Chapter fourteen

The team continued their journey. It took another sennight to arrive at the guardpost; they were hindered by bandits, but also small groups of Empire fighters that appeared to have become separated from their units. Ruk wondered whether they might have been deserters, but it didn't matter much; no matter where they were from, the survivors went to the prison gangs and the dead – well, they were dead. But the part that did matter was the fact that they were better equipped than simple bandits, and by the time the group arrived at the guardpost, each of them had several minor injuries that required rest and Healing. Ruk had a slice through the left leg that had it not been for Saria's Healing ability, would have meant the loss of the leg altogether; it had nearly been sliced through. Lyek had a broken forearm which had only been splinted, since keeping Ruk's leg attached had required most of Saria's energy. Saria herself had a serious concussion. The horses and Lyesa, too, had some nagging injuries from an arrow here and an errant blade there.

As a result, the team was obliged to stay at the guardpost for a couple of nights. Saria requested and received the assistance of the guard Healer, since bone healing for Lyek's arm would take all of her energy and leave none for anyone else. Saria insisted on finishing the work on Ruk's leg herself, so the guard Healer worked on Lyek's arm and Saria's concussion; Saria took care of the horses and Lyesa, using Ruk's energy. Ruk was angry at the delay, but it couldn't be helped; they couldn't go galavanting into the Empire with nagging injuries. Particularly the horses; if they needed to turn tail and run quickly, the horses needed to be in full health. If Ruk was going to succeed at taking down Melles, she also needed to be in full health. So the delay was regrettable, but necessary; the only consolation was the fact that since all the fighting was in Hardorn, once they crossed the border they were likely to not have to deal with bandits anymore.

"We're sure glad to have you here," said Lian, the captain of the guardpost. "Our men are running hard and thin here; we're glad to know the Crown is doing something to help us out of this situation."

"This mission is not common knowledge, Lian," said Ruk sternly. "If word gets out about our purpose, we will be defeated before we have a chance to strike. You can be glad all you want, but you're going to have to keep it to yourself."

"That's fine, but how do you expect to explain it to the men?" asked Lian. A valid question, one Ruk had not considered. Sheka. "I mean, I'm not gonna tell 'em, but they see three of their own crossing the border and leaving the Companion behind, well, a lot of 'em aren't too bright but there are a few will figure it out. Word will spread. And then – well, I run a tight ship, but there's always a risk someone will try to get rich quick by sharing that information with the wrong people, and that's just the ones who will spread it on purpose. You know information like this won't stay secret for long."

"You're absolutely right," said Ruk. "Unfortunately, it's not a part of the plan that had occurred to me. Damn."

"Well, you're going to have to come up with something," said Lian. "I'll do my part by keeping mum, but I can't keep the men from putting it together on their own."

"No, of course not," said Ruk. "I should have thought of this. Hellfires, the Crown should have thought of it, it's their plan. No way would I be taking three people, one of them an untrained Herald, on this kind of mission."

"I wondered about that," said Lian. "Seems like too many people on what should be a covert mission."

"Well, there are reasons for it," said Ruk. She did not, however, go into those reasons; there was no reason to let Lian, a guard captain for Hardorn, believe that the Valdemaran Crown was incompetent. Particularly when it appeared the Companions themselves were behind this particular choice.

This was a serious dilemma. Ruk was angry at herself for not thinking of it herself; she had been so focused on laying the false trail for their characters, it had not occurred to her that the guardpost would be a problem. But now it seemed so obvious; even if they managed to get the team across the border without anyone the wiser, they would surely notice a lone Companion staying here for several moons. She decided to consult Lyesa directly about it, since she could always illusion them across the border but couldn't hide Lyesa.

"Lyesa," she started. She did not bespeak the Companion except when necessary; it was rude. "how are we going to keep the guard from wondering why there is a lone Companion staying here? If the word gets out around this camp of our mission, we are done."

:They will not notice me: Lyesa said. Ruk was not satisfied with this answer.

"They won't notice you?" she said. "A Companion, in a country that does not often see them particularly on this end of it, hanging out in their stables for at least the entire season, and they're not going to notice? You expect me to be satisfied with that?"

Lyesa didn't respond, just looked smug and didn't answer.

"No," said Ruk. "You lot can get away with non-answers and being all mysterious to your Chosen all you like, but that's not going to work with me. I am risking my life, my lifebonded's life, as well as the life of YOUR Chosen on this mission, and you will not brush me off by looking all smug and mysterious. Now out with it, how will they not notice a big white horse in the middle of their camp?"

:You are not the only one with magic.: said Lyesa, still insisting on evading the question.

"So you're going to illusion yourself? Is that it?" asked Ruk. Lyesa did not answer.

:You will not brush me off, Lyesa. If you continue trying, I will abort this mission altogether. I do not have to continue, and I will not do so unless you cooperate.: she said.

Lyesa put her ears back and snorted, but gave in.

:Yes,: she said, :I am going to keep myself illusioned. They will see a deer out in the field and a regular horse in the stable that no one is quite sure whose horse it is, but everyone will recognize it as being part of the stable.:

"Alright," said Ruk. "I will make an illusion so that no one notices us leave, and you will keep yourself from being noticed. For a season. This mission is getting more and more unlikely to succeed every day…"

Lyesa tossed her head and stalked off. Ruk went to find Saria and discuss this latest development. She was angry; she did not like this mission. She didn't like that she hadn't had any real influence in how it was carried out or the fact that the Companions had kept so much of the reasoning behind it secret. She wondered if they really did have a reason or if they had just wanted a Herald to be present during it; she rather suspected the latter. But mostly, she did not like that it was her life, and Saria's, that was put on the line according to someone else's plan while that person sat safe in a palace back in Haven. Not to mention Lyek's own life.

"This plan is more and more unlikely to succeed, and there's nothing we can do about it," said Saria. "You're sure we can't just Gate Lyek home again?"

"I suppose we could," said Ruk. "But I'm afraid the Queen would just get Elspeth to Gate him back."

"Can she?" asked Saria. "I don't mean the Queen, I mean Elspeth – is she capable of Gating him this far?"

"I believe so, particularly with Darkwind to back her up, and that Heartstone under the Palace," said Ruk. "We may have more raw power than she has, but she is by no means weak, or unskilled."

"That's true, but do you really think they'd go that far?" asked Saria.

"The Queen on her own? No, of course not. But under the advice of their Companions? Of course," said Ruk. "And Kero said, the Companions seem to be the ones making the decision to send Lyek, not the Queen."

"Yes, but Elspeth won't comply with something just because Gwena tells her to. She will demand answers," said Saria.

"Maybe that's what we should push for, then," said Ruk. "If we are to get answers, make Elspeth get them from Gwena."

"Lyesa won't tell you?" asked Saria.

"I don't think Lyesa knows the reason her Chosen was sent in the first place," said Ruk. "I don't think they've told her. Whatever counts as Companion hierarchy, or council, she's just doing as she's told."

"I can't imagine risking the life of my Chosen because the Companion council told me to," said Saria. "I mean, that would be like sending you on a mission to risk your life because the Queen said so."

"And yet that is exactly what we are doing," said Ruk. "We are haring off to parts unknown on a mission of questionable likelihood for success without having a real say-so in the plan."

"That is disturbingly true," said Saria. "Still, what will we do? Gate him back, or proceed?"

"I think I need to talk to Kero," said Ruk.

"Probably a good idea," said Saria.

Ruk settled herself onto the bed with her back against that wall. From this distance, in order to have a conversation consisting of more than 'hello', she needed to be in trance to Mindspeak Kerowyn. Saria settled herself as well, both to guard against intrusion and to monitor Ruk's energies.

:Kero: Ruk began.

:Taia!: Kerowyn answered immediately. :You caught me in the middle of a weapons class. What's wrong?:

:What's always wrong,: said Taia. :This plan is not well designed. Had it occurred to you that the Hardornen guardpost would have a hard time keeping the secret of this mission?:

:Yes.: said Kero. :Sayvil assures me that Lyesa will keep herself illusioned. We figured you could handle the rest.:

:Does it not bother you that there are so many unnecessary risks in this plan?: asked Taia.

:Honestly?: said Kerowyn. :Yes. Yes, it bothers me a great deal. But what's your option?:

:We can still Gate Juren back to Haven.: said Taia. :And I'm not above doing it.:

:Of course you're not, and I wouldn't blame you.: said Kerowyn. :But you would lose your communication with Haven on your progress, which we do need. And Selenay told me that if you do so, she will have Elspeth Gate him back. I asked. Rather forcefully.:

:Of course,: said Taia. :I assumed. But perhaps she could convince Gwena to divulge why the Companions feel the need for this plan, with all the added risks and the decreased likelihood of success?:

:I share your frustration, truly I do.: said Kero. :But I have spoken with Sayvil at length about this. Sayvil knows that I don't tolerate deception and manipulation any more than Elspeth does, and she says that should the mission fail, in order to have an army available in time of any size, it is crucial that we have word of it before the rumor would reach Haven. She has assured me that the Companions have weighed the options and while they know having Juren present decreases the likelihood of success, the communication is truly necessary.:

:Very well,: said Taia. :I still don't like it. But I realize my complete lack of options in the matter.:

:Safe travels, Taia.: said Kerowyn. :May the Star Eyed guard your path.:

:Thank you.: said Taia.

Ruk opened her eyes. The effort to Mindspeak Kero from this distance had exhausted her; but it was worth it. She still didn't like the plan, but at least she knew the Companions were communicating with somebody. And they were acknowledging the increased risk to the mission, which made her feel a great deal better; at least they weren't just playing games.

"What did she say?" asked Saria.

"She said that Selenay has already told her that should we Gate Lyek back to Haven, she will have Elspeth Gate him back," said Ruk. "The Companions acknowledge the additional risk to the mission, but they still believe their need for immediate knowledge of the possible failure of it outweighs the additional risk."

"I still think it's a draw," said Saria. "and I'd prefer to make the decision myself."

"So would I," admitted Ruk. "But I do feel better knowing that they are not just being mysterious and risking our lives without consideration."

"That is true," said Saria. "I do find their mysteriousness around their reasoning to be a bit disturbing, to say the least. I mean, of course they are good, and they don't risk lives without need; but sometimes the fact that they don't consult us, and don't let us have any say in the matter of our mission is unsettling, and does not lead me to want to comply."

"Absolutely," said Ruk. "I still don't know whether or not I agree, but I suppose it cannot be helped. There are valid reasons for both sending Lyek home and taking him with us, and no matter how many times we go around and around about it, the result is the same. We will proceed, and may the Star Eyed help us."

"May she indeed," said Saria. "May she indeed."