The Marble Tower

-26-

"We have a tail." They had been riding in silence for about an hour and were close to the camp when Richard finally spoke.

""Horseback?" Raquel asked, obviously not stopping to listen herself.

""Foot." Robyn (who had stopped to listen) answered, "Walking, and their not even trying to be quiet or discreet about it."

Raquel, who had finally actually heard another stumble from their oh- so- obvious tracker, "Do you think that we should speed up?"

She was looking at Robyn when she had said this. He glanced back down at his leg. The pain had mostly subsided though he wasn't very interested in testing how much he could push it before it started hurting again. Though it was Richard who eventually answered her. "No. Robyn's leg too banged up and we're almost there. We can get back up at camp."

Nobody seemed displeased with that plan, and so as the rode their horses through the brisk evening air they stayed silent. Soon a fire came into view and low voices from around it.

It wasn't much longer until they were greeted by Xavier. "You're back!" It was weird hearing the note of relief in his voice, thinking that he might have been worried. Though Xavier was definitely the one to have been either of those things out of the three that were there. Draco scanned over the scene for about two seconds and then looked at Robyn, "You're leg."

Like I wasn't already aware of that. As a stab of pain burst through his leg as he dismounted and put it on the ground.

Charles took a look at it. "Xavier go get the med kit. Raquel help him>"

"Yes sir." They both replied. Both going to accomplish their tasks.

"Sir." He heard Richard approach Charles,, "We have a tail."

"Soldier? Tracksman?"

Richard shook his head as Raquel helped Robyn down on a pad that Xavier had laid out on the ground.

"No, whoever they were they weren't trying to be discreet. It sounded more like they were just trying to stay on their feet and move forward than anything."

Charles stopped and contemplated it for a second as Robyn tried to muffle a grunt as Raquel unwrapped the bandage. It was a small wound. But it was deep, and messy after he yanked out the arrow.

"Xavier Draco, Richard." Charles eventually said. "Keep an eye out for this tail. Raquel, fix that darned leg of his." Charles looked at each of them, "Make sure you're armed. Chances are they are."