"What about you? Did they try to send you any notice, I don't know, maybe some magical alert informing you of a possible relocation?"
"No," she responded as if she believed such notification was completely unnecessary.
"Don't you find that a bit strange? Shouldn't they have notified you if they were moving?"
"Not at all, I am no longer a member of the camp. They have no obligation to inform me of anything."
"Maybe they don't have an obligation, but I would think they'd want you to know."
Holli was puzzled by the assertion.
"Really? Why?"
"You have a history with them. You've helped them in the past. Alright, you're no longer an official member of the camp, but so what? I'd want you to know what's happening."
"I still do not understand the reason," Holli admitted.
"You're an asset. It's not good tactics to leave an asset uninformed."
"Revealing too much information could also be a liability."
"I suppose if they were hiding from something, but why hide from you?"
"As we have indicated, they may be unhappy with the dwarves. I am now located in Connel, a human town with strong ties to the dwarf city of Dunop, and I am the guard of Enin, an ally to those same dwarves. They might feel it unwise to include me in their plans."
"Relations between the dwarves and elves are that strained?"
"Not necessarily strained," Holli explained. "As I said before, they are complex."
"So maybe I'm concerned about nothing more than a simple elf relocation," Sy admitted.
"The concern is warranted," Holli noted. "The elves may indeed be gone. When a goblin of unnatural abilities offers such information, it needs to be investigated. What we have discussed is all speculation. We must focus on the facts and determine if there is a true danger to your town, or even to the land."
"I'm all for that," Sy revealed.
"I would suggest that we scout out the previous area that served as the site for the elf camp. Once I inspect the region, I can determine if they simply relocated. Jure can further probe for any magical sensations. What he sensed may not be connected to the elves." Holli glanced toward the town's captain. "I do not wish to exclude you, but I do not believe it would be wise for you to accompany us."
Sy agreed. He never intended on leaving Burbon.
"No, I can't. I have to stay here. I have to reassess my strategies and make sure the town stays protected. If you want, I can offer you some soldiers to help with patrols and scouts."
"Is Ryson available? I would like to bring him along. His delver senses would prove invaluable."
Sy hesitated, unsure of exactly how to explain the situation with the delver. At first, he made a simple disclosure.
"Actually, Ryson already left to investigate."
"Ah, the delver and his curiosity, ever impatient, always so eager to find the answers. Well, if you have already sent him ahead, then there is no need for us to take your soldiers, better for them to stay here and help patrol the town."
"I didn't send him ahead. He went on his own."
Sy finally explained everything that had happened and revealed his decision regarding Ryson's services.
"I'm not sure I made the right decision," the captain finally admitted. "I may regret it. He was right when he said he saved this town in the past, but that was then, and things keep changing. I'm just not sure if I can rely on him if he keeps wanting to set his own course."
It was Jure that replied first.
"That's a good way to put it," the wizard announced. "Any captain of a ship will tell you that too many hands on the wheel will only lead to disaster. A course has to be set and everyone has to keep that course in mind. Look, I know Ryson, I like him, but he has to respect your decisions."
"I'm not sure if it's disrespect."
"Don't get tied up over words. What I mean to say is that he has to appreciate your position. There has to be order, discipline."
"Delvers are not very good with order and discipline," Sy allowed. "Maybe it's my fault for not utilizing him properly."
"Or maybe it's his fault for not recognizing the situation. It's not an insult to Ryson. We all make mistakes. I've made them myself. There were times I thought I knew better and went off on my own. I thought my magic was enough to handle almost any situation, but that was an error in judgment on my part. I should have realized that I was part of something bigger, another soldier in the army. I forgot my place. In the larger picture, it was a mistake. I can offer suggestions, but I also have to follow orders."
Sy chuckled to himself.
"I have to admit, I like the way you think."
"And you did what you had to do. If Ryson thinks about it, he'll realize that as well. If he can't follow your direction, he shouldn't expect to be in your service."
The captain had to admit, the old wizard's words made him feel better, but he also looked to Holli, wondered what a disciplined elf guard thought.
"What about you, Holli? Do you think I made the right decision?"
"As an elf guard, I would focus on the good of my camp. If what you did was in the best interest of Burbon, then you have indeed done your duty."
"There's more to it than that."
"Is there?"
"I think so. Maybe I didn't handle Ryson the right way, maybe I didn't work hard enough to make him understand. Maybe I was just being lazy."
"You are many things, but lazy is not one of them."
"Then maybe I was just too bullheaded to find a better solution. My point is that I cut Ryson loose. I keep thinking that's a mistake."
"Are you arguing with yourself or me?"
"I'm trying not to argue with anyone."
"Then let me say this. I was approached by my camp elder. He told me that the direction of the camp was in jeopardy. He felt the elves needed one leader, the proper leader, but there were two legends in the camp that the elves looked upon with high regard, perhaps too high. I was one of those so-called legends. Despite my talents and my strengths, I was asked to leave. The elder understood all the implications. Without wishing to sound arrogant, he gave up a skilled and knowledgeable elf guard, but he did so for the greater good of the camp. That was all there was to it."
"And you didn't feel betrayed?"
"No."
The answer was a bit too short, slightly too firm, but Sy didn't push for more.
"Well, that's the situation," Sy said. "Ryson's already out there."
"He knows the position of the camp," Holli acknowledged. "If there is something of significance out there, he has probably already found it. We should teleport there immediately."
Jure nodded and revealed he had the energy to cast the spell without difficulty.
Holli then addressed Burbon's captain.
"I thank you for alerting me to this."
"Hey, thank you for coming out here. You're helping me."
"I will inform you of what we find."
Chapter 8
Ryson had visited the elf camp on previous occasions, and he knew exactly how to locate it again. He had set a direct path and initially intended on reaching the area before the sun rose. With his delver speed and senses, he could have avoided any dangers and reached his destination easily, but his considerations of the situation persuaded him to reduce his speed.
The rain had ceased and the clouds passed to the east. Stars sparkled overhead, enough so that there was more than sufficient light for his delver eyes to penetrate the shadowed forest floor.
While traveling through Dark Spruce, he wondered about the elves disposition, considered what might influence them to relocate their camp, for that was the explanation he believed most sound. If the elves were gone, as Okyiq claimed, there had to be an appropriate reason. Though it would delay him from reaching his ultimate goal, he slowed his pace as he examined the woods for clues.