Between the Veil and Crown

Arvek 8

The second town was no better than Harpshire. In fact, it was worse.

They had arrived after dark, but their guide did not seem to give any indication of stopping for the night. Instead, she carried, head held high and ignoring the sights around her. Arvek kept seeing shadows out of the corners of his eyes, but every time he turned to get a better look, there was nothing there. With every shadow that turned into nothing, Arvek became more uneasy and more convinced that someone was going to attack them. With Kendra acting so calmly, he began to second guess his choice of following her. Perhaps she had just led them into a trap.

Cor was not as quiet with his thoughts. "Ugh. This is barely suitable for criminals."

"Taxes go out, but nothing comes back in return," Kendra explained. "With no noble complaining about what the king takes, and no actual value to the king otherwise, they don't warrant any attention or protection. 'Barely suitable for criminals.' Well, everyone here is a criminal in some manner. You have to be if you want to live."

Was she actually accusing his father of causing this mess? There was certainly something the townspeople themselves could do to keep the town in order, at the very least. And there wasn't any excuse to turn to criminal activity. Taxes were necessary. It was what kept the kingdom running, and provided for the soldiers protecting the Veil- an extremely valuable source to the entirety of Harlofelp. Did she not know that these towns themselves would need the resources from the Veil? Did she honestly think that wasn't benefitting some way from the taxes?

A small voice in his head began to remind him that it probably wasn't enough, but was cut off by another realization.

He stopped his horse short, causing Cor to almost run into him.

"Everyone is a criminal?" he repeated. "If that is the case, then what kind of criminal are you?"

She stopped and slowly turned her horse around. She still had her mask up, but he could tell there was a smile creeping up on her face. "Ah, that is not important."

"We're traveling with you; I think that gives reason enough to consider it important," Arvek objected.

"I was honest with you when I said I just wanted to get Chester," she said. "If I wanted to swindle you, or rob you, all I would have to do is keep you here for the night and wait for someone bigger and stronger to take you on, then make off with the spoils while no one's watching. But I actually want to make it to Chester, so I can promise that as long as you keep me safe, I'll keep you safe until then."

It did little to reassure Arvek, but she seemed to have a point about stopping and letting someone else take care of him and Cor if she wanted something off them. However, he silently resolved to not enter Chester with her. She made no promises about their safety after that point.

She turned back to the front and continued on. Cor came up alongside Arvek, pacing himself in order to have a quiet, covert conversation.

"Maybe we should have gone by the main paths," Cor said. "We wouldn't have to face all of this."

"It would take us longer to get where we need to be," Arvek answered with gritted teeth. "The longer Lia has him, the more likely she's going to cause him more harm. If this is the quickest way, then it is the way we should take."

"Would it matter if we can't make it through, though?" Cor wondered. He shrugged when he saw the look on Arvek's face.

"I will make sure we do," Arvek promised, miffed that Cor would even suggest they wouldn't. "But you will have to follow my lead in this." He set his eyes forward, noticing that Kendra had slowed some. Raising his voice to address her, he asked, "Is there a reason we're slowing?"

She glanced over her shoulder. "Oh, were we? Sorry, didn't notice." She nudged her horse, picking up the pace. Arvek let the gap between them widen again before picking up speed himself.