said, seated in the middle of the great rock, facing the fire pit. 'They were bound for the city of Reth itself.' Everyone began talking at once. Vambran sucked his breath in. At any other time, he would have believed that his soldiers were being treated like any other prisoners of war, and that, in time, they would be released, once the temple funded their ransom. But knowing that Lavant was somehow behind the series of events in the area changed his perceptions dramatically. There was no doubt in his mind that the priest wanted him and Kovrim dead. If what the lieutenant and Shinthala had deduced was true, then the company, and Kovrim, were still in danger.
And now they're farther out of reach, while I've dallied in the woods.
Vambran and Shinthala had returned from their tryst in the forest after highsun, and she had ordered the release of the other members of the Sapphire Crescents. That had caused some consternation among the other druids, especially Edilus, but she had been adamant. Then they had all gathered together upon the great rock, druids and mercenaries together, to decide what must be done.
'I have to get inside the city,' Vambran said then repeated himself loudly to quiet the din of so many voices talking at once. 'I have to save my uncle. They will kill him to keep him from revealing what he knows. All of them will be slain to preserve the illusion that we died at sea or in battle, the victims of piracy or simple warfare. I have to go to them.'
Shinthala shook her head. 'No,' she said. 'You have a greater duty. You must return to Arrabar and let your people know what is happening. You must find proof that Lord Wianar is manipulating these events for his own ends, then you must show the city. Your companions are not as important as the truth.'
'I cannot abandon them,' Vambran said, though inside, a part of him wanted to, just so he could return to Emriana. 'I cannot just leave my uncle and my troops to die there. We must find another way.'
'Let us return home,' Adyan said in his drawl. 'We can go back to Arrabar and spread the word, and you can go to Reth.'
'No,' Vambran said. 'My family needs me, too.'
Adyan shook his head. 'We'll help Em, Vambran, and with your family safe, we can stop this before Wianar marches half of Chondath east. You go to Reth. Six is no better than one against a whole city, but by yourself, you can still save them. Waukeen herself seems to smile on you.'
Vambran looked at Shinthala, who nodded encouragement. 'All right,' he said, knowing he could not be in both places at once. 'You five return home. I don't have to tell you to be careful once there. You're walking into a pit of vipers, it seems.'
Adyan snorted. 'And you aren't?' he said sardonically. 'As long as we've known you, Lieutenant, you've done nothing but lead us into trouble.' Vambran could hear the humor in his sergeant's voice, and when he looked at the man, Adyan winked.
'You know we'll find her,' Horial added. 'We'll get to Em in time.'
Vambran took a deep breath and nodded his thanks. 'In the meantime,' he said, 'I'm going to Reth.'
Arbeenok stood then, walking to the center of the gathering from his spot on the fringe. He looked first at Shinthala, speaking to her in the language of their order. Then he turned to Vambran and said, 'I wish to accompany you to the city. My divinations tell me this is right.'
Vambran was taken aback, and when he looked at Shinthala, all she said was, 'Arbeenok makes his own trail, even among those of the Enclave. I have learned not to question him, but to trust his visions and know that he will find his own path regardless of my efforts. If he believes he should go with you, I would take that as a boon to your journey.'
'But how will we ever get him inside the walls?' Vambran asked skeptically. 'He will not pass for a human, no matter how much clothing we pile on him.'
At that, Shinthala laughed. 'You still have much to learn of us, Son of Arrabar. Go and trust that Arbeenok will know a way to succeed.'
Vambran could only shrug. When it was obvious that the lieutenant had accepted Arbeenok's proposal, the creature put a hand out to the man. Vambran took it and accepted the handshake.
Once the decision had been made, Shinthala promised Vambran aid from the Enclave, including a number of magical potions and oils that might be of use during both excursions. It did not take long for either group to pack, and soon enough, they were all saying their good-byes.
Shinthala followed Vambran and Arbeenok to the edge of the clearing, away from the rest of the druids and mercenaries. The lieutenant noticed that a look from her sent Arbeenok ahead a few paces, out of earshot. Then she turned Vambran to face her.
'The blessing of your goddess go with you, Son of Arrabar,' she said, smiling wistfully at him. 'I'd like to see you again, preferably alive.'
Vambran nodded. 'I'll try to get word back to you soon. If I can free my men, then I-'
Shinthala pressed her fingers against his mouth, quieting him. 'I know all that,' she said, 'and my prayers go with you for success in stopping this war. But what I meant was that today, in the woods, wasn't enough.' Her emerald eyes shone brightly at him, and Vambran realized it was a little more than mere lust that made them glow. 'Come find me again, warrior, one way or another, when this is over.' Then she turned and sped back along the path, not giving him a chance to answer.
Vambran watched her go, wondering if he would ever get the chance to fulfill that request. Then he turned and caught up with Arbeenok, and they were on their way.
The alaghi, as Arbeenok claimed his kind called themselves, traveled lightly, with little more than what Vambran had seen him carrying that morning. For his part, the lieutenant had changed out of his uniform, which was stored in a satchel he carried, and
he was wearing simple garb, that of a laborer, so as not to draw notice to himself. They spent the rest of the afternoon traveling, though they covered most of the distance by means of a portal that passed between two great oaks. Both trees-the one near the heart of the forest and the one closer to Reth-seemed at first blush to be ancient, lightning-shattered trunks, hollowed out on the inside. But Arbeenok led the lieutenant into one, and just as quickly, they were stepping out of the other. From there, it wasn't much farther to the border of the woods.
At last, they came to the edge of the forest lying alongside the road leading into Reth. Vambran crept forward the last few feet and peered out of the underbrush, screened by tall grasses. The city was not visible from that vantage point, but Shinthala had assured him that it was not much farther beyond that. Beside him, Arbeenok also peered out, studying the path in both directions.
'No one comes,' he said, his voice deep but gentle. 'We should continue, for darkness will fall before we reach the walls of the city.'
Vambran nodded. 'Well, if you have some idea how to sneak past all the gawking stares, now is the time to reveal it,' Vambran said. 'Once we're out on the road, you will be noticed.'
Arbeenok smiled, an expression that was surprisingly human in appearance. 'I will not be able to speak, but I will understand you perfectly,' he said. 'So it will be important for you to realize that I will be trying to communicate to you in other ways and to pay attention to me. Do you see?'
Vambran grinned, beginning to appreciate Arbeenok's company more and more. 'My soldiers and I have hand signals we sometimes use for communicating on the battlefield, so I am used to such,' he said.
'Good. Then let's continue our journey.' And with that, he stood and began to transform right before Vambran's eyes. The alaghi dropped down to his hands and knees, and his clothing and other items seemed to melt inside his body. When the change was complete, Arbeenok was a large, yellow dog. He wagged his tail and barked once at Vambran, who only stood there grinning.
'Very clever,' the lieutenant said, reaching a hand out to pat the dog. Arbeenok played the part, panting and rubbing his head against Vambran and wagging his tail all the harder. 'And you can understand me, yes?' Vambran inquired. Arbeenok barked and nodded.
'Then you are a fine traveling companion,' the mercenary officer said and stepped out of the brush into the open. 'Let's go.'
The two of them set off together, and to everyone they passed, farmers in their wagons, loggers and craftsmen, and especially soldiers setting out toward the battle lines, they looked like a peasant and his dog. They hiked along at a steady pace, and Arbeenok ran ahead periodically. Though it appeared that the mutt was simply frisky and stretching its legs, Vambran began to see the advantage of having his companion able to scout ahead.
