Allavin rested his bow in his lap and rubbed his thumb along the riser. “Jaerod just finished explaining to me about the Sorian I met in the Shadows Wood. The one that killed the Shae scouts I was with. The one I thought was a Sleepwalker.”
Jaerod gave Allavin a reassuring nod and joined the story. “The Sorian were part of the original religious order when the Shae first came to this world. My order have been taught and trained by the Shae to counter and oppose their work. I must tell the rest in the king’s common, Warder. They do not yet understand the enemies we are up against.”
Jaerod called Flent and Ticastasy over to join them. The knight was cleaning his blade with an oilcloth, but he listened as the Sleepwalker spoke. “The Kiran Thall are fleeing, but some will flee to the army to warn them. That is unfortunate, but it doesn’t change my plans. I was intending to go through the middle of their camp, not the edges, anyway.”
“Why go through the middle?” Ticastasy asked, confused.
“It’s the thinnest part of the line,” Jaerod replied. “I scouted to the east and west to see if there was a good point where we could slip through. If we tried to go around either side of the regiment, it would take days. And we do not have that long. The narrowest point, the least defended, is the center. Because no one would be so foolish to do what we will do.”
Sturnin Goff shrugged. “What about the sentries? I’m sure there are Kiran Thall watching the road.”
“I know where they are,” Jaerod answered. “Allavin and I will deal with them. The Bandit officers will be watching for us to slip around the army. They do not realize our goal or our intentions. The command pavilions in the center are their most vulnerable point. Before we continue south, I wanted to tell you more about the dangers we face in the Shadows Wood. Specifically, the dangers of the Sorian.”
Thealos looked at Ticastasy and Flent and saw the somberness in their eyes. Jaerod continued. “The Sorian order has lived on this world for thousands of years. Since before the Shae came. They do not age – at least not noticeably – and they rarely die. This medallion I wear is of the order of Safehome. My work is to oppose the Sorian wherever I can. Their intentions have proven throughout history to be…very destructive. I am not the only one who wears this medallion, but there are only a few of us left, and many who were taught no longer remember why the order was founded. They use the skills and training for their own ends. You know them as Sleepwalkers, and so we share a reputation, not a cause. Let me explain what I told Allavin earlier. The Sorian involve themselves in the affairs of kingdoms and generals. They seek to control and manipulate crowns and principalities to increase their power.” He looked at them seriously. “They do not do this directly themselves, but manipulate through others. As I mentioned, it was a Sorian who took a small trading nation and turned it into Sol don Orai. It was a Sorian who founded the Druid priesthood of Parath-Anatos. There is a Sorian who advises the Emperor of the Shieldlands to the north. And there is a Sorian who created the East Kingdoms.”
“Why?” Sturnin asked. “If they are so powerful, why bother with underlings? I’ve never even heard the name before.”
“You’re from Owen Draw, Sturnin. You’ve heard of the Witch of the Vale, haven’t you?” Sturnin nodded, understanding. “Rulers come and go, humans age and die – but the Sorian can only be killed by their own kind. The reason they don’t become the kings and emperors is because of the attention they would get. They don’t fear man or Shae, but facing an army would be foolhardy and come at great cost to their powers. In such a weakened condition, they can fall prey to other Sorian. It’s a game they play amongst themselves. And empires have fallen because of it. My order has battled their influence since the beginning. And many of us have died for opposing them. The founders of my order were Shae.” Thealos stared at him in disbelief. “But they trained those who were willing and prepared to carry on the fight. Some Drugaen were taught. Humans were also. My grandfather, father, and uncle were all part of this order. We have a deep respect for the ways of the Shae. But the Shae no longer involve themselves in the struggle as they once did. They have turned within themselves. They have forgotten why they came here.”
Jaerod paused, looking from Thealos to each of them. “I have never taken the life of a Shae. This is how I convinced Allavin that I could be trusted. This is why he is choosing to come with us to Landmoor.”
Allavin nodded. “Tell them the rest, Jaerod.”
“What else?” Thealos demanded.
The Sleepwalker looked at them and sighed. “When I visited the Bandit camp earlier today, I discovered a Sorian there. Maybe there is another guarding the Everoot, too. What I mean to say is crossing the army will be more difficult than I first thought.”
*