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Seth had an almost constant stream of visitors during the day and was secretly relived when Tumo told him he had to go to bed and rest. “You are recovering well,” the healer informed him. “As long as you do not have any setbacks during the night you will be able to leave in the morning.”
Seth thanked him and promised he would take it easy the next day, riding in the wagon instead of driving it.
The next morning Ban drove the wagon to Tumo’s place to collect the ‘invalid’, as he put it. Tor thanked Tumo once more for all his help and Tumo, in return, asked once again for Tor not to say anything to Molly. He made no promises.
When the three men arrived back at the inn everyone was mounted and ready to leave. Bellak had been the only person not to visit Seth in his sick bed and he had been expecting a warm welcome from the wizard. Instead he did not even acknowledge him, choosing instead to grumble, “About time too.”
The days passed slowly as they rode along the road Oak had instructed them to take. It followed the course of a river which provided them with a fresh supply of water. Each night they found suitable ground on which to camp and between them Tor, Patrick and Ban caught plenty of fresh meat each day and River and Oak always managed to find enough fresh greens to accompany their kills.
One evening, as night was falling, they arrived in a small town which had been built next to the river and Tor decided to stay the night at an inn instead of camping under the stars for another night, a decision which most of his team applauded. No inn was large enough to accommodate them all, so the team split themselves between two, meeting together later that night for an evening meal.
Torrick and Liselle were the last to arrive. As they descended the stairs they passed another patron going up to his room. As his eyes fell on Liselle they opened wide with recognition. She did not notice him, nor the fact that he watched her retreating back until she was out of sight. He then continued to ascend the stairs, a thoughtful look on his face.
As Torrick took a seat at the table Liselle placed a hand tenderly on his belly and rubbed it gently. “You appear to be putting on weight, my dear.” It was said affectionately, not as a criticism. “Since you quit being a soldier you are not as physically active as you once were and your muscle is beginning to turn to fat.”
“That is just a myth,” Ellen told her. “Muscle cannot actually turn to fat, but I know what you mean. His clothes do appear to have become tighter since we first met you both.”
“That is quite enough of that sort of talk, thank you ladies,” Torrick told them. “Is this your not so polite way of telling me I need to exercise more?”
Liselle smiled at him. “I am sure we can find ways to do that.” Torrick actually blushed.
Food arrived and everyone had nearly finished their meal when the man Liselle and Torrick had met on the stairs returned, along with a friend.
They looked the group over before their eyes returned to Liselle.
“You are right,” the friend said. “I wonder which one owns her now.”
“I wonder if whoever it is is willing to sell her, though just for the night, of course.”
Tor overheard the conversation and tensed, ready to grab Torrick should he make a move. Torrick, however, remained calm.
“If you gentlemen are talking about my wife,” he said in a voice loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, “then I am afraid I have to disappoint you. She is no longer a pleasure slave. She has been freed so she does not have to put up with the sick abuse inflicted on her by animals like you.”
There was no anger in his voice as he spoke, which made the words seem even more threatening for some reason. The two men were taken aback.
“We meant no disrespect,” one said hastily. “I recognised Liselle from when a friend of mine borrowed her once. She showed us all a very good time.”
“And I am sure you showed your appreciation by buying her a meal, treating her with kindness or just simply having a nice conversation with her.”
The man who was speaking did not notice the sarcasm in the comment, nor the dangerous undertone.
“Of course not,” he said, laughing. “She is just a whore after all.”
Torrick made to rise, but Tor grabbed his arm. “They are not worth it,” he said quietly.
Ria smiled across at them. “Allow me.” Before Tor could stop her she stood up and walked over to the men.
“I do not like the way you are talking about my friend,” she said in a casual way. “Why not come outside and we can talk about how to improve your manners.”
They looked her up and down, appreciating what they were seeing. There were two of them and only one of her and they were sure they could have some fun at her expense.
“That sounds like a good idea,” one said and she led them both out of the room and around the back of the inn.
“Do you not think you should help?” River asked, her voice full of concern.
Tor shook his head. “Those men are not the sort who deserve any help,” Patrick told her.
River opened her mouth to explain that she meant help Ria, then closed it again. Nobody else around the table seemed concerned for her safety so maybe she was worrying about nothing.
A short while later Ria returned, dragging one of the men by the ear. He was cradling his arm, which was dripping blood onto the floor. “Do you have anything to say to the lady?” she asked when they reached the table. She twisted his ear painfully until he whimpered.
“I am very sorry,” he stammered. “For what my friend and I said to you and for the way we treated you in the past.”
He looked nervously at Ria. “Carry on,” she instructed.
“And we beg your forgiveness.”
“Just get out of my sight and pray that I never see you again,” Liselle told him. Ria released his ear and he bolted from the room.
“What happened to his friend?” Ban asked casually.
“He should regain consciousness in a few hours,” Ria said as she took her seat. “I do not think I broke anything, but I may be wrong.”
“I hope you are,” Ellen muttered.
“Does that happen often?” Seth asked Torrick, who shook his head.
“Thankfully no, but after the third or fourth time someone recognised my wife from her old life I learned to control my temper. Most of the time I now manage to diffuse the situation without resorting to violence.”
“Where is the fun in that?” Ria asked, smiling wickedly.
“Thank you for your help,” Liselle told her. “And for calling me your friend.”
“No problem,” she replied. “Now, is there any more wine left?”
The next morning when they left the town they followed the river as it meandered through the countryside. It was not as easy to drive the wagon over the rough ground, but Oak informed them that the road led away from their destination, so continuing along it was not an option.
They camped that night beside the river, which provided their evening meal. Before turning in for the night Tor decided to bring up the subject of the ezra with Oak, who so far had not spoken of them since first stating that he knew where they could be found.
“So how do you know where to find the ezra, if you do not mind me asking? I did not know there were wood sprites living in my country, let alone a race of people I have never heard of before.”
Oak, who had just finished eating his nuts, berries and various green leaves, placed the empty bowl on the floor.
“The location of where we are going, as well as the fact that the ezra live there, has been a closely guarded secret for a number of generations. The only reason I know of its existence is that my youngest brother was lucky enough to be chosen to join the tribe that guards them. We have kept in touch and, though it is against the rules, he let me know where to find him should there be an emergency. Unfortunately he has completed his assigned number of years there so I will not get to see him.”
“If so few know of the ezra’s existence, even among your own people, I take it you would like us to never speak of what we see to anyone.”
“It would be appreciated.”
“You have my word,” Tor promised. “And that of everyone else here.” He knew he was making promises for the others that he had no way of enforcing, but he was confident they would all abide by the request. Even Bellak, who did not even appear to be listening to the conversation.
“Anything we should know before we get there?” Patrick asked, but Oak shook his head.
“Not that I can think of. We should arrive tomorrow, so may I suggest we get an early night?”
The next morning Oak took the lead. They would make it to the place the ezra lived later that day and he was the only one who knew where to go.
The morning passed quietly as they rode through the countryside, the sun beating down on them. A cool breeze prevented the air becoming too hot and when they stopped for lunch nobody except Bellak was eager to remount.
A while later they crested a hill and Oak pointed toward a wood. “That is our destination,” he announced, then urged his horse forward once more.
He halted just before the treeline, but made no attempt to enter the forest.
“This woodland is the home of a tribe of wood sprites,” Oak announced. “They watch over and protect the ezra. I have never been here myself, but I know of those who have. This particular tribe take their task very seriously and are fierce fighters, so do not do anything that they could take as a threat.”
“We appreciate the warning,” Tor told him. “So what do we do now?”
“We wait. An escort will be provided.”
They did not have to wait long before a group of wood sprites came into sight, all carrying spears. Like Oak they were thin and dressed in brown, with heads covered in what looked like sticks more than hair. The one in the front walked straight up to Oak and bowed. “Hail brother wood sprite. I am Ash.”
Oak returned the gesture. “I am Oak. This is Prince Tor of Remeny, here to collect the next clue for his quest.”
Ash grinned. “Try to, you mean.” He then turned to Tor. “Welcome to our home. You have fulfilled our demand by bringing one of our own with you. Without Oak, we would not let you enter. Follow me.”
Without waiting to see if he was being obeyed he turned around and led them into the trees. The path he followed was wide, so Seth had no problem navigating the wagon down it.
Nobody spoke as they walked, leading their horses through the woodland. Other than the call of birds and their own footsteps, not a sound could be heard. The other wood sprites surrounded them on all sides, though whether this was an honorary guard or to keep the visitors from straying from the path Tor was not sure, but from the way they were holding their spears he did not think it was the former.
“May I ask a little about the ezra?” he asked Ash when they had been walking for a while.
“What would you like to know.”
“Why are they here? Why do they need protection?”
Ash smiled. “They came to us many generations ago as refugees. They are a non-violent race and were being persecuted, hunted down and slaughtered. We took them in and have protected them ever since.”
“Is it not safe for them to go out into the world now?” Tor continued.
“Maybe, but the ezra have shown no desire to do so. Should they wish it, they can leave this forest at any time. We do not keep them prisoner here.”
“If they prefer to keep to themselves, why have they agreed to take part in this quest?”
This was one question Ash could not answer. “You will have to ask them that.”
A short while later they arrived at a village. Wooden buildings were interspersed between the trees and more wood sprites could be seen going about their business.
Ash turned to address them all. “Only three may meet the ezra,” he stated.
“I had better be one of them,” Patrick volunteered. “If one of us needs to try to kill one, there is a risk that whoever does it may get mortally wounded in the process.”
Nobody objected. They were all getting used to Patrick’s cavalier attitude toward his own death.
“You have to go,” Seth informed Tor and was about to volunteer to be the third person when Ellen interrupted him.
“I should also go. Either Patrick or the ezra may need healing.” It was a logical argument and nobody could think of an objection.
“Very well,” Ash said. “The three of you must follow me. The rest may do whatever they like, as long as they stay within our village.”
Ash led them down a path which was lined with trees. They passed a lake and could see ducks happily swimming about. It was a quiet and peaceful place; they could all understand why the ezra had chosen it for their home.
The part of the clue which stated ‘kill one if you can’ was bothering Patrick. While he had no regard for his own life, the same did not apply to others. He killed when he had to, and had done so many times in the past, but he did not enjoy doing it. It felt wrong bringing violence to such a serene place.
When they reached a gate Ash ushered them through, then shut it behind them.
“We are now in the domain of the ezra. They are a quiet and gentle people, so please mind your manners. Do what you need to do, then return here to collect your people. They are a strange race and do not communicate very often, but they will be able to understand what you say.” He did not seem happy that these strangers were invading the home of the race of people his tribe had sworn to protect.
“One more thing,” he added before the humans could respond. “When you reach the ezra, only one may speak. And remember, that person holds the continuation of the quest in his or her hands.”