Lee appeared out of the nearby brush, looking stern and focused. He unpacked their breakfast and checked Gewey’s bandages.
“Amazing,” said Lee. “You seem to heal more quickly by the minute. I can’t wait to see how powerful you‘ll become.”
“Did you see anyone last night?” asked Gewey.
“Yes, but whoever it was moved off before I could catch him,” Lee said, and spat angrily. “From now on we stay on our guard. This one is fast, and knows how to move without being seen.”
“Shouldn’t we get off the road?” Gewey asked. “Maybe we can lose him.”
Lee shook his head. “We won’t be able to lose him there; he’s too good, too fast. And though they don’t look like they’ll be a problem much longer, your injuries will slow us down… No, we need to catch him…and kill him.”
This sent a chill down Gewey’s spine. When he had watched Lee kill the bandits, it was fast and furious; he hadn’t had the time to consider what was about to happen. This time they were planning to capture and kill someone. Somehow it felt different-calculated, vicious.
“How do you plan to catch him?” Gewey asked.
“I don’t know,” Lee admitted, squatting down to pick at the grass. “It’s four days until we reach the next town. I have until then to figure it out. That is, unless he attacks us first.”
The next two nights were the same. Lee set up camp, then scoured the area, hoping to get lucky in finding their pursuer, but with no success. Gewey could see the frustration on Lee’s face. He hadn’t slept, and the fatigue began to show in his eyes. Gewey urged him to rest for at least a few hours, but Lee ignored his advice.
On the third night, they set up camp and had just began to eat their meal when Gewey saw Lee‘s neck stiffen and his hand move slowly to the knife in his belt.
“What is it?” Gewey whispered. Lee shook his head almost imperceptibly. Just as his hand reached the handle of his knife, they heard a rustle in the bushes just beyond the light of their fire. Lee and Gewey both jumped to their feet and drew their weapons.
“Peace,” said a female voice. “I mean you no ill will.”
From out of the darkness walked the elf woman they had saved from the bandits. She moved with such grace and precision that her footsteps seemed to glide over the ground. Gewey stared in awe. She was wearing a shirt and trousers made of fine cloth, which appeared to change color and hue as she passed through the fire light.
Her hair was now done in a series of tight braids, tied together by a thin leather strap. Over her shoulder she carried a short bow and a quiver of arrows, and in her hand she held a long knife.
“So it’s you who’s been following us,” growled Lee.
“Yes,” she answered. “And with very little difficulty, I must say.” Her mouth turned to a sinister grin. “Your clumsy efforts to catch me have kept me quite entertained.”
“Those bandits didn’t seem to have much trouble catching you,” Lee shot back.
The elf woman’s jaw tightened. “There were twenty of them before they met me. The six you encountered were all that was left.”
“What do you want?” Lee asked. “Why are you following us?”
“What I want is none of your affair,” she answered. “I follow you because it pleases me to do so.”
“You play a dangerous game, elf,” said Lee. “You’re lucky I didn’t kill you the moment you stepped out of the shadows.”
The elf woman laughed. “Bold words, half-man.”
Lee’s back stiffened. “What did you call me?” he asked, his tone low and threatening.
“I know what you are,” she said. “I knew the moment I saw you. Only a half-man can move as you do.”
“If you know that, then you know it won’t be easy to kill me,” said Lee.
“Maybe it will, maybe it won’t,” she said. “I’ve dealt with your kind before, but it’s not you that I’m interested in-it’s your young friend. You’re no half-man,” her eyes set upon Gewey. “Yet here you stand, when, by all accounts, you should be dead.”
“And that’s none of your affair,” Lee said, before Gewey could answer. “Again I ask you, what do you want?”
The elf woman sheathed her blade. “For now, I want you to come with me. There’s something I need to show you.” She turned and began to walk away.
Gewey started to follow, but Lee grabbed his collar and pulled him back.
“You think I’m a fool?” Lee snapped. “You must, if you think I’ll follow you blindly into the night.”
The elf paused. “You may have strength, half-man, but I believe the instincts of your young companion are better. But if you need assurance…” She turned to them and got down on one knee. “I swear by the angels of the night and the guardian who watches the souls of my kin that I mean you no harm.” With that, she rose.
“I’m going with her,” said Gewey. “I don’t think she wants to hurt us.”
Lee grumbled and nodded. “Very well,” he said, putting away his weapon. “I know nothing about the oaths of an elf or what your people now hold sacred, but you’re right about one thing. I do trust his instincts. But know that if you betray us, it will be the last thing you do.”
“As you say,” the elf laughed, then led them north into the nearby woods.
Lee walked directly behind the elf, his hand never leaving the hilt of his sword. Gewey followed, trying to keep himself from gawking at the silhouetted figure of the elven woman moving through the forest. He thought back on the tale Lee had told him about the war.
‘How could man make war on such beautiful people?’ he wondered.
They walked for several minutes until they came to a steep hill.
The elven woman stopped and turned.
“Before we go on, I must ask you a favor,” she said.
“What favor?” asked Lee.
“I wasn’t speaking to you, half-man,” she said.
Lee glared at the elf. “You will speak to…”
“What is it I can do for you?” Gewey asked, cutting Lee off.
Lee was furious.
The elf looked straight into Gewey’s eyes. “If what I have to show you is of value, I want you to allow me to accompany you.”
“Out of the question,” Lee asserted. “You have no business with us. If you feel in our debt for saving you, I release you from your obligation.”
“It is not for you to release me from anything,” she replied. “You know nothing of my motives, and I will tell you nothing except that I will not harm you. I will follow you with or without your permission. All I ask is that you let me do so openly.”
“It would be an honor to have you join us,” Gewey said, before Lee could stop him. “But I must warn you, our road is dangerous.”
“I have already guessed,” she said. “And I thank you. Now come and see what the night has caught.”
She led them up the hill, where a small patch of thin pines grew.
Lying face down was a man-bound, gagged, and unconscious. A horse was tied to a tree, and the man’s belongings had been tossed on the ground next to him.
“He’s been following you,” she said. “I overheard him asking someone on the road about two men traveling west, one young, and one older. He described you perfectly. I thought you might want to question him before I slit his throat.”
Lee walked to the unconscious man and rolled him over. To his great surprise, it was Millet.
“Millet!” Lee shouted. “What have you done to him?”
“You know him?” asked the elf.
“He’s my servant, and my friend,” said Lee as he drew his knife and cut Millet’s bonds.
“Forgive me,” she said. “I didn’t know.”
Lee examined him. He had a few bruises but otherwise looked unharmed. “Why is he unconscious?” asked Lee, cradling Millet in his arms.
“I forced him to drink jawas tea,” she answered. “He’ll be awake soon. In the mean time, I suggest you gather your things and bring them here. This is a much better location. I’ll watch over your servant until you return.”
Lee reluctantly agreed, leaving Gewey to keep watch on the hill. He didn’t want Millet to wake up only to see an armed elf at his side.