the grass. The danger of discovery would increase the longer they waited and their positions in Nantitet were too important to compromise with the rebel plans so far from ripe. They agreed that they must return soon to Rhath where the High King was staying and assume their posts. It was an awkward decision to leave without contact with the rebels because Parean and Daura would directly return to Nantitet with the High King and the difficulty to converse with Gareth would increase sevenfold.
"How much longer do we dare wait?" asked Parean. "I do not like this. We must return before we are missed. We are exposing ourselves to Kaell's suspicions."
"I agree," replied Daura. "But we are already under Kaell's eye. It seems like everywhere I turn the wizard is there watching me. But we must contact Gareth's messenger. He can do little against the High King without our help. He has no other eyes and ears in the palace. Only we can give him information on the High King's intentions in advance of execution. If he makes a move for which he needs our aid and we cannot help, the outlook will be very bleak."
"As it will be if we don't return soon. The High King wants to leave early in the morning and that draws fast upon us. Let us return."
"Kaell spends all his time on battling the rebels," said Daura, trying to ignore the remark. "While Prosty accompanies the High King everywhere. I don't see how Gareth can get by the vigilance of Kaell. And Kaell has the Calendian army at his personal disposal."
Parean grasped her elbow and tried to lead her away. She smiled, twisting out of his grasp.
"But you're right. We can't wait much longer. We must go soon. Another ten minutes."
"I am not a soldier," said Parean. "I don't want you to expect me to defend you against soldiers. I have seldom lifted a sword."
"I know. It is your mind that attracts me. And I didn't ask you to come out here. You are exposing yourself needlessly to Kaell's suspicions. Besides, I was just to exchange information. No physical danger. Kaell wouldn't risk it until he was sure."
"I hope you're right."
There was a snap of a twig and they fell silent. Daura wasn't sure if they had made the noise themselves or not. They waited but did not hear any other sound. Parean grasped her hand. The breeze had died and Parean swore he could hear himself sweat. It was difficult to see anything with the darkness growing. Images seemed to float in the shadows the longer they stared at them, making them doubt their own senses. They waited. Parean's breath began to shorten and he gripped Daura's hand fiercely. At Daura's signal they both moved off slowly to find their horses. The trees were close together and the thick underbrush made it difficult to see very far in any direction. They moved more quickly but they saw shadows dance and fade around them and when they stopped, the shadows did also.
"It's nothing but ourselves," whispered Parean. She prayed he was right.
"I am not sure. Look there." She pointed to a low spot just ahead of them where three long shadows reached up into the shadows of the trees. But there were more shadows than trees.
They waited but could discern no movement from the shadows.
"Perhaps they are only shadows. An odd angle or two."
"Can we take that chance?" asked Daura. She was sure they had been discovered. But what would Kaell do? What were those shadows?
Parean shrugged. His throat was barely moist enough to speak.
"They are between us and the horses," whispered Daura. "If they are more than shadows, I do not know what they are. My hair standing on end."
"Stay here. I will try to draw them off."
"No," she said. "We will do what we must together."
"It does the rebels no good for both of us to die."
"And it does me no good," replied Daura. "For you to die."
He looked at her and smiled. Even in the darkness she knew he smiled and kissed him.
Parean's pulse raced. He did not want to confront Kaell. He was not a fighter and Daura had dragged
"How much longer do we dare wait?" asked Parean. "I do not like this. We must return before we are missed. We are exposing ourselves to Kaell's suspicions."
"I agree," replied Daura. "But we are already under Kaell's eye. It seems like everywhere I turn the wizard is there watching me. But we must contact Gareth's messenger. He can do little against the High King without our help. He has no other eyes and ears in the palace. Only we can give him information on the High King's intentions in advance of execution. If he makes a move for which he needs our aid and we cannot help, the outlook will be very bleak."
"As it will be if we don't return soon. The High King wants to leave early in the morning and that draws fast upon us. Let us return."
"Kaell spends all his time on battling the rebels," said Daura, trying to ignore the remark. "While Prosty accompanies the High King everywhere. I don't see how Gareth can get by the vigilance of Kaell. And Kaell has the Calendian army at his personal disposal."
Parean grasped her elbow and tried to lead her away. She smiled, twisting out of his grasp.
"But you're right. We can't wait much longer. We must go soon. Another ten minutes."
"I am not a soldier," said Parean. "I don't want you to expect me to defend you against soldiers. I have seldom lifted a sword."
"I know. It is your mind that attracts me. And I didn't ask you to come out here. You are exposing yourself needlessly to Kaell's suspicions. Besides, I was just to exchange information. No physical danger. Kaell wouldn't risk it until he was sure."
"I hope you're right."
There was a snap of a twig and they fell silent. Daura wasn't sure if they had made the noise themselves or not. They waited but did not hear any other sound. Parean grasped her hand. The breeze had died and Parean swore he could hear himself sweat. It was difficult to see anything with the darkness growing. Images seemed to float in the shadows the longer they stared at them, making them doubt their own senses. They waited. Parean's breath began to shorten and he gripped Daura's hand fiercely. At Daura's signal they both moved off slowly to find their horses. The trees were close together and the thick underbrush made it difficult to see very far in any direction. They moved more quickly but they saw shadows dance and fade around them and when they stopped, the shadows did also.
"It's nothing but ourselves," whispered Parean. She prayed he was right.
"I am not sure. Look there." She pointed to a low spot just ahead of them where three long shadows reached up into the shadows of the trees. But there were more shadows than trees.
They waited but could discern no movement from the shadows.
"Perhaps they are only shadows. An odd angle or two."
"Can we take that chance?" asked Daura. She was sure they had been discovered. But what would Kaell do? What were those shadows?
Parean shrugged. His throat was barely moist enough to speak.
"They are between us and the horses," whispered Daura. "If they are more than shadows, I do not know what they are. My hair standing on end."
"Stay here. I will try to draw them off."
"No," she said. "We will do what we must together."
"It does the rebels no good for both of us to die."
"And it does me no good," replied Daura. "For you to die."
He looked at her and smiled. Even in the darkness she knew he smiled and kissed him.
Parean's pulse raced. He did not want to confront Kaell. He was not a fighter and Daura had dragged
Similar Books
