I said I kept the wrong sort of company. After buying a few drinks, I discovered theres a merchant with less than a stellar reputation who deals in gems, jewellery, and other luxury items. Hes a man named Kiefer Alescook.
Who told you this? asked Owyn.
Our host, actually, said Locklear, motioning it was time for them to depart. They rose and gathered their gear, and moved out down the stairs to the common room. With a wave goodbye to Sumani, they moved through the door. Once outside the inn, Locklear motioned for them to walk around the corner to the stabling yard next to the inn. They moved inside the door and found three men waiting for them, each holding two horses.
One said, Switch cloaks, quickly!
Each was of a like height with Locklear and his companions and the exchange was made. If the man playing the part of Gorath had any notion of whom he was impersonating, he kept such thoughts to himself, merely handing Gorath a large blue cloak, taking the dark grey one worn by the moredhel. The others switched cloaks and Locklear took the reins of one of the horses.
By the time the three impostors were mounted, the sound of hooves on the stones announced the arrival of the patrol that would head down toward Zu-n this evening. From outside the gate of the stabling yard, a sergeant shouted, Were here to escort you south, Squire Locklear!
Locklear took his cue and shouted back, Were ready! He nodded to the three men impersonating them who rode off and joined the van of the column. Locklear waited and after a few minutes said, Owyn, you ride out, turn left and head straight out the gate. Ride a mile, then wait. Gorath and I will be behind you by a few minutes.
Gorath grunted his approval. So should anyone linger, he wont see three riders.
Locklear nodded and Owyn said, Hold this, please. He handed his quarterstaff to Locklear, climbed into the saddle, then took the long oaken pole back. With a deft movement, he slung it over his shoulder, through his belt, then twisted it, so it hung across his shoulders and back, not encumbering him or the horse too much.
Gorath easily mounted, though he looked slightly ill at ease.
Dont ride much? asked Locklear as Owyn departed.
Not really. Its been a while, thirty or so years.
Not a lot of horses in the Northlands?
Without bitterness, Gorath said, Not a lot of anything in the Northlands.
Locklear said, I remember.
Gorath nodded. We bled at Armengar.
Locklear said, Not enough. It didnt keep you from coming through Highcastle.
Gorath pointed with his chin. We should go now. He didnt wait for Locklear, but put heels to the sides of his horse and rode out.
Locklear hesitated a moment, then followed after. He overtook the dark elf as he rode easily through the foot traffic of the city. Men hurried home for evening meals while shops closed on every side. Travellers fresh in from the highway hurried toward the inn, eager to wash away the days trail dust with an ale, and women of the night began to appear on street corners.
Locklear and Gorath rode out the gate, ignored by the guards, and set their horses to cantering. A few minutes later they spied Owyn sitting on the side of the road.
When they reached him, he turned and said, Now what?
Locklear pointed toward a stand of woods a short distance away. A cold camp, unfortunately, but at first light we ride north a few miles. Theres a mine road to the east that leads over the mountains. Well take that, then turn south on the other side. With luck well avoid those seeking our friend here and make our way safely to the Kings Highway south of Questers View.
Owyn said, That means were going to come out near Loriel, right?
Yes, said Locklear, with a smile. Which means well have the chance to visit one Kiefer Alescook along the way.
Why involve ourselves in this matter? asked Gorath. We need to hurry to Krondor.
We are, and a few minutes conversation with Master Alescook may yield us a benefit. Should we discover the whereabouts of this missing gem, we win credit with Prince Arutha, for I am certain he wishes to be a gracious host to the visiting magicians from Kelewan.
And if we dont? asked Owyn as they rode toward the woods.
Then I still have to come up with a compelling reason why I left Tyr-Sog without his leave and returned with only this moredhel and an unlikely story.
Owyn sighed aloud. Well, you think of one to tell my father when I get back home and Ill try to come up with something to tell the Prince.
Gorath chuckled at this.
Owyn and Locklear exchanged glances. Locklear shook his head in the evening gloom. He had never considered the dark elves might have a sense of humour.
The wind was cold in the passes, for as winter was coming, in the elevations above them snow already clung tenaciously to the rocks and ice lurked in depressions in the road, making the footing dangerous.
They rode slowly, Locklear and Owyn both with their cloaks pulled tightly around them. Gorath kept his hood up, but rode without apparent discomfort.
How much longer? asked Owyn, his teeth chattering.
A half-hour less than the last time you asked, said Locklear.
Squire, said Owyn. Im freezing.
Locklear said, Really. How unusual.
Gorath held up his hand. Quiet, he said softly, with just enough authority and volume to carry to his companions, but no farther. He pointed up ahead. In the rocks, he whispered.
What? asked Locklear in hushed tones.
Gorath only pointed. He held up four fingers.
Maybe theyre bandits, whispered Owyn.
Theyre speaking my tongue, said Gorath.
Locklear sighed. Theyre covering all the roads, then.
How do we proceed? asked Owyn.
Pulling his sword, Gorath said, We kill them. He spurred his horse forward, with Locklear hesitating only an instant before following.
Owyn reached up and quickly pulled out his staff, tucking it under his arm like a lance, then urging his horse forward. He heard a shout as he rounded a turn in the trail and entered a widening in the road where one dark elf lay dying in the road as Gorath sped past him.
The other three were not so quickly taken, but rather hurried up into higher rocks where the horses couldnt follow. Locklear didnt hesitate and in a move that startled Owyn, the squire jumped up on his saddle and leaped off the running horses back, knocking a moredhel from the rock he was climbing.
On his right Owyn saw another one turn, rapidly stringing his bow, then reaching in a hip quiver for an arrow. Owyn urged his horse forward, and swept his staff, striking the bowman below the knee. The bowman went down, his feet shooting out from under him, and struck the rocks with the back of his head.
Owyns mount shied from the sudden motion near his head and suddenly Owyn found himself falling backwards. Ahhhh! he cried, and then he struck something softer than the rocks. A stunned oof accompanied the impact, and a groan told him he had landed atop the already injured dark elf.
As if scorched by the touch of a flame, Owyn turned over and sat up, scrambling backwards. Suddenly he was struck from behind by his horse as the animal turned and sped down the trail. Hey! Owyn shouted, as if he could order the animal to stop.
He then realized there was a struggle going on, and the twice-struck moredhel was attempting to rise. Owyn looked around for a weapon and saw the fallen archers bow. Owyn grabbed it, and using it like a club, struck the moredhel in the head with as much strength as he could muster. The bow shattered and the warriors head snapped back. Owyn was certain he wouldnt rise again.
The young magician turned to see Locklear standing away from a now dead dark elf, while Gorath likewise stood over a fallen foe. The moredhel turned and looked in all directions, as if seeking another foe. After a moment, he put up his sword and said, They are alone.
How can you tell? asked Locklear.
These are my people, said Gorath without apparent bitterness. It is unusual for even this many to travel together this far south of our lands. He motioned toward a small fire. They didnt expect to encounter us.
Then what were they doing here? asked Locklear.
Waiting for someone?
Who? asked Owyn.
Gorath looked around in the late-afternoon light as if seeing something in the distant peaks, or through the rocks on either side of the trail. I dont know. But they were waiting here.
Locklear said, Where is your horse, Owyn?
Owyn looked over his shoulder and said, Back down there somewhere. I fell off.
Gorath smiled. I saw you land on that one over there. He indicated the body.
Locklear said, Hurry back down the trail and see if you can find him. If hes heading back toward LaMut, well have to ride in rotation. I dont want to be slowed any more than necessary.
As Owyn ran off, Gorath said, Why dont you leave him behind?
Locklear studied the moredhels expression as if trying to read him, then at last he said, Its not our way.
Gorath laughed mockingly. My experience with your kind tells me otherwise.
Locklear said, Then its not my way.
Gorath shrugged. I can accept that. He set to examining the corpse at Locklears feet and after a moment said, This is interesting. He held out an object for Locklears examination.
What is this? asked Locklear, looking at a multi-faceted stone of an odd blue hue.
A snow sapphire.
Sapphire! said Locklear. Its as big as an egg!
Its not a particularly valuable stone, said Gorath. They are common north of the Teeth of the World.
So its, what? A keepsake?
Perhaps, but when a war party leaves our homeland, we travel light. Weapons, rations, extra bowstrings, and little else. We easily live by forage.
Maybe this isnt a war party, suggested Locklear. Maybe they live around here?
Gorath shook his head. The last of my people south of the Teeth of the World lived in the Grey Towers and they fled to the Northlands with the coming of the Tsurani. None of my race has lived this near the Bitter Sea since before the Kingdom came to these mountains. No, while not of my clan, these are from the Northlands. He put the gem in his belt pouch and continued to examine the bodies.
Time passed and finally Owyn put in an appearance, leading his horse. Damn all horses, he swore. He made me chase him until he got bored.
Locklear smiled. Next time, dont fall off.
I didnt plan on it this time, said Owyn.
Gorath said, We need to hide these. He pointed to the four dead moredhel. He picked up one and carried it a short way down the trail then unceremoniously threw the corpse over the side of a ravine.
Owyn looked at Locklear, and the young magician tied his horses reins to a nearby bush. He picked up the feet of the nearest corpse while Locklear lifted the creature under the shoulders.
Soon all four bodies were consigned to the ravine hundreds of feet below. Locklear mounted as did Gorath and Owyn. Leaving for the time being the mystery of why these moredhel were waiting at this lonely spot on a rarely used trail, they rode on.
Loriel appeared before them, a small city really a large town nestled into the large valley which ran eastward. Another valley intersected from the south.
Gorath said, We need food.
A fact of which my stomach is well aware, answered Locklear.
Owyn said, Not that Im in a hurry to face my father, but this is turning into a roundabout journey, squire.
Locklear pointed to the southern valley. Theres a road through there thats a very straight course to Hawks Hollow. From there we have our choice of routes, south along a narrow ridge trail, or southwest back to the Kings Highway.
Gorath said, And then to Krondor?
And then to Krondor, agreed Locklear. Something in all this is making what my friend Jimmy calls his bump of trouble itch like Ive been attacked there by fleas.
Gorath, this stolen ruby, the Tsurani magicians, all of it is somehow more than coincidence.
How? asked Owyn.
If I knew, said Locklear, we wouldnt be stopping off to visit Mr Alescook. He may know something or know someone who knows what its about, but the more I think on this mystery, the more it bothers me that I dont know whats behind all this.
But were going to find out or die trying.
Owyn didnt look happy at the second choice, but said nothing. Gorath just looked out over the town as they rode down towards a small guard post that sat beside the trail.
A town constable of advancing years and considerable girth held up his hand and said, Halt!
The three reined in and Locklear inquired, What is it?
Weve had a rash of renegades around here, lately, mlad, so state your business.
Were travelling south and stopping for provisions, said Locklear.
And who might you be, to be riding down out of the mountains?
Locklear produced the paper given him by Captain Belford and said, This should explain as much as you need to know, constable.
The man took the document and squinted at it. Locklear realized he couldnt read, but he made a show of studying it. Finally, convinced by the large embossment at the bottom, the constable handed back the paper and said, You may pass, sir. Just be wary if youre out after dark.
Why? asked Locklear.
As I said, sir, lots of ruffians and bandits passing by lately, and not too few of those murderous Brothers of the Dark Path. Look a bit like your elf friend there, but with long black nails and red eyes which shine in the night.
Locklear could barely hold back his amusement as he said, Well be wary, constable.
They rode past and Gorath said, That one has never seen one of my people in his life.
So I gathered, observed Locklear, though I must pay more attention to your eyes at night. I may have missed the red glow.
Owyn chuckled and they found themselves an inn. It was dirty, crowded and dark, which suited Locklear fine as he was low on funds. He had thought about asking Captain Belford for a loan, but decided the captains only response would have been, wait for Earl Kasumi, and while Locklear didnt mind taking a circuitous route to get to Krondor to avoid ambushes, he was anxious to put the mystery of what was occurring in the Northlands before Arutha.
There were no rooms available, a situation that surprised Locklear, but the innkeeper gave them leave to sleep in the commons. Owyn grumbled at the need, but Gorath kept his thoughts to himself.