Kaylia and finish off the remaining guards as they approached. If there were no alarm, then Kaylia would wait with Gewey, while Lee took out the rest of the guards on his own.
“The important thing is that once we have Gewey, we don’t lose sight of him,” said Lee. “They may be clumsy fools, but it only takes one to cause us to fail.”
“A good plan,” she said. “But you should be the one to free the boy. I can kill the other guards more quietly than you.”
“Probably,” Lee replied. “And it’s why you’ll be the first in the tent. Slaughtering city guards in their sleep may not be honorable, but it should be easy. If the tent guard is awake, I need him down fast.”
“I think you don’t like the idea of an elf killing humans in their sleep,” she said.
“And I think you like the idea far too much,” Lee retorted.
It was then they saw a guard rise from his bedroll and walk towards the tent, holding a flask. Lee and Kaylia lay silent. A second later, the man bolted out, yelling at the top of his lungs, instantly causing the camp to erupt into a beehive of activity. Salmitaya came out of her tent and sprinted to where they were holding Gewey.
“We should pull back before they see us,” Kaylia suggested.
“I can hide in shadows too,” said Lee, sounding insulted. “If they come near, we’ll move-but not until then.”
Salmitaya left the tent, while two guards carried a third man next to the fire, and threw him roughly to the ground. The remaining guards gathered around the High Priestess to receive their orders. They then headed for the nearby forest in small groups, leaving only the two guards with Salmitaya.
“It would seem our young friend has escaped,” Kaylia observed.
“And unless I’m wrong, the novice had something to do with it.”
“We’ll wait a few minutes, then go down and see for ourselves,” said Lee.“I’ll take the near guard; you take the one walking toward Salmitaya.”
The elf smiled ominously and sprung to her feet, rushing toward the camp. Lee chased after her, but it was too late. Kaylia had killed the first guard and had the second on the ground before he could get close. Lee turned toward Salmitaya, hoping to reach the woman before Kaylia did. He made it just in time.
“Enough,” said Lee, standing in front of the terrified woman. “I gave my word she would not be harmed.”
“I gave no such word,” Kaylia replied, holding her bloody knife.
“If you harm her, I’ll kill you,” warned Lee. “Please don’t make me do that.”
Kaylia walked over to the shaking woman. “She deserves to die, Lee. You know it.”
“Yes, she does,” he agreed. “Nonetheless, I ask you to preserve my honor, and let her live.”
Kaylia studied Lee for a long moment. “I would not want to dishonor you. And I would not want to kill you, either.” She locked eyes with Salmitaya, cleaning her knife on the High Priestess’ dress. “But should we meet again, woman, my blade will send you to the Father.”
Salmitaya collapsed to the ground, weeping.
“Check the tents,” Lee said. “See what you can find out.” Kaylia took one more look at Salmitaya and obeyed.
Lee turned to the High Priestess. “Calm yourself,” he snapped.
“That demon wants to kill me!” Salmitaya cried.
“True,” Lee acknowledged. “And I may yet let her if you’ve harmed my friend. Where is he?”
“I don’t know,” she answered. “He escaped.”
“I guessed as much. I wonder how Angraal will reward your failure.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied. “I serve the temple.”
Lee reached down and helped Salmitaya to her feet. “My dear,” he said calmly, “it’s that kind of lie that will earn you some private time with my elf friend. I promised you would not be harmed, but as you’ve seen, stopping Kaylia could prove to be quite difficult-and I’ve heard elven interrogation methods can be rather…unpleasant.”
“You wouldn’t,” she cried.
Lee’s tone turned dangerous. “You kidnapped my friend and tried to have me murdered,” he fumed. “It is all I can do to not kill you myself.”
Kaylia returned holding a set of iron shackles. “Someone freed him and took him into the forest,” she said, throwing the shackles at Salmitaya’s feet. “I examined the guard. He was poisoned with a stylus needle.”
Lee raised an eyebrow. “Elf poison? Why would an elf want to save Gewey?”
“If it was the same girl we saw entering the tent, she was no elf,” Kaylia noted. “But clearly she’s familiar with elf tactics.”
“In that case, I hope she turns out to be on our side,” Lee said, his concern showing in his voice. “Do you think you can track them?”
“Perhaps,” she said. “The guards in the woods will slow me down, but I should be able to tell the direction they ran. That is, unless this girl hides like an elf as well.”
“I’ll gather three of their horses and meet you two miles east of here,” said Lee. “Find out what you can.” Kaylia started off towards the woods.
“Kaylia,” called Lee.
She paused, and turned her head slightly.
“Try not to kill
Kaylia smiled and disappeared into the night.
“She’ll kill every one of them,” Salmitaya said contemptuously.
“Elves only understand blood.”
“And yet you live,” Lee pointed out. He saddled three horses and chased off the others so the guards couldn’t follow. He mounted one horse, and signaled for Salmitaya to mount another.
“If you try to escape,” he warned, “I swear, I’ll hog tie you and carry you over my saddle.”
Salmitaya glared angrily.
They rode east for two miles, then hid in the woods next to the road.
“Now that I have you alone,” said Lee, “you’ll answer a few more questions for me.”
Salmitaya lowered her eyes, looking defeated.
“How long have you served the Dark Knight?” he asked.
“The Dark Knight?” she scoffed. “I serve the power of Angraal that seeks to release us from slavery. The Dark Knight is merely an instrument.”
“You’ll find that I’m not easily distracted,” said Lee. “
“Eight years,” she replied.
“How many others are there?” he asked.
Salmitaya laughed. “How should I know? We are not told the identity of others. No knowledge, no betrayal.”
Lee pressed the matter further. “Of course. But surely you’ve ran into others from time to time.”
“I have,” she admitted. “But never the same person twice, and not for more than for a few moments. If you want me to give you names, I can’t. Torture me all you want, I don’t know.”
“Is there a way you recognize others like you?” asked Lee. “A signal, or some sort of clothing?”
“The only way I can tell is if a person bares the seal of the Great Lord himself,” she explained. “It’s a hand holding broken scales. I’ve seen it many times, but we all have orders to destroy it right away once received. That’s the only way I know.” She turned away and faced the darkness of the forest. “Ask me nothing more. I have no knowledge of plans or strategy. I know nothing that can help you.”
“Perhaps,” Lee said. “But you still have to convince one more person.”
“The bloody elf? She would cut my throat before listening to me.”
“It’s not the elf you need to convince,” Lee chuckled. “Your fate rests in the hands of Sister Maybell.”
Salmitaya’s eyes widened. “You brought her with you? Where is she?”
“She’s safe,” he answered. “Waiting for us to return this very moment, in fact.”
“She’s a fool,” spat Salmitaya. “A blind old fool.”
“I spared your life because of a promise I made to that blind old fool,” Lee warned. “You had better pray she holds me to it.”
Lee could sense her sudden fear.
