"You need to tell me what's going on here," said Gewey, when he could take the silence no longer.

"What's going on is that Salmitaya is not the only one on a mission to deliver you," she replied.

Gewey jumped to his feet. "What are you saying?"

"Calm yourself," she said. "I have the same goals as your companions."

"How would you know about our goals?" Gewey asked. "Who are you?"

"I'm one of the good guys," she said. "I'm here to help you."

"I've heard that before," he noted. "Do you have proof?"

"You mean other than the fact that I stopped you from being taken to Angraal in chains?" she said sarcastically. "No, not really."

Gewey was taken aback. "You know where they were taking me? How?"

"Unlike dear, trusting Maybell, I've been suspicious of Salmitaya for a while," she answered. "Over time, I made a habit of secretly reading all the letters she received. It didn't take long to figure out who the 'High Priestess' really serves."

"But who do you serve?" asked Gewey. "You don't seem like a novice."

"Actually, I am a novice-just not the kind you would have heard of," she replied. "My order isn't widely known, but it's very old. We once protected Heaven itself, and we still battle the darkness to this day. I came to Kaltinor two years ago, to investigate the failure of temples throughout the city."

"When you found out about the temples, why didn't you do something?" Gewey asked accusingly. "It doesn't look like you've done anything to help."

"We've done more than you could know," she shot back. "But there are more important things than rescuing a few temples."

"Like what? What could be more important than that?"

"Like finding you and making sure you're delivered safely," she replied.

"Why should I be important?" he asked suspiciously.

"I don't know," said Celandine. "But, if the Dark One wants you captured, then it's obvious that you are."

"I'm not going anywhere unless you tell me where we're going, and who exactly it is that wants me," Gewey said stubbornly. "So you can save us both some time and just tell me."

"West," she said. "We're going west. Beyond that, I really don't know. There's a temple where you'll be safe, but I don't know exactly where it is."

Gewey laughed. "So we just head west and hope we find this so-called temple? Sounds like a great plan."

Celandine's eyes narrowed. "I said I don't know where it is-not that I couldn't find it. The location is kept secret, only a few of us know it. I know where to make contact, and from there we'll be taken to the temple."

"What about my friends?" Gewey asked. "How will they know where to find me?"

"If they still live, they're on their own," she said bluntly. "We can't risk going back to find them. If you're captured again, your enemies won't be so careless twice."

"I'm not abandoning my friends," Gewey protested. "They are alive, and they wouldn't leave me behind."

"I think they probably are alive," she agreed. "I doubt the buffoons Salmitaya sent to kill them succeeded. But I'm no warrior, and neither are you. If we go after them, we will be caught, and then your friends will have risked their lives for nothing. Salmitaya is arrogant, but not stupid. If she gets her hands on you again, it will take an army to free you."

"How did you know about Salmitaya's plans in the first place?" Gewey asked. "How did you know to follow her?"

"She sent me away after dinner to spend the night at another temple," she answered "A habit of hers when she wants to do things unseen. She tells us that one of the other temples wants to ensure a blessing by having a follower of Ayliazarah under their roof. Maybell believed her, but that woman would believe anything. I, on the other hand, packed what I needed and hid outside the temple until morning. I saw the guards arrive, then later drag you out and put you in the carriage. I knew they had left some men behind to deal with your friends, but unfortunately, I had neither the time nor the means to help them. Instead, I followed Salmitaya, hoping for a chance to free you."

Gewey was unsure. "a.s.suming I believe you, what should we do now?"

"We head west to Althetas," she replied. "We need to find a way to get there unnoticed, and unfortunately I don't have much in the way of supplies or money, so we'll have to improvise."

"Do you know where we are now?" he asked.

"We're north of the Spirit Hills," answered Celandine. "We have enough food to pa.s.s through, and there's a town on the southwestern slopes where we should be able to re-supply. From there, we can hopefully find a way further west."

"I still don't feel right about leaving my friends," Gewey said.

"We'll try to send word to them when we can," she replied. "But we have to keep moving. I doubt the guards will be able to keep up with us, but Salmitaya won't give up easily. She'll send trackers."

Celandine got to her feet and held out her hand. Gewey thought for a moment, then pursed his lips.

"I'll go with you," he said, taking her hand. "But don't think that means I've given up on finding my friends. As soon as we're safe, you must promise to find them."

"You have my word," she said, pulling Gewey to his feet.

"Then let's go," he said as they set off.

They crossed the stream, and headed south toward the hills.

Gewey still wanted to turn back and find Lee, but he knew Celandine was probably right. And if even she wasn't, there was no other choice.

To turn back would deliver him straight into the clutches of Salmitaya.

Chapter 13.

Lee and Kaylia ran west along the road, at a pace no normal human could match. Lee worried about being noticed, but he knew they had to risk it if they wanted to catch up with Salmitaya. Each time they came to a crossroads, they were forced to stop and make sure their quarry hadn't turned. Fortunately, a carriage with a ten-guard escort left an easy trail to follow.

As the hours pa.s.sed, Lee worried that Kaylia's strength would give out. He could run a full day without tiring, but he had no experience with the stamina of elves, and he couldn't afford to leave her behind. With a good plan of attack, he was sure he could kill ten city guards, but it would only take one to get to Gewey and cut his throat.

He needed the elf to ensure that didn't happen.

"Do you need to stop?" Lee asked at one of the crossroads.

"Elves are stronger than you know," she replied. "We do not tire easily."

Lee nodded and took off west. Just as the sun was going down, Kaylia grabbed Lee's arm, stopping him.

"They're one mile ahead," said Kaylia. "I can smell them."

They waited until it was fully dark before approaching the camp. Two tents had been erected twenty yards off the road, in a small clearing. A carriage pulled by a team of six horses had been pulled just to the side. As they'd been told, ten guards were busy about the camp, building fires and cooking meals. They didn't see Gewey anywhere.

"Looks like they've been here for more than an hour," Lee noted.

"Gewey's probably in one of the tents."

"But which one?" Kaylia asked. "We shouldn't move until we know."

"Agreed," he said. "I'll keep watch from here. You go around through the woods and check from there. Be back here in an hour."

Kaylia nodded and took off through brush.

Lee watched as Salmitaya wandered through the camp, her head held high as she shouted orders to her men. She walked in and out of both tents, but gave no indication as to where Gewey was being held.

An hour later, Kaylia returned.

"These guards should be easy to deal with," she said. "They have no idea how to secure a camp; the entire perimeter is left unwatched. They'll be bunched together near the fires in two groups. Once we know where Gewey is, we can take them out."

Lee nodded, watching as a guard carried a bowl and cup into one of the tents. A little while later, Salmitaya emerged from that tent and went into the other.

"He's in there," said Lee, pointing to the tent Salmitaya had exited. "I count nine men by the fires, so that leaves only one guarding Gewey."

"We should wait until they're sleeping before we strike," Kaylia proposed. "If one of them raises the alarm, the guard in the tent could kill the boy before we can get to him."

Lee nodded in agreement. They settled in, never taking their eyes off the camp. Lee watched as the guard inside the tent was relieved, careful to take note of the length of time it took for him to return to the fire. It was then they saw a woman in novice robes enter where Gewey was being held.

"How did she get here?" Lee asked anxiously. "Did you see her before?"

Kaylia shook her head. "I think we have a new player in this game. We'll need to move soon."

Lee went over the plan with Kaylia. She was to enter the tent holding Gewey and take out the guard, while Lee took care of the guards by the fire nearest the tent. If the alarm were raised, then Lee would fall back and join Kaylia and finish off the remaining guards as they approached. If there were no alarm, then Kaylia would wait with Gewey, while Lee took out the rest of the guards on his own.

"The important thing is that once we have Gewey, we don't lose sight of him," said Lee. "They may be clumsy fools, but it only takes one to cause us to fail."

"A good plan," she said. "But you should be the one to free the boy. I can kill the other guards more quietly than you."

"Probably," Lee replied. "And it's why you'll be the first in the tent. Slaughtering city guards in their sleep may not be honorable, but it should be easy. If the tent guard is awake, I need him down fast."

"I think you don't like the idea of an elf killing humans in their sleep," she said.

"And I think you like the idea far too much," Lee retorted.

It was then they saw a guard rise from his bedroll and walk towards the tent, holding a flask. Lee and Kaylia lay silent. A second later, the man bolted out, yelling at the top of his lungs, instantly causing the camp to erupt into a beehive of activity. Salmitaya came out of her tent and sprinted to where they were holding Gewey.

"We should pull back before they see us," Kaylia suggested.

"I can hide in shadows too," said Lee, sounding insulted. "If they come near, we'll move-but not until then."

Salmitaya left the tent, while two guards carried a third man next to the fire, and threw him roughly to the ground. The remaining guards gathered around the High Priestess to receive their orders. They then headed for the nearby forest in small groups, leaving only the two guards with Salmitaya.

"It would seem our young friend has escaped," Kaylia observed.

"And unless I'm wrong, the novice had something to do with it."

"We'll wait a few minutes, then go down and see for ourselves," said Lee."I'll take the near guard; you take the one walking toward Salmitaya."

The elf smiled ominously and sprung to her feet, rushing toward the camp. Lee chased after her, but it was too late. Kaylia had killed the first guard and had the second on the ground before he could get close. Lee turned toward Salmitaya, hoping to reach the woman before Kaylia did. He made it just in time.

"Enough," said Lee, standing in front of the terrified woman. "I gave my word she would not be harmed."

"I gave no such word," Kaylia replied, holding her b.l.o.o.d.y knife.

"If you harm her, I'll kill you," warned Lee. "Please don't make me do that."

Kaylia walked over to the shaking woman. "She deserves to die, Lee. You know it."

"Yes, she does," he agreed. "Nonetheless, I ask you to preserve my honor, and let her live."

Kaylia studied Lee for a long moment. "I would not want to dishonor you. And I would not want to kill you, either." She locked eyes with Salmitaya, cleaning her knife on the High Priestess' dress. "But should we meet again, woman, my blade will send you to the Father."

Salmitaya collapsed to the ground, weeping.

"Check the tents," Lee said. "See what you can find out." Kaylia took one more look at Salmitaya and obeyed.

Lee turned to the High Priestess. "Calm yourself," he snapped.

"That demon wants to kill me!" Salmitaya cried.

"True," Lee acknowledged. "And I may yet let her if you've harmed my friend. Where is he?"

"I don't know," she answered. "He escaped."

"I guessed as much. I wonder how Angraal will reward your failure."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she lied. "I serve the temple."

Lee reached down and helped Salmitaya to her feet. "My dear," he said calmly, "it's that kind of lie that will earn you some private time with my elf friend. I promised you would not be harmed, but as you've seen, stopping Kaylia could prove to be quite difficult-and I've heard elven interrogation methods can be rather...unpleasant."

"You wouldn't," she cried.

Lee's tone turned dangerous. "You kidnapped my friend and tried to have me murdered," he fumed. "It is all I can do to not kill you myself."

Kaylia returned holding a set of iron shackles. "Someone freed him and took him into the forest," she said, throwing the shackles at Salmitaya's feet. "I examined the guard. He was poisoned with a stylus needle."

Lee raised an eyebrow. "Elf poison? Why would an elf want to save Gewey?"