“Oh.”
Exeres shrugged. “I don’t deserve the acclaim. It was the will of the Druids that led me to you both. I have no doubt of that. It pleases me to see you both safe. I thought…I thought I wouldn’t make it in time to stop him.” He nodded towards the trussed-up Warder.
Flent scratched his head. “Well, that’s good enough for me, I guess. Neither of us speak Silvan, and Justin…or Ravin as it turns out…speaks only a little Drugaen that I could understand. He said he sensed some dark magic coming our way and he was trying to lead us to a safe place. Thought it a little odd that he wanted us to leave the knights…pretty banned safe place to be if you asked me.”
Ticastasy smiled and put her arm around his neck. “Don’t feel bad, Flent.”
“What happened?” Allavin asked, glancing back to their prisoner.
“I’m a little hazy on that part,” Flent said. “You tell it, Stasy.”
She stuffed her thumbs in her belt. “It didn’t feel right to me. My memories of him aren’t that kind. He was always apart from the rest of us. Always scolding Quickfellow for something or other…”
“He liked playing Bones with me,” Flent said defensively.
“I think he suffered playing Bones, Flent. Acted kind of spoiled. Too good for us…like Quickfellow did before we tamed him.” She gave him a wink. “So here he tries to tell us to leave, that it’s not safe in the camp anymore. When we made it about that far, right over there, he did something. I saw his eyes start to glow and suddenly Flent dropped to the ground.” She held up her hands.
“What happened then?” Thealos said, frustrated and knowing that she was building up the tension on purpose to liven up the story.
“I gave him a good thrashing, like any self-respecting serving girl from Sol would do. He thought Flent was the bully, not me. I knocked down a Kiran Thall in Landmoor. He dropped even faster. So I trussed him up, then dragged Flent over here. Took a little while to rouse this big guy—you know how deep he can snore. I don’t have to remind you of that, do I?”
“You are a clever girl,” Thealos said, smiling at her with approval.
She blushed again and shrugged, seeming pleased with herself.
“He’s moving,” Allavin said, stepping back and drawing the arrow back.
Thealos went around to face him and Exeres nodded and stood by his feet. Flent hefted the branch he had grabbed as a cudgel. Ticastasy folded her arms.
“Ravin,” Thealos said, calling to him. “If you can hear me, try and nod your head.”
Justin nodded once, squinting, his brows creased into wrinkles of pain.
“I’m going to loosen the gag. If I sense that you try and summon the Earth magic, any of it, then I will kill you myself. Do you understand?”
Again, a quick nod.
Thealos reached around his neck and untied the makeshift gag that was a tear from the hem of his robes. He let his senses roam free, feeling every mote of magic in the area. Justin gave off a normal smell, the smell of a Shae but with a little mar…a hint of something vile. Taint.
“Don’t kill me,” Justin whispered in Silvan, his voice choking with emotion. “I’m free of her at last, don’t kill me.”
“What did he say?” Exeres asked. “I don’t speak that tongue.”
Allavin answered. “Says he’s free of her.”
Justin craned his neck, staring back at the people behind him. His eyes looked wild, fearful for a moment. Then he buried his chin against his chest and huge sobs started choking his body.
Thealos stared at him in awe, feeling a twinge of compassion rise up in his own throat. He gripped Justin’s shoulder, trying to feel inside of him for the taint of darkness. It was there, but it did not permeate him, not like the smell of a Sorian.
“Cut him loose,” Thealos said to Stasy.
She hesitated, her eyes searching his as if to say, Are you sure, Quickfellow?
“Cut him loose.”
She slipped her dagger out and freed the bonds around his ankles and wrists.
Thealos stared at him, mixed feelings battling in his chest. Exeres joined him near the sobbing Shae.
“I think I understand what he’s feeling,” Exeres said. “I nearly wept too. Mage freed us both tonight.”
*
The campfire crackled and spit as Thealos dropped another log in its center. Cinders sprayed in a shower of sparks before settling back within the ring of stones. Justin sipped from a bowl of egg and broth, his eyes reddened and moist. Ticastasy and Flent sat on the other side of the fire, one looking at the Warder with suspicion, the other with tenderness. The boy Kinross snored lightly nearby, Thealos’ blanket wrapped around his thin body.
Glancing over the tongues of flame, Thealos saw Allavin approach with Exeres.
“Shearmur’s striking camp. The knights will be gone before daylight,” Allavin said.