Aakuta shrugged and stared back at Vand, “Perhaps you have a spy in your organization? How do you expect me to know?”
“A spy?” mocked the Emperor. “In my organization? How rich. Yes, Aakuta, there is most definitely a spy in my ranks. Do you know what I do with spies?”
“I know what I would do,” Aakuta answered seriously. “I would make an example of him so that there would never be another spy. I would make him suffer greatly and publicly.”
“There are some thing that we agree on,” sneered Vand, “but not very many. You are that spy, Aakuta. I have felt it from the very first day that you arrived. You are as phony as a worshipper of Kaltara. So that now that we agree on the type of punishment that you deserve, how about we get down to specifics. How should you be punished?”
Vand sat poised in his throne. It was obvious to Aakuta that the Emperor was just waiting for him to make a move to protect himself. The slightest sign of offensive or defensive magic would result in sure death.
“You seek to punish me for the works of others?” retorted the dark mage. “Ask yourself this. When have I been privy to the sailing schedules of your ships? Who could have possibly told me what estates on the mainland you planned to kidnap mages from? There is no possible way that I am your spy. Oh, I agree that you have one. I think that goes without saying, if you are stepping into multiple traps, but you are looking in the wrong quarter. I have been loyal to you since before I set foot on this island. If you truly want a Khadoran mage, I will get you one. I had no trouble in the past getting whatever I wanted in Khadora. Their magic is weak.”
Emperor Vand stared questioningly at Aakuta. Lady Mystic cleared her throat and caught the Emperor’s attention.
“What he says is true,” volunteered Lady Mystic. “He has not been present in any of the planning sessions. Whoever is spying on you, it cannot be Aakuta. He simply did not have the information to use against your people.”
Vand stared at Aakuta for a moment longer before waving at him dismissively. The dark mage immediately turned and left the throne room. He waited outside the room for Lady Mystic as he tried to calm his nerves. He knew that he would not be able to keep up his charade much longer.
Chapter 19
Etta
Tamar stopped at the edge of the elven village of Etta. Mistake and MistyTrail stopped alongside him. The officer stared across the glade and shook his head.
“What is the matter?” asked MistyTrail.
“There is nothing the matter,” replied Tamar. “Seeing Etta just brings back memories of my childhood when I lived in a village like this one. It is far different than living in Morada. There are no shops, or healers, or libraries. There is nothing here but a few shacks. Perhaps this was not such a good idea after all.”
“You grew up in a village?” asked Mistake. “I thought your father was an elder, a man of great importance. He has such a fine home.”
“My father became an elder because he received respect for his thoughts and deeds,” replied Tamara. “We were a poor family living in a simple village before he was chosen to be an elder. The queen owns his fine home. When Volox ceases to be an elder, he will lose it. He will have nowhere to live.”
“That is why he didn’t want us staying with him,” surmised Mistake. “He should have just said so. We would not want to endanger him or his career.”
“Fair enough,” sighed Tamar, “but moving you to this village is a mistake. Let’s turn back. I will find a decent home for you in Morada. These shacks do not even have water in them. I am sure that the wind blows right through them.”
“No,” replied MistyTrail. “I want to stay in Etta. You may be right about the quality of the housing, but Mistake said that the people here welcomed her. That is far more important in my mind. With the exception of you and your parents, I did not feel as though I belonged in Morada.”
“I agree,” Mistake interjected enthusiastically. “Just leave us, Tamar. It is better that it does not appear as though we were banished to this village.”
Tamar frowned. He stared at the village and then at the girls.
“Go,” chuckled MistyTrail as she hugged Tamar. “We will be fine. Give our regards to your parents. Tell them that we are happy and well.”
“And come visit when you get time,” grinned Mistake.
Tamar shook his head with uncertainty, but he eventually turned and walked away. Mistake and MistyTrail watched him leave and then turned towards the village.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” asked Mistake. “The villagers were nice to me, but they were excited to see Eltor return. Without him around, they may not be as nice. In fact, they may see us as the reason the boys are in prison.”
“These are simple people,” declared MistyTrail. “I look at them and see Sakovans or Qubari. They will look at us as outsiders for a while, but they will judge us by our actions and nothing else. If we must live in Elvangar, this is as fine a place as we can find.”
“Plus it has the advantage of being close to the hidden ship,” Mistake nodded vigorously. “Maybe when we tire of it here, we can sneak back to Fakara.”
“No way,” laughed MistyTrail. “I am never sailing with you again. Let’s go to the well and see if we can meet some villagers.”
On the way to the well, Mistake saw an old man sitting on a rock, smoking a pipe. Lazy curls of smoke rose above the man’s head. Mistake tapped MistyTrail on the arm and nodded towards the old man.
“That is the magician,” Mistake said. “Let’s go talk to him. Maybe he will know a family that we can stay with.”
Mistake and MistyTrail turned and walked over to the old man. He did not look up or acknowledge them in any way. Mistake and MistyTrail sat on the grass in front of him and said nothing. After a silent stretch of minutes, the old man sighed.
“Have you never seen a pipe before?” he groused. “Run along and play with the other children.”
“We are hardly children any more,” retorted Mistake. “Do you not remember me? I came through the jungle with Eltor a while ago.”
The old man looked up and stared at the girls. He nodded in recognition.
“Can’t hardly tell the two of you apart,” grumbled the old man. “Which one have I met before?”
“Me,” said Mistake. “MistyTrail is my sister. My name is Mistake. You met me when Eltor and I came through the jungle.”
“You just said that,” retorted the old man. “Do you think I am old and senile?”
Mistake frowned, wondering if she should have gone to the well instead. MistyTrail started laughing softly.
“What are you laughing about?” grumbled the old man.
“Your act,” replied MistyTrail. “You remind me an old Sakovan friend. I am sure that if you had a cane, you would threaten to beat us with it unless we left you alone.”
“A cane?” smiled the old man. “That is not a bad idea. Yes, I could use a cane. Sakovan? I have not heard of that village. Where is it located?”
“It is not a village,” answered MistyTrail. “It is a large country a long ways from here.”
“A country, eh?” the old man replied with interest. “I haven’t heard of it anyways. So you are foreigners then?”
“We are,” nodded MistyTrail. “We have come to Etta to find a family to live with. We would like you to teach us magic.”
The old man took the pipe from his mouth and looked at the girls with a new interest. MistyTrail saw a slight sparkle in the man’s eyes.
“There is no family to take you in here,” the old man stated. “Everyone here is poor. They feed the mouths they have and no more. What makes you think that I can teach you magic?”
“I saw you doing magic for the children,” interjected Mistake. “I know that you can do it.”
“Aye, I know magic,” the old man said as he pointed to Mistake with the end of his pipe. “I asked what made you think that I could teach YOU magic.”