His hair and skin gave it away.

“From whom?”

“The senate sent me.”

Salam was taken aback.

“Which senator?” he asked the man.

“If I tell you, will you release me?”

Salam thought for a moment.

“Yes.”

“Fine. Amabicus.”

Amabicus was one of his father's friends. Salam did not understand. Amabicus surely was not with Kaias Celsis, the senator that he was certain was plotting against the king.

“Have so many turned against the king?” he asked aloud in despair.

“May I be released?” the man asked.

Salam felt in his gut that he should not let Mittat go. Something did not seem right, and he was cautious.

“He was trying to kill you!” Gehem said vehemently. “I saw him draw his knife as he got closer to you!”

“We'll bind him and leave him here. Maybe someone will find him.”

Salam took a strip of cloth from his cloak and used it to bind Mittat's hands behind him while Gehem held him down. Finished, they backed away from the man.

“He can still walk,” Gehem said. He picked up a nearby rock and dropped it on one of Mittat's knees. A loud and sickening crunch rang around the hills.

“You didn't have to do that!” Salam yelled above Mittat's screams of pain.

“Better that than having him follow us. Let's go,” Gehem said, turning and walking back toward the road. He was glad Salam had come up with a better idea than killing the man. He did not want to lose more men than he had to.

They walked for a few minutes before Gehem spoke.

“So did my saving your life prove me to you, then?”

Salam had been thinking about that very thing. He concluded that Gehem had had good intentions.

“Yes. I am still not sure about Mittat's goal. If he was a messenger from Amabicus, he should have been on my side. Why he was trying to kill me I'm not sure. Perhaps he was lying and was really from the same men who took Ashira.”

Gehem stored the name away.

“I'm not sure. If he was from those same men, that just means we need all the more to find and rescue her. Let's hurry,” Gehem said. He picked up the pace a little, and Salam did the same.

The sun had risen a few minutes before Salam was awoken. It was still morning when they rounded a hill and saw the gates of Premoi before them.

Premoi was the second largest city in Camena, Aetheris being the first. It sat a few kilometers away from the base of the Oerard Mountains, which formed Camena's northern border. The city also sat alongside the Pressans River, which was to the east. To the west were the Vento Cliffs. The city itself was four kilometers across. The central portion of the city stood in the middle atop a large hill. Surrounding it were thousands of homes sprawling outward across valleys and smaller hills. Large, elegant white stone structures stood atop the central hill. The buildings around the hill were just as large. As the city radiated outward, the structures became smaller until they became the simple adobe dwellings that Salam and Gehem now approached.

The gates facing the southern road were large, as this was one of the city's main entrances. They were large pillars with a cross beam and were made from granite brought down from the mountains. The road changed from dirt to cobblestone a few meters before the gates.

Salam and Gehem put their hoods up before reaching the gates. Salam did not want to be seen by anyone unfriendly to his father. Gehem did not want people to see his shock of blonde hair. They walked calmly past the guards that stood on either side.

The streets at this point were haphazard, winding every which way. Salam led the way, having traveled through this city many times. He made his way toward the city center, where some of the senators made their homes.

“Where do we plan on going?” Gehem asked him as they walked.

“To a friend of my father's. He is a judge, one of the only ones I trust. His name is Iudes.”

“And when do we search for Ashira?” he asked.

“First I want to know about the state of affairs in the senate. Then I will ask him who may be trying to get to me. Then we will look for Ashira.”

Gehem nodded, though he was not sure Salam could see it.

They continued through the streets. Vendors had already set up their shops. People bustled about, pushing and calling out. Various smells of cooking food, body odor, and animals invaded their senses. The buildings were mostly two stories, made of red brick or adobe. Neither of the men were used to this scene, and tried to hurry as fast as possible to get to the grander, wider streets at the center of the city.

They reached the inner gate and the feeling changed completely. The streets were clean, the buildings were white and pink. There were less people around. This is where the senators, judges, and government officials made their homes, as well as the rich. Salam led Gehem down a few large boulevards, then down some smaller side streets. They reached a three story home built from white granite, about thirty meters wide and twenty deep. Salam approached the carved wooden door and slammed the brass knocker.

“Hail the judge, Iudes!” he called out.

They waited a moment, then a manservant dressed in a light blue tunic answered the door.

“Good day,”: Salam said. “I must have conference with Judge Iudes,” he said with authority.

“Who may I tell him is hailing?” asked the man.

Salam put his hood down, revealing his face.

“Oh!” exclaimed the man.

“Let him know Salam desires to speak with him urgently.”

The man nodded, invited them into the house, then left to find his master.

Iudes's residence was stone outside, but fine timber on the inside. A redwood staircase led to both upper levels. Drapes covered the stone walls, while paintings and trophies hanged on the wooden ones. To their right was a cozy front room. Salam gestured and Gehem followed him into the room. They took seats on soft red chairs. A fireplace was against one wall.

“Fire alight, warm and bright,” Salam sang, and a blazing fire roared into being, filling the room with warmth.

Gehem tried to pretend to ignore that the appearance of Salam's face had demanded the presence of the judge. However, now he was certain more than ever that he had found the right person the old lady needed.

They only waited a few moments before the judge came in.

Iudes had once been well-muscled and in great shape. That was years ago. He had let himself go, indulging in the perks of being a judge. Now Salam figured two of himself would fit in one Iudes. The man's face was weathered, as if he spent much time lying in the sun.

“Iudes!” Salam said, setting down his guitar case and embracing the large man.

“Salam, welcome!” said the large man, embracing him back. Iudes was six feet tall and wearing a white toga. Salam was careful not to undo it; people did not always wear undergarments below their clothes.

“Who is this fellow?” Iudes said, smiling and taking notice of Gehem. “I can't see anything under that hood.”

“This is Gehem. He is helping me find a friend here in the city,” Salam explained shortly. “He prefers people do not see his face.”

“Well, if that's his desire, I trust you, Salam,” Iudes said. “What friend is this you seek?”

“Let us sit for a few moments and I will explain,” Salam said, gesturing to the chairs.

They each sat on a different chair. Salam started explaining to Iudes what had happened the past few days, starting with meeting Ashira in the inn. He skipped much of the detail of their first encounter, going instead to when they boarded the ferry to Ceantir. He described the attack on the ferry from Ceantir proper, then their journey northward. When he had finished, he sat back and looked Iudes in the eye.

“I need to know what is going on. Why would people be seeking me out and attacking? I am the son of a senator, yes, but I am also a simple minstrel.”

Iudes considered for a moment where to start.

“Well. . . I'm sure they want to kidnap you to use you as a bargaining chip with your father.

“There has always been underlying contention among the senators. You know that. But lately one senator has been very outspoken against the king. He is popular. I'm sure you know of whom I speak.”

Salam nodded that he did. Gehem knew as well, but made no sign of such.

“Well, he has started rumors that the king is planning to initiate a military state, ridding himself of the senate and the judges. The king had been calling for a standing army, yes, but only because there have been reports of raids along the our northern and western borders. Latena was ransacked just a week ago.”

“Then does that mean. . .?”

Iudes nodded and finished.

“Celfstein and Chaelesta? We believe so, yes. They are attacking us, it seems, though we're not sure why. It may be pirates, but eyewitnesses have said the raiders wear soldiers' uniforms.”

“Then why does the king not let everyone know that we are under attack? That we need a larger army to defend ourselves?”

“Somebody got there first. The rumor is that it is Kadencia attacking us, not Chaelesta or Celfstein. You know that the peace between our two nation-states has long been uncertain at best. Our people are still suspicious of Kadencians, even after the hundreds of years since the Battle of Radunio.”

“So if the king comes out and says that it is Celfstein or Chaelesta, the people will just think he is trying to get his army larger so he can start military rule. But if the senators come are telling them in person, face to face, that it is Kadencia, they will believe the senators,” Salam said.

“Exactly,” Iudes said. “You see the problem? The king cannot say it is Kadencia; it is not and saying that would start a needless war. But saying it is the other two nations will seems like he is only trying to build his own army. We are stuck. And the senators are careful; they do not let anything slip that could bring them to trial. Even if they did mess up, they have appointed cronies as my fellow judges. The judges would acquit them of all wrong in a heartbeat.”

Salam was shaking his head. Things had gotten bad while he was gone.

“They want me so they can control my dad, getting him to turn against the king?” Salam asked.

Iudes nodded.

Gehem smiled inside his hood. He knew Salam was keeping up a lie for his sake, and Iudes was playing along.

Then again, he was keeping up his own lie.

“In the meantime, my friend has been captured to use against me,” Salam said, putting his head in his hands.

“I am sorry to hear it,” Iudes said.

“It will be all right. I have help here in the form of Gehem. He says he can find her in the city, though he has not told me how yet,” Salam said, looking at his traveling companion.

“Later,” Gehem said dismissively, waving his hand. One word was best, as it would mask his accent.

Salam just nodded, then turned back to Iudes.

“Will you be all right?”

Iudes nodded. “I'll be fine. I have my guards. They may try to sway me, but I have been a judge for many years. They will not be able harm me without some backlash from the public.”

Gehem resisted the urge to chuckle. This large toad obviously felt untouchable. He was very wrong.

Salam sighed.

“Well then, I think I will go now. I must start my search for Ashira.”

Iudes nodded, then stood. Salam and Gehem did likewise. They followed Iudes to the door.

“Take care of yourself, Iudes. Watch who you keep company with, and who you allow into your home,” Salam counseled, shaking hands with the larger man.

“I will be careful, Salam. You take care of yourself. And perhaps take your own counsel into consideration,” the judge said. He did not look at Gehem, but the latter was certain he was indicating him.

They two friends embraced again. Then Salam followed Gehem out onto the street.

“Farewell, Salam,” Iudes said.

“Farewell, Iudes,” Salam said.

The two sojourners walked down the street, toward the main thoroughfare that ran through the city.