Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 87 of 619

They rode out at first light. Chalam took the front, staff across his saddle. Ajax rode second. The meadow fell behind them and the trail bent north through low hills. The horses moved well. The prisoners were gone, the collars buried two days back. Ajax had four days to burn before the gnome met him at the split pine with a stronger ring. By midmorning the trail dropped into a dry wash. Tucker rode up beside Ajax and slowed his horse to match. His two flat chains lay against his chest. He kept his voice under the sound of hooves. "Rider on our flank," Tucker said. "West side. Small." Ajax looked. He saw nothing but scrub and stone. "He's been with us since the creek," Tucker said. "Not closing. Not leaving." "How small?" "Gnome small." Ajax raised a hand. The line stopped. Chalam turned in the saddle and set his staff upright. The head of it caught the sun and held it a moment longer than it should have. "Friend," Chalam said. "Not a watcher." A prowler came up out of the scrub. The gnome sat astride it with his knees high. He was the same one who had taken the old ring for scrap two days back. He rode straight to Ajax and stopped. "Four days," Ajax said. "You said four days." "The smith worked through the night." The gnome pulled a small cloth bundle from his coat. "She had the stone already. She only needed the metal." He held the bundle up. Ajax took it and thumbed the cloth back. The ring sat in his palm. Heavier than the last one. The band was darker, almost black, and a dull green stone was set flat into it. "How long does it hold?" Ajax said. "A season. Maybe two. Rain won't touch it. Blood won't touch it." Chalam swung down and came over. He put two fingers near the ring without touching it. He closed his eyes a moment, then opened them. "It's clean," Chalam said. "And it's strong. Stronger than the first." Ajax slid the ring onto his finger. It sat cold, then warmed. He felt nothing else, which was the point. He pulled the silver purse from his saddle bag and counted out twice what they had agreed. He handed it down. The gnome weighed it in his hand and did not argue. "Your old ring is gone," the gnome said. "Melted before dawn. No one will read it." "Good," Ajax said. The gnome turned the prowler and was back in the scrub before Tucker finished tightening his girth. Ajax closed his fist around the ring. The Keeper could look now and find nothing. He had his season back. "North," he said. "We ride on the next name."