“Is that how you ended up in prison?” askedMaybell.
Jacob nodded slowly. “At first they said I wasbeing held for questioning about a raid on a grain shipment. Therewas, of course, no such raid. It was clear I was framed to get me outof the way. They made it seem as if I was cooperating in order tocoerce me into furthering their goals, but I refused. I think theonly reason I’ve kept my head is that my mother has agreed towork with them.”
“I can’t believe Lady Nal’Thain wouldside with the Dark Knight over her own people,” said Millet.“She would rather die.”
“You’re right,” said Jacob. “Butit was my life and not hers she was protecting. That’s whatthey do. They use the people you care for against you.”
“How long have you been in prison?” askedMaybell.
“Six months,” he replied. “I wasreleased once but immediately rearrested. When I was jailed the firsttime, troops were just arriving. Now they are at least two-thousandstrong.”
“What do you intend to do?” asked Millet.“If you go back you’ll be imprisoned…or worse.”
“Like I said earlier,” said Jacob. “I’mheading to Baltria. I have friends there who can help me. Then I’mgoing to get my mother out of Angraal.”
Millet thought for a moment. “I’ll go withyou.” He turned to Malstisos. “You and Maybell go backand tell Lord Starfinder what has happened.”
“I don’t need you slowing me down,”said Jacob.
Millet laughed. “If you are who you say you arethen you will need my help. I traveled with your father for manyyears and am far more capable than you might think.”
Malstisos smiled. “You should listen to yourelders, young one. Millet is far more traveled than you. Besides, Idoubt they left you with any coin. How do you intend to eat andlodge?”
“I can hunt,” said Jacob stubbornly. “I’velearned to survive on my own.”
“That may be,” said Millet. “But Iserve the house Nal’Thain and have an obligation to see to yourwell-being.”
Jacob met Millet’s eyes. “You serve myfather, not the house Nal’Thain. He gave up his right to usethat name when he abandoned us.”
“You speak from ignorance,” said Millet.“But now is not for me to enlighten you.” Milletstraightened out his bedroll. “I amgoing with you. We’ll take the road east to Manisalia. There isa crossroads a few days from the city. We’ll split up there.”
Maybell’s eyes lit up. “Perhaps we shouldsee the Oracle.”
“You can try,” said Millet. “But Iwould not tarry long. If she will not see you right away you shouldmove on.”
“I would relish the chance to see the Oracle,”said Malstisos. “She is well known to my people.”
“I think you will be disappointed,” saidJacob. “The rumor is she has left Manisalia to escape thearmies of Angraal. I even heard that she is dead.”
“I hope you’re wrong,” said Maybell,settling into her blanket. “It would be a great loss to theworld. Her wisdom has helped guide the world away from destructionfor many decades.”
“Decades?” said Malstisos. “My peoplehave tales of her that go back before the Great War. I have alwaysassumed her to be more than one person, the title passed down butperhaps not.”
“You think she is that old?” asked Maybell.“She is human, after all.”
“Are you so certain of that? Our stories alwaysdescribe the same person, always looking the same way. That in itselfmeans nothing, but I’ve also heard human tales of her. Recentones. They are too similar in her description to think it acoincidence. At least it seems that way to me.”
“Maybe you can ask her if she is still there.”Millet pulled his blanket over his chest and yawned. “We stillhave a long journey ahead. We can continue this discussion tomorrow.”
Chapter Three
The next day they rode in silence. At mid-day, theystopped to eat and rest the horses. Several groups of soldiers and afew local farmers passed, but all ignored their presence. Thetemperature had dropped substantially, and a strong north wind cutstraight through the party’s clothing. It wasn’t longafter they were underway again when it became clear that they wouldneed to risk a town and an inn.
“No need for us to hide at this point.”Millet’s voice trembled from the cold. “Whatever theirplan, it’s obvious they do not intend to hinder our departure.”
“I agree,” said Malstisos. He glanced overat Maybell who rode in silence, her eyes down. He couldn’t helpbut worry. Despite remarkable resilience for a woman of her advancedyears, he knew the elements must be taking their toll. “In factI intend to remain in plain sight for as long as possible.”
Jacob chuckled and slowly shook his head. “Itwould do no good to run. They have trackers from Angraalfollowing us even now. Of that, I have no doubt. Where we go, theywill follow.”
Millet grunted with displeasure. “When we split upthey may have a harder time of it. I have a feeling that it is youand I they will be following, and my skills in evasion should not beunderestimated.”
Jacob sniggered.
“You should not let your eyes always be yourjudge, child,” scolded Malstisos. “Your father has greatconfidence in Millet. And thus far he has shown his worth more thanonce since I've traveled with him. I daresay his skills andusefulness outweigh yours.”
Jacob suddenly halted his horse, his face twisted inanger. “Mind your tongue, elf.” His hand slid to hissword.
“Don’t be foolish.” Malstisos’voice became low and dangerous. “I will not be threatened, nomatter who your father is.”
The two stared as each other intensely for what seemedlike an eternity.
“Enough of this!” Maybell’s voiceechoed over the trees. The ferocity of the woman’s tonestartled the others.
Malstisos bowed his head. “I am deeply sorry,sister. I know you must be cold and tired.” He turned to Jacob.“I’m certain we can conduct ourselves with bettermanners.”
Jacob continued to fume but nodded sharply. “Fornow,” he grumbled.
Maybell snorted in disgust at the scene. “How muchfarther to the next village?” she asked Millet.
“Two days,” he replied. “But there’sa hostel we could reach before sundown if we keep our next restshort.”
“Good,” said Maybell, trying to hide herrelief.
Malstisos stiffened his back, and he drew his longknife.
“What is it?” whispered Millet.
“Something follows.” The elf dismounted.
“I told you” scoffed Jacob. “They havesent trackers. Weren’t you paying attention?”
Malstisos shook his head. “This is no tracker.Whatever it is… it smells wrong.” He closed his eyes fora moment and sniffed the air. “Stay here.” He placed hishand on Millet's shoulder. “If I do not return in one hour,flee as fast as you can.”
“Where should we go?” asked Millet, alarmed.
“Stick with your plan,” the elf replied,then turned to Maybell and smiled. “Don't worry. I may only bechasing shadows.” He disappeared into the nearby trees, leavingthe group behind.
Many minutes passed before anyone dared to move.Finally, Millet reached into his pack and retrieved a loaf of breadand passed it out to the rest. Maybell reluctantly took a piece andfound a spot a few yards from Millet and Jacob to sit by herself andnibble.
“What do we do if he doesn't return?” askedJacob through a mouthful of bread.
Millet met Jacobs’s eyes. “We'll do asMalstisos said and continue to Baltria. There I will contact yourfather. Now if you don't mind, I would rather not speak untilMalstisos returns.”
“If he returns,” muttered Jacob.
Millet shot a furious glance and stormed away.
Minutes seemed like hours as the group stared into thesurrounding forest, hoping to see Malstisos return. Finally, just asMillet was about to tell the others it was time to leave, he caughtsight of the elf, head bowed low, holding what appeared to be asevered head in one hand and his long knife in the other. Maybellgasped. Millet and Jacob stared in horror as the elf tossed the headto the ground beside the horses. The elf's knife and hands werecovered with thick, black ooze, and the stench of rotting fleshfilled the air. The head resembled a human man, but its features weredistorted and grotesque, as if burned by fire, its hair tangled,stringy, and covered in filth.