Lodestone Book One: The Sea of Storms

Chapter Twelve

Keris stood up and began making preparations to leave. Lyall and Alondo meekly followed her cue as if she was a queen and they were a part of her retinue. The two men packed away the awnings and then began coaxing the morgren forward. Boxx fell in behind the two beasts of burden. Keris addressed Lyall and Alondo directly, ignoring Shann as if she were beneath contempt.

“Follow the road east,” she commanded. “I will head back and check for signs of pursuit and then catch up with you.”

“Be safe.” Alondo called out.

Sure, don’t fall down any holes or anything.

Keris adjusted her cloak and trotted back the way they had come. In a few moments, she flared her cloak and leapt into the ferruginous twilight.

Shann waited until she was sure the Keltar had gone. Then she caught up to the other two. They were side by side leading the animals and engaged in quiet conversation. Whatever it was they were discussing, Shann didn’t care to know. There was an issue that was far more pressing.

“Lyall,” she interrupted him in mid-sentence. “What are we doing?”

He turned from Alondo to her. “Excuse me?”

“What are we doing?” She repeated.

“How do you mean?”

“That woman is a Keltar, and we are taking her orders.”

“We have to know if the Prophet’s men are tracking us, Shann.”

“That’s not what I mean. Ever since she arrived, you two do exactly what she says, and it’s like I don’t exist.”

Lyall brought his animal to a stop and turned to look at her directly. She saw the same clear blue eyes; the same unruly fair hair and felt oddly reassured. “Shann, I brought you into our group because I believed you were courageous and sincere. Since that time you have demonstrated integrity and resourcefulness far beyond anything I might have expected. I regard you as a full member and an equal partner in this enterprise, and I value your opinion. If you have something to say, then I would gladly hear it.”

Shann felt her confidence growing. “All right then. Why are we following the orders of a Keltar?”

“I am not following her orders. And she is not a Keltar; not anymore.”

“Yes she is. Keltar are the sworn servants of the Prophet. They don’t change.”

“I did,” Lyall observed.

“You were never actually a Keltar–you told me as much. Look at what has happened so far. We came to Gort to rescue the tributes and to cut off the Prophet’s supply of lodestones. Now we are headed in the opposite direction. She has already succeeded in diverting us from our purpose. She will destroy us the first chance she gets.”

“I don’t think so, Shann. If she had wanted to destroy us, she could have done so very easily by simply doing nothing. When Alondo and I entered the compound, we had no idea that a trap had been set for us. She saved our lives.”

He glanced at Alondo. Alondo looked down at his feet; then raised his eyes to meet Shann’s. He had become accustomed to siding with Shann against Lyall during their banter on the journey to Gort. It was a source of humour and it had helped to cement them together as a group. Now he looked most uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, Shann, I have to agree with Lyall. We would be lying dead in that guardhouse if it wasn’t for her.”

“How do you know she isn’t manipulating you somehow?” Shann pressed on. “And what about that crazy story of hers about being spoken to by someone from the past? You’re not telling me you believe all of that.”