Outcasts of Velrune (5 page)

“I thought she would at least come and say goodbye.”

Tyco nodded his head. “Good. It’s just as well that she didn’t.”

Max looked oddly at Tyco. “What do you mean by that?”

“You’ll see soon enough. Besides, it’s time we got moving.”

Tyco nudged Teak with his heels.

“But…”

Mr. Penna smiled. “Do not worry about it, Maxwell. Tyco likes things neat and orderly. We both know that is not exactly Evangeline’s style.”

Mr. Penna followed Tyco. Max didn’t feel that’s what Tyco meant, but he wasn’t going to contradict Mr. Penna. Instead he leaned forward in the saddle, preparing to follow the others, when he heard someone call his name from behind. Turning, he saw Eve running up the street towards them.

“Hey, Maxy! Wait up!”

Max turned Starlight around, a smile forming on his lips as he also saw Mrs. Tassi running a good distance behind Eve. Max laughed at the sight. He had yet to meet anyone who could keep up with Eve when she was in a hurry. Eve reached Max in no time, not even winded by the run.

“What’s the big idea, trying to leave before I could get here?”

Max felt a little ashamed that he had thought she wouldn’t come and say goodbye. “I thought you might have had more important things to do than to see me off.”

Eve grinned slyly. “You bet I did, but then I figured as helpless as you are there was no telling whether you’d ever make it back alive or not. So, I figured I had better get my last goodbye in while I had a chance.”

Tyco and Mr. Penna had heard the commotion and came up behind Max. Mr. Penna nodded at the bedroll and backpack Eve had slung behind her.

“Good morning, Miss Evangeline. I see you have decided to come along with us after all.”

“Yep!”

Max had not expected that. He had missed the backpack when she arrived. He only knew that last night she certainly did not want to go. Now he was confused, which happened a lot around Eve.

“I thought you only came to see us off.”

Eve swung the backpack down to the ground. “You really aren’t very observant, are you? Worse yet, it’s not even dark this time.”

Max’s face flushed red. “Now wait…” but before he could finish Mrs. Tassi arrived, somewhat out of breath. Tyco used the opening to speak.

“I’m glad you could make it in time to say goodbye, Evangeline. Unfortunately, I’m sorry to say, you won’t be able to go with us since the only horses Hektor has left need to stay here for the villagers.”

Eve shrugged, unconcerned. “That’s okay, Tyco. I can walk.”

Tyco snorted. “Walk! It’s over a week’s time, even by horseback, to the capital.”

Eve got annoyed. “Unless you plan on riding full out the whole way, I’ll have no trouble keeping up.”

Mr. Penna broke in before things could go further. “I’m sure you can, Evangeline. Besides, you can ride with Maxwell for at least part of the trip. Starlight will hardly notice the difference.”

Eve perked back up. “That sounds great, Mr. Penna.” Eve narrowed her eyes at Max. “At least
someone
doesn’t think I weigh too much.”

Max threw his arms up. “You were crouched on my chest!”

Having finally caught her breath, Mrs. Tassi said. “Well, now that that’s settled, you’d best be on your way.”

Behind them Tyco turned Teak back around and start off again, but not before Max saw the agitation in his face. He wondered why it bothered Tyco so much that Eve decided to join them.

Oh well
,
maybe he’s just grumpy in the mornings. I know I prefer to sleep in.

Max reached down and helped Eve up behind him. She squeezed tight against his back, surprising him. Usually she left a little space between them, but that was without the packs strapped on Starlight. Max felt a little awkward and caught a funny grin on Mrs. Tassi’s face. He looked away and she cleared her throat.

“Well, now that you two are comfy, I brought a little of my cooking for you.”

She reached into the basket she had been carrying and brought out a cloth bundle. Max took the bundle and passed it under his nose.

“They’re biscuits I made this morning. Since they’re fresh, they’ll be good until you reach Moenia. Be sure to save them until you get close. Trust me, after a few days of those travel rations you’ll be ready for some of my biscuits.”

“Okay, Mrs. Tassi, we’ll wait. Thank you.”

Max put the bundle in one of the side packs fastened to Starlight.

“You’d better. Now,” Mrs. Tassi held out her hand, “that will be one silver piece.”

Max jerked straight which caused him to bump Eve who shoved him back. “A silver piece?”

Mrs. Tassi stifled a laugh and did her best to act serious. “You didn’t think those were free, did you? I do run a cafe, after all. Can’t just be giving food away.”

Max’s shoulders sagged. “But a whole silver piece. Don’t you think that’s a bit much?”

“Just think of it as back pay for all the food you’ve helped yourself to over the years. With you taking off across the dead lands, who knows when I’d ever get my due.”

“But…”

By this time, Mr. Penna had begun to laugh so heartily he needed to grab his saddle horn to keep from falling off the horse. “Just pay her, Maxwell. You are not going to win against Mrs. Tassi.”

Max knew Mr. Penna was right. He gave in and dug one of the few silver coins he had out of his pocket.

“Okay, here you go.”

“Thank you, Max.” Mrs. Tassi took the coin and put it in her apron pocket. “Oh, I almost forgot.” She reached back in the basket and pulled out a smaller bundle. “This is for you, Eve.”

Eve reached down and took the bundle from Mrs. Tassi. She peeped under the wrappings and giggled a moment before a more contemplative look appeared. “Thank you, Mother.”

Mrs. Tassi smiled brightly at Eve. “You’re welcome.”

Max tried to turn around to face Eve but with her so close behind him he couldn’t. “What is it? When did you start calling Mrs. Tassi Mother?”

Eve put the bundle in her pocket. “It’s none of your business. Let’s get going.”

Eve kicked her heels into Starlight, who jolted forward at a fast trot. Max quickly faced forward to steady himself, but shouted back at Eve.

“I’m starting to think it was a mistake asking you along.”

Eve laughed merrily. “And just think, it’s only the first day.”

Max shook his head as he got Starlight to slow down. His thoughts swirled around the adventure ahead while Eve strained to hear the conversation between Mr. Penna and Mrs. Tassi back at the stable.

“Do not worry, Mrs. Tassi. I will wait as long as possible to tell him about Evangeline’s papers. He won’t like it at first, but I think he will understand soon enough. He is much like his father.”

“Thank you, Mr. Penna.”

Mr. Penna chuckled. “I will say, you are a sly one, Mrs. Tassi. It is no wonder why that girl gives Maxwell so much trouble. She is your daughter through and through, adopted or not.”

“I’ve done all I can for her. She’s on her own now.”

“Not if Maxwell becomes…”

Starlight carried Eve out of hearing distance, but that was fine. She had heard enough. Both Mr. Penna and her mother had faith in Max. She had to trust them that things would turn out okay. Eve, though she had no fear of falling, wrapped her arms around Max.

CHAPTER FIVE

Tyco kept them at an easy pace as they left Swiftwater. To the west of them loomed the dead lands, beyond which lay Moenia, the capital and their eventual destination. To the north and east stretched open plains in which Max and Eve had spent most of their childhood riding and playing. The safest way to cross the dead lands lay towards the north at the Clanrye River.

Max grew excited at the thought of seeing the river and everything that lay beyond. Starlight picked up on Max’s excitement and began to trot. They had not gone far before hearing a shout from Tyco.

“Slow it down a little there, Max.”

Max pulled back on Starlight’s reins. “Whoa!” Max turned to look back at Tyco. “Sorry, guess Starlight is a little excited.”

Eve giggled. “Yeah, it’s all Starlight’s fault. I’m sure she’s very excited to go and see the capital.”

Max turned to look over his shoulder. “You know, you could be walking right now.”

Eve smiled. “Yep, and I’d probably get there quicker.”

Tyco and Mr. Penna caught back up to Max. They now rode three abreast. Tyco eyed Starlight.

“Starlight’s a fine horse, but she’ll need that energy for crossing the dead lands. It is not a path you mosey along on, enjoying the scenery as you go.”

“But don’t the Protectors have camps along the path?”

“They do, but they are spaced far enough apart that you need to keep moving from first light till dusk in order to make it from one to the next. Otherwise, you’ll be caught out in the dark between camps. Nighttime in the dead lands is a very unpleasant experience.”

“What about those who don’t have horses?”

“If you absolutely have to travel by foot, then you do so in large, well-armed groups. However, Protectors provide horses for rent on both sides of the dead lands.”

Eve let out a snicker. “Well isn’t that nice of them. Let me guess, you have to pay a fee at each of the camps along the way as well.”

“It helps pay for the cost of having members of the Protectors stationed at the camps.” Tyco nudged Teak a little ahead of the others.

Eve snorted in disgust. Max elbowed her and spoke up so Tyco could still hear him. “Makes sense to me. It’s like paying to stay at an inn.”

Max could feel the cold stare from Eve. “I suppose, as long as it’s a fair price.”

To ease the tension, Max had Starlight slow a bit until they were several lengths behind Tyco and Mr. Penna where he began telling Eve what he thought they might see on their trip. She held silent at first, but soon joined with her own ideas.

In the early evening when they stopped to make camp. Not long after everyone had dismounted, Mr. Penna called out to Eve.

“Evangeline, can you come over here and give me a hand please?”

“Yep!”

Eve walked over to Mr. Penna, who had stopped a little short of the others. He leaned over and whispered something to her before she began to help him unpack. That surprised Max. Usually he had to do the grunt work. He shrugged his shoulders and went to work unpacking his own things.

What are they up to?

Max finished unpacking about the time Eve and Mr. Penna, with the mare in tow, rejoined the rest of them. Mr. Penna tethered his mare to Teak and left them and Starlight to graze. Tyco and Max had no fear of them running away; both had long since proven dedicated to their masters.

Everyone sat down together in a circle to enjoy a meal of dried meat and fruit before the sun set. By the time they finished, the stars and moon had appeared in the clear night sky giving them light to see by. As they enjoyed the cool night, Max watched Eve take out the small bundle Mrs. Tassi had given her. She carefully unwrapped it, revealing a wedge of cheese. Max’s eyebrows furrowed.

“I didn’t think you liked cheese, Eve?”

“I don’t,” Eve gave her usual mischievous grin, “but it’s not for me.”

“Then who?”

Eve reached into her shirt pocket and pulled out a brown and white mouse. With an expression that dared Max to say something, she placed the furry little thing on the ground in front of her.

Max sat in complete disbelief. He watched Eve as she broke off a piece of the cheese and held it out in front of the mouse. It took the cheese immediately and started to nibbling. Eve lay down on her stomach, propped her head up in her hands and watched her new friend eat. Max shook his head. At times he really did think she was crazy.

“I’m not sure which I’m having a harder time believing: that you brought that thing with you or that Mrs. Tassi actually gave you cheese to feed it.”

Mr. Penna, who sat next to Max, watched Eve and her mouse as well. He let out a soft chuckle.

“Despite her fussing, Mrs. Tassi has quite a soft spot for all creatures of Velrune, though I doubt it was for the mouse in this case.” Mr. Penna broke out into a hardy laugh. “People, on the other hand, should be wary of her.”

Max sighed. “Well, I guess if the little guy is coming with us we might as well give him his share.”

Max reached into his saddle pack and brought out a piece of bread. He broke off a corner and tossed it over to the mouse. The crumb barely touched the ground before the mouse snatched it, ran over to Eve and hopped back into her shirt pocket.

Eve giggled and looked over at Max with a twinkle in her eye. She gave him an odd smile that he had not seen before.

“Thanks Maxy.”

Max tried to figure out the her expression and only half paid attention as she continued.

“Oh, and, by the way, her name is Spook.”

Still confused, Max jumped when Tyco interrupted them. “I think it’s about time we got to sleep. After tomorrow, we have a lot of hard riding ahead of us. We’ll need all the rest we can get.”