His blindfold removed, the young man tied to the bench struggles in vain against his bonds. Preuse, the young deputy, goggles at those assembled around him in the tumbledown hovel that serves as a makeshift jail: Gareth, his lieutenant Bailent, Kane, Thragga and Khom-Bei. The youth swallows a minute and tries to look braver than he feels. "I won't talk! Torture me all you want, I won't say a word."
Thragga shrugs, pulls his knife, and steps forward, ready to oblige.
Khom-Bei says, "Thragga!"
Thragga looks glumly disappointed at Khom-Bei.
Kane says, "No, lad, torture is the way of your masters. If we want you to talk and you won't, then we just kill you."
Khom-Bei steps forward and places a hand on Thragga's arm, looking at the bound man casually, "If we want information from you, we have methods far more....persuasive...than torture."
Preuse blinks, hard. "Like what?"
Khom-Bei extends his hand toward the young man. Just as his fingertips are about to touch the man's flesh, he yells, "Boo!", and then bursts into laughter.
Preuse looks like he is about to wet himself.
Khom-Bei says, "You can tell us what we wish to know, or find out for yourself."
Kane walks over to Pruese and squats down, "Now, lad, why do you want to follow the bloodsuckers? What good have they ever done the rest of us?"
Preuse says, "What...what are you talking about?"
Kane says, "I mean, what have the Vorghol ever done but bring people like you and me pain? Can you tell me that you or your kin been spared their wrath?"
Preuse looks away. "I..have a duty."
Kane says, "To who? See these men around you?". Kane waves his hand at the assembled group. "Each one has a duty to protect Reith from the Vorghol. They are the real enemies. Not a person in this camp hasn't had their lives ravaged by the blood lust and cruelty of the Vorghol. Still though, they care enough for their fellow men to risk their lives to stand up to your dead masters."
Preuse looks at Kane. "You're mad! Our enemies are the Ress and Angharans! They've come into our land twice and tried to take what is ours. The Vorghol keep us safe." He adds, "If you untie me, I will let you all go free and not say a word to the Reeve about tonight."
Gareth and Bailent exchange a chuckle of derision.
Kane says, "At least the Ress and Angharans are living men. You wander around and give hero worship to bloodsucking corpses. They are the usurpers. They are the enemy of all true men."
Gareth says, "Kane, don't waste your time with the likes of this one." He tells Preuse, "Boy, don't make me unleash the Northerling on you. What we want to know is, what are the Reeve's plans?"
Kane stands to take his leave and says to the young man, "Let me know if you decide you are a true man," then turns towards his companions.
Preuse looks at Khom-Bei, clearly terrified. Sweat beads on his forehead, even in the chill air.
Kane turns to Gareth and says, "Well, we know the Reeve's plans for this night. We should move with all haste."
Khom-Bei strides slowly toward the young man, a twisted smile on his face, "We asked you nicely, now we ask not-so-nicely....."
Preuse spits out, before Khom-Bei can get there, "...to hunt you down! He's taking orders direct from the Tower! The Lady Naylah, she says that outlaws in her region are an embarassment, and the Reeve won't receive the Rite unless you're all eliminated! She put Niko on the case, so you know it's serious! She gave Morgon a big chest of dragons to hire enough swords to get the job done once and for all."
Thragga grins at Khom-Bei.
Khom-Bei frowns and looks to Gareth, "Do you believe him?"
Preuse says, "Please, untie me, they're probably on their way here now to kill every one of you. I can speak for you, tell them you showed me mercy and let me go, and talk them out of chasing you..."
Kane says, "Do you really think they will let you live after being captured?"
Thragga growls, "You would speak for us? You? Let me kill this one, Kane, just this once."
Kane looks like he is thinking, then says, "This one is already dead and doesn't know it. The bloodsuckers don't take kindly to failure."
Khom-Bei laughs loudly, "Tell him, Kane, tell him that we don't want them to stop chasing us. We like it when they come after us, it makes it easier than having to go find them and kill them."
Kane says, "I think we should leave him here for the Inghol to sniff out. Let him see how his masters appreciate his loyal service."
Gareth says, "I believe him. Khom-Bei scared him too badly for him to lie. Very well. Bailent, as Kane says, tie him a tree and leave him for his masters. We will be long gone by the time he is found."
The archer Bailent, a heavy set short fellow, nods to his chief. "As you command, Captain!" He seizes the deputy by the tunic and hauls him out.
The second bound and blindfolded prisoner is brought in by a second outlaw. Thragga undoes his blindfold, and the old farmer, Llurgan, blinks in the sudden glare. He looks sallow and dizzy from all the rough treatment.
Llurgan says, "I'm ready for my torture."
Khom-Bei shakes his head, "There was no torture before, and there will be none now, grandfather."
Thragga says, "Not even a little?"
Khom-Bei glares at Thragga.
Kane looks annoyed to see the old man has been roughed up. "Sorry for the rough treatment, Llurgan. May I ask, why are you loyal to the Vorghol?"
Llurgan says, "Why? Why do the moons travel the sky, Tom? Who else would I be loyal to? I'm Nedri, as are you!"
Kane says, "How about loyalty to your own people, for starters? The Vorghol are our oppressors. How about being loyal to the old ways, to the Flame?"
Llurgan says, sadly, "From what I hear, the Flame went out a long time ago."
Khom-Bei looks up to Gareth, "Could we get someone to show our guest that the Flame has never gone out?"
Kane says, "You hear wrong. The Flame lives in the hearts and minds of all true Tol Nedrans, it always has. And just maybe it still burns elsewhere."
Llurgan looks from Khom-Bei to Kane. "I--don't know who you are or what you want..."
Gareth watches the old man in stony silence.
Kane says, "We want nothing more or less then to free our people and rid us of the Vorghol scum."
Llurgan shakes his head. "A fool's errand, lad..."
Kane says, "Fools maybe, but slaves never. Think on that, old-timer.""
Gareth shakes his head firmly. "I used to serve the Beast, in what seems like a lifetime ago. We all must choose what we will be. We'll give you the same choice we give all prisoners, old man. Your deputy already made his choice. Ride with us a while, see what we are, and then go your way. Or go your own way, now."
Llurgan thinks a moment. "I'd like something to eat, young man. And.. to ride with you a time."
Gareth nods to Kane, who surely went through the same ordeal at the hands of Elianel's late father once, and made the same choice.
Khom-Bei cuts the old man's bonds, and extends his hand. "Come with me, grandfather, I'll get you something to eat and see if we can find you a horse to ride."
Llurgan takes Khom-Bei's hand and rises unsteadily. "Very well, I will." He rises, uncertainly, scratching his beard. "What a night this is turning out to be..."
Khom-Bei says, "And maybe we can take a look for that Flame you seem to think has gone out."
Khom-Bei escorts the old man out in search of food.
Llurgan looks puzzled, but says nothing.
Kane shakes his head, "Well I guess one out of two isn't all that bad."
Thragga says, "I still think you should have let me rough him up. I don't like his looks."
Gareth says, "I think we made the right choice."
Just outside the tumbledown hovel is a wain being loaded with supplies. Hobb, the former innkeeper from Camars, is attaching tack and bridle to a pair of old mules at the front when Khom-Bei emerges from the hovel. He's whistling happily as he does so.
Khom-Bei calls out to the ex-inkeep, "Hobb, old friend, how are you?"
"Well, if it isn't Khom-Bei!" Hobb exclaims. "And your companions as well," he adds, as Kane and Thragga emerge. He's an older man, looking more tanned than he did when he lived under the shroud. The physical labor seems to agree with him. "My boy told me you were in camp! And it's so good to see you." He hurries to the back of the wain. "I've a small present for you lads..."
With a flourish, Hobb offers Khom-Bei a flagon of Mazirine Red, of fine vintage by the looks of it, from the reign of Lucard's predecessor. A rare and precious commodity in these parts. "It's not much, but we never got a chance to thank you proper for saving us. "
Khom-Bei takes the wine and looks at the bottle closely, "A rare and thoughtful gift, my friend."
Kane says, "How do you and your family fare here, Hobb?"
Hobb says, "We're well, my friend, well indeed. I used t'be a drover in the old days, and now...well, it's back to that life for me, beats working an inn by a long shot. No drunks to throw out, only the mules to deal wtih. And the children have a family around them now. My daughter, Salena, well, you know she worked as a midwife, and she's helping Tammet with bearing her child...that's not been easy. Now if only Tyrin would stay out of trouble..." he grins, chuckling.
Thragga rumbles, "We will make sure he does...won't we?"
Khom-Bei says, "If I could ask you to slip your innkeeper's hat back on for a moment, Hobb, I have a hungry man here looking for a bite to eat."
Hobb nods. "Of course, of course! The Refuge is here to help. Just so happens I'm loading something he might like on the wagon, here." He takes Llurgan's arm and engages him, then offers him some bread and cheese. You watch the two men chat for a bit when Elianel walks up behind Kane. She says, quietly, "Kane...there's a matter I need your assistance with."
Kane looks at Elianel for a moment then says, "Ah...of course lead on."
Khom-Bei nods to Elianel and Kane and wanders over to where Hobb and Llurgan are chatting.
Thragga volunteers, "We'll come too!"
Elianel holds up a hand. "Kane will be sufficient, Thragga..." She leads Kane across camp, speaking earnestly with him. She seems rather nervous about something.
Elianel leads Kane to a tall tent in the center of the camp, near a wagon that is nearly loaded. She indicates a chest of some kind, not too large or heavy, and says, lamely, "It's too heavy for me to pick up..."
Kane looks a bit skeptical, but stoops down to pick up the chest. "Where would you have me bring it, my lady of the Refuge?"
As Kane stoops to lift the chest, Elianel says, "You must hate me, Raen."
Kane says, "I can't honestly say I'm too thrilled with anyone at this moment, especially myself."
Elianel says, "Yourself? Why would you feel thus?"
Kane straightens up and says, ""I count it as a folly of youth, but I should have known better that night. I should have thought of the consequences. Elianel, why didn't you tell me?"
Elianel is quiet a long time. Then she says, "Look at us. Look at where we are. Would you have been happy here? You're Kane now, not Raen anymore. The Vorghol slayer. If you knew about Ronan, then you'd want to be around him." She pauses. "Father thought we should send word to you, but I begged him not to."
Kane snaps, "I would have like to have had a choice. I would like to think that I would have chosen the right course."
Khom-Bei sits next to Hobb and Llurgan and picks at a bit of cheese, "Hobb, do you still carry the token that I gave you back near Camars?"
Hobb pats his pockets. "Of course, Khom-Bei, of course! It's right here somewhere...wait a moment...I just had it the other day..." He can't seem to find it. "I'd swear it was just here...I just had it! Dula, have you seen the token that Khom-Bei gave me?"
Hobb's younger daughter, a dark-haired girl of twelve summers, says from atop the wain, "I saw Tyrin playing with it, Father...he said you told him he could have it."
Hobb looks towards Khom-Bei, angry. "That boy..."
Khom-Bei pats Hobb on the shoulder, "It's all right, friend, if the boy has it, he can keep it until we meet again. It once belonged to a friend and I hoped to pass it along to his daughter."
Hobb shakes his head. "I'll find it for you, Khom-Bei, and when I do, that boy will get the back of my hand!"
Khom-Bei shakes his head and smiles, "Never mind that trinket. Could you do me a favor and keep an eye on Llurgan on the trip, Hobb? I'm afraid that Kane and Thragga and I won't be making the trip. Other places to be, you understand?"
Thragga says, "But what if there's trouble?"
Khom-Bei says, "Like what, Thragga? I'm sure Hobb won't be the only one keeping an eye out for our new friend."
Thragga shrugs. At that moment, Tyrin goes running past the wain, calling to Bran behind him, "Ha! Can't catch me!"
Thragga simply steps forward, into the boy's path, and Tyrin rebounds off the Urag's shins and lands in the mud before Khom-Bei. The boy looks up in terror, his game interrupted. Thragga folds his arms and glowers at the boy.
A smile on his face, Khom-bei extends a hand to help the boy up, "Your sister says that you have something that belongs to me, Tyrin."
Tyrin looks around. "What? I don't have anything..."
Dula rolls her eyes at her brother's poor evasion.
Khom-Bei straightens up and looks sternly at the boy, "You wouldn't want to try and hide it from me, would you? I gave it to your father so I could find you. Do you think that I couldn't spot it from across the camp if I chose to?"
Tyrin gulps. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the token Khom-Bei got from Taggart.
Khom-Bei takes the trinket and puts it into his belt pouch, "Thank you, Tyrin. I know that it meant something to you, but it belonged to a friend of mine who fell to the Dark Ones. I'm giving it to his daughter to remember him by." He squats down to look Tyrin level in the eyes, "You understand, don't you? You'd want to remember your father if he was gone, wouldn't you?"
Tyrin swallows. He is going to offer some dumb excuse, but doesn't.
Hobb looks like he'd like to swat the boy. "You little filch! I've told you a hundred times, Tyrin, don't take what's not yours!"
The boy nods. "Yes, Khom-Bei. I understand."
Khom-Bei waves off the boy's father, "It's okay, Tyrin, you couldn't have known before I told you."
The boy is all serious now. He wipes mud from his face. "Is his daughter a Hunter like you?"
Khom-Bei smiles, "He was the one who taught me the ways of the Hunters and she is my Captain now."
Hobb's other daughter, Salena. approaches the scene, she's a slight blond girl of sixteen summers. She beams happily at Khom-Bei and Thragga. Next to her is a very pregnant Tobon, who is walking carefully and a bit breathlessly. "Is Tyrin in trouble again, Khom-Bei?" Salena asks, warmly.
Khom-Bei stands and smiles, "Tyrin is not in trouble, Salena, we were just discussing an old friend of mine."
Elianel says, "As I said, you must hate me. I have no right to expect aught of you."
Kane says, "If not for Gareth, the boy would have no father. Elianel, I see in Gareth the life I could have had and it tears my heart out. To know I have a son and he calls another man father. To have to look on my own flesh and blood and know I have to play this silly charade."
Elianel places her hands on Kane's cheeks. Her eyes are moist. "I am so sorry, Raen. Ronan is everything his father is, and more." She turns away. "Gareth is a good man. He came to us four summers past...we were near the Westwall then. He had his brother Bran with him...the two of them on the run from the Beast. He soldiered for the Vorghol, you see, until Bran was offered as a blood tithe. Gareth had enough of blood, and Bran is so innocent, as you've seen."
Kane shrugs, "I can see that. I never truly thought you would wait for me, but I hoped. I am glad you found a man like him, and I am glad that Ronan has a man like him for his foster father." He turns and takes Elianel by the arms, looking into her eyes he says, "I don't hate you, Eli, I could never do that. You are still there in my heart. I know it is too late for me to have the things I speak of. I am too much the Hunter now. My life has been given to the cause and there is no turning back. I truly envy what you and Gareth have, but I also know it is not my lot in life. So...I am happy for you two and I will always cherish this glimpse of what might have been. The boy has a good father and you a good husband. I am glad of these things."
She gazes back at Kane, and there is a moment there, of memories from eight years ago. She is silent, speaking volumes with her eyes...then breaks from his grasp. "We both have our duties, then." she says, morosely.
Kane takes one last glimpse of Eli. "Yes we do." And to himself Kane adds, "Some of us, that is all we have." Then he lifts the chest and strides away.
Kane walks past , bearing a small chest, heading for the wagon. He doesn't look too happy at the moment.
Khom-Bei glances briefly at Kane and tries not to smile.
Salena continues, "Of course not!" She introduces you to the Tobon at her side. "Tammet, this is Khom-Bei, Thragga, and Kane, who helped us get here." She tells you, "Tammet is due any day and should be resting in a wagon by now."
The dark-haired Tobon offers a stiff bow, her swollen belly impeding her movements, and a smile. "You're heroes!" she says.
Khom-Bei laughs and points to Thragga, "Thragga and Kane are the heroes, I'm just the one who patches them up between fights."
Thragga says, "It's true. We are heroes. Although I am more of a hero than Kane."
Kane doesn't even flinch as he throws the chest onto the wagon.
Salena grins. She offers her hand to Tammet. "Come on, you need to rest." She's very maternal in her care. The two ladies make their way slowly past.
Hobb finishes loading the wagon full of crates, and he and Llurgan climb up into it. Dula drops into the seat beside her father. Hobb clicks to the mules, pulls on the traces, and tells Khom-Bei, "We'll speak again afore you leave us, I'm sure!" as the wain pulls out.
Khom-Bei waves to the departing group.
Gareth and Bailent stands beside Khom-Bei as the wagon departs, slowly. Gareth says, "About that..."
Khom-Bei turns to face Gareth, "I'm sure you'll be able to keep track of a wounded old man in the middle of your ranks, no?"
Gareth sets his hand on his sword hilt. "I'm sure. But we could use a few outriders to help us scout the way south of here. Moving all these folk is never easy, and we're down a few men from the last raid. I can't pay you, of course...all we can offer is supplies and a place to sleep." He adds, "It'd just be for a few days, till we clear the Hardstone Hills. Then the way south is clear. This far from the Shroud, we can evade the Vorghol till we strike the River."
Tyrin looks up, excitedly. "Yes! Outriders! I'll help you!"
Khom-Bei looks at his feet and frowns, "We're already late for a meeting commanded by our Captain. I think that you should ask Kane more than me."
Kane stalks up to Gareth and says, "My offer of the Tower still stands. We will be your outriders."
Gareth nods. "I'll consider your offer of the Tower, Kane. We have a camp near the River that we use during the winter...but perhaps our folk would winter somewhere more secure, this time. And thank you."
Tyrin shouts, "Yesss!"
Kane nods, then stalks away.
Thragga mutters to Khom-Bei, "What got up his butt?"
Khom-Bei continues to look at the ground where he pushes a small rock around with his boot-toe, "I don't know, Thragga, but Verraine will not be happy that we are late."
Thragga shrugs. "At least the food is good."
Kane looks back, and snaps at his companions, "Stop lounging around, and get ready to ride!". Then he strides away.
Khom-Bei looks up at Thragga, eyebrows raised in question, and then at Kane's back as he storms off, before looking back to Thragga, "This is going to be a fun trip."
Hours later, after the sun has risen on the late fall day, dispelling some of the night chil, that you find yourselves out before the main convoy, which has set out on a southerly path, winding through the deep woodlands around Idris. The Hardstone Hills are well-named, a group of sloping ridges protruding sharply from the land, that give good cover to the Refuge as it travels. The late afternoon sun is now lowering into the western sky.
Thragga, Kane and Khom-Bei now look down from one of the hills, towards a steep defile, where an old wooden bridge spans the gap. There is a stand of poplars near the bridge.
Thragga points. "Do you see them?" he says.
Kane looks dismayed, "Where, what do you see?"
Khom-Bei says, "What? The trees? All I see are trees."
Thragga points again. "Wait for it."
There is a flash of sunlight on metal, and, looking closer, you can see three men hiding, not well, behind the bole of a fallen tree. They look familiar from last night, from the posse. The three must have been stood as sentries to this bridge.
Kane scowls, then loosens his sword in his scabbard. "This is definitely not their lucky day."
Khom-Bei looks at Kane, then Thragga, then back to Kane, "Well, which one of you 'heroes' wants to handle them?"
Thragga asks, sarcasm lost on him, "You're not scared, are you?" He unslings his axe from his shoulder.
Khom-Bei says, "I'm saving myself for the big fights."
At that Kane spurs his horse and says "Follow me."
Khom-Bei kicks his pony to a gallop and follows Kane.