Leave now or I’ll see you whipped and hanged.”
Yanti looked amused as he blew on his tea. “That’s not very hospitable of you considering I’m here to save your life.”
“What do you mean? Speak sense.”
“You didn’t think your failure would go unnoticed, did you?” he asked in a level tone.
“I…” she stammered with sudden realization. “I was going to report it. I swear.”
“Of course you were. That’s exactly what I told the master. I told him that you would never try to deceive him-especially knowing what would happen if you did.”
“I’m sorry I failed,” she said, desperately trying to hold in her sobs. “I was betrayed. Someone helped the boy escape. There’s no way I could have known.”
“Calm yourself, my love,” Yanti soothed her, holding up his hand. “We already know what happened, and it’s being dealt with. I’m here to offer you a chance to redeem yourself. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“I’ll do anything,” she vowed. Tears began to fall down her cheeks.
“I know you will, my love.” He leaned back in his chair, stirring his tea with the tip of his finger. “The master does not doubt your loyalty, only your judgment. Normally that’s enough to warrant… discipline; especially considering the trust and responsibility you’ve been given. But I’ve convinced him that you deserve a second chance.”
Salmitaya slid from her chair and dropped to her knees. “Thank you!” she groveled. “Tell me what I must do. I swear I will not fail again.”
Yanti sat his tea on the arm of the chair and stood up. “There’s no need for such a display,” he said, helping Salmitaya to her feet. He lifted her chin and tenderly wiped the tears from her face with a handkerchief he produced from his jacket pocket. “I’ve left you instructions on the table in your study. You should open them right away, my love.”
Salmitaya nodded her head slowly. Yanti smiled and turned to leave. “One more thing,” he said, glancing back toward Salmitaya. “It would be unfortunate if you failed again. I don’t think I’d be able to intervene twice.” Salmitaya watched silently as he left.
As soon as she heard the door to the main hall close, she ran to her study. Just as Yanti had told her, there was a sealed letter on the table. She opened it and read its contents. By the time she finished, she was weeping again. She looked around the room as if hoping someone might come to save her, and then collapsed in a heap. Eventually, she gathered her wits and went to bed. The dreams that night were the most terrifying yet.
Chapter 26
Lee marveled at how hard the horses could be pushed and promised himself to make good on the trip to the northwestern steppes with Lord Broin. They had been riding full speed for more than twenty minutes, and so far he’d seen no sign of ambush. If they didn’t run into one by sundown, he thought it likely they wouldn’t run into one at all. They’d entered the Great Faldon Plains that stretched all the way to the Abyss; though not impossible, hiding an ambush here would be difficult. The tall grass could easily conceal a man, but horses would have to be moved far enough away from the road so as not to be seen. The Plains were sparsely populated, dotted with ranches and farms. The few small towns were little more than trading posts, frequented by drovers and travelers on their way west. A few shallow rivers and streams were the only real interruption in the vast, flat landscape.
When they finally stopped to rest their mounts, they had already covered many miles. Lee looked behind them, pleased with their progress. A series of wells lined the road to Althetas, placed roughly every twenty-five miles to aid thirsty travelers. Lee knew some to be dry from his previous travels, but most made good spots to rest and water their horses.
“It doesn’t look like anyone’s waiting for us,” Gewey observed as his horse drank from a small trough next to the well.
“So far,” Lee acknowledged warily. “But I’d say we’d have to pass two more of these wells before we’re far enough away to be sure. They may still be waiting for us. Hopefully they’re not clever enough to let us pass, then attack us by night.”
“If they’re foolish enough to attack an elf in the dark then let them,” Kaylia said, grinning. “It will be their last mistake.”
“Actually, I think it more likely they’ll ambush us with bows,” Lee replied. “I doubt they’ll want to risk getting too close unless they have to. It’s what I would do.”
The sun was going down, and Lee told them they would be riding through the night. It was fully dark by the time they approached the next well. Kaylia got off her horse, and she and Lee prepared to scout the area. Gewey wanted to join her, but Lee stopped him.
“Protect Dina if something happens,” Lee instructed.
“I don’t need protecting,” Dina argued.
“We all need protecting,” Lee replied. “But until we get to your people, you’re our only means of making contact. So you
Dina growled but held her tongue.
“Keep quiet,” Kaylia scolded them. “I’ll go alone. Lee can stay here and Dina…you can protect Lee,” she said mockingly. She checked her knife and crept into the darkness. When Kaylia returned, she motioned for everyone to get down and stay quiet. “There are men about,” she whispered.
“Where and how many?” Lee asked, quickly drawing his sword.
“One hundred yards south of the well,” she answered. “About a dozen.”
“Could you tell who they are?”
“No, I didn’t get close enough. We should move the horses back, then take a closer look.”
“You two wait here,” Lee told Gewey and Dina. “Kaylia and I are going to see what we can find out.”
“I should go,” Gewey asserted. “I’ve trained to hide in the shadows; they won’t see me.”
“He’s right,” Kaylia agreed. “You may be fierce in a fight, but you can’t match him in stealth any longer.”
Lee thought for a second, then looked at Gewey. “Observe only,” he said firmly. “Nothing else.”
Gewey nodded and removed his sword. “Take care of this for me,” he said, handing it to Dina. She was careful to touch only the scabbard.
Gewey retrieved his knife and put it in his belt. He and Kaylia had only taken a few steps when they vanished from Lee and Dina’s sight, as if by magic. Lee smiled with pride.
“He’s learned much,” Dina remarked.
“No doubt,” Lee replied. “It’s hard to see the boy that left the farm in the man who travels with us now.”
Gewey followed closely behind Kaylia. There were no trees to hide behind, but still he could see how the night changed and shifted ahead of him. The shadows were subtle, but they were there.
He allowed his eyes to penetrate and then eliminate the darkness, marveling at how much his training had changed his perceptions.
Gewey was able to see the men from about fifty yards away. They were knelt down in the tall grass looking toward the well, though he was certain there was no way they could see it in the dark from where they were. He figured they were listening for the sound of approaching horses. He made out fourteen men, all carrying swords and wearing studded leather armor. Kaylia motioned for him to stay where he was, then circled around to look from the other side. Her graceful movements made it difficult not to watch her as she left. She returned a few minutes later, and together they headed back.
“Well?” Lee asked anxiously.
“They’re not alone,” Kaylia told him. “Another group of ten bowmen is waiting less than fifty yards west of the first group.”
“Bait,” Lee said. “They want us to engage close up; if we discover the first group waiting for us and attack them, the bowmen will rain down arrows killing everyone, including their own men. A clever plan, actually.”
“Can’t we just go around and avoid them all together?” Dina asked.
“We could,” Lee replied. “And if we were on foot, we would. But if they have anyone else about that we
