Omensent: Wrath of a Dragon God (28 page)

"At least you're kinder than the last fellow,"
The gnome rattled, straightening its robe. "and you smell much better too."

"
What did this other human look like?" Sly asked suddenly, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"He looked like a human." The gnome shrugged. "I can't tell you creatures apart. You all look alike to me. I
can
tell you that he was nearly as big as this one." It pointed up at Damion.

"Was he alone?"

The little gnome shook its head, causing its sagging jowls to flop back and forth unpleasantly. "There was a human female with him. She was carrying a child in her arms that was fighting like mad to get free from her grip. Poor little thing seemed desperate to be rid of the woman."

Raven whimpered, and he
r hands flew to her mouth to stifle her cries.

"When did you
last see these people?" Damion asked intently.

"A
few days ago. They were heading towards the eastern gate when I last saw them."

"One last question." Sly asked, his eyes shrewd. "Do you have any idea where the Silver Gull is located?"

"Of course!" The gnome smiled happily. "It's about half a day's ride to the east, a stone's throw from the eastern gate. They serve some of the best dragon's milk you have ever tasted there!"

"Thank you for your time." Damion told the little creature sincerely. "And I'm sorry that I could not help you with your experiment."

They watched as the little creature disappeared into crowd, then looked amongst themselves.

"At least we have
confirmation that they were heading east." Damarius murmured, brushing his brow lock from his eyes absently. "We weren't entirely sure that they didn't decide to change direction to try and throw us off their trail."

"And
we know that Leia is still alive and well." Raven added, her eyes full of tears.

Seeing his wife in tears made Damion angry, and the thought of the witch placing her foul hands upon his daughter only made him angrier. "Let's get moving." He growled, trying
valiantly to keep his temper under control.

They arrived at the doors of the Silver Gull later that evening, and Sly immediately darted inside, an eager gleam in his eyes.

"What's wrong with him?" The twin knights asked in bafflement.

"I think our old friend is eager to sample a bit of dragon's milk." Damarius chuckled, sliding wearily from his horse. "He's been yearning to taste it ever since he first heard about it."

"He had better not over do it." Damion frowned. "I know how he gets once he's had a few drinks."

They followed the little man inside, and quickly located him waiting anxiously at one of the many tables which filled the empty common room.

"Take a seat." The little man told everyone with a grin. "I've already ordered food and drink for everyone. It should be here shortly." He looked around for the serving girl, his expression eager.

"Is there any sign of Leia?" Raven asked breathlessly
.

Sly frowned. "The serving girl I spoke with said that
they stayed here overnight, four nights ago, then left early the following morning."

"It seems were are gaining on our quarry." Damarius commented, his eyes narrowed shrewdly. "I'm guessing that travelling with an infant child is prov
ing a bit complicated for them, and it sounds as though Leia is trying to make it as difficult as she possibly can."

"What makes you say that?" Raven asked, wiping the unshed tears from her eyes.

"Every person that they have encountered has mentioned that she was constantly screaming and throwing fits." The old wizard laughed. "I think our little Leia is trying her best to make her abductor's lives completely miserable."

"Shall we press on
," Jarom asked curiously. "or shall we rest here for the evening?"

"If you wish to keep moving, we must not linger here too long." Jacom cautioned them. "They close the gates at night, and they will not open them for any reason until the sun has risen once more."

Damion looked around at the others, then to his wife, who stared back at him with pleading eyes. "Let's keep moving." He decided finally. "Sly already discovered what we needed to know from the serving girl. Let's have a quick meal, then set back off. With a little luck, we may be able to shorten the witch's lead a bit more before we stop for the evening."

"Fine." Sly growled sullenly, clearly disappointed at not being able to spend the rest of the evening getting drunk. "I'm still going to try this dragon's milk before we leave though." His expression was one of defiance.

They dined on roast mutton, potatoes, gravy, and fresh baked bread with plenty of butter, and washed it all down with a delicate wine, then prepared to set back off, knowing the gates leading in and out of Sherish would soon be closed.

Sly lingered inside the tavern for several long minutes while the others prep
ared the horses, then emerged from the tavern carrying a large wineskin. "Ready when you are." He grunted to Damion, holding the wineskin with both hands as if he were afraid it might escape.

"So was the dragon's milk as good as you had hoped?" Damarius asked curiously.

"I haven't tried it yet," The little man smiled, then patted the wineskin softly. "but I made sure to get a little bit to sample."

They set off towards the east gate on foot, still leading the horses
even though the streets were far less crowded now that the sun had set. They arrived just before the gates swung shut, sealing off the city from the rest of the world for another night.

Once clear of the city, they mounted their horses and set off
at a careful trot, hoping to put a couple more miles between themselves and the city before they stopped for the night.

"We must be cautious while travelling east of Sherish." Jarom told everyone as they pressed on through the darkness
.

"
The border of Alioon lay a few leagues from here." Jacom warned them in the same cautious tone. "The Aliono are a strict, unbending people. They do not look kindly upon outsiders."

"Will they try to stop us?" Raven asked
a bit timidly.

"They usually leave travelers alone, unless they're feeling
belligerent," The twins murmured in unison, their voices quiet. "then they can be troublesome."

They kept moving along the dark road for several more hours, then finally stop
ped near a shallow brook that cut across the nearly invisible road.

"Let's stop here for the night,
have a bit to eat, and try to get a little rest." Damion decided, ignoring Raven's huff of frustration.

Sly, Damarius, and Damion quickly set up camp while the twins
searched the area for firewood and Raven prepared a quick meal of pork and beans from their provisions.

"How much further is it until we reach
the borders of Alioon?" Damarius asked, his voice weary.

"
Another day's ride." Jarom told the old wizard, shoveling a spoonful of beans into his mouth.

"The border is a little
undefined," Jarom continued, swallowing a mouthful of pork. "so there isn't really any established crossing point. We'll probably begin running into their patrols sometime tomorrow evening."

Sly finished his meal first, then, burping thunderously, he withdrew the flask of dragon's milk, his face lit with anticipation.
"I can't wait any longer!" He told them, smiling from ear to ear. "I'm finally going to try this stuff!" He removed the stopper, then sniffed at the wineskin experimentally. "It doesn't smell bad."

"Be careful with that stuff.
" One of the twins warned. "It's quite deceptive."

"It can reduce a man to
imbecility in just a few sips." The other twin added his warning.

"There hasn't been a drink brewed that can best me." Sly sniffed dismissively, taking a long pull from the wineskin.

The twin knights exchanged knowing smiles, then sat back, their eyes dancing in amusement.

Sly smacked his lips a couple of times, one eye arched quizzically. "It's pleasant tasting enough, but it doesn't really have much of a kick."

The twins merely continued to smile.

"How far behind the witch do you think we are?" Raven asked Damion in a subdued voice. "
Do you think we may have gained some ground?"

"I'm sure we have,"
Damion told her reassuringly. "They can't travel very quickly with a child in tow, and they have to be cautious while trying to reach the highland temples. From everything we've heard, that witch won't be welcome anywhere if her identity is discovered, so they'll be forced to take special precautions to avoid any trouble."

"How do the Aliono feel about the witches?" Damarius asked the twins curiously.

"They despise them, as do most sensible people." Jarom looked away from Sly, whose face had grown bright red.

"They
fear all magic, and those who wield it." Jacom also looked away from Sly, who took another long pull from his wineskin. "The witch you seek will have to be very cautious while passing through Alioon. If she is discovered, they will surely attempt to kill her, and all those with her."

"They wouldn't harm a child, would they?" Raven asked fear
fully.

The young knights exchanged glances.

"The Aliono are a bit unreliable," Jacom started, choosing his words carefully.

"
But they are not savages." Jarom finished in the same cautious tone. "I do not believe that they would harm a child."

Raven didn't look reassured.

The sudden rustle of feathers announced Snowfeather's arrival as the huge owl ghosted in from the darkness, a huge rabbit clenched tightly in his talons.
"It's about time we stopped for the night."
He complained, ripping into his meal ravenously.
"I've passed up a dozen opportunities for a quick meal tonight, but I didn't want to chance missing something important."

"Did you see any sign of Leia or her abductors
?" Damion asked him, although he already knew the answer.

"
There isn't any sign of anyone for miles. The closest settlement is a tiny farm house a few miles to the north, but it was a bit too far away to investigate."
The huge owl looked up from its meal.
"I
did
see a scarlet dragon flying nearby, though. I think it may have a den somewhere nearby."