They descended from their landing spot into a valley and took a brief break before resuming. When able to, they left the trail to stay near a line of trees, or even a cliff wall that was away from the trail. Anything to minimize being in plain view of something watching. But they faced no trouble as late afternoon began casting darker shadows. Danger would increase before long, so few breaks preceded them ascending again on widening path, the trees of a valley dropping below them on one side as they climbed toward a pass between two mountains. A pair of guard towers with black flags snapping in the breeze lay ahead. Eric assumed that the town lay beyond.
“They have seen us,” Jolian observed, her eyes keener.
Eric had suspected as much and badly wanted some water and to catch his breath, sweat creasing his brown despite the air cooling. Once back on Earth, it was time to resume the jogging they had only just started. Anna and Matt would complain, but their lives could depend on it.
They continued jogging up the path until they saw a group of warriors doing the same in their direction. Giving a sense of urgency would just get the guard’s tension up, so they slowed to a walk. Jolian tucked the spare sword into her own belt, having carried it because it had no scabbard, and running increased the odds of hurting herself with it. Now they did their best to seem non-threatening as the dozen warriors came to a halt ten feet away, most wearing studded leather and carrying a rectangular shield, swords of various lengths on their hips in scabbards. Only a few had a helm at all, each of steel. A tall, black-haired man in front was the obvious leader because of his chainmail shirt and finer tunic atop it. It bore the same insignia that seemed to adorn the flutter of black flags—a mountain with a sword and hammer crossed before it. Eric thought he had seen it before on a corpse in the entrance to Kirii Cave.
“Ho there!” said the one wearing chainmail, taking two steps toward them. “What business have you with Valegis?”
“We seek the town’s aid. I am Eric of Arking in Minara. This is Jolian. Are you important?”
The man cocked an eyebrow, seeming amused but disdainful. “I am Talis, Captain of the Watch. And I am more important than you at this moment.” His men laughed.
Eric smirked, feeling he had a handle on them. “Letting you think that amuses me, so I will allow it. Who runs the town?”
Talis scratched his stubble beard. “That would be Ogren, not that you’ll be meeting him, except in chains.”
Eric offered his wrists. “Would you like to try putting them on me? I’ll tie one hand behind my back to make the fight fairer.”
Talis smiled. “Well, I haven’t had an offer that tempting in about two hours.”
Jolian stepped forward. “If you boys are through playing, we urgently need to see Ogren. Will you take us to him?”
Talis appraised her with an obvious appreciation for her beauty, which did not appear to sway him. As if he meant no offence, he pleasantly remarked, “If I took every mongrel that wandered in from the mountains to see Ogren just because they asked, I wouldn’t be Captain of the Watch.”
Eric drawled, “And if you don’t take us, you won’t be Captain of the Watch much longer when he finds out too late why we’re here.”
Talis’s green eyes hardened, and he stepped forward, one hand on his sword hilt. “I am not accustomed to threats.”
Eric took a step forward so that they were within arm’s reach. “Yes, you are, or you wouldn’t be Captain of the Watch.”
Talis looked flatly at them. “Enough games. What do you want? Why are you walking around out here with no supplies? Where did you come from?”
Eric felt like this had gone as far as it could. Time for his story. “Our supplies are back at the Kirii Cave. Maybe you can go back and ask the leviathan to return them.”
Cocking an eyebrow, Talis frowned. “I don’t believe you.”
Eric pulled a dead fish from a pocket, having brought one from Matt’s bag. “Well, do you know anywhere else I can get a fresh one of these? It would have been handy to know before going there.”
Talis appraised him with new respect, and Eric saw that he’d gotten the captain’s attention. “What were you doing at the Kirii Cave?”
“The King of Minari sent us to get these fish for a spell we need.”
“You are not wizards and do not wear an insignia of any kind, not to mention one of Minari.”
“Our wizard is still at the cave. Listen, a force of men left Castle Arking some days ago and is headed for Ortham in Gisla. We mean to stop them, but as you noticed, we are short on supplies.”
Talis’s eyes looked away for a moment and Eric thought the man knew something about this, but the captain only smiled at him next. “You plan to purchase our falcons to get there sooner? With what? Dead sparis?”
“No, that was for you.” Eric tossed him the fish, but the captain let it strike his chest and fall to the rocky trail between them.
“Just two of you are going to stop a force of men over one thousand strong? Oh right. You have a wizard. Why is he still at the cave? Fishing, you said?”
Eric adopted a more conciliatory expression and tone. “Look, if you really want to know the answers to your questions, then escort us
