it came down to was they had either taken the down payment and run, which would cost them their lives, or they had been killed in the attempt to obtain the medallion. Of course, they could have just run into complications and were running late. In any case, Julian was prepared to camp for the entire night and wait.
He sat with his head against the trunk of a tree while Eden rested her giant beaked head next to him. He had felt uneasy about being accompanied by anyone on this part of his journey, especially Nalani. He knew she could take care of herself, but it was a worry all the same. He also wasn’t quite sure if he trusted Garland Ainsley. The man had conveniently shown up in a critical time for The Reckoning, and yet Julian could not help but feel that it was entirely inconvenient.
Julian knew that this man had created The Reckoning. He also knew that Garland Ainsley had been one of the most feared enemies of the Stühocs. There was no way that he was in league with Ward Holden. At least Julian was fairly certain of it. There was also no way Julian trusted the man enough to tell him about what he had seen and heard from Holden’s meeting with Maroke and Spencer, even if that meant the old man wouldn’t know his grandson had been killed on Earth and was probably somewhere in Marenon.
Julian and Nalani were the only ones that knew of the evil plot within the Dunarians. This included knowledge of Kaden Osric’s imprisonment, Silas Ainsley’s presence in Marenon, and a secret union with Humans and the Stühocs. This secret had to be kept because Julian had no idea who else may be working with Ward Holden. He hoped that the others were as oblivious to Holden’s plot as he had been only a day before.
If there are others on the council working with Holden, Julian thought, then there’ll be a lot of mopping up to do.
His thoughts drifted to his brother. His death had been Julian’s fault. He let it happen. He knew that Holden would discover Julian’s involvement, but he would have to pretend ignorance as not to give himself away. Secrecy abounded and it was beginning to fatigue Julian.
I’ve uncovered their plot, now I just need a way to sabotage their plans.
He watched Garland from the short distance. The older man had been through a lot recently. He had just died a few days ago and was now trying to help finish a mission he had started seventeen years before. Julian did feel sorry for the man. He knew what death was like, and he knew about the transformation from life to death to life again. Garland had experienced it more than once somehow, and the thought baffled Julian. But they were all in the same boat. He just hoped Garland Ainsley wasn’t on the mutinous side of the boat.
Julian’s thoughts of him brought about a curiosity that he could not suppress.
“I suppose it’s no surprise that the famed Barton Teague made it through the gauntlet fairly easily,” Julian said. “I suppose you weren’t expecting such brutality upon entering Marenon for a second time.”
Garland waited a moment, seemingly reflecting on the past few days.
“Thankfully, I was fortunate enough to escape the wrath of the king’s gauntlet,” he said somberly.
“How did you manage that?”
Garland smiled, but it was not a smile of haughtiness or pride, but of thankfulness, it seemed. “All this has been planned from the beginning,” he said. “The Gatekeeper never breaks his promises.”
Julian was about to inquire further when a faint rustling in the distance interrupted them.
He and the other two instantly grabbed for their weapons at the same moment. The sarians simultaneously lifted their large heads in search of the source of the noise.
“Who’s there?” Julian shouted.
“I’ve got your stinking medallion,” came the voice of Alric Thirsk.
*****
Silas Ainsley shuffled behind the rest of the group. In front of him Lorcan still supported Inga by the waist as the other two led the way. The group had been walking at a quick pace for more than an hour before the silence was broken by a shout from a man hidden behind the trees beyond them. All of them stopped walking abruptly when Alric yelled his reply. He then turned to the group to give his orders.
“Lorcan, I want you and Coffman to come with me and make sure we get the money he owes us