A sense of movement, rather than anything really seen, caused Erik to move to his right, saving his life. A searing pain erupted in his left shoulder as Stefans sword point pierced it. With a cry of agony, Erik felt his knees go weak from the unexpected shock. Then Roo flew past his friend, driving his head into Stefans stomach. Erik almost fainted when the sword point was wrenched from his shoulder. His vision swam and his stomach knotted, and he had to force himself not to lose consciousness. He forced himself back to his feet as he shook his head to clear it. The sound of Roos panic-stricken plea for help brought him back to alertness.
In the dark, with only the middle moon shining through the branches, he could see Roo wrestling Stefan on the ground. The smaller lad had surprised Stefan, but that advantage was now gone. Stefan was using his superior strength and size to force himself atop Roo. Only the fact that his sword was designed for fighting at arms length saved Roos life. Had Stefan held a dagger, the boy would surely be dead.
As Roo called his name, Erik ignored the terrible pain in his left shoulder and with a single step came up behind Stefan. He grabbed his half brother around the waist and yanked him up in a massive bear hug, a primitive cry erupting from his own throat. Stefans breath exploded from his lungs as the young smiths powerful arms closed hard around his chest; the sword fell from Stefans hand as he was lifted abruptly off Roo. Held above the ground, all he could do was kick helplessly backwards at Erik and claw at his hands.
Erik stood like a man possessed by an avenging spirit as he attempted to crush the life from Stefan. He couldnt take his eyes from Rosalyn, who lay in mute tableau, a testimony to Stefans cruelty. Erik had seen her naked as a child, for they had bathed together, but not since they had grown. The sight of her breasts, her own blood dripping between them, was something obscene to Erik. Lover, husband, child should have touched that flesh, with nurturing love. His Rosalyn deserved better than the rough handling of a jaded and cruel noble.
Roo rolled to his feet, his dagger pulled from within his shirt. Murderous anger flashed in his eyes as he stepped forward. Stefan struggled with hysterical strength and Erik felt his grip loosen. As Roo reached them, Erik heard a distant voice shout, Kill him! and as Roo drove home the blade, Erik realized the voice commanding Stefans death was his own.
Stefan stiffened and bucked once, then went limp, and even when Roo yanked free his blade, the son of the Baron did not twitch. Erik felt his skin crawl with an otherworldly sense of disgust, as if he were holding something profoundly unclean, and he let go. Stefan fell limply to the ground.
Roo stood over him, holding the still-bloody dagger, and Erik saw rage-was still in his friends expression. He said, Roo?
Roo blinked and looked down at his blade, then at Stefan. He wiped the blade on Stefans shirt and put it away. Frustration and anger still pumped through Roos mind and body; in need of another target to vent them on, he aimed a vicious kick at Stefans body. The toe of his boot struck ribs, breaking them. With a final gesture of contempt, he spit on the corpse.
Suddenly the anger drained out of Erik. Roo? he repeated, and his friend turned to face him.
Eriks expression was one of confusion and Roos a mask of equally confused anger; a third time Erik said his friends name. Roo finally answered, his own voice hoarse with excitement and fear. What?
What have we done?
Roo looked blankly at Erik a moment, then looked down at Stefan. Instantly what had just occurred registered on him. He rolled his eyes heavenward and said, Oh, gods, Erik. Theyre going to hang us.
Erik glanced around, and the sight of Rosalyn shook him back to more pressing needs than concern over his own fate. He crossed the distance between Stefans body and hers and knelt beside her. She lived, but her breath was shallow and labored, and he moved her to a more upright position. He watched helplessly, not knowing if he should cover her up, or see if he could stop the bleeding from her nose, or what. Then she moaned slightly.
Roo appeared with a fancy cloak, obviously Stefans, and covered her. Shes in danger, said Erik.
So are we, answered Roo. If we stay, they will arrest us and hang us, Erik.
Erik looked as if he were about to pick up Rosalyn, but Roo said, We must get away!
Erik said, What do you mean?
Roo said, Weve killed the Barons son, you idiot.
But he abused Rosalyn!
That doesnt give us a warrant to execute him, Erik. Do you want to go into court and swear that this was only about Rosalyn? If it had been anyone else in the entire world but your own half brother He left the thought unfinished.
We cant leave her here, said Erik.
The sounds of men shouting echoed through the night. She wont be undiscovered for long. This orchard is going to be swarming with the Barons soldiers in a few minutes. As if to punctuate the observation, Erik could now hear distinct voices as the men advanced toward the orchard.
Roo looked ready to run at a moments notice as he looked around the glade. We didnt have to kill him, Erik. If we are put in the dock and made to testify, we cant honestly say we had to kill him. Roo put his hand on Eriks arm as if to drag him from the scene. I wanted him dead, Erik. You did, too. We murdered him.
Erik found it almost impossible to keep events clear in his head. He knew he had felt something close to murder in his heart as he wrestled with Stefan, but now that was a distant memory, and events were jumbled.
Ive got my money, here he indicated his travel bundle so we can make for Krondor and buy passage to the Sunset Islands.
Why there?
Because if a man lives for a year and a day in the islands and commits no crime, hes pardoned for whatever he did before he came there. Its an old law from when the islands came into the Kingdom.
But theyll be looking for us.
Rosalyn stirred, with a faint moan of discomfort. Roo leaned down and asked, Can you hear me?
The girl didnt answer. Roo said, Theyll probably think were going to Kesh. A man can hide in the Vale of Dreams and get across the border without much trouble. The vale, the border between Great Kesh and the Kingdom, was a no-mans-land of smugglers, bandits, and garrisons along both sides of the frontier. Men came and went and few questions were asked.
Erik moved his shoulder experimentally and felt light-headed when a stabbing pain answered his movement. This isnt right, he said.
Roo shook his head. If we stay here, we will be hung. Even if we had twenty witnesses, Manfred would make sure we were found guilty. Roo looked around as a distant shout split the night. Someones coming. We have to go now!
Erik nodded. I should go back to the inn
No, said Roo. Theyll expect that. We must go down the old western trail. Well go all night and cut into the woodlands at daybreak. If they send the dogs after us, we had better be across a dozen streams or more before noon.
Mother began Erik.
Shell be safe, Roo interrupted. Manfred has no reason to trouble her. You were always the threat, not your mother. A shout from the far side of the orchard caused Roo to swear. Theyre on the other side already. Were trapped!
Mother began Erik.
Shell be safe, Roo interrupted. Manfred has no reason to trouble her. You were always the threat, not your mother. A shout from the far side of the orchard caused Roo to swear. Theyre on the other side already. Were trapped!
Erik said, There! He pointed to an old tree both had played in over the years. The centerpiece of the old orchard, the tree was heavily shrouded in leaves and might offer possible haven.
They crossed the short distance to the tree and Roo said, Hows your shoulder?
Hurts like blazes, but I can move it.
Roo didnt hesitate but scampered up the tree. He moved as high as he could, leaving the slightly heavier lower branches for Erik. By the time Erik was out of sight, torchlight and lanterns could be seen coming close.
Roo shook for a moment as he lost balance, then regained it, and Erik was now almost sick with pain, fear, and disgust. Stefans death was still unreal to him; he could see the dark shape of his body on the ground and expected him to rise up in a moment, as if this were all some mummery put on at a festival.
Then a soldier with a lantern saw Rosalyn. Master Greylock! Over here!
Through the leaves, Erik could barely make out the figures that rushed to where Rosalyn and Stefan lay a few yards apart. Then he heard Owen Greylocks voice. Hes dead.
Another voice asked, How is the girl?
A third said, Shes in a bad way, Swordmaster. We should get her to the chirurgeon.
Then Erik heard Manfreds shout of rage. Theyve killed my brother! An almost inaudible oath and a sobbing cry was followed by Ill kill him myself.
Erik caught a glimpse of Owen Greylocks slender form between the nearby leaves and heard the Barons Swordmaster say, Well find those who did this, Manfred.
Erik shook his head. The three soldiers who had seen him and Roo run after Stefan and Rosalyn would certainly place them at the scene. A soldier said, I know there was bad blood between the bastard and your brother, but why did they beat the girl? Erik knew then that they had already been identified.
Erik felt his anger rise again. A familiar voice said, Erik wouldnt harm Rosalyn. Nathan was there!
Are you saying my brother did this, Master Smith?
Young sir, I only know that this girl is as gentle a soul as the gods have placed upon this world. She was a sister to Erik and one of Roos few friends. Neither boy would harm her. Then he pointedly added, But I can certainly imagine them killing anyone who did.
Manfreds voice rose in anger. Ill have no excuse for black murder, Master Smith. No member of my family would do this. Manfred raised his voice to a shout of command: I want every man on his horse and combing the countryside, Swordmaster. If those two murderous dogs are found, I want them held until I can join whichever soldiers find them. I dont want them hung until Im there to watch.
Nathans voice cut through the muttering of the gathered soldiers. There will be no hanging them out of hand, young lord. Thats the law. And as you are a member of the family that is wronged, neither you nor your father can sit in judgment; when caught, Erik and Roo are to be bound over to a Kings justice or magistrate. Then Nathans tone became warning. Erik is a guild apprentice, so if you really want troubles, young sir, try to put my apprentice into a noose without due writ.
Youd bring the guild into this? asked Manfred.
I would, answered Nathan. Erik felt tears gather in his eyes. Nathan, at least, understood why this had happened. I suggest the young lord returns to his fathers side. Someone needs to break this grave news to him, and it should be someone he loves. To drive the point into the ground, he said, It should be you, young sir.
There was a stirring and a weak cry from Rosalyn, and Nathan took command. Master Greylock, would you ask two of your lads to carry the girl back to the inn?
Greylock gave instructions and began issuing commands to search for Erik and Roo.
They remained in the tree while soldiers fanned out in all directions, and said nothing to each other until it had been quiet for some time.
Then slowly they dropped to the ground, and crouched, ready to bolt should any noise indicate they were discovered. At last Roo said, For a while we have luck on our side.
Why?
They dont think were behind them. As they widen the circle to find us, therell be more places we can slip through. Any local farmer would think of the old western trail, but Greylocks probably never heard of it; all his trips west have been by the Kings Highway. For a while we can worry about soldiers in front of us, not behind us.
Erik said, I think maybe we should give ourselves up.
Roo said, You may have Nathan and the guild to protect you, maybe, but I dont. Manfred will get me hung before the sun sets on the day they find me. And dont think hes likely to worry about the law much if it dawns on him that youre now a threat to his inheritance, not Stefans.
Erik felt a sinking in his stomach. Roo whispered, Youve made him Baron next, and I dont think hes going to want you around to thank you, Erik. Were dead men if we cant make straight to the Sunset Islands.
Erik nodded. He was still light-headed and in pain, but he rose to unsteady feet. Without another word he followed Roo into the darkness.
Chapter Four Fugitives
Erik fell.
Roo turned and helped his friend back to his feet. In the distance, the baying of hounds could be heard, accompanied by the clatter of horses.
The boys had been running on and off since leaving the orchard the night before, with no more than a few minutes rest at any one time. Eriks wound refused to stop bleeding, though the flow was slight. Still, it throbbed and burned with heat and he felt himself grow weaker by the hour as they worked their way down out of the low mountains of Darkmoor.
The area west of Darkmoor and north of the Kings Highway was still fairly underpopulated. Rocky terrain with little to recommend itself to farmers, much of the land had been timbered out but left unplowed. Thick stands of trees gave way to a sea of stumps, only to be replaced by unexpected rocky ridges. This region was rich with gullies, ravines, dead-end canyons, and low, flat meadows. Despite their having run down any number of streams, the sound of the dogs had been carrying on the wind for hours. And as Erik weakened, the sound was getting closer.
As the morning sun crested the peaks behind them, Erik said, Where are we?
Roo said, Im not sure. When we left the old wagon trail, I think we turned around a bit. The suns in the right place, so were still heading west.
Erik looked around, perspiration streaming off his forehead. He wiped it away and said, Wed better keep going.
Roo nodded, but after three or four fumbling footsteps, Erik collapsed. Roo tried to help his friend up. Whyd you have to be so damn big?
Erik gasped for air and said, Go on without me.
Roo felt the hair rise upon his neck and felt panic slash through his stomach. Finding strength he didnt know he had, he forced Erik to his feet. And have to explain to your mother how I lost you? I dont think so.