“You sound half way fond of the man. I thought you hated all Blights.” Shade observed quietly.
“I hate some of them for what they do. I don’t hate the race itself. Granger has been decent to me despite the trouble I’ve caused him, and I have to respect his skill. There aren’t many that can track me down when I don’t want to be found. I’m not saying he is a drinking buddy, but I don’t despise him by any means. All three times he has accepted my surrender without a fight. Had I been closer than five miles to Arovan, I might have fought him the last round, and I really can’t say which of us would have won. Granger is formidable and I was unarmed.” Caleb explained as he carefully hauled Shade over a washed out spot in the path. “Careful here the rocks are loose.” Caleb warned quietly as he lowered Shade fully back to the ground once more.
“I miss paved roads.” Shade muttered sourly. It was humiliating to be in the state he was in, and Caleb’s presence was the only thing that made it remotely bearable. If not for the Arovan he would be crawling to Onvalla’s door and he knew it. If he had even managed to get a meeting with her in the first place, and that in itself was doubtful. He wasn’t sure what Caleb had done to secure this meeting, but the Blights had given the Arovan the opportunity to try and they barely gave him a second glance.
“I miss more than I can bear to think about. My family and friends, my city, good hot meals, bathing, soap, by the Aspects I miss soap. Clean clothes, my weapons, and my horse.” Caleb’s voice trailed off with a sigh and he shrugged his free shoulder. “We will have some of it back soon though.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone speak so lovingly of soap before. It was almost like a yearning in your voice. You could sing love ballads that would have women weeping and all you would have to think about would be soap.” Shade teased in a pathetic attempt to pull Caleb’s mind back from the depression he could see growing in the man’s eyes.
“I’ve been in captivity for months Shade. I have creatures living in my clothes and hair that have been thriving there so long I’ve got names for them. I do love soap and I could sing ballads for it right now. I would settle for a dunk in a watering trough if the bastards would allow it, but they seem to delight in keeping me in filth. I’m so envious of the mages that learned cleaning spells right now it’s pathetic. I will learn every spell of that nature I can once we are out of here.” Caleb replied dryly.
“If any of your pets crawl off onto me would you be so kind as to tell me their names so I can tell them to return to you?” Shade asked with a smirk.
“Bitey and Itchy have already migrated and I doubt they will return. You are greener pastures than me at this point, too much competition over here and you likely smell better than I do.” Caleb returned with a completely serious expression on his face despite the bizarre nature of the conversation.
“You could tell me the sky is purple and it was raining frogs yesterday with a straight face couldn’t you.” Shade mused with a faint smile.
“Lizards, the frog rains don’t hit Glis until closer to winter.” Caleb replied calmly and glanced at Shade his expression still serious. “It’s an art that too many Elder Blood master. I can lie like a dog and make it sound the honest truth.”
“Not a very knightly sentiment.” Shade replied with a snort of genuine amusement. He could see Caleb becoming the closest friend he had very easily. The man never ceased to amaze him, and someone with his talents would be a very good ally to have.
“I never once said I was a knight Shade. You just assumed I was. Every time I’ve heard you refer to me as a knight I’ve had to repress a chuckle. I couldn’t even pass the knight exams with my magic. I don’t qualify as a knight for several reasons.” Caleb smirked and shook his head at Shade with a hint of a smile on his face.
“But you said you were in Micah’s honor guard.” Shade objected.
“That doesn’t make me a knight Shade. You really don’t know who I truly am, do you?” Caleb asked and his smile widened.
“Caleb Faulklin.” Shade offered dumbly with an expression of utter confusion written clearly on his face.
“Strangers call me Caleb. My friends called me Grim, and everyone else knows me by other titles. If we live through this I’m sure you will hear them from time to time.” Caleb returned cryptically.
“Which do you prefer?” Shade asked as Caleb drew them both to a stop in front of a two story house. His gaze lingered on the brightly colored flowers beside the stairs and he shook his head silently. It seemed so wrong for daisies to be sprouting near the house that belonged to the most dangerous woman in Glis.
“Caleb is fine for now.” Caleb announced quietly and he glanced behind them at their Blight escort. Turning back to Shade he nodded toward the house. “Don’t let her appearance fool you Shade. Be on guard in here. Onvalla is not as she appears. She is a serpent and she is deadly.”
“Watch your tongue Faulklin or I’ll cut it out.” The stout guard warned as her hand dropped to her belt to settle around her dagger hilt. She seemed the most vocal of the guards and Shade decided she must be the leader of the squad or simply the biggest fool. With the caution the other Blights had shown it was obviously a very bad idea to pick a fight with Caleb, but then they were close to Onvalla’s house now. It was possible the entire area was filled with Blights and they just couldn’t see them. That could very easily explain the woman’s new found boldness.