But Vestakia had said that the Taint was here, the dark magic, but not the Demons themselves. And certainly there was no sign of life here except for the moss and grey-green lichen. Maybe—maybe by taking up with Vestakia, they had been able to reach this place before the Endarkened were prepared?
He wanted to believe it, and knew he dared not. He dared be nothing less than prepared for the worst.
Except, of course, that 'the worst' would be impossible for anyone short of an army to stop.
HE LED VESTAKIA over to the campflre. Valdien stood nuzzling his master as Jermayan stood eating thick trail-soup from a bowl. Neither the mule nor the stallion wore any trace of tack now. At the moment, the mule did not look inclined to stray, and even if she did, she probably wouldn't go far. If none of them returned, the beasts would have to fend for themselves as best they could.
Maybe they'll make it back to Sentarshadeen. If nothing else, I suppose they'll find their way to where there are some people. The people can't all be like that bastard that tried to kill Vestakia…
Of course, by his way of reckoning, he was killing a Demon, so maybe I shouldn't call him a bastard.
Except that he was stealing her goats before he thought she was a Demon, so I guess he is.
These and other inconsequential thoughts chased around and around in his mind, and he let them. Better that than think about where they were going and what he might meet.
Kellen ladled more soup into the remaining bowl for Vestakia, and then ate his portion directly from the pot and unwrapped several trail-bars for Shalkan.
Afterward, in silence, he took his heavy green cloak from his pack and pulled it about himself, then took the bag with the keystone from Shalkan's saddle and hung it from his belt.
'I don't think I'll want the armor where we're going,' the unicorn said, so Kellen unbuckled the saddle and armor from Shalkan's back as Jermayan retrieved his own dark blue cloak from the pile of packs on the ground, and his bow and heavy quiver full of arrows as well. At least no gleam of their armor would betray them to any watchers.
'How long until your medicine wears off?' Vestakia asked Shalkan in a quavering voice.
'Not long now,' the unicorn said gently. 'You'd better make as much distance as you can while it still has some effect.'
Kellen picked up his gauntlets and locked them into place as Jermayan scuffed out the small fire. And then there were no preparations left to make.
He turned away and followed Vestakia and Shalkan over the crest of the hill, across the shallow ravine, and on toward the rock face. Behind him, he saw Jermayan turn back to Valdien, and stand with his arms around the storm-grey destrier's neck for a long moment. Only then did Kellen truly realize that Jermayan was being forced to abandon someone who loved him and depended on him, and whom Jermayan loved in return—and worse, someone who probably could not survive without him. If they did not come back…
Kellen gritted his teeth, forcing the thought from his mind: the image of Valdien, starving, alone, desperately and hopelessly seeking his dead master in this wilderness. They had to go on. There was no choice. More lives than Valdien's were at stake. Many more.
He glanced behind him, in the direction of the sun. A few hours more of light at most, and then they would be in darkness. At least they had sun, though it had to fight with the clouds. The way this place felt, it should properly be shrouded in shadows, under a grim, grey, lowering sky, with clouds too thick to actually see the sun.
There was a faint, peculiar, bitter smell to the wind. He couldn't put a name to it. He wondered if the others noticed, and glanced at Shalkan. The unicorn's expressive nostrils were held pinched shut.
I guess he's noticed.
His hand went to the pouch at his belt, where Idalia's keystone waited, cocooned in layers of magical Elven silk, and examined the steep rock slope.
Shalkan crouched on his haunches and then sprang strongly upward. The unicorn's unshod hooves scrabbled for a hold against the rock for a few moments, then Shalkan found his footing and began to climb.
'You're next,' Kellen said to Vestakia.
She gave him an effortful smile and followed Shalkan up the steep incline. Kellen waited until he was sure she wouldn't slip back, then got ready to start after her. He glanced back at Jermayan, standing stiff and forbidding
