The legend of ice - 15 The captain's claims

We crossed through Europe in only one month. The horses were really fast and didn’t need much care. We traveled through daytime and rested in the night. I preferred to stay in the wilderness away from mortals’ eyes, though Tulip insisted that we visit Paris, Greece, and Rome. Although they were not on our route, I still accepted, because it would save me a lot of Tulip’s pleadings.

Another two month took us to reach India. When we reached its borders, we saw two medieval soldiers holding spears and shields. They spotted us and approached. I told Tulip to stop and wait.

“Who are you?”, said one of them in Buddhist language.

“We are messengers from the Mansion Of Night. We ask the Buddhas of India to let us pass. We have a message for Emperor Sun”. I told them with the same language. I know what you are going to ask. I learned the languages before I have met Richard. I was always curious about the old languages.

“Come with us to the military camp were we shall contact the great Buddha”, said the second one. I translated our conversation to Tulip. She didn’t look convinced though.

“What if they don’t give us the permission and decides to attack us? Wouldn’t we be walking to the unknown?” She asked. Also, she had a point. A mouse wouldn’t be willing to walk straight to the cat’s mouth.

“Whatever the case, don’t let your guard down. Let your wand be ready at any time.” I instructed, then turned to the soldiers who were patiently waiting, “We will go with you, and if I can talk to lord Buddha myself, it would be better.”

They led us to their camp where the captain welcomed us with good words in English. He immediately ordered a feast to be prepared.

At the feast, various foods of different countries were prepared, even some I can’t name. The captain introduced us to his wife and daughter. He was very friendly that I became suspicious of his behavior. And I was right. He suddenly asked after saying a joke, “What is included in this message you deliver?”

My smile instantly melted, and Tulip gripped her wand.

“Forgive me, captain,” I said slowly while eying his expression. “It is a message for an emperor of China from the lord of chaos. I, the lord’s discipline, even don’t have the right to see what it carries, much less you.”

A flicker of anger passed in his eyes then disappeared to be replaced by a smile, though it was less friendlier.

” No problem, brother”, he said while struggling to hide his bitterness and anger from his voice, “Tomorrow morning, I will take you personally to lord Buddha’s palace. Today, you shall stay with us for the night. I am sure I can make you comfortable.”

“We will go right after the feast, captain.” I said blandly. He looked troubled. Then he answered, “As you wish, my dear guests. But I was intending to let you have a comfortable night, no more.”

I suspected that he truly wanted our comfort, but I had no choice, I had to have the permission of the Buddha, so I can only accept his sinister thoughts. After the feast, he took us to the stables where we took our horses and raided with the captain, who wanted to bring an army with us but we protested, towards tbe palace of the Buddha.

Once the camp was far away behind us, Tulip took the left of the captain, and I took his right.

“If you are thinking about killing us, you thief, I advise you not to,” I told him coldly.

“What are you talking about? I am no theif, wizard, I am a captain under lord Buddha’s command”. He started to protest.

“Oh I am sure that you are a captain. But what if I tell you that all your group back there was only a normal army, and your real army is waiting for us some miles from here?”

“How dare you accuse me of thievery! I am-”

“Silencio”, said Tulip while pointing her at the thief. Instantly, he shut up.

Night quickly fall. We bound the silenced captain who passed out and made a fire. We sat in silence enjoying the sound of nature all around us.

“How did you know thay he is a thief?”, asked Tulip cutting the silence.

“From his behavior, obviously,” I said calmly, “He acted too friendly, like we knew each other. But when he asked to know about the message, I sensed his true intentions. And to confirm my saying, once we are a mile before the palace of the Buddha, a group will attack us in order to kill us and send our heads to the palace. They will claim that we tried to rob them and they killed us for it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Ninety percent sure”.

“But what if you were wrong? The captain will tell the Buddha about what happened, and the latter wouldn’t give us the permission”.

“Don’t worry. Even if I was wrong, I will obliviate him.”

“But if you are right and the captain is a theif, what will you say to them? We have no proof”.

“Oh sure we will have our proof. The Buddhist Sagna has a fair way to rule things. Don’t underestimate them. Now let’s sleep, tomorrow there will be a bloodbath.”