“Rejji!” greeted Marshal Wyant as he quickly crossed the entry foyer. “How was the trip from Taggot?”
“Gratefully uneventful,” answered Rejji. “I am hearing more and more tales of random murders, though. I witnessed one attempt in Taggot. A hellsoul tried to attack Adger. This does not bode well for our people.”
“No it doesn’t,” agreed Wyant. “We have had six deaths here in the last week. The people are getting quite nervous. We did receive a message from Khadora recently. They say that decapitation kills the hellsouls. I have not had a chance to verify it yet.”
“Find a way to verify it quickly,” advised the Astor. “You are joining Bakhai and me on a trip. I would like this issue settled before we leave.”
“Where are we going?” asked the marshal.
“Angragar,” Rejji replied. “Do not tell anyone. Emperor Marak and his people should be arriving at any time, if they are not here already.”
“They have not entered the city yet,” replied Wyant. “I would have known about it. Are they going with us?”
“They are,” confirmed Rejji. “There are eight of them coming from Khadora. Another four will be coming from the Sakova.”
“A large party,” Wyant responded with raised eyebrows. “What is the purpose of this trip?”
“There are several purposes,” explained Rejji. “One is the need to learn more about the prophecies that we must deal with. We must know as much about what is to happen as we can. How long will it take you to get ready?”
“Less than an hour,” answered the marshal. “I will have Yojji take over for me here.”
“I am sure you will have more notice than that,” smiled Rejji. “I imagine that the Torak’s party will want to rest overnight when they arrive.”
A tribesman ran into the building. He saw Wyant and ran over to him.
“A party of foreigners is approaching the city,” he reported. “We counted eight of them.”
“Go back and escort them to the inn across the street,” ordered Wyant. “I will wait for them there.”
The tribesman nodded and ran out of the building. Rejji shook his head and looked at Wyant.
“Do you keep track of everyone coming and going from Meliban?” he asked.
“Anyone who arouses any suspicion,” nodded Wyant. “Or special people,” he added with a grin. “I was informed of your arrival as well. The advance notice gave me time to get things cleared up before you arrived here. Shall we cross the street and wait for Emperor Marak?”
Rejji, Bakhai, and Wyant crossed the street and entered the Kheri Inn. The common room was huge and hosted dozens of long tables. Most of the tables were occupied with workers taking a break from the workday. Wyant walked up to the innkeeper, Tutman.
“Special guests are arriving in a moment,” the Marshal said softly. “There will be eight of them. Make sure that their every wish is granted.”
“It will be as you wish, Wyant,” nodded the innkeeper. “I will even prepare a special meal for them.”
Wyant turned and stared at the tables in the common room. “Should we get a table for our guests?”
“I would wait and let them choose,” answered Rejji. “If I know Marak, he would want the corner table, and it is already occupied.”
“Why the corner?” asked the Marshal.
“So his back is not exposed,” shrugged Rejji. “He never says much about security, but he is constantly thinking about it. Even the way he walks is subconsciously calculated to avoid being trapped. He is a very careful man.”
Wyant nodded and marched towards the corner table. The occupants looked up when he arrived.
“Marshal,” greeted one of the men. “Sit down and join us.”
“I am afraid that I cannot,” smiled Wyant. “I am with the Astor and need to discuss some things privately. I was wondering if I could talk you men into moving to a different table. We are expecting some others.”
“Rejji is here?” asked one of the men as he rose and turned to look. “I would like to say hello to him. I am done with my meal anyway.”
The other men nodded and stood up. Those who had not finished eating moved to another table while those who were finished walked towards the door and greeted Rejji. A serving girl immediately arrived at the now empty table and gathered the dishes. She came back and cleaned the table just before Gunta and Halman entered the room. Rejji broke off the conversation with the tribesmen and welcomed Marak to Meliban. Mistake hugged Rejji when she saw him. Eltor’s brow creased as he watched the affectionate embrace, but he did not say anything. Rejji guided the party to the corner table, and everyone sat down.
“Quite a city you are building here,” complimented the Torak. “You must be proud of your accomplishments.”
“I am proud for my people,” nodded Rejji. “They are the ones rebuilding Fakara. How was your trip?”
“I would like to say uneventful,” frowned the Torak, “but that would be a lie. We were attacked several times. We are getting better at avoiding the attacks, but I am afraid the family at the Western Woods became involved more than I would have cared for. We have avoided your string of inns since then.”
“Crawford?” asked Wyant. “Is he alright?”
“He is,” nodded the Emperor. “He and his girls were fine when we left, but he had a great deal of cleaning to do.”
“You have been camping then?” asked Rejji.
“We have,” answered the Emperor. “In fact, I would like to take a route towards Ghala that is not traveled much. Is that possible?”
“We could go up the Meliban River and through the Valley of Bones,” nodded Rejji. “There are no inns along that route. Is that what you want to do?”
“Yes,” replied the Torak. “I think we will be attacked no matter which way we go, but I prefer to keep innocents out of harm’s way.”
“Do these hellsouls know where Angragar is?” asked Wyant.
“I doubt it,” Marak replied. “I think they are just watching all of the trails for me.”
“Then I can be of help,” grinned Wyant. “I know the area along the Meliban River quite well. It is the area my tribe used to call home. I can take us along trails that will not be watched by anyone.”
“Excellent,” Emperor Marak replied as Tutman arrived with plates of food.
Each plate was filled with a wasooki steak, slices of clova, and a thin strip of fish. Two girls followed the innkeeper with several large bowls of vegetables.
“A meal fit for a king,” announced the innkeeper as he gazed at each of the visitors and tried to figure out what was so special about them.
His eyes hesitated on the hooded man, but Tutman finally shrugged and returned to the kitchen for more plates. When he returned, Emperor Marak smiled at him.
“Your service is the best I have had on this journey,” Marak said. “We would also like to have four rooms for tonight. I would like the rooms together, but with two on each side of the hallway. Can you accommodate me?”
“Of course,” nodded the innkeeper as he grinned because of Marak’s compliment. “I will give you rooms at the end of the hall so others do not disturb you.”
“Excellent,” smiled the Emperor.
“Introduce us to the rest of your party,” urged Rejji after the innkeeper had left.
Emperor Marak started introducing everyone to each other. Rejji shook his head and stared at MistyTrail when she was introduced.
“So Mistake does have a sister,” Rejji grinned happily. “That makes every step up the mountain to see the Sage worthwhile. I am so happy for both of you. I would like to talk to both of you after the meal if that is acceptable.”
“Acceptable?” balked Mistake. “I would be sorely disappointed if you had not asked. I have so much to tell you. Bring Bakhai with you. We can talk in our room.”
Both elves frowned at the turn in the conversation. Marak saw the tension building and continued the introductions by presenting Eltor and Caldal.
“Elves?” Rejji said with surprise. “Real elves? How can this be? I thought they were a people of ancient history. Where have they come from?”