“Scouts. They left the group a few hours ago. Must’ve just returned,” replied Emel. He cocked his head in their direction. “Sounds like they’re worried about something ahead. The rains returning perhaps. You see the three approaching just now, with the gold lapels?”
“Captains?”
“The one on the right with the grizzled beard is Captain Trendmore. The tall southerner is Captain Adylton. The other is Captain Ghenson. He’s quick-witted. I like him.”
Adrina grabbed Emel’s arm. “Were they just talking about the ship from Wellison?”
“I don’t think so. It wouldn’t be a prudent thing to do—” A horn sounding the end of the rest cut Emel short. “—Time to mount. Do you wish to ride with me? I can show you a few things, about riding and scouting.”
Adrina puckered her lower lip and bit the corner of it. “Really?” she said wide-eyed.
With the afternoon came autumn rains. At first it was only a gentle mist coming down upon them, later heavy sheets of icy rain. The travelers quickly became bogged down in gooey, sticky muck. With no place to hide and wait out the storm in the open fields, stopping served no purpose. For safety’s sake the great column slowed to a crawl, yet Captain Brodst kept the group traveling onward.
Despite hood and cloak pulled tightly around her, Adrina was drenched through. Rain streamed down her face and though she was drenched, she was happy—the dreariness was comforting and reassuring.
“Isn’t this great?” shouted Emel, raising his voice above the ruckus of hundreds of hooves plodding through thick trail mud and the heavy downpour. “Castle watch is monotonous when compared to this, nothing compares to this!”
Adrina edged her mount closer to his, then reached over and slugged him on the arm. Emel didn’t respond. He just smirked rather broadly.
Wet clothes and wet saddle began to chaff as time slipped away. Adrina could feel the cold in her bones now and desperately wanted to stop for another rest. She turned to look back at the others through the shroud of rain. Father Jacob wore a solemn, thoughtful expression on an otherwise expressionless face. Knowing that the good priest was always like this—true feeling hidden on the interior of a hardened exterior—she wondered what feelings were hidden behind the clear, impressionless mask. For therein lies the heart of the man—her mother had told her that once long ago.
The rain notwithstanding, Keeper Martin had his eyes wide open. He scanned the horizon ahead. His face, with upturned eyebrows and slightly furled lips, showed little complacency. Clearly he didn’t like the rain or the trail conditions, yet as always he sought to maintain a clear awareness of their surroundings and find the good in ill. Something troubled him, noted Adrina. She guessed that it probably had something to do with their journey—the keeper had too much wisdom sometimes.
Besides the ever-present scowl, Captain Brodst had an otherwise expressionless countenance. For Adrina, the scowl signified order. The captain kept his companions and his subordinates in check with it—the guards, the soldiers, not even the distinguished guests, Adrina included, dared to speak their thoughts. They would endure the rain for as long as the captain ordered.
The others in the long line of garrison soldiers fore and aft, still four abreast on the muddied kingdom road, and the palace guardsmen that encircled her, Adrina noted, were disheartened. The rain was bogging down their thoughts. Some of those whose faces she could see despite the murky rain were thinking of other places—perhaps home and loved ones, perhaps just the local ale house—but still it was clear they were thinking of someplace else.
Her special talent, a learned talent for knowing what others were thinking from their expressions, a gift perfected during numerous court sessions, ended as she turned to regard Emel. She had a hard time discerning his feelings from his expressions. This especially troubled her and attracted her to him. As she considered this, her eyes wandered toward him once more—quickly turning away down the muddied path as her gaze met his. The message in his eyes, mixed feelings—feelings she didn’t like—was confusing.
As the rain persisted and the day grew long, Captain Brodst signaled another slackening of the pace. Afterwards, he signaled the young sergeant to fall in place beside him. Adrina followed, then after slowing her mount, she did her best to listen in.
“… Remember it will be a light camp, no tents,” reminded the captain, “so find us a good thick spot in a forested canopy.”
To Adrina’s surprise, he addressed her next.
“Sorry, Your Highness,” Captain Brodst said, “we will be unable to reach an inn. I had hoped we would be able to make up some time, but the rain is slowing us to a crawl. Our file is too long to risk much faster travel.”
“You considered stopping at an inn,” said Adrina, more to herself than to the captain. “Even after what you said before we departed Imtal?”
“Come on, Adrina!” yelled Emel, as he urged Ebony to race the wind. “Catch up!”
Captain Brodst was part way into a response that was quickly drowned out as Adrina raced to intercept the retreating figure. She did toss him a final probing stare, though, as she swatted her horse to speed the weary animal’s lackluster pace. She was also quick to turn back to the trail ahead as the captain sought to raise an objection. She was certain she was right about his constant scowl. It was his shield.
“You see, my father…” shouted Emel, looking back over his shoulder as his horse galloped through the thick mud and rain, “… the captain has a heart after all.”
For a long time the two sped along the trail despite the greatly reduced visibility from the rain, diminishing daylight and their speed. Adrina had a difficult time maintaining her focus on the figure ahead. Soon she became completely unaware of her surroundings, and watched only for the spray of mud from hastening hooves ahead.
“Emel, wait up! We aren’t in that much of a hurry are we? The others are well behind us by now. Besides, how can we find a suitable place to stop if we can’t even see what we are passing by?”
Emel reined Ebony in. “I don’t need to see where I am going. Even in the rain I know this section of the road like the back of my hand.” He stroked Ebony Lightning. “My first apprenticeship was as a king’s messenger. I know exactly where we’ll find shelter from the rain.”
“Then why are we racing?”
“Imtal Palace Guardsmen and guests shall have the base fire. The garrison troops will have to fend for themselves. They have their own detachment and squadron commanders. It is my father’s way of telling the palace guard he cares. Garrison soldiers will also see him as one who cares well for his own and perhaps there will be more than a few who at the end of this trip will wish to enlist in his service. At the end of a long journey soldiers remember the little things. Food, water and shelter are held in the highest regard.
“And we race for sport,” said Emel urging Ebony faster and faster.
Mud and dirty water was propelled high into the air and fell just short of Adrina as she fought to catch up with a flagging mount.
After they had rounded several bends in the road and breached several low hills, Adrina momentarily lost sight of Emel. Her heart still pounding from the race, she held her breath as she tried to discern shapes in the dim light. Then she spotted horse and rider racing off the trail and hastened after them.
Just before he reached the edge of the woods, Emel turned Ebony about and raced back toward her. In one swift move he wheeled his mount along side Adrina’s and, reaching down, seized her horse’s reins just above the bit, bringing the mare to a rigid stop. Not expecting this, Adrina tumbled from the horse into the mud.
Emel dismounted. “Can I help you up, Your Highness?” he asked smugly.
Adrina could see he was trying to contain the humor within from bursting into raucous laughter. Her face was red and tears came to her eyes. Mud clung to her hair, her clothes, her cloak, and frustrated hands did little to remove it. “No, I think you’ve done enough already. I am quite fine.”
&nb
sp; Emel tossed her an impish look and if she hadn’t burst into laughter, Adrina would have cried deeply. The laughter, a much need burst of cheer, was oddly cleansing, but short-lived.
“Damn you, Emel!” she screamed, “You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”
She was crying now and suddenly screaming at him again. “Damn you, damn you—” She realized she was whining and then how pathetic she sounded, and she laughed again—and the laughter felt good.
When Emel offered her his hand in assistance, she pulled him forward, and didn’t let go until he landed face first into the mud. Then she tried to run out of his reach, but was too slow.
“Why you,” yelled Emel, as he grabbed the retreating foot.
A backwards slip landed her, with a muddled thud, on her backside. She squirmed to get away from him as he dragged her toward him.
“Let me go! Let me go!”
Emel continued to drag her by one leg backwards through the mud as she fought to break free while the rain beat down on them in a sudden strong drove. With both hands, she scooped up a large clump of mud and threw it at Emel. It landed with a splat, squarely on target and she finally broke free of his grip.
“So that’s how you want to play it,” Emel said, grabbing a large handful of wet muck.
Adrina returned the volley. “Serves you right!”
The mud flinging continued back and forth until they were both drenched and covered in mud from head to toe. Adrina was laughing so hard she fell backwards into the mud, adeptly tripping Emel as she went down. As she pushed a sodden handful into his face, both burst into hearty laughter. Then content to sit idle, allowing the rain to splash down upon them, the two passed a quiet moment.
“Stand up,” Adrina said to Emel, offering her hand to him as he stood. “We have to get all this mud off of us before the others catch up. I don’t want to get you into any more trouble.”
Emel looked at her, eyes agape, as if he had just remembered something that his life depended on. Warily, he accepted her offer, quickly returning to reality from the momentary reprieve. They waited in the rain just long enough for it to wash the majority of the mud from their clothing and then prepared to move under the forest canopy.
“Grab your horse, follow me,” said Emel.
Hurriedly, he led her into the large stand of nearby fir.
Quickly the rain became scarcely noticeable as they entered the thick folds of the shielded canopy and as they moved deeper and deeper into the heart of the great fir stand the rain was soon only a pleasant sound in the distance. The world became suddenly quiet and calm.
“Gather some sticks and small branches for kindling. I’ll get the larger branches,” said Emel. He loosely tied Ebony’s reins to a low branch and retrieved an axe from his saddlebags.
Adrina collected dry twigs and small branches into a pile as Emel had asked. When she had finished, Emel had already returned with a plentiful harvest of large branches. A tree had fallen nearby and its great boughs would be put to good use.
After a circle was cleared around where he would start the campfire, Emel quickly assembled the wood into a neat pile with the kindling at the base and the larger branches at the top forming a huddled triangle. Flint and steel were retrieved from saddlebags and an instant later its spark lit the kindling. A few tender puffs spread the tiny flames and soon a gentle fire was crackling, replacing the soft sound of distant rain.
Adrina was almost impressed by his expertise. “Pretty nimble,” she said, “how much longer before the others catch up?”
“Soon,” Emel said, “so hurry up and take off your clothes. We don’t have much time.”
Both flattered and outraged, Adrina’s face flushed and then became bright red. “What do you mean?” she shouted. She slapped his face. “Why I never! What do you mean get undressed?”
Emel swallowed harshly, then his face turned bright with embarrassment, a close match to the princess’. “What I meant to say was, hurry up and get out of those wet things so we can dry them over the fire.”
“Why?” demanded Adrina, still upset.
“I didn’t mean it the way it… I mean, what I’m trying to say is…” said a flustered Emel, “You need to dry your things before the others arrive. Otherwise, you know, it might be difficult for you to get them dry. I’ll tie a line up between those two trees for you, and then you can hang your clothes to dry. I’ll go watch for the others by the trail, just yell when you are finished.”
After a moment of silence, Adrina laughed. Now, she understood what he was trying to say. “I’m sorry, Emel,” Adrina said, quickly adding, “I mean for hitting you, I’m sorry.”
The fire was blazing brightly by the time Emel had tied up a secure line. He would have preferred to gather more wood as he should have done, but he didn’t. The great fallen tree was close by though, and it could serve as a source for many, many fires to take away the chill of the rainy night.
“Good-bye,” he said, “just call out when you’re done. If the others get here first I’ll call out in greeting to them and you’ll know they are close. I’ll need to build a watch fire near the forest’s edge but that will only take a moment.”
The watch fire built, Emel was hesitant to leave its warmth. Returning with Ebony Lightning to unsheltered skies seemed an unpleasant proposition and he did so with quick regret. Almost immediately, cold rain drenched any part of him that had been partially dry.
An easterly wind blown from the direction of the distant sea made the rain feel that much colder. He knew, even on an evening such as this, the red glow of the watch fire from the darkened wood cutting into the darkened land could be seen from a long distance. He needn’t wait here on the trail for the others, for they could have easily followed the building light to its source. Here he felt safer, safer because he was away from the young princess and the desires of his own young heart.
Safer? he asked himself, immediate alarms sounding in his mind. He had just left Princess Adrina alone in the woods. He had not checked for signs of other passersby. Nor had he checked for signs of other creatures seeking shelter from the rain.
He mounted Ebony and charged into the thick woods, passed the watch fire, ducking low hanging branches as he went. Dark silhouettes of trees passed by in blurs as he raced for the red of the base fire. Reaching the base fire, he found the hollow under the canopy empty.
“A-dri-na, Adrina?” he screamed, his mind filling with dread.
Hastily, Emel dismounted. Panic mandating his every move, he began a frantic search.
“Adrina, where are you?”
For an instant, he felt a breath of air on his neck—perhaps the wind from beyond the forest. Then a hand clasped firmly to his mouth.
“Do not scream. I will not harm you,” whispered a dark figure, whirling him around so he was left staring into heavy gray eyes. “We bring word from the land.”
The figure then led Emel deeper into the forest. Emel counted the figures in the shadows as he was led past them, twelve in all. He soon found himself in a large circle of dark-robed figures. All save one had the hoods secured, masking their faces. Princess Adrina sat in the middle of the circle beside a tall light-haired woman. Dark skin said the woman was surely a southerner, but the light blonde hair seemed out of place.
“Who is your friend?” asked the woman of Adrina, not turning to look at Emel.
“He is the son of the captain of the Imtal guard.”
“Sit, Emel Brodstson,” said the woman, beckoning with her hand. Then to Adrina she said, “We do not have long, I can hear the column approaching. I must speak fast.”
Emel heard nothing save soft rain and perhaps wind.
“Travel not to Alderan by the sea. The ship you seek from Wellison will not arrive. You are in grave danger, princess. A great evil has put its mark upon you. It is good you have a friend who cares for your welfare. You would be wise to care as much for yourself.”
Adrina glanced at Emel, then asked, “Why me?”
&n
bsp; “The struggle is long and many are its participants. The journey you have embarked upon is but the first step along the path. The evil has chosen you because of your position of influence and because of the emptiness within you.”
“Can I not rid myself of this mark?”
The woman began speaking more swiftly now. “Look to two strangers for aid, for fate brings them to you. Beware those that are not what they seem and the traitor. A traitor among you will insist you continue to Alderan when it seems you should not. Remember, only death awaits in Alderan.”Adrina regarded the woman and started to say something but Emel cut her off. “What is so important about this ship from Wellison? Why should we even listen to you? You should flee before the garrison soldiers find you and run you through.”
“Speak not words in haste, oft you may regret the reply. Yet if this is what you truly wish to know, I will tell you. Know there is a heavy price. Once a thing is known, you may not so easily turn away.” The woman paused and stared into Emel’s eyes, seemingly pleased with what she saw, she continued. “The ship from Wellison has a most precious cargo, the heir to the throne of Sever. At this very moment, King Charles lies dying in his bed. An assassin’s poison is slowly eating away at him. Alas there is no cure, a terrible poison.
Complete Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches Page 11