Chapter 10
Sohorkon’ Bho stared at his wondrous city rising up the sides of a broad mount, the highest point in the countryside.
Sunzah’ Nu Geeza; it meant Heart of the Forest. His heart filled with pride.
From the outer wall at the base of the mount the buildings of the city rose here and there in cascading towers and structures, some domed, others pointed, all made of the almost white colored rock the mount was composed of. It looked as if the city was carved from the mountain itself.
Just outside the defensive wall the city was ringed by a broad watercourse, preventing any approach to the city save for the two roads on either side. The waterway was wide enough that it would take several minutes for a boat to make it across. The walls of the city rose directly from the water, preventing any ground on which an enemy could gain a foothold.
Outside that was a broad manicured sward clearing the jungle almost to where they stood.
Wide avenues circled the city connected with steep streets all running straight from the lowest avenue through to the top. Higher up, banners and house sigils flew from rooftops and spires, carrying the eye straight to the grandeur of the palace at the crest overlooking everything. The palace was the center of the city, its spires rising up to kiss the mist, brightly plumed pennants flitting in the breeze.
The sight of it always took his breath away, but today he had little time to relish the view. He had to get inside the city and get help.
There were only two entrances -- each accessed by narrow roads built across the waterway to tall gates built into the thick wall on either side of the city. At least those were the only known entrances.
There were others. Sohorkon couldn't talk of them. He trusted Siri, but if something were to happen he couldn't guarantee the secret ways would not be divulged. It could mean life and death to his father and brother – if he were found and rescued.
Why am I thinking like that? Sohorkon thought. There shouldn’t be any reason why our family should be at risk here. He squinted his eyes and looked closer, trying to understand his feelings of disquiet.
His father was inside the city now, reigning as King. His mother had passed on when he was but a cub, barely able to remember. Father had never remarried. His brother was first born; Crown Prince, yet there was no envy. Sohorkon knew his place -- and loved it. He had no desire to rule. What he loved was travel, seeing new sights, new people, exploring. He loved the service, the arms, the discipline, and the purpose of being with the guard.
And yet he'd failed to protect the Prince. He needed to report then lead out in rescue . . . or revenge.
He cut that thought off quickly, taking his mind back to his first priority: to get inside and report. Why was he hesitating?
There was something different about the city. It wasn’t something he saw as much as how he felt. Guards walked the walls as usual. Tower watches were posted and alert. The bright light of day was crisp and the temperature just right. Still the feeling persisted.
Perhaps it was his intense connection to the city, the ebb, flow, the personality and flavor of it. Perhaps it was something different even than that. It was deeper; telling all was not as it seemed.
He dropped the foliage back into place and moved further back out of sight, helping Siri gingerly sit with her back against the thick bole of a towering tree and settled down beside her.
"What’s wrong?" Siri gingerly turned to look at him closely.
"I . . ." Sohorkon paused, trying to find words to describe his feelings. "It looks right to appearances."
"But?" Siri prodded.
Sohorkon smiled. "You are too observant."
"That's what a Keeper is supposed to do. Observe and record those of royal blood." She hesitated a moment. "There is something wrong."
"I don't know. It just doesn't feel right."
"What should we do?" she asked.
"First, we need to get you to a physician so your wound can be properly dressed."
"I think you've done fine." She flashed him a smile. "A fresh bandage would be nice, though."
"Maybe it's the jitters with everything else that's gone on."
"And maybe it's not," Siri said. "I've learned it's usually best to follow your instinct."
"Well, my instinct isn't telling me what to do." He fell silent, thinking. Should he go through one of the secret tunnels, and thus reveal it to Siri? If there were trouble, it would be best if he just not 'appear' inside the walls of the city. That would tip the fact of hidden ways. If caught either he or Siri could be forced to tell.
Pain, applied long enough, would surely break Siri, if not him. And maybe they'd need it to escape.
Why do I feel so unsettled about coming home! I should be relieved. What am I feeling? Why am I feeling it?
He reached down and extracted a claw, drawing designs in the moldy sod of the jungle floor. Siri sat beside him, waiting.
"I think a direct assault is called for, don't you?"
"What?" Siri asked.
"I mean just walk right up to the front door and knock." He smiled.
"What about your misgivings?"
"Can't do anything about them that I can think of. It's either go in and find out for ourselves -- and I hope I look really foolish for being worried -- or wait outside and stew about it. The latter doesn't seem too productive especially when you consider that my brother . . . and the Princess are counting on us."
"You've convinced me," Siri said. "I'm not used to all this. I'm a historian you know."
Sohorkon smiled but didn't answer.
"A frontal assault it is then."
Sohorkon stood and held out a hand to help Siri to her feet. He knew she was in a great deal of pain. The wound was severe and far from attended properly. She didn't complain as they made their way out of the jungle to the wide path leading to the main water crossing.
As soon as they stepped out into the open Sohorkon knew they'd be spotted. Word should quickly be passed through the ranks. He knew they’d not recognized him from this distance, but the closer they approached they soon would. Word that he was returning alone would surely raise an alarm and a message would be sent to his father. The news would surely prompt his father to come meet him at the gate.
He hoped his father would be there, anyway. He didn't know what he'd tell anyone else. He couldn't tell anyone else. It concerned the Crown Prince.
They hadn't gone too far when he noticed the city gates opening and a file of guards coming out. Sohorkon and Siri stopped and waited. There was nothing worse than bad news, and he didn't want to make the soldiers any more nervous than they already would be, knowing it was him -- without Sauros.
Sohorkon watched as they approached. He wanted to see if he recognized anyone. There were quite a few officers attached to the city defenses that he knew, but not all.
Sure enough, the commander was a friend. Good. It’d be easier to pass through and get to the real business.
"Greetings, Cahl' Dho," Sohorkon held his right fist against his breast in salute to an equal, as indeed they held equal rank.
"Well met, Sohorkon' Bho." Cahl' Dho returned the salute.
"Not so well, I'm afraid," Sohorkon said. "I must be conveyed inside the city and speak with my father right away.
Cahl' Dho nodded then glanced at Siri.
"She's okay," Sohorkon said. "She's the Keeper in Putra' Fi Sorro. I need her to testify."
Cahl's eyes widened at her title then inclined his head in a combination bow, and acknowledgment.
"We must hurry," Sohorkon pressed. "And Siri has been injured. Please summon the doctors as we meet with father."
Again Cahl' Dho nodded. "Follow me, my Prince." He hesitated just a moment before turning, as if he wanted to say something to Sohorkon then thought better of it. "I will escort you inside. From there the Captian-of-the-Wall will arrange for your meeting."
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This is different, Sohorkon’s heart clenched. Normally, it wouldn't have been a problem for him to get right in to see his father. The Captain-of-the-Wall would never have to be bothered. His passing through would have been logged in only. His chain of command bypassed the Captain-of-the-Wall. Cahl' Dho knew that. Had something happened in the city to change that?
With his arm around Siri' Bhu for support, they followed the guard until they came to the base of the large gate. It swung back open to admit them. Cahl' Dho again caught his Sohorkon’s eye. It seemed as if he were trying to convey something, some sort of warning without saying anything. Why wouldn't he speak his mind if there were something he needed to know? And why would he be nervous about admitting a prince into his own city? True, he hadn't recognized any of the other guards with him. Was that why Cahl' Dho was hesitating?
Cahl’ Dho moved aside as Sohorkon and Siri moved inside. As they passed under the tall arched gateway, Sohorkon started scanning the entry plaza. Nothing was out of place. All looked as it should, but something still seemed different. All the people looked the same, moving and milling about through the streets, the guard taking their normal station, with Cahl' Dho again stepping up to continue their escort. It was the feeling, the Spirit of the city that was different. It was tense, strained.
They arrived at the Captain's office. Cahl' Dho reached up and opened the door and Sohorkon helped Siri up the steps and went inside. When he looked to address the Captain-of-the-Wall, his blood froze and his mouth fell open.
The Captain rose from behind his desk. Sohorkon didn't notice he was a stranger, nor did he notice he was wearing different uniform, a black girt tunic and breeches with a sunburst sigil emblazoned on his chest.
All Sohorkon could see were two sleek, green, hairless creatures flanking the Captain. Siri clenched his hand, biting off a gasp.
Pontu’ Gi!