“We’ll keep to the west road for now,” said Lee. “The additional company has forced me to rethink the plan, but it looks like it’s going to turn out for best. We’ll move more slowly, but we’ll draw a lot less attention.”
Millet nodded in agreement. “Sir, if I may, sooner or later our lady friend will get curious about the true nature of our trip. How do you plan to deal with certain…revelations?”
“What do you mean?” asked Gewey.
“What I mean is, although she may know the true nature of Lord Starfinder, yours is something quite different. From what I understand about her kind, it may become a problem.”
“I don’t follow,” said Gewey. “Why should my ‘nature’ be a problem for her?” Until then, Gewey hadn’t been sure how much Millet knew about him, but clearly Lee had confided everything.
“What Millet means,” said Lee “is that your kind is not exactly held in high regard by hers. When she finds out, there’s no telling how she’ll react. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t want her with us.”
Gewey looked confused. “It would help if I knew what you are talking about.”
“When I told you about the war, I left out an important detail,” said Lee. “Man was losing until the gods intervened. They gave mankind the means to turn the tide; needless to say, this left a bad taste in the mouths of the elves where your kind is concerned.”
“I see your point,” Gewey said thoughtfully. “How do we handle it?”
“With great care, I would think,” said Millet. “She may be dangerous, but given her current choice of traveling companions, she may not take it as poorly as we fear. Frankly, I’m surprised she let me live.”
Lee contemplated the situation. “For now we need to keep things to ourselves,” he said, finally. “Short of killing her, there’s no way to be rid of her. Besides, she may be of use in the days to come.”
“We’re not killing her,” Gewey snapped. “I gave my word.”
“Calm down, boy,” said Lee. “I have no intention of killing her, and if I did, I doubt it would be easy. She said she killed at least fourteen bandits before she was captured, and I believe her. I tried to catch her myself for two straight nights and couldn’t, and I’m not someone you can easily avoid. No…I think killing her is out of the question. Still, we need to be careful until we find out what she really wants.”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Gewey asked. “We saved her life, and she feels she owes us.”
“I don’t think it’s as simple as that,” Lee replied. “Traveling openly with our kind is risky enough considering the way humans feel about elves. However, should her people discover it, I don’t think they would be happy-and that’s putting it mildly. If she simply wanted to return the favor, she could follow us unseen and wait for an opportunity. No…I don’t think it’s a matter of a simple debt.”
“We could just ask her,” Gewey suggested. Lee and Millet both laughed.
“Yes, young master,” said Millet. “That may be the solution, but I doubt she will be very forthcoming.”
“Millet’s right,” said Lee. “She won’t tell you until she’s ready. But do ask if you feel the need. You never know; she might surprise us.”
The conversation steered toward more pleasant topics as the warm stew filled their bellies and lifted their spirits. When they were finished, they retired to the room. There were only two beds, and Millet insisted on sleeping on the floor. Gewey protested, but Millet wouldn’t listen.
“I may look soft, Master Gewey,” said Millet. “But let me assure you that I am not. Besides, you are still injured, and Lord Starfinder is far less able to deal with hardship than I.”
Lee smiled, rubbing his eyes. “Don’t try to argue with him, Gewey; the man will stay up all night badgering you if you try.” Lee stretched his arms and yawned. “If he says he’s sleeping on the floor, that’s what he’ll do, and there’s nothing on earth that can stop him. Believe me, I’ve tried to change his mind before, and you saw how well that went.”
Millet looked displeased. “If you’re referring to me following you and master Gewey, need I remind you that I had told you even before you left that I had no intention of letting you go off and get yourself killed. I daresay that you are quite incapable of managing without me.”
“I wouldn’t presume to dispute you,” said Lee. Millet smiled. “Very wise, my lord.” Gewey decided it was best to let Millet have his way and went to sleep. The morning came, and for once Gewey had risen before Lee.
However, Millet was nowhere to be seen.
“Wake up,” said Gewey, shaking Lee.
“What is it, boy?” he asked groggily.
“Millet’s gone.”
The door opened. “I’m not gone,” Millet said, carrying a platter with three bowls of porridge and three cups of fresh milk. “While the two of you have lazed around wasting the day, I procured us a wagon and two fine horses to pull it. And I’ve restocked our provisions and had them delivered to the inn.”
Lee rolled out of bed and took the milk and porridge. “You see, Gewey? The man’s a freak of nature. Who else could get all that done before breakfast?”
“Indeed,” said Millet, and offered Gewey his breakfast, which the boy took gratefully. Gewey noticed that their gear had been packed, and three sets of pilgrim’s robes had been laid out for them. He could see why Lee held Millet in such high esteem. The sun was barely up, and he had already done a day’s worth of work.
Millet was the first to finish his breakfast and put on his robes.
“I’ll remove the gear to the wagon,” he said. “Do hurry. We don’t want to keep our elf friend waiting.”
“Wow,” said Gewey as he watched Millet walk out the door with their gear over his back.
“You got that right,” said Lee. “He may look like a soft city dweller to you, but that man is as tough as a spring bull.”
Gewey nodded in agreement. “I can’t believe you wanted to leave him behind.”
“I fear for his safety,” Lee said, looking pained. “I don’t know what I would do if something were to happen to him.”
Gewey got up and put his hand on Lee’s shoulder. “We’ll protect him.”
“Until you’re ready, I’ll be doing the protecting,” said Lee.
Gewey frowned. “I just meant…”
“I know what you meant,” Lee interjected. “And don’t think I don’t appreciate it, but now I have two people to watch out for-not to mention an elf.”
“Don’t worry,” said Gewey. “I’ll be ready when the time comes.”
“I know you will,” Lee said, rising to his feet. “And speaking of being ready, it’s time we got going.”
They put on their robes and left the inn. Millet was waiting out front with the wagon, an impatient look on his face. The wagon was covered and had two benches running along either side. Gewey examined the new animals Millet had bought. They were of good stock- strong and solid, fit for the long journey ahead. Gewey climbed into the back of the wagon with the supplies as Lee climbed up next to Millet, who insisted on doing the driving.
When they reached the outskirts of the village, they saw someone in pilgrim’s robes standing alongside the road.
“I see all went well.” It was Kaylia. She hopped in the back of the wagon across from Gewey without waiting for Millet to stop.
“I don’t remember you taking robes with you,” said Gewey. Kaylia gave a mischievous smile. “You should pay more attention, young one.”
“We’re headed to the city of Kaltinor,” said Lee. “At our pace, it should take us at least six days to get there. Remember, should anyone ask, we’re pilgrims from the Eastern Temple of Ayliazarah, on our way west to worship at the Temple of the Far Sky.”
Gewey had heard of these places from the stories his father had told him when he was a child. Ayliazarah, the Goddess of Fertility and Love, was worshiped in almost every city and village. Even the towns too small to have a temple usually had a shrine or two
in her honor. The Temple of the Far Sky was on the coast of the Western Abyss, atop the Cliffs of Heaven, where all of the nine gods were worshipped. It was by far the oldest temple in existence, and thousands of pilgrims journeyed there each year. As Gewey saw the disgust on Kaylia face, he remembered what Lee had told him about the way elves felt about the gods.
“Tell me about yourself,” Gewey said to Kaylia.
“You know all that you need to know about me for now,” she said brusquely.
“Fine, then tell me about the elves,” he pressed.
Kaylia looked at him darkly, her fierce eyes burning from underneath her hood. “You do not need to know anything about my people, other than to stay away from them.”
“If elves hate humans so much, why did you want to travel with us?”
“Save your questions,” said Kaylia. “I’m sure your friends told you that you would get no answers from me.” She pulled her robes close. “You should listen to them.”
The rest of the day Lee and Millet discussed possible routes west while Kaylia listened quietly, occasionally offering advice. Gewey dozed on and off, though still determined to question Kaylia again. He desperately wanted to learn more about the elves; they seemed magical, yet treacherous-like beautiful predators. Every movement Kaylia made flowed like water, and her voice was like soft music. Gewey caught himself staring over and over again, though she didn’t seem to notice-if she did, she ignored it. That night, they set up camp just off the road. Kaylia disappeared as soon as they settled in.
“Where do you think she went?” asked Gewey.
“I don’t know,” said Lee. “But I’m sure she’ll be back by morning.”
“Do elves sleep?” he asked.
“I would think so,” said Lee. “But how often, I couldn’t say. Most of what I know about elves is from the few books I’ve read on the subject, and most are about the elves of old. Very little is written about what they are like now. Best not to worry about it. Get some rest.”
Lee removed Gewey’s bandages and examined the wound on his chest. It had almost completely healed, so Lee decided a bandage was no longer necessary. The pink lines on his arms that told where his cuts had been had vanished completely.
The morning came, and just as Lee had said, Kaylia returned. They climbed on the wagon and slowly moved on.
Chapter 7
The day was hot, and sitting in the back of the wagon in full robes was miserable. Kaylia, however, seemed unaffected.
“How old are you?” Gewey asked Kaylia, renewing his efforts to get information. “I hear your people live a long time.”
“I’m older than you,” she said without looking up.
Gewey was undeterred. “I’m just trying to get to know you.”
“There’s no need,” said Kaylia. “You already know everything you need to know.”
“But that’s practically nothing,” Gewey insisted. “If we’re going to travel together, don’t you think we should know more about each other?”
“I do not,” she replied. “At least not now.”
Gewey kept pressing, determined to learn more about her. “Do you have a last name, or are you just Kaylia?”
Kaylia reached in her robe, pulled out a flask, and drank deeply.
“What’s that?” asked Gewey.
Kaylia handed him the flask. He noticed a sweet smell as he lifted it to his mouth. Despite the heat, the liquid was cool, and it tasted like honeyed water.
“Thank you,” said Gewey, handing her back the flask.
Suddenly, he felt woozy and his vision blurred. The last thing Gewey saw as he dropped to the bottom of the wagon was Kaylia’s grinning face.
Lee turned and saw Gewey sprawled next to the supplies. “What happened?”
“The boy wanted to know more about elves,” said Kaylia. “So I introduced him to jawas tea.”
Lee laughed aloud. “A lesson he won’t soon forget, I imagine.
Wouldn’t you agree, Millet?”
Millet was not amused; his own experience with jawas tea still lingered in his memory. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to drug the boy,” he said sourly. “If we are attacked, it won’t do to have to carry him.”
“You’re right, of course,” Lee acknowledged, and turned to Kaylia.
“In the future, please let the boy remain conscious.”
Kaylia shrugged. “If you say so.”
When Gewey awoke, the wagon had stopped. Millet was preparing the noon meal, and Kaylia and Lee were checking the horses.
“What happened?” Gewey asked. His vision was still fuzzy, and his head swam.
“Our elf friend happened,” said Millet. “She drugged you with jawas tea.”
Gewey rubbed his eyes. “Why did she do that?”
“I expect she wanted you to stop asking questions,” Millet replied.
“In the future, I suggest that you refrain from accepting food or drink from a stranger, especially if that stranger is an elf.”
“I think you might be right,” said Gewey as he slowly climbed out of the wagon. ‘At least I learned one thing,’ he thought. ‘Jawas tea doesn’t affect elves.’
Gewey ate his food as far away from Kaylia as he could, and when they were done, he insisted that he trade places with Lee in the wagon.
Once they were underway, Gewey turned toward Millet. “You’ve been with Lee for a long time, right?”
Millet nodded. “A very long time.”
“What was he like when he was young?” asked Gewey.
“Rash,” Millet answered. “Very rash.”
Gewey paused, considering what he should ask about next. “Have you been to Kaltinor before?”
“Yes, but not for many years,” Millet replied. “I’m sure you’ll find it exciting. Compared to Sharpstone, it’s a very large city.”
Gewey tried to picture what it would be like. Gath was the largest town he’d seen so far. He’d heard stories of some of the great cities- their tall buildings reaching to the heavens, their wide brick streets large enough to accommodate twenty wagons at once. He wondered if Kaltinor would be like that.
“What’s the biggest city you’ve seen?” asked Gewey.
Millet thought it over for a moment. “That would have to be Baltria,” he said finally. “Though it wasn’t the most impressive city I’ve visited.”
For the next few hours, Millet entertained Gewey with tales of the wonderful places he had seen. He didn’t mind the flood of questions and answered each one with courtesy and patience.
“Stop the wagon,” Kaylia said suddenly. “Now!”
Millet stopped the wagon and Kaylia jumped out to scan the woods. After a few minutes, she got back in the wagon and told Millet to continue on.
“What did you see?” Lee asked, his hand on his sword.
“Hopefully nothing that need concern us,” Kaylia answered.
“I’m concerned, and I’m responsible for the lives of my friends,” Lee said. “So you need to tell me what you saw.”
“There’s a small group of elves traveling south of the road. If they ignore us, we’ll be fine. If not…” Kaylia trailed off, her eyes meeting Lee’s with a mutual understanding.
Lee closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of the woods. In the distance, he heard four elves matching their pace.
“They follow us,” Lee said warily. “Don’t say anything to Millet or Gewey yet.”
Kaylia nodded. “Agreed. If all goes well, it won’t be necessary. They may not know I’m here.”
“And if they do?” Lee asked.
“Then I will have to speak to them,” Kaylia replied, clearly troubled by the prospect.
The day passed slowly for Lee and Kaylia. Millet and Gewey knew something was wrong, but after a while they decided to ignore it, and Millet continued to regale the boy with tales of his travels.
When night fell, they made camp. Gewey helped Millet build the fire and prepare the meal. Lee sat on a blanket sharpening and oiling his swo
rd, his eyes fixed on the surrounding forest. Kaylia was leaning against the wagon, her head bowed in thought.
Lee sheathed his sword and walked over to Kaylia.
“They’re still here,” he said.
“I know,” Kaylia responded. “I must speak to them. Wait here until I return.”
Lee sat next to the fire while Millet and Gewey ate, eyes closed, listening into the night.
“What are you doing?” asked Gewey.
“I’m listening,” Lee growled. “So be quiet.”
Gewey noticed Kaylia’s absence. “Where’s…?”
Lee’s eyes popped open, glaring at Gewey. Gewey tried to listen as he had done in Gath, but he couldn’t concentrate. Frustrated, he threw down his bowl and stormed over to his bedroll.
Suddenly, Kaylia reappeared and sat next to the fire.
“Where did you go?” asked Gewey.
Kaylia pushed back her hood; her face was stone and her eyes narrow slits. “I was speaking to my kin.”
Gewey leapt to his feet. “What?”
“Don’t worry,” she said. “We’re in no danger.”
Lee grunted and tossed a twig into the fire.
“That’s good news,” said Millet. “But it would have been nice to know elves were nearby.”
“There was no need to tell you,” said Lee. “At least not at the time.”
“How long have you known they were out there?” Gewey seethed.
“What difference does it make?” he answered. “You couldn’t have done anything about it other than worry. If they’d attacked, we’d all be dead anyway.”
This did little to calm Gewey. “I don’t care!” he yelled. “If my life’s in danger, I have a right to know!”
Kaylia fixed her gaze on Gewey. “Shut your mouth,” she said.
Her voice was steel. “What right do you have to question anything? Those around you are willing to sacrifice themselves to protect you. Isn’t that enough?” With that, she turned and headed off into the night.
Gewey started to follow her, but Lee stopped him.
“Leave her,” Lee advised.
Gewey pushed passed him and chased after her.
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