"I'll have the sword whether you release it or not," Atreus warned. "The only thing you control is whether or not I crush your windpipe to get it."
For the first time, Naraka really seemed to look at Atreus's bloody face. His eyes grew as round as coins, and his lips trembled and glistened with sweat. Yago sat up and ripped the cloak off Naraka's shoulders, using it to start bandaging his wound. The patrol leader released his sword and began to babble wildly in Maran.
Rishi laughed. "He is calling upon the Old Gods to accept his death on the queen's behalf and smite down Ysdar's devil."
Atreus's heart filled with dismay. The reaction was little different than the one his appearance usually evoked. An ugly face could not be human. He tossed Naraka's sword to the other side of the cart, then released the Mar.
"I am no monster," he said. "Leave me alone, and you have nothing to fear."
Naraka swallowed and glanced nervously away, then found himself staring into Yago's purple eyes. He screamed and reached for his belt dagger. Atreus slapped the hand down, gently removed the knife, and tossed it over beside the sword. Naraka spit in his face and cursed him in Maran.
"Oh, now you are in trouble," chuckled Rishi. He was alternating between steering the wagon and glancing back over his shoulder. "That stupid Mar thinks you will not kill him because you fear the vengeance of the Old Gods. It would be wise to prove him wrong."
"I won't kill him in cold blood." Atreus glared at Naraka.
"I mean no harm to you or your queen, so I have nothing to fear from your gods. Do you understand?"
Naraka's face remained wild with fear, and his eyes began to search the wagon for a weapon.
Atreus looked to Rishi. "Does he understand?"
"Who can tell?" Rishi shrugged. "He is mad with fear. If you do not wish to kill him, then at least let Yago break an arm or a leg. Otherwise he will hound us all the way to Langdarma."
"Rishi, enough!" Atreus looked back to his prisoner and spoke in a calm voice. "I know you understand me. I mean no harm to you or Queen Rosalind."
"Lying devil!" Naraka hissed. "You have done much harm already! You have killed the queen's Wu-jen!"
"It was not my intent, nor was it my fault," Atreus replied. "Had Queen Rosalind shown me the courtesy she would have shown any handsome man, there would never have been trouble between us."
Atreus glanced back and saw Naraka's warriors beginning to mount and draw swords. Reluctant as they had been to attack earlier, they were not about to abandon their leader to Ysdar's devil. Atreus swung his prisoner to the rear of the wagon.
"Leave me alone, and there will be no more trouble between us. Tell your queen that."
With that, he hefted Naraka over the tailgate and dropped him to the road. Naraka rolled once, then came up screaming in Maran. Rishi slapped the reins, shaking his head. "Oh, my, what a curse!" he said. "The good sir is certainly going to wish he had broken something on that stupid Mar…"
CHAPTER 6
They pulled the wagon down into the willows, into two feet of cold, clear water, and when Atreus jumped in, his legs went instantly numb. He took Naraka's sword and the hastily loaded rucksack from Yago, then waded forward to where Rishi was freeing the yaks from their harnesses.
"I d-don't think this will w-work," Atreus chattered. "We'll f-freeze to death."
"The good s-sir may have f-faith in his servant." Rishi's hands were shaking so badly he could barely work. "It is our p-pursuers who will freeze, not us. We have yaks."
A loud splash sounded from the rear of the wagon, then Yago said, "Ch-chilly!"
The ogre stooped down and began to bathe his wounded shoulder in the cold water, moving his arm back and forth to work the stiffness out.
"What about Yago?" Atreus kept his voice low. "He's too big for a yak."
"He will find plenty to eat in the swamp. That will keep him warm." Rishi motioned for the rucksack. "The only other choice is to confront our pursuers, and then there will certainly be much killing, which I know the good sir finds so distasteful."
Seeing that the Mar was right, Atreus hoisted the rucksack onto a yak's back. Rishi slipped a rope through the shoulder straps and pulled it toward the beast's withers, then frowned and hefted its weight.
"My goodness, this is light," Rishi remarked. "What does it contain?"
"Our bedrolls and extra cloaks, the last of our food, the cooking pot and water-skins-"
"And what of your treasure coffer?" Rishi broke in.
"My treasure coffer? Even if we had a way to carry it, we don't have time-"
"If you don't bring the coffer, how can you pay me?" demanded Rishi. "You have your own reasons for seeking Langdarma. I am doing it for the gold."
"But Naraka's patrol is-"
"Had the good sir listened to his guide and killed Naraka, the patrol would undoubtedly have turned back by now," Rishi said as he stepped away from the yak. He stood with arms folded, leaving the rucksack to hang half secured. "You may spare your enemies if you wish, but your kindness will not cost me my fortune."
Atreus sighed and glanced through the willows back toward the road. When he saw no sign of Naraka's patrol, he nodded reluctantly. "If we can carry it," he said. "Yago's in no condition-"
"Yaks can carry anything," Rishi said, resuming his work. "You will see."
Atreus laid his sword on the rucksack, securing it in place beneath the cinch rope, then waded over to the front of the wagon. His numb feet were little more than frozen weights, and they slipped twice as he pulled himself onto the driver's footboard. He kneeled on the bench and leaned into the back, reaching for his treasure basket.
The sound of approaching hooves began to drum down the road. Atreus peered out through the back of the cargo bed, looking through the long tunnel of smashed willows the wagon had left in its wake. The leaves were too thick to see up onto the road, but he had little doubt about whom he was hearing. He threw open the treasure basket, then groaned as he hefted the heavy coffer out.
"Here," said Yago. "I'll take that."
Atreus turned to find his friend standing beside the driver's bench, both arms extended to take the coffer. Though the ogre's face betrayed no hint of his pain, he could not quite lift his wounded arm high enough to accept the box.
Atreus shook his head. "You rest your arm, "he said. " We might need it later."
The sound of the drumming hooves grew louder. Rishi came over with the yaks and gently shouldered Yago aside. The Mar was sitting sidesaddle on the lead mount, holding a willow switch in one hand and the second beast's tether in the other.
"Perhaps you will hold the coffer until we have time to secure it," said Rishi. "It should not be long. Most likely, our pursuers will not even notice where we left the road."
Up on the road, Naraka chattered several commands in Maran, and the galloping hooves suddenly slowed.
"They noticed," Yago growled.
"It means nothing." Rishi waved Atreus toward the yak. "If you will be so kind as to mount, they cannot follow us into the swamp."
Atreus threw a leg over the yak and settled down behind its humped shoulders. He saw at once why Rishi had chosen to sit sidesaddle. Straddling the creature's broad back was incredibly uncomfortable, but with both hands holding the coffer, the only way to keep his balance was to squeeze the beast between his knees.
The rattle of falling stones sounded from the road bank. A single pony whinnied as it stepped into the icy water.
Rishi tapped his yak on the neck. The beast turned away from the wagon and started into the swamp, drawing Atreus's mount along. The creatures had an awkward, rolling gait, and Atreus found himself instantly in danger of falling off. He braced the heavy coffer on the yak's hump and pressed his heels into its belly and tried not to think of the icy water below. Yago followed along close behind, his splashing feet masking the softer babble of the yak's hooves. If the ogre found the frigid water more than merely uncomfortable, he betrayed no sign.