just as uneasy as me.
We enter the main gate and walk through a few halls and up some stairs. Both Jarls wait in the too-familiar council room.
“Captain!” they announce simultaneously as I enter with my friends on my heels.
“What’s this about?” I ask. “Why the urgency?”
“We just received a message from one of our spies,” explains Jarl Hralfar.
Before waiting for more information I ask, “Where is he stationed?”
“Rakma,” he answers. “A small town outside of Kera.”
I give him a puzzled look. “Why there?”
“Exactly for this reason,” he responds impatiently. “Now let me finish!” I nod and gesture for him to continue. He proceeds, “We received a message from our spy in Rakma, saying that he intercepted Tygnar’s plans.”
“How did he get them there?” I ask.
“I don’t know!” fumes the Jarl. “Is it important?” When I don’t answer, he plows onward, “Their plans are not a direct attack of any kind, nor are they of large magnitude. They are trying to get rid of you!”
“Obviously,” I mutter. Louder, I say, “I haven’t heard anything that benefits us. What is the problem?”
“They are not planning to kill you in battle,” says they Jarl. “They plan on destroying you another way. They saw what damage the death of your father did to you. Now they plan to kill your mother.”
My eyes widen. “I have to leave. Now.”
Kjunn jumps up. “Are you out of your mind? You can’t leave us now! You’re a captain here! Now you want to leave us and travel by yourself to get to your mother before Tygnar does?! Surely you are not that stupid!”
“You’re right,” I say darkly. “They can come with me.” I gesture to my friends on either side of me. Though I volunteered them, they agree with nods and gestures of their own.
“But you can’t leave us!” argues Kjunn. “We can send another-”
“Stop me,” I command. “If I can’t leave, then stop me.” Both Jarls look at me, astonished. “This is my mother we’re talking about,” I say. “This is her life. The dearest family member I have left and you are trying to deny me the right of being there for her.” They are at a loss for words, flabbergasted at the words coming from my mouth. “Stop me.”
Finally Jarl Hralfar speaks softly, “I cannot.”
“That’s what I thought,” I respond. “I will leave immediately. Those who wish to accompany me may come.”
The Jarls agree silently. “When you return,” says Kjunn, “I may not be here. There are some things I need to finish up and oversee in Kera. Stop there on your return journey.”
I acknowledge his request with a simple nod.
“Safe journey,” says Hralfar. “May your mother be safe and sound when you reach her. Return quickly.”
“Of course,” I reply. Then I leave the room with the others on my heels.
Sojourn in Tears
There are still a few hours of daylight left, and I use them to their highest potential. Nathaniel, Percival, James, and Jericho join me. Nathaniel seems almost as panicked as I am, and we lead the group at a pace quicker than we’ve ever traveled.
I’m reluctant to stop for the night, but I know we must. We packed light, to travel faster, so my bedroll is not as thick or as warm as I would like.
We knew that we would need armor, so of course we wear that and our weapons. No matter how this plays out, there will be blood shed, and I want to be prepared for it.
We come to Kera within the fourth day, but we only stop to buy some food and supplies. It only takes us over an hour; then we leave the city and continue northward towards Terrace.
We pass the Living Vale on our left, and I stare into it the entire time it is visible. Specifically, I gaze to the top of the great waterfall where my father lies. “We must stop,” I say.
Percival almost runs into me and Nathaniel says, “What?!”
“We must stop,” I say, quieter. Percival sees the direction I’m looking and something in his brain clicks.
“Yes,” he agrees. “If you feel we must.”
Then we take the turn into the Living Vale.
I know this will take time. It will lengthen the journey by just less than a day, and though we must make this journey as quickly as possible, this stop is just as important to me as the reason for the journey is.
The vale is even more verdant than when we saw it last. Everything has had at least a month or more