Knights: Legends of Ollanhar by Robert E. Keller Page B

very smell to ward them off."
He scratched his neck and arms, groaning. "Sadly, I seem to have forgotten
it."
    "This is madness," said Jerret, swatting a huge
mosquito on his arm and leaving a splash of blood. "I'm ready to hide in
my tent."
    The Rangers chuckled. They handled the swarms quite well
and seemed a bit perplexed by all the fuss.
    "What's your secret?" Daledus asked Brakthas.
"Why don't these bloodsucking devils bother you?"
    Brakthas shrugged. "I'm used to them. Maybe I've been
bitten so many times I no longer notice it. Or maybe they don't like my
smell."
    "Apparently they love my smell," said
Jerret, who was taking the worst beating of the bunch. Dried blood was crusted
to his ears and forehead.
    Bekka grinned at Jerret. "I thought you lived for
bloodshed. Don't you relish this fight?"
    "This isn't a fight," said Jerret. "I'm
being eaten alive. My skin is on fire. Aldreya, can't you do anything?"
    The Green Knight shook her head. "I fear it's going to
get worse toward evening, especially if this breeze lets up. But we can afford
no delays if we want to make Malva by nightfall."
    Dallsa groaned. "Surely this Mud Belt is cursed by the
Deep Shadow. It's not natural for mosquitoes to be this large and aggressive.
I'm beginning to think Jace is right--this is the work of evil."
    "Evil spirits," said Jace, nodding.
    As they traveled deeper into the swampland, they
encountered broken glass from dishes and wagon parts. The wagon and everything
in it seemed to have been torn apart, with pieces scattered along the road. At
last they found the wagon's owners: a family of four lying dead in the
undergrowth beside the trail--father, mother, son, and daughter. They had been
killed by blows to the head.
    Overwhelmed with disgust, Lannon longed to see justice
done. The murders seemed so brutal and pointless. "We must find whoever
did this."
    Aldreya nodded, her green eyes smoldering with anger.
"Indeed, this evil should not go unpunished. If only we had time to hunt
for the killers. But sadly we do not. Our mission is too important."
    Brakthas knelt and examined the bodies. He pointed to blue
paint on the backs of their hands. "The work of the Blue Vultures. This
poor family never stood a chance against those savages."
    "A bad sign for Malva," said Saranna. "We're
very close to town. For the Blue Vultures to murder this family here is a bold
act."
    "Perhaps we should turn back," said Galandra.
    Dallsa looked away, wiping her eyes. "Unbelievably
awful. My heart aches for this family." Still not used to such sights, her
face had gone pale and she looked ill. Dallsa had not yet learned to deal with
death, and it left her frustrated. Death closed the door on healing, and that
door could never be opened again. On the ground before her were people bearing
terrible wounds--yet she could do nothing for them, and it gnawed at her soul.
Not even the most powerful healers could help the dead. She had no choice but
to leave them to the earth and move on.
    "Awful indeed," said Jace, shaking his head.
"It is always disheartening to see the work of savages, how they ransack
and destroy anything wholesome. Just a peaceful, honest family on a
journey--perhaps off to meet with relatives or what have you. But the savages
couldn't let them be."
    "It's the way of the world," said Galandra.
"The innocent suffer at the hands of greedy, evil bullies, and rarely is
justice done. Look at all the misery Bellis has caused, yet Verlamer still
rules his kingdom."
    "Justice always prevails," said Aldreya.
"Eventually."
    Galandra shook her head. "I can't agree with you. I've
seen a lot of injustice over the years--evil deeds that went unpunished. I've
seen thieves and murderers do nothing but prosper at the expense of their
victims. Where do get that crazy idea? Is that a Birlote thing?"
    "Evil consumes itself," said Aldreya. "It is
a devouring beast that spares nothing. It is a trap that offers its own
punishment."
    "Aldreya speaks true," said Prince