Jack Templar and the Lord of the Werewolves (Book #4 of the Templar Chronicles) (4 page)

“I think I found them,” Daniel said proudly.

We were sitting near a rolling stream under the country stone bridge, the kind trolls always hide under to wait for their lunch to come strolling by. There was no troll under this one though. It did provide cover from prying eyes and the noonday sun. We hadn’t seen Daniel since the night before, but somehow he’d tracked us to this spot, hanging over the edge of the bridge to look at us. I half-wondered if one of us carried a GPS tracker or something that he used to find us.

He flipped over and executed a flip to land on his feet in the middle of our small camp. I noticed Eva jerk her head toward him for a second but then look back down at her hands cradled on her lap.

“You think or you know?” I asked.

“Ninety percent sure,” he replied. He held up his hand toward Will, who tossed him a protein bar from our stash of food. Daniel ripped it open and took a huge bite.

“What are the data points?” Xavier asked. When the rest of us gave him a quizzical look, he rephrased the question. “I mean, how did you figure it out?”

“When looking for something that can’t be found, the trick is to look for the evidence of the thing and not the thing itself,” Daniel said, obviously pleased with himself, his mouth annoyingly full of protein bar.

“Sure, everyone knows that,” Will mocked.

“Uhhh… I don’t get it,” T-Rex said.

“When you track a rabbit, you don’t look for the rabbit,” Daniel said. “You look for signs that the rabbit exists. Once you know he exists, you look for direction, speed. Things like tracks, a tuft of hair on a bramble, droppings.”

“Eww… you found some of Master Aquinas’s droppings?” T-Rex asked.

Daniel’s smile disappeared. “No, of course not, you idiot.”

I suppressed a grin as T-Rex turned bright red.

“So, what did you find?” I asked.

“Aquinas has need for certain herbs and powders for her medicines and potions. I’ve been canvassing apothecaries, mostly hunter-types but some regs too, who would carry the items she uses. I picked up a trail yesterday. She was cautious, never buying too much at any one place, but enough to notice if you’re looking for it.”

“That’s brilliant,” I said.

“Great data points,” Xavier whispered. “I should have thought of that.”

“It’s okay, genius,” Will teased. “You can’t save us every time.”

“Awesome job, Daniel. How close are we?” I asked.

“That’s the best part,” Daniel said. “We were heading the right general direction. If we get lucky with a ride, we can be there well before sunset.”

“That’s the best news I’ve heard in a while,” I said. “Okay guys, let’s head out.”

As the others gathered their things, I approached Eva, who still had her back to us. “Did you hear that? Daniel found Aquinas. We can be there by sunset.”

She nodded and then slowly twisted her body so she could look at me. She kept her chin tucked to her chest so her face was half-hidden by her right shoulder. I watched her eyes flash to my hands. One was on the hilt of my sword and the other hovered near the knife at my waist. I moved them, not even I aware that I’d subconsciously put them there, but the damage was done. It was clear that I didn’t trust her. Eva stood and stalked away, shooting me an angry glare.

In my mind, we couldn’t get to Aquinas soon enough.

The landscape changed radically over the last part of our journey. Gone were the level fields with their well-tended stone fences, replaced with a more rugged terrain of wild rock outcroppings and stands of ancient trees. The packed dirt looked impossible to till, yet we passed small farms with plots for vegetables or rows of grapevine. This was a hard land, and I guessed it took hard people to live on it. A few hours later, thanks to the kindness of a few farmers who offered us rides, we found ourselves only two miles away from our final destination.

Daniel pointed down a dirt road that curved away out of sight behind a hill.

“Come on, it’s not much farther,” he said. “Eyes open, though. If I was in charge, there would be traps set along the road.”

I hesitated as he said this, and I saw Will and T-Rex do the same. Only Xavier didn’t seem worried. When he caught my look, he just shrugged. “I’m just following right behind Daniel. If there’s a trap, he’ll set it off, not me. What do I have to worry about?”

Daniel shook his head. “Thanks for the concern.”

As we made the turn in the road, we saw two horse riders come at a gallop over the far hill in front of us.

“Into the bushes,” Daniel hissed.

We all sprinted for cover and crouched low to the ground. “I thought you knew this was the right place.”

“I said I was ninety percent sure, didn’t I?” Daniel replied. “Ten percent chance we’re here too late and this place is overrun with Creach.”

I pulled my sword. “Funny time to mention that part,” I said.

We watched as the two riders came closer. The horses could not have been more different from one another. One was an enormous white beast, thick-chested and tall, all muscle and sinew. Its mane flew in the air as it ran. The other horse was chestnut, its brown coat shining like satin in the light. Shorter and stockier than the other horse, it carried its head high, showing off its cocky attitude. The riders were what drew my attention though. They stood in their stirrups, leaning forward over their horses’ necks, arms pumping. The sight reminded me of professional jockeys in the middle of a high stakes race. As they got closer, I saw the tight braids of their hair and realized they were young girls.

I moved to step out from the brush cover and Daniel grabbed my arm.

“We don’t know who they are,” Daniel said.

I grinned. “But I’m pretty sure I know whose side they’re on. Stay here in case I’m wrong.”

I stepped out, stood in the middle of the road, and waited. The riders saw me and adjusted their course, turning toward my position. The ground shook as they drew nearer, the horses’ hooves pounding the hard earth. The riders hardly flinched at seeing me, but I did notice the one on the chestnut horse reach back in a fluid motion and pull a bow from a sling on her saddle. I readied myself in case she decided to fire first and ask questions later.

I left my hands by my sides, trying to balance not appearing to be a threat while still being ready to defend myself. The two riders galloped hard until they were right on me, pulling up only feet away, their charges stamping the ground, whinnying loudly. The girl on the chestnut had an arrow nocked on the far side of her body, hiding it from me.

“C’est une propriété privée,” the girl on the white horse called in French. Her brown eyes cutting through me. “Esta propiedad privada,” she tried in Spanish. “English?” she finally asked.

“That would be great,” I said. “But I think I got the point with the bow and arrow over there.”

The girl on the other horse dug her heel into her horse’s flank and spun around so that the pulled bow aimed at my chest. I saw that she couldn’t be more than eleven or twelve, with bright blue eyes that flashed intelligence and a calm that I found unnerving. I was clearly not the first person this girl had ever pointed a bow toward.

“That’s my sister, Emmy. I think you’re making her nervous,” the girl on the white horse said, her tone making it clear I wasn’t making either of them nervous at all. “When she’s nervous, her fingers tend to slip.”

“They’re feeling pretty slippery,” Emmy said, her voice too cold and expressionless for my taste. “Not sure how much longer I can hold on.”

“That’s okay,” I said. “I’ll be able to dodge that arrow.”

Emmy snorted a short laugh. “Oh, I’d like to see that. Kelsey, can I do it?”

Kelsey, the one on the white horse, the older of the two sisters, eyed me cautiously. “Only a demon could dodge an arrow. Is that what you are, then? A demon?’

I shook my head. “We’re here to see–”

“We?” Kelsey said, cutting me off. She pulled the sword from her side. “Where are they? I should trample you with my horse and crush you into the ground right now.”

“Oh, I don’t think you could do that,” I said.

Kelsey dug in her heels and spurred the great white horse on. I don’t know if her intention was to brush by me to give me a scare or if she really meant to crush me like she threatened, but neither happened. The big horse didn’t move a muscle. In fact, it lowered its head and made soft nuzzling sounds. It stepped up to me and placed its soft nose against my chest, nudging up against my chin.

“Saladin, old boy,” I said, rubbing the warhorse’s nose. “How have you been?” I’d ridden him at the Academy, the same horse that had saved my life against the screechers. The same one I’d ridden against the dragons at the Monster Hunter Academy. The fact that he was here meant we’d finally found Aquinas.

The others stepped out of the bushes, and Emmy lowered her bow.

“I’m Jack Templar,” I said. “Nice to meet you both.”

The girls flushed with embarrassment, obviously recognizing my name. “Sorry, we were told to not let anyone near… no one… you understand….”

“It’s all right,” I said. “No harm, no foul. Now if you could just take us to –”

Saladin reared back, nostrils flared, and whinnied a high-pitched shriek. His eyes rolled in his head, wild. Kelsey held on confidently and rode him out as he bucked and twisted. The other horse did the same, nearly bucking Emmy of his back.

“Quiet, Flash,” Emmy said softly. “It’s all right, boy.”

The words worked and after a few harrowing moments, both of the horses settled down, although their ears remained pressed flat to their heads and their skin twitched. Saladin especially looked agitated. I’d seen him maintain his cool while being chased by a fire-breathing dragon through the middle of a goblin army. I couldn’t imagine what had him so spooked.

We all turned and saw that Eva had stepped from the bushes. Saladin was her horse, one of her closest friends. And he was terrified of her.

Chapter 4

“Jack! Good to see you, lad,” Bocho bellowed as he wrapped me up in an enormous bear hug that lifted me off my feet. The head Ratling lowered me to the ground, his scruffy beard and long hair giving him a wild look, although his eyes remained full of joy and mischief. “You’re not s’pposed to be here, now are you?” he asked with a smile. “Master Aquinas is goin’ to ’ave a fit when she sees you lot.”

Bocho made the rounds through our entire group, patting each shoulder or head as if to make sure we were real. When he came to Eva, he stopped short, the smile disappearing.

“It’s okay, Bocho,” I said.

Tears sprang to the big man’s eyes. “Oh, lad, no it’s not all right,” he said with a trembling voice. “What ’ave they done to you, Ms. Eva? How could they do this to you of all people?”

Eva looked up from the ground and met Bocho eye to eye. She seemed confused. Suddenly, I realized she didn’t recognize him.

Bocho noticed it too. “But I’ve known you since you were just a little girl. It’s me. Bocho.”

She squinted her eyes. After a few seconds, she shook her head and looked back at the ground.

Bocho appeared devastated at first, but then he stood up straighter and squared his shoulders. “Well, Miss, we’re just goin’ to have tah get you fixed up is all. “Jack, I’ll take you and Eva to Aquinas. You others go into the main house and get some food. You look thin as skeletons. And you all could use a bath too.”

“I’m coming with you,” Daniel said.

Bocho shook his head. “Not smelling like that, you aren’t. Besides, Aquinas will want to see Jack alone. I’m sure of it.”

“What would you say if I told you I don’t care much what Aquinas wants?” Daniel asked.

Bocho glowered and his face turned red. “Then I’d say you and me were goin’ tah ’ave a problem, Master Daniel.”

Daniel took a step toward the big man. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Enough,” I said. “It’s been a long trip. We’re all tired and on edge.” I turned to Bocho. “We’re a team. Anyone who wants to come with me can come. That’s just the way it is.”

Daniel gave me a slight nod, acknowledging that he appreciated me sticking up for him.

Bocho looked uncertain what to do but finally threw his hands up in the air. “I liked it better when I could boss you all around,” he grumbled. “Come on, then. This way.” He trudged off toward a small barn set away from the farmhouse.

“Uhh… I think you guys have this, right?” T-Rex said, eyeing the main house. “I can smell the dinner in there. Rabbit stew?” he asked Bocho.

This brightened the big man’s face. “Yes, one of my best I think. The vegetables came right from the garden this morning.”

Will licked his lips, and I noticed Xavier looking at the house too. While they felt obligated to come with us to see Aquinas, I knew what they really wanted to do.

“Why don’t you guys go get some grub,” I suggested. “That way Bocho doesn’t get into too much trouble for letting all of us come.”

“If it would help Bocho,” T-Rex said.

“Yeah,” Will agreed. “Might be better that way, right?”

Xavier studied the other two. “Am I supposed to pretend to want to come too, or can I just say I want to go eat?” he said.

Will looked embarrassed but I just laughed. “Go on, save us a plate.”

The three of them turned. Kelsey and Emmy, the two sisters who’d found them, were waiting to show the visitors inside. I turned back to see Bocho studying Eva intently.

“Come on,” I said. “Let’s go see if Aquinas can help.”

The barn was a sturdy structure with a stone base and walls of rough-cut, weathered boards likely taken from the surrounding forest before chainsaws were even invented. I was certain it had seen over a hundred harsh mountain winters, maybe even two hundred, and yet it still stood defiantly in its spot, giving every indication that it would be there for an hundred more. In this way, it was like the person inside of it waiting for our arrival.

The door creaked open and revealed an interior very similar to Aquinas’s workshop in the Tree of Life back at the Monster Hunter Academy. The open floor was divided into sections with furniture serving as the boundaries between areas. A mini-laboratory filled one area with tables covered with beakers and flasks. Glass tubing percolated with glowing fluids.