The Sword of Truth

ruse, at least until we’ve left here. Don’t worry, I have an extra blanket in my pack-assuming you’ll be sleeping on the floor, that is.”

Dina sauntered over to Gewey and slipped her arm around him.

“Yes, he will,” she teased.

Gewey turned bright red and pulled away from Dina. “That’s enough,” he protested, trying not to stutter. “Lee, I need to speak to you now.” He grabbed Lee’s arm and pulled him from the room.

Lee took Gewey to his room and locked the door.

“That was not funny,” Gewey hissed.

“It’s just one night,” Lee chuckled. “You’ve survived being kidnapped by agents of the Dark Knight; I’m sure you can survive one night alone in a room with a beautiful woman.”

“You mean to make me go through with this?” Gewey asked, incredulously.

“Amusing or not, Kaylia makes a good point. We don’t want to raise unwanted questions. Better for you to leave with people thinking that a young couple was just passing through. But that’s not what you wanted to talk to me about, is it?”

“No, it isn’t,” Gewey said. He proceeded to tell Lee about the details of their encounter with Felsafell and what the old man told him on the porch.

“He is a strange one,” Lee remarked.

“You’ve met him?”

“Many years ago,” Lee answered. “I had heard of a crazy old hermit who lived in the Spirit Hills. It was said that he could speak to the spirits and that they told him the future, so I sought him out.

I must have wandered those hills for five days before I found him.

Well, to be honest, he actually found me.”

“What did he tell you?”

“To get out of his hills and never come back,” Lee remembered.

“Of course, he didn’t say it like that, but the message was the same. I approached him, but he vanished before I could get close. I tried to find him, but I ended up lost for days. He did leave behind some roast pork and bread for me, though.”

Gewey laughed. “He gave us the same. But what do you make of his words?”

“I don’t know,” Lee admitted, frowning. “I need to think on it for a while.” Then he slapped Gewey on the back, forcing a smile. “You shouldn’t worry about it for now. There‘s a few hours before bed, why don’t we join the others for a while?”

Gewey’s eyes brightened. “That sounds like a wonderful idea.”

“You should invite your wife to join us,” Lee quipped. “I’m sure she wouldn’t want her dear husband unattended.”

Gewey scowled. “I’ll see if Kaylia will come too.”

“Good luck,” said Lee. “I don’t think merry-making with a room full of humans is her cup of tea.”

As Lee predicted, Kaylia refused to join them, but Dina was more than happy to keep an eye on Gewey. They listened to the music and even joined in the dancing. Dina pulled Gewey to the floor during one of more energetic tunes. Unfortunately, knowing how to dance was not one of the skills that came along with being a God. It was all he could do to keep from stepping on Dina’s feet, and he nearly fell twice.

“One of your lessons is going to have to be how to dance with a woman,” Lee announced, doubling over with laughter.

Gewey was not amused. “I’m a farmer. When would I need to dance?” he said defensively.

“Your father was a farmer,” said Lee, “and he could dance very well. Let me show you.”

Lee walked over to Dina, who was laughing and talking with

Minnie. He extended his hand, and Dina accepted, smiling as she bowed her head.

Gewey felt a tinge of jealousy as he watched Lee spin Dina around the room. When the song ended, Lee could see it in his eyes.

Lee put his hand on Gewey’s shoulder. “That’s why you should learn to dance, my boy.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Gewey lied.

“Of course not,” he laughed.

They made merry for a few more hours, until the party started to wind down. Minnie was busy cleaning up, while her husband was helping those who had drunk too much wine to the door.

When they went upstairs, Lee gave Gewey a blanket and went to his room. Gewey nervously followed Dina into their room and placed the blanket on the floor.

“Don’t worry,” Dina said reassuringly. “It’s no different than when we were in the Spirit Hills. Just get some sleep.”

Gewey gave her a tight smile and stretched out onto the floor. He knew she was right, but it felt like something had changed since then-at least in his mind. He wondered if it was the same for her, but he couldn’t build up the courage to ask. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, wanting to sneak a look at her but not daring to take the chance.

Chapter 16

It was two hours past midday when the covered wagon carrying Millet and Maybell pulled up in front of the inn. Millet was hunched over, looking very unhappy. Maybell was complaining about Millet’s driving, claiming that he was not fit to drive a plow horse, let alone a wagon or carriage. Even so, Millet helped her down from the wagon and opened the tavern door for her when they arrived at the inn in Vine Run.

When they entered, Lee and Dina were talking casually at a table in the common room, while Gewey sat in the corner, getting marital advice from Minnie. Lee saw them come in and motioned for Millet to join them. Gewey excused himself and walked up to Millet, embracing him.

“It is good to see you, too,” said Millet. “I see you’re unharmed.”

Gewey beamed at the sight of the man. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said. “So much has happened.” He led Millet over to the table where Lee and Dina waited. Maybell followed close behind.

“How was your journey?” asked Lee.

Millet scowled. “Interesting, my lord,” he said delicately. “And long.”

“That’s an understatement,” Maybell huffed. Her eyes widened when she saw Dina. “Sister Celandine! I’m surprised to see you. You must be this mystery woman they spoke of.”

“Good to see you, Sister Maybell,” Dina said, bowing her head.

“I am indeed the ‘mystery woman’.”

“I knew there was more to you than meets the eye,” Maybell remarked, “but I certainly didn’t expect this. Explain yourself.”

“I don’t think…” Millet began.

“Of course you don’t,” Maybell cut in. “I will hear the story. There is no one here to spy on us.”

Indeed, the inn was empty with the exception of Minnie, who was well out of earshot and busy adding up the profits from the party. Lee nodded in agreement and recounted the events of their travels. When his story was finished, Maybell began to chuckle softly.

“What’s so funny?” Lee asked.

“Here I thought my adventures were over,” she explained. “To think an old woman like me gets to see the temple of Valshara. Is it true that the Knights of Amon Dahl are trained there?”

“It is,” Dina answered. “But this temple is not the original. That was destroyed fifteen years ago by the Dark Knight. To my understanding, the current Temple of Valshara was once a monastery where members of the order went to retire. Only the elders knew its location, so we were able to keep it hidden. Even now, its location is only known to a few.”

“Even so,” Maybell said, “I’m excited to see it.”

“I really didn’t expect you to come that far with us,” said Lee.