Ezo’s morning began rotten. No matter what he did he couldn’t get rid of the tension he’d felt from his meeting with Alvrey. He tried to walk among the crowd, but he was looking over his shoulder with each step. Like the Imperium was going to swoop in out of nowhere and drag him back to the University.
In the end, he grabbed food from one of the vendors and took it to a nearby hill to watch the surrounding area. If he couldn’t get rid of the watchfulness, he might as well use it. At least the view was worth it. The panorama from the hilltop was spectacular.
Latera was a quaint town set in the middle of a small valley. Three hills surrounded it, and Ezo was sitting on the highest. From there, he could see the player’s wagons and the crowds that surrounded them. This far away from the major cities, entertainment was sorely lacking, and something like the players was a rare treat. Ezo didn’t know if it was a well-to-do town, but he hoped that they’d fill Jaroh’s purse for more than a night.
They were still a few days south of the Mailan border. If they headed straight west, they’d end up in Nara. Ezo had always wanted to travel the world and see the different countries, but he wasn’t sure that would ever happen now. Beyond his bond with a former soldier, he had Riverkeep. Though he could leave, he had so many questions about his bond with Kammon, the Vow, and the life Jacob had led. He needed to search the library for those answers. Ezo knew Remec was at work in Mountainkeep, doing the same. Ezo had need of his uncle’s research and he’d promised to keep looking for it there.
As the afternoon dwindled, a bright streak crossed the sky, and Ezo watched as Ember appeared over his head. She circled slowly, then landed on the ground next to him.
“What are you doing out here?” he asked the effigy.
He could feel Kammon working among the crowd, but the man would need to rest soon. He’d promised Ezo he’d break often today. Kammon hadn’t been well when they left Riverkeep. He was sleeping a little better since they got on the road, but Ezo worried.
He worried too much these days. Who would have thought that the elementalist he met all those months ago in Mason Creek would ever have a place like this in his life? He’d never have believed it if someone had told him then.
Ember screeched, and Ezo dusted his hands off. “Alright, I get it. Tell him I’m coming.”
Ezo watched the effigy as her red wings caught the bright sun and she flew away. She was just as stunning as she had been the first time he saw her, though she liked him better now. He was grateful for that. Ezo had seen her fly through a man’s chest before, and he’d prefer to keep his heart inside his body as much as possible.
He ran down the side of the hill and returned to the tent he shared with Kammon. His lover wasn’t there, so he was probably already waiting for him at Alvrey’s wagon.
He started the walk over, kicking stones under his feet as he went. Every so often, he had to stop and pull rocks out of the ground with magic to keep at it, but he was determined to take as long as possible.
He wasn’t feeling any better about Alvrey than he had that morning. He didn’t know that he would ever, at this point. He and Alvrey were at an impasse. He understood why she’d tried to keep him from Kammon, but everything in him screamed at the thought of leaving Kammon to fight on his own. It wasn’t something he could do. Even back in Mason Creek, he wouldn’t have been able to do it.
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He didn’t hear her this time, but when he felt a sharp pinch on his butt, he spun around and glared at the hawk that flew in a lazy circle around him. “Ember! I told you I’m coming!”
“You’re stalling,” Kammon disagreed as he stepped out from between two tents.
“I stopped at our tent first to see if you were there.”
Kammon rolled his eyes, but he grabbed Ezo’s arm and pulled him along the path.
Behind Alvrey’s medicine wagon, a small fire burned between a bench and two stools. Alvrey sat with her back to the wagon, and Jaroh sat next to her on the other stool.
Jaroh stood and offered a mug of ale to Ezo. He accepted it gladly. One of the newer performers they’d picked up was fond of the brew. He and his brother had a pub near Nivet Bay and he had brought a few barrels of his brother’s brew with him when he joined Jaroh. Ezo was eager to try the drink.
Kammon declined the offer, but took a seat at the bench.
“I’ll leave you to your talk,” Jaroh said as he stood to leave.
“For all you’ve done, you have a right to stay,” Kammon offered. Jaroh seemed surprised, but Ezo doubted it was anything for the surprise on his own face. He didn’t expect Kammon to include the other man in their discussion.
“If you don’t mind,” Jaroh said. “I would very much like to know what’s got the two of you jumping like a broken wheel on a backwoods trail.”
“What do you know, Jaroh?” Ezo asked. It was hard to read the other man. He was as good at learning secrets as he was keeping them. Who knew what Jaroh had picked up as he walked the wagons and tents each night?
“About your business? The two of you share a bond that makes you stronger, but somehow weaker as well. And Alvrey is worried about what it will do to you, Ezo. We’re both worried about this business with the Imperium looking for you.”
Ezo nodded, but he looked at Kammon. He wasn’t sure what Kammon wanted from this conversation with Alvrey.
“Alvrey, you examined me last night,” Kammon started. “And you saw Ezo this morning. What did you find out?”
“There was nothing new in your condition. The darkness in your soul continues to steal your strength.”
“The what?”
Alvrey patted Jaroh’s hand. “It has been a part of him since he joined us, Jaroh. He is no more a danger than he ever was.”
“And Ezo’s examination?” Kammon asked.
“You’ve seen it yourself,” Alvrey said to Kammon.
“I know what I felt, but I am no healer.”
Alvrey nodded. “The Vow is etched into Ezo’s bones, the same as any War-Sworn.”
“Why would you do that?” Jaroh demanded.
“I didn’t!” Ezo hated they kept asking. And he hated not knowing how it had happened or what it meant.
“What could cause that, Alvrey?” Kammon asked her. “Could the bond between us have somehow forced the Vow on Ezo without either of us being aware?”
“I don’t see how, but I’m not an expert. As I explained to Ezo, it was a specialty that I never learned. It’s a branch of healing that is almost as much superstitious as magic. There aren’t many of us who study it.”
“Why?” Jaroh asked her.
“The magic that the Vow is pulled from originated in Mailan, and even those who practice it in Distria understand it little. They know the rituals, but they do not learn the reasoning or the faith.”
“Then there’s nowhere we can go?” Ezo asked.
Alvrey shook her head. “I’ve been thinking about it all day, and there was a woman I studied with. She lived near the border of Mailan. If anyone has an answer, it would be her. She studied the Vow for many years. She has little love of the Imperium though, or the War-Sworn.”
Kammon nodded. “Then she and I will have plenty to talk about. Can you direct us to her?”
“I’ll take you,” Alvrey said. “It is the least I can do for the two of you.”
“We’ll take you,” Jaroh added. “If you’ll continue to travel with us, we’ll make the journey with you. It’ll be easier for you to hide while the Imperium is still looking for you.”
“We don’t want to cause trouble for you, Jaroh,” Ezo said.
“Nonsense. Those lands haven’t seen a traveling player in years. Maybe generations! Think of the audience!”
Ezo laughed at the man’s enthusiasm. Jaroh would have offered no matter what. It was just who he was. He wasn’t sure what to say, but Kammon stood and bowed low to the two of them. “Thank you. I don’t know how to repay you for the kindness.”
“There is no need,” Jaroh said, moving to clap a hand on Kammon’s shoulder. “We take care of our own around here. And you have entertained the crowds. You’re one of us now,” Jaroh explained.
Ezo laughed at his lover, but he was grateful. He didn’t want to cause trouble for his friends, but the journey to find the truth would be much more fun with the players on the road with them.