Читать книгу SYLVAN ELF CHRONICLES - Christianne Van Keuren - Страница 14

Chapter Eight

TOBIAS and Mattea spent the better part of the morning’s journey barely speaking until she finally broke the silence by asking the burning question that had been plaguing her since they first met.

“You haven’t always been Nalas’ flunky, have you?

Tobias looked straight ahead, a knowing expression fashioned itself on his face as he answered. “You were never easily fooled as a child in school either, if I remember correctly.”

She gave him a hard look as she tried to picture him much younger. It took a moment, but suddenly her eyes flew open as her suspicions as to who was riding alongside her proved correct.

“I knew I was right last night!” The triumphant look soon became guarded. “Did the Major know who you are?”

“He knew I really wasn’t a servant, but he didn’t know I was your teacher. And Nalas…well that fool had no idea of who I was and I certainly wasn’t going to divulge my true identity to him. It would have been certain death long ago.” They rode for a moment in silence before Tobias added, “Please do not treat me any differently than you would any other slave belonging to Nalas.

“But you’re no slave Master Tobias to me anyway.” She blurted out.

“Nonetheless…”

Mattea interrupted him before he could finish. “I understand what you’re saying and will honor your request, but also understand it is with reluctance that I treat you as a slave.”

“Sadly child, I am in his eyes.”

“He doesn’t care who or what he destroys does he?” Anger tainting her words.

“That is his sole purpose, he only wants to destroy all he cannot control and I fear that he is even going to destroy that.”

“He’s as bad as Molkotie then.”

“How so?”

“Molkotie enslaved our people for his own gain and greed. Nalas…”

“Nalas did that to control the greedy bastard. Nalas knows well enough that Molkotie’s own gluttony will be the death of him, it’s just a matter of time before he yanks that tether tight for the final time and strangles him. He had given it a slight tug while I was there earlier, much to Molkotie’s distress.”

“Well, I may sound like a heretic, but I do not wish to serve either one.”

“Shhhhh! Mattea. Try to control those thoughts, bury them as deep as you can and share them with no one.”

“Not even you?” Then her eyes narrowed. “Is this a test of my loyalty to him?”

Tobias sighed heavily. “No never. Never with me. I don’t want your family to suffer as mine has.” He paused before continuing with his thoughts. “I know what a good person you really are, and I would never regret putting my life in your hands. You know my views on the subject and we must both keep our opinions close to our vest so we can survive this horrendous waste of life and destruction.”

“Then you…?”

“I hate him most vehemently and can’t think of a death violent and horrible enough for him. Many a night I’ve fought hard not to plunge a knife deep in his chest.”

“Why haven’t you?”

“I don’t have your skills and would have failed miserably. I would have been just one more rotting corpse in a deep hole by now if I had tried. I think I can do more good for others by staying alive and being able to change the minds of others to rid them of his poisonous presence.”

“Than we are allies in that.” Mattea said, setting her jaw firmly.

“Whatever you do Mattea, please don’t think those thoughts in his or the Wargi’s presence.”

“Why?”

“Because both of them are capable of scrying your mind for your thoughts, against your will if need be.”

A puzzled look planted itself on her face. “How will I know? I mean…” A troubled look on her face as her family flashed to the front of her mind. Tobias thought back to right before he left and what he felt like when the Wargi tried to pick apart his memories and thoughts. He tried to put it into words as best as he was able. What he was able to understand.

“You know how you feel when you’re on a mission and you sense someone hidden in a room or nearby? You sense them there, feel their breathing, their heartbeat, right?”

“Yes.” Her answer hesitant.

“Well try and imagine that sensation in your head, pricking at your thoughts, deepest, darkest secrets or memories. Someone able to bring your thoughts forward against your will.”

Mattea thought for just a moment when something came to mind. Tobias saw by the look on her face that she remembered something.

“Talk to me Mattea.”

“We…we always have had this very old man who lived on the outskirts of town. A strange old duffer that gave me the creeps every time I met up with him.”

“Creepy how?”

“He always gave me an itchy feeling like I had done something wrong and he knew what it was.”

“Did you do or say anything to him?”

“Not that I remember, but I usually just tried to blank everything out and walk away from him.”

Tobias gave her a serious look, raising her suspicions. “What’s the matter?”

“Did he never seem to age any more than what you remembered him as?”

Mattea looked down at her saddle as she thought. “Come to think of it…no.”

A knowing half smile looked back at Mattea. “You have a wargi in your village.”

“Wargi?!…How? I mean…aren’t they suppose to look…well…”

“Wargi’s are very capable shape-shifters. They can change into anything they want to suit their needs, but they’re still a Wargi nonetheless.”

“No wonder I never trusted him.” She answered. It explained many things to her.

“The best thing you can do is just what you did. Blank out your mind. Think of mundane, absurd things…” A wicked smile crossed his face again.

“What?” She asked as a smile broke out on her face.

“You know what they hate worse than mundane drivel?”

“No, what?”

A gleeful, malicious expression smeared itself across his face. “Think about having sex…sinful sex drives them crazy. They’ll leave you alone in a real rush.”

Mattea’s eyes narrowed down to mirthful slits as she couldn’t keep herself from asking. “And just how do you know that?”

“Cause…that’s the last thing I concentrated on when I left the fortress. The Wargi was trying to scry my mind as to why I was leaving and not some simple half wit on a mission.” Then a serious look crossed her face. “He will try to find you so avoid him at all costs.”

“What does he look like?”

“He is in his true form and it’s ugly.”

“Bad as a troll?”

“Worse and definitely with more knowledge.”

“That’s…” Mattea started.

“Scary.” Tobias finished.

Both grew quiet as they turned their thoughts into themselves. After several minutes Mattea spoke again.

“Why would he be so interested in me?”

“Because Nalas is.” Tobias answered without hesitation.

Mattea was silent and it took her a moment to ask another question.

“And just why is Nalas so interested in me?”

Again the frankness. “You bested him on the training field. He’d be remiss, nay stupid, not to have someone with your talents and skills working closely with him, being his protection.” His gaze steady.

“And no other reason?”

Here he looked away, answering as truthfully as he could, but not totally honest. “I wasn’t privy to anything else Mattea.”

“Not privy to or won’t speak of?”

“He spoke of nothing else to me other than to brag on your skills.” He paused before adding. “His thoughts…that I was definitely not privy to, so I can’t speak truthfully of what I cannot attest to.” But in his heart Tobias knew the fool was besotted with her, as well as her skills.

“I’m not really sure I want to help him. The more I hear, the more I don’t like.”

“That, my dear, is the smartest thing I’ve heard since last night from your Major, but you keep that, your family and our conversation buried as deep as possible. I intend to.”

“My plan is to get back to my family.”

“And I promised your husband that I will help you accomplish that if it costs me my dying breath.”

“Tobias…”

Tobias cut her off with a wave of his hand indicating that the conversation was over. As he turned his attention to the trail in front of them. Mattea took his queue and did the same.