Page 104 of Lake of Sorrow

“Does it have a smell? One you could track?” Kaylina lifted the powder to her nose but couldn’t detect much. The paper had a more distinct scent.

The next whuff sounded like an affirmative. Dried cactus.

“Oh? Altered dried cactus?”

Levitke whuffed.

“Maybe some specific variety that grows in Kar’ruk lands? Is it warm enough where they live for cactus?”

The next whuff sounded uncertain.

Kaylina carefully folded the paper with the powder sample so she could tuck it away. “If we can get this to the rangers so the other taybarri can smell it, maybe they can more easily hunt down the Kar’ruk, whether they’re invisible or not. How many are out here, do you think? Ready to attack if that so-called negotiating party doesn’t get what it wants? And it won’t. The Kar’ruk have to know that. After centuries of living here, humans aren’t going to give up this land.”

Levitke yawned.

“I’m tired too.” Kaylina considered the folded paper and the journal. “I don’t suppose you want to take these items back to the city and find Vlerion and Targon? The gate guards wouldn’t object to you walking in alone, riderless, would they? It’s either that or give it to the ranger in the watchtower and ask him to take it to them.” But could she trust a man she might never have met? One who might be more likely to arrest her than help her?

Levitke gazed thoughtfully at her.

“Am I missing an option?” Kaylina guessed.

A vision floated into her mind, one of Kaylina riding Levitke while blue- and silver-furred taybarri bounded along with them, an entire herd heading along the Stillguard River toward Port Jirador.

“Are you sharing that vision? Can you do that?” Kaylina had her doubts.

It seemed more likely the plant was affecting her from a distance through the brand. But… it wasn’t warm now. It wasn’t doing anything.

Levitke rested a paw on Kaylina’s brand and offered another whuff.

“I asked for that, didn’t I? To go see your people in case they can help.” Kaylina glanced at the brand, not sure how much the plant truly knew—or how much it wanted to assist her. It wanted Vlerion dead. How could she trust it?

Whuff.

“Do you think your people could help? And that they would be willing to if I came and asked? I’m not anybody, especially here. I doubt the taybarri elders have heard of my family’s meadery and eating house.”

Levitke’s solemn gaze turned toward the pine tree, the broken branches on the ground around its roots.

“The tree did that. Not me.” Kaylina had asked, but she wasn’t positive it hadn’t been a coincidence. There hadn’t, however, been any wind, and tree branches didn’t usually spontaneously break. The pine, she felt certain, had been willing to sacrifice a limb to help defeat the axe wielder.

The same vision came to mind, the herd heading to the capital with Kaylina in the middle of it.

“If they can help, I do still want to travel to see them.” She couldn’t do that without Levitke to guide her, so she couldn’t send the taybarri away. But they needed to share their new knowledge with the rangers without delay. “Will you take me back to the watchtower along the highway? We’ll tell the ranger there everything and then go visit your people.”

Assuming the ranger didn’t arrest her. Or worse.

The next whuff sounded agreeable. Before grabbing her gear, Kaylina returned to the press and removed the condemning letters on it. Then she tucked the journal safely into her pack and mounted Levitke.

The taybarri headed back toward the highway, but, before turning toward the tower, she gazed deeper into the mountains. Kaylina hoped she wasn’t making a mistake in delaying the trip to see the elders.

27

Within the mountains of Evardor, peril doth prowl beneath every bough.

~ “Spring Cowers” by Erazidar the Poet

Profound yawns sent tears down Kaylina’s cheeks as the watchtower came into view.

The fires still burned around it but lower than before, not shedding as much light onto the highway and surrounding land. This time, as they approached, no taybarri greeted Levitke with a whuff.

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