“And if the Alpines recognise Fel’annár?” asked Galadan.
“Then we are lost,” said Handir. “As long as we hide that face,” he pointed at his brother, “then the sea route is our best option.” He turned to Pan’assár. After a while, the commander nodded.
“We will need civilian clothing and travel horses, not chargers; and coin to commission boats. We will be merchants, cartographers, craftsmen come together to make the trip from Tar’eastór to Ea Uaré in search of new trade. Travel time … say eight days to the cliffs and then another to safely descend the Glistening Falls. From there, we commission a boat from Bulls Bay—here—to Port Helia—here. Three days aboard will see us there. We find discreet lodgings and horses to navigate up the estuary and to the city. If we are lucky, three weeks will see us home.”
“And once we are there, how do we get in? Do we show ourselves or spirit in unannounced, with a prince of the realm, a son of King Vorn’asté, a Silvan would-be Warlord and two of The Three?” asked Sontúr, one brow acutely arched.
“I do not think we can decide on the manner of our arrival just yet,” replied Pan’assár, resisting the urge to snicker at the prince’s sarcasm. “Perhaps once we are closer, the information we are missing will tell us the best way. Publicly or secretly, to the palace, to the Silvans, or perhaps even separately.”
Handir nodded. “Then we have a plan, at least until we are in the forests once more. We travel in the hope that more will be revealed to us as we progress. We may be able to arrive normally, report to my father and prepare for the votes, if they have not yet taken place. But should the conflict be worse than we imagine, then we enter in secrecy and gain the upper hand from Band’orán. The element of surprise may prove pivotal.”
“I will see to our provisions, Prince,” said Gor’sadén. “You are sure you do not wish for more warriors?”
“I am sure, Commander. We need to pass unnoticed without drawing attention to ourselves. We need to move fast, mingle into the crowds at Bulls Bay and Port Helia. Guards would give us away.” Handir’s gaze crossed with Pan’assár’s. The commander nodded.
“I will prepare the medical supplies for the journey,” said Llyniel. Handir nodded at her and then turned to face them all.
“We must move quickly, and although I understand the need for safety, the news we bear must reach my father before Band’orán makes his final move. There is no guarantee it will be enough, but it will be sufficient to cast serious doubts on Band’orán’s motives. He must be stopped, else we return to a forest in which I am no longer a prince; in which a tyrant rules. That will bring war to Ea Uaré. Of that, I have no doubt.”
“We will make sure that does not happen,” said Pan’assár, stepping forwards, and Fel’annár nodded, The Company steadfast beside him.
And so, their path had been set, as much as it could be with so much uncertainty. Fel’annár watched quietly as the commanders left, met Gor’sadén’s inquiring gaze as he passed, smiled at Llyniel as she made for the Healing Halls once more, or so he supposed. The Company made for the door, but they stopped and turned, wondering why Fel’annár had not moved. He gestured to them with his head, watched them leave, knew that they would be right behind the door.
He turned to Handir and found him staring back.
“You could travel without me, Handir. I can take an alternative route. My presence on this journey will place you in danger.”
“I am already in danger, Fel’annár. And yet I think your presence will be more of a benefit than a hindrance. You, together with the commanders, are our best warriors. I believe we should weather that danger together.”
Fel’annár nodded. He made to leave, but Handir spoke again. “And I would be there … to introduce you to our father when the time comes.”
Fel’annár searched Handir’s eyes, but all he saw was quiet resolve and a subtle smile.
“Congratulations. You have bonded with an extraordinary elf.”
Fel’annár’s smile was so wide his cheeks ached, and for one moment he wanted to step forward and hug Handir. But he stopped himself and instead, he stepped back, bowed in heart-felt thanks. And then he left.
That night, Fel’annár and The Company sat at the fire, talking quietly of Handir’s revelation and what it meant. But Fel’annár was restless and did not hear Galadan’s question.
“I think he’d rather be somewhere else,” said Carodel, gesturing with his head to Fel’annár, watching as he shrugged.
“I spoke to Llyniel yesterday,” he said absent-mindedly.
“You did more than that,” said Carodel with a soft snort.
Fel’annár’s grin was fleeting. “I told her. Everything.”
“Oh.” said Ramien, nodding slowly. “Well, she seemed to accept it well enough.”
“She doesn’t think me mad, at least.” He stood, unwilling to share her scepticism with The Company. “I am going to Gor’sadén’s chambers.”
“Not alone.”
“Of course not.” He was peeved and wanted Idernon to know it, but the Wise Warrior said nothing. He simply followed his friend as he made his way to the commander’s quarters. Once there, Idernon arranged himself on a bench outside, stubbornly watching as Fel’annár disappeared into the room.
He found his Master sitting in his favourite chair beside the hearth, staring into the fire he had just stoked.
“How is the treatment progressing?” asked Fel’annár, watching as Gor’sadén leaned back, stared up at him, then gestured to a chair opposite. Fel’annár sat, enjoying the warmth of the fire for a while.
“The treatment is painful. Granted, it is fleeting, and tomorrow it will be somewhat better. You, however, do not seem so troubled with your injury anymore.” The commander looked at him with appraising eyes.
“It does bother me, but I swear there’s something about the Dohai that is mending it. In fact I wanted to ask you about that. When the lights come, it’s as if they flock to the damaged muscles and bone. I can almost see it in my mind, like a cauterising fire, like a soothing balm. And then I wonder if it’s just my imagination, fooling my mind into thinking these lights have some real impact on my recuperation.”
“It is an interesting theory,” said Gor’sadén. “There are stories of the elder days, of Kah Masters who could ease the passing of fatally wounded brothers with some sort of energy transfer. But that was before my time. There are some mentions of it in the Warrior Code, in the annexes, I believe.”
Fel’annár committed that comment to memory, for future research.
“There may not be time to continue with your training until we are on the road. There are arrangements to be made at the Inner Circle before I hand my duties over to Comon. But we must not forget the Enha’rei. It is not yet right.”
Fel’annár knew that. The flurry of movements that were required before the final strike always left him a little unbalanced, enough to displace his blade over bone instead of cartilage. He almost jumped when Gor’sadén spoke.