got out of there as fast as I could.”
“The tailor was Emeck’s work. You, on the other hand, are apparently immune to his powers. We chased you all the way to the Draeld where we lost you again.”
“Wait… Emeck made the tailor act like that?” Cero looked confused. “I thought that you were in the Black Forest.”
“We were. Emeck is a scanner telepath. He can sense people at a distance. Every now and then, he was able to sense you.”
“So he is Gifted?” Cero felt the familiar sensation of being watched and turned to see Emeck in a mighty attempt at focusing. “What is he doing?”
“My guess is trying to break past your defenses.” Cero watched until Emeck gave up the attempt and wiped a few beads of sweat from his brow.
“It’s incredible. You can block me out without even thinking about it. Not only that, I can see you standing there, but whenever I focus on you, I think I can sense you somewhere else although I can never put my finger on it. How do you do it?” Emeck joined the discussion animatedly.
“I wasn’t aware that I was doing anything.” Cero watched Emeck shake his head.
“He is rather talented. Back to what I was saying. When you saw us in the Draeld, Emeck was able to get a fix on your location. We found your trail again and followed you to the river with the stepping stones where we ran into the army. Where did you go from there?”
“I went around the Sand Sea then up into the Outlands. After that, some guys in black robes started chasing me. One of them was able to throw fire. I think I fell and can’t remember what happened after that. The next thing I remember was being up in the Garoche Heights.” Cero intentionally lied about the part involving the dwarves and was mildly surprised when Urake didn’t press him on the point. He wasn’t entirely sure what he believed right now, but talking about an extinct race was not going to help.
“We spent some time in the army then as guests of the elves. After that we came north then met up with the Princess. That about sums it up until you arrived.” When Cero didn’t make any response, Urake let the conversation fade and glanced over his shoulder at the travelers. The camp had already disappeared in the forest below. The mountain side was a little rocky with only an old trapper’s trail. Most places it was only the rocks having been nudged out of the way over the course of many passings. Other places melted into the landscape as the travelers chose different paths to surmount some obstacle.
“I'm not sure, it is almost like I can sense a dragon is near, but I’ve been sensing it since yesterday afternoon.” Inadar confided in Torroth that her senses had been slightly tingling all morning.
“And you still sense it?” Torroth glanced up to make sure that no one was eavesdropping.
“That is what I said isn’t it? I think it is coming from that Cero kid.”
“Kid? He is about the same age as you.” Torroth laughed as Inadar made a face.
“Whatever, it was strongest when he was standing right next to me, I think.”
“You think! What is that supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know. He is just weird. His father is a famous assassin and he didn’t even know. Apparently he has been traveling around the Braebach by himself. Did you know that the taller dark haired one is Gifted?” Inadar had been hearing snatches of the conversation.
“You are one to talk.”
“Whatever, that makes two of us in this group. Isn’t that, like, dangerous? Won’t there be people trying to hunt us down?” Inadar indulged in an infrequent paranoid streak.
“Inadar… everyone except for me in this group is Gifted.” Em’risi had spoken with Torroth before they had set out that morning. She had informed him about all the others as well as confirming that he was not Gifted himself. He could have cared less about not being Gifted, but he did feel uncomfortable being surrounded by people that he had helped to hunt in the past. Inadar fell silent again until sometime later she found herself again walking next to Cero. Focusing, she was able to narrow the faint emanation down to a bundle swinging on Cero’s waist. She was a little disappointed that she hadn’t discovered the other Dragon Lord yet was curious at the same time.
“What is that, if you