The Shadow of Eons

Chapter 20

It started raining that night, and rained for three more days and nights as they rode the rest of the way through the forest to Escelion. A couple of times per day they passed roads that veered off and led to villages, but only once did they stray off their course, and that was to buy a small amount of dried venison from a trading outpost. Other than that, they stayed on The King's Road and camped just off the road at night, for venturing into the woods to mask their position was nigh unto impossible without a hacksaw. And there usually weren't many bandits to hide from this near Escelion, or at least so the captain said.

Even with their assurance of safety, the group of riders was sodden wet and miserable day and night, and some of their number began to develop fevers and coughs before long. Jonas counted himself fortunate not to be one of them, but Lucille was among those afflicted. The captain gave her an extra blanket to sleep with, and Jonas marked the hard man in his mind as someone he could look to for help should things not go as planned.

Agatha was particularly sad at having lost Rose, and she huddled against Jonas at night, racked with tears while shivering against the night chill. It was a laborious task to get a fire going, and the resulting flame was so insignificant that the members of the company had to take shifts to warm themselves by it. Jonas was worried that Agatha would soon get sick herself, but when he saw the wagon on the otherwise lonely road after three days of travel, he knew civilization was near. It was then that the captain told them they would reach the outskirts of Escelion soon after nightfall.

"We're going to bed in one of my father's estates," Preston told Jonas. "We do that often. There are many of them spread around the city. When we go on messenger duty to one of the other outposts, we sleep at a different estate."

"It is fortunate, then, that there is a soldier of your status in this regiment," Jonas said.

"Indeed," mused Preston. "And then tonight we can test out this theory of yours, since we will have a private area in which to hold our duel. I will bribe three of our best men to do battle with you. . . . We aren't supposed to practice while we're on duty, to save all our energy for riding, you know. . ."

Jonas offered the man no comment, and they rode on.

They arrived at Preston's father's estate north of the city two hours after nightfall, having cantered at a slow pace along the road in the moonlight. Despite the darkness, there were still wagons going in the opposite direction and coming into the city, carrying goods too and from the villages which were within Escelion's protective sphere. Jonas envied the wagoneers their roofs, as the riders could stay dry during all parts of their journey, and Jonas was stuck with wet robes by day and wet blankets by night. But just then, they arrived at Spruce Estates, and each was greeted with a hot meal and a warm bed—Jonas could not argue with that.

The meal was sumptuous enough, featuring hot bread right out of the oven to go with hard cheese and roast beef. There was no wine—only ale, but Jonas was not a connoisseur of many pleasures by then, nor would he ever be. The ale was cool and fresh, and gave him an invigorated feeling as it slid smoothly down his throat. Jonas appreciated the meal as much, if not more than he had appreciated the fancy meal at the vizier's palace; and just as he was anticipating sliding under the sheets after a warm bath, Preston, who was sitting at the head of the table for this occasion, indicated that he wanted to speak with Jonas alone.

"I've picked my three men," the noble said when they had found a private place to talk. "Are you ready?"

"Are you joking?" Jonas answered him, puffing out his chest, which he was sure would look ridiculous now that his body was of different proportions. "I am as ready as ever! Bring your best—I will dispatch them in no time."