The Journey: Chapter 7

    The next day I saw smoke coloring the horizon, and as we approached the settlement, I grew more and more afraid. I knew that there were tons of races in villages, but it was still more humans than I had ever seen. Really, I had only seen five other beings (not counting the horses).

    As we approached the village, I saw poorly built, unhealthy-looking houses.

    Silverleaf grimaced. “A peasant village. One that won't be too friendly to strangers.” He glanced at Danicio. “Should we avoid it?”

    Danicio shook his head. “We're low on supplies, and we need news. Talut, Silverleaf, you stay here. They might not take kindly to non-humans. Tyra, you come with me.”

    “Is that really wise?” Talut questioned.

    Danicio nodded. “They might be less antagonistic if I have a young person with me. Tyra, just don't talk much and don't reveal who I am.”

    “What should I call you, then, if I can't call you Danicio?” I asked, puzzled by all this secrecy.

    Danicio considered for a moment. “Call me Rayleth,” he decided. “It was my uncle's name.”

    I nodded. “Rayleth. Got it.”

    “Good luck.” Silverleaf turned his horse aside and he and Talut watched me and Danicio ride on alone.

    We trotted into the village, and Danicio slowed Swift to a walk. Sullen, unkempt humans glared suspiciously at us, but no one tried to stop us.

    Danicio stopped Swift and dismounted at a local market stand, and I followed his lead. Behind the stand was a sly, queasy-looking dirty man, who's supplies were all ridiculously overpriced (which I learned later from Danicio who grumbled about it a lot).

    As Danicio was sweeping the last of the food into his sack, and laid down the coins (the man grabbed them up immediately and shoved them into a pouch around his waist), someone grabbed his shoulder.

    “If it isn't Danicio,” a quiet voice hissed. Danicio stiffened, and we turned around.

    A tall man was standing there, in a long, dark cloak. He had long red hair, which was combed back onto his head, and insidious-looking eyes that held malice in the depths of them, set in a smirking face.

    “Lorak,” Danicio acknowledged tightly. “What brings you to this part of Rachnith?”

    “Oh, nothing,” Lorak said, aimlessly fingering something in his pocket. “But I think the question here is, what brings you here?”

    “That would be none of your concern,” Danicio replied coldly.

    Lorak shook his head. “Ah, but Danicio, it would be my concern. King Tital has just made me his Peoples Advisor.”

    “There's no such position!” Danicio said, outraged.

    “There is now,” Lorak said silkily. “And in favor of my new position, it gives me the power to demand information from you. Now, I will ask again, why are you here?”

    Danicio stood himself up tall. The villagers, muttering, backed away into ramshackle houses and barred the doors. Soon we were alone on the streets. I was terrified, but stood still and didn't say anything.

    “I do not need to explain myself to the likes of you,” Danicio said quietly, with a voice full of contempt.

    Lorak's face twitched, and an ugly look was visible on his face for a second before going back to his smirking expression. His eyes darted to me, and he raised an eyebrow. “And who might this be?”

    “An orphan placed in my care. I owed her father a favor,” Danicio lied smoothly.

    Lorak studied me carefully, an eyebrow raised. “Is that why you came out here? Out of loyalty to this girl?” He glanced at Danicio sideways. “And why might that be, I suppose? Very interesting. Very interesting, indeed.”

    “We'll be leaving now,” Danicio said shortly, and started to leave, me quickly walking beside him.

    “Danicio, my old friend,” Lorak said quietly from his spot, without turning around. Danicio stopped. “Next time, I will not be this charitable,” Lorak said.

    Danicio raised his head to the cool breeze that wound its way through the village. “I won't, either,” he said quietly, and we continued, leaving Lorak standing alone in the village.

    Danicio paced angrily around the fire, muttering angrily to himself. Silverleaf thoughtfully watched him, while Talut had a dark look on his face. “Not good,” Talut said shortly. “It's not good if Lorak is sticking his abnormally large nose into our business.”

    I sat, my hands clasped, staring into the fire. “Who is Lorak?”

    “A politician,” Silverleaf said. “A dangerous one, at that. One obsessed with power and ambition.”

    “Why?” I asked. Later, I can look back and shake my head sadly at how naïve I must have sounded to my dear friends.

    “Ambition is a great servant, but a poor master. Those who use it as masters, will end up twisted like Lorak. They become obsessed with power, and will use any means to obtain it,” Silverleaf said delicately.

    “Oh.” I thought for a while, trying to ignore the black cloud that had settled over the camp.

    After a while, Silverleaf reached for the saddlebags. “Your watch, Danicio.”

    I settled myself in my sleeping roll, staring at the fire. The last thing I heard before I fell asleep, was Danicio grumbling about how the food was low-quality and overpriced.