brand to the slaver since it was the older brand and therefore on his right hip, which was the traditional hip for branding. Once Gerruld grunted an acknowledgement, Rak bent his neck and fingered the lock on the torque.
Gerruld reached out and tested it, too. He also read the inscription on the silver parts of the torque. He pursed his lips, glanced at Jisten’s allies then at Rak’s wings and backed off a step. “It’s a legal collar,” he grumbled. “I’m sorry to have bothered you. My most sincere apologies, Prince Jethain, Captain Jisten.” The man offered a bow before he backed away.
The main room slowly returned to normal as the soldiers put their weapons away, sat down and resumed eating and drinking. Once the mercenaries had all sat down, the combined palace-and-temple guard also sat, except for Pikara, who seemed glued to Rak’s back.
Rak returned to his seat at Jisten’s side but kept a wary eye on the slaver. “Somehow, I get the feeling that this is far from over,” he muttered.
“You are so right,” Pikara replied. “And it doesn’t take a talent for prophecy to figure that out.”
Once everyone had eaten, Rak and Ioli spread out a map showing much of the north of Ydron, including Koilatha and Loftos, which was the area they focused on. Rak’s finger stabbed down to mark Riftinmoor then traced the road north into Loftos. “Here is the only road into Loftos. The Valers may know of smaller trails, but if there are any, they are well hidden.” His finger moved back to the town, then north and west, landing in an empty spot on the other side of the Dacti River. “Here is the Barony of Relyt.”
Ioli studied the map. “ There is no direct route into Loftos from the barony. To reach the temple, I will have to head north from here. ” He frowned and glanced at where the slaver’s men sat drinking. “ I don’t want to leave you unprotected .”
“Our best protection will be speed. And Scorth—he is just north of the town right now and will provide aerial coverage.”
Ioli nodded. “ Travel at night, ” he signed.
Rak nodded at that. “We will rest here tomorrow and head out just before sunset.”
“ You take the wagon, as agreed. We will travel faster without it . With any luck, the slavers will follow me and leave you be. ”
Over the rim of his tankard, Jethain quipped, “Don’t you just love it when the priests make plans for us without even consulting us first?”
“I trust in S’Rak’s good sense,” Jisten replied.
The dark guard burst out laughing—even Pikara laughed at that. “Sense, Captain Handsome? Sense? Who dropped you on the head?”
“Some chaos mage,” Jisten replied cheerfully.
“Did you have an opinion as to which way we should go?” Rak asked of Jethain in a notably sweet voice.
“Not which way. When. We should leave tonight, together, and split up under cover of darkness. And S’Ioli should take the wagon—the slavers will follow the larger force.”
“I think the prince has a good idea there,” Rak told Ioli. “If you take the wagon, I will ask Scorth to cover you until you reach the temple.”
The younger priest nodded after a moment’s thought. “ We should order another round. Wait until the slavers’ men are all asleep then leave .”
Jethain grinned and signaled the innkeeper. “Another round of your excellent ale, please.”
Chapter Seven: Sentinel
Dεktεra Ligo, Aoranz Fεngari
10th day, 1st week, Auranz’s moon
Several hours later, Rak glanced back as they rode out of town. They had chanted the midnight rite in the rooms they’d rented for the night, but once the rite was over, they’d crept back downstairs and out to the stable. From there, it was short work to saddle the avtappi and ride out. The draft avtappi trotted easily with the wagon in tow, and once they were well under the cover of the northern forest, Rak signaled a conference by asking all the avtappi to stop. Once more, he spread out
Gerruld reached out and tested it, too. He also read the inscription on the silver parts of the torque. He pursed his lips, glanced at Jisten’s allies then at Rak’s wings and backed off a step. “It’s a legal collar,” he grumbled. “I’m sorry to have bothered you. My most sincere apologies, Prince Jethain, Captain Jisten.” The man offered a bow before he backed away.
The main room slowly returned to normal as the soldiers put their weapons away, sat down and resumed eating and drinking. Once the mercenaries had all sat down, the combined palace-and-temple guard also sat, except for Pikara, who seemed glued to Rak’s back.
Rak returned to his seat at Jisten’s side but kept a wary eye on the slaver. “Somehow, I get the feeling that this is far from over,” he muttered.
“You are so right,” Pikara replied. “And it doesn’t take a talent for prophecy to figure that out.”
Once everyone had eaten, Rak and Ioli spread out a map showing much of the north of Ydron, including Koilatha and Loftos, which was the area they focused on. Rak’s finger stabbed down to mark Riftinmoor then traced the road north into Loftos. “Here is the only road into Loftos. The Valers may know of smaller trails, but if there are any, they are well hidden.” His finger moved back to the town, then north and west, landing in an empty spot on the other side of the Dacti River. “Here is the Barony of Relyt.”
Ioli studied the map. “ There is no direct route into Loftos from the barony. To reach the temple, I will have to head north from here. ” He frowned and glanced at where the slaver’s men sat drinking. “ I don’t want to leave you unprotected .”
“Our best protection will be speed. And Scorth—he is just north of the town right now and will provide aerial coverage.”
Ioli nodded. “ Travel at night, ” he signed.
Rak nodded at that. “We will rest here tomorrow and head out just before sunset.”
“ You take the wagon, as agreed. We will travel faster without it . With any luck, the slavers will follow me and leave you be. ”
Over the rim of his tankard, Jethain quipped, “Don’t you just love it when the priests make plans for us without even consulting us first?”
“I trust in S’Rak’s good sense,” Jisten replied.
The dark guard burst out laughing—even Pikara laughed at that. “Sense, Captain Handsome? Sense? Who dropped you on the head?”
“Some chaos mage,” Jisten replied cheerfully.
“Did you have an opinion as to which way we should go?” Rak asked of Jethain in a notably sweet voice.
“Not which way. When. We should leave tonight, together, and split up under cover of darkness. And S’Ioli should take the wagon—the slavers will follow the larger force.”
“I think the prince has a good idea there,” Rak told Ioli. “If you take the wagon, I will ask Scorth to cover you until you reach the temple.”
The younger priest nodded after a moment’s thought. “ We should order another round. Wait until the slavers’ men are all asleep then leave .”
Jethain grinned and signaled the innkeeper. “Another round of your excellent ale, please.”
Chapter Seven: Sentinel
Dεktεra Ligo, Aoranz Fεngari
10th day, 1st week, Auranz’s moon
Several hours later, Rak glanced back as they rode out of town. They had chanted the midnight rite in the rooms they’d rented for the night, but once the rite was over, they’d crept back downstairs and out to the stable. From there, it was short work to saddle the avtappi and ride out. The draft avtappi trotted easily with the wagon in tow, and once they were well under the cover of the northern forest, Rak signaled a conference by asking all the avtappi to stop. Once more, he spread out
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