Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Alwyn
He had never seen Krujha in such a dour mood, so Alwyn didn’t linger with him for very long, instead returning to the group of elves.
Fionia was a much better conversationalist than he was, though, so he mostly sat silent as they answered her inquiries.
They were the sort of questions that he never would have thought to ask himself: what roads they were on, when they were intercepted, and how many orcs were in the group that seized them.
He wanted to bring the conversation back to Zesh and this mysterious druid, but it seemed Fionia was more interested in avoiding detection for whatever part of their mission came next.
Then they began giving Fionia an account of what each of them had been delivering when they were captured, which seemed boring and irrelevant to Alwyn, and he soon became lost in his own thoughts.
What had tipped off the rebel orcs that Torlag was not who he claimed to be?
Had the orc’s work been sloppy, or was there something else at play?
Could there be a double agent somewhere?
Even if there had been, the chances that they would have recognized Torlag seemed slim to none.
More likely, they had been distrustful of him from the beginning, tailing him back to their hidden camp.
They would have to be more careful about entering and exiting the camp when they eventually caught up to Zesh’s host.
“We need to decide where we’re going.” Krujha’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. The orc had stepped into the group of elves, his tone impatient. It was true that this was the time of morning when they usually would be well on their way, and they probably couldn’t afford to stay for much longer.
“I see two options,” Fionia said primly, looking up at him with a carefully neutral expression, though Alwyn thought she seemed mildly annoyed at the interruption.
“We can either guide this group back to Aefraya to report to King Ruven, or we can bring them to Drol Kuggradh to report to King Zorvut.”
The three elves glanced amongst themselves with varying degrees of concern or disquiet on their faces. But Krujha nodded in agreement.
“I agree. Those are the only two choices we really have,” he said. “Personally, I think we should make for Drol Kuggradh. Doubling back will cost us too much time at this point. What do you think?”
“Yes, we should go to Drol Kuggradh,” Alwyn interjected, even though the question had been addressed to Fionia. She glanced at him, her expression unchanging, but he had the distinct sense she was now annoyed with him, too.
“I am of two minds,” she said slowly. “I see the benefit in going straight for Drol Kuggradh. However, from their accounts, I suspect that route will be more dangerous, and these people have already dealt with more than their fair share of danger.”
“What do you all think, then?” Krujha asked, gesturing to the group of elves.
They still looked at him with obvious uncertainty—not quite distrust, but enough trepidation for Alwyn to notice.
He couldn’t blame them for being scared after having been so recently at the mercy of their orc captors, but he had to push down the urge to say something in Krujha’s defense, especially since he was now in support of the option Alwyn much preferred.
None of them spoke for a moment, just looking between themselves as if waiting for someone else to decide for them. Again, the oldest elf was the first to speak.
“I would much rather go home to Aefraya,” he said simply. One nodded in agreement, while the other looked unsure.
“There is no guarantee the way back will be any safer. And it may be a longer journey overall,” Krujha said.
“Drol Kuggradh has a significant population of elves now, along with the elven military outpost. Going there means it might take longer to get home, but when you do head south for Aefraya, you will be much better protected.”
The group of three seemed to converse silently, glancing amongst themselves; the one that seemed unconvinced gestured at Krujha with an expression that very clearly communicated “that’s what I said”, but the others appeared set in their preference.
“I understand that,” the older elf finally said, bowing his head slightly toward Krujha to soften the rejection. “But we would prefer to go directly for Aefraya, all the same.”
Alwyn stifled a groan, and instead it came out as a deflated sigh. For a moment, no one spoke, leaving them in an uncomfortable silence.
“I have a proposal,” Fionia said, breaking the silence.
Alwyn’s eyes shot up to her. She was looking at him coolly.
Despite all the other things they had to worry about, he couldn’t help but feel some small amount of jealousy that she could keep her demeanor so perfectly poised, even in such a dire situation.
“I admit I also have some preference for a return to Castle Aefraya at the moment. But I understand not wanting to lose precious time in this. Alwyn, Krujha, you two can likely make it to Drol Kuggradh and regroup with our mutual friend there. I can accompany our new friends back to Aefraya.”
“Just you alone?” Alwyn asked, frowning.
“We encountered very few others on the road,” she said, shrugging.
“If we return along some of the more remote routes that our former party used to travel here, I think it is unlikely we will cross paths with anyone heading north from Aefraya this late in the year. I am confident in our ability to reach the border unharmed, though I will need an account from both of you regarding your efforts in foraging. Once back at Castle Aefraya, I’ll report on what has happened, and hopefully regroup there. ”
Alwyn’s heart stuttered. If she returned to Castle Aefraya, she would tell Tessarion what had happened in greater detail, and he could imagine how he might receive the news of an incomplete mission that was quickly trending toward failure.
Alwyn thought the Mage Princeps would be just as likely to recall him from the field as he was to send back-up to see the mission through.
Either way, it would mean he had failed to meet the expectations he had been entrusted with.
“I think that sounds like the best path forward for everyone’s interests, if you’re sure you’ll be alright alone,” Krujha said, pulling Alwyn from his thoughts. To his surprise, a slight smile crossed the girl’s lips.
“I won’t be alone,” she said, gesturing to the three other elves. Krujha laughed, some of his joviality returning.
“I suppose you’re right.”
“I would ask the same. Do you think you and Alwyn will be alright? An elf and an orc traveling alone might stick out more than a group of travelers.”
“I’m not worried. Right, Alwyn?” Krujha answered, grinning over at him. Heat rose in Alwyn’s face—it was only because he wasn’t expecting to be addressed directly, he told himself.
“Right,” he agreed, all too quickly. He did have some concerns about being alone with Krujha in the wildlands.
Ultimately, though, he really had no choice—he had to get to Zesh.
Having one ally was better than being alone, but even if he had to travel northward to find the other rebel camp entirely by himself, he would.
He would accomplish his mission or die trying.
“Then it’s decided,” Fionia said brusquely, now addressing the group of elves. “We’ll need to move quickly. Can any of you hunt or forage?”
“You should stop at the Trisfiel estate,” Alwyn offered. “They’re right near the border. They helped us the—the last time I was out in the field.”
Fionia glanced at him, and he couldn’t identify if she was surprised or annoyed at the recommendation. “Noted. Hopefully, we can gather supplies while there.”
“I’ll see what we can spare,” Krujha said. “Alwyn, sort through the saddlebags while I tell Fionia what to look for on her journey.”
In the end, Fionia left with her horse, the three elves, most of the rations, two of the three tents, and a single blanket for each of them.
The horse carried the supplies, and the elves would walk.
None of them had an extra change of clothes, and one blanket would not be sufficient as winter drew nearer; but Fionia had her magic, and some of the elves had skill enough to keep themselves warm with a spell, too.
It meant Alwyn and Krujha had very little for themselves, but their journey would be shorter—Drol Kuggradh was less than a week away on horseback.
It would be an arduous journey, both for them and for Fionia’s group, but there was no alternative.
Teleporting four elves was beyond even Alwyn’s ability; he considered teleporting himself and Krujha to Drol Kuggradh, but even that would strain him significantly.
Though he was hesitant to share the knowledge of long-distance elven teleportation with the orc, he could at least get the two of them closer, which would be worth expending the effort if foraging proved less fruitful on this journey.
A teleportation rune, like the one he had crafted for Commander Petkas, could help get them further, but would take so long to create they would probably arrive at their destination before he could finish it.
When they parted ways, Alwyn and Krujha watched the line of elves head south until they were just a distant cluster of bodies following a horse.
He wondered how many would make it back to Aefraya in one piece.
When he’d been in Fionia’s shoes, not so long ago, he’d had the help of the orc healer and Commander Petkas, who had taken the lead to ensure everyone was fed and warm and protected.
Fionia was more than capable of taking care of herself; but the Order hadn’t exactly trained them in survival in the harsh climate of an orcish winter, much less on how to shepherd a group of civilians while doing so.
“Alwyn,” Krujha said quietly from beside him, shaking him from his thoughts. “We should get going.”