Midnight Quest by Honor Raconteur

showed his face at the home-hearth. Like as no, they would no be happy about this even after he’d explained. But he could no leave the lass to just Sarvell.
    And if it meant Ramath’s safety hinged on her task being completed, he would certainly no stay home.
    With that sorted out in his mind, he made a decision. He would stay with the lass until he could hand her over to a guard he could trust. Afore then, well, he would treat it like any other campaign and grin through it.
    Decision made, his mind became quiet enough for him to rest. Squirming slightly to find a more comfortable posture, he relaxed into a light doze.
     

Chapter Five
    They stopped for the night in a clearing walled off by thick trees. Jewel could hear the men talking as she climbed out of the wagon. This apparently was a favorite spot to stop, one they’d used many times before, as it had everything needed. She hesitated when her feet were on solid ground, hand resting on the warm wood of the wagon. Over the jangling of the harnesses, the soft snorts of the horses, and the murmur of many male voices overlapping, she could faintly hear the sound of running water. The sun must be setting as well as the sounds of tree frogs and crickets started up a noisy chorus.
    The wagon creaked and dipped under Rialt’s weight as he moved. The wood under her hands jumped up a good inch when he freed himself from the wagon’s confines.
    The quick steady tread of a man’s boots approached. Jewel turned towards it with a smile, already recognizing the rhythm. “Sarvell.”
    “I see you fared well enough,” he observed.
    “Eh,” Rialt agreed with an edge of disgruntlement. “Though it does no do a man’s back good to be doubled over like that all day. Tell me I can ride my horse tomorrow.”
    “Yes, we’re well within Ramath territory now. In fact, I think it safe enough to separate from the train entirely and move ahead.”
    “Sounds fine.”
    “Jewel.” Sarvell reached out a hand and cupped her shoulder. “This camp is going to be challenging for you, isn’t it. You told me once that you have to memorize where everything is to be able to move about.”
    Bless him for realizing that. In this area where things were constantly moved, or just placed about at random, she had no way of navigating without cautiously edging along. “It will be a labyrinth,” she sighed.
    “Then we’ll guide you.”
    “Thank you.” She followed the hand on her shoulder to his elbow, where she took hold. She fell into step with him, allowing the feel of his body movements to guide her. The heavy, slow tread of Rialt’s footsteps followed closely at her other side.
    Sarvell guided her directly to a seat near the fire, a flat stone that was cold and sharp against her hands. Just sitting there, with nothing to do after a full day of having nothing to do, made her hands twitch. She bargained with her guardians until they at least allowed her to help with dinner preparations. Watching her competently peel and dice up vegetables for a stew caught most of the men’s attention and they gathered as spectators and praised her. She felt like a circus entertainer.
    Still, with the vegetables all in the pot and the smell of stew thick in the air, she felt satisfied with her contribution.
    During all of this, Rialt or Sarvell stayed by her side, a constant protection from anything that might pose a threat to her. When the horses were properly cared for, their bedrolls rolled out, both men returned and bracketed her on either side.
    Sarvell leaned close to her ear to whisper, “Jewel, you said that you can feel the crystals. Can you feel the one in Ramath?”
    “Yes.” She twisted to point almost directly behind her without hesitation. “It’s that direction.”
    “Oh-ho!” Sarvell twisted, as if looking in the direction she pointed. “So at some point you came close enough to feel it? How far away are we?”
    She shook her head in resignation. “I have no idea. It still feels