"Obran, are you there?" Tori said.
Tori walked slowly towards him, an arrow tethered in her bow. Erkin and Tomas were by her side, both of them holding daggers and torches, but Obran doubted they could see him in the dark.
"It's over," Obran called out as he approached them.
They all lowered their weapons and looked immensely relieved.
"Is the other one...?" Tori asked.
"Yes," Obran said. "The wolf is getting his revenge."
"And Are you okay?" Tori asked
"Yes, I'm okay. How's Mara?" Obran said.
"She said she was fine but I'm not sure," Tori said.
"Is anyone else hurt?" Obran asked.
"I'm fine, bro," Erkin said.
"I'm okay," Tomas said.
"Okay let's head back to the wagon," Obran said.
Up ahead Zico, Mara, Katrina and her dog Covus sat near the fire the elves had made.
"I don't think I would have believed it if I hadn't seen it, that an elf could control wolves or that Mara could break their spell. I wish we could study their magic," Tomas said.
"I doubt you could get any elf to agree to that," Tori said.
"Yeah, that would be a problem," Tomas said.
"Did the elf say anything? That last one was the one in charge right?" Tori said.
"Nothing useful," Obran said.
Back in the camp, Mara slept on Zico's lap while Katrina stroked and comforted her dog.
"How is Mara doing?" Obran whispered to Zico.
"She says she will be okay, but she has a tear on one of her wings. It will heal but she will need to be off her feet for a while," Zico said.
"Your wife saved us all; you should be very proud." Tori said. "You too Katrina, thank you so much."
Katrina simply nodded, looking grateful her dog was not hurt.
"I'm sorry it had to come to that Zico," Obran said.
But a part of Obran wanted to say he knew something like this might happen but he kept quiet.
"My wife doesn't deserve any of this, your highness," Zico said.
He's right, Obran thought. Tori leaned down and gently stroked Mara's hair as Obran went to check the two dead elves. Tomas and Erkin stood behind him, holding their blades up.
"They are both dead, I checked," Katrina said.
Still, Obran knelt down and felt for a pulse; he knew elves could induce a deep sleep in order to heal but the scent of death had already marked the two as if the poison had torn apart their innards.
"Are you completely sure they are dead? Should we uhm...make sure," Tomas said.
Obran didn't want to stab them or let anyone else do it. He'd already slit the throat of one elf and didn't want them to see more blood.
"They are dead. It's okay," Obran said.
"He's right, Tomas," Erkin said, holding a hand to his nose.
Still, Tomas poked the two elves.
"I'll search the bodies. Can you two please search their satchels and horses," Obran said.
"The horses ran away, going north, shortly after you ran after the last one," Katrina said.
Obran remembered that elven horses would never allow anyone but an elf to ride them, and he never found any sign of horses after they killed the two elves in the Gremlin Forest.
"Are you okay, Katrina? How's Corvus?" Obran said.
"I'm fine. Corvus is just a bit bruised, mostly his ego, I think," Katrina said as she stroked and petted her dog.
"Thank you, Katrina; that was a great shot," Obran said.
"I knew you'd save us," Zico said.
But Katrina didn't look too proud of her actions and Obran wondered just what she had experienced in the war.
Obran didn't find anything useful on the elves, just water and weapons. No wonder they were hungry. He did find a detailed map of Italia with all its roads and cities but nothing was marked. The two elves also carried no letters nor wore any markings of their elven clan which Obran knew was extremely important to an elf.
"We'll drag the bodies to the woods; the wild animals will take care of the rest," Obran said to Erkin and Tomas. "Everyone else rest up a bit. I'll keep watch."
He wouldn't make any more mistakes; this was war now and he had to think as a soldier again. Near dawn they dragged the two bodies to the edge of the forest and Obran even went back to check on the third elf, but the wolf had also dragged him into the forest.
"We can just leave them outside the forest right?" Tomas said.
"Yes, we don't have to go in," Obran said.
Tomas was scared to go into the forest, a typical reaction of the humans in the kingdom.
Carrion birds were already gathering up above. Obran left the elven weapons too, only taking the Roman silver their leader carried in a satchel. At the camp, Obran climbed on top of the wagon but did not see anyone. He wondered if the elven horses could lead others to them? Or if these elves had sent word to any others before their attack? He didn't see anyone but he knew he couldn't get as high up as Mara could.
Obran sat next to Tori and Mara, who was now awake and alert; Zico prepared them all a quick breakfast.
"We should get going soon," Obran said. "We can rest for a while in Narnia if you all like, get some food, maybe visit a bath house but we should get off the road."
"Obran, Mara has an idea and she wants to know what everyone thinks," Tori said.
"What is it?" Obran said; he privately hoped Mara and Zico decided to leave their makeshift party.
"First, I want to say I'm sorry that I didn't spot those creepy elves. They were using the forest as cover," Mara said.
"It was my mistake too, Mara. I should have known better," Obran said.
"But won't there be more out there—elves and humans, all of them hunting us," Zico said.
"Yes. It's something we can expect again and that's why I still think Tori and I should continue alone," Obran said.
"Let's not start that again, Obran," Mara said. "Can you imagine what would have happened if we weren't all together. And I doubt you knew how to cook that foul bread, or how to free that wolf."
"She's right, Obran," Tori. "If they had caught just us two we wouldn't be here talking."
Tori was right but Obran was still afraid of what could have happened to them.
"Anyway, my wing is cut; I won't be able to fly while it heals so I won't be able to scout for us," Mara said.
"That will definitely hinder us," Obran said.
"So I was thinking we should all go to the fae lands," Mara said.
"What? Are there fae lands nearby?" Obran said.
Obran and the others looked to the forest.
"That forest has a link to the fae lands. I can feel it, even from here. Obran, we could visit the fae lands, just for a day or two. I can heal quickly there and it will give us some time off the road in case anyone else is nearby," Mara said.
"I think it's a good idea," Tori said. "That way whoever is ahead or behind us will probably assume they lost us or that we went in another direction. Armenus has been delayed so I think we can afford a few days," Tori said.
It might actually be a good idea, Obran thought.
"But are we allowed in the fae lands?" Obran said.
Obran had heard so many stories and legends about fae: that visitors were allowed if invited or kidnapped, but also that there were all kinds of enchantments, spells, and curses that kept the fae lands safe. He didn't know what to believe.
"Yes, I spoke to those fae at the ball about it and I prepared for this possibility," Mara said.
"But how would we get there? Is it far? Would it take long?" Obran said.
"No, we just need to go to any forests that's connected to the fae lands and this forest has that connection; I can do the rest," Mara said.
"Is it magic? How can a forest be connected to the fae lands?" Tomas asked.
"I'm not totally sure Tomas. But once every forest had fae and in some forests we left an imprint, a connection to our lands," Mara said.
"And what do the rest of you think?" Obran said.
They were a team now so he should leave it up to a vote but it sounded like a good idea, laying low in a place no one could find them.
"I would love to see the fae lands," Tori said. "And after what just happened I think we could all use a rest."
"It would be interesting. Could I take samples?" Tomas said.
"We'll have to talk about the rules, Tomas," Mara said.
"Tomas even if we can't take samples we can observe and write a discourse about it; I haven't heard of any real investigation about their lands," Erkin said. "I vote we go."
"Obran, we can check out their food too," Zico said. "Even Apicius would be jealous."
"And I think you love your stomach more than me," Mara teased her husband.
"That's impossible, dear," Zico said.
The mood had lightened a bit. The sun had risen and in the distance he saw some wagons leaving Narnia and headed south.
"Can I take my sheep and Corvus?" Katrina said.
"Yes, it won't be a problem; they'll love it," Mara said.
"Then let's go," Katrina said.
"Okay, we all agree," Obran said.
Mara's wings lit up and fluttered but she didn't get airborne. Obran hoped she'd heal and be back to normal soon. They finished eating and packed their provisions, leaving behind anything that was touched by the elves.
"I'll get my sheep; they are about a half mile south from here," Katrina said.
"I'll go with you," Tori quickly said.
"Me too," Mara said.
Mara held up her hand and Tori placed her on her shoulder. Obran was about to object and offer to go as well but the look Tori gave him told him to keep quiet and he knew that they could more than handle themselves.
"Just wait for us at the edge of the forest," Mara said.
"Okay," Obran said.
"Don't worry we will come back. Someone has to keep you boys safe," Tori teased.
Obran, Erkin, Tomas, and Zico stared as the three young women walked down the road.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SzB6LmRQp
