CHAPTER SIX

The following morning, Psem provided a royal basket of pomegranates, cheese and cream adorned with fennel seeds for their departure.

Holding Esheth in a tight embrace, she whispered;

"I wish you stayed a little longer."

Esheth smiled holding out the folded veil to her. "I too," she said.

Psem touched the veil. "Keep it."

Goz stood outside the Baron's chamber, waiting for Dimir. He had a last coin, one that would set him on his way or push the gut down his throat. He waited, paraded, returned, raised s fist to the door to knock but stopped himself. He turned and left, plodding outside the hall.

He met Psem in the courtyard by their carriage with Esheth. He gave a slight nod.

"You have treated us well," he said.

She bowed curtly. "Why, it is good you have come."

Goz thought he caught s dryness in her voice. He turned and saw Dimir approaching. Withdrawing from the women, he went to the Baron.

"What do you truly seek, Goz," Dimir started, playing at his words. "Truth? Certainty? Power or alliance-"

"Even that, you have refused to give me Baron. If I tell you, I cannot still find it."

"Because you're not looking for what you ought."

Goz gave a pained smile.

"Go to her," Dimir said.

"Goodbye Uncle," Goz said. He nodded and waited for a moment before turning away to join Esheth in the carriage.

Slowly, they rode out of the gates, away from the castle and into the streets of Chez. Silence. Goz could hear it, he could feel it reach his chest and his throat and then touch his lips.

Silence pounded his heart, it held the air he breathed and filled the carriage with heaviness. Even the galloping of the horses had quietened, the merchants that rode the streets and the market women, they all seemed to whisper.

Had he failed? Had he come so close to what he wanted and thrown it to the wato? Had he waited too long or ran too fast. What had he done and how could he? How could he have put Yateph's fate in the hands of Dimir, in the power of the Baron's will.

Esheth touched his hand.

"Goz, I told you he couldn't help us."

They were silent again for half the journey. When they got to Tezf's border, Goz ordered his men to pass through Baz instead, he did not want to enter the city or find Tez, yet.

Inside Baz, soldiers and knights marched in a parade round the City. City guards patrolled the streets like tax collectors, flashing their maces and daggers. Goz and his men rode like figs among a field of grapes. In his heart, Goz hoped they would reach the borders before night fell.

"What have I done?" He finally whispered, staring ahead at the path.

Esheth exhaled. "What you should have done a long time ago," she said.

"Tell me."

"Realize your uncle cannot help us- as you have now."

"I..." Goz started but looked away, his words trailing off.

"Goz?" Esheth said, "things have changed."

"Yes," he said heartedly.

"And this isn't you. You used to command Yateph's army even when you were not sure of it, but now, now you don't even believe in the strength of your troop, you doubt, and you let it sway you," Esheth paused.

"I'm sorry my Lord," she continued, "but now, I speak for Yateph."

****

It was another two hours before they reached Baz's central market. Several of Baz's citizens and foreign merchants flooded the paths which caused Goz and his men to slower their pace. It was another hour before they got out of the buzz, another hour before they covered half the District.

At evening, they neared the borders. Few of Goz's horse men stopped by to recess and rejoined them before they reached the borders. Ahead of them, about twelve custom officers stood at the border with daggers and whips. They had turned watching the carriage and horse men approach. They stopped the horse men first, then Goz's carriage.

Goz's men alighted their horses to speak with the officers. Before long, the officers made attempts at harassing Goz's men. One of the officers came to the carriage and peaked inside, juggling his gaze between Goz and Esheth. He spoke with a strong Bazin accent and Goz stayed silent until the man persisted.

"Tell your men to let us go," Goz said.

"Or else?" The officer said and a foul smile lopped at his mouth, displaying a dark tooth.

He reached into the carriage and brought a finger to Esheth's face. One of Goz's men quickly closed in and snatched the officer by the nape of his gambeson and they fell in a combat.

"Stay," Goz said to Esheth and jerked off the carriage to join the men at the front. A dispute had began quickly.

One officer claimed they were spies and kept cursing. When he recognized Goz, he pointed his dagger.

"He is the King of Yateph," he said in strong Bazin.

Another officer closed in stubbornly, seizing one of the men.

"No," he yelled, "they all have come to spy on us."

A hand combat immediately broke out among the men. One officer approached Goz, but Goz was quick, he caught him by the dagger, rounded his shoulders and sent him crashing to the ground. Another officer snatched Goz from behind, drew his dagger against Goz's neck and cursed in Bazin. The raid immediately quieten. He cursed more and yelled threats. Goz ordered his men to back away. While the man continued yelling, Goz sent his elbow rapt into the man's rib, threw a foot against one of his legs and ravished himself from the man's grip. The officer groaned and wrapped himself on his belly.

Goz moved away to join his men.

"Seize them!" One of the officers yelled, he looked like the General.

The officers quickly rounded Goz and his men. A high screech went up from behind them, Goz turned and saw Esheth seized by the neck outside the carriage by one of the officers.

"Let her go," he yelled and made a run. Three officers appeared before him, eyeing him, vicious like hungry beasts. Goz proceeded, he took one by the shoulder, sending his elbow into his neck, then another by arm. More of them came, infact, more men seemed to have started approaching from towards the city.

Goz's men devoured and threw and racked their weapons. They fought back but it was not long before they began to draw back, wearied. About fifteen more soldiers had arrived. In the distance, Goz saw Esheth in the arms of the soldier and rage filled him violently. He shook off the soldier that hung by his shoulders but three more came upon him.

"Seize them!"

Goz heard again. He cheek had began to bleed and a pain rung behind his head.

"Withdraw!" He heard another command, but a different voice this time.

Looking up, Goz caught a glimpse of another man on a horse, behind him about fifteen soldiers rode. He waved and they immediately closed in.

"Garath?"

Goz lifted himself. He sent a blow dashing into one man's face and a kick at another. Garath came to them, drawing our two daggers from his gartel. He threw one to Goz and Goz sent the base against one officer's face.

Garath and his men covered the officers and they began to retreat.

"Go!" Garath yelled.

Goz withdrew his horsemen and Esheth and they rode immediately over the border. Few of the officers followed in a Chase but we're soon covered by Garath's men. They rode and did not stop till they had gotten to a far camp at the outskirt of Baz.

Garath and his men joined the King on the run. Garath proceeded to ride before them, then he stopped at a river bank in Perit. He withdrew from his horse quickly and stood before Goz's horsemen who were forced to halt. Goz came down from the carriage.

"What are you doing Garath!"

"My Lord, it is about midnight and Ozod's men have cut off the chase. We should set camp for the night."

Ozod's men, Goz thought. Ozod's, King of Baz, had he known Goz was in the District?

Goz thought for a moment. He looked back at the men, numbering twenty one a day the two carriage riders, and Esheth. He nodded then raised his hand ordering the men to set camp. The men immediately alighted and began to work the tents.

Goz walked to one of the horse men, Kerik, and pointed to the carriage.

"Keep her," he said. The man bowed.

Goz returned to Garath who was bent at the river with three other men drinking water.

"How did you find us?" Goz said.

Garath stood and planted his dagger back into it's sheath.

"I have been looking. I was searching for you my Lord."

"Searching for me?"

"Yes, in Zepher, then in Jafz and in Baz."

Goz held a questioning look on his Deputy, then looked away.

"What happened in Yateph?" He asked.

"I was at Tezf."

"Tezf?" Goz tensed.

"I got a message from Werez-"

"Werez? Who is Werez?"

Garath swallowed and raised his hand a bit as if pleading.

"A spiritist. She showed Yateph a way."

Goz scoffed. He walked away a little then turned to face Garath again.

"First, an alliance and now a witch. How have you come to this-"

"But, my Lord..."

"I am afraid Garath, that I'd be considering a hearing for you and your division on our return to Yateph!" Goz said sternly. He made to leave but Garath spoke again.

"Your father," he said. Goz stopped and turned, returning to the river side.

"I made small promise to look after Yateph, to look after you and years have passed." Garath looked away in hesitation.

"I feel more than you, I have failed Yateph, I have failed my friend and brother, Merek. This guilt taunts me, it draws me from the comfort of my chamber night and day and makes me lurk in darkness, in places I haven't thought I'd reach. Let me look after Yateph my Lord, let me be your unthinking Deputy until these wars are passed."

Goz stood quiet, he rubbed his eyes and looked back at Garath.

"What way did she speak of?"

"ZAGRA."

"The Sorceress?"

"She has the answers, she'll show you the path."

Goz withdrew to join Esheth in their tent and she cared for his wound. That night, he slept briefly. He rose at the first light of dawn to stand in the woods looking up at the hills and mountains, her name clutched to his tongue, he chanted it, he whispered, and called;

"ZAGRA."