Zara the Wolf (17 page)

I walked Greystone out of the castle yard and through the
city and then pushed her to a gallop in the direction of Castra. I alternated
galloping and walking as I circled wide of Hipula and then south toward the
monastery. Stopping only to eat, feed, and rest Greystone, I stayed wide of the
traveled road. The land was mostly rolling hills of grassland and sparse
woodlands, so I made good time. As planned, I reached the Forlorn River and the
thirty-foot stone-walls of the Trasslat Monastery just after sunrise on the
second day.

Guards patrolled the walls and two stood at the front gate.

"Who are you, and what is your business?" the
guard at the monastery gate asked. His white uniform identified him as one of
the Trasslat Monastery special guards, well trained in the use of the dagger
and sword hanging from his waist and the poleaxe in his hand.

"I'm Zara the Wolf, on a commission from the Cheyo Monk
at Calle. I wish to speak to the Honorable Monk in charge of Trasslat."

He nodded to the other guard, who spoke to someone through
an opening in the gate door. I stood patiently for some time. Eventually, the
door opened and the guard waved me through.

"Follow me, the Abbot will see you now if you wish, or
later if you wish to wash and rest first," said a senior guard, judging by
the markings on his sleeve and collar.

"Now would be my preference," I said, needing rest
but wanting to set the wheel in motion before I relaxed.

The guard took me to one of several small round buildings.
He waved me in. I pushed aside the cloth that covered the doorway and walked
into a large circular room bare of everything except a rug like the one the Monk
at Calle sat on, a small table, and several candles, which gave the room a
ghostly appearance.

"Please sit, Zara."

I understood but heard nothing. A small figure sat covered
by a black robe that made it impossible to tell much of anything about the
person underneath. When the Monk remained silent, I took that as permission to
speak.

"There are at least four Sirens at Hipula. Baroness
Shelly and I must leave soon to finish visiting the other cities. When we do,
they will kill Duke Brodka and take control of the dukedom. I hope to get rid
of them by … " I went on to explain the plan we had devised.

When I finished, the room lit suddenly, bathed in that blue mist
I associated with a higher level of awareness or sight—a blue dimension. I
felt frozen, naked, and my mind bared as I stared at a small girl lying on top
of a very large snow leopard. I felt panic as my mind was invaded and wanted to
run from her but couldn’t.

To panic was to die, I realized. I worked to quiet my mind,
slowly shedding my fear as I sank into myself. I could feel the earth beneath
me and grew roots to anchor me. My mind closed, pushing out the invader.

"You will do, Zara the Wolf." Her voice was bright
and her eyes sparkled while she tenderly stroked the huge cat.

I may do
,
but I knew she could have stripped my mind empty had she chosen to. She had
merely been testing my mental strength.

"Although I understand, I find it disturbing that you
acquired your present level of control through hatred. I wonder if that means
the Sirens are capable of getting stronger through their hatred of the Cheyo.
And how long will it take and how much stronger will they become?" She
buried her face in the cat’s fur and was silent.

"I’m no expert on the subject, but I’d think only if they
hate you more than they fear death. And so far, I’d say they are cowards."

Her laugh was light, like the sound of bells on the wind. "I
think you're right, but don’t dismiss
not
qualified to be a Cheyo Monk
with weak or cowardly or not dangerous, because
while you are quite strong for a novice, so are many of them."

And I’m new to the
game,
I mused. "The Ojaza were good
teachers, Honorable Monk."

"I’m sure they were. Go rest while I make arrangements.
Join me at first light." The blue light died and I rose, taking that as my
signal that the meeting was over. Outside, it took several minutes to adjust to
the sunlight. When I could see again, the same guard led me to another small
hut.

"You can rest here until the Abbot is ready for you.
I’ll have someone bring you food and washing water." He pulled aside the
cloth covering the doorway. The room had two small windows that provided a soft
light and a small cot with a blanket and pillow, a Monk’s rug with those
symbols, and a small table with a candle. I had no sooner walked around the
room and looked out the windows into a small forest when a young boy and girl
arrived with a simple platter of roots, berries, bread, cheese, and water for
drinking and washing. I found I was hungry and finished what I had been served,
washed, and lay down. I must have been tired because I woke as the gray light
of dawn began to replace the dark.

Minutes later, a young boy entered with food and the brown
robe worn by the Cheyo Monks—three sizes too big—a plain dark brown
with no markings that covered the head and hands, and a leather cord to tie
around the waist. And a beautiful Monk’s rug with the eight symbols. I ate
quickly, dressed, and walked outside with my clothes and weapons wrapped in the
rug. The guards nodded when I exited and led me to the Abbot’s hut.

"Sit, Zara. We will keep your horse and clothes until
you return. You should keep your weapons for emergencies," she said,
sounding like she was amused. "The rug’s symbols are the Eightfold Path necessary
to becoming a Cheyo Monk. Should you be unable to find what you are looking
for, you are welcome to seek the path here at the Trasslat Monastery," she
said to my surprise. "I can’t promise anything other than the opportunity
to find what you are looking for. A detail is waiting for you outside. They
will escort you to Hipula as they would any Cheyo Monk. I wish you peace, Zara
the Wolf."

I rose and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Honorable Monk. I
will be mindful I wear your cloak and do my best to honor what it stands for,"
I said, knowing she was taking a risk letting me impersonate a Monk. She said
nothing but bowed.

Outside, nine guards, two of whom were women, waited as I
entered the small enclosed carriage. When we left, four rode ahead of the
carriage and four behind. The ninth guard was apparently the officer in charge
and rode beside the carriage.

* * *

It took three days to reach Hipula. The convoy stopped each
night and a tent was set up for me, and I was helped into it, brought food and
water, and a woman guard was assigned to look after me and my wants.

"Ma’am, my name is Sonya, a Cheyo Guard, here to take
care of your wants and needs. The Honorable Abbot briefed me on your role. So
from this minute on, I will treat you as I would a Cheyo Monk. Understood?"

"Yes. And so you know, I would appreciate any advice
you may care to share with me. The stakes are high. They may even impact the
Trasslat Monastery and the Honorable Monks," I said, realizing the true
cost of losing to the Sirens.

"As you will, Honorable Monk." True to her word,
she helped me from the carriage to my tent, brought me food, helped me to wash,
and quietly talked about the Monks and her service—every Cheyo Monk was
assigned a servant who was a highly trained elite guard. They rotated every six
months and were sworn to give their lives to defend the Monk. Ironically, I
seemed to remember seeing a guard like Sonya at both Calle and Caster but had
dismissed them as part of the duke's guard. And on reflection, they seemed to
blend into the room and go unnoticed, sitting still off in a far corner.

We entered the city walls midday on the third day. The
streets were soon lined with spectators. The castle gates were open by the time
we arrived, and Duke Brodka and Minister Millard met us at the steps to the
castle.

"Welcome to Hipula, Honorable Monk. Minister Millard
has your room ready. When you have rested, I would like to meet with you,"
Brodka said.

Sonya stepped up and bowed. "Your Grace, I’m Sonya, the
Honorable One’s servant. I will let you know when the Honorable One is
available," she said, establishing her role.

I almost choked. Obviously, the Cheyo Monks were considered above
the whims of nobility, even dukes. Of course, they had earned that right: only one
out of hundreds succeeded after many years studying the Eightfold Path and
their final reward—having their sight taken from them.

Sonya followed Millard and the four guards who carried me to
the duke’s wing and into a room next to his study. My mat was laid out on the
floor, a small low table placed near it and a mat placed in the far corner for
Sonya.

She sat down at the edge of the rug and the room turned a
misty blue.

"It’s best we speak mentally, if you or I need to say
something out of character," she said, sitting meditation style in a white
tunic on a rug similar to mine. A sword lay across her lap.

"You studied to be a Monk?" I asked, confused. She
could reach the blue dimension and her joy was obviously her time at the
Monastery.

"No, I studied to be a Monk’s private guard. To be one,
you must study the Eightfold Path. If you can attain elevated awareness, like
now, then you move on to weapons. If you can master the Iron Path, then you
learn to serve the Cheyo Monks. Those that succeed become Cheyo Guards."

"I noticed your uniform has no rank."

"Those who succeed strip the rank from their uniforms
to match the Monks’ robes, but our orders must be obeyed by everyone serving
the Monks, including the captain of the guard." She smiled. "I’m a
warrior. Just as you could never be a slave, I could never be a Monk."

"True, you can’t turn a mountain cat into a turtle nor
a turtle into a mountain cat." I laughed along with Sonya. "Well, it’s
time to see the duke. I’m anxious to discover the reaction to the news a Cheyo
Monk was coming to Hipula."

"Most Monks have some kind of disability. Will you?"

"How about a crippled leg?" I asked. Sonya nodded.

"I hope someone objects to your presence." She smiled
as she rose and exited the room.

I quieted my mind, enjoying the peacefulness of the darkened
room.

"Whenever you’re ready, Honorable Monk," Sonya
said when she returned sometime later.

I nodded and rose, deciding to drag my right leg. I walked
slowly, careful to drag my leg a foot each time. As we approached the duke’s
study, the guard opened the door and we entered. Sonya immediately closed the
door and stood blocking it.

"Honorable Monk, you look awesome," Shelly said
along with a conspiratorial giggle.

"Honorable Monk," Brodka said, looking me over. "My
longtime friend, Alf, has disappeared along with several ladies, but not the
young noble named Robyn."

"Perhaps you may want to talk with him. There must be
some reason to seek him out."

"I gave that some thought over the past few days.
Apparently, his father is Baron Porter and his estate is near Monis. Baron
Porter is real, but I have no record of a son being the rightful heir." Brodka
grinned, and I thought he looked much better than last time.

"You could say you’d like to have him entered in the
nobility records and need to talk to him, and if possible, someone who could vouch
for him," Shelly said.

I thought that an excellent suggestion. She and I had
discussed Baron Woolan’s possible connection to the Sirens, as Brodka thought
him the most likely to be his daughter’s guardian if something happened to him.
The duke nodded slowly, having picked up on the
vouch for
scenario.

"I’ll have Millard schedule it for tomorrow. That will
give him time to run or make arrangements," Brodka said.

"Who is the woman at the door?" Shelly asked,
looking toward Sonya.

"Sonya," I said.

"What is your function, Sonya?" Shelly asked.

"Servant to the Honorable Monk."

"And lethal bodyguard. A Trasslat warrior, without the
tattoo," I said, liking the analogy with the Ojaza warrior class.

"Are you sure of that, Honorable Monk?" Sonya said
with amusement.

* * *

"Do you expect trouble?" Sonya asked in the safety
of the blue dimension. The area of coverage could be extended but not through
walls or other obstacles, and any failed attempt to do so I would feel.

"Yes," I said, slipping my dagger inside my robe. "Unless
he knows I’m not a Cheyo Monk, he would be crazy to try and fake his identity.
Given that, I would expect something physical against the duke or the Monk. If
he can incapacitate the Monk, then he could influence the duke to enter him
into the book of nobility or get him to assign someone like Woolan or himself
as the guardian if something happened to the duke—which would not be too
long afterward. Or kill him in a manner that looks like an accident. Then he
wouldn’t have to bother with the Monk, since the Monk has no authority. I only
know he should have fled with the others and he didn’t. Therefore, he has a
surprise for us. He knows something we don’t." Suddenly, I became worried.
"Sonya, tell Lady Shelly the Monk would like to see her, now."