Part 13 (1/2)
I grabbed a cup and brought it to his lips. Alder raised his head to take a few sips, then dropped back down as if the effort were too much.
”Weak,” he whispered.
”I hear you,” I said. ”But you're gonna be okay.” At that moment Doctor Nazsha entered, along with Saangi.
”He's awake!” I announced.
The doctor went right to Alder and did a quick exam.
”I am amazed,” Nazsha said. ”His wounds are healing.” He looked at me and added, ”You and your friend have remarkable recuperative powers.”
We did? When I was in that hospital it sure felt like my recovery took a long time. But then again, I'd never had my entire body pummeled and broken before, so I didn't have any frame of reference.
The doctor continued, ”If there is no infection, I believe he will be fine.”
Relief? Yeah, that's an understatement. Even Saangi smiled. More surprising than that, Loor hugged me. Loor. Cold, professional Loor. I didn't know if this meant she was warming up, or she was totally relieved that she wouldn't have to witness the deaths of two friends. It didn't matter. I hugged her back.
Alder rasped, ”I feel as weak as a baby.”
Loor said, ”Not for long. You are stronger than any Ghee.”
The doctor said, ”It will take time before you will be well enough to move. I will care for you until then.”
Alder nodded and fell back to sleep. Lucky him.
”Thanks, Doctor,” I said. ”You did a good thing here.”
Nazsha nodded and said, ”I trust you will be as successful in your quest.” He left. The pressure was off. Alder would live. Knowing that, my mind instantly went to the challenge ahead.
”I know this is tough to talk about,” I began. ”But we have to. Bokka died trying to give us information. Something is going on with the Rokador. It was so important that he was killed by his own people to stop him from telling us.”
”He said it was a nightmare,” Saangi added.
”Right, nightmare,” I said. ”Remind you of anyone?”
”Saint Dane,” Loor said.
”Yeah, Saint Dane,” I echoed. ”Tell me about Kidik. It's a city, right?”
”It is the seat of Rokador power,” Loor explained. ”Not many Batu have been there. I have never seen it myself.”
I took Bokka's map from where I was keeping it, inside the chest piece of my Ghee armor. I unfolded the parchment to see that it looked like a crude road map. But rather than roads, this map showed tunnels. Hundreds of them. Some wider than others. It was pretty extensive, too. Imagine looking at a road map with no markings other than the roads. No landmarks, no mountains, and certainly no rest stops with a McDonald's. The route to Kidik was traced in red.
”Bokka has shown us the way,” I said. ”He said we'd find the truth at the center, beyond Kidik. Do you know what that is?”
”No,” Loor said.
I looked to Saangi. She shrugged.
”Well,” I said, ”I think we have to go find out.”
”We are going to Kidik?” Saangi asked, eagerly.
”Not you,” Loor answered. Saangi wanted to argue, but Loor cut her off fast. ”Stop!” she commanded. ”That is my decision. You must remain here to care for Alder. When he is well enough to move, you must bring him to the flume and send him home.”
”Uh, but don't use the flume yourself,” I added, just in case.
”But Loor-”
”That is final!” Loor said. She meant it. Saangi realized it and backed off.
”Let's go now,” I said. ”I'm ready.”
”Not just yet,” Loor said. ”Tonight is the Festival of Azhra, remember? You have been personally invited to attend by Pelle a Zinj. I believe we should go.”
”What?” I shouted. ”We finally have a hint that might lead us to Saint Dane and you want to go to a party? Bokka died to give us this information. We have to go!”
”I agree,” Loor said. ”But I believe the one person who will determine whether or not the Batu go to war with the Rokador is Pelle a Zinj. The royal family always makes a ceremonial presentation and a speech to the city at the festival. I believe it would be wise for us to hear what he has to say.”
I couldn't argue with that. If Pelle a Zinj was going to make a big speech to the whole city, he wasn't going to be talking about sports. Loor was right. This speech might tell us if war was near.
”Okay,” I said, reluctantly. ”I guess whatever is down there can wait a day.”
Loor said, ”Saangi, I know you are disappointed, but Alder is a Traveler, and a friend. We need him, and he needs you. You must stay with him until he is well enough to move.”
”I understand,” Saangi said. ”Forgive me for arguing.”
Loor smiled and said, ”I would have been surprised if you did not.”
I was happy that Loor had ordered Saangi to stay, and not just because Alder needed her help. I wouldn't say anything, but after being fooled so many times on the other territories, I wasn't a hundred percent sure that Saangi wasn't actually Saint Dane in disguise. I didn't think she was, but there were a lot of other people I never suspected either. I wasn't to the point where I was paranoid about everybody. That would have made me nuts. But I'm to the point where if somebody gets too close, I get suspicious. For those reasons, it was better that Loor and I traveled to Kidik alone.
She and I left the hospital, doing our best to keep clear of people. At least I didn't have to hide under the heavy, dark robe anymore. Between my darkened skin and my Ghee warrior clothes, I fit right in. Sort of. I still wore a small hood over my head. Tan or no, I didn't have the features of a Batu.
The sun was beginning to rise over Xhaxhu. Loor and I went back to her home in the Ghee warrior complex and made the really smart decision to get some sleep. The festival wouldn't begin until sunset and there was no telling when we'd get another chance to rest. Now that our path was set, and Alder was healing, I was actually able to conk out and get some much-needed sleep. I lay down on a gra.s.s mat in front of Loor's fireplace and drifted off instantly. No thinking. No dreaming. No foosball. I don't thinkImoved for hours. The rest of the day I was comatose, enjoying a deep, healing sleep that was long in coming.
The next thing I knew, Loor was kneeling by me, gently nudging me awake.
”It is time to prepare,” she said.
”Prepare what?” I asked. ”Are we supposed to bring dip or something to this party?”
”First we must eat,” she said. On the floor next to me was a tray of fruit and bread and a cup of precious water. ”After we eat, you will wear this.” She held up a white Rokador jacket and pants. It was pretty much like the other Rokador clothes I had worn, but the collar and sleeves had some kind of gold-braid design around them.
”Rokador dress-up clothes?” I asked.
”They wear this on special occasions,” Loor confirmed.
”What about my Ghee armor?” I asked.
”n.o.body wears armor to this festival,” Loor said. ”And you must act as a Rokador. Remember, Pelle a Zinj believes you are one, and you are his guest.”