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 Broin. “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 Broin and nodded respectfully.
“Until we meet again,” said Broin. “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’d 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 to the others. They nodded. “Then let’s go.”
Lee booted his mount, and the horse broke into a run. 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 the ones who had once secretly aided her. She still had the governor and lords on her side, but their loyalty was bought. Should Angraal 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 she swore to flay the girl if she 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, 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 shoulder. 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 corner. “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…” 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 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 tea 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 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 Salmitaya. “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 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 Broin. They had been riding full speed for more than twenty minutes, and so far he’d seen no sign of ambush. If they didn’t run into one by sundown, he thought it likely they wouldn’t run into one at all. They’d entered the Great Faldon Plains that stretched all the way to the Abyss; though not impossible, hiding an ambush here would be difficult. The
tall grass could easily conceal a man, 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 interruption in the vast, flat landscape.
When 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 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’d have 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’re 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 when 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 that left the farm in the man who travels with us now.”
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 all together?” Dina asked.
“We could,” Lee replied. “And if we were on foot, we would. But if they have anyone else about that we haven’t 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 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 saw 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 Broin what happened.”
“I’ll not stand by like a helpless child while the rest of you go headlong into danger,” she said stubbornly.
“I have no time to argue with you, woman,” Lee snapped. “You are capable, but you are not a warrior. You could get someone killed.”
“How would you know what kind of warrior I am?” she challenged. “My order trains us in weapons. Some of us are among of the best swordsmen that ever lived.”
“Are you one of them?” Lee asked sarcastically. “If so, then by all means, ready your weapon. If not, we face two dozen men, and one weak link could get us all killed.”
Dina glared at Lee for a moment, then threw Gewey his sword.
Satisfied, Lee turned to Gewey. “Listen carefully,” he said. His tone was grave. “I know you’ve never killed before. But you cannot hesitate once the fighting begins. If you don’t kill them, they will kill you.”
Gewey nodded solemnly, “I understand.” He had never really thought about what it would be like to kill a man, but now he was faced with the likelihood that he would have to take another’s life. He steeled his nerves and put on his sword. “But I have a question: When they fire their arrows, where will you be?”
“Hoping not to get hit,” Lee replied. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep the soldiers between me and the bowman. It’s a risk, but one we have to take. If I am hit, don’t stop fighting until they’re all down. Understood?”
Gewey didn’t like it, but he knew Lee was right. It was the only way to make it work.
“Let’s go,” Lee said. “I’ll wait fifteen minutes for you to get into position. Remember; don’t attack until they’ve fired.”
Gewey and Kaylia moved silently around to where the bowmen waited. As soon as they were in position, they drew their weapons. Although more accustomed to fighting with a knife, for some reason the sword felt natural in his hand-maybe because of the bonding that occurred when he first drew it, he thought. He could sense the thumping heartbeat of the
earth, and the sword felt warm in his hand. Kaylia pointed to the left, motioning for Gewey to attack there first. She would go right.
A short time later, the night erupted into chaos. He could hear screams from the first group, and orders being barked out in confusion as Lee wreaked havoc upon them. Gewey gritted his teeth, forcing himself to wait, and just as Lee had predicted, he heard the commander order the bowmen to make ready. His muscles tensed and his heart pounded in his ears.
Then, it happened. The bowmen lined up in a single row and notched their arrows.
“Loose!” yelled the commander.
Kaylia burst from their hiding place just as Gewey heard the twang of the bows being fired. He flew out immediately after her, and the soldiers didn’t see them until it was too late. Kaylia slashed two across the throat and gutted a third. Gewey focused on a man standing on the far left end of the row. He swung hard, and the sword passed clean through the man’s leather armor. Gewey heard a scream as the man clutched his chest. A second soldier rushed at Gewey from his right, but Gewey stepped aside and brought his blade down across his attacker’s bare neck, sending his head rolling across the ground. Suddenly, time slowed, and his sword struck home over and over again. The fever of battle overcame him as he sought out new adversaries, and the screams of the dying men went silent. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed, or even how many men he had faced. His sword felt alive in his hand.
“Gewey,” a voice called. It sounded distant and faint. “Stop.”
He didn’t want to stop.
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