Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 20 of 619

They rode hard for an hour before Chalam's horse slowed and drifted off the road. Ajax pulled up. The wizard was pale and sagging in the saddle. The working at the ridge had cost him more than he had said. Ajax waved the group into the trees to let him rest a few minutes and no more. Chalam swung down and sat against a trunk. A small figure stepped out from behind the next tree as if it had been waiting. It was no taller than Ajax's belt, furry and brown, with round glasses on its snout and a green vest buttoned tight. It carried a leather pouch. Ajax's hand went to his sword. The creature did not flinch. "You picked the arcberries at the last hollow," it said to Elara. "I saw. That bush was mine to tend." It looked at Chalam. "He is burning through what he has. He will not reach the coast standing." It untied the pouch and took out two small glass vials. The liquid inside caught the light green. It held them out to Chalam. Chalam took them slow. "Why." "The dryads want the hunter stopped as much as you do," the gnome said. "He has cut trees at three of our groves looking for what is under them. Use these in order. The green one first." It tied its pouch shut and walked back into the brush without waiting for thanks. Chalam slid the vials into his satchel beside the others. Color came back into his face just from holding them. "I can ride," he said. Ajax turned to mount. Asher was already up, reins in hand, watching Marco tighten his girth. Marco looked up and caught him at it. Asher did not look away. "You keep staring," Marco said. "I keep meaning to." Marco's mouth moved at one corner. He stepped around his horse and put a hand flat on Asher's chest, over the open shirt. He left it there a beat. "After," he said. "When the walls hold." "After," Asher said. Marco swung up. Ajax had seen it and said nothing. Two men who wanted each other rode better than two who did not. He kicked his horse back onto the road. They rode until the sun dropped low and the sea smell reached them. Chalam kept up. The green vial sat in his satchel unopened, saved for the walls. Ajax could see the top of the raised stone above the ridge line ahead. No smoke. No shouting. The concealment still held. He reined in at the last cover and counted his people. Six, all mounted, all armed. Chalam upright. Marco and Asher close at his flank. Grayson at his right where Grayson always rode. "He is down there," Ajax said. "Walking my ground. We take him at the walls."