Nicholas Raven and the Wizards' Web - Volume 1 (56 page)

William first suggested that it might be a dead animal until they rode closer and saw the shape slowly rise to its feet. Brendan slowed his horse, holding out a hand to caution his brother. But when they were close enough to distinguish a man’s face in the fading light, they breathed easier. A middle-aged gentleman, sporting a black coat and gray hat, greeted them with a wave of his hand.

“Hello, gentlemen,” he softly spoke, sounding out of breath.

“Are you all right, sir?” Brendan inquired. “We saw you upon the roadside and–”

“Oh, I’m fine now, having had a little time to sit here and recover. It’s the other man who tried to rob me that received the worst of it, I think, even though he got away with my horse.” The man laughed. “Hit him with a large stick in the kneecap just before he galloped away, I did. Howled like a wolf that stepped on a thorn. Serves him right.”

“You’re certain you’re not hurt?” Brendan asked as he dismounted.

“Still in one piece, thank you. You needn’t worry.”

“Where’d the other man go?” William asked. “Do you want us to contact the local authorities?”

“No point,” he replied. “He fled south through Parma about ten minutes ago and probably disappeared into the foothills. I’ll never see him or my horse again. Luckily I kept my money on my person and found a piece of an oak branch to fend him off. He’ll think twice before robbing again. The name is Sorli, by the way.”

Brendan introduced himself and his brother, offering to escort Sorli into the village. When they mentioned that they were going to look for an inn to spend the night, Sorli recommended an establishment close to the lake and offered to buy the brothers some dinner in exchange for their kindness.

“It’s not necessary,” Brendan said. “We’re happy to help, what little we did.”

“Your concern is worth more than you can imagine,” he replied. “How many people would assist a total stranger in these troubled times? My heart will break if I must take no for an answer.”

“Well, in that case…” William said, his appetite growing.

About twenty minutes later, the trio found an inn named The Silver Trout, a large stone and wood structure built near a group of towering pines close to the lakeshore, its windows aglow with soft yellow light as the sweet scent of chimney smoke permeated the air. Soon Brendan, William and Sorli were dining on fried lake trout and washing it down with fresh apple cider. Amid the low light and competing conversations, they savored the meal while talking over their respective trips south, though Brendan and William avoided any mention of their true identities or the real purpose about traveling to Grantwick. On the sly, Brendan indicted for his brother to remove his silver ring as he had done, just to be on the safe side.

“I have several business interests on the south end of the lake,” Sorli explained during the meal, “and I’ll have to purchase another horse now or I’ll be late for my appointments. When are you two supposed to arrive in Grantwick?”

“We have no appointed time,” Brendan said, seated across from Sorli and studying his features in the dim light. The man’s full face and sleepy eyes under a mess of brown hair reminded him of no one in particular, yet seemed oddly familiar nonetheless. “We’re visiting our elderly aunt and uncle for the winter to help them out on their farm.”

“If we like it, we just might stay through the spring!” William said, eager to add to his brother’s fabrication. “I mean, what could be more fun than digging in the dirt and milking cows from first light to sunset?” he said while shoveling a forkful of fish into his mouth.

Brendan offered an awkward grin to their dinner host while looking askance at his brother. “Seems Will can hardly wait to start.”

“Apparently so,” Sorli agreed. “And best of luck to you both, whatever your future holds,” he said before polishing off the last of his cider. As he set the cup on the table, he looked at the two brothers as if an idea had just struck him. “Pardon me if I’m imposing, but since our paths are the same for the next day or so, I was wondering if you’d allow me to accompany you until I reach my destination. After my recent encounter with that highway bandit, I’m embarrassed to say that I’m a bit anxious about taking to the road again all alone, especially in the dark hours.”

“I don’t see why not,” William said. “We’d love some company, right, Brendan?”

“Uh, sure,” he replied, briefly distracted as he found himself unable to keep from casting furtive glances at Sorli, growing more convinced that he had seen this man somewhere. Had he ever visited Montavia before? Or was it simply his imagination run wild? Brendan was tempted to ask the man if he had ever traveled to Triana but decided he had better not. Still, he could not shake the vexing sensation each time he looked into the man’s eyes, feeling as if someone other than this man was staring back at him.

Later, after a final drink and some conversation near the main fire in the crowded common room, Sorli excused himself for the night, prepared to retire to his room. Brendan and William shook his hand, thanking the man for providing them such a wonderful meal.

“I look forward to your company on the road in the morning,” Sorli said. “The owner informed me that he will have one of his stable hands find a horse for sale in the village, so I’ll be ready to ride directly after breakfast.”

“Glad to hear it,” William said, wishing him good night. Brendan simply raised his hand goodbye as Sorli disappeared through the doorway. He continued to stare in the same direction for a moment after the man had departed, his mind oblivious to all else.

“That was a nice gesture,” William said, flopping back in his chair by the fire. “I’m so stuffed that I couldn’t eat another bite. And that’s saying something for–” He looked curiously at his brother who stood frozen in place. “What are you looking at, Brendan? Sit down and relax. We won’t be stopping at an inn every night.”

Brendan turned and looked at his brother, his face pale and taut. “We need to go out and check on our horses, Will. Come on.”

“Why?” he asked, contented to sit by the fire. “The stable hands will take good care of the team. No need to worry.”

Brendan sat next to William and looked him straight in the eyes, speaking in a low voice so that no one would hear. “Yes, Will, there
is
a need to worry. Just follow me outside as if nothing’s the matter and I’ll explain everything. You have to believe me.”

“You can’t be serious, Brendan?” William uttered the comment to his brother about fifteen minutes later as they guided their horses along a rutty dirt path off the main road outside of Parma. A nearly full Fox Moon rose high in the east, casting silvery light upon the countryside and distant tips of the Red Mountains standing guard in the west. “That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard!”

Moments earlier when they had abruptly left The Silver Trout, Brendan told his brother not to ask him any questions while they retrieved their horses from the stables and engineered a stealthy escape from the village. After they had turned off the main highway to conceal their whereabouts, planning to keep to minor roads and open fields for the next day or so while still heading south, Brendan finally let William pummel him with questions.

“How could Sorli have actually been that–” William sighed with exasperation, unable to complete the sentence. “Again, you can’t be serious!”

Brendan composed himself as they rode quietly through the night, a handful of dimly lit farmhouses scattered across the rolling hills. “Will, I’m being utterly serious, or why would I have rushed us out of there? I don’t trust Sorli. He’s not who he claims to be. I can’t explain it, but he is not what he appears.”

“And you saw proof of this in his
eyes
? How come I didn’t?”

“Maybe you’re too trusting and too young–or were just too consumed with your fish dinner,” he replied. “I’m not sure. But like I said, that strange feeling I experienced every time I caught a glimpse of his eyes was the exact same reaction I had when I observed that deer you had fed on the roadside earlier today. It was as if…” Brendan looked up at the moon, wishing his brother had been able to confirm his fears. “It was as if somebody else existed behind those eyes in each case, quietly spying on us. My heart and soul were chilled to the core.”

William found it impossible to believe his brother. “So what you’re saying is that Sorli and that deer are one and the same? That the deer followed us all the way to Parma and–
turned into Sorli
?” He couldn’t keep a straight face when he spoke the words to his brother.

“Something like that,” Brendan muttered, finding it difficult not to acknowledge the humor in William’s statement. “I know it sounds preposterous, but I can’t deny the threat I felt to our safety, Will. Stranger things have happened in this world, and I didn’t want to take a chance that harm might come to us, especially to you.”

“I appreciate that, Brendan, but still…”

“I know, Will. And you have permission to laugh at me all the way to Grantwick,” he replied. “Still, I feel better that we’re back on the road and out of sight from curious eyes. After we’re south of Lake Lasko, we’ll return to the main road. I’ll be happy when we get past these mountains and are riding through the Swift River Valley. The sight of the Ebrean Forest will do us both good. But for now, just accept what I did even if you can’t believe it. Maybe one day we’ll be able to laugh about this over a pint of ale.”

“Looking forward to it,” William said, grinning at his brother in the moonlight. “Though I’ve already started on the laughing part!”

They avoided the main thoroughfare for a couple more days as a precaution, traversing little used cart paths, open fields and patches of scrubland before finally returning to the road to speed up their journey. After they had traveled several more miles, the road veered to the east, wrapping around the southern portion of the lake, so the two brothers again left the road and continued west to the Swift River Valley through a gap in the Red Mountains. They passed uneventfully along the valley, crossing various tributaries that fed into the Swift River until they reached the west bank of the main watercourse. From a distance, Brendan pointed out the northern tip of the Ebrean Forest now in view, happy to see the soothing stretch of green beckoning to them like an old friend.

“It won’t be long before we sit down to speak with King Cedric,” he said, eagerly anticipating the end of their journey.

“I can only imagine what words King Justin will have with Nedry once they realize we’re not coming back as soon as we promised.” William chuckled. “I hope Nedry isn’t scolded for helping to arrange our little expedition.”

“Nedry can honestly say he had no idea of our intentions,” Brendan replied. “Still, I feel a bit guilty for putting him in that position, but what’s done is done. We’ll suffer any consequences when we return. In the meantime, we have miles to ride before we reach those woods. Grantwick isn’t much farther beyond.”

They rode their horses under a blue sky dotted with billowing clouds drifting eastward like massive ships upon a borderless sea. Finally, six days after leaving The Silver Trout in secret, the sibling princes approached the city of Grantwick as cool purple twilight descended upon the sprawling countryside. They guided their steeds along the quiet streets of the outer sections of town under the high Bear Moon a day past first quarter. Brendan, spotting a young couple passing by hand in hand in the opposite direction, stopped to ask which road led to the center of Grantwick. The man tipped his hat, obliging him with a detailed answer.

“But it won’t do you any good going there tonight.”

“Why’s that?” William asked.

“The four gates in the wall surrounding King’s Quarters and the adjacent settlements are barred at night. Have been since the end of Old Summer. No one’s allowed in until sunrise.”

“All because of the war in the east and the troubles in the Northern Mountains,” the woman elaborated after Brendan pressed them for more details. “King Cedric is a cautious man, fearing that Vellan’s influence over Surna, Linden and Harlow will eventually work its way here. Though we have the Ebrean Forest as a protective shield, Kargoth’s cold breath and dogged grasp still reach far.”

“Do you think he’ll ever invade your lands?” Brendan asked. The couple looked at each other, unsure how to answer. “Well, we’ve taken up enough of your time. Thank you for your help. My brother and I will find another place to pass the night.”

William waved goodbye as he and Brendan sauntered down the road on their horses, soon finding the way to the center of Grantwick from the eastern side. As the coupled had warned them, the main gates were barred and guarded inside and out, so they rode by from a distance, not even bothering to approach the men on duty for information.

“I’d rather enter in the morning without any fuss,” Brendan said. “I want as few people to know about our business as possible.”

“So in the meantime?” William asked.

“Seeing that it’s such a lovely night, I suggest we ride all the way around the wall to the west side facing the forest. It’s not far to the eaves of the Ebrean from there,” he replied. “We’ll camp out under the boughs and practice what we’ll say to King Cedric tomorrow before treating ourselves to a good night’s sleep.”

“I’m not very tired, but a warm fire and a full meal would be just the thing,” William said as the line of thick wooden posts of the distant wall drifted slowly past.