Invasion and Dragons Page 12

  The cart jolted to a halt, snapping Landon back into the moment. He heard the two drivers talking to someone, their voices calm and professional. He held his breath and strained his ears to catch their conversation. The basket was thick but not thick enough to block an authoritative voice demanding to search the baskets. He was at the wall.

  Landon gripped the sword until his knuckles were white, praying that the guards wouldn’t be thorough. If he was caught, Darrin would lock him in a cell until it was time for him to leave for Dagnor—maybe even cripple him, breaking both his ankles like what the Borikans did. His feet twinged at that thought.

  Landon heard boots head towards the back of the cart. The lid of his basket was lifted, and the linens were moved around enough for a man’s silhouette to come into view. Landon’s mouth became dry, and before he could suppress the rising wave of panic, the lid dropped back into place. He listened as the other baskets were searched.

  “Clear,” shouted the guard. His voice tickled Landon’s memory, but he didn’t care. The whip cracked, and the cart jolted forward. He released a loud, shuddering gasp, and began a fervent prayer of thanks.

  The racket from the wheels rolling along the cobblestones increased, and the inside of the basket became dark as night. They were inside the tunnel. It went on longer than he anticipated until he was able to see again, signifying the tunnel’s exit. Landon wanted to get out then and there, but he forced himself to wait. He got to his knees, wincing as his stiff muscles stretched, and moved the sheets out of the way. He raised the basket lid and peered outside.

  The cart had no back, which gave him a clear view of the Great Wall. He saw several wagons trailing after the laundry cart, and a short line of wagons and riders waited to enter the tunnel. He counted ten sentries on the wall, five facing out and five facing into the valley. Six more stood on the ground, questioning and searching the incoming traffic. He’d have to wait until the wall was out of sight and there were fewer travelers before slipping away.

  The cart trundled on the road for almost an hour before it turned to the left. Landon’s view of the wall was replaced with the forest and an empty dirt road. The basket jostled and bounced with each hole and rock the wheels found. Crouching in the basket with the lid resting on his head, Landon slung both the satchel and knapsack around his shoulder and rebuckled the sword about his waist. He eased one leg and arm out, touched the narrow bit of exposed wood on the cart, and slid the rest of his body from the basket. He gripped the lip of the basket to keep his balance and peered towards the front.

  The drivers faced forward, deep in a conversation about racing horses. Landon watched the two Tsuregans, waiting for them to turn their heads to check on their cargo, but not once did they glance back. There was no need to keep an eye on the laundry.

  Wishing his legs weren’t so numb, Landon slid off the cart. He stumbled, gasping as his senseless legs took his weight. Hobbling to the safety of the forest, he leaned against the far side of a tree. He walked in place, wincing as pins and needles raced through his limbs. The cart trundled out of sight and earshot, leaving him alone with the birds and forest.

  Landon sucked in a deep breath and let out with an explosive laugh. He was outside Tsuregi! Ryoshin and Morgan had done it. Landon wanted to caper around the forest for joy, but there wasn’t time to dawdle. It wouldn’t be long before his absence was noticed, especially if Sayre or Niklas were to have a vision. All the same, he was free of the kings.

  “Thank you, Jeshua,” he whispered. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!”

  Once his legs regained their feeling, Landon turned his back on the road and set out for Nircana. He had a long way to go, but he wanted to get some distance between himself and the wall before he stopped. The sun was low on the horizon, yet Landon was determined to read the treaty before night fell.

  He had to know what the kings were planning.

  Chapter 7

  The shadows had begun to lengthen when Landon stopped in a cluster of trees. He dropped the knapsack and satchel and sagged to the ground. His body screamed for rest and nourishment, but Landon ignored it. He had waited all day for this moment.

  “To business,” he said aloud. He pulled out the treaty and unfolded it. It was two pages long and cramped with small and loopy writing. Landon held it up in the fading light, squinting to make out the handwriting.

  It was Darrin’s. Landon recognized it from the few times the Samurai Master had sent messages during their training lessons. He stared at the paper, missing those days when all he had worried about was keeping his sanity in a palace full of nobles. It seemed like another lifetime.

  Landon pushed that thought aside and began to read.

  To the chancellors, advisors, priests, lords, ladies, generals, and faithful officers of the known nations, namely Tsuregi, Dagnor, Lythra, Maisa, Caborca, and Menyre, greetings.

  In accordance with the recent uprising and concern of the Wizard’s Seal, the following kings and advisors have gathered in council to discuss peace and the Wizard’s Seal. Namely: Han Katsunaka and Darrin Foran of Tsuregi, Ebram Dre’Goran and Judan Tan’Loraen of Dagnor, Andre Berado and Filippo Maccioli of Lythra, Ivan Egorov and Valcov Stephan of Maisa, Miguel Guiterrez and Alvaro Ramirez of Caborca, Jerich Issachar and Sayre Drakshu of Menrye. Others in attendance of significant importance are: Diego Dayn, Sierra Dayn, and Landon Dayn of Hondel, and Kennin Drakshu and Niklas Drakshu of Menrye.

  The above kings and advisors unanimously declare the Wizard’s Seal to be a danger to every nation. The Wizard’s Seal’s power has the capacity to destroy lives, the land, and the world as we know it. For one millennia, Diego and Sierra Dayn, and their ancestors, have withheld the knowledge and location of the Wizard’s Seal from the peoples of the nations, both living and dead. This is in consequence of the potential ability of a wizard’s descendant accessing the power through them. Let it be known that the current guardians of the Wizard’s Seal are Diego, Sierra, and Landon Dayn of Hondel. The current known wizard descendants are Sayre and Niklas Drakshu of Menrye.

  Know that we, by the wisdom of the responsibilities granted to us by the state, have deemed it necessary, for the protection and well-being of the nations, people, and world, that the current descendants of the wizards and Thirien Keene, and the Wizard’s Seal must be separated.

  Landon shuddered at those words. He didn’t want to continue, but he made himself. He had to read the words that fulfilled Sayre and Dre’Goran’s bargain after nineteen years.

  First, the custody of Landon Dayn, son of Diego and Sierra Dayn, will be given to Ebram Dre’Goran of Dagnor. Ebram Dre’Goran vows to see to Landon Dayn’s physical well-being, as well as the well-being of his heirs hereafter. Ebram Dre’Goran agrees to find a wife for Landon Dayn, thereby ensuring the continuation of the line of Thirien Keene and of Hondel. The marriage arrangement may be either Landon Dayn’s or Ebram Dre’Goran’s choosing, and will be made known to the other kings.

  Likewise, the custody of Niklas Drakshu, son of Kennin and Sayre Drakshu and a known descendent of the wizards, will be given to Ivan Egorov of Maisa. Ivan Egorov vows to see to Niklas Drakshu’s physical well-being, as well as the physical well-being of his heirs hereafter. Ivan Egorov agrees to find a wife for Niklas Drakshu, thereby ensuring the continuation of the Drakshu line. The marriage arrangement may be either Niklas Drakshu’s or Ivan Egorov’s choosing, and will be made known to the other kings.

  In regards to the guardianship of Landon Dayn, Niklas Drakshu, and their wife and heirs, Ebram Dre’Goran and Ivan Egorov accept full responsibility and protection of their charges respectively. Ebram Dre’Goran will detain his charges in Dagnor without the use of enslavement, incarceration, torture, abuse, disfigurement, intoxication, or any other form of bondage and harm. Likewise, Ivan Egorov will also detain his charges in Maisa without the use of enslavement, incarceration, torture, abuse, disfigurement, intoxication, or any other form of bondage and harm.

  Landon reread those par
agraphs again. Niklas was being carted off too. Except he’d be forced to live with his allies, whereas Landon was going to the very people who had destroyed Hondel. The treaty all but blessed Niklas’ marriage to that princess.

  But that wasn’t all. As he expected, the treaty made no mention of Angen or the Twin’s Revenge. Like with Landon, the world would step aside and let the Borikans carry out their bloodthirsty search for Angen’s killer. The only way Landon could protect Myra was to marry her. Only then would she be beyond their reach.

  “Great,” he snarled. “Another reason to give the damn thing to her.” Landon stood and threw the treaty to the ground. He paced around the clearing, swearing under his breath. He wanted to yell at the darkening forest, but he didn’t want to draw attention if someone happened to wander by.

  His stomach growled, reminding him that he needed nourishment. Welcoming the simple act of eating, he grabbed the satchel Ryoshin had given him. He withdrew a pastry and savagely bit into the soft bread. He choked.

  “What the?” He took a closer look at the thick red goop oozing from the center. He hadn’t expected a sweet paste inside. He had eaten a lot of Tsuregan pastries at the banquets Darrin forced him to last summer, but this was new. It wasn’t bad, just different.

  The shock of a new food calmed his anger. Landon sat down again and scooped up the treaty. He resumed reading, flicking the paper as crumbs fell in the way.

  Second, Diego Dayn and Sierra Dayn are to remain in Tsuregi under the supervision of Han Katsunaka of Tsuregi. Han Katsunaka vows to see to Diego and Sierra Dayn’s physical well-being and will not detain them by enslavement, incarceration, torture, abuse, disfigurement, or any other form of bondage and harm.

  Likewise, Sayre Drakshu is to remain in Menrye under the supervision of her lord and king, Jerich Issachar of Menyre, with the exception that her status as advisor be revoked and given to another of Jerich Issachar’s choosing. This is in acknowledgement of Sayre Drakshu’s crimes in the imprisonment and torture of Diego and Sierra Dayn for eighteen years. Jerich Issachar also vows to see to Sayre Drakshu’s physical well-being and will not detain her by enslavement, incarceration, torture, abuse, disfigurement, or any other form of bondage and harm. We, the kings of the known nations, agree that her husband, Kennin Drakshu, may retain his status as War Chancellor.

  The guardians of Landon Dayn, named Eli and Alyssa Durn, will be escorted to Nircana under the supervision of Miguel Guiterrez of Caborca. They are to remain in Nircana this day forward.

  Third, the Wizard’s Seal will be entrusted to the joint custody of Miguel Guiterrez of Caborca and Andre Berado of Lythra. The means of how the Wizard’s Seal is to be guarded and retained will be trusted to their wisdom and judgment. Miguel Guiterrez and Andre Berado vow to guard the Wizard’s Seal, as well as aid each other in matters of theft, ransom, rebellion, usurpation, piracy, and any other criminal attempts to seize the Wizard’s Seal. If necessary, these kings may call upon the aid of the other nations. Under no reason or circumstances is the Wizard’s Seal to be used. Under no reason or circumstance will a descendant of the Dayns, or a combination of a wizard and Dayn descendant, be utilized to exploit the Wizard’s Seal’s power.

  In this regard, it has come to the kings’ attention that the self-proclaimed territory of Nircana is a threat to the agreements and conditions set forth by this document. From this day forth, control of Nircana will pass from Ebram Dre’Goran of Dagnor to Miguel Guiterrez of Caborca and Andre Berado of Lythra. The council grants these kings full lordship and stewardship over Nircana, including the establishment of government, laws, religion, education, and an economic workforce.

  Landon felt cold and sick. There it was. Nircana’s freedom robbed in three sentences. He reread the small paragraph about Eli and Alyssa, seething with the injustice of it all. Although it didn’t mention Morgan or Myra, he knew they would be sent back to Nircana and to slavery—or death in Myra’s case. Landon could almost hear Darrin’s voice, curt and precise as his handwriting.

  You brought this on yourself, Landon. I asked for your cooperation and you refused.

  Worse, he had no idea how the Caborcans and Lythrans would treat his people. True, the Lythrans he had encountered had been crude, but he had never seen them act as violently as the Borikans. Juan was the only Caborcan Landon knew. When they had first met last summer, Juan had been bossy and full of empty threats. Were all Caborcans like him, or did they have a cruel streak like the Borikans? Even the samurai could be cruel.

  Landon wanted to rip the fragile papers to tiny bits, and his hand jerked with the desire to carry out that action. He resisted only because he wasn’t finished, and the papers were too important to destroy.

  The council grants any faithful subject of Caborca and Lythra to freely emigrate to Nircana. Any subject not of Caborca or Lythra must obtain written permission from their king before entering Nircana, and upon entering Nircana must report directly to Miguel Guiterrez and Andre Berado, or to the officials elected by the kings.

  Fourth, the kings, in their mercy, have agreed that Diego and Sierra Dayn, and Kennin and Sayre Drakshu may pay homage to their sons and heirs so long as they travel to Dagnor or Maisa respectively. Kennin and Sayre Drakshu are not allowed to enter Dagnor or Nircana. Likewise, Diego and Sierra Dayn are not allowed to enter Maisa or Nircana. Under no circumstances is Landon Dayn, Niklas Drakshu, or their heirs to leave Dagnor and Maisa respectively. Also, any wizard descendant henceforth is not allowed in Nircana, Dagnor, or Tsuregi. If a wizard descendant is found in any of these countries, he or she will be escorted to Lythra or Maisa according to the will of the king.

  The consequences for rebellion against this treaty will be met with immediate trial and prosecution before two of the kings present in this council, namely Tsuregi, Dagnor, Lythra, Maisa, Caborca, and Menyre. If a king or advisor rebels against this treaty, then he will be met with immediate trial and prosecution before all kings present in this council. The council reserves the right to dethrone the king and elect another in his stead should the offending king’s actions be severe. If the fault lies with a descendant of a wizard or Dayn, then he or she will be tried and punished accordingly by the council in the country of their residence.

  We, the kings of the known nations, have set forth these terms and agreements. We vow to observe and uphold the above terms and agreements by our signatures in Tsuregi on this day, being nineteen years, one month, and twelve days since the destruction of Hondel.

  Landon stared at the empty space below the last line. Although the kings had not placed their signatures on the paper, he felt their power emanating from it, reaching to control every aspect of his life.

  “You stupid bastards,” Landon muttered. The kings argued all day and all night and this was the best they could do? They thought they could take Landon from his family, rob Nircana of her freedom, and that would bring peace? They were sorely mistaken. They might as well have declared war on Nircana for all the good this measly parchment did.

  He refolded the treaty, stuffed it and its envelope back into the knapsack, and got to his feet. The sun had set, and the last rays of light were almost gone from the sky. His disappearance had to have been noticed by now, and Landon knew the kings would be furious. They were probably interrogating everyone close to him, including Juan and Ryoshin. A search party was probably leaving the palace by now, flooding the forest with trackers. Landon praised himself for not starting a fire. From here on, even in Nircana, a fire would be dangerous. He would also have to watch the skies for dragons.

  He gazed at the Tsuregan forest, staring down the ominous trees and the hostility they emanated. “I am not your prisoner,” he said defiantly, then turned on his heels and strode towards home.

  Landon traveled for days, hiking all day and well into the night. It took him a week to reach Nircana’s border because he stopped and hid for hours if he heard any sound of pursuit. He stopped at streams that wandered across his path to drink and take a quick bath
. Ryoshin had packed a hatchet for him, which he used to fashion a bow and a few arrows. He cut up and restitched the satchel the laundry woman had given Ryoshin to make a quiver. Landon built small fires during the day to cook his meat, and only with the driest wood. He resisted the urge to whistle for his horse, Oni. It was too great of a risk.

  Crossing the border was the greatest shock to him. As a Jeshuan follower, he believed that he would sense when he left and returned to his home, whether that was Nircana or the afterlife. Entering Nircana normally felt like a warm embrace, the atmosphere welcoming him as joyfully as his own family, but Dagnor’s invasion had changed that. The forest was tense and alert. Landon felt like the trees were trying to shield him, whispering at him to hide. This urged him further into his homeland, to the safer regions where no man or dragon could unearth him.

  He wound his way towards Town, not knowing if he should try to find a judge, a peacekeeper, or seek out his siblings. Either way, he had to make it near a prison camp without being caught.

  More than once, he saw dark shapes wheeling in the sky. Although Landon had never seen a dragon, he recognized the shapes for what they were. The wings moved more like a bat than a bird, and the necks were long. He expected to come across search parties, but he never saw or heard any men. Still, he left nothing to chance. He stayed to the thicker areas of the woods and pushed himself each night to one of the many hideouts that littered Nircana.

  On the twelfth day, he was skirting around a large glade when the glitter of water caught his eye. Landon paused, eyeing the water that sparkled among the grass. The spring warmth made him thirsty, and he had drunk almost all the water in his canteen. Despite the lush forest, he hadn’t found any streams yet. He licked his lips and scanned the gray and white clouds for dragons. Seeing none, Landon stepped out of the trees and hurried to the water.