Kaylia looked at him darkly, her fierce eyes burning from underneath her hood. “You do not need to know anything about my people, other than to stay away from them.”
“If elves hate humans so much, why did you want to travel with us?”
“Save your questions,” said Kaylia. “I’m sure your friends told you that you would get no answers from me.” She pulled her robes close. “You should listen to them.”
The rest of the day Lee and Millet discussed possible routes west while Kaylia listened quietly, occasionally offering advice. Gewey dozed on and off, though still determined to question Kaylia again. He desperately wanted to learn more about the elves; they seemed magical, yet treacherous-like beautiful predators. Every movement Kaylia made flowed like water, and her voice was like soft music. Gewey caught himself staring over and over again, though she didn’t seem to notice-if she did, she ignored it. That night, they set up camp just off the road. Kaylia disappeared as soon as they settled in.
“Where do you think she went?” asked Gewey.
“I don’t know,” said Lee. “But I’m sure she’ll be back by morning.”
“Do elves sleep?” he asked.
“I would think so,” said Lee. “But how often, I couldn’t say. Most of what I know about elves is from the few books I’ve read on the subject, and most are about the elves of old. Very little is written about what they are like now. Best not to worry about it. Get some rest.”
Lee removed Gewey’s bandages and examined the wound on his chest. It had almost completely healed, so Lee decided a bandage was no longer necessary. The pink lines on his arms that told where his cuts had been had vanished completely.
The morning came, and just as Lee had said, Kaylia returned. They climbed on the wagon and slowly moved on.
Chapter 7
The day was hot, and sitting in the back of the wagon in full robes was miserable. Kaylia, however, seemed unaffected.
“How old are you?” Gewey asked Kaylia, renewing his efforts to get information. “I hear your people live a long time.”
“I’m older than you,” she said without looking up.
Gewey was undeterred. “I’m just trying to get to know you.”
“There’s no need,” said Kaylia. “You already know everything you need to know.”
“But that’s practically nothing,” Gewey insisted. “If we’re going to travel together, don’t you think we should know more about each other?”
“I do not,” she replied. “At least not now.”
Gewey kept pressing, determined to learn more about her. “Do you have a last name, or are you just Kaylia?”
Kaylia reached in her robe, pulled out a flask, and drank deeply.
“What’s that?” asked Gewey.
Kaylia handed him the flask. He noticed a sweet smell as he lifted it to his mouth. Despite the heat, the liquid was cool, and it tasted like honeyed water.
“Thank you,” said Gewey, handing her back the flask.
Suddenly, he felt woozy and his vision blurred. The last thing Gewey saw as he dropped to the bottom of the wagon was Kaylia’s grinning face.
Lee turned and saw Gewey sprawled next to the supplies. “What happened?”
“The boy wanted to know more about elves,” said Kaylia. “So I introduced him to jawas tea.”
Lee laughed aloud. “A lesson he won’t soon forget, I imagine.
Wouldn’t you agree, Millet?”
Millet was not amused; his own experience with jawas tea still lingered in his memory. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to drug the boy,” he said sourly. “If we are attacked, it won’t do to have to carry him.”
“You’re right, of course,” Lee acknowledged, and turned to Kaylia.
“In the future, please let the boy remain conscious.”
Kaylia shrugged. “If you say so.”
When Gewey awoke, the wagon had stopped. Millet was preparing the noon meal, and Kaylia and Lee were checking the horses.
“What happened?” Gewey asked. His vision was still fuzzy, and his head swam.
“Our elf friend happened,” said Millet. “She drugged you with jawas tea.”
Gewey rubbed his eyes. “Why did she do that?”
“I expect she wanted you to stop asking questions,” Millet replied.
“In the future, I suggest that you refrain from accepting food or drink from a stranger, especially if that stranger is an elf.”
“I think you might be right,” said Gewey as he slowly climbed out of the wagon. ‘At least I learned one thing,’ he thought. ‘Jawas tea doesn’t affect elves.’
Gewey ate his food as far away from Kaylia as he could, and when they were done, he insisted that he trade places with Lee in the wagon.
Once they were underway, Gewey turned toward Millet. “You’ve been with Lee for a long time, right?”
Millet nodded. “A very long time.”
“What was he like when he was young?” asked Gewey.
“Rash,” Millet answered. “Very rash.”
Gewey paused, considering what he should ask about next. “Have you been to Kaltinor before?”
“Yes, but not for many years,” Millet replied. “I’m sure you’ll find it exciting. Compared to Sharpstone, it’s a very large city.”
Gewey tried to picture what it would be like. Gath was the largest town he’d seen so far. He’d heard stories of some of the great cities- their tall buildings reaching to the heavens, their wide brick streets large enough to accommodate twenty wagons at once. He wondered if Kaltinor would be like that.
“What’s the biggest city you’ve seen?” asked Gewey.
Millet thought it over for a moment. “That would have to be Baltria,” he said finally. “Though it wasn’t the most impressive city I’ve visited.”
For the next few hours, Millet entertained Gewey with tales of the wonderful places he had seen. He didn’t mind the flood of questions and answered each one with courtesy and patience.
“Stop the wagon,” Kaylia said suddenly. “Now!”
Millet stopped the wagon and Kaylia jumped out to scan the woods. After a few minutes, she got back in the wagon and told Millet to continue on.
“What did you see?” Lee asked, his hand on his sword.
“Hopefully nothing that need concern us,” Kaylia answered.
“I’m concerned, and I’m responsible for the lives of my friends,” Lee said. “So you need to tell me what you saw.”
“There’s a small group of elves traveling south of the road. If they ignore us, we’ll be fine. If not…” Kaylia trailed off, her eyes meeting Lee’s with a mutual understanding.
Lee closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of the woods. In the distance, he heard four elves matching their pace.
“They follow us,” Lee said warily. “Don’t say anything to Millet or Gewey yet.”
Kaylia nodded. “Agreed. If all goes well, it won’t be necessary. They may not know I’m here.”
“And if they do?” Lee asked.
“Then I will have to speak to them,” Kaylia replied, clearly troubled by the prospect.
The day passed slowly for Lee and Kaylia. Millet and Gewey knew something was wrong, but after a while they decided to ignore it, and Millet continued to regale the boy with tales of his travels.
When night fell, they made camp. Gewey helped Millet build the fire and prepare the meal. Lee sat on a blanket sharpening and oiling his sword, his eyes fixed on the surrounding forest. Kaylia was leaning against the wagon, her head bowed in thought.
Lee sheathed his sword and walked over to Kaylia.
“They’re still here,” he said.
“I know,” Kaylia responded. “I must speak to them. Wait here until I return.”
Lee sat next to the fire while Millet and Gewey ate, eyes closed, listening into the night.
“What are you doing?” asked Gewey.
“I’m listening,” Lee growled. “So be quiet.”
Gewey noticed Kaylia’s absence. “Where’s…?”
Lee’s eyes popped open, glaring at Gewey. Gewey tried to listen as he had done in Gath, but he couldn’t concentrate. Frustrated, he threw down his bowl and stormed over to his bedroll.