Page 104 of The King of Koraha
Rae glanced at her. Shyla relaxed. “Thanks.”
“I might change my mind and ditch you in the desert.” Walkur eyed her. “Unless you put the idea to help you into my mind?”
She deserved his doubt and unease. “I didn’t. And I won’t ever again.”
He grunted. “I’m keeping the shovel.”
They reached the surface quickly. Walkur and Elschen didn’t say a single word to Shyla or Rae as they crossed the cooling sands. Both monks tensed when they neared the monastery. Walkur kept his shovel at the ready. When the monks on patrol spotted them, he shifted his weight onto the balls of his feet as if ready to bolt. But his posture relaxed when their happy cries and smiling faces welcomed them back.
The news of their arrival traveled fast and Neda met them in the receiving room. After Walkur and Elschen told their story of escape and how they hid in the city waiting for the perfect opportunity, Neda sent the two missing monks to get a decent meal.
“I’m assuming you need help,” Neda said to Shyla. “Come to my office.”
In Neda’s office, Shyla introduced Rae. “We’ve taken the taxes from Xerxes and need your monks to escort the wagons to the King.”
“How many monks?”
“Twenty.”
“That’s more than double the standard complement.”
“That’s because Xerxes has probably left soldiers behind to reclaim the coins.”
“And you don’t believe my monks can counter his soldiers?”
“They can, which is why Xerxes is going to have more of them than the standard eight monks. I’m thinking ten or twelve. But that’s not why I need so many.”
“Go on.”
“I want to send two caravans. One that is a decoy with extra monks, and a second with the taxes and regular guards. Well, monks that are dressed as regular civilians and two of my Invisible Swords.”
“You’re hoping Xerxes’ people will attack the fake caravan.”
“Yes. It might not work. Xerxes is intelligent and might suspect we’ll try something like this.”
“I’m guessing they won’t be both leaving at the same time or going in the same direction.”
“Yes.”
“All right. I’ll go ask for volunteers. In the meantime…” Neda took a scroll off a pile on her desk. “With everything going on before, I’d forgotten about a rather modest compilation of documents that is not in one of the Rooms of Knowledge but in what’s considered the leader’s private collection. Most of the scrolls detail the monastery’s founding and lists the names of the monks and leaders who had lived here. They also include the intelligence we’ve gathered from our excursions into the city. Once I remembered it, I checked the documents just in case there was a reference to those pendants and perhaps details on how to counter the sunfire.”
Excitement beat in her chest and Shyla stepped closer.
“Don’t get your hopes up. I didn’t find anything about the pendants, but I did find this account. It’s written in the original scribes’ language that was used back when the first city was only a few levels deep. Unfortunately I can’t fully decipher it, but there’s mention of the King’s gifts.” Neda handed her the scroll.
“I don’t know if this will help you against Xerxes, but it might prove useful if you can translate it.”
“I can. Hanif ensured I learned all the Korahan languages.” Shyla clutched the scroll in her right hand. Her pulse jumped just at the thought of reading such an ancient document. If she gleaned any good information it’d be a bonus.
“All? That’s impressive. Seemed every trade had their own. It must have been rather confusing to live during those times. Thank the goddess we now have only one.” Neda pointed to her desk. “You can stay here and read while I go find your escorts.” She left.
“And I’ll go fetch the physician,” Rae said.
“Are you injured?”
“Your arm is probably broken, Shyla.”
Rae left before she could protest. It wasn’t broken. Just really, really bruised. Yes, it hurt to unroll the scroll, but it would be better after a couple sun jumps.
