As Feral brought out their meals, Rone began to relay all that had happened. The two friends sat and talked until nearly closing time before deciding to turn in for the night. Traijen caught Rone by the shoulder as they rose from the table.
“I may not see eye to eye with the old man Rone, but if I can help, I will.”
“Thank you, Tray; I don’t know what’s going to happen or even where I will end up. But I can’t say I would mind the company along the way.”
“Anytime my friend, you know that. Besides, you never know when you may need a lock opened, or a throat slit.” Traijen said with a devilish grin.
Rone knew he was joking. He may be a rogue, but he was not a murderer. Traijen was as good with those daggers as any swordsman ever hoped to be with a long blade. But he never killed unless he had to, and even then, it bothered him.
They exchanged a final goodnight, and Traijen rubbed Fang's ears as he stood to leave.
“Watch after this HoloFae Fang, sounds like he may need it.” The blink wolf just stretched and followed Rone towards their room, but the low audible growl he made said he understood.
9
As the sun rose over the top of Grey Ridge and spilled into the valley below. The Thorn Callers of Briarthorn village set about the heartbreaking task of preparing for Max’s funeral. Tobias and Sagina both needing a break now stood on the steps of the main house.
“How are you feeling?” Tobias asked, not even looking in her direction.
“I’m alright.” She replied as she gently rubbed the stitches on her cheek.
“Then tell me what happened, tell me all of it.” Sagina took a deep breath to steady her nerves, then turned to face Tobias’s cold stare.
“I had just administered Max’s evening medicine and was about to put away the salves when I heard the door to the house open. I thought it was you returning, or another member of our order. So, I did not bother to check. I wish now I had.” Her words trailed off as she fought to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.
“Then what?” Was all Tobias said, if he noticed her tears, it made no difference to him.
“I put the salves away and started to go to the well for fresh water, but as I came from my room, I saw Tobias’s door was open. I leaned my head in to check and was struck in the face. Before I could recover, an Orc was on top of me, punching me. I had no weapon and was not prepared for an attack. I struggled as best I could, but he, Tobias, held his hand up, stopping her in her tracks.
“What I want to know is what happened to Max?” His tone was cold and uncaring as he dismissed her recounting of what she had gone through.
“He was murdered,” she said angrily.
“A DokalFae was there, him and a large Orc. The Orc was the one who attacked me, but the dark elf was the one that stayed in the room with Max. Forest preserve me, I could hear Max screaming and could do nothing.” She said, covering her face with her hand to hide her guilt and tears.
“What did the elf want?” Tobias asked, sounding unbelievably calm.
Sagina took another deep breath and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“I’m not sure. It was hard to make out over the screams. But I did hear him ask about a HoloFae, wanting to know what he knew about something called the Dragon’s Heart. I don’t think Max told him anything, because the screaming only got worse from there. Before they left, the dark elf gave me a message for Rone.”
She dropped her eyes to the deck of the porch, not wanting to see the look from Tobias that she could feel burning into her. His words were like ice as they grated past his lips with nearly uncontrollable fury.
“And what was this message?” She glanced towards him, wondering if she should even have mentioned it before deciding it best to tell him.
“He said to tell the HoloFae he had better not fail, or this would be all of our fates.” Tobias went rigid with her words. Anger now showing openly on his face as it turned a deep shade of red with his rage. He was struggling with himself to not scream. The hand that had been resting on the hilt of his sword, now squeezed it so tight the knuckles had turned white.
“Did Rone have anything to do with this?” He managed between clenched teeth. The question catching Sagina off guard, as she had not even considered such a thing before now.
“I do not believe he did.” She replied quickly, but Tobias did not miss the hint of unsureness that now resonated in her tone. He said nothing as he turned and started down the steps towards the village square.
“Tobias!” Sagina yelled after him, only to be ignored as he walked away. She had been in the rangers long enough to know he was going to do something foolish. And she could only hope Rone had an explanation that would satisfy him.
Or if nothing else was at least a better fighter. Because the look in Tobias’s eyes said all, she needed to know. He was out for blood, and his grief didn’t allow him to care much whose blood it was.
Kellett, who had been listening from the corner of the main house, recognized that look as well. He had seen it before and knew it would bring nothing but trouble for Rone. He hurried after his friend hoping he could calm him down before he did something to brash.
Kellett followed Tobias through the village and waited as he entered the hut the raven master lived in. Tobias was sending a message to someone; the question is who? He leaned against the oil lantern post that held the messenger sign and waited for Tobias to come out again.
After several moments Tobias came out of the hut.
“Who’s the message for brother?” Kellett asked as Tobias walked past.
“It’s for the half-blood, he should know of Max’s funeral.” Was all he said, not even stopping to look at Kellett.
“Tobias, you have to know Rone had nothing to do with this. Hell, he didn’t even know Max had been attacked before the great oak showed him.”
His words caused Tobias to stop in his tracks and grip the hilt of his sword again. Kellett noticed this also and stood far enough back he would be out of reach if Tobias drew it.
Tobias turned to face Kellett with the same icy stare he had shown Sagina.
“What I know is Max is dead at the hands of a dark elf. One that openly mentioned Rone and whatever mission he was supposedly sent on.
“What I know is Rone was not here during either of the attacks on Max.” His voice growing angrier and louder with each statement.
“What I know is Rone went to Grey ridge the day he left here and sent no word about it being burned to the ground! Those are the things I know, Kellett! Along with the fact that Rone is most definitely tied to all of this somehow, and I’m going to find out what that connection is!”
With that, Tobias turned back towards the main house and stormed off. Kellett wanted to go after him, wanted to make his friend see how anger was clouding his judgment. But he knew Tobias would need to cool down first. He thought it best to give him some space then try to reason with him.
Decker, on the other hand, did not. He knew Rone would be in trouble if he came back now before Tobias had a chance to grieve for his friend. So, he mounted his horse and rode out of the village to the watchtower; they sometimes used to look for forest fires. From here, Decker was well out of sight from the village, and he knew that the carrier raven would fly this way towards Crag Moor. He climbed onto the roof of the watchtower, and there he waited with his bow.
Whatever the quest Max had placed Rone on, Decker knew it must have been of importance. He did not like deceiving Tobias, or the fact that Rone would not know of Max’s death until he returned. But he felt like this is what he should do. Max would want Rone to finish his mission, and he would not have wanted Tobias taking his grief out on Rone.