Midnight Quest (22 page)

“No…why is that important?”

“Well,” Jewel paused a moment to find the right way to phrase her words, “I was only able to maneuver it that way because, to me at least, the crystal was light. It felt more like I had a fifty pound sack of potatoes to haul around: awkward and unwieldy, but not impossible to shift.”

A digestive moment of silence passed before she ventured, “You think that we can put this thing up on its base and not cause as much destruction as we tow it out of here?”

“No,” Jewel denied, frustrated that she hadn’t managed to pass along the image in her head, “I think that between the two of us, we can pick it up entirely and carry it over the vines.”

Clari let out a short, incredulous burst of laughter. “Great gods, but you’re not kidding! You really think that will work?”

“You did no see her, lass, haul Ramath’s crystal up a steep hill as if it were nothing but an errant dog.” Rialt sounded distinctly amused. “Eh, I have no doubt that between two priestesses, the crystal will hop on command. The hardest part belike be already over.”

“Well.” She let out another laugh, this one more bemused than anything. “We certainly don’t have anything to lose by trying.”

“You get on the front end,” Jewel directed. “That way I can simply follow you up. Gentlemen, I’m trusting you to guide my steps.”

“Always,” Rialt assured her gently. “Chizeld, Sarvell, if you will keep an eye on the crystal’s path? I will watch her feet.”

As the men sorted out who would take what side, Jewel had Bortonor take her to the back end of the crystal. When Jewel reached it, she put both hands against its hard surface and just felt it for a moment. Yes, this one was completely depleted of energy like the Ramath crystal. She did not envy Clari the task of recharging it, either, not after Chizeld’s accounts. It also had the same sense of lightness, however, which made her think that her unorthodox plan would work.

“Ready back there?” Clari called out.

“Ready when you are!” Jewel responded loudly. She waited as Clari pushed the crystal up to where it was at an incline from the ground. The watching workmen muttered to themselves, gasping or cursing in amazement to watch a single young woman maneuver such a massive crystal.

“Alright, Jewel, your turn!”

Jewel took a breath before pushing the crystal’s surface up. She walked her hands along the surface until she could put them underneath, maneuvering herself to be directly under it. It was not unlike two women shouldering a yoke with pails strung between them. The weight and distribution of the crystal’s mass reminded her of it, at least. “Rialt, am I in the center?” Jewel asked.

“Eh, close enough,” he assured her. “Clari, we be ready!” he boomed out.

“Then let’s walk!” she called back.

In deference to the woman walking along behind and the men that were trying to guide them safely out, Clari kept the pace to a moderate walk. Jewel was extremely grateful for this. Just walking up the hill had almost winded her. Carrying a crystal as big as a house was sure to tax her stamina even more.

“I’m going to have to get you to yell for me more often,” Jewel teased her companion. “My voice is too soft, I’m afraid. You’re easily heard, though.”

“A commander has to be heard on the battlefield,” Rialt responded neutrally.

“Ah.” A point she had not considered.

They made steady progress out of the vineyard. Jewel’s ears were trained on her surroundings, but although she heard many leaves being brushed, she didn’t hear anything snap. They must be barely clearing the vines.

“This is quite the sight,” Chizeld observed, a timber of amusement in his voice. “Two women hauling up the crystal while the men watch in admiration.”

“It’s a legend in the making,” Sarvell agreed from the other side. “I trust you’re taking notes, Chizeld?”

“Of course.”

“Watch your step now,” Rialt cautioned. “We be going up.”

They were indeed. She could feel the incline. Slow and steady, they made their way up the slope. Jewel’s arms started to ache at the constant weight above her head. Her legs, already having made this hike once today, were starting to shake at the effort of doing so again.

“You be looking a bit tired, lass.”

“I’ll make it,” she gasped out. “Just tell me we’re almost there.”

“We be almost there,” he parroted, deadpan.

“Say it like you mean it!” she groaned in exasperation.

“You actually
are
almost there,” Sarvell assured her. “Just a dozen paces more.”

She could do a dozen more paces. Maybe.

From ahead, Clari shouted in exaltation, “I’m at the top!”

Thank all of the gods for small miracles. Jewel grimly forced her legs forward until she felt herself walk onto more level ground. Then without any ceremony or fanfare, she put her end down. It was
Clari’s
crystal.
She
could shove it in the right place.

She listened with half an ear as Clari dragged the crystal along, the gravel grating against the smooth edge of the crystal. Mostly she focused on getting her breath back.

Rialt gave her an encouraging pat on the shoulder. “Two down.”

Jewel straightened up and gave a satisfied nod. “And two more to go.”

Chapter Fifteen

With the crystal in place they really didn’t have any reason to stay longer. In the back of Jewel’s head a mental clock relentlessly ticked, reminding her of the quick passage of time. The barrier might last another year, but that was only if no one tested its strength by slamming against it and wearing it down faster. She also shuddered to think of what Belthain’s politicians were scheming in her absence. No, the sooner all of the crystals were in place—and safely regulated by the various high priestesses—the better.

Since they planned to leave the next morning, Clari spent the night in Jewel’s room. They stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking. Jewel tried to impart everything she could to Clari but was woefully aware that Clari would have to learn her duties as she went. After all, the situation in Bryn was very different than the established Order in Thornock.

Needless to say, they got a slow start the next morning. Jewel managed to drag herself out of bed when everyone else did, but she sleep-walked downstairs and yawned all of the way through breakfast. Most of it passed in a blur. In fact, the only thing she truly remembered out of the morning’s events was a promise to Clari to keep her updated on their progress.

Her guards took pity on her and handed her up into Rialt’s waiting arms. She cuddled into the crook of one arm, head on his chest, and let the rocking gait of the horse lull her back to sleep.

She awoke around noon when everyone dismounted to stretch their legs and eat something. “Where are we?” she asked as Sarvell lifted her down.

“On our way to Hawleywood,” he answered. “We’re only about seven, eight hours away from it. My family is based out of that city and we thought it wise to stop there to get supplies. Besides, I only sent a very brief letter to my parents from Wexels. They’re sure to be worried at this point.”

She turned her head this way and that as her feet settled gently to earth. “We’ve left the foothills.”

Sarvell let out a short, incredulous laugh. “Alright, how can you
possibly
know that?”

“It’s the sound of the wind, and the scent of the air,” she explained with a mischievous smirk. Surprising people like this simply never got old. “The wind over the foothills had a certain sound to it. The scent of sunbaked rock was very strong there, too. Here, all I can hear is tall grass rustling back and forth and I can’t smell the earth at all.”

Rialt dismounted with a thump next to her. “You know, lass, if it was no for your explanations, a man would think you use magic to know what you do.”

She made a mental note to try playing that angle the next time someone asked a question. “Alright, so we’re heading to Hawleywood. Any other decisions made while I slept?”

“Eh, a few.” Rialt took her arm and guided her several steps away from the horses before encouraging her to sit down. She could hear and smell fresh bread being cut, so assumed that Chizeld was preparing some sort of sandwich for lunch. “Between Hawleywood and Parod’s Ford there be no much of anything.”

“A few towns and villages scattered here and there, but not any major cities,” Sarvell input from behind her.

“Right,” Rialt agreed before continuing, “So we thought, we will stop for supplies at Hawleywood and lend an ear to the local gossip. Thornock no doubt has soldiers stationed at every river crossing. But some might be more heavily guarded than others, depending on where they thought we were headed.”

Made sense. The Hatton River went the entire length of Bryn. They had to cross it sometime. But if she remembered her geography right, they had limited choices on where to cross. The river generally had too many rapids or was too wide most of the time. Only two places were passable—either Parod’s Ford or the major trading city, Zarraga.

“Where we go from here depends on the crystal’s location.” Sarvell came to sit down next to her.

“The best records in Veris are kept in Rounsefell,” Chizeld chimed in. “Also has the only Temple of Elahandra.”

“So we absolutely have to go to Rounsefell,” she concluded thoughtfully. “How far away is that?”

“Rounsefell is at the bottom of the territory, about a day’s travel east of the Honorvar River,” Sarvell responded instantly.

 “So due west and a little south,” Chizeld noted. “Zarraga would be adding days to the trip. Parod’s Ford is a better option.”

“If it be no heavily guarded,” Rialt corrected. “It might be easier to blend in with Zarraga’s crowded streets. We might even want to catch a boat and ride the Honorvar down. It would make an easier trip that way. Faster too, belike.”

Jewel had never been on a ship before. She had no idea if it would be easier on her or not. But if it was safer and faster, she’d certainly be game to try. “I’m amiable to either plan. Whatever way works best.”

“It depends on what my father has heard. He’s got ears all over Evard, so he’s sure to have heard
something.
” Sarvell’s boots made crunching noises on the grass as he shifted his position. “Chizeld, hand me that sandwich. I suggest we eat quickly. If we push it, I think we can make Hawleywood by evening’s fall. Personally, I think we should avoid being out in the open like this until we know what’s going on in Belthain.”

~*~*~*~

Sarvell once again went ahead, entering the city alone as a scout. This time he felt far more confident about spotting the dangers. Hawleywood, after all, was basically his hometown. The family business had its base here and his parents had a house here.

As he entered the front gates, the guards there waved in recognition before letting him go through. He smiled and waved back, as if he were just returning on some errand or such. Then he went straight for the town center.

Hawleywood had always been a sort of trade hub between Thornock. Because it connected two major highways, a lot of traffic came through it, and with that traffic, a lot of information. Four large post-it boards were in the town square for this reason, where anyone and everyone could post information. If Thornock had posted a bounty on Jewel’s head, this would be the place to look.

As expected of the spring season, most merchants were already gathering up last-minute wares before putting together a trade convoy. As Sarvell rode through the main market roads, he could hear haggling all around him in practically every accent. He turned right, going up the slight hill to the main square. Almost instantly the smell of food washed over him. Despite the fact that he had eaten two hours ago, his stomach gave a petulant rumble.

Sarvell shook his head in disgust at himself. Had he really been gone from home so long that he’d forgotten that all of the good restaurants were on this street? Even if a man had a
full
belly, he’d be starving by the time he got to the other end of the road.

Clamping a hand over his nose, he tried to breathe through his mouth as much as possible. As much as his stomach complained, he couldn’t just sit down and have a four course meal here.

Despite his best efforts, he still felt like he had been starved for a year by the time he made it to the main boards. Clamping down on his impulses, he slung himself off the horse and tied it to a nearby hitching ring. This time of the day most people were out and about getting business done. Only a few men were intently perusing the information tacked to the boards.

It took time to really find anything on the boards just because only the most basic sense of organization existed. One board dealt with travel, another with goods, another for services, and the last for anything that didn’t fit in those categories. Sarvell started with the miscellaneous board as most bounties were posted there. If he didn’t see it there, he’d go to services next.

The flyers overlapped in crazy patterns, some of them so old that they had been rained on multiple times, which had made the ink run, so they were impossible to read. Sarvell had to shift some aside so he could read everything. Even with just scanning the headers he stood there for a good half hour before finding the right flyer.

Oh-ho. So they had indeed posted a bounty. A rather generous one, to boot. Sarvell quickly read through the description.
Small woman, eighteen years old with dark hair, blind. Taken by a Ramathan and a man with blond hair who was either Thornockian or Brynian. Woman to be treated with all care and brought directly back to Belthain.

Sarvell blinked at the description and read it through again. That was it? That’s all the information the bounty hunters had to go on? In that case, they might be able to walk through the front gates without pause. After all, with Chizeld and Bortonor added to their party they didn’t fit the description anymore. Especially here, where everyone knew him, they likely wouldn’t get more than a second glance.

Thank all the gods for small favors.

Sarvell didn’t expect this lull to last, as surely they would get a more accurate description out there, but for now they had a little leeway. They might as well take advantage of it while they could.