The Silken Key

Chapter 21

The clopping of horses hooves on a cobbled road under the dull grey evening sky was hardly a sound Detlef was glad to hear again. They were several miles out of Brenmarsh already, having managed to get to their horses and get onto the open road without the Wazeer's guards catching up with them.

"This makes no sense!" Rudiger complained loudly. "We should have just gone back to the Cabbageleaf and set sail. We could have been well on our way back to Alresbay by now."

"You would have been the Wazeer's prisoners again," Tariq said bluntly. "She has eyes all over Brenmarsh. There is no way you would have readied your boat before she caught up with us."

Tabitha was leading the group this time, riding up front with the Silken Key hung from a piece of string around her neck. She was sitting straight-backed and tall (by halfling standards), an aura of new determination and purpose surrounding her.

"Besides," she said without looking back. "My journey is not back to Alresbay. There is more to do."

"Is that right?" Maddy laughed wearily. "Because it was my understanding we came just to get the Key. It was Detlef who signed up for the whole 'see you on your journey' business."

Detlef coughed into his hand, giving Maddy a meaningful look suggesting that he ought to keep his complaints to himself for the time being. It wasn't as though they had many other options right now.

"Where is your journey taking us next then, Tabitha?" Rudiger asked.

Detlef couldn't help but wince with an exasperated disappointment when the halfling gave the exact answer he hadn't been hoping for.

"I don't know," she said. "My patron will reveal the path in his own time."

"Ugh, again with the patron!" Maddy groaned. "Tell me, has your patron given you a single useful piece of information since you left your cave?"

Tabitha fired Maddy a sharp look. "He has given me the power to defeat two powerful wizards. I'd say that is somewhat useful, wouldn't you?"

"She has a point," Rudiger chuckled. "You have to admit, those magic powers of hers seem to have flared up at just the right moments."

"My magic doesn't 'flare up'," Tabitha snapped. "It's not a rash."

"Oh come on!" Rudiger held out his arms incredulously. "I'm sticking up for you! Seriously, what's the problem? Are you afraid that if you smiled once in a while, something awful would happen?"

"Perhaps," Tabitha scowled back at the gnome. "Something pretty horrific happens every time you smile, so why take the chance?"

"What horrific thing happens when I smile?"

"We have to see you smiling. It's horrific."

Maddy sniggered to himself but had the decency to hide it behind his hand. Detlef sensed the time had come to change the subject.

"In all seriousness, though," he said. "Where are we going? We can't just ride aimlessly."

"I don't care where we go," Rudiger said, the hurt still evident in his tone. "As long as there's something to eat. My stomach is starting to think my throat's been cut."

"Hear, hear." Maddy nodded. "It really is a shame we couldn't have fallen out with the Wazeer after the evening feast. Just think, we could have been sitting in front of a delicious leg of spiced lamb..."

"We will buy food at a town on the way," Tariq interjected. "But we will not be stopping anywhere. We have a long journey."

Detlef furrowed his brow and brought his horse into step with Tariq's. "Sorry...do you know where we are going?"