Kelvich watched in exasperation as Quinn turned away and started giving orders to the men watching nearby. Quinn seemed as at home running a refugee camp as he was drinking ale in the village inn. He sent two men for the horses that would turn the big crank that powered the saw. Others were sent to begin cutting trees. Kelvich could only imagine the damage that had been done to Brighton’s Gate by the dragon, but it wasn’t his fault.
The thought occurred to him that perhaps Quinn was using him as a scapegoat. The people were angry and looking for someone to blame for the loss of their homes. Perhaps Quinn didn’t mean what he was saying, but he had no way of knowing for sure. He also felt a tremendous fear that something might happen to Zollin. It was foolish, he knew; he’d been no help to Zollin against the wizards of the Torr or against the dragon. In fact, Zollin had saved his life, not only from the wizards and the dragon, but also healing his heart and clearing the fluid building up in his lungs. He owed the boy so much, but was he really helping? He wasn’t sure, but he didn’t like the idea of sticking around while Zollin rushed off into danger. There were things he could do, things that were needed, but that would also provide some space between him and Quinn. He needed to learn more about Zollin’s power to block off his magic. He needed to find out who or what was trying to control him, not that it had been an issue through the winter, since Zollin had learned to raise his defenses. But what if that defense only worked from a distance? There were too many unanswered questions and too much at stake.
He hurried back inside the house and found a satchel. He crammed a change of clothes into the bag, along with a few loaves of bread from his own small store in the little kitchen. The meat and cheese were already gone, but that couldn’t be helped. He had a small canteen that he filled from the well, and he rolled several of his best blankets together and tied them with a strap of leather. In the shed were several horses, but none were his. He took one anyway. A large horse that he didn’t recognize, but he felt confident that it didn’t belong to any of the villagers. He saddled the horse and tied his belongs to the rear of the saddle. He used his small back porch to climb up onto the horse’s back. Then he rode from the place he’d called home for over two decades.
The villagers paid him no attention. Quinn had them busy, but he wasn’t the only one giving orders. Ollie had taken on the role of feeding the refugees, and she had recruited a small army of young girls to help her. There were crews working on the camp, others hauling the milled lumber down to the village, and still more working to remove the rubble. The only other person Kelvich saw not working was Norwin. He’d spent a lot of money rebuilding the Gateway Inn, but now he looked as if he’d lost everything. Kelvich had been knocked senseless while Zollin was fighting the dragon and hadn’t seen that he’d destroyed the inn to fend off the beast. Still, he had a feeling that something like that must have happened.
He rode through the trees and up to the trail that led to Telford’s Pass. He would take Telford’s pass through the mountains and then turn southeast and ride for Eddson Keep. Perhaps there he could find some answers. Then he would reunite with Zollin, if that were possible. He had to keep his faith in the boy’s abilities. He was destined to change the Five Kingdoms, Kelvich reminded himself. Perhaps he needed to step back and let the boy do it.
Chapter 20
Quinn was angry, but he was also a little ashamed. He knew that Zollin cared for Kelvich, and he had to admit that he was a little jealous of the attention his son gave the older man. The way Zollin had left things with Quinn was still painful, and he’d taken his frustration out on the older man. He didn’t know if Kelvich had actually known about the dragon, but in his mind, it didn’t matter. He felt that there was something not quite right about the man, and he’d learned to trust his gut when it came to judging people. He didn’t think the old sorcerer was dangerous, but he didn’t want the man following Zollin.
He walked to the group of men waiting on him. He wasn’t surprised that so many of the townsfolk were taking his lead. He may not be on their council, but he was getting things done, which was more than most. He’d convinced the town to set up a saw to mill the lumber they needed. There was an abundance of material available, and if they all worked together, they could be back in their village by harvest time. It wasn’t an ideal situation, but life wasn’t perfect. Quinn understood that, perhaps better than most. He’d lost his wife from complications she experienced while giving birth to Zollin. His son, whom he’d worried about for almost two decades now, was a wizard. Life always seemed to come at him from the most unexpected places. The truth was, he would have loved to have stayed and helped the people of Brighton’s Gate rebuild their village. Not that they really appreciated him, but he loved the mountains. He loved the snow in winter and the cool weather in summer. He wasn’t afraid of violence, but he wasn’t drawn to it like some men, either, and he had had his fill of adventure. What he longed for was peace, good friends, and good ale. He had expected to spend his final years around a glowing fire, surrounded by grandchildren—at least, that was what he had hoped for. He had to admit he’d feared that Zollin would not want children. It was hard on a boy to grow up without a mother, and although Zollin had handled it better than most, it had left its share of scars on the boy.
Quinn thought wistfully of how Zollin seemed to shoulder the responsibility for every negative thing that happened around him. That thought led to the realization that Zollin’s shoulders weren’t as thin as they had been. His son had put on some solid muscle, from the looks of things. He’d been busy through the winter, that much was obvious. It was another burr under his saddle, the fact that Zollin had seemed to respond so well to Kelvich and so poorly to his own tutelage.
He gave assignments to the men waiting on him and then turned to hitch the horses to the big saw that was being used to mill the freshly cut trees. He didn’t know how long he planned to stay in the valley, but he could ride hard and catch up with Zollin and Mansel soon. They wouldn’t get too far ahead. He wasn’t sure how quickly Zollin could make it though the pass, but surely he had enough time to wait another day or two.
When he saw Kelvich riding out of camp, he grew even more uneasy. He trusted Zollin, but if the old sorcerer had his way, he might convince Zollin to run away with him. Quinn didn’t think that was likely, but he didn’t discount it altogether. He knew Zollin was desperate to get Brianna back, and if Kelvich argued that he could help Zollin with that task, his son might be tempted.
“You look downright hoodwaggled,” said an older man. He was one of the farmers who had brought his family up to the camp for added safety.
“It’s been an unusual day,” said Quinn, not wanting to say too much.
“They say every day is unusual if you just give it a chance,” said the man.
Quinn wondered how unusual a farmer’s day could be, but he dismissed the thought. He liked this man; his name was Tollver, and he hadn’t planted his fields yet, but was helping with the construction of the town. His own home hadn’t been damaged, since it lay several leagues to the east of Brighton’s Gate. Still, he was working with the townsfolk and so was his wife, and even their three young children.
“The saw’s ready,” Quinn replied.
“So it is, that’s fine. Did you know that sour thoughts can turn a man’s stomach? You’ve the look of something sour.”
“Yes, well, that may be true, but I doubt you need to hear about my problems,” Quinn said. “We’ve enough work to stay focused on.”
“I’ve always found that keeping my mind busy helps pass the time of a tedious chore.”
“You have to keep your wits about you when you’re working this saw, or you’ll end up losing an arm or worse.”
“Yes, that is true. When the saw is cutting, it gets all my attention. But, when I’m waiting for fresh timber to cut, I tend to notice when my friends are carrying a heavy load. I’m not prying, but I’ll help shoulder the burden, if you’ll let me.”
Quinn th
ought about the offer for a moment. It was the kind of thing he might have said himself. Friends were the one thing he missed most of all about Tranaugh Shire. Zollin had Brianna and Mansel, but Quinn had no one to lean on. He’d hoped that might change with Kelvich. Truth be told, he liked the old man, but perhaps that was just desperation for someone to help him make decisions. He’d allowed Zollin to stay with Kelvich and allowed them the freedom to do whatever they wanted. Now he wondered what his son’s gifts had really unleashed on the realm.
“It’s true, my thoughts do seem a burden these days,” Quinn admitted. “It’s hard not to worry about the future, and things just seem to be getting worse.”
“This have anything to do with the dressing down you gave the old hermit this morning?”
“Some, and the fact that a fire breathing dragon is now on the loose. I mean, really, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it. How are we supposed to deal with a dragon?”
“That’s a good question, and one I don’t have an answer for. But, if the story is true the way I heard it, your boy did a handy job of driving the beast away.”
“Well, yes, but it wasn’t something a father wants to think about happening again. And to be honest, I think it will. I’m a plain man, I like dealing with things I can see and touch. I don’t understand magic, but I do know that trouble is drawn to that boy like moths to a flame. It’s enough to drive a father mad.”
“Yes, I can understand that. It’s hard not to worry about the people we love. What made you send the boy away, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“I didn’t send him,” Quinn said. “He’s intent on rescuing Brianna, and I just needed to focus on a problem that I could deal with for a while before I rushed off with him.”
“Like rebuilding the Gate.”
“That’s right. I know I can help here, but with Zollin I just feel like I’m barely able to keep my head above water. He can do things I can’t even imagine. I mean, look at this sword.”
He held out the sword by the blade to Tollver.
“Do you know much about blades?”
“I do, but I’ll admit I know more about plows.”
“I’ll bet you do,” Quinn said, smiling.
“This is a fine weapon. The balance is nigh on perfect, I’d say.”
“I know, the edge is keen, the weight of the steel balanced between handle and blade. My son made that out of a plain, steel chain, with no fire, no forge, no hammer or anvil. He made it, standing beside the river, in less than five minutes. He didn’t utter a word, but the metal just melted, without even getting hot and without a touch from human hands. Now, how does a father deal with that?”
“You say he made this sword with magic.”
“He did, and again, I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. I don’t know how he does it, or where the power comes from. I certainly don’t have it, nor did his mother. But he does, and now there are armies and wizards pursuing him and dragons attacking him. It’s enough to boggle my little mind.”
“Well, I don’t know how you feel, I can’t really say I understand any of it. But I know me, and it would be awfully tempting to ease back from it. Family or no, I wouldn’t want to deal with something like that.”
“True enough,” Quinn admitted.
“Still, he is your son, and your only son, am I right?” Tollver asked.
“Yes, his mother passed just after he was born.”
“Damn, I’m sorry to hear that. So you’ve raised him by yourself?”
“Yes,” Quinn said.
“Then you can’t let it go. It would destroy you. You’ve got to go and do what you can, even if he doesn’t need you. The truth is, you need him.”
“I know you’re right, but I keep finding reasons not to go.”
“There always will be,” said Tollver. “But they won’t weigh you down with guilt if you shirk them. Your obligation to your boy, though, that’s a different matter. I had a son, my first born. He was alive when my wife gave birth, but his body was twisted and crippled. I threw myself into the farm work, told myself it had to be done, but the truth was I knew he was dying. I didn’t mind the crippled parts, if he’d lived, I’d have provided for him my whole life, even if it meant going without. But I couldn’t stand the thought of seeing him die, and there was just no way his poor, little body could survive in this world. So I stayed busy, and I’ve regretted it ever since. My wife held him for three days, singing to him and crying over him. But she has those precious memories to keep her company. I left myself with a ragged hole in my heart and, to be honest, I don’t think it’ll ever heal. Not because I lost him, but because I didn’t stay with him.”
“There was nothing you could have done for him, you’re not a healer,” Quinn said.
“No, there wasn’t. I don’t think there was anything that could ever have been done to save him. But that isn’t what eats me up. He was my boy,” Tollver had tears in his eyes now, “and I turned my back on him because watching him die was too painful. I turned my back on him, you hear what I’m saying? Maybe he was too young to understand that, but I’ll never forget it. That’s what I’m telling you. Even if your boy doesn’t need you... You need him.”
Quinn thought about what Tollver was saying. He certainly felt like their stories were similar. Zollin seemed destined to fight until he was finally overcome. It was a miracle they hadn’t all been killed already. And he had to admit that taking out his anger on Kelvich was just an excuse, as was staying at the camp. He didn’t want to see his son die, and he was afraid that he was helpless to keep it from happening. But he didn’t want to know that he could have been with him. That even if he couldn’t stop it, he could ride out and face whatever the future held with his son, so that Zollin didn’t have to be alone. He looked at Tollver, who gave him an understanding nod.
“I think perhaps it’s time for me to go,” Quinn said.
“I understand,” said the farmer.
Quinn held out his hand and Tollver took it in a firm grip. They stood looking at one another for a few moments, and then Quinn turned away. He needed to gather his things and let the town council know that he was leaving. If he hurried, he could be on his way by late afternoon. He would be half a day behind Kelvich, but he could catch up with the sorcerer easily enough. He still felt uneasy, but he didn’t want to leave things the way he had. He would apologize and then keep a close eye on the man.
* * *
The soldiers had offered Kelvich no resistance as he passed them. He rode slowly, his body still stiff from the ordeal at Brighton’s Gate and from spending so much time in his chair. He was well, but he saw no reason to push the pace. It was late afternoon by the time he reached the snow. He hadn’t known how Zollin would break through the clogged passes, but it was obvious when he saw the angled ramp of snow and ice that they had traveled across the top. It was a smart move, Kelvich realized, one that probably allowed them to travel at a much quicker pace than trying to move so much snow and ice.
He urged the horse forward, but it hesitated at the ice. He decided his best bet to move forward would be to dismount and lead the horse himself. The ramp was slick, but he managed the ascent easily enough. The surface was uneven, but felt solid beneath his feet. He’d been walking on top of the melting snow and ice for a little over an hour when he heard the wicker of another horse behind him. He turned and saw Quinn riding on a large, brown horse. They were gaining on Kelvich, and he felt a stab of fear. Quinn had been angry that morning, had blamed Kelvich for the dragon’s attack on the village. If he were still angry, he might turn violent. Kelvich could defend himself, perhaps even fend off Quinn’s attack, but it was not likely without someone getting seriously hurt. He turned and waited for the other man to make his intentions known.
Quinn had been pushing his mount hard ever since he realized that the snow and ice would not have slowed Zollin and Mansel. They were a full two days ahead of him, and that thought mad
e him ill. The last thing he had told his son was to wait one day if they reached the end of the pass before he did. This meant he would have to ride through the night and hope for the best. When he saw Kelvich ahead of him, he determined that he would extend the olive branch to the older man, but he wouldn’t wait on him. He was going to have to ride fast in order to keep up with his son, and he didn’t like the idea of Zollin and Mansel getting too far ahead of him.
When his horse approached Kelvich’s, he reined to a stop and looked at the older man. It was obvious that Kelvich had been leading his horse for a while, his face was red and there was sweat in his grey hair despite the cold temperature.
“Hello there, Kelvich,” Quinn called out.
“Well met,” said the Sorcerer. “What brings you so quickly along the path?”
“I’m riding to meet up with the boys. You can join me, if you like, but we’ll need to ride fast. I didn’t expect them to make such good time through the pass.”
“Yes, I’m sure they did make good time, better than us,” Kelvich agreed. “But you’ll need to walk your horse. This ice is melting more quickly than you might think.”
Five Kingdoms: Books 01, 02 & 03 Page 49
