Eventually the group discussed what lay ahead. Lorne was a three day journey from here. Kellen had a few hours on them at least, and he was gaining steadily. This frustrated Gwen to no end. It wasn’t that any particular person was slow, but that as a group of seven they naturally moved more slowly than a single person.
The group fell silent when Gwen mentioned this. She allowed the quiet for a moment or two, but finally said, “We need a different plan. We will never catch up to Kellen like this.”
“What if the idea isn’t to catch up with him?” Nate said. The group looked at him. “Let him get the book and we’ll take it from him.”
“It’s not as simple as that,” Gwen said. “At this pace he will gain a full day on us and will already be away with the book.”
“But you could seek him out,” Elise said. “You have that ability.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that he is moving more quickly than us,” Gwen answered.
“It’s me, ain’t it?” Alban said, a look of disappointment on his face. His chin dipped to his chest when he shook his head. “She never was a traveling horse. Been on the farm too long.”
Gwen didn’t tell Alban one way or another, though a word of assurance probably would have made him feel better. “We need to split up,” she said. “The fastest riders will go with me to Lorne.”
“And the rest of us?” Alban asked.
Gwen didn’t know the answer. It didn’t seem right to break up the group and she wasn’t sure she could convince them to give up their search. They were the ones after the book.
“It would be better if we knew what Kellen was planning,” Elise said, looking at Gwen with an intense stare.
Gwen knew what she meant, but she wasn’t sure she had the energy. “But I’m so drained already,” she said.
“All we know is that he’s headed for Lorne,” Elise said. “For the book, but what then? If he reaches the book before we can get to him, he will surely take it somewhere else.” She nodded toward Alban. “And those who don’t go with us can move ahead to intercept him.”
Nate shook his head. “What are you two talking about?”
“I can see into Kellen’s mind,” Gwen said. “But I’ve used up so much of my energy this morning that I don’t know if I can be effective. The further away he is the harder it becomes.”
“It is easier the more you know someone,” Elise said.
Gwen nodded. “It’s true. And I see no other alternative.”
“You’re just going to enter his mind?” Nate asked. “How does that work?”
“Hundreds of years of study and practice,” Gwen said. “That’s how it works.”
She stepped away from the group, walking slowly into the snowy field beyond. She could feel their eyes on her back. She knew they were confused. It wasn’t widely known what specific powers the Sentinels stored within them, and the Sentinels liked it that way. A moment of resignation entered her mind before she closed her eyes. What if this drained her too much to ride? Then it would be meaningless. She shook her head at the thought. If that were the case then they would just go with plan B and try to catch him where he planned to go. This would only work if Kellen had devised a plan after obtaining the book. It was possible that he purposefully had not thought about the future beyond taking the book, knowing Gwen might try this very thing. In that case, she would gain nothing useful. But Elise was right. There was no other way.
Gwen let her arms dangle beside her as she closed her eyes. She thought about Kellen.
Only Kellen.
Nothing, no one but Kellen.
In her mind’s eye she could see the man riding in a gallop. This was neither the future nor the past. This was now. He moves quickly. She can see the terrain around him. Snowy fields spread across in every direction, but he will be in Gnome Country before them.
She needed to go deeper—to travel the passageways into his mind and discover his thoughts, his plans. She can hear him scream out. No! Get out! Get out! But it is too late. She is already in. There is nothing for him to do but move forward. Ride faster. She sees the vision of him trotting into Lorne. He meets with Arlo and takes the book.
She could feel her body waver. The vision started to fade. But she had to hold her grip. The next part was what she needed the most. She did all she could to drown out Kellen’s cries for her to get out of his head. He wouldn’t know what she was looking at. He might think she was finding his location or trying to make him stop. He couldn’t know she saw what he planned. He could only suspect.
But this isn’t just a meeting with Arlo. For some reason, there are ravagers in the picture. Why are there ravagers? The thought frightens her. Past that, she can see Kellen by himself. He boards a train in Lorne—the third passenger car. It’s a train headed back down south. The tracks lead through the southern edge of Dwarf Country and north of Gray Elf Country. But Kellen isn’t aiming for Dwarf Country. He means for the train to stop near a settlement called Strakfield. There is only a small group there. Tall men with long black hair. Purple eyes. Not men. Gray elves. Standing next to their horses. Kellen walks off the train to meet with them, book in hand. A gray elf steps forward. It’s a well-known grey elf. The leader of the rebellious Shadow Clan…
Gwen pulled herself from the vision and fell to the ground. Her eyes remained closed as the others rushed to her side. Her body felt so weak, her mind more so. She couldn’t afford to be weak. They had to keep moving. They had to get to Kellen before his plans turned into actions.
Gwen forced her eyelids open and found Jesse and Elise trying to pull her upward. She didn’t know where she found the strength, but she sat up and shoved the two of them away from her.
“Where is she?” The words stumbled off Gwen’s lips.
“Who?” Elise said. “Who is she?”
As Gwen pulled herself up to her feet, Jesse tried to grab her arm, but she stared at the guard with fire in her eyes and he backed off.
She took two steps forward and thought she might lose her balance again. This time she looked at Jesse and motioned him to come to her. He did so and she leaned against him, wrapping an arm around the back of his neck as she used him for a crutch.
Her eyes darted from person to person, studying every face until she found Marum. “You, gray elf.”
Marum’s sharp eyebrows darted forward. “Me?”
“Kellen has plans for the book, but they are not for him,” Gwen said.
Marum shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“He’s going after The Book of Life, and he’s going to give it to your brother.” Gwen took a deep breath and grimaced. “He’s planning to meet with Droman.”
Nate
Winter, 903 A.O.M.
Nate’s blood boiled and he wasn’t completely sure why. There was something in Marum’s expression that made him think she might have known about Kellen and The Book of Life. While the others were simply stunned, Nate pulled his pistol from his belt and aimed it at the gray elf’s head.
She recoiled and took a step back while the others admonished him. He didn’t care. He wanted answers and he wanted them now. He’d suspected Marum of having a dark and secret side to her. He had left it alone for a time because he understood a person’s need to keep secrets. But now it was affecting the safety of the whole group.
“What do you know about this?”
Marum stared at him intently with her purple eyes. They didn’t dart in different directions, they didn’t blink over and over. They stayed fixed on Nate, almost daring him to shoot her.
“Answer me!” Nate pulled on the hammer and rested his finger next to the trigger.
“I don’t know anything about it,” Marum said. “That’s the truth.”
“Oh, that’s the truth?” Nate looked at the others. “She says that’s the truth, we ought to believe her, I guess.”
“Nate, put the gun down,” Alban said. “This ain’t helping a bit.”
“Oh, it’s helping,” Nate said a
s he looked back at the gray elf. “Why were you arrested? Why were you set to be killed?”
“Nate,” Rachel said, but that was all she got out.
“Because I was trying to steal The Book of Time for Droman,” Marum said with finality.
The group hushed, and all that could be heard was the whistling wind over the plains.
She swallowed, her eyes now flitting to the others who seemed as betrayed as Nate. “DalGaard’s men didn’t want to advertise to all of Galamore that I was getting close to discovering the location of one of The Ancient Books. So, they just said that I was helping a lawless revolutionary. And they were right.”
“And that’s why you decided to come along,” Nate said. “You wanted to get The Book of Life for your brother. What were you going to do, murder the rest of us?”
“I wasn’t going to do anything but help you,” Marum said.
“I don’t believe you,” said Nate.
“It’s the truth. Before, I might not have helped you. But I heard the Foreseer. I know your story.”
“You don’t know anything about me,” Nate said.
“You’re right. Nothing about who you are. Only that you’re a criminal like the rest of us. And you’re the only one who has ever wanted to reach the books without thoughts of power in your head.”
Nate had seen men and women both lie to his face. He had always prided himself in being able to spot a liar. It came with the job. Trust the wrong fella, you might end up dead.
Marum wasn’t lying. Somewhere down the road, she’d decided to help Nate and the others for good enough reasons. She’d hid her past from the rest of them, but Nate couldn’t condemn her for that.
He released the hammer slowly and set his pistol back in the holster. “Then what do we need to do?”
Gwen spoke next, her arm still draped around Jesse’s neck as she braced herself against him. “Half of us will go after Kellen and try to stop him before he gets on the train. The other half heads back the way we came toward Strakfield. That’s where he’s headed.”
“I know the spot,” Marum said. “Droman has used it before.”
“Okay,” Gwen said. She looked at Alban and Rachel. “You two will go with her.”
They both nodded.
Gwen looked at Nathaniel next. “I leave you the option, Sojourner. Do you want to ride with us, or will you go with your familiar companions?”
His eyes met Alban’s, then Rachel’s. He then set a long stare toward Marum and studied her. It wasn’t that he thought she hadn’t told the truth earlier, but seeing a loved one after a long time was powerful. Powerful enough to pull a person in the wrong direction. Nate didn’t know what kind of danger Alban and Rachel might be in when it came to Droman. Sure, the gray elf brother might have spent most of his childhood in Tel Haven forest with them, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t kill them now. And he might be persuasive enough to get Marum to join in. In a way, Nate didn’t feel like he had a choice. It seemed that Gwen believed in him enough to get the book and let him go into it. So, if they got the book from Kellen in Lorne, then he would see it eventually. If Kellen got away from them, then Nate would have a chance to take it. There was more at stake here than getting or not getting to see the book. He didn’t feel good about leaving Alban and Rachel behind. They had come so far with him.
He looked back at Gwen. “How long will it take to get to Strakfield?”
Marum answered for her. “We can get there in four nights. That should give us enough time to get there before Kellen can, even by train.”
Nate looked at Alban and Rachel. “Is that what you two want to do? Ya’ll don’t have to be a part of this anymore. It’s about to get a lot more dangerous.”
“We’re not afraid,” Rachel said.
“And I don’t think Droman would hurt us,” Alban said. “We were too close.” He looked at Marum almost as if to make sure he was right, but she only looked at the ground.
Nate turned to Gwen and nodded. “I’ll head to Strakfield with them and make sure everything goes smoothly.”
“I know your relationship was once strong,” Gwen said to Rachel and Alban. “But even Marum cannot guarantee safety from Droman. I suggest you stay away from him. Camp near Strakfield, but out of view from the gray elves.”
“Droman will know if we’re within miles of him,” Marum said. “But he won’t hurt either of you.” She glanced at Nate. “Can’t say the same for you.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“Well, if we’re all in agreement,” Gwen said, “then Elise and Jesse will ride with me, and you four can head back south.”
“You sure you’re in a shape to ride?” Alban asked.
Gwen forced a smile, but it was short lived. “We’re after a man who’s trying to give The Book of Life to the gray elves. I have to be in a shape to ride.”
With that, they mounted their horses and said their goodbyes. As they started to pull away, Nate caught a glimpse of Gwen watching him. He then heard a voice inside his head that was not his own.
Keep an eye on Marum, the voice said. She and her brother are dangerous. Gwen then strained to turn her horse, and kicked it to lead the way toward Lorne.
The four of them were alone again, this time with a different mission than before and a whole new perspective. As a group, they had every right to know just how deep Marum’s loyalty to her brother went. Not that Nate cared about their politics, but if it meant she had become a danger to him and the others, then they would have a problem.
Nate hated problems.
The four of them plodded along, following their own tracks as Marum led the way. Nate didn’t feel any less angry toward her despite her declaration of being on their side. Most of all, he didn’t trust her. It wasn’t personal. He thought of it like he might any deal within the outlaw business. Only, with any other job he might have done his homework a little better. Leaving out information the way Marum had done was enough to get her killed in Nate’s world.
He didn’t like to admit to himself that the main reason he decided to go with Alban and the others was because he worried for their safety. It was a sign he was going soft, though he guessed he’d been going soft for a while now. An outlaw didn’t have an edge when he had thoughts of retiring all the time, no matter his age or skill. If an outlaw always found himself thinking of what life was like not running from the law, then it was time to give it up. Nate supposed this was natural for him. He hadn’t become an outlaw for the thrill of it, or because he didn’t care about the well-being of others. He’d slipped into it by accident. By necessity. He’d meant to get revenge for his lost love and in the process he had accidentally killed a whole family. He’d had no idea they were in the house when he set it aflame. But it didn’t matter. He was guilty and that was that. He was forever an outlaw unless he wanted to hang. And at the time, Nate didn’t feel like he deserved to hang.
He deserved it now. Not a doubt in his mind. But deserving it and wanting it were two different things. There were times he felt guilty, but he never felt guilty enough to turn himself in. Somehow he was always able to justify his actions. Even the worst of his crimes had a good enough reason somewhere in the depths of his mind.
There was one crime, however, that Nate knew wasn’t justified. Never would be. Never could be. But he didn’t like to think about it. He didn’t have to justify that murder, because every time it came to the front of his memory, he pushed it away, almost to convince himself that it had never happened.
He could still see the look of betrayal in the man’s face. The disappointment.
He shook the thoughts away. They’d resurface again. They always did. But he would just push them away time after time. He always would.
The group traveled for hours and hours, retracing the steps they had already taken. That was the worst part about this leg of the journey—the guarantee that the terrain wasn’t going to change any time soon. Really, this whole trip had been that way. There had been so little
to see from Tel Haven Forest to Dragon Scale Mountain it would just about drive a man insane. Winter was the culprit, Nate knew. If these were anything like the plains back home, they weren’t so bad in any of the other seasons. At least then there were critters and snakes and the occasional deer to spot in the distance. The fear of a rattler getting into your bedroll was far more interesting than fighting off the night chill.
A few more hours went by before they finally broke off from the path and veered more to the south. He knew they had a solid four days until they reached the meeting place, but the more they traveled, the more uneasy Nate felt. It seemed crazy to him that they were allowing Marum to take them to her brother. It didn’t make any sense.
Nate had learned all about the history of Droman on their trip to meet with the Sentinels. The gray elf was the leader of a group called the Shadow Clan—a military offshoot that had broken from the traditional soldiers of the gray elves. Their numbers had grown over the years and day-after-day, the president became more fearful of them. Many of the gray elves were disenchanted with how they were treated by man’s government. They had only been a part of the Galamorians for the last hundred years, and only recently had they been given a governorship with an actual voice in the political system.
Most men hated gray elves because of their history. Wars had been fought and the wood elves had chosen the side of men, while the gray elves fought against both sides with savagery. They would often torture their captives for information or burn entire villages just to send a message.
Alban had been fair in the telling of it. He had been sure to explain that men were just as harsh to the gray elves and treated them differently than anyone else. If men were to quarrel with dwarves or gnomes or wood elves, they would all be treated properly. But a second thought was rarely given in torturing and maiming a gray elf. Burning their villages to send a message wasn’t barbaric—they were gray elves. They deserved it.
The Outlaw's Quest (Keeper of the Books, Book 2) Page 12