The entire group erupted in uneasy laughter.
“Let us go,” said Selena, still chuckling.“It's many miles to Althetas.”
Despite their injuries, the elves easily kept pace. Bythe time dawn pierced the darkness, they had traveled many miles. Toeveryone’s relief, there was no sign of pursuit.
Chapter Fourteen
Several days had passed since Millet and Jacob partedwith Malstisos, Maybell, and the caravan. In Manisalia, Maybelldiscovered that the Oracle had fled more than a year before, and noone knew where she had gone.
Malstisos had arranged for Maybell to have her own tent,and they purchased enough provisions to last the journey. It was abit more difficult to procure horses and a wagon, but thanks toMaybell's remarkable bargaining skills, they managed it.
Though it was bitter cold, the blizzard had not reachedfar west and the roads were clear after only a few days. The nightsbrought cheer and laughter as Maybell and Malstisos made friendsamong the merchants. Maybell instructed the men in manners, and thewomen in how to keep a man in his place. Soon she became viewed as asort of caravan elder, settling disputes and advising the merchantleaders.
Malstisos spent a great deal of his time with Grentosand Vadnaltis, exchanging stories and news from their tribes. Maybellchecked in on them from time to time, but her new-found duties kepther busy.
On the eighth night, Maybell was preparing for bed whenMalstisos came to her tent, looking worried and anxious.
“What is it?” asked Maybell.
Malstisos' lips pressed tight and his brow furled. “Ifear my kinsmen are not what they seem.”
Maybell's back stiffened. “How do you mean?”
Malstisos knelt near the entrance to the tent and peeredout. “First of all, they are seekers.”
Maybell looked confused. “Why is that odd?”
“Because seekers do not hide who they are,”he explained. “And they have attempted to mask what they arefrom me.”
“Is that all?” asked Maybell. “Therecould be any number of reasons for that.”
“Perhaps,” he agreed. “And if it wereonly that, I wouldn't be as concerned. Seekers can be an odd bunch,and the ways of my kin in the steppes are different. But these twohave been probing me for information, the kind that can only be forone purpose. And they have underestimated me. I am not a seeker, butI am a worthy diplomat. Much more so than either of them. I know whenI am being manipulated.”
Maybell tensed. She knew how vulnerable they were. “Whatdo they want to know?” she whispered, suddenly afraid that theywere being spied on.
“The identity of allies that are hiding theirsympathies, the location of Valshara and its strength… things ofthat nature.” He fingered the knife on his belt. “Thething is, if they had asked me directly, I wouldn't have becomesuspicious, but they hid their questions behind other, seeminglyinnocent questions. Their poor attempt and subterfuge has made itclear to me that they are not what they seem.”
“Should we run?”
Malstisos shook his head. “No. We are better offremaining with the caravan, for now. I do not think the humans areaware of their deception, and I doubt they will want to drawattention to themselves so far from home. If we run, we arevulnerable. They are seekers. They will hunt us down and kill usboth.”
Maybell's eyes brightened. “I know what to do.”She stood and began to pace the tent. “We will be nearFarmington in two days. I have friends there that will give usshelter. We should say that we need to pick up extra supplies, thentake refuge.”
“Good plan,” said Malstisos, nodding inagreement. “It is unlikely they will openly attack a humanvillage. Until then, behave normally. I will quietly gather what wecan carry without being noticed.”
“Good,” said Maybell, satisfied. “Thenif you'll excuse me. An old woman needs to sleep. Especially if we'regoing to run for our lives in two days.”
Malstisos bowed and left the tent. He took a deep breathand went back to the fire, where the humans were laughing singingsongs. He knew he should join Grentos and Vadnaltis so not to raisetheir suspicions, but he needed time before he could face them. Thethought of being deceived by his kin caused his blood to boil, and ifthey were to escape he needed them to believe he knew nothing. Hejust hoped the place Maybell had in mind would be enough to stop twoseekers.
After a couple of hours of socializing and singing withthe merchants, Malstisos steeled his nerves and joined Grentos andVadnaltis in their tent. The talk was light and cheerful, and foronce they didn't try to gather information. Around midnight they allwent to sleep, though Malstisos found it nearly unbearable to stay inthe same tent. He slept light and woke several times. He decided hewould find a reason to stay with Maybell the next night.
Chapter Fifteen
Salmitaya cursed as she slapped a horsefly stinging theback of her neck. Her plain wool dress was stained with mud andgrime, and her brow was beaded with sweat. She was not accustomed tohumid climates or the way she was now forced to live.
For two weeks they had been in Baltria, and for twoweeks she had worked as a slave. The home they stayed in was amodest, single story dwelling, though well decorated and comfortable.Located on the northern outskirts of the city and populated mostly bymerchants and store owners. It had a descent yard and a small flowergarden in the back-well tended by her backbreaking efforts.
The house had had two servants when they arrived, butYanti promptly dismissed them.
“You are all I need, my love,” Yanti hadsaid, in his melodic tone. “I wouldn't want you to feeluseless.”
He then made a list of her daily duties, though theychanged from moment to moment, on his whim. The first day had nearlykilled her. She was forced to rearrange all the furniture, tend thegarden, prepare the meals, and then go to the market and pick up aweeks’ worth of food and supplies. After she completed eachtask, Yanti would inspect her work.
“You must do better, my love,” he had said.“Otherwise you will never leave my service.”
Angraal had forced her to give up her positionand wealth, and had indentured her to Yanti until he felt she hadearned the right to regain her status. She had gone from a powerfulHigh Priestess to a lowly servant overnight. At first, she had hopedit wouldn't be so bad, but it didn't take long for her to realizethat despite Yanti's smooth, cultured demeanor, he was a vicious andcruel monster.
She had attempted escape the first week, only to becaught less than an hour into her flight. She cringed at the thoughtof the beating he had given her. He promised her that should she tryagain, he would most certainly kill her… slowly.
Today, her duties consisted mostly of scrubbing thehouse clean from a black mold that seemed to cover everything inBaltria. Yanti had commanded that she be finished by midday. He saidhe had other errands for her to run. She looked up. The sun was highin the sky, and she was still only halfway done. Her back ached andher hands were blistered from constant scrubbing.
“Taya, my love,” called Yanti from behindher.
She jumped. Yanti moved silently and was constantlysneaking up on her. “Yes?” She tried to hide her hatredby averting her eyes.
“I need you to check the inns again. See if yourfriends have arrived.” He turned and strode away. Just as hereached the corner of the house, he paused. “Later thisevening, we'll discuss the fact that you weren't able to finish yourwork on time. Perhaps we can find new ways to motivate you.”
Salmitaya shuddered as she watched him disappear aroundthe corner. She dusted herself off, put away the bucket and brush,and headed to the tavern district. The streets of Baltria were filthyby Kaltinor standards. Though well-paved and maintained, you couldhear the mud and grime crunch beneath your feet. The city wassituated in the very center of the largest delta in the world. Thesoil was rich and black, and the humid climate made the ground wetmost of the time. It was nearly impossible not to track mud whereveryou walked. Frequent rain washed away the buildup before it could getout of hand, but it left a strong musty odor, to which Salmitayaswore she could never grow accustomed.