“What happened?” asked Gewey. “Where have you been?”
“It seems our presence has been noticed,” Lee answered. “I spotted someone following me through the streets, but I think I lost him.”
“Could you tell who it was?”
“No. But whoever it was moved so fast that I almost didn’t notice him until it was too late. It took more than an hour before I was sure I wouldn’t lead him back here.”
“What do we do?” asked Gewey.
“I’ve already sent for the horses,” said Lee. “I hate to have you travel before you’re healed, but I don’t see any other choice.”
Gewey looked at Lee reassuringly. “I’ll be fine. There’s barely any pain at all.”
“Still, I don’t want you doing too much too soon.” said Lee, and sat down at the table. “We have some time before the horses are ready, so we might as well eat before we go.”
They ate and packed, finishing just as the blond youth from the inn came to inform them that their horses were ready and waiting. They gathered their things and left. Loading the packhorse, Gewey couldn’t help but feel exposed and vulnerable. He kept expecting something to happen, but the night was quiet. They mounted their horses and slowly made their way west, out of town. As they passed the last building within the town limits, Gewey could swear he saw a shadow moving behind him, then ducking out of sight.
Chapter 6
“Aren’t we leaving the road?” Gewey asked after they had ridden a while.
“No,” said Lee. “We’re still being followed, and I plan to catch whoever it is.”
Gewey smiled. “Good, I hate running.”
Lee threw the hood of his cloak over his head. “Maybe so, but if I tell you to run, you do it.”
Gewey’s smile vanished. “I’m not running if it means leaving you behind,” he said with determination.
“You’ll do as I say,” Lee shot back. “If danger comes, I can handle it much better if I don’t have to watch you.”
“I don’t need watching,” Gewey protested.
“For now, you do,” said Lee. “Until I’ve had time to train you, you’re a liability in a fight. But don’t worry; your time will come soon enough.”
Gewey didn’t like being thought of as a liability, but he could hardly argue; the last time he fought, he was nearly killed.
They rode on until they found a decent spot to camp. Lee lit a fire and told Gewey to get some sleep.
“Aren’t we a bit out in the open?” asked Gewey.
Lee was changing into a black shirt and a set of black leather trousers. “Like I said, I intend to find out who’s following us. You try to get some rest. I’ll be nearby.” Lee disappeared into the darkness.
Sleeping in the day for so long made it hard for Gewey to do so at night, so he stared at the small fire listening to the crackle of the dry branches. Morning came and he still hadn’t slept. His wounds felt much better, though. In fact, when he reached under the dressings, he could feel that they were almost completely healed. He wondered if there would be a scar. The wounds on his arms had already turned light pink, and the one in his chest had closed and was well on its way to being no more than a minor irritation.
Lee appeared out of the nearby brush, looking stern and focused. He unpacked their breakfast and checked Gewey’s bandages.
“Amazing,” said Lee. “You seem to heal more quickly by the minute. I can’t wait to see how powerful you‘ll become.”
“Did you see anyone last night?” asked Gewey.
“Yes, but whoever it was moved off before I could catch him,” Lee said, and spat angrily. “From now on we stay on our guard. This one is fast, and knows how to move without being seen.”
“Shouldn’t we get off the road?” Gewey asked. “Maybe we can lose him.”
Lee shook his head. “We won’t be able to lose him there; he’s too good, too fast. And though they don’t look like they’ll be a problem much longer, your injuries will slow us down… No, we need to catch him…and kill him.”
This sent a chill down Gewey’s spine. When he had watched Lee kill the bandits, it was fast and furious; he hadn’t had the time to consider what was about to happen. This time they were planning to capture and kill someone. Somehow it felt different-calculated, vicious.
“How do you plan to catch him?” Gewey asked.
“I don’t know,” Lee admitted, squatting down to pick at the grass. “It’s four days until we reach the next town. I have until then to figure it out. That is, unless he attacks us first.”
The next two nights were the same. Lee set up camp, then scoured the area, hoping to get lucky in finding their pursuer, but with no success. Gewey could see the frustration on Lee’s face. He hadn’t slept, and the fatigue began to show in his eyes. Gewey urged him to rest for at least a few hours, but Lee ignored his advice.
On the third night, they set up camp and had just began to eat their meal when Gewey saw Lee‘s neck stiffen and his hand move slowly to the knife in his belt.
“What is it?” Gewey whispered. Lee shook his head almost imperceptibly. Just as his hand reached the handle of his knife, they heard a rustle in the bushes just beyond the light of their fire. Lee and Gewey both jumped to their feet and drew their weapons.
“Peace,” said a female voice. “I mean you no ill will.”
From out of the darkness walked the elf woman they had saved from the bandits. She moved with such grace and precision that her footsteps seemed to glide over the ground. Gewey stared in awe. She was wearing a shirt and trousers made of fine cloth, which appeared to change color and hue as she passed through the fire light.
Her hair was now done in a series of tight braids, tied together by a thin leather strap. Over her shoulder she carried a short bow and a quiver of arrows, and in her hand she held a long knife.
“So it’s you who’s been following us,” growled Lee.
“Yes,” she answered. “And with very little difficulty, I must say.” Her mouth turned to a sinister grin. “Your clumsy efforts to catch me have kept me quite entertained.”
“Those bandits didn’t seem to have much trouble catching you,” Lee shot back.
The elf woman’s jaw tightened. “There were twenty of them before they met me. The six you encountered were all that was left.”
“What do you want?” Lee asked. “Why are you following us?”
“What I want is none of your affair,” she answered. “I follow you because it pleases me to do so.”
“You play a dangerous game, elf,” said Lee. “You’re lucky I didn’t kill you the moment you stepped out of the shadows.”
The elf woman laughed. “Bold words, half-man.”
Lee’s back stiffened. “What did you call me?” he asked, his tone low and threatening.
“I know what you are,” she said. “I knew the moment I saw you. Only a half-man can move as you do.”
“If you know that, then you know it won’t be easy to kill me,” said Lee.
“Maybe it will, maybe it won’t,” she said. “I’ve dealt with your kind before, but it’s not you that I’m interested in-it’s your young friend. You’re no half-man,” her eyes set upon Gewey. “Yet here you stand, when, by all accounts, you should be dead.”
“And
The elf woman sheathed her blade. “For now, I want you to come with me. There’s something I need to show you.” She turned and began to walk away.
Gewey started to follow, but Lee grabbed his collar and pulled him back.
“You think I’m a fool?” Lee snapped. “You must, if you think I’ll follow you blindly into the night.”
The elf paused. “You may have strength, half-man, but I believe the instincts of your young companion are better. But if you need assurance…” She turned to them and got down on one knee. “I swear by the angels of the
