Part 15 (1/2)
Though Caleb was grateful to be out of the trackless wilderness, the Master Raen was not so confident. He kept glancing behind, or slowing down when he thought he spotted something, or when a curve in the road blocked the view. Caleb fretted at this delay: they were still at least twenty miles from any of the more populated areas surrounding Enili.
The shadows lengthened, and Soren fell back to ride alongside his companion. ”I've never seen it so empty before.”
”So that's what's been bothering you,” Caleb said. ”First you worry about being found; now you don't like how empty the road is.”
”You don't understand,” he replied, too distracted to take offense. ”Miners hurry to get their payloads into Enili this time of year, before the heavy snows off the lake hit. I didn't expect a mad rush, but we ought to have seen one or two by now.”
”Hm. Don't forget we're traveling in the same direction they would.”
”Of course I know that. But don't you think we'd have caught up with at least one of them by now?”
”Maybe. Or else you're making too big a deal out of it.”
Soren shook his head in answer, then urged his horse forward, leading the way as before.
Presently the road sloped into a long hollow, its trees already shadowed with the evening. Without warning, Soren brought Tellahur to a stop, swept out his Fetra, and brandished it towards the dense foliage to their left.
”Who are you?” he cried out.
Caleb followed his stare. A man carrying a large pack had emerged from the shadows between the trees. Sweat glistened across his brow, as if he had been struggling with his burden for many miles. At Soren's sharp command he stopped near the edge of the road, holding his palms out in appeas.e.m.e.nt. He was a bit younger than Caleb, and shorter, with steel-gray eyes in a handsome face, and straight, jet-black hair down to his shoulders.
Soren dropped from his saddle and brought the point of his saber close to the man's chest. ”Answer me! Who are you?”
”He's not some kind of enemy,” said Caleb before the stranger could speak. ”What in Hendra are you planning to do, run him through?”
”We meet no one for miles and miles, and he jumps into the road the moment we pa.s.s by!”
Caleb had to admit this sounded a little too coincidental. He dismounted, instructing Warren to remain in the saddle. ”Well, you're not a Hodyn,” he said to the stranger. ”But you're not an Adaian, either. Treth?”
The man wiped a sleeve across his brow. ”Not by birth. My parents were merchants from Serabote. They brought me to Trethrealm by s.h.i.+p when I was little.”
”That doesn't explain why you were hiding in the woods,” said Soren.
”I was relieving myself!” the man cried, arms spread to either side. ”Now will you please put your sword away?”
The Master Raen only withdrew it a few inches. ”Your name!”
”Rennor!”
”Rennor? That is no Trethan name.”
”I told you, I'm not Treth by birth. If you need to know, it's from the language of my ancestors. It means wayfarer.”
”Really? Say something in your native tongue, then.”
”My birth tongue?”
Soren thought a moment. ”No, Trethan.”
The stranger hesitated, then nodded. ”Haga i strvo'no servinta. Boosh ins el thar.”
Caleb waited for Soren to speak. ”Well? Was it Trethan or wasn't it?”
Soren shrugged. ”It sounded like it.”
”You don't know their language? Why in thunder did you ask him?”
”To see his reaction.”
Rennor grinned. ”How was it?”
”I'll keep it to myself,” Soren replied. ”Meanwhile you still haven't told us what you're doing so far from town.”
”I've got nothing to hide. I'm in the employ of the Grand Loremaster. I've just returned from a long expedition north of Lrana.”
Caleb blinked at him. ”Who?”
”What other Grand Loremaster is there? Telai, of course. She sends me to other countries now and then to search for artifacts or ancient doc.u.ments. I'm on my way back right now to report my findings.”
Soren barked a laugh. ”A Treth! A Treth in the service of the Loremaster of Ada!”
”Actually, for a job like this, she prefers foreigners. It eliminates any preconceptions or prejudices.”
”That sounds just like her,” Caleb said.
Rennor kept his attention on Soren. ”Wait a minute-you're the Master Raen of Ada. You're Soren!” He bowed. ”It's an honor to meet you, sir.”
Soren made no reply. Caleb introduced himself and asked, ”Don't you have a horse?”
”I lost it a while back-broke his leg crossing a river.” A brief loathing marred his features. ”I had to put him down.”
”Better than eaten alive by wolves,” said Soren.
Rennor brightened a little at this comment, then glanced at the pack horse. He s.h.i.+fted his pack on his shoulders, grimacing. ”I, um, don't suppose I could impose on you-a.s.suming you're headed for Enili.”
”Well, there hasn't been much for our pack horse to carry these last few days,” Caleb answered. ”I think we can rearrange a few things.”
The Master Raen turned a slow stare. ”That is not your decision-recruit!”
Caleb squared his shoulders. ”Be a friend to strangers-isn't that how it goes? Or are you suggesting it's no longer part of the Oath?”
Soren s.h.i.+fted his attention back to Rennor, his hand twitching at the hilt of his Fetra. Finally he lowered his sword. ”I'd be obliged to help you if you were telling the truth. But this could be nothing more than a clever story. Unless you can offer some kind of proof, I can't allow your company.”
”Ridiculous,” said Caleb before Rennor could answer. ”Imagine how Telai will feel if we refuse to help one of her trusted servants.”
The angry flush on Soren's weathered face was nearly lost in the reddening sunlight. ”Imagine a grown man blinded by a lovesick heart!”
Caleb bridled at the accusation. ”I'm as good a judge of character as you are, Soren. And I refuse to tell her I stranded her friend in the middle of nowhere-a.s.suming I ever get back to Ekendore. Let him ride with us, and let his deeds prove his words, the same thing you said about me in Udan!”