Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 206 of 619

Tucker rode in an hour past dusk. His horse was lathered. A wrapped bundle sat across his saddle. Ajax met him at the gate with a lantern. Rowan stood by the hall door, bow slung, watching the road behind Tucker until the gate shut. "You're early," Ajax said. "Rode through the noon stop." Tucker swung down and pulled the bundle from the saddle. Leather wrap, tied twice with cord. "Your wizard's friend didn't argue. Handed it over when I said the coded word. Fed me once and put me back on the road." Ajax took the bundle. Heavier than he expected. "Any eyes on you?" "None I saw." Tucker rolled his shoulder. "Road was empty past the second creek. I kept off the ridge line coming in." "Good. Chalam's in his room. Take this to him. Tell him to read it tonight. We ride at first light." Tucker took the bundle back and went for the barracks. Ajax watched him cross the yard, then turned to Rowan. "Come inside," Ajax said. "Sit by the fire." Rowan followed him into the hall. The hearth was low. Ajax added a log and sat on the bench nearest the flame. Rowan took the seat across from him. The carved leaf on the lintel caught the firelight. "The emissary said salt the ring, burn the heart," Ajax said. "You agree with that?" "Salt at the edge stops the roots. Fire at the heart kills what feeds them." Rowan set his hands flat on the table. "But the heart isn't always the oldest tree. Sometimes it's under the ground. A stump, or a joined root." "How do we find it?" "I dig at the rings until the smell changes. Sweet means near. Sour means past." Ajax watched his face. No boast. No softening. "How long from the split pine to the grove?" "Half a day if the creek's low. Longer if it's up." "Salt weight?" "Two sacks for the outer ring. One more if the ring's wider than Chalam says." Ajax nodded. "Ride with me at the front tomorrow. You know the ground. I don't." Rowan looked at the fire for a moment. "I'll ride point." A door opened at the far end of the hall. Chalam came in with the leather wrap open in his hands, the book already turned to a page marked with a strip of cloth. His face was tight. "The drawings match what Rowan described," Chalam said. "Salt and fire, as she said. Ajax stood. "Then we have what we came for. Sleep. We ride at first light." The book was in hand. The men were set. The cure was in their ability.