37 Chapter 29 (1/2)
In the middle of the night, Najana was woken by a loud knock on the door. It was raining heavily, so she opened it carefully, making sure the water did not get inside. She almost didn't recognize Washar.
”What happened?” She grabbed his hand and led him inside. The prince's mouth curved in a painful grimace.
”Haven't you heard anything?”
”Only rumors,” she admitted, ”but if it's true, you have no idea how sorry I feel for you.”
Washar sank heavily into a small chair in the hallway. When Najna crouched beside him, he hid his face.
”I'm a fool! You were right! If I had listened to you, maybe my family would survive...”
”You couldn't predict it.”
”You did. You warned me.”
”It was Naimoor, right?” When Washar didn't answer, she narrowed her eyes angrily. ”Of course it was him. Tell me the truth and I will go to the palace and drown him in his blood!”
”No! Don't go there unless someone gives you an order,” he warned ”and if you would be there, avoid Naimoor at all costs... it would be best for you to escape the capital. My youngest brother knew what he was doing when he set off on his journey! It's good that he doesn't know anything.” Washar looked back at her. ”Don't let him touch you, no matter what he promises you. Don't look him in the eyes. He is terrifyingly powerful. It's like he has the power of two people in one body.”
Tears glistened in Najana's eyes. She embraced Washar and kissed his forehead just like she did when they were young and learned how to enchant.
”Wherever you go now, can I visit you there?”
”Of course. It's just that I... I won't be able to leave. They'll send me to our gold mine. I have to leave after my father's funeral.”
”To the mine?! She repeated and quickly wiped her tears with her sleeve. - My heart breaks when I see you surrender.”
”There's nothing I can do...”
”You can! Let's kill Naimoor! What prevents us from joining forces? Then we will have two powers too!”
The prince pulled away from her when he heard the offer.
”Now probably the whole city knows that I murdered my father. They consider me a monster who sold his soul to demons. Naimoor is controlling me. I can't hurt him, and to make matters worse, I'm afraid he could make me hurt you. You are the last living person in this world that I love. I don't want you to become his puppet. I don't want him to take away your humanity, just as he did with me! ” after these words he stood up. ”Be careful. When you would have some spare time, ask people about this damned inventor from the Sekania. Come to when you'll learn something... if you won't find anything, come too. And, please, avoid Naimoor. At all costs.”
*
Epag was a small city, officially Velikanian, but it was difficult to do the simplest things there for people who didn't speak Madegaldian.
When Galaspiael told Kalena that she and Zarkin would stay with ex-Okiani, the girl thought they would live in an elegant home. So she was surprised to see that it was an ordinary tenement house, good for the average townsman.
The host came to greet them personally.
”When His Majesty sent me a letter, I almost died of fear,” he began after casual greetings. ”I thought he's dead, and that's a funeral call. Is he good?”
”He was perfectly well when we left,” Kalena replied.
Okiani, who renounced their duties, for example in favor of children, could live outside of Kagolania. They did not lose their titles until the end of their lives, and they had to appear in their homeland only for the funeral of the king. Takiwa was such an Okiani.
Inside the house smelled like roast duck. It was dim inside. Only windows in the rooms, lanterns lit the kitchen and corridor.
”How long have you been married? He asked as they climbed the floor. Kalena and Zarkin exchanged smiles.
”We're not married!” The boy quickly denied. ”We just travel together to perform the task entrusted to us by the king.”
”Ah, your task. I think I can help with it. I will tell you everything at dinner. There is only one problem because I was convinced that you would be a husband and wife, that's why I prepared only one bedroom.”
”That's not a problem,” said Kalena, ”someone will simply sleep on the floor.”
On the first floor, the smell of roast duck was replaced with the smell of dust and antiquities. The bedroom they were supposed to sleep in was really small, but that wasn't a problem. They didn't come to sit at home.
They ate late dinner. In Velikania dinner was normally held much later than in Kagolania.
”It will be easy for you,” said Takiwa, ”he doesn't live far, you'll cross two streets and be there. This man is named Gesha. He's from the Righteous Conspiracy.”
Zarkin tilted his head back and began to swing in the chair.
”How will we know what book is it without a title?”
”This man has only one book,” said Okiani, ”that's why he didn't want to sell it. He was supposed to destroy it, but he kept it himself and tried to learn. However, he failed to gain any special abilities.”
”What is it about?”
”I'm not entirely sure myself,” Takiwa admitted, ”but in my opinion, it's a description of plays that can only be mastered by a king or emperor.” No wonder such an ordinary Affiliate failed. His Majesty will certainly go much better.
Immediately after dinner, they went to the place indicated by Takiwa. A large tree was growing next to Gesha's house and they decided to climb and wait for the right moment. After a few minutes, someone left and quickly headed for the market. They didn't know if it was a host, but they slipped quickly through the open window.
”What a smell!” Zarkin winced as he accidentally smoothed incense smoldering on the window. Kalena silenced him with a gesture.
”Someone might be here! You're not sure he lives alone, ”she whispered. ”Search! Take all the dressers and cabinets on the other side, I'll start with this one. If we don't find anything, we'll move somewhere else.”
The room they entered served for a small armory. There were blades of all kinds, some hung on the walls as trophies, others standing on special bases, and others in cupboards and shelves. From finger-sized knives to huge am-shen, very similar to those used by Gyeul.
”Nobody could hold them, right?” Zarkin pointed at the two largest swords. ”They have to be only a decoration?”
”They are old,” she said, ”but they were hardly created to serve as an ornament. Look at the hilt, it's worn more than on my swords. Someone used them often.”
”Some giant with exceptionally long arms?” He joked but became serious when she didn't laugh. ”How old are they?”
”I think... those blades were made before the great war. He had similar then, remember? When he attacked Galaspiael.”
”I was too busy saving my life to watch the fight of the ghost and your master,” Zarkin hissed ironically.
”I would like to learn someday how to fight with them. For now, it is inconceivable to me, but since I chose this weapon and I should learn about its different types.”
”Well, unfortunately, I can't help you with this. If it were a very big bow, I would know what it is about. We're going, or do you want to take one?”
She shuddered at the suggestion.
”We can't take them!”
”In my opinion, we should take as many things as possible. If we steal weapons and money, people would think that the owner had been attacked by robbers and killed defending the belongings. If only the book disappears, suspicion will fall only on those previously interested in it,” he explained. ”That means the Scribes' Association or Okiani Takiwa.”
Kalena winced. She stepped out into the corridor behind Zarkin and, although she had done nothing yet, felt a growing sense of guilt.