The Phoenix Ring(43)

"Well good! Because if you get Timothy hurt, I'll feed you to my griffin."

The hiss-laugh stopped abruptly. Aidan chuckled and followed Timothy into the camp.





Bartemus didn't make contact that night, even though Aidan held the crystal until he fell asleep.

The next morning Aidan and Timothy woke with the sun, packing all of their things and walking out the door in five minutes.

They met Aaliyah in the center of the camp with her master, who was bearing a map.

The girl held only a small pack upon which sat a bedroll, far too little to be going on a long journey. Of course, Aidan was beginning to think that he and Timothy were carrying far too much. The thing that was really intriguing about the girl was the weapons.

From head to toe she was covered in knives, a bow and quiver, and even two short swords. That much gear must have weighed at least as much as a knight's shield and sword, but she bore it as if it didn't exist.

Ignoring the looks of hatred that Aaliyah and Timothy were passing, Aidan approached master Borin.

"Thank you for your hospitality last night, the feast was incredible."

"I hope so," Aaliyah said, "the food you ate in one sitting would have accounted for five or seven meals during the winter."

Borin silenced the girl with a glare, but the words had their intended effect as the boys looked guiltily down at their stomachs.

Borin cleared his throat. "As you may already know, Argentah is the closest major city to the Camp, at about fifty miles. Normally there would be villages around a city that large, but Argentah hasn’t appealed to anyone but merchants and bandits since the road was built. Farmers avoid the place at all costs. Aaliyah has been to the city twice before, so she will be able to guide you. You shouldn't have to spend any more than one night there, but if you do then don't stay at the same lodgings. Just because you're a sorcerer doesn't mean you're safe in a city of thieves."

On that cheery note, Borin handed Aidan the map and was about to say something else when someone started shouting from beyond the camp wall.

The front gates were opened, and a troop of amoghs led by Joshua ran into the fort, bearing a slightly chubby yet still handsome boy. He looked the same as he had last night, with one difference.

There was an arrow sticking out of his heart.

Cook was dead.





12





The mages instinctively ran forward, dropping to the ground where they had lain the slain amogh.

The moment Aidan saw the boy, he knew that there was no hope of saving him. The arrow had struck true, and the heart had probably shredded itself trying to beat on the sharp barbed tip.

"Saneo," Timothy said, putting his staff tip against the arrow.

"You can't save him, you know. Magic doesn't work on us." Aaliyah said, for the first time with a hint of emotion other than loathing in her voice.

"Maybe not," Aidan said, dropping down beside his friend, "But we have enough of a heart to try."

The girl pursed her lips as Aidan let his own steady stream of power flow towards the boy's chest. It was obviously hopeless, the magic dissipated three inches away from the amgoh's skin.

Borin watched for a few moments before stepping forward.

"Enough. This has never happened in all the years that I have been this camp's master. This arrow was obviously meant for one of you."

"How do you know that?" Timothy asked innocently.

"Because," one of the boys said, viciously ripping out the arrow, "this tip is Rakka steel. It's too expensive to waste on anything but a sorcerer."

Timothy looked like he was going to throw up, and Aidan felt a bit queasy himself.

"What do we know about the attackers?" he asked, swallowing a wave of nervous anticipation.

"They were obviously amoghs," Joshua said, "The things they did and the way they operated… no one else could have done that. I managed to wound one with an arrow, but that is all. I sent a small team to try to lead them away from the Guardian, but if they don't leave soon then Cook's sacrifice will be for naught."

Borin thought for a moment.

"Aaliyah, the main trail will be too obvious, try to deviate from the path as much as common sense allows. What is the enemy armed with?"

"Each has a crossbow, sword or axe, and countless knives. They are more than proficient in each one's use. We saw four of them," Joshua said, unsheathing his own knife. "I've wasted enough time, I must join my scouts."

With that, he ran out the front gate, followed by two silent bowmen.

"You'd better hurry," Borin said, looking at the mages. "Godspeed, Aidan Dragonslayer."





The three of them ran through the woods, the boys barely keeping up with Aaliyah. The girl had set off from the camp running, and hadn't slowed the pace since, even after leaving the main path.