Mindless

Chapter 11 Fahlan

They leave Tumas with the baker and head for the borderline of the trees. Once there, they discover a new problem: this close, they can't see the smoke above the branches.

"We'll go back to the road by the inn," he tells his men. "It'll be nearly a straight shot from there."

It isn't really a perfect line, but it's the path he knows, and it'll be easier than romping through the forest. There, Fahlan motions for them to circle around him.

"We only need the innkeeper. We know what they think and who's prompting it—we don't want anyone else getting hurt just because they're being manipulated. If they run, let them go. Who knows the innkeeper?" Six hands raise. "Work together. He's the only one we can't lose today. The rest of us will make sure none get in your way. Everyone read—"

A louder than normal rustle in the tree-line behind him interrupts his speech. Six pairs of eyes widen. Fahlan turns, and the final -y? of his question slips out.

The innkeeper stands just inside the trees. He has one arm thrown up, protecting his face from the branches, but he's squinting, as if trying to block out the shallow sun. He doesn't look surprised to see them. He doesn't look anything at all. The absence is so unnerving that Fahlan looks around for sign of ambush.

Cornwall takes a step forward, but Fahlan holds up a hand to stop him. Haëgre's eyes snap towards the guard then back to the captain. The absent look clears.

He departs like the falling of a branch. Then Fahlan drops his hand and Cornwall is after him. Something crashes into Fahlan's shoulder—sending him nearly to the ground—and Adalbert is bounding after them. He isn't as quick, but Cornwall and Haëgre are dodging through the trees, and he cuts across the open space to parallel their course. Haëgre doesn't run back towards his camp, the captain notes with a measure of respect.

"Estienne, Caius, go after them, and when they catch the innkeeper, help hold him."

They start after the others in a loping stride. Then there's a shout and a crash and they pick up the pace.

Fahlan turns to the waiting guards. "Hamad, return to the bakery and help Tumas keep an eye on the baker. Jerditch, Reinald, go to the inn. Clear the debris and leave us somewhere to question the innkeeper." The three men depart.

Sounds of a struggle come from the forest: branches breaking, something dragging across the leaves on the forest floor. He sends two more men to help them—but when they're only halfway across the open street, five men break out of the trees. Haëgre is in the center of them, thrashing and kicking at the men who hold him. He is dragged and carried, only on his own feet by the grace of his stature. His hands are held behind his back by Adalbert, the large boy being the only one who could constrain him easily. Caius and Cornwall, smaller than Adalbert and Haëgre, but not small, do most of the carrying—they each have Haëgre by one of his arms, effectively stopping him from finding any purchase with which to escape. Estienne walks backwards, facing the group, ready at a motion's notice to lend his aid.

The final two men Fahlan had sent wait until the little party draws level, then walks back with them as added security.

"Any trouble?" Fahlan asks mildly.

"None," Adalbert answers grimly. His jaw is set and his eyes are hard. He's gripping the innkeeper's arms so tightly that the blood draws away from his grasp.

Facing the collected forces of the guard, the innkeeper stops his struggling. He glares at the captain with an open hostility that Fahlan doesn't understand. He puts his own face forward, so that he and the innkeeper are nose-to-nose.

"You're going to tell us everything you presume to know," he threatens quietly, "and then you're going to tell everyone this faux resistance is over and admit your crimes."