“The elves? I didn’t think anyone knew where to find them.”
“Most people don’t, but Sol is not most people.”
“Sol? As in Sol, the wizard?”
“You’ve heard of him.”
“Only stories. I didn’t think he still existed.”
“There are a lot of things about Sol that are unknown, and I for one like it better that way. I trust him, however, and I’ll be more calm when he has returned from Vallis, and we can start figuring out what all these strange events mean and what to do about them.”
“Why do I get the feeling I’m somehow involved more deeply, and always have been?”
“Because you’re an astute young woman who recognizes when things around her are not as they should be. I reckon you have felt it since birth.”
“Yes, I’ve felt odd all my life. But I doubt it’s because of anything extraordinary.”
“Extraordinary things can happen to ordinary people.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“Sol told me that once. And you know what? I believe him. The world would be a much better place if everyone remembered that sometimes the most insignificant being can make the biggest difference.”
He smiled at her and finished his stew. After they had their fill, they packed up the gear and prepared the horses. The sun was higher in the sky, but covered by grey clouds that were still building in the west. Another storm was on its way, and Alek wanted to be on the road to Azlyn before the downpour started. He pulled a heavy wool cloak from out of his bag and handed it to her.
“Here, wear this. You’ll be much warmer, and it’ll hold back the damp for much longer. I don’t need you getting the fever by the time we reach the keep. It’ll be a bit big, but if you wrap it tight it will suffice.”
He then handed her Tanith, now sheathed in a tooled leather scabbard. She pulled it out and examined it in the muted morning light. It sang to her, and she could feel the excited hum vibrate up her arm. She re-sheathed it and tied the scabbard to her belted tunic. If she needed it, it would be close.
“Thank you.”
He looked over at her and smiled. “Oh, we’re done being petulant and cranky now?”
She glared at him. “Only for now.”
“That’s a relief. I’d hate for you to change your tune on my account.”
“If you think I won’t get back at you for the bruised wrists I have, and probably will have for days, you have another thing coming.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less, Princess.”
They finished packing and Alek helped her on the horse. The overly large cloak made it difficult for her to climb into the saddle. Once she was settled, he swung up into his saddle, and they headed out.
CHAPTER 14
Just as Alekzand’r predicted the rain started up just after they had started that morning, and it hadn’t let up since. They had been on the road for about a week and a half and if he was getting agitated, he knew she was too. They were approaching the village of Zhen now, a small hamlet in the Triple Cities, just across the border from Aaralyn into Azlyn.
They had stopped a few hours after breakfast to grab a quick lunch, then got going again. The rain was coming down heavy now, and the drops fell from his hood and ran down his nose. The air was cold, and he could see his breath and his horses in the afternoon chill. He was glad he found her before the rain came; tracking in it is not easy, but riding in it wasn’t fun either. He grumbled. He slowed his horse a bit to let Melenthia catch up so he could talk to her, and she’d be able to hear him above the noise of the rainfall. She reached his side and looked at him from under her cloak, grimacing.
“Are you alright?” he asked her, hoping that she wouldn’t come down with a chill because of her weakened state.
“I’m cold, wet and bad tempered. Why can’t we stop until this is over?”
“Because we have to keep moving in order to get ahead of Fallon and his men, which are no doubt still searching for you. His men will eventually detect your trail again. The rain will only hide our tracks so much.”
“What about the creature? A wraith you called it.”
“He’ll be waiting until this stops. He won’t come out in the rain. As I’ve said, wraiths don’t like water; it’s too pure, that’s why he didn’t follow you into the river. For them it’s like acid. Not a very good choice for evil beings to raise from the dark, especially with these long damp days. He’ll have to sit it out. Fallon will have to send his men to find you. They know where you went into the river so they’ll start there.”