“I take it we’re no longer pilgrims,” said Millet.
“It seems like the pilgrim disguise didn’t work,” Lee admitted.
Once they gathered their gear, Lee led them down the hall to the entrance leading to the main temple. He peered out from behind the tapestry that covered the doorway and saw Maybell kneeling in front of the statue of Ayliazarah.
“Quickly,” Lee whispered.
Lee burst from behind the tapestry, sword in hand, and ran toward the praying woman. She looked up at them, eyes wide in shock, as he grabbed her roughly and pinned her to the floor.
“What’s the meaning of this?” she screamed, struggling in vain against Lee’s iron grip.
“Why don’t you ask the guards that you sent to kill us?” Lee asked harshly.
“I, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Maybell stammered.
“What guards?”
“Listen to me very carefully,” Lee said in a low, dangerous whisper. “You will answer my questions, or I’ll let my friend here deal with you.” He looked at Kaylia, who pulled back her hood.
“An elf!” Maybell cried out, terrified. “Ayliazarah protect me.”
“The gods can’t protect you from me, woman,” said Kaylia with a malevolent grin.
“What do you want?” Maybell pleaded.
“Nothing you can’t provide,” said Lee. “First, you will tell us where to find our wagon and horses. Then you will help us leave the city. Finally, you will tell us where our young friend is.”
“He’s with Her Holiness,” she said. “You already know that.”
“Let me question her,” Kaylia offered, stroking her blade.
Horror and fear took hold of the old woman, and she started to weep uncontrollably. “Please, I’m begging you,” she said between her sobs. “I spent the night at Temple of Islisema. Her Holiness sent me there last night after dinner. I just got back. I know nothing.”
“Millet,” said Lee. “Go upstairs and look around. See if that witch left any clues.”
Millet nodded and immediately ran up the stairs.
Lee looked directly into Maybell’s eyes. “I’ll ask you again,” he said. “Do you know what Salmitaya did to our friend?”
Maybell looked straight back at Lee. “I swear by the gods I do not! I don’t know what’s happening here!”
Lee sighed. “She tells the truth. She knows nothing.”
“How can you be sure?” asked Kaylia.
“I can tell,” Lee replied. “She doesn’t possess the skill to deceive me. Remember what I am; it takes a trained mind to hide the truth from me.”
“Perhaps she is trained,” said Kaylia.
“No,” said Lee. “If she were, I would know that too.”
Lee let the woman up. She was shaking, still terrified. They waited in grim silence until Millet returned, running down the stairs.
“I found something,” said Millet, handing a letter to Lee.
Lee took the letter and read it aloud.
“Salmitaya,”
“You are to watch for three travelers. They will be disguised as pilgrims and will be using false names. Their real names are Lee Starfinder, Millet Gristall, and Gewey Stedding. Two are older, the other young. It is possible that they have picked up another companion along the way. The young one called Gewey is to be brought to me unharmed. The others are to be killed. Do not underestimate them, Salmitaya. And do not fail as you have in the past, or you shall find reward swiftly turn to punishment.”
It was signed simply “Y.”
“He knows who we are,” said Lee, clutching the letter angrily.
“Somehow he knows our names, and now he has the boy.” Kaylia’s eyes shone with fierce determination. “There’s only one thing to do: find him, and get him back. But first, we must leave the city.”
“Getting out shouldn’t be hard,” said Millet. “They’re trying to keep people out, not in. But unless you want to delay long enough to buy proper horses for riding, then we either leave behind our gear and run after them or try and catch them riding in a wagon.”
“I suggest we do both,” said Kaylia. “Millet, you can take the wagon while Lee and I run ahead and catch them. They think us dead, so it’s unlikely they’ll be in much of a hurry. Once we’re outside of the city, all we need to do is find out if anyone has seen a carriage with an armed escort.”
“What makes you think that’s how they’ll travel?” asked Millet.
“The boy is strong, and won’t go willingly,” Kaylia reasoned.
“They’ll need a wagon or carriage to carry him, and I can’t picture a high priestess in a wagon. The letter said to be cautious, so it’s likely she’ll bring an escort. Being that she ordered the attack on us earlier, she clearly has access to the city guard.”
“That’s a lie!” spat Maybell. “Her Holiness would never order the spilling of blood within her own temple.”
“Then explain the letter,” said Lee. “Does a High Priestess go about the business of murder? Does she abduct people? Once we’re gone, I suggest you look closely at what’s been happening here.” Maybell glared at Lee, hatred burning in her eyes.
“Did you see her receive this letter?” Millet asked Maybell.
“No,” the woman answered. “Why?”
“I wonder how she received word so quickly…” Millet said, stroking his chin. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. “Sister Maybell, does Salmitaya keep a messenger flock?”
“Of course she does,” Maybell replied, trying her best to keep her composure. “All temples do.”
“That explains part of it, at least,” said Lee. “Still, we have no idea how the sender of this letter got our names in the first place, or how he knew our cover story.”
“What’s a messenger flock?” Kaylia interrupted.
“Fauna birds,” answered Millet. “Generally there are cages on the roof to house them. Each bird flies between two homes. Tie a letter to their leg and release them, and they can carry a message in a single day that would normally take a week.”
Kaylia nodded slowly. “Caged birds,” she said, grimacing in disgust.
“Let’s stay focused,” Lee said. “Millet, you and Kaylia stay here while the good sister and I go get our things.”
“I’ll not help you if you intend to hurt Her Holiness,” Maybell said defiantly. “No matter what that elf may do to me.”
“I’ll make you a deal then,” said Lee. “If no harm has come to our friend, then no harm will come to Salmitaya. If she’s the woman you think she is, you should have nothing to worry about. But I daresay that if you are smart and do a bit of investigating, you may end up wishing we had not made this bargain.”
“Do I have your word?” Maybell asked.
“You do,” Lee replied.
“Then come with me,” she said. “The sooner you have your things, the sooner I’m rid of you.”
Maybell then pulled herself from Lee’s grasp and marched toward the door with a speed surprising for someone her age. She didn’t even bother with her walking stick and it took a concerted effort for Lee to catch up.
“The half-man risks much letting the old woman live,” said Kaylia.
Millet frowned. “If he says she knows nothing, than she knows nothing. Lord Starfinder will not kill the innocent.”
“There are no innocents,” Kaylia said darkly. “She could give us away.”
“I’ve thought of that,” said Millet. “You still have some of that jawas tea don’t you?”
Kaylia pulled back her cloak, revealing a flask tied to her belt.
“Good,” said Millet. “We’ll give her enough to put her out for at least twelve hours.”
“She still knows too much about us,” Kaylia insisted.
“That may be,” Millet replied. “But the fact is, we are not killing her. Do you understand?”
Kaylia looked hard into Millet’s eyes and said, “You have a good heart, Millet Gristall. But that will not save us from danger, nor
will it change the fact that I am not bound by your master’s promises. I agreed to come with you, not take his orders.”
Millet stared hard at the elf, and the two waited in silence until Lee returned with Maybell at his side.
“Everything is ready,” said Lee. “Let’s get moving. One of the stable boys saw a carriage with an escort of city guards heading to the west gate.”
“I thought a bit of jawas tea might be in order,” said Millet, gesturing to Maybell.
“That won’t be necessary,” said Lee. “Sister Maybell will be coming with us.”
Kaylia shook her head with a scowl. “You get more foolish by the minute half-man.”
“Don’t worry,” Lee assured. “We had a chance to talk on our way to get the horses and wagon. She has agreed not to give us away, and she will see to it that we pass through the gate unhindered. In return, she wants to be the one to escort the High Priestess back to the temple when we catch them.”
“Not to be contrary, my lord,” Millet began, “but won’t taking her with us slow us down?”
Lee smiled devilishly. “Us, no,” he said. “You, on the other hand…”
“That’s not funny,” Millet said sternly.
“It’s not meant to be,” said Lee. “Maybell will ride with you on the wagon, while Kaylia and I run ahead to catch up with Gewey and Salmitaya. Once we have them, we’ll bring them back, and Maybell will escort the priestess back to the temple.”
“I must agree with Millet,” said Kaylia. “We should drug her and leave her.”
“Maybe,” said Lee. “But that’s not what we’re going to do. You, my elf friend, can either help me free Gewey, or you can go your own way.”
“Very well,” she said, begrudgingly. “We’ll do as you say…for now.”
“My lord,” Millet interrupted “Before we leave, we should find out where the other sister is.”
“She didn’t stay at the temple last night either,” answered Maybell. “But where she went, I don’t know.”
“Clever,” said Millet. “No witnesses.”
“I wish we were as clever,” Kaylia said, glaring at Maybell.
“However, being that we are not, we should leave before the guards are missed.”
“Agreed,” said Lee. “The west gate is not far. We need to get there quickly.”
They left the temple, and got in to the waiting wagon. Maybell rode in the front with Millet while Lee and Kaylia rode in the back. When they reached the west gate, they were stopped by the city guards. Lee tensed and gripped his sword, but Maybell was true to her word.
“I’m from the temple of Ayliazarah on business for High Priestess Salmitaya,” she told the guard. “These people are my escorts.” The guard nodded and opened the gate.
Lee turned to Kaylia and smirked. “I told you,” he said.
“A stupid gamble either way,” said Kaylia, unimpressed. “The woman can still betray us.”
“True,” Lee acknowledged, “but she can also give us valuable information. It’s clear that the Dark Knight knows who we are, and what we’re doing. She may be able to help us figure out how this happened.”
“If she’s truly innocent, why would she have any information we need?” Kaylia asked.
“I assure you, she wasn’t lying about her innocence,” Lee replied.
“But she may still know things-things she may not think important, but that are valuable to us nonetheless.”
They rode for an hour before they thought it was safe to ask anyone what they’d seen, and it didn’t take long to find someone with good information.
“Aye,” said a man walking on the side of the road, carrying a woodcutter’s axe. “I saw a carriage. Right grand sight, it was. Must have been ten men guardin’ it. Have to be awful rich to afford ten guards.”
“Where were they going?” Millet inquired.
“Don’t rightly know where they were headed,” said the man. “But they were on their way west when I seen ‘em.”
Millet thanked the man and tossed him a copper coin.
“That has to be them,” Lee said as he jumped out of the wagon.
He turned toward Millet. “You and Maybell stay on this road. There’s a crossroads a mile from here. When you reach it, head south until you get to the village of Fair Harvest. Get a room at the inn and wait for us there.”
Millet nodded and watched as Lee and Kaylia ran headlong down the road, quickly disappearing from sight. Maybell crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. “We will not be staying in the same room,” she stated flatly.
Millet groaned and urged the horses onward, wishing he were back in Sharpstone.
Chapter 12
Gewey sat in dark silence for hours as the carriage plodded along. When the temperature dropped, he figured it was getting close to nightfall. If they stopped, it might give him a chance to get his bearings. Maybe he’d even get a chance to escape. He was sure Lee would come for him. From Gewey’s perspective, a bunch like this wouldn’t stand a chance against a man like Lee Starfinder.
His thoughts were interrupted as he felt the carriage stop and heard the door open.
“Bring him,” he heard Salmitaya order from outside the door.
A guard grabbed Gewey by the front of his robe and pulled him roughly from the carriage. He felt himself falling before landing hard on the ground.
“Careful,” Salmitaya warned. “We don’t want him damaged. Not yet at least.”
The guard lifted Gewey to his feet, then gruffly instructed him to stay put. Gewey did as he was told and waited, listening to the sounds of the people around him. He could make out ten different voices, most likely guards; it sounded like they were setting up camp, but Gewey couldn’t be sure. After half an hour, he was led away from the carriage and through the entrance of a nearby tent. The guard stopped and forced him to the ground. He lay there for a moment, and then struggled to his knees. He could hear a guard breathing heavily nearby.
“Leave us,” Salmitaya ordered.
Gewey felt cold hands on his face as Salmitaya removed his blindfold, and he blinked at the bright lamplight filling the tent. When his eyes adjusted, he saw Salmitaya standing in front of him. She was no longer wearing her robes; instead, she wore a blue silk dress tied at the waist by a thin silver belt. Her braided hair fell neatly down her back, and her ears and neck were adorned with diamonds and gold.
“The clothes suit you,” said Gewey sarcastically. “It’s better than the costume you were wearing when I met you.”
Salmitaya smiled warmly, seemingly unaffected by Gewey jabs. “We were both in disguise, I think,” she said. “Are you hungry?”
“No,” he replied. “I’ve lost my appetite.”
“Don’t be silly,” she chided. “How on earth do you expect to escape if you don’t keep up your strength?”
“You don’t need to worry about my strength,” Gewey said confidently. “I’ll be free long before I starve.”
“Perhaps,” said Salmitaya. “Perhaps you’ll be free this very night.” She walked across the tent and sat in a waiting chair.
“What do you want?” asked Gewey.
Salmitaya laughed playfully. “What makes you think I want something?” she asked, trying to sound innocent.
“I may be young, but I’m not stupid,” said Gewey. “You never get something for nothing.”
“So true,” she said. “And as it turns out, you do have something I want. Give it to me, and I might just forget I ever found you.”
“I have nothing to give you,” said Gewey. “And even if I did, what makes you think I’d give it to you?”
“You’ll give it to me because it’s in your best interests to do so,” she replied. “And it’s such a little thing at that.”
“Get to the point,” he snapped.
“As you wish,” she said. “What I want is information. Why are you so important to the Great Master? Why do I have to risk exposure, traveling to the ends of the bloody earth, just to deliv
er one farm boy?”
“Like I said,” Gewey responded, “I have nothing to give you. I don’t know the things you want to know.”
“I think you do,” she said sweetly “And one way or another, you will tell me.”
Just then, a guard came in carrying a bowl of stew and a cup of water. He placed the cup and bowl in front of Gewey, and then stood at the tent’s entrance.
“One more thing,” she said, turning to leave. “You will eat, or the guards will beat you until you do so. Your choice.”
Gewey looked at the food. He thought it was likely drugged, but he took it and ate nonetheless. Immediately, he felt the drugs take hold much more strongly than the first time; Salmitaya had apparently learned her lesson well. He concentrated on keeping his wits about him the same way he did with the jawas tea. He felt weak, but he was able to remain conscious. Deciding he might be to able take advantage of this, he fell over and pretended to be in a drug-induced sleep.
A short time later he heard Salmitaya enter the tent and felt her hand brush back his hair.
“What’s your secret?” she wondered aloud.
Gewey cracked open his eyes and watched Salmitaya as she left the tent. A guard stood just inside the entrance, watching him intently. He scanned the area as well as he could from his position, but the tent was bare and contained nothing he could use to his advantage. He could do little under the guard’s watchful gaze, so he decided to bide his time. If he was going to escape, he would first have to do something about the guard; how he would manage this in shackles, he had no idea.
A couple of hours later, an opportunity presented itself. The guard briefly stepped out and returned with a small stool. The man promptly sat down, and it wasn’t long before Gewey heard him snoring.
Gewey tested his movements, but the rattle of the chains caused the guard to stir.
He was just about to try again when a hooded woman in novice robes walked into the tent. She looked at the sleeping guard and drew something from her sleeve. In a flash, her hand shot out and struck the guard’s neck. The man woke suddenly, clutching at the point of impact, then abruptly fell from the stool.
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