Sianim 01 - Masques

through, he nodded.
    “These mountains have a reputation for odd happenings, like Astrid’s guide through the cave. A ghost or spirit of some sort would not be out of place.” He paused. “Though I brought these with me from the ae’Magi’s castle, I suppose something could have come over with them.”
    It didn’t sound like it bothered him too much.
    He looked over at her, read her face, and shrugged. “So far whatever is here has been relatively helpful. It could just as easily have hidden your papers or led Astrid to fall into one of the pits. With the ae’Magi to deal with, it is surely the least of evils.”

    When they left the caves it was still light outside. The skies were slightly overcast, but the wind was from the south, so it was warm enough.
    Aralorn took a deep breath of air and Wolf’s arm at the same time. “Have I thanked you yet for rescuing me from the tedium of mopping the floor of the inn for another six months or however long Ren decided to leave me there?” she said to distract him from her touch.
    His stride broke when she took his arm, and he stiffened a little. She’d have backed off, but he put his hand on hers where it hooked into his elbow.
    “I am certain”—he said gravely—“I will find the proper way for you to express your gratitude. I noticed just today that the library floors are starting to get a bit dusty.”
    Aralorn gave an appreciative snort and quickened her pace a bit to keep up with him. He noticed what she was doing and slowed his stride until her shorter legs could keep up.
    They were traveling in comfortable silence until Wolf stopped abruptly and snapped his fingers.
    “I just remembered where I read that story about the apprentice who killed his master. It will take me a few days to get the book. Tell Myr that I’ve gone seeking a clue. Between the two of you, you should be able to handle anything that happens.” He stepped away from her, then turned back. “Don’t go to the library without me, I’d rather lose a few days’ work than have you turned into a rock if you opened the wrong book.”
    Aralorn nodded. “Take care of yourself.”
    He took the wolf’s shape and disappeared into the woods with all the stealth of a real wolf. It wasn’t until he was gone that she thought to wonder how the camp would take the fact that she was returning without Wolf after the events of last night. Edom’s death would not have vindicated her of all suspicion. With a wry smile, she resumed her course.
    At the camp, Aralorn skulked around until she found Myr organizing a hunt for the next day, as the camp supplies were getting low. She caught his attention and waited for him to finish. Listening to him work was unexpectedly fascinating.
    He reassured and soothed and organized until he had a small, skilled party who knew where to go and how to get back—without any of those who were not chosen feeling slighted or overlooked. With everybody as edgy as they were, this was a major accomplishment. If Myr survived to regain his throne, he would be a ruler that Reth would not soon forget.
    “What did you need, Aralorn?” Myr asked, approaching her after he sent the others to their appointed tasks.
    “Wolf is going to be absent for a few days. He is looking for a book that might be able to help us fight the ae’Magi.”
    She kept her voice neutral, not certain how he would take it. He had no reason to trust her except that Wolf did—and Wolf was gone.
    “All right,” he said. When she didn’t take that as a dismissal, he paused and considered what she’d said again. “I see your problem. You think people are going to wonder if you were really the villain last night and have completed your nefarious plot today.”
    Aralorn nodded, relieved that he seemed not the least bit leery of her. “I didn’t think of it until Wolf was already gone, or I would have made him come back to camp before he left. I thought that you might want to break the news.”
    Myr nodded. “I’ll tell them that he left and leave out the details. There are enough things to worry about—we don’t need a lynching.”
    Abruptly, like an extinguished candle, the taut energy that generally characterized him was gone. He just looked very tired. He needed to pace himself better.
    “You need to let them look after themselves for a while,” she told him. “They don’t really need you to tell them what shoe they should put on which foot or how to make stew.”
    Myr laughed