“You have no cause to be jealous,” she explained. “If he approached me with interest, he would have immediately sensed there is a suitor; unless he was prepared to challenge you, he would not interfere.”
“I’m not jealous,” he replied stubbornly.
“Of course you are,” she said. “It’s perfectly natural. It’s a consequence of touching the mind of someone you’ve spoken the declaration to. I told you those ancient words have meaning. But they also have power.”
“If you knew this would happen, why did you want to touch my mind to begin with?” he cried, suddenly feeling violated.
“I felt it was necessary to know you more…intimately,” she answered. “I suppose I should have warned you there might be some emotional repercussions.” Kaylia had the look of mischievous child. “Now I think it’s time to rejoin the party. We can inform the others later.” She took Gewey’s hand.
“No!” he yelled, jerking his hand away. “You said you wouldn’t hold back, but it’s all you do.”
Kaylia lowered her eyes, “You’re right, of course. I should have warned you.” She held out her hand. “I will try and be more considerate.”
Gewey paused and let his anger subside. “Thank you.” He took her hand and they returned to the common room, where the others were still enjoying the celebration.
Lee was dancing with Maybell, who laughed like a young girl as he swept her across the dance floor, while Millet and Dina toasted to each other’s health for what was probably the tenth time. The rest of the room buzzed with merry making as the minstrels played on and on, each song livelier than the last.
When things finally died down around midnight, Kaylia had everyone join her in her room. She told them in detail about her conversation with Linis, and the ambush that awaited them when they left Delhammer.
“Do you trust him?” Lee asked.
“I probably would have been able to tell if he was lying,” Kaylia answered. “If he says there are elves waiting to kill us outside the city walls, then I think we should take it very seriously. Linis says he can help us avoid detection, and we should accept his help.”
“I agree,” Gewey added. “I think he was telling the truth.”
Lee looked intently at Kaylia. “Fine,” he said reluctantly. “We’ll trust your judgment.”
“Thank you,” Kaylia replied.
“I was talking to Gewey,” he said, rising to his feet. “Now, we should all get some rest. I have a feeling that we’re going to need it.”
Dina cleared her throat and tilted her head towards Maybell. “Excuse me,” she said. “But aren’t you forgetting something?”
“Ahh,” Lee said, suddenly realizing what she meant. “Maybell, from the sound of it, we’ll be walking for quite some time. You may want to take refuge here.”
“Young man,” she said indignantly. “I can walk you into the ground. Don’t let the age on my face make you think I’m feeble. I will not be left behind. I said I’m going to the temple of Valshara, and I mean to do just that.”
“Very well,” Lee conceded with a certain amount of admiration.
“We’ll be leaving early tomorrow. Millet and I will divide the gear, and sell what we won’t need in the morning.”
“I fear that means the wine as well,” Millet lamented. “Such a pity.”
They said goodnight and retired to their rooms.
Gewey was excited at the thought of meeting more elves, and it took two large swallows of jawas to calm his mind enough to sleep.
Chapter 19
When Gewey awoke the next morning, his things had been packed for him. Lee had already left, so he made his way down to the common room, following the smell of porridge and biscuits. Maybell was sitting at a table, sipping on a cup of apple juice.
“Good morning,” Gewey said, taking the seat across from her.
Maybell smiled warmly. “Well, if it isn’t the young man. Come to keep an old woman company?”
“Absolutely,” he said. “Have you eaten?”
“Not yet,” she replied. “I was waiting for the others to roll out of bed. But now that you’re here, I say to blazes with them.”
Gewey chuckled. “I agree.”
The two of them ate while Maybell told him stories about the different temples she had seen. Gewey marveled at her ability to remember every detail.
“Now that I have you to myself,” she said. “I must ask: What do you intend to do about the two women who now compete for your affections?”
Gewey was stunned. “I don’t…” he stammered.
“I may be old,” she said, cutting him off, “but I’m not blind. Both Kaylia and Celandine seem quite taken with you-not that I blame them. But it does present you with a difficult situation.”
“I don’t think Dina sees me that way,” Gewey countered.
“Perhaps not,” Maybell laughed. “But she has at least shown interest, and I don’t think Kaylia is very happy about it.”
“I haven’t noticed anything,” Gewey said. In truth, it seemed to him she and Dina were getting along well.
“Of course you haven’t,” she chided. “You’re a man. I just want you to be careful. The last thing you want is to have a broken heart on your conscience.”
“What can I do?” he asked sincerely.
“Either choose one or choose neither.” Maybell replied. “I do not envy you. Both Kaylia and Celandine are remarkable and beautiful young women. It’s an impossible choice. But it’s one I fear you’ll eventually have to make.”
Gewey’s head reeled at the idea. He wished he had stayed in bed.
“Good morning,” Dina said, as she and Kaylia entered the common room and sat down at the table. Kaylia was once again
wearing her hooded cloak. Gewey was unable to look either of them in the eye.
“Have you been teasing the young man, Sister?” Dina asked playfully.
“Not at all,” Maybell replied. “We were just talking about the choices a man who has come of age is faced with.”
“Is that so?” Kaylia asked. “I hope he listened.”
“I think he did,” Maybell said, reaching across the table and patting Gewey’s hand.
Lee and Millet returned a few hours later, each carrying a large sack filled with supplies. Lee spent the better part of an hour separating the goods into individual packs small enough for everyone to carry. Maybell insisted on carrying her own provisions, but eventually relented when Gewey pleaded with her.
By dusk, they had made all their preparations and waited in the common room. Eventually, Kaylia stood up and motioned for the others to do the same.
“Linis approaches,” Kaylia noted. “Everyone, gather your things.”
Lee raised an eyebrow. “How can you tell?” he asked skeptically.
“We elves can sense when others are near,” she revealed. “But we can discuss this later; right now, we must leave this place.”
Outside, they saw the elf waiting, cloaked and hooded, by the corner of the inn. Kaylia made the introductions, and Linis bowed to each in turn.
“Once we arrive at the gate, you must follow me very carefully,” Linis instructed. “My kinsmen are waiting for us about one mile south of the city. The others are waiting to ambush you three miles west.”
“If elves can tell when others are near, won’t they sense you moving?” Gewey asked.
“We have ways of masking our presence,” he answered. “If we are discovered, two of us will stay with you while the others try to distract them. Now we must hurry. I have paid the gate guard to be absent for the next twenty minutes, but after that, we may be questioned.”
Linis led them at a quick pace through the city streets. Gewey kept looking back to check on Maybell, but to his surprise, she seemed to have no trouble keeping up.
As Linis had assured them, the west gate was unguarded as they passed through.
“Follow me along the wall,” Linis whispered. “In three hundred yards, there’s a path leading southwest. My people wait for us at its end.”
The path was barely visible in the fading daylight. The group tried to keep pace with Linis, but in minutes he was out of sight.