by Callie Kanno
Idris nodded, but didn’t give any examples.
“My mother’s grandmother was the most celebrated seer in the history of Breen,” Lenora said with a hint of pride. “I do not have many memories of her, but I remember the last thing she said to me before she died. She said that anyone could have glimpses into the future, but a true seer knew how to act on the knowledge given.”
Idris frowned thoughtfully. He had never considered that before, but it made sense to him. “Do you ever have visions?” he asked her.
Lenora slowly shook her head. “Not exactly. But I have always had a strong sense of intuition, and my great-grandmother told me to trust that.”
“I see,” Idris said, trying to be polite. He didn’t know why the princess was telling him any of this.
“I do not know why I am determined to continue on with you,” Lenora admitted, “but my heart tells me that I should.”
Idris’s eyes turned to his fellow Royal Guards. None of them were riding close enough to hear the princess’s words. “Why not tell this to Captain Cowan?” he asked her. “I am sure he would understand.”
Lenora sighed. “I am not so certain. Either way, it is more important to me that you understand.”
Idris straightened slightly. “Why?”
Because she likes you, you idiot, Iona snapped.
Idris’s insides danced at Iona’s words. He studied the princess, looking for some sort of confirmation to what his partisan was saying. Lenora was staring at her saddle horn, a delicate blush touching her cheeks.
“I just think that you are the most likely to empathize,” she answered finally. “And the others listen to you.”
Idris snorted. “Not really.” When Lenora looked up in surprise he pointed to his chest. “I am a farmer, remember?”
Her expression softened into a smile. “I remember,” she replied softly.
Cowan’s gruff voice broke the silence that settled between them. “I can see the village border.”
Idris looked ahead, searching through the tall grass for some sign of inhabitance. Now that they were closer, he could see the outlines of a few abandoned buildings against the tree line. The border that Cowan referred to was a series of wooden posts outlining the village. As they rode past, Idris could see that the same two symbols had been burned into each of the posts.
“What do they mean?” Aherin asked.
“My father said they were some sort of protection spell,” explained Lenora.
Hildar scowled at the posts. “Much good it did them,” she muttered.
The village border was actually a fair distance from any structural remains. For a few minutes there was nothing else to see but grass. Idris would’ve missed the first ruins if Lenora hadn’t pointed them out. Nothing was left of the building but its foundation, which was comprised of smooth stones.
“Where is the rest of it?” Idris asked Lenora.
The princess pointed west. “There is a village in that direction that was built after this community was abandoned. The people in that village stripped this place of every useful material.”
“That makes sense,” Idris commented. “Why cut down trees to form new planks when there are some already made?”
The only buildings that were still standing were made from blocks of stone. They were covered in vines so thick that they were mostly obscured. Lenora gestured to each of them as she spoke. “This one was where they held village councils or received important guests. These two were storage buildings, built to protect valuable materials.”
“How do you know any of this?” inquired Hildar, just barely keeping her voice civil.
“There was a cartographer that once visited the Forger village,” Lenora explained. “The map he drew of the community is in the Breen royal library.”
“How convenient,” Hildar murmured.
Captain Cowan’s expression was also tinged with suspicion. “Why would you have studied such a map, your highness?”
The princess shrugged. “After I visited this place as a child, I became very interested in the Forgers. I looked for every bit of information I could find.”
Cowan grunted in response, but didn’t look very convinced. He dismounted his horse and began walking around the remains of the village. He pulled his weapon out of its holder, using it like a walking staff. Hildar and Aherin followed their captain’s lead, but Idris paused uncertainly. He didn’t want to be rude by leaving the princess by herself.
Lenora slid out of her saddle, landing smoothly on the ground. She waved her petite hand at Idris. “Follow me,” she invited. “I will show you around.”
Cowan didn’t object, so Idris dismounted. Lenora grabbed his hand and led him over to the stone buildings. Idris was so shocked by the familiar gesture that he didn’t even think about protesting.
“Look,” Lenora said, pointing to the foundation stones. “There are more symbols here. My father said that they kept the materials stored here safe.”
Idris studied the runes, fascinated. His thoughts turned back to the journal written by Didrika. She had mentioned that the Forgers used rune magic for simple tasks as well as important ones. It was an aspect of their lives that permeated everything. It was an exciting idea—especially to one who came from a culture where magic was rare.
“What do you think they stored here that needed protecting?” Lenora asked with a childlike expression on her face.
Idris had a pretty good idea of what had been stored in the buildings, but he wasn’t sure if Cowan wanted the details of forging weapons of power to be known. Instead of answering, he shrugged uncomfortably.
Lenora didn’t seem to have expected a reply. She went on with the same enthusiasm as before. “My father and I sat here and guessed what the Forgers treasured most. It is said that Forgers never provided any of the materials used for making items of power, so it would not have been jewels or gold. Of course, I did not know that at the time, so I imagined a room full of diamonds and precious metals.”
“What did your father think?” Idris inquired.
Lenora ran her fingers along the worn stone. “He believed that this was where they kept newly forged items that had not been taken by their Wielders yet.”
“That makes sense,” Idris agreed.
“It would make more sense if there was some sign of a forge anywhere in this village,” Lenora said, almost to herself. “How can there be no forge? It is not something that could be taken with them.”
Her musing was once again interrupted by Captain Cowan. “Well, your highness, I really must insist that we go our separate ways. I do not wish for you to delay your journey, and we have much work to do.”
Lenora lifted her chin slightly, her dark blue eyes flashing with determination. Idris got the feeling that the princess had been putting off this confrontation for as long as possible, but now she was diving in. “I have decided that I will be joining you on your quest for the foreseeable future, Captain.”
“No,” Cowan flatly refused. His eyes narrowed as he spoke. “You have no business with us, nor do you have the right to demand that we comply.”
“I do not need your cooperation,” Lenora said simply. “All I have to do is keep following you.”
Hildar’s face flushed scarlet. “You cannot do that.”
Lenora raised an eyebrow. “How will you stop me? Tie me up and leave me stranded?”
“We can make it so you cannot follow us,” Hildar growled.
The princess looked amused. “Drug me? Knock me unconscious? I am an excellent tracker, so it would only be a matter of time until I caught up with you. Besides, I do not believe King Nikolas would approve of you attacking his cousin.”
Cowan held up a hand. His grizzled features spoke volumes of his disapproval. “I cannot stop you from following us, and I will not refuse you shelter or protection. However, you will not be given any information regarding our quest, no matter how small. And you will not be allowed to join our private conversations.” The captain’
s warning was for all of them, not just the princess.
Lenora made a gesture as if she didn’t care, and the argument appeared to have come to an end. Idris caught sight of Lenora’s face as she walked away, which was clearly unhappy. He could tell that she hadn’t enjoyed forcing Cowan’s hand.
“Idris,” the captain said, waving for him to join the other members of the Royal Guard. They stood in a huddle, speaking quietly so as not to be overheard. “I was hoping to find something more useful here in the village, but there is nothing left,” Cowan admitted.
“Like what?” Idris asked.
“Any indication of where the survivors may have fled,” their leader explained. “I had Fenris searching for trails that can be left behind by magic, invisible to the eye.”
“Nothing?” Aherin surmised.
Cowan nodded. “Nothing.”
“What now?” Hildar sighed, looking weary.
“Now we go into the mountains, searching for more clues,” replied Cowan. “There has to be some sign of their passing—temporary shelters or local stories of people who saw them.”
“What will we do about Lenora?” Idris asked, half fearing the answer.
Cowan’s expression darkened. “We will keep to ourselves as much as possible. It would be best if she is simply a bored princess looking for adventure, because then she will eventually lose interest.”
“What if that is not the case?” Aherin posed.
“The other possibility is that she was set in our path to spy on us,” Cowan said grimly. “If that is the case, we may be forced to deal with her.”
A chill shot up Idris’s spine. Part of him wanted to ask what the captain meant, but most of him didn’t want to know.
Chapter Sixteen: Treasure Seekers
There wasn’t a clear path that led up into the mountains, so they simply chose the direction with the fewest obstacles. At first they were able to ride their horses without too much difficulty. After about an hour, they reached a point where they had to dismount if they wanted to continue.
Idris was the only one who was concerned if Lenora would be able to keep up with them. He hesitated, holding to the reins of his horse more firmly than necessary. The princess looked completely unruffled by the situation. She simply tied her red hair into a knot at the base of her neck before joining the others on the ground.
They climbed over boulders and fallen logs, helping their horses to find footholds. They only stopped when the horses needed rest, pressing on again as soon as they were able. Each of them kept within eyesight of the others, but they were spread out to cover more ground as they searched for clues. The only exception was the princess, who stayed close to Idris.
No one complained, but Idris kept a close eye on Lenora. He didn’t want her pushing herself too far. The rest of the day’s travel passed in that manner, leaving Idris feeling exhausted by sunset.
He filled his water bag in a small creek, then stepped back so his horse could drink. “It feels like we should have reached the peak by now,” Idris murmured, rubbing his aching back.
“I suspect we have only traveled a fraction of that distance,” Hildar replied. She was lying stretched out on a nearby log.
“What a dismal thought,” Aherin groaned.
Lenora gave the group a shrewd glance. “I take it you did not find whatever it was you were looking for.”
The three young soldiers all looked to Cowan to answer her. He finally shook his grizzled head. “No, we did not.”
“You might be more effective if you allowed me to help,” the princess suggested.
“No, thank you, your highness,” Cowan responded curtly.
Lenora sighed, but didn’t argue. She began clearing rocks from the ground so she could set up her small tent. As she worked, Cowan gestured for the others to gather around him.
“It would be helpful to have another set of eyes,” Idris said in a low voice.
Hildar made a cutting motion with her hand. “Absolutely not,” she insisted. “It is bad enough that you have been coddling her all day. She is not even supposed to be here.”
“I have not been coddling her,” Idris retorted. “She has done an excellent job keeping up with us.”
“Hildar is still right,” Aherin admitted, looking apologetic. “She is not supposed to be with us anymore.”
“She is just following her intuition, like her great-grandmother told her to,” argued Idris.
Captain Cowan frowned. “What do you mean?”
A surge of guilt made his stomach feel heavy. Lenora had spoken to him in confidence, and he wasn’t sure if she would appreciate him sharing with the others. “Her great-grandmother was a seer,” Idris muttered. “Lenora’s intuition told her to stay with us.”
Hildar rolled her eyes. “Are you trying to tell me that she is destined to follow and annoy us?”
Idris scowled at his companion. “That is not what I said. She did not have a vision, she just has a feeling.”
“Well, that is much different,” Hildar said sarcastically.
“Enough,” Cowan growled. “Intuition or no, I am standing by my decision to keep as much information from her as possible.” He waited for each of his students to acknowledge his words before going on. “We are covering the most likely range of distance that any surviving Forgers would have followed during an escape. So far we have not found anything.”
“How far up the mountain should we climb?” inquired Aherin.
Cowan shook his head. “I do not know.”
“Excuse me,” Lenora’s voice cut through their discussion, “but I think you should see this.”
Idris was at her side immediately, placing a protective hand on her elbow. “What is it?”
The princess pointed up the mountain through the trees. It took Idris a moment to see what she was trying to show him, but he soon noticed a dot of light in the distance. After a pause, another light sprang into existence. Then another and another.
“Is it a village?” Hildar wondered with excitement in her voice.
Cowan began gathering the supplies they had unpacked. “Let us go and see,” he suggested.
Idris helped Lenora pack up her tent. The terrain remained too uneven to ride their horses, but they still had to re-saddle each of the animals. The group began hiking again, their energy returned by their apparent change in fortune. It was full dark before they reached the first of the lights, which was a lantern set on a pole.
Just beyond the lantern was a bustling community. A large area of trees had been cleared away to make room for small wooden houses and other structures. There was a water wheel that diverted the flow of a river into one of the buildings, reducing the stream into the low creek that Idris had filled his water bag from below. No one in the community appeared to be stopping their activities for the night. In fact, it looked as though they were all just getting started.
Idris and his companions were soon spotted, and a small group of people came to greet them. The women wore trousers instead of skirts, with their hair tied under a square of cloth on their heads. The men were all bearded, with broad figures that filled out their simple brown clothing.
“Welcome, strangers,” the lead woman said genially. “What brings you to our village?”
“Forgive our intrusion,” Captain Cowan began politely. “We are merely travelers that have stumbled across your community.”
“Not merchants?” one of the men asked in surprise. “We usually only get merchants up here.”
Cowan answered the negative. “No, we are not merchants.”
“You be soldiers,” another woman stated, taking note of the covered weapons carried by the Royal Guards.
“We mean no harm,” assured Cowan.
“They are my protectors,” interrupted Lenora. “I am the daughter of Lady Elissa, on my way to visit my cousins in Jish.”
Idris’s eyes widened slightly. He looked at Cowan and the others, gauging their reactions. No one appeared inclined to contradict what
the princess had said.
“Jish?” repeated the second man. “You cannot reach Jish from here. No offense intended, but you should know that, m’lady.”
“I know most roads lead around the mountain,” Lenora said lightly, “but I wanted to see what it would be like to go over the mountain.”
“Forgive me, m’lady,” said the second woman, “but you could have saved yourself a great deal of trouble. There is no way down the back of this mountain.”
“There is not?” Lenora asked, looking as though she was surprised.
The woman shook her head. “No, m’lady. We call this peak Half Mountain, because the entire back portion is nothing but cliffs—as if the mountain had been cut in half.”
“Oh dear,” Lenora murmured, shooting a brief smile to Idris.
Idris experienced a surge of gratitude for Lenora’s interference. She may not have known it, but she had just provided them with valuable information. Now they knew for certain that any surviving Forgers would not have crossed over into the neighboring nation from this direction.
“We would be happy to offer you shelter for the night,” assured the first woman. “Although, you may find it more disruptive than restful.”
Hildar’s eyes narrowed. “Why is that?”
The second man pointed to a nearby outcropping of rock. “We work that mine, yonder. Due to the nature of the cave, we can only mine at night. We are only just starting our work, and it will continue until morning.”
Idris tipped his head slightly to the side. “Really?”
The first woman nodded. “We mine nightsilver. The ore is only visible after the sun sets.”
“Do you smelt the nightsilver yourselves?” Cowan asked, just a bit too casually.
“We do,” affirmed the first man.
Cowan nodded thoughtfully. “Interesting. Well, if it would not be an inconvenience, we would be glad to pay you for a place to spend the night. If there is a bed farther away from the noise for the lady…”
“Of course,” said the first of the two women. “Please, follow me.”
