As the sun rose and traders set up their wares, Tel Hesani tapped Jebel’s shoulder. Jebel awoke sluggishly, got up, and stretched. His branded arm still felt as if it was on fire, but he clenched his teeth against the pain.
“What first?” He yawned, staring at the rows of stalls. Lots of traders were laying out their goods on tables or hanging them from overhead hooks, but others simply placed them on a mat or on the ground.
“We need to buy a good map,” Tel Hesani said. “Then we can choose our route. It helps to know where you are going before you set out.”
Jebel was too tired to mark the slave’s sarcasm. “All right,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “Do you know where the mapmakers are?”
“I am confident that I can find them, master,” Tel Hesani said drily, then led the boy into the labyrinth of traders, moving quickly and surely. He had never been to this market, but he had visited many like it. A short while later, the pair were seated around a table in an outdoor tavern, studying a map of the Great Kingdoms.
Tel Hesani spent a while familiarizing himself with the names. Um Kheshabah had different names for many of the rivers, mountains, and towns of the Eastern Nations.
“This is the shortest route,” Tel Hesani said, tracing the path with his finger. “North by the banks of the as-Surout to the border between Abu Aineh, Abu Nekhele, and Abu Safafaha. Then straight through Abu Safafaha to the eastern entrance of Abu Siq. But it would be madness to risk capture by the Um Safafaha.”
“I agree,” Jebel grunted. “I’m not going anywhere near those barbarians. They eat their own babies.”
“An exaggeration,” Tel Hesani said. “But they often sacrifice stray travelers to their gods. It might be wiser to enter Abu Nekhele after Shihat and head for Hassah, then make for the western entrance into the siq.”
Jebel frowned. “Isn’t it swampland between Shihat and Hassah? I’ve heard of whole camps being drowned in quicksand or eaten by alligators. Wouldn’t it be safer to follow the as-Sudat from here?” Jebel traced the route of the river with a finger. “That would take us through Abu Judayda, then back around east through the less treacherous parts of Abu Nekhele.”
“There’s more to a path than what you see on a map,” Tel Hesani replied. “What of the Um Nekhele? Your nations are not currently at war, but old hatreds linger, especially in the central areas of the country. And it would take much longer. If we follow the as-Surout, we should reach the western entrance of Abu Siq in two months or thereabouts.”
“That long?” Jebel exclaimed.
“We must travel on foot,” Tel Hesani reminded him. “And as you pointed out, it is marshy, treacherous land northwest of the border. It will take at least two months, maybe ten weeks. But if we follow the as-Sudat, it will take four months.”
“That’s too long,” Jebel said. “I’ve got to be back in Wadi within a year.”
“Quite,” the slave murmured. “So we go through the swamp?”
Jebel made a face. “Very well.”
Tel Hesani put his finger back on the map, then moved it slowly northeast from the town of Hassah to the al-Attieg. The mountains were sometimes referred to as the Great Wall, since legends claimed they were created by the gods in the time before mankind, to separate two violent, warring factions.
“Ideally we’d sail along the as-Sudat through the al-Attieg gorge,” Tel Hesani said. “But as we are not allowed to use a boat, we’ll have to take the siq.”
“Do we have to?” Jebel asked. “Couldn’t we climb over the mountains instead?”
“That would be suicide,” Tel Hesani said.
“But will the Um Siq let us pass?”
Tel Hesani shrugged. “They do not take kindly to travelers. But we are on a quest. They might respect that and grant us passage.”
“If they don’t?” Jebel pressed.
“We could sail through the gorge,” Tel Hesani suggested.
“That’s not permitted,” Jebel growled. “You know the terms of the quest.”
“Yes,” the slave sighed. “But who would see us?”
“Sabbah Eid,” Jebel said. “If I’ve broken the terms when I petition him, he’ll strike me dead, and my spirit will burn for a thousand generations.”
Tel Hesani glanced up from the map. “Do you really believe that a god lives inside the mountain?”
Jebel frowned. “It’s not a matter of belief. He does live there.”
Tel Hesani grunted and returned to the map. “If we make it past Abu Siq, the path’s straightforward. We cut west, then follow the as-Sudat up to where it meets the al-Meata, then track the river back to its source in Tubaygat.”
“What about the Um Saga?” Jebel said. “Abu Saga’s full of slavers looking for workers to throw down their mines. How can we guarantee safe passage?”
“We can’t,” Tel Hesani said grimly. “We’ll have to travel by night and hope we don’t fall foul of the slavers.”
“How long will it take in total?” Jebel asked.
Tel Hesani scratched his beard. “We can’t factor in all of the obstacles that we’re sure to run into. The weather might work against us—if we get delayed on the way to Abu Siq, it will be winter, and the siq might be impassable. And it will definitely be winter or early spring when we hit the al-Meata. Snowstorms or floods could bar our progress….
“At best, eight months,” he guessed. “More likely ten. If we manage that, we should be able to sail back in time for the mukhayret. Rather,” he added with a bitter smile, “you can sail back. I will be staying in Tubaygat.”
Jebel waved away the slave’s last comment. He was thinking hard. “Eight to ten months… It’s going to be tight. What if I can’t get back in time?”
Tel Hesani shrugged. “I will have escorted you to Tubaygat and let you kill me, upholding my part of the bargain. What happens after that is your concern. Come,” the slave said, rolling up the map. “Let’s sort out our supplies and move on. If we can cover a few miles before midday, it will be a good start.”
Jebel nodded wearily. He felt that the world was larger and more threatening than he’d ever imagined. But he didn’t want to look weak in front of Tel Hesani, so he splashed water over his face, then followed his slave back into the market to buy the goods that they would need to help them navigate the first leg of their journey into the perilous unknown.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The journey north through Abu Aineh was a joy. As a quester to Tubaygat, Jebel was fêted in every village and town that he passed through. The reaction from the um Surout—those who lived by the banks of the river—was the same everywhere. Men and women greeted Jebel politely but with no great interest at first. Their gaze flickered to his arms, searching for the tattoos that would tell what family he was from, if he had a job, and so on. They’d note the small W on his neck with no surprise—um Wadi were plentiful here. But eyebrows were raised when they saw the tattoo of the axe on his left shoulder, then shot up even higher when they spotted the coiled serpent on his lower right arm.
As soon as people realized that Jebel was on a quest to Tubaygat, word spread like wildfire. Within minutes a crowd would form. Everyone wanted to offer him a bed or food, to touch his hand and earn good luck. If any thought it curious that such a skinny boy had undertaken so hazardous a quest, they kept their doubts to themselves. He was the Wadi executioner’s son, and he bore the brand of a quester. He was due their unreserved respect, and they afforded it him.
The praise and gifts of the river folk quickly went to Jebel’s head. He had been withdrawn and sullen when they left Wadi. Tel Hesani had taken control of the quest, organized their supplies, decided how far they marched each day, when they slept and ate. The slave never acted without Jebel’s permission, always careful to ask if “my young master” agreed. But he was clearly in charge, and Jebel felt the way he did in school.
He was lonely too. Tel Hesani was a man of few words (at least around Jebel), and there was nobody else to talk with. Jebel missed his
friends, his brothers, Debbat Alg, even the melancholy Bastina. The days were long and dull. They marched steadily, the scenery unchanging, stopping only to eat, rest, and sleep. His mind wandered while they marched, but since he’d never been overly imaginative, he found it hard to amuse himself. He was also sore from sleeping on a rough mat. He had seriously started to think about abandoning the quest and throwing himself into the as-Surout.
But then came the villages and towns, the gasps, the admiration, the fine beds, clothes, and food. Feasts were dedicated to him, and vintage wines uncorked in his honor. After his first few glasses, he would regale his audience with fanciful tales of why he had undertaken the quest. If his listeners sensed the hollowness of his words, they never challenged him. Jebel soon started to believe his own stories and came to think that there was more to his character than he’d imagined in the past.
Girls also looked at Jebel in a new way. Wherever he stopped, he found scores of young women clad in their finest blouses and dresses, fussing over him, fighting among themselves to carry a tray to him or pour his wine. They smiled at Jebel all the time, fluttering their eyelashes, artfully pursing their lips.
The advances took Jebel by surprise initially. He blushed and kept his eyes low. But now he accepted the flirting and openly ogled the girls who paraded before him, choosing the prettiest and beckoning her forward, gracing her by letting her wait on him in front of her friends.
Jebel wasn’t sure what Tel Hesani got up to while he was being toasted by the locals and enjoying the company of their fairest maids. The slave would vanish from Jebel’s sight and thoughts once the first glass of wine was poured. In the morning, Tel Hesani would be waiting for him outside the hut where Jebel had spent the night. After a long, late breakfast and an extended series of farewells, they would take to the road again, often not until early afternoon, and make their leisurely way to the next settlement.
When Jebel occasionally wondered about Tel Hesani, he assumed that the Um Kheshabah was enjoying himself among the slaves and servants, basking in his master’s fame. One evening, in a small town, he discovered that wasn’t quite the case.
Jebel was sipping wine on a veranda overlooking the as-Surout. The high lord of the town had a collection of wines from all over Makhras, some from countries Jebel had never heard of. He’d been drinking more than usual and was feeling light-headed. A green-eyed, willowy maid had danced seductively for him earlier and topped up his glass more often than was necessary, breathing softly in his face as she leaned over him with the bottle. He was thinking about the way she had looked at him, and her whispered promise to bring him more wine in his hut later, when he was alone.
It wouldn’t be polite to go to bed before nightfall, so Jebel remained seated and favored the high lord with some of his wilder tales. But all the time his gaze was on the girl with the green eyes. He couldn’t wait for night. He wished he had the power to control the sun—he’d make it sink a lot faster if he could!
After another glass of wine, he excused himself and slipped down to the river to relieve himself. Once he was done admiring the ripples he had made, he turned to head back to the veranda, only to find Tel Hesani blocking his way.
“I trust the wine is to your satisfaction, master,” the slave said.
“Very much so.” Jebel belched and frowned at Tel Hesani. “I’m tired of those trousers. Replace them with a tunic. And make sure it covers your chest—it’s not proper for a slave to run around half-naked. You’re not working on the docks any longer, you know.”
“Indeed, my lord.” Tel Hesani smiled. “I thank you for your advice, but I prefer trousers. In my country, this is how men dress.”
“This isn’t your country,” Jebel snarled, “and that wasn’t advice—it was an order. I expect you to be wearing a tunic in the morning. If not, I’ll have you whipped.”
Tel Hesani’s smile didn’t falter. “My young master speaks clearly, for which I am grateful. I am glad that your senses are intact, despite all the wine you’ve been drinking. Perhaps you are sober enough to heed my warning and be saved.”
“What are you talking about?” Jebel growled. “How dare you presume to warn me. Forget about morning. I’ll have you whipped now, you son of a—”
“Be careful, sire,” Tel Hesani said, lips tightening. “These people know you as a noble quester. If I was whipped, I might cry out and tell them a different story of a sorry boy who wants to reclaim his lost honor.”
Jebel’s eyes flashed. “I won’t stand for such insolence. I’m going to have the flesh flayed from your back, you worthless piece of—”
“The girl who has been dancing for you is no maid,” Tel Hesani interrupted. “I have been speaking with the servants. They tell me she had a boyfriend. They were very close, but he left when she pressed him to marry her. If she wants to wed a different man later, she’ll have to take a test to prove her maidenhood, but it’s a test she will fail.”
Tel Hesani paused to make sure that had sunk in. Although Jebel’s eyes were swimming in their sockets, the slave could see that the boy was paying attention.
“It seems to me,” he continued, “that the girl is scheming to find a way out of her predicament. I think she plans to come to you in your hut tonight, then claim that you attacked her. If her accusation is accepted, she will still be considered a maid by law. You will be executed and she’ll be free to marry.”
Jebel croaked, “How do you know this?”
“I made inquiries,” Tel Hesani said, “as I have everywhere we’ve stopped. Such plots are not uncommon. You wouldn’t be the first young man to lose his head to the wiles of a desperate woman.”
“I thought you just drank and had a good time,” Jebel said.
“No. I am your guide and guardian. Our path is lined with danger, but not all of the dangers are obvious. It is my duty to protect you from every possible threat. I have gone in search of gossip among the servants of each house where we have sought shelter. When I’ve had to, I’ve bribed them with swagah taken from my master’s pouch—I trust you will not hold that against me?”
Jebel shook his head numbly. He didn’t know what to say. He felt like he should thank Tel Hesani, but that was ridiculous. Jebel had been taught to believe that slaves should obey their master’s every request without expectation of a reward. As a young boy, he had once thanked a slave at his school for cleaning his wound when he fell and cut his knee. A teacher heard, whipped Jebel, and sent him home in disgrace. Jebel’s father whipped him too. The boy never thanked a slave again after that.
“I’ll keep my door barred tonight,” Jebel muttered.
“That would be wise, my lord,” Tel Hesani said smoothly. “It would be even wiser, if I may be so bold, to avoid towns like this for a while. We have fallen behind schedule. We should press on and pick up our pace.”
Jebel nodded, feeling very small and childish. “We’ll rise at dawn and push ahead as fast as we can. No more stopping to chat with these accursed um Surout.”
“One last thing, sire,” Tel Hesani said as Jebel passed. “Is there any particular style of tunic you wish me to wear tomorrow?”
Jebel grimaced. “You can keep wearing your damn trousers.”
“You are most generous, young master,” Tel Hesani said, and bowed respectfully as a sullen Jebel trudged back to the veranda to scowl at the green-eyed temptress who had almost seduced him to his doom.
CHAPTER NINE
Shihat was a godsforsaken eyesore. The northernmost town of Abu Aineh, it was at the meeting point of three nations, so it should have been a vibrant, exciting city, where the best of different cultures mixed and merged. But the eastern lands of Abu Nekhele were swampy and fetid. The wealthier Um Nekhele lived farther west, and the majority of trade went via the as-Sudat. As for Abu Safafaha, that was a country of savages, and the hardened traders crossing the border to sell skins and rare creatures or birds brought nothing of cultural value to the town.
Shihat was an ugly maze of bar
racks, trade centers, and markets. Soldiers patrolled the streets, checking papers, searching for border rats. Any traders entering Abu Aineh by the as-Surout had to stop in Shihat to pay a tithe. Without signed, stamped papers to prove payment, they couldn’t leave the city.
It should have been a simple procedure, but corruption was rife. It wasn’t enough to present your wares and pay a tithe. You needed to bribe a string of officials and soldiers. Traders rarely made it out of Shihat in less than three days.
The streets were always full. Taverns and bordellos did a roaring business. Fights often broke out among frustrated travelers. Traders were mugged or killed. Mounds of rubbish were left to rot, and wild dogs lapped from pools of blood.
After half an hour there, Jebel wanted to burn the place to the ground. It was even worse than Fruth, which he would have thought impossible just thirty minutes earlier.
“They live like animals,” he stormed to Tel Hesani, watching naked children chase a chicken down the middle of a street overflowing with sewage. When they caught the chicken, they ripped its head off and squirted each other with blood.
“Worse than animals,” Tel Hesani agreed.
“I can’t understand how they don’t all die from disease,” Jebel said.
“Many do,” Tel Hesani said. “Dozens die each week and are tossed into large pits on the outskirts of the town. If rumors are to be believed, local butchers raid those pits and feed cuts of the dead to their customers.”
Jebel almost vomited. “Did we bring food of our own?” he asked.
“We have strips of dried meat and canteens of fresh water,” said Tel Hesani. “We’ll find an inn and eat in our room.”
“Can’t we push on immediately?” Jebel asked.
“It will be night soon,” Tel Hesani said. “The border rats from Abu Nekhele and Abu Safafaha—traders who do not wish to pay a tithe or who are transporting illegal goods—try to sneak around Shihat in the darkness. Soldiers hunt for them—it passes for sport up here. We would probably wind up with our throats cut and our bodies dumped in a marsh. Or worse.”