by J. K. Holt
“Pack up, both of you. We’re leaving, now.”
∞ ∞ ∞
They didn’t travel far, as it were. They’d left quietly, with one last trip to the stables to grab their additional bags and check on the horses. Tess barely had time to give Tommy a farewell chin scratch before Rosie was hissing at her to carry on, then, and she was obeying, lugging what felt like eighty pounds of weight on her back into the street. It was still early, and in a town not dependent on the sea for its livelihood, few people were out in the streets, which was a small thing they had to be grateful for, given the circumstances.
It took only a few minutes before Tess’s back began to ache from the weight, and she was starting to consider expressing her doubts to this plan when Rosie doubled back, pulling them into an alley that backed up against a row of short buildings. “Here,” she whispered as she came upon a door and put her hand to the glass that lined it, peering inside. “This is the one.” She pulled out a knife and went to work on the keyhole. Though nervous, neither Tess nor Fish felt comfortable questioning her, especially not with a weapon in her hands.
Rosie made short work of the lock, and they entered into a dimly lit galley kitchen. “Through here,” Rosie said, leading the way towards the front, where tables sat in gloomy solitude in what was clearly a tavern.
“I noticed this place last night,” Rosie said, by way of explanation. “You could both do to be a little more perceptive yourselves, by the way. Lucky, I figured it would be deserted at this hour- caters more to an evening crowd. They won’t be in for several hours yet, I’d bet, but to be safe we shouldn’t stay for more than two at the most.”
She set her bags down and the others did the same, Rosie taking up residence at a table next to a front window, pulling the curtains back a hair and motioning for Tess to look. She did, and was surprised to see that they were directly across the street from the inn they’d just left. Tess sat down at the table across from her, rubbing her shoulder where the strap had bitten into it. Fish sat beside her, looking dazed.
“Need anything, Fish?” Tess asked softly.
“I’m alright, sweet.” He patted her back absently before turning his attention to Rosie. “I know I’ve just been hit in the head, but do us a favor and catch me up, eh? Why on earth did we leave in such a hurry, from the very comfortable place we were lodging in and paying for, only to break in to a much less secure location just across the way?”
Rosie gave him a look and then turned to Tess, raising her eyebrow as if to say, figured it out, then?
That was the nudge Tess needed, as the reason clicked into place. She moaned, grateful for Rosie’s quick thinking. “It wouldn’t do any good for Loren to be near me if I have control over him. But it’s possible that he could change the equation.”
Fish glanced between the two of them, catching their meaning. “Do we have any way of knowing if the lampreys have people here? Or connections?”
Rosie had shifted her position so she could see directly through the small space of drawn curtain to the front of the inn. “Tess?”
Tess frowned. “If you’re asking if I obtained any of that information from being in his mind last night, then no. But he said he’d been here many times before, remember? We have to assume he knows the area, and possibly more than that. It’s entirely possible that the lampreys have a stronghold here as well.”
“So it’s possible he’s gone straight to his fellow rabble-rousers and is gathering a party as we speak,” Fish said, voice weary. “And now what? We wait, to see if he comes back with reinforcements?”
“It might give us more information on his numbers, and what we’re up against,” Rosie confirmed, annoyed at his questioning. “But we can’t stay here long, as I’ve already mentioned. We’re here more or less to catch our breath and decide what comes next. We have to make a plan.”
They sat, each in their own thoughts for several minutes.
Tess began. “Well, best case scenario is that Loren has no idea what I know or why we’re heading in this direction, and he has no available help in the area. It would take him a while to get anywhere in that case, without any coin or connections. He would be out of our grasp, but not an immediate threat.”
“Aye. One can hope,” Rosie said.
“Worst case scenario,” Tess continued, “Is that he’s connected the dots and realized it was me in his head all along, and that we know where he wants to go, and that they’re keeping the scholar there. If he has people nearby, it would make the most sense that he’d come back, quickly, to eliminate us as a threat, and to take me as captive. If he doesn’t, I’d guess he’ll try to get to the nearest stronghold as quickly as possible, to alert them. And from there, I’m not certain what he’d do next. It’s possible he’d send a message back to Wharfton, to take what’s left of our friends there as collateral.” Tess winced as she said it, imagining putting Gowan, Emme, or the Reeds in greater danger. “Or he’d try to send word north, to reach our destination before we do.”
The gravity of the situation pulled at Tess, and for the first time since they’d departed Wharfton she felt a deep need to return, to protect those she cared for. She thought she was keeping them safe by leaving. Now... well, now she only felt naïve to think she’d had any level of control over this situation to begin with.
“We’d never make it back in time,” Fish said, voice tinged with despair.
Rosie cleared her throat. “We can’t consider that then. Not if there’s nothing we can do about it. We’ll just make the next best decision- we only need to determine what that is.”
A strong feeling of helplessness enveloped Tess, and she hugged her legs close to her body, assuming a nearly fetal position. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “This suddenly isn’t going the way I’d planned.”
A strong arm encompassed her, and she felt Fish’s warmth beside her. She looked to Rosie, expecting judgment, but was met with a bewildered expression. “You’re touched in the head if you think you can control everything, Tess,” she said. “We knew what we were getting into, and we’re still here, so don’t go soft on us now, when it only begins to get difficult. I was just beginning to think you might be made of stronger stuff- choosing now to prove me wrong would be a true nuisance.”
Relief flooded Tess at their response, and she allowed herself a chuckle.
“You’re right,” Tess said. “And we can’t turn back. Which leaves us just one choice.”
In unison, they answered, joined in their purpose. “We keep going.”
∞ ∞ ∞
They stayed for less than another hour, Rosie pilfering food from the kitchen as Tess and Fish took stock of their supplies and kept watch on the front of the inn. No obviously suspect people entered or exited during that time, though Tess felt uncertain about what type of person she should be watching for.
Reydon himself had also not made a reappearance. It was odd- the group seemed a little incomplete without him, suddenly. During one particular moment of solitude between them, Tess caught the look of deep grief in Fish’s eyes and knew what it meant. She whispered to him- “I don’t think it was all an act, for what it’s worth.”
Fish’s mouth turned downward at the suggestion. “Meaning?”
“Meaning, I think Reydon was beginning to have his doubts. And I can’t be certain, but I’d bet he really cared for you, Fish. Take from that what you will, but I think you are a large part of why he was conflicted.”
Fish shook his head, unable to absorb her words. “He fooled me, Tess. That’s all.”
“I don’t think his feelings were all a lie, Fish. That’s all I’m saying. And if they were, then maybe it will help you to know that I was beginning to warm to him myself. I started off this trip hating him, but somewhere along the way… I don’t know. I don’t think he’s all evil. And I think the part that isn’t, the part that’s still open to connecting with others, connected with you.”
They’d not spoken more of it, but a small level of w
eight seemed to lift off of Fish at the suggestion, which Tess was grateful to see. They’d rearranged the bulk and material of the packs, to make the weight more even amongst them, and left behind the few things they no longer saw fit to take.
“The Misties will test us in every way possible,” Rosie warned. “No need to bring unnecessary weight into the equation. Plus, we can leave it as a form of payment for the food we’ve taken from this place.”
Leaving town took much longer than entering it had. They stuck to the sides of the buildings, following rambling side roads whenever possible, and turned around so many times that Tess was beginning to wonder if Rosie knew quite where they were. The buildings were tall around them, though every now and then they’d catch a sight of the bright blue lake and be able to get their bearings once again.
They all had their knives at the ready. Though Reydon had not come back, Rosie had cautioned that he might have chosen to set a trap with his men further up the road, or have placed small contingents of men at the exits of the town. If he wanted to keep a low profile, this would be a smarter move than entering the Inn directly and stealing Tess away, or harming the others. And Loren had a reputation for setting up ambushes, though admittedly the last one had not worked in his favor.
Each time they turned a corner, Tess half expected to come face to face with an army of lamprey goons. Her nerves were fraying. At one point, several small children tearing through the streets made her catch a scream in her throat, and Rosie had nearly reached for her knife. If they didn’t leave soon, one of them might be chucked in jail for murder of an innocent bystander.
Then the deep sapphire blue of lake Vera became visible for longer stretches of time, as they banked west and then north, following a route parallel to the road as it stretched around the lake. The congestion of the town began to thin. Still, they stayed off of the main road until the lake was well behind them.
“They look closer than they are,” Rosie said, pointing towards the looming Misties ahead. “It’ll take us all day to get to the foot of the nearest rise, if my map is right. There’s a small way-station there, for travelers going up the mountain. Should be deserted this time of year, but it’s also a good place for Loren, sorry, Reydon to be waiting, if he thinks to catch us unaware. Until then, though, I think we’re safe joining the road. We can see well ahead and behind in both directions, and can move into the treeline if we see anyone else approaching. If we choose to walk through the woods, we’re likely to break an ankle, and, at best, it will take us twice the time to travel the same distance.”
The others agreed, and they set off. A small river flowed through the woods on their right, often winding off only to reappear a mile or so further north. Fed by the snowmelt in the Misties, it emptied into Lake Vera, before becoming the stream they’d crossed not long ago that Tess had fallen into. She eyed it with no small amount of fear- she knew how cold that water was. But it was beautiful, crystal clear, the river rocks below glinting in the sun, and the sound of the water rushing along its banks as they walked was soothing.
A few times, they heard horses approaching, and darted into the undergrowth to the left, but none of the people passing seemed to be looking for anyone, and most traveled either alone or in very small parties. Tess noted their horses with jealousy, missing Tommy’s sturdy presence as much as she missed his broad back and carrying capabilities. Her shoulders had begun to ache, but she bit back a complaint. At least she had on the right shoes for the job.
They stopped only for short breaks, and the mountains grew in size as they drew ever nearer. The light had begun to fade, and though the temperature was mild, Tess worried about not finding shelter before the evening fell- she knew the cold would come with it like an uninvited guest. She gripped her pack and put her head down, ignoring the nagging doubts as they moved on, a step at a time, into the night.
Dark fell fast as the mountains in the west stole the sun away, casting wide shadows across the earth. The river had scampered off again, and a relative quiet descended, punctuated only by their heavy breathing and footfalls.
“It’s ahead,” Rosie said. “I can make it out now, the wayhouse. Look.”
Sure enough, a structure just darker than the surroundings sat several hundred yards further on. No lights were visible from the inside, save one.
“Someone’s there,” Tess said, pitching her voice low from habit.
“How can you-” Fish began, then cut himself off.
Rosie heaved a breath beside her and they slowed their walking. “How many?” Rosie asked.
“Not sure. But there’s movement. It’s inside. I can’t make out any forms outside, though they could be hidden on the far side.”
“We need to be smart about this,” Rosie said. “Tess, give us your bags. We’ll trail behind you a bit and let you move ahead. Don’t take risks, but see if you can circle the area and identify how many people are there. If Loren is there, he wouldn’t have come alone.”
“Right,” Tess said, more than happy to comply as she shrugged off the packs, easing out her shoulder muscles. “Listen for my whistle if I want you to stop and wait. I’ll whistle again for you to follow.” She left them behind as she crept forward, her eyes straining to follow the path in the meager light that remained of the day. She could hear Rosie and Fish behind her, following, and glanced back to easily find their glowing forms along the road. With their auras and the light from the building ahead, she had two points with which to keep herself centered.
She stole to the left, towards the black of the trees, her feet crunching on the dry leaves as she picked up her pace, scanning the horizon. She drew closer still, stepping carefully along the ground as it grew ever darker, soon halving the distance, and still could make out no more shapes either within the building or around it. She couldn’t take any chances, though- she needed to make her way entirely around to be certain. She paused and whistled under her breath and waited long enough to ensure that the others had heard and understood- they had.
Soon, she found herself passing the building in a wide north-west angle, and crouched as she eyed the surroundings. Still no others, and if she was guessing, there was only one person inside. Still, she was determined to know for certain.
It was while she was circling back around, heading east, that her foot caught a hard stump and she fell. She caught her breath as she went down, intent on staying silent, which was the only thing that saved her as her right hand met not soft earth but hard rock and her wrist hyperextended, a sharp, intense pain radiating up her arm. She hissed, landing hard on her side, and allowed herself a moment of curses as she cradled her injured hand. She didn’t think she’d broken it, but the pain was still a harsh reminder of how quickly things could go wrong out here.
She didn’t have the time for prolonged self-pity, however. She eased herself up gingerly, stepping over the half-submerged boulder that her hand had found, moving softly forward. Her balance was slightly off with her right arm tucked close to her body, and she couldn’t afford to hurt herself further.
Tess was finally to the east, and she could hear the soft undercurrent of water flowing somewhere behind her- the river, coming closer once again. She’d determined that no other people were outside the building, and with the chances of an ambush lessened, she allowed herself a moment to relax before moving forward. There was no reason she couldn’t get herself to the window and have a look inside without being noticed. Tess supposed the nice thing about living in a place that seemed to be stuck in the seventeen-hundreds was the certainty that she wouldn’t trip any floodlights in her approach.
To her left, Tess could still make out the far-off forms of Rosie and Fish, though Rosie’s aura flickered at irritation; she wasn’t the type to wait by quietly for long. Knowing they were there if she needed them helped, and she finished her approach.
There wasn’t much to the way-house. Four walls and a roof, a small chimney poking out above the low hanging tiles. It couldn’t be much larger than on
e open room inside. She was right- it looked to be a single space, as she eyed the surroundings on her tip-toes, ten feet or so from the nearest squat window. Tess thought she saw smoke now from the chimney, and a fire flickered lightly in the fireplace, though it was dying now, mainly embers.
There was one form inside, which was confirmation enough for Tess. They could rest here for the night and set out at first light. Chances felt quite low that Loren would lie in wait for them alone. It was merely another traveler, or possibly someone who kept up the station.
Tess stepped back onto the road, though in the dark she only recognized it by the feel of packed earth beneath her feet, and whistled, relieved to see the forms begin moving again.
She turned back to the building, not surprised to see that the figure had risen, likely having heard her whistle to the others. She hoped she hadn’t frightened him. It looked to be a man, by the set of the shoulders and height. His aura radiated outward in lazy spirals, orange at the tips like a tiny sun, striking Tess as both beautiful and somehow familiar.
No- her mind was playing tricks on her. She just missed him. When you’re thinking about someone more than you should, everything reminds you of them. Just as she’d once seen Maggie everywhere she went, ducking into shops ahead of her, in her peripheral vision whenever she rounded a busy corner, even months after Maggie died. Tess just hadn’t been ready to let go.
But still, something about the figure made Tess’s heart ache for Dray. She hadn’t missed the feeling of heartsickness, and she resented herself for allowing it now.
Things would feel better when Rosie and Fish finished catching up. They were familiar. They were safe. They’d become more to her, so slowly that she hadn’t seen it until now.
And then they were there, ragged but all together again, and Tess nodded. “Just one.”
