“Rhyming? That would certainly set you apart from the pack at the very least. Where are you going?”
“I believe a lady would not mention such a need out loud… but I’m headed into the woods to conduct some personal business.”
“You know.” Talac rose to his feet. “Now that you mention personal business, I believe I need to address some of my own.”
Alia fought hard not to roll her eyes, she didn’t need help to deal with one measly predator… a twig cracked, the sound almost smothered by the crackling fires. Perhaps more than one predator. “Okay then, my business takes me in that direction. How about you take yours over that way?”
“My way looks rather far from your way.”
“Precisely, it’s not too soon for me to start acting the modest lady… I insist upon privacy.”
“Are you sure my business doesn’t take me more in that direction?” Talac pointed a finger directly at their first confirmed observer.
“No. And I shall… have a fit of vapours if you get any closer to my chosen destination.” Men, always trying to take over. Whirling, Alia stalked off into the darkness. Despite everything Talac had witnessed over the past few days he was still trying to protect Alia as if she were some helpless creature.
The lights from the campfires couldn’t penetrate further than three steps into the woods. With her fourth step Alia crouched and crept off to her right. Assuming whoever was watching them would try and intercept her, and make some assumptions of their own. Like she would travel in a straight path, and choose not to stray too far from the campsite.
Alia’s night vision kicked in. Heading for a sturdy oak, grabbing a low branch, she levered herself up. Hugging the trunk, she stepped over onto another branch, and then another. Putting herself roughly above where she had originally been headed. Carefully sitting down upon the branch, letting her long legs dangle but keeping them still.
A rattle of a stone being kicked against a tree trunk was her first clue that there might be a third player. Perhaps she should be grateful Talac was backing her up after all. But just who were these… men? Had they followed the royal retinue and been waiting all this time for the opportunity to strike? The only thing she could ascertain was that at least one of them was an idiot.
“Pssst… where is she?” Despite the hushed tone the words rang out like a shout in the silent woods.
“Shss… shut it.”
“I can’t see anything.” The first voice whined softly.
She’d guessed their lurkers would try to intercept her. Being female, they would assume she was the weakest link. Perhaps intending to nab her as a hostage in exchange for riches.
“Grasdy? I can’t see anything?”
Grasdy? He’d been one of the suitors who’d skedaddled before the hunt, willing to brave the woods rather than depend on his hunting skills to win the day and nab him a dowry and bride. Oh, that changed everything. Question was, were these stalkers picking on Alia because they knew who she was? Or had they decided to take up a new vocation of robbing and potentially raping pilgrims and travellers for sport and whatever money they could scrounge?
Time to get some answers. Ideally, Alia wanted to keep the one who couldn’t shut up alive, he appeared the most nervous. Ripping a nearby small dried branch free with a loud audible crack, Alia could sense the two men below jump in surprise.
“What was that?”
“It was just her… she’s got to be up ahead.”
“Where’s himself then?”
A third robber? Or did they mean Talac?
“He was across the clearing, it’ll take him longer to get here… that’s if he comes at all. Doubt he’s ever gotten his hands dirty in his life. Come on, time to put down this Beast.”
Ah, so they did know. Damn, should she wait for the third man, or strike now? Or do nothing and let Talac do all the heavy lifting? All choices suddenly taken out of Alia’s hands. Men. They could be so impulsive.
Admittedly the way Talac moved, swift and silent, was impressive. And he had the uncanny ability to blend in with the shadows. One of the robbers already on the ground, dead, before the second robber realised they were under attack. His feeble sword work no match for Talac, who was just waiting for a gap in the man’s terrified wild swings.
“Hold.” Alia pitched her voice low, sure even then the word carried too far for her liking. But given the remaining robber’s fast terrified panting, she knew the moment for remaining covert was long gone. “We need to question him. He’s one of the suitors who fled before the hunt, as is… was his fallen companion. There may be others.” Dropping from the tree, landing with loose knees to absorb the impact and any noise she might make. Alia crossed the ground quickly in time to watch Talac swat the last standing robber’s sword from his hand, backing him up against the nearest tree trunk, resting the tip of his sword against the man’s throat. “Talk.”
“And… and you’ll let me go?”
Into the woods, after dark, without any means of protection? “Yes. You have my word.” Alia promised readily.
“What were you after here tonight?” Talac questioned.
“Her… the Beast. He… he said if we were to kill her then the Gloomenthrall women would be easy pickings, and we could all walk away with hefty dowries.”
