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“So we agree that the men we saw are from across the mountains?” Teth summarized the largely one-sided conversation that had absorbed the last thirty minutes of their hike.
Dasen just grunted his agreement, drawing a look of concern from ahead. He motioned Teth to keep going, which seemed to satisfy her. He was feeling marginally better since they had found water – a small stream that they could step over – food – a strip of dried meat and some sour berries – and medicine – acrid higg bark that now seemed as much a part of his life as breathing – but he could still barely manage to walk much less maintain a conversation. His stomach was still decidedly woozy, his head pounded, and his every muscle ached. His clothes were either damp or stiff with dried sweat and mud, and they chaffed everywhere they touched him so that he was constantly trying to adjust them in one way or another. And the sun, standing already near its zenith, was steadily pounding him with its heat and light.
Though he did not participate much in Teth’s musing, he appreciated it as a useful distraction. Overall, he agreed that there was no other way to explain what they had seen over the past few days. The only thing that still confused him was how the invaders would know who he was, much less why they would expend such effort to capture him. It could only have to do with his father, which sent a spike of worry through him.
The scamper of feet over the forest floor sounded somewhere in front of them. Teth pulled to a sudden halt and pushed Dasen to the cover of a spiny bush that bordered the faint deer trail they followed. Heart pounding, he watched the trees before them. Teth kept one hand on his chest, holding him back like a mother protecting a child from stepping onto a busy street. The other clutched her long knife. Her legs were coiled, ready to spring on whatever emerged. But nothing emerged. After a few moments of watching silent trees, Teth relaxed. She removed her restraining hand and returned the knife to the sheath at her hip.
With a last scan of the clear sky above, she stepped cautiously back onto the path. Dasen’s heart slowly calmed. In the hour they had been walking, they had seen no sign of pursuit by land or sky, but they both remained aware that the creatures could be anywhere. As Teth had said the previous day, the best way to catch game is to get it moving and wait for it to come to you.
Despite that, Teth had decided that they were better served by speed than stealth – “if they’re going to pick up our trail, might as well make it a long one,” she had said. As a result, they had used trails when possible and avoided major obstacles. This made the going easier but also meant that Teth expected him to maintain a faster pace. In his current state, that had been about all Dasen was capable of. He was barely following the conversation about the invaders and had no idea where they were going or what their plan was from here.
“So what about the creatures?” Teth finally asked. She peeked back at Dasen. Her bottom lip had crept back under her teeth. “They must have come with the invaders, right?” She walked in front of him with a noticeable hitch to her stride. It was clear that she was not feeling much better than him, which gave Dasen a perverse sense of accomplishment.
Dasen nodded then realized that she was no longer looking at him. “That only stands to reason. I mean, it’s too much coincidence to dismiss.”
“But those things weren’t normal. I mean, they weren’t like animals. Those were . . . I don’t know, monsters or something, like in The Book of Valatarian. You know, the old stories about the Exiles and the war. How is that possible? Isn’t that all supposed to be myth?”
“I think the proper term is dark parables.” Dasen sighed and brought his hand to his head. “Legends designed to teach us the dangers of chaos, but yes, the Church has maintained since the Reinterpretation that those sections of the scripture are not true.”
“Yeah, it’s also maintained that women can’t do anything but cook meals and pump out babies, so let’s not assume they have any idea what’s true.”
Dasen nearly choked. So much for Teth wanting to change. “You might not want to . . . .”
“Might not want to what?” Teth snapped. She turned on her heel and glowered. Dasen nearly ran into her before he could arrest his momentum. She stared at him, hand on her hip, clearly expecting an answer.
“I . . . I mean . . . when we get to the University. I mean . . . you may not want to say things like that,” Dasen stammered. He suddenly remembered that he did not want to be on Teth’s bad side right now.
“Humph!” Teth turned and resumed her walk, but, to Dasen’s dismay, at a much faster pace – he had obviously upset her. “So your counselors are interested in seeking the truth as long as it fits into what they already believe. Is that it? How convenient. Why even bother? I mean if all they’re going to teach me is that I shouldn’t know anything, why bother learning?”
Teth glanced back, but Dasen could not think of anything to say that would not get him into more trouble.
“And you’re their top student?” she finally scoffed. “Maybe I should be glad we’re being invaded. It may spare me from becoming so enlightened.”
“About that, what is our plan?” Dasen blurted, desperate for a change of subject.
Teth looked back at him with a slight smile. Was she playing me? Dasen asked himself with dismay. No, he realized, her reactions were too genuine. She is trying to soften it now, but at some level, she really believes what she said.
Teth answered his question, before his overwrought mind could consider that further. “I have to admit that after last night I don’t know exactly where we are. I can guess, but I don’t know this part of the forest.” She looked back sheepishly and chewed her bottom lip. Dasen tried to hide his disappointment. “We are walking north-east now. There isn’t much out here, but eventually, we have to hit the road that runs from Randor’s Pass to Gurney Bluff. Once we find that, we can make our way to a village. Hopefully, we’re ahead of the invaders. Then we try to stay that way as long as we can. You have anything better in mind?”
Dasen shook his head. Teth looked back, saw him, and nodded. They walked in silence for a long time, but the conversation remained between them like a ghost. Finally, Dasen had to break the stalemate. “I’m sure the Chancellor will want to know what we’ve seen. We can arrange transport from one of the villages to Wildern. We’ll probably even have an escort. Once we’re there, we’ll be safe.”
He licked his dry lips and watched an especially rough patch of ground before picking up again. “I mean, how far can these invaders expect to get? How many men could they have possibly brought across those mountains? The Kingdoms are not strong militarily, but they’re big, most of the cities are fortified, and Liandria will certainly come to our aid, maybe even the Morgs.” Teth looked back at him with derision. “Don’t get me wrong. A lot of people are going to get hurt, a lot already have. And I am just as worried as you are. I mean my father and best friend were in Randor’s Pass. But this is going to end. The invaders are going to realize what they face and either leave or get driven back. There’s no way they could have brought enough men across the mountains for there to be any other outcome.”
Teth stopped and turned. Her eyes were soft, held no scorn. She reached out and grabbed Dasen’s hand, held it in both of hers. “I hope you’re right, Dasen. I hope they are sent running back across the Clouded Range with their tails between their legs. I hope that Ipid, your friend, and Milne all come out of this without a scratch. But you were with me last night. You saw the creatures. You don’t want to talk about it, but I’m convinced these are the Exiles returned, that some part of those stories is true. And if that is the case, do you think they would wait a thousand years only to return without enough power to get through the Kingdoms?” Teth shook her head to answer her own question.
Nothing more was said. Teth released his hand, and they walked silently through the trees, with one eye on the sky and every step seeming to ech
o in their ears.