Kitrey, Watcher Lor of the Inland, nodded in agreement. “Would you like us to find the boy and bring him to you in Sol, Xenon?”
Xenon shook his head curtly. “No, I owe him and his companion a debt for the brother we lost in Sol.”
“But we’ve seen no sign of the Sleepwalker who was…”
“No one has,” Xenon interrupted. He turned to another brother in the quaere. “Did you see sign or track of the man coming down from Avisahn when you followed the boy’s trail?”
“No, Lor Xenon. It appeared to the very earth herself that the boy walked alone. There were no tracks from the gully to the campsight either. It’s a Warder trick, I think.”
Xenon nodded with satisfaction. “I do not know what powers he has, but the Sleepwalker is here, luring the boy into the Shoreland. It may take all three of our quaere’s strength to find and subdue them. The Sunedrion is insistent. We hunt them.”
The other glowing eyes narrowed with enthusiasm. Reaching to the pommels of their leaf-bladed short swords, they shared a communion of strength. Silvan magic welled up, making the grove glimmer with cool blue light. Xenon showed them his memories of the Sleepwalker and how he fought.
“He fights like us,” one of the brothers from Kitrey’s quaere murmured.
“No,” Kitrey answered. “But it is similar. It is the old way. Who would have wasted such teachings on a human though? What a loss in…years. He’ll be a withered leaf before long, Xenon. Then maybe you’ll be able to catch up with him.”
A murmur of laughter sung in the grove. Xenon smiled, sharing the savor of the joke through the magic’s bond. It was not a taunt against Xenon as it was against the human he had faced. He will not be so lucky when we next cross swords, he promised himself.
“Should we send a hawk to Nordain?” another brother asked. “He’s waiting word of Kil-Quickfellow’s arrest.”
Xenon shook his head no. “When we have the boy. When we have him.”
He kicked at the mound of stinking ashes and the lamps around the grove dimmed into blackness until only the pale threads of moonlight were visible. The Crimson Wolfsmen began to hunt again.
*
Thealos had never called a Shaefellow Pax on his own before, but he knew the ritual well enough from Correl that he was confident he could do it. He understood immediately why the Sleepwalker wanted him to call the Pax. It was the quickest and easiest way to call a truce between him and Allavin Devers. It struck Thealos as odd how Jaerod didn’t put himself in the forefront of things. He seemed to go out of his way to give Thealos the opportunity to lead and to be recognized for it. Regardless of his motives, Jaerod’s plan was a good one.
The warm blast of hearthfire air greeted Thealos as he entered the Catpaw from the rear doors. The humans called the Pax a ‘Truce Bargain.’ No weapons or magic permitted, only words. The results weren’t as decisive or glorious as a battlefield victory – at least not to the humans – but the Shae preferred to conclude matters with peace if possible. Under the authority of Vannier, the Pax were used to create long-lasting ties between barters, partnerships and covenants that neither side would dare break – human or Shae. Thealos remembered one human merchant in Dos-Aralon who had broken a Pax with Correl. Both Shae and human stopped trading with him, and before the year was out, the man was ruined.
As Thealos entered the common room, he stared out over the tense faces. Ticastasy watched him from the table, her head cocked, her eyes intense. Flent was engrossed in a game of Bones, but Justin had raised his head when Thealos re-entered the room.
“Is everything all right?” Talbin whispered on his left, his eyes darting to the table with Sturnin and Allavin.
“It will all be fine,” Thealos assured him. “Do you have a separate room in the back that is free?”
“Yes, do you need to use it?” When Thealos nodded, the innkeeper continued, “I’ll get you the key. Do what you need to do.”
Thealos stepped towards the table and called their attention to him. He swallowed, trying to remember all the words he was supposed to use. “As Thealos Quickfellow of Avisahn,” he said, “I am calling a Shaefellow Pax – a Truce Bargain.” As much as he didn’t want to pronounce himself in front of strangers – where he was certain Nordain would find out about it – he had to follow the proper initiation. “The Pax concerns what has brought us here thus far and the Rebellion against the kingdom of Dos-Aralon. If you wish to attend, you must leave your weapons with the innkeeper and follow me to another room. If not, it is by your own choice.” He gave Sturnin a level look. “Not even a dagger.”
Their eyes were fastened on him. Thealos scanned his companions, judging for a reaction. He went over to Justin and whispered to him in Silvan that Jaerod would be meeting them soon and to follow him. The Warder Shae nodded suspiciously and scooped up his robes, following Thealos back to where Talbin waited with a key.