by Dan Decker
Chapter 6
Jorad sat beside Soret on a fallen log and did his best to think of the right words to say. They were on the outskirts of town and had a good view of Vigorock as it shined in the late morning sun. He wished that he had more time to puzzle out its secrets. Several small children with huge grins ran by them. The smallest lagged behind and was calling to the others to wait.
As Jorad stared at the children, he wondered if there was anything he could do to help them. Adar and he had agreed to warn everybody they could before they had to leave, but he knew that their efforts would be futile. Even if he somehow found the parents of these children, it would not be an easy task to convince them that they were in danger.
Adar had mentioned something about going to see Mayor Keeret and Jorad wished him luck. The mayor was a prickly woman and didn't particularly like Adar. Melyah, even if she liked Adar, a story about the Hunwei wouldn't go over well.
Jorad yawned. He and Adar had arrived at the boarding house in the early hours of the morning and gone to bed. He had done his best to sleep but the stress of returning to Rarbon kept him tossing and turning. He'd finally managed to doze off only to be awoken by Adar a few minutes later. They decided to leave Zecarani in the early afternoon after Adar tied up a few loose ends.
Jorad's first thought when he awoke had been for Soret. He'd grabbed a slab of bread from the kitchen and scarfed it down on the way to the Tedenhel Store. The return of the Hunwei had at least solidified his decision about her, his concerns about her parents seemed trivial in comparison to the days ahead. Luckily, when he had arrived at the store, Barc and Hira weren't around. It took some doing, but he'd managed to convince Soret to come with him on a walk.
“Ruder was right,” Jorad said, not knowing how to start. He couldn't afford to have this conversation go badly. There wasn't much time before he would be leaving. He needed to convince her to leave Neberan by either coming with him or by going somewhere safe and hiding.
“Ruder is crazy,” Soret said, her eyes boring into him. He held her gaze. She was wearing brown trousers, a green blouse, and had her hair back in a ponytail. She might have thought she looked prettier when she had dressed up for the wedding, but she was just as beautiful now. He could smell the hint of the shampoo she used this morning.
Jorad shrugged and recounted to her the events of the last day, his certainty that the Hunwei had returned and that he was going to Zecarani to help Adar find a way to fight them. Rarbon had been left out of the explanation for now.
“I can't believe you're trying to convince me the Hunwei are real.” Soret shook her head while standing up. “I need to return to the store. I promised dad I’d make some deliveries.” Soret stalked away, with her back straight. He’d seen that walk before, and knew that she was furious. He would have liked to give her time to calm down but didn't have the luxury. He chased after her.
Somebody called his name from behind, but he ignored it because Soret turned. “Is this your plan to convince me to marry you? You’re not the first man to try something like this on me.” She stood in the middle of the road. Several people were passing by on either side, but she didn't seem to notice the strange looks she was getting.
“Soret,” Jorad began but before he could continue, Erro Paler pushed between them and he almost lost his balance. Erro was the same height as Jorad and reeked of cologne. His gaudy sword hung at his side and he wore a triumphant look.
It took everything Jorad had not to punch the idiot. He didn't know for sure if Erro had been spreading lies about him.
“Here’s the man you want,” Erro said.
Several of Neberan’s town guard had approached as well. Jorad recognized Thon Reaver, who nodded, but without his characteristic friendliness. Thon was a decent fellow, who stood a head taller than Jorad and had broader shoulders. The man always reminded him of an ox. Instead of the open smile that Thon usually wore, he was tight lipped and scrutinizing Jorad’s face. His thick sword, that was more club than sword, was strapped to his back.
Thon looked like he was trying to decide if Jorad had done something wrong. Erro was doing his best to hide a smile. What was the fool grasping at now?
Jorad clenched his fists. The last thing he needed to do right now was get in trouble with the town guard watching. He made a commitment to himself that the next time he had trouble with Erro that he was going to give him a thorough beating.
“Erro--” Soret said.
Erro interrupted her and she scowled. “It’s not about you,” Erro said. “Jorad is wanted for murder.”
That got Jorad's attention. At least Erro had decided to make accusations to his face now. The treatment Jorad was getting from Soret's parent's now made more sense. He tried to refrain from sneering, but he only half succeeded.
“I’m not a murderer,” Jorad said. “Keep this up, that could change.”
Thon smiled and the other guard—Sein wasn’t it?—laughed. Erro pulled a folded piece of paper from his coat pocket. It was old and creased in multiple places. Jorad tried not to look anxious, hoping it wasn’t what he thought.
How had that followed them here? Colonipo was half a continent away and it had been several years. Would that afternoon ever stop haunting them?
“You go too far,” Soret said.
Jorad agreed, he’d been too patient. Erro was spoiling for a fight and maybe it was time he obliged. Thon continued to stare at Jorad, at least that made sense now.
“Here, let me see that little paper again.” Thon took the paper and held it up, comparing it to Jorad, who smiled toothily.
Jorad hoped he never ended up on the wrong side of Thon, who was a dangerous enough man without a weapon. The thick sword just made him all the more formidable. Thon passed the paper to Sein, who switched his staff to his other hand so he could take the paper and hold it up for comparison. Jorad continued to smile. Let them see this doesn’t bother me.
“This has been a waste of time,” Sein said, handing the paper back to Erro. For his part, Sein looked relieved. There was a visible relaxing of his narrow shoulders and the grip on his staff relaxed as well. “That drawing could be anybody. Even you Erro.”
“You’re right,” Thon said. “Sorry for the confusion Jorad. Just a mistake, that’s all.” He put out his hand to Jorad, who took it. “Enjoy the rest of your morning.”
“But it’s him!” Erro held the paper up so that Soret could see it. “You deserve to know the truth.”
Jorad relaxed. It wasn’t the one he’d been thinking of, if they’d had that one, Thon and Sein might not have been so easily convinced.
“I’ll never come back to you,” Soret said.
Erro choked on his words as his jaw clenched. “He’s a murderer.”
“If Colonipo wants him, they can come get him,” Thon said. “Until then this piece of paper isn’t enough to ruin a man’s life.”
“You can’t just let him walk free.”
“He’s killed nobody here,” Thon said. Erro grabbed the paper back from Soret and stuffed it into his pocket before leaving.
Jorad turned to talk with Soret but she was already stalking off again. Cursing, he ran to catch up to her. What was it that Adar said? Some women took it as their purpose in life to make men work hard for their affections. Jorad shook his head as he ran after her. This was a matter of life and death. He needed her to pay attention to him so he could help save her life.
