“You might be right,” Thad replied, sighing.
“Mites are something that lives on a horse’s ass,” Parson said, laughing lightly. “There is no might to it, it’s as obvious as the sunrise. That is your own business though. I have lived over six hundred summers and every day is the same. One can only live so long without variation before he’s ready to jump from the highest cliff and wait for the quick stop at the end.”
Then you came along wanting to die?” Thad asked, confusion lacing his voice.
Parson's face lost all mirth and took on a serious look. “Don’t get me wrong, I will do everything in my power to increase my chances of surviving. If that means making a hothead calm his suicidal thoughts, so be it.”
“I will try to remember that,” Thad replied laughing.
“Is Parson talking you ears off?” Reeve said his eyes still cold and lifeless but his face held the barest hint of a smile. “I heard you ask what we might need besides the essentials. To be frank Master Thad, we need weapons and time to train. Almost every elf here can use a bow to good measure but if it comes to swordplay they’re going to be cut down and quick.”
“When we reach the next town we will see if we can do something about the weapons,” Thad replied somberly. “As far as training, we could work in time throughout the day as we march.”
“It’s not perfect but I can work with it,” Reeve said looking put out. “Do you have a plan for when we reach where were going?”
Thad shook his head. “Not so much. I don’t know much about Rane or the Merchant Guild. I guess the first order of business will be gathering some information on the city.”
“I guess it was too much to hope you had a plan,” Reeve said, disgusted.
Thad watched as the assassin walked away. I like him. Thad nearly laughed. “You would, but this time I must agree with you, I like him too.”
“Don’t think too badly of Reeve. He takes his job too seriously sometimes,” Parson said, startling Thad out of his private conversation with Thuraman.
“I can’t argue with him,” Thad said, chuckling. “He is right; I came here without thinking about what I would do after I reached the capital of Rane. Even now I can’t think of what to do after we get there.”
“My father was a hunter and woodman long before the time Brotherhood. He would tell me of the many animals he had seen,” Parson said, staring longingly into the flames. “He used to say that you could make as many plans as you wanted but animals rarely followed them. He would tell me the best thing to do was to follow your instincts.” Parson stood and gave Thad one final look before he headed back to his bedroll.
Thad kicked the ground covering the small fire with dirt. Thad could still smell the smell of the fire as he lay down. As he closed his eyes Thad prayed that his dreams wouldn’t be afflicted with thoughts of Brianna again. Far too often lately had he woken in a cold sweat from having her die in his arms.
CHAPTER XII
The small army moved slowly, most of the day being dedicated to Reeve's training. It wasn’t quite what Thad had in mind when he had offered to give up some traveling time for training but so far nothing had gone wrong.
They reached the next fair sized town four days out in their journey. Thad had to use a large amount of the gold he had acquired for the ship but he had been able to procure enough weapons and supplies for everyone.
Thad had thought about restocking their food supplies but Reeve had been adamant they sell one of the carts so Thad had relented on the idea. The town had been on the edge of a large forest so there had been plenty of bows in stock, but there had only been a few swords and knives in stock. The blacksmith had assured Thad and Reeve that given three days he could fill their needs.
Reeve and Thad agreed that a few days rest would be good. So now they camped out in the forest waiting for their supplies to be ready.
Thad still recalled the blacksmith's questions. He had wondered why Thad had wanted so many weapons. Thad had lied and said that he was a merchant headed south. Having heard about the numerous wars raging lately the blacksmith had taken Thad for his word, but his eyes showed his skepticism.
The day that they had agreed on the delivery of goods Thad was woken early by the sound of wood hitting against wood. Opening his eyes, Thad saw the elves paired off into groups of two.
Knowing that he wouldn’t be getting back to sleep soon Thad slipped out of his covers. He looked back toward the sparing elves and sighed. He had practiced with them a few times but most of his time had been taken up by his enchanting. He had already finished a few dozen shield rings and had let Reeve pass them out.
Other than the shield rings Thad had begun working on stunning rings. He had made only a few of the ring as they still took a lot of effort and time. He knew they used they relied upon energy elemental energy but he still wasn’t sure how they worked. He still found it odd that he could make enchantments without fully knowing how they worked.
You know how it works. Somewhere in your mind you know how it works.
“I will have to take your word for it,” Thad replied, letting his fingers run over one such ring that rested on his finger. “Do you know how it works?”
Asking for my opinion, that’s a first. The voice in his head was light almost witty. I can’t say I understand why it works but I do know how it works. Whenever you use your ring it sends a heavy stream of energy into the targets mind.
Thad looked back down to the ring on his finger. “Thanks for letting me know,” Thad replied.
Is something wrong with you today? First you ask my opinion now you are thanking me. If I didn’t know better I would think you were losing you mind.
“I just thought that maybe I should start treating you more like I treat others instead of like a servant,” Thad replied nearly laughing.
That will make things a little awkward for me. If you start treating me nicely then I will feel bad when I make jokes at your expense.
“Are you saying you prefer me to talk to you rudely,” Thad said, shaking his head.
I wouldn’t say I like it but I have gotten used to it. At least when you get snippy with me you show a little backbone. If you showed a portion of that spirit to everyone else they might not think you so weak.
“Are you ready to head to the city?” Reeve asked coming up behind him.
Thad sat down the new ring he had made and looked up at the tall assassin. “It is early but we might as well start making our way to town,” Thad replied.
The walk to town only took a little over an hour. Thad had the urge to walk around the market but with Reeve around he knew that anything other than business would bring him more than a few slighted statements later.
They found the blacksmith hard at work at his forge. “Goren, have you finished our products?” Thad asked putting on a rushed and haughty tone.
“Master Threlor,” Goren said, using the fake name Thad had given him. “I have to put the finishing touches on a few more of the swords but they should be done by midday.”
Thad picked up one of the finished swords that lay in an oaken crate. The sword was not the finest blade he had ever held but it had a good balance and was well made. “Then while we wait me and my friend shall avail ourselves of the town. We will return before midday and I expect you to be finished.” Thad stressed his words harshly as he sat the sword back in its crate.
“Yes Master Threlor,” the blacksmith replied somewhat shakily.
Once outside the smithy Thad turned to Reeve. “Anything you would like to do to pass the time?”
“I would not argue with getting a fresh meal while we are in town.”
Thad and Reeve made their way to the Roasted Boar. It was a small eatery but on their last visit to town they had found the food agreeable though a little pricey.
Shortly after they were seated a young blonde waitress came to their table. “Can I help you sirs?” while her question had been addressed to both of them her eyes never left Reeve. Thad had to
agree that the elves were a handsome people but it hurt his pride slightly that the girl barely noticed his presence.
“That depends miss, what is on the menu?” Reeve asked never looking the young in the eye and his voice as cold as usual.
“We have our famous roasted boar, as well as some mutton stew, or a good chicken pie,” she said sounding slightly defeated.
“I will take the roasted boar and a mug of ale,” Thad said trying not to laugh.
“I will take the same,” Reeve said offhandedly. The waitress huffed and turned and walked back toward the kitchen. Thad didn’t know if Reeve was obvious to the young girl’s attention or if he just chose to ignore it but Thad couldn’t help feel sorry for the young lady.
When the drinks arrived Reeve took a small drink than nearly spat the al back in the mug. “I don’t understand how you can drink this swill. Its tastes like deer piss.”
Thad laughed and took a drink. “You get used to it.”
The meal was good but the antics were even better. The young blonde would come up every few moments asking the two if they needed anything doing anything she could to grab Reeve’s attention. She did anything and everything short of striping off her bodice, and through it all Parson sat unaffected.
When they left the Roasted Bore there was still a good amount of time before it was midday. Reeve decided to go back to the Blacksmith but Thad wanted to check out a few of the other merchants so they decided to meet up later.
Thad first stop was a glass maker. As Thad looked at the small delicate glass figurines he was reminded of the glassmaker he had met back at Southpass though for the life of him he couldn’t remember the boy’s name.
Thad had suddenly wished he had made an order for glass orbs when he had the swords. Having a supply of explosive orbs could come in handy. As he moved to the next shop Thad made a mental note to see about glass orbs when he reached the capital.
It wasn’t long before Thad found himself once again in front of the blacksmith. “Are they finished?” Thad asked Reeve as soon as he entered the shop.
“Yes, though we should have brought one of your horses with us. It will be quite a chore to haul the three crates back with us alone.”
Thad cursed himself for not thinking of how to bring back such a large number of weapons. Thad thought for a moment but he could only think of two solutions. “If you carry the smaller one, I will float the other two back to camp.”
The elf looked at him questionably. “Do you think it wise? We don’t want to draw undue attention,” Reeve said skeptically.
“If the sight of over a hundred, six and seven foot tall golden skinned elves haven’t drawn attention then nothing will. Anyway it’s either that or we walk back to camp and get a horse,” Thad replied, laughing.
“Have it your way,” Reeve said coldly.
After Thad paid the Blacksmith he pushed some power into his staff and gently brought the two large crates to float about waist high. With his staff doing most of the work Thad didn’t have to concentrate on the spell.
As they walked through the streets almost every eye was on them. Thad knew he would get some attention but the sheer amount of spectators that started to follow them was uncanny. By time they reached the edge of the town Thad could have sworn every person who lived there was gathered around watching Thad and the floating crates whispering. Thad was able to catch a few words that were being uttered. Most of them were about magic but Thad could hear a few traces of the word demon sprouting up. Not wanting to find himself in trouble, Thad picked up his pace as they neared the forest.
“I believe I warned you,” Reeve said harshly as they moved deeper into the woods.
Thad was glad when the townsfolk didn’t follow them past the limits of the city, though a few children did go as far as the wood line. The long walk back to camp weighed heavily on Thad shoulders as he floated along the two crates. When they finally came across the first elves Thad was more than happy to release his burden to their strong arms.
By time Reeve had finished distributing the weapons the sun hung low in the sky. Knowing that it was futile to try and move on until the morning Thad started back to work on his enchantments.
Why don’t you work with you sword a little. Spending too much time sitting on your backside isn’t good for you.
“I think you’re right,” Thad replied, setting a small purple gem back in its pouch.
Walking over to Parson Thad tapped his friend on the shoulder. “Care for a match?”
The tall elf laughed and tossed Thad a long staff. Short on supplies and time Reeve and the other elves had found anything for their martial practice they could at first. As time passed they had made a few more suitable training weapons but most of them were in use on the training filed.
Thad twirled the staff in his hands. He had not had much practice using a long staff but there was no time like the present.
Parson was the first to make a move lunging with a straight thrust to his chest. Thad brought his staff close and slid his leg back and deflected the strike aside. Before Parson had a chance to strike again Thad pivoted on his lead foot bringing him to Parson’s side and swung hard. Parson didn’t blink as he quickly and deftly brought his own weapon around blocking Thad’s strike.
The fight continued with one taking a strike and the other defending. The tempo of the battle slowly increased like a piper’s song at a midsummer dance. The speed of the blows continued to rise until Thad’s eyes could no long decipher the movement, he had to rely purely on instinct.
Parson ducked down stretching out his leg and sweeping his staff at Thad’s knees. Thad tried to dodge the blow but the staff caught him on the left knee sending him tumbling to the ground. He did not stay down long, however, as he used the momentum bucking his shoulders and jumping back to his feet. Not wasting time Thad quickly jabbed his staff up catching the surprised elf in the chest.
Parson didn’t have time to dodge and took the blow in its full force. Thad watched as the elf doubled over as the breath was robbed from his lungs and quickly moved to take advantage of the moment. Swinging hard Thad struck quick but abruptly stopped the staff a few inches from the elf’s head. “Do you surrender?” Thad asked, breathing heavily.
“I yield,” Parson said, gasping and holding his chest.
Laughing Thad collapsed beside his friend. “Good fight.”
“That it was. That it was,” Parson said, joining Thad in his laughter.
Sitting, his clothing clinging tight to his body from the sweat, Thad watched the others practice. Most of them were decent with a sword. Thad was sure it was due to their natural graceful movements. To Thad’s eyes it was more like watching professional court dancers than fighters.
Reeve put the fighters through a grueling pace until the sun descended the sky. The elves straggled to their own individual camps, most of them too tired to walk straight.
Weary and covered in dirt and bruises Tuck sauntered over to where Thad sat. “That was brutal, Talmeir used me like one of the pells,” Tuck said, rubbing one of the nastier bruises showing on his arms.
“You’re supposed to block the blows,” Thad said, chuckling slightly.
Tuck gave Thad a look full of contempt. “I tried but he moves so fast. I barely had time to scream before the next strike hit me.”
“Watch his shoulders and feet,” Thad said consolingly. “Once you get the hang of it, it will be second nature.”
Tuck kicked the ground with the toe of his boot. “At least I did better at the practical use of magic exercises that Reeve and the others put us through,” he said proudly. “I am getting really good at making the vines grow.”
Thad had watched some of the magical exercises. The elves were a great deal better at nature magic than Thad ever hoped to be. Every elf in the group could make vines grow and make themselves blend with the foliage. Thad could do both and had done his own fair share of practice but he was much more limited in speed and strength compared to the elves.<
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“Do you think I can get one of those shield rings? I can use my magic to strengthen my leather armor but it doesn’t help much on the bare skin,” Tuck said, rubbing his bruises again.
“I don’t mind giving you a shield ring,” Thad replied, “but we need to save their magical charge for when we run into real trouble not just practice.”
Tuck looked disappointed but smiled a short bit latter. “I guess you’re right. Better a few slaps with a stick now, instead of a blade later.”
CHAPTER XIII
To Thad’s delight they were back on the road again. Reeve seemed somewhat happy with the elves’ progress, so the amount of time training had been reduced and more time was made on the road.
The farther south they rode the more and more towns they passed. The sixth day out Thad was happy to learn from one of the local farmers they passed that they were nearing the Rane border.
Everything was going well, too well as far as Thad was concerned. The Brotherhood had to know that they were in the area. As a precaution every night the shields went up, but so far nothing had happened. Thad had the eerie feeling that something was coming. He just didn’t know what or when.
It wasn’t until one of the scouts returned that his fears had been realized. Waiting at the border way station was a small army. Of course they couldn’t send a full army, even into Delmar without causing trouble, so they had been waiting.
Thad and Reeve snuck through the forest, getting as close as they dared until they could see the awaiting army. There were easily over five hundred soldiers awaiting them. “Can you tell if they are Brotherhood?” Thad asked his staff.
There are plenty of the Brotherhood down below. I can sense many areas where the magic is distorted. It will not be an easy fight.
Once they were back at camp, Reeve gathered the most knowledgeable elves for a strategic meeting. The question of the meeting was simple. What should they do?
“We need to go around the army,” one of the hunters standing next to Parson said strongly.
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