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Chapter 5

Aspin stoked the cookfire and set a pot of water on to boil. Hehad found a most satisfactory campsite at the edge of a deeppool nestled in a cozy mountain valley. The autumn sun wascheery and warm. Filtered through a stand of birch trees itmade for a fine morning. It would have been even finer were henot completely baffled as to where to go next. He had pursuedthe Malan girl past the Ramsgate, but not long afterward thesorcerous blast had happened. How long he had beenunconscious there was no way to know, but by the time heawoke, the world was somehow different. The sky was a richerhue of blue, the clouds thicker and puffier. All the lifesurrounding him seemed more virile. The entire world wasmore alive. What was even more puzzling was what he had come tothink of as a magical residue curving across the sky back towardLothan. It was as if some work of sorcery had taken placesomewhere far above. He couldn't say how, but he could sensethat the trail started in the mountains and ended back to theeast. With nothing else to go by, he had changed his course andheaded in that direction.He checked the lines he had set out the previous nightand was pleased to find he had hooked two fat silver-sides. His water was boiling by the time he finished cleanign the fish. Heskewered them and set them to broil, then sprinkled tea leavesinto the pot. He inhaled the sharp aroma and smiled. A finebreakfast it would be. With a full belly and a few cups of tea inhim he would almost feel human. He would get back on thetrail and hope he was pointed in the right direction. He shouldprobably report back to the primate, but he was too stubborn todo so until he could tell him something definitive. He sighed.Unwelcome thoughts of the citadel intruded on his peacefulmorning.Something caught his eye. An odd stirring on thesurface of the pond drew his attention. What could it be? He

David Debord |

strode to the edge and peered down, but he saw nothing. Afish? Or just his imagination. As he was turning away he saw bubbles drifting up to the surface. He saw a shadow in the water growing ever-larger, and then a head broke the surface. Ayoung man, his brown hair plastered to his face, sputtered andgasped as he treaded water. Behind him a young womansurfaced, also sucking in air in huge gulps. Aspin prided himself on rarely being taken by surprise,but he was positively baffled as to how and why two young people would suddenly appear out of a mountain pond in whichhe was certain they had not been before. The youth shook the water from his eyes and searchedout his companion. He took her by the arm and together they hauled the weight of their sodden clothes to shore, and draggedthemselves up onto the shore, where they lay panting in the sun. The boy was the first to open his eyes. He looked up at the sky and let out a whoop of delight, his fists raised triumphantly. Thegirl rolled over and hugged him, and the two of them laughedmaniacally. They still had not noticed him, so he waited untilthe laughter died down a bit before making his presence known."Good morning," he said. The pair started up,scrambling to their feet and gaping in shock at him. "My nameis Aspin. I am a sai-kur." They continued to stare, so hecontinued. "You are welcome to share breakfast with me; freshfish and hot tea. I must confess my curiosity at who the two of you are and how you came to be in this pond. He turned hisback on them and strode back to the fire, where he fished twoextra tin cups from his pack, along with his tea strainer. He hadpoured three piping cups by the time the stunned youths joinedhim by the fire. The two youth accepted the tea with profuse thanks. The girl drank it down so quickly that Aspin feared she wouldscald herself. The young man drank his slowly with his eyesclosed, savoring the drink. His big hands dwarfed the cup, andhe held it close to his chest as if to hoard its warmth. They didnot seem eager to talk, but Aspin was a patient man, andcomfortable with silence. It was not long before the young manspoke.

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Keeper of the Mists

"My name is Oksar. This is Khalyndryn." He paused,seeming unsure how to continue. "We are lost." He lookeddown at the fire and did not continue. Aspin's heart raced. These two were part of the Malangir's party. This proved he was at least headed in the rightdirection. But where was the rest of the party? And mostimportant, where was the girl? A little surprise might serve him well."Tell me, Oskar. Where are Shanis Malan, Prince Larrisand the others?" He smiled politely and lifted his cup to his lips, watching the boy's eyes widen. Khalyndryn sat up straight andgaped at her friend. "Understand," he continued, "I mean themno harm. I have, in fact, been sent by Shanis Malan's father tofind her." It was almost the truth, but it would suffice."You know Andric Malan?" Oskar asked, taking a sip of his tea and trying unsuccessfully to look casual."Colin Malan," Aspin corrected. "And yes, I know him.Clever of you, though.""When did he send you?" Khalyndryn asked."I visited your village some weeks ago, just a few daysafter you left, in fact. I spoke with Mistress van Derin, and thenyour village blacksmith before speaking with Colin. He told methe circumstances surrounding your departure.""You met Hierm's mother?" The corner of Oskar'smouth turned up in what was almost a smile. "I'm sure thepleasure was all hers.""Did you see my parents?" Khalyndryn interrupted?"Master and Mistress Serrill. My father is the innkeeper in town.If you stayed in town I suppose you took a room at the inn.""I fear I did not stay the night," Aspin said. He wantedto be cautious here. He had not yet won their trust, and thenews about Yurg would likely unsettle them. "But Colinindicated that no one believes your virtue has been tainted inany way, though they are anxious for your safe return. Colinurged me to begin my search immediately, as he is very concerned about his daughter.""Why did he not come after her himself?" Oskar asked.