Part 14 (2/2)
”We should find shelter,” said Jonas as he hurried to gather up his belongings.
Markus laughed. ”Shelter? There's no shelter where we're going. No soft beds either.”
Jonas scowled and eyed the approaching storm. ”Why does that not surprise me?”
Kat was the only one who seemed to be in high spirits. She sniffed in Markus' direction and pinched her nose. ”Maybe the rain will wash some of the Hareesh stink off you.”
”Better the stench of a Hareesh den than a rundown wh.o.r.e house,” he shot back. He turned to Ethan. ”Why are you taking this girl along with you anyway?”
Kat's chin jutted out. ”He's not taking me. I'm choosing to go.”
”She'll just slow us down,” Markus continued, ignoring her remark.
”Well, at least I won't turn them in to the Empire,” she retorted.
Markus' face turned red. He took a menacing pace toward the girl.
”Leave off,” ordered Jonas. ”Both of you.”
Markus growled, but after simmering for a few seconds, strode rapidly away.
Moving close, Ethan leaned down to whisper in Kat's ear. ”Try to get along...please. Or at least try not to start a fight.”
She held up her hands, eyes wide in feigned innocence. ”What did I do?”
He shook his head and sighed. ”Just try.”
By now, Markus was already thirty yards ahead of them. They hurried to catch him up.
The trees in this part of the forest were widely s.p.a.ced and thin, giving them little protection from the rain once it began to fall an hour later. Jonas wrapped himself in his blanket looking highly displeased. Soon the wind rose and the rain came down in earnest.
After a time Ethan began to notice that the older man's steps were becoming increasingly unsure. He spoke to him several times, but Jonas insisted that he was fine, even though his pale complexion and trembling hands said otherwise.
The rain persisted until the next morning. They slept or at least, attempted to sleep beneath what little cover the trees provided and with their blankets pulled over their heads. Ethan could hear Jonas coughing and wheezing throughout the night. When morning arrived, the combination of chill air and wet clothing was clearly making matters worse for him.
Markus pulled Ethan away from earshot of the others. ”I don't think your friend is going to last long out here,” he said. ”And we can't afford to stop.”
Ethan frowned. ”What are you saying?”
”I'm saying that if he falls behind, we can't wait.”
The sound of Jonas coughing hammered the point home.
Ethan looked at the old man. Kat was sitting nearby, a concerned look on her face. ”I can't leave him,” he said finally. ”If he can't travel, we'll have to find somewhere to rest until he recovers.”
Markus scowled and let out an exasperated breath. ”I almost forgot what a b.l.o.o.d.y boy scout you are.”
The remark brought a smile to Ethan's face. For a moment he caught a glimpse of the Markus he had once known. But it quickly vanished again with his friend's next words.
”I'm not about to get killed over an old man's weakness,” he warned. ”And if it comes to it, you can stay and die with him.” Having made his point, he returned to the others.
To Ethan's relief, by mid-morning the rain stopped and the temperature began rising. Not that this appeared to help Jonas very much, who was still struggling badly to keep with the pace. Kat disappeared for a short time, returning with some herbs that she forced the old man to mix with water and drink. The concoction seemed to do him some good for a short time, but by the afternoon his coughing was worse than ever. His balance was deteriorating too, and he nearly fell over completely on several occasions.
As the sun began to set, it became painfully clear that he would not be able to continue for very much longer.
”I'm sure Markus has said that you should leave me if I can't go on,” he whispered to Ethan after another long series of throat rattling coughs.
”Don't worry,” Ethan a.s.sured him. ”I won't leave you behind.”
”You will if you must,” he countered.
Before Ethan could protest, Markus came to an abrupt halt and gestured for everyone to remain quiet. After a moment, the sound of voices drifting through the trees could be heard just east of their position. A few seconds later a soft breeze carried the scent of a camp fire to them.
”Who do you think it is?” whispered Ethan.
”Probably thieves,” he replied. ”If we're lucky.”
Ethan glanced anxiously over to Jonas. The man had both hands clamped firmly over his mouth and his face was turning a vivid crimson. Markus saw it too and shook his head just as Jonas lost his battle for control. A loud, rasping cough escaped.
The sound of voices stopped instantly, replaced by the singing of steel being drawn.
”Perfect,” grumbled Markus. ”Whatever happens next, do exactly as I say.” He drew his sword. ”And let me do the talking.”
Less than a minute later three men appeared. All were dressed similarly in simple tan s.h.i.+rts and pants, with travel worn boots on their feet. Two were of medium build: one with a shock of red hair, the other by contrast, totally bald. The third man was much taller and broader in the shoulders, with dark wavy hair and deep set eyes. All three carried long swords and wore daggers on their belt. They halted the moment they spotted Markus.
”What business do you have here?” called the larger man.
”Just pa.s.sing through,” Markus replied.
The man whispered something to his companions, then asked: ”Is that Kat with you?”
She stepped forward. ”Yes, it's me, Jeb.”
”These fellows...are they friends of Jared?”
Kat shook her head. ”No. They're friends of mine. I don't work for Jared anymore.”
Jeb smiled and sheathed his blade. Those with him did the same. ”That's good to hear. Now you can become a proper thief. Come. Join us by the fire.”
Without giving Markus or the others time to object, Kat quickly set off to follow him.
They were led a hundred yards east to a small clearing. Here, a fire burned cheerfully and three bedrolls were cast carelessly beside it.
Everyone took a seat by the fire. Jonas s.h.i.+vered and stifled his coughs as he rubbed his hands together vigorously.
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