Chapter 32 Keelan
The Rangers had served Melucia as the nation’s first line of defense for over a thousand years, claiming dominion over woods and mountains alike. Their headquarters were based in a towering building made of immense wooden logs, reminding me of Tiana’s infirmary on a palatial scale.
“When you said we were coming to see the Rangers, I had a tiny shack in the woods pictured in my mind. This place is enormous!” Sil stared up with wide eyes.
I laughed. “Most people have that reaction, I think.”
“Do you think Atikus and Ridley beat us here?”
I shrugged. “Possibly, but I doubt it. Their route is about the same distance as ours, but we traveled along a larger roadway. Plus, by our third day into the trip, you were nearly at full strength. Atikus talks a big game, but he’s still an old man. I doubt they were able to match our speed.”
“Fair point. I hadn’t thought about Atikus slowing them down.”
Green-cloaked Rangers streamed in and out of the building, barely glancing up at the strangers stepping up to their doors. As we entered, hoping to get settled for the night and have a quick supper, an excited voice shouted out from across the foyer.
“KEELAN!”
Sil had to hop out of the way as a tall, green-clad man bounded across the room and slammed into me, knocking me to the ground. Before Sil could blink, we were wrestling and laughing like children.
Atikus strode through the door and took in the scene. His face lit up with a bright, wide smile, and the old man dropped his pack and shouted with mock indignation. “Declan Rea, what do you think you’re doing down there on the ground? Did no one teach you manners, young man?”
My assailant and I froze.
The green-cloaked man squinted up to find Atikus towering over us with fists planted on his hips. Tears of joy threatened to overwhelm both of us as Declan leaped to his feet and wrapped the old Mage in a tight embrace.
“I can’t believe it. I can’t believe you’re really here.” Declan’s voice was muffled by the fabric of Atikus’s robes.
When he finally released Atikus, the Mage stepped back. “My boy, it’s only been three years, and I think you’ve grown into a tree.”
Declan tried to wipe the boyish grin from his face. I still towered over the others but was now only a few inches taller than my brother. “I had to match my surroundings somehow.”
“Wait, I just realized you’re here,” I said to Atikus. “How? There’s no way you kept pace with us.”
Atikus grinned. “The Mages in Crees offered fresh horses. They even added a little magic to spur them on. If my beard wasn’t snowier than the peaks, we would’ve beat you here.”
“Huh.” I shook my head at the old Mage.
Sil cleared her throat.
I startled, then turned Declan around to face Sil. Ridley had walked in while we were chatting and now stood behind her. “I’m sorry, guys, this is my little brother, Declan. Dec, meet Guardsmen Ridley Doa and Sil Wesser.”
Ridley stepped forward and clasped forearms, but Sil stood transfixed, her eyes wide. Declan gave her a head bob and a bright smile. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
All color had drained from her face, and she wobbled.
I reached out to brace her. “You all right, Sil?”
“It’s him. He’s the man . . . the one in the vision.”
Ridley wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her to a nearby chair.
“What’s she talking about? What vision?” Declan asked.
Atikus cleared his throat to get their attention. “Could we get settled, maybe have some supper first? Then we could talk somewhere more private.”
Declan eyed Atikus a second, then nodded. “Of course.” He called out to a Ranger who sat behind a desk at the far end of the entryway. A moment later, a young cadet in a light green cloak appeared and led the group through a series of hallways to a room with a simple wooden table and padded chairs.
As everyone sat, the cadet looked up at Declan. “Sir, the mess hall was already shutting down for the night. It’ll take ’em a good half hour or more to scrape up supper.”
“That’s fine. Tell them we’ll be there in an hour.”
“Yes, sir.” The cadet wheeled about and closed the door behind him.
“I want to catch up with you two more than anything, but let’s talk through things while we wait. My Ranger sense is going nuts, and it never lies. We can have our family reunion over dinner. What’s this all about?”
Atikus and I locked eyes.
I know your orders, but you should tell him. He needs to know if he’s going to help us. He’s your brother and is now a full Ranger. You can trust him, Atikus’s voice brushed against my mind.
I stared at the Mage a moment, then nodded.
“Strange things have happened since you left Saltstone. Most recently, two Gifted were kidnapped.”
Declan winced at the word Gifted but remained silent.
“One team pursued the case down south but ended their search when the victim died. Our team, Sil’s and mine, has been searching for the missing Healer, Tiana Hurd. Sil, why don’t you fill in the gaps and tell the group about the scrying?
I doubt the Arch Mage was able to give Atikus and Ridley much detail in his missive.”
Atikus leaned in. “That’s right. Most of this is new to us.”
Sil gathered her thoughts, then walked the group through their investigation, from the search of Tiana’s home to the scrying. When she reached the part where she’d seen Declan in her vision, she could barely keep her eyes from his, and her voice broke.
“I still don’t get why you think the man in your vision was me. I haven’t seen anyone who matches your missing Healer’s description, and I would’ve heard about it if another Ranger had run into her,” Declan said.
“I believe you looked right at her but didn’t see her. It would’ve been weeks ago, perhaps a month. You would’ve still been wearing a light green cloak like that boy who was just here.”
“Before graduation,” Declan thought aloud.
“What about men in brown robes? Have you seen anything like that?” Sil asked.
He nodded slowly. “Yeah, I remember a pair of men in robes. They wore strange, twisted masks, like a masquerade gone wrong. Gave me the creeps. Their eyes were all black.”
“When? Where were you?” My heart pounded.
“Ayden and I were on crossing duty. It was a month before graduation, I think.”
He stared into the far wall, searching his memory.
“The men were taking a cart through the mountains. Looked like a Merchant’s return trip after selling whatever they’d brought into the country. I searched their cart, but didn’t find anything. Still, I remember the whole thing feeling off somehow. There wasn’t any reason to detain them,
and they continued through the mountains.”
“The Mages haven’t figured out how, but we think a kidnapper used magic to disguise the Healer’s presence,” I said.
“Huh,” Declan grunted.
I leaned forward. “Dec, when was this? It’s important.”
“We’ve only been on crossing duty once this fall. I can check the logs, but I’m pretty sure it was only a few weeks ago, maybe five.”
“How long would it take them to make it through with a cart this time of year?” I asked.
“I didn’t see anything wrong with the cart that might slow it down. It was empty; that would help with speed. The pass crosses five different mountains. I’d say an experienced team could make it in ten days, no less. If they didn’t have the cart and pushed, they could do it in less,
but they didn’t appear to be in a hurry.” Declan paused, narrowing his eyes.
“Kee, I know what you’re thinking. You can’t go after them. The road through the mountains is tough enough in the daylight, but it’s deadly at night, especially up top where snow’s already piling up. We find dozens of travelers each year who try it, lose their footing, and die at the bottom.”
Atikus leaned in and placed a hand on my arm. “Keelan, listen to your brother. No one knows these mountains like a Ranger. We need a good meal, Sil needs rest, and I want to hear who this Ayden fellow is your brother keeps mentioning.”
Declan’s face flushed.
My brow furrowed. I hadn’t even taken notice of the name.
“Let’s get you settled into rooms.” Declan stood quickly and turned toward the door. “We can meet back in the dining hall. You’ve got to be hungry.”
There was a pause, then he met my gaze. “We can talk more over food. You and me?”
There was a hopeful lilt to his voice.
I nodded.
Declan stepped out, returning a few minutes later with a different cadet, this time a lanky youngster with a crooked nose and worse teeth. “Your packs are already waiting for you, so there’s no need to go back up front. Evan will show you to your rooms.”
A short time later, the group was huddled around a large wooden table piled high with slices of roasted boar, stewed greens, crusty potatoes, and several platters of berries and fruit.
Pitchers of ale and water were scattered throughout, reminding me of the raucous inns I’d visited throughout my time with the Guard.
The dining hall was empty, save for our group and a serving boy who scurried to and from the kitchen as we ate.
Atikus usually lost himself in his plate, but he couldn’t stop smiling and laughing as he listened to us bantering like teens, reliving our years growing up in the guild.
Declan would start telling a story but could barely finish a sentence before I would take over.
It was like another wrestling match as we twisted and tossed our way through each tale.
Atikus couldn’t resist adding his own embellishments in places, a few times adding details both of us denied were true.
The old Mage’s habit of making grand gestures as he spoke became a hazard when he forgot he was holding a full mug of ale and threw half of its contents all over Declan.
I sat back in my chair and watched the spectacle with tears streaming down my face.
I hadn’t experienced such simple pleasure since our investigation began.
A pang of guilt pricked at me as I wiped my eyes.
Here I was, laughing and reminiscing with my family, while Tiana was alone and afraid. I’m being insensitive, I thought; but then Atikus started in on another tale from our childhood, and I couldn’t fight the joy in my heart.