Jaer

Jaer followed the rescue party as best he could without knowing their exact direction. Despite their haste, the soldiers moved stealthily and left few tracks in the hard ground. Nevertheless, they were not trying to conceal their path and so there were enough signs for Jaer to follow through the afternoon. His task grew proportionately harder as the sky darkened but even then, he found odd marks in the ground or sketched with chalky rock on the trees. Some even looked like arrows. Whenever he found one of those marks, Jaer knew that Sir Giles was surely aware of his following, even if no one else was. Even with the assistance of Sir Giles markings, Jaer knew he could not continue to follow once full dark came. So he urged his horse on faster, determined to keep up with the warriors.

As soon as he could no longer see, Jaer dismounted and tied his horse to the nearest tree. Fumbling around in his pack, he pulled out a pastry and devoured it as he loosened the saddle and prepared to pull it off.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Biting back a cry of surprise, Jaer whirled around and whipped out his sword.

"Who is there?"

"Come now, did I not say that I would guide you in the dark hours? But I see you have forgotten."

Jaer peered into the darkness. "Sir Giles?"

"Myself. Now come. Fix that saddle and follow me. They do not stop for darkness yet."

"But I can't see." Jaer pointed out as he sheathed his sword.

"You can't? But of course. I forgot for a moment what puny eyes you humans have. Never mind that, your mount can see well enough for you."

"As you say, sir." Tightening the girth again, Jaer pulled out another pastry and swung up onto his horse. "Follow the fox, Justice. And take care that you don't run me into a tree."

A soft chuckle came from the general direction of the fox and they started off. For several more hours they traveled through the darkness. Occasionally, Jaer caught a glimpse of a small moving shadow sliding across a clearing, but otherwise, he saw no sign of his stealthy guide. It was not until he was about to fall asleep in the saddle he heard a soft gasp and then the fox appeared in front of him, perched smugly in front of the saddle.

"Sir Giles!"

"Hush, boy. I thought you had better sense than to announce your presence. Now, unless I have lost all my skill, the others are camped perhaps half a mile ahead of us. You can safely sleep the night away so long as you can wake before dawn. I'll check in on you some time tomorrow. Good night!"

As quickly as he had come, the fox was gone, leaving a startled and sleepy Jaer behind. Shrugging off his confusion, the boy dismounted and freed his horse from his accouterments. Blindly, he looped the reins around Justice's neck and then around a low branch before wrapping himself in the blanket and laying down. He was asleep almost before his head touched the ground.

Morning came all to early as Jaer fumbled with the buckles and climbed onto his horse. He kept his eyes open for signs of the rescue party's camp and soon spotted the remains of fires and places where the grass had clearly been crushed by heavy bodies. Heartened by the sight, he rode on, stopping only once to water his horse and fill his water skin at a stream. Late in the evening, Sir Giles slipped up beside him, casually inquiring about the weather.

"Well enough. At least we aren't getting drenched," Jaer replied, striving to keep the same casual tone. "Is there any more news from the kings?"

"Actually, there is. At noon a hawk brought word that King Edmund has found a tunnel beneath the ruins of the witch's castle and suspects that the giants absconded with our king that way."

"So do we alter course?"

"Nay. We will keep our way still. That will be faster. Far faster."

The last words were uttered in a quiet tone most unlike the fox's usual cool speech. Jaer's brow creased and he looked down at his guide. "Is aught else wrong, Sir Giles?"

"Hmm? No, nothing, nothing else. No."

"I don't believe you." Jaer sat back in the saddle and crossed his arms, letting Justice choose his own path. "You sound too much like Father when he's trying to keep us from knowing what's bothering him."

Sir Giles laughed. "An astute observation. No. You are right," he sighed. "My son, Peter, followed King Edmund. We're following him too."

"Peterkins?"

"Is there any other? Ohh!" The fox pranced forward a few steps. "When I get my paws on that kit…! What was that boy thinking! If anything happens too him, what will I tell his mother? What will I tell myself?"

"Oh. That's bad. But King Edmund will likely see to it that he comes to no harm."

"I know. But my head and heart are not in agreement. I tell you Jaer Peridanson, had I known what it feels like to know your son has gone into danger and you can do nothing about it, I would not have let you come with us so lightly."

Jaer could think of nothing to say to that and so wisely kept silence. After a while, Sir Giles spoke again.

"I will take you to the camp tonight. It is growing more dangerous as we get further from the eastern ocean. The witch's minions may still lurk in these lands.

"It is likely that you will be in great trouble when you see your father—and I doubt not with General Orieus too. You will be regarded as a nuisance and ignored when not being punished. Do not expect a warm welcome."

"I do not. Thank you, Sir Giles, for bringing me this far."

"See if you are still thankful when you have spoken to your father. Now hurry."

Spurring his steed to greater speeds, Jaer followed the fox again. For a moment, his thoughts flickered back to his mother and brother and sister, left at home with no real knowledge of how he was. Mother would worry. Jaerin would understand and not be afraid. Rien would probably forget about it for most of the day. All of them would miss him. As he missed them. Especially Jaerin. His merry chatter would be most welcome when once he reached the camp.

When they did reach the others the sentries did not even challenge him, so surprised were they at the sight of a human boy riding up. Sir Giles sauntered up to the nearest leopard.

"Tell Master Peridan that I have something for him," he said. "Do not tell him what."

A few minutes later, Peridan came hurrying though the camp. As soon as he spotted Jaer, he froze and then sprinted forward.

"Jaer! What are you doing here? Is something wrong with Saera?"

Jaer shook his head. "No sir. At least, there wasn't when I left."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"I've come to help, Father. I had too."

"You came to…No, Jaer! You are too young. What were you thinking? How could you?"

"For the same reasons you did, Father. I have to help. Jaerin's taking care of Mother and Rien. I came to take care of you. And, there's something that I must do. And its here, not back at home, at the Cair. You must understand, Father."

"I understand that you have followed me without pausing to consider the consequences. This is no pleasure ride, Jaer! This is a war party. And you are a child!"

By this time, a large circle had gathered around the father and son. General Orieus stood on the outskirts, flanked by the two queens. Jaer swallowed hard as he prepared to give the speech he had thought of during the long ride.

"Our kings are only children too, Father, and yet they ride to battle like men. Our queens are only children, yet they carry themselves as women grown. I am a child, Father, but I am your son and a friend of the kings. It is not, and never will be, my lot to sit at home while they, and you, ride to war. I am a king's man, Father. I will not be dissuaded from this task. Besides," he added more prosaically. "It's to late to send me back now."

"He may stay, Peridan," General Orieus said. "We have no time for discipline now. But when we return…" The glint in his eyes spoke volumes.

"Very well then. But we will speak more on this matter later. Have you supplies?"

"Some food and a blanket but not much else, Sir."

"Hmm. You will stay in my tent. And do not get out of my sight!"

Under the half-sympathetic, half-accusing stares of the others in the camp (most of the sympathy did come from Queen Lucy but still), Jaer followed his father to his tent. It was a small affair, plain and unadorned save for the fading scrollwork around the base. The queens' tent was nearby. Picketing his horse with the others, Jaer entered the tent.

It was a long night and even longer day. Only Sir Giles and Peridan said more than a few words to him. Already sore from two hard days in the saddle, the third day was even harder. They were traveling dull country too, rocky and wooded. The general seemed to think they were nearing their destination and so urged them on faster. Only at dusk when Peridan pointed out that the queens were tiring, did the centaur consent to an early camp. After seeing the tents pitched, Orieus disappeared, leaving the two queens to pour over a map alone in the fading light. This surprised Jaer. He had begun to wonder if the overprotective general ever let them out of his sight. Apparently so, if very infrequently.

Sighing, Jaer dropped to the ground, wishing fervently that Jaerin were with him. His brother's ready smile would bring cheer even to this gloomy camp.

"You can't say I didn't warn you."

Jaer yelped and scrambled back up to his feet at the voice that sounded nearly in his ear.

"Would you stop doing that!" he cried glaring at the fox sitting smugly by his side. "I can't stand it."

"So long as I keep getting such wonderful reactions from you, I cannot say that I will stop. Besides, you should be more aware of your surroundings if you wish to become a true warrior." Sir Giles smiled up at the irritated boy.

"For your information, I was preparing to make a thorough mental list of everyone that I could see in the camp," Jaer said. "You interrupted me before I could begin."

"Ah yes," the fox nodded knowingly. "And you just happened not to notice me until I spoke."

"You do seem to make a habit of sneaking up on me," Jaer pointed out. "This makes the fourth time."

"And it shall not be the last in all likelihood. Now tell me. What do you see? I wish to observe your powers of observations."

Jaer glared at the fox and then turned to his examination of the camp. "I see Queen Lucy by her tent, Queen Susan must have stepped inside because she was just there a moment ago. Two fauns and a leopard are on the outskirts of the camp. My father is behind our tent to the left. I'm not sure where General Orieus is. A tiger is over by Father's tent. And two dryads are…" Jaer trailed off. Dryads? But no dryads had come with them, had they? Or had he just missed them? The tree-people walked toward Queen Lucy as if they carried a message for her.

"Two dryads are…?" Sir Giles prompted.

"Not supposed to be here!"

A/N—Evil cliffie, I know. But at least I've the next bit ready so you shan't have to wait a month for it. Road trips are great.

My immense gratitude to those who left such hearty reviews on the last chapters, SpangleyPony, FyreFlyte, WiseQueen, elecktrum, acacia59601, ilysia, Faithfulpurelight, Scooby Lady. Your encouragement in part brings this chapter to you a week after the last instead of a month! Thanks so much.

Next installment: In which Jaerin tells his mother all and learns the consequences of his and Jaer's actions.