Chapter 16

“Well, that was a bit of fun, wasn’t it? Lucky you all showed up when you did. I mean, I would have handled it, but still, much obliged,” Grace said, and then knelt beside the nearest body and began rummaging through the man’s pockets.

Osric cleared his throat. “Actually, we were looking for you.”

Grace froze in place for a moment before standing back up, sword suddenly in her hand, as she backed away from them.

“Is that so? And who exactly sent you?”

“It’s not like that,” Osric said, holding up his hands in what he hoped was a placating gesture. “We came looking for your help.”

Grace’s eyes narrowed and the sword tip dipped a bit. “My help?”

“We’re trying to find someone who is supposed to live in this area. We were told if anyone knew where this man was, it would be you,” Talia added.

For a long moment, Grace didn’t move, her gaze flicking between the three of them, assessing. Then, slowly, she lowered her sword.

“Oh, in that case...” a sly grin spread across her face. “How much are you paying?”

Osric blinked. “Paying?”

“Well, I don’t work for free, do I? Information, like anything else, has a price.”

“I’m afraid we don’t have much in the way of coin,” Osric admitted. “But this is important. We’re seeking an old cleric named Jasper who lives somewhere on the edge of the forest. His knowledge could be vital.”

Her expression changed instantly.

Shaking her head, the thief said, “No. No way. I’m not going anywhere near that grumpy old codger.”

“This is important,” Rowan said. “What we’re doing could mean all of our lives, the lives of everyone in Aeloria, and the fate of the world.”

“Then you should all get busy dealing with whatever that is and leave me alone. Besides, what do you need me for anyway? I thought you Rangers could find whoever you wanted.”

“It’s not the same thing. Look, I’m certain you have, or will, run into problems with the Rangers. It would be helpful to have one who owes you a favor when that happens.”

Her dismissive expression dropped a bit, and Osric thought she might actually be considering helping them. Of course, from what they’d heard about her, Rowan was probably right. She had probably already run into trouble with the Rangers ... and anyone else tasked with maintaining the peace.

She didn’t immediately agree, though.

“We just rescued you. Surely that counts for something,” Osric said, trying a different track.

“I didn’t need rescuing,” she snapped. “I had everything under control.”

Talia snorted. “Really? Because from where I was standing, it looked like you were outnumbered and outmatched.”

“Listen here, Red,” Grace said, agitated.

“Alright, alright,” Osric said, interrupting them before the insults could actually start. “Perhaps ‘rescue’ was the wrong word. But we did help you out of a tight spot. All we’re asking is for a little help in return.”

“Look, we tracked you down once, and I’m guessing there are plenty of others out there who’d love to do the same. Maybe we should just go find them and see how much they’d be willing to pay for a little help locating an annoying little thief.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“He just told you that what we’re doing could mean the fate of the entire world. If you don’t think that’s worth a few threats, you’re out of your mind. Besides, it’s not like you’ve made us feel very charitable, have you?”

“Alright, alright, no need to get nasty,” she said, reaching down and grabbing a sword sheath from Garn’s body and putting her newly acquired weapon in it. “I’ll make you a deal. Let me keep whatever valuables we find on these sorry sods, and I’ll take you to see the old man. But I’m warning you, he’s not exactly the friendly type.”

Rowan looked across the scattered bodies, his expression clearly displeased, but the notion didn’t actually bother Osric. Anything these guys had, they’d probably have stolen from someone else, anyway. So what did it matter if the thief took it for herself? It was better than stealing from people who’d worked for what they earned.

Besides, they needed her cooperation.

“Agreed. You can have whatever they’re carrying. All we want is your help finding Jasper.”

“Fan-bloody-tastic,” Grace said, the words coming out dry and sarcastic, as she knelt back down and resumed her riffling of the corpses.

“So, how far is it to where Jasper is?” Osric finally asked after watching her meticulously check each man for anything valuable.

“About a day’s walk, give or take. I’ve had a long day, so maybe we can do that tomorrow, after a good night’s sleep,” she said, straightening up and tucking a small pouch into her belt, before eyeing the bodies all around them. “But maybe we should find somewhere to camp that doesn’t have quite so many corpses lying around, yeah?”

“Agreed. Lead the way.”

The thief finished her pillaging, pocketing a few more trinkets before gesturing for them to follow. Osric fell into step beside Talia as they headed east, toward the forest, Rowan and Cinder bringing up the rear. After about thirty minutes of walking, they found a small clearing that seemed suitable for a camp. As Rowan started a fire, Talia pulled Osric aside.

“Maybe we should keep watches, just in case she decides to kill us in our sleep and steal everything we have. Or run off,” she said in a low voice.

That had occurred to Osric as well. The thief had been in good spirits for their short walk, but considering her behavior since they’d met, there was a good chance she’d take the first opportunity to ditch them.

They rejoined the others, and Talia announced that she would take the first watch, claiming she needed to study her spell books. Rowan promptly volunteered to watch with her, leaving Osric and Cinder to take the second half of the night. Grace, for her part, seemed utterly unconcerned by the watch arrangements.

“I don’t care what you lot do, but I’m not losing sleep over it,” she declared, throwing down her bedroll.

Without further ceremony, she flopped onto it and seemed to fall asleep almost instantly. Osric shook his head, marveling at the thief’s ability to rest so easily after the battle they’d just been through. He supposed when you lived a life like hers, you learned to take your rest where you could get it.

Rowan left to do a once-around the area, just to make sure there wasn’t anything to be worried about, and Talia promptly pulled out one of Elder Miriam’s books, losing herself in it as she did, which meant there wasn’t much need for him to stay awake, since he’d be basically talking to himself.

Settling down in his bedroll, with Cinder curling up next to him, Osric closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep.

He was still wide awake when Rowan returned. The Ranger moved as quietly as he normally did and didn’t say anything, so it shouldn’t have caught Osric’s attention, but it did. He could hear him stir the fire, shuffle, and just breathe. Osric couldn’t get his mind to turn off. After Farvale and the search for Grace, they were now, finally, close to the cleric from his vision, and thoughts of where that would lead them, and what the next step in this journey would be, plagued him.

He’d just begun another loop through possibilities when he realized the low murmur that had started in the background, pushing into his spiraling thoughts, was actually Talia speaking.

“So, Rowan, where are you from originally?” she asked.

“I grew up near Beartooth Ridge, at the bottom of it in the forest. I don’t really think of it as home, though. My family was poor and had many kids, so there were too many mouths to feed. When I was thirteen, I set out on my own.”

“And that led you to become a Ranger?”

“In a manner. I always had a knack for tracking and navigating the forest. Started working at one of their outposts, doing odd jobs like cleaning and repairs. In exchange, they taught me the trade. Eventually, I became a Ranger myself.”

“You’re the first Ranger I’ve ever known personally, so I’m not really sure how you all work. Won’t they be upset that you just up and disappeared?”

“No, it’s not like that with the Rangers. We’re not as structured as knights or city guards. We go where we’re needed, keep our own schedules. Sure, we were originally organized to defend Greenwood and the forest, but it’s not a strict hierarchy.”

“Are they why you worship Wyndra? I didn’t realize those who weren’t clerics could call on her assistance, but you did when we faced that ... lake creature.”

“Most Rangers worship her, yes. I think it’s because her principles really resonate with us. The balance between nature and civilization, the importance of preserving the wilderness and its creatures. It makes sense for us. As for calling on her assistance, that ... I won’t say it’s unusual, but is fairly new. There are other Rangers who have had success asking for assistance from her, and have shared that information with the rest of us, which is why I thought to do it. I think it’s rather new. For a while, I thought it was maybe because we were becoming more devout or maybe she was pleased with the work we were doing, but now I realize it’s because the Veil you and Osric talk about is making it easier for her to work through us directly.”

“Then I’m sorry.”

“About what?”

“If we’re successful in repairing the Veil, it will cut you off from her just as you’ve found that more direct connection.”

“I ... I hadn’t really thought of that. I guess that’s true, but if what you say is true, it will also save our reality and all the creatures living in it, so in that, I am more fully doing my duty to her. Following her teachings.”

“That makes sense. I guess ... I’m not very devout. I know most practitioners follow Lorelei, or at least most of those at the Conclave do, but ... I don’t know, I just never felt the call.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that. From the sounds of it, magic, or at least how you wield the power of the Veil, is separate from the gods. I’m just amazed by what I’ve seen you do. To have that kind of power ... it’s amazing.”

“I’m still learning. You saw what Godfrey did. I can only do a fraction of what he managed. But, maybe one day I’ll be that good, if I study hard enough. Although, as scary as this has all been, I’ve done more magic in the last month than I did the entire rest of my life, so in that, at least, it’s been good.

“And we’re glad you’re along to do that. It’s saved us enough times,” Rowan said. “Although I know that’s not why you’re doing it. It’s good that Osric has someone special in his life, who supports him like you do.”

“Oh, Osric and I aren’t together,” Talia said quickly. “We’re just friends. We both grew up in Eldham as apprentices, in the care of someone else, so we kind of latched onto each other.”

While she wasn’t wrong, hearing her say that out loud made the bottom of Osric’s stomach fall. Suddenly, he felt a little sick.

“Well, I’m glad you have each other. It’s important to have people you can rely on. I need to add more wood to the fire. Do you want to help me grab some, maybe stretch your legs?”

“Sure,” she said, and Osric listened as they walked away.

They didn’t go far, and he could still hear the murmur of their voices as they walked away. Enough that he thought he could hear a change in the tone of both of them, a lighter lilt in Talia’s laughter, and a little less somber in Rowan’s baritone.

“Stop,” Talia said, giggling, as they came back into earshot. “That’s so funny. You must have been so embarrassed.”

Osric could imagine her gently putting her hand on Rowan’s arm, caressing it as she laughed. He could picture Rowan stepping closer to her, their sides touching. An irrational surge of annoyance flooded through him.

“Could you two keep it down? I have to be up to watch in a few hours,” he snapped, his voice harsher than he intended.

He didn’t get up or turn to look at them. He didn’t want to confirm to himself how close they were sitting to each other or if her hand was on him. He wanted to be able to pretend it was all in his mind.

“Oh, sorry,” Talia said. “I thought you were asleep.”

“Yeah, well, it’s a bit hard with you two chattering away. Weren’t you supposed to be studying your spells?”

Before Talia could say anything, there was a rustling as Rowan stood up and said, “It’s alright. My apologies for disturbing you. I think I’ll do a perimeter check, make sure everything’s secure.”

“Thank you,” Osric muttered, closing his eyes and trying to pretend to fall back asleep.

He could feel Talia’s eyes boring into him, cutting holes in his back, but he ignored her. He didn’t want to turn and face her. After a few minutes, he heard her book open and the rustling of pages as she returned to her studying.

Even with the quiet, Osric found falling asleep very difficult.

It took just over half a day to reach the forest where the cleric lived, all of it spent in silence. Osric tried to make a few passes at conversation with Talia, but she was tight-lipped, answering everything with limited grunts and nods. For his part, Rowan made himself scarce, ranging far ahead of them, saying he was keeping an eye out for more bandits. Osric was pretty sure the Ranger could feel the discomfort in the air and chose not to be a part of it.

For her part, Grace ignored it completely. For someone who had to be threatened to go along with them, she acted like this was a fun jaunt, and continued a near stream-of-consciousness monologue the whole way. It might have been charming had Osric not been so concerned about the damage he’d managed to do between himself and Talia.

Once they reached the forest, the rest of the way only took a few hours, with Grace announcing they’d arrived after they entered a fairly large clearing.

Off to one side of the clearing, nestled against a particularly large tree on the east side of the clearing, was a humble wooden hut, weathered planks gray with age. A rickety fence encircled the dwelling, more of a token gesture than a true barrier. Osric had seen countless such cabins like this in the forest. Although he lived in one of the scattered forest villages, the majority of the people who lived in the Great Forest lived like this; by themselves or with only their immediate family, in their own world away from the rest of humanity.

Grace didn’t even pause to open the fence, choosing to hop over it instead.

Marching up to the door, she banged on it with a closed fist, yelling, “Jasper, open up you old goat.”

She kept banging until the door was flung open, revealing the man from Osric’s vision. Osric imagined he was normally kindly looking with his graying hair and weathered face, but at the moment it was twisted into a scowl as he looked down at the diminutive thief.

“I thought I told you not to come back,” he started to say, when he looked past Grace to the people who were with her, his eyes locking on Osric. “You. The gods gave me a vision of you.”

“They showed me you, as well,” Osric said. “It’s why we’re here. We’ve come to talk to you.”

Jasper looked past him to Talia, Cinder, and Rowan, before saying, “You’d better come inside. All of you.”

Entering the now fairly cramped hut, with the four of them plus Cinder, Osric found himself in the same space he’d seen in his vision. A lived-in, cozy one-room cottage. Every available surface was covered in books and scrolls, stacked precariously in towering piles, and the entire place smelled of old paper and aging leather.