Dragonvein - Book Three (12 page)

They skirted the gently sloping shore until, quite unexpectedly, it rose up into a steep embankment that was covered in moss and thick brambles. At this point, to Ethan's surprise and consternation, Keira led them directly into the lake. Only after slogging through thigh-deep water for several minutes was the entrance to the grotto then revealed. It was cut twenty feet into the side of the embankment, and though the center of the ground inside was covered in several inches of water, the rising edges remained dry and provided adequate space to accommodate several people. The air inside remained cool, but the protection of the limestone walls sheltered them from the wind, making the temperature a bit more tolerable.

With a deep sigh, Ethan plopped heavily down and immediately pulled off his boots. As expected, the badly pruned flesh on his feet had turned a pasty white color and was covered in nasty looking cracks. Kat had been wearing a pair of soft leather shoes, and he was relieved to see that she had fared far better.

“I’ll gather some wood,” said Keira.

“No need,” Ethan told her. He pointed to some fist-sized rocks scattered about the floor. “Just bring me a few of those.”

Kat knelt down in front of him. After placing her hands gently on his feet, she muttered a short spell. Almost immediately Ethan could feel healing magic shooting through his toes and up his legs. He leaned his head back and let out a long sigh.

“Better?” Kat asked.

“You have no idea,” he replied.

Keira returned with four of the stones, which she placed in a pile beside Ethan. “You should be sparing with your magic,” she warned. “The Rakasa are sensitive to its use. Should any be nearby, they may find us.”

At that moment, Ethan didn’t really care. All he wanted was warmth. One by one he cast the spell Renald had taught him on each stone. Instantly, they began to radiate heat.

“You and Kat should sleep now if you can,” Keira suggested.

This was not a problem for either of them. While the seemingly tireless elf sat nibbling on a piece of dried fruit near the edge of the water, they both unpacked their blankets and stretched out. The warmth from the rocks quickly had them both in a deep, dreamless slumber.

The low rumble of thunder woke Ethan just before dusk. Not with surprise, he saw that Keira was already up and gathering her pack. She had placed a small piece of jerky beside him. Kat, also newly woken, was yawning and stretching a few yards away.

Ethan could see the thunderheads gathering outside. “You think it’s heading this way?” he asked Keira.

She glanced up and shrugged. “Perhaps. We’ll know soon enough.”

He considered suggesting that they wait until the storm had passed, but Keira was clearly anxious to get moving. He gave a wry grin. “I suppose my poor feet are in store for more punishment.”

Kat smiled over at him. “Don’t worry. I’ll heal you again.”

Another thunderclap, this one much closer, startled him. As the sound faded, Keira tensed and drew her weapon. Knowing that she had heard danger, Ethan did the same. Kat was carrying only a small dagger, but from her posture she had no intention of fighting with steel anyway.

“Men are approaching,” Keira stated.

“Soldiers?” asked Ethan.

“I can’t tell. But they are coming this way.” Her eyes shot over to Kat. “Do not use magic unless you have no other choice.”

Kat huffed a laugh. “What else am I supposed to use?”

“Hopefully nothing,” Keira replied.

A few seconds later Ethan heard the men as well. They were laughing and talking boisterously. Stealth was obviously not a concern. For a moment he thought they might not be heading for the grotto, but the splashing of men walking through water crushed this hope. There was nowhere to hide, so whoever this was, they were about to come face-to-face.

Keira waved them to the very rear of the grotto, where, with only the dim light of a dull gray sky filtering in from outside, they had at least a small portion of temporary cover. Ethan could see six men entering. The lead man was carrying a torch that revealed the crimson raven of the Empire on their armor.

Keira charged just as the soldier in front caught sight of them. Ethan was quickly on her heels. The song of steel echoed off the walls as the surprised soldiers groped desperately for their weapons. Keira was on the man with the torch before his blade was even half way from its scabbard. Crouching low, she thrust her blade hard into his gullet. The others backed away, hoping to gain enough time to form a proper defense. But Keira was not about to allow them such a luxury. Leaping to her right, she felled the second man with a blinding succession of powerful strokes that tore his leather breastplate to ribbons.

Ethan rounded her on the left and swung hard at a soldier who was standing shin deep in the water. The violent clash of steel sent sparks flying, and though the man was able to block Ethan's strike, the sheer force of it ripped his own weapon clean out of his hand. With a heavy grunt, Ethan carved deep into the man's collarbone, then quickly jerked his blade free and glanced over to see the remaining three soldiers already fleeing toward the entrance.

Desperate as they were to get away, Keira was easily able to catch them. Thrusting her blade into the nearest soldier's back, she twisted it sharply. The man cried out in agony and sank to his knees. This time though, with the grotto narrowing near the entrance, Ethan was unable to get around Keira and was forced to stay at her back.

The last two soldiers somehow scrambled their way to the mouth of the cave, but once making it that far, they instantly stopped short. Keira pulled up sharply as well and then began hastily backtracking, slamming into Ethan and sending him stumbling. For a moment he could not tell what had happened. Then both soldiers fell and he saw several arrows protruding from their chests.

Seizing Ethan by the arm, Keira pulled him rapidly back to where Kat was still standing.

“Did you see who shot them?” Ethan asked.

“No,” Keira replied. “But the arrows came from the lake. So whoever did it was in a boat.”

Two balls of green light flashed into existence in Kat’s palms. “Then it’s finally time I put all my practice to good use.”

Ethan grinned as he saw the disapproval on Keira’s face. “If they have bows, what do you suggest we do? Throw rocks at them?”

They could hear men talking not far outside, along with the splash of them getting out of their boat. After a tense minute, the noise ceased.

“They are waiting,” Keira whispered. “And they know we’re in here.”

“Elf!” shouted a gruff voice that sounded even louder in the confined space. “What business do you have here? Speak now.”

“My business is my own,” Keira replied, steel in her tone. “Leave here and be on your way.”

“I’m afraid we can’t do that,” he responded. “You have trespassed, and my commander will want to know why.”

“It is
you
who are trespassing,” she shot back. “And I’ll only tell you one more time. Leave.”

A shadow appeared in the entrance. A second later, an arrow whistled just above Keira’s head and bounced off the wall.

“We didn’t have to miss, elf,” said the voice. “So save your threats. Your people are fierce warriors. But you cannot hope to match us.” When Keira refused to answer, another arrow was loosed, this once striking the ground at her feet.

“That was your final warning.”

“First tell us who you are,” called out Ethan.

“I am the man with six bows ready to turn you into a pincushion,” he replied.

The light in Kat’s hands intensified. “Let them try.”

“Don’t,” snapped Keira. “Still your magic. They have not attacked.” She took a step forward and shouted, “We will comply. But should you attack us, I promise that we will not die alone.”

“Fair enough, elf,” he said.

Gathering up their packs, they started toward the mouth of the grotto. By now, little daylight was remaining, though as they emerged there was still enough to see six cloaked men standing in the water several yards back from the entrance - three on either side, and all of them aiming longbows. One of them lowered his bow and slung it over his back.

“I thought your people promised to leave this place to us,” he said.

“I know nothing of such an agreement,” Keira replied. “I have been out of contact with my people for some time.”

The man threw back his hood, revealing weathered features and a mop of wavy black hair. Ethan thought he looked a bit like Markus, though not as broad in the shoulder, and with a larger nose.

“Out of contact? I thought elves were never separated from one another.”

“Then you know nothing of my kin,” she said, though without a hint of irritation. “I was on an errand and have only just returned. I assure you, I will honor any arrangement you have made.”

The man rubbed his chin while regarding the group. “I may not know much about elves. But I do know plenty about humans. And I have never heard of any of us traveling with your kind.”

“Who I choose to travel with is also my own affair,” Keira told him.

“Perhaps. But unfortunately my orders are clear regarding trespassers. I can allow you to leave, elf. But your friends must remain until Kayno says otherwise.”

Keira tensed, but Kat stepped forward.

“That wouldn’t be Kayno of the Corvali, would it?” she asked.

“The same,” he affirmed. “You know him?”

“Only by reputation. His name was well known in Miltino. Jeb spoke very highly of him.”

“So you know Jeb?”

“Yes.”

“And your name?”

“They call me Kat.”

The man raised an eyebrow. “Kat, you say? I heard that name the last time I was in Miltino. But I was told you were much younger. Can you prove what you say?”

Kat glanced over at Ethan. “Please tell me you still have that token he gave you.”

Ethan nodded. “It’s in my bag.”

“Slowly,” warned the man. The creaking of bowstrings punctuated his words.

Ethan removed his backpack and dug around inside until finding the small cloth bag in which he had stashed the token. He tossed the wooden disc over and put his pack back on, careful not to make any sudden movements.

The man examined the token for a moment, then, with a nod, threw it back to Ethan. “This is Jeb’s, for certain. How did you come by it?”

“He gave it to me in case I ever came across the Corvali,” Ethan explained.

After a moment's thought, the man nodded. “Well now you have. I am Dren. For the time being, you and Kat can consider yourselves my guests. However, I must still inform Kayno. So you will stay with us until he gives you leave to depart. The elf is free to go now if she wishes. We do not want to jeopardize the truce by spilling her blood.”

Kat opened her mouth to object, but Dren’s hand flew up. “There will be no further discussion.” He pointed to the grotto. “I’ll send word to Kayno. If he gives you his leave, you will be free to go.”

“I will stay with my companions,” said Keira. “Our paths lie together.”

“Suit yourself,” he said. “But should Kayno choose to hold them, we will not allow you to interfere.”

Keira bowed her head, but said nothing.

Satisfied with her reaction, Dren ordered two of his men to hide the bodies of the fallen Imperial soldiers, and another to go gather wood for a fire. Everyone else went to the rear of the grotto and settled down. Despite a slightly more relaxed atmosphere, Ethan couldn't help but notice that Dren's remaining two men seated several yards away, were both holding their bows in their laps with arrows pre-notched.

Once the fire was started, Dren send a man to take the message to Kayno. “It should only be a few hours,” he informed them. “Our main camp isn’t far away.”

He took a flask from his belt, breathing in deeply as the scent of whiskey filled the air. He then passed it to Ethan. “Drink with me. I insist.”

Ethan wanted to refuse, but could see the man would accept no argument. Reluctantly, he took a small sip. The whiskey was strong and had a bitter aftertaste. He tried his best not to cough as the liquid burned down his throat.

“Now you,” Dren told Kat.

“What are we drinking to?” she asked.

“To Jeb,” he replied. “Or were you not aware he was killed in Santfaliso?”

Kat shook her head. “I didn’t know. How did it happen?”

“No one is sure. He was sent there to do a job for a client and never returned. One of our people found his body in an abandoned building he was using while mapping out the target. From what I hear, he'd been tortured to death. The two others he left with were nowhere to be found.”

Dren eyed Kat carefully. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

Kat took a long drink with trembling hands. “No. He was alive the last time I saw him.”

“And when was that?”

She handed him back the flask. “Not long ago. Just before he was killed, I would imagine. We ran into him and his companions while leaving Miltino. He let us stay the night in a Corvali cabin. He left before we did, so I don’t know what happened after that.”