Intents uncovered
Walker and Karne rode up to the rim of the valley and into the Duln that morning and soon came across the Rapahalladren. They constructed a small raft of wood and stacked their clothes and gear on top. They led the horses through as best they could, although the men clung to their strong bodies as they swam easily across. They quickly dried and remounted, determined to reach the edge of the Duln before nightfall. Towards sunset, the companions reached the edge of the farmed land of Leah and settled down for the night. They woke at dawn and continued on at Walker's insistence, through the farmland until they reached the Leah home. The Leah home was a traditional two-story house, containing multiple eaves, long rooflines and deep alcoves. They tied their horses to a post near the entrance and entered in. An old stone fireplace burned unchecked in the centre with a brooding Honer Leah sat in front of it. Walker and Karne slipped silently behind Honer, until Walker laid a foreboding hand on his shoulder causing him to jump considerably. "This is a matter of grave importance I come here to discuss Honer Leah. It is imperative that I have your full co-operation." "Yes . . . of course. You didn't have to jump out on me though did you?" "Our entrance is of no importance, Prince of Leah. Is there somewhere we can discuss these matters more privately?" "Of course . . . follow me." Honer led Walker and Karne into his father's small study and gestured to several chairs. Walker followed suit and sat but Karne looked increasingly uncomfortable and stood nervously near the window. "Is he alright?" Honer asked nervously, for he feared the druid's wrath. "Just a bit claustrophobic, that's all. Now, the reason for my visit. When was the last time you saw Hanna Ohmsford?" "About a fortnight ago. She came to me with a tracker and said they were leaving the vale to be together. She wanted to know if she could stay in the hunting lodge for a while and I agreed." Walker looked deep in thought for a moment, then straightened and stared out of the window in frustration. "What did you think of this tracker?" Honer squinted his eyes slightly, desperately trying to remember some small detail about Hanna's lover. He smiled suddenly. "His name was Matthew." "You remember nothing else? His appearance, your impressions of him, accents?" "No." Walker gave Karne a knowing glance, then turned back to Honer Leah. "It looks like our mutual friend here has command of a form of magic." "What?" Honer said, a mixture of fear and hatred glowing from his eyes. "Look at me, Prince of Leah." Walker stared into Honer's eyes and let small tendrils of magic penetrate the surface of his mind. Sure enough, magic had been placed around a memory, judging by it's size, about an hour long. Walker released the magic from the memory and it sprung up, like a newly freed animal. He withdrew from Honer's mind and let the young prince of Leah play out the memory in his mind. "This may take some time Karne." Walker said looking at Karne's worsening state of mind within the small back room. "If you wish to leave, maybe you could find the tracks up to the hunting lodge?" Glad to be released, with a swift running jump, Karne launched himself out of the tiny window that he barely fitted through and landed with a roll on the grass, already running. "Through the door, Karne . . . " Walker tried to say but Karne had already flew out the window. Karne's perfect agility had always amazed Walker, right from the time he'd first met him some ten years ago. Honer's head bobbed up and there were tears in his eyes. "Do you remember, Prince of Leah?" "Everything. That scum bag tracker . . ." "Yes, Honer I understand. What did he look like?" At the mention of his first name, Honer turned abruptly towards the Druid. Although Walker knew that the tracker's appearance had next to no importance, it was vital to take small steps first. "Tall, dark hair, dark eyes. Green travel cloak, hunting bow and long knife." "How does he speak?" "The way he speaks to me makes me feel like a child." "Where is Hanna? What is she doing?" "Hanna seems distant and somehow removed from the situation. Occasionally she looks my way, but it's as if she doesn't know me or just doesn't remember. I don't understand it and I try to talk to her, but the tracker cuts me off quickly. He doesn't want me speaking to her." "What does he do then?" "He asks me where the hunting lodge is and I tell him it's a couple of miles north in the highlands. He thanks me then says that since I won't remember, it'll be alright to have a little fun. He looks deep into my eyes and it's like a thousand hot knives sear through my skin into my mind. Hanna cocks her head in thought as if she's searching for something. After another minute or two I think I black out." "You have done well, Prince of Leah, but do not be quick to judge Hanna for her actions. I fear she is not completely in control of them." "You mean the tracker's controlling her? Oh, that is terrible indeed. I'll take you up to the lodge at dawn." "No, Prince of Leah, now." Karne had already been up to the lodge and was waiting in the shadows about halfway there. Walker may not be able to see him in the dark like Karne could see Walker, but he would feel his presence and know he was close by. He heard two sets of footsteps coming closer from Leah, one heavy and regular, the other lighter and quicker. The first was Walker and Karne expected the second to be Honer Leah. Just when they were about to pass him, Karne stepped out beside Honer and for the second time that night, the young prince jumped out of his skin. Walker glanced up in mild amusement. When they reached the lodge, Walker and Karne let Honer go charging about the place indoors while Karne conveyed his findings. "I would say that the tracker has been here for the whole fortnight, there are regular track ways to and from the springs and woodpiles. The girl I would say left after about four days and returned just three days ago. I followed her tracks up to the edge of the Highlands, but I think she cloaked her trail with magic when she was in the open. She was coming from the direction of Tyrsis." Walker knew what Karne was hinting at, Hanna had returned here from Paranor with the sword. Karne just had enough tact not to rub the bitterness into Walker's face. "When did they leave the lodge?" "The day before yesterday, heading south at a fast pace." "I need to ask to a favour, Karne. I want you to follow my daughter and protect her as best you can. Travel at a safe distance from them though, I don't know how powerful this so called tracker is. I will follow with Honer after I've made a short visit to Culhaven." "I will do so not for a favour, Walker Boh, I will do so because you are my friend. I will do so because I owe you a great deal and have yet to repay you for your kindness. I will follow your daughter. Goodbye, Walker Ohmsford, last of the Druids." As Karne slipped into the shadows, Honer appeared from behind an eave with a look of bewilderment on his face.
Walker and Karne rode up to the rim of the valley and into the Duln that morning and soon came across the Rapahalladren. They constructed a small raft of wood and stacked their clothes and gear on top. They led the horses through as best they could, although the men clung to their strong bodies as they swam easily across. They quickly dried and remounted, determined to reach the edge of the Duln before nightfall. Towards sunset, the companions reached the edge of the farmed land of Leah and settled down for the night. They woke at dawn and continued on at Walker's insistence, through the farmland until they reached the Leah home. The Leah home was a traditional two-story house, containing multiple eaves, long rooflines and deep alcoves. They tied their horses to a post near the entrance and entered in. An old stone fireplace burned unchecked in the centre with a brooding Honer Leah sat in front of it. Walker and Karne slipped silently behind Honer, until Walker laid a foreboding hand on his shoulder causing him to jump considerably. "This is a matter of grave importance I come here to discuss Honer Leah. It is imperative that I have your full co-operation." "Yes . . . of course. You didn't have to jump out on me though did you?" "Our entrance is of no importance, Prince of Leah. Is there somewhere we can discuss these matters more privately?" "Of course . . . follow me." Honer led Walker and Karne into his father's small study and gestured to several chairs. Walker followed suit and sat but Karne looked increasingly uncomfortable and stood nervously near the window. "Is he alright?" Honer asked nervously, for he feared the druid's wrath. "Just a bit claustrophobic, that's all. Now, the reason for my visit. When was the last time you saw Hanna Ohmsford?" "About a fortnight ago. She came to me with a tracker and said they were leaving the vale to be together. She wanted to know if she could stay in the hunting lodge for a while and I agreed." Walker looked deep in thought for a moment, then straightened and stared out of the window in frustration. "What did you think of this tracker?" Honer squinted his eyes slightly, desperately trying to remember some small detail about Hanna's lover. He smiled suddenly. "His name was Matthew." "You remember nothing else? His appearance, your impressions of him, accents?" "No." Walker gave Karne a knowing glance, then turned back to Honer Leah. "It looks like our mutual friend here has command of a form of magic." "What?" Honer said, a mixture of fear and hatred glowing from his eyes. "Look at me, Prince of Leah." Walker stared into Honer's eyes and let small tendrils of magic penetrate the surface of his mind. Sure enough, magic had been placed around a memory, judging by it's size, about an hour long. Walker released the magic from the memory and it sprung up, like a newly freed animal. He withdrew from Honer's mind and let the young prince of Leah play out the memory in his mind. "This may take some time Karne." Walker said looking at Karne's worsening state of mind within the small back room. "If you wish to leave, maybe you could find the tracks up to the hunting lodge?" Glad to be released, with a swift running jump, Karne launched himself out of the tiny window that he barely fitted through and landed with a roll on the grass, already running. "Through the door, Karne . . . " Walker tried to say but Karne had already flew out the window. Karne's perfect agility had always amazed Walker, right from the time he'd first met him some ten years ago. Honer's head bobbed up and there were tears in his eyes. "Do you remember, Prince of Leah?" "Everything. That scum bag tracker . . ." "Yes, Honer I understand. What did he look like?" At the mention of his first name, Honer turned abruptly towards the Druid. Although Walker knew that the tracker's appearance had next to no importance, it was vital to take small steps first. "Tall, dark hair, dark eyes. Green travel cloak, hunting bow and long knife." "How does he speak?" "The way he speaks to me makes me feel like a child." "Where is Hanna? What is she doing?" "Hanna seems distant and somehow removed from the situation. Occasionally she looks my way, but it's as if she doesn't know me or just doesn't remember. I don't understand it and I try to talk to her, but the tracker cuts me off quickly. He doesn't want me speaking to her." "What does he do then?" "He asks me where the hunting lodge is and I tell him it's a couple of miles north in the highlands. He thanks me then says that since I won't remember, it'll be alright to have a little fun. He looks deep into my eyes and it's like a thousand hot knives sear through my skin into my mind. Hanna cocks her head in thought as if she's searching for something. After another minute or two I think I black out." "You have done well, Prince of Leah, but do not be quick to judge Hanna for her actions. I fear she is not completely in control of them." "You mean the tracker's controlling her? Oh, that is terrible indeed. I'll take you up to the lodge at dawn." "No, Prince of Leah, now." Karne had already been up to the lodge and was waiting in the shadows about halfway there. Walker may not be able to see him in the dark like Karne could see Walker, but he would feel his presence and know he was close by. He heard two sets of footsteps coming closer from Leah, one heavy and regular, the other lighter and quicker. The first was Walker and Karne expected the second to be Honer Leah. Just when they were about to pass him, Karne stepped out beside Honer and for the second time that night, the young prince jumped out of his skin. Walker glanced up in mild amusement. When they reached the lodge, Walker and Karne let Honer go charging about the place indoors while Karne conveyed his findings. "I would say that the tracker has been here for the whole fortnight, there are regular track ways to and from the springs and woodpiles. The girl I would say left after about four days and returned just three days ago. I followed her tracks up to the edge of the Highlands, but I think she cloaked her trail with magic when she was in the open. She was coming from the direction of Tyrsis." Walker knew what Karne was hinting at, Hanna had returned here from Paranor with the sword. Karne just had enough tact not to rub the bitterness into Walker's face. "When did they leave the lodge?" "The day before yesterday, heading south at a fast pace." "I need to ask to a favour, Karne. I want you to follow my daughter and protect her as best you can. Travel at a safe distance from them though, I don't know how powerful this so called tracker is. I will follow with Honer after I've made a short visit to Culhaven." "I will do so not for a favour, Walker Boh, I will do so because you are my friend. I will do so because I owe you a great deal and have yet to repay you for your kindness. I will follow your daughter. Goodbye, Walker Ohmsford, last of the Druids." As Karne slipped into the shadows, Honer appeared from behind an eave with a look of bewilderment on his face.