The Scarlet King (37 page)

The envoy spoke up in response, saying, "With
the aid of those of the Forest we could do as you say, but at what
cost and who is it that will pay the cost by forfeiting their
lives?" He added, "Without the aid of those of the Forest, our city
would have fallen and our civilization ended. We need to heed their
words."

When the Pet Bird again began his tirade,
Heather had had enough and spoke in the language of the Red: "Maybe
we should talk of the slow poison that has been fed to the Scarlet
King by concentrating the water of the royal spring."

Even in the dim light of the campfire she
could see the paleness develop in the face of the Pet Bird. He said
not and the envoy spoke up, saying, "It would seem that our
scholars knew of the danger of drinking too much of the royal
water, and I would expect my cousin knew this as well. I would not
speculate on his motive, but the effect is evident."

Heather responded, "This is a matter for
those of the Red, but for now I would continue the negotiations
without further interruptions."

Those of the East understood not what was
said but witnessed the power that Heather had over the attitude of
those of the Red. The night was growing late and the agreement was
not yet completed. Jason summarized their understanding and said,
"I will work with the scholar from the East and create an initial
document in the language of those of the East and those of the Red
as well as the language of those of the Forest. We will meet again
on the morrow after the setting of the sun. One of the Forest will
again guide you to the meeting spot."

As those of the East departed, the envoy held
back and spoke quietly to Heather. "I bring the gratitude of the
Scarlet King and our people's sincerest thanks for your
efforts."

Heather asked, "How will you deal with the
slow poison which has been given to your King?"

The envoy but smiled in the dim light of the
campfire and said only, "My cousin will remain a potent adversary,
and those whom he has made enemies of may wish to pursue the issue.
I would continue to watch him closely, for he is devious and very
power-hungry but yet remains my cousin."

Heather but responded, "I miss not the
political intrigue of palace life." With that her attention
returned to the campfire as she poked ever so gently at the coals.
The envoy understood this message and departed, with those of the
Red behind the guide of those of the Forest. Only after the bird
calls of those of the Forest indicated that the area was safe did
Heather and Jason resume their conversation.

Heather was much concerned about trying to
clarify details in three different languages. Jason was doing his
best to imitate Heather's attitude at the campfire and said not for
some time as he stared into the coals of the fire. He finally
explained, "I would that the primary document be in the language of
those of the Forest with translations provided and approved by
those of the East and those of the Red. I agree there can be only
one official version of the agreement."

Heather arose and covered the coals with dirt
signaling the end of the meeting. When they returned to their
campsite, Heather settled down enough for sleep and was soon
dreaming of her baby and their home in Issip.

For several more days the pattern was
repeated, with Jason spending his daytime recording what had been
agreed upon the night before. The scholar from the East had joined
their camp and assisted in the translation to the language of those
of the East. Their writing was of a much more complex nature and
Jason was unable to comprehend its meaning. Rheon, who as always
stayed at his side, said little but examined each document before
it was completed.

One day she pointed out a mistake in the
translation of those of the East. Jason conferred with the scholar
from the East, who agreed a mistake had been made. After the
correction had been made, Rheon again scrutinized the documents.
Jason asked her, "How is it that you are able to read in three
languages?"

Rheon tried to explain, "I see in my mind a
picture of the writing and somehow know the meaning of the symbols.
I know not how to read as you do, word by word, but I am trying to
learn."

Jason continued the tedious task of
completing the peace treaty and ensuring the accuracy of the
translations. On the eighth day of the cease-fire, agreement was
finally reached and signatures applied to the documents Jason had
prepared. Direct interaction between those of the East and those of
the Red now replaced the campfire meetings with those of the
Forest.

Those of the Forest prepared to disband their
camp along the river and return to their camp by the sea. The envoy
had prepared a list of supplies to support their Scarlet King
during the journey and presented this to Heather. With Jason's help
they reviewed the list. Heather requested the addition of a supply
of ale, for it had been long since those of the Forest had enjoyed
a glass.

Chapter 18

Heather attended not most of the meetings,
but stayed in camp and depended upon Jason to inform her of the
events. They moved their camp back to the sea, and despite Jason's
dislike for riding horses he commuted daily to the meeting site.
The meetings were now held in early afternoon outside the western
gate so that the documents could be more easily studied.

Those of the Forest continued their scouting
and hunting to provision the ship for their journey home. Daniel
was making slow progress on his alchemy and was pretty sure that
the crystals were indeed the arsenic as spoken of in the ancient
scrolls. He had not yet found a way of removing it from the water,
and had started trying to extract the iodine from the water,
leaving the arsenic behind.

Heather watched all the activity going on
around her in a somewhat detached manner, for she was missing her
baby and her home. She told Jason, "It is time for us to leave. I
would you complete the negotiations in two days’ time, for we
depart on the third day as the sun rises."

Jason tried to explain how negotiations
always took time. Heather listened to his long explanation but said
only, "We leave on the third day as the sun rises." Jason accepted
her order and was silent for some time as he thought of all the
steps yet to be completed.

He replied, "The document will be signed so
that we can indeed leave on the third day." He then added, "Those
of the Red wish to have several celebrations for their departing
King. They would we attend."

Heather responded, "I would those of the
Forest not enter their Great City until the peace agreement is
truly signed and shown to be valid." She then added, "If they wish,
we would attend a small celebration outside the western gate."

Jason thought of all the planning needed for
a royal celebration, but responded only, "If we are to have such a
celebration it will need to be on the evening of the morrow. I will
inform them of your decision but know not how they will
respond."

Heather nodded acceptance of his statement
and said only, "It will be as the God of the Sacred Water wishes.
It is time for us to go home."

Just after the midday meal Jason left for his
negotiations. As he had expected, those of the Red complained that
it was not possible to complete the negotiations in such a short
time. Jason but shrugged his shoulders, saying, "It is as Heather
of the Golden Hair has declared. We must complete our work."

The amount of writing was enormous, and
several scrolls were now filled with the terms of the peace and
trade agreements between all three parties. It was Rheon who had
the best knowledge of the consistency between the three sets of
scrolls, and as always she was at Jason's side watching over the
process.

They finished the details as darkness fell,
and only after those of the East had departed did Jason bring up
the issue of a celebration. As he had expected, those of the Red
complained that there was not enough time to set the stage for a
celebration, especially one outside the city wall. Jason but
shrugged his shoulders, saying, "It will be or not as you wish. We
depart at sunrise on the morning following the morrow. Your King
must be ready for travel and at our camp at sunrise if he wishes to
travel with us."

Those of the Red departed mumbling amongst
themselves about the sudden urgency for departure. They knew not
how the King would respond nor how the succession would be
arranged. They did know that it would be a short night for all of
the staff to prepare a celebration of any sort on such short
notice.

When Jason finally returned to the camp, only
a few were by the campfire telling stories. He dismounted his horse
and thanked those of the Forest who had guided him before walking
somewhat painfully to the fire. He sat with Rheon by the fire, and
as others left them to the coals they gradually moved closer
together but said not.

It was midday before the messenger arrived
from the Great City informing them of the celebration to be held
outside the western gate beginning just before nightfall. They
presented Jason with a formal invitation and he acknowledged
receipt of the scroll, which he carefully unrolled and read. He
nodded to the messenger indicating he should wait for a reply, and
walked across the camp to where Heather was sitting watching Daniel
work on his alchemy. He read the scroll to Heather, who just nodded
in acceptance.

Jason returned and addressed the messenger,
saying, "In the name of Heather with the Golden Hair, I accept your
invitation. We will arrive one hour before the setting of the sun."
He then added, "Those of the Forest will be dressed for
travel."

The messenger bowed low to Jason and replied,
"I will relay your answer." He then added, "I have been asked to
inform you that the celebration will by necessity be very simple
and not the normal royal celebration you may expect." Jason nodded
in reply and the messenger turned and left.

Jason walked back to where Daniel was working
and Heather was sitting quietly. At first he said not, just
appreciating the comfort that was evident between Daniel and
Heather. He finally interrupted, saying, "I have informed the
messenger that we will be dressed in traveling clothes, and he
stated that the celebration would be simple, at least by their
standards. I hope to sign the agreement this afternoon and will
await your arrival rather than endure the horse ride."

Heather gave him one of her small smiles and
replied, "I am grateful that the God of the Sacred Water has given
us your skills as a negotiator. For whether you know it or not, you
are a great man and all of our peoples owe you much."

Jason knew not how to respond to the
complement so he simply walked away with a small wave over his
shoulder. Heather then interrupted Daniel's work by asking, "How
should I dress for the celebration, for I have little in the way of
clothes to wear?"

Daniel looked up from his work and stopped
mixing the solution he had been so busy stirring, and replied, "Why
can you not dress in your travel clothes, for are we not
travelers?"

Heather responded with a long explanation of
the need to present herself properly as one of the Forest. Daniel
could but listen, not knowing for sure what she was talking about.
Betty arrived carrying some cloth, saying, "Princess, you come with
me. We need to make you some clothes that match your fighting
tunic."

Heather followed Betty, leaving Daniel to his
work. She found Edna working on hers and Betty's garments. They
were adding small touches of bright cloth to their travel garments.
Betty had Heather stand in the center, and a small amount of cloth
was held up next to the fighting tunic. It seemed everyone liked
the blue color the best. Work began immediately, fashioning a
blouse to be worn under the tunic, which enhanced Heather's
femininity and yet was definitely of the Forest. The work continued
until midafternoon, and then it was time to depart.

Jeremy had already scouted ahead and secured
the area, having posted multiple sentries. Before leaving, Betty
inspected Heather one last time and insisted that Heather wear her
grandmother's clasp on the outside of her tunic. Betty said, "You
beautiful. You need to let the clasp show so your eyes
sparkle."

They needed to wait while Daniel finished yet
another test with his alchemy. He had changed not his clothes and
Heather mentioned it not. She knew that when he was working he
worried not about his appearance. Heather walked yet with a limp
but was more able to climb aboard the great white horse. Those of
the Forest helped Betty mount behind her and the troop set off in
high spirits.

The bird calls of the late afternoon were a
sure sign that those of the Forest were scouting far ahead. Daniel
walked beside Heather but remained somewhat distant in
conversation, for his mind was yet on the alchemy problem. Heather
understood little of what he said, but it was apparent that he had
not succeeded in removing the slow poison from the royal spring.
She finally spoke up, saying, "I would you leave the problem of
your arsenic to a later time. Tonight we celebrate and at sunrise
we leave to see again our son. Let the God of the Sacred Water do
as he will with the other problems."

Daniel looked up at his bride astride the
great white horse and could but smile. Their conversation now
turned to their son and how he must've grown while they were away.
Daniel wondered aloud if he had begun crawling or maybe even
walking while they had been gone. Heather tried to picture her baby
walking but the image seemed not right, for he could not have
changed so much in the six weeks they had been gone.

When they arrived outside the western gate
they found a great tent set up with tables and multiple fire pits,
all of which seemed to be cooking something different. The royal
party of those of the Red could be seen approaching from the gate,
but those of the East were not yet visible. Scouts reported that
they were on their way. Those of the Red numbered about the same as
those of the Forest, but were all dignitaries dressed in their
version of travel clothes.