CASPER SCOWLED AT THE LAND undulating below him. The tundra was still locked in the grip of winter, a winter that had lasted a lot longer than expected. By the angle of the sun, the first signs of spring should have been evident, but no life stirred in the soil. He hated the tundra. He hated his home province of Shadra.
Casper had returned from his training in the Citadel a changed man. Gone was the flabby, soft child he had been. Hardened by the intensity of the simulations and his mind widened by his experiences in other provinces, he was the emperor’s man, through and through. Now, having returned to Shadra at the command of the emperor, he saw his kin as children. Weak and simple, they did not understand the grand purpose of the Citadel or its commanding presence on the world stage. His tribesmen saw only the immediate concerns of Shadra and were consumed by them. They quarreled with the Citadel and with each other on how to save the land, but what they didn’t understand was that Shadra wasn’t worth saving. Frozen half the year and a mosquito-infested quagmire the other half, Shadra was a good place to be from, a good place to leave behind.
Shadra had but one redeeming quality, something that was of crucial importance to the Citadel and to the emperor. The salt mines of Pangolin. For the last few years, he’d been building the work force needed to operate the mine. Originally a location of religious significance to the Shadrian, travelling to the mine had been a rite of passage for many warriors. It was considered a quest of the greatest significance, to hunt the sea dragons that were said to patrol the salty waters. But it was only Casper who had realized its true significance. He’d shared his knowledge of the salt swamps and mines with the emperor, and Madrid had immediately seized on its importance. As a Citadel-trained wizard, Casper had access to knowledge that would be lost on his countrymen. Salt was as close to a pure element as any to be found and was the base of many a spell and potion. Of course, Emperor Madrid had known of the mines but not all the kinds of salt that could be found there. Sharing the information had resulted in Casper being elevated above the other heart bearers in status. He’d become the emperor’s right-hand man at the moment. But the emperor’s favour was a fickle thing. Madrid believed that by keeping his wizards vying for his attentions they would be kept eager and striving to secure a permanent place at his side.
Established as part of the peace accord after the Great Purge, each province was to freely give of their wealth to the Citadel, and the Citadel promised in turn to maintain the peace between warring neighbours. Until now, it was left to the provinces to choose what to send to the Citadel. The tribute of salt had been established as part of Shadra’s annual gift. But the tributes had been in steady decline for years and none more obvious than in Shadra.
Shadra had never sent their most precious salt. Inky black, the Shadrian called it Pele salt, after the sea monster Pele Pogo. The traditional story said that Pele salt was formed in the breath of Pele Pogo.
To curb the decline, quotas had been expanded by imperial decree. Emperor Madrid’s heralds descended on every major town in every province to read the directives to the people gathered in the main square. Once read, the missives were posted inside of weatherproof cases for all to see. The quota of salt required from Shadra had quadrupled. Many of the towns had rebelled, citing dwindling ponds and an aging population that could no longer work the long hours required to chip the salt from the mines. Instead, they had sent half of the tribute. Furious, Madrid had recalled Casper from his duties in Tunise and sent him home to bring the Shadrian people under control. Not long after Casper’s arrival in Shadra, he heard the rumours circulating. He heard one whispered rumour of a plan to cut the tribute completely. How they thought this would help Shadra, he couldn’t fathom. It would bring disaster to a province already dying and make his former people homeless in a desolate and desperate land.
The Shamankas lies in this direction. Do you think they seek your mother? Mica spoke through the bond, interrupting Casper’s muddled thoughts.
Yes, that could be their destination. Shikoba would remember her. But my mother is dead. She was destroyed long ago, thought Casper.
Are you sure? If she’s alive, can she be of aid to them? She may still be a threat. I know you still have feelings for this woman. Let us confirm if she is still alive. I will dispose of her if you wish. Emotions washed through the bond from Casper to Mica. Anger, confusion, and buried beneath it all, a tender spot that felt like love.
Casper squashed his feelings and steeled his mind. A blast of cold skittered across their combined consciousness. I will do what needs to be done, Mica. If she still lives and for some reason I cannot do what needs to be done, you can have the honour of destroying the emperor’s sworn enemy. But not until I have determined that it is time. Understand? You will not harm her except on my command. That goes for those we chase, too.
I understand. So, what is your plan?
Casper stared blindly off into the distance, considering their options. Can you get us to the Shamankas residence before them? Assuming they stop to hide in the daylight, could we get ahead of them? We could lay a trap for Shikoba and her dragon.
I don’t think we could arrive far enough ahead to be of use. And if they spot us, they might abandon their destination. I think we would be best to follow them as we are. I can sense the dragon. I will be able to find her if she changes course, said Mica.
Can she sense you, too?
Yes, I would think so. But unless she is used to tracking dragons, she will only sense that one is nearby. She will not be able to pinpoint our location. Most dragons track by sight. Because I have seen her, I can interpret my senses to know where to find her. She has not seen me, yet, which is why I counsel against moving ahead of them.
Casper weighed the options in his mind. If we cannot set a trap in advance, then we will surprise them once they are on the ground at their destination. Their focus will be on the Shamankas, and they will not be expecting pursuit so soon. We could shock them into panicking. We can end this incursion immediately. The emperor will be pleased. He may even make me one of his favourites. He has been searching for a new adept to train to rule at his side. Madrid is a great wizard. It would be an honour to permanently serve beside him, said Casper.
Mica did not respond. The silence stretched between them like warm taffy, sticky and sickeningly sweet. Finally, Casper broke the mental silence. You do not like the emperor?
The emperor is my master. We must obey.
But you do not believe he is destined to rule Gaia? You do not believe in his mission of peace? To erase war from the world? I sense that you are displeased. Be careful what you think, Mica. It is treason to harbour evil thoughts of the emperor, warned Casper.
The emperor is my master and I obey, she repeated. My desires are secondary to his command. All other considerations are irrelevant. I will do as he decrees, as will my Dragonmerger, Damas, said Mica, her thoughts an echoing rumble in her throat.
Do not forget who your master is, growled Casper in return. It echoed along the bond to the tiny spot nestled in his mind that he knew to be the female Djinn named Damas. When she caught up to them, he would go over her obedience training once again. It was her duty to keep Mica under control at all times. If she failed him now, there would be punishment.
They flew in silence for a while, then Mica opened her thoughts again. Have you ever considered that the emperor might not have shared all of his plans with you?
Casper did not respond. Instead, he rolled his shoulders to ease the tension building there, the itch that confirmed his need for action, ignoring the question. “Can you still sense the foreign dragon?”
Yes, she is on the same course but has slowed. I think she may be circling the area where they intend to stay for the night, said the dragon.
“Fly as close as you dare. If you are certain they are halting their trip for the evening, then I want to go to the village of Schom, located on the Salt Road. I have an agent there who is recruiting for the mines. Take me there.” Mica swooped closer to the ground and sped up, checking the trail of the rebel dragon.