The next morning, Sumia was riding her gray mare with a silver mane. She wore a dark-blue cloak with gold stitching and a small pouch hung from her belt. Both she and Seth’s saddlebags were filled to the top with supplies.
Well rested, Seth nudged Thea forward. “Ever been to Crey Village before?”
Sumia grinned. “A long time ago.”
The cool morning breeze blew through his hair as they crossed the bridge over Bahr River. “We’ll pick up Jena and be off then?”
Sumia’s eyes strained, looking far down the road. “I—maybe.”
A rider on a tiny horse appeared in the distance. He stopped, just for a second, then he pressed this tiny horse at a gallop toward them.
“Who’s that?” Sumia asked.
Seth smiled. “There’s only one person I know who rides a runt horse that fast. Ellis.” He flicked Thea’s reins and she raced towards Ellis.
Sumia sighed. “Children.” She raced after Seth.
Seth stopped Thea right next to Ellis. “What are you doing here?”
Ellis frowned as Sumia caught up to them. “Why is she here?”
“I need her help. Please, Ellis, trust me, okay?”
“I guess.”
Seth leaned forward. “What are you doing here?”
Ellis pulled out a piece of beef jerky from his belt pouch. “Jena told me you left to go to your father.”
Seth frowned.
Ellis laughed. “Come on, you can’t do this without me.” He pointed at Sumia. “Even if you have the old bag.”
Sumia grunted. “I can handle myself quite well, young man.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” Seth said. “Hey, Ellis, could you get Alya and Jena, have them meet at my house around three o’clock?”
“Really? Now, I’m your damned message boy?” Ellis asked as he turned Runt around. “I guess.” He kicked Runt in the ribs and bolted down the road.
Seth smiled at the frowning Sumia. “Come on.” He led her into the village.
Seth’s house was still a mess, with small pockets of cleanliness. As soon as they entered the home, Sumia gasped and started to straighten up. She had no idea where anything went, but Seth didn’t care. He just wanted to get his father back.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Seth ran to the door and flung it open to see Keya, Alya, Ellis, and Jena. His face softened as his eyes gazed upon her. “Hi.”
Jena reached for his hands. “I’m happy you’re back.”
“Are you sure they’re not married already?” Alya asked as she pushed by them.
Keya smiled at Seth. “I’m here because I couldn’t talk her out of it.”
Sumia, Alya, Ellis, and Keya all sat down on the couch. Seth pulled a pair of kitchen chairs up for Jena and himself.
Alya glared at Sumia. “Who are you?” She began rubbing her ring.
Sumia grinned at her. “There’s no need for that,” she said as pushed Alya’s hand away from the ring. “You can’t control my mind with that trinket.”
Seth blinked. “What are you talking about?”
“The question still stands. My young friends are more trusting than I am. I know what the Darkstriders are capable of,” Alya said.
Sumia nodded. “Very well, I am Sumia. I was a war mage many years ago. Seth came to me for help to get his father back,” she said as she leaned closer, “because no one else would.”
Alya blinked. “How dare you!”
“It’s true, isn’t it?” Seth asked. “Alya, when I asked you, did you come?”
“I—I—no.” She lowered her eyes. “I didn’t.” Alya stared at Sumia. “Why does a human war mage have an elf name?”
Sumia laughed. “Oh, you mean like Alya or Keya? Alya, is there something you wish to confess?”
Alya’s face turned red. She jumped up and grabbed the hilt of her sword. “I’ll give you a confession.”
Ellis giggled. “Cat fight.”
Seth jumped between them. “Enough of this. I need all your help and more.”
“More?” Alya asked as she sat back down.
“The knights by Arrowhead Lake. We could run into a large amount of the Darkstriders, both human and Dark Elf,” Seth said.
“Surely, we wouldn’t face that many,” Keya said. “They took Brock with only a handful.”
Seth frowned. “I found a parchment on a dead orc addressed to Shania.”
Alya straightened up. “Who?”
“Shania. It said that Tanyl was running out of patience and she was supposed to bring the ‘boy’ to him. They have two legions of Feral Orcs at Iron Fist Keep ready to kill everyone in the village,” Seth said. “But, they won’t move until the ‘boy’ is brought to them.”
Keya shook her head. “That doesn’t make any sense. If they wipe out Crey Village, the movement to overthrow Kade the Usurper would triple in size overnight. They must know that.”
“Why’s that?” Jena asked.
“Because the Darkstriders know about large groups of fighters in hiding, just waiting for the right moment,” Alya said.
Seth shook his head. “They’re going to blame it on the Dwarves.”
“Is Dane with the Darkstriders?” Ellis asked.
Alya nodded. “Yes, there’s no doubt. He’s probably more dangerous than the Dark Elves themselves.”
Jena giggled.
Ellis laughed. “Dane? He’s a coward.”
Alya mouth dropped. “What?”
Seth hid his smirk. “I think Ellis is right.”
“What did I miss?” Keya asked.
“Let’s just say that Dane’s mouth was far more ferocious than his sword,” Seth said.
Alya cleared her throat. “Well, anyway—what now?”
Seth stood up. “We wait until dusk then we head to Arrowhead Lake to meet up with the knights.”
Alya frowned. “Who put you in charge? I’m not sure that’s the best way. I think—”
Seth glared at her. “I did! My father, my party, my rules.”
“I agreed to help, but I never agreed to this,” she said. “What about the rest of you.”
One by one, everyone nodded, affirming their loyalty to Seth. Sumia stared right at Alya. “I follow the boy and all my power is his.”
Alya smiled. “Glad to hear it.” She headed towards the door. “See you tonight.”
“Everyone be back here around dinnertime, ready to go,” Seth said.
They nodded and left the simple home.
As the door closed, Sumia whispered into Seth’s ear. “Will Alya betray us?”
Seth shook his head. “No, no way. She’d never do that.” Seth disappeared into his bedroom.
Sumia was busy over the fireplace cooking a stew in a black iron pot. The aroma made Seth’s stomach yearn for its contents. His few-hour nap rejuvenated him. He was ready to take on twin dragons, not just a few Dark Elves. This aura of confidence was inflated whenever Seth was around Sumia.
Jena, Ellis, and Keya entered Seth’s house. They had full packs slung across their backs and weapons at their hips.
Seth’s eyes widened as he saw even Keya had short swords. “I didn’t know you used weapons,” Seth said.
Keya smiled. “When you were still a babe, these helped your parents rid Crey Village of the last of Kade’s knights.”
Ellis plopped down his pack. “Dinner? Smells great.” He jumped into a seat at the table. “I’m ready for it.”
Sumia smiled. “Let’s have one last wholesome meal before we go. It’s going to be a long night.” She poured the stew into small bowls and placed them on the table.
A smile whipped across Ellis’ face. “This is great. My father can’t cook for crap compared to this.”
Sumia smiled as she sat down. “I’ll take that as a compliment, I think.”
The door burst open. “Sorry I’m late,” Alya said as she dropped her pack by the door. “Oh, something smells good.”
Seth smiled after he gulped another spoonful. “Join us for Sumia’s stew.”
“Sure,” Alya said as she grabbed a bowl and sat at the table.
Was this what being a leader was all about? Seth wondered. Whoever thought he could boss adults around?
An hour later, Seth was leading the small band through Sarun Grove, towards Arrowhead Lake where they’d found the knights. The damp night air was thick as honey, he could barely see thirty feet in front of him. Thea seemed to dislike the underbrush and its thorns more than Seth did. Not only did she insist on going around them, she utterly refused to break through any bush with long thorns. That made the group take more turns than Seth was used to and it was more difficult to keep track of where they were. But, there was always the stars; yes the stars were his guide. All he had to do was find the lake and he would be really close to finding more help against the Darkstriders.
Alya rode up next to Seth. “Are we lost? I can help. I’ve been up here many times.”
Seth smiled. “I got it.”
Alya leaned closer. “There’s no harm in delegating some tasks. That’s what a true leader does.”
Should he? Alya had been nothing but his guardian angel the past six months. He trusted her, of course. He shook off Sumia’s warning that was still raging through his mind. “Sure, but I’ll ride next to you, okay?”
Alya smiled. “Sure.”
“Do you like my father?”
“I—yeah, I do.” She motioned towards Keya. “I’m not the only one, either.”
Seth looked around. “This seems familiar.”
Alya nodded. “If you were here before, then you’d know that we are not too far.” She swallowed. “Why did you bring a washed-up war mage with you? She may not be who you think she is.”
Seth blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Well, mages are a tricky bunch. You can’t really trust any magic user,” Alya said. “I’ve known masters that were killed because they took their eyes off them.”
“You can’t trust anyone that uses magic?” Seth asked.
Alya shook her head. “No, and you shouldn’t, either. Nothing but—” She stopped her horse.
“What is it?” Seth asked.
Alya said nothing.
Seth closed his eyes and listened. Nothing. He heard nothing, but he smelled something. Smoke that smelled like—like someone was roasting a hog. If it was a party or a large gathering, there would be laughing or yelling or even some talking. No, why would anyone roast a hog in the woods and leave it for the animals? He blinked. Unless, it wasn’t a hog!
Alya’s face went white as she looked at Seth.
“The camp,” Seth said as he kicked Thea in the ribs, rushing over the hill.
Alya slapped her horses’ butt. “Come on.” She bolted after Seth.
Seth nearly slid down the finger into the camp right next to the Arrowhead Lake. It was the same camp where Dane was chased off for being a fake. The blood-soaked ground was soft. The knights’ bodies were tossed into a pile, except for one, John. He was the one that gave Dane the hardest time. He was strapped to the spit above the fire. John was the roasting hog they smelled.
Keya and the others abruptly stopped once they entered the camp. “Oh my,” Keya said as she covered her mouth.
Jena covered her eyes. “What kind of monsters would do that?”
Seth pulled her in close. “I—I don’t know. I would’ve thought even the Darkstriders would have some . . . decency.”
Ellis jumped off Runt. “I’m glad I’m a not a knight.”
Alya glared at him. “Ellis, show some respect.”
“For what?” he demanded. “If he weren't human, I’d say let’s eat.”
Sumia got down from her horse. “Dark Elves are known to do this.”
Seth stepped near the fire and the roasting knight. “He gave Dane the hardest time. I bet he did it.”
“Nope, no way,” Ellis said from behind a few trees just outside of the circle.
“Why’s that?” Seth said.
“Come here.”
Seth and Alya walked over to Ellis. There was a large oak tree with a man tied to its trunk. His hands were wrapped around the trunk. His shirt was torn and his head hung low. Blood decorated his chest like a shirt. Seth lifted his head. It was Dane.
“Yup,” Ellis said. “It wasn’t him.”
“Damn you, Elmar,” Alya muttered. She slammed her mouth shut as soon as the words came out.
“Who?” Sumia asked.
Alya shook her head.
Ellis sighed. “What now?”
“Now we go after Father without any of their help,” Seth said.
“Come over here,” Sumia said as she sat next to the fire.
Seth, Alya, Jena, Ellis, and Keya all sat around Sumia.
“We playing bones or something?” Ellis asked.
“Shhh, quiet, Ellis,” Jena said.
Sumia pulled a small pouch from underneath her cloak. Her fingers undid the bow and pulled out a goblin finger bone, claw and all. She placed it on the ground right in front of her. She closed her eyes. “Nim stor gud, hvor Brock, Nim stor gud, hvor Brock” The finger started to glow. “Nim stor gud, hvor Brock.”
Pop. The finger vanished.
Seth blinked.
Jena grinned.
Ellis frowned. “That’s it?” He jumped to his feet. “All that trouble to see a finger bone pop? Really?”
Sumia opened her eyes. “I know where he is.”
“What spell was that?” Jena asked.
“Ramir’s Sight,” Sumia replied. She stood up, looking towards the lake shore.
Seth followed her eyes. A small boat was tied off to a tree. It must have belonged to the knights.
“They’re across the pond in Long-Tail Forest, about five miles. They are camped, waiting for something,” Sumia said.
“What?” Seth asked.
Sumia shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“It could be a trap,” Keya said.
“How do we bring the horses across on the boat?” Ellis asked.
“We don’t,” Alya said. “We head downstream and find a place where we can wade across.”
Jena put her soft hand on Seth’s shoulder. “What do you think?”
This was it. Was Seth this Prince Galin the V of Ravenward or was he Seth Feran who wanted to be a fishermen? Did he run or save his father? Seth grabbed Thea’s reins. “We’re going to get my father.” He led her down to the water’s edge and headed toward Bahr River.