Damn it! the man in the black vest shouted. If we come back without her, itll be our necks in a noose, and thats if were lucky! He turned and jabbed a finger into the chest of another man. Youre supposed to be our best tracker. Why cant we find them?
Frustration was fraying tempers and the other man yelled back, Because whoevers with her knows his way about these woods, Marstan. Hes clambered over every bloody boulder, walked up sand washes, waded down pebble bed creeks, used every trick there is. His bald head sheeted water as he hunched his broad shoulders. But Ill wager my share of the booty that theyre close enough to hit with a rock.
The man named Marstan turned full circle, But which way?
This rain, Im saying back downhill, said the tracker. More mess washing down these hills and the grounds full on as wet as can be; leeches the sand out in place, leaving cracks in the soil; big hunks of it can come crashing down without warning. He glanced around and moved his hand in a circle. Lots of years the King spends his taxes clearing all the road below cause half these bloody hills come washing down every third or fourth rainy season. He pointed directly up at the four crouching hiders. Wouldnt want to be up there on top of all that ground if it suddenly comes sliding down. Besides, theyve been staying close enough to the road to see where theyre going. He turned and pointed downhill slightly. Theyre probably heading that way. Only five more miles to the garrison at Farborough, so they may feel safe enough even to be back on the road.
The man called Marstan nodded once and moved in the indicated direction and the others quickly followed.
Ty waited until they were gone then said, Glad I picked up and not downhill.
Where do we go?
Ty smiled. We follow them. The one place they wont be looking for us is behind them.
Is that wise? asked the Princess.
Not very, but its less risky if we know where they are. Less chance well blunder into them or give ourselves away by accident. Just be as quiet as you can and ready to run if I tell you.
Lady Gabriella and Hal nodded.
Good, said Ty. Lets go.
Into the now-driving rain they moved, following the pirates who were seeking them.
The afternoon wore on. Ty stayed as close as he could to the pirates, keeping the back of the last pair trudging through the mud in sight, and the others lingered far behind the young noble from Opardum. He felt confident of being able to avoid detection should the pirates double back to check if they were followed or otherwise proved problematic for the fugitives from Roldem. He held up his hand and turned behind a bole, and Hal moved in the same direction, the two young women a moment behind.
One of the pirates had glanced over his shoulder and now stood motionless as if he had seen something. He was on the verge of speaking when a shout from ahead caused him to turn. Hal could barely make him out but had no doubt he was pulling his sword and running forward. Turning to the women he said, Stay here and dont move. He nodded to Gabriella to emphasize she was responsible now for the Princesss safety, then hurried to where Ty waited. By the time he reached him the sounds of combat were unmistakable. The two young men moved as quickly as the terrain allowed, and came to a small rise where they both fell to the ground, ignoring the mud, and crawled forward to observe the conflict.
A dozen horsemen in the royal tabard of the Kingdom, wearing badges familiar to Hal, were cutting through the pirates like a scythe through wheat. The pirate leader, Marstan, was face down in the mud, his blood pooling around him, while five others also were dead or dying on the ground. The last two pirates were attempting to run downhill, never a good idea with horses in pursuit, and died before they got out of sight.
Ty grinned and was about to say something when Hal put his hand over his mouth. He pulled himself close so that Tys ear was less than an inch from his lips and whispered, Boots.
Ty looked and his eyes widened in understanding. The riders were dressed as Kingdom light cavalry, but sported a wide variety of boots, some not even proper riding boots. The riders who had cut down the last pirates returned and as they reined in, the entire unit showed no sign of military discipline. One man said, Well, you know the orders. If that idiot Marstan didnt have her, shes somewhere up in those woods.
You sure, Gravan? Maybe they headed back towards the Eastern Kingdoms.
You get paid to kill, not think, Colver. If what I was told is right, shes with two pups from the Kingdom ones some dukes kid and a bodyguard. Dont take that one lightly. Shes a woman, but shes a killer. He stood up in his stirrups and looked around into the trees. If were going to search, we need better weather. He pointed to the bodies on the road. Lets clear away the trash and pull back a way. If they think its clear ahead to Farborough, they may just come wandering in without any help. He sat back down and said, Im going back to report. Finish up here and take a quick look, but Ill be surprised if you find anything. Get back and Ill start organizing a proper search.
The lead rider put his heels to his horse and set off down the road while the other eleven men dismounted, three taking reins, and leading the horses away, while the others began gathering the dead. As they started carrying the first two downhill, it was clear the closest thing to a proper pyre theyd come across was a sailors burial at sea, or being tossed off a cliff into the surf.
Ty signalled and led Hal back to where the two women waited. Someones taken Farborough, said Hal.
What do you mean? asked the Princess.
The pirates are dead, killed by horsemen wearing Kingdom garb, but its all a sham. They talked, theyre all in it together; maybe the riders were pirates, too. They killed Marstan and his men for failing to find you.
They have different boots on, said Ty.
Boots? I dont understand, said Stephane.
They got the uniforms off of dead Kingdom soldiers, no doubt, said Ty.
No, said Hal. If they were stripping corpses those tabards would be bloody. And they would have taken boots.
Fair point, conceded Ty.
No, someone supplied them those uniforms, but couldnt supply boots.
If we cant go to the town of Farborough, asked the Princess, where do we go?
Hal looked at Ty who said, I have no idea.
CHAPTER TEN
Ty threw a rock.
He gathered in the makeshift sling as the rock struck the rabbit on the head, killing it instantly. The still-wet ground sucked at his boots as he made his way to the kill. It was the third coney he had felled, using slinging skills he had learned as a boy. He was well pleased that he had retained the knack of it and knew the others would be more so for the soon to-be-cooked rabbits. He glanced at the sky as he turned to head back. It looked as if the rain was finally over. The air had a heavy feeling to it, hot and swampy, but it wasnt as sultry as it had been as the sun set, and his mountain-bred weather sense told him it was getting dryer.
As he trod the game trail, he hoped Hal had managed to get a fire started so that they could quickly dress and cook the rabbits. It had been three days since theyd left the ship and escaped the pirates and what little food they had carried in their belt pouches was long gone. What had started off as a quick hike to a safe village had now turned into a rigorous overland trip into dangerous territory.
Ty reached the clearing they had elected to use for a camp for the evening. While hunting he had looked for signs that anyone was on their trail again, but it appeared as if the false Kingdom soldiers who had been searching for them were far enough away that they could risk smoke from the cook-fire. Hal helped Ty dress out the rabbits and while they were cooking, he went to bury the hides and offal. No sense in having carrion eaters circling overhead and calling attention to us, he said.
As the rabbits cooked, Princess Stephane asked, What do we do now?
Ty said, Ive been thinking. Its probably more dangerous to double back to the east and head for the border states. Moreover, we cant be sure any of the Eastern Kingdoms havent allied with one side or the other. We blunder into Prandurs Gate or Maladon, you could be held for ransom or turned over to Lord John Worthingtons agents for your protection as soon as we surface. No, we strike for Ran. Unless its fallen, well be safe there.
Hal said, If Rans fallen, well have more to worry about than ransom, Princess. It would mean a Keshian presence on the Kingdom mainland in the Eastern Realm, for the first time in history.
Ty nodded. Those false soldiers were almost certainly Kingdom men, from their speech, not Keshian, and they were in league with those Ceresian pirates, so we have no idea whom they serve. He sighed. I know my father is taking care of my mother, and as a minor Kingdom noble hes probably being watched, but its unlikely more than that. He glanced at Stephane. I know you worry about your parents.
She nodded. And my brothers. She looked from one to the other. My parents have loyal followers. I know Lady Franciezka is important in all this intrigue, but she would die to protect my family. Shell ensure theyre safe and its not in Lord Johns interest to harm them. He just wants me married to his son.
Which means youre worried about your brothers.
She smiled a tight smile. My brothers are men of character and tougher than one might think.
Hal smiled. So is their sister.
She glanced at him and saw open admiration in his expression. Thank you, she said. That was gallant.
Well meant, he returned. Youve held up like a soldier.
Ty turned the rabbits. I suggest we eat and move on. Bury the remnants of the fire, just enough to be discovered if someone chances by, then lay in a false trail to the south.
We go north-west? asked Hal.
If I can read these hills, he said, looking in that direction, there should be water sources up there in that low gap. That means rivers for ample water and caves most likely. We can shelter for a day or two, rest up, fish, hunt, and then strike south-west to Ran.
Rest would be good, said the Princess.
Hal reached out and gently touched her shoulder. Well get you to safety, I swear.