by Kurtis Smith
“Is there no deterring you from this mind set?”
“I’m afraid not,” she replied firmly.
“Then so be it,” Egan conceded. Davin’s stomach did a flip-flop in his body. This attractive girl would be joining them. He would have to spend more time in conversation with her. The thought was frightening, but he couldn’t explain exactly why. He would have to make sure he didn’t sound like an idiot when he spoke. That was for sure. And no childish fighting with Egan.
Egan continued as those thoughts rattled around in Davin’s head. “Let us have our rest while you run your errands. If all goes well we should be ready by daybreak tomorrow.”
“I look forward to our journey together,” she said, almost happy at the thought.
Egan frowned. “I only wish I could say the same.”
Chapter 18 The Company of Fugitives
The three weary travelers slept through the day and awoke around sundown. They noted quickly Kayleigh wasn’t anywhere to be found, so they settled in to filling their empty bellies. It was an odd sight. Each of them looked lethargic and grumpy as they sat munching on various fruits and bread from the house. They had in fact slept through the entire day and still Kayleigh had not returned.
As the evening grew later, though, another emotion grew inside him. He realized he was concerned for Kayleigh’s safety. Strangely, he wanted to rush to her, make sure everything was alright. But he kept his feeling to himself and tried push it away uncomfortably. It was a silly notion. He barely knew the girl.
Teague and Egan have to be thinking the same thing. He quickly hid it behind a display of simple curiosity.
“It is getting later than I ever expected her to return. And this town doesn’t carry the nicest reputation. Perhaps it would be wise to go look for her.”
Egan agreed.
They each gathered up their packs and stepped outside into the gloomy, cloud covered night. The breeze had picked up since their first arrival in the city, causing signs and shutters to creak as they passed. A chill resided in the air that reminded Davin of winter at home in the foothills. It wasn’t a normal kind of chill though. There was the possibility that the lack of moon made the darkness feel more complete, but Davin couldn’t rid of the feeling that something was out of place in city. The three of them kept silent as they strolled aimlessly through the streets.
As the stumbled upon an open air market place, they were greeted by carts and stands as poorly maintained as the men that ran them. Each grinned in a way that said they would as likely to take a knife to one’s neck as sell them their goods. It was hard to ignore their sallow faces, broken teeth, and scarred skin, but they all did their best.
Does no one live a descent life here?
In the middle of the market place there was a crowd of people gathered. They all seemed to be surrounding something in a circular fashion. The merchants who had been packing up for the evening had even stopped to watch the event taking place.
Drawing closer, they heard a man’s voice yelling out loudly from within the circle of people. As he came into sight, they saw that he was mostly naked except for undergarments around his waist. Stopping, they watched him for a couple of minutes.
He seemed to follow a pattern of sorts. He would say something incoherent and then grow silent again. Then he would lie on the street like a baby, shivering, and start the process over.
When Davin, Egan, and Teague had moved closer still, they saw the man fully for the first time. He did not look well. He was currently laying on the damp street, mumbling to himself. He appeared sickly in appearance like so many in this city, but his eyes were bulged and wild within their sockets, as if they weren’t his own.
Clothes sat on the ground next to him, ripped to shreds, as if he had torn them off in his insanity. Davin blinked, hoping his eyes would see a different sight when he opened them again. Sadly, they didn’t.
Egan spoke to a middle-aged man next to them. “Who is this person?”
The man answered in a voice just above a whisper, as if he didn’t want the sick person on the ground to hear him.
“He is merely a street wretch, lost in his mind. I think he’s an old veteran of the army. He was first noticed here a couple of weeks ago. Most of the time people just ignore him, but tonight he’s been especially insane.” The man paused for a moment and sighed. “I personally have pity for him. He doesn’t seem to be getting any better. But there’s nothing we can do. We do not have the means to help him in Tilea. Poverty is a way of life here.”
No kidding, Davin thought, almost rolling his eyes.
The wretch stood up suddenly and yelled some gibberish into the night and then became still again. Had it not been so sad, it would have been funny. Davin couldn’t help but feel pity for him as well. He wanted to take the man to a Cureist.
Davin looked away for a moment and only a few feet from them stood Kayleigh. She was watching the wretch with great interest. Davin pointed her out to the others and they went over to her. She was alarmed at first by three men closing on her position at the same time, but then she realized who they were.
“I am sorry,” she said when they approached. “It took me awhile longer to gather what we needed. I had to travel outside of town. But then, when I returned, I grew fascinated by the wretch here. He was acting a bit more strangely than usual. The soldiers just ignore him usually, but they may do something about him this time.”
Egan obviously had trouble being firm about her mistake. He softened into a smile. “We were merely concerned about your safety. With your father already gone, we feared you had suffered the same fate.”
“I appreciate the concern-,”
She was cut off by the wretch’s yells. Except this time he wasn’t yelling incoherently. He spoke in the common tongue. Real words were coming from him. A new disquiet began to emerge from within the crowd, beginning to gain new attention from passersby.
“Where are they?! I can sense them around me! You must show yourself to me,” he yelled into the night, whipping his head back and forth violently.
Egan turned to Kayleigh again, looking even more interested. “Has this happened before?”
“Not like this that I know of. This is a new development.”
Egan concentrated on the wretch. He seemed to be looking for something that wasn’t obvious.
Davin had decided that he was done staring at this poor man’s pitiful state. He felt like he was mocking the man by standing there and not doing anything. Realistically, he couldn’t really help, but he’d rather leave than watch a hopeless loon deteriorate in front of their eyes.
He spun around to speak to Egan. Egan had started step forward. Kayleigh grabbed his arm. Egan jerked as her sudden move surprised him.
She whispered. “We can’t help him. It has to be this way. And you are going to attract the soldiers to us.”
“Trust me. This may be worth the risk.”
She looked at Davin and Teague and shook her head. Davin nodded. He had to agree that this seemed foolish.
When Egan pushed through the last of people he came face to face with the wretch. Everyone watched, waiting to see what Egan would do next.
Suddenly the wretch yelled out, angrily this time. “Show yourselves! I know you are here somewhere! Come to me!” His voice rumbled through the street, drawing more to the crowd. Just as Kayleigh guessed they would, soldiers were beginning to pay attention.
To everyone’s surprise, especially Davin’s, Egan answered him with confidence that said he knew what the other was talking about.
“No need to shout. I’m right here,” Egan cooed, speaking as if trying to calm a young child.
The other’s eyes grew wide and afraid. His previous rage was halted. He put his hands above him, shielding his head as if he thought Egan was going to attack him.
Egan calmly reached into his pack and pulled out the Driocht orb of wind. Davin frowned. He didn’t understand anything that Egan was doing. Was he going to attack the man
?
In a soft voice Egan said, “Please, will you take this? I want you to have it.” Davin nearly cried out. How could Egan give this crazy person one of their sacred orbs?
The soft, kindness of Egan’s tone must have made him feel better. He uncovered his head and reluctantly took the orb from Egan’s hand. It began to glow. Everyone surrounding the wretch gasp at the sight. This was impossible, wasn’t it? This man couldn’t possibly use Driocht.
Wind shot forth outward from the man’s location in all directions. The gusts were strong and they knocked many of the people in the crowd over. The wretch himself flailed about as if unable to control his power. He cried out in fear, trying to stop what he was doing.
Egan attempted to bellow over the shrieks of the crowd dispersing. “Who did this to you? How can you have this power?”
Davin called out to Egan, “Grand soldiers are coming. We have to go. They can’t find out we did this.” Egan stood stubbornly, waiting for an answer. During this wait, he grabbed his orb back.
After a few more seconds, as he turned to leave, the man screamed in sudden pain. The four of them spun around and saw that the wretch had been struck with an arrow straight in the heart. Davin remembered the feeling of an arrow ripping through his flesh. He winced at it.
The man called out before he fell, “The First Captain…he promised us…”
But he didn’t finish. They didn’t have time to ponder his words. It was time to go.
The group of four was prepared for the journey and made it to the edge of the city in an hour’s time. They kept to a walking pace so that there would be no suspicions about their sudden departure. This time they were not seen.
Davin almost thought he heard the screams in the distance that sounded like the wretch. But that was the least of their concerns about him.
When they arrived at the gates, Kayleigh explained her errands of earlier in the day. She had secured a fourth pooka for her to ride. She also said quickly that the large pack tied to her ride held extra food, clothing, and weapons, should they need them. She had certainly prepared properly. Davin was grateful.
Maybe we’d be more prepared if he had a woman with us all of the time.
“I’m curious about the weapons you brought,” Egan said.
She pointed out of bow and quiver of arrows as well as a long sword, two daggers, and some light armor.
Egan raised his eyebrows, impressed. “You have the equipment, but can you fight?”
“I know the basics, but I was hoping that one of you fine gentlemen might be willing to teach me a little more.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged. We have a bit of traveling ahead,” Egan said.
Davin found her preparation and willingness to learn combat impressive as well. She seemed determined to make herself useful, no matter what it meant in the end.
In a few minutes time, they rode past the outskirts of Tilea. They could now make out the lights from the neighboring towns and single homes and shops that made up the Greenlands. Davin hoped he would someday be able to visit some of the other towns here. He realized that he had probably seen the worst the region had to offer in Tilea.
“Is there no place safe for us to stay anymore?” Davin said, feeling frustrated.
“Probably not,” said Egan. “We need to stick to the roads from here on out. No more major cities unless absolutely necessary. The king is looking is seeking all of us for one reason or another.”
“Why do you say all of us?” She pointed at Egan and Davin. “I know they may want me and you two.” She then nodded at Teague. “But what about him?”
“I think it is time to tell our fair Kayleigh who you truly are.” Teague swiftly turned his head and gave Egan a frightened stare. “It is fine. She can be trusted.”
Teague puffed out his chest and spoke in the most regal manor he could muster. “I am the King O’Hara’s only child, the one and only Prince Teague O’Hara, though I claim the name no longer. My father cast me from his side and tried to have me killed. He is no longer right in his mind.”
Kayleigh didn’t react initially. When she finally did speak her voice was soft. “I knew this whole time. I recognized him when we first met. I figured you had your reasons for keeping his identity secret so I did not pursue it.”
“Very well, then,” Egan said.
After that, they kept the conversation light while still in heavily populated areas. When they had been on the road for nearly a day, Davin asked Egan the question they had all been thinking.
“How did that man have the powers we have? It seems like the same situation as was the case with Governor Gradis. He couldn’t have been one of our kin too, could he?”
Egan answered. “No, neither of them was. I know that now for fact. Somehow ordinary men have been able to use Ancients’ power. I don’t understand it. But from what that wretch said, it seems to have something to do with Deverell.”
A true frustration had crept into Egan’s demeanor. Davin could tell Egan felt there was some clue he was overlooking. It was something Davin had yet to see in the man since he’d met him.
Davin tried to reassure him. “It will do us no good to dwell on the matter until we have more to go on.”
Egan smiled at him and nodded. “You are right, Davin. We should keep our thoughts on finding the Scroll.”
But Egan didn’t seem to be able to let it go. He became lost in his thoughts after that, so Davin struck up conversation with Teague.
Teague told him about Talamaraon City and its wonders, while they both speculated about the Ancients and what it would have been like to live in their time. Davin only spoke to Kayleigh when she directly addressed him and kept his answers to a minimum. All the talking passed the time nicely and stretched well into the morning light.
Through the complex series of the Greenlands’ roads, they came to have strangers as traveling companions for short stretches. Most of them were lively, good-spirited men or families going from one city to another for various reasons. And nearly all of them rode along side and shared the delight of simple talks.
One particular family was traveling with their son to the Acadeem at Oamlund for the first time. The boy was only a couple of years younger than Davin and spoke excitedly about his Focus. Davin never had never any interest in the Acadeems in the past, but now found him wishing for that simplicity. Had he known that his life would have taken this direction when he was young, he might have had a different attitude about becoming a student.
I could still do it someday. People of all ages attend the Acadeems.
Time passed swiftly because of their interactions with the fellow Greenlands travelers, and four days out of Tilea they were deep in the plains again.
Egan kept to himself a lot, only commenting when he had something important to about their direction or future plans. And the other three eventually spent more and more time in silence as well. They were barely stopping to rest and it was taking its toll.
One cloud covered night in the plains Kayleigh approached Davin for the first time. Seeing her out of the corner of his eye, he looked up. His heart fluttered. Why? She stopped a few feet from him and stared with a piercing gaze. Wavy hair swayed in the night breeze, brushing gingerly against her smooth face as she stood in front of him. The deep dark caused by the overcast could not hide her pleasant features.
“What’s your story, Davin of Lemirre? You have yet to say much about yourself,” she said curiously in her strong voice. And she took a seat next to him.
Davin looked down at the ground. “There isn’t much to say,” he said, shrugging her off.
“Of course there is. Everyone has a story. What are you afraid of?”
“Who says I’m afraid of anything?” Davin said, automatically defensive.
She laughed in a disarming way that told him his response hadn’t bothered her. But he couldn’t tell her about his past.
“Somebody’s a little jumpy,” she teased, her laugh sobering into a sharp smile
.
“It’s nothing, I’d rather just not talk about it,” he answered. Worried he was sounding rude, he added quickly, “We can talk about something else though.”
She shrugged lazily. “I’d rather hear something about you. I don’t know anything about you. But if it is painful to think about, I can relate.”
Davin smirked. “I don’t think you can.”
“Really,” she said,” try me.”
There was a challenge in her tone that he wasn’t in the mood for. And then what if she had suffered a worse thing then him, he would look stupid.
He sighed. “Lemirre is a boring little town and nothing too exciting happened there.”
She pursed her lips and stared at him. If that’s the case, why would you not want to talk about it then?”
Pushing him to talk didn’t make him want to. And he wasn’t quite ready to tell this girl that he hardly knew that he hadn’t really been too nice of a person the last few years.
He looked at her for one second and then turned away. “I don’t think you need to know. It’s not important and I don’t want to talk about,” he snapped, harsher than he meant to.
She frowned and walked away from him. “I see. Sorry to have bothered you, Davin.” She sounded polite and disappointed at the same time.
This was the last thing he wanted.
“Wait,” he called. And as she turned around he fell silent. He didn’t mind talking to her and definitely didn’t want to turn her off to him. But his mind went blank as she stared at him. How could he change the topic?
Why is it always so hard to strike up light conversation with girls?
To Davin’s surprise, she smiled. “It’s fine. We will talk more another time.”
As she left him, he almost called out to her to stop again.
He almost wanted to tell her about his attitude toward the world, toward people, toward his past…almost.
When he tired of rehashing the conversation over again in his head, he decided to practice Driocht to get his mind off of the situation. But he had only just picked up the orb when Egan came to him hurriedly. He thought for sure that Egan was going to scold him for acting so rudely to Kayleigh. Thankfully, he had other plans. Egan ushered him away from the camp site. Davin joined him on the other side of some large rock structures.