The Rock of Ivanore (14 page)

rom where he stood just beyond the edge of the glade, Marcus listened to the crackle of the fire. The chill in the night air ran a cold finger down his spine, and he shivered. He tipped his face up toward the heavens and studied the stars. Zyll had taught him how to find the North Star and to use it like a compass. Marcus had always been fascinated by what he read about stars in Zyll's books. When he was alone, he often spent hours creating imaginary pictures by connecting the stars together with invisible lines. Just then a star shot across the horizon, leaving a white trail that faded like a morning mist, and he imagined a horse galloping away.

“Magnificent, isn't it?” Kelvin's voice startled him.
Marcus shivered again. “You're cold. Why not come back to the fire?”

“I want to be alone,” Marcus muttered.

“You know,” said Kelvin, “when I was little, Mr. Archer would take me into the forest late at night to hunt. Sometimes we'd lie in the same patch of brush for hours. I'd pass the time by counting stars.”

Marcus rubbed his arms with his hands for warmth. “I never knew my father,” he said.

“The truth is,” said Kelvin, “I don't have one either—not really. The Archers took me in when I was very small. I don't remember much about my real parents.”

By this time, the moon had risen and hung just above the horizon.

“Why did you come with me?” asked Marcus, changing the subject. “You would have been better off staying with the others.”

“I'm drawn to adventure, I suppose,” replied Kelvin, pulling his collar up around his chin.

“Really,” said Marcus doubtfully.

“That, and I want to know the truth about Jayson. Arik is after him for a reason. What is it, Marcus?”

“Like I said before, I can't tell you anything.”

“I understand. It's true I was angry at first, but I've been thinking about what you said. I guess if I had a secret to tell, I'm glad to know I could trust you with it.” Kelvin took a deep breath of the cool night air and expelled it in a pale cloud.

Marcus thought of the pendant that hung around his neck. In the excitement and confusion of their escape, he had forgotten about it. Though he had taken it out of anger, he never intended to keep it. Now, after hearing Kelvin's words, he felt ashamed. He wanted to return the pendant, but the moment seemed awkward.

 “It's chilly over here,” said Kelvin. “You should come sit by the fire.” Then he walked away, leaving Marcus alone. The moment for truth passed.

he air grew colder with each passing minute. Marcus had just decided to return to the campfire when a twig snapped behind him. Before he could react, someone clamped a hand around his mouth. Fear shot through him like an arrow. A voice whispered in his ear. “Why are you following me?”

The voice was familiar. The hand around his mouth loosened its grip. Marcus turned to face his captor.

“Jayson! How did you—”

“What are you doing out here?” demanded Jayson.

“I came to warn you,” answered Marcus, rubbing the pain from his cheeks where Jayson had gripped too tightly.

“Warn me?”

“There's a man looking for you.”

“Arik.” Jayson said the name with obvious disdain.

There was a shout from the direction of the fire. Marcus saw Bryn snatch a piece of roasted fish from the fire and run off to the safety of a nearby tree.

“You've brought the monster
with
you?” asked Jayson.

“I had no choice!” replied Marcus. “When Arik asked if he recognized me, if I had been with
you
, Bryn protected me. If I hadn't let Bryn come, Arik would have killed him.”

“Did Arik follow you?”

“No, I don't think so.”

“Of course, why should he?” Jayson said. “He has only one goal in mind, and it isn't chasing a couple of boys through the forest.”

“Why is he after you?”

Jayson studied the stars above and then squinted through the trees toward the road. Marcus sensed Jayson's reluctance, but having given his pledge, Marcus felt entitled to some answers.

“The library's history said Ivanore was kidnapped,” pressed Marcus. “If I've given my word to a criminal, I have a right to know.”

To his surprise, Jayson only smiled. “Yes, I suppose you do have that right,” he said, rubbing his temples with his fingers. “I didn't kidnap Ivanore. What I told you before is the truth. She is my wife—and Arik's sister. Arik and I were like brothers. When Fredric exiled me, Arik came to my defense. He even went so far as to draw his sword against his own father. For that, he was disowned and exiled along with me.”

Marcus's head swam with this new information. He didn't even notice the cold anymore.

“If you were friends, why does he want to kill you now?”

“Over the past fifteen years,” answered Jayson, “Arik has been plotting revenge: overthrowing his father's throne and taking over the realm. Despite what Arik and Ivanore's father did to me, I cannot allow Arik to succeed. Too many innocent lives are at stake. I just hope I reach Dokur before it's too late.”

A cool breeze rustled the leaves underfoot and Marcus shivered.

“You should get some rest,” continued Jayson. “We've a long journey ahead of us.”

“We? You mean you want us to go with you?” Marcus was both excited and apprehensive at the same time. He glanced back at Kelvin, who was shouting obscenities at Bryn. “All of us?”

“Unless you've better things to do.”

“But it's dangerous,” said Marcus. “You said yourself you might be arrested—or killed!”

“True,” replied Jayson, turning his gaze up to the stars. “But some things are worth dying for.”

Marcus considered this a moment. Jayson was obviously the reckless type, and traveling with him to Dokur could prove perilous. Marcus had spent his entire life being cautious, doing what was expected of him, what was safe. But now, sitting here listening to Jayson, Marcus felt a peculiar desire—no,
need
—to take a risk.

“I'm coming with you,” he said with more certainty
than he thought himself capable. “We'll all come.”

A bit of mist escaped Jayson's mouth as he breathed. “It's settled then,” he added with a sudden cheerfulness. He held out a rabbit hanging from his fist. “I had planned a feast for one. I'm sure it will be enough to share. A few hours of sleep, and we'll be off.”

Jayson patted Marcus on the shoulder, then headed toward the fire.

On one hand, Marcus was pleased that Jayson had asked him to come along. But deep inside, he was filled with a gnawing dread.

rik and the Mardoks rode straight through the night, stopping only once to allow the horses to drink from the river and then continuing on. Tristan, Clovis, and Zody managed to sleep occasionally, but sleep would not come to Jerrid. Being tied upright on the back of a horse was uncomfortable at best, and he preferred to wait until he was allowed a proper bed. At one point during the night, he could have sworn he saw a flicker of light through the trees to their left. Though he was certain Arik had seen it, too, their pace remained steady.

Shortly before sunrise, they came upon a lake. The opposite shore was cloaked in a light mist illuminated by the receding moonlight. Arik ordered the Mardoks to lead
the horses to the water, but as they neared, the horses began to grunt and stomp the ground.

“They're frightened,” said one of the Mardoks. “Something's out there.”

“Nonsense!” replied Arik. “Bring me the second bird, and be quick!”

The Mardok dismounted, leaving Jerrid alone atop the horse. From a crate, he retrieved a bird with an orange band about its leg.

“Why the birds?” asked Jerrid. “Who are you trying to contact?”

Arik glanced up at the insolent boy for only a moment. “My business is not your concern,” he said.

“Then why the rush to beat Jayson to Dokur?”

Zody shifted nervously on the back of his horse. “Jerrid, what are you doing?!” he said in a forced whisper.

“I saw the campfire back there, same as you. It must have been Jayson,” Jerrid continued. “You could have killed him if you really wanted.”

Arik's lips grew thin and pale as he pressed them together. He could have bored a hole right through Jerrid with his eyes. But the loathing in his face disappeared as quickly as it came. He took the bird from the Mardok and checked its band.

“I haven't time for distractions now,” he said. “Our swift arrival at the northwest harbor is expected.”

“What will happen to us when you get there?”

Arik flicked his reins and maneuvered his horse until it was within inches of Jerrid's. He now wore an excessively
patient expression, as if he had all the time in the world to spare.

“My contact within the Fortress of Dokur awaits my final signal: a red-banded bird signifying that the tower is secured and the invasion has begun.
If
I fail in my mission and my betrayal is discovered, I will ransom your pathetic lives in exchange for my own. If I succeed . . .” continued Arik, the corners of his lips curling upward ever so slightly, “if I succeed, I will take pleasure in killing you.”

Arik released the bird with the orange band. The sound of its wings in the still night air startled the already restless horses. Then another sound rolled across the lake, a low rumble, as if something large and heavy were being dragged along the ground.

“Did you hear that?” whispered Tristan, who sat on the horse beside Jerrid's.

Clovis nodded, biting his lip to keep from crying out in fear. Zody sat on his horse, stiff as a statue. All their eyes were focused on the lake. Though the thickening mist prevented them from clearly seeing the other side, Tristan was sure he saw movement in the shadows.

“We're going to be eaten alive!” whimpered Clovis.

“Shhh!” said Tristan.

A shadow rose up over the far shore, reaching skyward until it blocked the moon from view. Clovis fainted, but as he was tied to his horse, he remained where he sat. Jerrid's horse, however, reared up. The ropes gave way, and Jerrid fell to the ground with a thud.