“I believe you,” nodded Gerock. “I have heard of you and you look as you were described. What happens when I return and they torture the truth out of me? How will that help you escape?”
“These men do not want to call attention to themselves,” Temiker answered. “They will not use torture, but they may well question you and take their horse back, which you will graciously allow them to do. With your permission, I will implant a false memory in your brain to help me. When you return to the village, you will remember me dying on the voyage. You will remember my request to be buried at sea should that happen. Hopefully, that will be the end of their interest in you and me.”
“This false memory,” inquired the fisherman, “will it affect me in any other way?”
“No,” smiled Temiker. “It will not hurt you nor alter any other memories.”
Gerock stared at the spire in Alamar, which was now off the port side of the vessel as they sailed north. After a long time of silence, Gerock turned to meet the wizard’s gaze. “I will do as you ask, wizard. I wish you safe journey and am only sorry that I will not remember you and this talk.”
“Someday when this trouble is over, my friend,” grinned Temiker,” I will return to your village and restore the memory of this voyage. When I do, you will remember me saying that I will bring you a new boat when I return.”
Chapter 6
Detour
Lyra tried to shut out the constant pounding coming from the bridge overhead as she worked on altering Alfred’s pants. The rest of her disguise had already been completed during the several hours that Syman and Antello had been gone. Travel on the road south from Gatong had become impossible for the trio. Imperial Guards constantly traveled the road in search of them and they had finally hidden under a large river bridge. The bridge was wide and the ground sloped gently down to the river, leaving plenty of room to hide even with the horses. Syman had gone to search the road ahead to determine if the patrols slackened once they got away from the city. Antello went in search of information regarding the Academy attack and whether anyone had seen the invaders.
It would be good to know the numbers of their enemy and whether they patrolled at night, Lyra thought as she put the finishing touches on the pants. Lyra stripped off her tunic and quickly cut it in strips to bind her breasts tightly. She rummaged through Antello’s pack and took out a plain brown shirt and put it on before donning Alfred’s newly tailored pants. Alfred’s leather vest was next with the black cap finishing the disguise. Lyra pushed her short blond hair under the cap and pawed through her own pack in search of a mirror. Studying her reflection brought a frown to her face. With her hair out of sight, it was obvious that she was trying to disguise herself. Lyra pulled the cap off and donned it again, this time leaving her hair hanging out. Lyra smiled at the new refection. Her hair, which she always kept short, looked natural hanging out around the edges of the cap and didn’t add any feminine quality to her disguise. In fact, her hair was shorter than Antello’s shoulder length locks. Lyra was satisfied that she could pass as Antello’s younger brother now and started cleaning up the area.
As she was stuffing items into the packs, Syman arrived back. Anxious to hear his report, she rose and went to greet him. Syman swiftly dismounted and drew his sword, his face a knot of contorted rage. Lyra felt a shiver of fear race down her spine and turned around to see what threat had sneaked up behind her. Seeing nothing behind her, she turned again to face Syman and found that he had crossed the distance separating them and had his sword at her throat.
“So thief,” Syman snarled, “what have you done with the girl?”
Lyra’s eyes grew large as she understood what was happening and the words stuck in her throat.
“Answer me now or die,” demanded Syman, his eyes darting around the impromptu campsite for any sign of Lyra’s body.
“Syman,” Lyra croaked, “it is me. Not a thief. Me. Lyra.”
Syman’s brow knitted in confusion for just a second as he stared at Lyra’s face. Slowly he lowered his sword.
“Darn!” Syman growled. “I wish you had at least let me know you were going to do this. I almost slit your throat. Probably would have except that I didn’t think I would ever find where he stashed you if I killed him.”
“At least you thought I was a he,” Lyra sighed while rubbing her neck. Syman’s sword did not cut her flesh, but she could still feel the cold tip of the sword at her throat even though it was no longer there.”
Syman looked up and down at her disguise and chuckled. “Amazing what the proper clothes can do. I can’t wait until Antello sees you.”
“You don’t have long to wait,” Antello announced. “I followed you in.”
“Oh,” groaned Syman. “And I suppose you knew it was Lyra, right?”
“Of course,” grinned Antello. “She’s wearing my shirt, my good shirt.”
The tension relieved, the three students started laughing. “I guess the disguise is good enough then?” questioned Lyra.
Syman nodded solemnly. “The disguise is good, Lyra, but the news about the road is not,” Syman stated. “There is no end to the patrols. The Imperial Guards ride far enough to meet with a patrol out of the next town and then turns around and comes back. There are enough patrols out that we can cross the road safely enough, but actually trying to travel down it is out of the question. I think we will need to find a trail that parallels the road if we wish to go farther south.”
“There are actually two main trails heading south,” interjected Antello. “We are not the only people who feel uncomfortable with the Imperial Guard presence on the road. I almost got sliced in two this afternoon when I stumbled across some smugglers. I feigned ignorance of what they were about and explained that I was looking for a way south which wasn’t under the eyes of the Imperial Guard. They became very interested in why I was afraid of the Guard and I made up a story about seducing the Watch Commander’s daughter. I told them that the man had threatened to use his sword upon me when he caught me and that I was fleeing to the next big city, fearful that the Imperial Guard was on the road just to find me and bring me back to her father.”
Syman laughed and shook his head, wiping the tears out of his eyes as he pictured the scene Antello was describing.
“Hey,” Antello scowled with mock offense. “At least they accepted me then. Anyway, they told how to find the two trails, but after talking with them for a while, they mentioned groups of men with dark outfits on both of the trails. It sounds as if the invaders are free to comb the woods, while they have the Imperial Guard searching the road for us.”
Lyra slumped down with her back against one of the bridge supports. “So, we have a choice of being arrested by the Imperial Guards or kidnapped by the invaders,” she sighed. “We are never going to get to Alamar. At least if I give myself up to the Imperial Guards, you two can get away and nobody will chase you.”
“We will stand together no matter how bleak things are, Lyra,” declared Syman. “Where you go, we all go and I do not want to hear you speak of surrender again. If they catch us, they catch us all, but you will not do anything foolish to spare Antello and myself from harm because we will march in to free you if you do. Do you understand?
Lyra stared at Syman, her feelings a confusion between rebellion against his assumed authority and gratitude for having a friend who cared so much.
Antello slid down alongside Lyra and rummaged through his pack until he pulled out a large folded paper. “We will get to Alamar,” he grinned. “You worry too much and fret too easily. Nobody can stop the three of us. I took the map off the wall at the Academy in case we needed it.”
Syman crouched down next to the other two and started studying the map. For some time the three students studied the map, sometimes running a finger along a portion of it as if the feel of it would help them memorize it or reveal some hidden mystery.