Wow! Only seven more chapters to go (including this one because you haven't read it yet). Please tell me what you think!
Four horses cantered along a faded trail bordered by low, scrubby bushes. A long, angular ridge occasionally gave a variety to the dry, rolling terrain. Rollan road at the back of the line. A week ago, he had never sat astride a horse. After several days in the saddle, the soreness was wearing off, and he was growing more comfortable with his mount. The horses were all chargers, bred by the Greencloaks not only for power and endurance, but also for intelligence and loyalty. Rollan supposed it paid to have horses furnished by animal experts. Conor was up ahead, then Meilin beyond him, and finally Tarik in the lead. All wore green cloaks.
"Except for you," Conor added. "Yeah ok" Rollan said "Thanks for reminding me"
Olvan had provided Rollan with a gray one. The commander of the Greencloaks had struck a deal with him. If Rollan helped retrieve this first talisman, he would receive enough money to last him a year, along with the official friendship of the Greencloaks, meaning he could stay in any of the towers and — a point Rollan was careful to include — eat their food.
"Really Rollan?" Abeke said. Rollan nodded his head
Rollan would receive nothing more until all of the talismans were accounted for, in which case the Greencloaks would buy him a manor and provide him with enough money for five lifetimes.
"I think that one was a bit much" Olvan said regretting the deal
Olvan had stressed that at any point throughout the process, Rollan could renounce his rewards and take up the green cloak instead. With the crest of a long and gradual rise approaching up ahead, Tarik slowed his mount to a walk, and the others followed his lead. Overhead, Essix gave a cry and came spiraling down to land on Rollan's shoulder. Meilin wore Jhi on her hand, Tarik's otter lay curled at the back of his saddle, and Briggan loped tirelessly alongside Conor. From the top of the rise, Rollan looked down with the others at a rustic settlement. A few dirt streets crisscrossed the imperfect rows of adobe buildings. People bustled along with a few wagons, horses, and a handful of dogs. Despite the activity, the crowds were nothing compared to what Rollan was used to in Concorba. None of the buildings looked very large to him, and several of them were in shoddy condition. The low wall around the community was made of stacked stones, which Rollan found downright pathetic.
"Pathetic?" Conor said "Not every town has enough money to build a nice wall"
"Our first destination," Tarik announced. "Boulder City." " 'Pebble Village' would ring truer," Rollan scoffed.
"Why were you in such a bad mood?" Abeke asked. Rollan shrugged
"It's also called Sanabajari," Tarik went on. "Nonnatives tend to prefer the nickname. The towns are small here in the far west of Amaya. Few care to brave the dangers beyond the more settled region of the continent. The folk who live here are from sturdy stock. It would be sensible to avoid a mocking tone." "I see why Amaya is dubbed the New Lands," Meilin said. "No section of Zhong is this... uncivilized." "Zhong is known as the Walled Lands," Tarik said. "The territory within the Wall is highly developed and well-tended. But I have seen corners of the continent beyond the Wall that make Boulder City appear refined." "This is where we'll find the bear and the raccoon?" Conor asked
"Actually, This is where we'll find Monte and Bartlow, the summoners of "the bear and racoon" Rollan corrected
"If Lenori and Olvan interpreted the vision properly," Tarik said. "Barlow and Monte used to be Greencloaks at Sunset Tower. They broke their oaths to become explorers. They've spent the last fifteen years roaming the wilds of western Amaya. Few, if any, have traveled this continent as widely. I've not met them personally, but by reputation they're expert outdoorsmen. Barlow's companion is a bear, and Monte's is a raccoon. Perhaps they've come across Arax in their wanderings. That's the hope, at any rate." "How do we know they'll be here?" Rollan asked. "We don't," Tarik admitted. "Greencloaks try to stay aware of their own, present and former. Last we had word, Barlow and Monte had established a trading post in Boulder City.
"They must have been there because you got to Arax right when we did" Abeke said
If they're not here, we'll pick up a trail." They rode down a slope, through a gap in the low stone wall, and onward into town. Rollan noticed the cold stares from people on the street and in doorways, most eyes dwelling on the green cloaks worn by the other members of the group.
"Creepy," Rollan said. "Too many eyes." "They must not get many Greencloaks" Abeke said
Nearly all of the people in view were men. The majority were hardy and weathered, with threadbare clothes and rough beards. Tarik pulled up in front of the largest building in town, a dingy white two-story structure with an amber tiled roof. A covered wooden boardwalk wrapped around the establishment, and a sizable sign proclaimed it the trading post. In a flash, Tarik's otter became a design on his arm. "Send your falcon aloft," the Greencloak suggested to Rollan. "Conor, leave Briggan outside." Essix, take to the —" Rollan began, but his falcon sprang into flight before he could finish. "Would you mind guarding the horses, Briggan?" Conor asked. The wolf sniffed Conor's mount, then sat nearby. "Will there be trouble?" Rollan wondered. He wore a knife at his hip. Living on the streets, he had always carried a small blade of some sort, but the Greencloaks had supplied him with the finest he had ever owned.
"And I still have it." Rollan said taking the knife out of his pocket
The weapon on his belt was a true dagger, well-made and keen, almost a short sword. He had a much smaller knife tucked in his boot.
"Huh" Abeke said "Like my boot-knife"
"Perhaps," Tarik said. "Some former Greencloaks hold grudges." "Interesting," Rollan murmured. "Should we take off our cloaks?"
"Never" Rollan said "Never." "You're the one who asked" Conor said
Conor asked. "Never out of shame or to win favor," Tarik said. "It sets a bad precedent. We must stand behind who we are and what we represent." But what do you really represent? Rollan wondered. He watched a group of surly, squinting men go out of their way to walk a wide circle around the Greencloaks. An older man leading a laden mule paused to consider them, one fist on his hip. Across the street, hesitant faces appeared in the windows. "Everyone is staring," Conor muttered. "Then let's give them something to watch," Tarik said, leading the way into the trading post. He wore his sword strapped across his back. Meilin had brought her quarterstaff.
"For which I still have" Meilin said "I also still have my ax" Conor said
Rollan noted that Conor left his ax back with his saddle. Everything screeched to a halt in the trading post as they entered. Diners at the bar paused mid-bite, and trading at the general store came to a dead stop. In the silence, Rollan noticed plentiful animal hides on display, along with outdoor gear and row upon row of axes, swords, and other weapons. Tarik strode over to the counter in the general store. Several big men made way for him, their gazes ranging from suspicion to outright hostility. Behind the counter a balding man with a mischievous face surveyed the newcomers. "Greencloaks?" he groaned with a smirk. "Official business or just passing through?"
"He seemed to appreciate you guys" Abeke said sarcastically
"I'm here to look in on two former colleagues, Barlow and Monte," Tarik replied. The man behind the counter looked perplexed for a moment, then gave a nod. "Been some time since those two wore much green. Can't claim to have seen either of them lately." "That so?" Tarik asked. "Do they still own this trading post?" "They do," the man replied. "It's the most successful emporium hereabouts, which frees them from minding the day-to-day operations." Rollan heard a brief uproar behind him. He pivoted to see Essix gliding toward him through the open door.
"Rollan," Abeke said "You could tell if he was lying right? Cuz I think he's lying"
The falcon landed on his shoulder. Forcing a smile, he stroked the bird with the back of one knuckle, trying to act as though the appearance had been expected. As usual, Essix was out to prove she could go where she wanted, when she wanted, regardless of instructions. Both Tarik and the man behind the counter stared at him. Rollan waved a hand. "Go ahead. Don't mind us." Tarik turned back to face the shopkeeper. "How long would I need to wait for their return?"
"He could make it up." Abeke said "because that's Monte." "Wow that was fast" Conor said "How'd you know?" "Cuz I know" Abeke said
The man folded his hands on the countertop. "They own property all over. They don't share their schedules with me, and it isn't my place to ask. Depending on the season, the two of them can be absent for months at a time." "He's lying," Rollan blurted, regretting the words as soon as he had let them escape.
"Yes, Abeke" Rollan said "I could tell he was lying"
It was just so obvious. With Essix on his shoulder, his perceptions felt heightened, his alertness sharpened. He could read the way the storekeeper licked his lips at the wrong time, glanced away at the wrong time. "I agree," Tarik said calmly. "W-what do you mean, I'm lying?" the man sputtered. Rollan could feel the men behind him shifting. "What's the lad playing at?" one particularly large guy muttered to his neighbor. "He's got himself a gyrfalcon."
"Essix" Rollan said
"Your bosses aren't in any trouble," Tarik said. The man behind the counter seemed to take some courage from all the grumbling. "Thanks for the assurance, stranger. Look, I'm not sure where you're from, but around here we aren't fond of Greencloaks butting into our affairs." Some of the surrounding men muttered words of agreement. …No regard for privacy..." "... holding up the line..." "Go drink your Nectar!" Tarik stepped away from the counter. He only raised his voice enough to be heard. "I'm here on orders from Sunset Tower. If any man cares to get in my way, step forward."
"Is he asking for trouble?" Lenori asked
Rollan noticed that Tarik didn't reach for his sword. He made no threatening movement. But he was a tall man with a serious face, and there was no humor in his tone. The men who had grumbled found other places to look. Tarik turned halfway back to the counter. "I was trying to be discreet. Apparently that isn't how things are done here. I need to see Monte and Barlow on official business. The orders come straight from the top. You're not doing them any favors by getting in the way. We'll return in force if necessary. They might as well get it over with." An outburst of murmurs followed the new explanation. The man behind the counter ducked out of sight, as if retrieving something from down low. Rollan heard faint footfalls. "He's running!"
"So he is Monte!" Abeke said
Tarik leaned forward, looking over the wide counter. Showing unexpected speed, the shopkeeper popped up near the end of it, leaped nimbly over, and yanked open a window. Rollan ran to chase him. Tarik moved to follow as well, but some of the large customers stepped in his way. With a burst of light, Lumeo appeared, and Tarik started throwing punches. Essix flew out the window ahead of Rollan, who climbed through in time to see the shopkeeper duck behind the trading post. Rollan hit the ground running.
"He failed though" Conor said
By the time he made it around to the back of the building, the storekeeper was on a barrel, jumping for the bottom railing of a second-story balcony. Before he could pull himself up, Essix swooped at him, talons extended, and raked his arm. The man dropped to the ground. Rollan kept coming. The man ran toward the far side of the back of the trading post, but stopped short as Briggan raced around from that direction. The shopkeeper raised his hands as the wolf approached. "All right! Chase over. Leave me be." Conor came around the corner from the same direction as Briggan, just before Rollan caught up to The shopkeeper. "Why'd you run?" Rollan accused.
"Because he hates Greencloaks" Rollan said
Briggan moved in close enough to sniff the man, who flinched away. "I've dealt with too many Greencloaks in my day," the man replied. "Listen, I have a thing with wolves. Especially getting eaten by them. Can you call yours off?" Briggan wasn't growling, but the big animal stood close and had his hackles raised. "Not so fast," Rollan pressed. "Who are you?" The man sighed in resignation. "I guess I neglected to introduce myself. Name's Monte."
"I was right!" Abeke said
"I'll go next" Lenori said
Thirteen. Bartlow and Monte