south is the shoreline of ourcountry. We will make landfall at Fairwinds, a very wealthy port, then follow the main trade route as directly as possible to Zahadar, which is here.” He tapped the northeast corner of the map. The king saw the Great Trade Road begin at the center of the shoreline, then arc away to the west before swinging back to the northeast.
“That’s a pretty roundabout way to go,” said one of the men, then added quickly, “Your Majesty.”
“So I said as well,” the king replied. “But we’ll never be able to get engines of war, or horses, or so many soldiers to Zahadar without a decent road. Or water,” he added, “or places to stop for resupplying.”
“Over here, and here,” said Shan, “is only desert. Here is Sweetwater Trees, the first oasis village we will come to. We can rest here and resupply. Close by, there once was a great city. In the course of three days and nights, it was completely covered by a sandstorm. Very few people escaped. Its name is no longer spoken. We call it, ‘Asur-keh-la,’ which in our ancient tongue means ‘The Place From Which No Living Thing Returns.’ ”
“
That
will help tourism,” said Ben.
“Well, er, we’ll make sure we steer well clear of it,” the king said.
Shan nodded, not noticing Ben’s sarcasm. “Elsewhere along the Great Trade Road, there are a few other small villages and places where we can find water. But one place we should be sure we go to is this. It is the ‘Cave of a Thousand Guardians.’ I was only there once, as a child, but it was very beautiful. The statues of all of Samarkand’s Heroes are there, and it is a serene and healing place. Plus, there is an underground spring that has never run dry.” His brown eyes regarded the king solemnly. “You will notice, Majesty, that our path is based largely on where we can find water.”
The king nodded. “Go on.”
“These spots are where we can find oasis towns. And all along the road, if we are lucky, we will encounter nomads who will be able to sell us food and other necessities.”
“Well,” said Ben, “this doesn’t sound as bad as I feared.”
Shan turned to him. “Mr. Finn, what I tell you, I tell you from memory. From before the Empress rose to power and the darkness came. This,” he said, indicating a place on the map close to the Blade Mountains, “is my village, Sammah. This, I know recently. The rest of Samarkand …” He shook his head. “Majesty, I cannot tell you if any nomads are left to walk the roads. I cannot tell you if the oasis towns have not been swallowed by the black storms of the desert. I cannot tell you that the Empress’s army won’t be waiting for us right on the shore.”
“Then what bloody use are you to us?” The bellow came from one of the soldiers, who had been growing increasingly distressed by Shan’s words. He reached across the table and grabbed Shan by the shirt. “We’ve heard the stories … how you claim to have been ‘released’ by the Shadows to come warn us. Well, maybe you are one of them!”
“Let him go!” ordered the king. The soldier did so, reluctantly. Shan’s face had gone pale. “Do you think this had not occurred to me? This boy is under my protection. And if I hear that any harm befalls him, or there are any disrespectful words or actions directed at him, rest assured I will deal with that. Do I make myself clear?”
The man nodded, chastised.
“Now,” said the king, “what’s that mark, over there?
The sword glittered as it descended. Swiftly, clumsily, Laylah brought her own sword up just in time. The blades clashed,sending a shower of sparks. Her arm trembling, sweat dotting her brow, Laylah leaped back, then made a desperate feint to the left. Her opponent anticipated the move and easily blocked the queen’s blow. With a swift, almost lazy movement, the blade twisted. Laylah’s sword flew out of her hand, clattering to the floor. As her opponent’s sword descended in a
“That’s a pretty roundabout way to go,” said one of the men, then added quickly, “Your Majesty.”
“So I said as well,” the king replied. “But we’ll never be able to get engines of war, or horses, or so many soldiers to Zahadar without a decent road. Or water,” he added, “or places to stop for resupplying.”
“Over here, and here,” said Shan, “is only desert. Here is Sweetwater Trees, the first oasis village we will come to. We can rest here and resupply. Close by, there once was a great city. In the course of three days and nights, it was completely covered by a sandstorm. Very few people escaped. Its name is no longer spoken. We call it, ‘Asur-keh-la,’ which in our ancient tongue means ‘The Place From Which No Living Thing Returns.’ ”
“
That
will help tourism,” said Ben.
“Well, er, we’ll make sure we steer well clear of it,” the king said.
Shan nodded, not noticing Ben’s sarcasm. “Elsewhere along the Great Trade Road, there are a few other small villages and places where we can find water. But one place we should be sure we go to is this. It is the ‘Cave of a Thousand Guardians.’ I was only there once, as a child, but it was very beautiful. The statues of all of Samarkand’s Heroes are there, and it is a serene and healing place. Plus, there is an underground spring that has never run dry.” His brown eyes regarded the king solemnly. “You will notice, Majesty, that our path is based largely on where we can find water.”
The king nodded. “Go on.”
“These spots are where we can find oasis towns. And all along the road, if we are lucky, we will encounter nomads who will be able to sell us food and other necessities.”
“Well,” said Ben, “this doesn’t sound as bad as I feared.”
Shan turned to him. “Mr. Finn, what I tell you, I tell you from memory. From before the Empress rose to power and the darkness came. This,” he said, indicating a place on the map close to the Blade Mountains, “is my village, Sammah. This, I know recently. The rest of Samarkand …” He shook his head. “Majesty, I cannot tell you if any nomads are left to walk the roads. I cannot tell you if the oasis towns have not been swallowed by the black storms of the desert. I cannot tell you that the Empress’s army won’t be waiting for us right on the shore.”
“Then what bloody use are you to us?” The bellow came from one of the soldiers, who had been growing increasingly distressed by Shan’s words. He reached across the table and grabbed Shan by the shirt. “We’ve heard the stories … how you claim to have been ‘released’ by the Shadows to come warn us. Well, maybe you are one of them!”
“Let him go!” ordered the king. The soldier did so, reluctantly. Shan’s face had gone pale. “Do you think this had not occurred to me? This boy is under my protection. And if I hear that any harm befalls him, or there are any disrespectful words or actions directed at him, rest assured I will deal with that. Do I make myself clear?”
The man nodded, chastised.
“Now,” said the king, “what’s that mark, over there?
The sword glittered as it descended. Swiftly, clumsily, Laylah brought her own sword up just in time. The blades clashed,sending a shower of sparks. Her arm trembling, sweat dotting her brow, Laylah leaped back, then made a desperate feint to the left. Her opponent anticipated the move and easily blocked the queen’s blow. With a swift, almost lazy movement, the blade twisted. Laylah’s sword flew out of her hand, clattering to the floor. As her opponent’s sword descended in a
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