Free The Catastrophe of the Emerald Queen by LR Manley Page B

in
exasperation. “Just for a day, not for a
week.” 
    They walked back to the opening
they had arrived by. The two guards still standing impassively and
rigidly to attention. Jared jumped slightly as caramel coloured
tiles on the floor of the room slid silently under his feet to line
up at the entrance like last time. The soldiers took up position
then Mordalayn and Jared stepped on. The other soldier took up the
rear. Without any word the tile moved off down the dark corridor,
its light illuminating the dark walls and emphasising the void they
were over.
     “ Why
did they call you Takoba?” Jared enquired as Mordalayn faced away
from him.
     “ That is my
rank ,” he answered without
turning around.
     “ Were
you in the army?” Jared asked.
     “ I was .”
      Jared
could tell Mordalayn didn’t want to speak any more so he fell
silent.
      As the
tile arrived back in the main hall they all stepped clear and
walked back to the entrance. The area was still teeming with people
and the light from the huge chandelier was dimmer than when they
came in. On Jared’s left a team of short creatures were working on
a statue. They looked like the irritable, long nosed one that had
passed them outside, pushing a barrow. They were about 15 of them,
using their noses to hold onto the cylindrical pillar at various
heights while polishing the statue with cloths. Two nearer the top
were chiselling away with tiny tools at the face of the statue.
None of them looked happy to be there.
     “ Come
on” Mordalayn said as they moved towards the officers manning the
entrance. The captain who had spoken to them when they came in
turned around as they approached.
      "Takoba ," he said, bowing slightly. "I trust your
meeting was satisfactory.”
      "Yes, thank
you .” Mordalayn replied. "I
need transport to Arkale. Do you have something to
spare?"
      "Of course ,” the captain said and signalled to another of
his men. 

Chapter
6
     
    As Mordalayn and Jared got down
from the cart the Caracalic was tight lipped and surly. A grocer’s
cart had lost a wheel and was blocking their path. The driver of
their vehicle reigned in his horses and watched as the irate owner
yelling at his driver.
     “ What’s
wrong?” Jared asked seeing the look on Mordalayn’s face.
     “ We should not be
here ,” he replied glancing
around as if expecting trouble. “This village is too close to the
border. The Council should have known that.”
      Around them people worked,
unloading other carts or selling their wares in the street. A young
man holding a tray of glazed fruits bowed respectfully at Mordalayn as the cat figure glanced
towards him.
      All around people were hushed
and obviously a little intimidated by Mordalayn’s presence. He took
Jared by the arm, and then whispered urgently. “This area is safe
if you do as I say. Do you understand?” Jared tried to smile, still feeling competely
overwhelmed.
      They
moved down the side of the street. People moving aside, bowing
their heads as they approached.
     “ Why
are they so nervous?” Jared asked quizzically, uncertain of why
everyone appeared so awestruck.
     “ Hush, wait till we are
indoors ,” Mordalayn snapped
and Jared fell silent. He was getting tired of being told to wait
for answers but was equally nervous by the reaction their presence
was having on everyone.
      They
stopped near a shop with pots and pans outside. The brassware
shining brightly in the sunlight. Mordalayn checked the street and
a rider on a horse saw that they wished to cross and gently tugged
on his animal’s reigns, bringing the beast to a halt. All around
them people waited, nodding or even bowing to Mordalayn.
      Just as they were about to
move off, a figure ran round the corner looking over his shoulder
shouting frantically . “Oh my!
Oh my! OH MY!.” He was dressed in baggy red trousers and a pair of
worn, grubby shoes, his toes poking out of the front of one. His
shirt was torn and over it