Outcasts of Velrune (9 page)

“Oh.”

Mr. Penna let go of Max’s arm. “Come, let us get cleaned up a bit. It will be four days before we have another chance.”

Max followed Mr. Penna as he removed his outer clothes and waded into the river. The coolness of the water felt great after the day’s long ride. Mr. Penna, always thinking ahead, handed Max a bar of soap. As refreshing as the bath was, Max kept worrying about Eve. She still had a lot of work to do on her swimming. To make matters worse, she did not return before they finished. Max started to wade over to the wall but was stopped once again by Mr. Penna.

“I am sure she is fine Maxwell. We saw the acolyte go over there ahead of us.”

“But we don’t know anything about her.”

“Aside from us, Evangeline will not find a safer place to be than with the Children of the Immortals. So, it is back to camp with us.”

The two gathered their things and headed back for the camp, Max looking over his shoulder the whole way.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Eve left Mr. Penna and Max at the water’s edge and headed for the other side of the dividing wall. She couldn’t wait to feel the cool water on her toes again. She was used to the soft earth and grassy plains of Swiftwater, not the hard, rocky surface of the trail they traveled now. Her tough feet would adjust, but it would take a little time. Until then, she would have to take extra care of them.

Eve walked around the edge of the wall. Ten feet farther, next to the water, stood the acolyte. Her robe lay on the ground as she worked on removing the rest of her clothing. Eve, like Max, was curious about the woman. Now she could at least see the acolyte’s features. Her hair was blond, ending right below her shoulder blades. She had a rounded face that carried only the slightest tan. She was slender and fit with fair skin. Eve guessed the woman to be in her early twenties.

Eve, not wanting to be caught staring, walked to the river where she let Spook out before removing her own clothes. Laying them in a pile, she carefully inched into the water, staying close to the wall for support. She stopped when the water reached her knees. A little scared, she very slowly sat down. After a few minutes she began to relax, enjoying the soothing water. A moment later she had an odd sensation of being watched. Turning her head to the right, she saw the acolyte looking back at her with an open mouth.

Eve’s face flushed. “I...is something wrong?”

The woman shook her head as if clearing it. “I’m sorry; I just didn’t expect to see you go out into the water.”

Eve had known people would make fun of her fear of the water. That was why she had asked Max to help her learn to swim. Embarrassed, she took hold of the tip of her tail in both hands.

“I can go farther out. Well,” Eve lowered her head, “when Max is with me, I can.”

The woman waved her hands “No. No. I wasn’t trying to make fun of you. It’s that I have never seen a lacarnian, and I know several, step into the water before. It really surprised me to see you sitting down that far out.”

The red faded from Eve’s face. “I’ve worked really hard to get over my fear. When Max is with me I can go all they way to my chin, but this is as far as I could go by myself.”

“Is Max the boy that was with you?”

Eve let go of her tail and smiled. “Yep.”

“And he is actually helping you?”

Eve gave her a quizzical look. “Well, yeah. We’ve been friends since we were little.”

The woman laughed. “I take it you are not from any of the large towns?”

Eve thought of their little village and laughed. “No, we’re from Swiftwater. I bet it’s about as small a place as you’re going to find. Where are you from?”

The woman curtsied. “My apologies. My name is Melody. I was born in Moenia where The Children of the Immortals took me into their order when I was a little girl. I am actually returning there from a trip I took on their behalf. Who might you be?”

“I’m Evangeline.” Eve let out a giggle. “But you can call me Eve.”

“It is nice to meet you, Eve. If I may ask, what brings you out across the dead lands?”

“Tyco, the grumpy one bossing us around, used to be a member of the Protectors. A messenger showed up in Swiftwater with orders that he is supposed to meet with them in Moenia. He asked Max to go along with him because Max wants to be a Protector like his father. I came to keep Max out of trouble.”

Melody joined Eve in her laughter before asking. “Max’s father isn’t taking him?”

Eve frowned and shook her head. “He was killed by bandits when Max was six. That’s why he’s been so determined to join the Protectors. He wants to take his dad’s place in helping others.”

“I knew a lot of the Protectors. What was his father’s name?”

“Peter Laskaris.”

Melody’s eyes widened. “Captain Laskaris?”

Now it was Eve’s turn to be curious. “Yes. Have you heard of him?”

Melody seemed in deep thought. “Yes, Captain Laskaris was well known to the people west of the dead lands.”

Melody let the thought drop and focused back on Eve.

“I‘m surprised you wanted to go along with them to Moenia?”

Eve shrugged. “I didn‘t want to at first, but Max asked me to and, I‘m worried about him. There’s no telling what trouble he would get into without me.”

Melody laughed. “Is that right? Like I said, I know several lacarna. I would be willing to bet you’re the one that usually gets him into trouble.”

Eve couldn’t keep back the mischievous grin that always worried Max. “Maybe.”

Melody almost doubled over with laugher. “I thought so. Now, I’d venture to guess the old man is Chiron Penna, but who’s your furry little friend there?”

How’d she know Mr. Penna’s name? Furry friend?

Eve looked behind her where Melody pointed. Spook had crept up to the water’s edge where she sat methodically cleaning herself.

Eve giggled. “That’s Spook.”

Melody shook her head. “You are certainly different from any lacarna that I’ve ever met, but given who your friends are, I think I know why.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Melody tapped her chin with her finger as she thought aloud. “Why don’t you, Max and Mr. Penna come join the diggers and myself for dinner tonight? I’ll explain more then.”

Eve anxiously wanted to know more, but Melody clearly meant to keep that information to herself until later. Eve shrugged her shoulders.

“Okay.”

Melody looked west. “The sun will start to set soon. We had better finish cleaning up and get back inside the camp walls.”

The two of them finished bathing then re-dressed as the sun began to sink below the horizon. Together, they headed back into the camp.

CHAPTER NINE

Max sat under the stone shelter, staring restlessly at the east gate of the camp. With the sun slipping below the horizon, he stood, determined to find Eve despite Mr. Penna’s objection. He made it halfway to the entrance when Eve and the acolyte walked through. Seeing the worried expression on Max’s face, Eve giggled.

“Hey, Maxy, off to save a damsel in distress?”

Feeling his face start to flush, Max ducked his head.

“No, no, I was getting hungry and didn’t want to sit around waiting for you if you weren‘t coming. You know, in case you’d drowned or something.”

“Max, you know I wouldn’t go and do that. Who would keep you out of trouble?”

The acolyte stifled a laugh as she walked past Max towards the diggers. Eve returned with Max to Mr. Penna and Tyco. There she faced Mr. Penna, standing straight as she could trying to take on an air of dignity.

“We have been invited to dine with the diggers and Melody this evening. She would like to know more about us.” Eve changed back to her normal, excitable self. “She’s heard of your dad, Max; you too, Mr. Penna!”

Max’s embarrassment about Eve vanished in an instant. “Really, what did she say?”

While the others were bathing, Tyco had pulled out a dagger to sharpen to help pass the time. He paused at Eve’s news.

“That woman is of the Children of the Immortals. They are an odd group. You should be careful who you choose to dine with. I would recommend staying over here.”

Eve stuck her nose up. “I think you’re right, Tyco. We should be careful of whom we eat with.” Eve turned to Max and Mr. Penna. “Come on Max, Mr. Penna, let’s get our food and head over.” Eve looked back at Tyco. “I’m glad you don’t want to go. You weren’t invited anyways.”

Tyco stared at Eve, a dour look on his face. Eve simply turned and headed for the center of the camp where the small stack of firewood now burned. Tyco grunted and returned to sharpening his dagger, a little more forcibly now.

Max looked expectantly at Mr. Penna. “Mr. Penna?”

Mr. Penna sighed. “I knew we would be recognized at some point. I had hoped it would not be so soon, but perhaps it being the Children is a good thing.”

Max tried in desperation to contain his excitement. “Is that a yes or no?”

“Yes, Maxwell, let us join them.”

Without any further hesitation, Max gathered their food and ran after Eve. Mr. Penna followed at his own, slow pace. Max caught up to Eve as she arrived at the fire where Melody and the diggers already sat. At their arrival, Melody stood, greeting Eve with a curtsy.

“Good evening, Evangeline.”

Eve giggled, returning the curtsy. “Evening, Melody. I’d like you to meet Maxwell Laskaris and,” Eve patted her foot impatiently, “when he gets here Mr., um, I mean, Chiron Penna. Max, this is Melody.”

“Good evening, Ms. Melody. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Eve turned to Max in surprise. “Wow, Max, you do have manners!”

Max jabbed at Eve with his elbow, which she easily dodged. Melody started to laugh then cleared her throat.

“Good evening, Maxwell. I’m glad to meet you. You as well, Mr. Penna.”

Mr. Penna finally arrived, stepping next to Max. “Good evening, Ms…?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell Eve my full name. I am Melody Eliades.” She gestured to the diggers Tyco mentioned. “With me are Zeth and Bastiaan.”

The two diggers stood and shook hands with Max, Mr. Penna and Eve. When the introductions were over, they all sat down in a circle and Melody began the conversation.

“Maxwell, Eve tells me that you are Peter Laskaris’s son.”

“Yes, that’s right.” It was odd to hear a stranger mention his father.

Melody turned toward Mr. Penna. “And you used to accompany Mr. Laskaris, correct?”

“You are correct, Ms. Eliades. If I may, how is it that you know of us?”

“Of course, Mr. Penna. You see, I grew up in the care of the Children of the Immortals in Moenia. When I was twelve I remember a Protector coming to our sanctuary to speak with Metis, the leader of our order. Even then, I knew that the Children did not get along with the Protectors. I was curious as to what the man wanted so I hid behind the table on the second floor. When Metis met the man he spoke quietly to her then slipped her a small box. Metis nodded and the man returned outside. I ran over to a window in time to see him getting back on his horse. On another horse was an older gentleman who held a small child. I saw them leave the church grounds as one of the elders called me for my chores.”

“I forgot about the Protector and his box until years later. While cleaning out one of the sanctuary’s store rooms, I found the box. Remembering that day, curiosity got the better of me, and I tried to open it. The locks wouldn’t budge, making me more determined to find out what it contained. I sought out Metis to see if she would tell me.”

“Metis tried to shoo me away until I told her I knew where the box had come from. I thought she would be mad at me. Instead, she sighed heavily, telling me it no longer mattered. She said the man who had left it, Peter Laskaris, had been a captain of the Protectors. The boy was his son and the older man, Chiron Penna, was a friend of them both. She then paused a moment as a few tears rolled down her face. Wiping them away, she said that bandits had killed all three and to put the box back where I had found it.”

Melody smiled at Max. “Needless to say, Eve surprised me when she told me about you two. It’s not often I run into people who are supposed to be dead.”

Mr. Penna nodded slowly. “I have tried not to spread word of our survival. I knew that would end with this trip, I had only hoped we would at least make it to Moenia first.”

“But, why?”

“The night the bandits murdered Peter they searched his home. I have always believed they were looking for Maxwell, though I have no reason as to why.”

Max’s eyes widened. “You mean, if Eve hadn’t hid me, you think they would have killed me as well.”

Mr. Penna bowed his head and nodded. He raised his head again, speaking to Melody.

“The day you recall, the one in which we left the box with your order, was our last day in Moenia. Peter had instructed me to pack the necessities for a long journey and to do it quickly. When all was ready we left the inner court of Moenia, stopping only at your church before leaving the city.”