Chapter 6: Chapter Five

They saw the road through the narrowing trees in less than an hour and headed along it, staying just out of sight. Despite what Maug said, neither of them intended to take chances they didn’t have to. They could hear the noise of the horses and people filling the road throughout the morning. It became louder just outside the town. They came to a stop around mid-morning and moved further into the trees.

“Alright,” Maug said, digging in the larger of his bags. “I’ll pop in, get what we need, and we’ll be gone before the moon’s up.” He pulled out a short black coat with silver buttons.

“Where did you get that?” Del asked.

“Oh, I found it on the way out of that last inn. Thought something fancy might come in handy.” The coat was too tight in the shoulders but otherwise fit him nicely. Maug adjusted his wide hat over his pointed ears and held out his arms for appraisal. The coat was enough to draw the eye from his road-worn leather pants and, as always, the hat hid the Zersapi hair and ears, but anyone who looked at his bright, almond-shaped eyes and his toffee skin would know he was not Aurelian. A well-paid servant, maybe. But he was freakishly charismatic, and that was usually enough to get him out of most situations.

“You look great.” She stifled a yawn behind her fist.

“Get some rest, will you? You look dead.” Before she could protest that he’d had no more sleep than her, he picked up the smallest of his bags and headed for the crowded road.

Maug wasn’t wrong. She was exhausted. But this was no place for a nap. Pulling some dried meat and hard bread from her pack, she sat cross-legged between two trees, careful to stay out of leaning distance of either. Tafa foraged in the dried leaves and sniffed at the base of every tree within sight.

“Not too far, little one.” Del sat listening to the sounds of the road and the surrounding forest, so distracted she forgot the food in her hands. Some time later, Tafa startled her awake by loudly finishing the meat that had fallen from her hand when she nodded off. Grunting with annoyance, she stood and stretched. She had dozed for at least two hours and the only thing she had gained was a stiff back.

Sighing, she bent over to retrieve her bag, which was the only thing that kept her head from being caved in by the very large club that swung over it. The chunk of wood whistled through the air over her shoulder and Del rolled away by instinct. When she pushed herself back up, she saw a large toad-faced man preparing to swing again. He was grinning at her, waiting. Behind him, another man stood inside the shadow of a large tree. She could just make out the outline of a bow held loosely in one of his hands.

“Come on then, girl, run,” the toad man said, raising his club menacingly.

So your friend can shoot me in the back? She thought. No, I don’t think I will. Instead, she charged the big man, who only managed a grunt of surprise when she ducked low and took out his legs. He swung the club wildly as he fell. Del rolled away from him again and moved to place his bulk between her and the archer who had finally stepped out of the shadows and raised his bow. The beads in his hair sparkled. An Aruelian. She waited for the downed man to gain his feet and lumber toward her. His club lay forgotten where he dropped it. He was going to do what needed done with his bare hands, evidently.

Luckily, even tired, she was still faster than either of them. Keeping most of her attention on the archer, she ran straight at Toad. The confusion on his face would have been comical in another situation. Dipping under his grasping hands, she rolled away and behind him, now running straight toward the black-haired Aurelia. She saw him raise his bow and pull in one quick motion and threw herself to one side. She felt the arrow sail past her before she hit the ground hard enough to knock the wind from her lungs.

Struggling to her feet, Del drew the dagger at her ankle and again headed for the big man, now flailing on the ground with an arrow sprouting from his chest. She crouched low as she ran, expecting to feel an arrow in her side any second. But the archer was either slow or hesitant to make another mistake. Diving on top of the wounded man, she grabbed the dagger at his waist with her empty hand and rolled again as she heard the bow snap behind her. A roar of pain from the big man filled the air. So just slow. She turned to face the bowman.

“I’ll have that ring, my lady,” he snarled, notching an arrow. So it was the ring. Her heart sank. The damn ring.

She threw the dagger in her left hand awkwardly. He raised his bow arm and deflected the wayward shot easily, laughing. But that was all the distraction she needed. She threw the other dagger in a graceful arch, hitting the unsuspecting man in his neck. His eyes widened, and he dropped his bow to claw at the wound. He managed to pull the dagger from his neck before falling to the ground. A spray of blood followed him to the forest floor.

Del crouched in the leaves, panting. When both men stopped moving, she retrieved her and Maug’s bags and called Tafa, who came running from behind a stand of trees, eyes wide, and ears low.

“Shhh,” she stroked the little creature's head and placed it in her bag pocket. “It’s over now. It’s alright.” She wasn’t sure which of them she was trying to comfort. “But we have to get Maug. Quick as we can.” If these men had followed them since Ashton, they would be looking for Maug too. They may already have him. But maybe they thought she would be the easier mark and start with her.

And they were after the ring. She scowled as she finished gathering their things. That stupid ring. She knew it would cause problems one day. She should have refused it. Threw it away. Sold it. But it was too late now and her nostalgia may have cost Maug his life.

There was no time to change into her dress or fix her hair and, if things got bad in the town, she would need the freedom of her leathers. She pulled her long beaded hair on top of her head and dug out one of Maug's wide-brim hats to put over it. The disguise wouldn’t make it past the first tumble, or maybe even the first close look, but it might get her into the town.

It was midafternoon, and the road was still clogged with people heading to the town Del had never learned the name of. Head down and walking fast, she weaved her way around carts and horses and travel-weary foot traffic until she saw the town gate. Closer to the gate, she positioned herself near a farmer’s cart filled with motley-looking corn. Any guards would presume she was traveling with the group. And there were a lot of guards. King Guards, armed Aurelians, and a few like Toad who looked like hired swords. So many eyes to see through her disguise. How did Maug ever make it inside the walls?

Something tightened in her chest and she found it more difficult to breathe. What if he hadn’t made it past this? What if someone attacked him in the same way she had been? Ambushed on the road or taken at a dice game while she slept. Del closed her eyes and put a steadying hand on the cart. This was Maugrian Bilkan, the best con man and thief she had ever met. If she could best the goons sent for her and make it through the gates with this pathetic excuse for a disguise, he could do better. He was probably in bed with the mayor's daughter already. And if not, that’s what she was here for. To get him out.

The cart moved under the arch of the town gate, and Del tried to keep an even pace. She risked a glance at the guards from under the brim of her hat. Everyone except the Aurelians seemed to be bored and only half watching the moving crowd. The pale men with black hair among the watchers were more attentive but skimmed over her and the cart. She snorted. Maybe they were looking for a lady in a fine red dress, or someone mounted, or maybe it was just as simple as Aurelias not being able to ignore their prejudice for even an afternoon.

Just inside the gate, the traffic came to a halt as people and carts funneled down side streets.

“Hey, you buying that?" It took a moment for Del to realize the question was meant for her. The farmer gestured to the corn cart he was driving. She removed her hand from the dirty slates.

“No. Sorry.” He just grumbled and edged his horse on, leaving her at the intersection alone.

All she had to do was think like Maug. Where would he go first? That was pretty easy. Somewhere he could make money and find gossip. And since they were trying to keep a low profile, that meant dice or cards in a shady tavern. Walking down the main street she spotted a large, neat, three-story inn with a colorful sign outside declaring it the Three Graces. She walked past without looking in. That was not the kind of place a servant found a game, even a well-dressed servant. She walked past two more similar places before coming to a likely spot. The tavern was just off the main road, but small and unadorned.

Del hesitated at the door. Time was not on her side and too many wrong choices here could cost them both. She shook her head and then, remembering her hat, stopped and checked her hair was still hidden before entering.

The inside of the tavern was dim despite the sun outside. A fire along one wall provided most of the light and made the small space stuffy. The voices of at least two dozen patrons made a loud murmur. A few people looked up from their conversations when she walked in. She kept her head down and walked further into the open common room, but she already knew this wasn’t the place. Men with cheap beads in their dark hair dotted the tables and stools. But the lower class of Aurelia was even more concerned with appearance than the upper. No one here would lower themselves to play games with a servent.

Del turned to make a quick exit before anyone questioned her presence, but found the way blocked by a serving woman with a stern face. The large woman looked her up and down with a scowl.

“Is there something I can get you?” Her tone made it obvious she was asking what a dirty servant was doing in her establishment.

“Uh, no ma'am.” Del ducked her head. “I was looking for another servant, but I’m not sure what inn he is staying in. We only just arrived.” She tailored her accent to favor rural but not foreign.

“Humph. Well, that’s obvious. This is a fine tavern not for your likes.” Del thought that was generous but kept silent. “Andrew’s Place on Washer Street serves your lot. Go look there.”

She had no idea where that was but didn’t dare question it, just nodded, mumbled thanks, and left.

Del wandered the streets for another hour, doing her best to look like she knew where she was going. She finally relented and asked a busy street vendor where she could find Washer Street and was given half-hearted directions toward the center of the town. Once there, ‘Andrew’s Place’ was, unfortunately, very easy to find. The crowd gathered in front of the two-story inn spilled onto the walk in front of the building. Huddled groups talked excitedly up and down the street leading to the place. A man with saggy jowls was telling no one in particular he had single-handedly stopped a band of thieves, and she heard a group of women discussing murders loose in the town. Del’s heart dropped when she finally elbowed her way to the front of the building.

The window of the building was broken. Glass littered the path and street. Inside, chairs were overturned, and a body was visible under one of them.

“Quite the sight, no?” Del barely stopped herself from a humiliating squeal when the voice spoke in her ear. She turned to see Maug grinning at her.

“You idiot,” she said between gritted teeth, relief and anger warring in her chest. “Where have you been?” He led her to the edge of the crowd.

“In there,” he gestured to the broken-up tavern.

“What happened?”

“Well, a couple Aurelian gentlemen thought they could maltreat me just because I’m an outsider.” He shrugged. “Which, of course, is true. So I had to start a bit of a commotion to slip past them. These fellows are serious about finding me, it would seem.”

“I don’t think so…” The town’s people around them shifted and became louder. A small group of armed men, like she had seen at the gate earlier, pushed through the crowd. Del watched them with rising panic.

“What do you mean, you don’t think so?” He tugged at her sleeve. “Hey…” She pulled him deeper into the onlookers and away from the building.

“I was attacked too,” she held up a hand to stall his questions. “In the forest. They are not after you, at least they aren’t after us because of you.” Stopping at the edge of the crowd, she turned to look up at him. “I’m sorry Maug. I’ll explain everything as soon as we are out of this…” she gestured around them. “But right now…”

“HEY! You two there, turn around,” a man shouted behind her. Del didn’t turn around.

“Is he talking to us?” Maug's eyes didn’t leave hers as he nodded. Only a few people had turned to the man’s words in the confusion, finding the mess of the tavern far more interesting. She grabbed Maug’s hand. “Stay with me this time. I don’t want to lose you again.” Before he could answer, she pushed into the back of the crowd as hard as she could, pulling him behind her and yelling in a panic she only had to put a little acting into.

“It’s the murderer! He’s in the crowd! Run!”

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It took a few seconds for the words and shoving to take effect, but when they did, it was exactly what she was hoping for. She thought she heard Maug laughing over the people running and screaming in every direction. She led at first, pulling him behind her until the people around them dwindled. Once the sound of shouting faded, Maug took over and led them to the town wall.

This wasn’t the first town they’d left at a run, but it was one of the biggest. Luckily, it had all the same things for keeping out of sight: dark allies, high rooftops, and lazy guards. Luckily, the hired muscle hadn’t been distributed to the whole town. They crouched in the shadow of a large chimney, looking down at a crumbling piece of the town wall.

“One stays, one ten-minute march back and forth.” Maug scratched his chin as he watched the guards. “Should be a fairly simple escape.”

“Over the wall, sure, but after that…” Del’s legs felt like water, her back and shoulders ached from the fight, and she was deeply regretting her missed morning meal. They had spent nearly the entire afternoon winding their way here unseen through the town. Climbing the broken wall was the simple part. Past the wall, to the south of the town, was a wide stretch of open fields. The sun would set soon, but they couldn’t wait. Dark would mean more guards, and losing the possibility of even getting over the wall.

“We’ll just have to run for it.” He gave her a small smile, but she could see her own exhaustion mirrored in his eyes.

“No. We’d never make it unseen. It would be suicide.” She pointed toward the forest to the north. It was much closer and already shaded in darkness. “We’ll have to go in there. At least until we can figure out the next step.”

He only nodded, but she saw some of the tension leave his face. ‘He knew it was the better plan and kept his mouth shut because he thinks this is his fault’, she thought with a mix of exasperation and affection. She opened her mouth to explain everything; about the man, and the ring, and why it was all important but stopped. There would be time later, after they were away.

“No time like the present then,” she said instead. “Lead the way.”

Getting over the wall proved easy. Ten minutes was more than enough time to climb the crumbling stone and the only guard in sight was half asleep. Dropping into the low grass outside the wall, Del felt a tautness leave her she’d been carrying since Toad’s first swing at her head. She had to remind herself they weren’t in the woods yet or she may have just sat down right there and had a nap.

Maug hit the ground beside her with a quiet grunt.

“That felt easier than it should have,” he whispered, then shrugged and, after a quick look over his shoulder, took off toward the trees. Del followed, staying as low as she could.

They were halfway to the tree line when the shouting started. It seemed distant and indistinct but, when Del looked behind them, she saw at least six figures outside the wall running toward them. Maug grabbed her by the arm and pulled hard. They made it to the tree line just as the arrows started to fall. She heard the whistle and thud but didn’t slow to look back. They ran. They stumbled and ran more. Darkness overtook them and still they ran. They ran until it felt to Del like they would see the great Mitoan sea any minute.

Finally, Del slowed to a walk, and stopped, waving for Maug to keep close. The forest around them had an unfriendly feel. The darkness was heavy and shadows moved everywhere in the pale moonlight. Night creatures stirred from root to bow and the wind whipped in the tall trees, making a cacophony of noise. They would be hard to track here, but just as easy to ambush. No matter how tired they were, this was not the place to stop.

After more hours of walking, they came to a small rolling brook. The clear water barely covered its stony bed. Del bent to let the water splash over her hand. It was warm despite the chill in the air and she flinched from the feeling.

“We’ve gone too far north. Much too far. We need to turn back.”

“We could turn west for a bit, but I’d feel better if we put more forest between us and the big guys with swords and bows.”

“No!” she snapped, then took a breath, trying to calm herself. “We have to turn back south, at least for a little while. We’ve come too far…”

“Too far for what? Certainly not too far from them.” He motioned behind them.

Del ignored his question and tried to listen to the noise of the forest. His eyesight was better, but she was a better tracker. At least she had been once. It had been a long time since she stocked a forest like this. She looked to the treetops and peered into the deep shadows. “I haven’t heard anyone following. They probably turned back hours ago.”

“And how exactly would you know a man with a sword from whatever is crashing around everywhere in here?” He, too, turned to survey their surroundings. The thick trees and gentle slopes and mossy ground looked the same as it had for miles behind them. “I don’t like this place either, but North, away from Aurelians, is better. The trees will thin eventually.”

“No, they won’t,” Del answered, distracted by an unfamiliar noise.

“You don’t know that,” he sighed. “Fine, west a bit. But not back toward the thing we’re running from. That’s just madness.”

“That’s the Heart Blood.” Del pointed to the little stream beside them when he looked confused. “The Camersol.”

“What?” He laughed nervously. “Come on Del. The famed river of the Velli. If it’s even real, it’s supposed to be huge and steamy or majestically misty or some nonsense. Not a trickle in the middle of nowhere.”

“It’s real, and this is only its ending. The Camersol has a long breadth,” she said distractedly, continuing to stare into the night. “We’ve come too far North. I recognize these woods. We are close to the borders of Bellon Forest. We have to turn away from it before we’re seen. I’d rather face a hundred swordsmen than step foot over the border of the silent forest.”

“You recognize…how would you know what Bellon looks…”

She held up a hand to silence him. He opened his mouth to continue his argument, but closed it when he heard the noise. Over the rustling of the forest, something was growing louder. Only a little louder at first, a crashing sound behind them. Del thought she could hear labored breathing as well.

Maug moved closer. “What is that?” She continued to listen as the sounds grew more distinct. “Del, that is big and coming this way.” He tugged at her arm. “We need to move.”

“No, we can’t go further into the trees.” There was a strain in her voice. Maug had rarely seen her shaken, and it gave him pause now.

“Fine, but we need to move. Now.”

Del turned to look for shelter, anything that could hide them in the dark, but before she had gone more than a few steps a stench overwhelmed her. It was the sweet nauseating scent of decay; like the remains of a forgotten kill. The noise of the forest stopped so suddenly it was disorienting. Even the wind died. Maug covered his mouth with his sleeve as the scent grew stronger. Behind them, a shadowed silhouette appeared, moving among the trees, still more than a hundred paces from them. As tall and broad as a wild boar, it’s breathing softer now, wet sounding.

“We need to make it into Bellon,” Del whispered, “now.”

“What?” Maug’s voice was hoarse. His eyes never left the creature. It was still too far for her to see more than a faint outline, but he would see more, maybe make out its flat, disturbingly humanoid face and wide red eyes. “I thought we needed to be away from there?”

“That’s a gorval.”

“Gorval aren’t real,” he answered, but there wasn’t much conviction in his words.

“They are, and so is everything you’ve heard of them. It will kill us and there is nothing we have that can stop it. They are persistent but slow. Crossing the magical borders of Bellon is our only hope. It’s a thing of evil. It will not go there.”

“That’s insane. Gorval aren't real.” She felt him tense beside her. The gorval had started to move again, toward them.

“Call it whatever you want. We need to go. Ready? Follow the stream. Keep it in sight. Run until I tell you to stop.” She grabbed his arm and shoved hard. “Go!”

The trees around the little stream were sparse, but the ground was uneven from the rise and fall of its banks. Despite the pitfalls, they ran at full speed, keeping the stream always to their right. The Gorval crashed and snorted behind them, but as the stream grew from a soft brook to a bubbling rapid, the noise receded. Maug slowed, panting.

“I think we lost it,” he said, jogging beside her. Del shook her head and pushed him on.

“It will not stop now it has our scent.” She saw the disbelief in his eyes, but he turned and ran with her.

They had slowed with fatigue again by the time the stream widened into a shallow river and the mist that hung over it overtook its banks. Del stopped and shivered in the warm fog. Holding her sides, she struggled not to sink to the ground.

“We’ve crossed. It will not follow us here.”

“Yeah, then why do you sound like someone just walked over your grave?” He panted and sat down heavily on the mossy ground.

“I don’t like this place.”

“Really? I think it’s pretty nice, actually. I always heard the…”

“We have to move. West. If we stay just inside the border, we can…”

“Come on. You don’t really believe all those scary stories about the silent forest, do you? We have to rest. We’ve been awake for days, running for hours.” He reached to remove his bag.

Del began to argue, but movement behind them had Maug back on his feet. The gorval emerged from the mists, breathing no heavier than it had the first time they’d seen it. Its grotesque face looked gleeful.

“I thought you said it couldn’t come here?”

“It can’t,” Del said in disbelief.

“I say all that about the elves and their forest is bullshit.” He pulled one of the short blades from his waist as the gorval stocked slowly towards them through the mists.

“I don’t understand…” She, too, produced a dagger, even knowing it was useless against the beast’s thick hide and steely spines. The scent of death overwhelmed her again. “I’m sorry…”

She heard a soft snap and felt a sting along the side of her face. The gorval snarled and then squealed in pain before turning and crashing through the trees the way it had come. Del brought her hand to her cheek and saw blood on her fingers when she brought them away again.

“What…”

“Iyai use’a na ze’aszanea.”

Del turned toward the voice, roughly grabbing Maug and shoving him behind her. He grunted but said little as he stared at the newcomers. A thin man held his bow lightly at one side. His skin was the color of the moonless night, his dark hair flowed softly over his shoulders, and his golden eyes were full of hate.

“There are two more in the trees behind him,” Maug whispered in her ear.

“Ruhs suhe’a iyai,” the man raised his bow.

“No, wait!” Del held her hands up. “We only wanted protection from the gorval. We meant no harm to the Velli and will leave now without question or harm to your wood.”

The elf’s low laugh was completely without mirth, but he lowered his bow. He spoke over his shoulder and two forms materialized from the trees. Both as dark and taunt with daggers at the ready.

“Runea a sizuhs ruiy se’aiy faasiya’a”, the first elf sneered.

“I wish I knew what they were saying,” Maug breathed.

“No, you really don’t,” Del answered.

Before they could react, the elves had them surrounded, daggers flashing in the moonlight. The lead elf raised his bow again.

“Iyai use’a na ze’aszanea.”

“No,” Del shouted, “Ra! Uh unur Evandella Wranbanise. E’aus unh!” The elves hesitated. Del looked at Maug apologetically before continuing.

“Uh ze'aur's sue'a suhr ae zusajuhr.” She pulled the cord from her neck and let the moonlight hit the pale green stone of her ring. “Let us pass. We did not mean to come here and want to leave as much as you want us to.”

“Iyai ssuhe'a,” one elf murmured angrily. Del rounded on him.

“I’m lying? You are a Velli ranger and I know you speak common. I know because every ranger is required to learn it before they take their first border patrol. So if someone yells, “I’m wearing the ring of Proving” you don’t shoot them by mistake.” The elves looked at her, unblinking. “You also learned history at the table of Allorus, so if you are not complete slack wits, you know it would be an easily disproved and therefore ridiculous lie.”

At the mention of Allorus, the lead elf lowered his bow and motioned the other two to sheath their weapons.

“You will come with us,” the elf said. “You will answer to the Faea.”

“There is no need,” Del began.

“And the sizuhs will leave. Now.” He pointed his bow menacingly at Maug.

“No,” Del stepped between the ranger and Maug, “if I am who I say, then you know molesting my companion will go ill for you.”

“Uh, Del,” Maug whispered behind her, “who exactly are you telling them you are?” Del only shook her head in answer. “Well, whatever gets me through this unmolested I’m good with.”

Bow still raised the elf in front and snorted. “It is forbidden for any to pass our borders now. Either you come before the Faea and prove your claim, or he dies. And then you will come before the Faea still but alone. Choose.”

Del raised her hands, defeated. “Fine. We’ll go. Go on then. Let's get this over with.”

The ranger nodded. “Follow. They will be expecting us.” She noticed the other two elves had disappeared back into the woods. Gone ahead to herald their coming, most likely. She groaned but followed. Maug moved beside her.

“Where exactly are we going and who are we going to see?”

“We are going to the heart of the silent forest,” she answered morosely, “and we are going to see the Lord of the Velli.”