Page 134 of The King of Koraha
The wagons stopped in front of the castle’s surface building. The eight caravan guards spread out, encircling the wagons. Shyla spotted Gurice and Mojag even though they all wore plain tunics and pants. Najib strode up to Gurice and thanked her for safely escorting the taxes.
Najib made some speech about saving the kingdom, but Shyla’s attention was distracted by another set of three wagons heading toward them. The Invisible Swords crept out from their hiding places. Shyla wanted to alert Gurice, but Mojag already spotted Rae. He waved a greeting.
Seven hells. She needed to warn him. But then a strong magical command pressed on her.
“Where did that incoming caravan go?” Rendor asked.
“Magically disappeared.” She pushed the command aside, then grabbed Rendor’s right hand with her left, connecting them.
“Handy,” Rendor said. “Too bad we can’t fight like this.”
“We’re not fighting,” she said. “No matter what happens we need to remain out of sight.”
“If anyone touches Mojag—”
“He can take care of himself.” She hoped.
Not much had changed around the tax wagons. Gurice and Mojag talked to Rae and Jaft while Najib ordered his guards to unload the chests. The second set of wagons pulled alongside and the guards transferred the chests into them. Ah, Xerxes planned to store them until he became king. It wouldn’t do for them to be found in the castle after Najib had said they were stolen.
Gurice noticed and questioned Najib. Shyla didn’t know what the advisor said, but Gurice shrugged and returned to her friends.
When Najib stopped one of the guards to check inside the box, Shyla squeezed Rendor’s hand. “Wait for it.”
The lid opened. Najib cursed and threw the box to the ground. Sand spilled out. Unable to resist, Shyla and Rendor edged closer as Najib grabbed another chest and confronted Gurice.
“Where in the seven hells are the taxes?” Najib demanded. He gestured to the guards and Invisible Swords to form a circle around the siblings.
Gurice glanced at the sand inside then turned to Mojag. “You were supposed to fill these with the coins, not sand.”
“I did what Shyla told me to do,” Mojag said in an offended tone.
“She told you to fill them with sand?” Najib asked.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To keep the coins safe.”
Najib struggled to hide his fury. “Where are the coins?”
“In the desert.” Mojag waved a hand in the general direction. “Once Shyla tells me it’s safe, I’ll retrieve them for you.”
“Nice,” Rendor whispered in her ear.
By this time, Gurice noticed the threatening circle of guards and Invisible Swords. “Where is Shyla? She should be here by now.”
Najib ignored her. Focusing on Mojag, he said, “It is safe. Take my wagons and my guards and—”
Mojag dipped his head. “Sorry, sir. I’m to trust only Shyla.”
If a person could explode like the toxic gas in the underground tunnels, Najib would have shattered the nearby stained glass. “I’m the King’s advisor,boy. Those taxes are theKing’sproperty. If you don’t tell me where they are, then you will be arrested and locked into a cell for the rest of your life.”
As far as threats went, that was impressive. Sensing trouble, Gurice moved closer to her brother.
“Sorry, sir.” Mojag remained stubborn.
“What about the King?” Gurice asked Mojag. “The advisor’s right, the coins belong to the King. If he says it’s safe, then will you show them where they are hidden?”
