Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 433 of 619

Marco would keep the Crossing gate. That was settled. But a gate half a day off needed more than a keeper. Marco could read a trader's face, yet he could not send word back to Black Oak when trouble came. If a threat crossed his gate, Ajax would learn of it days too late. Ajax knew the fix. He had used it before. The grove sold rings that carried a man's thoughts across any distance. He needed two more. He went to Chalam that evening. The wizard sat in the library, staff across his knees, satchel at his belt. He looked up when Ajax came in. "I need to call the grove," Ajax said. "Two more caller rings. One stays with me. One goes east with Marco." Chalam set the staff aside. "The gnome will want silver. And a day to make them." He did not soften it. "The rings only run one way. Whoever holds one can send. He cannot answer." "Then Marco sends," Ajax said. "I have a ring. I can respond or ride to him if I must." Chalam pulled the flute from his satchel and blew a note Ajax could not hear. By dawn the gnome came to the gate, a small figure with a pouch on his back. He took Ajax's silver and named the terms. Two rings by the next dusk. The rings came as promised. Aldric was there when the gnome set them on the hall table. He turned one over in his fingers and frowned. He put the ring down. Marco came in from the yard, packed and ready to ride east. Ajax held out one ring. Marco took it and slid it onto his finger. He met Ajax's eyes and did not look away. The thing between them sat in the room, unspoken, the way it always did now. "Any man crosses my gate wrong, you'll know it that hour," Marco said. He turned the ring once. "You can respond once with your ring.” "I will," Ajax said. Marco mounted with two sworn men behind him and rode for the Crossing. Ajax watched the gate close after him. He held the second ring in his fist. The road east was his now, guarded by the one man who could read every trader who crossed it.