“You’re a jerk,” Jason said.
“Don’t,” Rachel murmured. “Things are bad enough.”
“He’s right,” Ferrin said. “I deserve to lose your respect and your trust. I’m not happy with how this is ending. I’ll always consider you my friends. Enough words; you need to move out. I won’t be following. Forget about me. Hurry. I’d love it if you surprised me and got away.” He turned and started walking.
Jason and Rachel watched the displacer make his way toward the south side of the lake for a moment; then they turned and headed east, toward the town. Scrambling down the eastern slope, they moved fast enough to make Jason nervous about falling.
“What did you learn on the island?” Jason asked as they descended.
“The fifth syllable,” she replied. She told him the syllable and what she had learned from Malar about the location of the other two.
“The Sunken Lands,” Jason repeated. “According to Ferrin we’ll need lots of fresh water.”
“Thanks for being brave back there,” Rachel said.
“You were pretty brave yourself. Sounds like you have great parents. It must be hard to walk away from a chance to see them.”
She shrugged and looked away, her lower lip quivering. “Yeah. I miss them. And I’m sure they’re worried about me. We do everything together. You have a close family too, right?”
“Sort of,” Jason said. “My parents are good people. I’m sure they’re worried about me. I have an older sister and brother. We all love each other, but they’ve always been closer with each other than with me. I’ve never totally fit in. The house got really quiet after my siblings left, unless I was butting heads with my folks. Honestly, I sometimes wonder if my parents meant to have me. My brother and sister both have these fat baby books full of photos and stuff. Mine is empty.”
“I’m sure that doesn’t mean anything,” Rachel said. “Parents would be more into documenting their first kids.”
Jason shrugged. “My dad is really into my brother, seeing him get into dental school. Mom has always been obsessed with my sister. The two of them love shopping together. My sister is the oldest. She married an endodontist. I’m the youngest by like ten years. When my siblings were home, at dinner I mainly listened. I think my parents try to be interested in me, but it always feels like they’re straining. Dad doesn’t even try with certain things, like baseball.”
“I’ve always kind of wished I had siblings,” Rachel said.
“Me too,” Jason replied. “It isn’t their fault. The age gap is too big. And our interests are really different. My brother is into school and debate. No sports. My sister is practically my aunt. I’m thankful for my parents. They take care of me. But we don’t really know each other, not like you’ve described with your parents. I sort of do what I want. Even when they try to ground me, I just argue until I wear them out.”
Rachel chuckled. “When my parents punish me, it sticks. But I don’t get in trouble much.”
“I’m going to get you home,” Jason said seriously. “I promise. We’ll escape whoever is chasing us, and we’ll somehow finish this quest, and we’ll go home, no matter what Ferrin thinks.”
Rachel offered a small nod.
Jason could see the town of Whitelake in the distance, situated beyond the southeast base of the conical mount. The town would be dangerous. Despite his professions to the contrary, Ferrin might have guessed they would end up there, and he could have gotten word out. Enemies might be waiting. But in town they could buy horses, which might make all the difference as they tried to flee. He checked his knife.
“Keep that crossbow ready,” Jason advised Rachel.
“I’ll keep it under my cloak,” she replied. “It’ll be ready.”
Whitelake was a dusty outpost full of burly men in rugged clothing. Many wore animal skins. Most had facial hair. The largest buildings were arranged along a central road, and scattered cabins, shacks, and lean-tos stood in haphazard clusters off the main street.
Jason avoided eye contact with other men, and they generally did the same. He found a store. An old man sat out front on a sawed-off log segment, whittling. Curled shavings lay scattered at his feet. Jason and Rachel entered the store. In one corner hung several water containers. He bought a pair of large, hairy water skins. They would be burdensome when full, so he decided he would wait to fill them until he had a horse.
He hung back to see what other men bought. Rachel waited at his side, keeping her head down. Many purchased a heavy flatbread they called gutplug. Dried meat was also purchased in considerable quantities. Jason purchased a good deal of the dense bread and some meat.
A crowd was forming in a corner, with a pair of brawny men at the center.
Jason hurried Rachel out of the store and walked up the street before they could get caught up in whatever trouble was brewing. Now they needed a pair of quality horses.
“Excuse me,” said a voice from behind.
Jason turned. Before him stood a short man who once had only one arm.
Jason reached into his cloak and gripped the hilt of his poniard.
Tad held up a hand. “You are in no danger from me here. I’ve come to bargain with you.”
Jason kept hold of the knife and placed his thumb over the hidden trigger.
“Save your breath,” Jason said, taking a slow step away from the man. “We’re not coming with you.”
“I don’t expect you to,” Tad replied. “Apprehending you in town would cause a scene. We would rather handle this discreetly. I’m here to save everyone time. You are welcome to take my horse, if you wish to flee. We would prefer to apprehend you away from town. Naturally, if you want to save yourselves the trouble, you can accompany me now.”
“Where’s your horse?” Jason asked. “Does it have a wooden leg or something?”
“It’s a good mount,” Tad assured him. “It will carry both of you. Take it and go, if you please. Whatever you choose, you won’t escape.”
“What if I we take you hostage?” Jason asked.
“Getting ruthless? That man over there is the law in this town.”
Jason glanced to his left and saw a big man leaning against a pole, examining his fingernails. He wore a heavy sword.
“I told him to keep an eye on me,” Tad explained. “If you want to attack me unprovoked, have at it. But I’m really not worth the trouble. I’m the least of your problems now.”