"Sounds good."
After another cold meal, washed down with stream water, Sallis spent the time before dark giving Glyder a good brush down. He would take the first watch, as was his custom, and he wondered if Gamal might again hold him in conversation.
Sallis knew Glyder enjoyed his attentions, but he worked mostly so he could think. How far could he trust Gamal?
***
"You've been quiet all day," remarked Gamal, once Oston had settled down to sleep.
Sallis smiled to himself. He had more than half expected another chat from the man, and there must be a reason why he waited for Oston's snores before speaking.
"I am often quiet," he replied. "But I'm still more talkative than your average sylph."
"You've been thinking over what I said last night?" pressed Gamal.
"Yes."
"Do you accept that your motivations are selfish?"
Sallis thought he heard eagerness in Gamal's voice. Pressing home, he thought. What is his game? Aloud, he said, "Not entirely. There must be a degree of selfishness in everything we do, but to argue that selfishness is all cannot be right."
"Cannot?" Gamal chuckled. "An element of doubt from the sounds of it."
"You might say that a man eating food is selfish, but his body still must have that food for him to live. That's necessity, not selfishness."
"He needs the food to enable himself to live," countered Gamal. "Which in turn is about preservation of the self. Which is selfishness - what else could it possibly be?"
"It's reality," retorted Sallis. "We'll be going hungry until we reach this village you told us about, then we shall eat. We must eat to live. The kind of selfishness you talk about is an idea, abstracted from what we must do, and converted into what we would like to do."
"You would like to see Rannet dead. The thought can be as abstract as you want, but Rannet dead is a corpse in actuality. Argue all you like, but the reasons why you want him dead are motivated purely through selfishness."
"So I'm now the villain of the story?" Sallis glanced up as a shooting star caught his attention.
"Only because you still insist selfishness is a bad thing."
The shooting star's moments of glory faded to darkness. "It's certainly not a good thing."
"It is a necessity, the same as food, or air, or somewhere to live. Without self, we are nothing more than animals."
"We're nothing more than animals anyway," snapped Sallis. "A higher form of animal perhaps, and certainly more inventive, but that is still what we are."
"But an animal with choice." Gamal's eyes gleamed in the starlight. "We can decide on where we live, we can vary our diet to live in so many different climates, and we can choose our gods."
"There is only the Father," interrupted Sallis.
"There are many gods."
"Go to sleep, Gamal," said Sallis. "Let me keep my watch in peace."
"Think on my words," said Gamal. "You have much to offer."
Sallis watched the other man until certain he was asleep, then sat back and stared into the night sky, watching for more shooting stars. Perhaps the Ark Star might put in an appearance.
And thinking, always thinking.
***
Chapter 17 - Blackwood Halt
The road ran right to Blackwood Halt, set perhaps eight milas beyond the forest. A huddle of houses hugged the road on both sides, surrounding rather more inns and taverns than the size of the place suggested could be supported by the people who lived here, together with several shops offering victuals to the trade.
Small children and a few infertile sylphs ran alongside them, shouting a welcome and begging for candies. Older men and women, too old for the fields, leaned on their porches and nodded to themselves, perhaps pleased to see visitors.
"All the caravans must come through here," said Gamal. "And it's the first place you reach after coming through the pass, not to mention two forests."
"Or the last place before you go through," remarked Oston.
Gamal nodded. "Just so. A good place to rest up."
"How much further to Rannet's place?" asked Sallis, single-mindedly.
"Too far to reach it before nightfall," replied Gamal. "I'd rather spend a night in relative comfort than lying on the ground, so we may as well spend it here."
Sallis looked about at the wooden buildings, gave a single disparaging sniff (aimed more at the idea of waiting than to show contempt for the village) and finally nodded.
"I'll leave you two to choose our lodgings," said Gamal, "while I see what we can get in the way of victuals."
Sallis sat on Glyder for a few moments longer while he watched Gamal saunter away.
"Be very careful here," he told Oston. "We're not among friends."
Oston looked around, smiling down at those clustering around Hammer. "They seem welcoming enough."
"It's not the villagers I'm worried about," replied Sallis, but refused to elaborate further. "Which inn grabs your fancy?"
***
The Broken Crown proved to be a clean and well-run establishment. Two human girls and five infertile sylphs waited on the customers, working under the close eye of the innkeeper, who introduced himself as Corran Myle. The tables, scrubbed almost white, had fresh candles, none of which were yet lit, and the benches boasted comfortable cushions. Fresh straw covered much of the flagstone floor and barrels of ale lined the far wall.
They had it to themselves.
"Seems very quiet, innkeeper," remarked Oston.
Corran smiled, his hazel eyes betraying inner laughter. "No caravans today," he replied, "and it's still too early for locals."
"Rooms for three," continued Oston, "and stabling for three."
"Lead your horses around the back and Don'll look after 'em," replied the innkeeper. "Two crowns, all in."
"Broken ones?" asked Oston.
The innkeeper gave a small smile, as if he had heard the joke thousands of times before.
Oston handed over a single gold crown and counted out twenty silvers. Sallis's expression suggested he felt two crowns was extortion, but passed no comment about the price.
"I'll lead the horses around," he said, leaving the inn.
He secured Hammer's reins to Glyder's saddle, then did the same for Sorrel, Gamal's chestnut mare. He then led Glyder around the side of the building and to the stable.
A dark-haired, dark-eyed man Sallis assumed must be Don, accepted the three animals without a word and helped Sallis strip the animals of their tack. Between them, they groomed and curried the animals. Sallis took care to use his own kit for Glyder, and Oston's kit for Hammer.
Don used his own brush on Sorrel, one that Sallis hoped had not been used on other horses. Then again, Sorrel was Gamal's problem.
Oston came out as they finished. Don took one look and busied himself cleaning and polishing tack.
"We've got a good room," he said. "Wash room attached too, and a sylph to look after it while we're here."
For two gold crowns, Sallis hoped so, but only nodded in response. "Meals?" he asked.
"Corran's wife is preparing one for us now," replied Oston. "Pie and spring greens."
"Sounds good," replied Sallis. "Let's go and sample the ale while we wait for Gamal."
"Sounds even better," grinned Oston.
Gamal arrived while Oston drained his third tankard, though Sallis had barely touched his own. Sallis always preferred alovak to alcohol; one kept his wits sharp while the other dulled them.
And Sallis wanted his wits about him now.
"We have plenty of supplies," Gamal informed them. "Dried meats and preserved vegetables. We will take some with us in the morning, and the rest when we head back for Marka." He took a careful swallow of ale.
"The rooms are pretty good too," enthused Oston. "Our meal can't be far away now."
The innkeeper returned at that moment, carrying one plate and shepherding two infertile sylphs before him who were carrying the other meals. His eyes
lit.
"Gamal! A pleasure to see you again."
Gamal smiled and nodded in reply, but seemed embarrassed, if anything, that he had been recognized at all.
"A regular traveler," remarked Sallis, voice expressionless.
"I get about." Gamal smiled. "How is Laureta?"
"Grumpy as always," replied Corran. "But her heart is in the right place."
"Pie smells nice," said Oston, detecting and trying to defuse the sudden tension.
"Steak and ale," said Corran, promptly.
"What else?" replied Oston.
Corran laid Gamal's meal down, the two sylphs following his example. The one serving Sallis gave him a startled look and her earpoints lay back in her hair.
Sallis smiled as he stared into the sylph's wide silver-gray eyes. "You are quite safe," he whispered to her.
Despite his words, she stayed well away from their table after serving the meal.
Gamal wore a secretive smile as he watched the interplay.
"Frightening sylphs is not rated among the pastimes of men," remarked Oston, speaking around a mouthful of pie.
"Not something I do deliberately," replied Sallis, a touch defensively.
"I'm told true adepts can mask their ability," said Gamal.
"And what do you know about it?" demanded Sallis.
Gamal laughed. "I travel a lot. I hear lots of things about lots of things."
"Not everything you hear is true," said Sallis. "And sylphs are sensitive about the Gift. Most of them."
"Not if you can mask the ability," said Gamal.
Oston waved his fork to catch attention. "I think we had better start planning how we're going to deal with Rannet. Where is his home?"
"He likes his privacy," replied Gamal. "He lives in a forest reputedly haunted, though perhaps that is claimed as a way to keep people out of his house when he is away."
"Who looks after it when he is gone?" asked Sallis.
"As far as I know, nobody. Rannet pretty much carries everything valuable he owns around with him. And his gold is secreted away in one of the many banks in the towns."
"Sensible of him," grunted Oston. "Far too many thieves about these days, and I doubt that the situation improves the further you get from Marka."
Gamal snorted. "Most crime is always found in cities," he retorted. "It comes of them being unnatural places for people to live. But a man who lives alone, and who is rarely at home... Let's just say there are few who could resist the temptation to take a look, eh?"
Sallis turned his head to stare at the serving sylphs, who soon moved away and stopped eavesdropping. There were advantages to frightening the blue-skinned creatures after all.
"We need to ensure Rannet doesn't cut ahead of us tonight," he said. "For all we know, he's followed us down the pass and might walk in here any moment now."
Gamal shrugged. "Perhaps. But if he gets this far, he'll carry on home."
"How much do you know about his home?" pressed Sallis. "Have you ever been there?"
Gamal leaned forward and began to tell everything he knew.
***
Chapter 18 - Closing In
"The trouble with me always getting the early morning watch," Oston grumbled, as the three of them picked their way upstairs later, "is that I always need to be in bed so bloody early."
"A good night's sleep for you tonight then," said Gamal. "And mine will be uninterrupted, for a change."
Sallis said nothing. As he usually took the first watch, he was not yet feeling at all sleepy. They had left the common room as locals had begun to enter, leaving the fields after a day's hard work. Gamal suggested retiring to their room and Sallis suspected the man had no wish to be identified.
There must be a reason.
Oston flourished the key and unlocked the door to their room.
Sallis stepped inside and grinned. Oston had not lied about the rooms. Uncovered light-crystals threw harsh light over the sitting room, which had plenty of chairs, a table and a deep rug that covered most of the floor. Doors led off to their rooms and, presumably, the washroom.
"Worth every copper," announced Oston, grinning.
An infertile sylph abruptly stood from where she had been waiting in one corner. Gamal drew breath in surprise and even Sallis turned his head sharply. He envied sylphs their ability to remain so still that they almost disappeared.
"Ah yes," continued Oston, waving a hand vaguely in the sylph's direction. "This is Ash. Rowan. Um... Hawthorn?"
The infertile's earpoints twitched in amusement. "Elm," she said.
Sallis saw she was tall for an infertile, and her eyes were a clear silver-gray, with no flecks of gold or brown to mar their polished appearance.
"Knew it was some bloody tree they named you after," grinned Oston.
"Yes." Sallis managed a smile. "Well thank you Elm, but we don't need your services tonight."
"Se bata." Elm began to settle down on the cushion in her corner.
"We don't even need you in the room," continued Sallis, holding the door wide. "Have a night off, go and enjoy yourself, whatever sylphs do here for enjoyment."
Elm's earpoints wilted and a hurt expression crossed her face. Offended, she stalked out from the room and Sallis closed the door behind her.
"What you do that for?" demanded Oston. "We've paid for her to be here."
"There's no need for her," replied Sallis, counting off on his fingers. "It's not like we're staying long."
Reaching a count of ten, he snatched the door open, but there was no sign of Elm or anyone else.
"Expecting company?" Gamal grinned.
"Eavesdroppers, yes." Sallis shut the door again and dropped the latch into place. "I'll take the first watch, as usual."
"We're standing watches?" demanded Oston. "We're in an inn, for Ranva's sake!"
"I intend staying alive until our business is concluded," said Sallis. He turned to Gamal. "You want an uninterrupted night. That's fine. I'll stay up later and wake Oston earlier."
"You will, will you?" grumbled Oston.
"I'll stand my watch," said Gamal, who sounded almost as offended as the sylph. "I seem to have thrown my lot in with you."
"So it seems," said Sallis.
He dropped his pannier in the corner Elm's cushion usually inhabited and propped his quarterstaff there. He kept his sword with him. "I'll wake you when it's time."
***
After a breakfast served to them in their room by Elm who gave Oston and Gamal warm smiles, but pretty much ignored Sallis, the bounty-hunter chivvied them downstairs and outside, where a still-silent Don was roused to help them leave the Broken Crown.
Oston understood Sallis's hurry and kept silent, though Gamal did suggest they had plenty of time.
"I want to reach Rannet's place and see if he's there yet," said Sallis. "If he is, I can get finished and go home. If he isn't, I intend to wait until he is."
The moment they were saddled, they left the inn, pausing only to collect their fresh victuals. Despite Gamal saying they could leave most until they were returning to Marka, Sallis insisted they took everything they had already paid for.
"We've got no idea how long we must wait," he said.
"Look, if you've followed Rannet this far, then we already know he's heading home," countered Gamal.
Sallis said nothing further to Gamal, but they left with all their victuals.
"Lead on, Gamal," said Sallis. "You know the way from here."
As Gamal on Sorrel led them out from Blackwood Halt, Oston maneuvered Hammer alongside Glyder.
"Are you all right?" asked Oston. "I've never seen you like this before."
"I'm fine," replied Sallis. "Just... readying myself."
"You scared the sylphs back at the inn," continued Oston. "You could have handled Elm a little better."
Sallis thought briefly of two dead sylphs back in Marka. "I handled Elm a lot better than Rannet handled Errim and Westin," he replied. "I want there to be no chance
of him getting any warning we are coming. What if he calls in on his way home and all the talk among the sylphs is about our plans?"
"You don't trust the sylphs?"
"I don't trust their discretion," said Sallis. "They might not be among the most talkative of the Father's creatures, and they rarely betray anything of their owner's confidences, but the same doesn't hold for strangers. And if someone asks questions, sylphs tend to be truthful in their answers."
"You could still have handled it better."
"Right, I'll remember that for next time."
Oston sighed, and let Hammer fall back.
They did not need to travel far before Blackwood Halt fell behind. Gamal let Sorrel walk at an easy pace, before he turned off the main rutted road, following the line of a tumbled-down wall through the pasture. When they crested the hill, they looked down on a small version of Darkwood Forest.
Gamal halted and nodded towards the trees.
"He lives in there," he said.
***
Sallis suspected the forest had once been several coppices. Some of the trees boasted multiple trunks and were clumped together, with quite spacious gaps between the groups.
Gamal led them along a faint path, but soon turned off towards a stone outcrop.
"We'd better hide the horses here," he said, "and scout ahead to see if he's returned or not."
"Nearly there then," remarked Oston, cheerful as always.
Sallis said nothing.
Gamal led them around the far side of the outcrop, and to a cave all but hidden by trees and plants hanging down from above.
"An old quarry," he said, by way of explanation. "Whatever they built from the stone is long gone, as is the stone itself."
Sallis pushed his way in ahead of them, sword drawn, finding that the quarry didn't reach all that far back and, besides, was well lit and quite open. Even better, he found no signs of recent use.
"Hope Rannet doesn't stable his own horse here," said Sallis.
"No horse droppings," observed Oston, as Gamal shook his head.
"We'll risk it," said Sallis. He strapped his sword around his waist and hefted his newly acquired quarterstaff. Tight-lipped, Gamal regarded the wood with a hint of condescension.
They took some food as well, after hobbling the animals so none wandered off.
"We'll come back later to feed them if needs be," said Oston, giving Hammer a friendly pat.
Sallis said nothing, but followed Gamal as they returned to the path and fanned out, advancing steadily.
Birdsong filled the small forest, and insects flew past occasionally. As they neared another open space, Gamal slowed and stopped.
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