Champion Read Free

knowing he would be struggling in his new role, as she was in hers.
    “Experience and time will get us both there, Myriam, you know that,” he smiled back at her. “Now, tell me, how serious is this border breach?”
    They spoke as they walked through the corridors of the castle towards the room that was to be used for the meeting. It was to be held in the community long room, a neutral place within the castle. It also had good acoustics so it was perfect for speaking to a large gathering.
    “Well, I’ll be briefing everyone when we meet, but as I said, I’ve sent Ganry and Artas as my emissaries to Mirnee, hoping it can be dealt with quietly. Somehow, though, I think it is a little more sinister than a simple border standoff. I do believe they think us to be weakened, what with all our recent events. It seems that they began this build up while we were held captive by the Akkedis, although Artas was unaware of it. As of yet, they are showing no signs of breaching the border, to my knowledge, but the very act itself is aggressive. Still, I am somewhat perplexed as to exactly what they are up to,” she finished.
    “I’m assuming you have scouts in the area?” Linz asked.
    “Yes, of course. They report that all is well in the nearest village. I send scouts out weekly but the last group have not yet returned and I am concerned. Hopefully they’re just delayed with the weather, or some other innocent reason.”
    They both entered the large meeting room, with the other attendees mostly present. Linz followed Myriam to the dais where she could be seated higher than the the others and be heard well.
    “I heard that Arriba was never found, by the way,” Myriam spoke quietly to Linz. “Qutaybah sent out a search party after it was agreed she was likely to have been the one to have poisoned you. They never found her, but rumors are abound of a female Akkedis gathering her people to make a new life for themselves. I suppose we cannot deny them a new beginning.”
    “Those lizard people, or Akkedis, or whatever you wish to call them, will never be welcome in the forest lands. We have solved the mystery of the Roogaru that fed off our blood for many years. We no longer fear the lizard people and will kill them on sight,” Linz retorted, a little anger in his tone. It took several weeks for him to recover after being poisoned by Arriba. It was only with the help of Barnarby, communicating through Hendon’s staff, that an antidote was procured. His stomach still troubled him on occasion, even now.
    “You have every reason not to trust them, Linz,” the Queen agreed. “They killed your great Chief and haunted your people for many years. I understand your anger, but I for one would not ignore them completely. Who know which friends and possibly allies we may need in the coming months.”
    The room was becoming too noisy to continue their private conversation, so Queen Myriam called for silence, before standing to address the meeting.
    ***
    The two young men riding the cart down the rickety path had gone to purchase a rug that was only made in the village of Norham. Leyla, the rug maker, was famous for her hand made quality carpets. She was well regarded in all of Palara for selling them as gifts for weddings or birthdays. She used the wool of the goats that grazed on the border grasses of Mirnee. The craggy hills have a stream of water that the goats drink from, which meanders down from the nearby mountains. It is said to have special minerals, giving their coats a beautiful sheen. Though the wool was too rough to be made into clothing, it was strong and hardy and made excellent heavy coats and rugs.
    Isaac and Crin were not brothers, though they had known each other all of their lives. Isaac’s father owned the mill and Crin’s father worked in it. Their parents were best of friends, despite their social differences. Isaac’s mother had died when he was very young, and Crin’s mother treated Isaac as if he were her