Chapter 9 A Waiting Game
Gherin watched Olhaven from afar with Neverin and Jodrey. Surprisingly away from Hermal's influence Jodrey was a pleasant enough person, he had just been easily led.
They watched closely, careful not to be seen, they had been told that once the guard heard the news, some of them would flee, they were to watch for them and take them in, everyone that is, except for one man that Raver had warned about, he was Ancar's spy for the area. Gherin smiled grimly, he knew what to do with the man.
One day about two weeks after they had left, Gherin worked his way from their camp to the post where Nev was doing his watch, Jodrey was sleeping having done the night watch, they had been alternating between the two, with Gherin watching the camp and occasionally joining the one on watch.
There was no complaints though, Gherin was the only one among them that knew the way to their camp in the woods, the others being town bred, had never gotten the knack of navigating the woods, they became lost once out of sight of the road.
Khedrick, having been in the guard, had insisted all of his children learn woods craft, taking them on occasional trips, teaching them what he knew.
Gherin knew something was up when he reached Nev. Nev pointed down to the town, this close to Olhaven they didn't dare talk in more than whispers. He looked, he saw guardsmen spilling out of the barracks, they milled around with a noticeable lack of discipline, he heard distant shouts, but was unable to make out what they were saying.
In the end a good third of the men left their post, a caravan of loaded horses leaving and heading their way, Gherin grinned, Raver had said they would do so, it was more proof that he had a true gift, as if there had been any doubt.
He motioned Nev closer "Get Jodrey and pack up the camp, we have to get in front of them and stop them before they get too far" he whispered, Nev nodded and crawled back the way he had come earlier.
Gherin watched as the line of men made it's way closer, when they were near enough he stepped from the woods in front of them. The man in the lead stopped and looked at him with suspicion.
"Gherin" Garen's voice rang out from the back of the group. "Is that you" he asked.
"Yes it's me" he said loud enough to be heard over the nervous horses.
"Thank the Gods you're alive, when you all disappeared we didn't know what to think, the ones who stayed didn't tell us a thing" he said his voice growing louder as he made his way to the front.
"I'm guessing you've now heard why we left" Guerin said grimly.
"How did you know" the leader of the group asked.
"It must have been Raver" Garen said, a note of discovery in his voice.
"Before you say more" Gherin warned. "I need to see if Ancar's spy is among you".
"Do you have a man named Kedral with you, he's tall and thin with dark red hair and brown eyes" he said.
"I know who you're talking about, he stayed behind" the leader of the group said.
"Gherin nodded "Then I am authorized to ask you if you wish to join us, it would mean being an outlaw" he started to say.
"We've already burned our bridges, leaving our posts" one of the men said. Others nodded.
Another man said "It would be good to have a place to go to, I'm too far from home to go there, and it doesn't appeal to me to leave Hardorn".
"Do you all feel this way" Gherin asked.
"Yes" several of the men said while others just nodded.
"Then follow me" Gherin said, leading them to his meeting point with his companions.