Chapter 12.
It would be a happy couple of weeks for Obran. He put off starting to work and instead helped Zico in his stand since it was profitable and fun for both of them. They tried new recipes from Apicius’ book and even created some of their own but in the end hobo stew and fae coffee were still the best sellers. Erkin and Tomas would come for breakfast and lunch everyday now and when she could Tori would join them. Mara and Tori quickly took to each other, going out shopping and checking out the luxury items in the forum market, which totally freaked out Zico but in the end they were both austere when it came to spending money. Mara and Tori also both liked to make and adorn their own clothes and stayed busy preparing outfits for everyone to go to the ball. One day Victoria even invited them to a Roman restaurant and though she always wore a cloak and hood in the city, the six of them still managed to attract a great deal of attention. During their second week they went to a chariot race at the circus but sat in the cheap seats so no one would recognize Tori—Obran bet on team green but still lost. None of them were too interested in seeing any gladiatorial fights or animal hunts in the Colosseum, though the human matches were no longer fought to the death.
Tori and Obran even found some time to tour parts of the city together, discovering places they’d never known: theatres, fountains, arches and plazas; it was such a big city and was getting crowded for the celebrations and elections that followed soon afterwards; Obran even saw some gremlins, along with more gnomes, and dwarves and an occasional dark elf—a few times he felt they were being followed but chalked it to Tori’s minders.
“A year ago I could have never imagined touring Roma. Carthagio is a much prettier but this city has its charms,” Tori said.
“I spent months fighting my way through all Italia to get here but I honestly hoped I would never have to return. That is until now...I mean. But I still wonder what would have happened had the city been taken or sacked,” Obran said.
They walked along the cobbled roads near the Palatine hill, they both wore hooded cloaks and Obran wondered if he passed for a child.
“Maybe we all could have still met if I had visited our new province; I could have taught you Phoenician,” Tori said.
“Yeah right, I’d been a prisoner or war, or a slave, or worse,” Obran said.
“Not if I could have helped it,” Tori said.
On Sundays they would meet at Obran’s gremlin burrow and drink wine, play games, and sing songs, planning for the ball, all while enjoying the delicious food Zico and Obran prepared. Everyone shared more stories but Obran was just happy Tori never spoke of Prince Gaius or any impending marriage. Obran started to wonder if the six of them bonded because they were all outsiders, each different in their own way: Obran and Erkin were gremlins who had broken barriers in the army and the university. Tomas was a poor orphan of Etruscan descent, too smart and awkward for his own good. Zico and Mara were ostracized by other gnomes because of their marriage, and Victoria was a Carthaginian princess who was now a hostage to Roma, the kingdom that had defeated her people.
That last Sunday they said their goodbyes and Obran escorted Tori out as the sun set. He’d ridden with her to the main road twice and it had become their habit. He was even starting to think he might be able to handle a horse alone.
“Are you nervous about the ball?” Tori said as they rode together; the ball was now only a few days away.
“No...I mean a bit. A month ago I could have never imagined I’d visit the castle, let alone go to a ball,” Obra said.
“I’ll have to sit with the royal family but I’ll come see you all when I can. We can watch the dancers and the drama together,” Tori said.
“Will the prince sit next to you?” Obran said.
“I think so,” Tori said. “...uhm I hope that doesn’t bother you?”
“No, I mean not if it’s what you want,” Obran said,
“What I want doesn’t really matter,” Tori said.
“So you both could hold hands,” Obran said.
“Obran...I would sit with all of you if I could. You know that,” Tori said.
“All of us?” Obran said.
“I mean…Obran...I...you know spending time with you has...”
Suddenly, Obran saw a fleeting motion ahead. Someone went off the trail ahead of them, trying to quickly duck out of sight and whoever it was, it was too big to be a gremlin.
“Stop the horse and get off,” Obran said.
“What?” Tori said.
“Just do it please,” Obran said.
Tori stopped the horse, quickly got off, and then helped Obran down; Obran grabbed her arm and pulled her down to one knee, placing the horse in front of them. He stared at the trees ahead—his ears were fully up and his eyes wide open now.
“What is it?” Tori whispered.
“I saw someone up ahead. Stay as low as you can.”
Obran looked in every direction but didn’t hear or see anything. Whoever it was, he was stealthy. Obran would have to go see who it was but first they needed to get off the main trail. He couldn’t just approach directly without any weapons or armor.
“Whoever it is, they know they’ve been spotted,” Obran said.
“Do you think they are my minders?” Tori said.
“They are not on horses and they’re too quiet and quick for a soldier in armor,” Obran said. “C’mon.”
Obran led her off the main trail, stopping behind a large tree; he hoped the horse had covered their movements. They moved again behind another tree then another. Obran scratched his claws on the tree. Good, they are still sharp from all the cooking I’ve been doing, he thought. He wished he had a weapon but his claws would have to do. He didn’t want to go back to the gremlin burrow and maybe lead whoever it was back to the others.
“Tori, I want you to stay here, just stay low and quiet. I’m going to circle around and see who it is?”
“Obran, it’s probably just my minders. Don’t do anything foolish to set them off okay. They’re trained officers and will do anything to protect me.”
“Just call out and run in the direction of the road if you see anyone you don’t know. I’ll catch up.”
“Okay,” Tori said.
Obran dropped to the ground and began to crawl to the nearby shrubs. He had to hurry before whoever it was, tried to flank or attack them first. He crawled several meters not seeing or hearing anyone then stood up and did a mad dash.
Was it her body guards? Was it slavers? He doubted both but hoped he was wrong. Gremlins seldom amassed much gold or silver and to kidnap a gremlin here would be risky being that most were trained veterans. Obran kept running quietly and when he was sure he was behind whoever was stalking them, he stopped and crouched down again. He looked out from behind some cover to a clearing but didn’t see anyone; quietly he emerged to an open area where he’d seen their stalker, nothing; he continued into the clearing but there was no one there. Did he imagine it? Suddenly a dark elf stepped out from behind a tree. The elf stared straight into his eyes and pointed a crossbow directly at Obran.
“Walk slowly to me gremlin, very slowly, and keep your claws up,” the elf said in a low hissing voice.
The elf had ashen gray skin; he wore a dark blue tunic over his thin frame and had a short blade on his waist. Obra didn’t move. The elf had waited until Obran was in the open—smart, now Obran could not dive for cover.
“I won’t ask you again, gremlin and don’t think about running off. I won’t miss,” the elf said.
Obran didn’t doubt it; the elf had anticipated Obran’s maneuver and now had a clear shot. Obran walked slowly towards him.
“Don’t worry gremlin; I’m not here to kill you or her, so don't do anything foolish.”
Obran didn’t speak..
“Stop, turn around now and get on your knees and keep those hands closed.”
Obran did as he was told. As he got closer to the elf he had also noticed another set of footprints leading away from them. He guessed Tori was probably already captured. The elf threw a piece of knotted rope in front of him.
“Bind your hands together, use your teeth to tighten the rope,” the elf said.
Obran tied his hands but bit into the knot as he tightened it. He’d only need a moment to get through it. He had also picked up some dirt when he went down on his knees and now held it tightly in his hand. It was his best hope but he’d have to wait until the elf got close.
“What do you want?” Obran said, trying to distract the elf.
But the elf didn’t answer, instead he whistled, making a sound just like a bird. He’s signaling the other one, Obran thought.
“We are all just going for a short trip, assassin,” the elf said.
Obran heard the elf getting closer. Obran was about to attack when he heard an arrow thud as it hit the elf; the elf let out a grunt of pain and immediately Obran dove to his right and he threw sand at the elf’s face as he lunged for his attack. The elf had been hit in the torso by an arrow and had shot his crossbow wildly; he now staggered backwards. Obran had quickly freed himself and slit the elf’s neck with his claws—it was something he’d done many times during the war. The elf fell to his knees while grasping at his neck. Obran grabbed his blade and rushed back to the shrubs and to cover. He listened and looked for whoever shot the arrow. Nothing, not a sound, just the dying elf laying on the ground bleeding out. Was it the centurions? Another gremlin? Will they shoot me? Obran had to get back to Tori but he didn’t want to get shot too.
He waited for what seemed to be forever then saw Tori walk towards the elf. What? She had an arrow quivered and aimed at the fallen elf. Satisfied the elf was dead and there was no more danger, she called out, “Obran, Obran...”
There was desperation in her voice and Obran quickly ran towards her.
“Tori, I'm here,” Obran said.
Tori saw him and lowered her bow.
“Thank the gods. Are you okay?” Tori said.
“I’m fine. Did you see the other one?’” Obran asked, looking behind her.
“Yes, back on the trail; I think he’s dead too,” Tori said. “Obran, I thought he was going to kill you. I didn’t know what else to do.”
Tori sat down on the ground and let the bow drop beside her as she stared at the dead elf. Obran quickly sat beside her.
“Obran, I swear I’ve never shot an arrow at anyone,” Tori said.
She began to cry quietly; she was shaking and Obran took hold of her hands, gently stroking her hands with his fingers.
“You didn’t have a choice, Tori,” Obran said.
Tori leaned on his shoulder. Obran let her cry as he listened attentively for any other sounds. He let her calm before he spoke.
“Tori, I have to ask. Do you recognize any of them?” Obran said.
Tori looked closely at the face of the dead elf.
“No, I’ve never seen either of them before.”
“How did you get away from the other one,” Obran said.
“After you left I had a feeling it might be a trap,” Tori said.
“I should have picked up on that, I’m sorry,” Obran said.
Tori wiped the tears from her face.
“No. You were great. I thought about following you so we wouldn’t be separated but then I saw the other elf near the horse; he had a bow but I managed to hit him from behind with a branch. He fell and hit his head on a rock, I think. He wasn’t moving. I grabbed his bow and came to you.”
“It’s ok, Tori,” Obran said.
“And this elf. I thought he was going to kill you,” she said.
“You saved us both, thank you,” Obran said.
“Should we go back to the burrow and make sure the others are okay?” Tori said.
“I only saw a pair of tracks and I haven’t heard or seen anyone else; I don’t think there are more,” Obran said.
Obran would check on them when he was sure the forest was clear and Tori was safe.
“Then I should go back to the castle as soon as possible; the King must hear about this,” she said.
“Yes, it’s the safest place for you now,” Obran said.
“What did they want, Obran?” Tori said.
“I’m not sure but I don’t think they wanted to kill us. They could have easily shot us as we rode by. I think they wanted to kidnap you.”
“But why?”
“I don’t know but that’s what we have to figure out,” Obran said.
Yes, he’d just helped kill two elves. There would be no easy way out from this. Obran searched the body of the dead elf but the dark elf wasn’t carrying anything: no gold, no uniform, or anything with information. They walked back to the horse and the other elf. He was dead and there was a large puddle of blood by his head. Obran searched him but didn’t find anything, just another blade.
“Let’s get you back to the castle,” Obran said. “ I’ll explain everything to the rest of them and hide these bodies and weapons.”
“Thank you,” Tori said.
They got back on her horse and rode quietly to the main road—this time going as fast as they could in the dark. On the main road, he spotted her two centurion guards not too far from the city walls. Obran dismounted, still carrying the elf’s blade.
“Tori, I’ll need to know what you find out. I have to know if Erkin and I or anyone else is in danger.”
“I know...I’ll meet you in the city, outside the university at midday when I can. Don’t worry I’ll find you and please tell everyone else I’m sorry.”
Obran watched her ride toward the soldiers, then watched them discreetly until they entered the city walls.
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