And so they were left to travel through tiny forest corridors, only returning to the main road when there was no other choice. Kaell picked a road for them time and again and each time he grumbled about the ever increasing presence of the Highwaymen. Apparently there were many of them, or so Shala guessed. When Kaell was out skulking in the forest he left Warrock to march with the rest of the party. This was problematic because Warrock had taken great interest in Jingles and would try to make a nuisance of himself even with Shala astride the mare. ‘Warrock!’ she yelled in upset. Bhask quickly intervened and took the stallion by the reins, keeping him close to Dompel's side with a firm hand. It seemed the black horse would not try the same tricks with Bhask that it did with Kaell.
‘Easy Highness, we'll need to be as quiet as we can be, on the slight chance that the Highwaymen are close,’ said Bhask.
‘This is Kaell's fault for choosing a hot-blooded stallion!’ she said, still flustered. ‘How come my father allowed the like of the Highwaymen anyway? From what I’ve read and heard they come across as criminal?’ Shala asked Bhask.
‘Not every protector of the realm can come from those kneeling before the King. Your father allowed them in wisdom and in compromise. They supply themselves and they roam far, and as such they see and do much the forces of Attoras alone cannot. The worst of them commit crimes, but the rest see many kingdom civilians safely through all the paths of Attoras, most of which weave through lonesome forest. They Highwaymen are expensive, but human life is a good reason to pay.’
‘But I have heard they engineer the dangers themselves if there are none?’
‘It is not an easily settled debate because there are all kinds of Highwaymen. Those who are crooked gain notoriety, while those who are honest are overlooked in the misdeeds of their brothers. All the same we are better off not encountering them.’
Dream of Embers Book 1 Page 35
