When he returned for the second set of animals, Aakuta was snoring. He gazed warily at the dark mage sleeping in the bed of one of the wagons. He quietly took the next group of animals to the new lake. By the time he had watered all of the animals, the sun was dipping behind the Fortung Mountains. As the air began to cool, Aakuta sat up and yawned.
“Get some rest,” ordered Aakuta. “Tomorrow will be a hard day for you.”
Werner needed no prompting to fall asleep. He felt exhausted and did not even care that he had missed his evening meal.
When he awoke, Werner sat up and gazed about. His jaw dropped in surprise as he looked around. He shook his head several times to awake from his dream, but it was not a dream. He leaped off of the wagon and looked towards the new lake. The shores of the lake were green with grass, and tall palm trees towered upward around it. Aakuta sat on a rock devouring a coconut.
“Come and eat,” commanded Aakuta as he saw Werner moving about. “You will need your energy today.”
“What has happened here?” Werner asked as he approached the mage.
“The land is reclaiming its life,” shrugged Aakuta. “This used to be fertile land at one time. Wizards have salted it with magic to make a desert.”
“But you are creating it,” Werner shook his head. “I saw what you did yesterday.”
“I am only helping,” stated Aakuta. “Long ago there was a lake in that very spot. It is spring fed, in fact. It will once again hold water and nourish this land.”
“Why are we here, Aakuta?” Werner asked cautiously. “You have enough gold to live in a fine mansion. Why do you choose this desert?”
“We will live in a mansion soon enough,” Aakuta answered cryptically. “For now, this is our home.”
“If you say so,” shrugged Werner. “What tasks do you have for me today?”
“Your first task is to build pens for the animals,” the mage replied.
“We have nothing to build with,” frowned Werner. “How can I build pens with no wood?”
“You will use the wood from the wagons,” instructed Aakuta. “We need a pen for the wasooki and one for the clova. Make the pens as large as the wood supply allows. For now we will just tie the horses to the outside of the pens. Later, we will need corrals.”
“Later?” Werner echoed as his eyebrows rose. “You are planning on staying here for some time?”
“For some time,” nodded the dark mage. “You, however, will be leaving soon. I have other tasks in mind for you.”
“You want me to spread the seed we bought over this desert?” asked Werner.
“No,” Aakuta shook his head, “I can accomplish that much easier than you can. You are going hunting.”
“Hunting?” echoed Werner. “I doubt there is much game in these parts. What am I to hunt?”
“People,” smirked the dark mage. “I understand that there are thousands of Jiadin running loose in this foul land. You are going to hunt them down.”
Werner swallowed the lump in his throat and exhaled loudly. “You want me to hunt the Jiadin?” he asked in a whisper. “By myself? I am no coward, Aakuta, but I think we should talk about this. I have heard tales of the Jiadin. They are not to be taken lightly. They would cut your throat for one of those clova we brought with us.”
“You are not going to kill them,” chuckled the magician. “You are going to bring them to me. Let me worry about them cutting my throat. The Jiadin do not scare me any more than your feeble armies in Khadora.”
“Still,” Werner said hesitantly, “the Jiadin will kill us both for your food.”
“It is not my food,” retorted Aakuta. “It is their food. You will tell them of this secret lush valley that has food aplenty. Gathering them will not be hard. You just go find them, and bring them to me. I will handle the rest.”
“They will not be pleased when they arrive to this desert that I described as a lush valley,” Werner shook his head. “Even that lake and palm trees will not satisfy them.”
“It will be lush before you return with the first of the Jiadin,” promised Aakuta. “You must learn to trust me, Werner.”
“I will try,” promised the Khadoran. “Where will I find these Jiadin?”
“You will find them in ones and twos all over this land,” the dark mage replied. “Make sure that they wear the red scarf. I do not want anyone else knowing of this valley. You will never give directions to this place. You will personally guide each group here. Do you see that rock at the base of the mountains that looks like a ram?”
Werner turned and gazed at the mountains. His eyes scanned the bare rocks until he saw the one that Aakuta was referring to.
“I see it,” nodded Werner.
“When you find Jiadin,” instructed the mage, “you will bring them along the base of the mountains until you see that rock. Only then will you move away from the base of the mountains. This is very important, Werner. Do you understand?”
“I think so,” nodded Werner, “but can I ask why my approach is so important?”
“I will not let others see the valley that I am about to create,” explained Aakuta. “Only you and I will know how to enter it. To anyone crossing this barren desert, this valley will not exist. You see, there is to be a price for the Jiadin who come here. I will not allow them to leave and then lead others here. Only the two of us will know the entrance. Do not describe the ram rock to anyone.”
“It shall be as you wish,” nodded Werner, “but I do not see how you can hide this valley from others. Surely, anyone who happens across it will see the lake.”
Aakuta shook his head and scowled as he waved his hand in the air. “Do you see the lake now?” he asked.
Werner turned to gaze at the lake. His mouth hung open as his eyes scanned the surface of the desert. There was no lake to be seen. There were no palm trees. There was nothing as far as his eyes could see.
“How did you do that?” gasped Werner.
Aakuta shook his head as he made the lake reappear. He turned and glared at Werner.
“Never, ever doubt me again,” scowled the dark mage. “I do not like wasting my powers to prove myself to those who do not understand. You will do what I require, or I shall dispense with you. That is all that you need to know. Now, go build those pens.”
Werner felt a chill run through his body as the dark mage glared at him. His limbs began to shake uncontrollably, and he forced himself to turn away from the dark eyes piercing his soul. As he stumbled away from Aakuta, he promised himself that he would never question the dark mage’s orders again.
Chapter 22
Jiadin
The sun had not yet cleared the Fortung Mountains to the east, and a light fog blanketed the land. Early workers on the Devon clan estate moved about unhurriedly as they readied for a new day of work. Some of the white and black clad soldiers were cleaning up in a large basin of water alongside the barracks. Others were stretching or doing their morning exercises. Several women were tending to the chickens. It was the start of a normal day for the Devon clan.
The first hint of trouble came, ironically, from a small boy playing with his dog. As he tried to teach his puppy to fetch, the dog began barking as it stared into the tall fields of corn. The young boy tried calling the puppy, but it was too engrossed with whatever was in the cornfield. The boy pouted and then walked towards the dog to carry him away. Suddenly, an arrow flew from the cornfield and silenced the barking dog. The little boy halted as confusion clouded his features. He looked at the dead dog and then stared into the cornfield. Something moved, and the young boy screamed. He turned and ran towards the mansion as fast as he could, but he could not outrun the arrow that slammed into his back.
The women feeding the chickens heard the boy’s scream. They turned and saw the boy fall. One of the women ran towards the boy, thinking he had just fallen. The other women watched in horror as the soldiers in blue and yellow streamed out of the cornfield. Several arrows sought out the first woman, and she tumbled to the ground before she ever reached the young boy.