Richard Tuttle - Web of Deceit

“I do not understand why Bakhai is special,” Rejji said. “The council spoke as if he were Qubari, but how can that be?”

“His father was Qubari,” frowned Yltar. “It is a sad story that touches us all here. I would not want him to leave and not return. That would be devastating.”

“We can make the trip without him,” answered Mistake. “He feels an obligation though and he takes it seriously. I am sure Bakhai has never been here before, and the council nearly decreed his death, so why would his loss mean anything to you?”

“His father was the son of Dumo,” answered Yltar.

“But Dumo was the one urging for death,” frowned Rejji. “That makes no sense.”

“Dumo is a fine leader,” sighed Yltar. “He acts in the best interests of his people, regardless of his own personal loss. Such was the case when Bakhai’s father left, and so it is the same now.”

“I understand now,” nodded Rejji. “Bakhai should stay here then. I know what it is to lose family and I would not want to see Bakhai go through that, after finally finding his. Mistake and I can do it alone. Your help in locating the Sage makes this possible.”

“We can do it alone,” agreed Mistake, “but Bakhai must be the one to decide. I will not refuse to allow him to accompany us. The decision must be his.”

“Very well,” conceded Yltar. “I know that Bakhai feels so strongly about going that I think we can assume he will be with you. I gather you will want to leave in the morning so Bakhai may return soon. Let us see what we can supply you with as far as provisions go.”

***

The three men stood upon a peak in the northern Giaming Mountains, wind whipping through their long hair as they gazed down upon the Qubari Jungle.

“Your men are too concentrated in the south,” complained Veltar as his dark eyes squinted into the wind. “You leave them too many paths to escape.”

“Nobody escapes from the jungle,” responded Winus, the Jiadin General of the Eastern Army. “They are probably long dead. We should turn our attention to the free tribes before they gain a chance to organize in opposition to Grulak.”

“They are not dead,” sneered Veltar. “I will tell you when they are dead. You would better serve Grulak by not provoking me. I am in charge of this operation and you will heed my orders or you will be replaced. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” Winus replied bitterly. “I just fail to see why these three peasants require an entire army to subdue them.”

“Your failure to understand these things is precisely why I have brought Zygor here to help you,” spat Veltar. “He will act in my stead after I return to Vandegar. You will obey his orders as if they were mine. I will not stand for any disobedience. Fail me and you shall die.”

Winus glared at the tall, thin man named Zygor. Zygor’s long black hair was flowing in the wind, just like Veltar’s, and no attempt had been made to bind it. His arms were scrawny and weak and he carried no weapon. It humiliated the general to be ordered around by such a weakling.

“I want your army split,” continued Veltar. “Half shall stay where the enemy entered the jungle. The other half is to be moved towards the north. I have heard that Rejji is headed for the Bone Mountains. Either he will wait for your southern army to leave so that he can exit the jungle, or he will exit on the north and make for the mountains. Either way, I want your men there to kill him and his friends.”

“It shall be as you desire, Advisor,” nodded Winus.

“It shall be as I command,” corrected Veltar as he mounted his horse and headed down the trail.

General Winus watched Veltar ride away. He was barely able to conceal his contempt for the advisor. He turned to look down upon the jungle again. He gazed northward to find a spot where his army could be stationed that would allow them to see the jungle and anyone trying to escape it. He was sure that if Rejji survived the trip through the jungle, which was highly unlikely, that he would not step out of the jungle if the army were visible to him.

“What are you gazing at?” questioned Zygor.

“I am searching for where the northern half of the army should be stationed,” scowled Winus.

“Place them on a tall mountain as we are,” stated Zygor. “They will be able to see more of the jungle that way.”

“And how will they all get off the mountain to intercept the enemy?” spat Winus. “If we place them that far away, it will give Rejji two days of movement before we catch up to him. The army must be closer to the jungle to ensure that he is caught. Why don’t we both do what we are best at? You advise and I will run the army the way it needs to be run to accomplish our task.”

Zygor smiled at the general and placed his hand on Winus’s shoulder. The general shook his head in disgust. Suffering Veltar had been enough of a blow to the general’s ego, but putting up with this weakling was worse. Winus wondered if he could arrange for an accident when the battle began.

“Perhaps you did not understand Veltar,” smiled Zygor. “I am in command now, not you. You will follow my orders without question. Do you understand?”

“I understand that you know nothing of tactics and strategy,” scowled Winus. “Veltar may have left you to order me around, but it is my job to make sure they are captured. I will not follow a fool’s orders and then take blame for the failures. That is what I understand. My men will follow my orders and I will accomplish the goal. Just stay out of my way and you can reap the praise of your master.”

“I have a better idea,” grinned Zygor as his fingers stiffened on the general’s shoulder. “You will follow my orders or die.”

Pain ripped through the general’s body from his shoulder to his feet. He tried to reach for his sword, but his arm just trembled. His knees grew weak and he gasped for breath as his lungs failed to function. His heartbeat boomed in his ears as he felt his body falling. His mind swam as in a whirlpool and darkness began to cloud his vision. Suddenly, it stopped and he found himself curled in a ball at Zygor’s feet. He looked up and tried to focus on the dark man’s face and saw him laughing.

“Do not be distracted by your ego when your life is so fragile,” snickered Zygor. “I hope we have a better understanding on the situation now. If not, I would be most happy to explain it to you again.”

Zygor’s hand reached for the general and Winus shook his head vigorously. “I understand,” he gasped. “Just tell me where you want my men.”

The sun was dipping below the mountains when Mobi awakened them at the northern edge of the Qubari Jungle.

“It is almost time,” Mobi declared. “We have prepared a meal for you. By the time you finish it, it will be dark enough for you to leave.”

“Not sure I care much for traveling at night over new terrain,” Mistake yawned.

“It is necessary if you wish to avoid the Jiadin,” Mobi smiled. “They camp in the peaks waiting for you to emerge. They must have great confidence in you to assume you would not die in here.”

“Or they just have orders to wait and see,” offered Rejji. “Either way, your plan makes sense, Mobi. Can we make the forest by morning?”

“If you do not dally,” assured Mobi. “The forest will give you cover almost to the base of Mount Kiator. Unfortunately, once you reach the mountain, your cover will be lost. You best hope that they are still looking this way when you get there, because the path up the mountain offers little concealment.”

“Is there anything you can do to create a diversion?” asked Bakhai. “What if three of your men left the jungle and headed south?”