Part 17 (2/2)
Fraker shook his head slowly. ”Someone has to warn the garrison that the bridge at the Wedge has been dropped. Otherwise, if the worst happens and Capaal falls, they might try to escape back through the mountains and be trapped there.” He shrugged. ”Besides, Helt can lead you in the dark better than I. And after Capaal, I don't know the country anyway. The Gnome will have to guide you.”
”We made a pact-the six of us.” The voice of the Weapons Master had gone cold. ”No one goes his own way. We need you.”
The Dwarf's jaw tightened stubbornly. ”They need me, too.”
An unpleasant silence descended over the group as the two faced each other. Neither showed any intention of backing away.
”Let him go,” Helt rumbled softly. ”He has a right to choose.”
”The choice was made at Culhaven.” Garet Jax gave the Borderman an icy stare.
Jair's throat tightened. He wanted to say something-anything-to break the tension between the Dwarf and the Weapons Master, but he couldn't think of what it should be. He glanced at Slanter to see. what the Gnome was thinking, but Slanter was ignoring them all.
”I have an idea.” It was Edain Elessedil who spoke. All eyes s.h.i.+fted toward him. ”Maybe this won't work, but it might be worth a try.” He bent forward. ”If I could get close enough to the fortress, I could tie a message to an arrow and shoot it in. That would let the defenders know about the Wedge.”
Garet Jax turned to Foraker. ”What do you think?”
The Dwarf frowned. ”It will be dangerous. You'll have to get much closer than you'd like.
Much.”
”Then I'll go,” Helt announced.
”It was my idea,” Edain Elessedil insisted. ”I'll go.”
Garet Jax held up his hands. ”If one goes, we all go. If we become separated in these mountains, we'll never find each other again.” He glanced at Jair. ”Agreed?”
Jair nodded at once. ”Agreed.”
”And you, Elb?” The Weapons Master faced the Dwarf once more.
Elb Foraker nodded slowly. ”Agreed.”
”And if we can get the message to the garrison?”
The other nodded again. ”We go north.”
Garet Jax took a final look down at the battle between Gnome and Dwarf armies, thenmotioned for the others to follow him back into the rocks. ”We'll sit it out here until nightfall,” he called back over his shoulder.
Jair turned to follow and found Slanter at his elbow. ”Didn't notice him bothering to ask me if I agreed,” the Gnome muttered and shouldered his way past.
The little company slipped down into a cl.u.s.ter of boulders, pa.s.sing into the shadow of their concealment to wait until dark. Seated about the rocks, the six consumed a cold meal, wrapped themselves in their cloaks and settled back in silence. After a time, Foraker and Garet Jax left the cover of the rocks and disappeared down the slide for a closer look at the pa.s.sage east. Edain Elessedil took the watch, and Helt stretched out comfortably on the rocky ground and was asleep almost at once. Jair sat alone for a few moments, then got up and walked over to where Slanter sat staring out into the empty dusk.
”I appreciate what you did for me back at the Wedge,” he said quietly.
Slanter didn't turn. ”Forget it.”
”I can't. That's three times now that you've saved my life.”
The Gnome's laugh was brittle. ”That many, is it?”
”That many.”
”Well, maybe next time I won't be there, boy. What will you do then?”
Jair shook his head. ”I don't know.”
There was an uncomfortable silence. Slanter continued to ignore the Valeman. Jair almost turned away again, but then his stubbornness got the better of him and he forced himself to remain. Deliberately, he took a seat next to the Gnome.
”He should have asked you,” he said quietly.
”Who? Asked me what?”
”Garet Jax-he should have asked you if you were willing to go down to the fortress with us.”
Now Slanter turned. ”Hasn't asked me anything before, has he? Why should he start now?”
”Maybe if you...”
”Maybe if I sprout wings I'll be able to fly out of this place!” The Gnome's face flushed with anger. ”In any case, what do you care?”
”I care.”
”About what? That I'm here? Do you care about that? You tell me, boy-what am I doing here?”
Jair looked away uncomfortably, but Slanter gripped his arm and brought him about with a jerk.
”Look at me! What am I doing here? What has any of this got to do with me? Nothing, that's what! The only reason I'm here is because I was foolish enough to agree to guide you as far as Culhaven-that's the only reason! Help us get past the black walker, you asked! Help us get to the Eastland! You can do it because you're a tracker! Hah!”
The rough yellow face thrust forward. ”And that stupid dream! That's all it was, boy-just a dream! There isn't any King of the Silver River, and this whole trek east is a waste of time! Ah, but here I am anyway, aren't I? I don't want to be here; there isn't any reason for me to be here-but here I am anyway!” He shook his head bitterly. ”And it's all because of you!”
Jair pulled free, angry now himself. ”Maybe that's so. Maybe it is my fault that you're here. But the dream was real, Slanter. And you're wrong when you say that none of this hasanything to do with you. You call me 'boy' but you're the one who acts as if he hasn't grown up!”
Slanter stared at him. ”Well, you area wolf's cub, aren't you?”
”Whatever you want to call me, that's fine.” Jair flushed. ”But you better start thinking about who you are, too.”
”What's that supposed to mean?”
”It means that you can't go on telling yourself that what happens to other people doesn't have anything to do with you-because it does, Slanter!”
Wordlessly they stared at each other. Darkness had fallen now, deep-shadowed and windless. It was strangely still, the booming of the Gnome drums and the clamor of the battle for Capaal silenced.
”Don't think much of me, do you?” Slanter said finally.
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