27
The next morning, Tariel and her men packed their things, then headed out of their little oasis. Yarim, whose appearance had been changed to a light-skinned man with brown eyes and a taller, wider frame, suggested they keep to the shoreline, where the breeze would help keep them cool. The inland, he explained, was very dry and hot, and their water wouldn’t last very long even if they rationedit.
“By the gods,” Calrain groaned after several hours of trudging through dry brush and sand. “We’ve been out here forever and have only passed a few fishermen huts. When are we going to see any realcivilization?”
“There is a port city called Pirash along this section of the coast,” Yarim said. “I believe we are not very far, but it is hard to tell since I am not entirely certain of ourlocation.”
“Wonderful,” Wellion muttered. He pushed his shaggy hair out of his face, then took a swig from his water skin. “Perhaps we should consider finding a place to camp for the night if we don’t see it in the next hour orso.”
“Hang on,” Riann said, holding up a hand. He cocked his head to the side, a frown on his face. “Do you hearthat?”
They all went silent, and Tariel heard hooves thundering. A group of riders crested a hill about twenty-five yards away, and the breath whooshed right out of her. They were like nothing she’d ever seen, dressed in exotic-looking gold and white armor that flashed in the sunlight, with matching turbans wrapped around theirheads.
“Blast it,” Yarim muttered as the lead rider, a woman, pointed in their direction. Tariel’s men gathered close around her as the riders trotted in their direction, drawing theirscimitars.
This close, Tariel could see the tunics they wore beneath their armor, made of a light, flowingmaterial.
“They are going to arrest us,” Yarim saidtightly.
The riders surrounded Tariel and her group, pointing their blades at them as they formed a tightcircle.
“Who are you?” the captain demanded inMaroyan.
The captain was not the only female. Half of the ten riders were women, unheard of in Fjordland. From the look of surprise on Wellion’s face, Tariel gathered that female soldiers were not common in Carlisseither.
Tariel stepped forward to face the woman, and after a split second, decided to try the truth for a change. “My name is Tariel,” she said in a clear voice, lifting her chin. “I am a mage from Fjordland, and this is my harem.” She swept a hand behind her to indicate her men. “Magic is outlawed in my country, so I have emigrated to the Empire, where I hope to seekrefuge.”
The woman snorted. “A mage?” she sneered. “It is clear that you have Maroyan blood in you, but there are no mages outside the Empire, and no haremseither.”
“Which is exactly why I left,” Tariel said. She pointed at a thorn bush five yards away. “Would you like ademonstration?”
The captain turned to look, and Tariel sent a spark of magic toward the bush. She willed it to catch fire, and within seconds, the plant burst into flame. As the soldiers murmured, Tariel wiggled her fingers, and the flames shot higher, and some of the horses prancedsideways.
“Hmm.” The captain looked at Tariel again, a newfound respect in her eyes. “It seems you do have some smalltalent.”
“I hope to seek formal training from a talented mage, once I have found a place to settle,” Tariel said, choosing to ignore the slight. “Will you not let us pass? We must find a place to camp beforenightfall.”
“I’m afraid not,” the woman said, sheathing her sword. “If you truly are a foreign mage, Governor Jeera will want to meet you. We will escort you to her, and she will decide yourfate.”
“What’s going on?” Calrain demanded as the riders turned their horses about, heading back up the hill. They were still in a circle around Tariel and the others, forcing them to move to avoid beingtrampled.
“They are taking us to see the governor of Pirash,” Yarim said tightly. He was clearly nervous, despite the disguise he wore. “This is not good atall.”
“You will be fine,” Tariel said soothingly. She reached out and stroked his arm, hoping her touch would allay his fears. “Just stick close tome.”
It was another hour’s walk to get to Pirash, a small but vibrant city of colorful buildings tucked into a cove by the sea. Many of the buildings sported strangely shaped arches and domes that glittered like jewels in the sunlight, and beyond was the harbor, where several ships sailed in and out while quite a few floated serenely, tethered to thedocks.
Tariel thought that they would go into the city, but instead they were escorted to a beautiful palace of white marble perched above, overlooking the harbor. Despite the troop of soldiers surrounding them, Tariel was instantly enchanted by the palace, which was carved into graceful spires and arches, and surrounded by a lush garden that somehow managed to thrive in these hot desert conditions. She breathed deeply as they passed rows of white, flowering bushes, their sweet, heady scent almostintoxicating.
“This place is incredible,” Wellion remarked as they stopped by a reflective pond just outside the entrance. They were granted a brief reprieve as the soldiers dismounted, but were quickly surrounded again by silk andsteel.
The inside of the palace was even more beautiful, with thin columns and towering arches that flowed into high ceilings. Strange geometric patterns were carved into the walls, and Tariel could have stared at them for hours if she’d been allowed tostop.
The five of them were led into a large, sumptuous hall of blue and gold, the marble floors covered in plush carpeting. They were ordered to remove their shoes before approaching, and the carpeting felt incredible on Tariel’s weary feet as she approached thedais.
The dais was almost an oasis in and of itself, with a canopy arching overhead and drapes pulled back on either side. Within, a dark-skinned woman lounged on large, silken pillows, her body draped in colorful fabrics gathered at the waist, wrists, and ankles to show off her curves. She looked to be in her fifties, her black hair threaded with silver, but she wore her age well, with a shimmering powder on her face that Tariel suspected masked her lines. The kohl around her eyes and the rouge on her lips gave her a sultry look, and Tariel could practically see the waves of power shimmering aroundher.
This woman was a mage. No doubt aboutit.
