The Farwalker's Quest by Joni Sensel Page B

has hurt her the most,” he added, not looking up. “By taking you.” His face never softened.
    After both the rain and the brightest spot in the clouds had passed overhead, Ariel fell into an uncomfortable sleep. She awoke to voices in the twilight.
    â€œâ€”soaking wet, you dolt. You’ve gone soft.” Ariel recognized Elbert’s scornful rumble.
    â€œI’ll dry,” Scarl said. “We’ve gone to a lot of trouble to let her die in her sleep.”
    â€œIt’s been fun, though. I left a few tokens for them to remember us by.”
    Alarm filled Scarl’s voice. “Elbert! Like what? We don’t need them on our heels.”
    Elbert snickered. “They couldn’t locate us if they tried. I made sure of that.”
    Ariel jumped up—or tried to. Her body was so sore and stiff that it took several seconds for her to stand.
    Both men watched from nearby. Ariel could see fatigue through the amused contempt on Elbert’s face. He must have tramped hard to catch them.
    â€œWhere’s my mother?” she cried. “What have you done?”
    â€œI tried to convince her to come with us.” Elbert smacked his forehead with the tips of his fingers. “I should have thought of that sooner. You could have both ridden the horse. But in the end, she decided she’d rather stay home and await your return.” Ariel could have almost believed him, if not for the gleam in his eyes.
    â€œI hate you.”
    He clutched his chest. “But I am so fond of you!” He winked. “My April Fool princess.” From that moment, Elbert rarely referred to her as anything else. Ariel soon preferred Scarl’s frank harshness to Elbert’s charades.
    With night falling, Scarl lit a fire using flamesticks from Elbert’s overstuffed pack. His burden had included Ariel’s boots and her knapsack, which she’d never had time to unpack. Elbert had already plundered her food, but she yanked out warmer clothes, pulling her sweater right over her nightgown. The sight of the yellow skirt her mother had sewn hitched Ariel’s breath in her throat.
    The messenger pigeons roasted over the fire. Glowering, Ariel refused her share. Scarl silently passed her crackers and cheese from their larder instead. She wanted to refuse that, too, but her hands wouldn’t obey her. Wolfing the food, she soon felt ill.
    â€œAre you sure you don’t want some meat, princess?” Elbertteased as the men ate. “It’s delicious. The new Kincaller, I expect, would be pleased.”
    â€œWould you have done that if my mother had let me come with you?” Ariel demanded. “Would you still have tied me up as soon as no one could see?”
    Elbert sucked a bone, debating. “Your friend Scarl there may not have let me. For a child snatcher, he’s rather kindly, it seems.” His eyes measured Scarl, who returned the gaze without expression.
    â€œI suppose as long as you came along nicely,” Elbert continued, “we could have kept up the game for some time. At least until I wanted pigeon for dinner, eh?”
    â€œKeep eating,” Ariel spat. “I’ll pray that it chokes you.”
    Elbert’s lips twisted into a grin that only emphasized the chill in his eyes. “Careful, my lady. You’re the one who should be dead. My companion convinced me you might be worth more alive. Don’t prove him wrong.”
    Ariel blinked, trying to understand. “Because I found the telling dart?” The notion seemed ludicrous. Why would that make them want to harm her—particularly once they’d taken it from her?
    When Elbert ignored her, Ariel’s gaze slid to Scarl. He avoided her look but gave her a curt shake of his head, not answering her question but telling her to drop it.
    Too tired to make sense of it all, Ariel took refuge in spite. She yanked at her rope just as Scarl raised his hands to his mouth for a