Richard Tuttle - Web of Deceit

“Everybody has worked so hard,” sniffed Mistake as she peered out of the shack. “There ought to be something we can do to make them stop.”

“They won’t stop until the whole town is destroyed,” frowned Bakhai. “Then they will sift through the ashes to find Rejji.”

“That’s it!” exclaimed Mistake as she craned her neck looking for the leader of the attack. “They are here looking for Rejji.”

“Well they won’t find him,” responded Bakhai. “At least that is something positive.”

“Quiet,” ordered Mistake. “Be silent while I do this.”

Bakhai shook his head and stared as his small friend as she wove the Air Tunnel to just outside the broken gates where three Jiadin warriors sat on their horses watching the town go up in flames.

“Ride, Rejji, ride,” shouted Mistake into the Air Tunnel. “Head for the mountains while they are busy with the town.”

The three Jiadin soldiers whirled towards the sound of the voice. They appeared confused and indecisive for a moment and then the one in the center started issuing orders. One of the riders charged towards the mountains and another rode into town, while the one who had given the orders sat and looked one way and then the other. Mistake watched while the Jiadin burning the town threw their torches at the nearest hut and rode towards the gates. The leader signaled his men and charged towards the mountains in pursuit of the phantom Rejji. Within minutes, the Jiadin emptied from the town and Mistake and Bakhai raced to the gates. Bakhai slammed the gates shut as Mistake studied the broken braces.

“The nails on the braces were sawed in half,” she scowled. “I wondered how they thought they could ride into town without engaging the men on the wall.”

“What do you mean?” asked Bakhai as he signaled the defenders in the forest to return.

“I mean we have a traitor in our midst,” spat Mistake. “These nails were purposely shortened so the braces would break off. Not only that, but the Jiadin knew it before they attacked. They broke the gates open with poles held by riders. I thought it was foolish at the time, but I know why they did it. Our stockade wall was worthless when they could just open the gates.”

The defenders from the forest ran to the gate and Bakhai told them to put out the fires if they could. He left the gates and strode over to the braces and examined them.

“How long do you think it will take them to figure out that they are chasing the wind?” Bakhai asked.

“I don’t know,” Mistake frowned as she gazed at the burning town. “Judging from the smoke, I don’t think they will bother coming back when they figure it out. They didn’t come here to loot; they came to destroy. I think they accomplished their mission.”

“Well I think we will seal the gates anyway,” declared Bakhai. “If they come back they will have to deal with the archers this time. Did we lose any villagers?”

“I don’t know,” answered Mistake. “They really weren’t interested in the archers much. They just rode past them except for a few and I didn’t see any of our men go down. I am not sure if the village was emptied though.”

“There were a few men setting traps,” Bakhai stated. “Other than that it was pretty much empty. I am going to get some real nails for the braces. Why don’t you contact Yltar and let them know what happened here. I don’t want Rejji running into the Jiadin by accident.”

“What about the traitor?” questioned Mistake.

“We will deal with that after we are prepared for the return of the Jiadin,” replied Bakhai as he turned and headed towards the town.

***

Gunta slid to the ground silently and waited for Halman to descend down the rope. When Halman landed they split up and searched the area for hellsouls and then returned to the double strand of rope hanging from the temple balcony. Gunta grabbed one strand of the rope and signaled the others that is was okay to descend. Lord Marak landed softly and drew his sword, paying particular attention to the temperature of the grip. Rejji slid down next, followed closely by Mobi. When they were all on the ground, Gunta pulled the rope, which was looped around a column on the balcony. Halman stood under the rope and caught it as the free end fell. Gunta coiled the rope tightly and tossed it back up on the balcony, so there would be no trace of their leaving.

The group took up the same formation they had used to enter the city, although the street they were traveling on was much narrower. Nothing moved in the still night air and the group padded softly down the street. Nothing detected their stealthy movements and when the street met the wall, they turned to the right and proceeded until they reached the gates. Rejji touched the gates and they swung open. A shriek sounded several blocks up the broad avenue as the gates swung open, but the group was through quickly and Rejji touched the gates to close them.

“So they were watching the way we came,” Marak stated. “That is not a friendly city to visit. I am glad it is behind us.”

Mobi led the group along the trail to the same spot they had slept in before entering the city. The group slept for the remainder of the night and proceeded to the Qubari village the next morning.

The trip from Angragar to the Qubari village was at a more leisurely pace than the sprint Mobi had used to reach the ancient city. For most of the trip, Lord Marak walked alongside Mobi and the native delighted in describing the jungle to the Khadoran. Marak was interested at the vast variety of flora and fascinated by the creatures living in the jungle. At one point, the group stopped to observe a distant Tyrik spinning a web and Rejji related how he had met Mobi.

“If they could not free themselves,” asked Marak, “how were your men able to separate them from the web?”

Mobi grinned and pulled a pair of gloves from a pouch on his belt. He handed them to Lord Marak to inspect.

“The gloves are made from the hairs of the tyrik,” Mobi explained. “It is the same way that the tyrik can move along the web without getting stuck itself. We have boots made from the hairs also. They allow us to climb up the webs.”

Lord Marak handed the gloves back and they continued the journey. Mobi stopped the group later for a meal break. While they were eating, Mobi stepped off into the bushes and returned with a lygrim fruit.

“Do not eat any more than a taste,” warned Mobi. “If you do, you will pay for it the next time we stop.”

Marak bit into the extremely sweet fruit and felt a pulse of energy shoot through him.

“Too sweet to my liking,” smiled Marak, “but I could feel the energy surge with just a small bite.”

“I slept for two days after eating one,” chuckled Rejji.

“This is something I would like to import, Rejji,” stated Lord Marak. “I must remember to ask Dumo if I can have a plant to take with me also.”

“I have actually thought of several things we can export from the jungle,” declared Rejji. “We will talk about it when we return to Ghala.”

They finished up the meal and Mobi led them along the trail. Once again, Marak sought to learn as much from Mobi as he could. When they arrived in the village, Mobi took them straight to the courtyard of the long stone building and then went to fetch Chief Dumo. Dumo entered the courtyard along with Yltar.

“Welcome to the Qubari Jungle, Lord Marak,” greeted Chief Dumo. “You travel in good company.”

“Thank you, Chief Dumo,” replied Marak. “I am proud to travel with your Astor and your well-trained warrior. Thank you for allowing me access to your homeland.”

“If your visit pleases the Astor then it pleases all Qubari,” Dumo smiled. “I have asked Shaman Yltar to join us. He has had a message from Ghala for Rejji.”