The Elder's Curse by Andrew Walbrown (superbooks4u .txt) 📗

“Watching every move you make,” Seto finished, the lightness in his voice instantly disappearing. Though they had just met, Amantius knew Seto despised him; Tomo had briefed him about Seto’s hatred for all things Human the night before. But being hated did not bother Amantius; he was certain plenty of women and their suitors in Thornsgrave wished him only misfortune in life. It was the deadness behind Seto’s eyes that irked Amantius, giving him the sensation of a thousand spiders crawling across his skin.

“Of course, that is part of my job,” Seto continued, his voice reclaiming a little bit of the warmth he showed his wife. “But remember I have eyes and ears in every corner of Yawan; nothing happens without me knowing. Nothing.”

“Don’t worry, Husband,” Kona said, recapturing Seto’s attention. “I will keep an eye on him for you. We should be back within a week assuming we don’t get caught in any major ash storms.”

“I don’t understand why you must go. Or why you must go with him.” Seto’s eyes flashed back to Amantius.

“Tomo is like family to me, and he needs my help. Without the plants he needs he will be in more pain than either of us can imagine. They’re coming with me because my little arms will not be able to carry much.” Kona giggled as she flailed her slender arms like a helpless child.

Seto smiled, but it was empty. “I still don’t like it.”

“We won’t let anything happen to her,” Amantius said, hoping to ease tensions.

“You better not,” Seto snapped. “Or I will…”

“Oh Seto, how wonderful you are to join us!” Tomo interrupted from the entrance to his home. “I fear I did not cook enough food to accommodate you; you must forgive me. Nogoons eat far more than I expected.”

Sounds like Ulam, Amantius thought. He nodded slightly to Tomo, silently thanking the old Kalikki for drawing Seto’s attention away from him. Ulam and Nilawen appeared shortly behind Tomo, carrying their bags into the streets. As the group convened outside Tomo’s home, Bati and Buri appeared with two camels in tow, the brothers annoyed that they were awake at such an early hour. Thank the Gods, I can’t get out of this city fast enough.

“No worries, Orator,” Seto replied with a cold cordiality. “I ate a large breakfast in the barracks an hour ago; I could not eat anything else right now. My comrades and I are here to escort this group to the edge of the Ashlands.” He turned to Kona and smiled. “It is one of the many benefits of being married to the Head of the Council Guards, after all.”

They quickly loaded their possessions on the two camels and then turned south, intending to reach the Alakuum before the day became too hot to travel. Tomo and his nephews accompanied them only to the edge of the city, bidding farewell as they entered the farmlands surrounding Yawan. Seto and his soldiers continued a little ways further than Tomo, stopping when the mudbrick road gave way to a dirt path. There Kona spent a few minutes with her husband, saying goodbye as the rest helped the camels climb the hills separating the fertile valley from the Ashlands.

“Thank the Gods we’re out of there,” Amantius muttered to Ulam as they neared the top of the hill. “How is someone as pleasant as Kona married to someone like that?”

Ulam looked behind them and then shrugged. “It happens. How many people did we know in Accaria who married horrible people? Old Man Elatos was one of the nicest people on the island and he was married to a monster of a woman. Hell, if Prince, or King, Varian ever marries then there is another one. The world is full of marriages that defy all logic to outsiders. You may not be able to see their affection because you can only focus on his hatred for you.”

Amantius gave Ulam a sidelong glance. “Can you see what makes that marriage work?”

Ulam grunted. “No.”

On the other side of the hill, they were met by a familiar land of ash, the coarse flakes greeting them like an unwanted guest. The sweet breeze blowing from the shore disappeared, the stagnant air hotter than a blacksmith’s forge. The city of vibrant rainbow rooftop trellises and multicolored vestments was gone, replaced with a world of beige and gray as far as the eye could see. The differences in the two worlds were so stark and so thinly separated that Amantius started wondering if Eemoneem’s legend was not a myth, but actual historical truth. What other explanation can there be?

“Hey, Amantius, slow down for a second,” Kona said as she caught up to him. Amantius had been so lost in thought that he did not realize he was leading the group, despite not knowing their exact route or destination.

“I want to apologize for my husband back there,” Kona continued after a few steps. “He’s…very protective of me. Can we just put this behind us?”

Because of the sweeping ash, Amantius did not want to open his mouth, but he knew he had to accept her apology, at least for the sake of the journey. Originally he had planned to wait for an oasis before speaking, but Kona was waiting for an answer, and he knew delaying would create an unnecessary rift between them. Ugh, I’m going to have to say something. I wish I could grunt like Ulam; how does he convey so many thoughts and emotions while sounding like a hog?

“Everything’s fine,” Amantius replied, instantly scowling at the gritty taste of ash as the grains forced their way into his mouth. Every single damn time. I only said two words!

“Good.” Kona walked to the front of the group, taking the lead camel by the reins. She tucked her flowing locks under her turquoise headwrap, enclosing the sides of the garment around her face. “Assuming the winds are calm, we should reach the Ummdani Mountains in a little over a