And so they did. The Highwaymen never stopped at sunset. Bearing torches they preferred thundering well into the later hours, and then resign to a slow start in the morning if need be. Either way they rode strong and among their ranks Shala felt they made good progress.
In their stint with the Highwaymen the smell of horses and men were always in the air, the latter more prevalent, only bothering Shala really because they did not seem to notice it on themselves. Even so the retinue of Highwaymen were somehow reassuring where even the Wolves were not. Not once before had Shala left Attoras into the world without an escort proudly bolstered by many men, riding as they did now, with little chance of being delayed by a force that was anything less than a brigade. Skulking from the castle with Wolves was something different, and now riding with many men at least reminded her of days when she and her father had to travel, surrounded by a small army.
Even so it was not the same; her father was not there and many luxuries and courtesies that she might have had as Shala the Princess were now out of the question. In the main, she did not terribly mind that, she only wished to quench a fear that something might keep her from reaching Allandiel.
The few and the trustworthy her father had always said, and she realized the sooner they were gone from the Highwaymen's presence the better, even if they did make the days look less bleak.
So they travelled with the escort of Highwaymen, riding strong on the roads interspersed among towns and hamlets. No one barred them, and watchers on the hills let them by without question. From here and there, scouts coming and going, they heard about another pack of goblins slain by the Highwaymen. Shala thought these might be tall tales, but some of the Highwaymen came riding, joining them with corpses of goblins pulled behind the horses. It was gruesome, but again and again this happened, until Shala had no more fear of being hunted down by goblins.
‘They are a better breed of warrior than I had thought,’ Bhask had commented then, after the third time of news of such a skirmish. ‘They seem to sniff out goblin parties and I think the highway tactics are better suited to fighting the wretched speed of the goblins than is trying to keep a castle against them.’
One morning while the Highwaymen still slept Metrus announced his sudden departure, surprising Shala even though she knew he had to return. Before he took flight though he approached the Princess and presented her with the Remnant Pages of Jeot Agathir, along with a blank notebook, feathered quill and a pot of ink. Somehow she had forgotten that Metrus had them on him, although before now it was only suspicion on Shala's part.
‘What must I do with it?’ asked Shala.
‘Naceus was adamant that you solve some of its mysteries on the road. He suggested to me that you worked on it as a child.’
‘As a chore yes, and only to decode some random pages at a time, but not the entire sequence! I never had an idea what the Pages were about, only that they held some grave secrets, and then one day Naceus simply gave up on them... I forgot about their existence until he mentioned them again when we sat and dined in the castle. What is the Scholar up to?’
‘He suspects that there is a fouler hand in the attack on Attoras than just Swarztial.’
‘Who?’ asked Shala in distress, finding it hard to imagine someone more malevolent than Swarztial.
Metrus grimaced. ‘I think the Scholar is speculating, but I cannot ignore his fears altogether. The evil he suggests is of the worst kind and because it is one of the secrets of the Grove I am not inclined to reveal a name, not until we know for certain who engineered your fall Highness.’
‘And the Pages will accomplish that?’ asked Shala sceptically.
Metrus smiled. ‘Not as such, but if our worst fears are true then Naceus believes we will find valuable knowledge in the pages.’
‘I don't understand how come he would give this to me if I'm left knowing nothing,’ said Shala.
‘If the Scholar is right you will be able solve this thing better than he, using certain landmarks indicated on the pages.’
‘The landmarks, yes I remember them. Naceus always said he wanted to go out looking for them. That is until he dismissed the project entirely of course.’
‘Then you know of it, and I am glad. Princess, the Scholar is deeply concerned and reiterated to me that he would not have given you this trouble if it weren’t of critical importance.’
‘You can leave these with me, but I can't see myself giving the pages any attention Druid,’ said Shala candidly.
‘Naceus suggested that your mother is involved, the late Queen,’ offered Metrus hesitantly.
Shala narrowed her eyes as though challenging Metrus to state what he meant by that.
‘In her living days, she was as interested in the pages as Naceus was, more so I would say. Only it didn't end with her simply being interested in the pages, there is some speculation that she was the heir apparent of Agathir's work, even though it's been safely supervised by Naceus all these years. What I'm trying to say Highness, is that Naceus thinks the pages relate quite closely to your family.’
Shala was aghast and sighed. ‘Very well, if the only things that can follow me out of Attoras are trouble and these pages, then I will deal with both. At least for a while.’
Metrus did not say anything else on the matter and Shala felt he was all too relieved to be rid of the pages. That he had to give them to Shala however would not sit well with his conscious either.’
‘You will return home now?’ asked Shala.
‘Not directly I'm afraid Highness. By the time I get there they should already be out of Attoras with your father. Naceus and the others is a bigger target than you, and so will need me more. You are safe with the Wolves, they have never failed the crown before.’
‘Then I thank you Metrus, and be safe, and keep an eye on that old scholar as well.’
‘Yes Highness, of course. All the best. I will do my best to visit when I can. ’
Afterwards Shala watched him take flight and saw the eagle flying away from the sunrise, and not for first time she was very envious of his abilities.
Dream of Embers Book 1 Page 38
