Brian Anderson - The Sword of Truth

“Let’s stay focused,” Lee said. “Millet, you and Kaylia stay here while the good sister and I go get our things.”

“I’ll not help you if you intend to hurt Her Holiness,” Maybell said defiantly. “No matter what that elf may do to me.”

“I’ll make you a deal then,” said Lee. “If no harm has come to our friend, then no harm will come to Salmitaya. If she’s the woman you think she is, you should have nothing to worry about. But I daresay that if you are smart and do a bit of investigating, you may end up wishing we had not made this bargain.”

“Do I have your word?” Maybell asked.

“You do,” Lee replied.

“Then come with me,” she said. “The sooner you have your things, the sooner I’m rid of you.”

Maybell then pulled herself from Lee’s grasp and marched toward the door with a speed surprising for someone her age. She didn’t even bother with her walking stick and it took a concerted effort for Lee to catch up.

“The half-man risks much letting the old woman live,” said Kaylia.

Millet frowned. “If he says she knows nothing, than she knows nothing. Lord Starfinder will not kill the innocent.”

“There are no innocents,” Kaylia said darkly. “She could give us away.”

“I’ve thought of that,” said Millet. “You still have some of that jawas tea don’t you?”

Kaylia pulled back her cloak, revealing a flask tied to her belt.

“Good,” said Millet. “We’ll give her enough to put her out for at least twelve hours.”

“She still knows too much about us,” Kaylia insisted.

“That may be,” Millet replied. “But the fact is, we are not killing her. Do you understand?”

Kaylia looked hard into Millet’s eyes and said, “You have a good heart, Millet Gristall. But that will not save us from danger, nor will it change the fact that I am not bound by your master’s promises. I agreed to come with you, not take his orders.”

Millet stared hard at the elf, and the two waited in silence until Lee returned with Maybell at his side.

“Everything is ready,” said Lee. “Let’s get moving. One of the stable boys saw a carriage with an escort of city guards heading to the west gate.”

“I thought a bit of jawas tea might be in order,” said Millet, gesturing to Maybell.

“That won’t be necessary,” said Lee. “Sister Maybell will be coming with us.”

Kaylia shook her head with a scowl. “You get more foolish by the minute half-man.”

“Don’t worry,” Lee assured. “We had a chance to talk on our way to get the horses and wagon. She has agreed not to give us away, and she will see to it that we pass through the gate unhindered. In return, she wants to be the one to escort the High Priestess back to the temple when we catch them.”

“Not to be contrary, my lord,” Millet began, “but won’t taking her with us slow us down?”

Lee smiled devilishly. “Us, no,” he said. “ You, on the other hand…”

“That’s not funny,” Millet said sternly.

“It’s not meant to be,” said Lee. “Maybell will ride with you on the wagon, while Kaylia and I run ahead to catch up with Gewey and Salmitaya. Once we have them, we’ll bring them back, and Maybell will escort the priestess back to the temple.”

“I must agree with Millet,” said Kaylia. “We should drug her and leave her.”

“Maybe,” said Lee. “But that’s not what we’re going to do. You, my elf friend, can either help me free Gewey, or you can go your own way.”

“Very well,” she said, begrudgingly. “We’ll do as you say…for now.”

“My lord,” Millet interrupted “Before we leave, we should find out where the other sister is.”

“She didn’t stay at the temple last night either,” answered Maybell. “But where she went, I don’t know.”

“Clever,” said Millet. “No witnesses.”

“I wish we were as clever,” Kaylia said, glaring at Maybell.

“However, being that we are not, we should leave before the guards are missed.”

“Agreed,” said Lee. “The west gate is not far. We need to get there quickly.”

They left the temple, and got in to the waiting wagon. Maybell rode in the front with Millet while Lee and Kaylia rode in the back. When they reached the west gate, they were stopped by the city guards. Lee tensed and gripped his sword, but Maybell was true to her word.

“I’m from the temple of Ayliazarah on business for High Priestess Salmitaya,” she told the guard. “These people are my escorts.” The guard nodded and opened the gate.

Lee turned to Kaylia and smirked. “I told you,” he said.

“A stupid gamble either way,” said Kaylia, unimpressed. “The woman can still betray us.”

“True,” Lee acknowledged, “but she can also give us valuable information. It’s clear that the Dark Knight knows who we are, and what we’re doing. She may be able to help us figure out how this happened.”

“If she’s truly innocent, why would she have any information we need?” Kaylia asked.

“I assure you, she wasn’t lying about her innocence,” Lee replied.

“But she may still know things-things she may not think important, but that are valuable to us nonetheless.”

They rode for an hour before they thought it was safe to ask anyone what they’d seen, and it didn’t take long to find someone with good information.

“Aye,” said a man walking on the side of the road, carrying a woodcutter’s axe. “I saw a carriage. Right grand sight, it was. Must have been ten men guardin’ it. Have to be awful rich to afford ten guards.”

“Where were they going?” Millet inquired.

“Don’t rightly know where they were headed,” said the man. “But they were on their way west when I seen ‘em.”

Millet thanked the man and tossed him a copper coin.

“That has to be them,” Lee said as he jumped out of the wagon.

He turned toward Millet. “You and Maybell stay on this road. There’s a crossroads a mile from here. When you reach it, head south until you get to the village of Fair Harvest. Get a room at the inn and wait for us there.”

Millet nodded and watched as Lee and Kaylia ran headlong down the road, quickly disappearing from sight. Maybell crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. “We will not be staying in the same room,” she stated flatly.

Millet groaned and urged the horses onward, wishing he were back in Sharpstone.

Gewey sat in dark silence for hours as the carriage plodded along. When the temperature dropped, he figured it was getting close to nightfall. If they stopped, it might give him a chance to get his bearings. Maybe he’d even get a chance to escape. He was sure Lee would come for him. From Gewey’s perspective, a bunch like this wouldn’t stand a chance against a man like Lee Starfinder.

His thoughts were interrupted as he felt the carriage stop and heard the door open.

“Bring him,” he heard Salmitaya order from outside the door.

A guard grabbed Gewey by the front of his robe and pulled him roughly from the carriage. He felt himself falling before landing hard on the ground.

“Careful,” Salmitaya warned. “We don’t want him damaged. Not yet at least.”

The guard lifted Gewey to his feet, then gruffly instructed him to stay put. Gewey did as he was told and waited, listening to the sounds of the people around him. He could make out ten different voices, most likely guards; it sounded like they were setting up camp, but Gewey couldn’t be sure. After half an hour, he was led away from the carriage and through the entrance of a nearby tent. The guard stopped and forced him to the ground. He lay there for a moment, and then struggled to his knees. He could hear a guard breathing heavily nearby.