First Comes The One Who Wanders

by Lynette S. Jones

  “Perhaps that’ll change soon.”

  “I hope so. If it doesn’t I may have to close the inn and leave. It’s getting too dangerous to stay. The Dredracians aren’t pleasant to deal with and they grow bolder and more belligerent every day. Let me know when you’re ready to see your room.” Dinner delivered and curiosity satisfied he went to talk to the two old timers at the game table.

  Leilas ate quickly. It was the first food she’d had since morning. It didn’t take long for the food, the fire and the long day to take its toll. After her head had fallen and snapped back into place twice, she pushed herself from the table, collected her pack and followed Percy to her room.

  “It’s not fancy, but I reckon it beats the rocks in the forest.” He handed her the candle. “There’s been several strangers around lately I don’t like the looks of too well. With that price on your head, I’d suggest you use that bolt.” Startled that he’d recognized her so easily, Leilas’ hand dropped to her short sword, readying to defend herself against the innkeeper. Now that he’d revealed his hand, he’d have to take her prisoner or risk losing his money.

  “You don’t have anything to fear from me miss. I don’t have any use for the new king or for any of these Dredracian soldiers. Breakfast starts at dawn.”

  “Thank you,” said Leilas, dropping her hand from her sword, letting her first impression of this man guide her. She didn’t feel any malice in him. Setting her bag down, she watched him turn to go, hoping she’d judged him correctly.

  Bolting the door after him and sitting near the fire, she pulled her boots off, listening for any sound that Percy had deceived her. But when an hour had passed and there was no sound of anyone returning to her room, she relaxed. Placing her feet on the hearth, she closed her eyes and warmed her feet, trying to ease the ache in the red-raised scar on her leg. She didn’t want to think about men like Percy betraying her to Darryl or the war that was coming, or the fact that the Jovanulum had no champion because she hadn’t named him. Instead, she tried to think of the pleasant days she’d spent with Solein. She fell asleep basking in the warm sun of Neothera.

  She could see Joshuas and Erion standing in the spot where the campsite should have been, but there was no campsite. She tried calling out to Joshuas, but he couldn’t hear her. The veil of dark magic still surrounded them. Joshuas and Erion were talking. She wished she could hear what they were saying. All she could hear was laughter.

  She woke with a start at the sound. Someone was watching her and playing with her. They were enjoying the pain they’d caused by separating her from her companions. Leilas shivered at the thought. If she’d believed she was going to travel to the Crystal Caves of Anhjou undetected, she was wrong. If this presence was Rengailai as she suspected, how could she go on and lead him to the Book of Sylph? The four crafters had gone to great lengths to keep it from him all these years.

  Lying back against her pillow, Leilas tried to think. She needed to find the book to know what she was supposed to do. If she found the book, then Rengailai would know the plan, too. It couldn’t be so simple, Leilas finally concluded. Deciding she would trust that it would work out as the Creator planned, she closed her eyes and tried to go back to sleep.

  CHAPTER 15

  The smell of meat and potatoes woke her. She’d slept longer than she’d intended. Taking advantage of the water jug and the mirror, she washed and tied her hair back in the fashion of men. It was long for a man, but many crafters were in the habit of dressing oddly. Thinking she might get away with being a young boy, she took a chance of leaving her hood down.

  “Good day, young sir,” said the girl serving. Leilas had chosen the same dark corner. It looked as if her disguise had worked. She didn’t risk giving her disguise away by speaking. She grunted her thanks as the girl deposited her plate and beer on the table. The owner wasn’t anywhere to be seen, so much the better, thought Leilas as she ate. He’d already seen through her attempts to disguise herself. She didn’t need him giving her identity away to anyone else, unintentionally. The fact that no one had come to arrest her and drag her away during the night made her believe that he had no intention of exposing her to the enemy for the bounty money.

  Eating quickly, she gathered her belongings and stepped into the cold morning air. She threw her hood over her head as she stepped outside, as much for warmth as for disguise. The stable hands were just opening the doors of the barn when she arrived. Checking on the two horses she was leaving behind, she was satisfied they were in good hands.

  “If a crafter and an elf come this way, these horses are theirs,” she told the stable hand. “Otherwise if I’m not back by the spring, you may keep them with my thanks for their good care.” The stable hand brightened at the promise of horses for nothing more than taking care of them for the winter.

  “You are too kind, young sir. May you have good luck on your journey. May Jovan be with you.”

  “And with you as well,” replied Leilas. Climbing on her mount, she gathered the reins of the pack horse and was on her way.

  According to the men in the inn, snow was coming tomorrow or maybe the next day. If she pressed on through the night, she might have traveled far enough South by then to avoid the storm. She was no longer toying with the idea of moving slower and hoping Joshuas would catch up to her. It seemed clear that some power out there wanted her to take this trip alone.

  Several groups of soldiers passed as she traveled. She took care to move off the road and hide if she caught sight of them first. If they saw her first, she grunted a greeting and rode past, trying not to draw attention to herself. So far, none of the soldiers had been interested in taking on a strange crafter. Soldiers who’d been in battle knew what a single crafter could do to human warriors. Those who hadn’t been in battle had been warned. Crafters were most often given a wide berth by all but the bravest warriors. Most of the time, the bravest warriors didn’t live to become wiser soldiers.

  Other than the young men on the road in divisions, the sight of able-bodied men became scarcer the farther south she moved into the province of the Land crafters. True to their word, the demon-like men she’d learned were called gaunts weren’t letting any man who could fight stay behind.

  Twice, she’d had to seek shelter from winter storms. The trees looked like skeletons standing guard, in their winter nakedness. The Drakmoth Mountains loomed through the spindly branches. Each night, she studied her maps. Each night she studied the prophecies she’d heard and tried to find the solution to the puzzle presented in her book. Every night she dreamed of Joshuas and Erion, of Brenth and her mother. Every morning she woke lonely and alone.

  Days turned into weeks. The weather cleared as she neared the Southern Plains. Her dreams told her Joshuas and Erion had crossed the mountains near Menas and had stayed because they were needed. They too, had realized she had to do this alone.

  When she reached the road that led through the mountains to Montshade on the other side, she hesitated and then continued south. It would take longer, but she wouldn’t have to cross the mountains alone.

  “Besides,” she justified her decision to herself. “Duke Cheran lives in the Southern Plains. I can see how he’s preparing for war.”

  As the sun was setting the next day, she approached the first large city she’d encountered on this road. A bath and hot dinner sounded wonderful. Lifting her hood over her head, she approached the gates of Barat.

  “What business?” the guard blocked the gate.

  “I’m passing through to the Southern Plains. I have business there. I was looking for some dinner.”

  “What sort of crafter are you? Your insignia isn’t clear.” The guard didn’t move from his spot. Leilas was beginning to worry. She didn’t need trouble.

  “I’m a wanderer, from the North.” She hoped that would satisfy him. The guard still hesitated, his hand drifting toward his sword. Leilas climbed off her horse and walked close to him. “You don’t really want to try to keep a crafter from acco
mplishing his mission do you?”

  The guard scowled at the threat, his hand grasping the hilt of his sword. Leilas swept back her cloak, and reached for her axe. Perhaps a bath had been a bad idea. The guard bared his teeth in a savage smile, but let his hand drop from the hilt of his weapon. “The city is closed to strangers. We’ve had enough of your kind.”

  Leilas let her hand fall away from her axe and led her horse away from the gates. Another night outdoors wouldn’t hurt her, but stepping inside that city might. Turning to look back, she saw the guard standing in front of the gate defensively, sword still drawn and crossed over his chest. Barat definitely didn’t seem like a good place for her health. The road led to a small encampment, where others had obviously spent the night after the guard had turned them away. It seemed she wasn’t the only one being barred from entering the city.

  It amazed her how quickly things had changed once the balance had been upset. Already people distrusted people and those who were once friendly now carried staffs and knives. Factions had started breaking off and causing trouble. People seemed loyal only to themselves or at least only to their city. She’d seen the people transform a little more with each day that passed.

  She unpacked the horses and rubbed them down. Feeding them their allotment of oats, she tied them with enough rope so they could graze. Finding a sheltered spot back a bit from the road, she built a pit, gathered wood and started a fire. She’d been hoping to restock her supplies in Barrat, but she could make do with what she had until she reached Barroon if she was careful with her food. Contenting herself with hard tack and tea, she leaned back against the rock and tried to get some rest.

  The horses whinnying brought her instantly awake. It was early evening. The moon cast its light softly on the road. Leilas could see a lone crafter approaching her camp. She stayed sitting, but readied herself for an attack.

  “Well met, crafter,” said the stranger, dressed in crafter garb, with the Sea crest on his cloak. “I see you were turned away from the gate, as well.” The comely young man reminded her of Master Ren Narwhal with his dark hair and dark skin. He appeared to be carrying no weapon except his hunting knife.

  “They apparently have had some trouble,” said Leilas in the deep, husky voice that had become second nature.

  “Do you mind?” the stranger indicated the log and Leilas shrugged. Sitting down, the stranger sighed in satisfaction. “I’ve been walking all day. It feels good to sit.”

  “Are you hungry?” asked Leilas, wondering where his pack and water skin were. “I don’t have much, but you’re welcome to it.” She rummaged through her goods and found the last of the bread and cheese she’d bought in the last town. The stranger took it gratefully and began to eat.

  “I am Cephom Sylvan,” he introduced himself.

  “Leilan,” replied Leilas, giving her modified name. She’d cut her hair shorter and passed as a young man everywhere she’d been.

  “Leilan.” The sea crafter smiled as he said the name. For a moment, Leilas thought he’d seen through her disguise. “Thank you for dinner. I haven’t eaten all day. Where are you headed?” he asked around a mouthful of food.

  “The Southern Plains,” replied Leilas.

  “I have some business near there as well,” said Cephom. “If you have no other traveling companion, I’d be honored to share the road with you.”

  Leilas hesitated a moment at the request. She wasn’t sure she could keep up her disguise with someone traveling with her. Cephom misread her concern. “I’d be no threat to you, Leilan. And two are always better than one alone.”

  “It’s true, two are better. It’s my business, I fear, that will put you in danger.”

  “In that case I must insist on going with you. I can be of great help in times of trouble.” Leilas didn’t know what to say to that, so she said nothing. It seemed she had a new traveling companion.

  She used the last of her supplies on breakfast. She’d planned to eat only once a day and make town on the third. Now, they would have to make do with what they could find or go hungry.

  Separating the gear into two packs, she placed one on each horse. Then letting Cephom have her mount, she slipped onto the pack horse bareback. Unlike Joshuas and Erion, Cephom talked constantly as they traveled. It had been some time since Leilas had to deal with so much conversation. Perhaps it was good that Cephom didn’t seem to notice that she didn’t contribute much to the dialog.

  “The sea is a wonder,” said Cephom as they rode. “I have spent my life near the sea or on the sea,” he smiled at the thought. “There are the most wonderful creatures in the sea. The leviathan that was created by Sylph himself, sea dragons, green, red, black, all roam the waters from the tip of Solea to the waters past the Outer Reaches. Then there are the seals, dolphins and whales. Have you ever heard the noise that the seals make when they are together on the rocks? Leilas shook her head. She had never been anywhere close to the sea. “It’s quite an amazing experience. If you’re gifted, you can hear them talking to the sailors on the shore, asking for food or telling them to get away from their meeting place. The dolphins are friendlier. They’re curious about humans and often come close to boats and the shore to see what they’re doing.”

  “The sea elves tend to them,” continued Cephom. “They are good to them. In return, the dolphins and the seals help the sea elves when they have need of help.”

  “I had heard there were different clans of elves. I’ve only met one elf, he is a forest elf. What do the elves of the sea look like?” asked Leilas.

  “They’re much the same as the forest elves,” replied Cephom, “except for the hair. Forest elves have hair the color of the moonlight. Sea elves have hair that resembles mother-of-pearl. It shimmers in the sunlight, appearing to have many different colors, depending on where you are standing.”

  “I’d like to meet a sea elf one day,” said Leilas, knowing that the chances she ever would were slim.

  “They have little to do with humans or crafters,” replied Cephom. “Not since the Crafter Wars.”

  “I’m beginning to learn that the Crafter Wars did a great deal of damage to Preterlandis.”

  “They tore the land apart,” agreed Cephom. “Though perhaps they were necessary. The dark crafters had become a threat to Preterlandis. If they’d been allowed to continue unchecked, the damage to the balance would have been unrepairable.”

  “You say that as if you know that as truth. No one can really know what would have happened if there had been no war.”

  “It seemed clear to those of us who were watching what was happening to the balance,” replied Cephom.

  “I’ll have to take your word for that. I’m too young to know.”

  “Yes, Leilan, you’re very young to be on such an important journey.”

  “What do you know of my journey?” Leilas’ senses went on alert, too late, she thought to herself.

  “Only what you’ve told me. You said you had important business in the South. These are dangerous times to be sending young crafters on journeys, unless they are important.”

  Leilas relaxed. She’d forgotten she’d told Cephom she was on an important mission. The long, lonely weeks had taken their toll. She was beginning to suspect everyone.

  “What do you think of Greyan’s Treaty?” asked Leilas, remembering the discussion in the council tower.

  “It served its purpose,” replied Cephom, the smile disappearing from his face for the first time. “It also took its toll on Preterlandis. It made the crafters complacent and they didn’t keep an eye on the balance, as they should have.”

  “But there were crafters, such as you, who were watching and knew what was happening. Why didn’t you, or those like you, tell the leaders what they were seeing?”

  “The leaders were told, Leilan. They chose to ignore the warnings, because they didn’t see the signs in their mists, or because they were tired of war, or because they didn’t want to enter another war.”

  “Yet he
re they are, on the brink of another war.”

  “A war beyond any they have seen before,” said Cephom.

  Leilas had to wonder how he knew so much about what was happening in Solea. No one had ever mentioned a crafter named Cephom Sylvan. He wasn’t a frequent visitor to the school. She would have remembered him had he visited the school in the past. She knew there were many crafters she’d never met who wandered Solea, or who were stationed in the towns and villages of Solea. Most of them never had a reason to visit Dirth. It might have been better if some of them, like Cephom, had made the journey to the council to tell them what they knew.

  “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” replied Leilas.

  Cephom fell silent for a while, letting the subject of war drop.

  They rode in silence for a few minutes. Then Cephom picked up the conversation as if they’d never digressed into the subject of war.

  “The ships that traverse the seas, ahh, you’ve never seen the like. Brightly colored vessels, with sails that billow in the wind. The ships lean into the wind, leaving trails of water and foam. The dolphins love to play in the wake. Then there are the port cities, where I’m headed. The ships, the docks, the noise of cargo being loaded and unloaded. The vendors on the docks, selling the wares that have just arrived. The smell of the food they’re selling wafting on the breeze. There is always a breeze near the sea. The waves break on the shore. They never cease breaking on the shore. It’s a sight to behold.”

  Leilas was captivated by the pictures he was painting and let him regale her with his tales while they rode. She’d never been to sea or to the lands across the sea. Crogmanland lay across the sea in the north, Sylphia to the south. Cephom was going as far as Barroon then turning toward the sea. For a brief moment, Leilas wished she could travel with him to a land she’d never seen. But duty pulled her in a different direction.

  As the sun began to set, Leilas found a spot to camp for the night. She’d left enough time to do a bit of hunting. She hoped she could find something. Leaving Cephom to unpack, build the fire and find water, Leilas went in search of food. An hour later, she returned with a rabbit and a tunic full of wild onions and turnips. Cephom had the camp in tiptop shape. Taking the food from her, he made quick work of preparing the food.