“You mean,” Chandra guessed, “that some woodlanders think they can bend the new rules once they’re not being watched by ghost wardens and pestered by soldiers in their own territory. And the oufes are focused on getting the Order out of the forest now, rather than on what will happen next time they send assassins after someone who lives beyond the woods.”
“Indeed.” Samir finished cleaning Gideon’s wounds and now picked up the second small pot he had brought with him, which contained some green balm. “This will be soothing, and it will help prevent further bleeding until you return to the Temple-where I imagine the mages can heal you better than my humble efforts.”
“Thank you for your help,” Gideon said. “It would have been hard to make it back to Zinara without any treatment.”
While applying the balm, Samir said, “So the members of the council see a way to make all the trouble here stop… if they also agree to the final term. Which is to turn you over to the Order, Chandra.”
“I suppose that after the fire I started here, it’s not surprising that they agreed.”
“Not everyone agreed,” he assured her. “But, alas, enough of them did. And that’s why you’re not safe in the Western Wood anymore. You’re too easy to recognize, and such interesting news travels fast. So you must stay hidden here until nightfall. Then we’ll cover your hair and make our way out of the forest.”
“But why did Walbert make my capture a condition in his treaty with the inter-tribal council of the forest?” she asked in puzzlement. “I live with the Keralians, not with the woodlanders.”
“The Keralians have received the same offer,” Samir said. “Mother Luti rejected it. Rather emphatically.”
Chandra nodded. She would have expected that.
“And now that the woodlanders have decided to accept the proposal
…” Samir sighed. “It has put us on a different path.”
“Walbert probably knew the Keralians would refuse,” Gideon said pensively. “By getting your people to agree to his terms, he eliminates any alliance against the Order that might have existed between the woodlanders and the Keralians.”
“Yes,” said Samir sadly.
“He also gains partners in trying to secure Chandra’s capture, and he reduces the places where she can hide-”
“Hide?” she repeated, affronted.
“-or roam freely.” Gideon paused before continuing, “And since he knows the woodlanders have long been friendly with the monastery, he also counts on Samir’s people to urge the monastery to accept the same treaty and surrender Chandra to the Order.”
“The Keralians will never cooperate,” Samir said with certainty. “They despise the Order, and they place a very high value on independence and freedom. If Walbert is determined to capture Chandra, he’ll only succeed one way.”
“By destroying the Keralians,” Gideon said.
“Will he really go that far?” Samir asked.
The woodland mage and Chandra both looked at Gideon, awaiting his answer.
“Yes,” he said, finally.
“You seem certain,” Samir noted.
Gideon nodded. “Walbert will do whatever is necessary to achieve his goals. Including destroying Keral Keep.”
I don’t understand,” Chandra said to Gideon after Samir had left them alone in the hut again. “Walbert knows I planeswalked, doesn’t he?”
“He must. I followed you, and he knew I planned to do that.” Gideon added, “I didn’t exactly say goodbye, but he knows.”
“Then why is he trying to get others to capture me?” she said. “Why doesn’t he just wait for you to bring me back?”
“Because we’ve been gone a lot longer than he expected. A lot longer than I expected.”
“Oh. Right.” She hadn’t expected to be gone this long, either.
“He thinks I failed.” Gideon said, “He probably thinks I’m dead.”
“And that I killed you?” she said. “Yes.”
“But all this effort to capture me… He was that certain that I would return to Regatha?”
Gideon nodded. “Yes, he seemed sure you’d come back. And he wanted your return to be under his control.”
“But why was he sure I’d come back?”
“I don’t know.” Gideon’s expression was impossible to read as he met her gaze in the shadows of the hut. “But you did come back, didn’t you? And he knew you would.”
“If Walbert thinks I killed you, then he must also think I’m very dangerous.”
“You are very dangerous,” Gideon said. He didn’t sound like he was joking.
“And yet he’s encouraging woodlanders like Samir to try to capture me.” She said disdainfully, “He doesn’t seem to have a problem with risking other people’s lives, does he?”
“Neither do you,” Gideon pointed out. “How many people died in the Sanctum of Stars because of you?”
“I didn’t plan on that,” she snapped.
“How many were inside when it collapsed, Chandra?” he persisted. “Ten? Twenty?”
“I don’t know,” she said tersely. “I was fleeing for my life, at the time.”
“And the people you were fleeing from died because it was their duty to protect the Prelate’s property from you,” he said.
She was about to reply when she heard Samir’s footsteps again. He entered the hut carrying a basket that held food, as well as a fresh pitcher of water for them.
“I hope you’ll enjoy this,” Samir said to them. “My wife is a wonderful cook!”
In truth, Chandra had never enjoyed anything she’d eaten at Samir’s home, always finding the food bland and overcooked. But given how revolting the food on Diraden had been, this meal today tasted like one of the finest feasts of her life. Gideon evidently felt the same way. They both ate voraciously and spoke very little.
After the meal, Samir gave Gideon a threadbare tunic to wear, saying, “It’s old and much-mended, but it will hold together until you reach Zinara.”
“Thank you.” Gideon pulled it over his head. “For all your hospitality.”
“A guest brings good luck,” Samir said with a smile.
“Not necessarily,” Chandra said gloomily.
Samir asked Gideon, “Are you returning to the Temple?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not coming with you,” Chandra warned him.
“No.” He assured Samir, “Walbert will never know anything about today.”
Samir glanced at Chandra, then smiled at Gideon. “I don’t understand you, but I do believe you.”
“I hope we meet again,” Gideon said politely to him.
Samir glanced between them. “You two probably have a few things to say before you part. I’ll wait outside, Gideon. When you’re ready, I’ll guide you to a path that leads east out of the forest. You can find the road to Zinara easily from there. And with so many of the Order’s soldiers patrolling here now, you may encounter, er, colleagues on horseback soon after you leave here. Perhaps they’ll help you get back to the Temple.”
“Thank you, Samir.” When he was alone again with Chandra, Gideon said to her, “You have to leave Regatha immediately.”
“I just got back,” she pointed out.
“No one is safe while you’re here.”
“Given how certain Walbert is that I’ll come back, I don’t think anyone will be safe after I leave, either,” she said. “He’ll just keep looking for me.”
“This will only end if you go and never come back.”
“I won’t run away,” she said. “Not while the Keralians have to deal with Walbert’s obsession with capturing me.”
“I’m letting you go free now,” Gideon said, “but-” “Letting me?” she repeated. “Do you imagine you could possibly-”
“-this is as far as I’ll go for you,” he said. “You’ve committed wrongs, Chandra.”
“So has Walbert!”
“You’ll only make it worse if you stay,” Gideon said. “If you leave Regatha now, I’ll lie to Walbert. I’ll say you never came back here, that you died on another plane. But I won’t do more than that for you.”
“You don’t even have to do that much.”
“If you stay, I won’t help you,” he warned.
“I don’t want your help!”
“I won’t betray the Order.” He took her by the shoulders, “Do you understand me?”