“How soon’s that happen?” Gertie asked.
“Soon’s they find you’re gone. Watch changed at sun-up.”
Tanyth and Gertie shared a glance. “Lemme see if any more of my li’l friends are out there in the leaves,” Gertie said and her face went blank for a few moments.
Tanyth scanned the surrounding forest, looking for anything out of the ordinary. She couldn’t hear anything because the two men still made too much noise. “They won’t need to be very good trackers,” she said. “Just have good ears.”
Arnold made a little hee-hee noise. Tanyth had to look at him to make sure of the source. The amusement danced in his eyes.
“There’s two guys comin’ in from that direction. Few hundred yards at most.” Gertie pointed. “Swords. No bows.”
“Only two?”
“That’s all I see.”
“All right. We’ll have to stop them first. Arnold, you take Gertie here over to meet your friends. See if you can get ’em to stop and be quiet. I’ll handle these two.”
“You sure?” Gertie asked, concern in her eyes. “There’s two of them and one of you.”
“Yeah, I figger they’re outnumbered. They just don’t know it. Scoot.”
Gertie patted her on the shoulder and beckoned for Arnold to follow as they hurried to catch up with Morris and Danny.
Tanyth stepped into the scuffed trail of leaves the two men had left. She tsked. It would be hard to make a trail more obvious. She scraped the leaf litter away with the side of her boot, grounding her staff in the rich loam. The iron dug in, and the wooden core seemed to vibrate.
A shadow flitted between two trees in the distance. Another in the opposite direction.
“Gentlemen,” Tanyth said. “So nice of you to join me this mornin’.”
Steel zinged from two sheaths as the pair stepped from behind their respective trees.
“What you doin’ here, lady?” the one on the right said, his voice a low growl.
“Oh, strolling along, Enjoyin’ the fine spring weather. You? What brings you two strappin’ lads into the wood?”
“We got no time for this,” the one on the left said. His mutter barely reached Tanyth over the thrashing in the brush behind her.
Tanyth felt the strength of the trees and the power in their branches. “And I’ve no time for this either. Here’s something you might have time for. There’s a garrison patrol headin’ this way with one of the Kleesport city council. They’ll be here in about an hour. You value your skins? You’ll be gone from here.”
The two spared a glance for each other. “You’re bluffin’,” the mouthy one on the right said, spinning his sword along its axis so it flashed in the morning light.
“As you say. We’ll have the answer shortly. In the meantime, if you’d like to wait with me? I got nothin’ better ta do.”
A tree branch creaked overhead, leaves rustling.
The hunter on the left glanced up and squinted.
“Or you could turn around and get back to your base, and tell all the guards there to put down their weapons and surrender. It’ll save a lot of people gettin’ hurt.”
“Lady, the only one’s gonna get hurt is you, if you don’t get outa here,” the one on the right said.
Tanyth closed her eyes and felt for the roots on purpose this time. The ground practically writhed with them, pale worms with silky hairs that drank their meals from the soil and grew food in their leaves. She felt the bones of the world beneath her feet, and as before, the blood of the earth in the tiny rivers in their trunks; the breath of the world stirred their limbs, and they all but burst with life.
“Leave now,” she said. “While you can.”
“I thought you were in no hurry,” the mouthy man said, his eyes challenging her. “Change your mind?”
“I’m not,” Tanyth said. “They are.” She looked up at the canopy of limbs swaying in the breezes coming in from the ocean a few miles away.
“What? The trees?”
Tanyth looked back down at the two men. “The trees,” she said.
They both started laughing but their laughter turned to screams as the storm of pale white roots erupted around their feet, snaring their legs and growing upward, upward.
Tanyth turned and followed the rude trail in pursuit of Gertie, Arnold, and the two escaping guards. “Gettin’ to be right crowded out here,” she muttered.
The screams cut off just before Tanyth broke through the line of brush to find Gertie waiting with three men in green and black. Arnold, she knew. The other two were strangers who sat on the ground with Arnold standing over them. Their eyes all but bulged from their sockets when Tanyth approached.
“What was that all about?” Gertie asked, with a jerk of her chin.
“Feedin’ the trees.”
“Ah, spring is the best time for that. They get powerful hungry over the winter.” She scratched her chin and pursed her lips.
“Arnold, can you introduce us to your friends?” Tanyth asked.
“Well, this here is Jimmy and that there is Fred,” Arnold said. “But they ain’t my friends.”
Tanyth looked at Fred’s legs. One seemed off, somehow. “What’s wrong with your foot?”
“Sprained my ankle runnin’ across the field,” the man said. He scowled at the offending limb.
“Came near to gettin’ us killed, too,” Jimmy cuffed Fred’s shoulder.
“Where’s Morris and Danny?” Tanyth asked.
Jimmy snorted. “How’m I s’posed ta know that? Last I seen of them, they was down in the tunnels tryin’ to get the fire under control.”
“Was there a fire?” Gert asked.
“Yeah. Not sure how it got started, but it burned up the boss’s office. He had two prisoners in there, too. They got burned right up. He’s gonna be really mad when he gets back from Northport.”
“Losing two prisoners? Yeah. I can see where that would ruin his day.” Gertie nodded.
“So what’re you two doin’ out here?” Tanyth asked. “Another quarter hour and those hunters woulda had ya.”
Jimmy shook his head. “We ain’t stupid. All hell’s gonna break loose back there, between the mine and the slaves and the cargoes. That can’t just go on and on without somebody findin’ out.”
Fred nodded and winced as his weight shifted. “Yeah. Signs are all there. Low-level grunts like us always get it in the neck. We figgered the fire was a good distraction, so we beat it out of there soon’s the guard got pulled back for fire-fightin’.”
Jimmy sighed. “We’d a been miles away if he hadn’t stepped in that rabbit hole.”
“Coulda been you,” Fred said.
“Yeah, but ’twasn’t, was it?”
“Easy there, gentlemen,” Tanyth said. “The garrison’s sent a patrol. They’re just over that rise. They’ll take good care of ya. Tell them nice stories, and they’ll prob’ly let ya go home after a while.”
“Garrison?” Freddy spat on the ground, disgust warping his face. “Malloy paid off the garrison first. They’re just gonna take us back to the hole.”
Tanyth’s world focused down to the two men sitting on the ground. “What?”
“You can’t operate somethin’ this big out here for as long as Malloy’s been playin’ without payin’ off the garrison.” Jimmy shook his head. “Half the time it’s the garrison bringin’ the runaways back.”
“They’ve got one of the Kleesport city council with them,” Gertie said.
“Who? That Marong fella?” Jimmy sniffed. “He looked all summer long last year. Never got a twitch. Funny how that works when the garrison’s drivin’ the cart.”
“If he gets too close to the hole, he’s gonna find himself swingin’ a pick with the rest of ’em and his patrol’ll have a sad, sad tale to tell when they get back to town,” Fred said.
“Bears, prob’ly,” Jimmy said. “Bears don’t leave much behind so they take a lot o’ blame for folks gettin’ lost in the back country.”
“That or the hermit,” Fred said and laughed.
Arnold stirred himself at that, storm clouds filling his face.
Gertie waved him down before he could speak. “Never mind now, Arnold. We’ll deal with that later.”
The two men looked up, but other than a stormy-looking Arnold there wasn’t much to take in.
“You two don’t stray. Arnold here’ll keep ya company and make sure ya don’t wander off, won’t ya, Arnold?” Gertie asked.
“You bet.” He nodded his head once for emphasis and folded his arms across his chest.
His fierce expression nearly made Tanyth giggle as she led Gertie off to the side of their small clearing.
“So, Marong isn’t in on it but his garrison patrol is,” Gertie said.
“That’s what they say. They got no reason to lie about it as I can tell.”
Gertie puckered her lips and stared off into the middle distance. “So we gotta get Marong out of the pack without them bein’ the wiser.”
“And do it soon, before they get too close and make him a slave, too.”
“You know the man?” Gertie asked.
Tanyth shook her head. “Only by reputation, and that’s prob’ly not accurate.”
“Seldom is,” Gertie said with a shrug. “I met him once. Winters ago, now.”
“How old is he? Rebecca’s only in her mid-twenties.”
“He’s a late bloomer, he is. Didn’t have kids until he was nigh on forty. He’s older’n you, but not by that much.”
“How do we do this?” Tanyth asked.
“The trick is gettin’ him alone. Somewhere out of earshot of his escort.”
“How d’we do that?”
Gertie’s eyes started to sparkle and she glanced over toward the guards across the clearing. “I think they just told us how.”
“They did?”
“Yep. Bears.”
“Bears?”
“Definitely. Bears.”
Chapter Thirty-nine:
Unlikely Ally
Tanyth slipped between the ancient oaks. Behind her, Gertie and the green shirts waited behind a raspberry brake Gertie’s mice had told them about. Somewhere not far ahead, the squad of garrison troops approached.
Two dozen yards away, the vanguard stepped into the small clearing. The troopers ambled along like they were on an afternoon’s picnic, not noticing Tanyth standing in their path until she spoke.
“There you are. Is Richard Marong with you?” she asked.
The troopers started and reached for hilts as a pair of bowmen followed them into the clearing. The archers walked with strung bows but no arrows nocked. They ambled up to the first two, and one of them leered at Tanyth.
“Well, well, well. What have we here?” he asked. “You’re a long way from civilization, mum.”
She smiled at him. “You’re King’s Own, aren’t you? Civilization goes where you tread. I need to speak with Richard Marong. You’re aiding him in his search, aren’t you?”
The soldiers shared a glance among themselves, and one of the bowmen looked back along their trail.
“Our mission is the king’s business, mum. None of your own.” The bowman’s words carried a veneer of politeness, but the steel in his voice made it clear that her questions had no authority with him.
She sighed. “Yes, yes. I know. King’s Own. You answer to the king alone and we’re all glad for it, but Richard Marong is just around the bend behind you and I need to speak with him.”
The bowman stiffened. “Maybe he is. Maybe he isn’t. Who are you, mum? What business have you with the magistrate?”
“That’s more like it,” she said and raised her voice. “My name is Tanyth Fairport, and I have news about his daughter, Rebecca.” Her words all but echoed through the forest, ringing in the afternoon air.
A tallish man sporting a salt and pepper beard of black and white strode into the clearing between the soldiers. Several more soldiers tagged his heels, half-running to keep up with his long, rapid strides. “What news have you of Rebecca?”
“Ah, Richard, I’m so glad I caught you.” Tanyth approached the group of men, ignoring the soldiers as she made her way along the forest path. “Rebecca asked me to give you news if I saw you before she did.”
His brow furrowed and his eyes searched her face. “You have the advantage, mum. Do I know you?”
“Well, of course. We met last Yule in Kleesport. The Mapletons’ party?” She continued moving toward him, threading her way through the soldiers as if strolling through passers-by and giving them no more notice. “I’m Tanyth—Tanyth Fairport?”
He frowned at her and shook his head. “The Mapletons’ party? You were there?”
“Well, of course.” She laid a hand on his arm. “I’m not surprised you don’t remember. Forgive me. You must meet so many people, one old woman must seem much like another.”
He smiled then and waved a hand at the men crowding his coattails, signaling they should back away. “Of course, but you have news of Rebecca? Is she all right?”
“Fine, fine...” Tanyth glanced around at all the soldiers. “The news is of rather a personal nature. Perhaps we might...?” She drew him by the sleeve and stepped away from the crowd, leaning into him to whisper. “Rebecca is in Northport and fine, but these troops are not in your employ.”
“What?” His voice rose in alarm.
“Please. You must listen. I know what you’re really looking for. These soldiers have orders to kill you if you get too close. In a moment, a bear is going to come down that path. You need to order these men to retreat. Gertie and I will take you to the counterfitters.”
“Why should I trust you?” He scowled at her, but he kept his voice down.
“You have no reason at all, but Rebecca always spoke highly of you.”
“Now I know you’re lying,” he said. “What did she really say? The truth or I’ll have these soldiers take you into custody.”
“You’re a close-minded, pig-headed man who thinks he has the right to tell her how to live her life,” Tanyth said. “You complained bitterly when she moved out to Mapleton’s settlement, and you’ve been after her for years to give it up and take up a respectable life.”
Marong’s eyes went wide in surprise and then he laughed. “That’s her,” he said. “Now what’s going on?”
“Bear. Draw your sword and tell the troops to run.”
The words had no sooner left her lips than a huge brown bear shambled out of the forest. Rearing onto its hind legs, it roared a challenge at the soldiers.
“Now, before the bowmen draw,” Tanyth said, her voice a hiss against his ear.
Marong stepped forward, drawing a meter of gleaming steel and pushing Tanyth behind him. “Run, men! Get safe! Go!”
The bear roared again and staggered forward one step.
The soldiers scattered, running back through the forest as fast as their legs would carry them.
The bear roared a third time and fell down on all fours. It turned its broad head and glared at Marong, baring yellowed fangs.
“All right, Arnold. That’s very good. You can stop now,” Tanyth said.
The bear bobbed its head and shambled back around the raspberry brake.
“What in the Lady’s name—” Marong said.
“No time. Quick, before they realize it’s a ruse,” Tanyth took Marong’s arm and half led, half dragged him after the bear.
On the back side of the raspberry patch, they found Gertie and Arnold hunkered down out of sight.
“Where’s the bear?” Marong asked.
Arnold raised his hand. “That was me, sir.”
“We need to scoot,” Gertie said. “Them soldiers will regroup in a minute and we need to be gone.”
“What’s this about?” Marong asked, pulling his arm out of Tanyth’s grip. “Do you people know who I am?”
Gertie snorted and settled her pack on her back. “If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be riskin’ our lives to save yours. Now
get a move on, yer lordship, or yer gonna be the late Richard Marong, Magistrate-at-Large, when them boys get back here and fill you full of arrows.” She turned and marched away with Arnold on her heels.
“Come on, Mr. Marong. We’ve got the dies. Malloy is goin’ to be back in the mine shortly and when he is, these woods are gonna be full of people who’d like nuthin’ better’n to skin you, me, Gertie, and anybody else they find skulkin’ about.”
“The dies? The dies for what?” Richard asked.
“For the coins that Malloy is pressin’. Come on. We can hash this all out later.” She pointed down the trail where Arnold and Gertie waited, waving their hands. “You gotta go so I can cover our back trail, and we’re runnin’ out of time.”
“Gertie? Gertie Pinecrest?” he asked.
“That’s her.” Tanyth pointed. “Go talk to her about it, would ya?”
Richard started off down the path, his steps growing longer with each stride until he finally got out of the way. Tanyth followed him a short distance and then stopped, waiting for them to move off a bit more before grounding her staff. “Mother help me here,” she said, her eyes closed and her words barely louder than the breezes in the tree tops.
The earth around her seemed to boil for a moment, leaves and small twigs rustling and shifting, the soil itself seeming to shake itself clear like a fresh sheet of snow. When the movement stopped, the ground looked untrammeled for yards in any direction except for the very obvious scuffle in the leaves that led into a boggy hollow in the forest, but didn’t come out the other side.
With a satisfied nod, Tanyth picked her way through the leaf litter until she found the real trail. In moments she’d caught up to Gertie and her band.
“Now what?” Marong asked.
“We bought some time, but Fred here has a sprained ankle and can’t move fast,” Gertie said. “Arnold and Jimmy, carry the litter. We need to get as far away from here as we can get before Malloy’s men start tearin’ the woods apart.”
“With any luck, the garrison’s troops will find them,” Marong said.
Gertie snorted. “That’s not gonna help us.”
“Malloy owns the garrison,” Tanyth said. “That’s why they dragged you all over the back country last summer. They figgered you’d give it up and go away.”