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Fantasy mystery part 4

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    “Good,” Tajeé grunted, “I have you to myself for a few minutes.  Walk a little slower, Dal’el, I know your anxious for adventure, but trust me, adventure comes more when you’re not looking for it then when you march out to war with it.”
    “I’m listening,” Dal’el said.  Tajeé always sprouted nonsense before he said something important.
    “I don’t know what this is all about,” Tajeé said, “and I’m not going to try to find out.  But I do know that if you boys don’t come back with whatever it is your went out for, that one will make you responsible for whatever happens.  So it ‘pears to me that whoever is responsible for the mission should be in charge of it, if you get my meaning.  But that one won’t see it that way.  He’ll be wanting to make the decisions, and call all the shots.  As long as its with woodmanship, you’ll probably be OK, ‘cause he’s almost as good as you and I already staked out the trail.  But if it comes to some combat decision and you don’t feel right about it, don’t do it!  He’ll whine about it, and probably complain to his daddy about it when he gets back, but at least you’ll both come back.  He hasn’t got enough sand to endanger his own life.  Besides, Halik didn’t put either of you in charge, so I figure it’s an equal partnership so far as it goes.”
    Rand stopped by the gates and was talking not-so-quietly to Lorian, a fair headed young man Dal’el’s age whose mood changed as quickly as the weather in mid-spring.  Lorian’s quick laugh echoed softly in the early morning air.
    “One more thing,“ Tajeé muttered.  “Don’t go around trusting people, don’t let any strangers know you’ve never swung an ax in your life before, don’t let them see that you don’t get along with your traveling companion.  If need be, forget your pride and behave as his servant!  Better for any passerby to think you a weakling then to endanger the mission, do you understand!”
    “It’s hard to forget your pride when you’ve just found it,” Dal’el muttered.
    Tajeé laughed.  “Why, lad, from the day that we found you, you’ve been full of honor and pride, and any real man could and can see that!  Just because you were recognized to go on this mission doesn’t give you honor or a cause for pride.  On the contrary, you were given it because you have honor and pride.  Now you must accomplish it to defend your honor, and your pride.  It is that was with all great men.”
    Dal’el blushed, and was grateful that Tajeé stared straight ahead so that he could not see it.  The corner of Tajeé’s mouth was still twitching with mirth.  Dal’el straightened his shoulders, high praise from the chief’s right hand man was high praise indeed.
    “Are you two old wives ever gonna stop talking?” Rand called back to them.  “It’s high time we were on our way.  It’s bad enough I have to bring you along, Dal’el, let alone wait for you.”
    Dal’el gritted his teeth.
    Tajeé smiled grimly and said, “He’ll eat his words.  I know his type.  And I know yours.”
    “Leave him alone,” Lorian said, eyes twinkling, “he might cry.  And that would be a poor start on this misadventure.”
    “Him, I haven’t figured him out yet,” Tajeé said.  Then his eyes narrowed, “But I will.”
    Dal’el and Tajeé joined Rand and Lorian at the gates.
    Rand put a hand on Lorian’s shoulder, “Take care of everything for me.”
    Lorian’s eyes snapped with irritation.  “Don’t worry.  It will be seen to.”  Then his mood shifted and he glanced slyly at Dal’el, “And you needn’t worry about anything either.  I promise that I’ll take good care of Jæina for you.  With both her brother and her,” Lorian’s eyes raked Dal’el, “friend gone, she’ll need watching out for.”
    Dal’el’s eyes narrowed, then he laughed and the sound grated against the dawn.  “I think that Jæina is more than able of taking care of herself.  But, if you want to try it,” Dal’el paused to smirk, “it’s your concern.”
    “Come, come lads,” Tajeé interjected.  “This is the way to spoil a beautiful morning!”  To Lorian he snapped, “Guard the gate!  And see that you do a better job of it.  This is no business of yours.”
    Lorian slapped his chest then brought his hand up to his forehead, palm out, in salute.
    “I’ll show you where the trail starts,” Tajeé said.
    “That’s what you’re here for, isn’t it?” Rand said with a haughty glance.
    “And you!” Tajeé snapped at Rand, “You are here to follow!  First me, and then Dal’el, do you understand?”
    Dal’el uncomfortably looked away.
    “My father left no such orders,” Rand said stiffly.
    Tajeé snorted, “You can’t have spent eighteen years in the chief’s house without learning something about village protocol.  I am Wing of the Nightwatch.  What does this mission concern?” Tajeé practically purred.
    “Village security,” Rand said hesitantly.
    “And as Wing of then Nightwatch, everything regards to village security is under my jurisdiction, unless specifically taken on by the chief.  And I tell you, listen to Dal’el.  He, not you, is in charge of this mission.  Do you understand?”
    Rand glared at Tajeé.
    Tajeé stepped closer to Rand and breathed very softly, “Perhaps you’ve gone deaf.  I said, do you understand.”  He emphasized each word.
   “I understand,” Rand said, also speaking very quietly, his eyes locked with Tajeé.
    Tajeé cocked his head, ”What was that?”
    Raising his voice and his chin slightly, Rand said, “I understand.”
    “Good.  Follow me.”  And Tajeé started off toward the woods.
    “After you,” Rand bowed mockingly to Dal’el.
    “I didn’t ask him to do that,” Dal’el said uncomfortably.
    “Come on,” Rand’s eyes were marked with disbelief.  “You always were his favorite.  Many have wondered about it.  Some say it was because he was good friends with your mother.”
    Dal’el smirked coldly.  “You don’t want to start out the day with a broken nose.  I’ve done it, and it’s no fun.”
    “I’m just waiting for you to lead, Leader,” Rand bowed again.
    Dal’el started after Tajeé, then he found himself turning around and saying in words that were not his own, “All that matters is finding the sword.  We can finish this when we get back with it.  Until then, let there be peace between us.”  He extended his hands, palm open.
    Rand scornfully scanned him, “To whom do you pretend nobility?  Follow the Wing, orphan-boy.”
    Dal’el turned and walked after Tajeé, who was already far ahead of them.  Rand winked at Lorian, then followed.
    They walked through the forest until Tajeé stopped by a holly bush.  Four of its leaves were bent.  “Which way from here, boys?”
    Rand looked at the leaf, then at Dal’el.  He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow as if to say, “Well?”
    Dal’el fingered a leaf, then went down on one knee and picked up some dirt and rubbed it by his nose.  He looked at the grass blades.  It was bingha grass, springy, and hard to track in.  He pointed south east, “That way.”
    “Good,” Tajeé said.  “Once you get through the grass, it would be my guess that it’s a clear trail for a while, for it runs by a stream bed newly dried.  There should be mud.”
    Dal’el grinned, excitement suddenly coursing through him.  I’m actually doing this!  I can’t believe it!  “What are we waiting for!”  He stood and started down the trail, eyes downcast on the grass to see any hint.
    “Wait, come back,” Tajeé said, laughter just tainting his voice.
    Dal’el walked back to join Rand, impatient to be off.  
    Tajeé put his hand on each of the boy’s outer shoulders.  “Now listen, this mission is not a lark.  It is a chance to defend honor and prove honor.  It is vital to the wellbeing of all those who you love.  You two have been through and because of pride for too long.  I charge you, forget your pride!  Concentrate on the job that must be done, and you will succeed.  You have both been trained well.  I have confidence in you.  Now go.”  He released them.
    Dal’el started out, but Rand took him by the shoulder and turned him around.
    “Let’s do this,” he said seriously.
    Dal’el’s throat tightened for he realized that was the closest he would ever get to an apology from Rand.  He nodded tightly, and started off tracking, but then he turned and said, “I’ll look to the left, you look to the right.”
    Rand smiled and nodded.  Then they took off.
    Before long they came to the mud, and the trail was clearly seen.  
    “Four, maybe five men,” Dal’el muttered.  “No horses.”
    “Just like the old man said,” Rand agreed.
    “They’re probably making towards Mason’s Rock,” Dal’el said.
    “What?”
    “It’s the only defendable place within a days journey.  I know the way.  I would have headed there myself were I the ones being tracked.”
    “What are we waiting for then?”  Rand grinned.  “Let’s run!”
    And they ran along the trail until it was dusk, each trying to outlast the other until it became too dark to see clearly.
    “Well,” Dal’el gasped, “Should we stop or keep going?  The mud ends there,” he pointed.  “And it will be difficult to track in the dark.”
    “Let’s make camp over by that big oak tree,” Rand pointed.  “No use garbling the trail, since we’re both pretty certain they’ll have stopped for the night.”
    Dal’el nodded, “I agree.  I’m starved anyway!  Apples on the run is not the way to go!”
    Rand laughed in agreement.
    They scarcely talked as they sat around the smoldering ashes—all they dared light.  Though neither would admit it, they were both too tired, and it was too strange not fighting with one another to talk.
    “I’ll take the first watch,” Rand offered.
    “All right,” Dal’el agreed.  “Wake me in four hours.”
    Rand nodded, and off he went to watch, while Dal’el slept under the leaf-canopied sky.
    Morning broke bright and clear, and Dal’el woke with a start.  He hadn’t been woken through the night.  There was Rand, lying by the oak tree.  Dal’el quickly got up and went over to him.  With relief he saw that Rand was still breathing.  Then he scowled and kicked him in the rump.
    Rand woke with a start.  He scowled up at Dal’el, “Whatcha do that for!”
    “You fell asleep,” Dal’el said dryly.  “I figured that since you almost killed us, you deserved a little kick.”
    The bushes rustled, but neither paid any attention.
    “I guess you’re right,” Rand unexpectedly acquiesced.  “I would have done that and more if you had fallen asleep.”
    “Let’s get breakfast,” Dal’el suggested.
    “Don’t ever you think of anything but food?” Rand grumbled.
    “Sure I do.  I think about the appropriate places to kick people at different times!”
    Rand laughed.
   “And,” Dal’el added ruefully, “I think about how painful it is to sleep on a root.”
    Rand grinned, and turned to stoke the fire.
    After breakfast, they packed up and Dal’el stood over the trail.  He frowned, then said, “But that doesn’t make any sense.”
    “What?”
    “I thought they were headed toward Mason’s Rock.  These tracks look like they’re headed back into the forest!  But there’s no reason for them to double back.”
    “I say we press on toward Mason’s Rock, then.  If we go a little farther and still don’t see any tracks, then we can always double back.”
    “I guess you’re right,” Dal’el decided.  “We can always go back.”
    They started down the trail toward Mason’s Rock when suddenly the bush in front of them started swaying back and forth.
    With a yelp, Rand jumped back and drew his sword, Dal’el put his hand on his ax.
    “Take it easy, you two!” A voice came from behind them.  “I just couldn’t stand there watching while you went the wrong way.”
    Dal’el turned around with a dreadful suspicion.
    There was Jæina, standing in a patch of sunlight, garbed for travel with a sword swung in a back sheathe and travel bags.
   <iGreat, now what am I gonna do?</i> he thought.
    “Jæina!” Rand said.  “What are you doing here?”
    “What does it look like I’m doing?” she asked as she stepped towards them.  “I’m coming with you.  Someone needs to point out the obvious to you two.”
    “Uh-uh, Jæina.  No way, absolutely not,” Rand said.  “You’re going to turn around right now and march straight back home before Dad has a chance to miss you.”
    “Who’s gonna make me?  You?” Jæina said scornfully.  “Now that I’m out of the village, no one can make me go back.  I’m an orphan, remember?”
    “You’ve been adopted, remember?”
    “I’m not going back, Rand.”
    “Oh, yes you are!  This is far too dangerous for you.  Besides, Dad said—“
    “So?  Sardé’s not here and you are.  And you can’t make me go back.”
    “Jæina,” Dal’el finally found his voice.  “You can’t disobey the chief like this.  Besides, you’re a girl.  Women are not placed on the front lines unless there are no men able to do the job.  We were sent out because we can handle it.  We don’t need you, Jæina.  It would be pointless to endanger your life as well as ours.”
    Jæina’s eyes glinted dangerously.  “You don’t need me, huh?” she said quietly.  “Just like you didn’t need me to get you down off that tree last spring when you had climbed up too high and couldn’t find a way down?  Like you didn’t need me when you had wandered too far away from the hunting party last fall and couldn’t find your way back?”  She turned to Rand, “And you didn’t need me either when the snake was hissing and hissing in front of you and you were unable to move?  Like you didn’t need me when you were drowning in Sevthé Lake?  Oh, and I suppose you didn’t need me that time you got your pants stuck on the thorn bush and the dog was—“
    “That was then, Jæina,” Rand interrupted.  “This is now.  And besides, whether we need you or not isn’t the point.  The point is you’re needed at home.  You have Dad’s ear, you’re good with a sword.  If trouble starts and I’m not there, you should be.”
    “He’s right,” Dal’el was quick to add.
    “The point is,” Jæina said, “that the sword needs to be found as quickly as possible. The village’s life is at steak. You need a third pair of eyes.  Maybe you have a point that I should stay home, but I’ve made up my mind, I’m not going back. And you were going the wrong way.  Do you want me to show you where the trail leads, or shall I just go there by myself?”
    “Jæina,” Rand said in a warning tone, “If I have to knock you out or carry you back kicking and screaming—“
    Dal’el coughed, “Rand, can I talk to you for a minute?”
    “What?” he said, still glaring at his step-sister.
    “Come 'ere,” he said, moving off to the side.  Once Rand had joined him, he spoke in a low tone of voice, “Have you ever tried to talk Jæina out of anything once she has said, ‘I’ve made up my mind’ before?”
    “No.”
    “I have.  It doesn’t work.”
    “Well maybe you weren’t taking the right approach,” Rand starts to go back to Jæina.
    Dal’el stops him with a hand, “Or maybe the woman is more stubborn than a mule.  Trust me, the only way to stop her now would be to knock her out, or bring her back to the village.”
    “Well then we’re just going to have to do that,” Rand started to move toward her again.
    Idiot! Dal’el thought.  “Listen,” he said, trying very hard to stay calm, “What are you going to do after you hit her over the head, huh?  Tie her to a tree and leave her helpless to face the wolves?  And if we knock her out and carry her to the village, at least one of us will have to go back, and we’ll lose a whole day's run.  The trail will get cold.”
   “So what you’re telling me is, we have to let her stay.”
    “It looks like we have no choice.”
    Rand cursed.  “All right.  You’re the leader,” he said through clenched teeth.  “But mark my words, no good will come of this.”
    Dal’el inwardly sighed in relief, but outwardly, he was impassive.  “Let’s tell her.”
    They walked over to Jæina.  
    “You can come with us,” Dal’el said.
    “Of course I can,” Jæina responded.
    “On the condition,” Dal’el continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “That you stay out of it if it comes to a fight.”
    “Are you serious?” Jæina cocked an eyebrow.
    “Never more.”
    “Dal’el, if it comes to a fight you’re gonna need all the help you can get.  Especially since you’ve never had any training.”
    “She’s got a point,” Rand said.
    “She’s a girl,” Dal’el tossed back to Rand.  “I will not endanger your life unnecessarily.  Give me your word that you won’t fight.”
    Jæina’s eyes narrowed, “So because I’m a girl my life is somehow worth more than yours?”
    Dal’el turned and looked over at a thick tree, “You like that tree?  I hope so, because that’s where you’ll be staying for quite some time if you don’t agree."
    “You’re not serious.”
    “Try me.”
    At Jæina’s skeptical, almost fearful look, Dal’el said, “I will not unnecessarily endanger your life, Jæina.”
    The stare-down continued.
    “We are wasting ti-me,” Rand trilled.
    “All right,” Jæina said, exasperated.  “I will not unnecessarily enter into any fight.”
    “Good enough,” Rand said.  “Now, which way do you think is the right way to go?”
    “I don’t think, it’s the right way to go, I know it is.”
    “Oh really?”
    “Enough!” Dal’el said.  “Rand, she’s on our team now.  Jæina, don’t be so picky.”
    “Bossy, bossy,” she chided, sweeping her braided locks away from her eyes.  “You were headed toward Mason’s Rock.  The tracks only lead there for about seven hundred yards, then they disappear into the stream.  Once they reemerged, they were headed straight towards the center of the Island—towards Icabin territory,” she stated bluntly in case anyone had missed the innuendo.
    “Are you sure?” Rand said.
    “It took me half the night to find out,” Jæina responded.
    “They could have split up,” Rand said to Dal’el.  “They could have met someone there, exchanged packages, and headed towards the South by way of Mason’s rock, and the others headed toward the Icabin’s to throw us off.”
    “I saw the tracks.  They were the same,” Jæina insisted.
    “Which way do you think we should go, Dal’el?” Rand said.
    Dal’el stood there, uncertain.
    “We’re wasting time,” Rand gritted.
    “I’d like to check Mason’s rock, just to see if they made it there,” Dal’el said.  “We can always send someone to the center, that’s easier running—“
    “Fine!” Jæina said.  “Go the wrong way.  I—“
    “I just want to check every possibility, Jæina,” Dal’el said.
    “We don’t have time for that,” Rand said.
    “Why don’t you believe me?” Jæina insisted.
    “All right!” Dal’el felt like he was going against his gut instinct, but he trusted Jæina with his life, and would not betray that.  Besides, he thought, she’s better trained and smarter…  She’s probably right…  And if not, well, I made my decision.  “We go Jæina’s way.  But we run quickly, so that we make sure that there’s enough time to get to Mason’s rock if necessary.”
    “Let’s go then,” Rand said, and turned away with a slight smirk on his face.
    “I’ll lead,” Jæina said.  
    They ran then, with Jæina in the front and Dal’el in the back.
well, here we are continuing on with this high school story...soon I will be getting to the end of what I've written..let's see if I can finish it this time, eh?
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