Fire Angels

Chapter 8 part 2 The watching Wanderers

After a time, Shad bought out a tattered pack of playing cards and began teaching me Black Dog, one of those complicated games men play in taverns. The rain either stopped or was too quiet to be heard. It was permanently night in the cellar. Only by the sounds of the crickets calling, could we tell that night had fallen outside.

Shortly after the crickets began, I heard voices calling me. When I asked Shad if he could hear anything, he said no.

Putting my hands over my ears, I discovered that the voices were in my head. They were only soft, but they were persistent. I had never had this experience before but than I had never been the subject of a magical search before. I hoped that the Runes of Hiding would strong enough to keep them from finding us.

Shad whistled softly when I told him. "You really must be some mage, to be able to hear that."

"What a joy it is be a powerful mage. Especially in a delightful country like Moria," I said.

He grinned. "You're opening my eyes. I'd thought it was all invisible slaves and flying like birds."

"Invisible slaves," I muttered. "I should be so lucky."

I got up and went over too look at Tomas who was still heavily asleep.

"He looks flushed. Could it be fever?"

"Quite likely," said Shad. "I'm afraid he'll be worse before he's better. I wouldn't wear myself out worrying yet if I were you."

I was tempted to make a rude retort but when I looked at him, I saw that he was not being flippant but kind.

"Come on, sit down," he said. "It's your deal."

Suddenly there was a thud as the trap door rose and fell and two figures dropped into the cellar. The cards scattered as Shad leapt to his feet, knife drawn.

Two Wanderers had landed neatly on the cellar floor. One of them was Symon the Raven.

"Greetings Enna Dion," he said. His ancient boy's face was solemn.

"Aye," said the other Wanderer. "I know him. Its Shad Forest right enough."

"Gunida," said Shad. "It's good to see you well."

He did not put his knife away or relax. The three of them stood looking tensely at each other. I was fascinated by the woman, Gunida. Had she had been among the Wanderers we had met at the border? They had been conventionally dressed, with the women wearing skirts. Now Gunida wore leaf brown breeches and tunic like a man and her white gold hair was short and wild. Feathers, twigs and sweet oil berries were stuck into it as if for decoration, making her look as if she was a walking part of the forest floor. Her face was hollow cheeked and somehow alien, but she looked lithe and fit and she held a long knife very purposefully in her strong hands.

"I suppose he knows how to use that," said Symon to the woman, nodding at Shad's knife.

"Oh Aye," she said. Her voice was heavily accented. "He gave good account of himself in the Red Mountains."

"But can we rely on him to get between Enna Dion and trouble?"

"He is an honorable man. He knows the enemy."

Symon snorted unbelievingly. Shad stood watching them. He face showed no emotion.

Tomas sat up, scrabbling at the ground beside him.

"Tomas!" I cried terrified that he'd disturb his wound.

Symon glanced at him.

"We bought you healing potions," he said. "And food too."