“I never thought that I would get to see Khadoratung,” MistyTrail said softly as a gangplank was thrown from the dock. “This is exciting.”
“I am glad that you think so,” frowned Mistake. “I doubt that Eltor and Caldal even know that we have arrived. What is wrong with them? They have refused to come out of the cabin the entire trip down the river.”
“They changed even before that,” answered MistyTrail. “When we boarded Emperor Marak’s ship, they started acting weird. I don’t think they like being with us any more.”
“Well I am going to find out what is going on,” Mistake said with determination. “I will not be embarrassed by them in front of the Emperor.”
Mistake strode purposely towards the small cabin in the center of the barge. She opened the door and stepped into the small communal kitchen area. As she approached the ladder to the bunkroom upstairs, she heard the voices of the elves. She froze and listened.
“We have to get off,” declared Eltor. “This is the end of the line for this barge.”
“I don’t care if it is the end,” retorted Caldal. “I do not understand why we didn’t just get a ship at Raven’s Point and head home. Now we are even deeper inside the land of the humans. We have to escape.”
“Escape to where?” countered Eltor. “We do not even know where we are. How do you expect to find Elvangar?”
“I don’t know,” admitted Caldal, “but we must leave anyway. You know the restrictions set down by Queen Alycia.”
“We broke those restrictions when we sailed past the Barrier Islands,” replied Eltor. “Talking to humans will not add any more punishment to our debt. We have no choice. If we ever hope to see Elvangar again, we will need the help of humans to get there.”
“Not if I can help it,” swore Caldal. “I had my fill of humans on Motanga. I do not wish to see another.”
Suddenly, Eltor’s head appeared over the edge of the hole allowing passage to the bunkroom. He gazed down at Mistake with a frown.
“Is it common in this land to eavesdrop on friends?” Eltor asked accusingly.
“Is it common among elves to keep secrets from their friends?” retorted Mistake. “MistyTrail and I have been wondering what was wrong with the two of you. Why did you not share your concerns with us? Must I resort to spying to learn the truth?”
“Fair enough,” conceded Eltor. “We should have told you earlier, but we are forbidden from meeting humans. It is the law of the elves.”
“You have chosen a fine time to reveal that,” frowned Mistake. “We have arrived in Khadoratung, and we are expected at the Imperial Palace within the hour. There is no way to change that now.”
“You cannot force us to go,” Caldal said loudly.
“I cannot,” Mistake conceded, “but go you must. If you tried to leave now without seeing Emperor Marak, he would suspect that you are allied with Vand. He would order your arrest.”
“Allied with Vand?” protested Caldal. “Nothing could be more ridiculous.”
“She has a point,” interjected Eltor. “This emperor has provided passage for us to Khadoratung so that he might meet us. If we disappeared at the last moment, who could blame him for being suspicious? We must go, Caldal. We have already broken the law by speaking to humans. Another one won’t make a difference.”
Mistake heard Caldal grumbling under his breath, but the elves started descending the ladder. She retreated to the deck of the barge and waited alongside MistyTrail. A few moments later, Eltor and Caldal joined them. The elves stared at the city of Khadoratung as Mistake led them off the barge and away from the dock.
The wharf area was busy with men bustling to and fro as they unloaded a long line of barges. The smell of overripe fruit permeated the air and Caldal started breathing through his mouth. Mistake hurried the small group past warehouses and trade shops as they moved deeper into the city. Eltor looked curiously at the tradesmen and their goods as he passed by. Within minutes they were at the edge of a vast marketplace. The group involuntarily slowed down as Eltor, Caldal, and MistyTrail took in the immenseness of the market. None of them had ever seen a market so large.
Mistake gave up trying to herd the small group directly to the Imperial Palace. Eltor and Caldal studied each of the stalls intently, while MistyTrail roamed on ahead quickly scanning the tables as if searching for something in particular. When MistyTrail reached the end row, she turned and strode along it. Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm, and she whirled around, a knife automatically sliding into her hand. The man’s eyes widened in horror as MistyTrail brought the knife up between them.
“Hold,” the man swallowed hard. “I did not mean to accost you. I thought you were Mistake. I am sorry.”
“You know Mistake?” MistyTrail asked, her eyes narrowing with distrust.
“Yes,” the man nodded vigorously. “I am Wendal. That is my stand over there,” he added as he pointed to a small stand a few paces away. “You look remarkably like her.”
“I am her sister,” MistyTrail smiled weakly as she returned the knife to its sheath. “She has mentioned you. I am sorry if I scared you.”
“Well you did indeed scare me,” Wendal chuckled nervously. “I see that you are as quick of hand as she is, too. It must run in the family. Please come back to my stall. I dare not leave it unattended.”
MistyTrail nodded and followed the merchant back to his stall. She gazed at the expensive merchandise with interest.
“Where is Mistake?” asked Wendal. “Has she come with you?”
MistyTrail looked around and saw her small group of friends a dozen stalls away. She pointed them out to Wendal.
“She will be here soon,” answered MistyTrail. “We are on our way to visit the Emperor.”
“Are you now?” grinned Wendal. “I would suspect that your statement was all bluster if I did not know your sister. What makes you think the Emperor will see you?”
“He sent for us,” answered MistyTrail as she picked up a piece of jewelry and examined it. “We rescued two elves from the Island of Darkness. Emperor Marak wants to talk to them.”
“The Island of Darkness?” responded Wendal. “It sounds scary.”
“It was,” MistyTrail sighed as she placed the jewelry back on the table. “I am sure that the Emperor will see us promptly.”
Mistake saw MistyTrail talking to Wendal. She grabbed Eltor and Caldal by the arms and hurried them towards Wendal’s stall.
“Take them to the end of the market,” Mistake commanded MistyTrail. “I will catch up to you in a moment.”
MistyTrail frowned and was about to object when she saw the displeasure on Mistake’s face. She smiled politely at Wendal and then herded the elves away from the stall.
“So you found your sister,” beamed Wendal. “I never had a doubt that you would succeed. She looks very much like you.”
“That she does,” nodded Mistake, “but she is prone to telling tall tales. I am trying hard to break her of the habit, but it is hard. Sometimes I think she doesn’t even know what is real and what is fancy. I hope she didn’t say anything really crazy. She embarrasses me sometimes.”
“Actually,” grinned Wendal, “we barely had time to say hello before you arrived. I hope you have time later to stop by for a chat. I would like to know what you have been up to.”
“I will try,” Mistake said cheerily as she left the stall and hurried to catch up to her friends.
Mistake caught up with the others and guided them out of the market and into a large well-groomed park. She paused when they were free of passersby.
“What did you tell Wendal?” asked Mistake.
“Not much,” frowned MistyTrail. “Why are you upset? I thought he was your friend?”
“In a way he is,” shrugged Mistake, “but that does not mean that I share things with him freely. Wendal is the most expensive merchant in Khadora. He buys and sells anything that commands a large price.”
“Well I wasn’t going to steal any of his wares,” pouted MistyTrail, “if that is what you were worrying about. That is your thing, not mine.”