“My thanks,” said Lee. “I hope to see you again under better circumstances.”
Lord Ganflin bowed low and departed into a waiting coach.
An hour later, Broín returned with three stable boys leading five magnificent horses. Lee stared at the animals in wonder.
“I see that you appreciate a good horse when you see one,” Broín noted with pride. “These are the finest animals for a thousand miles. If those who pursue you want to catch you, they’ll need to grow wings.”
“Where on earth did you get such animals?” asked Lee.
“They’re bred on the northwestern steppes by the nomadic tribes that dwell there. It wasn’t easy to get them to part with these; I’m proud to say that I’m the only man to ever leave with so many.”
“If our mission wasn’t so urgent, I could never accept,” Lee admitted. “You must at least allow me to pay you - though I don’t know that I have enough money.”
“You misunderstand,” said Broín. “I have no intention of giving up my horses. I expect you to return them when all this is over and the Dark Knight has been defeated. But until then, they are yours to do with as you please.”
Lee smiled, overcome with the thought of such a generous gesture. “I shall take care of them until then,” he promised. “I hope one day I can talk you into taking another journey to the steppes with me, if only to see if I can pick one out for myself.”
“It would be a trip I would love to take.”
Millet readied one of the horses for Maybell. When the three were mounted, Lee handed Millet a small bundle of letters and nodded as if asking a silent question.
Millet reached down and took Lee’s hand. “All will be well,” he said reassuringly. “I’ll send word of our success.”
Malstisos rode up beside Lee. “I will look after your family. They will have my protection until I deliver them to your care.”
“Thank you,” said Lee, trying to force back tears of worry. “I am deeply in your debt.”
“You had better keep your word,” said Maybell as she admired her mount. “I will see the Temple of Valshara once this is done.”
“You don’t need to worry,” replied Lee. “You’ll see it, even if I have to carry you there on my back.”
Maybell tried to look angry, but seeing the worry on Lee’s face, she said instead, “I swear that I will not step foot in Valshara until your family is safe.”
Lee smiled and bowed. “Thank you, Sister. That means a lot to me.” He realized what a good idea it was to send Maybell. She would lay down her life if necessary to protect his family, and her knowledge of the cities and temples could be invaluable.
Gewey and the rest bid them farewell and watched as they rode toward the east gate. Once they were out of sight, Lee called everyone into the parlor.
“Thanks to Lord Broín’s generous loan,” Lee began, “we should be able to make it to Althetas in less than seven days. We’ll be moving fast. We have enough food and water for the whole journey, so we won’t need to stop for supplies along the way. Once we arrive, Dina will make contact with her order, and from there on we should be safe.” His eyes focused on Gewey. “If anything happens and we’re separated, we’ll meet at the Frog’s Wishbone in Althetas. Wait there until I, or someone from Dina’s order, gets there.”
Dina stepped forward and pulled out her medallion so that Gewey could see it clearly. “If you are approached by anyone claiming to be in my order, make them show you this. Be sure to touch it. It should burn you. If it doesn’t, then that person is an imposter.”
“We need to be out of the city before sundown,” Lee continued. “It’s certain they’ll see us leave, so we must move fast once we’re beyond the gates.”
“I’ll send word ahead,” said Broín. “I have a messenger flock on the roof. I’ll instruct my friends in Althetas to aid you.”
“Thank you,” Lee replied. “That would be helpful.”
“The horses have been saddled and packed,” said Angus, sticking his head through the door.
Lee and the others went outside and double-checked their belongings. Once mounted, Lee looked at Lord Broín and nodded respectfully.
“Until we meet again,” said Broín. “Angus is watching the gate and will tell me if you are followed.” He stood just outside his door and watched as Lee and the others slowly made their way down the street.
The ride to the gate was tense, and no one spoke a word. As they approached the gate’s heavy metal doors they saw Saylis Fernmen waiting for them. His head was bandaged, and his eyes were swollen and bruised.
Lee motioned for everyone to stop as he and Kaylia began scanning the alleys and rooftops for further trouble. Gewey put his hand on his sword, and Dina pulled out a small dagger.
“I thought I’d see you off,” called Saylis. Despite his words, his face was grim. “I want you to know that I’ll be there in the end, Starfinder. Mine will be the last face you ever see.” He shot Lee an angry look, then ducked down a nearby alley.
“He won’t try anything until we’re outside the gates,” Lee guessed, hoping he was right. “He may have set up an ambush. If that’s the case, I’ll handle it. The rest of you keep going and I’ll catch up. That means you, boy.” He looked straight at Gewey and didn’t look away until the boy nodded in agreement. “Don’t worry, I’ve had more capable men than this idiot think they could kill me. I’ll burn before I’ll let scum like him be the end of me.”
They urged their horses on and passed through the west gate.
“Are you ready?” Lee asked the others. They nodded. “Then let’s go.”
Lee booted his mount, sending the horse into a gallop. Gewey and the others did the same, and they were off like bolts of lightning. Gewey had never ridden so fast. He could feel the sheer power of the animal beneath him, and it thrilled him. He smiled at the thought of anyone thinking they could catch them.
Chapter 25
Salmitaya tossed and turned in her bed. The dreams had gotten worse in the past few days. Since her return to Kaltinor, things had become troubled. The other temples had shunned her, even those that had once secretly aided her. She still had the governor and lords on her side, but their loyalty was bought. Should Angrääl get word of her failure, she would lose everything; it was their gold that kept her in power.
“Maudina!” she yelled. A young girl scurried into the room, rubbing her eyes and trying not to yawn. Salmitaya had hired her to replace Celandine the day after she got back. She didn’t know what had happened to Celandine, but swore to flay the girl if she ever returned.
“Yes, Your Holiness?” Maudina said meekly.
“I want some hot tea,” she ordered, sitting up in bed.
“Right away,” the girl replied, dashing off. Salmitaya got up and put on her slippers and a soft cotton robe. She hated the temple at night. The emptiness made her uneasy. The book she had been reading lay open on a small table next to a plush chair. Her thoughts kept returning to Gewey as she distractedly fingered through its pages.
Damn that boy, she thought. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll see him beg and scream.
Several minutes passed and Maudina still had not brought the tea. “Blasted girl,” she muttered. “What’s taking so long?”
“You’ll not be needing a servant, my love,” came a deep voice from just outside the open door leading to the next room.
Salmitaya shot out of her chair. “Who are you?” she demanded. “Show yourself.”
In stepped a tall, lean man dressed in a black shirt and pants with polished silver buttons. These were paired with an exquisite jacket with impossibly intricate white embroidery. A fearsome curved sword hung from a belt that sat loosely around his thin waist. His face looked young, and his brown curly hair fell to his shoulders. In his hands was a tray with two cups of hot tea. He placed the tray on her bedside table and handed her one of the steaming cups.
“Sit down, my love,” he instructed as he pulled himself a chair from the c
orner. “We have much to discuss.”
Salmitaya was terrified as she sat back down. “Who are you?”
“You may call me Yanti,” he answered, smiling.
“Well, Yanti,” she said, trying her best to sound unafraid. “You have trespassed in the Temple of Ayliazarah. Leave now, or I’ll see you whipped and hanged.”
Yanti looked amused as he blew on his tea. “That’s not very hospitable of you considering I’m here to save your life.”
“What do you mean? Speak sense.”
“You didn’t think your failure would go unnoticed, did you?” he asked in a level tone.
“I – I...” she stammered with sudden realization. “I was going to report it. I swear.”
“Of course you were. That’s exactly what I told the master. I told him that you would never try to deceive him - especially knowing what would happen if you did.”
“I’m sorry I failed,” she said, desperately trying to hold in her sobs. “I was betrayed. Someone helped the boy escape. There’s no way I could have known.”
“Calm yourself, my love,” Yanti soothed her, holding up his hand. “We already know what happened, and it’s being dealt with. I’m here to offer you a chance to redeem yourself. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“I’ll do anything,” she vowed. Tears began to fall down her cheeks.
“I know you will, my love.” He leaned back in his chair, stirring his tea with the tip of his finger. “The master does not doubt your loyalty, only your judgment. Normally that’s enough to warrant… discipline, especially considering the trust and responsibility that you’ve been given. But I’ve convinced him that you deserve a second chance.”
Salmitaya slid from her chair and dropped to her knees. “Thank you!” she groveled. “Tell me what I must do. I swear I will not fail again.”
Yanti sat his teacup on the arm of the chair and stood up. “There’s no need for such a display,” he said, helping Salmitaya to her feet. He lifted her chin and tenderly wiped the tears from her face with a handkerchief he’d produced from his jacket pocket. “I’ve left you instructions on the table in your study. You should open them right away, my love.”
Salmitaya nodded her head slowly. Yanti smiled and turned to leave. “One more thing,” he said, glancing back toward her. “It would be unfortunate if you failed again. I don’t think I’d be able to intervene twice.” Salmitaya watched silently as he left.
As soon as she heard the door to the main hall close she ran to her study. Just as Yanti had told her, there was a sealed letter on the table. She opened it and read its contents. By the time she finished, she was weeping again. She looked around the room as if hoping someone might come to save her, and then collapsed in a heap. Eventually, she gathered her wits and went to bed.
The dreams she had that night were the most terrifying yet.
Chapter 26
Lee marveled at how hard the horses could be pushed, and promised himself to make good on the trip to the northwestern steppes with Lord Broín. They had been riding full speed for more than twenty minutes, and so far he’d seen no sign of an ambush. If they didn’t run into one by sundown, he thought it unlikely they would run into one at all. They’d entered the Great Faldon Plains that stretched all the way to the Abyss; though not impossible, concealing an ambush here would be difficult. The tall grass could easily cover a man’s presence, but horses would have to be moved far enough away from the road so as not to be seen. The Plains were sparsely populated, dotted with ranches and farms. The few small towns were little more than trading posts frequented by drovers and travelers on their way west. A few shallow rivers and streams were the only real interruptions in the vast, flat landscape.
By the time they finally stopped to rest their mounts they had already covered many miles. Lee looked behind them, pleased with their progress. A series of wells lined the road to Althetas, placed roughly every twenty-five miles to aid thirsty travelers. Lee knew some of them to be dry from his previous travels, but most made good spots to rest and water their horses.
“It doesn’t look like anyone’s waiting for us,” Gewey observed as his horse drank from a small trough next to the well.
“So far,” Lee acknowledged warily. “But I’d say we need to pass two more of these wells before we’re far enough away to be sure. They may still be waiting for us. Hopefully, they’re not clever enough to let us pass, then attack us by night.”
“If they’re foolish enough to attack an elf in the dark, then let them,” Kaylia said, grinning. “It will be their last mistake.”
“Actually, I think it more likely they’ll ambush us with bows,” Lee replied. “I doubt they’ll want to risk getting too close unless they have to. It’s what I would do.”
The sun was going down, and Lee told them they would be riding through the night. It was fully dark by the time they approached the next well. Kaylia got off her horse, and she and Lee prepared to scout the area. Gewey wanted to join her, but Lee stopped him.
“Protect Dina if something happens,” Lee instructed.
“I don’t need protecting,” Dina argued.
“We all need protecting,” Lee replied. “But until we get to your people, you are our only means of making contact. So you will be protected.”
Dina growled, but held her tongue.
“Keep quiet,” Kaylia scolded them. “I’ll go alone. Lee can stay here and Dina…you can protect Lee,” she said mockingly. She checked her knife and crept into the darkness.
When Kaylia returned, she motioned for everyone to get down and stay quiet. “There are men about,” she whispered.
“Where and how many?” Lee asked, quickly drawing his sword.
“One hundred yards south of the well,” she answered. “About a dozen.”
“Could you tell who they are?”
“No, I didn’t get close enough. We should move the horses back, then take a closer look.”
“You two wait here,” Lee told Gewey and Dina. “Kaylia and I are going to see what we can find out.”
“I should go,” Gewey asserted. “I’ve trained to hide in the shadows. They won’t see me.”
“He’s right,” Kaylia agreed. “You may be fierce in a fight, but you can’t match him in stealth any longer.”
Lee thought for a second, then looked at Gewey. “Observe only,” he said firmly. “Nothing else.”
Gewey nodded and removed his sword. “Take care of this for me,” he said, handing it to Dina. She was careful to touch only the scabbard.
Gewey retrieved his knife and put it in his belt. He and Kaylia had only taken a few steps before they vanished from Lee and Dina’s sight, as if by magic. Lee smiled with pride.
“He’s learned much,” Dina remarked.
“No doubt,” Lee replied. “It’s hard to see the boy who left the farm in the man who now travels with us.”
Gewey followed closely behind Kaylia. There were no trees to hide behind, but still he could see how the night changed and shifted ahead of him. The shadows were subtle, but they were there.
He allowed his eyes to penetrate and then eliminate the darkness, marveling at how much his training had changed his perceptions.
Gewey was able to see the men from about fifty yards away. They were knelt down in the tall grass looking toward the well, though he was certain there was no way they could see it in the dark from where they were. He figured they were listening for the sound of approaching horses. He made out fourteen men, all carrying swords and wearing studded leather armor. Kaylia motioned for him to stay where he was, then circled around to look from the other side. Her graceful movements made it difficult not to watch her as she left. She returned a few minutes later, and together they headed back.
“Well?” Lee asked anxiously.
“They’re not alone,” Kaylia told him. “Another group of ten bowmen is waiting less than fifty yards west of the first group.”
“Bait,” Lee said. “They want us to engage close
up; if we discover the first group waiting for us and attack them, the bowmen will rain down arrows killing everyone, including their own men. A clever plan, actually.”
“Can’t we just go around and avoid them altogether?” Dina asked.
“We could,” Lee replied. “And if we were on foot, we would. But if they have any other men about that we haven’t yet seen, they could alert the rest. And frankly, I don’t want to face two-dozen men head-on. As it stands, they don’t know we’re here yet.”
“So what’s the plan?” Gewey asked.
Lee scratched his chin in thought. “They’ve set a trap, so we’ll let them think it has worked. I’ll sneak up and engage them from the north. The first group will be listening for horses to approach the well, so when I attack they’ll think we’ve spotted them and decided on a full frontal attack. Gewey, you and Kaylia will move in behind the bowmen. They’ll hear the fight and think the trap is sprung. Once they’ve let loose their arrows on the first position, take them out. Don’t give them a chance for a second shot. After the first volley, I’ll move to your position and help you finish them off. Any survivors from the first group should be confused and scattered. If any are left, we’ll take care of them last.”
“And what about me?” Dina asked, not wanting to be left out.
“You stay with the horses,” he answered. “If we’re killed or captured, ride back to Gristol and tell Lord Broín what happened.”
The Godling Chronicles : Bundle - Books 1-3 Page 28
