Page 46 of Sea of Stars

My limbs sprawled out, helplessly, as I breathed in the damp air. Every muscle ached. My nose stung from breathing in so much water. The rain had completely stopped, but the river was still violent. I had to get away from it before I was pulled back into its current. I began to shakily rise when Harish slammed down on top of me. He pushed my head into the sand. My hair twitched as I heard his laughter curl into the air. I lost the air just as quickly as I had gotten it back. I tried to wriggle out from under him, but he had me pinned. I stopped struggling. I had no strength left.

“I’m sorry, but you are not my king,” Harish whispered. He grabbed my shoulder and turned my body over so that I was facing him. I tried to move, but his knees were pinned on my biceps, disabling my arms. I pulled my legs up and kneed him hard in the back. Harish barely winced. I stopped struggling and watched in terror as he pulled his knife out of a loop on his belt. He twirled the knife around in his fingers and then tossed it into the air. As it fell, he leaned back out of the way. The dull knife landed between my ribs, slicing through my skin. Harish didn’t seem to notice my screams.

“Let me tell you a story,” Harish began, oblivious to my pain. “Once there was a king that ruled the whole realm. I’m sure you’ve heard of the old coot. He was the last divinare to rule these lands, King Averis. Well, my grandmother was one of the best readers during his reign. She warned King Averis of the humans and brutarians uprising against him, but he wouldn’t listen. That ignorant fool banished my whole family from Divinoira. However, my grandmother knew what was to come. If the divinares wouldn’t have her, she thought maybe the humans would appreciate her abilities.

"My grandmother was right. The leader of the humans, King Septon, welcomed her and her family with open arms. She helped King Septon form an alliance with the brutarians, and that alliance led to King Averis being slain with a dagger filled with his own blood. Despite my grandmother’s warnings, King Septon betrayed the brutarians shortly after he had taken over the divinare castle. King Septon slipped into the brutarian ruler's quarters at night and slit his throat as he slept. The brutarian army revolted and King Septon was murdered, sending the three races back into their unharmonious ways.

"My grandmother had warned the humans not to break their pact with the brutarians, but King Septon wanted to rule the whole realm. He was filled with greed and it resulted in his assassination. King Septon’s son, King Septon II, became the next ruler and still rules today, now following my mother’s readings. Neither my grandmother nor my mother has the gift of the Moira. So what, you may ask, have they been interpreting?”

Harish pulled off his worn leather gloves and tossed them into the sand beside him. He reached down and turned the knife in a circle. As the knife deepened into my chest I clenched my jaw tight. If the blade hadn't been dull I would already be dead. Harish pulled the knife out of my skin and held it up in the air. Blue symbols burst onto the metallic blade.

“What, did you expect all of King Averis’ blood daggers to look the same? My grandmother stole this from the king before she was forced to leave the castle. I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for the humans trusting my grandmother. I owe my life to the humans. So when my mother told King Septon II that a new divinare ruler was rising, one that wants to unite all three kingdoms, he sent me to make sure it didn’t happen. You see, the three races are better off in discord, ruling their own separate kingdoms. If any one race tries to rule the other two, terrible things happen. The first time it led to King Septon's death, and King Septon II now worries about his own fate. Is it true that this girl is the rightful heir?”

“Yes, yes, just please let me go,” I cried. He would never find her. It didn't matter if I told him the truth.

“Is it true that the mountain dweller can track her?” Harish questioned.

“Yes, mountain dwellers are great trackers.”

Harish was looking down at the knife in his hands, reading the glowing inscriptions. I knew what it felt like to hold one of those daggers. He was going to put the knife through my heart.

Harish gripped the knife tightly in his hand. He looked at me and raised the knife into the air. “Long live King Septon II!” he yelled.

“I can help you find her,” I said quickly, trying desperately to avoid the knife entering my chest and killing me. Harish paused for a second, so I continued, “Once mountain dwellers catch a person's scent they can find them. But you need someone to get them that close. That’s me. I can help you find Mahlia. I'll do whatever you want.”

Harish hesitated. “Here’s what’s going to happen, Your Highness,” he said sarcastically. “I was sent to murder the next divinare ruler. You will help me find the girl.” Harish looked up and began to rush his words. “Your friend and the beast are coming.” I turned and saw them walking up the river bank toward us. Harish put the knife back into his belt and pulled on his gloves as he spoke. “If you tell Denton about my intentions, I will kill you both. If you so much as give me an evil glance, you and your friend will die. Get me to the girl and I shall consider sparing your life.”

I nodded in agreement. Harish turned and yelled: “Denton hurry, he’s been hurt!” Denton ran toward us and the mountain dweller trotted eagerly beside him.

“I pulled him from the bottom of the river. He must have slammed against a rock, his chest is bleeding badly,” Harish said when Denton arrived by my side.

“You saved his life,” Denton said, gratefully.

I was surprised by Denton's words. He wasn't usually very gullible.

“I’d be dead if it wasn’t for him,” I agreed. It wasn’t a lie, Harish could have killed me just a few moments before. I looked over and saw Mikado salivating, inching closer and closer toward me. I was bleeding badly, and he wanted to enjoy the taste. “Mikado,” I said weakly.

“Harish, distract him while I stitch up the wound,” Denton said.

I saw Harish whisper something in Mikado’s ear. Mikado looked down at Harish and slowly sat on his hind legs, whimpering.

Denton leaned over me. “The cut is so clean. That must have been a shar

p rock.” He said the last sentence almost as a question. His gullible reaction had just been a show for Harish.

I just nodded and closed my eyes. I gritted my teeth as he stitched the wound and doused it with the salt water he was carrying in his satchel. Denton was the only one who had spent more time in the healer's hut than me. He was fascinated by anything the healer would teach him.

“It will heal,” he said and stood. Denton reached his hand down to help me get to my feet, but I shook my head.

“Can we rest here for a while?” I asked wearily.

“We should really keep moving,” Harish cut in. “The sooner we get out of the desert, the better.”

I grabbed Denton’s outstretched hand and let him pull me up. I was shaky on my feet. I felt bruises from the fight all over my body.

“I was lucky to find Mikado in the water. Or else I’d be as banged up as you two,” Denton said with a small smile.

The three of us walked over to Mikado and got on his back. I saw the glint of steel in Harish’s belt. I needed to get a hold of that dagger. Ever since I had seen it, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I had to know what my new predictions were. Eventually we would need to rest for the night. The desert was more than a few days’ journey. And despite what I had said to Harish, I had no idea how to find Mahlia. Actually, after the trip downstream I didn’t even know where we were anymore.

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