lake.”
Riyan glanced at Bart. He could see Bart was just as confused by this turn of events. “Thank you,” Riyan told the man. “We appreciate your help.”
The man nodded.
“Come on,” Bart said to the others, “let’s go.”
Moving away from the woodsman, Bart led them north through the village until they were once again moving along the banks of the river. Behind them, the buildings of the village were soon out of sight as the river wended its way between the hills. They continued to set a quick pace as night continued its approach. Once it grew too dark to follow the trail, they found a sheltered area in the lee of a hill to make camp. The next morning, they resumed the pursuit.
Around midmorning, they found where the River Man and his group camped the night before. Coals were still present in the half dozen fire pits, and semi-fresh piles of horse dung dotted the area.
“We can’t be too far behind,” Bart said.
Chyfe was inspecting one of the piles of dung and nodded. “I’d say maybe three hours, four at the outside,” he stated.
“Excellent,” replied Riyan. Looking around the camp, he couldn’t find where the large tent Bart had described had been set up. He finally came to the conclusion that while they were traveling, it must remain on the pack mules.
“If we hurry,” announced Chad, “maybe we could catch them before nightfall.”
“Then,” Bart said as he returned to the saddle, “let’s be on our way.” Once everyone else was mounted, he returned to the trail left by the River Man’s men.
Nightfall found them still some distance from their prey. Though they knew they couldn’t be too far behind since they had come across a pile of horse dung that still held some of its warmth. Encouraged, they continued on well past the waning of the light.
Stars shone brightly overhead giving them some light with which to see. The trees on either side were dark and foreboding, with naught but vague, indistinct shadows. On their left, starlight was being reflected by the surface of the river, enabling them to keep their bearings.
Sometime after the coming of night, light began to be seen through the trees in the distance. Bart had them move ahead cautiously until they knew for sure that they had caught up to the River Man. The light was definitely coming from several campfires, and silhouettes could be seen moving to and fro.
Bart brought them to a stop and turned to face the others. “Up ahead is their camp,” he told them. “I suggest we return back along the river and find a sheltered place to set up camp. Then I’ll return on foot.”
“Not alone you’re not,” argued Riyan. “We can’t afford anything happening to you.”
He could see the seriousness in Riyan’s eyes. “Okay,” he conceded, “I’ll take Chyfe with me.” Riyan was disappointed at not being asked to accompany him, but Chyfe was the better suited for this. He could move much more silently than Riyan.
“Very well,” Riyan finally said.
Returning back down the way they had come, they left the lights of the campfires far behind before finding a suitable spot to make camp. “A fire shouldn’t be noticeable this far away,” Seth said. “As long as we don’t make one too big.”
Soth nodded. “Keep the horses north of the fire and they will aid in shielding its light even more,” he added.
Chyfe worked on building a fire, by himself this time. Bart stopped Kevik from using his sparks spell due to the close proximity of the magic user. “I don’t know if he’s actively searching for magic, or if he’ll even know,” he had explained. “But we shouldn’t take the chance.” Thus, it was some time before Chyfe was able to coax a fire from the somewhat dry kindling.
“Are you going to try to take the key segment tonight?” Soth asked Bart, sitting in the glow of the growing fire, eating cold rations.
Bart shrugged. “I’ll decide that when I get there,” he replied. He and Chyfe had a quick meal and were soon returning to the River Man’s camp.
They moved cautiously along the trail, making sure not to make any more noise than was necessary. When the lights from the campfires were again visible ahead, Bart had them slow to a very slow pace.
His eyes scanned back and forth as they drew nearer. The darkness, the shadows cast by the flicker of flames, all were very familiar to him. Such was the world of the thief. The fact that they were in the middle of the woods was beginning to make little difference to him. Alleys, basements, and sewers could be just as encumbered with litter and debris as the forest was with trees and bushes.
The movement of a darker shadow off to their right caused Bart to freeze. It was a sentry. Not surprising to find one posted here, seeing as how they were now technically within Byrdlon territory.
Chyfe came to a stop when Bart did. At first he wasn’t aware what had caused him to stop, but then the sentry moved again and he saw it.
Without a word, Bart very slowly sank into a crouched position. A moment later, Chyfe did likewise. Leaning close to Chyfe’s ear Bart whispered, “Stay below the level of the bushes and follow me.”
Nodding in reply, Chyfe followed Bart as he walked in his crouched position past the sentry. He was forced to raise the end of his scabbard as he moved, being in a crouched position brought it in contact with the ground.
Bart didn’t go very far. Just far enough so they could better see those in the camp.
Just as they had found in the last campsite they came across, there were six fire pits. Around five of them sat Tribesmen soldiers, anywhere from four to seven at each. It was to those around the sixth fire pit that Bart’s gaze was drawn. There sat Lord Kueryn along with the magic user and two other men, both older than the River Man and dressed in armor as fine as his. Their pit wasn’t close to where Bart hid, and it was hard to see what they were doing. Four tents, each large enough to allow a man to stand erect sat not far from where they were sitting.
“I need to get closer,” Bart whispered to Chyfe. “Stay here and don’t move.” Without waiting for a reply, he moved off in a crouch to the left as he worked his way closer to Lord Kueryn.
Conversations around the various campfires were hushed and subdued. Few talked above a whisper. The glances cast toward their lord gave Bart the feeling his presence was the reason why.
Bart continued drawing closer to Lord Kueryn. When he saw the shadowy movement of a second sentry, he stopped. Coming to rest between the bole of a tree and a large bush, he was now close enough to observe what Lord Kueryn and the others with him were doing. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to hear what they were saying. Making himself comfortable, he waited and watched.
Nothing of interest happened for the first ten minutes. Then, Lord Kueryn came to his feet and walked over and entered the nearest tent. He was inside just a few moments before he reappeared again. In his hand he held a small, ornate chest.
Bart watched as Lord Kueryn returned to his place by the fire and sat back down. Still holding the chest, he set it on the ground at his feet and opened it. Bart grinned when he saw the glint of gold as Lord Kueryn pulled out the final key segment. He watched as the segment was shown to the two older men before being returned to the chest.
With eyes riveted on the chest, he waited until Lord Kueryn returned the chest to the tent before heading back to where Chyfe waited. When he met up with Chyfe, he indicated silently for them to leave. As they began moving away, Bart made up his mind to return this night and get the key.
Chapter Thirty
“Bart,” Riyan said, as he gently shook his shoulder. “It’s time.”
Eyes snapping open, Bart came awake. Three hours of sleep wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing. After what he was about to do, it may be some time before any of them would be able to sleep again.
Upon returning from scouting the River Man’s camp, he had informed the others of the key segment’s presence and of his intention of returning to take it. After telling Riyan to wake him in three hours, he laid down by the fire and promptly fell asleep. Everyone had been amazed that he could fall asleep so quickly.
