DemonWars Saga Volume 1 (214 page)

The ranger didn't like the implications.

"Well, Nightbird was among the soldiers, and he, too, might have been slain," the ranger said at last, thinking to end that part of the discussion.

Ni'estiel wouldn't let him be done with it so easily. "And if he had been slain by mere goblins, then perhaps he would have shown that he was not worthy of the name Tai'marawee, the name the Touel'alfar gave to him with confidence," the elf said with a sarcastic laugh, and Tiel'marawee joined in the mirth; but it seemed to Elbryan as if the pair were only half kidding.

"But that is past now, and we need look to the road ahead," Tiel'marawee remarked in a leading manner.

Elbryan turned a surprised look on Bradwarden. "They know?"

"Elfy ears," the centaur replied.

"You consider a journey to the Barbacan," Ni'estiel stated flatly, "to the place of the dactyl demon's destruction."

"To the tomb of Brother Avelyn Desbris," Roger said solemnly.

The elves didn't seem much impressed.

"And how do the Touel'alfar view such a journey?" Elbryan asked.

"Why would the Touel'alfar care?" asked Ni'estiel.

"Your road is your own to choose, Nightbird," Tiel'marawee added. "We will help where we may."

"And if ye so choose," Bradwarden added dryly.

"There is always that," admitted Ni'estiel.

"Have you been able to determine the security of the region?" the ranger asked Bradwarden. He had spoken with the centaur earlier that day, explaining Brother Braumin's request and also reminding Bradwarden of his duty to Tomas Gingerwart and his promise to help with the rebuilding of the Timberland towns.

"No sign o' the goblins, or any other monster scum in the area," said the centaur. "Them that got free o' the battle kept on runnin', by me own thinkin'."

"Not a sign of potential trouble anywhere in the region," Tiel'marawee added.

"And we're to be believin' yerself?" the centaur asked.

But it was Elbryan who answered, stating firmly that he did believe the elves. He understood them, and so did Bradwarden, if the centaur could only look past his present anger at this pair. While the Touel'alfar might on occasion stand by and allow humans to be slaughtered —they had done so, for example, during the destruction of the original Dundalis, when Elbryan's own family had been killed—but they would never favor goblins and other monsters over humans. If these two said now that they saw no signs of monsters in the area, then Elbryan believed them completely—and so did Bradwarden, as the centaur admitted with a derisive snort and a wave of his huge arms.

"Then what am I to do?" Elbryan asked. "Truly I do not desire to journey to the Barbacan —not ever again—but these men have placed a great trust in me by simply coming to the northland in search of me. And they are disciples of Avelyn, heart and soul. Of that I have no doubt."

"Then you owe your dead friend this favor, at least," Roger said hopefully.

"I been thinkin' that a journey to the north might not be a bad thing," Bradwarden offered. "Besides, I ain't seen this grave everyone's been talkin' of."

"Nor have I," said Roger.

Elbryan nodded as each of them was speaking, his road coming clearer before him.

The centaur looked up at the elves. "And what o' ye two?" he asked.

"We may go," said Tiel'marawee.

"Or we may not," Ni'estiel quickly added.

They had a private agenda here, Elbryan understood, one given them by Lady Dasslerond and one, he believed, that concerned him. He still couldn't understand why Lady Dasslerond hadn't come out to speak with him personally on so important a matter. Or Juraviel. . . . where was his dearest friend among the Touel'alfar at this critical time? A disturbing thought crossed his mind then: perhaps Lady Dasslerond, Juraviel, and the others hadn't followed the monks to the north —perhaps these two elves alone had come to the Timberlands.

"All we're needin' to do now is wait for the weather to allow it," Bradwarden remarked. "And I'm thinkin' that to be a long and frustratin' wait!"

The ranger didn't disagree in the least. He knew what winter could mean in the Timberlands: days, weeks of sitting in the dim light of a low-burning fire, using only the wood needed to keep the room warm enough for survival, staring at the bare walls and at the companions who had long begun to grate on one's nerves.

The ranger and Roger turned back for the town then, moving to a heavy tent pegged to the southern wall of the large meetinghouse. Braumin and the other five monks were already inside, some sitting on their hands, all looking very nervous.

"If we can get the agreement of Tomas Gingerwart and the soldiers that the area is secure, I will lead you to the Barbacan," Elbryan announced at once, dispelling the tension. There came a chorus of quiet cheers and excited whispers.

"Three hundred miles and more," the ranger warned them, his tone grim, "a longer and more difficult trek than the one that brought you from Palmaris to this place."

"Not so difficult," remarked the quiet Brother Mullahy, his voice barely audible.

"Nor so long," added an almost giddy Brother Viscenti.

"We should know more of the disposition of the immediate area by midday tomorrow," Elbryan assured Brother Braumin, "that we might begin our preparations."

"And when shall we leave?" asked an impatient Brother Castinagis.

"When the wind will not kill us and the snow will not bury us," the ranger replied firmly. "The beginning of Bafway, perhaps, or the end of it."

All the eager monks looked disappointed by that proclamation, but the ranger would not be swayed by their foolish hopes. "To leave prematurely would bring only disaster," he said. "You have seen the snow and heard and felt the bite of the wind. Yet we are south here, far south, of Avelyn's grave, and at a much lower elevation. Up there, in the north among the mountains, the snow lies deeper, and the bite of the wind will kill the strongest of men. Do not doubt my words. The season has been mild thus far, and if that continues, we may begin our trek shortly before the turn of Bafway. But no sooner —even if the sun came out tomorrow with such strength that we stripped off our clothes and basked in its warmth!"

With that, the ranger bowed and left the tent; but Roger did not follow, preferring to stay and share the occasion with his newfound friends, a moment of happiness that could not be dulled too much by the ranger's last grim warning.

Elbryan started for Tomas Gingerwart's tent, but changed his mind. Tomas wouldn't be difficult to persuade; the more important ally in this matter was the man who would likely replace him as primary guardian of the new settlers.

He found Shamus awake, strolling about the perimeter of the Kingsmen's camp, his eyes raised to the stars, his hands clasped behind his back, his face a mask of concern. That mask changed, but far from convincingly, when he noted Elbryan's approach.

"When winter breaks, my road will take me from this place for some weeks," the ranger said bluntly. "I will travel to the north with some men."

"North?" asked a surprised Shamus. "But our duty is here, rebuilding the Timberlands."

"I will not go until I have been assured that the region is secured," the ranger replied. "And I will not be gone for long —a month at the most. Also, I leave Tomas Gingerwart and his fellows in the capable hands of Captain Shamus Kilronney and a contingent of the King's own soldiers. What role can I fill with such capable companions all about?"

"You flatter me, ranger," Shamus said with a disarming grin. "But if the region is secure, as you state, then perhaps I can accompany you."

"Not necessary," Elbryan replied, his tone showing Shamus that there was no room for debate.

"What business could these men possibly have in the northlands?" Shamus inquired. "This is the land rich in valued timber, and surely there are ample trees here to supply the masts of a thousand thousand great sailing ships."

"They will go north in search of riches of a different sort," Elbryan replied cryptically, "and I believe they might just find what they are seeking."

"So Nightbird plans to get rich?" Shamus asked with a chuckle.

"Perhaps," the ranger replied in all seriousness, his tone taking the mirth from the other man.

"Your road is your own to choose," the captain said somberly, sounding very much like the detached Tiel'marawee at that moment. "I only hope that you will not be gone from us for long —and that you will reconsider my offer to journey along with you."

"I will, to both," said Elbryan and he bid the captain a good night and moved back into the forest.

Shamus stayed outside for a long while after Elbryan had departed, considering carefully the words and their implications. The captain was more than a little unsettled by the sight of Bradwarden the fugitive, and by his realization that Nightbird meant to accompany the six men who had recently joined the settlers. More than a few hints had indicated to Shamus that these men were, or had been, Abellican monks, including one quiet, and quickly corrected, reference one had made to another as "brother."

Had Nightbird perhaps figured out that Shamus was acting as an agent of De'Unnero?

As he stood musing over that possibility and coming to the conclusion that such could not be the case, Shamus heard the approach of the little man, smallest of the group of six.

Roger walked by swiftly, nodding only slightly to acknowledge the captain.

"Nightbird told me that he will accompany your group to the north," Shamus said behind him, stopping him in his tracks. Roger swung about, eyeing the captain —surprised but not suspicious, for by Roger's understanding, the soldiers of the Baron, and thus the soldiers of the King, were on his side against the Church.

"And so he will," Roger replied. "And glad are we six for the company."

"A valuable ally on so dangerous a journey," Shamus said.

"The first part will likely be the worst," said Roger. "If the rumors of the extent of the catastrophe at Mount Aida prove true, it is doubtful that any monsters have returned to that blasted place."

Shamus did well to hide his surprise. They were going to the Barbacan!

"Still, I do not understand," he said. "Why would you venture to such a forlorn place as that? "

Now Roger went on the alert. He didn't mistrust the captain, but he understood the monks' need for secrecy and feared that he might already have said too much —though he assumed Elbryan had already told Shamus at least as much. "Who can rightly say?" Roger replied. "There are many places in the world that I have not seen and that I wish to see. Some are merely more convenient than others." Hoping he had covered his tracks, Roger gave a great yawn and explained that it was past time for him to retire.

Shortly thereafter, Shamus Kilronney handed a rolled parchment to his most trusted rider and ordered the man to ride south, braving the weather and snow-blocked road, to get to Palmaris and Bishop De'Unnero. Shamus understood that he was only doing his duty as a sworn officer of the King —and he told himself that repeatedly—but he felt uneasy about betraying Nightbird, even if the man was in the presence of a known criminal.