Grevvin--or whatever his real name was--met them on the ground at the base of the ladder. He was wearing the masked helm again, with the mask tipped back to show his smiling face, and a pack slung over one shoulder. Eldan and Aevin walked past him without a second glance, but Kalen couldn't. For a good reason: Grevvin was walking backwards directly in front of him, grinning like a jester.
"What's wrong, lad? You're new friends told you to beware of a crazy old man?" He spoke rapidly, mincing his steps to keep from tripping. "Ah, yes, I see they have. I see it in those eyes. I see it right there!" Kalen blinked and jerked back as Grevvin's finger jabbed at his eye. "But lucky for you, I've taken a liking to you, Kalen, boy. You and I--we're alike. I'm just what you need to become the man you're meant to be!"
"Ryel, Undrien, Grevvin, whatever your name may be, you are not coming with us." Eldan caught the man by the shoulder of his jacket, spinning him around to face her. "Until you prove otherwise, I see you as our enemy. At best, you're a fool and would be a hindrance to our mission. But I never assume the best. Get back up that tree while the Tassin will still take you."
"Ah, because they won't take you any more, will they, lady? They don't know you're here, do they, my dear? Though they should be accustomed to it by now--nation of traitors and all." The bright laugh at the end of his statement could not have been more ill-placed. Kalen saw the murderous fury in Eldan's eyes as her went for her sword.
"Eldan." Aevin's hand caught hers just in time. Grevvin took several rapid steps backwards and tripped over a root. He regained his footing quickly and, without hesitation, drew a short mace from his pack and smashed the root to pieces with a single blow. He brandished the weapon at the ground.
"You don't have me yet, oh no, not I! It won't be that easy, not that easy. I have slain your betters." Seeing a man threatening dirt and plants would have been bizarre enough, but, to Kalen's dismay, he proceeded to attack the soil with a renewed fury. Sod and mud flew as the assailant bellowed furious epithets and threats, vowing to kill that which had never been alive.
At Aevin's quiet suggestion, they took their leave of the madman while his attention was wrapped up with his imagined foe.
They had been fighting their way through the denser forest for some time before anyone spoke. Kalen waiting until Eldan's pace slowed, evidencing her temper had dissipated.
"Are we actually breaking the Tassin law?" It was directed to Eldan, but Aevin replied.
"Yes and no. The Tassin have no written law, and that may be there downfall some day. But there is a generally understood code of brotherhood and loyalty to the Archior, both of which we have broken."
"But Grevvin said the Tassin had laws--laws with severe penalties."
Eldan coughed. "Kalen, you do realize you are speaking of the man who is currently engaged in mortal combat with a lump of dirt? He knows nothing about the Tassin. One of our scouts found him unconscious, half-drowned in the river six months ago and brought him back to our camp. Since the moment he awoke we have gotten no true tale out of him, so he has gotten none from us. He is not permitted to leave the Scevva on pain of death, so he wanders about our camp uselessly, raving and laughing like a lunatic. We can't kill a man who's done no harm, but there are times when we are severely tempted. He'll drive us all as mad as himself if we do nothing."
"He's no longer our concern." Aevin's tone silenced Eldan and he went on. "What is our concern is where the Fellyrian army is. Did you two see this force?"
"No." Kalen replied, "But we did hear them, and they shook the ground. A force of that size would have to move slowly. Even if they've passed us, we should be able to get ahead if we approach Elni from the west."
"The only route to the west would pass too close to Terraphel." Eldan objected. "We should go direct--that army enough noise for an avalanche. We'd hear them long before they detected us even if they've passed us."
"I'd sooner face the guards of Terraphel than the whole Fellyrian army. We'll go west."
"Aevin, there's something we haven't told you. Kalen and I took something from Terraphel--something they are intent on getting back." Eldan drew out her arrows and turned her quiver upside down, dumping out the three little scrolls into her hand. "I don't have the faintest notion what they are, but--"
"Paper! Definitely paper!" They all started as Grevvin stepped out from behind a tree, grinning confidently. Eldan's hand closed tightly on the scrolls. "Parchment to be specific. I've seen it before, I have!"
"Return to the Scevva, Ryel. You're not coming with us." Aevin's tone was calm and measured. "If you persist in following us, we will be within our rights and moral bounds to kill you. This is your final warning."
Grevvin didn't even look at Aevin, but turned to Kalen with a smile. "He doesn't like me, lad. There's no fairness in that, now is there? But you, my boy, you're my friend." He slung an arm around Kalen's shoulders. "I'll protect you, Kaden, and you'll do the same. We have each other's backs. Kaden and Drydar--we'll be a team Fellyre will never forget!"
"It's Kalen. And I thought your name was Grevvin," Kalen slipped out of Grev--Dry--whatever--'s grasp and turned to face him. "I'm with Aevin."
Grevvin's face fell. For a moment, Kalen thought he would burst into tears, but he just shook his head. "Very well, Kaden. I have been betrayed by friends before, but I never thought it would be you. Friendship be damned. Every man must watch his own back," He grinned suddenly, all signs of sadness gone. "Including you, lad, including you! We will meet again, my boy. Of that, be sure." With that, he turned and retreated towards the Scevva, chuckling to himself as he went.
"Should we wait until he's out of si--"
"No--I'm not wasting any more time on his account," Eldan interrupted Kalen. "Pray Ithien we haven't delayed too long already."
"It's a four day journey, Eldan. A few minutes is no great loss." Aevin pointed south with his spear. "We will take your route."
Travelling was maddeningly slow. They had been walking scarcely an hour when the tall trees gave way to dense willow brush, catching at their clothing and trapping their ankles. Eldan was nearly choked when a branch seized her crossbow, pulling its bindings tight across her throat. She avoided Aevin's eyes as he quickly freed her, but there was no need--his easy smile as he helped her to her feet held no accusation.
By the time the willows gave way to a semblance of a clearing, there was barely enough daylight left to find their footing. They stumbled on, Eldan still leading the way with regular grunts and gasps of pain followed by warnings about roots, rocks, and thorn-bushes. Finally, she turned back to Kalen and Aevin, who was bringing up the rear.
"I can't keep going. I don't even know if we're still headed south. The moon's not out, I don't see any stars--even Fellyrian scouts couldn't set a straight course in this dark. We have to rest. I'm sorry--I just can't keep going."
"By all means!" Aevin laughed a little. "I was praying you would let up soon--I can scarcely feel my legs."
Kalen sank to the ground. Eldan could set a hard pace, and even the prospect of Elni being destroyed could not keep him on his feet. He saw her unstrapping her crossbow...laying it against a...a...
"I swear, I had them in my jacket!" Eldan was half-screaming. For the sake of all that is merciful, it's the middle of the night! Kalen rolled over, burying his face in his elbow. A dull ache in his side sharpened with a sudden throb.
"You could have dropped them. It's a wonder we kept hold of anything in that thicket last night." Sleep began creeping in again--last night? He opened his heavy eyes to the unwelcome sunlight as his brain slowly sorted out the argument taking place a few feet away.
"Not where I had them. This was laced up to my chin last night. Look--it's been cut right here."
"No one could do that without waking you. When your crossbow caught, it must have--"
"It didn't." Eldan cut Aevin off. "This isn't torn. Someone stole them." Kalen sat up slowly--ouch. The pain was from the ax hilt in his belt.
He glanced up at Eldan. "What's been stolen?"
"The scrolls from Terraphel. All three are gone."
