The Caravan Road (44 page)

Thanks,
Alec said drily.

You know,
he said suddenly, compelled to want to leave no misunderstanding between them,
I do think you are attractive; I thought that the whole time we were traveling.  I am struggling, struggling mightily, with what this relationship is doing.   I don’t know how long I can resist the temptation you create, Andi.  And I want you to know that I had no idea this would result, this shared awareness, whatever it is, when I brought you within me – I just wanted to save your life. I didn’t ever intend to seduce you.

Andi’s eyes teared up. 
I know.  I know.  I know it all.  I’d know most of that about you even if I didn’t feel your spirit,
she told him. 
And now that I know more about you, I’m not sure that it would be good for me, or you.  I’ll try not to make you feel uncomfortable, but I may still,
she paused,
I don’t know
.  She turned and walked away hurriedly.

Alec felt his own eyes grow moist, whether from his own sadness or from Andi’s he couldn’t tell.   They were treading on uncertain ground, and neither of them knew exactly where they were going.  He left the kitchen and went to take a quick, cold, but thorough bath, recollecting the days when he had had the luxury of hot water for baths.  In an estate like the one he was in, he was sure there was hot water available, but he didn’t want to waste time hunting down the servants and troubling them.

Afterwards he knocked on doors and rounded up all his traveling companions, telling them to meet in the common room they shared, and telling Kane and Jody to prepare to return to the palace.

Alec went to the room and waited by the door, then Andi walked into the room and took a seat at the opposite end.  Slowly, the others entered the room in ones and twos, and soon they all were gathered together.

“Today, Andi and I are going to escort Kane and Jody back to the palace of Woven, where they will rejoin their mother and prepare to rule the city once again,” Alec began, followed by grins from the youths as the others heartily cheered.
  He
also
told Alfred about the girl, Kate, who he asked Alfred to hire as a seamstress and move into a safe home
with her sister
.

“After we make sure they are safe and reunited with Lady Salem, we are going to leave the city and carry out the pursuit of those who have taken Kriste, Jarel’s sister,” Alec announced, looking directly at Jarel.

The boy began to protest, but Alec held up his hand to forestall the comments.  “The two of us will travel faster alone, and this is now a simple race.

“Through our abilities, we will be able to remain in communication until we get too far away, so we will let you know of our success,” he promised.  “We could find Kriste soon, if we are fortunate.  The ingenairii we are chasing seem to leave easy clues to where they are going, and they clearly do not expect to be effectively pursued.”

“I understand that three or four would be slower than two travelers Lord Alec,” Jasel said, “but I do not know why you are taking Andi instead of me.”

Alec looked across the room at Andi, then back at Jasel.  “I have to take her.  I do not think I could stand to be apart from her,” he said, knowing his words were open to misinterpretation, but hoping the implied reason was one that Jasel could accept.

Stacha
gently placed her hand on Jasel’s shoulder with a slight smile.  “I’m sure he understands that, my lord,” the young widow said.

“Alec, we didn’t realize this parting would come so quickly,” Bauer said.

“Neither did I,” Alec answered.  “But I know that you all will be well taken care of here in Woven. 
Stacha
and Alfred have made arrangements for purchase of a home that will let them start their business as well as provide a home for all of you, and you have good friends within the palace now,” he gestured to Kane and Jody.

“We want to see you all come to the palace, often,” Kane asserted, looking at Hope momentarily, before his eyes moved elsewhere.

“I hope that Andi and I will return soon, with a new companion, so that we all can celebrate together in the palace,” Alec commented.

“We had a long and tough journey together, and we lost some good companions along the way,” Alec told them.  “But we made it through, and none of you complained.  You have been the best team of travelers I could have asked for.”

“None of us would be alive today if not for you, my lord,” Alfred said.  “And we are all better people for having known you.  I wish you and your lovely friend good luck and early success in your next journey.  I think I speak for us all when I say that I hope we will see you again very soon.”

Everyone in the room stood, and gathered around Alec and Andi, shaking hands and hugging, making promises for several minutes, until they all began to move towards the stableyard and the horses that waited there.

They all climbed on their horses except for Alec, who stood and hugged both Hope and Bauer for a long time. 
You’ve come a long way from Warm Springs, Hope,
Alec spoke among them
.  I want you to be safe and find happiness among the mortals, and learn the lessons you need to learn.

You speak as if you think we’ll never meet again,
Hope answered.

Sometimes reunions are long delayed, aren’t they Bauer?
Alec told her.

But they are all the sweeter when they happen, my friend
, the former sorcerer agreed.

It may be a long time; it may be here, or Warm Springs, or someplace else
, Alec told them both,
but I look forward to when we do meet again.  And as a word of advice, next time you travel through the mountains, travel in the summer!

They all burst into laughter, then Alec climbed into his saddle, and the four of them left the estate, and began the ride across the country lanes that led towards the city.

You do not think you will see them again, do you?
Andi asked.

I do not know, my friend
, Alec answered introspectively. 
I once was young, about your age, and was the king of my nation, when I had to go on a trip to try to save the ingenairii from a disease.  I became trapped in a battle with a demon, and the fight lasted fifty years.  When I came home after the fight, my friends were almost all gone, my nation was at war, my society was crippled, and I…
he stopped the story, saddened by the memories.

“Why are you crying Andi?” Jody asked, seeing tears running down the guard’s cheek.

Andi brushed the tears away and smiled at the young princess.  “I was just thinking about a sad story, which was silly of me.”  She looked over at Alec.  “Today you are going home to a palace!  Today is a happy day for all of us.”

“Yes it is,” Alec agreed, as they entered the portion of the road that had buildings on either side, a sign of their nearness to the city.

Minutes later they rode through the open gates of the city wall and entered the city, and just moments after that, Kane was recognized by people on the street.  “The Dauphin!  The Dauphin returns to the city!” the cry of recognition went up, using the title of the heir to the throne.

The voices carried the welcome ahead of them, and the street began to grow crowded with legions of citizens welcoming Kane and Jody back to the city.  Their progress slowed as they got closer to the palace, but at last they turned a corner and saw the main gates in the palace wall just a short distance away.

The crowd grew even more tightly packed, and the horses carrying the travelers began to become separated by people standing in the streets.  Alec forced his horse through the crowd to get close to Jody’s side, and grabbed her reins, then lifted the girl out of her saddle and into his own, placing her in front of himself.

“The people are happy to see your family back, aren’t they?” he said cheerily to the youngster.

Before she could reply Alec heard the twang of a bow, and realized with horror that there was an arrow streaking towards Kane, who was severa
l yards away from Alec, a mob between them
preventing him from getting to the boy.

Alec saw a sudden blur, and Andi leapt with extraordinary agility, leaving her saddle in one fluid motion as she flung her body with superhuman effort above many people and through the air.  Her hand snatched at the air, and caught the arrow in mid-flight, just three feet in front of Kane’s chest, and then her momentum carried her past him and into the throng below.

There were screams and shouts from the crowd.  Alec felt a sudden sharp pain as he engaged his Air energies and held Jody tightly, while he created air pressure below himself and flew above the crowd to Kane, whose arm he grasped as he passed over him in the air.  Shouts redoubled in volume, as people began to flee in fear and panic, while Alec directed himself and his two charges directly towards the gates of the palace, and landed within the covered shadow of the stony structure.

He whipped out his sword and turned from Air to Warrior energies, scanning the building from which he knew the arrow must have been launched, but there was no one visible on the roof or at any of the windows.  He turned and inspected the guards who stood dumbfounded at the gate.  “Who do you serve?” he asked, pressing the two children back against a wall, and placing himself in front of them.

“We serve her ladyship, the Marchioness Salem,” the astonished guards.

“Call Major Bray or General Filpon to the gate,” Alec ordered.  “I have the Lady Salem’s children here, and I will deliver them only to one of those two men.

“Go!” he shouted.  “Go now!”

There were six men there, and after a significant exchange of looks, one of them took off running into the palace grounds.

Alec’s eyes scanned constantly, looking across the whole of the crowd and the gate, looking for any sign of further trouble. 
Andi?  Andi, do you hear me?
he broadcast his question, seeking to find the Black Crag guard.

There was no answer, although he could sense that his partner was nearby.  “Are both of you okay?” he turned to ask the two frightened children.

Both nodded their heads.  “You saw what Andi did?” he asked, and they nodded again.  “She saved your life,” he told Kane.

“I know,” the boy said in a voice that was small.  “I didn’t even know what was happening until it was over.”

“Andi is out there right now, and I’m worried about her,” Alec said.  “But I want to protect you two as well.

“So I am going to put up a wall of air right here in front of you.  Nothing will get in to hurt you,” he explained.

“How can air protect us?” Jody asked.

In response, Alec grasped his Spiritual power, and then his Air powers, and erected the protective field of dense Air he intended.

“Try to reach my hand,” he told Jody, holding his hand up.  The girl stretched her hand towards his, then abruptly stopped it a foot short of his fingers.

“You’re safe here.  I’ll go find Andi and keep her safe, and we’ll be back.  You’ll be safe here in the meantime, I promise,” he said, then glanced at the waiting guards, and jogged away from the gate, infiltrating the meandering members of the crowd.

He headed towards the direction where he had seen Andi drop into the crowd.  The four horses were wandering nearby, separating from one another and spreading out in response to the people who pushed and bumped against them.

Andi?  Andi?
He called again, feeling her presence, but receiving no answer.

He spent precious minutes forcing his way into the crowd, drawing angry looks that he ignored, and reached the spot where he thought Andi should lie.  The crowd was thinning, though still packed tightly enough to block easy passage.  Andi was nowhere to be seen.  He stood still and closed his eyes, and tried to focus on the girl.   She was off to his left, he sensed.  He opened his eyes and began pushing in that direction, looking ahead at the people he could see, looking for anyone who might be carrying a
n unconscious girl, but seeing n
o signs.

He kept his shoulder down and reached the sidewalk, then closed his eyes and concentrated again.  She was very close, close enough he should be able to see her easily.

Andi, I don’t want to lose you.  Andi, where are you?
he called, but still heard no response.

She could be no more than thirty feet distance, he judged, meaning she had to be in the building just to his right.  He drew his sword and moved to the door, then kicked it in and stormed into the room, his head swerving wildly, his sword swinging through the air around him, until his eyes locked on Andi, lying unconscious on a pallet, a woman and two men standing over her, applying wet compresses to her head gently.

The woman screamed, and the men looked at Alec in wide-eyed horror.

“Is she alright?  What did you do to her?” Alec asked, stepping cautiously towards them.

“We found her on the ground and brought her here to care for her,” one of the men replied.

With a sigh of relief, Alec released his hold in his Warrior powers, then swung his sword back into his scabbard, and approached the pallet.