“Like the fae in person,” Arden corrected, words to make even Tahlen give a start. Zelli curled his hand around Tahlen’s elbow. Once again, Zelli didn’t know what he felt. Arden and possibly the other one had seen the fae up close, possibly more than once from how Arden spoke of them. He held tighter to Tahlen, then realized it and loosened his grip.
Tahlen kept most of his focus on Arden and spoke as though the fae had never been mentioned. “What have you seen that should worry me?”
Arden smiled a little but answered. “There were ten riders on the northern edge of the valley a few days ago. Maybe they were heading elsewhere and went over a mountain path without knowing these mountains—they certainly looked worn and furious about it. Maybe they were scared of the Rossick or were trying to sneak up on them.”
“Fools, if so,” remarked the larger one.
Zelli gave a nod, which drew the larger one’s attention back to him, eyes gleaming.
“These riders seemed to have a goal in mind, I would say,” Arden offered. “Though they were not nearly enough to take the whole valley and they didn’t seem sure of where to go next. But I couldn’t say where theydidwant to go; they were not in the mood to talk to two outguards.” His partner held out a biscuit for him but Arden shook his head for it and said, “No, thank you, my love.”
The larger one, Arden’s love, either as a light, playful endearment or genuinely meant, ate that biscuit but tied up the bundle to hand the rest back to Zelli. “I’d say they were annoyed to have us see them, but weren’t sure if killing us and risking the wrath of the rest of the Outguard was worth it.”
Zelli gasped as he absently shoved the bundle of biscuits aside.
“Exactly.” Arden sighed in agreement with Zelli’s shock. “You see the danger.”
“He generally does,” Tahlen said, not happy about it.
“Wise as well as pretty, then,” Arden murmured mournfully to Tahlen. “You must not have stood a chance.”
The larger one choked on the remnants of his cake. Tahlen said nothing, which was enough to make Zelli slip a hand to Tahlen’s side, partially hidden by the fall of Tahlen’s cloak.
He gazed at Tahlen for another moment, who stubbornly did not look back, then turned to the outguards. Mostly to Arden. “May I ask you something?”
“Please do,” the large one muttered.
Arden shot his partner a wry look but smiled for Zelli. “You can certainly ask.”
Zelli posed the question all at once. “This force you saw, is it possible they are chasing something, or someone?”
Both of Arden’s eyebrows went up. He traded another look with his love, who had also grown more serious.
“Aye,” said the larger one at last, “it’s possible.” He gave Zelli a frown, then Tahlen one as well. Zelli belatedly realized that the outguards might think he and Tahlen were the ones being chased.
Tahlen let out his irritated little exhale. “Have you seen anything else unusual?” He apparently was not even going to address the outguards’ suspicions of them. He did, however, give Zelli another glance when Zelli let his hand rest on the small of Tahlen’s back.
“Other than people hiding from us until they realize we’re outguards and then still not fully trusting us?” Arden acknowledged Tahlen’s tension with a smile. He really was one to watch, like a crow waiting to snatch someone’s lunch, then bringing them a shiny rock in exchange. No matter how shiny the rock, the crow came out the best in the affair.
“It says to me that people are scared.” Arden lost his smile. “I doubt it’s groundless fear, since this is farm country and farmers have things to see to, and they can’t do that if they’re hiding from people all day.”
Zelli had barely spoken to the last outguards to visit the fortress and wondered if they were all this careful. The larger one had implied that Arden was different, used to giving orders. Maybe the Outguard had captains or higher ranks. If so, Arden must be one.
Arden considered Tahlen again, then Zelli. “Mil and I don’t know this valley and its ways, but in a wooded glen between fields, we saw signs of a small, mostly concealed camp. Whether those hiding there had been there for a while or just a few days, we couldn’t say.”
“Away from the roads,” the larger one, Mil, offered thoughtfully. “Streams for water. With small game available too, if the hawks and eagles don’t get the game first. Hmm. With no food on offer, we should stop tomorrow, hunt some rabbits or something.” That was said to Arden alone.
“There are big rats in the fields. They’re often eaten when winters are bad,” Tahlen offered. It was true, if not said in the friendliest tone. Mil grinned toothily in Tahlen’s direction.
“There’s also a village about a day’s ride from here, once you reach the main road.” Zelli pointed in the direction they would need to take in case they’d forgotten Tahlen’s instructions. “Isuggest,” Mil lit up at the word and the weight Zelli gave it, “you speak to their mayor about the possibility of this strange force showing up, and perhaps also mention those who could be hiding in the fields. Mayor Sar is sensible and will feed you as is expected. And…” Zelli glanced to Arden, “if you continue down that road, you will reach a holding of the Tialttyrin family. You could inform them as well, if you are going that way anyway. They will also feed you. They remember how things used to be and have rooms for outguards still ready for use, even though we have not seen any in years.”
Tahlen turned to him, one eyebrow raised pointedly.
Zelli shrugged. “They have a duty.”
“That we do,” Mil agreed.
Arden seemed almost merry. “Of all the asses who have tried to hold the palace for the last fifteen years, none have thought to end the Outguard. But neither have any of them given much thought to our duties. I don’t think it occurred to them that we are here to help as needed, but also to serve as the eyes-and-ears of the ruler.”
